To ask the Prime Minister if he will ensure that the Council of the Isles includes representation from all the English regions. [49750]

The Good Friday Agreement provides for the establishment of a British-Irish Council which reflects an earlier proposal for a Council of the Isles.The Agreement specifies that membership of the British-Irish Council will comprise representatives of the British and Irish Governments, devolved institutions in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, when established, and, if appropriate, elsewhere in the United Kingdom, together with representatives of the Isle of Man and Channel Islands.The Government are currently working to establish the Council later in the year, in transitional form, as the Agreement requires, and will be consulting interested parties as and when appropriate.

To ask the Prime Minister what proposals he has to vary the number of Welsh Office Ministers, and the remuneration of these Ministers, to reflect their reduced responsibilities when the Welsh Assembly is established. [50000]

This will be a matter for further consideration once the National Assembly has been established.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will list those individuals who are not hon. Members or civil servants currently serving on review bodies and taskforces set up since May 1997 whose appointment was promoted or canvassed for by (a) GPC Market Access, (b) LLM, (c) GJW and (d) other professional lobbying organisations. [49768]

Any individual or group may suggest names for appointment to a non-departmental public body (NDPB), review body or task force. The Public Appointments Unit maintains a central list to which nominations can also be made.Appointments to NDPBs are made in line with the principles established by the Committee on Standards in Public Life. These require selection on merit and an independent element in the selection process. The Government have recently announced the extension of the remit of the Commissioner for Public Appointments to cover all advisory NDPBs as well as executive NDPBs.

To ask the Prime Minister on how many occasions his Press Secretary has briefed Mr. Derek Draper on the Government's position on matters of current concern. [49961]

The role of Press Officers at No. 10 is to answer all calls from journalists and to explain Government policy to them in accordance with the rules that apply to the GICS. Mr. Draper has had no briefing from any Press Officer that was not available to any journalist calling the Press Office. No systematic record is kept of the details of the thousands of calls received each week, but any call from Mr. Draper would be dealt with routinely by a Press Officer, rather than the Chief Press Secretary.

To ask the President of the Council how staff numbers in her Office have varied between 1 May 1997 and 31 March 1998. [48881]

The number of permanent staff in the Privy Council Office on both dates was 34.

To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee what plans there are to publish the daily parts of the Official Report in formats amenable to people with sensory impairments. [50033]

There are no plans to publish the Official Report in the way in which the hon. Gentleman has described. The Official Report is published free on the Internet and this service can be used by refreshable braille display or through speech synthesis, in order to provide access to visually impaired people.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will introduce incentives to London taxi drivers to convert their vehicles to use natural gas or LPG as fuel. [48688]

The Government recognise the important air quality advantages of cleaner taxis, such as those using road fuel gases. We already provide an incentive for drivers to use gas fuel because the tax on LPG and natural gas is already much lower than the tax on diesel. The Energy Saving Trust Powershift Programme provides grants to support the purchases of alternatively fuelled vehicles. One such grant under consideration could include gas fuelled London taxis. The Public Carriage Office are working with manufacturers to encourage the development of alternative "greener" engines and fuels.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what was the total amount of money made available in each of the past five years to local authorities under the Transport Policies and Programmes system. [48913]

The information is as follows:

Year	£ million
1993–94	1,047
1994–95	894
1995–96	960
1996–97	830
1997–98	746

Figures in all years include grant under the Industrial Development Act 1982. Figures for the latter four years include credit approvals available to match European Regional Development Fund grant.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the proportion of total TPP money made available to local authorities in each year for the past five years that was spent on on-going road building schemes; and if he will list the schemes. [48915]

I have placed this information in the Libraries of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how much money has been allocated in each of the past five years to (a) road schemes and (b) other transport schemes under the Single Regeneration Budget; and which schemes have benefited. [48918]

The Single Regeneration Budget Challenge Fund offers support to Partnerships to help them to carry out comprehensive regeneration of their local areas. Partnerships decide local priorities and road and other transport projects may be an element of their schemes. Funding is normally provided for a package of activities and is not allocated by individual elements. Funding commenced on 1 April 1995 and is available for the lifetime of schemes (up to seven years).I have placed in the Library a list of the names of the schemes and the total lifetime Challenge Fund grant allocated which includes grant for road and other transport related activities.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) if he will list for each of the financial years since 1983–84 (a) the expenditure submitted by Brentwood Borough Council under the heading flood defences, for use in the Department's settlement SSA indicator data, (b) the increase in the SSA due to the inclusion of the flood defences estimates in these calculations, (c) the amount of additional Government grant received in that year by the Council solely as a result of the inclusion of the flood defences figures, if any, and (d) the increase in capping limits in each year solely as a result of the inclusion of the flood defence estimates in the calculations; [49012](2) if he will calculate the effect on

The following table shows (a) the expenditure submitted by Brentwood Borough Council for use in the calculation of the Flood Defence element of standard spending assessments (SSAs) for each year since 1990–91; and (b) the resulting increase in the SSA for Brentwood Borough Council:

Year for which expenditure was budgeted1	Year for which budgeted expenditure was used in the SSA calculation	Budgeted expenditure (£000)2	Increase in SSA due to use of budgeted flood defence expenditure in the calculation (£000)3
1990–91	1991–92	27	30
1991–92	1992–93	84	94
1992–93	1993–94	29	30
1993–94	1994–95	923	944
1994–95	1995–96	911	915
1995–96	1996–97	933	975
1996–97	1997–98	957	1,014
1997–98	1998–99	955	1,004
1Figures submitted and used in earlier years are not readily available
2Budgeted net current expenditure on flood defence
3The figures given are for the Flood Defence SSA element for Brentwood Borough Council in each year. The overall increase in SSA due to the inclusion of figures for flood defence expenditure would have been slightly greater than the amounts quoted due to a consequent small decrease in the size of the reduction for interest receipts. The figures quoted do not take account of any indirect effect of changes in spending patterns which may have taken place as a result of not budgeting for expenditure on flood defence.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his 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 he had with women's organisations; and if he will make a statement. [49086]

Guidance on policy appraisal has been available since 1992. DETR relaunched the initiative in May 1998.Within this Department we are making use of consultation, research projects and disaggregated statistics to identify the impact of policy on women.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what provision has been made in respect of payment of debts owed by Midland Expressway Ltd. in relation to the construction of the BNRR in the event that the company becomes bankrupt. [49349]

No financial provision has been made by the Government, since we do not consider it likely that the company will become bankrupt or that if it did liabilities would pass to the Government.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the report by Transport Planning Associates commissioned by his Department into the bids to construct the Birmingham Northern Relief Road submitted by BNRR Ltd., MEL and MPC. [49348]

None, since the document appears to be part of the material that previous ministers used in reaching their decision to award the BNRR concession. I understand MEL developed their traffic modelling very substantially during and after the bidding process so as to provide a sound basis for putting their scheme to the public inquiry.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the total projected yearly cost of the operation and maintenance of the widened section of the M42 included in the Birmingham Northern Relief Road scheme which would be paid for by the Government if the scheme went ahead. [49287]

Reliable maintenance estimates will not be available until, following the resolution of the current High Court challenges, MEL have undertaken the detailed design of the carriageway. The reconstruction of the M42 to provide an entirely new carriageway should mean that, for the foreseeable future, maintenance costs should be very much lower than for the existing carriageway.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what percentage of the operation and maintenance cost of the section of the M42 included in the BNRR scheme would be paid for by the Government to MEL if the scheme went ahead; [49289](2) what percentage of the construction cost of widening the section of the M42 included in the BNRR scheme is to be paid for by the Government if the MEL scheme goes ahead. [49288]

Forty per cent.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will provide a regional breakdown of the number of empty residential properties owned by Her Majesty's Government, indicating where those properties are located. [49244]

As requested, the following table shows the location of empty residential properties owned by those Departments from which my Department collects figures, using their own regional definitions. Figures for other Government Departments are not collected centrally.

Location	Number of properties
Highways Agency:
Northumberland, Cumbria, Durham, Tyne & Wear, Cleveland, North Yorkshire, North Humberside, Lancashire, Greater Manchester, Merseyside and Cheshire	112
West Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, Derbyshire, Staffordshire, Shropshire, West Midlands, Warwickshire and Hereford and Worcester	126
Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Norfolk, Northamptonshire, Cambridgeshire, Suffolk, Essex, Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire and South Humberside	148
Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, Dorset, Avon and Wiltshire	35
Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Surrey, Berkshire and Hampshire	56
London	215
Home Office:
North Region	59
Midland Region	50
South East/West and Wales	145
Ministry of Defence:
South West	2,712
South East North	2,262
South East South	1,502
London/Aldershot	1,507
Eastern	3,023
Western	1,466
Scotland	1,252
Northern Ireland	302

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 17 June 1998, Official Report, column 204, how many second homes are owned and rented in Gloucestershire by households having their main residence in England, excluding second homes which are the main residence of another household and those which the owners are intending to sell. [49247]

The information is not available at the county level.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the average weekly rent during 1997 in (a) council, (b) housing association and (c) private rented housing. [49436]

Figures for England are set out in the table. The latest average weekly rents available for the private rented sector cover 1996–97 and therefore rents used for the council and housing association sectors are for as close to that date as possible.

Average weekly rent—1996–97
	£
Council	40.17
Housing association1	46.74
Privately rented	76
1At 31 March 1997

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what data his Department collates on average house prices for (a) London and (b) other regions. [49415]

The Department produces two sets of statistics on regional house prices: a regional house price index and average house prices by region. The statistics are available for Government Office Regions and Standard Statistical Regions.Average house prices by region and the regional house price index are published in the annual volume of

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 15 June 1998, Official Report, column 46, what contractual penalties will apply in the event of LCR failing to build the entire railway from the Channel Tunnel to St. Pancras. [49345]

The existing Development Agreement between the Government and London and Continental Railways (LCR), which will be updated to reflect the deal outlined by my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister on 3 June 1998, Official Report, columns 367–70, is legally binding on LCR. It requires LCR to build all of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link (CTRL) as detailed in the CTRL Act 1996. Should LCR fail to fulfil its obligation to provide the link in accordance with the Act, it would be in breach of that contract. This would allow the Secretary of State to terminate the Development Agreement.Moreover, under the revised arrangements, the bulk of the £1.8 billion (NPV) Public Sector Support will be reserved for Phase 2 and would start to be paid only when the majority of the construction costs of that phase had already been incurred.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will review the time scale of phase two of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link between Ebbsfleet and King's Cross to assess ways in which it might be advanced. [49468]

A review would serve no useful purpose. As my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister made clear on 3 June 1998, Official Report, columns 367–70, the revised arrangements are specifically designed to incentivise Railtrack to commit to acquire Section 2 as early as possible. Railtrack will have a lesser financial return on Section 1 than for Sections 1 and 2 combined. The sooner Railtrack commits to the second phase, the sooner it can expect to earn the higher return.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what savings are forecast from the proposed reduction in the number of administrative units for valuation tribunals. [49470]

We estimate that over a three to five year period the move to the new administrative structure should give net savings on current complements of around £1.3 million per annum or 12 per cent. of the VT budget for a one-off cost (spread over several years and financed out of savings) of around £2 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what savings were (a) projected and (b) achieved from the previous amalgamation of the administration of neighbouring valuation tribunals. [49471]

Four office mergers have taken place in recent years (as well as a collocation of two administrations earlier this year). Full savings can take a few years to come through because of initial one-off accommodation and staffing costs.It is difficult to quantify precisely savings due solely to rationalisation, because of changes in other circumstances. However, a comparison of the changes in costs of merged and non-merged offices between 1995–96 and 1997–98 indicate savings of over £240,000 (or 17 per cent.) per annum. This compares with projected savings of £220,000.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment his Department has made of the response by local authorities to the guidance given in Department of the Environment Circular 1/94 requiring local planning authorities to assess the need for gipsy accommodation in their areas; and if he will make a statement. [49469]

My Department part funded research by the Advisory Council for the Education of Romany and other Travellers (ACERT) which examined local authority development plans to assess the adequacy of Gipsy policies. Their report, A directory of planning for Gypsy site provisions in England, revealed some gaps in local authorities' compliance with Circular 1/94. My officials have written to all chief planning officers, on 27 May, reminding local planning authorities of the advice in Circular 1/94. Their attention was particularly drawn to the requirement to assess the need for Gipsy accommodation in their areas and to ensure that adequate Gipsy site provision was made in their development plans. A copy of the letter will be placed in the House Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions on what occasions (a) he, (b) ministers in his Department and (c) his special advisers have met representatives of (i) GPC Market Access, (ii) Lawson Lucas Mendelsohn and (iii) GJW Government Relations since 1 May 1997; who these representatives were; and what was discussed at these meetings. [49550]

[holding answer 9 July 1998]: Ministers, and their Special Advisers and other civil servants meet many people in the course of their work. This properly includes meetings with interest groups outside Government; indeed one of the specific functions of Special Advisers is to liaise with such interest groups. This liaison is intended to help Ministers draw upon outside contributions—from academics, think-tanks, trade and industry associations, trade unions, lobby groups and others, as well as relevant experience from other countries—during the process of policy analysis and development. By convention it is not the practice of governments to make information on such meetings or their content publicly available—a principle reflected in the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information published in January 1997. Special advisers and other civil servants must observe the requirements of propriety; for instance, they must not provide confidential information without authorisation or allow improper influence on policy. Any breach of these requirements could be a disciplinary offence.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list those individuals who are not hon. Members or civil servants currently serving on review bodies and taskforces set up since May 1997 whose appointment was promoted or canvassed for by (a) GPC Market Access, (b) LLM, (c) GJW and (d) other professional lobbying organisations. [49771]

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister today, Official Report, columns 641–42.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will carry out a compliance cost assessment in respect of the proposed change in the format of vehicle number plates; and if he will make a statement. [49960]

The proposed change to the vehicle registration format is not due to be implemented until 2001. Interested parties, including industry, will be consulted on the draft regulation to effect the change before it is laid before Parliament nearer that time. It is Government policy that all such changes are accompanied by a Regulatory Impact Assessment.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 10 June 1998, Official Report, column 575, regarding building regulations, what measures his Department has taken to identify building control notices which may have been obtained to circumvent the new requirements for access and facilities for disabled people. [49762]

Officials are in contact with the NHBC, which is the only approved inspector currently able to give Building Act initial notices for new housing, to identify any cases similar to those in the hon. Member's constituency and to ensure that NHBC have measures in place to avoid any more such cases. I am considering what additional steps are needed to ensure an effective transfer to the new Building Regulation requirements, and I will make a further announcement as soon as possible.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what will be the status of the code of practice produced by the National Liaison Group to improve water industry and Fire Service co-operation; and by whom it will be enforced. [50109]

The Code will provide guidance to water companies and Fire Authorities on issues relating to water for firefighting. It will not have direct enforcement provisions, but water companies and Fire Authorities will be expected to comply with its provisions. Its implementation will be monitored by my Department.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what community use is planned for the National Stadium at Wembley; and if he will make a statement. [49652]

I have been asked to reply.There is an agreement in principle that the stadium will be used for community use. The precise arrangements will be required by the English Sports Council, and will be considered as the design brief is prepared and finished.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions (i) he, (ii) his special adviser and (iii) his Ministers have held with representatives of (a) GPC Market Access, (b) Lawson Lucas Mendelsohn and (c) GJW Government Relations since 1 May 1997; and if he will make a statement. [49699]

[holding answer 9 July 1998]: Ministers, their Special Advisers and other civil servants meet many people in the course of their work. This properly includes meetings with interest groups outside Government; indeed, one of the specific functions of Special Advisers is to liaise with such interest groups. This liaison is intended to help Ministers draw upon outside contributions—from academics, think-tanks, trade and industry associations, trade unions, lobby groups and others, as well as relevant experience from other countries—during the process of policy analysis and development. By convention it is not the practice of governments to make information on such meetings or their content publicly available—a principle reflected in the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information published in January 1997. Special Advisers and other civil servants must observe the requirements of propriety: for instance, they must not provide confidential information without authorisation or allow improper influence on policy. Any breach of these requirements could be a disciplinary offence.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list those individuals who are not hon. Members or civil servants currently serving on review bodies and task forces set up since May 1997 whose appointment was promoted or canvassed for by (a) GPC Market Access, (b) LLM, (c) GJW and (d) other professional lobbying organisations. [49781]

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to him today, Official Report, columns 641–42, by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when the Government's proposals relating to an integrated transport policy in Wales will be published. [49788]

The Welsh Transport Policy Statement is expected to be published later this month.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many innovation and technology counsellors there are in Wales offering free guidance to firms on the Year 2000 problem; and how they may be contacted. [49789]

There are currently 8 Innovation and Technology Counsellors employed across Wales who are addressing the year 2000 problem as part of their portfolio of providing wide-ranging advice and guidance to Welsh businesses.A recruitment exercise is, however, currently being undertaken to appoint a further 8 counsellors who will have specific responsibility for addressing the "Year 2000" issue.Existing ITCs can be contacted via Business Connect Wales on 0345 96 97 98.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the value of (a) all exports and (b) manufactured goods exported from Wales to the rest of the EU in (i) 1995, (ii) 1996, (iii) 1997 and (iv) 1998. [49795]

Export statistics are collected only on a UK basis and cannot be disaggregated.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many people he estimates were employed in manufacturing in Wales in each year since 1992. [49794]

The latest estimates of the number of employee jobs in manufacturing in each year since 1992 are given in the table.

Number of employee jobs in manufacturing1
Year	Thousand
1992	200
1993	199
1994	207
1995	212
1996	209
1997	208
1998	214
1 Excludes the self employed, but data from the Labour Force Survey indicate that, on average since 1992, there have been around 10,000 self employed people in the manufacturing sector in Wales

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many days were lost through strikes in Wales in each year since 1992. [49790]

The information requested is given in the table.

Number of working days lost due to labour disputes, Wales 1992–19971
Year	Working days lost
1992	10,000
1993	20,100
1994	13,300
1995	14,700
1996	60,400
1997	3,200
1Labour disputes statistics cover all stoppages of work connected with terms and conditions of employment, except those involving fewer than ten workers or lasting less than one working day. These are excluded unless the total number of working days lost in the dispute is greater than 100

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many new jobs he estimates were created by inward investment to Wales in 1997–98. [49793]

In 1997–98, the Welsh Development Agency recorded inward investment projects which promise the creation of a total of 8,961 new jobs. Not all of the jobs will have been created last year; the majority of the projects will need time gradually to build up to full operating capacity.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many people are currently on the New Deal in Wales, by travel-to-work area. [49787]

The figures are not available by travel-to-work area. However, over 5,000 young people in Wales have already joined the New Deal for 18 to 24-year-olds and are receiving the support, training and experience they need to secure lasting employment.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the cost to public funds of the publication of "Pathway to Prosperity". [49796]

The charge to the Department for designing, printing, and distributing the document and related materials is expected to be in the region of £16,000.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is her latest estimate of likely ECGD losses on its portfolio in (a) Indonesia, (b) Thailand, (c) South Korea and (d) Malaysia. [49193]

[holding answer 6 July 1998]: ECGD does not expect to make any losses on sovereign risk business in these markets. Payment delays have occurred in relation to a small element of commercial risk debts in Thailand and Indonesia, but it is too early to say how much loss (if any) these might lead to.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what recent assessment she has made of Indonesian risk under ECGD. [49197]

[holding answer 6 July 1998]: ECGD completed its last formal market review of Indonesia in January 1998. The changing circumstances in the region have meant that ECGD has monitored the situation closely since then. A further formal review will commence shortly.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will list the country risks reviewed by ECGD in the last six months, along with the changes of terms which resulted. [49196]

[holding answer 6 July 1998]: Since January 1998 ECGD has reviewed the risks on the following countries:

Month/country	Change of terms
January
Bangladesh	Cover increased. Premium reduced
February
Pakistan	Premium increased
Indonesia	Premium increased
Thailand	Cover reduced. Premium increased
March
Argentina	No Changes
China	Cover increased. Premium reduced

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the moneys that have been made available to each of the regions of the United Kingdom from each of the European Union's structural funds in each of the last three years. [49482]

Structural Funds allocations under Objectives 1, 2 and 5b (excluding the Community Initiatives) are given in the table. Allocations for the Community Initiatives (which represent approximately 9 per cent of the UK's overall Objectives 1, 2 and 5b allocations) and under Objectives 3, 4 and 5a have not been given, since not all of these are regionally allocated. The decline in allocations under Objective 2 between 1996 and 1997 will be fully offset by higher allocations in 1998 and 1999.

UK SPD Allocations: 1995–97million ecu, 1998 prices
	1995	1996	1997
Objective 1
Merseyside
ERDF	75	80	86
ESF	53	57	61
EAGGF	0	1	1
Total	129	138	148
Highlands and Islands
ERDF	29	30	33
ESF	9	10	10
EAGGF	8	9	10
FIFG	4	4	3
Total	50	53	56
Northern Ireland
ERDF	109	117	126
ESF	53	58	62
EAGGF	29	32	33
FIFG	2	2	3
Total	194	209	223
Total UK Objective 1
ERDR	213	227	245
ESF	116	125	133
EAGGF	38	41	43
FIFG	6	6	6
Total	372	400	427

To ask the President of the Board of Trade on what occasions (a) Ministers and (b) special advisers in her Department have met representatives of (i) GPC Market Access, (ii) Lawson Lucas Mendelsohn and (iii) GJW Government Relations since 1 May 1997; who their representatives were; and what were the topics of discussions. [49659]

[holding answer 9 July 1998]: Ministers, their Special Advisers and other civil servants meet many people in the course of their work. This properly includes meetings with interest groups outside Government; indeed, one of the specific functions of Special Advisers is to liaise with such interest groups. This liaison is intended to help Ministers draw upon outside contributions—from academics, think-tanks, trade and industry associations, trade unions, lobby groups and others, as well as relevant experience from other countries—during the process of policy analysis and development. By convention it is not the practice of governments to make information on such meetings or their content publicly available—a principle reflected in the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information published in January 1997. Special Advisers and other civil servants must observe the requirements of propriety: for instance, they must not provide confidential information without authorisation or allow improper influence on policy. Any breach of these requirements could be a disciplinary offence.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will list those individuals who are not hon. Members or civil servants currently serving on review bodies and task forces set up since May 1997 whose appointment was promoted or canvassed for by (a) GPC Market Access, (b) LLM, (c) GJW and (d) other professional lobbying organisations. [49773]

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given today, Official Report, columns 641–42, by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment she has made of the likelihood of full payments being made by the customer for Hawk jets supplied to Indonesia. [49195]

[holding answer 6 July 1998]: No specific assessment has been made in relation to the Hawk contracts. It is not usual practice to re-assess risk on individual contracts once the ECGD guarantee has been issued. Payments under the loans guaranteed by ECGD are up to date.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will make a statement on the cost of the audit for millennium compliance purposes of the computer systems used in container ships, and at container ports and freight depots. [49449]

[holding answer 7 July 1998]: I have been asked to reply.The Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions is very concerned about the issue of millennium compliance and has brought it to the attention of the UK shipping and ports industries through their respective trade associations.I am aware that the Chamber of Shipping has issued advice to its members, and that the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) has also published guidance on the need to identify and test critical equipment and systems. Operators are also being advised to develop operational arrangements to mitigate the effect of any system failure.Of course, any audit of computer systems for millennium compliance purposes would be a matter for individual companies. We therefore do not have any information on the likely costs of such an exercise.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 16 June 1998, Official Report, columns 164–65, on nerve agent pre-treatment sets, how many of the tablets manufactured by Roche Products Ltd were used during Operation Granby. [48332]

The Ministry of Defence has no information on the quantity, if any, of Nerve Agent Pre-treatment Set (NAPS) tablets manufactured by Roche Products Ltd. which were used by UK forces during the 1990–91 Gulf conflict. However, as my written answer of 16 June 1998, Official Report, columns 164–65, explained, MOD let a contract to Duphar BV in July 1988 to replace MOD's holding of Roche tablets; the Duphar tablets were delivered to MOD in February 1989 and distributed to units by August 1989. We therefore believe that the NAPS tablets used during the Gulf conflict were drawn principally, possibly exclusively, from stocks of the Duphar tablets.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 16 June 1998, Official Report, columns 164–65, on nerve agent pre-treatment sets, if samples of the tablets manufactured by (a) Roche Products Ltd. and (b) Duphar BV, were tested again to determine suitability for use between 1990 and 1995. [48331]

Samples from the batch of Nerve Agent Pre-treatment Sets (NAPS) tablets manufactured by Duphar BV in January 1989 were analysed at the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment (CBDE) (now known as the Chemical and Biological Defence (CBD) Sector of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency) at Porton Down in September 1994 and October 1995. In addition, samples from the batch of tablets produced by Duphar BV in February 1991 were tested by CBDE in December 1992. All of these tests found the tablets' mean Pyridostigmine Bromide content to be within the limits set by the United States and British Pharmacopoeiae (USP and BP).Other than the tests conducted by CBD (then the Chemical Defence Establishment (CDE)) in October 1990, to which I referred in my written answer of 16 June 1998,

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 29 June 1998, Official Report, columns 7–8, (1) how many staff are currently signed off work for sickness at Porton Down; how many have been signed off for more than a month; and how these figures compare to the average for the last 15 years; [49142](2) what health monitoring of staff has taken place at Porton Down in the last 15 years; and what are the results of the monitoring; [49138](3) how many staff have left employment at Porton Down for health reasons in the last 15 years; [49140](4) how many staff at Porton Down have received inoculations and vaccinations as part of their normal safety regime in the last 15 years; what were the inoculations and vaccinations; and for what specific purpose; [49141]

These are matters for the Chief Executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency. I have asked the Chief Executive to write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what mode of transport he used to attend the recent Bilderberg meeting at Turnberry; and what was the cost to public funds. [46988]

I flew to Scotland on Friday 14 May in an aircraft of the RAF Communications Fleet, accompanied by the Secretary General of NATO, Snr. Solana. I left the following day in an Army helicopter for a further official engagement. The estimated value of the use of Departmental assets for these flights is £3,840.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list those individuals who are not hon. Members or civil servants currently serving on review bodies and taskforces set up since May 1997 whose appointment was promoted or canvassed for by (a) GPC Market Access, (b) LLM, (c) GJW and (d) other professional lobbying organisations. [49774]

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to him by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister today, Official Report, columns 641–42.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what measures he will implement to safeguard the interests of those who maintain historic houses open to the public against the effect of the withdrawal of one-estate election. [47225]

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has no plans to introduce any specific measures in respect of those privately owned historic houses that may be subject to the withdrawal of One-Estate Election (OEE) in April 2001. Treasury Ministers are aware of the concerns about the repeal of OEE. Such matters of taxation policy are for Treasury Ministers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions he has had with the Paymaster General concerning the ending of one-estate election; and if he will make a statement. [47202]

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has exchanged views on One-Estate Election with the Paymaster General and the Financial Secretary to the Treasury.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when (i) he, (ii) his Ministers and (iii) his special advisers have met representatives of (a) GPC Market Access, (b) Lawson Lucas Mendelsohn and (c) GJW Government Relations since 1 May 1997; who these representatives were; and what was discussed at these meetings. [49661]

[holding answer 9 July 1998]: Ministers, the Special Advisers and other civil servants meet many people in the course of their work. This properly includes meetings with interest groups outside Government; indeed, one of the specific functions of Special Advisers is to liaise with such interest groups. This liaison is intended to help Ministers draw upon outside contributions—from academics, think-tanks, trade and industry associations, trade unions, lobby groups and others, as well as relevant experience from other countries—during the process of policy analysis and development. By convention it is not the practice of governments to make information on such meetings or their content publicly available—a principle reflected in the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information published in January 1997. Special Advisers and other civil servants must observe the requirements of propriety: for instance, they must not provide confidential information without authorisation or allow improper influence on policy. Any breach of these requirements could be a disciplinary offence.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will list those individuals who are not hon. Members or civil servants currently serving on review bodies and taskforces set up since May 1997 whose appointment was promoted or canvassed for by (a) GPC Market Access, (b) LLM, (c) GJW and (d) other professional lobbying organisations. [49778]

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given today, Official Report, columns 641–42, by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans have been developed to date for the provision of services for disabled sportsmen and women within the UK Sports Institute; and what representations he has received from disability organisations on the UK Sports Institute. [49207]

[holding answer 8 July 1998]: The UK Sports Institute will provide first class facilities for a range of Olympic and other non-commercial sports for our best disabled sportsmen and women, alongside those for the able bodies.A briefing meeting was recently held with the British Paralympic Association (BPA) to discuss their requirements for facilities and services at the Institute. The BPA Technical Director, and a seconded UK Sports Council project officer for disability sport, are members of the technical services team with responsibility for taking these issues forward.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) what support was provided to Sir Richard Eyre by his Department for the preparation of his report on lyric theatre in London; [49528](2) how many officials from his Department worked on Sir Richard Eyre's report on lyric theatre in London; and what assistance they gave. [49529]

[holding answer 9 July 1998]: Sir Richard Eyre and his working group were provided with secretariat support by three officials from my Department. In addition, one official and my special adviser were members of the working group. My Department also made arrangements for the report to be published and launched. The contents of the report were entirely Sir Richard's.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions have taken place between representatives of the Sports Council and the British Athletics Federation about the need for an athletics track as part of the new English National Stadium at Wembley. [49801]

The British Athletics Federation were fully involved in the selection process for the National Stadium and in defining the requirements for the project. Further discussions with the athletics governing body will take place as the design brief is prepared to discuss proposals for athletics facilities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the Adjournment debate of 29 June 1998, Official Report, columns 126–30, on Wembley Stadium, when he plans to respond to the questions raised by the hon. Members for Brent, North and Bradford, South (Mr. Sutcliffe). [49800]

I am pleased to confirm that I wrote to my hon. Friends the Members for Brent, North and for Bradford, South on 9 July.Copies of my replies have been placed in the Libraries of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what support he will give to outstanding sportsmen and sportswomen from the Eastern Region. [49634]

[holding answer 9 July 1998]: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced on 16 December 1997, Official Report, column 77, that Sheffield was the successful consortium chosen to run and manage the United Kingdom Sports Institute Headquarters. Alongside the HQ there will be a regional network which will provide first class facilities for a range of Olympic and other non-commercial sports for our very best sportsmen and women.The Home Country Sports Councils have been tasked by Ministers to identify prospective regional centres. The English Sports Council (ESC) have looked very carefully at the siting of the Centres in England and have taken into account many factors including existing facilities, population and transport. They are aware that there are a couple of areas where the location of the Regional Centre is not so obvious or easy; however, that does not mean that the question of a Centre in that area is to be shelved. The ESC have therefore concentrated on finding a solution so that all our elite athletes, wherever they live, will have access to the best training and support services.I have received the ESC's recommendations, but they will need careful consideration and discussion before any decision and announcement are made.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish the results of the review of asylum and immigration appeals. [50528]

I will publish a consultation paper on the review of asylum and immigration appeals at 10.00 am on Monday 13 July. A copy of the consultation paper will be placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance he has given to the Metropolitan Police Commissioner on the exercise in London of the powers available under Section 61 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994. [49495]

The decision whether or not to use the powers available under section 61 is an operational one for the Commissioner.No guidance has been given specifically to the Commissioner. However, Home Office Circular 45/1994, was issued to all Chief Officers. This draws their attention to an undertaking made, by the then Government, during the passage of the Bill through Parliament:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list those individuals who are not hon. Members or civil servants currently serving on review bodies and taskforces set up since May 1997 whose appointment was promoted or canvassed for by (a) GPC Market Access, (b) LLM, (c) GJW and (d) other professional lobbying organisations. [49770]

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to him today, Official Report, columns 641–42, by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list those individuals who are not hon. Members or civil servants currently serving on review bodies and task forces set up since May 1997 whose appointment was promoted or canvassed for by (a) GPC Market Access, (b) LLM, (c) GJW and (d) other professional lobbying organisations. [49783]

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to him today, Official Report, columns 641–42, by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what meetings or other contacts (i) he, (ii) his Ministers and (iii) his special advisers and officials have had with representatives of (a) GPC Market Access, (b) Lawson Lucas Mendelsohn and (c) GJW Government Relations since 1 May 1997; and what were the dates of such meetings or contacts, the names of the people involved and the subject matter of such exchanges. [49735]

[holding answer 9 July 1998]: Ministers, their Special Advisers and other civil servants meet many people in the course of their work. This properly includes meetings with interest groups outside Government; indeed, one of the specific functions of Special Advisers is to liaise with such interest groups. This liaison is intended to help Ministers draw upon outside contributions—from academics, think-tanks, trade and industry associations, trade unions, lobby groups and others, as well as relevant experience from other countries—during the process of policy analysis and development. By convention it is not the practice of governments to make information on such meetings or their content publicly available—a principle reflected in the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information published in January 1997. Special advisers and other civil servants must observe the requirements of propriety: for instance, they must not provide confidential information without authorisation or allow improper influence on policy. Any breach of these requirements could be a disciplinary offence.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proposals he has to reduce the chances of cross-pollination between genetically modified crops and organic crops. [49434]