To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will assess the benefits of using the concept of institutional (a) sectarianism and (b) anti-nationalism within the context of reforming policing in Northern Ireland. [80723]

The Government consider equality of treatment and respect for different cultures as fundamental aspects of the ethos of any police service.The terms of reference of the Independent Commission on policing, as established by the Good Friday Agreement, require the Commission to make proposals designed to ensure that policing arrangements, including composition, recruitment, training, culture, ethos and symbols, are such that the police service in Northern Ireland can enjoy widespread support from, and be seen as an integral part of, the community as a whole.The Commission is consulting widely, and will report this Summer. The Government look forward to receiving the Commission's report.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if the cost of the Northern Ireland Assembly is drawn from the Northern Ireland grant; and what the costs of the Assembly (a) were in the 1998–99 financial year and (b) are projected to be in the 1999–2000 financial year. [81037]

Yes. 1998–99 expenditure was £10.6m. It will be for the Assembly to determine its operating costs in 1999–2000. In February, the Assembly Commission estimated this at £36m.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if the cost of policing civil unrest continues to be a charge against the Northern Ireland grant; and what the cost of this policing has been in the 1998–99 financial year. [80914]

Provision for the requirements of the Law and Order programmes is included within the overall Northern Ireland Departmental Expenditure Limit and will remain the responsibility of the Secretary of State after devolution.The additional costs of the Royal Ulster Constabulary operations at Drumcree and elsewhere during July 1998 amounted to £11 million. Since July the additional costs incurred, in respect of the continuing presence needed to police the ongoing protest, are approximately £0.4 million per month.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will list for the week ended Saturday 10 April the number of violent incidents involving paramilitary groups which took place in Northern Ireland, indicating how many involved (i) Loyalist and (ii) Republican groups. [80912]

The number of security incidents during the period 4 April to 10 April 1999 are as shown:

• Shooting incidents: 1
• Bombing incidents: 1

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will list for the week ended Saturday 10 April the number of (a) punishment beatings and (b) punishment shootings which took place in Northern Ireland indicating how many in each category were committed by (i) Loyalist and (ii) Republican groups. [80913]

The number of casualties as a result of paramilitary style attacks during the period 4 April to 10 April are as follows:

	By Loyalists	By Republican
Assaults	Nil	1
Shootings	1	Nil

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will list for the week ended Saturday 3 April the number of violent incidents involving paramilitary groups which took place in Northern Ireland, indicating how many involved (i) Loyalist and (ii) Republican groups. [80910]

The number of security incidents during the period 28 March to 3 April 1999 are as shown:

	Number
Shooting incidents	1
Bombing incidents	4

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will list for the week ended Saturday 3 April the number of (a) punishment beatings and (b) punishment shootings which took place in Northern Ireland indicating how many in each category were committed by (i) Loyalist and (ii) Republican groups. [80911]

The number of casualties as a result of paramilitary style attacks during the period 28 March to 3 April are as follows:

	By Loyalist	By Republican
Assaults	nil	1
Shootings	1	nil

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to her answer of 4 March 1999, Official Report, column 825, on CS sprays, for what reasons the Royal Ulster Constabulary has not been issued with CS sprays. [80870]

The use of CS spray is relatively recent innovation in British policing. The Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary keeps under review the personal protective equipment available to and approved for use by police officers throughout the United Kingdom. The risks and threats to police officers in Northern Ireland have demanded protective measure different from their colleagues in the rest of the United Kingdom. All options are however kept under review.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to her answer of 4 March 1999, Official Report, columns 825–26, if CR gas has been issued to the Royal Ulster Constabulary since 1969. [80869]

CR tear gas is not issued to the Royal Ulster Constabulary.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how many staff by grade are employed as professional statisticians in her Department; how many of these staff have been accepted as fast stream by the Civil Service Selection Board; and how many have been granted chartered statistician status by the Royal Statistical Society; [81197](2) how many staff who have worked as professional statisticians in the Northern Ireland Civil Service have left on early retirement in each of the past 10 years. [81173]

Responsibility for the subject in question has been delegated to the Statistics Research Agency under its Chief Executive, Mr. E. F. Jardine. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action the Government are taking to publicise free availability of spectacles for children. [79050]

Under the National Health Service optical voucher scheme children under the age of 16 and young people aged 16 to 18, who are in full time education, are entitled to an optical voucher which they may use to buy spectacles from a basic range or, if they choose, put towards the cost of more expensive spectacles or contact lenses. These arrangements are publicised in the following leaflets which the Department distributes to a wide range of public premises including optical practices, doctors' surgeries, pharmacies, post offices and social security offices:

HC11 "Are you entitled to help with health costs".

HC12 "NHS charges and optical voucher values".

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he has taken (a) to implement the Stocktake Group report on support for HIV services and (b) to require health authorities to take timely decisions on funding HIV related services in financial year 1999–2000; and if he will make a statement. [79704]

I am currently considering the recommendations of the Stocktake Group on the long-term future funding of HIV/AIDS treatment and care. Notification of the HIV/AIDS treatment and care and HIV prevention budgets for 1999–2000 was made to health authorities on 15 April, and a copy of the Allocations Working Paper (AWP (99–00) HA36) showing initial allocations to each health authority has been placed in the House of Commons Library. Guidance to health authorities on the use of these funds will be issued shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received from mid-Bedfordshire general practitioners with regard to the review of Biggleswade and Steppingley hospitals. [80460]

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 14 April 1999, Official Report, column 269.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on Government policy on the development of regional and sub-regional centres of clinical and medical excellence and the role of (a) local hospitals and (b) health resource centres in the context of the move towards regional and sub-regional concentration. [80455]

We are committed to the development of clinical excellence at all levels within the National Health Service, as set out in "A First Class Service: Quality in the NHS". National Service Frameworks and guidance issued nationally by the Government support health authorities and trusts in the development of clinical excellence locally.However, it is for health authorities, primary care groups and NHS trusts to determine the most appropriate range and configurations of health services to meet local needs.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health when research projects (a) started and (b) concluded at Porton Down into the development of an acellular DTP vaccine; how much the research programme cost; and when and for what reasons the Government decided to purchase such vaccines in the United States rather than continue development in the UK. [80646]

Work on acellular pertussis vaccine commenced at the Centre for Applied Microbiology and Research (CAMR) (as the then named Microbiological Research Establishment under the Ministry of Defence) in 1974 and continued until 1993–94. Costs for the period 1974 to 1979 when the centre was under the Ministry of Defence are not available. Costs to the Public Health Laboratory Service (PHLS) and the Department from 1979 to 1993–94 (when the PHLS managed CAMR) were some £2.7 million, although some additional costs would have been incurred by PHLS and the Medical Research Council for clinical trials and by Porton Speywood for vaccine manufacture and trials.The acellular pertussis vaccine development at CAMR was discontinued when the CAMR vaccine was not selected by international researchers for inclusion in trials comparing candidate pertussis vaccines. However, the agglutinogen components, the novel feature of the CAMR vaccine, were subsequently incorporated into a Canadian manufactured vaccine, along with other components not in the CAMR vaccine. This Canadian vaccine has been shown in studies to be the only acellular vaccine to provide protection comparable to that from the presently used UK whole cell pertussis vaccine. The studies have also shown that there is little difference in the level of local reactions and fever seen after use of the United Kingdom whole cell pertussis vaccine when compared to acellular pertussis vaccines under the immunisation schedule used in the UK.The United States of America manufactured acellular vaccine purchased for UK use was chosen since it was the only single antigen, that is pertussis only, vaccine available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is his estimate of (a) the annual number of early deaths and hospital admissions currently attributable to particle pollution, (b) the reduction in early deaths and hospital admissions by 2005, if the whole of the UK were to meet its current national air quality objective for particles and (c) the reduction in early deaths and hospital admissions by 2005, if the whole of the UK were to meet the proposed EC Air Quality Daughter Directive Stage 1 limit value for particles. [80782]

The Department has quantified the impact on health from current and future levels of airborne particle (PM₁₀) concentrations in the United Kingdom as follows.The Committee on the Medical Effects of Air Pollutants' report 'Quantification of the Effects of Air Pollution on Health in the United Kingdom' concluded that PM

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many times officials from his Department have met officials from the US Government to discuss genetically modified organisms and the biotechnology industry since 1 June 1998; if he will list the dates and locations of each meeting; and with which US Government department his officials had meetings. [81077]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list details of reported cases, over the last five years, of allergic reactions to (a) homeopathic medicines, (b) herbal medicines and (c) vitamin and mineral supplements. [81064]

Suspected adverse drug reactions reported to the Committee on Safety of Medicines are recorded according to the active drug substance and reports for homeopathic medicines are not specifically identified as such. It is therefore not possible to provide a list of reported allergic reactions to homeopathic medicines.The total number of suspected adverse drug reaction reports for any medicine containing a herbal ingredient, for the period 1 January 1994 to 31 December 1998, was 174. Suspected allergic reactions associated with medicines containing at least one herbal constituent, reported to the Committee on Safety of Medicines for the period 1 January 1994 until 31 December 1998, are given in the table.

Officials from the Department have regular contact with officials from other countries, including the United States of America, for example by joint attendance at conferences. However, no meetings have taken place with officials from the United States of America Government to specifically discuss genetically modified organisms and the biotechnology industry.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health for what reasons his Department withdrew its proposed stand from the Conference of the Royal College of Midwives in Glasgow; and if he will make a statement. [81416]

Since the conference was planned to take place shortly before the elections to the Scottish Parliament, it was not thought appropriate for the Government to take a publicity stand.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he last met representatives of the black and ethnic minority communities to discuss mental health treatment. [81411]

I held a meeting with representatives of black and minority ethnic interests on 31 March 1999 to discuss the development of the Mental Health National Service Framework.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of the NHS budget was allocated to mental health services for each of the last three years. [81412]

A national weighted capitation formula is used as the basis for allocating hospital and community health services revenue to health authorities. The purpose of the formula is to set targets to enable the equitable distribution of resources based on the health care requirements of different resident populations. This cannot be broken down into a mental health component.The proportion of total health authority expenditure spent on mental illness was 9.24 per cent. for 1997–98, 8.38 per cent. for 1996–97 and 11.44 per cent. for 1995–96.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what advice he has given to health authorities regarding mental health treatment for members of the black and ethnic minority communities. [81410]

Advice sent to health authorities on mental health treatment applies equally to all users of mental health services, whatever their ethnic origin.The Government's strategy document "Modernising Mental Health Services: safe, sound and supportive" makes clear the Government's commitment to ensuring that everyone with mental health problems is treated fairly, on the basis of need, in a manner which preserves their autonomy and which promotes opportunity for choice. This document was distributed to every health authority in December 1998.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the principal advances in treatment which have been implemented in mental health since 1995. [81413]

Information about the advances in treatments for those with mental health problems is available in the academic literature. An example of this is the collation of the latest research by the Cochrane Group, copies of which are available in the Library.The Cochrane Library is a regularly updated library designed to give the evidence needed for informed health care decision making. Launched in 1995 under the name of The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, it has been renamed to reflect the inclusion of further important databases.The Cochrane Controlled Trials Register is a bibliography of over 150,000 controlled trials identified by contributors to the Cochrane Collaboration and others including many trials not currently listed on Medline or other bibliographical databases.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many mental health patients were treated on the NHS over the last five years. [81414]

The table shows the estimated number of finished consultant episodes (FCEs) under a mental health¹ specialty in National Health Service trusts in England, 1993–94 to 1997–98.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he intends the composition of the appraisal groups established by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence to be in accordance with the proposals made in the document, Faster Access to Modern Treatment. [81230]

Ministers are considering the response to the discussion document "Faster Access to Modern Treatment: how NICE appraisal will work" and further announcements will be made shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish the high level targets for the Medicines Control Agency for 1999–2000. [81848]

The high level targets for the Medicines Control Agency are included in its Annual Business Plan, copies of which have been placed in the Library today.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what non-road solutions county councils should demonstrate they have considered when putting forward a request for funding for a village bypass designed to reduce the volume of traffic passing through that village. [80581]

The allocation of central government funding for local transport projects will in future be based on 5-year local transport plans. Revised guidance for local authorities on preparation of their provisional local transport plans was published on 12 April. Where a major road scheme forms part of a plan we will expect it to have been assessed using the New Approach to Appraisal (NATA) developed during the 1997/98 review of the trunk road programme.NATA requires the identification of alternative options capable of addressing the transport problem. Possible options will depend on the nature of the problem. In the case of heavy traffic flows through a village they might include alternative traffic management strategies; seeking to reduce traffic flows by encouraging a shift to alternative forms of transport; or introduction of traffic calming measures to reduce the adverse impacts of the traffic. This process should also include assessment of different routes and standards for any bypass.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will estimate the cost of reducing vehicle excise duty on gas-fuelled vehicles to £20. [80013]

At 31 December 1998, DVLA records showed a total of 2,669 licensed gas vehicles in Great Britain. Of these, 420 were licensed in exempt classes and the large majority of the remainder were licensed either as Private or Light Goods vehicles or as agricultural vehicles. We therefore estimate that the revenue cost of reducing vehicle excise duty to £20 on these vehicles would be substantially less than £1 million. However, the Government are encouraging the switch to gas and other low pollutant fuels and we would expect the number of gas-powered vehicles to increase significantly in the future.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what resources have been allocated to regional development agencies for 1999–2000. [81847]

The allocations are as follows:

Development Agency	£ million
North East	121.198
North West	176.104
Yorkshire and the Humber	136.633
West Midlands	114.111
East Midlands	59.184
East of England	31.397
South West	60.138
South East England	73.410
Total	772.175

These are substantial allocations and reflect the fact that Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) will play a major part in implementing the strategies that they will be developing for their regions as a whole.RDAs' budgets are made up from the DETR-funded regeneration programmes which they have inherited from English Partnerships (EP), the Government Offices for the Regions and the Rural Development Commission, together with money from the Department of Trade and Industry for inward investment and competitiveness, and from the Department for Education and Employment for skills development. They also include RDAs' own running costs. Regeneration programmes make up 87 per cent. of the total budget and variations in allocations reflect the regions' different regeneration needs. In addition, RDAs will receive funding from EP to carry out the Coalfields Programme, totalling some £50 million in 1999–2000.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what the value is of the commitments that have been entered into which are (a) legally binding and (b) agreed in principle by Government Departments in the regions, English Partnership and other public bodies in relation to economic development in the (i) North West, (ii) North East and (iii) Yorkshire and Humberside regions for the years (1) 1999–2000, (2) 2000–01 and (3) 2001–02. [81088]

Information is not available in the form requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what resources are being made available from public funds in (i) 1999–2000, (ii)2000–01, and (iii)2001–02 for economic development in the (a)North West, (b) North East and (c) Yorkshire and Humberside regions through (1) their regional development agencies and (2) other sources. [81089]

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for St. Helens, North (Mr. Watts). Information about funding through regional development agencies is also contained in the Department's 1999 Annual Report (Cm 4204), copies of which are available in the Library of the House. The other information is not available in the form requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the names of the officials at his Department who are currently on secondment from private companies and the companies by which they are employed. [81121]

There are currently 26 people on secondment to the Department from private companies. They are listed in the table. This answer also covers Government Offices, the responsibility for which is shared with the Secretaries of State for Education and Employment and Trade and Industry.

Name	Company
T. Bibby	Tyneside TEC
A. Blumenthal	Crown House Engineering
A. Carter-Gray	Boots the Chemist Ltd.
D. Cobb	College of North East London
M Coe	Unilever
C. Courtney	Kvaerner Cementation Foundations
P. Craddock	Ove Amp
K. Curran	LETEC
D. Dawson	D. A. Dawson and Associates
S. Drummond	National Grid
R. Evans	Bovis Construction
L. Gilmour	Sunderland TEC
N. Haries	Hider
K. Henry	Sunderland TEC

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will rank the 10 local authorities with the greatest number of dwellings built before 1919. [81351]

The latest available information is as follows:

Local authority stock at 1 April 1998
Local district or unitary authority	Number of dwellings
Islington	7,934
Camden	7,733
Southwark	6,155
Lambeth	5,560
Lewisham	4,867
Leeds	4,827
Hammersmith	4,491
Birmingham	4,240
Westminster	3,765
Haringey	2,562

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list for each of the vehicles listed in Schedule I, paragraphs 3, 5, 6 and 8 of the 1999 Finance Bill the costs in each European Union Country, of (a) any taxes paid, and the rate of such tax on (i) a new vehicle, (ii) a second-hand vehicle, (b) the vehicle excise duty or the equivalent tax, (c) the total tax on a litre of fuel, (d) tax paid on lubricants, (e) running commercial vehicles, on average, (f) running commercial vehicles per mile, (g) running a commercial vehicle for a year, (h) running a commercial vehicle for 100,000 miles, (i) running a commercial vehicle over the average life of such a vehicle, the estimates of (e) (f) (g) (h) and (i) all to be exclusive of salaries and wages, and where the vehicle descriptions are not the same in each country all figures and sums to relate to the nearest equivalent vehicle in each country and all sums to be shown in Sterling. [81155]

[holding answer 16 April 1999]: The information requested by the hon. Member is not available in the form requested and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. However, my Department estimates that the cost of running a fleet of 50 38 tonne trucks will be about £425,000 higher in France than in the UK; about £600,000 more in the Netherlands; and about £800,000 more in Belgium.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the amount of subsidy paid to the road haulage industry in each European Union country in the last financial year; and if he will indicate the basis on which such help is determined. [81158]

[holding answer 16 April 1999]: Explicit subsidy to the road haulage industry in EU Member States is generally prohibited by European Community State Aid rules, but assistance can be provided to promote research or the development of more economical transport systems and technologies, to eliminate excess capacity which causes serious structural problems, to facilitate the development of combined transport or to compensate for public service obligations. Information is not available about the extent to which such payments are made in other Member States.However, there is considerable variance in the extent to which the road haulage industries in Member States meet their full costs—to the economy, environment and infrastructure. This depends on the levels of taxation and haulage industry-related expenditure in each country.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what was the tonnage of goods transported by the UK road haulage industry in each of the last three years (i) within the UK, (ii) from the UK and (iii) into the UK; and what was the tonnage of goods moved by vehicles (a) owned by and (b) operated from other EU countries in each of those years. [81157]

[holding answer 16 April 1999]: The tonnage of goods transported by UK-registered goods vehicles over 3.5 tonnes gross weight in 1995, 1996 and 1997 (the last three years for which figures are available) was:

	Within the UK million tonnes	From the UK thousand tonnes	Into the UK thousand tonnes
1995	1,655	6,607	6,977
1996	1,683	7,279	7,802
1997	1,693	7,539	7,984

Statistics are unavailable about vehicles owned by or operated from other EU countries. However, figures suggest that the amount of local cabotage carried out by foreign registered trucks was significantly less than l per cent. This is an issue which may be addressed by the Road Haulage Forum.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is his estimate of the extent of over-capacity of the road haulage industry in the United Kingdom; what proportion of the road haulage vehicles operating in the UK are (i) UK owned, (ii) UK registered and (iii) from other EU countries. [81154]

[holding answer 16 April 1999]: No reliable comprehensive estimate of the over-capacity in the haulage industry in the UK exists at present but we believe it to be significant. A comprehensive assessment of over-capacity is an issue which may be addressed as part of the work of the Haulage Industry Forum.Information on the nationality of ownership of vehicles is not held by my Department. The proportion of international freight journeys to and from the UK undertaken by UK hauliers in the 12 months ending September 1998—the latest period for which statistics are available—was 44 per cent., which is little different from the long-term average. In 1997—the latest date for which we have information—we understand that the overall level of cabotage by EU hauliers within the UK accounted for substantially less than l per cent. of total freight moved.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the items he took into account when estimating the running costs of a goods vehicle in (i) the United Kingdom and (ii) each of the other EU countries. [81153]

[holding answer 16 April 1999]: The estimates of relative running costs between the UK and certain other EU member states issued by my Department concerned the relative costs of setting up a fleet of 50 vehicles involved in international transport. Items taken into account included labour costs and taxes, corporation tax and annual circulation taxes (i.e. vehicle excise duty or its equivalent). For international operations, the estimates assumed the same levels of fuel costs, because those operating internationally—whether UK or foreign owned—can take advantage of the lowest fuel costs on their route.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he will publish his decision on whether to allow Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council to determine the planning application for retail stores on the Parkway/Poplar Way site at Catcliffe, South Yorkshire, for Sterling Capital Securities plc; and if he will make a statement. [81480]

The Secretary of State will issue his decision on this case as soon as possible. It would be inappropriate to make a further statement at this time.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment his Department has made of the benefit of the Rural Action for the Environment scheme; and what support will be made available for the continuation of this scheme in 1999–2000. [81392]

[holding answer 19 April 1999]: I refer to my answer of 12 January 1999, Official Report, columns 169 and 187.I understand that the Countryside Agency, together with English Nature, will conduct, over the coming year, a comprehensive review of local community based action, including Rural Action for the Environment, and the benefits of small grants in achieving that. The funding which they are making available to the Rural Action county networks will support the networks' input to that review.More recently, the National Lottery Charities Board (NLCB) has offered funding to a consortium led by Action with Communities in Rural England (ACRE), and including the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers and the Wildlife Trust Partnership, for a body—not yet constituted but also, I understand, intended to be called Rural Action—to run a programme of support for disadvantaged rural groups with a view to helping them undertake sustainable local projects. ACRE has approached DETR for grant aid in support of the NLCB offer, and this is under consideration.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his oral answer to the hon. Member for Workington (Mr. Campbell-Savours), of 13 April 1999, Official Report, column 9, concerning transport costs per tonne-kilometre, when he will produce such an analysis; whether such an analysis will be produced by a firm without other contractual links with the Government; and if he will make a statement. [81600]

[holding answer 20 April 1999]: The Road Haulage Forum which was set up in conjunction with industry will look at potential indicators and statistics relevant to the current debate over road haulage. Additionally the ongoing review of lorry VED, announced by the Chancellor in the March 1998 Budget, will continue to examine the basis on which lorry VED is determined, in terms of road track costs and environmental impact.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement about Government plans to supervise experiments on genetically modified crops. [80317]

I refer my hon. Friend to my answer of 15 April 1999, Official Report, columns 301–02, to my hon. Friend the Member for Nottingham, South (Mr. Simpson).

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he plans to establish a motorcycling advisory group. [81949]

My noble Friend Lord Whitty, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, will be chairing the first meeting of the Motorcycling Advisory Group on 6 May. This follows a preliminary meeting we had with industry representatives in December last year to hear their views before widening the debate to take forward policy on the role of motorcycling in integrated transport. We are bringing together Government, representatives of the industry and those interested in the effects of motorcycling to discuss a range of issues which will allow us to develop well informed policies.

Value of contracts supported under EGCD guarantees issued in 1997–98—top 10 exporters
Exporter	Nature of projects	Markets	Value of contracts(£ million)
British Aerospace	Defence	Saudi Arabia,Qatar	12,132
	Civil Aerospace	Indonesia, Canada, Korea, Philippines, Croatia, Portugal, China, El Turkey, Mauritius, Colombia	1427
Chiyoda-Foster wheeler	LNG plant	Oman	372
Taylor Woodrow/Skanska Joint Venture	Rail Transporation	Russia	146
Marconi Avionics	Radio Communications	USA	109
Matra BAe Dynamics	Defence	Korea, Kuwait	94
VAI Industries	Steel mill	South Africa	81
AMEC International	Construction	Hong Kong	80
Balfour Beatty	Construction	Egypt	73
Rolls Royce	Aero Engines	UAE	61
Kvaerner Cleveland Bridge	Construction	China	55
1Values also include amounts in respect of Rolls Royce aero engines

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the implications for his Department of the Macpherson Inquiry recommendations; and if he will make a statement. [80534]

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office on 14 April 1999, Official Report, column 239.This Department has already launched a Programme of Action for Racial Equality. Its key objectives are to address the problem of under-representation of ethnic minority staff at middle and senior management levels within the Department and raise awareness of racial equality issues among all of its staff. The Department will continue to review its policies in the light of the inquiry's recommendations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the outcome of the High Level Symposium on Trade and the Environment in Geneva on 15 and 16 March. [79662]

[holding answer 13 April 1999]: The aim of the High Level Symposium on trade and the environment was to promote a constructive debate between capital-based representatives of national governments from developed and developing countries as well as members of civil society and international bodies. Although no conclusions were reached, improved understanding between the

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the 10 companies in receipt of the highest level of export credit guarantees for the financial year 1997–98, indicating the amount of cover given for each company and listing the projects for which the cover was given. [80116]

[holding answer 13 April 1999]: The information is as follows:different communities will help to build consensus that trade and the environment should be included in a comprehensive New Round of trade negotiations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate he has made of the annual running cost of the Small Business Service. [80820]

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate he has made of the annual budget of the Small Business Service over each of the next five years. [81063]

The specific responsibilities of the Small Business Service will be decided after a period of consultation with a wide range of interested parties, which is likely to conclude in late summer. It is not possible to make an estimate of annual running costs of the SBS in advance of decisions about responsibilities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will introduce legislation to require the publication of annual reports on strategic exports and to permit scrutiny by relevant parliamentary bodies. [81171]

The suggestion that publication of an Annual Report should be made a statutory requirement was made by Oxfam in their response to the Government's White Paper on Strategic Export Controls, published in July 1998 (cm 3989). This will be considered as part of the review of the White Paper proposals in the light of all the responses to it.The Government's first annual report on strategic export controls was published on 25 March 1999, as noted by my right hon. Friend the Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in his answer of that date to my hon. Friend the Member for Erewash (Liz Blackman)

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his answer of 30 March 1999, Official Report, columns 571–72, on export controls, what estimate he has made of the length of time which it will take the Governments of (a) Algeria and (b) Jordan to repay the debt arising from Export Credits Guarantee Department claims for sales to defence buyers. [80941]

[holding answer 19 April 1999]: Under the terms of the current UK/Algeria and UK/Jordan Debt Agreements covering both civil and military debt, the final repayments are due on 30 November 2011 and 30 April 2016 respectively. Jordan is in the process of negotiating a new IMF programme which is expected to involve a further rescheduling of its Paris Club debt.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress is being made by UK offshore oil and gas producers and oil companies to deal with the millennium bug; and what measures have been taken by his Department to ensure the security of concessionary coal supplies over this period. [81700]

I can now report the findings of the independent assessment process established by the DTI which confirms that UK oil companies and offshore gas producers are on track to ensure that there will be no major disruption to supplies due to the Year 2000 threat to computer systems. The DTI has taken on the role of "responsible body" reporting to the ACTION 2000 National Infrastructure Forum on the Year 2000 preparations being made by the oil industry and UK's offshore oil and gas producers.The DTI has approached this task in a systematic way, making full use of the industry's own resources. It has engaged W. S. Atkins Consultants Limited—an internationally known and highly respected engineering consultancy with extensive experience within the oil and gas industry—to independently validate the process adopted and its results. The industry has fully supported this important work and provided full and frank access to all the relevant information and staff.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the extent of world-wide over-production in (a) steel, (b) petrochemicals and (c) other manufacturing industries; and if he will make a statement. [80892]

My Department has not made such assessments.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate he has made of the value of trading over the internet in the United Kingdom in each of the last three years. [81060]

Commercially available surveys suggest that in 1998 some £350 million was spent on-line in the UK, which is expected to grow to around £5 billion in 2002.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what environmental appraisals of policy his Department has (a) completed, (b) started and (c) planned. [79629]

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by the Under-Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, my hon. Friend the Member for Mansfield (Mr. Meale), on 13 April 1999, Official Report, column 66.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the initiatives taken since 1 May 1997 to help those over 50 years obtain employment. [80790]

Since 1 May 1997, we have introduced a wide range of new measures to help people over 50 to find work. These contribute to our policy of "Better Government for Older People".In November 1998,I launched for public consultation the draft Code of Practice on Age Diversity in Employment. This was well received and the final version of the Code will be published in May together with case studies and guidance for employers.The New Deal for people over 50 was announced by the Chancellor in last month's Budget. This will help people over 50 who have been out of work and on income replacement benefits for more than 6 months, and their dependent partners. It introduces an Employment Credit of £60 a week, £40 for those working part time, for those with incomes of less than £15,000 a year. There will also be learning support of up to £750; guidance from a personal adviser wand extra jobsearch help. This will start in selected pathfinder areas in October and be extended to all parts of the country early in 2000. A consultative document on the detail of this New Deal will be issued shortly.People aged over 50 also benefit from the steps we have taken to strengthen services for unemployed people generally. Some of the prototype Employment Zones have been developing new approaches to tackling the barriers faced by people over 50. Elsewhere pilots under the New Deal for people over 25 have also been offering special help for people over 50. This New Deal offers a range of help and advice, including a subsidy of £75 a week for employers who recruit people who have been without work for 2 years. The total number of 50+ clients invited to attend an initial interview for the New Deal 25+ pilots is around 2,000. The total number of 50+ clients joining Gateway is just under 2,000. For the New Deal 25+ (June measures) to the end of January 1999, 26,550 people aged 50+ had been invited to attend an initial interview.The New Deal for Disabled People is piloting a personal adviser service in 12 areas and innovative projects to help disabled people and those with long standing illnesses, many of whom are over 50.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many complaints have been made by New Deal clients on the 18–24 year old programme in each New Deal delivery unit (a) since 6 April 1998 for all areas and (b) since 1 January 1998 for the Pathfinder areas. [80903]

Information on the total number of complaints made by New Deal clients on the 18 to 24 year old programme is not held centrally. Under the Employment Service Jobseeker's Charter, New Deal clients are able to raise any complaints through a number of avenues such as the New Deal Hotline, which is available to both clients and employers for compliments and complaints. Hotline inquiries are collated centrally as per the following table, however, the majority of any complaints are dealt with at local level with the New Deal Personal Adviser. The level of satisfaction amongst young people participating on New Deal is one of the Core Performance Measures. Information about this will be published, by Unit of Delivery, later in the year.

Region	Number of calls received
London and South East	46
Northern	14
Scotland	158
Wales	18
South West	3
East Midlands	151
West Midlands	60
North West	111
Yorkshire and The Humber	165
Total	726

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what estimate he has made of the number per head of population studying with the Open University in (a) England and Wales, (b) Herefordshire, (c) the local education authority with the highest number of Open University students per head and (d) the local education authority with the lowest number of Open University students per head; and if he will make a statement. [80929]

Information on the number per head of population studying with the Open University in each local education authority is not available centrally. The available information based on data at English and Welsh county level is given in the following table.

Numbers per 100,000 of the population studying with the Open University 1997–98
Number
England and Wales	236
Hereford and Worcester	278
County with highest figure per head	664
County with the lowest figure per head	85

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many students from Herefordshire are currently in (a) full-time and (b) part-time (1) higher education and (2) further education; how many are studying with the Open University; and if he will make a statement. [80928]

Information for Herefordshire is not available centrally. The available information for Hereford and Worcester is given in the following table.

Students whose home domicile was Hereford and Worcester 1997–98
	Full-time	Part-time
Higher education	13,597	6,423
Further education	14,394	43,271
Open University	3	1,944

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to his answer of 23 March 1999, Official Report, column 196, how many times Ministers in his Department met their counterparts in the US Administration between 1 January 1998 and 1 June 1998, indicating the dates and locations of each meeting, the ministers involved and the name of the US counterpart. [80823]

My right hon. Friends the Secretary of State and the Minister for Employment, Welfare to Work and Equal Opportunities met Alexis Herman at the G8 Employment Conference in London in February 1998.No other such meetings took place between 1 January 1998 and 1 June 1998.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many personnel there are on the payroll of his Department currently; what is the annual cost of that payroll; and what were the comparable figures on 30 April 1997. [81084]

I refer the hon. Member to Annexes Ei, Eii and F of the Department's Report (Cm 4202) which is available in the Library.The Report shows that there are currently 36,088 personnel on the Department's payroll (comprising DfEE HG and the Employment Service). The annual cost of that payroll is £831,004,000. Comparable figures for April 1997 are 41,910 personnel at an annual cost of £772,722,000.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what are the arrangements for publication of the inspection report on Wirral Metropolitan College. [81209]

The report is expected to be published on 27 April. Copies will be sent to all colleges, national and regional press, subscribers and the Local Education Authority and Training Enterprise Council. I have arranged for copies to be placed in the Library and it will also be available on the FEFC web site, the address of which is www. fefc ac.uk'.A copy is sent to the Member in whose constituency the main site of the college is located. However, I have asked in this case for copies to be sent to my hon. Friends the Members for Wirral, South (Mr. Chapman) and Wallasey (Angela Eagle).

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what information about the retirement packages of principals of FE colleges is made publicly available. [81211]

Further education colleges are required to disclose in their annual financial statement the aggregate amount of any compensation paid to senior post holders for loss of office. College financial statements are public documents.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment he has made of the training given to teachers for the delivery of drugs misuse education in schools. [80313]

Support for drug education teacher training is available to local education authorities through the Standards Fund. One of the requirements of Standards Fund provisions in this area is that local education authorities should submit at the end of the year a report of their drug education work, providing information on, amongst other things, the training of teachers and youth workers. This information allows us to monitor the level and quality of teacher training on drug education and was used to inform the guidance that we issued last November on the effective delivery of drug education in schools and youth service settings.We have also given detailed consideration to information provided by the Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted) in its 1997 report "Drug Education in Schools", on the level and quality of in-service training of teachers relating to drug education.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he 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. [76834]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Mid-Norfolk (Mr. Simpson) on 31 March 1999,Official Report, columns 674–75.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the cost to his Department in each of the last five years of evacuating British citizens from overseas trouble spots; which places were involved; and what was the cost for each. [80711]

In the last five years there have been three occasions where the military have evacuated British citizens from overseas trouble spots. The details are as follows:May 1994—evacuation from Yemen. Central records for this operation, whose costs lay where they fell, were not kept in 1994.June 1998—evacuation from Eritrea. The cost of the operation was estimated at around £50K.December 1998—evacuation from Sierra Leone. The cost of the operation was estimated at around £150K.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the roles which servicemen aged 16 and 17 are not eligible to perform, by service. [81238]

Service personnel who are on the trained strength are fully employable within the limits of their training, their rank or rating. Personnel aged under 17 are not deployed operationally, nor do they undertake operational patrols in Northern Ireland. Personnel aged under 18 are not deployed on UN peacekeeping operations in line with UN policy on the matter, although should a Royal Navy unit already serving overseas deploy at short notice on peacekeeping duties, it might contain a small number of personnel aged under 18.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many enlisted 16 and 17 year olds there are in each service. [81241]

At 1 March 1999, the numbers of 16 and 17 year old personnel serving in the UK Regular Armed Forces can be broken down as follows:

Age	Total	Naval Services	Army	Royal Air Force
16	1,559	253	1,235	71
17	5,069	776	3,914	379
Total	6,628	1,029	5,149	450

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on his policy towards the recruitment of under 18 year olds to the Armed Forces. [81239]

I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave to the right hon. Member for Caernarfon (Mr. Wigley) on 16 March 1999, Official Report, column 571.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many 16 and 17 year old servicemen are currently deployed overseas, by (i) service and (ii) theatre; and how many have been removed from their unit on its current deployment. [81236]

The details of Service personnel deployed overseas, by Service, are as follows:

Naval Service. No Royal Navy personnel aged 16 are presently deployed overseas. There are 53 Royal Navy personnel (including seven women) aged 17 deployed overseas with the Fleet. Their locations are as follows:

• Adriatic: 21
• Far East: 4
• Gulf: 6
• Mediterranean: 15
• South Atlantic: 3
• West Indies: 4.

There are no 16 or 17-year-old Royal Marine personnel serving overseas.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the planned deployment of Territorial Army (i) units and (ii) individual personnel in Kosovo; and what reassessment he is making of the Strategic Defence Review following the engagement of British troops in the Balkans. [81251]

There are no plans to deploy units of the Territorial Army (TA) to Kosovo. Our policy is that TA commitments in the Balkans should continue to be met by individuals on a voluntary basis. The principles which underpin the Strategic Defence Review remain valid, and are not affected by the current deployment in the Balkans. However, full account will be taken of any lessons learned.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the reduction of access to Wellington Barracks Electronic Range Simulator. [81247]

There has been no change in the policy regarding access to the small arms trainer (SAT) at Wellington Barracks, although more units are using it now that the similar facility at Chelsea has been transferred to Hounslow. SAT operators from the resident battalion have been away on overseas training and this may have reduced access temporarily.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the countries (a) from which police officers have visited the UK and (b) have been visited by United Kingdom military personnel to receive training or other military assistance under the Defence Military Assistance Fund since 1 April 1997. [81378]

From 6 to 13 December 1997, a member of the Export Support Team (Royal Engineers) visited the Royal Malaysian Police Bomb Disposal Unit to provide after sales training in equipment used in bomb disposal operations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the constituents of the emergency rations issued to Army personnel in the field. [81350]

Personnel deployed in the field are normally fed using Operational Ration Packs when fresh food supply is not practicable or in the period before a fresh food supply chain can be established. The rations replicate normal feeding patterns by providing breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks together with hot and cold drinks and are designed either for consumption under group feeding arrangements or for issue to the individual. There are currently seven menu variations. The ration packs can have up to 24 components, which vary depending on the ration type and the menu. The constituents range from ancillaries such as can openers and toilet tissue through snack items, such as biscuits and beverage sachets, to main meal items of meat and vegetables and a dessert.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on progress on the review of the War Pensions Scheme. [81484]

The War Pensions Scheme is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Security.The MOD and DSS are currently reviewing arrangements for compensation service personnel or their bereaved where disablement or death is due to service in the Forces. The aim is to make proposals for a new compensation scheme that could replace the current War Pension Scheme and the attributable provisions of the Armed Forces Pension Scheme. The War Pension Scheme would, however, remain available for those who have already left the Armed Forces including current war pensioners.We expect the review to report in the Summer. A separate review is being conducted into the main provision of the Armed Forces Pension Scheme, for which the Secretary of State for Defence is responsible. We expect recommendations to emerge around the end of this year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a copy of the United Kingdom submissions for the NATO fiftieth anniversary meeting to be held in Washington on 23 to 25 April; and if he will make a statement on the submissions made by (a) Germany and (b) Canada on the role of nuclear weapons within the NATO force structure. [81573]

The United Kingdom has played a full part in the confidential consideration between Allies of the various issues which will be discussed at the forthcoming NATO Summit. As is normal, the details of the UK contribution to such international negotiations are not made public and I am therefore withholding the information requested under Exemption 1 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information—defence, security and international relations.The principles underlying the Government's approach have been set out in evidence given by me, my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, and senior officials to the Defence Select Committee's inquiry into the future of NATO, published on 13 April in the Committee's Third Report of Session 1998–99 (HC 39), as well as in debates and in answers to Questions in both Houses. I have also made a number of speeches, which are available on the Ministry of Defence's World Wide Web site, http:/www.mod/uk.The views of other Allies on NATO issues are a matter for the Governments concerned.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will set out under which headings in his Departmental cash plans contained in Cm 4208, nuclear weapons (a) procurement, (b) deployment, (c) storage and (d) related maintenance activities are contained. [81499]

Costs relating to nuclear weapons procurement are contained in Vote 1 subheads K and L. Costs associated with the storage of nuclear weapons and related maintenance activities are contained in Vote 1 subhead F. Vote 1 subhead A covers the front line operating costs of the deterrent.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received recently from Abolition 2000 in respect of NATO's nuclear weapon policy and the NATO review meeting due to be held on 23 to 25 April in Washington DC. [81574]

Several officials in my Department have received copies of an identical letter, sent by Mr. Frank Blackaby of Abolition 2000 on 6 April 1999, concerning NATO nuclear policy and the review of the Alliance's Strategic Concept.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made by Russia and the United States in ratification of the Start II Nuclear Arms Control Treaty. [81478]

The United States Senate ratified START II on 26 January 1996. The Russian Duma has yet to do so.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent discussions he has had with other members of the European Union on developing a peacekeeping and crisis management policy. [81428]

In the context of the debate on further arrangements for European security and defence launched by the Prime Minister last autumn, European Union Member States have agreed to strengthen the Common Foreign and Security Policy, including through the development of a security and defence capacity. EU activities envisaged in this field are set out in the Amsterdam Treaty, and include humanitarian and rescue tasks and tasks of combat forces in crisis management, including peacemaking. I have had a variety of discussions with all EU partners, and NATO Allies on the means by which we might give effect to this.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish the agenda for the forthcoming NATO summit on 24 to 25 April. [81490]

The scheduling of meetings, and the topics to be discussed at each one, during the NATO Summit, are still under consideration. Besides discussing the situation in the Balkans NATO's Heads of State and Government, Foreign and Defence Ministers, and colleagues from member countries of the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council, will have a substantial range of issues to consider and important decisions will be taken on the continuing adaptation of NATO to meet the challenges of the future.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what weapons using depleted uranium have been sent with British military forces involved in the NATO military action against Yugoslavia; and what (a) depleted uranium shells and (b) other missiles using depleted shells have been used in the conflict. [81582]

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to my hon Friend the Member for Bristol, West (Valerie Davey) on 13 April 1999, Official Report, column 43.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his latest estimate of the cost of the Trident Acquisition programme; and if he will make a statement. [81950]

The current estimate of the total acquisition cost of the Trident programme, with payments already made expressed at the prices and exchange rates actually incurred and future spend at the rates assumed in the latest long-term costing of the Defence programme (the hybrid estimate), is now £9,756 million. Leaving aside the effects of price inflation and exchange rate variation (+£21 million and -£1 million respectively), there has been a real cost reduction since last year of £52 million. Expenditure on the Trident acquisition programme to 30 September 1998 represented some 94 per cent. of this estimate. If all expenditure, past and projected, is brought up to the latest long-term costing conditions (the non-hybrid estimate) the estimate is £12,870 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the future of the Territorial Auxiliary and Volunteer Reserve Associations. [81951]

The future structure of the Territorial Auxiliary and Volunteer Reserve Associations (TAVRAs) has been the subject of a joint study involving the TAVRAs themselves and the Ministry of Defence. I have accepted the joint recommendation of the Commander in Chief Land Command and Chairman of the Council of TAVRAs, to set in hand new arrangements to ensure that the areas of responsibility of TAVRAs in England are aligned to those of Government office regions. Arrangements in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will be unchanged. As a result, there will be a reduction in the number of Associations from the present 14 to 13. This reduction will be achieved by the amalgamation of the South East and Eastern Wessex Associations to form a new Association covering the counties of Kent, Sussex, Surrey, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, Berkshire, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire. Responsibility for carrying out the Eastern Wessex Association's current functions in Dorset will transfer to the Western Wessex Association. This robust and coherent structure recognises the essential tri-Service nature of the TAVRAs, who provide an essential link between the community and the Armed Forces, whilst the changes to the financial arrangements that accompany it will promote a closer working partnership between the TAVRAs who administer the volunteer estate, and the Army's regional command structure, which will command Territorial Army units themselves.The TAVRAs are established under the Reserve Forces Act of 1996, and these changes will be presented to the House in due course; we expect them to be complete by April 2002.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will set up a co-ordinating committee to oversee liaison between the National Health Service and Defence Medical Services. [80309]

Following the announcement by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence on 14 December 1998, Official Report, column 329, National Health Service representatives have been appointed to the two new senior management boards to ensure effective liaison between the Defence Medical Services and the National Health Service.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what measures he is taking to restrict exports of crowd recognition devices for identifying individuals at rallies to countries identified as having limited human rights. [81041]

The Government do not control the export of crowd recognition devices for identifying individuals at rallies or other such events. If the hon. Member believes there is sufficient justification for the Government to consider the introduction of such a control, we would look at these arguments without prejudice to any decision.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 2 March 1999, Official Report, column 684, how many times Ministers in his Department met their counterparts in the US Administration between 1 January 1998 and 1 June 1998, indicating the dates and locations of each meeting, the Ministers involved and the name of the US counterpart. [80817]