To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions on how many occasions in the period January to April 1999 staffing levels at the Coastguard stations at (i) Oban, (ii) Liverpool, (iii) Belfast and (iv) Stornoway were maintained by the use of unqualified or partly-qualified staff. [85838]

[holding answer 8 June 1999]:

	Oban	Liverpool	Belfast	Stornoway
Unqualified
12 hour watch	0	4	0	0
Partly Qualified
12 hour watch	0	93	60	116
6 hour watch	0	6	5	0

Recruits who have yet to qualify in their grade are able to perform certain tasks on watch almost immediately but under the supervision of a watch manager. Watch managers are encouraged to involve new recruits in watchkeeping tasks as much as possible.Partly Qualified Officers are those who after their initial training have demonstrated their ability to their line management to undertake certain tasks appropriate to their grade, thus enabling them to become part of a Watch. Initial training is followed by further on the job training which take place at their parent station. This on the job training as part of the Watch, or as a supernumerary, is essential preparation for an officer's final proficiency examinations for qualification to their grade.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list for each of the 17 municipally owned bus companies their (a) annual turnover, (b) passenger revenues, (c) pre-tax profit or loss, (d) numbers of staff and (e) numbers of vehicles operated. [86666]

Under the Transport Act 1985 the local authority-owned bus companies were set up as Companies Act companies working at arms length from their owners. As the details required by the Companies Acts are lodged at Companies House, my Department does not collect the data requested.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what proposals he has to change his departmental expenditure limits and running costs limits for 1999–2000. [86984]

Subject to Parliamentary approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimates, my departmental expenditure limits will change as follows.The voted Local Government Departmental Expenditure Limit will be increased by £3,900,000, increasing the overall limit from £34,207,667,000 to £34,211,567,000. This increase reflects revised estimates of the costs of preparing for the Greater London Authority. The increase will be offset by a corresponding reduction in the Department's Main Programmes Departmental Expenditure Limit from £9,696,757,000 to £9,692,857,000.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps he is taking to provide the Greater London Authority with accommodation and administrative support. [86985]

I announced on 26 February plans for a new building for the headquarters of the Greater London Authority (GLA) at London Bridge City. Design and contractual issues are being finalised, and I anticipate the building being ready for occupation towards the end of 2001.To house the GLA before the new building is ready, my Department is arranging temporary office accommodation at Romney House, Marsham Street, London SW1, which should be ready for occupation by staff preparing for the GLA by the end of 1999.The GLA will assume its responsibilities on 3 July 2000, eight weeks after the elections, and work therefore needs to be put in hand now to establish finance and other systems and to ensure that appropriate administrative machinery is in place. I announced on 31 March that Dr. Bob Chilton would be seconded from the Audit Commission to be Head of Transition: he took up his duties on 19 April, and will work closely with my officials to take this work forward.My Department has earmarked £30 million from within existing budgets over the four years 1998–99 to 2001–02 to meet GLA preparation costs. This will cover the anticipated cost of fitting out, furnishing and equipping the new building, including professional and other specialist advice; providing temporary accommodation for the GLA; accommodating and equipping the transition team; and setting up new financial, management and communication systems for the GLA. This compares to an initial provision of £20 million, which was largely to cover the cost of providing a new building. I will provide more detailed estimates when commercial negotiations have been completed, and will report actual expenditure totals periodically.Separate provision is being made to cover the cost of the first elections to the GLA, including publicity, and establishing Transport for London and the London Development Agency. A separate announcement is being made about a loan from the Contingencies Fund in relation to some of these costs. The arrangements for establishing the Metropolitan Police Authority and the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority are matters for the Home Secretary.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what statutory authority exists for costs to be incurred by him in 1999–2000 in preparation for the establishment of the Greater London Authority and its functional and other associated bodies. [86986]

Further to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Battersea (Mr. Linton) on 2 February 1999, Official Report, column 568, pending Parliamentary approval, urgent expenditure on new services for the bodies other than the Greater London Authority in 1999–2000 estimated at £4.7 million will be met by repayable advances from the Contingencies Fund.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what progress he has made in his consideration of the draft decisions submitted to him by the Environment Agency on Sellafield MOX plant. [85629]

The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and I have looked very carefully at the recommendations made by the Environment Agency about the justification for the MOX plant. We have also examined the representations made to us about the plant. Our provisional conclusion is that the balance of the argument so far is in favour of justification. However, we have also come to the conclusion that there should be further consultations on the economic case for the plant. We were concerned that the version of the report by PA Consulting on the economic case for the plant, which had been published by the Agency in January last year, did not contain as much information as the public could reasonably expect to see. We have therefore decided to publish a fuller version of the report. We accept, however, that some material contained in the report is commercially confidential and cannot be published without potentially harming BNFL's commercial interests. This information has been omitted from the version we are publishing.In view of the time that has passed since PA Consulting completed their report, we decided to commission from BNFL an up-to-date assessment of the market for MOX fuel. This assessment is also being published. Comments are being invited on this material by 23 July after which we shall take a final decision on the full operation of the plant.While this consultation is under way, and given our view that the balance of the argument currently favours justification we have concluded that it would be right for BNFL to be allowed to proceed with the uranium commissioning of the plant. We concluded that it would be right to allow this before final conclusions are reached about whether to give the go-ahead for the full operation of the plant. This would enable BNFL to begin testing the plant before the introduction of plutonium. In this way, if the plant is eventually given the go-ahead, the delays in running the plant commercially would be minimised. If, after the consultation exercise we decide that full operation is not justified, the process would be halted and uranium removed from the plant. The costs of removal, estimated at £2 million, would be met by BNFL.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if the conclusions of the Environment Agency on plutonium extraction from MOX fuel were assessed by his Department when determining the security measures necessary for the shipping of MOX fuel to Japan. [86740]

The physical protection measures necessary for the shipping of MOX fuel to Japan are based on the recommendations of the International Atomic Energy Agency concerned with the movement of all Category I nuclear materials.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects to be able to make available draft regulations implementing the EC Telecoms Data Protection Directive (97/66/EC). [87025]

I have placed copies of the draft regulations in the Library of the House and these are also available in the Vote office. I am also making the draft Regulations available on the DTI Website at: www.dti. gov.uk/cii/tdpd/regs2/index.htm

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what changes will be made to the cash and running costs limits for the Office of Electricity Regulation and the Office for Gas Regulation. [87026]

Offer: Subject to Parliamentary approval of the necessary revised Estimate, the running cost limit will be increased by £10,100,000 from £18,100,000 to £28,200,000.This increase reflects the additional resources required by the Director General of Electricity Supply for the funding of the Review of Electricity Trading Arrangements (RETA) project (£11,200,000) and an accounting adjustment in respect of VAT receipts for contracted out services (£1,100,000). The increase will be offset by additional receipts and will not therefore add to the planned total of public expenditure.Ofgas: The running cost limit for Class IX Vote 9£the Office of Gas Regulation£will be decreased by £938,000 from £12,938,000 to £12,000,000. This decrease reflects an accounting adjustment in respect of VAT receipts for contracted out services.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what research his Department has conducted into the awareness of Business Support services among small business owners.[86668]

DTI commissioned MORI to undertake five surveys of tracking research between 1994 and 1997 on awareness of Business Support services, including Business Link. The most recent survey was in September 1997. Each survey involved a national telephone survey of a random sample of directors of businesses with between 10 and 200 employees in England, with a smaller sample of businesses with between five and nine employees for comparison. Research on awareness of Business Support services has also been carried out before and after national marketing campaign exercises for Business Link.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate he has made of the costs to small businesses of the change of telephone codes; and what related discussions he has had with Oftel. [86669]

The administration of the National Numbering Scheme is a matter for Oftel. Oftel has not carried out any specific research into the costs to small businesses relating to changes to telephone codes. The changes to geographic codes were made in response to the views of consumers and businesses following "Phoneday" in 1995 in order to meet additional demands for numbers. In order to minimise the costs to businesses Oftel has given long periods of notice of changes, put in place parallel running for old and new numbers and "changed number" announcements. This enables businesses to plan for the future. Oftel has consulted extensively on changes to numbering arrangements and Oftel has kept my officials fully informed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the total expenditure of Business Links in each of the last three financial years; and what proportion of that was on (a) salaries and (b) administration. [86636]

Business Links are private, independent organisations and the Department does not collect statistics on the total expenditure of Business Links or individual elements of it.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was his Department's total expenditure on Business Links in (a) 1997–98 and (b) 1998–99; and what expenditure is planned for 1999–2000. [86638]

The total amount of funding provided for the Business Link programme by the Department in the periods 1997–98 and 1998–99 were £129.2 million and £121.1 million respectively. For 1999–2000 the Department has earmarked £139 million for Business Link programme funding, which includes an element of funding specifically for developing services of the new Small Business Service.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received concerning customers complaining that their gas supplier has been changed without their consent; what gas suppliers have been disciplined by Ofgas owing to their conduct in transferring customer accounts; and if he will make a statement. [85714]

The Department has received a number of representations from consumers complaining about the involuntary transfer of their gas supply. I have great sympathy for consumers who have experienced difficulties in this respect, and understand the worry and inconvenience that such occurrences can cause. I have asked my officials to work with Ofgas and the Gas Consumers Council to root out the causes of the problems and identify areas for action to tackle them urgently.I am determined that the industry should have in place systems which work effectively and consistently to transfer customers from existing to new suppliers without error and that these should be properly regulated. The Office of Gas Supply continually monitors industry performance and should pursue rigorously any instances of failure with the companies concerned. Action has been taken by Ofgas under both the Competition Act 1980 and the Gas Act 1986 against a number of companies to secure a commitment to improve standards of performance. I have asked the Director General for an update on the situation and on the action he has in hand.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what statutory provisions regulate the ability of directors of companies which have become insolvent starting up in a similar line of business with a new company; what changes he is planning to introduce; and if he will make a statement. [86414]

A Director's involvement with a company which has become insolvent does not, of itself, preclude his or her from being a Director of a new company unless:(a) contrary to the provisions of S216 of the Insolvency Act 1986, it has the same or a similar name to the company which failed;or(b) the director has been disqualified from so acting under the Companies Directors Disqualification Act 1986.When Parliamentary time allows we plan to introduce legislation to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the procedure for disqualifying unfit company directors. There are no plans to make any other change in this area.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what advice he has received about the use of genetically modified crops in the production of cosmetics and perfumes with respect to (a) skin allergies and (b) treatments of skin complaints by antibiotics. [86671]

We have not received advice in relation to genetically modified crops and the production of cosmetics and perfumes. The number of cosmetic ingredients which may be derived from GMOs is estimated to be less than 1 per cent. However, we are supportive of the moves proposed by the European Commission Scientific Steering Committee to develop harmonised guidelines for Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) risk assessments for cosmetic products.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will publish the latest figures showing the volume of correspondence received by Ministers and Agency Chief Executives from hon. Members, the targets set for reply, and the percentage of replies sent within targets. [87028]

Correspondence from Members of Parliament to Ministers and Agency Chief Executives
		1997		1998
Department or Agency	Target set for reply (working days)	Number of letters received	Percentage of replies within target	Target set for reply (working days)	Number of letters received	Percentage of replies with target
Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food	15	7,423	76	15	i8,058	57
Cabinet Office	15	341	96	15	292	96
Crown Prosecution Service	15	39	85	15	ii66	88
Department for Culture, Media and Sport	18	2,939	78	18	3,387	86
HM Customs and Excise	18	4,291	20	18	iii4,439	16
Ministry of Defence	15	4,719	65	15	iv5,619	53
Army Base Repair Organisation	–	–	–	15	11	100
Army Personnel Centre	15	19	64	15	43	96
Defence Evaluation and Research Agency	12	27	93	15	42	79
Naval Recruiting and Training Agency	–	–	–	15	29	100
Department for International Development	15	2,994	89	15	2,613	91
Department for Education and Employment	15	22,460	71	15	iii19,766	70
Employment Service	15	1,837	93	15	630	92
Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions	15	31,798	58	15 v38,059	51
DVLA	7	299	96	7	453	99
Driving Standards Agency	15	194	78	15	108	85
Highways Agency	12	468	71	15	480	83
Marine and Coastguard Agency	15	25	100	15	vi21	100
Planning Inspectorate	8	296	94	8	vii286	87
Vehicle Inspectorate	15	24	96	15	20	100
Foreign and Commonwealth Office	7	8,735	95	7	viii10,040	85
Department of Health	20	14,547	76	20	ix10,648	61
NHS Pensions Agency	15	78	76	15	42	74
Medicines Control Agency	–	–	–	10	37	73
Home Office	15	16,831	20	15	17,875	32
	20	1,175	22	20	xii875	52
HM Prison Service	15	2,702	61	x20	2,400	69
UK Passport Agency	10	101	97	xi10	181	96
Inland Revenue	18	3,323	40	18	xiii6,305	20
	23	375	79	23	xiv193	100
Valuation Office	23	74	31	23	47	36
Legal Secretariat to the Law Officers	15	301	88	15	xv291	80
Lord Chancellor's Department	20	1,884	76	20	2,672	78
Court Service	20	1,391	99	20	xvi1,230	99
HM Land Registry	20	37	100	20	36	100
Public Trust Office	15	65	98	15	63	98
Northern Ireland Office (including Northern Ireland Departments)	10	2,163	59	10	2,001	70
Child Support Agency	10	144	67	10	104	87
Compensation Agency	–	–	–	7	25	100
Northern Ireland Prison Service	10	48	92	10	35	66
Planning Service	15	78	77	10	62	74
Rate Collection Agency	5	12	92	5	10	90
Rivers Agency	15	13	85	15	32	97
Road Service	15	23	87	10	35	97
Social Security Agency	10	94	78	10	70	93
Water Service	15	37	92	10	48	85
Office for National Statistics	10	269	92	10	xvii679	88
President of the Council's Office	15	102	91	15	230	88
The Scottish Office	17	4,722	65	17	5,650	60
Historic Scotland	17	23	91	17	36	100
Scottish Courts Service	17	11	82	17	17	97
Scottish Office Pensions Agency	17	38	97	17	45	100
Scottish Prison Service	17	145	97	17	119	95
Student Awards Agency for Scotland	17	240	70	17	112	50
Department of Social Security	20	17,585	51	20	19,330	31
Benefits Agency	20	3,314	89	20	2,797	56
Child Support Agency	20	8,182	99	20	8,365	100
Contributions Agency	20	338	89	20	280	37
War Pensions Agency	20	693	99	20	529	98

The 1998 correspondence figures are set out in the following table. The table also sets out the figures for 1997, first published on 31 July 1998, Official Report, columns 643–46. Members' attention is drawn to the footnotes which accompany the table and which provide general background information on how totals have been calculated.

To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, when the 1999 pay settlement for House of Commons staff will be implemented; and if he will make a statement. [85971]

There are four groups of House of Commons staff covered by separate pay settlements each year. They are the Senior Commons Staff (SCS), the Main Structure Staff (Pay Bands A to E), the Refreshment Department Catering Staff and the Works Directorate Craft Staff.The pay of the Senior Commons Staff is kept in line with that of the Senior Civil Service. The Government accepted the recommendations of the Senior Salaries Review Body in February and the recommended increases have been implemented with effect from 1 April 1999.The negotiations with the unions recognised to represent staff in Pay Bands A to E started in April 1999 and are continuing.The negotiations with the unions representing staff in the Craft and Catering pay bands are expected to start towards the end of June.The implementation date for all the settlements is 1 April 1999.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the powers he has to confiscate (a) passports, (b) national insurance cards and (c) driving licences. [86665]

The Secretary of State for Social Security has no express powers to confiscate passports, national insurance cards or driving licences. However, these documents remain the property of Her Majesty's Government. If the Secretary of State has concerns that such a document may be forged, altered or stolen, he may retain it. A receipt is issued and the appropriate authority notified.

To ask the Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the likely progress at the forthcoming G7 Summit in reducing the debt burden of the poorest countries; and if he will make a statement. [85724]

At the G8 Summit in Cologne next weekend I will be taking forward the UK's proposals for faster, deeper and wider debt relief to the world's poorest countries.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the Government's policy on a ground invasion of (a) Kosovo and (b) Serbia. [85897]

[holding answer 8 June 1999]: There is now evidence that the Yugoslav authorities are complying with the demands of the international community. My hon. Friend will be aware that following confirmation of the start of the withdrawal of Yugoslav forces from Kosovo, the NATO Secretary General ordered the suspension of the bombing campaign. An international peacekeeping force in which British troops will be at the forefront will be deployed within the timescale agreed between General Jackson and Serb military commanders on 9 June. Until this withdrawal is complete, however, we must continue to exercise caution and to keep all other options under review.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on his discussions with the Prime Minister of Hungary in relation to the safety of the ethnic Hungarians living in northern Yugoslavia, and on the concerns of the Hungarian Prime Minister about the threat to ethnic Hungarians from Serbian military forces and paramilitaries positioned near their homes.[85900]

[holding answer 8 June 1999]: I met the Hungarian Prime Minister in Downing Street on 15 April. We discussed the situation of the ethnic Hungarian community in Vojvodina. Mr. Orban said that a substantial number of ethnic Hungarians had left the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in recent years for Hungary. He expressed concern that the rights of the ethnic Hungarians in Vojvodina were inadequate and that the authorities of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia had deliberately resettled Serb refugees in areas which hitherto had an ethnic Hungarian majority.I reaffirmed the United Kingdom's support for the democratisation of the whole of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia as the best way to safeguard the rights of all its citizens.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the representations he received regarding the quarantine of the pet dog of William Dowell. [86630]

In addition to letters from William Dowell and his family, my office has received four letters on this subject, all from France.

To ask the Prime Minister what plans he has to abolish quarantine for animals entering the United Kingdom. [86631]

On 26 March, the Government announced that they were going to reform the quarantine laws in the UK. A pilot scheme is being developed for introduction as soon as possible and the main scheme will be in place by April 2001.

To ask the Prime Minister what the Government's policy is towards the development of the Council of Europe. [86645]

The Government support the development of the Council of Europe as a key institution for the promotion of the values of human rights, democracy and the rule of law throughout Europe, and for the strengthening of the political, legal, social and cultural cohesion of the continent.The enlargement of the Council of Europe's membership to include the new democracies of Eastern Europe has given it a central role in European unification. The Government believe that to take forward this role it is essential that the Council re-affirm its structures and redefine its priorities to be able to act more effectively as a force for democratic stability. The Government therefore strongly support the recommendations of the report adopted by Ministers in Budapest in May. We want to see a strong and energetic and effective Council of Europe ready to face the new millennium.

To ask the Prime Minister what were the reasons for the time taken in providing a full answer to the question of the hon. Member for South Holland and The Deepings (Mr. Hayes) of 20 May 1999, Official Report, column 403. [86716]

The hon. Member' s question–which asked for the figures showing that the Labour Party represents more rural constituencies than any other party–was due for answer on Tuesday 18 May and I gave a full reply two days later. The delay was due to the fact that on Monday 17 and Tuesday 18 May, I was in Bulgaria and Albania visiting British troops and meeting Kosovar refugees and the leaders of these frontline states.

To ask the Prime Minister what plans the Government have to introduce a Holocaust Remembrance day; and if he will make a statement. [86654]

I am determined to ensure that the horrendous crimes against humanity committed during the Holocaust are never forgotten. The ethnic cleansing and killing that has taken place in Europe in recent weeks are a stark example of the need for vigilance.The Government are considering a proposal for a Holocaust Remembrance Day and I have asked my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary to consult widely about this.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what changes are proposed to the Inland Revenue Departmental Expenditure Limit for 1999–2000. [87027]

There are no plans to change the overall Departmental Expenditure Limit of the Inland Revenue. However, subject to Parliamentary approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimate for Class XVI, Vote 4, the Voted element of the Departmental Expenditure Limit will be increased by £46,319,000 from £1,836,316,000 to £1,882,635,000 to reflect the costs of administering working families tax credits and disabled persons tax credits from October 1999. The increase will be offset by a matching reduction in the non-voted element from £34,910,000 to -£11,409,000 reflecting the take-up of retained provision.The Supplementary Estimate is subject to the passage of the Tax Credits Bill which has been laid before Parliament. The provision will not be used until the enabling legislation has been enacted or, in the event of the legislation not passing into law, further authority has been obtained from Parliament.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will take steps to persuade the Florida State Prosecutor to drop all charges of child abuse against Mr. and Mrs. Adams of Harrogate and obtain an apology for the way they were treated at St. Petersburg Beach, Florida. [86678]

The Government do not intervene in the judicial process of another sovereign country. This is a matter for Mr. and Mrs. Adam's lawyer. The family should address any complaints that they have about their treatment to the US authorities. They have been provided with the contact details.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the hon. Member for Walsall, North will receive a reply to his letter of 27 April, ref. GU10051886.[86401]

My noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs wrote to my hon. Friend today.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations have been made to him by Caribbean states over the proposed shipment of MOX fuel to Japan. [86739]

I am aware of the interest of Caribbean states on this issue, which the Government take very seriously.I have received a letter from the High Commissioner of the Bahamas on behalf of his Commonwealth Caribbean colleagues requesting a meeting to discuss this issue. Arrangements are in hand to hold such a meeting.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the membership and functions of the United Kingdom/China Forum. [85835]

The UK/China Forum is a nongovernmental organisation of senior British and Chinese individuals from the worlds of politics, business, administration, academia, the media and the arts, whose purpose is to promote contacts at all levels between Britain and China and develop initiatives to build stronger links in areas where better contact will bring mutual benefit to both sides. The Forum will meet yearly.The British members of the Forum are:Right hon. Michael Heseltine PC MP, Chairman; Dr. Chris Gamble (Director, Royal Institute of International Affairs), Executive Chair; Professor David Wall (Head, Asia Programme, Royal Institute of International Affairs), Secretary General; Mr. David Brewer (Chairman, Great Britain China Centre and Chairman, British Invisibles); Sir Charles Powell (President, China Britain Business Council); Sir Len Appleyard (Vice Chairman, Barclays Capital); Mr. Martin Broughton (Chairman, Chatham House China Task Force); Mr. Ben Chapman MP (Chairman, All-Party Parliamentary Group on China); Sir William Purves; Sir Patrick Gillam (Chairman, Standard Chartered Bank); Mr. Bob Mendelsohn (Group Chief Executive, Royal and Sun Alliance); Mr. Win Bischoff (Chairman, J. H. Schroder and Co. Ltd.); Sir John Jennings; Sir Ralph Robins (Chairman, Rolls Royce); Mr. Niall Fitzgerald (Chairman, Unilever); Mr. David John (Chairman, BOC); Baroness Kennedy (Chair, British Council); Lord Puttnam (Chairman, Enigma Productions); Sir Crispin Tickell; Mr. Giles Henderson (Senior Partner, Slaughter and May) and Mr. Richard Lambert (Editor, Financial Times).The Chinese members of the Forum are:Mr. Song Jian (Vice Chairman, Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference), Chairman; Mr. Mei Zhaorong (President, People's Institute of Foreign Affairs), Executive Chairman; Mr. Xin Futan (Vice President, People's Institute of Foreign Affairs), Secretary General; Mr. Yao Zhenyan (Chairman, China-UK Group, National People's Congress); Mr. Qu Geping (Chairman, Environmental Protection Committee, National People's Congress); Mr. Xie Anshan (Member, National People's Congress Standing Committee and Legal Committee); Mr. Chen Yuan (Governor, State Development Bank); Mr. Wang Xuebing (Governor, Bank of China); Mr. Wu Chunhe (Editor-in-Chief, Economic Daily); Mr. Wang Jiming (Vice President, China Petrochemical Group); Mr. Tu Guangshao (General Manager, Shanghai Stock Exchange); Mr. Chen Zhongbiao (Chairman, China Overseas Shipping Company Group); Mr. Feng Xiaozeng (Vice Chairman, State Insurance Regulatory Committee); Mr. An Chengxin (Vice President, Chinese Council for the Promotion of International Trade); Mr. Yao Jinrong (Deputy General Manager, China International Trust and Investment Corporation); Mr. Zhang Yanzhong (Deputy General Manager, China Aviation Industry Corporation); Mr. Wang Ren (Vice President, China Academy of Agriculture); Mr. Lin Jintong (President, Beijing Post and Telecommunications University); Mr. Wang Xuan (President, Research Institute of Founder Group of Peking University); Mr. Yang Qixian (Vice President, China Society of Economic Reform) and Mr. Li Gang (Director-General, Liaison Department, Ministry of Culture).

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department is taking to encourage men and women with engineering qualifications to enter the Diplomatic Service. [86163]

The FCO encourages a diverse range of candidates to apply to join the Diplomatic Service, so that the FCO is representative of the best of modern Britain. Applicants can have degrees in any discipline, so men and women with engineering degrees are encouraged to apply. We aim to visit each UK University every 4 to 5 years, which brings us into contact with graduates studying the whole spectrum of subjects, including engineering.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many ambassadors are chartered engineers. [86162]

The Senior Management Structure of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office includes one officer who has qualified as a Chartered Engineer. No current Ambassador has this qualification.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will account for the delay in replying to the questions from the right hon. Member for Penrith and The Border, 19 May 1999, Official Report, columns 349–50, [84699 and 84697]; and if a provisional agenda was available at the time of the holding answers. [85631]

Holding replies were given to these questions as the Minister was overseas. The substantive answers were given the following day.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what changes he is proposing to make to the Departmental Expenditure Limit for the Welsh Office and the Office of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools in Wales for the current financial year. [87029]

Subject to Parliament's approval of the related Revised Estimate, the Welsh Office Departmental Expenditure Limit for 1999–2000 will be increased by £30,800,000 from £7,061,717,000 to £7,092,517,000, including a transfer from the Department for Education and Employment Class I, Vote 1 to take account of the change to student support arrangements following the Dearing Review of higher education.The increase will be offset by a transfer and will not add to the overall level of planned total public expenditure.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what consultations were undertaken with fishing organisations in advance of the Scottish Adjacent Waters Boundaries Order 1999.[85527]

A press release was issued at the time the draft order was laid, on 8 March 1999. All fishing organisations were therefore able to comment on the draft Order between that date and the Order being approved by the Privy Council on 13 April 1999. None did so.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what rights in respect of consultation are available to Scottish fishermen operating in the areas of sea, responsibility for which is transferred by the Scottish Adjacent Water Boundaries Order 1999 with regard to oil, gas and other subsea operations. [85531]

Under the Petroleum Act 1998, the Department of Trade and Industry is required in considering various oil and gas activities to have regard to the implications for other users of the sea including the fishing industry. Historically there has been appropriate consultation with representatives of the Scottish fishing industry through the Scottish Office. These consultation arrangements will continue through the Scottish Executive.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the impact on activities of the Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency of the Scottish Adjacent Waters Boundaries Order 1999. [85529]

Officers of the Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency (SFPA) remain British Sea Fisheries Officers and, as such, will be empowered to operate anywhere within British fisheries limits. In practice, SFPA vessels will patrol down to the new median line, but they will have powers of pursuit outwith the Scottish zone.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will set out the reallocation of responsibilities between the United Kingdom Parliament and the Scottish Parliament as a result of the Scottish Adjacent Water Boundaries Order 1999. [85528]

The Order makes statutory provision for the first time for a Scottish zone of British fisheries limits. By doing so it helps define the functions of Scottish Ministers and the responsibilities of the Scottish Parliament. Responsibility for the regulation of sea fisheries issues, including measures implemented under the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), will be devolved to the new Scottish Parliament within the zone, and in respect of Scottish boats outwith the zone.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement setting out the effects on the jurisdiction of the Scottish courts for waters in the area of sea transferred by the Scottish Adjacent Water Boundaries Order 1999. [85530]

It remains possible for prosecutions for most alleged offences to be taken anywhere in the UK. The current practice is normally to refer the prosecution case folder to the nearest court to where the offence took place. This is likely to continue to be the case.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to amend the Office of the Secretary of State for Scotland and transfers to the Scottish consolidated fund departmental expenditure limits/running costs provision for 1999–2000. [87024]

Subject to Parliamentary approval of the necessary Revised Estimates, the gross running costs provision for Class XIII, Vote 1 will be increased by £175,000 from £2,400,000 to £2,575,000. The increase is in respect of an increase in appropriations in aid from: VAT recoveries, fees and costs for legal work done by solicitors and receipts of rents and a transfer of £55,000 from Current Grants for the cost of Private Legislation Procedure. The running costs limit and the Departmental Expenditure Limit will be increased by £55,000 from £2,400,000 to £2,455,000. This will be offset by a corresponding reduction in expenditure by the Scottish Parliament within the Departmental Expenditure Limit from £13,807,018,000 to £13,806,963,000.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what European Union support is being given for longer-term reconstruction in the Balkans; and if she will make a statement. [86478]

The EU has provided 4,185 million euros for the reconstruction of the region since the end of the Bosnian conflict. In 1999, 170 million euros were allocated for the reconstruction of the countries of the former Yugoslavia.The EU is reviewing its plans to take into account the consequences of the Kosovo crisis. The proposed Stability Pact for South East Europe will provide a framework for the regeneration of the Balkan region. The EU will play a key role in this process and in the financing of the international reconstruction effort in Kosovo.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much British aid money has been invested in agricultural projects in developing countries which include the growing of tobacco crops for each year over the last five years. [86212]

Our policy is that development funds must not be used for any purpose which supports the tobacco sector. In line with this requirement, no British development money has been invested in bilateral projects which include the growing of tobacco crops in developing countries in any of the past 5 years.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what official development assistance was provided by the UK in 1998 as a percentage of GNP; and what the performance was of other members of OECD's Development Assistance Committee. [86981]

As announced yesterday by the Development Assistance Committee of the OECD, the UK's expenditure on official development assistance (ODA) in 1998 is estimated at £2,315 million, representing 0.27 per cent. of GNP. This is an increase on the 1997 figure of 0.26 per cent. and reflects the Government's commitment to reverse the decline in UK development assistance. The average ODA/GNP ration for all OECD DAC Member Countries was 0.23 per cent. We will continue our strenuous efforts to also improve the effectiveness of international development programmes.The figures exclude financial flows to countries in transition in Central and Eastern Europe and more advanced developing countries as defined in the DAC List of Aid Recipients.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what discussions he has had with the North West Regional Health Authority on the appointment of independent investigators to report on administration of the Guild Community Trust Preston during 1998 and 1999; and if he will make a statement; [85139](2) in what ways he involved the Chairman of the North West Regional Health Authority in seeking the resignations of the non-executive directors of the Guild Community Trust Preston;[85224](3) if he will list the grounds on which he dismissed the Board of the Guild Community Trust Preston; [85223](4) if he will list those occasions on which the non-executive directors of the Guild Community Trust Preston sought advice on the way the trust was being run from the North West Regional Health Authority; and what advice was given; [85136](5) if he will publish the correspondence between his Department, the North West Regional Health Authority and the Chief Executive of the Guild Community Trust Preston during 1998 and 1999 on the Chief Executive's administration of the trust during this period; [85137](6) if he will list the

[holding answer 25 May 1999]: A mental health report which appeared in the summer of 1998 raised concerns about the management of Guild Community Healthcare NHS Trust and, specifically, its Chief Executive. The Trust Board, after consultation with the NHS Executive North West, took the decision to suspend the Chief Executive and commission an independent panel to investigate his management style.The independent Galbraith Report was presented to the non-executive team in December 1998. It concluded that there had been a clear and significant loss of confidence in the trust's Chief Executive and that his position had become untenable. Then the Chairman of the Trust resigned. I have received briefings from the North West Regional Office of the NHS about the investigation which was commissioned by, and reported to, the Guild Trust Board.The circumstances at the Guild Trust, Preston were the subject of letters, e-mails, telephone and face-to-face conversations involving non-executive directors of the trust, officials at the NHS North West Regional Office and officials in my Department over a lengthy period.In May the non-executive directors of the Guild Trust were asked to resign in the best interests of the NHS and the staff and patients of the trust because there had been an irreversible breakdown in relations with one another. Two agreed to resign and I dismissed the three who refused.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what steps he is taking to ensure that the impact of the use of computerised systems in respect of call-outs by Staffordshire Ambulance service is disseminated to other ambulance services in the United Kingdom; [85537](2) what assessment he has made of the response rate times achieved by Staffordshire Ambulance service. [85536]

Staffordshire Ambulance service has reported impressive response times which we commend. Information about its work, including its use of computerised systems, has been widely disseminated through publication of its response times, presentation of its results to Ministers by the chief executive, and at a national meeting of health authority commissioners focusing on its methods.Other ambulance services in England have adopted the approaches promoted by Staffordshire.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research has been conducted by, or on behalf of, his Department into the health risks of the use of bovine serum in the manufacture of MMR vaccines. [85534]

No research specific to bovine material and measles, mumps and rubella vaccine has been conducted by, or on behalf of, the Department of Health. All bovine blood products used in the manufacture of MMR vaccines comply with European guidelines on minimising the risk of transmitting agents causing spongiform encephalopathies via medicinal products, which address the sourcing and processing of bovine material used in the manufacture of pharmaceuticals. The product used in the manufacture of MMR vaccine is not serum, but bovine albumin. This is not United Kingdom sourced.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital were referred for radiotherapy treatment in each year from 1989 to date; and if he will make a statement. [85695]

The Department does not collect information about numbers of patients referred for radiotherapy. The following information indicates first out-patient referrals for clinical oncology at Royal Shrewsbury Hospital (only available since 1994–95), a proportion of whom will have been referred for radiotherapy treatment.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) when the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital will be informed of the outcome of its bid for a linear accelerator; and if he will make a statement; [85698](2) pursuant to the letter of 12 April from the Under-Secretary of State for Health, if his officials have considered the financial terms of funding a second linear accelerator at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital; and if he will make a statement; [85696](3) what reasons underlie the length of time taken by the NHS Executive, West Midlands Regional Office to consider the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital's business case for funding to replace its cobalt unit with a new linear accelerator; and if he will make a statement. [85716]

The National Health Service Executive–West Midlands Regional Office is carefully considering the business case and hopes to make a decision as soon as possible. The prime consideration will be establishing a safe and sustainable service. There are several factors underpinning this, and the Regional Office needs to satisfy itself that all the issues have been addressed before approving the business case. In particular, the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital, which is not itself a cancer centre, will need to demonstrate that robust working links have been developed with the North Staffordshire cancer centre. In addition, work currently taking place on developing a national framework for radiotherapy services, as well as wider regional cancer strategy will inform the decision. The Royal Shrewsbury Hospital will be informed as soon as a decision has been reached.West Midlands Regional Office is currently exploring possible sources of funding to minimise delay should the business case be approved.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the estimated combined annual running costs in the last financial year of the (a) Commission for Health Improvement and (b) National Institute for Clinical Excellence; and if he will make a statement. [85737]

The Commission for Health Improvement will be established by the Health Bill currently before Parliament, and incurred no running costs in the last financial year. The National Institute for Clinical Excellence was established on 1 April this year and did not incur any running costs in the last financial year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the guidelines are for the issue of Viagra on NHS prescription, with particular reference to the general practitioner's discretion. [86301]

Subject to Parliamentary approval, from 1 July changes will be incorporated in schedule 11 of the National Health Service (General Medical Services) Regulations 1992 which will specify those categories of patients for whom general practitioners may prescribe drug treatments for impotence, including Viagra, on the NHS.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what data his Department collects on childhood asthma; and if he will set out the figures for the last 10 years. [86407]

There are no comprehensive data on the number of children with asthma. The Department's Central Health Monitoring Unit brought together a broad range of the best statistics on asthma in "Asthma: An Epidemiological Overview" (1995), copies of which are available in the Library. This report quotes an estimate, on the basis of all the information available, that

"the prevalence of asthma sufficiently severe to require regular medical supervision is from 4–6 per cent. in children".

The Department routinely collects data on hospital in-patient care for asthma. The numbers (in thousands) of hospital in-patient cases (ie finished consultant episodes—ordinary admissions and day cases) in which asthma was the main diagnosis (ICD 10 codes J45 and J46 from 1995–96; ICD 9 code 493 before that) in England for the last ten years for which figures are available, among children aged 0 to 4 years and 5 to 14 years, are given in the table:

Age group	0–4	5—14
1988–89	38.8	23.0
1989–90	32.7	18.8
1990–91	32.3	16.7
1991–92	32.1	18.5
1992–93	31.9	16.2
1993–94	32.5	17.5
1994–95	28.6	14.8
1995–96	28.7	15.2
1996–97	25.7	12.0
1997–98	20.4	12.5

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research his Department has carried out on asthma in young children; and what plans he has for further research. [86406]

The Department, the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions and the Medical Research Council are jointly funding a major research initiative on the relationship between air pollution and respiratory disease. The National Asthma Campaign is managing, on behalf of the National Health Service Executive, the NHS National research and development programme on asthma management. Many of the research projects commissioned under these initiatives will be pertinent to asthma in children.The Medical Research Council which receives most of its income via grant-in-aid from the Office of Science and Technology in the Department of Trade and Industry also spends about £2 million a year on research into prevention and treatment of asthma and related areas.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans his Department has to require health authorities which produce or modify medical equipment to obtain a CE Mark registration before the equipment is issued. [86677]

Any health authority which places medical devices on the market must comply with the requirements of the Medical Devices Regulations and CE mark their product accordingly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health which companies or Government organisations his Department has exempted from the requirement to obtain CE Marks for medical equipment. [86676]

None. All manufacturers or other organisations who place medical devices on the United Kingdom market must go through the appropriate conformity assessment procedure detailed in the Medical Devices Regulations and CE mark their products accordingly. Health care establishments who make a device for their own use in-house are not regarded as having placed a product on the market.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to make the list of medical equipment which has obtained a CE Mark available for public inspection. [86674]

As required by the Medical Devices Regulations, the Medical Devices Agency maintains a register only of manufacturers of low risk and custom-made devices and assemblers who have a place of business in the United Kingdom. Article 20 of the Medical Devices Directive prevents data on this register being made publicly available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance his Department has issued to health authorities about the need to obtain CE Marks for medical equipment. [86675]

In January 1998 the National Health Service Executive issued an Executive Letter (EL(98)5) to all health authorities reminding them of their responsibilities under the Medical Devices Regulations. In addition the Medical Devices Agency has produced a Guide for Health Care Professionals on the CE marking of Medical Devices together with a leaflet on the CE mark plus a Bulletin on the application of the Regulations on the activities of health care establishments. Copies of these documents are available in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many water authorities fluoridate their water; what guidance he gives to water authorities on this practice; what plans he has to change the law regarding water fluoridation; and if he will make a statement.[86411]

In England six Water Undertakers provide fluoridated water to some of the populations they serve–Northumbria, North West, Severn Trent, South Staffordshire, Anglian and Thames.Under the Water Industry Act 1991 health authorities are required to consult:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects that the National Institute for Clinical Excellence will report to him on the use of beta interferon; and if he will make a statement. [86483]

The initial work programme and, therefore, the timing of guidance on any specific procedure for the National Institute for Clinical Excellence has not been finally determined, although it is likely that beta interferon will be referred to NICE.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what steps are being taken to recognise at consultant level those practitioners with extensive experience in homeopathic medicine gained before 1 January 1997; [86326](2) what provision there is for the training of orthodox physicians in their conventional path of accreditation in homeopathy and complementary medicine; [86329](3) if homeopathic medicine is recognised as a specialty in the United Kingdom. [86327]

There is currently no statutory training path for doctors in homeopathy in the United Kingdom, although consultants in homeopathy have been appointed in the National Health Service. Since 1 January 1997 it has been a requirement to be on the General Medical Council's Specialist Register in order to be eligible for appointment as a substantive NHS consultant. Doctors holding substantive NHS consultant appointments in homeopathy before 31 December 1998 were able to apply for inclusion in the Register under transitional provisions in the European Specialist Medical Qualifications Order 1995 (as amended). New consultants in homeopathy would ordinarily expect to be trained in another medical specialty recognised for the purposes of specialist registration, as well as in the non-statutory requirements for homeopathy.The requirements for specialist medical education are governed by European Directive 93/16/EEC. The practice of homeopathy varies greatly across the European Economic Area, and there is no provision within the Directive to recognise homeopathy for the purposes of medical training. The Faculty of Homeopathy has previously indicated its intention to develop a nationally recognised training programme in homeopathy. In order to do so, the Faculty would need to satisfy the Specialist Training Authority of the Medical Royal Colleges (STA) that the training programme met the requirements of Directive 93/16/EEC. It would then be for the STA to apply to the Secretary of State for Health for inclusion of the specialty in the European Specialist Medical Qualifications Order 1995 (as amended).

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to reply to the letters dated 19 March, 23 March and 22 April from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr. H. Eljack, 5 Oundle Close. [86409]

I wrote to my right hon. Friend, on 10 June 1999. Mr. Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the hon. Member for Walsall, North will receive a reply to his letter of 27 April, ref. 7518/99. [86400]

I am sorry that my hon. Friend has not yet received a reply to his letter of 27 April. I will be replying shortly setting out the full background to this case.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what criteria are used to decide which prisoners should serve their sentence in Ford Open Prison. [86711]

Ford prison is an open prison and accepts adult male category D prisoners. The current arrangements for the categorisation and allocation of adult male prisoners are set out in chapter 7 of Prison Service Order 2200, a copy of which is available in the Library.Allocation criteria for individual establishments are agreed between the area manager and the governor of the prison. They vary according to local circumstances. The criteria for acceptance at Ford prison are listed as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the impact that advertisements implying a pleasure for women in male roughness have on his efforts to avert domestic violence; and if he will make a statement. [86477]

No such assessment has been made but nobody should believe that violence against women is either acceptable or enjoyed by the victims. There can be no excuse for such conduct. It is so serious because it is so often committed in what should be the "safety" of the victim's home, even in front of children, by a partner to whom the victim should be able to look for support and protection.The "Break the Chain" campaign launched this year made clear the Government's determination to tackle domestic violence. The leaflet has been so much in demand that we are having to reprint it as a matter of urgency.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 9 February 1999, Official Report, column 144, to the hon. Member for Chesham and Amersham (Mrs. Gillan), what was the role of the fourth officer at the arrest of Senator Pinochet. [86752]

As indicated in the my reply of 9 February 1999 to the hon. Member for Chesham and Amersham (Mrs. Gillan), Official Report, column 144, only two officers were present. They were the head of the Metropolitan Police Extradition Squad and another member of the Squad.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many 999 calls were received in each of the last three years by (a) police forces and (b) the Metropolitan Police; and if he will make a statement. [86653]

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed (Mr. Beith) on 19 March 1999, Official Report, columns 824–26.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list those areas which (a) have successfully bid for additional funding for the targeted policing initiative, and how much has been allocated in each case and (b) submitted unsuccessful bids; and if he will make a statement. [86124]

Of the £250 million three year Crime Reduction Programme which we announced on 21 July 1998, £32 million has been earmarked for the targeted policing initiative. The aim of this initiative is to help police forces, in collaboration with local crime and disorder partnerships, to improve the way in which they tackle crime. Rather than only responding to crime and dealing with its immediate consequences, the challenge is to reduce it by analysing the real crime problem and tackling its underlying causes. To this end we will be funding some 20 developmental projects over the next three years with an emphasis on developing and testing our new, effective and cost effective targeted policing tactics.On 11 November last year, we wrote to all chief constables in England and Wales, copied to police authorities and local authority Chief Executives, inviting them to submit proposals under the first of two competitions in the targeted policing initiative. A total of 32 police forces submitted 73 outline proposals for funding a range of targeted policing initiatives in their areas. The bids contained a good mix of problems to be tackled and possible approaches to tackling them.The proposals were assessed against the published criteria by a specially convened panel comprising representatives from the Home Office, the Association of Chief Police Officers, Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and the Local Government Association. The panel identified 11 proposals (table 1) as strong contenders for further development and which are currently undergoing validation and development with the help of independent consultants appointed by the Home Office. The development of the proposals is due to be completed shortly and I expect to be able to announce the final results by the end of June.The shortlisted proposals have an estimated bid cost to the crime reduction programme of £5.2 million, however the final allocation of funding will not be known until the development work is completed.The 62 bids not selected for further development at this stage are shown in table 2. Of these, four have been designated by the assessment panel as reserve projects in case any of the 11 projects are not selected.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many, and what percentage of, criminal prosecutions were completed in (a) magistrates' courts, and (b) higher courts, in each of the last five years for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [86122]