To ask the Prime Minister what proposals he has to change the Cabinet Office Security and Intelligence Services Vote departmental expenditure limit for 1999–2000. [109085]

Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimate, the departmental expenditure limit for Class XVII, Vote 2 will be increased by £26,030,000 from £742,947,000 to £768,977,000 and the gross running cost limit will be increased by £30,468,000 from £380,067,000 to £410,535,000.The change is to effect transfers of £2,500,000 to the Ministry of Defence (Class VI, Vote 1) and £750,000 from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Class II, Vote 1), the take up of running costs end year flexibility of £3,698,000 as announced by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 27 July 1999,

To ask the Chairman of the Accommodation and Works Committee if he will list each unit of accommodation in the House indicating the persons to whom it is allocated. [108330]

I regret that the information requested is held on the parliamentary space audit database, and could be produced only at disproportionate cost. If my right hon. Friend has a particular query he wishes to raise, he should refer it to the Serjeant at Arms.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what arrangements for the award of war pensions and other forms of compensation apply to (a) military personnel and (b) British civilians (i) contracted and (ii) seconded to the forces who served in the war theatre during the Gulf conflict; [107279](2) if he will compensate British civilians seconded or contracted to the forces in the war theatre during the Gulf conflict who have subsequently become ill as a result of their secondment. [107282]

For Armed Forces personnel, there are two schemes to compensate for death or injury caused by Service: the War Pension Scheme (WPS) administered by the DSS, and the Armed Forces Pension Scheme (AFPS) administered by MOD. When both Departments accept that the death or injury is attributable to service, benefits are payable from both schemes. In addition to pension arrangements, compensation is also payable from the MOD if it can be proved that an individual's death or injury was caused by negligence by the Department. This compensation system is applied to injuries or death in wartime, but the Department is not required to pay common law compensation if the injury or death occurred where the claimant was actively engaging the enemy. Individuals injured or killed in this scenario receive benefits from the WPS and the AFPS.In regard to civilians, civil servants are covered by the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme (PCSPS). This provides for the payment of death and injury benefits to those who are killed or sustain injuries attributable to their duties. Civilians who are employees of contractors do not participate in the PCSPS (or the AFPS or WPS), but would be entitled to common law compensation where the Department was liable. MOD civil servants are also entitled to seek common law compensation from their employer.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many British civilians (a) seconded and (b) contracted to Her Majesty's forces in the war theatre during the Gulf conflict were subsequently tested for (i) depleted uranium and (b) other uranium; and with what results. [107281]

My Department's policy on testing Gulf veterans was published in "Testing for the presence of depleted uranium in UK veterans of the Gulf conflict: The Current Position" dated 19 March 1999, a copy of which is in the Library of the House. Under this policy, as at 31 January 2000, my Department had arranged for one civilian veteran's urine to be tested at two laboratories. The results from one laboratory using neutron activation methods showed that the uranium-235 concentration was less than 0.0053 micrograms per litre (µ/1) of urine. The concentration of natural uranium was less than 0.73 µ/1 and that the concentration of depleted uranium (uranium -235 content of about 0.2 per cent.) was less than 2.6 µ/1. This result represented the limits of detection by the method used. If uranium was present it was below these concentrations. The second laboratory's results using a different method (Laser Phosphorimetry) were that total uranium concentration was 0.0052 (+/- 0.00076) µ/1. Both sets of test results show that uranium, in any form, is not a contributory factor to the patient's ill-health.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many British civilians (a) seconded and (b) contracted to Her Majesty's forces in the war theatre during the Gulf conflict have subsequently suffered from (a) post-traumatic stress disorder, (b) nephrotic syndrome and (c) other kidney or renal problems. [107283]

My Department has no mechanisms in place for routinely monitoring the health of its civilian employees, ex-employees, contractors' employees or foreign nationals. However, civilians who provided direct support to British Forces in theatre during the Gulf conflict can be referred by their GP for examination at the MOD's Medical Assessment Programme (MAP). As at 27 January 2000, 63 civilians who went to the Gulf had been seen by MAP physicians. Of these: two were diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder; one had nephrotic syndrome; and none were diagnosed with kidney or renal problems, other than nephrotic syndrome.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his estimate of the number of British civilians seconded or contracted to Her Majesty's Forces in the war theatre during the Gulf conflict who were exposed to uranium. [107303]

[holding answer 1 February 2000]: We have no such estimate.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what steps he is taking to inform Parliament of (a) the amount spent on nuclear weapons research and (b) plans for research or work on future nuclear weapons systems; [107597](2) what plans the Government have to fund further work or research on the Trident warhead and its individual components; and at what cost; [107736](3) what

Supporting Essay 5 of the Strategic Defence Review White Paper (Cm 3999) provided details of the costs of the nuclear warhead programme in 1997–98. Direct Trident Warhead Related Expenditure is expected to continue at around £120 million per annum (at 1998–99 prices) for the life of the system, of which some £70 million is in support of Research, Development and Capability Maintenance activities. Although research is aimed at stewardship of the Trident warhead, it also ensures the maintenance of a minimum capability to design and produce a successor should this prove necessary.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the number of individual places available on Exercise Winter Training in (a) 1997–98, (b) 1998–99 and 1999–2000. [107411]

The information requested is as follows:

Year	Number of places available
1997–98	1,620
1998–99	1,620
1999–2000	1,080

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many hours' flying time pilots completed in the RAF in each of the last five years, excluding operational flying. [107245]

[holding answer 27 January 2000]: Trained RAF pilots completed the following flying hours:

Years	Hours1	Hours2	Total hours
1995	164,686	20,012	184,698
1996	198,892	15,154	214,046
1997	191,194	12,468	203,662
1998	186,746	14,702	201,448
1999	159,801	24,670	184,471
1 Excluding operational flying
2 Operational only

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the impact of the Charter of Fundamental Rights on employment practice within the armed forces; what representations he has made on the issue; and if he will make a statement. [106374]

None as yet. The Government see no reason for the Charter to add to existing rights and obligations, nor is there any agreement that it should so do.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if his plans for the defence budget assume a receipt arising from the sale of all or part of the Defence Estimate and Research Agency. [107413]

[holding answer 1 February 2000]: For outline planning purposes, we have assumed that a Public Private Partnership (PPP) for the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency will generate a receipt for the Exchequer and that an element of this will form a credit to the defence budget. The size of any receipt will depend on the PPP option chosen and no final decision on this has yet been made.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department who he is appointing as the new Chair of the Commission for Racial Equality. [109086]

I am very glad to announce that I have today appointed Gurbux Singh as Chair of the Commission for Racial Equality.Gurbux Singh is currently the Chief Executive of the London Borough of Haringey and a member of my Race Relations Forum. The appointment is for four years initially.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will announce the results of the bids which police forces in England and Wales have made for money from the Crime Fighting Fund to fund the recruitment of police officers. [109087]

I am currently considering the bids which forces have made. I will be announcing the results next week.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the progress of the University of Derby's research project into religious discrimination, which he commissioned in April 1999. [109088]

The interim report of the University of Derby's research project into religious discrimination was published on 31 January. Copies are available in the Library or from the research project's web-site at: www.multifaithnet.org.The interim report is useful in beginning to develop a better understanding of the complex issues around religious discrimination. We hope it will inform the debate in advance of the publication of the research project's full findings, due this autumn.It is important to remember that this is an interim report only (based on a literature review and consultation with relevant organisations); it does not yet include any information from the research project's own data collection, which is continuing. The final report will inform the development of policy in this important and sensitive area.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the sources of primates used for research in (a) 1997 and (b) 1998. [108144]

In 1997, the overseas sources of primates were Mauritius, Philippines, China, Israel and Switzerland.In 1998, the overseas sources were Mauritius, Philippines, China, Israel, Kenya, South Africa and the United States of America.The vast majority of these imports, for both years were for Cynomolgus Macaques, the main source being Mauritius. Very few were bred in the United Kingdom.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will place in the Library Fenella Tayler's letter of 5 November 1999 to Michael Caplan, acting for Senator Pinochet; [108463](2) what were the contents of Fenella Tayler's letter of 26 November 1999 on behalf of the Home Office to Michael Caplan, acting for Senator Pinochet. [108459]

I have placed in the Library copies of the correspondence relating to the medical report which has been disclosed in the application brought by Amnesty International and other human rights groups for permission to bring judicial review proceedings against the Secretary of State.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) for what reasons the Director of Public Prosecutions was not consulted under Article 7 of the UN Convention on Torture about his decision to abandon the extradition proceedings against Senator Pinochet consequent on the medical examination; and what representations he has received from the Director of Public Prosecutions on this matter; [108637](2) if the medical report on Senator Pinochet has been tendered under Article 7 of the UN Convention on Torture for examination by the

Article 7(1) of the Convention states that:

"The State Party in the territory under whose jurisdiction a person alleged to have committed any offence referred to in Article 4 is found shall in the cases contemplated in Article 5, if it does not extradite him, submit the case to its competent authorities for the purpose of prosecution".

I have not yet taken a decision on whether to bring the extradition proceedings against Senator Pinochet to an end.As I indicated in the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Islington, North (Mr. Corbyn) on 20 January 2000,

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what purpose Fenella Tayler (a) wrote to and (b) telephoned Michael Caplan, acting for Senator Pinochet, on 11 November 1999, concerning a request that the report of doctors who had examined Senator Pinochet be brought to the attention of Spain, France, Belgium and Switzerland; and what was (i) his response and (ii) the date of his response. [108461]

I have placed Mrs. Tayler's letter of 11 January to Mr. Caplan (to which I assume the Question refers) and his reply of 11 January, clarified by a further letter of 13 January, along with related correspondence, in the Library. As Mrs. Tayler's letter explains, Senator Pinochet's solicitors were asked to agree urgently that the report of the doctors should be disclosed to the four states with an outstanding extradition application relating to Senator Pinochet. Senator Pinochet's solicitors replied on the same day, refusing the request.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what reason Fenella Tayler's letter of 5 November 1999 to Senator Pinochet's lawyers offered to keep confidential the report of the doctors who were to examine the Senator. [108458]

Assurances of confidentiality were given because it appeared to me (i) that Senator Pinochet had a right, subject to any overriding public interest, to have personal information about his health kept confidential, (ii) because I wished to have authoritative advice about Senator Pinochet's state of health and I was conscious that he had no obligation to submit to a medical examination, and (iii) that it was appropriate to ask Senator Pinochet for his consent only for the purpose for which I needed the information, namely to equip myself to perform my own functions and to enable the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Solicitor-General to perform theirs.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which (a) Chilean and (b) British doctor was nominated by Senator Pinochet's lawyers to witness the consideration of the doctors' report on Senator Pinochet, by the DPP or Solicitor-General; when this meeting was held; and if he will make a statement. [108462]

No such nomination or meeting has taken place. Two doctors nominated by Senator Pinochet's legal representatives did observe the medical examination on Senator Pinochet conducted at my request.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people with visitors' visas overstayed where the country of origin was (a) Pakistan and (b) India, in each year since May 1997. [108502]

Comprehensive information on the numbers of persons originating from Pakistan and India who have overstayed their leave in the United Kingdom, having originally entered on visit visas, is not available. The available information, which relates to the numbers of those nationals issued with notice of intention to deport on the grounds that they have overstayed, is shown in the following table. Central records do not show how many of those persons had obtained a visit visa.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will reply to the letter dated 15 October 1999 that he received from the right hon. Member for Tonbridge and Malling enclosing correspondence from Mr. D. C. Johnson. [108647]

I wrote to the right hon. Member on 3 February.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on progress in the award of city status. [108455]

Her Majesty the Queen has said that she intends to mark the Millennium by a grant of city status. A competition was announced in May 1999 with a closing date of 1 September. Thirty-nine applications have been received from towns in the United Kingdom; each application is being considered on its individual merits. No date has yet been set for the announcement of the result.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people came to Britain on the Ad Hop scheme in (a) 1998 and (b) 1999. [107950]

The Ad Hop scheme is not known to the Immigration and Nationality Directorate. If the hon. Member is referring to the Seasonal Agricultural Workers' Scheme, the annual quota of participants is 10,000. HOPS(GB), one of the approved operators, was allocated 3,517 work cards in 1998 and 1999.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many lone parents, under the New Deal for Lone Parents, have (a) been issued with initial invitation letters, (b) booked initial interviews with personal advisers, (c) attended initial interviews, (d) agreed to participate in the programme, (e) been referred to Employment Service programmes or other training, (f) obtained jobs following participation and (g) have increased their hours of work following participation. [108001]

The information is in the table.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much has been spent on the New Deal for Lone Parents (a) since the original pilot schemes were established and (b) since its full implementation. [1080043]

The cost of implementing the New Deal for Lone Parents (NDLP) prototype phase 1 areas was £7.9 million. The cost of implementing the national programme has been £47.6 million, broken down as £0.311 million 1997–98, £22.3 million in 1998–99 and £25 million in 1999–2000 (up to the end of December 1999).Both sums include the cost of project management, the development and provision of IT support, publicity, the cost of evaluation and the costs of NDLP Innovative Pilots.As such it is not possible to equate these with the impact of adviser time spent in helping lone parents into work. The independent evaluation of the NDLP prototype phase is due to be published at the end of this month and will include a full cost/benefit analysis. Similarly, the national programme is being evaluated separately and will also include a cost/benefit analysis. This is due for publication in spring 2002.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what steps he proposes to take to further investigate the link between low income and chronic bad health highlighted in DSS Research Report No. 95; and if he will make a statement. [108116]

DSS Research Report 95 was a baseline report from the Earnings Top-up (ETU) evaluation. This provided results of the first surveys of low-paid workers, medium-term unemployed people and employers conducted in 1996, before the introduction of ETU. Forthcoming reports from the ETU evaluation will also include analysis of self-reported health and disability.Much research commissioned by the Department gathers information on self-reported health and disability for low income groups. In addition to the ETU evaluation, the Programme of Research into Low Income Families (PRILIF) and the Survey of Families with Children gathers information on health for families with children. The Jobseeker's Allowance Evaluation has information on the relationship between unemployment-related benefit receipt and poor health. The ONE evaluation will collect information on self-reported health and disability among clients of working age, and the impact of this on their ability to work. The Department also commissions research on clients receiving disability benefits.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what special arrangements exist for people from Montserrat relocating in the United Kingdom; [108136](2) if he will make a statement on the application of the habitual residence test to evacuees from Montserrat. [108138]

Special rules were introduced in 1996 to give people coming from Montserrat, after 1 November 1995 because of the volcanic crisis, immediate access to the main safety net benefits: income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, Income Support, Housing Benefit, and Council Tax Benefit. These rules effectively exempt people coming from Montserrat from the habitual residence test.While no special arrangements for access to the Social Fund were made by Montserrations, existing guidance and directions already made provision for community care grants to be considered for families who are experiencing exceptional pressures. However, in 1998 a bulletin was issued to all staff amplifying the circumstances in which grants could be considered: examples specifically included instances where a disaster has resulted in the evacuation to the United Kingdom.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what the subsidies were in each of the past 10 years to (a) Worthing Borough Council, (b) Arun District Council and (c) all English local housing authorities combined for investigation and detection of housing benefit and council tax fraud; and if he will make a statement. [108186]

Local authorities are paid an administration subsidy that helps meet the general cost of administering the Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit schemes. Specific financial incentives for investigating and detecting fraud were first introduced in April 1993 in the form of the weekly benefits savings scheme. Details of payments made under that scheme are set out in table 1.The criteria for making claims under this scheme were tightened in 1998 following concerns expressed by the National Audit Office and the Public Accounts Committee that some councils had previously overclaimed. The scheme has been further amended from 1999–2000 onwards to provide additional incentives to local

Weekly Benefit Savings (WBS) incentive scheme—rewards councils for detecting fraud
£
Financial year	1993–94	1994–95	1995–96	1996–97	1997–98	1998–991
Total for Arun District Council	4,849	113,101	214,848	391,780	233,146	56,615
Total for Worthing Borough Council	9,597	60,160	59,326	138,023	271,586	148,497
Total for all English local authorities	5,545,296	16,799,643	26,668,908	38,309,208	55,115,791	2,600,893
1 This is the last full year for which data are available

Verification Framework—prevents fraud getting into the system, first introduced in 1998–99
Financial year	1998–99 (£)
Total for Arun District Council	54,043
Total for Worthing Borough Council	58,384
Total for all English local authorities	5,688,517

Challenge funding—three year scheme where Councils could submit bids for innovative anti-fraud initiatives
Financial year	1996–97	1997–98	1998–99
Total for Arun District Council	18,000	43,000	35,000
Total for Worthing Borough Council	29,167	0	0
Total for all English local authorities	6,084,618	11,965,577	7,015,880

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he will announce the outcome of the consultation on the structure of National Insurance Rebates for the State Second Pension. [109171]

Following consultation we have decided that the structure of National Insurance Rebates for the State Second Pension will be as follows:

all rebates for contracting-out into a personal pension, including a personal pension based stakeholder pension, will be calculated to reflect the enhanced three part accrual rate in the State Second Pension;

rebates will continue to be calculated as they are now for all occupational pension schemes, which will not be required to change their benefits;

employees in all contracted-out pension arrangements on low pay (up to £9,500) will get a top-up from the State Second Pension; and

the top-up should be extended to employees on moderate earnings (up to £21,600) in contracted-out occupational pension schemes.

These arrangements achieve the Government's objective of providing extra help for low and moderate earners in private pension schemes. They do so without causing any disruption to employers who provide occupational pension schemes. And the enhanced rebate will give a direct boost to saving in personal stakeholder schemes.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when Mrs. Anderson (NI Number KP 84 76 11 B) will receive her winter fuel payment for 1999–2000. [108636]

I have written privately to Mrs. Anderson and the matter has now been resolved.

To ask the Solicitor-General what is the total amount paid by the Treasury Solicitor to (a) Investors in People and (b) independent consultants in connection with the Treasury Solicitor's achievement of the Investors in People standard. [108040]

No monies were paid to IiP UK, but £4,891.29 was paid to FOCUS Central London (Training and Enterprise Council) for the final assessment.A total of £24,115.62 has been paid to independent consultants over the three and a half years that the Agency was working towards IiP. £7,535 of this was reimbursed by the Training and Enterprise Council during 1997 and 1998.The major contribution to the achievement of IiP was the effort put in by the staff of the Treasury Solicitor's Department.

To ask the Solicitor-General (1) if evidence presented to Lord Cullen' s Inquiry into the Paddington disaster will be submissible as evidence in any subsequent criminal prosecution; [108127](2) if persons presenting evidence to Lord Cullen's Inquiry into the Paddington disaster will be immune from any subsequent criminal prosecution. [108126]

No person has been given immunity from prosecution in connection with the Paddington disaster. Witnesses to the inquiry have been given an undertaking authorised by the Attorney General, to the effect that evidence, written statements and documents produced by them to the inquiry will not be used in evidence against them in any criminal proceedings, except in limited circumstances. This will not, however, prevent a prosecution based on material other than that provided to the Inquiry. The undertaking was provided because it was certain that without it potential witnesses would be inhibited from providing Lord Cullen with full assistance. It was important that everything reasonably possible was done to enable the inquiry to begin its work immediately and to ensure that it would be fully effective, so that it can establish and publish the truth about the circumstances which led to the tragic rail crash.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his oral statement to the House of 7 December 1999, Official Report, columns 701–02, whether his plans for expenditure under the EU rural development regulation are subject to the outcome of the current consultation by the Scottish Executive on modulation. [107803]

The full England Rural Development Plan, which was submitted to the European Commission on 1 February, describes in detail the expenditure proposals outlined by my right hon. Friend the Minister on 7 December 1999, Official Report, columns 701–02. It includes an explanation of the proposed sources of funding including receipts from modulation and Government match-funding for those receipts. Key sections of the plan are available on the MAFF website and, once printed, a copy will be placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the registered markets for the collection of over-30-month scheme cattle in East Anglia. [107753]

Within East Anglia there are two markets at Norwich and Colchester registered with the Intervention Board for the live collection of over-30-month scheme cattle. The number of markets, and indeed abattoirs, in the region reflects the traditional patterns of marketing cull cows from the area and the predominantly arable nature of farming within the region.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer of 24 January 2000, Official Report, column 9W, on BSE, in determining whether a company has a satisfactory and long-standing contractual relationship under the OTMS, what examination is made of the annual published accounts of the company concerned. [107757]

The Intervention Board closely monitors the performance of the abattoirs with whom it contracts to provide over-30-month scheme services. This includes daily supervision of operations and verification checks of the companies' performance on the specified scheme work including their duties as a payment centre. I can confirm that, where the Board already had an established and satisfactory working relationship with an abattoir, no reference was made to those companies' published accounts in evaluating their tenders. For new suppliers, or in any case of doubt, it is the Board's policy to seek information on the financial standing of a company before entering into a contract.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer of 6 December 1999, Official Report, column 349W, on departmental research contracts, if he will place a copy of the standard research contract in use by his Department in the Library. [107100]

[holding answer 1 February 2000]: A copy of the Department's current standard research contract has been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what changes are proposed to the departmental expenditure limit and running costs limit for his Department for 1999–2000. [108812]

The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food's Departmental Expenditure Limit (DEL) will be increased by £17,576,000 from £1,225,308,000 to £1,242,884,000. The increase is the net effect of:

(i) an Intervention Board running cost and capital End-Year Flexibility take-up of £747,000 and £157,000 respectively,

(ii) a transfer of £93,000 to the Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions (DETR),

(iii) a transfer of £46,000 from the Scottish Executive Rural Affairs Department (SERAD),

(iv) a transfer of £8,000 from the Department of Agriculture for Northern Ireland (DANI),

(v) a transfer of £138,000 from the Department of Health (DoH).

(vi) a transfer of £107,000 the Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions (DETR),

(vii) transfers of £1,491,000 from DoH, £497,000 from SERAD, £260,000 from the National Assembly for Wales Agriculture Department (NAWAD and, £249,000 from DANI, for the cost of the BSE Inquiry,

(viii) an increase of £5,500,000 in capital for the Rural Development scheme,

(ix) an increase of £6,500,000 in running costs to cover a shortfall in the income of the Meat Hygiene Service,

(x) an increase of £2,790,000 as the DEL element of additional funds for the Organic Aid scheme,

(xi) an increase of £79,000 provision and £134,000 receipts under the Phare Twinning scheme,

(xii) increase in provision and receipts of £15,162,000 in additional VAT recoveries,

(xiv) increase in provision of £1,103,000 and £1,869,000 in receipts under the Wider Markets initiative.

Also the Voted element of the DEL will be increased by £3,691,000 to reflect a matching reduction in the non-Voted element. And the Gross Running Costs limit for the Intervention Board will be increased by £747,000, and for MAFF by £6,720,000.The increase will be offset by transfers or charged to the reserve and will not therefore add to the planned total of public expenditure.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many dairy farms there were in Berkshire in (a) 1996–97, (b) 1997–98 and (c) 1998–99. [108421]

The data are not available in the precise form requested but, from the June Agricultural Census, the number of holdings in Berkshire with one or more dairy cows was as follows:

Year	Number
1996	85
1997	78
1998	80
1999	73

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the dates of those meetings he has had with representatives of the United Kingdom potato industry since he became Minister, indicating which individuals and groups he met. [107240]

[holding answer 27 January 2000]: My right hon. Friend the Minister of State has responsibility for the potato industry. She met the Director General of the UK Potato Processors' Association on 13 January. Representative organisations and individual members of the potato industry are in frequent contact with officials and have a good working relationship with the Department.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he has taken to promote the UK potato industry abroad. [107241]

[holding answer 27 January 2000]: The Department sponsors the British Potato Council (BPC) and works closely with it and producers to promote exports via trade fairs and other events both here and abroad. One of the core functions of the BPC is to promote the British potato industry abroad as exports offer a significant opportunity for market growth. Details of the BPC's activities and achievements since it came into being in July 1997 are set out in the Council's annual report.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the current level of (a) domestic production, (b) imports and (c) exports of (1) Adora, (2) Ailsa, (3) Ambo, (4) Anna, (5) Arran Banner, (6) Arran Comet, (7) Arran Pilot, (8) Atlantic, (9) Ausonia, (10) Avalanche, (11) Avondale, (12) Balmoral, (13) Barna, (14) Bimonda, (15) Bintje, (16) Brodick, (17) Brodie, (18) Buchan, (19) Cara, (20) Carlingford, (21) Charlotte, (22) Cultra, (23) Desiree, (24) Duke of York, (25) Epicure, (26) Erntestolz, (27) Estima, (28) Fianna, (29) Foremost, (30) Golden Wonder, (31) Hermes, (32) Home Guard, (33) Kennebec, (34) Kerr's Pink, (35) Kestrel, (36) King Edward, (37) Kingston, (38) Lady Rosetta, (39) Majestic, (40) Marfona, (41) Mariana, (42) Mans Bard, (43) Mans Peer, (44) Mans Piper, (45) Mondial, (46) Morene, (47) Nadine, (48) Navan, (49) Nicola, (50) Nieta, (51) Panda, (52) Penta, (53) Pentland Crown, (54) Pentland Dell, (55) Pentland Hawk, (56) Pentland Javelin, (57) Pentland Squire, (58) Premiere, (59) Record, (60) Red Cara, (61) Red Pontiac, (62) Remarka, (63) Robinta, (64) Rocket, (65) Romano, (66) Rooster, (67) Sante, (68) Satuma, (69) Saxon, (70) Shepody, (71) Sierra, (72) Slaney, (73) Spunta, (74) Stroma, (75) Ulster Sceptre, (76) Valor, (77) Wilja, (78) Winston and (79) Yukon Gold potato varieties. [107242]

[holding answer 27 January 2000]: The latest potato statistics available for the United Kingdom are provisional figures for 1999 when the level of (a) domestic production was 7,100,000 tonnes; (b) imports (excluding processed and seed) were 256,000 tonnes and (c) exports (excluding processed and seed) were 175,000 tonnes. Statistics are not collected to the level of detail requested but the British Potato Council's publication "Potato Statistics in Great Britain 1993–97" gives planting figures for some of the varieties mentioned by the hon. Member.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food which representatives from his Ministry will attend the European Potato Industry Conference in Rome on 27 to 28 January. [107243]

[holding answer 27 January 2000]: There will be no representatives from my Ministry at the forthcoming European Potato Industry Conference.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what discussions he has had and with which bodies about the climate change levy. [107235]

[holding answer 27 January 2000]: Since my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced in last year's Budget that the Government intend to introduce a climate change levy, I have met with a large number of bodies and individual companies representing the food, drink and agricultural industries. The climate change levy was raised at several of these meetings. Most of these organisations have also put their concerns to Ministers at the Treasury and the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions (DETR) to ensure that the interests of the food, drink and agricultural industries can be taken fully into account during the detailed design of the levy.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he will reply to the letter from the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed dated 9 November, relating to a constituent from North Bellshill, Belford, concerning area aid for farmers. [107289]

A reply to the letter from the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed was sent on 27 January 2000.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he will reply to a letter from the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed, dated 27 September 1999, relating to the qualifications of veterinary surgeons. [107287]

A reply to the letter from the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed was sent on 27 January 2000.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has made to the European Commission for compensation for the public health related costs imposed on pig farmers following the BSE crisis. [107234]

[holding answer 27 January 2000]: I and my officials have had a number of discussions with the European Commission on the current difficulties being faced by UK pig producers. My most recent discussions were with Agriculture Commissioner Fischler in the margins of the Agriculture Council on Monday 24 January and then on Tuesday 1 February in London.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many officials within his Department are directly employed in developing rural transport policy; and what proportion this figure represents of the total number of people employed by his Department. [105280]

A large number of officials throughout my Department and the Government offices are responsible for rural transport policy as part of the developing integrated transport strategy and rural White Paper process. In addition, the Countryside Agency administers some transport grants on our behalf, offers advice and is involved in working with the Department on rural transport pilots.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what progress has been made in London on the proposals of the Urban Task Force's report "The Urban Renaissance". [107354]

There are more than a hundred wide-ranging and forward-thinking recommendations in the Urban Task Force report. The Government have welcomed the report as an important contribution to the urban renaissance debate and are considering its recommendations in detail in drawing up the White Paper on urban policy, due to be published later this year. The Mayor may also wish to consider the report when producing the Spatial Development and other strategies set out in the GLA Act 1999 and generally, as the London boroughs are already doing.In the meantime, it is important to keep up the momentum and many of the report's recommendations are already being taken forward. We have already set up nine pilot home zones, including two in London, at Five Roads in Ealing and in the Holmewood area of Lambeth. In addition, pilot urban regeneration companies have been published, although as yet there are none in London.Issues relating to the management of land supply are being covered in revisions to Planning Policy Guidance notes 3, 11 and 12 that apply throughout the country. The recommendations for streamlining of the Compulsory Purchase Order process are to be covered in the review which is currently taking place, while similar work on planning obligations is also under way. These will all be of direct significance to the capital.In London, the new Mayor and Assembly are charged with preparing a spatial planning framework (the Spatial Development Strategy) that is consistent with other Mayoral strategies for transport, economic regeneration and the environment. This provides an opportunity to provide a more effective and integrated strategic framework for delivering urban renaissance in the capital.Draft guidance has recently been issued on Strategic Planning in London which stresses the importance the Secretary of State attaches to the SDS promoting urban renaissance through good urban design and improvement of the public realm. New arrangements for consultation on strategic applications will mean that the Mayor can ensure SDS principles are delivered on the ground.The Government have just published a report, jointly with the London Planning Advisory Committee (LPAC), on how to achieve more sustainable patterns of residential quality by using a design-led approach ("Sustainable Residential Quality: Exploring the Housing potential of Large Sites: LPAC January 2000"). Copies of this report have been forwarded to every London borough.In addition to the responsibility for drawing up the Transport Strategy for the capital to which the boroughs will have regard in producing their Local Transport Plans, the Mayor has also been given the powers to introduce road user (congestion) charging and workplace parking levies and to use the revenue generated in support of the Transport Strategy. With the agreement of the Mayor, the London boroughs may also introduce such measures.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will publish the cost benefit analysis of (a) ATP and (b) other alternative systems of train protection presently available. [107860]

The cost benefit analysis of Automatic Train Protection (ATP) will depend on a number of factors including the precise system chosen, the timing of its introduction, and the level of safety risk which it addresses. A British rail report on ATP including estimates of costs and benefits was placed in the Library of the House in July 1994, but those estimates would need to be recalculated in the light of specific proposals.A regulatory impact assessment for the Railway Safety Regulations 1999, including a cost benefit assessment of the Train Protection and Warning System (TPWS), was placed in the Library of each House when the Regulations were laid on 10 August 1999. Following the tragic accident at Ladbroke Grove, we asked Sir David Davies to make an assessment of train protection systems and we expect his report shortly. We will also look to the Health and Safety Commission for advice before any further decisions on train protection are taken.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how much compensation was paid to rail passengers for delays under passenger charters in each of the last five years. [108440]

Passenger's Charter payment records are maintained separately by each of the 25 franchised passenger train operators. This information is not held centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many revision total hip replacement operations in the National Health Service were performed in (a) 1995, (b) 1996, (c) 1997, (d) 1998 and (e) from January to June 1999 expressed as a percentage of total hip operations. [101206]

The information for England is set out in the table. This is routinely presented in financial years rather than calendar years.

Year	Revision operations as a percentage of all hip replacements
1999–2000 Q1	19.4
1998–99 Q3	19.6
1998–99 Q2	110.1
1998–99 Q1	110.5

Vacancies (nursing and midwifery staff) in health authorities with over 300 posts vacant at 31 March 1999
Whole-time equivalents
Health Authority	Total vacancies1	Percentage2	3 month vacancies3	Percentage2
Camden and Islington	780	11.1	390	5.5
North Essex	330	5.2	—	—
East London and City	700	12.9	500	9.1
Kensington, Chelsea and Westminster	560	8.3	—	—
Birmingham	590	5.3	330	3.0
Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth	560	9.7	—	—
Manchester	370	5.8	—	—
West Kent	300	5.3	—	—
West Surrey	350	8.2	—	—
Oxfordshire	360	7.7	—	—
Avon	310	5.2	—	—
Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham	810	11.4	—	—
1 Posts that Trusts were actively trying to fill at 31 March 1999.
2 Vacancies as a percentage of total posts (staff in post plus vacancies.)
3 Posts that had been vacant for three months or more at 31 March 1999.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what methods are used by health authorities to test for thyroid disorder; and what plans he has to prescribe a standard test. [107488]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the Government's policy on heart transplants for patients over 60 years. [103957]

There is no specific policy on heart transplants for patients over 60. Every patient should be assessed according to his or her individual needs, and there should be no bar to transplantation other than a clear medical contraindication.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list those health authorities which have nursing vacancies in excess of 300. [107065]

The available information is given in the table.

There are a number of thyroid disorders and diseases. The results of initial testing may indicate further tests are needed to diagnose the patient's condition.The initial thyroid function tests have improved greatly in recent years as a result of medical research, and up-to-date tests are available in National Health Service laboratories. The most common are the measurement of serum thyroid stimulating hormone, and free thyroxine (T4). Others commonly used include isotope uptake studies, thyroid antibody assays, ultrasound scans and needle biopsies. All NHS laboratories participate in quality assurance schemes.The Department has no plans to issue guidance in this area.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to increase resources to rural ambulance services in (a) Cumbria and (b) elsewhere. [107486]

Since 1997, an extra £15 million has been included in the general allocation to health authorities to support implementation of the new ambulance service targets across England; those allocations are weighted to take account of rurality. Furthermore, we have carried out research recently to support ambulance services in delivering the national targets in both urban and rural areas such as Cumbria.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to improve the (a) effectiveness and (b) response times for ambulance services in sparsely populated rural counties. [107490]

We recognise the practical constraints on ambulance services that have to cope with extremes of geography. In emergency situations the effectiveness of ambulance services is largely dependent on speed of response and the clinical training of their crews. The new response time targets will benefit rural areas as they are based on clinical need rather than geography. However rural services will need to develop alternative approaches to achieving the response times for people with immediately life-threatening conditions including paramedics using fast response vehicles, co-responder programmes (using the fire service and police) and community first responder schemes (local trained volunteers). We have commissioned research on the cost effectiveness of these alternative responses to help local health economies, including those in rural areas, plan specific service improvements.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many acute hospitals in the NHS do not have full radiological facilities, including scanning equipment, on site. [107415]

Information on radiological facilities, including scanning equipment, on individual acute hospital sites is not collected centrally. However, information on the number of imaging and radiodiagnostic examinations or tests undertaken in National Health Service trusts is available and is published annually in "Imaging and radiodiagnostics, England". The latest data are for 1998–99 and have been placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 24 January 2000, OfficialReport, column 100W, on waiting times, for how many weeks in excess of 26 weeks each of the 36 patients referred to are waiting to see the neurology consultant. [108093]

The information requested is not collected.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many drug detoxification and rehabilitation centres there are in each English county; and if he will make a statement. [107795]

[holding answer 3 February 2000]: The information requested is not available centrally. However, agencies offering a range of specialist services for drug misusers are listed in the directory "Drug Problems: where to get help", published in 1998 by the Standing Conference On Drug Abuse (SCODA). I will arrange for copies to be placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many single parents are in training to become nurses. [107647]

[holding answer 3 February 2000]: The information requested is not held centrally. Of the 23,410 students currently paid a National Health Service Bursary by the NHS Student Grants Unit (SGU), 1,006 (4.3 per cent.) are in receipt of the single parent addition. Older students (those aged 26 years and over), who are also single parents, may opt to receive the older students' allowance rather than the single parent addition, as this may be more favourable.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many students are currently completing an access to nursing course; and how many of those students are single parents. [107648]

[holding answer 3 February 2000]: The number of students undertaking an access to nursing course in 1997–98 was 1,038.No information is held on whether students are single parents.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to reduce the levels of obesity in England. [107966]

[holding answer 3 February 2000]: We have made heart disease, stroke and cancer key areas of action in our health strategy, "Saving Lives: Our Healthier Nation". The White Paper indicates the significance of physical activity, nutrition and healthy weight management in reducing the risks of heart disease and stroke and some cancers.Obesity results from an excess of energy intake over energy expenditure. Therefore, we have spent over £700,000 on healthy eating campaigns aimed at the general population in this financial year. We have also spent £9 million over the last three years on "Active for Life" to promote the health benefits of physically active lifestyles. Furthermore, in 1999 we funded the BBC's campaign "Fighting Fat, Fighting Fit" and financed the Faculty of Public Health Medicine's guidance "Tackling Obesity" aimed at primary care health promotion practitioners. The role of obesity in the development of heart disease will also be addressed in the forthcoming National Service Framework on coronary heart disease.We are now considering further options for improving dietary habits, including increasing the consumption of fruit and vegetables.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will reply to the letter of 23 September 1999 from the right hon. Member for North-East Hampshire regarding a constituent, Mrs. Horton. [108229]

I replied to the right hon. Member on 31 January.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Pendle (Mr. Prentice) of 24 January 2000, Official Report, column 107W, on dentistry, what is the latest date by which he expects to publish the NHS dental strategy. [108639]

The Government's strategy for modernising National Health Service dentistry in England will be published when it is complete and fully reflects all our proposals. We expect this to be soon.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list those trusts and primary care groups which do not routinely pay for patients suffering from multiple sclerosis to receive Beta-interferon when that is the drug recommended by the patients' physicians. [108449]

Information about local policies on the treatment of multiple sclerosis is not available centrally. Any such policies should be agreed by the health authorities, primary care groups, trusts and clinicians concerned, and should provide for individual cases to be considered on their merits in the light of the evidence available on different forms of treatment.We have asked the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) to conduct an authoritative appraisal of the evidence on Beta-interferon, as part of its first work programme. NICE guidance is expected to be issued to the National Health Service by August 2000.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, pursuant to his answer of 6 December 1999, Official Report, column 398W, on departmental research contracts, if he will place a copy of the standard research contract in use by his Department in the Library. [107102]

[holding answer 1 February 2000]: The standard form of contract currently used, by the Lord Chancellor's Department, for the commissioning of research has been placed in the Library. It should be noted that while all the Department's research contracts are based upon this format each individual contract is tailored to suit the research being commissioned.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taken to link debt relief and the resolution of conflict in Sudan. [108135]

To qualify for debt relief under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative, countries must face an unsustainable debt burden beyond traditional debt-relief mechanisms and must establish a track record of reform and sound policies through IMF- and World Bank-supported programmes.Last year the IMF Board, with UK supporting, agreed to lift the declaration of non-cooperation with Sudan: the first step in the process for the country to get back on track in its relations with the International Financial Institutions. The IMF though stressed that economic development was not possible without peace and urged the authorities to work towards finding a solution. A further review of the country's record under the IMF Staff Managed Programme will take place later this year.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent discussions he has had with G7 countries on Sudan's debt problem. [108147]

To qualify for debt relief under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative, countries must face an unsustainable debt burden beyond traditional debt-relief mechanisms and must establish a track record of reform and sound policies through IMF and World Bank-supported programmes.Last year the IMF Board agreed, with UK supporting, to lift the declaration of non-cooperation with Sudan: the first step in the process for the country to get back on track in its relations with the IMF. The next stage in the process will be a further review later this year when the country's record will be assessed with a view to terminating the suspension of Sudan's voting rights.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was (a) the price at which the Bank of England sold gold from the reserves in the past 12 months, (b) the total amount of these sales proceeds which was invested in the purchase of euros and (c) the price at which the euros were purchased. [108293]

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the sterling value was of each of the sales of gold from the reserves at the time of sale in the last 12 months; and if he will list (a) the amount of euros purchased with the resulting funds and (b) the dates of purchase. [108446]

I refer the hon. Members to the answers I gave the hon. Members for Rochford and Southend, East (Sir T. Taylor) and for Louth and Horncastle (Sir P. Tapsell) on 13 December 1999, Official Report, column 76W.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will commission research on the impact of the provisions of the 1999 Budget on the haulage industry; [108452](2) what representations he has received from representatives of the haulage industry

Since the last Budget, the Government have been working closely with representatives of the haulage industry and unions through the Road Haulage Forum to assess the competitiveness of the UK haulage industry. The forum has conducted research in a wide range of areas, and will continue to monitor the many factors affecting the competitive position of UK hauliers, including their spending costs and total tax burden. I have attended two meetings of the Forum since July and met members of it on other occasions.In addition to our discussions in the Road Haulage Forum, we have received a number of representations from the haulage industry and other interested parties across the UK. These will all be given careful consideration in the context of the Chancellor's Budget judgment.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many questions to his Department tabled for ordinary written answer during Session 1998–99 were answered (a) within two weeks of tabling, (b) within one month of tabling, (c) within three months of tabling and (d) after three months of tabling. [106492]

The information is as follows:

Answered	Number
Within 2 weeks	1,302
Within 1 month	53
Within 3 months	1
After 3 months	0
Total	1,356

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many questions to his Department were tabled for written answer during session 1998–99; and how many of these he replied to (a) by means of a letter placed in the Library rather than by substantive answer in the Official Report,(b) by stating that a substantive answer could not be given due to information not being held centrally and (c) by stating that a substantive answer could not be given due to disproportionate cost. [106487]

The information can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many questions to his Department tabled for written answer on a named day during Session 1998–99 were answered (a) on or before a named day, (b) within one week of a named day, (c) within one month of a named day, (d) within three months of a named day and (e) after three months of a named day. [106481]

The information is as follows:

Answered	Number
On day	409
Within 1 week	483
Within 1 month	122
Within 3 months	9
After 3 months	0
Total	1,023

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if the credit rating of companies seeking to tender for services provided by his Department is checked before the contract is awarded. [107745]

Procedure in DTI, as recommended in the Department's Procurement Manual and based on HM Treasury procurement guidance, is that financial appraisal of potential suppliers is undertaken where (a) contracts have a value of up to £10,000 and are critical, novel or contentious; (b) contracts have a value of £10,000 or more. Qualified accountants are required to report on a company's published accounts where contract values exceed £95,000.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how often the credit rating of companies supplying services to his Department is checked. [107750]

Procedure in DTI, as recommended in the Department's Procurement Manual and based on HM Treasury procurement guidance, is that financial appraisal of suppliers is undertaken pre-award where contract values are £10,000 or more, or are otherwise critical, novel or contentious. Where contract duration is more than one year, checks on financial viability may be undertaken at regular intervals.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what impact the climate change levy will have on the profitability and competitiveness of the wood particleboard and wood fibreboard industry. [107939]

The Government's goal remains to design and implement the levy in a way which safeguards competitiveness while maximising its environmental benefits. The wood particleboard and fibreboard industry, together with other sectors, will benefit from the proposals announced by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer in his 9 November 1999 Pre-Budget Report, including: the lower overall rates of the levy; the exemptions for electricity generated from new forms of renewable energy and good quality combined heat and power plants; and the trebling of support for energy efficiency measures under the levy package.In addition, those wood particleboard and fibreboard industry sites that are covered by the Integrated Pollution Prevention Control Directive, as defined by reference to Part A of the Pollution Prevention and Control Regulation, will be eligible for an 80 per cent. discount from the levy if they sign up to a negotiated agreement to improve energy efficiency or deliver emissions reductions that meet the Government's criteria.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his answer of 8 December 1999, Official Report, column 572W, what restrictions were placed on contractors carrying out research projects funded by his Department in 1999 in respect of them discussing their findings with journalists (a) before and (b) after publication. [108190]

The Department's standard terms and conditions of contract for services, placed in the Library of the House as indicated in my answer of 2 February 2000, Official Report, column 604W, require a contractor to obtain consent in writing prior to communicating information obtained in the course of work performed under the contract. Where this contract term applies, it would cover discussion of findings with journalists both before and after publication. Where this Department funds research projects as grants rather than service contracts, a similar clause would be applied but only for the purpose of protecting confidential information. In such a case the written consent of the Department and all parties to the project would be required before release. In any event, as I indicated in my earlier answer, the Department actively encourages the publication of results from the research it has funded.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what restrictions have been placed on contractors carrying out research contracts funded by grants from the Research Councils during 1999 in respect of them discussing their findings with journalists (a) before and (b) after publication; and if he will place a copy of the standard research contract for each Research Council in the Library. [108188]

Each Research Council has its own terms and conditions that cover the actions of people and institutions in receipt of Research Council funds. None of them includes restrictions on discussing research findings with journalists either before or after publication. One of them, the Biotechnology and Biosciences Research Council (BBSRC), does request that grantholders notify them in advance of any media releases that refer to BBSRC funded research, so that they can, themselves, respond efficiently to any subsequent media inquiries. All Research Councils actively encourage grantholders to publish their research. They also advise them on the need to protect Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) and not to jeopardise its future exploitation. However, the management of IPR generated by grantholders, and any resulting restrictions on discussions with journalists, are a matter for the institution in which the research is conducted and not the Research Councils. Copies of each Research Council's research grant terms and conditions will be placed in the Library of the House shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what financial assistance his Department makes available to small businesses to convert equipment from imperial to metric measurement; and if he will make a statement. [108625]

None.Metrication has been under way in stages since 1965, with long lead-in times at each stage. In accordance with normal practice the Government do not generally provide financial assistance to business to meet the cost of legislative changes. These are taken into account by way of the Regulatory Impact Assessments when policy and lead-in times are formulated.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much official time was spent considering export licence application 6078 between the date of its submission and the date of its refusal. [108476]

The time spent on each export licence application varies according to a number of factors on which the assessment of the application is based. No record is kept within the Export Control Organisation of the amount of time afforded to each individual application. Export licence application 6078 was received on 21 September 1999 and refused on 24 January 2000.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the average length of time during the past 12 months between submission of applications for licences to export goods to Iran and decisions on those applications. [108478]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Portsmouth, South (Mr. Hancock) on 11 February 1999, Official Report, column 404W.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what has been the annual growth or decline of the United Kingdom textile and clothing industry in each of the last 10 years. [108691]

The information for the last 10 years is available in the following table:

Manufacture of textiles and textile products
Year	Index of production 1995 = 100	Year-on-year percentage change
1989	112.9	-2.8
1990	111.8	-1.0
1991	101.0	0.9
1993	101.3	-0.6
1994	103.6	2.3

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what steps his Department has taken to ensure that the public sector supports the United Kingdom clothing and textile industry and to make such support easily accessible; [108658](2) what assistance his Department gives to aid the development of the United Kingdom textile and clothing industry. [108663]

DTI provides a wide range of support to the UK's textile and clothing industry. The Department's Textile, Clothing and Footwear Unit is currently funding about 25 individual projects addressing aspects of the industry's competitiveness covering areas such as supply chain development, education and training, technical innovation, design and marketing.Other public bodies provide support for the industry in areas such as assistance for capital investment, vocational training, export promotion and research and development.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the effect of Government policies on the long-term performance and profitability of the United Kingdom textile and clothing industry since May 1997; and if he will make a statement. [108662]

The Government's first priority on coming to office was to secure long-term economic stability and put an end to the damaging cycle of boom and bust. The Government understand the concerns of businesses, including the textile and clothing sectors trading with Europe, about the pound. But short-term fixes would be the biggest threat of all to industry, creating the illusion of temporary relief followed by the reality of long-term damage.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the output was of the United Kingdom textile and clothing industry as a proportion of gross domestic product during 1998–99. [108657]

Value added of the UK textile and clothing industry represented 0.9 per cent. of Gross Domestic Product in 1998, the latest whole year for which data are available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what changes to the Link network charging structure require approval by the Office of Fair Trading; [108445](2) if he will use his powers under the Restrictive Trade Practices Act 1976 to prevent banks introducing surcharges for cash machine withdrawals. [108444]

I understand that the current LINK agreement is not registerable under the Restrictive Trade Practices Act 1976.From 1 March, any changes to the current LINK agreement will fall to be considered by the Director General of Fair Trading under the prohibitions of the Competition Act 1998.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received from the members of the Link network regarding the possible introduction of surcharges for cash machine withdrawals. [108443]

My Department has received representations on this subject from Barclays Bank, the Co-operative Bank, and the Nationwide Building Society.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans he has to alter the directions he has made to the National Lottery Commission under section 11 of the National Lottery etc. Act 1993, as amended. [109170]

I have removed the limit on the number of rollovers for any game forming part of the National Lottery from the National Lottery Commission' s current directions. The Commission has a statutory duty to protect the interests of players, and has been directed not to license any game that encourages excessive participation—this direction remains in force. The Commission will determine on a game-by-game basis whether there should be limits on the maximum number of rollovers—and, if so, what the limits should be—in the light of these duties.I have placed copies of the revised directions in the Libraries of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions his Department has had with the New Millennium Experience Company about ticket sales for the Millennium Dome for the first three months of 2000. [104896]

The Shareholder (The Lord Falconer of Thoroton), on behalf of the Government, of the New Millennium Experience Company has regular discussions with NMEC' s Chairman and Chief Executive on all matters concerning the Millennium Experience at the Dome, including ticket sales. Lord Falconer is supported in his role as shareholder by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport Millennium Unit, who have also been involved in these discussions. I understand it is NMEC's intention to release details of ticket sales for the first month of 2000 very soon.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) if he will list the criteria which determine how bonuses for executives of the Millennium Dome are calculated, indicating the extent to which such bonuses vary according to the performance of those individuals from 31 December 1999 onwards; [104531](2) if the operation of the opening ceremony of the Dome will be a material factor in determining whether the Chief Executive and Managing Director of the Millennium Dome qualify for maximum bonus payments. [104524]

[holding answer 13 January 2000]: The remuneration policy for the executive directors of NMEC's Board, including the Chief Executive and the Managing Director, are set out in the company's published Annual Reports and Accounts, as are their actual remuneration details for the year to which each set of Accounts refers. Performance bonuses are payable at the end of the individual's contract. No entitlement to the payment of the bonus accrues during the course of the contract. The quantum of any such bonus paid are matters for the Board of NMEC. The Board will take account of all aspects of the performance of the individuals concerned.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to his answer of 21 December 1999, Official Report, column 557W, what is the total number of free tickets provided to Dome sponsors. [104602]

[holding answer 13 January 2000]: There are no free tickets to sponsors. Tickets available to sponsors are part of the sponsorship contractual terms and are an integral part of the benefits sponsors receive in recognition of their financial support for the project. These arrangements are standard for sponsorships of major events. The number of tickets available to sponsors under these arrangements vary according to the level of contribution made by each sponsor. Since they are part and parcel of the sponsorship contract, details are commercially confidential under the confidentiality clauses applicable to both parties. Tickets available to sponsors under the terms of their contractual arrangements do not count towards NMEC's ticket sales and reservations numbers which stand at over one million to date.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what is his policy in respect of (a) the insertion of and (b) the activation of penalty clauses into contracts relating to (i) the construction and (ii) the operation of the Millennium Dome; if contracts have been issued without penalty clauses being so inserted; how many penalty clauses have been activated; how much has been levied in penalties under such clauses; and if he will make a statement. [104530]

[holding answer 13 January 2000]: All contractual arrangements for the construction and operation of the Dome are the responsibility of the New Millennium Experience Company. As regards construction contracts, NMEC has followed best industry practice throughout and in all cases has included performance, breach of contract and termination provisions. In order to ensure achievement of immovable target dates, NMEC has worked with its contractors to create an environment which has ensured that all key targets were met. As a result none of the construction contracts have been terminated on breach of contract grounds and all issues of performance were resolved through constructive negotiation in a spirit of teamwork. The operation of the Dome is an in-house responsibility and NMEC directly employs the host staff. Contracts with suppliers of goods and services including security, waste management and catering all follow industry best practice and include performance, breach of contract and termination provisions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans he has to increase visitor numbers at the Dome. [104436]

[holding answer 13 January 2000]: The New Millennium Experience Company is responsible for all aspects of the Dome's operation including visitor numbers. The Government are confident that NMEC will increase visitor numbers as the year moves on. The winter months are always the most difficult for those visitor attractions which remain open through the year and the first months of operation at the Dome were always going to be a challenge both in respect of the industry's normal trends and because inevitable teething problems would need to be addressed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will publish the contracts between NMEC and the sponsors of the Dome. [104431]