To ask the President of the Council how many hon. Members have claimed a bicycle allowance since its introduction. [91271]

Four hon. Members have claimed the bicycle allowance since its introduction.

To ask the President of the Council how many hon. Members' cars were registered as being within each engine size capacity for which records are held in (a) May 1998 and (b) May 1999. [91272]

The information requested is not held as at May 1998 and May 1999 and could be produced only at disproportionate cost by an extensive clerical exercise.The relevant details as at 31 March are available:

Engine capacity	March 1998	March 1999
Up to 1300cc	109	92
1301cc to 2300cc	519	530
2301cc and above	324	292

To ask the Chairman of the Accommodation and Works Committee what plans there are further to improve disabled access to the Palace of Westminster. [91776]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 9 March 1998, Official Report, column 37. If the hon. Member has a specific proposal for any further improvement, the Director of Works would be pleased to consider it.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he had made of the effect of paying a benefit directly through the pay-packet as a tax credit on incentives and behaviour. [90146]

[holding answer 8 July 1999]: No benefits are currently paid as tax credits. The Government have, however, already announced that the new Working Families Tax Credit and Disabled Persons Tax Credit will be paid through the pay packet from April 2000. This will demonstrate the link between reward and work, encourage take-up, and improve work incentives.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he intends to lay the Value Added Tax (Sport, Sports Competitions and Physical Education) Order 1999; and if he will make a statement. [92280]

The Government laid the Order today. It will come into effect on 1 January 2000 and stop VAT avoidance by profit-making sports clubs, by laying down conditions for exemption from VAT which any non-profit making club can satisfy.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the performance targets for the Royal Mint for 1999–2000. [92281]

I have set the Royal Mint the target of achieving a rate of return on average net assets of 14.6 per cent. for 1999–2000 which is an increase over the target of 14.3 per cent. set for 1998–99.The Royal Mint's other performance targets have also been tightened. The new targets are for:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many individuals his Department has recruited under the New Deal for Young People. [91892]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office to my hon. Friend the Member for Slough (Fiona Mactaggart) on 25 May 1999, Official Report, column 116.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the Government's policy relating to gold sales; and if he will estimate the job losses there (a) have been and (b) will be in third world countries which produce gold, with particular reference to South Africa. [91879]

As they will be spread out over a number of years, UK gold sales will be modest in the context of the world gold market. The 125 tonnes to be sold this year amounts to around 5 per cent. of estimated annual mining supply and less than a tenth of 1 per cent. of IMF estimates of above ground stocks of gold. Sales on this scale are unlikely to have a significant sustained impact on the price of gold.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the cost of reducing NI contributions by 0.5 per cent. [91648]

Reducing the National Insurance Contributions rates for employees, the self-employed and employers by 0.5 per cent. would cost about £2.9 billion in 2000–01.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what new data series separated by gender, race, disability and age have been commissioned by his Department since June 1997. [90826]

HM Treasury has not commissioned any new internal data series separated by gender, race, disability and age since June 1997. However, the Department has long-established procedures for routinely monitoring staff in post numbers and the outcome of recruitment, promotion and appraisal exercises by gender and race. In addition, an Equality Audit of the posting, appraisal and promotion procedures, by gender and race, will be undertaken later this year.HM Customs and Excise has not carried out any national internal surveys, but several surveys have been carried out locally. Customs is also considering carrying out a national survey in the near future.The Inland Revenue has not completed a full Departmental internal staff survey separated by gender, race, disability and age since June 1997. However, a full Departmental survey is currently being issued to everyone in the Department. The survey will concentrate on human resource issues such as training and development, motivation, equality and impressions of the Revenue as an employer. Survey respondents are invited to state their sex, ethnicity, if they have a disability as defined by the Disability Discrimination Act, their age and if they work part-time or full-time. Key results of the survey will be made available to everyone in the Department.A disability survey will be taken forward later this year. As part of the survey everyone in the Department will be asked to state if they have any disabilities and the nature of those disabilities.The Revenue routinely monitors issues such as performance management results and staff in posts by band (grade) separated by gender, race, disability, part-time and full-time and since 1998, by age. The Revenue is in the process of monitoring vacancy filling by gender, race, disability, part-time and full-time and age.National Savings monitors its external recruitment to ensure there are no biases, but has carried out no internal surveys since June 1997 on gender, race, disability or age.The Office for National Statistics (ONS) routinely collects information from all applicants for jobs on gender, race and disability. Information about age is collected from those who take up posts. Internally it publishes annual information about performance marks by gender, ethnic origin and disability.In June of this year, all ONS staff were asked to complete a questionnaire about disability. The results of this are being analysed at present. At the same time, staff who had not previously declared their ethnic origin were asked to do so.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has had from (i) consumer organisations and (ii) organisations representing (a) the elderly, (b) the disabled and (c) the visually impaired, regarding the closure and automation of district banks in (1) rural and (2) urban communities; and what responses he has made. [91695]

Representations have been received from a number of organisations concerned about consumer interests. The Treasury's Policy Action Team's Report on "Access to Financial Service" is likely to be published in the autumn.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment for what reasons the software to carry out financial assessments for student grant applications has not been supplied to local education authorities to date. [92090]

The three software companies used by most local education authorities have released the final version of their software to those LEAs. Those authorities are now finalising financial assessments for students who applied by the established deadlines so that they will receive cheques at the start of their courses. The remaining LEAs have their own in-house software provision or manual systems.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what guidance his Department has issued to students who do not receive their grant by the first day of term. [92089]

None. We expect all students who have applied to the required timetable to receive cheques on the first day of their course, and are making plans to ensure that even very late applicants receive a payment upon arrival at their universities and colleges.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment under what circumstances students are entitled to apply for compensation in relation to delays in the processing of their applications for a grant. [92093]

There are arrangements for students to make complaints if they are not satisfied with the processing of their applications for student support. However, we expect all students who have applied to the required timetable to receive cheques on the first day of their course, and are making plans to ensure that late applicants also receive a payment upon arrival at their universities and colleges.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many local education authorities are expected to complete assessments for student grants using the new systems, in accordance with his Department's timetable. [92091]

We expect that all local education authorities will complete processing applications from students who submitted their forms by the required timetable, and that cheques will be issued to those students at the start of their courses.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what estimate he has made of the number of local education authorities which will have completed the processing of applications for student grants before the start of the university term. [92092]

The Department is monitoring closely the progress being made by local education authorities. We expect that they will all complete processing applications from students who submitted their forms by the required timetable, and that cheques will be issued to those students at the start of their courses.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on his Department's involvement in the proposed Government committee on Holocaust Remembrance Day. [92160]

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department on 19 July 1999, Official Report, column 400.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the non-departmental public bodies in existence on 1 May 1997 that (a) have been disbanded, indicating when they were disbanded, (b) will be disbanded in the next 12 months, (c) have had their functions transferred to (i) another non-departmental public body and (ii) a democratically elected body, (d) have been renamed but continue to perform a similar role and (e) have been unchanged; if he will indicate in (c)(ii) the relevant successor body; what new non-departmental public bodies have been established since 1 May 1997; and how many non-departmental public bodies his Department currently is responsible for. [90678]

[holding answer 19 July 1999]: Of the non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) in existence on 1 May 1997:

(a) the NDPB that has been simply disbanded is the Supported Employment Consultative Group, in June 1998 as intended. The Centre for Information on Language Teaching and Research continues in operation but, following constitutional change, has been de-classified as an NDPB;

(b) the Funding Agency for Schools has ceased funding activities, and will be disbanded in the autumn of this year;

(c)(i) the functions of the disbanded National Advisory Council for the Employment of People with Disabilities have been transferred to the National Disability Council. The National Council for Vocational Qualifications and the School Curriculum and Assessment Authority have been merged to form the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority. The Race Relations Employment Advisory Group has been disbanded and replaced by the Race Relations Education and Employment Forum;

(c)(ii) no functions have been transferred to a democratically elected body;

(d) the Education Assets Board has been renamed as the Education Transfer Council and the National Council for Educational Technology has been renamed as the British Educational Communications and Technology Agency;

(e) unchanged NDPBs not mentioned above are the Construction Industry Training Board, the Engineering Construction Industry Training Board, the Equal Opportunities Commission, the Further Education Funding Council, the Higher Education Funding Council for England, Investors in People UK, Remploy Ltd., Student Loans Company, Teacher Training Agency, Registered Inspectors Appeals Tribunal, Special Educational Needs Tribunal, School Teachers Review Body now classified under this Department.

New NDPB established since 1 may 1997 are; the Disability Rights Task Force, New Deal Task Force, Skills Task Force.The Department is responsible for 21 NDPBs.The Government are committed to keeping the number of NDPBs to a minimum and to ensuring that those which remain are open, accountable and effective. Many of the NDPBs established since 1 May are essential in helping the Government deliver their Manifesto commitments.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many children aged five to seven years in (a) Bath and North-East Somerset and (b) South Gloucestershire were in classes of 30 or fewer in each year from 1992 to date. [91155]

The available information is shown in the table.The Government have pledged to reduce infant class sizes so that no 5, 6 or 7-year-old is in an infant class of more than 30 pupils. The number of infants in classes larger than 30 has already been reduced by some 130,000 between January 1998 and January 1999.

Numbers of pupils in key stage 1 classes of 30 pupils or less taught by one teacher in maintained primary schools in Bath and North East Somerset and South Gloucestershire local education authority areas: January 1996–99 (provisional)
	Bath and North East Somerset classes of size		South Gloucestershire classes of size
	1–30	all	1–30	all
1996	3,689	4,789	5,460	8,821
1997	4,025	4,977	5,279	9,031
1998	4,118	5,329	5,931	9,322
19991	4,163	5,182	8,050	9,452
1 Provisional

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what discussions he has had with the Minister for Science on the experimental teaching of (a) biology, (b) chemistry, (c) physics, (d) environmental sciences and (e) other sciences in the past two years. [91280]

My right hon. Friend and the Minister for Science meet from time to time to discuss a variety of issues of mutual interest.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment which departments funded the Drive For Youth programme in the past four years; what were the reasons for this investment; what amount of public funds was allocated to this in each year; and if he will make a statement. [90300]

[holding answer 8 July 1999]: Drive For Youth is a registered charity. Government funding is through payment for services provided through contracts for the delivery of training courses for New Deal and other clients by the Employment Service, TECs, LECs and other bodies. Many of these contracts are concluded at local level, and information is not held centrally, so full details could be ascertained only at disproportionate cost.

	School year
Board area	1998–99	1999–2000	2000–01
Belfast
Nursery school/units	2,637	2,689	2,767
Reception places	92	92	92
Funded places in voluntary and private pre-school education centres	267	465	622
North Eastern
Nursery school/units	1,813	2,307	2,879
Reception places	389	389	389
Funded places in voluntary and private pre-school education centres	421	720	908
South Eastern
Nursery school/units	1,678	2,172	2,536
Reception places	475	475	475
Funded places in voluntary and private pre-school education centres	291	443	747
Southern
Nursery school/units	1,720	2,136	2,630
Reception places	946	946	946
Funded places in voluntary and private pre-school education centres	378	400	543
Western
Nursery school/units	1,446	1,992	2,512
Reception places	619	619	619
Funded places in voluntary and private pre-school education centres	514	629	647
Total	13,686	16,474	19,312

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many kilometres have been travelled on her Department's business in each of the last three years broken down by (a) foot, (b) bike, (c) bus, (d) train, (e) tram, (f) light-rail, (g) plane, (h) motorbike, (i) car, (j) taxi, (k) river-taxi and (l) other modes of transport; what plans and targets her Department has to reduce the kilometres travelled by private transport by her Department's employees; and if she will make a statement. [91028]

[holding answer 13 July 1999]: The information on business travel is not collected in the form

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list by LEA the number of additional out-of-school child care places created under the National Childcare Strategy. [88187]

Details of new child care places created under the National Childcare Strategy in 1998–99 are set out in tables, copies of which have been placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will make a statement setting out for each education and library board, the numbers of children in September 1998 and 1999 and the projected numbers for September 2000, placed in (a) nursery schools and units and (b) in other pre-school provision. [90737]

The numbers of children in free pre-school education provision in the 1998–99 school year and projected numbers for the 1999–2000 and 2000–01 school years are set out in the table. All figures for 1999–2000 and 2000–01 are estimates.requested and therefore cannot be provided. As published in the Integrated Transport White Paper in July 1998, the Government have set a target that all Government Department headquarters buildings and main buildings occupied by Executive Agencies should have green transport plans by March 1999 and all other key buildings by March 2000.Northern Ireland Departments are working to complete plans covering all headquarters and main buildings and they are developing plans for all other key buildings in line with the targets set out in the White Paper, and consideration is being given to measures to reduce single-occupancy car use by employees.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when she expects to receive the fifth report of the Council for Nature Conservation and the Countryside; and if she will make a statement. [91254]

I expect to receive the fifth report from the Council for Nature Conservation and the Countryside before the end of 1999.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will list for (a) 1997, (b) 1998 and (c) 1999 the number of crimes attributed to paramilitary organisations committed in Northern Ireland. [91435]

[holding answer 15 July 1999]: Statistics for crimes attributed to paramilitary organisations are collated under the headings in the following tables which show the number of incidents recorded as being of paramilitary style during the years (a) 1997 (b) 1998 and (c) 1999 to 15 July 1999.

Crimes attributed to paramilitary organizations
	Deaths	Shootings	Bombings
1997	22	225	78
1998	55	211	127
1999 (to 15 July)	6	74	54

Casualties as a result of paramilitary style attacks
	Shootings	Assaults
1997	72	156
1998	72	144
1999 (to 15 July)	46	89

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will list for (a) 1997, (b) 1998 and (c) 1999 the number of (i) punishment beatings and (ii) punishment shootings which took place in Northern Ireland, indicating how many in each category were committed by (1) Loyalist and (2) Republican groups. [91436]

[holding answer 15 July 1999]: The table shows the number of casualties as a result of paramilitary style attacks over the last three years.

Casualties as a result of paramilitary style attacks
	Shootings		Assaults
Year	Loyalist	Republican	Loyalist	Republican
1997	46	26	78	78
1998	34	38	89	55
19991	25	21	56	33
1 Up to-incl. 11 July

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many individuals her Department has recruited under the New Deal for Young People. [91897]

As at 30 June 1999 the information on the Northern Ireland Civil Service (including its Agencies) participating as employers in the New Deal is as follows:

Northern Ireland Civil Service
New Deal 'starts' since programme began	Number
Age 18–24	21
25 and over	12
Total	33

I would also refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office to my hon. Friend the Member for Slough (Fiona Mactaggart) on 25 May 1999,

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many kilometres have been travelled on his Department's business in each of the last three years broken down by (a) foot, (b) bike, (c) bus, (d) train, (e) tram, (f) light-rail, (g) plane, (h) motorbike, (i) car, (j) taxi, (k) river-taxi and (l) other modes of transport; what plans and targets his Department has to reduce the kilometres travelled by private transport by his Department's employees; and if he will make a statement. [91019]

[holding answer 13 July 1999]: The information on business travel is not collected in the form requested and therefore cannot be provided. As published in the Integrated Transport White Paper in July 1998, the Government have set a target that all Government Department headquarters buildings occupied by Executive Agencies and Government Offices for the Regions should have green transport plans by March 1999 and all other key buildings by March 2000.We have completed a green transport plan covering all our headquarters and main buildings. Being located in central London, this Department is already well placed for staff commuting, with virtually all staff using public transport. Proposals therefore concentrate on discouraging business travel by private car by reviewing mileage rates, encouraging cycling, converting official vehicles to use cleaner fuels and reducing deliveries.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what investment is planned in Lilleshall National Sports Centre to improve standards among British sports people. [91508]

Lilleshall National Sports Centre will be the part of the UK Sports Institute Network Centre serving the West Midlands. The Centre has a wide range of a sports specific and generic training facilities which include up to date gymnastics training facilities, natural and artificial turf pitches and indoor training halls.The key services of sports science and medicine will be co-ordinated by the Lilleshall Sports Injury and Human Performance Centre, supported by Staffordshire and Worcester Institutes of Higher Education; Birmingham University will play a crucial role in both service and facility provision. A network of Sports Medicine practitioners will be established to provide primary care services and formal links will be established with hospitals to provide essential secondary and tertiary care for athletes.Other sites will be incorporated into the regional network to complement the services available at Lilleshall and extend the range of sports available in the region.The sports expected to be included within the West Midlands Network are:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will publish the criteria applied to the recruitment of his Department's new press officer; how many applicants there were for this post; how many were shortlisted; how this post was advertised; who was on the selection panel; and what salary this post carries. [91948]

[holding answer 19 July 1999]: In selecting the Head of News for my Department in summer 1998 the following criteria were used: people management, resource management, ability to inspire confidence, ability to communicate with impact, ability to add value to decisions, and knowledge of the system. Thirty two candidates applied of which seven were shortlisted for interview, and five were actually interviewed. The post was advertised in The Guardian.The selection panel comprised two members of the Management Board of the Department, a senior representative of the Government Information and Communication Service and a Civil Service Commissioner.The post carries a salary in the range of £36,517 to £56,198.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many complaints have been received by the Police Complaints Authority against the Ministry of Defence Police in each year since they were granted statutory constabulary powers. [92165]

I understand from the Police Complaints Authority that the number of complaints dealt with in respect of the Ministry of Defence Police since 1987 when they were granted statutory constabulary powers is as set out in the table:

Year	Number of complaints
1987	22
1988	93
1989	86
1990	225
1991	143
1992	75
1993	46
1994–951	58
1995–96	75
1996–97	44
1997–98	53
1998–99	47
1 Statistics have been kept on a financial year basis from 1994

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his planned timetable for the establishment of the Criminal Records Agency. [91988]

I am reviewing the timetable for the implementation of the Criminal Records Bureau and will inform the House of the results when it returns after the recess.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment was made of the required level of staff which would be needed following introduction of the new information technology systems by the UK Passport Agency; if he will publish a summary of the Agency's report on staffing requirements; and if he will make a statement. [90686]

I have placed a summary of the business case for Private Sector Involvement in the Issue of the British Passport, produced by the UK Passport Agency in July 1997, in the Library. Paragraph 49 gives an estimate of Agency staffing levels under the chosen option as 930 permanent staff equivalents. This was based on demand estimated at an average 4 million services a year across the 10 year period of the contracts.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the forecast number of passport applications to be made in (a) 1998 and (b) 1999; what was the actual number of applications in 1998; what is the current estimate of the number of applications for 1999; and if he will make a statement. [90591]

The UK Passport Agency forecasts the number of passport applications on the basis of financial years. The forecasts published in the Agency's 1998–2001 Corporate Plan were 4.5 million in 1998–99 and 5.0 million in 1999–2000.During the year, the Agency revised its 1998–99 forecasts upwards from 4.5 million to 4.9 million to allow for a greater take up of children's passports than its statistical model forecast. In the event, the actual intake for 1998–99 was 4.8 million.The Agency continues to analyse the impact on its forecast for 1999–2000 of its recent operational problems and the measures implemented as a result.On available information, the Agency's latest forecast for 1999–2000 is for 5.2 million applications which again makes greater allowance for the effect of the child policy against the modelled 5.0 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions he and other Ministers in his Department have met the governor and senior management responsible for Her Majesty's Young Offenders Institution Feltham since May 1997; and if he will make a statement. [90580]

Ministers have visited Feltham Young Offender Institution on three occasions since May 1997 when they would have met the governor and staff. I visited Feltham in July 1997 and my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary visited on 13 February 1998. My hon. Friend, the Member for Cardiff South and Penarth (Mr. Michael), in his capacity as Minister of State, Home Office, visited Feltham on 6 April 1998.In addition, I met the governor on 26 May 1999 and the Minister for prisons and probation, Lord Williams, met the governor on 23 June 1999. Lord Williams has had meetings with the area manager on six occasions since February and the Home Secretary has met the area manager twice. Central records of attendance at office meetings are not available prior to this year.These meetings were in addition to the regular meetings my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary and the Minister with responsibility for prisons, my right hon. and noble Friend Lord Williams and until July 1998, my right hon. Friend the Member for Gateshead, East and Washington, West (Ms Quin), held with the Director General.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions he and other Ministers in his Department have met the governor and senior management responsible for HMP Wormwood Scrubs since May 1997; and if he will make a statement. [90579]

Since May 1997, my right hon. Friend the Member for Gateshead, East and Washington, West (Ms Quin), the then Minister for prisons and probation, visited Wormwood Scrubs prison at night on 13 July 1998 when she would have met the governor and staff.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the actions his Department has taken in respect of each of the recommendations made by Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons on Her Majesty's Prison Wormwood Scrubs in March 1997. [90970]

I have arranged for a copy of the action plan drawn up in response to the Chief Inspector of Prison's recommendations, contained in his 1996 inspection report, to be placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what measures she intends to take to improve the situation in Somalia with regard to (a) food, (b) seeds and (c) health assistance. [91296]

To date, we have committed £590,000 to emergency needs, including support for UNICEF's supplementary feeding programmes in the Bardera region; Action Contre le Faim's (ACF) emergency nutritional intervention in the Gedo and Bakool regions; and World Vision's primary health care project in Juba. We are currently considering providing support for the African Medical and Research Foundation to improve the health of internally displaced people in Luuq Town, South West Somalia, which will complement ACF's activities. In addition, the EC have provided 10,899 metric tonnes of food.We are closely monitoring the situation and will continue to respond to needs as they arise.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list the projects supported by her Department for the provision of potable water. [91722]

The White Paper on International Development makes clear that fresh water resources are essential for sustaining life, development and the environment. Access to potable water, sanitation and hygiene education is vital to poor people's health and well-being. We ensure that our support for the provision of potable water is integrated with improved sanitation and hygiene education. With the increasing demands on limited fresh water resources, we are also working to ensure that water resources are managed in an integrated and sustainable way.We are increasing commitments on water supply and sanitation projects. In all, we funded approximately 175 projects in 1998–99. Expenditure was £11 million on rural water supply and sanitation and £16 million on urban water supply and sanitation. In total, we spent £45 million in the water sector, including water resources management. Of this 52 per cent. was in Africa (notably, Ghana, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Kenya, Lesotho, Uganda and Tanzania); 39 per cent. in Asia (India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan, China) and the remaining 9 per cent. was spread between South America, Middle East and Eastern Europe.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the small grants budget; and if she will make a statement. [91713]

The overall objectives set out in the Government's White Paper on International Development apply to the Small Grants Scheme which finances projects generally costing a few thousand pounds. Reports are considered on a country by country basis each year, and compliance with administrative and financial requirements is monitored by my Internal Audit Department.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what measures she is taking to support the work of the World Food Programme in the Sudan. [92153]

The British Government committed £14.1 million through the World Food Programme (WFP) last year. This year, the situation is much improved. We have made available £5 million and have asked the UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), who are co-ordinating the UN system's humanitarian response in Sudan, to let us have their priorities, including those of WFP, for the use of this money.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what estimate the Commonwealth Development Corporation has made of the number of employees at (a) the (i) Abosso gold and (ii) Satellite gold fields in Ghana and (b) the East Africa gold mines in Tanzania. [92151]

Abosso gold and satellite gold fields in Ghana have, respectively, around 400 and 330 employees. The East Africa gold mines in Tanzania, where work is still in the exploration stage, has about 40 employees.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list the current portfolio of Commonwealth Development Corporation investments together with the estimates of their current value and annual income. [92149]

The Commonwealth Development Corporation's (CDC) Report and Accounts for 1998 list all the enterprises in which CDC had debt or equity investments at 31 December 1998.Information on the value and annual income of individual investments is commercially sensitive. In total, the cost of CDC's investments before provisions, as published in the Report and Accounts for 1998, was £1,520.6 million. Provisions of £319.2 million bring the net portfolio at cost less provision down to £1,201.4 million. These figures take no accounts of surpluses in value over cost on any of CDC's equity investments as CDC's accounts are based on the historic cost convention. However, as part of the process of moving towards valuation accounting, CDC valued its equity portfolio as at 31 December 1998 in accordance with the British Venture Capital Association guidelines and this showed an unrealised surplus in valuation of £99 million.The group revenue account confirmed portfolio loan investment income of £105.0 million and portfolio equity investment income of £31.5 million, giving an annual investment income for 1998 at £136.5 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list the firms which have provided advice to her Department on the Commonwealth Development Corporation and the public-private partnership process together with the fees paid to those advisers to date. [92150]

We have received advice on preparation of the Commonwealth Development Corporation (CDC) public private partnership from Credit Suisse First Boston (and before their merger, BZW) Allen and Overy, and PricewaterhouseCoopers. Information on fees paid to individual companies while work is in progress is commercially sensitive. In total, costs to the Department for financial and legal advice in preparation of the CDC public private partnership (including costs of advice from the Treasury Solicitors Department) totalled £1.6 million as at 30 June 1999.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what plans she has to provide (a) loans and (b) other assistance to help (i) electrification and (ii) other projects in Bangladesh; what matters she discussed with the Bangladesh Prime Minister during his recent visit; and if she will make a statement. [91760]

Our development assistance for Bangladesh is provided on grant terms. We have given considerable support in the past to the Dhaka Electricity Supply Authority; however, we have no plans to make further investment until the high level of system losses has been tackled. Technical assistance has been offered on this issue. A new project has recently been agreed which aims to facilitate public/private partnerships. This will help in the power sector among others. This technical assistance will be geared primarily towards the establishment of appropriate legal and regulatory frameworks and the development, marketing and tendering of projects suitable for private sector participation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many export licences have been (a) requested, (b) granted and (c) revoked for arms to Indonesia since May 1997; and how many Hawk Fighter bombers were covered by these licences. [91215]

[holding answer 13 July 1999]: Further to my answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Preston (Audrey Wise) on 2 July 1999, Official Report, columns 313–14, concerning licences issued between 2 May 1997 and 18 June 1999 for the export of military equipment to Indonesia; none of these licences covered the export of Hawk aircraft.Open Individual Export Licences (OIELs) routinely cover exports to a number of countries. Any country initially specified on an OIEL application but not included as a permitted destination on the licence is not recorded on the Export Control Organisation's computer databases. Accordingly, the number of applications for OIELs covering exports to any particular country could be established only by manual examination of the paper records of all of the applications made in the period, which would entail disproportionate cost.Between 2 May 1997 and 18 June 1999, 114 applications were received for Standard Individual Export Licences (SIELs) covering the export to consignees or end-users in Indonesia of goods subject to export control by being listed in Part III of Schedule 1 to the Export of Goods (Control) Order 1994, the so-called Military List. None of these applications covered Hawk aircraft. In the same period, no Standard or Open Individual Export Licences covering such exports were revoked.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what factors underlay the time taken to publish the report of the Competition Commission on Milk Marque. [91312]

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State explained the position to the House. He said:

"It was not an easy decision, as it is not usual to disagree with a clear recommendation from the MMC. It is one reason why the report took longer to publish than I would have liked; I understand the concerns expressed by many right hon. and hon. Members this afternoon and by the farming community, particularly the dairy farmers, about the delay in its publication. I wanted to publish the report as soon as possible and I have done that. I would have liked it to be sooner, but I wanted to make sure when it was published and I had put on record my decision that all avenues had been properly investigated."—[Official Report, 7 July 1999, column 1091.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate he has made of the size of community which would be served by a 100 MW tidal energy power plant. [91647]

A 100 MW tidal energy barrage might be expected to produce electricity equivalent to the annual consumption of 40,000 to 50,000 domestic customers assuming a capacity factor for the plant in the range 0.2 to 0.3 and average sales of 4,300 kWh/yr to domestic customers. While feasibility studies for such plants have been conducted in the UK no project is known to be in early prospect.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Islington, North (Mr. Corbyn) of 12 July 1999, Official Report, column 43, on the Edmonton incinerator, when he expects to announce his decision; and if he will make a statement. [91785]

My Department is still awaiting the formal views of the London Borough of Enfield, the relevant planning authority. Until the views of the relevant planning authority are known it is too early to say when a decision on the application will be taken.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has made to BP concerning the safety and maintenance of the Alaskan pipeline; and if he will make a statement. [91423]

[holding answer 15 July 1999]: There have been no representations made; the safety and maintenance of the Alaskan pipeline are matters for the State Government and relevant local authorities of Alaska to pursue directly with BP. As a matter of general policy, the UK Government would always encourage conformity to the highest standards.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his answer of 12 July 1999, Official Report, column 42, concerning public textphones, for what reasons BT' s plans have been superseded; and how many public textphones he estimates will be in service in 2000. [91946]

[holding answer 19 July 1999]: BT' s plans for public textphone provision are a matter for the company and for Oftel. I understand, however, that usage of the existing public textphones has been disappointingly low.It would be premature at this stage to estimate actual provision in 2000, which may be affected by a number of factors including use of existing public textphones, and any new measures which the Government decide to introduce.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the stockbrokers consulted by KPMG as part of their work preparing the report into the Public Private Partnership Options for BNFL. [92059]

In carrying out their work, KPMG relied on views expressed in confidence by four leading stockbrokers in the belief that those views would remain private to Government. It would be a breach of that confidence to identify them now.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he will publish in full the KPMG report into the Public Private Partnership Options for BNFL. [92056]

A summary of KPMG's report containing all its key points has been placed in the Libraries of both Houses. The full report constitutes advice to Ministers and contains commercially sensitive information, so it will not be published.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the reasons for selling a minority stake in BNFL, rather than a majority stake. [92057]

The Atomic Energy Act 1971, which set up BNFL, provides for the sale of up to 49 per cent. of the business. This would enable a Public Private Partnership to be introduced into the company, thereby bringing private sector skills and capital to bear on its commercial decisions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans Her Majesty's Government have to inform United Kingdom companies of the OECD Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions. [92122]

Negotiation of the OECD Convention was concluded during December 1997. Since then, officials have been informing UK companies of its scope. The scope of the Convention was accommodated within existing UK legislation. Therefore, there are no new obligations for UK companies.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what changes he proposes to make to the Home Shipbuilding Credit Guarantee Scheme. [92465]

I am pleased to announce today some significant improvements in Government supported shipbuilding finance under the Home Shipbuilding Credit Guarantee Scheme.I am delighted to say that these improvements are one of the early outcomes of the Shipbuilding Forum, which I established last summer, to bring together all the major Industry, union and Government representatives to examine ways of improving the competitiveness of the shipbuilding sector. The Government are actively contributing to these outcomes. I believe that these improvements, recommended by the Shipbuilding Forum, will put the UK Scheme on a par with the best finance schemes among our EU competitors.The Scheme, which currently offers soft credit financing support in pounds sterling and at fixed interest rates to help UK yards win new shipbuilding orders, will now be extended to offer support for loans in US dollars and euros and to provide DTI guarantees in support of loans at floating as well as fixed rates. It is moreover our aim that the Scheme should be more flexible in its operation and to this end loans under the Scheme will be considered in a combination of the permitted currencies. The Scheme will also guarantee loans for periods up to 12 years (previously eight and half years) for mobile offshore installations, including floating production storage and offloading vessels.Floating rate loans will be of particular assistance as it allows shipowners to take advantage of the current low interest rates and make the Scheme more competitive and attractive to all.Loans in US dollars recognises that shipbuilding is an international business and that the US dollar is the most widely used currency for financing the building of ships. It will bring our UK Scheme in line with other similar EU competitor schemes which already offer loans in US dollars as will the extension to loans in euros.I am certain that these new financing arrangements, which the Industry have called for, will help strengthen the hand of the UK shipbuilding sector. The Government will continue to give the Industry every encouragement to improve its competitiveness and I look forward to working with the Shipbuilding Forum to ensure that we continue to achieve this aim.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many British military personnel stationed in Cyprus have been charged with drug offences in each of the last three years. [90821]

No British military personnel stationed in Cyprus have been charged with drug-related offences during the last three years. However, seven Service personnel were administratively discharged in 1997, having failed a compulsory Drug Test (CDT). Since then there have been no CDT failures. Nearly 6,000 people have been tested over the three year period.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 30 June 1999, Official Report, column 157, on the Chemical Weapons Convention, under what circumstances depleted uranium may be defined as a chemical weapon for the purposes of the Chemical Weapons Convention. [91763]

The use of depleted uranium ammunition is not prohibited under any international agreement, including the Geneva Convention, and there are no circumstances under which such ammunition may be defined as a chemical weapon. Article II of the Chemical Weapons Convention includes definition of chemical weapons as munitions and devices specifically designed to cause death or other harm through the toxic properties of the chemicals specified. Depleted uranium ammunition is designed to penetrate Main Battle Tank armour, or when used in the Royal Navy's Vulcan Phalanx close-in-weapons-system to penetrate incoming missiles, and so is not defined as a chemical weapon.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on preparation for the refurbishment that will be required for Trident early in the next decade. [91565]

Work to provide upgraded refitting and refuelling facilities at Devonport for Trident submarines is progressing to plan in preparation for the first refit early next century.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what account he took, in reaching decisions about Suez Canal Zone medals, of Cabinet minute CAB 128 (1951) in the Public Record Office for 29 November 1951. [92041]

The Minute in question had no bearing on my decision on the claim for a campaign award for operations in the Canal Zone of Egypt in the period 1951–54. It relates solely to the implications of a declaration of Active Service for the control of civilian labour. The matter of Active Service is not the deciding factor as to whether or not any such campaign award is made.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he has taken to discourage the deployment of nuclear armaments in space. [91693]

The deployment of nuclear armaments in space is prohibited by the 1967 Outer Space Treaty. All the Nuclear Weapon States, and the four states yet to accede to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty as non-nuclear-weapon status, Cuba, India, Israel, Pakistan, are members of the Outer Space Treaty.

To ask the Attorney-General if he will publish a list of all those official documents of the last Administration which have been seen by (a) him, (b) other Ministers in his Department, (c) special advisers in his Department and (d) non-career civil servants appointed since May 1997 in his Department. [92184]

A large number of official documents were generated during the period of the previous Administration, many of which were published or put in the public domain. Since May 1997, the Law Officers Departments have been guided by the convention governing access to the papers of a previous Administration, as set out in the then Prime Minister's reply to a written question on 24 January 1980, Official Report, columns 305–07.Documents recording the advice given by the Law Officers (the Attorney-General and Solicitor General) are, by convention, made available to the Law Officers and other Ministers of succeeding Administrations in the interest of continuity of legal advice. By convention, the content of Law Officers' advice and the fact that it has been sought is not disclosed outside government. These conventions are referred to in Paragraphs 22 and 24 of Ministerial Code (published by the Cabinet Office in July 1997).

To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to issue a new health service circular in respect of multiple sclerosis. [89850]

In April we sent advance copies of a draft health service circular on beta-interferon to the MS Society and drug manufacturers. The draft circular was withdrawn as soon as it became clear that the circular had not been interpreted as we had intended. We plan to consult the MS Society, the pharmaceutical industry, the medical profession and health authorities on a revised draft circular. The revised draft circular will make it clear that it relates to the use of beta-interferon for secondary progressive multiple sclerosis, and that existing guidance on the use of beta-interferon for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis [EL(95)97] continues to apply.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 7 July 1999, Official Report, column 566, how many students the Nursing and Midwifery Admissions Service placed onto courses in (a) 1997–98 and (b) 1998–99. [90964]

The Nursing and Midwifery Admissions Service does not place students onto courses. It provides a centralised service processing all applications from individuals seeking entry to pre-registration nursing and midwifery diploma programmes. Applications that meet the entry requirements are passed to higher education institutions. Each institution decides whether or not to accept students in accordance with their own recruitment processes.Each applicant can submit up to and including four applications for different higher education institutions. The number of applicants/applications that the Nursing and Midwifery Admissions Service passed to higher education institutions is shown in the table.

	1997–98	1998–99
Applicants	18,296	31,577
Applications	45,414	85,535

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to ensure that dental students on qualification are offered incentives to set up practices in areas of greatest dental need. [90779]

Dental graduates who wish to become principals in general dental practice have to undergo a period of vocational training comprising placement at an approved practice and attendance at a locally organised training course. The Committee on Vocational Training collaborates with health authorities on the organisation and funding of the courses and seeks to ensure that they are accessible from most parts of the country. We will explore with the Committee whether greater priority should be given to areas with shortages of NHS dentists.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Bury, North (Mr. Chaytor), 20 May 1999, Official Report, column 427, concerning continence services, what assessment he has made of the extent of compliance with guidance HSG (92) 50 and HSG (95) 8. [91947]

[holding answer 19 July 1999]: Since Health Service Guidance (95)8 was issued in February 1995 National Health Service Executive Regional Offices have regularly monitored the implementation of local policies and eligibility criteria for continuing care. The most recent progress report was issued in 1997 (Executive Letter (97/62/CI97(24)). This report suggested that there should be three main areas where health and local authorities should target activity—the development of joint investment plans, the development of recuperation and rehabilitation services and multi-disciplinary assessment.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimates he has made of the level of expenditure by the NHS on incontinence services in each of the last five years. [91944]

[holding answer 19 July 1999]: Information on continence services is not collected centrally and no such estimates have been made. Local health authorities are responsible for commissioning continence services to meet the needs of their local population. The National Health Service Executive is reviewing continence service policy and plans to issue updated guidance shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to issue updated guidance on continence services. [91945]

[holding answer 19 July 1999]: Updated guidance is being developed in the light of the current review of continence policy services. We hope to issue this shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the clinical guidelines on the use of beta-interferon recently published by the Association of British Neurologists. [91851]

[holding answer 19 July 1999]: The Association of British Neurologists (ABN) acknowledge the evidence that the efficacy of beta-interferon is only partial, moderate and not curative, and that their guidelines do not address issues of cost effectiveness.The Department is likely to ask the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) for advice on the place of beta-interferon among the range of interventions and services available for multiple sclerosis sufferers. NICE would be expected to look at all relevant sources of evidence, which would naturally include the ABN guidelines.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what measures he is taking to reduce traffic in the Lake District. [90375]

The Government are funding the Lake District transport package to promote the use of public transport. Cumbria County Council was allocated £957.384 for 1998–99 in Rural Bus Services Grant. It has also been allocated the same amount for 1999–2000. It is important for the local economy that sustainable tourism is encouraged. The Government believe that integrated transport, with attractive public transport options, is the key to managing unacceptable car growth.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the criteria used to reject the Essex County Council local highway authority's 1999–2000 bid for capital funding for the Great Leighs bypass; and if he will make a statement. [90542]

[holding answer 12 July 1999]: In the 1999–2000 local transport capital settlement, this Department was able to accept only five local transport major schemes. These included innovative public transport schemes where early acceptance was needed to lever in substantial financial contributions from other sources, the urgent replacement of a bridge on a vital route, and a regeneration scheme linked to a coalfields area.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many new homes were built (a) on brownfield, (b) greenfield sites and (c) in total in the United Kingdom in 1998. [91319]

It is provisionally estimated from data provided by local authorities and the National House-Building Council that 179,000 dwellings were completed in the UK during 1998. Information on the numbers of houses built on "brownfield" and "greenfield" sites is not available from this source.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many new houses were built on (a) greenfield sites and (b) brownfield sites in Lancashire in 1998. [91399]

Information on numbers of houses built on "brownfield" and "greenfield" sites is not available. Information on the proportion of new homes built on previously developed land is available for Government Office Regions, but not for counties. Latest figures from the Department's Land Use Change Statistics show that, in 1994, 57 per cent. of new dwellings were built on previously developed land in the North West, and 43 per cent. were built on land that was not previously developed. These figures exclude new dwellings provided from conversion of existing buildings, for which reliable information is not available below national level.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what guidance he has issued for highways engineers on developing cycling facilities as part of trunk road schemes. [91292]

I have asked the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency, Mr. Lawrie Haynes, to write to my hon. Friend.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate he has made of the number of homes in England that have been abandoned by their owners; and if he will make a statement. [91401]

This information is not collected centrally; however, the Government are committed to sustainable home ownership. Everyone with a mortgage or applying for a mortgage should consider carefully how they would cope if they experienced a drop in income. We are working with the mortgage lending and insurance industries to bring about better mortgage payment protection insurance, and encouraging lenders to provide more mortgages with flexible repayment arrangements.We expect local authorities in their housing strategies, to take into account any problems of abandonment in their area, particularly in areas of low demand, where there may be a surplus of housing.As part of the work of Social Exclusion Unit's report on neighbourhood renewal, a Policy Action Team was set up to look at the scale and spread of the problems of low demand and unpopular housing. Their work is being informed by a large scale research project commissioned by DETR in order to identify the causes and strategies for tackling low demand. The Policy Action Team will be reporting later this year.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 18 January 1999, Official Report, column 304, on private hire vehicles, what progress has been made in respect of restoring the position which existed prior to the decision in the case in the Queen's Bench Division between C. Benson and Copeland Borough Council concerning the personal use of a private hire vehicle by the spouse of the licence holder. [91295]

The representations on the consultation on options for broadening the eligibility to drive licensed private hire vehicles raised complex legal issues. Once they have been resolved, I will make an announcement.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what research his Department has commissioned to assess the longer-term implications of home shopping for planning and transport services. [91447]

As I stated in my reply to my hon. Friend on 13 April 1999, Official Report, column 54, we will commission research into the long-term implications of home shopping on our integrated transport policy in general and for planning and transport services in particular. The study will also cover environmental impacts and will be commissioned later this year.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what conclusions the Cleaner Vehicles Task Force has arrived at concerning ways of reducing the environmental impact of new vehicles and improving the emissions performance of vehicles in use. [91446]

The Cleaner Vehicles Task Force is publishing its first report today.The Task Force has developed recommendations that are both practical and cost-effective for reducing the environmental impact of new vehicles and improving the emissions performance of vehicles in use. The recommendations aim to:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the funding arrangements for planned transport infrastructure improvements for Wembley Stadium. [91497]

We are awaiting Brent Council's borough interim transport plan submission due at the end of July. We expect this to include their transport proposals for Wembley Stadium and funding bids.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he has decided to designate (a) Vauxhall Bridge Road and (b) Belgrave Road as red routes. [91504]

Both Vauxhall Bridge Road and Belgrave Road were designated as red routes in 1992 in the London Priority Route Order 1992 (SI 1992/1372).

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the (a) Government Departments and (b) agencies which have statutory responsibility for the safety of the public on public highways adjacent to the River Severn in the Wyre Forest District Council area against dangers that can arise from the river. [91580]

The Environment Agency has powers to undertake flood defence works on designated main rivers, including the River Severn and is also responsible for flood warning dissemination in England and Wales. MAFF have policy responsibility for flood defence in England. The National Assembly for Wales has equivalent powers for Wales.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what advice (a) his Department and (b) agencies responsible to his Department have issued for promoting and ensuring the safety of the public using the River Severn in the Wyre Forest District Council area; [91578](2) which

Neither the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions or any of its agencies has statutory responsibilities for promoting and ensuring the safety of the public using the River Severn. The Environment Agency has, however, produced general leaflets on the dangers that rivers can present.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to investigate the safety issues relating to Kapton wiring in planes; and if he will make a statement. [91541]

The Civil Aviation Authority has no evidence that the use of Kapton wiring in civil aircraft is a safety issue. There has been only one case recorded on the Authority's occurrence database since 1979 where investigations have shown that a breakdown of Kapton wiring may have contributed to an incident (which was not an accident), and that was subsequently found to be the result of a manufacturing fault.The use of Kapton wiring in aircraft manufacture and maintenance is decreasing as new, improved products have become available.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on his Department's policy towards the setting up of elected safety representatives and safety committees within the construction industry. [91717]

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave on 25 January 1999, Official Report, columns 34–35.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will introduce legislation to make it a criminal offence to put feet on seats in public transport. [91550]

The regulation of passengers' behaviour on trains is already provided for in legislation which gives railway companies the right to make byelaws. The existing railway byelaws and London Transport byelaws make it a criminal offence for any person to wilfully soil or deface any furniture on a train, and this would normally catch behaviour such as placing feet on a seat. The train operating companies and London Transport are also in the process of making new byelaws, and have submitted them to the Secretary of State for approval. These include a provision that no person shall soil any part of the railway.With regard to buses or coaches, the Public Service Vehicle (Conduct of Drivers, Inspectors, Conductors and Passengers) Regulations 1990 give drivers the power to remove passengers from their vehicle if they are causing a nuisance or intentionally interfering with any equipment fitted to the vehicle. These powers would be sufficient to deal with the problem of passengers putting their feet on bus or coach seats.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many individuals his Department has recruited under the New Deal for Young People. [91889]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Minster for the Cabinet Office to my hon. Friend the Member for Slough (Fiona Mactaggart) on 25 May 1999, Official Report, column 116. However, the current number of individuals recruited under the New Deal is eight 18–24 years olds.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will instruct the Government regional offices to hold seminars to assist the dissemination of best practice among local authorities in the production of countryside traffic strategies. [91799]

Government Offices have been working closely with Local Authorities in the preparation of local transport plans (LTPs). Provisional LTPs are to be submitted later this month and we are currently considering the most effective way of disseminating the "best practice" which emerges.The Countryside Commission, now the Countryside Agency, published, in 1997, an advisory booklet entitled "Rural Traffic: Getting it Right" which provides general advice on developing traffic strategies for rural areas. Further advice on good practice will be issued once the results of the studies carried out by the Countryside Agency's Countryside Traffic Measures Group are available. Officials from my Department are participating in these studies.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what action he is taking to prevent nuclear contamination to the area surrounding BNFL's reprocessing plant at Sellafield; [91596](2) what studies he has commissioned to determine the effect nuclear wastes from Sellafield have had on the public

Radioactive discharges must be authorised by the Environment Agency under the Radioactive Substances Act 1993. When considering an application for authorisation, the Environment Agency must be satisfied that the possible radiation dose to those members of the public at greatest risk will not exceed levels prescribed by the Government. In addition, the operators must show that the exposure will be as low as reasonably achievable, taking into account economic and social factors.Radioactive discharges and their effect on the environment are monitored by the nuclear industry under the terms of their disposal authorisations. The Environment Agency and MAFF monitor radioactivity in the environment and in foodstuffs. The Environment Agency conducts monitoring of drinking water, rain water and air quality on behalf of my Department, in addition to the monitoring it undertakes in support of its regulatory functions under the Radioactive Substances Act 1993. The results of this monitoring are regularly published in "Radioactivity in the Environment" by the Environment Agency and in "Radioactivity in Food and the Environment" by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency. Also the National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB) publishes regular reviews "Radiation Exposure of the UK Population".The latest edition of NRPB's "Radiation Exposure of the UK Population", published in 1993, estimated the average annual doses to the UK population from all sources of ionising radiation as 2,600 micro Sieverts. Of this 0.4 micro Sieverts was estimated to come from discharges of radioactive waste, the majority of which emanates from Sellafield. In a summary publication in 1996, "Living with Radiation", the average dose remained the same but the contribution from discharges had fallen to 0.2 micro Sieverts.I am not aware of any reason why the effect on the public in Coventry should be different from the effect on the public generally.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what contacts there have been between Ministers in his Department and representatives of or advisers to Central Railways; [91991](2) what contacts there have been between officials in his Department and representatives of or advisers to Central Railways. [91990]

This reply covers the period since 1 May 1997. No central record is kept of such contacts but I am aware that representatives of Central Railways have kept my officials informed, by way of meetings and correspondence, of their preparation of a scheme for a railway freight line between Liverpool and the Channel Tunnel. I understand that the last meeting took place last October. All contacts by my officials are without prejudice to consideration of any scheme that may eventually be submitted under the Transport and Works Act 1992. Central Railways have also written to Ministers in this Department enclosing an information brochure about the scheme. I am not aware, however, of any meetings between Ministers in my Department and representatives of Central Railways about the scheme.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) when the letter from the hon. Member for Thurrock to the Minister for London and Construction relating to the Minister's planned visit to Poland was received in the Department; to whom it was circulated; and for what purposes it was circulated to persons other than the Minister; [91977](2) if the letter from the hon. Member for Thurrock to the Minister for London and Construction concerning the Minister's visit to Poland was brought to the Minister's attention prior to his discussion with the hon. Member for Thurrock on 13 July; [91980](3) for what reasons the letter sent by the hon. Member for Thurrock to the Minister for London and Construction prior to the Minister's visit to Poland, concerning that visit, was not brought to the Minister's attention; [91979](4) what the circumstances were in which his Department's response to the letter from the hon. Member for Thurrock concerning the visit of the Minister for London and Construction to Poland was mislaid; and if he will make a statement. [91978]

I have now replied to the faxed letter received by the Department on 8 June. The letter was copied to the official in the Department who was dealing with the organisation of the visit to Poland for his information. However, as a result of an administrative error the letter was not brought to my attention until 15 July. I have asked officials to review procedures to ensure that no similar error occurs again.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what action he is taking to achieve the Government's target of 60 per cent. of

Performance figures for 1998–99 and targets for 1999–2000 for the disposal of Government empty homes
	Home Office	DETR	MOD
Total stock at 1 April 1998	3,189	2,473	64,238
Total stock at 1 April 1999	2,550	1,901	62,420
Total empty stock at 1 April 1998	217	692	13,225
Total empty stock at 1 April 1999	259	480	13,568
Target for percentage empty at 1 April 1999	Less than 5 per cent.	Less than 18 per cent.	To dispose of 1,200 empty homes
Achievement against target	10.2 per cent.	25 per cent.	Disposal of 1,323 empty homes
Target for empty at 1 April 2000	Less than 5 per cent.	Less than 18 per cent.	To dispose of 2,018 empty homes
Target for percentage habitable homes empty for more than 6 months at 1 April 1999	Less than 1 per cent.	Less than 7 per cent.	—
Achievement against target	2.7 per cent.	4.5 per cent.	—
Target for percentage habitable homes empty for more than 6 months at 1 April 2000	Less than 1 per cent.	Less than 3 per cent.	—
Action being taken to dispose of habitable homes empty for more than 6 months	1—	2—	3—
1 Forty-four retained on security grounds or for use by Prison Chaplains. Thirteen on the market, 9 reallocated, 2 held to accommodate a decant from two blocks of flats that are to be sold with vacant possession, 1 being occupied temporarily for a police operation, 1 being used temporarily to house recruits during refurbishment of Peel Centre Residential blocks.
2 ½ of all vacant properties are in the process of being sold. Clearer guidance being issued on demolition, selling and refurbishing options. Addressing with vigour the performance of agents (who manage of ⅔ HA stock).
3 The Defence Housing Executive's Chief Executive is committed to reducing the total number of void properties and has set a publicly accountable target to reduce voids by 13 per cent. by 31 March 2002.

A range of measures which will help deliver the Government's 60 per cent. target have already been set out in revised Planning Policy Guidance on Housing (PPG3), on which my Department has recently consulted. The Government are still considering the report of the Urban Task Force and their response will be set out in due course in the Urban and Rural White Papers.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps his Department, the Home Office and the Ministry of Defence are taking to reduce the number of empty Government-owned homes. [92321]

We are determined to reduce the number of empty Government homes, and today I have published revised guidance for Government Departments on how best to tackle their empty properties.I am concerned that the figures for Government empty homes released today show a small increase. We are determined to bring these figures down.Our new guidance is concise, user friendly and includes examples of innovative good practice.I expect all Government Departments, using the revised guidance along with challenging new targets, to make a real reduction in the number of vacant properties.Details of achievement against targets for 1998–99, and new targets for 1999–2000 are listed in the table.Copies of the new guidance—"Revised Guidance on Securing the Better Use of Empty Homes"—have been placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to set up a body to oversee inspections under the Best Value Regime. [92322]

The Best Value Inspectorate Forum for England will be formally launched tomorrow. This forum will provide an opportunity for the Inspectorates involved in best value to consider strategic issues relating to the inspection of best value authorities in England and will be an effective channel of communication for the Inspectorates with central Government, local authorities and other interested parties, on best value.Separate arrangements are being made to oversee best value inspection in Wales.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what arrangements are being made to appoint a chairman of the Environment Agency. [92358]

The current chairman of the Environment Agency, Lord De Ramsey, has announced his intention to retire at the beginning of next year.I have appointed recruitment consultants to assist in identifying suitable candidates to succeed Lord De Ramsey, and the post is being advertised in the national press.This is a key appointment. The Environment Agency plays a central part in protecting and enhancing the environment in England and Wales. It has major responsibilities for managing and regulating the water environment, and for controlling industrial pollution and wastes. The role of chairman in determining the strategic direction of the Agency, inspiring its staff, and ensuring that it discharges its statutory duties is vital to the continued improvements in the environment which we are seeking.The successful candidate will need to have the skills, experience, ability and vision to lead a major public sector organisation with a budget of over £600 million per year and over 9,000 employees, and to develop a successful relationship with the wide range of bodies who have

Illustration of costs for 400 resignations
£
Year	Gross costs to be met from CC income	Housing capital (funded by CC)	Net costs for church	Net housing capital (funded by CC)
1994	2,609,000	5,011,000	904,000	5,011,000
1995	3,282,000	2,094,000	11,841,000	1,745,000
1996	2,886,000	952,000	11,435,000	232,000
1997	2,424,000	636,000	11,099,000	(159,000)
1998	2,363,000	399,000	11,165,000	(788,000)
19991	1,979,000	317,000	1,006,000	(127,000)
20001	1,669,000	231,000	923,000	(231,000)
20011	1,499,000	137,000	972,000	(206,000)
20021	1,248,000	36,000	917,000	(179,000)
20031	996,000	37,000	796,000	(186,000)
20041	729,000	0	626,000	(309,000)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the efficacy of the cup and cone safety system for passenger carriages on trains. [90763]

The Health and Safety Executive has carried out tests of this safety system and is satisfied that it would significantly improve the safety of Mark 1 rolling stock.The Deputy Prime Minister has announced today the elimination of all Mark 1 rolling stock from the network by the end of 2004. We expect to see the bulk of such trains phased out substantially before then, but any remaining on the network after the end of 2002 will need to be safety modified in order to remain in operation until the end of 2004.

To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough (Mr. Bell), representing the Church Commissioners, what is the cumulative cost to date of the financial compensation package for those priests unwilling to accept women's ordination; and if he will estimate the total cumulative cost at the end of the 10 year guarantee period. [91657]

At 31 December 1998 the cumulative gross cost, to be met from the Commissioners' income, under the terms of the Ordination of Women (Financial Provisions) Measure 1993, was £13.5 million. The Commissioners' latest estimate of the total cumulative gross cost to the end of the guaranteed period is approximately £23 million. The figure is based on our current prediction of 400 resignations by 21 February 2004, and estimates for payments up to 21 February 2014.Actual expenditure up to 31 December 1998 and illustrative costings based on 400 resignations are set out in the following table. It should be noted that from 1 January 1998, these costings include pension contributions towards the new funded clergy pension scheme, approximately £0.49 million in 1998.