To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if she will list those Regulatory Impact Assessments published during the latest six month period. [114551]

The Government are committed to ensuring that regulations are necessary, give effective protection, balance cost and risk, are fair and command public confidence. In accordance with this, we require Departments to produce and publish Regulatory Impact Assessments (RIAs) for all regulatory proposals likely to have an impact on business.I have presented to Parliament today a Command Paper listing 78 RIAs published between 1 July and 31 December 1999. Copies of those listed have been placed in the Libraries of the House. Please note that this Command Paper entitled "Regulatory Impact Assessments" has replaced the previous series entitled "Compliance Cost Assessment". This is the twelfth such Command Paper.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what was the total expenditure for each of the past three years for treating and controlling rat infestations in buildings and land occupied by Government Departments. [113045]

Individual Government Departments are responsible for managing and maintaining the land and property they occupy. The information requested is not held centrally, and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.The approximate costs (exclusive of value added tax) incurred by the Cabinet Office on pest control in each of the past three financial years in the buildings in which it is the main or sole occupier (including No. 10 Downing Street and the premises occupied by the Cabinet Office agencies) are set out in the table. The specific costs of treating and controlling rat infestations are not recorded separately.

Year	£
1997–98	13,600
1998–99	14,350
1999–2000 (to date)	14,050

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what plans she has to increase the accountability to Parliament of (a) non-departmental public bodies and (b) task forces. [113305]

None. NDPBs are accountable direct to Parliament through their sponsoring Department. Task Forces, not classified as NDPBs, are accountable to Ministers who in turn are accountable to Parliament.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if she will make a statement about the involvement of the Central Office of Information with the Global Cultural Diversity Congress and Global Cultural Diversity Congress 2000 Ltd. [112736]

The Central Office of Information (COI) was commissioned by Global Cultural Diversity Congress 2000 Ltd., to provide technical and management support for the Global Cultural Diversity Congress.In addition, at the request of the Chairman of the CRE, a member of COI staff was appointed as an unpaid director of Global Cultural Diversity Congress 2000 Ltd. to provide events and technical service expertise and knowledge.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what is the nature of the co-operation between the United Kingdom Anti-Drugs Co-ordinator and the United States Office of National Drug Control Policy; in what ways the United Kingdom Anti-Drugs Co-ordinator co-operates with the United States Office of National Drug Control Policy; and what agreements the United Kingdom Anti-Drugs Co-ordinator has signed with the United States Office of National Drug Control Policy. [113088]

The UK and US Governments maintain a wide-ranging dialogue on drugs issues. There are regular exchanges of information and expertise on all aspects of anti-drugs work. The relationship is excellent.General Barry McCaffrey, the Director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy visited the UK from 24–26 October 1999 for discussions with Ministers—including myself—and officials. During this visit the UK Anti-Drugs Co-ordinator Keith Hellawell met General McCaffrey and held discussions on drug control policies and initiatives. UK and US officials also held bilateral meetings to discuss a number of drug related topics at this time. The following areas were covered:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many staff have been dismissed from the Civil Service in each of the last five years; and what proportion of the total staff in post this represented in each year. [113608]

The numbers of staff dismissed from the non-industrial Civil Service over the last five years and the proportions of total staff are as follows. The figures cover dismissals and discharges on inefficiency or disciplinary grounds.

Year of staff	Number of staff dismissed/discharged	Proportion (percentage)
1994–95	880	0.2
1995–96	750	0.2
1996–97	870	0.2
1997–98	650	0.1
1998–99	594	0.1

To ask the Prime Minister what objectives Her Majesty's Government will seek to attain at the World Education Forum in Dakar in April. [114210]

I refer the hon. Member to the Answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for East Carmarthen and Dinefwr (Mr. Williams) by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Development on 1 March 2000, Official Report, columns 296–97W.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland for the period 2 May 1997 to 29 February 2000 what was (a) the number of occasions on which couriers were used to distribute news releases from his Department and (b) the total cost of using couriers to distribute news releases. [113976]

[holding answer 10 March 2000]: During the period an external courier was used twice daily, excluding weekends, at a cost of £54,113.07.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland for each year since it was established up to the latest available date what has been (a) the total cost and (b) the cost to United Kingdom funds of the International Commission under General de Chastelain; and under what main headings the sums were paid. [102157]

The Independent International Decommissioning Commission is jointly funded by the British and Irish Governments. The total costs associated with the Commission from September 1997 to December 1999 are as set out.

(a) Total costs—1R£3,153,332.65

(b) Total costs to United Kingdom government—£1,339,571.43

The costs are divided into three main headings.

	IR£
Salaries/subsistence	1,009,310.09
Travel/accommodation	1,570,881.70
Other1	573,150.86
1 Other includes set up costs for the Commission offices as well as on-going running expenses.

It was not possible to give precise costs on an annual basis since the two Governments work to different annual accounting periods.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list for the financial year 1998–99 (a) the number and (b) the total value of contracts let by his Department with external consultants and advisers that (i) were put out to competitive tender, (ii) were not put out to competitive tender and (iii) were let on a non-commercial basis, stating in each case the names of the individuals or organisations that have carried out the work. [109268]

[holding answer 9 February 2000]: The figures requested are as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will set out on a comparable basis the number of murders recorded in Northern Ireland in each of the past 30 years. [110564]

The table shows the number of murders recorded in Northern Ireland from 1969 to 1998 (the latest full year available), divided since 1988 into murders attributable to the security situation and other murders.

Offences of murder recorded 1969–98
	Number of murders
Year	Security situation	Others	Total
1969	—	—	5
1970	—	—	14
1971	—	—	123
1972	—	—	376
1973	—	—	200
1974	—	—	205
1975	—	—	238
1976	—	—	280
1977	—	—	116
1978	—	—	82
1979	—	—	128
1980	—	—	85
1981	—	—	95
1982	—	—	99
1983	—	—	86
1984	—	—	63
1985	—	—	59
1986	—	—	85
1987	—	—	100
1988	84	27	111
1989	57	10	67
1990	65	6	71
1991	89	25	114
1992	81	27	108
1993	82	19	101

Offences of murder recorded 1969–98
	Number of murders
Year	Security situation	Others	Total
1994	61	21	82
1995	8	14	22
1996	14	21	35
1997	20	20	40
1998	54	26	80

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what his policy is towards extending export credit guarantees to Bulgaria; and if he will make a statement. [113641]

ECGD cover for Bulgaria was withdrawn in 1990 following a default on their external debt obligations. ECGD are currently conducting a review of cover policy in the light of recent improvements in Bulgaria's economic position. ECGD expect to announce the outcome of this review in the next few weeks.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what efforts he is taking to promote increased trade between Britain and the Indian subcontinent; and if he will make a statement. [113654]

This region is important to the United Kingdom, in both trade and investment terms. British Trade International is conducting an enhanced trade promotion campaign for India, reflecting the market potential and the high priority we attach to increasing trade. During a visit to India in January, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State re-launched the Indo-British Partnership, the vehicle for developing our bilateral trade cooperation. He announced a new scheme—the Global Enterprise Initiative, designed to encourage 200 new business partnerships over the next two years. He also set a target for a 20 per cent. increase in bilateral trade, currently worth over £4 billion.We also devote resource to facilitate UK trade with the other countries of the region, notably Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his answer of 8 March 2000, Official Report, column 683W, for what reason the first paragraph of his news release dated 11 February stated that the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry today published the Government's first ever international prices survey. [114261]

The DTI News Release was issued to the media on 11 February embargoed

not for use until Sunday 13 February

the day of publication of the International Price Comparison report.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on Government support for United Kingdom involvement in Airbus. [114709]

I am pleased to announce that the Government have just entered into a partnership with BAe Systems to secure UK participation in the Airbus A3XX project, to design and build the wings for the world's largest passenger jet. The Government will invest £530 million in the programme, with BAe Systems investing over £1 billion in design and development alone. The Government investment will be repaid by BAe Systems paying levies on aircraft sales.The major investment in the UK's leading manufacturing industry will create 22,000 long term new jobs in the UK, 8,000 in BAe Systems and supply companies, and 14,000 new induced employment. It will safeguard a further 62,000 jobs, 20,000 on current Airbus programmes and 42,000 in induced employment. It will confirm the UK as a global centre of excellence in an important area of high technology engineering. It is a practical demonstration of the commitment of the Government, BAe Systems and the UK aerospace industry to Airbus, which has developed over the last 30 years into a highly successful European industrial collaboration. Airbus secured over half the orders for large passenger aircraft in 1999, and the A3XX will enable them to build on this firm base.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what open individual export licences for export to Pakistan are being processed; and how long each application has taken. [112769]

Licences to export arms and other goods whose export is controlled for strategic reasons are issued by the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry acting through DTI's Export Control Organisation. All relevant individual licence applications are circulated by the DTI to other government departments with an interest as determined by those departments in line with their policy responsibilities. These include FCO, MOD and DflD.As of 3 March, a decision had not yet been taken on 30 applications for an Open Individual Export Licence (OIEL) to export to consignees or end-users in Pakistan of goods listed in Part III of Schedule 1 to the Export of Goods (Control) Order 19994 (commonly known as the Military List), or other goods; 28 of these applications were received before 12 October 1999, the date of the coup in Pakistan.Policy on arms sales to Pakistan was set out in a note from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to the Joint Inquiry on the Government's Annual Reports for 1997 and 1998 on Strategic Export Controls which was published in the Inquiry's report (HC225, page 74). The

note stated there has been no change to the Government's policy of considering export licence applications for Pakistan on a case by case basis against the national criteria and those in the EU Code of Conduct on Arms Exports, and in the light of the statement made on 10 July 1998,

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the value of flowers imported into the United Kingdom from EU countries for each year since 1990. [113895]

The information is given in the table.

UK imports of bulbs, tubers etc., and cut flowers from EU countries
£000
	Bulbs, tubers etc.	Cut flowers and buds	Total
1990	28,206	128,404	156,610
1991	30,948	123,621	154,569
1992	33,018	126,567	159,585
1993	29,424	131,061	160,485
1994	31,221	148,927	180,148
1995	35,703	165,034	200,737
1996	35,490	191,513	227,003
1997	35,335	225,000	260,335
1998	38,918	257,941	296,859
1999	31,215	261,754	292,969

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he will make a decision on the location of the synchrotron. [110002]

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the location of the DIAMOND project. [105262]

[holding answer 14 February 2000]: The Government have announced today that the synchrotron will be located at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory near Didcot, Oxford.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment his Department has made of the proposed EU copyright directive in respect of its effect on the legality of home recording of television programmes. [112558]

[holding answer 7 March 2000]: I have been asked to reply.While the draft Directive would allow member states to provide exceptions to copyright permitting private copying of protected material on audio or audiovisual recording media, an amendment proposed by the European Parliament, and taken up by the European Commission in their amended proposal, would require that right owners receive "fair compensation" in exchange for such exceptions. However, as we have always stressed in discussions with the Commission and other member states, we do not consider that a levy or other form of payment would be justified in relation to the UK's limited exception in this area which allows home recording of broadcasts to enable viewing or listening at a more convenient time ("time-shifting"). Although there have been encouraging signs of flexibility from the Commission and others on the precise meaning of "fair compensation", we are still concerned that the overall approach to exceptions in the Directive is too prescriptive, and we are continuing to press strongly for further improvements in this area. We also recognise the potential conflict between exceptions to rights and the use of technical protection measures by right owners, and we are seeking a balanced solution to this issue which would allow users' reasonable "time-shifting" expectations to continue to be met.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make a statement on the loss of playing fields and recreational grounds since May 1997. [110836]

The Government are delivering on the manifesto pledge to protect playing fields that schools and communities need because too many have been lost in recent years and grassroots sport has suffered as a result.Local authorities are required to consult Sport England on all planning applications affecting sports pitches and playing fields. Since it has taken on this role, there has been a significant increase in the number of local authorities consulting Sport England, which is largely due to greater awareness of their obligation. Applications are assessed by Sport England against its published playing fields policy founded on a presumption against loss unless there are exceptional circumstances.Figures show that Sport England receive around 60 applications a month and are objecting to about one third of these. The majority of those approved either contribute to better overall sporting provision, do not affect sports pitches or are proven to be surplus to school and community requirements.In addition, the Town and Country Planning (Playing Fields) (England) Direction 1998 was issued on 15 December 1998 and requires planning authorities to refer to the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions planning applications on playing fields which they are minded to approve but where Sport England has objected.New legislation has also been introduced to require all state schools to seek approval from the Secretary of State for Education and Employment for the sale of playing fields, and to consult the local community and other user groups. Since these measures were put in place, the number of school playing field disposals has dropped from some 40 a month to only three. Approval is given only where funds raised are ploughed back into sport and education, and where remaining playing fields fully meet the needs of the school and community both now and in the future. Around a half of approved disposals that affect school sports pitches have been at closed or closing schools, and some 70 per cent. of the remainder which have been approved will lead to new, improved sports facilities.Further measures to help communities increase playing fields and green spaces have been launched through the Green Spaces and Sustainable Communities initiative, launched in January this year by the New Opportunities Fund. This will, by 2002, commit a total of £125 million of projects designed to help urban and rural communities throughout the UK, create new, or enhance existing, areas of open space. This will include as a priority the creation of new playing fields and recreational areas, with an emphasis on the needs of areas of multiple deprivation.My Department is working closely with the Central Council for Physical Recreation and National Playing Fields Association, as well as the DfEE and DETR, in monitoring and evaluating the measures we have put in place, and will consider whether any further action is necessary.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when he will answer the questions from the right hon. Member for Birkenhead on the Millennium Dome tabled on 15 January (ref. 104655) and 26 January (ref. 108039).[110343]

[holding answer 15 February 2000]: I refer my right hon. Friend to the replies I gave on 21 February 2000, Official Report, column 800W and on 2 March 2000, Official Report, column 350W.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what progress he has made in establishing a Viewers' Panel on the change from analogue to digital broadcasts. [112559]

[holding answer 7 March 2000]: My Department is currently in the process of considering the composition and terms of reference for the Viewers' Panel. I would expect the Panel to reflect the interests of viewers from across the UK and to provide advice on the extent of progress towards digital television from the viewer's point of view. I expect the Viewers' Panel to make its first report next autumn.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what proportion of his Department's electricity is generated from renewable sources; and what target his Department has for meeting its electricity needs from renewable sources by 2010. [113053]

The Department obtains its electricity from the host REC, London Electricity. The latest figures from London Electricity (1998) indicated that 98 per cent. of its supply comes from predominantly fossil fuel generating sources via the National Grid and 2 per cent. is purchased from local generators. These are mainly local combined heat and power schemes.As the Department is too small to justify its own generating capacity, any future increase in the percentage of power obtained from renewable sources will rely on London Electricity or an alternative REC changing the make up of its own supply.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will list those London football clubs with which his Department or Sport England has discussed ground sharing with athletics; and if he will make a statement. [113776]

My Department has had no discussions with London football clubs about ground sharing with athletics.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if DLA Ellerbe Beckett have been engaged by his Department in an advisory role on architectural issues relating to possible athletics venues in London. [113775]

Ellerbe Beckett were asked, as a continuation of their contract with UK Sport, to undertake an assessment of the proposals for athletics at Twickenham put forward by architects acting on behalf of the Rugby Football Union.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what amendments to the Lottery Funding Agreement relating to Wembley National Stadium have been discussed by the Football Association and Wembley National Stadium Ltd. with his Department in the context of the proposed £20 million payment. [113780]

My officials have discussed with Sport England some of the issues in relation to their role as a Lottery distributer, and have confirmed that it seems wholly reasonable to consider, with legal advice, amendments to particular LFA conditions which are requested by the parties to the original agreement. However, any proposed amendments to the Lottery Funding Agreement (LFA) are matters for Wembley National Stadium Ltd., the Football Association and Sport England to consider.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment his Department has made of the impact of the plans for the partial pedestrianisation of Trafalgar Square on the Square's potential to attract tourists and Londoners. [113643]

The partial pedestrianisation of Trafalgar Square is included in Phase 1 of the wider "World Squares for All" master plan. Public consultation on the master plan, for which the new Mayor for London will take over lead responsibility later this year, has shown widespread public support. Further extensive public consultation is currently under way on the detailed proposals for Phase 1, which aim to improve access for pedestrians and provide greater enjoyment of Trafalgar Square and adjoining areas. Londoners and visitors alike will benefit from improved accessibility of the National Gallery.

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. [114349]

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 16 February 2000, Official Report, column 54W.

To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee what restrictions there are on the number of overseas staff an hon. Member can have photo passes for; when these restrictions were imposed; and what plans his Committee has to review them. [114204]

The Administration Committee endorses the recommendations of the House of Commons (Services) Committee in its Report "Access to the Precincts of the House" (HC(1987–88)580), approved by the House on 30 January 1989, and which my Committee has no immediate plans to review. The Services Committee recommended that no hon. Member should be entitled to Palace of Westminster photo passes for more than three individual members of their personal staff. The number of passes issued to temporary research assistants from overseas is limited to 150 in any one calendar year, and to 50 at any one time.Hon. Members are permitted to have one temporary overseas student only working for them at a time to ensure that as many hon. Members as possible are able to take advantage of this opportunity. This does not affect the right of hon. Members to employ foreign nationals as secretaries, or as research assistants, on a longer term basis.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many of the recommendations contained in the report on urban regeneration by Lord Rogers (1) have been implemented by the Government; [114410](2) he will have implemented by the end of 2000. [114411]

The Urban Task Force report "Towards an Urban Renaissance" made more than 100 forward-thinking recommendations about how to revitalise our towns and cities. It formed an excellent contribution to the debate on how to reverse the social, physical and economic decline that many of our urban areas have faced in recent decades.The Government are looking at the report's recommendations in detail as we prepare for the forthcoming White Paper on Urban policy. But we, and others, have already acted on many of its proposals. We are keen to maintain the momentum created by the report and believe that we should all be working hard to create an urban renaissance now.It is important to remember that the recommendations of the Task Force are not for DETR or for Government alone. Many recommendations were directed at local authorities, other public sector organisations and service providers. For its part the Government have already:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what was the average weekly difference between rent officer determinations of registered fair rents during the period that the Rent Acts (Maximum Fair Rent) Order 1999 was in force (a) before the cap was applied and (b) after the cap had been applied (i) in England and (ii) by region. [1133381

Provisional figures for England are given in the table.

Average weekly amount by which the rent officer determination of 'uncapped' fair rent exceeded the 'capped' rent during the period May to December 1999
	Amount by which uncapped fair rent exceeded capped rent
	(£) per week	Number of cases
London
Barking	5.46	27
Barnet	8.35	638
Bexley	3.40	226
Brent	8.69	810
Bromley	6.17	335
City of London	2.01	62
Camden	25.49	866
Croydon	3.00	105
Ealing	8.16	614
Enfield	2.83	240
Greenwich	4.10	360
Hackney	4.73	688
Hammersmith and Fulham	3.75	831
Haringey	7.77	845
Harrow	2.75	187
Havering	3.93	154
Uxbridge/Hillingdon	4.03	266
Hounslow	7.05	367
Islington	5.70	714
Kensington and Chelsea	13.17	669
Lambeth	11.64	950
Lewisham	3.99	629
Merton	4.93	318
Newham	5.51	797
Redbridge	2.01	197
Richmond	6.41	429
Southwark	2.12	414
Sutton	1.56	105
Tower Hamlets	8.44	439
Waltham	7.45	721
Wandsworth	5.52	1,314
Westminster	7.74	536
London	7.56	15,853
English counties
Avon	5.78	578
Bedfordshire	2.77	212
Berkshire	4.96	407
Buckinghamshire	5.53	207
Cambridgeshire	10.27	400
Cheshire	4.58	543
Cleveland	1.63	81
Cornwall	7.29	13
Cumbria	2.25	91
Derbyshire	2.59	120
Devon	3.83	179
Dorset	4.08	226
Durham	3.71	75
East Sussex	5.83	169
Essex	5.59	378
Gloucestershire	10.50	308
Greater Manchester	3.06	1,570
Hampshire	6.65	724
Hereford and Worcestershire	2.97	204
Hertfordshire	6.28	568
Humberside	3.34	273
Isle of Wight	7.62	13
Kent	4.35	618
Lancashire	2.12	271
Leicestershire	2.28	485
Lincolnshire	2.12	107
Merseyside	4,35	2,434
Norfolk	6.26	522
Northumberland	1.79	143
Northamptonshire	4.28	212
North Yorkshire	3.37	376
Nottingham	3.00	246
Oxfordshire	13.32	193

Average weekly amount by which the rent officer determination of 'uncapped' fair rent exceeded the 'capped' rent during the period May to December 1999
	Amount by which uncapped fair rent exceeded capped rent
	(£) per week	Number of cases
Shrewsbury	3.89	30
Somerset	7.34	93
South Yorkshire	1.85	256
Staffordshire	4.32	100
Suffolk	2.97	243
Surrey	5.00	534
Tyne and Wear	2.49	850
Warwickshire	3.41	533
West Midlands	2.38	532
West Sussex	3.90	441
West Yorkshire	2.23	964
Wiltshire	5.87	289
English regions
London	7.56	15,853
North East	2.42	1,149
North West and Merseyside	3.80	4,909
Yorkshire and Humberside	2.57	1,869
East Midlands	2.81	1,170
West Midlands	3.03	1,399
Eastern	6.19	2,323
South East	5.66	3,306
South West	6.32	1,686
England	5.86	33,664

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what was the average weekly registered fair rent paid by regulated private tenants during the period that the Rent Acts (Maximum Fair Rent) Order 1999 was in force in (a) England and (b) by regions where (i) the rent was capped under the Order and (ii) the rent was not capped under the Order. [113337]

Provisional figures for England are given in the table.

Average weekly registered fair rent paid by regulated private tenants during May-December 1999 where the rent was (i) capped and (ii) not capped under the Order
	Rent capped		Rent not capped
	£ per week	Number of cases	£ per week	Number of cases
London
Barking	53.56	27	60.77	4
Barnet	79.12	638	78.45	88
Bexley	58.74	226	63.75	28
Brent	61.62	810	59.84	60
Bromley	71.73	335	85.23	27
City of London	67.47	62	n/a	0
Camden	77.67	866	104.11	80
Croydon	77.36	105	80.86	155
Ealing	64.60	614	76.86	134
Enfield	60.59	240	61.54	110
Greenwich	67.66	360	79.02	7
Hackney	58.62	688	65.47	70
Hammersmith and Fulham	68.23	831	77.30	52

Average weekly registered fair rent paid by regulated private tenants during May-December 1999 where the rent was (i) capped and (ii) not capped under the Order
	Rent capped		Rent not capped
	£ per week	Number of cases	£ per week	Number of cases
Haringey	65.63	845	72.49	70
Harrow	70.46	187	75.43	37
Havering	63.23	154	80.77	6
Uxbridge/Hillingdon	67.21	266	74.95	27
Hounslow	74.65	367	81.20	14
Islington	66.30	714	84.55	57
Kensington and Chelsea	71.06	669	141.61	239
Lambeth	59.59	950	58.94	101
Lewisham	53.72	629	56.61	75
Merton	80.08	318	80.79	34
Newham	56.30	797	51.24	43
Redbridge	50.06	197	57.27	66
Richmond	75.42	429	84.94	23
Southwark	60.81	414	66.91	123
Sutton	63.34	105	67.62	73
Tower Hamlets	67.21	439	43.00	10
Waltham	50.53	721	52.84	121
Wandsworth	76.32	1,314	88.85	37
Westminster	77.02	536	127.78	82
London	66.56	15,853	81.21	2,053
English counties
Avon	66.22	578	71.75	80
Bedfordshire	54.81	212	54.98	65
Berkshire	72.64	407	82.70	82
Buckinghamshire	57.20	207	61.47	29
Cambridgeshire	52.59	400	54.68	80
Cheshire	37.10	543	50.37	87
Cleveland	53.52	81	44.78	133
Cornwall	48.57	13	60.04	168
Cumbria	40.19	91	40.65	136
Derbyshire	43.16	120	44.85	424
Devon	60.83	179	64.36	260
Dorset	64.01	226	64.89	379
Durham	46.53	75	43.80	111
East Sussex	72.09	169	75.62	386
Essex	61.69	378	60.18	631
Gloucestershire	57.94	308	76.51	80
Greater Manchester	42.81	1,570	40.79	432
Hampshire	64.88	724	71.32	360
Hereford and Worcestershire	51.36	204	51.59	167
Hertfordshire	76.10	568	73.36	181
Humberside	47.46	273	44.73	357
Isle of Wight	50.83	13	58.19	63
Kent	71.22	618	68.22	557
Lancashire	45.50	271	46.99	115
Leicestershire	47.93	485	51.73	292
Lincolnshire	45.44	107	45.15	159
Merseyside	44.60	2,434	46.52	754
Norfolk	49.71	522	52.86	227
Northumberland	46.01	143	43.35	163
Northamptonshire	53.52	212	50.59	58
North Yorkshire	53.81	376	56.45	161
Nottingham	48.82	246	52.64	546
Oxfordshire	74.28	193	86.69	55
Shropshire	50.49	30	50.65	59
Somerset	56.66	93	61.99	80
South Yorkshire	40.65	256	38.94	628
Staffordshire	41.72	100	43.11	391
Suffolk	49.59	243	51.15	200
Surrey	83.38	534	96.17	72
Tyne and Wear	43.22	850	39.55	255
Warwickshire	49.70	533	51.25	76
West Midlands	46.09	532	49.13	1,073
West Sussex	69.40	441	80.17	191
West Yorkshire	42.82	964	47.16	663
Wiltshire	64.64	289	72.70	46
English regions
London	66.56	15,853	81.21	2,053
North East	44.51	1,149	42.25	662
North West and Merseyside	43.17	4,909	44.63	1,524

Average weekly registered fair rent paid by regulated private tenants during May-December 1999 where the rent was (i) capped and (ii) not capped under the Order
	Rent capped		Rent not capped
	£ per week	Number of cases	£ per week	Number of cases
Yorkshire and Humberside	45.41	1,869	44.66	1,809
East Midlands	48.41	1,170	49.34	1,479
West Midlands	48.02	1,399	48.17	1,766
Eastern	59.06	2,323	58.83	1,384
South East	70.99	3,306	73.59	1,795
South West	62.91	1,686	65.49	1,093
England	59.55	33,664	57.99	13,565

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what was the average weekly registered fair rent paid by regulated private tenants (a) in England and (b) by each region in (i) 1994–95, (ii) 1995–96, (iii) 1996–97, (iv) 1997–98 and (v) 1998–99. [113336]

The available figures for England are given in the table.

Average weekly registered fair rent paid by regulated private tenants in England, 1994–95 to 1998–99
	1994–95	1995–96	1996–97	1997–98	1998–99
London
Barking and Dagenham
£	41.40	43.36	47.47	51.79	54.11
Number of cases	8	69	102	102	93
Barnet
£	55.64	59.97	71.74	73.52	81.49
Number of cases	797	472	326	758	613
Bexley
£	32.99	54.23	54.90	54.43	61.03
Number of cases	411	1,321	959	298	261
Brent
£	40.09	42.71	49.39	54.96	61.54
Number of cases	871	460	337	718	470
Bromley
£	49.52	53.59	57.49	63.52	69.44
Number of cases	656	702	592	635	523
City
£	—	60.58	134.62	—	—
Number of cases	—	2	1	—	—

Average weekly registered fair rent paid by regulated private tenants in England, 1994–95 to 1998–99
	1994–95	1995–96	1996–97	1997–98	1998–99
Camden
£	64.88	76.11	82.48	89.57	101.58
Number of cases	1,252	941	624	897	768
Croydon
£	54.86	62.72	66.98	72.82	74.73
Number of cases	847	895	699	712	558
Ealing
£	53.19	54.03	60.85	65.78	74.07
Number of cases	1,028	734	521	788	572
Enfield
£	43.34	47.57	50.21	53.93	58.76
Number of cases	831	548	683	515	582
Greenwich
£	46.42	56.12	56.96	61.01	66.63
Number of cases	407	1,571	577	500	218
Hackney
£	42.34	49.63	50.85	56.45	59.34
Number of cases	640	474	529	491	362
Hammersmith and Fulham
£	54.87	57.57	63.96	69.70	79.93
Number of cases	1,202	1,207	991	953	799
Haringey
£	48.03	55.23	57.12	63.09	69.07
Number of cases	673	806	520	514	565
Harrow
£	48.16	52.05	60.90	64.05	77.69
Number of cases	451	623	364	496	180
Havering
£	53.61	46.97	50.33	57.15	59.53
Number of cases	230	259	260	317	239
Hillingdon
£	47.66	53.28	58.06	65.39	66.92
Number of cases	658	543	437	494	554
Hounslow
£	49.67	54.44	60.28	66.22	73.06
Number of cases	319	437	388	284	273
Islington
£	47.46	54.16	59.06	65.10	70.90
Number of cases	491	104	325	268	340
Kensington and Chelsea
£	74.40	93.64	91.31	97.77	120.60
Number of cases	1,234	796	1,116	715	702
Kingston
£	52.49	58.55	64.66	—	—
Number of cases	411	494	254	—	—

Average weekly registered fair rent paid by regulated private tenants in England, 1994– 95 to 1998–99
	1994–95	1995–96	1996–97	1997–98	1998–99
Lambeth
£	46.92	49.13	54.76	57.58	64.09
Number of cases	1,192	887	1,036	862	819
Lewisham
£	40.04	47.97	48.61	51.13	56.84
Number of cases	1,051	628	447	639	588
Merton
£	51.10	60.13	65.16	69.65	75.81
Number of cases	564	529	293	468	424
Newham
£	32.19	34.68	39.74	41.76	46.98
Number of cases	900	926	774	741	625
Redbridge
£	38.92	40.89	44.32	46.41	50.36
Number of cases	418	437	464	319	323
Richmond on Thames
£	57.34	63.47	70.55	75.36	84.35
Number of cases	659	899	731	1,112	774
Southwark
£	49.30	47.16	51.89	55.13	58.63
Number of cases	997	923	660	786	614
Sutton
£	45.43	51.00	55.02	61.16	63.54
Number of cases	305	380	267	310	213
Tower Hamlets
£	41.96	45.70	47.31	49.76	55.90
Number of cases	210	178	259	111	244
Waltham Forest
£	34.90	36.11	39.96	42.90	46.62
Number of cases	1,145	1,355	1,173	1,155	973
Wands worth
£	54.01	55.60	64.49	68.51	77.56
Number of cases	1,517	1,314	1,120	1,257	902
Westminster
£	90.50	92.72	106.69	109.09	112.32
Number of cases	2,068	2,260	1,820	1,740	1,683
London
£	53.06	57.96	63.38	67.75	74.87
Number of cases	24,443	24,174	19,649	19,955	16,854
English counties
Avon
£	47.37	53.80	56.92	61.74	65.46
Number of cases	730	736	549	568	542

Average weekly registered fair rent paid by regulated private tenants in England, 1994– 95 to 1998–99
	1994–95	1995–96	1996–97	1997–98	1998–99
Bedfordshire
£	37.08	36.44	46.22	46.94	51.99
Number of cases	586	351	326	351	158
Berkshire
£	51.19	58.24	63.83	70.31	74.77
Number of cases	801	970	611	689	485
Buckinghamshire
£	40.54	46.90	50.79	55.33	63.18
Number of cases	455	586	351	515	317
Cambridgeshire
£	41.80	41.32	47.02	48.06	61.42
Number of cases	599	522	510	338	339
Cheshire
£	25.25	27.45	32.48	36.02	42.40
Number of cases	871	1,184	805	959	661
Cleveland
£	31.80	35.54	38.99	39.78	42.00
Number of cases	444	370	249	545	189
Cornwall
£	53.83	55.71	56.75	58.83	59.89
Number of cases	554	466	439	326	338
Cumbria
£	32.13	30.85	33.18	36.74	38.44
Number of cases	540	673	526	573	452
Derbyshire
£	34.79	35.06	39.24	40.73	43.71
Number of cases	2,063	1,888	1,481	1,474	1,1900
Devon
£	48.00	50.95	54.58	56.67	59.94
Number of cases	1,348	874	773	945	688
Dorset
£	46.65	50.89	54.01	59.13	63.14
Number of cases	1,398	1,060	1,212	966	819
Durham
£	31.49	32.79	35.97	38.61	42.62
Number of cases				183
	347	338	276	265	71.56
East Sussex
£	58.42	63.59	65.58	69.79
Number of cases	2,205	2,126	1,636	1,694	1,251
Essex
£	45.00	48.49	53.25	55.66	59.37
Number of cases	2,207	2,028	1,812	1,708	1,579
Gloucestershire
£	46.37	49.26	54.59	58.10	62.26
Number of cases	534	458	389	454	354

Average weekly registered fair rent paid by regulated private tenants in England, 1994–95 to 1998–99
	1994–95	1995–96	1996–97	1997–98	1998–99
Greater Manchester
£	29.19	29.95	34.73	36.22	39.48
Number of cases	3,444	3,338	2,340	2,534	2,067
Hampshire
£	49.25	53.24	59.26	62.21	65.73
Number of cases	2,164	1,717	878	1,629	1,672
Hereford and Worcester
£	39.30	40.10	44.21	47.14	49.52
Number of cases	780	515	416	616	539
Hertfordshire
£	49.05	59.71	60.84	67.16	70.67
Number of cases	1,402	1,060	1,076	863	793
Humberside
£	34.71	37.22	39.10	41.29	42.85
Number of cases	1,862	1,737	1,217	1,336	964
Isle of Wight
£	43.60	47.77	49.86	55.56	54.61
Number of cases	211	62	61	135	95
Kent
£	53.04	57.24	60.75	64.18	68.12
Number of cases	3,074	2,506	2,490	2,306	1,942
Lancashire
£	32.25	33.96	37.37	40.61	42.94
Number of cases	965	840	664	632	536
Leicestershire
£	36.56	39.94	42.96	45.72	47.51
Number of cases	1,569	1,227	1,210	1,002	973
Lincolnshire
£	33.85	36.67	38.31	41.58	42.16
Number of cases	581	512	432	467	403
Merseyside
£	25.76	26.42	33.90	38.35	42.56
Number of cases	5,239	4,477	3,962	3,060	2,916
Norfolk
£	39.82	41.94	44.18	47.46	49.68
Number of cases	1,223	1,168	957	1,057	877
Northumberland
£	31.19	32.77	37.76	38.93	42.84
Number of cases	530	552	370	592	384
Northampton
£	37.11	40.40	43.04	45.54	50.02
Number of cases	440	301	350	264	281
North Yorkshire
	41.49	42.07	46.96	50.84	53.53
Number of cases	1,056	946	860	824	754

Average weekly registered fair rent paid by regulated private tenants in England, 1994–95 to 1998–99
	1994–95	1995–96	1996–97	1997–98	1998–99
Nottinghamshire
£	40.19	42.80	46.76	48.63	50.83
Number of cases	1,869	1,623	1,631	1,415	1,206
Oxfordshire
£	59.02	60.43	68.97	74.49	81.70
Number of cases	588	552	524	565	443
Shropshire
£	—	44.99	45.56	46.96	50.39
Number of cases	—	49	253	365	266
Somerset
£	44.25	45.60	51.90	53.82	59.17
Number of cases	570	340	197	373	288
South Yorkshire
£	30.07	31.13	33.10	34.94	37.06
Number of cases	2,843	1,697	1,982	1,985	1,674
Staffordshire
£	31.15	34.14	38.83	39.06	41.05
Number of cases	1,216	1,065	1,040	866	870
Suffolk
£	37.13	39.34	43.07	44.58	48.70
Number of cases	1,200	1,039	970	877	925
Surrey
£	62.54	67.23	74.13	82.34	87.30
Number of cases	1,596	1,475	1,429	1,083	1,099
Tyne and Wear
£	29.72	31.08	35.24	37.06	40.41
Number of cases	1,930	1,762	1,551	1,588	1,166
Warwickshire
£	33.44	36.73	43.16	45.58	48.62
Number of cases	664	423	134	636	449
West Midlands
£	37.04	37.88	42.14	45.70	47.23
Number of cases	4,716	3,593	2,804	3,220	2,587
West Sussex
£	54.46	61.94	64.57	70.42	74.32
Number of cases	1,232	935	826	757	639
West Yorkshire
£	33.56	36.12	38.05	40.84	43.16
Number of cases	3,354	2,740	2,571	2,306	2,018
Wiltshire
£	49.40	49.55	54.83	57.55	63.25
Number of cases	516	444	452	411	158
English regions
London
£	53.06	57.96	63.38	67.75	74.87
Number of cases	24,443	24,174	19,649	19,955	16,854

Average weekly registered fair rent paid by regulated private tenants in England, 1994–95 to 1998–99
	1994–95	1995–96	1996–97	1997–98	1998–99
North East
£	30.43	32.13	36.09	38.07	41.26
Number of cases	3,251	3,022	2,446	2,990	1,922
North West and Merseyside
£	27.67	28.54	34.23	37.43	41.33
Number of cases	11,059	10,512	8,297	7,758	6,632
Yorkshire and Humberside
£	33.62	35.99	37.92	40.40	42.66
Number of cases	9,115	7,120	6,630	6,451	5,410
East Midlands
£	25.83	26.91	31.32	31.60	34.19
Number of cases	6,522	5,551	5,104	4,622	4,053
West Midlands
£	35.98	37.35	41.80	44.92	46.66
Number of cases	7,376	5,645	4,647	5,703	4,711
Eastern
£	42.69	46.34	50.44	52.95	57.25
Number of cases	7,217	6,168	5,651	5,194	4,671
South East
£	54.25	59.24	64.26	67.92	72.11
Number of cases	12,326	10,929	8,806	9,376	7,943
South West
£	47.75	51.19	54.86	58.13	62.05
Number of cases	5,650	4,378	4,011	4,043	3,187
England
£	43.27	46.98	51.38	54.86	59.48
Number of cases	86,959	77,499	65,241	66,089	55,383

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to commission research into the potential health effects of landfill sites; and if he will make a statement. [113288]

Last year the Government commissioned the Small Area Health Statistics Unit (SAHSU) at Imperial College to carry out a national study to determine whether there is any pattern of adverse health effects around landfill sites. The results are expected later this year. A further programme of research was announced last year. I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given on 7 December 1999, Official Report, column 487W.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions on which dates Lord Levy has had meetings with (a) Ministers and (b) senior officials in his Department since 1 May 1997, giving in each case the purpose of the meetings; and if he will make a statement. [113501]

[holding answer 7 March 2000]: None.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list (1) the size of sites designated as previously developed vacant land sites within the three relevant Government regions in the Thames Gateway Regeneration area; [114069](2) the

The Thames Gateway area is made up of parts of a number of boroughs and districts within the London, South East and East of England Government Office regions. The information is not therefore available in either the form or detail requested. However, the table provides an extract from the Supplementary Table on the National Land Use Database website (www.nlud.org.uk). It shows, for the core districts in the existing, non-extended Thames Gateway area, total amounts of previously developed vacant land, derelict land and land occupied by vacant buildings reported by each local authority. The portions allocated for housing use in the local plan or with planning permission for housing area are also shown. Not all of this land will be available for redevelopment. The table additionally shows amounts of land currently in use with allocation for redevelopment for any use or with planning permission for housing. The figures refer to the time of the survey in 1998, and have not been adjusted for some cases where the coverage was partial (as indicated by the footnotes). The estimates are a "snapshot" for 1998 and take no account of future supply of previously developed land.

Previously developed land that is unused or may be available for redevelopment1 by land type and Planning Authority: England 1998
hectares
Planning Authority2	Area	Previously developed vacant land of which proposed for housing	Area	Derelict land and buildings of which proposed for housing	Area	Land occupied by vacant buildings of which proposed for housing	Area	Land currently in use with planning allocation for any use or planning permission for housing of which proposed for housing
Thames Gateway
Thurrock UA	18	7	206	184	—	1—	10	10
Barking and Dagenham	2	1	19	—	5	—	7	—
Bexley	10	10	10	—	3	3	8	7
Greenwich	46	1	155	53	4	—	30	14
Havering	40	3—	34	3—	1	3—	13	1
Newham	95	429	32	4	9	5	342	7
Dartford	271	9	76	—	69	29	297	5
Gravesham	4	7—	8	5	2	1	3	2
Swale	8	4	46	41	6	42	61	59
The Medway Towns UA	1	1	77	4	5	1	996	34
1 Ungrossed totals as reported by the authority. Comprises previously developed vacant and derelict land: vacant buildings (excluding single dwellings except where they could be developed into 10 or more dwellings); land or buildings currently in use, which are allocated in the local plan for any developed use, have planning permission for housing or with known potential for redevelopment.
2 Local authority, district or unitary authority.
3 Completion is less than 85 per cent.
4 Figures have been revised against the May 1999 Supplementary Table because of duplicate sites; amendments made by the Local Authority; data resubmitted by the Local Authority after the May 1999 Supplementary Table; changes to assumptions used by the DETR to aggregate data.
5 Partial returns.
6 Nil or less than half the final digit shown.
7 Completion figures have not been provided.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what guidance he is issuing to local planning authorities about the balance between (a) industrial and commercial development and (b) housing on brownfield sites. [114154]

Our newly published planning policy guidance for housing, PPG3, requires authorities to review their land allocations for employment and other uses to see whether they may be better used for housing.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what guidance he is issuing to local planning authorities about height restrictions on new housing build in (a) urban, (b) suburban and (c) rural areas. [114153]

Planning Policy Guidance note 3, "Housing", requires local planning authorities, when considering design and layout to have regard not just to any immediate neighbouring buildings but the townscape and landscape of the wider locality. They are expected to adopt policies which create places and spaces with the needs of people in mind, which are attractive, have their own distinctive identity but respect and enhance local character.The Government do not intend that PPG3's requirement to make more efficient use of land for housing should result in a return to 1960s-style high rise residential development.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will issue guidance to local authorities asking them to collect household waste more frequently than once a fortnight. [113686]

Under section 45 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, waste collection authorities have a duty to collect household refuse. How this duty is discharged is a matter for local decision.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he has received from BAA the results of their feasibility study into a second main runway at Gatwick; and if he will make a statement. [114346]

BAA did not complete their study, which the previous Administration had asked them to undertake, of less environmentally damaging runway options, such as a close parallel runway at Gatwick. We announced on 19 January 1998, Official Report, column 37, that we had asked BAA to put this work on hold so that we could review the issue in the light of the integrated transport White Paper.The then Minister of Transport, my right hon. Friend the Member for Hamilton, North and Bellshill (Dr. Reid), announced on 11 March 1999,

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the status of the agreement between the then Government and Crawley Borough Council which prohibits the building of a second runway at Gatwick Airport until 2019. [114345]

The agreement the hon. Member refers to is between the local authority, West Sussex County Council, and the airport owners, the then British Airports Authority. It was agreed in August 1979, under the terms of section 52 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1970.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what account Ofwat took of minimum staffing levels required in respect of safety when setting its revised price controls for the water industry; and if he will make a statement. [114131]

The Director General of Water Services has a statutory duty to ensure that companies can finance the proper carrying out of their functions. These functions include obligations enforced by the Health and Safety Executive. The handling of the price review is a matter for the Director. His report "Final Determinations: Future water and sewerage charges 2000–05" includes a full account of the price review process.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 8 March 2000, Official Report, column 670W, if he will place in the Library a copy of the guidance issued by English Nature to its local teams in September 1999. [114321]

A copy of the Guidance will be placed in the Library within the next ten days.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what progress has been made with the studies of improvements to the A453 between Kegworth and Clifton; when the results will be published; and if he will make a statement on the future of road links between the M1 motorway and the city of Nottingham. [114323]

The current study of the A453 corridor is part of the national programme of multi-modal studies to consider movements by all modes within specific corridors. In the East Midlands, consultants have been appointed for two studies (one on the A453 and the second on the M1 corridor, including routes into Kegworth). Work began in December 1999. The conclusions of both studies will be presented to the East Midlands Regional Planning Forum next year. The Secretary of State will then consider the Planning Forum's recommendations in the light of the studies' results.The A453 is one of the three trunk road links between the M1 and the City of Nottingham. All fall within the remit of the studies. I cannot anticipate the study outcomes but, in accordance with the Government's integrated transport policies, they will relate to transport by all modes.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will take steps in conjunction with the British Railways Board and the Shadow Strategic Rail Authority to ensure that the land at Bristol Road, Stonehouse, is withdrawn from the next round of land sales. [112991]

The property at Stonehouse was included in the 60-day minimum Notice of Intention to market the site that was issued on 10 November 1999. BRB/sSRA will, in accordance with the marketing process announced by the Department in September 1999, take account of the representations made in response to that Notice when deciding how to sell the site.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many fishing vessels were prohibited from putting to sea following safety inspections by officials of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency in each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement. [112766]

The numbers of fishing vessels prohibited from putting to sea following safety inspections by officials of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency in each of the past five years are as follows:

Year	Number
1994–95	26
1995–96	48
1996–97	55
1997–98	46
1998–99	49

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the range of penalties that can be imposed on the owners of fishing vessels for (a) the failure to maintain vessels in a seaworthy condition and (b) neglect of safety equipment; and if he will make a statement. [112767]

Owners of fishing vessels can be prosecuted for offences under the Merchant Shipping Act 1995.The owner of a dangerously unsafe fishing vessel can be fined a maximum of £50,000 by magistrates and face an unlimited fine and/or two years in prison if convicted in the Crown court.The owner of a fishing vessel is also liable for the unsafe operation of the vessel and faces the same penalties.In addition the owner of a fishing vessel faces a maximum fine of £5,000 before magistrates and an unlimited fine in the Crown court if his vessel contravenes any of the fishing vessel construction rules which include maintaining rules on safety equipment.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many officials are employed by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency to carry out inspections of fishing vessels in relation to (a) their seaworthiness and (b) the adequacy and maintenance of their safety equipment; and if he will make a statement. [112768]

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency currently employs 16 marine surveyors to carry out safety inspections of fishing vessels. A further 41 coastguard officers are qualified to carry out basic safety checks on the under 12 metre fleet, and a further 17 are undergoing or awaiting training.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what action his Department is taking to combat violence against public transport personnel. [112606]

I am very concerned about all work-related violence. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has published a range of guidance on violence at work and I have asked the Health and Safety Commission (HSC) to consider options for further action which would make a significant impact on preventing assaults, verbal threats and abuse in the workplace, particularly for higher-risk occupations.In relation to the public transport sector, my Department has published guidance on how bus operators can reduce the risk of violence on their bus services, including the fitting of alarms and two-way radios on vehicles. The guidance has been widely circulated and well received throughout the industry.The HSC's Railway Industry Advisory Committee (RIAC) held a conference on violence at work in the railway sector on 8 July 1999. As a result, RIAC are developing a national co-ordinated plan in partnership with industry to reduce assaults.More generally, our programme of measures to improve personal security in the public transport system—including, for example, the Secure Stations Scheme launched in 1998—emphasises the need for transport operators to improve the personal security of both staff and passengers.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what was the Government's total spending on housing in each of the years (a) 1993–94, (b) 1994–95, (c) 1995–96, (d) 1996–97, (e) 1997–98 and (f) 1998–99; and what it will be in (x) 1999–2000 and (y) 2000–01. [114416]

The information requested is as follows:

£ million
Year	Amount
1993–94	7,742.0
1994–95	7,166.3
1995–96	6,631.9
1996–97	5,418.5
1997–98	5,814.4
1998–99	5,577.8
1999–2000	5,898.3
2000–01	6,579.4

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he will publish the housebuilding figures announced on 7 March broken down by county. [114413]

On 20 March we will be publishing for consultation full details of proposed changes to the Regional Planning Guidance for the South-East. The consultation will include an illustrative distribution of housing provision to county level.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many new (a) private houses and (b) social houses have been built in each of the years (i) 1993–94, (ii) 1994–95, (iii) 1995–96, (iv) 1996–97, (v) 1997–98 and (vi) 1998–99; and how many are planned for (x) 1999–2000 and (y) 2000–01. [114394]

The number of permanent dwellings completed in England are as follows:

Calendar year	Private houses	Social houses
1993	116,700	31,200
1994	122,700	32,000
1995	125,500	31,700
1996	121,600	27,600
1997	128,000	21,200
1998	121,200	20,200
1999 (provisional)	122,300	17,600

Information on the numbers of houses built in 1999–2000 or expected to be built in 2000–01 is not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what environmental objectives have been set for SEEDA. [114397]

The Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) have a statutory duty to contribute to the achievement of sustainable development in the UK, where it is relevant to their areas to do so.The RDAs, including SEEDA, presented their regional strategies to Ministers on 26 October last year. SEEDA's strategy, "Building a World Class Region", contains a chapter on "World Class Environment". This chapter sets out SEEDA's region-wide programme for addressing environmental needs, and contains a set of strategic priorities and objectives.A copy of SEEDA's strategy is available in the Library of the House.