To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service personnel who served in the Falklands conflict originated from Northern Ireland; and in which (a) regiments and (b) other parts of the services they served. [104394]

The Ministry of Defence does not hold a centrally collated record of the origins of servicemen and their individual deployments that contains the information requested for all three Services. Full details could be provided only at disproportionate cost, following detailed examination of individual records.However I can advise that available data show that some 95 Army and 29 RAF individuals who served in the Falklands operations are recorded as having originated from Northern Ireland and I will write with further details concerning regiments and units in which they served.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 21 December 1999, Official Report, column 468W, concerning the move of the Defence Vetting Agency to York, if he will estimate the number of people living within 50 miles of York who will be working at the Defence Vetting Agency. [104667]

The Agency is in the early stages of forming up at York. It will be taking on staff (mainly from HQ 2^nd Division but also through local recruitment) at various points between now and early 2001, when the Agency will reach its full strength at York of 181. Many posts are still unfilled.It is expected that all permanent staff working for the Agency at Imphal Barracks in the eventual workforce will live locally and commute daily. It is not our normal practice to check on the distance that individuals commute, but a random survey suggests that the overwhelming majority of our York-based workforce will live within 50 miles of York.In my earlier answer I explained that, in addition to the 181 DVA staff who will be based at Imphal Barracks, the Agency would employ 130 Investigating Officers who would work from their homes. The location of these Officers is tied to the major areas of MOD employment across the UK. The Officers are tasked from, and report to the Agency at York, but will very rarely travel there.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the outcome of the feasibility study into compulsory mobilisation of the Territorial Army to sustain peace support operations in the Balkans. [105415]

The Feasibility Study has concluded that compulsory mobilisation is feasible in both legal and practical terms. This will enable the TA to make a major contribution to front-line operations and reflects and supports the intent of the Strategic Defence Review that the Territorial Army should be usable. At the same time, as a result of the reduction in UK force levels in the Balkans, we judge that compulsory mobilisation is not operationally necessary at this time. We will keep the possibility of compulsory mobilisation under constant review in the light of the prevailing operational conditions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what reasons underlie the policy of referring applications to his Department for regional aid or assistance to the Minister of Agriculture. [104173]

The Department asks the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food for advice on all Regional Selective Assistance (RSA) applications with an agriculture element to ensure that there are no EC restrictions on projects being eligible for assistance in this respect. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State is responsible for decisions taken on awards of RSA.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he will reply to the letter from the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed of 9 August to the Minister of State about the inclusion of postcodes in telephone directories. [104094]

[holding answer 10 January 2000]: I replied to the right hon. Member yesterday.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the level of IPPC charges in other EU member states; and if he will make a statement. [104101]

The system of IPPC charges, which is still under consideration, is the responsibility of the Environment Agency. The Agency consulted on an interim charging regime last autumn, and is considering the outcome of that consultation. The Agency will be monitoring the implementation of IPPC in other member states including their charging policies.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects the review of the current minimum wage to be completed. [104688]

The Government received the Low Pay Commission's Report on the impact of implementation of the national minimum wage at the end of December. Once Ministers have had an opportunity to consider the Report's findings, both the Report and the Government's response to it will be published.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what plans she has to put contracts for the Government of the Philippines Bridge Replacement Project under the existing offer of aid and trade provision out to tender in the United Kingdom. [104034]

The first component of the Philippines Bridge Replacement Programme, for emergency steel panel bridging, was negotiated with the Mabey Group and is due to be completed shortly. The second component is for various types of steel bridging and a range of design and advisory services. This is being negotiated with a consortium of Balfour Kilpatrick and Cleveland Bridge.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many (a) cars and (b) motor-cycles which are more than 25 years old are in use in the United Kingdom. [103155]

The number of vehicles more than 25 years old at the end of 1998 in Great Britain was as follows:

Cars: 256,392 (1.1 per cent. of licensed stock)

Motor Cycles: 91,173 (11.2 per cent. of licensed stock)

At present, we do not have this information for Northern Ireland.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what account he will take of the European Court of Justice judgment on 15 December, in amending his policy on permitting local authorities to grant local travel concessions to men aged over 60 years. [104150]

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to equalise at the age of 60 the eligibility for the minimum half price local bus concession for older people following the judgment in the case of John Taylor and Liberty v. HM Government. [104057]

Legal advice is that this judgment does not have implications for concessionary fares on local transport.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the accident rates including fatalities for (a) single and (b) dual carriageway roads. [104116]

Accident rates on single and dual carriageway roads are given in the table.

Accident rates for single and dual carriageway roads in Great Britain: 1998
Accident rate per hundred million vehicle kms
	Single carriageway	Dual carriageway1	All roads2
Fatal	0.8	0.4	0.7
Fatal and Serious Accidents	9.9	4.0	8.2
All Personal Injury Accidents	59	27	52
1 Includes motorways
2 Includes accidents at roundabouts and those where carriageway type is unknown

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what published standards are set for the Driver and Vehicle Licence Agency on the time taken to process driving licence applications that include reference to a medical condition; and what standards in respect of such applications the Agency has achieved in the last three quarters of 1999. [104056]

The service standards for applications involving a medical investigation are published in the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency's Service Guide. This states that the Agency's Medical Unit aims to complete its investigations:

(a) within five weeks of receiving an application for a car or motorcycle licence;

(b) within seven weeks of receiving an application for a large goods/passenger carrying vehicle licence.

When medical investigations take longer than this, applicants are advised on an individual basis.Excluding December, where final figures have yet to be available, in the last three-quarters of 1999 the Agency achieved an average performance of 44 per cent. of car and motorcycle applications and 66 per cent. of large goods and passenger carrying vehicles being processed within the published standard.Action is being taken to bring this service up to standard and the position is steadily improving.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the average time between applying for and receiving (a) a driving licence and (b) a driving licence that includes reference to a medical condition. [104055]

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency undertakes to issue driving licences and return original documents to customers within three weeks (15 working days) of the date of receipt of their applications. This three-week standard has been met or bettered consistently throughout the year.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what published standards are set for the Driver and Vehicle Licence Agency on the time taken to process driving licence applications; and what standards in processing applications the Agency has achieved in the last three quarters of 1999. [104054]

Where there are no medical considerations, DVLA undertakes to issue driving licences (and return original identity documents) to customers within three weeks (15 working days) of the date of receipt of their applications. This standard is set out in the Agency's Customer Service Guide. This three-week standard has been met or bettered consistently throughout the last three-quarters of 1999.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he will next announce approval for trunk road improvement schemes or new by-passes in West Sussex. [104275]

"A New Deal for Trunk Roads in England" set out our investment priorities and a programme of studies to consider problems on the trunk road network. Among the studies is one on the problems of congestion between Worthing and Lancing on the A27. It is considering specific local problems within the area to be covered by the wider study, to commence later this year, looking at congestion, safety and environmental problems between Southampton and Folkestone. In the light of the findings of these studies, it will be for the Regional Planning Body to consider whether to recommend to the Secretary of State any trunk road improvement schemes as part of their regional transport strategy.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list in order of air traffic movements over the last five years the airport traffic at (a) Heathrow, (b) Gatwick, (c) Luton, (d) Exeter and (e) Guernsey. [104595]

The last five full years for which air traffic movements data are available are 1994 to 1998 inclusive. The air traffic movements over these years at Heathrow, Gatwick, Luton, Exeter and Guernsey are listed in the table.

	1998	1997	1996	1995	1994
Heathrow	442,412	430,706	428,342	421,289	411,608
Gatwick	242,547	229,665	211,686	192,806	181,879
Luton	47,748	40,287	31,029	21,716	17,161
Guernsey	40,085	39,625	40,632	40,902	39,850
Exeter	8,608	7,877	7,870	8,844	10,198

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement about the future use of the Dome site. [104438]

The Government launched a competition last year for the long-term use of the Dome after the Millennium Experience. The short list of bidders will be announced shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate he has made of the financial value of the Dome site. [104437]

The Dome site is on offer as part of the assets available in the Government competition to find a long-term, financially viable and sustainable use for the Millennium Dome. The Government estimate of the financial value of the Dome site is restricted as commercial-in-confidence.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps his Department takes to monitor the effects of lindane. [104610]

The Department funds the monitoring of chemicals, including lindane, in air and the marine environment and the Environment Agency also monitors for lindane in marine and fresh waters. The effects of pesticides on wildlife and companion animals are monitored by MAFF's Wildlife Incidents Investigation Scheme.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans the Government have to introduce regulations to compel newly qualified drivers to display warnings on the vehicle they are driving that they are newly qualified. [104448]

A number of safety improvements for learners and new drivers, including this one, are being considered as part of the Road Safety Strategy which is to be announced shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to authorise further field-scale trials of genetically modified crops. [103775]

I announced a renewed voluntary agreement with industry on the conduct of the farm scale evaluation programme on 5 November 1999. Under the agreement, plantings for the farm scale GM crop evaluations are limited to 20–25 fields per crop per year, subject to the advice and requirements of the independent Scientific Steering Committee overseeing the programme. This covers the plantings through to 2002 for the crops in the programme—GM fodder maize, and spring and winter oilseed rape, all modified to be tolerant to a herbicide. Subject to the advice of the Scientific Steering Committee, a fourth crop, beet modified to be tolerant to a herbicide, may be included in the programme for the same three years. Proposals for any other field scale plantings of these crops during the farm scale evaluation period will be decided by the Scientific Steering Committee, taking into account the relevance of the proposals to biodiversity.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the progress of the Government's Access to the Countryside proposals. [103779]

The Government's proposals to improve public access to the countryside will be included in the Countryside Bill, announced in last year's Queen's Speech. The Bill will also include measures for improving rights of way. The access provisions of the Bill (which we expect to be introduced into Parliament shortly) will build on the proposals set out in "The Government's Framework for Action, Access to the Countryside in England and Wales", issued in March last year.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the impact on farming of local planning regulations in (a) Gloucestershire and (b) the South West. [103790]

Development control policies, and their impact upon any particular sectoral interest, are matters for the local planning authorities concerned, as set down in their development plans and having regard to national and regional planning policy guidance.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the report prepared by the Audit Commission on the DVLA and DSA; and what action he intends to take as a result of this report. [104645]

I understand that the Public Services Productivity Panel intend to publish this report shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps he is taking to appoint a national co-ordinating body for home improvement agencies in England to serve from 1 April 2000. [105137]

I have invited Collective Enterprises Limited to enter into post-tender negotiations with the Department. Subject to the satisfactory completion of these negotiations, I expect to award them a contract to act as the national co-ordinating body for Home Improvement Agencies in England for four years from 1 April 2000.The Department invited Care and Repair England Limited (the current national co-ordinating body) and Collective Enterprises Limited to submit tenders. Both offered a comprehensive range of services. However, Care and Repair England's tender was substantially more expensive and I believe that Collective Enterprises Limited offer significantly better value for money. I look forward to working with them to build on the foundations which have been laid.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made towards the agreement of a contract for the Public Safety Radio Communications Service; and if he will make a statement. [105317]

The Chief Executive of the Police Information Technology Organisation (PITO) issued a letter of instruction to proceed to British Telecom plc before Christmas, authorising them to invest in the project infrastructure. Negotiations on the Framework Arrangement and the model service contract are continuing and I hope they will be concluded by the end of January. PITO will be asking individual police authorities to sign service contracts by the end of February.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has for announcing the results of the current round of CCTV bids. [105319]

I am planning to make an announcement on Monday 17 January.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he is taking to increase the productivity and reduce the running costs of his Department. [103850]

The Home Office has a Public Service Agreement commitment to deliver 3 per cent. per annum running cost productivity gains, and is currently on target to deliver this for 1999–2000.A joint Home Office and Her Majesty's Treasury ministerial review of productivity is to be led by both the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department, my noble Friend, Lord Bassam of Brighton and the Financial Secretary to Her Majesty's Treasury and is intended to focus on four key areas:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many asylum applications, made by Algerians, have been decided by the Immigration and Nationality Directorate in each of the last three months; [104371](2) how many asylum applications, made by Algerians, have been decided by the Immigration and Nationality Directorate in each of the last three months, where the applicant has been in detention; [104372]

The available information is that in September 1999, 135 nationals of Algeria, excluding dependants, applied for asylum in the United Kingdom. This figure fell slightly to 115 in October and 90 in November.Information on how many asylum applications, made by Algerians, have been decided by the Immigration and Nationality Directorate in each of the last three months is not currently available.Information on Algerian asylum seekers who have had a decision and who had been detained at some point could be obtained only at disproportionate cost through the examination of individual case records.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Algerians have been (a) removed and (b) deported in each of the last three months; and what proportion of these had previously claimed asylum. [104373]

The latest available information relates to arriving passengers during the period April-June 1999. Thirty-eight Algerian passengers were refused leave to enter and removed from the United Kingdom in April 1999, 28 in May 1999 and 21 in June 1999. Those data are provisional and do not show whether or not the person concerned had claimed asylum. This additional information could be obtained only by examining the individual case files.Data for Algerian nationals removed or departing voluntarily under illegal entry or deportation procedures during this period are not yet available.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assistance will be given to the Australian law enforcement authorities in their inquiries into the case of Konrad Kalejs. [104514]

We have made it clear to the Australian authorities that any relevant details they sought would be made available to them, including those details held by the Metropolitan Police.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the case of Konrad Kalejs. [104513]

I issued a full statement on 6 January. I have placed copies of the statement in the Library and am sending my hon. Friend a copy.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received from the Direct Marketing Association on commercial and charity use of the electoral register; and what response he has given. [104646]

Since the publication of the summary of recommendations of the Working Party on Electoral Procedures on 13 July 1999, Home Office Ministers have received two written representations from the Direct Marketing Association, dated 23 September and 22 November. In response to the first of these, I held a meeting with representatives of the Association on 9 November for a full discussion of the issues that concerned them. Following consideration of the second letter, I wrote to the Association on 12 January 2000.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to introduce the Private Finance Initiative into the future development of the Probation Estate in England and Wales; and if he will make a statement. [104742]

No decisions have been taken about the future financing of the Probation Estate in England and Wales as a whole and a range of options, including the Private Finance Initiative (PFI), will be considered in due course. Local PFI initiatives are currently being considered for probation services in Mid Glamorgan, Avon and Essex.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to centralise the Probation Estate; and if he will make a statement. [104741]

The plan to centralise the Probation Estate will be developed as part of the arrangements to modernise the Probation Service in England and Wales. Details are not yet available.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to out-source clerical and administrative support for the Probation Service in England and Wales; and if he will make a statement. [104740]

I have no current plans for out-sourcing this work.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish the report commissioned by his Department into the case for the centralisation of the Probation Service estate in England and Wales; and if he will make a statement. [104744]

The decision to centralise ownership and management of the Probation Service estate was not dependent on the survey of the Probation Service estate, a copy of the report on which will be placed in the Library in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to introduce a revised case recording and management system for the Probation Service in England and Wales; and if he will make a statement. [104743]

A project is currently under way to redevelop the current case recording and management system for the Probation Services for England and Wales, involving representatives of these Services. A project board has been established; a user requirement has been produced and a specialist Information Technology project manager has been recruited.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations his Department has received on his plans to propose legislation on the Law Commission's recommendation of an offence of involuntary manslaughter. [103801]

We have received written representations from hon. Members, interested groups and members of the public about the Government's response to the Law Commission's report "Legislating the Criminal Code: Involuntary Manslaughter". The issue has also been raised in a number of parliamentary Questions.We are currently considering the recommendations of the interdepartmental working group which has been considering the Law Commission's report and will consult our colleagues shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many court welfare officers in England and Wales received training in (a) 1997 and (b) 1998 to deal with access arrangements for children following separation and divorce; [104396](2) what training courses exist for court welfare officers to deal with the problem of parental alienation. [104397]

The comprehensive induction programme for family court welfare officers includes modules on working with children and separating families. Available records indicate that 75 people completed the whole programme in the period April 1997 to March 1998, and 50 in the period April 1998 to March 1999. The need for any additional training is assessed by individual probation services and provided by either the service itself or an external agent. No information is collected centrally on this additional training.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will estimate (a) the percentage of prisoners who were serving a life sentence and (b) the number of prisoners in Sudbury Prison at six-monthly intervals over the last 10 years. [104644]

The latest available provisional information for life sentence prisoners is for 30 November 1999. On that date, 7 per cent. of the prison population in England and Wales were life sentence prisoners. Information on the population of Sudbury prison over the last 10 years is given in the table.

Population in Her Majesty's Prison Sudbury 1989–99
Date	Number
1989
30 June	537
31 December	518
1990
30 June	524
31 December	464
1991
30 June	534
31 December	436
1992
30 June	450
31 December	402

To ask the Solicitor-General what recent assessment he has made of the record of the Crown Prosecution Service in bringing persistent young offenders to trial in Merseyside. [103806]

During my visit to CPS Merseyside in September last year, I was able to see at first hand the efforts made by the CPS and other local agencies to reduce the time it took to prosecute persistent young offenders. The average time taken from arrest to sentence is steadily decreasing, and the Area anticipates further significant reductions as a result of fast tracking arrangements that are being adopted throughout Merseyside.

To ask the Solicitor-General if he will make a statement on the Commission for Racial Equality's investigation into the Crown Prosecution Service. [103808]

The Crown Prosecution Service is in discussion with the CRE regarding the proposed investigation and hopes to find an agreed way forward. The CRE will reach a conclusion and notify the CPS before the end of January 2000.

To ask the Solicitor-General what progress he has made in ensuring greater effectiveness in the application of information technology within the Crown Prosecution Service. [103809]

I am pleased to report that significant progress has been made in developing effective IT in CPS.

To ask the Solicitor-General if he will make a statement on the rights of audience exercised by Crown Prosecution Service lawyers in the higher courts. [103810]

In February 1997 limited rights of audience were granted to employed solicitors, allowing them to appear alone in appeals and uncontested cases in the Crown Court or to act as juniors in cases in which leading counsel are instructed. CPS higher court advocates began to exercise those rights in August 1998, since then the volume of work undertaken by them has gradually increased.The impression that the Attorney-General and I have gained from our visits to various parts of the country is that the higher court advocates have been well received by judges and the Bar.By mid-2000 nearly 200 CPS solicitor higher court advocates will have been trained. The CPS is now considering its future strategy for deploying its lawyers in the Crown Court in the light of the Access to Justice Act 1999, which grants full rights of audience to all lawyers.

To ask the Solicitor-General if he will make a statement on the recent performance of the Serious Fraud Office. [103807]

In 1998–99, the Serious Fraud Office obtained 34 convictions from the 42 defendants tried. The SFO continues to be an effective deterrent against serious and complex fraud.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport which members of the Football Task Force supported the majority report on commercial issues. [104444]

The Football Task Force did not vote on any issue during its deliberations and all members of the Task Force signed up to the report in its published form. The particular views of individual members of the Task Force on particular parts of the report on commercial issues are therefore not known.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the British Ambassador's discussions with the Libyan authorities concerning the alleged discovery of parts for Scud missiles at a British airport. [104450]

The British Ambassador in Tripoli called on the Libyan Foreign Ministry on 10 January to protest about the Libyans' attempt to import missile parts via the UK. The Libyans took note of our serious concerns.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what grounds the UN Sanctions Committee banned the import of bulls to Iraq; and if he will make a statement. [104421]

An application to import 15 bulls to Iraq was made to the UN Sanctions Committee in late November. The Committee had no objection to the import of the bulls. However, the application also included the supply of a number of vaccines which were of potential dual use concern. Additional information on these vaccines has therefore been requested.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Iranian Foreign Minister concerning the position of the 13 Jews in Iran detained without trial, during the Iranian Foreign Minister's visit to London; and if he will make a statement. [104515]

My right hon. Friends the Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary raised the cases of those detained on espionage charges, including 13 members of the Iranian Jewish community, with Foreign Minister Kharrazi during his visit from 10–12 January. Dr. Kharrazi assured them both that those detained would receive a fair trial including access to families and legal representation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has further to pursue with Iran the case of the 13 Iranian Jews detained without trial. [104516]

My right hon. Friends the Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary raised the cases of those detained on espionage charges, including 13 members of the Iranian Jewish community, with the Iranian Foreign Minister Dr. Kharrazi during his visit to London from 10–12 January. We and our EU partners will continue to raise this issue with the Iranian authorities at every possible opportunity.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 20 December 1999, Official Report, column 318W, on overseas territories, what plans his Department has to introduce an Order in Council to ensure that the British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands and the Turks and Caicos Islands change their existing legislation on homosexual acts. [104706]

The White Paper on the Overseas Territories (OTs) states that it is HMG's intention that OT legislation should comply with the international obligations to which the UK is subject. We pressed the OTs to announce before 31 December 1999 their intention to introduce legislation to decriminalise homosexual acts between consenting adults in private. That date having passed, we will shortly be reviewing the situation.

To ask the Prime Minister when the Performance and Innovation Unit will publish reports on its studies into Accountability and Incentives for Joined-up Government and Analysis and Modelling in Central Government. [104852]

The Performance and Innovation Unit reports of these studies entitled "Wiring it Up: Whitehall's Management of Cross-cutting Policies and Services" and "Adding it Up: Improving Analysis and Modelling in Central Government" have been published today.The two reports are key elements of the Modernising Government agenda for better policies and better services. They set out a blueprint for joined-up policy making and service delivery supported by evidence-based analysis.Copies have been placed in the Libraries of the House and are also available from the Vote Office.

To ask the Prime Minister when he expects to make an appointment to the Intelligence and Security Committee. [105234]

I have appointed my hon. Friend the Member for Doncaster, Central (Ms Winterton), to be member of the Intelligence and Security Committee in place of my hon. Friend the Member for Pontefract and Castleford (Yvette Cooper), who left the Committee following her appointment as a Minister.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will announce the full composition of the United Kingdom delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and Assembly of the Western European Union. [105233]

The United Kingdom Delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and Western European Union is as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland for what reasons the report on Thomas Hamilton by Sergeant Hughes is subject to a 100-year closure. [104520]

As the report contains sensitive information about children and alleged offences against them, it was considered appropriate that it should remain closed for 100 years. This closure is in accordance with current Government guidelines published in the White Paper "Open Government" (Cm 2290 (1993)). The Crown Office will deal with any requests for access meantime.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if a decision has been made on the proposal to restore price paid to the Land Register; and if he will make a statement. [105318]

After extensive consultation, the Lord Chancellor has decided to restore "price paid" to the Land Register. This is consistent with the Government's policy to improve the house buying process by making important information more readily available, particularly at an early stage of the process. Information included in the Land Register should be as comprehensive as is practical and proper—property value is of great interest to people and there is no good reason why it should not be available.The information will not be inserted retrospectively. All applications received by the Land Registry on or after 1 April 2000 will have the price paid entered on the Land Register where it is practicable to do so. As with other data, the Land Register will provide the current information. Hence, on a subsequent change of ownership, the original price paid will be removed from the register.This change in practice will bring the Land Register for England and Wales into line with many other jurisdictions where the price paid for property is a matter of public record. This includes most of Europe and, notably, Scotland where this information has been publicly available since 1617 without appearing to cause any problems.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what level of support is being made available by his Department to primary and secondary schools for the delivery of drugs education in the financial year 1999–2000; and how much will be available in the following two years. [102794]

Specific support to schools for drug education is available through the Standards Fund, via Local Education Authorities.During 1999–2000, £7.5 million has been made available through the Standards Fund Drug Prevention Grant. For the financial year 2000–01 the Drug Prevention Grant will be incorporated into the larger Social Inclusion: Pupil Support, Drug Prevention and Youth Service (SIPS) Grant. A total of £140 million will be available through the SIPS grant and minimum of £7.5 million is available for Drug Education; however, LEAs may opt to spend more.In line with the Anti-Drugs Strategy, the Department is seeking to deliver drug education within the wider context of Personal, Social and Health Education (PSHE) and the Healthy Schools Programme. We are supporting the development of PSHE through Standards Fund moneys, £12 million will be made available during 2000–01 for the development of PSHE and Citizenship in schools.Levels of funding for 2001–02 and beyond fall into the coming CSR period and are yet to be agreed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what representations he has received from industry concerning the role of higher and further education colleges in the teaching of English as a foreign language. [104440]

We have received representations from private training providers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what discussions he has had regarding the role of further and higher education colleges in the teaching of English as a foreign language. [104441]

My Department holds discussions as appropriate on this issue. For example, we have been closely involved with the Further Education Funding Council's review of English as a Foreign Language courses.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to involve institutions engaged in the teaching of English as a foreign language in reforms of higher and further education. [104443]

In any reforms of further and higher education, we always welcome the views of institutions engaged in teaching English as a foreign language.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what discussions he has had with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office regarding the role of the British Council in the teaching of English as a foreign language. [104442]

The Department holds discussions periodically with the British Council about its role in promoting the learning of English as a foreign language.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will set out the time scale for (a) the tendering process and (b) the production of the new computer system for the Child Support Agency; and if he will estimate the likely total cost of this project. [104705]

Discussions are currently in progress with the Department's private sector partner, the Affinity consortium, on the overall scope of the IT solution, a contract to develop and operate a new computer system, and the time scales for delivery. Costs are subject to negotiation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if the existing computer system operated by the Child Support Agency could support the calculations of maintenance liabilities under the new formula proposed in the Child Support, Pensions and Social Security Bill. [104704]

It might be possible to amend the Child Support Computer System to support a certain amount of work under the new system, but not without some difficulty.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if it is his policy under the provisions of the Child Support, Pensions and Social Security Bill that benefits will be suspended for offenders immediately following the Probation Service issuing breach proceedings on individual cases; and if he will make a statement. [104745]

The Child Support, Pensions and Social Security Bill, which is currently being considered by Parliament, will reinforce the link between rights to benefits and responsibilities to society. Offenders aged 18 to 59, who are referred to Court for breaching a specified community sentence, will be subject to a benefit sanction from the first practicable benefit payday after the relevant benefits office receives a notification from the Probation Service that court proceedings have been initiated.In the case of Jobseeker's Allowance and certain Training Allowances, benefit will be withdrawn. Hardship payments will be available for vulnerable groups and others at risk of hardship. Income Support recipients will have their benefit reduced by 40 per cent. or 20 per cent. of the single person's adult rate, subject to their circumstances.This measure will initially be piloted. During the pilots the sanction period will be four weeks.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people he estimates will have their benefits suspended per annum following a breach of a community sentence under the terms of the Child Support, Pensions and Social Security Bill; and if he will make a statement. [104747]

It is not possible to provide an estimate of the number of people who will have their benefit withdrawn or reduced following a breach of a community sentence. Data collected by the Home Office indicate that, in England and Wales, around 25,000 people a year are currently referred to Court for breach proceedings. No information is held about how many of these are in receipt of Social Security benefits. After this measure is introduced, there is expected to be some behavioural effect which will reduce the number who breach their sentences.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security under the provisions of the Child Support, Pensions and Social Security Bill, how much money will be set aside for the Hardship Fund to be used in the case of withdrawal of benefits for the first financial year for which the provisions are implemented; and if he will make a statement. [104746]

There will be no "Hardship Fund". Hardship payments will be made, where appropriate, from general benefit expenditure. Similar arrangements already exist for making hardship payments where Jobseeker's Allowance is withdrawn as a result of labour market employment sanctions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what estimate he has made of the numbers of (a) widows and (b) pensioners awaiting payment of arrears of pensions in the Norwich, North constituency; [104519](2) what steps he is taking to rectify the problems associated with payment through the National Insurance Computer System; [104518](3) what estimate he has made of the number of staff hours of work necessary to distribute back-payments of pensions to

The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is as follows.I refer my hon. Friend to the answers given on 2 December 1999,

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on the exemption or otherwise from the all work test of those who were incapable of work between 1 December 1993 and 12 April 1995 under the transitional award of Incapacity Benefit. [104423]

The all work test was introduced as the means of determining incapacity for work for benefit purposes from 13 April 1995. Under transitional arrangements, people who were entitled to the former invalidity benefit between 1 December 1993 and 12 April 1995 (ignoring breaks of eight weeks or less) and who were aged 58 or over on 13 April 1995 are treated as satisfying the test as long as they continue to provide a doctor's statement as evidence of incapacity. In effect, the all work test is not applied to them.Similar arrangements were made for people who at the time of the change were entitled to an income-related benefit (Income Support, Housing Benefit or Council Tax Benefit) on the grounds of incapacity for work.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will take measures to ensure that Jobseeker's Allowance is paid to workers who are temporarily unemployed and not receiving wages during school holidays at (a) Christmas and (b) other holiday periods. [104369]

The Court of Appeal has confirmed that ancillary workers who are not entitled to receive Jobseeker's Allowance during term-time because of the hours they work are also not entitled to Jobseeker's Allowance during the school holidays.We understand that the appellant in that case has applied for leave to appeal to the House of Lords. We are awaiting the outcome of that application.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many ancillary workers affected by the Social Security Commissioner's decision CIS/14661/1996 of December 1997 have (a) inquired about ex-gratia payments and (b) been given ex-gratia payments; and for what average amounts. [104104]

A total of 1,950 requests for ex-gratia payments have been received from ancillary workers affected by CIS/14661/1996. Of these, one ex-gratia payment of £337.03 has been made and 206 cases remain outstanding.Ex-gratia payments can be considered only where there has been a loss of statutory entitlement to benefit. Since subsequent legal decisions reversed the effect of CIS/14661/1996, the current position is that there was never any statutory entitlement to JSA during school holiday periods for this group. Further ex-gratia payments cannot therefore be made under the law as it currently stands.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what factors underlay his decision not to pay the Winter Fuel Payment for 1999 to 2000 to people who reach the age of 60 after September 1999 but before 31 March 2000; and if he will reconsider his policy. [104082]

In order to issue Winter Fuel Payments automatically, without incurring disproportionate administration costs, most eligible people aged 60 and over are identified through official departmental computer records. These records hold the key information needed to establish entitlement. The records are used to decide whether people are entitled for at least a day during a specified qualifying week.The current process for identifying those who are entitled and determining the amount payable takes around 10 weeks. Therefore, to ensure people receive the payments in good time to help with their winter fuel bills, the qualifying week must precede the onset of winter. This winter the qualifying week began on 20 September. Making the payments as early as possible in the winter ensures that the very elderly, who will include the vast majority of those who are most frail, have their payment when they need it.There are currently no plans to change the method of determining eligibility.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if the extension of Winter Fuel Payments to men aged 60 to 65 years will include (a) the £10 Christmas bonus and (b) previous winter fuel subsidy schemes. [104378]

The extension of Winter Fuel Payments to everyone aged 60 and over who is resident in Great Britain applies to the Winter Fuel Payments scheme only. Payments will be backdated to the start of the scheme.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how men aged 60 to 64 will claim the winter fuel payment for 1999 to 2000 and previous years; and what is his estimate of the cost for 1999 to 2000 and previous years. [104061]

It will be necessary to determine the names and addresses of people who are newly eligible for Winter Fuel Payments. As the information we hold may not be up to date, we will need to introduce a claims process for Winter Fuel Payments. This process will need to be developed carefully and appropriate IT systems built to deal with claims. The Benefits Agency are currently working on the operational issues for delivery.There is no need for people newly eligible for Winter Fuel Payments to contact the Benefits Agency now. An announcement will be made, and an advertising campaign will begin in a matter of months.Equalising the age of entitlement for Winter Fuel Payments at 60 for men and women will mean annual expenditure may increase by an estimated £85 million. Backdating the payments to the start of the scheme for up to 1.9 million people will have an estimated one-off programme cost of £115 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make benefits available to support 19-year-old students who wish to remain in full-time secondary education. [104276]

Responsibility for financial support of 19-year-old students who are in full-time education rests primarily with the student support system. Benefits are available only to full-time students who fall within certain vulnerable groups, such as lone parents and the disabled. We have no plans to change this.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what number and proportion of people aged over 60 years or over are entitled to, but are not receiving, (a) Attendance Allowance and (b) Disability Living Allowance. [104058]

There are no reliable estimates of the number of people aged 60 years or over who might be entitled to these benefits if they were to make a claim.However, provisional take-up estimates covering all ages and based on the disability follow-up to the Family Resources Survey are 40 per cent. to 60 per cent. for Attendance Allowance, 30 per cent. to 50 per cent. for the care component of Disability Living Allowance and 50 per cent. to 70 per cent. for the mobility component.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many residents of residential or nursing homes (a) in total, (b) aged 65 years or over and (c) aged under 65 years who are entitled to preserved rights to Income Support are being charged more than the level of their preserved rights to Income Support. [104060]

At August 1999, we estimate that 36,000 people resident in residential care or nursing homes who have preserved rights to Income Support and are being charged more than the level of their preserved rights to Income Support, 16,000 of these are aged under 65 years, and 20,000 are aged over 65 years.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many residents of residential or nursing homes (a) in total, (b) aged 65 years or over and (c) aged under 65 years have preserved rights to Income Support. [104062]

At August 1999, 84,000 people had preserved rights to Income Support. 36,000 are aged under 65 years. 48,000 are aged over 65 years.Notes:

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what discussions he has had with local authorities in England and Wales in the last year as to the provision of long-term residential care within that authority's area. [104049]

None.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many claimants are in receipt of awards for pneumoconiosis, broken down by (a) disease category, (b) age and (c) coalfield; [104253](2) how many claimants in receipt of an award for category two pneumoconiosis or more were first diagnosed with category one, broken down by

The information requested is not available. Such information as is available is set out in the tables.

The number of awards of industrial injuries disablement benefit in payment for pneumoconiosis (prescribed disease D1) by industry, and, within the coal industry, by age, and by government office region
Industries1,2	Number of Pneumoconiosis currently in payment
All industries	12,100
Mining (and agglomeration) of hard coal	7,800
Other mining and quarrying	300
Manufacture of other non-metallic mineral products	500
Manufacture of basic metals	300
Manufacture of motor vehicles, trailers and semi trailers and other transport equipment	900
Construction	1,200
Other industries	1,200
1 Industries are based on the Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) of economic activities 1992.
2 Figures are rounded and may not sum. For a 10 per cent. sample, figures are statistically reliable where there are 200 or more in the sample.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what research he has undertaken, and what assessment he has made, of the level and pattern of debt among the target group for stakeholder pensions. [104143]

Some information is available from departmental and other surveys on levels of debt generally, although no specific assessment has been attempted which would link such data to information about pension provision and the stakeholder pensions target group. Stakeholder pension schemes will give up to 5 million people on moderate earnings the option of a secure, flexible and value-for-money funded pension. We believe that those who can afford to save for their retirement should do so, but the affordability of pension contributions in relation to other commitments is a matter for individual decision.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of Air Passenger Duty revenues derive from flights within the United Kingdom; and what was the value of such revenues in the last financial year. [104439]

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his estimate of the number of pensioners entitled to but not receiving benefits, excluding the double counting of those entitled to but receiving more than one credit. [104079]

Information on numbers of pensioners entitled to but not receiving benefit was previously provided as follows. It is not possible to break down the total number any further so as to avoid all double counting, as we do not have the information available in this format.

It is estimated that Air Passenger Duty (APD) payable on domestic UK flights accounts for some 8–9 per cent. of total APD revenue, amounting to approximately £70 million for the financial year 1998–99.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will issue information to the public on the rights and entitlements of policy holders and borrowers from mutual societies in relation to the disposal and ownership of these organisations. [104521]

Mutuals can take a variety of legal forms. Entitlements to distributions on a winding-up, merger, or conversion are matters for each mutual to determine.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what basis his Department has calculated that the recently agreed $100 billion debt relief package represents cancellation of two thirds of developing country debt. [104370]

The total debt stock of the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries likely to qualify for relief under the enhanced HIPC initiative as having an unsustainable debt burden after traditional debt relief mechanisms is $143 billion. The enhanced HIPC initiative will reduce the debts owed by these countries by $100 billion, or two thirds.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent measures have been taken to tighten control of UK borders in order to prevent drug trafficking; and if he will make a statement. [104360]

Customs continually review the deployment of their anti-smuggling and investigation staff both nationally and locally to ensure they remain in line with priorities and changing patterns of smuggling risk.Customs maintains agreements with private companies and border agencies to ensure close co-operation.Customs have recently installed an Automatic Number Plate Reader at Dover in a joint project with Kent Constabulary and are in the process of installing similar systems at other ports.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the items in the National Assets Register sold by his Department, its agencies and associated public bodies since 22 March 1999, stating in each case the amount of money realised; if he will estimate the total amount raised from such sales to date; and if he will make a statement. [104476]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the right hon. Member for Horsham (Mr. Maude) on 8 November 1999, Official Report, column 438W.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what estimates he has made of the expected deficit in the Mid Essex Hospital Trust area for health care in the financial year 1999–2000; [98555](2) what estimates he has made of the expected deficit in the North Essex Health Authority area for health care in the financial year 1999–2000. [98556]

[holding answer 24 November 1999]: The income and expenditure positions of the Mid Essex Hospital Trust area and North Essex Health Authority area are forecast at Quarter 2 (September 1999) as given. These forecasts were prepared before the announcement by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State on 21 December 1999 of an extra £134 million for the health service; £90 million relating to the costs of generic drugs has been allocated to health authorities. North Essex Health Authority has been allocated £1.5 million of this. The remaining £44 million will be allocated, as required, to meet the cost of clinical negligence claims.The income and expenditure position of North Essex Health Authority in financial year 1999–2000 is forecast at Quarter 2 (September 1999) to be a surplus of £970,000.The income and expenditure position of Mid Essex Community and Mental Health in financial year 1999–2000 is forecast at Quarter 2 (September 1999) to be a deficit of £149,000.The income and expenditure position of Mid Essex Hospital Services in financial year 1999–2000 is forecast at Quarter 2 (September 1999) to be a deficit of £4.2 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people in the Mid Essex Hospital Trust area have been waiting 12 months or more for treatment. [104445]

The most recent published inpatient waiting list figures are those for October 1999. These figures show that, at Mid Essex Hospital National Health Service Trust, a total of 1,024 patients were waiting 12 months and over for treatment at the end of October 1999.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people had been waiting more than 18 months for treatment in the Mid Essex Hospital Trust area between 1 November 1999 and the latest date for which figures are available; and how long each patient waited or was waiting for treatment over 18 months. [104446]

The last published figures for waiting times are those for October 1999. These show that at the end of October 1999, no patients waited over 18 months for treatment at Mid Essex Hospital Services National Health Services Trust.The next published figures will be those for November 1999, due to be published in the week commencing 10 January 2000. Until these figures are published, no centrally collected and validated figures are available.