To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will list the European Communities working groups which met over the last 12 months with a representative from her Department in attendance; if she will list the number of times each met; if she will indicate the nature of the Government's representation; and if she will make a statement. [88470]

Officials from my Department regularly attended European Communities working groups when matters of importance to Northern Ireland were being discussed. Occasionally my Department can be represented by officials from the United Kingdom's Permanent Representation to the European Union.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will list the subject and date of each written briefing prepared by her special advisers for all Labour Members since May 1997 and the total number and total cost to date of these. [89996]

Special Advisers are appointed under terms and conditions set out in the "Model Contract for Special Advisers". Schedule 1, Part 1 of the Model Contract sets out the role and duties of Special Advisers. As well as research for Ministers and reviewing papers, contributing to policy planning within the Department and preparing policy papers, speechwriting and liaison with outside interest groups, their role explicitly includes liaising with the Party and helping to brief Party MPs. Records are not held of when such briefings are given. Similar arrangements have applied under successive Governments.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will investigate the level of charges by Severn Trent Water for water at educational establishments; and if he will make a statement. [86870]

[holding answer 14 June 1999]: This is a matter for Severn Trent Water. The Director General of Water Services has the general function of overseeing companies' use of their charging powers to ensure that there is no undue discrimination between different classes of customer but he has no role in approving their detailed charges. The Water Industry Act 1999 will give the Secretary of State and the Director General new powers to approve charges schemes which should tackle this problem.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many (a) pedestrians and (b) cyclists have been (i) killed and (ii) seriously injured in accidents involving motor vehicles in each of the last five years. [89540]

The numbers of pedestrians and cyclists recorded as being killed and seriously injured in accidents involving motor vehicles are shown in the tables.

Pedestrian casualties in accidents involving a motor vechicle
Year	Casualty Severity Fatal	Serious
1994	1,119	11,703
1995	1,032	11,155
1996	995	10,518
1997	967	9,956
1998	904	9,494

Cyclist casualties in accidents involving a motor vehicle
Year	Casualty severity Fatal	Serious
1994	159	3,440
1995	189	3,364
1996	186	3,264
1997	170	3,118
1998	145	2,882

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many pedestrians have been (a) killed and (b) seriously injured (i) in accidents involving bicycles ridden on pavements and (ii) by bicycles ridden on the road when the cyclist was at fault, in each of the last five years. [89538]

The party at fault in a road accident is not recorded on a national basis.However, the numbers of pedestrians recorded as being killed and seriously injured who were hit on the footway or verge by bicycles are shown in the table.

Pedestrians hit by pedal cyclists on the footway or verge
Year	Casualty Severity Fatal	Serious
1994	1	30
1995	1	36
1996	0	23
1997	1	36
1998	1	23

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many cyclists have been (a) killed and (b) seriously injured in accidents on roads or cycle paths when the pedestrian was at fault in each of the last five years. [89539]

The party at fault in a road accident is not recorded on a national basis.However, the table shows the numbers of cyclists recorded as being killed or seriously injured on the carriageway or cycleway in accidents which involved a pedestrian and did not involve any motor vehicles. These numbers do not include casualties on cycleways which are segregated from the public road.

Cyclist casualties in accidents involving a pedestrian and not
involving a motor vehicle
Year	0	14
1995	1	19
1996	1	15
1997	3	15
1998	0	14

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will estimate the cost, at current prices in pounds per dwelling, of major repairs to council housing stock (a) by local authority, (b) by region and (c) nationally in each of the last five years. [89584]

A copy of the data available has been placed in the Library. The tables show the average expenditure per council dwelling receiving major renovation work (repairs and improvements costing more than £500 per dwelling) in each local authority, region and nationally. Every year, about 22 per cent. of council owned dwellings receive renovation work costing at least £500.Figures are presented for the years for which data are available centrally (1995–96, 1996–97 and 1997–98), at 1997–98 price levels. This information was not collected centrally before 1995–96.These figures are submitted to the Department by local authorities as part of the annual Housing Investment Programme round. Some local authorities did not supply detailed information of their expenditure on capital works. Such LAs are excluded from this analysis: they have been removed from the LA listings and are not included in regional and national averages.Differences in average expenditure between regions do not only reflect different quantities of work completed, but also the significant variations in the costs of carrying out the same work in different regions.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will estimate the amount of (a) average management and maintenance allowances, (b) guideline rents and (c) the difference between (a) and (b) in pounds per dwelling per week and in thousands of pounds per annum, (i) for each local authority in England, (ii) for each region and (iii) nationally for 1998–99 and 1999–2000. [89585]

The information requested has been placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many empty homes owned by (a) Government agencies and (b) local authorities were brought back into use in 1998 as a result of the developing empty property strategy promoted by his Department. [89678]

In general information is not collected centrally on the numbers of empty homes brought back into use. Instead data are collected on the numbers of vacant dwellings, which is the key outcome of action to reduce the number of empty homes. Figures for vacant dwellings in England at 1 April 1998 were published in Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions Information Bulletin 189/99 on 2 March 1999 which has been placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate he has made of the numbers of young, single homeless people in (a) the district council areas of (i) Easington, (ii) Durham City, (iii) Chester le-Street, (iv) Derwentside, (v) Wear Valley and (b) the boroughs of (i) Sedgefield, (ii) Darlington, (iii) Sunderland and (iv) Hartlepool. [89834]

None, but we are working up a methodology to allow local authorities to produce such estimates. There are real problems in attempting to measure the scale of youth homelessness, either nationally or locally. Few estimates of single homelessness break figures down by age. The term 'homeless' may also be used to represent a number of different levels of housing need. At one extreme, rough sleeping is the most visible and disturbing form of homelessness. But there are also young people accommodated in emergency night shelters, direct-access hostels, squats, bed-and-breakfast accommodation and longer-term hostels. Some people, especially the young will stay with friends and relatives on a temporary basis, sometimes under difficult and trying circumstances. Although there have been a number of estimates commissioned by the voluntary sector to assess the extent of youth homelessness they have not been able to overcome these inherent difficulties and have come up with widely differing estimates.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the title and purpose of each item of market and opinion research commissioned by or through his Department, agencies and non-departmental public bodies since May 1997, stating in each case whether the results were published. [89698]

[holding answer 5 July 1999]: The only central list of market and opinion research currently held in my Department is for research commissioned for information campaigns. The research is used to help ensure the effectiveness, appropriateness and value for money of such campaigns. Since May 1997, the following have been commissioned:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when the ninth Annual report of the Drinking Water Inspectorate will be published. [90304]

The Drinking Water Inspectorate will publish its ninth Annual Report on Wednesday, 7 July.The Inspectorate will also publish two leaflets for consumers. "How Good is the Drinking Water" will summarise the main points of the Report. "DWI Report on (Each) Water Company" will give brief details of the quality of drinking water supplied by individual water companies.Copies of the Report and leaflets will be placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 9 March 1999, Official Report, column 153, if the stakeholders' forum he intended to instigate has been superseded by the two commissions announced by the Minister for the Cabinet Office in his oral statement of 21 May 1999, Official Report, columns 1371–84, on biotechnology. [90066]

[holding answer 6 July 1999]: The two Commissions announced by the Minister for the Cabinet Office on 21 May do supersede earlier proposals for a stakeholders forum. The Human Genetics Commission (HGC) will advise on applications of biotechnology in healthcare, and the impact of human genetics on people's lives; and the Agricultural and Environment Biotechnology Commission (AEBC) will cover the use of biotechnology in agriculture and its environmental effects. The two bodies will include a wide range of interests including lay members, specialists in ethical matters, consumers and those with a knowledge of the industry. One of the functions of the Commissions will be to consult key stakeholders and the public in formulating their advice to Government.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the subject and date of each written briefing prepared by his special advisers for all Labour Members since May 1997 and the total number and total cost to date of these. [89981]

[holding answer 6 July 1999]: Special Advisers are appointed under terms and conditions set out in the Model Contract for Special Advisers. Schedule 1, Part 1 of the Model Contract sets out the role and duties of Special Advisers. As well as research for Ministers and reviewing papers, contributing to policy planning within the Department and preparing policy papers, speech writing and liaison with outside interest groups, their role explicitly includes liaising with the Party and helping to brief Party MPs. Records are not held of when such briefings are given. Similar arrangements have applied under successive Governments.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to extend (a) the red route network and (b) the bus priority network to other cities. [89474]

The red route project and powers are exclusive to London. Elsewhere, it is primarily for local authorities to use their existing traffic management powers to give appropriate priority to buses. We look to them to do so, in the context of developing their local transport plans and bus strategies.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to phase in the effects of the 2000 revaluation on non-domestic rate bills in England. [90495]

I fully understand non-domestic ratepayers' concerns about the revaluation and their keenness to know, as early as possible, how they will be affected. They need time to plan ahead. However, we do not yet have complete information about the detailed effects of the revaluation, and will not do so for a while.We therefore aim to publish in late September a consultation paper outlining options for handling the impact of the revaluation in England. We recognise the need in formulating the proposals for this consultation paper to take account of the views of business organisations. I am therefore convening a consultative forum of national bodies representing business interests to consider this issue and I expect the first meeting to be later this summer.

To ask the Attorney-General what guidance he has issued to the Crown Prosecution Service on the prosecution of asylum-seekers in transit in the United Kingdom who have been stopped for bearing false documents. [89672]

I have not issued specific guidance on this point. The Crown Prosecution Service has set up a multi agency group to look at policy in relation to this issue and will consider, inter alia, whether specific guidance to prosecutors should be issued. In these cases, as all others, Crown Prosecutors must apply the Code for Crown Prosecutors when making the decision to prosecute. This is a set of general principles requiring the prosecutor to apply an evidential and a public interest test to determine whether a prosecution should take place or not.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many meetings of the JCC he has attended. [89278]

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to him by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 5 July 1999, Official Report, column 362.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many submissions were made in the course of the consultation on the 1997 White Paper, "Your Right to Know"; and how many raised objections concerning the substantial harm test as set out in the White Paper. [89361]

572 pieces of correspondence received in response to the White Paper "Your Right to Know" were published in six volumes, under the title "Your Right to Know—Consultation Responses". Copies were placed in the Library and published on the Internet. Correspondence where the author requested confidentiality has not been published.31 of the published items of correspondence made explicit statements regarding the substantial harm test as set down in the White Paper. Of these, seven (23 per cent.) did not express an opinion as to the desirability or otherwise of the substantial harm test, five (16 per cent.) expressed an opinion in favour of substantial harm, and 19 (61 per cent.) raised objections.The five in favour of substantial harm were from the Canadian Information and Privacy Commissioner, the Chief Constable of Durham, Charter 88, the National Steering Committee of Nuclear Free Local Authorities and the Campaign for Freedom of Information.The 19 that raised objections about substantial harm were from a number of individuals and organisations including British Nuclear Fuels Plc, Coopers and Lybrand, British Energy, the Building Societies Commission, the Commission for the New Towns, Lancashire County Council and the Confederation of British Industry (CBI). No one particular interest group or sector dominated the correspondence, objections to substantial harm were received from members of the public and from organisations.Comments made include:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many subject access requests have been received by the Metropolitan Police for each of the last three years; and what plans he has to use his powers under the Data Protection Act 1998 to restrict, at the request of the data subject, a subject access request to personal data which relate to criminal records. [89654]

The Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police tells me that the number of subject access requests received by the Metropolitan Police for each of the last three years has been:

• 1998: 24,984
• 1997: 18,705
• 1996: 13,896.

The Data Protection Act 1998 makes provision for a new offence to deal with enforced subject access to certain types of record, including criminal records. Because of the close link with the introduction of criminal record checks, provided under Part V of the Police Act 1997, the new offence will not be brought into force before such checks can be undertaken. The Criminal Records Bureau is being established to enable these checks to be carried out.Work on the implementation and timing of Part V of the Police Act 1997 is being taken forward.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what reasons the figures regarding numbers of personal files held by M15 which he gave the House on 29 July 1998, Official Report, columns 251–54, differ from those in the 1997–98 Annual report of the Intelligence and Security Committee; and whether the MI5 records held in microform are classified within the traffic light system. [89638]

The figures given by the Intelligence and Security Committee and those given in my reply on 29 July 1998 to my hon. Friend the Member for City of Chester (Ms Russell), Official Report, columns 251–54, are not incompatible. The Committee's breakdown of figures is different from that in my reply. In my reply, I said that the Security Service held approximately 440,000 files, 290,000 related to individuals who may have been the subject of an inquiry or investigation. The 290,000 was further broken down as: 230,000 closed files; 40,000 microfilmed; and 20,000 active files. In its report, the Committee gave the figures as 250,000 hard copy personal records with a further 40,000 on microfiche. It broke the 250,000 down as: 17,500 Green (ie Active) files; 97,000 Amber; 135,000 Red; and additionally, 3,000 temporary Green (Gens). Any minor variance in the figures is a result of rounding. All Security Service microfilmed records are closed and are categorised as Red in the traffic light system.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many records from the period 1909 to 1945 it is intended will be retained by MI5 under section 3(4) of the Public Records Act 1958; on what grounds they are to be retained; how many of them are operational records; and what types of operational record they are. [89640]

The Security Service is currently engaged in reviewing its records from between 1939 and 1945. It will then begin the process of reviewing records from the inter-war period. The decision whether to keep or to destroy records that are no longer required for operational purposes is taken by the Security Service subject to the guidelines relating to the retention of material for historical purposes. I set out the criteria that are applied when deciding whether a record is likely to be of historical interest in my reply to the hon. Member for New Forest, East (Dr. Lewis) on 20 January 1998, Official Report, column 520. The decision as to which records should be released to the Public Record Office is taken by the Service in the light of an assessment of their sensitivity and the need to protect agents and methods of operation. Further information concerning operational records is not made public.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) when the release to the Public Record Office of MI5 records from the period 1919 to 1939 will take place;[89639](2) what reasons underlie the proposed time scale for the release of post-1945 MI5 records to the Public Record Office.[89641]

As I announced in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for City of Chester (Ms Russell) on 29 July 1998, Official Report, columns 251–54, the Security Service is currently reviewing its files relating to the period 1939–45, for release to the Public Record Office. When this work has been completed the Service will turn to the inter- and post-war years. Progress on this will be determined by the resources available to carry out this work.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what reasons the Government refused the request by the Advisory Council on Public Records in 1998 to be allowed to consider the conditions under which MI5 records are released; and if the Government will review that refusal. [89642]

In July 1998, I invited the Advisory Council on Public Records to review the criteria employed by the Security Service to select files for permanent preservation on grounds of historical interest. The Advisory Council reported in December last year. I placed the report in the Library and announced the Government's response in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Reading, East (Jane Griffiths), 3 February 1999, Official Report, columns 619–20.During the course of the Advisory Council review the Chairman of the Council wrote to me to ask whether I would be prepared to extend the terms of reference to encompass issues relating to access to Security Service records. I replied that I was not then contemplating changing the arrangements under which external access to Security Service personal files which had not been released to the Public Record Office (PRO) was strictly limited to the Commissioners and Tribunals acting in pursuit of their functions. That remains the position. I did, however, agree that officials of the PRO with the necessary security clearance should be invited to examine files earmarked for destruction following review by the Security Service.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the extent of surviving Police Special Branch historical records; and for what reasons retention in Department, under section 3(4) of the Public Records Act 1958, still applies to these records and to those of MI6. [89643]

The Public Records Act 1958 applies to the Metropolitan Police Special Branch, but not to Special Branches in other police forces. The inclusion of the Metropolitan Police reflects the relationship that continues to exist between the Secretary of State for the Home Department and the Metropolitan Police Service.However, all Special Branches in England, Wales and Scotland operate under the published "Guidelines on Special Branch Work in Great Britain". Paragraph 20 of the Guidelines requires each Special Branch to maintain an effective system for:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) when the release to the Public Record Office of M15 records from the period 1919 to 1939 will take place; [89625](2) what reasons underlie the proposed time scale for the release of post-1945 M15 records to the Public Record Office. [89627]

As I announced in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for City of Chester (Ms Russell), 29 July 1998, Official Report, columns 251–54, the Security Service is currently reviewing its files relating to the period 1939–45, for release to the Public Record Office. When this work has been completed the Service will turn to the inter- and post-war years. Progress on this will be determined by the resources available to carry out this work.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what reasons the Government refused the request by the Advisory Council on Public Records in 1998 to be allowed to consider the conditions under which M15 records are released; and if the Government will review that refusal. [89628]

In July 1998, I invited the Advisory Council on Public Records to review the criteria employed by the Security Service to select files for permanent preservation on grounds of historical interest. The Advisory Council reported in December last year. I placed the report in the Library and announced the Government's response in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Reading, East (Jane Griffiths), 3 February 1999, Official Report, columns 619–20.During the course of the Advisory Council review, the Chairman of the Council wrote to me to ask whether I would be prepared to extend the terms of reference to encompass issues relating to access to Security Service records. I replied that I was not then contemplating changing the arrangements under which external access to Security Service personal files which had not been released to the Public Record Office (PRO) was strictly limited to the Commissioners and Tribunals acting in pursuit of their functions. That remains the position. I did, however, agree that officials of the PRO with the necessary security clearance should be invited to examine files earmarked for destruction following review by the Security Service.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what reasons the figures regarding numbers of personal files held by M15 which he gave the House on 29 July 1998, Official Report, columns 251–54, differ from those in the 1997–98Annual report of the Intelligence and Security Committee; and if M15 records held in microform are classified within the traffic light system. [89624]

The figures given by the Intelligence and Security Committee and those given in my reply to my hon. Friend, the Member for City of Chester (Ms Russell), 29 July 1998, Official Report, columns 251–54, are not incompatible. The Security Committee breakdown of figures is different from that in my reply. In my reply, I said that the Security Service held approximately 440,000 files, 290,000 related to individuals who may have been the subject of an inquiry or investigation. The 290,000 was further broken down as: 230,000 closed files;40,000 microfilmed; and 20,000 active files. In its report, the Committee gave the figures as 250,000 hard copy personal records with a further 40,000 on microfiche. It broke the 250,000 down as: 17,500 Green (ie Active) files; 97,000 Amber; 135,000 Red; and additionally 3,000 temporary Green (Gens). Any minor variance in the figures is a result of rounding. All Security Service microfilmed records are closed and are categorised as Red in the traffic light system.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the extent of the surviving Police Special Branch historical records; and for what reasons retention in Department under section 3(4) of the Public Records Act 1958, still applies to these records and those of M16. [89629]

The Public Records Act 1958 applies to the Metropolitan Police Special Branch, but not to Special Branches in other police forces. The inclusion of the Metropolitan Police reflects the relationship that continues to exist between the Secretary of State for the Home Department and the Metropolitan Police Service.However, all Special Branches in England, Wales and Scotland operate under the published "Guidelines on Special Branch Work in Great Britain". Paragraph 20 of the Guidelines requires each Special Branch to maintain an effective system for:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many M15 records from the period 1904 to 1945 it is intended will continue to be retained by M15 under section 3(4) of the Public Records Act 1958; on what grounds they are to be retained; how many of them are operational records; and what types of operational record they are. [89626]

The Security Service is currently engaged in reviewing its records from between 1939 and 1945. It will then begin the process of reviewing records from the inter-war period. The decision whether to keep or to destroy records that are no longer required for operational purposes is taken by the Security Service subject to the guidelines relating to the retention of material for historical purposes. I set out the criteria that are applied when deciding whether a record is likely to be of historical interest in my reply to the hon. Member for New Forest, East (Dr. Lewis), 20 January 1998, Official Report, column 520. The decision as to which records should be released to the Public Record Office is taken by the Service in the light of an assessment of their sensitivity and the need to protect agents and methods of operation. Further information concerning operational records is not made public.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of when the prison population will return to the level at May 1997. [89832]

No such estimates have been made. The latest projections of the future prison population were produced in May 1999 and a summary is included in the April "Prison Population Brief' which has been placed on the internet at http"//www/homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/index.htm.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received on the subject of LD 50 tests on animals; and if he will make a statement. [89724]

I have received a number of letters on this topic. The most recent correspondence is with the legal consultant to the British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection. It would be inappropriate to make a statement at this time as the matter may come before the courts and I do not wish to anticipate or prejudice any such proceedings.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers in transit in the United Kingdom have been stopped from their onward journey and (a) prosecuted and (b) convicted for bearing a false document in (i) 1996, (ii) 1997, (iii) 1998 and (iv) 1999 to date. [89674]

Details of the number of asylum seekers prosecuted and convicted cannot be identified separately from the information held on the Home Office Court Proceedings Database. I understand that many of the prosecutions relate to people whom the carrying companies refuse to carry. The Home Office will not necessarily be involved and no record is kept of the number of such cases.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the proposed changes to the distribution mechanisms for civil defence grants. [89960]

The Home Office provides £14.038 million civil defence grant per annum to eligible local authorities in England and Wales as a contribution towards the cost incurred in meeting their civil defence duties. The grant is not intended to meet the full cost of their emergency planning services.The current system of grant distribution is based on a formula, agreed with the then Local Authority Associations in 1992, and largely based on a two-tier system of local government. The reorganisation of local government created new Unitary authorities in England and Wales, all with a responsibility for emergency planning and, consequently, access to civil defence grant. This reorganisation created numerous anomalies within the funding arrangements that could only be properly addressed by introducing a new mechanism.The sole avenue of consultation on this issue has been with the Local Government Association (LGA). Following discussions with the LGA a new three-tier grant distribution mechanism has been announced. The mechanism is based on the following rationale:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has responded to Shropshire County Council's letter of 18 June regarding the proposed distribution mechanism for civil defence grants; and if he will make a statement.[89961]

The Head of Emergency Planning replied to the letter from the Chief Executive of Shropshire County Council on 6 July.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to review the definitions in law of sexual offences. [90117]

The Sex Offences Review has been set up to review the law in England and Wales. Its remit is to recommend clear and coherent sex offences which protect individuals, especially children and the more vulnerable, from abuse and exploitation; to enable abusers to be appropriately punished; and to be fair and nondiscriminatory in accordance with the European Court of Human Rights and the Human Rights Act 1998. The review started in January this year and hopes to report at the end of the year.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to decide whether compensation will be paid under the terms of section 133 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 to (a) Nicholas Mullen and (b) Gilbert Thomas Patrick McNamee. [90071]

I expect to be able to decide these applications by the end of August.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the average time between receipt of applications for compensation for miscarriages of justice under the terms of section 133 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 and a decision by the Secretary of State as to whether compensation would be paid for each year from 1991 to date. [90072]

All applications for compensation for wrongful conviction are considered first under the provisions of section 133 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988, and then, if those requirements are not met, under the ex-gratia arrangements announced by the then Home Secretary in his reply to the then hon. Member for Beaconsfield, 29 November 1985, Official Report, columns 689–90, by which I have agreed to be bound.The readily available information requested relates only to successful applications. The average time taken from the date of application to a decision to pay compensation under the statutory or ex-gratia arrangements, for applications decided in 1991–98, was as follows:

Year	Days
1991	153
1992	75
1993	100
1994	122
1994	122
1995	276
1996	309
1997	205
1998	37

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to publicise his Department's "Sustainable Energy from Waste" pamphlet; and if he will make a statement. [89118]

The Department of Trade and Industry's pamphlet "Sustainable Energy from Waste" was published on 8 June at the annual conference and exhibition of the Institute of Wastes Management in Torbay. It was very well received and is being distributed through the Energy from Waste Association and other relevant trade bodies and through companies and local authorities actively supporting energy from waste as an essential element of an integrated approach to sustainable waste management. The pamphlet complements three other publications produced under the Department's new and renewable energy programme: "An Introduction to Household Waste Management"; "Energy from Waste—Best Practice Guide"; and "Household Waste Management—Some Examples of Current Practice". The latter publication was jointly sponsored with the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions (DETR) and all are available from the New and Renewable Energy Enquiries Bureau at ETSU, Harwell, Didcot, Oxfordshire, OX11 0RA (tel: 01235 432450). On 30 June DETR published "A Way With Waste—A Draft Waste Strategy for England and Wales" for public consultation. This envisages that increased recycling and energy from waste will be vital in the next decade. During the month of June 1999 the "Sustainable Energy from Waste" pamphlet was the single most requested publication from the New and Renewable Energy Enquiries Bureau. It will be publicised further in issue 41 of "New Review", the magazine for renewable energy, which is expected to be published at the end of July and will also be available from the New and Renewable Energy Enquiries Bureau.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make it his policy that all homes within the United Kingdom should be connected to mains electricity by the end of 2002; and if he will make a statement. [89851]

Obviously it is desirable that the relatively small number of homes without mains electricity (less than 1 per cent. of the total UK housing stock) should enjoy such a service. Unfortunately, since the majority of these households are in remote areas, the costs involved can be significant. As is recognised in existing legislation, it would be unfair for existing customers to subsidise the cost of connection to bring down the price for new ones. However, in cases where a supply has been requested and a quote for the connection has been given, the charge can be subject to determination by the Director General of Electricity Supply. Some remote communities have benefited from EU fund assistance with the cost of connection.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions Ministers have held regarding the maintenance of energy supplies over the millennium. [89858]

Action is being taken by my Department in co-ordination with the Cabinet Office, Action 2000 and the Regulator to monitor the progress being made by the energy sector to become millennium compliant. I am in regular contact with my colleagues to discuss progress.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment the Government have made of the millennium computer compliance of systems relating to the (a) Channel Tunnel and (b) supply of electricity from the French power grid. [89855]

The Channel Tunnel has been assessed by the Independent Safety Authority as being 100 per cent. blue in Action 2000 terms—as having no substantive risk of material disruption. There were no significant failures during a full scale test of the systems at the beginning of July. However, the systems will continue to be monitored for compliance and existing contingency planning arrangements will be under constant review over the coming months.All control systems associated with the Anglo-French electricity Interconnector have successfully met all millennium compliance test criteria. Residual risks to Interconnector operation are currently being assessed and consideration is being given to part loaded operation over the millennium period to minimise the impact of unforeseen events.The total capacity of the Interconnector is 2x1,000MW circuits; the installed generating capacity in England and Wales is more than 65,000MW, and the typical peak demand over New Year's Eve is likely to be in the order of 37,000MW.The Government, Regulators and Action 2000 will continue to monitor the arrangements being made by those responsible for the provision of infrastructure services in seeking to ensure that it will be business as usual over the millennium period.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will place in the Library a copy of the tendering documents which were sent to those companies wishing to seek export credit assistance in respect of the proposed Ilisu Dam. [90122]

The Export Credits Guarantee Department does not require companies seeking export credit assistance to produce the tender document issued by the prospective buyer and therefore no copy is available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what criteria the Export Credits Guarantee Department will apply in relation to the proposed Ilisu Dam. [90124]

The Export Credits Guarantee Department will employ its normal underwriting criteria, to ensure that the provision of any support which it might give for this project involves an acceptable risk. Part of the underwriting process involves looking, with other Export Credit Agencies, at a range of issues, including the environmental and social aspects of the project. In this case, these include the resettlement of the local population and protection of cultural heritage. ECGD will also consider the economic and political risks involved.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will place in the Library the terms of reference for the report he has commissioned into the proposed Ilisu Dam. [90123]

The terms of reference will be placed in the Library along with the report as soon as it is available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list those individuals, organisations, other Governments, other United Kingdom Government Departments and public bodies who are to be consulted (a) during the preparation of the report he has commissioned into the proposed Ilisu Dam and (b) before a decision is made to provide assistance in respect of the Dam under the Export and Investment Guarantees Act 1991. [90125]

The Export Credits Guarantee Department (ECGD) is consulting other Government Departments including DTI, DFID, FCO, HMT and DETR, both with regard to the preparation of the report and on the provision of support, and has commissioned work from an international environmental consultancy and an independent social development expert. ECGD is also consulting other export credit agencies including the Swiss, American and German agencies. ECGD has discussed with relevant Turkish Government departments and public bodies.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whom he has commissioned to prepare an independent report into the proposed Ilisu Dam; when the report was commissioned; when he expects it to be finished; and how much it will cost. [90126]

An international environmental consultancy was commissioned to carry out an independent review of the Swiss commissioned Environmental Impact Assessment. Discussions regarding the commissioning of this report commenced in May 1999 and it is expected to be finalised shortly. The estimated cost will be around £5,000.Additionally, a field study is to be carried out by an independent social development expert to gauge the views of the local population. This report was commissioned in early June 1999. It is hoped that it will be carried out shortly. The estimated cost will be around £20,000.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment his Department has made of the effect of current takeover bids in the pub trade on the United Kingdom brewing industry. [89971]

[holding answer 6 July 1999]: Where a merger qualifies for investigation under the Fair Trading Act 1973, the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry decides, in the light of the independent advice of the Director General of Fair Trading, whether or not to refer the merger to the Competition Commission for investigation. All cases are considered on their individual merits.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the growth of tele-conferencing in United Kingdom business; and if he will make a statement. [89929]

The Department of Trade and Industry's recently published international benchmarking study, "Moving into the Information Age 1999", shows that UK businesses are making increasing use of `video-conferencing' (usage rose to 22 per cent. from 14 per cent. in the previous year), and lead the G7 countries in this area. No separate figures are collected for telephone conferencing.The Department is encouraging further use of `video-conferencing' through its Information Society Initiative, which encourages UK businesses to take better advantage of information and communications technologies to improve their performance.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to help business to implement the Working Time Regulations. [90594]

Today, I wrote to a number of representative groups to consult on two deregulatory amendments to the Working Time Regulations. The proposed amendments draw on our experience of the Regulations being in force for their first year and reflect the concerns that have been raised with us in that period. The proposed amendments will relieve some significant administrative burdens on employers, without removing the protection that the Directive provides to workers. A copy of the consultation letter has been placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action he and his Department (a) have taken and (b) plan to take to tackle the problem of unsolicited faxes. [90182]

I refer my hon. Friend to my answer to the hon. Member for Faversham and Mid-Kent (Mr. Rowe) on 12 May 1999, Official Report, column 149.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what (a) advice and (b) assistance has been provided by his Department to delegations intending to visit Libya. [90099]

Following the suspension of UN Sanctions in April, the Department has encouraged several private sponsors of trade missions to take forward their plans for taking business delegations to Libya this summer and autumn. However, up until now that encouragement has fallen short of formal endorsement of particular missions or offering financial assistance. Without a functioning Commercial Section in a British Embassy in Tripoli, British Trade International is currently unable to offer the full range of assistance which is usually associated with visits which receive full Government assistance. We are actively pursuing the re-establishment, at the earliest opportunity, of a fully operational commercial section.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer regarding Air Passenger Duty. [89548]

We have had no discussions with the Chancellor specifically on Air Passenger Duty. However, I am aware of the industry's concerns and have passed these on to the Treasury.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when he last met and when he next intends to meet (a) the British Archaeological Trust and (b) the Council for British Archaeology. [89406]

[holding answer 2 July 1999]: My hon. Friend the Minister for Arts met the Council for British Archaeology on 17 November 1998. I have not yet met the British Archaeological Trust. Any future meetings with either body will be arranged as appropriate.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will list the subject and date of each written briefing prepared by his Special Advisers for all Labour Members since May 1997 and the total number and total cost to date of these. [89990]

[holding answer 6 July 1999]: Special Advisers are appointed under terms and conditions set out in the Model Contract for Special Advisers. Schedule 1, Part 1 of the Model Contract sets out the role and duties of Special Advisers. As well as research for Ministers and reviewing papers, contributing to policy planning within the Department and preparing policy papers, speechwriting and liaison with outside interest groups, their role explicitly includes liaising with the Party and helping to brief Party MPs. Records are not held of when such briefings are given. Similar arrangements have applied under successive Governments

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many films supported by the National Lottery have been released through British-owned distributors; and what proportion this represents of the total number of Lottery-funded films. [89408]

[holding answer 2 July 1999]: To date, 53 Lottery-funded feature films have already been released, await release or are in production/postproduction with assured distribution. Of these, 31 films have been or will be distributed by British-owned distributors. This represents 58.5 per cent. of that total.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the number of people who are currently taking advantage of the option to drawdown capital from their pension fund rather than purchasing an annuity. [89462]

This information is not collected, but indications from pensions industry sources are that around 30,000 people may have income drawdown arrangements.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Edgbaston (Ms Stuart) of 24 June 1999, Official Report, column 457, what definition he used for a child in poverty; and, using that definition, what estimate he has made of the number of children in poverty (a) at present and (b) by the end of 2002. [90087]

[holding answer 6 July 1999]: For the definition of child poverty, I refer the hon. Member to the written answer which the Economic Secretary gave to the hon. Member for Northavon (Mr. Webb) on 14 April 1999, Official Report, columns 244–45. The latest data on the number of children living in low income households can be found in "Households Below Average Income, 1979–1996/7", which is published by the Department for Social Security.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the percentage of taxpayers who are higher-rate taxpayers (a) in each county in England and (b) in equivalent areas in (i) Scotland, (ii) Wales and (iii) Northern Ireland. [89812]

The table shows approximate estimates of the percentage of taxpayers who are subject to higher rate tax for 1996–97, the latest year for which these estimates are available. These estimates are based on a sample survey and the sample size is not large enough to allow separate estimates to be made for some unitary authorities in Scotland and Wales or for Northern Ireland areas other than Belfast.

Area	Percentage of higher rate taxpayers
England	9
North East
Former County of Cleveland	6
Durham	5
Northumberland	8
Tyne and Wear	4
North West and Merseyside
Cheshire	9
Cumbria	6
Greater Manchester	6
Lancashire	6
Merseyside	5
Yorkshire and the Humber
Former County of Humberside	6
North Yorkshire	8
South Yorkshire	5
West Yorkshire	6
East Midlands
Derbyshire	6
Leicestershire	8
Lincolnshire	7
Northamptonshire	8
Nottinghamshire	6
West Midlands
Hereford and Worcester	8
Shropshire	7
Staffordshire	5
Warwickshire	11
West Midlands	5
Eastern
Bedfordshire	10
Cambridgeshire	11
Essex	11
Hertfordshire	14
Norfolk	6
Suffolk	7
London	12
South East
Berkshire	15
Buckinghamshire	18
East Sussex	8
Hampshire	10
Isle of Wight	3
Kent	8
Oxfordshire	13
Surrey	18
West Sussex	11
South West
Former County of Avon	8
Cornwall	5
Devon	5
Dorset	8
Gloucestershire	8
Somerset	6
Wiltshire	8
Scotland	7
Aberdeen City Unitary Authority	9
Aberdeenshire Unitary Authority	11
Angus Unitary Authority	10
Argyll and Bute Unitary Authority	11
Dumfries and Galloway Unitary Authority	3
Dundee City Unitary Authority	6

Area	Percentage of higher rate taxpayers
East Dumbartonshire Unitary Authority	6
East Lothian Unitary Authority	7
East Renfrewshire Unitary Authority	14
Edinburgh, City of Unitary Authority	10
Fife Unitary Authority	6
Glasgow City Unitary Authority	3
Highland Unitary Authority	7
Moray Unitary Authority	6
North Ayrshire Unitary Authority	8
North Lanarkshire Unitary Authority	4
Perth and Kinross Unitary Authority	8
Renfrewshire Unitary Authority	6
Scottish Borders, The Unitary Authority	8
South Ayrshire Unitary Authority	8
South Lanarkshire Unitary Authority	7
Stirling Unitary Authority	7
Rest of Country	4
Wales	3
Carmarthenshire Unitary Authority	3
Cardiff Unitary Authority	6
Conwy Unitary Authority	6
Flintshire Unitary Authority	6
Gwynedd Unitary Authority	4
Monmouthshire Unitary Authority	5
Powys Unitary Authority	3
Swansea Unitary Authority	5
The Vale of Glamorgan Unitary Authority	7
Wrexham Unitary Authority	6
Rest of country	3
Northern Ireland	5
Belfast	6
Rest of country	5

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the average personal income levels for each parliamentary constituency. [89713]

I regret that the information requested is not available.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received on reducing the rate of VAT on sanitary products. [89965]

In the last two years Treasury Ministers have received almost three hundred letters and a few small-scale petitions on reducing the rate of VAT on sanitary products. There have also been two early-day motions on the subject.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer for the latest period for which information is available, how many drug trafficking groups which deal primarily in Class A drugs were disrupted or dismantled by enforcement agencies; and if he will make a statement. [87445]

The latest figures from HM Customs and Excise show that 131 and 104 drug trafficking groups were disrupted or dismantled in 1997x2013;98 and 1996–97 respectively. These do not identify Class A drugs separately.From the year 2000, all relevant agencies will be required to collect information showing the number of drug trafficking groups disrupted or dismantled each year, and will identify Class A drugs separately.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what performance targets have been set for National Savings for 1999–2000. [90496]

National Savings has as its declared aim to add value by helping to reduce the costs to the taxpayer of Government borrowing and by supporting Government savings policies. This is supported by two objectives:

to market Government debt to retail investors so as to help to minimise the combined cost and risk of the total national debt and to contribute to the Government's funding needs;

to promote Government savings policies among personal investors.

In meeting these objectives the Agency will operate cost effectively and in a competitive and commercial manner that does not distort the savings market; and in a manner that benefits both Government and the retail saver–now and in future. During 1999–2000 National Savings will be set the following challenging targets:

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the European Commission's objections to the proposed comitology provisions of the proposed EU Chocolate Directive. [90091]

The Commission objected to a part of the proposed Directive which limited its powers to make technical changes to the law. However, I am pleased to say that a new Presidency compromise has now received Commission support and I am hopeful that a Common Position will be achieved during the Finnish Presidency.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to encourage individual identifications of wild boar on farms; and if he will make a statement. [89939]

There are no plans to require that wild boar be individually identified on farms. Producers are free to do so if they want.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the daily cost to the European Union for the destruction of intervention food stocks in the last year for which figures are available. [89833]

Except in comparatively rare instances where they became damaged in store, intervention stocks of cereals, beef and milk products are sold back onto the market when circumstances permit.Special arrangements exist for recognised producer groups to withdraw from the market certain fish and fruit and vegetables subject to their meeting the required grading standards. Withdrawn fish stocks may be returned to the sea or denatured for use in the production of fish meal. Fruit and vegetable stocks are destroyed by biodegradation or composting but may also be provided free to non-profit making organisations where their use can be shown to be additional to the organisations' normal requirement.Unpublished EU figures

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what qualifications are needed for membership of the Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes; and if he will list the members of the committee. [89525]

Members of the Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes (ACNFP) are appointed by Ministers so as to ensure that the Committee has a broad spectrum of relevant scientific expertise and knowledge at its disposal, including that in nutrition, microbiology, genetic modification, food technology, immunology, toxicology and allergy. In addition it has members with experience in consumer affairs and ethics.The membership of the ACNFP is currently as follows:

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the trips, facilities, gifts and other offerings of a financial value provided by Monsanto to (a) Ministers and (b) civil servants in his Department since 1 May 1997. [88955]

[holding answer 29 June 1999]: I am not aware of any trips, facilities, gifts or other offerings of a financial value being provided by Monsanto to Ministers or officials in this Department since 1 May 1997.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the chemical residues retained as a result of crop treatment in (a) imported US genetically modified soya and (b) imported nonenetically modified soya. [88942]

Two genetically modified (GM) types of soya are currently grown in the USA. One is tolerant to the herbicide glyphosate, and the other to the herbicide glufosinate-ammonium.Experimental studies indicate that two major residues may be found in glyphosate treated soya. The residues concerned are glyphosate itself and its metabolite aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA). These two residues occur in both conventionally bred soya and genetically modified (GM) glyphosate tolerant soya. However, the levels of the metabolite AMPA are generally higher in GM crop.In the case of glufosinate-ammonium the major residue in conventionally bred varieties is glufosinate. In GM varieties the major components of the residue are glufosinate and a metabolite n-acetyl glufosinate.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many invitations (a) he and (b) the Minister have received to visit slaughterhouses since their appointments; and how many each has visited. [88337]

My hon. Friend the Minister of State has visited slaughterhouses on eight occasions since 1 May 1997.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many trials have been (a) postponed and (b) rescheduled to fit in with the trial judge's social and holiday commitments in the last 12 months to date; and if he will make a statement. [89556]

The information is not kept.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will take steps to ensure that companies are legally liable for injuries caused to overseas workers as a result of operational decisions taken in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement. [89350]

[holding answer 2 July 1999]: Under English and Scots law companies are liable for injuries to their workers caused by their negligence. The courts decide in accordance with well established legal principles under each legal system whether claims may proceed in the English or the Scottish courts when it is alleged that the cause of injuries to overseas workers was operational decisions taken in the United Kingdom. The Government has no plans to legislate in this area.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what steps he plans to bring UK law into line with Article 2 of the 1968 Brussels Convention on court action against companies registered abroad [89349]

[holding answer 2 July 1999]: Under Article 2 of the 1968 Brussels Convention on Jurisdiction and Recognition and Enforcement of Judgments in Civil and Commercial Matters, to which the United Kingdom is a party, a defendant is entitled to be sued in the courts of a member state of the European Union where he is domiciled. Once this basis of Jurisdiction has been established the courts of that state generally have no discretion to refuse to hear the case. However, this rule applies only to those cases falling within the scope of the Convention. In all other instances, and notwithstanding that jurisdiction has otherwise been established under English law, a court in England and Wales has a discretion to refuse to hear a case if in all the circumstances of that case it is satisfied that there is another jurisdiction which is clearly more appropriate to hear the case. The courts in England and Wales apply this long-established discretion in the interests of all the parties and the ends of justice and the Government has no plans to amend it.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many court actions for mortgage repossessions were brought at Newton county court in each year since 1990. [89680]

This question relates to Nelson county court. The numbers of mortage actions between 1990–98 were:

Year	Actions entered
1990	238
1991	286
1992	277
1993	203
1994	205
1995	235
1996	214
1997	180
1998	246

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what guidance has been issued to magistrates and crown courts on the trial and sentencing of asylum seekers who have been stopped in transit in the United Kingdom for bearing false documents. [89673]

There are no guidelines for trials in these precise circumstances. Like any other criminal trial, such cases are subject to the relevant statutory provisions, rules of court, practice directions, and case law. There are also no guideline judgments reported on sentencing in these circumstances. Within the statutory sentencing framework laid down by Parliament, the nature and severity of penalties imposed by the courts are matters of judicial discretion. Guidance can however be found in recent decisions by the Court of Appeal (Criminal Division), in particular in Ali Osman (1999) 1CR.APP.R.(S.) 230 and Daljit Singh (1999) 1CR.APP.R.(S.)490.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what is his estimate of the number of people in England and Wales who are both chairman of a police authority and of a magistrates court committee where the areas of operation are approximately the same; and if he will make a statement. [89725]

Of those areas where the magistrates courts committee is approximately the same as the police authority area, there is one area where the same individual is chairman of both the police authority and magistrates court committee.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will list the women's organisations which have been consulted over proposed legislation by his Department during this session; and if their responses have been published. [87273]

The Government is committed to making sure that policies are inclusive and take full account of the needs and experience of all those affected by them. Guidelines on Policy Appraisals for Equal Treatment published in November 1998 commit policy makers to assessing how proposals affect different groups of people.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office 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. [89168]

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

Year	Number of SIs	Number implementing EC obligations
1998	1,565	0
1992	1,692	0
1985	1,204	0
1973	1,260	0

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office (1) what estimate he has made of the number of older people who have received improved public services as a result of the first year of theBetterGovernmentforOlderpeopleProgramme; [90068](2) how many copies of "Making it Happen", the report of the first year of the Better Government for Older People Programme have been produced; at what cost; and to whom unsolicited copies have been sent; [90063](3) if he will list the improvements made to public services as a result of the first year of the Better Government for Older People Programme; [90067](4) what was the cost to public funds of the first year of the Better Government for Older People Programme. [90069]

The Better Government for Older People Programme (BGOP) began in April 1998 and runs until April 2000. It is steered by a partnership led by the Cabinet Office and supported by Age Concern, Anchor Trust, the Carnegie Third Age Programme, Help the Aged, the Local Government Association and the Warwick University Local Authorities Research Consortium. It is an important part of the drive to modernise government so that public services are better equipped for the 21' Century. The Modernising Government White Paper sets as one of its targets that, by the end of the year 2000, older people should benefit from joined up services and integrated planning in at least half our local authorities.Older people represent a significant and growing proportion of the population. For example, there are currently 10.5 million people over state pension age in the UK. This figure is expected to have increased to around 15 million by 2040, by which date 24 per cent. of the UK's population—the highest percentage in the EU—will be 60 or over. All these people, and many others, are the potential beneficiaries of the BGOP Programme.Evaluation is an ongoing and integral part of BGOP. We will publish the results when the Programme comes to an end. Older people are already beginning to feel the benefit of improvements achieved at the local level by the 28 pilot projects, many examples of which are featured in "Making It Happen", the report of the first year of the BGOP Programme. But by far the biggest group of potential beneficiaries is those who will experience better-designed and delivered public services as a result of learning from the pilot projects.BGOP's Learning Network brings together older people, the pilots and other partners in the Programme as well as local authorities. Its role is to help examine what does and does not work in relation to public services used by older people. It will inform the development of good practice and new models for better service delivery in the future. It links, through the Cabinet Office and the Inter-Ministerial Group on Older People to central government.7,000 copies of "Making It Happen" have been printed at a cost of £9,925. Copies are being sent to all MPs, party leaders in the House of Lords, local authority chief executives, the pilot projects, all members of BGOP's Learning Network and others who have asked to be kept informed of developments. We are doing this to spread good practice, raise awareness and keep Parliament informed about the Programme.As one of the six partner organisations steering the Programme, the Cabinet Office provides £51,000 per annum to support the work of the Programme's Core Team, which co-ordinates its activities. Other Departments making substantial contributions include £154,000 from the Home Office, £30,000 from the Department for Education and Employment and £30,000 from the Health Education Authority. Further contributions and support come from the other Programme partners, the 28 local authorities leading the pilots and their partner organisations. The programme raises additional funds from charging local authorities for membership of the Learning Network.The overall cost of the Programme (including contributions from partner organisations) is estimated to be around £750,000 in the 1998–99 financial year. This represents an excellent investment in ensuring that older people receive in the future the improved public services they deserve.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will list the subject and date of each written briefing prepared by his Special Advisers for all Labour Members since May 1997 and the total number and total cost to date of these. [89986]

Special Advisers are appointed under terms and conditions set out in the "Model Contract for Special Advisers". Schedule 1, Part 1 of the Model Contract sets out the role and duties of Special Advisers. As well as research for Ministers and reviewing papers, contributing to policy planning within the Department and preparing policy papers, speechwriting and liaison with outside interest groups, their role explicitly includes liaising with the Party and helping to brief Party MPs. Records are not held of when such briefings are given. Similar arrangements have applied under successive Governments.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what estimate he has made of the annual cost of reducing class sizes to 25 for all primary school children. [89375]

We have estimated that the cost would be around £3 billion, made up of about £1 billion a year for extra teachers and around £2 billion for the capital investment required. Eventual costs would depend on a range of factors affecting implementation, including the results of local consultation, the availability of existing accommodation and parental preference.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to develop NVQs in archaeological studies. [89401]

[holding answer 2 July 1999]: The development and maintenance of NVQs is undertaken by National Training Organisations. Since April 1998 archaeology has been the responsibility of the Cultural Heritage NTO. It was previously covered by the environmental lead body, COSQUEC. The first NVQs, accredited in 1994, were removed in 1998 from the national framework by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) as there was very low take up.The Cultural Heritage NTO is waiting for the findings of an archaeological training needs study called "Profiling the profession", being undertaken by the Archaeological Training Forum, before making a new case for NVQs. The report is expected in autumn 1999.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment he has made of the effect of the national minimum wage on the costs to employers of New Deal recruits. [89422]

[holding answer 2 July 1999]: From April 1998 to end of March 1999, the monthly average of New Deal participants entering jobs was 7,600. During April 1999, after the introduction of the national minimum wage, 12,400 entered jobs.As part of the national evaluations of New Deal for Young People and New Deal for the Long Term Unemployed we are carrying out a survey of participating employers. This will include questions on the wages being paid to New Deal employees (for example gross starting pay; hourly rate; most recent gross pay; whether or not the wages are the same as for the previous job holder and why not). Any references by employers to the national minimum wage and its impact will be recorded. The survey is taking place in the autumn of this year and will involve face-to-face interviews with 1,500 participating employers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what estimate he has made of the numbers of participants in New Deal programmes who have not obtained a job after they have completed their participation. [89415]

[holding answer 2 July 1999]: The information is available from the published Government Statistical Service statistics. They show that between January 1998 and April 1999 32,000 people left New Deal for Young People for known destination other than jobs. An additional 49,420 left for an unknown destinations. However, a recently published study reports on a survey of a sample of those leaving New Deal for unrecorded destinations between April and August 1998. Of all those who responded to the survey, 43 per cent. stated they had left New Deal to go into paid employment.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what progress has been made with the Trailblazer Round of the Sure Start programme. [90595]

Today, my right hon. Friends the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Secretary of State for Education and Employment announced a further 30 Sure Start trailblazers. They are part of the first round of a £450 million investment over 3 years in 250 local programmes across England. Sure Start will combine health care, good quality early learning and family support services to improve life chances of under fours in areas of disadvantage, so that children are ready to thrive at school.The 30 trailblazers announced today are based in:

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security 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. [88861]

The net impact of the climate change levy and the associated reduction in the main rate of employers' National Insurance Contributions on the Department of Social Security 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, we 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 Department of Social Security.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if he will publish tax-benefit model tables under the system operating when the working families tax credit is introduced for a lone mother with two children aged under 11, where her earnings are (a) nil, (b) £3 per hour and (c) £3.60 per hour, where, if she is an earner, she works for (i) five hours, (ii) 10 hours, (iii) 15 hours, (iv) 20 hours, (v) 25 hours, (vi) 30 hours, (vii) 35 hours, (viii) 40 hours, (ix) 45 hours and (x) 50 hours, where she has to pay average council house rent and council tax, and where, if she is an earner, she has child care costs of (A) £20, (B) £30, (C) £40, (D) £50 and (E) £60; [89313](2) if he will publish tax-benefit model tables under the existing system for a lone mother with two children aged under 11, where her earnings are

The information has been placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many meetings of the JCC he has attended. [89281]

I refer my hon. Friend to the written answer from my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 5 July 1999, Official Report, columns 362–63.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 4 March 1999, Official Report, column 882, on disabled people, when he expects to take a decision on the need for a take-up campaign for disability benefits. [89378]

We have no plans for a take-up campaign at the present time. However, the potential t ake-up of benefits is increased through greater public confidence about decisions on entitlement, and we continue to work with disability organisations to improve the administration of Disability Living Allowance and Attendance Allowance, and to ensure that decisions about entitlement are right at the outset and are kept correct.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on the position under the social security system of women who stay at home in order to look after children. [89889]

We recognise the need to provide practical support to help parents do their best for their children. That is why we have put into place a series of measures which open up choices for parents, including the highest ever increase in Child Benefit, the New Deal for Lone Parents, the National Childcare Strategy and the Working Families Tax Credit (including the child care tax credit).In addition, our plans for the Second State Pension will build on safeguards already offered by the Home Responsibilities Protection scheme to help those whose work records are interrupted by caring responsibilities build up a worthwhile retirement income.For women who stay at home to look after their children access to contributory benefits is based on their own or, as appropriate, their husband's national insurance record and the ability to satisfy the benefit entitlement conditions. Income related benefits will be based on the needs and income of the family unit.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will take steps to support parents who remain at home to look after their children by paying a benefit directly to the parent. [89880]

We have no plans to pay a benefit direct to a parent for remaining at home to care for a child other than the provisions already in place to support lone parents and parents of children with disabilities.We have a role in ensuring that all families have an adequate level of income, whether in work or out of work. We have put into place a series of improvements and changes to benefits which support all families and which target families with lower incomes in particular. We have increased Child Benefit by the largest ever amount, we are introducing the Working Families Tax Credit with its integral child care tax credit (and which can be paid directly to the carer where a couple choose) and we are bringing in the Children's Tax Credit from 2001 which will be worth up to £416 a year for taxpaying families with children.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to treat housewives as independent individuals for social security purposes. [89888]

Women are already treated as independent individuals for most contributory benefit purposes (apart from Widow's Benefit or where an addition for an adult dependant is being claimed). Within the income related benefits we target benefit on those in greatest need by looking at the family unit. A couple is treated as a single unit and benefit calculated on the basis of the couple's needs and resources.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many children in Scotland to date have received compensation under the Vaccine Damage Payments Act 1979. [89160]

I have been asked to reply.Sixty children who were vaccinated in Scotland have received payment under the Vaccine Damage Payments Act 1979. Information on the number of children currently living in Scotland who have received payments under the Act is not available.The payments are neither compensation nor an interim payment. They are designed to ease the present and future burdens of those suffering from vaccine damage and their families.