To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the report of the Joint Prison

Contested trials/pleas
							Convictions/acquittals
Financial Year	Total number of cases brought to trial	Total number of defendants	Number of cases where all defendants pleaded guilty	Number of cases where at least one defendant went to trial	Number of defendants who pleaded guilty	Convicted by jury	Acquitted by jury	Acquitted (NEO)	Total
1996–97	8	14	1	7	3	9	1	1	11
1997–98	14	39	8	6	29	18	1	1	10
1998–99-todate
(19 March 1999)	17	35	8	29	16	13	5	1	19
1 This includes one person who was convicted by a magistrate (Section 2 offence)
2 This includes one case with a single defendant against whom no evidence was offered

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office when he expects to set out the Government's proposals on the future management of Crown Copyright. [79330]

A Government White Paper, "The Future Management of Crown Copyright", has been published today (Cm 4300). This document provides a blueprint which sets out the underlying principles which will be at the heart of future licensing of official material. This marks the culmination of a wide ranging consultation exercise initiated by the Government's Green Paper, "Crown Copyright in the Information Age" (Cm 3819), which was published in January 1998.The challenge for the Government has been to establish a licensing regime for official material which is responsive to the needs of the citizen and the information industry. It is also important that we embrace the opportunities offered by new technology to encourage access to Government information as we approach the 21st Century. Our aim, therefore, has been to deliver a licensing policy which preserves the integrity and authority of official information, yet at the same time is also flexible, streamlined and transparent for users.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will list those regulatory impact assessments published during the latest six month period. [79331]

The Government are committed to ensuring that regulations are necessary, give effective protection, balance cost and risk, are fair and Service and the NHS Executive Working Group on the future organisation of prison health care will be published. [79406]

The Government are intending to make an announcement and publish the Report on Monday 29 March 1999.

To ask the Attorney-General how many cases were presented by the Serious Fraud Office as (a) contested cases and (b) pleas of guilty in (i) 1996–97, (ii) 1997–98 and (iii) 1998–99. [78217]

The statistics requested by the hon. and learned Gentleman are set out in the table.command public confidence. In accordance with this, we require Departments to produce and publish RIAs for all regulatory proposals likely to have an impact on business.I have presented to Parliament today a Command Paper listing 40 RIAs published between 1 July and 31 December 1998. Also listed are 38 Compliance Cost Assessments. Copies of those listed have been placed in the House Libraries. Please note that this Command Paper entitled "Regulatory Impact Appraisals" has replaced the previous series entitled "Compliance Cost Assessments". This is the tenth such Command Paper.

To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will place in the Library a transcript of the reasons given in court by His Honour Judge Catlin to explain his decision to give bail to defendant Jerome Charles in Aylesbury Crown Court on 26 June 1998. [78428]

A copy of the transcript will be placed in the Library within the next three weeks.

To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list all Public Records Act 1958 instruments that have prescribed periods of extended closure of decennial census returns for England and Wales; and if he will list the class numbers, census years and periods mentioned in the schedules. [78445]

Only Lord Chancellor's Instrument (Access to Public Records) No. 12, 1966, has prescribed a period of extended closure of decennial census returns for England and Wales. The schedule does not mention class numbers and census years; it prescribes a period of 100 years.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development when she will introduce a return air fare scheme for Montserratian evacuees. [79483]

Conditions on the island now allow for the introduction of a scheme to fulfil the promise I made in September 1997 that the Department for International Development (DFID) would pay the return air fares of those Montserratians who had relocated to the UK or within the Caribbean because of the volcanic activity, who were in need and wished to return to Montserrat, when conditions allowed. The latest volcanic assessment concludes that there has been no resumption of magmatic eruption since March 1998 and that risk levels of a major volcanic eruption are now similar to those in other Caribbean volcanic islands. Projects are underway to encourage small enterprise development and to provide adequate housing for those people who relocated from the south of the island and are now living in a shelter or unsuitable shared accommodation in the north.Eligible applicants will be provided with a one-way non-transferable economy class ticket from their current place of residence to Montserrat, plus an additional air freight allowance, travel costs to the airport of embarkation in the UK and overnight subsistence costs in Antigua, where required.In order to qualify for the scheme, applicants will need to:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement about the famine in Tanzania and her Department's response to it. [78772]

Parts of Tanzania suffered from severe drought in late 1997. The effects of this on Tanzanian agriculture were exacerbated by EI Nino-related flooding in early 1998. So far this year there has been a lack of rain in many areas. The cumulative effect has been an increase in vulnerability of already poor people. The Government of Tanzania are planning to distribute food to some 1.2 million people living in the worst affected regions. The Department for International Development (DFID) provided about £1 million of support in late 1997/early 1998. The World Food Programme is coordinating a relief programme, recently extended until June, in the Dodoma and Singida Regions: DFID support since October 1998 has amounted to £400,000. The main rains are now due to begin in Tanzania. This will be a critical period. DFID staff will continue to monitor events very closely over the next few months.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will state her Department's budget for (a) 1997–98, (b) 1998–99 and (c) 1999–2000 for global environment assistance. [78770]

In 1997–98 the Department spent £18.7 million on global environmental assistance. In 1998–99 the budget is £19.5 million and in 1999–2000 the budget will be £18.4 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much money from the Know How Fund has been allocated to Russia in each of the last four years. [78911]

Bilateral assistance to Russia has been allocated by financial year as follows:

Year	£ million
1995–96	28.5
1996–97	28.0
1997–98	28.0
1998–99	29.0

The Department for International Development also contributed approximately 15 per cent. of the cost of the European Union's Tacis programme.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions 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. [77117]

The information for DETR is as follows:

Date	Location	DETR minister	US counterpart
7 July 1998	Washington	Richard Caborn	Saul Ramirez (Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and Development)
16–18 September 1998	Japan	John Prescott	Stu Eizenstat (Under Secretary of State for Economic, Business and Agricultural Affairs)
10–13 November 1998	Buenos Aires	John Prescott, Michael Meacher	Stu Eizenstat (Under Secretary of State for Economic, Business and Agricultural Affairs)
25 January 1999	London	John Prescott	Frank Loy (Under Secretary of State for Global Affairs)
30 January 1999	London	John Prescott	Al Gore, Vice President

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make it his policy to extend fuel duty rebate to community transport services. [76512]

[holding answer 16 March 1999]: Fuel duty rebate is an important element in Government financial support for local bus services. Possible changes to its scope will be considered as part of the study we will be asking the new Commission for Integrated Transport to undertake on all aspects of public funding for bus services. We will also be considering carefully all the recommendations of the review of voluntary and community transport commissioned by my Department, the report of which will be published shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate he has made of the change in the number of British-owned road haulage firms over the next year. [77286]

My Department does not hold information on the numbers of British owned road haulage firms. Road haulage companies based in Great Britain are required to hold a goods vehicle operator's licence, issued by the local Traffic Commissioner, for each traffic area in which they have an operating centre: so many of the larger companies will hold more than one licence. Figures for the number of licences in issue each year from 1993–97 show a cumulative decline of some 9 per cent. over the period. Figures for 1997–98 show a slight increase, 0.5 per cent., over the previous year. I estimate that figures for the current year, ending 31 March, will be similar to those for last year. It is too soon to make any estimates for next year.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how much his Department spent per capita of population on transport infrastructure investment in (a) Greater London, (b) Docklands and (c) the North West of England during the most recent five years for which figures are available. [77666]

Comprehensive information is not available in the form requested. In the last five years, the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions directly invested in transport infrastructure in (a) Greater London, (b) Docklands and (c) the North West of England through a number of different programmes. Local authorities may also have invested in transport infrastructure through Revenue Support Grant, although detailed records of this are not kept by the Department.The directly supported capital expenditure in the five year period to April 1998 was:

	(a) Greater London	(b) Docklands	(c) North West of England
Trunk roads (£ million)	11,256		1,051
Local Transport Capital (£ million)	1449.4		457.1
Capital Challenge (£ million)	0	0	239
Freight grants (£ million)	4.37	0	4.88
Local authority airports (£ million)	0.01	0	5.56
London Docklands Development	—	3123.016	—
Corporation (LDDC) (£ million)
Docklands Light Railway (£ million)	—	84.035	—
London Transport/Traffic	13,768		—
Director for London (£ million)
Woolwich Ferry (£ million)	—	1.967	—
Total (5 years) (£ million)	15,686.8		1,557.5
Population (million)	7.122		6.89
Spend per Capita	1£798		£226
1 Combined figure for Greater London and for Docklands—not separately identifiable
2 Capital Challenge was a new programme introduced in 1996–97
3 LDDC closed in April 1998

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he has received on the availability of insurance for transport providers on 1 January 2000; and if he will arrange to meet transport providers to discuss this issue. [77894]

Members of my Department are in frequent discussion with transport providers about their plans to maintain services on 1 January 2000. In general, the matter of insurance is between the transport providers and their insurers.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to end the charging of the over-70s for renewing their driving licences. [78301]

There are no plans to end the charging of drivers aged 70 or over for renewing their driving licences.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will estimate the costs to public funds of the subsidies and other financial incentives provided to the Canary Wharf development and associated Enterprise Zone since its establishment. [78302]

Information as requested on an individual development within an Enterprise Zone is not readily available.There are two main tax incentives offered to businesses in Enterprise Zones:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what arrangements there will be to allow owners of classic cars to obtain leaded petrol from 1 January 2000. [78305]

The vast majority of classic cars will be able to operate perfectly satisfactorily on lead replacement petrol which is expected to become widely available from the last quarter of this year. Separate additives will also be available for use with unleaded petrol. The Government are, however, continuing to explore options for implementing the provision in EU directive 98/70/EC which permits sales of leaded petrol to continue to a limit of 0.5 per cent. of total sales, though supply will ultimately be a commercial decision.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list each London borough's arts budget for the (a) current and (b) next financial year. [78417]

The information available relates to budgeted expenditure on culture and heritage, which includes:

• all museums and galleries with permanent or transient collections open to the public, museum services and grants to independent museums;
• theatres (unless treated as trading services), halls, arts centres etc., covering all local authorities' premises whose main purpose is for arts functions;
• grants and contributions made for the specific purpose of supporting and/or promoting such art activities in all premises irrespective of their primary purpose or use;
• conservation of the historic environment;
• archives and records.

The reported information for the current financial year (1998–99) is given in the table. Data for 1999–2000 are not yet centrally available.

Net current expenditure on Culture and Heritage budgeted by London boroughs 1998–99
	£000
City of London	6,768
Camden	143
Greenwich	1,169
Hackney	404
Hammersmith and Fulham	51
Islington	790
Kensington and Chelsea	481
Lambeth	0
Lewisham	0
Southwark	1,024
Tower Hamlets	751
Wandsworth	526
Westminster	0
Barking and Dagenham	168
Barnet	354
Bexley	321
Brent	255
Bromley	1,277
Croydon	3,137
Ealing	428
Enfield	598
Haringey	241
Harrow	94
Havering	559
Hillingdon	160
Hounslow	1,109
Kingston upon Thames	288
Merton	101

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) if he will place in the Library a copy of the text of the End of Life Vehicles Directive on which a common position was sought at the meeting of the Environment Council on 11 March; [78455](2) which of the items contained in Appendix J, dated 3 March, considered by European Standing Committee C on 9 March were not agreed by other member states at the Environment Council on 11 March; [78459](3) if he will make a statement on the outcome of the Environment Council on 11 March; and the prospects for adoption of a common position on end of life vehicles at the next meeting of the Environment Council; [78456](4) what aspects of the draft text of the End of Life Vehicles Directive put forward by the Minister for Competition and Consumer Affairs were agreed by other member states at the EU Environment Council on 11 March; and if he will make a statement. [78458]

[holding answer 24 March 1999]: In order to inform the debate in European Standing Committee C on 9 March, the Government prepared a paper reflecting broadly the outcome which they hoped to achieve in negotiating a common position. A copy of this text (Appendix J to the Memorandum submitted by my hon. Friend the Minister for Competition and Consumer Affairs to European Standing Committee C on 3 March) has now been placed in the Libraries of the House. As I explained in my answer on 16 March 1999, Official Report, columns 582–83, the Council decided to defer a final decision on the Directive until its next meeting on 24/25 June. I am optimistic that a satisfactory common position will be achieved at that meeting.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will place in the Library copies of the documents which he put before the Environment Council on 11 March. [78457]

[holding answer 24 March 1999]: The United Kingdom put no documents before the Council.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the standard spending assessment financial allocation to the London Borough of Wandsworth in each of the last five years. [78539]

The Standard Spending Assessments for the London Borough of Wandsworth for each of the last five years were:

Year	£ million
1995–96	240.671
1996–97	240.000
1997–98	243.666
1998–99	249.202
1999–2000	259.727

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate he has made of the saving to local authorities which will arise in each of the next three years as a result of maintenance costs being transferred to new landlords when local authority housing is transferred. [78979]

When assessing applications for a place on the housing transfers programme, we take account of a wide range of factors including the overall cost to the Exchequer of transferring the stock. However, we do not specifically calculate savings on maintenance costs.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the housing associations which have received a transfer of local government housing since 1 May 1997. [78976]

The following Registered Social Landlords, including housing associations, have received a transfer of local authority housing under either the Large Scale Voluntary Transfer programme, or with funding from the Estates Renewal Challenge Fund since 1 May 1997:

• South Oxfordshire Housing Association
• Eden Housing Association
• Metropolitan Housing Trust
• Orbit Bexley
• London and Quadrant Housing Trust
• Dame Housing
• Limehurst Village Trust
• CDS Housing Association
• Riverside Housing Association
• Pollards Housing Association
• Poplar HARCA
• Kerrier Homes
• Kingsmead Homes
• Fortunegate Community Housing
• Vange Community
• Magna West Somerset Housing Association
• Bentilee Community Housing
• Severn Vale Housing Society
• Rother Homes
• South London Family Housing Association
• Poplar HARCA
• Leasowe Community Homes
• Ashton Pioneer Homes
• West Devon Homes
• South Somerset Homes
• East Lindsey Housing Partnership
• The Guinness Trust
• Sanctuary Housing Association
• South Hams Housing
• Family Housing Association
• Clapton Community Housing Trust

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is his Department's policy on transfers of local authority housing where tenants of one part of the proposed transfer seek a transfer to a separate landlord from tenants of another part. [78978]

We expect local authorities to develop housing transfer proposals which take into account the views of tenants and are sensitive to the distinct needs of local communities. The Secretary of State will not consent to a transfer of local authority housing to a Registered Social Landlord if it appears that a majority of tenants are opposed to the proposal.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list those transfers of local authority housing stock currently under consideration where the housing estate in question is in a local authority area other than that of the landlord authority. [78977]

We are currently considering one application for a place on the 1999–2000 housing transfer programme from Manchester City Council for the Sale estates which are located in the Borough of Trafford. Two authorities, Manchester (Colshaw Farm and the Whitefield estates) and the London Borough of Richmond (Butts Farm), have been given a place on next year's programme in respect of estates which are located in other local authority areas.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he expects to decide on the future constitution of British Waterways. [78940]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer that my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Environment gave to the right hon. Member for Penrith and The Border (Mr. Maclean) on 2 March 1999, Official Report, columns 620–21.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what total rent arrears in respect of council houses were owing in each council tax billing area in each shire county in (i) 1996–97, (ii) 1997–98 and (iii) 1998–99; [78774](2) what total rent arrears in respect of council houses were owing in each metropolitan area in (i) 1996–97,(ii) 1997–98 and (iii) 1998–99. [78775]

I have placed in the Library a table which shows the total rent arrears owing in each local district and unitary authority in shire counties (as in existence before the creation of unitary authorities) and metropolitan areas respectively, at the ends of March 1997 and 1998.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he intends to announce the appointment of the Chair and members of the Zoos Forum. [79405]

I will be making an announcement on the appointment of the Chair and members of the Zoos Forum at London Zoo on Monday 29 March 1999.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the changes in the last five years in the average weight and height of schoolchildren in England and Wales; and if he will list the changes in the last five years in the (i) consumption of (a) dietary carbohydrate and (b) refined sugar products and (ii) total calorie intake and average levels of exercise of schoolchildren. [78135]

The heights and weights of primary schoolchildren were monitored in England between 1972 and 1994 by the National Study of Health and Growth (NSHG). No similar information is available for Wales. In 1995, the Health Survey for England (HSE) took over the monitoring the heights and weights of children and also measured their physical activity in 1997. The data for 1995 and 1996 were published in HSE Reports and the combined data for 1995–97 were published in December 1998 in the Report "The Health of Young People '95–'97".The tables give heights and weights for 5 to 10 year olds for 1994 from NSHG and from HSE for 1995, 1996 and on the same basis for comparison purposes with NSHG for 1995–97 combined.Heights and weights for children aged 11 to 15 years in 1995, 1996 are given, along with the data for 1995–97 combined, which are the baseline from which changes will be monitored.

Average weights (kilogrammes) of English primary schoolchildren
Age at last birthday	National Study of Health and Growth	Health Survey for England
(years)	1994	1995	1996	1995–97
Boys
5	19.8	20.5	20.1	19.7
6	22.1	22.4	23.1	22.3
7	24.8	25.4	26.0	25.1
8	27.7	29.1	28.8	28.4
9	31.4	32.4	32.1	31.1
10	34.8	35.0	35.9	34.7
Girls
5	19.3	20.6	20.5	19.6
6	22.0	22.7	22.6	22.2
7	24.9	26.0	26.0	25.2
8	27.7	29.3	28.1	28.4
9	31.9	31.9	33.5	31.9
10	35.5	38.3	36.9	36.6

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many local education authorities send head lice nurses into schools; what is his Department's policy on head lice nurses in schools; what is the cost of providing head lice nurses to schools; and if he will make a statement. [78941]

It is the responsibility of health authorities to provide services to control the spread of head lice among school children. This service is exercised through the primary health care team, which may include the services of a school nurse. It is the policy of the Department together with the Department of Education and Employment, to encourage a "whole school approach" to the detection of and treatment of head lice. This entails parents checking their children and other family members for head lice and arranging treatment where necessary, with such support from the local primary health care team as they may require.Information on the number of school nurses checking for head lice and the cost of this service is not available centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is his Department's policy towards treating Lymphoedema; how many health authorities provide manual Lymphatic Drainage treatment; how many specialist centres exist for the treatment of Lymphoedema; how many medical staff trained in MLD are employed in Gloucestershire; and if he will make a statement. [78913]

It is for health authorities to determine what services to commission, including those for people with lymphoedema, in the light of evidence from research, resources and the healthcare needs of the local population. None of the other information requested is available centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information he has concerning the nature and scope of the proposed forthcoming recommendations from the European Commission for possible amendments to EU Directive 75/318 in relation to herbal remedies; and if he will make a statement. [78903]

We have recently received proposals from the European Commission for a directive which would amend the Annex to the Directive 75/318 EEC. The proposed directive seeks to clarify the data on safety and efficacy which companies are required to provide when seeking a marketing authorisation for "well established medicinal products". Our initial assessment is that any direct impact on herbal medicines in the United Kingdom is likely to be limited. In particular, the draft Directive would not change the definition of which products are classified as medicines; nor would the proposals directly affect herbal medicines exempt from the requirement for a product licence under the terms of Section 12 of the Medicines Act 1968. Ministers have asked the Medicines Control Agency to seek further clarification from the European Commission about the draft Directive and any wider implications it may have.We have also given consideration to the wider question of future regulatory arrangements for herbal medicines in the United Kingdom. Our objective is that the public should have access to a wide range of safe, high quality herbal medicines with appropriate information about the use of the product. There are currently two contrasting routes to the market for herbal medicines. Licensed herbal medicines have to meet rigorous standards of safety, quality and efficacy. Unlicensed herbal remedies in the United Kingdom do not have to meet any specific standards for safety, quality or efficacy.We fully share the view which was expressed at a meeting held by the Under-Secretary, my noble Friend the Baroness Hayman, earlier this week by a range of organisations working in the natural health sector, that the current regulatory arrangements for herbal medicines have significant weaknesses and require review. The regime for unlicensed medicines does not give systematic protection to the public against low quality and unsafe unlicensed herbal remedies which are known to reach the UK market. Nor does it permit manufacturers legally to give written information to consumers about the intended use of the product. In contrast, elements of the regime for licensed medicines—particularly some of the efficacy requirements—are difficult for responsible companies to satisfy in relation to herbal medicines. We believe that there is a need to work towards arrangements which provide better protection and information for the public while continuing to allow responsible businesses and practitioners to operate effectively.We have asked the Medicines Control Agency to examine options for achieving our objectives for herbal medicines, consulting widely with interested organisations. Medicines law operates within a European framework. Accordingly, we will need to develop a position which is realistically achievable within the European Union. We intend to participate actively and constructively in any ongoing EU discussions about future regulatory arrangements for herbal medicines.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he received a copy of the recent report on herbal medicines in Europe from the Association of European Self-Medication Industry; if he has made copies of that report available to right hon. and hon. Members; what response he intends to make to that report; and if he will make a statement. [78904]

We received a copy of the final report "Herbal medicinal products in the European Union" earlier this month. We do not see a need to circulate, or to respond directly to, the report which explicitly states that it does not express the Commission's official views. We understand that the report is available on the European Commission's website (http://dg3.eudra.org). We intend to participate actively and constructively in any ongoing European Union discussions about future regulatory arrangements for herbal medicines.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish the agenda for the forthcoming EU General Affairs Council of 22 and 23 March. [77160]

I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 3 March 1999, Official Report, column 773.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affair if he will make a statement on the refusal by the Entry Clearance Officer, in Bombay in the case of Agnes Helen Lopez (Reference R/98/9784). [77641]

Our Deputy High Commission in Bombay has now provided a detailed account of the position. My noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Baroness Symons, will be writing to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many applications for visitors' visas for persons aged over 60 years applying from India and Pakistan were (a) approved and (b) refused in each of the past 10 years. [77896]

The figures requested are not collected by my Department and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received from Sandline International regarding the Government of Papua New Guinea; and if he will make a statement. [77227]

[holding answer 22 March 1999]: There have been no representations from Sandline regarding the latest developments surrounding its contractual dispute with the Government of Papua New Guinea. Our records show there was contact with Sandline regarding PNG between February and April 1997:

1. On 28 February 1997 Mr. Tim Spicer, at his own request, called on the British High Commissioner in Port Moresby to inform him of Sandline's contractual involvement with the Government of PNG regarding Bougainville.

2. On 17 March 1997 Mr. Rupert Bowen of Sandline rang FCO officials to ask for news of development in PNG.

3. On 18 March 1997 Mr. Bowen contacted FCO officials again to say that Mr. Spicer and another Sandline representative had been arrested in PNG.

4. The British High Commissioner in Port Moresby gave Mr. Spicer consular assistance. Mr. Spicer was released from custody on 22 March and was accommodated at the High Commissioner's Residence until his legal departure from PNG on 8 April 1997.

5. On his arrival in Brisbane on 8 April 1997 Mr. Spicer rang the High Commission in Port Moresby to express thanks for the consular assistance.

6. On 19 April 1997 Tony Buckingham, Director of Executive Outcomes, wrote to the then PUS to express his gratitude for the consular assistance given to Mr. Spicer in PNG.

7. On 21 April 1997 Mr. Michael Grunberg of Sandline telephoned FCO officials to seek a meeting to discuss Sandline's involvement in PNG.

8. On 22 April 1997 FCO officials telephoned Mr. Grunberg to decline his request.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the countries with which he has had recent discussions concerning the use of child soldiers; and if he will make a statement. [78545]

We regularly raise our concerns in bodies such as the UN Commission on Human Rights. We support the mandate of the UN Special Representative for Children in Armed Conflict, including his work with individual countries. We played a leading role in the establishment of the use of child soldiers as a war crime in the statute of the International Criminal Court. We take up individual situations case by case, including, for example, the abduction of children in northern Uganda by the Lord's Resistance Army.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what systems she has in place to ensure that policies being developed by her Department are subject to a crime impact (a) assessment and (b) audit and are not likely to lead to enhanced criminal opportunities. [72682]

[holding answer 24 February 1999]: Whilst there are no formal systems in place, policy development is subject to wide inter-departmental conclusion before being publicly announced and each piece of legislation in Northern Ireland is subject to a Policy Appraisal and Fair Treatment and financial resource implications analysis.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many pupils at Derryboy Primary School applied for enrolment in the academic year 1998–99 into Saintfield High School; how many of these pupils were (i) accepted and (ii) rejected; and what proposals she has to increase parental choice for secondary education in non-integrated schools for pupils leaving Derryboy Primary School. [78235]

Saintfield High School received 5 applications from Derryboy PS for admission for the 1998–99 academic year; 1 was accepted and 4 were rejected. Where a school is oversubscribed with applications for admission, which was the case at that time, Boards of Governors apply their published admissions criteria to decide which applications are to be accepted.There were, however, places available at other controlled secondary schools within a reasonable distance eg in Comber and Ballynahinch.The question of the availability of school places, in this case at non-integrated controlled secondary schools, is a matter for the Local Education and Library Board (in this case the South-Eastern Board) in the first instance.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the (a) title, (b) cost and (c) date of publication of consultation documents and proposed policy documents and associated papers published by the Scottish Office since Royal Assent was given to the Scotland Bill. [72659]

[holding answer 2 March 1999]: My Department has issued 106 consultation documents, proposed policy documents and associated papers since Royal Assent was given to the Scotland Bill on 19 November 1998. A comprehensive list has been deposited in the House Library. The list includes the title, cover price and date of publication of each document.From 1 July 1999, this will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many applications for warrants under the Interception of Communications Act 1985 were refused in each of the last five years. [77279]

[holding answer 24 March 1999]: Records are not kept in a form which would enable the information requested to be extracted without disproportionate cost.Each application for interception of communications is subject to careful scrutiny at a number of stages before a warrant is issued. The application is submitted by a very senior officer following scrutiny within the police force or agency concerned. Within my Department it will normally be examined by officials at various successive levels of seniority before being presented to me for approval, usually by the Head of The Scottish Office Home Department. I examine each application carefully before issuing the warrant. At any stage in this process, the case may be, and on occasion is, referred back to the applicant police force or agency for clarification or further detail. This may, and occasionally does, result in a decision that the application should be withdrawn or that a warrant should not be issued.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many warrants under the Interception of Communications Act 1985 were (a) in force on 31 December 1998 and (b) were issued during the course of 1998 for (i) the interception of telecommunications, (ii) the interception of letters and (iii) in total. [77277]

[holding answer 24 March 1999]: The Commissioner appointed under the Interception of Communications Act 1985 publishes figures on the number of interception warrants issued by the Secretary of State in his annual reports. In his report for 1998 (which will shortly be presented to the Prime Minister) the Commissioner will record the following numbers:

Interception warrants issued by the Secretary of State for Scotland: 1998
	Number
Interception warrants in force on 31 December 1998:
Telecommunications	53
Letters	1
Total	54
Interception warrants issued during the course of 1998:
Telecommunications	267
Letters	1
Total	268

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to ensure that the assessment of who qualifies for special needs services is on a consistent basis throughout Scotland. [77423]

[holding answer 24 March 1999]: A wide range of reports and guidance has been issued aimed at removing inequalities and improving access to care and support across the range of education, social work, health and other services.Equity of access to support appropriate to assessed needs will continue to be a priority.From 1 July 1999, this will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the cost of the New Deal in Scotland in (a) 1997 and (b) 1998; and what the budget cost for (i) 1998–99, (ii) 1999–2000 and (iii) 2000–01. [77831]

[holding answer 25 March 1999]: The costs and estimates are noted in the table.

£ million
Year	New Deal1
1997–98	1.26
April 1998-February 1999	213.98
1998–99 estimate	59.0
1999–2000 estimate	97.3
2000–01 estimate	74.5
1 The costs quoted relate to the New Deal programmes for 18–24 year olds and for those aged 25 and over.
2 This figure relates to the payments made by the end of February; it is low in relation to the estimate because of the timelags in claims from, and payments to, providers of various aspects of the programme.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the estimated cost of the refurbishment of St. Andrew's House currently under way. [77938]

The current estimated cost of the refurbishment of St. Andrew's House is £20 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for Secretary of State for Scotland what is his estimate of the total number of food premises in Scotland which will be liable for the proposed Food Standars Agency Levy. [77905]

The estimated number of premises in Scotland liable for the proposed Food Standards Agency levy is approximately 46,000.From 1 July 1999, this will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the value of the public sector tenants' right to buy discounts in 1997–98. [78215]

The value of the public sector tenants' right to buy discounts in 1997–98 was £238,918,846.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the report by the Government Actuary on his investigation of the National Health Service Superannuation Scheme in Scotland for the period from 1 April 1989 to 31 March 1994. [79338]

I have accepted the report and today placed copies in the Library.The report concludes that it would be prudent to increase, in the medium term, the rate of contribution required from employers to meet the scheme's future liabilities. The Government Actuary is content with our proposals that the current rate of 4 per cent. of pensionable pay can be maintained until 31 March 2002. Assuming that experience is in line with the assumptions he has made, it will increase to 5.5 per cent. from 1 April 2002, with a further increase to 7 per cent. from 1 April 2005.The cost of index-linking National Health Service pensions is currently met by the Exchequer. As the report notes, I have agreed with my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary to the Treasury that, in principle, the Scheme would assume its pension increase liabilities from 1 April 1994 under a financial restructuring and our officials are discussing the basis of such changes. In the meantime, the Government Actuary considers that the proposed increases in employer contribution rates are consistent with the nature of the changes likely to be required under the restructuring.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will review the decision to reduce Tristar flights to the Falklands. [75640]

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will review his Department's decision to reduce the number of Tristar flights to the Falkland Islands. [75756]

[pursuant to his replies, 9 March 1999, c. 120 and 10 March 1999, c. 211]: The number of Tristar flights will reduce by one flight per lunar month, not calendar month as originally stated.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence to what extent the weaponry held by the Falkland Island Defence Force and by the British troops stationed on the island is compatible. [77992]

The Falkland Islands Defence Force (FIDF) possesses a variety of weaponry. The majority of the weapons types are UK manufactured or use UK manufactured ammunition and some are also in use with UK armed forces.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what would be the effect on passenger carriage capacity of the proposed reduction in Tristar flights to the Falklands. [78390]

The reduction in the number of RAF Tristar flights to the Falkland Islands was one of a range of efficiency proposals identified by the Strategic Defence Review. It represents a rationalisation of the use of Tristar aircraft following technical improvements that allow them to carry an increased payload. The effect of this measure, once fully implemented, will be to maintain passenger carriage capacity at its original level.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment the Government have made of the conditions under which the Trident system could fulfil a substrategic role through (a) deterrence and (b) use. [77937]

The purpose of our nuclear forces is to deter aggression against the United Kingdom or its Allies. The Strategic Defence Review confirmed that, in addition to its strategic deterrent role, Trident would also perform the sub-strategic nuclear role, formerly assigned to RAF Tornado aircraft. A sub-strategic element is an essential component of a nuclear deterrent policy. In extreme circumstances of self defence, a capability for the more limited use of nuclear weapons would allow us to signal to an aggressor that he has miscalculated our resolve, without using the full destructive power that Trident offers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the restrictions imposed on British (a) forces, (b) aircraft and (c) vessels travelling (i) to and (ii) from Gibraltar by the Spanish Government. [78350]

Spain does not impose restrictions on the movement of British Forces personnel between Spain and Gibraltar. Spain maintains restrictions on all NATO military aviation movements into and out of Gibraltar, including a ban on military overflights and an air exclusion zone to the North and West of Gibraltar. By means of reservations footnoted to the relevant NATO Standing Agreement, Spain restricts access of UK and other NATO warships to Gibraltar.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 8 March 1999, Official Report, column 37, to what the entry in the MOD performance report 1997–98 Table 2–2 refers under South Africa, NATO joint exercise. [78446]

There was an error in the MOD Performance Report 1997–98 table 2–2. The table should have read:

Country
South Africa	Combined arms battle exercise
Spain	NATO joint exercise

The entry under South Africa refers to a combined arms battle exercise conducted jointly by 40 Commando Group of the Royal Marines and the South African Defence Forces, which took place in July and August 1997 as part of Exercise Ocean Wave.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the number of people to be employed by the Defence Vetting Agency; when he expects the Agency to move to York; and if he will make a statement. [78629]

The current strength of the Defence Vetting Agency is about 365. This is planned to reduce to 310 when the Agency collocates at York. The precise dates for collocation and the exact figures depend on a number of associated matters which are not yet determined in detail. However, it is planned to start collocating in early 2000 and complete by early 2001. The Agency's plans will be co-ordinated carefully with the move of HQ 2nd Division to Edinburgh, to take up surplus staff at York, as far as possible and appropriate as they become available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many of his Department's civilian employees are member of (a) the Territorial Army and (b) other reserve forces. [78516]

MOD encourages its civilian employees to join the reserve forces and staff regulations make special provisions for paid leave when attending annual camp and other training commitments. However, the information asked for is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the companies which support the Territorial Army by allowing their employees to serve.[78517]

The National Employers' Liaison Committee maintains a list of all employers who declare their support for the volunteer reserve forces and I shall place a copy of the current list in the Library of the House. Not all employers on the list necessarily have reservists in their workforce but, having declared their support, they are likely to be supportive of anyone wanting to join the reserve forces. On 17 March 1999, my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister presented a certificate to the 6,000^th employer to have pledged support. Some 70 per cent. of the nation's workforce are employed by employers who have declared their support for the volunteer reserve forces. In addition, there are many employers who have not formally pledged their support but do have employees who are members of the volunteer reserve forces.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the workings of the performance-related pay system for the MOD police since 1994. [78811]

With effect from 1 April 1996 the salaries of the Chief Constable and the Deputy Chief Constable, Ministry of Defence Police, have been determined in line with the provisions applying to the Senior Civil Service, which includes an element related to performance. The salaries of the ranks of Constable to Superintending grade are calculated at 95 per cent. of the level for analogous Home Department Police Forces.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what expenditure his Department has incurred since 1994 in defending legal actions, including industrial tribunals, brought by MOD police personnel relating to terms and conditions of service. [78810]

The Ministry of Defence Police have incurred some £125k expenditure since 1994 defending legal actions relating to employment tribunals brought by MOD Police personnel relating to terms and conditions of service.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people responded to the consultation paper on support for disabled people; if he will list those who (a) supported, (b) opposed the proposal to make New Deal interviews compulsory and (c) opposed taking into account income for which people have already contributed against a benefit earned through the payment of contributions. [77539]

Consultation on our proposals for the reform of benefits for disabled people ended on 8 January. 342 responses were received, just over half of which came from organisations representing disabled people. A list of the organisations that responded has been placed in the Library.150 respondents, including 177 organisations, commented on our proposals to introduce a Single Work-Focused Gateway to benefits for working age claimants. While the vast majority of respondents generally welcomed our initiatives to help disabled people into work, a large number of these felt that final decisions on whether to make interviews compulsory should await consideration of the results of piloting. (Involvement in the New Deal for Disabled People will remain voluntary).