To ask the Chairman of the Accommodation and Works Committee if he will make a statement on the use of bronze in the New Parliamentary Building. [58782]

The initial brief for the building was set out in the Second Report from the Select Committee on House of Commons (Services), Session 1990–91 (HC551). The Committee recommended a building of

"durable, high-quality materials which are in keeping with the area and will weather well".

In his subsequent report to the House, the architect, Sir Michael Hopkins, advised that the materials which had been selected were consistent with the requirements of a high-quality building with a minimum life span of 120 years. The major components of the building, including the main structural elements, would be designed to last for the life of the building.Aluminium bronze was selected for the roof for both its durability and good structural properties. The use of bronze has been continued down the elevations as a facing for the duct panels and the frames to the windows.The first of the fenestration and duct units will be installed before Christmas with work on the roof starting early in the New Year. Hon. Members will have then the opportunity to see the contribution the use of bronze has made to the high quality of the design of the building as well as to achieving the functional requirements.

To ask the President of the Council if she has completed an audit of the state of readiness for millennium compliance in the public sector. [59268]

My right hon. Friend the Member for South Shields (Dr. Clark) first reported to the House on the progress that was being made by central government departments and agencies in achieving millennium compliance on 27 November 1997, Official Report, columns 1104–05. Arrangements were then put in place to monitor progress on a quarterly basis. Three subsequent statements on progress across central government have since been made. The results of the last review, which I published on 9 September, showed that good progress is being made by departments and agencies in tackling the millennium bug. Work on correcting priority, business-critical, systems is particularly well advanced.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will publish the names of those people she has appointed to public bodies since 1 May 1997, indicating the positions to which they have been appointed, and whether they receive remuneration. [56762]

I have placed in the Library a list of those individuals who have been appointed to public bodies in Northern Ireland in the period 6 December 1997 to 23 October 1998, with details of their position and whether they receive remuneration. Details for the period 1 May to 5 December 1997 were given in my answer of 15 December 1997, Official Report, column 40.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many serious violent assaults in Northern Ireland since 11 April (a) have been admitted by and (b) are believed to have involved Direct Action Against Drugs. [58205]

None.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many applications for (a) lone parent benefit and (b) child benefit were made from (i) 1 April 1997 to 31 March 1998 and (ii) 1 April 1998 to 30 September 1998; of these how many have been approved; how many were refused; and how many await determination. [58666]

Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Social Security Agency under its Chief Executive, Mr. Chris Thompson, and I have asked him to arrange for a response to be given.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many applications for renewal books were made in respect of (a) child benefit and (b) lone parent benefits from (i) 1 April 1997 to 31 March 1998 and (ii) 1 April 1998 to 30 September 1998; how long it took on average to process such applications; and how many applications are still outstanding. [58665]

Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Social Security Agency under its Chief Executive, Mr. Chris Thompson, and I have asked him to arrange for a response to be given.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will list for each week in October the number of (a) punishment beatings and (b) punishment shootings which took place in Northern Ireland indicating how many were in each category committed by (i) Loyalist and (ii) Republican groups. [59231]

The number of paramilitary style attacks for each week in October is shown in the table:

	Paramilitary assaults		Paramilitary shootings
Period	Attributed to Loyalists	Attributed to Republicans	Attributed to Loyalists	Attributed to Republicans
1-4 October	3	0	0	0
5-11 October	2	2	0	0
12-18 October	2	0	0	0
19-25 October	1	0	0	0
26-31 October	0	2	0	0
Totals	8	4	0	1

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will list for the week ended Saturday 7 November the number of (a) punishment beatings and (b) punishment shootings which took place in Northern Ireland; and if she will indicate how many in each category were committed by (i) Loyalists and (ii) Republicans. [59244]

The number of paramilitary style attacks during the period 1–7 November 1998 are shown in the table:

	Paramilitary assaults	Paramilitary shootings
Attributed to Loyalists	1	2
Attributed to Republicans	1	1

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will introduce a charter for persons with autism in line with the charter adopted at the fourth Autism European Congress in May 1992; and if she will make a statement. [57627]

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to him by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary at the Office of Public Service on 3 November 1998, Official Report, columns 558–59.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many beneficiaries of the Do-It-Yourself Shared Ownership Scheme there were (a) in total and (b) newly approved in the last full year for which data are available for (i) the UK, (ii) London and (iii) the London Borough of Richmond. [58589]

My Department is responsible for housing matters in England and the following figures therefore refer to England rather than the UK as a whole.

(a) between its start in 1991–92 and 1997–98, the Do-It-Yourself Shared Ownership Scheme has assisted a total of 23,306 households in England; of which 5,659 were in London and 72 in the London Borough of Richmond.

(b) in 1997–98, a total of 2,238 households were assisted in England; of which 619 were in London and 10 in the London Borough of Richmond.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what risk assessment has been made of the simultaneous use of the Kew and St. Margaret's western approaches at Heathrow. [58501]

The KEW and St. Margaret's western approaches are used simultaneously only rarely when the scheduled demand of aircraft waiting to land at Heathrow exceeds the capacity of the designated landing runway. This procedure conforms with the International Civil Aviation Organisation's standard operating procedures and requires the maintenance of standard separation criteria between landing traffic. It does not, therefore, require special risk assessment.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what action he is taking to ensure that no area is disproportionately affected by overflying aircraft landing at Heathrow. [58496]

Landing aircraft need to make their final approach aligned with the runway, which limits the scope for varying their final approach track. The Aircraft Noise Monitoring Advisory Committee (ANMAC), which advises the DETR on aircraft noise at Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted, is currently investigating the feasibility of setting noise limits for arriving aircraft and other possible means of ameliorating arrivals noise. ANMAC has also established a working group which is looking at the causes of variability in the noise levels of landing aircraft.In the second stage consultation paper on night restrictions at Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted, to be issued shortly, we will be inviting views on various options for changes to the preferential use of Heathrow's runways at night.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment the Government have made of the safety impact of recent steps to reduce horizontal distances between planes on landing at Heathrow. [58494]

Safety concerns are paramount to both the Government and to our aviation safety advisers, the Safety Regulation Group (SRG) of the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). SRG approved stringent procedures for using reduced horizontal spacing for arriving aircraft at Heathrow in January 1998 after exhaustive trials had confirmed that safety was in no way compromised. Reduced separation can be implemented only in daylight hours; for certain types of aircraft; when there is an arrivals backlog; and is subject to prevailing weather conditions. SRG will continue to monitor the use of these procedures to ensure that the safe operation of the airport is maintained.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will establish an independent monitoring body to measure aircraft noise at Heathrow. [58497]

We have no plans to do so. Aircraft noise is already measured satisfactorily by Heathrow Airport Limited to check compliance with the take-off noise limits set by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and to detect infringements. The integrated aircraft noise and track-keeping (NTK) system installed by BAA plc. in 1993 is used for this purpose. Data from the system are also used by the Department of Operational Research and Analysis of the CAA/NATS in producing the annual historical aircraft noise exposure contours published by the DETR, and for study purposes.Aircraft noise around Heathrow is monitored by the Heathrow Airport Consultative Committee (HACC) and has been the subject of technical studies by DORA on behalf of the Aircraft Noise Monitoring Advisory Committee (ANMAC), which advises my Department. Both include representatives of local government, local interest groups and the aviation industry.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions under what statutory provisions traffic commissioners allow small public service vehicle operators to run unregistered bus services. [58724]

The bus services which have to be registered with the traffic commissioner are 'local services', as defined in section 2 of the Transport Act 1985. Broadly speaking, local services are those using public service vehicles for the carriage of passengers at separate fares, with stopping places less than fifteen miles apart, and which are not trips organised privately by persons acting independently of vehicle operators etc. (as set out in Part III of Schedule 1 to the Public Passenger Vehicles Act 1981), or services operated under a permit under section 19 of the Act. The requirement to register services is imposed by section 6 of the 1985 Act, which applies irrespective of the size of the public service vehicle concerned.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) if he will issue guidance to regional development agencies on their sustainable development role and responsibilities in respect to rural areas; [58729](2) if regional development agencies will be given guidance on their sustainable development obligations and responsibilities for rural areas before they prepare their regional strategies. [58659]

Yes. We published draft guidance to RDAs on their regional strategies on 20 October, and have invited comments by the end of November. Work is in progress on supplementary guidance to RDAs on how they should contribute to sustainable development and on rural policy, on which we will consult interested parties in due course. The aim is to finalise all these documents early in the New Year. RDAs will be fully operational from April 1999, and we envisage that they will produce their regional strategies by October 1999.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 3 November 1998, Official Report, columns 454–45, if he will list the companies which submitted bids for disposal of (a) computers, (b) CD-Roms, (c) office equipment and (d) boardroom furniture, indicating which bids were accepted for each of the above categories of equipment after the demise of Teesside Development Corporation. [58675]

I understand that a large number of firms were approached in connection with the disposal of TDC's furniture and equipment. Three expressed interest and two definite bids were subsequently received, the higher of which was accepted. For reasons of commercial confidentiality, the names of these firms cannot be divulged.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 3 November 1998, Official Report, column 454, if he will list those individuals who have kept a record of information which was previously stored on (a) CD-Roms or disks and (b) on paper after the demise of Teesside Development Corporation. [58779]

I understand that, upon its dissolution at the end of June 1998, the TDC bequeathed some 600 boxes of files to the Commission for the New Towns, as the residuary body. The CNT is currently working on cataloguing the information in these boxes before putting them away for long-term storage.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list by local authority the level of charges set for registration of houses in multiple occupation. [58583]

Local authorities are required to charge a reasonable fee which does not exceed the maximum specified by the Secretary of State. This maximum is £80 per property under a notification registration scheme, and £60 per habitable room under a registration scheme with control provisions. Information on the levels set by authorities who have introduced schemes is not held centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on how his integrated transport policy will apply to rural areas. [58478]

The measures in the Government's White Paper will produce a transport system which increases choice for all—including those who live in rural areas. There are specific measures targeted at rural areas; the White Paper announced the creation of a new Rural Transport Partnership fund to help get extra resources into rural transport where it counts. In addition, the Chancellor announced on 17 March 1998, Official Report, column 1109, an additional £50 million a year to improve the public transport alternative in rural areas.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what acreage of land in England is registered as (a) areas of outstanding natural beauty and (b) sites of special scientific interest. [58814]

The total area of land in England within designated areas of outstanding natural beauty is 5,039,360 acres; sites of special scientific interest extend to 2,440,318 acres. About one third of the area of sites of special scientific interest is within areas of outstanding natural beauty.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what resources he will make available to Shrewsbury to deal with recent flood damage. [59153]

Local authorities affected by an emergency or disaster, such as severe flooding, can apply to my Department for special financial assistance under the Section 155 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 (the 'Bellwin scheme'). The scheme is intended to help local authorities deal with the immediate aftermath of such an event in their area or among their inhabitants. Grant is discretionary and is normally paid on qualifying expenditure at 85 per cent. above a threshold. The threshold is related to an authority's Standard Spending Assessment.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what meetings he has held in the last six months with representatives from supermarkets. [58883]

In the last six months, I have met representatives of many organisations, including supermarkets, who have interests in the subject areas for which I am responsible and the many consultation documents my Department has issued.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to meet the management of Connex South Central to discuss its performance and services. [59228]

Ministers will be meeting representatives from all of the train operating companies and Railtrack on November 26, to discuss future railways policy and in particular ways of improving poor performance generally.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 4 November 1998, Official Report, column 574, concerning rolling stock replacement, when he expects the Franchise Director to conclude his exploration of options with Connex South Central. [59227]

I understand that the position reached in the Franchising Director's exploratory discussions with Connex South Central is that the Company is now considering how it wishes to proceed. The Franchising Director will examine and respond to any further approach from the Company. There are no time limits on this process of dialogue.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions under the public service vehicle regulations, how often the speedometers of (a) fare stage buses and (b) coaches must be recalibrated; and if he will make a statement. [58755]

There is no legal requirement for the speedometers in either fare stage buses or coaches to be recalibrated. The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 require that speedometers must be maintained in a good working order. If the vehicle is fitted with a speedometer in accordance with either EC Directive 75/443EEC or UN ECE Regulation 39, then the accuracy requirements are that the speed indicated by the speedometer must never be less than the true speed at which the vehicle is travelling.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if negotiations between the Government's lawyers and the BEST trustees have begun; what outstanding issues remain; and when he expects a final settlement to be reached. [59157]

Discussions with the lawyers for the National Bus Company pension trustees have begun. They were started immediately after the announcement by the Deputy Prime Minister on 30 September of the intention to achieve a just out-of-court settlement of the trustees' claim for return of the pension surplus paid over following NBC's privatisation.High priority is being given to achieving as soon as possible a conclusion to these discussions which is satisfactory for all concerned.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what was the number of motor coaches stopped by the police forces during the month of September for a vehicle condition check-up, how many (a) were found to have faults and (b) were refused permission to complete their journey, pending repairs to their vehicles; and if he will make a statement. [58298]

I have been asked to reply.Figures for the numbers of motor coaches stopped by police officers during September are not available centrally, but I can report the coach checks recorded by the Vehicle Inspectorate (VI) in that period. Police officers exercise their power to stop moving traffic to enable VI to examine vehicles during multi-agency checks, and the VI also examines coaches whilst they are parked to minimise traffic disruption. In the latter cases, police officers would not be involved.

Checks on coaches by Vehicle Inspectorate examiners during September 1998
	Number
Full roadside checks by VI examiners	1,328
Prohibition notices issued	164 (of which 76 had immediate effect, preventing coaches from continuing their journeys)

Checks on coaches by Vehicle Inspectorate examiners during September 1998
	Number
Roadside emissions checks by VI examiners	659
Prohibition notices issued	19 (of which one had immediate effect)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to legalise the payment of compensation by fire authorities to firefighters who are permanently incapacitated or to dependants of firefighters killed on duty. [58590]

I have been asked by the National Joint Council for Local Authorities' Fire Brigades to give statutory authority for compensation payments, originally set out in the Council's Scheme of Conditions of Service for members of fire brigades. I am considering how this can be done.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received concerning the imposition of an administration fee in addition to the fine imposed upon drivers for exceeding the speed limit in cases detected by speed cameras. [58688]

The Home Office has received representations from the Association of Chief Police Officers' Traffic Committee that an administrative charge should be added to fixed penalties for speeding offences detected by cameras. In addition, we have received a large volume of correspondence about increasing the funds for speed cameras by hypothecating the fine income from them.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans his Department has to introduce an administration fee payable by drivers who have been detected speeding by speed cameras in addition to any other penalty they may face. [58689]

The Government are currently reviewing the funding arrangements for speed cameras to see what more might be done. The suggestion that an administrative charge be introduced is one of a number of options which are being considered.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his policy on the future licensing of the use of animals in skin corrosivity and phototoxicity tests, under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986. [58667]

On receipt of the statement on the scientific validation of the 3T3 NRU PT test from the European Commission in November 1997, the Chief Inspector advised that in vivo tests of phototoxicity will no longer be authorised in research applications in the United Kingdom and will not be permissible in safety testing unless the regulatory requirement can be demonstrated. This advice was updated when validation of the alternative test was extended to UV filter chemicals in May 1998.Similarly, the TER and EPISKIN in vitro skin corrosivity tests were substituted as soon as the statement of scientific validation was received in April 1998. In vivo skin corrosivity tests are now not authorised in relevant research work and will be permitted in regulatory safety testing only while regulators demand in vivo data. This advice was conveyed to Certificate holders in a newsletter on 29 June 1998.The Home Office policy in actively taking up validated alternative tests was discussed when my noble Friend the Minister of State visited the European Centre for the Validation of Alternative Methods in May 1998.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the figures in Home Office Statistics of Scientific Procedures on Living Animals in Great Britain, Table 2, column 2, include animals imported from sources outside the EU to United Kingdom suppliers and then sold to designated establishments. [58668]

Animals used in scientific procedures which are listed in Schedule 2 to the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 and must therefore be obtained from designated supplying establishments in the UK, are accounted for in column 2 of table 2. This is the case, even if the animals were obtained by those supplying establishments from other countries, either inside or outside the European Union.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what dates following the (a) 1979, (b) 1983, (c) 1987 and (d) 1992 General Elections the Home Office published "Election Expenses"; and when he expects the volume for the 1997 General Election to be published. [58539]

The Home Office, Scottish Office and the Northern Ireland Office published the Election Expenses volume following the last four Parliamentary general elections as follows:

• 1979: 11 February 1980
• 1983: 12 December 1983
• 1987: 20 April 1988
• 1992: 15 April 1993.

It is hoped to be able to publish the volume relating to the 1997 general election before the end of the year.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Government intend to implement the outstanding recommendations of the Pigot report. [58670]

The majority of the recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Video Evidence, chaired by Judge Pigot, were implemented in the Criminal Justice Act 1991. Those which have not been implemented were considered by interdepartmental Working Group on Vulnerable or Intimidated Witnesses, the establishment of which was announced on 13 June 1997 by my right hon. Friend. The Working Group's report "Speaking up for Justice" was published on 10 June this year by my right hon. Friend for the purpose of consultation, and included recommendations to implement the outstanding recommendations of the Pigot Report. The consultation exercise has now been completed and the Government are urgently considering the responses. We are determined to improve the treatment of vulnerable and intimidated witnesses, including children in the criminal justice system.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 2 November 1998, Official Report, column 385, concerning children in prison, how many children aged 15 years or under (a) are in young offenders' centres and (b) in adult prisons. [59251]

Provisional information shows that of the 203 persons aged 15 years in Prison Service establishments in England and Wales on 30 September 1998, 162 were held in accommodation dedicated to young offenders and 41 were held in other accommodation containing adults. Young persons held in adult prisons are normally accommodated separately from adults.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information was passed by Home Office (a) Ministers and (b) officials to the Prime Minister's Office prior to 11 a.m. on Tuesday, 27 October regarding the actions of the right hon. Member for Caerphilly (Mr. Davies); and if he will make a statement. [59278]

When the Deputy Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, Mr. John Stevens, told me in a telephone call shortly after 10 a.m. on Tuesday, 27 October, that Mr. Davies had been involved in an incident, I passed that on in a telephone conversation to the Prime Minister's Chief of Staff, Mr. Jonathan Powell. By coincidence, Mr. Stevens then came to the Home Office on other business and looked in on me. During that meeting, Mr. Stevens also spoke on the telephone to Mr. Powell. 1 cannot properly disclose the contents of the conversations because of the risk of prejudicing any criminal proceedings. At that stage, the police had not taken a formal statement from Mr. Davies and we were talking only about the initial information which was available and lines of inquiry which were being followed by the police.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what briefing was received by (a) him and (b) Home Office (i) Ministers and (ii) officials from the Metropolitan Police before 11.00 am on Tuesday, 27 October, regarding the actions of the right hon. Member for Caerphilly (Mr. Davies); and if he will make a statement. [59279]

The first information provided to Ministers or officials at the Home Office was given by the Deputy Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, Mr. John Stevens, when he spoke to me on the telephone shortly after 10.00 am on Tuesday, 27 October. By coincidence, Mr. Stevens then came to the Home Office on other business and he looked in on me. The Permanent Secretary, Mr. David Omand, attended that meeting, which took place before 11.00 am.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the average costs of recruitment of policemen (a) in the Metropolitan area and (b) in the rest of England. [58838]

The Commissioner tells me that the current average cost of recruiting a police officer for the Metropolitan Police Service is estimated at £780.Information about the cost of police recruitment for the rest of England is not collected centrally and could be obtained from each police force only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the hon. Member for Walsall, North will receive a reply to his letter of 6 October to the Under-Secretary of State regarding the right of abode of a constituent. [59063]

I wrote to my hon. Friend on 9 November.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what representations he has made to the Secretary of State for Defence concerning the role of the TA in contingency planning scenarios for the millennium bug; [59161](2) what assessment he has made of the impact on emergency preparedness for the millennium bug

Procedures are already in place for the provision of military aid to the civil authority and these arrangements are under regular review in the run up to the Millennium date change. The deployment of the Territorial Army in response to requests for aid is an operational matter for consideration within the Ministry of Defence.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will establish a national register of couples wishing to adopt. [58248]

I have been asked to reply.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many local authorities with responsibility for provision of leisure facilities have a strategic sports facilities plan; and if he will make a statement. [57892]

The English Sports Council (ESC) advises me that some 170 local authorities have such strategies currently in place, with around a further 70 in draft form.Government and the English Sports Council (ESC) see such strategies as an important element of delivering sport at the local level. They should set the context not only for the provision of new facilities, but also for sports development and the protection of playing fields. To help assist local authorities assess their facility needs in preparing their strategies, the ESC has developed a Facilities Planning Model, and this service will be available in the Spring.We are seeking to raise the importance of these strategies through a number of channels. Planning Policy Guidance for Sport and Recreation (PPG17) advises planning authorities which sport and recreation matters should be included within Development plans. Planning authorities are advised to consider sport and recreation strategies when they prepare those plans. This PPG is currently being updated with a revised draft for consultation around the turn of the year. In addition, as well as tying this work with the production of its Lottery Strategy, the ESC will be producing revised guidance on preparing local sport and recreation strategies early in the New Year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) if he will ensure that the proceeds from auctions of analogue spectrum are used to assist all consumers and communities in the United Kingdom to receive the same quality of digital television service; [58502](2) when the switch-off date will be for analogue transmissions; [58503](3) if he will provide financial support to households that currently receive analogue terrestrial television, but which cannot receive digital terrestrial television to enable them to receive the digital television service via

We have not set a date for the switch-off of analogue terrestrial transmissions or yet taken a view on whether any spectrum so released should be auctioned and whether any direct Government measures should be taken to assist the migration from analogue to digital reception. These issues and others were raised in our consultation paper "Television: the Digital Future". We are currently considering the responses to that consultation exercise and an announcement on next steps will be made in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) what estimate he has made of the number of households which will need to purchase new antennae in order to receive digital terrestrial television; [58720](2) what estimate he has made of the number of households in the United Kingdom which will not be directly served by digital terrestrial television; [58733](3) what steps the Government intend to take to ensure that the digital terrestrial television network provides the same level of coverage as the existing analogue network; [58725](4) how many residents in the Inverness, East, Nairn and Lochaber constituency will not be directly served by digital terrestrial television; [58722](5) which regions will experience difficulties in being directly served by digital terrestrial television. [58723]

The launch phase of digital terrestrial television has been jointly planned by the BBC and Independent Television Commission so that the 81 transmitters used will reach around 90% of the UK population by the end of 1999 though the coverage of all six multiplexes will vary and in some cases be less. Extending digital services beyond the reach of the first 81 digital terrestrial transmitters was one of the issues raised in our consultation paper "Television: the Digital Future" the responses to which are currently being considered.The Independent Television Commission published estimates of digital terrestrial television coverage by existing aerials in their Invitation to Apply for Multiplex Service Licences. For the first multiplex carrying the BBC's services, the ITC estimated that 81-87% of the UK population should be able to receive the service with their existing aerials.I understand that digital terrestrial transmissions from the Rosemarkie transmitter are expected to cover the Inverness region. The BBC and ITC have jointly produced a CD-Rom containing coverage predictions for each multiplex for each transmitter site. Copies of the CD-Rom have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many civil servants are currently employed at his Department (a) in total and (b) in each policy area covered by his Department. [58859]

[holding answer 9 November 1998]: There are currently a total of 362 staff within DCMS. The number of staff in each policy area (not including Central Services or senior management) is as set out.

Policy area	Number of staff
Arts	18
Buildings, Monuments and Sites	54
Broadcasting Policy	24
Creative Industries Unit	4
Media	14
Libraries	14
Millennium Unit	12
Museums and Galleries	25
National Lotteries	12
Regions	6
Sport and Recreation	23
Tourism	20

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions have been held between his officials and the Local Government Association about the implications for (a) the performing arts, (b) the visual arts, (c) museums and galleries and (d) libraries of the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions' White Paper "Modernising Local Government". [58861]

[holding answer 9 November 1998]: Discussions with the Local Government Association about the development of cultural strategies have included discussions on the implications of the White Paper.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions regarding the White Paper "Modernising Local Government". [58964]

[holding answer 9 November 1998]: The subject has been discussed in correspondence and at the Central Local Partnership meeting I attended in July. Officials of both Departments are discussing how best to take forward the White Paper proposals in areas where I have an interest.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make it his policy to require all task forces and equivalent bodies sponsored by his Department to publish their working papers and minutes on the Internet. [58768]

[holding answer 9 November 1998]: My Department encourages greater openness of the public bodies it sponsors, wherever practical and appropriate. My Department supports the proposals in "Quangos: Opening The Doors" which recommends that public bodies be encouraged to follow best practice in producing and distributing information on their role and achievement on the Internet. The extent to which the records of any specific task force or equivalent body are published or placed on the Internet will depend upon the individual circumstances and specific tasks undertaken. However, the presumption will be that the final report or recommendations will be made public unless there are good reasons to the contrary.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when the Government will announce their list of prospective world heritage sites to be put forward by the UK to UNESCO for consideration. [59019]

Together with Ministerial colleagues in the other interested Departments, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I will need carefully to consider the results of the current consultation exercise before reaching a final decision on the list; but I hope that an announcement can be made within the next two or three months.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimates he has made of the costs of establishing the Youth Music Trust. [59234]

There are various costs associated with the establishment of the Youth Music Trust, including administrative support and the cost of expert advice on the development of the Trust's underpinning policy and structure. My Department is supporting the work to establish the Trust, both financially, and in kind.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about the resignation of the Director-General of the British Council and place a copy of his resignation letter in the Library. [59274]

Dr. David Drewry resigned from his post as Director-General of the British Council having successfully completed a review of the Council's purpose and strategy. I understand that he saw this as an opportune time to return to his interest in academia. There is no letter of resignation: Dr. Drewry communicated his intention to resign orally in a private meeting with the Chair of the British Council, Baroness Helena Kennedy.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last made representations to Indonesia about East Timor. [59283]

I visited Jakarta on 8 October and met President Habibie and members of his Cabinet. I reinforced our commitment to the United Nation's efforts to seek a just, comprehensive and internationally acceptable solution to the East Timor issue.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to (a) Indonesia and (b) Australia following the decision of the International Commission of Jurists that five Australian journalists were killed by the Indonesian Government at the time of the invasion of East Timor. [59282]

I raised the issue of the deaths of two British born journalists in Balibo in 1975 with President Habibie in Jakarta last month. He undertook to look into the matter. We are aware of reports in Australia of new information on the incident and welcome the Australian government's decision to refer this to Mr. Tom Sherman for his consideration.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is intending to take to reduce the incidence of child abuse in the Third World by western tourists. [59281]

The UK has adopted tough legislation to strengthen action against those who organise or participate in the sexual exploitation of children overseas. There are also extensive arrangements in place for assisting other countries in the investigation and prosecution of offences involving the sexual exploitation and trafficking of children, as well as for responding to extradition requests.Following a joint UK-Philippines initiative at the Asia-Europe Summit (ASEM), the UK hosted a conference on Child Welfare in London in October, involving government and non-government representatives from the 25 ASEM countries. The meeting focused on practical cooperation to tackle the commercial sexual exploitation of children.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to review the UK's policy on sanctions against Pakistan. [59277]

The measures which the UK and the international community took in response to nuclear tests by Pakistan and India are kept under constant review. We regularly consult our partners on the two countries' progress on nuclear non-proliferation and regional security, most recently at a meeting of the Task Force of Senior Officials held in London on 30 October.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the effect of the imposition of sanctions on Pakistan by the USA on the prospects of Pakistan signing the Non-Proliferation Agreement. [59280]

We welcome the progress made by Pakistan on regional security and nuclear nonproliferation since its nuclear tests at the end of May, namely Pakistan's stated intention to sign the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, its participation in negotiations on the Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty and the resumption of talks with India. We attach importance to further progress, in particular the unconditional signature and ratification of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 23 July 1998, Official Report, columns 692–93, when he will place in the Library a copy of the agreement by the United Kingdom and United States concerning maritime and aerial operations in the Caribbean, signed in Washington on 13 July, together with the explanatory memorandum. [59042]

We expect to place a copy of the agreement by the United Kingdom and United States concerning maritime and aerial operations in the Caribbean in the Library of the House by the end of the year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the number and percentage of classroom teachers in (a) primary and (b) secondary schools who are paid on each point of the pay spine. [57699]

The numbers and percentages of full-time classroom teachers in England and Wales at 31 March 1997' in maintained nursery, primary and secondary schools, on each point of the pay spine, are given in the table.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many students (a) applied for primary teaching courses, (b) began the courses and (c) subsequently failed to complete the courses, in each of the years 1992 to 1998. [56197]

The following tables give information on:

(a) the number of applications to primary initial teacher training (ITT) courses, separately for undergraduate and postgraduate, for the years 1992 to 1998;

(b) the number of students entering primary ITT courses, separately for undergraduate and postgraduate, for the years 1992 to 1997; information for 1998 is not yet available;

(c) the information requested on the number of primary ITT students beginning courses each year who subsequently fail to complete the course is not available centrally.

Table 1:Applications1to primary ITT courses, 1992–93 to 1998–99—England and Wales
Year	Undergraduate3	Postgraduate
1992–93	n/a	11,910
1993–94	n/a	12,720
1994–95	n/a	10,950
1995–96	n/a	12,250
1996–97	92,290	12,580
1997–98	78,120	13,220
1998–992	65,420	12,730
1UCAS count up to six applications per applicant, whilst GTTR count one application per applicant. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10.
2Provisional figures
3Comparable undergraduate information is not available prior to 1996. The figures include all courses where students may opt for a teaching certificate, and may exclude a number applying at the clearing stage.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many places have been filled on the New Deal for Construction programme for the latest available date. [575561]

[holding answer 2 November 1998]: A total figure for New Deal clients moving into jobs in construction is not yet available, because an analysis of those starting unsubsidised jobs by industrial sector is not yet available; however, the number who had started subsidised jobs in construction was, by the end of August 1998, 750.The construction industry has a relatively good vacancy to placing ratio, which suggests that young people are finding construction jobs attractive and have the skills and qualities required by the industry.We are grateful for the positive contribution the construction industry is making to the New Deal.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what target the Government have announced for the number of places to be taken up on the New Deal for Construction programme from the date of its launch to 31 December. [57557]

[holding answer 2 November 1998]: The Government have announced no target but, when the Construction Industry New Deal framework was launched in February 1998, the industry expected to offer opportunities to around 3,000 young people each year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many new junior schools, in which local authority areas, have been (a) started and (b) completed in each of the last five years. [58285]

No statutory proposals to establish new junior schools have been approved in the last three years. Accurate information for earlier years is not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many 11 to 18 year olds were in full-time state education in (a) 1998 or the latest available date, (b) 1988, (c) 1978 and (d) 1968. [58346]

The number of full-time 11 to 18 year old pupils in maintained schools is shown in the table.

Figures as at January of each year
Year	Pupils
19681	2,897,922
1978	4,108,619
1988	3,084,372
19982	3,074,899
1 Maintained primary and secondary schools only
2 Includes Pupil Referral Units but excludes sixth form colleges

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what was (a) the lowest and (b) the highest sum of money allocated per state (i) primary and (ii) other school pupil in full-time education in 1997–98. [58290]

The following table sets out the education standard spending assessment per primary pupil and per secondary pupil for all local education authorities in England for 1997–98. The lowest sum of money allocated per primary pupil and per secondary pupil was £1,902 and £2,466 respectively, and the highest sum of money allocated per primary pupil and per secondary pupil was £3,576 and £7,247 respectively.

1997–98 SSA per pupil
£
LEA	Primary Per 5-10 pupil	Secondary per 11-15 pupil
Isles of Scilly	3,576	4,702
Tower Hamlets	3,217	4,262
Hackney	3,179	4,331
Lambeth	3,106	4,403
Southwark	3,029	4,030
Cith of London	3,017	7,247
Islington	2,999	4,027
Camden	2,975	3,741
Hammersmith and Fulham	2,955	3,827
Lewisham	2,936	3,889
Greenwich	2,810	3,680
Westminster	2,789	3,579
Wandsworth	2,779	3,670
Haringey	2,762	3,722
Newham	2,752	3,619
Kensigton and Chelsea	2,711	3,631
Brent	2,648	3,579
Waltham Forest	2,563	3,400
Ealing	2,480	3,331
Slough	2,448	3,278
Hounslow	2,440	3,155
Barking and Dagenham	2,429	3,214
Enfield	2,398	3,132
Knowsley	2,381	3,178
Croydon	2,361	3,126
Manchester	2,359	3,138
Redbridge	2,323	3,037
Merton	2,314	3,030
Barnet	2,300	2,976
Liverpool	2,295	3,022
Harrow	2,267	3,000
Nottingham City	2,264	2,996
Hillingdon	2,262	2,969
Luton	2,244	2,958
Birmingham	2,240	2,961
Thurrock	2,239	2,939
Sutton	2,219	2,866
Leicester	2,208	2,899
Bexley	2,206	2,888
Middlesborough	2,199	2,936
Bromley	2,180	2,840
Blackburn	2,179	2,849
Southampton	2,179	2,889
Havering	2,176	2,853
Brighton and Hove	2,173	2,847
Newcastle upon Tyne	2,171	2,847
Oxfordshire	2,047	2,670
Herefordshire	2,046	2,707
St. Helens	2,045	2,696
Durham	2,043	2,686
Stoke on Trent	2,043	2,692
West Sussex	2,043	2,675
Norfolk	2,042	2,675
Bolton	2,042	2,674
Lincolnshire	2,041	2,676
Leeds	2,041	2,681
North Lincolnshire	2,039	2,673
Barnsley	2,038	2,687
Sefton	2,038	2,687
Darlington	2,037	2,684
Rotherham	2,037	2,655
Plymouth	2,034	2,645
Bournemouth	2,033	2,650
Lancashire	2,026	2,657
Tameside	2,025	2,649
Devon	2,024	2,668

1997–98 SSA per pupil
£
LEA	Primary per 5-10pupil	Secondary per 11-15pupil
Cumbria	2,022	2,644
Northumberland	2,016	2,639
North Tyneside	2,015	2,665
Hampshire	2,007	2,630
North Yorkshire	2,006	2,603
Shropshire	2,000	2,612
Northamptonshire	1,999	2,621
Somerset	1,996	2,621
Newbury	1,994	2,591
Trafford	1,993	2,603
Cambridgeshire	1,989	2,613
Wakefield	1,988	2,604
Wiltshire	1,988	2,603
Suffolk	1,983	2,599
Swindon	1,979	2,601
Gloucestershire	1,977	2,585
Bury	1,972	2,559
Nottinghamshire	1,969	2,581
Wigan	1,969	2,573
Dorset	1,963	2,565
East Riding of Yorkshire	1,961	2,561
Solihull	1,961	2,540
Warwickshire	1,960	2,573
Warcestershire	1,957	2,558
Dudley	1,954	2,559
Cheshire	1,952	2,542
Kingston upon Thames	2,168	2,825
Isle of Wight Council	2,166	2,841
Portsmouth	2,163	2,832
City of Kingston-upon-Hull	2,159	2,835
Reading	2,153	2,897
Bradford	2,151	2,845
Wolverhampton	2,150	2,849
Sandwell	2,139	2,808
Salford	2,139	2,814
Hertfordshire	2,135	2,789
Southend	2,135	2,809
Milton Keynes	2,133	2,814
Halton	2,128	2,811
Richmond upon Thames	2,126	2,728
Conventry	2,123	2,787
South Tyneside	2,121	2,780
Doncaster	2,116	2,783
Rochdale	2,114	2,806
Surrey	2,109	2,764
Redcar and Cleveland	2,105	2,739
Kent	2,104	2,759
Essex	2,104	2,761
Bracknell Forest	2,104	2,753
Oldham	2,102	2,732
Wirral	2,100	2,764
Peterborough	2,100	2,756
Windsor and Maidenhead	2,098	2,705
Hartlepool	2,098	2,754
East Sussex	2,094	2,753
City of Bristol	2,093	2,784
Medway Towns	2,092	2,750
Sunderland	2,089	2,744
Derby	2,085	2,747
North East Lincolnshire	2,077	2,729
Gateshead	2,074	2,737
Walsall	2,071	2,702
Sheffield	2,068	2,725
Kirklees	2,066	2,707
Buckinghamshire	2,066	2,719
The Wrekin	2,060	2,701
Bedfordshire	2,055	2,696
Torbay	2,055	2,688
Calderdale	2,050	2,690

1997–98 SSA per pupil
£
LEA	Primary per 5-10 pupil	Secondary per 11-15pupil
Blackpool	2,048	2,739
Derbyshire	1,952	2,565
York	1,946	2,565
Poole	1,942	2,540
Rutland	1,942	2,466
North Somerset	1,942	2,553
Stockport	1,939	2,548
Warrington	1,939	2,544
Staffordshire	1,935	2,534
Bath and North East Somerset	1,933	2,484
Wokingham	1,913	2,517
Leicestershire	1,905	2,504
South Gloucestershire	1,902	2,497
Total	2,130	2,782

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many secondary schools were in the maintained sector in (a) 1998 or the most recent available date, (b) 1988, (c) 1978 and (d) 1968.v [58345]

The information requested is shown in the following table:

Number of maintained secondary schools in England
January of each year	Number
1968	5,222
1978	4,711
1988	4,153
1998	3,567

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what action he proposes to take on the leaking of the draft OFSTED report regarding Todmorden Road County Primary School, Burnley; and if he will make a statement. [58541]

Arrangements for confidential oral feedback of OFSTED findings are set out in the Framework for School Inspection. I deplore any case in which normal publication arrangements are pre-empted by a breach of confidentiality, but this is not a matter in which the Department can intervene and I am not in a position to make any judgment on the case referred to.Todmorden County Primary School is failing to provide an acceptable standard of education and requires special measures. The school and Lancashire LEA must now produce urgent plans to resolve the key issues identified in the OFSTED report so that it can be removed from special measures within 2 years.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many new secondary schools have been (a) started and (b) completed in each of the last five years; and in which council areas the schools are located. [58800]

The following table shows the number of proposals approved and implemented in each Local Education Authority to establish new maintained secondary schools in each of the last three years. The list includes proposals which have been determined by the Local Education Authority and proposals by independent schools to join the maintained sector. A number of proposals have been decided but not yet implemented. Accurate information for earlier years is not available.

	Number approved	Number implemented
1996
Sutton	1	—
East Sussex (pre 1 April 1997)	1	—
Surrey	1	—
Staffordshire (pre 1 April 1997)	1	—
1997
Trafford	2	2
Kent (pre 1 April 1998)	1	1
Liverpool	1	—
Croydon	1	1
Ealing	1	—
Birmingham	1	1
Milton Keynes	1	—
Buckinghamshire (pre 1 April 1997)	—	1
Sutton	—	1
Surrey	—	1
Kent (pre 1 April 1998)	—	1
Staffordshire (pre 1 April 1997)	—	1
1998
Newcastle upon Tyne	1	—
Wandsworth	1	—
Haringey	1	1
Wolverhampton	1	1
Kent (pre 1 April 1998)	1	1
Hillingdon	1	—
East Sussex (pre 1 April 1997)	1	1
Islington	1	—
Ealing	—	1

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what proportion of his Department's funding for education for the year 1997–98 has been allocated to the London Borough of Wandsworth. [58826]

The Department's funding for education in Wandsworth in 1997–98 consisted of some £91.7 million through the education SSA system, £1.5 million through grant for education support and training, £0.1 million for capital expenditure, and £0.1 million for the New Deal for Schools. These allocations represent 0.5 per cent. of the Department's total funding for education.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list for each local education authority the percentage of children in that local authority with statements of special educational needs. [58989]

[holding answer 9 November 1998]: The latest available data are drawn from schools' Annual Census returns to the Department and relate to January 1998. The table indicates, for each local education authority as at January 1998, the proportion of pupils attending schools in the authority's area who had statements expressed as a percentage of the total number of pupils in such schools.

Percentage of pupils with statements, January 1998
LEA	Percentage
Hartlepool	2.41
Middlesbrough	3.21
Redcar and Cleveland	2.14
Stockton-on-Tees	3.10
Darlington	3.38
Durham	3.56
Northumberland	2.92
Gateshead	2.31
Newcastle upon Tyne	2.58
North Tyneside	2.80
South Tyneside	2.97
Sunderland	3.55
Cheshire	3.34
Cumbria	3.92
Bolton	2.82
Bury	2.60
Manchester	2.47
Oldham	1.53
Rochdale	2.31
Salford	2.14
Stockport	2.68
Tameside	2.90
Trafford	1.73
Wigan	4.12
Lancashire	3.89
Knowsley	3.69
Liverpool	2.80
St. Helens	5.01
Sefton	2.92
Wirral	3.41
East Riding of Yorkshire	2.38
City of Kingston-Upon-Hull	2.37
North East Lincolnshire	2.14
North Lincolnshire	2.39
York	2.54
North Yorkshire	2.41
Barnsley	3.06
Doncaster	5.34
Rotherham	3.41
Sheffield	2.89
Bradford	2.44
Calderdale	2.43
Kirklees	4.03
Leeds	3.22
Wakefield	2.90
Derby	3.08
Derbyshire	3.34
Leicester City	3.81
Rutland	1.66
Leicestershire	2.73
Lincolnshire	3.27
Northamptonshire	2.59
Nottinghamshire	1.20
Hereford and Worcester	2.83
Shropshire	4.01
Stoke	3.01
Staffordshire	3.35
Warwickshire	2.68
Birmingham	2.58
Coventry	2.42
Dudley	2.25
Sandwell	2.45
Solihull	1.85
Walsall	2.79
Wolverhampton	2.60
Luton	2.99
Bedfordshire	3.05

percentage of pupils with statements, January 1998
LEA	Percentage
Cambridgeshire	3.19
Essex	2.25
Hertfordshire	2.77
Norfolk	3.38
Suffolk	3.08
City of London	0.11
Camden	3.16
Hackney	3.19
Hammersmith and Fulham	3.38
Haringey	2.55
Islington	3.54
Kensington and Chelsea	1.27
Lambeth	3.76
Lewisham	3.15
Newham	2.70
Southwark	2.83
Tower Hamlets	3.77
Wandsworth	3.10
Westminster	2.07
Barking and Dagenham	2.61
Barnet	1.85
Bexley	2.36
Brent	2.78
Bromley	3.28
Croydon	1.81
Ealing	2.21
Enfield	2.13
Greenwich	3.81
Harrow	2.68
Havering	2.80
Hillingdon	3.09
Hounslow	2.74
Kingston-upon-Thames	2.31
Merton	2.83
Redbridge	1.69
Richmond-upon-Thames	2.00
Sutton	2.89
Waltham Forest	3.27
Berkshire	2.92
Milton Keynes	3.83
Buckinghamshire	3.02
Brighton and Hove	4.27
East Sussex	2.98
Portsmouth	2.71
Southampton	2.89
Hampshire	2.60
Isle of Wight	3.89
Kent	3.19
Oxfordshire	2.39
Surrey	3.16
West Sussex	3.13
Bath and North East Somerset	2.72
City of Bristol	4.03
North Somerset	3.11
South Gloucestershire	3.13
Cornwall	4.30
Isles of Scilly	1.10
Devon	3.48
Bournemouth	2.31
Poole	3.10
Dorset	2.81
Gloucestershire	2.76
Somerset	2.92
Swindon	3.20
Wiltshire	2.37

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to his answer of 29 October 1998, Official Report, columns 233–34, if the research project to assess the relative costs, benefits and practical implications of educating children with moderate learning difficulties in mainstream and special schools covers children assessed as having emotional, behavioural and psychiatric problems. [58992]

[holding answer 9 November 1998]: The research project recognises and allows for the fact that pupils with moderate learning difficulties may also have other special educational needs. The project, which is small-scale, does not cover those with emotional and behavioural or other difficulties who do not have moderate learning difficulties.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what recent representations he has received on special educational needs. [59291]

We received over 3,600 responses to consultation on the Green Paper, Excellence for all children: meeting special educational needs. In the light of these, and the advice of the National Advisory Group on Special Educational Needs (SEN), we published Meeting Special Educational Needs: A programme of action, earlier this month. This sets out the practical steps we will take to support and promote developments in SEN over the next few years.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what guidelines his Department has issued on staffing levels at special needs schools for children with (a) severe and (b) moderate learning difficulties. [59258]