To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will name the officers and staff in Land Command who recommended the transfer of HQ 101 Battalion REME from Chorley to Queensferry. [65025]

It is not our practice to identify individual officials in this way under Exemption 2 (Internal discussion and advice) of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many officer vacancies exist in 101 Battalion REME in Chorley; and if he will estimate the number of officer posts in 101 Battalion REME that are likely to become vacant during 1999. [65022]

There are currently no officer vacancies at 101 Battalion REME in Chorley. It is not possible to gauge the number of officer posts in 101 Battalion REME that may become vacant in 1999, but we expect to have no difficulty achieving full staffing.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will refer back to Commander in Chief Land Command the decision to transfer HQ 101 Battalion REME from Chorley to Queensferry. [65020]

I am satisfied that the advice that Land Command provided Ministers to inform their decision on the transfer of Headquarters 101 Battalion REME from Chorley to Queensferry was sound.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many technical support personnel are required to support the deployment away from existing RAF bases of flights of four or eight Tornado aircraft; and how many will be required for similar flights of Eurofighter aircraft. [65754]

The number of technical support personnel deployed to support four or eight Tornado aircraft is dependent on several factors, including the operational requirement, the flying task, the number of hours to be worked in any one day and the amount of support available from the Host Nation. However, a flight of four or eight aircraft would be likely to generate a minimum of 82 and 144 technical support personnel respectively. An exact assessment of the numbers of technical support personnel required for Eurofighter has yet to be carried out, but preliminary studies indicate that approximately the same number of personnel will be required.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many technical support personnel are required to support the deployment away from existing RAF bases of flights of four or eight Jaguar aircraft. [66177]

The number of technical support personnel deployed to support four or eight Jaguar aircraft is dependent on several factors, including the operational requirement, the flying task, the number of hours to be worked in any one day and the amount of support available from the Host Nation. However, a flight of four or eight aircraft would be likely to generate a minimum of 65 and 110 technical support personnel respectively.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the forecast service life of (a) Eurofighter and (b) Jaguar aircraft engines. [65732]

The forecast service life of the Eurofighter engine will be aligned to the predicted life of the whole aircraft, which is 25 years or 6,000 flying hours.The Jaguar aircraft entered RAF service in 1973. On current plans, the Jaguar fleet, including the engines, will leave service in the later part of the next decade.Modern aircraft engines are of modular design. Each module has an approved life and may be replaced during the life of the whole engine in accordance with established maintenance policy.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the forecast service life of (a) Harrier GR7 and (b) Jaguar aircraft airframes. [65731]

The Harrier GR7 aircraft entered RAF service in 1987. On current plans, the Harrier GR7 fleet will achieve a service life of some 30 years.The Jaguar aircraft entered RAF service in 1973. On current plans, the Jaguar fleet will leave service in the later part of the next decade.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what service life has been achieved to date and what is forecast for Canberra aircraft in service with the RAF. [65733]

The RAF Canberra fleet comprises two marks of the aircraft, the T4 and the PR9. The T4s entered service between 1954 and 1955 and have served some 44 years. The PR9s entered service between 1959 and 1960 and have served some 39 years. On current plans, the Canberra fleet will leave service in the early part of the next decade.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the interval between major refits for HMS Ark Royal. [65730]

The first refit of HMS Ark Royal has not yet taken place.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the forecast service life of each of the three aircraft carriers in service with the Royal Navy; and what will be the (a) design life and (b) design interval between major refits of the proposed replacement carriers. [65910]

The forecast service life for HMS Invincible, HMS Illustrious and HMS Ark Royal is approximately 30 years. We plan to replace these carriers from around 2012 with two new, larger vessels. The planned service life of the new ships is a minimum of 30 years. The new carriers will not undergo lengthy major refits in the traditional sense, but will instead undergo shorter, but more frequent periods of maintenance lasting about six months every five or six years.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the average time between major refits for (a) Type 22 and (b) Type 23 ships. [65753]

Typically, the average time between major refits for RN Frigates and Destroyers is in excess of 7 years.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the intended strategic purpose of the surveillance towers on hilltop sites in the South Armagh area; and what factors would be taken into account in a review of these towers. [65998]

The primary function of the towers on hilltop sites is to protect Security Force bases in the South Armagh area and patrols conducted from them. As with all military establishments in Northern Ireland, the requirement for the towers is kept under continuous review to ensure the level of support provided to the RUC is consistent with the prevailing security situation and the assessment of the threat posed by terrorist organisations.

To ask the Prime Minister (1) if he will list the assumed or equivalent civil service grades of each of the special advisers employed in his Office; [65915](2) pursuant to his answer of 15 December 1998,

Special Advisers are employed under terms and conditions set out in the Model Contract for Special Advisers. Special Advisers stand outside the departmental hierarchy and do not equate to particular civil service grades.

To ask the Prime Minister what assessment he made of the extent to which there was a conflict of interest in the former Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, the right hon. Member for Hartlepool (Mr. Mandelson), having a loan from the hon. Member for Coventry, North-West (Mr. Robinson) at a time when the right hon. Gentleman's Department was investigating the business affairs of the hon. Member. [66456]

[holding answer 18 January 1999]: Since the former Secretary of State was not involved in the Department of Trade and Industry's inquiries into certain allegations relating to companies with which my hon. Friend the Member for Coventry, North-West (Mr. Robinson) had been involved, I am satisfied that no conflict of interest existed.

To ask the Prime Minister what is the current composition of the Ministerial Group on the Restructuring of the European Aerospace and Defence Industry (MISC 5). [66847]

As the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry may have to take decisions under the competition legislation on the proposed merger which BAe and GEC have announced in principle, I have decided that, while these issues are under consideration, it would be preferable for the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry not to participate in the work of MISC 5 in order to avoid any risk of it appearing that he had prejudged the issues involved. I have therefore appointed the Secretary of State for Defence as the Chairman of the Ministerial Group. The DTI will continue to be represented by the Minister for Energy and Industry.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the draft concordats drawn up to govern relations between the Government and the Executives of (a) the Scottish Parliament and (b) the National Assembly for Wales. [66189]

Work is progressing on concordats both within the Scottish and Welsh Offices and in Whitehall Departments, as it is of course in Northern Ireland as well. None of them have yet been published.

To ask the Prime Minister what consultations he had with (a) leaders of the British Muslim community and (b) British Muslim academics before endorsing the bombing of Iraq. [65393]

The Government make every effort to ensure that they are aware of the views of the British Muslim community and that their policies are understood by that community. My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary met members of the Muslim press before and after Operation Desert Fox, and gave an address to the Muslim Council of Britain. The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, my right hon. Friend for Leeds, Central (Mr. Fatchett) also holds regular meetings with representatives of the Muslim community at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 12 January 1999, Official Report, column 143, concerning military action against Iraq, by whom the reasons are well understood. [66493]

I was referring to our European Union partners in my answer of 12 January. They know why we took military action against Iraq because we have briefed them fully on our reasons for doing so.

To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his oral answer of 16 December 1998, Official Report, column 962, what steps he plans to take to reduce the discarding of edible fish under the quota system. [66114]

Government policies which will reduce discarding of edible fish include reducing fishing effort, improving the selectivity of fishing gear and introducing fixed quota allocations.

To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his oral answer of 16 December 1998, Official Report, column 962, what steps he plans to take with other European countries to reform the Common Fisheries Policy; and if he will make a statement. [66113]

The Government will continue to work with other Member States and the European Commission to achieve more effective and consistent enforcement of fisheries rules across the Community; integrate environmental considerations more fully into the Common Fisheries Policy to make it a more effective instrument for conserving fish stocks and the wider marine environment; apply structural and conservation measures in a way that achieves a sustainable future for the fishing industry; and improve the regional dimension of the CFP so that it is more sensitive to local differences.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what responses he has received to the draft Financial Services and Markets Bill; and if he will make a statement. [66812]

The response to publication of the draft Bill in July 1998 showed strong support for the creation of a single statutory regulator. There is widespread interest in ensuring that the Financial Services Authority continues to operate a fair, open and accountable manner. The Government intend to clarify and, where necessary, to amend the Bill to meet valid concerns raised on consultation and in response to the current inquiry by the Treasury Committee and the intended pre-legislative scrutiny by a Joint Committee of both Houses.In the meantime, we have decided to strengthen further the openness and accountability of the new regulatory regime. We intend to include in the Bill a statutory requirement for the FSA to establish practitioner and consumer panels, underpinning the arrangements the FSA has already put in place. We also intend to include in the Bill a requirement for the FSA to hold an annual open meeting at which the Chairman and others can be questioned on the FSA's policy and performance. The Bill will also include a requirement that the non-executive members should form a majority on the FSA Board.The statutory requirements in the draft Bill for the FSA to consult on rules will be improved and will include a requirement that proposed rules and rule changes be accompanied by an explanation of how they relate to the FSA's objectives. The consultation requirements will also be extended so as to apply to standing guidance of general application.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) when he was first informed of the loan by the previous Paymaster General to the previous Secretary of State for Trade and Industry; [66457](2) if he will list the Ministers and officials in his Department with whom he discussed the loan by the previous Paymaster General to the previous Secretary of State for Trade and Industry and the dates on which he had such discussions; [66461](3) what discussions he had about the loan by the previous Paymaster General to the previous Secretary of State for Trade and Industry with the Prime Minister; and on what date he first had such discussions; [66459](4) what discussions he had about the loan by the previous Paymaster General to the previous Secretary of State for Trade and Industry with his adviser, Mr. Charlie Whelan; and on what date he first had such discussions. [66458]

[holding answer 18 January 1999]: This was and is a matter involving the former Paymaster General and the former Secretary of State for Trade and Industry. It is not a matter for Treasury Ministers.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what matters or correspondence involving building societies were dealt with by the previous Paymaster General between 1 May 1997 and the date of his resignation. [66445]

The previous Paymaster General had no ministerial responsibility for building societies.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what contact he has had with the Inland Revenue regarding the taxation position of the hon. Member for Coventry, North-West (Mr. Robinson), the hon. Member's business interests and those offshore trusts connected with the hon. Member. [66446]

Treasury Ministers have no ministerial responsibility for or involvement in the tax affairs of individuals.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make it his policy to disclose what financial support he has received since 1 May 1997 for the development of his economic policies and the sources of that financial support. [66448]

My policy is to act in accordance with the Ministerial Code and with the House of Commons rules for registration of interests.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the appointments of officials to the National Assembly made to date; and if he will estimate, in each case, their annual cost. [64503]

In preparation for the National Assembly for Wales, the following appointments have been made to the Office of the Presiding Officer and the Executive Secretariat of the Assembly.

	Pay band £
Counsel General	77,840–113,680
Office of the Presiding Officer
Senior Director Assembly Business	71,250–107,300
Director, Assembly Business (and project manager for the establishment of the Office of the Presiding Officer	54,230–90,400
Assistant Director, Public and Research Services	40,420–63,490
Chief Translator	27,043–41,935
Deputy Head Translation Services (Interpretation)	20,723–31,978
Executive Secretariat
Head of Executive Secretariat	40,420–63,490
Implementation Unit
2 x Pay Band F (G7)	27,043–41,935
2 x Pay Band D (HEO)	15,990–24,464
3 x Pay Band C (EO)	12,240–18,360
2 x Pay Band B (AO and PS)	9,536–13,700

The full year costs of the Implementation Unit would be £215,400 based on the 1998–99 projected average grade costs. The unit has a limited life span and will exist for 6 months.A number of further appointments, for example for translators and for general administrative staff, are currently in train.All of these costs are included in the estimated additional running costs.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what his estimate is of (a) the number of people who will be employed by the National Assembly and (b) the total cost of their employment to public funds. [64529]

The bulk of the existing staff of the Welsh Office will transfer to work for the Assembly but the Assembly will require more staff than those currently employed in the Welsh Office; the Explanatory & Financial Memorandum to the Government of Wales Bill estimated the number at about 100. The annual additional running costs of the Assembly have been estimated as £15 million to £20 million more than the costs of running the Welsh Office, which are currently some £70 million. These additional costs include the pay and allowances of Assembly members and the accommodation and information technology requirements of members and staff as well as the additional staff costs.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if the arrangement originally entered into by the Welsh Office for the lease of Crickhowell House, Cardiff, were in line with Treasury rules for the leasing of such property; what study was undertaken of comparable buildings in the area; and what rents were sought for leases of such alternative options. [65282]

A copy of the option appraisal prepared by Welsh Health Common Services Authority (WHCSA) in respect of moving to new accommodation on a single site was submitted by the Department to Treasury for approval on 17 May 1991. Treasury advised that there were no objections to the proposed option provided that the Department's Accounting Officer was satisfied that taking into account all elements of the appraisal, financial and non-financial, the option represented the best value for money.Eight developers with 11 sites were approached in January 1991 and seven of these made outline proposals. Refinements of the brief and the proposals led to a short list of three by June 1991. Of the three proposals, one was eliminated for financial reasons, and 2 were broadly similar. Having taken independent legal and property advice and having considered rents and other financial aspects, WHCSA's Board recommended the Grovesnor Waterside bid for providing leased accommodation at Crickhowell House.I have asked the Chief Executive of WHCSA to send the right hon. Member a copy of the post project evaluation report prepared by the Authority.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the members of the European Objective I Task Force and the organisation or councils they represent. [65413]

The Wales European Task Force, which was set up to look at the use of Structural Funds across all of Wales, consists of the major social and economic partner organisations with an interest in economic development. Except where indicated membership is for organisations, not individuals. The membership is as below:

• WDA
• WLGA
• Council of Welsh TECs
• Heads of Higher Education institutions in Wales
• Fforwm
• Welsh Council for Voluntary Action
• TUC
• CBI
• Federation of Small Businesses
• Equal Opportunities Commission
• Wales Tourist Board
• National Farmers' Union
• Farmers Union of Wales
• Countryside Council for Wales
• Mr. Hywel Ceri Jones
• Wayne David MEP (representing all Welsh MEPs)
• The Four Regional Economic Fora
• The Environment Agency.

This membership may be varied as the work of this task force moves forward.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the use of private jets by ministers in his Department since 2 May 1997. [65673]

As part of visits to British Aerospace the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, my hon. Friend the Member for Neath (Mr. Hain), joined the company's regular shuttle services between Filton, Hawarden and Toulouse. These flights were at no cost to the Department and were not in place of scheduled flights. Private jets have not been used by Welsh Office Ministers on any other occasion since 2 May 1997.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what initiatives he proposes in his policies for long-stay care hospitals. [66034]

Many long stay units are small, modern or updated facilities which have a clear, locally agreed, role and these will continue. The remaining large mental and learning disability hospitals will be closed as and when resources allow but only when there are facilities in place to deliver a safe and effective service.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on nurses' pay. [66030]

The Review body for Nursing Staff, Midwives and Health Visitors which considers nurses pay has recently submitted its report to the Prime Minister. A decision on its recommendations is likely to be announced shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what new money is scheduled for the NHS in the forthcoming financial year; and if he will make a statement. [66032]

The Comprehensive Spending Review provided an additional £175 million to NHS Wales in 1999–2000 bringing total provision to £2,654.9 million. This represented a 7.1 per cent. increase on 1998–99 provision.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the estimated annual cost of the proposal to allow unlimited free public transport in Wales to people of pensionable age; from what sources those costs would be met; and if he will make a statement. [65907]

I am consulting local authorities and bus operators on how best to move to free concessionary bus travel for pensioners, which I expect to see phased in over the next two to three years. Until this work has been completed it is not possible to put a precise figure on the cost of the proposal. The method of funding the additional costs will be a matter for the National Assembly to determine.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many (a) starts and (b) completions of Housing Association homes there have been in Flintshire in each of the past three years; and if he will make a statement. [66418]

Starts and completions achieved by Housing Associations in the last three financial years are as follows:

	1997–98	1996–97	1995–96
Starts
Flintshire	145	118	207
Wales	2,468	3,200	3,688
Completions
Flintshire	90	213	250
Wales	2,989	3,717	3,799

Over this period Flintshire has received approximately 5 per cent. of the Housing Association programme in Wales. Resources have been made available to Housing Associations in Flintshire to achieve a similar outcome in financial year 1998–99.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales in what ways he plans to assist Flintshire County Council to repair and modernise its housing stock; and if he will make a statement. [66416]

Flintshire County Council's Basic Credit approval (BCA) for 1999–2000 is £8.833 million. It is for the Council to decide on the capital expenditure that it wishes to support from its BCA, including housing. In addition to the BCA supplementary Credit Approvals (SCAs) of £100 million are also available to local authorities in Wales to support strategic housing projects. All local authorities have been invited to submit proposals by the end of January for the use of those SCAs.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to increase the diversity of job opportunities outside the M4 and A55 corridors. [66398]

Increasing job opportunities and spreading economic prosperity to all parts of Wales is a key objective for the Government. It is being pursued through the Strategic Guidance to the WDA and will be fundamental to the aims of the National Development Strategy covering EC Structural Funds, currently being prepared by the European Task Force.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will respond to the Motor Neurone Disease Association's report on the effect of the Benefit Integrity Project on people with Motor Neurone Disease. [65591]

I responded to the Motor Neurone Disease (MND) Association on 19 January 1999.The Benefit Integrity Project (BIP) has been subject to continuous review and prior to the Association's report being published in November 1998, significant improvements had been made to the way in which the BIP operated. Since 5 October, people with MND who are receiving the higher rate of mobility component together with the highest rate of the care component of Disability Living Allowance were exempt from the operation of the Project.We plan that BIP should be replaced by a new system of review which is part of the routine administration of the benefit and which is both sensitive and fair. We are currently discussing our proposals with the Disability Benefits Forum.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Maidenhead (Mrs. May) of 1 December 1998, Official Report, columns 145–47, on the Benefit Integrity Project, what estimates his Department made of the level of successful reviews and appeals following decisions made by the Benefit Integrity Project, when calculating estimated benefit savings; and what plans his Department has to revise the current estimate for benefit savings to reflect the latest statistics on appeals against decisions made under the Benefit Integrity Project. [66413]

The most recent estimate of benefit savings from the Benefit Integrity Project is £8 million for 1997–98, £30 million for 1998–99 and £35 million for 1999–2000. A further estimate of the savings attributable to this Project will be calculated when it ceases.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if recipients of Severe Disablement Allowance will be compelled to attend work-focused job interviews through the Single Gateway to Work. [66245]

Through the Single Work-Focused Gateway we want to offer help to the widest range of people possible—no one should be denied the offer of help and assistance.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on the responses to the consultation document on disability benefits. [66708]

Consultation on our proposals for the reform of benefits for disabled people ended on 8 January and 342 responses have been received. Just over half came from organisations representing disabled people, at both national and local level, from local authorities, and from the insurance industry. Most of the remaining responses came from individuals. Nearly 50 hon. Members submitted responses, many from their constituents. The All Party Disablement Group also submitted a response. We thank hon. Members and all those who took the time and trouble to respond to the consultation document and can assure them that we are studying the responses carefully.A list of the organisations who responded has been placed in the Library. Copies of the list and copies of specific responses are available, excluding those that requested confidentiality, on request from the Disability Benefits Consultation Team, Department of Social Security, 6th Floor, The Adelphi, 1–11 John Adam Street, London WC2N 6HT.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what rules or guidance his Department has to govern the (a) formal and (b) informal interaction between his civil servants and commercial lobbyists. [66217]

I refer my hon. Friend to the written answer from my right hon. Friend, the Prime Minister to my hon. Friend the Member for Pendle (Mr. Prentice) on 27 July 1998, Official Report, column 4.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on the services that will be available to a disabled person attending an interview through the Single Work-focused Gateway announced on 13 January; and how these differ from those under the Single Gateway to Work announced in "A New Contract for Welfare: The Gateway to Work" (Cm 4102). [66200]

For clients of working age accessing the benefit system, including people with disabilities, the work focused interview with a personal adviser will consist of an in-depth investigation of individual needs and an exploration of ways to overcome any barriers that prevent participation in the labour market. The adviser will access information on a wide range of options available locally and provide a personalised calculation of potential in-work income. The aim will be to draw up and agree a tailor-made plan of steps which the individual can take.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many people have entered the New Deal Gateway in the Hart district council area since its inception; and how many took up each New Deal option. [65296]

It is not possible to provide separate figures for individual towns or council areas.The latest Government Statistical Service figures for the Guildford Unit of Delivery, which covers Hart, show that to the end of October 1998 (a) 461 young people had entered the Gateway and 126 have secured unsubsidised employment; (b) 69 had joined one of the four options: 14 on the Employment option; 9 on the Voluntary Sector option; 3 on the Environment Task Force; and 43 on the Full-Time Education and Training option. 150 young people were on the Gateway, 22 had left New Deal to claim other benefits, 19 had gone to other known destinations and 75 had gone to unknown destinations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many job centres are fully accessible for the disabled; and what percentage have the equipment and trained staff to offer a gateway interview to disabled people. [65086]

Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Employment Service Agency under its Chief Executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department for what reasons the courts and other authorities are not able to take action when one parent takes unilateral action in preventing the other parent from having contact with their child. [65880]

Contact arrangements normally work best when both parents are willing to co-operate, and in approaching the enforcement of contact orders the courts will seek to secure this. But the courts can, and will, enforce orders granting a parent contact with a child, including imprisonment as a last resort. Courts take their decisions in the best interests of the child and in the light of all the evidence and the particular circumstances of each case.

To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department what powers he has to reduce the closure period of official decennial census records; what representations he has received requesting the reduction of the closure period of official decennial census records; and if he will instruct the Public Record Office to reduce the closure period of official decennial census records to 75 years. [65913]

The Lord Chancellor has powers under section 5(1) of the Public Records Act 1958 to reduce the closure period of official records with the approval, or at the request, of the Minister primarily concerned.The Lord Chancellor has received a number of representations from family historians requesting a reduction in the closure period of official decennial census records.The Lord Chancellor does not intend to change the existing closure period, which corresponds to the guidelines established in the White Paper

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what estimate his Department has made of the total cost of introducing retrospective changes to the superannuation scheme for civil servants so as to ensure that former and current civil servants are granted pension entitlements for the years they were designated as having permanent unestablished status solely on the basis of a hearing impairment. [65268]

No estimate has been made of these costs (or of extending any concession to the large numbers of civil servants who in other circumstances did not qualify for a pension). I am afraid that I can hold out no hope of any relevant improvement in the statutory provisions. In superannuation matters, it is rarely, if ever, possible to make changes with retrospective effect.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what estimate his Department has made of the total number of civil servants who have not yet reached retirement age who have at some point in their career been given permanent unestablished status solely on the grounds of a hearing impediment. [65267]

The distinction between established and unestablished service disappeared in 1972 when a new pension scheme was introduced. Staff serving in an unestablished capacity, including those on permanent unestablished terms, were admitted to the scheme. Their earlier unestablished service then became pensionable. There are no centrally held records of the numbers of staff serving in a permanent unestablished capacity who resigned before this change was made and who subsequently returned to the Civil Service.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what controls are used to assess (a) competitiveness and (b) relative costs, and what measures he takes to limit those costs when purchasing printed matter from The Stationery Office. [66093]

The Cabinet Office seeks to achieve best value for money from all of its purchasing activities whether it is buying printed matter or other goods and services.Cabinet Office Print Procurement arrangements are currently handled via the Central Office of Information which places work with suppliers who have been appointed after competition and in accordance with EC Public Procurement regulations. The Stationery Office Ltd. is just one of those suppliers and is only used when it is able to provide the most cost-effective solution.In addition, the Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office, acting in her capacity as Queen's Printer, has a number of Print and Publishing contracts with The Stationery Office Ltd. These cover the "Civil Service Year Book", Acts of Parliament, Measures of the Synod of the Church of England, Statutory Instruments, Statutory Rules of Northern Ireland, Command Papers, and the

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what rules or guidance his Department has to govern the (a) formal and (b) informal interaction between his civil servants and commercial lobbyists. [66205]

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by the Prime Minister to my hon. Friend the Member for Pendle (Mr. Prentice) on 27 July 1998, Official Report, column 4.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many staff are employed by the Scottish Office, the Scottish Sports Council, the Scottish Arts Council and other public bodies in connection with administration of the National Lottery; and what are the annual costs involved in administering and allocating grants within Scotland under the various National Lottery schemes. [63855]

[holding answer 15 December 1998]: The number of staff employed and the annual costs involved in connection with the administration of the National Lottery are as follows:

	Number of staff	£
The Scottish Office	11.5	50,000
Scottish Arts Council	135	21,908,000
Scottish Sports Council	135	21,206,647
1Staff numbers are full time equivalent. The numbers of staff involved in Lottery issues fluctuate throughout the year.
2Figures relate to 1997–98.

The Millennium Commission, the National Heritage Memorial Fund and the National Lottery Charities Board also distribute Lottery funds in Scotland. These bodies operate on a UK-wide basis. It is not possible to estimate precisely the numbers of staff or administration costs associated with their work in Scotland.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish the report of the Prison Service Race Relations Group. [66707]

A copy of the eighth report of the Prison Service Race Relations Group to the Prisons Board has been placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many hours a week are spent by prisoners at Thorn Cross Young Offenders Institution, Cheshire, on education, community work, preparation for employment and work to change offending behaviour; and how this compares with time spent on similar activities at other young offenders institutions. [66248]

The Prison Service does not record separately the time spent on all of the activities listed.For the financial year 1998–99 to the end of December, the average weekly time spent in education by prisoners at Thorn Cross was 13.2 hours. This compares with an average across all young offender institutions of 5.9 hours.This includes daytime education, vocational training courses, construction and industrial training courses and evening education classes.The average weekly time spent on total purposeful activities at Thorn Cross for the same period was 49.3 hours. The average for all young offender institutions was 22.0 hours.Total purposeful activity includes education, training, employment in prisoner enterprise service workshops, employment in prison farms, gardens, kitchens and messes, cleaning and domestic work in the prison, resettlement and rehabilitation activity and physical education.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average cost for each place on the high-intensity training pilot scheme at Thorn Cross Young Offenders Institution, Cheshire. [66250]

£22,700 per year.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average weekly cost of keeping a prisoner at a young offenders' institution. [66244]

The Prison Service Annual Report and Accounts, copies of which are in the Library, provide information on the average annual cost per place by establishment type, however, this includes establishment costs only and excludes Prison Service headquarters overheads. The average annual net operating cost per place in a young offender institution for 1997–98 was £18,400.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what basis prisoners are selected for a place on the high-intensity training pilot scheme at Thorn Cross Young Offenders Institution, Cheshire. [66249]

Young offenders are considered on the basis of applications made by the young offender himself or on the recommendation of his probation officer, personal officer, court or family. Applicants must be category D prisoners suitable for open conditions. Those serving sentences for sexual offences, offences against children or offences involving serious violence are not eligible. Applicants must have a sufficient period of their sentence remaining to enable them to complete the course before release. Those applicants who meet these criteria are interviewed and assessed by a team of staff from Thorn Cross, which includes a psychologist, to identify those with the greatest potential to benefit from the high-intensity training scheme.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the letter of 20 September to the hon. Member for Linlithgow, what he has done to keep under review the possible use of cellphone jammers to disrupt criminal activity. [65396]

The Home Office is looking at these devices to determine their suitability for police use.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the (a) target time and (b) average actual time between applications for renewal of visas and decisions for nationals of (i) Bahrain and (ii) China currently in the United Kingdom. [65755]

2,280 applications for further leave to remain by nationals of Bahrain and of China were decided in the public enquiry offices on the day of application in 1998; and 1,260 postal applications were decided within 16–17 weeks in respect of both nationalities. We aim to decide all applications in the shortest possible time.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which department of Government have responsibility for keeping the UK State of Emergency regulations under review; when the last review was made; if he will undertake his own departmental review of the regulations; and if this matter has been included in the general review of international obligations announced on 3 July 1997. [65999]

The Home Office has overall responsibility for any emergency regulations that might be made under the powers contained in the Emergency Powers Act 1920. However, as the Act covers a wide range of subjects, a number of other Departments might also be involved if regulations were needed.A review of the potential requirements was carried out in 1995. A fresh review involving departments generally, which includes considering Millennium related issues, is in progress. Until a situation requiring the use of emergency powers arose, any link with international obligations would be hypothetical.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what date findings of the police investigation into the shooting on 23 September 1996 of Diarmuid O'Neill were received by (a) the Police Complaints Authority, (b) the Crown Prosecution Service and (c) Her Majesty's Coroner; and what decisions have been made by each of these bodies concerning criminal or disciplinary action. [66085]

The Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police tells me that the police investigation report was sent to the Police Complaints Authority (PCA) on 2 November, and to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and Her Majesty's Coroner on 20 November.As at 18 January, no decisions had been taken in relation to criminal action by the CPS, or to disciplinary action by the PCA, with the Metropolitan Police. Her Majesty's Coroner has no role in relation to such action.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list for each other European Union country, how many asylum seekers have been accepted in each of the last two years. [66112]

The most recent available information, for 1995 and 1996, is given in the table. This was taken from the report of the Secretariat of the Inter-Governmental Consultation on Asylum, Refugee and Migration Policies in Europe, North America and Australia, entitled "Report on Asylum Procedures—September 1997". No figures were published for Austria, Greece, Ireland, Luxembourg or Portugal.

Cases recognised as refugees and granted asylum in countries in the European Union, 1995 and 1996
Country	1995	1996
Belgium	604	313
Denmark	4,810	1,214
Finland	4	11
France	4,742	4,344
Germany	23,468	24,000
Italy	287	157
Netherlands	7,980	8,806
Spain	464	n/a
Sweden	8,460	130

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers have been allowed into the United Kingdom in the last two years; and from which countries they came. [66115]

The information is given in the table.

Table 1: Applications1for asylum, received in the UK, excluding dependants, by nationality and location where made, 1997 and January to November 1998
	Number of principal applicants (Total)
Europe
Bulgaria	700
Cyprus	580
Poland	1,880
Romania	1,450
Former USSR	4,535
Turkey	3,215
Former Yugoslavia	9,430
Others	3,175
Total	24,970
Americas
Colombia	1,725
Others	2,005
Total	3,735

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to ensure that the London Fire Brigade can meet any additional fire risk associated with the Millennium Dome. [66090]

The statutory responsibility for ensuring efficient fire services rests with the London Fire and Civil Defence Authority.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list each derogation from Article 8 of the Data Protection Directive 95/46/EC which he plans to provide to the Commission, pursuant to Article 8(6) of that Directive; and if he will make a statement. [65981]

I am not yet in a position to provide a full list. The derogations will include processing covered by paragraphs 7 and 9 of Schedule 3 of the Data Protection Act 1998, and by any order made under paragraph 10 of that Schedule. Such an order is likely to include the processing of information about criminal offences and criminal convictions for the purpose of preventing or detecting criminal offences; the processing by political parties of information about political opinions in connection with canvassing; and certain processing by the police or other investigating organisations. I am considering further suggestions made in the responses to last August's consultation exercise on subordinate legislation under the Data Protection Act 1998.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list (a) the uses made of the Electoral Register for non-electoral purposes and (b) those bodies which have indicated to his review of the use of the Electoral Register for non-electoral purposes that they access the Register; and if he will make a statement. [65967]

The Home Office Working Party is continuing to examine the case for a change in the way in which the electoral register is made available for non-electoral purposes. The main uses so far identified include credit referencing, direct marketing, and the prevention of fraud and money laundering. There is also some use made by charities for fundraising, and by genealogists for research purposes.Most of the organisations which have responded do not purchase copies of the register directly: those indicating that they use data at least partially based on the register, but excluding local authorities and other Government Departments, were:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the practice of enforced subject access to police records for purposes which are not related to employment; and if he will make a statement. [65964]

It is difficult to know, in any particular case, whether a subject access application has been "enforced" but in the opinion of the police, the majority of enforced subject access applications are made for employment purposes. We have not undertaken any further research into this practice.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many citizens of Slovenia are currently being detained in the UK as illegal immigrants; and what were the equivalent figures for each of the last three years. [657361

I will write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will legislate to ensure that all greyhound tracks are required to subscribe to a national registration scheme. [65877]

We have no plans for such legislation.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will implement a betting levy on greyhound races to be used in establishing a national monitoring authority to supervise races in respect of animal welfare issues. [65876]

We have no plans to legislate for a levy on greyhound betting.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many British citizens entitled to vote in British elections currently live overseas. [66098]

The number of British citizens included as overseas electors in the current register published in February 1998 was 17,315. The Office for National Statistics will publish figures for the new register, which comes into force on 16 February 1999, by the end of April.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list by each police authority area how many breathalysed drivers were deemed to have exceeded the legal limit between Christmas and the New Year in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement. [65873]

Figures collected by the Home Office do not enable the Christmas and New Year period to be separately identified. The Association of Chief Police Officers, however, has collected figures on the number of positives tests of drivers who had been involved in collisions dealt with by the police during the Christmas Drink Drive campaign for the last two years, and these are in Table 1. Comparable figures for 1996–97 are not available.The Home Office does, however, collect and publish figures for the month of December, and they are given on Table 2. Figures for 1998 are not yet available, but will be published in the spring.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many probation officers are currently in training; [65764](2) what assessment he has made of the prospects for a national shortage of qualified probation officers based on current projections of annual turnover, natural wastage and numbers in training; [65786](3) how many probation officers were in training in each year from 1990 to the latest year for which figures are available. [65765]

There are at present 274 trainee probation officers. A work force planning study is currently being undertaken, and this will provide national data on the number of new probation officers needed over the next five years.Under the previous training scheme for probation officers, the Home Office sponsored students on Diploma in Social Work courses. The numbers of students starting sponsored courses from 1990 to 1995 was:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many compensation claims have been made to each police force in England for firearms reloading presses indicating the number (a) approved and (b) paid; [65775](2) how many claims for compensation have been received to date for

Payments have been made in respect of 578 reloading presses surrendered under Option B of the compensation scheme to police forces in England. Lee and RCBS presses are not included within this total as these types of press must be claimed under Option C of the compensation scheme. I regret to say that information is not at present available on the numbers and types of press surrendered and paid under this Option.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the extra costs to police forces in England and Wales of policing millennium celebrations; and what plans he has to provide additional resources to meet those costs. [65883]

The police service have estimated that the costs of policing millennium celebrations across England and Wales on 31 December 1999 could be around £12 million out of total available expenditure of over £7 billion.The Government's spending plans for the police announced last July, and re-stated in a reply my right hon. Friend gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Salford (Ms Blears) on 2 December 1998,

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received about the proposed deportation of Dr. Bavo Omoviola (H.O. Ref 0138995); and if he will make a statement. [66327]

The Home Secretary and I have received a number of representations both from Members of this House, friends and supporters of Dr. Omoviola, and representatives of his local community. Full and careful consideration is being given to these representations.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much has been made available for the crime reduction programme in Flintshire; and if he will make a statement. [66421]

Under the crime reduction programme, £250 million is available over the next three years for England and Wales for projects which offer a significant and sustained impact on crime. We will be announcing in due course the allocation of funding as each of the programme's initiatives is launched.