To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what progress has been made in the development of measures to protect coral and related nurseries for fish. [93493]

The UK is a founding member of the International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI), a co-ordination mechanism aimed at promoting coral reef protection and sustainable use of coral reef resources world-wide. One of the functions of ICRI is to provide a framework for supporting the development of the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network (GCRMN).Since February 1997 the UK Government have funded the development of the South Asia node of the GCRMN in India, the Maldives and Sri Lanka. This has already successfully established the foundations of an effective coral reef management mechanism in the region.My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Environment, Transport and the Regions visited the Maldives earlier this year and saw this programme in action. Whilst he was there, he was able to announce £300,000 of additional UK funding from the Department for International Development, which will assist countries of the region further to strengthen their national coral reef information systems. It will also enable local people to be trained in a wider range of data analysis and its use in coral reef management and will provide continuing advice to the national institutions implementing the monitoring programme.In the past, the failure to undertake routine monitoring has been a significant constraint to effective protection and management of coral reefs. This UK funded programme has established a model which can be applied to other reef systems as a basis for helping poor coastal communities to optimise sustainable benefits from coral reef resources, including fisheries.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he has received from non-governmental organisations concerned with development issues regarding the United Kingdom Government's position on the Biosafety Protocol; and if he will make a statement. [94871]

My Department has received no representations to date. Development incomes would be a matter for the Department for International Development.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the implications for sub-post offices of the industrial tribunal ruling of 27 September that sub-postmasters and mistresses are entitled to receive the national minimum wage. [95175]

It is too early to comment on any broader implications for the sub-post office network of the Inverness Employment Tribunal's decision on the pre-hearing of the case brought by Mrs. Elizabeth Bain, the sub-postmistress at Tore, that she is entitled to be paid the national minimum wage. I understand from the Post Office that nationally there are fewer than 1,500 sub-postmasters and post-mistresses for whom the Tribunal's decision is likely to affect their remuneration arrangements with the Post Office.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the future of the ECGD's Fixed Rate Export Finance scheme. [95430]

ECGD is in active discussion with representatives of the British Bankers Association on a successor to the FREF Scheme that expired on 30 September. To allow time for these discussions to be completed, and for an appropriate successor scheme to be put in place, the scheme has been rolled forward for a further two months to the end of November.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress has been made by UK offshore oil and gas producers and oil companies in dealing with the millennium bug; and what measures have been taken by his Department to ensure the security of concessionary coal supplies over this period. [95427]

I can now report the findings of the independent assessment process established by the DTI which confirms that UK oil and gas producers and oil suppliers have now attained a 100 per cent. Blue status against the Action 2000 assessment criteria and are now assessed as ready to ensure that it will be business as usual and that there should be no major disruption to supplies due to the Year 2000 threat to computer systems. The DTI has been pleased to take on the role of "responsible body" reporting to the Action 2000 national infrastructure forum on the year 2000 preparations being made by the oil industry and UK's offshore oil and gas producers.The DTI has approached this task in a systematic and thorough way, making full use of the industry's own resources. It has engaged WS Atkins Consultants Ltd.—an internationally known and highly respected engineering consultancy with extensive experience within the oil and gas industry—to validate independently the process adopted and its results. The industry has fully supported this important work and provided full and frank access to all the relevant information and staff.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the Government's response to consultation on proposals to reform the system of gas and electricity regulation, and on his plans to assess the regulatory, environmental and equal treatment impact of the proposed Utilities Bill as a whole. [95429]

In October last year, the Government published a consultation paper on their proposals for reforming the system of gas and electricity regulation. After considering the responses, I have published a document which sets out the Government's proposals on the issues raised ("The Future of Gas and Electricity Regulation: The Government's Proposals for Legislation", DTI, 13 October 1999, ref. URN 99/1049). These proposals will form part of the Utilities Bill which the Government intend to introduce when parliamentary time permits.My Department has also published draft regulatory impact, environmental and equal treatment appraisals of the provisions to be sought in the Utilities Bill, requesting comments by 15 November.Copies of the documents have been placed in the Library of the House, as has a list of the names of those who responded to the consultation document and who were content for their names and views to be made public. The responses themselves, with the exception of those from parties who made a request for confidentiality, have been placed in the library of the Department of Trade and Industry, where they are available for inspection.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects to receive the Coal Authority's Fifth report on the administration of the Coal-Mining Subsidence Damage Repair and Compensation scheme. [95431]

I have now received this report from the Coal Authority and have arranged for copies to be placed in the Libraries of both Houses today.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which sections of the Employment Relations Act 1999 have been implemented and on what date; and what is the timetable for the remaining sections. [94791]

The first commencement order (S.I. 1999/2509) for the Act was made on 8 September, bringing sections 38 and 42 into force on 9 September and section 18(6) on 30 September.The second commencement order (S.I. 1999/2830) was made on 14 October. Under it, sections 2, 3, 13(1) to (3), 18(1) to (5), 19 to 23, 26 to 33, 34(4), 35, 36(1) (in part), 37, 39, 40 and 43, Schedules 2 and 6 and paragraphs 1, 2, 5 (in part), 6 and 8 of Schedule 7 will come into force on 25 October and sections 7 to 9 and Schedule 4 will come into force on 15 December. The corresponding provisions of section 44 and Schedule 9 (repeals) will come into force on 25 October or 15 December as appropriate.It is intended that the remaining provisions in the Act should be brought into force over the coming year, including, by Easter, new rules on industrial action ballots and notices (section 4 and Schedule 3), new protections for unfairly dismissed strikers (section 16 and Schedule 5) and better access for national security staff to employment tribunals (section 41 and Schedule 8), and, shortly thereafter, the new right to be accompanied in disciplinary and grievance hearings (sections 10 to 15) and the statutory trade union recognition scheme and associated provisions (sections 1, 5, 6 and 25 and Schedule 1).

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he will announce his decision on ABB Energy Development Co Ltd's application to construct and operate a combined cycle gas turbine power station at Raventhorpe, Scunthorpe. [95428]

I have today decided to give a direction under section 14(3) of the Energy Act 1976 to prevent the building of a 450 MW generating station to be fuelled by natural gas at Raventhorpe, Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire.Copies of the press notice and decision letter are being placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he expects to publish the next analysis in the Households Below Average Income series. [94700]

Results to 1997–98 were published on 14 October and copies have been placed in the Library.We hope to publish the next edition in the summer of 2000.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the titles of the in-house publications and newsletters which were produced for the staff of his Department, excluding non-departmental public bodies and agencies, in the last five years, specifying the dates on which each title was first produced, the frequency with which each title is produced and the current secrecy classification of each title. [93847]

The information is as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he expects to announce the outcome of the annual review of the cold weather payments scheme; and if he will make a statement. [95495]

Following advice from the Meteorological Office, the annual review of the Cold Weather Payments scheme has now been completed. Amending regulations were laid on 11 October 1999 and will come into force on 1 November, in time for the beginning of the winter period.Four of the weather stations used in the scheme last winter have been replaced. Abbotsinch (Glasgow Airport), Turnhouse (Edinburgh Airport), Portland and Southampton. They will be replaced respectively by the stations at Bishopton, Edinburgh Gogarbank, Isle of Portland and Thorney Island. Thorney Island is an existing weather station which is already used in the scheme. In addition, a station at Lake Vyrnwy in North Wales has been added to the scheme to improve representation in that area. There have also been some changes by Royal Mail to postcodes which have been reflected in the amending regulations.Cold weather payments are separate from, and in addition to, winter fuel payments which are paid only to pensioners.I have written to each of the hon. Members affected by the changes.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many authors have received their maximum entitlement from the Public Lending Right. [94457]

In the last financial year, 1998–99, 100 authors received the maximum entitlement of £6,000 from the Public Lending Right.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) what assessment he has made of the operation of the Public Lending Right. [94455](2) what plans he has to increase funding of the Public Lending Right. [94456]

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I are currently considering a range of proposals, following a review of the scheme by the Public Lending Right's Advisory Committee. We will be consulting on our response to the review very shortly. The Department greatly values the Public Lending Right scheme and last year found extra funding to maintain the rate per loan. We have also provided increases in funding for the next three years and are currently consulting on an increase in the rate per loan from £2.07 to £2.18. However, we have no plans at present to raise further the allocation to the Public Lending Right. Any bid for increased funding would need to be considered alongside the Department's other programmes.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate he has made of the number of relay stations which will require alteration to deliver digital terrestrial signals to 95 per cent. of households. [94445]

The Independent Television Commission and the BBC are jointly responsible for the provision of digital terrestrial television services in the UK. They are considering, in consultation with the digital broadcasters, the Government, and other interested parties, how to develop the coverage of digital television throughout the UK so that the 99.4 per cent. of consumers who currently receive analogue television can receive the main free-to-air channels digitally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans he has to attend the next Professional Footballers' Association annual dinner; and if he will make a statement on his policy in relation to (a) his attendance and (b) his officials' attendance at future PFA social occasions. [94384]

[holding answer 19 October 1999]: Since the last general election no DCMS Minister or official has attended the PFA annual awards dinner. My Department has not yet received any invitations for future PFA social events to date.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list (a) the reports published by her Department and its associated bodies, (b) the reports received from bodies set up by her Department, (c) the decisions her Department has taken and (d) events in the UK and elsewhere, since 27 July, which satisfied the criteria she uses for deciding whether to apply to make oral statements to the House when the House is sitting. [93980]

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the President of the Council on 19 October 1999, Official Report, column 429.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what representations she has received from the Like-Minded Group on the forthcoming negotiations at the Extraordinary Conference of the Parties in Montreal in January 2000; and if he will make a statement. [94870]

I have not received any representations from the like-minded group of 120 developing countries on the forthcoming negotiations in Montreal.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when the third annual report of the Scottish Environment Protection Agency will be published. [95459]

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency published its Third Annual Report and Accounts today. The report contains details of the progress made by SEPA during the period 1 April 1998 to 31 March 1999, the Agency's third year of operation. Copies of the Annual Report and Accounts have been placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will provide a breakdown of the running costs of his office to cover (a) staff salaries, (b) office accommodation, (c) residential accommodation, (d) administration and (e) others; and if he will make a statement; [94055](2) if he will provide a breakdown of the difference between the funds allocated to him by Parliament and the funds to be included in the Scottish Consolidated Fund for the years

The provision for grant payable to the Scottish Consolidated Fund, other grants and the running cost provision for my Department are set out in the Estimates for Class XIII, Vote 1. Details for the current year were set out in the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Eastwood (Mr. Murphy) on 11 June 1999, Official Report, columns 412-13.I have since been reviewing the role and functions of my Department and I have discussed these matters with the First Minister on a number of occasions. I will make a further statement in due course. No decisions have yet been taken about the provision for the Scotland Office for future years.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has for an improved level of telephone access for asylum seekers after the Immigration Service takes over responsibility for paying their benefit and responding to inquiries; and if he will make a statement. [93985]

The Home Office will be responsible for providing support to asylum seekers under part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Bill (when enacted and implemented).

Quantities of controlled drugs seized in the UK by police and Customs, and by the Merseyside Police Force, 1995–97
1995	UK police	Customs	Total	Merseyside police
Class A
Cocaine	63.5	589.4	652.9	15.0
Crack	9.4	9.8	19.2	0.1
Heroin	362.7	1,031.8	1,394.5	66.6
LSD	352.0	29.8	381.8	2.0
Ecstasy-type	475.8	79.2	555.0	29.8
Methadone	50.7	0.0	50.7	1.6
Other	11.7	10.2	21.9	0.0
Class B
Cannabis (herbal)	1,134.0	12,737.5	13,871.5	53.8
Cannabis plants	96,208	96	96,304	1,918
Cannabis resin	4,821.7	39,776.2	44,597.9	344.0

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list all the proposed offices the Immigration Service will operate to deal with asylum seekers benefit and inquiries; what hours they will be open; what estimate he has made of (a) the average and (b) the farthest distance an asylum seeker is likely to have to travel to the nearest office; and if he will make a statement. [93983]

The Asylum Support Directorate will be located in Quest House and possibly other accommodation in Croydon. Quest House will have a public caller unit to enable asylum seekers, who would otherwise be destitute, to seek support. But the Asylum Support Directorate proposes to grant fund the voluntary sector to arrange for them to provide reception centres at some major ports and at one-stop shops around the country. The locations and opening times of these centres have yet to be determined.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what amount of drugs has been taken out of circulation in each year since 1995 within the UK, by type; [94519](2) what amount of drugs have been taken out of circulation annually in Merseyside since 1995, by type. [94520]

The information requested is given in the table, which covers the period 1995–1997, the latest for which date are available. It is hoped to publish 1998 figures by the end of the year.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what remedial assistance people who are convicted and imprisoned of a drug-related crime obtain in Walton Prison. [94518]

All prisoners received into Liverpool prison, known locally as Walton, are screened in relation to drug abuse, regardless of the nature of their offences. Those in need of detoxification are prescribed medication appropriate to their clinical needs, and if necessary located in the health care centre. They are referred to the prison drug clinic the day following reception.The prison has a designated wing which offers a 12-week programme of education, physical education and group work for prisoners with a substance abuse problem. Prisoners must remain drug free to participate in the programme. Individual counselling is also available.Each residential wing has a drug liaison officer who works with specialist support providers to offer counselling, advice and support to enable prisoners to remain drug free.The establishment has a throughcare team, seconded from a local drug agency, to offer support and advice and to help place prisoners with drug support agencies on release.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the progress made towards agreeing a Council of Europe Convention on Cyber Crime. [94129]

Proposals for a Convention have been prepared by a Committee of Experts drawn from 16 member states of the Council of Europe. Experts from a number of other states, including the United Kingdom, attend as observers and in practice participate fully in the discussions.The Committee, which began its work in September 1997, was due to conclude at the end of this year but, due to the complexity of the issues, its remit has been extended until December 2000. The Committee's proposals, when completed, will be referred for consideration to the European Committee on Crime Problems, on which all member states at the Council of Europe are represented. The Convention will ultimately be referred for adoption to the Committee of Ministers.The Committee of Experts is examining draft provisions which would:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were prosecuted for harassment between September 1998 and May 1999; and if he will make a statement on the working of the Protection from Harassment Act 1996. [94389]

The available data from the Home Office Court Proceedings Database, covering the period from September 1998 to March 1999 inclusive, are given in the table. Provisional data for the second quarter of this year will not be available until December.A research project to assess the use and effectiveness of the Protection from Harassment Act 1996 is in progress. A report is expected to be published at the beginning of next year.

Number of persons proceeded against at magistrates' courts for offences under s2 and s4 of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997, England and Wales, September 1998 to March 19991
Offence	September 1998 to March 1999
Section 2—Offence of harassment (summary)	2,918
Section 4—Putting people in fear of violence	888
1All data are provisional

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list (a) the reports published by his Department and its associated bodies, (b) the reports received from bodies set up by his Department, (c) the decisions his Department has taken and (d) events in the UK and elsewhere, since 27 July, which satisfied the criteria he uses for deciding whether to apply to make oral statements to the House when the House is sitting. [93969]

I refer to the reply given to the hon. Member by my right hon. Friend, the President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons on 19 October 1999, Official Report, columns 429-30.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the titles of the in-house publications and newsletters which were produced for the staff of his Department, excluding nondepartmental public bodies and agencies, in the last five years, specifying the dates on which each title was first produced, the frequency with which each title is produced and the current secrecy classification of each title. [93845]

The Home Office produces a range of in-house publications and newsletters for its staff, falling into the broad categories shown. All of the items in this list are, or were, made available to all or most Home Office staff. Not included in the list are items with a limited distribution or covering specialist areas.None of these publications had, or has, a secrecy classification.

Newsletters
Title	Date first produced	Frequency of issue
Inside Track	October 1995	10 issues a year
HO.tline	July 1998	fortnightly
In Touch	July 1998	ad hoc
Home Office Review1	July 1995	13 issues to August 1996
Home Office Bulletin1	March 1991 to July 1995	monthly
Personnel News1	January 1995	ad hoc
IT@Home Office1	January 1996	quarterly
POISE newsletter1	March 1994	monthly
1 These items have ceased publication

In addition, the Home Office produces a wide range of office notices and guidance for staff, which is updated as necessary.Many people now receive their Home Office notices and some other professional guidance electronically through HORIZON, the Home Office intranet, or through disks copied onto their own networks. Only people who do not have access to a network will receive hard copies, which saves on printing costs.Over 3,500 staff in the Home Office's central estate, at the Immigration and Nationality Directorate in Croydon, and at some outstations now have access to HORIZON.Guidance on the Code of Practice on Access to Official Information has been made available to all staff in the Home Office notice on Open Government featured in the list, and further information is available on HORIZON and on the internet.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what plans he has to review the classification of benzodiazepine drugs; [93721](2) what action he is taking to prevent the illegal trade of benzodiazepine drugs. [93720]

The benzodiazepine drugs are controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 as Class C drugs. They have licit uses as medicines and are subject to controls on their production and supply. They are currently exempted, however, from controls on their import, export and on their possession unless in base form.The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) which advises the Government on drug misuse issues reviewed the controls on, and misuse of, these drugs last year. It recommended that additional controls should be introduced on their import, export and possession. The Government are actively considering the Advisory Council's recommendations.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made on abolishing the LD50 test. [95670]

We will vary, or revoke, any licence which authorises the use of the LD50 test (as defined by Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development guideline 401) and which was issued since 5 September 1998. On this date, amendments to the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 came into effect.We have accepted legal advice that Section 5(5) of the Act as amended does not allow licensing of the LD50 test for the purpose of meeting international regulatory requirements. The general principle is that a test will be licensed only where there is no scientifically valid and reasonably practicable and accepted alternative.In accord with this principle, we will also review all authorities to use the LD50 test in licences issued before September 1998.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to make available the responses to the public consultation on the draft Freedom of Information Bill. [95671]

I have placed copies in the Library today, where they will be held for six months. I intend to announce tomorrow the changes to the draft Freedom of Information Bill which arise from the Government's response to the consultation exercise and pre-legislative scrutiny.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers were recruited to police forces in England and Wales in each of the last three years for which figures are available and in total for the period; and if he will make a statement. [94767]

The total number of police officers recruited by police forces in England and Wales in each of the last three years are:

Year	Number
1996–97	6,450
1997–98	6,543
1998–99	5,391
Total	18,384

These figures include transfers between forces and have been supplied by the Home Office Research and Statistics Directorate.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers are planned to be recruited to police forces in England and Wales in each of the next three years and in total for the period; and if he will make a statement. [94768]

In my announcement on 30 September about the Crime Fighting Fund, the planning estimate I used was 11,000 recruits over the next three years. The basis of this estimate is currently being examined. I shall report the outcome to the House as soon as possible. We shall shortly be asking forces for detailed estimates of their planned recruitment over the next three years in order to assess their bids for money from the Crime Fighting Fund.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers retired, resigned or were dismissed from police forces in England and Wales in each of the last three years for which figures are available and in total for the period; and if he will make a statement. [94769]

The information requested is shown in the table.

Total wastage for all police forces in England and Wales from 1996–97 to 1998–991 (all figures obtained from Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary)
	1996–97	1997–98	1998–99
Retirements1	4,478	4,807	4,204
Resignations	739	924	1,189
Dismissals	126	154	176
Total	5,343	5,885	5,569
1 Covers both ordinary retirements and ill health retirements

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will make a statement concerning progress on implementing the information technology Case Record and Management System in the probation service; [94771](2) how many probation services currently use the Case Record and Management System; and if he will make a statement. [94774]

Forty-four probation services are currently using Case Record and Management System. Of these:

Six are currently training their staff to use it;

Twenty-seven use it and classify themselves as fully dependent on it; and

Eleven classify themselves as partially dependent on it (they are using only some functions or it has only been deployed to some of their offices).

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to replace the Case Record and Management System with an alternative information technology system; if a tender has been put out for an alternative system to CRAMS; and if he will make a statement. [94772]

Case Record and Management System now needs to be re-developed in order better to support the modernisation of the probation service, including important developments such as the evidence-based programmes to reduce the likelihood of re-offending, the new joint probation-prisons offender assessment system (OASys), and the new National Standards for the supervision of offenders. Its successor will also need to facilitate connections to other parts of the criminal justice system and the time is now right to take advantage of the further advances in information technology.A user requirement is currently being developed and the work will be put out to tender in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the total cost to date of developing and implementing the Case Record and Management System in the probation service; what was the original expected cost of the system; and if he will make a statement. [94773]

There have been four major release versions of Case Record and Management System. The total development cost of these was £3.2 million which is in line with original estimates. The total implementation cost of the four versions was £1.4 million. This is £300,000 more than the estimated cost of implementation, largely for reasons of Year 2000 compliance.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if a year 2000 compliant version of the Case Record and Management System has been made available to probation services; how many probation services are using such a system; and if he will make a statement. [94775]

A year 2000 complaint version of Case Record and Management System is currently being rolled out to probation services. The rollout is on schedule and by the end of this week 26 probation services will have it. The rollout is due to be completed by 17 November.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received from the health trusts in Lancashire with regard to the availability of drugs through the NHS; and what discussions he has held with them. [94186]

[holding answer 19 October 1999]: We have received no such representations, neither have we discussed the matter with any of the trusts concerned.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the number of NHS dentists by region in each year since 1995. [94316]

The table sets out the number of National Health Service dentists providing treatment under the NHS in the General Dental Service, Salaried Dental Service, Hospital Dental Service and Community Dental Service by region in England at 30 September each year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the Government's contribution to World Mental Health Day on 10 October. [94354]

The Department has continued to support the World Mental Health Day campaign co-ordinated by the Health Education Authority. We have allocated £1 million in 1999 to support the campaign, an increase of 57 per cent. over last year. The campaign is an important element of our strategy to challenge discrimination and promote participation and inclusion as key positive steps for mental well being.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the costs of establishing the Commission for Health Improvement. [93917]

The budget for the Commission for Health Improvement in 1999–2000 is £3 million. This money will be spent on the establishment and early development of the commission and will cover various costs including accommodation, staff recruitment and training, and the development of methodologies.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health which drugs will be reduced in price and by how much, consequent upon his agreement with NHS suppliers. [94029]

Under the 1999 Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme agreed with the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry, companies supplying branded medicines to the National Health Service to a value of more than £1 million per annum are required to reduce their prices by 4.5 per cent. from 1 October 1999. As an alternative to an across the board reduction, they are allowed to modulate the prices of these medicines by reductions that equate to an overall level of 4.5 per cent. Companies themselves decide on a commercial basis which medicines should be reduced in price and by how much and supply this information to the Prescription Pricing Authority. The Department monitors the sales of medicines to determine whether the modulation have achieved the necessary reduction.A list of the price reductions notified to the Department at the outset of the scheme has been placed in the Library. It should be noted that companies can remodulate their prices following the initial reduction. Up to date information on the prices of medicines is maintained in the pharmaceutical trade press, copies of which are in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many UK service men and service women were serving or were based in Sierra Leone on 1 September, including those serving on UK warships within the territorial waters of Sierra Leone; and if he will list (a) their units and (b) the units to which they were attached. [94618]

There were 25 UK service personnel deployed to Sierra Leone on 1 September 1999, and were drawn from the following units:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many United Kingdom service men and service women have served or been based in Sierra Leone since the beginning of the summer Adjournment; and to which military units (a) they belong and (b) they were attached. [94617]

Forty eight UK military personnel have deployed to Sierra Leone since 28 July 1999, of which 27 remain.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many UK service men and service women were (a) detained, (b) disarmed and (c) kidnapped by rebels, irregulars and other military units in Sierra Leone during August; and if he will state the names of their units and the names of units to which they were attached in each case. [94619]

Seven UK military officers serving with UNOMSIL were abducted in early August. They were from the following units:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his estimate of the cost of providing accommodation and infrastructure for his Department's personnel relocated from Germany to the United Kingdom under the terms of the Strategic Defence Review. [94151]

The current estimate of the cost of providing accommodation and infrastructure for personnel relocating from Germany to the United Kingdom under the SDR is of the order of £150 million. The cost of the programme will be spread over seven years. I expect that a proportion of the works will be delivered through Public Private Partnership. Once withdrawal is complete, I expect operating cost savings of some £13 million a year.

To ask the Prime Minister what future projects are planned for the Performance and Innovation Unit. [95073]

The Performance and Innovation Unit (PIU) was established to improve the capacity of Government to identify and address strategic cross-cutting issues and promote innovation in the development of policy and in the delivery of the Government's objectives. The PIU project teams are drawn from both inside and outside Government, to ensure new thinking and a wide range of experience is brought to bear on the issues. Their reports make an important contribution to policy making.Further to the work announced in December 1998, the Modernising Government White Paper in March 1999 announced that the PIU is undertaking a project aimed at identifying the long-term strategic challenges facing Government. I have now asked the PIU to take on the following further projects:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement in respect of the international safety implications arising from the plutonium shipment involving the Pacific Teal and the Pacific Pintail. [94716]

The shipment of MOX fuel to Japan was undertaken in full conformity with well established international non-proliferation safeguard procedures and physical protection regimes. In terms of the measures taken to minimise the risk of radiological accidents all shipments by sea are undertaken in full compliance with all the relevant international standards, regulations and recommendations relating to the transport by sea of hazardous cargoes and nuclear materials. The ships and containers used for this shipment met, and in certain cases exceeded, these requirements.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the current political and military situation in Sierra Leone. [94616]

There has been clear and welcome progress in recent months in the peace process in Sierra Leone. The overall security situation, however, remains volatile.We welcome the signing of a Peace Agreement by the Government of Sierra Leone and the Revolutionary United Front in Lomé on 7 July. The Agreement offers the people of Sierra Leone the real prospect of a sustainable peace. We support the deployment of a United Nations peacekeeping operation to Sierra Leone.We expect all parties to honour the agreement and the accompanying ceasefire, and to implement these fully. An important first step will be early progress on the Disarmament, Demobilisations and Reintegration programme for former combatants.We welcome the return to Freetown on 3 October of Foday Sankoh, the leader of the RUF, and Johnny Paul Koroma, the leader for the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council. This is an important step forward in the peace process.I gave further details of how we have implemented our £10 million package of assistance in my written answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Midlothian (Mr. Clarke) on 20 October 1999,

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on policy towards the controlled export of small arms. [94141]

Pursuing a responsible and transparent policy on legal transfers of small arms from the UK, and encouraging other arms exporting countries to do likewise, is one of the main elements of our approach to combatting the problem of small arms proliferation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will meet with Ms Maneka Gandhi of the Ministry of Welfare in India, and Shri I. P. Gupta, Lieutenant Governor of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, to discuss the Jarawa people. [94391]

FCO Ministers have no plans to meet Ms Maneka Gandhi or Shri I. P. Gupta.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has held with the Indian Government regarding the reserve for Jarawa people on the Andaman Islands; and if he will make a statement. [94392]

We are aware of reports regarding the Jarawa people of the Andaman Islands and plans for their resettlement. We understand that these are the subject of an individual's application to the High Court of Calcutta (on which judgment has yet to be delivered). We have not discussed these plans with the Indian Government.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has (a) made and (b) proposes to make on the forthcoming visit of the Iranian Foreign Minister to the UK and (c) on his forthcoming visit to Iran concerning the position of the 13 Iranian Jews detained in Iran on alleged spying charges; and if he will make a statement. [94411]

We and our EU partners have pressed the Iranian authorities over this case and will continue to do so. As long ago as 20 May the German EU Presidency expressed concern at these detentions on behalf of EU member states, and a formal EU demarche to the Iranian government took place on 30 June.We have also told the Iranians of our concern bilaterally, both in Tehran and in London. We have pressed for a fair and open trial, and access for visitors and legal representatives. We have also pressed for access for independent observers at any trial. Most recently the Foreign Secretary made these points to the Iranian Ambassador on 29 July. I reiterated them to him on 4 August. The Foreign Secretary also pressed Foreign Minister Kharrazi on this issue during their meeting at the United Nations General Assembly on 21 September. Our Ambassador in Tehran has spoken similarly to the Iranian authorities there.Neither the agenda for the Secretary of State's visit to Iran, nor Foreign Minister Kharrazi's visit here, have yet been decided. Should this issue still not be resolved, we will raise it again.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action he has taken following the imprisonment of James Mawdsley and Rachel Goldwyn in Burma; and if he will make a statement. [94606]

We have expressed our concerns to the Burmese authorities about the handling of these cases. Consular staff have visited James and Rachel; both confirmed they were well and had not been ill-treated. We will continue to visit regularly and stay in close touch with families. We have done and will continue to do everything we properly can to help.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the next meeting on the Biosafety Protocol will take place; what preparations are being made by his Department for input into the EU position; and if he will make a statement. [94827]

The resumed extra-ordinary conference of the Parties on Biosafety Protocol will take place in Montreal on 24-28 January 2000. My Department is working closely with the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions and other Government Departments in assessing the options put forward by other negotiating groups in the informal consultations in Vienna. Our posts are also active in feeding in information on developments in other countries for consideration in discussion with EU partners.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the prospects of the Extraordinary Conference of the parties meeting in Montreal under the auspices of the United Nations Convention on Biodiversity in January 2000 concluding the Biosafety Protocol. [94869]

Early agreement of a workable and effective Biosafety Protocol is an important objective for this Government. We welcomed the decision made by Minister Mayr to resume the extra-ordinary Conference of the parties to agree the Protocol and particularly the strong political commitment to complete the Protocol expressed by all negotiating groups at the informal consultations in September. Hard work is still needed to come to final agreement on the outstanding issues to be covered under the Protocol. We will be making every effort to promote successful completion of the negotiations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list changes to sanctions regimes implemented by the UK since 26 July. [95494]

New measures have been introduced against Indonesia; certain measures against Libya have been lifted; and amendments have been made to measures in place against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Details are as follows:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list his Department's spending on official publications since May 1997. [93694]

The spending on official publications since May 1997—which includes the costs incurred by the Department in publishing, preparation, production and purchase of copies for official use—is estimated to be £1,040,000. This excludes the cost of publications produced for internal use. Where the Treasury makes use of a private sector publisher, printing and design costs are generally met by the publisher as part of their acceptance of the risk of publication.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when he proposes to undertake a review of the Special Educational Needs Tribunal. [95680]

In accordance with the Government's policy of conducting quinquennial reviews of all non-departmental public bodies, the Department is launching today, in conjunction with the National Assembly for Wales, a review of the Special Educational Needs Tribunal. Following Cabinet office guidelines, the first stage of the review will take the form of a "prior options" study with the following terms of reference:

to review the functions of the Special Educational Needs Tribunal, and the likely future need for those functions;

to consider the powers, remit, constitutional status, membership and activities of the Special Educational Needs Tribunal;

to consider whether, on efficiency grounds, some or all of the functions of the Special Educational Needs Tribunal can be carried out within an alternative organisational framework including by another public, private or voluntary body or otherwise within government;

to review the efficiency and effectiveness of the Special Educational Needs Tribunal in carrying out its functions.

The review will have particular regard to:

the overriding objective that special educational provision should meet the needs of individual children; and

compliance with the Human Rights Act 1998.

We should welcome comments on those matters to be covered by the review from all those with an interest in the work of the Special Educational Needs Tribunal. Comments, which may be made public unless respondents specifically request otherwise, should be sent by 15 January 2000 to:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is the current (a) number and (b) value of loans to students which have not been repaid by their due date; and if he will make a statement. [94742]

[holding answer 19 October 1999]: The Student Loans Company has informed me that at 31 August 1999 167,716 student loans accounts were in arrears. The total value of the arrears at that date was £70,062,402. These figures are for the United Kingdom. These arrears arise from mortgage style loans taken out under the previous scheme. The new loan system where repayments are directly linked to a borrower's income after leaving university or college and are repaid through the Inland Revenue should result in lower levels of arrears.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what steps he will take to ensure the separate identification of those who graduate under the Social Exclusion Unit's concept of graduation at Level 2 and those who graduate after taking a degree. [94765]

[holding answer 19 October 1999]: The Government have asked the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority to develop and consult on the options for a common objective obtainable by all young people which will encourage them to participate in learning beyond 16 and to achieve to at least a Level 2 standard, as recommended in the Social Exclusion Report, "Bridging the Gap". As part of its remit, the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority will consider, and consult upon, a name for such a certificate.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what proposals he has for national qualifications in basic skills for adults. [94763]

[holding answer 19 October 1999]: Following the launch of "A Fresh Start", the report from Sir Claus Moser's working group on adult basic skills, the Government asked the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority to develop national standards for adult literacy and numeracy at Entry Level and Levels 1 and 2. Draft standards will be issued for consultation shortly. We are expecting the final standards to be published in Spring 2000.These standards will provide the base for the development of a core curriculum for adult basic skills and national tests at Levels 1 and 2. All recognised qualifications will need to be aligned with the new national standards. We have also asked the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority for advice on the link between national tests and qualifications.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what arrangements he will make for the coherence of the curriculum and the delivery of education between the post-and pre-16 sectors. [94758]

[holding answer 19 October 1999]: We have already introduced a number of initiatives which will lead to greater coherence between pre-16 and post-16 education and encourage progression throughout the 14-19 phase, as part of our overall drive to raise standards at all levels of education. We are increasing the range of qualifications on offer, and are increasing curriculum flexibility at Key Stage 4 (14-16) with enhanced opportunities for vocational study.As a follow up to the National Curriculum Review and in the context of responses to the White Paper "Learning to Succeed", we are looking at ways of increasing coherence in both the curriculum and the delivery of learning. We are working to create a culture where all young people continue in learning until 18 or 19.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on integration of key skills into the level 3 curriculum. [94737]

[holding answer 19 October 1999]: The Government want to encourage more young people to develop their key skills as a natural part of their post-16 education and training. We are therefore introducing from September 2000 a new qualification covering communication, application of number and information technology. The intention is that individuals should study at the level appropriate to their own needs and to their main course of study. This will include level 3.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many Key Stage 4 pupils there are in schools for which the National Curriculum is currently disapplied. [94733]

The Government are keen to encourage work-related learning at Key Stage 4. Under s363 of the Education Act 1996, two subjects can be disapplied to allow pupils to spend time in further education and work experience. 8,985 pupils followed this route last year. This year's figures are not yet available. This figure does not include pupils with special educational needs or those in the six schools which have applied under s362 of the 1996 Education Act to disapply all or part of the National Curriculum more generally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many people aged 16 to 18 were not in either education, training or work in each of the last five years. [94764]

[holding answer 19 October 1999]: The latest available information is in the table.

Year	Number	Percentage of population
1998 (provisional)	173,000	9
1997	167,000	9
1996	160,000	9
1995	152,000	9
1994	148,000	9

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has for involving students as members of local learning partnerships. [94682]

[holding answer 19 October 1999]: The White Paper "Learning to Succeed" both endorses the current remit of Learning Partnerships and proposes strengthening their role in reflecting the needs of the community. They are being actively encouraged to involve partners who represent the wider interests of the community, including students and other learners.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if multinational and multi-site companies will be able to bypass the local learning and skills councils and deal directly at national level in connection with training and qualifications issues. [94741]

[holding answer 19 October 1999]: It will be important for the Learning and Skills Council at national and local levels to engage employers of all sizes in workforce development which will benefit individuals, improve business competitiveness and strengthen the economy. There are large national companies which find it difficult to work effectively within the current system; and the Learning and Skills Council will be able to develop arrangements which make it easier to provide a national link to such companies. The precise arrangements will be developed in coming months.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what money has been received by Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council from the New Deal programme and how this money has been spent. [94594]

This information is a commercially confidential matter between the Employment Service and Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council and cannot therefore be released.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proportion of the carbon dioxide emissions reduction needed for a 20 per cent. reduction from the UK's 1990 levels by 2010 he expects to be delivered in Northern Ireland. [93867]

Following Kyoto in 1997, the UK has a legally binding target to cut emissions of a basket of six greenhouse gases by 12.5 per cent. below 1990 levels over the period 2008–2012. The UK Government also have a domestic goal to cut carbon dioxide emissions by 20 per cent. below 1990 levels by 2010.The Government are currently developing a draft climate change programme which will set out how the UK will deliver its Kyoto target and move towards its domestic goal. We are aiming to publish the draft programme for further consultation towards the end of 1999.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the paramilitary affiliation of the prison wings in which the six persons charged in May 1997 with the murder of Robert Hamill were imprisoned. [94361]

Five of the six persons charged were held within the UVF wings and one was held within the LVF wing in HMP Maze.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many enforcement officers currently operate within the Department of the Environment; and what were the comparable figures for 1992 to 1998. [94450]

At 1 October 1999 there were 13 enforcement officers attached to the Department's Transport Licensing and Enforcement Branch. The comparable figures for 1992 to 1998 are:

	Number
1992	14
1993	17
1994	15
1995	15
1996	15
1997	14
1998	13

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent discussions he has had with Ministers in the Irish Government about joint funding of Irish-medium post primary schools in the border region; and if he will make a statement. [94766]

[holding answer 19 October 1999]: 1 have regular discussions with the Irish Minister for Education and Science on topics of mutual interest, including Irish-medium education. Those discussions have not yet involved joint funding of schools, though there is joint funding through the European Peace and Reconciliation Package of teaching materials for Irish-medium primary schools.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on what date bomb debris from the 1974 Dublin and Monaghan explosions arrived in Northern Ireland; what was the recorded weight of debris received; if a continuous chain of custody for the debris can be established whilst it remained in Northern Ireland; what happened to the debris after the Belfast forensic scientist Dr. Hall carried out his examination; and where and in whose custody the debris is today. [93526]

[holding answer 19 October 1999]: Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Forensic Science Agency under its Chief Executive, Mr. R. W. Adams. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the number of children from Catholic homes who have been placed with Protestant foster-parents and the number of children from Protestant homes who have been placed with Catholic foster-parents for each of the areas within the South and East Belfast Trust. [94524]

At present, two Catholic children are placed with Protestant foster carers and one Protestant child with Catholic carers in long-term fostering placements. In addition, nine Catholic children are placed with Protestant carers and four Protestant children with Catholic carers in short-term, temporary arrangements. Each of these placements has been made with the consent of the child's parents.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many car parks are provided by (1) the Department of the Environment, (2) the private sector and (3) district councils in the urban areas of (a) Dungannon, (b) Portadown, (c) Armagh City and (d) Newry; what is the total number of (i) paid for spaces and (ii) free spaces in each of these urban areas; and what proposals there are to provide additional parking spaces in each of these urban areas. [94625]

Responsibility for the subject in question has been delegated to the Roads Service under its Chief Executive, Mr. Colin James. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.