To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assistance the RUC has offered the Irish police following the announcement of a new inquiry into the killing of Seamus Ludlow in 1976; and if she will waive restrictions preventing witnesses and others assisting the investigation. [86140]

[holding answer 9 June 1999]: On the basis of inquiries to the Irish Government, I have been advised that there has been no such announcement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make it his policy to change departmental refrigeration and air-conditioning systems to operate on not-in-kind refrigerants. [86166]

The policy of this Department is to ensure that no products containing CFCs, HFCs, Halon Carbon tetrachloride 1,1,1, methyl bromide or any other ozone depleting substances are purchased.The Department continues to look at alternative methods of refrigeration wherever practical.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received about the decision of airline companies to separate passenger service charges from the price of their tickets; and what assessment he has made of that decision. [86237]

I have received one letter on this issue. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions has lead responsibility for this issue, and I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Minister for Transport in London to my hon. Friend the Member for West Bromwich, East (Mr. Snape) on 11 May 1999, Official Report, columns 108–09.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to amend the Hearing Aid Council Act 1968 to permit a more streamlined disciplinary procedure for hearing aid dispensers; and what plans he has to consult on the effectiveness of the powers of the Hearing Aid Council. [85938]

I am aware of the Hearing Aid Council's concerns about the Hearing Aid Council Act 1968. There continues to be considerable pressures on the legislative programme and I can give no guarantee when time might become available, but will be looking for an opportunity.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the individual items of military equipment licensed for export to Indonesia and their uses which are referred to in the Annual report on Strategic Export Controls as (a) communications equipment, (b) electrical components, (c) electronic equipment and (d) military simulator. [85831]

The information requested relates to 10 Standard Individual Export Licences, and inquiries are being made under the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information. As confidential information is involved, the parties concerned are being asked if they consent to its disclosure, and this can take some time. I will write to my hon. Friend as soon as possible, and will place a copy of that letter in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many Open Individual Export Licences were (a) applied for, (b) approved and (c) refused during 1998. [86242]

Detailed information about export licensing decisions made in 1998, including those made on applications for Open Individual Export Licences, will be included in the 1998 Annual Report on Strategic Export Controls, which will be published in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to the answer of 26 April 1999, Official Report, column 29, on oesophageal cancer, what representations he has received that patients' consents were not obtained prior to their admission to the trial procedures. [85717]

I have not received any representation on this issue.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his answer of 17 May 1999,Official Report, columns 252–53, on Special Advisers, if he will list the meetings which his Special Advisers held with members and officials of the United States Government between 10 and 16 October 1998, listing the dates and locations of each meeting and the names of the US Ministers and officials at each meeting. [86283]

No such meetings were held.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he will announce his decision on Enron Europe Ltd.'s notification to build a combined heat and power generation station at the Teesside Gas Processing Plant, Seal Sands, Cleveland. [86826]

I have today granted clearance under Section 14 of the Energy Act 1976 in response to Enron Europe Ltd.'s notification to build a 45 MW gas-fired combined heat and power station at the Teesside Gas Processing Plant at Seal Sands, Cleveland. The decision has been taken in accordance with the policy set out in the White Paper entitled "Conclusions of the Review of Energy Sources for Power Generation and Government response to fourth and fifth Reports of the Trade and Industry Committee" (Cm 4071).I believe very strongly that CHP should play a vital and expanding role in the future of the UK power market. The technology has now come into its own, and the efficiency it offers is delivering benefits not just to business users, but to the country as a whole.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will publish summary information on his Department's recruitment for calendar year 1998, and the use of permitted exceptions to the principles of fair and open competition and selection on merit, as required by the Civil Service Commissioners' Recruitment Code. [86825]

It is DTI policy that recruitment is carried out on the basis of fair and open competition and selection on merit, subject to the exceptions permitted by the Civil Service Commissioners. My Department has systems in place which ensure that the principles of fair and open competition are understood and followed, in accordance with the provisions of the Civil Service Commissioners' Recruitment Code. These systems are subject to internal check and to external check by the Commissioner's approved auditors.The DTI's Executive Agencies and the Government Office network make separate arrangements for publishing recruitment data and the following table and narratives describe only Headquarters recruitment.extensions of short-term appointments beyond the initially publicised period, including conversions to permanency:1 Range 10 Research Officer whose appointment was extended to oversee the completion of a project; 1 Range 10 converted to permanency due to difficulty of recruiting a Remuneration Specialistsecondments: 56extensions to secondments:26, mostly in the export promotion field where it is difficult to attract the right people. Also, it is becoming increasingly difficult to gain agreement for secondees' release from their parent organisationre-appointment of former civil servants:1 Range 10 Lawyer formerly employed by the Crown Prosecution Service; 1 Range 4 who was originally recruited by DSS, applied to DTI for a casual post and was then reinstated in situtransfers of staff with their work (not under TUPE): none

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps his Department took to promote Britain's millennium celebrations at the European Incentive and Business Travel and Meetings Exhibition in Geneva. [85297]

[holding answer 24 May 1999]: As the name indicates, this particular Exhibition in Geneva was primarily concerned with business incentives and business travel. The British Tourist Authority, which is funded by my Department, was present at the exhibition and promoted the millennium celebrations primarily through their "VisitBritain" internet site which was live on the stand with open access for anyone wishing to explore it. In addition, pictures of the Millennium Dome and other millennium projects, such as the Eden Project, were integrated into the overall design of the stand.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he authorised the Minister for Tourism, Film and Broadcasting to accept night club tickets and hospitality arranged by Sony Entertainment and the British Phonographic Industry Ltd.; and what account he took of the Ministerial Code in doing so. [86655]

There is no requirement for Ministers to seek the advice of their Secretary of State on the acceptance of gifts or hospitality. The DCMS has a clear policy on hospitality, in line with the Ministerial Code, and all Ministers and officials are expected to abide by it.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the total monetary value was of the (a) night club tickets arranged for the Minister for Tourism, Film and Broadcasting by Sony Entertainment and the British Phonographic Industry Ltd. and (b) hospitality received. [86656]

There is no charge for entry for guests of members of the Met Bar, Brown's or the Mayfair Club, and, therefore, no monetary value attached to the entry obtained. No other hospitality was received.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what exemptions from jury service are available to jurors with unavoidable child care responsibilities. [86198]

If someone applies for excusal from jury service on the grounds of the need to care for young children, the guidance to court staff states that their application should be dealt with sympatherically. Each application is considered by the jury-summoning officer, based on the information provided by the applicant.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his oral answer to the hon. Member for Carshalton and Wallington (Mr. Brake), of 18 May 1999, Official Report, column 861, on MOX shipments to Japan, by what means the plutonium in MOX fuel is destroyed in nuclear reactors; and if he will list the evidence on which he based his reply. [85825]

Typically, MOX fuel contains between 50 and 70 kilograms of plutonium for each tonne of fuel entering the reactor. It is estimated that after four years of generating electricity, the amount of plutonium remaining in the fuel would have been reduced by about 18 kilograms in each tonne. This underpins the view that the use of MOX fuel reduces proliferation risks by gradually reducing plutonium stockpiles.This is supported by an OECD (Nuclear Energy Agency) study ("Management of Separated Plutonium: The Technical Options", OECD, Paris 1997) which has indicated that if MOX fuel is burnt at reasonable levels, the world's stockpile of plutonium can be held steady and then gradually reduced during the first decade of the next century.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how long, on average, it took between refusal of settlement entry clearance at (a) New Delhi, (b) Bombay, (c) Islamabad, (d) Karachi, (e) Lagos, (f) Accra and (g) Moscow and the dispatch of the explanatory statement to the UK for statements dispatched in (i) September 1998, (ii) December 1998 and (iii) March 1999; and if he will estimate how long it will take for explanatory statements to be dispatched for refusals made in (A) December 1998, (B) March 1999, (C) April 1999 and (D) May 1999. [86101]

Information in the form requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.Explanatory statements are not prepared until a Notice of Appeal against the entry clearance decision is received. The time limit for this is three months from the date of refusal. In 1998, 81 per cent. of settlement refusals worldwide resulted in an appeal.In 1990 guidelines were introduced requiring Entry Clearance Officers to produce and submit explanatory statements to the appropriate authorities in the UK within three months of receipt of the notice of appeal.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Pakistan and Indian Governments about Kashmir; and if he will make a statement. [86063]

We are deeply concerned by infiltration of militants into Jammu and Kashmir, and fighting between them and the Indian Security Forces. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary recently discussed the situation in Kashmir with his Pakistani and Indian counterparts. We continue to urge both countries to work together to resolve the issues between them, including Kashmir, through bilateral dialogue.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received following recent hostilities on the line of control in Kashmir. [86062]

We are aware of the concern of many people in the UK regarding the current situation in Kashmir. We have made clear to Indian and Pakistani governments our hope that they can work together to resolve the issues between them, including Kashmir, through bilateral dialogue.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with representatives of the Angolan Government regarding (a) the activities of UNITA in that country and (b) the international supply of arms to UNITA; and if he will make a statement. [86061]

We are in regular contact with the Angolan authorities both in London and in Luanda. Indeed I most recently discussed these issues with Dr. Miranda, the Angolan Foreign Minister, on 23 February when I was in Luanda. We deeply regret the renewal of the conflict for which we hold Dr. Jonas Savimbis' UNITA responsible. We fully support the tightening of United Nations sanctions on the sale of diamonds, on oil supplies and arms for UNITA. We welcome the establishment by the United Nations Secretary-General of expert groups to study the issue. We look forward to learning the results of the visit to the region by Ambassador Fowler, the Chairman of the UN Angolan Sanctions Committee. We shall then discuss with the Angolan authorities, our EU partners and all those members of the international community interested in finding a peaceful solution to the conflict in Angola how best to implement his findings.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on tobacco consumption in the developing world. [86213]

I view with great concern the estimate by the World Health Organisation (WHO) that, if current trends continue, tobacco will be the leading cause of disease burden in the world by 2030, causing about one in eight deaths, and that 70 per cent. of tobacco-related deaths will be in developing countries. I strongly support the priority being given to tobacco control by WHO through its "Tobacco Free" initiative, and the efforts to establish an international framework convention for tobacco control which, in particular, will aim to protect children and adolescents from exposure to tobacco products and their promotion. We are contributing £200,000 this financial year to the "Tobacco Free initiative".

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the value of defence products exported to Turkey during 1998. [86204]

Information on defence exports will be included in the Government's Annual Report on Strategic Export Controls for 1998, which will be published in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what key targets have been set for the Pay and Personnel Agency for the financial year 1999–2000. [86911]

The Chief Executive of the Pay and Personnel Agency (PPA) is responsible for providing pay and personnel information services for the Ministry of Defence as defined in the agency framework document. During 1999–2000 the PPA will be set the following challenging key performance targets:

• 12 per 1,000 payments of weekly industrial pay
• 6 per 1,000 payments of monthly non-industrial pay
• 20 per 1,000 awards of pension
• 15 per 1,000 payments of expenses

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what Key Targets have been set for the Military Survey Defence Agency for the financial year 1999–2000. [86912]

The role of Military Survey is to ensure the provision of geographic support to defence operations, planning and training. The Key Targets for the Agency for the 12 months from April 1999 are:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what key targets have been set for the RAF Personnel Management Agency for the financial year 1999–2000. [86913]

Key Targets have been set for the Chief Executive of the RAF Personnel Management Agency for the Financial Year 1999–2000 as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what key targets have been set for the Joint Air Reconnaissance Intelligence Centre Defence Agency for the financial year 1999—2000. [86914]

The role of the Joint Air Reconnaissance Intelligence Centre is to produce imagery intelligence and imagery products and services to meet MOD and operational command requirements. The Key Targets for the Agency for the 12 months from April 1999 are:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what key targets have been set for the Defence Intelligence and Security Centre Defence Agency for the financial year 1999–2000. [86915]

The role of the Defence Intelligence and Security Centre is to train the armed forces and other Intelligence agencies in intelligence and security disciplines and conduct after capture; to maintain an operational capability; and to contribute to effective and timely advice to the armed forces on appropriate intelligence and security matters. The Key Targets for the Agency for the 12 months from April 1999 are:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many patent applications have been passed to his Department under section 22 of the Patents Act 1977 in each year since its implementation; how many are still held by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the procedures followed by his Department in respect of this matter. [85352]

MOD records show that 4,700 Patent Applications were passed to MOD in the period 1985–98, of which 1,669 are still prohibited from publication. The total number of applications passed to MOD between 1978, when the Patents Act was implemented, and 1984 is not available, because the only information in the computer database relates to those applications which are still subject to prohibition; 471 applications from that period are still subject to a Section 22 prohibition order. Annual summaries of these figures follow: Of the overall total of 2,140 cases still prohibited from publication, 927 are overseas patent applications, which have been filed under secure conditions in the UK. These come from Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Spain, Sweden and the United States of America, countries with which the UK has reciprocal arrangements for the protection of applications which have been prohibited from publication, and which have procedures similar to Section 22 of the 1977 Patents Act.The MOD may not see any prohibited application until either the owner of the application has given permission for this, or until 18 months after the filing date, if such permission is not forthcoming. The MOD endeavours to confirm a prohibition order, or to recommend rescission of the order, within three months of receipt of the applications. 85 per cent. of new applications are dealt with within this time.Each application which is prohibited from publication is reviewed annually by MOD to decide whether the prohibition order should be maintained or rescinded.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress has been made in implementing the Warm Deal programme in Scotland under the New Deal. [85407]

By 31 March 1999, 37,000 houses had been insulated under the Warm Deal by 450 New Deal employees.From 1 July 1999, this will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if it is his policy that all underspend on the Rural Bus Services Grant for 1998-99 will be added to moneys available to improve rural bus services in 1999–2000. [85658]

[holding answer 8 June 1999]: The 1998–99 underspend on the grant has been added to the sum available for allocation to local authority schemes successful in the rural bus challenge competition, as was reflected in the total amount of challenge awards announced on 16 December.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions in what ways the harvested material from the genetically modified crop test sites of (a) herbicide resitant oilseed rape, (b) high laurate modified oilseed rape, (c) herbicide resistant maize and (d) herbicide resistant beet will be disposed of. [85942]

[holding answer 8 June 1999]: The method by which harvested material from experimental releases of genetically modified crops is disposed of is specified in every consent, the details of each consent are available on the statutory public register held at my Department.Typical means of disposal of harvested material include the methods set out as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he has received from the Countryside Alliance concerning his recent consultation paper on the use of lead shot over wetlands; and what reply he has sent. [86046]

[holding answer 8 June 1999]: My Department has received a number of representations on the proposed regulations on the use of lead shot including those of Countryside Alliance. Their views on the Regulations will be considered along with those of other organisations and individuals who have commented.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he expects to lay before Parliament delegated legislation dealing with lead shot. [85917]

[holding answer 8 June 1999]: It is the intention of my Department to lay the Statutory Instrument on the use of lead shot before Parliament in time for regulations to come into force in England on 1 September 1999. From 1 July, any regulations to restrict the use of lead shot in Scotland and Wales will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament and Welsh Assembly respectively.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on trends in the levels of (a) ammonia, (b) benzene, (c) mercury and (d) phosgene in the atmosphere. [86026]

[holding answer 8 June 1999]: (a)Ammonia—My Department has been funding a nationwide network of around 70 sites to measure the ambient concentrations of ammonia since 1996. To date, there is not a sufficiently long dataset to discern authoritatively any trends, although early indications are that there is substantial seasonal and inter-annual variability. There are larger concentrations in spring and summer, and the largest concentrations are in warm, dry years. On the basis of natural variability, monitoring for more than five years will be necessary to clearly detect changes in response to changes in national emissions. Numbers of livestock and nitrogen fertiliser usage, which are the main sources of ammonia, have declined since the mid 1980s.Earlier ad-hoc monitoring campaigns from this period are not sufficient to demonstrate increased concentrations in the 1980s compared with the present. Much longer term datasets of precipitation chemistry and deposition have shown that atmospheric ammonia increased substantially between 1950 and the 1980s, which can be explained by both increases in livestock numbers and nitrogen fertiliser inputs.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many random ramp checks on foreign airlines have been undertaken by his Department in the last year; and in how many cases were problems found. [85844]

[holding answer 8 June 1999]: The Department asks the CAA to carry out checks on foreign-registered aircraft using UK airports where evidence suggests that ICAO standards may not be met. There were 63 checks in the year from 1 April 1998 to 31 March 1999; of these, 28 revealed no problems or only minor differences from ICAO standards, such as, for example, a defective light bulb in the cabin. Six inspections revealed serious problems which required that the aircraft be detained until corrective action was taken. The remaining checks revealed less serious differences from ICAO standards, which were drawn to the attention of the operators and the relevant national aviation authorities.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans Her Majesty's Government have for the future of the Safety Regulation Group following the reorganisation of the CAA. [85882]

holding answer 8 June 1999]: The future of the Safety Regulation Group of the Civil Aviation Authority will be considered in the light of responses to the consultations on a public/private partnership for National Air Traffic Services Ltd. and on the institutional arrangements for transport safety across all modes.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what bilateral agreements the United Kingdom has established to govern the arrangements for checking the operating procedures of foreign aircraft flying into the United Kingdom. [85845]

[holding answer 8 June 1999]: There are no bilateral agreements specifying procedures for checking the operating procedures of foreign aircraft flying into the United Kingdom.The UK has agreed with partners in the European Civil Aviation Conference on a Safety Clause to be inserted, as the opportunity arises, into bilateral Air Service Agreements. In brief, the clause allows either party to call for discussions within 30 days when any safety problem arises and to inspect the other's aircraft at any time. To date, insertion of the safety clause has been agreed with 11 countries.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what targets, in respect of the encouragement of rail freight, the multimodal study of the London and South-West Corridor announced as part of the Trunk Roads Review will have. [86196]

A key objective of the London to South-West and South Wales multimodal study is to examine the scope for modal shift. This will include the potential for the transfer of more freight onto the railway. Until the study is undertaken, it is not possible to assess this potential or to consider what might be a realistic target.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what status regional chambers currently have within the acquis of the European Union; what personnel are currently responsible for their administration; and what information is collated centrally concerning their membership functions and activities. [86230]

Regional chambers have no formal status in relation to the European Union. However, they provide a mechanism through which regional partners can present a coherent regional view on European issues.Regional chambers are voluntary partnerships, and personnel issues are matters for each chamber. However, I have placed details of the current chair and secretary of each chamber in the Library.Regional chambers seeking designation under the Regional Development Agencies Act 1998 are required to provide the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions with a copy of their constitution and a list of members.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will release all parts of the Concession Agreement for the Birmingham Northern Relief Road under the terms of the Environmental Information Regulations 1992 after the end of judicial proceedings. [85824]

Having regard to the outcome of the recent legal actions, my noble Friend the Under-Secretary is giving careful consideration to a request for disclosure of the Concession Agreement.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the power of (a) local authorities and (b) the police to prosecute people who drop litter in the street; and how many people have been prosecuted for dropping litter in the street under these powers in each of the last three years. [85672]

The Advisory Group on Litter undertook a wide-ranging review of the litter legislation, including the powers of local authorities and the police, in 1993. A summary of the Advisory Group's report is available in the House Library.The number of defendants prosecuted for litter offences under section 87 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 in England and Wales is given in the following table

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he has reached conclusions following the second stage of the consultation on night restrictions at Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted; and if he will make a statement. [86775]

On 17 November 1998 the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions issued the second of two consultation papers on the next night restrictions regime for Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted airports, to apply from 31 October 1999 until the end of the 2004 summer season. This second consultation paper took into account all relevant responses to the preliminary consultation paper issued on 27 February 1998.The November consultation paper was in two parts. Part 1 was concerned with all aspects of the night restrictions regime now applying at the three airports. Part 2 examined options for changes to the preferential use of Heathrow's runways at night. The decisions I am announcing today are concerned with Part 1 of the November consultation paper only. Consideration of the responses to the options examined in Part 2 is continuing and a separate announcement will be made on that in due course. Decisions on Parts 1 and 2 of the consultation paper are not inter-dependent.The current night restrictions are among the most stringent in Europe: night movements by Chapter 3 noise certificated aircraft are not limited at most other leading airports. We said in the preliminary consultation paper that we did not expect to propose major changes to the night restrictions for the next regime. To relax the restrictions significantly or to ban night flights entirely would not be consistent with the Government's objectives set out in the consultation paper.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of proposals for (a) an aircraft emissions tax and (b) an aircraft fuel charge, (i) in revenue terms and (ii) in respect of their impact on pollution from aircraft. [85687]

No such assessments have been made.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the total amount of tax which would have been collected in the fiscal year 1998–99 by paying agents situated in the United Kingdom if the draft EU directive on the taxation of interest payments at the rate of 20 per cent. had been operational and if the UK had opted for the withholding regime. [85833]

It is not possible to estimate the revenue consequences of the situation described with any degree of certainty.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 10 May 1999, Official Report, column 58, on Working Families Tax Credit, what will be the effect on their eligibility for Working Families Tax Credit of an employee taking unpaid parental leave under the Employment Relations Bill at a time which coincides with the assessment for their next award period. [85832]

In order to be eligible for Working Families Tax Credit, an employee will need to meet various criteria, which are the same as those for Family Credit, including working 16 hours or more a week at the time of the application or in the period immediately preceding or following the application. Where an employee is on unpaid parental leave, the application will be treated in the same way as any other period of unpaid leave.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer by what means statistics relating to the flow of capital investment for all, or particular, purposes, from the United Kingdom into each of the other member states of the European Union, are collated following the introduction of the single currency; and what assessment he has made of the effect of the United Kingdom joining the single currency on the collation of such statistics. [86228]

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

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement about the recent sale of the Government's holding of debt in British Energy. [86828]

The sale of HM Treasury's three bonds in British Energy (£109,861,000 5.949 per cent. bond due 2003, £163,444,000 6.077 per cent. bond due 2006, £134,586,000 6.202 per cent. Bond due 2016) was completed on 4 June 1999. Payment will be made to HM Treasury on 11 June. Proceeds from the sale, net of commissions, will total £392 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will abolish all dental charges for pensioners; and if he will make a statement. [85706]

Entitlement to help with National Health Service dental charges is based on the principle that those who can afford to contribute should do so, while those most likely to have difficulty paying should be protected. Pensioners on low incomes are entitled to claim free NHS dental treatment or help with the cost of charges under the NHS Low Income Scheme.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the estimated annual running costs are for the last financial year of (a) the Advisory Committee on Resource Allocation, (b) Local Education Consortia and (c) the Capital Priorities Advisory Group; and if he will make a statement. [86071]

For 1998–99, the estimated running costs for the Advisory Committee on Resource Allocation and the Capital Prioritisation Advisory Group are £22,000 and £5,000 respectively. These were funded from the Department's running costs (within Vote 2).The Local Education Consortia costs are estimated at £5.8 million for 1998–99. These were funded from expenditure on hospital and community health services (within Vote 1).

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to review the grading of midwives. [85721]

I refer the right hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State to the hon. Member for Uxbridge (Mr. Randall) on 8 June 1999, Official Report, column 458.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office when he intends to publish information on the target set by the Prime Minister to deliver 25 per cent. of Government services electronically. [86827]

A report on progress by Departments and their key agencies is being published today. Copies of the report have been placed in the Libraries of the House and it will be published on the site www.citu.gov.uk. The report contains information supplied by Departments on a sample of key dealings between the citizen and business and government.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if the barcode system to be installed in post offices will be able to record stolen order books; [85861](2) what benefits are planned to be paid through the barcode system to be used in post offices; [85877](3) what visible information on order books will be concealed by the barcode technology to be installed in post offices; [85858](4) if the barcode technology to be introduced on order books will require Post Office staff to ask a security question. [85860]

The barcode system to be installed in post offices will be able to record stolen order books. System-produced order books for the following benefits include a barcode and will therefore be controlled through the use of the Order Book Control System (OBCS) installed in post offices:

• Attendance Allowance
• Child Benefit
• Disability Living Allowance
• Disability Working Allowance
• Earnings Top Up
• Family Credit
• Guardians Allowance
• Incapacity Benefit
• Income Support Retirement Pension
• War Pensions Widows Benefit.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the total cost to the Government of paying a SERPS widow's/widower's pension to any person bereaved after 6 April 2000 broken down into the following groups (a) based on 100 per cent. of the amount accrued for any contributions made between 6 April 1978 and the Royal Assent of the Social Security Act 1986, (b) based on 75 per cent. of the amount accrued for any contributions made between the Royal Assent of the Social Security Act 1986 and (i) 5 April 1996 and (ii) 5 April 1999 and (c) based on 50 per cent. of the amount accrued for any contributions made (1) since 6 April 1996 and (2) since 6 April 1999. [86048]

The information is in the table.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people employed in (a) his Department and (b) its associated public bodies have benefited from the introduction of the national minimum wage. [86023]

4,397 staff in this Department, out of approximately 90,000 staff, have benefited from the introduction of the national minimum wage. This includes the Department's Agencies, and 139 staff in the associated public bodies.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what procedures he intends to use to review the progress made by private firms running education in place of local education authorities. [85418]

Contracts for organisations taking on the delivery of education services in poorly performing LEAs will contain a series of key performance indicators and core outcomes against which the contractor's performance will be judged. These performance measures will be linked to a payment mechanism which will ensure that payments to the contractor are based on delivering an improved service. The precise details of such contracts are, of course, a matter for negotiation with providers. The LEA and the contractor will also need to hold regular contract monitoring meetings to review progress against the Service Management Plan.In addition, Ofsted will continue its programme of local education authority inspections. These will include inspecting and reporting upon any education services being delivered by a contractor.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is the average annual salary for teaching staff in local education authority schools in (a) the south-west region and (b) England. [85421]

The estimated average salary of full-time teaching staff, including heads and deputies, in the local education authority maintained nursery/primary, secondary and special sector received during 1998–99 was £24,100 in England and £24,000 in the south-west region.Average salaries at local education authority level are likely to vary for a number of reasons including: the grade structures required by the mix of school sizes, teacher's average length of service and payment of recruitment and retention points. The estimate takes account of the staged pay award in 1998–99, 2 per cent. in April with the full 3.8 per cent. paid in December.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what advice and guidance he has issued to schools seeking technology college status. [85424]

A guidance document for schools wishing to apply for Technology College status is available to schools on request, and is also available under `Specialist Schools Information' on the DfEE Web Site (WNN.DfEE.Gov.UK/DfEEHOME. HTM). The guidance sets out the considerations taken into account when deciding to designate Technology Colleges and covers sponsorship, school and community development plans, and location.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what progress has been made in the development of a leadership college for head teachers. [85426]

A prospectus for the College was launched by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 2 June. The prospectus sets out our vision for the College and invites potential external partners to join with us in working to make the vision a reality. Copies of the prospectus have been placed in the Libraries.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what progress the National Childcare Strategy has made in providing extra child care places. [R] [85430]

The National Childcare Strategy has had a major impact in its first year. We have funded the creation of 65,590 new child care places in 1998–99 which far exceeds the ambitious target we set of 60,000 places. In the first two years of this Government we have created more child care places than were created during the entire period of office of the last Government.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many young people on the new deal are currently taking part in the education and training option. [85417]

The latest Government Statistical Service figures show that at the end of March 1999 there were 23,190 young people on the New Deal Full Time Education and Training Option.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what progress is being made in developing employer-involvement in the New Deal for young unemployed people. [85403]

Employers are playing an ever-increasing role in New Deal. They are helping us strengthen its design, meet business needs through sector initiatives, in hospitality for example, and most importantly, provide sustained jobs for nearly 70,000 young people.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will estimate the cost of exempting all university students living in (a) Scotland, (b) Wales, (c) Northern Ireland and (d) England from tuition fees. [84062]

[holding answer 13 May 1999]: The following table shows the estimated private contributions to tuition fees from home and other EU full-time undergraduate students studying in universities and colleges in Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and England in 2000–01. These represent the cost of fee exemption assuming no consequent change to loan eligibility. Estimates of tuition fee income from part-time and postgraduate students are not readily available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what discussions he has had with the Education Department of the London Borough of Wandsworth on the number of children who have not obtained places in secondary schools in the borough for the September 1999 school entry. [85778]

None. Arrangements for admission to schools are determined locally by the relevant admission authority, that is the local education authority for county and controlled schools, the governing body for voluntary aided and grant-maintained schools. While parents are able to say which school they would prefer, they may not gain a place at that school if it is popular and oversubscribed.The local education authority is responsible for ensuring that a school place is available for every child living in its area whose parents want one. The places do not have to be provided at schools in its area. Where a child is without a school place because he or she has been refused admission to, or excluded from, every school within a reasonable travelling distance, the local education authority has the power to direct a school to admit the child.I understand that Wandsworth Local Education Authority is monitoring the position and expects it to be satisfactorily resolved in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if a participant on a European Social Fund course of training is designated as an employee for the purposes of the (a) Sex Discrimination Act 1975 and (b) Race Relations Act 1976. [85753]

Participation in a course part-funded by ESF does not in itself confer employment status on an individual. An individual could be participating in an ESF course of training as an employee of a company or on a work placement which may confer employment status as a result of the agreed contractual arrangement of the employer and the individual.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if a participant on a European Social Fund course of training is entitled to take a complaint against (a) the training provider and (b) an employer with whom they may be doing work tasters or work placements as part of the course to an employment tribunal. [85754]

A participant in any vocational training course whether or not part-funded by ESF is entitled to bring a complaint of discrimination on the grounds of sex and/or race against a training provider in relation to provision or non-provision of that training which can be heard before an employment tribunal. In addition to any employment rights which a trainee participating in a course may have, it is unlawful for an employer to discriminate on the grounds of sex, race or disability in the way he affords or omits to afford access to the opportunity for training in the course of the employment. Any complaint can be considered by an employment tribunal.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what funding is given to schools to provide first aid training to school children. [85699]

There is no specific funding allocated to schools to provide first aid training, but schools may choose to use part of their budget to do so if they wish.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many and what percentage of school children currently receive first aid training in schools; and if he will make a statement. [85701]

The Department for Education and Employment does not collect these data.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will introduce first aid training for all school children. [85700]

On 13 May, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Employment announced his proposals for the review of the National Curriculum in England. These include a non-statutory framework for Personal, Social and Health Education. At Key Stage 2 and 3, it is proposed that to develop a healthy lifestyle and keep themselves and others safe, pupils should be taught basic emergency aid procedures and where to get help and support.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many people in his Department and its associated bodies and agencies have benefited from the introduction of a national minimum wage. [86097]

No staff have benefited from the introduction of the national minimum wage. When it was introduced on 1 April 1999, all staff earned more than the minimum wage.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) how many responses to the consultation paper on teachers have been received; and how many and what percentage were received from (a) headteachers, (b) teachers, (c) governors and governing bodies, (d) education authorities and (e) others; [85738](2) in the responses to the consultation paper on teachers, how many and what percentage of

We have received 40,000 responses to the Green Paper, "teachers: meeting the challenge of change". 36,060 respondents replied using the Department's response form. These responses can be broken down as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what steps have been taken to safeguard the interests of the voluntary sector in early years services. [85423]

We have taken a number of steps to ensure that voluntary pre-schools and playgroups contribute fully to early education and care. The voluntary and private sectors have to be represented on the Early Years Development and Childcare Partnerships which plan the delivery and development of local early years service. Each partnership has to provide specifically for the involvement of voluntary providers; to assess the health of the non-maintained sector in their areas; and to show financial support that may be available. Plans for the provision of additional places for 3 year olds, for which we are making available new funding of £390 million over three years from September 1999, must also fully involve the voluntary sector.The same principles apply to Sure Start, which will provide integrated and community-based services for 0 to 3s and their families. The voluntary sector is a significant partner in all 60 Trailblazer programmes, and leads some of them.In March, I appointed an independent review team to advise on how pre-schools and playgroups can contribute further to the development of early education and child care; the team will report by August. Good voluntary pre-schools and playgroups that are in financial difficulties will also be able to apply for special short term grants under the new £500,000 scheme also announced in March.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what steps his Department has taken to increase the ability of parents to send their children to the school of their choice. [85431]

Our commitment to increase parental choice is made clear in the Code of Practice on Admissions which came into force on 1 April. The Code reminds LEAs and governing bodies that they have an overriding duty to comply with parents' declared preferred school for their child. We want parents to be able to send their children to their preferred school wherever practicable, and LEAs should make every effort to ensure that they have sufficient school places to allow the maximum number of parents to obtain a place at a school of their choice. The funding we are providing to LEAs to meet our infant class size pledge will enable 12,000 extra places at popular schools to be achieved.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what steps have been taken by his Department to encourage parents to read to their young children. [85408]

We have run a series of TV and radio adverts advertising a free leaflet entitled "A little reading goes a long way". The leaflet offers parents practical advice about how to read with their children. Over 1 million copies have been requested so far and a further 2 million have been distributed through various outlets, including supermarkets and doctors' waiting rooms.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what representations he has received on his proposals for the establishment of a disability rights commission. [85404]

A public consultation on the Government White Paper "Promoting Disabled People's Rights—Creating a Disability Rights Commission fit for the 21st Century", was held last year.Seven thousand individuals and organisations were sent a copy of the White Paper or a summary of it. Out of 626 responses, 94 per cent. supported the main proposals on the establishment and role of the Commission. An analysis of responses compiled by an independent market research organisation has been placed in the Library. The report is available in a range of alternative formats on request.Five national consultation conferences on the White Paper held in September 1998 were attended by over 300 delegates from the business, public and voluntary sectors. The views of the delegates are also reflected in the report.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what provisions the National Curriculum contains to ensure the teaching of literacy in primary schools. [85427]

We have successfully introduced the National Literacy Strategy, which includes a literacy hour for all primary school pupils. Under the national curriculum review proposals, the English programmes of study have been aligned with the National Literacy Strategy "Framework for teaching" so that they support it fully.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what steps his Department has taken to support and train headteachers. [85391]

The contribution of the head is pivotal in leading schools to excellence and we are committed to helping all headteachers to develop the skills and knowledge they need. We are investing £100 million over the next three years to ensure heads have access to high quality, practical and professional training at every stage of their careers. As set out in the Green Paper, "teachers: meeting the challenge of change", we will build on the existing headship training programmes to develop a new national framework of training and development opportunities. Already, some 400 teachers have achieved the National Professional Qualification for Headship and some 6,000 are now in training. We are developing further the NPQH to build on the strengths of the qualification before making it a mandatory requirement for all those coming new to headship. The Green Paper also set out our intention to establish a National College for School Leadership. On 2 June we published our prospectus for the college, which will be a driving force for world-class leadership in schools, providing professional support for heads through cutting-edge training and development opportunities. Responsibility for designing and overseeing the existing headship programmes will move to the national college when it is established in 2000.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what funds his Department has allocated in the current and next two financial years to support cycling to school. [85392]

We have made over £100,000 available this financial year to support safer routes—including cycling—to school. We will be considering the case for further funding in the next two financial years.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when the national body to deliver community computer centres will be established. [85411]

We are in the process of establishing a co-ordinating group to steer this important initiative and to advise my right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for Education and Employment and the Chief Secretary to the Treasury. An announcement will be made before the summer and I expect the first learning centres to be established this year, but I can say that the group will have a broad range of members unpaid, including both Government officials and individuals with experience in the private sector.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on recent developments in Government action to widen participation in further education. [85425]

We are committed to widening participation in further education and have taken action to achieve this.We have secured an excellent financial settlement for further education which will enable significant progress to be made towards securing an extra 700,000 students in further education in 2001—02 compared to 1997—98. This expansion is principally focused on widening participation to those who have not traditionally taken advantage of learning opportunities. We have also announced a new Further Education Student Support package, targeted at those most in need, which will come into force from September.The introduction of the University for Industry and Individual Learning Accounts, from next year, will both assist in removing barriers to learning and widening participation in further education.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many people in the North West have been through the New Deal since its commencement. [85428]

The latest Government Statistical Service figures to the end of March 1999 show that 37,790 young people, in the Employment Service North West region, have joined the New Deal for young people since it started in the first Pathfinder areas in January 1998. Of these 17,800 have left, leaving 19,900 still participating at some stage of the New Deal process.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what support has been given to schools to enable them to become accessible to those with disabilities. [85429]

The Schools Access Initiative gives capital support to make more mainstream schools accessible to disabled pupils and those with sensory impairments. It has run each year since 1996 and a total of £25 million had been allocated by March 1999. A further £100 million has been earmarked over the next three years.

To ask the Prime Minister what undertakings were given to the Government of Macedonia during his recent visit to Macedonia, with respect to (a) levels of aid from the United Kingdom, (b) the willingness of the United Kingdom to accept refugees from Macedonia, (c) assistance and the speed of delivery of assistance from the European Union and (d) help from international financial institutions; and what progress has been made in fulfilling these undertakings. [84788]

[holding answer 24 May 1999]: During my visit to Macedonia, I gave the following undertakings to the Government of Macedonia:

To ask the Prime Minister when he received a report from the Department for Education and Employment on the review of post-16 training and education. [85723]

As is the case for any aspect of developing government policy, my office has received regular reports on the progress of the Review, and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Employment will be making an announcement about our proposals in due course.

To ask the Prime Minister what is his policy on the use of depleted uranium and cluster bombs by British forces; and if he will make a statement. [85351]