To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what support the Government gives to the work of the East-West Detox organisation in combating heroin addiction; and if she will make a statement. [108586]

The commissioning of services for drug misusers is essentially a matter for local agencies. The East-West Detox organisation receives no financial support from the Berkshire Health Authority. Health authorities and local authorities will receive an extra £70.5 million from 1999 to 2002 to commission and develop drug treatment services. The Government believe that a range of treatments should be available to allow drug misusers to benefit from those most appropriate to their needs and abstinence should be the primary aim of treatment.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was his Department's financial contribution to (a) the International Criminal Tribunal on Yugoslavia and (b) the International Criminal Tribunal on Rwanda, in each year since these bodies were established. [107424]

The International Criminal Tribunals for Rwanda (ICTR) and the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) are funded by a combination of assessed contributions by UN member states and voluntary contributions. UK contributions are as follows:

ICTY
Year
UN assessed (US$)
1995	1.1 million
1996	855,703
1997	1.2 million
1998	2.6 million
1999	5.1 million
Voluntary contributions (£)
1995	258,400
1996	206,500
1997	500,000
1998	1.44 million
19991	204,500
1 Not final

ICTR
Year
UN assessed (US$)
1995	340,000
1996	685,108
1997	637,666
1998	2.8 million
1999	3.5 million
Voluntary contributions (£)
1996	138,000
1997	56,000
1998	45,500
1999	185,000

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has received concerning the sea shipment of plutonium MOX fuels and radioactive wastes from the United Kingdom to Japan from countries on the shipment route. [108693]

To date, we have received representations from the Governments of New Zealand, the Republic of Korea and the Commonwealth Caribbean countries, as well as the Fijian-based Pacific Concerns Resources Centre Inc.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he held with the President of Indonesia during his visit to London about the loss of Indonesia's forest resource; and if he will make a statement. [108152]

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Development discussed the question of illegal logging with President Wahid during his recent visit to the UK.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what meetings Her Majesty's Government (a) hosted and (b) arranged for Indonesia's Forestry Minister during his recent visit to London. [108153]

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Development called on President Wahid during his recent visit to the UK. The Indonesian Minister for Forestry and Plantation was present at the call.

To ask the Prime Minister how much his Office spent in total on extra bonuses above usual payments for staff working over the new year period; what were the (a) maximum and (b) minimum bonuses paid; how many people received the (i) maximum and (ii) minimum payment; and if he will make a statement. [104475]

The Cabinet Office, which for the purpose of this answer includes No.10, and the Government Millennium Centre have paid 53 millennium bonuses and will pay 26 special bonuses at a cost of £20,750.

	Millennium bonus	Special bonus
Maximum	£150	£750
Received by	19 staff	8 staff
Minimum	£100	£250
Received by	34 staff	1 staff

Millennium bonuses were paid to staff working for a minimum of six hours between 9 pm Friday 31 December and 9 am Saturday 1 January 2000.Special bonuses have been awarded to staff in recognition of the exceptional contribution they made throughout the preceding two years ensuring that any possible detrimental effects of the date change were identified and resolved before 1 January 2000.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the items in the National Assets Register sold by his Office, its agencies and associated public bodies since 22 February 1999, stating in each case the amount of money realised; if he will estimate the total amount raised from such sales to date; and if he will make a statement. [104680]

For the purpose of this question, this answer includes my Office and the Cabinet Office and its agencies.IT equipment, and vehicles in the fleet of the Government Car and Despatch Agency, are routinely replaced at the end of their useful life. The old equipment and vehicles are sold where it is appropriate and economic to do so.In addition to these replacement programmes, the Cabinet Office has sold a surplus property, Alencon Link in Basingstoke, for £1.3 million. A payment of £1.25 million has also been received, representing deferred sale proceeds following the privatisation of Chessington Computer Centre.

To ask the Prime Minister for what reason it is established practice not to disclose the titles of internal histories which are planned or in progress. [106161]

Decisions about the publication of information about internal Departmental histories are a matter for the Department concerned. It is not uncommon for such histories, or for projects in the Official Histories programme, to contain classified information or for their subject-matter to evolve as work proceeds. Publication of the studies and information about them is therefore better decided when studies are completed and can be assessed.

To ask the Prime Minister on how many occasions each Cabinet Committee has met in the past year. [107829]

It is established practice under section 2 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information not to disclose information relating to proceedings of Cabinet Committees.

To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 1 February 2000, Official Report, column 545W, what assessment he has made of the compatibility between the United Kingdom's obligations to the Council of Europe and under other international undertakings and the United Kingdom Privy Council presiding over appeals in cases where the death sentence has been imposed following conviction in the High Court of an independent Commonwealth jurisdiction; and if he will make a statement. [108672]

In the cases mentioned by my hon. Friend, the Privy Council is acting as part of the judicial structure of the independent state concerned, and not of the United Kingdom. There is no incompatibility with any of the United Kingdom's international obligations including those under Council of Europe instruments. Nevertheless, as I have made clear, the Government actively oppose the use of the death penalty by all states, including those from whose courts there is a right of appeal to the Privy Council.

To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 1 February 2000, Official Report, columns 544–45W, on the Privy Council, if the Queen appoints any judges or members of the United Kingdom's Privy Council on the recommendation of her Ministers from countries other than the United Kingdom. [108675]

Yes. It is, of course, not the United Kingdom Privy Council as such. Membership is also accorded to eminent people in some independent countries of the Commonwealth, of which Her Majesty is Queen.

To ask the Prime Minister on how many occasions he has met Baroness Thatcher for discussions in the course of his official duties since 1 May 1997; and if he will make a statement. [108580]

I have meetings with a wide range of individuals and organisations.

To ask the Prime Minister how many letters he has received since 1 May 1997 on (a) constituency matters and (b) other matters of Government policy from each of those Members of the House who have not taken the Oath of Allegiance. [108961]

In accordance with convention, correspondence received by Departments from hon. Members is treated in confidence.

To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 17 January 2000, Official Report, columns 267–68W, concerning the drafting of the draft Charter of Fundamental Rights in the European Union, if he will (a) place in the Library a copy of the letter he has sent to the two Chairmen of the Scrutiny Committees and (b) publish in the Official Report the names of organisations with which meetings have taken place, or correspondence has been conducted, and place copies of the correspondence in the Library. [108732]

A copy of the letters from the Minister of State for Europe in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, my hon. Friend the Member for Leicester, East (Mr. Vaz) to the Scrutiny Committees have been deposited in the Libraries of both Houses. The Government will continue to have meetings with a wide range of individuals and organisations. These exchanges will be made public where appropriate.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will publish the Government's response to (a) the proposals made by the Commission for the forthcoming intergovernmental conference and (b) documents submitted for that Conference by the European Union Institutions, member states and candidate states. [108734]

The Government's position on all the issues likely to be raised at the intergovernmental conference will be set out in a White Paper to be published shortly.

To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answers of 20 January 2000, Official Report, column 538W, and 1 February 2000, Official Report, column 544W, if he will place a synopsis of Mr. Liddle's speech in the Library. [108817]

No.

To ask the Prime Minister what was the total cost to public funds of his attendance at the World Economic Forum at Davos. [108228]

[holding answer 4 February 2000]: Not all bills have been received. However, the total cost to public funds of my attendance at the World Economic Forum is likely to be approximately £9,900.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will list which Ministers of the Governments of (a) Austria, (b) Belgium, (c) Denmark, (d) Finland, (e) France, (f) Germany, (g) Greece, (h) Ireland, (i) Italy, (j) Luxembourg, (k) the Netherlands, (1) Portugal, (m) Spain and (n) Sweden he has met since 1 August 1999 and the date on which he met them. [108867]

I have met all EU Heads of State and some Ministers in multilateral fora since August. I have also held official discussions with the Prime Minister of Belgium on 30 November, the Prime Minister of Finland on 6 October and 30 November, the Greek Minister for Development on 13 December, the Prime Minister of Italy on 20 November and the Prime Minister of Portugal on 29 November and 6 January. I also met the French President, Prime Minister, Foreign Minister and Minister for Europe at the UK/French Summit on 25 November. There have been numerous meetings with the Taoiseach of Ireland in multilateral and bilateral fora. Most recently I had substantive discussions with him on 17 December and 3 February.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the status of Japanese contracts with the new Sellafield MOX plant. [106713]

[holding answer 2 February 2000]: Details of BNFL's contracts with their customers for the Sellafield MOX Plant are commercially confidential. BNFL will continue to pursue Mixed Oxide (MOX) fuel business in Japan, where the company is making major efforts to rebuild confidence.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if export credit for vessels designed for protection of a nation's maritime boundaries is treated by the Export Credits Guarantee Department as unproductive expenditure within the meaning used to define those credits which the Department refuses to guarantee. [108480]

As the hon. Member knows, my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced on 11 January a unilateral UK ban on export credits in respect of "unproductive expenditure" to 63 of the world's poorest countries.Projects supported in future on these countries should be measured against the following indicative criteria:

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the impact on jobs in the electricity industry of the cap on electricity distribution prices by the regulator; and if he will make a statement. [108975]

Decisions on the form and level of electricity price controls are a matter for the Director General of Gas and Electricity Markets. It is for the companies to decide how to meet the efficiency targets they have been set.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to encourage British trade development and promotion abroad. [108507]

I want an ever-growing number of firms to benefit from British Trade International, the new unified operation, which brings together DTI and FCO responsibilities for trade development and promotion. Support for exporters is part of the Government's programme, with business, to improve Britain's competitiveness. The National Strategy for International Trade Development and Promotion, published on 29 October 1999, demonstrates the exciting direction in which the new organisation is moving.Copies of the Strategy have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent representations he has received from the paper industry about the consequences of the recent strength of the pound. [108230]

None.Government clearly understand the concerns of businesses, particularly manufacturers in the paper industry and elsewhere trading within Europe, about the level of the pound. But we are determined to take a long-term view; it would be wrong to let short-term pressures lead back to policies which produced boom and bust in the past. 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. The Government's economic policies are aimed at achieving sustained growth.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he intends to publish draft guidance under Clauses 9, 13 and 90 of the Utilities Bill. [109176]

The Government have today published preliminary drafts of the social and environmental guidance to the energy and telecoms regulators provided for under Clauses 9, 13 and 90 of the Utilities Bill. Copies of these drafts have been placed in the Libraries of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many letters he has received since 1 May 1997 on (a) constituency matters and (b) other matters of Government policy from each of those Members of the House who have not taken the Oath of Allegiance. [108397]

[holding answer 3 February 2000]: Correspondence with Members of the House is treated in confidence unless the originating Member chooses to make it public.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate he has made of (a) the cost per ton and (b) the total cost of supply in coal to retired miners from the cheapest foreign source. [107949].

I have not made such an estimate because I do not expect retired miners to be supplied with imported coal.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the size of the insurance liability fund set aside to underwrite accidents at United Kingdom nuclear facilities; what authority manages the fund; and if any part of the fund is invested. [108681]

Under the Nuclear Installations Act 1965, the operators of nuclear facilities in the UK are required to hold third party liability insurance to cover up to £140 million of damage resulting from accidents in nuclear installations. In the event of a severe nuclear accident in the UK, supplementary compensation would be made available in addition to this under the Brussels Convention Supplementary to the Paris Convention, providing an amount of compensation totalling £300 million Special Drawing Rights of the IMF. We are currently considering substantial increases in the amount of compensation available under the Act.Insurance arrangements must be approved by the Secretary of State; operators without a Government indemnity purchase insurance from private sector insurers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he has taken to ensure fair competition between the United Kingdom's textile and clothing industry and that of competitor nations. [108661]

As with other industries, the Government seek to promote fair competition between the United Kingdom and other textile and clothing industries through a wide range of national, European Union and international action.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) if he will ensure that the appointee to the Chair of the Agriculture and Environment Biotechnology Commission has had scientific training; [108090](2) why the position of Chair of the Agriculture and Environment Biotechnology Commission was re-advertised; [108089](3) when he will appoint the Chair of the Agriculture and Environment Biotechnology Commission. [108088]

I have been asked to reply because the Agriculture and Environment Biotechnology Commission will report to me.The position of Chair of the Commission was re-advertised in order that we may choose from a wider range of candidates. Scientific training is not a prerequisite, but the person we are looking for must be able to understand what scientists are saying and to explain it clearly and simply in public. The appointment will be made as soon as possible.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he has made a decision about whether the UK should become a signatory to the UNIDROIT convention on the international return of stolen or illegally exported cultural objects. [109245]

After a lengthy inter-departmental consultation, I have concluded that the UK should not become a signatory to the UNIDROIT convention due to conflicts with our current law. In order to implement the convention, changes to our limitation periods and to our personal property law would be required, resulting in a special regime for cultural objects and arguably a less generous position for original rightful owners of objects which are later stolen. I will, however, be considering the possible options for an alternative legislative approach which would share some of the objectives of the UNIDROIT Convention.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will list, for each of the last five years, total public funding in (a) cash and (b) current prices for (i) the West Yorkshire Playhouse and (ii) regional theatres in West Yorkshire. [108211]

Grant-in-aid allocated by Yorkshire Arts to the West Yorkshire Playhouse, Wakefield Theatre Royal and Lawrence Batley Theatre is shown in the table.

£
Funding	1998–99	1997–98	1996–97	1995–96	1994–95
West Yorkshire Playhouse
Cash	840,800	840,750	840,750	840,750	790,800
Real terms	840,800	868,185	892,601	921,349	891,655
Wakefield Theatre Royal
Cash	35,000	29,500	25,000	12,000	8,000
Real terms	35,000	30,463	26,542	13,150	9,020
Lawrence Batley Theatre
Cash	35,000	29,500	28,000	20,000	—
Real terms	35,000	30,463	29,726	21,917	—

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the effect of the Child Protection Act 1999 on coaching within children's sport. [106116]

The main effect of the Child Protection Act 1999 on coaching has been to raise awareness of the issues that need to be addressed by sport in this area. Sport England has established the Child Protection in Sport Task Force involving the National Coaching Foundation (NCF), the National Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC), the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), the Local Government Association (LGA) and the Central Council for Physical Recreation (CCPR). The Task Force is working on a cross-sport action plan and met recently to discuss how best to take this forward.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans he has to issue guidelines to the sports bodies responsible for coaching on best practice following enactment of the Child Protection Act 1999. [106115]

There is already a great deal of guidance available to sports bodies and coaches in this area. The National Coaching Foundation (NCF) have been working with the National Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) in looking at guidelines since 1996. NCF Child Protection resources include the following:

Protecting Children (1998)

Protecting Disabled Children and Adults (1999)—Disability Sport England)

Code of Ethics and Conduct for Sports Coaches

Guidelines in Child Protection Policy and Implementation "Safe and Sound" leaflet (1999)

As well as publications and resources targeted specifically at coaches, the NCF also offers consultancy, workshops for coaches, officials and volunteers in sport.The Child Protection in Sport Task Force established by Sport England will also be producing cross-sport action plan on child protection and sport.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if the statement in paragraph 5 of his Memorandum, Cm 4258, dated February 1999, that the review will not reconsider the current five-year formula for the level of the income fee until 2002, remains the policy of Her Majesty's Government. [108453]

[holding answer 4 February 2000]: Although the formula was not included in the terms of reference, the independent review panel, chaired by Gavyn Davies, did consider the possibility of reopening the five-year formula and, in reaching our decisions, we are taking account of the panel's views on this.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport to which existing lottery funds and which planned lottery programmes an application should be made for funding for dedicated premises for a pre-school group. [108448]

[holding answer 4 February 2000]: An application for funding for dedicated premises for a pre-school group can be considered by the National Lottery Charities Board, provided the group is a charitable, philanthropic or benevolent body. The project may also be eligible for funding from other Lottery distributors, depending on its nature.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions he has had with the DfEE about using national sporting standards of achievements to develop school sport. [107968]

[holding answer 3 February 2000]: My Department has regular discussions with the Department for Education and Employment (DfEE) about a whole range of issues including the Sportsmark and Activemark recognition awards for secondary and primary schools.The recent appointment of Sue Campbell on secondment from the Youth Sport Trust will help to strengthen these links and build good practice between DCMS and DfEE on a number of issues relating to sport and physical education, including national sporting standards of achievement.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many reportable injuries there were in 1998–99 as a result of driving accidents caused while at work. [107659]

Data specifically referring to "drivers at work" are not currently reported as part of the national injury road accidents survey. However, data on heavy goods vehicles and buses and coaches are recorded and the driver casualty data are shown in the table.

HGV and bus/coach driver casualties1by severity: GB 1998
Severity	Buses	Lorries
Fatal	1	52
Serious	68	430
Slight	838	2,462
All	907	2,944
1 Not necessarily incurred "at work"

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 27 January 2000, Official Report, column 278W, on driving licences, (a) when the more flexible arrangement to assist driving licence applicants will be announced and (b) how the arrangement will be publicised to applicants. [108069]

The new arrangements are still under consideration. I hope to be able to provide further details very shortly. Officials will discuss the appropriate publicity arrangements with the Immigration and Nationality Directorate once agreement has been reached on the way forward.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what change there has been in (a) rail freight usage and (b) heavy goods vehicle movements since 1 May 1997. [107863]

The changes in tonnes moved (billion tonne-kilometres) in Great Britain are as given in the table:

	Rail	HGVs1
Q2 1997	4.1	39.0
Q3 19992	4.5	37.2
Percentage change	+9	-5
1 GB registered vehicles over 3.5 tonnes gross vehicle weight
2 Provisional figures

Monthly figures are not available. The question has therefore been answered by taking the second quarter of 1997 as a base for the comparison.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps he has taken to ensure that modifications to Directive 90/220 (Deliberate Release of Genetically Modified Organisms) do not suppress technological developments in developing countries. [108092]

The purpose of Directive 90/220/EEC is to protect human health and the environment against any adverse effects which might arise from the deliberate release or placing on the market of genetically modified organisms.The Common Position on the revision of the Directive agreed by the Council on 9 December 1999 continues to reflect this purpose while increasing the efficiency and transparency of the decision making process under the Directive. It does not affect the operation of the Directive with regard to the technological developments in developing countries.However, such countries which are without domestic legislation relating to the import of genetically modified organisms will in the future be able to decide, on the basis of a specific risk assessment, whether to accept the import of genetically modified organisms. Provisions to do this are included in the United Nations Environment Programme Biosafety Protocol to the Convention on Biological Diversity, adopted on 29 January.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many proposals for non-statutory quiet lanes have been included in provisional Local Transport Plans. [108208]

Authorities were encouraged to identify broad programmes rather than specific schemes in their Local Transport Plans. Accordingly, authorities looking to establish quiet lanes would not necessarily refer to specific proposals in their plans and our assessment has not attempted to identify the number of such proposals across the country.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many non-statutory quiet lanes had been introduced by 1 December in England. [108316]

This information is not held centrally. The quiet roads concept, being promoted by the Countryside Agency, is supported by my Department. Pilot quiet roads schemes in Norfolk and Kent are under consideration and are due to be implemented over the next few months, with one in Devon later on this year. My Department is assisting in the pre-implementation, monitoring surveys, currently being undertaken in Norfolk and Kent.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what recent surveys the Government have undertaken concerning intimidation of walkers, cyclists and horse-riders by fast-moving traffic. [108207]

The Government commission a wide range of research into traffic speed and road safety. Some of the studies include surveys of road users on the problems they experience, including seeking their views about fast moving traffic. As part of the monitoring of the Quiet Lanes project promoted by the Countryside Agency, my Department has commissioned the Transport Research Laboratory to conduct telephone and roadside surveys of equestrians, pedestrians and cyclists. One of the questions to be asked is how much they are bothered by fast moving traffic. The surveys are due to take place in the Norfolk Quiet Lane area at the end of February and in the Kent Quiet Lane area in March.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what guidance has been given to district auditors about requiring local authorities to make preparations for (a) new local government structures and (b) the euro. [108282]

The Audit Commission provides auditors it has appointed with a wide range of guidance about the implications, for their audit, of changes which affect local authorities. Such changes include local authority preparations for new local government structures and the euro.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what estimate he has made of the number of commuters who were affected by the Connex rail strike on Tuesday 25 January; [108369](2) how many of the Connex trains that ran on Tuesday 25 January were delayed; [108368](3) how many Connex train services were cancelled on Tuesday 25 January; and how many Connex trains ran on that day. [108381]

On a normal weekday Connex run approximately 3,500 trains. On 25 January they planned to run 449 trains under an emergency timetable, but actually ran 697. Due to the way in which the emergency timetable was devised it is not possible to state how many of the trains which ran were delayed. Most of the 200,000 commuters who use Connex services were affected to a greater or lesser extent.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when the Franchising Director will announce the successful bid under the Rail Passenger Partnership Scheme. [108777]

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 24 January 2000, Official Report, columns, 132–33W.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will publish the criteria by which the British Railways Board decides on the sale of land. [108465]

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave on 17 January 2000, Official Report, column 253W.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the assets for which the British Railways Board has responsibility. [108467]

Following privatisation of the railways, the British Railways Board remains responsible primarily for the British Transport Police, residual property and certain residual liabilities.At 31 March 1999 tangible assets on the balance sheet totalled £32.0 million comprising buildings (£25.0 million), plant and equipment (£6.7 million) and investments (£0.3 million). Non-operational property totalling £103.6 million was held in current assets.In addition, the Board remains responsible for some 5,000 isolated engineering structures such as bridges, viaducts and tunnels.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the contacts which his Department had with the British Railways Board over the last 12 months; and what was the content of each contact. [108466]

Ministers and officials in my Department have had numerous contacts with the British Railways Board (BRB) and the shadow Strategic Rail Authority (SSRA) (of which the BRB now forms part) covering a range of issues including advice to Ministers.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what applications for areas to become a parish or town council are outstanding. [108395]

The table shows the principal local authorities that have submitted recommendations to the Secretary of State for new parishes, either as a result of a review of parish arrangements in their area, or following receipt of a petition for a new parish, which are outstanding.

Outstanding local authority recommendations submitted to the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions for the creation of parishes in their area, either as a result of a review or a petition
Principal authority	Area(s) of proposed new parish/parishes
East Northamptonshire District Council	Stanwick
	Rushden
East Staffordshire District Council	Stapenhill
	Waterside and Edgehill
	Winshill
	Uxbridge and Broadway
	Victoria and Snobhall
	Horninglow and Eton
	Burton
Harlow District Council	Church Langley
High Peak Borough Council	Glossop
	Chapel-en-le-Frith
Kettering District Council	Barton Seagrave

Local authorities that have since 1997 submitted recommendations to the Secretary of State for the Enviroment, Transport and the Regions for the creation of new parishes within their area, either as a result of review or petition
Principal Authority	Area(s) which applied for parish status	Outcome
1997–98
Isle of Wight	East Cowes	1 new parish created
New parishes constituted on 1 April 1998		1
1998–99
Colchester Borough Council	Myland	1 new parish created
East Hampshire District Council	Beech	1 new parish created
East Lindsey District Council	Saltfleetby	1 new parish created
East Riding of Yorkshire Council	Beverley
	Cottingham	2 new parishes created
Forest Heath District Council	Beck Row
	Kenny Hill
	Exning	4 new parishes created
	Newmarket
Hartlepool Borough Council	Headland	1 new parish created
Leeds City Council	Allerton Bywater
	Horsforth	2 new parishes created
Lewes District Council	Seaford	1 new parish created
Maidstone Borough Council	Collier Street	1 new parish created
New Forest District Council	Godshill	1 new parish created
Portsmouth City Council	Southsea	1 new parish created
Scarborough Borough Council	Eastfield	1 new parish created
Tameside Metropolitan Council	Mossley	1 new parish created
Tonbridge and Mailing Borough Council	Kings Hill	1 new parish created
West Lancashire District Council	Hilldale	1 new parish created
New parishes constituted on 1 April 1999
1999–2000
Birmingham City Council	New Frankley in Birmingham	1 new parish created
Bradford City Council	Haworth, Cross Roads and Stanbury	1 new parish created
Braintree District Council	Great Notley	1 new parish created
Cannock Chase District Council	Hednesford	1 new parish created
Cherwell District Council	Banbury	1 new parish created
Cotswold District Council	Upper Rissington	1 new parish created
County of Herefordshire District Council	Belmont Rural
	Hereford	2 new parishes created

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the areas that have applied to become a parish or town council in each of the last three years; and what was the outcome of each application. [108396]

The list shows the principal local authorities that have submitted recommendations to the Secretary of State for new parishes, either as a result of a review of parish arrangements in their area, or following receipt of a petition for a new parish.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps he is taking to ensure that no parties to the examination in public of amendments to the Swindon and Wiltshire structure plan exert undue influence on the proceedings. [108154]

The panel of the examination in public which was held last year was appointed by the Secretary of State and is independent of any parties interested in the plan. Examinations in public are carried out in accordance with well-known procedures in a strictly impartial and open manner.It is the responsibility of the relevant local authorities to ensure that the process of preparing structure plans is carried out fairly and is consistent with national Planning Policy Guidance.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he has received regarding the extent of influence by developers on the examination in public of the amendments to the Swindon and Wiltshire structure plan. [108155]

None.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he will respond to the hon. Member for Mid-Worcestershire's request for a meeting with the Minister for Transport to discuss the criteria used by his Department to assess bids for local bypasses. [109007]

I replied to the hon. Member on 4 February.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the distribution of the National Bus Company Pension Fund settlement. [109056]

The Government reached a settlement with the Trustees of the NBC Pension Fund in July last year. Responsibility for deciding on, and implementing, the distribution of the settlement now rests entirely with the NBC pension trustees who are independent of the Government. However, I have written to the Trustees to express my deep concern about the time it is taking to resolve this issue. I understand that the Trustees intend to make initial payments to some 8,000 older pensioners in March and April. They are urgently investigating the feasibility of making an initial payment to other pensioners as soon as possible.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what proposals he has to amend his Departmental Expenditure Limits and running costs limits for 1999–2000. [109270]

Subject to Parliamentary approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimates for Class III, Votes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10 and 11, the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions' Departmental Expenditure Limits for 1999–2000 will change as follows. All references to the take-up of end-year flexibility refer to the Chief Secretary to the Treasury's announcement of 27 July 1999, Official Report, column 393W.(a) The DETR Main Programmes Departmental Expenditure Limit will be increased by £168,685,000 from £10,235,305,000 to £10,403,990,000. This increase reflects the net impact of a take-up of end-year flexibility of £66,168,000; net transfers into the DETR Main Programmes Departmental Expenditure Limit of £27,517,000 and a call on the DEL Reserve of £75,000,000. The changes are set out in greater detail below.(i) The changes for Class III, Vote 1 are as follows: £304,000 will be transferred to the Housing Corporation from Class XII, Vote 3 (Department of Social Security, administration) for homelessness administration costs previously carried by that department's Resettlement Unit; and the take-up of end-year flexibility of £689,000 for support to local authorities for Estate Renewal Challenge Fund projects. Transfers will be made of £1,500,000 to Class IV, Vote 1 (Home Office administration, police, probation, immigration and other services, England and Wales) for Youth Inclusion Programme spending by the Youth Justice Board; £155,000 to Class II, Vote I (Department of Health, Hospital, community health, family and related services, England) for health authority costs incurred in respect of the Rough Sleepers Unit Victoria pilot project; and £2,000,000 to Class III, Vote 4 (Local government, England) for Audit Commission 'Best Value in Housing' inspection work. There will also be inter-vote transfers of £4,504,000 to Class III, Vote 7 (Other executive agencies) for The Rent Service Executive Agency; £750,000 to Class III, Vote 5 (Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions: administration) out of departmental running costs held on this vote; and transfers from the non-voted element of the DETR Main Programmes Departmental Expenditure Limit of £1,000,000 for capital projects by the Housing Corporation and £300,000 for grant in aid to Regional Development Agencies in respect of Derelict Land Grant.(ii) The changes for Class III, Vote 2 are as follows: a transfer of £113,000 to Class XIV, Vote 1 (Welsh Office, Office of the Secretary of State for Wales and payments to the National Assembly for Wales) for a travel awareness campaign; an increase of £1,830,000 in respect of the re-classification as expenditure within the DETR Main Programmes Departmental Expenditure Limit of Licence fee refunds to goods vehicle and public service vehicle operators and drivers; and a net increase of £1,000 for revised forecasts of expenditure and receipts associated with the Statistics, censuses and surveys programme. There will also be an inter-vote transfer of £500,000 to Class III, Vote 6 (Transport industries) for the start-up costs of London minicab licensing.(iii) The changes for Class III Vote 3 are as follows: the take-up of end-year flexibility of £2,441,000 for the Energy Saving Trust's work on the Powershift Project (£300,000); for costs incurred on sustainable goods and services initiatives following the wind-up of the UK Ecolabelling Board (£118,000); to meet additional obligations under international environmental treaties (£333,000); for grant in aid payments to British Waterways (£340,000); for the Home Energy Efficiency Scheme (£1,350,000); a transfer of £335,000 to Class XIII, Vote 1 (Scotland and transfers to the Scottish Consolidated Fund) and of £150,000 to Class XIV, Vote 1 (Welsh Office, Office of the Secretary of State for Wales and payments to the National Assembly for Wales) for environmental publicity work. In addition there are increases of grant in aid to the Environment Agency of £2,303,000 funded by a transfer from the non-Voted element of DETR Main Programmes Departmental Expenditure Limit; and a transfer of £1,655,000 from the non-Voted element of DETR Main Programmes Departmental Expenditure Limit and a transfer from the DETR Departmental Unallocated Provision of £900,000 for the Home Energy Efficiency Scheme.(iv) The changes for Class III, Vote 5 are as follows: take-up of £1,000,000 gross running cost and £3,500,000 other current provision from end-year flexibility entitlement for the Health and Safety Commission grant in aid; a transfer to Class XI, Vote 1 (Department for Culture, Media and Sport: programme expenditure and administration) of £592,000 gross running cost provision for the management and maintenance costs of Marlborough House; a transfer to Class XIV, Vote 1 (Welsh Office, Office of the Secretary of State for Wales and payments to the National Assembly for Wales) of £50,000 gross running cost provision in respect of publicity costs for energy conservation; a transfer to Class II, Vote 2 (Department of Health administration, miscellaneous health and personal social services, England) of £60,000 gross running cost provision towards the cost of the Teenage Pregnancy Unit; a transfer to Class X, Vote 2 (Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food) of £107,000 for minor occupier costs; and a transfer to Class III, Vote 4 (Local government, England) on the DETR Local Government Departmental Expenditure Limit of provision from gross running costs of £100,000 and other current of £350,000 for mapping costs. There will also be inter-vote transfers within the DETR gross running cost limit of provision from Class III, Vote 1 (Housing, construction, regeneration, regional policy, and countryside and wildlife, England) of £750,000, Class III, Vote 7 (Other executive agencies) of £8,500,000, and from Class III, Vote 8 (Highways Agency) of £3,500,000; and a transfer to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency on Class III, Vote 7 (Other executive agencies) of £44,000 gross running cost provision towards the salary and travel costs of an agency employee. Gross running cost provision and appropriations in aid provision have also both been increased; by £3,250,000 for increased expenditure and the subsequent recovery of VAT on contracted out services; and by £700,000 for the rent and other associated costs paid by the Greater London Authority Implementation Team in respect of Romney House.(v) The changes for Class III, Vote 6 are as follows: an agreed claim on the Reserve of £75,000,000 for London Transport; a transfer of £35,000,000 from Class XIII, Vote 1 (Scotland and transfers to the Scottish Consolidated Fund) in respect of Bus Fuel Duty rebates; a transfer of £6,000,000 from the non-Voted element of the DETR Local Government Departmental Expenditure Limit in respect of the Docklands Light Railway; a transfer of £2,600,000 to the Office of the Rail Regulator Departmental Expenditure Limit (Class III, Vote 11); and the take-up of £17,600,000 end-year flexibility by Docklands Light Railway (£12,000,000), Civil Aviation Services (£3,000,000) and London Transport (£2,600,000). There will also be inter-vote transfers of: £500,000 from Class III, Vote 2 (Planning, roads, local transport and vehicle safety) in respect of Minicab licensing start-up costs; £59,000 to Class III, Vote 7 (Other executive agencies). In addition to these changes Voted DEL provision for London Transport and British Rail will increase by £1,050,000 and £19,600,000 respectively, offset by equivalent decreases in the non-Voted DETR Main Programmes Departmental Expenditure Limit associated with Vote 6.(vi) The changes to Class III, Vote 7 are as follows: a transfer of £93,000 from Class X, Vote 2 (Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food); to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency for engine testing on fishing vessels and the take-up of end-year flexibility of £10,061,000 for: the Maritime and Coastguard Agency for stationing an additional emergency towing vessel in the Fair Isle (£561,000); to offset a shortfall arising as a consequence of the revaluation of the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre Trading Fund Executive Agency (£8,500,000); a loan to the Vehicle Inspectorate to enable them to cover investment costs arising from revised rules relating to single vehicle approvals (£1,000,000); There will also be inter-vote transfers of: £44,000 from Class III, Vote 5 (Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions: administration) to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency to cover half of the salary and travel costs of a shared employee who works primarily at the International Maritime Organisation; £59,000 from Class III, Vote 6 (Transport industries) to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency to cover expenditure for Formal Safety Assessment for Bulk Carriers; £4,504,000 from Class III, Vote 1 (Housing, construction, regeneration, regional policy, and countryside and wildlife, England) to the Rent Service Executive Agency for the development of new IT systems; £8,500,000 gross running cost provision to Class III, Vote 5 (Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions: administration); and £1,500,000 from the DETR Departmental Unallocated Provision to the Planning Inspectorate to cover a receipts shortfall.(vii) The change for Class III, Vote 8 is a reduction of £3,500,000 to reflect a transfer of running costs provision to Class III, Vote 5 (Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions: administration).(viii) The change for Class III Vote 9 is the take-up of £14,520,000 end-year flexibility to cover the cost of introducing Graduated VED.(ix) The change for Class III, Vote 10 is a token increase of £1,000 to allow an increase in gross expenditure, to be offset by the Appropriation in Aid of additional receipts, to reflect the performance of the Train Operating Companies.(x) As a consequence of the changes to Class III, Votes 1,5,7,8 and 9 the DETR gross running cost limit has been increased by £21,874,000 from £649,195,000 to £671,069,000. These changes total; £750,000 reduction for Rent Assessment Panels (Class III, Vote 1): £9,969,000 increase for Central Administration, £1,209,000 increase for Government Offices in the Regions and £726,000 increase for PSA Services (all Class III, Vote 5); £353,000 increase for the Marine Coastguard Executive Agency, £250,000 reduction for the Planning Inspectorate Executive Agency and £8,500,000 reduction for the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre (all Class III, Vote 7); £3,500,000 reduction for the Highways Executive Agency (Class III, Vote 8); and £22,617,000 increase for the Driver Vehicle Licensing Executive Agency (Class III, Vote 9). The Health and Safety Executive gross running cost limit has been increased by £1,000,000 from £169,898,000 to £170,898,000.(xi) Provision within the non-Voted element of the DETR Main Programmes Departmental Expenditure Limit will be decreased by £19,551,000 from £1,716,805,000 to £1,697,254,000. This reflects a transfer of: £1,300,000 to Class III, Vote 1 (Housing, construction, regeneration, regional policy, and countryside and wildlife, England) for capital projects by the Housing Corporation and grant in aid to Regional Development Agencies; £3,958,000 to Class III Vote 3 (Environmental protection and water) for the Home Energy Efficiency Scheme and grant in aid to the Environment Agency; £20,650,000 to Class III, Vote 6 (Transport industries) for London Transport and British Rail. It also includes transfers from the DETR Departmental Unallocated Provision of £900,000 to Class III, Vote 3 (Environmental protection and water) for the Home Energy Efficiency Scheme; £1,500,000 to Class III, Vote 7 (Other executive agencies) for the Planning Inspectorate; and £7,600,000 to Class III Vote 4 (Local government, England) on the DETR Local Government Departmental Expenditure Limit for preparation costs of the Greater London Authority and associated bodies. Non-voted provision will be increased by the take-up of end-year flexibility of £15,848,000 for National Air Traffic Services and £509,000 for the Civil Aviation Authority to fund capital investment.The net increase in the DETR Main Programmes Departmental Expenditure Limit will be offset by transfers to the DETR Local Government Departmental Expenditure Limit, Office of the Rail Regulator Departmental Expenditure Limit, Home Office Departmental Expenditure Limit, Department of Health Departmental Expenditure Limit, Wales Departmental Expenditure Limit, Scotland Departmental Expenditure Limit, Department of Culture, Media and Sport Departmental Expenditure Limit; from the DETR Local Government Departmental Expenditure Limit, Scotland Departmental Expenditure Limit and Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Departmental Expenditure; and by a charge on the DEL Reserve and will not therefore add to the planned total of public expenditure.(b) The DETR Local Government Departmental Expenditure Limit will be increased by £7,170,000 from £34,211,567,000 to £34,218,737,000. This increase is the net effect of a take-up of end-year flexibility of £3,120,000, transfers from the DETR Main Programmes Departmental Expenditure Limit of £10,050,000, and a transfer of £6,000,000 to the DETR Main Programmes Departmental Expenditure Limit. The changes are set out in greater detail below.(i) The changes for Class III, Vote 4 are as follows: transfers of £2,000,000 from Class III, Vote 1 (Housing, construction, regeneration, regional policy, and countryside and wildlife, England) for Audit Commission 'Best Value in Housing' inspection work and £450,000 from Class III, Vote 5 (Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions: administration) for mapping costs arising from periodic electoral reviews by the Local Government Commission; a transfer of £7,600,000 from the DETR Main Programmes Departmental Expenditure Limit Departmental Unallocated Provision for preparation costs of the Greater London Authority and associated bodies, including publicity; and a transfer of £7,800,000 to a new non-Voted programme, within the Local Government Departmental Expenditure Limit, for returning officers' expenses in the London elections of May 2000.(ii) Provision within the non-Voted element of the Local Government Departmental Expenditure Limit will be increased by £4,920,000 from £366,986,000 to £371,906,000. This reflects a take-up of end-year flexibility of £3,120,000 for the Local Authority Capital Challenge programme; a transfer of £7,800,000 from Class III, Vote 4 for returning officers' expenses in the London elections of May 2000; and a transfer of £6,000,000 to the DETR Main Programmes Departmental Expenditure Limit for the Docklands Light Railway.The net increase in the DETR Local Government Departmental Expenditure Limit will be offset by transfers from the DETR Main Programmes Departmental Expenditure Limit and by a charge on the DEL Reserve and will not therefore add to the planned total of public expenditure.(c) The Office of the Rail Regulator Departmental Expenditure Limit will increase by £2,634,000 from £1,134,000 to £3,768,000. This increase for Class III, Vote 11 will be partly effected by the take-up of £34,000 of end-year flexibility. The remainder of the increase is the result of a transfer of £2,600,000 from Class III, Vote 6 (Transport industries) on the DETR Main Programmes Departmental Expenditure Limit. The running cost limit for ORR will be increased by £2,208,000 from £10,033,000 to £12,241,000.The increase in the Office of the Rail Regulator Departmental Expenditure Limit will be offset by a transfer from the DETR Main Programmes Departmental Expenditure Limit and a charge on the Departmental Expenditure Limit Reserve and will therefore not add to the planned total of public expenditure.

To ask the Solicitor-General what action the Crown Prosecution Service has taken regarding files on Operation Lancet forwarded by the Cleveland Police to Treasury Counsel. [108768]

A large number of files relating to serious allegations of police misconduct have been forwarded by Operation Lancet to the Crown Prosecution Service for review to decide whether or not any prosecutions should be brought. Treasury Counsel has been instructed by the Crown Prosecution Service to advise. The Crown Prosecution Service and Treasury Counsel have undertaken a considerable amount of work in respect of these files. Further work on this complex matter is necessary before any decisions can be taken.

To ask the Solicitor-General when the Crown Prosecution Service will reach a decision on the files regarding Operation Lancet. [108806]

The Crown Prosecution Service has received a large number of files from Operation Lancet relating to many and complex serious allegations of police misconduct. Further files are expected. Decisions will be taken as soon as is properly possible. It is anticipated that decisions will begin to be taken during the course of the next two or three months.

To ask the President of the Council if she will list the main recipients of Government expenditure on dealing with the millennium bug. [107508]

The main Government expenditure on dealing with the Millennium Bug was on departmental programmes to check, fix and test systems. Central Government Departments and agencies spent an estimated £380 million on tackling the Bug in their own systems. Detailed information about each department's programme expenditure is not held centrally.Action 2000's budget to raise awareness and encourage action in the private sector and to ensure no material disruption across the national infrastructure forms the main expenditure on the Government's central programme. Action 2000 is a private company, set up by the Department of Trade and Industry in 1998, which receives grant from both the DTI and the Cabinet Office totalling approximately £58.4 million.

To ask the President of the Council if she will list those principal individuals and organisations who gave her advice on the dangers of the millennium bug. [107494]

I have received information and advice on the risks posed by the millennium bug from a considerable number of individuals and organisations in both the public and private sectors and from the governments of other countries, as well as representations from a variety of pressure groups. The advice has been both written and oral and based largely on the direct experience within these organisations of problems they have themselves experienced. I have also, of course, had advice from the Public Accounts Committee and the National Audit Office on further action which should be pursued.My principal advisers on this issue have been Dr. Iain Anderson, Don Cruickshank, Gywnneth Flower and Action 2000, the Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency and the Year 2000 Team in the Cabinet Office.

To ask the President of the Council, pursuant to her answer of 8 December 1999 to my hon. Friend the Member for South Ribble, (Mr. Borrow) Official Report, column 532W, on the European Union Charter of Human Rights, if she will state (a) by what means the delegates were appointed and what consultations were undertaken concerning the appointments, (b) by what means and to whom the delegates will report and (c) if draft papers containing proposals by the European Union to the delegates will be available to hon. Members prior to their consideration by the drafting body. [105125]

Delegates were appointed after appropriate consultations through the usual channels.The Cologne and Tampere European Council Conclusions set out the procedures for drafting and delivering the Charter. The Charter Drafting Body will produce its draft report and seek endorsement from the European Council.The Charter drafting process is designed to be transparent. The Charter website, which will contain the various working documents can be reached through hhtp://ue.eu.int.

To ask the President of the Council how many EU documents have been considered by the European Legislation in each year since 1 May 1997; and for how many hours those committees sat during that period. [108217]

The number of documents considered by the European Legislation and Scrutiny Committees are listed in the sessional returns for the relevant sessions: (1997–98) HC142, and (1998–99) HC1. Information on the length of sittings is not recorded.

To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, how many copies of the Official Report were printed during the 1998–99 session; at what (a) total and (b) unit cost; how many copies were sold; and what was the total revenue generated. [106976]

[holding answer 26 January 2000]: A total of 397,486 copies of the Official Report daily part, comprising 154 issues, were printed during the 1998–99 session at a total cost of £658,167. That provides a unit cost of about £1.65. Sales to Parliament were paid for by the two Houses under a bulk charge arrangement which, in addition to the cost of copies supplied, covered all aspects of the printing process. House of Commons subscribers accounted for 47,432 copies and 168,000 copies were supplied to the two Houses under the direct delivery arrangements for distribution to Members and other uses within the House. Sales to customers outside Parliament amounted to 182,054 copies, a substantial proportion of which were sold to public libraries, loca authorities and educational authorities at discounts of up to 50 per cent. off the cover price of £5. Information about the total revenue generated is not available and can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons, how many House of Commons Clerks are employed by the House of Commons Commission; and how many of those are of ethnic minority origin. [106980]

[holding answer 26 January 2000]: There are presently 73 clerks in the Department of the Clerk of the House. Of these approximately 85 per cent. have supplied information on their ethnic origin. Fewer than five of these are non-white.

To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, what is the current establishment of employees of the House of Commons Commission; and what percentage are of ethnic minority origin. [106979]

[holding answer 26 January 2000]: The Commission currently employs 1,421 members of staff. Of these 1,073 (just over 75 per cent.) have completed ethnic monitoring forms. The table shows the percentage who say they have an ethnic minority origin.

Ethnic minority origin	Number of staff on whom information about ethnic origin is held	Number of staff in group as percentage of those on whom information is held
White	960	89.5
Asian	31	2.9
Black	72	6.7
Other	10	0.9
Total	1,073	100

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what plans she has to include in the next development White Paper the target of achieving global free trade by 2020. [109240]

We will be covering trade issues in the next Development White Paper. Trade is important for developing countries as a way of helping to generate the economic growth necessary for poverty eradication. The Government support the early launch of a comprehensive round of trade negotiations aimed at a substantive package to remove trade barriers and to promote growth in the world economy.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to her answer of 6 December 1999, Official Report, columns 337–38W, what restrictions were placed on contractors carrying out research projects funded by her Department in 1999 in respect of them discussing their findings with journalists (a) before and (b) after publication. [108198]

Our standard research contract makes no provision for veto over publication but does require contractors to obtain our agreement before communicating with the media. In 1999 no such requests were received by departments who commissioned research and therefore no requests were refused.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many British civilians were (a) seconded and (b) contracted to Her Majesty's Forces in the war theatre during the Gulf War; if they came under military discipline; and what insurance arrangements were made on their behalf by Her Majesty's Government. [107284]

Civilians, including foreign nationals, based in the UK and overseas, played a vital role in supporting British Forces during the 1990–91 Gulf conflict, but the precise number seconded (that is attached to British Forces) has not been determined. However, a review of Ministry of Defence (MOD) records shows that on 22 February 1991, 931 MOD civilian staff were reported as being in the Gulf theatre, but not all were working in direct support of British Forces. Of these, 785 were members of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary. In addition, there were a significant number of civilian contractors' employees working in direct support of British Forces in the Gulf theatre. My Department conservatively estimates that the number of civilian contractors' employees involved would have been in excess of 1,000 people.All civilians (including contractors) serving with any part of British Forces who were on active service would have been subject to military discipline.The MOD does not normally purchase insurance. In accordance with Treasury guidelines and in common with other Government Departments, the MOD underwrites its own financial risks and pays claims for compensation directly out of current expenditure. When compensation claims are submitted, they are considered on the basis of whether or not the MOD has a legal liability to pay compensation. Where there is a legal liability to pay compensation we do so. No insurance would have been purchased by the MOD covering British civilians seconded or contracted to British Forces during the Gulf conflict. This would be a matter for the employing organisations and the individuals themselves. The MOD would expect the cost of any insurance to be reflected in the contract price.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) full-time and (b) part-time members of the armed forces were stationed in Northern Ireland on 31 January 1998, 31 January 1999 and 31 January 2000; and if he will make a statement. [108109]

The number of members of the Armed Forces serving in Northern Ireland are set out in the table:

	Strength as at1
	31 January 1998	31 January 1999	31 December 19992
Army (General Service)	9,840	9,063	8,697
Royal Air Force	1,152	1,150	1,133
Royal Navy	321	182	179
Royal Irish Regiment3	2,703	2,627	2,511
Royal Irish Regiment4	1,967	1,923	1,799
Total	15,983	14,945	14,319
1 Excludes those forces fully committed to Northern Ireland but rear-based on the mainland
2 Strengths given for December 1999 as the January 2000 figure is not yet available
3 Home Service full-time
4 Home Service part-time

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the NATO recommended minimum flying times for (a) rotary pilots, (b) multi-transport pilots and (c) fast jet pilots; what percentage of RAF pilots in each of these categories met or exceeded NATO recommendations in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [107545]

[holding answer 2 February 2000]: The NATO recommended minimum flying times are in the table:

Pilots	Flying times (hours per year)
Rotary	Not defined
Multi engine	240
Fast jet (readiness 1–3)	180
Fast jet (readiness 4)	160

Information relating to the percentage of RAF pilots who met or exceeded NATO recommended hours is not held in the format requested and could only be provided at disproportionate cost. However, the average hours per crew in the fast jet (not defined by readiness states) multi-engine and rotary categories for each of the last five years are shown in the table, indicating in broad terms that the NATO minimum figures have been comfortably exceeded in each year.

Aircraft category	1995	1996	1997	1998	1999
Rotary	345	389	382	354	319
Multi engine	361	448	462	479	451
Fast jet	239	236	235	238	211

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he would (a) list the MoD funding received by the Army Welfare Service as separate from the Personal Welfare Service in each year between and including financial year 1996–97 and the current financial year, (b) provide an explanation of the remit and function of the AWS, (c) list the MoD funding received by the Personal Welfare Service as separate from the Army Welfare Service in each year between and including financial year 1996–97 and the current financial year, (d) provide an explanation of the remit and function of the PWS and (e) provide an explanation for the change in the combined AWS/PWS budget allocation and spend between financial year 1998–99 and 1999–00. [108094]

Although the Army Welfare Service (AWS) has been operating since 1996, records of total expenditure have only been recorded since centralising funding was established on 1 April 1999. Expenditure for the AWS before 1999–2000 therefore could only be provided at disproportionate cost. A breakdown of funding between the AWS and the Personal Welfare Service (PWS) is provided for 1999–2000. Figures for 1996–97 to 1998–99 are for the PWS in Northern Ireland only.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what is the annual cost of maintenance of The Keep at Imphal barracks, York; and what estimate he has made of the cost of renovation; [108665](2) what area of Portakabin office accommodation will be hired at Imphal barracks, York; for what reason; and at what cost; [108668](3) what (a) area and (b) proportion of custom-built office accommodation at Imphal barracks, York, will be used for document storage. [108669]

The average annual cost of maintenance per year of The Keep at Imphal Barracks is some £600. In financial year 1998–99, however, exceptional work totalling £18,800 was carried out to repair the roof and re-point brickwork. There are no plans to renovate it.There is no requirement to hire portakabins for use as office accommodation, as the existing office accommodation available within the Garrison is sufficient to meet our needs.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will make a statement on the Government's policy of investing in the US National Ignition Facility; [107734](2) how much the Government (a) have invested and (b) are planning to invest in the US National Ignition Facility. [107735]

The decision to invest in the US National Ignition Facility (NIF) was announced by my predecessor in June last year. The currently projected UK total investment is some £100 million over a period of 10 years. Of this, expenditure of some £11 million has been approved so far to fund measures aimed at increasing the laser shot rate, and initial feasibility work related to the second target chamber. Decisions on future UK investment will depend largely on the outcome of the feasibility study, which will also take into account the US Government's assessment of the status of the NIF project.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how often the credit rating of companies supplying services to his Department is checked. [107752]

During the period of a contract, the Department will only carry out checks if it has reason to believe that any of its contractors may be in financial trouble.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many driving hours per year were provided for in Army fuel allocations for (a) Warrior variants, (b) Challenger 1, (c) Challenger 2, (d) Saxon variants, (e) AVF 430 variants, (f) Sabre, (g) Striker, (h) Scimitar, (i) Spartan, (j) Sultan, (k) Samaritan and (1) Samson in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [107551]

[holding answer 2 February 2000]: The information is not available in the required format and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Driver hours are not used as an allocation currency for fuel. Overall activity levels for the vehicles in question are based, in all cases, on annual track mileage allocations for each vehicle type. Specific exercise activity levels are, in turn, determined against these allocations through the annual planning cycle and in-year management process. Fuel is allocated through this planning process based on comparisons of previous activity levels with future plans.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with his US counterpart on the introduction of space-based infra-red satellite systems; and if he will make a statement. [108419]

None. But matters relating to the Space Based Infra Red System are the subject of regular discussions between my officials and their US counterparts.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 7 December 1999, Official Report, columns 454–55W, 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. [108203]

MOD approval is required for any proposed publication of research findings, or any open discussion of such findings, between contractors and third parties, including journalists. Decisions are made on a case-by-case basis with a presumption that approval will be given unless security, commercial or other overriding reasons dictate otherwise.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many accidents there were in which deceased air crew were found guilty of gross negligence in aircraft that were not fitted with cockpit voice recorders and flight data recorders since 1980; and what proportion of accidents involving military aircraft this represented. [108491]

There was one such accident: the RAF Chinook HC2 which crashed on the Mull of Kintyre on 2 June 1994. This represents one such finding in approximately 550 military aircraft accidents.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 12 January 2000, Official Report, column 165W, on Iraq, how many British aircraft came under fire before dropping their laser-guided bombs. [108433]

On the morning of 28 November 1999, coalition aircraft patrolling the southern no fly zone came under fire from Iraqi anti-aircraft artillery. During a further patrol later that day, coalition aircraft were again fired at by Iraqi anti-aircraft artillery. Coalition aircraft responded in self-defence by attacking one fire control radar and two batteries of anti-aircraft artillery. I am withholding information on the number of aircraft involved in specific incidents under Exemption 1a of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what (a) discussions were held and (b) agreements were reached during his recent meeting in Washington with his US counterpart. [108685]

I had a wide-ranging discussion covering matters of mutual interest with Defense Secretary Cohen during my recent visit to Washington.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 28 January 2000, Official Report, column 383W, on how many occasions he has used Exemption 7 of the Code of Access to Government Information in the past 12 months; and for what reason he used it in relation to the sale of the Old Ranges in Shoeburyness. [108226]

[holding answer 3 February 2000]: Of 3,097 Parliamentary Questions answered in the past 12 months, information was withheld under Exemption 7 of the Code of Access to Government Information on 5 occasions. This exemption was used in relation to the sale of Old Ranges in Shoeburyness to protect commercially sensitive information which could have prejudiced negotiations with the prospective purchaser.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many RAF aircraft crashed in United Kingdom airspace in 1999. [108359]

Eight.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reason there were more crashes of RAF aircraft in 1999 than in 1998 and 1997; and if he will make a statement. [108360]

The number of RAF aircraft accidents in 1999 went against the trend in the accident rate, which has been one of overall decline over the past 10 years. Fluctuations in this trend have occurred before, and we will be looking carefully to see whether there is any significance in last year's pattern of accidents. Initial investigations into the accidents have shown no common causal link.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will initiate an inquiry into the reasons for the higher incidence of crashes of RAF aircraft in 1999; and if he will make a statement. [108362]

As is normal practice, a RAF Board of Inquiry has been convened to carry out a full investigation and establish the cause of each crash. Once all the Inquiries have been completed, their reports will be scrutinised in depth to see whether any overall causal link may be established. Initial investigations indicate no common cause.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the quality of training of RAF pilots; and if he will make a statement. [108361]

Assessment of the standards of training of RAF pilots is a continuous process. Pass rates are examined to ensure that they are correctly set in order that only suitable candidates graduate to the next stage of training and, eventually, to the front-line. Course syllabi are subject to review by both staff and students at the end of each course.Last year the RAF adopted the Integrated Training Quality Management System; this assesses the efficacy of the flying training system by questioning pilots at each stage of the training on the suitability of the preceding course in preparing them for the next stage of training.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what sums were spent on training RAF pilots in (a) 1996–97, (b) 1997–98, (c) 1998–99 and (d) 1999–2000 and are planned for (e) 2000–01 and (f) 2001–02. [108363]

The information is not available in the form requested. I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what sums were spent on the maintenance of RAF aircraft in (a) 1996–97, (b) 1997–98, (c) 1998–99 and (d) 1999–2000; and what sums are planned for this purpose in (e) 2000–01 and (f) 2001–02. [108364]