To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what guidance his Department has issued to ensure that legal advisers working on a conditional fee basis make disclosures of that fact to any other party to litigation or to a transaction; and if the guidance provides that such disclosures be made. [110034]

At present there is no need for special guidance as the opponent's liability for costs is unaffected if a claimant chooses to finance litigation through a conditional fee agreement. However, the success fee in a conditional fee agreement and the premium for any insurance policy against costs will become recoverable from the losing party from 1 April, when the relevant provisions of the Access to Justice Act 1999 come into force. On 1 February, the Government published a report entitled "The Government's Conclusions Following Consultation on Conditional Fees: Sharing the Costs of Litigation". In view of the opponent's potential liability for increased costs if there is a success fee or insurance premium, the report includes recommendations to the Civil Procedure Rule Committee as to how rules of court might deal with issues of disclosure. Copies of the report have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the progress of the PFI project involving vehicle supply, support and maintenance for Nottinghamshire Police; and if he will make a statement. [110345]

I understand that negotiations between the Nottinghamshire Police and the preferred bidders for this project are continuing, with a view to a contract being signed early in the next financial year.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he plans to announce the appointment of the Chairman of the Gambling Review Body and the body's terms of reference. [110759]

Further to the reply I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Dundee, West (Mr. Ross) on 8 December 1999, Official Report, column 534W, I have today appointed Sir Alan Budd as Chairman of the Gambling Review Body.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many prisoners are undergoing treatment on a sex offender therapy programme; how many prisoners have been recommended for treatment on such a course in the past year; and by how much demand for places outstrips supply; [110082](2) what is the average time between recommendation for treatment on a sex offender therapy programme and placement on such a course. [110083]

Records are kept centrally of the number of sex offender treatment programmes running at any one time, but not of the number of offenders participating in them. However, given that there is an average of eight inmates attending each of the 48 programmes currently in progress, about 384 prisoners will be receiving treatment at the moment.No records are kept centrally of the number of prisoners who have been recommended for a place on the programme and this information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The programme is open to all adult male prisoners who have been convicted of a sexual offence, to those whose index offence appears to have had a sexual motive and to those who have been convicted of a sexual offence in the past and are assessed as needing to participate in the programme. Candidates must be assessed as suitable for participation in the programme and they must be willing to participate in it.There are considerable variations between the dates on which individual prisoners are assessed for participation in the programme and the commencement of treatment. It would not be feasible to make places available on demand for all prisoners who need to undergo it, and the Prison Service, therefore, operates a waiting list system. For determinate sentenced prisoners, the order of priority is determined by an assessment of risk of re-offending balanced against time left to serve; for life sentenced prisoners by their tariff date, or by proximity of the next parole review if the tariff has expired or none was set. In addition to that, programme treatment managers need to ensure that each group has a balance of different types of offender. This means that a prisoner at the top of a waiting list may not necessarily be selected for the next programme. For these reasons, average waiting times between assessment and participation have little significance and are not recorded centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he has taken in response to the report by HM Inspector of Prisons into Wymott Prison; and what plans he has to increase the provision of sex offender therapy programme places there. [110084]

In accordance with the protocol for handling inspection reports, the Prison Service produced an action plan within 30 working days of publication of the report. All but three of the 104 recommendations have been accepted, and an updated action plan showing the progress made will be produced in April 2000, nine months after publication of the report.Additional resources have been made available under the Government's Comprehensive Spending Review and the number of sex offender treatment programmes is set to increase as follows: 48 places in 1999–2000, 56 places in 2000–01, and 72 places in 2001–02.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has held with the Scottish Executive concerning a bilateral concordat in relation to the implementation of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999; and if he will make a statement. [109225]

Implementation of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 in Scotland is being pursued in accordance with the administrative arrangements set out in the general concordat between the Home Office and the Scottish Executive. In particular, the National Asylum Support Service is maintaining close contact with the Scottish Executive to ensure the effective implementation of the new asylum support arrangements in Scotland.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list by police force the number of fixed penalty cycling offences committed monthly since 1 August 1999. [110021]

Information on the new fixed penalty offences introduced on 1 August 1999 is not yet available.Each police force has been asked to monitor the fixed penalty provisions which came into force on 1 August 1999, and the figures will be published later in the year.Monthly figures, however, are not being collected centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in relation to the National Fire College at Moreton-in-Marsh, Gloucestershire, when he will commence implementing the recommendations of the Options Review and over what timescale the implementation will be completed; what discussions he has had with the unions about the recommendations; and what discussions he has had with the private sector about the recommendation to form a private public sector partnership. [110228]

I refer to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary to my hon. Friend the Member for Eccles (Mr. Stewart) on 20 December 1999, Official Report, columns 370–71W. This makes it clear that we have invited the views of all interested parties, including the trade unions, by 18 February 2000. We shall also be seeking the advice of the Central Fire Brigades Advisory Council. We will take further decisions on implementation in the light of these consultations.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what plans he has to increase the accessibility of polling booths to the aged who are disabled; [109988](2) if he will estimate the increase in the number of people aged 65 or over who would vote in a national election if all polling booths were accessible to those with disabilities [109987]

The Representation of the People Bill includes measures specifically aimed at increasing the accessibility of polling places to disabled voters. In addition, guidance on national minimum access standards for polling places was issued in June 1999; new guidance on disabled access to electoral services is being developed, and grants are available to local authorities for temporary ramps and polling screens. No statistics are collected on the age or disability of voters.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what Remploy products his Department has purchased in the last three years. [109932]

The following Remploy products have been purchased by my Department over the last three years.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has for legislation that would allow long-term residents in the UK from member states of the European Union to be able to vote in all UK elections. [109997]

European Union citizens can vote in local and European Parliamentary elections in the member state in which they are resident. We have no plans unilaterally to extend these voting rights to Parliamentary elections in this country.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many civilians were employed by West Mercia Police Authority in each year since 1979. [110120]

The information requested is set out in the table.

West Mercia Constabulary Civilian support staff—1979 to 1999
Year (As at 31 March)	Number of civilians
1979	493
1980	519
1981	540.5
1982	560.5
1983	604.5
1984	701.5
1985	742.5
1986	760
1987	750
1988	744
1989	772
1990	832
1991	836
1992	850
1993	925
1994	918.5
1995	949
1996	963.7
1997	942.1
1998	974.6
1999	975.2
1999 (30 September)	963.6

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what is his policy with regard to the detention of asylum claimants from states which are party to an association agreement with the European Union; [110031]

Association agreements do not provide an automatic right of establishment. Information regarding the right of establishment is not provided routinely, but is available to asylum seekers and others on request.Decisions on whether detention is appropriate are made on a case-by-case basis. Detention is used only as a last resort, and only those who are inadmissible passengers, illegal entrants or subject to deportation action may be detained. The existence of an association agreement between an asylum seeker's country of origin and the European Union is not taken into account.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) who determined the criteria used in drawing up lists of those invited to (a) give oral evidence to the Burns Inquiry, (b) attend seminar sessions to discuss commissioned research and (c) set up public meetings for the Burns Inquiry team; [109949](2) who set down the criteria used to determine which organisations were consulted in drawing up the list of hunting events for members of the Burns Inquiry to attend. [109954]

The Committee of Inquiry into Hunting has been set up as a committee which is independent of Government. Terms of reference have been given to the Committee, as set out in the reply by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary to my hon. Friend the Member for Wirral, South (Mr. Chapman) on 9 December 1999, Official Report, columns 617–18W.The conduct of the Committee, within those terms of reference, is a matter for the Chairman and the members of the Inquiry team.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the (a) individuals put forward by interested parties and (b) organisations approached for nominations for membership of the Burns Inquiry. [109953]

Organisations and Government Departments approached for suggestions for names of potential members of the Inquiry team into hunting included:

• The Cabinet Office;
• Campaign 2000 (the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the International Fund for Animal Welfare and The League Against Cruel Sports);
• The Country Landowners Association;
• The Countryside Agency;
• The Countryside Alliance;
• The Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions;
• The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food;
• The National Trust;
• The office of the Secretary of State for Wales; and
• The Wildlife Network.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 8 February 2000, Official Report, column 142W, on electronic tracking, how many offenders have been granted a variation in the hours of a home detention curfew by prison governors; and in the case of each offender on how many occasions the variation was granted. [110135]

The information requested is not held centrally and could be made available only at disproportionate cost by an examination of individual prisoner records.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will provide financial support for the work of prisons with schools to direct young people away from crime; [109526](2) if he will make it his policy for prisons to use serving prisoners in controlled circumstances to assist young people to address their offending behaviour; [109527](3) if he will provide financial support for the work of prisons in developing programmes to address the offending behaviour of young people referred from local courts and youth offending teams; [109525](4) if he will make it his policy to include prison staff on youth offending teams. [109524]

Under the Crime and Disorder Act 1998, local authorities must plan how youth justice service systems will be delivered locally. If they choose, they may seek to involve the Prison Service in the delivery of those services, including work with schools and the secondment of prison staff to youth offending teams. Funding for this work will, however, in general have to be found from youth offending team resources, since the Prison Service is funded to work with offenders in custody.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the previously planned meetings, and their subject, between his Department and its Austrian counterpart which have been cancelled since the formation of the new Austrian Government. [109869]

No meetings between my Department and its Austrian counterparts have been cancelled since the formation of the new Austrian Government, since, so far as I am aware, none were planned.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many bilateral meetings were held between his Department and its Austrian counterpart in each of the last five years; and what subjects were discussed at each meeting since May 1997. [109902]

My Department does not hold a central record of bilateral meetings with counterparts in other European Union member states. But bilateral meetings with Austrian counterparts in recent years have included:

a visit to Vienna by the United Kingdom's then K4 Co-ordinator on 16–17 September 1997;

a visit I made to Vienna on 14 May 1998 for talks with the then Austrian Ministers of Interior and Justice; and

a return visit to London 25 November 1998 by the then Austrian Interior Minister.

All three meetings were in connection with the United Kingdom and Austrian presidencies of the European Union and covered a variety of topics on the Justice and Home Affairs Council agenda.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the Government's plans to ban hunting with dogs. [109549]

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary to my hon. Friend the Member for Worcester (Mr. Foster) on 11 November 1999, Official Report, columns 787–88W.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the additional cost per elector of pilot schemes under which elections take place on Sunday. [109767]

A number of local authorities have applied to run pilot schemes which involve weekend voting but no scheme which provides for voting on Sunday only will be run.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the (a) number and (b) cost of additional appeals to the Crown Court against the (i) verdicts and (ii) sentences of magistrates, under his proposals to restrict the right to trial by jury. [108099]

[holding answer 2 February 2000]: Only 1 per cent. of defendants appeal against conviction and sentence following a trial in the magistrates courts and the model which has been used to estimate costs assumes that the effect will be de minimis. Even if as many as 10 per cent. of previously electing defendants chose to appeal following conviction after a contested trial, there would be fewer than 200 additional appeals, at a cost of less than £250,000.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions he has had with the EU authorities on the framework for public financing for broadcasting with special reference to licence fee supplements. [110072]

[holding answer 14 February 2000]: My officials met Commission officials on 26 January, primarily to discuss the Commission's decision on BBC News 24. The various funding options identified in the report of the independent panel, chaired by Gavyn Davies, "Review of the Future Funding of the BBC", were briefly discussed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport which (a) organisations and (b) individuals he has met to discuss broadcasting since 1 May 1997. [109995]

My right hon. Friend has discussed broadcasting with a wide range of organisations and individuals since 1 May 1997, and with many of them a number of times. Diary records are not kept by subject matter and it would not be possible to identify all such meetings, formal and informal, in order to provide the comprehensive list sought.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport with which body the Chief Executive of the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council has a contract of employment. [110108]

[holding answer 14 February 2000]: The Chief Executive of the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council has a contract of employment with the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLAC).

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) what procedures were followed in the selection of a candidate for the new Chief Executive of the New Millennium Experience Company; [109470](2) if he will make a statement of the role of Lord Falconer of Thoroton in the appointment of the new Chief Executive of the New Millennium Experience Company. [109472]

[holding answer 10 February 2000]: The NMEC Board appointed Pierre-Yves Gerbeau as Chief Executive of the Company on 7 February. Mr. Gerbeau's appointment reflects the view that a different approach and different skills are now needed to manage the project successfully during its year of operation. A number of possible candidates were considered before deciding to appoint Mr. Gerbeau. Under the terms of the Financial Memorandum governing relations between the NMEC and its Shareholder, Lord Falconer of Thoroton has approved the appointment.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate he has made of the balance of the revenues of the New Millennium Experience Company and the operating costs of the Dome. [106354]

[holding answer 24 January 2000]: It is too early at this stage to make a conclusive estimate but I fully expect the New Millennium Experience Company to meet its income targets and complete the Millennium Experience project within the original £758 million cash-limited budget.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport which schools in the Colchester constituency will be eligible to receive free tickets to visit the Millennium Dome; how many pupils in each school will be eligible; and what are the arrangements for the allocation of tickets. [106467]

Every school in the Colchester constituency is eligible to apply for up to 100 free tickets to the Dome under the New Millennium Experience Company's (NMEC) Education Tour scheme. Up to 1,000,000 free tickets are available. The available free tickets are allocated over a series of ballots. The first ballot, for tickets available in February, March and April, took place in November 1999. The second ballot, for tickets available in May, June and July, will take place in February 2000. The third ballot, for tickets available in September, October and November, will take place in June 2000. The final ballot, for tickets available in December, will take place in September 2000. NMEC, through the Education and Learning Experience Managers in its 12 offices countrywide (Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, the North-East, Yorkshire and Humberside, the North-West, the East Midlands, the West Midlands, the East, the South-East, the South-West and London), and through the regional media will continue to ensure that all schools are fully aware of the free ticket scheme and of the education visit arrangements.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) which schools in the Chorley constituency will be eligible to receive free tickets to visit the Millennium Dome; [105039](2) how many pupils in each school in the Chorley constituency will be eligible for free tickets to visit the Millennium Dome. [105040]

[holding answer 17 January 2000]: Every school in the Chorley constituency is eligible to apply for up to 100 free tickets to the Dome under the New Millennium Experience Company's (NMEC) Education Tour scheme. Up to 1,000,000 free tickets are available. The available free tickets are allocated over a series of ballots. The first ballot, for tickets available in February, March and April, took place in November 1999. The second ballot, for tickets available in May, June and July, will take place in February 2000. The third ballot, for tickets available in September, October and November, will take place in June 2000. The final ballot, for tickets available in December, will take place in September 2000. Approximately 12 per cent. of all free tickets are available to schools in the North West region as this is the approximate proportion of the school population in that region. NMEC, through the Education and Learning Experience Managers in its 12 offices countrywide (Scotland, Wales, northern Ireland, the north-east, Yorkshire and Humberside, the north-west, the east Midlands, the west Midlands, the east, the south-east, the south-west and London), and through the regional media will continue to ensure that all schools are fully aware of the free ticket scheme and of the education visit arrangements.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what provision is made for students with learning difficulties attending further education establishments to be allocated free tickets to visit the Millennium Experience; and if he will make a statement. [108724]

The New Millennium Experience Company are not making free tickets for the Dome available to further education establishments. Free tickets are available to up to 1 million schoolchildren aged between eight and 16. Groups of students are charged £14.50 per head and student card holders wishing to make their own arrangements pay £16.50. NMEC is happy to discuss any special needs which particular visitors and groups might have—for example, special needs groups can bring an enabler with them free of charge and can use the on site car park, provided they are Orange Badge Holders and book beforehand. Hosts can be prepared to receive a particular group and ensure that its members are able to move through zones at their own pace, and buggies and wheelchairs can be arranged. All special needs requirements can be arranged on the Dome ticket line (0870 606 2000) when booking Dome tickets.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what travel assistance is being provided to schools in the Chorley constituency visiting the Dome. [105041]

[holding answer 17 January 2000]: The costs attributable to the New Millennium Experience Company's (NMEC) Education Tour scheme at the Dome, including administration of the scheme, the tickets themselves and the management costs of implementing it throughout the year, are being met by NMEC from the Millennium Experience project budget. It is, however, established practice with school trips for the schools to make arrangements for travel and subsistence themselves. NMEC provides all schools with details of travel companies who are offering packages specifically aimed at schools. Additionally, many schools are also well placed to negotiate favourable deals through their established relationships with local travel operators.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) if he will list the Millennium Experience zones for which final sponsorship arrangements remain outstanding; [106407](2) if he will list the

[holding answer 27 January 2000]: The target for the New Millennium Experience Company was to raise £150 million of sponsorship value towards its overall income requirement of £758 million. While the company's approach to sponsorship focused on individual exhibit zones, other forms of sponsorship—for example Official Supplier status—were also pursued and achieved. Consequently, once the £150 million was delivered, the company could remain within its £758 million cash-limited budget and deliver the Millennium Experience as planned, even if some exhibit zones were without sponsorship support. Sponsorship support has been achieved for the Work, Learning, Talk, Journey, Body, Shared Ground, Self Portrait, Home Planet, Money and Mind zones. Sponsorship support has also been achieved for Our Town Stage and donations have been received for the Faith zone.In addition, sponsorship has been achieved for Skyscape and the Greenwich Pavilion, which are integral parts of the Millennium Experience but outside the Dome. Exhibit zones without sponsorship support, but delivered within the cash-limited budget, are Play, Rest, Timekeepers, Living Island and the Millennium Show in the Central Arena.Those sponsors who have signed contracts with NMEC have paid, and are paying, sponsorship moneys according to the terms of their contracts. The three contracts, outstanding as at 10 February and detailed in my answer to the hon. Member for East Surrey (Mr. Ainsworth) on 14 February 2000,

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will take steps to widen the accountability of the BBC. [109993]

The independent review panel on the future funding of the BBC made a number of recommendations on BBC transparency and accountability. We intend to announce our decisions on those recommendations shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans he has to ratify the amendment to the Protocol of the European Convention on Transfrontier Television to enable it to enter into force on 1 October 2000. [110081]

The Protocol amending the European Convention on Transfrontier Television will enter into force on 1 October 2000, provided that no State Party to the Convention notifies the Secretary General of the Council of Europe of an objection to its entry into force. The United Kingdom has no plans to make such an objection.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will exempt from being classified as excessive council tax rises the consequences of complying with the proposals of the Secretary of State for Education and Employment for passporting the increase in education standard spending assessments to education budgets. [110414]

The Secretary of State will not be deciding whether to determine any principles to identify excessive budgets until all local authorities have set their budgets for 2000–01.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what his policy is on hypothecating standard spending assessments. [110413]

Standard Spending Assessments are a component of the calculation of Revenue Support Grant, which is unhypothecated.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what resources he has made available to local authorities to enable them to meet the targets set out in the Air Quality Strategy. [108335]

[holding answer 3 February 2000]: Since 1997, the Government have provided additional resources each year via the local government finance settlement to enable authorities to carry out their air quality management duties. We have also provided supplementary credit approvals to the value of £12 million over the same period to allow for capital expenditure on air quality monitoring equipment. We have issued guidance and established helpdesks to help with any technical difficulties. Where road transport is the major source of local air pollution, we have encouraged authorities to use their local transport plans where appropriate to bid for additional resources to tackle the problem.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Stafford (Mr. Kidney) of 19 January 2000, Official Report, column 450W, when the consultant's report on Eurostar services to the North was completed and submitted to Ministers; and when he plans to make a statement on the report. [109296]

[holding answer 9 February 2000]: The finalised report was completed and submitted to Ministers in January. An announcement of its publication will be made to the House shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what criteria he uses to assess whether potential members of regional development agency boards have expertise in rural matters. [109808]

Candidates are assessed against a range of criteria, which includes demonstrating a detailed understanding of rural and environmental issues and/or a track record of success in the rural economy.The specific knowledge and expertise sought has varied from region to region and has included experience and knowledge of agriculture and land use industries, experience of social and economic issues affecting rural areas, experience of small and medium businesses in the rural environment and knowledge of issues such as CAP reform. The relative importance of these elements has depended on the balance of skills and expertise available from other potential board members.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list those non-departmental public bodies responsible to his Department which hold their (a) board and (b) working meetings in public; if he will set out the reasons for the remaining meetings being held in private; and if he will arrange to place in the Library the minutes of, and papers presented at, open board meetings of NDPBs responsible to his Department. [105077]

Of the executive NDPBs sponsored by DETR, only the eight Regional Development Agencies are statutorily required to hold an annual board meeting in public, following the publication of their annual reports. However, the following bodies do hold at least one annual open board meeting:

• Docklands Light Railway;
• Countryside Agency;
• English Nature;
• English Partnerships;
• Environment Agency;
• Health & Safety Commission and Executive;
• Housing Action Trusts (all five bodies);
• Local Government Commission for England;
• London Regional Passengers Committee; and
• National Forest Company.

Other NDPBs, including the Housing Corporation and the Traffic Director for London, hold meetings for stakeholders as and when necessary, and the Environment Agency's regional advisory committees hold their meetings in public. NDPB meetings are held in private for good reason: commercial confidentiality; personal confidentiality; legal matters; and operational reasons.Many of DETR's executive NDPBs publish the minutes of board meetings and, in some cases, papers on the internet or make them available in paper form or do both. For this reason, and because of the volume of paper involved, I do not propose to ask bodies to place minutes of, and papers for, open board meetings in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what are the Government's objectives in the forthcoming negotiations on the Biosafety Protocol in Montreal; and if he will make a statement. [105574]

[holding answer 19 January 2000]: I refer my hon. Friend to my answer of 9 February 2000, Official Report, columns 159–60W.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is his policy on the European Commission amendments to Directive 90/220 (Deliberate Release of Genetically Modified Organisms). [108091]

The European Commission's amendments to Directive 90/220/EEC that have been incorporated in the Council's Common Position reflect the political agreement that was reached at the June 1999 Environment Council. The amendments include stricter provisions for environmental risk assessment and monitoring, the time limitation of consents, a tough new labelling regime and the identification and phasing out of antibiotic marker genes where they pose a risk to human health and the environment.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is his policy on the provision of accommodation for homeless young single people who do not have family support. [110139]

Local authorities currently have a duty under the Housing Act 1996 to accommodate unintentionally homeless people in priority need, which includes those who are vulnerable.The Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions' revised Code of Guidance on the Allocation of Accommodation and Homelessness, due to be published later in the year, will recommend that authorities treat 16 and 17-year-olds who have no back-up support as vulnerable, because of their age and circumstances, and therefore in priority need.The revised Code of Guidance will recommend that authorities develop strategies for co-ordinated working between agencies, including the value of exploring joint assessments at an early stage for those with multiple needs. The Guidance will also explicitly refer to the need for this approach when assessing homelessness applications from vulnerable people and when dealing with the needs of young people between the ages of 16–18. The forthcoming Housing Green Paper is likely to include proposals for reform of the homelessness legislation to provide further protection for unintentionally homeless people in priority need.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what funding he has made available to local authorities for recycling, composting and other sustainable waste management initiatives for each financial year since the introduction of the landfill tax. [110030]

There has been no specific funding for such initiatives by authorities, but schemes for new waste management facilities can be eligible for funding under the PFI. To date, 7 such schemes have been endorsed and will receive a total of £316.7 million of PFI credits.As we said in the draft National Waste Strategy, "A way With Waste", we recognise that the move to more integrated, sustainable waste management could incur costs to local authorities. We are therefore considering options for providing more resources to local authority waste management as part of the current Spending Review.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what Remploy products his Department has purchased in the last three years. [109934]

The Department purchased from Remploy office desking and pedestals during the period 1 January 1997 to 31 October 1997 after which the contract with the Department of Transport expired.The value of this furniture was £39,561 and was purchased by the Central Services Unit of the Department of Transport and the Vehicle Inspectorate Executive Agency (VIEA).

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the organisations which have been invited to respond to the consultation paper, entitled "Rent Assessment Panels: Financial Management and Policy Review". [109927]

My Department invited the following organisations to respond to the consultation paper published on 18 November 1999:

• All Party Parliamentary Group for Leasehold Reform and Commonhold
• Association of Regulated Tenants' Associations
• Association of Residential Letting Agents
• Association of Residential Managing Agents
• Association of Retirement Housing Managers
• The Bar Council
• British Property Federation
• Camden Federation of Private Tenants
• Campaign for Fairer Fair Rents
• Coalition for the Abolition of Residential Leasehold
• Council on Tribunals
• DETR Trade Union Side
• The Enfranchisement League
• Federation of Independent Advice Centres
• Flat Owners Self-Help Network
• Kensington and Chelsea Staying Put
• The Law Society
• Leasehold Advisory Service
• Leasehold Enfranchisement Association
• Leasehold Enfranchisement Limited
• Lord Chancellor's Department
• National Assembly for Wales
• National Association of Citizens' Advice Bureaux
• National Association of Estate Agents
• National Consumer Council
• National Federation of Residential Landlords
• Rent Assessment Panels in England and Wales
• Rent Service Agency
• Residential Landlords' Association
• Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors
• Scottish Executive
• Shelter
• Small Landlords' Association.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions in relation to the Planning Inspector's report on the application for change of use for the hangars at the former RAF base at Little Rissington, Gloucestershire, when (a) the inspector's hearing was concluded, (b) the inspector submitted her report to Ministers and (c) the Minister made a decision. [110227]

The public inquiry concluded on 7 January 1999 and the Government Office for the South West (on behalf of the Secretary of State) received the Inspector's report on 2 August 1999. The decision in this case has been delayed in large part to the complexity of the issues and the changing status of the development plan. The case will be ready to submit to the Secretary of State in the very near future.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which programmes set out in the Strategic Defence Review have been (a) cut, (b) delayed and (c) cancelled as a result of the costs incurred by the Kosovo deployment. [108743]

The costs of the Kosovo deployment have had no impact on programmes set out in the SDR. However, the Kosovo deployment has meant that we have not yet been able to implement as much of the SDR as we would have liked at this stage. Some force elements, particularly those in the Army's Formation Readiness cycle, whose training has been disrupted by the deployment to Kosovo, will not be at full readiness levels as soon as planned.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he last discussed the Tracer/FSCS system with his United States counterpart; and what conclusions were reached. [109859]

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence has not had any specific discussions about Tracer with his US counterpart.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions his Department has had with the Norwegian Government about the possible purchase of the Eurofighter; and if he will make a statement. [109799]

Discussions with the Norwegian Government are continuing and cover various aspects of governmental support, such as training, to assist in this important marketing campaign. Ministers of the Eurofighter nations have agreed to accept Norway as a member of the NATO Eurofighter and Tornado Management Agency should she choose to buy Eurofighter.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what impact the production of the Meteor Missile in the United Kingdom will have on the missile selection process for the Eurofighter; and if he will make a statement. [109523]

We are currently evaluating the bids we have received from two companies, Matra BAe Dynamics and Raytheon Systems Ltd., to meet our requirement for a Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missile for Eurofighter. Our assessment will take into account the industrial issues associated with each bid together with a wide range of other factors including missile performance, cost, technical risk and overall value for money.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Cruise missiles launched from UK submarines during the Kosovo conflict. [109837]

The Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles (TLAM) fired from HMS Splendid made a highly effective contribution to the NATO air campaign in Kosovo. They provided a major step forward in UK capability, enabling precision attacks at long range against selected targets. Tomahawks were particularly valuable during periods of poor weather when fewer manned aircraft were able to operate.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to meet representatives from Edinburgh University to discuss the funding of the Dervish anti-personnel land mines clearance project. [109586]

None.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what archive files relating to Nancekuke are restricted for publication by the 30-year-rule; and if he will publish them early. [109947]

It is not possible to identify the holding of all archived files relating to defence activities at Nancekuke without incurring disproportionate cost. All department records are reviewed under well established procedures and those selected for permanent preservation are released in accordance with the provisions of the Public Records Acts, 1958 and 1967.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what changes in military structures are required in order to implement the common foreign and security policies agreed at the Helsinki European Council. [109956]

At the Helsinki European Council, EU member states agreed:

(a) to establish the new structures necessary for the EU to decide and, where NATO as a whole is not engaged, act in response to crises. These bodies will include a Military Committee and a Military Staff; and

(b) to set up, from March 2000, the interim arrangements required for the EU to develop its military crisis management procedures, including an interim body of military representatives of member states' Chiefs of Defence.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the budget for the Defence Diversification Agency for the financial year 1999–2000. [110317]

The Defence Diversification Agency (DDA) was launched in 1999 with a notional budget of £2 million per annum for its first three years. In the Agency's start-up year (financial year 1999–2000) the forecast budget was set at £1.5 million to take account of the planned ramp up in its operations. The forecast actual spend against this budget is projected to be around £1.1 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if cluster bombs available for use by the armed services (a) at present and (b) within the last three years contain depleted uranium. [110223]

No cluster bombs available for use by UK Armed Forces now or at any time during the last three years have contained depleted uranium.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the average cost of issuing a media release from his Department in 1999. [110277]

During 1999, the average cost to my Department of distributing a media release centrally was approximately £78.50.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his Department's advertising budget for (a) 1999–2000 and (b) 2000–01. [110264]

The information is not available in the requested format. However, MOD's forecast expenditure for 1999–2000 on PR, marketing and business support services (together with expenditure by the Chief of Public Relations but not including the salaries of staff or associated costs) totals £4.849 million. Recruitment costs are not included.The corresponding figure for 2000–01 is £3.750 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will ensure that paper and timber products purchased by his Department are independently certified by the Forest Stewardship Council as coming from a sustainable source; [110158](2) what steps he has taken to ensure that paper and timber products purchased by his Department come from a sustainable source. [110157]

In line with the recommendations of a recent Government-wide review, it is my Department's policy to procure timber and timber products only from sustainable sources and, in the case of tropical hardwood, to require independent verification of those sources. The scheme operated by the Forest Stewardship council is one of a number of available verification schemes mentioned in the DETR's Green Guide for Buyers. Where practicable, the use of reclaimed timber or timber products is also considered. Guidance on the use of paper is set out in the Ministry of Defence's Environmental Manual (JSP 418) and will be reviewed as part of the implementation of the Department's corporate Environmental Management System. A copy of JSP 418 has been placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on his Department's housing repair programme. [105564]

[holding answer 18 January 2000]: The Ministry of Defence plans cyclical maintenance and responds to requests for repairs through works services contracts. In Great Britain those works are managed by the Defence Housing Executive (DHE) who have a total repair and maintenance budget of £105.361 million in the current Financial Year. An additional £7.650 million is budgeted for carpets and curtains. Together these support the stock of some 64,000 houses. DHE have strict performance targets for meeting repair requests and these are being upheld.Overseas and in Northern Ireland repairs and maintenance are actioned through the individual Service establishment's overall repairs and maintenance budget. This covers all Service buildings and office accommodation as well as housing and it is not possible to identify precisely the expenditure for housing alone.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what funding his Department has allocated for each of the next three years for the renovation of service housing. [105563]

[holding answer 18 January 2000]: The funding allocated for the next three years for the renovation of the married quarters estate (the upgrade programme) in Great Britain is as follows:

Financial year	£ million
2000–01	79.7
2001–02	78.8
2002–03	69.5

There is no separate programme for the renovation of Service housing overseas which is undertaken with general estate maintenance.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the average cost of issuing a media release from his Department in 1999. [110278]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him on 9 February 2000, Official Report, column 208W.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is his Department's advertising budget for (a) 1999–2000 and (b) 2000–01. [110265]

Most of the Department's publicity budgets, and the details of expenditure on advertising, are not held centrally. Also, in most cases a budget for advertising is not identified separately from other types of publicity or programme spend. The information requested could be produced only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the quinquennial review of Companies House will take place; and what the terms of reference for the review will be. [110934]

I am today launching the Quinquennial Review of Companies House.Agencies and non-Departmental Public Bodies (NDPBs) are at the heart of our programme to modernise government. The Government are committed to achieving better public services that are of higher quality and are more responsive to the needs of the people who use them. Regular Agency and NDPB reviews are an important element in ensuring that we have in place the right structures to deliver the Government's agenda effectively and to provide a strong focus on improving future performance.The terms of reference for the Review of Companies House are:

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many bilateral meetings were held between his Department and its Austrian counterpart in each of the last five years; and what was discussed at each meeting since May 1997. [109903]

This information is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list those previously planned meetings and their subject, between his Department and its Austrian counterpart which have been cancelled since the formation of the new Austrian Government. [109905]

The 'Britain Now' campaign, which was to involve a series of commercial and cultural events and was due to be held in Austria in May 2000, has been postponed. It may be rescheduled when the political climate is right and when commercial interests in the events themselves are more secure.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if all food served at his Department's official functions meets the standards of production required of domestic producers. [109774]

[holding answer 11 February 2000]: Only caterers who meet the statutory requirements of food safety legislation are used as suppliers to the Department. They are audited for compliance before being used for the first time, and then at least annually.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if money from a private company, acting in the capacity of a port authority, is eligible as matched funding for European Objective 2 funding. [110138]

It is perfectly acceptable for projects supported by the structural funds to be part-funded by the private sector. The Government encourage programme partnerships to provide for flexibility in their programmes between private and public funding. The amounts of public and private funding required for programmes are set out in the financial tables in each Single Programming Document which must be agreed with the European Commission.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will use his powers under the Prices Act 1974 to regulate the charging of cash machine customers; and if he will make a statement. [109484]

[holding answer 11 February 2000]: I believe that any charges for cash machines should be clearly displayed before the transaction proceeds. I am aware that the banking industry is currently considering this in the context of the revision to the Banking Code and I hope that a voluntary agreement ensuring transparency will be achieved. Nevertheless, if this is not, I will use my powers in section 4 of the Prices Act 1974 to require the industry to display charges clearly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what powers he has to regulate the charging of cash machine customers. [109483]

[holding answer 11 February 2000]: Under section 4 of the Prices Act 1974 the Secretary of State may by order require that charges for services such as the use of cash machines are indicated.From 1 March the Director General of Fair Trading will have the power to examine such matters under the Competition Act 1998.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what advice he has received from the Trade Attaché of the British Embassy in Chile concerning the trade effects of the arrest of General Pinochet. [110114]

[holding answer 14 February 2000]: The Commercial Section within our Embassy in Santiago provides regular advice on trade-related opportunities and developments. British companies remain active in Chile, although trade over the past year has been affected by the impact of the Asia crisis on the sub-region, including Chile, rather than by the detention of Senator Pinochet.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the unrecovered loans issued by the Export Credits Guarantee Department over the last 15 years which are attributed to defence-related contracts, broken down by (a) country, (b) financial amount and (c) equipment. [108740]

From information readily available, the value claims paid by ECGD in respect of defence-related contracts under guarantees issued in the last 15 years and which remain outstanding for recovery is as follows:

£million
Country	Value of claims outstanding
Algeria	98
Egypt	46
Indonesia	131
Jordan	253
Kenya	16

The equipment supplied under these contracts includes aircraft, artillery, naval vessels, vehicles, communications and ancillary equipment.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the losses attributable to defence-related business with the ECGD broken down by (a) country, (b) goods and (c) financial amounts concerned for each year from 1997 to 1999. [108766]

[holding answer 7 February 2000]: No business for which ECGD has issued cover in the period 1997 to 1999 has given rise to losses.However ECGD has recognised losses in this period in respect of business which was the subject of guarantees issued prior to 1997. In the case of defence-related business the losses are as follows:

£ million
Market	Amount written off
Burkina Faso	0.6
Egypt	0.7
Tanzania	0.1

Details of the goods are not readily available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people have been killed or seriously injured in road traffic accidents in Northern Ireland since 1988. [110318]

The following table shows the number of fatalities and serious injuries in road traffic accidents in northern Ireland since 1988:

Year	Fatalities	Serious injuries
1988	178	1,969
1989	181	2,014
1990	185	1,993
1991	185	1,648
1992	150	1,841
1993	143	1,725
1994	157	1,648
1995	144	1,532
1996	142	1,599
1997	144	1,548
1998	160	1,538
1999	141	1—
1 Not yet available

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many armed robberies there have been in Northern Ireland since the Good Friday Agreement. [110052]

[holding answer 14 February 2000]: There have been 729 armed robberies in Northern Ireland during the period from 10 April 1998 to 10 February 2000.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will estimate the number of people who have been held at gunpoint in armed robberies in Northern Ireland since the Good Friday Agreement. [110316]

The number of persons held at gunpoint during the 729 armed robberies recorded since the signing of the Good Friday Agreement could be provided only at a disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if, in relation to the Memorandum of Understanding published in October 1999, he has attended a joint ministerial committee to discuss matters relating to the implementation of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999; and if he will make a statement. [109226]

The implementation of this Act in Scotland has been the subject of regular contact between the Home Office and the relevant bodies in Scotland. UK Government Ministers are in frequent contact with Scottish Ministers on a wide range of matters. This issue has not been the subject of a meeting of the Joint Ministerial Committee.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if, in relation to the Memorandum of Understanding published in October 1999, he will list the bilateral concordats between the Scottish Executive and UK Government Departments; and if he will make a statement. [109227]

The following bilateral concordats between UK Government Departments and the Scottish Executive have been published:

1. Cabinet Office

2. Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions

3. Department for Education and Employment

4. Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (main concordat)

(a) Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (subject specific concordat on Fisheries)

(b) Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (subject specific concordat on State Veterinary Services and Animal Disease Compensation)

5. Office for National Statistics/General Register Office for Scotland

6. Department of Trade and Industry

7. HM Treasury and Department of Trade and Industry (subject to specific concordat on public procurement and related international obligations)

8. Health and Safety Executive

9. Department of Culture, Media and Sport

10. Ministry of Defence

11. Lord Chancellor's Department

12. European Structural Funds

13. HM Treasury

14. Department of Health

15. Home Office

16. Department of Social Security.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on his policy on the inclusion of the Freedom Party in the Government of Austria. [108949]

We made clear our concern at the inclusion of the Freedom Party in the Austrian Government. We have welcomed the fact that the new Austrian Government has committed itself to abiding by the common obligations and values of EU membership, but we will be judging it by its future actions.

To ask the Prime Minister what is his policy on providing NHS beds to patients in Oxfordshire. [108951]

It is the responsibility of individual health authorities to determine the most appropriate balance of health services locally, including the range and number of beds available to the local community.The hon. Member will be aware that the report of the Government's National Beds Inquiry was published for consultation last week. The facts revealed by the report support our plans to build a new bridge of NHS care for older people between hospital and home and will support the first national strategy for providing NHS beds in 30 years.The conclusions of the report underline the need for us to consider a variety of forms of care, from acute to community provision, depending on the circumstances. Some services will be provided in a large hospital, some in community hospitals and some will be via improved care services in the home.

To ask the Prime Minister what account Her Majesty's Government have taken of the representations of (a) Denis Halliday, (b) Hans von Sponeck and (c) other senior officials of UN Agencies in relation to UN sanctions in relation to child nutrition and mortality in Iraq. [108953]

The Government are very concerned about reports of child morality rates and malnutrition in Iraq. We continue to support efforts to target the humanitarian effort there towards the most vulnerable.Meanwhile, UN Security Council Resolution 1284, which was drafted and piloted through the Council by the UK, includes a raft of measures providing for an increased and improved "oil for food" programme. It also calls on the Government of Iraq to prioritise its spending under "oil for food" more effectively and to address the needs of vulnerable groups.If the Iraqi Government had chosen to prioritise properly the humanitarian assistance which has been made available since the start of "oil for food" in 1996, the suffering of the Iraqi people would have been hugely reduced.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 16 February. [108947]

This morning I had meetings with Ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in the House I will have further such meetings later today.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 16 February. [109970]

This morning I had meetings with Ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in the House I will have further such meetings later today.

To ask the Prime Minister what account the Government have taken of the representations of (a) Denis Halliday, (b) Hans von Sponeck and (c) other senior officials of UN agencies in relation to (i) aggravated water shortage in Turkey and (ii) US and UK bombing and the effect on child mortality in Iraq. [108790]

We are not aware of any representations by UN officials regarding "aggravated water shortage in Turkey".All actions by UK and US forces in the No Fly Zones are in response to Iraqi threats and are made in self-defence, as is their right under international law. Our forces make every effort to avoid civilian casualties. Iraqi claims to the contrary should be treated with caution. The Government of Iraq has, for example, previously blamed coalition aircraft for civilian casualties on days when no aircraft were patrolling the No Fly Zones.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on his policy in respect of the voting system for local government, with particular reference to proportional representation. [110334]

[holding answer 15 February 2000]: We have consistently made clear that we do not propose to change the local government voting system, other than the introduction of the Supplementary Vote system for the election of directly elected mayors. The Local Government Bill now in the House of Lords makes provision for these mayors.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what is her Department's advertising budget for (a) 1999–00 and (b) 2000–01. [110252]

DFID does not have a specific advertising budget. However, paid advertising in relation to recruitment currently costs around £1 million annually.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what was the average cost of issuing a media release from her Department in 1999. [110266]

Our Department issued 89 media releases in 1999 at a total cost of £10,350. The average cost for issuing a press release was £116.29.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list the projects and their costs in the reconstruction programme for East Timor. [108904]

At a multi-donor meeting on East Timor in Tokyo in December last year, the UK worked successfully for an international collaborative approach to East Timor. The UN Transitional Administration (UNTAET) and East Timorese representatives will set priorities for reconstruction and the transition to independence; the World Bank and Asian Development Bank will co-ordinate detailed analysis of needs; and donors will operate in this framework working jointly wherever possible. Often a sector-based, programmatic approach will be followed rather than one based on a plethora of small projects.Donors pledged a total of $522 million for East Timor at the Tokyo meeting. The UK will provide £13 million over three years, the bulk of it channelled through Trust Funds established by the World Bank and the UN. This is in addition to £5.5 million which we made available in the immediate aftermath of the crisis in East Timor which has supported the humanitarian work of a number of international organisations and NGOs, and has helped restore the power supply in Dili.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent assessment she has made of the humanitarian situation in north and east Sri Lanka. [109517]

The humanitarian situation in Sri Lanka remains difficult as a result of the ongoing conflict. Further displacements occur each time the conflict escalates. Officials from my Department continue to monitor the situation closely. We fund a number of agencies (including Oxfam, Save the Children Fund, the International Committee of the Red Cross, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the United Nations Children's Fund) who have well-established programmes providing relief and rehabilitation for those displaced by the conflict.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what is the (a) number and (b) value of contracts let by her Department since May 1997 to external consultants and advisers for the management of competitive tendering processes. [109300]

Since May 1997, our Departments has not used external consultants or advisers for the management of competitive tendering processes.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list for the financial year 1998–99 the number and total value of contracts let by her 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. [109067]

[holding answer 8 February 2000]: I refer the hon. Member to the reply my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Development gave him on 24 November 1999, Official Report, column 132W. Our Department's spend on external consultants and advisers in 1998–99 was £1.83 million. Ten contracts with a value of £926,154 were awarded after competitions. The remaining 24 contracts, with a value of £903,846, were awarded without competition. There were no contracts awarded on a non-commercial basis.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what is the salary scale for her Department's locally employed staff in (a) Bangkok, (b) Bridgetown, (c) Delhi and (d) Pretoria. [106327]

[holding answer 24 January 2000]: The information is as follows:

Grade		Minimum	Maximum
(a) Bangkok
LEI	Baht	575,340	961,620
LEII	Baht	414,660	728,940
LEIII	Baht	303,936	564,036
LEIV	Baht	193,224	405,624
(b) Bridgetown
A2	Barbados $	95,306	137,608
B1	Barbados $	64,217	92,993
B2	Barbados $	44,497	70,960
C1	Barbados $	27,365	49,515
C2	Barbados $	22,111	31,089
LEVa	Barbados $	17,603	27,326
LEVb	Barbados $	15,447	23,601
(c) Delhi
A3	Rupees	540,000	1,080,000
B1	Rupees	405,000	702,000
B2	Rupees	243,000	432,000
C1	Rupees	162,000	297,000
C2	Rupees	108,000	189,000
D	Rupees	86,400	145,800
(d) Pretoria
B1	Rand	110,460	171,360
B2	Rand	72,590	122,640
C1	Rand	52,500	81,445
C2	Rand	34,500	61,992

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many bilateral meetings were held between her Department and its Austrian counterpart in each of the last five years; and what was discussed at each meeting since May 1997. [109878]

The last bilateral meeting between UK and Austrian Development Ministers took place on 22 June 1998, when the Secretary of State for International Development met Mrs. Ferrero-Waldner, the Austrian Minister for Foreign Affairs. The work programme for the Austrian presidency of the European Union was discussed.The cost of researching all ministerial or official bilateral meetings in the last five years would be disproportionate.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list those previously planned meetings and their subject, between her Department and its Austrian counterpart which have been cancelled since the formation of the new Austrian Government. [109893]

No bilateral meetings between the Department for International Development and its Austrian counterpart had been planned to take place after the formation of the new Austrian Government.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what support her Department gives to human rights training programmes for the Colombian army. [109520]

Our Department does not give any support to human rights training programmes for the Colombian army.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development which British non-Governmental organisations in Colombia are supporting the Colombian Institute of Family Welfare's campaign to encourage peaceful resolution within the country. [109521]

Our Department has provided £149,905 for a Save the Children Fund project where they are working with five local partners in Colombia, including the Colombian Institute of Family Welfare. The project is meeting the immediate needs of children and adolescents while simultaneously addressing the longer-term rehabilitation aspects including conflict resolution, human rights and local capacity building.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on the impact of the Computers Within Reach scheme on low-income learners and families. [109984]

The Government are making £15 million available for a pilot scheme—Computers Within Reach—to enable those who cannot afford new computers to acquire reconditioned computers for use in the home for the purpose of improving their employment prospects, for lifelong learning, or for their children's homework. The pilot scheme will run from April, and evaluation findings of the initiative will be made available in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he has identified the pilot areas for the introduction of the Computers Within Reach scheme for low-income learners and families. [109982]

Proposals submitted in response to the Computers Within Reach prospectus published in autumn 1999 are currently being assessed. A final list of pilot projects and areas will be published later this spring.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when the Computers Within Reach pilot projects for low-income learners and families will begin. [110312]