To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what reports he has received from the manufacturers of Eurofighter concerning production delays; and if he will make a statement. [82524]

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many meetings he held with members and officials of the US Administration during his visit to the United States of America on 16 to 18 April; with whom he held the meetings and at what locations. [84314]

During my visit to the US from 16 to 18 April 1999 my only formal meeting was with Mr. William Cohen, the US Secretary for Defence. This meeting took place in the Marriott Hotel, Portland, Maine, on the morning of Saturday 17 April.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of the Scalp EG missile is being built in the UK; and what agreements have been made on the United Kingdom's share of the work. [84516]

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many personnel are based at the Defence Clothing and Textiles Agency in Colchester; and how many staff have agreed to be transferred to Caversfield. [84648]

There are 148 personnel currently based at the Defence Clothing and Textiles Agency's site at Colchester. A staff preference exercise is currently being conducted which, when completed, will indicate the number of staff who wish to transfer to Caversfield.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received concerning the use of depleted uranium weapons in operation Allied Force against Yugoslavia. [84624]

I have received a number of representations concerning the use of depleted uranium munitions in operation Allied Force from Members of Parliament, including from my hon. Friend himself, and from some members of the public.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if cockpit voice recorders will be fitted to the first six RAF Chinook helicopters by 30 June as set out in his answer of 16 November 1998, Official Report, columns 325–26. [84703]

[holding answer 18 May 1999]: This is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Defence Procurement Agency. I have asked the Chief Executive to write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for the withdrawal of British army units from Germany. [84972]

I stressed in the Strategic Defence Review that the forward basing of ground forces in Germany would remain a key aspect of British defence policy. I (UK) Armoured Division, with its three brigades, will continue to be stationed in Germany, together with United Kingdom Support Command (Germany) and the Headquarters of the Allied Command Europe Rapid Reaction Corps (ARRC) with its signals brigades. But the withdrawal of some units to the United Kingdom will mean that we have a reduced requirement for barracks accommodation and can plan to return to the German authorities at least one Army barracks. The Army has now concluded its studies of its barracks requirement, and I am in a position to give a clearer indication of the likely impact, and timescale, of these moves, which are, to an extent, dependent on the timescale within which refurbished accommodation becomes available in the United Kingdom.The process of withdrawal will be phased and we do not expect the full withdrawal of the about 2,500 British troops that I announced to be completed until 2005 at the earliest. However, barracks are now available in the UK to accommodate 1St Royal Tank Regiment, currently located at Paderborn.The plan is therefore to withdraw this unit by August of this year. To make best use of the barracks vacated in Germany, and to meet our operational requirements more effectively, we intend to move 35 Engineer Regiment, currently based in Hameln, to Paderborn. Internal moves within Hameln will be initiated, which will enable the eventual handback of Bindon Barracks to the Federal authorities by 2002.Our plans for the later phases of the withdrawal are much less certain at the moment and many details have yet to be worked out. Our current assumptions are that there will be two further phases, the first involving the surrender of a barracks in Osnabruck following the withdrawal of an armoured regiment from there. We do not expect this second phase to commence before the year 2001, or to be complete until some time after that.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) civil servants and (b) special advisers involved in media relations were employed within his Department at I May (i) 1997, (ii) 1998 and (iii) 1999. [84192]

[holding answer 18 May 1999]: 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 (HC770) in July 1998. A copy is in the Library of the House. The number of civil servants, excluding administrative support staff, permanently employed in the MOD Press Office on media relations work on 1 May 1999 was 10. In addition three military officers were assigned to the MOD Press Office.The two Special Advisers in this Department have ad hoc contact with the media but neither is specifically employed in media relations.

To ask the Attorney-General what measures he is taking to improve the (a) speed and (b) effectiveness of the Crown Prosecution Service. [84324]

The Crown Prosecution Service has been piloting a number of initiatives to reduce delay as part of the inter-agency Reducing Delays Initiative. The pilots were completed at the end of March of 1999 and are now being evaluated. The evaluation report is expected in July 1999 and Ministers will then take final decisions on national implementation of the initiatives. The CPS is also continuing to make good progress in implementing the Glidewell Report, which made a number of recommendations aimed at improving the effectiveness of the Service. From April 1999, the CPS has been reorganised into 42 geographical Areas, each headed by a new Chief Crown Prosecutor. This re-organisation, announced when the Government first took office, represents a significant step towards improving the effectiveness of the CPS.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will list the issues which he (i) plans to raise and (ii) expects other states to raise at the Culture Ministers meeting on 18 and 19 May. [84677]

[holding answer 18 May 1999]: I will be attending the informal meeting of EU Ministers responsible for cultural and audiovisual issues taking place in Weimar on 18 and 19 May.The main issues which will be raised at that meeting are the Culture 2000 programme, culture and employment, European identity and history, self-regulation of the media at the European level, and the results of the consultations on the European Commission green paper on convergence.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the need for amendments to the (a) national minimum wage and (b) working time legislation on the basis of experience since their implementation. [84342]

The national minimum wage has been in operation for almost seven weeks and so it is too early to make a considered assessment of whether any major amendments might be required in the light of experience. However, the Government propose to make an amendment to the National Minimum Wage Act 1998 to exempt members of Intentional Communities (religious and spiritual residential organisations) following the Low Pay Commission's report. The amendment will be introduced through the Employment Relations Bill which is currently before Parliament. Adjustments to implementation procedures may also be made as necessary.With regard to the Working Time Directive, we will issue guidance that will address the questions that have been most frequently asked since the regulations came into force.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he plans to publish a draft bill on electronic commerce. [84341]

As Her Majesty announced in Her Gracious Speech on the opening of Parliament, the Government intend to introduce legislation on electronic commerce during the current session.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects to publish the report of the Monopolies and Mergers Commission into the milk market; and if he will make a statement. [84122]

[holding answer 14 May 1999]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on 6 May 1999, Official Report, columns 1069–70, to the hon. Member for Somerton and Frome (Mr. Heath).

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many households in the UK use coin-operated meters for electricity. [84661]

The latest Office of Electricity Regulation statistics (for the last quarter of 1998) show that there were 661 coin meters in use in Scotland, England and Wales. I have asked my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland to provide the right hon. Member with the relevant figures for Northern Ireland, and to place a copy of her response in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the agenda for the EU Research Council on 20 May. [84676]

[holding answer 18 May 1999]: The agenda for the formal session of EU Research Council on 20 May consists of:

1. Approval of the adoption of decisions concerning the association of applicant countries (CCEE and Cyprus) with the Fifth Framework Programme for European Research and Technological Development.

2. Consideration of a draft Council Resolution on "Women and Science: Mobilising women to enrich European research".

3. Any Other Business:

(a) the Commission will provide information on the competitiveness of European enterprises in the face of globalisation, with regard to action to be taken on its Communication.

(b) the Presidency will provide information on scientific and technical co-operation with the Mediterranean partner countries.

(c) the Commission will provide information on decommissioning of the Joint Research Centre's obsolete nuclear facilities.

There will also be an informal afternoon session at which the Presidency aims to stimulate a wide-ranging debate on the future of European research. Ministers will be joined by seven representatives of industry and academia who will speak briefly on key issues in European research.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the restricted marking classification of his Department's internal history of the negotiations on United Kingdom entry to the European Economic Community. [83398]

The text referred to is the "Report on the Negotiations for entry into the European Economic Community" written in 1972 by Sir Con O'Neill. The text was classified as Confidential. This report is expected to be published later this year, ahead of its scheduled release in 2003 under the 30 year rule.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will place in the Library a copy of the document presented to the General Affairs Council of the European Union by the Presidency concerning a future European Defence Policy and capability, in co-operation with NATO; what discussion there has been in Council of the proposals; and what consultation Her Majesty's Government propose to hold. [84315]

The German Presidency are in the course of preparing a report on European defence, which will be submitted to European Union Heads of Government at the Cologne European Council, after discussion at the General Affairs Council. A copy of the final version will be placed in the Library once it is available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish the agenda for the meeting of Co-operation Council with Russia on 18 May. [84699]

[holding answer 18 May 1999]: The provisional agenda for the EU/Russia Co-operation Council on 17 May was as follows:

1. Opening statements

2. Adoption of the agenda

3. Approval of the minutes of the first Co-operation Council

4. Common EU Strategy towards Russia

5. Russian Strategy of development of relations with EU

6. Common foreign and security policy according to Amsterdam Treaty; prospects of further development of EU/Russia political dialogue

7. Developing EU/Russia relations in the framework of the Partnership and Co-operation Agreement

8. International issues of mutual concern

9. Refocussing TACIS programme and member states' bilateral assistance programmes

10. Other business

11. Closing statements.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish the agenda for the EEA Council of 18 May. [84697]

[holding answer 18 May 1999]: The agenda for the 11^th EEA Council on 18 May was as follows:

1. Adoption of the agenda

2. Approval of the minutes of the 8^th and 9^th and 10^th meetings of the EEA Council

3. Progress Report by the EEA Joint Committee

4. Resolutions adopted by the EEA Joint Parliamentary Committee at its meeting on 16 March 1999

5. Assessment of the overall functioning of the EEA Agreement

6. Resolutions adopted by the EEA Consultative Committee at its meeting on 11 March 1999

7. Enlargement of the European Union and the EEA

8. Review of developments of European integration and regional issues

9. EEA Financial Mechanism

10. Adoption of the conclusions of the EEA Council

11. Other business.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the Government's policy in relation to Kurdish self-determination. [84428]

We fully respect the territorial integrity of all the regional states with sizeable kurdish populations (ie Turkey, Iraq, Iran and Syria).With relation to Turkey, we have repeatedly urged the Turkish Government to address the social and economic problems of south-east Turkey, in order to bring an end to conflict in the region. We believe that, by addressing the aspirations of the local population, including the Kurdish population, the Turkish authorities can bring about a peaceful resolution of the conflict.In Iraq, we are committed to supporting peace and stability in northern Iraq, and are one of the co-sponsors of the Kurdish reconciliation process there. We wish to see autonomy (not independence) for the Iraqi Kurds. The Kurds have made clear that this is what they want.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he has responded to the Local Government Association statement on genetically modified foods. [75496]

Yes, I have responded to the Local Government Association statement on genetically modified foods and a copy has been placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the organisations represented on the Scientific Steering Group for the field-scale evaluations of the ecological effects of genetically modified crops. [83259]

The precise membership of the scientific steering committee has not yet been finalised. However, it will be made up of independent scientific experts with experience in a range of appropriate disciplines, including invertebrate and plant ecology, statistical analysis, pesticide use, agronomy, conservation and an expert from English Nature. The membership of the steering committee should be confirmed shortly and it is hoped that it will hold its first meeting in early June.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many regional development agencies have changed their name in the past five years. [84493]

Six of the Regional Development Agencies have changed their names. The names of each of the Regional Development Agencies are provided in the table.

Region	Name of the Regional Development Agency
North East	One North East
North West	North West Development Agency
Yorkshire and Humber	Yorkshire Forward
West Midlands	Advantage West Midlands
East Midlands	East Midlands Development Agency
East of England	East of England Development Agency
South East	South East England Development Agency
South West	South West of England Regional Development Agency

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he proposes to designate regional chambers for the purposes of regional development agencies; and if he will make a statement. [84973]

I am pleased to announce that we have today issued:

a direction to the East Midlands Development Agency designating the East Midlands Regional Assembly as its regional chamber;

a direction to the North West Development Agency designating the North West Regional Assembly as its regional chamber and;

a direction to Advantage West Midlands designating the West Midlands Regional Chamber as its regional chamber.

Section 8 of the Regional Development Agencies Act 1998 provides that, if the Secretary of State is of the opinion that there is a body which is representative of those in the RDA's area with an interest in its work, and that body is suitable to be given the role of regional chamber for the RDA, he may designate it.RDAs must take full account of regional interests. Regional chambers will provide a mechanism through which RDAs can take account of regional views and account for their activities. Ministers expect that each RDA will have regard to the chamber's view in preparing it strategy, consult the chamber on its corporate plan and give an account of its performance to the chamber.I am currently considering applications for designation from bodies in other regions.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the total cost, including consultancy fees, for changing its name to each regional development agency which has done so in the past five years. [84492]

Section 26 of the Regional Development Agencies Act 1998 provides for a change of name of the agency from that specified under Section 1 of the Act. The change of name is a matter for the Boards. I understand that, where consultants were involved, it was part of their wider consideration of corporate image and communications strategy for the Regional Development Agency and the cost associated with the name change were not separately identified.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how much his Department has spent on the Stop Fuming campaign; and if he will make a statement. [84405]

The Stop Fuming campaign run by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders encourages car owners to undertake regular exhaust emission checks. Last year, the campaign linked with the messages being disseminated through my Department's "are you doing your bit?" campaign. My Department produced a leaflet at a cost of £366 to ensure that our messages were jointly reinforced. The SMMT distributed that through their members. We understand the SMMT are planning further campaign activity this autumn.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will introduce legislation to prevent the surcharging of wheelchair-using passengers on the cost of loading and unloading wheelchairs onto aircraft. [84407]

We have no current plans to introduce legislation, but if the hon. Member wishes to write to me about particular instances of surcharging, 1 will be glad to consider them.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what provision has been made for access for wheelchair users to (a) the London Underground and (b) the Jubilee Line; and if he will make a statement. [84406]

The existing London Underground network has approximately 40 stations with step free access.The Government are very keen to improve access to the transport system in London. However, full accessibility cannot happen overnight, especially on London Underground where most of the stations are old and not designed with access for mobility impaired people in mind.London Transport is developing a scheme to improve access to a core network of 68 Underground stations. This will be taken forward under the Public Private Partnership for the Underground.The Jubilee line extension will be fully accessible and will enable wheelchair users to travel from mainline stations to Waterloo, Stratford and London Bridge stations to the Millennium Exhibition at North Greenwich.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many grants have been (a) applied for and (b) awarded for coastal shipping routes under the terms of the expansion of the freight facilities grant. [84322]

None. Extension of the current Freight Facilities Grant scheme will require primary legislation, for which Parliamentary time has not yet been available.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what efforts the Government are making to advise the British transportation industry on (a) the availability and (b) the applicability of alternative fuels [83985]

[holding answer 17 May 1999]: The Government are keen to provide more information and advice on the environmental merits of different fuel and vehicle technologies, to enable fleet operators and private motorists to select cleaner, more fuel-efficient vehicles. Detailed advice on the availability and applicability of alternative fuels is already provided by the Energy Savings Trust's Powershift programme, which is funded by my Department. The Cleaner Vehicles Task Force intends to provide further information later this year about the merits of alternative fuel and vehicle technologies which are likely to emerge over the next decade. Several trade and commercial organisations also provided information on the availability of different alternative fuels.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what requirements his Department (a) has set down and (b) proposes to set down for local authorities for the purchasing of motor vehicles in respect of the use of alternative fuels. [83986]

[holding answer 17 May 1999]: My Department is actively considering setting targets for the proportion of low emission vehicles that local authorities should try to achieve in their fleets.Local authorities are not currently required to purchase alternatively fuelled vehicles. They are, however, obliged to review and assess air quality in their areas. Where they conclude that the objectives set out in the National Air Quality Strategy will not be achieved, they must designate air quality management areas and put in place action plans to improve air quality. One measure that local authorities could include in such action plans is to reduce emissions from their own fleets through the use of alternative fuels or cleaner conventionally fuelled vehicles.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make it a duty on employers to ensure that ear protectors are worn by persons operating pneumatic drills; and if he will make a statement. [84627]

Persons who operate pneumatic drills are already covered by the provision of the Noise at Work Regulations 1989 which require employers to reduce the risk of damage to hearing from exposure to noise and to take specific actions, including providing suitable ear protectors to employees at specified levels of daily personal noise exposure.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate he has made of the construction cost of (a) phase one and (b) phase two of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link. [84512]

The estimated construction cost of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link (in January 1997 prices) is £1.67 billion for phase one and £2.5 billion for phase two.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how the level of Government guarantee funding for (a) phase one and (b) phase two of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link was determined; and if he will make a statement. [84513]

The Government's participation in the Channel Tunnel Rail Link was assessed using a model of London and Continental Railway's future finances. £3.75 billion of Government backed debt was guaranteed with first element (£2.65 billion) raised in February this year to ensure funding is available for both the financing and construction of Section 1 and to cover forecast losses on Eurostar. The remaining £1.10 billion will help fund section 2.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what alternative options were appraised using the New Approach to Appraisal before the decision to authorise the A130 PH road in Essex; and if he will place in the Library copies of the appraisal summary tables for the scheme and the other options which were appraised. [84427]

Essex County Council's A130 Bypass PFI project was appraised using the New Approach to Appraisal (NATA). NATA requires the problems with the existing road to be stated together with the options which have been considered for addressing them. Essex County Council did consider smaller scale local schemes but concluded they would not provide the regeneration, environmental and safety benefits that the new A130 Bypass will provide. All options were considered at the 1992 Public Inquiry which found in favour of the A130 Bypass route. Given these circumstances, an appraisal summary table was produced only for the A130 Bypass, a copy of which has been placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the railway stations expected to open in 1999. [84423]

Rai1track tell me that the following railway stations are expected to open in 1999:

• West Ham
• Braintree Freeport Beauly
• Dunfermline Queen Margarets
• West Brompton
• Luton Parkway
• Horwich Parkway.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many attacks on individuals occurred (i) on trains and (ii) at stations during (a) the last year for which figures are available, (b) 1990 and (c) 1995 broken down by train operating company responsibility. [84424]

The number of attacks on individuals for the years 1990–91, 1995–96 and 1998–99 are provided in the first table. These figures include crimes of violence against a person, sexual assaults and robberies. The British Transport Police do not hold these data broken down by train operating company or whether the crimes were on or off-train, but a previous search carried out in 1997–98 does show the percentages of on/off-train crime and these are shown in the second table.

Year	National Rail	London Underground	Totals
1990–91	2,852	1,646	4,498
1995–96	3,336	1,269	4,605
1998–99	3,141	1,164	4,305

Percentage
Year	On-train	Off-train
1997–98
National Rail	37.8	62.2
London Underground	50.6	49.4
Total	41.6	58.4

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make it his policy not to agree to franchise extensions for train operating companies where such proposals involve the closure of (a) stations and (b) lines. [84425]

At the Rail Summit on 25 February 1999, we made it clear that renegotiations must deliver substantial passenger benefits and value for the taxpayer; and we set out a number of criteria that will have to be satisfied. The closure of stations and lines does not figure in these criteria and is subject to an extensive statutory procedure under the Railways Act 1993.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many people are sleeping rough in England. [85035]

We estimate that, as at June 1998, there were 1,850 people sleeping rough in England on any single night, including 621 in Greater London.These figures are the first detailed estimate of rough sleeping in England. They have been calculated on a basis agreed with the voluntary sector, using local authority data from local street counts and estimates provided by local authorities. Full details are given in the table, which includes the results of street counts in every area which has made such a count and (where no count has been made) all estimates above the lowest estimate band of 0–10. Numbers are shown in descending size order, by count and then estimate.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he proposes to issue new guidance to local authorities on the training of councillors involved in planning decisions. [85053]

In partnership with the Local Government Association, the Improvement and Development Agency and the Royal Town Planning Institute, I have today issued a leaflet to all councillors in England, giving guidance on the training which they should be undertaking in planning issues. Planning is a crucial local authority function involving the consideration and balancing of complex issues. It has a central and positive role to play in delivering services to local communities. However, it can also raise sensitive propriety issues. It is vital, therefore, that those carrying out this important task are properly equipped to do so.The proposed syllabus identifies the key topics on which training should be given. We have also emphasised the importance of councillors being given a continuing programme of planning training to keep their knowledge up to date. The leaflet is being issued as part of my Modernising Planning Initiative to help improve the effectiveness of local authority planning services. It is also intended to help councils implement the recommendation of the Third Report of the Committee on Standards in Public Life (Cm 3702–1) that

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what is the Government's policy on supervision of aid to Iraq; and what steps the Government have taken at the United Nations to pursue its policy. [84411]

The UN oil-for-food programme is the largest source of humanitarian assistance for the Iraqi people. It was established in 1996 under UN Security Council Resolution 986, and is implemented largely by the Government of Iraq under the supervision of the UN Office of Iraq Programme (OIP). It is much less effective than it could be if the Government of Iraq wished to provide effective humanitarian assistance to the people of Iraq. The UK maintains regular contact with the OIP to monitor progress on the oil-for-food programme. We have proposed a number of practical improvements to the programme, many of which have already been accepted by the UN Humanitarian Panel. We have included our proposals in a draft Resolution, which is now before the Security Council for its consideration.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will estimate the amount of international aid dispatched to Iraq in the last five years; and if she will make a statement on the method of its distribution. [84412]

From 1993–1997, (the last years for which figures are available) international donors (bilateral and multilateral) provided an estimated £918 million in humanitarian assistance to Iraq. This figure does not include the UN oil-for-food programme, which provides the majority of humanitarian supplies to Iraq, and is funded through the sale of Iraqi oil. International donors usually distribute their aid through UN organisations, such as UNICEF and FAO, the European Commission Humanitarian Organisation (ECHO), and the International Committee of the Red Cross, and Non-Governmental Organisations such as CARE International, and Premiere Urgence. The Iraqi authorities permit only seven NGOs to operate in Baghdad-controlled Iraq.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the impact of United Nations sanctions on people in Iraq. [84410]

There has been a marked decline in living standards in Iraq since the Gulf War. The economy has stagnated, public health and education services have declined and infrastructure (water and sanitation, electricity) has seriously deteriorated. Food and medicines have always been exempted from sanctions, but it was only in 1996 that the Government of Iraq agreed to implement the oil-for-food programme. This has provided invaluable humanitarian relief, but has been less effective than it could be because the Government of Iraq have not implemented the programme effectively. The UK is currently working to achieve an improvement in the operation of the programme.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what plans her Department has to provide assistance for information technology in schools in Montserrat; and if she will make a statement. [84364]

The three year public sector investment programme, agreed with the Government of Montserrat (GoM) as part of the Country Policy Plan signed in January this year, includes a project to rehabilitate existing school facilities. The actual detail of this project is still being prepared by the GoM. I will write to the right hon. Member when their plans are finalised.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions she has had with the Government of Montserrat about the cost and constructing time of the new Government headquarters temporary buildings; and if she will make a statement. [84361]

The original concept for the new Government Headquarters (GHQ) had been for a basic, only temporary, facility. This was planned in the belief that the Government of Montserrat (GoM) would be able to re-establish itself in Plymouth. However, the subsequent escalation of volcanic activity meant that this would not be possible, at least in the foreseeable future. Therefore, the GHQ needed to be constructed in a more permanent fashion and with more extensive facilities than originally envisaged—thus increasing the cost. An audit, earlier this year, found that most of the increases in cost were unavoidable. I wrote on 15 March to the Chairman of the International Development Committee about the audit and copied my letter and the report to the Library of the House. I will send copies to the right hon. Gentleman. My officials have had on-going discussions with the GoM to ensure that the additional work is completed in the shortest possible time, commensurate with keeping the increased costs to a minimum.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much money her Department has spent on consultancy work in connection with Montserrat in each of the last two years; and how much has been budgeted for the current year. [84363]

We spent approximately £2.7 million on consultants from the Montserrat programme in 1997/98 and £1.8 million in 1998/99. We have budgeted £1.8 million for the current year.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions she has had with the Government of Montserrat about mortgages on properties in the exclusion zone; and if she will make a statement. [84362]

We have agreed that the Government of Montserrat can reschedule mortgage payments owed to them on properties in the exclusion zone, on a case by case basis, reflecting the ability of each borrower to meet the repayment schedule.