To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what representations he has received concerning the rights of junior barristers to share the silk's bench in court; and if he will make a statement. [45147]

I have received no representations on this subject. Where different types of authorised advocate sit in court is merely a matter of tradition and courtesy, rather than of law. It would be for the judiciary and for the legal profession, rather than for the Government, to consider whether any change is desirable.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the powers of the National Assembly for Wales in regard to the restructuring of health trusts in Wales. [45156]

Subject to the forthcoming consultation, the present restructuring will be completed when the new trusts assume their full responsibilities on 1 April 1999, prior to the first elections to the National Assembly for Wales. The powers under which trusts are being reconfigured are among those that I propose to transfer to the National Assembly. It will, therefore, be open to the Assembly to make further changes at a later date, if necessary.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with LEAs about vandalism to school buildings. [45952]

Following the issue of the Report of the Working Group on School Security to all local education authorities in June 1996, the Welsh Office has consulted LEAs on a wide range of school security issues resulting in the publication of the following guidance:

Directory of Local Authority Practice on School Security

School Security: Dealing with Troublemakers

Improving Security in School.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what steps he is taking to reduce vandalism in schools. [45951]

School security measures are a priority category for funding under the New Deal for Schools capital funding initiative. £654,000 was made available for such measures in 1997–98; we are currently evaluating local authorities' bids for 1998–99.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estimate of the cost of vandalism to school buildings in the last year for which figures are available. [45950]

The information requested is not collected centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what steps he has taken to facilitate the co-ordination of the Mid Wales Development and the Welsh Development Agency; and if he will make a statement. [45891]

The Government of Wales Bill makes provision for the amalgamation later this year of the Development Board for Rural Wales with the Welsh Development Agency and the Land Authority for Wales, and the appropriate statutory and administrative arrangements are being made to effect this amalgamation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what estimate he has made of the consequences for the Welsh Development Agency of the setting up of regional development agencies in England; and if he will make a statement. [45881]

The new Regional Development Agencies in England will enable the English regions to deploy expertise and resources to secure improvements in economic and social development, and their establishment is welcomed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the members of the board of the Welsh Development Agency. [45883]

The members of the board of the Welsh Development Agency are:

• Mr. David Rowe-Beddoe—Chairman
• Mr. Robin Lewis OBE—Deputy Chairman
• Professor Garel Rhys OBE
• Mrs. Rhiannon Chapman
• Mr. George Wright MBE
• Mrs. Patricia Woodward
• Mr. Graham Hawker
• Mr. Trefor Glyn Jones OBE DL
• Mr. William Legge-Bourke DL
• Councillor T. P. Noel Crowley
• Mr. Brian Willott CB—Chief Executive.

To ask the Attorney-General when he was first informed of the Sandline operation in Sierra Leone. [45806]

I refer the hon. Member to my written answer to the right hon. Member for Wells (Mr. Heathcoat-Amory) on 20 May 1998, Official Report, columns 40– 01. That represented my first involvement with the Sandline case.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what evaluation he has made of the accident rates on the (a) A69 and (b) A66 in each of the last 10 years. [44895]

Accident rates cannot be calculated as traffic data are not readily available. The number of accidents is shown in the following table:

Accidents on the A69 and A66: 1988–1996
Year	A69	A66
1988	204	249
1989	174	255
1990	189	282
1991	98	233
1992	115	199
1993	84	229
1994	99	227
1995	80	205
1996	115	178
1997	106	175

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what evaluation he has made of the accident rates on the section of the M6 between junction 44 and the Scottish border in each of the last 10 years. [44841]

Accident rates cannot be calculated as traffic data are not readily available. The number of accidents is shown in the following table:

Accidents on the road (A74) between junction 44 on the M6 and the Scottish border
Year	Number
1988	21
1989	15
1990	15
1991	22
1992	14
1993	15
1994	10
1995	19
1996	15
1997	14

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will halt the closure of the Driver Test Centre in Stafford. [44976]

The landlord of the premises where the current test centre is located has the normal contractual freedom whether or not to grant the Agency a replacement lease and has refused to accede to the Agency's request to do so in this case.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will require the Driving Standards Agency to make provision for an alternative test centre in Stafford before closing the existing test centre. [44977]

The Driving Standards Agency is keen to retain a testing presence within Stafford and is searching for suitable accommodation in the town. Since receiving notice from the Ordinance Survey of their intention to end the lease on the premises in Wolverhampton Road, ten properties have been considered but none was suitable. The Agency has been unable to renegotiate a short-term lease for the current centre whilst alternative premises are sought.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what factors determined the length of notice the Ordnance Survey gave the Driving Standards Agency of its intention to vacate its premises on Wolverhampton Road, Stafford. [44975]

The Ordnance Survey first notified the Driving Standards Agency of their decision to vacate the offices of Wolverhampton Road, Stafford, in November 1996, in accordance with Government guidelines that require a minimum of 12 months notice to be given. Ordnance Survey no longer need this office, which they vacated on 12 December 1997, and have arranged to terminate their lease on 23 June 1998.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what guidance his Department has issued to the Driving Standards Agency on the minimum notice period required before closure of a driver test centre. [44974]

No specific guidance has been given to the Driving Standards Agency about periods of notice for test centre closures but, wherever possible, the Agency consults with the driver training industry, local authorities, the local MP and local driving instructors.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what were the travel arrangements for the Minister for the Environment's visit to the Waste Management Conference in Torbay on 9 June; and what was the cost to public funds. [45431]

I travelled by helicopter; there was no cost to public funds.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what statistics his Department collates on the number of properties in the county of Derbyshire, excluding the city of Derby, in each of the council tax bands A, B, C, D, E, F, G and H; and what are the latest figures. [45537]

The Department collects the following data, for each Council Tax band, from billing authorities each year:

Total number of dwellings on the valuation list

Number of Class A to W exempt dwellings on the valuation list

Number of demolished dwellings and dwellings outside area of authority

Number of chargeable dwellings

Number of chargeable dwellings eligible for disabled relief

Number of dwellings effectively subject to Council Tax for a band by virtue of disabled relief

Number of chargeable dwellings adjusted in accordance with the above figures for disabled relief

Number of dwellings entitled to a 25 per cent. discount

Number of dwellings entitled to a 50 per cent. discount

Number of other dwellings (assumed to be entitled to no discounts)

Total equivalent number of dwellings after discounts, exemptions and disabled relief

Number of Band D equivalents

Number of Band D equivalents of contributions in lieu of council tax (in respect of Class 0 dwellings)

Taxbase for Revenue Support Grant purposes.

I have today placed in the Library of the House tables showing the above information for district councils in Derbyshire, excluding the city of Derby. The data refer to the number of dwellings on the valuation list at 16 October 1997 and the position on exemptions and discounts as at 3 November 1997, which are the reference dates for the calculation of the taxbase for Revenue Support Grant purposes for 1998–99.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many of the fast lines on the West Coast Mainline will be devoted to Virgin Rail Services following the upgrading agreed by the Rail Regulator. [45321]

None. The upgrade proposal initially submitted to the Regulator reserved the fast lines on the WCML south of Rugby for high speed services. The Regulator's decision was that such rights to exclusivity were inappropriate, and this aspect of the proposal has been withdrawn.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will rank each local authority in England in terms of the amount spent on winter road maintenance per mile for (a) trunk and (b) other roads for the latest year for which figures are available. [45327]

Data on local authority winter road maintenance are collected by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA). The most recent data on spending on winter maintenance on local authority-owned roads by English local highway authorities are for 1995–96. In that year, 84 authorities provided non-zero returns for their spending on winter maintenance. A further 16 authorities returned zero spending on winter maintenance. The remaining 34 authorities did not separate out spending on winter maintenance from other maintenance spending.Winter maintenance expenditure depends on local weather conditions and will therefore vary widely. It will also vary from year to year, so that a single year's results are of limited utility. Data for 1996–97 will be available later in the year.Data on the 84 authorities providing non-zero returns are set out in the table. It is derived from data collected and published by CIPFA as Highways and Transportation Statistics 1997, CIS 14.97, November 1997.

Local authority	Winter maintenance actual expenditure £ per km
Cornwall	69
Sutton	96
Camden	121
Isle of Wight	173
Somerset	178
Devon	207
Lincolnshire	215
Norfolk	248
Oxfordshire	261
Essex	287
Cambridgeshire	295
Suffolk	300
St. Helens	318
Redbridge	326
Dorset	332
Liverpool	337
Wirral	344
Shropshire	344
Bexley	356
Sefton	360
Warwickshire	364
Wakefield	369
Wigan	374
Cumbria	374
Croydon	376
Cheshire	378
Gloucestershire	382
Havering	388
East Sussex	389
Stockport	396
Solihull	402
Enfield	407
Hampshire	410
West Sussex	415
Hounslow	432
Knowsley	442
North Yorkshire	450
Doncaster	451
Trafford	453
Nottinghamshire	458
Manchester	476
Hammersmith & Fulham	479
Hertfordshire	489
Hereford & Worcester	497
Rotherham	497
Barking & Dagenham	502
Northamptonshire	503
Coventry	506
Staffordshire	509
Kent	529
Bromley	535
Westminster	539
Hackney	546
Bury	547
South Tyneside	549

Local authority	Winter maintenance actual expenditure £ per km
Richmond-upon-Thames	563
Salford	581
Kingston-upon-Thames	588
Rochdale	607
Wiltshire	613
Newham	638
Hillingdon	643
Northumberland	683
Leeds	685
Lancashire	686
Bolton	745
Barnet	761
Dudley	772
Derbyshire	799
Newcastle upon Tyne	803
Wandsworth	804
Bradford	819
Buckinghamshire	822
Kirklees	862
Barnsley	865
Surrey	874
Durham	875
Bedfordshire	902
Harrow	966
Birmingham	1,060
Gateshead	1,075
Calderdale	1,185
Oldham	1,208
Ealing	1,705

In 1995–96, £21.6 million was allocated for winter maintenance on trunk roads by the Highways Agency to its maintenance agents, not all of whom are local authorities.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he expects work on the M5 around the Avon Bridge to be completed; and if he will make a statement. [45163]

I have asked the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency, Mr. Lawrie Haynes, to write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what recent representations he has received about the performance of Great Western trains on the Penzance to Paddington route; and if he will make a statement. [45516]

My Department and the Office of Passenger Rail Franchising have received some 90 representation about the performance of Great Western's train services generally since the beginning of 1998.Great Western has experienced a number of operational and infrastructure problems in recent months which have resulted in an unacceptable quality of service to passengers. OPRAF monitors performance and has agreed with the company an action plan to address the causes of the problems, involving Railtrack as appropriate. To provide further incentive to improve, a performance regime was introduced on 1 April under which Great Western pays a penalty to the Franchising Director of £250 in the event of a train being 20 minutes late, £500 if 30 minutes late or if it does not operate the full journey, and £1,000 if cancelled altogether. This is the first time that such a performance regime has been applied to an InterCity train operator.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what provision is available to compensate parties whose legal costs become nugatory when a planning public inquiry has to be recommenced with a new inspector due to the long-term illness of the original planning inspector; and if he will make a statement. [45438]

There is no provision for reimbursing parties for expenses incurred in participating in a planning inquiry which is not completed due to the illness of the Inspector. The Planning Inspectorate normally agrees to meet the cost of any reasonable additional or wasted expenses where the Inspectorate accepts that it has been at fault. However, the Inspectorate is not prepared to entertain claims relating to circumstances beyond its control.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what was the area of Green Belt in Worcestershire in each of the years 1979 to 1997.[45620]

The current estimate of the size of Worcestershire's Green Belt is 40,400 hectares. It is not possible to estimate the size at earlier dates as, during the period 1979–1997, many small detailed changes took place as part of the preparation and adoption of local plans in the area by the local authorities.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what action he is taking to safeguard the development of new open space in urban areas following recent guidance relating to housing development on brownfield sites. [45714]

Our planning policy guidance already recognises the value of urban open space and advises that planning policies should seek to achieve a reasonable balance between the need to make adequate provision for development and the need to protect open land from development. We will be considering whether we need to strengthen existing guidance in the revising Planning Policy Guidance Note 3 on Housing. In doing this, we will take into account research, which we hope to publish shortly, on the effectiveness of Planning Policy Guidance Note 17 on Sport and Recreation. We are also tightening up planning controls in respect of development of local authority owned playing fields where the English Sports Council advises against the proposals.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he has received on the Boundary Commission's review of electoral boundaries in Cumbria; and when he will announce his decision on the boundaries. [45690]

We have received 20 representations on the Local Government Commission's final recommendations on the future electoral arrangements for Cumbria. We are currently considering these representations and intend to announce our preliminary response to the recommendations shortly. At present, it is intended that the new arrangements will be established in time for the 1999 elections.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the guarantees which (a) the Government and (b) LCR have given to Railtrack for the construction of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link. [45624]

The Government have not given to Railtrack any direct guarantees in relation to the construction of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link. As my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister explained in his statement to the House on 3 June 1998, Official Report, columns 367–70, the Government have agreed to assist the capacity of Eurostar (UK) Ltd. to meet its commitments, including to Railtrack; this support is forecast to amount to not more than £140 million, none of which would fall due before 2010, and which would be more than offset by the Government's 35 per cent. share in LCR pretax cashflow after 2020.LCR has agreed to give Railtrack an exclusive option to commit to purchase the second phase of construction provided that option is exercised no later than 1 July 2003.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how much of Eurostar's management company will be controlled by French and Belgian railways; and what percentage shareholdings they currently have in the Eurostar trilateral partnership.[45627]

The SNCF and SNCB initial shareholding in the Eurostar management company is proposed to be 35 per cent. and 15 per cent. respectively. This will reduce to 21.7 per cent. and 8.7 per cent. respectively if British Airways exercise an option to increase its shareholding. The Eurostar trilateral partnership has no formal shareholding structure. Each company is responsible for operations and physical assets within its own territory.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the Government's recent decision to write off the cost of Eurostar sleeper trains. [45533]

The rolling stock for this service was ordered from Metro Cammel in 1992 by European Night Services Ltd. (ENS) using a lease purchase facility. ENS is a joint venture company owned by Eurostar (UK) Ltd. along with the national railways of France, Germany and Holland. The liabilities of Eurostar (UK) Ltd. under the lease purchase facility were the subject of a Government Guarantee agreed by the previous Government which was notified to Parliament in 1996. Following the decision by ENS not to run night services, the lease on the partially built rolling stock was terminated. Eurostar (UK) Ltd. were unable to meet their portion of the termination of the termination costs so in order to avoid the collapse of the CTRL project, the Government consented to call on their Guarantee being made. The Government made payments to the lessors totalling £109,477,725.33 inc. VAT on 1 June 1998 but have arranged a provision so that there would be an opportunity of a return to the taxpayer in the event that the rolling stock were sold on by the manufacturer.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the modes of transport the Minister of the Environment used in his official capacity on 9 June, specifying the amount of time spent and distance travelled in each mode. [45747]

I travelled to and from my engagements on 9 June by whatever means were most convenient to enable me to conduct Government business most efficiently. (This included walking, car, bicycle and helicopter).

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the Government's policy on the role of trans-urban heavy rail schemes in an integrated transport strategy. [45523]

We will shortly publish a White Paper which will deliver our commitment to introduce an integrated transport policy. Meanwhile, last November we approved the Franchising Director's interim planning criteria, which provide a framework for developing and implementing worthwhile rail investment.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what evaluation he has made of the accident rates in Colchester High Street in each of the last 10 years. [45547]

Records of personal injury accidents are kept by Essex County Council and their agents Colchester Borough Council as highway authorities for local roads in Colchester. Evaluation of these accidents is for these authorities.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what proposals he has received from the Association of Residential Letting Agents for a national private housing tenancy licensing scheme; and what response he gave to them. [45435]

I met the Chairman of the Association of Residential Letting Agents on 8 December 1997 to discuss their proposals for compulsory registration of all landlords and their properties in the private rented sector. I confirmed in my letter to him of 3 February that the Government are not persuaded that this would be either feasible or desirable because of the huge burden it would place on local authorities and the risk of discouraging sideline landlords from letting property. However, I reaffirmed our commitment to develop proposals for licensing Houses in Multiple Occupation where the risks to health and safety tend to be the greatest.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he has received on the operation of section 35 of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 with particular reference to problems faced by blind people with guide dogs in obtaining access to private hire taxis. [45550]

None. Section 37 of the Disability Discrimination Act will require drivers of licensed taxis to carry passengers and their guide or hearing dogs and to do so without additional charge. The taxi provisions of the Act do not apply to private hire vehicles.Section 37 will be brought into force after we have consulted on procedures for medical exemptions later this year.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the outcome of the conference of the Parties to the Biodiversity Convention Meeting in Bratislava. [46420]

The Fourth Meeting of the Conference of Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity was held in Bratislava from 4 to 15 May. The United Kingdom led active participation by the European Union, which helped ensure that many of our objectives for this meeting, as agreed at the March Environment Council, were achieved.A range of further work was agreed on measures to safeguard biodiversity in inland water, forest, agriculture, and coastal and marine ecosystems. Arrangements were agreed for the conclusion of the negotiation of a Biosafety Protocol to the Convention by early next year, and to hold an inter-sessional working group to consider further the implementation of the Convention's provisions on traditional knowledge. The meeting commissioned further work to analyse the first round of national reports from Parties, and the preparation of guidance on the nature and timing of the next round. Attention will also be given inter-sessionally to access to genetic resources and benefit-sharing.The UK laid particular emphasis on the need to improve the operations of the Convention and the Conference of the Parties, and while some progress was made on this in Bratislava, further consideration will take place at an inter-sessional meeting next year. The UK will continue to press for improvements in the efficiency and effectiveness of the Convention's operations, in order to maximise delivery of the Convention's objectives.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many cyclists suffered minor injuries on roads in the United Kingdom in each of the last five years. [45798]

The information requested is shown in the following table.

Slight cyclist casualties: UK 1993–97
Year	Total
1993	20,495
1994	21,056
1995	21,260
1996	21,049
1997	21,274

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans have been put to his Department for the re-establishment of passenger rail services from Matlock to Buxton; and if he will make a statement. [45349]

[holding answer 15 June 1998]: We are aware of the proposal to re-establish passenger rail services from Matlock to Buxton as part of a wider strategy for the area. Any decision to re-establish services will be a matter for the promoters of the scheme, together with Railtrack, the local authorities and the relevant train operating companies.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will place in the Library copies of the correspondence his Department has received in the last six months concerning the implementation of the Environmental Impact Assessment Directive as it affects the offshore oil and gas industry. [46009]

Implementation of the Environmental Impact Assessment Directive (85/337/EEC) as it applies to the offshore oil and gas industry is a matter for my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade. However, my Department has taken the lead in the initial public consultation on the implementation generally of the amended EIA Directive (97/11/EC) which must be done by 14 March 1999, and I refer the hon. Member to the answer my hon. Friend, the Minister for the Regions, Regeneration and Planning, gave on 12 May 1998, Official Report, column 66.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate he has made of the number of public toilets per 10,000 population in each local authority in England. [46083]

None. The Audit Commission, however, publish annually the number of public conveniences provided by each authority. Their latest report "Local Authority Performance Indicators 96–97" is available in the House of Commons Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the role of taxi vouchers, pursuant to the recently announced Rural Transport initiative. [45640]

[holding answer 15 June 1998]: The main aim of the new finance for rural transport, announced in the Budget, is to promote additional services; it is not available for concessionary fares, including taxi vouchers. Concessionary fare schemes remain a matter for individual local authorities, who will doubtless wish to consider whether taxi vouchers could provide useful flexibility in rural areas.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what reasons underlie the delays in publishing the White Paper on Transport; and on what date it will be published. [46216]

My right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister has said that the White Paper will be published soon after the Comprehensive Spending Review. On the day of publication, a statement will be made to the House in the normal way.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is his policy in respect of the direct use of public funds for construction of new rail infrastructure. [46144]

Resources are available from a number of budgets within the Department. Schemes are considered on their own merits in terms of the value for money that they provide.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what schemes are being evaluated by his Department to reduce private car use in London; and if he will make a statement. [45568]

We have said that we wish to see fewer private cars in cities, with more people walking, cycling and using public transport. Our proposals for achieving these aims will be published in the Integrated Transport White Paper. The responsibility for implementing them in London will rest with the new Greater London Authority.We have of course already made additional money available to London Transport over two years to improve the Underground. We have issued revised Traffic Management and Parking Guidance with greater emphasis on measures to assist buses, cyclists, and pedestrians in London, and we are working with the boroughs and transport operators on a number of initiatives to open up a wider set of transport choices for all and reduce dependency on the car, over the next two years.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many car parking places have been approved in developments in inner London in the past year; and what data his Department has collated on previous years. [45567]

My Department does not hold this information.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many developments in London (a) he has called in and (b) have been referred to him due to the number of car parking spaces that are included in them. [45569]

In the last twelve months, four planning applications in London have been called in where the Secretary of State has indicated that parking is one of the issues about which he specifically wishes to be informed in reaching his decision. No planning applications have been referred to him solely because of the number of car parking spaces provide.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the extent to which the draft water industry specifications for plastic sewage pipes are in line with Part H of the Building Regulations covering household drainage. [45207]

Only one draft water industry specification for plastic sewage pipes is currently under development and this is for thermoplastic structured pipes for the construction of gravity sewers. These pipes are larger than those generally used in household drainage. The guidance in the Approved Document to Part H of the Building Regulations lists pipe materials and the relevant British Standards, but does not specifically address the type of pipe in the water industry specification.However, the references in Approved Documents are not exclusive and other materials or products may be suitable in the particular circumstance. Given this, pipes and fittings which comply with the draft water industry specification for plastic sewage pipes should be acceptable for use in drainage systems which need to meet the requirements of Part H of the Building Regulations.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when Part H of the Building Regulations will be reviewed. [45208]

General Government Expenditure by function in real terms–1978–79 to 1981–82
£ billion
	1978–79 outturn	1979–80 outturn	1980–81 outturn	1981–82 outturn
Defence1	23·4	24·8	25·6	26·1
International development assistance and other international services	3·3	3·2	3·0	3·0
Agriculture, fisheries, food and forestry	3·2	3·4	3·7	3·4
Trade, industry, energy, employment and training	12·8	11·1	10·8	12·9
Transport	9·2	9·6	9·6	9·7
Housing	13·9	14·7	12·6	8·5
Other environmental services	8·2	8·6	8·5	8·0
Law, order and protective services	7·9	8·6	8·9	9·5
Education2	28·1	27·8	28·6	28·4
Memo: Education excluding the sale of student loans portfolio	28·1	27·8	28·6	28·4
Culture, media and sport	2·2	2·2	2·3	2·4
Health and personal social services3	28·1	28·9	31·2	31·9
of which: Health3	23·8	24·4	26·4	27·1
Social security	52·2	52·8	53·9	59·9
Central administration and associated expenditure4	8·5	8·4	6·7	6·7
Total expenditure on services	201·1	204·1	205·2	210·1
General Government net debt interest	13·6	15·9	16·3	17·5
Other accounting adjustments5	6·8	9·2	11·8	8·6
Allowance for shortfall6	—	—	—	—
General Government expenditure (X)	221·5	229·2	233·4	236·2
General Government interest and dividend receipts	9·2	9·0	9·1	9·6
National Lottery Privatisation proceeds	0·0	–1·0	–0·5	–1·0
General Government expenditure	230·7	237·2	242·0	244·8

The need to review the Approved Document to Part H of the Building Regulations was discussed by the Building Regulations Advisory Committee on 19 February 1998. It was decided to consider what would be addressed in the review at the Committee's meeting in October 1998 when the outcome of some supporting research should be available. The review of the Approved Document should commence shortly afterwards.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the amount in billions of pounds at 1997–98 prices accounted for by General Government Expenditure on Services from 1979–80 to 1997–98, broken down by the current classification of sponsor department. [45425]

A series for General Government Expenditure on Services from 1982–83 to 1997–98, broken down by function and presented in 1996–97 prices, is published in Table 3.3 of Public Expenditure: Statistical Analyses 1998–99 (Cm 3901). Equivalent figures for the period 1978–79 to 1981–82 are presented in the following table. The footnotes are identical to those of Table 3.3.The figures are presented in 1996–97 prices since GDP outturn for 1997–98 is not yet available. An indication of how these figures would look in 1997–98 prices can be obtained by inflating them using the forecast GDP deflator for 1997–98 of 2¾ per cent. as published in Table B1 of the

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the full year cost of giving two-parent families an additional working families tax credit of £48.80; and if he will publish a table which shows what, if that were done, would be the equivalised net income of a single-earner married couple with two children aged four and six years as a percentage of a single adult's net income if in each case the gross pre-tax income was (i) £150, (ii) £200, (iii) £250, (iv) £300, (v) £350 and (vi) £400 respectively. [44512]

[holding answer 8 June 1998]: It is estimated that the additional cost of giving two-parent families an additional credit of £48.80 within the WFTC is around £3 billion (1998–99 prices).The following table shows the net income (after income tax, including WFTC, NICs and child benefit), and equivalised net income, of a single earner married couple with two young children, at different levels of gross income, with an additional £48.80 of basic WFTC.

Single earner married couple (2 children aged 4 and 6)
Gross income	Net income (after taxes and benefits)	Equivalised net income
150	269·88	194·16
200	285·14	205·14
250	300·22	215·98
300	315·29	226·83
350	330·37	237·67
400	345·44	248·52

For comparison, the following table shows the net income of a single person.

Single person, no children
Gross income	Net income (after taxes and benefits)	Equivalised net income
150	127·53	209·07
200	161·44	264·65
250	194·94	319·57
300	228·44	374·48
350	261·94	429·40
400	295·44	484·32

Equivalised net income of a single earner married couple with two children, as a percentage of a single adult's net equivalised income, is as shown:

Gross income	Percentage
150	92
200	78
250	68
300	61
350	55
400	51

The figures include the effect of Budget measures taking effect in 1999–2000, although at 1998–99 levels of tax and benefits.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the degree to which the present debt to national income ratio is consistent with his fiscal rules. [45491]

[holding answer 15 June 1998]: I refer the hon. Member to the Statement that my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer made in the House on 11 June 1998, Official Report, columns 1195–201.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the actual and contingent liabilities of the Consolidated Fund on (a) 31 March and (b) 30 April, excluding cases (i) involving £100,000 or less and (ii) arising in the normal course of a department's business. [45180]

[holding answer 11 June 1998]: Amounts outstanding for individual actual and contingent liabilities as at 31 March 1997 (the latest figures available) were published in Table B15 of the Supplementary Statements to the Consolidated Fund and National Loans Fund Accounts for 1996–97 (House of Commons Paper No. 378 of 1996–97). This statement excludes (a) cases involving £100,000 or less; (b) cases arising in the normal course of departments' business; and (c) a small number of other cases, of which details have been supplied to the National Audit Office, where there are considerations of national security, or commercial confidentiality, or where public knowledge of a guarantee could prompt claims from third parties.The figures for actual and contingent liabilities are collected only for one date each year–31 March, which is the end of the financial year. As usual, details of the amounts outstanding as at 31 March 1998 will be published in the Supplementary Statements to the Consolidated Fund and the National Loans Fund Accounts for 1997–98 which will be laid before the House in mid to late December 1998.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list contingent liabilities accepted by the Government since 1 May 1997. [45179]

[holding answer 11 June 1998): Details of the amounts outstanding as at 31 March 1998 will be published in the usual way in the Supplementary Statements to the Consolidated Fund and National Loans Fund Accounts for 1997–98 which will be laid before the House in mid to late December 1998.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he last met his European Union counterparts to discuss the political implications of Economic and Monetary Union. [44548]

The Chancellor of the Exchequer meets his counterparts on a regular basis to discuss a range of matters relating to Economic and Monetary Union. The last meeting of the Council of Economic and Finance Ministers was on 5 June 1998.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate how many (a) men and (b) women working (i) part-time and (ii) full-time in (1) Tamworth and (2) Staffordshire earn less than (x) £3 per hour, (y) £3.60 per hour and (z) £4 per hour; and, in each case, what is the percentage of the total number employed.[45534]

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

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proposals he has to regulate the activities of those engaged in debt recovery. [44440]

I have been asked to reply.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the status of Crown Production 16 in respect of the right to collect the Skye bridge tolls on the part of the second concessionaire, Miller Civil Engineering; and if he will make a statement. [43194]

[holding answer 10 June 1998]: The hon. Member's description of Miller Civil Engineering Ltd. as the second concessionaire is incorrect in terms of the relevant statutory provisions in the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 and the contractual arrangements relating to the procurement of the bridge. There is only one concessionaire, namely Skye Bridge Ltd., formerly known as Skye Bridge Tolls Ltd. The then Secretary of State assigned to Skye Bridge Tolls Ltd. his right to charge and collect tolls on Skye Bridge in accordance with section 28 of the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 and the relevant toll order. Miller Civil Engineering Ltd. are not a concessionaire since they have not been assigned the Secretary of State's rights to charge and collect tolls.I understand Crown Production 16 to be a document produced in the context of criminal proceedings in Dingwall Sheriff Court. The production is part of the Memorandum of Agreement made among the then Secretary of State for Scotland, Skye Bridge Tolls Ltd., The Miller Group Ltd., Miller Civil Engineering Ltd., Dyckerhoff & Widmann AG and Miller-Dywidag Joint Venture in relation to documents identified in Appendix 1 to that Memorandum. The documents include the Operation and Maintenance Agreement, in terms of which Skye Bridge Tolls Ltd., the concessionaire, entered into arrangements with Miller-Dywidag Joint Venture relating to the operation and maintenance of the bridge by Miller & Dywidag in joint venture including the collection of tolls on behalf of Skye Bridge Tolls Ltd. The Memorandum represents the then Secretary of State's written consent to those arrangements. This is set out in the Answers which I have lodged as an interested party in response to the Petition by Robbie the Pict seeking to interdict Miller Civil Engineering Ltd. from collecting tolls from him in respect of his use of Skye Bridge. That matter is currently before the Court of Session.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list, for each of the last four years, the departmental inquiries and reviews instigated by Ministers which have been chaired by individuals outside his Department; and in each case if he will give the date of establishment and the name of the chairman. [44363]

Committee/Review	Date established	Chairman/Review Body
Review of Food Related Scientific Services in Scotland	May 1998	Professor Morag C. Timbury
Advisory Committee on the Co-ordination and Provision of Education for Severe Low Incidence Disabilities	April 1998	Professor Sheila Riddell
The Beattie Committee—review improvement of skills and employability for young people with special needs	April 1998	Mr. Robert Beattie MBE
Expert Panel on Sex Offending	March 1998	Lady Cosgrove
Review of GPs Out of House Service	March 1998	Mrs. Deirdre Hutton
Waiting List Support Force	March 1998	Mr. Tom Divers
Commission on Local Government and the Scottish Parliament	January 1998	Mr. Neil McIntosh CBE
Investigation into Complaints by Members of Parliament against the Scottish Ambulance Service	December 1997	Mr. Owen Clarke
Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy Inquiry (appointed by MAFF)	December 1997	Lord Justice Phillips
National Review of Resource Allocation	December 1997	Professor Sir John Arbuthnott
Review of aspects of Gaelic Broadcasting	December 1997	Mr. Neil Fraser
Inquiry into Diesel Spill at Burncrooks Water Treatment Works	December 1997	Mr. Robert Fraser OBE
Review of an Eye Transplantation/CJD incident in 1997	November 1997	Sir William Stewart FRS
Mental Welfare Commission Investigation into the Care and Treatment received by Philip McFadden	October 1997	Dr. J. A. T. Dyer
Time Intervals Working Group—To consider improvements in the workings of the children's hearings system	July 1997	Mrs. Sally Kuenssberg
Report on Dispute between Argyll and Bute Council and West Dunbartonshire Council over Disaggregated 1995–96 Notional Budget following Local Government Reorganisation	February 1997	Mr. Sam Craig
Sports Ambassadors Scheme	January 1997	Mr. David Sole
The Pennington Group—report on the circumstances leading to the 1996 outbreak of infection with E.coli 0157 in Central Scotland, the implications of food safety and the lessons to be learned	November 1996	Professor Hugh Pennington
Children's Safeguard Review	July 1996	Mr. Roger Kent
National Committee of Inquiry into Further Education (Jointly appointed by DfEE, WO, NIO and SO)	May 1996	Lord Dearing
The Public Inquiry into the Shootings at Dunblane Primary School on 12 March 1996 (Tribunal of Inquiry)	March 1996	Lord Cullen
Task Force on Underachievement in Scottish Schools	March 1996	Mr. Hamish Robertson CB MBE
Inquiry into the Appointment of Chief Officers in North Lanarkshire Council	December 1995	Mr. D. I. K. MacLeod WS
Study of the Development of the Film and Television Industry in Scotland	November 1995	Hydra Associates
Study of Film Finance in Scotland	November 1995	Hydra Associates
Scottish Salmon Strategy Task Force	November 1995	Lord Nickson
Inquiry into the Appointment Practices of Monklands District Council	July 1995	Mr. W. A. Nimmo Smith QC
External Review of State Hospital Inquiry Report into Incident in December 1994 involving patient at the State Hospital	May 1995	Dr. Rosemary Cope
Scottish Avalanche Information System Review	May 1995	Mr. Andrew T. F. Gibb

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Motherwell and Wishaw (Mr. Roy) of 2 June 1998, Official Report, column 196, what was the basis of his calculation that a prisoner paying £1 per week covered the costs of an in-cell television set. [45721]

The sum of around £1.00 per week was arrived at by dividing the likely cost of installing a television in a prisoner's cell by the period of 3 years over which that cost is to be recovered. The cost of installing a television, including purchase, warranty, electrical health and safety checking, and installation, is estimated to be around £150.00. Over 3 years, this gives a figure of around £1.00 per week.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will place in the Library the communications from Langdon's, cost consultants, on the costs of a Scottish Parliament.[46027]

[holding answer 11 June 1998]: The information is set out in the table:

[holding answer 15 June 1998]: Davis Langdon Everest have been retained by the Scottish Office as cost consultants for the Scottish Parliament Building. Their current advice relates to the estimated construction costs of the different design approaches to the building and is commercially confidential since the construction of the preferred design for the building will in due course be the subject of a competitive tendering exercise. In these circumstances, it would be inappropriate to make details of that advice available in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what representations he has received regarding the extent of the powers of the Scottish Parliament to give policy and direction to National Lottery distributors in Scotland; [45842](2) what consultation he is undertaking in relation to the scope the Scottish Parliament will have to set policy and direction for National Lottery distributors in Scotland; [45981]

The Scottish Office has received one representation on this subject, which was also discussed during the Committee Stage of the National Lottery Bill in the House of Lords. The powers of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland in respect of the Scottish Arts Council and the Scottish Sports Council will transfer to Scottish Ministers on devolution. The Government also recognise that the Scottish Executive will have a strong interest in the activities in Scotland of the National Lottery Charities Board, the National Heritage Memorial Fund and the New Opportunities Fund, and intend to provide mechanisms for the Scottish Executive to exercise appropriate powers of direction over these bodies' activities in Scotland. These proposals were set out in a letter of 4 March from Lord McIntosh of Haringey to Lord Fraser of Carmyllie, of which I am sending a copy to the hon. Member. Detailed implementation of the proposals is under discussion: they will be put in place by subordinate legislation to be made under the Scotland Bill.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he intends to cap any Scottish local authorities this year. [46453]

No. All Scottish local authorities have set budgets for 1998–99 at or below the expenditure limits implied by the provisional capping principles which I announced on 3 December 1997, Official Report, columns 215–18, as part of the 1998–99 local government finance settlement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the expected administrative costs of introducing tuition fees in Scotland in 1998–99. [45860]

The Student Awards Agency for Scotland will be responsible for assessing applications for assistance towards the cost of tuition from Scottish domiciled students. The work is analogous to the Agency's existing functions and we do not expect the administrative costs to be materially different.Any costs incurred by the educational institutions in relation to the collection of students' own contributions to tuition costs is a matter for the institutions themselves.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what the expected savings are to his Department arising from (a) the abolition of maintenance grants and (b) the introduction of tuition fees; and what is the expected additional expenditure from the Scottish Office to finance student loans in each of the financial years 1998–99 to 2003–04. [45841]

In financial year 1998–99, the overall effect of the changes will be broadly neutral in expenditure terms. Estimates for future years will depend on a number of factors and have yet to be finalised, but in the longer term we expect the changes to raise about £140 million in Scotland.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on the additional funding made available to Hereford and Worcester local education authority in 1997–98 and to Worcestershire local education authority in 1998–99. [43730]

The following table shows the funding provided to Hereford and Worcester under the original Grants for Education Support and Training Programme (GEST) for 1997–98, its Education Standard Spending Assessment (SSA) for 1997–98 (after adjusting for the abolition of the nursery voucher scheme), and Supplementary Credit Approvals (SCAs) awarded for 1997–98. It also shows the additional funds subsequently made available under phase one of the New Deal for Schools (NDS1), and under the "Books for Schools" initiative. The table shows the corresponding allocations made so far for 1998–99 to Herefordshire and to Worcestershire, the Standards Fund having replaced GEST.

Hereford and Worcester, 1997–98	£ million
SSA	234·810
Supplementary credit approvals	1·375
Original GEST allocation	3·947
NDS1 capital allocation	0·734
"Books for Schools"	0·360

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many further education colleges currently use franchising arrangements to secure increased student numbers. [44694]

It is estimated that, in the 1997–98 teaching year, 292 out of 444 further education colleges are delivering some of their provision through franchising arrangements.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is the current average class size in further education colleges. [44690]

Data on this are not collected on a systematic basis by the Department. Information from the Further Education Funding Council Inspectorate suggests that the average number of students on the class register in FE colleges in England in 1996–97 was 14.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is his estimate of the increase in the number of further education students by the year 2002. [44691]

Such an estimate cannot be made until the completion of the Comprehensive Spending Review.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what has been the national increase over the years 1993–94 to 1997–98 in numbers and percentage terms of further education (a) full-time students, (b) part-time students, (c) full-time lecturers, (d) fractional lecturers and (e) part-time lecturers. [44692]

The information is not available in respect of all the years mentioned. Figures for 1993–94 are not comparable. For students the figures (on a "whole year" basis) are available only up to 1996–97.

Increase in students 1994–95 to 1995–96 and 1994–95 to 1996–97
	Full-time		Part-time
Increase	1995–96	1996–97	1995–96	1996–97
Numbers	+111,600	+156,000	+352,300	+698,900
Percentage	+12·6	+17·6	+16·4	+32·5

For lecturers figures are available only up to 1995–96.

Increase in lecturers 1994–95 to 1995–96
Increase	Full-time lecturers	Part-time lectures1
Numbers	-1,000	+8,300
Percentage	-1·9	+10·7
1Includes fractional lecturers

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when he will publish his response to the Education and Employment Committee's Sixth report of session 1997–98 on Further Education (HC 264). [44794]

The Government will respond to this report within two months of its publication.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many colleges have been subject to financial clawback by the Further Education Funding Council as a result of inaccuracies in their individual student record systems during each of the last three years. [45048]

[holding answer 11 June 1998]: The information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many students currently attend sixth forms in comprehensive schools; and what is his estimate of the annual cost to public funds of educating them in 1998–99. [44801]

The current number of students in school sixth forms is not available. In January 1997, the most recent month for which figures are available, the number of sixth form students in comprehensive schools was 254,532. The amount within the Standard Spending Assessment allocated to schools' post-16 provision is £1,137.7m for 1998–99. These figures can give only a broad indication of the actual cost of educating students in comprehensive school sixth forms because (i) the spending allocation covers all post-16 state school provision, not just comprehensive schools; (ii) spending is a matter for local authorities' own discretion; and (iii) schools' budgets are unhypothecated.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many students currently attend sixth form colleges; and what is his Department's estimate of the cost of educating them in 1998–99. [44802]

Provisional figures show that there were 160,300 students studying on 1 November 1997 in sixth form colleges in England. The Further Education Funding Council's overall allocation for 1998–99 to sixth form colleges is £326.1 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how much has been provided to Leicestershire Local Education Authority for computers in the classroom as part of the National Grid for Learning Initiative. [44943]

The Department is supporting £997,900 of ICT-related expenditure in Leicestershire in 1998–99 through Standards Fund Grant for the National Grid for Learning. The grant is funded equally by the Department and the relevant local education authority.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what representations he has received regarding the administration of the vocational training tax relief scheme and the possible introduction of a composite form for use by training providers. [44912]

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has received no representations about the administration of vocational training relief, which is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to place the youth services provided by local authorities on a statutory footing. [45169]

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave her on 11 May 1998, Official Report, column 5.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the initiatives planned or undertaken to promote among the young awareness of the United Kingdom Presidency of the European Union. [45310]

The Department of Education and Employment undertook two initiatives to promote the awareness of the United Kingdom Presidency of the European Union among the young. In January, in conjunction with the Scottish, Welsh and Northern Ireland education departments, we issued the "Partners in Europe" information and resource pack, which was sent to all UK schools. We also ran a "Celebrating Europe" competition for schools, FE colleges, vocational training organisations and youth groups, which culminated in an awards ceremony for the 10 major award winners on 11 May 1998.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the Jean Monnet awards for 1998 in the United Kingdom. [45304]

Jean Monnet European Centres of Excellence have been created at:

• University of Bath
• Queen's University Belfast
• University of Birmingham
• University of Sussex
• University of Leeds
• Jean Monnet Chairs have been created at:
• University of Bristol
• University of Kent at Canterbury
• University of Exeter
• John Moores University
• School of Slavonic and East European Studies, University of London
• University of Manchester
• Manchester Metropolitan University
• University of Southampton
• University of Oxford
• University of Plymouth
• Permanent courses have been created at:
• University of Ulster
• University of Derby
• King's College London
• University College of Wales, Newport
• University of Plymouth
• University of Glamorgan
• University of Central Lancashire
• University of Reading
• University of Sheffield
• University of Southampton
• European modules have been created at:
• University of the West of England
• University of Kent at Canterbury
• University of Abertay
• Leeds Metropolitan University
• De Montfort University
• University of North London
• Middlesex University
• London Guildhall
• University University of East Anglia
• University of Oxford
• Ruskin College, Oxford
• Oxford Brookes University
• University of Plymouth
• University of Portsmouth
• University of Salford
• University of St. Andrews
• North East Wales Institute of Higher Education.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what were the optional themes for 1997 Netd@ys projects; how many United Kingdom institutions submitted entries; and what were the final projects submitted by the UK. [45295]

The main aims of the 1997 European Union Netd@ys project were to develop awareness-raising around existing electronic networks of schools; to use the Internet to promote the benefits of networking, and to implement up to 10 Internet-related projects in each EU member state. Applications for funding under the project were sent direct to the European Commission for consideration. Twenty-one projects were submitted from the United Kingdom and the following were awarded funding by the European Commission:

UK Netday. A consortium of commercial suppliers promoting the use of the Internet to co-ordinate and encourage nationally the development of IT and network applications in schools.

BBC Project. The use of TV in schools to publicise Netd@ys 97, including an on-line lesson and a quiz on European history.

City of Leeds. Building on networks via the Internet use of video conferencing facilities to link up with contacts in the UK and EU.

Devon Council. A project involving 32 schools extending their transitional partnerships through networking in order to disseminate educational practice and support teachers and trainers.

Kent TEC. Developing a Kent Lifelong Learning Video-Conferencing Network and establishing a network of Multimedia Learning Centres based in schools.

Birmingham ABC project. Extending an inner city network of schools in Birmingham both into the West Midlands region and to school networks in European countries. Live concert over the Internet given by children.

Netdays in Scotland. Encouraging parents and teachers to learn about and understand the Internet, dissemination of package training on the Internet on CD ROM and holding a conference on multimedia projects.

Netdays Europe in Northern Ireland. A series of events encouraging parents and teachers to learn about and understand the Internet.

Window on the Future, Window on the World. A local competition designed for the children from the 46 primary schools in the Isle of Wight.

Netdays @ Beacon Community College, East Sussex. Developing a community intranet with web pages co-operatively produced at the college by local businesses. European links established to exchange views on health related topics.

In addition, the European Commission funded the costs of the former National Council for Educational Technology in co-ordinating the programme on behalf of the UK.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on the state of planning for Netd@ys Europe 1998. [45294]

This European Commission initiative will take place from 17 to 24 October 1998. The British Educational Communications and Technology Agency (BECTA) has been appointed by my Department as the United Kingdom's national co-ordinator and its role includes the offering of advice and support to UK applicants who submit bids under the project. It is understood that the Commission has so far received 64 project proposals from the UK.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on the 1997 Young Consumer competition in schools financed by the European Commission. [45271]

The 1997 Young Consumer competition was a welcome initiative. It is important that consumer issues are addressed in schools and I hope many pupils were able to participate.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on the proposed paper on the EMU and Education proposed by the European Commission for preparation by the UK presidency. [45272]

United Kingdom
Thousands
Status of borrowers at end of financial year	1993–94	1994–95	1995–96	1996–97
Borrowers with accounts in repayment status	138	263	429	622
Borrowers owing less than two months' repayment	2	3	5	8
Borrowers owing two or more months' repayment	5	11	21	34
Borrowers deferring repayments	61	122	207	312

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what proposals he has to provide additional finance for local education authorities for home tuition for pupils and students suffering from myalgic encephalomyelitis or chronic fatigue syndrome in (a) age groups up to 16, (b) further education and (c) higher education; and if he will make a statement. [45471]

All funding for local education authorities is being considered as part of the Comprehensive Spending Review. It will be for authorities to decide within the total resources available to them the level of support to be provided for each of their services.The Department for Education and Employment will be consulting in the autumn on statutory guidance for local education authorities on educational provision for children who are out of school.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment he has made of the financial impact on colleges of the removal of Schedule 2A qualifications for the financial year 1998–99. [45046]

[holding answer 11 June 1998]: The effect on college budgets is not a factor taken into account when determining qualifications for inclusion under Schedule 2(a). The Further Education Funding Council is not proposing to withdraw allocated funding from colleges which currently offer qualifications no longer on