To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many women held in prisons in England and Wales on 1 November had a child or children with them. [62022]

On 1 November 1998, 53 women had their babies with them in the four mother and baby units in the female prison estate.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to make a final decision on the application of Mr. Farrakhan to visit the United Kingdom. [62285]

Earlier this year, my right hon. Friend carried out a full review of Mr. Farrakhan's exclusion from the United Kingdom. My right hon. Friend was minded to continue the exclusion, but invited representations to be made. Those representations are being given careful consideration and we expect to take a final decision shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many asylum seekers have been convicted of offences punishable with imprisonment in the last year for which figures are available; [62212](2) how many asylum seekers have been

[holding answer 3 December 1998]: Information is not held centrally on the number of asylum seekers who have committed offences in another country or on the number of asylum seekers convicted of offences punishable with imprisonment and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.During 1997, 366 persons were recommended for deportation by a court and 89 were served with deportation notices on the basis that their continued presence in the United Kingdom was not conducive to the public good. These figures include asylum and non-asylum cases.The system we inherited for identifying asylum seekers who have offended requires the police and prison service to inform the Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND) when someone subject to immigration control is convicted of any offence against the person, any drugs offence or any immigration offence or any other offence where a sentence of imprisonment of 12 months or more is imposed. In addition IND is notified where a court recommends that an offender should be deported. Other offences may be reported but there is no requirement for this to be done.This system produced records which showed that, in 1997, 14 persons who applied for asylum at some stage were recommended for deportation by a court and a further four were issued with notices of intention to deport on grounds conducive to the public good following conviction for a criminal offence. The current records are likely to under-estimate the numbers involved but it is difficult to assess by precisely how much. I have asked officials to re-examine and recommend improvements to the inherited process of collecting this data as part of our process of modernising the information systems in IND.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the current prison population; and what it was in each of the last five years. [62380]

The information requested is given in the table.Information on the average prison population in England and Wales is published in "Prison Statistics England and Wales" (table 1.4 of the 1997 edition, cm 4017) a copy of which is in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the present annual cost of keeping an inmate in a prison in England and Wales. [62379]

The average cost per prisoner in 1997–98 (based on the final outturn) was £23,006.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the total budget for the Animal Procedures Committee in each of the last five years; and what proportion of the budget in each year was allocated to sponsor research on alternatives to animal experimentation. [62389]

The Animal Procedures Committee does not have a budget. It advises on how the Home Office budget for sponsoring research into alternatives should be used. The Home Office also has a budget to reimburse the expenses of Committee members and, from this year, has a budget to remunerate the Chairman.In each of the last five years, these budgets have totalled:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many animal procedures inspectors were (a) budgeted for and (b) in post in each of the last five years for which figures are available. [62487]

The number of inspectors in post and the total number of posts at 31 December in each of the last five years are as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he has taken to implement each of the recommendations made in the Animal Procedures Committee interim report on the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986. [62486]

I refer the hon. Member to pages 40–42 of the Report of the Animal Procedures Committee for 1997, which was published and laid in the Library on 26 November 1998.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to ensure that animals are used in scientific procedures only where justified; and what additional restrictions have been introduced since 1 May 1997. [62388]

In addition to the progress outlined by my right hon. Friend, the Prime Minister, in a reply to the hon. Member for Cheltenham (Mr. Jones) on 3 November 1998, Official Report, columns 473–74, we recently announced that we had secured an end to the use of animals in the United Kingdom for the testing of cosmetics ingredients.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many project licences issued under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 that are currently in force and involve the use of drugs have (a) mild, (b) moderate, (c) substantial and (d) unclassified security banding. [62374]

Aggregate information on whether project licences authorise the use of drugs—either research on drugs (including pharmaceuticals) or research involving drugs including those where analgesics or anaesthetics are used to reduce pain and suffering—could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he has taken to delete the LD50 test from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development's list of regulatory safety tests. [62488]

Along with other member states of the European Union, we have pressed the European Commission to pursue this issue with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). We understand that the OECD will consider this once guidelines on the use of the alternatives to the LD50 test have been finalised.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list for each of the last three years (a) the number of accesses to each index of the police national computer and (b) the maximum and minimum number of entries in each index; and what is the current number of entries. [62319]

I am advised that the number of transactions carried out in the last three years and the current number of entries on each application of the Police National Computer are shown in the following table. The maximum and minimum number of entries on each application is not recorded.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons were (a) arrested for and (b) charged with offences contrary to section 1 of the

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made over the last five years (a) within his Department, (b) in conjunction with other Government departments and (c) in conjunction with European bodies towards developing systems involving the use of new technology for safety-related road traffic law enforcement and the administration of penalties. [62543]

Since 1 January 1994, we have type approved for police use 10 speed measuring devices which operate using the various technologies of radar, lasers or sensors across the road. The most recent available figures show that 34 per cent. of the speed offences dealt with by the police were detected by automatic cameras. For drink drive law enforcement we have also type approved 1 alcohol screening device for roadside use and 3 evidential breath alcohol testing instruments. Research is underway into possible devices to enable the police to screen for drugs driving offences at the roadside.

This information is not normally collected centrally. However, the Metropolitan police have been able to provide information on persons accused—that is, a count of persons arrested and subsequently proceeded against—and persons charged. The information relates to persons accused in the Heathrow division of attempting to commit a notifiable offence and those accused under section 3 and 4 of the Forgery and Counterfeiting Act 1981. The information is shown in the table.The information for Gatwick airport is not available as this would incur disproportionate cost since manual searches through individual records would be required.In 1996, the Police Research Group published a cost benefit study of police enforcement cameras, the findings of which encouraged the wider use of camera technology to reduce road casualties. Home Office scientists have published a number of technical specifications and standards for various technologies to assist manufacturers to meet the needs of law enforcement. A new technical specification for police vehicle livery has been designed to provide greater safety by improving the visibility of police vehicles.Scientists at the Police Scientific Development Branch and Forensic Science Service continue to test systems developed by manufacturers with a view to their being type approved for police use. The Department is also supporting a project on the possible use of simulation technology for police driver training.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of road traffic offenders were sentenced to (a) a re-test and (b) an extended re-test for the offences of (i) causing death by dangerous driving and (ii) dangerous driving in each of the last three years. [62551]

The readily available information relates to the percentage of findings of guilt for offences of causing death by dangerous driving (including causing death by careless driving under the influence of drink or drugs and causing death by aggravated vehicle taking) and dangerous driving, which resulted in a requirement to undertake a driving test in England and Wales in the years 1995 to 1997, and is as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 1 December 1998, Official Report, columns 132–33, if he will define the general principles of fairness which will guide his handling of representations and the exercise of his

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons have been prosecuted and convicted of illegal tipping in each year since 1995. [62534]

The information available from the Home Office court appearance database is given in the table. The offences shown are related to, but do not necessarily involve, illegal tipping.discretion in deciding the question of whether or not to issue an authority to proceed in the case of Senator Pinochet. [62644]

[holding answer 7 December 1998]: The general principles of fairness, which I shall be following, are those laid down by law. Moreover, I shall explain the reasons for my decision.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prison inmates in England and Wales have committed suicide since 1 January. [62595]

As at 7 December 1998, there have been 74 self-inflicted deaths of prisoners in establishments in England and Wales since 1 January 1998. Of the 23 inquests held, 18 verdicts of suicide have been recorded.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the powers of Her Majesty's Government to seek to impose taxes on the Channel Islands, with particular reference to the proposed EU withholding tax. [62515]

[holding answer 7 December 1998]: The Channel Islands are not subject to European Union instruments on taxation, such as the proposed Directive on the taxation of savings. The Explanatory Memorandum to the proposed Directive, however, encourages member states to apply the measures contained in the Directive to their dependent territories within the framework of their constitutional arrangements. Legislation on taxation matters has always taken the form of laws enacted by the Island legislatures.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to publish the code of practice on the welfare of xenotransplantation source animals; what groups, companies and individuals he has consulted on this code; and if he will make a statement. [62427]

I cannot give a date for publication at this time. Work on the code is progressing, but it can be finalised only once we have received confirmation—from the United Kingdom Xenotransplantation Interim Regulatory Authority (UKXIRA)—of the health status requirements for animals intended for clinical use. Home Office officials met members of the UKXIRA biosecurity steering group on 26 November to discuss these matters.Officials have also consulted with the Department of Health, the British Laboratory Animal Veterinary Association, the Laboratory Animal Science Association, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the Universities Federation for Animal Welfare, the British Veterinary Association, the Pig Veterinary Society and Imutran. The code must be submitted to the Animal Procedures Committee for its consideration before it is published.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the average penalty applied to a person convicted of (a) manslaughter and (b) murder in each of the last five years. [62421]

The information available from the Home Office court appearance database is given in the table.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to reform the system of trial by jury. [61249]

We have published two consultation papers this year about jury trials. The first paper, on use of juries in serious fraud trials, invited views on the principle of whether the system is likely to operate better and with a greater degree of public confidence if, in a small number of complex fraud trials, a traditional jury were to be replaced by another method of determining the facts. The consultation paper on determining the mode of trial considered whether defendants should be able to choose to be tried by a jury in cases which magistrates have indicated that they would be content to hear. We are currently considering the responses to these two consultation exercises.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to reform the law relating to the mounting of private criminal prosecutions. [61261]

I have no such plans, although the issue will fall to be considered in the context of the Law Commission's recommendations in its recent report on Consents to Prosecution.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he has taken to ensure that police stations' computers are millennium compliant; how much money has been allocated to this; what percentage of this has been given to Taskforce 2000; and if he will make a statement. [62410]

It is for each police force to assess the likely impact of the Millennium Bug on its information technology systems. All forces have conducted audits of their Information Technology and communications systems, and will have contingency plans to ensure the continuation of critical business areas. Forces are expected to meet the costs of this exercise from within existing budgets.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers are currently being detained in Scotland; and how many in each place of detention. [62903]

As at 30 November 1998, 24 people were held under Immigration Act powers in Scottish penal establishments. All of them had claimed asylum at some stage.The number in each place of detention is as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what estimate he has made of the number of pre-July 1993 asylum applicants with a criminal conviction resulting in a sentence of less than 12 months' imprisonment who will benefit from the backlog procedure; [63057](2) pursuant to the answer of 3 December 1998,

Information is not held centrally on the number of asylum seekers who have been convicted of offences punishable with imprisonment and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.As outlined in the White Paper, "Fairer, Faster and Firmer—A Modern Approach to Immigration and Asylum", where an asylum application was made before the coming into force on 1 July 1993 of the Asylum and Immigration Appeals Act 1993, delay in itself will normally be considered so serious as to justify, as a matter of fairness, the grant of indefinite leave to remain.This will not apply, however, to applicants whose presence here is not conducive to the public good, for example on the basis of their conviction for a serious criminal offence. In general, any offender receiving a custodial sentence of 12 months or more will be excluded from benefiting from the backlog procedure. Other offenders may be excluded if their record is serious enough. Nor will it apply to any application for asylum made after the commencement of removal or deportation action against the applicant.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he plans to implement the Local Government Commission recommendations for electoral boundaries for Amber Valley and Derbyshire Dales before the local elections in May 1999. [62226]

No. Our policy is to make electoral change orders by no later than the October before the May election date on which the changes come into effect so as to allow sufficient preparatory time including compiling the Electoral Register. The final reports on the Derbyshire Districts were not presented to the Department until 24 November 1998.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) how many grants the Energy Savings Trust has approved for conversion to electric cars; [62387](2) how many of the grants awarded by the Energy Savings Trust for conversion to electric cars have been to

The Energy Savings Trust has received no applications for grants for conversion to electric cars, but has provided grant funding to two UK-based companies for the conversion of 4 minibuses to run on electricity. The Trust has also provided grant funding to 10 local authorities, 1 charity, 1 public organisation, 4 private organisations and 1 private individual, all UK-based, for the purchase of 64 electric vehicles, as part of its Powershift programme.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans his Department has to contract with the armed services to provide emergency cover over the millennium period; and what estimate he has made of the cost of that cover. [62575]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department, my hon. Friend the Member for Knowsley, North and Sefton, East (Mr. Howarth), on 7 December 1998, Official Report, column 20.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what was the outcome of the Transport Council held in Brussels on 30 November; and if he will make a statement. [62328]

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the outcome of the EC Transport Council of 30 November to 1 December. [62943]

The Transport Council met in Brussels on 30 November and 1 December. I and my hon. Friend the Minister for Transport in London represented the United Kingdom.The Council agreed a common position on one legislative proposal and reached agreement on transport negotiations with Switzerland. It also agreed a report to the Vienna European Council on integration of environmental requirements into transport policy, and held useful discussions in several other important areas of land, air and maritime transport policy.In land transport, the Council agreed a common position on a directive on heavy goods vehicle taxation and charges (known as the "Eurovignette" directive). This was a difficult dossier, to which successive Presidencies, including our own, had contributed. The Council also reached agreement on the outcome of the European Commission's transport negotiations with Switzerland on behalf of the European Community. The complete package of negotiations with Switzerland, on transport and other items, will be finalised by the General Affairs Council.There was a debate on two directives amending the rules promoting combined transport. Although there was general support for the underlying aim, there were concerns about the proposals as drafted. Among these were the UK's concern that, at least in the UK, the proposals would not have the desired effect of encouraging a shift of freight from road to rail, and would be likely to have perverse effects. In the absence of sufficient support the Presidency asked for further work to be done by the Committee of Permanent Representatives (COREPER).There was further discussion of the Commission's legislative proposals to establish a regulatory framework for the Community's railways. The UK strongly supports the proposals and referred to the Treaty requirement for progressive abolition of barriers to freedom to provide services. Following the discussion, the Presidency asked for further work to be done on the proposals.Two measures were discussed relating to inland waterways, neither of which applies to the UK. Broad agreement was reached on a measure to extend a fleet capacity management programme, and the Council discussed a draft amending directive on technical standards for inland waterways vessels.On air transport, the Presidency concluded that there was insufficient support for the draft conclusions which it had tabled on a full Community negotiating mandate for air transport negotiations with the US, and asked for further work to be carried out.Disagreement between Spain and the UK over application to Gibraltar Airport prevented the Council agreeing a draft amending Regulation which would improve compensation arrangements for air passengers who are denied boarding on overbooked flights. The UK reaffirmed its strong support for the measure and rejected Spanish claims that Gibraltar Airport should be suspended from its application, pointing out that this would remove rights conferred on users of Gibraltar Airport by the original Regulation. The Presidency noted the Commission's request for further work on a Regulation on aviation statistics which has not progressed since 1996 when disagreement on application to Gibraltar Airport prevented its adoption. The Council also discussed a draft Directive providing for ramp checks on third country aircraft using EU airports which had previously been agreed, because Spain had now requested suspension of the application of the measure to Gibraltar Airport. The UK confirmed its support for the text agreed by the Council, regretting that Spain had objected to this important safety measure at such a late stage.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what discussions his Department has had with rail operating companies concerning the provision of toilets with disabled access on trains. [62362]

Under the Rail Accessibility Regulations 1998, which will apply to all new types of rolling stock coming into service after 31 December this year, trains fitted with toilets for passengers will have to provide wheelchair accessible toilet facilities, as well as a wide range of other features to improve accessibility. The regulations have been drawn up in close consultation with train operating companies.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what discussions he has had with hackney carriage operators concerning the higher fares charged for the use of taxis with disabled access in many parts of the country. [62382]

The fixing of taxi fares outside London is a matter for the local licensing authority concerned. In London, where fares are fixed by the Secretary of State, the same tariff applies to all taxis, including those with access for disabled people.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps he is taking to discourage illegal tipping. [62535]

Stringent controls and severe penalties are already in place to discourage the illegal tipping of waste and the Environment Agency has made clear its

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he expects to release the report on the status of radioactive waste management at Dounreay prepared by the Radioactive Waste Management Advisory Committee. [62392]

I have not yet received the Radioactive Waste Management Advisory Committee's report on Dounreay, but I understand that it is to be supplied to Ministers by the Committee shortly. The Committee itself publishes all the advice it gives to Government.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what levels of radioactive discharges have been notified from each site on the Sellafield complex in each of the last five years. [62490]

The data for years 1996 and 1997 are in the Environment Agency's Annual Reports for those years. For the preceding years 1993 to 1995, the data are contained in annual discharge returns, provided by BNFL and UKAEA, which relate to discharges from major stacks and approved places on the sites. The data are available on request from the public register at the Environment Agency North West Regional Office, Warrington, Cheshire and other local authority public registers in Cumbria and Lancashire.I have asked the Environment Agency to collate data specifically for the Sellafield complex and I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of the letter in the Library as soon as this is available.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he has received from British Gas plc concerning participation in a voluntary agreement relating to misleading environmental claims. [62377]

My Department has received no representations from British Gas plc on this matter.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has further to reduce the duration of the driving ban that follows an epileptic fit; and if he will make a statement. [62527]

There are at present no plans to reduce from one year the period for which an ordinary driving licence is withdrawn following an epileptic attack. As with other medical conditions, however, the situation is kept under review, taking account of expert advice.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the extent of illicit recycling of asbestos into building materials; and if he will make a statement. [62358]

Asbestos waste is controlled under the provisions of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and the Special Waste Regulations 1996. The Environment Agency has responsibility for the enforcement of the relevant legislation.The Environment Agency has no evidence to indicate that asbestos is being illicitly recycled into building materials.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what discussions his Department has had with the British Occupational Hygiene Society on the dangers to working people of contact with asbestos; and if he will make a statement. [62596]

The Health and Safety Executive and British Occupational Hygiene Society (BOHS) are in regular contact, and are planning a series of joint roadshows scheduled for early next summer to raise awareness of the dangers of contact with asbestos at work and to explain how to reduce the risks.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he expects to announce the results of the Rural Bus Challenge Competition. [62694]

I am currently assessing 214 bids, which have been received. I hope to make an announcement shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what would be the estimated annual cost of extending the Local Government Pension Scheme (Transitional Provisions) Regulations 1997 regarding spouses' pensions to spouses who remarried or started to co-habit prior to 1 April 1998. [62690]

This information is not available. An actuarial assessment of the cost of providing spouses' pensions for life was carried out on behalf of the United Kingdom Steering Committee on local government pensions prior to introducing this improvement into the Local Government Pension Scheme from 1 April 1998. However, this did not identify the cost of surviving spouses' pensions for widows or widowers who were already re-married or co-habiting before that date.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what the total costs were of medical investigations, inquiries and examinations incurred by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency in the most recent financial year for which figures are available; and what proportion of these costs related to drivers aged 70 years or over. [62795]

The total cost in 1997–98 of medical inquiries was £5.7 million of which £2.2 million was spent on medical reports and examinations. The proportion of these costs attributable to drivers aged over 70 is not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the financial impact on Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council of the implementation of the 3,000 homes limit on subsidy recalculation of the housing revenue account. [62687]

Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council transferred 642 properties on the Limehurst Village estate to Limehurst Village Trust in March 1998. The number of properties transferred fell below the threshold (the lower of 3,000 dwellings or 10 per cent. of the authority's current stock) at which Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Subsidy would be recalculated for 1998–99. Oldham was required to consider the effects on subsidy before deciding to make the transfer. If subsidy had been recalculated, it is estimated that Oldham MBC would have received an additional £490,000 in HRA subsidy for 1998–99.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many miles of motorway were (a) completed and (b) under construction in (i) 1979 and (ii) 1997. [63101]

During 1979, 41.3 miles of motorway were completed out of a total of 120.2 miles of motorway which were under construction at some time in the year. During 1997, 42.7 miles of motorway were completed out of a total of 87.7 miles of motorway which were under construction at some time in the year. These figures include some motorway widening.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many rail fares have, since 1 January 1998, (a) increased by more than 5 per cent., (b) increased by 3 to 5 per cent., (c) increased by 0 to 3 per cent., (d) remained unchanged and (e) decreased. [62889]

This information is not available in the form requested.Under the Railways Act 1993 the regulation of fares is a matter for the Franchising Director. The Franchising Director regulates at least one fare between any two points on the network. Other fares, particularly discounted fares for off-peak travel, are set by the train operators. The Government have recently conducted research into the effects of fares regulation, based upon the fare actually paid by the passenger. The increase in average fares paid for 1995–96 and 1996–97 was 2.36 per cent, marginally below the RPI of 2.40 per cent. The increase between 1996–97 and 1997–98 was 3 per cent, below the RPI figure of 4 per cent. Between 1995–96 and 1996–97, the rate of increase in average fare paid fell below RPI for the first time since 1989–90.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) how many young persons' rail cards were issued in each of the last 10 years; [62890]

The information requested is in the table. Details of railcard sales in 1988–89 and 1989–90 are not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the timetable for the publication of the daughter documents of the White Paper on integrated transport. [62417]

The Government have today issued their consultation document on road user charging and the workplace parking levy. The remaining daughter documents—papers on shipping, buses, sustainable distribution, road safety and inland waterways—will follow within the next few months. We will also be issuing a paper on ports policy, and confirming guidance on local transport plans, following up the draft guidance currently out to consultation. In addition, a strategy to encourage walking, produced by the Walking Steering Group, will be published by the Department early in the New Year.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to increase powers available to the rail users consultative committees; and if he will make a statement. [62430]

A New Deal for the Railways (Cm 4024) announced that, subject to legislation, sponsorship of the Rail Users' Consultative Committees will be transferred from the Rail Regulator to the Strategic Rail Authority (SRA). In future, the Committees will have explicit new powers to report perceived breaches of franchise agreements to the SRA, not just breaches of passenger and station licences. In addition, the Committees' remit will be extended to any open access operators (i.e. to passenger

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps he is taking to ensure that staff reductions by train operating companies do not lead to compromises in safety. [62434]

Under the Railways Safety Case Regulations 1994, arrangements for operations or maintenance must be set out in a train operator's Railway Safety Case. Railway Safety Cases and any subsequent revisions have to be accepted by the Infrastructure controller or the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) before operations or revised operations can commence. Reductions in staffing levels would require amendment to a Railway Safety Case where this might affect safety. HSE monitors compliance with the Regulations and will take whatever action it considers appropriate (including enforcement action, if necessary) to ensure safety is not compromised.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the circumstances under which franchise agreements with train operating companies can be renegotiated; which franchises have been so renegotiated; and if he will make a statement. [62438]

The Deputy Prime Minister has said that the books are open for renegotiating franchises in order to secure improved services for passengers. An announcement about how we will seek additional benefits through renegotiation will be made in due course.The Franchising Director already has scope to negotiate additional commitments from franchisees. Where contravention of the franchise agreement has a materially adverse effect on passengers, the Franchising Director's Objectives, Instructions and Guidance, given to him in November 1997, require him to seek to secure contractual undertakings from the franchisee which will provide additional benefits as compensation for passengers. Where agreement has been sought to transfer control of a franchise to another party, the Franchising Director can also seek benefits for passengers. Substantial new commitments and changes to franchises negotiated by the Franchising Director since the Minister of Transport gave him new Objectives, Instructions and Guidance in November 1977 are shown in the table.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what percentage of persons of pensionable age currently have access to a concessionary fares bus pass. [62419]

I understand that 11 local authorities have no concessionary fare scheme for their resident pensioners. The number of pensioners in those local authority areas represents about 2.6 per cent. of the total number of pensioners in England.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate he has made of the number of concessionary fare bus passes (a) currently issued and (b) which will be issued when the nationwide £5 bus pass is introduced; and if he will make a statement.[62418]

No such estimate can be made, because my Department does not hold statistics on the number of passes issued; that is a matter for the individual local authorities concerned. Without that information it is not possible to calculate any likely change in numbers of passes issued due to our proposal for a national minimum standard for concessionary fares for pensioners, based on a £5 bus pass and half fares on buses.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will estimate the extra cost to the public purse from the introduction of a nationwide concessionary fare bus pass at (a) £5 and (b) £10 assuming (i) a continuation of the present number of passes issued and (ii) his estimate of the increased number of passes which might be issued.[62420]

It is not possible to give such an estimate, because the cost and the number of passes issued would depend not only on the price of the pass, but also on the level of concessionary fare with which the pass was associated.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to restrict lorry access by weight to non-trunk roads.[62429]

It would be impractical to impose a national ban on lorry traffic on non-trunk roads because most lorry journeys begin and end on such roads. Non-trunk roads are the responsibility of local traffic authorities who have powers to make traffic regulation orders to prohibit or restrict lorry access, subject in limited cases to a requirement to hold a public inquiry and obtain the Secretary of State's consent.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the implications for public accountability of the sub-contracting of services by train operating companies; and if he will make a statement.[62433]

This was considered by the Franchising Director before letting the current franchises. Train operators may make arrangements with each other for operating services on a subcontracted basis, subject to conditions which ensure that the arrangements do not transfer control of the services concerned, or the obligation to deliver the Passenger Service Requirement (PSR), to the subcontractor; and subject to a maximum of 5 per cent. of the aggregate scheduled train mileage of the operator subcontracting services. Subcontracting above this limit or outside the terms of the conditions requires the consent of the Franchising Director or, where applicable, the relevant Passenger Transport Executive (PTE). In addition, the Franchising Director requires clear separation between different franchises held by the same franchisee, and any relationship between them must be on an arm's-length basis and set out in clear contracts.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the appropriateness of the criteria applied to train operating companies in respect of passenger service requirements; what plans he has to alter these; and if he will make a statement.[62437]

We have considered the revised Criteria for the Appraisal of Support for Passenger Rail Services, which the Franchising Director has submitted to us for approval, and he expects to issue them shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many casualties per kilometre travelled were recorded in (a) 1987, (b) 1992 and (c) 1997 in respect of (i) car, (ii) train, (iii) motorbike, (iv) bicycle and (v) air travel.[62893]

The information requested is shown in the table.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how much was paid in compensation payments, and to how many individual passengers, by each train operating company in the last year for which figures are available.[62894]

Under the franchise agreement, each franchise operator must have a Passenger's Charter which provides for compensation for day ticket holders whose journey are delayed, and for season ticket holders who suffer poor performance over a period. At the start of the franchises these terms were at least as favourable as British Rails; since then, a number of operators' terms have tightened, either through negotiation with Franchising Director or at an operator's own commercial initiative. Operators have varying Charter compensation terms and information about payments belongs to each operator. The Franchising Director has the contractual right to inspect records, to ensure compliance, but they are not maintained on a comparable basis across all TOCs.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the departments which, at the meeting of Green Ministers on 18 November, were represented by officials. [62415]

The following departments were represented by officials:

• Department for Culture, Media and Sport
• Department of Social Security
• Department of Trade and Industry
• Foreign and Commonwealth Office
• HM Treasury.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if the meeting of Green Ministers on 18 November considered methods of (a) decreasing car journeys by Ministers and (b) making the cars made available to Ministers less polluting. [62416]

The Green Ministers' meeting on 18 November discussed progress on delivering green transport plans across Government. These plans will comprise measures to encourage staff to choose alternatives to single-occupancy car use, including public transport, cycling, walking and car-sharing, to reduce the environmental impact of travel and to reduce the need to travel. Where feasible, Ministers use public transport or walk. However, security issues and issues of practicality can mean that cars are often essential.But the Government Car Service is committed to reducing the environmental impact of its fleet, and has begun to convert its vehicles to use Liquid Petroleum Gas, a significantly cleaner fuel than conventional fuels, with the aim of converting its entire fleet within the next five years. It also has a programme monitoring fuel consumption and providing driver training with a published target for improving the average fuel efficiency across its fleet by at least half a mile per gallon every year.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps he is taking to promote through-ticketing between train and bus services. [62891]

Under his objectives, instructions and Guidance, the Franchising Director is required to take all appropriate steps to provide for the participation by franchises in multi-modal travel schemes, and to manage franchise agreements in a way which reflects our policy on transport integration. Accordingly, where he has negotiated new commitments from franchises, these have included through ticketing and timetable integration schemes which promote through journeys by rail and bus services, both within towns served by the railway and towns and villages. The number of similar schemes have been promoted by operators at their own initiative. We will be looking to build on this as we consider the renegotiation of franchise agreements.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the places where his Department wants road traffic levels to be reduced; and within what time scale it wants them to be reduced. [62892]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 3 November 1998, Official Report, column 458.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the implications for rail services of the introduction of new coach services which could be assumed to seek to divert passenger traffic from parallel rail lines. [62432]

Coach operators may provide whatever services they wish in response to commercial demand, although where they could undermine rail services they may be subject to review by the competition authorities. The Rail Regulator and the Franchising Director would advise the Director General of Fair Trading in these circumstances, but any final decision would rest with my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions in what circumstances he can implement a reduction in subsidy to a train operating company in addition to that agreed in the franchise agreement. [62436]

All payments to and from franchise operators are governed by franchise agreements and changes to the basis for such payments could be made only during the term of existing franchises by negotiation and agreement between the contracting parties i.e. the Franchising Director and, in some cases, the Passenger Transport Executive and the franchise operator.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will allow the Strategic Rail Authority to retain revenue received from fines levied by that authority. [62431]

The Government are currently reviewing a wide range of fines currently paid into the Consolidated Fund, to consider which ones should be retained by the levying authority.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he expects to receive the report on mark one rolling stock from the Health and Safety Executive. [62435]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Sutton and Cheam (Mr. Burstow) on 7 December 1998, Official Report, column 39.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list for each local authority the increase in standard spending assessment (a) for education, (b) for social services and (c) overall, included in the 1998–99 local government revenue finance settlement. [62886]

The information requested has been placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will continue to pursue any prosecutions under Air Carrier Liability Order 1998/1751 pending the outcome of IATA's application for judicial review of the order; and if he will make a statement. [62944]

Unless and until the Air Carrier Liability Order 1998 is either amended by Parliament or declared by the courts to be void and of no effect, it remains in force and the possibility of prosecution for breaches of the Order therefore cannot be excluded.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment the Government have made of the implementation of Council regulation (EC) No. 2027/97 on air carrier liability following accidents in each member state; what assessment he has made of the level and nature of implementation in each member state; and if he will make a statement. [62945]

The Government have made no assessment of measures taken by other EU member states in giving effect to the Council Regulation in their jurisdictions. However, I can report that at a meeting in Brussels convened by the European Commission on 10 September 1998, when member states were asked what measures they had taken or planned to take to implement the Regulation, all eight member states present had either taken or already possessed powers to enforce the provisions of the Regulation.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if it is the Government's intention to sell National Air Traffic Control Services in the financial year 1999–2000; and if he will make a statement. [62942]

The Government are currently consulting interested parties on their proposal to establish a public-private partnership for National Air Traffic Services Ltd. We will take full account of the views of consultees in reaching final decisions on the future of NATS and will bring forward legislation at the earliest opportunity. The timing of any sale is for consideration once the legislation is in place.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the costs to the Government so far of the case brought by IATA against the UK Government concerning the implementation of EC regulation 2027/97; if he will estimate the likely total cost to the UK taxpayer; and how long he estimates the case will take to resolve. [62946]

At the preliminary hearing in the High Court in November, the judge refused IATA's request for an immediate reference of the matter to the European Court of Justice and awarded costs to the Secretary of State. A further hearing has been scheduled for February 1999, at which the substance of IATA's case will be considered, but it is not possible to predict the total cost to the Government of the action since this will depend on the length of the judicial process in reaching a decision and whether the Government are again awarded costs in the event of a successful defence. A reference to the European Court of Justice, which would result in a protraction of matters, cannot be excluded.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what exceptions he plans to make to the proposed ban on the sale of four-star petrol; if disabled drivers will receive financial help in replacing or converting their cars; and if he will make a statement. [63062]

The Government are considering options with the oil industry and other interested organisations with regard to the continuance, under the terms of the EU directive, of a very limited supply of leaded petrol. However, its availability will ultimately be a commercial decision.Vehicles driven by disabled drivers are generally ordinary passenger cars or light vans all of which have been required to use unleaded petrol for several years. Older vehicles requiring leaded petrol will be able to use lead replacement petrol or an anti-wear additive in conjunction with unleaded petrol. Particular financial help for disabled drivers is not therefore necessary.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps he has taken to ensure that local government computers are millennium compliant; how much money has been allocated to this; what percentage of this has been given to Taskforce 2000; and if he will make a statement. [62409]

We are working closely with the Local Government Association, the Local Government Management Board and the Audit Commission to ensure that all councils are properly prepared to deal with the millennium bug. My right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister has, jointly with Sir Jeremy Beecham, Chairman of the Local Government Association, written twice this year to each council leader stressing the importance of their taking action, inviting them to sign Pledge 2000, and to nominate a senior member to take local responsibility for seeing that action on this issue is driven forward. The Local Government Finance Settlement takes into account the need for councils to deal with the Year 2000 problem. On the basis of returns submitted to DETR, English local authorities have, in aggregate, provided £64.6 million in their 1998–99 reported budgets to deal with the Year 2000 problem.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he expects to announce the decision on funding from English Partnerships for the Huddersfield Canal Project. [63066]

A full economic appraisal of the Huddersfield Narrow Canal Millennium Project, to ensure that the proposal is robust and represents good value for money, has been carried out by English Partnerships. English Partnerships Board recently give its support for almost £13 million of the funding to the project, subject to agreement on a number of contractual details with its partners, the local authorities and British Waterways. The level of English Partnerships' proposed investment means that the project requires approval from my Department. I expect a final decision in the next few weeks.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he has received the review into the feasibility of regional Eurostar services; and if he will make a statement. [63225]

The Consortium presented its report "Review of Regional Eurostar Services" to me on 13 November and a copy has today been placed in the Library. The Government have noted the conclusions of the report and will be commissioning a thorough, independent review of it, and of the alternative proposals put forward by the Virgin Group. The Government will also be working with the parties to seek to ensure that the regions have access to convenient, effective Channel Tunnel services.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the outcome of his review of trust ports. [63227]

Our review of the role and status of trust ports has been completed, and we have now published a summary consultation paper setting out conclusions and recommendations. We have asked that responses and comments on this paper should be sent to the Department by 31 January 1999. Copies of the paper have been placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to revise the practical driving test. [63228]

Following extensive consultation, we have decided to make important changes to the practical driving test, its length, content and the way it is marked.From Spring 1999, candidates will be required to demonstrate their skills in a broader range of road and traffic conditions. Tests will have about ten minutes more general driving. Test routes will include more higher speed dual carriageways and rural roads. The emergency stop exercise will be carried out at random in about one third of all car tests rather than all of them. Candidates who commit large numbers of less serious driving faults will fail their test. The threshold will initially be set at 15 faults. The revised test will set higher standards for candidates' driving and will check they are prepared for the pressure of driving in today's road and traffic conditions.The package also includes measures to raise training standards. We plan to introduce a voluntary log book scheme at the same time as the test is amended, to aid candidates and their instructors to gauge progress towards test standard. Candidates will also be given more detailed written feedback about their performance on test by the examiner. This will advise unsuccessful candidates about the reasons they failed and provide those who passed guidance about aspects of their driving which could still be improved.The implementation date for these changes will be announced shortly. The longer test and the revised marking arrangements will be introduced for the motorcycle test, and the emergency stop exercise will be retained in all those tests. The revised marking arrangements will also be introduced for lorry and bus driver tests. Training logbooks for these sectors will be developed in consultation with the representative bodies.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when his Department will be issuing for consultation draft guidance for local authorities on land-use planning and electromagnetic fields. [63262]

The Department has today issued for consultation the draft of a joint circular with the Department of Health. It gives guidance to local planning authorities in drawing up development plan policies or deciding planning applications for development giving rise to electromagnetic fields (EMFs) or for development proposed in the vicinity of existing sources of EMFs. Examples of development emitting EMFs are overhead power lines and telecommunications base stations. The Government recognise that there is some public concern about the possible health effects of exposure to EMFs and it is upon this aspect that the guidance focuses.Comments are requested by 19 February 1999. Copies of the consultation package have been placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how he intends to implement the review of the arrangements for transport safety announced in the Transport White Paper; and if he will make a statement. [63307]

The White Paper on the future of transport "A New Deal for Transport: Better for Everyone" announced the Government's intention to review the arrangements for transport safety, including those for accident investigation.In carrying out this review, we will address recommendations from the Environment, Transport and Regional Affairs Select Committee that transport safety regulation should be focused on a single independent authority as a means of separating safety regulation from operational responsibilities. As the Select Committee's recommendations have potentially wide-reaching implications for the current institutional framework, the review will embrace all transport modes and consider the roles and responsibilities of a number of organisations concerned with transport safety.The aim of the review is a modern institutional framework, designed to deliver continued improvements to transport safety and secure public confidence. It will focus on the principles that should govern the organisational and regulatory arrangements for transport safety, including those for personal security, and cover the main areas of public concern, from the setting of safety standards to the investigation of accidents. In particular, it will address institutional obstacles that are seen to act as a constraint to better regulation of safety and consider whether there are aspects of the current organisational arrangements that could give rise to conflicts of interest. It will not address the substance of policies for the operational safety of individual modes taken forward within the current institutional framework.An inter-departmental steering group has been set up to guide the review which will work to the following terms of reference:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many staff at the Bank of England were employed in the (a) Traded Markets Team and (b) Supervision and Surveillance Division of the Bank of England on (i) 31 December 1996 and (ii) 31 December 1997. [61037]

[holding answer 27 November 1998]: As at 31 December 1996 there were 420 staff employed in the Supervision and Surveillance Divisions of the Bank including 10 staff in the Traded Markets Team.As at 31 December 1997 there were 448 staff employed in the Supervision and Surveillance Divisions of the Bank including 11 staff in the Traded Markets Team.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many staff have transferred from the (a) Traded Markets Team and (b) Supervision and Surveillance Division of the Bank of England to the Financial Services Authority. [61038]

[holding answer 27 November 1998]: Nine and 406 respectively.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what matters have been discussed by the EU Code of Conduct Group to date; and if he will make a statement. [61884]

[holding answer 1 December 1998]: The Code of Conduct Group has discussed matters which relate to potentially harmful and discriminatory tax measures as is its remit.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to retain duty free sales in the EU; and if he will make a statement. [62102]

This matter was discussed by European Finance Ministers at the ECOFIN Council meeting on 1 December 1998. A minority of member states, supported by the UK, called for a fresh look at the decision to end intra-EU duty free sales on 30 June 1999.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total amount raised in stamp duty on share transactions in each of the last five years. [62276]

[holding answer 3 December 1998]: The figures are as follows:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the Government's plans with regard to the current stamp duty exemption when authorised unit trusts merge with an open-ended investment company. [63263]

Following a number of representations, we intend to extend the current temporary exemption from Stamp Duty Reserve Tax (SDRT) when authorised unit trusts merge into an open-ended investment company (OEIC) to match the timetable for the introduction of the framework to allow the formation of a wider range of OEICS. This means that investment funds which intend to rationalise their range of products by merging authorised unit trusts into an OEIC will have the opportunity to do so without paying a Stamp Duty or SDRT charge.The current exemption for mergers of authorised unit trusts into OEICs ends on 30 June 1999. We intend to extend this until a year after the coming into force of Treasury Regulations putting in place the new framework.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate his Department has made of the proportion of heroin that enters the United Kingdom via Turkey. [62512]