To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the location of the University of London and Cambridge University Air Squadrons. [69144]

The basing of Cambridge University Air Squadron and the collocated No. 5 Air Cadet Air Experience Flight, at Cambridge Airport, has been the subject of review to determine whether their operations could be undertaken more effectively at another location. At the same time it has been necessary to identify a new location for the University of London Air Squadron and part of the No. 6 Air Cadet Air Experience Flight task, due to increased helicopter operations at RAF Benson, their current location.RAF Wyton has been identified as the most cost-effective and operationally suitable location for the two Squadrons and the Air Experience Flights. On current plans the transfer of these units will commence in September 1999.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what investment his Department has made in infra-red technology for use in (a) the defence industry and (b) elsewhere in each of the last 10 years. [66661]

Infra-red technology has a wide spectrum of defence applications, and information on the totality of expenditure specifically involving this technology is not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the aggregate total of British service personnel, including members of the Ulster Defence Regiment and RIR, who have served at least one tour of duty or have been employed for six months or more in Northern Ireland since August 1969; and how many service personnel have (a) lost their lives and (b) been injured in connection with their military duties and responsibilities in Northern Ireland. [67427]

Since August 1969, the total number of soldiers who have served or are currently serving in Northern Ireland for six months or more is 152,769. The total number of officers who have served or are currently serving in Northern Ireland is 25,098. The latter figure contains tour lengths of three to four months as well as those of six months or more.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the number of civilian casualties in Iraq caused by military action since the conclusion of Operation Desert Fox. [68352]

We believe that the only military action since the conclusion of Operation Desert Fox which could have caused civilian casualties was an incident on 25 January. Coalition aircraft patrolling the Iraqi Southern No-Fly-Zone in accordance with their humanitarian mission encountered four Iraqi MIGs who were attempting to draw them into a pre-arranged Surface to Air Missile (SAM) trap and were fired at by Iraqi anti-aircraft artillery. US aircraft responded by attacking a SAM site and related air defence and communications systems north of Basra. The US has confirmed that a rocket propelled bomb went astray and landed in a residential district several kilometres from its target. It could have caused civilian casualties, but the US is still investigating and cannot confirm. I deeply regret any civilian casualties but must stress that the US acted in self-defence responding to a serious and immediate threat to the safety of coalition aircraft.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library the documentation held by his Department on the crash of the Aer Lingus Viscount in the Irish sea on 24 March 1968, and the subsequent search and rescue operation; and if he will make this material available to the Irish Government. [67434]

Copies of the UK report on the initial surface search and rescue operation for the Aer Lingus Viscount 712, and on the subsequent sea bed search and salvage operation undertaken at the request of the Irish Government, were placed in the Library of the House and given to the Irish Government in September 1998.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the naval vessels engaged in search operations for the wreckage of the Aer Lingus Viscount in the Irish sea from 24 March 1968 until the search was abandoned and in each case the dates on which searches took place; how many bodies were (a) recovered and (b) identified; where the wreckage was taken to be examined; and where the wreckage is currently stored. [67437]

Details of British naval involvement in the search operation for the Aer Lingus wreckage are contained in the report which my department placed in the Library of the House in September last year. Although the report contains information on the recovery of bodies and wreckage, which were taken to Rosslare for examination by the Irish Authorities, it does not provide the identities of the dead. This, and the current condition and location of the wreckage, is a matter for the Irish Government.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library the recorded version or notes of the RAF briefing given to officers of HMS Penelope on 26 March 1968; and if he will make this material available to the Irish Government. [67436]

We have no record of such a briefing having taken place. HMS Penelope played no part in the search operation after 25 March.

To ask the Chairman of the Information Committee how many hon. Members currently have access to (a) the PDVN and (b) the Parliamentary Intranet. [68434]

There are currently 227 Members registered to access the PDVN in their own name. However, many Members have connected their offices by requesting access for one or more staff members but not for themselves. Analysis of all login IDs issued in the names of Members shows that 517 Members' offices currently have access to the PDVN.

		1999 Appropriations
3705	Contribution to secretarial expenses and administrative expenditure of the political groups and expenses of the non-attached Members.	£9 million (12.7 Meuro)
3706	Other Political activities	£5 million (7.1 Meuro)
3708	Information work	£3.9 million (5.25 Meuro)

To ask the Chairman of the Information Committee if he will include hon. Members' website addresses in the Palace of Westminster telephone directory. [68435]

When the production of the existing telephone directory is changed to a print out from the Serjeant at Arms/Telecomms database at the end of this year's summer adjournment, there will be an opportunity to include details of Members' web sites and e-mail addresses in the directory provided Members indicate their wish for it to be done.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the future recognition requirements for recognised investment exchanges and clearing houses under the Financial Services and Markets Bill. [69148]

The new Financial Services and Markets Bill carries forward the main features of the existing recognition and exemption regime for investment exchanges and clearing houses, which has worked well. In order to become recognised, such bodies must fulfil certain regulatory criteria. These are currently contained in the Financial Services Act 1986 and the Companies Act 1989. Under the new Bill the requirements will be set out in secondary legislation. Putting the recognition requirements in secondary legislation will make it easier to respond to any market developments in this area.The Treasury has today issued a consultation document on the new draft recognition requirements. Copies have been placed in the Libraries of the House. The deadline for comments is 30 April. We are consulting on these regulations well in advance so that we have the longest possible time to get them right.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what categories of expenditure are legalised by Article 138a of the Treaty of the European Community; and if he will state what appropriation and what expenditure in the Budget of the Community for the year 1999 are under that Article. [67929]

I have been asked to reply.Volume 2, Section 1 of the budget (Staffing, revenue and expenditure of the European Parliament) lists budget lines which cite Article 138a as a justification for spending. The lines are:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if a holder can be granted more than one concurrent radio licence; and if he will make a statement. [67684]

Under the terms of the Broadcasting Acts 1990 and 1996 no one person may hold more than one national analogue licence, national digital multiplex licence or national digital sound programme service licence. A person may hold one FM and one AM licence for areas which share a potential audience overlap of over 50 per cent. and may apply to hold one further licence for the same area on either waveband subject to a public interest test operated by the Radio Authority.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) what questions are asked of applicants for a radio licence; and if he will make a statement; [67681](2) what inquiries are made as to the background of people who apply for licences to run independent radio stations. [67680]

The Radio Authority is responsible for determining the process of the award of independent radio licences according to the provisions of the Broadcasting Acts 1990 and 1996. The Authority decides the questions asked of licence applicants. I understand that the Authority's standard application form requests details of the background of licence applicants, and details of others whose involvement in the preparation of a licence application has been substantial. The Radio Authority published on 29 January details of its licensing award procedures for commercial radio.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what additional legislation, not currently before Parliament, was assumed in the production of his Department's spending allocation for 1999–2000 to 2001–02 in the Comprehensive Spending Review. [68415]

There is a longstanding convention that legislative proposals for each year are not announced before the Queen's Speech at the start of the relevant Session.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) if he intends to reappoint the current Chairman of the Radio Authority; and if he will make a statement; [68807](2) if he will make it his policy to require the Radio Authority to publish its minutes of proceedings; [68809]

The current appointment of the Radio Authority Chairman expires on 31 December 1999. An announcement will be made in due course on the Chairmanship from 1 January 2000.The Radio Authority is a statutory public corporation independent of Government and is responsible for interpreting its statutory duties under the Broadcasting Acts 1990 and 1996. Radio Authority members are bound by the Authority's detailed code of best practice, a copy of which is in the Libraries of the House. My Department has no supervisory role in its day-to-day activities and has no locus to direct the Authority to make public details of its proceedings. However, I welcome the recent publication by the Authority of details of its licensing award procedures for commercial radio.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) if he will provide financial support to households that currently receive analogue terrestrial television, but which cannot receive digital terrestrial television to enable them to receive the digital television service (a) via digital satellite television and (b) by other means; [68588](2) when the switch-off date will be announced for analogue transmissions; [68593](3) if he will ensure that the proceeds from auctions of analogue spectrum are used to assist consumers and communities in the United Kingdom to receive the same quality of digital television service; [68592](4) what estimate he has made of the number of households in the UK which will not be directly served by digital terrestrial television; [68589](5) when he will respond to the consultations received following the publication of "Television: the Digital Future". [68587]

I refer my hon. Friend to the replies I gave on 10 November 1998, Official Report, columns 122–23. We are still considering the wide variety of opinions expressed in the responses to the consultation paper: "Television the Digital Future" and will make an announcement in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans his Department has to provide support to the pop music industry. [68863]

My Department, in consultation with other Departments, and with advice from the Music Industry Forum, plans to continue working closely with the music industry to identify areas where Government might be able to help it. The Forum has considered such issues as copyright, the New Deal, training, and provision of venues for live music. My aim is to help create the conditions in which this highly successful business can flourish further.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the number of racially motivated offences there were in the last year for which figures are available. [68220]

Individual forces submit their racial incidents figures to Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary at the end of each year. These are incidents recorded under the Association of Chief Police Officers' definition of a racial incident:

"Any incident in which it appears to the reporting or investigating officer that the complaint involves an element of racial motivation; or any incident which includes an allegation of racial motivation made by any person".

Incidents included here are wider than the normal definition of a crime in the crime statistics and include low level harassment.The latest available figure for the number of racial incidents recorded by the police in England and Wales is 13,878 in 1997/98. A breakdown of the number of incidents recorded by the police by each police area in 1997/98 is given in the Home Office publication "Statistics on Race and the Criminal Justice System" 1998, a copy of which is available in the Library.The Home Office has requested all forces to provide separate recorded crime statistics for the racially aggravated offences of wounding, harassment, common assault and criminal damage (in line with the new offences contained in the Crime and Disorder Act 1998) from April 1999, and first figures will be published in January 2000.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to give new directions to the Parole Board following the implementation of section 103 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998. [69273]

Section 103 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 was commenced on 1 January 1999. As a result, all short-term prisoners whose original offences were committed on or after that date and who are subsequently released on licence will be subject to recall by the Parole Board in the same way as those released from long-term sentences.I have, therefore, prepared new Directions for the Board as to the matter to be taken into account in dealing with such recalls. These Directions are being made under the powers given to me by section 32(6) of the Criminal Justice Act 1991 and are based very closely on the existing Directions in respect of long-term prisoners.The new Directions also make it clear that there should be a clear presumption in favour of recall in cases where a licensee is charged with an offence committed whilst subject to Home Detention Curfew (HDC). This is because the commission of an offence by a prisoner subject to HDC is clearly a breach of the trust placed in that individual.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people are currently in custody awaiting deportation. [68987]

Regrettably, reliable information on the numbers of persons in custody, or otherwise detained, who are the subject of deportation action is available only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many people were removed from the United Kingdom as a result of the enforcement of a deportation order in each year since 1992; [68988](2) how many people were removed or departed voluntarily in each year since 1992, following the initiation of deportation action against them but without a deportation order being made. [68984]

The available annual information is given in the table.

Removals and voluntary departures following deportation action, 1992 to 1997
	1992	1993	1994	1995	1996	1997
Deportation orders enforced	880	850	670	700	900	800
Other removals and voluntary Departures1	1,710	1,430	1,250	1,200	1,110	1,250
1Removals and voluntary departures following the initiation of deportation action but without a deportation order having been made. Figures are rounded.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many deportation orders were made in each of the first five months of 1997. [68986]

The information is given in the table.

Deportation orders made, 1 January to 31 May 1997
	Number of deportation orders made
January	110
February	90
March	90
April	130
May	60

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many deportation orders were made in each year from 1992 to 1996; and how many have not yet been executed. [68985]

The available information is given in the table. It should be noted that some deportation orders may not have been executable for legal reasons.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions there have been for offences in relation to badgers in each of the last three years. [68728]

Information taken from the Home Office Court Proceedings Database is given in the table.

Number of defendants prosecuted for offences under the Protection of Badgers Act 1992, England and Wales, 1995–1997
Offence	1995	1996	1997
Offences of cruelty to badgers and special protection for badgers and their setts (excluding section 13 of Act)	41	31	44
Failing to give up a dog for destruction or having custody of a dog while disqualified (section 13 of Act)	7	6	7

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers have resigned from the Metropolitan Police in each of the last 10 years. [68496]

The Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police tells me that the numbers of officers who resigned from the Metropolitan Police in each of the last ten years, were:

Year	Number
1989	605
1990	471
1991	246
1992	132
1993	139
1994	146
1995	171
1996	183
1997	223
1998	327

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average age of police officers in the Metropolitan Police; and what has been the average age in each of the last 10 years. [68498]

The Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police tells me that the average age of police officers in the Metropolitan Police is 37 years and 3 months. The average age of Metropolitan Police officers in each year since 1993 was:

Year	Average age
1993	35 years 2 months
1994	35 years 7 months
1995	35 years 5 months
1996	36 years 5 months
1997	36 years 2 months
1998	38 years 4 months

Information for previous years is not readily available.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers currently serving in the Metropolitan Police have more than (a) 25 years' service and (b) 30 years' service. [68492]

The Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police tells me that there are 3,359 officers currently serving in the Metropolitan Police who have more than 25 years' service and that 1,074 officers have more than 30 years' service.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many applications for early retirement on health grounds made by police officers in the Metropolitan Police were (a) approved and (b) refused in each of the last 10 years; [68493](2) how many police officers retired on health grounds from the Metropolitan Police in each of the last 10 years. [68495]

The Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police tells me that the Metropolitan Police do not keep aggregated records of refusals of applications to retire on the grounds of ill health. Once approval is given to retire on medical grounds, the officer must retire within six weeks. The number of applications by officers to retire on medical grounds which have been approved in each of the past ten years were:

Year	Number
1989	300
1990	224
1991	275
1992	312
1993	342
1994	380
1995	433
1996	431
1997	412
1998	549

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers currently serving in the Metropolitan Police have ill-health retirement applications outstanding; and how many such officers are (a) on full pay, (b) on half pay and (c) on no pay. [68494]

The Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police tells me that, at the end of November 1998, applications from 55 officers to retire on the grounds of ill health were outstanding. Of these officers, 44 were on full pay, seven on half-pay and four off pay.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers (a) applied for transfer and (b) were transferred from the Metropolitan Police in each of the last 10 years. [68497]

The Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police tells me that records for officers applying for transfers are not kept centrally. The numbers of officers who transferred to other forces over the last ten years were:

Year	Number
1989	249
1990	239
1991	198
1992	233
1993	179
1994	190
1995	180
1996	255
1997	285
1998	236

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average length of service of police officers currently serving in the Metropolitan Police; and what was the average length of service in each of the last 10 years. [68499]

The Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police tells me that the average length of service of police officers currently serving in the Metropolitan Police is 14 years and 4 months, and that the average length of service in each year from 1991 was:

Year	Average length of service
1991	12 years 8 months
1992	12 years
1993	12 years 6 months
1994	12 years 10 months
1995	13 years 6 months
1996	13 years 8 months
1997	13 years 9 months
1998	13 years 8 months

Information as to earlier years is not readily available.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will estimate the proportion of the prison population who are former members of HM Armed Forces. [67430]

The information requested is not available. No information regarding an individual's professional status, prior to reception into a Prison Service establishment, is recorded centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what (a) proportion and (b) number of young offenders were (i) white, (ii) black, (iii) Asian and (iv) other in each of the last five years; [68095](2) what estimate he has made of the proportion of persistent young offenders who are

Because ethnicity is not currently recorded at the point of conviction, there are no national data on the ethnicity of young offenders, or, it follows, of persistent young offenders.Statistics on the ethnicity of the sentenced prison population are shown in the table. Additional research carried out in 1993 shows by ethnic origin the proportion of young persons aged 17–25 who reported they had committed offences. (Young People and Crime, Home Office Research Study No.145, 1995).The Youth Justice Board for England and Wales, which was established on 30 September 1998 under section 41 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998, has the function of monitoring the operation of the youth justice system. The Board is currently considering its data collection requirements in carrying out this function. These are likely to include information about the characteristics of young offenders and the effectiveness of intervention work with them in preventing reoffending. This information will be collected from youth offending teams, established under section 39 of the 1998 Act, which the Government expect to implement nationally in April 2000.

Prison population Sentenced young offenders by ethnic group
	Total	White	Black	South Asian	Chinese and other	Not recorded
Numbers at 30 June
1993	4,980	4,380	384	143	25	48
1994	5,202	4,527	459	141	68	7
1995	5,587	4,727	595	170	85	10
1996	6,600	5,274	954	228	111	33
1997	7,934	6,397	1,088	271	156	22
19981	8,502	6,773	1,257	276	189	7
Percentages
1993	100	88	8	3	1	1
1994	100	87	9	3	1	0
1995	100	85	11	3	2	0
1996	100	80	14	3	2	1
1997	100	81	14	3	2	0
19981	100	80	15	3	2	0
11998 data at end September 1998

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the elements of the Government's strategy for preventing youth crime which have been specifically targeted at ethnic minorities. [68092]

The Government set out their strategy for preventing youth crime in the White Paper "No More Excuses—a New Approach To Tackling Youth Crime in England and Wales". The clear aim of that strategy is to prevent offending and re-offending by juveniles. This is now the statutory principal aim of the youth justice system, as set out in section 37 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998.The Crime and Disorder Act 1998 provides a range of new measures designed to be effective in preventing youth crime, irrespective of the ethnic background of those who seek to break the law. The Government are currently piloting new measures in the Crime and Disorder Act 1998, including the final warning scheme, new community-based court disposals, and youth offending teams, with national implementation planned for around April 2000. To date, the Government have also introduced a range of measures to speed up the youth justice system, and have established the Youth Justice Board for England and Wales which will provide advice on the operation and performance of the youth justice system.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many assaults have been committed in each of the past five years by (a) white individuals against black individuals and vice versa, (b) white individuals against Asian individuals and vice versa and (c) Asian individuals against black individuals and vice versa; [68094](2) what categories of recorded crime were most frequently committed by each of the following ethnic groups

Data on ethnicity are currently collected by the police, prison and probation services, but not as yet by the courts. The only data on crimes committed by ethnic group would come from court convictions. It follows, therefore, that there are at present no national data on the ethnicity of offenders as a whole.The Home Office regularly summarises the available information on ethnicity and the criminal justice system in statistical reports published under section 95 of the Criminal Justice Act 1991. The latest of these was published on 8 December 1998 and is available in the Library and on the Internet at: http:www.home office. gov uk/rds/index .htmIt is likely that a number of the crime and disorder audits carried out by local authorities under the provisions of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 may in appropriate cases include local data of the kind which the hon. Member seeks. One such is that recently published by the London Borough of Lambeth and the relevant Divisions to the Metropolitan Police Service. I have arranged for a copy to be placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will assess the benefits of introducing a category of racially motivated crime in crime statistics. [68064]

All police forces collect information on racial incidents, based on the Association of Chief Police Officers definition of

"Any incident in which it appears to the reporting or investigating officer that the complaint involves an element of racial motivation; or any incident which includes an allegation of racial motivation made by any person".

Incidents included here are wider than the normal definition of a crime in the crime statistics and include general threatening behaviour. These statistics are regularly published under section 95 of the Criminal Justice Act 1991.The Home Office, police and Crown Prosecution Service monitor the provisions covering racially aggravated offences established by sections 28–32 and 82 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998. These findings will first be published under section 95 of the Criminal Justice Act 1991 in January 2000.Given the widespread concern about racially motivated crimes, and the recent approval of Parliament for specific racially aggravated offences in the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 it is essential that such data should be collected. The benefits are clear.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of progress on millennium compliance for the emergency services in Hampshire. [68131]

Fire and police services provide quarterly reports to Cabinet Office about progress towards Year 2000 compliance. These reports are published in summary in the Library and in detail on the Internet. The NHS Executive also publishes details of ambulance service quarterly progress reports on the Internet.My Department monitors the progress reports from fire and police services. It is working with Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Fire Services, and Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and the Association of Chief Police Officers respectively to encourage fire brigades and police forces to take the necessary action. I understand that the NHS Executive works with ambulance trusts to ensure that their Year 2000 preparations are on course.The latest reports from the emergency services in Hampshire give the following dates for Year 2000 compliance:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if the company that was responsible for handling, storing and distributing the electro-shock batons that were trans-shipped from the United States to Saudi Arabia via the United Kingdom under the 1993 trans-shipment licence granted by the Department of Trade and Industry had been issued with the relevant licences under section 5 of the Firearms Act 1968; [68190](2) if the companies that were granted export licences by the Department of Trade and Industry for the export of electro-shock batons from the United Kingdom between 1989 and 1994 had been granted the relevant licence under section 5 of the Firearms Act to

Two of the four companies in question had authority to deal in weapons prohibited by section 5(1)(b) of the Firearms Act 1968, which would include electro-shock weapons as well as other types of weapons capable of discharging a noxious liquid, gas or other things. The other two companies, one of which was the company granted the trans-shipment licence, did not have such authority.The investigation of possible offences under the Firearms Acts is a matter for the police, who will consider whether there are grounds to bring criminal charges. The decision as to whether or not to prosecute in an individual case rests with the Crown Prosecution Service. The Home Office have no powers to intervene. However, information about the two companies that did not have authority to deal in prohibited weapons was forwarded by the Home Office to the relevant police forces for their consideration. I understand that, in both cases, the police have decided to take no further action.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the guidance in Home Office Circular 4/1998, relating to the payment of money to officers, either former or serving, involved in criminal proceedings, applies (a) to officers who have retired on health grounds with outstanding disciplinary charges against them and (b) to officers against whom outstanding disciplinary charges have been dropped because of a retirement on health grounds of another officer. [68225]

There is no express statutory provision enabling police authorities to provide financial assistance to officers involved in criminal proceedings. The circular makes it clear that it is entirely for individual police authorities to decide in the particular circumstances of a case and, on the basis of legal advice, whether to make financial assistance available to officers, either former or serving, in criminal proceedings. It does not seek to offer guidance on the specific circumstances of a case.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to review Home Office Circular 4/1998 relating to the payment of money to officers, either former or serving, involved in criminal proceedings in respect of the payment of the defence costs of officers from the police budget. [68845]

Home Office Circular 4/1998 was issued after full consultation with the Association of Chief Police Officers, the Police Superintendents Association, the Police Federation and the Association of Police Authorities. We have no plans at present to review it.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average annual cost in the South Yorkshire Police Authority area of keeping a police constable on the beat. [68224]

I understand from the South Yorkshire Police Authority that the full average annual cost of a beat constable is around £41,300. This includes pay, pensions, and running costs.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research his Department has (a) undertaken and (b) commissioned in the past year into crime among ethnic minorities; and when the results of any such research will be made available to the public. [68111]

[holding answer 28 January 1999]: Since 1 January 1998, the Home Office has undertaken or commissioned a number of pieces of research which have included consideration of issues of ethnicity in the criminal justice system, patterns of offending between different ethnic groups, patterns of ethnic minority victimisation, and the operation of the criminal justice system in relation to ethnic minorities as suspects, offenders and victims of crime.All commissioned research is published as a matter of course. I have strengthened the procedures for securing the integrity of regular statistical services by ensuring that they are published by the Director of the Research and Statistical Directorate and not Ministers, and on dates set well in advance.I receive regular advice from my officials in the form of submissions and briefing papers about the research and statistical data available in the Department.The current list, with dates of publication in brackets, is as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to review the provisions of the Local Authorities Cemeteries Order 1977 relating to the sale of exclusive right of burial to individual families. [68560]

No. Burial authorities have a wide discretion under the 1977 Order as to the length of time for which they may grant an exclusive right of burial, up to a maximum of 100 years. We understand that these arrangements generally work satisfactorily.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidelines exist for striking out court cases on the basis that they are an abuse of process; and if he will make a statement. [68242]

I have been asked to reply.Any application to stay proceedings on the grounds that they are an abuse of process is for the court to determine in accordance with the principles established in case law.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consideration has been given to the financial cost to local authorities of provision for the educational needs of school-age children of asylum seekers in the assessment of any special grant settlement. [67728]

1 have been asked to reply.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people were on the waiting list in each health and social services board for fracture operations in (a) 1995, (b) 1996, (c) 1997 and (d) at the latest available date. [67859]

Patients requiring fracture operations are treated on an emergency basis and therefore are not, routinely, placed on waiting lists for surgery. From time to time a small number of patients may have to wait for treatment. On 29 January, 31 patients were awaiting fracture operations, and 19 operations were scheduled for that day.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will list the Royal Ulster Constabulary stations to which she has paid a visit since 1 May 1997, indicating the date and the time spent at each such police station. [67658]

The location, date and duration of each such visit are shown in the table.

Location	Date	Duration (minutes)
Strand road	9 May 1997	30
Lurgan	17 June 1997	30
Newtownabbey	26 September 1997	40
Dungannon	8 October 1997	30
Musgrave street, Belfast	24 October 1997	30
Ballymoney	7 November 1997	30
Enniskillen	13 February 1998	30
Waterside	13 March 1998	30
Strand road	12 May 1998	45
Antrim	18 May 1998	30
Mahon road	10 July 1998	30

It should be noted that the durations above have been taken from the programme schedules arranged prior to each visit, as opposed to exact times on the day (which are not readily available). Visits of this kind regularly exceed the arranged times.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many persons given early release from prison under the Belfast agreement have been charged with an offence since their release. [68867]

None.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales 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. [67850]

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office on 27 January 1999, Official Report, column 296. In considering the changes in IT needed in preparation for the arrival of the National Assembly for Wales, I have asked my officials to make provisions for making documents and information accessible to people for whom the standard printed form is not appropriate. This will include floppy disk versions which are in a format which facilitates access for the visually impaired. Guidance on how to reach the largest possible target audience when producing documents for use by people outside the Department, including White and Green Papers, has been issued to staff at the Welsh Office. The Guidance will also be incorporated into a revised Equal Opportunities Handbook.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on his policies for the tourism industry in North East Wales. [68361]

The development of regional policies is an operational matter for the Wales Tourist Board within the Wales Tourism Strategy published in 1994 and endorsed by Ministers.It is currently working with the Regional Tourism Company, local authorities and local businesses to implement a number of initiatives including growth in the short break/additional holiday market and development of business travel markets. North East Wales is particularly well placed to benefit from these matters.I have asked the Board's Chief Executive to provide my hon. Friend with more details. A copy of his reply will be placed in the Library.In future this will become the responsibility of the National Assembly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales by how much he has increased spending on rural transport in real terms between 1998–99 and 1999–2000. [68356]

The bus subsidy grant scheme will make £5 million available to local authorities in 1999–2000, of which £3 million must be spent on rural bus services and the remaining £2 million may be spent on either rural or urban services. In 1998–99 £2.25 million was made available exclusively for rural services. This means that direct support for rural bus services in 1999–2000 will increase by at least 30 per cent. in real terms, and probably significantly more than that.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the total cost of salaries for (a) nurses and (b) general practitioners in Wales in the last year for which figures are available. [68365]

(a) In 1997–98 the total cost of salaries for nursing, midwifery, health visiting was £448.846 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his assessment of the scale of improvements in numeracy and literacy in schools in Wales in the last year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [68355]

As the following table illustrates there has been an underlying improvement in the standards achieved in English, Welsh and mathematics. In all cases we are well on course to achieve the targets we have set for 2000 and 2002. Without exception we have already started making inroads into the year 2000 targets.

Percentage of pupils achieving the expected level1
	Key Stage 1 (7-year-olds)	Key Stage 2 (11-year-olds)	Key Stage 3 (14-year-olds)
English
1996	78	56	56
1997	80	64	59
1998	80	64	62
Welsh
1996	83	54	69
1997	85	56	69
1998	86	65	71
Mathematics
1996	82	56	55
1997	83	64	59
1998	84	61	60
1 Level 2 for 7-year-olds; level 4 for 1l-year-olds; and level 5 for 14-year-olds

Targets: By 2000 between 60 and 70 per cent. of 11 and 14-year-olds should achieve the level expected for their age. By 2002 the target is between 70 and 80 per cent. achieving the expected levels.In future this will become the responsibility of the National Assembly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the current acreage of genetically modified crops under cultivation in Wales. [68357]

There are no genetically modified crops under commercial cultivation in Wales nor in the rest of the UK.In future this will become the responsibility of the National Assembly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what new measures he is implementing to improve economic prospects in North-east Wales. [68354]

"Pathway to Prosperity—An Economic Agenda for Wales" was published last July. It contained a wide range of measures for modernising and raising the competitiveness of the Welsh economy including North East Wales. These include:

• An Entrepreneurship Action Plan
• Know How Wales
• Millennium Bug Support
• Strengthening Business Connect.

Numerous measures have been announced since that time, including:

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many children attend (a) primary and (b) secondary schools in each of the county authorities in Wales. [68358]

The information is as follows:

Full and part time pupils in LEA maintained and grant-maintained schools by unitary authority: numbers at January 1998
Unitary authority	Primary	Secondary
Blaenau Gwent	7,923	4,538
Bridgend	13,188	9,262
Caerphilly	18,978	12,746
Cardiff	31,191	20,884
Carmarthenshire	15,767	12,085
Ceredigion	5,934	4,977
Conwy	10,084	6,888
Denbighshire	9,098	6,713
Flintshire	15,331	10,076
Gwynedd	10,965	7,220
Isle of Anglesey	6,469	4,878
Merthyr Tydfil	6,567	4,673
Monmouthshire	7,656	5,326
Neath Port Talbot	14,347	9,194
Newport	15,015	9,685
Pembrokeshire	11,220	7,966
Powys	11,755	8,289
Rhondda, Cynon, Taff	24,931	18,308
Swansea	22,524	15,432
Torfaen	9,711	7,382
Vale of Glamorgan	12,413	8,312
Wrexham	12,624	7,018
Wales	293,691	201,852

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on his policy for housing in Wales. [68600]

The Government's objectives for housing in Wales are to offer everyone in Wales the opportunity of a decent home, to achieve clear improvements in all housing tenures and to do so in the context of the promotion of sustainable development. The 1999–2000 Government's Expenditure Plans: Departmental Report by the Welsh Office which will be published in April, and which takes into account the outcome of the public consultation on the Government's Comprehensive Spending Review: Spending Plans 1999–2002, will set out the mechanisms by which this objective will be met. Copies of the Departmental Report will be placed in the Library of the House.In future this will become the responsibility of the National Assembly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what guidance he has given to the North Wales region of the WDA with regards to a strategy for inward investment, job creation and infrastructure in Alyn and Deeside; and if he will make a statement. [68583]

My right hon. Friend announced on 26 January 1999, Official Report, column 172 that he had issued Strategic Guidance to the Welsh Development Agency for the period to March 2000.This sets out the broad operational priorities which we want the Agency to follow, with the objectives of spreading economic success to every part of Wales including the North Wales region and the Alyn and Deeside area; and bringing each area's local economy nearer to the level of the best.In future this will become the responsibility of the National Assembly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many whole-time equivalent teachers are currently employed in Wales; and how many were employed in May 1997. [68519]

[holding answer 1 February 1999]: Information on employment of teachers is collected annually in January. At January 1997 and 1998 there were respectively 26,500 and 26,135 whole-time equivalent qualified teachers employed in Wales.In future this will become the responsibility of the National Assembly.

To ask the Prime Minister if an official history of the Development of North Sea Oil and Gas is being commissioned. [69212]

Yes. I have appointed Professor Alexander Kemp of Aberdeen University as an official historian to write the official history of the Development of North Sea Oil and Gas.

To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department what steps he has taken to monitor the work of the Office for the Supervision of Solicitors; and if he will make a statement. [68320]

The Office for the Supervision of Solicitors is an independent body, and the Government do not have a role in monitoring the work of the Office. However, the Legal Services Ombudsman oversees the handling of complaints against members of the legal profession. She stated in her last annual report that, although the Office

£million
Closed case 1997–98	Gross payments	Costs received	Damages retained	Contributions retained	Net costs
All Personal Injury Litigation	307.7	234.3	6.0	2.3	65.6
Medical Negligence	63.0	32.6	1.3	0.7	28.5
Personal Injury (excl. medical negligence)	224.7	201.7	4.7	1.5	37.1

To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department what additional legislation, not currently before Parliament, was assumed in the production of his Department's spending allocation for 1999–2000 to 2001–02 in the Comprehensive Spending Review. [68419]

There is a longstanding convention that legislative proposals for each year are not announced before the Queen's Speech at the start of the relevant Session. My Department's spending allocation does take account of the Access to Justice Bill.

To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department what responsibilities which his Department had prior to the Comprehensive Spending Review are to be (a) discontinued by his Department, (b) transferred to another department, (c) transferred to an executive agency and (d) added to his Department over the period 1998–99 to 2001–02. [68403]

No responsibilities held by this Department prior to the Comprehensive Spending Review are to be discontinued or transferred, either to another department or to an executive agency. From October 2000, this Department will take over from the Home Office

To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department what was, for personal injury litigation, (a) the cost of legal aid before cost recovery and retention of contributions, (b) the amount of costs recovered, (c) the amount of damages retained, (d) the amount of contributions retained and (e) the net cost after deduction of costs recovered, damages retained and contributions retained for (i) all personal injury litigation, (ii) medical negligence cases and (iii) personal injury cases excluding medical negligence in 1997–98. [68228]

Closed case data for 1997–98 are incomplete and will not include five months' data for Nottingham and six weeks for Chester. This is due to the implementation in these two area offices of the Legal Aid Board's new Corporate Information System, which is temporarily unable to access closed case information. A breakdown of the available legal aid expenditure and receipts in respect of personal injury litigation and medical negligence cases for cases closed in 1997–98 was as follows:responsibility for the enforcement of financial penalties. Responsibility for non-financial penalties could be transferred at the same time, or at a later date.The Comprehensive Spending Review also provided an opportunity to reappraise spending plans and initiatives, and to reprioritise initiatives so as to provide properly for the needs of a modern and efficient justice system.

To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department on how many occasions in each of the last 10 years abuse of process was used by a judge to dismiss a case concerning child abuse. [68241]

This information is not collected.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the effect of linking the basic state pension for those aged over 75 years to earnings rather than prices on (a) gross expenditure on NI benefits, (b) expenditure on means-tested benefits and (c) income tax revenues in (i) 2005 and (ii) 2010. [67976]

[holding answer 28 January 1999]: The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is in the table.

£ billion in 1999–2000 benefit rates
Expenditure	2005–06	2010–11
Basic Retirement Pension	2.2	3.9
Means-tested benefit offsets	-0.7	-1.2

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he expects to update the National Insurance Contributions records of Mr. John Farren, a constituent. [68234]

The National Insurance account for the hon. Member's constituent, Mr. Farren, will be updated by the 15 March 1999.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list his latest estimates and forecast expenditure in cash terms for cyclical social security for (i) 1997–98, (ii) 1998–99, (iii) 1999–2000, (iv) 2000–01 and (v) 2001–02. [68385]

Government expenditure is no longer classified as being Cyclical or as part of the Control Total. Major reforms to tighten the control and to improve the long term planning of public spending were announced by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer in the Economic and Fiscal Strategy Report (published June 1998). Spending plans across the public sector is known as Total Managed Expenditure (TME). Large demand-led programmes, such as DSS benefits expenditure, are brought together in Annually Managed Expenditure (AME). The latest forecasts for DSS benefits expenditure were published in the November 1998 Pre-Budget Report.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security 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. [67846]

I refer my hon. Friend to the Written Answer that my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office, gave on 27 January 1999, Official Report, column 296.It is the practice of this Department to facilitate access for the visually impaired by producing all White and Green Papers in braille and audio versions and they are made available from The Stationery Office at the same price as the print version. Free summary versions, also available in braille and audio, can be ordered by calling 0181 867 3201.In addition, we produce an electronic version for publishing on the Internet and we are able to make floppy disk versions available on request.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to introduce new ways of detecting and combating Disability Living Allowance fraud following the abolition of the Benefit Integrity Project. [67760]

The Benefit Integrity Project (BIP) gathered up to date information about the care and mobility needs of disabled people with the highest awards of Disability Living Allowance (DLA), to check that they were receiving the right amount of DLA. The Benefit Integrity Project will end on 31 March 1999, to be replaced by a new and fairer system. No new cases will be selected for the project after this date. Cases where action has already started will continue to be processed through the remaining stages of adjudication, including review and appeal, in the normal way.We are determined to ensure that people are receiving the correct amount of benefit. But there is currently no automatic review mechanism within DLA. Therefore, from April a new system of periodic review will be introduced. It will incorporate the lessons already learned and will be continually evaluated and refined as it develops. Staff involved in the new processes will receive full training before commencing this new work.We are already talking to disability groups about ways to ensure the new system is sensitive to people's circumstances, and that it is both fair and effective.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many recipients of family credit there are in the (a) Maidstone area and (b) Medway area. [67468]

The administration of Family Credit is a matter for Peter Mathison, the Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to my hon. Friend.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many representations he has received about the creation of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency; and how many representations opposed setting up the new body. [68058]

Following the announcement of the creation of a new Marine Agency on 19 August 1997 to combine the work of the Coastguard Agency and the Marine Safety Agency from 1 April 1998, several letters were received, mainly referring to the HM Coastguard 5 year Strategy. Of these received 7 made mention of the merger, of which four expressed concern but none opposed the setting up of a new body. Since the launch of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency there have been a number of letters from industry and others endorsing the benefits of the merged agency.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many air freight flights representing what freight tonnage were recorded (a) to and (b) from (i) Heathrow, (ii) Gatwick and (iii) Stansted in each of the last five years. [68575]

What information is available is shown in the table.

Freight movements at Gatwick, Heathrow and Stansted: 1994–98
Number
	Gatwick	Heathrow	Stansted
Freight flights 1994
Arrivals	2,741	1,951	4,445
Departures	2,456	2,023	5,152
1995
Arrivals	2,635	1,548	4,688
Departures	2,470	1,994	4,928
1996
Arrivals	2,783	1,655	4,683
Departures	2,497	2,023	4,946

Freight movements at Gatwick, Heathrow and Stansted: 1994–98
Number
	Gatwick	Heathrow	Stansted
1997
Arrivals	2,274	1,734	5,034
Departures	2,085	1,853	5,228
1998
Arrivals	2,035	1,604	6,587
Departures	1,723	1,714	6,509

Tonnes
	Gatwick	Heathrow	Stansted
Freight 1994
Set Down	15,292	41,904	39,206
Picked Up	18,838	47,348	44,004
1995
Set Down	22,521	43,151	42,811
Picked Up	28,014	51,267	45,403
1996
Set Down	32,219	44,983	50,513
Picked Up	33,540	49,521	51,440
1997
Set Down	14,316	58,536	64,020
Picked Up	19,258	56,022	60,748
1998
Set Down	6,944	55,527	94,312
Picked Up	10,896	51,353	82,818

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to introduce further measures to discourage fly-tipping. [68627]

Stringent controls and severe penalties are in place to discourage the illegal disposal of waste (fly-tipping) and the Environment Agency has made clear its commitment to taking firm enforcement action. The main controls and the maximum penalties were set out in my reply to my hon. Friend the hon. Member for Pendle (Mr. Prentice), on 8 December 1998, Official Report, columns 120–21. We have no plans to introduce further measures.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if his Department's programme of investment in cleaning up water and sewage will provide assistance to local authorities wishing to transfer Housing Act sewage works water companies. [68586]

The Department does not offer financial assistance to help bring Housing Act sewage works up to the required standard to enable them to be adopted by the sewerage undertaker. There are provisions in the Water Industry Act 1991 which enable these works to be adopted but the financial implications are a matter for the sewerage undertaker and local authority. Under section 105 of the 1991 Act, an owner of any sewerage works may appeal to the Director General of Water Services in the event of a dispute with the sewerage undertaker over an agreement to adopt.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if his Department will conduct a review of the bodies which a direct labour organisation of a district council is permitted to enter into contracts with as specified in the Local Authorities (Goods and Services) Act 1970; and if he will make a statement. [68567]

My officials are reviewing the way the Local Authorities (Goods and Services) Act 1970 works. Any changes to its administration have to be considered in the context of the Local Government Bill, now before Parliament, which would allow the Secretary of State to modify existing legislation so as to facilitate local authorities achieving best value. It would be premature to discuss how this power might be exercised in advance of Parliament discussing the relevant provisions of the Bill.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to control development on private playing fields. [68566]

Planning Policy Guidance note 17: "Sport and Recreation" provides advice on this issue. It emphasises the special significance of playing fields, including those that are privately owned and that they should normally be protected from development, taking into account the long-term needs of the community for recreation and amenity open space.Last month, my Department issued Circular 9/98: the Town and Country Planning (Playing Fields) (England) Direction 1998. This applies to any application for developing private land which is currently or has at any time in the five years before the application been used as a playing field by an educational institution.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many people are currently registered as homeless; and how many were so registered in May 1997. [68607]

Local authorities in England report in their quarterly P1(E) returns the number of households accepted as homeless and in priority need under the homelessness provisions of the 1985 and 1996 Housing Acts.The latest available estimates are for the quarter ending September 1998, when local authorities accepted some 27,500 households. The corresponding figure for the quarter ending June 1997 was 24,930 households.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he expects to publish the Groundwater Regulations. [68967]

The Groundwater Regulations 1998 were laid before Parliament on 11 November 1998. Transitional arrangements under the Regulations came into force on 1 January, and the main provisions come into force on 1 April 1999.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he has received in response to public consultation on the Draft Environmental Impact Assessment and Habitats (Extraction of Minerals by Marine Dredging) Regulations 1999; and if he will make a statement. [69213]

Public consultation on the Draft Environmental Impact Assessment and Habitats (Extraction of Minerals by Marine Dredging) Regulations was carried out for a six week period in the autumn of last year. 46 responses were received from official bodies, from fishing interests, local authorities and environmental organisations. A list of the responses has been placed in the Library of the House and copies of all responses have been placed in the DETR Library. The Government are considering the responses.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what statutory authority exists for costs to be incurred by him in preparation for the establishment of the Greater London Authority and its functional and other associated bodies. [69214]

The Greater London Authority (Referendum) Bill provides authority for preparations for the Greater London Authority itself. Authority for preparations for the remaining bodies will be provided by the Greater London Authority Bill once enacted. Parliamentary approval for expenditure on these remaining bodies will be sought as soon as practicable following enactment. This is likely to be through a Winter Supplementary Estimate for Class III Vote 4 (local government, England) for 1999–2000. Pending that approval, urgent expenditure in 1998–99 estimated at £320,000 will be met by repayable advances from the Contingencies Fund.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what has been the change in the total number of people on NHS waiting lists in England since April 1998; and if he will make a statement on progress made in reducing waiting lists. [67172]

The total number of people on National Health Service waiting lists in England has fallen by over 150,000 since April 1998. By next April, we will deliver a record reduction in waiting lists to below the 1.16 million patients inherited from the previous Government. This will be the first step in delivering our pledge to bring down the waiting lists by 100,000 from the level we inherited in the lifetime of this Parliament.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what has been the change in the total number of people waiting over 12 months for treatment on NHS waiting lists in England since May 1998. [67188]

Over 12 months waiters have fallen by over 16,000, 22 per cent. since June 1998, to stand at 56,000 at the end of November 1998.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients need to be treated in the Essex Rivers health authority to meet his Department's waiting list target at 31 March 1999. [67191]

The position as at November 1998 was that Essex Rivers Healthcare National Health Service Trust will need to achieve a reduction of 2,324 in order to achieve its 31 March 1999 waiting list target. North Essex Health Authority will need to achieve a reduction of 3,362 in order to achieve its 31 March 1999 waiting list target.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the provision, per head of population, of renal services in (a) the South Lancashire health authority and (b) the rest of England. [67174]

The actual take-up figure in the area covered by South Lancashire Health Authority was 50 patients per million population in the most recent year for which figures are available, that is, the year ended September 1997. The most recent national figures available are from a survey of service provision in 1995. The number of new patients in England accepted on to treatment (dialysis or kidney transplant) for end stage renal failure in 1995 was 82 per million population.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the progress of grant applications under the Investing in Dentistry initiative. [67175]

To date, we have received over 600 Investing in Dentistry funding requests, 242 of which have been approved, and 236 refused. Decisions on the remaining applications will be made as soon as possible.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the total number of patients waiting more than 13 weeks for an out-patient consultation as of (a) the first quarter of 1997 and (b) the last quarter for which figures are available. [67177]