To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has for reviewing the legislation affecting common land and town and village greens. [110027]

I have today published a consultation paper on common land—"Greater Protection and Better Management of Common Land in England and Wales". The paper looks at three key areas: issues concerning the registration of common land and village greens; the consent regime for fencing and other works; and wider management issues. Copies have been placed in the Library of the House. I have invited comments on the paper by 10 April.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what will be the cost of the new building for the Greater London Authority; and if the rent will be at the market rate for similar buildings. [110064]

We have reached agreement with the developer, CIT Group, on a rent of £36.50 per square foot, £393 per square metre. This is frozen until 2007. The fixed rent at practical completion of the contract will be £4.75 million per annum. There are no similar buildings in the area; however, the £36.50 compares favourably with current rents, for top quality space in prime locations, of typically around £50 per square foot in the City and the West End of London. The developer will meet the cost of the base building which is estimated at around £40 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what studies his Department has (a) undertaken and (b) commissioned which quantify the cost to the economy of traffic congestion. [108329]

My Department has not commissioned estimates of the costs of congestion from external sources. A number of external estimates have been made of the value road users might place on the elimination of congestion from the road network. The CBI have put this figure at £15 billion. Some estimates are lower, but agree that the figure runs into billions every year and is rising.The Department has made estimates of the amount of time lost on English roads as a result of congestion in 1996 and produced forecasts for 2010 under a number of illustrative scenarios. The results of this work are set out in our report "Tackling Congestion and Pollution", published last month. We will be doing more work in this area as part of our follow up to that report.Neither the external estimates, nor those undertaken by my Department, can be translated directly into assessments of the cost of congestion to the economy. This is because they relate only to the benefits road users might derive from reduced delays and take no account of the costs of achieving these reductions. The true costs of road congestion to the economy are the net benefits we forgo if we fail to tackle it.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions who determines the areas in respect of which bids can be made by water supply companies based outside the area served by an existing company; and, in the event of a successful bid, which company retains (a) ownership of water pipes and (b) responsibility for their maintenance. [108741]

A company can be appointed as a water undertaker or sewerage undertaker by the Director General of Water Services under the Water Industry Act 1991. There is no restriction on the areas in respect of which appointments may be sought within England and Wales. A water company may seek to become the supplier for any area within that of another company by means of an 'inset' appointment: where that company consents to the appointment; where the appointment is in respect of parts of that area where none of the premises is served by that company; or where it is in respect of an area occupied by premises, each of which is supplied with, or likely to be supplied with, not less than 250 megalitres of water in any year. Ownership of water pipes and responsibility for their maintenance rests with the company holding the appointment for the area in question.The Competition Act 1998 comes into effect on 1 March, providing potential opportunities for greater competition. The Office of Fair Trading and Office of Water Services have issued guidance on the application of the 1998 Act to the water and sewerage sectors. If shared use of a water undertaker's network is agreed, ownership and responsibility for maintenance would remain with the undertaker, but with arrangements for sharing the costs between the two companies

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to encourage industrial users of (a) kerosene and (b) gas oil to switch to cleaner fuels. [108712]

Under the Marketing of Gas Oil regulations 1994, the sulphur content of gas oil marketed in the UK is limited to 0.2 per cent. The Sulphur Content of Certain Liquid Fuels Directive (1999/32/EC), due to be transposed into member states legislation on 1 July 2000, will prohibit the use of gas oil with a sulphur content higher than 0.2 per cent. from 1 July 2000 and 0.1 per cent. from 1 January 2008.The combustion of kerosene and gas oil in industrial processes above 20 Megawatts thermal input is regulated under the Environmental Protection Act 1990. Over the past decade the Environment Agency has encouraged operators of the processes they regulate under the Act to switch to less polluting fuels, initially from heavy fuel oil to gas oil, and then (over the last few years) to gas. For example, most gas turbines now use gas as their main fuel with gas oil or kerosene only as a backup in case of an interruption to the gas supply. The Environment Agency will continue to encourage these changes to cleaner fuels.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to fund further tram or light railway systems; and if he will make a statement. [108725]

Central Government support is available to local authorities to fund light rapid transit systems in the form of grant under section 56 of the Transport Act 1968. Revenue support is provided through the local government finance system to meet the cost of borrowing undertaken by authorities to finance capital expenditure on major transport schemes and for eligible expenditure on local authority Private Finance Initiative projects.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what research his Department has undertaken into the benefits of tram/light railway systems (a) in the UK and (b) in other European Union countries; and if he will make a statement. [108726]

My Department has contributed to studies on the impact of Manchester Metrolink, South Yorkshire Supertram and Croydon Tramlink. Reports on Manchester Metrolink and South Yorkshire Supertram have now been completed. The Department has also funded a report into light rail and complementary measures, which covers European systems. This was published in May 1998. A follow-up study is being undertaken. Copies of the completed reports have been placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what data he collects from local authorities on the proportions of invoices paid by them within the agreed contract time. [109049]

Under the provisions of the Local Government Act 1999, authorities will be required to report annually their performance against specified national performance indicators. An indicator is included in respect of the percentage of undisputed invoices paid within 30 days, or mutually agreed terms. The Secretary of State has set targets for such payment of invoices of 95 per cent. for 2000–01, 97.5 per cent. for 2001–02 and 100 per cent. for 2002–03.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what resources are available to his Department to make one-off payments to cover overhanging debt following the transfer of local authority housing stock in (a) 1999–2000, (b) 2000–01 and (c) 2001–02. [109102]

There are proposals within the Spring Supplementary Estimates to allow for £25 million to assist with the repayment of overhanging debt in the current financial year. The sum required in future years will depend on Ministers' decisions in response to applications for a place on the housing transfer programme from local authorities with overhanging debt. The Government's contribution to extinguishing overhanging debt will be by taking on an agreed amount of a local authority's outstanding debt principal, rather than through the use of programme resources.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to review the rules regarding the location of the units of social housing which developers are required by local authorities to include within their developments, with particular reference to the scope for locating those units outside the local authority in question. [109023]

We have no plans to review planning policy on affordable housing. Draft PPG3: "Housing" reaffirms existing policy that local planning authorities may require an element of affordable housing to be provided in suitable residential developments where a local need exists.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to develop the working relationship between National Air Traffic Services Ltd. and Military Air Traffic Control. [108526]

[holding answer 8 February 2000]: National Air Traffic Services (NATS) and the Ministry of Defence (MOD) already enjoy a good working relationship and provide a joint and integrated air traffic control service. These working arrangements are being formalised in order to facilitate the public private partnership for NATS. Copies of the heads of terms of what will be the contract between the MOD and NATS have been made available to members of the Standing Committee considering the Transport Bill. I have sent a copy of this document to my hon. Friend today.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the cost of road congestion to business. [108529]

[holding answer 8 February 2000]: A number of external estimates have been made of the value road users might place on the elimination of congestion from the on road network. The CBI have put this figure at £15 billion, some estimates are lower, but agree that the figure runs into billions every year and is rising.The Department has made estimates of the amount of time lost on English roads as a result of congestion in 1996 and produced forecasts for 2010 under a number of illustrative scenarios. The results of this work are set out in our report "Tackling Congestion and Pollution", published last month. We will be doing more work in this area as part of our follow up to that report.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he has received concerning the Government's planning guidance issued to local authorities relating to mobile phone masts over the past three years; and if he will make a statement. [109288]

The Department has received a range of representations on planning guidance and procedures for telecommunications over the last three years. We issued proposals to improve the arrangements in "Telecommunications Development Control" published in July 1998. This attracted 269 responses. Changes were implemented, by way of amendments to the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995, in July 1999 and explained in Circular 4/99. We also issued for consultation in December 1998 the draft of a joint DETR/DH circular on "Land Use Planning and Electromagnetic Fields". This received 147 responses. The circular will be finalised as soon as practicable after the Independent Expert Group on Mobile Phones has reported in the spring.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the (a) number and (b) value of contracts let by his Department since May 1997 to external consultants and advisers for the management of competitive tendering processes. [109302]

The information requested cannot be provided on the ground of disproportionate cost, as it is not held centrally.My Department would normally engage external consultants and advisers to manage competitive tendering processes only where particular expertise or knowledge is required which is not available in-house.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what registerable share holdings under the rules laid down for Ministers are held by the Minister for Transport; what board directorships he resigned on his first appointment as a Minister; and what matters pertaining to his Department's work the Minister does not handle in order to avoid potential conflicts of interest. [109386]

The arrangements put in place by my right hon. and noble Friend the Minister for Transport for handling his financial interests on his first appointment as a Minister were made clear in a Press Notice issued by the Scottish Office on 3 August 1998. A copy was placed in the Library of the House. Investments which were not disposed of were placed in a blind trust with an instruction to the solicitors administering the trust that the trust should not deal in shares which relate to my right hon. and noble Friend's ministerial portfolio. In line with the requirements of the Ministerial Code, my right hon. and noble Friend is not informed of changes in investments or the state of the portfolio. Consequently, my right hon. and noble Friend does not have any potential conflicts of interests.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps he has taken to improve the payment culture in local government; and if he will make a statement. [109832]

Under the provisions of the Local Government Act 1999, authorities will be required to report annually their performance against specified national performance indicators. An indicator is included in respect of the percentage of undisputed invoices paid within 30 days, or mutually agreed terms. The Secretary of State has set targets for such payment of invoices of 95 per cent. for 2000–01, 97.5 per cent. for 2001–02 and 100 per cent. for 2002–03.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the initiatives launched by his Department since May 1997 under which specific grants are allocated, indicating in each case and for each financial year the funding provided by central Government. [109310]

The information requested is given in the table.

£ million
Initiative	1997–98	1998–99	1999– 2000
New Deal for Communities	0	12.5	48.5
Rough Sleepers—London	0	0	18.4
Rough Sleepers—Outside London	0	0	13.2
Coalfields Regeneration Trust	0	117.7	10.0
Coalfields Fund	0	0	5.0
Grants to Audit Commission for Best Value Inspections	0	0	5.0
Rural Bus Subsidy Grant	0	32.5	32.5
Rural Bus Challenge	0	5.0	15.0
Rural Transport Partnership	0	4.2	4.2
Rail Passenger Partnership/ Infrastructure Investment Fund	0	0	20.0
1 Includes Coalfields Fund allocation for 1998–99

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions on what dates the Countryside Traffic Measures Group has met; what matters have been discussed; what conclusions have been reached; and if he will make a statement. [109382]

The Countryside Traffic Measures Group has met formally on four occasions: 10 July 1997, 4 November 1997, 13 March 1998, and 3 November 1998, and at other times informally or to discuss individual schemes. The inaugural meeting agreed the main objective, which is to develop good practice guidance on rural traffic management designed with sensitivity to the countryside environment. Meetings subsequently have discussed and agreed the schemes to be included in the monitoring project and, latterly, progress of the schemes. Monitoring of the schemes is due to be completed in March 2001. Until then it would be premature to draw conclusions on the measures installed. My Department will continue to help the Countryside Agency and local authorities develop these measures.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what obligation is placed on Eurostar (UK) to offer reduced rail fares to senior citizens; and what plans he has to change this. [109381]

Eurostar (UK) Ltd. is not obliged to offer rail fares at reduced rates to senior citizens and there are no plans to introduce such an obligation.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what road noise reduction surfaces his Department has recently approved for use. [109378]

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

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will treat applications in respect of properties on existing roads for double glazing as a method of noise reduction for residents in the same way as such applications in respect of properties on new roads. [109379]

The Noise Insulation Regulations apply to properties affected by existing roads which have been physically altered as well as to new roads. I have no plans to extend the scope of these Regulations to properties affected by unaltered roads.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the current progress of genetically modified crop trials in the United Kingdom. [107886]

The farm scale evaluation programme is now starting its second year. The studies are designed to evaluate the impact on farmland wildlife of the management of herbicide tolerant GM crops, with their associated herbicide, as compared with equivalent non-GM crops managed conventionally. The ecological studies are being funded by the UK Government and carried out by independent contractors on fields of GM and conventional crops provided by the industry body SCIMAC. The studies are being overseen by an independent Scientific Steering Committee reporting to the Secretary of State.The first year of the farm scale evaluations included plantings of oil seed rape and fodder maize in the spring, followed in the autumn by winter oil seed rape. The Scientific Steering Committee reported at the end of the first year that the methodology of the farm scale evaluations was scientifically robust, and gave a firm base from which to proceed to full-scale trials this year. A further announcement about this year's sites will be made shortly.In November 1999, a renewed agreement between Government and the industry body SCIMAC on the conduct of the farm scale evaluations was reached, to cover the three years through to harvest of crops planted in 2002, including agreement that no general unrestricted cultivation of GM crops will take place in the UK until the farm-scale evaluations are complete. Under the renewed agreement, the farm scale evaluations are likely to be extended in scope this year to cover a further crop, GM beet, dependent on the advice of the Scientific Steering Committee on the scope and validity under UK conditions of similar trials being carried out in Denmark.The fields grown for this year's trials will also be used to monitor the gene flow between the GM and non-GM crops to determine the depth of cross pollination.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate he has made of the wind-up costs of the millennium experience. [108772]

[holding answer 7 February 2000]: The actual financial costs of winding up the New Millennium Experience Company would depend on the commitments and liabilities outstanding at the time when any such decision were taken. Neither the Government, nor the Millennium Commission, nor the Board of NMEC have plans to wind up the New Millennium Experience Company prior to the completion of its remit to run the Millennium Experience to 31 December 2000.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if loans made to the New Millennium Experience Company by the Millennium Commission may be subordinated. [106442]

[holding answer 24 January 2000]: The Millennium Commission has not made any loans to the New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) or any other organisation. The Commission cannot make loans as it has no statutory powers to do so.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will list the foods sold in the Millennium Dome that (a) do and (b) do not meet standards required of food produced in the United Kingdom. [108957]

There are over 35 catering outlets in and around the Dome at Greenwich selling a wide range of food from snacks to cordon bleu. All are required to meet the same statutory requirements as apply to commercial catering and food outlets in the UK.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what is the target number of visitors to the Millennium Dome for 2000. [108963]

The New Millennium Experience Company's target is 12 million. Visitor numbers in the first month, at just over 366,400 represent just under 4 per cent. of the target. This mirrors the visitor attraction industry norm for January.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what is the daily capacity of the Millennium Dome. [108962]

The licensed capacity of the Dome site, at any one time during the day, is 35,000 plus 2,000 staff.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what (a) public and (b) Lottery funds were used in connection with the Millennium River of Fire; and if he will make a statement. [105904]

The "Big Time" event on New Year's Eve in central London incorporated a wide range of activities and entertainment throughout the day attended and watched, safely, by about 3 million people. The River of Fire was one part of a spectacular firework display which itself was one part of Big Time. The 17 minute display was enjoyed by people along the Thames embankment and from other vantage points, as well as by a world-wide television audience. No public or lottery funds were involved in paying for the pyrotechnics. The New Millennium Experience Company, who were asked by the Government, the Millennium Commission and other public agencies and organisations involved in the event to co-ordinate and manage it, have, in the absence of major commercial sponsorship for the London-wide event to complement Millennium Commission's grant under their Millennium Festival programme, underwritten these costs.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, pursuant to his answer of 31 January 2000, Official Report, column 472W, on computers, if any of the hackers accessed computer files containing (a) the personal details of jurors or witnesses and (b) details of the jury selection procedures. [109388]

There has only been one recorded instance, in 1995, when a member of staff was found to have possible unauthorised access to juror details. The person, a casual employee, had discovered a supervisor's password and had altered system access permissions. Subsequent investigation found no evidence of tampering with data. The staff member was dismissed.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, pursuant to his answer of 31 January 2000, Official Report, column 472W, on computers, what action has been taken to prevent internal hacking incidents on Court Service computers, particularly files containing (a) the personal details of jurors or witnesses and (b) details of the jury selection procedures. [109387]

The Court Service carries out security risk analyses on all its major computer systems to ensure they comply with the security guidelines laid down in HMG's Manual of Protective Security. The countermeasures implemented include unique user names, secure passwords and access to systems and areas of systems on a 'need-to-know' basis. Passwords are changed regularly. All staff are provided with guidance on how to maintain system security. Some juror details are held on systems which are owned and managed by the Department's PFI partners. Security measures have been conveyed to them and are contractual.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, pursuant to his answer of 31 January 2000, Official Report, column 472W, on computers, what type of information was accessed by the hackers from computers in the Court Service; and what action was taken (a) to identify the hackers and (b) to discipline Court Service staff involved in the incidents. [109389]

The type of information potentially available to an internal 'hacker' varies according to the system accessed. Approximately half of the incidents involved stand-alone PCs or networked PCs used in the Headquarters of the Lord Chancellor's Department for administrative purposes; the remainder involved operational systems, such as those used for case management. Most incidents involved misuse of another member of staffs user name and password. The information potentially at risk was either a person's own work in progress, or in a few instances, details of cases. All incidents were investigated and remedial action applied. No evidence of compromise of Protectively Marked (or classified) information nor of a breach of the Data Protection Acts was found.The staff responsible were identified in half of the incidents and all received verbal warnings, except for one who received a written warning and one who was dismissed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland for what reason the police did not contact the Committee on the Administration of Justice seeking originals of threats for forensic examination until some days after Mrs. Rosemary Nelson was killed [103821]

[holding answer 19 January 2000]: The investigation into the murder of Mrs. Nelson is being directed by Mr. Colin Port, the Deputy Chief Constable of Norfolk. While his investigation is in progress it is not appropriate to comment in detail on it. I understand from the Chief Constable that once the original threatening note to Mrs. Nelson was obtained it was immediately forwarded for independent forensic examination. That examination has not produced results which have, at this point, assisted the investigation

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what representations he has received from (a) the Irish Government and (b) Sinn Fein Assembly Members with regard to an alleged incident of RUC officers crossing the border to mount a surveillance operation in Monaghan. [107583]

We have received one request for information from the British Irish Intergovernmental Secretariat concerning an alleged border incursion by the RUC on 12 January. No representations have been received from Sinn Fein.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many officers currently serve in (a) the Special Branch and (b) the Criminal Investigation Department of the RUC. [107819]

At 1 February 2000, 684 officers were serving in the Special Branch and 809 in the Criminal Investigation Department of the Royal Ulster Constabulary.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to make the Chief Constable of the RUC responsible for assessing the security situation; how often he will be required to make this assessment; and in what form his findings will be made public. [107808]

The Chief Constable has been and continues to be the Secretary of State's principal security adviser. The Chief Constable gives his assessment to the Secretary of State on a regular and confidential basis.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to his answer of 20 December 1999, Official Report, column 410W, what communication he has received from bodies other than the US Congress about US-sponsored training and exchange programmes; and what response the RUC will make to fulfil conditions that will be imposed upon joint training and exchange programmes. [107822]

I have received no communication from other bodies about US sponsored training and exchange programmes. The Royal Ulster Constabulary will make every effort to fulfil any conditions that may be imposed upon US joint training and exchange. It is the RUC's policy that officers are selected solely on the eligibility criteria applicable to any proposed training/exchange programme. In keeping with the Royal Ulster Constabulary equal opportunities policy, officers are selected purely on merit.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what (a) oral and (b) written representations he has received from members of the House of Commons and the Northern Ireland Assembly on the subject of the Disqualifications Bill, indicating in each case the date on which representations were received; and if he will place all written representations in the Library. [107638]

[holding answer 31 January 2000]: Disqualification issues have been discussed with the Irish Government, the UUP, Sinn Fein and the SDLP. I have a large number of contacts with these and other parties at which disqualification and numerous other issues arise and I am unable to supply an exhaustive list of such.On 20 December, prior to the introduction of the Disqualification Bill, I wrote to the Northern Ireland parties represented in the Commons and the Home Secretary wrote to the leaders of the Conservative and Liberal parties, notifying them of the Government's intentions with regard to the Disqualification Bill. No response, written or oral, has yet been received.The only written representation I have received on the subject is a letter, dated 14 December 1999, from the right hon. Member for Upper Bann (Mr. Trimble). As a result of this and subsequent discussions the Bill was amended.It is a matter for the right hon. Member for Upper Bann whether he wishes to publish this letter in the House Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proposals there are to amend the Northern Ireland Office Departmental Expenditure Limit and running costs limit for 1999–2000. [109974]

As the result of Devolution of the Departmental Expenditure Limit (DEL) for Northern Ireland shown in table 3.1 of Public Expenditure Statistical Analysis 1999–2000 has been split into two, one for the Northern Ireland Office £995,487,000 and the second for Northern Ireland Departments £4,856,247,000.Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimate for Class XV, Vote 1 the Northern Ireland Office Departmental Expenditure Limit for 1999–2000 will be increased by £29,790,000 from £995,487,000 to £1,025,277,000. The running costs limit will be increased by £7,783,000 from £193,523,000 to £201,306,000. The increase is the net effect of take-up of end year flexibility of £15,545,000 and an additional £5,868,000 for the Bloody Sunday Inquiry. Other changes to the DEL include £8,144,000 from Northern Ireland Departments and £233,000 from the Home Office.The increase will be offset by a charge on the DEL Reserve and will not therefore add to the planned total of public expenditure.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will place in the Library copies of the material supplied by BNFL to members of the Fukui Regional Assembly regarding the problems with their MOX fuel. [106714]

[holding answer 3 February 2000]: I understand that BNFL did not pass any information to the Fukui Regional Assembly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) how many licences to export goods to Iran have been (a) granted and (b) refused, in the last 12 months; [108474](2) how many applications for licences to export goods to Iran have been rejected in the past 12 months on the grounds that there was an unacceptable risk that the goods might be diverted to a weapons of mass destruction programme. [108475]

The entry in the relevant legislation under which the export of goods is controlled is known as their rating. The Export Control Organisation's computer databases have been interrogated. Between 1 January 1999 and 28 January 2000, 91 Standard Individual Export Licences (SIELs) and one Open Individual Export Licence (OIEL) were issued covering the export to consignees or end-users in Iran. During the period 18 applications for a SIEL and no applications for an OIEL were refused. Individual applications and licences may cover a range of goods with various ratings (and OIELs may also cover a range of countries). Where this is so, the licence is included in the table in the total for all of the relevant ratings.

Standard Individual Export Licences issued and applications refused for such licences between 1 January 1999 and 28 January 2000 covering the export to Iran of goods entered in Part III of Schedule 1 to the Export of Goods (Control) Order 1994, commonly known as the Military List
Rating	Number of SIELs issued covering goods with this rating	Number of SIEL Number of SIELs applications refused covering goods with this rating
ML3	0	1
ML13	1	0

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he last discussed state aid for the UK deep coal mining industry with DG VII; and if he will make a statement. [109021]

Officials in the Department are in regular contact with the European Commission on issues concerning the coal industry and the European Coal and Steel Community State aid regime that applies to it.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate he has made of the life span of British natural gas resources at the current rate of depletion, and taking into account the consents for gas-powered electricity generating stations which have been granted but not implemented. [109115]

[holding answer 8 February 2000]: Estimates of the United Kingdom's remaining recoverable reserves of gas are given in the Department of Trade and Industry's "Development of the Oil and Gas Resources of the United Kingdom 1999", a copy of which is in the Library of the House. This shows that discovered reserves could yield 1,795 billion cubic metres (bcm). This is equivalent to 18 years of production at current rates. If the full potential from as yet undrilled structures were to be realised, this could raise discovered reserves to 3,625 bcm. Estimates of reserves are, however, not constant over time and exploration may add to these estimates.Whether production from these reserves will fully meet UK demand for any future period depends on a number of variables such as the timing of commencement and cessation of production in particular fields. As the Government indicated in their Energy White Paper in October 1998 (Cm 4071), it is likely that some gas imports would be required by the end of this decade.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what guidance he has given to enforcement officials in respect of sales of goods sold from loose stock by measured weight in metric and imperial units. [109442]

Local authorities have an independent statutory responsibility to enforce weights and measures legislation. As with the earlier stages of metrication, DTI has encouraged the local authorities to provide small traders with information and advice about the change to metric weights for the sale of loose goods, and to recognise the difficulties that some small traders have had in changing to metric weights by 31 December 1999.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he will reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Falkirk, West, dated 17 December 1999, referring to an unanswered letter from the Trident Ploughshares campaign, dated 31 August 1999. [105908]

I replied to my hon. Friend on 22 January.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the total number of summary trials resulting in punishment warrants in the Royal Navy in (a) 1995, (b) 1996, (c) 1997, (d) 1998 and (e) 1999. [107869]

[holding answer 1 February 2000]: The information requested is as follows:

Year	Number
1995	284
1996	220
1997	218
1998	196
1999	1128
1Reported to date

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent research his Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the effectiveness of methods currently in use for anti-personnel land mines clearance. [108633]

My Department has not conducted any recent research specifically on the effectiveness of methods currently in use for anti-personnel land mine clearance. However, we have carried out limited trials on commercially produced hand held metal detectors.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent representations he has received concerning the Dervish anti-personnel land mines clearance project. [108632]

Since 1997, my Department has received a number of representations concerning the Dervish anti-personnel land mines clearance project and the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA) has been in correspondence with the head of the project team. The Dervish device is intended for area clearance of anti-personnel mines and while it may have a role in humanitarian mine clearance, the system does not currently meet the requirements of the Armed Services.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the impact of the UK's decision to pull out of Project Horizon on the future integration of European defence (a) policies and (b) industries. [109036]

In April 1999, the participating nations—UK, France and Italy—decided not to proceed with the tri-national Horizon programme upon completion of its Project Definition phase in October 1999. We are, however, continuing to develop collaboratively the Principal Anti-Air Missile System.The continuing commitment of European nations to strengthen their military capabilities, and to develop the means for undertaking crisis management, was demonstrated in the conclusions of both the European Council and North Atlantic Council meetings of Defence and Foreign Ministers in December 1999.The Government remain committed to facilitating European defence industrial restructuring. We have negotiated a Framework Agreement with European partner nations designed to remove unnecessary obstacles to defence restructuring and hope to sign this Agreement shortly.

To ask the President of the Council if, pursuant to her answer of 8 December 1999, Official Report, column 532W, concerning the proposed European Charter of Human Rights, she will list the meetings which the hon. Members for Bridgend (Mr. Griffiths) and for Eastleigh (Mr. Chidgey) and the Baroness Howells have (a) attended or (b) plan to attend; and if a Minister will report to the House on progress in the work of the drafting body prior to its submission to the European Council. [108754]

I have been asked to reply.There have been two meetings of the Charter of Rights Convention: on 17 December 1999 and 1-2 February 2000. The two parliamentary delegates were present at both. The next Convention session is an informal meeting on 24–25 February. The individual delegates and alternates are best placed to say which future meetings they plan to attend.The House will have several opportunities to discuss the Charter, for example in the six-monthly debate before the June 2000 European Council.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the approximate expenditure to date of the European Union in respect of the Partnership Agreement with the Ukraine; how much is budgeted for 2000; what (a) proposals and (b) reports concerning such expenditure have been compiled; and whether each of these has been made public. [105083]

There is a wide range of Community and bilateral programmes which support the EU/Ukraine Partnership and Co-operation Agreement. The main Community programme is TACIS, from which over 600 million euro was committed between 1991–98. The TACIS 2000 budget for Ukraine has not yet been decided. Since 1991, Ukraine has also benefited from EU grants towards the closure of Chernobyl (210 million euro), EU macro-financial loans (565 million euro) and humanitarian aid (12 million euro). In addition EU member states have provided bilaterally some 2.5 billion euro in loans and grants between 1991 and 1997. The European Commission's proposals for TACIS spending appear in its Country Strategy Papers, which are not made public. Reports of TACIS expenditure are, however, published annually. An independent evaluation of TACIS in Ukraine was published in 1998.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the latest developments in the middle east peace process. [109053]

We are greatly concerned by the recent escalation of violence in Lebanon and the suspension of Permanent Status Talks between the Israelis and Palestinians.We urge all parties in Lebanon to exercise restraint and to respect the April 1996 Understandings. These incidents confirm the pressing need for renewed efforts to achieve a comprehensive negotiated peace in the region, including implementation of UNSCR 425.We have high-level contact with all the parties to the peace process and offer what help we can in the search for agreement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affarirs what plans he has to attend the 2000 Review Conference of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. [109175]

I represent my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs at the NPT Review Conference and deliver the UK address to the plenary session. I would welcome any thoughts my hon. Friend might have on the matter.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the Government's policy in relation to the sectarian conflict in Maluku; what discussions he has had with the Indonesian President on this issue; and if he will make a statement. [109109]

My right hon. Friends the Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary and I discussed the sectarian conflict in Maluku with President Wahid and his Foreign Minister when they were in London on 1 February. We expressed our concerns to President Wahid about the violence and loss of life. President Wahid reaffirmed his commitment to secure lasting peace between the two communities. We shall support him vigorously in his efforts and stand ready to help him in any way possible.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will deposit in the Library a copy of the Wilton Park Conference report on NATO's role in maintaining European security. [109051]

This report has now been placed in the Libraries of the House. All reports of Wilton Park Conferences are publicly available, including on the Wilton Park website (www.wiltonpark.org.uk.).

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list for the financial year 1998–99 (a) the number and (b) the total value of contracts let by his Department with external consultants and advisers that (i) were put out to competitive tender, (ii) were not put out to competitive tender and (iii) were let on a non-commercial basis, stating in each case the names of the individuals or organisations that have carried out the work. [109263]

[holding answer 9 February 2000]: The information could be provided only at disproportionate cost. FCO procurement policy requires goods and services to be acquired by competitive tender unless there are compelling reasons to the contrary or they are below £500 in value. Sole source and single source procurement is subject to special safeguards.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the number and value of contracts let by his Department since May 1997 to external consultants and advisers for the management of competitive tendering processes. [109449]

The information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he will publish the next report to Parliament on Hong Kong and the Sino-British Joint Declaration. [109973]

The sixth report in this series, covering the period July-December 1999, was published today and copies have been placed in the Libraries of the House. A copy of the report is also available on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website (www.fco.gov.uk). The report includes a foreword by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary. I commend the report to the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what arrangements will be made in the interval between the departure of the Governor of Gibraltar and his successor taking up his appointment; and if he will make a statement. [109505]

During the interval between the departure of the present Governor of Gibraltar and the arrival of his successor, the Deputy Governor will be Acting Governor.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs for what reason there has been a delay in announcing the appointment of the new Governor of Gibraltar; and when he expects the announcement to be made. [109506]

There has been no delay. The announcement of the appointment of the next Governor of Gibraltar will be made in the near future.

To ask the Solicitor-General if he will make a statement on the background of the Crown Prosecution Service inspectorate. [107913]

The CPS Inspectorate was established in 1997 to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the CPS. The Glidewell report recommended that the Inspectorate should be retained and that its role should be expanded. There were also recommendations for introducing a more substantial lay element. These recommendations have been accepted, but the Government have gone further and wishes to place the Inspectorate on an independent statutory basis. This House will shortly be asked to consider the CPS Inspectorate Bill.

To ask the Solicitor-General what proportion of the files referred to the Crown Prosecution Service by the Police do not lead to prosecution in (a) England and Wales and (b) West Yorkshire. [109054]

The Crown Prosecution Service records case outcomes in terms of the number of defendants whose case was handled by the Service, rather than in terms of the number of files dealt with. During the year ending December 1999, a prosecution did not proceed in respect of 250,738 defendants in England and Wales, representing 18.4 per cent. of completed cases. In CPS West Yorkshire, a prosecution did not proceed in respect of 15,635 defendants, representing 18.5 per cent. of completed cases.

To ask the Solicitor-General what assessment he has made of the Crown Prosecution Service's performance in Merseyside on speeding up the process towards the trial of young offenders. [107915]

When I visited CPS Merseyside in September last year, I observed at first hand the efforts made by the CPS and other local agencies to reduce the time it took to prosecute persistent young offenders. The Area, in conjunction with other criminal justice agencies in Merseyside, is implementing practices that should make further significant reductions for all young offenders.

To ask the Solicitor-General what recent discussions he has had with the Financial Services Authority about tackling serious financial crime. [107912]

As my hon. Friend is aware, the Law Officers do not have statutory Ministerial responsibility for the Financial Services Authority. I have visited the Financial Services Authority, although not in the recent past, and was given a general introduction to their work, including enforcement work. The Financial Services Authority share responsibility for tackling serious financial crime with the police, Department of Trade and Industry, Serious Fraud Office, DPP in Northern Ireland and the Crown Office in Scotland. Officials are developing guidelines on the co-ordination of the work of these bodies in relation to suspected financial crime. It is proposed to publish these guidelines when they have been agreed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment he has made of the potential conflict of interest in the practice of further education colleges (a) employing and (b) receiving on secondment, staff from companies engaged as the college's auditors; and if he will discuss this matter with the Further Education Funding Council prior to issuing guidance on practice. [107972]

It is for individual colleges to determine whether to use auditors for other services. Audit arrangements in FE have been strengthened by the requirement that auditors cannot be responsible both for internal and external audits. The Further Education Funding Council for England require all colleges to disclose in their accounts remuneration to auditors for their services.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many further education colleges have employed external consultants to advise on unit farming; and if he will make a statement. [107973]

This information is not held centrally. But in designing the new funding systems that will be employed by the Learning and Skills Council, subject to the passage of legislation, we intend that arrangements should be simpler to understand, administer and audit than current arrangements.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will provide a breakdown of the total expenditure on each of the new deal schemes. [109279]

I have been asked to reply.The allocation of the Windfall Tax receipts between the New Deal programmes, as currently estimated, is set out in Table 4.1 of the 1999 Pre Budget Report.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many firearms have been misappropriated over the last five years from (a) the police, (b) the Ministry of Defence police, (c) the Atomic Energy Authority police and (d) the armed forces. [108825]

Information on the misappropriation of firearms from the police service is not collected centrally, but inquiries of 41 police forces in

Table 1: Total asylum applications received by European Union countries from 1990 to 1999
Countries	1990	1991	1992	1993	1994	1995	1996	1997	1998	1999	Grand total
Germany2,3	193,100	256,100	438,200	322,600	127,200	127,900	116,400	104,400	98,600	95,300	1,879,800
United Kingdom3	26,200	44,800	24,600	22,400	32,800	44,000	29,600	32,500	46,000	71,200	374,100
Netherlands	21,200	21,600	20,400	35,400	52,600	29,300	22,200	34,400	45,200	39,300	321,600
France3	54,800	47,400	28,900	27,600	26,000	20,200	17,400	21,400	22,400	30,100	296,200
Sweden	29,400	27,400	84,000	37,600	18,600	9,100	5,800	9,700	12,800	11,200	245,600
Belgium3	13,000	15,200	17,700	26,900	14,400	11,400	12,400	11,800	22,000	35,800	180,600
Austria	22,800	27,300	16,200	4,800	5,100	5,900	7,000	6,700	13,800	20,100	129,700
Spain	8,700	8,100	11,700	12,600	12,000	5,700	4,700	5,000	6,700	7,100	82,300
Denmark	5,300	4,600	13,900	14,400	6,700	5,100	5,900	5,100	5,700	6,500	73,200
Italy	4,800	26,500	6,000	1,700	1,800	1,700	700	1,900	7,100	n/a	52,200
Greece	6,200	2,700	1,900	800	1,300	1,300	1,600	4,400	3,000	n/a	23,200
Ireland	4—	4—	4—	100	400	400	1,200	3,900	4,600	7,700	18,300
Finland1	2,700	2,100	3,600	2,000	800	900	700	1,000	1,300	2,800	17,900
Luxembourg	4—	4—	4—	4—	4—	400	300	400	1,700	2,900	5,700
Portugal	100	300	700	2,100	800	500	300	300	300	n/a	5,400

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what further restrictions he will place on the sale and possession of swords and bayonets. [108755]

It is an offence under section 1 of the Prevention of Crime Act 1953 for any person to have with them an offensive weapon in a public place, including private premises to which the public have access. In addition the Criminal Justice Act 1988 banned the manufacture, sale and importation of 14 bladed, pointed and other offensive weapons in addition to flick knives and gravity knives, the sale of which was already banned under the Restriction of Offensive Weapons Act 1959.We are currently considering the appropriateness and feasibility of amending this legislation.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the total number of asylum seekers registering in each EU country (a) in the last 10 years, (b) in each of those years and (c) in total for each country ranked by number of asylum seekers per 1,000 of population. [109182]

Information on asylum applications received by each European Union country is collated by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. The annual figures for 1990 to 1999 for each European Union country are given in table 1.Table 2 shows the number of asylum applications per 1,000 of population within each European Union country.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has taken to ensure that current overstayers will not lose the right to a suspensive appeal against a decision to remove them taken after 1 October. [109670]

I refer my hon. Friend, to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Walthamstow (Mr. Gerrard) on 9 February 2000, Official Report, column 167W.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Sex Offences review will report; when the consultation period will commence; and when consequent legislation will be introduced. [109091]

The Sex Offences Review hopes to report to Ministers in the spring. Its proposals will be published for consultation in the summer. The timing of any subsequent legislation has yet to be decided.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases were reported to the police alleging racial harassment in (a) Cleveland, (b) Northern Region and (c) the United Kingdom in each of the last three years; and how many in each category resulted in a conviction. [109459]

The number of alleged racial harassment cases reported to the police is not available. The number of offences of racially aggravated harassment recorded by the police in the six months ending September 1999 is given in the table. This offence has been recorded separately by the police since 1 April 1999.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases were reported to the police alleging child abuse in (a) Cleveland, (b) Northern Region and (c) the United Kingdom in each of the last three years; and how many in each category resulted in a conviction. [109460]

The number of alleged child abuse cases reported to the police is not available. Recorded crime data do not give information about victims unless this is implicit in the description of the offence. The offences of gross indecency with a child, unlawful sexual intercourse with a girl under 13, and unlawful sexual intercourse with a girl under 16 are the only sexual offences recorded which explicitly involve children as victims. Offences of violence against the person which explicitly involve children as victims include cruelty to and neglect of children, abandoning a child under two years, and child abduction. There are many other violent and sexual offences which could involve children as victims. Cruelty to and neglect of children has been a recorded crime since 1 April 1998. The recorded crime figures for the other five offences given, and cruelty to and neglect of children, are as follows:

Year ending	Cleveland	North East Government Region	England and Wales
March 1997	19	119	3,080
March 1998	23	106	2,999
March 19991	12	129	3,125
Cruelty to and neglect of children
March 19991	8	89	2,300
1Compiled under the revised counting rules in force from 1 April 1998.

Conviction data, taken from the Home Office Court Proceedings Database, are not directly comparable with recorded crime figures, as they relate to individuals found guilty rather than offences. The number of persons convicted for the five offences given above from 1996 to 1998 (calendar years) are as follows:

	1996	1997	1998
Cleveland	5	3	7
North East Government Region	25	28	46
England and Wales	475	451	546

The number of persons convicted for cruelty to or neglect of children from 1996 to 1998 (calendar years) are as follows:

	1996	1997	1998
Cleveland	3	1	4
North East Government Region	19	21	14
England and Wales	293	390	390

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases were reported to the police alleging domestic violence in (a) Cleveland, (b) Northern Region and (c) the United Kingdom in each of the last three years; and how many in each category resulted in a conviction. [109461]

"Domestic violence" is not a specific offence, but a means of describing a number of offences when committed in particular circumstances. This means that the available information is derived not from the usual recorded crime statistics but from specific returns

	Domestic Violence—Incidents			Domestic Violence—Persons Arrested
	1996–97	1997–98	1998–99	1996–97	1997–98	1998–99
Avon and Somerset	2,058	2,483	4,791	741	873	1995
Bedfordshire	4,470	n/a	4,923	210	n/a	269
Cambridgeshire	700	995	1,113	213	834	929
Cheshire	7,516	8,997	9,503	1,609	1,593	1,481
City of London	12	33	83	1	n/a	2
Cleveland	4,566	4,580	4,818	1,028	870	843
Cumbria	2,845	2,875	3,268	634	885	921
Derbyshire	10,672	11,574	12,585	1,433	1,751	1,666
Devon and Cornwall	2,796	3,278	3,453	1,143	1,405	1,423
Dorset	1,637	1,716	2,116	319	286	362
Durham	2,190	2,174	1,930	676	687	587
Dyfed-Powys	1,507	1,524	2,106	431	515	662
Essex	7,635	8,780	10,850	1,817	1,957	2,262
Gloucestershire	6,278	1,309	1,421	726	685	990
Greater Manchester	50,792	56,762	56,203	5,830	6,577	6,752
Gwent	7,000	4,458	4,250	514	901	889
Hampshire	5,791	7,424	3,128	690	1,162	1,765
Hertfordshire	4,676	4,258	6,363	604	418	809
Humberside	1,111	1,187	1,148	982	1054	1,009
Kent	7,155	7,966	9,605	1,995	2,762	2,902
Lancashire	6,216	5,760	6,778	1,847	1,615	1,922
Leicestershire	6,015	2,632	7,246	1,027	573	1,591
Lincolnshire	n/a	n/a	1,519	n/a	n/a	331
Merseyside	18,112	16,864	20,612	2,297	2,315	2,497
Metropolitan police	15,650	14,403	41,531	1,743	0	5,310
Norfolk	n/a	4,517	4,973	n/a	n/a	1,041
North Wales	5,802	5,387	4,305	864	996	3,916
North Yorkshire	n/a	399	4,024	n/a	243	551
Northamptonshire	2,638	2,401	2,620	623	582	611
Northumbria	12,749	13,154	14,442	2,361	2,253	2,082
Nottinghamshire	3,248	3,397	3,803	1,471	1,432	1,473
South Wales	6,759	9,791	7,252	1,412	1,989	1,963
South Yorkshire	950	168	12,209	108	154	999
Staffordshire	1,744	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
Suffolk	1,225	1,683	1,962	517	608	640
Surrey	1,217	1,308	1,653	460	400	463
Sussex	5,795	6,910	8,174	1,480	1,491	1,749
Thames Valley	n/a	9,904	10,885	n/a	2,082	2,340
Warwickshire	493	485	2,500	389	388	500
West Mercia	1,867	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
West Midlands	14,011	16,538	20,217	2,280	3,615	5,409
West Yorkshire	18,304	22,191	23,658	4,567	5,986	6,469
Wiltshire	423	5,952	7,563	366	1,244	1,307
Provincial Total	238,975	263,514	310,052	43,665	53,181	66,372
England and Wales Total	254,625	277,917	351,583	45,408	53,181	71,682
NE Region	19,505	19,908	21,290	4,065	3810	3,512

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer to the right hon. Member for Maidstone and The Weald (Miss Widdecombe) of 2 February 2000, Official Report, column 596W, how many curfewees charged with an offence while on home detention curfew were charged with an offence similar in character to that for which they were serving a sentence of imprisonment prior to being released on the curfew. [109509]

According to Prison Service records, of the 174 curfewees referred to in the answer I gave to the right hon. Member for Maidstone and The Weald (Miss Widdecombe) on 2 February, who have been charged with a further offence while subject to Home Detention Curfew, 69 have been charged with an offence similar to that for which they were serving a sentence of imprisonment prior to being released on curfew. In one case it has not been possible, in the time available, to confirm whether the further offence is similar in nature to the original offence. I will write to the hon. Member when this information is available.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the advantages and disadvantages of extending the requirement for a certificate of compatibility with the Human Rights Act 1998 to private legislation. [107914]

The Human Rights Act 1998 applies equally to Public and Private Bills, once they are enacted. Under the Human Rights Act 1998, Acts of Parliament will have to be interpreted compatibly with the Convention rights if possible. Where this is not possible, a higher court will be able to issue a declaration of incompatibility. This applies to all primary legislation as defined by the Human Rights Act, which includes private Acts, 1998.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 21 December 1999, Official Report, column 493W, when the hon. Member for Torbay will receive a reply. [109448]

I wrote to the hon. Member on 9 February. I am sorry for the delay.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to amend his policy on (a) cannabis and (b) class B controlled drugs; and if he will make a statement. [109507]

The Government have no plans to amend their existing policy in relation to cannabis and other Class B controlled drugs.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will publish figures for race hate crimes committed in each year between 1990 and 1999 as a proportion of all reported crime; [109464]

Information is available on the new racially aggravated offences which were introduced under the Crime and Disorder Act in October 1998. The latest information indicates that 10,982 offences were recorded by all police forces in England and Wales for the period 1 April 1999–30 September 1999, 218 in Thames Valley and 7,473 in the Metropolitan police.Additional information is also available on the number of racist incidents that were recorded by the police which is wider in definition than crimes. Information covering 1993–94 to 1998–99 was published in December 1999 in Statistics on Race and the Criminal Justice System, a copy of which is in the Library. Owing to the broader definition of such offences than those covered by the recorded crime statistics it would be misleading to compare the two figures. It is currently not possible to say what proportion of such offences resulted in successful prosecutions.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many licence applications involving the administration of tobacco smoke to conscious animals were granted in (a) 1996, (b) 1997 and (c) 1998; how many animals, broken down by species, were involved in the research in each year; into which severity banding the research fell; and how many animals died as a result of the research in each year; [109078](2) what account he took of section 5(4) of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 before deciding to grant project licence applications PPL/70 04972 and PPL/70 04956; and if he will make a statement; [109079](3) how many animals broken down by species were involved in PPL 170 04972 and PPL170 04956; how the tobacco smoke is administered to the animals; how many convulsive spasms each animal is expected to suffer; into which severity banding his research falls; how many animals have died to date as a result of the research; and if he will make a statement. [109077](4) if he will make it his policy to ban live testing for the effects of tobacco smoke; and if he will make a statement; [109080](5) if he will withdraw licences authorising companies to conduct live animal testing into the effects of tobacco smoke; and if he will make a statement. [109076]

The Government stand firmly by their ban on the testing of tobacco products which was announced in November 1997. There will be no approval for any such tests. Two recently approved applications are for programmes that do not test the effects of tobacco smoke, but enable the development of treatments for chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases such as bronchitis and emphysema, which seriously debilitate many people. These health problems derive mainly from smoking, including passive smoking, as well as occupationally related lung diseases, such as those caused by the inhalation of coal dust. Tobacco smoke is the only test material to model reliably the effects that will enable a better understanding of the disease processes and improved medical treatments. The licensed research programmes are to investigate medical treatments, not the safety approval of tobacco products.The Inspectorate and the Animal Procedures Committee have advised that the licences are justifiable and that the benefits to man and animals would outweigh the costs to the animals involved. As with all project licence applications, these two licences were issued only after a full and careful assessment, including whether there were alternatives which replace animal use, reduce the number of animals needed or refine the experimental design to minimise suffering.Strict conditions were made in authorising these two programmes of research. The maximum number and species of animal that may be used per year are 1,100 mice and 1,100 guinea-pigs in one; and 2,000 mice, 1,000 rats and 1,000 guinea-pigs, in the other. Tobacco smoke is to be administered by placing the animals in inhalation chambers for set periods. They are not expected to suffer convulsive spasms. the severity bands for both project licenses are classed as moderate. To date, no animals have died as a result of the research.Table 5a of the Statistics of Scientific Procedures on Living Animals shows the number of animals used in non-toxicology procedures each year. Figures for the use of tobacco as a pharmacological tool or standard are not separated out, but there were no instances where tobacco smoke was administered to conscious animals in 1996, 1997 and 1998. No licenses were issued for the administration of tobacco smoke to conscious animals and no animals were used for tobacco research in any of these three years.Table 10a of the annual statistics gives details of the number of animals used in toxicology (safety) testing. In submitting the data for this table, licensees are instructed to include tests on tobacco alternatives with data for protocols that have used tobacco in any form. Again, the tables show that no animals were used for the safety testing of tobacco of tobacco substitutes during 1996, 1997 and 1998.Evaluating research proposals involving the use of animals is difficult and requires a delicate moral balance to be struck. Scientific developments have saved many human lives and cured many illnesses and have contributed to the health of animals and the protection of the environment. Much knowledge has come from experiments on animals. To have failed to allow that work may have resulted in many humans dying and suffering where instead they have been cured or helped. The Government want to prevent unnecessary experiments involving animals but it would be immoral, in our view, to deny victims of diseases like bronchitis and emphysema the assistance that new scientific knowledge could bring from work such as projects PPL 70/04972 and PPL 70/04956.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when copies of the information which formed the background to the Hillsborough inquiry will be moved to Liverpool; and where in the city they will be made available for public access. [109342]

Copies of the evidence considered by Lord Justice Stuart-Smith were placed in the Library following the scrutiny of the Hillsborough disaster. In response to earlier representations by my hon. Friend the Member for Crosby (Mrs. Curtis-Thomas), it was confirmed the House is willing to loan the material to a nominated library in Liverpool.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the time currently taken by each police force to make police checks under the Quality Protects Initiative. [108214]

I have been asked to reply. Separate information in the form requested is not available centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the weekly cost of keeping an elderly person (a) in an NHS ward and (b) in a residential home; and if he will make a statement. [109477]

The cost per week of patients using a bed for the medical speciality of geriatrics was estimated to be £903 in 1998–99.The weekly cost of keeping an elderly person in a residential home during 1997–98 is estimated to have been £252. Figures for 1998–99 and 1999–2000 are not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many prostate cancer operations there were in each health authority in each of the past 10 years. [102592]

The information requested has been placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (a) how many cases of influenza per 100,000 there have to be for an influenza outbreak to be defined as an epidemic and (b) how many cases of influenza per 100,000 there were on 11 January. [105677]

The epidemiologists' definition of an epidemic is an increase in the frequency of occurrence of a disease in a population above its baseline level for a specified period of time. The term epidemic can be used when describing the pattern of either infectious or chronic diseases in the population.Administrative definitions can be set for diseases in which an arbitrary threshold is selected above which the term "epidemic" is applied. In the case of influenza, the Department introduced in 1996 an administrative definition of an "epidemic" for a rate of consultation (with a sample of general practices) of 400 per 100,000 population in a week.Such influenza activity in England is thus monitored through the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) sentinel surveillance scheme. This records the number of first visits to a general practitioner with influenza-illness. Other respiratory illnesses prevalent at this time of year are recorded separately.This system does not and cannot measure the real incidence of influenza since it is restricted to those people who visit their general practitioner. This year a major campaign was run to encourage people to choose their own remedy, to consult a pharmacist and to use NHS Direct, as alternative sources of advice.The severity of the disease itself can also vary from year to year. This year the elderly have been particularly affected by the complications of influenza. The level of cases of acute bronchitis, a serious complication of influenza, is the highest the RCGP surveillance system has seen for 15 years. In describing epidemics some other countries formally include measures of severity in the definition of an epidemic. For example, the United States declares an epidemic when the proportion of deaths due to pneumonia and influenza passes a certain threshold.The latest confirmed figures from the RCGP show an overall rate of consultation of 236 per 100,000 for England for the week ending 16 January 2000.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the progress made by Shropshire Health Authority on the Government's priority health targets of cancer, coronary heart disease, mental health and accidents. [105529]