To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent discussions he has had with the First Secretary concerning estimates of the impact of the minimum wage in Wales; and if he will make a statement. [112020]

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has not had the opportunity to discuss the findings of the Low Pay Commission's report on the impact of the national minimum wage with the First Secretary. The report confirms that the introduction of the minimum wage has helped take over 1.5 million low-paid workers throughout the United Kingdom out of the trap of poverty wages. As in the other parts of the United Kingdom, many thousands of workers in Wales have benefited.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to place a statutory obligation upon the utilities to purchase renewable energy; and what discussions he has had with those utilities to make sure that they purchase renewable energy at a realistic price. [111493]

[holding answer 22 February 2000]: The Utilities Bill, which had its second reading in the House of Commons on 31 January 2000, contains provisions giving the Secretary of State powers to impose obligations on licensed electricity suppliers to secure the supply of renewables electricity. The Government's proposals for renewables electricity are the subject of extensive consultation with the industry.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what percentage of the United Kingdom's total exports received ECGD cover in each of the last three years. [111010]

The data required to answer this question accurately is not readily available.In particular, whereas UK Export statistics relate to the year in which the goods were delivered or the work performed, ECGD business statistics relate to the year of guarantee issue. Deliveries of goods or performance of work under guaranteed contracts may continue for a period of several years thereafter.In view of this lack of correlation it is not possible to provide the year-by-year analysis which you have requested. However, from data readily available, ECGD estimates that it may have covered some 2.3 per cent. of the total UK exports in this period.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions on how many occasions the service on the Jubilee Line extension has been suspended since its opening; and what the reasons were in each case. [109834]

Service has never been suspended over the whole line. However, on occasion, trains had to stop while the control computer was rebooted. This typically takes 10 to 15 minutes. There have also been signal-related problems at Stratford (the most complex area) sometimes resulting in suspension of service on the Stratford-North Greenwich section.The challenges arising from the start of through running were expected since problems are anticipated when bedding in a new railway. London Underground is doing all it can to stabilise and improve performance. The service showed dramatic improvement over the Christmas/New Year period and through January, with the number of incidents lasting 15 minutes dropping from 37 in December to 20 in January. Signal modifications have had a negative impact on recent performance but these changes will improve service. Work is in hand which should improve performance significantly over the next few months.The table details the number of reported incidents of 15 minutes or more (some of which involved partial suspension of services) since through running began on 20 November 1999. Detailed explanation in each case is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is his estimate of the total road accident fatalities in the United Kingdom since 1970 (a) in total and (b) for each year; and if he will make a statement. [110806]

The information requested is shown in the following table.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what has been the total of road accident fatalities in England for each year since 1990; what has been the total of road accident fatalities in each English county since 1990, expressed (a) in absolute terms and (b) in relation to the population of each such county; and if he will make a statement. [110805]

The information requested is shown in the following tables.Table (a) shows the fatalities by county and in total and Table (b) shows fatality rates by county per 100,000 population.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the total of public transport accident fatalities in the UK since 1970 (a) in total and (b) for each year; and if he will make a statement. [110807]

Between 1970 and 1998, 2,700 passengers and staff were killed in bus and rail accidents in Great Britain (including movement accidents, such as passengers alighting from a bus or train). Detailed annual data are attached. Data are not yet available for 1999.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what account he will take of United Kingdom regional interests in future discussions he has concerning the development of air services between the United Kingdom and the United States; [111303](2) what assessment he has made of the likely economic impact on the North-West of the liberalisation of air service agreements between the United States and the United Kingdom; [111302](3) what assessment he has made of the likely impact on the North-West of full liberalisation of air service agreements. [111301]

In all our bilateral aviation discussions, the interests of the regions are given full weight in determining the overall balance of UK interests. Manchester airport contributes significantly to the economy of the north-west, a contribution which should increase as the aviation market is liberalised. Indeed, the Government believes that the liberalisation of air services agreement would bring widespread benefits—to consumers and to the industry, as well as to the regional and national economies. This is why the UK continues work towards the liberalisation of air services generally. The "open skies" template proposed by the United States does not constitute liberalisation. We shall continue to impress upon the US Government the need for them to abandon their protectionist aviation policies and embrace true liberalisation.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he intends to initiate further discussions with the United States concerning the development of air services between the United Kingdom and the United States. [111304]

The United Kingdom and United States governments are currently in discussion on matters concerning the liberalisation of air services.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what plans he has for trunk road improvements in North Yorkshire; and if he will make a statement; [111375](2) what proposals he has to assist motor traffic circulation in North Yorkshire during the course of 2000. [111381]

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

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list for each housing authority in the North-West of England (a) the total housing stock available for rent by that authority, (b) the number of households registered on the general needs waiting list and (c) the number of properties vacant for longer than six months for each of the last four years for which figures are available. [111668]

The information reported on the HIP Operational Information returns is as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many (a) pedestrians and (b) vehicle occupants were (i) killed and (ii) seriously injured in road accidents at Bayley Island junction between the A49 and A5 in each year from 1992; and if he will make a statement. [111068]

The information requested is shown in the following table.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the purpose of the computer bar code which is to be on the ballot papers for the Greater London Authority elections; and what safeguards relate to them. [111581]

It is proposed that the ballot papers for the Greater London Authority elections on 4 May 2000 should be counted by electronic scanning equipment. The unique bar code which will appear on each ballot paper enables the electronic scanning equipment to identify each ballot paper as having been properly issued. Ballot papers without a proper bar code will not be counted. The bar code does not contain any information about the voter, but puts the number normally present on a traditional ballot paper in a form which can be read by the scanning equipment. The computer system supporting the scanning equipment has a number of security features which prevent unauthorised access.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if the consultative process used for the closure of driving test centres involves seeking the approval of (a) the Chief Executive of the Driving Standards Agency and (b) a Minister for the closure proposal before other interested parties are consulted. [111695]

The consultative process currently used by the Driving Standards Agency when the closure of a driving test centre is being considered involves seeking the approval of the Agency's Chief Executive and the Minister to consult about the proposed closure. Then other interested parties are consulted. A final decision has to be approved by the Chief Executive and the Minister, taking into account the results of the consultation. Consultation before closure is not always possible, for instance when a test centre has to be closed at short notice for health and safety or operational reasons.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the maximum round trip distance that driving test candidates are expected to travel to a driving test centre in an area of 23 persons per square kilometre. [111102]

[holding answer 22 February 2000]: The guideline currently operated by the Driving Standards Agency is that in areas with a population density of less than 100 persons per square kilometre, candidates should not have to travel more than 30 miles to a practical driving test centre.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the revenue derived from parking by each London borough in the last full year for which figures are available. [112002]

The information requested is shown in the table.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to extend the jurisdiction of the Local Government Ombudsman to consider complaints against parish councils; and if he will make a statement. [112023]

We have no plans to bring parish councils within the jurisdiction of the Local Government Ombudsman. Every elector has a right to raise any concerns that they may have about the business or conduct of their parish council at the annual public meeting.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions who has responsibility for the control of urban fox populations; and what powers local authorities have in this area. [112013]

The fox is not a protected species and may be killed or taken by owners and occupiers of land using any method, eg shooting or trapping, which is not prohibited by the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.Local authorities are therefore able to take action to control foxes if they deem it appropriate.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many houses have been improved in Shrewsbury and Atcham from funding released from capital receipts in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement. [111914]

The table shows the capital allocations that have been made to Shrewsbury and Atcham under the Capital Receipts Initiative (CRI), together with the number of properties which have been renovated using these resources. Allocations are made in the form of Supplementary Credit Approvals.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the progress of his Department's research into the involvement of drugs in road traffic accidents with particular reference to (a) road traffic accident and (b) road traffic accidents involving pedestrians. [112077]

The Department's research into the numbers of road accident fatalities (drivers/riders, passengers, cyclists and pedestrians) with a measurable trace of drugs in their body will be published in July. The research will help to provide data on the incidence of drugs—both illegal and medicinal. However, the presence of drugs in a fatality is not evidence of accident causation, although there may be an association.Drugs and driving is an issue addressed in our road safety strategy, on which an announcement is to be made tomorrow. Relevant documents will be placed in the Library tomorrow morning.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 21 February 2000, Official Report, column 712W, if he will provide a full list of the organisations which have made representations to him calling for (a) the repeal and (b) the retention of section 28 of the Local Government Act 1988. [111931]

A have made representations concerning the repeal of Government Act 1988 has Libraries.full list of organisations that to the Secretary of State section 28 of the Local been placed in the House Libraries.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans his Department has for the transfer of the London Research Centre to the Greater London Authority. [111993]

The London Borough of Islington has been directed to prepare a transfer scheme for the transfer of the appropriate staff, property, rights and liabilities of the London Research Centre to the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions. The transfer will take place on 1 April 2000. The intention is that the property, rights and liabilities will then transfer to the Greater London Authority on 8 May 2000, with the exception of a small number of functions of the LRC which will transfer to Transport for London on 3 July 2000. My officials are in contact with Islington Council as to the detailed contents of the transfer scheme.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make it his policy to introduce a marine conservation Bill to promote the sustainable conservation of marine habitats and species. [111923]

The Government have no plans at present to introduce a marine conservation Bill. My Department conducted a review of coastal byelaw powers in 1998. We have given a long-term commitment to introduce legislation to take forward those recommendations in the review which require changes to the law.We are also actively considering what measures might be warranted to improve protection of marine habitats and species. My Department has established a review group to look at ways of improving marine nature conservation. The group's final report is expected to be presented to DETR Ministers and the National Assembly for Wales by the end of this year.In addition, the Countryside Amenity and Conservation Bill will include provisions on wildlife enforcement, and wildlife crime, including crime relating to marine species, will be punishable by tougher measures such as custodial sentences.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if his oral statement of 22 February 2000, Official Report, columns 1373–76, relating to the installation of train protection warning systems, applies to all freight rolling stock. [112040]

The Railway Safety Regulations 1999 require all trains, including freight trains where they are running on passenger lines, to be fitted with train protection warning systems by the end of 2003. A freight train which will never run on a passenger line will not require train protection.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans the Government have to introduce neighbourhood forums in place of parish and town councils. [111956]

Neighbourhood Forums could have a valuable role in making local government more effective, but the Government do not intend that they should take the place of parish councils. Our White Paper, "Modern Local Government: In Touch with the People", set out our policy that parish councils are an essential part of the structure of local democracy in our country and that they would continue to play a vital part in the life of our towns, villages and rural communities, as they have in the past.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what recent discussions he has had with the First Secretary concerning the Strategic Rail Authority and its potential impact upon Wales; and if he will make a statement. [112022]

The First Secretary has made representations on the railways provisions of the Transport Bill. The shadow Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) has consulted the National Assembly for Wales in connection with proposals for franchise replacement. Wales will benefit, along with the rest of Great Britain, from the strategic and coherent direction which the SRA will bring to the railway industry. Specific Welsh concerns will be addressed by having a Welsh representative on the Authority and by consultation with the National Assembly both on that appointment and on the SRA' s strategies.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he plans to make a statement on the proposed byelaws for a 10 mph speed limit on Lake Windermere. [112500]

I have today announced that I have confirmed the Windermere byelaws. A copy of the decision letter setting out my reasons for the decision will be placed in the House Libraries.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many privately owned, legally held (a) shotguns, (b) rifles and (c) handguns have been used for (i) murders and (ii) attempted murders in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years and the current year to date; and how many of the deaths and injuries were self-inflicted. [102156]

The Chief Constable has advised me that the information about the number of attempted murders in which legally held privately owned firearms used is not readily available and would incur disproportionate cost to provide. Tables A and B, however, show the number of murders and suicides involving legally held, privately owned shotguns, rifles and handguns in each of the last five years.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many questions on policing matters in Northern Ireland have been tabled by the hon. Member for Hull, North (Mr. McNamara) since 1 June; and what has been the cost of providing answers to those questions. [103673]

[holding answer 10 January 2000]: I apologise to the hon. Gentleman for the time taken to answer his question. During the period 1 June 1999 to 31 January 2000, my hon. Friend the Member for Hull, North (Mr. McNamara) has asked a total of 153 parliamentary questions on policing matters in Northern Ireland. It is estimated that the total cost of answering these questions was £52,020.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which projects relating to his Department that appeared in the Private Finance Panel's list of 29 November 1995 (a) have been completed, (b) are still pending, (c) have been dropped and (d) are being pursued by means other than a public private partnership. [105878]

[holding answer 24 January 2000]: I refer the right hon. Member to the reply given to him by my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 24 January 2000, Official Report, columns 117–18W.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (i) on what date the most recent use of violence for political ends was thought to be the responsibility of or claimed by (a) the Irish Republican Army, (b) the Real IRA, (c) Oglaigh na'hEireann, (d) Cumann na mBann, (e) Fianna na h'Eireann, (f) the Red Hand Commando, (g) Saor Eire, (h) the Ulster Freedom Fighters, (i) the Ulster Volunteer Force, (j) the Irish National Liberation Army, (k) the Irish People's Liberation Organisation, (l) the Ulster Defence Association, (m) the Loyalist Volunteer Force, (n) the Continuity Army Council, (o) the Orange Volunteers and (p) the Red Hand Defenders, (ii) how many persons have been charged or successfully prosecuted for belonging to each, (iii) how many persons have been charged or successfully prosecuted for soliciting support for each, (iv) how many persons have been charged or successfully prosecuted for contributing money or property to each, (v) how many persons have been charged or successfully prosecuted for displaying support for each and (vi) what is his estimate of the numerical strength of each organisation. [107832]

Attribution for paramilitary style incidents is generally confined to the generic terms Loyalist and Republican. In some cases the police are unable to attribute individual incidents to a particular group. In the absence of a claim of responsibility they can consider only the physical evidence available or intelligence information. Where attribution may be determined by any of these means, it is not Royal Ulster Constabulary policy to make this known except where it is specifically in the public interest to do so. It is not therefore possible to provide the information requested and to obtain the details necessary would incur a disproportionate cost owing to the manner in which the offences are recorded.However, the following tables may be helpful. They show the number of persons proceeded against and found guilty for offences under the EPA and PTA. The figures include primary and secondary offences. Details of paramilitary groupings are not recorded on the statistical return used to collate this information.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which fees his Department, its agencies and associated public bodies collect; how much has been raised and will be raised from each of these fees from 1989–90 to 2004–05; and which of these fees count as negative expenditure. [107978]

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave him on 2 February 2000, Official Report, columns 624–25W.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many politically motivated offences have been committed by (a) Republican and (b) Loyalist groups since Good Friday 1999; if he will break the numbers down into categories of offences; and if he will make a statement. [109555]

The following table shows the number of security related offences recorded since 2 April 1999. It is not possible to answer the question with the detail requested because of the difficulty in distinguishing between a security related and a non security related offence¹.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the number and value of contracts let by his Department since May 1997 to external consultants and advisers for the management of competitive tendering processes. [109452]

[holding answer 10 February 2000]: Since May 1997 10 contracts have been let by this Department to external consultants and advisers for the management of competitive tendering processes. The total value of these contracts was £1,411,104.03.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people from Northern Ireland have been forced into exile by terrorist activity since the Good Friday Agreement. [110055]

[holding answer 14 February 2000]: There are no figures available which may indicate the number of persons who may have been forced to leave the Province.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what arrangements there are for monitoring the CCTV system in Portadown Town Centre; what regulations will safeguard exposed film for evidential purposes; and what target will be set for average police call-out and response time. [110653]

The Portadown CCTV system is currently monitored by staff based at Craigavon police station. They are in direct communication with Portadown police control room who deploy resources to incidents as considered appropriate. Strict procedures are in place to ensure the safeguard of video tapes for evidential purposes including secure storage and cataloguing, complying with guidelines set out in the CCTV Code of conduct. There are no set targets for police call-out and response times as each incident requires to be carefully assessed and the most appropriate response determined within available resources.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many senior civil servants from an ethnic minority background are employed in his Department; and how many of them are (a) men and (b) women. [110684]

The Northern Ireland Civil Service (NICS) is in the process, for the first time, of introducing monitoring of ethnic origin. Consequently, ethnic origin data will not be available until later this year. Home Civil Servants (HCS) employed in the Northern Ireland Office are already subject to monitoring, but none at Senior Civil Service level are from an ethnic minority background.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what percentage of (a) women and (b) Catholics are involved in work at a senior policy level on police reform within the (i) Northern Ireland Office, (ii) Police Authority and (iii) RUC. [110846]

The percentage of women involved in work on policing reform at a senior policy level in the RUC is nil, in the Police Authority for Northern Ireland it is 30 per cent. and in the Northern Ireland Office it is 27 per cent. Percentages cover a very small number of individuals. Senior officials are included in PANI and NIO percentages as appropriate, though it is Authority members and Ministers respectively who take policy decisions.There are strict requirements governing the confidentiality and proper use of community background monitoring data. The provision of community background data at the level asked for would breach those requirements.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he is taking to phase out the use of peat compost in gardens (a) owned and (b) tended by his Department; and if he will make a statement. [110721]

No peat or products containing peat are used in gardens owned or tended by my Department, except for recycled peat, such as spent mushroom compost, or peat needed for ericaceous planting where specifically indigenous to the habitat.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what costs have been incurred through action under the Northern Ireland (Location of Victims' Remains) Act 1999 to date; how many bodies have been recovered to date in (a) Northern Ireland, (b) in the Irish Republic and (c) elsewhere; and if he will provide a breakdown of these costs under the principal headings used in accounting for this expenditure. [110902]

Following implementation of the Northern Ireland (Location of Victims' Remains) Act 1999, the cost to the UK for the operation of the independent Commission for the location of victims remains amounts to £3,104.13 to date.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many candidates who entered the 1999 Civil Service grade 7 competition were (a) male Protestants, (b) female Protestants, (c) male Roman Catholics and (d) female Roman Catholics; and how many in each of the above categories were successful at stage 1. [111084]

A competition for promotion to Administrative Grade 7 in the Northern Ireland Civil Service (NICS) was launched in September 1999. The competition is a two stage exercise with candidates deemed eligible at the end of Stage 1 to compete in individual departmental competitions for promotion to Grade 7. A total of 437 candidates participated in Stage 1 of the competition and of these 131 were deemed eligible to participate in stage two departmental competitions. The gender/community background of those candidates who entered the 1999 competition and those who were successful at stage 1 is as follows: