To ask the President of the Council if she will list those Ministers in her Department who were present at the recent Brit Awards in an official capacity, indicating the organisation acting as their sponsor or host. [76649]

Neither I nor the Parliamentary Secretary attended the Brit Awards.

To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee what steps she proposes to take to ensure that copies of ministerial statements and accompanying documents are available in the Vote Office at No 7 Millbank on the day of the statement. [76576]

The Vote Office endeavours to arrange distribution of ministerial statements throughout the Parliamentary estate on the same afternoon that such statements are made, where considerations of security, timing and the quantity of documents make this possible. However, it would be impracticable for the Vote Office to undertake always to distribute unknown quantities of documents which often arrive very late (or even sometimes after a statement) unless a van was made permanently available to the office, which would not be economic.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the Government's policy in respect of possible increases in United Kingdom contributions to the EU budget which do not involve modifying the Fontainebleau rebate procedures. [75059]

The UK is arguing that spending on the existing Union should be stabilised at its present levels by 2006. This will ensure that the present member states can afford the additional costs of enlargement to central and eastern Europe. Stabilisation will help to keep down the largest net contributions, including the UK's "Co-financing" and other reforms of the CAP also have a role here.Even with these measures the Fontainebleau arrangements will remain justified. Even after the rebate the UK's net contribution will remain much larger than those of some more prosperous states.

To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 1 March 1999, Official Report, columns 527–28, on economic and monetary union, if he will list the microeconomic reforms he has put in place which will contribute to the passing of the five economic tests for joining the euro. [75164]

The Treasury's assessment of the five economic tests, published in October 1997, concluded that

"weaknesses remain in the UK which make it unclear that we are ready to be able to cope adequately with potential shocks that might arise in EMU, especially in the early years. The Government's welfare to work programme and the agendas for improving skills and competition will help to remove the underlying weaknesses that remain and improve the prospects of being ready to meet the flexibility test in years to come".

To ask the Prime Minister what representations he has made to the Ukranian Government regarding future power production at Chernobyl; and if he will make a statement. [75938]

Last year, in my capacity as G7 Chairman, I wrote to Ukranian President Kuchma on three occasions. These letters covered a number of issues relating to the G7/Ukraine Memorandum of Understanding on the closure of Chernobyl, including the safety improvements being carried out at the plant, the importance of power sector reform in Ukraine and the proposed financing package for the completion of the Khmulnitsky 2 and Rovno 4 nuclear power reactors. In particular, I consistently stressed the need for Ukraine to honour its commitment to close Chernobyl by the year 2000, as agreed under the Memorandum.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the steps taken to work with the European Commission in countering fraud at EU level; and if he will publish the memoranda submitted by Her Majesty's Government to the President of the European Commission. [76199]

[holding answer 12 March 1999]: The Government believe that there must be a policy of zero tolerance to fraud and have consistently supported the European Commission in initiatives to fight fraud against the EC budget.At the January ECOFIN Council, my right hon. Friend the Chancellor called for a strong, independent head of fraud investigations, reporting to an independent management board. These ideas are being used in discussions currently taking place on how to strengthen internal fraud investigations. Following this, the Government offered practical assistance to the Commission, specifically offering to share UK experience of best practice on codes of conduct for behaviour in public life. I am pleased to say that this offer was welcomed and officials have been in contact to take this forward. It is among the issues that will be covered in joint training with Commission officials and officials from other Member States starting in September of this year.

To ask the Prime Minister what arrangements he plans to make for the appointment of special advisers following devolution for Scotland and Wales. [77193]

An amendment has been made to the Civil Service Order in Council to allow for the appointment of a limited number of Special Advisers to Ministers in the Scottish Parliament and Assembly Secretaries in the National Assembly for Wales. The amendment takes account of the new ministerial arrangements that will apply in Scotland and Wales following devolution, and sets out the terms and conditions under which they can be employed including an upper limit on the numbers that can be appointed. A copy of the amended Order has been placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Prime Minister what recent discussions he has had with the Prime Minister of Spain about Gibraltar with particular reference to (a) frontier delays and (b) the allegations made by the Spanish Foreign Minister about criminal activity in Gibraltar; and if he will make a statement. [76659]

In the last month, I have discussed the delays at the Gibraltar/Spain border twice with the Spanish Prime Minister, Sr. Aznar, most recently on 25 February. I made it clear that we regarded the delays as unacceptable and unjustifiable.The Spanish Foreign Minister's remarks were made after my meeting on 25 February. I have not discussed them with Sr. Aznar. Sr. Aznar's staff handed over on 26 February a paper referring to some alleged cases of criminal activity in Gibraltar. We have been looking into these allegations, together with the relevant Gibraltar authorities, and expect to respond very shortly.

To ask the Prime Minister what reasons underlie the length of time taken to grant to Gibraltar the ability to passport financial services. [76581]

In June 1997, after discussion with the Department of Trade and Industry, the Gibraltar Financial Services Commission was authorised to "passport" Gibraltar-based insurance companies to operate in the United Kingdom and elsewhere in the European Union. Authorisation for "passporting" in the fields of banking and investment services will be granted when the relevant financial services regulatory authorities in the United Kingdom are satisfied that Gibraltar has introduced the necessary legislation and regulatory structure and procedures.

To ask the Prime Minister when the British-Irish Council will be established; and if he will make a statement. [76999]

The British-Irish Council (BIC) will be established immediately on entry into force of the Good Friday Agreement reached at Belfast on 10 April 1998. Membership of the BIC will comprise representatives of the British and Irish Government, of the devolved institutions in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, and the Isle of Man, Jersey and Guernsey. Its secretariat will be provided by the British and Irish Governments in co-ordination with officials of each of the other members. I have asked the Minister for the Cabinet Office to take responsibility within the British Government for matters relating to the BIC, including the necessary preparatory work.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will review the access that the Foreign Affairs Committee has to appropriate intelligence material and witnesses from the Secret Intelligence Service. [71827]

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office gave the Foreign Affairs Committee unprecedented access to key official documents for the purpose of its inquiry on Sierra Leone. It is the Government's view that the Intelligence and Security Committee, set up by the previous Government under the Intelligence Services Act 1994, is the appropriate forum for Parliamentary oversight of the Intelligence Agencies. The Intelligence and Security Committee has been conducting its own inquiry into Sierra Leone. No previous Administration has ever agreed to witnesses from the Secret Intelligence Service appearing before Select Committees.

To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners, what assessment the Commissioners have made of the cost benefit of co-ordinating management of assets with churches of other Christian denominations in England. [76043]

The Church Commissioners act as trustees for the management of their own endowment and have no general power to offer investment management for others. However, they are always willing, with their partners in the Archbishops' Council, to consider ways of furthering co-operation with other Churches.

To ask the Attorney-General if, when deciding whether to refer back to the Court of Appeal the sentence imposed on David Arundel for causing death by dangerous driving (T980326), he had access to a transcript of the judge's summing up. [76024]

When I consider cases in the context of part IV of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 (unduly lenient sentences) I am provided with all the necessary case papers. Ordinarily, this will not include a transcript of the judge's summing up and I did not have such a transcript when considering the sentence imposed on David Arundel. I did have a transcript of the judge's remarks regarding sentence made on 9 June 1998 and a transcript of the judge's sentencing remarks on 3 July 1998.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will publish a list of (1) task forces and (2) policy reviews established by his Department since May 1997 which (a) had external members recruited by way of public advertisement, and details of any person so appointed and (b) engaged in public consultation exercises, and the form that these took. [74468]

The following task forces and policy reviews have been established since May 1997:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate he has made of the level of the proposed reduction in the allocation from the Sports Council for the World-class Performance Programme following the apportionment of money from the National Lottery to the New Opportunities Fund. [75336]

There will be no reduction to the World-class Performance Programme. I can confirm that the amount of Lottery money available to sport has not reduced. In fact it has increased. When the Lottery was launched, the good causes expected to receive £9 billion in total over the licence period which ends in September 2001: that is £1.8 billion for each good cause, including sport. The National Lottery is now set to raise £10.6 billion for good causes over the current licence period. On this basis Sport will receive an extra £50 million over this period.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport which World-class Performance Programme grants will be reduced following the apportionment of money from the National Lottery to the New Opportunities Fund; and which sports will be affected. [75337]

The amount of money available to sport has not reduced but will increase over the current licence period on the basis of current projections.The allocation Lottery funding to sports and individuals who are in the World-class Performance Programme is a matter for the Sports Councils to decide at the moment on the basis of the forward plans submitted by the national governing bodies of sport and of the competing priorities. The hon. Gentleman may be assured that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I are determined to support our athletes. My right hon. Friend will announce shortly what share of the Lottery Sports Fund we propose the United Kingdom Sports Council should distribute in support of excellence in UK sport and other good causes.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans the Government have to increase the availability of after-school sports provision. [75721]

There are a range of initiatives designed to increase the availability of after-school sports provision.Through the New Opportunities Fund (NOF) we have committed £400 million of National Lottery money to out of school hours activities during the current licence period to September 2001. Of this, £180 million has been committed to education activities, £200 million to child care, and £20 million to projects combining child care and education. Out of school hours education projects should involve at least half of all secondary schools, at least a quarter of all primary schools, and at least half of all special schools by 2001. Out of school child care projects should provide places for 865,000 children by 2003.My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has also announced an extra £400 million for the New Opportunities Fund between now and 2001. We have consulted on how this money should be spent and have proposed that part of the additional amount should be committed to an expansion of the existing out of school hours initiative, to enhance the contribution made by summer schools not only to literacy, numeracy but also opportunities for sport.The Policy Directions issued to NOF ensure that it takes into account relevant national and local strategies in relation to each initiative. For out of school hours learning this includes "Extending Opportunity: a national framework for study support" (in England) and any similar guidance produced elsewhere. Study support is learning activity outside normal lessons and embraces many activities, including sports, games and adventurous outdoor activities.The National Lottery Act 1998 required NOF to draw up a strategic plan containing its assessment of needs and its priorities in dealing with them, on which it must consult the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport. This ensures that there is a proper strategy for distributing Lottery proceeds. No specific targets have been allocated to NOF for providing physical exercise opportunities at after-school clubs, but in reviewing NOF's strategic plan we shall ensure that the projects it supports promote young people's well-being through a range of activities, including sport and creative activities.The TOP programmes are continuing to prove a valuable resource in enhancing the games element of the PE curriculum. Sport England, together with the Youth Sport Trust, are working with 126 Local Education Authorities and have put equipment and education/training into 10,000 schools. Sport England has provided funding of £1.8 million to support this delivery.In addition to its extensive range of revenue programmes for young people, Sport England is committed to the Community Sports Co-ordinators. The Co-ordinators will act as a catalyst to assist young people to take maximum advantage of continued participation in sport by substantially improving the network between school, club and community.The Lottery Awards for All, a unique small grants scheme, will be focused on groups who have missed out in the past. It will allow all distributors to give out grants of between £500 and £5,000 for capital revenue projects which involve people in their community and encourage school-club links. It will bring people together to enjoy sports and other activities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what measures the Government are introducing to increase access to football and other sports grounds for people with disabilities. [75790]

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Eltham (Mr. Efford), on 15 February 1999, Official Report, columns 470–71.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what future support the Government plan for England's bid to host the 2006 World Cup. [75792]

The Government will continue to provide the fullest diplomatic and promotional support for the FA's bid in accordance with FIFA bidding guidelines. I believe it is an excellent bid with a very good chance of success. My Department is currently helping the FA draft the formal bid submission. I will continue to meet members of the FIFA Executive when they visit this country and will accompany the 2006 Bid team abroad when requested.I am determined that the FA's bid should continue to be pursued with the utmost vigour and integrity, and very much hope that the bidding process between now and March 2000 will be conducted in a spirit of friendly rivalry.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will list the types of information collected centrally by his Department on local authority grants to (a) arts organisations, (b) museums and (c) libraries. [75568]

[holding answer 9 March 1999]: Although the bulk of the information my Department uses on local authority expenditure is collected by the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions, my Department has, since 1998, required all library authorities to provide it with Annual Library Plans, containing structured information about their services and forward strategy and solicits, in a number of individual cases, detailed information on library expenditure.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many meetings he has had with the officials of (a) the International Board and (b) the Welsh Rugby Union to discuss contingency plans if the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff is not ready for the Rugby World Cup. [75855]

I have been asked to reply.I have had no such meetings.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many meetings he has had with the Welsh Rugby Union to discuss the pricing of tickets for the Rugby World Cup. [75854]

Neither my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State nor I have had any meetings with the Welsh Rugby Union to discuss the pricing of tickets for the Rugby World Cup. However, in response to recent questions in the House, I have made written representations to Keith Rowlands, Chief Executive of Rugby World Cup 1999, supporting their pricing policy for the pool matches which is aimed at broadening public access, whilst expressing concern about the cost of tickets for the semi-final and final tickets. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales is in the lead for the Government on matters relating to this competition.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make a statement on Cumbria's first Annual Library Plan. [76160]

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has sent every library authority, including Cumbria, both an overall appraisal of all the 1998 Annual Library Plans and individual feedback about their own. The individual feedback is confidential, but each authority can publicise their own if they wish.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will list, by local authority, those local authority supported libraries which are proposed for closure; and if he will make a statement. [76390]

[holding answer 12 March 1999]: I am aware of possible library closures in a number of authorities and I am looking in detail at these proposals. Some of them are part of a wider restructuring and modernisation of services, but in all cases my concern is to ensure that library authorities continue to meet their statutory responsibility to provide a 'comprehensive and efficient' service. It could be prejudicial to my inquiries to name the authorities concerned.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment he has made of the possible impact on Scottish colleges of new scholarship arrangements in England for students of further and higher education courses in dance, drama and stage management; what plans he has for similar arrangements in Scotland; what body will have responsibility for accrediting dance schools in Scotland; and if he will make a statement. [70362]

[holding answer 11 February 1999]: The new arrangements reflect the special and significant role that private institutions have in delivering dance and drama provision in England. All EU citizens will be able to apply for assistance under the new arrangements, including the small number of Scottish students who have traditionally gone to England for specialist courses. There is no evidence that there will be an adverse impact on Scottish colleges from the new arrangements, but we are monitoring the position. Further education colleges in Scotland are already eligible for grant-in-aid support from the Scottish Office Education and Industry Department budget for dance and drama activity, and are encouraged to develop provision in response to demonstrated needs and demands. We have no plans at this time to introduce any new arrangements in Scotland.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his answer of 14 January 1999, Official Report, column 232, if he will list the expenditure not included in his answer incurred (a) by task forces and review bodies, (b) by focus groups, (c) on market research and (d) for publications and publicity; and if he will list the bodies which incurred the expenditure. [71023]

[holding answer 15 February 1999]: A total of £14,000 was spent on market research and £25,000 on publications and publicity. The expenditure was incurred by the Scottish Office Education and Industry Department (Parents Focus Group); the Scottish Office Agriculture, Environment and Fisheries Department (Rural Water Review); and the Scottish Office Department of Health (Acute Services Review).

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his answer of 10 February 1999, Official Report, column 280, if he will estimate the total expenditure on all forms of travel by his Department, its agencies and public bodies for (a) 1995–96, (b) 1996–97, (c) 1997–98, (d) 1998–99, (e) 1999–2000 and (f) 2000–01; and if he will make a statement. [71751]

[holding answer 22 February 1999]: Travel expenditure incurred by my Department and Executive Agencies is set out in the table. Information relating to other public bodies is not held centrally. Budgets at this level of detail are not yet available for future years.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment he has made of the effect the Working Time Directive will have on the provision of emergency medical and fire services on the smaller islands of Argyll and Ayrshire. [72262]

[holding answer 22 February 1999]: The EU Working Time Directive does not apply at present in the maritime sector and therefore has no impact on the provision of emergency services to the islands.From 1 July 1999, this will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will estimate outpatient waiting times for the quarter ended December 1998; and if he will make a statement. [74889]

[holding answer 5 March 1999]: Provisional figures for the quarter ending 31 December 1998 show that the percentage of patients who received a first outpatient appointment within 9 weeks and 18 weeks following referral by a General Medical Practitioner/General Dental Practitioner was 63.6 per cent. and 88.0 per cent. respectively.From 1 July 1999, this will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will issue instructions to hospitals that normal BT call charges should apply to all payphones within their hospitals. [76150]

No. The provision of a telephone service for use by patients and visitors, including the choice of provider, is a matter for individual trusts. Detailed guidance on the setting of fees and charges by NHS trusts is contained in the Treasury publication "The Fees and Charges Guide". Where a service is to be provided by a third party, trusts, should ensure best value both for the hospital and the user by seeking tenders from potential operators.From 1 July, this will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will place in the Library figures by (a) health board area, (b) region and (c) Scotland, for the number of operations cancelled on the day of, or the day after, admission to a hospital, and the numbers of those patients not readmitted within a month, by quarter for the last two years. [74996]

[holding answer 5 March 1999]: Information on cancellations of hospital admissions at the level of detail requested is not held centrally. Details of cancellations of planned admissions for in-patient and day case treatment for each Health Board in Scotland for the period requested is provided in the table. Information on cancellations of hospital planned admissions is published annually in the NHS in Scotland Annual Report, copies of which have been placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the estimated surplus or deficit of each health authority in 1998–99. [74993]

[holding answer 5 March 1999]: The following table provides the information requested for Health Boards and Special Health Boards. The table identifies forecast underspends for each of the Health Boards for 1998–99, and is prepared on a cash basis.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will estimate the salaries (1) with and (2) without pension contributions for the chief executives and chairmen of each NHS trust in Scotland for the years (a) 1999–2000, (b) 2000–01 and (c) 2001–02. [76144]

Discussions are currently underway with HM Treasury on revised pay arrangements for general and senior managers. Details of the revised

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish the financial targets set for each NHS trust in Scotland and the surplus or deficit incurred in each year since 1992–93. [76145]

NHS Trusts in Scotland are required by the NHS in Scotland Management Executive to achieve three financial targets.These financial targets are to break even on the Income and Expenditure Account, after payment of interest and dividends taking one year with another; to produce a 6 per cent. return on net relevant assets before interest and dividends; and to achieve it's External Financing Limit as set.The table shows the surplus and deficits (after payment of interest and dividends) incurred by each Scottish NHS Trust in the years (a) 1992–93, (b) 1993–94, (c) 1994–95, (d) 1995–96, (e) 1996–97 and (f) 1997–98. Surplus and deficit figures are not yet available for 1998–99.The deficits incurred by Trusts often arise as a result of the losses on disposal of fixed assets in-year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when the contract will be signed anent the PFI project at Larkfield, Greenock; and if he will make a statement. [76228]

The Renfrewshire Healthcare NHS Trust is confident that it is within weeks of signing the PFI contract for the facility for Elderly and Young Physically Disabled at Larkfield Road in Greenock.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if the guidance which excludes clinical services from Private Finance Initiative projects includes clinical staff who do not fall under the term, professions allied to medicine. [76117]

The services which may be included within Private Finance Initiative projects will be restricted to the provision of facilities management and non-clinical services.From 1 July 1999, this will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his answer of 3 February 1999, Official Report, columns 657–58, on waiting lists, how many patients received a first outpatient appointment within (i) nine weeks and (ii) 18 weeks of referral for (a) March 1997, (b) September 1997, (c) March 1998 and (d) September 1998. [76119]

Information on the number of patients who received a first outpatient appointment within nine weeks and within 18 weeks following a General Medical Practitioner/General Dental Practitioner referral during the quarters requested, is provided in the table.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the implications of the precautionary principle enshrined in the Biosafety Protocol for the Government's policy on the planting of (a) trial genetically modified crops and (b) commercial genetically modified crops. [72575]

[holding answer 22 February 1999]: Throughout the recent negotiations on the Biosafety Protocol in Cartagena, the EU maintained its strong support for the inclusion of the precautionary principle in the preamble to and in the objectives of protocol. This approach is consistent with the European Community legislation controlling the release and marketing of genetically modified organisms and with the Government's general policy on the planting of trial and commercial genetically modified crops. Rigorous scientific risk assessment, carried out as part of the strict regulation of GM crops, identifies appropriate risk management measures to ensure that risks are reduced to a minimum. In the UK, field trials of GM crops may require risk management such as pollen barriers or isolation distances. In respect of the commercial planting of GM crops, the Government support a programme of managed development involving farm scale evaluations with full ecological monitoring. The Government believe that this approach offers sufficient safeguards to ensure that large-scale plantings do not proceed until there is sufficient evidence that a particular crop does not harm the environment.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions for what reason at the recent Biosafety Protocol meeting in Colombia the UK opposed the creation of an enabling provision to allow countries to take socio-economic factors into account in determining whether or not to import GMOs. [75092]

[holding answer 8 March 1999]: The UK, as a Member State of the European Union, broadly supported the text of the Protocol put forward by the Chair of the Working Group to the extraordinary Conference of the Parties which included an enabling provision on socio-economics. The compromise package put forward by the EU in the final stages of the negotiations did not seek to amend that provision.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list by title the unpublished reports into aspects of genetic modification which are held by his Department. [75100]

[holding answer 8 March 1999]: My Department endeavours to publish all the final reports of the research contracts it funds to underpin the assessment of applications for consent to release or market genetically modified organisms. Reports are published after the research contracts are completed and when a satisfactory report has been submitted. Research contractors may also publish papers in peer reviewed scientific journals describing the work funded by my Department.The following reports have very recently been published:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what research he has undertaken into the impact on water companies' ability to meet individual pesticide and herbicide limits in drinking water of the application of glufosinate and glyphosate to genetically modified crops. [75901]

The Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 1989 prescribe an extremely strict standard of 0.1 microgrammes per litre for individual pesticides. Since 1989 water companies have been obliged to enter into legally binding programmes to install pesticide removal processes whenever water supplies have exceeded the standard.The pesticide removal programmes have been completed and in 1997, around 99.96 per cent. of all analyses for pesticides complied with the standard.Glufosinate and glyphosate both degrade rapidly in the environment, but, were they present in water sources, they would be removed by the treatment processes that have been installed.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make available the locations of genetically modified trial crops to water companies. [75900]

Water companies may obtain information on the locations of genetically modified crop trials from the statutory public register, held in the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions. Information on the location of trial sites is also available on the Department's website.Applicants for consent to release genetically modified organisms must advertise locally where the release will take place. This is a public notice in a local newspaper. If the proposed release may have an impact on any controlled waters, then the Environment Agency is notified.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what measures he has taken to improve the regulation of genetically modified crops. [74097]

[holding answer 11 March 1999]: The release of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) is governed by EC Directive 90/220. The European Commission published its proposal to amend the Directive in February 1998 and since then the UK Government have played an active role in negotiating the draft amending Directive. The Commission's proposal seeks to make a number of significant changes to the Directive, such as strengthening provisions on environmental risk assessment and monitoring, streamlining some procedures, ensuring greater transparency and better labelling requirements, and providing for the consultation of EU ethics and scientific committees. The Government have been active in their support for revision of the Directive to ensure full protection for human health and the environment.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will set out the negotiating position of the UK delegation to the biosafety protocol discussions in Cartagena, Colombia; what support Britain gave to proposals from the Miami Group; and at what stages Britain supported moves which would exempt genetically modified ingredients from the clear labelling and advance notification proposals. [73980]

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the hon. Member for Lewes (Mr. Baker) on 9 February 1999, Official Report, columns 153–54, which set out the UK's negotiating line for the meeting. The EU maintained its agreed position throughout the negotiations in Cartagena, and the UK remained firmly within that position. The UK, together with European colleagues, attempted to build a bridge between the positions adopted by most developing countries and the Miami Group. The EU did not support any proposals that would have exempted living modified organisms (LMOs) within the scope of the protocol being subject to a requirement for documentation and clear identification. An EU compromise package introduced in the final stages of the negotiations with a view to achieving consensus included a provision enabling the first Meeting of the Parties to decide whether and how the protocol's procedures would apply to the transboundary movement of LMOs for intended direct use as food or feed or for processing. This compromise package received widespread support, but proved unacceptable to the Miami Group.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions for what reason the UK at the recent Biosafety Protocol meeting in Colombia did not support inclusion of the precautionary principle in the operational articles of the Protocol. [75091]

[holding answer 8 March 1999]: The UK goal was to secure reference to the precautionary principle in the Protocol. We therefore strongly supported the EU submission prior to the penultimate meeting on the Biosafety Protocol to include a reference to the precautionary principle in the Preamble, and in the Objective of the Protocol. The latter provides the fundamental underpin for all the provisions of the Protocol.While these proposals were retained in the draft negotiating text for the Colombia meeting, there was considerable opposition to the inclusion of references to the precautionary principle in the last round of negotiations. In the final stages, the EU put forward a compromise package based on the text put forward by the Chair of the Working Group. The package included retaining a reference to the precautionary approach in the Preamble and in the Objective of the Protocol. In an attempt to achieve consensus, the EU was prepared to agree to delete wording based on the precautionary principle in the article dealing with the decision procedure if the reference to the precautionary principle remained in the Objective and a formulation of it was contained in general principles section of the risk assessment annex: all notifications under the Protocol would have required a risk assessment. Hence, the operational provisions of the Protocol would have been based on the precautionary principle.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what actions his Department has taken to improve road safety in (a) Staffordshire and (b) the West Midlands. [74552]

As part of the New Deal for Transport, the Government will be setting new national casualty reduction targets, underpinned by a road safety strategy. These will be published later this year.It is for Staffordshire County Council and other local authorities in the region to promote and implement, with partners, schemes to improve road safety in their area. Local safety schemes, which are low cost engineering schemes which address known accident blackspots, are a very successful means of reducing accidents, funded through the annual Local Capital Transport Settlement. In 1999–2000 the West Midlands region has been awarded £5.992 million of which £0.450 million has been allocated to Staffordshire. This represents an increase of 18% and 45% respectively over the 1998–1999 settlement year and is expected to save 671 road accident casualties per annum.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is his Department's policy in respect of the forthcoming review of Trade, intellectual property, Food and biodiversity clauses on the protection of biological resources. [74849]

[holding answer 5 March 1999]: My Department will work with others involved in the review of the World Trade Organisation's Trade Related aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) Agreement, taking into account emerging experience of the implementation of the Agreement and bearing in mind the needs of existing and future members. We are particularly concerned to ensure that developing countries are allowed sufficient flexibility, within internationally agreed boundaries, to implement IPR regimes appropriate to their individual circumstances.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions in respect of their impact on the global environment, what assessment his Department has made of the compatibility of Article 27 of Trade, intellectual property, Food and biodiversity and Articles 8, 15 and 16 of the UN Convention on Biological Resources. [74845]

[holding answer 5 March 1999]: We consider that the World Trade Organisation's Trade Related aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) Agreement and the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) are compatible, but we need to ensure that they are implemented in a mutually supportive way. My department, in collaboration with others with an interest, will continue to participate in international efforts to clarify the relationship between the CBD and the TRIPS Agreement, including at the inter-sessional meeting to be held under the Convention from 28 to 30 June. Our aim is to safeguard both intellectual property and the world's biodiversity.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list (i) the names of the beneficiaries of all the discretionary grants awarded by his Department to organisations within Worcestershire during 1998, (ii) their monetary value, (iii) their total value and (iv) the proportion that that total sum comprises of the total sums awarded by his Department in discretionary grants in 1998. [75253]

The information requested is not available in the format requested. In 1998–99 the following resources were awarded by the Department.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make money available to local authorities to help them to enable shopping centres in town and cities to compete equally with designated out-of-town shopping areas. [75277]

The Government's policy is to encourage retail development in the centre of towns and cities rather than at out of town locations. This was set out in our Response to the Select Committee report on Shopping Centres [Cmnd 3729], which also reaffirmed our commitment to Planning Policy Guidance note 6 (PPG6): Town Centres and Retail Developments. Through our funding of the Association of Town Centre Management and the Civic Trust, we have been assisting local authorities to promote town centre management by preparing and disseminating good practice.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many (a) out-of-town shopping mall and (b) superstore planning applications in England have been refused, and on what principal grounds, on appeal in the past year. [75504]

Planning permission has been refused, on appeal, in respect of two applications for superstores in England, in 1998, primarily on the grounds that they failed the policy tests in PPG6.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) if he will make it his practice to publish lists of (a) all outstanding planning permissions for superstores, (b) all superstore planning appeals that have been approved in the past five years, with a summary of the reasons for the approval and (c) all superstore planning appeals that have been refused in the past five years, with a summary of the reasons for the refusal; and if he will make a statement; [75779](2) if he will list all superstore planning appeals that have been

Most decisions on planning applications for retail developments are taken by local planning authorities. They provide statistical returns on applications which they handle under the general category of "major retail, distribution and servicing". The information requested in respect of appeals is not held centrally over the timescale requested. It is, therefore, not feasible to assemble the information requested, except at disproportionate cost. We have no current plans to publish such lists.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) if he will make a statement on measures necessary to ensure millennium compliance in the systems for which the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency is responsible; when millennium compliance will be achieved; and what the latest date is by which millennium compliance must be achieved in order to remain fully operational; [75476]

[holding answer 8 March 1999]: Like all other Government Departments and Agencies, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency submits quarterly reports to CCTA on progress towards millennium compliance. These reports are analysed by the Cabinet Office and from the basis of my right hon. Friend the President of the Council's reports to Parliament. It would not be appropriate for me to anticipate her next statement, but, when it is made, a copy of DVLA's report will be placed both in the Library and on the Internet. Reports will be accompanied by a series of tables that illustrate how well departments and agencies are doing against a number of specific performance criteria.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to reform housing finance; and if he will make a statement. [75635]

In December 1998 we issued a consultation paper "A New Financial Framework for Local Authority Housing: Resource Accounting in the Housing Revenue Account" seeking views on proposals for changes to local authority housing finance. The proposals would introduce a form of resource accounting for the Housing Revenue Account (HRA). It is also proposed to remove expenditure on rent rebates from the HRA leaving the account as a landlord account reflecting the cost of providing housing at below market rents. The aim of the proposed New Framework is to make housing accounts easier to understand for both councils and their tenants and to enable better-informed decisions about the management of housing assets. Consultations are not yet complete and there will be an announcement about our plans in due course. A copy of the consultation paper is in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the contribution of Carlisle Airport to the economic development of Cumbria and the Scottish Borders. [75521]

A "North of England Regional Air Services Study" has been commissioned by my Department. It is part of a number of such studies across the UK. The North of England Study is expected to report this summer, so my hon. Friend will understand that I cannot comment at this stage on the contribution of Carlisle Airport to the economic development of the Region or Cumbria and the Scottish borders until the findings of the study are known.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what statistics his Department collects on the number of brown-field sites in town centres redeveloped for residential use. [75511]

The Land Use Change Statistics published by my Department provide information on the area of land changing to residential use that was previously developed for urban uses. (Urban uses comprise residential, transport and utilities, industry and commerce, community services, previously developed vacant land and derelict land). Numbers of new dwellings built on previously developed land (excluding conversions of existing dwellings) are also recorded. This information provides statistics for the proportion of new residential development that takes place on previously developed land.Some previously developed land is located in rural areas. My Department has developed the analysis of land use change to identify separately changes that occurred inside and outside urban areas as defined for the 1991 Census. At present it is not possible to distinguish those land use changes that occurred within town centres, but this might become possible following research under way to define the boundaries of town centres for statistical purposes.The latest results of the Land Use Change Statistics, together with more information about how they are compiled, were published in the statistical bulletin "Land Use Change in England No. 13", a copy of which is in the House of Commons Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many watch-keeping staff were in post on 30 September 1998 at Tyne Tees Maritime Rescue subcentre; and what was the (a) monthly and (b) daily officer incident rate. [75829]

On 30 September 1998 there were 13.5 watch keeping staff in post at Tyne Tees. The (a) monthly officer incident rate was 2.84 and (b) the daily officer incident rate was 0.09.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will include proposals for an improvement at the A596/A597 junction at Workington as a priority scheme under the programme of network enhancement projects. [75414]

[holding answer 10 March 1999]: I have asked the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency, Mr. Lawrie Haynes, to write to my hon. Friend.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to take further measures to protect sites of special scientific interest. [76379]

We are further developing proposals put forward in the Government consultation paper, Sites of Special Scientific Interest—Better Protection and Management, taking account of the issues raised in the 562 responses. We will seek to implement legislative measures when Parliamentary time permits, but will also take forward procedural and administrative improvements at the earliest opportunity.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what percentage of appeals to the planning inspectorate by applicants against decisions taken by (a) the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, (b) the London Borough of Wandsworth and (c) the City of Westminster were successful in (i) 1997 and (ii) 1998. [76270]

I have asked the Chief Executive, of the Planning Inspectorate, Mr. Chris Shepley, to write to my hon. Friend.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many planning applications were called in by the Secretary of State in (a) the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham and (b) the London Borough of Wandsworth and (c) the City of Westminster in (i) 1997 and (b) 1998. [76269]

None in Hammersmith and Fulham, one in Wandsworth in 1997 and one in Westminster in 1998.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the (a) acreage and (b) location of contaminated land in the County of Durham. [76249]

The information requested is not held centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what advice he has given to local authorities in respect of compiling and maintaining a contaminated land register within their boundaries; and if he will make a statement. [76247]

My department will be carrying out further consultations shortly on regulations and statutory guidance necessary to implement the contaminated land regime contained in Part IIA of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 (inserted by section 57 of the Environment Act 1995).Local authority functions under Part IIA include compilation of a register which will provide details about regulatory action and remediation on land formally identified as contaminated land.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the local authorities in the Northern Region which hold a detailed contaminated land register; and if he will make a statement. [76248]

There is no statutory requirement for local authorities to keep registers of contaminated land. Individual authorities may maintain records about land contamination, but there is no information held centrally about which authorities do so.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he expects to publish proposals for the future management of the South Downs; and if he will make a statement. [76370]

We are still looking very carefully at the issues. We hope to announce some conclusions soon.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what discussions he has had with representatives of the packaging industry on the recovery targets set for the packaging industry up to 2001; what assessment he has made of the ability of the industry to achieve such targets; and if he will make a statement; [76215](2) when he plans to make a statement on the future operation of the Packaging Waste Recovery Notes System; [76216](3) what is his estimate of the number of businesses in the packaging industry that will be exempt from the packaging waste obligations as a result of a change in the financial turnover cut-off threshold to £2 million. [76217]

A consultation paper was published on 30 July 1998 which included proposals to increase the interim business recovery and recycling targets in 1999 and 2000 and over 350 responses were received. The UK packaging recovery rate is expected to have reached approximately 32 per cent. in 1998 and the interim business targets are designed to enable the UK to achieve the mandatory EC Directive recovery and recycling targets in 2001. Industry itself has reported that there was an oversupply of reprocessing capacity in 1998 compared with the targets that had to be met and this was damaging the market. The increase in the interim business recovery and recycling targets should therefore generate the necessary momentum to enable sufficient activity to be carried out to achieve the 2001 targets. A further consideration was the need for sufficient resources to be directed at generating the necessary collection and reprocessing capacity that will be needed to meet targets in 2001. With this additional infrastructure in place, the UK should be able to meet these mandatory targets.I expect to make a statement about the future operation of the Packaging Waste Recovery Note System very shortly.The Department's current estimates suggest that some 4,500 smaller businesses will be excluded from the scope of the Regulations as a result of the change to the financial turnover cut-off threshold in 2000.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what evidence is provided by the English House Conditions Survey and the Survey of English Housing on the quality of housing of pensioners aged over 80 years in relation to that of other pensioner households. [76099]

[holding answer 11 March 1999]: The table from the 1996 English House Condition Survey indicates that pensioners aged over 80 years are much more likely to live in poor quality housing than pensioners below that age. The likelihood of the latter living in poor quality housing is on average not that much different from the population as a whole.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when the appeal by St. Leonard's and St. Ives Parish Council against the refusal of Dorset County Council to modify the definitive map to add five footpaths at Lions Hill, St Leonard's was made; and on what date he expects it to be determined. [76470]

[holding answer 12 March 1999]: This appeal was received by the Government Office for the South West in January 1997. The determination process has now reached an advance stage and the decision should be issued by the end of this month.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many employees of the Government Office for the South West are allocated to the determination of appeals involving footpaths. [76471]

[holding answer 12 March I999]: The Government Office for the South West has a team of eight staff dealing with the determination of appeals including rights of way cases.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the earliest date of a case involving a footpath appeal which is still awaiting determination by the Government office in Bristol; and how many more recent cases are awaiting determination. [76469]

[holding answer 12 March 1999]: The earliest footpath appeals awaiting determination are a group of nine interlinked appeals which completed the necessary procedural stages in January 1997. There are 21 more such cases awaiting determination.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many right of way appeals are currently outstanding in each of the Government's regional offices. [76468]

[holding answer 12 March 1999]: The number of appeal cases currently outstanding in each of the Government's regional offices is shown in the table.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 17 December 1998, Official Report, column 632, on the short-haired bumble bee, if he will make a statement on the preparation of the plan for the short-haired bumble bee. [76630]

An action plan for the short-haired bumble bee was included in Tranche 2 Action Plans, Volume IV—Invertebrates which was published by the UK Biodiversity Group on 8 March.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what (a) percentage and (b) length of public rights of way are open to (i) horseriders and (ii) cyclists in each county in England and Wales; and if he will make a statement. [76882]