To ask the Secretary of State for Health what advice has been sought by the East Surrey Health Authority from his Department in respect of providing services and treatment for multiple sclerosis. [65481]

No specific advice has been sought by East Surrey Health Authority. The organisation of health services and the manner in which they are delivered, including services for people suffering from multiple sclerosis, is a matter for health authorities.However, we are determined to challenge and address unacceptable variations in the provision of clinically and cost effective treatments, which are not based on the health needs of the local populations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the Government's policy on the provision of Beta-interferon for the treatment of multiple sclerosis. [65488]

Current guidance on Betaferon (Beta-Interferon-1b) recommends tht health authorities will have in place local arrangements with hospitals for purchasing and prescribing the drug in the light of medical evidence and local priorities.

Appointed by voluntary organisations
Name	Organisation	First appointed	Terms
Until 31 August 2000
Ms Evelyn Brand	League of Jewish Women	1 September 1996	First
Ms Jean Coops	Citizen's Advice Bureau	1 September 1996	First
Ms Rhoda Flynn	Barnet Mencap	1 September 1996	First
Ms Mary Leigh	Disablement Association	1 September 1996	First
Until 31 August 2002
Ms Ruth Rees	Alzheimer's Disease Society	1 October 1995	First/Second
Ms Jean McEvoy	Barnet Borough Sight Impaired	1 September 1998	First
Mr. John Chappell	Barnet Carers Centre	1 September 1998	First
Ms Suzanne Collins	Mental Health Consultative Group	1 May 1996	First/Second

Appointed by the Secretary of State for Health
Name	Date appointed	Terms
Until 31 August 2000
Ms Sally Malin	1 September 1996	First
Ms Elizabeth Manero	5 February 1995	Second
Until 31 August 2002
Helen Barget	1 November 1998	First
Mrs. Janet Friend	1 September 1998	First

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is his policy for dealing with the spread of head lice among school pupils. [67033]

Our policy is to encourage a "whole school approach" to the detection and treatment of head lice. This entails parents checking their children and other family members for head lice and arranging treatment where necessary, with such support from the local primary health care team as they may require. If this exercise is successfully undertaken on the same evening by all parents of children within a school, then the spread of head lice will be arrested.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will give (a) the names, (b) the terms of office and (c) the nominating body of the members of Barnet Community Health Council. [67035]

The information requested is shown in the tables.

Appointed by Local Authorities (12) London Borough of Barnet
Member name	First appointed	Terms
Until 31 August 2000
Ms Kate Brown	1 September 1996	First
Ms Pam Coleman	1 September 1992	Second
Mr. Raymond Mann	1 September 1996	First
Ms Katherine Rounce	1 September 1996	First
Until 31 August 2002
Ms Fitzpatrick	1 September 1998	First
Mr. Roger Chapman	1 September 1994	Second
Mr. Alan Sloan	1 July 1995	First/Second
Mr. Hooker	1 September 1994	First
Ms Sandford	1 September 1998	First
Mr. Stern	1 September 1998	First

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he takes to assess value for money in the purchase of ambulances by health trusts; and if he will make a statement. [67219]

The purchase of ambulance vehicles is the responsibility of individual National Health Service ambulance trusts. All NHS trusts are expected to adhere to purchasing policies and procedures which ensure fitness for purpose, demonstrate best value for the NHS and maintain the highest standards of probity.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people had a bone marrow transplant in the UK in the last 12 months for which figures are available. [67107]

Provisional hospital episode statistic figures for National Health Service trusts in England show that there were 695 finished consultant episodes with a primary operation of autograft or allograft bone marrow operations in the financial year 1997–98.Questions relating to residents who had bone marrow operations in NHS hospitals in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland are matters for my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland, for Wales and for Northern Ireland respectively.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the recommendations on beta interferon funding made by West Midlands Beta Interferon Management Group on 6 October 1998. [67049]

The West Midlands Beta Interferon Management Group's recommendation to chief executives of health authorities was to increase the region-wide budget for beta interferon to £1 million, to ensure continuation of treatment for existing patients and to facilitate the inclusion of more patients onto the programme in the West Midlands.The health authorities are currently considering how to implement this recommendation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish the waiting list for beta interferon treatment drawn up by the West Midlands health authorities. [67050]

The information is not collected centrally, nor is it held by the West Midlands health authorities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the health implications of variations in costs of the new aspirin and paracetamol pack sizes; and if he will make a statement. [67034]

The Department has made no specific assessment of the health implications of the variations in costs of the new analgesic pack sizes. However, variations in the prices of aspirin and paracetamol have always been a feature of this very competitive market and equivalent products continue to be available at a range of prices.The Medicines Control Agency is monitoring the impact of the new pack sizes on public health and will review the effectiveness of the measures once sufficient data have been collected. They are currently consulting on a proposal to exempt low dose aspirin 75 milligramme from the new pack size restrictions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the differences in care and outcome for stroke victims, according to the postal code of their address. [66843]

[holding answer 25 January 1999]: None. Evidence-based national service frameworks are being developed to ensure consistent access and quality of care right across the country. In December 1998 we announced that the national service framework for older people would include stroke services.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many nurses worked for more than 48 hours a week in the last year, broken down by month. [67380]

The information requested is not available centrally. The General Whitley Council (the national negotiating body for National Health Service staff with Whitley contracts) has agreed that an employee will not be expected to work more than a maximum of 48 hours averaged over 17 weeks in accordance with the Working Time Regulations. An employee may however agree to work over the 48 hour limit and will have to do so in writing to his employer.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans she has to review the abortion legislation in Northern Ireland; and if she will make a statement. [63040]

The suggestion that the law on abortion in Northern Ireland should be reviewed has been made on a number of occasions, most recently in the report of the All Party Group on Population, Development and Reproductive Health, launched on 10 December 1998. I am still considering what, if any, action, should be taken in response to these suggestions.I am, however, aware of the great strength of feeling on this issue, and the divergence of opinion that exists. I would want to reiterate most strongly the assurances already given by the Government, that we will not impose any change in Northern Ireland on this issue without consultation with elected representatives, including the Northern Ireland Assembly, and that any change would come about only with broad support from a cross-section of the people of Northern Ireland.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how long it takes to process an application for grant aid under the Environmentally Sensitive Areas Scheme. [67030]

The average time, based on claims dealt with in the first 9 months of the current financial year, is 10.15 weeks.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many applications were made for grant aid under the Environmentally Sensitive Areas Scheme (a) in each year from 1 April 1995 to 31 March 1998 and (b) from 1 April to 31 December 1998; of these (i) how many have been approved, (ii) what payments were made, (iii) how many were refused and (iv) how many are outstanding. [67031]

The figures are as follows:

	1995–96	1996–97	1997–98	1998–99 (to 31.12.98)
Claims made	1,107	2,173	2,655	2,557
Claims paid	1,107	2,173	2,655	1,492
Approved	All	All	All	All
Refused	None	None	None	None
Outstanding	None	None	None	1,065
Payment total (£m)	1.619	2.752	4.921	4.477

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland with which groups she or other Ministers in her Department have had discussions as a consequence of the publication of Sir Kenneth Bloomfield's report, "We Will Remember Them". [68302]

As part of the follow-up to Sir Kenneth Bloomfield's report, "We Will Remember Them", I, or one of my Northern Ireland Office Ministerial colleagues, have had discussions with representatives of the following groups:

• Damien Walsh Group
• Disabled Police Officers' Association
• Families Acting for Innocent Relatives
• Families Against Intimidation and Terror
• Families of the Disappeared
• Loughgall Truth and Justice Campaign
• Prison Officers Association
• Relatives for Justice
• Survivors of Trauma
• WAVE.

The Minister of State, my right hon. Friend the Member for East Kilbride (Mr. Ingram), has established a 'Touchstone' Group, to enable a cross section of those representing victims interests to provide advice and support to him on the development of policy for victims. In this connection he has also met with representatives of the following organisations:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what plans she has to introduce change of funding strategy for Burundi, moving beyond emergency relief towards more rehabilitation work; and what timeframe exists for this change. [67744]

A twin-track approach to the resumption of development assistance to Burundi was agreed at a donor meeting convened by UNDP on 11 January and attended by representatives of the Government of Burundi and ex-President Nyerere.The international donor community agreed to provide immediate direct assistance to communities in Burundi focusing on local level reconciliation and rehabilitation. We already have the capacity to do this. It was also agreed that donors should prepare for the re-introduction of structural development assistance, which should follow the signature of a peace agreement. Burundi will need a substantial and well co-ordinated international effort to address its development constraints. Britain has not been a traditional bilateral donor to Burundi. But we will attempt to ensure that those multilateral organisations to which we are major contributors, including the EU and the World bank, are well prepared to make a major input when the political environment is right.

To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make a statement on progress on the Libra system for magistrates courts; and if he will make a statement. [67553]

The Libra contract was awarded to International Computers Limited in December 1998. Libra will provide national standard computer services to magistrates' courts and offices with the first implementation planned for mid-2001 in Suffolk. The systems and services are expected to be implemented in all magistrates' courts by 2004, and will provide electronic links with other agencies in the criminal justice system.

To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department how many magistrates' courts committees have conducted formal access audits since his Department issued the Disabled Court Users Good Practice Guide for Magistrates' Courts Committees; and from what sources the funding for necessary changes will be provided. [67402]

I issued a performance standard in December 1997 setting out the minimum standards of performance that magistrates' courts committees are required to achieve in relation to disabled court users. It is not a requirement that formal access audits be undertaken, however, the Good Practice Guide that accompanied this standard does recommend it.A survey, undertaken by this Department during May and June 1998, showed that 64 out of 96 magistrates' courts committees had undertaken internal audits during the previous twelve months and 32 had arranged for independent inspections. It is always open to any magistrates' courts committee, in conjunction with its local authorities, to bid for additional resources from this Department towards the cost of improving disabled access, subject, of course, to there being funding available.

To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department in how many cases, and at what cost, the Legal Aid Board has provided legal aid for dispute resolution by mediation. [67611]

In the period December 1997 to December 1998, 1,962 mediations in family cases have been conducted as part of a pilot project. At this stage of the pilot project, it is not possible to provide exact cost per mediation as these costs include the cost of an initial information meeting with the clients, a contribution towards overheads and set up costs which enable mediation services to meet the requirements of the Legal Aid Board Family Mediation Franchise Specification. Legal aid has only been available for non-family cases since October 1998. It is at present not possible to provide information on the exact number or costs of non-family cases.

To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department how many solicitors were disciplined for professional misconduct in each of the last five years. [67606]

The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal hears and determines applications relating to allegations of unbefitting conduct or breaches of the rules of professional misconduct. Under Section 47 of the Solicitors Act 1974, the Tribunal can make orders to strike off, suspend from practice, fine and reprimand solicitors found guilty of professional misconduct.

• 162 such orders were made from 1 May 1993 to 30 April 1994
• 206 such orders were made from 1 May 1994 to 30 April 1995
• 193 such orders were made from 1 May 1995 to 30 April 1996
• 171 such orders were made from 1 May 1996 to 30 April 1997
• 179 such orders were made from I May 1997 to 30 April 1998.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the prisons from which prisoners are to be released on home detention curfew on 28 January 1999 and the number of prisoners to be released in each case. [67426]

The assessments for Home Detention Curfew are still ongoing. I will write to the hon. Member after 28 January 1999 when this information becomes available.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has for the establishment of an independent electoral commission which would have responsibility for the provision of practical assistance to the elderly and those with disabilities in using polling stations. [67257]

As my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary announced during the debate on the Neill Committee report on the funding of political parties on 9 November 1998, Official Report, column 55, provision for the establishment of an independent Electoral Commission will be included in the draft Bill, to implement the main findings of the Neill report, to be published before the summer recess. The Government are currently giving careful consideration to the Neill Committee's detailed proposals with regard to the precise role and remit of the Electoral Commission.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made in improving access to polling stations for people with physical impairments. [67258]

Consolidated and enhanced guidance which includes advice on national access standards will be issued to all returning officers shortly. The Working Party on electoral procedures which I am chairing will continue to consider disability access to electoral services of all kinds.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if a person who has been refused political asylum but granted indefinite leave to remain in the United Kingdom has the right to appeal to a special adjudicator about the decision to refuse political asylum. [67109]

There is no right of appeal against a refusal to grant asylum in these circumstances.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research has been carried out on the comparative costs of (a) current arrangements for funding asylum seekers and (b) restoring benefits for asylum seekers, during the period that his Department takes to process an application. [67043]

The evidence available suggests that the removal of access to benefits to those asylum seekers who do not make their claim at their port of entry leads to a significant reduction in the numbers of asylum seekers. The Government believe that cash is a strong factor in encouraging economic migrants and that the restoration of benefits would lead to a significantly higher number of asylum seekers thereby leading to a much greater cost than the current arrangements. These conclusions come from an examination of the publicly available data.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were granted (a) refugee status and (b) exceptional leave to remain following a successful appeal against refusal of that status in each year since 1993, broken down by country of origin. [67112]

I regret that this information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Information on the number of allowed asylum appeals over the period 1994 to 1998 is available and this is given in the table.

Asylum appeals under the 1993 and 1996 Acts determined by adjudicators of the Immigration Appeals Authority, excluding dependants, 1994 to 1998
Year	Appeals determined2	Appeals allowed3	Percentage of appeals allowed
1993	n/a	n/a	n/a
1994	2,440	105	4
1995	7,035	230	3
1996	13,792	515	4
1997	21,090	1,180	6
19981	25,320	2,750	11
1 Provisional data
2 Based on information collected by the Lord Chancellor's Department
3 Estimates based on information collected by the Asylum Directorate

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what central Government payments have been made to the Police Federation in each of the last five years in support of (a) conferences organised by the Federation and (b) other purposes; and if he will indicate the statutory authority under which such payments are made. [67028]

The information requested is shown in the table. The only payments made in support of conferences are in respect of travel and subsistence expenses made for members of the Joint Central Committee and these cannot readily be shown separately from expenses paid for other purposes. Payments are made under sections 57(1) and 60(2)(d) of the Police Act 1996.

(a) Home Office/common police service contribution towards the costs of the salaries and running costs of the Police Federation of England and Wales
£
	Police Federation of England and Wales
	Salaries	Running costs
1994–95	110,000	57,000
1995–96	51,000	57,000
1996–97	93,000	54,900
1997–98	50,439	48,259
1998–991	60,211	54,500

(b) Contribution received as a member of the staff side of the police negotiating board
£
	Police Federations of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland
	Administrative costs	Travelling and subsistence expenses
1994–95	8,441	54,627
1995–96	17,800	62,914
1996–97	18,200	64,300
1997–98	18,185	32,602
1998–991	17,479	33,262
1 Estimate

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans the Government have to remove the United Kingdom's reservation on Article 37 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. [67216]

We do not propose to remove this reservation. We are establishing a separate juvenile estate, but there will continue to be occasions when the mixing of young offenders and adult prisoners is necessary. This may be due to a lack of suitable accommodation or adequate facilities for a particular young person.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many reservations and derogations the UK Government have entered under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. [67214]

I have been asked to reply.Upon ratification in 1991 of the United Nations Convention of the Rights of the Child, the United Kingdom Government entered four reservations and two declaratory interpretations.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will provide a breakdown, by rank, of the numbers of police officers (a) per police force and (b) in total, in each of the last 10 years. [67586]

Information in the form requested is available from 1991. For earlier years, only information on the total number of officers in each force is available. The details for each year between 1989 and 1998 are set out in the tables, which I have placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) when he plans to publish the responses to his consultation paper on the right to trial by jury; [67582](2) what research he has

No research has been conducted into the election of trial in the Crown Court by defendants charged with an either-way offence since 1 October 1997. The consultation paper on determining the mode of trial, considered whether defendants should be able to choose to be tried by a jury in cases which magistrates have indicated that they would be content to hear. We are currently considering the responses to this consultation exercise and will make a statement when we have reached a final decision.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many section 5 firearms certificates he has issued in each of the last five years. [67767]

The authority of the Secretary of State to possess, purchase or acquire, manufacture, sell or transfer weapons and ammunition prohibited by section 5 of the Firearms Act 1968 (as amended) is granted only to those applicants who can demonstrate a genuine need to have such weapons and ammunition. The total number of such authorities issued in England and Wales in each of the last five years is as follows:

Year	Authorities issued
1998	540
1997	320
1996	304
1995	261
1994	214

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to collect information on the number of times police officers and members of the public have started legal proceedings because of injuries caused by CS sprays. [67609]

This information is not held centrally and there are no plans to collect it.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many (a) personal injury accidents and (b) fatalities were recorded on the A14 between Cambridge and Huntingdon in 1998. [66734]

The information requested will not be available until June 1999. The latest available full years data are shown in the table.

Accidents/casualties on the A14 between Cambridge and Huntingdon: 1997
Severity	Number of accidents	Number of casualties
Fatal	1	1
Serious	10	12
Slight	50	79
Total	61	92

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement about progress at the Environment Council meeting on 21 December 1998 on the proposed Directive on end of life vehicles. [67340]

At the Environment Council, Ministers reached a degree of common understanding on many of the important issues raised by this Directive. However, the views of the European Parliament will need to be carefully considered and final decisions on the Council's Common Position will not be taken until the next Environmental Council in March, when the European Parliament's opinion should be ready.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what representations his Department has received concerning the delay in opening the Whipps Cross-Redbridge relief road; [67458](2) how much money has been spent on the Whipps Cross-Redbridge relief road; [67459](3) when the Whipps Cross-Redbridge relief road will be completed; [67461](4) what the projected opening date was for the Whipps Cross-Redbridge relief road on 1 May 1997. [67460]

I have asked the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency, Mr. Lawrie Haynes, to write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has for departmental (a) White and (b) Green Papers to be made available on floppy disk format in a form which facilitates access for the visually impaired. [67852]

The Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions currently publishes all White and Green Papers in HTML format on its Internet site. This ensures easy access by systems such as "screen readers, text-to-speech and text to Braille converters" making documents more accessible to the visually impaired.Where appropriate, publications are also made available on audio tape, in large print, Braille or on floppy disk.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to achieve an increase in water-borne freight; if he will set targets; and if he will make a statement. [67618]

[holding answer 25 January 1999]: The Government are keen to encourage increased movement of freight by water where that is a practical and economic option. The Department currently gives Freight Facilities Grants for inland waterways schemes where freight would otherwise have gone by road. The Department will be re-examining the rules of the scheme to encourage more applications for inland waterways projects; and as announced in the White Paper on the Future of Integrated Transport, we intend to bring forward legislation to extend the application of the freight grant scheme to include coastal and short-sea shipping. The scheme is demand-led and the Department aims, as far as possible, to meet all eligible demand from within its budget. Since May 1997 there have been 5 inland waterway grants made totalling almost £1.65m, which represents a maximum of 770,000 tonnes. In addition the total 1998–99 budget for both rail and inland waterway schemes has been increased from the previous year by one-third to £40 million.In addition, the Department is working to update planning guidance on transport which will encourage more freight to be carried by water. Local authorities in their development plans will be expected to consider opportunities for new development which are served by waterways; and to give better protection to sites and routes, both existing and potential, which could be critical in developing infrastructure to widen transport choices, including water transport.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will estimate the costs of agriculturally derived water pollution from (a) nitrates, (b) fertilisers generally, (c)pesticides and other biocides and (d) soil erosion; and if he will make a statement. [67714]

The environmental and economic costs of agriculturally derived water pollution are not available centrally and can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what studies his Department has undertaken on the effect of the phasing out of leaded petrol on classic and vintage vehicles; how many vehicles currently run on leaded petrol; what is the statutory basis for the change; and if he will make a statement. [67632]

In accordance with EU directive 98/70EC, leaded petrol will be banned from general sale from 1 January 2000 by regulations to be made under the Clean Air Act 1993. Of an estimated 6 million vehicles currently running on leaded petrol, about 5.3 million will still be doing so at the time the ban is introduced. Of these as many as 3 million could use unleaded petrol either directly or with simple engine adjustments. For a remaining 2.3 million, for which lead provides lubricant protection for soft valve seats and in some cases octane requirements, substitutes for lead, either in the form of additives incorporated in "lead replacement petrol" or provided separately for motorists' use will be made available by the oil companies. Such products will be suitable for classic and vintage vehicles as well as older vehicles generally. The Government are in addition exploring the possibilities for implementation of the provision in the directive which allows sales of leaded petrol to continue to a limit of 0.5 per cent. of total sales, though supply will ultimately be a commercial decision.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what research his Department has commissioned or carried out on the effect of emissions from aircraft with particular reference to the upper atmosphere; and if he will list such research. [67470]

Since May 1997 my Department has participated in the following research projects:

AEROTRACE: identification and measurement of trace species in exhaust gases close to the combustor of a jet engine;

UK TRACE: measurement of changes in trace species between the combustor and engine exhaust;

AEROCERT: identification of possible revisions and extensions to engine certification procedures, and the effects of maintenance and operation on certified emission levels;

POLINAT: measurement and modelling of aircraft emissions in the North Atlantic flight corridor.

We also supported the development of the European inventory of emissions from aircraft worldwide, which was published last year.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the consequences of excluding maintenance vehicles from the laws enforcing the wearing of vehicle safety belts; and if he will make a statement. [67359]

Maintenance vehicles are not exempt from the requirement that seat belts must be worn where they are available. There are specific exemptions for drivers in particular circumstances—these are listed in regulation 6 of The Motor Vehicles (Wearing of Seat Belts) Regulations 1993, SI 1993 No. 176.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate he has made of the increase in building stock over the next 10 years; and what plans he has to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from buildings by 2010. [67689]

The Government intend to develop a balanced and equitable strategy across all sectors to meet the UK's 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 to reduce carbon dioxide emissions including improvements in emissions from buildings in the commercial, industrial and domestic sectors.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions which local authority headed his table which measured the speed with which planning applications were considered. [67875]

In the 12 months to September 1998, Worthing Borough Council headed the Planning Performance Checklist, determining 99.9 per cent. of planning applications within 8 weeks.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what was the average length of time taken by local authorities to process planning applications in 1997–98. [67877]

In 1997–98, district planning authorities in England decided 62 per cent. of all applications for planning permission and other related consents within 8 weeks and 84 per cent. within 13 weeks. Information is not available on the average length of time taken to determine a planning application.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what guidelines are issued to local authorities in respect of the processing of planning applications. [67878]

The Government's policies on different aspects of planning are contained in Planning Policy Guidance notes (PPGs) and Circulars. PPG 1 on "General Policy and Principles" gives general advice on a number of issues bearing on the consideration of planning permission. Environment Circular 9/95, "General Development Order Consolidation 1995", covers permitted development and more detailed procedural matters, including consultations before the grant of planning permission. It also contains advice on best practice in handling planning applications.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many incidents of death in the workplace were investigated by the Health and Safety Executive in each year since 1996. [67416]

The number of fatalities investigated by the Health and Safety Executive is set out in the table.

Year	Number of fatalities investigated
1996–97	397
1997–98	402
1 April-30 September 19981	213
1 Provisional

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the health and safety implications of increased casualisation of dock work. [67417]

It is not possible to assess how recent changes in the patterns of employment in the docks industry have affected health and safety. Such changes have included increasing mechanisation, bulk handling and containerisation at the same time as a substantial reduction in the numbers working in the docks. The Health and Safety Executive regularly meets docks industry representatives to review trends and consider any issues which might affect health and safety.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the impact of the Birmingham northern relief road on the air quality levels as set out in the National Air Quality Strategy; and how he expects any breaches of the levels to be remedied. [67577]

The original air quality assessment for the Birmingham northern relief road was published within the environmental statement for the scheme in 1993. Additional evidence was submitted to the public inquiry in 1994.The United Kingdom National Air Quality Strategy, published in March 1997, post-dated both the original assessment and the public inquiry. However, the existence of the air quality objectives within the strategy was acknowledged in the decision letter for the scheme as a post-inquiry development which had to be taken into account, alongside the Inspector's report, in reaching a decision on whether or not to proceed. A judgment was made, based on an interpretation of the previous assessment work, on whether or not the objectives might be exceeded. It was concluded that all of the objectives, with the possible exception of that for PM

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will name the road schemes by each local authority which make up the existing commitments in the Local Transport Settlement 1999–2000; and if he will indicate for each (a) the money awarded in the 1999–2000 local transport settlement and (b) the total costs. [67021]

[holding answer 26 January 1999]: The table shows allocations made to grant supported major road schemes as part of the 1999–2000 local transport capital settlement. These schemes were accepted for funding between the 1986–87 and 1997–98 settlements. The Government are committed to providing sufficient funding for their completion, provided they continue to make reasonable progress, although we do not commit to fund the full costs of a major local road scheme. The table does not include committed expenditure on non-road schemes or resources which cannot be identified to a single road scheme, such as resources to meet applications during 1999–00 for grant under the Industrial Development Act 1982.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many local authorities have formally asked his Department for the routes of road schemes withdrawn in the National Roads Programme to be protected as advised in paragraph 96 of the draft guidance on Local Transport Plans. [67023]

[holding answer 26 January 1999]: To date no local authorities have formally indicated whether they intend to seek route protection for any of the schemes on routes to be detrunked which were withdrawn from the National Roads Programme as a result of the Roads Review. But, two authorities have proposed that route protection should be retained beyond the end of July pending the outcome of further studies.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the number of major new road schemes for which each local authority bid for funding under the TPP system for 1999–2000. [67022]

[holding answer 26 January 1999]: We received eighty bids for new major local road schemes from English local highway authorities requesting capital funding in 1999–2000. The following authorities bid for one major scheme each: Lincolnshire, Northumberland, Stockton-on-Tees, Halton, Salford, West Yorkshire PTA, Buckinghamshire, Kent, Milton Keynes, Oxfordshire, West Sussex, Windsor and Maidenhead, Bath and North East Somerset, Bristol, Birmingham, Sandwell, Warwickshire, Barnsley, Kirklees, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Bexley, Enfield, Greenwich and St. Helens. Authorities bidding for two or more schemes are shown in the table:

Authority	Number of new major road scheme bids
Leicestershire	2
Nottinghamshire	5
Surrey	4
Cornwall	4
Devon	2
Gloucestershire	2
Somerset	2
Staffordshire	3
Stoke-on-Trent	2
West Midlands Joint authorities1	9
Worcestershire	2
Doncaster	3

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the mileage rates currently applicable to staff, indicating what changes have been made to encourage staff to switch from cars to public transport and other less polluting forms of travel. [67489]

[holding answer 26 January 1999]: Staff are encouraged to use public transport where it is available and if they do not do so, a single flat rate of 23.8 pence per mile is payable. Where public transport is not available, would give rise to excessive journey times or where staff have equipment or bulky luggage to carry, there are currently two sets of mileage rates payable for cars used on official business:

Pence per mile
	Ex-Department of the Environment staff		Ex-Department of Transport staff
Engine capacity	Up to 4000 miles	Over 4000 miles	Up to 4000 miles	Over 4000 miles
Up to 1000 cc	N/A		27	15
1001 cc to 1500 cc	34	19	35.7	19
1501 cc to 2000 cc	43	23	42	23
Over 2000 cc	47	30	46	30

The rates are currently under review not only to harmonise them but also as part of the Department's aim to encourage staff to minimise journeys by car and reduce the environmental impact of transport activity through Green Transport Plans. Consideration is being given to a single rate, regardless of engine size.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he has received a Public/Private Partnership bid from Railtrack for the surface and sub-surface London Underground lines outside the criteria for the tender process. [67923]

The Government have not sought or received any bid from Railtrack in relation to the London Underground public/private partnership (PPP).Railtrack has made proposals to integrate London Underground's sub-surface lines (Circle, District, Metropolitan, and Hammersmith and City) with the main line network. The Office of Passenger Rail Franchising (OPRAF) is carrying out a preliminary study of the feasibility, costs and benefits of these proposals and is assessing them in the same way that it would any other such proposals. This work does not in any way imply that the Government believe that a case has been established for Railtrack's proposal on cost-benefit or other grounds, or that London Transport is minded to handle the sub-surface lines differently from the deep tube lines in the PPP.The Government are continuing to develop the London Underground PPP along the lines announced to the House by the Deputy Prime Minister on 14 December 1998,

To ask the Attorney-General how many cases of causing death by dangerous driving have been referred to him for reference to the Court of Appeal on the grounds of unduly lenient sentence in the last 18 months; how many he has referred to the Court of Appeal; and how many sentences have been increased as a result of such referrals. [67657]

Since 27 July 1997 19 cases of causing death by dangerous driving in England and Wales have been referred to the Law Officers. 12 were referred by members of the public (3 through their MPs); 7 were referred by the CPS.Of these 19, 1 case has not yet been considered; in 13 cases the sentence passed was not considered unduly lenient; 5 cases have been referred to the Court of Appeal. The sentence was increased by the Court of Appeal in 4 cases (although in one case the overall sentence, taking into account two other offences, was not increased). 1 case has yet to be heard.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) what powers the Scottish Parliament will have to (a) alter policy priorities in Scotland for the New Opportunities Fund and (b) increase the proportion of New Opportunities Fund money which goes to the Scottish Land Fund; [67421](2) if he will make a statement on the powers of the

[holding answer 26 January 1999]: The power currently held by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland to issue policy directions to Scottish sports and arts Lottery distributors will be transferred to Ministers of the Scottish Parliament. In relation to the Heritage Lottery Fund, the National Lottery Charities Board and the New Opportunities Fund (NOF), whose operations range across the UK, Scottish Ministers will be able to make directions which require distributors to take into account for their activities in Scotland the desirability of achieving particular objectives for devolved policy areas including giving priority to particular kinds of recipients, or recipients in particular parts of Scotland. In the case of a NOF initiative applying only in Scotland, Scottish Ministers will after consultation with the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport be able to make the order specifying the initiative, and to issue directions on any matter except the amount of funding to be allocated to the initiative. Powers in relation to the Millennium Commission will remain unchanged since most of its work is now complete. Scottish Ministers will not be able to make directions relating to the allocation of resources between Scotland and other parts of the United Kingdom, or those relating to the administration of Lottery funding, regardless of the purposes to be achieved by particular projects. Scottish Ministers will however be consulted on these matters as they affect Scotland.Similar arrangements will apply to the National Assembly for Wales, although any order specifying a Wales only initiative of the New Opportunities Fund would be made by the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport with the agreement of the Assembly. The details of these arrangements, including their application to a Northern Ireland Assembly, are still under consideration. Concordats being drawn up between my department and home country departments will set out how the new arrangements will work.There has been widespread public consultation on the three new NOF initiatives, which include one on green spaces and sustainable communities which could in Scotland constitute a Scottish Land Fund. Consultation on this initiative closed on 15 January and no decisions have yet been made regarding the final form of the initiatives or the financial allocations. After consultation with Scottish Ministers, the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport will decide the level of funding each initiative will receive and has the power to direct that a percentage of this amount be used in Scotland. NOF will administer the grant-giving process, taking into account the directions they have been given and decide which applicants should be supported.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) what plans he has to extend the jurisdiction of the ITC and the scope of the Broadcasting Acts to companies based abroad who, through cable, broadcast in the United Kingdom; [66257]

[holding answer 20 January 1999]: Transfrontier broadcasting in Europe is regulated, in the European Economic Area, by Council Directive 89/552/EEC, as amended by Council Directive 97/36/EC ("The Broadcasting Directive"). Outside this area it is regulated by the European Convention on Transfrontier Television of the Council of Europe. Both legal instruments enshrine the "home State" principle; where a broadcaster is under the jurisdiction of one State, and hence licensed by that State, it may transmit freely to all others, provided that the minimum standards of the Directive or Convention are complied with. The Independent Television Commission may not extend its jurisdiction over such broadcasters, whether they broadcast by means of cable or satellite in the United Kingdom. Conversely, an ITC licensed broadcaster cannot be under the jurisdiction of any other State. By these means, a free market in legitimately licensed broadcasting services has been created throughout Europe.European public service broadcasters are expected to observe principles of political impartiality and balance in their coverage of news and current affairs. This is regulated by the competent authorities in individual States. Any concern about political impartiality in a programme from abroad would need to be taken up on a bilateral basis either with the relevant regulatory authority or with the relevant Government.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what proposals his Department has to raise the standards of (a) staff training and (b) accommodation in the tourist industry. [67357]

[holding answer 25 January 1999]: National Training Organisations (NTOs) are already working to ensure that training and development products are of high quality with a strong emphasis on transferable skills.Current accommodation inspection schemes aim to identify and promote establishments to the public so that they can use them with confidence, through a system of facility classification and quality grading. The English Tourist Board, the AA and the RAC are now harmonising their accommodation schemes. The new harmonised accommodation rating scheme, being launched to consumers in September 1999, places far more emphasis on quality and will remove the confusion caused by the plethora of signs, and the lack of clarity about what to expect from each kind of serviced accommodation.Further, our new tourism strategy, which will be published soon, aims to create a competitive world class tourism industry which provides affordable quality, is open to all and makes wise use of resources. The strategy contains specific recommendations for action to develop a trained and motivated work force in the industry and to improve the quality of tourist accommodation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much Government money per head of population was spent on tourism and tourist attractions in Devon in the most recent year for which figures are available. [67317]

[holding answer 25 January 1999]: Government funding for the national tourist boards supports tourism in Devon and every other county. In 1998–99, some £35 million will go to the British Tourist Authority (BTA) and £9.7 million to the English Tourist Board (ETB). The ETB in turn grants around £504,000 to the West Country Tourist Board (WCTB) which covers Devon and other counties in the South West of England. It is not possible to distinguish support for Devon from support for other counties.Tourism also benefits from Lottery awards and funds from European programmes. In 1998–99, lottery awards of over £8 million (just over £7.50 per head of population) and over £1.4 million (just over £1.30 per head of population) from various European programmes has so far been granted to projects in Devon from which tourism stands to benefit.In addition, the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy estimates that in 1997–98 local authority expenditure on tourism promotion in Devon was just over £2.8 million (over £2.60 per head of population).

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport by what date New Opportunities Fund moneys for information and communication technology skills training for teachers will be available to schools. [67384]

[holding answer 25 January 1999]: The New Opportunities Fund (NOF) will be sending information to schools, including details of how to apply for their funding entitlement and how to use it, in Spring 1999. The aim is that training for teachers and school librarians can begin—in schools—in Summer term 1999. Funding from NOF will be available to schools from mid-April.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will list, for the delivery of information and communications technology skills training for teachers funded by the New Opportunities Fund, the organisations which (a) expressed interest in applying to become approved providers, (b) formally applied to become approved providers and (c) have been accepted as approved providers. [67391]

The New Opportunities Fund (NOF) is currently completing an approval process within which prospective providers have to demonstrate the skills and experience necessary to deliver high quality training in information and communication technology (ICT).Some 3,500 organisations applied for the specification for training providers. Of this number 194 (England), 38 (Scotland), 38 (Wales), and 21 (Northern Ireland) made formal applications. The names of successful applicants will be published when final decisions have been taken.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans he has to meet the chairman of the Royal Society of Literature. [65574]

I will be meeting the Chairman of the Royal Society of Literature on 18 February.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the percentage of his Department's systems which might be affected by millennium compliance failure by other Departments, public or private companies and international Government and non-governmental systems. [66752]

[holding answer 21 January 1999]: We are discussing this issue with our major suppliers, and are seeking assurances of continuity of supply from them and from their suppliers in turn.Defence systems have relatively little dependence on systems in other Departments. We are liaising closely with our allies to identify the many international inter-dependencies and are working with them to ensure that allied and joint operations will not be adversely affected by the millennium date-change. These dependencies range from individual components to linkage between systems. Information on the number of such dependencies is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on steps taken recently at the Vulcan Naval Reactor Test Establishment at Dounreay to enhance protection measures against earthquakes; and if he will estimate the cost of this work. [66424]

Work is taking place at the Vulcan Naval Reactor Test Establishment at Dounreay to enhance protection against a number of potential hazards, including earthquakes, while preparing the facility for a further period of operation. Modifications are required to enable the facility to meet standards directly equivalent to those required by the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate for modern civil nuclear facilities. The cost of work related to enhanced protection measures against earthquakes is estimated to be about £9 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of investment by other Government departments into infra-red technology for use in the defence industry. [66670]

None. Government investment in technology specifically intended for defence purposes would, however, be expected to fall primarily to the MOD.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service personnel, of which ranks, are currently attached to each Royal Navy vessel (a) mothballed and (b) awaiting refit. [66702]

Ship/current role	Rank	Manning levels
HMS Ark Royal (Preservation by Dehumidification)	Commander	1
	Junior Officers	6
	Senior Rates	26
	Junior Rates	33
		66
HMS Intrepid
Standby (Preservation by Operation)	Commander	1
	Junior Officers	4
	Senior Rates including 1 Royal Marine	31
	Junior Rates including 2 Royal Marines	41
		77

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the annual cost of the service personnel currently attached to (a) HMS Ark Royal and (b) HMS Intrepid. [66701]

The annual cost of the service personnel currently attached to HMS Ark Royal and HMS Intrepid is some £1.7 million and £1.9 million respectively.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library copies of the British equivalent of the US Department of the Navy SP10 Memo 4900 SP131522 relating to UK Trident purchases in the US from fiscal year 1984 to date. [67040]

I am assuming that the documents which my hon. Friend is seeking are the UK's responses to the US Department of the Navy's budget authorisation requests. Copies of UK budget authorisations going back to 1984 are not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost. I have, however, arranged for the authorisations for the last six US fiscal years to be placed in the Library.More comprehensive estimates of UK Trident acquisitions and running costs were included in the Strategic Defence Review Supporting Essay Five.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions have taken place with United States Government officials concerning the possibility of Britain meeting future US tritium requirements. [67212]

There are regular contacts and exchanges of information between the United States and the United Kingdom on nuclear matters under the aegis of the 1958 Agreement between the Governments of the United Kingdom and the United States on "Co-operation in the Use of Atomic Energy for Mutual Defence Purposes" Command 537 as amended. These contacts have included discussions on tritium requirements.

HMS Ark Royal is at present undergoing preservation by dehumidification and HMS Intrepid is currently on standby. Staffing levels of the two ships as at 1 January 1999 were as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions his Department has had with the DETR regarding the implications of the OSPAR agreement for continued operation of the Chapelcross tritium production facility. [67211]

The MOD has not yet held discussions with the Department of the Environment, Transport, and Regions (DETR) on this matter. However, nuclear operators are having to consider how to achieve the targets set by OSPAR in July 1998 for reductions in discharges. I understand that the DETR are shortly to start discussions with operators, including BNFL who operate Chapelcross, so that proposals and programmes can be produced for presentation to OSPAR in 2000.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to review the operation of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995. [66634]

[holding answer 26 January 1999]: The Children (Scotland) Act 1995 is already kept under review in a number of ways. It was identified as a research priority area in 1996 and a number of research studies have been commissioned across a wide range of the Act's provisions. Progress is reported through a series of research bulletins, copies of which are in the Library.The operation of the Act is also reviewed regularly through inspections by the Social Work Services Inspectorate, publication of statistical information and a joint Scottish Office/COSLA working group set up for that purpose. A further indication of the effectiveness of the 1995 Act will come from the regular review of local authority children's services plans, which were required to be in place from April 1998. Taken together, the information from these sources allow effective oversight of the Act to be maintained.From 1 July 1999 this will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to gather and publish information about adoption and fostering in Scotland to record the numbers of children being placed, their ages and their care history. [66635]

[holding answer 26 January 1999]: Information on adoptions in Scotland is collected and published regularly. The next publication, for the year ending December 1998, is planned for March 1999 and will contain information on numbers of children adopted, their age distributions and whether the local authority was involved in the adoption.Information on the numbers of children looked after by foster carers is collected annually at an aggregate level. The latest data, for the year to March 1998, were published in December 1998. It is planned to publish an annual information note on the background of children who cease to be looked after during the year but without specifically identifying those children who were in foster care. There are no plans to collect or publish care histories on individual children.From 1 July 1999 this will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what sums his Department currently allocates to councils for each person provided with residential accommodation under Care in the Community. [66636]

[holding answer 26 January 1999]: The allocations of resources to councils for their community care responsibilities are calculated with reference to a range of indicators, and not by allocating a sum per person. These indicators are agreed in consultation with COSLA.The resultant distribution forms part of each council's Grant Aided Expenditure assessment which individual authorities allocate to services on the basis of local need. The Grant Aided Expenditure allocations for councils' social work responsibilities announced in the recent local government settlement for 1999–2000 total £1.1 billion, an increase of £50 million on the current year.From 1 July 1999 this will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people in each council area are provided with residential accommodation under Care in the Community. [66637]

[holding answer 26 January 1999]: The number of adults cared for in local authority residential homes and the number in private or voluntary homes who are wholly or partially funded by local authorities in Scotland at 31 March 1997, are provided for each local authority in the table.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what figures his Department uses to determine the economic charge per room which housing associations and other providers under the Care in the Community scheme have to charge to meet the registration standards set for staffing, food and accommodation and their loan charges. [66638]

[holding answer 26 January 1999]: We do not calculate charges per room. Supported accommodation is only one of a large range of care options available to councils to meet their community care responsibilities. The distribution of funding—which is undertaken in consultation with COSLA—is not based on the cost of any one option.From 1 July 1999 this will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will collate and publish data from police authorities on (a) the number of towns in which St. Patrick's Day parades are held each year, (b) police estimates of the number of participants in parades of over 1,000 persons for each of the last 10 years and (c) the number of parades which raised public order concerns. [66962]

[holding answer 26 January 1999]: The police have no record of any St. Patrick's Day parades taking place in Scotland.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when the special segregation unit at Saughton prison was completed; how much it cost; how many prisoners it is designed to accommodate; how many staff will work there; when he expects it to be in operation; and if he will make a statement. [67497]

The new Segregation Unit was completed in November 1998, at a cost of £1.3 million, excluding VAT. The Unit has been designed to hold a maximum of 14 prisoners. Staff on duty at any one time will comprise one Supervisor, 3 Residential Officers, and, when required, one Administrative Officer. The Unit will be brought into operation once current discussions with the Scottish Prison Officers' Association, about staffing levels for the establishment as a whole, have been satisfactorily concluded.From 1 July 1999, prison service issues will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the local authorities which have bid for new housing partnership funding for the period 1999–2002, detailing for each authority (a) if the bid is a feasibility study of stock transfers, how many dwellings are covered by the study and (b) if the bid is for actual transfers of homes, how many dwellings the authority plans to transfer, if funding requirements are met in full. [67499]

All local authorities except Angus Council have submitted bids for New Housing Partnership funding for the period 1999–2002. Bids are at present being assessed by the New Housing Partnerships Advisory Group which will be making recommendations to Ministers. An announcement on the successful bids, including those involving feasibility work for councils considering the possibility of housing transfer, is expected around the end of February.From 1 July 1999, this will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the documents published by the Scottish Office since May 1997 indicating which were sent unsolicited (a) to all Scottish hon. Members and (b) to selected hon. Members. [67496]

The Scottish Office produces a large number of publications of different kinds. A list of items published between May 1997 and January 1998 was placed in the House Library in February 1998. A further list of items published in the year to January 1999 will be placed in the Library as soon as possible.Information about which publications were sent to hon. Members is not held centrally, and could be compiled only at disproportionate cost. In general, The Scottish Office seeks to ensure that key publications are brought to the attention of hon. Members by sending copies to the hon. Member for each Scottish constituency. In addition, Scottish Office publications are available on the Department's web site: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/.