To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the incidents involving objects falling from aircraft landing or taking off from Heathrow in the last five years. [104633]

In the last five years, the Civil Aviation Authority has received 62 reports of objects landing in the London area, which are presumed to have fallen from aircraft using Heathrow airport. Forty of these reports involved ice, 21 involved aircraft parts or related objects such as tools and one involved the body of a stowaway.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list in order of the number of their air traffic movements for the last five years all airports where cover is provided other than by National Air Traffic Services, stating the numbers of passengers using those airports in (a) 1996–97, (b) 1997–98 and (ii) 1998–99. [104627]

The following list details passenger traffic for 1996–98 (1999 not yet available), through the major UK airports which do not have air traffic control provided by National Air Traffic Services. The airports are listed in order of their air traffic movements over the last five years, which include both commercial and non-commercial movements.

Air traffic and passenger data for UK airports which do not have air traffic control provided by National Air Traffic Services
Passenger traffic (thousand)
UK airports without NATS ATC provision1	1996	1997	1998
Bournemouth	162	265	313
Biggin Hill	6	7	7
Liverpool	620	682	869
Jersey	1,645	1,687	1,694
Gloucestershire	2	2	2
Newcastle	2,433	2,592	2,920
Shoreham	3	3	2
East Midlands	1,822	1,878	2,136
Prestwick	522	567	558
Cambridge	29	20	17
Teeside	444	557	651
Guernsey	846	871	890
Luton	2,411	3,221	4,116
Coventry	3	2	3
Bristol	1,394	1,586	1,814
Southend	551	618	725
Leeds/Bradford	1,053	1,247	1,398
Southampton	551	618	725
Norwich	258	264	318
Blackpool	85	83	94
Exeter	205	213	241

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 21 December 1999, Official Report, column 539W, on National Air Traffic Services, when he expects to be able to offer a detailed list of all property (a) leased and (b) owned by NATS, with a valuation and a list of sites. [104668]

A list of properties which are leased or owned by National Air Traffic Services (NATS) is being put together as part of the due diligence exercise for the NATS public-private partnership. A valuation will be produced for the key sites which are owned by NATS. This work is currently scheduled for completion in late Spring 2000.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what proposals are being considered to oblige owners of sub-standard underground storage tanks to replace them, line them or retrofit cathodic protection. [104635]

Existing health and safety legislation requires all employers to assess the risks from their work activities. Where the result of the assessment indicates that storage tanks may be sub-standard, the employer should select the most suitable remedial measure to reduce the risk of a leak. Suitable measures for underground petrol storage tanks include replacement, taking the tank out of use, lining the tank, or fitting cathodic protection.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what proposals he has to require underground storage tank owners to measure the risk of corrosion failure. [104637]

Employers are required to assess the risks to people's heath and safety in the event of a leak from an underground storage tank, and the likelihood of a tank corroding is one of the factors that should be taken into account in the assessment.The Health and Safety Executive has issued guidance on the need to provide corrosion protection where appropriate and it is included in recently published industry guidance as one of the methods to manage the risk of a leak. Measuring the actual degree of corrosion is technically difficult and can be hazardous to the workers involved. For these reasons HSE would advocate leak protection and detection methods.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what recent representations he has received on the reliability of tightness testing with regard to underground storage tanks. [104639]

Tightness testing is one of a number of options available to employers to check the integrity of a new underground storage tank or to confirm a suspected leak in an existing tank. No recent representations have been received on the reliability of tightness testing.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what recent representations he has received on the replacement of petroleum licensing by a safety regime for petrol stations. [104636]

No recent representations have been received on replacement of petroleum licensing.The existing petrol licensing scheme, provided for under the Petroleum (Consolidation) Act 1928, is currently being reviewed by the Health and Safety Commission as part of a project to implement the EU Chemical Agents Directive. Particular consideration is being given to safety controls at petrol stations and the continuing need for a permissioning regime. Discussions to date have included the Petrol Retailers' Association, the United Kingdom Petroleum Industry Association, the Association of United Kingdom Oil Independents and the TUC. The Health and Safety Commission plans to consult on proposals for new legislation to implement the Directive in the autumn.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what information was conveyed by the Minister for the Environment at the board meeting of the Environment Agency, held on 15 December 1999; and what matters raised at the meeting have been acted upon by his Department. [104700]

I attended part of the December Board meeting. I participated in discussions on the Chief Executive's update on key issues. A summary of the meeting, including my comments, is on the Agency's web site, www.environment-agency.gov.uk. There was no direct action for my Department resulting from my attendance.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will set out the powers of (a) his Department and (b) other statutory bodies in respect of applications to provide scheduled and charter aircraft services at Biggin Hill Airfield, Kent. [104851]

Biggin Hill Airport Ltd. presented a development strategy for Biggin Hill airfield to Bromley Borough Council in November 1999. No planning application has been received by the Council.Depending on the circumstances and size of a proposed development, some or all of the following may be required in order to provide aircraft services: planning permission following the completion of an environmental impact assessment, the granting of a Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) operators safety licence, and permission by the CAA to levy airport charges.In most cases planning permission for proposed developments would be decided by the relevant local planning authority. However, the Secretary of State has the reserve power to call in a planning application if issues of more than local importance are involved.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the obligations of the French Government under EU law in relation to free trade within France and the action it has taken to fulfil these obligations in respect of the dispute by French hauliers. [105007]

Council Regulation (EC) 2679/98 requires member states to take all necessary and proportionate measures in order to facilitate the free movement of goods on their territories. Such measures must not, however, affect the exercise of fundamental rights, including the right or freedom to strike. The blockades, which were set up in France on 10 January, were removed on 12 January.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he has made to the (a) French Government and (b) European Commission, regarding the dispute by French hauliers; and if he will make a statement. [105006]

My right hon. and noble Friend the Minister for Transport wrote to the French Transport Minister on Tuesday 11 January to express our concern that yet again British hauliers were being prevented from going about their lawful business by a domestic dispute in France. My right hon. and noble Friend also sought assurances that the French Government would ensure the safety and well being of any British lorry drivers caught up in the dispute, and would act quickly to restore the free movement of goods. The letter was copied to the European Commission.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimates the Government have received of the cost to British companies of the French hauliers' dispute; and if he will make a statement. [105012]

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the cost to British business of the latest road blockade in France. [105265]

Regrettably, a number of companies and individuals will have incurred financial loss and suffered delay and general inconvenience as a result of the dispute in France. The Government have received no estimates of these overall costs and have no means of assessing what they might be.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he has discussed with the French Government the issue of compensation for British lorry drivers whose livelihoods are affected by the French hauliers' dispute. [105008]

It is a cause for concern that, yet again, British hauliers have suffered financially as a result of a domestic dispute in France. However, as the French Government gave notice of this dispute on Friday 7 January, any hauliers who subsequently chose to travel to France and were then blockaded there are unlikely to be eligible for compensation under the relevant French law. Similarly, vehicles that were delayed outside French territory would not be eligible for compensation under French legislation.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what recent representations he has received regarding the use of netting to secure scrap metal carried in open-top lorries; [105141](2) what recent guidance he has issued to road haulage companies regarding the securing of scrap metal carried in lorries. [105142]

There have been no representations regarding the use of netting to secure scrap metal carried in open top lorries.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what percentage of waste from London boroughs in 1998 was disposed of outside the area of the former Greater London Council. [105326]

It is for each individual Waste Disposal Authority in London to make its own arrangements for the disposal of municipal waste arising in its area. My Department does not seek or keep information on where that waste is disposed.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what resources have been made available to Stoke-on-Trent City Council under the housing capital receipts policy in each year since its inception, including amounts agreed for 2000–01. [105156]

The allocations made to Stoke-on-Trent City Council under the Capital Receipts Initiative (CRI) were as follows:

	£
1997–98	907,000
1998–99	3,141,000
1999–2000	2,894,000

There is no separate CRI allocation for 2000–01 as the resources for the CRI, and for support for private sector renovation grants, have been included within the main housing allocation. This has been done to provide authorities with more flexibility over the use of capital resources and to reduce the administrative burdens of operating the three separate funding streams.Stoke-on-Trent's main housing allocation for 2000–01 is £11.7 million, 49 per cent. more than its equivalent allocation (including CRI and private sector renovation) for 1999–2000 (£7.8 million).

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on his plans for the proposed Ambleside bypass. [105224]

The Government have no plans for an Ambleside bypass.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 13 January 2000, Official Report, column 213W, on driving agencies, when the Audit Commission report on the DVLA and the DSA will be published. [105644]

I now understand that the Public Services Productivity Panel intend to publish this report on 27 January.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on his plans to provide enhanced funding for the management and conservation of areas of outstanding natural beauty. [105291]

Funding for Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs) has already been increased this year by allocating an additional £2.5 million to the Countryside Agency to be spent on the management and conservation of designated AONBs. This is more than double the amount previously available. This increased funding will be carried through into the next year, to be supplemented by a further £1 million, bringing the countryside Agency's budget for AONBs in 2000–01 to £5.7 million.My right hon. Friend the Minister for the Environment expects to make an announcement soon on other measures to strengthen the protection and management of designated AONBs.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is his estimate of the cost to the economy of road congestion in each of the last 10 years. [105696]

No complete and consistent set of estimates has, to my knowledge, been compiled. A number of estimates have been made of the value road users place on the extra journey times caused by congestion, for different years and using different methods. They agree that this runs to billions of pounds every year, and has been rising. These estimates do not, though, take into account the very considerable costs of providing congestion-free conditions. We will be examining the economic implications as part of the follow-up to our report, "Tackling Congestion and Pollution", published today.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what was the total amount of money that local authorities were allowed to spend on (a) housing repairs and (b) new build for each of the past 10 years. [105230]

The size and composition of local authorities' housing capital programmes is for them to decide in the light of the resources available (from their own resources and in allocations from central Government) and their assessment of expenditure priorities. Registered social landlords (RSLs) are now the main providers of new social housing as they can, through the use of private finance, deliver higher levels of outputs. RSL new build is supported through the Housing Corporation's Approved Development Programme (ADP) as well as by grants from local authorities. Details of central Government allocations to support English local authorities housing capital programmes, a substantial proportion of which goes on renovation of council housing, and the ADP over the past 10 years (in £ million) are as set out.

	Local authority housing capital1	ADP2
1991–92	1,682	1,732
1992–93	1,593	2,369
1993–94	1,434	1,843
1994–95	1,220	1,530
1995–96	1,147	1,183
1996–97	1,059	1,068
1997–98	925	702
1998–99	1,210	621
1999–2000	1,252	643
2000–01	1,891	674
1 Excludes allocations for area based regeneration work delivered through the Single Regeneration Budget and Estate Action and the allowance for expenditure assumed to be financed from receipts included in the allocations for individual authorities.
2 Gross expenditure, including support for rough sleepers and City Challenge.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many local authority/private partnerships there are in the rented sector, other than housing association partnerships; and what assessment he has made of their effectiveness. [105226]

Information is not available on how many local authority/private partnerships there are for the provision of housing services in the rented sector. However, eight local authorities in England are piloting arrangements with the private sector for the refurbishment and management of housing stock via the Private Finance Initiative. We will be monitoring the effectiveness of these arrangements as they progress.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what was the total number of houses in multiple occupation in use in each of the past 10 years. [105229]

There are a number of different types of Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs). The main information on the numbers of HMOs for England are the English House Condition Survey (which is carried out every five years, the last two surveys being conducted in 1991 and 1996) and the Census (1991). There are no reliable sources of information for the intervening years.The table provides best estimates for different types of HMOs. This shows a small decline in the number of HMOs from 1991 to 1996. For traditional and purpose built HMOs and converted flats, the building contains more than one accommodation unit and can therefore be fully or partially occupied. This is reflected in the difference between the number of accommodation units provided and the number of households in occupation for these categories of HMO.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what was the total number of council houses available for rent in each of the past 10 years. [105227]

The number of local authority-owned properties which were tenanted, or available for letting, in England since 1990 is as follows:

Year	Dwellings (million)
1990	3.990
1991	3.859
1992	3.810
1993	3.729
1994	3.637
1995	3.534
1996	3.438
1997	3.369
1998	3.277
1999	3.142

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what was the level of funding for rural bus subsidies in each of the last 10 years. [105698]

No funding was specifically provided for the subsidy of rural bus services during the period 1989–90 to 1997–98, apart from £4 million in 1989–90 and £1 million in 1990–91 of residual spending on the transitional rural bus grant scheme under the Transport Act 1985.New funding for the support of rural buses was introduced by this Government in 1998–99. In that year my Department paid a total of £25.7 million to English local authorities under the Rural Bus Subsidy Grant and Rural Bus Challenge schemes. I understand that allocations by the Welsh Office in 1998–99 to Welsh local authorities under the Bus Partnership Fund totalled £2.25 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many bus passenger journeys there were in each of the last 10 years. [105697]

The figures up to 1998–99 are taken from table 2 of the Transport Statistics Bulletin, "A Bulletin of Public Transport Statistics: Great Britain 1999". Local bus passenger journeys made in Great Britain over the last decade are as summarised.

Local bus services: passenger journeys
	Millions
1989–90	5,068
1990–91	4,844
1991–92	4,660
1992–93	4,475
1993–94	4,380
1994–95	4,415
1995–96	4,378
1996–97	4,345
1997–98	4,325
1998–99	4,243

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps he intends to take to ensure sites submitted to the European Commission as candidate special areas of conservation under the Habitats Directive are given appropriate protection during delays in the adoption of such sites. [105976]

I intend to bring forward Regulations which will extend the provisions of the Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 1994 to candidate Special Areas of Conservation in England as soon as practicable. I am proposing to give these sites the same level of protection as would be available on sites which become Sites of Community Interest or is already available to sites classified as Special Protection Areas under the Birds Directive. This enhanced protection will ensure that the integrity of sites we have proposed as candidate Special Areas of Conservation is not adversely affected by, for example, damaging operations prior to their adoption by Europe.Policy for such matters falls within the responsibilities of the devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he will publish the Government's first report under the Road Traffic Reduction (National Targets) Act 1998. [106040]

We have today laid before the House "Tackling Congestion and Pollution", our first report under this Act.We agree with the Commission for Integrated Transport that we should not set a national road traffic reduction target. The national volume of road traffic is not a good measure of our success in improving the outcomes that matter, particularly congestion and pollution. Targets for air quality, greenhouse gas emissions, health and road safety are already in place or are shortly to be published. The report invites views on our proposal to develop new benchmarks and targets for congestion for different area or road types.With widespread support from local authorities, businesses and the general public for the policies in the Integrated Transport White Paper and Transport Bill, we can also tackle congestion. The report shows that it should be possible to reduce congestion over the next decade, even when national traffic levels are rising.The report shows that we can expect to see a reduction of more than half in the effect of traffic pollution on air quality over the next decade, mainly through better designed cars and fuels. We can also reduce emissions of greenhouse gases from road transport, though only to slightly below 1990 levels.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the police authorities of England and Wales in order of their Band D council tax precept. [105181]

The information requested on Wales is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.The information requested for England is shown in the following table.

Band D council tax precepts issued by English police authorities in 1999–2000
Police authority	£
Metropolitan	83
Lincolnshire	82
Staffordshire	79
Cumbria	78
Merseyside	77
Dorset	77
Northamptonshire	76
Surrey	75
Warwickshire	71
Wiltshire	69

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many arrests were made in central London during the millennium celebrations for suspected offences involving (a) alcohol, (b) heroin and (c) cannabis. [104916]

The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis informs me that during the central London millennium celebrations the numbers of arrests for suspected offences were: (a) alcohol, 43; (b) heroin, nil; and, (c) cannabis, five.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to reply to the letters dated 21 September, 25 October and 9 December 1999 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Aftab Ahmed Butt. [105559]

I am sorry my right hon. Friend has not received a reply to his letters. My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary has written to my right hon. Friend today.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he made of the extent of potential financial hardship to British businesses and individuals of Mr. Mike Tyson not being granted entry to the United Kingdom; and what influence this had on his decision in this case. [105719]

In reaching my decision about Mr. Tyson's application for entry to take part in a sporting contest in Manchester on 29 January I had regard not merely to the financial loss which might ensue for a number of companies and individuals should Mr. Tyson be refused entry, but also to the potentially ruinous consequences of such losses to smaller concerns in particular, all of whom had acted in good faith in the expectation that the contest would take place. Together with the general effect on business in the Manchester area and the inconvenience and disappointment of the many thousands who had bought tickets for the promotion this was a significant consideration in reaching my decision.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received, and from whom, about the case of Mr. Mike Tyson. [105716]

Following a letter from the United Kingdom Immigration Service dated 11 January, Mr. Frank Warren, promoter of the sporting event, made representations about the entry of Mr. Tyson. These representations enclosed others from various companies and individuals with a direct or indirect interest in the promotion. In addition, representations and comments from a number of sources have been received at the Home Office. These are being registered and will receive a reply in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were the grounds which influenced his decision in the case of Mr. Mike Tyson. [105713]

In the special circumstances of Mr. Tyson's case I considered that it would have been invidious for an individual immigration officer to have to weigh the competing considerations involved. I therefore decided, having carefully examined the representations submitted by Mr. Frank Warren, promoter of the sporting event, to issue an instruction to the Immigration Service that Mr. Tyson should be granted leave to enter until 30 January 2000 for the purpose of taking part in the scheduled contest.I considered that there were exceptional circumstances which justified my decision. In particular I was mindful of the evidence of the likely effects on the small providers of ancillary services, some of which might have faced bankruptcy, had the promotion been cancelled as a consequence of Mr. Tyson being refused entry. I also had regard to the effect of cancellation on business in the Manchester area and to the great inconvenience and disappointment which many thousands of boxing fans who had purchased tickets would experience.I weighed these factors against the nature and seriousness of Mr. Tyson's convictions, and I decided on balance that the exceptional circumstances of this case were such that Mr. Tyson should be granted leave to enter for the purpose of the match. This decision was entirely consistent with the Immigration Rules.In reaching my decision I also took into account the fact that in practice the Immigration Rule relating to refusal of entry on the ground of criminal convictions had not been applied consistently in the past. This Rule and the way in which it is applied will now be reviewed.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what advice he gave to the Immigration Service about the case of Mr. Mike Tyson. [105717]

Generally the decision as to whether a person is or is not given leave to enter the United Kingdom is one for the immigration officer to take, considering any relevant representations and advice. The Secretary of State for the Home Department has the power under paragraph 1(3) of Schedule 2 to give instructions to immigration officers. Once the content and sweep of the representations about Mr. Tyson's entry were known I decided that it would be invidious for the decision to be made by an individual immigration officer and that it was appropriate to give instructions on this particular case given its high profile and complexity. After careful consideration I instructed the Immigration Service to admit Mr. Tyson for the purpose of taking part in the sporting contest at Manchester on 29 January.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to ensure that Sinn Fein complies with rules relating to the funding of political parties from overseas sources; and if he will make a statement. [105360]

In its report on the Funding of Political Parties, the Neill Committee recommended some adjustment for Northern Ireland parties, on a temporary basis, from the provisions on party funding which it recommended should be put in place. The Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Bill, which is designed to implement the Neill Committee's report, would accordingly allow my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary to make such provision by Order. Consideration is being given to precisely what form the adjustment would take.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many firearms certificates were revoked in each of the last five years and in the current year in each police force area; and of these how many were revoked on the grounds of no good reason to possess the firearms in question. [105818]

Firearms licensing statistics for England and Wales are published annually in Home Office statistical bulletins, copies of which are placed in the Library of the House. The most recent bulletin (Issue 22–99) relates to the year 1998 and was published on 26 November 1999.Although the statistics give details of the number of revocations in each force, no information is collected centrally about the grounds for this action.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made on the requirement for a national database under Section 39 of the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1997; and who is responsible for the implementation of that Section of the Act. [105817]

The Firearms (Amendment) Act 1997 does not specify the person or organisation which is to provide the central register referred to in section 39. It is being developed as part of the PHOENIX database of the Police National Computer, which is maintained by the Police Information Technology Organisation. As a next step a detailed impact assessment is to be carried out of the work which needs to be done to link the Police National Computer to existing firearms systems in forces. This is expected to be completed in April.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for each police force in England and Wales, if he will list the systems used to hold the register of privately held firearms and persons holding firearms certificates, naming each electronic system concerned; and if he will place a copy of the functional specification and user guide of each such electronic system in the Library. [105824]

I understand that most forces use or have purchased either the ORBIS system or the SHOGUN system, as set out:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons held (a) certificates relating to the holding of (i) firearms, (ii) shotguns and (iii) explosives and (b) dealer certificates at the latest date for which figures are available. [105821]

The most recent year for which firearm certificate statistics for England and Wales are available is 1998. At the end of that year, 131,900 firearm certificates and 627,000 shotgun certificates were on issue, and 2,180 persons were registered as firearms dealers.The most recent figures for explosive certificates for England and Wales relate to 1997. At the end of that year, a total of 6,794 certificates relating to the acquisition and keeping of explosives, and a further 2,432 relating to their acquisition only, were in force.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the progress of local crime partnerships in England and Wales. [105705]

The crime and disorder reduction partnerships brought into being by the 1998 Crime and Disorder Act published their strategies on 1 April 1999 and are currently implementing them. We recently published a national crime reduction strategy which includes measures to support partnerships and develop their effectiveness so that they can fulfil their potential.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much was spent from public funds on CCTV in each of the past 10 years; and what plans he has for spending on CCTV in each of the next three years. [105707]

Under the Crime Reduction Programme Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) Initiative, the Government are investing £153 million over three years on public area CCTV systems in England and Wales. We have already allocated nearly £40 million for 218 schemes and anticipate that expenditure under the first round could reach £64 million. The balance of the available £153 million will be allocated in years two and three of the Initiative.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the funding for Victim Support in each of the last 10 years; and what plans he has for its funding in each of the next three years. [105709]

Home Office grant to Victim Support for the last ten years is as follows:

£ million
Financial year	Grant
1990–91	4.7
1991–92	5.7
1992–93	7.3
1993–94	8.4
1994–95	10.0
1995–96	10.8
1996–97	11.7
1997–98	12.7
1998–99	12.7
1999–2000	17.3

Following the last Comprehensive Spending Review grant for 2000–01 was set at £18.3 million and for 2001–02 at £19.0 million. Grant for 2001–02 and beyond is currently being reviewed in the current spending review.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many criminals have been electronically tagged in each year since the introduction of tagging; and if he will make a statement. [105710]

In 1999, a total of 18,049 persons were subject to electronic monitoring. The great majority of these (15,320) were prisoners released on Home Detention Curfew under the Crime and Disorder Act 1998.Information is not available in the form requested in earlier years. The available information for the period from July 1995, when trials of curfew orders under the Criminal Justice Act 1991 began, to the end of 1998 is set out in the table.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many violent crimes were reported and how many convictions there were for violent crime in each of the past 10 years. [105701]

The figures available cover the ten years to 1998 and relate to violent notifiable offences recorded by the police, and to persons convicted of violent indictable offences, and are as follows:

England and Wales
	Notifiable violent offences recorded by the police1	Persons convicted of violent offences2
1989	239,858	67,475
1990	249,904	63,909
1991	265,085	57,517
1992	284,199	53,601
1993	294,231	48,298
1994	310,332	47,009
1995	310,936	38,977
1996	344,768	40,345
1997	347,064	44,674
1998	3331,843	47,159
1 Violent crime comprises the offence groups of violence against the person, sexual offences and robbery. Figures for persons convicted are not directly comparable with recorded crime figures, as they relate to individuals found guilty, rather than offences.
2 Covers offences within the indictable offence groups of violence against the person, sexual offences and robbery.
3 Estimate of the total for the year ending March 1999 using the coverage and the counting rules used up to March 1998. New counting rules were introduced on 1 April 1998.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much was spent from public funds on measures to combat burglary in each of the last 10 years; and what plans he has for such spending in each of the next three years. [105706]

Details of individual police force expenditure in England and Wales on measures to combat burglary are not held centrally. However, burglary is one of the key strategic objectives of most of the local Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships. Centrally, of the £250 million budget for the Crime Reduction Programme, which runs from 1999–2000 to 2001–02, £62 million has been allocated to the Reducing Burglary Initiative. This Initiative supports projects undertaken by the Partnerships which apply a range of anti-burglary measures. These projects are to be evaluated to identify what works and where, most cost-effectively.So far, £4 million has been committed under the Initiative on the first 63 projects now under way. The balance will be allocated over the remaining two years of the Initiative with up to 200 round two projects beginning in March.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if it is his policy to encourage police authorities to increase the civilian staff of police forces in order to release more police officers for operational duties; and if he will make a statement. [105422]

Staffing levels in a police force, whether police officers or civilians, are a matter for the police authority and chief officer to determine. It is my policy to encourage authorities and chief officers to make efficient and effective use of staff resources.Police authorities have been required to plan and deliver efficiency gains of 2 per cent. year on year between 1999–2002. Efficiency gains totalling £440 million will be redeployed to support front-line policing. Civilianisation of non-operational posts can play a key role in releasing resources for operational work.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what date he took the decision to ask for a medical report on General Pinochet. [105712]

I took the decision on 4 November 1999.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will supply the Spanish judicial authorities with a copy of the medical report carried out on General Pinochet. [105718]

Senator Pinochet consented to the medical examination on the express basis that none of its contents were disclosed to anyone other than his legal representatives, to me and my advisers, and to the Law Officers and Director of Public Prosecutions. Senator Pinochet has been asked to agree to Spain and the other countries with an outstanding extradition request being provided with a copy of the medical report. He has declined to do so.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received requesting him to make public the medical report on General Pinochet; and if he will make a statement. [105711]

I have received a number of representations asking me to make public the medical report on Senator Pinochet. I will make a full statement on the case when it is finally concluded.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what date the Chilean authorities requested a medical report on General Pinochet; to whom the request was made; and if he will make a statement. [105714]

On 14 October 1999, representations were submitted by the Chilean Embassy to me, through the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, attaching recent medical reports on Senator Pinochet. They suggested that there had been a recent and significant deterioration in his medical condition.I have a clear legal duty to operate the Extradition Act 1989 properly. In the light of the information from the Chilean Embassy, that duty included informing myself of the true facts about Senator Pinochet's health. I therefore asked him to undergo a thorough and extensive medical examination, to be undertaken by an independent team of clinicians.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what figures he can require from local authorities about the composition of their work forces in terms of (a) standard age groups, (b) ethnic origins and (c) gender. [104013]

I do not collect figures from local authorities on the detailed composition of their work forces. In some cases, other UK Ministers may seek information direct from Scottish local authorities in areas reserved to the UK Parliament, although this information is unlikely to cover detailed composition of their work forces either. Any collection of information about local authorities' work in areas of devolved competence would be a matter for the Scottish Executive. It is, of course, for local authorities themselves, as independent corporate bodies, to ensure that they comply with employment law, including equal opportunity requirements.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many persons held (a) certificates relating to the holding of (i) firearms, (ii) shotguns and (iii) explosives and (b) dealer certificates at the latest date for which information is available. [105820]

The latest dates for which information is available regarding certificates relating to firearms, shotguns and dealers is the end of December 1998 and relating to explosives the end of December 1997.At 31 December 1998, 31,072 persons held firearms certificates and 63,100 held shotgun certificates.At 31 December 1997, 499 persons held certificates relating to the acquisition and keeping of explosives, and 64 held certificates relating to the acquisition of explosives only.At 31 December 1998, 295 persons held dealer certificates.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland for each police force in Scotland, if he will list the system used to hold the register of privately held firearms and persons holding firearms certificates, naming each electronic system concerned; and if he will place the functional specification and user guide of each such system in the Library. [105823]

This information is not held centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much of his Department's assets have been disposed of during each of the last five years; what valuation the Government puts upon his Department's assets; and if he will list his Department's assets, broken down by (a) the Department of Trade and Industry (Core Department) (b) agencies, (c) trading funds, (d) non-departmental public bodies, (e) research councils, (f) public corporations, (g) the Office of Fair Trading, (h) the Office of Telecommunications, (i) the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets and (j) the Export Credit Guarantee Department. [103603]

[holding answer 21 December 1999]:(a) During the 1998–99 financial year tangible fixed assets comprising land and buildings to the value of £8,475,000 were disposed of. Information for the preceding four financial years is not available in the form requested.The value of assets held by the Department of Trade and Industry (core department) as at 31 March 1999 is set out in the following tables:

	£000
Fixed Assets—Tangibles
Land and Buildings	21,568
Office Machinery	235
Computer Equipment	3,079
Scientific Equipment	14,775
Telecommunication Equipment	70
Furniture, Fixtures and Fittings	3,127
Plant and Machinery	343
Total	43,197
Fixed Assets—Investments
British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme Investment Reserve	1,059,000
Mineworkers Pension Scheme Investment Reserve	713,000
Ordinary Shares	32,668
Public Dividend Capital	72,214
Launch Investment	1,206,700
Loans to Trading Funds	6,237
Loans to Industry	5,160
Total	3,094,979

(i) Ofgas: As at 31 March 1999 (fixed asset, operating lease)
	Land and buildings	Office equipment	Computer equipment	Laboratory	Fixture and fittings	Motor vehicle	London consolidation	Total
Cost b/f	1,790,109	367,818	329,284	454,962	395,560	—	—	3,337,733
1999 Additions	43,957	—	518	—	48,496	13,865	1,823,472	1,930,308
Disposals	-140,000	-2,826	—	—	—	—	—	-142,826
Revaluation	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Indexation	183,407	11,680	0	0	48,869	458	—	244,414
Cost c/f	1,877,473	376,672	329,802	454,962	492,925	14,323	1,823,472	5,369,629

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the United Kingdom's civil plutonium holdings, indicating details of imports and exports. [104699]

Figures for the United Kingdom's civil plutonium holdings are published by my Department each year and are placed in the Libraries of both Houses. The most recent were published on 21 June 1999 covering holdings at 31 December 1998.The publication of these figures is in the format agreed by an informal group of nine countries, as part of the international guidelines on the management of national holdings of civil plutonium. This is a format which facilitates international comparisons on a consistent basis.Information relating to exports and imports of plutonium is no longer published, but the figures for separated plutonium show both the holdings in the United Kingdom belonging to foreign bodies and the quantity of plutonium belonging to the United Kingdom which is held in locations in other countries as of 31 December each year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if, in respect of each of the countries listed by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in his Gilbert Murray Memorial Lecture on 11 January, he will list the (a) number and (b) aggregate value of (i) ECGD and (ii) other Government-supported credits approved by his Department in respect of exporting British military equipment to each of those countries in each year from 1987 to 1997. [105065]

Of the countries listed by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, ECGD support for defence-related business has been given only in respect of Kenya.The number and value of guarantees in support of this business with Kenya are as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what consideration has been given in the WTO to extending the market access of Canadian chrysotile asbestos; and what is the United Kingdom's policy on this issue. [104661]

[holding answer 17 January 2000]: Canada has brought dispute settlement action in the WTO to challenge the French ban on imports and use of chrysotile asbestos. A final report by the WTO Dispute Settlement Panel is expected in May. Since the French ban was introduced, the UK and the EU have conducted further scientific analysis and have also taken action to ban the import of chrysotile asbestos on health grounds. The UK action came into affect on 24 November 1999. The EU requires all member states to have similar action by 1 January 2005. A number of specialised safety-critical uses are temporarily permitted until safe substitutes have been developed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what support his Department makes available to manufacturing companies based in non-assisted areas in (a) Chorley and (b) the North West. [105275]

Support for manufacturers is listed at Annex A of the DTI report, "Manufacturing in the Knowledge Driven Economy". This report provides contact details for further information and can be found on the DTI website www.dti.gov.uk/comp/competitive.