To ask the Attorney-General what proportion of criminal cases relating to the financial services sector referred to (a) the CPS and (b) the SFO resulted in charges being brought in each of the last three years. [84089]

Neither the Serious Fraud Office nor the Crown Prosecution Service records case information by reference to the economic sector in which the activity giving rise to consideration of charges takes place. Accordingly, in order to answer the question, it would be necessary to undertake an individual review of all cases, which could be done only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Attorney-General what proportion of prosecutions alleging offences relating to the financial services sector brought by (a) the CPS and (b) the SFO resulted in convictions in each of the last three years. [84090]

Neither the Serious Fraud Office nor the Crown Prosecution Service records case information by reference to the economic sector in which the activity giving rise to prosecutions and convictions takes place. Accordingly, in order to answer the question, it would be necessary to undertake an individual review of all cases, which could be done only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the President of the Council if she will review the Parliamentary Office and Secretarial Allowances of Scottish hon. Members following the transfer of responsibilities to the Scottish Parliament.[83957]

No.

To ask the President of the Council, pursuant to her answer on 20 April 1999, Official Report, column 480, when she will publish the latest results of the market research tracking public perception of the millennium bug. [84842]

I have today placed copies of the Executive Summaries of the February and March tracking research in the Libraries of the House.

To ask the President of the Council what official functions she held on 13 April; and if she will list the persons who attended. [84668]

In the morning, I attended a Privy Council Meeting; later in the day, I had meetings with officials in my Department. In the evening, I hosted an official function for Parliamentary Private Secretaries. This was one of three functions I have recently hosted as Leader of the House to build up contacts with, and thank, people, such as select committee chairmen, who shoulder a specific and extra burden of work in the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many investigations have been held in the past year into reports of near misses by aircraft flying over the UK; how many were related to aircraft using the Clacton sector air corridor; whether an investigation is being made into reports of an incident on 7 May; what action he will take to prevent further incidents; and if he will make a statement. [84035]

All reported airprox incidents are fully investigated by the independent UK Airprox Board (UKAB). Information on the location of individual airprox incidents is not held in the form requested. In 1998, UKAB investigated 202 airprox incidents, slightly lower than at any time in the past decade, despite significant increases in traffic over that period. Up to 7 May 1999 there have been 66 incidents reported to the UKAB.The Civil Aviation Authority's Safety Regulation Group (SRG) is carrying out an investigation into the airprox incident which occurred on 6 May over Essex. Once completed, the SRG report will be passed to the UKAB for its review and assessment of the incident. UKAB will publish its findings. This will include an assessment of the degree of collision risk and any safety recommendations UKAB thinks it appropriate to make.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how much has been awarded to environmental bodies since January 1997 under the landfill tax credit scheme; and what percentage of this total is a voluntary donation from landfill operators and not refunded through landfill tax credits. [84214]

According to Entrust, £162.4 million was awarded to environmental bodies as at 13 May 1999 and 10 per cent. of this total is a voluntary donation from landfill operators and not refunded through the landfill tax credits.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what qualitative reviews are required by the Audit Commission of the work of district auditors; and how many such reviews were carried out in the case of the District Auditor's investigation of Westminster City Council. [84105]

The Commission operates a quality control review process to monitor the performance of auditors and to ensure they comply with its Code of Audit Practice, which is issued under section 4(1) of the Audit Commission Act 1998 and approved by Parliament, and with professional auditing standards. The Commission reviewed the work of the District Auditor's investigation of Westminster City Council designated sales on a number of occasions, most recently in April 1996.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what have been the fee levels, in pounds per hour, charged by each of the auditors appointed by the Audit Commission over the period from July 1989 to April 1999. [84103]

The standard composite fee rates for principal authorities set by the Commission since 1989 are as follows:

£ per hour
	London	South-East	Elsewhere
Local Government
November 1988	36.00	31.50	31.00
November 1989	40.00	34.30	33.50
November 1990	44.50	38.25	37.00
November 1991	47.50	40.90	39.40
November 1992	48.20	42.50	40.00
November 1993	48.20	42.50	40.00
November 1994	48.70	42.90	40.40
November 1995	49.70	43.80	41.20
November 1996	50.70	44.70	42.00
November 1997	52.70	46.50	43.70
November 1998	55.30	48.80	45.90
Health
November 1990	46.50	40.00	38.75
November 1991	49.80	43.00	41.40
November 1992	50.40	44.60	42.00
November 1993	50.90	45.10	42.40
November 1994	51.40	45.60	42.80
November 1995	52.40	46.50	43.70
November 1996	53.50	47.40	44.60
November 1997	55.60	49.30	46.40
November 1998	57.80	51.20	48.20

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what tendering procedures were employed by the District Auditor in the case of Westminster City Council in choosing his legal representative.[84104]

This is a matter for the independent appointed auditor.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how much money has been levied from local authorities by the Audit Commission up to 30 April to finance the Divisional Court and the Appeal Court costs of Westminster Council's appointed auditor, his support staff and legal team. [84116]

The Audit Commission is required to balance income with expenditure taking one year with another. The Audit Commission has met, in relation to the Westminster designated sales inquiry, costs of £2,997,000 incurred by the auditor in respect of his costs and those of his solicitor and barrister.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate he has made of the amount which the Audit Commission will need to levy from local authorities to reimburse the legal costs of the six persons cleared by the Divisional Court and the Court of Appeal of liability for the surcharge by the Westminster Council's Auditor. [84117]

My right hon. Friend has made no such estimate. Audit fees are a matter for the independent Audit Commission.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what arrangements have been made with the police and local authorities for dealing with an overseas nuclear accident over the millennium period. [84255]

Arrangements for dealing with the consequences for the UK of an overseas nuclear accident are set out in the National Response Plan, copies of which are held in the House Library. These can be activated at any time.There is therefore no need for arrangements to be made with any of the relevant bodies who would be involved in the response to such an accident over the millennium period.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what measures his Department is taking in order to increase voter interest in local elections.[84393]

Our modernisation agenda for local government, as set out in the White Paper, "Modern Local Government—In Touch with the People", published in July 1998, includes a range of measures designed to reinvigorate local democracy and to modernise local electoral arrangements. Where this programme requires legislation, it will be implemented when parliamentary time allows.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will place the London Economics report on the cost and benefits of aggregate supply in the Library. [84498]

A pre-publication copy of the Report was placed in the House of Commons Library on Monday 17 May. A copy of the printed report will be provided as soon as it is available.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many incidents have been reported to him involving planes entering United Kingdom air space with insufficient fuel to meet safety standards in the past two years; and if he will make a statement. [84487]

In the past two years the CAA has received 12 reports of aircraft arriving at UK airports with fuel levels below the prescribed minimum.The international standard for minimum fuel levels is contained in Annex 6 to the Chicago Convention. This requires that an aircraft should arrive at its destination airport with enough fuel to make an approach to land, carry out a missed approach, fly to an alternate airport, hold for 30 minutes and carry out the subsequent approach and landing. The aircraft should also carry a contingency reserve specified by the relevant national aviation authority. The breaching of minimum fuel levels does not immediately place an aircraft in danger.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the public subsidy given to each of the train operating companies for the most recent year for which figures are available. [84656]

The latest available public subsidy for each train operating company are contained in OPRAF's 1997–98 Annual Report, a copy of which is in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he has received from the Local Government Association in respect of possible future legislation to implement the White Paper on Integrated Transport. [84232]

The Government have received a number of representations from the Local Government Association. We aim to introduce the legislation to implement further elements of the integrated transport strategy as soon as parliamentary time permits.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what targets have been set for improving energy efficiency in his Department's buildings at (a) Eland House, (b) Ashdown House and Great Minster House. [84234]

The targets are to reduce energy emissions by:

(a) 13%% in Eland House and Ashdown House by March 2005 compared to June 1997, and

(b) 3%% in Great Minster House by March 2000 compared to March 1999.

Eland House was occupied in 1997 and Ashdown House in 1998. Both buildings were fitted out to high standards of environmental design to maximise energy efficiency.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what research his Department has undertaken on correlation between voter turnout in local elections and the frequency of elections. [84543]

This year we have commissioned wide-ranging research to examine the factors affecting turnout in local elections. The expected results will include an updating of the Department's report, "Explaining election turnout: a secondary analysis of local election statistics", published in 1994.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he has received concerning improvements to the London concessionary fares scheme; and if he will make a statement. [84545]

The Government have received representations from Members of Parliament, the Association of London Government, the Transport Committee for London, organisations representing Freedom Pass Holders and some individual Freedom Pass Holders.I would refer the hon. Member to my statement to the House on 4 May 1999,

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he plans to implement the recommendations of the KPMG report on the setting of fees for local air pollution control. [84700]

KPMG is currently undertaking an investigation of local air pollution control regime costs in England and Wales commissioned by the Welsh Office, the Department of Trade and Industry and the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions. The final report of the study, which will be completed in July, will inform our decisions on charging levels for 2000–2001 and any structural changes in 2001–2002 in England. Local authority and trade associations will be consulted on all proposed changes.The future level of local air pollution control charges in Wales will be a matter for the National Assembly.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the changes in local air pollution control fees for each year since 1997–98. [84702]

Table A
£
		Charges for:
Type of charge	Type of process	1997–98	1998–99	1999–2000
Application Fee	Standard (those not listed below)	1,040	1,065	1,280
	Waste oil burning appliance/s under 0.4MW	100	100	120
	Unloading of petrol into storage tanks at a service station	100	100	120
	Mobile screening and crushing plant	See table B
Annual Subsistence Charge	Standard (those not listed below)	640	660	790
	Standard charge where paid quarterly	660	685	820
	Waste oil burning appliances under 0.4MW	100	100	120
	Unloading of petrol into storage tanks at a service station	100	100	120
	Odourising of natural gas	As standard charge	240	290
	Mobile screening and crushing plant	See table B
Substantial changes	Standard (those not listed below)	665	680	815
(Sections 10 and 11 of the Act)	Waste oil burning appliance/s under 0.4MW	65	65	80
	Unloading of petrol into storage tanks at a service station	65	65	80
	Change to implement an upgrading plan	100	100	120

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he plans to announce the fee level for local air pollution control for 1999–2000. [84701]

Details for the 1999–2000 England and Wales charging scheme for local air pollution control under Part I of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 are set out in my written answer dated 22 February 1999, Official Report, columns 62–64.The information relating to Scotland is a matter for the Scottish Environment Protection Agency.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many responses to his Department's consultation document on

The local air pollution control fees and charges for England and Wales since 1997–98 are as set out:Federal Express's application for fifth freedom rights from Prestwick and Stansted airports have been received; and of these how many were

The responses to the consultation exercise are currently being evaluated so we are not yet in a position to give the information requested. I will write to my hon. Friend once this evaluation is completed.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he plans to publish the formal amendment to the Channel Tunnel Concession Agreement setting out the terms on which this is extended to a total of 99 years. [84794]

I have today placed in the Libraries of both Houses copies of Cm 4350, "The Channel Fixed Link: Amendment No 3 to Concession Agreement", setting out the text of the formal Amendment, as signed by the four parties to the concession agreement of 1986, under which the duration is extended until the 99th anniversary of the date on which that agreement came into operation.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he expects to appoint a new Member of the Parliamentary Boundary Commission for England to succeed David Macklin CBE. [84844]

I have today appointed Robin Gray to serve as a Member of the Parliamentary Boundary Commission for England. Mr. Gray is also a Member of the Local Government Commission for England. His appointment, reflecting the Government's commitment to foster improved co-ordination between the Commissions, will help co-ordinate work undertaken by them on electoral matters.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he will issue proposals for improving the processing of major projects of national significance through the planning system. [84753]

I have today issued a consultation paper on streamlining the processing of major infrastructure projects and other major projects of national significance. Comments are invited by 30 July 1999.The purpose of the proposals is to achieve significant improvements in the time taken to handle major projects, whilst continuing to ensure that adequate opportunity is given for people to have a say, test the evidence and reach a sound decision. To that end, the paper proposes:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he plans to bring into force the main provisions of the Human Rights Act 1998; and if he will make a statement. [84722]

We plan to bring the remaining provisions of the Human Rights Act 1998 into force on Monday 2 October 2000. Some provisions—principally those of section 19 (relating to statements by Ministers of the Crown about the compatibility of Bills with the Convention rights)—are already in force.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will announce the membership of the steering group which he will chair to oversee the implementation of his action plan to take forward the recommendations of the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry; and if he will make a statement. [84883]

Details of membership of the Steering Group are as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) civil servants and (b) special advisers involved in media relations were employed within his Department at 1 May (i) 1997, (ii) 1998 and (iii) 1999. [84204]

Detailed information on the numbers of permanent civil servants employed in Departmental Press Offices during the financial years 1997–98 and 1998–99 was provided in a memorandum dated 16 June 1998 to the Select Committee on Public Administration and published in its report on 'The Government Information and Communication Service' in July 1998. A copy is in the Library.The numbers in post at 1 May 1999 were 17 plus three trainees.Special Advisers: In this Department, there are two special advisers; one (Ed Owen) has significant contact with the media but neither are specifically employed in media relations.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list those coroners' offices which provide an out of hours service which enables the authorisation of removal of bodies out of England at a weekend when the death occurs during or immediately before that weekend. [84689]

The coroner service is a local service. Details of the arrangements available locally, including those for the purposes of authorising the removal of bodies abroad, are not held centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 26 April 1999, Official Report, column 75, concerning coroners, how many currently employed coroners do not have one of the specified qualifications. [84715]

Under the Coroners Act 1988, no person is eligible to be appointed as a coroner unless one of the prescribed qualifications is held. Records of qualifications held by coroners are a matter for the local authority which appointed them.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 27 April 1999, Official Report, columns 110–11, on home detention curfews, how many of the curfewees who were released on curfew and who were charged with an offence committed during the period of curfew and thereby made subject to breach action under section 38(2) of the Criminal Justice Act 1991, were (a) returned to custody and (b) remained on home detention curfew. [84071]

The available information shows that all of the 14 curfewees referred to in the reply given on 27 April 1999, Official Report, columns 110–11, remained on curfew until the end of their home detention curfew period. They would remain liable to breach action after that date. However, information about cases dealt with after the expiry of home detention curfew is not held centrally.The Government recognise the need to expedite breach action in such cases. It is for that reason that Section 103 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 was implemented on 1 January 1999. This will mean that a curfewee whose original offence was committed on or after 1 January 1999 and who commits an offence during the home detention curfew period will be liable to immediate recall by the Secretary of State.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers, per force in total, there were in England and Wales on 31 March; how many there were in each case per head of population; and if he will make a statement. [84367]

The information is not yet available. Once all the data from police forces has been received and validated, the statistics will be placed in the Library. I expect this information to be available in early June, on the basis of last year's timetable.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 6 May 1999, Official Report, column 468, on the Cleveland Police, if the meeting of the Cleveland Police Authority on 8 February discussed the 999 call from the house of the former Deputy Chief Constable on 20 January. [84259]

Yes. The issue was dealt with as a confidential matter in private session in accordance with Section 100 of the Local Government Act 1972. It would, therefore, not be appropriate to provide any further details.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 4 May 1999, Official Report, column 317, on the cost of the Lancet inquiry, if the salaries of the eight suspended officers mentioned in his answer of 20 April 1999, Official Report, column 484, were included in his breakdown of costs. [84249]

The salaries of the eight suspended officers were not included in the breakdown of costs, as these referred solely to the salary costs of Cleveland Officers working on the Lancet Inquiry and not those officers who are the subject of the investigation.The salary costs of the eight suspended officers total £282,703 per annum inclusive of allowances and costs. In accordance with Force policy, those salaries are carried by the particular District to which the officers were posted when they were suspended; in this case all eight officers were posted to Middlesbrough District.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 4 May 1999, Official Report, column 317, on the Lancet Inquiry, if he will list the total cost of the salaries of the 11 officers, and the total number of days each one has worked on the Lancet Inquiry. [84260]

One of the 11 officers of the Force's Organised Crime Group has tendered his intention to retire from the Police Service with effect from 23 May 1999. The remaining 10 officers' salaries total £326,351, inclusive of allowances and costs. The information requested on the number of days each one has worked on the Lancet Inquiry is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost to Cleveland Constabulary.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will place in the Library copies of the Government's evidence to the House of Lords European Communities Committee's inquiry into the corpus juris report. [84070]

Copies of the evidence have now been placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the number of recorded homophobic crimes for each police force in each year since 1996. [84069]

This information is not collected centrally, although Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary have encouraged police forces to implement locally, recording systems for homophobic incidents and crime.In the Home Office, recorded crime statistics incidents of homophobic crime could appear in the categories of, for example, violence against the person and criminal damage, but there is no way of identifying those offences which have a homophobic element.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures he is taking to reduce the number of homophobic attacks. [84068]

The crime reduction partnerships established under the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 are required to carry out audits and publish strategies to deal with crime in their area. This includes strategies to deal with crimes against the gay and lesbian community.The police service is also taking steps to improve communication between forces and gay and lesbian communities both to promote better understanding within the service of the impact of such incidents on the community and to provide a better service. The Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) published in 1996 a good practice guide for dealing with homophobic incidents. Recording and monitoring systems are being improved in order to enable forces to deal appropriately with such incidents.Agreement has recently been reached by ACPO that the definition of a homophobic incident should be simplified to bring it into line with the more simplified definition of a racist incident recommended by the Macpherson Inquiry. This will be promulgated throughout the service.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will publish the programme and itinerary for the visits of the biotechnology clusters team to centres in the United Kingdom and overseas. [83314]

[holding answer 5 May 1999]: As announced on 16 April, the team of experts who will accompany Lord Sainsbury on a fact-finding mission to examine the growth of biotechnology clusters will undertake a programme of visits in the UK and the United States as follows:

April 1999	May 1999	June 1999
Cambridge	Seattle	Boston
Guildford	Central Scotland	—
Oxford	—	—

In addition, officials are undertaking visits and consultations in Manchester, York, London, Newcastle, Norwich and Cardiff and, where appropriate, will be compiling data on other centres.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what ethical and environmental guidance exists for the Export Credits Guarantee Department on applications for support. [83976]

ECGD abides by the government's policy on the environment and human rights as outlined in Foreign Office Mission Statement.If there are environmental or ethical concerns which could impact adversely on a project for which ECGD has been asked to provide support, as part of its risk assessment process, ECGD looks closely at how these concerns can be mitigated or resolved before deciding whether to provide cover. ECGD is currently strengthening its environmental screening process and will publish further guidance for its customers later in the year. In relation to defence transactions, ECGD support is available only when export licences have been granted.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate his Department has made of the number of people likely to be displaced as a result of the proposed construction of the Ilisu Dam. [83977]

The advice we have so far received is that between 12,000 to 15,000 people may be displaced as a result of the construction of the Ilisu Power Project. We will be commissioning independent advice on this and related matters.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what amount of credit is being requested by Balfour Beattie from the Export Credits Guarantee Department to underwrite its share of the cost of the Ilisu Dam. [83978]

While the final amount of UK supply has not yet been finalised (and is a figure that at this stage is normally treated as commercial-in-confidence and not disclosed), I am advised that the current estimate of loan value is between US$200m and US$250m. No decision on ECGD cover has yet been taken.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the conditions which have been applied to the Her Majesty's Government's granting of export credit insurance for the Ilisu Dam. [84531]

No decision on ECGD cover has been taken and so it is not possible to make any statement at this time.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if approval of UK export credit guarantees for the Ilisu Dam in Turkey will be conditional on the project complying with (a) the World Bank's guidelines and (b) the UN Convention on the Laws of Non-Navigational Uses of International Watercourses International Waterways. [84228]

We have yet to take a decision on whether ECGD support should be made available for this project. We require to be satisfied on a number of issues, including the implications for the local population and issues concerning downstream waterflows and neighbouring states.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many trade fairs organised by his Department in the past three years have included representatives of the British fashion industry; and in which countries these were held. [84413]

My Department provides support, primarily through grants to firms in groups, to exhibit at trade fairs and similar events abroad. The number of such events in the clothing, footwear and fashion industry in each of the past three years is shown in the table. In the UK, my Department has also supported twice annually the participation of up-and-coming British designers at London Fashion Week.

	1996–97	1997–98	1998–99
Australia	0	0	1
Cyprus	0	1	1
France	15	14	12
Germany	8	5	5
Hong Kong	1	1	1
Italy	3	5	2
Japan	2	2	2
Poland	0	0	1
Russia	2	2	0
South Korea	0	1	0
Spain	2	1	1
Sweden	1	0	0
UAE	2	2	1
USA	3	2	5
Total	39	37	32
Total events supported	358	307	399

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he proposes to publish the Inspector's report into the Mirror Group flotation. [84336]

The inspectors have yet to report to me.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what salary the Government are proposing for the e-Envoy. [84349]

I refer the right hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Christchurch (Mr. Chope) on 6 May 1999, Official Report, column 449.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what research his Department has conducted into the feasibility of adding a limited amount of alcohol to petrol as a method of reducing net carbon dioxide emissions from motor vehicles. [84318]

The Department of Trade and Industry co-funded the following paper study, which was published in 1996, with the Department of Transport, where alcohol-based products were studied for their potential use as alternative fuels in the UK to reduce carbon dioxide and other emissions:

'Alternative Road Transport Fuels—A Preliminary Life-cycle Study for the UK' in two volumes, Energy Technology Support Unit (ISBN 0–11–5-5154–10–8 AND –11–515411–6).

Two other paper studies, wholly or partially funded by the Government, have also been published. These are:

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the rate of progress in the reform of the electricity pool. [84641]

The White Paper on 'Fuel Sources for Power Generation (Cm 4071)' published in October 1998 confirmed the Government's intention to proceed with the replacement of the Electricity Pool with new trading arrangements. Work to develop the details of the new market arrangements is being led by DTI and Offer with strong industry and consumer involvement. I expect this development work to be complete in July. The final date for the full implementation of the new market will be announced in the light of that work.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is his policy on the regional location of power stations. [84642]

It is for developers to put forward proposals for new power generation capacity. If there are system benefits to be gained from a particular proposal then these will be taken into account by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State, together with all other relevant energy policy, planning, environmental and local considerations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many (a) civil servants and (b) special advisers involved in media relations were employed within his Department at 1 May (i) 1997, (ii) 1998 and (iii) 1999. [84200]

Detailed information on the number of permanent civil servants employed in Departmental Press Offices during the financial years 1997–98 and 1998–99 was provided in a memorandum to the Select Committee on Public Administration and published in its report on the 'The Government Information and Communication Service (HC770)' in July 1998, which is in the Library of the House. The number in post on 1 May 1999 was 21.Special Advisers in this department have ad hoc contact with the media but none are specifically employed in media relations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 26 April 1999, Official Report, column 9, regarding Atomic Weapons Establishment sites, if he will list the three consortia who are interested in bidding for the contract; and if he will place in the Library copies of the unclassified documents which have so far been issued or made public during the selection procedure. [84348]

The three consortia who have declared an interest in bidding are:

AWE Management Ltd, comprising Serco Defence Support, British Nuclear Fuels plc and the Lockheed Martin Corporation;

AWE 2100, comprising Babcock Facilities Management, Scientific Application International Corporation and W. S. Atkins plc,

and Hunting BRAE DERA, comprising Hunting Engineering, Brown and Root, AEA Technology, and DERA.

A copy of any unclassified documents which have been issued or made public during the selection process to date will be placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his oral answer of 10 May 1999, Official Report, column 11, on weapons systems equipment, what type of targets are selected for the specific use by the RAF of the RBL 755 cluster bomb; and how many have been used in Kosovo to date. [84350]

Up to 16 May, a total of 423 RBL 755 bombs had been dropped by the RAF in support of Operation Allied Force. This weapon is particularly effective against Serb forces deployed in the field in Kosovo, and targets have included main battle tanks, armoured personnel carriers, other military vehicles, artillery, field headquarters and troop concentrations. It is not designed to be used as a runway cratering weapon, and has not been used to attack runways; nor is it designed to impede damage repair.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when HMS Invincible is due to be refitted; and where the refit will take place. [84507]

HMS Invincible's refit is programmed to start in late 2001 at Rosyth Royal Dockyard.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the cost to date of the refit of HMS Illustrious. [84521]

The cost to date of HMS Illustrious's maintenance period is about £14.5 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what refits are planned for RFA Sir Geraint and RFA Sir Percivale. [84523]

Refits are planned for both Sir Geraint and Sir Percivale in 2001.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 16 April 1999, Official Report, columns 373–74, concerning the murder of Mr. Patrick Finucane, if he will make a statement on Mr. John Stevens' recent statements concerning investigation of the murder of Mr. Patrick Finucane. [83389]

[holding answer 14 May 1999]: Further to my written answer of 16 April 1999, Official Report, columns 373–74, I should like to clarify the position concerning Mr. John Stevens' role in relation to the investigation into the murder of Mr. Patrick Finucane.The Royal Ulster Constabulary carried out a criminal investigation of the murder itself and Mr. Stevens investigated the circumstances surrounding the murder, namely the related allegations of collusion.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if Fleet Support at Portsmouth bid for the refit of HMS Ark Royal; and if he will make a statement. [84568]

The HMS Ark Royal refit is part of the allocated programme of work at Rosyth Royal Dockyard and was not competed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the Defence Vetting Agency plans to move to York. [84550]

It is planned that about half the Agency will move in April 2000, with the remainder moving by early 2001. The move should be completed by April 2001. Some personnel and planning staff may be established in York before April 2000.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list all current UK/US military agreements, giving in each case the date on which they were entered into and the objectives.[84233]

This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the number of (a) shepherds and (b) sheep killed by US and UK action in Iraq. [84576]

I am aware of Iraqi claims that recent actions in the no-fly zones have caused civilian casualties and killed livestock on 29 and 30 April and again on 12 May. If these claims are true the casualties are deeply regrettable. Civilians and civilian property are never deliberately targeted by coalition pilots. Their mission (in support of UNSCR 688) is to prevent Saddam's air forces from persecuting the Kurds and Shia Muslims of northern and southern Iraq. The military action undertaken in the no-fly zones in recent months has been in response to Iraqi attempts to shoot down or otherwise threaten aircraft and kill aircrew.

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]

[pursuant to the reply, 12 April 1999, c. 563]: 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 subheads F and D; the latter costs are in relation to redundant naval systems. Vote 1 subhead A covers the front line operating costs of the deterrent.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) if she will list for the week ended Saturday 8 May the number of violent incidents involving paramilitary groups which took place in Northern Ireland, indicating how many involved (a) Loyalist and (b) Republican groups; [83974](2) if she will list for the week ended Saturday 8 May the number of

The number of security incidents during the period 2–8 May 1999 are as follows:

Shooting incidents: 4

Bombing incidents: 1.

The number of casualties as a result of paramilitary-style attacks during the period are as follows:

	Loyalist	Republican
Assaults	0	0
Shootings	1	1
Total	1	1

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many state pathologists there are in Northern Ireland. [83934]

There is one State Pathologist, Professor Jack Crane, who is assisted by a Deputy State Pathologist, Dr. Derek Carson, and one other consultant forensic pathologist.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many post mortems each state pathologist in Northern Ireland has conducted in each of the last three years; and what were the numbers performed by Home Office pathologists in England and Wales. [83937]

I am not prepared to release the numbers of post mortems performed by individual forensic pathologists. The total numbers of post mortems performed in Northern Ireland by the State Pathologist's Department in the previous three years were:

	Number
1996	1,479
1997	1,525
1998	1,672

The number of forensic post mortems performed by pathologists in England and Wales is a matter for the Home Secretary.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans she has to issue a standard charter for the State Pathologists Department. [83939]

There are no plans for a charter for the State Pathologist's Department. The work of the Department is presently under review and I propose to await the outcome of the review before considering that possibility.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many relatives of the deceased in each of the last 10 years have waited (a) one year, (b) two years and (c) more than two years between the death and the issuing of a death certificate; and if she will issue a statement. [83936]

Year	All deaths registered	Registered within 1 year of death	Registered 1 and 2 years of death	Registered 2 and 3 years of death	Registered 3 or more years after death
1988	15,814	15,675	113	21	5
1989	15,844	15,700	113	23	8
1990	15,426	15,243	144	29	10
1991	15,096	14,919	147	18	12
1992	14,988	14,813	129	30	16
1993	15,633	15,453	142	23	15
1994	15,114	14,886	147	57	24
1995	15,310	15,099	142	34	35
1996	15,218	15,027	151	17	23
1997	14,971	14,715	180	58	18

Information from 1988–96 (inclusive) is based on the registration date being recorded as the first day of the month. 1997 registration have been recorded as the actual date of registration.Deaths are normally required to be registered within five days of a death. Registrations after the expiration of one year require the written authority of the Registrar General. Some deaths require referral to a Coroner and can be registered only on subsequent notification from that office. In Northern Ireland Coroners are appointed by the Lord Chancellor.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which department is responsible for cutting the grass (a) at Belmont roundabout on the intersection of Belmont Road and Knock Dual Carriageway, Belfast and (b) in front of Nos. 1 to 40 Old Holywood Road; and how often the grass is cut. [83932]

Responsibility for the subject in question has been delegated to the Roads Service under its chief executive, Mr. W. J. McCoubrey. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many post mortems were conducted in each of the last five years in Northern Ireland. [83935]

Information on the number of post mortems conducted in Northern Ireland during the latest years for which information is available is given in Tables 1 and 2.

Information is available only for date of death and date of registration. The figures are as follows:

Table 1: Number of post mortems conducted in Northern Ireland hospitals 1994–95 to 1997–98
Year	Number of post mortems
1997–98	840
1996–97	1,029
1995–96	1,034
1994–95	984

Table 2: Number of post mortems conducted in the State Pathology Department 1994–98
Year	Number of post mortems
1998	1,672
1997	1,525
1996	1,479
1995	1,524
1994	1,471

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans she has to allow hospital pathologists to conduct routine post mortems. [83938]

Hospital pathologists already perform routine post mortems as part of their work. In addition, they may perform post mortem examinations on patients who are the subject of a Coroner's investigation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many recruits there were to the RUC reserve in each of the last five years; how many recruits are currently training; and when the next intake will be into the RUC reserve. [83933]

The number of recruits to the RUC Reserve in the last 5 years are as follows:

• 1994: 116
• 1995: 45
• 1996: 62
• 1997: 29
• 1998: 122.

These figures relate to the full-time reserve. There has been no recruitment to the part-time reserve for some time.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to her answer of 27 April 1999, Official Report, columns 116–17, on the costs of the trial of Lee Clegg, for what reasons an answer could be prepared only at disproportionate cost. [83988]

[holding answer 17 May 1999]: Costs in individual trials are not collated. The information on the costs in Lee Clegg's trial in 1993 is not recorded in a form which is easily accessible. An extensive and protracted search of records would be necessary to retrieve it.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will list the heads under which the costs of a criminal trial are recorded by her Department. [83989]

[holding answer 17 May 1999]: "Counsels' Fees" and "Payments to Witnesses" are recorded under those heads. Other costs are not recorded under specific heads.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on how many occasions in each of the past 10 years her Department has been asked for the cost of specific criminal trials; and if she will list the trials, indicating those in respect of which information has been refused on the grounds of disproportionate cost. [83990]

[holding answer 17 May 1999]: Once. On 31 October 1994, Official Report, column 923, in answer to the hon. Member for North Antrim (Rev. Ian Paisley), the then Secretary of State replied that information about the cost to the State of the arrest, prosecution and appeal of Messrs, Latimer, Bell, Allen and Hegan was not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many of those terrorist prisoners released early under the Good Friday agreement by 13 May would have been due for release by that date under the terms of the early release arrangements which apply in Northern Ireland. [84667]

All 181 of the terrorist prisoners serving determinate sentences who have to date been released under the Northern Ireland (Sentences) Act 1998, would have been eligible for release under the terms of the early release arrangements contained in the Northern Ireland (Remission of Sentences) Act 1995. The 1995 Act did not cover prisoners serving indeterminate sentences, some 85 of whom have been released under the 1998 Act. This information is taken from statistics which are current at 17 May 1999.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what estimate he has made of the cost of removing student tuition fees for higher education in Wales. [83980]

The higher education institutions in Wales would not benefit from the forecast private contribution of:

	£ million
1999–2000	16.0
2000–01	23.3
2001–02	26.5

The source of these figures is the Department's Funding letter of 15 December 1998 to the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales. The figures are the estimated student tuition fee contributions from all UK and EU domiciled students attending Welsh Higher Education institutions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many (a) civil servants and (b) special advisers involved in media relations were employed within his Department at 1 May (i) 1997, (ii) 1998 and (iii) 1999. [84202]

Detailed information on the numbers of permanent civil servants employed in Departmental Press Offices during the financial years 1997–98 and 1998–99 was provided in a memorandum to the Select Committee on Public Administration and published in its report, "The Government Information and Communication Service" (HC 770) in July 1998. A copy is in the Library of the House. The numbers in post at 1 May are 13.Special Advisers in this Department have ad hoc contact with the media but none are specifically employed in media relations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he expects to announce his decision on the application for a pharmacy at Killay Medical Centre. [84664]

This has come to my right hon. Friend as an appeal against a decision by Iechyd Morgannwg Health Authority. Consideration of the case must include certain statutory periods for consultation and other essential processes and a decision will be announced once these have been concluded.Following the transfer of functions, this issue will be a matter for the National Assembly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what the total expenditure on the scheme to automate benefit payments at post offices has been to date; [84109]

To date, the Department's total expenditure amounts to £268 million. This expenditure provides a range of services and an IT infrastructure that will also support our wider programme of modernisation.We are monitoring the progress of the trials very closely. There are no plans to publish a report.On present plans, automation of post offices will be completed within the next two years.Under the terms of the PFI contract to automate business transacted at post offices, including the payment of benefits, ICL Pathway is responsible for the bulk of development and implementation. This Department has a budget of £1.2 billion (at 1997–98 prices for the period 1994–2005) for a range of services and IT infrastructure to support post office automation and the Department's wider programme of modernisation.This Department, Post Office Counters Ltd. and ICL Pathway are presently working together to progress the project. The costs of completion will not be known until plans have been finalised.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many (a) civil servants and (b) special advisers involved in media relations were employed within his Department at 1 May (i) 1997, (ii) 1998 and (iii) 1999. [84196]

Detailed information on the numbers of permanent civil servants employed in Departmental Press Offices during the financial years 1997–98 and 1998–99 was provided in a memorandum dated 16 June 1998 to the Select Committee on Public Administration and published in its report on The Government Information and Communication Service (HC 770) in July 1998. A copy is in the Library of the House. The full-time equivalent of the staff in post in the Department of Social Security as of 1 May 1999 was 60.1.Special Advisers in this Department have ad hoc contact with the media but none specifically employed in media relations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to review the guidance issued to adjudicators and BAMS doctors on the assessment of people diagnosed as suffering from ME. [84542]

The Department's Chief Medical Adviser issues guidance to all doctors approved by the Secretary of State to undertake medical assessments for State benefit purposes. The guidance is contained in the Handbook for Medical Services Doctors and in the Disability Handbook. Both these Handbooks contain a section on Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (also known as ME). The handbooks are available to decision makers who also have access to expert advice from a Medical Services doctor.Medical Services doctors employed by SEMA group, which provide medical services on behalf of the Department of Social Security are trained in those aspects of Disability Assessment Medicine which focuses on impartial and objective assessment of disability irrespective of diagnosis.The latest developments in the understanding of the Chronic Fatigue Syndromes are constantly kept under review by the Chief Medical Adviser and his Medical Policy Group. The guidance is reviewed in the light of any developments.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the cost of paying in full the mortgage interest costs of recipients of Income Support and related benefits from the first day of receipt of benefit. [84663]

The estimated cost of paying mortgage interest to working age people, as well as pensioners, from the first day of a benefit claim is £80 million.

To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department how many (a) civil servants and (b) special advisers involved in media relations were employed within his Department at 1 May (i) 1997, (ii) 1998 and (iii) 1999. [84198]

Four civil servants, all members of the Government Information and Communications Service (GICS), were employed in my Department for media relations on 1 May in the years 1997–99.The Special Adviser in this Department has

To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor' s Department, pursuant to the answer of 13 May 1999, Official Report, column 183, if he will set a date for publication of the Community Legal Service consultation document. [84669]

Further to the answer of the 13 May 1999, Official Report, column 183, given by my hon. Friend the hon. Member for Ashfield (Mr. Hoon), I can confirm that the publication of the consultation paper will take place soon.

To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make a statement on the draft Commission legislation on the jurisdiction, recognition and enforcement of judgments in matrimonial matters and parental responsibility for children; and what is the Government's policy on the draft legislation. [84094]

The proposal for a Council Regulation on jurisdiction and the recognition and enforcement of judgments in matrimonial matters and in matters of parental responsibility for joint children was published by the European Commission on 4 May 1999.The Government are currently assessing this proposal and its implications; it is based on a convention dealing with the same subject matter which was agreed by the member states of the European Union in 1998. The Government have not yet decided what steps to take in relation to this proposal.

To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make a statement on the draft Commission directive on the service of judicial and extra-judicial documents in civil and commercial matters; and what is his policy thereto. [84093]

The provisional version of the Directive was published by the European Commission on 4 May 1999. The Government are presently considering their response.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how much funding was provided under the voluntary rationing scheme in the last financial year; how many grants were made; when funding ceased to be available; and if he will make a statement on funding for the scheme for this year. [83130]

[holding answer 4 May 1999]: Funding of £11.1 million was provided under the Voluntary Rationing Scheme (VRS) in 1998–99. This expenditure supported 1,036 VRS repair projects and 739 VRS capital projects. Funding for VRS repair grant was available to Voluntary Aided schools throughout 1998–99. However, due to an unusually high demand in the early part of the year, funding for VRS capital work was not provided between 27 August 1998 and 31 March 1999.The Voluntary Rationing Scheme is one of a number of largely demand led elements in the overall provision of grant to governing bodies for building work at Voluntary Aided schools. The amount available in any year depends on the total demand for grant for all types of capital and repair work at these schools. Funding for VRS capital will be monitored closely throughout 1999–2000 and schools will be informed if any changes are necessary. The VRS repair arrangements have been subsumed into new and streamlined funding procedures which came into effect on 1 April 1999, after full consultation with the Churches.In 1999–2000, the total budget for the provision of grant towards the governors' liabilities for building work at Voluntary Aided schools is £121 million. This compares with an amount of £103 million at the time the original budget was set for 1998–99. Of the £121 million available for 1999–2000 some £17 million has provisionally been set aside for demand led elements such as the Voluntary Rationing Scheme.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to introduce an NVQ in hospital portering; and if he will make a statement. [84395]

There are no plans to develop an NVQ in hospital portering. The Healthcare National Training Organisation as the body responsible for developing NVQs in this sector will be looking at the feasibility of such qualifications.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to ensure that pupils have the opportunity to take part in outdoor activities as part of the school curriculum. [84693]

Under my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State's proposals for a revised National Curriculum from 2000, on which we are currently consulting, outdoor and adventurous activities continue to be available for pupils aged 7–16 as one of six areas of activity in the physical education curriculum.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will publish a summary of the responses to the Green Paper, "The Learning Age". [84795]

We received about 3,000 thoughtful and constructive responses to "The Learning Age". They supported our vision of the learning society and our proposals for achieving it.A document summarising the responses is now available and I am placing copies in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many (a) civil servants and (b) special advisers involved in media relations were employed within his Department at 1 May (i) 1997, (ii) 1998 and (iii) 1999. [84195]

Information on the numbers of permanent civil servants employed in Departmental Press Offices during the financial years 1997–98 and 1998–99 was provided in a memorandum to the Select Committee on Public Administration and published in its report, "The Government Information and Communication Service" (HC770) in July 1998. A copy is in the Library. The number of press officers in post at DfEE on 1 May 1999 are 30.Special Advisers in this Department have ad hoc contact with the media but none are employed specifically in media relations.