To ask the President of the Council if she (a) has established and (b) published a baseline for policy appraisal against which to measure progress on equal treatment. [94861]

The major Privy Council Office activity that involves the need to ensure equal treatment is the making of appointments to public bodies. The practice of my Department in relation to the representation of women on public bodies was explained in my answer of 25 October 1999, Official Report, column 707. The same practice is adopted in relation to the representation of people from ethnic minorities on such bodies.

To ask the President of the Council what steps she has taken to ensure the House is informed of progress in tackling the millennium bug during the summer recess. [94882]

During the recess, my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary and I wrote to all Members summarising the progress for Government Departments and their agencies maintained in the monthly and quarterly questionnaire returns. I placed the full, completed questionnaires in the Libraries of the House and on the internet.I also wrote to MEPs in October to inform them of the EU's initiative, set up at the UK's suggestion, to set up a high level group to consider cross border issues such as ports and shipping, custom and immigration and some energy supplies.

Distributing body	Recipient	(a) Actual visitor numbers	(b) Numbers forecast at time of application (per annum)
Arts Council of England	Imax	134,115 (1 May to 31 August 1999)	204,754
	New Sadler's Wells	317,800 since October 1998	440,000
	Milton Keynes Theatre and Gallery	Theatre: 39,000 (2 week period)	Theatre: 235,751
		Gallery: 10,476 (10 day period)	Gallery: 54,000
	Royal Exchange, Manchester	172,840 (Projected for December 1998–December 1999)	174,037
	Royal National Theatre	651,000, 55,000 foyer visitors (approx)	602,000
		in last 12 months	50,000 foyer
Millennium Commission	Dynamic Earth	250,000 since 3 July 1999	430,000
	Earth Centre	87,000 since 4 April 1999	500,000
	Wales Millennium Stadium	488,500 spectators since 26 June 1999	Events: 800,000
			Tours: 250,000
			Functions and conferences: 100,000
	Hampden Park	Not available	Capacity: 53,000

To ask the President of the Council if she will list the members of her departmental Committee whose work involves the rebuttal of misinformed allegations in the media in relation to millennium date change issues, together with the Committee's terms of reference and mission statement. [95675]

The Year 2000 Communications' Committee supervises the Government's overall millennium bug presentation strategy and its intrinsic parts, including keeping the public informed.Its membership comprises:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will publish (a) actual visitor numbers to date and (b) visitor numbers forecast at the time of lottery awards, for each of the completed major capital projects funded by the National Lottery. [95116]

[holding answer 25 October 1999]: According to the information received from Lottery distributors, the actual visitor numbers and the numbers forecast at the time of application for completed projects funded by the National Lottery, with awards of £15 million or more, are as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many requests there have been to his Department for placement of officials from Central, East European and CIS states as twins of his officials; how many such officials have been accepted as twins; and from which countries (a) those who were accepted and (b) those who were not accepted came. [94003]

[holding answer 25 October 1999]: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by the Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, my hon. Friend the Member for Leicester, East (Mr. Vaz) on 25 October 1999, Official Report, columns 739–40.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make a statement on the present financial circumstances of the Royal Armouries in Leeds. [95115]

[holding answer 25 October 1999]: I refer the hon. Member to the reply my hon. Friend the Minister for the Arts gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Thurrock (Mr. Mackinlay) on 19 October 1999, Official Report, column 428.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will list, by local authority, those public libraries which (a) have closed within the last 12 months and (b) are currently scheduled for closure. [95129]

[holding answer 25 October 1999]: Annual Library Plans and the data collected by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy enable me and my officials to monitor the public library service, including the number and opening hours of the libraries operated by each authority. However, we do not keep a definitive list of actual or potential building closures, since many are due to the reorganisation of services or the replacement of old facilities with new ones.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he is taking to ensure that the Down Lisburn Trust, Newry and Mourne Trust and Banbridge and Craigavon Trust recruit and train additional occupational therapists. [94460]

None. The levels of staff employed by HSS trusts in any professional discipline in Northern Ireland are directly related to the activity levels required by the commissioners of services. Unless commissioners deploy additional resources, HSS trusts are unable to pay for the services of additional staff.So far as I am aware, there are presently no difficulties in recruiting Occupational Therapists in any of the trusts mentioned, and the number of training places at the University of Ulster has been increased from 36 places to 50 places per year since 1992.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the post of Police Ombudsman was created; when the post was first advertised and how many applications were received; what qualifications were required and in what ways all of the first applicants failed to meet those requirements; how many applications were received as a consequence of the second advertisement; how many of those applicants met the criteria set out; and if there were differences in the qualifications required by the two advertisements. [94778]

The post of Police Ombudsman was created by the Police (Northern Ireland) Act 1998. It is expected that the Police Ombudsman will assume her full statutory powers next Summer. In the meantime, Mrs. O'Loan will act in a designate capacity.The post was first advertised both locally and nationally between 30 November and 3 December 1998. There were 18 applicants.Applicants were asked to describe how they met the competencies for the post. These were: leadership and teamwork; organisational awareness/knowledge; developing and maintaining networks; managing financial and physical resources; and customer service.Of the applications received, five candidates were subsequently shortlisted for interview by a panel which included a person independent of Government. From this group two candidates were selected for subsequent interview by the Secretary of State and the Minister of State. In the event, while Ministers acknowledged the quality of the candidates, they were not satisfied that either candidate fully met the requirements of the post.The post was readvertised both locally and nationally and in local legal journals between the 20–25 May 1999. Forty-seven applications were subsequently received. The range of competencies for the post were identified as: legal skills; leadership/strategic planning; developing and maintaining networks; public relations and decision making. From the applications received, nine candidates were shortlisted for interview by a panel which included a person who was independent of Government. The two leading candidates were subsequently interviewed by the Secretary of State and myself.It would not be appropriate to discuss the merits or otherwise of individual candidates. The selection process followed the guidelines of the Commissioner for Public Appointments. The underlining principle of this guidance is appointment on merit.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many Irish Development Board sponsored visits of prospective incoming (a) foreign and (b) United Kingdom investors there have been to each council area in each of the last five financial years and the current year to date; and how many were carried forward to investment. [94833]

Visits arranged by IDB to Northern Ireland District Council areas for potential investors in the four years to 31 March 1998 are detailed in the following table. The details for 1998–99 will be made available with

IDB sponsored inward investment visits
	1994–95	1995–96		1996–97		1997–98
	Total	Overseas	UK	Overseas	UK	Overseas	UK
Antrim	26	13	5	26	8	18	3
Ards	5	3	0	10	0	1	0
Armagh	1	1	0	4	0	2	0
Ballymore	13	3	0	0	0	5	0
Ballymoney	3	1	0	3	0	2	0
Banbridge	2	2	1	1	0	1	0
Belfast	65	38	17	48	14	65	17
Carrickfergus	13	6	1	21	1	15	0
Castlemagh	1	8	0	6	0	2	0
Coleraine	5	3	0	7	0	7	0
Cookstown	4	15	2	9	1	9	0
Craigavon	12	16	0	15	0	15	1
Deny	18	29	1	27	5	14	0
Down	10	2	0	3	0	4	0
Dungannon	13	9	0	4	0	3	0
Fermanagh	3	11	0	10	5	3	2
Larne	6	4	0	1	0	9	0
Limavady	3	2	0	7	0	2	0
Lisburn	19	36	5	30	1	23	0
Magherafelt	3	4	0	0	0	1	0
Moyla	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Newry and Mourne	15	12	4	9	0	4	1
Newtownabbey	17	18	1	21	1	20	0
North Down	4	9	0	3	0	3	1
Omagh	2	6	0	8	0	5	0
Strabane	2	9	0	9	1	2	0
Total	265	260	37	282	37	235	25

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the effect of (a) the retirement of senior officials in the Disability Directorate and (b) the delay in forming the Equality Commission on the Commission's ability to enforce rights by April 2000 under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995. [95179]

None. A number of members of the former Disability Council have been appointed to the Equality Commission and several others have agreed to act in a consulting capacity to the Commission. It is intended that a draft Order-in-Council to confer the necessary disability rights enforcement powers on the Equality Commission will be laid before Parliament shortly. The Commission is making preparations to recruit and train staff to ensure that these powers are given effect from April 2000.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the total cost of the production of the report of the Independent Commission on Policing for Northern Ireland. [95896]

The Independent Commission on Policing (the Patten Commission) issued its report, "A New Beginning: Policing in Northern Ireland", on 9 September 1999. The Commission arranged for 30,000 copies of the report to be printed at a cost of £90,000£3 per copy.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many copies of the report of the Independent Commission on Policing for Northern Ireland have been requested by members of the public. [95888]

It is difficult to put a precise figure on the number of copies requested by members of the public as the initial distribution was handled by the Patten Commission before it disbanded. In addition to the 21,000 copies distributed to libraries and each of the district councils, and each police officer and civilian members of PANI, approximately 5,000 copies were issued by the Commission to members of the public. Since 30 September there have been 404 requests from members of the public to the freephone number announced by the Secretary of State on 9 September 1999. The whole report is also available on the internet.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many armoured landrovers the RUC has. [95890]

The RUC currently have 434 armoured landrovers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what research, and at what cost, is currently being carried out in Northern Ireland into less potentially lethal alternatives to the plastic baton round. [95893]

There is currently no formal research programme into alternatives to plastic baton rounds in Northern Ireland. The report of the Independent Commission on Policing recommended such a programme should be established and this will be addressed in the Government response to the report.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the impact of proposals for the regulation of the private recruitment industry (URN: 99/774) published by the Department of Trade and Industry on those buying care privately. [96060]

The consultation document published on 31 May on revised regulations to govern the conduct of the private recruitment industry contains a regulatory impact assessment covering possible cost consequences to those hiring staff through bureaux, including those buying care privately.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if his officials have contacted Mrs. Gifford of Able Community Care Norwich, concerning the costs attributed by her to the VAT charges arising from the introduction of regulations for the private recruitment industry (URN: 99/774); and on what basis those calculations were made. [96062]

My officials wrote to Mrs. Gifford on 22 July and 12 August 1999. A meeting was held on 19 August and officials also spoke to her at a conference on 13 October. We do not accept that the costs which she calculates would in fact result from the proposed amendments to private recruitment industry regulation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the working of the national minimum wage in the United States. [94273]

The independent Low Pay Commission in its First Report on the national minimum wage examined the operation of the minimum wage systems in a number of countries, including the United States.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what further measures are proposed to ensure compliance with the minimum wage legislation. [94285]

Enforcement powers are set out in the National Minimum Wage Act 1998. National minimum wage inspectors (comprising officials from the Inland Revenue and the Agriculture Departments) follow up complaints from workers and third parties. Since August, inspectors have also been carrying out targeted inspections throughout the United Kingdom based on risk assessments, which identify where underpayments are most likely to occur.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent discussions he has held with representatives of the ACP banana-producing countries concerning matters relating to the European Union's banana regime and the Lomé commitment; and if he will make a statement. [95821]

The Government had a number of discussions with ACP banana producers and others about further reform of the EU's banana regime in the course of this year. It is however for the European Commission to come forward with a formal proposal for changing the EU's banana regime consistent with the rules of the World Trade Organisation and with Lomé commitments. The UK has made clear that we would like to see a proposal as soon as possible which will end this dispute and address the needs of the vulnerable banana producers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement about the local boundaries for the Small Business Service. [96729]

In July, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Employment and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry asked for the advice of the Regional Development Agencies and the London Development Partnership on the boundaries for local delivery of services on behalf of the Small Business Service and the proposed Learning and Skills Council. After widespread consultation in each region, the RDAs and LDP have provided that advice to us and we have given it very careful consideration.

To ask the Secretary of State forTrade and Industry what representations his Department has received concerning Lufthansa's dismissal of workers following a strike. [96244]

The Department has received a number of letters urging the Government to give its support to the strikers in the Skychefs dispute. However, it is not the Government's policy to intervene in industrial disputes or be seen to take sides by commenting on the conduct of one side or the other. Disputes are a matter for the parties concerned to resolve with the assistance of the independent Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) where both parties agree.We intend to bring Section 16 and Schedule 5 of the Employment Relations Act 1999 into force by Easter next year. These provisions will extend the right of protection for those dismissed for taking lawfully organised industrial action to complain to a tribunal of unfair dismissal. They are designed to stop precipitate dismissals and to place an onus on both employers and unions to settle disputes by negotiation.

To ask the President of the Council when she expects the next Easter adjournment to take place. [95941]

I am not yet able, before the start of the new Session, to forecast when the House will not be sitting, but I hope to give further information nearer the time.

To ask the President of the Council how many hon. Members use the Fees Office facility to contribute to pension provision for their staff; and how many staff are covered by the facility. [95654]

The information requested is as follows (and was current at 22 October 1999).625 hon. Members use the Fees Office facility to contribute to pension provision for their staff; and 1,276 staff are covered by this facility.

To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee if she will make available to hon. Members samples of the archival paper which the Committee recommends should replace vellum as the means of preserving record copies of Acts.[96313]

Yes; I am please to advise the hon. Lady that I have arranged for samples of the archival paper, which it is proposed should replace vellum, to be placed in the Library.

To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, what plans he has to use private security services in the Palace of Westminster. [95819]

There are no current plans to use private security services in the Palace of Westminster. A new contract for security services came into force with the Metropolitan Police on 1 September this year. It is for two years with the option for annual extensions thereafter.

To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, if he will make a statement on the matter of Harmon CFEM Facades (UK) Ltd. v. The Corporate Officer of the House of Commons. [95880]

A Judge of the Technology and Construction Court has found the Corporate Officer of the House of Commons liable for damages in relation to its decision to award the external cladding package for the New Parliamentary Building to an Austrian/British company, Seele Alvis.The Commission is concerned by the Judge's finding that the project team unlawfully promoted a "Buy British" policy. Given the liquidation of Harmon in March 1998, the House would have been put in a disastrous situation if the contract had gone to them. Another contractor would have to have been found which would have caused delay to the project and would have meant major financial loss, estimated to be an additional £12 million, on a project which is on time and under budget.The Judge has held that Harmon is entitled to recover its tender costs (claimed at not more than £438,000) and any profit it can prove it would have earned. These are to be determined at a later hearing. The Judge has said that the fact that Harmon went into insolvent liquidation during the period it would have carried out the contract, cannot be ignored.Advice on the grounds for appeal is being sought.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the OECD's list of tax havens and its recommendations pertaining to them; and if he will make a statement. [94805]

The OECD has not yet completed its evaluation of tax havens.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list those elements of fiscal harmonisation currently being discussed at EU level to which he (a) has and (b) has not raised objections; and if he will make a statement. [95225]

As the joint statement made by the Prime Minister and the German Chancellor last December makes clear, the UK Government will not support proposals leading to a higher tax burden and jeopardising competitiveness and jobs in the EU. We fully support enhanced co-operation in the fight against tax abuse and evasion, and to combat unfair tax competition.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish the (a) conclusions, (b) minutes and (c) agenda of the meeting of EU Tax Ministers held on 13 and 14 October at Fiuggi near Rome. [95093]

I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave to him on 13 July 1999, Official Report, column 182.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what progress has been made in providing self-correcting spectacles in countries with limited optical services; and if she will make a statement. [94804]

We are providing a grant of £250,000 to "Adaptive Eye Care Ltd.", to assist in funding a 12 month programme in Africa and Asia, to further develop the adaptive spectacles. The programme covers market research, product field trials and local staff training.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what criteria her Department employs in determining whether to suspend aid to a foreign Government. [96223]

In our White Paper on Eliminating World Poverty we lay out a number of criteria for partnership in development. These include a commitment to the elimination of poverty, to good governance and to human rights. In some cases the behaviour of a government so offends against the interests and rights of their people that we can no longer work with the offending regime. Instead we will focus on those within civil society who are working for change. Our primary concern must be to continue to deliver support to the poor and to help them realise their rights.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what humanitarian aid her Department is currently providing for Serbia. [96220]

Since May 1999, European Community Humanitarian Office (ECHO) has allocated 26.5 million euros for assistance to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY), of which the UK attribution is about 15 per cent. This consists of food and hygiene assistance to up to 770,000 vulnerable people, repairs to accommodation for displaced people, psycho-social support, small-scale emergency water and sanitation projects, and support to social institutions. Programmes are being implemented through major agencies such as the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCR).

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what representations her Department has made to the DTI in the past three months regarding the cancellation of export credit guarantee debt. [96217]

Debt is primarily the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer. I work closely with the Chancellor on debt and our combined efforts have enabled the Government to deliver their objectives on the revision to the heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC) initiative. The new HIPC framework will deliver twice as much debt relief, and the link to poverty reduction has been greatly strengthened with the introduction of poverty reduction strategies. This provides an opportunity to make much greater progress on eliminating poverty and achieving the international development targets. My officials work closely with those from Treasury, Export Credits Guarantee Department (ECGD) and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), on HIPC and other aspects of the Government's debt policy, including the assistance provided on the UK's export credit debt in the context of the Paris Club of bilateral creditors.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on her Department's policy towards the World Trade Organisation discussions in Seattle. [96222]

The WTO Ministerial meeting in Seattle, 30 November to 3 December, will consider the scope, modalities and structure of a new round of multilateral trade negotiations. I have called for the next WTO round to be a "development round", with a comprehensive agenda which offers all countries the chance to make solid and substantial gains. A comprehensive Round would offer important development opportunities, through increased market access and improved rules. My Department has been working closely with the Department of Trade and Industry and other Departments to give a clear development focus to the EU position in advance of Seattle, and is working hard to win support for a wide ranging round.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement about the revised funding arrangements entered into between her Department and non-governmental organisations. [96221]

I refer to the answer which I gave to the hon. Member on 26 July 1999, Official Report, columns 12–13.The Guidelines for the operation of the Civil Society Challenge Fund have been widely distributed and the first application round began on 1 October. The Fund will operate on a 50:50 matched funding basis. In recognition that non-governmental organisations currently in receipt of 100 per cent. funding for reproductive health activities would find it helpful to have time to adjust to the revised arrangements, I have agreed that they should receive 85 per cent. funding in the first year of the new Fund, 70 per cent. funding in the second year, reaching 50 per cent. in the third year.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many staff were employed directly by her Department on 30 September. [96219]

Figures are not yet available for 30 September but as at 1 July, my Department directly employed a total of 1,728 staff including casual staff and staff on contract not classified as civil servants. In addition the Department employed a further 320 staff who are appointed in-country through its overseas offices.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what recent representations he has made to London Transport concerning the operation of their penalty fare scheme. [95232]

In July this year LT presented Ministers with a copy of the LT/LRPC report on their review of the Underground Penalty Fares Scheme. Ministers have made no representations to London Transport on this matter since then.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when his Department will respond to the consultation on the disposal and recovery of farm plastics issued by his Department 12 months ago. [95879]

The consultation paper received a fairly limited response and subsequently we have been reassessing the proposals for a new industry initiative based on the Government's commitment to apply waste management controls to agricultural waste which is not excluded under Article 2 of the amended Framework Directive on waste. This means that most agricultural waste will be subject to the controls which apply to "controlled waste". The commitment was most recently confirmed in the waste strategy "A Way With Waste" which was published on 30 June. We will make a further statement in the light of this work.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he plans to require the Environment Agency to eliminate the risk of flooding, contamination and storm sewer overflow in the Ouse Burn/Jesmond Dene Stream, Newcastle; and if the effects of climate change have been assessed in calculating these risks. [95910]

The Environment Agency is aware of the risk of flooding within the Ouse Burn catchment. The Agency's records identify the majority of properties which have been affected previously. In addition, a hydraulic study, carried out under section 105 of the Water Resources Act 1991, has identified the properties at risk from a 1 in 100 year flood event.The Agency considers that it is not possible to eliminate flood risk completely. However, the risk can be minimised by appropriate management of the river channel and appropriate development in the flood plain.The Environment Agency is working closely with Northumbrian Water to agree prioritisation of a continuing programme of work to improve unsatisfactory storm sewer overflows. The Government have pressed for this programme to be accelerated under the current Periodic Review of water industry price limits.Since 1991 estimates of rising sea levels arising from geological movements of the British mainland and from climate change effects have been built into the appraisal of options for flood defence.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he has received from the Health and Safety Executive their proposals for the Health and Safety (Miscellaneous Modifications) Regulations 1999; what response to the proposed Regulation 6(8) he plans; and if he will make a statement. [95800]

I have not yet received proposals from the Health and Safety Commission for the Health and Safety (Miscellaneous Modifications) Regulations 1999. I understand the proposals will be submitted to me by the Commission shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will publish the latest average capital values of dwellings by tenure and region for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [95767]

The latest information on capital values for all housing tenures is from the English House Condition Survey 1996. Average values by tenure and region for April 1996 are provided in the table.

	Owner occupied	Private rented	Local authority	RSL
North East	53,282	43,602	26,697	25,949
Yorkshire and the Humber	54,767	36,976	25,025	31,107
North West	59,435	42,795	25,636	26,085
East Midlands	59,818	41,411	28,298	29,432
West Midlands	62,965	53,363	32,127	33,597
South West	70,286	59,036	35,325	42,923
Eastern	77,541	54,055	44,485	43,905
South East	92,617	67,101	44,924	43,687
London	102,143	79,280	48,848	58.354

The English House Condition Survey is based on a sample of dwellings throughout England and is carried out every five years. It provides values for all housing types and tenures at one point in time, and not just recent transactions. Therefore, in the private sector, values will differ from other sources of information on house prices.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the public funding available to improve the condition of run down railway stations. [95762]

Investment in station facilities may be eligible for funding under the Rail Passenger Partnership scheme, set up to help provide new or enhanced local and regional rail services which contribute to the Government's wider objectives for rail. The shadow Strategic Rail Authority (SSRA) has issued guidance on bidding for funds for this purpose and is evaluating proposals already received.A decision on the first group of bids for Rail Passenger Partnership funding is likely to be announced by the SSRA towards the end of 1999 or early in the new year.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he expects that the study into occupational exposure to radio frequency fields will be completed; and if he will make a statement. [95717]

[holding answer 26 October 1999]: The Institute of Occupational Health at the University of Birmingham, in collaboration with the National Radiological Protection Board, is undertaking the study of occupational exposure to radio frequency fields. I am advised the current intention is that the study, which is funded by the industry together with a contribution from the Ministry of Defence, will be completed by the end of 2001.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he has received concerning the impact of his changes to the negative housing subsidy regime. [95976]

Imet a delegation of representatives from the "Negative Subsidy" authorities on 14 September to discuss the potential impact on local authorities of our proposals to change the accounting arrangements for the Housing Revenue Account (HRA).I have since written to the leader of that delegation indicating that the Government are prepared to agree in principle to provide some form of transitional measures when Rent Rebates are removed from the HRA. These will be primarily for those authorities where the transfer represents a significant proportion of their General Fund expenditure, and is long standing. The transitional measures will allow time for "Negative Subsidy" authorities to make necessary financial and procedural adjustments in preparation for the new arrangements. It is too early to say what form these transitional arrangements might take since there are many factors which may potentially affect the level of transfers before the new arrangements are implemented.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will publish weekly and monthly material available to the Rail Regulator on the numbers of cancelled train services, broken down by rail operator. [96038]

Cancellation data, broken down by rail operator and also, in some cases further sub-divided by route group, are published in the Franchising Director's quarterly Bulletin (Copies are in the House Library). There are no immediate plans to publish this data on a more frequent basis. The recent "Instructions and Guidance to the Franchising Director" (copies are in the House Library) would allow him to change the present quarterly interval between Bulletins subject to consultation with Ministers.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what his Department's policy will be in the negotiations at the EU in relation to commercial growing of (a) GM beet produced by Monsanto and (b) GM oil seed rape produced by AgrEvo. [96231]

The UK vote at the EU negotiations will be based solely on the scientific assessment of the information provided in the applications by Monsanto and AgrEvo. In order to vote in favour of granting consents, we would need to be satisfied that the information provided by the companies was accurate and complete. We would also need to be confident that the information showed clearly that there were no significant risks to the environment from the products covered in the consents. This assessment of the risk would be in accordance with the requirements of the Directive at the time the applications were made. However, since the applications were made I, and my colleagues in other Member States, have decided that future applications must include an assessment of a wider range of risks to the environment, including indirect effects and impacts on bio-diversity. We are seeking assurances and commitments from industry that they will provide such assessments through post-market monitoring before any general cultivation in the UK is permitted. Our vote will therefore also be conditional on receiving these commitments.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the earliest date by which biotechnology companies could proceed to commercial planting of any GM crops in the UK. [96230]

Before any genetically modified (GM) crop can proceed to commercial planting in the UK, up to four statutory approvals are required. These are: Part C (marketing) consent under European Directive 90/220/EEC, food safety approval under EU Novel Foods and Novel Food Ingredients Regulation (258/97), National List of approved seeds, and pesticide approval to cover, where necessary, the use of a pesticide in different circumstances on the new GM crops.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what progress his Department has made regarding measures to control the planting of leylandii trees around boundaries. [96210]

The voluntary code of practice on the information to be provided on the sale of hedging plants, drawn up by the Leylandii Working Group, was launched to the horticultural and landscape industry on 15 June. Otherwise, the position remains as set out in the reply given to the hon. Member for Colchester (Mr. Russell) on 17 November 1998, Official Report, column 473.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has for the creation of high-occupancy vehicle lanes on the approaches to the Blackwall Tunnel. [96000]

No final decision has been made on whether to proceed with a trial scheme for a high occupancy vehicle (car sharing) lane on the approaches to the Blackwall Tunnel. We will consider the traffic effects of the extensions to the Jubilee Line and Docklands Light Railway before deciding on whether to introduce a scheme.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the London Underground line closures and service reductions planned for (a) October 1999 to March 2000 and (b) April to September 2000. [96001]

This is an operational matter for London Transport. However, I understand that the following line closures and service reductions are planned:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he intends to publish revised planning guidance for on-shore oil, gas and coalbed methane development. [96523]

We have today issued draft guidance on on-shore oil, gas and coalbed methane development for public consultation. The consultation period will run until 7 January 2000. While the guidance on oil and gas updates that previously contained in Circular 2/85, the proposed guidance on coalbed methane is the first that has been prepared in respect of this potentially important new energy source. Copies of the consultation draft are available in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) which body is responsible for determining which signals are to be fitted with train protection warning system devices; [95954](2) what percentage of all signals are to be fitted with train protection warning system devices; [95955](3) what plans he has to fit train protection warning system devices to freight train loop lines; [95956](4) if signal SN 109 outside Paddington railway station was scheduled for the fitting of a train protection warning system device within existing plans. [95958]

[holding answer 27 October 1999]: The Railway Safety Regulations 1999 require a train protection warning system to be fitted at all signals on a railway where a train could collide with another oncoming, converging or crossing train. These are estimated to account for 30–40 per cent. of all signals. As required by the Regulations, Railtrack is developing a train protection installation programme which must be approved by the Health and Safety Executive. Signal SN109 outside Paddington station falls within that programme.Parts of a railway which are normally used only for the carriage of freight are excluded from the scope of the Regulations.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many signals passed at danger there have been in each of the last five years on tracks between (a) London Paddington and Oxford and (b) Oxford and Evesham. [95988]

[holding answer 27 October 1999]: Information is not held in the form requested. I have asked the initial Capital Chair of the Health and Safety Commission to write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of. State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what advice on railway safety he received before announcing the phasing-out of slam-door trains. [95986]

[holding answer 27 October 1999]: The announcement of the phasing out of slam-door carriages without central locking was made after careful consideration of the Health and Safety Commission's formal recommendations.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many recorded incidents of diesel fuel tanks becoming separated from trains there have been in each of the last five years. [95990]

[holding answer 27 October 1999]: The Health and Safety Executive does not record this type of information and is therefore unable to supply any data.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the reporting stages for signals passed at danger from trackside to Secretary of State; and if he will make a statement. [95987]

[holding answer 27 October 1999]: Incidents of signals passed at danger (SPADs) are required to be reported monthly under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995 to the Health and Safety Executive (Her Majesty's Railway Inspectorate). They are reported monthly by the Safety Managers for the individual Railtrack zones and then submitted by Railtrack to HMRI. This information is published in HMRI's Annual Report on Rail Safety.Following the tragic accident at Ladbroke Grove on 5 October, my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister asked the Health and Safety Commission to arrange for him to be sent a weekly report on the number of signals that had been passed at danger (SPADs) in the previous week. The information is collated and tabulated by HMRI and submitted to the Deputy Prime Minister every Friday. He has received two of these reports so far.The Deputy Prime Minister has also requested the monthly analysis of SPADs. This report is due at the beginning of November and will be published.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the safety record of (a) diesel multiple unit trains and (b) trains hauled by a diesel locomotive. [95993]

[holding answer 27 October 1999]: The Health and Safety Commission, with the operational assistance of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), monitor and review the safety performance of all types of rolling stock including that of diesel multiple units and trains hauled by diesel locomotives. Details of train accidents caused by technical defects affecting all types of locomotives and multiple units are published in HSE's Annual Report on Railway Safety.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions on how many occasions since September 1998 (a) Ministers and (b) officials have (i) met and (ii) corresponded with (1) train operating companies and (2) Railtrack plc regarding signals passed at danger incidents; and if he will place the resulting minutes and letters in the Library. [95982]

[holding answer 27 October 1999]: The lead responsibility for dealing with signals passed at danger rests with the Health and Safety Commission and Executive.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many (a) signal failures and (b) signals passed at danger there have been since the accident at Ladbroke Grove. [95991]

[holding answer 27 October 1999]: The information requested on signal failures is not yet available. Railtrack is required by law to report on a monthly basis incidents of signals passed without authority (commonly known as a 'SPAD') and failures in the signalling system where they endanger or have the potential to endanger the safe passage of trains. In addition my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister has asked for weekly reports of SPADs which will be collated and publicised monthly. The first report will be available in early November.The relevant report for signal failures following the accident at Ladbroke Grove will not be available until mid November.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when random testing for alcohol and drugs was introduced for train drivers. [95989]

[holding answer 27 October 1999]: Random testing for frontline railway staff, including train drivers, was introduced by regulation made under the Transport and Works Act 1992. The regulation came into force in December 1992.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which contractor is responsible for the training of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers at the School of Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, Borden; what penalty clauses are contained in the contract; and if they have been invoked. [95672]

The contractor responsible for the majority of training at the School of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering is Vosper Thorneycroft. Contract performance is regularly monitored and there is an annual review of the contract price, which can vary depending on the number of courses run or the number of students trained during the year. There are no specific penalty clauses in the contract, but full payment depends on the contractor meeting the required performance standards. To date there has been no reason to consider reducing payment on these grounds.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many defence service personnel are serving with Joint Helicopter Command Headquarters; from which service areas they are drawn; and if he will make a statement. [95794]

The Joint Helicopter Command Headquarters is established for 84 Service personnel. The actual strength as at 25 October 1999 is 82. The Service areas from which they are drawn are as follows:

Service	Established strength	Actual strength
Royal Navy	12	12
Army	48	48
Royal Air Force	24	22
Total	84	82

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the cost of converting the east hangar at RAF Honington for use by the new NBC regiment. [95802]

The cost of refurbishing 'E' Hangar at RAF Honington for use by the Joint NBC Regiment would be £1.33 million plus VAT. However, no financial decision will be made on the requirement for this refurbishment until the long term location of the Joint NBC Regiment is known.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many staff are employed in Scotland by executive agencies responsible to his Department in total; and where those staff are located. [95278]

[holding answer 26 October 1999]: As at 1 July 1998, there were 8,448 staff employed in Scotland by executive agencies responsible to the Secretary of State for Defence, as detailed in the table. This is the last year for which figures are available. The MOD has since restructured and a number of the Agencies mentioned in the table have ceased to exist and other new Agencies have been created.

Scotland
	Total	Service	Civilian
Total	8,448	2,288	6,160
Meteorological Office	165	—	165
RAF Maintenance Group Defence Agency	3	—	3
Queen Victoria School	67	—	67
Defence Postal and Courier Service	6	—	6
Army Base Repair Organisation	147	—	147
Defence Secondary Care Agency	1	1	—
Ministry of Defence Police	860	—	860
Naval Recruiting and Training Agency	156	143	13
RAF Training Group Defence Agency	81	42	39
Army Training and Recruiting Agency	1,023	912	111
Defence Communications Services Agency	75	55	20

Scotland
	Total	Service	Civilian
Defence Estates Organisation	71	—	71
Naval Bases and Supply Agency	4,016	840	3,176
RAF Logistics Support Services	5	5	—
RAF Signals Engineering Establishment	59	—	59
Disposal Sales Agency	3	—	3
Defence Clothing and Textile Agency	2	—	2
Army Base Storage and Distribution Agency	34	—	34
Defence Dental Agency	55	48	7
Medical Supply Agency	7	—	7
Defence Codification Agency	107	—	107
Army Personnel Centre	1,256	227	1,029
Ships Support Agency	171	15	156
Defence Vetting Agency	7	—	7
Specialist Procurement Services	71	—	71

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will state for each of the executive agencies responsible to his Department, the (a) total number of staff employed and (b) wage costs in (i) England and (ii) Scotland in the last year for which figures are available. [95279]

[holding answer 26 October 1999]: The table gives details of the number of staff employed by each of the agencies responsible to the Secretary of State for Defence, in England and Scotland as of 1 July 1998, which is the last year for which figures are available. However, the MOD has since restructured and a number of the Agencies mentioned have ceased to exist, while other new Agencies have been created.

	England	Scotland
Total	73,297	8,448
Meteorological Office	1,771	165
Military Survey	1,001	—
RAF Maintenance Group Defence Agency	1,563	3
Service Childrens Education	10	—
Duke of Yorks Royal Military School	99	—
Queen Victoria School	—	67
Defence Analytical Services Agency	115	—
Defence Postal and Courier Service	507	6

	England	Scotland
Army Base Repair Organisation	2,427	147
Defence Animal Centre	171	—
Defence Secondary Care Agency	2,118	1
Ministry of Defence Police	2,666	860
Joint Air Reconnaissance Intelligence Centre	472	—
Naval Recruiting and Training Agency	4,288	156
RAF Training Group Defence Agency	8,683	81
Army Training and Recruiting Agency	24,236	1,023
Logistic Information Systems Agency	225	—
Defence Communications Services Agency	1,237	75
Defence Estates Organisation	969	71
Naval Bases and Supply Agency	5,688	4,016
RAF Logistics Support Services	888	5
RAF Signals Engineering Establishment	841	59
Disposal Sales Agency	27	3
Defence Clothing and Textile Agency	377	2
Army Base Storage and Distribution Agency	3,620	34
Defence Transport and Movements Executive	182	—
Army Technical Support Agency	1,066	—
Defence Dental Agency	644	55
Medical Supply Agency	250	7
Pay and Personnel Agency	811	—
Defence Bills Agency	668	—
Defence Codification Agency	1	107
Naval Manning Agency	275	—
Defence Intelligence and Security Centre	522	—
Anny Personnel Centre	25	1,256
Ships Support Agency	2,510	171
RAF Personnel Management Agency	437	—
Armed Forces Personnel Administration Agency	285	—
Defence Vetting Agency	324	7
Medical Training Organisation	575	—
Specialist Procurement Service	723	71

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to contribute to UN peacekeeping operations in (a) East Timor, (b) Sierra Leone and (c) Congo. [96229]

The UK already contributes two military liaison officers to the UN Mission in East Timor; 15 Service personnel to the UN Observer Mission in Sierra Leone; and six military observers to the UN in the Congo. We will consider any UN requests for further contributions to these operations in the light of other commitments.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of the procurement budget is to be spent through European joint procurement structures. [96226]

I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which Ministers in his Department visited Belize in each year between 1990 and 1997; and what support his Department gave Belize in each year. [96212]

As far as available records show, Belize received official visits from the following Defence Ministers between 1990 and 1997.January 1990:

To ask the Prime Minister if the Government have responded to the Eighth report of the House of Commons Select Committee on Standards and Privileges on the premature disclosure of reports of the Foreign Affairs Committee. [96614]

I wrote to my right hon. Friend the Member for Ashton-under-Lyne (Mr. Sheldon), the Chairman of the Committee, on 14 September 1999 to indicate the Government's intention to abide fully by the Committee's recommendations. Copies of my letter and its attachments have been placed in the Libraries of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the total number of people aged (a) 60 to 74, (b) 75 to 79 and (c) over 80 years living in (i) England, (ii) Scotland, (iii) Northern Ireland and (iv) Wales whose weekly income is £10 above the income support level. [94198]

The information requested is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is in the table.

Couples and single persons with income between the income support level and £10 above the income support level in April 1999 in the United Kingdom
Thousand
Age of eldest partner	Single person	Couple	All single persons and couples
60 to 74	60	20	80
75 to 79	140	40	180
80 and over	90	10	100
All 60 and over	290	70	360

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what was the number of claimants receiving Income Support at the end of August 1996 in each local authority area in England; [95738](2) what was the number of dependent children of claimants receiving Income Support at the end of August 1996 in each local authority area in England. [95736]

The information has been placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of the additional expenditure by his Department on housing benefit subsidy in respect of rent allowances paid to local authorities in each of the years from 1989–90 to 1998–99 in respect of tenants of registered social landlords created as a result of large scale voluntary transfers. [94345]

The only estimates made are projections for transfers of funds from the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions to this Department for the three years following each tranche of large scale voluntary transfers. The Rent Allowance expenditure relating to transferred properties cannot be identified beyond this three year period because the Housing Benefit data does not distinguish between Registered Social Landlord tenants in transferred properties, and those in other Registered Social Landlord

Projected increases to rent allowance subsidy at the time of transfer
£ million
	1992–93	1993–94	1994–95	1995–96	1996–97	1997–98	1998–99	1999–2000	2000–01	2001–02
Year of transfer
1991–92	3.9	4.5	5.1	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1992–93	—	28.9	42.7	47.2	—	—	—	—	—	—
1993–94	—	—	29.1	30.4	27.6	—	—	—	—	—
1994–95	—	—	—	42.5	52.7	58.6	—	—	—	—
1995–96	—	—	—	—	42.9	45.9	47.8	—	—	—
1996–97	—	—	—	—	—	23.6	25.3	26.9	—	—
1997–98	—	—	—	—	—	—	49.1	50.6	51.8	—
1998–99	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	66.7	69.6	72.4

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what percentage and number of pensioners are

Take-up of income related benefits by pensioner benefit units 1997–98
	Income Support	Housing Benefit	Council Tax Benefit	Total
Average number of recipients (Thousand)	1,470	1,830	2,600	5,870
Numbers entitled but not receiving benefit (Thousand)	530 to 870	0 to 250	640 to 1,190	1,170 to 2,310
Percentage non take-up rate	27 to 37	0 to 12	20 to 31	17 to 28

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the basis on which the estimate of the cost of SERPS changes was made by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Social Security, reported in the House of Lords Official Report of 11 October 1991, column 31. [95532]

I refer my right hon. Friend to the Written Answer my hon. Friend, the then Minister of State, gave the hon. Member for Newbury (Mr. Rendel) on 22 March 1999, Official Report, column 103.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish the Chief Child Support Officer's annual report for 1998–99. [96728]

The annual report of the Chief Child Support Officer for the year 1998–99 is published today. This report provides information, based on monitoring of decision making in the Child Support Agency during 1998–99, on standards of decision making and levels of accuracy in the assessment of child support liability. The report indicates that, although substantial progress has been made there is still cause for concern about standards of decision making in child support. The Chief Child

The information is as follows:Support Officer's analysis of the causes of the inaccuracy in the scheme is a valuable contribution to the process of reform. In particular the report highlights the damaging effect the excessive complexity of the current maintenance formula.The report shows that, of the assessments examined in 1998–99, fewer than one in five were definitely wrong in cash terms. In a further 22 per cent. there was insufficient evidence to tell whether the assessment was right or not. Overall, 60 per cent. were definitely correct in money terms, a slight rise from the 59 per cent. achieved in the previous year.We expect to see continuing progress both as the result of continued efforts by Child Support Agency staff and as the provisions in the Social Security Act 1998 are implemented. It is clear that radical reform is the only real solution and the White Paper "A new contract for Welfare: Children's Rights and Parents' Responsibilities" sets out our proposals for a simple straightforward and transparent child support scheme.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what help will be available from the benefits system for people exercising the right to parental leave. [96730]

New rights to unpaid parental leave will be introduced from 15 December 1999. Under existing benefit rules a lone parent who is working will be able to qualify for Income Support while taking parental leave from their employer provided that they meet the normal qualifying conditions. This will also be the case for parents who are able to qualify for Income Support on sickness or other grounds. Some parents may be able to qualify for other benefits such as Housing Benefit or Jobseekers Allowance if they can meet the normal conditions. Precise numbers of people who claim in these circumstances will depend upon how many people decide to exercise their right to take up parental leave. We estimate there could be around 8,000 people per year who will claim under existing benefit rules, at an additional cost of some £10 million.We also propose to change Income Support rules to make Income Support available for couples who would not otherwise qualify while on parental leave. The change will apply to couples on a low income who are exercising the new rights to statutory unpaid parental leave to care for a child who lives with them. Income Support will be available when the only earner is taking unpaid parental leave and the family is in receipt of either Working Families Tax Credit, Disabled Persons Tax Credit, Housing Benefit or Council Tax Benefit on the day before the parental leave is taken. (Where both members of the couple work, Income Support will be available if both take statutory unpaid parental leave at the same time). Our latest estimate is that about 1,000 people per year will claim Income Support under these new provisions, at a cost of £1.5 million.We are committed to helping families achieve a balance between their home and work lives. This measure will support the new parental leave entitlements in the Employment Rights Act and help low income families take up their statutory entitlement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his oral answer on 25 October 1999, Official Report, column 698, how many parents with care his Department anticipates will have their entitlement to maintenance reduced under the proposed changes to the CSA; and by what amount. [96057]

The purpose of the reforms is to get maintenance flowing more regularly to more children. Overall more than 1 million children will be better off as the changes take effect.If all existing cases moved to the new scheme today, average maintenance liability for non-resident parents in work would fall from around £38 now to an estimated £30.50. On this basis about 350,000 parents with care, whose non-resident parent is in paid work, would have a lower maintenance assessment as a result of the new child support rates. The average reduction would be about £17 a week. 190,000 parents with care would have a higher assessment, with average increases of around £11.50 a week

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what additions were made to the Welsh Block in respect of 1999–2000 after the announcement of the last CSR settlement; and to which expenditure heads within the Welsh Block such additions were allocated. [94790]

I refer my right hon. Friend to the answer given by my predecessor on 14 December 1998, Official Report, column 391.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what requests he has received in relation to match funding for EU Structural Funds from the First Secretary. [96554]

I hold regular meetings with the First Secretary of the National Assembly for Wales. We have discussed a range of issues, including Structural Funds support in Wales, and I am aware of the importance of the issue.

To ask the Solicitor-General if he (a) has established and (b) published a baseline for policy appraisal against which to measure progress on equal treatment. [94863]