:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many extended sentences have been passed on (a) sexual offenders and (b) violent offenders under the provisions of section 58 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998. [83346]

:Section 58 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 was implemented on 30 September 1998. Provisional information taken from the Home Office Court Proceedings Database indicates that no extended sentences were imposed in the last three months of 1998. This is not surprising as the provisions apply only to offences committed after the commencement date, and therefore, few cases would have concluded in 1998. Data for 1999 are not yet available.

:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many sex offender orders have been (a) applied for and (b) made under section 2 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998. [83347]

:To date, we are aware of three Sex Offender Orders having been granted. No information is held centrally to indicate the number of Sex Offender Orders which have been applied for.

:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the present number of police officer vacancies of all ranks within the Metropolitan police force; and if he will make a statement. [83370]

The Commissioner of the Metropolitan police has provided a comparison between the 31 March 1999 budgeted manpower target levels and actual strengths. It should be noted that the target figures may be varied during any year by the Metropolitan police's Policy Board and this will change the number of vacancies at any one time. Vacancies are filled by recruitment and selection processes.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if all police divisions in England and Wales now have computer technology to communicate with each other; and if he will make a statement. [83368]

I am advised by the Police Information Technology Organisation (PITO) that the majority of forces have access to either the X.400 Messaging Service, available on the Police National Network (PNN), or the Internet Mail System. All forces can also access the PNN Telephony Service and the Packet Data Service (X.25) which provides access to the Police National Computer. Internal data communication systems within individual forces vary in size and sophistication.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to ensure that (i) Article 2 and (ii) Article 6 of the European Convention on the Fight against Corruption are enforced in United Kingdom law; and which agency will have the task of (a) investigation and (b) prosecution of offences under these articles. [83569]

Arrangements are underway for the United Kingdom to ratify the European Union Corruption Convention in September this year. The Convention does not give rise to the need for legislation in the United Kingdom.Alleged offences of active or passive corruption of the kind referred to in Articles 2 and 6 of the European Union Corruption Convention are investigated primarily by the police whose role is to investigate offences which are committed within United Kingdom jurisdiction. Prosecutions are carried out by the usual prosecuting authorities, which in the main will be the Crown Prosecution Service. These procedures will continue in force following the ratification of the European Union Corruption Convention.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many copies of the leaflet associated with the "Break the Chain" campaign have been printed; and at what cost. [83567]

751,000 copies of the leaflet "Break the Chain: what you can do about domestic violence" have been published in English and 30,000 in Welsh. The costs for the English version were £49,340 and for the Welsh, £5,040.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many incidents of self-harm occurred in prison between April 1998 and March 1999 broken down by (a) age, (b) gender and (c) category of prisoner. [83594]

Self-harm statistics available centrally do not allow for a break down by age or by individual category of prisoner. The numbers of self-harm incidents reported by Prison Service establishments covering the period September 1997 to October 1998, the last 12 month period for which complete statistics are currently available, and broken down by broad prison category and gender, are given in the table.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list for the period April 1998 to March 1999 (a) the number of occasions on which prisoners were placed in seclusion rooms and (b) the average number of hours spent per occasion in seclusion. [83692]

The available information, for the calendar year 1998, is for those inmates held in protective rooms and special cells for temporary confinement in prisons in England and Wales and is given in the table. Information on the average number of hours spent in such confinement is not centrally available.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish the terms of reference of the review of the law on retaining personal data relating to DNA profiles taken from persons for elimination purposes; and if the Data Protection Registrar has been asked to contribute to the review. [83797]

There are no formal Terms of Reference for the review of current legislation. We intend to consult widely on any proposals for change, and this will include an approach to the Data Protection Registrar.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to introduce regulations to prohibit unrestricted transfer of personal data from electoral rolls to persons in countries which offer an inadequate level of protection; what conclusion his departmental working party has reached on access to electoral data for non-electoral purposes; and if he will make a statement. [83796]

The electoral register is by statute a public document and there is no provision to restrict subsequent transfers of information obtained from it. The Home Office Working Party on Electoral Procedures which I chair is looking at the question of access to electoral data for non-electoral purposes, and I expect it to report to my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary later in the summer on this and the other issues it is considering.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) men and (b) women were serving prison sentences and being held under Rule 43 in prisons in England and Wales on 30 April. [83584]

The most recent available provisional information is for 31 March 1999. On that date, the number of inmates held on Prison Rule 43 or Young Offender Institution Rule 46 were:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the introduction of a green transport plan for his Department. [82833]

Since last July's Integrated Transport White Paper, which set targets for the introduction of green transport plans for Government Departments, we have completed four plans covering all our headquarters and main buildings.We are developing plans for all other key buildings in line with the target for March 2000, set in the Integrated Transport White Paper.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of Lancashire Constabulary's proposal to pilot the Victoria Initiative to improve road safety. [83782]

Proposals from Lancashire Constabulary and Lancashire County Council are under consideration and we expect to reach a conclusion shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much public money was spent in the latest year for which figures are available on experimentation involving animals. [83498]

Each year, the Home Office makes available to the Animal Procedures Committee a budget to sponsor work aimed at developing or promoting the use of alternatives (which replace animal use, reduce the number of animals used in particular procedures or refine the protocols involved to minimise suffering). Work aimed at improving the environmental conditions in which laboratory animals are kept and transported is also sponsored.In developing replacement alternatives, animals do sometimes have to be used to produce comparative data that can be used to assess and validate the alternative. Reduction and refinement alternatives will still use animals, but will use fewer animals or cause less suffering to those animals.Of a total budget of £259,000 for 1998–99, £63,000 was allocated to programmes that involve the use of animals. In each case, the aim of the work was the development of reduction, refinement or replacement alternatives.We do not have information on the public money spent on animal experimentation by other Government Departments.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will list those purposes for which her Department and its executive agencies require a birth certificate to be provided by (a) employees, (b) contractors, (c) those applying for employment or contracts and (d) other persons. [83357]

The Northern Ireland Office, Northern Ireland Government Departments and their respective executive agencies may ask individuals to provide their birth certificate in a range of circumstances. An individual's birth certificate is used for the purpose of providing evidence of their date of birth or identity.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will make a statement about the Northern Ireland Executive Non-Departmental Public Bodies 1998 Report. [83946]

I have today published the NI Executive NDPB 1998 Report (CM 4334) which has been laid before both Houses. This is the first report covering the activities of all Northern Ireland Executive NDPBs with the exception of those which are the responsibility of the NIO, which are covered in the recently published Executive Non-Departmental Public Bodies 1998 Report (Command Number 4157). These reports demonstrate the Government's policy of making public bodies more efficient, transparent and accountable.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will investigate the reasons for New Deal for Young People participants who joined in July 1998 still being in the Gateway six months later; and if he will make a statement. [82738]

There have been a number of factors contributing to young people staying on the Gateway for longer than four months. In the majority of cases young people have had significant breaks from New Deal or are the subject of sanctions. Reasons for breaks include sickness and short-term employment; if a young person leaves the Gateway and subsequently returns within 13 weeks, they re-enter the Gateway at the point at which they left. Young people who are the subject of sanctions are currently classified as being on the Gateway.We have taken a concerted series of initiatives with New Deal Personal Advisers and partner organisations designed to reduce further the number of young people staying more than four months on the Gateway, when this is not due to breaks in their participation. We will also be using the provision announced in the budget to pilot more intensive Gateway measures and to enable the fourth month of Gateway to focus more sharply on a job or option-outcome.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many students on initial teacher training are specialising in PE as part of their course. [83246]

There are currently 3,570 secondary physical education initial teacher training (ITT) students and 29,748 primary ITT students in England. Primary ITT students are trained to deliver the whole national curriculum including physical education. Information on the numbers of primary ITT students specialising in physical education is not held centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what proportion of school budgets were spent on teachers' salaries in 1998–99 in (a) Northumberland and (b) Slough. [83542]

Information about actual, as opposed to budgeted expenditure on teachers' salaries in 1998-99 will not be available until April 2000.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) if he will list the funding made available in the 1999–2000 standard spending assessment for each (a) primary and (b) secondary pupil in (i) Northumberland and (ii) Slough; [83544](2) what factors account for the differences in standard spending assessment funding in 1999–2000 between

The table sets out the information requested. Slough receives more education SSA funding per pupil than Northumberland mainly because of three factors—area costs, the proportion of children entitled to free school meals and the proportion of children from ethnic minorities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when he expects to announce the latest round of successful bids for technology college status. [83467]

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State expects to announce the new Technology and Language Colleges in mid-June.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will place in the Library copies of the draft reports prepared for the FEFC by the inspectors of Wirral Metropolitan College. [83690]

Copies of the FEFC inspection report on Wirral Metropolitan College have been placed in the Library as stated in the answer I gave to my hon. Friend on 21 April 1999, Official Report, column 558.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many headteachers will receive the maximum pay award this year. [83757]

[holding answer 10 May 1999]: Pay awards will vary according to individual circumstances, and will depend on a headteacher's position on the existing pay spine and whether the school will move to a higher range on the new pay spine when its weighted pupil numbers are recalculated in the restructuring. The figure of 9.5 per cent. which has been quoted represents the average increase payable to the 2,970 headteachers of small primary schools with fewer than 100 pupils.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what decision he has reached on the proposed intervention in Hackney Education Authority; and if he will publish lists of organisations which may be invited to bid for work as service providers in failing local education authorities. [84049]

On 19 March my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State wrote to Hackney to inform them that, following Ofsted's second critical report, he was minded to direct the Director of Education to contract out the School Improvement Service (SIS) and the Ethnic Minority Achievement Service (EMAS—formerly the Language and Learning Service) and asked them for their views. KPMG were appointed to draw up specifications for this work and also advise on the case for contracting out the ICT, Finance and Personnel Services. KPMG have now reported and I am today announcing the next steps for Hackney.I am also publishing the list of organisations who may be invited to bid for work as service providers in failing LEAs and a list of those who may be used for consultancy work. Discussions are continuing with a number of organisations which may be added to the service provider list in the near future.My right hon. Friend has written to Hackney today to confirm that we have accepted KPMG's advice that the next steps will involve contracting out the work of the School Improvement Service and the Ethnic Minority Achievement Service. The Government are inviting a number of organisations to bid for this work. We aim to have a contractor in place shortly to take on the functions of the SIS. The functions of the Ethnic Minority Achievement Service will transfer to the contractor on 1 April 2000 by which time the LEA will have reorganised this service to take account of the fact that most of the funding for extra teaching support now goes directly to schools.Following advice from KPMG, my right hon. Friend has decided that ICT, Finance and Personnel should not be added to the package at this stage as the LEA has taken a number of important steps to improve the delivery of these services—including making key appointments and drawing up rigorous action plans. We will monitor these services very carefully and will not hesitate to add them to the contract if improvements are not delivered quickly.Six organisations will be awarded framework contracts for possible consultancy work relating to LEA interventions. They are KPMG, Lorien, Capita, Office of Public Management, PriceWaterhouseCoopers and Arthur Andersen/Birmingham LEA.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on the introduction of a green transport plan for his Department. [82835]

Since last July's Integrated Transport White Paper, which set targets for the introduction of green transport plans for Government Departments, we have completed five plans covering all our headquarters and main buildings. The Employment Service have also completed a plan covering their headquarters and main buildings.We are developing plans for all other key buildings in line with the target for March 2000 set in the Integrated Transport White Paper.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what role the Environment Agency in Wales plays in monitoring experiments in genetically modified crops. [82221]

None. The Government are advised on experimental releases of genetically modified organisms by the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment (ACRE). ACRE carry out an assessment of each application and advise the Government about the risks posed to human health and the environment; whether or not a consent should be granted; and whether any risk management of the release should be required as a condition of the consent. ACRE take a case by case approach to each application, taking into account the specific circumstances of the proposed release or marketing. The consents are enforced by the Health and Safety Executive specialist inspectors.The Secretary of State for Wales' responsibilities in this area are shortly to transfer to the National Assembly for Wales.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what (a) reciprocal and (b) other arrangements have been made for hon. Members to use facilities at the National Assembly of Wales. [83239]

This will be a matter for the Assembly to consider.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much NHS modernisation fund money has been allocated to the NHS in Wales (a) in total and (b) by health authority; and on what date the allocations were made. [83254]

[holding answer 4 May 1999]: There is no specific NHS modernisation fund in Wales but, as reported in my right hon. Friend's answer on 31 March 1999, Official Report, columns 719–20, health authority allocations for 1999–2000 are being increased by £168 million.Following the transfer of functions, this will be a matter for the National Assembly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the introduction of a green transport plan for his Department. [82829]

Since last July's Integrated Transport White Paper which set targets for the introduction of green transport plans we have been working on a range of measures to encourage greener travel. These will be included in our Green Transport Plan for Cathays Park which is due to be completed by 31 May.Following the transfer of functions, this issue will be a matter for the National Assembly.

To ask the Attorney-General, pursuant to his answer of 23 April 1999, Official Report, column 699, on freemasons, what further plans he has in relation to the CPS lawyers who declined to say whether or not they were freemasons and those who did not respond. [83375]

CPS lawyers, in accordance with Government policy, were invited to disclose freemasonry membership. As this was always a voluntary exercise, no further action is intended with regard to those lawyers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what data he has collated on the possibility that spent nuclear fuel has been imported for the purpose of sham reprocessing at Sellafield as defined by the Radioactive Waste Management Advisory Committee's September 1997 report on the Import and Export of Radioactive Waste; in respect of which countries; and if he will make a statement; [83265](2) if his Department will conduct a study into how the tests for sham reprocessing recommended in the Radioactive Waste Management Advisory Committee's September 1997 report on the Import and Export of Radioactive Waste might be incorporated into UK law; and if he will make a statement. [82826]

[holding answer 5 May 1999]: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Bury, North (Mr. Chaytor) on 10 February 1998, Official Report, column 206.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate he has made of the proportion of UK energy generated by wind turbines in (a) 1999, (b) 2000, (c) 2001 and (d) 2002. [83320]

[holding answer 5 May 1999]: The Department has estimated that electricity generation from wind turbines will grow from 750 GWh in 1999 to 1,000 GWh in 2000; 1,300 GWh in 2001 and 1,600 GWh in 2002.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make it his policy to provide that accountancy firms criticised in DTI inspectors' reports are required (a) to state that they have understood the criticisms and (b) to demonstrate that they have taken steps to deal with shortcomings. [82646]

No. It would be for the appropriate recognised professional body to consider whether any action needed to be taken by a firm criticised in an inspectors' report. The new framework of regulation for the accountancy profession, which I announced recently, will provide for the independent Investigation and Discipline Board to consider such a case where it raises significant issues of public concern.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received from Leicester Children's Holiday Centre about the interpretation of an intentional community as defined by the National Minimum Wage Act 1998; and if he will make a statement. [83009]

The Low Pay Commission has passed copies of its recent correspondence with the Leicester Children's Holiday Centre (as to whether the Centre might be regarded as an intentional community and thus exempted from the national minimum wage) to my Department.The Low Pay Commission recommended that members of intentional communities should be regarded as volunteers rather than workers and therefore should not be covered by the minimum wage. The Government accept this recommendation and propose to introduce a suitable amendment to the National Minimum Wage Act 1998 through the Employment Relations Bill which is currently before Parliament.Officials are considering all representations on this issue. The amendment itself will be drawn as tightly as possible to ensure that only genuine intentional communities are exempted.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Cynon Valley (Ann Clwyd), of 3 February 1999, Official Report, column 622, what intentional organisations

Copies of the Orders in Council which confer this immunity are in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action he is taking on the Low Pay Commission's Review of the National Minimum Wage Accommodation offset, with specific reference to intentional communities. [83010]

We have accepted the Commission's recommendation that there should be no immediate change to the rate of the accommodation offset in the National Minimum Wage Regulations but that the Commission should monitor the use and impact of the offset and report on its future application in their second report.The Commission also recommended that members of intentional communities should be regarded as volunteers rather than workers and therefore should not be covered by the minimum wage. The Government accept this recommendation and propose to introduce a suitable amendment to the 1998 Act through the Employment Relations Bill which is currently before Parliament.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what applications his Department has received from Allivane for licences for the export of military equipment to Yugoslavia since 1989. [83287]

Companies House records have confirmed that Allivane Limited was dissolved on 24 March 1987.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Nottingham, South (Mr. Simpson) of 21 April 1999, Official Report, column 552, which British Aerospace contracts were given EGCD guarantees in 1997–98 in Colombia; and what level of cover was involved. [83282]

The British Aerospace contract for business in Colombia in 1997–98 is in respect of the UK share (US$23m) of two Airbus A320–200s. ECGD supported 85 per cent. of the UK share.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on what date he expects the European Union to introduce a banana regime which is in compliance with the ruling of the World Trade Organisation. [83310]

[holding answer 5 May 1999]: It is unclear how quickly the European Union can amend the banana regime to bring it into compliance with the ruling of the World Trade Organisation. The Council has asked the Commission to provide proposals by the end of May. However, the forthcoming elections to the European Parliament are likely to delay their approval of a new regime until at least September. In the meantime, we are

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will estimate how many British jobs have been put at risk by the trade sanctions of the United States authorised by the Word Trade Organisation. [83311]

[holding answer 5 May 1999]: In terms of the historical levels of exports to the US in each sector, it is not possible to say what the overall impact on British jobs might be. Much depends on how long the retaliatory measures remain in place, the ability of affected businesses to find alternative customers for their products, the extent to which orders have been brought forward before these measures took effect and local labour market conditions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will place in the Library the three single market scoreboards published during the Single Market Action Plan. [83399]

All three single market scoreboards referred to have already been placed in the Library of the House. The first, second and third editions of the scoreboard can be found under the references SEC(97)2196, SEC(98)889 and SEC(98)1889 respectively.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on his contribution to the open debate on the competitiveness of EU industry In the light of globalisation, conducted at the Industry Council on 29 April; and what reports he has received about the reaction of other EU Governments to his contribution. [83740]

My noble Friend the Minister for Trade and Competitiveness in Europe represented the UK at the EU Industry Council held on 29 April.During the open debate, my noble Friend highlighted what the UK saw as the key themes for the competitiveness of the EU in the face of globalisation. These were the need to improve risk taking and encourage innovation, update the EU patent system, strengthen the Internal Market and improve higher education/industry links. He also commented that to secure progress on all these themes the UK considered that changes in the structure of EU Councils, and of the Commission, were essential to promote greater coherence in decision-making, affecting competitiveness.These ideas were echoed in many other Ministers' interventions during the debate and were reflected in the Chairman's summing up.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps his Department and the ECGD have

[holding answer 10 May 1999]: ECGD are involved in continuing discussions with other Export Credit Agencies, the commercial parties and the authors of the Reports about these matters. They are also consulting experts in the UK.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will place in the Library copies of (a) the environmental impact assessment produced in 1998 in connection with the Ilisu Dam project in Turkey, (b) the independent study subsequently commissioned in respect of the project by the Swiss Government, (c) the minutes of the meetings of the Export Credits Guarantee Department at which the environmental and social impact of the project was discussed and (d) the current procedures of the Export Credits Guarantee Department for assessing the environmental impact of projects it supports, and for raising awareness of these issues among its customers. [82711]

[holding answer 10 May 1999]: The Environmental Impact Assessment Report and the independent study commissioned by the Swiss government in respect of the Ilisu project in Turkey are not our documents and can be made available only with the consent of the owners. I understand that it is the intention to make available the Environmental Impact Assessment Report once the contract has been awarded, and I will ensure that a copy is placed in the Library of the House. Minutes of ECGD meetings are not disclosed for reasons of commercial confidentiality.Consistent with the Government's policy on the environment, the Export Credits Guarantee Department (ECGD) is supporting multilateral moves in the OECD to establish common principles, to be adopted by Export Credit Agencies, to take account of environmental factors in export credits. ECGD takes account of environmental factors, particularly in its assessment of large project finance cases, and is undertaking further work, in consultation with environmental consultants and its customers, to determine the best means of further enhancing its policy and procedures, and of raising the awareness of UK exporters, investors and overseas buyers on its approach to environmental issues. Relevant documents will be placed in the Library of the House when this process is complete. It would be premature for me to make a statement at this point in time.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement regarding eligibility for the Shipbuilding Intervention Fund. [83892]

I have decided to extend eligibility for the Shipbuilding Intervention Fund immediately to two shipyards: those of FBM Lairdside Ltd. at Birkenhead and Ailsa-Troon Ltd. at Troon. I will consider similar applications from any other yard which is currently disqualified from applying for Shipbuilding Intervention Fund grants.Access to the Shipbuilding Intervention Fund will enhance the competitiveness of the companies and is a crucial component of the financing packages which are

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will place in the Library a copy of the W. S. Atkins reports on the year 2000 preparedness of the oil and gas industry. [83826]

Copies of the Executive Summary of both reports were placed in the Library of the House in answer to a question by my hon. Friend the Member for Barnsley, East and Mexborough (Mr. Ennis) on 21 April 1999, Official Report, columns 553–55 and made available to the public on the Internet. These Executive Summaries provide a clear and accurate synopsis of the full reports. To prepare meaningful and accurate assessments it was essential that the industry provided full and frank access to DTI's assessor WS Atkins but the detailed information presented in the full report is commercially sensitive and was made available to the Department on the basis that it would not be published.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what restrictions he plans to introduce on home taping; [83828](2) what plans he has to introduce a levy on

There are no plans to introduce levies in the United Kingdom on blank tapes, other recording media or recording equipment, nor do we have any plans to restrict the "time-shifting" exception in UK copyright law which allows home recording of broadcasts to enable viewing or listening at a more convenient time.An amendment proposed by the European Parliament to the draft EU Directive on copyright and related rights in the information society would require that right owners receive "fair compensation" where exceptions to rights are provided in national law permitting private copying of protected material on audio or audiovisual recording media. However, we do not consider that a levy or other form of payment would be justified in relation to the UK's limited "time-shifting" exception. We are concerned that the overall approach to exception in the Directive is too prescriptive and we will continue to press for more flexibility for member states in this area.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the cost to United Kingdom business of the EU Consumer Guarantee Directive. [83829]

The Regulatory Appraisal attached to Explanatory Memorandum 9643–96, submitted to Parliament on 3 April 1998, concluded that the average additional recurring costs resulting from the Directive were likely to be up to 0.25 per cent. of consumer expenditure on durable and semi-durable goods; that there would be no change for non-durables; and that nonrecurring costs might amount to a further 1-per cent. of annual recurring costs.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what were the daily financial flows through the London money markets (a) in 1982, (b) in 1992 and (c) at the latest available date in (i) cash terms, (ii) current prices and (iii) as a percentage of annual gross domestic product for the year in question. [83244]

I regret that the information requested is not available.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the tax yield to the UK Exchequer of imposing VAT on air travel, assuming that with international agreement a similar tax was imposed by other countries. [83351]

The information is not available.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the tax yield to the UK Exchequer of imposing VAT on aviation fuel at the same rate as on motor vehicle fuel, assuming that with international agreement a similar rate of tax was imposed by other countries. [83350]

HM Customs and Excise estimate the revenue gain to the UK exchequer as a result of introducing VAT on aviation fuel to be negligible.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the basis for his proposal to give the Financial Services Agency and its staff statutory immunity. [83700]

The proposed statutory protection from liability in damages for the Financial Services Authority and its staff for actions carried out in good faith takes forward the existing form of immunity for regulators under the Financial Services Act 1986, the Banking Act 1987 and the Bank of England Act 1998. This was an issue commented on by the Joint Committee on Financial Services and Markets and we are currently considering their recommendations.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 2 March 1999, Official Report, column 642, on pensions, what large financial penalties are currently incurred by members moving from an occupational pension scheme; and how a pooled pension investment could be used to reduce these. [83706]

People who leave defined benefit occupational pension schemes in mid-career get paid up rights or transfer values which, depending on the terms of the scheme, are often worth appreciably less than the pension rights their period of service would have earned at normal retirement age. Those who leave a job after a short period often get nothing.In contrast, defined contribution pension schemes of all kinds provide individual investors with their own defined pension fund, allowing them to move jobs without these financial penalties. Pooled pension investments will be a particularly transparent vehicle for defined contribution schemes.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to review the charges and tax incentives of CAT marked ISAs to encourage fund managers to provide managed equity funds to savers. [83702]

There are no plans to change the CAT standards, or the tax treatment of CAT standard ISAs. To date, around 400 providers have registered as ISA managers. I expect many of these to sell stocks and shares ISAs which invest in managed funds.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to publicise the meaning of a CAT standard. [83701]

The Treasury press release of 1 October 1998 explained the meaning of CAT standards. The Inland Revenue and the Financial Services Authority have both published guides to ISAs which explain CAT standards, as did the Government's ISA advertising campaign. In addition, FSA requires firms which sell CAT standard products to provide straightforward information in the marketing literature which sets out how the standards are met. Many firms' own ISA guides also explain CAT standards.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the introduction of a green transport plan for his Department. [82841]

The Treasury introduced its Green Transport Plan in March 1999.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the take-up rate for the landfill tax credit scheme has been to date; and how many environmental projects have been funded through the scheme in (a) Coventry and (b) the United Kingdom. [83622]

Persons registered for landfill tax may claim tax credits of 90 per cent. against contributions made to approved environmental bodies, up to a total of 20 per cent. of their annual tax liability, in each `contribution year'. Credits claimed under the environmental bodies credit scheme since the introduction of the tax on 1 October 1996 to 31 March 1999 amount

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to introduce taxation measures designed to promote greater efficiency of resources and reductions in pollution levels. [83621]

The Government's Statement of Intent on Environmental Taxation, published in July 1997, sets out the Government's policy on environmental taxation. It commits the Government to exploring the scope for using the tax system—as one instrument, in combination with others such as regulation and voluntary action—to secure environmental objectives, and details the criteria used to assess environmental taxes.The March 1999 Budget contained the biggest package of environmental tax reforms ever announced in this country. This will provide continuing incentives for environmental improvement and underlines the Government's commitment to protect and, where possible, enhance our environment.Details of the Budget 99 environmental tax package are contained in the 1999 Economic and Financial Strategy Report and Financial Statement and Budget Report.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he took to ensure that each export house was consulted about the proposal to withdraw export house VAT provision. [83831]

The Consultation Paper was issued directly to all members of the Joint VAT Consultative Committee and to a number of other trade bodies and organisations with an interest in the subject. These included the British Exporters Association, which represents the main body of businesses which act as export houses. The review was also publicised by way of a Business Brief, distributed by the Central Office of Information to the media and to some 900 subscribers representing a variety of business interests.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which countries in the European Union currently allow an exemption from VAT for supplies to export houses; and if he will make a statement. [83836]

The exemption from VAT on supplies to export houses is an optional measure in EC VAT law and we have very scant information about other countries' use of the measure. Customs and Excise is taking up with the European Commission claims made by a number of British businesses that some other countries operate export house provisions which do not fully comply with EC law.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the organisations which replied to the consultation paper on the withdrawal of export house VAT provisions and indicate which were in favour and which were opposed. [83834]

As contributors were not advised that their responses would be made public, individual comments must remain confidential. Overall, from all replies received, the balance of representations was weighted equally for and against withdrawal.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the organisations to which the consultation paper on the withdrawal of export house VAT provisions was issued. [83833]

The organisations to which the consultation paper on the withdrawal of export house VAT provisions was initially issued were the Joint VAT Consultative Committee, the British Exporters Association, the Simpler Trade Procedures Boards (SITPRO) and the United Kingdom Oil Industry Taxation Committee. Subsequently copies were issued to more than one hundred and fifty enquirers, including Tax in Industry and the Institute of Export.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what measures he took to ensure that companies likely to be affected by the withdrawal of the export house VAT provisions were notified of the change in good time. [83837]

The withdrawal of the export house VAT provisions on 1 April 1999 was publicised in June 1998 by means of a Business Brief and a VAT Information sheet. Each VAT registered trader was advised by means of VAT Notes 2/1998 (June 1998) and further reminded of the impending change in VAT Notes 4/1998 (December 1998).

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the cost to UK export houses of the imposition of VAT on goods purchased for export. [83835]

It was not possible to arrive at any accurate figures for possible costs to export houses as insufficient evidence was provided in response to the Consultation Paper. However, by opting to change to monthly VAT periods, some export houses may gain a cash flow benefit.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list the British Non-Governmental Organisations funded to carry out social marketing programmes in the area of reproductive health services, indicating the countries in which they operate.[83579]

The following table lists UK non-governmental organisations currently receiving the Department for International Development's support for

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development from which budget lines under which EU directorates funding is available for population, sexual and reproductive health programmes in developing countries, and central and Eastern Europe. [83575]

The following budget lines are relevant: B7 210 and B7 214—Humanitarian aid (which includes population, sexual and reproductive health programmes), in developing countries and in central and eastern Europe.B7 543—Health programmes for the former Yugoslavia.B7 6211—Programmes for HIV and AIDS related operations.B7 631—Aid for population policies and programmes in developing countries.B7 653—Campaign against sex tourism in developing countries.B7 704—Grants to non-government organisations to promote and protect women's rights.The non-budget European Development Fund for African, Caribbean and Pacific countries in the Lome Convention also includes provision for health sector funding.The Commission Directorates through which these funds are spent are DGVIII (Africa, Caribbean and the Pacific for EDF funds), DGIA (Central and Eastern Europe), DGIB (Asia and Latin America), the Common Service for External Relations which handles project implementation for the external assistance Directorates-General, and the European Community Humanitarian Office (ECHO).

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what family planning and reproductive health assistance is being provided by the United Kingdom Government for refugees from Kosovo in Albania and Macedonia; and if such aid includes emergency contraception for rape victims. [83577]

My Department is providing reproductive health assistance to Kosovar refugees through UNICEF and NGO programmes of mother and child healthcare. We are ready to consider assistance with specialist care for rape victims if requested to do so.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development from which budget lines under which EU directorates funding is available for street children programmes in developing countries and Central and Eastern Europe. [83574]

A new over-arching budget line, B7–612 entitled "Preparatory actions undertaken through nongovernmental organisations (NGOs) in the campaign against child discrimination" is included in the 1999 EU budget. This appropriation is intended to co-finance NGO activities in support of the Declaration on the Rights of the Child and aims at combating violence against children and the exploitation of child labour and at providing support for schooling, and the provision of food and protection for street children. It will also cover co-financing with NGOs which are members of the European Network on Street Children Worldwide.However, specific projects aimed at street children would normally be funded from the general budget line for financial and technical co-operation for the geographical area concerned: e.g. B7–31 for Latin America; B7–30 for Asia; B7–4 for Mediterranean and Middle-East; B7–5 for Central and Eastern Europe, New Independent States and Mongolia. In the case of African, Caribbean and Pacific countries, the funds would come not from the budget but from the European Development Fund, except for overarching budget lines such as B7–6 (Other Co-operation Measures) and B7–7 (European Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights) which apply to all countries.The Commission Directorates through which these funds are spent are DGVIII (African, Caribbean and the Pacific for EDF funds), DGIA (Central and Eastern Europe), DGIB (Asia and Latin America), and the Common Service for External Relations which handles project implementation for the external assistance Directorates-General.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list the members of the United Kingdom Government delegations to (a) the International forum on the five year review of the International Conference on Population and Development in The Hague, 8 to 12 February, (b) the Preparatory Committee meeting in New York, 23 March to 1 April and (c) the UN General Assembly Special Session on the ICPD review in New York, 30 June to 3 July; and if she will make a statement. [83576]

The United Kingdom Government delegations were made up as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what support has been received from British industry in establishing easily accessed communications systems for refugees in the camps of Macedonia and Albania. [83769]

The International Committee of the Red Cross, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and other international agencies are seeking to ensure that refugees and displaced people in the camps have regular access to satellite, mobile and fixed phones as appropriate in order to re-establish family contacts. Where my department has received offers of support from British industry, they have been referred to these agencies.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what progress is being made in giving deportees in camps in Macedonia and Albania access to phones with which they can try to establish contact with lost friends, family and relatives. [83770]

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) leads on family tracing and reunification; ICRC, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and other international agencies are seeking to ensure that refugees and displaced people in the camps have regular access to satellite, mobile and fixed phones as appropriate in order to re-establish family contacts. The Department for International Development has contributed £2.5 million to ICRC, of which part will be used for family tracing.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps are being taken to support the work of (a) UNICEF and (b) other non-Governmental organisations with their family tracing schemes in the Balkans. [83768]

Reuniting separated families is an important part of our humanitarian assistance. Part of DFID' s contributions of £2.25 million to United Nations children's Fund UNICEF and £2.5 million to the Red Cross are being used for family tracing activities. This will help Kosovar refugees to establish where their relatives have gone, and also to contact family members who have been sent to other countries without their consent.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the introduction of a green transport plan for her Department. [82832]

Following last July's Integrated Transport White Paper, which set targets for the introduction of green transport plans for Government departments, we will shortly complete the plan for our London headquarters building.We are also developing a plan for our other key building in East Kilbride in line with the target for March 2000 set in the Integrated Transport White Paper.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list the projects

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the progress of the Commonwealth Debt Initiative, indicating which countries have received debt relief and the level of that relief. [83404]

Under the Government's Commonwealth Debt Initiative, we provide debt relief to poorer Commonwealth countries which are committed to the international development targets and are following sound economic policies which benefit the poor, which promote responsive and accountable government, encourage transparency and bear down on corruption. Since the Chancellor of the Exchequer launched the Initiative in September 1997, my Department has provided debt relief on aid loans to the following countries:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will list the local authorities to which Ministers have written urging greater spending on local services within their portfolio area. [77957]

Current DFID supported projects which address female genital mutilation comprise the following:

[holding answer 22 March 1999]: None. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State wrote to all 149 Library Authorities in England in February 1999 drawing their attention to their statutory obligation to provide a comprehensive and efficient library service. It is a possibility, but by no means a certainty, that in some instances Library Authorities would need to spend more money to fulfil their statutory duty.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will establish a grant for museums to be set up in constituencies which are without them; and if he will make a statement on his Department's activities during Museums Week. [83568]

Historically, local museums relate to local authority areas which may cover several constituencies. Boundaries of constituencies change from time to time. What is important is that each community should have access to a local museum.There are already some 2,500 museums in the UK, and it is the Government's priority to increase access to these museums, rather than to create new ones.The Museums and Galleries Commission funds the network of Area Museum Councils in England which contributes to the funding of a number of museums and galleries. The Heritage Lottery Fund also provides funding for museums and galleries.My Department has contributed £25,000 towards Museums Week 1999, which is a key annual event in raising public awareness of museums in the UK. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has written to all MPs and MEPs encouraging them to visit a museum in their constituency to promote the event.Last year's event was a great success, and I hope that this year's will prove even more successful.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what has been the average bed occupancy rate at King Edward VII convalescent home at Osborne in each of the last five years broken down between (a) residents and (b) convalescents. [83364]

The information is as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many beds have been available for (a) residents and (b) convalescents in each of the last five years at King Edward VII convalescent home at Osborne. [83363]

The information is as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when it was decided that accommodation at King Edward VII convalescent home at Osborne would be available to other ranks as well as officers. [83361]

The Order in Council extending eligibility to other ranks as well as officers was made on 21 July 1998.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many full-time equivalent persons have been employed at the King Edward VII convalescent home at Osborne in each of the last five years. [83360]

The information is as follows:1994–95: 641995–96: 591996–97: 581997–98: 561998–99: 48.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what proposals he has received from English Heritage to date for the future of the accommodation used by the King Edward VII convalescent home at Osborne; and by what date he has asked English Heritage to make any further proposals. [83359]

English Heritage is preparing conservation, management, business and development plans for the whole of the Osborne House estate which will include proposals for opening more of the Convalescent Home accommodation to the public, and offering the remainder for use by a private sector partner. I am expecting English Heritage to come forward with options later this year./

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what alternatives to the Civil Service Benevolent Fund his Department has sought to manage the King Edward VII convalescent home at Osborne. [83358]

After very careful consideration, particularly of the question of financial viability, my right hon. Friend decided that it was no longer appropriate to run part of Osborne House as a convalescent home. In the light of this decision, no alternative managers for the convalescent home have been sought.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when the Civil Service Benevolent Fund took over the running of King Edward VII convalescent home at Osborne; and what is the nature of their contract or other arrangement with (a) English Heritage and (b) his Department of the occupation of the premises. [83365]

The Civil Service Benevolent Fund took over the running of the home on behalf of the Secretary of State on 1 July 1985. The terms under which the home is managed and maintained and the arrangements between my Department, English Heritage and the Civil Service Benevolent Fund are contained in an agreement with my Department which was last revised on 6 December 1996 and in the National Heritage Act 1983 (Osborne House) Directions 1986. English Heritage is responsible for the maintenance of the external fabric of the convalescent home and for the provision and payment of some other services including redecoration and the supply of some equipment.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on what date analogue television transmissions will be ended. [83887]

The Government want to move to as early an announcement as possible of a date for the switch-over from analogue to digital television transmissions. However, this can be done only on the basis of a properly considered strategy set against the background of actual digital services winning public acceptance, and which protects those consumers who wish to receive free-to-air television services as well as those who are potentially excluded from the new technology. The Government expect to say more about the development of a strategy for analogue to digital migration before the Summer recess.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if it is the Government's policy that the television licence fee for televisions capable of receiving digital transmissions should be the same as for televisions only capable of receiving analogue transmissions. [83825]

The level of the licence fee for colour and black and white television sets will be determined until 2001–02 under a five year formula linked to RPI announced in December 1996. The review panel chaired by Gavyn Davies is considering, against an expectation that the licence fee will remain the principal source of funding for public services for the BBC Charter period to 2006, ways in which funding to support public service output can be extended from other sources. The review will report by the end of July 1999 and the Government will then consult on its findings.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many applications for information he received under the Open Government: Code of Practice on Access to Government Information in the last parliamentary session; and how many of these applications were granted. [83111]

[holding answer 10 May 1999]: For monitoring purposes, the information is collected on a calender year basis. Information for 1997 was published last year in the Open Government: Code of Practice on Access to Government Information 1997 Report. Between 1 January and 28 July 1998, when the then Office of Public Service (OPS) merged with the Cabinet Office, the OPS received 3 applications for information under the Code, of which 2 were granted. Arrangements are in hand to restore the Parliamentary Commissioner for Adminstration's formal remit to the position before the merger of OPS with the Cabinet Office. The remainder of the Cabinet Office, and the Prime Minister's Office do not come under the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration's jurisdiction are not covered by the Code of Practice.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office (1) if he will make a statement on his Department's green transport plans; [82702](2) if he will make a statement on the introduction of a green transport plan for his Department. [82837]

The Cabinet Office intends to put a green transport plan in place by the end of this month. This plan will cover the headquarters office and the Cabinet Office Agencies.

To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department what assessment he has made of the number of cases currently covered by legal aid which will not be taken up by solicitors operating under conditional fee agreements as a result of failure to meet risk assessment tests demanding a (a) 55 per cent., (b) 60 per cent., (c) 65 per cent., (d) 70 per cent. and (e) 75 per cent. likelihood of success. [83348]

The Government remain satisfied that lawyers will be prepared to undertake meritorious cases under conditional fee agreements. With the ability, potentially, to double their fees, they can continue to be expected to take on cases which, in their professional opinion, are more likely to have a successful outcome than not. It can be in no one's interest for weak cases to be pursued, especially as the protection in costs afforded by legal aid can force defendants with good defences to offer settlements in the face of what are little more than blackmailing claims.

To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department what proposals he has to monitor the impact of the Government's decision to abolish legal aid for personal injury claims. [83349]

We will monitor and evaluate the impact of all of the key reforms under the Access to Justice Bill, not just the decision to withdraw legal aid from most personal injury cases. The Legal Services Commission will have a duty to inform itself about the need for services, the provision of services, and the quality of the services provided. Much of this information will be provided by the Regional Legal Services Committees. In addition, we are in discussion with all the major interest groups, including those representing the consumers, the professions, and the insurance industry, about the design of a research project to evaluate all aspects of how conditional fees operate under the reformed law.

To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department what advice he has received from the Advisory Council on Public Records since its October 1998 meeting about the confidentiality period for decennial census returns; and if he will make a statement. [83396]

I have received no such advice.

To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make a statement on the introduction of a green transport plan for his Department. [82831]

My Department has introduced green transport plans at each of the three headquarters buildings of the Department and its main agencies. We are developing plans for our 53 other key buildings in line with the March 2000 target set in the Integrated Transport White Paper.

To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department what was the final outcome of the Quinquennial Agency Review of the Public Record Office. [83947]

The Review concluded that the Public Record Office had greatly benefited from agency status and that it continued to perform an essential function of government. It recommended that the Public Record Office remain a Government Department and an executive agency. The Chief Secretary to the Treasury, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and the Lord Chancellor have accepted these conclusions.The Review also recommended a fresh look at some elements of the Public Record Office's work and the exploration of further opportunities for private sector involvement. These recommendations were, where appropriate, carried forward within the Public Record Office's Comprehensive Spending Review and implemented.The Public Record Office is now well placed to lead essential changes in the introduction of electronic record keeping in government and the provision of on-line services for the public. It is also leading on improving records management and storage across government. Its education programme is being expanded, particularly in the direction of internet services to benefit schools and lifelong learners nationally.In the light of the Review recommendations and of the Comprehensive Spending Review, a new framework document has now been prepared to cover the next five years. This concludes the final stage of the Office's Quinquennial Review.Copies of the Quinquennial Review evaluation report and of the revised framework document have been placed in the Library of both Houses.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the introduction of a green transport plan for his Department. [82842]

My right hon. Friend is finalising a green transport plan for Victoria Quay, Edinburgh for discussion with staff representatives. This plan will cover around 1,400 civil servants, almost 40 per cent. of the total Scottish Office core staff. Further site-specific plans will be developed for the remainder of Scottish Officer headquarters buildings.From 1 July 1999, this will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.

To ask the Prime Minister how many applications for information he received under the Open Government: Code of Practice on Access to Government Information in the last Parliamentary Session and how many of these applications were granted. [83104]

[holding answer 10 May 1999]: I refer my right hon. Friend to the answer given to him today by my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the consultation on the document "Rural England". [82793]

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the responses to the consultation on "Rural England"; and if he will make a statement on progress in implementing the proposals in the document. [82808]

We have had a very encouraging response to the consultation document "Rural England", with close to 700 written submissions. We will be taking the views and ideas expressed into account as we proceed with work on the Rural White Paper.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the public-private partnership proposals for London Underground.[82794]

London Transport have continued to progress the public-private partnership proposals, as set out in the progress report LT published in March. We anticipate bidders being invited to pre-qualify for the PPP competition shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is his latest estimate of the date when the public-private partnership for London Underground will become operational. [82804]

We have made it clear that we are not going to set a fixed timetable for completing the PPP—our overriding aim is to secure best value.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the most recent assessment of future requirements for housing in the north-east. [82796]

The latest regional household projections were set out in my Department's press release of 29 March. These projections indicate that the number of households in the north-east at 2021 could total around 1.2 million.