To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when he expects to announce who will chair the independent review panel considering BBC funding. [62949]

[holding answer 8 December 1998]: I expect to announce the chairman and members of the licence fee review panel shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what action he intends to take to encourage visitors to the UK to visit parts of the country outside London. [62961]

The British Tourist Authority recently opened the new Britain Visitor Centre in London. The new Centre, which is a partnership between the BTA and the tourist boards of England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland, aims to encourage visitors to London to travel more widely throughout the UK. This year we are providing a further £1.5 million to the London Tourist Board to support its Focus London campaign, which promotes London as a gateway to the rest of Britain. Our new tourism strategy, which will be published early next year, will set out in detail our plans for spreading the benefits of tourism throughout the country and throughout society.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans he has to copyright the name of the UK Sports Institute. [62700]

[holding answer 7 December 1998]: I assume that the hon. Member has in mind registration of a trademark rather than copyright. Action is in hand through the United Kingdom Sports Council to register as a trademark the names 'UK Sports Institute', 'United Kingdom Sports Institute' and 'UKSI' with the Trademarks Registry. A hearing before the Trademarks Examiner was attended by the UK Sports Council's legal advisers on 24 November as a forerunner to the process of formalising the submission of evidence for registration in the form of a Statutory Declaration.A licence agreement has also been prepared between the Department, the UK Sports Council and Phoenix Sports Ltd. (the Sheffield bid team) for use of the trademark 'UK Sports Institute' and other similar marks during the period prior to registration of the trademark.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many representatives there are on the Creative Industries Task Group and Film Policy Review who have a background in the technical side of their industry. [61425]

Industry members of the Creative Industries Task Force were invited to participate on the basis of their expertise and experience and do not represent particular industries or aspects of industry. However, Paul Smith has a technical background in fashion.Members of the Film Policy Review Action Committee were chosen for their knowledge and experience of the film industry as a whole. Several have direct experience of technical aspects of the industry.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the numbers of (a) divorces and (b) applications for premature voluntary retirement of Royal Naval personnel were during each of the last 10 years. [62936]

My Department does not hold statistics on divorces of service personnel.The number of applications for premature voluntary release (PVR) by members of the Royal Naval Service from 1988–89 to 1997–98 were:

Financial year	Applications
1988–89	3,788
1989–90	4,647
1990–91	3,470
1991–92	2,140
1992–93	1,667
1993–94	1,396
1994–95	1,691
1995–96	2,639
1996–97	2,086
1997–98	2,019

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if munitions containing depleted uranium are authorised to be fired on the Otterburn range, Northumberland. [63034]

Munitions containing depleted uranium have not been and are not fired on the ranges at Otterburn.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assistance was offered by (a) Singapore rescue helicopters and (b) the Malaysian Government, following the crash of a British military helicopter in the South China Sea off the east coast of Malaysia; and if he will make a statement. [62079]

[holding answer 8 December 1998]: A Lynx helicopter, operating from HMS Grafton, crashed during a bilateral exercise with the Singapore Navy on 23 September this year. Following the crash, a Singaporean naval vessel rescued the pilot after he had spent about an hour in the sea. Other Singaporean ships and aircraft continued to search for the second crew member until the decision was taken to call off the rescue.Malaysia was not involved in the exercise and was therefore not in a position to offer immediate help. Two Malaysian ships did, however, offer assistance later; but by then the wreck of the helicopter had been located and so it was not necessary to accept the offer.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to publish the interim epidemiological reports relating to Gulf War Syndrome sufferers. [62956]

The MOD is funding two epidemiological studies into the health of UK Gulf veterans. One study, being conducted by a team from Manchester University led by Professor Nicola Cherry, aims to determine whether Gulf veterans are experiencing greater ill-health than Service personnel who did not take part in the conflict and to identify possible exposures and predisposing factors associated with any distinctive pattern of symptoms which may be found. It will also investigate whether there is an increased incidence of mortality or cancer amongst Gulf veterans. Initial results from this study are expected to emerge in the first part of next year.The other study, being conducted by a team from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine led by Dr. Patricia Doyle, will examine the reproductive health of Gulf veterans and the health of their children. Initial results from this study are not expected until the end of 1999.Initial results from a US-funded study by a team from Kings College, London, led by Professors Simon Wessely and Anthony David, are expected to become available at around the turn of the year.All three research teams are working on an independent basis and therefore the publication of their results is a matter for them and not for my Department.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the allegation that secrets of where NATO were prepared to strike during the recent crisis in Kosovo were passed to the Serbs; and what assessment he has made of the implications for UK forces. [62096]

There have been recent reports of a possible breach of security involving Major Bunel, a French military officer working at NATO headquarters. This and any other alleged breaches of NATO or national security regulations are matters for the security authorities concerned. In the Bunel case, the French Minister of Defence has stated publicly that Major Bunel had not had access to detailed planning, and preparations for NATO military action had therefore not been compromised. This case had no direct implications for UK forces.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment his Department has made of the reports alleging corruption in the 1970s involving members of Her Majesty's Forces in Oman; and if he will make a statement. [62296]

I believe that my hon. Friend is referring to allegations that appeared in a newspaper article and a book recently of corruption in the Special Air Services (SAS) Regiment during the Dhofar Campaign in the early 1970s. The events in question took place almost 25 years ago and official records on the matter are incomplete. However, I understand that the Regiment dealt with the matter at the time and that disciplinary action, where appropriate, was taken.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his e-mail address. [62565]

An e-mail address at which Ministers in this Department may be contacted will be set up shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) if he will list the percentage changes in (a) standard spending assessments and (b) revenue support grants for (i) shire counties and (ii) shire districts between the settlement for 1998–99 and the proposals for 1999–2000, ranked and numbered in descending order; [63074](2) if he will list for 1999–2000 the proposed

The information requested has been placed in the library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what the real terms percentage difference is between the SSAs for North Somerset Council for 1998–99 and 1999–2000. [63069]

The real terms percentage difference between the SSAs for North Somerset Council for 1998–99 and 1999–2000 is 1.6 per cent. i.e. 4.1 per cent. deflated by the GDP deflator.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what amount, per capita, is allotted in external support grants for 1998–99 and 1999–2000 (a) as a national average and (b) for North Somerset Council. [63071]

The two main external support grants covering services provided by unitary authorities are redistributed national non-domestic rates (NNDR) and revenue support grant (RSG). The table shows the per capita amounts for 1998–99 for England and for North Somerset, and the provisional amounts for 1999–2000.

£
1998–99			Provisional 1999–2000
	England	North Somerset	England	North Somerset
NNDR	225/hd	236/hd	276/hd	255/hd
RSG	397/hd	240/hd	403/hd	234/hd
Total	652/hd	475/hd	680/hd	489/hd

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what the real terms difference between the education spending in 1998–99 by North Somerset Council and the Education SSA for the same authority in 1999–2000 is, expressed as (a) cash and (b) a percentage. [63070]

The 1999–2000 Education SSA (Expressed at 1998–99 prices) for North Somerset Council was £4.957 million (7.0 per cent.) less than the 1998–99 budgeted Net Revenue Expenditure. The Net Revenue Expenditure was £6.705 million (10.4 per cent.) more than the 1998–99 SSA. The actual SSAs and NRE used are shown.

• 1998–99 SSA for Education: £64.601m
• 1998–99 NRE¹for Education: £71.306m
• 1999–2000 SSA for Education (adjusted using the GDP deflator to 1998–99 prices): £66.349m.

¹ Includes an apportionment of Capital Expenditure charged to Revenue Account but excludes specific and special grants.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what the 1999–2000 SSA for North Somerset Council would be if the real terms percentage increase were the same as the national average. [63068]

Applying the national average real terms percentage increase to the 1998–99 SSA for North Somerset would give £133.853 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list for each local authority, the 1999–2000 standard spending assessment (a) per five to 10 year old pupil and (b)per 11 to 15 year old pupil. [62887]

[holding answer 8 December 1998]: A table showing the Primary Education SSA per pupil aged 5 to 10 and the Secondary Education SSA per pupil aged 11 to 15 for each local education authority has been placed in the library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps he takes to ensure that those qualifying as driving instructors will be equipped in most cases to meet the standards later operating in their check-tests; and if he will introduce an appeals system for those who fail their check-tests. [63072]

The standards established when passing the qualifying examinations are the same as those needed subsequently to pass the periodic check-tests. Advice and assistance is available to instructors at any time from local supervising examiners. Also, the system of check-tests is operated in an educational rather than a punitive way. Following an unsatisfactory check-test, an examiner will offer to discuss performance, so the instructor can consider what action is needed, possibly involving re-training, before a further check-test takes place. We have no plans currently to introduce an appeals system to review the examiner's judgment where a check-test is failed. It would be difficult for an independent adjudicator to pass judgment on a text without having been present.The Registrar seeks to remove the instructor's certificate only after a third consecutive unsatisfactory performance. A statutory mechanism already does exist to protect any instructor who wishes to appeal against the Registrar's decision to take removal action.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many driving instructors who have been removed from registration during the last four years following check-test failures have then sought re-qualification by taking the appropriate examinations; how many of these have been successful; and if he will make a statement. [63075]

In the last four years, 254 instructors have been removed from the Register of Approved Driving Instructors following check-test failure. But information about how many have subsequently sought re-qualification, and how many have been successful, is not held in a retrievable form.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if the Government will appoint a commission to re-examine standards for, and design of, family dwellings. [62283]

I have no plans to do so. The Building Regulations set minimum standards for the health and safety of people in and around dwellings, as well as making requirements for energy efficiency and access for disabled people. Housing warranty providers also set their own standards over and above the requirements of the Building Regulations.In addition, my Department has commissioned a set of detailed Housing Quality Indicators, which can be used to evaluate all aspects of housing design, from internal and external layout and space standards to energy efficiency and sustainable construction. The Indicators will be published early in the New Year, and the Housing Corporation has recommended their use by all Registered Social Landlords.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the criteria used by the Highways Agency to determine the basis of need for a new motorway service area to be built. [62902]

Decisions on the need for new motorway service areas (MSAs) are not matters for the Highways Agency. Its role is to advise on the impact of MSA proposals on the operation and safety of the motorway and trunk road network. Need is a matter for planning authorities to consider in the light of that and other relative advice. Guidance on the criteria to be used in determining need issues was contained in my answer of 31 July 1998, Official Report, columns 611–12. Copies are in the House Libraries.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list (a) what representations he has received concerning the 24 October 1998 incident involving the 'Pacific Crane' vessel in the Irish Sea, (b) what assessment he has made of the environmental issues raised and (c) what (i) correspondence and (ii) meetings have taken place with British Nuclear Fuels Ltd. since the incident; and if he will make a statement. [61969]

I refer my hon. Friend to my answer of 7 December 1998, Official Report, column 47.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what advice he is taking on the responses to the consultation paper on the new waste strategy for England and Wales "Less Waste: more value". [63604]

My Department is examining all the comments that were made, both by individuals and by organisations in response to "Less waste: more value". Where further elucidation seems necessary, they are discussing points with a number of experts selected on a personal basis, as well as continuing to hold regular liaison and ad hoc meetings with representative bodies from local government, the community sector and industry. The aim of this consultation is to produce a draft waste strategy next spring for further consultation with a view to adopting a final strategy before the end of 1999.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the advantages of introducing necessary user rebates in respect of fuel duties paid by the disabled and their carers. [61796]

The Government have no plans to introduce a fuel duty rebate for disabled motorists but they will continue to take account of the impact of the fuel duty escalator on these and other essential car users. Whilst disabled motorists often need the use of a car, they can still reduce their fuel consumption and, in some cases, will be able to choose significantly more fuel-efficient vehicles which manufacturers are committed to introducing to the market. Disability Living Allowance, which will rise in line with inflation, also provides a contribution towards the extra costs of disability, and is awarded on the basis of the mobility as well as care needs of disabled people. In addition, vehicles owned by many disabled drivers are exempt from Vehicle Excise Duty.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is his e-mail address. [62556]

My right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister, and all other Ministers in this Department, can currently be contacted via the Department's Web site—WWW.DETR.GOV.UK. All members of the Department, including my right hon. Friend, will have individual e-mail addresses from March next year.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the Health and Safety Executive's findings over the past 10 years on the failures of non-metallic storage vessels including plastic-lined GRP storage vessels, together with relevant information on recorded failures which is contained in the HSE database of investigated incidents; and if he will make a statement. [62303]

[holding answer 7 December 1998]: A research report by the Health and Safety Laboratory of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has reviewed all the failures of non-metallic vessels reported to HSE during the period 1986–1996. The report discloses that early experience with GRP storage vessels was disappointing due to poor design, poor or inadequate installation, lack of suitable testing and inspection techniques, poor fabrication or materials specification, environmental stress cracking, and user-abuse. A number of key recommendations aimed at addressing these problems are contained in the report and HSE is reviewing its guidance in the light of these. In total, the report reviews a total of 59 incidents, 7 of which involved plastic-lined GRP storage vessels. Arrangements are in hand for a copy of the report to be placed in the Commons Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how and when he will consult rural communities and their representative bodies in accordance with section 2(3) of the Regional Development Agencies Act 1998 before appointing members to the RDA boards. [63092]

The Government started the appointments process while the legislation was before Parliament, in order to be in a position to take decision on appointments to the RDA boards soon after the commencement of the Regional Development Agencies Act 1998.Earlier this year we advertised in the national press for applications direct from individuals and also consulted a wide range of bodies asking them to nominate people whom they thought were suitable for board membership. These groups included many who represent the interests of rural communities.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the special advisers in his Department and the issues on which they specialise; and to what level they have been security cleared. [62841]

The following Special Advisers are employed in the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions:

Joe Irvin full-time special adviser. He advises on all areas for which the DPM is responsible.

Joan Hammell full-time special adviser. She also assists the DPM.

Paul Hackett, part-time special adviser. Advises on regional issues.

Name	Company	Current responsibilities
A. Carter	Boots the Chemist Ltd.	Contributing to planning and regeneration issues, including work on sustainable communities, the New Deal for Communities, and the revision of planning guidance
M. Coe	Unilever	Advising on promoting greater environmental awareness by business
B. Everett	Bellway Urban Renewal	Secretariat of the Urban Task Force
J. Faragher	CRE Group Ltd.	Expert adviser in the European Commission on environmental management systems and the development of the ecomanagement and audit scheme
C. Fulford	KPMG	Secretariat of the Urban Task Force
J. Hall	Institute for Fiscal Studies	Providing advice on industrial, regional and labour market issues
M. Salter	OPM	Secretariat of the Urban Task Force
G. Pearce	Bank of Scotland	Assisting with the restructuring arrangements for Channel Tunnel Rail Link
A. Stacey	ABROS	Secretariat of the Urban Task Force
S. Tindale	IPPR	Attached to the Sustainable Development Unit providing advice on environmental issues
A. Wain	Kvaerner Construction	Implementation of the recommendations of Sir John Egan's Construction Task Force Report "Rethinking Construction"

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the transparency of the information provided by Railtrack regarding levels of capital investment and spending on maintenance; and if he will make a statement. [62601]

Under Condition 7 of its Network Licence, Railtrack is required to publish an annual Network Management Statement (NMS), setting out its plans for the maintenance, renewal and development of the rail network for a ten year period, with greater detail for the first three years of the programme. The form of the NMS, and the period it covers, has to be approved by the Rail Regulator.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what evidence he has obtained that contractors from other countries dump asbestos waste in Britain. [62636]

The import of asbestos waste into Great Britain is controlled by the Asbestos (Prohibitions) Regulations 1992. Under these Regulations, the import of

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many people in his Department are currently on secondment from private companies; and if he will list them, their companies and their current responsibilities within Government. [62831]

There are currently 11 people on secondment to the Department from private companies. They are listed:amphibole (largely brown or blue) asbestos waste is prohibited. Proposals from the Health and Safety Commission, currently under consultation, will extend this prohibition to include the import of chrysotile (white) asbestos waste.While derogations from the Regulations to allow imports may be sought, a certificate of exemption would be granted only in exceptional circumstances and be subject to stringent conditions. No certificates of exemption have so far been issued for the import of asbestos from another country into Great Britain.There is no evidence of any illegal imports of asbestos waste into Great Britain.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry for what reason the pricing behaviour of petrol retailers on motorways was not included in the report into the retail petrol industry by the Director General of Fair Trading published on 18 May; and if he will make a statement. [62404]

[holding answer 7 December 1998]: The content of the report is a matter for the Director General of Fair Trading. I am asking him to reply to the hon. Member directly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make it his policy to refuse sponsorship for the New Millennium Experience Company from companies which are in receipt of Government grants. [61991]

[holding answer 1 December 1998]: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Montgomeryshire (Mr. Öpik) on 16 November 1998, Official Report, columns 421–22.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the application made to use the island of Sombrero, near Anguilla, as a rocket launch site; what assessment he has made of the likely effect on wildlife on the island; and if he will make a statement. [62097]

Beal Aerospace, an American company, wish to develop Sombrero Island as a satellite launch site, and have already negotiated with the Government of Anguilla an option to lease Sombrero. The Anguillan Government have negotiated conditions on the lease which include their being satisfied on the likely impact upon the environment. Beal have submitted an Environmental Impact Report on the project to the Anguillan and UK Governments.It will be for the Anguillan Government to decide whether or not to give permission to Beal Aerospace to develop the island. The UK's role is to give whatever advice and assistance is necessary to help the Government of Anguilla make that decision. We anticipate this assistance to include providing an evaluation of the Environmental Impact Report. In the interests of transparency and open debate, the UK Government are making copies of the Environmental Impact Report available to the UK Non-Governmental Organisations who have expressed an interest. Over the next few weeks officials will be discussing with the Government of Anguilla the detailed plans for assisting them with the planning application.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the special advisers in his Department and the issues on which they specialise; and to what level they have been security cleared. [62832]

I have two special advisers, Benjamin Wegg-Prosser and Dan Cony. They advise me and my colleagues on the full range of issues for which we are responsible.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proportion of the purchase price for 24 Hawk aircraft (a) remains to be repaid by the Indonesian Government and (b) has subsequently been included in the rescheduling of Indonesia's international debts. [62971]

The information is as follows:

(a) Principal loan repayments remaining to be paid by the Indonesian Government equate with 40 per cent. of the original purchase price. The ECGD supported loan was for 80 per cent. of the purchase price.

(b) Principal instalments totalling 167 million US Dollars have been included in the rescheduling.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what percentage of applications for export licences were processed by his Department within 20 days for the period 13 July to date. [61929]

The Export Control Organisation (ECO) of DTI measures export licence processing performance against two aims:

to provide a substantive response to an application within 20 working days of receipt for applications that need to be circulated to other Government Departments according to their policy requirements ("circulated cases")

to provide such a response within 10 working days of receipt of applications that are dealt with by the DTI itself ("non-circulated cases").

In each case, full documentation in support of the application must be provided by the applicant at the outset for these targets to apply.ECO management data on the processing of licence applications is compiled on the basis of four-week periods. The accumulated data for the periods beginning 27 June 1998 to 13 November 1998 showed that to the nearest percentage point 45 per cent. of circulated cases were finalised within 20 working days and 82 per cent. of non-circulated cases were finalised within 10 working days.This information was taken from ECO's management data, which are compiled to monitor processing of Standard Individual Export Licences. The performance measures do not apply to applications for Open Individual Export Licences (due to wide variations between goods and country coverage of such licences), to licences covering Iran or to exports which are subject to control solely because of United Nations Sanctions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many export licence applications were refused by the Export Control Organisation during each of the four week periods used by his Department from 29 May to date. [61931]

The Export Control Organisation's computer databases have been interrogated and the numbers of applications for Standard Individual Export Licences refused in full for each period are as follows:

Period	Standard individual export licenses
30 May 1998–26 June 1998	9
27 June 1998–24 July 1998	4
25 July 1998–21 August 1998	10
22 August 1998–18 September 1998	10
19 September 1998–16 October 1998	10
17 October 1998–13 November 1998	9

No Open Individual Export Licences were refused in full during the period.This information should be considered in the light of my answer to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Don Valley (Caroline Flint) on 30 October 1997,

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much money has been allocated to Investing in Dentistry up to 30 November; which health authority areas have applied for such funds to date; how much each has bid for; and how many applications have been successful in each health authority area. [62103]

Since the Investing in Dentistry initiative was announced in September last year, grants totalling £6,843,582 have been approved. The table gives details of the health authorities who submitted Investing in Dentistry funding requests to the Secretary of State in 1997–98 and 1998–99 to date, the gross amount of funding requested, and the number of applications approved.

Investing in dentistry requests by Health Authority
£
Health Authority	Number of applications approved	Gross funding requested
Avon	4	428,100
Barnet	—	214,900
Barnsley	3	124,200
Bedfordshire	2	30,000
Berkshire	5	175,000
Bexley and Greenwich	—	396,000
Birmingham	1	76,700
Bradford	1	354,300
Bury and Rochdale	—	33,100
Calderdale and Kirklees	—	240,664
Cambridge and Huntingdon	4	396,400
City and East London	5	290,800
Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly	7	990,600
County Durham	3	332,905
Coventry	—	49,000
Doncaster	2	119,400
Dorset	2	101,597
Dudley	—	39,500
Ealing, Hammersmith and Hounslow	6	155,000

Investing in dentistry requests by Health Authority
£
Health Authority	Number of applications approved	Gross funding requested
East Kent	—	518,400
East Lancashire	1	605,600
East Norfolk	3	453,800
East Riding	6	423,000
East Sussex	—	60,000
Enfield and Haringay	—	197,000
Gloucestershire	10	603,500
Herefordshire	2	60,000
Isle of Wight	2	165,000
Kensington, Chelsea and Westminster	—	267,000
Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham	2	207,000
Leeds	—	492,455
Leicestershire	2	162,100
Lincolnshire	2	130,000
Liverpool	1	147,100
Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth	2	95,770
Morecombe Bay	6	226,500
Newcastle and North Tyneside	2	240,311
Northamptonshire	4	70,000
North Cheshire	1	50,000
North Cumbria	5	309,300
North Derbyshire	1	60,400
North and East Devon	7	295,600
North Essex	2	38,400
North and Mid Hampshire	7	579,900
North Staffordshire	6	276,500
North West Lancashire	5	311,700
North Yorkshire	8	550,900
North West Anglia	—	90,000
Nottingham	2	222,800
Oxfordshire	6	242,000
Portsmouth and South East Hampshire	8	719,400
Redbridge and Waltham Forest	4	209,700
Rotherham	6	312,700
Salford and Trafford	2	22,200
Sandwell	—	151,000
St Helens and Knowsley	3	162,100
Shropshire	7	412,000
Somerset	5	722,200
Southern Derbyshire	1	116,600
South Cheshire	7	253,500
South Essex	1	45,000
South Humber	2	83,000
South Lancashire	1	187,400
South Staffordshire	2	143,000
South West Devon	8	282,000
Southampton and South West Hampshire	8	918,800
Stockport	—	14,000
Suffolk	6	124,000
Sunderland	—	207,620
Tees	—	146,914
Walsall	—	100,500
Warwickshire	—	154,000
West Hertfordshire	1	107,900
West Kent	2	80,200
West Surrey	4	846,850
West Sussex	5	743,600
Wigan and Bolton	1	194,000
Wiltshire	14	1,128,600
Wirral	—	123,000
Wolverhampton	1	132,500
Worcestershire	1	232,000
	240	21,776,486

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the impact on the retail price of aspirin of changes in the maximum quantities available over the counter at pharmacies. [62295]

The Department has made no assessment of the impact on the price of aspirin products, this is a matter for the Office of Fair Trading. The Director General of Fair Trading has investigated the pricing of a number of pack sizes of aspirin and paracetamol that were available over the counter before and after the introduction of the new pack sizes. He did not find any evidence of anti-competitive behaviour. The market in analgesics is very competitive and equivalent products are available at a wide variety of prices. The Director General will keep the market for analgesics under review and will investigate any anti-competitive behaviour.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health by what means the funding formula for health authorities in South West England takes account of the number of older people resident in them. [62386]

The national funding formula used to inform health authorities' unified allocations includes adjustments to take account of the relative healthcare needs of different age groups. Elderly people require relatively more health care, and the target allocations of health authorities reflect this.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what account he took of the closure of other local health services in considering the proposal to close the Bartlett Hospital in Felixstowe; and what assessment he made of the overall impact of the proposed closures. [62317]

I have rejected the proposals to transfer the rehabilitation and recovery services from the Bartlet hospital, Felixstowe to Ipswich hospital until Suffolk Health Authority has undertaken a full and comprehensive review of the implications for the future of the Bartlet hospital. This must clearly take into account other local health services.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will rank by English health authority those areas with the poorest dental health. [62532]

The table ranks health authorities in England by decayed, missing or filled teeth of 5-year-old children for the year 1995–96. These results are from a survey co-ordinated by the British Association for the Study of Community Dentistry. Information for Leicestershire Health Authority is not available.

Mean decayed missing or filled teeth by health authority
Health authority	Decayed, missing filled teeth	Rank
Manchester	3.41	1
Bury and Rochdale	3.15	2
West Pennine	2.99	3
St. Helen's and Knowsley	2.91	4
Sunderland	2.84	5
East Lancashire	2.83	6
Wigan and Bolton	2.76	7
Bradford	2.60	8
Kensington, Chelsea and Westminster	2.39	9
Morecambe Bay	2.36	10
Camden and Islington	2.32	11
Salford and Trafford	2.31	12
Calderdale and Kirklees	2.30	13
East London and the City	2.27	14
Rotherham	2.23	15
Leeds Healthcare	2.23	16
North West Lancashire	2.22	17
County Durham Health Commission	2.21	18
Southampton and South West Hampshire	2.18	19
Wirral	2.16	20
North Cumbria	2.15	21
Wakefield Health Care	2.15	22
Barnet	2.11	23
Ealing, Hammersmith and Hounslow	2.11	24
Tees	2.11	25
South Lancashire	2.10	26
Stockport	2.08	27
Doncaster	2.08	28
Gateshead and South Tyneside	2.05	29
Northumberland	1.95	30
Sheffield	1.94	31
East Riding	1.91	32
Brent and Harrow	1.89	33
Liverpool	1.85	34
North Staffordshire	1.81	35
Redbridge and Waltham Forest	1.79	36
North Cheshire	1.78	37
Sefton	1.77	38
Barnsley	1.77	39
Portsmouth and South East Hampshire	1.77	40
North Yorkshire	1.77	41
North and East Devon	1.76	42
East Norfolk	1.72	43
North Nottinghamshire	1.69	44
South and West Devon	1.67	45
Enfield and Haringey	1.65	46
Berkshire	1.65	47
Herefordshire	1.64	48
Isle of Wight Health Commisison	1.60	49
East and North Hertfordshire	1.57	50
South Humber	1.56	51
Hillingdon	1.55	52
Oxfordshire	1.51	53
Bedfordshire	1.48	54
South Cheshire	1.48	55
Cornwall and Isles of Scilly	1.47	56
Northamptonshire	1.45	57
West Kent	1.43	58
Somerset	1.43	59
Shropshire	1.43	60
South Derbyshire	1.42	61
Wolverhampton	1.41	62
Barking and Havering	1.39	63
Wiltshire	1.39	64
Croydon	1.38	65
Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth	1.37	66
East Surrey	1.36	67
Newcastle and North Tyneside	1.35	68
Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham	1.30	69
Buckinghamshire	1.29	70
Nottingham	1.29	71

Mean decayed missing or filled teeth by health authority
Health authority	Decayed, missing filled teeth	Rank
Bexley and Greenwich	1.28	72
Gloucestershire	1.28	73
Dorset	1.25	74
West Surrey	1.22	75
Coventry	1.22	76
West Hertfordshire	1.22	77
North Derbyshire	1.21	78
Cambridge and Huntingdon	1.19	79
East Sussex, Brighton and Hove	1.19	80
Bromley	1.18	81
South Essex	1.16	82
North West Anglia	1.15	83
East Kent	1.13	84
Birmingham	1.08	85
North and Mid Hampshire	1.03	86
Suffolk	1.00	87
West Sussex	0.97	88
Kingston and Richmond	0.97	89
Lincolnshire	0.97	90
Sandwell	0.95	91
Avon	0.92	92
Walsall	0.92	93
North Essex	0.88	94
Warwickshire	0.84	95
Worcestershire	0.84	96
Dudley	0.81	97
South Staffordshire	0.79	98
Solihull	0.56	99
Leicestershire	n/a	—

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what representations he has received in support of changes to the Dentists Act 1984 to allow the statutory registration of dental nurses; and if he will make a statement; [63029](2) how many dental nurses currently employed by the National Health Service have passed the National Certificate examination awarded by the National Examining Board for Dental Nurses; [63030](3) what plans he has to review the operation of the Dentists Act 1984. [63028]

The General Dental Council has proposed that it should set up a statutory register of dental nurses, entry to which would be dependent upon the satisfactory completion of an approved training programme. We support this proposal and, in due course, will consider if measures to strengthen the existing regulatory systems of the health care professions, which we plan to include in the forthcoming National Health Service Bill, could be used to make the necessary amendments to the Dentists Act 1984. Information is not held centrally upon numbers of dental nurses, but each year some 2,000 candidates pass the examinations of the National Examining Board for Dental Nurses.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people in his Department are currently on secondment from private companies; and if he will list them, their companies and their current responsibilities within Government. [62821]

Central records are held on three such secondments:

Company	Current responsibilities
Lloyd's Bank	To provide advice on project finance issues involved in taking forward private finance initiative projects at National Health Service trusts
Pricewaterhouse Coopers	To provide advice on project finance issues involved in taking forward private finance initiative projects at NHS trusts
Ward Hathaway Solicitors	To provide advice on legal issues involved in taking forward private finance initiative projects at NHS trusts

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the special advisers in his Department and the issues on which they specialise; and to what level they have been security cleared. [62838]

There are two special advisers in the Department, Mr. Simon Stevens and Mr. Joe McCrea. Special advisers advise on the full range of issues for which Ministers are responsible and are subject to the usual security clearance arrangements.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research his Department is funding into the use of electronic retinal implants for the blind and partially-sighted. [62966]

None at present, but the Department and the ophthalmic professions monitor the results of major research and development projects funded from other sources.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the percentage of people smoking in (a) 1995, (b) 1996 and (c) 1997. [62793]

The information is not available for 1995 and 1997. Available information is as follows:

Prevalence of cigarette smoking among adults aged 16 and over, by gender England 1994 and 1996
Percentage
	1994	1996
Men	28	28
Women	25	27
All persons	26	28

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the recorded incidence per 1,000 population of (a) motor neurone disease, (b) multiple sclerosis and (c) Alzheimer's disease was at five-year intervals during the last 30 years. [63136]

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given on 7 May 1998, Official Report, column 503.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what future plans there are for the Medicines Control Agency and the Medical Devices Agency. [63429]

The Department of Health is carrying out a study to identify the longer-term organisational arrangements which will best support the effective regulation of pharmaceuticals and medical devices carried out by the Medicines Control Agency and the Medical Devices Agency respectively. The terms of reference for the study have been placed in the Library.

To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list (a) the number of cases the Special Immigration Appeals Tribunal has heard since its inception, (b) how many of these appeals have been successful and (c) how many cases are pending. [61967]

The Special Immigration Appeals Commission has so far received four appeals. None of these have yet been heard. They are all subject to Directions hearings to determine how they are to proceed to full hearing.

To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department which of the Land Registry offices his latest accommodation review has revealed as surplus to current requirements; and what action he now proposes to take with regard to them. [62895]

The Land Registry's latest accommodation review has revealed that a sub-office (1,269 sq m) of the Gloucester District Land Registry is surplus to current requirements. The Land Registry is actively marketing the sale of the lease. Since 1990, the Land Registry has reduced its estate by some 43,000 sq m of accommodation, covering 34 sites.

To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department which Land Registry offices in the North West have sufficient spare capacity in terms of space or people to enable them to take on the work currently conducted by the Lytham Land Registry. [62896]

There are no Land Registry offices in the North-West which have sufficient spare capacity in terms of space or people to enable them to take on the work currently conducted by the Lytham Land Registry.

To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department what analysis his Department or the Land Registry has undertaken on the future of the Land Registry office in Lytham. [62897]

An analysis by the Land Registry on the future of its office in Lytham has concluded that registration activity is projected to increase by up to 20 per cent. over the next five years following recent land registration legislation. Existing accommodation, which is operating at fully capacity, will therefore soon be insufficient to carry out its business.The Land Registry intends to redevelop its nearby Warton site to house the registration work generated by the County of Lancashire. The existing Lytham building will cater for work generated by Greater Manchester.

To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make a statement on the operational future of the Land Registry office in Lytham (a) in the next 12 months, (b) in the next three years and (c) in the next five years. [62898]

In the next 12 months the Land Registry will begin to operate from its Lytham office as the Lytham District Land Registry (dealing with registrations from Greater Manchester) and the Lancashire District Land Registry (dealing with registration from Lancashire)—the latter moving to the new accommodation at nearby Warton on its completion. Over the next five years the two business units will be taking forward partnerships with local authorities to register all of their landholdings. This will bring considerable security and efficiency benefits to local authorities and to the local taxpayer.

To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department if he is currently acting on a request from the Treasury to review the property portfolio of office accommodation currently used by the Land Registry. [62899]

A review of the property portfolio of office accommodation used by the Land Registry was carried out as part of the Government's Comprehensive Spending Review. The review identified some 13,000 sq m of accommodation as surplus to requirements and this has now been disposed of.

To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list the cost of operation per employee of each of the Land Registry offices. [62900]

Excluding one-off costs, the costs of operation per employee in 1997–98 of each of the Land Registry's offices were as follows:

Offices	£
Birkenhead	21,814
Coventry	22,047
Croydon	27,358
Durham	20,372
Gloucester	23,968
Harrow	27,508
Hull	23,274
Leicester	22,008
Lytham	22,526
Nottingham	21,132
Peterborough	26,199
Plymouth	24,019
Portsmouth	26,056
Stevenage	23,487
Swansea	22,466
Telford	23,548
Tunbridge Wells	22,583
Weymouth	22,664
York	26,957

To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department when he last assessed the office accommodation requirements for the Land Registry; and if he will make a statement. [62901]

The office accommodation requirements for the Land Registry were last assessed as part of its business planning cycle and are shown in the Land Registry's Corporate Plan 1998–2003 and its published Business Plan 1998–99. Both Plans were approved by the Lord Chancellor.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on assistance given by her Department for elections in Indonesia. [63388]

Indonesia is planning to hold Parliamentary Elections next year. Elections that are free, fair and inclusive will be essential in helping restore political and economic stability and in reversing the recent increase in poverty. We shall work towards this end with the United Nations Development Programme, which has been asked to co-ordinate donor assistance. We shall contribute up to £1 million—some of it immediately—linked to satisfactory progress with preparations for the elections.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many people in her Department are currently on secondment from private companies; and if she will list them, their companies and their current responsibilities within Government. [62818]

There is currently one staff member from NRI/University of Greenwich seconded to my Department. He is Dr. Guy Poulter filling the position of Senior Natural Resources Adviser (Research) in my Department's London HQ.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will (a) list the recommendations made by the UN Committee Against Torture following its examination of the UK Periodic report, (b) indicate what measures he will take in response, (c) place the observations and comments of the Committee in the Library, (d) list NGO submissions to the Committee concerning the UK report and (e) place these submissions in the Library. [61965]

The United Nations Committee Against Torture made the following recommendations:

(a) The closure of detention centres, particularly Castlereagh, at the earliest opportunity.

(b) The reform of the State Immunity Act 1978, to ensure that its provisions conform to the obligations contained in the Convention.

(c)The reform of sections 134(4) and (5)(b)(iii) of the Criminal Justice Act 1988, to bring them into conformity with the obligations contained in article 2 of the Convention.

(d) The abolition of the use of plastic bullet rounds as a means of riot control.

(e) Reconstruction of the Royal Ulster Constabulary so that it more closely represents the cultural realities of Northern Ireland. This should continue to be associated with an extensive programme of re-education for members of the Royal Ulster Constabulary, directed at the objectives of the Peace accord and the best methods of modern police practices.

(f) The Committee finally recommends that, in the case of Senator Pinochet of Chile, the matter be referred to the office of the public prosecutor, with a view to examining the feasibility of and, if appropriate, initiating criminal proceedings in England, in the event that the decision is made not to extradite him. This would satisfy the State Party's obligations under articles 4 to 7 of the Convention and article 27 of the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties of 1969.

The Government will formally respond to the Committee in the United Kingdom's Fourth Periodic Report, which will be due in January 2002.A copy of the Committee's conclusions and recommendations is being placed in the Library. NGO submissions were made direct to the United Nations Committee Against Torture. We are asking the Committee for the information requested and I will write to my hon. Friend when we have received a reply.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list (a) how many public interest immunity certificates he has signed in each quarter since May 1997, (b) how many requests for such certificates have originated in each sub-division of his Department and (c) how many such certificates have been issued in the course of hearings of the criminal division of the Court of Appeal. [61966]

The number of Public Interest Immunity certificates signed by me in each quarter since May 1997 is as follows:

• May-July 1997: 0
• August-October 1997: 4
• November 1997-January 1998: 2
• February-April 1998: 2
• May-July 1998: 4
• August-October 1998: 1
• November 1998: 1.

These figures include any certificates signed by my Ministers.Of these 14 certificates, five originated from requests made by the Prison Service and nine originated from requests made by the Security Service.Two certificates have been issued in relation to proceedings in the Criminal Division of the Court of Appeal.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many new police dogs were taken on by the police in each of the last five years; and what percentage of these dogs were found to be unsuitable for use as working dogs following the training period. [63077]

The information requested is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department by whom the dog-training manuals used by police dog units are compiled; and how often they are updated. [63078]

The current edition of the Police Dog Training and Care Manual was drawn up by members of the Home Office Standing Advisory Committee on Police Dogs and was issued to all forces in 1996. Earlier this year, the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) General Policing Committee's Police Dog Sub-Committee took over the work of the Home Office Standing Advisory Committee, including responsibility for revision of the Manual. The Manual is a standing agenda item at each meeting of the ACPO Police Dog Sub-Committee and amendments are made as and when necessary. Several amendments have been made since it was issued.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers were recruited to dog-handling sections in each of the last five years; and how many of these have left following the training period. [63076]

The information is not collected centrally. It is for individual chief constables to decide on the number of officers who are trained in and assigned to dog handling duties.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidelines have been issued to police dog units responsible for training dogs, since the recent case against four police officers from the Essex Police Dog Section. [63079]

I understand that no guidelines have yet been issued to forces, as the officers who were convicted in the Essex case have decided to appeal and the allegations were specific to one force.Mrs. Pauline Clare, the Chief Constable of Lancashire, who chairs the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) General Policing Committee's Police Dog Sub-Committee, has, however, been in contact with Essex Police, the RSPCA, the National Canine Defence League, and Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary with a view to devising a scheme for inspection of force dog training centres. In the first instance, a pilot scheme is to be initiated within Essex involving two members of the ACPO Police Dog Sub-Committee, a representative of the RSPCA, and a member of the Essex Police Authority. The ACPO Police Dog Sub-Committee will evaluate this pilot scheme in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which fire service authorities are currently equipped with dog collars that administer electric shocks to the animals. [63081]

Information is not held centrally, but I am not aware of any such arrangements for dogs used by brigades to assist in fire investigations.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made in the study he has initiated into the processing of rape cases by the criminal justice system; and when he expects to publish the full report. [63132]

The research has been completed and a report is being prepared. We plan to publish the report in the first quarter of 1999.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many reported drug offences have taken place in prisons in England and Wales since 1 January. [62378]

Provisional information for 1998 showing the number of drugs offences by prisoners proved at prison adjudication is given in the table. In addition, 831 visitors to prisoners were arrested for drug related incidents at prisons in England and Wales.

Number of drugs offences proved at adjudication in prisons in England and Wales, January to September 1998
Offence	Number
Refusal to provide a drug test sample	326
Falsifying a drug test sample	35
Unauthorised use of controlled drug	11,902
Possession of unauthorised drug	2,402
Sells/delivers drugs to person	69
Total	14,734

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons from (a) Slovakia and (b) the Czech Republic have been awarded (i) refugee status and (ii) exceptional leave to remain since May 1997; and, of these, how many achieved this status following an appeal. [61683]

For the period May 1997-October-1998, the number of initial asylum decisions made for nationals of Slovakia was 535. For that same period, the number of initial decisions made for nationals of the Czech Republic was 310. Of these, none of the above nationals was recognised as a refugee. Nor were any Slovak or Czech nationals granted exceptional leave to remain.Manually collected records show that six Slovakian nationals were recognised as refugees following allowed appeals. A further two were granted exceptional leave to remain on compassionate grounds, following additional representations made in their cases, after an initial

Date	Destination	Purpose	Numbers accompanying Minister
November 1998	Blackpool	To attend Association of Police Authorities Conference	3
December 1998	Brussels (return to Blackpool)	Justice and Home Affairs Council	5

The average cost for these two additional flights was £1,451.50.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 1 December 1998, Official Report, column 134, how the contracts relating to Campsfield House detention centre are monitored; what financial penalty has been imposed for failure to comply with the contract; and if he will make a statement. [63090]

The contract is monitored by a Home Office Contract Monitor, Group 4 senior management and an Independent Visiting Committee. Also, Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons carries out inspections on all aspects of the management and performance of the contract. The contract provides for payments to be withheld to the extent of the contractor's failure to deliver the services to the required standard. Group 4's performance has been such that it has not been necessary to impose any financial penalty.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will decide whether to issue an authority to proceed in response to the Spanish extradition request for Senator Pinochet. [63335]

I signed an authority to proceed in respect of Senator Pinochet today. The Spanish request for his extradition will now be considered by the courts. The reasons for my decision were sent to all the parties concerned in a letter from one of my officials as set out:

"1. I am writing to inform you that the Secretary of State has today signed an authority to proceed in respect of Senator Pinochet. The authority to proceed and supporting

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the cost of travel by Ministers in his Department in (a) RAF and (b) privately chartered aircraft borne by his Department (i) between 1 May 1996 and 1 May 1997 and (ii) since 1 May 1997. [60903]

[holding answer 27 November 1998]: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 19 November 1998, Official Report, columns 733–34, for the period between 2 May 1997 and 30 September 1998. Since that time, the following trips have also been undertaken:

documentation are being transmitted to Bow St. I am notifying the Deputy Chief Clerk of this decision by fax. I enclose a copy of the authority to proceed for your information.

2. The Secretary of State is not under an obligation to provide reasons for his decision to sign an authority to proceed. However, in this case, and in the light of the matters raised by the representations, he has agreed to give his reasons at this stage.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of the reduction in the cost of state earnings-related pensions arising from (a) the changes contained in legislation basing pension entitlement on lifetime earnings, and related changes and (b) the changes contained in the Pensions Act 1995 in (i) 2000, (ii) 2010, (iii) 2030 and (iv) 2040. [61440]

The information is in the table.

Reduction in expenditure arising from the 1986 pensions act and the 1995 Pensions Act
£ billion
	2001–02	2010–11	2030–31	2040–41
1986 Pensions Act1	0.0	-3.1	-25.0	-33.1
1995 Pensions Act2	0.0	-0.9	-7.5	-10.6

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what the policy is of the War Pensions Agency on the seven year rule towards Gulf War veteran claimants. [62959]

War Pension legislation applies to Gulf War veterans in the same way as to all ex-service personnel claiming a War Pension. Anyone who considers that disablement may be due to service in the Gulf may claim a War Pension at any time after leaving H.M. Forces.Where a claim is made within seven years of termination of service there is no onus on the claimant to show that disablement is due to service. Even where a claim is made more than seven years after termination of service, it is only necessary for there to be reliable evidence to create a reasonable doubt that disablement might be due to, or aggravated by, service. The benefit of that reasonable doubt is always given to the claimant.The Secretary of State may review a decision to reject a claim at any time and on any grounds. Where a claim made within seven years of termination of service is later reviewed, the same conditions of proof which applied at the time the claim was made apply to the review.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what the current limits are on the borrowing powers of Scottish Enterprise. [62954]

There is no specified limit on the borrowing powers of Scottish Enterprise. However, Section 25(2) of the Enterprise and New Towns (Scotland) Act 1990 limits the aggregate amount of central government funding that Scottish Enterprise can receive including its general external borrowings. The limit is defined as the aggregate amount outstanding (AAO) and was set by the Scottish Enterprise (Aggregate Amount Outstanding) Order 1997 at £3,000 million. The AAO is made up of the following elements (with the level of funding at 31 March 1998 given in parenthesis): sums issued by the Secretary of State or the Treasury, in fulfilment of guarantees (nil); loans guaranteed by Scottish Enterprise or its subsidiaries (£0.3 million); payments from the Secretary of State consisting of grant-in-aid less administrative expenses plus voted loan payments (£2,470 million); and the general external borrowings of Scottish Enterprise and its subsidiaries (£3 million).

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many classified roads cross from Scotland to England. [62955]

My right hon. Friend is responsible for the four trunk roads (the Al, A68, A7 and A74 (M)) which cross from Scotland to England. Information on other classified roads is not held centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how the sustainable development indicators announced by the Deputy Prime Minister on 23 November 1998 will be applied to Scotland; and if he will make a statement. [62786]

The Government published "Sustainability Counts", a consultation paper on a set of headline indicators of sustainable development, as part of the revision of the Strategy for sustainable development for the United Kingdom. A definitive set of indicators will be published with the Strategy. In the longer term, it will be for the Scottish Parliament to decide its own approach to sustainable development, which may include the adoption of an appropriate set of indicators.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many applications were received by his Department for grants for use in 1999 under the Countryside Premium Scheme; and how many of these applications were successful. [62785]

A total of 953 Countryside Premium Scheme applications were received this year, of which just over 500 are expected to be successful.

To ask the Prime Minister what discussions relating to the future of duty-free shopping were instigated by the Government at the Anglo-French Summit in St. Malo on Thursday 3 and Friday 4 December; and if he will make a statement. [62851]

[holding answer 7 December 1998]: At the Franco-British Summit in St. Malo the United Kingdom and France both saw a clear case for looking again at the 1991 decision to abolish duty-free sales within the European Union at the end of June 1999; but noted that unanimity would be required to amend the 1991 decision.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many Inland Revenue staff were required to retire before their contractual retirement age in each of the last three years. [62495]

The Inland Revenue has a contractual retirement age of 60, regardless of gender or grade, and this has been in place for many years. There are a number of retirement schemes, the majority of which are voluntary. If a member of staff was required to retire, it would be under the compulsory retirement or severance schemes, or if medical grounds were involved, under the ill health retirement scheme.There have been no compulsory redundancies or severances in the last three financial years, nor any to date in the current year. The number of ill health retirements are detailed in the table.

Number of ill health retirements of Inland Revenue staff
Year	Number
1995–96	396
1996–97	373
1997–98	376
1998–99	149

As is the case for all Civil Service ill health retirements, these must be approved by BMI Health Services. It is not possible to distinguish between people who requested to retire on ill health grounds and those who were required to do so. It is probable that those who requested to retire would be in the majority.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which sections of HM Customs and Excise are currently using dog collars that administer electric shocks to the animals. [63080]

HM Customs and Excise does not use collars which administer electric shocks on any of its dogs.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps his Department is taking to improve the advertising of access to private works of art for which the owner receives tax relief for providing such access; and if he will make a statement.[62381]

In return for conditional tax exemption, owners of heritage assets have to provide reasonable public access to those assets and to publicise the agreed access arrangements. Most conditionally exempt works of art are displayed in houses, museums and galleries open to the public. Others which are not on public display are listed on the Inland Revenue's Register of conditionally exempt works of art, which is available on the Internet.The Finance Act 1998 strengthened the rules of the conditional exemption scheme to ensure, among other things, that the public are better informed about their rights to see conditionally exempt assets. In future, owners of all conditionally exempt assets will be required, as a minimum, to advertise access arrangements through the Inland Revenue's Internet site. Owners will also be required to disclose information about the terms of the exemption.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much has been raised in levies on British exports to non-EU countries in each of the last five years; and what is the estimated figure for the current year. [63102]

Figures for receipts of export levies (which apply only to certain agricultural products) are available from 1994–95. They are as follows:

£
Year	Amount
1994–95	5,600
1995–96	202,371
1996–97	295,679
1997–98	50,111

No monies are expected to be raised from export levies in 1998–99.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much has been raised from duties on imports from non-EU countries in each of the last five years; and what is the estimated figure for the current year. [63103]

Net receipts of customs duties and agricultural levies on imports from non-EU countries have been as follows:

Year	£ million
1993–94	2,169.4
1994–95	2,164.5
1995–96	2,479.5
1996–97	2,299.5
1997–98	2,263.3

The latest estimate for 1998–99, as published in the Pre Budget Report, is £2.0 billion.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest estimate of the yield from VAT in the current financial year; and what is his estimate of its yield in 1999–2000. [63100]