To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what data he has collated on National Lottery ticket sales by (a) constituency and (b) social class. [95533]

Information on National Lottery ticket sales by constituency is not available. Ticket sales are only broken down on a geographical basis by television region. Average weekly spend on the Saturday and Wednesday draws between July 1998 and April 1999 is shown in the following table, which was provided by the Lottery operator, Camelot Group plc.

TV Region	Average weekly spend by those participating (£)	Average percentage participating
LWT Carlton	3.55	44
Meridian/South	3.44	48
Anglia	3.08	50
West Country	3.09	49
Wales and West	3.23	51
Central	3.11	50
Granada	3.20	48
Yorkshire	3.37	55
Tyne Tees	3.45	63
Scottish	3.26	52
Ulster	3.00	43
Total	3.29	49

£ billion
Good cause	Low forecast	Medium forecast	High forecast
Charities	1.88	1.91	1.97
Heritage	1.89	1.92	1.99
Arts	1.85	1.88	1.94
Sports	1.88	1.91	1.98
Millennium Commission (including interest)	2.019	2.019	2.019
New Opportunities Fund	1.16	1.22	1.36
Interest for the period 1 October 1999 to 30 September 2001	0.34	0.35	0.38
Total (including interest)	11.02	11.21	11.64

The income data for the individual Good Causes (except the Millennium Commission) exclude interest for the period from 1 October 1999 to the end of the Licence. It is not possible to calculate the future allocation of interest between the Good Causes, because this will depend on the rate at which the Distributors draw income from the NLDF. The estimated total interest for all the Good Causes from 1 October 1999 to the end of the Licence is shown separately.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what guidelines he gives to the

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will provide an estimate of moneys he anticipates will be received by each of the good causes up until the end of the current lottery contract; how much has been received by each good cause to date; and if he will make a statement. [95275]

[holding answer 26 October 1999]: By 30 September 1999 the total income (including interest) to the Good Causes from the National Lottery was as follows:

£ billion
Good cause	Lottery income received (including interest)
Charities	1.48
Heritage	1.50
Arts	1.44
Sports	1.48
Millennium Commission	1.66
New Opportunities Fund	0.63
Total	8.19

The forecast income for the Good Causes to the end of the current Licence has been estimated using three different scenarios:Television Licensing Authority regarding the purchasing of licences part-way through a calendar month; and if he will make a statement. [95711]

[holding answer 26 October 1999]: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has issued no such guidelines. Since 1991, the BBC has had statutory responsibility for the administration of the television licensing system and Television Licensing carries out the day to day administration as agent for the Corporation. However, I understand that the practice of issuing new licences to expire 12 months from the end of the month preceding that in which they are issued follows previous Home Office practice.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will set out the current vacancies on non-governmental public bodies sponsored by his Department, together with the dates on which the vacancies arose and when they were advertised. [95154]

Vacancy from	Body	Role description
30 September 1999	British Library	Trustee
16 June 1999	Public Lending Right Committee	Trustee
30 September 1999	Broadcasting Standards Commission	Trustee
30 September 1999	Independent Television Commission	Deputy-Chairman
17 August 1999	Independent Television Commission	Member
15 August 1999	Radio Authority	2 Members
30 June 1999	National Film and Television School	Governor
8 February 1999	English Tourism Council	Member
27 May 1999	New Opportunities Fund	Member
30 September 1999	Horniman Museum	Trustee
5 December 1998	Imperial War Museum	Trustee
12 January 1999	Geffrye Museum	Trustee
20 January 1999	Museum of London	Governor
29 November 1998	Museum of London	Governor
30 June 1998	Museum of London	Governor
31 March 1999	National Museum and Galleries on Merseyside	2 Trustees
7 June 1998	Royal Armouries	Trustee
15 July 1998	Royal Armouries	Trustee
25 February 1999	Royal Armouries	Trustee
3 April 1999	Tate Gallery	Trustee
19 May 1999	Wallace Collection	Trustee
30 September 1999	Victoria and Albert Museum	3 Trustees
3 August 1999	Royal National Theatre	Member
18 September 1999	English Sports Council	2 Members
8 March 1998	English Heritage	Commissioner
8 June 1998	English Heritage	Commissioner
31 March 1999	Advisory Committee for Historic Wrecks	2 Members
1 October 1999	Theatres Trust	Trustee
5 April 1999	Theatres Trust	2 Trustees
9 October 1999	Architectural Heritage Fund	Trustee

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans he has to support further the National Museum of Pop in Sheffield. [95756]

I regret that the National Centre for Popular Music is in difficulty. This is an exciting venture designed to celebrate the world's rich heritage of popular music. I understand that the NCPM is working with all interested parties, including the Arts Council of England, Yorkshire Arts, English Partnerships and Sheffield City Council, to arrive at a solution to the Centre's difficulties.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans he has to visit the National Museum of Pop in Sheffield. [95470]

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has at present no plans to visit the National Centre for Popular Music in Sheffield.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will list the European Commission officials who were given World Cup tickets at the time of

[holding answer 25 October 1999]: The information is listed. For reasons of proportionality, it is my Department's policy only to consider advertising for posts which are of widespread public interest and/or with annual remuneration of above £10,000. The majority of appointments to my Department's public bodies do not fall within this definition.that event; if these officials were involved in assessing the fine on the football authorities imposed by the Commission; and if he will make a statement. [95498]

My Department does not hold information on the distribution of tickets for the 1998 World Cup Finals to European Commission officials. That is a matter for the organisers of the 1998 World Cup Finals and the European Commission.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many holidays were taken in the United Kingdom by British residents in (a) 1996, (b) 1997 and (c) 1998. [95436]

In 1996 UK residents took 64.8 million holidays within the United Kingdom. By 1997 this figure had risen by 6 million to 70.8 million, an increase of 9 per cent. However, in 1998 the number of holidays taken had declined by 5.7 million to 65.1 million, a decrease of 9 per cent.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will list those local authorities to which, within the last year, he has made written representations over their plans to reduce local library services. [95130]

[holding answer 25 October 1999]: My Department has been involved in detailed discussions with 10 authorities about major changes to their library services, including service reductions. It is our policy at this stage not to name or list the authorities concerned. Our experience is that there is more chance of finding acceptable resolutions if this policy is followed, and indeed this has happened in several cases already.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what his policy is regarding television advertising to children; and if he will make a statement. [95924]

Under the Broadcasting Act 1990, it is the duty of the Independent Television Commission to draw up and maintain a code covering advertising on television. Appendix 1 of the Commission's Code of Advertising Standards and Practice includes detailed regulations which ensure that television advertisements aimed at children do not mislead or exploit or encourage unsafe or dangerous behaviour. The regulations also prohibit the advertising of certain types of product during childrens' programmes. The Code was revised last year following consultation with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State, the television and advertising industries, viewer and listener groups and other bodies.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many people are estimated to have celebrated the New Year in 1999 in Trafalgar Square; and what the capacity of Trafalgar Square for celebrating the New Millennium will be if proposals to create an ice skating rink there go ahead. [95927]

Approximately 90,000 people attended the New Year's Eve celebration in Trafalgar Square in 1999 and it is anticipated that this number will be exceeded on New Year's Eve this year. The proposed ice rink will be removed from the Square before New Year's Eve for public safety reasons.

To ask the Chairman of the Catering Committee if a low fat diet is to be available in the canteens and restaurants in the House; and what medical advice has been sought on this subject. [94932]

[holding answer 25 October 1999]: The House of Commons Refreshment Department is committed to a policy of encouraging "healthy eating" throughout all its cafeterias and dining rooms, ensuring that customers are given a sufficiently wide choice of foods to be able to modify and regulate their own diet. Regular promotions are held in conjunction with the House of Commons Occupational Health Service to help educate customers and to assist them in making healthier food choices.The availability of low fat foods is an important part of this approach to the promotion of a balanced diet, and the Refreshment Department has for several years adapted its recipes and cooking methods to make use of healthier alternatives wherever possible. A "healthy eating" dish is publicised on daily cafeteria and dining room menus, in addition to which fish is offered on most menus and can generally be served without sauce or added fat. Skimmed and semi-skimmed milk is available throughout the Department, as are butterless vegetables, lean meats, un-dressed salads and reduced fat dressings, low fat yoghurts and sandwiches, and a wide range of fruit and vegetables. In addition there is usually a vegetarian option in all outlets which tends to be more healthy and lower in fat.The Department aims to ensure that adequate choice is available for customers wishing to follow a low fat diet and plans to continue to develop its policy of encouraging a rounded approach to healthy eating and a balanced diet.In fulfilling this policy, the Refreshment Department liaises closely with the medical and lay staff of the House of Commons Occupational Health Service, as well as with staff of the Gymnasium. Many senior managers and chefs of the Department have received some formal education or training in nutrition and dietetics, but further advice and guidance on specific issues is taken from external dieticians, the Health Education Authority or other professional bodies.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what initiatives and policies have been subjected to a gender impact analysis in his Department. [94497]

As an employer we monitor the impact on women of our recruitment, appraisal and promotion processes. To help women balance the demands of work and home, we have a range of policies including support for childcare, career breaks of up to five years and a policy that all posts (with very few exceptions) are available for part-time working and job-sharing.We are continuing to make use of consultations, research projects and disaggregated statistics to identify the impact of policy on women. Specific examples of these include the recent consultation of various women's organisations on smoking in taxis and the development of a public transport gender audit. We are also requiring the inclusion of policy appraisal statements in each Ministerial policy submission. Other initiatives include the requirement to promote social inclusion (including meeting the transport needs of women and other social groups) in the Department's assessment of local authorities' provisional Local Transport Plans.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if an action plan for increasing the representation of women in public life has been (a) prepared by his Department and (b) published since November 1998. [94851]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office on 25 October 1999, Official Report, column 682.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what proportion of offenders who committed vandalism causing train accidents in 1998–99 are being prosecuted; and what action he is taking to ensure that train operators and Railtrack provide adequate security. [95172]

The Health and Safety Executive reported that in 1997–98 there were 1,098 reported railway accidents caused by malicious action, including 512 incidences of damage to the cab driver's window. The figures provided by the British Transport Police for the same year show that they dealt with 6,419 reported incidences of 'stone throwing' or 'Line of Route' offences, such as obstructing the line, of which 718 were either charged or cautioned, or no crime was found to be committed.

Private tenancies (excluding rent free) by Government Office region
Thousand
	1994–95	1995–96	1996–97	1997–98	1998–99
North East	78	66	81	74	85
North West (including Merseyside)	202	202	250	262	246
Yorks & Humber	169	176	158	201	185
East Midlands	155	150	132	152	138
West Midlands	135	176	149	131	158
East	182	205	194	220	210
London	408	478	445	442	408
South East	350	353	400	320	352
South West	273	222	247	245	232
England	1,952	2,028	2,056	2,047	2,015

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) if his Department plans to investigate the environmental impact of building artificial reefs to create surfing waves around Britain's coast; [95929]

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what concessions he obtained from the United States Government in return for the rights recently given to Federal Express to deliver freight from Prestwick Airport to third countries. [95331]

In granting fifth freedom rights from Prestwick to US cargo carriers, we have said to the US Government that we would expect it to give favourable consideration to equivalent applications for extra-bilateral rights to UK carriers. Although United Kingdom airlines will not benefit directly from the granting of these rights at Prestwick, there will be significant economic benefits accruing to the region. In the longer run, UK airlines and airports will gain when we have achieved our wider goal, which is the liberalisation of the overall market.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will publish the numbers of private sector rooms for rent in each standard region for the last five years for which figures are available. [94884]

The term 'private sector rooms' is open to interpretation and so the following table shows estimates from the Survey of English Housing of the number of private tenancies in each Government Office region.(2) what investigation his Department has carried out to assess the impact on the surrounding coastline of creating an artificial reef off the coast at Bournemouth. [95930]

No assessments have been made because no firm proposals have been submitted. More than one permission would be required. Constructing an artificial reef to create surfing waves would require prior written consent from this Department to ensure that danger or obstruction to navigation was not likely to result. Such works would also require a licence from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food under the Food and Environment Protection Act 1985. They would take full account of effects on the marine environment.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what was the number of residents under 18 years of age at 30 June 1996, as used in the local government finance settlement, in each local authority area in England. [95734]

The Registrar General's estimates of the number of residents under 18 years of age at 30 June 1996 were used in the 1998–99 and 1999–2000 local government finance settlements. The Office for National Statistics published revised population estimates for 1996 on 27 August 1998. These were used in the 1999–2000 settlement.The following table details the estimates of the number of residents under 18 years of age for each relevant local authority as used in the 1998–99 and 1999–2000 local government finance settlements.

	Population aged 0 to 17 as used in
Local authority	1998–99 SSAs	1999–2000 SSAs
Cornwall	103,602	103,602
Cumbria	106,625	106,625
Gloucestershire	124,095	124,095
Hertfordshire	235,936	235,936
Lincolnshire	133,032	133,032
Norfolk	163,488	163,488
Northamptonshire	146,515	146,515
Northumberland	68,080	68,080
Oxfordshire	139,581	139,581
Somerset	108,202	108,202
Suffolk	151,628	151,628
Surrey	230,697	230,697
Warwickshire	111,008	111,008
West Sussex	157,715	157,715
North Yorkshire	121,597	121,318
Bedfordshire	86,655	86,655
Buckinghamshire	111,123	111,123
Derbyshire	159,579	159,579
Dorset	78,579	78,579
Durham	114,946	114,946
East Sussex	103,390	103,390
Hampshire	281,077	281,077
Leicestershire	134,380	134,380
Staffordshire	181,698	181,698
Wiltshire	95,900	95,900
Cambridgeshire	120,210	120,210
Cheshire	150,256	150,256
Devon	142,841	142,841
Essex	286,972	286,972
Kent	299,256	299,256
Lancashire	264,045	264,045
Nottinghamshire	166,322	166,322
Shropshire	60,515	60,515
Worcestershire	119,717	119,717
Isles of Scilly	475	475
Barking and Dagenham	39,393	39,393
Barnet	71,862	71,862
Bexley	50,937	50,937
Brent	59,524	59,524
Bromley	62,205	62,205
Croydon	78,345	78,345
Ealing	68,773	68,773
Enfield	61,898	61,898
Haringey	49,363	49,363
Harrow	49,286	49,286

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what representations he has received and what research he has commissioned on the likely effect of the periodic review of water prices in England and Wales on those employed (a) directly and (b) indirectly within the water industry; and if he will make a statement; [95553](2) what representations he has received and what research his Department has

My Department has received representations about possible job losses in the water industry, from some water companies, from Water UK, from employees of water companies and from the union, UNISON. My Department has not undertaken or commissioned research on employment in the water industry, nor discussed this with the Office of Water Services.The examination of the water industry's costs and efficiency assumptions is a matter for the Director General of Water Services. He has a statutory duty to secure that water companies properly carry out their functions and are able to finance them. These functions must be carried out in full compliance with all legal requirements, including drinking water quality (regulated by the Drinking Water Inspectorate), health and safety (regulated by the Health and Safety Executive), environmental standards (regulated by the Environment Agency) and customer service and continuity of supply (regulated by the Director General himself). In conducting his periodic review of water price limits the Director General is expecting companies to improve on efficiency savings that they have already achieved. It will be for water and sewerage undertakers to ensure that they maintain the necessary staff and other resources to meet these obligations in full.The Government believe that it is possible to deliver substantial quality improvements and reductions in customers' bills, for the benefit of consumers. The environmental and water quality improvement programmes will create significant new employment opportunities.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to revise Minerals Planning Guidance Note 6, Guidelines for Aggregates Provision in England; and if he will make a statement. [95453]

Review of the Guidelines for Aggregates Provision in England has commenced and it is expected that a paper on the main issues will be published for public consultation early in the New Year. Following consideration of the responses, a revised draft of the guidance will be published for consultation later in 2000.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many housing units are currently the subject of proposals for large-scale voluntary transfers. [95914]

Seventeen local authorities on the 1999–2000 Housing Transfer Programme are proposing, subject to the approval of tenants, to transfer 112,432 housing units in this financial year. Details are set out in the table.

Local authority	Number of units
Boston BC	5,015
Burnley BC	5,354
Coventry CC	20,479
Elmbridge DC	5,022
Huntingdonshire DC	7,134
Manchester CC	3,336
Newcastle-under-Lyme DC	10,042
North Devon DC	3,399
Restormel BC	3,781
LB Richmond	8,780
Tameside MBC	16,959
Test Valley DC	5,789
Tynedale DC	3,731
Weymouth and Portland DC	3,526
Wyre Forest DC	6,440
LB Hackney	2,394
LB Tower Hamlets	1,251
Total	112,432

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many housing units were the subject of large-scale voluntary transfers in each of the last three years. [95912]

The Housing Transfer Programme currently runs from 1 April each year until 31 March the following year. In 1996–97, 22,248 housing units were transferred. In 1997–98, 32,982 units were transferred, and 73,900 units transferred in 1998–99. Details are set out in the table:

Local authority	Number of units
1996–97
Stratford District Council	6,003
West Wilts DC	1,769
Cotswold DC	4,282
South Staffs DC	5,273
Lichfield DC	4,921
Total	22,248
1997–98
South Oxfordshire DC	5,018
Eden DC	1,510
LB Lambeth1	515
LB Bexley	8,215
Congleton DC	4,061
Oldham DC1	642
Liverpool CC1	493
LB Merton1	1,018
LB Tower Hamlets1	1,852
Kerner DC	3,732
LB Hackney1	951
LB Brent1	1,481
Basildon DC1	708
West Somerset DC	1,869
Stoke-on-Trent1	917
Total	32,982
1998–99
Tewkesbury DC	3,066
Rother DC	3,058
LB Lambeth1	681
LB Tower Hamlets1	2,431
Wirral DC1	1,082
Tameside MBC1	901
West Devon BC	1,446
South Somerset DC	8,883
East Lindsey DC	5,102
Liverpool CC1	646
Manchester CC	1,030
LB Hackney1	1,084
South Hams DC	3,096
LB Hammersmith and Fulham1	668
LB Hackney1	1,000
Telford and Wrekin DC	13,081
LB Enfield	1,194
Worthing DC	2,525
Bath and North East Somerset	9,887
Manchester CC1	6,667
LB Greenwich1	1,280
LB Hackney1	661
Allerdale DC	3,704
Allerdale DC1	727
Total	73,900
1 Denotes a transfer facilitated with grant from the Estates Renewal Challenge Fund.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what action he is taking to ensure that London River Services and the Port of London Authority honour the contracts which they entered into with Thames riverboat operators under the Partners in Progress scheme; [95481](2) what powers he has to enforce sanctions against London River Services and the Port of London Authority should they fail to honour the contracts which they entered into with Thames riverboat operators under the Partners in Progress scheme. [95480]

As part of the Government's Thames 2000 initiative to revitalise passenger transport on the Thames, London River Services (LRS) took over key central London piers from the Port of London Authority (PLA) on 1 April this year. LRS has been in discussion with Thames riverboat operators about the arrangements to transfer the licence agreements reached with the PLA to LRS.LRS hope to be able to reach agreements with all the Thames riverboat operators on the transfer of licences. Indeed, the majority of operators have now signed new LRS licences. However, I am aware that some operators are still in negotiation with LRS about contractual arrangements, and I understand that the possibility of legal proceedings has been raised. In view of this it would be inappropriate for me to comment further.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the current status of the proposal to give Railtrack plc infrastructural control of the sub-surface lines of London Underground; and when he expects an agreement to be made. [95992]

Railtrack and London Underground are continuing to work together to explore the options for linking the sub-surface Underground lines with the national rail network in a Public Private Partnership.Subject to the outcome of the discussions currently underway, Railtrack would submit a priced bid for the sub-surface railway PPP contract and the integration schemes next year. As with the two deep tube PPPs, no bid will be entertained that does not contribute significantly to Tube safety.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what powers the Mayor for London will have to alter the terms of the proposed public-private partnership for London Underground Ltd. [95998]

The Mayor and Transport for London will take over PPP contracts designed to secure the efficient maintenance and improvement of the Tube network. These will be contractually binding, but they will have built into them flexibility for the Mayor to make adjustments over time, to deliver changing performance requirements. The Mayor, through Transport for London, will have the necessary controls to ensure that the Tube plays its full part in a properly integrated strategy for transport in London. Fares, ticketing, service levels and the operation of stations and trains will be the responsibility of the Mayor.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what studies he has undertaken into the operation of public/private partnerships in other countries similar to that proposed for London Underground Ltd. [95997]

Public private partnership is an area in which the UK is leading the way. The London Underground PPP is a bespoke arrangement to cater expressly for the needs of our Underground.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many extra District Line trains were run each day during the closure of the Circle Line service. [95994]

This is an operational matter for London Underground. However, I understand that two extra District Line trains ran each peak period during the closure of the Circle Line service. Demand in out-of-peak hours did not require the additional services.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the number of absent parents who are liable to pay child maintenance following an assessment by the Child Support Agency but who do not do so; and if he will estimate the number of these who are currently in receipt of (a) income support/jobseekers allowance or (b) a disability benefit. [94697]

The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive, Mrs. Faith Boardman. She will write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the annual cost of reinstating the link with earnings for the state pension from 1 October. [95425]

[holding answer 26 October 1999]: Social Security benefits are uprated in April each year.

The net costs of uprating the basic state pension in line with the average earnings index from 1 April 2000
Million (1999–2000 prices)
Year	Excluding linked benefits	Including linked benefits
2000–01	730	850
2001–02	1,040	1,210
2002–03	1,510	1,750
2003–04	2,060	2,390
2004–05	2,610	3,040

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what changes he intends to make to the Discretionary Social Fund. [96567]

As a consequence of the Decision Making and Appeals provisions contained in the Social Security Act 1998, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will be making changes to the Social Fund directions and guidance. These will come into effect on 29 November 1999. Also included is a range of other minor improvements, the need for which has been identified in the course of routine monitoring. Details of these changes have been placed in the Library.I am also pleased to announce that the Social Fund guide will be made available on the DSS internet site from 29 November.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if an action plan for increasing the representation of women in public life has been (a) prepared by his Department and (b) published since November 1998. [94844]

I refer the hon. Member to the written answer from my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office on 25 October 1999, Official Report, column 682.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when the hon. Member for Walsall, North will receive a reply from the Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency to his letter of 1 September regarding a constituent, ref: 15499. [94919]

A reply was issued to my hon. Friend on 22 October 1999.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if an action plan for increasing the representation of women in public life has been (a) prepared by his Department and (b) published since November 1998. [94847]

Yes. I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by the Minister for the Cabinet Office and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, my right hon. Friend the Member for Redcar (Marjorie Mowlam), on 25 October 1999, Official Report, column 682.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applicants for travel documents have been waiting for more than six months. [94795]

There are approximately 3,000 travel document applications awaiting consideration which were received over six months ago. In recent weeks, there has been a substantial increase in staff numbers in the Travel Document Section of the Integrated Casework Directorate in order to process increasing volumes of new applications as well as older cases from the backlog.This, combined with streamlined working practices, has resulted in dramatic increases in output from averages of 120 per week during August to well over 700 last week.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to implement the 1996 recommendations of the Law Commission on the issue of corporate killing. [94821]

The Government are well aware of the weaknesses in the current law on corporate manslaughter. An interdepartmental working group of officials, which includes a member of the Law Commission, is currently considering the recommendations made in the Law Commission's report Number 237, "Legislating the Criminal Code: Involuntary Manslaughter".We expect to receive the conclusions of the interdepartmental working group within the next few weeks and will then consider the way forward.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the report of the investigation into allegations of bullying in relation to nursing staff at HMP Liverpool will be completed; and to whom it will be made available. [95948]

The report of the investigation into allegations that nursing staff at Liverpool prison had been the victims of bullying and harassment from other staff has been completed. None of the allegations were substantiated. However, the report makes a number of recommendations to improve the management of the health care centre in the future. The area manager is considering these recommendations and is determined to ensure that nothing along the lines alleged could happen undetected at Liverpool prison.The report is an internal document and contains information and unsubstantiated allegations which could cause further distress to individuals named in it if it was made public. However, the governor is making it available to the Board of Visitors at Liverpool prison. The investigating officer has discussed the contents of the report with the family of Robert Price, the former nurse whose death prompted the investigation. The Coroner recently recorded a verdict of suicide. Managers will arrange to discuss the report with any of the other members of staff involved who request it.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what controls are available and how often they have been exercised in the last five years over the (a) manufacture, (b) sale, (c) possession and (d) use of ball-bearing pellet guns. [95367]

There are two basic categories of guns designed to fire small ball-bearings (BB guns).The first is the ball-bearing repeater pistol. These guns usually have a muzzle energy of less than one joule. Under the definition of "firearm" given in section 57 of the Firearms Act 1968, guns with a muzzle energy as low as this are not classed as firearms because they are not lethal and are incapable of inflicting more than trivial injury. As such, they do not come under the control of the Firearms Acts.The second category consists of BB rifles. These are air rifles which are capable of firing ball-bearings as well as the more normal waisted pellet. Being low-powered airguns, there is no requirement for them to be held on a firearm certificate but in all other respects they come under the control of the Firearms Acts.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what changes he intends to make to the police funding formula following the report into the sparsity element of the formula. [95781]

We are considering the findings of the research report on the cost of policing in rural areas. We intend to announce soon details of how the police funding formula will operate in relation to next year's finance settlement.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what support his Department provides to farm and country watch schemes; how many such schemes are currently in place; and if he will make a statement. [95778]

The Government recognise that people in rural communities have different policing needs from those who live in urban areas, although they suffer from most of the same sorts of crime as urban areas. Rural communities can also suffer the twin problem of the lack of an obvious police presence and longer response times to emergency calls.That is why the partnership approach between the police and the local community is the most effective means of tackling crime in rural areas. We encourage farm and country watch schemes as means by which members of the public can help themselves and the police to engage in a positive way in the fight against crime.As farm and country watch schemes are run in conjunction with local police forces, the Home Office does not keep records of such schemes.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the resource implications for the police service of (a) a ban on hunting with hounds and (b) the trialing of GM crops; and if he will make a statement. [95779]

Most police forces can, from time to time, face unexpected demands on their resources. We would normally expect forces to meet the additional costs from within their existing budgets or from their contingency reserves.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of his Department's planned expenditure on closed-circuit television schemes will be targeted on rural areas; and if he will make a statement. [95780]

Under the first round of the Crime Reduction Programme Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) initiative, Crime Reduction Partnerships in England and Wales have been invited to prepare final proposals on 376 bids for new and extended CCTV schemes with a potential capital cost of £68 million. The main priorities for the first round of the initiative have been to tackle vehicle crime and serious crime problems in housing areas, but shortlisted schemes to the value of over £1.5 million are specifically directed at rural crime. Final decisions will be announced later in the year.The priorities for future rounds of the initiative have not yet been set, and increasing the emphasis on rural crime is one of the options that will be considered.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was in total and in respect of each prison and young offender institution (a) the number of occasions in 1997–98, 1998–99 and 1999–2000 to date that visitors have been caught trying to smuggle illegal drugs, (b) the number of such visitors in 1997–98, 1998–99 and 1999–2000 who have been banned from further visits as a result of their actions, (c) the number of such visitors in each year who have been charged with a criminal offence as a result of drug smuggling, (d) the number of such visitors in each year who have been prosecuted in court and (e) the number of such visitors in each year who have been convicted. [94905]

The total number of visitors arrested for drug smuggling and the breakdown for individual prisons is given in the table. From 1 April-30 June 1999, a total of 387 visitors were banned. The number of visitors banned by individual prisons is not collated centrally. Figures for the number of visitors subsequently charged, prosecuted and/or convicted are not recorded by the Prison Service.