To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of (a) the cost of the climate change levy to his Department and (b) the savings from the reduction in National Insurance Contributions that will occur when it is introduced. [88863]

The net impact of the climate change levy and the associated reduction in main rate of employers' National Insurance Contributions on the Home Office will depend on the rates of climate change levy. The final rates of climate change levy will not be set until Finance Bill 2000.In addition, the Government are still considering a number of detailed issues on the tax treatment of different energy products which could have a significant impact in some instances. It is, therefore, not possible to give definitive figures about the impact of the climate change levy on the Home Office.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which class of vote covers expenditure incurred on protection of Ministers and other current and former parliamentarians; and what is the total of this expenditure in the current financial year. [88849]

The class of vote covering such expenditure is Class IV. It is not the practice to publish how much is spent on protective security measures as to do so would provide an indication of the level of security being provided.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to include individual restaurant health inspection data in his Department's proposals for freedom of information. [89131]

Food hygiene inspections are conducted by local authority Environmental Health Officers under the Food Safety Act 1990. This Act does not prohibit the disclosure of inspection reports unless they contain confidential information.Local authorities are public authorities within the meaning of the draft Freedom of Information Bill and will be required to apply the legislation to information requests when the Bill is enacted.Clause 34(2) of the draft Bill exempts information from the right of access if disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice the commercial interests of any person. It is possible that inspection reports may fall for consideration under this exemption. But, even if the disclosure of a report is exempt by virtue of this clause, authorities would have a duty under clause 14 to consider, on a case by case basis, whether the information requested should be disclosed in the public interest.In addition, under clause 6 of the draft legislation, public authorities would have a duty to adopt a publication scheme, which has regard to the public interest and must be approved by the Information Commissioner. Under clause 6, a local authority could agree with the Information Commissioner that such reports should be published as of right and if so, in what form and to what timetable.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what estimate he has made of the cost of providing free access to criminal records checks for the voluntary sector; [89123](2) if he will review the decision to include the voluntary sector in charging for criminal records checks on people who want to work in the sector; [89122](3) what assessment he has made of the effects of charging for criminal records checks on the voluntary sector; [89121](4) when the Criminal Records Bureau will be established; [89124](5) what representations he has received on the effects of charging for criminal records checks on the voluntary sector. [89120]

It is intended that all applicants will be required to pay for certificates from the Criminal Records Bureau. We have received a large number of representations from voluntary organisations and individuals on this subject. We considered very carefully whether there was any way in which free checks could be provided for volunteers. Whilst we acknowledge the valuable contribution volunteers make, we have concluded that it will not be practicable to provide any free checks from the Criminal Records Bureau for volunteers or for any other groups. We realise that this is unwelcome news but providing free checks would prove an unsustainable burden on the public purse and may increase demand for certificates from the Bureau to an uncontrollable extent. In addition, we do not consider it would be fair to allow volunteers to have free certificates when there are other equally deserving groups such as the unemployed or the disabled.It is difficult to estimate what the cost of free certificates would be to the Bureau, as it is not known how many volunteers would be required to apply for certificates, but the cost is potentially enormous. If checks were provided only to new volunteers seeking the higher levels of checks, the cost could exceed £10 million a year. If checks were extended to all existing volunteers, the cost could be between £40–£200 million. The cost of the fees for certificates from the Bureau will be kept to the minimum necessary to recoup costs and to provide a satisfactory service.The Criminal Records Bureau is being established to enable checks to be carried out to help prevent unsuitable people from working with children or vulnerable adults. It will be for voluntary organisations to decide whether volunteers require a certificate, and a certificate will not obviate the need for voluntary organisations to carry out their own checks and references as part of normal recruitment procedures. However, the over-riding consideration at all times must be the protection of the vulnerable, and the service provided by the Criminal Records Bureau will help to achieve this. We do not believe that volunteering will diminish with the introduction of these checks.The Bureau will be set up in Merseyside and work on implementation and timing is being taken forward.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many motorists have been (a) cautioned and (b) charged for using the new bus lane on the M4. [89174]

The information requested is not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the average time for an officer to answer the telephone to a 999 call for the (a) London Ambulance Service, (b) Metropolitan Police and (c) London Fire Service in (i) 1999 to date, (ii) 1998 and (iii) 1997; what were the target times in each of those periods; and what percentage of calls met those targets. [89253]

This information is not held centrally; however, the following information has been supplied by the London Ambulance Service, Metropolitan Police and London Fire Service:

The London Ambulance Service answers approximately 90 per cent. of 999 calls within five seconds. It aims to achieve a target of 95 per cent. of calls within five seconds by April 2000. 99 per cent. of calls are answered within 15 seconds.

The Metropolitan Police aims to answer 80 per cent. of calls within 15 seconds. In 1997, it answered 90.8 per cent. within target time; in 1998, 88.6 per cent; and to 30 June 1999, 80.2 per cent.

The London Fire Brigade aims to answer 90 per cent. of calls within 20 seconds. In 1997 it answered 93 per cent. of calls in 6 seconds; in 1998, 96 per cent. of calls in 4 seconds; and to 29 June 1999, 96 per cent. of calls in 3 seconds.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people charged with immigration offences were detained in prisons in England and Wales on 1 June. [89177]

The available information is for 31 May 1999 and shows that 480 persons were detained in prisons in England and Wales under the Immigration Act 1971.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the countries which do not have an extradition treaty with the United Kingdom. [89175]

Details of the United Kingdom's extradition arrangements are not available on this basis. Those countries with whom the United Kingdom has extradition arrangements follow. The Extradition Act 1989 enables special extradition arrangements to be made with foreign states with whom the United Kingdom has no extradition arrangements. In addition, there are a number of international conventions which allow for the extradition of fugitives between ratifying states for certain serious offences, even in the absence of an extradition arrangement.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he has taken to ensure that the computer systems in use by the Kent Fire Brigade are millennium compliant and that emergency services will not be affected on 1 January 2000. [89186]

The millennium preparedness of all fire brigades in England and Wales is subject to independent assessment by Her Majesty's Fire Service Inspectorate. The results, together with independent assessments of the millennium preparedness of the other emergency services and other key sectors of the national infrastructure, were reported to the Action 2000 National Infrastructure Forum on 21 April. Her Majesty's Inspectorate reported then that they expected all fire brigades in England and Wales to be fully prepared by September at the latest. That remains the case. The latest state of preparedness of each fire brigade will be reported at the next National Infrastructure Forum on 13 July, following which, I will forward further details to my hon. Friend.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he has taken to ensure that the computer systems in use by the Kent Police are millennium compliant and that law enforcement activities will not be affected on 1 January 2000. [89187]

It is important that all police forces in England and Wales take every measure to ensure year 2000 compliance. The Home Office has commissioned an Independent Assessment of all forces, including Kent, by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary. The results of this survey will be published at the National Infrastructure Forum on 13 July.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 24 June 1999,

Establishment	Total population1	Number of prisoners locked up for more than 22 hours	Percentage	Comment
Birmingham	1,070	476	44	8 for good order and discipline, 36 patients in the health care centre. The population of 1,070 is 336 more than Birmingham's certified normal accommodation and the shortage of out of cell activity is one result of holding this number of additional prisoners.
Liverpool	1,411	2	0.1	1 for good order and discipline, 1 refuses to leave the segregation unit.
Dartmoor	594	27	4.5	7 for good order and discipline, 10 held in segregation at own request, 10 unemployed. They are being encouraged to apply for work vacancies.
Feltham	799	13	1.6	All for good order and discipline.
Swansea	320	1	0.3	Patient in health care centre unfit for work or association.
1This figure is the 'unlock figure', that is, the actual number of prisoners held in the establishment on the morning of 29 June.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance his Department has issued to police forces about consultation with minority groups in the communities which they serve; and if he will list those forces which have established procedures for liaison with (a) ethnic minorities, (b) lesbian, gay, and bisexual people, (c) disabled people and (d) transsexual and transgendered people. [89159]

In December 1996, the Home Office Police Research Group published a report "It's Good to Talk: lessons in public consultation and feedback". This report looked at good practice in consultation and feedback on policing and provided advice to police authorities and forces in deciding how to undertake their consultation arrangements. It set out a matrix methodology to help each force and authority decide on the most appropriate arrangements, and included advice on how to consult with minority groups—particularly those who found it difficult to take part in the more formal consultation processes.Extensive guidance has been issued on the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 which imposed new duties on police forces and local authorities to form partnerships to deal with crime and disorder. Consultation with local communities is a major aspect of these new duties and the guidance gives advice on the involvement of minority groups.Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary's thematic report on police community and race relations "Winning the Race", published in October 1997, and the follow-up report "Winning the Race—Revisited", published in March 1999, also made recommendations on a number of issues including the need to have sound and representative public consultation processes—with particular reference to minority groups.

The precise numbers vary from day to day. The table gives the position on 29 June 1999.A survey of all forces undertaken as part of the inspection revealed that at the time of the second inspection (September 1998), 93 per cent. of forces had a strategy in place to consult minority groups. The remaining forces are developing their own strategies. Such strategies will not necessarily be specific to any one group but will encompass all groups within the local community. The issue will be looked at again when Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary carries out a further inspection of race and community relations in 2000.The Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) has published guidelines for the police in dealing with gay and lesbian communities which includes advice on consultation arrangements.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people served in the special constabulary of each police force in each of the past five years for which figures are available. [89552]

As at 31 March, the figures for the number of special constables in post in each police force area in England and Wales for the past five years were:

Force	1995	1996	1997	1998	19991
Avon and Somerset	651	688	759	621	547
Bedfordshire	189	189	182	186	154
Cambridgeshire	279	275	303	320	310
Cheshire	321	274	475	459	407
City of London	83	77	86	76	64
Cleveland	212	195	160	164	126
Cumbria	241	201	188	198	204
Derbyshire	434	413	428	380	317
Devon and Cornwall	1,142	1,102	1,148	1,024	918
Dorset	221	254	289	315	305
Durham	200	187	184	144	159
Dyfed-Powys	302	314	283	254	237
Essex	674	608	634	638	544

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what legal basis exists (a) for the warning by the Association of Chief Police Officers that vehicles in motorway accidents or which have broken down must be removed within 30 minutes and (b) for the police to engage their own contractors and charge the owners to remove vehicles after this time limit; when these provisions will come into effect; and if he will make a statement. [89553]

Police powers to arrange for the removal of vehicles from motorways are contained in the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 and the Removal and Disposal of Vehicles Regulations 1986. Under this legislation, the precise arrangements adopted by police forces for the safe recovery of vehicles from the motorway including the engagement of contractors to carry out this work are an operational matter for individual chief officers of police.In view of the increasing traffic flows on motorways and the associated dangers the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) issued guidelines in May this year which reduced the period of leeway which the police allow for the removal of vehicles from the motorway from two hours to 30 minutes. A memorandum of understanding has recently been agreed between the four main motoring organisations and ACPO whereby Greenflag, the Royal Automobile Club, Automobile Association and Britannia will aim to attend the scene of a breakdown on the motorway within 30 minutes.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement concerning the progress made by the reviews (a) on retention of DNA profiles collected by the police from individuals for elimination purposes, (b) on the wider use of electoral roll personal data without the consent of the elector and (c) on the application of the national security exemption to the processing of personal data held by the Security Service for a purpose which relates to serious crime. 89653]

We intend to issue a consultation paper shortly. The Working Party on Electoral Procedures, which has been looking at this alongside other issues, is expected to report to the Home Secretary later in the summer. Consideration is still being given to the exemptions for the Security Service that would be necessary under the Data Protection Act 1998. At this stage, it is not envisaged that the Security Service would rely on exemption provided by section 29 of the 1998 Act (crime and taxation).

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the dates since 1 July 1998 when the named veterinary surgeon appointed under section 7(5)(b) of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 visited Harlan UK Ltd., indicating which visits were announced and which unannounced; and on which occasions he considered that the welfare of an animal gave cause for concern and so invoked the procedure laid down in section 7(b) of that Act. [89533]

The Home Office does not hold records concerning visits to establishments by the named veterinary surgeon. I understand, however, that the named veterinary surgeon for this establishment is employed on a full-time basis by the company and would, therefore, have been on site most days.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the use of beagles in animal experimentation. [89450]

Animals can be used in scientific procedures only where the benefits to humans, other animals or the environment outweigh the costs to the animals involved and where there are no suitable alternatives. Dogs (along with cats, primates and equidae) can be used only if animals of no other species are suitable or if it is not practicable to obtain animals of a suitable species. Unless otherwise authorised, only dogs acquired from designated breeding establishments can be used in scientific procedures.In 1997, 7,490 scientific procedures were carried out on dogs (less than 0.3 per cent. of all procedures) of which 7,240 involved beagles. Of the 7,490 total, 4,581 were for assessing the safety or efficacy of pharmaceuticals and 1,738 were for pharmaceutical research and development.No-one likes to use animals in scientific procedures and particularly dogs. However, their use in some procedures is still essential in medical research and testing. The aforementioned figures indicate the important areas of work in which the vast majority of dogs are used.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will (1) make a statement on the findings of the recent British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection report into Harlan UK Ltd in relation to alleged infringements of the Animal (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986; [89534](2) instigate an investigation into Harlan UK Ltd. to establish whether infringements of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 have occurred; [89535](3) list the dates since 1 July 1998 when his Department's Inspectorate has visited Harlan UK Ltd. under section 18(2)(d) of the Animals (Scientific Proceedings) Act 1986, indicating which visits were announced and which unannounced; and what reports were made to him in accordance with section 18(2)(e) of that Act; [89531](4) make a statement on the death of two primates en route from Oxford University to Harlan UK Ltd. [89449]

We have received, and are studying, a detailed report provided, on 29 June, by the British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection (BUAV). An investigation into the allegations made has already been launched and I have asked for urgent advice on whether there is a need to suspend—under the powers granted by section 13 of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986—the establishment's certificate of designation.A comprehensive and thorough investigation will be carried out. It will be led by a senior member of the Home Office Inspectorate unconnected with this establishment. This could take two or three months to complete, but I will be receiving interim reports.In addition to the standards of care and welfare of animals, the BUAV report criticises the Home Office Inspectorate. These allegations will be considered during the investigation.I will be advising the Animal Procedures Committee of the outcomes in due course.It would be wrong to pre-judge the outcome of the investigation and I will not, therefore, comment further at this time. However, I give the hon. Member my assurances that if any of the allegations of contraventions of the Act; of the terms and conditions of licences or certificates; or of the Codes of Practice are substantiated appropriate action will be taken to rectify the problems and to prevent recurrence. No options have been ruled out at this stage.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what steps he is taking to end the practice whereby more animals are bred for research purposes than are used in experiments; [89448](2) if he requires research, breeding and supply establishments to keep full records detailing the numbers of research animals killed each year, and where such animals have had their (i) blood, (ii) tissue and (iii) organs sold; [89455](3) if he will make it a requirement under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 for establishments to keep full records of (i) the number of animals bred for research purposes and (ii) the number of such animals subsequently destroyed without being so used. [89454]

I refer to the reply that I gave the hon. Member on 30 November 1998, Official Report, columns 80–81.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many project licences issued under the Animals (Scientific Procedure) Act 1986 are currently in force at Harlan UK; and how many of these are classified as (a) mild, (b) moderate and (c) substantial severity. [89532]

There are currently two project licences in force that have primary availability at this establishment—i.e. it is the main place at which procedures are carried out under the authority of the licence. One of these is of mild severity and one moderate. There are a further 22 project licences that have primary availability elsewhere, but that have secondary availability at this establishment. Eleven of these are of mild severity and the remainder are moderate.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when plans he has to introduce drug-testing kits for police to check people suspected of driving under the influence of drugs. [89746]

We have no current plans to introduce such kits, but tests have been carried out on some to assess their practicality for police use and further work is being undertaken to develop a specification for a roadside screening device.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the criteria which he is currently applying to decisions to extend expired passports for two years; and what plans he has to review these criteria. [89866]

The criteria are as follows:Where children are included on passports, they can be:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the dates since 2 May 1997 on which the Chief Executive of the Passport Agency submitted his quarterly reports to ministers. [89865]

Since 2 May 1997, the Chief Executive has submitted his quarterly reports to Ministers on the following dates:

Period	Date Submitted
April to June 1997	11 August 1997
July to September 1997	18 November 1997
October to December 1997	12 February 1998
January to March 1998	12 May 1998
April to June 1998	6 August 1998
October to December 1998	February 1999
January to March 1999	19 May 1999

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the present members of the Passport Agency's Advisory Board. [89863]

The present members of the Passport Agency's Advisory Board are:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the dates on which (a) the Passport Agency's Management Board and (b) the Passport Agency's Advisory Board have met since 2 May 1997. [89864]

The information requested on meetings of the Passport Agency's Management Board, and its Advisory Board since 2 May 1997 are as follows:

Advisory Board
Year	Dates
1997	30 July, 30 October
1998	28 January, 29 April, 29 October
1999	28 January, 28 April

Management Board
Year	Date
1997	19 May, 23 June, 2 July, 21 July, 18 August, 28 August, 15 September, 20 October, 17 November, 15 December
1998	19 January, 16 February, 16 March, 20 April, 18 May, 22 June, 20 July, 17 August, 16 September, 19 October, 9 November, 21 December
1999	18 January, 22 February, 22 March, 20 April, 17 May, 21 June

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy during the present delays at the Passport Agency to waive or reimburse the £10 additional fee due from applicants in person; and if he will make a statement. [89843]

My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary announced on 30 June that for any applicant calling personally at a passport office who applied more than two weeks ago, and had not yet received their passport, the £10 additional fee for personal applications would be waived.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy to allow in urgent circumstances the two year extension of passports which include the names of children aged under 16 years; and if he will make a statement. [89844]

The arrangements to extend passports by two years includes passports where children are included.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many telephone calls were made to the UK Passport Agency in June; and how many of those received the Agency's courtesy message. [89846]

The Passport Agency has information only up to 25 June. Up to that date, the Agency had received 914,580 telephone calls, of which 621,915 received a courtesy message.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made by the Northumberland Police in identifying those involved in the attempted murder of Martin McGartland at Whitley Bay on 17 June; and if he will make a statement. [89356]

The investigation into this crime is a matter for the Chief Constable of Northumbria Police. I understand, however, that at the present time there is no firm evidence to establish responsibility for the shooting and inquiries are, therefore, continuing.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many people working with children who have been convicted of a criminal offence received sentences of (a) custody, (b) community service and (c) probation; and in each case of what lengths, in each of the last 10 years; [89267](2) how many people working with children have been

The information requested is not available as details about an offender's occupation are not recorded on the Home Office Cautions and Court Proceedings Databases.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the level of personation in (a) the 1999 European elections, (b) the 1997 general election and (c) the 1999 local elections. [89442]

No arrests have been made for personation at either the 1999 European Parliamentary elections or at the local elections held in May 1999. We know of only two proven cases at the 1997 General Election, one of which resulted in prosecution and a substantial fine.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the extent of changes to energy savings targets for industrial sectors between 1990 and 2010; what proportion of the changes will have resulted from (a) adjustments in the economy and (b) the climate change levy; and if he will make a statement. [88011]

The Government intend to set significantly lower rates of the climate change levy for energy intensive sectors that agree targets for improving energy efficiency. Detailed negotiations on these targets are now underway with a number of industrial sectors with the intention of reaching agreement in October 1999.Over the period 1990–2000, the Government's climate change consultation paper estimated that about 70 per cent. of the fall in industrial carbon dioxide emissions relative to the increase in GDP is the result of large-scale fuel switching in electricity supply. Around three quarters of this fall is the result of the introduction of gas fired generation and the remainder from improved productivity of nuclear power and increased renewable energy. A further 10 per cent. can be attributed to changes in the UK's industrial structure and some 20 per cent. comes from improvements in energy efficiency.The climate change levy is expected to save around 1.5 million tonnes of carbon a year by 2010.Future reductions in greenhouse gases to 2010 from different sectors will depend on the policies and measures adopted as part of our climate change programme.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what measures he will take to ensure that gas and electricity prices are competitive within the European Union after the climate change levy is introduced; and if he will make a statement. [88012]

The Government are committed to the promotion of competition in energy markets which will maintain downward pressure on pre-tax prices.The White Paper "Conclusions of the Review of Energy Sources for Power Generation" sets out the Government's broad energy policy, including radical reforms to the electricity market. These reforms will bring greater competition to the wholesale market and lower prices for consumers. New arrangements to improve the competitiveness of the gas market will be introduced in October this year.Proposals for the climate change levy also recognise the need to have regard to the competitiveness of UK industry. The Government intend to set substantially lower rates of levy for those energy intensive sectors that enter into negotiated agreements on their energy use and emissions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what assessment his Department has made of the continuing commercial viability of small and specialist shops in small and medium-sized towns; and if he will make a statement; [88614](2) what financial assistance is available from his Department to support small and specialist shops in

[holding answer 28 June 1999]: Small and specialist shops are crucial to the economic, environmental and social development of small and medium-sized towns. They provide employment, regenerate the economy of town centres and have an important role to play in providing a service to those living and working in urban areas, particularly the disadvantaged, or those who may be socially excluded.The Urban White Paper published on 29 June will consider the effects of new technology on the retail sector and this is likely to include the role of small shops.In addition several Single Regeneration Budget schemes have an impact, either directly or indirectly, on retail sectors within small and medium-sized towns in the West Midlands region. Other assistance available to small businesses throughout the region includes schemes in Staffordshire, Hertfordshire, Shropshire and Worcestershire that offer a mix of business services and support.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what discussions he has had with representatives of banks and credit card operators about liberalising regulations regarding use of credit cards for e-commerce transactions with internet firms with a limited trading history; [89318](2) what discussions he has had with representatives of banks and building societies regarding the raising of existing and the introduction of new charges for over the counter transactions and use of cash dispensing machines. [89317]

[holding answer 1 July 1999]: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has held no discussions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action is being taken by his Department in response to the proposals being considered by the EC to transfer regulation of platform lifts from the Health and Safety Directive to the Lift Directive. [89546]

It is assumed that the question refers to the Machinery Directive (98/37EC) and to the Lifts Directive (95/16/EC). The Services of the European Commission have been preparing a draft Proposal for simplification of the Machinery Directive but no formal Proposal for amending the Machinery Directive has been adopted yet by the Commission or presented to the Council of Ministers.It is understood that the measure may seek to clarify the scope of the Directive in relation to a number of other Single Market Directives including the Lifts Directive.The Government would welcome simplification and clarification in principle but would need to study the precise terms of any such Proposal before they could give a view on their merits.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the competition implications of agency nursing. [89380]

There has been no such assessment carried out either by my Department or by the Office of Fair Trading.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the competitiveness of British coal in (i) the European and (ii) the international market; and if he will make a statement. [89387]

The Government do not collect statistics on UK coal production costs. We understand that, on average, UK coal is produced at costs which are roughly a third of German production costs, and a quarter or less of Spanish costs. Unlike the German and Spanish coal industries, the UK coal industry receives no state aid.Outside the European Union the picture is different. The delivered cost of UK deep-mined coal is currently reported to be around a quarter to a third higher than the delivered price of internationally traded coal, much of which also has a lower sulphur content than most British coal.The competitiveness of the industry is not determined purely by its costs, but also depends on factors including location, security of supply and the precise characteristics of the coal required.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he is taking to support and encourage the export of British coal. [89386]

British Trade International, the new unified DTI/FCO operation, has lead responsibility within Government for trade promotion and development on behalf of British business and aims to help UK firms take full advantage of overseas business opportunities by providing support, information, advice and assistance throughout the exporting process.The Government seek to ensure that there is an open and competitive market for coal and coal products across the EU, and to ensure that markets are not distorted by products which do not reflect their production and transport costs. To this end we have encouraged the European Commission to take action against such marketing practices which are supported by unauthorised state aid where there is damage to the export prospects of British coal.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what exemptions are available to classic car owners from the European End of Life Vehicles Directive. [89436]

[holding answer 2 July 1999]: The proposed End of Life Vehicles Directive would provide for improved recycling and treatment standards for vehicles when they have become waste (as defined under existing legislation). In other words, it would apply only when the owners have decided to discard them. For this reason, no exemptions would be needed for classic cars, and the European Commission has therefore not proposed any such exemptions.At the Environment Council on 24 June, it was decided to put back a decision on a Common Position on the Directive until the next Environment Council meeting, in recognition of the German Government's concerns over the approach adopted to producer responsibility.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 5 May 1999, Official Report, column 382, on efficiency savings, when he will write to the hon. Member. [87586]

The figures that the hon. Member has requested on savings measures are currently being validated for consideration by my Department's Ministerial Efficiency Steering Group. Once that exercise is complete, I shall write to the hon. Member. As my Department has supplied an illustrative list of efficiency measures for 1998–99 and 1999–2000 to the House of Commons Defence Select Committee, I am unable to make that information available to him until after the Committee have published the information in a Commons Daily Part. We expect that the Committee will make this information available to the House within the next week.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if United Kingdom involvement in the US National Ignition Facility replaces proposals to develop a high powered laser facility at AWE Aldermaston; [87694](2) pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Edgbaston (Ms Stuart) of 9 June 1999,

My Department has concluded that, as the cost of building a domestic laser of sufficient power would be unaffordable, we should, in the absence of nuclear testing, invest in the US National Ignition Facility, NIF, in order to make use of its facilities. The precise details of our investment in the NIF have yet to be formalised in a contract with the US. The information requested is, therefore, commercially sensitive. I can, however, say that the investment, to cover a shot rate enhancement programme and the design and construction of a UK target chamber, will be in the region of £100m. This represents an affordable and cost-effective way of discharging the undertaking we gave in the Strategic Defence Review that we would ensure the safety and reliability of our nuclear weapons.No new laser facility is under construction or planned for AWE Aldermaston. The present laser at Aldermaston, generally known as Helen and opened in 1979, has been used to research the principle of techniques to underwrite the integrity of nuclear warheads in the absence of nuclear testing. It is based on older technology than the NIF which is 600 times more powerful. Helen will be retained until access to NIF is obtained.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what evidence he has evaluated on the Russian ramjet propulsion system for a beyond visual range air to air missile. [88086]

The MOD has been aware of the development of a Russian ramjet propulsion system for a beyond visual range air-to-air missile since 1993, when a model, designated RVV-AE-PD, was displayed at the Moscow Airshow. During this year's Paris Airshow, the weapon itself was displayed. Representatives stated that the missile, which is a privately funded programme, had completed testing including ground-launched firings against a target. Air-launched firings had not been carried out due to the high costs involved. They also confirmed that it was now ready to go into production although they had no customers, either in Russia or elsewhere.We continue to assess the capabilities of this weapon, the development of its associated ramjet propulsion system and the scope for its deployment.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current status of the emergency dry-docking facility for Trident at Rosyth; and if he will make a statement. [88133]

Construction work on the Trident contingency docking facility is complete and the facility is in good shape for contingency use to support a Trident docking.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department spent on the Trawlerman IT project; for what reasons it was abandoned without use; and if he will make a statement. [88134]

A fixed price contract was let in July 1988 and ultimately the MOD spent £42 million on the Trawlerman IT project. The project experienced serious technical difficulties and delays such that, by the time it was delivered in May 1995, some 3½ years late, it was obsolete. The problems experienced by this project go back to the early 1990s. The Department subsequently acquired a replacement system at a fraction of the cost (£6 million), using a modern off-the-shelf design and applying the lessons learned from the experience of Trawlerman. Lessons have been learnt and procurement procedures have been improved with the introduction of the Smart Procurement Initiative launched earlier this year under the Strategic Defence Review. Further information is contained in the Eighteenth Report, Session 1988–99 of the Committee of Public Account on the Ministry of Defence: Appropriation Accounts 1997–98.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what use is made of the plutonium recycling facilities at Sellafield for plutonium from old nuclear weapons; and if he will make a statement. [88143]

No use is made of facilities at Sellafield for the recycling of plutonium from decommissioned nuclear weapons. The recovery of this material is undertaken at the Atomic Weapons Establishment.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the annual operating costs of the US Atomic Co-ordinating Offices in London and Washington; and how many staff are currently employed in each office. [881351

The details requested are as follows:

Atomic Control Office,London
Staff	Number
Senior Executive Officer	10.5
Executive Officer	1
Administrative Officer	1
Administrative Assistants	4
1This official has other duties in addition to his responsibilities as Head of Atomic Control Office, London

Atomic Co-ordinating Office, Washington
Staff	Number
Unified Grade 6	1
Unified Grade 7	1
Executive Officer	1
Administrative Officer	1

The annual running costs of the London and Washington offices are £122,000 and £263,000 respectively.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will provide (a) a list of all joint working groups with the United States Department of Defense currently in existence, (b) a brief explanation of the purpose of each one and (c) the number of meetings that have occurred in the last two years. [88131]

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will explain the purpose of payments made to the US Government under the heading Trident Refit Feasibility Study; and if he will provide the total cost of this item. [88144]

I refer my hon. Friend to the answers my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Defence gave him on 28 July 1998, Official Report, columns 200–02. The total we expect to pay for these studies remains in the region of £850,000, subject to exchange rate variations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many companies will be on the tender list for the Strategic Short-Term Airlift Programme; and when the list will be announced. [88311]

The Ministry of Defence received expressions of interest from nine companies in response to the MOD Contracts Bulletin published in July 1998. The Invitation to Tender was issued to seven companies on 30 September 1998. Five tenders were received by the closing date of 29 January 1999 from Air Foyle, Airbus Transport International, Boeing in conjunction with British Aerospace, IBP Airlift Ltd. and Rolls Royce. The tenders are currently being assessed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the Antonov 124 has military aircraft release. [88309]

There are currently two variants of the Antonov 124: the basic version used by the Russian armed forces and others, and the An 124–100 used by civil operators. Neither has a UK Military Aircraft Release.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many targets were hit in Montenegro; and of what types. [88456]

UK forces were involved only in attacks on Podgorica airfield.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the destruction as a result of NATO action of civilian infrastructure in Montenegro; and if he will make a statement. [88457]

No estimate has been made of any damage to the civilian infrastructure of Montenegro during the course of the air campaign. NATO targeted only military related objectives.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the number of cluster bombs dropped by NATO in Operation Allied Force on Kosovo that did not explode; and what methods are being used to locate and disarm the unexploded NATO ordnance in Kosovo. [88597]

I am not in a position to comment on NATO air forces as a whole. However, the RAF dropped some 500 RBL755 cluster weapons during Operation Allied Force, each containing 147 bomblets. Research trials of the equivalent weapon (BL755) when used at low level indicate that approximately 5 per cent. of the bomblets are likely to fail to detonate. However, when used at medium level as during Operation Allied Force, the failure rate is expected to be lower given that the impact angles and velocities are greater, and could be as low as 1 per cent.UK explosive ordnance disposal operators use visual and sub surface instrument detection to locate unexploded ordnance. The preferred disposal method is to destroy the ordnance in situ.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his latest assessment of (a) the extent of contamination of land in Kosovo by land mines, unexploded ordnance and improvised explosive devices and (b) the risk posed by these to returning refugees and displaced persons. [87374]

The full extent of the problem has yet to be determined. However, there is considerable contamination of the land in Kosovo, particularly by land mines, and especially in border areas. These pose a serious threat to everyone in Kosovo. Known areas are being marked and a mine awareness programme is being implemented, which includes advice on minimising the risk from mines and unexploded ordnance.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his projection on the strength of the Army in terms of front-line troops, for the next three years, taking into account any increase in premature voluntary release which may occur as a result of the extra deployments in Kosovo; and if he will make a statement. [88622]

[holding answer 28 June 1999]: The forecast of trained strength of the Army over the next three years is:

Year	Amount
April 2000	100,271
April 2001	102,058
April 2002	103,670

The figures represent the forecast of all UK trained Army personnel and Gurkha trained personnel. "Frontline" is not a recognised description of any part of the Army.Although it is still too early to measure the effect of deployment of troops to Kosovo on Premature Voluntary Release (PVR) rates, we are taking a number of measures to reduce overstretch, which is recognised as one of the causes of high PVR rates.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate his Department has made of how many Yugoslav (a) tanks, (b) surface-to-air missiles, (c) fighter aircraft, (d) armoured infantry fighting vehicles, (e) armoured personnel carriers, (f) towed artillery pieces, (g) self propelled artillery pieces and (h) helicopters were destroyed in (i) Kosovo, (ii) the Republic of Serbia, excluding Kosovo and (iii) Montenegro during Operation Allied Force. [88782]

[holding answer 28 June 1999]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 30 June 1999, Official Report, column 160 to my hon. Friend the Member for Linlithgow (Mr. Dalyell).

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of statutory instruments introduced by his Department into Parliament in (a) 1998, (b) 1992, (c) 1985 and (d) 1973 had the European Union as their legislative source. [89161]

My Department introduced into Parliament three statutory instruments in 1998, six in 1992, five in 1985, and four in 1973. None had the European Union as its legislative source.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects an invitation to tender to be issued to the seven NHS trusts recently shortlisted by his Department as potential partners for the Centre for Defence Medicine; and if he will make a statement. [90047]

An Invitation to Tender is being issued today to the following NHS Trusts:

• Guy's and St. Thomas's Hospital Trust
• Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
• North Bristol NHS Trust
• Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals
• The Lothian University Hospitals Trust (Edinburgh)
• The Newcastle-Upon-Tyne Hospitals NHS Trust
• University Hospitals Birmingham Trust.

The Trusts were selected by my Department from an original list of 18 that had expressed interest in becoming the host for the Centre for Defence Medicine. Tenders will be due for return by 5 October 1999.The issuing of the Invitation to Tender is an important milestone in the development of the Centre for Defence Medicine, whose establishment is a fundamental element of the new strategy for the Defence Medical Services announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence in December 1998. The Centre will have important academic, research and training roles as well as a significant clinical function, and will become a professional focus for medical personnel in the Armed Forces. We also envisage that the Centre will develop an international reputation for excellence in military medicine. Our aim is to have the formal Customer Service Agreement in place with our chosen partner by 1 April 2000 with a view to opening the Centre for Defence Medicine on 1 April 2001.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 18 June 1999, Official Report, column 264, concerning the purposes of the proposed European Union Political and Security Committee and associated Institute for Security Studies, if he will list (a) the date, nature, status and attendance of the meeting at Petersberg, (b) the ministerial attendance from the United Kingdom, and reference to the consequential statement in any parliamentary proceeding and (c) the scope and definition of the tasks in executing an integrated and single Union policy for foreign defence, security and military activity in aid of peace keeping and crisis management as defined in the consolidated Treaty on European Union. [88683]

The meeting at Petersberg was a ministerial meeting of the Western European Union. It took place on 19 June 1992. The United Kingdom was represented by the right hon. Douglas Hurd MP, then Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, and the right hon. Malcolm Rifkind MP, then Secretary of State for Defence.The Treaty on European Union provides for the Union to define and implement a common foreign and security policy, covering all aspects of foreign and security policy: and for the common foreign and security policy to include all questions related to the security of the Union, including the progressive framing of a common defence policy, and that this shall include humanitarian and rescue tasks, peacekeeping tasks and tasks of combat forces in crisis management, including peacemaking. These are the "Petersberg tasks". The Treaty on European Union further provides for the Union to avail itself of the Western European Union to elaborate and implement actions of the Union which have defence implications.The "Petersberg tasks" are referred to in the European Council Declaration on Strengthening the Common European Policy on Security and Defence issued at Cologne on 4 June. The Declaration also outlines the objectives of future work within the European Union in order to enable the European Union to undertake these tasks.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when (a) he, (b) his Ministers and (c) his officials recently met representatives of the Government of the Sudan; what was discussed; when normal diplomatic relations will be restored; and if he will make a statement. [89150]

Dr. Hassan Abdeen, Under-Secretary at the Sudanese Ministry of External Relations, visited London during the week beginning 21 June. He paid a courtesy call on me and had other meetings with officials.Discussions covered a wide range of issues and on 25 June a joint statement was released announcing agreement to the return of British and Sudanese staff to Khartoum and London. This is an important step in normalising relations between the two countries.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received of the state of the ceasefire in the Nuba Mountains, Southern Blue Nile and Western Upper Nile regions of Sudan. [89523]

The ceasefire in southern Sudan, first agreed during the visit to the region of the late Derek Fatchett in July 1998 and recently confirmed at a meeting between the UN, the Government of Sudan and the Sudan Peoples Liberation Army, relates to Bahr el Ghazal.We shall continue to press for a comprehensive ceasefire throughout Sudan.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received concerning the treatment of Sudanese people in the peace camps in the Nuba Mountains in Sudan. [89520]

Owing to the difficulty of access, we receive few reports on the situation in the Nuba Mountains. However, a UN assessment mission did visit very recently. I look forward to seeing their report.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on the progress of oil excavations in southern Sudan by Western oil companies. [89524]

Oil exploration has been going on in southern Sudan for some time. A pipeline has recently been built from fields to the Red Sea coast. I understand that oil is likely to flow through the pipeline in the near future.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what percentage of statutory instruments introduced by his Department into Parliament in (a) 1998, (b) 1992, (c) 1985 and (d) 1973 had the European Union as their legislative source. [89167]

The total number of Statutory Instruments (SIs) registered as General Instruments in 1998, 1992, 1985 and 1973 is listed in the following table. I have indicated where information is available, the number of SIs which were made by my Department to comply with European Community obligations.

Year	Number of SIs	Number implementing EC obligations
1998	1,565	5
1992	1,692	2
1985	1,204	3
1973	1,260	2

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's policy in respect of the Loizidou v. Turkey judgment by the European Court of Human Rights. [89389]

Responsibility for implementing the judgment in Loizidou v. Turkey lies with Turkey. We take such responsibilities seriously, as with all obligations in the Council of Europe, and expect other members to do likewise. We continue to make clear to Turkey, including in the Committee of Ministers' Deputies, the need to respect the Court's judgment.The Chairman of the Committee of Ministers' Deputies wrote to the Turkish Foreign Minister on 22 June requesting information on how Turkey intended to satisfy its obligations in this case. The Government fully supported this action.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many civilian Serbs in Kosovo have been unlawfully killed since NATO troops entered. [89602]

[holding answer 2 July 1999]: KFOR are aware of a number of incidents where Serb civilians have been killed by Kosovo Albanians and are taking measures to ensure the security of all citizens. At present, no verifiable figures are available.As the answer I gave to my hon. Friend on 2 July 1999,

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps are being taken to establish an armed international police force in Kosovo. [89603]

[holding answer 2 July 1999]: UN Security Council Resolution 1244 authorised the UN Secretary General to establish an international civil presence in Kosovo, with responsibility inter alia for maintaining civil law and order, including through the establishment of local forces and meanwhile through the deployment of international police personnel. It was agreed at the Friends of Kosovo meeting in New York on 30 June that the United Nations Mission in Kosovo should acquire the capacity to take over responsibility for public security from KFOR as soon as possible.The UN Secretariat has recommended that UN police officers serving in Kosovo should be armed for self-defence purposes, but has left the final decision to UN members. The Foreign Secretary has already announced that the UK is willing to provide 60 police officers to recruit, to train and to monitor a civil police force in Kosovo.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the forthcoming business in the Council of the European Union for July, and the major European Union events for the next six months. [90107]

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the forthcoming business in the Council of the European Union for July, and the major European Union events for the next six months. [90108]

The business is as follows:

Monthly forecast of business
July 1999	Venue	Event
2–3	Oulu	Industry and Research Ministers (Informal)
9–10	Oulu	Labour/Social Affairs Ministers (Informal)
12	Brussels	ECOFIN
16	Brussels	Budget Council
18–20	Savonlinna	Culture and Audiovisual Ministers (Informal)
19–20	Brussels	General Affairs Council
19–20	Brussels	Agriculture Council
20–23	Strasbourg	European Parliament Plenary
23–25	Helsinki	Environment Ministers (Informal)
28	Brussels	Preparatory Meeting for EU-ACP Ministerial Meeting on 29–30 July
29–30	Brussels	EU-ACP Ministerial Meeting
No agendas have yet been circulated for the above meetings

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what role the Government played in monitoring the recent elections in Indonesia; and if he will make a statement. [89207]

We provided almost £2m in electoral assistance to Indonesia, making us the fourth largest national contributor overall and the largest European contributor. Bilateral projects included substantial support for the student-based election monitoring group UNFREL, which fielded over 100,000 domestic monitors; and financial support for an election media monitoring project, organised by the International NGO Article XIX.This bilateral assistance was in addition to our contribution to the European Union's 7m euros electoral assistance package. We also nominated five British election observers who formed part of the European Community's election observer team.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what role the Government played in improving electoral administration in Indonesia. [89208]

As part of the £2m bilateral electoral assistance package, referred to in my written answer to the hon. Member today (ref 89207), we provided funding for a pre-election programme of in-country workshops on cross-party lines for Indonesian political parties run by the Westminster Foundation for Democracy, with the co-operation of hon. Members. This helped to develop a code of conduct for political parties as well as address issues of transparency, policy formulation and financial integrity. We also provided financial support for voter education programmes, including some aimed specifically at reaching women and first-time voters.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of the costs to his Department of complying with the Working Time Directive in all foreign posts. [89870]

No additional financial costs have been incurred so far.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if all British embassies are applying the Working Time Directive. [89871]