To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans she 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. [67849]

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by the Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office on 27 January 1999, Official Report, column 296.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will publish a table in the Official Report to show for each month in 1998 the (a) profit and (b) loss in respect of (i) each weaner pig produced and (ii) each finished bacon pig from the Government Agricultural College Pig Unit or as much of such information as is readily available. [67779]

The Government College Pig Unit operates a birth to bacon system and the financial records are accurate only for finished bacon pigs. Financial records are not maintained for weaner pig production.Monthly figures are very variable in a 100-sow unit because numbers sold in a month can vary markedly and meal deliveries can also distort the picture.Quarterly figures give a clearer picture and are provided for gross margin/bacon pig and net margin/bacon pig.

Table to show profit/loss per bacon pig—1998
£
Quarter	Gross margin1/pig	Profit/loss/pig
January-March 1998	8.57	-8.43
April-June 1998	16.34	-0.66
July-September 1998	-11.96	-28.96
October-December 1998	-13.19	-30.19
1 Gross margin is net output less variable costs e.g. feed, vet bill, replacement costs.

Assumed fixed costs of £17 per pig are used to calculate profit/loss per pig. This is typical of pig units. Fixed costs for the college herd are difficult to isolate from teaching costs. Fixed costs include labour, buildings, water, electricity etc.For 1998 overall, the College Pig Unit recorded a gross margin of -£1.01 and a loss of £18.01 per pig.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will list the research and development by (a) her Department and (b) the NHS, indicating separately that on health technology assessment each year since 1992. [68209]

The research expenditure of the Department of Health and Social Services (Northern Ireland) in the period 1992–93 to 1997–98 was as shown in the table. Expenditure on health technology assessment could be identified only at disproportionate cost. In 1996–97, total Health and Personal Social Services expenditure on research was estimated to be approximately £12 million. Totals for other years, and separate identification of expenditure on health technology assessment for 1996–97, cannot be produced except at disproportionate expense.

Research expenditure by Department of Health and Social Services (Northern Ireland)
Year	£ million
1992–93	1.62
1993–94	1.83
1994–95	1.50
1995–96	2.25
1996–97	1.30
1997–98	2.10

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what responsibilities which her Department had prior to the Comprehensive Spending Review are to be (a) discontinued by her Department, (b) transferred to another department, (c) transferred to an executive agency and (d) added to her Department over the period 1998–99 to 2001–02. [68409]

The Comprehensive Spending Review did not lead directly to any of the Secretary of State's responsibilities being discontinued, transferred or added over the period 1998–99 to 2001–02. Under devolution, many of the functions currently the responsibility of the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland will transfer to the Northern Ireland Assembly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what additional legislation, not currently before Parliament, was assumed in the production of her Department's spending allocation for 1999–2000 to 2001–02 in the Comprehensive Spending Review. [68425]

There is a long-standing 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 Northern Ireland what are the rules governing the use of the CRO form by the RUC; what protection exists for vulnerable witnesses against its misuse; and how many CRO forms were completed by how many individuals in the last year for which figures are available. [67435]

[holding answer 2 February 1999]: The RUC use a number of different forms associated with the Criminal Records Office (CRO). Unfortunately it is not clear to which of these my hon. Friend refers and it is not therefore possible to answer his question. If he would care to write giving further details I will ensure he receives a full response, a copy of which will be placed in the library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the percentage of (a) five-year-olds, (b) six-year-olds and (c) seven-year-olds educated in class sizes of 30 or less (i) currently and (ii) in May 1997. [68612]

The January 1998 annual Schools' Census showed the following percentages of pupils in Wales were being educated in classes of 30 or less.

Year	Usual age of pupils	Percentage
Reception	5	74.3
Year 1	6	66.4
Year 2	7	62.5
Other key stage 1 classes of mixed year groups	—	74.9

Comparable information is not available for earlier years.At January 1998, there were 30,734 pupils in key stage 1 classes of over 30 pupils. On the basis of grant approvals for local authorities to employ additional teachers from September 1998, it is estimated that 23,525 fewer pupils are being educated in classes of this size than would have been the case without grant. The 1999 schools' Census will give the actual position.In future this will become the responsibility of the National Assembly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will estimate (a) how many schools in Wales have requested additional funding in order to reduce infant class sizes to under 30 pupils in the last 12 months and (b) the number of such requests that were successful. [68730]

Local education authorities bid for 413 schools to receive funding for infant class size reduction in 1998–99. Bids for 302 schools were successful. LEAs have bid for 570 schools to receive Infant Class Size Reduction Grant in 1999–2000. Bids are currently being assessed and LEAs will be advised of the successful schools in March.In future this will become the responsibility of the National Assembly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many education action zones have been set up in Wales. [68611]

None.In future this will become the responsibility of the National Assembly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to introduce education action zones in Wales. [68610]

We have made it clear that any decision on the introduction of Education Action Zones in Wales will be taken only after full and extensive consultation.In future this will become the responsibility of the National Assembly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he expects the report of the North Wales Child Abuse Inquiry to be published. [68841]

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will arrange for publication of the Tribunal's report when it has been completed: this is not yet the case.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on local government revenue spending and grant support in 1999–2000. [69460]

I met the Welsh Local Government Association on 15 December and Welsh police authorities on 4 January to discuss the proposed settlement that I announced in December. I have given very careful consideration to their comments on it and to the many comments that I have received from hon. Members and others.I have decided that, net of specific grants, total standard spending (TSS) for 1999–2000 will be £2,986.6 million and net aggregate external finance will be £2,570.2 million. These final figures represent increases on 1998–99 of 5.1 per cent. and 4.8 per cent. respectively.Both figures are £0.2 million higher than the provisional amounts I announced on 9 December, because of a small increase in funding to match grants for education, support and training. The extra amount within net TSS for education is also increased, to £70.2 million.In response to concerns expressed to me during the consultation period, I have decided to alter the formula for calculating the capital charges element of standard spending assessments (SSAs). The effect of the change is to increase SSAs for police authorities by £1.8 million. Details of final SSAs for councils and police authorities are shown in the table.It also takes account of other minor changes between provisional and final SSAs caused by data changes.The House will have the opportunity to debate my decisions when it considers the Local Government Finance Report (Wales) 1999–2000 on 11 February.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement about the operation of the Social Exclusion Unit in Wales. [69036]

The remit of the Social Exclusion Unit covers England only. However, its members and officials from the Welsh Office keep in regular contact to ensure that best practice and good ideas are shared. From time to time, the Unit also draws on expertise from Wales or visits projects in the Principality.I am a member of the Ministerial Network which guides the work of the Unit. This ensures that Wales has a voice at an early stage in the development of policy with an impact beyond England and that Welsh experience and innovations can be considered as part of the wider process of policy formulation.The Secretary of State has ensured that policies to combat social exclusion are given renewed priority in the Welsh Office and in future this will become the responsibility of the National Assembly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many of (a) the applicants and (b) those interviewed for the Chairmanship of the North West Wales NHS Trust were (i) male and (ii) female. [69034]

Eight people applied for the Chair of the North West Wales NHS Trust, all male. Three were shortlisted and interviewed for the Chair appointment.In future this will become the responsibility of the National Assembly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much was distributed to each health authority and NHS trust in Wales in each of the last three years. [69035]

The Department provided funding to health authorities to purchase health care as set out in the following table. NHS trusts receive most of their funding from their local health authority with additional amounts from other health bodies under contracts to provide health care. A table showing the total income of NHS trusts is also provided.

£ million
Health authorities	1995–961
Clwyd	269.954
Dyfed	240.122
Gwent	292.284
Gwynedd	167.592
Mid Glamorgan	374.718
Powys	92.384
South Glamorgan	305.089
West Glamorgan	246.401

£ million
Health authorities	1996–972	1997–98
Bro Taf	547.699	552.929
Dyfed Powys	350.832	362.580
Gwent	380.139	393.071
Morgannwg	375.359	376.415
North Wales	465.655	487.461
1 District health authority and family health services authority income
2 On 1 April 1996 the eight DHAs and eight FHSAs merged to form five health authorities

£ million
NHS trust	1995–96	1996–97	1997–98
Bridgend & District NHS Trust	69.062	84.179	89.648
Cardiff Community NHS Trust	58.194	59.998	62.647
Carmarthen & District NHS Trust	40.503	41.688	43.911
Ceredigion & Mid Wales NHS Trust	24.056	25.679	25.961
Clwydian Community Care NHS Trust	65.521	66.532	68.910
Derwen NHS Trust	22.964	24.405	—
East Glamorgan NHS Trust	50.903	51.516	53.416
Glan Clwyd NHS Trust	62.492	68.483	70.027
Glan Hafren NHS Trust	95.989	73.612	74.022
Glan y Mor NHS Trust	—	73.612	74.022
Gwent Community NHS Trust	60.289	61.103	62.080
Gwynedd Community NHS Trust	50.116	52.768	53.908
Gwynedd Hospitals NHS Trust	61.204	65.455	66.420
Llandough Hospital NHS Trust	59.690	64.400	66.940
Llanelli Dinefwr NHS Trust	31.774	33.515	33.985
Mid Glamorgan Ambulance NHS Trust	8.627	9.307	9.974
Morriston Hospital NHS Trust	73.724	77.993	85.089
Nevill Hall NHS Trust	43.435	46.735	47.988
North Glamorgan NHS Trust	—	61.703	62.802
North Wales Ambulance NHS Trust	13.028	13.787	14.207
Pembrokeshire NHS Trust	43.154	44.853	—
Pembrokeshire/Derwen NHS Trust	—	—	69.073
Powys Healthcare NHS Trust	43.248	44.920	44.544
Rhondda Healthcare NHS Trust	31.910	32.839	34.954
South East Wales Ambulance NHS Trust	18.140	18.374	18.941
Swansea NHS Trust	59.342	63.946	68.507

£ million
NHS trust	1995–96	1996–97	1997–98
University Dental Hospital NHS Trust	8.492	8.984	9.184
University Hospital of Wales NHS Trust	166.848	187.587	189.136
Velindre Hospital NHS Trust	13.826	17.310	18.536
West Wales Ambulance NHS Trust	10.989	12.308	12.880
Wrexham Maelor NHS Trust	57.714	61.091	63.815

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 25 January 1999, Official Report, column 75, on electronic warfare, if he will take lead responsibility for electronic warfare attacks on (a) the banking system, (b) utilities, (c) telecommunications, (d) air traffic control, (e) areas currently the responsibility of the Ministry of Defence and (f) areas currently within the responsibility of the Cabinet Office. [68312]

Following my answer on 25 January 1999, Official Report, column 79, there is to be no change of responsibilities between Departments. I believe that it is better to build upon the relationships and responsibilities that Departments already have with the relevant parts of the private sector. I see no good reason to change this.My taking the lead responsibility within Government for the measures proposed serves to put onto a more formal footing the liaison over the security arrangements necessary to protect our vital national assets.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 25 January 1999, Official Report, column 75, on electronic warfare, if his answer was the statement referred to by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, the hon. Member for Warley (Mr. Spellar), on 4 November 1998, Official Report, column 992. [68347]

Yes.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the total number of (a) initial inquiries, (b) applications and (c) successful applications, for new police force recruitment, in each police force, in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement. [68950]

Information is not held centrally on the number of initial recruitment inquiries made to police forces. Information on the number of applications and the number of new recruits to police forces is shown in the tables.

Applications made to police forces in England and Wales
Forces	1995–96	1996–97	1997–98
Avon and Somerset	2,186.00	—	621.00
Bedfordshire	427.00	21.00	284.00
Cambridgeshire	416.00	1,099.00	473.00
Cheshire	1,339.00	829.00	829.00
City of London	780.00	446.00	638.00
Cleveland	291.00	1,393.00	—
Cumbria	354.00	1,053.00	389.00
Derbyshire	1,384.00	807.00	612.00
Devon and Cornwall	1,596.00	1,064.00	1,000.00
Dorset	279.00	377.00	665.00
Durham	1,149.00	1,343.00	848.00
Dyfed-Powys	405.00	573.00	861.00
Essex	1,756.00	1,241.00	304.00
Gloucestershire	405.00	322.00	1,013.00
Greater Manchester	3,049.00	2,366.00	2,614.00
Gwent	1,081.00	932.00	308.00
Hampshire	2,431.00	1,797.00	929.00
Hertfordshire	836.00	659.00	314.00
Humberside	315.00	194.00	219.00
Kent	984.00	1,016.00	261.00
Lancashire	1,254.00	1,765.00	1,307.00
Leicestershire	1,636.00	962.00	711.00
Lincolnshire	379.00	1,236.00	1,077.00
Merseyside	0.00	41.00	3,064.00
Metropolitan Police	10,556.00	3,941.00	4,633.00
Norfolk	398.00	603.00	408.00
Northamptonshire	469.00	469.00	432.00
Northumbria	1,706.00	1,486.00	2,044.00
North Wales	489.00	316.00	638.00
North Yorkshire	360.00	434.00	607.00
Nottinghamshire	1,166.00	927.00	867.00
South Wales	3,669.00	2,208.00	1,654.00
South Yorkshire	982.00	1,180.00	786.00
Staffordshire	530.00	620.00	1,260.00
Suffolk	1,067.00	1,576.00	834.00
Surrey	581.00	543.00	731.00
Sussex	1,791.00	442.00	2,108.00
Thames Valley	837.00	1,556.00	1,889.00
Warwickshire	0.00	201.00	695.00
West Mercia	—	600.00	867.00
West Midlands	3,111.00	2,212.00	3,272.00
West Yorkshire	1,465.00	1,660.00	975.00
Wiltshire	—	264.00	293.00
England and Wales Total	53,909.00	42,774.00	44.334.00

New recruits to police forces in England and Wales
Forces	1995–96	1996–97	1997–98
Avon and Somerset	120.00	141.00	105.00
Bedfordshire	66.00	12.00	46.00
Cambridgeshire	45.00	96.00	58.00
Cheshire	115.00	103.00	87.00
City of London	49.00	42.00	29.00
Cleveland	25.00	80.00	56.00
Cumbria	0.00	74.00	46.00
Derbyshire	52.00	77.00	61.00
Devon and Cornwall	120.00	94.00	172.00
Dorset	18.00	60.00	75.00
Durham	80.00	106.00	105.00
Dyfed-Powys	36.00	45.00	33.00
Essex	92.00	185.00	108.00
Gloucestershire	28.00	60.00	27.00
Greater Manchester	290.00	345.00	436.00
Gwent	81.00	68.00	31.00
Hampshire	194.00	235.00	182.00
Hertfordshire	76.00	126.00	63.00
Humberside	98.00	72.00	70.00
Kent	128.00	268.00	118.00
Lancashire	121.00	182.00	111.00
Leicestershire	173.00	135.00	115.00

New recruits to police forces in England and Wales
Forces	1995–96	1996–97	1997–98
Lincolnshire	19.00	109.00	36.00
Merseyside	30.00	57.00	160.00
Metropolitan Police	1,212.00	670.00	1,164.00
Norfolk	77.00	95.00	55.00
Northamptonshire	41.00	65.00	52.00
Northumbria	258.00	177.00	227.00
North Wales	0.00	0.00	63.00
North Yorkshire	67.00	63.00	65.00
Nottinghamshire	91.00	89.00	0.00
South Wales	246.00	152.00	170.00
South Yorkshire	166.00	200.00	135.00
Staffordshire	65.00	99.00	220.00
Suffolk	7.00	100.00	69.00
Surrey	47.00	55.00	112.00
Sussex	318.00	158.00	136.00
Thames Valley	26.00	183.00	258.00
Warwickshire	0.00	0.00	54.00
West Mercia	50.00	110.00	62.00
West Midlands	507.00	388.00	445.00
West Yorkshire	283.00	267.00	182.00
Wiltshire	68.00	20.00	60.00
England and Wales Total	5,585.00	5,663.00	5,859.00

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the dates his Department received each report from Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons and the date each report was published since May 1997; how many reports are currently being considered by his Department prior to publication; and when they were received by his Department. [68955]

Since 1 May 1997, 71 reports have been received from Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons. To date, 60 reports have been published. The remaining 11 reports will be published in due course, in line with the agreed protocol. The detailed information is set out in the table.

Publication of reports by HM chief Inspector of Prisons
Establishment	Date inspection report received by the Secretary of State	Date report publishsed
Buckley Hall	6 May 1997	3 October 1997
Littlehey	6 May 1997	30 October 1997
Blantyre House	2 June 1997	14 October 1997
Feltham	2 June 1997	23 September 1997
Full Sutton	2 June 1997	22 August 1997
Swaleside	2 June 1997	21 August 1997
Lincoln	23 June 1997	16 October 1997
Exeter	21 July 1997	23 October 1997
Cardiff	29 July 1997	23 October 1997
Dorchester	29 July 1997	23 October 1997
Aldington	29 July 1997	6 November 1997
Northallerton	11 August 1997	30 October 1997
Castington	11 August 1997	6 November 1997
Bull wood Hall	11 August 1997	11 December 1997
Morton Hall	13 August 1997	16 October 1997
Pentonville	14 August 1997	4 December 1997
Hewell Grange	27 August 1997	6 November 1997
Brockhill	27 August 1997	18 February 1998
Haverigg	28 August 1997	13 November 1997
Garth	15 September 1997	11 December 1997
Acklington	16 October 1997	11 December 1997
Kingston	24 October 1997	3 March 1998
Wealstun	28 October 1997	2 December 1997
Grendon/Spring Hill	24 November 1997	12 February 1998
Erlestoke	3 December 1997	4 March 1998

Publication of reports by HM Chief Inspector of Prisons
Establishment	Date inspection report received by the Secretary of State	Date report published
Swinfen Hall	3 December 1997	11 March 1998
Canterbury	5 December 1997	13 February 1998
Lewes	9 December 1997	1 April 1998
Stoke Heath	9 December 1997	25 February 1998
Cookham Wood	7 January 1998	19 March 1998
Dartmoor	12 January 1998	20 March 1998
Wakefield	28 January 1998	30 April 1998
Glen Parva	28 January 1998	11 March 1998
Manchester	5 February 1998	7 April 1998
Frankland	10 February 1998	15 May 1998
Holloway	18 February 1998	3 June 1998
Blundeston	27 February 1998	22 May 1998
Featherstone	24 March 1998	1 May 1998
Shrewsbury	21 April 1998	1 July 1998
Winchester	21 April 1998	24 June 1998
Gloucester	11 May 1998	17 June 1998
Wellingborough	11 May 1998	18 June 1998
The Mount	11 May 1998	18 June 1998
The Verne	2 June 1998	8 July 1998
Long Lartin	5 June 1998	17 August 1998
Werrington	7 July 1998	23 September 1998
Bedford	8 July 1998	9 September 1998
Everthorpe	3 August 1998	13 October 1998
Belmarsh	5 August 1998	8 October 1998
Aylesbury	13 August 1998	28 October 1998
Eastwood Park	14 August 1998	29 September 1998
Highpoint	14 August 1998	29 September 1998
Sudbury	19 August 1998	16 October 1998
Nottingham	20 August 1998	2 December 1998
Woodhill	1 September 1998	2 October 1998
Haslar	14 September 1998	11 December 1998
North Sea Camp	30 September 1998	8 January 1999
Norwich	1 October 1998	16 December 1998
Thorn Cross	19 October 1998	12 January 1999
Birmingham	19 October 1998	13 January 1999
Leicester	2 December 1998	—
Kirkham	8 December 1998	—
The Wolds	11 December 1998	—
Blakenhurst	14 December 1998	—
Albany	17 December 1998	—
Askham Grange	17 December 1998	—
Feltham	18 December 1998	—
Chelmsford	21 December 1998	—
Doncaster	4 January 1999	—
Elmley	15 January 1999	—
Weare	26 January 1999	—

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will investigate the procedures used at Doncaster Coroner's Court in relation to the completed inquests into the suicides of prisoners held in the Premier Prison in Doncaster in 1997. [68580]

We have no plans to do so. Any dissatisfaction with the exercise of the coroner's discretion is a matter for the courts. Complaints about the conduct of the coroner or the administration of the court may be referred to the Home Office.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to bring forward proposals on safety in town centres. [68783]

Our proposals on community safety in towns and elsewhere are contained in the Crime and Disorder Act 1998, which lays a duty on the local authority and police in every area, in partnership with a wide range of other bodies, to carry out a full audit of the levels and patterns of crime and disorder in that area. Based upon the findings of the audit and after consultation with the community about them, police and council must then formulate and implement a strategy for the reduction of crime and disorder. Where the audit identifies crime or disorder problems in town centres as a major concern, we would expect the strategy to address them.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidelines he has issued on access of persons detained at police stations for immigration offences to hon. Members. [68797]

The Home Office has not issued guidelines on access to Members of Parliament by persons detained under Immigration Act powers and held at police stations. Such detainees may be allowed to contact a Member of Parliament, or anyone else and to receive a visit from a Member of Parliament, or anyone else, at the discretion of the police custody officer.Home Office booklets have been issued providing "Information for Members of Parliament about immigration and nationality enquiries" and "Guidelines on the handling of representations by Members of Parliament in immigration cases". These booklets seek to help Members of Parliament decide whether or not to make representations in immigration cases and to decide whether those representations should be directed to Home Office Ministers or direct to the Immigration and Nationality Department.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the final funding allocations for police authorities in England and Wales will be in 1999–2000. [69600]

Allocations for each police authority are set out in the table. The table also shows allocations approved by Parliament for 1998–99.

£ million
Police authority	1998–1999 allocation1	1999–2000 allocation1
English Shire forces
Avon & Somerset	164.3	168.4
Bedfordshire	60.9	61.4
Cambridgeshire	71.9	74.8
Cheshire	104.7	109.0
Cleveland	80.4	81.7
Cumbria	59.0	60.1
Derbyshire	97.7	102.1
Devon & Cornwall	167.4	174.3
Dorset	67.8	70.1
Durham	78.1	81.3
Essex	158.4	163.0
Gloucestershire	61.5	62.4
Hampshire	189.1	194.5
Hertfordshire	94.1	100.0
Humberside	110.6	113.0
Kent	178.9	183.1
Lancashire	174.9	178.2
Leicestershire	99.1	102.3
Lincolnshire	60.7	63.4

£ million
Police authority	1998–1999 allocation1	1999–2000 allocation1
Norfolk	80.9	83.4
North Yorkshire	75.6	77.6
Northamptonshire	62.8	65.3
Nottinghamshire	123.0	126.3
Staffordshire	111.1	113.0
Suffolk	66.0	68.6
Surrey	84.2	91.9
Sussex	162.6	166.4
Thames Valley	219.3	224.6
Warwickshire	51.1	52.2
West Mercia	110.0	113.0
Wiltshire	63.4	64.9
English Metropolitan forces
Greater Manchester	364.8	375.7
Merseyside	233.3	236.3
Northumbria	205.4	213.0
South Yorkshire	165.4	171.3
West Midlands	371.9	380.6
West Yorkshire	279.5	286.3
London forces
Metropolitan Police2	1,715.3	1,743.9
City of London3	57.1	55.4
English total	6,682.6	6,852.8
Welsh forces
Dyfed-Powys	51.1	51.7
Gwent	67.3	69.7
North Wales	73.2	75.5
South Wales	161.3	163.8
Welsh total	353.0	360.8
Total	7,035.5	7,213.6
1 Rounded to the nearest £100,000. The Allocation is the sum of: Police Grant, Transitional Grant, Police SSA, Capital Finance SSA, SSA Reduction Grant and Central Support Protection Grant.
2 Figure for the Metropolitan Police does not include funding allocated to the Receiver under the Environmental, Protective and Cultural Services SSA for school crossing patrols, Magistrates' Courts and the Probation Service. It does include its Special Payment.
3 Figure for the City includes Police SSA, Grant and SSA Reduction Grant, but excludes other SSAs (e.g. Capital Financing) and Central Support Protection Grant. These are allocated to the Common Council of the City of London as a whole in respect of all its functions.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has received the report of the Advisory Council on Public Records on their review of the criteria used by the Security Service in deciding whether to retain files on grounds of historical interest. [69601]

On 29 July 1998, Official Report, columns 251–54, I announced to the House that, with the approval of the Lord Chancellor, I had invited the Advisory Council on Public Records to review the criteria which the Security Service employs to select files for permanent preservation on grounds of historical interest. The Chairman of the Council, the Master of the Rolls, accepted the invitation and submitted the Council's report to me on 21 December.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what educational publicity campaign he plans, at what cost, to inform electors of the proportional voting system to be used to elect United Kingdom members of the European Parliament in June. [69033]

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for East Carmarthen and Dinefwr (Mr. Williams) on 18 January 1999, Official Report, column 327.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many school crossing patrol positions there are in England and Wales; and how many vacancies there are. [68814]

I understand from the Local Government Management Board that in 1996, the most recent year for which a figure is available, there were 18,786 school crossing patrol wardens in England and Wales. Information on the number of vacancies is not collected centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the criteria used in assessments of prisons in England and Wales for the awarding of a Charter Mark; and if he will make a statement. [68952]

I have been asked to reply.The criteria used in assessment of prisons in England and Wales for the award of a Charter Mark are the same as are used in assessing all other public sector applications. For the 1998 assessment process these criteria were:

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many times he or his junior Ministers, or predecessors in the post, have paid official visits to (a) the Czech Republic, (b) Poland, (c) Hungary, (d) Slovenia, (e) Estonia and (f) Cyprus since May 1997; and what was the purpose of each visit. [67700]

[holding answer 27 January 1999]: Since May 1997 DTI Ministers have made the following visits to Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic.

Ministerial visit	Purpose of visit
December 1997
Hungary	Trade Promotion
Czech Republic	Trade Promotion
Poland	Trade Promotion
January 1998
Czech Republic	Trade Policy
Hungary	Trade Promotion
September 1998
Poland	Address a Seminar on Entrepreneurship and meeting with the Polish Minister for the Economy

There have been no visits to Slovenia, Estonia or Cyprus.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement about the regulatory procedures which must now be followed in respect of the proposed merger between BAT Industries and Rothmans International. [67949]

It will be necessary to determine whether this proposed merger falls for consideration by the European Commission under the EC Merger Regulation, or by the UK authorities under the Fair Trading Act 1973. If it falls to the EC Merger Regulation it is for the parties to notify the European Commission. The UK plays a formal role in the Commission's assessment process. If it falls to the UK authorities my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry would decide whether or not to refer it to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission in the light of the advice of the Director General of Fair Trading. Each case is considered on its own merits.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry for how long a British company or agency which has supplied military, security or police equipment which has been exempted from export licence requirements is required to maintain records of such transfers. [68303]

Export of controlled military and paramilitary goods is subject to the Export of Goods (Control) Order 1994, made under the provisions of the Import, Export and Customs Powers (Defence) Act 1939. The 1939 Act does not bind the Crown. In addition, a number of international organisations have had immunity from export prohibitions conferred upon them by means of Orders in Council made under the International Organisations (Immunities and Privileges) Act 1968. The Government and those immune international organisations are under no legal obligation to maintain records of their exports.No other agencies or companies are exempt from the provisions of the Export of Goods (Control) Order 1994.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) if he will list the companies granted export licences for the export of electro-shock batons to (a) Egypt, (b) Botswana and (c) Saudi Arabia; [68230](2) which British company brokered the trans-shipment of electro-shock batons to Saudi Arabia under the trans-shipment licence granted by his Department in 1993. [68194]

I refer my hon. Friend to the letter to her, dated 16 July 1998, from my noble Friend Lord Clinton-Davis. A copy of this letter was placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many visits his officials have made to British Aerospace to check that electro-shock batons were not transferred to Saudi Arabia as part of the Al Yamamah deal. [68331]

I have been asked to reply.Officials from both the Department of Trade and Industry and the Ministry of Defence contacted BAe Royal Ordnance following allegations made in a Channel 4 "Dispatches" programme, screened on 11 January 1995. The Company has gone on record to deny the allegations made in the programme.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to implement the recommendations of the European Commission's Scientific Committee on Toxicity, Ecotoxicity and the Environment in respect of the sale of soft PVC toys. [68917]

The independent Scientific Committee on Toxicity, Ecotoxicity and the Environment (SCTEE) was asked by the European Commission to provide an opinion on the use of phthalate plasticisers in soft PVC toys, including tethers. The SCTEE made a number of recommendations and observations. These include concerns about the possible use of one phthalate (DEHP) in toys intended to be mouthed by children and a recommendation on a safe migration level for DINP. The SCTEE's assessment of the toxicity of phthalates is consistent with the views of the EU Scientific Committee for Food.Tests of PVC toys and tethers have been commissioned by DTI, based on the SCTEE's recommendations. These indicate that DEHP is no longer used in PVC toys and to date no toys have been found on the UK market which release DINP in levels above those recommended by the SCTEE. A programme of testing to monitor phthalates release levels is continuing.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the visits his officials have undertaken to audit open individual export licences held by Alvis since 1988. [68787]

Since 1988, ECO Compliance Officers have made 6 routine compliance visits in total to Alvis Logistics Ltd. and Alvis Vehicles Ltd.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to encourage recycling of electronic equipment. [68626]

Electrical and electronic equipment is one of the sectors targeted in the Government's Producer Responsibility initiative. Through this initiative, the Department of Trade and Industry has encouraged industry-led action to increase re-use and recycling of electrical and electronic equipment. Recently, the Department issued a guide to the re-use of unwanted computer equipment.The Government are currently developing a new waste strategy, and has made clear that they are committed to achieving substantial increases in recycling. In this context, the Government are currently assessing options for developing the markets for recycled materials and products.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the arrangements by which the Director General of Research Councils will avoid conflicts of interest while on secondment from Hewlett-Packard. [69352]

The DGRC, Dr. John Taylor, will continue to be paid by Hewlett-Packard while on secondment from Hewlett-Packard to the DTI. For the duration of this appointment, the DTI will reimburse Hewlett-Packard at a rate within the relevant Senior Civil Service pay band for his post.In addition, Dr. Taylor will stand aside from discussions or decisions having any specific effect on Hewlett-Packard for the duration of his appointment. In practice, since the Department is not involved in decisions on individual science projects in accordance with the Haldane principle, and since Research Councils funding goes to universities and scientific institutes rather than firms, no material difficulties are foreseen.Should, unusually, funding be granted directly from the Research Councils to Hewlett-Packard, I will report this to Parliament and give details of the circumstances.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many people in the north-west Region are claiming compensation for suffering from vibration white finger. [69172]

The total number of Vibration White Finger claims received by IRISC, the Department's claim handlers, from people in the north-west region is 1,247.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on his Department's policy on the EU code of conduct on arms exports. [68929]

I have been asked to reply.We are committed to the implementation of the provisions of the EU Code of Conduct on Arms Exports.

To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire (Mr. Kirkwood), representing the House of Commons Commission, if he will make a statement on opening the Line of Route during the summer adjournment. [69171]

To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, if he will make a statement on proposals to open the Palace of Westminster to visitors on Saturdays, Sundays and during periodic adjournments; and what plans there are to charge such visitors. [68598]

The Commission has approved in principle the re-opening of the Line of Route during the Summer Recess. The need to comply with EU procedures in letting contracts makes it impossible, however, to achieve the re-opening earlier than the summer of 2000.On the advice of the Administration Committee, the Finance and Services Committee will look at the viability of a project prepared by a firm of outside consultants on how the Line of Route re-opening is to be managed. It will report its conclusions to the House of Commons Commission.In respect of the specific matter of charging visitors who wish to use the Line of Route, the Commission has taken the view that this is a matter which the House itself should decide. A motion will be put before the House in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the speed limit that applies to drivers of 49cc motor scooters. [67666]

There is no specific speed limit for 49cc motor scooters, which are classed as motor cycles. The road speed limits, either set nationally or locally by traffic authorities, therefore apply. Motorcycles of under 50cc are not permitted on motorways.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if a local authority is permitted to merge databases containing personal data which were originally collected for diverse functions, on the grounds that such a merger would improve the economy, efficiency or effectiveness of that authority; and if he will make a statement. [68049]

In discharging their functions, local authorities must make such arrangements as necessary to secure economy, efficiency and effectiveness. Where these arrangements involve the merging of databases containing personal data the Data Protection Act must be complied with. In November 1997 the Audit Commission published a Code of Data Matching Practice for local authorities, and the Data Protection Registrar has indicated that she expects them to comply with the Code's provisions.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions in how many cases a driver, found to be over the legal limit for alcohol, has caused the death of another person in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement. [68308]

The numbers of accidents which involved a driver who was over the legal limit for alcohol and in which one or more people killed were not themselves drivers above the legal limit were: 170 in 1994, 200 in 1995 and 190 in 1996.These are estimates rounded to the nearest ten and are given for the last three years for which figures are available.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the average daily number of Heavy Goods Vehicles arriving in Kent from (a) continental ports and (b) the Channel Tunnel. [68304]

The average daily number of powered goods vehicles, i.e. excluding unaccompanied trailers, arriving in Kent is 1,800 from continental ports and 800 through the Channel Tunnel.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what discussions he has held with Herefordshire Council on improvements to trunk roads in Hereford. [68232]

The Highways Agency and the Government Office for the West Midlands are discussing with Herefordshire Council measures to ease traffic congestion in Hereford. These measures include both those on the A49 trunk road and those on the local road network being promoted by the local authority through the Hereford package. A meeting was held on 21 December to establish priorities and set a realistic timetable for improvements to the A49 and complementary measures on the local road network.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when the Highways Agency will present for public consideration schemes to improve the junction of the A49 and A465 at the Belmont Roundabout. [68233]

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 if he will (i) account for the difference between outturn departmental spending in Table A1 of the Comprehensive Spending Review and outturn departmental spending in Table 1.2 of the 1998–99 Public Expenditure Statistical Analysis for his Department excluding local government and regional policy for (a) 1993–94, (b) 1994–95, (c) 1995–96 and (d) 1996–97 and (ii) provide forecast figures for departmental spending for his Department excluding local government and regional policy for (1) 1997–98, (2) 1998–99, (3) 1999–2000, (4) 2000–01 and (5) 2001–02 on a comparable basis to Table 1.2 of the 1998–99 Public Expenditure Statistical Analysis. [68381]

Information in the 1998–99 Public Expenditure Statistical Analysis was provided on the basis of the existing financial control framework. The comprehensive spending review introduced new departmental expenditure limits which (i) included elements previously outside the control total and (ii) excluded elements previously within the control total. For this Department the new elements included within its departmental expenditure limit were provision for the Capital Receipts Initiative and bus fuel duty rebate. The elements excluded from this Department's departmental expenditure limit were provision for Housing Revenue Account Subsidy and National Air Traffic Services Ltd.The Department's detailed spending plans for 1998–99 and, estimated outturn for 1997–98, are published in the Departmental Annual Report 1998 (Cm 3906). The Department's detailed spending plans for 1999–2000, 2000–01 and 2001–02 will be included in the Departmental Annual Report 1999 due to be published in late March.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions 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. [68405]

The only significant planned changes in the Department's responsibilities are in respect of the Rent Officer Service Agency, to be established in October 1999, and, subject to legislation, the transfer of certain responsibilities for railways to the Strategic Rail Authority.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions 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. [68421]

There is a long-standing 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 the Environment, Transport and the Regions what proposals his Department has to further regulate houses in multiple occupation. [68842]

We expect to issue a consultation paper on proposals for licensing of houses in multiple occupation in the early part of this year.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what plans he has made to ensure that an up-to-date register of all genetically modified food test sites is available to the relevant local authority; [68615](2) what plans he has to provide statutory consultee status to local authorities before genetically modified food test sites are authorised; [68616](3) what action his Department has taken in response to objections from residents near to genetically modified food test sites; [68617](4) if he will introduce measures to give residents within 800 metres of a genetically modified food test site the right to object to authorisation of the site. [68618]

My Department maintains a statutory register of prescribed information concerning applications for consent to release genetically modified organisms. The full register is maintained at the Department's London Office in Victoria Street. Registers are also maintained at Regional Offices of the Environment Agency and the Health and Safety Executive's Office in Edinburgh. Copies of items on the register are provided by post on request. Information on release sites and their locations is also available on the Department's Internet Website.All applicants for consent to release genetically modified organisms must place an advertisement giving the prescribed information in a newspaper circulating the area of the proposed release site. Any one, including nearby residents and local authorities, may raise an objection by writing to the Secretary of State. All objections received are considered before a decision is made on whether or not to grant consent; where appropriate, the views of the statutory Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment are sought.There are no plans to give local authorities or nearby residents statutory consultation status.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he will report on his consideration of a moratorium on commercial licences for genetically modified crops. [68619]

A number of organisations have called for a moratorium on the commercial growing of genetically modified crops. There are at present no genetically modified crops which have received all the necessary approvals to be grown commercially in Britain. The announcement I made on 21 October 1998 to the House of Lords Select Committee on the European Communities set out a programme of managed development of herbicide tolerant genetically modified crops with additional safeguards to ensure full protection of the environment. The situation will be kept under review.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 17 December 1998, Official Report, column 629, when he expects the paper on the possible wider implications of genetically modified crops to be made publicly available. [68776]

[holding answer 2 February 1999]: I expect this discussion paper which was prepared by the Secretariat to the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment (ACRE) to be made available via ACRE's page on my Department's website as soon as possible.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list those (a) local authorities, (b) local authority organisations, (c) local authority interest groups and (d) other organisations which have made representations in support of proposals to limit the payment of council tax benefit subsidy in 1999–2000. [68634]

We have not received any representations supporting our proposals to limit the payment of council tax benefit subsidy in 1999–2000.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list those (a) local authorities, (b) local authority associations, (c) local authority interest groups and (d) other organisations which have made representations (i) opposing and (ii) seeking postponement of proposals to limit the payment of council tax benefit subsidy in 1999–2000. [68633]

I have today placed in the library a list of those (a) local authorities, (b) local authority organisations, (c) local authority interest groups and (d) other organisations which have made representations (i) opposing or (ii) seeking postponement of the proposals to limit the payment of council tax benefit subsidy in 1999–2000.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate he has made of the aggregate amount of council tax subsidy to be withdrawn from local authorities in each of the years (a) 1999–2000, (b) 2000–01 and (c) 2001–02 as a consequence of the proposal to limit council tax benefit subsidy; and what plans he has to return the withdrawn sums to local authorities in aggregate. [68632]

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate he has made of the annual amount of council tax benefits subsidy to be withdrawn from local councils in the next financial year. [68733]

Only local authorities exceeding the guideline will have to make a contribution to the costs of council tax benefit. We have not made any estimate of this. It is up to local authorities to decide what council tax to set and they will have to consider the impact of the Council Tax Benefit Subsidy Limitation scheme when making these decisions.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) when he intends to publish the White Paper on aviation and airport policy; [68341](2) what steps he is taking to ensure that there is sufficient airport capacity to meet forecast air traffic growth in the South East up to and beyond 2015; and if he will make a statement; [68333](3) if he plans to publish a White Paper on aviation and airport policy during the current Parliament. [69027]

[holding answer 1 February 1999]: In our White Paper "A New Deal for Transport" we set out a number of key policy principles relating to airports. We also announced that we will prepare a new statement of UK airports policy, and a large amount of preparatory work is now under way. We are considering the precise scope and timing of the policy statement, and how to undertake the necessary preparatory work relating to South East England, and will make a further announcement in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the findings of the 1993 Study of Runway Capacity to Serve the South East. [68334]

[holding answer 1 February 1999]: The study of Runway Capacity to Serve the South East was prepared at the behest of the previous Government. In preparing a new UK airports policy statement, we shall wish to take a fresh look at the issue, in the light of the principles we have set out in the "New Deal for Transport" White Paper.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the impact of the timetable for planning for new airport capacity in the South East on the competitiveness of the region. [68335]

[holding answer 1 February 1999]: The Government recognise the importance of airport capacity for competitiveness in the South East. The impact of the timetable for planning new airports capacity will therefore be an important factor informing the precise scope and timing of the new UK airports policy statement.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the effect of global warming on sea levels. [68695]

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, in its 1995 assessment, reported that global mean sea level has risen 10–25cm over the last 100 years, and that it is likely that this rise has been largely due to the concurrent increase in global temperature over the same time period.The Panel's projections for the future, for a wide range of emission scenarios, are that global mean sea level will rise by 15–95cm by the year 2100. Research funded by my Department at the Hadley Centre suggests that, for a "business as usual scenario", global mean sea level will rise by about 50cm by the year 2100.Estimates of sea level rise for regions of the UK were prepared for the UK Climate Impacts Programme and published in 1998, for various climate change scenarios which take account of expected land movements. Similar allowances to the changes now estimated have been used since 1989 for the construction or improvement of sea defences.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what information he has received from the Eurostar consortium regarding the viability of direct Eurostar services from West Coast Main Line stations north of Watford to mainland Europe; [68847](2) what assessment he has made of the possible use of public subsidy to support direct Eurostar services from the West Coast Main Line to mainland Europe; [68848](3) what plans he has to invite other service providers to submit proposals for direct Eurostar services from the West Coast Main Line to mainland Europe. [68849]

My right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister received a report from Inter-Capital and Regional Rail Ltd. (ICRR), the consortium appointed by London and Continental Railways to manage and operate Eurostar, on 13 November 1998 entitled "Review of Regional Eurostar Services". On 28 January 1999, Official Report, column 340, he announced the commissioning of a thorough and independent review. In addition to consideration of a broad range of key elements, this review will address itself in particular to the study completed by ICRR and to the alternative proposals put forward by the Virgin Group. He has asked for a report to be presented to Government as soon as practicable.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) if he will make it his policy to make it an offence to park in disabled parking boxes without authorisation; [69051](2) what recent representations he has received in favour of making unauthorised parking in disabled parking boxes a criminal offence. [69052]

It is already an offence under Section 47 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 to park a vehicle which is not displaying an Orange Badge in an on-street designated disabled persons' parking bay.The Orange Badge Scheme does not, however, apply to off-street car parks, whether local authority or privately owned, and enforcement of those disabled persons' parking bays is a matter for the operator concerned. In the case of local authority off-street car parks, their off-street parking place orders normally make it either an offence for someone not displaying a valid Orange Badge to park in a disabled persons' parking bay or make it subject to the payment of an "excess charge". In private car parks, we understand it is possible in law for the owners to agree with the local authority that a parking place order be made in respect of that car park. Conditions of use can then be enforced as if it were a local authority car park, with penalties or excess charges levied on offenders.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what monitoring he is conducting of the Water Industry Specifications Committee's emerging standard for plastic pipes; [68116](2) what estimate he has made of the percentage of sewers which are made from thin wall plastics; [68118](3) what assessment he has made of the susceptibility of each of the principal sewerage drainage pipe materials to damage by rodents. [68121]

The development of Water Industry Specifications, choice of pipework materials, durability and susceptibility to damage is a matter for the water and sewerage undertakers. The Department does not collect information on materials used by the water industry.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what measures he proposes to ensure that rats do not escape into properties from sewers. [68117]

Sewerage undertakers have ongoing programmes to control and reduce the number of rats in public sewers. These include baiting, which is usually targeted only in those areas where there is evidence of rats so as to avoid unnecessary waste of funds. In following up one of the recommendations of the Environment, Transport and Regional Affairs Committee Report on Sewage Treatment and Disposal, my officials are initiating discussions between the Local Government Association and Water UK to establish what further action may be needed, who should carry it out and whether local authorities need greater powers. The water industry is also conducting research into the most effective ways of controlling rats in sewers.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will incorporate a rodent damage test for drainage pipes in the review of Part H of the Building Regulations. [68119]

In considering whether the advice on preventing rodent damage needs to be strengthened, the review of Part H will consider all relevant issues.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of recent trends in the level of rat infestations of homes and businesses. [68120]

The DETR's 1996 English House Condition Survey collected data on the incidence or rodents and the types of treatments that are being used to treat any infestation. Results should be published later this year.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what arrangements are in place to monitor the contamination of drinking water supplies by leaking sewers and drains; and what has been the results of such monitoring in each of the last three years. [68122]

Water companies are required to notify the Drinking Water Inspectorate of any event or incident which affects or threatens to affect drinking water quality. In 1998, 1997 and 1996 water companies reported 7, 4 and 7 occasions respectively when a leaking sewer threatened drinking water quality and precautionary measures were taken to protect consumers, but on all of these occasions there was no evidence that public health was affected.Water companies are required to monitor routinely drinking water quality at consumers' taps for faecal coliforms, the main indicator of microbiological contamination. If faecal coliforms are detected water companies take immediate action to protect consumers and rectify the cause. The table shows the results for the last three years for which data is available and includes detections where companies found that the consumers' taps were contaminated.

Year	Number of samples from consumers taps	Number (%) of samples in which faecal coliforms detected
1995	156,306	111(0.07)
1996	157,342	97(0.06)
1997	157,252	97(0.06)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to monitor the punctuality of scheduled air services in the same way as rail services are currently monitored. [68533]

The Civil Aviation Authority has published monthly and annual punctuality statistics for scheduled and charter passenger services from principal airports since January 1998. Reports are published monthly on the CAA's website (www.caa.co.uk) and a press notice outlining trends in delays is issued quarterly.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list Highways Agency projects in 1998, including the 1998 national travel survey, which made use of (a) automatic traffic counters, (b) roadside interviews, (c) manual classified counts and (d) additional surveys undertaken outside the normal hours of 7 am to 7 pm on weekdays. [67710]

The following is a table based on the information which is readily available, of the Highways Agency's projects for which surveys were undertaken in 1998. The table uses the types of surveys defined in the question but the headings describing the types of survey have been abbreviated to (a) ATCs, (b) RSIs and (c) MCCs.There were no additional surveys undertaken in connection with Highways Agency projects outside the normal hours of 7am to 7pm Monday to Friday.

Project	ATCs	RSIs	MCCs
A428 Caxton Common to Hardwick	Yes	Yes	Yes
A14 Route Management Strategy	Yes
Salisbury Transport Study	Yes	Yes	Yes
A2/A282 Dartford Traffic Surveys	Yes	Yes	Yes
Bristol Severnside Study	Yes
A596 Wigton Bypass before/after	Yes		Yes
A5 Fazeley before/after	Yes		Yes
A1M Washford-Dishforth	Yes
M621/M1 Link before/after	Yes
M65 Blackburn Southern Bypass	Yes
M1/A1 Link (Loftbouse/Branham) before/after	Yes
A564 Derby Southern Bypass	Yes
A1033 Hendon Road Improvement	Yes		Yes
M62 J8 and J8–9 widening	Yes	Yes	Yes
A56 Manchester Sub-Regional Highway Model	Yes	Yes
A140 Newton Flotman	Yes		Yes
A13 Wennington-Mar Dyke before/after	Yes
A11 Roudham Heath-Attleborough	Yes
A12 Hatfield Peveral-Witham Link Road	Yes

The National Travel Survey is undertaken by DETR and consists of household interviews only. As part of DETR's continuous collection of traffic data, the following surveys were undertaken during 1998:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the provision of value for money in the EU aid budget. [67509]

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the cost-effectiveness of the EU development aid programme. [67521]

We have inherited from the previous administration a commitment that 30 per cent. of my budget is channelled through the EC and a situation where EC aid spending is skewed against the poorest countries and is often of poor quality. In December we published our strategy to improve EC performance.We are actively seeking support for this strategy in the Commission, the European Parliament and among Member States. I welcome the report of the Development Select Committee supporting the Government's strategy.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps she is taking to promote awareness of development issues among young people. [67512]

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I have visited many schools and colleges on each of our visits to towns and cities throughout the UK and found great enthusiasm for development issues. Expanding the coverage of these issues in the school curriculum is our top priority and we are pursuing this with other Departments and agencies in relation to each part of the United Kingdom.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what medical aid projects the Government are currently supporting in Sudan. [67515]

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will provide pharmaceutical products as aid to Sudan. [67516]

Our humanitarian response to the crisis in Sudan last year, which amounted to £37 million, included an allocation of £5.5 million for health care to the most vulnerable groups. The Government of Sudan, by its own admission, is spending 80 per cent. of the national budget on the civil war. The major priority for improving life for the people of Sudan is an end to the war.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development in what ways her Department is supporting the education of girls in poorer countries; and if she will make a statement. [67517]

As we make clear in the Development White Paper, we are strongly committed to the key international targets of Universal Primary Education by 2015 and gender equity in primary and secondary education by 2005. We are working in the international system to try to increase the commitment to meeting this target and prioritising these targets in all our programmes. For example, we have recently committed over £200 million to basic education in a number of countries including Ghana, India, Zambia, Malawi, Kenya, South Africa, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and our largest ever single education commitment of £67 million for Uganda.We are also working co-operatively with the World Bank, UNICEF, and the Rockefeller Foundation, to develop practical strategies which will encourage the enrolment of girls in school in countries with very low enrolment rates.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent discussions she has had with voluntary organisations in relation to the reduction of the debt burden on developing countries. [67518]

In December, I met the directors of the voluntary organisations which comprise the British Overseas Aid Group (BOAG)—ActionAid, Oxfam, the Catholic Fund for Overseas Development (CAFOD), Christian Aid and Save the Children Fund. Also in December, I met BOND—which represents the smaller NGOs. They agreed with the need to develop and strengthen the link between debt relief and poverty reduction and welcomed the fact that we are pressing for this issue to be considered during the forthcoming comprehensive review of the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Debt Initiative, and for civil society in developing countries to be involved in the review.