To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department by what date councils which incurred costs in respect of Kosovan refugee reception centres (a) will receive details of the revised format for the submission of costs, (b) be expected to make their submissions and (c) receive reimbursements; if reimbursements to councils will include loss of interest; and if he will make a statement. [98533]

Proposals for a Special Grant to reimburse English local authorities for additional expenditure incurred in connection with the acceptance of displaced persons from Kosovo under the United Nations High Commission for Refugees Humanitarian Evacuation Programme, were circulated to local authorities for consultation on 17 November.The consultation period will end in December. The aim is that the Grant Report will be laid before Parliament around the turn of the year. On current plans, local authorities would submit claims to the Home Office by the end of February 2000 for relevant expenditure in the period to December 1999. Those claims will be paid in the current financial year. An audited claim for the full financial year will be submitted as soon as the authority is in a position to do so at the end of the financial year and any outstanding balance of grant will then be paid. The Special Grant will meet all relevant expenditure which the authority demonstrates was additional but it will not meet claims for loss of interest.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his planned timetable for the revision of the Immigration Rules and the publication of revised rules following the passing of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999. [98757]

We intend to phase implementation of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 over the next 12 to 18 months, giving priority to the new asylum support arrangements and the civil penalty for carrying clandestine entrants. Amendments to the Immigration Rules will be published as necessary when specific provisions are implemented. A major consolidation of changes to the Rules is likely to be required at the end of the implementation process.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what services are provided for asylum seekers for help with shopping; and at what cost to public funds. [98638]

No information on costs specifically relating to any assistance to asylum seekers for help with shopping is available to the Home Office.Asylum seekers who claim asylum at their port of entry may be eligible for social security benefits. Those who do not claim at their port of entry may be supported by local authority social services departments. In addition, local authorities may provide various means to enable asylum seekers to obtain essential living needs.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions Her Majesty's Government have had with leading British diamond purchasers, with particular reference to De Beers, as to what controls they have put in place to ensure that they are not purchasing Angolan diamonds without a certificate of origin. [99158]

On 5 October, De Beers announced an embargo on the purchase of all diamonds from Angola by its buying offices world-wide. I applaud this decision and hope that others will follow their example to put pressure on UNITA and bring them to the negotiating table. We continue to hold regular discussions with De Beers, representatives of which I met recently.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the Government's position on the FCO Policy Document 148, 1986, in relation to NATO intervention in Kosovo. [98534]

FCO Policy Document No.148 was a paper prepared by the FCO Policy Planning staff in July 1984 as a basis for discussion. It was not a statement of government policy.As we have stated on many occasions, we are clear that the NATO action in Kosovo was justified in the light of overwhelming humanitarian need.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to ensure that the Rail Regulator requires Railtrack to improve its safety standards. [98667]

It is for the Health and Safety Executive, as the sole regulator for railway safety, to ensure that Railtrack meets, and where necessary improves, its safety standards. The Health and Safety Executive have a memorandum of understanding with the Rail Regulator to facilitate liaison between the two organisations.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on his Department's policy on the use of road trains in town and city centres. [98633]

Goods vehicle road trains, ie a lorry towing a trailer, meeting the technical requirements of the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986, as amended, and the Road Vehicles (Authorised Weight) Regulations 1998 are generally allowed to operate in the UK. However, they may be subject to local restrictions.There are also in existence some small vehicles that carry passengers in trailers which cannot meet the definition of a public service vehicle and cannot be used as such. They are individually authorised, generally to operate on limited sightseeing routes.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what measures he has taken to ensure that the economic strategies of the regional development agencies are consistent with emerging regional planning guidance in each region. [98528]

Draft Planning Policy Guidance Note 11 on "Regional Planning" (PPG 11) and the statutory guidance to the RDAs on the formulation of their strategies set out the relationship between Regional Planning Guidance and the strategies.Both draft PPG 11 and the statutory guidance to RDAs emphasise the complementary nature of the guidance and strategies and stress the need for the regional planning bodies and the RDAs to work closely together.This is already happening. The RDAs and the planning bodies are talking to each other and mapping a way forward with the benefit, for example, of joint working parties. In some regions RDA board members are also members of the regional planning body.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what measures he has taken to ensure that the regional development agencies have given due regard to the views of their designated voluntary regional chambers. [98531]

We have given each Regional Development Agency (RDA) a direction under section 8(2)(a) of the Regional Development Agencies Act 1998 requiring them to have regard to the views of their designated regional chamber in formulating and keeping under review the regional strategy that they are required to produce under the Act.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will require regional development agencies to publish a list of changes that were made to each of their draft strategies as a result of the findings of a sustainability appraisal. [98526]

The Regional Development Agencies received a wide range of comments on their draft Regional Strategies. They have taken account of these in their own ways and have made their own publicity arrangements. The draft Strategies and the revised versions, which were presented to the Government on 26 October, are public documents.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the Regional Development Agencies which have published an appraisal of how their economic strategy will foster effective protection of the environment, as required by the statutory guidance to the Regional Development Agencies. [98525]

Guidance on the formulation of the strategies was issued to the Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) on 31 March 1999. This specifies that an appraisal of the contribution the strategy will make to sustainable development should be produced. The appraisal should cover social, economic and environmental sustainability.All RDAs carried out a sustainable development appraisal of their draft strategies which informed the development of their final strategies. The following RDAs have already made these appraisals publicly available, and copies are available from the RDAs directly:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what sanctions may be applied to the Regional Development Agencies if they fail to act in accordance with the commitments made in their (a) published strategies, (b) action plans and (c) corporate plans. [98530]

The RDAs have to operate within the standard framework which applies to all non-departmental public bodies. They are accountable to Ministers and, through them, Parliament. Performance against delivery of the RDAs' strategies, action plans and corporate plans will be an important factor in decisions on the allocation of future resources.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what measures he has taken to ensure that the Regional Development Agencies have, in their strategies, properly addressed their responsibilities in relation to rural areas. [98532]

Guidance on the formulation of the strategies was issued to the Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) on 31 March 1999. This outlined how the RDAs should seek to meet their statutory duty under Section 4 of the Regional Development Agencies Act 1998, which states that the RDAs' purposes apply as much to the rural parts of their areas as the non-rural parts.Supplementary, non-statutory, guidance on the formulation of the strategies was issued at the same time, which included a chapter on rural issues.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what measures he has taken to ensure that the Regional Development Agencies' duty to promote sustainable development is adequately reflected in their strategies. [98529]

Guidance on the formulation of the strategies was issued to the Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) on 31 March 1999. This outlined how the RDAs should seek to meet their statutory duty under Section 4 of the Regional Development Agencies Act 1998, to contribute to the achievement of sustainable development in the UK, where it is relevant to its area to do so.The guidance specifies that an appraisal of the contribution the strategy will make to sustainable development should be produced.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the information technology projects undertaken by his Department and agencies responsible to his Department, including (a) start date, (b) planned completion date, (c) expected completion date (d) planned costs and (e) the expected costs; and if he will make a statement. [98642]

The information that the hon. Gentleman requested is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what provision has been approved by the Health and Safety Executive for the evacuation of the London Eye in the event of an emergency; and if he will make a statement. [98634]

There is no requirement for the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to approve emergency evacuation procedure for the London Eye under the Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act 1974. The Executive has produced industry guidance for Safe Practice at Fairgrounds. The responsibility for the safe operation and the emergency arrangements belong to the operator. The Executive is in discussion with British Airways London Eye, the operator of the wheel, about escape procedures including the need to practise them before the wheel is used.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate he has made of the savings which could be made in the management and maintenance of public sector housing by a programme of installing energy efficiency measures in order to end fuel poverty in public sector housing. [99115]

Under my Department's Energy Efficiency Best Practice Programme, the Building Research Establishment commissioned some limited studies in the early 1990s. The studies estimated that public sector landlords could expect to save of the order of £300 and £400 per dwelling per year as a result of applying comprehensive energy efficiency improvements to public sector housing. These savings resulted from reductions in management time dealing with rent arrears, lower management costs associated with handling fewer complaints, voids and vandalism, and lower maintenance costs. The studies are available as published Energy Efficiency Best Practice programme case studies (numbers 186, 187 and 189) and I will arrange for copies to be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when the Green Ministers Committee last met; if he will publish the minutes of the last meeting of the Green Ministers Committee; and if he will publish the agenda for the next meeting of the Green Ministers Committee. [99201]

The Green Ministers Committee met on 9 November. The minutes and agenda are not made public, but the House is advised of what happened at each meeting. I refer the hon. Member to the reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Plymouth, Sutton (Mrs. Gilroy), with regard to the outcome of the Committee's last meeting, which follows.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when the last meeting of Green Ministers was; what was discussed; and if he will provide a list of Ministers who now sit on the Green Ministers Committee. [99516]

The Green Ministers Committee met on 9 November. Baroness Young, of English Nature, gave a presentation about biodiversity and a lively discussion followed.The Committee: agreed a checklist on biodiversity that Departments will use to consider what action they can take in this area; considered how to raise awareness in Government of sustainable development and the Greening Government Initiative; agreed to take an active role in next year's review of Government spending; reviewed the proposals the Committee should make on new energy targets for the Government estate from April 2000; and agreed to consider what strategic approach should be taken to the Committee's work at the next meeting.Following recent changes in Ministerial responsibilities, the full list of Green Ministers is as follows:

Department	Minister
Chairman	Michael Meacher MP
Agriculture, Fisheries and Food	Elliott Morley MP
Cabinet Office	Graham Stringer MP
Chancellor's Departments	Stephen Timms MP
Culture, Media and Sport	Janet Anderson MP
Defence	Peter Kilfoyle MP
Education and Employment	Jacqueline Smith MP
Environment, Transport and the Regions	Beverley Hughes MP
Foreign and Commonwealth Office	Peter Hain MP

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what projections he has made of road miles travelled on UK roads for each year between 1999 and 2010 by (a) domestic cars, (b) commercial vehicles, and (c) public transport vehicles; [99184](2) what assessment he has made of the effect on road congestion of increases in road fuel duties since May 1997; [99166](3) what projections he has made of the number of vehicles on UK roads in each year between 1999 and 2010. [99183]

Revised assessments of future traffic levels, taking into account the potential impact of the Integrated Transport White Paper are being prepared to inform the Government's first report under the Road Traffic Reduction (National Targets) Act 1998, which will be published shortly.

To ask the Solicitor-General how the Government proposes to respond to the recommendations contained in the Law Commission report, Consents to Prosecution (Law Com No. 255). [99521]

We are grateful to the Law Commission for a very careful and thorough report. The proposals contained in the report are accepted in principle, subject to the following points. There is a clear need for rationalisation of the consent provisions which attach to certain criminal offences. In particular, the separation of investigation and prosecution effected by the establishment in 1986 of the Crown Prosecution Service reduces the need for consent provisions. The careful analysis of the consent regime, the justification for its existence and the way in which it has been applied to a wide variety of offences provides a useful basis for further work, which the Law Commission identifies.The Government recognise that the current consent requirements are in need of reform and agree with the Law Commission's view that a consent provision must attach to a particular offence not to a particular defendant or class of defendants.The Government share the Law Commission's view that further consideration will need to be given to the categories of case in which consent should be required. The categories set out in the report create a useful guide for analysing the offences which require consent, and these will need to be applied flexibly. In particular, the Government wish to leave open the possibility of requiring consent provisions where reasons of public policy make this appropriate. The Law commission recognises that the category which relates to controlling the prosecution of offences where the prosecution of offences Where the prosecution may violate convention right may not be confined to Article 6 cases, and that further consideration will be required. The report acknowledges that further work will need to be carried by the Legal Secretariat to the Law Officers aimed at identifying the scope of the necessary reform.The Government welcome the Law Commission's view that some consent provisions should be retained. It may be appropriate at some future date to examine more widely the issues concerning the ability to bring private prosecutions.The Government recognise the importance of the DPP's role in relation to taking over proceedings and discontinuance but, as the Law Commission acknowledges, there are a large number of designated authorities specified in consent provisions. Further consideration will need to be given to the position of the DPP in relation to those other prosecutors.The Government welcome the proposal that, as regards existing legislation, provision should be made to enable, in appropriate cases, transfer of consent provisions by statutory instrument; and as regards future legislation, provision should be made to enable transfer of consent provisions by statutory instrument. Such statutory instruments will be made under the affirmative resolution procedure to facilitate scrutiny.As acknowledged in the report, the report concentrates on guiding principles, and further work will need to be done before changes can be made to the existing consent provisions.Work will begin on:

To ask the Solicitor-General if he will make a statement concerning the role of the Law Officers in prosecutions which are conducted by Government Departments and agencies whose prosecuting responsibilities are not subject to their formal superintendence. [99522]

The Government have decided that, with effect from the date of this answer, the Law Officers should have a more formal role in respect of prosecutions by Government Departments and agencies that are not subject to their superintendence. In future, the Law officers will examine cases raising important matters of particular difficulty. They will have regular meetings with senior representatives in each Department or agency to discuss such cases, and prosecution issues more generally; and will receive regular written information on casework of particular concern.The focus of the new arrangements will be on prosecution cases rather than the allocation of resources or determination of prosecution priorities, which must be a matter for each Department and agency. In cases in which the Law Officers do express a review, the final decision will remain with the responsible Minister or office-holder, but the Law Officers' views will be taken fully into account.I should like to make plain that this initiative is prompted by a desire to strengthen the current arrangements, it is not a response to the handling of any particular case. The new arrangements are intended to enhance decision making within the prosecution process, and should lead to worthwhile improvements in the quality of such decision making. No legislative measures will be necessary to put the arrangements into effect.

To ask the Prime Minister what representations he or his office have made to (a) the Department of Health, (b) Christie Hospital NHS Trust and (c) NHS Executive North West relating to the future designation of the Christie Hospital as a regional cancer centre. [98830]

There have been no representations to either the Department of Health or the Christie Hospital National Health Service Trust concerning the designation of a regional cancer centre other than to seek advice on correspondence received in my office.

To ask the Prime Minister what representations he or his office have made to (a) the NHS Executive North West or (b) the Department of Health recommending the merger of the Christie NHS Hospital Trust with another NHS trust. [98831]

None.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on his proposals to revise the terms of DA notices. [98759]

The Defence, Press and Broadcasting Advisory Committee, which has a mixed official and media membership, and which is currently revising the terms of the Defence Advisory Notices, is chaired by the Permanent Under-Secretary at the Ministry of Defence.The six existing DA Notices were last revised in 1993, and can be found in Open Government Document 93/06. They are now being revised again, partly so that they reflect changes to policy since then, for example on the release of certain additional information about nuclear weapons; partly to ensure that no unnecessary security restrictions are imposed; and partly, at the request of the media members of the committee, to give as helpful guidance as possible to editors, broadcasters and publishers.Changes to some of the details of the terms of the Notices will not affect any other aspects of the DA Notice system, which is advisory and voluntary, and leaves responsibility for what is published with the editor or publisher.The aim is to complete work on the revision of the Notices by early next year, when a new Open Government Document will be issued.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what proposals he has relating to the operation of the ONE service. [99517]

Regulations have been laid today containing provisions to support joint working between the Benefits Agency, the Employment Service and local authorities within the ONE service.The present system requires claimants to deal separately with different parts of the welfare system for each individual benefit they want to claim. It also requires them to provide similar information in support of each claim.These regulations support the operation of the ONE service by enabling all a customer's benefit needs to be dealt with in a single location and their information to be collected just once. The ONE service is a major step forward in modernising the benefit system giving people of working age a personal adviser who can help deal with all their benefit needs, and provide advice and support on how they may become more independent.These regulations also support the operation of our other main welfare-to-work measures.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to collect additional information about people's work-related capacities through the medical assessment process for incapacity benefits. [99518]

Regulations have been laid today giving effect to provisions in the Welfare Reform and Pensions Act 1999 which will enable the All Work Test to play a more positive role in helping people claiming incapacity benefits to return to work.The Social Security (Incapacity for Work) Miscellaneous Amendments Regulations 1999 allow additional positive information about what people can do in spite of their illness or disability to be collected through the medical assessment process. A new "Capability Report" will be prepared by the doctor who assesses the person for benefit purposes, and sent to Personal Advisers to help them give advice and support to sick and disabled people who want to work. The benefit decision-maker will not see the Capability Report and it will have no effect on people's benefit entitlement.These provisions will come into force from 13 December, to allow the new "Capability Report" to be piloted in the 12 ONE areas.In addition, the regulations rename the All Work Test the Personal Capability Assessment from 3 April 2000.These regulations do not change the entitlement criteria for benefits paid on the grounds of incapacity. People will continue to be assessed against a set of functional medical criteria. However, many disabled people who would meet the criteria for benefit are in work; and many more want to work and could do so with the right help and advice. ONE is starting to give people that help and the new Capability Report will make a constructive contribution to this.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the cost of disregarding invalid care allowance in assessments for means-tested benefits. [98545]

The estimated cost of disregarding all Invalid Care Allowance in the assessments for means-tested benefit is £450 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what facilities are available for the submission of completed benefit claim forms over the Internet. [99197]

Currently, the Department does not have the facility to process claim forms submitted over the Internet. However, the Department is undergoing a review of its website, which includes providing facilities to submit benefit claim forms on the Internet in the future.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the cost of extending the minimum income guarantee to carers who provide at least 35 hours of care a week. [98546]

Bringing Income Support (IS) for those on the Carer Premium in line with the minimum income guarantee would set the Carer Premium to £23.60. The cost of this £9.65 increase in the Carer Premium is estimated at £100 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people were waiting for a first appointment with a consultant in the West Sussex health authority area on (a) 1 April and (b) 1 October. [98618]

The information requested is not available centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people were on the NHS waiting list for treatment in the West Sussex health authority on (a) 1 April and (b) 1 October. [98620]

The number of people waiting for treatment in the West Sussex health authority area is contained in the table.

Number of people waiting for elective admission in West Sussex health authority
Date	Total waiting
31 March 1999	19,046
30 September 1999	20,230

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if waiting times for hearing aid installations are included in official NHS waiting list figures. [98617]

Information on waiting times for fitting hearing aids is not collected centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how, by whom and over what time period hospitals will be reimbursed for patients receiving out-of-area treatment. [98503]

Under the Out of Area Treatment (OAT) arrangements, each National Health Service trust has a main commissioner. The main commissioner health authority is funded for OATs through a non-recurrent adjustment to allocations as part of the overall process for setting cash limits for the financial year. NHS trusts are funded by their main commissioners.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations his Department has received seeking the merger of the Christie NHS Trust with any other NHS trust. [98834]

There have been no such representations and, as far as I am aware, there are no plans to merge the Christie Hospital National Health Service Trust with any other NHS trust in the North West region.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what criteria are used by his Department to determine if the chairman of an NHS trust should be appointed for (a) three years and (b) a shorter period; [98833](2) which NHS trust chairmen have been reappointed for a second term of office of

The length of appointment for members of National Health Service boards will depend upon a range of factors, including the length of time already served by a re-appointed candidate; when the terms of office of other board members are due to come to an end; and any plans relating to the future of the body involved. Each case will be looked at on its merits, the decision taken depending upon the different circumstances involved.During the last six months, a total of 65 National Health Service trust chairs have been appointed, of which 25 were re-appointments. Of those chairs who were re-appointed, three were appointed for three-year terms and nine for two years. Details are shown in the table.

Chair	NHS trust	Appointment period
Three year appointments for re-appointed NHS Trust Chairs
Anthony Woodbridge	Harrow and Hillingdon Healthcare	1 November 1999–31 October 2002
Dianne Jeffrey	Community Health Care Service (North Derbyshire)	1 November 1999–31 October 2002
Peter Mount	Salford Royal Hospitals	1 November 1999–31 October 2002
Two year appointments for re-appointed NHS Trust Chairs
Peter Bagnall	Oxford Radcliffe Hospital	1 November 1999–31 October 2001
Alan Connolly	Rockingham Forest	1 November 1999–31 October 2001
Christine Field	Mid-Sussex	1 November 1999–31 October 2001
Peter Suddock	Dudley Group of Hospitals	1 November 1999–31 October 2001
John Wells	James Paget Healthcare	1 November 1999–31 October 2001
Audrey Stenner	Papworth Hospital	1 November 1999–31 October 2001
John Hemingway	Dewsbury Healthcare	1 November 1999–31 October 2001
Brian Nelson	Hereford Hospitals	1 November 1999–31 October 2001
Helen Busteed	Trafford Healthcare	1 November 1999–31 October 2001

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many patients have had to sleep overnight in beds in accident and emergency bays at Broomfield hospital, Chelmsford, in the last 36 days; [98521](2) how many patients have had to sleep overnight on trolleys in the Accident and Emergency Department of Broomfield hospital, Chelmsford, in the last 36 days; [98520](3) what has been the

The information requested is not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action is being taken to ensure no patients have had to sleep (a) on trolleys or (b) in beds in the accident and emergency department of Broomfield Hospital, Chelmsford. [98523]

The winter plan developed by the North Essex health economy has been assessed as low risk by Eastern Regional Office in all areas monitored. This indicates that plans are in place to ensure that there is adequate provision to deal with anticipated demand. The National Health Service trust is working closely with social services and primary care to ensure that this is implemented.An important part of this is an assessment unit funded from accident and emergency modernisation funds which the NHS trust is to open in its accident and emergency department. Total allocation to Mid Essex Hospital Services NHS Trust is £845,000.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many intensive care beds and high dependency beds there were within the NHS in each of the last three years; and how many of each category he expects to be maintained over the next two years. [98755]

Information on the average daily number of beds by ward classification is included in "Bed Availability and Occupancy, England" copies of which are available in the Library.A ward classed as 'intensive care' may contain high dependency beds and general beds depending on the arrangements for critical care services within individual National Health Service trusts. The figures therefore overstate the number of intensive care beds. For this reason, we have piloted a new census focusing on adult intensive care and high dependency beds, the results of which we will publish in due course.Health authorities and NHS trusts are finalising plans for more adult intensive care and high dependency beds for this year than last, particularly over the crucial winter period.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the drugs for which he proposes to set a maximum price using powers under the Health Act 1999; and if orders will be preceded by a period of consultation. [98753]

The powers to control prices of National Health Service medicines are contained in sections 33 and 34 of the Health Act 1999. Section 33 may be used where there is a voluntary scheme, such as the new Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme, to limit the prices charged by members of such a scheme. There are no proposals to set any maximum prices under this provision. The powers in section 34 may be used only in respect of those suppliers and manufacturers who elect not to become members of a voluntary scheme.A formal consultation with the industry body as required by the Health Act has been completed with the Association of British Pharmaceutical Industry. In addition, we are also consulting the Association of Pharmaceutical Importers and the British Association of Pharmaceutical Wholesalers. We will be introducing secondary legislation to give effect to the powers contained in section 34 of the Health Act 1999. Such powers will ensure equity of treatment for those companies who choose to join the 1999 PPRS and those who do not.So far all but two companies affected by the price reduction in the voluntary scheme have elected to join the 1999 PPRS. It remains open to those companies to change their elections and join the 1999 PPRS. Otherwise they will be subject to the provisions of the statutory price control measures which will be introduced.Statutory powers to control NHS prices are not in place and it is not certain which, if any, companies will be subject to them. In the case of a company falling within such powers there will be additional consultation with the company. Therefore I am unable to list the drugs which would be affected by any statutory price control. If specific drugs do become subject to statutory price control then we will publish the details of those drugs at the earliest opportunity.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many of the Statutory Instruments introduced by his Department since May 1997 have had the EU as their legislative source. [98754]

Sixteen Statutory Instruments introduced by the Department since May 1997 have had the European Union as their legislative source.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to encourage manufacturing industry in the North West Region. [98669]

Earlier this month my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry announced a number of new initiatives which will assist in the creation and development of companies: Regional Capital Venture Funds; a Phoenix Fund, the UK High Technology Fund and Enterprise Grants.In addition, the new Assisted Areas map will also play a major role in encouraging manufacturing industry in the North West Region.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many claims have been submitted in respect of (a) chronic bronchitis and emphysema and (b) vibration white finger; and when he expects all claims to be settled. [99210]

As at 14 November the Department's claim handlers, IRISC, had received 89,206 claims from former miners and their families for chronic bronchitis and emphysema, and 52,157 claims for vibration white finger.On 24 September we signed the Handling Agreement with the solicitors representing the miners, which sets out the procedures for settling 100,000+ expected respiratory disease claims. On 5 October the contract to deliver the full Medical Assessment Process was awarded to Healthcall. The first full medical assessments should begin in the next month. We expect all claimants to have been assessed within the next three years.In July we awarded a contract to SEMA Group for the delivery of the VWF medical assessment process. Tests began in September, seven centres are now open, and SEMA plan to have 12 centres in operation across the mining regions by January. We expect the majority of claimants to have been assessed by the end of next year.As at 14 November we had made payments to both respiratory and VWF claimants totalling some £90.7 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the locations, dates of opening or proposed dates of opening are of centres for medical assessment of claims for vibration white finger. [98683]

There are currently seven centres in operation in Barnsley, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Mansfield, Newcastle and Sheffield. We expect a further five centres to be up and running by January 2000 in Kent, Manchester, Nottingham, Swansea and Wakefield. The locations for this initial tranche of centres were determined by balancing the geographic distribution of claimants against the availability of the medical resource needed to undertake the testing. We are assessing the options for opening further centres early next year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many claims his Department has received in respect of respiratory disease; and in respect of how many claims spirometry has been completed. [98744]

As at 14 November the Department's claim handlers, IRISC, had received 89,206 claims from former miners and their families, of which 28,000 are from widows and dependants.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list by county of residence the numbers of (a) claims received in respect of respiratory disease,

Region	Respiratory claims received	Amount paid in respect of interim/expedited offers (£)	VWF claims received	Amount paid in respect of interim and general damage offers (£)
Anglia	301	111,511.45	128	127,545.81
Midlands	16,641	9,234,386.60	10,538	7,655,014.00
North East	33,195	15,119,472.88	26,745	27,833,543.41
North West	5,629	1,801,594.42	2,374	1,317,027.87
Northern Ireland	8	2,000	4	0.00
Scotland	7,687	2,909,873.85	3,714	4,172,361.99
South Central	134	51,727.15	37	20,876.74
South East	1,368	354,182.59	472	94,816.39
South West	599	70,308.35	50	17,578.21
Wales	23,414	9,300,331.58	7,998	5,639,601.83
London	277	48,000.00	87	12,610.88

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many claims have been made for respiratory disease where the claimant has since died. [98685]

As at 14 November IRISC, the Department's claim handlers, have registered 28,249 claims on behalf of the widows or dependants of former miners. However, IRISC have been notified by solicitors of the date of death in only 21,087 cases. 2,980 of these deaths occurred after the date of claim.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to ensure that price reductions on prepayment meters are passed on to the consumer. [98492]

This is a matter for the Director General of Gas and Electricity Markets, who has recently proposed new price controls for the Public Electricity Suppliers, to come into force in April 2000, and with average price cuts of 10 per cent. The Director General is currently considering the price control for British Gas Trading, and will announce that soon. Prepayment meter customers should benefit, as do other customers, from general reductions in prices. In addition, the Director General has proposed that the prepayment meter surcharge, which reflects the additional amount these customers pay, should not exceed £15 a year (at present it varies by company, and is up to £27 a year). Second-tier electricity suppliers and competitors to British Gas Trading are not subject to price control, because they operate in a competitive market, in which the price-controlled incumbents set the benchmark price; and consumers are free to seek a new supplier if they wish.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to introduce legislation to give utility regulators a duty to protect the interests of low-income consumers. [98491]

A county of residence breakdown is not available. However, the regional breakdown is as follows:

The Government are determined that disadvantaged consumers in the utility sectors should be properly protected, and that they should enjoy a fair share of the reduction in prices resulting from increased competition.We shall introduce a Utilities Bill in this session, and a requirement to consider the interests of people on low incomes will be an important feature of the regulators' new primary duty to protect the interests of consumers, wherever possible and appropriate, through promoting effective competition.We also intend, as part of the Bill, to give regulators a duty to have regard to statutory guidance issued by Ministers on social objectives relevant to their particular sector.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how long the current allocation to the partnership fund under the Employment Relations Act 1999 is projected to last. [98467]

Up to £5 million is to be made available in a series of calls, over a period of four years. The fund will support projects which either develop partnerships in the workplace or disseminate the benefits of workplace partnership more widely.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects the second commencement order under the Employment Relations Act 1999 to be made; and if the order will include section 18(1–5). [98626]

The second commencement order (S.I. 1999/2830) under the Employment Relations Act 1999 was made on 14 October. It included sections 18(1)—(5). For further details of the provisions covered by both the first and second commencement orders, I refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Bradford, North (Mr. Rooney) on 21 October 1999, Official Report, column 613W.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the closing date will be for the second round of bids for resources from the partnership fund established under the Employment Relations Act 1999. [98468]

The timing of the second round has not yet been set but will be decided and announced in the light of the take-up of the first round, which closes on 26 November 1999.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what measures he is taking to promote the textile industry; and if he will make a statement. [99206]

The Government work closely with the textiles industry on a number of key areas, including trade policy, education and training, exporting and industrial sponsorship.On the latter, my Department is currently funding over 20 projects targeting specific areas for future development, including product innovation, design, marketing, benchmarking and the development of supply chain partnerships.In addition, I met with the industry-led Textiles and Clothing Strategy Group in October to discuss their progress on the development of a national strategy for the industry. I am impressed with the positive steps this Group has made and look forward to seeing the outcome of its work.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what percentage of visible exports were accounted for by identified military equipment, including aerospace equipment, in each year from 1995 to 1998. [98489]

UK exports of military equipment, as a percentage of exports of goods, were:

	Percentage
1995	1.4
1996	2.0
1997	2.7
1998	2.3

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the value of EU-funded programmes in (a) Southampton, (b) Newcastle, (c) Hull, (d) Sheffield, (e) Manchester, (f) Rotherham, (g) Dover, (h) Bristol, (i) Bath, (j) Sunderland, (k) Birmingham and (l) Leicester. [98574]

It is not possible to give figures specific to each town, nor for all European funding since UK accession. The following table gives the value of 1994–99 EU-funded programmes available in the areas containing the towns mentioned.

Programme	Value (£ million)1	Towns contained
Objective 3/4	2,691.7	Nationally available
Objective 5a2	282.3	Nationally available
NE England Objective 2	494.1	Newcastle and Sunderland
Yorkshire and Humberside Objective 2	536.5	Hull, Sheffield and Rotherham
Manchester/Lancashire/Cheshire Objective 2	539.1	Manchester
West Midlands Objective 2	595.2	Birmingham
1£ = 1.534 euro
2Objective 5a is a rural programme and therefore unlikely to have funded projects in urban areas

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress has been made in producing high level targets for flood and coastal defence operating authorities. [99380]

I am pleased to announce the publication, today, of more comprehensive targets for flood and coastal defence operating authorities and a further elaboration of the Environment Agency's supervisory duty. I am placing a copy in the Library of the House.The targets are designed to assist in developing a seamless and integrated service of flood forecasting, warning and response as well as a more certain delivery of Government policy towards flood and coastal defence. They follow recommendations, which the Government accepted, in last year's Agriculture Committee report on flood and coastal defence and in the Independent Report on the Easter 1998 floods. The targets take effect from 1 April 2000, building on and developing the interim targets which we published in May.These targets will, among other things, require flood and costal defence operating authorities to produce policy statements on their plans for achieving the Government's policy aims and objectives; flood and coastal defence assets to be recorded and inspected, and flood and erosion risk assessed, There are targets for the Environment Agency to develop its flood warning service, for emergency exercises to be held, and in relation to development control in areas at risk of flooding or erosion. Three are also targets for taking forward initiatives on Shoreline Management Plans, Water Level Management Plans and Coastal Habitat Management Plans, and for monitoring the impact of flood and coastal defence on habitats covered by Biodiverstiy Action Plans.These targets, and elaboration of the Environment Agency's supervisory duty, have been developed in full co-operation with the Agency, the Association of Drainage Authorities and the Local Government Association and in consultation with a wide range of relevant organisations. I have been impressed by the strong support we have had both for the overall approach we have adopted and for the particular measures we are introducing.The Government attach great importance to these targets. We will be monitoring achievement and keeping them under review. There are significant reporting requirements and I shall ensure Parliament is kept informed of relevant developments.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list all primary and secondary schools in the West Chelmsford parliamentary constituency. [98517]

The information is as follows:

Maintained primary and secondary schools in West Chelmsford parliamentary constituency
	Address
Primary
Kings Road Junior School	Kings Road	Chelmsford
Kings Road Infant School	Dixon Avenue
Moulsham Junior School	Princes Road
Moulsham Infant School	Princes Road
Trinity Road Primary School	Trinity Road
Great Leighs Primary School	Aragon Road
Highwood Primary School	Loves Green
Oaklands Infant School	Vicarage Road
Mildmay Junior School	Robin Way
Mildmay Infant and Nursery School	Robin Way
Perryfields Junior School	Lawn Lane
Writtle Infant School	Lodge Road
Perryfields Infant School	Lawn Lane
Boreham Primary School	Juniper Road
Lawford Mead Infant and Nursery School	Trent Road
Lawford Mead Junior School	Trent Road
Nabbotts Junior school	Forsythia Close
Nabbotts Infant School	Forsythia Close
Barnes Farm Junior School	Henniker Gate
Tyrrells School	Tavistock Road
Melbourne Park Primary School	Melbourne Avenue
Westlands Community Primary School	Beeches Close
Barnes Farm Infant School	Henniker Gate
Writtle Junior School	Margaretting Road
Great Waltham Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School	South Street
Ford End Church of England Primary School	Main Road
Margaretting Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School	Pennys Lane	Ingatestone
Roxwell Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School	The Street	Chelmsford
Stock Church of England Primary School	Swan Lane	Ingatestone
Little Waltham Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School	Little Waltham	Chelmsford
St. Pius X Catholic Primary School	Tennyson Road
The Bishops' Church of England and Roman Catholic Primary School	Beardsley Drive
Newlands Spring Primary School	Dickens Place
The Cathedral Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School, Chelmdford	Victoria Road
Our Lady Immaculate Catholic Primary School	New London Road
Broomfield Primary School	School Lane

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list, for contracts concluded by his Department since May 1997 with external consultants and advisers not covered by his answer of 23 July 1999, Official Report, columns 691–92W, (a) the total number of contracts concluded, (b) the number and total value of those contracts that have been awarded following a competitive tendering process, (c) the number and total value of those contracts that have been awarded without a competitive tendering process and (d) the names of all companies with which contracts not put out to competitive tender have been concluded. [98643]

The information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what grants have been made by his Department in addition to revenue support grant for each of the years 1997–98, 1998–99 and 1999–2000 to date to (a) Telford and Wrekin Council and (b) Shropshire County Council. [99058]

Details of the grants, in addition to revenue support grant, made available by the Department for Education and Employment in 1997–98, 1998–99 and 1999–2000 to Shropshire County Council and Telford and Wrekin Council are shown in the tables. For the Standards Fund, the figures shown include the grant made by the Department and the contribution made by the local education authority.

Grants made available to Shropshire County Council in 1997–98
£
	Shropshire
Standards Fund
School Effectiveness	1,255,500
School Improvement Initiatives	50,000
National Curriculum Assessment—Verification KS1	74,300
National Curriculum Assessment—Supply Cover KS1	111,500
Training for KS2 Teacher Assessment	59,500
KS3 Non-core Teacher Assessment	18,600
Primary Teachers' Subject Knowledge	160,700

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will provide estimates for (a) Shropshire County Council, (b) Telford and Wrekin Council and (c) the Wrekin constituency in respect of the impact of additional Government funding since 1997–98 on the number of (i) additional teachers appointed, (ii) infant school class sizes reduced to 30 pupils or fewer, (iii) children who have benefited from smaller class sizes, (iv) schools which have benefited from new buildings or major repairs and (v) extra books for schools. [99109]

The Government have pledged to reduce infant class sizes for all children aged 5, 6 and 7 to 30 or below by September 2001 at the latest. Recent figures show that the number of children in large infant classes has halved since September 1998 from 354,000 (22 per cent.) to 181,000 (11 per cent.) in September 1999 and that over 300,000 children have benefited since January 1998. A total of £620 million has been made available to implement the pledge early in virtually all schools by September 2000.Table One sets out the information requested by local education authority.

Table One
	Total funding to reduce infant class sizes (£)	Extra teachers	Extra classrooms	Children in large classes in September 1998 (%)	Children in large classes in September 1999 (%)
Shropshire	1.3 million	42	10	1,105 (15)	62 (1)
Telford and Wrekin	934,000	45	3	719 (15)	251 (5)

Table Two shows the number of schools benefiting from new buildings and major repairs under the New Deal for Schools. All Shropshire schools have benefited from a risk assessment for asbestos.

Table Two
	Number of schools	Amount of expenditure supported (£ million)
Shropshire	158	2,380
The Wrekin	6	0.821

Since 1997–98, Shropshire LEA has received £691,733 for books for all maintained schools and Telford and Wrekin LEA has received £245,217. A further allocation of £128,725 for Shropshire LEA and £63,223 for Telford and Wrekin LEA was made in 1998–99 to support the National Literacy Strategy in primary schools. In total, the allocation for books for schools to the two authorities was enough to buy around 225,780 books.It should be noted that Telford and Wrekin Council has been in existence as a unitary authority only since April 1998, and that the figures for Shropshire include sums allocated before that date. It is not possible to provide figures for the Wrekin constituency.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what guidance he provides regarding inclusion of children with special educational needs in mainstream schools. [98762]

The Code of Practice on the identification and assessment of special educational needs points out that LEAs have a qualified duty to secure that children with special educational needs, including children with statements, are educated in mainstream schools. The Code emphasises that, if parents express a preference for a mainstream school, the LEA must comply with that preference so long as the placement is appropriate to the child's needs, while also being compatible with the interests of other children already in the school and with the efficient use of the LEA's resources. The Code also points out that parents may express a preference for a maintained special school, and that if they do so the LEA no longer has a duty to secure a mainstream education for the child.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when he expects to publish his proposals for the education of children with special needs. [98635]

We announced our intention on 17 November to introduce legislation in this Parliamentary session to improve the education of children with special educational needs. The Bill would take forward proposals set out in the document "Meeting Special Educational Needs: A Programme of Action.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what measures his Department is taking to raise the profile of the special educational needs of children with autistic disabilities. [98636]

Our SEN Programme of Action highlights the importance of improving provision for all children with special educational needs, including those with autistic spectrum disorders. To support the Programme we virtually doubled, to £35 million, targeted support for SEN under the Standards Fund in 1999–2000 and I recently announced a further substantial increase to £55 million for 2000–01. The Department is also funding Regional Collaboration Projects which are looking at provision for particular special needs, including autism.We are committed to working with partners in the interests of children with autism. I hosted an Autism in Education Seminar on 21 September this year which brought together interested parties within and outside government to discuss future autism provision in the context of the Programme of Action. Following the seminar, we will be collecting examples of good practice and looking at ways of disseminating them. I was also pleased to speak at the launch of the National Autistic Society's current Autism 99 Internet conference, adding to the messages of support from my right hon. Friends the Prime Minister and the Secretary of State. The conference, which the Department has been helping to publicise, has a practical focus on meeting the needs of children and adults with autism and their families.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many people completing the New Deal for 18 to 24-year-olds in the West Sussex Coastal Plain Unit of Delivery have secured unsubsidised employment. [98637]

The latest statistics to the end of August 1999, show that 238 young people in the West Sussex Coastal Plain Unit of Delivery have left New Deal for unsubsidised employment. Many others will have found work without telling the Employment Service.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is the Government's latest estimate of the proportion of young people in England entering higher education at the beginning of the academic year 1999–2000 from (a) semi-skilled and (b) unskilled family backgrounds and (c) from disadvantaged localities; and what were the comparable figures for each of the last three years. [97153]

[pursuant to his reply, 4 November 1999, c. 321–22W]: I apologise that the figures for 1999 in my original reply related to all students, including mature students, whereas the figures for the years 1996 to 1998 covered students aged under 21. The following is a revised table showing the figures for under-21s in 1999.

Accepted young1 home domiciled applicants to full-time and sandwich undergraduate courses—United Kingdom
Percentage
	Year of entry
Proportion from social class2	1996	1997	1998	19993
IIIM—Skilled manual	16.4	16.7	16.9	17.0
IV—Partly skilled	7.5	7.6	7.6	7.7
V—Unskilled	1.9	2.0	1.9	2.0
1Aged under-21
2The classification system used to assign social class to undergraduates is that used in the National Census—the Standard Occupational Classification published by the Office for National Statistics
3Accepted applicants as at November 1999

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make a statement on the decision of some county courts to charge fees to litigants for the staying of cases in accordance with the guidance of Sir Michael Scott after Dimond v. Lovell. [98544]

If a party makes a formal application to the court to stay a case on the grounds of Dimond v. Lovell, a fee will automatically be charged. If the application is granted on the basis of the guidance by Sir Richard Scott, the Vice-Chancellor, the party may ask the court to refund the fee. Only in those cases where the court stays a case of its own motion will a fee not be payable.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when he expects the Chief Executive of the Courts Service to respond to the letter of 5 October from the hon. Member for Aylesbury about the case of Ms Lorna August, which was referred to the Chief Executive on 11 October. [98756]

A reply to the hon. Member's letter of 5 October was sent on 18 November. A copy of the transcript of the trial involving the hon. Member's constituents has been placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office for what reasons the list of ministerial responsibilities has not been published since the changes to the Government in the summer; and if she will set a target date for its publication. [98640]

An updated list of Ministerial Responsibilities was published last week. It is available on the Internet at www.cabinet-office.gov.uk/central/index/lmr.htm, and hard copies are available to Members at the Vote Office.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate (1) the average tax, VAT and AMLD on different types of cash prize machines in (a) 1997 and (b) 1999; [99164](2) the ratios of tax to turnover on

The information is not available. The VAT on machines' takings is not recorded separately on VAT returns, and Amusement Machine Licence Duty records do not identify the receipts from specific types of machine.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take 2p and 10p stake machines out of licence duty. [99165]

The Government keep duty rates under constant review. It would not be prudent to comment on specific Budget measures at this stage. Two penny stake machines are already exempt from duty.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer for what reasons he intends to exempt kerosene as an industrial fuel from the climate change levy. [98584]

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave her on 10 November 1999, Official Report, column 644W.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if it is his policy that the price differential between liquid petroleum gas and hydrocarbon oils should not be widened to the disadvantage of liquid petroleum gas as a result of the climate change levy. [98585]

The price of competing fuels is a commercial matter in which the rates of duty or tax play only one part. The Chancellor has announced his intention to increase rates of duty on fuel oil and gas oil, and this is likely to mitigate incentives to fuel switching after the introduction of the climate change levy.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proposals he has for concessionary rates of climate change levy on liquid petroleum gas. [99167]

I have no such proposals. Liquid petroleum gas will be subject to climate change levy at the same rate as natural gas.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what basis the climate change levy will be revenue neutral for the private sector, as set out in his pre-Budget report. [99170]

The climate change levy will be revenue neutral for the private sector because the amount of levy paid by the private sector will be broadly equivalent to the amount private sector businesses gain from the proposed cut in employers National Insurance Contributions and the additional support for energy efficiency measures announced by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer in his Pre-Budget Report (Cm 4479).

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how the projected two million tonnes of carbon emissions saved as a result of the proposed climate change levy, as set out in his pre-Budget report, is constituted. [99168]