To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many planning applications have been submitted in the past year for major developments with particular reference to shopping complexes in the Newtownbreda Purdysburn and Saintfield Road area of South Belfast. [65108]

Responsibility for the subject in question has been delegated to the Planning Service under its Chief Executive, Mr. T. W. Stewart. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many persons have been (a) arrested, (b) charged and (c) convicted of conspiracy in the UK to commit offences abroad. [64207]

The information requested is not available, as the police and Court databases do not currently record arrests, charges or convictions against the heading "conspiracy in the UK to commit offences abroad".

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans she has to provide data on Northern Ireland Government and local authority accounts consistent with the National Accounting Convention. [63972]

[holding answer 16 December 1998]: Government departments in Northern Ireland produce annual accounts in accordance with guidance issued by the Department of Finance and Personnel—this guidance is based on that issued by HM Treasury to GB departments. Similarly, Northern Ireland district councils produce accounts which are broadly in line with those produced by local authorities in Great Britain

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last met the Chairman of Scottish Enterprise to discuss strategy. [66005]

My noble Friend Lord Macdonald, the Minister with responsibility for business and industry, last met Sir Ian Wood, Chairman of Scottish Enterprise, to discuss the Scottish Enterprise strategy on 4 December 1998. At my request Scottish Enterprise has been reviewing its strategy over the last year. This process has involved extensive public consultation. The new strategy will be launched today. I have placed copies in the House of Commons Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the total expenditure and the breakdown of expenditure in his Department since May 1997 on (a) public opinion research, (b) television, radio and newspaper advertising and (c) direct mail. [63915]

[holding answer 11 January 1999]: Expenditure on public opinion research undertaken by my Department since May 1997 was £43,000. Expenditure on information campaigns totalled £2,439,000 of which £1,130,000 was spent on television, £598,000 on radio and £711,000 on Press. Direct mail amounted to £22,000.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what financial support is available to Scottish island residents travelling to mainland hospitals for specialist treatment and advice. [65275]

The Highlands and Islands Patients Travelling Expenses Scheme provides for the reimbursement of travelling expenses in excess of a contribution, currently £8.00, for patients attending hospital, where the distance travelled from the patient's home (or place of residence) to the hospital is 30 miles or more, or involves a journey by sea of more than 5 miles.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to receive the report of the Task Force appointed to review the arrangements surrounding protection orders issued under the Freshwater and Salmon Fisheries (Scotland) Act 1976; and if he will make a statement. [66316]

Copies of the report have been placed in the Library. It will also be available on the Scottish Office website.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the timescale for the clean-up of the area within two kilometres of the outfall pipe of UKAEA Dounreay; what action has been taken by UKAEA to identify the source of the escaped irradiated nuclear fuel fragments; what action has been taken by UKAEA to clear Sandside beach of all such fragments; when the fishing restriction in this area will next be reviewed by SEPA; what is the nature of SEPA's monitoring of the specified area; what monitoring is carried out on the land and sea adjacent to the specified area; and what scientific advice he has been given, and from whom, regarding the risk to humans on Sandside beach from direct contact with radioactive particles from UKAEA Dounreay. [65051]

The timescale for clean-up operations can only be considered when survey work has been completed and properly assessed.The United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) has undertaken a substantial programme of work to determine the source and extent of particles on the seabed adjacent to the Dounreay site. The study takes advantage of state-of-the-art diving and other monitoring technology. The results of this study are expected to be published shortly. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry will then consider possible courses of action.Since 1983 three particles have been found in Sandside Bay and removed. UKAEA currently monitors the strandline at Sandside Bay weekly, and nearby public beaches twice yearly or following storm activity. UKAEA undertakes such remedial action as is necessary in line with the requirements of the regulators to ensure public safety.The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) will review the fishing restrictions when more complete information is available on the contamination of the seabed and local marine environment or if new information relating to offshore contamination comes to light.SEPA undertakes monitoring of seafood (collected on a quarterly basis) from within the restricted area and the results are provided to the Scottish Office as well as being published annually. No fragments of irradiated nuclear fuel have been detected in the samples taken from the area.UKAEA also carries out monitoring of seafood from within the restricted area and further afield. In addition to monitoring nearby public beaches, UKAEA currently monitors the foreshore at Dounreay fortnightly.The National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB) supplied scientific advice on the risks to human health from encountering fragments of irradiated nuclear fuel. That advice was contained in the report "Fragments

of Irradiated Nuclear Fuel in the Dounreay Local Environment" submitted by SEPA to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland, a copy of which was placed in the House of Commons Library following a parliamentary question answered on 15 December 1998,

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what resources he is providing for the Organic Aid Scheme in Scotland in the current financial year. [65647]

I expect expenditure on the Organic Aid Scheme in Scotland to be about £0.24m in 1998–99. This will represent a rise of 64 per cent. over expenditure in 1997–98.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will ensure that, in making arrangements for dealing with asylum seekers, his Department holds discussions with organisations expert in the provision of (a) social welfare, (b) housing and (c) legal advice to (i) Vietnamese boat people and (ii) Bosnian refugees. [65254]

The new arrangements for dealing with asylum seekers will apply to the United Kingdom so that they are treated equally across to whole country. Responsibility for these matters rests with the Home Office which is consulting extensively about the arrangements for the future, including with those organisations expert in the areas mentioned.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if, in the implementation of the proposals in the Asylum Seekers White Paper, he will ensure the retention of the partnership arrangements between the Scottish Office, COSLA and local authorities for supporting asylum-seekers while their applications are being considered. [65116]

The new asylum support system proposed in the White Paper will be administered by an Asylum Support Directorate in the Immigration and Nationality Directorate in the Home Office. My Department and the Home Office are currently considering what arrangements should apply when the asylum seekers are placed in Scotland.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has had with the Home Office regarding the proposals in the White Paper on Asylum Seekers to disperse asylum seekers outside London. [65117]

I was fully involved in collective consideration of the White Paper, as were other ministerial colleagues. My officials are in regular contact with officials in the Home Office as the details of the support scheme—including arrangements for dispersal of asylum seekers—are developed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to issue revised details and guidelines in respect of the Agricultural Business Improvement Scheme; and if he will make a statement. [65644]

An announcement will be made in March about a range of improvements being introduced to the Objective 1 Agricultural Business Improvement Scheme.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the hospitals in Scotland which have acute beds and in each case the number of (a) intensive care beds, (b) high dependency beds and (c) other acute beds. [65082]

Information on the numbers of intensive care and other acute beds is shown in the table. Separate numbers for high dependency beds are not collected and such beds are therefore included in the figures shown for other acute beds.

NHS hospitals in Scotland—intensive care and other acute beds by hospital as at 31 March 1998
	Average available staffed beds
	Intensive Care1	Other acute 2
Argyll and Clyde Health Board Area
Campbeltown Hospital	—	20
Dunoon and District General Hospital	—	48
Helensburgh Victoria Infirmary	—	8
Inverclyde Royal Hospital	15	310
Islay Hospital	—	24
Lorn and Islands DGH, Oban	—	70
Mid Argyll Hospital	—	15
Rothesay Victoria Hospital	—	20
Royal Alexandra Hospital	11	421
Vale of Leven District General Hospital	—	139
Ayrshire and Arran Health Board Area
Arran War Memorial Hospital	—	20
Ayrshire Central and Maternity Hospital	—	49
Ballochmyle Hospital	—	12
Crosshouse Hospital	5	457
Davidson Cottage Hospital	—	28
Lady Margaret Hospital, Millport	—	14
The Ayr Hospital	6	307
Borders Health Board Area
Borders General Hospital	4	243
Coldstream Cottage Hospital	—	11
Hawick Cottage Hospital	—	23
Hay Lodge Hospital	—	20
Kelso Hospital	—	16
Knoll Hospital	—	13
Sister Margaret Cottage Hospital	—	6
Dumfries and Galloway Health Board Area
Castle Douglas Hospital	—	8
Cresswell Maternity Hospital	—	12
Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary	13	289
Garrick Hospital	—	40

To ask the President of the Council what plans she has for the Standing Committee on Regional Affairs. [65972]

The Government have been considering the means of improving the way in which Parliament can debate the affairs of the English regions. I shall shortly be submitting a memorandum to the Modernisation Committee inviting it to examine the possibility of reviving and adapting the Standing Committee on Regional Affairs already allowed for under the Standing Orders of the House.

To ask the President of the Council on what dates (a) the Ministerial Group on the Millennium Date Change (MISC4) and (b) the Sub-Group (MISC4(P)) have met; and what meetings are planned for the future. [64822]

Details relating to the meetings of Cabinet Committees are not normally made public. This is in line with the practice of successive Administrations.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what contribution he expects the electricity generation sector to make towards reducing CO₂, emissions by 2010, other than the reductions resulting from use of new CHP plant. [65333]

The Government intend to develop a balanced and equitable strategy across all sectors to meet the UK's international and domestic climate change targets. As a first step, on 26 October 1998, the Government published a consultation paper describing progress to date in reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the UK and setting out a variety of policy options for further action. The consultation paper refers to a number of options which could be taken in the electricity generation sector to reduce carbon dioxide emissions including increased use of CHP, increased use of renewable energy, improvements in energy efficiency, implementation of Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC) regulation and improved utility regulation.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what the income was from practical driving tests in (a) 1990 toh 30 June 1996, (b) 1 July 1996 to 31 December 1996 and (c) 1 January 1997 to date; and what it has been for theory tests since 1 July 1996. [65345]

The figures requested are as follows:

£ million
Period	Practical Test Fee Income
1 April 1990–30 June 1996	298.8
1 July 1996–31 December 1996	32.8
1 January 1997–30 November 1998	86.5

Period	Tests conducted	Tests passed	Pass rate (per cent.)	Failure rate (per cent.)
1 January 1990–30 June 1996	10,257,744	5,019,145	48.93	51.07
1 July 1996–31 December 1996	855,037	381,263	44.59	55.41
1 January 1997–30 November 19981	2,038,122	950,479	46.64	53.36
1Figures for November 1998 are the latest currently available

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what effect the closure of driving test centres has had on waiting times for driving test appointments. [65343]

Test centre closures have not affected average waiting times for driving test appointments as the overall capacity to conduct tests has not been affected. The driving examiners from the closed centres have been re-deployed to adjoining centres.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many people who have taken the theory test and passed have not applied to take a practical driving test; and what steps the DSA has taken to ensure that those who have passed the theory test apply for a practical driving test within two years. [65341]

We estimate that there are around 300,000 people who have passed the theory test but do not currently have an appointment for a practical test.Theory test pass certificates have always shown the date of test pass and stated that the certificate has a two year life. The expiry date on certificates have been given greater prominence since August 1998. The Driving Standards Agency has been sending reminder letters on a quarterly basis to theory test pass holders since last spring. reminders were sent in April to 80,000 people whose theory test pass certificates were over 14 months old, and shortly afterwards to 5,000 people whose certificates were 10 to 13 months old. the Agency has since written in August and November to everybody holding a certificate then over 14 months. The Agency will continue to issue reminder letters until all extant certificates are those carrying a prominent expiry date.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans the DSA has to reduce the period within which candidates who have passed a theory test are expected to take a practical test. [65344]

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many practical driving tests were conducted in the periods (a) 1990 to 30 June 1996, (b) 1 July 1996 to 31 December 1996 and (c) 1 January 1997 to date; and what percentages were (i) passes and (ii) failures in each period. [65339]

The figures my hon. Friend requested are shown in the table.

Theory test pass certificates are valid for two years. This provides an ample period for a successful theory test candidate to prepare for the practical driving test. We have no current proposals to reduce that period, but will keep the matter under review.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what reductions in examiner staffing levels have occurred following driving test centre closures; what effect future closures will have on examiner staffing levels; and if redundancies are planned. [65362]

No driving examiner redundancies have occurred as a result of test centre closures. Staff were transferred to adjoining test centres to cover the expected increase in demand there. No redundancies are planned, in fact the Driving Standards Agency plans to recruit 85 new examiners during this year.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what service improvements have resulted from savings acquired from the closure of driving test centres; and what future improvements are anticipated. [65357]

Restructuring the test centre estate has helped the Driving Standards Agency to provide a fair and consistent standard of test. Savings have helped fund improvements to the remainder of the estate and to administrative systems, including the new driving test booking system that becomes operational later this year. There has been a series of improvements in customer service targets and new customer service features introduced. These were recognised by the Charter Mark award last year. Savings from future closures will be used to help pay for service improvements in the same way.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will set out the consultative process used by the Driving Standards Agency in areas affected by the closures of driving test centres. [65358]

The Driving Standards Agency normally consults interested parties locally, such as the Member of Parliament, the local authority and instructors when considering whether to close a driving test centre. A public consultation meeting is usually held, and all the results of the consultation process are considered before a final decision is taken.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what are the current waiting times for driving test appointments in each region. [65361]

At 8 January 1999, the average waiting time for a practical car driving test in each of the Driving Standards Agency's operational areas was:

• London & South East: 6.28 weeks
• Midlands & Eastern: 4.16 weeks
• Wales & Western: 3.63 weeks
• Northern: 5.19 weeks
• Scotland: 4.81 weeks.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps will be taken by the Driving Standards Agency to monitor demand in areas where test centre closures have occurred. [65353]

Following closure of a driving test centre, we monitor the pattern of demand at adjoining centres to ensure it is in line with forecasts. Should demand at these centres give cause for concern, steps are taken to ensure that additional examiners are allocated.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what further plans there are for the closure of driving test centres over the next five years apart from those already identified for closure in the next two years; and if he will list the centres affected. [65360]

We do not have a planned list of driving test centre closures over the next five years. We regularly review requirements against demand for driving tests, operational suitability, and the need to provide accommodation that offers a safe working environment for examiners and candidates at a reasonable cost. Should a centre fall short of these criteria its continued viability is considered, each case being considered on its merits with due regard to local factors.We are currently consulting about the future of the following car driving test centres: Didsbury (Manchester); Washwood Heath (Birmingham); Newport (Monmouthshire); Minehead (Somerset); and Holyhead Road (Coventry).Consultation has also been completed about the proposed closure of the following centres, but no final decisions have yet been reached: Hartlepool, Rochdale, Cheltenham, Oswestry (Shropshire), Sevenoaks, and Tunbridge Wells, and the Ore (Hastings) lorry and bus driving test centre.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many driving theory tests have been conducted since 1 July 1996, and how many and what percentage of these were (a) passes and (b) failures. [65340]

The figures requested are given in the tables. For cars and motorcycles they are shown separately for the periods 1 July 1996–30 September 1996 and 1 October 1996–30 November 1998 to reflect the change in the pass mark:

	1 July 1996 to 30 September 1996 Pass mark 26/35		1 October 1996 to 30 November 1998 Pass mark 30/35
	Car	Motorcycle	Car	Motorcycle
Passed	310,765	2,022	1,596,315	13,276
Percentage pass	85.5	92.1	62.9	55.9
Failed	52,823	173	943,718	10,478
Percentage fail	14.5	7.9	37.1	44.1

The lorry and bus theory tests were introduced on 1 January 1997, the figures requested in respect of these tests are as follows:

	1 January 1997 to 30 November 1998 Pass mark 21/25
	LGV	PCV
Passed	42,005	15,990
Percentage pass	88.4	87.8
Failed	5,496	2,215
Percentage fail	11.6	12.2

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what effect the proposed extended driving test will have on waiting times for customers. [65363]

There may be a surge in demand ahead of the new, longer test which could increase waiting times by one to two weeks above the target for the next three months. The Driving Standards Agency will seek to minimise the effects of any surge by ensuring that additional examiners are deployed where necessary.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what research is being carried out to identify reasons for falls in demand for theory and practical driving tests; and what results are available. [65365]

When in April 1998 the Driving Standards Agency wrote reminder letters to 85,000 theory test pass certificate holders, around 10,000 were asked why they had not completed the test process. About 1,700 responded. The majority had attempted the practical test and had failed but intended to keep trying. Nearly a quarter had delayed learning for financial or health reasons.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many driving test centres have been closed since the inception of the Driving Standards Agency; in what parts of the country such closures have occurred; and what reasons for closure were given in each case. [65359]

Since the launch of the Driving Standards Agency in April 1990, 61 driving test centres have been closed without direct replacement in the immediate vicinity, in the following areas:

	Number
London & South East	11
Midlands & Eastern	15
Wales & Western	14
Northern	12
Scotland	9
Total	61

In addition, Edinburgh (Newington) and Wealdstone (North London) have been agreed for closure later this month.Closures were caused by routes becoming operationally unsuitable, the expiry of property leases, a rationalisation of centres in the area, for health and safety reasons, or on the grounds of operational costs. The effort involved in documenting the reason, or reasons, for each closure would be disproportionate.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions for what reasons the books on the theory driving test were produced in quick succession; and what steps were taken by the DSA to defray the costs of those customers who bought faulty material. [65372]

The question bank for each type of theory test is revised annually to reflect changes in legislation and other developments. The Driving Standards Agency publishes books containing the question banks before the adoption of new questions so that candidates can prepare for their test.The edition of the car and motorcycle theory test book published in June 1998 contained a number of errors. A revised edition was issued in August 1998. Candidates who had purchased the June edition were not disadvantaged. Test papers containing questions where a candidate may have been misled by the June edition were withdrawn. Where such questions appeared in test papers before they were withdrawn, incorrect answers were ignored in the marking. Amendment slips were inserted in all unsold copies of that edition, and sent to theory test candidates with their appointment letter.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what increases in the cost of the driving test are being proposed. [65364]

The fee for driving theory test appointments made from 6 April 1999 will be £15.50, an increase of 50 pence on the current fee.The fees for practical driving tests taken from 4 May 1999 will be as follows:

£
Category of test	Proposed new fee	Current fee	Increase
Weekday Tests
Car	36.75	32.75	4.00
Motorcycle	45.00	39.00	6.00

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what the purpose is of check tests of approved driving instructors; and what effect such tests have had on pass rates since their introduction. [65367]

The check test was introduced in the early 1970s to allow the Department to test an Approved Driving Instructor's continued ability and fitness to give instruction, in the interest of both road safety and consumer protection. It allows the supervising examiner to identify any weaknesses in an instructor's tuition and offer constructive criticism on how he or she might improve their teaching methods.Although the pass rates for the practical driving test are the same today as they were at the time the check test was introduced its introduction saw a levelling out of a falling pass rate that had gone from 50 per cent. in 1950 to 51 per cent. in 1960 and to 46 per cent. in the early 1970s. The current pass rate is 48 per cent.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many approved driving instructors left the register in the periods (a) 1990 to 30 June 1996, (b) 1 July 1996 to 31 December 1996 and (c) 1 January 1997 to date. [65346]

The number of instructors who left the register during the specified periods were:

Date	Instructors
1 January 1990 to 30 June 1996	17,715
1 July 1996 to 31 December 1996	1,469
1 January 1997 to 30 November 19981	7,086
1Figures for November 1998 are the latest currently available

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many approved driving instructors have ceased to practise but whose licences still have a period to run in the periods (a) 1990 to 30 June 1996, (b) 1 July 1996 to 31 December 1996 and (c) 1 January 1997 to date. [65348]

The information requested is not available. We do not know how many of the instructors whose names appear on the register at any given date are not currently practising.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many approved driving instructors have been removed from the register since check testing was introduced. [65349]

Since April 1995, 247 instructors have been removed from the register for failing the check test. Statistics for removal for check test failure are not available for the period prior to that date.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if it is the Driving Standards Agency's intention to use the proposed log book as a means of regulating the teaching methods of approved driving instructors. [65366]

We see merit in introducing a training logbook for learner drivers. This will be introduced on a voluntary basis in the spring. A logbook will provide instructors and their pupils, and others who supervise learners, such as parents, with a syllabus and encourage them to adopt a structured and progressive approach to driver training. The syllabus, which has been developed in consultation with the driving instruction industry, will enable progress to be charted. The logbook identifies the areas that need to be taught. It does not define the teaching methods to be adopted when covering each topic.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many complaints about the check test have been received by the DSA since the test was introduced, broken down by (a) test centre and (b) the nature of the complaint; and what steps the DSA has taken in response to such complaints. [65373]

The Driving Standards Agency does not keep consolidated statistics about the numbers of check test complaints it receives, analysed by test centre or the nature of the complaint. Any complaint from an instructor about a check test would be carefully considered.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions by what means he plans to deliver his target of quadrupling cycling by 2012; and if he will make a statement. [65679]

The target of quadrupling the number of trips by bicycle (on 1996 figures) by the end of 2012, was established by the National Cycling Strategy (NCS). In the White Paper "A New Deal for Transport" published last year, we endorsed that target and recognised the positive contribution that cycling can make towards a transport system that is safe, efficient, clean and fair. The Department requires local authorities as part of their local transport plans to establish local cycling strategies which will contribute to the target of increased cycle use. We will continue to offer guidance to authorities on policy and technical issues, and to work in partnership with other organisations in achieving the NCS objectives.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he expects to issue supplementary guidance to planning guidance on telecommunications masts under PPG(8). [65616]

In July 1998, we published for public comment our proposals for changes to the control of development by licensed telecommunications code system operators under the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995 (GPDO). In November, we announced the outcome of this consultation, and, in particular, our intention to proceed with a new single-stage "prior approval" procedure of 42 days for ground-based masts. The Department is currently preparing the necessary GPDO amendment Order and guidance to implement the changes and will consult on drafts shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he expects to be able to announce his decision on the funding of noise amelioration measures on the A404(M) following the recommendation of the independent report commissioned by the Highways Agency. [65615]

In our White Paper "A New Deal For Trunk Roads" we announced that we intended to set aside budget for the purpose of providing noise mitigation measures for some of the most serious and pressing cases along existing roads. We also said that we would make a separate announcement regarding the criteria to be used. These criteria are still being finalised and we will make a statement setting them down as soon as we can. It is important that the selection criteria we choose are as fair as possible. Decisions on individual cases such as the A404(M) must wait until those criteria are published.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps he has taken to ensure that United Kingdom passenger aircraft are millennium compliant. [65084]

My Department has notified all major UK airlines of the need to consider whether their systems will be millennium compliant and advised them to take any remedial action necessary. We are also in close and regular contact with the Civil Aviation Authority (including National Air Traffic Services) who are considering the problem in their role as safety regulator. As part of this process, the CAA are seeking to confirm compliance status of the 2,000 organisations (including UK airlines) which they currently approve. The situation has been and will continue to be monitored on a regular basis. Once the industry has completed their compliance programmes later this year, we will be asking the Chairman of the CAA to provide the Department with appropriate assurances as to the state of readiness of the UK aviation industry. If the CAA have any safety doubts arising from millennium compliance problems, operating authorisations will be withdrawn or withheld.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will publish the report by Credit Suisse on the proposed public/private partnership for national air traffic services and assess its implications for the private finance initiative contract for the new Scottish centre. [65418]

The Government have retained Credit Suisse First Boston (CSFB) to provide investment banking advice in developing proposals for a public private partnership for National Air Traffic Services Ltd. (NATS). The advice produced by CSFB is commercially sensitive and is provided to the Government in confidence as part of the policy development process for the NATS PPP. As such, it would not be appropriate to publish it.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if the International Civil Aviation Organisation has agreed that the UK Government will continue to provide air traffic services for the Northern Atlantic operation in the event of a public/private partnership for national air traffic services. [65419]

As my right hon. Friend, the Minister of Transport explained in his answer of 18 November 1998, Official Report, column 676, we are consulting ICAO on our proposals for National Air Traffic Services Ltd.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what discretion the Highways Agency has to compensate individual organisations for loss of trade as a result of highway works. [65270]

Where works have been properly carried out by a highway authority under a statutory power, there is no legal liability to compensate for loss of trade. Only in extraordinary circumstances would the Highways Agency consider a discretionary or ex-gratia payment. Where works are carried out on land which has been compulsorily purchased, there may, in certain circumstances, be compensation for injurious affection but not for loss of trade.

To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department when the legal aid board will publish its consultation document on the proposed funding code. [66360]

The consultation document, "The Funding Code—a new approach to funding civil cases", will be published tomorrow. Copies will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses. Consultees have until 30 April 1999 to respond.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many applications to industrial tribunals in respect of pensions claims have been abandoned since 1994 because the claimant has died. [64233]

The Employment Tribunals Service does not record the reasons why cases are withdrawn and cannot therefore provide any information on the number of pension claims that have been abandoned because the claimant has died.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received from the home shopping industry in relation to consumer credit agreements; and if he will make a statement. [65306]

I have received a number of representations from the home shopping industry, both independently and in response to the question posed in a consultation paper the Department issued last year on whether the legislation should be changed to make unsigned consumer credit agreements for mail order sales enforceable.I have carefully considered the evidence which all consultees representing many interests put to the Department. I have decided not to make unsigned agreements enforceable since I have been given clear evidence that some consumers are suffering detriment from the practices adopted by some mail order firms. In addition to signing nothing, some consumers are not receiving copies of mail order credit agreements. This leads to confusion about the debt owed and the terms and conditions on which the credit has been provided, which can also reflect unfairly on credit worthiness. I am concerned that some mail order companies may not be satisfying the requirements of the European Consumer Credit Directive and the Distance Selling Directive on giving written information to consumers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the consequences of the introduction of Social Chapter legislation for employment in the UK; and if he will make a statement. [64054]

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Ruislip-Northwood (Mr. Wilkinson) on 12 December 1997, Official Report, columns 725–26.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what guidelines have been issued to the manufacturing and retail industries regarding the millennium bug; what steps have been taken to ensure that new products are millennium compliant and are labelled as such; and if he will make a statement. [65085]

Information on the Millennium Bug and guidance on how to deal with it is available to businesses from Action 2000. My Department set up Action 2000 last year to lead the work on behalf of the Government in raising awareness of the private sector of the need to take action and to provide help to companies.Under the Sale of Goods Act 1979, goods sold by traders must among other things "correspond with description" as to fitness for purpose and satisfactory quality. The description of the goods includes any information given about them, by the seller directly or by any other means. Controls already exist to prevent new products being falsely described or labelled as millennium compliant. The Trade Descriptions Act 1968 makes it a criminal offence to apply false or misleading statements to products.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what sums of money have been invested by the Government since May 1997 in (a) Scotland and (b) the United Kingdom as a whole, into (i) the nuclear industry, (ii) the coal industry, (iii) the oil and gas industries and (iv) the renewable energy industry, in each case including funds for research and development. [65083]

Most of my Department's programme expenditure is in support of national objectives, with expenditure not separately identified for Scotland. Exceptions are DRAWMOPS (decommissioning of nuclear facilities) and nuclear safeguards R&D (although the latter is spent in the UK, its objectives are to provide services for the International Atomic Energy Agency). Between May 1997 and December 1998, programme expenditure in the categories mentioned was as follows (in £ million, includes estimates for Q4 1998):

	Scotland	UK
Nuclear
Fusion	—	23.78
DRAWMOPS	127.94	255.88
Safeguards	0.14	2.05
Coal
Clean coal combustion1	—	4.42
Oil and Gas
Offshore environmental programme	—	0.14
Hydrocarbon Additional Recovery programme	—	5.30
Renewables2	—	15.70
1Other clean coal technology related projects are being supported via the Foresight Challenge competition and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council.
2Support for renewables research via the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council was £4.04 million between May 1997 and December 1998.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the effect on mortality and morbidity rates which would result from annual reductions in emissions of (i) 425,000 tonnes of SO₂, (ii) 137,000 tonnes of NO_x, (iii) 14,000 tonnes of fine particulates and (iv) 6,000 tonnes of black smoke; and what evaluation he has made of the estimates of mortality and morbidity given in quantification of the effects of air pollution on health in the United Kingdom (Committee on the Medical Effects of Air Pollutants, 1998). [65334]

A detailed estimate of the effects of air pollution on health was published in a Report issued last year by the Committee on the Medical Effects of Air Pollutants (COMEAP), Quantification of the Effects of Air Pollution on Health in the United Kingdom. The Committee concluded that current levels of air pollution probably play an important role in bringing forward the deaths of at least between 12,000 and 24,000 vulnerable people each year and a similar number of hospital admissions, though it stressed that air pollution is likely to be one of a number of factors affecting the clinical condition of seriously ill people.The review of the national air quality strategy, as announced by my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister on 13 January 1999,

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research commissioned by his Department has been carried out into attention deficit disorder syndrome in the last three years. [64910]

We fund health and medical research in a number of ways:The Department funds research and development to support its work on policy development and evaluation in health and social care. The Department also manages the National Health Service research and development levy which is used to support research and development of relevance to the National Health Service in hospitals, general practice and other health care settings, and to fund the NHS research and development programme. In addition, the Medical Research Council—which receives most of its income via grant-in-aid from the Office of Science and Technology in the Department of Trade and Industry—funds medical research as part of the Government's funding of the science and engineering base.Details of projects directly funded by the Department or supported through the NHS research and development levy can be found on the National Research Register (NRR). This is available in most medical libraries and in the Library on CD Rom, and on the Internet: http://www.doh.gov.uk/nrr.htm. The NRR also contains many details of projects/trials funded by the MRC and other funders.NHS Executive, South Thames have commissioned a project "Pathways to treatment in children at risk of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder and hyperkinetic disorder" at Kings College Hospital.The MRC supports a number of studies into the causes and treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Current support is centred on cognitive and behavioural strategies carried out at the MRC Child Psychiatry Unit in London. There have also been some recent MRC funded genetics studies carried out at the Institute of Psychiatry and the University of Manchester.The NRR indicates that other NHS trusts are undertaking research in the field.Priorities for Departmental research and development support for the development of policy are determined through discussion with policy colleagues, the Departmental Research Committee and Ministers. In the NHS research and development programme, priorities take account of widespread consultation with those using, delivering and managing services, with a framework overseen by the Central Research and Development Committee for the NHS. In all cases, priorities for our budgets reflect analysis of the burden of disease, potential benefits, Government priorities and take account of the responsibilities and work of other funders.Regional offices of the NHS Executive run response mode funding schemes to which applications of relevance to the NHS can be made. The MRC also always welcomes high quality applications for support into any aspect of human health and these are judged in open competition with other demands on funding. Awards are made by both the NHS and the MRC according to the scientific quality and importance of proposals.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what data his Department have collated with respect to the incidence of autism in children; and if he will list the number of such children in each of the last 20 years. [64912]

The Department does not collate information about the incidence of autism in children. It is for the local statutory authorities to determine the needs of children with autism in their area and work together effectively to ensure that these needs are met.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the timetable is for the development of a National Service framework for the care of older people; and when the consultation will take place. [65324]

The process for the development of the national service framework for the care of older people is already underway, and the framework will be operational from April 2000. Co-chairs of the External Reference Group that will advise the Government on the development of the framework were announced on 21 December 1998 and it is expected that the External Reference Group will be formed within the next month.The External Reference Group will draw on views from all stakeholders in the care of older people throughout the process.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on progress made on the Government's report on the implementation of the United Nations convention on children's rights; and if he will make a statement. [65255]

The Government have been making good progress with the preparation of the Second United Kingdom report on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. The process was launched in February 1998 with a national conference in London which discussed key timetable and procedural requirements. Reports from across Government Departments and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) were assembled into a consultative draft which was circulated to NGOs in November. In addition, the Government have been greatly assisted by an advisory group which has included NGOs from across the UK. Ministers will be considering the final draft of the UK report in the New Year and it is expected to be sent to the Committee on Children in Geneva in March 1999 and published shortly thereafter in the UK.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the role of (a) children's rights commissioners, (b) children's ombudspersons and (c) independent officers for children in other European countries; and if he will publish the results. [65256]

We have recently made a number of announcements which take into account the recommendations of the Health Select Committee on Children Looked After by Local Authorities (July 1998) and the Children's Safeguards Review (1997). In the White Paper on Social Services (November 1998) and the Government response to the Health Select Committee (December 1998), we made commitments to introduce new mechanisms which will enable it and other responsible agencies to keep issues of children's rights and safeguards under careful scrutiny. These include establishing children's rights officers in each of the eight Commissions for Care Standards; periodic joint reporting from all the inspectorates dedicated exclusively to children; and continuing the work of the ministerial task force on children's safeguards. In addition, work on listening to and responding to the views and aspirations of children is a priority area for grant to local authorities within the quality protects programme.These announcements were made having taken into account information on the 10 or so other countries known to have national Children's Rights Commissioner or posts with similar titles. We are not in present circumstances persuaded that it would be desirable to create such a national mechanism additional to the roles of the courts, the police and the prosecuting authorities, the various Commissions (Parliamentary, Health and local government) which already exist, the responsibilities of local and health authorities to deal with complaints and the various inspection and regulatory arrangements for ensuring that safeguards for children are properly implemented, and that their voices are heard.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many asylum seekers have required treatment for (a) nutritional disease, (b) psychological illnesses and (c) AIDS-related illnesses in the last three years; [65470](2) what has been the cost to the NHS of treating asylum seekers in each of the last three years [65469]

National Health Service hospital treatment, received by a patient who has made a formal application to the Government for permission to take refuge in the United Kingdom, is the responsibility of the health authority for the district in which they are residing. Details on the types of treatment required, the numbers and the total cost to the NHS of such patients is not held centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to make a decision on the proposal to merge the South Bedfordshire Community Health Care Trust and the Bedford and Shires Health Care Trust; and if he will make a statement. [65516]

The submission is currently with Ministers and a decision will be announced shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people in the United Kingdom suffer from (a) anglusia, (b) anosmia, and (c) both anglusia and anosmia; what research his Department (i) is conducting and (ii) has commissioned into the (A) cause and (B) treatment of these problems; and if loss of these senses is defined by his Department as a disability. [65619]

The National Health Service does not collect centrally the numbers of people suffering from anglusia (we believe this is an incorrect name for a disease resulting in loss of smell) and anosmia, and is not currently commissioning any research in this area.The Disability Discrimination Act 1995 defines a disability as

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if the draft Statutory Instrument published on 6 November by the Medicines Control Agency in Consultation Document MLX 249 was at that time circulated to right hon. and hon. Members; if he approved that draft Statutory Instrument; and if it is the intention of the Agency to seek implementation of that draft Statutory Instrument by 1 April. [65722]

As is the usual practice, copies of the Medicines Control Agency's Consultation Letter MLX 249 were placed in the Library. We will decide in due course whether and when legislative proposals are to be brought before the House.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what delegations have been made in 1998 under the Civil Service (Management Functions) Act 1992; to whom those delegations were made; and what were the main conditions attached to them. [66129]

Since the last report to Parliament, on 13 January 1998, Official Report, column 162, Ministers and statutory office holders in charge of departments¹ have been given delegated authority (from 1 April 1998) under the Civil Service (Management Functions) Act 1992 to determine in respect of home civil servants in their respective departments the recruitment standards for health and coping with the demands of the job.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the proliferation risks posed by the use of plutonium-mixed-oxide based nuclear fuels. [64816]

I have been asked to reply.I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, on 2 December 1997,

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what prices were accepted by his Department for the British Ambassador's residence and associated property which were for sale by public tender on 2 December. [65683]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 14 December 1998, Official Report, column 403, in respect of the sale of the Glencairn Estate in Dublin. Tenders have now been evaluated, but we have not yet closed the sale. Even when we do, it is not our policy to reveal details of price and other terms agreed in such transactions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the human rights implications of the trial of Hilary Boma and Lino Sebit in Sudan; and if he will make a statement. [64841]

There have been a number of disturbing allegations about the trial of those people charged with plotting and carrying out the bombings in Khartoum in June 1998. We have raised these with the Sudanese authorities in Khartoum and in London.At the end of December, the Constitutional Circle of the Sudanese High Court ruled that the trial of 20 defendants, including the two Catholic priests Hilary Boma and Lino Sebit, be suspended while the High Court considers an appeal challenging the legality of the defendants being tried before a military court.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the situation in Sierra Leone. [65699]

We are very concerned by the current situation in Sierra Leone. The democratically elected government remains under direct threat from a strong rebel force. We are closely monitoring the humanitarian situation. We fully support the democratically elected government of Sierra Leone; and the efforts of the Military Observer Group of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOMOG) to restore peace and security. We are providing £3 million worth of direct logistic assistance to ECOMOG and the Government of Sierra Leone. HMS Norfolk, a Type 23 frigate, has been instructed to move to the region as a precautionary measure. We are monitoring events in Sierra Leone carefully. We are in close touch with the United Nations and others about the situation on the ground.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps have been taken by the Government to publicise the legal position on the supply of arms to Sierra Leone since the publication of the Legg report; and if he will make a statement. [65704]

Following the adoption by the Security Council on 5 June 1998 of a new resolution on the supply of arms to Sierra Leone, my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary issued a press statement welcoming its adoption. On 16 June 1998 I described the content of the resolution in my written answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Bolton, North-East (Mr. Crausby), Official Report, column 199, drawing attention to the fact that the resolution would ensure that the arms embargo on Sierra Leone applied to non-governmental forces but made explicit exemption for ECOMOG and the United Nations. I also explained that Orders in Council were being prepared to give full effect to the resolution in UK law.In addition to my right hon. Friend's press statement the FCO News Department briefed the media extensively on the details of the resolution both before and after its adoption. In addition a telegram issued on 23 July informing all FCO and Whitehall Departments, and posts overseas, of the scope and implications of the provisions of the Orders in Council.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on reports that information obtained by UNSCOM inspectors in Iraq was made available to the United States Government; if any such information was made available to Her Majesty's Government; what inquiries he has made into such reports; and what discussions he has had with the US Government concerning these reports. [65696]

Both the UK and US Governments have made clear that all information exchanges between themselves and UNSCOM have been strictly in pursuit of UNSCOM' s mandate to dismantle Iraq's Weapons of Mass Destruction capability.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the situation in Iraq. [65697]

We are currently considering ideas with friends and allies for a way forward on Iraq. Discussions in the Security Council are focusing on disarmament questions and the humanitarian situation in Iraq. We are also looking with EU partners at proposals for alleviating the suffering to which Saddam Hussein continues to subject the Iraqi people.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what evidence he has obtained of British companies supplying weapons to (a) the Congo, (b) Uganda and (c) Liberia; and if he will make a statement; [65698](2) what evidence he has obtained of possible breaches of the UN embargo on arms supplies to Sierra Leone; what investigation he has ordered into reports of such breaches; and if he will make a statement; [65703](3) what evidence he has obtained of British companies supplying weapons to Sierra Leone; what investigation he has ordered into reports of such supplies; and if he will make a statement. [65702]

A recent newspaper article alleged that two British companies may have been involved in supplying arms to Sierra Leone, via the Gambia and Liberia, in breach of the UN arms embargo. The article also alleged that one of the companies may have delivered arms to the DRC via Uganda and Rwanda. The FCO have drawn these allegations to the attention of Customs and Excise who are responsible for the investigation and prosecution of any alleged breaches of UK legislation implementing arms embargoes.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the situation in Kosovo. [65682]

The OSCE-led Kosovo Verification Mission (KVM) has already demonstrated its ability to make real difference to the situation on the ground by negotiating local ceasefires in Podujevo during the Christmas weekend and playing an instrumental role in negotiations concerning the release of 8 Yugoslav soldiers seized by the UCK on 8 January. There are currently 745 KVM personnel on the ground in Kosovo, 110 of whom are British.It is crucial that the ceasefire be maintained. We are concerned at the rising tensions in recent weeks, with provocations from both sides. We have called on both sides to show restraint and pursue their objectives through negotiations.The UK is pressing for rapid progress on the political track which alone can tackle the roots of the problem, and fully supports the efforts of US Envoy Ambassador Chris Hill and EU Special Envoy Ambassador Petritsch. This is not a conflict which either side can win militarily, and now above all is the time for the Government in Belgrade and the leaders of the Kosovo Albanians to show the courage and vision to engage seriously in negotiations with direct international involvement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on his plans for the future of the teaching profession. [64049]