To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much his Department has spent on civil servants' transport in each of the last two years. [98704]

All travel undertaken by civil servants complies with the requirements of the Civil Service Management Code (Home Civil Service) or the Northern Ireland Civil Service Staff Handbook.Spend for the Northern Ireland Office and Northern Ireland Departments was £15.512 million in 1997–98 and £17.029 million in 1998–99.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what motor mileage allowance rates his Department offers to (a) ministers and (b) civil servants using their own vehicles for official business; and what has been the cost of each in each of the last five years. [98705]

When travelling on official business, Ministers may use a private car instead of an official car, and claim mileage allowance in the same circumstances and on the same terms as civil servants in the Department.For the Northern Ireland Office and the Northern Ireland Departments the information is as follows:

Motor mileage rate with effect from 6 April 1997
	Up to 4,000 miles	Over 4,000 miles
Cars with engine capacity:
Up to 1,500 cc pence per mile	35	20 (19)1
1,501–2,000 cc pence per mile	45	25 (23)1
over 2,000 cc pence per mile	53	36 (32)1
1 Northern Ireland Office rate

Expenditure
	£000
(a) Ministers	0
(b) Civil servants
1994–95	110,084
1995–96	210,482
1996–97	10,760
1997–98	10,435
1998–99	10,909
1 Includes a pro rata figure of £2.727 million for the Department of Agriculture based on records for 9 months, and excludes a figure for the Department of Finance and Personnel, who could provide information only at disproportionate cost.
2 Includes an estimated figure of £829,971 for the Department of Economic Development.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many RUC Officers who have held the position of (a) Divisional Commander of Traffic Branch, (b) Head of Traffic Branch and (c) Head of Traffic Policy Branch since 1969 (i) have and (ii) have not been given Sovereign Awards. [100272]

Since 1969, eight officers have held the position of Divisional Commander Traffic, six have received sovereign awards. Three officers have served as Head of Traffic Policy, one has received an award. Eleven Officers have been Head of Traffic Regions, two have received an award. It should be noted that not all of the officers received their sovereign awards while holding positions in Traffic Branch.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what cost was incurred by Strathclyde Police when investigating the treatment of Mr. David Adams in Castlereagh. [100110]

The cost was £52,850.08.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when the Lord Chancellor received the report of Sir Len Peach on procedures for appointing judges; and when he proposes to publish it. [100299]

I refer my hon. Friend to the written answer I gave him on 29 November 1999, Official Report, column 63W.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many asylum and immigration appeals were heard without the Home Office case being presented in (a) 1997–98, (b) 1998–99 and (c) 1999–2000 to date; and if he will make a statement. [100489]

These statistics are not collected.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what plans he has to require the Public Trust Office to charge patients only for work actually carried out on that patient's behalf; and if he will make a statement. [100709]

The issue of fees and charges for the services provided by the Public Trust Office was one of a number of points considered by Ann Chant CB as part of her Quinquennial Review of the Agency. She recommended the abolition of the current system of cross-subsidy between the wealthier and less well-off clients. The Lord Chancellor wishes to explore all of the Review's recommendations in detail before deciding how best to proceed, and will be making a statement in February.

To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners, pursuant to his answer of 23 November 1999, Official Report, column 59W, on how many occasions since 1 May 1997, the Commissioners have been informed of instances where paid commitments involved time which would otherwise have been spent on episcopal responsibilities; and on how many of these occasions a sum was deducted from the stipend. [100505]

The Commissioners have not been informed of any instances where a Bishop has undertaken paid commitments involving time which would otherwise have been spent on episcopal responsibilities. Bishops are not required to inform the Commissioners of paid commitments undertaken during their own time.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many golf courses have been completed in the UK in each of the last 10 years; what proportion of those are courses offering open access to the public; what financial support was given to assist the provision of such facilities; and if he will make a statement. [99637]

Information on the number of golf courses which have been completed in the last 10 years is not held centrally.However, since the National Lottery began in 1995, Sport England's Lottery fund has made 34 capital awards for golf totalling £8,232,056, contributing towards total project costs of £21,140,875. It is a condition of Lottery awards for sports facilities that they must have open access to the public.

	Freehold land and buildings	Long/short leasehold property	Other	Total
Crafts Council (as at 31 March 1999)	0	980,398	502,016	1,482,414
British Film Institute (31 March 1999)	20,800,000	22,887,000	1,664,000	45,351,000
NFTS (as at 31 December 1998)	2,954,977	0	6,083,311	9,043,288

The only body which has assets held in Scotland is the National Lottery Charities Board to the value of £0.2 million.All other assets are held by the bodies are in England with the exception of the following:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) what his estimate is of the value of land and property (i) in Scotland, (ii) in England and (iii) in total within the responsibility of (a) the British Museum (including assets in course of construction), (b) the Wallace Collection and (c) the Horniman Public Museum and Public Park Trust; and what is the total value of other assets held by these bodies; [99830](2) what his estimate is of the value of land and property

[holding answer 26 November 1999]: All 29 sponsored bodies include in the notes to their annual accounts the estimated net book value of the fixed assets they hold which is broken down into separate categories, i.e. land and buildings, fixtures and fittings, motor vehicles, etc where applicable. The annual accounts for most of these bodies are laid before Parliament and the information is available in the Libraries of the House. There are three exceptions which are (i) the Crafts Council, (ii) the British Film Institute and (iii) the National Film and Television School.The net book value of total assets held by these bodies is as follows:

To ask the Chairman of the Catering Committee if he will estimate the total cost of the new kitchens in the Parliamentary Estate during (a) the past two years and (b) the next year. [100033]

This is a matter for the Director of Parliamentary Works; I have asked him to reply to the hon. Member.

To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee how many cases of theft have been reported to the police and security services in the Commons and the Lords for each of the past five years; how many prosecutions have been made; and what proportion of these reports were from staff. [101037]

This is a matter for the Serjeant at Arms; I have asked him to write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what he estimates the cost of the British Army recruitment programme in Fiji was in the last financial year. [100754]

The cost in the current financial year of the Army selection visit to Fiji currently under way is estimated to be some £104,000.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the second round of interviews for Fijian applicants to the British Army will take place. [100755]

There are currently no plans to repeat the Army selection visit to Fiji once the current backlog of applications is dealt with.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many interviews for Fijian applicants to the British Army have taken place in the last three weeks; and if he will make a statement. [100753]

As at 26 November, a total of 400 Fijian nationals had been through the selection process in Fiji. Of these, 200 were successful and will be called forward to the UK over the next three months to undergo the final stages in the process before starting training. A further 78 applications have been deferred for various reasons, but the applicants have the opportunity to resolve the cause of their deferment before the end of the selection visit.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will recruit more Gurkhas into the British Army to bring the force up to operational strength. [100429]

It is already planned that to alleviate under-manning we have extended the Gurkha Reinforcement Companies and are introducing a second Gurkha Engineer Squadron and a second Gurkha Signals Squadron. There are 3,500 Gurkhas serving with the British Army and this represents the optimum to alleviate under-manning in the short term while taking account of excess manpower when we revert to full manning.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on progress in selecting a contractor to manage and operate the Atomic Weapons Establishment from 1 April 2000. [101282]

I am pleased to announce that following the completion of negotiations a contract will be awarded today to AWE Management Ltd. (comprising SERCo Defence Support, British Nuclear Fuels plc and Lockheed Martin Corporation). The two unsuccessful consortiums have been informed. The AWE workforce and trade unions will be told of the outcome today.The principal features of the contract are:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to alter the current notice periods for Officers, RN Ratings and RM Other Ranks applying to leave the Naval Service. [101313]

A common notice period of 12 months will be introduced for Officers, RN Ratings and RM Other Ranks who wish to leave the Naval Service from 1 June 2000. This will represent a significant improvement to the terms of service of personnel in the Naval Service. Currently, Officers who apply to retire voluntarily must wait for up to 15 months to leave the Service. RN Ratings and RM Other Ranks are required to provide 18 month's notice.As a consequence of this change, the minimum period of service on the trained strength by RN Ratings and RM Other Ranks, following completion of initial training, will be reduced from 4 years to 31/2 years from 1 June 2000.Officers, RN Ratings and RM Other Ranks who submit notice applications on or before 31 May 2000 will remain subject to existing notice periods. However, personnel may apply on an individual basis for these to be adjusted so that no more than 12 months are served from 1 June 2000.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will set out the rules governing the conduct of officers who take, or administer to other officers, (a) religious, (b) sectarian and (c) other oaths while serving in HM armed forces. [100174]

The regulations governing the conduct of officers who take, or administer oaths to other officers are as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to introduce the possibility of requiring people to re-take driving tests as a way of improving driving standards. [98599]

The Government do not consider that the regular retesting of all drivers would deliver significant road safety benefits. In the case of drivers who are found guilty of driving offences, courts already have powers to require those drivers who offend to undergo a retest, which for serious offences involves an extended length test. The Road Safety Strategy will address the adequacy of these powers.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the impact of EU environmental directives 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. [98576]

The majority of Environmental Directives are implemented on a national basis and have objectives which go beyond local authority, regional and even national boundaries. Information is not collated in such a manner as to yield a measure of impact of EU environmental Directives on specific towns and cities. The environmental benefits will however be felt in these localities in terms of improved air and water quality and other environmental improvements.Regulatory impact assessments are carried out from the earliest stages of development of a proposal within the European Commission, through to the adoption of all Directives. This includes a review of the costs and benefits of various options for giving effect to EC legislation including those which do not involve UK legislation. This involves full public consultation where appropriate. The review continues, when necessary, during the process of transposition.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what progress has been made in respect of the funding application for the Seaham Regeneration Scheme; and if he will make a statement. [99207]

My officials met with English Partnerships and One North East on 3 and 22 November to discuss their proposal for the regeneration of Seaham Town Centre. Discussions on the funding application are continuing.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he will announce his Department's decision on the funding of noise mitigation measures along the A404(M). [99233]

The A404(M) meets the initial sift criteria for noise mitigation measures announced by the former Under-Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, my hon. Friend the Member for Hampstead and Highgate (Ms Jackson), on 22 March 1999, Official Report, columns 50–51W. Along with a number of other qualifying sites, it is being examined in further detail to establish whether additional mitigation measures can be justified.Although our investigations into the A404(M) are almost complete, noise mitigation will need to await the outcome of the detailed studies into the other sites that met the sift criteria to ensure that priority is given to the most deserving cases.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate he has made of the population of ruddy duck in the United Kingdom. [99599]

The latest Wetland Bird Survey 1997–98, estimates the United Kingdom ruddy duck population at 3,585.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he expects to publish the Government's strategy for waste management. [99611]

The Government published for consultation their draft waste strategy for England and Wales, "A Way With Waste", on 30 June 1999. Similar draft strategies have been produced in Northern Ireland and Scotland.The Government intend to publish the waste strategy for England early next year as a Command Paper. Responsibility for taking this matter forward in Wales is a matter for the National Assembly. It has yet to be decided whether a separate strategy will be produced for Wales, or whether a joint strategy is preferred.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will publish the outcome, by region, of the review of the General Needs Index for Housing Investment, indicating what percentage increase each region will receive in 2000–01; and if he will make a statement on the impact on (a) the constituency of Heywood and Middleton and (b) Rochdale Metropolitan Borough. [99861]

The Generalised Needs Index (GNI) used in the allocation of housing capital resources to local authorities reflects the relative need for housing capital expenditure in each local authority. The index was the subject of a review this year; details of the outcome of the review, which was conducted in conjunction with the Local Authority Associations, the National Housing Federation and the Housing Corporation, are available in the Library of the House. The regional shares of the revised index to be used in the allocation of 2000–01 resources are set out in the table, alongside the 1999–2000 index shares.

Region	2000–01 (percentage)	1999–2000 (percentage)	Difference (+/-)
North East	6.4	6.4	—
Yorkshire and the Humber	9.9	10.1	-0.2
East Midlands	6.8	6.1	+0.7
Eastern	7.1	6.6	+0.5
London	30.0	30.5	-0.5
South East	8.8	8.4	+0.3
South West	5.6	5.8	-0.1
West Midlands	11.2	10.7	+0.6
North West	14.1	15.5	-1.4
England	100.0	100.0	—

The index shares for the two years are not directly comparable because there were separate Capital Receipts Initiative and private sector renovation grant allocations for 1999–2000 which were allocated using different indices. These allocations are being combined with the main housing allocation from 2000–01 (the "single housing capital pot") to provide local authorities with more freedom in planning the composition of their capital programme.The resources available for allocation for 2000–01 (just over £2 billion) are around 50 per cent. up on 1999–2000. The introduction of the single housing capital pot and the changes to the GNI mean that the regional increases vary between around 40 per cent. and 65 per cent. Allocations for individual local authorities, which are based 50 per cent. on the GNI and 50 per cent. on authorities' performance on housing, will be announced in the first half of December.Rochdale's 2000–01 GNI share (0.46 per cent. of England) has fallen by slightly more (13 per cent.) than the region as a whole (down 9 per cent.); corresponding figures for parliamentary constituencies are not available. The main reasons for the fall in Rochdale's index share, like those for the region as a whole, are the updating of the private sector stock condition indicator from 1991 to 1996 English House Conditions Survey data (which shows a significant improvement in the general condition of occupied private sector stock and a reduction in the number of households eligible for a renovation grant); the extension of this indicator to cover dwellings that are in substantial disrepair as well as those which are unfit; the continuing reduction in the numbers of overcrowded and sharing households in the region; and the inclusion in the index of a measure based on homeless households in temporary accommodation.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what technology (a) exists and (b) is under development to warn maintenance staff on the railway network of the approach of trains; and if he will make a statement on the train approach warning system. [100059]

Existing technology to warn staff working on or about the railway includes the "PEE WEE" system (a portable system which gives a special warning tone on the approach of a train), the Train Operated Warning System (TOWS), a permanent warning device in some locations where visibility is poor and "Minimel 90" (a portable automatic track warning system). A number of similar systems are undergoing UK approval.Proven automatic warning systems should reduce the risk of an accident to train workers considerably below the risk from systems which rely on human observation of approaching trains.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he has assessed the level of dependence of people living in rural areas on the use of (a) the car and (b) public transport. [99900]

The National Travel Survey is used to assess the travel patterns of people living in rural areas. In 1996–98, 69 per cent. of journeys by people living in rural areas were by car, and 4 per cent. by public transport. Bus is the most widely used public transport alternative to the car, 59 per cent. of rural households lived within 13 minutes walk of a bus service with a frequency of at least once an hour.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the research data he has received to date on the horizontal spread of marker genes and other transgenic DNA via pollen and dust; and what assessment he has made of this research. [100166]

There are various reports of research into the possibility of horizontal gene transfer from genetically modified (GM) plants. These are publicly available in the scientific literature. The predominant scientific view is that, although a theoretical possibility, any horizontal transfer of transgenes from GM plants in the field would be an exceedingly rare event, and its success will depend greatly on the selective pressure acting on the outcome.The Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment (ACRE) considers horizontal gene transfer in the environmental risk assessment that is conducted before any GM plants can be released. ACRE does not limit itself to considering horizontal gene transfer only from pollen and dust. ACRE concentrates on the likely consequences of such transfers, not on whether or not it could happen. If horizontal gene transfer from a particular GM plant is judged to be harmful to the environment, then the release would not be allowed.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what his policy is on using his powers, following the farm-scale evaluations, to revoke consents (a) deliberately to release or (b) to market GM crops. [100002]

If the farm-scale evaluations provide evidence that there is an adverse effect on human health or the environment as a result of the management of the herbicide tolerant GM crops, then the Government will act upon this evidence, and, if necessary, use the full extent of the powers available to protect human health and the environment, including revoking consents where appropriate.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if consent holders will be able to seek direct commercial benefit from the cultivation of GM crops in field-scale and other plantings, other than the farm-scale evaluations. [99905]

The renewed agreement with industry on the conduct of the farm-scale evaluations announced on 5 November makes clear that none of the produce from GM crop plantings in the UK will be used in a way which is of direct commercial benefit to the consent holders during the farm-scale evaluation period. Any proposals for field-scale plantings other than those for the farm-scale evaluations must be agreed by the independent Scientific Steering Committee, in the light of their relevance to biodiversity research. Smaller than field-scale plantings, including those necessary for statutory UK and EU requirements, are not covered by the agreement.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) if commercial benefits may accrue to any affiliated or associated companies of consent holders in relation to commercial growing of GM crops; [99918](2) if consent holders will be entitled to seek direct commercial benefit after the farm-scale evaluation period in respect of the cultivation of and the produce from GM crops during the evaluation period; [99906](3) if he will list the commercial benefits to which the voluntary agreement announced on 5 November on the commercial growing of GM crops does not apply; [99917](4) which persons will be entitled to seek commercial benefit from the growing of GM crops before 2003. [99919]

The renewed agreement with industry announced on 5 November covers the conduct of the farm-scale evaluations for the next three years, through until the Scientific Steering Committee's review and recommendations following collection of data from the 2002 crop plantings. The agreement states that no direct commercial benefit will be sought from the plantings or obtained from use of the crops during the farm-scale evaluation period. This is to protect the integrity of the farm-scale evaluations as wholly concerned with biodiversity research. Subsequent use of produce is not covered by the agreement.Examples of indirect commercial benefits that might accrue to the consent holders from the farm-scale evaluations could include results from the farm-scale evaluations that aided consent holders' other research work, or a change in share price if a crop was perceived to be proceeding satisfactorily through the evaluation process.In the Government's view, the renewed agreement with industry does extend to affiliated or associated companies of consent holders. Our understanding is that the farmers growing the crops in the farm-scale evaluations are likely to be compensated by the consent holders; that would be a matter for them. If consents allow, farmers may be able to use produce on-farm as animal feed.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will estimate how many additional council houses have been built as a result of his decision to release for use by local authorities, part of the capital receipts from previous council house sales. [100021]

The available information relates to new build or purchase of existing dwellings by local authorities. Information provided by authorities on their plans for the use of Capital Receipts Initiative resources for 1997–98 and 1998–99 indicated that around 100 council houses would be built or purchased over the two years. Most of the resources have been used to carry out improvement and renovation work on existing local authority stock.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans the Government have to (a) oppose any change to the status of elephants at the next Conference of the Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species which would allow any further international trade in elephant ivory and hides and (b) to consult with EU partners with a view to adopting a common EU position along such lines; if he will inform Parliament of the result of such consultations with EU partners in advance of the conference; and if he will make a statement. [100298]

The 1997 Conference of Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) agreed an experimental one-off transhipment of ivory to Japan from Botswana, Namibia and Zimbabwe. This took place in July 1999, under stringent safeguards agreed by the Conference and CITES Standing Committee. Proceeds from the sales are being directed back into elephant conservation and community programmes. There can be no further trade in ivory unless the next CITES Conference, to be held in Nairobi in April 2000, agrees a specific proposal to permit this.A key element of the 1997 decision was the setting up of new pan-African and Asian systems to Monitor Illegal Killing of Elephants (known as MIKE), together with an Elephant Trade Information System (ETIS). The MIKE system in particular is new and has not yet progressed to the state where Parties can expect it to produce reliable data in time for the CITES Conference next April.The UK is Chair of the CITES Standing Committee and we were closely involved in devising and implementing the safeguards under which the 1997 experiment is being carried out. We regret that several Parties have submitted proposals to the next Conference without waiting for the full effects of the experiment to be monitored by the World Conservation Union (IUCN) and the UNEP CITES Secretariat. The Government believe that any change to the status of elephants at the next CITES Conference would be premature at present. We have made this known to the European Commission and our European partners. A meeting of the EC CITES Committee has been brought forward to 14 January 2000 at the request of the UK and we will seek a common EU position as soon as possible after that meeting takes place. I will inform Parliament of the outcome.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what checks are made before a railway carriage that has been involved in an accident is put back into service; [100223](2) what percentage of railway carriages previously involved in accidents were put back into service in each of the last five years; [100224](3) what percentage of railway carriages currently in service have previously been in an accident. [100225]

This information is not available as it is not reportable to the Health and Safety Executive's Railway Inspectorate.Repairs and maintenance of rolling stock following an accident is a matter for the vehicle owner.If, however, the vehicle or carriage is substantially altered during repairs, approval will need to be obtained from HM Railway Inspectorate under the Railways and Other Transport Systems (Approval of Works, Plant and Equipment) Regulations 1994 before the vehicle or carriage can be put back into operation.HMRI have enforcement powers under the Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act 1974 which they would use if there was any reason to believe that safety had been compromised either as a result of repair work or for any other reason.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) at what level, compared to 1990, road traffic levels would have to be kept to ensure air quality targets for 2010 are met; [100468](2) to what level road traffic would need to be kept to ensure that carbon dioxide emissions from road traffic were 20 per cent. lower than those in 1990 by 2010; [100467](3) what assessment he has made of the impact of Government transport policies on traffic levels; what were traffic levels in 1990; and what are the projected levels for 2010. [100469]

No estimate has been made of the level of traffic in 2010 which would be consistent with road traffic emissions in that year being 20 per cent. below the 1990 level. Such an estimate would depend on the assumptions made in respect of a number of other factors, including the fuel efficiency of the vehicle fleet, the mix of traffic between vehicle types, and the speeds at which traffic moved. This means that there will be a range of 2010 traffic totals which would be consistent with any given level of road traffic CO₂ emissions.Similar arguments apply to emissions of relevance to the National Air Quality Strategy, although here such an assessment would also need to take into account both significant variations in air quality at the local level, and emissions from non-transport sources, which can be just as important in addressing air quality objectives.Motorised vehicle traffic on English roads in 1990 is estimated to have been some 353 billion vehicle kilometres. 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 Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how he plans to assess the impact of road traffic in relation to (a) the emission of gases which contribute to climate change, (b) air quality, (c) health, (d) traffic congestion, (e) land and biodiversity, (f) danger to other road users and (g) society in accordance with the requirements of the Road Traffic Reduction (National Targets) Act 1998. [100466]

The Government will shortly be publishing their first report under the Road Traffic Reduction (National Targets) Act 1998 on the issue of whether to set a national road traffic reduction target. In preparation for that report, we are assessing how our policies can reduce each of these adverse impacts of road traffic.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to increase competition in the water industry. [100439]

As my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer said in his pre-Budget report on 9 November 1999, Official Report, columns 883–906, the Government are carrying out a comprehensive review of competition in the water industry and aim to publish a consultation document on options for reform early in the new year.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the impact of outsourcing activities previously performed directly by water companies on quality and service standards. [100457]

The Director General of Water Services publishes an annual "Report on levels of service for the water industry in England and Wales", a copy of which is in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what allowance is made for regional variations and priorities in OFWAT's Water Companies Price Review. [100458]

The price review is a matter for the Director General of Water Services. The Secretary of State for Environment, Transport and the Regions and the Secretary of State for Wales issued guidance to the Director General on the environmental and quality objectives to be achieved by the water industry between 2000 and 2005. These reflected local environmental priorities, but were defined to avoid unacceptable impacts on water prices in different parts of England and Wales.In the case of Dwr Cymru (Welsh Water) and Dee Valley Water, the Secretary of State's functions in this matter transferred to the National Assembly for Wales on 1 July 1999.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what information and communications with the water companies are used in the price review process and not reported in OFWAT's price determination document. [100454]

This is a matter for the Director General of Water Services. His report "Final Determinations: Future water and sewerage charges 2000–05" includes a full account of the price review process.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what consideration OFWAT is required to give to (a) environmental, (b) health and safety and (c) local economic factors during a water company price review. [100453]

The Secretary of State and the Secretary of State for Wales issued guidance to the Director General of Water Services on the environmental and quality objectives to be achieved by the water industry in England and Wales between 2000 and 2005. This guidance was published under the title "Raising the Quality" in September 1998, and was supported by more detailed announcements of company programmes on 1 March 1999.In the case of Dwr Cymru (Welsh Water) and Dee Valley Water, the Secretary of State's functions transferred to the National Assembly for Wales on 1 July 1999. In respect of the remaining companies, the Secretary of State confirmed the environment and quality programme on 24 November.The Director has a statutory duty to ensure that companies can finance the proper carrying of their functions. This includes obligations enforced by the Health and Safety Executive. The handling of the price review is a matter for the Director. I understand that he received representations on a wide range of issues, including factors such as local economic considerations.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on his Department's policy following the case of London Borough of Southwark v. Mills, in relation to the problem of noise pollution. [100436]

We have noted with interest this clarification of the law in relation to domestic noise activity.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is his Department's estimate of the opening date for Westminster Underground Station on the Jubilee Line. [100262]

London Transport aim to open the Jubilee Line station at Westminster shortly before Christmas. It is, however, a very deep and highly complex station, being constructed on an extremely constricted site. LT cannot therefore guarantee the opening date at present.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment has been made of the provision of school crossing signs or signals on the A49 to ensure safer access to Bridstow Primary School; and if he will make a statement. [99852]

[holding answer 26 November 1999]: I have asked the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency to write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many tonnes per annum of waste edible oils are produced in the UK from the UK's food manufacturing base and catering establishments; and if he will make a statement. [100221]

The exact amount of waste of this type is not known. However, the Feed Fat Association estimate that some 90,000 tonnes of waste edible oils are recycled each year from UK food establishments.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions by how much he estimates a road toll of (a) £1, (b) £5 and (c) £10 per private car would reduce road traffic; and what is the basis of his estimate. [99924]

[holding answer 26 November 1999]: The Government are providing powers for local authorities to put forward road user charging schemes if they think these are appropriate to deal with traffic management locally. The Secretary of State will not approve any congestion charging scheme unless: public transport has been improved first to offer motorists choice, before charging sets starts; local people have been consulted; it is clear that all proceeds will be put into improving local transport; and the appropriate technology will be in place to make it work.The impact of road user charges on road traffic will vary accordingly to a number of factors including location, prevailing road and traffic conditions and the complimentary traffic and wider transport measures introduced alongside charges.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what time scale he has set for achieving the guide values in the Bathing Water, Shellfish Waters, Surface Water Abstraction and Freshwater Fish Directives; [100340](2) if the guide value contained in the Bathing Water Directive, the Shellfish Waters Directive, the Surface Water Abstraction Directive and the Freshwater Fish Directive are mandatory standards; and what directions he has given to the Environment Agency on enforcing them; [100401](3) what plans he has to enforce the guide values contained in the Bathing Water, Shellfish Waters, Surface Water Abstraction and Freshwater Fish Directives; and if he will make a statement. [100342]

The EC Directives on Bathing Waters, Shellfish Waters, Surface Water Abstraction and Freshwater Fish set guide values which are not mandatory values and which member states must endeavour to observe, in the case of the first two instruments, or respect, in the case of the remaining two. The obligations of each Directive, including on guide values, have been incorporated in the transposing legislation which places duties on the Environment Agency. The Government expect to see progress towards the guide values which have been set.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what standards of faecal coliforms in shellfish flesh or intervalvular liquid he has directed the Environment Agency to observe; and whether these standards are expressed in terms of shellfish flesh or shellfish liquid. [100339]

The Environment Agency is under a duty to endeavour to observe a guideline value of 300/100ml in shellfish flesh and intervalvular liquid as set out in the Surface Waters (Shellfish) Directions 1997.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what measures he proposes to introduce to improve road safety and reduce road fatalities. [100656]

We will shortly be publishing a new road safety strategy which will include casualty reduction targets for the year 2010. The strategy will set out a range of measures for reducing road casualties and improving road safety.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to issue guidance on future funding criteria for Regional Development Agencies; and if he will make a statement. [100519]

There are no plans to issue any such guidance. The funding arrangement is for the Public Expenditure Settlement, which covers a three-year period, to determine the overall provision for each RDA, taking account of their corporate plan. In making yearly allocations under the Settlement, the Government take account of any criteria relating to a particular programme and the RDAs current corporate plan, including matters such as the agency's effectiveness in carrying out its responsibilities.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what evidence he has received to date, in respect of the forthcoming review of housing benefit, of the impact of fluctuations in standard reference rents on the ability of tenants to take up and retain tenancies. [100770]

We have received representations from a number of organisations. My Department has, jointly with the Department of Social Security, commissioned and published research on housing benefit and the private rented sector, and is undertaking research on a range of related issues, including the work of rent officers.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the Government's policy on determining regional boundaries for the local delivery of services funded by central Government departments; and if he will make a statement. [100627]

The Government's policy is set out in the White Paper "Modernising government". There is a presumption that Departments and other public bodies should adopt the boundaries used by the Government Offices in the Regions unless there are strong overriding considerations for not doing so. Progress will be reviewed in 2002.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when the hon. Member for Sutton and Cheam will receive a letter from the Chair of the Health and Safety Commission concerning signals passed at danger. [100447]

[holding answer 30 November 1999]: I understand that a letter was sent to the hon. Member on 29 November.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list for each London borough how many (a) people were registered homeless, (b) people were on local authority waiting lists, (c) local authority housing visits were completed, and (d) registered social visits were completed (i) in the financial year 1998–99 and (ii) in the present financial year. [100803]

The latest available information is given in the table. Information on visits carried out by local authorities is not collected centrally.

	Homeless households accepted and in priority need
	1998–99	19991—2000	Number of households on the housing register at 1 April 1999
Barking and Dagenham	257	39	1,785
Barnet	1,048	147	5,004
Bexley	319	54	2,762
Brent	920	2n/a	11,703
Bromley	728	2n/a	3,202
Camden	1,555	2n/a	6,302
City of London	53	14	720
Croydon	882	186	6,389
Ealing	1,016	2n/a	7,261
Enfield	754	217	4,263
Greenwich	1,456	334	5,454
Hackney	705	2n/a	13,480
Hammersmith and Fulham	709	175	4,451
Haringey	975	337	7,409
Harrow	725	160	2,374
Havering	386	105	1,511
Hillingdon	1,083	190	7,655
Hounslow	1,056	2n/a	5,188
Islington	1,176	2n/a	12,428
Kensington and Chelsea	611	149	7,671
Kingston upon Thames	400	2n/a	2,846
Lambeth	1,039	302	13,050
Lewisham	1,085	2n/a	11,520
Merton	205	53	3,345
Newham	910	2n/a	11,000
Redbridge	302	2n/a	2,956
Richmond upon Thames	633	140	4,667
Southwark	1,204	372	4,645
Sutton	299	46	6,215
Tower Hamlets	1,070	304	7,172
Waltham Forest	1,048	2n/a	1,963
Wandsworth	613	201	2,916
Westminster	1,266	267	7,028
1 April to June
2 n/a denotes that the authority has not yet reported

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to require energy audits and advice to be included in the information provided by house vendors (a) in the pilot schemes of his house selling proposals and (b) subsequently. [100801]

A key proposal in our package of reforms to the home buying and selling process is a requirement for the seller or the seller's agent to put together a pack of standard documents and information for prospective buyers, before the property is put on the market. The pack should include a house condition report which contains an assessment of how energy efficient the property is. The pack, including a house condition report and energy efficiency assessment, will be tested in the Bristol Pilot scheme starting later this month.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to amend the law relating to common land, with respect to vehicle access; and if he will make a statement. [100708]

In addition to our proposals to give a statutory right of access on foot to registered common land, the Government are considering whether there should be any further changes to the legislation that affects common land. If so, there will be public consultation on what changes would be desirable.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what progress has been made on the proposals for integrating London Underground's sub-surface lines with the national railway network; and if he will make a statement. [101288]

I announced in June that Railtrack and London Transport would be investigating the scope for taking forward two specific integration schemes, running East-West and North-South, and, on that basis, Railtrack would bid for the PPP contract to maintain and upgrade the Underground lines in question.Railtrack and London Transport have not found it possible to identify a practicable scheme to integrate the Tube and the national railway network on an East-West axis on the basis and timetable envisaged in June. All the options would have involved a connection through Paddington. This has highlighted a number of issues relating to constraints on capacity in the Paddington approaches, not least in the light of the Ladbroke Grove tragedy.Accordingly, the Government, Railtrack and London Transport have together agreed that there is no longer sufficient basis for an exclusive PPP negotiation between London Transport and Railtrack on the sub-surface lines and links with the national railway.Competitions for the two deep-tube PPPs are well underway and London Transport will now commence a competition for the sub-surface PPP structure so as to leave open the option of integration from the west of London at some point in the future.The work so far has confirmed the validity of an integration scheme on a North-South axis, based on extending the London Underground East London Line to North London from Whitechapel, and to south and south-west London from Canada Water and New Cross. I have asked Sir Alastair Morton and the shadow Strategic Rail Authority to advise me as soon as possible on the best way of implementing North-South integration taking into account the parallels with Thameslink, and the need to obtain the necessary approvals.I have also asked Sir Alastair Morton and the shadow Strategic Rail Authority to undertake a wide-ranging study of the capacity issues and potential for integration to the west of London. The shadow Strategic Rail Authority will be working closely with Railtrack and LT in undertaking these studies.Railtrack and Government will of course continue to work together on a range of initiatives based on our plans for a growing railway, which will mean Railtrack delivering a large programme of infrastructure projects to improve the capacity and quality of the network, not least in major works such as the Channel Tunnel Rail Link.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will arrange for regular surveys of the police and other public services to monitor progress towards equal satisfaction with those services among black and other minority ethnic groups. [100027]

So far as the police service is concerned, my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary set a Ministerial Priority in June to increase trust and confidence in policing among minority ethnic communities in line with Recommendation 1 of the Macpherson report. Recommendation 2 of that report proposed a range of performance indicators for assessing achievement of the Priority, which included achieving equal satisfaction levels across all ethnic groups in public satisfaction surveys. The Steering Group which my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary chairs to oversee the implementation of the Action Plan published in March as the Government's response to the Macpherson report, approved at its October meeting proposals for the development of indicators in line with Recommendation 2 including satisfaction surveys. Further work is currently being undertaken on the development of this indicator.For other public services, the Home Office is committed to the establishment of government-wide and departmental performance indicators to measure improvements in race equality. Work is currently being undertaken on the development of these indicators which are likely to include measures of confidence in public services. The performance indicators will be announced in Spring 2000.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many bodies have been cremated in the United Kingdom in each of the past five years; and, in each year, what percentage cremations constituted of the number of deaths. [99915]

The table sets out statistics from the Office for National Statistics and the Federation of British Cremation Authorities.

Year	Number of cremations	Number of deaths	Percentage of cremations
1994	434,223	627,636	69.2
1995	445,574	645,493	69
1996	445,934	636,007	70.1
1997	446,305	629,746	70.9
1998	439,145	629,112	69.8

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) for each year since 1990, in what percentage of either-way cases that went to trial before a jury the defendant was found guilty; and what the percentage conviction rate was in such cases for (a) white defendants and (b) black and ethnic minority defendants; [100249](2) in each year since 1990, what was the average length of sentence imposed on defendants found guilty in either-way cases that went to trial before a jury; and what was the average length sentence imposed in such cases on

The Home Office collected data on disposals at magistrates' courts by ethnicity of defendant in 1998 in 11 police force areas. These are pilot studies and work is required to address data quality problems. However, information from four of the areas (Lancashire, Leicestershire, Northumbria and West Yorkshire (Bradford and Keighley)) will be published in "Statistics on Race and the Criminal Justice System" on 9 December 1999. The information will cover prosecutions and sentencing for indictable offences. It shows that for cases disposed of (other than by committal) at magistrates' courts, the conviction rate is 67 per cent. for white defendants and 57 per cent. for black defendants.Copies of the publication will be sent to the Library.No national information from the Crown Court is available by ethnic group although pilots are under way. Crown Court information from the Home Office Court proceedings Database is given in the table.

Defendants pleading not guilty1to triable either way offences at the Crown Court, England and Wales, 1995–98
Year	Percentage of found guilty	Percentage of those found guilty given a custodial sentence	Average custodial sentence length (months)
19952	43	57	24.7
1996	44	61	25.0
1997	41	62	27.6
1998	38	62	28.3
1 Pleaded not guilty to principal offence; some of those found not guilty may not have been tried by a jury (eg the judge may have ordered or directed an acquittal).
2 Plea data only available from July 1995

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the number of (a) men and (b) women serving a life prison sentence in prisons in England and Wales on 1 November. [100444]

The latest available provisional information is for 31 October 1999. On that date, there were 4,175 male and 149 female life sentence prisoners in Prison Service establishments in England and Wales.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in relation to Operation Care how many complaints have been received from how many complainants. [100232]

The information on the number of claimants is not readily available. The number of complaints received reflects each separate complaint rather than the number of individuals who claim to have been abused. As of 8 July 1999, the number of separate complaints received was 759.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what meetings his Department has held with members of the legal profession involved in Operation Care. [100235]

I understand that there have been no meetings between Home Office officials and members of the legal profession involved in Operation Care.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many defence witnesses have been arrested as part of Operation Care. [100233]

There is no requirement in law for the defence to provide either the Crown Prosecution Service or the police with lists of defence witnesses at any stage of an investigation. I cannot say therefore whether any individual arrested as part of Operation Care might also be a defence witness.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance his Department issues to police authorities relating to the conduct of investigations of cases of sexual abuse in local authority care homes. [100237]

In August, the Government issued draft new inter-agency guidance "Working Together to Safeguard Children" which takes account of new research, experience and legislation concerning child abuse. It includes a section on children living away from home and provides guidance on investigating allegations of abuse committed by professionals, carers or volunteers. A final version of the document will be issued in the new year.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action the Government are taking to prevent child pornography being transmitted over the Internet; and what penalties exist to deter those responsible for publishing child pornography over the Internet. [100293]

The criminal law applies equally to material on computer systems as to material in other forms. We have very strict legislation against child pornography which makes it an offence to produce, circulate or possess with a view to distribution any indecent photograph of a child under 16. These offences carry a maximum sentence of three years' imprisonment, an unlimited fine or both. The simple possession of an indecent photograph of a child is also an offence and carries a maximum sentence of six months' imprisonment. Section 84 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 updated these controls to include indecent computer-generated photographs of children and they have been successfully applied to child pornography transmitted over the Internet.We are determined to ensure that there are effective measures against child pornography. We support the work of the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) which passes to the police details of potentially unlawful material brought to their attention by members of the public via a specially established hotline. If the originators of the material are abroad, the Foundation passes the report to the National Criminal Intelligence Service (NCIS) who liaise with the enforcement agencies of the countries concerned. The IWF took action on 430 reports of alleged child pornography in 1998.The Government also fully support international initiatives in the Council of Europe and the G8 to combat criminal misuse of the Internet.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the total change in England and Wales in the number of (a) all police officers, (b) police constables, (c) civilian police force staff and (d) special constables between May 1997 and the last date for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [99793]

[holding answer 26 November 1999]: Information is available in respect of numbers at March 1997 and March 1999. The information is set out in the table.

Police service numbers for March 1997 and March 1999
Police Service Numbers	March 1997	March 1999	Total Change
Total Police Officers1	127,158	126,096	-1,062
Police Constables1	98,132	97,520	-612
Civilian police force staff1	53,011	53,031	+20
Special Constables	19,864	16,484	-3,390
1 Full-time equivalent numbers

The powers of the Home Secretary to set police establishment levels for each force were removed under the Police and Magistrates' Courts Act 1994. It is for the chief officer to determine staffing requirements within the overall resources available.The drop in the number of special constables has resulted mainly from police forces applying higher standards when recruiting them. The use of higher standards for recruiting reflects the fact that special constables are now being deployed on duties very similar to those of regular officers.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the aim of clearing all current cases by October 2000, stated by the permanent secretary in his letter of 13 October to the Public Accounts Committee, refers to all current asylum cases or to all asylum cases involving children. [100483]

The aim mentioned in the letter of 13 October referred to all asylum cases. This aim is a milestone to delivery of the published targets in April 2001. It will be kept under review in the light of pressures created by the current high level of asylum applications.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to develop a national fraud squad to tackle computer-based crime. [100404]

There are proposals for the establishment of a Computer Crime Unit within the National Criminal Intelligence Service, but this would not constitute a national fraud squad.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the benchmark against which he plans to measure the four key performance indicators for the Integrated Casework Directorate listed by the permanent secretary in his letter of 13 October to the Clerk of the Public Accounts Committee. [100484]

The benchmark figures for each of the four key performance indicators were compiled from statistics showing the output of the Asylum Directorate, the After Entry and Appeals Directorate and the European Directorate over a 13 week period between September and November 1998, divided by 13 to obtain an average weekly figure. The figures are as follows:

Category	Number of decisions
Asylum casework	650
Asylum appeals	250
European casework	250
General/settlement casework	4,100
Total	5,250

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons have been deported over the past 12 months; and on what grounds. [100614]

The total number of people who have been removed or departed voluntarily from the United Kingdom between October 1998 and September 1999 is shown in the table. Regrettably, information about the grounds of removal could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Total number of persons1removed or departed voluntarily under port or enforcement procedures, October 1998 to September 1999
	Number
Port removals2	30,710
Illegal entry removals3	5,320
Deportation removals3	1,220
1 Does not include persons who may leave the United Kingdom without informing the Immigration and Nationality Directorate.
2 Refused leave to enter and removed.
3 Figures are provisional and include persons departing voluntarily after enforcement action had been initiated against them.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the extent to which the 30 year rule is proposed to be relaxed in the Freedom of Information Bill; and (a) what kind of records will be released which would otherwise have been held for 30 years and (b) on what grounds records will continue to be held for the 30 year period. [100659]

Freedom of Information legislation will not affect the 30 year rule, as the principles governing the release of records at 30 years will remain broadly the same.However, under the proposals in the Freedom of Information Bill, many more records will be released earlier, and therefore, fewer records will fall to be released at 30 years.It is not possible to specify particular records which will be released under Freedom of Information, as earlier releases will be spread across a range of records which would otherwise have been held until 30 years.The Freedom of Information Bill contains certain exemptions which provide the grounds for withholding information beyond 30 years. These grounds are: information supplied by, or relating to, work of the security services; national Security; defence; international relations; the economy; information from confidential sources in the course of investigations and proceedings; law enforcement (until 100 years); honours (until 75 years); health and safety; personal information (for the lifetime of the individual concerned); information provided in confidence; and specific statutory bars on disclosure.However, even where an exemption in the Bill applies, the Public Record Office, or the authority holding the information, must consider on a case by case basis any discretion it may have to disclose the information, deciding whether the public interest in disclosure outweighs that of maintaining the exemption.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the conflict resolution manual, revised by ACPO's Self-defence and Restraint Committee, will contain information on dealing with a mental illness; if the revision has been completed; how beat officers will receive this information; and if the manual will be made available to members of the public. [100718]

I understand from the Self-Defence, Arrest and Restraint sub-committee that work is continuing on revision of the manual, and that the inclusion of information on dealing with persons with a mental illness will be considered as this work progresses.The contents of the manual will be disseminated to officers through Personal Safety training. A decision on whether the manual can be made public will be made by the Association of Chief Police Officers once the drafting work is complete.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people living in England and Wales hold a shotgun licence. [100766]

The number of shot gun certificates on issue at the end of 1998 was 627,600.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to reply to the letters to him, dated 28 July, 10 September and 4 October, from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton, concerning Bulbur Begum. [100638]

My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary wrote to my right hon. Friend on 26 November.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what policy changes the Government plans to implement following the judgment of the European Court of Human Rights in the case of Hashman and Harrup. [100588]

The Government intend to review the powers to bind over once all the relevant cases before the European Court of Human Rights have been decided. The case of Steel and others established that the powers to bind over to keep the peace are sufficiently well established to comply with the Convention. Following the decision in Hashman and Harrup, we shall study the Court's judgment carefully and consider how best to advise the courts and the police on the use of the power to bind over to be of good behaviour.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action his Department plans to take following the September publication of the reports by the Committee on Toxicity, Mutagenicity and Carcinogenicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment concerning the effects of CS spray. [100782]

Following the report by the independent Committees on Toxicity, Mutagenicity and Carcinogenicity, my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary indicated that there was no reason to consider withdrawing CS spray from police use.Operational guidelines issued by the Association of Chief Police Officers have been revised to take account of the report's findings concerning the use of CS with persons who are mentally ill and those who may have respiratory conditions. The guidelines include appropriate advice on aftercare and will be issued to chief officers shortly.The Home Office will be taking forward with the Department of Health the report's recommendation for follow up studies into persons who have received medical treatment following the use of CS spray. In addition, the Home Office's Police Scientific Development Branch is continuing work looking at alternative solvents and potential alternative incapacitants.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department by what name he intends the reformed Probation Service for England and Wales to be known. [101283]

A Bill, to be introduced to this House, will reform and modernise the Probation Service within England and Wales. The modernised service will be known as The Community Punishment and Rehabilitation Service for England and Wales (CPRS). This Service has a key role to play in delivering the Government's aims on effective sentencing and punishment that:

The public is protected from dangerous offenders;

Offenders are properly punished and their sentences are rigorously enforced;

Punishments are made to work better both in prison and outside; and

Courts have available to them a flexible range of sentences.

The Probation Service has not been well served in recent years by its name, with offenders and the general public alike unsure of its role. The new name encapsulates the Service's role as a law enforcement agency and sends out a clear message to offenders that punishment in the community is not a soft option but one that should work to reduce re-offending.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department with regard to projects at the Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, London, involving the artificial induction of arthritis in mice, what steps were taken to assess the validity of the proposed research and identify other potential sources of the information required before the licence was granted. [100707]

Under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986, project licences are issued only if the likely benefits (to man, animals or the environment) outweigh the costs to the animals involved and if there are no alternatives which replace animal use, reduce the number of animals needed or refine the experimental design to minimise suffering. The Animals (Scientific Procedures) Inspectorate advises on whether, and on what terms, licences and certificates should be granted or amended.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many transgenic pigs have been released since 1 January under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 for export from the UK for use in (a) medical research and (b) breeding programmes; and to which countries they have been exported. [100702]

49 pigs were exported in March and a further 40 in July. Both batches were exported to the United States of America for use in breeding programmes.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many project licences have been issued during the current year for primates to be used in xenotransplantation procedures, broken down by (a) type of procedure, (b) severity banding of procedure, (c) number of primates used per procedure and (d) origin of primates used. [100701]

One licence has been issued this year for kidney transplants from transgenic pigs to primates. The severity banding is moderate. 14 macaques were used in 14 procedures and all were obtained from the Philippines.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many procedures have taken place under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 whereby baboons have been given humanised pig hearts; how many baboons were involved; and how many days each survived. [100703]

Since the commencement of baboon studies in 1966, a total of 44 baboons have received transgenic pig hearts, with the longest survival time reaching 99 days. In addition, five animals received non-transgenic hearts.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans the Government have to regulate political party funding, donations and sponsorship for (a) events, (b) conferences and (c) elections. [100428]

Proposals for legislation on these matters, in response to the Fifth Report of the Committee on Standards in Public Life on the funding of political parties, were published on 27 July 1999 and a Bill will be introduced into Parliament later this session.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the reasons are for the delay in the publication of his Department's recommendations following its review of strip search procedures; and if he will make a statement. [100173]

The Prison Service has not yet submitted its recommendations to me. The report is being finalised. Its completion has been delayed because of competing pressures and the complexity of the Prison Service regulations concerned. I understand that I will receive the report and the recommendations shortly. As agreed by the then Minister of State for the Home Department, my right hon. Friend, the Member for Gateshead, East and Washington, West (Ms Quin) in her reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Selly Oak (Dr. Jones) on 15 July 1997, Official Report, column 98W, a copy will be placed in the Library when it is completed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate his Department has made of the final total cost to public funds of improving the approach roads to the National Grid Company's Lackenby to Shipton transmission line. [100725]

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to her by my hon. Friend the Member for Stretford and Urmston (Ms Hughes), the Under-Secretary on 8 November 1999, Official Report, column 391W.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he is taking to ensure legitimate concerns about health, environmental and animal welfare issues can be effectively accommodated with the rules of the World Trade Organisation. [100698]

Existing WTO rules allow Governments wide scope to impose trade restrictions as a means of addressing concerns about health and many environmental issues. However, the Government, along with its EU partners, believe there is room for some improvements in the rules, particularly better to accommodate environmental and animal welfare concerns, and are pressing for these subjects to be included in the forthcoming negotiations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry who is the business representative on the Government's delegation to the World Trade Organisation meeting in Seattle. [100697]

The business representative is the Chairman of the CBI's Trade Policy Working Group.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what (i) discussions he has had with and (ii) communications have been received from industry and business associations in respect of the World Trade Organisation meeting in Seattle. [100700]

Ministers and officials have had many discussions with and communications from industry and business associations in respect of the meeting in Seattle. Broadly, industry is very supportive of the launch of a new comprehensive round of trade negotiations, recognising the importance to the UK economy of open markets and removing barriers to trade.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what position the Government will be adopting at the World Trade Organisation ministerial meetings in Seattle in respect of the previously agreed end to the multi-fibre arrangement. [100699]

In the Government's view, the terms of the phase-out of the multi-fibre arrangement set out in the GATT Uruguay round agreement on textiles and clothing (ATC) should not be reopened and all signatories should implement the agreement in full.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the outcome of the Government's discussions with the banks concerning their future remuneration under ECGD's fixed rate export finance scheme. [101287]

These discussions are now concluded. The previous arrangements expired on 30 November.A new scale of remuneration, which seeks an equitable balance between the interests of the banks, the taxpayer and the exporter, has been introduced with effect from 1 December.A copy of the memorandum which sets out the details of the new arrangements has been placed in the Library of the House for information.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what financial support has been provided for the ECGD in each of the last five years from public funds. [100513]

ECGD receives funds from three votes—administration, public expenditure and trading. The actual outturn as reported in the appropriation accounts for the last five years is outlined in the table.

£000
Year	Administration Vote	Public Expenditure Vote	Trading Vote	Total
1994–95	28,002	(25,080)	(17,295)	(14,373)
1995–96	24,582	15,789	(264,105)	(223,734)
1996–97	22,824	17,771	(122,197)	(81,602)
1997–98	22,627	40,077	(53,152)	9,552
1998–99	22,885	1318,959	(110,135)	231,709
1 The increase in the Public Expenditure Vote in 1998–99 is in respect of a loan from Treasury to enable the refinancing of outstanding export finance which will bring future financial benefits to the Exchequer.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what role the ECGD plays in the securing of (a) military aircraft export orders and (b) overseas sales of commercial aircraft. [100512]

ECGD's guarantees to exporters and banks help UK exporters to secure contracts including in the aerospace field.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list those categories of commercial transactions which do not qualify for ECGD support. [100516]

ECGD provides guarantees for finance products of two years or more. These finance products are applicable to exports of a capital or semi-capital nature plus related services. ECGD does not normally provide support for exports that only justify less than two year credit terms.ECGD also provides insurance-based products:

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which OECD countries have export insurance schemes providing the same categories of cover as are presently available via the ECGD. [100507]

The majority of OECD countries have export credit insurance schemes which are broadly similar to that provided by the ECGD, although not all have privatised their short-term credit insurance operations. In respect of medium and long-term business (involving credit terms of two years or more) there is a common system to classify the sovereign and country credit risk of buyer/borrower countries under an agreement concluded through the OECD—the Arrangement on Guidelines for Officially Supported Export Credits.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many civil servants were employed by his Department in (a) 1999, (b) 1998 and (c) 1997. [99052]

The number of civil servants employed by the Department for Education and Employment in 1999, 1998 and 1997 were as follows:

	1 April 1997	1 April 1998	1 April 1999
Department for Education and Employment	14,679	4,061	4,251
Government Office	1n/a	673	624
Employment Service	31,550	30,796	32,675
Total	36,229	35,530	37,550
1 At 1 April 1997, the Government Office staff were included in the figures for DfEE.