To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if all food served at his Department's official functions meets the standards of production required of domestic producers. [109786]

My Department's caterers are required to comply with all legal requirements and relevant regulations governing the procurement and preparation of food and related activities.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what progress has been made in reducing rough sleeping in London since he last published an estimate of numbers. [110298]

The most recent evidence on the number of people sleeping rough in London comes from single night street counts carried out in 11 boroughs on the night of 20 January 2000 (27 January in Lambeth).We have previously estimated that as at June 1999 there were 635 people sleeping rough in Greater London. Using the January 2000 counts to update that figure where possible, our best estimate is that there were 420 people sleeping rough in Greater London as at January 2000.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he expects to complete his evaluation of the pilot programme under the Road Traffic (Vehicle Emission) (Fixed Penalties) Regulations, which was completed in February 1999. [107351]

The Motorists' Forum, representing a range of interested parties including motor manufacturers and motoring organisations, has been invited to consider the experience of the pilot programme of roadside vehicle emission checks, and the work undertaken to date by the Cleaner Vehicle Task Force. A further announcement will be made in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the accident blackspots on roads within the Yeovil constituency for each year since 1995, with the date and details of each accident that has occurred on them; and if he will list the date and location of road accident fatalities in the area since 1995. [108745]

The assessment of local accident blackspots is a matter for the relevant highway authorities in an area. However, data on road accident fatalities are available and the dates and locations of those in the Yeovil local authority area from 1995–1998 are listed in the table.

Date	Road number	Junction with	Number of fatalities
3 August 1995	A30	A357	1
25 June 1995	A30	Unclassified	1
16 September 1995	A30		1
20 April 1996	A30	Unclassified	1
13 May 1996	A30	Unclassified	1
22 January 1996	A30		1
29 March 1996	A30		1
6 June 1996	A30		1
2 May 1998	A30		2
27 January 1998	A30		1
19 December 1998	A30		1
31 March 1995	A303		1
31 March 1995	A303	Unclassified	3
18 September 1995	A303		1
27 October 1995	A303		1
8 March 1995	A303	Unclassified	1
25 February 1996	A303	Unclassified	1
12 April 1996	A303		1
28 January 1998	A303	Unclassified	1
2 December 1998	A303		1
23 December 1998	A303		1
21 August 1998	A303		5
12 April 1995	A356		1
1 November 1997	A356		1
14 October 1996	A358	Unclassified	1
5 June 1996	A358		1
9 June 1997	A358		1
17 August 1997	A358		1
22 September 1997	A358		1
7 November 1997	A358		1
10 October 1996	A359		1
7 June 1997	A359	Unclassified	1
23 April 1998	A359	A303	1
10 August 1996	A372		2
23 August 1996	A378	Unclassified	2
22 March 1996	B3153		1
20 June 1996	B3165		1
13 April 1998	B3165		1
16 October 1995	Unclassified		1
28 April 1995	Unclassified	Unclassified	1
18 August 1995	Unclassified		1
14 December 1995	Unclassified	Unclassified	1
15 June 1995	Unclassified		1
22 November 1996	Unclassified		1
12 January 1996	Unclassified		1
19 September 1996	Unclassified	Unclassified	1
7 December 1996	Unclassified	Unclassified	1
18 January 96	Unclassified		1
1 September 1996	Unclassified		1
22 November 1996	Unclassified		1
12 April 1997	Unclassified	Unclassified	1
27 November 1997	Unclassified	Unclassified	1
31 January 1998	Unclassified		1
28 January 1998	Unclassified	Unclassified	1
23 November 1998	Unclassified		1

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the cost of the Croydon tram system; and how much was provided by the Government. [108728]

The Government contributed £125 million grant towards the estimated capital costs of £200 million for the construction of Tramlink in recognition of the system's non-user benefits. Tramtrack Croydon Ltd., the consortium of private sector companies responsible for designing, building and operating Tramlink, have raised the remainder of the cost and will run the system without public subsidy.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions to what extent repairs and maintenance to equipment used by National Air Traffic Control Ltd. will be determined by (a) need and (b) cost; and if he will make a statement. [108528]

[holding answer 8 February 2000]: All equipment operated by NATS is subject to safety case analysis and approval by the Safety Regulation Group. Repairs and maintenance are, therefore, undertaken primarily on the basis of need. NATS does, however, have an obligation to ensure that it obtains the best price at all times for such services.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many meetings she has had with the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs since 1 January. [109193]

I have had no formal meetings, apart from the Cabinet Committee, but many informal meetings with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs since 1 January.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many were employed by her Department in offices overseas on (a) 1 May 1997 and (b) 1 February 2000. [109194]

Eighty-nine UK-appointed staff were working in the Overseas Offices of the Overseas Development Administration as at 1 January 1997 (the closest date to 1 May 1997 for which figures are available). The figure for 1 January 2000 (the latest date available) is 132 staff.Figures for staff appointed in-country were not collected centrally in 1997. The figure for staff appointed locally by the Department's Overseas Offices on 1 January 2000 was 314.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent discussions her Department has had with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office concerning the resumption of direct development aid to Pakistan. [109195]

We frequently discuss our policy on Pakistan with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office colleagues, which is aimed at helping secure firm commitment to action by the Pakistani administration on poverty reduction—requiring early transition to democracy, better economic management and measures to tackle corruption. We have made it clear to the administration that, given satisfactory assurances, we should be ready to consider supporting them in pursuing fundamental reform. Meanwhile, our assistance to the poor continues through non-governmental channels.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if all food served at his Department's official functions meets the standards of production required of domestic producers. [109777]

All food served at departmental official functions is obtained from our caterer's list of approved suppliers, all of whom meet the standards of production required of UK domestic producers.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list the countries which receive British bilateral aid whose Governments are not elected by way of universal suffrage. [109203]

Information on universal suffrage is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) what representations her Department made to the Chancellor of the Exchequer concerning the decision to ban Export Credits Guarantee Department cover for arms sales to the world's 62 poorest countries; [109196]

£000
Country/project title	Start date	Total commitment	Expenditures in 1999/2000
Bangladesh
Marie Stopes Clinic Society Reproductive Health Care	September 1995	4,063	577
Fourth Population and Health: NGO Support Project	February 1997	7,300	24
Bangladesh Rural Advisory Committee (BRAC) Reproductive Health and Disease Control Project	March 1997	4,200	854
Support for Health and population for the Less Advanced (SHAPLA)	March 1999	25,000	2,500
Social Marketing of Contraceptives	September 1998	1,970	2
Bolivia
Esperanza: adolescent pregnancy prevention project	July 1996	108	15
Adolescent Reproductive health project	September 1996	303	49
Pilot Plan Vida—municipal level reproductive health services	October 1997	1,023	146
Burkina Faso
Improving Reproductive Health in Rural Areas	May 1998	231	25
Cambodia
Social Marketing of Contraceptives	January 1995	2,050	4
Social Marketing of Contraceptives II	November 1999	60	1
Colombia
Adolescent Reproductive Health	May 1998	168	26
Ethiopia
Sexual and Reproductive Health and Skills Training For Youth	April 1996	201	45
Gambia, The
Health Education Family Spacing project	April 1995	54	8
Ghana
Sexual and Reproductive Health Promotion Services For Youth	April 1997	171	27
Health Sector Investment 1	August 1997	28,627	3,432
Adolescent Reproductive Health Project	July 1999	130	20
Guatemala
Strengthening of Family Planning Services in Mayan Communities	April 1995	479	75

As part of the on-going Review of the Export Credits Guarantee Department's Mission and Status, the scope of the productive expenditure initiative is being considered, and my Department is contributing actively to that work. A copy of our Department's position paper on the role of ECGD, which was submitted to the Review in December 1999, has been placed in the Library of the House, with a copy of the supporting consultancy study.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list (a) the number and (b) aggregate costs of each birth control project funded by her Department. [109202]

In line with the principles agreed at the 1994 Cairo International Conference on Population and Development, we support programmes to improve the full breadth of reproductive health for people. This includes enabling people to choose whether and when to have children through voluntary family planning. The following table lists currently active projects and programmes which, wholly or in part, provide for family planning services or commodities.

£000
Country/project title	Start date	Total commitment	Expenditure in 1999/2000
India
Orissa Health and Family Welfare Project Phase II	March 1991	24,150	1
Reproductive Health Education Training Centre	October 1994	357	36
Promotion of Family Planning Through Peoples Participation	April 1995	436	76
Improving Sexual Health Among Lorry Drivers	April 1995	567	40
West Bengal Sexual Health	December 1995	3,962	314
Women's Empowerment and Reproductive Health Initiative	April 1996	125	27
Community Based Social Marketing	May 1996	439	2
West Bengal Reproductive Health	November 1996	1,748	161
Reproductive Health Orissa	January 1997	4,998	404
Orissa: Social marketing Population Services International (PSI)	March 1997	1,690	104
Kenya
Kenya Family Health Project	January 1993	11,645	793
Kibwezi Rural Health Scheme Women's Productive and Reproductive Health	April 1995	348	47
Income Generating Activities as an Entry Point for Women's Health	April 1995	191	20
Expanding Family Planning Service Delivery Through Market Day Midwives	September 1996	399	73
Family Planning Interim Support	November 1996	3,503	26
Social Marketing of condoms—Population Services International	May 1998	1,367	8
Malawi
Contraceptive Supply Reproductive Health	May 1993	709	1
Reproductive Health Project	September 1994	11,012	2,331
Sexual and Reproductive Health Programme (SERFS) (FA)	November 1999	31,373	0
SERFS Technical Assistance	February 1999	3,000	92
Mozambique
Maternal and Child Health And Reproductive Health	April 1997	495	85
Reproductive Health	April 1999	405	79
Social Marketing of condoms—Population Services International	November 1999	1,380	1
Myanmar
Mandalay Community Health and Community Based Rehabilitation Project	April 1996	55	6
Nepal
Nepal Reproductive Health Programme	August 1997	2,383	630
Nepal Health and Population Programme	August 1999	500	103
Niger
Zinder Reproductive Health	April 1997	500	96
Nigeria
Population and Reproduction Health Work Programme 1995–98	April 1995	1,187	87
Promoting Reproductive Health	October 1995	316	9
Integrated Modern Reproductive Health and Family Planning Services	April 1997	245	26
Community Groups Working in Sexual Health	May 1998	338	58
Social Marketing of Contraceptives	October 1998	14,000	2,572
Pakistan
World Bank Family Health Project	August 1993	14	130
Family Planning community based Information Education and Communication	April 1994	433	31
Community Based Family Planning Project	August 1994	1,380	265
Family Planning Association and Pakistan Audio Visual Vans	October 1994	210	2
Family Planning and Mother and Reproductive Health Project—Phase 2	April 1995	324	33
Family Planning Association of Pakistan Doorsteps Project	September 1995	517	44
Private Sector Population Project	November 1995	7,040	1,341
World Bank 2nd Family Health Project (Punjab/Baluchistan)	February 1997	8,500	1,468
Social Marketing of Condoms	July 1999	2,386	1,658
Peru
Multi-Sectoral Population Programme	April 1996	2,016	637
CARE: Consolidation of Multi-sectoral Population Programme	April 1997	160	22
Philippines
Static And Mobile Outreach services	April 1995	530	57
Russian Federation
Samara Reproductive Health Service Delivery	September 1997	186	72

£000
Country/project title	Start date	Total commitment	Expenditure in 1999/2000
South Africa
Condom Social Marketing For HIV/AIDS Prevention	June 1995	3,770	690
Johannesburg Reproductive Health	August 1995	830	148
Community Based RH services for young people	February 1996	279	39
Southern Africa
Labour Support	March 1999	58	36
Sri Lanka
Maternal and Child Health and Reproductive Health	October 1995	1,129	236
Sudan
Reproductive health/family planning	May 1998	500	85
Tanzania
Family Planning Services and Supply	August 1996	3,692	89
Family Planning Services and Supply 2	August 1996	421	89
Ininga Youth Centre Project	April 1997	178	16
Health Sector Development1	July 1999	45,000	1,100
Uganda
Uganda Family Health Project	October 1994	3,369	610
Family Planning Supply	December 1994	1,953	178
Kumi District Health Project	January 1996	1,474	429
Kumi District Health Project	February 1997	2,484	315
Family Health Project	February 1997	6,546	1,204
Reproductive Health Project	April 1997	475	94
Empowering Girls and Young Women Family Life Education Awareness	April 1997	132	24
Kawempe Primary Health Care Project	August 1997	587	74
Condom supply project	February 1998	234	3
Family Health Project	December 1998	45	19
Expansion Of Family Planning Reproductive Health Care	April 1999	474	82
Zambia
Zambia—Health and Population Sector Aid Package (ZHPSA)1	April 1994	20,419	1,607
Zambia Health SWAP1	January 1998	100	1
Anti Aids Project	October 1998	26	12
Zimbabwe
Family Planning Project	April 1995	230	31
Social Marketing of Contraceptives	October 1996	1,811	291
Meeting Healthcare Needs of Undeserved Populations	October 1998	302	35
Adolescent Reproductive Health	June 1999	500	371
Non-country specific
Promotion of Safe Motherhood—Population Services International	December 1997	2,500	1,000
Evaluation of community participation approaches	August 1999	40	40
UNFPA Core Grant 1999	—	Annual	15,000
IPPF Core Grant 1999	—	Annual	5,500
Total		323,215	51,346
1 Health sector-wide support programmes. These may include support for family planning

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development in the last five years, what proportion of women employees in (i) her Department, and (ii) executive agencies under the control of her Department, (a) returned to work after childbirth, (b) returned to work after childbirth before the end of maternity leave, indicating the (i) time-range and (ii) mean time, (c) returned to work after childbirth on reduced working hours, indicating the average hours worked and (d) returned to work after childbirth full-time and subsequently reduced their hours. [109235]

I am unable to provide an answer to this question as the information is not held in an easily extractable form and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost to the Department.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what Remploy products his Department has purchased in the last three years. [109938]

We have no record of any contract or payment to Remploy during the last three years.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list for each constituency the number and percentage of adults in full-time work who received a wage increase in April 1999 as a consequence of the introduction of the national minimum wage. [109686]

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Director of the Office for National Statistics. I have asked him to reply.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what assistance his Department is giving to the development of new technology for the clearance of anti-personnel land mines; [108592](2) what recent research his Department has

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Defence on 10 February 2000, Official Report, column 244W, and the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Development on 8 February 2000, Official Report, column 91W.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he next plans to meet representatives from Edinburgh University to discuss the funding of the Dervish anti-personnel land mines clearance project. [108595]

I have no such plans. I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Development on 8 February 2000, Official Report, column 91W.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent representations he has received concerning the Dervish anti-personnel land mines clearance project. [108594]

Any such representations received in this Department would be passed to the Ministry of Defence or the Department for International Development.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what measures his Department has taken to enforce the conditions of telecommunications licences that operators provide details of the expected locations of all telecommunications apparatus before giving notice of the installation of any apparatus in a particular planning authority area; what penalties are applicable when this condition is breached; and if he will list the instances in which this condition has been broken in each of the last five years, by each operator. [108501]

Enforcement in relation to these conditions is a matter for local planning authorities. Failure to pre-notify expected locations of apparatus to the local planning authority would deprive the operator of permitted development rights under Part 24 of Schedule 2 to the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995 and would subject him to normal planning law. The local planning authority would then be responsible for taking action under normal planning enforcement procedures. Remedies could include a requirement to remove the apparatus concerned. As this is a matter for planning authorities, DTI does not receive details of breaches.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry who is responsible for monitoring the level of power densities produced by telecommunications masts; what proportion of masts were checked in 1999; and if he will list by operator the masts found to produce power densities in excess of the limits set by the NRPB in each of the last three years. [108496]

The responsibility for monitoring the level of power densities produced by telecommunications masts rests with the operators of the masts in accordance with their duties under the Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act 1974. The Health and Safety Executive requires operators to prevent access by members of the public to areas, usually within a couple of metres of the antennae, where power densities may exceed NRPB guidelines.The Radiocommunications Agency will investigate complaints about emissions from telecommunications masts, though the cost of any report on a particular site must be borne by the complainant. To my knowledge, no mast has been found where members of the public are exposed above NRPB guideline limits. No information is held on the proportion of masts checked in 1999.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to assess the energy and environmental implications of the development of e-commerce and greater use of teleworking and video conferencing. [108686]

As I announced last week, my Department, with the DETR, is supporting a year long inquiry into the environmental and social impacts of the development of e-commerce. This project, called "Digital Futures", will be managed by Forum for the Future and has the support of business as well as Government. It will report in early 2001.The Government continue to develop and keep under review their information about the nature of energy consumption and projections of future energy demand, taking into account a range of social and economic trends, including e-commerce, teleworking and video conferencing.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list those local authorities or partnership schemes which have recently been awarded support under the RECITE-II regeneration partnership programme, giving the size of each award and the main focus of the scheme supported. [108687]

RECITE II is a Community Initiative run by the European Commission. The programme is aimed at encouraging and promoting co-operation between regional and local authorities.A table showing the projects which have been awarded support and the size of each project grant is being placed in the House of Commons Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many staff were seconded from the private sector to his Department from (a) May 1997 to April 1998, (b) May 1998 to April 1999 and (c) May 1999 to the latest date for which figures are available, stating in each case the companies from which staff have been seconded. [109070]

[holding answer 8 February 2000]: From the information that is held centrally within the Department, the details we have on inward secondments are as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if all regulatory proposals relating to the introduction of stakeholder pension schemes will be scrutinised by the Chief Executive of the Small Business Service to ensure that they are (a) easy to understand, (b) easy to comply with and (c) difficult to evade. [107921]

The Government's approach is to regulate only where it is necessary to achieve the desired effect. An important aim is to minimise the burden that would be placed on small firms. Therefore, the Chief Executive of the Small Business Service will be consulted by Government Departments on all regulatory proposals that affect small firms. The process of making regulations easy to understand, easy to comply with and difficult to avoid will, of course, include the proposals relating to the introduction of stakeholder pension schemes.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many waste tyres were produced in the United Kingdom in the last year; and by what means they were disposed of. [109685]

The Used Tyre Working Group, a joint Government/Industry initiative established to consider used tyre disposal issues, estimated that around 465,000 tonnes of tyres were disposed of in 1998. Of this total, it is estimated that value was recovered from approximately 330,000 tonnes. The table provides a breakdown:

	Tonnes
Exports of used casings	35,000
Re-used as part-worn tyres	29,000
Other reuse (silage clamps, dock fenders, etc.)	20,000
Retreaded tyres	86,000
Materials recovery	49,000
Energy recovery	84,500
Landfill engineering	25,500

It is estimated that a significant proportion of the outstanding balance of some 135,000 tonnes was disposed of in landfill, either in whole or shredded form or as automotive shredder residue.The Used Tyre Working Group is currently in the process of collecting used tyre disposal statistics for 1999.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what targets he is setting for the employment of women in the operational fire service. [110283]

I am today announcing targets for the recruitment, retention and career progression of women in the fire service. By 2009, the Government expect 15 per cent. of the operational fire service (whole-time and retained firefighters and their officers) in England and Wales to be women and for them to remain in the service and be promoted at the same rate as their male colleagues.At present, the number of women in the whole-time operational fire service is only 1 per cent. A recent report from Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Fire Services has conformed that there is no possible justification for such low numbers. The target is deliberately challenging and will require brigades to take steps to encourage a more open inclusive culture and to revise procedures and practices which the Chief Inspector's thematic review found to be potentially discriminatory.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he intends to review the work of the Parole Board. [110302]

The Parole Board is an executive Non-Departmental Public Body, established on 1 July 1996. The Government are committed to regular review of Non-Departmental Public Bodies, and have decided to conduct a review of the Board during the current year. The review will incorporate the requirements of the 'Quinquennial Review' process. The review will also look at the scope for improvements in the efficiency and effectiveness of the Parole Board and the wider parole process (for both determinate and life sentenced prisoners).

Number of offenders fined 1 and average fine given at all courts by type of offence, England and Wales, 1988–98
	Indictable		Summary non-motoring		Summary motoring		Total all offences
Year	Number fined	Average fine (£)	Number fined	Average fine (£)	Number fined	Average fine (£)	Number fined	Average fine (£)
18882	151,716	110	406,042	62	690,575	85	1,248,333	81
19892	135,403	123	406,857	68	685,560	102	1,227,820	93
19902	134,662	150	397,720	72	660,332	113	1,192,714	103
19912	118,672	129	382,119	74	665,773	111	1,166,564	101
19922	109,074	133	400,323	78	674,445	110	1,183,842	101
1993	102,926	134	382,256	102	606,302	149	1,091,484	131
19942	98,195	148	380,826	98	576,223	160	1,055,244	137
19952	89,424	157	328,652	103	578,639	166	996,715	145
19962	84,617	184	402,697	103	585,710	161	1,073,024	141
1997	88,035	192	327,312	104	583,325	163	998,672	146
1998	94,592	185	367,901	105	598,250	162	1,060,743	144
1 Based on the number of offenders fined for their principal offence where the main or only disposal was a fine.
2 Known shortfall in the number of proceedings in magistrates courts for these years.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the current either-way criminal offences; and if he will make a statement. [109879]

There is no readily available list of triable either-way offences. Appendix 4 of the annual Command Paper "Criminal Statistics England and Wales" lists just over 370 triable either-way offence codes which are used for statistical purposes. Each code may cover more than one offence and these codes cover approximately 700 offences. Other triable either-way offences are grouped together under one 'ad hoc' code. Copies of the Command Paper are available in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many fines for criminal offences were issued in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available; what was the average fine (a) for each category of offence and (b) overall; and if he will make a statement. [109880]

The information is given in the following table.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the public service agreement commitments made by his department since May 1997; and if he will make a statement. [109882]

The Home Office Public Sector Agreement, together with those for the Criminal Justice System and Action against Illegal Drugs which also include targets for the Home Office and the services for which it is responsible, were published in the White Paper "Public Services for the Future: Modernisation, Reform, Accountability" in January 1999.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many performance targets have been set by his Department, agencies and non departmental public bodies since May 1997 on (a) prisons policy, (b) police policy, (c) fire and emergency planning policy, (d) probation policy, (e) immigration, asylum and nationality policy, (f) constitutional policy, (g) reducing crime, (h) the prevention of terrorism and the reduction of organised and international crime, (i) sentencing, (j) youth justice policy, (k) crime prevention policy, (l) policy relating to victims and witnesses and (m) community and voluntary sector policy; how many of those targets have been (i) amended, (ii) revoked and (iii) achieved since May 1997; and if he will make a statement. [109881]

Following the Comprehensive Spending Review, key performance targets were published in the White Paper "Modernisation, Reform, Accountability" in January 1999. Those to be delivered by the Home Office and the services for which it is responsible were detailed within the Home Office, Public Service Agreement (PSA) as well as the Public Service Agreements for the Criminal Justice System and Action against Illegal Drugs. These targets, together with other key targets and milestones for the Home Office, were brought together within the 1999–2000 Business Plan for the Home Office, a copy of which I have placed in the Library.These targets and milestones are based on outcomes required rather than functional inputs. The Business Plan, therefore, groups them according to the published Aims of the Home Office. These are as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department under what authority applicants for criminal injuries compensation on the pre-statutory scheme are being required by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board to pay the compensation to a trust, with any balance repayable on the applicant's death; at what levels of compensation cases are affected by this policy decision; how many cases have been caught by this policy decision; what is the total amount of compensation involved; and if he will make a statement. [109370]

The 1990 criminal injuries compensation scheme gives the Board discretion to make special arrangements for the administration of a compensation award, including the establishment of a trust. The exercise of that discretion in individual cases is a matter for the Board, not Ministers. I understand from the Board that it operates no rigid policy in this area, but exercises its discretion on the facts of each case. I understand also that the Board does not keep statistics in the form requested.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what initiatives are in place in Oxfordshire for (a) support for victims and (b) prevention of racial harassment and violence. [109124]

[holding answer 9 February 2000]: Comprehensive information on these subjects is not readily available. However, the National Association of Victim Support Schemes (NAVSS) is represented in Oxfordshire by a county scheme, providing voluntary support for victims of crime. The scheme is administered at local level within the county with branch offices at Banbury, Oxford and Didcot/Wallingford. Home Office funding has recently been approved for Victim Support to develop a witness support service at magistrates courts in the country.Local police initiatives in Oxford with the lesbian and gay community have raised reporting levels of homophobic and 'hate-crimes' with the establishment of informal community support networks for victims.As regards tackling racial harassment and violence, all police areas in the county now have dedicated Community and Race Relations officer to work closely with external bodies and communities. The Oxford Multi-Agency Approach to Racial Harassment has existed in Oxford for over 10 years at a senior officer and caseworker level, acting as a third-party and referral agency for victims of racial harassment and violence. Through local private support and Single Regeneration Budget funding, this group has been expanded to become Agencies Acting Together, Tackling Racial Harassment in Oxfordshire.Later this month, Oxfordshire Race Equality Council will be organising a conference entitled 'Stephen Lawrence—One Year On' which will bring together leaders from Police, Education, Health, Courts, the Crown Prosecution Service and voluntary organisations, and will draw up a set of specific actions to be achieved within the next 12 months. The focus will be on the 70 recommendations of the Stephen Lawrence inquiry, and will culminate in the public signing of a joint declaration to fight racism in Oxfordshire.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list for the financial year 1998–99 the number and total value of contracts let by his Department with external consultants and advisers that have (a) been put out to competitive tender, (b) not been put out to competitive tender and (c) been let on a non-commercial basis, stating in each case the names of the individuals or organisations that have carried out the work. [109063]

[holding answer 8 February 2000]: The information requested is not immediately available in the form requested. I am arranging for the information to be collated and will write to the hon. Member when it is available.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much in total it has cost London authorities to support asylum seekers from the time when benefit was withdrawn to 31 January. [108796]

The Home Office assumed responsibility for the budget for supporting asylum seekers in April 1999. This includes reimbursing costs, within unit cost and overall cash limits, incurred by local authorities for supporting asylum seekers under the National Assistance Act 1948 and the Children Acts. Responsibility for reimbursing local authorities by grant in respect of supporting asylum seekers previously rested with the Department of Health.Information on the total cost of supporting asylum seekers through local authorities for the period in question is currently not available. But the Department of Health made grant payments to London boroughs of £66 million in 1997–98 and £161 million in 1998–99 in respect of costs incurred in supporting asylum seekers. The figure for 1996–97 is not available in the form requested and the figure for the period 1 April 1999 to 31 January 2000 is not yet known.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the estimated total expenditure by London authorities on asylum seekers in 2000; and how much of this expenditure will not be covered by Government grants. [108795]

The Home Office assumed responsibility for the budget for the costs of supporting asylum seekers in April 1999 and has a provisional allocation of £300 million for support for the financial year 2000–01. Estimates for the costs expected to be incurred in 2000–01 are currently under review.Those costs are sensitive to a range of factors, including the number of asylum applications, the speed of processing and take up rates. For the London authorities, in respect of which an estimate of total expenditure on asylum seekers in 2000 is not available, a further factor will be the extent to which asylum seekers are dispersed to other locations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if all food served at his Department's official functions meets the standards of production required of domestic producers. [109770]

All catering contracts the NIO awards include a clause to ensure they conform to current legislative standards.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many officers currently serving in the RUC Criminal Investigation Department have served on the force (a) less than five years, (b) more than five and less than 10 years, (c) more than 10 years and less than 15 years and (d) more than 15 years. [107820]

At 1 February 2000, there were two officers attached to the Criminal Investigation Department with less than five years' service in the Royal Ulster Constabulary: 43 officers with more than five years' but less than 10 years' service; 119 officers with more than 10 years' but less than 15 years' service; and 645 officers with more than 15 years' service.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many officers currently serving in the RUC Special Branch have served on the force (a) less than five years, (b) more than five and less than 10 years, (c) more than 10 and less than 15 years, (d) more than 15 years. [107821]

As at 1 February 2000, there were no officers attached to Special Branch with less than 5 years' service in the Royal Ulster Constabulary; 18 officers with more than 5 years' but less than 10 years' service; 74 officers with more than 10 years' but less than 15 years' service; and 592 officers with more than 15 years' service.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security 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. [109266]

[holding answer 9 February 2000]: The information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if the credit rating of companies seeking to tender for services provided by his Department is checked before the contract is awarded. [107743]

For DSS contracts the financial viability of prospective suppliers is always checked. This is usually conducted at a pre-qualification stage and before companies are formally invited to submit an offer. On most occasions companies are required to provide three years accounts. This information is professionally appraised in consideration of the expected value and relative risk of the contract.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how often the credit rating of companies supplying services to his Department is checked. [107747]

Once a contract has been let, it is not usual practice to conduct detailed reappraisals of financial information on suppliers unless there is reason to believe that the financial standing of a supplier has changed significantly since the contract was let.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will give (a) the target time between receipt of an application for support from the Child Support Agency and the serving of papers on the absent parent and (b) the actual average time for this process in the most recent year for which the information is available. [109181]

The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive, Mrs. Faith Boardman. She will write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many parents in (a) the United Kingdom and (b) Scotland who are in receipt of lone parent premium receive payment of child benefit by way of order book; and of those how many are in receipt of income support; [109112](2) how many people in

The administration of child benefit is a matter for Peter Mathison, the Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 17 January, Official Report, column 333W, on automated credit transfer, if he will break down his estimate of the £400 million per year anticipated savings from paying benefits and pensions directly into bank accounts rather than through post offices to show the proportion of these savings which result from (a) reduced payments to post offices, (b) reduced paper and printing costs and (c) other sources; and if he will make a statement. [109481]

It is not appropriate to give a full breakdown of how the overall savings figure is calculated as part of the costs are commercially confidential between the Benefits Agency and its suppliers.

PO rewards scheme claims
	October 1995 to 31 March 1996	1 April 1996 to 30 March 1997	31 March 1997 to 29 March 1998	30 March 1998 to 28 March 1999	29 March 1999 to 26 December 1999
Number of claims accepted	23,397	53,156	54,021	49,396	39,378
Value of IoPs (OBs and giros) impounded on accepted claims	£11,463,664.27	£28,034,410.40	£29,694,440.67	£27,894,642.61	£24,163,044.65
Rejected	3,671	6,078	6,095	7,994	6,795
Value of IoPs (OBs and giros) impounded on rejected claims	£1,725,840.33	£2,697,306.93	£2,877,367.61	£4,113,746.71	£3,631,145.92
Total value of IoPs (OBs and giros) impounded	£13,189,504.60	£30,731,717.33	£32,571,808.28	£32,008,389.32	£27,794,190.57

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much pensioners would have received this year if the award had been related to earnings rather than inflation; and what weekly increase they would have received this year. [109590]

The information is in the table.

Amount of basic retirement pension payable to pensioners if increased bu earnings for April 2000
£
	Amount of basic retirement pension	Weekly increase
Single pensioner	69.75	3.00
Married couple	111.50	4.80

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he intends to increase the 25 pence age addition on the basic state pension awarded to those aged 80 years; and if he will make a statement. [109599]

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many cases of benefit fraud were identified by post offices and sub-post offices each year since 1990; in how many of these cases a compensation payment has been made to post offices as a reward for reducing fraud; and if he will make a statement. [109480]

The Benefits Agency does not maintain records on the number of cases of benefit fraud identified by post offices and sub-post offices since 1990. However, aggregated statistics on applications, payments and rejections since the introduction of the Post Office Rewards Scheme are detailed in the table. These figures do not include instances of fraud prevention by post office staff in compliance with their normal contractual obligations.Post Office staff are required to make contractually agreed security checks before the encashment of order books and girocheques. One of the initiatives to combat fraud at the point of encashment is the Post Office Reward Scheme, which offers financial incentives to Post Office staff who impound instruments of payment beyond their contractual requirement. This scheme was introduced nationally in October 1995. Post Office staff can be paid a reward of £10.00 (£25.00 in exceptional cases).

We have no plans to increase the 25 pence age addition on the basic state pension to those over aged 80 or over. Our priority has been to help the poorest pensioners and to help all pensioner households with the fuel bills that are most difficult to pay.We have recently announced that in addition to raising the state pension we are increasing the Minimum Income Guarantee for pensioners in line with earnings. With Winter Fuel Payments, changes to VAT on fuel, the Minimum Income Guarantee and introducing free TV licences, the oldest, poorest pensioners will gain over £500 a year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many cases of pseudomonas have reported to his Department in each of the last five years in each health authority in England and Wales; [105882](2) how many hospitals have notified his Department of problems relating to pseudomonas in each of the last five years; [105883]

Pseudomonas species can cause infections of the urinary tract, chest and blood stream. The most relevant data available centrally about cases of pseudomonas are those for bactaermia (blood infections) caused by pseudomonas species as reported by National Health Service laboratories to the Public Health Laboratory Service. Information for the years 1995–99 by NHS regions is given in the following table. Information on NHS hopital inpatient activity is available from

Laboratory reports of bacteraemias caused by Psuedomonas—1995 to 1999
Health region	Organism	1995	1996	1997	1998	1999	Grand total
Eastern	Pseudomonas Aeruginosa	74	96	92	97	97	456
	Pseudomonas SP	15	15	37	31	51	149
Total		89	111	129	128	148	605
London	Pseudomonas Aeruginosa	197	216	204	189	201	1,007
	Pseudomonas SP	24	32	26	48	48	178
Total		221	248	230	237	249	1,185
North West	Pseudomonas Aeruginosa	151	139	173	174	162	799
	Pseudomonas SP	13	25	41	57	45	181
Total		164	164	214	231	207	980
Northern and Yorkshire	Pseudomonas Aeruginosa	159	165	112	165	192	793
	Pseudomonas SP	38	38	29	27	41	173
Total		197	203	141	192	233	966
South East	Pseudomonas Aeruginosa	234	232	217	214	198	1,095
	Pseudomonas SP	23	24	22	28	24	121
Total		257	256	239	242	222	1,216
South West	Pseudomonas Aeruginosa	116	133	173	130	128	680
	Pseudomonas SP	13	12	16	20	21	82
Total		129	145	189	150	149	762
Trent	Pseudomonas Aeruginosa	90	119	164	137	202	712
	Pseudomonas SP	25	30	24	22	38	139
Total		115	149	188	159	240	851
Wales	Pseudomonas Aeruginosa	42	93	88	95	96	414
	Pseudomonas SP	7	22	23	20	33	105
Total		49	115	111	115	129	519
West Midlands	Pseudomonas Aeruginosa	105	108	161	175	167	716
	Pseudomonas SP	17	31	50	95	62	255
Total		122	139	211	270	229	971
Grand total		1,343	1,530	1,652	1,724	1,806	8,055

To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the second stage of the meningitis C vaccination programme for one to five-year-olds will commence. [105892]

Roll-out of the meningococcal Group immunisation programme is dependent on satisfactory vaccine supply. Those children at highest risk of meningococcal disease are being offered immunisation first. The "catch-up" programme to immunise all children under the age of two years began this month and is planned to be completed by the end of March. Immunisation of other children under five years will commence as quickly as vaccine supplies become available. Parents will be told when their children are to be called for immunisation. All children and young people under 18 should have been offered vaccine by the end of 2000.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what advice the UK National Radiological Protection Board has given to travellers to Kosovo. [106928]

The National Radiological Protection Board has given the following advice to travellers to Kosovo in an information sheet issued in July 1999 on Depleted Uranium:

"People visiting or working in Kosovo, for example press and relief agencies, should seek advice from appropriate authorities on the disposition of damaged vehicles or areas of DU contamination and avoid disturbing these areas. If access to potentially contaminated areas is deemed essential, then advice should be sought from the Ministry of Defence or the Foreign Office on any protective measures required."

This information may be found on the NRPB's website.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what percentage of women in the age brackets (a) 18 to 30, (b) 30 to 40, (c) 40 to 50, (d) 50 to 65 and (e) 65 years and over were routinely offered screening for breast cancer on a call and recall basis in each of the last five years; [106997](2) what is the survival rate for women whose breast cancer is discovered

The number of women who died from breast cancer in the last five years is shown in the table:

Deaths from cancer of the female breast 1, years of occurrence, England and Wales
	Age group
	20–292	30–39	40–49	50–64	65+	Total
1993	33	321	1,229	3,273	8,172	13,028
1994	29	372	1,227	3,204	7,998	12,830
1995	30	332	1,199	3,153	7,829	12,543
1996	24	340	1,153	2,946	7,716	12,179
1997	25	359	1,032	2,985	7,579	11,980
1998	26	320	1,020	3,021	7,372	11,759
1 International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, code 174.
2 There were no deaths from female breast cancer at ages 18 and 19 in the years in question.

Information about women screened is available for the target age group for the National Heath Service breast screening programme, which is 50 to 64. Some women over the age of 65 continue to be called for screening under the programme, for example to follow up questions raised by a previous mammogram. Information about those women screened on a call and recall basis in each of the last five years is shown in the table.

Thousand
	Number of women screened
	Age 50–64	65 and over
1993–94	929.7	1—
1994–95	952.8	12.9
1995–96	949.7	14.4
1996–97	982.0	16.8
1997–98	1,030.7	23.2
1 Not available

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the production and availability of DTP boosters. [107510]

Diphtheria, tetanus (DT) vaccine rather than diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis vaccine is used as a booster in the United Kingdom immunisation programme. DT has been in short supply due to the inability of Medeva, one of the two UK licensed sources, to supply contracted vaccine. A third manufacturer, Behring, has now obtained a product licence for its DT vaccine to be used in the UK and the first batches are due for release at the end of February 2000. This should give the UK enough stock to allow GPs and clinics to catch up on any deferred appointments for immunisation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the advice given by the World Health Organisation on the addition of fluoride to the water supply. [107728]

Recommendation 7 on page 35 of the World Health Organisation Technical Report Series 846 "Fluorides and Oral Health: Report of a WHO Expert Committee on Oral Health Status and Fluoride Use" (1994) is that:

"Community water fluoridation is safe and cost-effective and should be introduced and maintained wherever it is socially acceptable and feasible. The optimum water fluoride concentration will normally be within the range 0.5–1.0 mg/l."

We will have regard to the World Health Organisation's views in developing policy in this area following the results of the review of fluoridation being undertaken by the University of York.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the proportion of ingested fluoride that is retained in the body of a healthy adult. [107612]

The Department has not undertaken any such assessment. One recent review (United States National Research Council "Health effects of ingested fluoride" 1993) noted that

"Approximately 75–90 per cent. of the fluoride ingested each day is absorbed from the alimentary tract. Of the fluoride absorbed by the young or middle-aged adult each day, approximately 50 per cent. will be associated with calcified tissues within 24 hours and the remainder will be excreted in urine".

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what evidence he has received on the relationship between incidence of Down's syndrome and the fluoridation of water. [107611]

The independent expert advisory Committee on Mutagenicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment considered fluoride in 1987, 1990 and 1995 and advised that

"there is sufficient evidence from the available data to conclude that the consumption of fluoridated water would not constitute a mutagenic hazard to man through the induction of heritable abnormalities in the germ cells."

This implies that there is no biological basis for suspecting any relationship between fluoridation and the incidence of Down's syndrome. Epidemiological studies by Rapaport in the 1950s claimed to have shown an association, but were flawed and not supported by later epidemiological studies by others. An evaluation of the epidemiological studies will form part of the expert scientific review of fluoride and health in progress at the National Health Service Centre for Reviews and Dissemination at the University of York.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans his Department has for publicising the value of selenium in the diet in reducing incidence of cancer. [107662]

Selenium is an essential trace element which is particularly important in protecting the body against oxidative damage of the cells. Such damage is linked to diseases such as cancer and heart disease. It is therefore hypothesised that increasing selenium in the diet may decrease the risk of cancer.The influence of diet and nutrition on the incidence of cancer was considered by the Committee on Medical Aspects of Food and Nutrition Policy in its 1998 report entitled "Nutritional Aspects of the Development of Cancer"' which stated that there was not enough evidence to reach conclusions for any specific links between selenium in the diet and cancer. We are funding research into the role of antioxidants, including selenium, in health and disease.We have made reduction in death rates from cancer one of our four headline targets in our health strategy "Saving Lives: Our Healthier Nation". Action towards this target includes promoting a healthy and balanced diet, that is one which is varied and rich in cereals, fruit and vegetables.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what obligation he has placed on primary care trusts which wish to change their governance arrangements in a manner that departs from the guidance recently issued by his Department to consult with (a) users and (b) staff likely to be employed by the such trusts and their representatives. [107668]

[holding answer 31 January 2000]: The membership structure of each primary care trust is set out in its establishment order and must be in accordance with the Primary Care Trust (Membership, Procedure and Administration Arrangements) Regulations 2000. The Primary Care Trusts (Consultation on Establishment, Dissolution and Transfer of Staff) Regulations 1999 provide that before an establishment order is amended so as to alter the membership of the trust then the health authority must consult the trust concerned. There is however no obligation under the regulations to consult users or staff. This mirrors the existing situation for NHS trusts.None the less, the Primary Care Trusts (Consultation on Establishment, Dissolution and Transfer of Staff) Regulations 1999 set out the consultation requirements which must be complied with before an order establishing a PCT is made. The regulations state that the health authority within whose area the primary care trust is to be established must consult, among others, the local community health council, bodies that represent health care professionals, any voluntary organisations that represent patients or their private carers, and any other persons considered appropriate. Also Health Service Circular 1999/167, "PCTs: the Application Process", stated that those to be consulted on proposals for PCTs should include, among others, trade unions, and other staff or professional representative groups.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many children under the age of 16 years were admitted to hospital as a result of severe unintentional injury resulting in a stay longer than three days for (a) 1997–98 and (b) 1998–99, (i) in absolute terms and (ii) expressed as a rate per thousand people. [108347]

The Hospital Episode Statistics database indicates that, in 1997–98, 10,457 children under the age of 16 were admitted to hospital as a result of an unintentional injury that resulted in a stay longer than three days. This translates into a rate per thousand people of 1.04. Figures for 1998–99 are not yet available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will investigate the advantages and disadvantages of fiscal measures to encourage or discourage the purchase of certain foods, with particular reference to those containing a high proportion of saturated fatty acids. [109101]

The White Paper "Our Healthier Nation" recognised that unhealthy diets are a risk factor for coronary heart disease, stroke and for some cancers. Therefore, everyone can reduce the risk by reducing their intakes of fat and saturated fatty acids, increasing carbohydrate intakes and increasing consumption of fruit and vegetables.The theory that selected fiscal measures would have a significant effect on saturated fatty acid intakes of particular population groups is still unproven. It depends on basic assumptions about the strength of relationships between prices and purchases which would require much further testing before their validity could be accepted and further investigations justified.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will investigate the advantages of general screening of men over a certain age for prostate cancer; and if he will make a statement. [109120]

[holding answer 8 February 2000]: The National Screening Committee, which advises the United Kingdom Health Departments about changes to screening policy, advised Ministers in 1997 that screening for prostate cancer, with current techniques for diagnosis and treatment, showed no evidence of benefit and could cause considerable harm. A report from the International Network of Agencies for Health Technology Assessment, published in January 1999, stated that mass screening for prostate cancer does not fulfil the ethical requirements and principles to avoid harm and do good. We have asked the Programme Director for the National Screening Committee, the National Cancer Director and the Director of Research and Development to keep this under active review.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to establish a pay review body for ancillary staff in the NHS; and if he will make a statement. [108901]

[holding answer 8 February 2000]: "Agenda for Change" set out proposals for modernising National Health Service pay which included placing staff on one of three pay spines: one for doctors and dentists covered by the Doctors and Dentists Review Body, one for staff covered by the Nursing and Professions Allied to Medicine Pay Review Body and one for other staff. Confidential talks are continuing with NHS Unions about which staff groups may join an expanded NPRB without changing its fundamentally professional nature. The "Joint Framework of Principles and Agreed Statement on the Way Forward" proposes that a single pay negotiation council be established to negotiate pay uplifts for groups not covered by the Pay Review Bodies.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many outbreaks of MRSA have been reported to the Public Health Laboratory Service in each (a) month and (b) year of the last three years; what information is collected by the PHLS of the number of patients affected; and if he will establish central records of each patient affected by MRSA. [109017]

[holding answer 9 February 2000]: MRSA is the antibiotic resistant form of 'Staphylococcus aureus', a bacterium which is carried harmlessly on the skin by at least a third of the population. About 80 per cent. of people who acquire MRSA similarly carry it harmlessly on the skin and do not suffer from any infection. Neither the number of hospitals recording MRSA outbreaks nor the total number of patients in National Health Service hospitals who have MRSA are recorded centrally. The Public Health Laboratory Service (PHLS) compiles aggregate data on numbers of incidents of MRSA which are voluntarily reported by NHS trusts. The available data on the incidents of MRSA are given in the table. We are working with PHLS on improving surveillance systems so as to provide more complete data on MRSA. This includes reviewing the Nosocomial Infection National Surveillance Scheme in order to increase the numbers of hospitals which participate.

Incidents of1 MRSA in England and Wales 1994–1998
Year	Total
1997	22,364
1998	31,597
1999	1,310
1 An incident is three or more patients infected or colonised by the same strain of MRSA in the same month from the same hospital.
2 The figures for 1997 and 1998 reflect the new NHS.
3 The criteria for submission of isolates for specialist tests were revised in December 1997.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the number of doctors who will qualify and join the NHS in each of the next five years. [109258]

[holding answer 10 February 2000]: The forecast output from medical schools in any one year cannot be accurately predicted.Although most undergraduate medical courses are five years in length, some last for six years and many students on five-year courses delay their year of qualification by studying for an intercalated Honours degree. In addition, from 1999, some graduates will be admitted to shorter four-year medical degrees.The latest figures from the Higher Education Funding Council for England, show that in July 1999 3,097 doctors qualified from English medical schools. The medical school intake figures from the last five years suggest that by July 2004 the output from medical schools will have increased by some 10 to 15 per cent. above the 1999 position.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will estimate the numbers of doctors who will leave the NHS in each of the next five years before reaching the age of retirement; [109259](2) if he will estimate the number of

[holding answer 10 February 2000]: Information on the numbers of doctors, nurses, midwives and health visitors and the professions allied to medicine likely to leave the National Health Service before reaching the age of retirement is not available centrally and is a matter for National Health Service trusts.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if the Chief Medical Officer's proposals for appraising doctors, set out in "Supporting Doctors, Protecting Patients", will (a) involve examination of the amount of private practice carried out by doctors and (b) make NHS employers responsible for monitoring the amount of private work carried out by consultants. [109884]

The aim of appraisal is a positive one; to help a doctor develop and progress as a health professional. In the National Health Service the appraisal process will include consideration of the achievement of the doctor's contractual obligations.It is for employers and employees to agree the balance between consultants' private and NHS work. Consultants' responsibilities for the clinical care of their NHS patients must come first.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what responsibility NHS employers have for monitoring consultants' private practice. [109883]

The vast majority of our consultants work hard for the National Health Service and more than fulfil their contractual duties.NHS terms and conditions of service requires hospital consultants and the general manager responsible for the management of their contract to agree a job plan for the performance of duties under their contract of employment.A whole time consultant is permitted to have private practice earnings of up to 10 per cent. of their gross NHS salary. If asked by their employer, they must provide fully audited accounts showing their gross income from private practice. If their private practice income exceeds 10 per cent. of their NHS salary in two consecutive years, they have the option of a maximum part-time contract, which means that the consultant foregoes one eleventh of whole time salary, in return for the removal of the restrictions on private practice earnings. However whether on a whole time or maximum part time contract there is a clear contractual obligation to devote substantially the whole of their professional time to their NHS duties.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he will reply to the letter from the Right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed dated 23 September, relating to the non-availability of the meningitis vaccination in Berwick-upon-Tweed in September. [107288]

I have been asked to reply.My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health replied to the right hon. Member on 2 February 2000.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if all food served at his Department's official functions meets the standards of production required of domestic producers. [109779]

All food served at my Department's official functions is provided by contractors who meet the standards of production required of domestic producers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to his answer of 14 December 1999, Official Report, column 131W, concerning contracts with Dome sponsors, if all documentation has now been signed; what outstanding matters remain to be resolved; and if he will make a statement. [104601]

[holding answer 13 January 2000]: Seven contracts were outstanding at 14 December and reported to the House in my reply to the hon. Member of that date. Four of these contracts have now been signed and three remain to be signed at 10 February—Boots, Mars Confectionary and BSkyB. While NMEC had hoped that they would all have been completed at this stage, one or two matters of detail remain subject to discussion between the respective parties. The company has every confidence that the contracts will be signed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he has taken since 12 October 1999 to restrain or restrict the export to Pakistan of military or dual-use goods for which a valid licence is in force. [106648]

[holding answer 24 January 2000]: In view of the changed circumstances in Pakistan following the coup, case by case consideration of new licence applications for military or dual-use goods has taken time to process under our own strict criteria and the EU Code of Conduct. No new licences have been approved since 12 October. However, some exporters with valid licences agreed before then may have completed deliveries under these licences.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has received concerning the sale of British arms to Pakistan. [108879]

[holding answer 8 February 2000]: We receive representations from a number of individuals and organisations about arms sales to many countries, including Pakistan. I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Leyton and Wanstead (Mr. Cohen) on 20 January 2000, Official Report, column 578W.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the situation in Angola. [109340]

Although Angolan government forces appear to be in the ascendency Savimbi undoubtedly retains the capacity to wage a prolonged guerrilla war. We do not believe military action will bring a satisfactory resolution to the conflict. Only a political solution will bring a lasting peace. But Savimbi's word cannot be trusted. We urge UNITA to replace Savimbi as leader. With a different leadership UNITA can be part of a negotiated settlement and be as much part of the solution as it has been part of the problem.We strongly support UN sanctions against UNITA and the work of the UN Angola Sanctions Committee. We are encouraging UN member states to ensure tighter implementation of all sanctions. We are also keen to make humanitarian assistance available to all Angolans.We are concerned at allegations that oil revenues may be being diverted for corrupt purposes. I raised this with President dos Santos when I met him in New York on 24 January. It is in Angola's long term interest to spend her oil revenue on building up her skills base, rehabilitation and infrastructure.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many staff were seconded from the private sector to his Department in (a) May 1997 to April 1998, (b) May 1998 to April 1999 and (c) May 1999 to the latest date for which figures are available, stating in each case the companies from which staff have been seconded. [109289]

[holding answer 9 February 2000]: My department has an active Interchange Programme with the private sector. The Modernising Government White Paper has committed us to increasing this activity.Details of staff seconded from the Private Sector to the FCO including British Trade International are as follows: