To ask the Attorney-General if he will make a statement about the ethical principles which apply to solicitors who are employed by the Crown Prosecution Service as Crown prosecutors. [52712]

After consultation with the Director of Public Prosecutions, I have today published a Statement of Ethical Principles, which applies to all solicitors who are employed by the Crown Prosecution Service as Crown Prosecutors. The Statement is made in accordance with paragraph 1(h)(v) of the Law Society's Employed Solicitor Code 1990. It meets the Law Society's requirement under the Code that such a statement should be published before solicitors employed by the Crown Prosecution Service can exercise their rights of audience in the higher courts.The Statement sets out:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what conclusions he has reached as a result of his Department's Spending Review; and if he will make a statement. [52422]

The outcome of our Spending Review has been a recognition of the importance of all my Department's activities, economically, culturally and socially, for the quality of people's lives. I have secured an extra £290 million over the next three years, an investment which will bring obligations and responsibilities. We will have a new contract with all our funded bodies which will demand improvements in efficiency, access and quality in return for investment in support of our new objectives. To help ensure that this happens, I will establish a tough new team to monitor and improve standards throughout all our sectors.I have placed in the Library of the House copies of a consultation paper which I am issuing today, proposing a number of changes in the sectoral landscape for which my Department is responsible. This will create a more efficient structure for delivering public money in pursuit of clear objectives. I will make a further announcement in the Autumn on the outcome of the consultaion.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the education action zones designated for Wales. [51619]

There are no designated Education Zones in Wales at present. Under Clause 10 of the School Standards and Framework Bill provisions relating to Education Action Zones (EAZs) do not apply in Wales, though the Secretary of State may introduce them at a later date. In the Education White Paper for Wales, Building Excellent Schools Together, published in July last year, the Welsh Office pledged to consult widely before introducing EAZs. Any final decision on the introduction of EAZs in Wales is likely to be a matter for the National Assembly and will be informed by the outcome of any consultation exercise and the experience of EAZs in England.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what steps he has taken to ensure that his Department receives advice from the Urban Task Force chaired by Lord Rogers. [51815]

The Urban Task Force has a remit to identify causes of urban decline in England. Welsh Office officials are being informed of its progress by the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions and will receive a copy of the completed report in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he expects to publish his plans for the future of transport in Wales. [52819]

The Welsh Transport Policy Statement "Transporting Wales into the Future" has been published today. Copies have been placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will estimate the number of university graduates who attended Welsh secondary schools who are pursuing their careers outside Wales. [51448]

Information in the form requested is not available. However, information on the first destination of Welsh-domiciled students in 1995–96 indicates that 2,768 graduates were known to have taken up employment outside Wales.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will estimate the percentage of people over 65 years of age resident in Wales who were not economically active in Wales, in the last year for which figures are available. [51449]

In Spring 1998, 96 per cent. of people over 65 years of age who were resident in Wales were not economically active in Wales, according to the Labour Force Survey.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what percentage of written parliamentary questions tabled for answer by the Welsh Office on a named day under S.O. No. 22 (4) have been answered substantively on the named day since 1 May 1997. [51450]

From 1 May 1997 to 24 July 1998, 89 per cent. of written parliamentary questions tabled to my Department for answer on a named day were answered substantively.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the most recent GDP figures for Powys. [51452]

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has not previously published GDP figures for Powys. However, I understand that GDP figures for various areas in Wales, including Powys, will be issued this summer.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many policy initiatives announced by his Department since 1 May were announced (a) by means of a statement to the House prior to a press conference and (b) by a press conference. [51451]

I have made no statements to the House on major policy initiatives since 1 May. I have held a number of press conferences on a variety of subjects since that date.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what economic indicator data the Welsh Office collects for each unitary authority in Wales. [51453]

Economic indicator data for Wales are mainly collected by Government Departments other than the Welsh Office. Rates of claimant unemployment, economic activity, and employment are published for all unitary authority areas. Unemployment rates from the Labour Force Survey are currently published for six authorities, and average gross weekly earnings of full-time employees for 15 authorities: for these indicators the estimates for other authority areas are subject to excessive sampling variation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans she has to make ministers in the proposed Northern Ireland Assembly subject to the Official Secrets Act 1989 on taking office; and if she will make a statement about the security implications of Ministers from paramilitary-connected parties taking Government office. [42164]

[holding answer 18 May 1998]: Paragraph 5 (3) of Schedule 13 of the Northern Ireland Bill, which is currently before Parliament, makes provision for the Official Secrets Act 1989 to apply to the First Minister and Deputy First Minister in Northern Ireland and to Northern Ireland Ministers.We are considering whether any further provisions are necessary to protect national security interests in the context of devolution.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people are participating in the New Deal in Northern Ireland. [51022]

Responsibility for the subject in question has been delegated to the Training and Employment Agency under its chief executive, Mr. Ian Walters. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland to which countries Northern Ireland beef is currently exported. [51556]

Since the lifting of the beef export ban on 1 June 1998 the only consignment of Northern Ireland beef to be exported went to Belgium.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on his policy on open Government with reference to (a) his Department, (b) its agencies, (c) its non-departmental public bodies and (d) corporate organisations within his Department's control; and what steps he plans to take to encourage the provision of information by such bodies. [51483]

The Department, together with its Executive Agencies and its executive-NDPBs which come under the jurisdiction of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration, are subject to the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.Ordnance Survey, the Office of the Passenger Rail Franchising, the Office of the Rail Regulator and the Office of Water Services also come within the jurisdiction of the Parliamentary Commissioner and are subject to the Code.Those quasi-NDPBs, public corporations and nationalised industries which do not come within the jurisdiction of the Parliamentary Commissioner have their own arrangements on open government but are encouraged by the Department to follow the spirit of the Code.The Department, and other bodies under its control with public responsibilities, also have a statutory duty to provide information on the environment under the Environmental Information Regulations 1992.The Department, its Agencies, NDPBs, public corporations and nationalised industries are considering how to prepare for the requirements of the Freedom of Information legislation.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what was the cost of the seven regional Eurostar sets; what is their current location; and what proposals are being considered for their future use; [51741](2) what assessment the consortiums bidding to run Eurostar have provided to his Department of the viability of running regional Eurostar rail services. [51655]

These trainsets were purchased as part of a larger procurement contract which included the intercapital sets so it is not possible to give actual costs. However, they are currently being leased at £22 million each. The trains are based at North Pole Depot in North London and at Eurostar's Longsight facility in Manchester and they are currently undergoing tests on the UK and continental rail networks.The provision of regional Eurostar services are a matter for London and Continental Railways. The consortium chosen by LCR to operate Eurostar have been asked to review urgently the feasibility of regional Eurostar services, and to report to the Government before the end of the year. This report has not been received yet.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions for what reasons the Environment Agency has recently relaxed its code governing the treatment of clinical waste derived from hospitals. [51647]

Clinical waste is defined in Regulation 1(2) of the Controlled Waste Regulations 1992 and, as controlled waste, must be managed and disposed of in accordance with sections 33 and 34 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. Some types of clinical waste are also classified as "Special Waste" and subject to the additional controls in the Special Waste Regulations 1996. The Environment Agency are responsible for the administration and regulation of the waste management licensing system, which is designed to ensure that waste is handled in a way which does not harm human health or pollute the environment.The Environment Agency has not relaxed its current codes governing the treatment of clinical waste. The Agency is, however, carrying out research into the risks associated with clinical waste. The Agency will be taking the emerging results into account in its review of guidance on the handling and management of clinical waste which is being conducted jointly with the Health and Safety Executive. Any changes in recommended practice will be the subject of consultation with interested parties.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if his Department will provide assistance to ensure the completion of the Huddersfield Canal Project. [51537]

The Huddersfield Canal Company—a partnership of three local authorities—is seeking support from English Partnerships and the Millennium Commission in completing the restoration of a significant stretch of the Huddersfield-Rochdale Canal. The Huddersfield Narrow Canal Millennium Project is a large and very complex scheme requiring a significant level of investment from public funds. Regular discussions are taking place between English Partnerships and the Huddersfield Canal Company.English Partnerships are currently carrying out a full economic appraisal to ensure the project aims and costs are reasonable and; the proposal robust; and that they represent good value for money.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement concerning recent increases in the number of complaints made to rail companies. [51875]

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave him on 21 July 1998, Official Report, column 466. Since that answer, my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister announced in his statement on transport policy on 20 July, our plans to set up a Strategic Rail Authority with stronger powers to enforce the delivery of contractual obligations by train operators. We also expect the SRA to specify more demanding performance standards for new or any renegotiated franchises.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many people have received compensation for mesothelioma in each of the last 10 years; and what was the total amount of compensation received. [51900]

The table provides details of the number of claimants paid under the Pneumoconiosis Etc. (Workers' Compensation) Act 1979 in each of the last 10 years. A complete breakdown of which claims were paid for mesothelioma is not available. However, virtually all claims received by DETR today under the 1979 Act are for asbestos-related diseases. An analysis of claimants in 1996–97 revealed that over 70 per cent. of all claims received were from sufferers of mesothelioma. The Department does not hold figures for civil claims.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he intends to carry out the review of policy on chemicals in the environment announced by the Deputy Prime Minister last year. [52544]

I will be launching the first stage of the review process, a consultation paper on "Sustainable Production and Use of Chemicals", on Monday 27 July 1998. Copies of the consultation paper will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses and also in the Vote Office. This consultation paper is part of the Government's family of consultation papers on sustainable development.The consultation paper seeks views on how the mechanisms for identifying and acting on potentially damaging chemicals in the environment can be improved.The views received during the consultation period will feed into the development of a White Paper on the sustainable production and use of chemicals to be published early next year.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is his estimate of the number of households in local authority properties who are under-occupying because their household size and structure does not justify the number of bed-spaces provided. [52127]

The table shows estimates from the Survey of English Housing of the number of local authority households in England in which the number of bedrooms available exceeds the bedroom standard (i.e. the requirement under a longstanding standard for bedrooms, implied by the composition of the household). In certain cases a household may need a spare bedroom, for caring or another purpose, and any assessment of whether a property is under-occupied should take such factors into account.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many local housing authorities operate incentive schemes to encourage under-occupying tenants to move to smaller properties; and how many people have moved in each of the last three years via such schemes. [52126]

Information about local authorities' management policies, including under-occupation strategies, was formally collected for the first time on the 1996 Housing Investment Programme questionnaire. At that time, of 357 local housing authorities, more than 230—almost two thirds—indicated that they offered direct incentives to their under-occupying tenants to encourage moves into smaller social rented accommodation.Between 110,000 and 114,000 council tenants have transferred to other properties owned by their local authorities in each of the last three years; around one quarter (26–27,000) have moved into homes with fewer bedrooms, although it is not known how many of these were as a result of incentives offered by the authority.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the annual cost of collecting road tax on cars; and what estimate he has made of the cost of collecting the tax through a levy on petrol. [52072]

In 1997–98, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency spent £127 million on vehicle licensing and registration, of which some £60 million is attributable to licensing. This figure relates to the collection of vehicle excise duty (VED) on all vehicles—a figure relating solely to cars is not available.While it would be possible to estimate the cost of collecting revenue equivalent to VED through fuel duty, this has not been carried out because much of the cost of VED collection would continue to be incurred, to maintain the vehicle register. The current system also serves other functions, such as the checking of MoT certification and insurance.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps he will take to ensure that adequate investment is made by water companies to meet European Union water quality targets by 2000. [52073]

Investment by water companies to meet water quality targets implied by European legislation up to the year 2000 was agreed in the 1994 Periodic Review of water company price limits. OFWAT and the Environment Agency, as the water industry regulators, are monitoring progress and have instituted procedures to ensure that companies meet the statutory deadlines.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what representations he has made to (a) the EC Commission and (b) his counterparts in each other EU Member state, about compliance and enforcement of legislation relating to tachographs; and if he will make a statement; [52129](2) what representations he has received concerning the compliance of other EU member states with legislation relating to tachographs. [52130]

The Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions have neither made nor received any representations about the enforcement of the drivers' hours regulations in other European Union Member States.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what percentage of tachographs were inspected by his Department in the latest year for which figures are available: what was the equivalent figure in each other EU member state; and if he will make a statement. [52128]

Council Directive 88/599/EEC requires Member States to check a minimum of 1 per cent. of days worked by drivers falling within the scope of the EU drivers' hours rules under Regulation 3820/85. All Member States are required to submit a biennial return on the implementation of the Regulation to the European Commission which, in turn, produces a report based on the information received. The last European Commission report covered the years 1993 and 1994. Explanatory Memorandum No. 5051/98 advised Parliament on the content of that report.In 1997–98 the Vehicle Inspectorate checked a total of 1,770,271 charts, which exceeds the UK target. Comparable figures from other Member States are not yet available.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if the treatment of four-by-four vehicles pulling trailers carrying goods in connection with a trade or business and with a gross vehicle weight of 3.5 tonnes or more is regulated under legislation on tachographs in the same way in each EU member state; and if he will make a statement. [52131]

European Union (EU) Regulation 3820/85, which applies to vehicles used for the carriage of goods where the maximum permissible weight of the vehicle, including any trailer, exceeds 3.5 tonnes, is directly applicable in all EU Member States. In the UK it is necessary to augment the directly applicable legislation by including in domestic legislation details of infringements and penalties that can be incurred on conviction for a drivers' hours or tachograph related offence.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what recent representations he has received regarding the Birmingham Northern Relief Road. [51912]

Our decision in July last year, that the Birmingham Northern Relief Road should proceed, concluded a lengthy statutory process. That process involved a 15-month public inquiry which provided a statutory forum for a wide range of representations. Our decision was reached after considering the Inspector's report that recommended in favour of the scheme. Although the orders for the scheme have been made we have continued to receive various representations from interested parties, including MPs and members of the public, on subjects related to the scheme—most notably the effects on the Lichfield and Hatherton Canals.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the effect of polychlorinated biphenyls on the marine environment in the Irish Sea. [52193]

The relevant Government departments and Agencies in the United Kingdom, including Northern Ireland, and in the Republic of Ireland are jointly taking the lead in the production of a Regional Quality Status Report on the Celtic Seas, including the Irish Sea. Organic contaminants, including polychlorinated biphenyls, form part of this assessment. The final report, which is one of five regional reports on which the Quality Status Report of the North East Atlantic, which is being prepared by the Ospar Commission, will be based is due for publication by the year 2000.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what were the annual emissions of radioactive liquid discharges from Sellafield of (a) tritium, (b) carbon 14, (c) zinc-65, (d) strontium 89, (e) strontium 90, (f) technetium 99, (g) iodine 129, (h) europium 152, (i) europium 154, (j) total Beta and (k) uranium in each of the past 20 years. [52195]

Discharges from Sellafield via the Marine Pipeline, in tetrabecquerels (TBq), were as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate he has made of the quantities of (a) synthetic chemicals, (b) mercury, (c) cadmuim, (d) lead, (e) zinc, (f) nickel and (g) arsenic released into the Irish Sea from establishments in the United Kingdom in each of the past 10 years; and if he will make a statement on the proposed reduction targets for each. [52194]

The 3rd North Sea Conference in 1990 committed North Sea states to monitor substances listed in Annexe 1A of the Ministerial Declaration of the Third International Conference on the Protection of the North Sea. Monitoring has been carried out since 1991 at selected sites (rivers and direct discharges to the sea) and the UK's results have been reported to Ospar on this basis as annual load estimates for the whole of the UK. The reduction targets for Annexe 1A listed substances were agreed by North Sea Ministers in 1990 and were set at 50 per cent. between 1985–1995. The UK has a good record in achieving this target.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the effect of tributyl tin from the hulls of ships on the marine environment in the Irish Sea. [52192]

The relevant Government Departments and Agencies in the United Kingdom, including Northern Ireland, and in the Republic of Ireland are jointly taking the lead in the production of a Regional Quality Status Report on the Celtic Seas, including the Irish Sea. The Marine and Land Based Inputs to Sea Research Programme of the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions has recently received the final report of a research contract into the effects of tributyl tin in western coastal waters. This report, which is available from the Department's library, will form part of the overall Celtic Seas assessment, one of the five regional assessments on which the Quality Status Report of the North East Atlantic, being prepared by the Ospar Commission, will be based. The Ospar report is due for publication by the year 2000.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the releases of (a) synthetic chemicals, (b) mercury, (c) cadmium, (d) lead, (e) zinc, (f) nickel and (g) arsenic into the marine environment by each EU country in each of the last 10 years. [52191]

Data are not available in the form requested. However, the UK has reported on inputs of 35 of the 36 substances listed in Annexe 1A of the Ministerial Declaration of the Third International Conference on the Protection of the North Sea, The Hague, 8 March 1990 for the period 1991–1995. The Annexe 1A list comprises of 36 substances of priority concern in the marine environment, including heavy metals and synthetic chemicals.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he proposes to introduce legislation to provide greater public access to the open countryside. [52270]

We are considering carefully all options, both statutory and voluntary, in the light of extensive consultation. We intend to announce our conclusions later this year. If we decide that a new statutory right of access is necessary, we will introduce legislative proposals as soon as practicable, taking into account competing priorities for Parliamentary time.

To ask the Prime Minister which of his Ministers have been selected for assessment by civil servants under his new procedure; and if he will (a) place such assessments in the Library and (b) publish them. [51906]

[holding answer 23 July 1998]: There is no such procedure. I have not required civil servants to make assessments of the performance of their Ministers.

To ask the Prime Minister what plans he has (a) to appoint a Minister for youth and (b) to set up a youth commission. [52184]

None at this stage. The interests of young people are effectively represented across Government by Ministers and officials working closely together and in regular meetings with those bodies representing the interests of young people.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what initiatives he is taking to protect auction markets for livestock. [52120]

Livestock Auction Markets are commercial operations. As such, the future of any livestock market is a matter for market forces and not one in which the Government would wish to intervene.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on recent trends in farmers' incomes. [52119]

In 1997, total income from farming in the United Kingdom was estimated at £3.36 billion, a fall of 37 per cent. in real terms compared with the previous year. The figure for 1998 will not be available until December but the indications are that it will be lower than in 1997.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the age profile of (a) livestock and (b) hill farmers. [52116]

The age profiles of holders of livestock holdings and holdings in Less Favoured Areas (LFA) for England and Wales in 1995 are given in the table.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the future of hill farming in England. [52113]

The Government are committed to helping to secure a sustainable future for hill farming, recognising in particular the role that farmers play in maintaining the environment and social fabric of the uplands. From 2000 the system of support will be changed more closely to reflect those social and environmental aims. These changes are being considered in the context of the Agenda 2000 Rural Development proposals for the Less Favoured Areas.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the trends in the number of livestock farms. [52115]

The trend in the number of livestock holdings in England and Wales is given in the table.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what initiatives his Department has taken to attract young people to farming. [52117]

The farming industry offers a wide range of opportunities. Underpinned by MAFF and Sector Challenge funding, Lantra, the National Training Organisation for agriculture and commercial horticulture and other land-based and related industries, has a programme promoting career prospects and providing information on careers and training in farming. MAFF also provides a grant to the National Federation of Young Farmers Clubs to support education and training. The industry itself has developed a Rural Starters Register. There are also various schemes for building links between schools and farming.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made of the proportion of the aid programme that is best distributed by her Department direct and the proportion best distributed by other agencies and organisations. [51652]

The Department for International Development (DFID) disburses the development assistance budget through a number of channels, including multilateral organisations, civil society organisations and the Commonwealth Development Corporation, in addition to its own programmes in developing countries. As the new White Paper indicates, the primary objective of our development assistance programme—eliminating world poverty—requires building a range of partnerships for development, covering a wide range of interventions, which will vary from country to country. For example, in many countries, it will be helpful to work with the private sector to strengthen development; we are therefore building new partnerships with business.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many people her Department is committed to employing during 1998 under (a) the subsidised job option and (b) the unsubsidised job option of the New Deal programme. [52582]

We are currently examining these arrangements and have not at this stage made a formal commitment.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what plans her Department has to support the church movement in Sudan. [52074]

We are supporting Christian Aid's efforts to provide humanitarian assistance through the church movement in Sudan. We also support an emergency relief project in South Sudan implemented by the NGO Association of Christian Resource Organisations Serving Sudan (ACROSS).

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made of shark numbers in the Chagos Archipelago. [50021]

[holding answer 20 July 1998]: I have been asked to reply.Observations made during the 1996 Chagos Expedition, compared with earlier expeditions in the 1970s, suggest a significant decline in reef shark numbers. Sharks are not a target species for the licensed inshore fisheries. But unwanted by-catches do occur, which are monitored through log-book returns and an observer programme.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what action she is taking to monitor fisheries in British Indian Ocean Territory, and to designate marine-protected areas. [50019]

[holding answer 20 July 1998]: I have been asked to reply.The tools used to monitor the British Indian Ocean Territory fisheries include a licensing regime, enforcement via a fisheries patrol vessel, observer programmes, ad hoc research, and assessment of log book returns. The implications of designating marine protected areas, particularly for enforcement and legislation, are being considered.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has submitted evidence to the inquiry into the matters arising from the death of Stephen Lawrence. [52869]

I am today placing in the Library a copy of the Home Office evidence that has been submitted to the inquiry into the matters arising from the death of Stephen Lawrence. The evidence is of a factual and background nature.The inquiry was established under section 49 of the Police Act 1996. The terms of reference of the inquiry are:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will collate and publish the number of cosmetics experiments on animals carried out in the United Kingdom each year on behalf of foreign companies. [51119]

This information is not readily available for this year. It may be possible to collect if from 1999.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many clerical errors have been identified in the information sent to Calcutta in relation to the trial of Mr. Peter Bleach; and if he will make a statement. [51880]

[holding answer 23 July 1998]: Following a complaint by Mr. Bleach that he had not been given proper access to the evidence forwarded to the Indian authorities by the British police, in the interests of fairness, North Yorkshire Police forwarded to him copies of all the evidence that had been passed to the Indians. This exposed a clerical error by the police, namely that there was a small discrepancy between one of the copy documents passed to the Indians and one forwarded to Mr. Bleach.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment he has made of the impact his spending plans will have as regards enabling temporary classrooms in the Colchester constituency to be replaced with permanent accommodation by July 2002. [51285]

The development of Asset Management Plans by local education authorities (LEAs) will help to identify capital funding priorities across all maintained schools. This should include an assessment of the need to replace temporary classrooms.The Plan to be developed by Essex LEA will cover the Colchester constituency.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will formally extend the consultation period until 31 December for the "Fair Funding: Improving Delegation to Schools" document. [51936]

No. An extension to 31 December would have the effect of precluding the implementation of major changes in the school funding system before April 2000.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many (a) claimants were registered and (b) full-time equivalent staff were employed at each job centre in the East Midlands and Eastern Region of the Employment Service at the latest available date. [51841]

Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Employment Service agency under its Chief Executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what measures his Department is taking to improve IT access for disabled children and those with learning difficulties in Gloucestershire. [52100]

The Department is pursuing a number of initiatives to improve IT access for all children, including those with a disability or learning difficulty. These include £11 million in the Schools Access Initiative last year to help mainstream schools become more accessible to children with disabilities. The purchase of information technology equipment was part of this initiative. In addition £100 million is being invested to enable schools to buy the latest technology and educational software to access the National Grid for Learning. The Grid will ensure that children develop the skills they need to be part of an inclusive society.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what measures his Department is taking to support dyslexic children in Gloucestershire in respect of (a) specialist training and (b) IT projects. [52103]

We have made resources available to ensure that teachers are equipped to use new technology and are able to show all young people, including those with specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, how IT can help them. This is in addition to a new ICT curriculum for the initial training of all new teachers. We have also tasked the British Educational Communications and Technology Agency (formerly known as the National Council for Education Technology) with supporting the Government's commitment to promote the development of relevant teaching and learning resources for ICT, with particular reference to provision for special educational needs.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) what representations he has received concerning the (a) beneficial and (b) negative effects of the policy of the Employment Service not to accept vacancies which specified an upper age limit; [51638](2) what assessment he has made of the impact of the policy of the Employment Service not to accept vacancies specifying an upper age limit. [51639]

Responsibility for the subject of the questions has been delegated to the Employment Service agency under its Chief Executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when he intends to publish (i) the report on his consultations for legislation and (ii) a code of practice to cover age discrimination. [51641]

We aim to publish the report of my consultation on age discrimination in employment within the next few weeks and a draft of the Code of Good Practice for consultation in the Autumn.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what progress he has made towards the publication of a non-statutory code of practice on age discrimination. [51640]

We have made good progress with a code of good practice and aim to publish a draft for consultation in the Autumn.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to the Comprehensive Spending Review if he will publish the budget for Ofsted for the next three financial years. [52238]

Plans for Ofsted's future expenditure will be published in the Autumn.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will provide a breakdown of the items included within the £1 billion service development fund included in the Comprehensive Spending Review. [52252]

Within the provision announced in the Comprehensive Spending Review, the Government are creating a Service Development Fund of £750 million in 2000–01 and £1 billion in 2001–02. The purpose of holding such a Fund within the overall spending totals is to ensure that the right balance of funding between the existing agenda and those areas where policy is still being developed. Consequently it is not possible at this stage to give a breakdown of allocations from the Fund in those two years.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what steps he is taking to tackle skill shortages in the West Midlands. [51910]

In the last Budget, £6.544 million was allocated to the West Midlands for projects specifically aimed at addressing skills shortages through the Skills Challenge and Centres of Excellence for IT and High Technology prospectus.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on his plans for performance related pay for teachers. [52253]

My right hon. Friend's goals for higher standards in schools require a modern structure for the teaching profession and one which will provide incentives for excellence and ensure that good performance both in teaching and management is recognised and rewarded.Further details will be included in the Government's Green Paper on modernising the teaching profession which will be published before the end of the year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on his plans to issue a green paper on teachers' pay. [52239]

A Green Paper on the teaching profession will be published for consultation before the end of the year. It will not be just about teachers' pay, but is intended to launch a wide-ranging debate about modernising the teaching profession.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the outcome of the Rome Conference on the establishment of an international criminal court. [51745]

I refer the hon. Member to the statement made to the House by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary on 20 July 1998, Official Report, columns 803–04.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action he is taking to prevent illegal fishing in the off-shore waters of the World Heritage Site at Henderson Island. [50039]

[holding answer 20 July 1998]: None. There is no capacity for monitoring fisheries in this area.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the EU troika visit to Iran; and if he will make a statement. [52267]

The Tehran visit was for the first round of substantive talks of the new EU/Iran dialogue. The EU and Iran had earlier agreed that these should be comprehensive, addressing both issues of mutual interest and those of concern to both the EU and Iran. Both sides agreed that the talks were held in a positive atmosphere and that there was a frank exchange of views on all issues. We hope that this dialogue will continue and will lead to a more fruitful relationship between the EU and Iran.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimates his Department has made of the likely costs to public expenditure in (i) Hungary, (ii) the Czech Republic and (iii) Poland of membership of NATO. [51886]

As a percentage of their GDP, defence expenditure in 1998 in the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Poland is estimated at 1.8 per cent, 1.51 per cent. and 2.4 per cent. respectively. On joining NATO the Czech Republic has agreed to pay 0.9 per cent., Hungary 0.65 per cent. and Poland 2.48 per cent. of NATO's common funded budgets which currently amount to some one billion pounds per annum. As with existing members of NATO, the contributions of new Member States to the Alliance will be a relatively small element of their total defence budgets.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the cost for each of the past 10 years of the United Kingdom contribution to the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe; and if he will make a statement on plans for future contributions. [51892]

The costs of the United Kingdom's contribution before financial year 1991–92 could be provided only at disproportionate expense. Approximate costs from 1991–92 to 1997–98 were as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which Ministers have visited Sierra Leone since 1 May 1997; and on what dates. [52273]