To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will list (a) the number of damage notices served under the Coal Mining Subsidence Act 1991 and (b) the number of damage notices rejected in each of the last three years. [49262]

Figures for 1997/98 are not yet available. The number of new claims received by the Coal Authority and the coal companies in the period 1994/95–1996/97 was:

• 1996–97: 8,958
• 1995–96: 9,259
• 1994–95: 10,582

The number of claims rejected was:

To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many claimants have pursued cases of coal mining subsidence damage through the general arbitration scheme in each year since its inception; and what was the amount of awards made to successful claimants in each year.[49102]

The Annual Report of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators lists the number of cases registered under the Householders' Arbitration Scheme and the General Arbitration Scheme as 71 in 1993, 97 in 1994, 130 in 1995, 156 in 1996, and 122 in 1997.The Chartered Institute does not separately publish references registered under the two Schemes. However, it advises that, from March 1997 to 3 July 1998, ten cases were registered under the General Scheme, and 155 under the Householders' Scheme.The arbitration procedure is private between the parties, and the content of any Award is known only to the Arbitrator and the two parties concerned.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1), pursuant to her letter of 11 May 1998, when her Department' s Redundancy Payments Service will complete its scrutiny of claims for payments under the Employment Rights Act 1996 from former employees of the ABI Group; [48808]

[holding answer 7 July 1998]: Information came to light after 11 May suggesting a possible transfer of the business, or part of it, to a new employer within the meaning of the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981. Those Regulations provide that, where such a transfer takes place, employees automatically transfer to the new employer under existing terms and conditions of employment. Further inquiries were therefore made as a matter of urgency.Sufficient information has now been received to establish entitlement on some claims and they are being processed. Information remains outstanding in other cases and is being sought as a matter of urgency.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade when her Department's Redundancy Payments Service received from the Receiver the redundancy payment forms relating to former employees of the ABI Group who are seeking payments under the Employment Rights Act 1996. [48809]

[holding answer 7 July 1998]: The Department's Redundancy Payments Service received the first tranche of these employees' claim forms from the Receiver on 19 May 1998.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans she has to encourage the building of new production capacity for solar products in the United Kingdom. [48893]

The Government are committed to a new and strong drive to develop renewable energy sources. In June 1997 I initiated a review of new and renewable energy policy, including what would be necessary and practicable to achieve 10 per cent. of UK's electricity needs from renewables by the year 2010. The Review is considering what further Government support might be given to encourage the development of all forms of renewable energy, including solar power.I have also visited the photovoltaic (PV) roof at Ford's plant in Bridgend (which has panels supplied by BP Solar) and the Intersolar factory in South Wales.The UK is competitive with any other country in Europe as a location for new production plants. Amongst the attractions are low corporation tax, low costs of production, an established enterprise culture, a skilled adaptable workforce, and an established industrial infrastructure. My Department would be pleased to talk to any companies which are thinking of setting up a solar manufacturing plant in this country, and to advise them on the range of incentives available, such as Regional Selective Assistance and other Enterprise grants.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will make a statement on the current review of the OECD guidelines for multinational enterprises. [49159]

[holding answer 7 July 1998]: The Government fully support the review of the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises which was formally launched last month. The first phase of the review, a stocktaking and examination of experience of the guidelines, will provide a basis for determining which areas of the guidelines require revision or updating. This Department will continue to consult widely with other Government Departments and with business, trade unions, and interested NGOs in preparing detailed positions on the issues addressed by the guidelines.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what recent advice her Department has issued to toy retailers in respect of toys containing phthalates. [49203]

[holding answer 7 July 1998]: I refer the hon. Member to the response I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Chorley (Mr. Hoyle) on 1 July 1998, Official Report, columns 214–15, on the use of phthalates in toys. Since that reply, the European Commission has issued a statement recommending that Member States take steps to ensure that the migration of phthalates from PVC child-care articles and toys on their markets do not exceed the limits proposed by the Scientific Committee on Toxicity, Ecotoxicity, and Environment. I welcome the Commission's statement—it vindicates the approach the UK has taken in discussions with the Commission and other Member States. Manufacturers' and retailers' representatives are aware of the Commission's statement.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list the meetings (a) he and (b) the Lord Chancellor has had with Mr. Brian Raincock of Litigation Protection to discuss legal insurance. [48614]

Both the Lord Chancellor and I have had a number of meetings with various representatives of the insurance industry, in the context of our proposals for the expansion of conditional fee arrangements. The Lord Chancellor met representatives of the Association of British Insurers and seven insurance companies, including Mr. Raincock, on 9 December 1997. I held a briefing session for legal journalists on 31 March 1998 along with others, including Mr. Raincock, interested in the Government's reforms in this area. I also spoke at a conference on 30 June 1998 organised by Neil Stewart Associates, which was chaired by Mr. Raincock.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when he last met Mr. Brian Raincock of Litigation Protection to discuss the insurance of conditional fee arrangements. [48613]

I have had no formal meetings with Mr. Raincock. I last met Mr. Raincock at a conference on 30 June 1998, organised by Neil Stewart Associates, which he chaired.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what assessment he has made of the (a) viability and (b) integrity of Litigation Protection as a provider of conditional fee arrangement insurance. [48612]

The Department has a continuing dialogue with the insurance industry about developing the market in insurance products to underpin the use of conditional fees. That has not involved us in undertaking an assessment of particular products or individual providers.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what is the current average time that elapses between an application to become a magistrate and (a) the interview and (b) the outcome of the interview being made known to the candidate; and if he will make a statement. [48493]

Advisory Committees on Justices of the Peace normally make recommendations to the Lord Chancellor only once a year. The length of time a candidate must wait, from making an application to being informed of its outcome, depends on when an application is made in relation to the point in the year when recommendations are made. The Lord Chancellor directs his Advisory Committees to keep candidates informed of the progress of their applications at all stages.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list the public registers which his Department has responsibility for. [47350]

The Lord Chancellor's Department or its Agencies are responsible for the following public registers:

Court Service Headquarters

• Register of County Court Judgments (administered by the Registry Trust Ltd.)
• The Register of bailiffs holding a general certificate to levy distress for rent.

Principal Registry of the Family Division

Probate Calender—record of all grants issued in England and Wales since 1895

Royal Courts of Justice

• Petitions for Bankruptcy, applications for interim orders, and applications to set aside Statutory Demands
• Petitions for administration issues in the Companies Court
• Winding up Petitions issued in England and Wales
• Local Election Petitions
• Parliamentary Election Petitions
• Deeds Poll Register
• Bill of Sale Register
• Book Debt Register

Public Trust Office

• Register of unclaimed balances
• Register of Enduring Powers of Attorney
• Register of Notices served on the Public Trustee under Section 18 of the Law of Property (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1994

Lands Tribunal

• References
• Law of Property Act 1925 Section 84 Applications
• Rating Appeals
• Leasehold Reform Appeals
• Absent Owner Applications
• Rights of Light Act 1959 applications
• Appeals against Determinations of the Inland Revenue

Land Registry

• Registers of Title
• Register of Agricultural Charges
• Register of Land Charges
• Register of Pending Actions
• Register of Writs and Orders
• Register of Deeds of Arrangement
• Register of Annuities
• Index of Proprietors' Names

Northern Ireland Court Service

The following are all registers within the Northern Ireland Court Service which the public have access to in whole or part:

Supreme Court

• Queen's Bench Writs/Cause
• Queen's Bench Judgments
• Court of Appeal Register
• Bankruptcy Register
• Companies (Winding Up) Register
• Probate Register
• Matrimonial Register

Crown and County Court

• Crown Court Book
• Civil Bill Book
• Small Claims Register
• Criminal Injuries Register
• Equity Register
• Divorce Register
• Default Judgment Register

Magistrates' Court

• Intoxicating Liquor Licences Register
• Registered Clubs Register
• Bookmarkers Licences Register
• Bookmaking Office Licences Register
• Bingo Club Licences Register
• Gaming Machine Certificates Register
• Gaming Machine Permits Register
• Lottery Certificates Register

Enforcement of Judgments Office

Register of Judgments.

A number of registers are kept within the Magistrates' Courts in England. and Wales but they are the responsibility of the Justices Clerks rather than the Lord Chancellor's Department and so are not included.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much National Lottery funding has been distributed by (a) the Scottish Sports Council and (b) the Scottish Arts Council for projects in (i) Paisley, South constituency and (ii) Renfrewshire. [48485]

The information requested is given in the table.

£
Distributing body	Paisley, South	Renfrewshire
Scottish Sports Council	—	1681,575
Scottish Arts Council	69,520	2241,312
1Figure relates to capital projects only and refers to the pre-1996 constituency of Renfrew, West and Inverclyde
2Figure relates to projects in the local government area of Renfrewshire and includes figure quoted for Paisley, South

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will estimate how many claimants of jobseeker's allowance over the age of 25 in Paisley, South have been unemployed for more than two years. [48487]

In April 1998, there were 361 people in the Paisley, South constituency aged 25 and over who had been claiming unemployment related benefits for over two years.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will estimate the (i) percentage and (ii) amount of the fee income paid to further education colleges in February which related to expenditure required to be met in the third term in the academic year, relating to next financial year. [48300]

For the 1997–98 academic year tuition fees for full time higher education students have been paid by the Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS) in three instalments, one third in October, one third in February and one third in April. From academic year 1998–99, those fees payable by SAAS will be paid in a single instalment, in February. Approximately one third, or £8 million, of the amount to be paid to further education colleges in February 1999 will relate to expenditure on tuition during the third term of the 1998–99 academic year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how staff numbers in his Department have varied between 1 May 1997 and 31 March 1998. [48876]

Details of the number of permanent staff in The Scottish Office, expressed in full-time equivalents, at 1 May 1997 and 1 April 1998 are shown in the table.

	1 May 1997	1 April 1998	Percentage change
Scottish Office Core	3,489.1	3,436.5	-1.5
Executive Agencies:
Fisheries Research Service	217.9	227.0	+4.2
Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency	254.0	255.6	+0.6
Scottish Agricultural Science Agency	123.2	121.0	-1.8
Scottish Office Pensions Agency	152.1	143.5	-5.7
Student Awards Agency for Scotland	122.3	125.8	+2.9
Historic Scotland	592.7	626.8	+5.8
Scottish Prison Service	14,531.0	4,723.0	+4.2
1Figure relates to the position as at 1 April 1997

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many emergency admissions to hospitals where the diagnosis related to a respiratory disease other than influenza there were in each month in (i) 1993, (ii) 1994, (iii) 1995 and (iv) 1996 in respect of patients aged (a) 0 to 14, (b) 14 to 64 and (c) 64 years and over. [48986]

Number of emergency admissions where a respiratory diagnosis1 excluding influenza was recorded
		Age group (years)
Year of admission	Month of admission	under 15	15–64	65+	Total
1993	January	1,337	1,542	2,674	5,553
	February	1,648	1,338	2,239	5,225
	March	1,546	1,692	2,906	6,144
	April	1,061	1,338	2,386	4,785
	May	1,147	1,425	2,207	4,779
	June	1,132	1,397	2,178	4,707
	July	872	1,356	2,003	4,231
	August	909	1,358	1,965	4,232
	September	1,381	1,467	2,071	4,919
	October	1,679	1,952	2,810	6,441
	November	1,945	1,962	3,713	7,620
	December	2,144	1,783	3,190	7,117
	Total	16,801	18,610	30,342	65,753
1994	January	1,587	1,786	3,067	6,440
	February	1,216	1,429	2,304	4,949
	March	1,214	1,569	2,474	5,257
	April	966	1,450	2,354	4,770
	May	1,141	1,575	2,280	4,996
	June	1,033	1,455	2,263	4,751
	July	751	1,395	2,229	4,375
	August	722	1,511	2,040	4,273
	September	1,143	1,557	2,188	4,888
	October	1,174	1,651	2,303	5,128
	November	1,532	1,594	2,216	5,342
	December	1,955	1,758	2,792	6,505
	Total	14,434	18,730	28,510	61,674
1995	January	1,548	1,841	2,946	6,335
	February	1,453	1,477	2,458	5,388
	March	1,357	1,742	2,737	5,836
	April	955	1,569	2,452	4,976
	May	984	1,691	2,498	5,173
	June	1,011	1,687	2,354	5,052
	July	705	1,612	2,312	4,629
	August	665	1,594	2,145	4,404
	September	1,120	1,866	2,276	5,262

The number of emergency admissions to NHS hospitals in Scotland, where a diagnosis related to a respiratory disease other than influenza was recorded in each month in 1993, 1994, 1995 and 1996 in respect of patients aged under 15, 15 to 64 and 65 years and over is given in the table.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received concerning access for disabled people to polling stations during the Scottish parliamentary elections. [49325]

We have received no representations directly concerning the Scottish Parliamentary elections. However, my officials, together with representatives from Capability Scotland, have recently held 2 seminars attended by officials from local authorities in Scotland responsible for electoral arrangements to highlight improvements which can be made to access at polling stations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many police officers in Scotland are authorised to carry firearms. [49340]

In 1997, the most recent year for which figures are available, there were 723 police officers in Scotland authorised to carry firearms in the strictly limited circumstances covered in guidelines issued by the Secretary of State in 1984.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to publish the report of Robert Fraser into the diesel contamination incident at the Burncrooks Waterworks in December 1997. [49977]

I am publishing Mr. Fraser's report today. I have placed copies of the report in the libraries of both Houses.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many mortgage repossession orders there were to each court district in each of the months of April, May and June 1997 and the month of April 1998. [49208]

Figures in relation to repossession of property by mortgage lenders have been collected by the courts since a revised system of collecting Civil Judicial Statistics was instituted on 1 January 1994. The figures for the months of April, May and June 1997 and the month of April 1998 are shown in the table.

Mortgage Lender
Court	April 1997	May 1997	June 1997	April 1998
Aberdeen	1	28	8	15
Airdrie	16	18	12	3
Alloa	2	0	9	5
Arbroath	0	3	8	10
Ayr	7	12	12	18
Banff	0	0	1	2
Campbeltown	0	0	2	2
Cupar	6	4	1	3
Dingwall	1	0	0	2
Dornoch	0	0	1	0
Dumbarton	10	5	17	19
Dumfries	4	1	1	4
Dundee	15	16	10	12
Dunfermline	0	15	17	11
Dunoon	2	1	2	1
Duns	0	0	2	0
Edinburgh	55	46	39	42
Elgin	4	1	1	4
Falkirk	5	12	10	9
Forfar	3	2	1	4
Fort William	0	0	0	1
Glasgow	87	56	109	63
Greenock	2	0	5	5
Haddington	7	4	5	6

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many mortgage repossession orders there were to each court district in each quarter of 1992–93. [49211]

Information as to orders for mortgage repossession for each court district in 1992 and 1993 are included in the returns relating to all actions involving land or heritable estate which are supplied to the courts for the purposes of the Judicial Statistics (Scotland) Act 1869 and cannot be identified separately.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what were the actual or estimated payments (a) in real terms, (b) in cash terms and (c) as a percentage of total NHS expenditure in Scotland to NHS trust chairs and non-executive directors in the year 1997–98. [49210]

Details for 1997–98 are not yet available. Provisional figures will be available from 31 August 1998.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what were the average waiting times for each Scottish health board for (a) knee and (b) hip joint replacement operations at 31 March in each year since 1992. [49209]

The meaning waiting time for knee and hip joint replacement operations at 31 March in each year since 1992 is given in the table.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his answer of 3 June 1998, Official Report, columns 281–82, on women prisoners, what percentage of female prisoners in each year were incarcerated for non-payment of fines. [49206]

The information provided in the table relates to all sentenced female receptions, both direct and fine default, to the Scottish prison system by type of sentence. The table also provides details of the percentage of female prisoners in each year who were incarcerated for fine default.

Total number of sentenced female receptions to Scottish prison system, 1978–79, 1979–80, 1986–87, 1987–88, 1996–97 and 1997–98 by type of sentence
Year	Total number of sentenced female receptions1	Total number of fine default female receptions	Fine default female receptions as a percentage of total sentenced female receptions
1978–79	731	381	52
1979–80	656	292	45
1986–87	1,220	698	57
1987–88	1,216	623	51
1996–97	1,325	722	54
1997–98	1,141	575	50
1Excludes borstal sentences; of which there were 38 in 1978–79 and 36 in 1979–80

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many responses were received by the Scottish Consultative Council on the Curriculum on the place of Scottish culture in the curriculum; and when he expects the report to be published. [49274]

This is a matter for the Scottish Consultative Council on the Curriculum since the report of their Review Group on Scottish Culture and the Curriculum has not been submitted to the Secretary of State. A decision not to publish the report was taken by the Council at its meeting on 19 June.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the Army's future tactical reconnaissance capability. [50040]

The Strategic Defence Review has emphasised the importance of investment in the area of fast, detailed and accurate intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance, known as ISTAR. This is not only vital for combat operations, but also for many peace support operations.We have, therefore, decided to undertake a programme of work aimed at enhancing the Army's tactical reconnaissance capability. This involves an integrated series of studies into future sensors, land reconnaissance vehicles and unmanned air vehicles. These studies will enable us to identify the most cost-effective mix of reconnaissance sensors and platforms to meet our future needs.As part of this programme, we will conduct with the United States a collaborative Project Definition study which will examine sensors, sensor integration and the vehicles needed to meet our armies' future manned land-based reconnaissance requirements. This joint project is known as the Armoured Scout and Reconnaissance Vehicle, ASRV, and seeks to provide a highly mobile, stealthy battlefield reconnaissance capability. A Memorandum of Understanding with the United States has now been signed, and an Invitation to Tender will be released to industry in the near future. The United Kingdom element of ASRV is known as TRACER—Tactical Reconnaissance Armoured Combat Equipment Requirement. The United Kingdom will be an equal partner with the United States in this project, which will have major benefits for the United Kingdom armed forces and industry.In parallel, we are conducting national studies into the use of Unmanned Air and Land Vehicles for meeting the Army's future reconnaissance requirements. The sensor and sensor integration work carried out under the ASRV project will inform this work. We are also examining the scope for collaboration with the United States on the Unmanned Air Vehicle element of the programme.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on a future rocket for the Multiple Launch Rocket System. [50046]

The United Kingdom intends to join the collaborative programme to develop a guided rocket for the Multiple Launch Rocket System, MLRS. This guided rocket will replace the current MLRS rocket, which begins to reach the end of its service life early next century. The new rocket will have a greater range and accuracy than current rockets.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the personnel numbers for (a) the full strength and (b) the current strength of each RAF squadron. [44188]

[holding answer 10 June 1998]: The table gives the figures for the establishment of each RAF operational Squadron, and the number of established posts filled as at 1 May 98.

Squadron station	Establishment	Established posts filled
Strike/attack
9 Sqn Bruggen	177	169
12 Sqn Lossiemouth	175	163
14 Sqn Bruggen	177	164
17 Sqn Bruggen	177	163
31 Sqn Bruggen	175	165
617 Sqn Lossiemouth	178	162
Offensive support
1 Sqn Wittering	173	158
3 Sqn Laarbruch	165	158
4 Sqn Laarbruch	168	154
6 Sqn Coltishall	135	122
54 Sqn Coltishall	134	119
Air defence
5 Sqn Coningsby	179	169
11 Sqn Leeming	194	181
25 Sqn Leeming	192	178
29 Sqn Coningsby	180	168
43 Sqn Leuchars	193	184
111 Sqn Leuchars	193	181
Airborne early warning
8 Sqn Waddington	102	90
23 Sqn Waddington	89	77
Maritime patrol
120 Sqn Kinloss	125	118
201 Sqn Kinloss	125	123
206 Sqn Kinloss	126	114
Reconnaissance
2 Sqn Marham	222	211
13 Sqn Marham	221	207
39 Sqn Marham	126	118
41 Sqn Coltishall	204	190
51 Sqn Waddington	216	178
Air transport/tankers
10 Sqn Brize Norton	333	310
101 Sqn Brize Norton	244	217
216 Sqn Brize Norton	350	309
Air transport
24 Sqn Lyneham	117	110
30 Sqn Lyneham	118	115
32 Sqn Northolt	85	59
47 Sqn Lyneham	129	125
70 Sqn Lyneham	121	114

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the public registers which his Department has responsibility for. [47358]

[holding answer 29 June 1998]: We have no requirement for a central record of such registers for which the Ministry of Defence is responsible.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what disciplinary action, under Queen's Regulations, is being taken against Major Eric Joyce, Adjutant-General's Corps in respect of his participation in the selection process as a parliamentary candidate for the Scottish Parliament. [48336]

[holding answer 2 July 1998]: Administrative action in respect of Major Joyce's future in the Army has been in hand for some time. No disciplinary action is currently being taken against Major Joyce.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the (a) current establishment and (b) actual current manning levels of (i) the Royal Navy as a whole, (ii) the Fleet Air Arm, (iii) the Royal Marines, (iv) the Royal Marine Reserve and (v) the Royal Naval Reserve. [47547]

[holding answer 25 June 1998]: 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 International Development what representations her Department has made to British banking institutions concerning their support for micro-credit financing in developing countries. [49315]

The Department for International Development (DFID) has engaged with a number of UK based banks to involve them in support to particular bilateral microfinance projects in Bangladesh and Kenya. DFID is a very active member of the World Bank based Consultative Group to Assist the Poorest (CGAP) which is currently devoting considerable attention to developing methodologies to involve the formal banking sector in microfinance. For the past two years DFID has supported a series of round table discussions on microfinance at the London based Centre for the Study of Financial Innovation (CSFI). These meetings involved a variety of financial institutions from the City and resulted in a well received publication on mainstreaming microfinance. DFID has also recently established a Working Group on Financial Service, the first meeting of which was attended by a number of bankers and is likely to lead to the creation of a sub-committee specifically concerned with involving British financial institutions in microfinance in developing countries.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list the projects in Indonesia supported by her Department which have been cancelled or reviewed by the Indonesian Government in the last 12 months (a) as a condition of IMF assistance to Indonesia, (b) as a result of links with the family of former President Suharto and (c) for other reasons, in each case specifying (i) the reason, (ii) the nature of the project and (iii) the expenditure incurred to date; and if she will make a statement. [49353]

We know of two projects, both concerned with power supply, that have been reviewed by the Government of Indonesia. They are:

(a) 150/500 KV sub-stations and

(b) Outer islands diesel generation.

Work on (a) has been suspended. Discussions continue on both projects. They are existing commitments supported from the Aid and Trade Provision. DFID expenditure to date on (a) has been £14.473 million while (b) has not yet commenced. The reviews are a direct response to the overall economic situation.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what level of aid commitment her Department plans to make at the forthcoming meeting of the Consultative Groups on Indonesia, specifying the amounts which will be provided as (a) budgetary support, (b) project aid and (c) humanitarian aid; and to what extent the commitment will be dependent on political reforms in Indonesia and East Timor. [49334]

Discussions are continuing in the run-up to the Consultative Group meeting on 28–30 July. To address the current crisis, urgent action is needed by the Government of Indonesia to implement economic and political reform, supported by a concerted international effort. We are already making a substantial contribution through our membership of the International Financial Institutions and in other ways. We are considering what more we might do. In particular, my Department is looking at options for providing rapid assistance through civil society organisations to particularly vulnerable groups affected by the crisis.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what contingency plans her Department is making in the event of the failure of computer systems to recognise the year 2000; when she expects them to be in place, and tested; and if she will make a statement.[48840]

The Northern Ireland Office and the Northern Ireland Departments are addressing contingency planning within their overall year 2000 programmes to ensure that systems will not fail before, during, or after the year 2000. The plans are due to be in place by December 1998 and will be tested by the Departments during 1999.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how staff numbers in her Department have varied between 1 May 1997 and 31 March 1998. [48885]

The number of industrial and non-industrial Northern Ireland Civil Servants and Home Civil Servants in the Northern Ireland Office and Northern Ireland Departments, including those seconded to the Police Authority for Northern Ireland, at 1 May 1997 and 1 April 1998 was as follows:

	Permanent	Casual	Total
1 May 1997	25,672	1,889	27,561
1 April 1998	25,270	1,861	27,131

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what date the policy appraisal and fair treatment analyses undertaken in relation to the impact of the proposed Criminal Justice (Children)(NI) Order was completed; and if she will place it in the Library. [48356]

[holding answer 6 July 1998]: A Policy Appraisal and Fair Treatment analysis of the draft Criminal Justice (Children)(NI) Order was completed in July 1997. A copy has been placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans she has to secure equality of treatment between widows and widowers in the benefits system. [49106]

I refer my hon. Friend to the Written Answer I gave the hon. Member for Edinburgh, West (Mr. Gorrie) on 23 June 1997, Official Report, column 413.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what benefits are available to individuals and their carers during temporary periods of chemotherapy and other intensive treatments; [48932](2) what research she has evaluated into the success rate of claims for disability living allowance from people undergoing periods of chemotherapy and other intensive treatments; [48933](3) what assessment she has made of the effect of the rules for disability living allowance on those people undergoing periods of chemotherapy and other intensive treatments. [48934]

People who receive chemotherapy and their carers can qualify for Social Security benefits on the same basis as others who are sick or disabled or provide care, and discrete information about their claims is not collected.The benefits designed specifically to help sick or disabled people or their carers are Attendance Allowance, Disability Living Allowance, Disability Working Allowance, Severe Disablement Allowance, Invalid Care Allowance, Statutory Sick Pay, Incapacity Benefit and Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit.Disability Living Allowance provides help for disabled people who have had care or mobility needs for at least three months and are likely to need help with those needs for a further six months or more. People who are terminally ill and expected to live no longer than six months automatically qualify for the highest rate of Disability Living Allowance care component.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to her answer of 24 June 1998, Official Report, columns 557–58, prior to 18 May, what mechanisms were used to determine how legislation passed in the current session would affect women; what consultation she had with women's organisations; and if she will make a statement. [49092]

Guidance on policy appraisal for equal treatment has been available since 1992. Application of the guidance has been the responsibility of individual Departments.As Ministers for Women, we have worked to promote the need to identify any adverse differential impact on women as an integral part of the policy making process. On 18 May we launched the mainstreaming initiative across Whitehall.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if she will make a statement on her Department's re-organisation of the Child Support Agency; and when this re-organisation will be implemented. [48324]

I refer my hon. Friend to the oral statement made by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Security on 6 July 1998, Official Report, columns 739–54.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what targets have been established by her Department for the Child Support Agency. [49363]

The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive, Mrs. Faith Boardman. She will write to my hon. Friend.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if she will list the (a) mean and (b) median income of (i) single pensioners, (ii) pensioner couples and (iii) all pensioners living in (1) pre-1989 regulated tenancies in the private sector and (2) housing association tenancies (A) before and (B) after housing costs. [48551]

The information is set out in the tables.

Incomes of pensioner units living in pre-1989 regulated tenancies in the private sector
£ per week July 1995 prices
	Mean Income	Median Income
All Pensioner Units
Net income before housing costs	126.30	110.10
Net income after housing costs	93.70	74.00
Pensioner Couples
Net income before housing costs	185.20	163.40
Net income after housing costs	149.30	122.70
Single Pensioners
Net income before housing costs	109.60	101.80
Net income after housing costs	77.80	66.30

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is her latest estimate of how much money the ICL Pathway Project will save through a reduced incidence of claimants-fraud in 1998, 1999 and 2000. [49503]

Current plans assume that the project to automate benefit payments at post offices will save £1 million in 1998–99, £64 million in 1999–2000 and £135 million in 2000–2001, in addition to savings of £70 million, £52 million and £52 million from existing anti-fraud measures at post offices over the same period.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many Benefits Agency public caller offices were closed during the period April 1992 to May 1997; how many have been closed since May 1997; and how many are under review. [46980]

The administration of the Benefits Agency is a matter for Peter Mathison, its Chief Executive. He will write to my hon. Friend.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how staff numbers in his Department have varied between 1 May 1997 and 31 March 1998. [48886]

The number of full time equivalent staff employed by The Welsh Office between 1 May 1997 and 31 March 1998 is as follows:

	Permanent staff	Casual staff
1 May 1997	2105.3	199.4
31 March 1998	2115.9	204.5

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many capital grants and for what purpose the former Rhuddlan Borough Council received from his Department and its agencies in the last 10 years of its existence; and which have final grant claims outstanding. [48741]

Information on grants paid by agencies of this Department is not held centrally. I will reply to my hon. Friend with information on the grants paid by the department as soon as possible and place a copy of my reply in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his Department's average response time to correspondence from members of the public; and how such response times are monitored. [48666]

My Department's target is that all correspondence should be answered within 15 working days of receipt and, for 1997–98, we achieved that target in 86 per cent. of cases. Replies from Ministers are recorded individually as are replies from officials to correspondence addressed to Ministers. Correspondence sent directly to officials is monitored on a sample basis.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make it his policy that no binding contract for the construction of a new building for the National Assembly of Wales is entered into until after the National Assembly has been elected. [48898]

No. The process of procurement of the new building will have several stages, whose nature and timing will depend upon the contract strategy that I adopt. The design competition assessment panel will recommend an appropriate contract strategy together with an outline design in the late Autumn. It will then be necessary to develop the detailed design and seek the appropriate statutory consents. I cannot yet say when the construction contracts will be let.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if the contract between the University Hospital Wales Trust and Sterile Services International Ltd. for the provision of sterile services provides for the trust to receive a financial benefit as a consequence of any new business acquired by Sterile Services International Ltd. for the provision of sterile services to other health trusts. [49186]

The Trust will receive a payment equal to 10 per cent. of the charge (net of VAT) made by Sterile Services International for any third party work serviced from the University Hospital of Wales site. There are also revenue savings of £525,000 over 10 years in comparison with current costs.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the findings in the 1997–98 Annual report of the Health Service Commissioner for England, Scotland and Wales relating to the level of increase in new complaints in Wales relative to England and Scotland in 1997–98. [49414]