To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what involvement fleet managers have had in drawing up her Department's Green Transport Plan. [77969]

The Department for International Development (DFID) has three official cars which are supplied by the Government Car Service. We have no fleet manager. We are in the initial stages of formulating a Green Transport plan.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list all bilateral aid to each of the dependent territories in (a) 1995–96, (b) 1996–97 and (c) 1997–98. [78037]

UK Bilateral Gross Public Expenditure on Aid (GPEX) to UK Overseas Territories in the specified years was as follows:

£000
	1995–96	1996–97	1997–98
Anguilla	1,810	1,367	2,520
Bermuda	30	57	30
British Virgin Islands	678	1,096	604
Cayman Islands	46	26	13
Falkland Islands	19	4	2
Gibraltar	118	163	192
Montserrat	6,568	14,452	38,317
Turks and Caicos Islands	2,788	3,198	2,569
St. Helena and Dependencies	9,267	7,991	8,765
Pitcairn Islands	203	160	76
Total, UK Overseas Territories	21,527	28,513	53,087

People in residential care homes by age, local authority supported residents and income support claimants with preserved rights in residential care
	People in residential care	Local Authority supported residents		Income support claimants1
Age band	31 March 1996	31 March 1996	31 March 1998	February 1996	August 1998
18–64	59,983	37,047	43,396	37,000	32,000
65–74	27,420	13,655	14,949	10,000	8,000
75–84	82,503	42,595	48,095	18,000	10,000
85 and over	130,358	59,867	73,100	30,000	17,000
1 Numbers do not include claimants in nursing homes or those income support claimants who are paid a residential allowance and have their fees met by the local authority or themselves.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 11 March 1999, Official Report, GPEX is expenditure by all official UK sources i.e. Government Departments and public bodies including the Commonwealth Development Corporation, which meets the criteria for developmental official flows agreed by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Assistance Committee.

To ask the Attorney-General what progress has been made in the establishment of a register to record membership of the freemasons in the Crown Prosecution Service. [78051]

In accordance with Government policy, in October 1998 the Crown Prosecution Service invited its lawyers to declare their masonic status for the purposes of a public register. The CPS is considering the format of a register in conjunction with other departments affected by the Government's policy. The CPS has also invited those recently selected for the new Chief Crown Prosecutor posts to declare their masonic status for the purposes of a public register.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people aged between (a) 16 to 64, (b) 65 to 74, (c) 75 to 84 and (d) over 85 years were in residential care homes in the most recent year for which figures are available; and in each of those age groups how many were funded by (i) local authorities on a means tested basis, (ii) the individuals themselves and (iii) the Department of Social Security. [76491]

[holding answer 15 March 1999]: Information on the numbers of people in residential care at 31 March 1996, the latest year for which complete information on residents is available, together with figures for local authority supported residents at 31 March 1996 and 1998 and on people in residential care who are funded by income support at February 1996 and August 1998, is given in the table. Information on the number of individuals who found themselves is not available centrally.column

The Mental Health Act 1983 does not place a specific duty on the Mental Health Act Commission to collect information on deaths that occur in mental health institutions. However, since February 1997, with Ministerial agreement, the Commission has gathered data on the deaths of detained patients and reviewed those from non-natural causes. The Commission has now completed the second year of data collection and is in the process of drawing general conclusions from the information available which it intends to present in the form of a report, drawing attention to general issues identified and making recommendations for action. It is intended to publish the report this year and to circulate it widely to mental health services in England and Wales.The Office for National Statistics collects information on all deaths that occur in England and Wales through the death registration system. This information included "place of death" which may give details of a communal establishment, such as a mental health institution, if that is where the death occurred.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what systems his Department require to be in place in mental health institutions to deal with medical emergencies resulting from the use of (a) control and restraint techniques and (b) drugs. [77629]

It is for each trust to ensure that appropriate staffing level and policies for responding to emergencies are in place.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health on what date he published the conditions for spending each of the new grants announced in his White Paper for social services. [77954]

The White Paper "Modernising Social Services" announced a range of new grants as part of a three year social services modernisation fund. In addition to these, as part of our carers strategy my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister announced a Carers Grant on 8 February. The conditions for spending each of the new grants were published on the following dates:

• Promoting Independence: Partnership Grant 16 March 1999
• Promoting Independence: Prevention Grant 16 March 1999
• Promoting Independence: Carers Grant 16 March 1999
• Children's Services Grant 11 November 1998
• Mental Health Grant 26 February 1999
• Training Support Grant 4 March 1999.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what involvement fleet managers have had in drawing up his Department's green transport plan. [77970]

The Department is drawing up green transport plans for all headquarters buildings and main buildings by executive agencies by the end of this month and for all other key buildings by March 2000. The Department does not have a fleet.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the local authorities to which Ministers have written urging greater spending on local services within their portfolio area. [77958]

Ministers have extensive correspondence with local authorities which includes advice on additional resources for personal social services. However, I am not aware of any letters specifically urging greater spending on local services.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the (a) professional and (b) other relevant background of lay members of primary care groups. [77953]

None. Health Authorities are responsible for appointing a lay member to each Primary Care Group board. Apart from excluding practising general practitioners, practising nurses, non-executive directors of National Health Service trusts or health authorities and staff working in the NHS, the Department or NHS Estates, the only qualification we have stipulated is that the lay member must live in the geographical area for which the primary care group is responsible.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to commission a national epidemiological study into chronic fatigue syndrome/ME. [77854]

There are currently no plans to commission a national epidemiological study into chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME). A number of definitions, disease descriptions or diagnostic criteria have been proposed to describe CFS/ME and there is no general agreement as to which should be used. This makes the results from studies on the prevalence of CFS/ME difficult to interpret and there is no agreement on the incidence of the illness.The heterogeneity of the definitions for CFS/ME was an issue that was raised at the first meeting of the CFS/ME Working Group and is likely to be a topic for further discussion as work progresses. If a definitive diagnostic criteria for CFS/ME can be defined requests for a national epidemiological study would need to be considered in line with other competing priorities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was his Department's budget in cash terms and at 1998–99 prices for (a) 1992–93 to 1998–99 and (b) his estimate for 1999–2000 to 2001–02. [77333]

The information requested is contained in the table.

£ million
Year	Cash	At 1998–99 prices
1992–93	27,826	32,291
1993–94	29,762	33,645
1994–95	31,593	35,212
1995–96	32,933	35,666
1996–97	33,769	35,479
1997–98	35,297	36,180
1998–99	37,643	37,643
1999–2000	40,345	39,361
2000–01	43,271	41,186
2001–02	46,172	42,875

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what (a) guidelines and (b) regulations his Department has regarding (i) the notification of relatives and (ii) the information, support and guidance offered to relatives after a death in a mental health institution. [77338]

Support and guidance offered to relatives after a death are contained in Health Service Guidelines (92)8 issued in January 1992. This guidance covers the procedures National Health Service trusts should have in place for dealing with patients who die in hospital and with a patient's relatives before and after the death.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list those countries from which organs for transplant have been received in the past 12 months. [78001]

In the period 1 March 1998 to 28 February 1999 a total of 99 organs were received from France, Spain, Italy, Cyprus, the Republic of Ireland, Eurotransplant (comprises Germany, Austria, Netherlands and Luxembourg) and Skandiatransplant (comprises Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden).

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what estimate he has made of the additional costs to ambulances and other medical vehicles in West Sussex resulting from fuel duty increases in the Budget; [77914](2) what provisions he has made to compensate health authorities for the additional costs resulting from fuel duty increases in the Budget; [77915](3) what estimates he has made of the additional costs to ambulances and other medical vehicles resulting from fuel duty increases in the Budget. [77913]

In 1996–97, the last year for which information is available, the cost of motor fuels as a proportion of total hospital and community health service spending, which includes ambulance trusts, was 0.12 per cent. The additional cost resulting from the Budget increase would have raised that figure to less than 0.13 per cent. Because of boundary factors it is not possible separately to identify figures for West Sussex. It is, however, clear that the effect of the increase will be very small relative to the other price inflation factors affecting the National Health Service each year. Any additional costs will be absorbed within the very significant real-terms increases in health authority allocations for 1999–2000 announced in November 1998.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many road vehicles deployed in the NHS are fuelled by road fuel gases; and what plans he has to encourage the use of more such vehicles. [77916]

The information requested is not available centrally.Road vehicles deployed in the National Health Service satisfy a diverse range of requirements. Vehicle operators include ambulance services, NHS Supplies, fleet vehicles for staff (including medical/nursing and support services etc.), and contractors working on behalf of the NHS.NHS transport/fleet officers do consider environmental aspects in the procurement and operation of the vehicles they manage. These decisions will be determined at local level taking into account availability of environmentally friendly road fuels and cost effectiveness in relation to the service to be provided.This has been reinforced by the White Paper "A New Deal for Transport: Better for Everyone" and the NHS is well aware of the need to take its requirements on board. NHS Estates (an executive agency of the Department) has also issued a "Healthy Transport Toolkit" to inform and commend green transport plans to the NHS. The Department intends to continue to encourage green transport initiatives within the NHS, including the use of environmentally friendly road fuels.

To ask the President of the Council how many civil servants in her Department have been invited to waive the Working Time Directive requirement to work less than 48 hours a week on 17 consecutive weeks; how many civil servants in her Department have refused to waive the requirement; and what is the total cost of compliance with the Directive. [76802]

Nine members of the staff of the Privy Council Office have signed an agreement to disapply the 48-hour limit. None has refused to do so. The cost of compliance with the Directive is negligible, in view of the small size of my Department.

To ask the President of the Council what guidelines have been agreed concerning the composition of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council when sitting to determine the vires of Acts of the Scottish Parliament. [76950]

It will be for the Senior Lord of Appeal in Ordinary to determine which members of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council sit to hear and determine cases under the Scotland Act 1998. However, the Government would expect a convention to develop along the lines of Scottish appeals to the House of Lords, where there would always be at least one Scottish judge, and in practice perhaps more, sitting on the Judicial Committee for Scottish devolution cases.

To ask the President of the Council what provision has been made for millennium compliance-related problems for 9 September 1999; and if she will make a statement. [77131]

9999 was sometimes used as a close down, halt or standby code by programmers and some people think that September 1999 may be confused with this code. Action 2000 advise me that they have not found any cases where 9/9/99 will cause equipment to fail, and do not expect that date to have a significant impact.On a wider point, there are many dates which may cause computers problems. Such problem dates should be tested for as appropriate. All companies should be aware of the key dates when the year 2000 will first hit their systems: for many it will be 1 April 1999 with the new financial year. Government Departments and Agencies have included testing for other relevant dates in their own programmes. The preferred dates which should be used for testing are included in the relevant British Standards Institution (BSI) advice.

To ask the President of the Council when she was first informed of the existence of a leaked copy of the draft report of the Foreign Affairs Committee Sierra Leone Inquiry. [73934]

[holding answer 1 March 1999]: On the morning of 23 February 1999.

To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, what was the cost of the processing and publication of Early Day Motions in each of the last three years; how many staff were employed to administer them; and at what cost. [77568]

I will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible and place a copy of my reply in the Library of the House.

To ask the President of the Council what was the cost of the production of claim forms for (i) the Members' Car Allowance Scheme, (ii) the Members' constituency mileage continuation sheets, (iii) C1 reimbursement, (iv) C2 direct payment and (v) C3 direct payment secretarial claim forms; how many staff are employed to administer them; and at what cost in the last year for which figures are available. [77625]

The cost of the production of the forms in the 1998 calendar year were as follows:

• C1 forms £230.23
• C2 forms £342.36
• C3 forms £368.11.

No copies of the Members Car Allowance Scheme and Mileage booklets were produced in the period as existing stocks were used.All staff who are employed on the administration of these forms have other duties and so it is not possible to give completely accurate salary costs. However, total staff costs of paying car allowances and expenses paid in respect of forms C1 and C2 is in the region of £175,000.

To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 3 February 1999, Official Report, columns 642–43, on overseas publications, if he will place copies of the articles he wrote for the foreign newspapers listed in his answer in the Library. [76459]

My office does not keep copies of articles written for foreign newspapers.However, the House of Commons Library does provide a cuttings service for Members. The right hon. Member may wish to contact the staff in the Library, who will endeavour to assist him in obtaining copies of the articles.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the relationship between the No. 10 Policy Unit and the Social Exclusion Unit. [76675]

[holding answer 18 March 1999]: The Units work together closely.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the working groups which report to the Social Exclusion Unit. [76676]

[holding answer 18 March 1999]: There are no specific working groups which formally report to the Social Exclusion Unit. Civil servants and others from outside work with the Social Exclusion Unit as necessary to prepare reports and act on their recommendations. For example, eighteen policy action teams from across Government are carrying forward work identified in the Unit's report "Bringing Britain Together: a National Strategy for Neighbourhood Renewal" (Cm 4045).

To ask the Prime Minister if he will amend the Code of Conduct for Ministers to include a prohibition against attempting to procure the (a) appointment, (b) promotion and (c) dismissal of individual journalists, and an obligation to make any complaints about journalists in writing, and to place them on public record. [77615]

[holding answer 19 March 1999]: Decisions on the employment of journalists are a matter for the media organisations concerned.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will place in the Library a copy of his letter dispatched to the Head of the European Socialist Party concerning the January motions of confidence in the European Parliament on fraud and the Commission; who else received copies; and if he will make a statement. [78396]

I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Windsor (Mr. Trend) on 17 March 1999, Official Report, column 706.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement regarding the functions and responsibilities of the Lord Advocate in connection with the implementation of the Scotland Act 1998. [78277]

As a consequence of the new constitutional arrangements under the Scotland Act 1998, I have approved a reallocation of certain functions and responsibilities of the Lord Advocate to the Secretary of State and the Advocate-General for Scotland.The overall intention of these transfers of functions and responsibilities is to ensure the appropriate distribution of the Lord Advocate's functions during the transitional period up to 1 July 1999 and after the Scottish Executive takes up its full powers on 1 July 1999. I am placing in the Library of the House a short paper which sets out the background to these transfers.Copies of the Transfer of Functions (Lord Advocate and Secretary of State) Order 1999 (S.I. 1999/678) and the Transfer of Functions (Lord Advocate and Advocate-General for Scotland) Order 1999 (S.I. 1999/679), which were made by Her Majesty in Council on 10 March, have been laid before both Houses.In addition to the transfer of statutory functions which would be effected by these transfer of functions orders, it is proposed that ministerial responsibility for the general oversight of certain branches of the law of Scotland will pass from the Lord Advocate to the Secretary of State on 19 May 1999, when the statutory functions are also transferred to them. No formal order is required to give effect to this transfer, which will be carried out by administrative arrangement.The matters concerned are connected in whole or in part with the administration of justice in Scotland. They include the matters for which responsibility was transferred to the Lord Advocate in 1972, as referred to in a statement made by the then Prime Minister on 21 December 1972,

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on progress towards establishing the learning forces initiative announced in the strategic defence review. [75969]

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on progress towards establishing the learning forces initiative announced in the strategic defence review. [75978]

We are making good progress with our learning forces initiative. At home and abroad, our Service personnel are already benefiting from increased educational opportunities. The learning forces initiative is also a powerful tool which will aid recruiting and retention.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what action he is taking to combat racism in the armed services. [75977]

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on his plans to combat racism within the armed services. [75971]

I place the highest priority on tackling racism within the Services. Our equal opportunities policies are ensuring that racism is challenged and that our Services more truly represent—and benefit from—our multi-cultural society.We are now working to develop a culture which welcomes racial diversity. I have agreed a new corporate framework for equal opportunities which will encourage this. I commend it to the House. A copy is being placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many air, army and sea cadets there were (a) at 1 May 1997 and (b) at the latest date for which figures are available. [75979]

The number of cadets is calculated at the end of the financial year.Therefore, on 31 March 1997 there were:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about (a) the recruitment of Dr. Gwyn Prins to the office of the Secretary-General of NATO, (b) the role, responsibilities and degree of security clearance given to Dr. Prins in that office and (c) the vetting procedures applied prior to his appointment. [75980]

These are matters for NATO.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on staffing levels in the Defence Medical Services. [75981]

We have made improving the current serious manpower shortfalls in the Defence Medical Services a top priority. Following the Strategic Defence Review we have provided additional funds to address both personnel and equipment shortfalls in the Medical Services. We have put in place a number of initiatives to rectify the staffing situation, but recognise that restoration of full staffing will take some time.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the extent of collateral damage inflicted during the recent bombing of Iraq; and if he will make a statement. [75982]

US and British aircraft act only in self-defence, in response to Iraqi aggression. They attack only legitimate military targets which pose a real threat to coalition forces and use only precision guided munitions wherever there is a danger of collateral damage. However, military action is never without risk and I deeply regret any civilian casualties or damage to civilian infrastructure. There would be no such risk if Saddam stopped threatening coalition forces. It is Saddam' s continued aggression which potentially puts innocent civilians in harm's way.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on rations for the armed forces while they are on manoeuvres. [75984]

The food supply arrangements for our Armed Forces deployed on operations or exercises will depend on the specific circumstances prevailing. Our aim is always to establish the supply of fresh rations at the earliest opportunity. Where this is not practicable, or in the period before a fresh food supply chain can be established, our personnel will normally be fed on Operational Ration Packs. These Packs have been developed specifically to provide a balanced, varied and nutritional diet suitable for use in a wide range of different field conditions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many British military personnel have been deployed in Macedonia. [75985]

Some 4,800 UK military personnel have been deployed to Greece and Macedonia, mainly consisting of the UK contribution to a possible NATO-led peace implementation force in Kosovo, but also including our contribution to the NATO-led Extraction Force, the NATO Verification Mission and the UK contribution to the OSCE Verification Mission, now withdrawn from Kosovo.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the pension arrangements for cleaners employed by (a) the NAAFI and (b) the Ministry of Defence. [75986]

I have a meeting planned with the Chief Executive of the NAAFI this week, at which I expect to raise this issue.As for those cleaners employed by the MoD as civil servants, they would be eligible to join the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme (PCSPS).

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the announcement by the Environment Agency that plutonium deposits are being washed from the Pangbourne pipeline at AWE Aldermaston into the River Thames. [76051]

All discharges from AWE through the Pangbourne pipeline are authorised by the Environment Agency. Scaling may occur when water passes down any pipeline. The potential for subsequent descaling is taken into account in the management of discharges which remain at 10–15 per cent. of the currently authorised limits. Details of these discharges are made available to the public through AWE' s Environment, Safety and Health reports which are published annually and distributed widely including regulatory and Local Authorities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on safety at AWE Aldermaston. [76019]

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Daventry (Mr. Boswell) on 18 March 1999, Official Report, columns 801–02.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the effect that improved training and education within the armed forces will have on recruitment. [75988]

We want the Services to be a career of first choice. Our learning forces initiative is designed to improve training and education in the Armed Forces and increase opportunities for Service personnel to acquire academic vocational and professional qualifications. This should have a very positive impact on Armed Forces recruitment and retention.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he next intends to meet his American counterpart to discuss Operation Desert Fox in Iraq. [75989]

I keep in regular and close contact with William Cohen, the US Secretary of Defense, and we frequently discuss a wide range of issues of mutual interest, including coalition activities in respect of Iraq. I next plan to meet him during a visit to the US between 16–18 April and again at the NATO Summit on 23–25 April.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress his Department has made in implementing strategic defence review commitment that Trident submarines would carry only 48 warheads. [75990]

We implemented the reduction in warhead numbers announced in the Strategic Defence Review by December 1998. All our Trident submarines on deterrent patrol now carry only 48 nuclear warheads.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much the Government are spending on research into the illnesses of Gulf war veterans. [75991]

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to my hon. Friends the Members for Stafford (Mr. Kidney) and for Wirral, South (Mr. Chapman) today, Official Report columns 5–6.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what savings his Department plans to achieve by the disposal of TA centres. [75992]

Disposal of TA Centres is expected to generate net receipts of some £40 million, excluding those that may be realised by disposing of the Duke of York's headquarters in Chelsea. We expect also to achieve savings in running costs and costs of refurbishment.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many women were employed in Her Majesty's armed forces (a) in the year before May 1997 and (b) since May 1997. [75993]

The information requested is given in the table:

Date	Number of women employed in the armed forces	Total strength of the armed forces
1 May 1996	15,596	220,988
1 May 1997	14,834	210,269
1 May 1998	15,732	203,739
1 January 19991	16,119	208,763
1 Latest data available

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many women were employed in Her Majesty's armed forces (a) on 1 May 1997 and (b) 1 March 1999. [75995]

On 1 May 1997 14,834 women were employed in the armed forces. Figures for 1 March 1999 are not yet available but on 1 January 1999, the latest date for which data are available, there were 16,119 women employed in the armed forces.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the future arrangements for the training of sea, army and air cadets in Solihull. [75994]

As I have announced, any cadet unit that is currently accommodated in a TA centre that is to close under the restructuring of the TA, will be re-provided with accommodation at least as good as they currently occupy. I have also announced that no TA centre that houses cadets will be closed until alternative accommodation for the cadets is in place. This will be the case for the cadets in Solihull. The future accommodation for the cadets in Solihull is currently under consideration.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with his international counterparts on (a) the disposal of stocks of land mines and (b) the destruction of mines which have been laid. [75996]

The Government use every appropriate opportunity to press other Governments to ratify the Convention and fulfil all their international obligations under the Ottawa Convention. As I announced to the House on 22 February 1999, Official Report, column 7, we have now destroyed the last of the Army's operational stocks of APM, four years in advance of the requirement laid down under the Ottawa Convention. Destruction of all UK operational stocks of APM will be completed by 1 January 2000. This is another instance of the UK leading international efforts to achieve a world-wide ban on these weapons.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the Government's policy in relation to promoting further European defence co-operation. [75997]

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for The Wrekin (Mr. Bradley) today, Official Report, column 13.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will assess the contribution made by Imphal Barracks, York to local employment levels. [73086]

There are 385 civilian staff employed within Imphal Barracks, of whom 143 are on the establishment of the headquarters 2^nd Division. Imphal Barracks also makes an indirect contribution to local employment levels through employment by local contractors on property management within the barracks, which this financial year will cost some £1.1 million. For the future, the announced move of the Defence Vetting Agency when implemented will more than compensate for the loss of civilian posts caused by the closure of the divisional headquarters at Imphal Barracks.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what date the Defence Secondary Care Agency published its report for the year 1997–98; and what was the cost of production of the report. [76635]

This is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Defence Secondary Care Agency. I have asked the Chief Executive to write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was his Department's budget in cash terms and at 1998–99 prices for (a) 1992–93 to 1998–99 and (b) his estimate for 1999–2000 to 2001–02. [77334]

The information requested is as follows:

£ million
Year	Cash	1998–99 prices
1992–93	22,910	26,587
1993–94	22,757	25,726
1994–95	22,562	25,146
1995–96	21,517	23,303
1996–97	22,345	23,476
1997–98	21,610	22,151
1998–99	22,549	22,549
1999–00	22,280	21,737
2000–01	22,815	21,716
2001–02	22,972	21,332

The figures for 1992–93 through to 1997–98 reflect outturn adjusted to take account of major definitional changes in defence spending and of major transfers of responsibility to and from other Government Departments. The figures for 1996–97 and 1997–98 exclude the element of receipts arising from the sale of the married quarters estate in England and Wales that were appropriated onto Defence Votes. The figures for 1998–99 is the estimated outturn that underlay the Spring Supplementary Estimates. The totals shown for 1999–2000 to 2001–2002 are the Ministry of Defence's Departmental Expenditure Limits. These differ slightly from the figures published in the Comprehensive Spending Review (Cm 4011) and the Strategic Defence Review (Cm 3999) White Papers last July, and more recently in the Ministry of Defence's Public Service Agreement (which forms part of "Public Service for the Future: Modernisation, Reform and Accountability" (Cm 4181, December 1998)) because of adjustments arising from Public Expenditure Systems transfers to other Government departments.Further details of the Ministry of Defence's expenditure plans will be published in "The Government's Expenditure Plans 1999–2000 to 2001–2002" (Cm 4208) on 26 March 1999.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on recruitment to the Territorial Army. [75983]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Arundel and South Downs (Mr. Flight) today, Official Report, column 9.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to maintain the footprint of the Army in those areas of the country where there will be no regular or TA units. [74860]

[holding answer 5 March 1999]: The future footprint of the Army is defined by the location of Regular and Territorial Army units and facilities and will remain widespread following the SDR and the reform of the TA.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will estimate the reduction in civilian posts from his review of the TA. [74861]

[holding answer 5 March 1999]: We expect that the reform of the Territorial Army will result in an overall loss of some 900 civilian posts spread throughout the United Kingdom. These numbers are, however, subject to Trade Union consultation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many times Ministers in his Department have met their counterparts in the US Government since 1 June 1998; and if he will list the

Minister	Counterpart	Date	Location
Secretary of State	William Cohen	3 June 1998	Washington
Secretary of State	William Cohen	19 November 1998	Washington
Secretary of State, Minister (Defence Procurement), and Under-Secretary of State	John Hamre	19 January 1999	London
Minister (Armed Forces)	John Hamre	1 March 1999	Washington

In addition, we have regular exchanges and contacts at other meetings and conferences.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list by country the number of non-UK citizens who have been recruited to each of the armed services in each of the past three years for which figures are available. [77485]

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 if he will make a statement on (a) the level of payments from NATO to cover the salaries of UK armed forces personnel on NATO missions, (b) the level of salaries and allowances paid to UK armed forces on NATO missions and (c) the reasons for differences between the amounts at (a) and (b). [77621]

[holding answer 19 March 1999]: NATO does not make any payment to cover the salaries of UK (or any other nation's) armed forces personnel on NATO missions. Normal levels of salary, together with allowances appropriate to location and circumstances, are paid from Ministry of Defence funds to UK Armed Forces personnel while on NATO or other missions. It is accepted by NATO nations that the salary costs of troops deployed will lie where they fall, on the defence budgets of the contributing nations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many times allied aircraft have fired at (a) Iraqi aircraft and (b) Iraqi installations from outside the no-fly zones since the conclusion of Operation Desert Fox. [77226]

Allied aircraft have not fired at either Iraqi aircraft or Iraqi installations from outside the no-fly zones since the conclusion of Operation Desert Fox.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with the Biwater Company over targeting sites in the area of the Al Taji factory in outer Baghdad. [78030]

None.

Since 1 June 1998, MOD Ministers have had bilateral meetings with our US counterparts on the following occasions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the approximate weight of ordnance fired against targets in Iraq on Monday 15 March. [78054]

UK forces did not launch or drop any ordnance against Iraqi targets on 15 March.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the answers of 16 February 1999, Official Report, column 739, and 15 March 1999, Official Report, column 511, from whom he received the account of the episode relating to the 16-year-old Iraqi youth. [77353]

[holding answer 18 March 1999]: The information came to me from my noble Friend the Minister for Defence Procurement who was told of the case at a private occasion by a reliable source who had been in Baghdad at the time. I am withholding further details under Exemption 12 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information, relating to the privacy of an individual. The account is consistent with other accounts of the repressive brutality of Saddam' s regime. For example, the Iraqi National Accord has reported that in 1991 a six-year-old boy was accused, together with his father, of participating in an uprising against Saddam. The boy and his father were both shot. Similarly, in 1996, a 12-year-old boy was arrested and imprisoned for three months because his brother was an opponent of Saddam's.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the targets attacked by British aircraft in the northern and southern no-fly zones of Iraq, together with relevant battle damage assessments since he last wrote to hon. Members with the details of earlier engagements. [77976]

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 what progress his Department has made in selecting contractors for completion of the future aircraft carriers. [75972]

Invitations to Tender for the Assessment Phase of the Future Carrier programme were issued to 6 contractors on 25 January 1999. Up to 3 contracts will be awarded towards the end of this year. We anticipate further down selection during the course of the Assessment Phase leading to the selection of a prime contractor in 2004.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will name the Ministers in his Department who are regular users of electronic Red Boxes. [76168]

Sponsored body	Role	Tide	Remuneration
Advisory Committee on Historic Wreck Sites	Member	Mr. Robin Daniels	No
British Library Board	Member	Viscount Runciman of Duxford CBE	Yes
British Tourist Authority	Chairman	David Quarmby	Yes
Broadcasting Standards Commission	Member	Ms Sally O'Sullivan	Yes
Broadcasting Standards Commission	Member	Mr. Uday Dholakia	Yes
Crafts Council	Member	Mr. David Field MBE	No
Crafts Council	Member	Professor Jeremy Myerson	No
Crafts Council	Member	Dr. Jennifer Harris	No
Crafts Council	Member	Ms Cynthia Cousens	No
English Heritage	Commissioner	Councillor Philip Davis	Yes
English Sports Council	Member	Ms Brigid Simmonds	No
English Sports Council	Member	Ms Tessa Sanderson	No
Independent Television Commission	Deputy Chairman	Lord Holme of Cheltenham	Yes
Library and Information Commission	Member	Professor Mel Collier	No
National Film and Television School	Governor	Ms Ann Beynon	No
National Film and Television School	Governor	Rupert Gavin	No
National Film and Television School	Governor	Mr. Marc Samuelson	No
National Film and Television School	Governor	Ms Floella Benjamin	No
National Film and Television School	Governor	Mr. Clive Jones	No
National Film and Television School	Governor	Ms Andrea Calderwood	No
National Film and Television School	Governor	Viscount Chandos	No
National Film and Television School	Governor	Ms Joyce Taylor	No
National Lottery Charities Board	Member Northern Ireland	Ms Sheila Jane Malley	No
National Lottery Charities Board	Member Wales	Mr. Jeff Carroll	No
National Lottery Commission	Commissioner	Mr. Robin Squire	Yes
National Lottery Commission	Commissioner	Ms Harriet Spicer	Yes
National Lottery Commission	Commissioner	Dame Helena Shovelton	Yes
National Lottery Commission	Commissioner	Mr. Brian Pomeroy	Yes
National Lottery Commission	Commissioner	Ms Hilary Blume	Yes
Public Lending Right Advisory Committee	Member	Mr. Roger Palmer	No
Radio Authority	Member	Mr. David Witherow	Yes
Radio Authority	Member	Mr. Feargal Sharkey	Yes
Radio Authority	Member	Mrs. Sheila Hewitt	Yes
Reviewing Committee on the Exports of Works of Art	Member	Mr. Alistair Laing	No
Reviewing Committee on the Exports of Works of Art	Member	The hon. Georgina Sonor	No
Royal Armouries	Member	Mrs. Ann Green	No
Royal Armouries	Member	Professor John Childs	No
United Kingdom Sports Council	Member	Ms Zahara Hyde-Peters	No
United Kingdom Sports Council	Member	Miss Tanni Grey MBE	No
United Kingdom Sports Council	Member	Mrs. Diana King	No
United Kingdom Sports Council	Member	Mr. Adrian Metcalfe	No
United Kingdom Sports Council	Member	Prof. Myra Nimmo	No
United Kingdom Sports Council	Member	Mr. Gavin Stewart	No

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many times Ministers in his Department have met their counterparts in the US Government since 1 June 1998; and if he will list the dates and locations of each meeting, the ministers involved on each occasion, and the name of the US counterpart at each meeting. [77124]

I refer the right hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office on 16 March 1999, Official Report, columns 651–52.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will list those people he has appointed to public bodies since 1 November 1998, indicating the positions to which they have been appointed and if they receive remuneration. [76412]

The appointments made are as follows:

Under the US political system there are no exact counterparts for DCMS Ministers. However, since 1 June 1998 my Ministers and I have met the following key individuals from those organisations most closely linked to my Department's responsibilities and to the US Government:On Wednesday 16 September 1998 in Washington DC I met Ellen Lowell, White House Millennium Co-ordinator; William Kennard, Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission; and, Harriet Fullbright, Chair, President's Committee on the Arts and Humanities.On Thursday 25 February 1999, in New York, Alan Howarth, Minister for the Arts, met Ms Scott Shanklin-Preston, Senior Deputy Chair, National Endowment for the Arts; Ed McBride, President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities; and, Malcolm Richardson, White House Millennium Council.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what action he is taking to retain the headquarters of the Commonwealth Games Federation in England; and if he will make a statement. [R] [77977]

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will take steps to ensure that the Commonwealth Games headquarters remain in London; and if he will make a statement. [77774]

[holding answer 19 March 1999]: This Government place great importance on retaining in the UK the headquarters of all international sports federations based here, including the Commonwealth Games Federation. That is why, in addition to on-going financial support from the English Sports Council Trust for the Federation, I have welcomed the UK Sports Council's strategy to assist the retention of international federations in this country. Part of this strategy will include financial support for the CGF's accommodation in London and a secondment to the Federation in the lead up to the 2002 Commonwealth Games.I have reassured the Chairman of the CGF of our commitment.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will list the chief executives of the international sporting bodies resident in the United Kingdom whom he has met since 1 May 1998. [77773]

[holding answer 19 March 1999]: Since May 1998, I have had formal meetings with senior representatives from two international sports federations based in this country, namely, the Commonwealth Games Federation and the International Tennis Federation. I should stress that, through the Sports Councils as well as regular meetings and correspondence, both my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I have close links with the national governing bodies of sport and are well informed of developments and issues surrounding international sport federations based in this country.This Government are fully committed to encouraging international sports federations to locate in the UK and to retaining those bodies which are already based here.

To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners, if he will assess the financial consequences of disestablishment of the Church of England. [76004]

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave him on 25 January 1999, Official Report, column 17.Disestablishment would not lie with the Commissioners to initiate and, without formal instructions and definitions, any estimates of costs are impractical.

To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners, how many clergy and clergy widows' pensions are currently contributed to by the Church Commissioners; what is the annual funding involved; and what these figures were (a) five and (b) 10 years ago. [76005]

I have arranged for this information to be placed in the House of Commons Library. In order to assist the hon. Member, however, he should note that at 31 December 1998 the Commissioners were contributing to the pensions of 7,341 clergy and 4,298 widows. The total cost for the year was £82.3m. In addition, funding of 1.3m was used to subsidise the cost of retirement housing.

To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners, if he will make a statement on the policy of the Church Commissioners towards redundant churches. [76006]

When a Church of England church is closed for public worship under the Pastoral Measure it is the policy of the Church Commissioners to assist and encourage the diocese to seek a suitable alternative use for the building. If no such use can be found, the Commissioners usually have to decide in the light of the advice of their statutory advisers, the Advisory Board for Redundant Churches, between preservation by the Churches Conservation Trust and demolition.

To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners, if he will make a statement on the work of the Church Risk Management Group. [76007]

The Church Risk Management Group has recently been established in the diocese of Leicester and is available to give practical advice to all Church of England churches in the diocese on all matters relating to security and risk management. The Group includes representatives from the diocesan office, the City and County Councils, fire brigade, police and the Ecclesiastical Insurance Group and will visit churches to assess and advise on risks that might not be immediately recognisable to the untrained eye. It works closely with the diocesan advisory committee and appropriate outside agencies to improve fire safety, crime reduction levels and risk management in all church property. The scheme has received an enthusiastic response from the local church and central church authorities and may be offered to other dioceses.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on Government policy towards the establishment of a single European asylum system. [76289]

A single European asylum system is a theoretical possibility. It could conceivably take a number of different forms. We have formed no particular view at present, but will consider the matter further in the light of the study to establish the merits of such a system which is a feature of the Council and Commission's Action Plan on the implementation of the provisions of the Treaty of Amsterdam on an area of freedom, security and justice, which was deposited on 17 November 1998.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions and for what reasons the Metropolitan Police have applied for delay in determining Sergeant Gurpal Virdi's Employment Tribunal application. [77237]

The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis tells me that the Metropolitan Police have twice applied for a delay in determining Sergeant Gurpal Virdi's Employment Tribunal application. On both occasions, the reason was to await the decision of the Crown Prosecution Service on whether charges should be brought against Sergeant Virdi.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when Sergeant Gurpal Virdi was suspended from the Metropolitan Police; and when the Metropolitan Police advised his Department of the Employment Tribunal case relating to Sergeant Gurpal Virdi. [77235]

The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis tells me that Sergeant Gurpal Virdi was suspended from duty on 15 April 1998.The Metropolitan Police had not previously had reason to advise me of the Employment Tribunal relating to Sergeant Virdi. The Commissioner tells me that a directions hearing of the tribunal has been arranged for 5 May 1999.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what disciplinary charges the Metropolitan Police plans to lay against Sergeant Gurpal Virdi. [77236]

The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis tells me that on 23 February 1999 the Metropolitan Police Complaints Investigation Branch was asked to consider whether any disciplinary action should be taken against Sergeant Gurpal Virdi and if so what the disciplinary charges should be. No decision has yet been taken on these matters.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the outcome of the Justice and Home Affairs Council held in Brussels on 12 March; and if he will make a statement. [77249]

My hon. Friends the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Home Affairs, my hon. Friend the Member for Vauxhall (Kate Hoey), and I represented the United Kingdom at the Council. The main matters dealt with were as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, consequential on the conclusions of the General Affairs Council of the European Union meeting on 7 December, he will list (a) the adaptations necessary to the working structures in justice and home affairs, and for what purposes, (b) when the changes were discussed at the Meeting of the K4 Committee and who represented Her Majesty's Government and (c) what instructions he has given to United Kingdom Permanent Representatives on COREPER in respect of its remit to prepare for the necessary changes. [77217]

I take it that my hon. Friend is referring to the conclusions of the General Affairs Council (GAC) on 7 December 1998 relating to preparation of the implementation of the Amsterdam Treaty.It has been recognised for some time that the provisions of the Treaty of Amsterdam have legal and practical implications for Council working structures in the field of justice and home affairs (JHA). While the JHA Council will maintain political oversight over all JHA areas, including those transferring to the First Pillar, adjustments will need to be made to working structures below the level of the Council. The main change arises from the fact that the co-ordinating committee under Article 36 of the revised Treaty on European Union which will replace the present K4 Committee will, unlike that Committee, have no responsibility for the matters transferring to the First Pillar. In the interests of ensuring effective co-ordination of future work on immigration, asylum and border controls, and on civil judicial co-operation, it has been decided to create new groups to assure such coordination. The opportunity has also been taken to review lower level working structures, with a view to achieving greater coherence and efficiency and to incorporating Schengen working structures into the Council structures. A number of changes to working groups have now been agreed, for implementation when the Amsterdam Treaty enters into force.These matters have been discussed in the K4 Committee on a number of occasions, most recently at the meeting on 23–24 February, where the United Kingdom was represented by Mr. John Warne, Director of the Organised and International Crime Directorate at the Home Office.The Presidency's proposals were approved by the Committee of Permanent Representatives (Coreper) on 17 March. It was also agreed that Coreper would review the new working structures at the end of the year 2000.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if his Department collects comparative data on accidents involving police, ambulance and fire service vehicles responding to emergency calls. [77343]

No comparative data are collected but the Home Office monitors accident rates arising from both police responses to emergency calls and pursuits. We are supporting the Association of Chief Police Officers in all its work to reduce the casualties which regrettably arise from time to time in these situations.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the proportion of computer systems in (i) his Department, (ii) public services for which his Department is responsible and (iii) departmental public bodies for which his Department is responsible, which will be millennium compliant by December; and if he will make a statement. [77294]

All business critical Information Technology systems in the Home Department are expected to be Millennium compliant well before December 1999.All Police Forces and Fire Brigades in England and Wales report that their business critical IT systems will be Millennium compliant by December 1999. Programmes of independent assessment of these reports are currently under way.All the Non-Departmental Public Bodies for which the Home Department is responsible report that their business critical IT systems will be Millennium compliant by December 1999.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the total expenditure by his Department and by each of the public services for which he is responsible on ensuring that computer systems are millennium compliant; and if he will make a statement. [77295]

The projected total expenditure on Year 2000 work up to the end of March 1999 in the Home Department is £22.584 million. In addition, total expenditure on Year 2000 work up to the end of December 1998 in Police Forces was £17.2 million and in Fire Services was £1.756 million.A projection, undertaken in January 1999, of cumulative expenditure on Millennium compliance work up to March 2000 in the Home Department was £25.326 million; in the Police Forces, £56.233 million; and in the Fire Services, £8.605 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisons in England and Wales currently have drug free wings; how many have specialised drug addiction treatment programmes and staff; and if he will make a statement. [77281]

It is estimated that there are now approximately 4,000 voluntary testing places covering one third of prisons. There are currently 73 centrally funded drug treatment/rehabilitation programmes being delivered by prison and specialist staff. The Prison Service is committed to the expansion of treatment programmes and to providing access to voluntary testing for all prisoners considered suitable by 2001.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many seconded probation staff were working in HM prisons in England and Wales on 31 December in each of the last four years; what plans he has to change numbers of seconded staff over the next two years; and if he will make a statement. [77291]

The numbers of seconded probation staff in prison establishments for the last four years ending 31 December, are as follows:

Year	Number
1995	1639
1996	1568
1997	590
1998	657
1 Figures for 1995 and 1996 include probation seconded officers but not probation service officers which have been recorded only since 1997

The Prison and Probation Services have a joint commitment to the effective delivery of throughcare. The number of seconded probation staff in establishments is dependent on an annual contract between the Governor of the establishment and the Chief Probation Officer for the area. Staffing levels need to be flexible, to meet changing requirements.Governors must adhere to the principles of the National Throughcare Framework Document—signed by the Prison and Probation Services—in determining the number of seconded probation staff needed to prepare ex-offenders adequately for post-release supervision.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many offenders are currently on a home detention curfew; and if he will make a statement. [77282]

On 17 March 1999, there were 2,031 offenders on home detention curfew in England and Wales. Since the commencement of the scheme on 28 January 1999, 2,403 offenders have been placed on Home Detention Curfew. Of this number, 298 have successfully completed their curfew and 71 have been recalled.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to extend the use of electronic tagging of young offenders; and if he will make a statement. [77283]

Curfew orders backed by electronic monitoring for young offenders aged 10 to 15 are currently being piloted in Norfolk and Greater Manchester. These are due to run until 31 March 2000. Information on the pilots is being collected and analysed by the Research Development and Statistics Directorate of the Home Office. A final report is due early in 2000 and a decision will then be made on whether to extend the use of this provision.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if individuals who have mistakenly had their communications intercepted by statutory agencies, owing to an error by a public telecommunications operator or for any other reason, are informed of the mistake and given details of the communications which have been intercepted; how many individuals mistakenly had their communications intercepted in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [77275]

Whenever a person's communications are intercepted in error a report explaining the reason for the error and the action taken in response is submitted to the Secretary of State and to the Commissioner appointed under the Interception of Communications Act 1985. All product obtained from the interception is destroyed. The Commissioner reports on errors, in such detail as he considers appropriate, in his annual reports. The numbers of errors in the last five published reports are as follows:

Report for (year)	Number of errors
1993	9
1994	14
1995	7
1996	8
1997	18

I would refer the right hon. Member to the annual reports themselves—copies of which are in the Library—for a description of the errors. In accordance with long established policy and consistently with the statutory provisions, people are not notified when their telephones are intercepted under warrant. This policy also applies in relation to cases where a person's communications are intercepted in error.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to make a decision on the London Fire and Civil Defence Authority's proposal to reduce the number of fire engines in London. [77315]

On 1 March my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary received the application by the Authority, under section 19 of the Fire Services Act 1947, for his approval to the removal of five fire appliances and associated firefighting posts.Where an application is straightforward and uncontentious my right hon. Friend aims to reach a decision within six weeks. However, it is important that hon. Members, organisations and members of the public who wish to make representations about a section 19 application have the opportunity to do so. In a case such as this, where it is already clear that there will be a significant number of representations to consider, my right hon. Friend will normally take much longer than six weeks to reach his decision. I can assure the hon. Member that the application will not be approved unless we are entirely satisfied, in the light of advice from Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Fire Services, that the national standards of fire cover will be maintained.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the procedure by which convicted prisoners may apply for permission to visit close relatives in other penal institutions in England. [77639]

Inter-prison visits may, on application, be allowed between prisoners who are close relatives when both parties are inmates at separate establishments, subject to the requirements of security and the availability of transport and accommodation. The procedures for convicted prisoners to apply for permission to have such visits are set out in Prison Rules 33 and 34, Standing Order 5A and Circular Instruction 11/1991, copies of which are held in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much his Department has spent in each of the last three years on funding research into fire-related issues. [77610]

Home Office fire research expenditure for the period 1995–96 to 1997–98¹.

Year	£
1995–96	845,745
1996–97	590,490
1997–98	541,437
1 Figures supplied by the Fire Research and Development Group, FEPD.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish forecasts of asylum applications and details of how the cost of supporting asylum seekers is calculated. [78426]

A note entitled 'Estimates of public expenditure on asylum seeker support' has been placed in the Library and circulated to interested parties. I am also today publishing an Information Document which sets out further details of the proposed asylum support arrangements. I am arranging for copies to be sent to every Member and placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what involvement fleet managers have had in drawing up his Department's Green Transport Plan. [77971]

My Department is drawing up green transport plans for its headquarters buildings including those occupied by its Executive Agencies by the end of this month and for all other key buildings by March 2000. My Department's fleet managers have been fully involved in developing the policy.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the local authorities to which Ministers have written urging greater spending on local services within their portfolio area. [77959]

Home Office Ministers have not written to any local authorities in those terms.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on staffing levels in each Fire Service area. [77693]

Information on staffing levels in each fire authority area is included in the annual Reports of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Fire Services for England and Wales. The report for 1997–98 was presented to Parliament by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary in October 1998.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what (a) guidelines and (b) regulations his Department has regarding (i) the notification of relatives and (ii) the information, support and guidance offered to relatives after a death in (1) prison and (2) police custody. [77337]