To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make it her policy to support the creation of a joint working party between the ILO and WTO to examine relevant issues. [79110]

The Government are working for the world-wide observance of core labour standards for all workers. We believe that the right way to do this is through the ILO and that the recent ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work presents a key opportunity for progress. Developing countries—who make up nearly three quarters of WTO members—are opposed to the formal introduction of labour issues to the WTO agenda. They are concerned that labour standards would be used for protectionist trade purposes. We do not therefore believe the creation of a joint working party between the ILO and WTO to discuss labour issues is the right way forward, but we do support more systematic reporting between the two secretariats.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what Her Majesty's Government's plans are for humanitarian relief in Sierra Leone. [79111]

We have been leading the international effort to provide humanitarian relief and improve the security situation in Sierra Leone.We are co-ordinating closely with the EC, other donors and the UN to maximise effectiveness and encourage the burden sharing.We are also restarting longer term development programmes such as demobilisation of fighters, support to the reform of the police force and security forces, support for independent media and the peace process.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on aid given to the Government of Sierra Leone in the past two years. [79116]

We provided £10.5 million in 1996–97 financial year, £3.4 million in 1997–98 financial year and £9.7 million in 1998–99.We have provided humanitarian assistance and support for demobilisation, reform of the judiciary and legal systems, the independent media, and reform of the police and security force.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the assistance her Department is providing for refugees in the Balkans. [79112]

We have been one of the largest and most active donors in helping improve the provision of humanitarian relief to the refugees from Kosovo. We have supported NATO in erecting camps, international agencies in bringing people and resources to the region—so far we have provided 23 flights and we have teams working in Tirana airport and supporting the Albanian Government. We are now preparing for the hand-over of camps to UNHCR and the NGOs and are helping establish two refugee centres in Albania.Our greatest concern is the situation of displaced people in Kosovo. We are considering all possibilities of providing support but no option is easy—in the face of deliberate Serbian repression. Milosevic will have to answer for this to the International Criminal Tribunal.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions she has had with the IMF and World bank representatives about reforming policies and programmes to protect access to basic education. [79114]

We made clear in our White Paper in November 1997 that we are strongly committed to the implementation of the international development targets which include universal primary education by 2015. We have worked consistently to encourage the World Bank and IMF to incorporate the targets in their programmes.In recent discussions with the Managing Director of the IMF and the President of the World Bank, I have underlined the importance of protecting spending on health, and education for the poor.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the linkage of good government criteria to the provision of aid by her Department. [79117]

As the White Paper on International Development makes clear, good governance is essential to the economic and social policies which are necessary to the reduction of poverty. Our country strategies—20 of which have been published so far—apply this to all our programmes.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made of the need for development aid in the Caribbean if the banana crop in that region is priced out of international markets; and if she will make a statement. [79118]

Substantial amounts of development assistance are already being made available through the European Commission to improve the competitiveness of the Caribbean banana producers and to support economic diversification programmes for those high cost growers who are having to leave the industry. We are urgently examining, in consultation with the Caribbean, the implications of the recent WTO rulings. We believe the WTO ruling is compatible with new arrangements that will provide the Caribbean banana industry with viable access to international markets.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on EU development aid policy. [79119]

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the relationship between the United Kingdom and the EU in connection with third world aid. [79120]

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what progress has been made towards improving the management of EU development aid; and if she will make a statement. [79121]

Our contributions to the EC's external assistance programmes absorb approximately 30 per cent. of the Department for International Development's budget.In December 1998 we published our 18 point strategy to improve EC development spending. This reflects our concern that EC aid spending is both skewed against the poorest countries and often of poor quality. Our strategy includes a proposal for the agreement of a coherent overarching statement of EU development policy.We are pursuing vigorously our strategy with the Commission and with other EC member states. I agreed a Joint Declaration on improving the EC's contribution to international development with my French and German opposite numbers in February. I expect to discuss specific measures for improving the quality of the EC's development spending at the EU Development Council in May, in the context of the follow-up to recently completed evaluations of the EC's development programmes.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made of the impact of the resignation of the Commissioners of the European Union on the co-ordination of British development aid with that of the EU. [79113]

The events surrounding the resignation of the Commission provide a major opportunity to reform the EC's external assistance programmes. We need an overhaul of approval, auditing and financial management systems, and more accountability. We also need to avoid sanctioning EC programmes or budget levels which cannot be effectively managed. Strengthening co-ordination is a priority of the German EU Presidency and we will support all sensible proposals at the EU Development Council next month.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made of the extent which the work of the Inter-American Development bank is focused on the relief of poverty. [79122]

Since May 1997, we have been working to increase the poverty focus of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). The Bank recognises that poverty remains a persistent problem in Latin America, which is the most unequal region in the world. In February, I co-chaired with IDB's President Iglesias a seminar which took as its starting point the Bank's recent Report entitled "Facing up to Inequality in Latin America". We welcome this as a contribution to raising awareness.In 1997, the IDB adopted a poverty reduction strategy that charts a broad course for attacking poverty in the region. This calls for the promotion of sustainable and labour-intensive economic growth, investments in human capital and special efforts to reach those groups which are unlikely to benefit from economic growth. Recognising that poverty in the region is principally a rural phenomenon, the Bank adopted a rural poverty reduction strategy in 1998 which emphasises the need to develop national rural poverty reduction strategies, and calls for activities that stimulate participation of beneficiaries including access to land and credit for farmers with productive potential, and non-agricultural employment in micro-enterprises for other rural inhabitants.During 1998, the Bank approved $3.3 billion for social sector and poverty reduction projects, which represented about 46 per cent. of the year's lending (the highest level ever achieved by the Bank) or 53 per cent. of the total number of projects approved. We believe that the Bank has made a good effort, but that more could be done, particularly on the link between poverty and ethnicity. We are also urging the Bank to commit itself to the International Development Goals on the elimination of poverty.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what support her Department plans to give to the development of the world micro-credit scheme. [79123]

We are constantly expanding its support for microfinance institutions targeting some of the world's poorest communities who have no access to formal financial services. Our current commitments for ongoing and planned project activities in this sector amount to £75 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on her recent visit to India. [79124]

I visited India from 22 to 27 March. India is of critical importance in achieving international targets for poverty elimination since 1 in 3 of the poor of the world live there. I agreed with the Indian Government a new country strategy which will soon be published and will focus DFID assistance in a few states which are committed to implementing essential reforms for poverty elimination. These include Orissa and Andhra Pradesh which I visited to discuss how to strengthen our development partnerships with them.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on aid to Zimbabwe. [79125]

Our Country Strategy Paper for Zimbabwe will be published shortly. The strategy will focus on reducing poverty in Zimbabwe which is increasing because of economic mismanagement and the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Copies of the Zimbabwe paper, like all our country strategies, will be placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the future of the UK's involvement in UNESCO. [79126]

We are playing an active role in the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO). My Department is working to encourage UNESCO to contribute to the international goals for poverty eradication. The Government have published proposals for the design and establishment of a UK Commission for UNESCO.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what is her policy in respect of the current WTO regime as it affects developing countries. [79127]

The WTO provides a forum for all countries to participate in a global trading system which is rules based and which operates in an open and transparent way. All decisions are taken by consensus. This is particularly important for developing countries, who are sometimes at a disadvantage in negotiations with the developed world. My Department is working to strengthen the capacity of developing countries so that they can participate effectively in the existing system and in future negotiations. A copy of a recent speech in which I outlined our thinking on developing countries and the WTO will be sent to the hon. Gentleman. I will also place a copy in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps she is taking to link development aid to the provision of education to girls and women. [79128]

We made clear in our White Paper in November 1997 that we are strongly committed to the international goals of universal primary education by 2015 and gender equity in primary and secondary education by 2005.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what is her Department's assessment of the amount of debt cancellation for indebted poor countries that is required in order for the Government to meet their poverty reduction targets for 2015. [79129]

It is impossible to calculate an amount of debt relief needed to meet the International Poverty eradication targets. The reduction of debt for heavily indebted poor countries (HIPCs), with good policy performance and a commitment to reduce poverty, does however have a crucial part to play in the achievement of the international development goals. A review of the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative is currently underway, and we are pressing for a link between debt relief and poverty reduction. In particular, the review needs to assess whether the amount and timing of the debt relief being provided is freeing up sufficient resources to allow governments to tackle poverty effectively. This has to be done on a country-by-country basis.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if it is her policy to maintain the current balance of expenditure on (a) direct bilateral aid, (b) aid in the EU, (c) contributions to United Nations agencies and (d)aid for voluntary organisations. [79130]

In our 1999 Departmental Report we published detailed current and planned figures for all areas of development assistance. Actual expenditure will and should vary reflecting changes, for example, in a country's commitment to poverty reduction.A copy of the 1999 Departmental Report is available in the Library of this House.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps her Department is taking to support security sector reform in developing countries. [79131]

On 9 March, I announced my Department's new plans to help developing countries reform their security sectors. The security sector consists of those who are responsible, or should be responsible, for protecting the state and communities within the state. Included in the security sector are military, paramilitary and intelligence services, as well as those civilian structures responsible for oversight and control of the security forces.All countries have legitimate security needs. But a major obstacle to making progress in development and reducing poverty in many countries is the existence of bloated, secretive, repressive, undemocratic and badly structured security sectors. Reforming the security sector is therefore a priority. Eliminating violence and reducing insecurity is a precondition for development.I outlined seven priority areas for future action which focus on the issues of good governance, conflict prevention, human rights promotion and post-conflict reconstruction. The priority areas are:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps her Department is taking to achieve the target of universal primary education by 2015. [79132]

One of my key international poverty eradication targets is to secure primary education for all children in the world by 2015. Education is therefore of crucial importance in the work of my Department. We are working in the multilateral system to increase its commitment to the 2015 target. In the Government's first year in office (1997–98), we spent over £13 million of bilateral funds on primary education. This was an increase of £5 million over the previous year. Subsequent major commitments have been made of over £200 million to basic education in a number of countries including Ghana, India, Zambia, Malawi, South Africa, Pakistan, Bangladesh and our largest ever single education commitment of £67 million for Uganda. These and new programmes being developed reflect a major contribution to the challenge of achieving universal primary education and will substantially increase the proportion of our bilateral assistance invested in primary education.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what support her Department is giving to developing countries to achieve universal primary education. [79115]

We made clear in our White Paper in November 1997 that we are strongly committed to the international development targets which include universal primary education by 2015. We are working to increase international commitment to meet the target. In our own programmes, we spent over £13 million of bilateral funds on primary education in 1997–98. This was an increase of £5 million over the previous year. Subsequent commitments of over £200 million have been made to basic education in a number of countries including Ghana, India, Zambia, Malawi, South Africa, Pakistan, Bangladesh and our largest ever single education commitment of £67 million for Uganda.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the changes to EU working groups that are to be made upon final ratification of the Treaty of Amsterdam. [80151]

The Treaty of Amsterdam covers a number of areas of Community competence, some of which may in time require the setting up of working groups to produce reports and recommendations on legislative proposals from the European Commission. It will be for the Committee of Permanent Representatives to decide in each case whether a Council working group needs to be established. Changes may also need to be made to the mandate of existing working groups.

To ask the Prime Minister when he expects to announce his considered response to the report of Lord Jenkins of Hillhead on electoral systems. [80224]

I set out my position in the oral answer I gave to the right hon. Member for Richmond, Yorks (Mr. Hague) on 4 November 1998, Official Report, column 868, where I told the House we wish to see, and be informed by, a full debate on the proposals of the Independent Commission on the Voting System before taking a firm view.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will provide a breakdown, in numerical and percentage terms, of the ethnic origin at 1 March of (a) his private office, (b) Government special advisers, (c) the No. 10 Policy Unit and (d) No. 10 Downing Street staff in total. [78505]

The Government, with the Civil Service unions, recently launched a Joint Charter to address under-representation of ethnic minorities at senior levels. The Government are also setting targets for ethnic minorities in the Senior Civil Service and below.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will publish the paper by the Chief Medical Officer and the Chief Scientific Adviser on the human health implications of genetically modified foods, requested by the Cabinet Sub-Committee on Biotechnology, when he receives it. [76291]

[holding answer 12 March 1999]: The Chief Medical Officer and the Chief Scientific Adviser have been asked to advise Ministers on the public health implications of the genetic modification of food. Their work will be conducted in accordance with the Government's Guidelines on "The Use of Scientific Advice in Policy Making", which sets out a framework for ensuring that Government policy is made on the basis of the best scientific advice. Advice from officials to Ministers is not normally published but the possibility of publication in this case will be considered when the advice has been received.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what assessment he has made of the implications for his Department of the Macpherson inquiry recommendations; and if he will make a statement. [80524]

The Home Office published an Action Plan on 23 March containing the Government's detailed response to the specific recommendations of the Macpherson inquiry. The Plan commits the Government to setting out over the coming months how they will take forward their broader vision of an anti-racist society.The Government have already announced that they will legislate to apply the Race Relations Act, not just to the police service, but across public services as a whole. The Government are seeking to ensure that policy development take account of any race equality implications.It is also a top priority for the Government to ensure that the Civil Service reflects the full diversity of society, and values the differences that people bring to it. It must be part of, not apart from, the society it serves. I recently launched with Sir Richard Wilson and with the Civil Service Trade Unions a Joint Charter for Action to redress the under-representation of ethnic minorities in the Senior Civil Service. The Civil Service is considering its policies as an employer in the light of the inquiry's recommendations.The Modernising Government White Paper published on 30 March announced challenging targets for proportions of women and ethnic minorities in the Senior Civil Service. We are also requiring Departments to set targets at levels below this. These targets signal the determination of the Civil Service to address under-representation and change the culture so as to tackle inequality.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) which countries had armed forces involved in the NATO air exercise over Turkey carried out between 1 April 1997 and 31 March 1998; [72852](2) what was the cost of the NATO air exercise in Turkey carried out between 1 April 1997 and 31 March 1998; and what was the cost of UK participation; [72845](3) how many personnel were deployed on the NATO air exercise in Turkey carried out between 1 April 1997 and 31 March 1998; [72983](4) what assessment he has made of the principal benefits of the NATO air exercise in Turkey carried out between 1 April 1997 and 31 March 1998. [76594]

[holding answer March 1999]: Exercise Distant Thunder took place in Turkey between 28 April–9 May 1997. Italy, Turkey, the US and the UK took part. There is not a figure available within NATO for the total number of personnel participating. I understand from NATO that the cost of the NATO Exercise Fund of this exercise has been estimated at some £210,000. The additional cost to the UK of participation in the exercise totalled some £11,000, with about 100 personnel participating. We do not know what the national costs to other participating nations were. Exercise Distant Thunder provided excellent training in both deployment procedures and in practising Combined Air Operations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what security vetting is undertaken of staff employed by Building and Property Group Ltd. and their sub-contractors operating at his Department's establishments. [80044]

Security vetting of staff was the responsibility of BPD Ltd. until last year, when their List X status was removed. At HMNB Portsmouth, BPD Ltd. currently undertake the Basic Check procedure and may issue temporary passes, pending Counter Terrorist Check clearance being carried out by the Defence Vetting Agency.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 15 March 1999, Official Report, column 508, if he will state in each case (a) on what date the equipment listed was supplied and (b) its value. [80477]

Gifts of weaponry by Her Majesty's Government to overseas Governments and armed forces since 1 January 1990, showing the date that each item was supplied, and the value, are as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many attack missions against Yugoslavia have been flown by British aircraft in the two weeks up to 31 March; and what was the cost of them to the British public funds. [80425]

As part of Operation Allied Force, a total of 50 sorties were flown by UK ground attack aircraft in the period up to 6.00 a.m. on 1 April 1999, at an estimated total extra cost excluding munitions, of some £360,000.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) bombs and (b) missiles paid for by British public funds have been used to attack Yugoslavia in the two weeks up to 31 March; and what was their total cost. [80427]

A total of 14 bombs were dropped by UK aircraft in support of Operation Allied Force during the period in question. These bombs cost a total of some £520,000. I am withholding the information requested in respect of missiles under exemption la of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what latest estimate he has made of the total cost of resolving the year 2000 computer problem in all defence-related areas; how much has been spent to date; and if he will make a statement. [79805]

The projected additional cost of the MoD Year 2000 date change compliancy programme remains at £200m. Actual expenditure by MoD's top-level Budget Holders at the end of February 1999 was £48.5m. These figures include the cost of all activities to address the problem which we would not otherwise have needed to undertake. However, they exclude the cost of any equipment procurements or upgrades which were already planned and funded to meet a requirement of operational or business reasons, but which also address the Y2K issue. They also exclude the cost of internal MOD staff effort to ensure that our systems are compliant.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what precautions are being taken by Her Majesty's armed forces over the period 30 December 1999 to 5 January 2000 to ensure defence capability is not damaged by the year 2000 computer problem; and if he will make a statement. [79806]

The MoD has had a technical programme in place since 1996 to scope and address the problem of computer system compliancy with the Year 2000 date change. This programme is progressing well, with over 60 per cent. of MoD's critical systems now compliant. In addition, comprehensive contingency plans are being developed against the possibility of unexpected failure of MoD systems, or the failure of other non-MoD systems on which we rely, such as the public utilities. These plans seek to ensure the continuity of military operations and the requisite levels of defence capability throughout the period 1 September 1999 to 31 March 2000. There are also well-established procedures for crisis management on a 24-hour basis, which will apply throughout this period.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 24 March 1999, Official Report, column 307, how many goats have died in experiments at the Royal Navy Physiological Laboratory in (a) the last 12 months and (b) each of the previous five years; how many have been injured before undergoing experiments; what anaesthetics are administered to goats; and if he will list the experiments that have been performed on goats. [79725]

This is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency. 1 have asked the Chief Executive to write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what systems he has in place to ensure that policies being developed by his Department are subject to a crime impact (a) assessment and (b) audit and are not likely to lead to enhanced criminal opportunities.[72690]

[holding answer 24 February 1999]: Government Departments are co-operating closely on policy development and, therefore, I work closely with other Ministers on any likely implications for crime of new developments, as indicated by research.As far as the Treasury is concerned, all our policies should support Home Office Aim 1, which is to reduce crime and the fear of crime. The Home Office research programme monitors and evaluates the effects of new policy and other interventions.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what definition of poverty underlies his statement in this year's Budget statement that 700,000 children will be taken out of poverty as a result of the Budget. [78522]

[holding answer 25 March 1999]: The estimate of 700,000 children is based on the number of children in low income families who will no longer be living in households below half the average equivalised income after allowing for housing costs. This calculation looks at the impact of all the tax and benefit measures announced in the last two Budgets, the introduction of the Working Families Tax Credit and National Minimum Wage.This method is one snap-shot indicator of one dimension of relative poverty. Child poverty is complex. It is characterised by a number of related problems, including persistent low family incomes caused by parental unemployment, damaged opportunities later in life, and too often a poor education in childhood.The Government's strategy for reducing poverty and social exclusion is tackling all aspects of poverty and tackling it at source. It is focused on investment in prevention, work as the best way out of poverty and regenerating the poorest communities, while providing support for those who cannot work.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the numbers of higher rate taxpayers who will pay a 46 per cent. marginal rate of income tax consequent upon the tapering of the children's tax credit (a) in total, (b) where the taxpayer is the sole earner in the family and (c) where the taxpayer is the sole higher rate taxpayer in the family. [79091]

It is estimated that in 2001–02 there will be 300,000 taxpayers on the children's tax credit taper. Of these, around 90,000 will be the sole earner in the family. In very few cases will there be two higher rate taxpayers in the family.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the estimated extra revenue, including the added effects of VAT, from the road fuel duty escalator in the Budget statements for (a) 1993–94, (b) 1994–95, (c) 1996–97, (d) 1997–98 and (e) 1998–99; and what was the actual revenue accrued, including the added effects of VAT, in those years. [79322]

[holding answer 30 March 1999j: Estimates of the extra revenue, including VAT, from the road fuel duty escalator are shown in the Financial Statement and Budget Reports for the relevant years in the following tables:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list for each of the last 10 years the percentage of births among (i) 13 to 15 and (ii) 16 to 19-year-olds per 1,000 females for (a) Scotland, (b) England and Wales, (c) Northern Ireland and (d) each other European Union country. [79591]

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Director of the Office for National Statistics. I have asked him to reply.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the non-IT costs of the National Changeover Plan, with particular reference to informing business and the public. [80397]

The cost of informing business and the public about the changeover would depend on the final approach taken to the changeover. By planning ahead, we will be able to ensure that a UK changeover would be cost effective for the economy as a whole.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer to the right hon. Member for Penrith and The Border (Mr. Maclean) of 22 March 1999, Official Report, column 100, on euro coins, what sanctions are to be applied in the case of the United Kingdom against those who damage or destroy the image of the euro; and what representations he has received on this subject. [80178]

In the case of non-participating Member States, enforcement of the copyright in the common face design of euro coins will be ensured by the Commission, according to the national legislation of the Member State concerned. In the UK, enforcement would take the form of civil proceedings.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many workless households with dependent children there were in (a) 1979, (b) 1984, (c) 1989, (d) 1994 and (e) at the latest date for which statistics are available. [79661]

[holding answer 13 April 1999]: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Director of the Office for National Statistics. I have asked him to reply.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list national survival rates for all cancers for each year from 1992 to date. [80271]

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Director of the Office for National Statistics. I have asked him to reply.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will list mortality rates for all types of cancers for each health authority; [80272](2) if he will list mortality rates of cancers for all types of cancer, in descending order, for each EU country. [80273]

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Director of the Office for National Statistics. I have asked him to reply.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his policy on the exchange rate between sterling and the deutschmark. [80404]

The Government's aim is for a stable and competitive exchange rate over the medium term, consistent with the objective of price stability. The only sure path to long-term exchange rate stability is through the pursuit of macroeconomic policies aimed at achieving sustained growth, sound public finances and low inflation.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the effect on the (a) gross and (b) net contributions of each member state of the European Union of the changes to EU financing arrangements agreed at the Berlin summit. [80015]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Prime Minister to my hon. Friend the Member for Swansea, East (Mr. Anderson) on 29 March 1999, Official Report, column 737.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he will publish further clauses of the draft Financial Services and Markets Bill. [80811]

I have today made available to the Joint Committee on Financial Services and Markets four additional Parts of the draft Bill. These relate to official listing, collective investment schemes, disclosure of information and insolvency. Copies have been placed in the Libraries of the House.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has requested (a) the Financial Services Authority and (b) the Personal Investment Authority to consider the advice required on the early termination and surrender of endowment policies. [80510]

The Financial Services Authority is monitoring sales of mortgage-linked endowment policies. If there is a need for regulatory guidance, in respect of early termination and surrender, the regulator will act accordingly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will provide a breakdown by job centre of vacancies notified for postal workers in the last year for which figures are available. [80453]

Responsibility for the subject of this question has been delegated to the Employment Service Agency under its Chief Executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given and a copy placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what representations have been made by his Department regarding the censorship at Skyline College in the United Arab Emirates referred to in the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education report 1998. [79941]

The Department has not made any representations on this issue, but we believe that universities-should always consider the ethical dimension of their activities.The Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) conducts a programme of audits of institutions' overseas partnerships, and we are aware of the QAA audit report about the quality assurance arrangements of the collaborative partnership between the University of Lincolnshire and Humberside and Skyline College, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. We note that the QAA has asked the University to examine without delay the possible implications of restrictions in learning materials, which may be excluding its students from a body of scholarship on grounds of authors' race or creed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many young unemployed people he estimates will join the New Deal programme in 1999–2000, broken down by suitable locality. [80899]

The New Deal for young people is delivered through local partnerships. For planning purposes, the Employment Service has provided its partners in each local unit of delivery with an indicative assumption for the numbers of young people who might join the programme in 1999–2000. Those planning assumptions are based on current unemployment levels. They are not forecasts of the actual numbers who will join the programme. They do however enable the Employment Service and its partners in each local area to plan on a better informed basis, and they help to ensure that adequate plans are in place locally to meet potential demand.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will publish details of his Department's Departmental Investment Strategy. [80900]

Copies of the Departmental Investment Strategy report have been placed in the Library. In line with Government policy on electronic government this document will also be available on the DfEE internet site shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will announce his decision on the recent competition for the provision of digital educational broadcasting services to support the GCSE curriculum. [80901]

Following careful consideration of the bids received and presentations of the various proposals we are now inviting the short-listed bidders to take part in demonstration projects to test curriculum modules to support GCSE subjects. The resultant materials will be tested and evaluated as a basis for further decisions at a later date.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to recover the cost of education in the state sector of foreign children temporarily resident in the United Kingdom whose parents have received specific educational grants from their home Government; and if he will make a statement. [79689]

We have no plans to change the current arrangements. We believe that all children resident in this country should be entitled to receive a free school education. Foreign children are treated in the same way as other children in the calculation of the Government's support for education through the standard spending assessment system.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many staff are employed within the Local Education Authority Support Division of his Department; and what is (a) the cost of that division in 1998–99 and (b) the budgeted cost for 1999–2000. [80388]

[holding answer 13 April 1999]: The Local Education Authority Support Division, within the Department for Education and Employment, has a staffing establishment of 50 people; a further 4 people are currently employed to support the change process to the new organisational structure.Appointments to the Division, made through open competition, include existing staff from within the Department and the Funding Agency for Schools as well as some external candidates.The budget cost of the Division in 1998–99 was £440,000.The budget cost for the Division in 1999–2000 is £1,629,000.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what statistical data he has collated on the destination of those who have completed a 12 month educational training option on the New Deal for 18 to 25 year olds. [80563]

[holding answer 13 April 1999]: Statistics are collected on various aspects of New Deal performance including destinations of those leaving New Deal from an Option. The latest figures are available in table 11 of the New Deal Statistical First Release, which is held in the Library. However, as New Deal for 18 to 24 year olds only started in Pathfinder areas in January 1998 and nationally in April 1998, very few will have had the opportunity to complete a 12 month Full-Time Education and Training Option. The results of early quantitative evaluation of Options in the Pathfinder areas will be published in the Summer.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list (a) those local education authorities in England which are budgeting to spend more in 1999–2000 than provided for in their education standard spending assessment, and (b) which of these authorities are proposing a budget increase for education in 1999–2000 which is less than the increase in their education standard spending provision compared with 1998–99. [80499]

[holding answer 13 April 1999]: Authoritative information will not be available until June 1999 when local education authorities' returns in accordance with section 52 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 have been collated and checked.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will outline the Government's current policy in relation to the reports of the three United Nations panels on Iraq; and if he will make a statement. [80515]

[holding answer 13 April 1999]: The panels' reports form a good basis for Security Council discussion on the way forward on Iraq.The disarmament panel has endorsed what has long been clear: that UNSCOM has achieved an enormous amount, but that there are still important questions left unanswered. The panel has also stated clearly that Iraq has not fulfilled its obligations. We share the panel's view that if the inspectors are to go back into Iraq they will need a system more, not less, intrusive than before.Iraq's refusal to come clean over its weapons of mass destruction has prevented any movement on sanctions. Compliance with Security Council resolutions is an essential prerequisite for lifting sanctions. Our insistence on Iraq meeting its obligations does not mean we can ignore the suffering of the Iraqi people. We are pleased that the humanitarian panel has picked up many of our proposals on how to improve international efforts to alleviate this suffering, on how to increase the amount of money going into the oil-for-food programme and ensuring it is used as effectively as possible.Neither should we lose sight of the fate of the Kuwaitis and others still missing since the Gulf War ended in 1991, on which Iraq has remained shamelessly silent. I welcome the third panel's support for the Tripartite Commission chaired by the International Committee of the Red Cross, and echo its call for Iraq to co-operate fully.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he intends to publish the annual report on human rights. [80575]

The Government's Annual Report on Human Rights for 1999 will be laid before Parliament as a Command Paper by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Department for International Development during the present Parliamentary session.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of efficacy of a shore-based solution for the bulk oil storage arrangements of the Ascension Islands. [79809]

I have been asked to reply.Following a review of strategic stock holdings at Ascension Island, my Department is considering the optimum arrangements for the future storage of fuel stocks. As part of this work, we are examining the amount of on-island fuel storage infrastructure currently available, whether additional storage is necessary and whether this can be provided more cost effectively than under present arrangements utilising the chartered vessel MV Maersk Ascension.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the advice he has placed in the Library in respect of people travelling to Chechnya was issued to individual visa applicants employed by Granger Telecom or was issued to the company that employed them. [66960]

[pursuant to his reply, 21 January 1999, c. 536–37]: Granger Telecom have informed FCO officials that as a result of Granger's meeting with FCO officials on 21 August 1998, Granger management did not re-consult their field staff about their willingness to work in Chechnya, but Granger Telecom directors discussed the advice given to Granger by the FCO at that meeting. Granger Telecom have reaffirmed that they drew to the attention of their field staff the FCO travel advice for Russia which stated:

"We strongly advise against travel to the Chechen Republic … because of the unstable security situation. Visitors have been kidnapped in these areas recently."

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans the Government have to review the legal status of transsexual people. [81107]

My officials will chair an inter-departmental Working Group on transsexuals. This will have the following terms of reference:

"To consider, with particular reference to birth certificates, the need for appropriate legal measures to address the problems experienced by transsexuals, having due regard to scientific and societal developments, and measures undertaken in other countries to deal with this issue."

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what studies have been carried out into the effect of withdrawing from prisoners constitutional integrated drug-free medicine received for patterns of addiction, violence and related disturbances;[80137](2) what assessment he has made of the constitutional integrated drug-free medical treatment programme established in HMP Coldingley, Feltham and Downview by Complementary Medical Services for Prisoners and the effects reported by prisoners; [80138](3) when the Prison Service instruction to governors regarding the provision of complementary medical services to prisoners will be issued; who was consulted in formulating this policy; and what assessment he has made of the impact it will have on the provision of constitutional drug-free medicine within the prison service; [80166](4) what assessment the Minister of State responsible for Prisons has made of the Institute for the Study and Treatment of Delinquency's report on the complementary medical treatment programme at HM Prison Coldingley; and if he will make a statement. [80167]