To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is his latest estimate for the price of entry tickets to the Millennium Exhibition in Greenwich for (a) adults, (b) children, (c) families, (d) people with disabilities and (e) pensioners. [57211]

[holding answer 29 October 1998]: The New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) will announce the price range for tickets to the Millennium Experience at Greenwich in due course. The NMEC will ensure that prices are set at a level which will encourage as many people as possible from across the UK and abroad who wish to visit the Millennium Experience to do so. The prices will offer good value for money compared to other major attractions; whilst maximising income for the Company. There will be discounted rates for children, students, families, senior citizens and groups.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list (a) those companies, organisations and individuals which have so far committed sponsorship to the Millennium Exhibition at Greenwich, (b) the projects or zones to which their sponsorship is committed and (c) the amount of sponsorship still to be committed to each zone. [57213]

[holding answer 29 October 1998]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Great Grimsby (Mr. Mitchell) on 27 October 1998, Official Report, columns 129–30.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will ensure that the Millennium Dome incorporates an area devoted to the contribution to philosophy and politics made by John Locke. [57768]

The New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) aims to reflect the great wealth of British tradition which exists across many disciplines including philosophy and politics. However, it is not feasible for the contribution of every eminent individual in these fields to be reflected.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what studies he has carried out into the compliance cost to businesses of the proposals in the Fairness at Work White Paper. [54669]

The White Paper on Fairness at Work proposes a balanced framework of workable and practical measures with the objective of supporting a new culture of partnership at work which will contribute to national prosperity. A regulatory impact assessment, considering costs and benefits, will be published when legislation is brought before Parliament.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received concerning demands for payments by freeholders for retrospective consents relating to planning applications; what plans he has to investigate such cases; and if he will make a statement. [57942]

[holding answer 4 November 1998]: None.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he is taking to ensure (a) the Working Time Directive is implemented in full by employers and (b) employees are informed about their entitlement under the Working Time Directive. [57719]

[holding answer 4 November 1998]: The Regulations implementing the Working Time Directive provide a number of rights, some of which are enforced by the health and safety enforcing authorities (the Health and Safety Executive) and Local Authority Environmental Health Officers, who will investigate any alleged breach of the measures, and others will be enforced by workers bringing complaints to Employment Tribunals.The Department has run a public awareness campaign in the national press and made guidance material on the new legislation available through a number of public outlets (Libraries, Citizens Advice Bureaux etc).

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will introduce measures to require the Medical Research Council to allocate a proportion of its funds to projects specifically designed to improve women's health. [58115]

The MRC has a broad national remit which must cover all areas of research relating to human health. The Government's relationship with the MRC is governed by the Haldane Principle whereby the Council is responsible for determining research priorities.Research relevant specifically to women's health forms an important part of the MRC's portfolio, with around £47 million committed to research relevant to all areas of women's health, including reproductive health and other conditions such as breast cancer, ovarian cancer and osteoporosis.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) if he will list the amount spent by the MRC on commissioning research on pregnancy-related issues in each of the last five years; [58165](2) if he will list the projects funded by the Medical Research Council undertaking research on

The MRC supports a significant portfolio of research into reproductive health, covering pregnancy and obstetrics, and also closely relevant areas such as infertility/fertilisation and conditions of the cervix. There are currently about 20 studies at the MRC's own research establishments, principally the MRC Reproductive Biology Unit, and also the MRC Dunn Nutrition Unit (including the Dunn Nutrition Group in The Gambia), the MRC Human Biochemical Genetics Unit, the MRC Medical Sociology Unit, the MRC Laboratories in The Gambia and the MRC Molecular Haematology Unit. The MRC also supports some 50 studies through grants to universities, including 6 major Programmes and 9 clinical trials. The total value of this research (both establishments and grants) is estimated at £4.8 million in 1996–97 and £5.3 million in 1997–98.The above research excludes a further body of related work covering embryology and foetal development, for which the MRC currently supports 10 studies in its own establishments and 60 studies in universities.Details of current projects have been placed in the Library of the House. Information on previous projects is not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the criteria by which the Medical Research Council decides its priorities for funding projects. [58114]

All research proposals received by the MRC are evaluated using the same fundamental criteria:

scientific quality of the proposals;

significance and importance of the research topics;

proposals' contribution to the published scientific strategy of the MRC and the Department of Health (and, where appropriate, that of other Government Departments such as DFID);

value-for-money.

The claims for resources of particular proposals in one field are assessed against those of proposals in others, on a competitive basis.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects to publish the White Paper on Competitiveness. [57067]

I intend to publish the White Paper on Competitiveness in December.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the Government plan to publish their response to the Human Genetics Advisory Commission's report on the Implications of Genetic Testing for Insurance. [58945]

My noble Friend the Minister for Science today published, in conjunction with the Minister for Public Health, the Government's response to the HGAC report. In undertaking consideration of this issue, the Government have placed great importance on ensuring fairness of treatment for people seeking insurance cover. The response sets out a number of proposals which seek to build on the progress already made by the Association of British Insurers in developing industry-wide standards on underwriting and confidentiality. In line with the recommendations made in the HGAC report, the proposals include the establishment of an independent mechanism to evaluate the scientific and actuarial relevance of any genetic tests before they can be taken into account by insurers. Copies of the response have been placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the impact of his remarks concerning the arrest of Senator Pinochet on behalf of the Spanish legal authorities on trade between Chile and the United Kingdom. [56571]

[holding answer 28 October 1998]: The United Kingdom has well established trade links with Chile and I expect those to continue. We are one of Chile's main export markets. Although there has been a modest downturn in bilateral trade during the year to August, Chile still enjoys a substantial balance of trade. UK companies remain amongst the biggest group of foreign investors in Chile.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list those Ministers with whom he has discussed the arrest of Senator Pinochet and the dates on which the discussions took place. [57430]

It is the normal convention under this and previous Governments that discussions which take place between Ministers are not routinely disclosed. On this occasion, however, it has been made public that my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister made it clear to the Cabinet on 22 October that there should be no discussion at Cabinet given that my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary might in due course have to address the issue in a quasi-judicial role.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many companies have re-paid start-up grants in the last five years. [58118]

[holding answer 3 November 1998]: Fifteen.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his answer of 22 October 1998, Official Report column 1174, when the payments of regional selective assistance were made to Siemens; and to what purposes the sums offered but not allocated were transferred. [58120]

[holding answer 3 November 1998]: Payments of RSA to Siemens were made in March 1996 and March 1998.The offer of grant to Siemens was reduced by £5 million in March 1998. This saving was returned to the central budget along with a number of other changes. A payment of £3 million, due in 1998/99, remains within the RSA budget at present. Final allocations for the Department's 1999/2000 budgets, when the final £4 million was due to be paid to the company, have not yet been made. This sum has not, therefore, been specifically allocated elsewhere.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the impact on cricket in Wales of the decision by the England and Wales Cricket Board to grant live television coverage rights to Channel 4. [56598]

[holding answer 4 November 1998]: S4C has recently announced that it will transmit a substantial proportion of Channel 4's live Test match coverage of Wales, subject to other scheduling demands. Channel 4 has announced plans for substantial investment in the promotion and development of cricket over the next four years. Cricket in Wales will benefit from this additional funding and from the continued exposure of a good proportion of the sport's flagship events to wide television audiences.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what quantitative assessment of the benefits which accrue from the investments in the development of the individual's imaginative and creative capacity the Government and Governmental agencies currently make. [57766]

The creativity and imagination of the British people are among our greatest strengths, shaping our culture and our position in the world. We will tomorrow be publishing an analysis of the economic benefits of our creative industries. These sectors, which we define as those which have their origin in the talent, skill and imagination of an individual and rely on the generation and exploitation of intellectual property for job and wealth creation, turn over nearly £60 billion a year and employ l½ million people. They also constitute the fastest growing section of the national economy, earning us £8 billion in exports.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will list by name and stated political affiliation those persons appointed to non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department since 1 May 1997. [57306]

[holding answer 29 October 1998]: My Department does not collect details on the political affiliation of those appointed to public bodies. However, information on political activity is collected and published at the time of appointment in line with guidance issued by the Commissioner for Public Appointments.This information is noted in a table which has been placed in the Library and which includes all appointments which fall under my responsibility or where my role is to advise my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister and, through him, Her Majesty the Queen.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the nature of his discussions with President Menem of Argentina with particular reference to the latter's statement that negotiations over the sovereignty of the Falkland Islands will start within three years. [58418]

I met President Menem on 29 October. We had an extensive discussion of various issues including bilateral relations, the global financial crisis, Mercosur and the future of Europe. I welcomed President Menem's public renunciation of the use of force against the Falklands, and raised our concerns over the proposed Argentine oil and fish legislation. President Menem reiterated Argentina's view on the Falklands. In turn I made it clear that the United Kingdom does not regard the sovereignty of the Falklands as negotiable. As we have repeatedly said, there will be no change in the status of the Islands unless that is the wish of the Islanders themselves.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the likely receipts arising from the sale of the Reigate TA Centre. [57583]

It is not our practice to make public information on the market value of individual TA Centres (under Section 7 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information) as it would prejudice my Department's position in any sales negotiation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he proposes to publish a White Paper on Defence Diversification. [58476]

We have today published our White Paper "Defence Diversification: Getting the most out of defence technology", as Cm 4088. It describes how we intend to create a defence diversification agency, in fulfilment of our election manifesto. It follows the process of consultation set in motion earlier this year by our Green Paper, Cm 3861. We are most grateful to all those organisations and individuals who contributed to this process.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) how he proposes further to assist pre-school playgroups; and if he will make a statement; [57440](2) how many registered accredited playgroups there are by county; and if he will make a statement. [57441]

The number of registered playgroups in each local authority area in Wales as at 31 March 1998 was:

Local authority area	Number
Blaenau Gwent	14
Bridgend	53
Caerphilly	45
Cardiff	141
Carmarthenshire	80
Ceredigion	48
Conwy	58
Denbighshire	51
Flintshire	63
Gwynedd	62
Isle of Anglesey	57
Merthyr Tydfil	14
Monmouthshire	38
Neath Port Talbot	19
Newport	46
Pembrokeshire	58
Powys	87
Rhondda, Cynon, Taff	73
Swansea	37
The Vale of Glamorgan	59
Torfaen	44
Wrexham	76
Total	1,223

Voluntary playgroups do very valuable work with young children in the years leading up to compulsory school age. Our aim is that the playgroup movement should continue to play a key role in the education and care of this age group. We have made £50,000 available this year in Wales through the Wales Pre-school Playgroups Association and Mudiad Ysgolion Meithrin to help ensure the survival of good playgroups under threat of closure. Funding is also available to the new partnerships planning early years education and childcare to develop childcare to complement early years education provision. We hope playgroups will take a full part in these new developments.Funding decisions for next year are dependent on the outcome of the consultation on the Comprehensive Spending Review. Those decisions will be announced in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will establish an independent inquiry into the South Wales floods between 21 and 28 October. [57904]

The Environment Agency has kept me and my right hon. Friend informed of the effects of the very heavy rainfall on flooding in Wales. I have great sympathy for those who have been adversely affected by the flooding, but I am not aware of circumstances that would warrant an independent inquiry.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the income for hill farmers in Wales as (a) a total and (b) an average per farmer in 1997–98; and what are the predictions for income in the current financial year. [58014]

Estimates of hill farm incomes will be pubished by the department on November 30, with accompanying statistical tables placed in the library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what initiatives she is assessing to aid relief efforts in Southern Sudan. [57795]

Since the current crisis in Southern Sudan began last February we have committed over £28 million bilaterally to provide humanitarian relief to the most vulnerable areas. We are working with Operation Lifeline Sudan and its partners to improve the efficiency, effectiveness and impartiality of the relief operation. But a just peace in Sudan is the only long term solution to the problems in the south. We continue to work with Inter governmental Authority on Development and urge all parties to the fighting to agree an immediate full cease-fire and to approach peace talks in a positive and constructive manner.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the progress of debt relief for post-conflict countries. [58186]

I have been asked to reply.At the Commonwealth Finance Ministers' Meeting in Ottawa, the Chancellor stated his commitment to assisting post-conflict countries, urging the IMF and World Bank to move forward quickly on proposals which recognise their special needs.Post-conflict countries were also discussed at the recent Annual Meetings of the IMF and World Bank in Washington. The Development Committee of the IMF and World Bank recognised that for a number of countries, especially those with large and protracted arrears to multilateral institutions, the international community should explore additional ways to provide assistance more quickly and effectively. Bank and Fund staff were asked to develop guidelines and to report back to the Committee at the Spring Meetings in April. It was also agreed that interim assistance to post-conflict countries would be taken as counting towards their track-record under the HIPC Initiative.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to improve the relationship between the police and ethnic minority communities. [56715]

[holding answer 2 November 1998]: I am satisfied that all Scotland's Chief Constables have already developed and are vigorously pursuing progressive race relation policies both within their forces and reaching out to the communities they serve. These policies were developed in collaboration with leaders of ethnic communities. Police officers are required to give full weight to and robustly investigate racial incidents. A new offence of racial harassment and a requirement on courts to take account of any racial element in an offence were introduced in the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 and demonstrate our commitment to forging greater harmony within our communities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the current number of vacancies for chefs in Scotland. [57064]

The figures available refer only to vacancies notified to Employment Service jobcentres. Estimates suggest that about a third of all vacancies within the UK are notified to jobcentres, but this can vary by area and type of job.In July 1998, there were 1,367 unfilled vacancies for chefs and cooks at Employment Service jobcentres in Scotland.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the number of Scottish catering course graduates who find employment as chefs in the Scottish tourism industry. [57063]

This information is not collected centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last met representatives of the catering profession in the Scottish Chefs Centre. [57065]

I have occasion to visit catering establishments from time to time, when I both meet members of the catering profession and enjoy the fruits of their labours. But I have not visited the Scottish Chefs Centre.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will assess the findings contained in the papers by Robert E. Weibel and others in Paediatrics March 1998 on the links between acute encephalopathy associated with attenuated measles vaccines; [56969](2) if he will assess the findings contained in the paper by Gina Delgiudice-Asch MD and Eric Hollander MD published in CNS Spectrums May 1997 on a review of clinical observations with respect to the possible auto-immune basis or autism a copy of which has been sent to him. [56971]

[holding answer 24 October 1998]: I refer the hon. Member to the Answers given by my right hon. Friend the Minister for Public Health on 4 November 1998, Official Report, column 617.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he is taking (1) to ensure that educational authorities in Scotland have sufficient funds to develop new services for autistic children; and if he will make a statement; [57615]

Education authorities have a statutory duty to secure the adequate and efficient provision of education for the children in their respective areas, including children with special educational needs. The services which any particular authority chooses to provide for its area and the nature of educational provision deemed suitable for any particular child at any given time, including a child with special educational needs, is a matter for it to decide in the first instance. The costs of services provided by authorities are met from their general funding.The Framework for Mental Health Services for Scotland published in September 1997 provides a template by which Local Authorities and Health Boards in Scotland will work together to respond to the assessed needs of their local population in respect of the organisation of mental health services including where appropriate services for children and adolescents.The Scottish Office Education and Industry Department commissions research and development work over a range of special education issues aimed at helping education authorities and other interested organisations to offer more effective provision. In June 1997 it published

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he will publish the next edition of Government Expenditure and Revenue in Scotland. [56980]

[holding answer 29 October 1998]: I refer to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Cumbernauld and Kilsyth (Mrs. McKenna) on 9 July 1998, Official Report, column 605.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when the Second Annual Report of the Scottish Environment Protection Agency will be published. [58944]

A copy of SEPA's Second Annual Report and Accounts will be placed in the Library on Tuesday 10 November. It contains details of the progress made by SEPA during the period 1 April 1997 to 31 March 1998, the Agency's second year of operation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what additional funds he has made available to health boards, the Common Services Agency, the State Hospital and the Scottish Council for Postgraduate Medical and Dental Education for (a) 1999–2000, (b) 2000–01 and (c) 2001–02. [58946]

My right hon. Friend has today announced how the extra £1.8 billion flowing from the Comprehensive Spending Review will be allocated to the National Health Service in Scotland for the next 3 years. The extra allocations are £280m revenue and £20m capital, £547m and £43m, £852m and £58m for 1999–2000, 2000–01 and 2001–02 respectively.For 1999–2000 £60m of the £280m revenue is being earmarked along with £80m of existing recurring funds for a new long term Modernisation Programme. This Programme is designed to improve the services provided for patients and ensure the National Health Service in Scotland is prepared for the 21st century.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he intends announcing the Government's response to the Children's Safeguard Review prepared by Roger Kent; and if he will make a statement. [58947]

Action is being taken on a number of fronts to safeguard and promote the welfare of children living away from home. Today I am pleased to announce that the Government's response to Mr. Kent's Review has been made available in the Libraries of both Houses. We consulted widely on the Review and its 61 recommendations. We see it as an important milestone in raising standards and improving services for looked after children. Our response demonstrates our practical commitment to this process and sets out priorities for action. That commitment will be underpinned by resources.I can announce today that an additional £36.7m over the next 3 years will be made available to improve children's services, £15m of which will be allocated specifically for implementation of key proposals in the Review. The Government's response, supported by additional resources, is a clear indication of the importance we attach to this task. It will be made widely available to local authorities and voluntary organisations so that they can play their full part in helping to protect and secure better outcomes for this vulnerable group. We owe them nothing less.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when the independent group appointed in May to undertake a review of food-related scientific services in Scotland is due to report. [58950]

The Review Group led by Professor Morag Timbury provided me with their final report on 23 October and copies are available in the House of Commons Library. I am very grateful to the Chairman and Members of the Group for undertaking this complex review of a service which is an essential element of the food law enforcement and surveillance system which directly helps to safeguard public health. The detailed recommendations presented by the Group will be very carefully considered in order to ensure that all necessary changes to the existing system can be introduced to secure an efficient and effective food-related scientific service.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what arrangements were made by or through his Department for the arrival of Senator Pinochet in the United Kingdom. [57042]

I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Spelthorne (Mr. Wilshire) on 4 November 1998, Official Report, column 601.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list all representations and telephone calls made by his Department about Senator Pinochet between 14 and 17 October; and to whom they were made. [57966]

[holding answer 2 November 1998]: This Department made no representations and does not keep comprehensive records of telephone calls. But there were a number of calls with the relevant authorities at the time of his arrest, and my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary received a telephone call from the Chilean Foreign Minister on 17 October.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Walsall, North (Mr. Winnick) of 22 October 1998, Official Report, column 1206, and to the answer given to the hon. Member for Hertsmere (Mr. Clappison) of 27 October 1998, Official Report, column 124, if he will list the precise dates on which Senator Pinochet has been in the United Kingdom since 1 May 1997. [57659]

[holding answer 2 November 1998]: Pursuant to an answer given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department to the hon. Member for Hertsmere (Mr. Clappison) on 27 October 1998, Official Report, column 124, our records indicate that Senator Pinochet arrived in the United Kingdom on 29 September 1997 and left on 21 October 1997, with a break abroad between 5–17 October. He arrived in London on his current visit on 22 September 1998.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what communications his Department received from the Embassy in Chile in the week prior to the arrest of Senator Pinochet. [58417]

On 9 October, the Embassy inquired about Senator Pinochet's health and whereabouts following press inquiries it had received that he had died that afternoon in London. The Embassy afterwards faxed a note of this incident for the record to London. On 16 October, the Embassy commented on reports of Spanish judicial moves against Senator Pinochet.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what initiatives were rejected during the United Kingdom presidency of the EU by Spain consequent to the dispute over the status of Gibraltar. [55981]

[pursuant to her reply, 26 October 1998, c. 86]: An administrative error led to an incorrect reference to the number of instruments adopted at the Justice and Home Affairs Council on 28–29 May. A revised answer is printed below.Before the start of the UK Presidency, Spain objected to various draft instruments in the Justice and Home Affairs field because of the terms relating to the inclusion of Gibraltar. We fully consulted the Government of Gibraltar throughout the ensuing negotiations during our Presidency. The Government of Gibraltar reluctantly decided that Gibraltar should be excluded from these instruments rather than participate as part of the UK legal jurisdiction. Two instruments were adopted at the Justice and Home Affairs Council on 28–29 May on this basis (ie with Gibraltar excluded): the Driving Disqualifications Convention and the European Judicial Network Joint Action. Gibraltar was excluded from a third measure at the JHA Council which has not yet been adopted (the Eurodac Convention).

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he collects regarding the numbers of people who, having been refused visit visas to enter the United Kingdom, have subsequently been granted visas as a result of a new application at a later date. [57334]

This Department does not record this information.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many people, and from which countries, had visitors' visa applications rejected by UK officials in each of the last three years. [58286]

The number of visit visa applications (including short term students) refused at overseas Posts in the last three years is as follows:

Year	Number
1995	65,209
1996	69,791
1997	60,019

Our statistics are recorded by country of application but do not show the country of origin of the applicant.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects progress to be made on the establishment of an Antarctic Treaty Secretariat; and if he will make a statement. [58231]

The Antarctic Treaty Secretariat may be discussed at the next meeting of the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Parties to be held in Peru in May 1999. The need for an Antarctic Treaty Secretariat has long been acknowledged by Consultative Parties, including the UK. But consensus on its location has not yet been reached.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent initiatives his Department has taken to resolve conflict in Sierra Leone. [57796]

We are playing a leading role in helping to promote lasting peace, democracy and prosperity in Sierra Leone. Britain is hosting the first meeting of the Sierra Leone Contract Group on 5 November. The meeting is intended to boost the efforts of the International community to build peace and reconciliation in Sierra Leone. Britain is also helping to resolve conflict by supporting the disarmament and reintegration of ex-combatants, through a £6.5 million pledge from the Department for International Development.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the planned participation by representatives from (a) the United Kingdom and (b) European Communities institutions at the inaugural conference of an International Forum for Federalism to be held by the Canadian Government. [58276]

We are aware that the Deputy Prime Minister of Canada suggested the idea of an International Forum for Federalism in a speech to the London School of Economics and Political Science on 29 October. However, it would not be appropriate for HMG to make a statement on this initiative which, we understand, is only at an early stage of development.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the Government's policy on European Union aid to tobacco growers. [57182]

I have been asked to reply.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what percentage of waste from the London boroughs of (a) Edmonton and (b) Lewisham is recycled. [56749]

Information from the Department's Municipal Waste Survey shows that the percentage of waste collected for recycling in 1996–97 in the London boroughs of Enfield (which includes Edmonton) and Lewisham were:

London borough	Percentage
Enfield1	6.4
Lewisham	2.8
1Total waste includes amounts collected at North London Waste Authority civil amenity sites situated in the borough of Enfield. Waste collected for recycling includes material recovered through mechanised metal extraction.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Crosby (Mrs. Curtis-Thomas) of 26 October 1998, Official Report, column 7, what plans the Driving Standards Agency has to re-establish a test centre in Stafford. [57486]

The Driving Standards Agency remains committed to re-establishing a driving test centre in Stafford. The search for a suitable site is continuing.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to amend the remit of the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment; and what proposals for public participation in any decision relating to such changes he intends to make. [57412]

The terms of reference for the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment already include the provision of advice on request to the Secretary of State. In future we shall be seeking advice from ACRE not only on the direct and indirect effects of genetically modified organisms into the environment but also on the possible resultant changes in agronomic practice and the subsequent effects on biodiversity. ACRE's advice on these questions will be made public through the DETR public register.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 28 July 1998, Official Report, column 110, if he will publish the Oxford Brookes University research on the use of economic instruments to make it attractive to develop new housing on recycled land. [57928]

As part of the Modernising Planning initiative this year, Oxford Brookes University were commissioned to lead some seminars with stakeholders on the development of planning obligations, including the role of economic instruments, in connection with a wide range of development interests, including housing. The seminars were held under 'Chatham House' rules, with participants contributing under the assurance of confidentiality. Following the seminars Oxford Brookes University prepared a report to the Department with their findings. The Department is now considering these but has no plans to publish the report.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how much Bechtel is charging per day to take over the project management of the Jubilee Line extension. [58202]

The contract between London Transport and Bechtel covers the provision of personnel with a structured charging mechanism, the details of which are commercially confidential.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the estimated start date of the Birmingham Northern Relief Road. [58108]

The start date is subject to the early determination of any appeal against the High Court judgment of 20 October on the statutory challenge to the orders for the scheme.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of progress towards implementing the Kyoto agreement by (a) the United Kingdom, (b) other members of the European Union and (c) the United States of America. [57881]

On 26 October we became one of the first developed countries to launch a consultation paper on meeting its Kyoto commitments. The paper lists the steps we have already taken and sets out in detail further options on how the UK could reduce its emissions of greenhouse gases. It demonstrates that the UK is well placed to meet both its legally binding Kyoto target to cut greenhouse gas emissions to 12.5% below 1990 levels by 2008 to 2012 and our domestic aim of a 20% cut in CO², emissions by 2010. Greenhouse gas emissions are already about 7% below 1990 levels; and, on current policies, would be about 10% below by 2010.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he expects to instruct the Highways Agency to appoint consultants in relation to the Great Barford Bypass. [58102]

This scheme is included in our Targeted Programme of Improvements listed in A New Deal for Trunk Roads in England. That means that the scheme will definitely start within the next seven years, subject only to any outstanding statutory procedures. Detailed decisions on the timing of the schemes in the programme will be made shortly.In the light of these decisions, the appointment of consultants and design agents will be commissioned to meet the agreed programme.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the circumstances surrounding the sinking of the Arco Arum and subsequent salvage attempts in the Thames off Thurrock. [58077]

I believe my hon. Friend's question relates to the vessel Arco Arun. I understand that this aggregate dredger grounded off Broadness Point at approximately 1450 hours on 13 October. The vessel sustained a split in her hull and subsequently sank, clear of the navigation channel. No other vessels were involved, there were no casualties and, due to the quick response by the Port of London Authority, no damage to the environment. An inquiry by the Marine Accidents Investigation Branch is in progress and the PLA is conducting its own internal investigations. I understand that, following the appointment of salvors by the vessel owners, it became apparent that flooding had spread throughout the vessel and that specialist equipment would be required. The vessel owners have therefore now engaged the services of a company experienced in heavy lift and removal operations and they are currently assessing the situation.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what procedures exist for him to monitor housing associations; and if he will arrange for the operations of the Springboard Housing Association to be investigated. [58097]

The Housing Corporation has the statutory responsibility for registering, regulating and funding housing associations, now known as Registered Social Landlords.Springboard Housing Association is registered with the Housing Corporation. The association, along with all other Registered Social Landlords, is required to meet the Housing Corporation's Performance Standards. Compliance with these standards is reviewed annually. The Corporation investigates where there is evidence of non-compliance and has powers to ensure remedial action by RSLs in cases of serious mismanagement or misconduct.I have asked the Housing Corporation to contact the hon. Member direct to answer any specific concerns.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the role of the cable car link to the Millennium Experience; and how many passengers it is expected to carry. [58018]

The Millennium Access transport strategy was developed before the proposed cable car, being promoted by a private company, was a consideration. The New Millennium Experience Company has estimated that 2 per cent. of visitors would use the cable car for part of their journey to the Dome. Should it not proceed there would be sufficient capacity on other modes to carry visitors to the Dome who might otherwise have used the cable car.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the COBA study into options for a Chideock Bypass. [58223]

[holding answer 3 November 1998]: No COBA study into options for a Chideock bypass has been carried out. At the 1994 public inquiry into the A35 Chideock/Morcombelake bypass one of the alternatives proposed by objectors was a single carriageway bypass for Chideock alone. The Highways Agency assessed the cost of this scheme as £5.9 million with a COBA net present value of £0.7 million at low traffic growth and £3.7 million at high traffic growth. But this scheme was not considered to represent a viable bypass for the village. An estimate was made by the Highways Agency in 1997 that a single carriageway bypass with climbing lanes for Chideock would cost approximately £12.5 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what happened to the (a) general furniture and (b) boardroom furniture which belonged to Teesside Development Corporation after the demise of the Corporation in April. [58303]

I understand that the Corporation's furniture was sold as part of a packaged disposal of its office equipment during its final three-month period.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 31 March 1998, Official Report, column 493, when he expects that the Green Paper on leasehold reform will be published. [58473]

We hope to issue our consultation paper on leasehold reform shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what review is being undertaken by his Department of the performance of bus franchises in London; and if he will make a statement. [58226]

The performance of bus passenger services in London is a matter for London Transport. The Department receives regular reports of the overall performance on the bus network and monitors this against targets set by the Secretary of State.I would refer my hon. Friend to the Government's White Paper "A Mayor and Assembly for London" in which we have said that the present arrangements work well but that Transport for London should be free to develop and improve these arrangements working within a statutory framework similar to the present one.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he expects to announce detailed proposals on the reduction of private car traffic in central London. [58227]

The Government will be giving the Mayor of London the responsibility and the powers to deal with strategic traffic issues in the capital. The Mayor will produce an integrated transport strategy for London. Boroughs will be required to produce local implementation plans to give effect to this. Meanwhile the Government are promoting initiatives in London to improve public transport and encourage use of modes other than the private car—in line with our White Paper 'A New Deal for Transport'.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the aspects of policy covered by the Government's obligation to the Buenos Aires climate change conference to be held in November. [58229]

My right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister will be making a statement to the Buenos Aires Climate Change Conference (COP4) on Thursday 12 November. He will urge that as much progress as possible is made on outstanding implementation, questions of the Kyoto Protocol at COP4 and agreement on a work plan for early resolution of remaining issues. He will also update the Conference on progress made by the United Kingdom Government in meeting its own commitments as set out in the consultation paper 'UK Climate Change Programme', which was issued on 26 October.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the delegation he is sending to the Buenos Aires climate convention to be held in November. [58230]

The UK delegation for the Fourth Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change will consist of my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister, myself and the right hon. Member for Suffolk, Coastal (Mr. Gummer) and a total of 26 officials from the Departments of the Environment, Transport and the Regions, Trade and Industry, International Development and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate he has made of the current volume at London coach terminals of passengers in transit to locations outside London. [58673]

Coach services interchange at several locations in London including Victoria Coach Station, Bulleid Way, Heathrow Airport, King's Cross and Russell Square. The Government do not compile information about these services. However, I understand it is estimated that around 3 million passengers departing from Victoria Coach Station each year transfer from other coach services at the Station.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what (a) legal and (b) diplomatic steps he is taking to stop European Union countries providing state subsidies to national airlines. [58474]

Application of the rules in the Treaty of Rome which govern state subsidies to national airlines is a matter for the European Commission. The UK Government oppose in principle all such subsidies which distort competition in the European single aviation market, and takes advantage of the limited rights granted to Member States under the Treaty, and of appropriate diplomatic opportunities, to present its views. The Commission now assesses requests for state aid more stringently than it did previously, and, when authorising aid to Alitalia in 1997, stated that it did not expect there to be any further such cases.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) if he will place in the Library the replies to the letters to local authorities asking them how many of their councillors are (a) men and (b) women; [58362](2) how many councillors for each local authority are

Research carried out by the publishers of the Municipal Year Book in the summer indicates that approximately 26 per cent. of councillors in the UK are female.The replies to the letters to local authorities to which my right hon. Friend refers are not held by this Department. The question of these being placed in the Library is a matter for the Minister for Women and I have asked her to write to my right hon. Friend on this subject.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions at the time of the accident on Saturday 24 October at Barrow in Furness, involving the British Nuclear Fuels Ltd ship the Pacific Crane, what nuclear waste was carried in the ship; and what was its origin; and if he will make a statement. [58669]

There was no nuclear material on board the Pacific Crane at the time of the incident.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what percentage of residential property in England, by regions, is owned on a leasehold basis. [58546]

The Survey of English Housing for 1996–97 found that 14 per cent. of residential properties in England were owned on a leasehold basis. The regional distribution is shown in the table:

Government office region	Freehold accommodation	Leasehold accommodation
North East	87	13
North West and Merseyside	70	30
Yorkshire and Humberside	91	8
The North	80	19
East Midlands	97	3
West Midlands	90	10
The Midlands	93	7
Eastern	93	7
London	71	29
South East	89	10
South West	90	11
The South	86	15
England	86	14

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list those ministers who are responsible for greening their departments. [58948]

After recent changes in ministerial responsibilities, the following colleagues have been appointed as Green Minister in their Departments, under my continued Chairmanship.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what was the outcome of the third dialogue meeting between African elephant range states held in Arusha, Tanzania from 28 September to 2 October; and if he will make a statement. [58949]

As part of a continuing dialogue, African elephant range states met recently at Arusha to discuss implementation of decisions made at last year's CITES Conference to transfer the elephant populations of Botswana, Namibia and Zimbabwe to Appendix II of the CITES Convention to enable limited trade in elephant products to resume. The UK and other contributors to the costs of the meeting, the European Commission, the USA and Japan, attended as observers.The 1997 Conference decisions set a number of conditions that have to be met before an experimental one off transhipment of ivory from the three proponent states to Japan can go ahead next year. These include the establishment of new pan-African and Asian monitoring systems to assess the level of elephant poaching and illegal trade in ivory. The World Conservation Union (IUCN) and TRAFFIC (the wildlife trade monitoring arm of IUCN and the World Wide Fund for Nature) were charged with developing these systems. Their proposals were presented to the Arusha meeting and endorsed by the range states present.While African range states indicated their readiness to help finance the monitoring systems, there will be a need for external funding to get them up and running. Since effective monitoring systems will be vital to informing decision makers on whether the tenth Conference decisions have any adverse effect on levels of poaching and illegal trade, I am today pledging $40,000 of UK support for the new system to monitor illegal trade in ivory. This will enable the system to be set up and provide sufficient resources to fund its first year of operation.The tenth Conference decisions also addressed the problem of growing Government stockpiles of ivory derived from management programmes and seizures. Parties agreed that fully audited stocks should be taken out of the system by way of non-commercial disposal. In return donors would provide financial assistance for elephant conservation and community development programmes with all monies managed under Conservation Trust Funds. At Arusha, the fourteen African countries that have had their registered government stockpiles audited by TRAFFIC discussed the best way to proceed. They agreed to co-operate in seeking financial assistance for conservation by this means and to route any indications of interest through the CITES Secretariat.In keeping with this spirit of co-operation and in the expectation that this will lead to offers from other donors, including conservation organisations, I am today writing to the CITES Secretariat to let them know that the UK is willing to contribute £60,000 to fund conservation work in return for disposal of part of the registered ivory stockpile.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to modernise the Department's computer systems; and if he will make a statement. [58761]

Modernisation of the Welfare State is a priority for the Government and will involve major changes over a period of time to the ways in which welfare services are delivered. A key element of the strategy for the future is to provide the next generation of computer systems required to support improved service delivery to the public, whilst at the same time reducing the scope for error or fraud.The ACcess to CORporate Data (ACCORD) procurement project was created to put in place Information System/Information Technology (IS/IT) supply arrangements with the private sector. The procurement, conducted in accordance with Government and EC procurement regulations, set out to establish Private Finance Initiative/Public Private Partnership (PFI/PPP) arrangements with suitable service providers.First of all, in order to develop the core systems for the new IS/IT, the Department is announcing today that it intends to establish a close, long-term working relationship with a single preferred Service Provider. The AFFINITY consortium (led by Electronic Data Systems Ltd. with IBM UK Ltd., Cable and Wireless Communications Ltd. and PricewaterhouseCoopers) has been selected for this role and they will start work with the Department immediately to do the preparatory work necessary to design the strategic components of the next generation of IS/IT.The Department is also announcing that it has selected three service providers it intends to work with for the provision of a wide range of IS/IT services in the future. As well as the AFFINITY consortium these will be:

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to re-examine the pensioner: working age ratio prediction for each five yearly period up to 2040; and if he will make a statement. [58228]

National population projections are produced by the Government Actuary's Department (GAD). GAD normally carry out projections every two years. The latest, 1996-based, projections were published on 27 November 1997. The next planned set of national population projections will be 1998-based and will be available towards the end of 1999.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what compensation will be available for people whose benefit payments are delayed as a result of problems with the NIRS 2 computer; [58259](2) how many pensioners

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many (a) pensioners, (b) widows and (c) widowers are currently in receipt of emergency payments because of the failure of the NIRS 2 computer system; [55854](2) what tests were carried out before the NIRS 2 computer system was implemented. [55855]

[holding answer 22 October 1998]: I refer the hon. Members to the Written Answer my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State gave the hon. Member for Newbury (Mr. Rendel) on 4 November 1998, Official Report, columns 603–06.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many pensioners claimed (a) income support, (b) housing benefit and (c) council tax benefit in the latest year for which figures are available (i) in total and (ii) by each region of the United Kingdom. [57899]

The information is in the table.

Number of pensioners (in thousands)in receipt of Income Support, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit—May 1997
Region	Income Support	Housing Benefit	Council Tax Benefit
North	107	131	176
Yorkshire and Humberside	155	197	279
East Midlands	120	121	185
East Anglia	56	73	104
London and South East	471	519	697
South West	133	122	193
West Midlands	178	186	288
North West	233	220	344
Wales	98	89	134
Scotland	169	230	296
Great Britain	1,720	1,887	2,696
Northern Ireland	75	50	n/a
United Kingdom	1,795	1,937	n/a

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list each change to the eligibility rules for each state benefit since May 1997, indicating for each change the number of people estimated to (a) have lost and (b) been denied benefit as a result, indicating their average financial loss. [56249]

The information is not available in the format requested. The following regulations and orders have affected eligibility to benefits since May 1997; effects include both restrictions and extensions to future benefit eligibility.

The Social Security (Disability Living Allowance) Amendment Regulations 1997 SI No. 1997/349

Section 19 of the Social Security Administration (Fraud) Act 1997—(The Social Security Administration (Fraud) Act 1997 (Commencement No. 4) Order 1997) SI No. l997/2669(c.l00)

The Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments) (No. 3) Regulations 1997 SI No. 1997/1671

The Council Tax Benefit (General) Amendment Regulations 1997 SI No. 1997/1841

Income-related Benefits (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 1997 SI No. 1997/2793

The Housing Benefit (General) Amendment (No. 2) Regulations 1997 SI No. 1997/1974

The Housing Benefit (General) Amendment (No. 3) Regulations 1997 SI No.1997/1975

The Income-related Benefits and Jobseeker's Allowance (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 1997 SI No. 1997/2197

The Social Fund Maternity and Funeral Expenses (General) Amendment Regulations 1997 SI No. 1997/2538

The Social Security Amendment (New Deal) Regulations 1997 SI No. 1997/2863

Social Security Amendment (New Deal) (No. 2) Regulations 1998 SI No. 1998/2117

Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 1998 SI No. 1998/563

Social Security Amendment (Lone Parents) Regulations 1998 SI No. 1998/766

Child Benefit and Social Security (Fixing and Adjustment of Rates) (Amendment) Regulations 1998 SI No. 1998/1581

The Social Security (Welfare to Work) Regulations 1998 SI No. 1998/2231

The Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments) (No. 3) Regulations 1998 SI No. 1998/1173

The Social Security Amendment (Capital) Regulations 1998 SI No. 1998/2250

The Council Tax Benefit (General) Amendment Regulations 1998 SI No. 1998/911

The Housing Benefit (General) Amendment Regulations 1998 SI No. 1998/1732

The Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments) (No. 4) Regulations 1998 SI No. 1998/1174

The Social Security Amendment (Personal Allowances for Children) Regulations 1998 SI No. 1998/1541

At the point of change, no one on benefit will lose out as a result of changes to entitlement rules. Further information about the effects of these changes could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many cases of suicide by men from whom the CSA has sought payments are known to his Department since the agency began operations. [57292]

The Child Support Agency does not routinely keep records on the circumstances surrounding the death of a non-resident parent. The many factors that can lead a person to consider suicide do not point towards single explanations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement about the funding of age-related rebates in respect of members of contracted-out money purchase schemes. [58762]

Employers who operate contracted-out occupational pension schemes provide their employees with a pension to replace the pension they would have got had they remained in the State Earnings Related Pension Scheme (SERPS).In contracted-out occupational schemes, both employer and employee pay lower rate National Insurance Contributions in recognition that full SERPS will not be paid. In a Contracted-Out Money Purchase Scheme (COMPS) part of the rebate is deducted from the national insurance contributions due by the employer. The remainder, known as the age-related rebate, is paid by the Contributions Agency to the pension scheme in the tax year following that in which it is due.Section 42A of the Pension Schemes Act 1993 (PSA) provides the legislative authority for the age related rebate to be paid by the Secretary of State for Social Security to the pension scheme. This section was inserted into the PSA by the Pensions Act 1995. The intention is that these payments should be funded directly from the National Insurance Fund and classed as revenue forgone. However, the necessary provision to facilitate funding in this manner was erroneously omitted from the Pensions Act. So while there is a legislative duty to make the payments, there is no authority to fund them from the National Insurance Fund. As result a number of ultra vires payments have been made from the National Insurance Fund totalling around £490,000 which will have to be refunded from money voted by Parliament.An amendment to the PSA to correct this defect will be put before Parliament. This will allow the payments to be funded properly from the National Insurance Fund in accordance with the original intention. Until the provisions are enacted temporary arrangements are necessary to ensure that the payments can continue to be made. Provision will also be made to ensure that the National Insurance Fund reimburses those accounts responsible for funding the payments up to the time when the legislation was brought into force.Legislation under s177(1) of the PSA does, by default, allow the payments to be paid from money provided by Parliament. Since Parliament did not envisage using provision in this way the ambits of the DSS Votes do not cover age related rebates. A Supplementary Estimate is therefore needed to extend the ambit of Class XII, Vote 2. A token Supplementary Estimate of £1,000 has been sought on Vote 2 to amend the ambit to enable payments, totalling £82 million, to be made to Contracted-Out Money Purchase Schemes in respect of age related rebates. As the Contributions Agency computer system, NIRS2, does not have the functionality to separate the payments in respect of age related rebates, which are paid in conjunction with personal pensions, Vote 2 will, therefore, also be responsible for paying personal pensions. The National Insurance Fund which does have the legislative power to pay personal pensions will refund Vote 2 for the payments made on its behalf. These arrangements will continue until the defective legislation is corrected. An advance of £77 million has been sought from the Contingencies Fund to finance urgent expenditure. The advance will be repaid from Vote 2 when Parliament has approved the necessary token Supplementary Estimate.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress is being made on the Prison Service Quantum Project. [58941]

On 10 August 1998, the Director General of the Prison Service called a temporary halt to the Quantum Project and set up a thorough review which will take up to six months. In a message to Prison Service staff he said:

"It has become apparent that it may not be possible to achieve the original objectives of providing the Service with improved information systems and business processes in a way which safeguards the vital operational capability of the Service".

These and other concerns will be addressed in the review process, which will reassess the way forward and consider a range of alternative options. The objective is to ensure that the project meets the needs of the Prison Service.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what objectives he will be determining for policing for 1999–2000. [58942]

I will announce my objectives, which identify our Ministerial priorities for policing in 1999–2000, together with supporting Key Performance Indicators, tomorrow, 6 November. I will arrange for copies to be placed in the Library at 10.00 am.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements are being made to issue monthly statistics of asylum. [58943]

Until now, the asylum statistics have been available only in the Home Offices' annual Asylum Statistics Bulletin and in a summary form twice a year in the Control of Immigration Statistical Bulletin. These Bulletins contain detailed information on asylum applications, demographic characteristics of asylum seekers, decisions, appeals, detention and removals.Selected monthly information has, however, been available only on request from the Home Office Press Office. I am therefore arranging for selected monthly statistics of asylum to be placed on the Home Office Research Development Statistics Website (http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/index.htm) on the 25

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the percentages of the total number of asylum seekers who were given (a) refugee status and (b) exceptional leave to remain for each year for which figures are known since 1993; what assessment he has made of the factors underlying changes in those percentages; and if he will make a statement. [57759]

The requested information is given in the table.

Cases1recognised as refugees and granted asylum and thosegranted exceptional leave, excluding dependants2, as a proportion of all decisions—1993–1997 Principal applicants
percentage
Year	Recognised as a refugee and granted asylum	Granted exceptional leave
1993	7	48
1994	4	17
1995	5	16
1996	6	13
19973	11	9
1Information is of initial determination decisions excluding the outcome of appeals and other subsequent decisions,
2 Cases not recognised as refugees but granted exceptional leave
3 Provisional figures

The proportion of applicants recognised as refugees and granted asylum shows little variation between 1993 and 1996. The increase to 11 per cent. in 1997 reflects grants to Somali and Federal Republic of Yugoslavia nationals. In the first nine months of 1998, the proportion has increased further to 17 per cent. This is partly due to changes made in 1998 so that deserving cases are recognised earlier in the process. The fall in the numbers of asylum applicants granted exceptional leave after 1993 reflects the introduction in July 1993 of the Asylum and Immigration Appeals Act, in which grants of exceptional leave were limited to cases where there were genuine humanitarian factors.The Home Office is continually reassessing the situation in each country in the context of the 1951 United Nations Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and its associated 1967 protocol.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many 15 and 16 year old youths were held on remand in adult prisons at the most recent date for which information is available; [58354](2) which adult prisons were used for the remand of 15 and 16 year old youths on

The available information relates to the remand prison population of 15 and 16 year olds on the last day of the month and is given in the table. Young persons held in adult prisons are normally accommodated separately from adults.

Population of 15 and 16 year olds on remand in adult prisons on 30 April 1997 and 30 September 1998, by establishment
Establishment	30 April 1997	30 September 19981
Altcourse	—	4
Cardiff	9	6
Doncaster	46	27
Exeter	3	2
Gloucester	7	4
Hull	10	7
Low Newton	16	11
Manchester	—	1
Norwich	—	1
Parc	—	1
Swansea	5	3
Woodhill	—	1
Total	96	68
1Provisional figures

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the timetable of the Youth Justice Board for ending the remand of 15 and 16 year olds to adult prisons. [58355]

The Government's plans for ensuring that appropriate arrangements are in place for remanded juveniles are being taken forward in the context of the wider programme of work arising from our review of all forms of secure accommodation for young offenders and young people held on remand. Our aim is to implement provisions in the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 as soon as possible, and by June 1998 at the latest, to allow the courts to remand directly to local authority secure accommodation 12–14 year olds, 15 and 16 year old girls and, where a place has been identified in advance, vulnerable 15 and 16 year old boys. We will keep under review the existing arrangements for remanding other 15 and 16 year old boys to Prison Service accommodation.In the meantime, work is being taken forward, with the Youth Justice Board, to improve the standard of care and quality of regimes for remanded and sentenced juveniles held in Prison Service accommodation to ensure that these are appropriate to the needs of young people. We are also making available funds, which will be administered by the Youth Justice Board, to develop local bail support provision to help ensure that custodial remands are used appropriately for the most serious and persistent cases.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what is the total sum received or to be received by police forces in England and Wales from the Football Association to cover the cost of travel, overseas allowances and overtime in connection with the policing of World Cup matches involving the England team; [58489](2) how much in total the Government plan to contribute towards the 24-hour manning of the National Criminal Intelligence Service Football Unit during the World Cup Finals and the costs associated with the provision of football intelligence officers during matches involving the England team. [58490]

The Football Association has met the cost of travel, overseas allowances and overtime for officers from England and Wales. Salary costs have been met by the officers' respective forces. The Football Association also contributed to the cost of relevant police equipment.The Government agreed to contribute to the costs associated with the 24-hour manning of the National Criminal Intelligence Service during the Finals: and to contribute part of the cost associated with the provision of additional football intelligence officers in France for some England matches. Detailed information about actual costs incurred is operationally sensitive.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what is the current amount of section 11 funding made available by his Department to the Greater London area; [57909]

Allocations of Home Office section 11 grant for the 1998–99 financial year to local authorities, grant maintained schools and further education colleges in the Greater London area amount to £34.496 million. Nationally, over 97 per cent. of section 11 grant is currently paid to education projects. It has been decided that, from April 1999, responsibility for such funding should rest with the Department for Education and Employment. A further announcement will be made shortly about the administrative arrangements. The Home Office intends to operate a new grant programme to fund projects in fields other than education. The Department is currently consulting interested parties about the design of this new programme, and a further announcement will be made in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases were considered for enforcement under immigration legislation for each year for which figures are known since 1993; and how many deportations were made. [57757]

The available information, relating to the numbers of cases for which enforcement action was initiated under sections 3(5), 3(6) or 33(1) of the Immigration Act 1971, since 1993; and the number of deportations made, is given in tables 7.2 (Illegal entrants) and 7.4 (Deportation action) of the Home Office Command Paper "Control of Immigration: Statistics United Kingdom 1997" (Cm 4033), for years 1993 and 1994, and in tables 5.1 (Total enforcement action), 5.2 (Illegal entrants) and 5.3 (Deportation action) of the Home Office statistical bulletin "Control of Immigration: Statistics United Kingdom, First Half 1998", issue 24/98, for years 1995–97. Copies of these publications are available in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the extent to which European legislation, directives and decisions are enforced upon the Channel Islands and the extent to which the situation has changed since the passing of Protocol 3 to the Treaty of Rome. [57753]

Protocol 3 to the Treaty of Accession sets out the limited extent to which European Union instruments apply to the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man. The normal practice is for relevant European provisions to be given effect in the Islands through local legislation.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent representations he has received from the EU Commission relating to the Channel Islands. [57755]

No recent representations have been received from the European Commission relating to the Channel Islands.