To ask the Attorney-General on how many occasions he has given his consent for proceedings to take place under sections 5 to 7 of the Criminal Justice (Terrorism and Conspiracy) Act 1998; on how many occasions his powers under the Act have been revoked by order of the Secretary of State for the Home Department; and if he will make a statement. [70305]

I have so far received no requests for consent to prosecution as provided for by Section 4 of the Criminal Law Act 1977 as amended by Section 5(2) of the Criminal Justice (Terrorism and Conspiracy) Act 1998, or as provided for by Article 12 of the Criminal Attempts and Conspiracy (Northern Ireland) Order 1983 as amended by Section 6(2) of the 1998 Act. Section 7 of the 1998 Act relates to proceedings in Scotland and confers no powers on me.The Secretary of State has so far made no order under Section 4(6) of the Criminal Law Act 1977 as added by Section 5(2) of the Criminal Justice (Terrorism and Conspiracy) Act 1998 or under Article 12(6) of the Criminal Attempts and Conspiracy (Northern Ireland) Order 1983 as added by Section 6(2) of the 1998 Act which would have the effect of disapplying the requirement of my consent in relation to cases of any description specified in the order.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will make a statement on the cash and running costs limits for the Northern Ireland Office, Northern Ireland departmental services, the grants to voluntary bodies from social security, the Social Fund, certain national agricultural schemes and discretionary rent allowance payments for 1998–99. [71121]

Subject to Parliamentary Approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimate, it is proposed that the cash limit for Class XV Vote 1—the Northern Ireland Office—will be increased by £62,431,000 from £926,291,000 to £988,722,000. This reflects the take-up of end year flexibility on capital of £2,740,000 and departmental running costs of £5,000,000. Additional expenditure on compensation of £27,000,000 is also reflected in the increase, as is funding for the Prison Officers' redundancy scheme of £4,000,000 costs of £8,124,000 arising from the Bloody Sunday Inquiry, £4,724,000 to cover the costs of the Referendum and elections to the Northern Ireland Assembly and £5,000,000 for Victims' Support. Other minor changes to the NIO Cash Limit total £5,843,000.The cash limit which covers most Northern Ireland departmental services will be increased by £112,005,000 from £4,243,776 to £4,355,781,000. This increase reflects a rephasing of Student Loan Book sales of £38,500,000 and reclassification of Bus Fuel Duty Rebates of £7,209,000, the take-up of end year flexibility on capital of £14,645,500, departmental running costs of £30,000,000, European Structural Funds of £8,734,000, Health programme of £29,406,000 and Welfare to Work end year flexibility of £1,643,000. The increase also reflects additional resources of £5,389,000 for the Welfare to Work programme, £6,499,000 for DHSS Winter Pressures, £6,100,000 provided for the Chancellor's Initiative, the transfer of £38,829,000 to the Northern Ireland Office cash limit on Class XV, Vote 1 and other technical changes of £2,709,000.The cash limit for the Grants to Voluntary Bodies—Northern Ireland Department of Health and Social Services Vote 6—has been reduced by £873,000 reflecting lower than expected demands on this fund.The cash limit for the social fund—Northern Ireland Department of Health and Social Services Vote 6—has been reduced by £50,000 reflecting lower than expected demands on this fund.The cash limit covering national agriculture capital grant schemes and certain assistance for production, marketing and processing and the fishing industry will increase by £8,512,000 from £16,682,000 to £25,194,000 as a result of additions to the Hill Livestock Compensatory Allowance of £8,497,000 and the take-up of entitlement to end year flexibility on capital of £15,000.The cash limit for the discretionary rent allowance—Northern Ireland Department of Health and Social Services Vote 6—has been reduced by £634,000 reflecting lower than expected demands on this fund.The combined gross running costs limit for the Northern Ireland Office and Northern Ireland departments will be increased by £40,799,000 from £749,283,000 to £790,082,000. This reflects the take up in 1998–99 of £35,000,000 of the end year flexibility entitlement announced by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 14 July 1998,

To ask the President of the Council how much Short money was awarded to Her Majesty's Opposition for the current financial year; and what steps are taken to ensure it is used for the purposes laid down by Parliament. [70356]

Under the formula set out in the resolution of 4 November 1993, the Official Opposition in the House of Commons are due to receive £1,112,885 in Short money in the current financial year; Cranborne money in the House of Lords amounts to £106,191 for the Official Opposition in 1998–99.Claims are made by the parties to the Accounting Officers of each House with both a certificate that the expenses have been incurred exclusively in relation to the party's parliamentary business and a report by an independent professional auditor.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will recognise the work of Charles Darwin in the Millennium Dome. [66049]

The New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) is examining ways in which aspects of Darwin's work might be incorporated within the Millennium Experience project.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many (a) black and (b) Asian people serve on the Food Advisory Committee of the Dome. [68182]

The New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) does not have a Food Advisory Committee. However, it has set up a consultative Catering Review Group. The membership comprises senior representatives of industry-wide bodies including British Hospitality; the Restauranters' Association of Great Britain; Hospitality Training Foundation; and Catering International Management Association. Members serve in an unpaid, advisory capacity. Their input is sought on the basis of their experience and, in case of industry bodies, their representation of all members' interest. None of those industry bodies have so far put forward a black or Asian representative.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the dimensions of the Millennium dome are; when tickets for the Millennium dome will first go on sale; what event is planned to mark the first tickets going on sale; how he will recruit people to perform in the central show in the dome; how many jobs have been created by the Millennium dome project to date; and how many people will work in the dome when it opens. [66865]

The New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) plans to release tickets for sale to the general public from early Autumn 1999. The NMEC has no plans to hold a specific event to mark the sale of the first tickets direct to the public for the Millennium Experience. However, as part of the NMEC's planned marketing strategy there will be, during the summer and autumn of this year, a wide range of information on the Millennium Experience including ticket availability and processes; public transport routes; opportunities for travel and Dome ticket packages. This will be achieved through a wide range of media including television and national press.The NMEC announced on 18 June 1998 that it was starting a recruitment campaign throughout the UK for 100 young people to have the chance to appear in the Millennium Show in the central area of the Dome. The first phase of auditions took place in August 1998 at which 43 young performers were recruited and they are now well into their training programme. The second phase of auditions are currently underway.A total of 5,000 people will be employed at the Dome by the NMEC and catering companies during the year-long operation of the Millennium Experience. This includes performers, technical, operating and catering staff. The first phase of recruitment for operating staff begins in Spring 1999.As a direct result of the Millennium Experience around 2,000 construction jobs have been created and it is estimated that a further 3,000 jobs will be created in secondary markets.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many days training staff to be employed in the Millennium Dome will receive on disability awareness. [69702]

[holding answer 8 February 1999]: The New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) is finalising training programmes for operational staff. The current outline programmes provide for three hours training each for all staff in Disability Etiquette. This follows consultations with the company's Accessibility Advisory Group membership, details of which were published in the company's Annual Report and Financial Statements last year. Staff whose duties will focus on accessibility matters will undertaken more training; the nature and the scope of this will be appropriate to each role.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if induction loop systems will be available in the Millennium Dome to assist people with hearing loss. [69703]

[holding answer 8 February 1999]: The New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) will provide induction loop systems in the Dome for those visitors who suffer from hearing loss.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport which of the executive non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department have a statutory base; and which are subject to investigation by the Parliamentary Commissioner. [69903]

My Department sponsors 40 executive non-departmental public bodies, of which the following were set up by an Act of Parliament.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if overtly Christian companies are barred from obtaining nation radio frequencies. [70342]

The Broadcasting Act 1990, disqualifies groups whose objectives are wholly or mainly of a religious nature from holding a terrestrial national radio licence issued by the Radio Authority.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will place in the Library a copy of the Government's consultation documents for World Heritage site nominations; and if he will list (a) the organisations consulted and (b) those which responded. [68811]

Copies of the Consultation Paper were placed in the Library of the House on 21 August 1998. The information is not presently available in the form requested. I shall therefore write to the hon. Member shortly with a list of those organisations across the United Kingdom and overseas which were consulted and those which responded, and will place copies in the Library of the House. Responses will be made available for public inspection in due course.

To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department what representations he has received regarding the use of public interest immunity in trials arising from the bombing of (a) the Israeli Embassy and (b) Balfour House; and if he will make a statement. [70267]

I am not aware of any representations about the use of public interest immunity certificates in the trial which arose out of these bombings.

To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department what representations he has received regarding the future funding of Mediation UK; and what action he intends to take in this respect. [70203]

The Department received correspondence from Mediation UK in April 1998 and January 1999 requesting funding as well as correspondence from various MPs and community mediation schemes. We are currently considering the role that alternative dispute resolution, including mediation, may play in the civil justice system. It would be inappropriate to take decisions on the funding of any particular mediation organisation until policy has been formulated.

To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department what changes are proposed to the cash and running costs limits of the Lord Chancellor's Department votes for 1998–99. [71263]

Subject to Parliamentary approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimates, the cash limits for Class VIII Votes 1 and 2 will reduce, and for Vote 3 will increase. The running cost limits for Class VIII Votes 1 and 3 will increase. The increases will be offset by transfers and will not therefore add to the planned total of public expenditure.

To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department what were the total costs of the trial in connection with the 'Simon de Danser' drugs case. [70642]

Approximately £27,300. This figure includes judicial, staff and support costs, but not the cost of accommodation. The cost to the legal aid fund is not yet known.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what his policy is on the recycling of plastic; and what discussions he has had with local authorities in England and Wales on initiatives undertaken by them. [69067]

We believe that recycling is critical to the task of making our waste management more environmentally acceptable and are committed to seeing a substantial increase in the role that recycling plays. It makes sense to recycle waste if this is the Best Practicable Environmental Option (for example in some cases the amount of energy needed to collect, transport and process materials for recycling, and the associated air emissions, are greater than those required for virgin material production).It is of course for individual local authorities to consider whether recycling of a particular material is a viable option, economically or on environmental grounds, within their particular district. Factors which will need to be considered in the recycling of plastic are, for example, the economic and environmental costs of transporting a large volume, lightweight material, of sorting the various polymer types and of washing the material which is very often contaminated by the food and drink it has contained.My officials discussed recycling, including of plastics, with local authorities for a recent Good Practice Guide, and in the Market Development Group which has been set up to consider and identify the barriers to expanding the markets for recycled materials and to develop practical proposals to overcome them.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions on how many occasions the Minister for Local Government and Housing has declined requests from local authorities to discuss the local government grant settlement (a) in person and (b) by video link. [70069]

Three local authorities, Gloucestershire County Council, Babergh District Council and Greater Manchester Fire and Civil Defence Authority, were refused a meeting in consultation on the Local Government Finance Settlement for 1999–2000. The Department received their requests after the deadline of 5 January for the receipt of written requests, as set in the Department's letter of 2 December covering the consultation package on the proposals for the Settlement. It is important in a consultation process that all authorities are given equal treatment. To meet local authorities when their request had been received beyond the deadline would have been to single those authorities out for more favourable treatment. Ministers in the Department for Environment, Transport and the Regions did, however, meet all seventy-two local authorities that had made a request that was received before the deadline.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he has received on insurance cover for local authorities against liabilities associated with the millennium bug; and if he will make a statement. [70261]

My right hon. Friend is not aware of any such representations. It is the responsibility of local authorities to ensure they take such measures as they consider necessary to deal adequately with the risks posed for them by the millennium bug.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he has received from construction industry representatives about the late payment of invoices to United Kingdom companies under the EU Tacis Programme; and what initiatives he is taking to resolve the matter. [70093]

Nicholas Bennett, Chief Executive of the ACE, wrote to me on 25 January enclosing a copy of his letter to my hon. Friend the Minister for Small Firms, Trade and Industry. This is an important issue on which we share the concerns of the industry. I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department for International Development which is the lead department on the Tacis and other external EC external aid programmes on 10 February 1999, Official Report, columns 280–81.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) how many of the existing small public service vehicle operators meet the EU capital reserves criterion of £6,500 for the first vehicle and £3,500 for each additional vehicle; [70221]

	Midland Metro Line 1	Manchester Metrolink to Salford Quays/Eccles	Blackpool Tramway	Croydon Tramlink	Scheme Proposed Tyne and Wear Metro Extension to Sunderland 2
DETR funding (£ million)
1997–98	14.54	8.2	0.1	50	0
1998–99	2.24	6.2	0	33.5	0
1999–2000	0.50	2.9	0	16.5	1
Total DETR funding (£ million)1	80	17.3	5.0	125	n/a
Estimated total scheme cost (£ million)	144.8	134	6.4	200	n/a
DETR funding as percentage of estimated total scheme cost	55	13	78	63	n/a
1 Total DETR funding. This includes funding allocated by DETR in other financial years not requested.
2 Provisional allocation subject to further assessment of project. Total scheme cost estimate is not yet available.

Council Directive 98/76/EC which sets out, among other things, the revised capital reserve and professional competence requirements for the relevant operators of passenger carrying vehicles, does not apply to those operators who use only vehicles with fewer than 9 passenger seats ("small" public service vehicles). Those operators will however, continue to have to meet the appropriate requirements for grant of an operator's licence by the Traffic Commissioner, including those in respect of finance and professional competence.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what action he is taking to encourage bus operators to reduce pollution from diesel fuel emissions; and if he will make a statement. [69670]

The Government have introduced a wide range of measures to encourage bus operators to reduce harmful emissions from diesel powered buses. We fully support the heavy diesel Directive agreed by the Council of Ministers in December 1998, which sets far more stringent emission standards for new buses and lorries from 2001. We are also encouraging the early introduction of ultra low sulphur diesel through the use of fuel duty differentials, and the fitting of particulate traps through the new Vehicle Excise Duty concession for low emission buses and lorries. In addition, my Department is funding the Energy Saving Trust's Powershift programme which helps to cover the additional costs of converting vehicles, including buses, to use alternative fuels.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the light rail or tram systems which were given or are proposed to be given Government funding in the (a) 1997–98, (b) 1998–99 and (c) 1999–2000 financial years, stating the value of such funding and the percentage it formed of the cost of each scheme. [70193]

We have provided capital funding for light rail/tram systems as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many applications have been made by tenants to HOMES for a transfer of tenancy in each year since 1994; and what percentage of these applications were successful. [70095]

Information about the number of applicants for a transfer of tenancy through the HOMES mobility scheme is available only for the current year. Between April and December 1998 HOMES received 33,933 nominations and 5,319 people (6.4 per cent.) were housed through the scheme. For previous years information is available for the number of households successfully housed:

Year	Number
1997–98	10,304
1996–97	9,872
1995–96	10,128
1994–95	9,552

HOMES also operates an exchange scheme, HOMESWAP. The number of households registering an interest in exchanging their homes through that scheme were:

Year	Number
1998–99 April to January	29,478
1997–98	38,675
1996–97	41,675
1995–96	46,169
1994–95	44,817

Individuals arrange exchanges direct with other tenants and the landlords concerned, so no central record is available for the number of exchanges arranged through HOMESWAP.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what advice his Department has given to UK airlines with regard to the tax on aviation fuel recently imposed by the Norwegian Government [69705]

The Department has given no formal advice to UK airlines about the aviation fuel tax introduced by Norway on 1 January 1999. However, in conversations about the tax with UK airlines operating to Norway, DETR officials confirmed that the tax appeared to breach the UK/Norway Air Services Agreement, signed in Oslo on 26 January 1979, which exempts aviation fuel for international flights from tax. Officials wrote to the Norwegian authorities on 4 January drawing attention to this apparent breach and asking them to rescind the tax. I understand that the Norwegians are currently considering the position, in the light of this and other similar representations received.In principle, the Government are in favour of an aviation fuel tax, but believe this should be agreed at international level. Action by individual states or by groups of states would infringe existing international agreements, distort airline competition and could have environmental disbenefits.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions which planning policy guidance notes are currently under review by his Department. [70197]

The following revisions of planning policy guidance notes will shortly be issued for consultation: PPG3—Housing; PPG11—Regional Planning; and PPG 12—Development Plans. Consideration is also being given to updating PPG13—Transport; PPG17—Sport and Recreation; and PPG23—Planning and Pollution Control. The Department has also consulted on proposals to strengthen protection for Sites of Special Scientific Interest, including possible changes to PPG9—Nature Conservation. A final revised version of PPG10— Planning and Waste Management, will be published in the Spring.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps he is taking to ensure that regional development agencies take account of relevant strategic polices laid down in local authorities' development plans. [70196]

Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) must, like any other body, work within and alongside the framework provided by Regional Planning Guidance and local authority development plans.Guidance will be issued to RDAs under section 7 of the RDAs Act on the development of their strategies, which will clearly set out the relationship between RDAs' strategies and regional planning guidance and local authority development plans.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make the need for new retail and leisure developments a material consideration to be taken into account by local planning authorities in determining planning applications. [70744]

Our policy on town centres, including retail and leisure development, is set out in Planning Policy Guidance note 6: Town Centres and Retail Development (PPG6). This aims to sustain and enhance the vitality and viability of our existing town centres by focusing new investment, particularly for retail and leisure uses within city, town and district centres. This statement is intended to add to and clarify the guidance in PPG6 in the light of a number of issues raised in recent litigation which concern the interpretation of PPG6 and Government policy.PPG6 advises local planning authorities to adopt a positive, plan-led approach to handling planning applications involving new retail and leisure developments. It advises them, in preparing planning strategies and policies, to consider the need for new retail and leisure development in the plan area over the lifetime of the plan. Having established that such need exists, local planning authorities should then adopt a sequential approach (as explained in PPG6) to identify suitable sites. If there is no need for further developments, there will be no requirement to identify additional sites.Proposals for new retail and leisure development which accord with an up-to-date plan strategy or are proposed on sites within an existing centre, should not be required to demonstrate that they satisfy the test of need because this should have been taken into account in the development plan.However, proposals which would be located at an edge-of-centre or out-of-centre location and which:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many RDA board members have worked in business. [70545]

The Chairman of each of the Regional Development Agencies has a predominantly business background. In addition to the chairmen, 48 board members currently work in business. A number of the other board members have previously worked in business.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many RDA board members are trades union officials. [70543]

One member of each of the eight Regional Development Agency boards is a trade union official.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how much RDA board members are to be paid per annum. [70624]

The pay for RDA members (other than the Chairmen and Deputy Chairmen) is £7,000 per year for a commitment of two days a month.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many RDA board members are members of the (a) Liberal Democrat, (b) Conservative and (c) Labour parties. [70544]

Among the local councillors who are members of the boards of the Regional Development Agencies, 6 are members of the Liberal Democrat party, 4 are members of the Conservative party, 21 are members of the Labour party and one is an Independent. Other board members are not required to declare whether they are members of any political party.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will give the (a) remuneration paid to and (b) the number of days per week required of RDA chairmen. [70623]

The pay for RDA Chairmen is £44,000 per year for a commitment of two days a week. For Deputy Chairmen it is £14,000 per year for a commitment of one day a week.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what methods he used to ensure that there was appropriate party political balance in the membership of each RDA board. [70546]

All appointments to the RDA Boards were based on merit. We considered party political balance only in relation to the four local councillors appointed to each board. We had in mind the number of council seats held by each political party, and the proportion of votes cast for each political party across the whole of the region; but also sought to reflect other factors such as geographical spread and other relevant background experience.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many (a) new housing units were built and (b) existing housing units were cleared in each calendar year from 1993 to 1998 in the local authority areas of (i) Plymouth, (ii) Teignbridge, (iii) Torbay and (iv) the South Hams. [69861]

The Table shows the figures as reported to the Department by the local authorities concerned. Figures about demolitions are only available on a financial year basis.

Housebuilding: Total Completions: Number of dwellings
Year	Plymouth	Teignbridge	Torbay	South Hams
1993	262	624	242	295
1994	355	634	434	373
1995	515	552	312	432
1996	551	572	297	392
1997	437	603	373	281
1998	259	502	302	280

Demolitions: Total: Number of dwellings
Year	Plymouth	Teignbridge	Torbay	South Hams
1992–93	113	0	0	0
1993–94	0	6	7	10
1994–95	17	1	5	0
1995–96	34	0	11	40
1996–97	0	0	5	0
1997–98	4	0	0	0

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what proposals he has to change his Department's cash limits and running cost limits for 1998–99. [71120]

Subject to Parliamentary approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimates, my Department' s cash limits will change as follows. All references to the take-up of end year flexibility refer to the Chief Secretary to the Treasury's announcement of 14 July 1998, Official Report, columns 131–36.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will announce the date when the Greater London Authority will assume its responsibilities. [71248]

Subject to the passage of the Greater London Authority Bill, the Greater London Authority will assume its responsibilities on Monday 3 July 2000. This will maintain momentum while allowing some eight weeks after the elections on 4 May for necessary preparations.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to consult on the future of rural England; and if he will make a statement. [71423]

Together with my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, I shall be publishing "Rural England—A Discussion Document", on Wednesday 17 February. This will invite responses to help in the preparation of the White Paper for rural England announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions on 27 November 1998, Official Report, columns 38–40. Copies will be placed in the Library and the Vote Office.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will provide a regional breakdown of courts' progress in meeting the target of halving the number of days between arrest and sentencing of persistent young offenders. [67727]

In the past, information on the length of time from arrest to sentence for persistent young offender cases has not been routinely collected. We have undertaken two special exercises to monitor performance nationally against the pledge on persistent young offenders and we have also put in place new arrangements to enable this information to be collected on a regular basis through the existing Time Interval Survey. The first special exercise showed the time from arrest to sentence for persistent young offenders was 142 days in 1996. The second showed an improvement to 138 days between May and December 1997. It is not possible from these data to provide a statistically reliable measure of progress towards the pledge at regional level. A third special exercise, which should produce the 1998 figures in the spring, will, however, allow an estimate to be made on the progress of individual regions in 1997–98.The new arrangements for the regular collection of data on the time taken from arrest to sentence for persistent young offenders and all other young offenders were implemented in October 1998 after piloting. The first complete data from the new Time Interval Survey should be available by late 1999. These will allow for a breakdown of performance by area.Under guidance issued by the Home Secretary in October 1998, a half of all cases involving persistent young offenders should be dealt with in under 71 days by April this year. The Government fully expect to fulfil its pledge during this parliament.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the latest available figure for the number of days between arrest and sentencing for (a) persistent young offenders and (b) all offenders dealt with in the youth courts. [67726]

The Government are committed to halving the average time taken to deal with persistent young offenders from the 142 days it took in 1996. Figures for 1997 show that between May and December 1997 the average dropped to 138. These figures cover a considerable period when there were very few fast tracking schemes; at the time of the election there were only 8 in the whole of England and Wales. There are now around 150 covering almost half of all court areas.Under guidance published by the Home Secretary in October 1998, a half of all cases involving persistent young offenders should be dealt with in under 71 days by April this year.The Government fully expect to fulfil their pledge during this Parliament.Information about the average time for arrest to sentence for all young offenders in the youth court has not been collected nationally in the past. New arrangements to do so were introduced in October last year but are unlikely to produce reliable data until the end of this year at the earliest. The magistrates' courts Time Interval Survey collects information on cases completed in one week samples each February, June and October, covering the date of charge or summons until the date of completion. The latest available results for the Youth Court come from the June 1998 survey, and reports an average of 81 days, compared with 92 days in June 1997.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the longest period of time an (a) male and (b) female prison inmate has been held in a segregation unit (i) at the inmate's own request and (ii) at the decision of the prison authorities in a prison in England and Wales in the last 10 years. [69066]

The information requested cannot be obtained from the centrally available data.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the total number of drug seizures within the Northumbrian Police Force area was in 1998; and what percentage of these were (a) hard and (b) soft drugs. [70357]

Figures for 1998 are not yet available. It is hoped to publish 1997 statistics in the next few months; I will write to my hon. Friend when they are published. The table shows the number of seizures by Northumbria Police for 1996.

Number of seizures of controlled drugs by Northumbria Police by drug type in 1996
Drug type	Number of seizures
All drugs	3,134
Class A
Cocaine	30
of which "Crack"	2
Heroin	128
LSD	22
Ecstasy-type	132
Methadone	13
Other class A	7
Class A total	322
Class B
Cannabis	2,424
Amphetamines	569
Other Class B	9
Class B total	2,857
Class C
Benzodiazepines	63
Temazepam	40
Anabolic steroids	12
Other class C	6
Class C total	114
Class unknown	2

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list for each police force in England and Wales the training which has been given on operation of the new police personnel procedures which come into effect on 1 April. [70579]

The Training Support section of the National Police Training organisation has delivered half day seminars to appropriate members of all police forces (including "non-Home Office" forces) in England and Wales to inform them of the new procedures, and additionally have run two-day workshops which were attended by delegates from 41 police forces. The workshops were aimed particularly at force trainers to equip them to train members of their forces. The individual forces concerned are identified in the table. The national training was completed in January 1999 and forces are now engaged in training their personnel. Each force is responsible for its own training in terms of its nature and scope and, while all officers are understood to be receiving some information, police managers will naturally require more than police constables.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he has to remove or reduce the pension entitlement of police officers found guilty of an offence of breach of police disciplinary rules. [R] [70571]

This is something we are considering. However, we are concerned that any measures we do propose should be both fair and proportionate. We will not reach any firm conclusions before taking the opportunity to consider he report of the Macpherson Inquiry and any recommendations it makes.

£
Purpose of grant	1997–98	1998–99	1999–2000
Westminster City Council:
Civil Defence	35,000	35,000	335,000
Section 11 grants under the Local Government Act 19661	1,363,058	1,398,498	—
Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea:
Civil Defence	35,000	35,000	35,000
Section 11 grants under the Local Government Act 19661	739,615	758,845	—
Drugs prevention	6,000	—	—
Closed Circuit TV2	75,600	—	—
1 From 1999–2000 funding will be made by the Department of Education and Employment
2 The CCTV competition will not continue in 1999–2000
3 Planned

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the maximum penalties for (a) throwing an object from a bridge, (b) throwing an object from a bridge causing serious or slight injuries and (c) throwing an object from a bridge causing death, on (i) motorways, (ii) other roads and (iii) railways; and what plans he has for changes in the maximum penalties. [70271]

Offence	Legislation	Maximum penalty
Placing wood, etc. on railway with intent to obstruct any engine etc.	Section 35, Malicious Damage Act 1861	Life imprisonment
Obstructing engines or carriages on the railway.	Section 36, Malicious Damage Act 1861	2 years' imprisonment
Placing wood, etc. on railway with intent to endanger passengers.	Section 32, Offences Against the Person Act 1861	Life imprisonment
Casting stone, etc. on a railway carriage with intent to endanger safety.	Section 33, Offences Against the Person Act 1861	Life imprisonment
Doing or omitting anything so as to endanger railway passengers.	Section 34, Offences Against the Person Act 1861	2 years' imprisonment
Causing danger to road users.	Section 22A, Road Traffic Act 1988	7 years' imprisonment

There are currently no plans to increase these maximum penalties.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prison officers who were serving in prisons in England and Wales, and who are now suspended

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to visit India. [70401]

I hope to be able to visit India later in the year.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the (a) grants and (b) other financial support by his Department to (i) Westminster City Council and (ii) the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, other than through the RSG settlement, in (1) 1997–98, (2) 1998–99 and (3) planned for 1999–2000 given; and for what purposes the funds were allocated. [70158]

The information requested in respect of grants directly paid by the Home Office is given in the table. No other financial support is provided.

There is no separate offence of "throwing an object from a bridge". Where danger, injury or death results from such behaviour, it can be covered by a range of existing offences, including general offences against the person. There are also a number of offences which relate specifically to the roads and railways. Examples of these offences and their maximum penalties are set out in the table:from duty due to allegations as to their conduct, have been suspended for

The information requested is given in the table, as at 8 February 1999.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action his Department is taking to increase the number of prison officers in prisons in England and Wales who come from ethnic minorities; and if he will make a statement. [69811]

In the last few years, the Prison Service has made considerable progress on increasing the numbers of prison officers recruited from ethnic communities. Figures for the year to 31 March 1998 indicate that 7.8 per cent. of prison officers recruited were from ethnic minorities. More than double the figure for any previous year.The Prison Service Racial Equality Programme (RESPOND) was launched on 1 February 1999. £3 million has been committed to this programme over the next three years.A number of key actions have been identified. Those for 1999–2000 which look in particular at increasing ethnic minority representation include:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, the hon. Member for North Warwickshire (Mr. O'Brien), plans to meet the hon. Member for Leicester, East to discuss the case of Mr. Waghela of Melrose Street, Leicester (ref. PO 16500/98 W 251588); and if he will make a statement. [70060]

I am writing to my hon. Friend about this case.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will place in the Library for each police authority area in Wales the list of persons submitted to his Department for consideration as independent police authority members in each of the last five years. [70052]

It is not our practice to publish the names of those put forward for consideration as independent members of police authorities. The selection panels which have put those names forward have treated applications in confidence. To publish those names would make known the names of unsuccessful candidates as well as those who were subsequently appointed, and I am not prepared to do this without their express consent. This could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which of the executive non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department have a statutory base; and which are subject to investigation by the Parliamentary Commissioner. [69908]

The following executive non-departmental public bodies sponsored by my Department have a statutory base:

• Alcohol Education and Research Council
• Commission for Racial Equality
• Criminal Cases Review Commission
• Gaming Board for Great Britain
• Horserace Betting Levy Board
• Horserace Totaliser Board
• Office of the Data Protection Registrar
• Parole Board
• Police Complaints Authority
• Police Information and Technology Organisation
• Youth Justice Board.

Those currently within the jurisdiction of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration are:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which of the advisory non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department (a) admit members of the public to all board or committee meetings, (b) hold public meetings and (c) have lay or consumer representatives on their boards; and if in each case this is under a statutory requirement. [69971]

None of the advisory bodies sponsored by my Department admits members of the public to board or committee meetings.The Parliamentary Boundary Commission for England and Wales hold local public inquiries, under criteria set out in the Parliamentary Constituencies Act 1986, at which any member of the public may attend, and the Metropolitan Police Committee holds two public meetings a year.The Advisory Board on Restricted Patients has two lay members on its board, and 12 out of the 20 members of the Metropolitan Police Committee are elected councillors.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which of the executive non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department (a) admit members of the public to all board or committee meetings, (b) hold public meetings, (c) have lay or consumer representatives on their boards and (d) operate some form of appeal or complaints procedure; and if in each case this is under a statutory requirement. [69976]

The Commission for Racial Equality and the Community Development Foundation admit members of the public to their meetings except, in the case of the former, where individual cases are being discussed. They also hold public meetings and conferences. The annual general meeting of the Police Information Technology Organisation is open to the public.There are no "consumers" of the services provided by the bodies on their boards, but where necessary appointments are made to reflect a broad spread of interest and expertise and to introduce an element of independence.The following executive Non Departmental Public Bodies operate some form of appeal complaints procedure:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which of the executive non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department publish (a) the minutes of meetings, (b) the agendas of meetings and documents for those meetings and (c) a register of members' interests; and if in each case this is under a statutory requirement. [69947]

Apart from the Youth Justice Board for England and Wales which posts Summary reports of its meetings on its own website, none of the executive Non Departmental public bodies sponsored by my Department publish minutes of meetings or agendas and other Documents for meetings. However, the Commission for Racial Equality, Community Development Foundation and the Youth Justice Board would consider making them available on request.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which of the advisory non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department publish (a) the minutes of meetings, (b) the agendas of meetings and documents for those meetings and (c) a register of members' interests; and whether in each case this is under a statutory requirement. [69833]

Apart from the Metropolitan Police Committee, which publishes the minutes of its meetings on the internet, none of the advisory Non Departmental public bodies sponsored by my Department publish minutes, agendas and other documents for meetings or registers of interest. Some are in the process of setting up registers of members' interests, in line with the commitment given in "Quangos: Opening the Doors", and will shortly have them in place.None of the bodies are statutorily required to publish minutes of meetings, agendas and documents for those meetings, or registers of members interest.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he has for changes to the 1998–99 cash and running costs limits within his responsibilities. [71425]

Subject to Parliamentary approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimates, the cash limit for Class VII, Vote 1 (Home Office administration, police, probation, immigration and other services, England and Wales) will be increased by £11,258,000 from £4,833,790,000 to £4,845,048,000, the cash limit for Class VII, Vote 2 (Prisons, England and Wales) will be increased by £119,310,000 from £1,703,670,000 to £1,822,980,000 and the running costs limit will be increased by £49,311,000 from £1,887,431,000 to £1,936,742,000.The changes in the Vote 1 cash limit are the net effect of the following transfers: £91,000 from the Lord Chancellor's Department, Class VIII, Vote 1, £66,000 from the Crown Prosecution Service, Class VIII, Vote 4 and £32,000 from the Prison Service, Class VII, Vote 2 in respect of contributions for the Integrated Business and Information Systems; £27,000 from the Prison Service, Class VII, Vote 2 in respect of the provision of internet services and contributions to the Prison/Probation Pilot Mentoring project; £25,000 to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Class II, Vote 1 in respect of contributions to the United Kingdom Special Representatives for International Drugs issues; £570,000 to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Class II, Vote 2, in respect of interdepartmental drugs prevention projects in Columbia and Pakistan; £84,000 from the Northern Ireland Office, Class XV Vote 1, in respect of the Criminal Cases Review Commission; £26,000 to the Lord Chancellor's Department, Class VIII, Vote 1 and £7,000 to Treasury Solicitors, Class VIII, Vote 6, in respect of extending the Attorney-General's powers for referring unduly lenient sentences to the Court of Appeal; £1,251,000 to the Prison Service, Class VII, Vote 2 in relation to the transfer of responsibility for Boards of Visitors; £10,000 from the Department of Trade and Industry, Class V, Vote 1 for start up costs of the Telecom and Data Protection Directive; and £647,000 from Her Majesty's Treasury Consolidated Fund Standing Service for advance training costs for implementation of the European Elections Bill. The Supplementary Estimate will also provide for increase of £6,080,000 in respect of home detention curfew, £3,800,000 in respect of compensation for miscarriages of justice and £2,300,000 in respect of the National Identification Service.The changes in the Vote 2 cash limit are the net effect of transfers to Vote 1 of £59,000 in respect of the provision of internet services, contribution for the Integrated Business and Information Systems and contributions to the Prison/Probation Pilot Mentoring project and a transfer from Vote 1 of £1,251,000 in relation to the transfer of responsibility for Boards of Visitors. The Supplementary Estimate will also provide for increases of £111,855,000 for increases in prison capacity, repairs to the prison estate and increased funding for regime activities to keep prisoners constructively occupied; £2,000,000 for work within prisons on the implementation of home detention curfew arrangements; and £13,263,000 to adjust the accounting treatment of Value Added Tax refunds on contracted-out services offset by increased receipt of £9,000,000 due to acceleration in the programme for the sale of staff housing.The increase in the running costs limit is the net effect of payments from the Lord Chancellor's Department of £91,000 and the Crown Prosecution Service of £66,000 for the Integrated Business and Information Systems; payment of £25,000 to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office for the United Kingdom Special Representative for International Drugs issues; payments of £26,000 to the Lord Chancellor's Department and £7,000 to the Treasury Solicitor in respect of extending the Attorney-General's powers for referring unduly lenient sentences to the Court of Appeal; £460,000 reclassified from capital provision; increases of £10,000 for costs of the Edwards report, £2,580,000 for home detention curfew; £31,781,000 for increasing prison capacity, repairs and increased funding for regime activities, £118,000 in connection with transitional arrangements for a private finance initiative for the provision of heat energy to prisons, and £13,263,000 to adjust the accounting treatment of Value added Tax refunds on contracted-out services.These increases will add £118,118,000 to the planned total of public expenditure.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the items sold by his Department, its agencies and associated public bodies from those listed in the National Assets Register of November 1997; if he will give in each case the amount of money realised; if he will estimate the total cash raised from such sales to date; and if he will make a statement. [70411]

I regret that the information requested is not available centrally. It will be collected as soon as possible from each of the Home Office entities and executive Non Departmental Bodies listed in chapter 7 of the National Assets Register. As soon as the information becomes available, I will write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were the costs of (a) police and security, including convoys between prison and court, and (b) holding the defendants in prison, in connection with the Simon de Danser drugs case. [70648]

The cost to the Avon and Somerset Constabulary of escorting the prisoners to and from court was £161,124.35.The total cost to the Prison Service of accommodating the prisoners and providing prison officers as escorts was £331,996.91. A separate figure for escorting costs cannot be provided as the cost of escort work is included in the cost per prisoner place at Bristol from which this figure has been calculated.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what was the cost to public funds at the time of the compulsory purchase of land from the Squire family in order to build the Regional Headquarters for the South-west near Malborough, South Devon; and what was the cost of constructing and equipping the Headquarters for use; [69862](2) when he expects to reply to the letter of 31 December 1998 from the hon. Member for Totnes about the future of the Regional Government Headquarters for the South-west near Malborough, South Devon; [69863](3) what steps he is taking to ensure that the land on which the former Regional Government Headquarters for the South-west, Soan Mill, near Malborough, South Devon stood, is returned to the Squire family from whom it was compulsory purchased; [69864](4) what plans he has for the future use of the site of the former proposed Regional Government Headquarters for the South-west at Soan Mill Cove, Malborough, Kingsbridge, South Devon; and will he make a statement; [69866](5) what plans he has to demolish the former proposed Regional Government Headquarters at Soan Mill near Malborough, South Devon. [69867]

The site forms part of land that was acquired by the War Office under compulsory requisition provisions that prevailed during the last war. It was transferred to the Home Office in the 1960s. We are pursuing with the Ministry of Defence and our commercial agents in order to establish the cost of acquiring and adapting the site for use as a Regional Government Headquarters. I will cover these points when I reply to the hon. Gentleman's letter of 31 December, which I will do as soon as our inquiries are complete.We have asked our agents to bring to an early conclusion the discussions regarding the extent of the land which can be offered back to the Squire family. We wish to be flexible as we can within the constraints on the former owner rules, which govern the sale of land acquired by compulsory purchase.We have no plans to demolish any buildings on the site prior to disposal.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the reasons for the delay in the release of prisoner DK 5193 from HM Prison, Leeds under the early release scheme; and if he will make a statement. [70646]

Prisoner DK5193 has been provisionally assessed as suitable for home detention curfew and will be placed on the scheme on 15 February 1999, provided that the curfew address remains available and suitable. This decision may be reviewed should his behaviour or other new information indicate that he is no longer appropriate for home detention curfew. Where, as in this case, the period between sentence and eligibility date is very short, it is often not possible to complete the thorough risk assessment process necessary until very shortly before the prisoner is eligible for home detention curfew.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many vehicles impounded due to their involvement in tobacco and alcohol smuggling and bootlegging have been found to be (a) untaxed, (b) uninsured, (c) stolen and (d) driven by people with no driving licence or whose licences have been withdrawn in 1998. [70022]

I have been asked to reply.I regret that no central record is kept.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will make a statement on the availability of married officers quarters in Queensferry; [69330](2) what accommodation is available for

There is no Service Family accommodation in Queensferry. The nearest accommodation is some five miles away at Hawarden and RAF Sealand, where there are 23 houses for officers, of which two are currently empty, and 160 houses for NCOs and other ranks, of which 62 are currently empty.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of RAF aircraft will be mission capable by 31 May. [68260]

[holding answer 3 February 1999]: Under current plans, 100 per cent. of RAF aircraft will be mission capable by 31 May. An average of 82 per cent. of established aircraft are forecast to be available for service on this date, with the other 18 per cent. of aircraft forecast to be undergoing routine major maintenance off-base.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Gosport to the Minister of State for the Armed Forces on 12 January, requesting an urgent meeting with him and the Minister for Health to discuss the future of the Royal Hospital, Haslar. [70628]

I wrote to the hon. Member earlier this week.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on (a) the plans to convert the Staff College, Camberley into luxury flats, (b) the status of the Staff College, Camberley as a war memorial and (c) its security position. [70542]

The position remains as set out by my right hon. Friend the Member for Hamilton, North and Bellshill (Dr. Reid), the then Minister of State for the Armed Forces, on 16 July 1998, Official Report, columns 237–38. Options for the future of the former Staff College Buildings at Camberley are being studied. No proposals have yet been put to Ministers. Any decisions will clearly have to take into account both security requirements and the location of a war memorial in the Main Building.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the implications are for other elements of the defence programme of the public sector pay award; and if he will make a statement. [70406]

The additional cost of the Service pay award will be contained within the Departmental Expenditure Limit announced in July 1998 and we will continue to meet the objectives and targets set out in the MOD's Public Service Agreements. The award reflects the Government's commitment—made during the SDR—to the people who deliver our defence.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when Ministers in his Department next plan to visit (a) Chorley and (b) Queensferry. [69345]

My Ministerial colleagues and I have no plans at present to visit either but as I make regular visits to MOD establishments they could be included in a future visit.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the items sold by his Department, its agencies and associated public bodies from those listed in the National Assets Register of November 1997; if he will give in each case the amount of money realised; if he will estimate the total cash raised from such sales to date; and if he will make a statement. [70415]

I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence who authorised the use of HMS York and the Special Boat Squadron to monitor the motor vessel Simon de Danser in May 1997; and what their use for this purpose cost. [70630]

I understand that in response to a request for assistance from HM Customs and Excise military assistance in support of this UK counter-drugs operation was authorised at Ministerial level by the previous Administration. The additional costs incurred by the Ministry of Defence, some £127K, were recovered from HM Customs and Excise.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what representations he has received about class sizes in primary schools in West Sussex. [68884]

Since August last year the Department has received 12 representations from West Sussex about class size policy.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on class sizes in primary schools. [68889]

We have passed legislation to limit the size of infant classes for 5, 6 and 7-year-olds to 30 or under by September 2001 at the latest. We are providing £620 million which should enable the limit to be met in virtually all schools by September 2000. The limits apply to pupils in infant classes only. We have concentrated on these classes as it is in the early years that the benefit of smaller classes can have greatest effect.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what measures he plans to introduce in respect of the additional funding for the reduction of class sizes to assist local education authorities and diocesan authorities. [68896]

We will be providing a total of £560 million over the next three years to enable schools and local education authorities to employ additional teachers and build extra classrooms to reduce infant class sizes. That comes on top of the £67 million already allocated to reduce class sizes for over 100,000 infants from last September.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when and for what reason he took the decision to cap the amount allowed per teacher in local education authority bids to reduce infant class sizes at £23,500. [68897]

We have made clear that funding allocations will ensure that all local education authorities have sufficient resources to implement their class size plans as approved. We are working closely with authorities to reach agreed solutions which meet all our policy objectives and provide good value for money. Decisions about funding will reflect these priorities and the need to ensure equity across the country.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on the involvement of business in schools. [68887]

There are many opportunities for businesses and schools to work together to the benefit of both partners.The hon. Gentleman will probably be aware of the many types of partnerships which exist generally, for example in work-related learning, governor programmes and systematic mentoring. He will also be aware of the partnerships which operate in an Education Action Zone and specialist schools programmes. We value the support of business in our drive to raise educational standards.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what representations he has received about funding in 1999–2000 for grant-maintained schools which become foundation schools. [68891]

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has received a number of representations since we issued draft regulations on 20 October 1998, from both GM schools and from local education authorities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on his proposals for the establishment of a disability rights commission. [68892]

The establishment of the Disability Rights Commission is an important step towards meeting our manifesto commitment to support comprehensive and enforceable civil rights for disabled people. It will help disabled people secure their rights and it will provide a central source of information and advice to employers, and service providers. Subject to Parliament enacting the Disability Rights Commission Bill, we would expect the Commission to be established in Spring 2000.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on his plans for the future status of grammar schools. [68893]

Our Manifesto said that parents would decide the future admission arrangements of grammar schools. The Education (Grammar School Ballot) Regulations, which came into force on 3 December 1998, set out the arrangements to deliver that commitment.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to make teaching a more attractive career. [68894]

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what steps he is taking (a) to attract graduates into and (b) to raise the status of the teaching profession; and if he will make a statement. [68890]

In October 1998 we announced a package of measures to address particular recruitment difficulties, including financial incentives and funding for local recruitment advisers. Over time the proposals in the Teachers' Green Paper, 'teachers—meeting the challenge of change' will raise the status of the teaching profession, make it a more attractive profession and attract a greater share of the able and talented into teaching.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what progress he has made on developing after-school child care places. [68895]

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Cleethorpes (Shona McIsaac) today, Official Report, column 452.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on the effect of the 1999–2000 revenue support grant on the provision of educational services in Torbay. [68898]

Education services in Torbay should benefit from the underlying increase of £3.4 million or 7.3 per cent. in Torbay's education standard spending assessment for 1999–2000. These figures illustrate the effect of allowing for local authority changes of function and taking account of new arrangements for funding music and student support.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on the effect of the 1999–2000 revenue support grant on the provision of educational services in Sheffield. [68899]

Education services in Sheffield should benefit from the underlying increase of £11.1 million or 6 per cent. in Sheffield's education standard spending assessment for 1999–2000. These figures illustrate the effect of allowing for local authority changes of function and taking into account of new arrangements for funding music and student support.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to extend and improve the services of Learning Direct. [68900]

The Department intends to increase Learning Direct's capacity so it can handle 1.5 million calls a year by 2000–01. To do this we are in the process of extending our current call centre and have invited expressions of interest from organisations to operate additional call centres. From our ongoing evaluation, we know over 91 per cent, of all callers to the helpline think the overall quality of the service is good. However, the service is under constant review. We are currently improving the databases used by Learning Direct and are developing better management information systems. We further plan to make the Learning Direct data available on the Internet.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when he expects to receive the findings of the research commissioned by his Department on high pupil mobility. [68901]

The research into pupil mobility, currently being undertaken by University College, London, is partly funded by this Department and partly funded by the Nuffield Foundation. The complete project is due to conclude in June 2000, but under the terms of the Department's contract, a report containing an overview of interim findings should be available by the end of June 1999.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to increase the number of employment zones. [68902]

On 2 February my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I announced our future plans for Employment Zones. From April 2000, Employment Zones will target available resources more flexibly and effectively on unemployed people over 25 in at least 12 areas of the country which suffer from persistently high long-term unemployment.Initially, Employment Zones will operate in Southwark, Nottingham City, Newham, Haringey, Doncaster, Plymouth, Tower Hamlets, Brent, Birmingham, Liverpool and Sefton, Brighton and Hove, Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland.My right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland and for Wales announced separately that zones would also operate in Glasgow and in Anglesey; Gwynedd; Conwy and Denbighshire and Blaenau Gwent; Merthyr and Caerphilly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what representations he has received regarding the level of capital investment in Birmingham schools. [68903]

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State received a letter of 8 January from the Leader of Birmingham City Council asking how the Council's Annual Capital Guideline had been calculated, to which he has responded.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on the effect of the 1999–2000 revenue support grant on the provision of educational services in the Royal Borough of Kingston. [68904]

Education services in Kingston should benefit from the underlying increase of £2.7 million or 5.2 per cent. in Kingston's education standard spending assessment for 1999–2000. These figures illustrate the effect of allowing for local authority changes of function and taking account of new arrangements for funding music and student support.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what progress is being made to secure employer involvement in the new deal for the young unemployed. [68905]

I am delighted that almost 40,000 employers have signalled their support for New Deal by signing Employer Agreements. These agreements are leading to real job opportunities for unemployed young people, over 57,000 of whom have found work through New Deal.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment by what means education authorities which do not operate a school meals service determine for the purposes of deprivation statistics the number of children in their area who would be entitled to free school meals; and if he will make a statement. [68907]

All Local Education Authorities are required to provide a school meal service to those pupils entitled to free school meals. Information on the number of pupils known to be eligible and the number of pupils taking free school meals is derived from returns made by schools to the Department in January each year on the Annual Schools' Census (Form 7).The number of pupils eligible and taking free school meals is published by Local Education Authority area in the "Statistics of Education, Schools in England, January 1998", published in November 1998.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on the effect of the 1999–2000 revenue support grant on the provision of educational services in the London borough of Sutton. [68908]

Education services in Sutton should benefit from the underlying increase of £4.6 million or 6.2 per cent. in Sutton's education standard spending assessment for 1999–2000. These figures illustrate the effect of allowing for local authority changes of function and taking account of new arrangements for funding music and student support.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on his proposals to enable single women with children to take up employment opportunities. [68909]

For the first time lone parents are being given the same work opportunities as everyone else. The New Deal for Lone Parents, which became available nationwide on 26 October 1998, offers all lone parents on Income Support a personal adviser service to help them overcome the barriers to employment.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what estimate he has made of the savings in public funding in the current financial year from the introduction of tuition fees. [68911]

Far from leading to savings in public funding, the introduction of private contributions to tuition fees has generated additional income for higher education institutions in England in 1998–99 of an expected £130 million, which will be retained by the institutions concerned.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what research his Department has carried out or evaluated to assess the health hazards for pupils required to carry heavy bags of books to and from school, and between lessons; and if he will make a statement. [70190]

The Department has not carried out or evaluated any research to assess the health hazards for pupils required to carry heavy bags of books to and from school and between lessons.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what money was spent on producing and distributing, "The New Deal: From Policy to Practice, Ideas in Action". [70550]

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is his Department's policy on the introduction of five-term years in secondary schools; and if he will make a statement. [68888]

Decisions about the number, length and dates of schools' terms and holidays are taken at local level, not by central Government. A five-term year can be introduced within the present legal framework.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to increase the responsibilities of education welfare officers in respect of absenteeism and truancy. [68910]