To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland 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. [62847]

My Department employs 3 Special Advisers, Ms Wendy Alexander, Mr. Murray Elder and Mr. David Whitton. Ms Alexander advises specifically on health, the Arts, social work, child care, housing and European affairs. Mr. Elder advises on issues relating to agriculture, the environment, forestry and fisheries, home affairs, devolution, local government and transport matters. In addition, both Ms Alexander and Mr. Elder deal with matters relating to business, industry and education. Mr. David Whitton has particular responsibility for the presentation of policy and relations with the media. Special Advisers are subject to the usual security clearance arrangements. It is not appropriate to give details about particular individuals' level of security clearance.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the (a) landing capabilities and (b) designated sites associated with his announcement of expansion to the Highlands and Islands air ambulance service; and if he will make a statement. [63309]

The announcement concerned the recent contract awards made by the Scottish Ambulance Service NHS Trust, which has secured the continuing provision of Patient Air Transport Services for the people of Scotland. In addition to sustaining the high quality Air Ambulance Service and Air Ambulance High Dependency Service, both of which traditionally use fixed wing aircraft, significant improvements have been made to the Helicopter Emergency Medical Service.The 2 new helicopters that are being commissioned into service are roomier, faster and quieter than their predecessors. Fully equipped for patient care, the aircraft are built for flying in more adverse weather conditions and in hours of darkness. Both will operate 24 hours a day, 365 days a year with air crew supported by ambulance paramedics and technicians and will be capable of landing at any of the 226 Civil Aviation Authority approved airports, landing strips and other landing sites located across Scotland. Outwith hours of darkness helicopters can land at any site so long as it is safe to do so. I shall write to the hon. Member with a detailed list of all of these locations as soon as possible, and will arrange for a copy to be placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the forecast payment from the European Union with regard to the Highlands and Islands Objective I area for (a) 1997–98 and (b) 1998–99; and if he will make a statement. [63152]

In 1997–98, the amounts received from the European Commission with regard to the Highlands and Islands Objective 1 area totalled £24.3 million, while the forecast receipts for 1998–99 amount to £78.9 million. These payments include those made for the purposes of the Highlands and Islands Objective 1 Programme as well as those made in pursuance of various Community Initiatives using the European Union Structural Funds. The amounts shown do not include certain payments made from the Guarantee Section of the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund where separate information for the Highlands and Islands Objective 1 area could not be identified except at disproportionate cost. Nor, for the same reason, do they include any payments made by European institutions other than the European Commission.The amounts received from the Commission as shown do not necessarily correspond in terms of their timing either with the commitment of funds or the payment of funds to individual projects under the Objective 1 Programme or with the Community Initiatives.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when the Scottish Environment Protection Agency report into fragments of irradiated nuclear fuel in the Dounreay local environment will be received. [64389]

The report was submitted to my right hon. Friend by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency on 10 December 1998. Copies are available in the House of Commons Library. We have noted the recommendations contained in the report. These are:

The primary aim should be to restore the area affected by the fishing restrictions and any other affected areas to a clean pristine condition, and that as far as possible, within SEPA's powers, SEPA should insist that UKAEA make all practicable efforts to assist in quantifying the risks involved as a result of the irradiated nuclear fuel fragments in the environment, as a matter of priority and urgency.

In the meantime, applying the precautionary principle, SEPA's advice to the Scottish Office is that the two kilometre fishing restrictions should remain in force.

The public should be kept well informed and any information issued to the public should make clear the low level of risk involved by reference to comparisons with other activities.

The ultimate aim should be to remove the restrictions as soon as possible and, to that end, greater and speedier effort should be made by the UKAEA to find and quantify the extent of contamination in the local marine environment, using the best available methodology and technology.

Accordingly, the two kilometre fishing restrictions will remain in force. Clearly these restrictions cannot be lifted until UKAEA find and quantify the extent of contamination in the local marine environment, and this work should proceed as a matter of urgency. I have asked SEPA to ensure that there is sufficient monitoring in place to ensure that any particles finding their way to the public beach at Sandside are promptly detected and removed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many prosecutions arose from non-payment of television licence fees in the last year for which figures are available; if he will estimate the number of such prosecutions against women; what was the average fine for non-payment; how many people are currently in prison for non-payment, and how many of these are women; and if evidence from television detector vans or hand-held detectors has been successfully used in any such prosecutions. [62441]

The available information is set out in the table. Custodial sentences for non-payment of a television licence are not available to the courts as a first disposal. Information on the method of detecting such offences is not collected centrally.In 1996, there were 30 fine default receptions (21 of which involved females) into Scottish penal establishments for non-payment of fines for offences committed under the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1949.

Persons proceeded against where the main offence was under the Wireless Telegraphy Act11949, Scotland, 1996
Main disposal	Males	Females	Total
Persons proceeded against	1,917	3,817	5,734
Persons with a charge proved	1,841	3,762	5,603
Of which:
Persons fined	1,575	3,207	4,782
Average fine (£)	60	54	56
Persons admonished	251	540	791
Other disposal	15	15	30
1 Most prosecutions under this Act relate to non-payment of a television licence. Where known, prosecutions for other offences under this Act have been excluded from the table

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his oral statement of 1 December 1998, Official Report, column 668, if he will take steps to seek to refer the Government of Iraq for breaches of the UN Convention on Genocide to the International Court in The Hague. [64113]

This question has been considered in the past. I will write to the hon. Member on the subject. A copy of the letter will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his oral answer of 1 December 1998, Official Report, column 668, what action he has taken in support of the INDICT campaign to date. [64110]

We have fully supported the INDICT campaign since its launch in the House last year. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister sent a message to INDICT' s press conference earlier this month reconfirming that support. Foreign Office officials keep in regular contact with the INDICT campaign and offer advice and support where needed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his oral answer of 1 December 1998, Official Report, column 668, if he will take action to indict Tariq Aziz, the Foreign Secretary of Iraq, for war crimes. [64111]

As the hon. Member will be aware, the INDICT campaign is calling for charges to be brought against key members of Saddam Hussein's regime, including his Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz. HMG fully supports the INDICT campaign as it works toward the day when such people can be brought to book for their crimes.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will place in the Library the written advice his Department gave to British companies considering contracts in Chechnya. [64168]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Tiverton and Honiton (Mrs. Browning) on 14 December 1998, Official Report, column 402.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what (a) guidance, (b) advice and (c) assistance was (i) offered to and (ii) requested by the Chechen authorities in connection with the search for the four hostages. [64167]

During the 15-month captivity in Chechnya of Camilla Carr and Jon James, and the subsequent tragic kidnap of Rudolf Petschi, Peter Kennedy, Darren Hickey and Stanley Shaw, the FCO, HM Embassy Moscow and the Metropolitan Police corresponded with and held meetings with the Chechen authorities outside Chechnya to discuss the two cases. Some of these contacts followed requests for assistance from the Chechen authorities, but most were at our request. We provided some non-lethal police equipment to the Chechen investigating authorities, to assist them. At the last such meeting, with Chechen Deputy Prime Minister Atgeriev in London on 26 October, we emphasised the need to avoid endangering the four men's lives. Atgeriev agreed that the safety of the hostages was paramount. He confirmed that the equipment provided by the UK had been of assistance to his staff.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will estimate the number of hours spent by the Commercial Attaché in the British Embassy, Santiago, Chile since 1 May 1997 in assisting the sale of Airbus aircraft to LAN Chile. [64025]

Airbus Industrie has sought no help from the British Embassy in Santiago with the sale of Airbus to Lan Chile.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he intends to set next year's television licence fee at the level indicated by the five-year formula announced by the previous Government; and if he will make a statement about future licence fee levels. [64272]

On 11 December 1998, Official Report, column 636, the Government announced their intention, after careful consideration, to retain the television licence fee formula for the five years from April 1997 introduced by the previous Government. The formula, based on a report by independent consultants, Braxton Associates, is based on an assessment of the BBC's financial needs and the potential for improved efficiency and the development of alternative sources of revenue. It is designed to allow the BBC to plan its business properly for the period as a whole.Under the formula, licence fee increases for the five-year period as a whole are set just below inflation as measured by the Retail Prices Index (RPI). However, the increases from 1 April 1999 are set at RPI plus 0.5 per cent., reflecting primarily the additional costs faced by the BBC in launching its new digital services. The formula provides for changes in the licence fee of RPI minus 1 per cent. and RPI minus 2.5 per cent. in 2000–01 and 2001–02 respectively.Application of the RPI figure of 3.2 per cent. for the year to September 1998, plus 0.5 per cent., to the current unrounded licence fees produces new rounded totals of £101.00 for a colour licence and £33.50 for a black and white licence. The necessary regulations to bring these fees into force will be laid before the House in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many staff at the Radio Authority have been (a) suspended and (b) subsequently dismissed since July; and for what reasons. [63437]

I understand that one member of the Radio Authority staff is currently suspended pending the outcome of current police investigations. The Authority has not dismissed any staff since July.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what measures are in place to monitor the conduct of those staff at the Radio Authority who award broadcast licences to local radio stations and monitor their compliance with the conditions of the licence. [63436]

The Radio Authority is a statutory public corporation independent of Government and my Department has no supervisory role in its day-to-day activities. It is the members of the Radio Authority, not its staff, who award broadcast licences for independent local radio. Members are bound by the Authority's detailed code of best practice, a copy of which I have placed in the Libraries of the House. The Authority's members supervise and monitor the Authority's staff, who in turn are bound by the Authority's staff rules and regulations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimates his Department has made of the percentage of viewers which will be able to obtain access to independent television and digital terrestrial services (a) in England and (b) in Wales. [63398]

The BBC and Independent Television Commission are responsible for transmission arrangements for terrestrial television services in the UK. They estimate that analogue terrestrial television services reach 99.4 per cent. of the UK population and 98.3 per cent. of the population of Wales. The BBC and ITC estimate that the launch phase of digital terrestrial television will deliver services to around 90 per cent. of the UK population, and 70 per cent. in Wales, by the end of 1999. Coverage of each of the six multiplexes will vary and in some cases will be less. The BBC and ITC have jointly produced a CD-Rom containing coverage predictions for each multiplex for each transmitter site. Copies of the CD-Rom have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 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. [62843]

There are currently two special advisers in the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, John Newbiggin and Andy Burnham. The work is divided between the two as appropriate but covers the full range of issues for which I am responsible. Special advisers are subject to the usual security clearance arrangements.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what were the (a) total building costs and (b) fitting out costs when the new British Library was handed over to its new head; and what additional costs have been incurred in respect of (a) and (b) since that date. [63363]

[holding answer 14 December 1998]: The new British Library building was legally transferred to the British Library Board on 1 July 1997. By that date the Department had spent an estimated (a) £470.1 million on building costs, which included construction of the building, project management and professional services; and (b) £28.3 million on fitting out costs which included such items as office and reading room furniture, carpets and book shelving. The equivalent figures at 8 December 1998 stood at (a) £476.4 million and (b) £28.5 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will list the fees paid to date to lawyers and consultants for advice or litigation concerning the British Library. [63364]

[holding answer 14 December 1998]: The fees paid for professional services by lawyers and consultants on the project over the past 16 years, to 8 December 1998, were £71.6 million. This is broken down as follows: architectural services, structural design and quantity surveying (£47.6 million); mechanical and electrical engineering design and advice (£19.7 million); and commercial claims management, legal advice and legal costs (£4.3 million).

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what has been the average (a) number of books delivered per reader and (b) waiting time for the automated book delivery system in each month since the new British Library opened. [63369]

[holding answer 14 December 1998]:(a) The average number of items delivered per reader is as follows:

	Average number of items delivered per reader
December 1997	3
January 1998	3
February 1998	3
March 1998	3
April 1998	3
May 1998	3
June 1998	3
July 1998	3
August 1998	3
September 1998	3
October 1998	3.5

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many task forces and review bodies are currently in place in his Department; if he will list them; and when they will be reporting their conclusions. [63502]

[holding answer 14 December 1998]: My Department has 4 task forces and review bodies. These are listed with their reporting timetables.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what initiatives are planned by his Department to assist local authorities to develop tourism policies; and if he will make a statement. [63821]

Our new tourism strategy, to be published early in 1999, will set out the strategic direction needed to ensure tourism growth that this economically, environmentally and socially sustainable. The strategy highlights the ways in which regional and local tourism strategies can help to increase tourism's benefit to local communities.In recognition of the economic and social importance of cultural services to local communities, local authorities are also being encouraged to develop Local Cultural Strategies covering the full range of cultural services they offer, including tourism.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what market research on tourist guides has been undertaken (a) for and (b) by the English Tourist Board in the past three years. [63681]

[holding answer 14 December 1998]: No dedicated research on tourist guides has been undertaken for or by the English Tourist Board in the last three years.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list (i) the total provisional standard spending assessments for 1999–2000 for (a) Buckinghamshire County Council, (b) Aylesbury Vale District Council, (c) Chiltern District Council, (d) South Buckinghamshire District Council, (e) Wycombe District Council, (f) Milton Keynes Borough Council and (g) Thames Valley Police, indicating the amounts for each major service block within each authority and (ii) the amount of the SSAs as they would have been if calculated by the same formula as in 1998–99. [64169]

The figures are given in the table. Table A shows the 1999–2000 provisional SSAs. Table B shows what the SSAs would have been if calculated by the same formula as in 1998–99, but using data and national control totals for 1999–2000.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the impact of the inclusion of sparsity factors into standard spending assessments for each shire county (a) in total amounts and (b) as a percentage change. [63391]

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) in total included in the 1999–2000 local government revenue finance settlement. [64200]

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 list for 1999–2000 the proposed percentage gains and losses to standard spending assessments for each district council arising from their enhanced population figures, ranked and numbered in descending order. [63181]

The information requested has been placed in the Library, together with a similar table for education authorities.The calculations have been made by re-estimating the underlying statistical formulae using resident population instead of enhanced population. If such a change in the formula were being contemplated, several other components of the formula would need to be re-examined if its statistical validity was to be maintained.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list for 1999–2000 the (a) proposed external funding included in education SSAs, (b) total proposed funding from other grants to LEAs and (c) combined amounts for (a) and (b) as sums per head of pupils in (i) shire counties, (ii) unitary authorities, (iii) Metropolitan authorities and (iv) London authorities ranked and numbered in descending order. [63427]

The main sources of external funding of local authorities are Revenue Support Grant and a share of National Non-Domestic Rates. The amount of these for each local authority is shown in the tables which have been placed in the Library. No distinct amount of Revenue Support Grant or National Non-Domestic Rates is allocated specifically to education. The amount of other grants relating to education proposed for each local education authority will be announced in due course by the Department for Education and Employment.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what English Partnerships has spent on feasibility studies, investigations and the preparation of planning applications for the proposed development in the Inner Thames Marshes SSSI at Havering Riverside, Rainham Marsh; [62882](2) if he will list the feasibility studies and investigations carried out by or funded by English Partnerships and those in which English Partnerships has had involvement with regard to the proposed development in the Inner Thames Marshes SSSI at Havering Riverside, Rainham Marsh; [62881](3) what plans English Partnerships has to provide financial support to attract development in the Inner Thames Marshes SSSI at Havering Riverside, Rainham Marsh. [62883]

When English Partnerships was formed in 1993 it inherited, acting as Agent for the Secretary of State, a commitment to pay Derelict Land Grant to the London Borough of Havering worth £156,700 for the preparation of site investigation reports. In 1996, English Partnerships increased this grant to a total of £180,000. In addition, the Agency has paid £149,506 towards the costs of environmental site investigations by LB Havering and amassing supporting evidence for the planning application and has spent a further £20,159 for an assessment of investment demand for the Havering Riverside site.If planning consent is approved, an application for gap funding may be made to English Partnerships to cover the abnormal costs of developing the Havering Riverside site.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list (a) the (i) task forces, (ii) review panels and (iii) advisory groups his Department has, (b) the remit of each and (c) the members of each together with their principal employment and their level of remuneration. [62805]

I have today placed in the Library of the House the information requested for those task forces, review panels and advisory groups set up by my Department since 1 May 1997 and still in existence. The list uses the same definitions as in my answer to the hon. Member for Eastleigh (Mr. Chidgey) on 30 July 1998, Official Report, columns 430–32.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will estimate (a) the number of one and two person households which would benefit from water metering and (b) the amounts of saving forgone by them in each of the past two years, for the current year and for next year, distinguishing between (i) pensioner households and (ii) households including a person on income support or housing benefit. [63242]

The following estimates are taken from the report "Incidence Effects of Charging for Domestic Water and Sewerage Services" published by my Department in July 1998. This reported the results of modelling work undertaken on behalf of the Department by Maxwell Stamp Plc. Estimates were produced as percentages rather than numbers in groups.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make it his policy to require water supply companies to notify customers of the likely range of metered water charges. [63243]

The Government's view is that water undertakers should ensure that all their customers are made fully aware of all the charging options open to them without favouring one solution over another.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make it his policy to require water supply companies to install meters without charge by December 1999 to one and two person households including a person on income support or housing benefit. [63245]

The Government's policy, reflected in the Water Industry Bill, is that domestic consumers presently charged on an unmeasured basis should have the option of requesting a measured basis of charging. However, no household should be compulsorily transferred to a measured basis of charging where they are using water only for essential household use.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if it is his policy to allow landlords of short-term tenants to deny them the benefit of metered charges for water. [63244]

Under the present provisions of the Water Industry Act 1991, neither tenants nor any other consumers have a legal right to be charged for water on a measured basis, although water undertakers have powers to install meters and to charge any customer on a measured basis.We propose that domestic water customers should have the right to move to a measured basis of charging for water, free of any initial costs for meter installation. Consumers benefiting from this right would include tenants who pay their own water charges. The Water Industry Bill provides that any contrary provision of any tenancy agreement which might otherwise prevent the installation of a meter is not to block the exercise of this right by tenants. However, the right would not be afforded to tenants on fixed term tenancies of less than six months. It is the Government's view that such tenants do not have a sufficiently long term interest in the basis of charging for water to warrant over-riding any provision in the tenancy agreement.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the members of the Marine Targets Sub-group. [63237]

The members of the Marine Targets Sub-group are:

• Dr. Duncan Shaw, Liverpool University, Chairman
• Dr. John Baxter, Scottish Natural Heritage
• Joan Edwards, Wildlife Trusts
• Dr. Susan Gubbay, Independent Consultant
• Dr. Tim Hill, English Nature
• Dr. Stephen Lockwood, Centre for Environment, Fisheries & Aquaculture (CEFAS)
• Elspeth MacDonald, Fisheries Research Services, Scottish Office
• Dr. Mandy McMath, Countryside Council for Wales.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the forecast payment from the European Union with regard to the Merseyside Objective 1 area for (a) 1997–98 and (b) 1998–99; and if he will make a statement. [63153]

The payment from the European Union was, for 1997–98, £63.672 million and the forecast payment for 1998–99 was £53.457 million.The Objective 1 Programme on Merseyside is now close to full commitment and while spend on ERDF, in particular, has been slower than expected this will increase substantially as the Programme draws to a close.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions in which year noise limits were first placed on individual aircraft taking off from Gatwick Airport; and when he expects these limits to be reduced. [63453]

Noise limits on aircraft taking off from Gatwick have applied since 1968. On 24 November 1997 we published a consultation paper proposing lower daytime and night-time noise limits for aircraft departing from Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted and more efficient noise monitoring arrangements. In February 1998 the International Air Transport Association (IATA) submitted an application for leave to apply for judicial review of that consultation paper. The Department subsequently undertook to publish a supplementary consultation paper and IATA withdrew its application for leave to apply for judicial review. We hope to issue the supplementary paper early in the new year. The consultation period will remain open until eight weeks after the supplementary paper is issued. As indicated in the November 1997 consultation paper, if possible the Secretary of State will aim to announce his decision within 3 months of this deadline. If the decision is to implement the proposals as set out, or with only relatively minor alterations, the Secretary of State would seek to bring them into effect within not less than 2, and not more than 3, months of the date of the announcement. Comments have been invited on these timescales as well as on the proposals.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is his estimate of (a) the passenger throughput of the Manchester second runway by 2008 and (b) the increase in passenger throughput at Gatwick airport up to 2008. [63458]

My Department publishes national traffic forecasts, the most recent being for the years 2000, 2005, 2010 and 2015. These forecasts split traffic between the London area and the other United Kingdom airports but the Department does not produce forecasts for individual airports. Manchester Airport has not published detailed forecasts for the period beyond 2005, but I understand that the airport company expects passenger throughput to exceed 30 million by 2008. the standard operating procedure will be for arriving aircraft to use the existing runway and for departing aircraft to use the second runway. BAA's most recent 10 year forecasts for its London airports, published in October, include 39.2 million passengers at Gatwick Airport in 2007–08 and 40.0 million in 2008–09.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he expects the NATS system at Swanwick to be assessed as fit for purpose. [63605]

There are a number of steps to progressively assess the Swanwick system's fitness for purpose. The Technical Transfer, which represents the confirmation that the system is technically ready for operation, is expected in late 2000. NATS will also have to demonstrate the safety of the system to the CAA's Safety Regulation Group before the system can come into operation.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make it his policy to ensure that all letters from his Department and its agencies use the titles of addressees; and if he will make a statement. [63460]

The Department seeks to ensure that all correspondence is correctly addressed to recipients, and includes titles where appropriate.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what studies his Department has made to determine the proportion of private road and freight journeys which could be achieved on an equal basis by public transport. [63357]

Studies of the potential for modal shift are usually carried out to inform decisions on investment in major public transport projects and to monitor the effects. Examples of these and other recent studies carried out by the Department or in which it has been involved include:

• The M1/A1 (M) Corridor Road/Rail Cross Elasticity Study (May 1994)
• Manchester Metrolink Monitoring Study (December 1996)
• Sheffield Supertram Monitoring Study (expected 1999)
• The Trans-Pennine Rail Strategy Study (January 1992)
• Impact of Transport Policies in Five Cities (November 1994).

In relation to the potential for shifting freight journeys from road to rail, the Office of the Rail Regulator commissioned the following study:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what assessment he has made of the report by Pearn Kandola in relation to discrimination in his Department on grounds of (a) race and (b) gender; [63351](2) what factors underlay the commissioning of a review of his Department's staff appraisal system by Pearn Kandola; [63354](3) what were the findings of the report commissioned by his Department into his Department's staff appraisal system, undertaken by Pearn Kandola; [63337](4) if the report by Pearn Kandola into his Department's staff appraisal system identified the causes of the statistically significant differences in performance marking between ethnic minorities and whites; [63349](5) what advice he has received from officials on the compliance of departmental staff appraisal systems with requirements to be non-discriminatory; [63353](6) if the report by Pearn Kandola into his Department's staff appraisal system identified the causes of the statistically significant differences in performance marking between men and women in certain grades; [63350](7) what was the cost of the study of his Department's staff appraisal system by Pearn Kandola; [63355](8) if he will make a statement on staff concerns relating to racial discrimination contained in the Pearn Kandola report into his Department's staff appraisal system; [63348](9) if he will publish the report by Pearn Kandola into his Department's staff appraisal system; [63352](10) what action he is taking on the findings of the study by Pearn Kandola into his Department's staff appraisal system. [63356]

The Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions is committed to equality of opportunity. All DETR staff have a right to fair treatment throughout their careers regardless of race, ethnic or national origin, age, religion, gender, marital status, disability or sexual orientation.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions which UK-wide or Britain-wide programmes will be the responsibility of his Department after the establishment of the National Assembly for Wales and the Scottish Parliament; and what is the forecast level of expenditure on such programmes in 1998–99.[63481]

The Government of Wales Act 1998 provided for a Transfer of Functions Order to be made to transfer Ministerial functions to the National Assembly for Wales. The order was published in draft for public consultation on 12 November 1998. Work is continuing within Government to finalise the text of the Order and until work is completed, it is not possible to state with certainty what functions will transfer to the Welsh Assembly. Similarly, the functions which will be devolved to the Scottish Parliament under the Scotland Act 1998, depend in part on secondary legislation which has yet to be passed. My Department is reviewing its programmes to establish whether any programme expenditure relates to the functions which are being devolved and to assess the need for any consequential transfer of funds to the Welsh Assembly and Scottish Parliament.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what his policy is in respect of the maintenance of detrunked roads, where that maintenance is currently subject to a DBFO agreement. [63557]

The A30/35 Exeter to Bere Regis project is the only DBFO project affected by detrunking proposals. The Highways Agency will discuss the implications of detrunking this road with all the interested parties, to ensure that it continues to be maintained to proper standards.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what formula he will apply to determine the funding to be transferred to highway authorities in respect of detrunked roads. [63383]

My right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport has made it clear that there will be a fair re-allocation of resources to reflect the financial responsibilities which local authorities will assume when roads are actually detrunked. The arrangements for achieving this objective are currently the subject of consultation with the Local Government Association.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the progress made in achieving the CO, reduction targets agreed at Kyoto for the United Kingdom. [63614]

[holding answer 14 December 19981: On 26 October 1998, the Government published a consultation paper on climate change. The paper describes progress to date in reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the UK and sets out a variety of policy options for meeting our climate change targets. It covers both the UK's legally binding target from Kyoto of a 12.5 per cent. reduction in a basket of six greenhouse gases by 2008–2012 and our domestic goal of a 20 per cent. reduction in carbon dioxide emissions by 2010. Following the consultation period, we will develop and consult on a new UK climate change programme.Action has already been taken to reduce the UK's emissions of greenhouse gases. For example, the Government have introduced their integrated transport policy; we have increased the fuel duty escalator to an average of 6 per cent. above inflation per year; the European car industry has negotiated a voluntary agreement to reduce emissions of CO, from new cars by an average of 25 per cent.; Lord Marshall has reported on the scope for using economic instruments to improve business's use of energy; we have launched a review of what would be necessary and practicable to deliver 10 per cent. of electricity demand from renewable sources by 2010; and we have increased resources for energy efficiency.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 1 December 1998, Official Report, column 115, concerning rolling stock companies, what responsibility the ROSCOs have to comply with the requirements of the Health and Safety Executive. [63413]

[holding answer 14 December 1998]: Rolling Stock Companies (ROSCOs) have a responsibility to comply with the requirements relating to them under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and its statutory provisions. The Health and Safety Executive monitors and enforces compliance with these requirements.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 1 December 1998, Official Report, column 115, concerning rolling stock companies, what responsibility the Franchising Director has to the franchisee if the HSE's requirements in respect of rolling stock change during the life of a franchise. [63412]

[holding answer 14 December 1998]: Under the terms of the Franchise Agreement there are arrangements in place for the Franchising Director to meet up to 95 per cent. of the costs falling on a train operating company for modification to rolling stock which is required to be made under any applicable law, any Government authority or any directives from Railtrack relating to safety. These directives could relate to Acts of Parliament and/or directives originating from Railway Group Standards. Railway Group Standards are rules, regulations, instructions and procedures which are produced as mandatory operational and engineering standards and all relate to safety aspects of the operation of railways and are set and enforced by Railtrack.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he plans to issue guidance on a sequential approach to selecting locations for new housing development and sites. [64151]

Guidance on the approach to the selection of locations and sites for housing will be included in the draft new planning policy guidance note on housing (PPG3) which will be issued early next year.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what change in traffic levels on the A14 in Cambridgeshire is predicted as a result of the opening of the A1(M) south of Peterborough. [63534]

[holding answer 14 December 1998]: The upgrading of the Al to motorway status between Alconbury and Peterborough is not expected to result in any increase in traffic levels over and above that due to general growth in traffic on the A14.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to include Irish as a category in his Department's ethnic monitoring of staff recruitment. [63870]

The over-riding principle of Civil Service recruitment procedures is that they should be fair, and selection should be on merit at each stage. Monitoring in this area is based on ethnic origin rather than nationality. The categories monitored by my Department are based on those used in the 1991 census, which did not include an Irish category. The categories will be reviewed in the light of any suggested changes for the 2001 Population Census.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the representations he has received which opposed the setting of specific targets to reduce road traffic volumes. [63384]

My Department does not maintain a detailed central record of the views expressed on particular issues in all written and oral representations made to the Secretary of State. A comprehensive answer to the hon. Member's question could be provided only at disproportionate cost.We have, however, extracted the following information on opposition to national road traffic reduction targets from our database of the responses to the Government's August 1997 consultation on developing an integrated transport policy. (A summary report on those responses was published in July 1998). Five respondents indicated that they did not support national road traffic reduction targets. Of these, one was a member of the public and the remaining four were:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the Government's target for percentage reduction in emissions from aircraft; and what proportion of the Government's planned 20 per cent. reduction in carbon emissions this constitutes. [63641]

The Government are currently consulting on options to reduce their emissions of greenhouse gases and meet their climate change targets. Our consultation paper looks at a wide range of options. It does not propose targets for particular sectors. Our aim is to develop a balanced climate change programme where all sectors play a part.Only the emissions from domestic flights, beginning and ending within the UK, are included in our national inventory. These account for around 11 per cent. of total emissions from UK originating air traffic. The UK is working within the International Civil Aviation Organisation, which was given the responsibility under the Kyoto Protocol, on ways of reducing emissions from international aviation.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps he will take to ensure that improvements carried out to stations on behalf of, and at the expense of, train operating companies are not subject to excessive charges by Railtrack. [63631]

The Rail Regulator is responsible for setting the access charges which meet Railtrack's costs of maintaining and repairing station infrastructure. The Regulator is presently reviewing all Railtrack's access charges and is required to publish his final conclusions by July 2000. In addition, the Regulator's approval is required for any changes to station access charges which Railtrack may agree with a train operator as a result of investment in station improvements. On 5 December, the Regulator issued guidelines to the industry designed to ensure that any such changes to meet Railtrack's additional costs from enhancing station facilities are justified and calculated in a fair, consistent and transparent manner.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what (a) discussions and (b) studies his Department is supporting in respect of the taxation of aviation fuel; and if he will make a statement. [63642]

The UK supported the Community Resolution of 9 June 1997 which asked the European Commission to study the environmental and economic effects in Europe of a tax on aviation fuel. The study report is expected early next year.The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) agreed a work programme for its Committee on Aviation Environmental Protection in October this year. This includes the need to identify and evaluate the role which a range of market based options, including fuel taxes, might play in reducing aviation emissions. My Department will continue to play a leading role in this work programme which must be completed before the next ICAO Assembly in 2001.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 7 December 1998, Official Report, column 36, what the reasons were for the size of the increase in the external finance requirement for the British Railways Board between 1996–97 and 1997–98. [63905]

The increase in the British Railways Board's external finance requirement between 1996–97 and 1997–98 reflects the combined effects of large changes in the Board's finances. In particular, as a result of privatisation, the Board's turnover fell from £3,397 million in 1996–97 including grants of £1,507 million, to just £231 million in 1997–98 including grants of £51 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to introduce safety improvements to (a) the A26 Beddingham-Newhaven and (b) the A27 Lewes-Polegate. [63558]

The Highways Agency has introduced a number of safety improvements on the A26 between Beddingham and Newhaven and the A27 between Lewes and Polegate respectively and has plans to introduce more. These are:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the impact of (a) staffing reductions and (b) dividend payments by Rai1track on the performance of its rail safety responsibilities. [63645]

Under the Railways (Safety Case) Regulations 1994, reductions in staffing levels would require amendment to a Railway Safety Case where this might affect safety. The Health and Safety Executive's (HSE's) Railway Inspectorate monitors compliance with the Regulations and will take whatever action it considers appropriate to ensure safety is not compromised.Dividend payments are a commercial matter for Railtrack's Board of Directors.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on his plans for introducing car parking charges for hon. Members within the parliamentary estate; and what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the financial incentives of the scheme. [63632]

The Greater London Authority Bill will enable London's elected Mayor to levy a charge on non-residential workplace parking. Alternatively the London Borough of Westminster will be able to introduce a levy within its boundary, subject to the agreement of the Mayor. The Bill provides that, if any scheme is brought forward in the Westminster area, it will be able to apply to the parliamentary estate. The charge would be payable by the Corporate Officer of the House. Whether or not to pass the charge on to individual Members would be for the House itself to determine.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is his policy in respect of the issuing of carnet tickets by train operating companies. [63644]

The Government's White Paper on the Future of Transport (Cm 3950) made it clear that we consider that carnets are a desirable alternative to season tickets. They would be a particular benefit to part-time workers as well as occasional travellers and we wish to encourage all rail (and indeed other transport) operators to offer them as part of their ticketing range. The current arrangements for fares are a consequence of legally binding franchise agreements inherited from the previous Government. When opportunities arise for negotiating franchises, the structure and marketing of fares is one of the areas in which the new Strategic Rail Authority will look for improvements.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he has received on his proposals with regard to local transport plans. [63555]

The Government's proposals for local transport plans were announced in the White Paper on the future of transport "A New Deal for Transport: Better for Everyone". We have received numerous representations following the White Paper, many of which have included consideration of local transport plans. These helped inform our draft guidance for local authorities on local transport plans, which was published for consultation on 12 November. The consultation period ends on 8 January 1999.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he has received from local authorities on the Local Agenda 21 environmental strategies. [63554]

We receive representations on a range of matters relating to sustainable development, including from local authorities on Local Agenda 21 strategies.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) if he will make it his policy to exclude pesticides used in horticulture from the proposed environmental tax on pesticides; and if he will make a statement; [64031](2) what estimates he has made of the price elasticity of demand for different types of pesticides during his consideration of the proposed environmental tax on pesticides; and if he will make a statement. [64032]

The Government have not made a proposal for a pesticide tax. However, my Department has commissioned extensive research into the scope for a pesticide tax or charge, including sectoral usage, consideration of price elasticities of demand for different pesticides, and the impact on users, manufacturers and suppliers. The Government will take this work fully into account in reaching a decision on whether to introduce such an instrument.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the offices or agencies under his control which will be subject to L.2 of Head L in Schedule 5 of the Scotland Act 1998; how many people are currently employed in these offices; and what equal opportunities practices are adopted in these offices. [63806]

I will write to the hon. Member with this information, and place a copy of the letter in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what extra funds his Department has given to London Underground since August 1998 for the provision of the new trains on the Northern Line. [64112]

The Department does not provide funds specifically for the new Northern Line trains. However, when making decisions on the overall level of funding for London Transport, the Government take into account the payments which London Transport are required to pay to PFI contractors. This includes the deal with ALSTOM for the new Northern Line trains.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list (a) the number of train cancellations and (b) the punctuality performance on Northern Line services for each day since 1 November. [64105]

This information is not available in the form requested. London Underground measure their performance against a series of Key Performance Indicators and data on performance are collected for weekdays only and presented for each 4-week period.In the period from 9 November to 4 December, a total of 406 trains were cancelled at weekday morning and evening peak times out of a total number of 3,360 scheduled trains. This means that 87.9 per cent. of scheduled trains were in service during the period compared with the target of 98.3 per cent.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many complaints his Department has received concerning the service on the Northern Line since 1 September. [64106]

Since 1 September the Department has received 26 letters relating wholly or mainly to the poor service on the Northern Line. Establishing the total number of letters which refer to poor performance on the Northern Line could be done only at disproportionate cost, because letters are often wide-ranging and only the main issue raised is logged.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what progress has been made on devolving the setting of Building Regulations control charges to individual local authorities in England and Wales. [64386]

A consultation paper on draft regulations to devolve the setting of Building Regulations control charges to individual local authorities in England and Wales with building control functions, was published in June this year. Having considered the responses I announced my decision on 31 July to proceed to lay regulations with a coming into force date of 1 April next year. I have today laid those regulations before Parliament. They are entitled "The Building (Local Authority Charges) Regulations 1998".

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what advice he has given to the Environment Agency concerning the implications for the management of water levels on the Somerset Levels of (a) the EU Birds Directive, (b) the EU Habitats Directive, (c) the Water Resources Act 1991 and (d) the Land Drainage Acts. [63394]

I have been asked to reply.The Environment Agency is the principal flood defence operating authority and, in exercising those functions, is subject to the conservation duties placed on it by sections 7 and 8 of the Environment Act 1995. The Agency is required to have regard to the Habitats and Birds Directives in exercising its functions, as it is a "competent authority" under the terms of the Habitats Directive. It is also required to make an appropriate assessment of the impact before approving any plans or projects which, on their own or in combination with other plans or projects, may affect a European site. The Ministry and Welsh Office have issued a Code of Practice on Environmental Procedures for Flood Defence Operating Authorities which includes specific guidance on the responsibilities of the Agency and the other operating authorities under the Habitats and Birds Directives.The Ministry and Welsh Office have also issued guidance to the Environment Agency and other flood defence operating authorities on the production of Water Level Management Plans. The plans provide a means by which the range of activities in a particular area, including agriculture, flood defence and conservation can be balanced and integrated. We have encouraged preparation of such plans with highest priority being given to internationally important sites, including those designated under the EU Habitats and Birds Directives. Water Level Management Plans are in preparation on the Somerset Levels, with the majority being produced by internal drainage boards, as the relevant operating authority.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of the money raised through (a) road pricing and (b) workplace charging will be hypothecated for public transport improvements. [63639]

The Government propose (as laid out in the recently published consultation document—"Breaking the Logjam") that local authorities which bring forward pilot road user charging or workplace parking charge schemes should be able to retain 100 per cent. of the net revenue generated for at least 10 years from the implementation of a scheme—provided that there are worthwhile transport-related projects to be funded.The Government will make an announcement about the retention of proceeds from schemes brought forward after the pilot phase in due course.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which Minister is currently responsible for reviewing the policy of abolishing tax credits for non-taxpayers; and if he will make a statement. [64197]

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 14 December 1998, Official Report, column 346.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he will publish the changeover plans regarding preparations for British entry into the single currency. [63865]

[holding answer 14 December 1998]: The outline changeover plan should be published early in 1999.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to harmonise the VAT exemption for proprietary and private golf clubs. [62605]

The Government understand the problems of both types of golf club and have arranged for HM Customs and Excise to discuss these with the European Commission, in the light of the recent European Court of Justice ruling in Commission of the European Communities vs. the Kingdom of Spain (Case C-124/96, Judgment of the Court, Sixth Chamber, of 7 May 1998).

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the inclusion of the Irish as an ethnic category in the next census. [63868]

The Government's proposals for the 2001 Census, including the topics to be covered and details of the ethnic question, will be published in a White Paper early next year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the new transporters for Challenger 2 tanks. [64276]

The MOD will shortly issue an invitation to four consortia to negotiate for a private-sector financed solution to the Army's heavy equipment transporter requirement, with the aim that the service is provide from 2002. This is the first programme to invite solutions to invite solutions for an operational combat support vehicle through the Private Finance Initiative. The consortia are also being invited to explore options for the employment of Sponsored Reserves to deliver the service. A decision on the way forward is expected in early 2000, with a contract let later that year following final negotiations with the preferred bidder.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the key targets are for 1998–99 for the Chief Executive of Queen Victoria School. [64271]

The Chief Executive of Queen Victoria School has been set the following Key Targets for 1998–1999.

1. Achieve a staying on rate at School for S4 to S5 of at least 68 per cent. based on a 3 year trend.

2. Exceed by 2 per cent. the average percentage pass rate for all Scottish presentations obtaining 5 or more Credit awards at Standard Grade based on a 3 year trend.

3. Achieve a percentage of the presentations at Higher Grade achieving A to C grade greater than or equal to the Scottish averaged based on a 3 year trend.

4. To achieve a pupil per capital cost of no more than £17,246 (at 1997–98 prices) by March 1999. 1997–98 target was £17,420.

5. To generate commercial income to the School of at least £20,000.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the key targets for 1998–99 for the Chief Executive of the Duke of York's Royal Military School. [64273]

The Chief Executive of The Duke of York's Royal Military School has been set the following Key Targets for 1998–99.

1. To achieve 100 per cent. of GCSE passes at grades A* to G.

2. To achieve 5 or more GCSE passes at grades A* to C; 1998-–9 target is 78 per cent.

3. To achieve 88 per cent. of A level passes at grades A to E.

4. To achieve 3 or more A level passes at grades A to E; 1998–99 target is 80 per cent.

5. To achieve 34 per cent. of A level passes at Grades A and B.

6. To achieve 100 per cent. award rate for GNVQ Advanced and BTEC National Diploma courses.

7. To achieve places in higher education for at least 70 per cent. of sixth form leavers.

8. To achieve a pupil per capita cost of no more than £13,151.

9. To generate income of at least £452,000.

10. To achieve at least 260 applications for September 99 intake.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish in the Official Report the text of the letter dated 30 November from the Minister of State for the Armed Forces to his hon. Friend the Member for Nottingham, South (Mr. Simpson) concerning nuclear, chemical and biological weapons in the former Soviet Union. [63900]

Following is the text of the letter to which I understand my hon. Friend refers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the total annual cost of staffing and maintaining surveillance towers (a) at the hilltop sites in the South Armagh area, (b) the two towers in Derry and (c) the three posts mounted on blocks of flats in Belfast. [64204]

I refer my hon. Friend to the written answer given by my right hon. Friend the then Minister for the Armed Forces on 6 November 1997, Official Report, column 320.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the offices or agencies under his control which will be subject to L.2 of Head L in Schedule 5 of the Scotland Act 1998; how many people are currently employed in these offices; and what equal opportunities practices are adopted in these offices. [63804]

There were some 23,200 Service and civilian personnel based at 116 locations in Scotland, as at 1 April 1998 (the most recent date for which figures are available). All of these personnel will continue to be subject to the appropriate UK legislation. For the 10,000 civilian personnel this involves compliance with the Equal Pay Act 1970, the Sex Discrimination Act 1975, the Race Relations Act 1976, and the Disability Discrimination Act 1995, listed in Head L2 of Schedule 5 of the Scotland Act, as well as Departmental policies against unfair discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation, age and religious belief. In order for the Armed Forces to maintain combat effectiveness they are granted an exemption from the Sex Discrimination Act 1975, in Section 85(4) of the Act, and from the employment provisions of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995. Current policy is also that homosexuals are not allowed to serve in the Armed Forces; this issue will be reviewed in the lifetime of this Parliament. Aside from these specific exceptions the Armed Forces are committed to equality of opportunity irrespective of gender, religion, ethnic or social background and vigorous policies are in place to ensure that this is achieved.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what total expenditure his Department has incurred to date in the payment of claims for compensation by service women required to leave the armed forces on grounds of pregnancy. [64010]

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 10 December 1998, Official Report, column 257 to the hon. Member for New Forest, West (Mr. Swayne).

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the cost to his Department of the defence of the British soldiers convicted of causing the death of a Danish tour guide in Cyprus. [63343]

The costs of the defence and subsequent appeal of the soldiers convicted of causing the death of the Danish tour guide were met by the Army Legal Aid scheme, and have been £260K to date. This figure does not include the cost of the appeals process which has only recently concluded.The Army Legal Aid scheme provides legal assistance to Army personnel similar to that available in this country to ensure that they are not placed at a disadvantage when tried overseas in a civil criminal court; the scheme is funded by my Department.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many polo ponies the British Army owns; and in which countries they are based. [63990]

The British Army does not own polo ponies. All military horses maintained by the Army fulfil either ceremonial duties or work in the Army School of Equitation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to include Irish as a category in his Department's ethnic monitoring of staff recruitment. [63878]

My Department's ethnic monitoring of Service and civilian recruitment is based solely on an applicant's ethnicity. The nine ethnic origin categories monitored by my Department are those used in the 1991 census which did not include an Irish category. They will be reviewed in the light of any suggested changes for the 2001 Population Census.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the cost since 1 May 1997 of supplying military police to protect huntsmen on MOD land from potential activity by anti-hunt protesters. [63638]

Military Police are not involved with hunts, so no costs have been incurred from protecting huntsmen.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the occasions since 1 May 1997 when authorisation has been given for MOD land to be used for hunting; and if he will indicate those occasions when hunting occurred on land designated as a site of special scientific interest, giving for each occasion the location of the SSSI. [63637]

I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what charges have been made and to which hunts for the use of MOD land since 1 May 1997. [63634]

The table shows charges which have been paid since 1 May 1997 allowing hunting with hounds to take place over the Defence Estate.

Hunt	Charges since 1 May 1997 (£)	Comments
Tanatside Hunt	158.75
North Shropshire Hunt	179.37
Surrey Union Hunt	398.13
Blankney Hunt	208.75
Essex and Suffolk Hunt	405.75
Thorney Island Hunt	39.38	The previous Commanding Officer used to invite the Hunt onto the Island for one day a year—this has now ceased
East Kent Hunt	172.75
South Pembrokeshire Hunt	39.60
Sennybridge Hunt	160.89
Brecon and Talybont Hunt	160.89
Irfon and Tywi Hunt	160.89
Taunton Vale Foxhounds	80.00	There is a reciprocal agreement in place whereby land is licenced to the MOD
West of Yore Hunt	170.18
Bedale Hunt	170.18
Zetland Hunt	170.18
Wensleydale Hunt	36.43
Ullswater Foxhounds	152.37
Lunesdale Foxhounds	57.12
Border Hunt	175.12
West Percy Hunt	175.12
Avon Vale Hunt	375.00
Tedworth Hunt	125.00
Royal Artillery Hunt	225.00
South and West Wiltshire Hunt	225.00
Bewcastle Hunt	177.22	Licence to pass over MOD land only
Tynedale Hunt	233.62	Licence to pass over MOD land only