To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what extra measures he proposes in order to achieve reductions in drink driving offences over the Christmas and new year holiday period. [101664]

My noble Friend Lord Whitty launched the Government's Christmas and new year anti-drink-drive publicity campaign on 1 December. The campaign is designed to reduce the number of deaths and injuries resulting from drink-driving especially during the coming holiday period, and also throughout the year. It has a particular significance this year because of the additional celebrations to mark the Millennium. The campaign emphasises the importance of planning ahead to ensure a safe journey home from festive celebrations. It also reinforces our message that drivers can still be well over the legal blood alcohol limit the following day after consuming alcohol and therefore should exercise particular caution in deciding when to resume driving. Nearly one in 10 of positive breath tests at the scene of an accident results from tests taken between 6am and 1pm.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the compliance rate of utilities in using permanent reinstatement materials as set out in the statutory code of practice under the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991. [102119]

Research carried out for the Department by the Transport Research Laboratory, covering a period up to early 1998, showed that there was room for improvement in utilities' standards of compliance with the statutory code of practice on reinstatement (the reinstatement specification). Street works and the reinstatements after works are subject to inspection by street authorities (normally the local highway authorities), who have powers under the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 to ensure compliance with the specification.The research is contributing to the revision of the specification, a new edition of which we expect to be published next year.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will ban the use of jet-skis in environmentally sensitive areas. [102169]

Some environmentally sensitive areas already have local byelaws imposing strict speed limits, which result in the exclusion of jet-skis. We expect local authorities—who are responsible for making most local byelaws—to continue to judge each case on its merits.Last year's report of the Review of Byelaw Powers for the Coast recommended that local authorities should be given more general powers to regulate activities on the coast which affect the wider environment, such as the use of personal watercraft. We have given a long-term commitment to introduce legislation to take forward those recommendations in the Review which require changes to the law. In the meantime, we have published a voluntary code of best and safe practice for leisure craft users, and we are exploring options for a voluntary boat registration and identification scheme, which would include jet-skis.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what guidance he has given on the collation of data for the Sea Rescues and Emergencies Database. [102561]

The Sea Rescues and Emergencies Database (SEAREM) is owned, administered and funded by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) who are a registered charity and are independent of Government.The only Government contribution towards SEAREM is in the form of data supplied by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA), an executive agency of the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions, and the Defence Analytical Services Agency (DASA), an executive agency of the Ministry of Defence. Guidance for the making of data contributions has, therefore, been issued to these agencies from the RNLI.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the inclusion of rescues by local authority lifeguards within the Sea Rescues and Emergencies Database. [102563]

Local Authority lifeguards make no direct contribution to the Sea Rescues and Emergencies Database (SEAREM), as they do not have access to the database. If local authority lifeguards wish to provide data to the SEAREM database they do so through either the Royal Life Saving Society (RLSS) of the Surf Life Saving Association (SLSA) who, as direct contributors, are able to access SEAREM database.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions for what reasons (a) time savings to road users are incorporated in net present value calculations of the benefits of road capital schemes and (b) time savings to rail users are excluded from rail investment appraisals. [102597]

Road and rail investment schemes are appraised against the Government's five over-arching criteria as set out in the Integrated Transport White Paper: "environment, safety, economy, accessibility and integration". Time savings are included under the economy criterion for both road and rail appraisals.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions in which negotiations about new air services between London and the United States (a) he and (b) other Ministers in his Department have been involved since 1997; and what criteria determined the level of ministerial involvement in each case. [102779]

Negotiations between the UK and other countries are conducted by officials after consultation with Ministers. The level of ministerial involvement in any instance is determined having regard to the circumstances of the case. In the case of negotiations with the United States, Ministers have taken a close interest.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he received from British Airways and Virgin Atlantic prior to the granting of a slot to United Airlines to operate an air service between Boston and Heathrow; and if he will make a statement. [102780]

Both airlines submitted views on the legal question of whether the application by United Airlines for a permit to operate a service between Boston and London had to be regarded as an entitlement under the terms of Bermuda II. These views were taken into account in reaching the decision to issue a permit.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if the decisions by the United States Administration and Her Majesty's Government to allow (a) British Airways to commence a service between Denver and Gatwick and (b) US Airways to commence a service between Charlotte and Gatwick were taken (i) jointly or (ii) separately. [102797]

The entitlement to operate these services derives from the Air Services Agreement between the UK and the US, commonly referred to as Bermuda II. The UK issued a permit for the US Airways Charlotte service in April 1998. The US was slow to issue a permit for the BA Denver service, and did not do so until July 1998.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what discussions he held with the US Secretary of Transportation before agreeing to grant a slot to United Airlines to operate an air service between Boston and Heathrow; and if he will make a statement.[102782]

No discussions were held with the US Department of Transportation before a permit was issued to United Airlines to operate a service between Boston and London. The Government takes no part in the allocation of slots at slot-constrained UK airports; these are allocated by Airport Co-ordination Ltd.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the major road improvement schemes that are now taking place within the Greater London area. [102708]

I have asked the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency, Mr. Peter Nutt, to reply to my hon. Friend.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate he has made of the revenue to be derived from implementing the integrated pollution prevention and control regulation. [102582]

The phased implementation of integrated pollution prevention and control (IPPC) regulation extends up to 2007. In 2000–01, its first operational year, the revenue from IPPC regulation is estimated to be approximately £4.0 million.This information updates the estimate given in the Environment Agency' s corporate plan published in September 1999.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will review the levels of capital and income disregards for the benefits for which his Department is responsible. [102511]

Benefits are the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Security.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when work will commence on the Coulsdon Inner Relief Road. [102501]

I have asked the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency, Mr. Peter Nutt, to write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what reports have been received by his Department from the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate in respect of its investigation into the quality control of plutonium MOX fuel manufactured at Sellafield. [102484]

DETR Ministers have received a number of briefings from HSE's Nuclear Installations Inspectorate (NII) on its investigation into the falsification of quality assurance data for fuel manufactured in the MOX demonstration facility at BNFL's Sellafield plant. This investigation has concluded that the automated 100 per cent. check on pellet diameters should provide high confidence that all of the MOX fuel which has been delivered from Sellafield to Japan will be safe in use. A copy of the letter that NII sent to the Japanese Embassy advising them of this conclusion has been placed in the Library of the House.

Central Government grants and redistributed non-domestic rates
£ million
	Revenue	Community	SSA	Specific grant	Redistributed
	support grant1	charge grant	reduction grant	inside AEF7	non-domestic rates
1990–91	9,468	—	—	3,459	10,429
1992–92	9,652	4,805	—	4,163	12,408
1992–93	316,605	—	—	4,363	12,306
1993–94	17,033	—	—	4,664	11,559
1994–95	18,479	—	280	4,930	10,685
1995–96	18,296	—	261	4,779	11,354
1996–97	18,001	—	220	4,781	12,736
1997–98	18,650	—	123	5,068	12,027
1998–99	419,480	—	102	5,598	12,524
1999–2000	519,875	—	7119	5,874	13,612
2000–01	619,403	—	751	6,877	15,400
1Excluding RSG to Specified Bodies
2Specific, Special and Supplementary Grants
3Community Charge Grant was incorporated in Revenue Support Grant in 1992–93
4Provisional outturn
5Budget estimates
6Consultation
7Includes Central Support Reduction Grant

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what are the projected costs of the Civil Aviation Authority for the financial years (a) 1999–2000 and (b) 2000–01. [102758]

The projected operating costs for the Civil Aviation Authority (including National Air Traffic Services Ltd.) are as follows:

(a) 1999–2000: £588.2 million

(b) 2000–01: £611.7 million.

These costs will be recovered through charges levied on users in respect of the services provided by the CE.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what undertakings were given at the time of each privatisation of ports, where ports police forces existed, in relation to their future management and independence by the purchasers; and what scrutiny has been conducted as to the fulfilment of these undertakings since privatisation. [102436]

[holding answer 14 December 1999]: I am not aware of any undertakings given in such cases.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the money allocated to local authorities from central Government in the form of (a) rate support grant and (b) specific grant in each of the 10 most recent years for which information is available. [102466]

English local authorities have reported receiving the following central government grants. Data for community charge grant, SSA reduction grant and redistributed non-domestic rates have been included as these also provide unhypothecated funding for local authorities.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what research he has evaluated on leakage into soil from GM insect-resistant maize of the insecticide made by the plant as a consequence of its genetic modification; if he will instruct his officials to seek to follow up research of this kind; and if he will make a statement. [102722]

[holding answer 14 December 1999]: The science journal Nature published a report on 2 December 1999 on leakage into the soil from crops genetically modified to express insecticidal peptides from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt). I shall be asking the statutory Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment (ACRE) to consider this paper at their next meeting. Their advice, including any recommendations for research, will be published. I will then act to commission further research as appropriate. However, no Bt plants are being grown or trialled in the UK, and we have assurances from industry that they have no plans to introduce such crops in the near future.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many rough sleepers there were in each of the last 30 months for which figures are available in (a) London, (b) Bristol, (c) Cardiff, (d) Glasgow, (e) Leeds, (f) Liverpool and (g) Birmingham. [101524]

The following table sets out an estimate of the number of people sleeping rough on any one night in London, Bristol, Leeds, Liverpool and Birmingham, as at June 1998 and June 1999.

	June 1998	June 1999
Greater London	621	635
Bristol	42	32
Leeds	8	17
Liverpool	17	30
Birmingham	56	43

The figures for 1998 are based on single night street counts and were published as part of my answer of 19 May 1999,

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he will announce (a) his plans to meet the Prime Minister's target of reducing rough sleeping by at least two thirds by 2002 and (b) the latest figures for the numbers of rough sleepers in England. [103041]

The Government's strategy on rough sleeping will be published later today and copies placed in the Library. We are also publishing today the latest estimate of the number of people sleeping rough in England on any one night. These figures show that the number of people sleeping rough in England fell from 1,850 in June 1998 to 1,633 in June 1999. Copies of the full breakdown are available in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much aid has been given to Montenegro in 1999; and how much is planned for 2000. [101464]

We expect to provide around £92,000 in bilateral development technical assistance to Montenegro in the 1999–2000 financial year. This is mainly in support of privatisation programmes and public administration reform. Work was disrupted by the Kosovo crisis, during which we provided around £650,000 in emergency humanitarian assistance.For 2000–01, we are considering renewed activities in economic reform, support to civil society and public administration reform. The level of support has yet to be determined.The European Commission has committed about 56 million euro to Montenegro since April 1998 for public administration reform, private sector development, agriculture, budgetary support and humanitarian aid. The UK share of this is some 17 per cent.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will ensure the payment of compensation to those damaged by vaccines. [102167]

The existing Vaccine Damage Payment scheme, which has been in place since 1979, provides a one-off payment to people severely disabled by vaccination against certain diseases. The scheme is not intended as compensation but is designed to ease the present and future burdens of those suffering from vaccine damage, and their families.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security for each of the buildings under his Department's control how many rooms are set aside for (a) ethnic minority religious use, (b) pregnant and nursing mothers and (c) smokers. [102337]

The utilisation of specific rooms within individual Departmental buildings is a matter for local management. The information is not collated centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Number of DSS permanent staff in the north-east by area and agency
30 November 1999	BA	CA1	ITSA	HQ	CSA	WPA	Total
Northumberland	430	0	0	0	9	0	439
Newcastle	3,359	0	561	204	710	0	4,834
Washington	2,550	0	87	7	0	0	2,644
Wearside	457	0	0	0	18	0	475
County Durham	662	0	0	0	56	0	718
South Tyneside	188	0	0	0	0	0	188
Gateshead	218	0	0	0	66	0	284
Teesside	807	0	0	0	30	2	839
Totals	8,671	0	648	211	889	2	10,421
Note:
1With effect from 1 April 1999, all CA staff transferred to Inland Revenue.

Number of DSS permanent staff in the north-east area and agency
	BA	CA	ITSA	HQ	CSA	WPA	Total
30 November 1998
Northumberland	448	8	0	0	18	0	474
Newcastle	3,235	4,360	526	208	487	2	8,818
Washington	2,023	0	89	3	0	0	2,115
Wearside	450	0	0	0	21	0	471
County Durham	679	21	0	0	65	0	765
South Tyneside	193	0	0	0	0	0	193
Gateshead	208	42	0	0	61	0	311
Teesside	784	42	0	0	30	0	856
Totals	8,020	4,473	615	211	682	2	14,003
30 November 1997
Northumberland	470	7	0	0	24	0	501
Newcastle	3,097	4,336	494	230	459	3	8,619
Washington	1,766	0	98	0	0	0	1,864
Wearside	462	0	0	0	21	0	483
County Durham	618	20	0	0	39	0	677
South Tyneside	197	0	0	0	0	0	197
Gateshead	231	48	0	0	40	0	319
Teesside	810	38	0	0	35	2	885
Totals	7,651	4,449	592	230	618	5	13,545

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what arrangements (a) he and (b) Ministers in his Department have put in place for the taking and keeping of minutes of meetings between Ministers and people outside his Department. [102369]

Decisions on the format of minutes of meetings will depend on the nature of the discussion.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many full-time employees were employed in each metropolitan, unitary or county area in North-East England by (a) his Department and (b) each of its agencies, in each of the last three years for which information is available. [102432]

The information is in the tables.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he plans to consult on draft pension sharing regulations. [103126]

The consultation document "Pension Sharing on Divorce: Consultation on Draft Regulations" is published today. The consultation period will run until 14 February 2000. Copies have been placed in the Library and the Vote Office. The document is also available on the DSS website.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what percentage of the total workforce in his Department is registered as disabled; and what steps he is taking to encourage the employment of disabled people in his Department. [102039]

Following the devolution of power to the Northern Ireland Assembly on 2 December 1999, the Assembly took on responsibility for all the Northern Ireland Civil Service Departments. The Secretary of State's responsibility is now limited to the Northern Ireland Office, and the following information relates to that Department only.The Disability Discrimination Act 1995, which came into force in 1996, removed the requirement for individuals with disabilities to register as disabled and, as a result, such information is no longer held on staff in the Northern Ireland Office. Individuals may, however, provide information regarding their disabilities on a voluntary basis. Statistics based on this information indicate that 4.04 per cent. of staff in the Northern Ireland Office have declared that they have a disability under the Act.The Northern Ireland Office is an Equal Opportunities employer and has a number of policies in place relating to the recruitment and retention of people with disabilities. Where open recruitment competitions are advertised, disabled people are among those under-represented groups who are encouraged to submit applications. The NIO also sponsors a number of people with disabilities to provide them with work in the Department under the Training and Employment Agency's Employment Support Scheme.The NIO has a dedicated Disabled Person's Liaison Officer whose role is to provide assistance and advice to staff and managers on what reasonable adjustments can be made to enable staff with disabilities to do their jobs. Consideration is also being given to joining the Positive about Disabled People "Two Ticks" scheme to indicate the NIO' s commitment to people with disabilities.Since 1997 the Northern Ireland Office has funded a bursary for staff with disabilities. This provides the bursary holder with a two year programme of training and mentoring to enable them to develop the competencies needed to gain promotion. Two members of MO staff are currently benefiting from the scheme.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what correspondence he has received from outgoing members of the Parades Commission; and if he will place copies in the Library. [101889]

No such correspondence has been received.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland for what reason he is to review the workings of the Parades Commission; what are the terms of reference of this review; what organisations and individuals have been consulted over the terms of reference; and what body has been appointed to conduct the review. [101887]

On 8 October the previous Secretary of State announced a review of the workings of the Parades Commission. The terms of reference are:

"Within the existing framework of law and structures, and taking account of views received from interested parties and the experience of the marching seasons over the last two years, to consider

possible ways of achieving even greater acceptance of the approach to handling contentious parades; and, in particular,

the arrangements for mediation;

and to report to Ministers by the end of December 1999".

As part of the announcement the Secretary of State made a general invitation for contributions from any interested parties. Subsequently a wide range of interested parties have been specifically invited to contribute.Officials from my Security Policy and Operations Division have been asked to conduct the review.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what was the composition of the Northern Ireland Fire Brigade by (i) gender and (ii) by perceived community origin (a) in the last month for which figures were available, (b) for the same month five years ago and (c) 10 years ago; [101886] when the emblem of the Northern Ireland Fire Brigade was introduced. [101885]

Responsibility for this subject has been devolved to the Northern Ireland Assembly and is therefore no longer a matter for the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what are the functions of the Security Policy and Operations Department; how many staff, at what grades, are assigned to this unit; and how many additional staff have been (i) appointed and (ii) seconded in the last six months. [101888]

The aim and objectives of the Security Policy and Operations Division were set out on pages 32 and 33 of the Government's Expenditure Plans 1999–2000 to 2001–02 for Northern Ireland (Cm 4217). A copy is available in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what are the terms of reference of the review of the composition of the senior grades of the Civil Service; what is the composition of the senior grades of the Civil Service; what is the composition of the review team; when the review began; when it will report; and when its recommendations will be published. [101884]

Responsibility for this subject has been devolved to the Northern Ireland Assembly and is therefore no longer a matter for the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the membership of the working group announced on 4 November 1998 to consider the implementation of the recommendations of the Third report of the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee of session 1997–98 (HC337); how many times the group has met; what representations it received from the Northern Ireland Police Federation; and if he will make a statement on its terms of reference and work to date. [101877]

The working group on membership of exclusive organisations within the Criminal Justice system comprised representatives of the Northern Ireland Office, the RUC, the Police Authority for Northern Ireland, the Northern Ireland Court Service, the Northern Ireland Prison Service, the Department of the Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland and the Probation Board for Northern Ireland. The working group met formally on four occasions and received no representations from the Northern Ireland Police Federation. The working group's terms of reference were as announced on 4 November 1998. It submitted its report to the Secretary of State in July 1999. The Report of the Independent Commission on Policing (published on 9 September) proposed that police officers should be obliged to register their interests and associations. The Government are currently considering the responses to consultation on all the Commission's recommendations and awaiting the conclusions of the Criminal Justice Review.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much his Department's agencies and non-departmental public bodies have spent on external consultants and advisers since May 1997. [102076]

[holding answer 13 December 1999]: The information requested can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the proportion of low birthweight babies in each health authority area of England, in each of the last five years. [102228]

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Director of the Office for National Statistics. I have asked him to reply.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what statutory provisions restrict the ability of policyholders to make top-up payments to long-term endowment insurance plans; and what plans he has to review these provisions. [102433]

There are no statutory provisions prohibiting top-up payments. The provision of advice on and selling of endowment policies is regulated by the Financial Services Authority. Policyholders are encouraged to seek independent financial advice before deciding on options to meet projected shortfalls in maturity.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what percentage of the total workforce in his Department is registered as disabled; and what steps he is taking to encourage the employment of disabled people in his Department. [102050]

As at 1 October 1999, 111 staff (2 per cent.) had declared themselves as disabled in a voluntary survey. The FCO is committed to the employment of people with disabilities. In September 1998 the Department qualified for the Employment Service Two ticks symbol "Positive about disabled people". Under this scheme the Department guarantees an interview to anybody with a disability where the application meets the minimum criteria for the post. Particular arrangements are put into place for tests and interviews when requested by the candidate. Reasonable adjustments are made to the working environment for new entrants with disabilities. The FCO has appointed a Disabled Persons Officer to deal with disability issues within the Office.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the British diplomatic missions that have been closed during the last five years. [102407]

The British diplomatic missions that have closed in the last five years are: Douala in 1994, Kuching and Chiang Mai in 1998 and Cleveland in 1999.In addition, the Embassy in Belgrade closed at the start of the Kosovo campaign. The Yugoslav authorities subsequently severed diplomatic relations. We have since re-established a presence in Belgrade with an British Interests Section of the Brazilian Embassy.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of recent progress in co-operation with China in tackling international crime. [102704]

My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister and President Jiang Zemin agreed on the need for further dialogue between our two countries on the problems of international crime and drugs in their meeting during the Chinese State Visit. I raised the issue of drugs with the Chinese Vice Foreign Minister during my recent visit to China and we agreed to continue close co-operation in this field, where we have had a number of small, mainly training, projects.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he discussed further co-operation in the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction when he met President Jiang Zemin during his visit to Britain. [102742]

The need for further dialogue on this subject was agreed in the Prime Minister's meeting with President Jiang Zemin during the State Visit.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list those countries which (a) have applied for membership of the EU and (b) are investigating the possibility of applying for membership within the next 12 months; and if he will make a statement. [102459]

The countries that have applied for membership of the EU are listed in the table. Accession negotiations started in March 1998 with Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Poland and Slovenia. Accession negotiations will begin in February 2000 with Bulgaria, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Romania and Slovakia. The Helsinki European Council on 10-–1 December 1999 recognised that Turkey is a candidate for membership. Norway put its application on hold in 1994 after a referendum rejected membership. Switzerland suspended its application in 1993. In 1987, the Council of Ministers did not accede to an application from Morocco. No other country has signalled an intention to apply for membership within the next 12 months. This Government strongly support EU enlargement.

Countries that have applied for EU-membership
Country	Date of application
Morocco	120 July 1987
Turkey	14 April 1987
Cyprus	3 July 1990
Malta	216 July 1990
Switzerland	320 May 1992
Norway	425 November 1992
Hungary	31 March 1994
Poland	5 April 1994
Romania	22 June 1995
Slovakia	27 June 1995
Latvia	13 October 1995
Estonia	24 November 1995
Lithuania	8 December 1995
Bulgaria	14 December 1995
Czech Republic	17 January 1996
Slovenia	10 June 1996
1 EU did not accede to the request
2 Frozen in 1996, re-activated 10 September 1998
3 Left in abeyance 1992
4 1994 referendum rejected membership. Application on hold

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what arrangements (a) he and (b) Ministers in his Department have put in place for the taking and keeping of minutes of meetings between Ministers and people outside his Department. [102363]

Decisions on the format of minutes of meetings will depend on the nature of the discussions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will introduce legislation to require sports clubs to insure team members against personal injury. [102502]

I have no plans to introduce legislation requiring sports clubs to insure their members against personal injury, but I encourage them to ensure that adequate insurance is in place. The home country Sports Councils, in co-operation with the Association of British Insurers, published a booklet in 1997 called "Managing Risks" which provides guidance on insurance for sports organisations, clubs and individuals.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what his plans are for the future use of those parts of Osborne House not once occupied personally by Queen Victoria and opened to the public, and of the grounds; and if he will make a statement. [102570]

As I announced on 4 February, my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State, has decided that it is no longer appropriate to run this part of Osborne House as a convalescent and residential home and will be seeking Parliament's approval to repeal the provisions of the Osborne Estate Act 1902 which places this responsibility on him. In the meantime the home remains open. I have asked English Heritage to bring forward proposals for the use of the accommodation currently occupied by the convalescent home.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) what discussions he has had with the British Olympic Association on ensuring that a future British Olympic bid contains proposals to disperse major sporting events throughout the United Kingdom; [102804](2) what discussions he has had with the British Olympic Association and other interested parties on ensuring the availability of funding for Olympic facilities throughout the United Kingdom. [102803]

I am in regular discussion with the British Olympic Association and other interested parties on a number of issues including facilities to stage a future Olympic Games. The International Olympic Committee require that the Olympic Games are city rather than countrywide based. The British Olympic Association, who have responsibility for UK bids for the Olympic Games, are finalising a series of feasibility studies on a London based bid and I am expecting their report shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how much his Department has spent on civil servants' transport in each of the last two years. [99145]

All travel undertaken by civil servants in DfEE and the Employment Service (ES) complies with the requirements of the Civil Service Management Code.For DfEE, the total amount spent on civil servants' car transport in each of the last two years is £648,826 (1997–98) and £720,853 (1998–99)

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what steps he is taking to ensure greater transparency in the allocation of funds by local education authorities to individual pupils with special educational needs. [101467]

[holding answer 7 December 1999]: We have taken steps to require local education authorities to publish budget statements which make clear the amounts retained centrally and the amounts delegated to schools to make provision for children with special educational

Percentage
	1997–98	1998–99	April-November 1999
To complete the calculation of ill health benefits or short service incapacity grants within 20 days of receiving approval of the application	91	98	91.7
Requests for further medical evidence to be made within 5 days of notification	—	100	97.8
To inform applicants for ill health retirement of the decision within 10 days of medical advisers notification	—	—	98.9

The figures for applications rejected and successful appeals are as follows. Successful appeals usually result from further medical evidence being received.

	Number rejected	Successful appeals
1997–98	1,227	382
1998–99	788	179
April-September 1999	288	13
1 Does not include appeals still under consideration.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to review arrangements for home to school transport. [102239]

The School Travel Advisory Group is looking into all aspects of school transport and I expect to receive its recommendations early in the new year. In addition, we have a number of initiatives already in place: we have produced guidance for schools on safe routes; we

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what was the average time taken for the Teachers' Pension Agency to process a teacher's request for early retirement on health grounds in each of the last three years; how many such requests have been refused in each of the last three years; and how many of these refusals have been overturned on appeal. [101923]

The administration of the Teachers' Pensions Scheme has been carried out under contract by Capita Business Services since October 1996. Details of the average time taken for the complete processing of ill-health retirement applications are not recorded, but a Statement of Service Requirements (SOSR) attached to the contract has specific targets with regard to ill-health applications. The performance of the scheme administrator is given in the following table. These targets reflect the stages in the process where responsibility for the action rests with the administrator and not with a third party. The number of years for which the information is available reflects the periodic updating of the SOSR.are developing mapping software and a car sharing database for schools' use; we are reviewing the provision of transport for pupils with special educational needs, leading to guidance on best practice for Local Education Authorities; and we have been working with the Department of Health on "Safe and Sound", a competition for schools designed to promote healthier and sustainable school travel.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what was the outcome of the appeal to the Data Protection Registrar by the National Union of Teachers against his Department using home addresses collected for pension purposes and the General Teaching Council elections; and if he will make a statement. [102773]

The Data Protection Registrar has confirmed that teachers' home addresses can be used for the despatch of pensions information and to form the basis of the electoral roll for the General Teaching Council.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how much his Department's agencies and non-departmental public bodies have spent on external conz45sultants and advisers since May 1997. [102080]

[holding answer 13 December 1999]: The Department's NDPBs spent £22.062 million on external consultants and advisers. The individual NDPB expenditure is listed on the following table.

Department for Education and Employment—expenditure on consultants and advisers
£000
May 1997 to-date	Total
British Educational Communications and Technology (BECTa)	865
Construction Industry Training Board (CITB)	638
Education Transfer Council (ETC)	0
Engineering Construction Industry Training Board(ECITB)	35
Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC)	147
Further Education Funding Council (FEFC)	2,510
Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE)	2,847
Investors in People UK Ltd. (IIP)	4,614
Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA)	3,800
Remploy Ltd.	816
Students Loan Company (SLC)	1,612
Teacher Training Agency (TTA)	4,174
Advisory Committee for Disabled People in Employment and Training (ACDET)	2
Disability Rights Task Force (DTRF)	1
National Disability Council (NDC)	0
New Deal Task Force (NDTF)	0
Race Employment and Education Forum (REEF)	1
Skills Task Force (STF)	0
	22,062

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment to what extent the money contributed by TECs to the national legal fund established under the auspices of the TEC National Council is to be used to contest the distribution of reserves and assets upon the winding up of TECs; and if he will make a statement. [102081]

[holding answer 14 December 1999]: We understand the primary purpose of the legal fund is to seek advice on issues common to all TECs/CCTEs, including the extent of the obligations they have under their contracts with Government. This is a reasonable step rather than each TEC seeking separate advice with the additional costs that would entail. However, we would not expect TECs/CCTEs to use public funds to contest the distribution of reserves and assets.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Education and Employment on the application by the WTO of the principle of free trade to purchases by Governments and local authorities of goods and services concerned with education. [101674]

There have not been any such discussions concerning the WTO and Government procurement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the proportion of the United Kingdom aerospace industry's projected investment which is accounted for by the A400M airbus military aircraft project. [102392]

My Department does not produce estimates of future investment in the aerospace sector. As my previous reply on 8 December 1999, Official Report, columns 571–72W, explained in relation to the Future Transport Aircraft competition (FTA), we assess the possible impacts of the bids on the UK's industrial and technological capabilities. Since the FTA competition is still at the competitive bidding stage, it would be inappropriate to publish information provided by companies as part of this process.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions he has had with the Ministry of Defence over the A400M programme. [102741]

The Future Transport Aircraft (FTA) competition is being run by the Ministry of Defence. The A400M, along with Boeing's C-17 and Lockheed Martin's C130J, is a contender in the competition. My Department is in regular contact with the Ministry of Defence in the consideration of the industrial implications of this procurement. Our assessment looks at the possible impacts of each bid on the UK's industrial and technological capabilities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list those companies that have received promotional assistance in exporting to Ghana in each of the last five years. [101972]

[holding answer 9 December 1999]: British Trade International provides assistance to companies seeking to trade with or invest in Ghana. I shall place in the Library of the House a list of those companies interested in exporting to Ghana over the last five years, who have participated in the formal export promotion schemes now run by British Trade International.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what are the projected costs of Oftel for the financial years (a) 1999–2000 and (b) 2000–01. [102749]

The information is as follows:

£ million
	1999–2000	2000–01
Running costs	12.3	11.1
Other capital expenditure	0.3	0.3
Capital	1.2	0.4

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how he plans to take forward the White Paper, "Modern Markets: Confident Customers". [103125]

The White Paper contained some 90 initiatives to help people get a good deal. I have today published a detailed implementation plan, giving commitments on timing and naming an official responsible for each. I have placed copies in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on DTI-DSS co-ordination in relation to the Post Office. [101554]