To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the (1) sites in the United Kingdom where genetically modified crops have been grown in breach of the licence conditions and (2) the name of (a) the promoter and (b)owner of the (i) trial and (ii) materials in the trial and (c)any other (A) body and (B) person responsible for conducting such trials. [72554]

There have been two such cases in the UK where a successful prosecution has been taken. The information is as follows:

1.Both cases were located at Joseph Nickersons Farms. Rothwell, Lincolnshire.

2.(a)(b) (i) and (ii) Monsanto plc and Perrytields Holdings Limited.

(c) Nickerson Seeds Limited on behalf of Monsanto plc and Perryfields Holdings Limited.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions on which occasions the team of Green Ministers has discussed issues relating to genetic modification. [75088]

[holding answer 8 March 1999]: The issue of genetic modification has not been discussed by Green Ministers. It is considered within Government by a different, specific, Cabinet Sub-Committee.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will introduce legislation to make biotechnology companies legally and financially liable for any damage to the environment caused by genetically modified crops. [75200]

[holding answer 10 March 1999]: There is already some protection though Civil law and general product liability. The issue of environmental liability is an important one and the principle that those who damage the environment should pay for remedying the damage caused is one that I would strongly support. The European Commission is currently finalising a White Paper on environmental liability and this may offer a way forward. We expect the White Paper to include the question of damage by genetically modified organisms but need to study the detail of the Commission's proposals before reaching any conclusions.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many unminuted pre-arranged meetings have occurred between (a) himself, (b) Ministers in his Department and (c) his officials and representatives of the biotechnical industry sector since 1 May 1997. [74836]

[holding answer 5 March 1999]: There have been no such meetings involving the Ministers of this Department. Although most meetings involving officials are minuted, my officials have, from time to time, had meetings with the biotechnology companies where minutes are not taken. However, these are always in pursuit of a clear remit from Ministers for specific agreed purposes. Information on the number of such meetings is not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what steps he will take to examine bulk imports of United States soya beans following the 1999 United States harvest to test whether they contain AgrEvo's Liberty Link soya bean; and if he will make a statement; [75348](2)if he will make a statement on the licensing status of AgrEvo's Liberty Link soya bean in the

AgrEvo's Liberty Link soya bean has been authorised for cultivation and food in the USA but not authorised for cultivation or food in either the European Union or United Kingdom. However, I understand that an application for marketing consent under Council Directive 90/220/EEC has been lodged with an EU member state. I have not had any communication with AgrEvo about this particular variety.It is illegal to import GM soya unless the variety has approval under Council Directive 90/220/EEC. It is the duty of the importers to ensure that all imported soya has the necessary authorisations. If the product does not get EU consent by the time it is grown commercially in the United States of America and we have reason to believe that the product is being imported illegally the inspection of bulk imports will be arranged. In such circumstances the importer can be prosecuted.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how he calculates the notional costs described in the consultation papers on the proposed Town & Country Planning (Control of Major Accident Hazards) Regulations; and what is the proportion of these costs in relation to the proposed charges for work undertaken by (a) Environment Agency inspectors in Wales, (b) Environment Agency inspectors in England and (c) Scottish Environment Protection Agency inspectors in Scotland. [77214]

The notional costs are calculated by the Agencies to reflect the rate of return on capital and a notional insurance premium. The proportion of notional costs in relation to the proposed charges for work undertaken by Environment Agency inspectors in England and Wales is:

(a) and (b) 3 per cent.

The notional element in SEPA charges in Scotland is

(c) 2.5 per cent.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the levels of relevant input costs in (a) Wales, (b) England and (c) Scotland in relation to the proposed inspection charges to be levied by the Environment Agency in Wales and England, and by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency under the proposed Town & Country Planning (Control of Major Accident Hazards) Regulations. [77212]

Estimates of the costs of inspection under the COMAH regulations by the Environment Agency in England and Wales and by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) in Scotland are a matter for the two Agencies. The chargeable costs that the Environment Agency estimates that it will incur as a COMAH competent authority in England and Wales are:

(a) and (b) £900,000 in 1999–2000 rising to £2,200,000 in 2000–01 as the work builds up.

These costs will be recovered on the same basis in England and Wales. A split of costs between England and Wales is not available. The costs which SEPA estimates that it will incur as a competent authority for COMAH in Scotland are:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list for (a) small and medium-sized enterprises and (b) larger companies (i) all licences and permits issued by his Department and its agencies to companies permitting them to carry out their business, (ii) the cost of each such licence or permit in (A) 1997–98 and (B) 1999–2000 and (iii) the current number of companies which are in receipt of each such licence or permit. [76857]

[holding answer 16 March 1999]: The licences for which my Department is directly responsible are listed. The information requested for each of these licences is not held centrally and cannot be provided except at disproportionate cost. In some cases, details of individual licences issued are held on public registers, while a data base of guidance and forms is available on the Direct Access Government website.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make available his Department's designated area sets (GIS) to local authorities. [78724]

Designate areas within my Department's policy responsibilities are designated by the Non Departmental Public Bodies sponsored by the Department, not directly by the Department itself.The Inter-departmental Group on Geographic Information (which my Department Chairs) has issued a Charter Standard Statement on Geographic Information that encourages all Government Departments and Agencies to make their geographic information available to all users. Digital forms of the National Statutory designated areas would be part of this initiative.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will place in the Library a copy of the presidency text of the End of Life Vehicles Directive which was put before the Environment Council on 11 March. [78460]

[holding answer 24 March 1999]: The text considered by the Environment Council on 11 March is a Council working document and as such is subject to the confidentiality of Council proceedings.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many people from ethnic communities sit on rent tribunals covering the Greater London area; and if he will make a statement. [78533]

There are six members from ethnic minorities appointed to sit on rent tribunals in the Greater London area. This represents seven per cent. of the total membership of the London Rent Assessment Panel, from which rent tribunals are drawn. We want to see the proportion of tribunal members from ethnic minorities more closely reflect that in the national population. Three of the members from ethnic minority communities have been appointed since September 1998.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what policies he promotes to prevent the practice of fly-tipping; and if he will make a statement. [78585]

Stringent controls and severe penalties are in place to discourage the fly-tipping of waste and, where it occurs, to enable the perpetrators to be traced and prosecuted. The main controls and the maximum penalties were set out in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Pendle (Mr. Prentice) on 8 December 1998, Official Report, columns 120–21.My Department has prepared a Circular explaining these controls and penalties which was issued to magistrates by the Lord Chancellor's Department on 6 February 1998. We wish to encourage the Courts to make full use of the available penalties.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he had made of the effect which the introduction of Landfill Tax has made on the practice of fly-tipping. [78586]

The Tidy Britain Group has carried out three studies into fly-tipping. The study comprised three surveys and one of its main aims was to establish the types, quantities and locations of fly-tipped waste. The third survey was carried out in partnership with the Environment Agency and was published last month. It suggests a modest increase in fly-tipping over the period from 1994–95 but less than was originally feared by local authorities following the introduction of the landfill tax.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list for each local authority for which information is available (a) the Aggregate Credit Limit and (b) the percentage of Aggregate Credit Limit of debt outstanding, using figures at 31 March 1997. [78588]

The information requested is not available. Figures for the Aggregate Credit Limit are not collected centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make it his policy to collect centrally and publish figures on local authorities' aggregate credit limits; and if he will make a statement on how his Department ensures that local authorities do not exceed their aggregate credit limits. [78587]

I do not consider that it would be helpful to collect figures on local authorities' aggregate credit limits. It is for local authorities external auditors to monitor their compliance with all the requirements of the capital finance system.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list those local authorities which provide waste disposal facilities for use by individual council tax payers, without having a statutory responsibility to do so. [78584]

All waste disposal authorities are under a statutory duty under Section 51 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 to arrange for places (commonly referred to as 'civic amenity sites') to be provided at which persons resident in their area may deposit their household waste free of charge.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how he intends to inform all local government staff of the developing policies towards carers outlined in the National Strategy for Carers. [78547]

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions wrote to leaders of councils in England enclosing a copy of the report of the National Carers' Strategy, highlighting the role of local authorities in supporting carers, and asking them to draw the report to the attention of everyone within the authority. A copy of the report has also been sent to all Directors of Housing, Social Services and Education in local authorities in England.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the number of road accidents involving a heavy goods vehicle for each month since January 1994. [78481]

The number of road accidents involving a Heavy Goods Vehicle which resulted in personal injury is shown in the following table:

Road accidents per month involving at least one Heavy Goods Vehicle1: 1994–97
Number of accidents
	Year of accident
Month	1994	1995	1996	1997
January	1,046	1,053	941	1,132
February	1,083	979	1,108	1,048
March	1,133	1,156	909	1,026
April	964	798	941	952
May	934	948	928	960
June	1,043	951	863	1,053
July	1,058	1,038	1,049	1,128
August	1,141	1,033	1,000	1,077
September	1,140	1,205	996	1,035
October	1,238	1,180	1,269	1,352
November	1,198	1,216	1,316	1,266
December	1,200	1,056	1,106	1,093
Total	13,178	12,613	12,426	13,122
1 Accidents may involve more than one Heavy Goods Vehicle.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the (a) highest and (b) lowest council tax at Band D for a council billing area, after transitional relief grant and council tax benefit, in Merseyside for 1999–2000. [78861]

The highest Band D council tax for the metropolitan districts in Merseyside in 1999–2000 will be £1,172 in Liverpool while the lowest will be £920 in Sefton. No authority in Merseyside is eligible for Reorganisation Transitional Relief Grant in 1999–2000 and figures for the amount of Council Tax Benefit that the authorities expect to provide during the year are not yet available.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what is the (a) highest and (b) lowest council tax at Band D for a council billing area, after transitional relief grant and council tax benefit, in Kent for 1999–2000; [78897]

[holding answer 26 March 1999]: The highest and lowest Band D council tax for the shire and metropolitan districts within each of the requested areas in 1999–2000 are in the table. No authority in these areas is eligible for Reorganisation Transitional Relief Grant in 1999–2000 and figures for the amount of Council Tax Benefit that the authorities expect to provide during the year are not yet available.

County	Highest	£	Lowest	£
Lancashire	Preston	959	Lancaster	884
Kent	Maidstone	797	Gravesham	731
Cumbria	Barrow-in-Furness	893	Allerdale	856
Tyne and Wear	Newcastle upon Tyne	978	Sunderland	815
West Midlands	Coventry	968	Solihull	742
Northumberland	Castle Morpeth	908	Blyth Valley	883
North Yorkshire	Ryedale	779	Hambleton	695

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the (a) highest and (b) lowest council tax at band D for a council billing area, after transitional relief grant and council tax benefit, in a London borough for 1999–2000. [78768]

[holding answer 26 March 1999]: The highest Band D council tax for the London Boroughs in 1999–2000 will be £912 in Islington while the lowest will be £350 in Westminster. No authority in London is eligible for Reorganisation Transitional Relief Grant in 1999–2000 and figures for the amount of Council Tax Benefit that the authorities expect to provide during the year are not yet available.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the (a) highest and (b) lowest council tax at band D for a council billing area, after transitional relief grant and council tax benefit, in Cornwall for 1999–2000. [78765]

[holding answer 26 March 1999]: The highest band D council tax for the shire districts in Cornwall in 1999–2000 will be £759 in North Cornwall while the lowest will be £738 in Penrith. No authority in Cornwall is eligible for Reorganisation Transitional Relief Grant in 1999–2000 and figures for the amount of Council Tax Benefit that the authorities expect to provide during the year are not yet available.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the (a) highest and (b) lowest council tax at Band D for a council billing area, before transitional relief grant and council tax benefit, in each shire county in England (i) for 1997–98, (ii) 1998–99 and (iii) as proposed for 1999–2000. [78907]

[holding answer 26 March 1999]: The requested information has been placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the (a) highest and (b) lowest council tax at Band D for a council billing area, after transitional relief grant and council tax benefit, in Greater Manchester for1999–2000. [78908]

[holding answer 26 March 1999]: The highest Band D council tax for the metropolitan districts in Greater Manchester in 1999–2000 will be £987 in Manchester while the lowest will be £689 in Trafford. No authority in Greater Manchester is eligible for Reorganisation Transitional Relief Grant in 1999–2000 and figures for the amount of Council Tax Benefit that the authorities expect to provide during the year are not yet available.

County	Highest	£	Lowest	£
Bedfordshire	South Bedfordshire	912	Mid Bedfordshire	859
Buckinghamshire	Chiltern	774	South Buckinghamshire	757
Cambridgeshire	Cambridge	737	East Cambridgeshire	703
	Huntingdonshire	—	South Cambridgeshire	—
Cheshire	Ellesmere Port and Neston	876	Macclesfield	858
Devon	West Devon	802	Exeter	749
Dorset	East Dorset	844	North Dorset	809
Durham	Sedgefield	967	Chester-le-Street	830
East Sussex	Wealden	822	Rother	775
Essex	Harlow	872	Brentwood	762
Gloucestershire	Stroud	818	Tewkesbury	726
Hampshire	East Hampshire	800	Test Valley	756
Hertfordshire	Watford	832	Broxbourne	723
Nottinghamshire	Newark and Sherwood	970	Rushcliffe	900
West Yorkshire	Calderdale	876	Wakefield	756

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what guidance his Department issues on byelaws drawn up by the privatised rail franchises. [79188]

No formal guidance is issued to rail operators regarding byelaws. However the Department has provided ad hoc advice to the Byelaws Reform Group who are overseeing the adoption of new byelaws by the railways industry. The Group is made up of London Underground, Railtrack, the British Transport

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the (a) highest and (b) lowest council tax at Band D for a council billing area, after transitional relief grant and council tax benefit, in Northamptonshire for 1999–2000. [78909]

[holding answer 26 March 1999]: The highest Band D council tax for the shire districts in Northamptonshire in 1999–2000 will be £797 in South Northamptonshire while the lowest will be £682 in Wellingborough. No authority in Northamptonshire is eligible for Reorganisation Transitional Relief Grant in 1999–2000 and figures for the amount of Council Tax Benefit that the authorities expect to provide during the year are not yet available.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the (a) highest and (b) lowest council tax at Band D for a council billing area, after transitional relief grant and council tax benefit, in (i) Bedfordshire, (ii) Buckinghamshire, (iii) Cambridgeshire, (iv) Cheshire, (v) Devon, (vi) Dorset, (vii) Durham, (viii) East Sussex, (ix) Essex, (x) Gloucestershire, (xi) Hampshire, (xii) Hertfordshire, (xiii) Nottinghamshire and (xiv) West Yorkshire for 1999–2000. [78910]

[holding answer 26 March 1999]: The highest and lowest Band D council tax for the shire and metropolitan districts within each of the requested areas in 1999–2000 are shown in the table. No authority in these areas is eligible for Reorganisation Transitional Relief Grant in 1999–2000 and figures for the amount of Council Tax Benefit that the authorities expect to provide during the year are not yet available.Police and representatives of the rail franchise operators. The new byelaws will have to be confirmed by the Secretary of State.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the disability organisations from which his Department regularly seeks views on the development of transport policy. [79056]

In the first instance we are advised by the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee (DPTAC) which was set up under the Transport Act 1985 to advise the Secretary of State on the transport needs of disabled people. The Act requires that at least half the membership are disabled people; currently over 70 per cent. are disabled.Officials also attend meetings of the two main umbrella organisations in the field of disability and transport—the Joint Committee on Mobility of Disabled People and the Joint Committee on Mobility of Blind and Partially Sighted People. Those meetings provide an opportunity to report on recent developments and to receive feedback on transport policies.We also consult a very wide range of other disability organisations as part of public consultation exercises.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the initiatives currently under way to improve the operation of the provisions of the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991. [78966]

[holding answer 26 March 1999]: Regulations are being laid under powers in the 1991 Act to facilitate and encourage the electronic transfer of information about street works and other works in the highway between utilities and highway authorities. This will ensure greater consistency and speed in transferring and registering the information, which in turn will help authorities in their co-ordination role.In the debate on roads policy in the House on 18 March 1999,

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions in what circumstances he plans to cap councils which over-spend; and if he will make a statement. [78914]

[holding answer 26 March 1999]: My colleagues and I are currently considering the budgets and council taxes set by local authorities for 1999–2000. If we decide to designate any authorities they will be informed in April.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many people (a) were killed, (b) were seriously injured and (c) suffered minor injuries in road accidents in the last year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [78944]

[holding answer 26 March 1999]: 3,599 people were killed in road accidents in 1997, 42,957 were seriously injured and 280,978 were slightly injured.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of potential additional demands upon services provided by the London boroughs of Greenwich and Lewisham arising from the millennium celebrations in Greenwich; what additional resources have been made available to those authorities; and if he will make a statement. [79169]

The Government take the view that any additional costs will be more than offset by the immense long-term rewards the boroughs will reap as a direct outcome of the Millennium Experience and other Millennium activities planned for the area.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps he has taken to encourage the transfer of public sector housing to new landlords. [79020]

We are keen for local authorities to pursue transfer where it is clearly part of their housing strategy and will improve the living conditions of tenants and the service they receive. However, authorities are under no compulsion to transfer their stock. Our aim is to ensure the delivery of improved efficiency, effectiveness and responsiveness to tenants.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many transfers of local government housing stock have taken place since 1 May 1997. [79021]

There have been thirty-one transfers 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.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on his proposals for the protection of sites of special scientific interest. [78702]

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him by my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Environment on 15 March 1999, Official Report, column 465. Once we have given full consideration to the ideas put forward in responses to the proposals, and completed discussions on some of the more difficult issues, we will announce how we intend to proceed.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 16 March 1999,Official Report, column 576, if he will place a detailed summary of the cost review in the Library. [79166]

We announced the results of LT's cost review on 3 March 1999, Official Report, column 730. The details of the review contain information that, if released, could prejudice London Transport's commercial position: therefore, in line with previous practice, we do not release details of the cost review.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his letter of 22 July 1998 (ref. EE/PSO/10679/98), what is the result of the review of current policy on hardwood procurement across Government. [77637]

I refer my hon. Friend to my letter of 17 March 1999 informing him of the results of the review of Government policy on timber procurement. A copy of the letter has been placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what funds are available to local authorities to improve access to polling stations for disabled people. [79027]

Acting returning officers may apply to the Home Office for grants towards the cost of providing temporary ramps and specially adapted polling screens, to make polling stations accessible for those disabled voters who wish to vote in person, for national and European elections. The remainder of the cost is funded by the local authority. Grants are not allocated specifically for local elections. The need for revenue expenditure by local authorities is taken into account, along with other spending pressures and the scope for efficiencies, in the local government finance settlement.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what progress has been made in publishing the daughter documents to the White Paper, "A New Deal for Transport", Cm 3950. [79534]

Last July's White Paper on the Future of Transport identified nine associated publications which would set out in more detail the proposals in the White Paper. Seven have already been published:

• A New Deal for the Railways: response to the Environment, Transport and Regional Affairs Select Committee
• A New Deal for Trunk Roads in England
• Guidance on local transport plans
• Breaking the Logjam: consultation on road user and workplace parking charges
• British Shipping—charting a new course
• Sustainable distribution: a strategy
• From Workhorse to Thoroughbred: a better role for bus travel.

Of the remaining documents, the report on inland waterways will be published in the next few months. The document on road safety policy, setting out the Government's strategy and targets for beyond 2000, will follow in the autumn and will reflect the findings of the speed policy review. We have since announced that a further daughter document, on ports policy, will be published; a policy paper is currently out for consultation and the document should be issued later this year. The Government will also this summer be issuing its action plan to encourage walking.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he intends to publish revised household projections; and if he will make a statement. [79535]

In our policy statement "Planning for the Communities of the Future" published early last year, the Government said that they would put in place new policies in respect of planning for housing which would include a new flexible approach to regional planning involving decentralisation to regional stakeholders; a national 60 per cent. target for the re-use of previously developed land; the creation of a National Land Use Database; and that we would be setting up a task force to advise us on how to make the best use of recycled land.Our emphasis is on urban renaissance—making our towns and cities places where people want to live—and this theme will be developed in an Urban White Paper which the Government propose to publish later this year.The Government have implemented all of these initiatives and more. We issued the consultation draft of planning policy guidance note 11 (PPG11) "Regional Planning" last month, together with new guidance on the preparation of development plans (PPG12). Planning policy guidance note 3 "Housing" (PPG3) was published for consultation last week. It introduces a new sequential approach to the release of housing land which will require local planning authorities to consider the re-use of existing property and of previously developed land before releasing greenfield land for housing development. The National Land Use Database is now being compiled and I expect to publish first results shortly.Together, these represent the Government's new policy direction to planning for housing and mark a clear departure from what has become known as the "predict and provide" approach favoured by the previous Government. That policy is dead.It has been the practice to publish periodically projections of household growth in England. In keeping with that, the Government Statistical Service (GSS) will be publishing a report later this year setting out the household projections for the period 1996 to 2021 together with a full description of the methodology by which those projections are derived.The household projections are one input to the process of regional planning, a new round of which is currently in progress. I have therefore decided to make available the main projections for England and the English regions in advance of publication of the full GSS document.The number of households in England is projected to have grown from 20.2 million in 1996 to about 24.0 million in 2021, an increase of 3.8 million or about 150,000 households per year. It is a smaller increase to that previously projected for the period 1991 to 2016 which was 4.4 million or around 175,000 households a year.The most important explanation for the reduction in the projected rate of household formation is the changes contained in the most recent marital status projections published by the Government Actuary's Department in January. Recent evidence has shown that cohabitation is increasing at a faster rate than expected, leading to a greater increase in the number of couple households by 2016 than assumed in the previous projections. Changes in the marital status assumption have also led to downward revisions in the proportions of older women who are widows or divorcees.The projections are not forecasts, estimates or predictions. They are based entirely on what might be expected to occur if previous trends continue and are heavily dependant on the assumptions involved. Such trends can and do change as a result, for example, of demographic or economic factors, as the new cohabiting assumptions show.I therefore agreed with the Select Committee to publish information about how sensitive the projected total number of households at 2021 might be to changes in underlying assumptions. This information is as follows

Household projections: Government Office Regions 1
	1996 millions	2021 millions	1996–2021 percentage change	1991–2016 percentage change 2
North East	1.1	1.2	8	16
Yorkshire and the Humber	2.1	2.4	14	19
East Midlands	1.7	2.0	20	26
East of England	2.2	2.7	25	29
Greater London	3.0	3.6	21	22
South East	3.2	4.1	26	27
South West	2.0	2.5	25	29
West Midlands	2.1	2.4	13	18
North West and Merseyside	2.8	3.1	11	18
England	20.2	24.0	19	23
1 All figures rounded
2 Source: Projections of Households in England to 2016, ISBN 0–11–753055–7

There are insufficient data available to undertake a sensitivity analysis on the regional projections. However, a significant factor in determining regional household growth is migration from and to other regions and there are some indications that this may be particularly sensitive to economic factors. In this respect, the Government do not believe that past migration trends are necessarily representative of future patterns of regional growth.Regional projections are published as one input to the process of regional planning. As our consultation draft of PPG11 "Regional Planning" indicates, the household projections should be taken into account in assessing a region's housing needs. Other factors should equally be taken into account so that regional planning bodies should, against the background of need and capacity, take a realistic and responsible approach to planning future housing provision.

Change in household formation 1996–2021 in response to changes in key parameters
		Change in household formation (000)
Cohabiting	+20% (never married)	-180
	+10% (previously married)
	-20% (never married)	+180
	-10% (previously married)
Mortality1	+1 year for men, 0.6 years for women	+160
	-0.8 years for men, -0.7 years for women	-180
Marriage	+15% (never married), 10% (others)	-100
	-15% (never married), -10% (others)	+110

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what make of car has been made available to the new chairman of British Rail; and on what terms. [78802]

The car arrangements for executive Board Members of British Railways are determined by the Board. I understand that the Board has a pool car, which will be available to the Chairman when required.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the Scottish Office budget for Scottish Enterprise in cash terms and at 1998–99 prices for (a) 1992–93, (b) 1993–94, (c) 1994–95, (d) 1995–96, (e) 1996–97, (f) 1997–98 and (g) 1998–99; and what is his estimate for (i) 1999–2000, (ii) 2000–01 and (iii) 2001–02. [76863]

[holding answer 16 March 1999]: The Scottish Office Budget for Scottish Enterprise in cash terms and at 1998–99 prices for the years 1992–93 to 1998–99 and the plan figures for 1999–2000 to 2001–02 are follows:

£million
Year	Budget	1998–99 prices
1992–93	448.8	520.8
1993–94	451.3	510.1
1994–95	466.9	520.4
1995–96	464.4	502.9
1996–97	476.9	501.1
1997–98	449.5	460.7
1998–99	455.2	455.2
1999–2000 (plans)1	427.1	416.7
2000–01 (plans)1	435.4	414.4
2001–02 (plans)1	468.1	434.68
1 Plan figures for 1999–2000 are subject to adjustment to reflect CSR changes to baseline provision. Changes to Scottish Enterprise budget reflects a reduction on their property activities; re-phasing of the Hyundai project, and a realignment of existing training programmes to reflect the introduction of the New Enterprise will play a key role.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the Scottish Office budget for fire services in Scotland in cash terms and at 1998–99 prices for (a) 1995–96, (b) 1996–97, (c) 1997–98 and (d) 1998–99; and what is his estimate for (i) 1999–2000, (ii) 2000–01 and (iii) 2001–02. [76867]

[holding answer 16 March 1999]: Fire services in Scotland are a local government responsibility. Total financial provision made available by the Secretary of State for local authority spending on fire services in the form of Grant Aided Expenditure, and capital allocations, together with direct central Government expenditure, has been as follows:

£ million
Year	Cash Terms	1998–99 Prices
1995–96	149	161
1996–97	164	173
1997–98	184	189
1998–99	189	189
1999–2000	197	192
2000–01	206	197
2001–02	213	198

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the financial support provided by his Department to fox control associations. [78334]

Financial support, amounting to 50 per cent. of approved expenditure, is provided to recognised Fox Destruction Clubs under a scheme to prevent the predation of lambs. Total support has averaged around £70,000 per annum in recent years.From 1 July 1999, this will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland for what reason figures on the cancellation of hospital admissions by health boards for the quarters ending 31 March 1997 to 31 December 1998 are not available for hospitals in the Greater Glasgow Health Board area. [78228]

Information on the cancellation of hospital admissions in the Greater Glasgow Health Board area is not available for the periods requested because of concerns over the accuracy and completeness of the available data, and the consequent misrepresentation of

Average daily population of sentenced young offenders by length of sentence, 1993–1997
Number and Percentage
Length of sentence	1993	1994	1995	1996	1997	% change196–97
Total2	819	720	719	770	787	2
Less than 6 months	246	209	249	194	144	-26
6 months—less than 2 years	287	223	227	282	301	7
2 year—less than 4 years	151	160	114	132	146	11
4 years or over (excluding life)	105	103	98	131	154	18
Life	17	15	14	17	19	12
Section 205 sentences (indeterminate)	9	9	14	10	18	80
Section 206 sentences (fixed)	4	1	2	4	4	—
1Based on rounded figures
2Components may not add to totals due to rounding

Average daily population of adult sentenced prisoners by length of sentence, 1993–1997
Number and Percentage
Length of sentence	1993	1994	1995	1996	1997	% change 1 96–97
Total2	3,795	3,785	3,823	4,026	4,282	6
Less than 3 months	333	226	209	206	165	-20
3 months—less than 6 months	462	434	437	428	406	-5
6 months—less than 2 years	815	775	740	853	889	4
2 years—less than 4 years	533	627	614	616	654	6
4 years or over (excluding life)	1,240	1,293	1,390	1,480	1,686	14
Life/Section 205	411	430	433	443	481	9
1 Based on rounded figures
2 Components may not add to totals due rounding

Interim figures for the period April 1998 to February 1999 indicate that 25 per cent. of prisoners are testing positive for drugs of abuse, down from 29 per cent. in the financial year 1997–98. Final figures for the financial year 1998–99 will be reported in the 1998–99

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the sentence range of the prison population for each of the last five years; and what estimate he has made of the current number of inmates with (a) drug and (b) alcohol problems. [78800]

The available information on the average daily sentenced prison population by length of sentence for each of the last five years is provided in the following tables.prison 29 per cent. of prisoners reported that they were drinking over the weekly safe limit for men as set by the Inter-Departmental Working Group. And, in a recent study in Cornton Vale (Loucks, 1997), an estimated 10–15 per cent. of women were found to be addicted to alcohol.From 1 July 1999, these will be matters for the Scottish Parliament.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list for each month between 1 April 1998 and 31 January 1999 NHS waiting list figures in Scotland. [79063]

NHS in Scotland waiting list figures are published quarterly. The inpatient and day case waiting list on 31 March, 30 June, 30 September and 31 December 1998 is provided in the table.

Date	NHS in Scotland Inpatient and Day Case Waiting List
31 March 1998	89,525
30 June 1998	88,703
30 September 1998	84,931
31 December 1998	78,526

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will set out the conventions governing the propriety and cost of press releases issued by her Department, its agencies and non-departmental bodies; and what is the total cost of the press releases issued since May 1997. [71467]

[holding answer 16 February 1999]: The cost of Information Services issuing press releases from May 1997 to date is as follows:

• Paper £63.75
• Post £44,032.40
• Total £44,096.15.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many press releases have been issued by her Department, its agencies and non-departmental bodies in each of the years 1990 to 1998. [71452]

[holding answer 16 February 1999]: The Information Services have issued the following press releases:

Year
1990	(approx) 1,380
1991	(approx) 1,400
1992	(approx) 1,250
1993	1,355
1994	1,080
1995	1,223
1996	1,117
1997	1,180
1998	1,313

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will list the total number of occasions when (a) departmental and (b) non-departmental special advisers have travelled abroad in an official capacity since 2 May 1997. [76825]

There have been 5 occasions when a departmental special adviser has accompanied me aborad in an official capacity since 2 May 1997. There are no non-departmental special advisers. All travel complied with the requirements of the Ministerial Code and Civil Service Management Code.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will list the (i) dates, (ii) times, and (iii) location of each bomb alert in Northern Ireland since 1 September 1998, of which the RUC are aware. [77749]

The information requested has been placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what involvement fleet managers have had in drawing up her Department's Green Transport Plan. [77973]

[holding answer 22 March 1999]: Northern Ireland Departments are pursuing the target for having Green Transport Plans for all headquarters buildings and main buildings occupied by Government Departments and Executive Agencies by March 1999 and for all other key buildings by March 2000. There are no fleets associated with these buildings.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will list all Public Records Act 1958 instruments that have prescribed periods of (a) extended retention or (b) extended closure of decennial census returns for Northern Ireland; and if she will list the class numbers, census years and periods mentioned in the schedules. [78444]

The Public Records Act 1958 does not apply to Northern Ireland in respect of access.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what are the total annual storage and maintenance costs for all 1841 to 1991 decennial census returns in Northern Ireland. [78436]

The Public Record Office holds census records for 1937, 1951, 1961, 1966, 1971, 1981 and 1991. The annual storage and maintenance costs are £39,495.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many visits and of what length the Chairman of the Parades Commission has made to Northern Ireland since the inception of the Parades Commission. [79178]

The Chairman of the Parades Commission has paid 100 visits to Northern Ireland, 69 of which have involved one or more overnight stays.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many authorised officers of the Parades Commission have been remunerated over the past 12 months; how they are appointed; and under what terms. [79177]

Since 1 April 1998, a total of 13 persons have been remunerated as Authorised Officers of the Parades Commission. The Authorised Officers are contracted to the Parades Commission by the Mediation Network for Northern Ireland, which is responsible for their appointment and terms of employment.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much the Parades Commission has budgeted for in the coming year for (a) Chairman and Parades Commissioner remuneration, (b) the costs for civil servants seconded to the Parades Commission,(c) the remuneration of authorised officers of the Parades Commission, (d) travelling expenses and (e) office rent. [79173]

The answers are as follows:

• (a) £180,000 (£30,000 pay costs for Chairman + 6 x £25,000 for Members)
• (b) £254,000 (pay costs for civil servants)
• (c) £84,000 (pay costs for Authorised Officers)
• (d) £35,000 (travelling expenses for Chairman, Members and Secretariat)
• (e) £64,000 (office rent).

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much the Parades Commission has (a) spent to date on and (b) budgeted for consultancy, broken down by spending on (i) training of monitors, (ii) monitoring of parades, (iii) opinion surveys, (iv) project planning, (v) recruitment campaigns, (vi) media advice and (vii) legal costs in the coming 12 months. [79172]

(a) I would refer to the answer given to the hon. Member for Bromsgrove (Miss Kirkbride) on 17 March 1999, Official Report, columns 697–98. Unfortunately the figure given in my reply was incorrect. The total amount paid for consultancy and related services since the inception of the Parades Commission is £267,000. A breakdown of the expenditure is given here.

	£
Training for Stewards/Monitors	42,000
Monitoring research	20,000
Opinion surveys	4,000
Project planning	2,000
Recruitment campaign	10,000
Media and publicity advice and services	122,000
Legal Advice and services	6,000
Surveys, research, other training etc.	31000
Associated costs (advertising, printing etc.)	30,000

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will break down the (a) running costs and (b) programme expenditure of the Parades Commission for the coming year by main spending items. [79171]

The information is as follows:

(a) Running costs—£329,000: £254,000 pay and £75,000 general administrative expenditure (travel and subsistence, office equipment, telecommunications etc.).

(b) Programme cost—£818,000: £64,000 rent, £20,000 publications/printing; £246,000 Mediation Network for Northern Ireland charges, including Authorised Officer costs and related expenditure; £229,000 Commission Members' and Chairman's total costs; £160,000 professional advisers' costs; £50,000 education and monitoring costs; and £49,000 telecommunications, courier charges etc.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when she expects to publish the Parades Commission's Annual report. [79176]

The Parades Commission expects to publish its Annual Report towards the end of April 1999.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will place in the Library a copy of the Parades Commission's consultation document on its proposed changes to its Procedural Rules, the Code of Conduct and Guidelines. [79175]

Copies of the consultation document containing proposed changes to the Code of Conduct, Procedural Rules and Guidelines were placed in the Library of the House on 26 March 1999.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will list the (a) persons and (b) organisations to whom the Parades Commission has issued for consultation its proposed changes to its Procedural Rules, the Code of Conduct and Guidelines; and if she will (i) provide a list of those who have responded formally to the Parades Commission's consultation document and (ii) make a statement on the further consultation the Parades Commission is undertaking. [79174]

The Parades Commission has consulted a wide range of individuals and organisations about the proposed changes to its statutory documents. These include loyal orders, residents and community groups, business organisations, churches, academics, voluntary bodies, and political representatives. In addition, the Commission placed public notices in the daily newspapers drawing attention to the consultative process, and posted full details on the Commission's website. Respondents to the consultation have not been advised that their response or identity could be made public. It would therefore be inappropriate to list their names here.The Commission is considering carefully the responses it has received in relation to the draft statutory documents.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people are currently employed by the (a) Army Technical Support Centre, (b) Armed Forces Personnel Administration Agency, (c) Defence Estates Organisation and (d) Defence Dental Agency; and what the figure was at each Agency's establishment. [71944]

[holding answer 25 February 1999]: This is a matter for the Chief Executives of the Agencies concerned. I have asked them to write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many Gulf War veterans, medically tested as part of his Department's research programme, have shown signs of uranium-related illness; and if he will make a statement; [72940]

A Gulf veteran who is, or has been, concerned about his or her health may be receiving or have received care, including testing, under various auspices. The Ministry of Defence has only centralised data in respect of its Gulf Veterans' Medical Assessment Programme (MAP). This was established in 1993 to provide veterans who believe that their health may have suffered as a result of the Gulf conflict with as full a diagnosis as possible of their medical conditions. During an assessment at the MAP, all referred veterans receive a standard set of screening tests and are asked by the examining MAP physician to provide detailed information about possible factors to which they may have been exposed during the Gulf conflict. As at 18 March 1999, 3,021 Gulf veterans had been referred to the MAP for a medical assessment. Of these, 34 were waiting to be seen for the first time and 201 had failed to appear for one or more appointments; hence, a total of 235 have yet to receive any tests at the MAP.With regard to the testing of UK Gulf veterans for the presence of depleted uranium (DU), I refer the hon. Member to a detailed paper setting out my Department's position, which I published on Friday 19 March 1999. Copies have been placed in the Library of the House.The MAP is not a research programme. The Ministry of Defence is funding a range of studies into different aspects of Gulf veterans' illnesses. One of these studies—a neuromuscular symptoms study being conducted by a team led by Doctors Michael Rose and Mohammed Shareif at King's College, London—involves carrying out clinical tests on Gulf veterans. A further study on UK Gulf veterans under Professors Simon Wessely and Anthony David of King's College, London, which is being funded by the US Department of Defense, is also conducting clinical tests on UK Gulf veterans. Both these research teams are conducting their studies independently of MOD and we do not have access to the data collected, including any clinical findings.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people are currently employed by the Naval Manning Agency; what was the figure at its inception; on what date the Naval Manning Agency published its report for 1997–98; and what was the cost of production of the report. [76895]

This is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Naval Manning Agency. I have asked the Chief Executive to write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what testing of depleted uranium weapons has taken place in Southern Scotland. [77356]

[holding answer 18 March 1999]: Since the test-firing of depleted uranium (DU) based ammunition was approved in 1979 all testing of such ammunition in southern Scotland has been conducted at Kirkcudbright and West Freugh (near Stanraer). The trials at West Freugh, which took place in 1988 and 1990, tested Vulcan Phalanx ammunition and were very limited in nature, with only 200 small calibre rounds (around 20kg) being fired. The testing of 120mm DU-based ammunition for the Challenger main battle tank, which takes place at Kirkcudbright, started in 1982. Since the end of the Challenger tank development programme in 1997 this testing has been significantly reduced and currently only a small number of rounds are fired each year to check manufacturing quality.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many of his Department's contracts for uniforms for the armed forces were awarded to United Kingdom textile companies in each of the last five years. [77468]

[holding answer 18 March 1999]: The number of contracts awarded to UK textile companies in each of the last three Financial Years is as follows:

• 1996–97: 155 contracts
• 1997–98: 300 contracts
• 1998–99: 358 contracts.

Earlier details are not available as information on clothing and textile contracts placed by my Department has only been recorded centrally for the last three years.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what facilities the new cadet centre in Chorley will provide for cadets; and if these will be the same as at the existing centre on Devonshire Road in Chorley. [77474]

[holding answer 18 March 1999]: The new cadet centre will provide offices, classrooms and activity area, toilet and washing facilities, secure storage facilities, and a rifle range. All facilities currently enjoyed by the cadets will therefore be reprovided in this new centre, which will be for their sole use.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what efforts Her Majesty's Government are making to obtain medicinal and scientific data about the effects of depleted uranium-based ammunition in Iraq. [77258]

[holding answer 18 March 1999]: Officials from the Department for International Development (DfID) have been in discussion with the World Health Organisation (WHO) concerning possible projects to improve the overall health situation in Iraq. DfID expects to receive formal proposals—for example, to improve epidemiological surveillance in Iraq, to establish links between medical institutions outside Iraq and to improve Iraq's cancer registration system—from the WHO shortly, which the Government will consider carefully.The Government are well aware of suggests that there has been an increase in ill-health—including deformities, cancers and birth defects—in southern Iraq, which some commentators have attributed to the use of depleted uranium (DU) based ammunition by Coalition forces during the 1990–91 Gulf conflict. However, the Government have not seen any peer-reviewed epidemiological research data on this population to support these claims and therefore cannot comment on them further. There is currently no evidence that the illnesses of the types described, including cancers, are uniquely associated with exposure to DU. The Government would, of course, consider carefully any medical or scientific data which was presented on this subject.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions in the last year for which figures are available there has been an allegation of (i) rape and (ii) sexual assault within the United Kingdom by a member of the armed forces; and in each case (a) how long a time elapsed before the civil police were informed, (b) if the alleged victim was advised and assisted to ensure there was no inadvertent destruction of evidence, (c) if charges were brought, and (d) where a conviction was secured, what sentences were imposed. [78325]

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the cost of requalification for (a) 155 mm artillery projectiles, (b) 105 mm artillery projectiles, (c) 120 mm tank projectiles, (d) rocket motors for Sea Wolf and Sea Skua missiles and (e) explosives for ejector seat systems; and what is his estimate of the proportion of the cost that is met from his Department's funds. [78190]

[holding answer 22 March 1999]: The typical requalification cost for an artillery or tank round of ammunition is about £2 million, of which about £1.5 million is for the charge. For rocket motors the cost is about £5 million and for ejection seat cartridges up to £1 million. Costs vary significantly according to the circumstances, as does the proportion of cost to be met by the Ministry of Defence. These amounts should be set in the context of the overall value of the procurement contracts, which often amount to many tens of millions of pounds. For example, the Extended Range Ordnance/ Modular Charge System contract is worth around £100 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many ammunition products for United Kingdom military use will have to be subject to requalification procedures by his Department. [78189]

[holding answer 22 March 1999]: All ammunition products require Ordnance Board qualification before they are made available for United Kingdom military use. Requalification of explosive products is required whenever there is a prolonged break in production or there has been a change in manufacturer, manufacturing process, or source of raw materials. Therefore it is not possible to determine precisely which future ammunition requirements will induce requalification.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what quotations have been obtained from overseas suppliers for the supply of ammunition products previously supplied by Royal Ordnance Bishopton. [78185]

[holding answer 22 March 1999]: None. The MOD procures ammunition as a finished product, not as individual components. It is a matter for the prime contractor to choose the source of each of the components, such as casing, explosives, fuses and propellant. British Aerospace has announced that it intends to close Royal Ordnance Bishopton by late 2000. We expect the factory to continue to participate in work on Ministry of Defence contracts awarded to Royal Ordnance and other prime contractors until that date.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the overseas countries from which the United Kingdom currently obtains ammunition products; and if he will list the value of each contract. [78187]

[holding answer 22 March 1999]: The Ministry of Defence currently procures ammunition products from the USA, France, Germany, Italy, The Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Belgium, Israel, Canada and South Africa. The costs associated with individual contracts are commercially sensitive and I am therefore withholding this information under Exemption 13 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the memorandums of understanding that exist between the United Kingdom and overseas ammunition suppliers. [78188]

[holding answer 22 March 1999]: Her Majesty's Government normally conclude Memorandums of Understanding only with other national Governments. There are no MOU with overseas ammunition suppliers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions (a) he and (b) his officials have had with overseas ammunition suppliers in the past year; and if he will list the companies that have been consulted. [78182]

[holding answer 22 March 1999]: I have not had any discussions about the supply of ammunition with any overseas companies in the past year. However, Ministry of Defence officials have regular contacts on a wide range of issues with defence companies at all levels. These include obtaining information on product ranges and capabilities, the discussion of tenders, and the management and performance of contracts. Details of such contacts in the past year are not held centrally. However, a search of available records indicates that contacts took place with the following ammunition suppliers: Aerojet, Alliant Tech Systems, Armtec, Atlantic Research Corporation, Boeing, Day and Zimmerman, Lockheed Martin, Olin Winchester, Primex, Raytheon, and Team MACS of the USA; Aerospatiale, Celerg, CTA International, and GIAT of France; Alenia, Europea Metalli, Fiat Avio, and Simmel of Italy; Buck Technologies, Diehl, Dynamit Nobel, EBV, GIWS, Junghans, LFK, Mauser, MEN, and Rheinmetall of Germany; MECAR of Belgium; Hirtenberg of Austria; Miltec, Oerlikon, and Swiss Munitions of Switzerland; Eurometaal of The Netherlands, Lapua of Finland, Bofors of Sweden; NAMMO, and Raufoss of Norway; Expal, International Technology of Intallaza of Spain; INDEP of Portugal; Bristol Aerospace, and SNC of Canada; PINDAD of Malaysia; CIS of Singapore; Denel/ Somchem, Denel/Swarklip, Denel/Naschem, Pretoria Metal Pressing and Vector of South Africa; IMI, and Rafael of Israel; ADI of Australia; and Micron of India.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what assessment his Department has made of its overseas-based ammunition suppliers with respect to (a) security of supply, (b) exchange rate risk and (c) ability to supply ammunition promptly; [78191](2) what assessments have been made of the security of supply provided by each of the United Kingdom's overseas ammunition suppliers; and if he will make a statement. [78186]

[holding answer 22 March 1999]: The Ministry of Defence considers carefully the issue of security of supply before placing equipment contracts with overseas suppliers. Where necessary, we seek suitable safeguards to ensure satisfactory security of supply.Contracts contain specific conditions designed to ensure prompt delivery of defence equipment and ammunition products. In order to eliminate exchange rate risks, we aim to place all overseas orders in Sterling. Where this is not possible, we use a variety of measures, including the advance purchase of Deutschmarks and US dollars, to minimise the risk of adverse movements in these currencies.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received from the Department for Trade and Industry regarding the closure of Royal Ordnance Bishopton; and if he will make a statement. [78183]

[holding answer 22 March 1999]: I consulted other Government Ministers, including my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, about the issues surrounding the recent decisions on the Multi Year Buy and Extended Range Ordnance/ Modular Charge System competitions, including the impact on Royal Ordnance Bishopton and other Royal Ordnance sites. In addition to work associated with the Modular Charge System, Royal Ordnance informed the Ministry of Defence that it would require further work to be directed to Bishopton, without competition, for the plant to remain open. Even then, the work force would have had to reduce by almost half to around 150 employees. We concluded that £20 million cost premium to keep a much reduced Bishopton open in the short term did not represent good value for the taxpayer.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which foreign Governments have been consulted with regard to the re-sourcing of ammunition supplies to UK forces following the closure of Royal Ordnance Bishopton. [78181]

[holding answer 22 March 1999]: We have not formally consulted foreign Governments about the supply of ammunition after the closure of Royal Ordnance Bishopton, nor is there a need to do so. We routinely conduct international competitions for the procurement of ammunition. These show that there are many friendly and reliable alternative sources in Europe and further overseas. In the event of an urgent, unforeseen demand for ammunition, we would secure further supplies from friends and allies, as we have successfully done in the past. To facilitate such procurements the UK is a signatory of the international Joint Ballistic MOU, together with France, Germany, Italy and the US, which allows for the strategic and tactical interchange of 155mm ammunition.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the value for money of the contract to supply artillery shell propellant from Somchem; and if he will make a statement. [78192]

[holding answer 22 March 1999]: Somchem was a clear winner of the competition for the sub-contract for the Modular Charge System for the AS90 howitzer on both cost and technical grounds. The decision to award Somchem the contract, therefore, represents best value for money.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what defence industrial considerations were taken into account in the award of the artillery shell propellant contract to Somchem. [78184]

[holding answer 22 March 1999]: We considered defence industrial issues very carefully before deciding to procure the Modular Charge System contract from Somchem. We concluded that Royal Ordnance would still be capable of continuing as a major supplier of a wide range of ammunition to the Ministry of Defence. The company remains a key player in the European ammunition business with a continuing role in the future rationalisation process for the industry.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment his Department made of the impact of the current value of the South African Rand when awarding the artillery shell propellant contract to Somchem; and what arrangements have been set in place in the contract with regard to exchange rate fluctuation. [78193]

[holding answer 22 March 1999]: The contract price for the sub-contract for the supply of the Modular Charge System for the AS90 howitzer has been specified in Sterling. The value of the South African Rand, therefore, has no effect on the contract.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what studies he has carried out on the potential to upgrade the Royal Navy's aircraft carriers to meet future requirements. [78777]

Concept studies have examined the feasibility of upgrading and extending the life of the current Invincible-class aircraft carriers. These studies established that the vessels would not be able to meet future requirements. However, there will be further analysis to establish the baseline against which the cost-effectiveness of the future carriers will be assessed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which companies have been invited to tender for the future Royal Navy aircraft carrier; and what criteria were used to select the companies. [78781]

British Aerospace Defence Systems, Marconi Electronic Systems, Boeing, Lockheed-Martin, Raytheon and Thomson-CSF have been invited to tender for the initial assessment phase of the future aircraft carrier. They were selected from the companies that had expressed interest in the tender, following an assessment of their ability to deliver the programme to cost, time and performance.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the possibility of transferring 155 Transport Regiment to North Wales. [78570]

[holding answer 25 March 1999]: 155 Transport Regiment does not exist. 157 Transport Regiment, whose headquarters is based in Cardiff, has a number of sub-units that are based in South Wales and no consideration was therefore given to transferring the headquarters to North Wales.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reasons, on what date, in what circumstances and manner and under what powers Mr. Tony Geraghty was arrested; when his bail will be ended; what charges are in prospect against him; and if his Department plans to take action in relation to his recently published book. [79019]

Mr. Tony Geraghty's home address was searched on 3 December 1998, under warrant, by Ministry of Defence Police officers investigating alleged offences against the Official Secrets Acts, concerning his book "The Irish War".Mr. Geraghty was arrested and placed on unconditional police bail, he is due to answer his bail on 22 April 1999. A file has been prepared by the Ministry of Defence Police and submitted to the Crown Prosecution Service. The Crown Prosecution Service will determine whether or not Mr. Geraghty will face charges. The Ministry of Defence Police were acting under powers conferred by the Ministry of Defence Police Act 1987.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 16 March 1999, Official Report, columns 571–72, on HMS Vengeance, what components were found to be defective; when they were replaced; what effect their failure had on the state of the submarine's reactor; what steps he is taking to enure the safety of similar components on other nuclear powered submarines; and if he will make a statement. [78916]

Two of the Main Coolant Pumps of the rector system were found to be defective. Both pumps continued to provide full output, but showed early signs of longer term degradation in performance. They were replaced between 9 February and 17 March this year. There was no effect on the submarine's reactor. To ensure the safety of such equipment on other nuclear submarines, routine equipment monitoring is undertaken as a matter of course. The original pumps from HMS Vengeance will undergo detailed examination to confirm the cause of the defect.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if the members of the RAF Board of Inquiry investigating the fatal crash of RAF Chinook ZD 576 in 1994 were informed, at the time of the Inquiry, of his Department's case against Textron Lycoming, the manufacturers of the full authority digital engine control system; [78381](2) if Boeing treated the full authority digital engine control system fitted to the Chinook Mk2 as flight safety critical at the time of the RAF Chinook crash in June 1994; [78380](3) if his testing and evaluation organisation at Boscombe Down treated the full authority digital engine control system fitted to the Chinook Mk2 as flight safety critical at the time of the RAF Chinook crash in June 1994. [78379]

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 the Air Accidents Investigation Branch personnel investigating the crash of RAF Chinook ZD576 in 1994, were informed, at the time of the investigation, of the Ministry of Defence case against Textron Lycoming, the manufacturers of the Full Authority Digital Engine Control system. [78792]

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many defence procurement programmes are running overtime; and in each case by how long. [79101]

Information on time overruns against the original approval on the top 25 defence procurement programmes is published by each year in the Comptroller and Auditor General's reports on the Ministry of Defence "Major Projects Report". Copies of these are in the Library of the House.