To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to control the importation of seeds treated with Lindane; what estimate he has made of the quantity of such seeds imported within the last month for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [112560]

[holding answer 7 March 2000]: A ban on seed treatment uses of lindane was introduced in July 1999 following advice from the Advisory Committee on Pesticides (ACP) that the level of exposure of those treating seed with lindane was above acceptable levels. However, the ACP was satisfied that seed already treated and present in the supply chain posed no concerns.EU seeds marketing directives, which have been implemented by seeds marketing regulations in this country, do not require nor permit controls to be placed on the importation of seeds treated with lindane. Consequently, my Department does not have the statistical information available to enable any reliable estimate to be made of the quantity of imported seeds treated with lindane.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what safeguards have been put in place to ensure that animal owners participating in the pets travel pilot scheme are not overcharged for any of the services required to clear their pets for travel; and if he will make a statement. [113741]

The charges made by veterinary surgeons to their clients for animals participating in the pets scheme are a private matter between the client and the veterinary surgeon. However, pet owners should consider shopping around between veterinary practices. The Guidance issued to all veterinary surgeons by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) states that they must give realistic fee estimates based on treatment options. If clients feel that a veterinary surgeon has acted unprofessionally in setting fees they should contact the RCVS. Alternatively, if they feel that there may have been an infringement of trading standards legislation, they should contact the local Trading Standards Office.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what advice his Department has issued to pet owners to enable them to identify veterinary surgeons in France and Belgium who are able to provide the required tick and tapeworm treatment for animals under the pets travel pilot scheme; and if he will make a statement. [113740]

We encourage pet owners to (a) consult official lists of veterinary surgeons held by the French local authorities, or other sources of local information, (b) seek advice from their transport operators as to vets that are available. In addition, each British Consulate in France will hold a copy of the Annual Directory of Veterinary Surgeons in France. In Belgium, information on vets providing this treatment is available on the British Embassy and Belgian Ministry websites and to telephone inquirers to the Embassy and Consular Offices and the Belgian Ministry helpline. Several of the transport companies participating in the PETS pilot provide lists of veterinary surgeons in France who are able to provide treatment required under the PETS scheme. There are also several independent websites which provide details of English-speaking vets in other member states.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of the cost per animal of (a) vaccination against rabies, (b) insertion of a microchip and (c) treatment against ticks and tapeworms in connection with the pets travel pilot scheme. [113739]

The charges made by veterinary surgeons to their clients for animals participating in the pets scheme are a private matter between the client and the veterinary surgeon. However, an indicative cost of treatment in the UK would be as follows: £50 for an initial vaccination against rabies, £30 for insertion of a microchip and from £25 for treatment against ticks and tapeworms.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to implement Recommendation 10 of the Red Tape Working Group on the Meat Industry. [113882]

[holding answer 10 March 2000]: A meeting of the Government/Industry Working Group Microbiology Sub-Group has been arranged for 5 April with a view to recommending standards which plants would have to meet to be considered for exemption from Hygiene Assessment Scores procedures.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects to commence the next quinquennial review of the Meat Hygiene Service. [113883]

[holding answer 10 March 2000]: The Meat Hygiene Service transfers to the Food Standards Agency on 1 April 2000; it will be for the latter to decide when to carry out a Quinquennial Review.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many tenanted farms there are in (a) Shrewsbury and Atcham and (b) Shropshire; what is the percentage of these farms compared to the total farming area of (i) Shrewsbury and Atcham and (ii) Shropshire; and if he will make a statement. [114381]

[holding answer 13 March 2000]: The table provides information on farms with all their agricultural land subject to a tenancy agreement.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many male dairy calves have been registered with BCMS, Workington in the three months following the end of the Calf Slaughter Scheme. [111503]

[holding answer 28 February 2000]: In the three months following the end of the Calf Processing Aid Scheme in July 1999 BCMS registered 144,128 male dairy calves on the Cattle Tracing System database.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what financial arrangements are being made in respect of the NHS trusts in Wales dissolved on 1 April 1999 in connection with the new NHS trusts established on that day. [115216]

Pursuant to the dissolution of 20 NHS trusts in Wales on 1 April 1999 and their reconfiguration through the establishment of 10 new trusts on that date, and the remission of the outstanding debt of each of the dissolved trusts, HM Treasury presented a minute to the House on 14 March 2000 giving particulars and circumstances of the remission proposed by the National Assembly for Wales, which it has approved in principle.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the longest period of time that (a) men and (b) women had been held in a segregation unit in a prison in England and Wales on 1 March. [113835]

The information requested cannot be obtained from the centrally available data.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his Department's policy on the regimes to be followed in the segregation units of prisons in England and Wales; and if he will make a statement. [114250]

Prison Service Performance Standards require that there is a published regime for all segregation units, which is known and observed by prisoners and staff. The published regime takes account of exercise, shower or bath, visits, education, library and telephone calls.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) boys and (b) girls under the age of 16 years were serving a custodial sentence on 1 March. [113832]

The latest available information for persons held in Prison Service establishments is for 31 January 2000. On that date, there were 166 males and five females aged 15 years serving a custodial sentence in prisons in England and Wales. Information on the numbers held in Secure Training Centres (STCs) is available only for the current date and shows that on 9 March there were 103 sentenced 12–14 year-old males held. Information on other persons aged less than 16 years in local authority accommodation is published in a Department of Health statistical bulletin entitled "Children Accommodated in Secure Units". This information is presented on a financial year basis with the last report covering the year ending 31 March 1999.Information on the population of persons aged 15 years in Prison Service establishments in England and Wales is published in "Prison statistics England and Wales" (Table 3.2 of the 1998 edition, column 4430) a copy of which is in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to prevent the use of gammahydroxybutyrate in night clubs and pubs. [114162]

The Home Office Drugs Prevention Advisory Service (DPAS) was established in April 1999, with a remit to promote effective drugs prevention and to support local Drug Action Teams in their role of delivering the aims of the Government's national anti-drugs strategy.At a national level, DPAS works with the Department of Health and others on helping to establish the best ways and means of targeting young people with sound information about the risks of substance misuse. DPAS regional teams are well placed to engage with Drug Action Teams, local authority licensing bodies and other partnerships about approaches to tackling the problem of substance misuse in clubs and pubs, including the harmonisation of enforcement activity with local and community concerns about such misuse.Other measures taken recently to tackle the use of drugs in clubs and similar venues include bringing into force the Public Entertainments Licences (Drug Misuse) Act 1997. It enables local authorities to close those clubs found to have a serious problem relating to the supply or use of controlled drugs. Home Office guidance has been issued to local authorities on the implementation of the Act. It is designed to encourage and develop partnerships between the police, licensing authorities and club operators to combat the threat posed by drugs to clubs and provide a safe environment for customers.In November 1998, a Good Practice Guide on the Implementation of the Act was published jointly by the Association of Chief Police Officers, the Local Government Association, the British Entertainment and Discotheque Association and the United Kingdom Anti-Drugs Co-ordination Unit. Its recommendations include a range of measures to be implemented by clubs to safeguard health and safety and to discourage drug users on their premises.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the total change was in the number of police officers (a) in each force in England and Wales and (b) in total since March 1997; what estimate he has made of the (i) planned recruitment to, (ii) expected wastage from and (iii) change in police numbers in police forces, including transfers, including information provided in the bids for the Crime Fighting Fund and the allocation of Crime Fighting Fund money, (1) in total and (2) in each of the next three years; and what estimate he has made of the expected change in police numbers in each force and in total between March 1997 and the end of each of the first three years of the Crime Fighting Fund; and if he will make a statement. [114700]

[holding answer 14 March 2000]: Table A shows the total change in the number of police officers in each force in England and Wales and in total from March 1997 to September 1999.In respect of the figures for projected recruitment and wastage including transfers I refer the hon. Member to the replies I gave the hon. Member for North-East Hertfordshire (Mr. Heald) on 21 February 2000,

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list (a) the offices (i) owned and (ii) rented by his Department and its agencies in Scotland and (b) the number of staff (y) employed and (z) that can be accommodated (1) in total and (2) at each site. [114238]

My Department and its agencies do not own any office space in Scotland. The rental of space and employment of staff by the Home Office in Scotland is as shown in the table. No estimate has been made of the number of staff that could be accommodated at these sites. This would depend on the nature of the work to be undertaken and would require a space planning exercise based on actual business requirements.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many inmates of Feltham Young Offenders Unit and other young offenders' units in England have been assessed as mentally ill and are awaiting transfer to hospitals; [114511](2) what is the average waiting time for transfer to hospitals of current inmates in young offender institutions in England who have been assessed as mentally ill; and what was the average for each of the last three years. [114512]

On 31 January 2000, the latest date for which comprehensive statistics are available, four young men in establishments primarily for young offenders were reported to be awaiting transfer to hospital under sections 47 or 48 of the Mental Health Act 1983, three of whom were at Feltham. Information about average waiting times for transfer to hospital is not routinely collected centrally, though the Prison Service and the NHS are now monitoring cases where there is excessive delay.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) men and (b) women were electronically tagged in England and Wales on 1 March. [114504]

2,667 men and 254 women were electronically tagged in England and Wales as at 1 March. This includes 53 men and four women who were tagged on 1 March itself.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to make kerb crawling an arrestable criminal offence. [114564]

We intend to make kerb crawling an arrestable offence as soon as a suitable legislative opportunity arises.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will estimate how many children arrived in the United Kingdom in 1999 as members of an asylum seeking family. [114251]

The information requested is not available. Information on principal applicants and dependants is published on an annual basis. It is planned that the figures for 1999 will be included within the next Asylum Bulletin which is due to be published in June of this year. It is not possible separately to identify dependent children without the examination of individual case records at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers have applied for permission to work, having been in the UK for six months or more; and how many of these have been granted permission, in each of the last three years for which figures are available. [114565]

Statistics on the number of asylum seekers granted permission to work are not recorded centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many special constables were recruited by each of the police forces in England and Wales between 30 September 1998 and 30 September 1999; [111474](2) how many special constables left each of the police forces in England and Wales between 30 September 1998 and 30 September 1999. [111472]

Pursuant to the reply I gave the hon. Member on 28 February 2000, Official Report, column 117W, a figure for the Metropolitan police was not available for inclusion in the table setting out the number of special constables recruited by each police force in England and Wales between 1 October 1998 and 30 September 1999. The Metropolitan police have confirmed that they recruited 84 special constables during the relevant period.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the lowest possible income for a family where one partner is working for 16 hours or more a week, with one or more dependent children under (a) 16 and (b) 19 years if in full-time education. [114487]

[holding answer 14 March 2000]: The information requested is contained in the table:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many families have benefited from the Working Families Tax Credit in Northern Ireland. [113225]

24,433 awards of the Working Families Tax Credit were made in Northern Ireland up to the end of January 2000.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the level of fraudulent claims as a result of the replacement of family credit with Working Families Tax Credit. [113297]

Reliable estimates are not yet available.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what measures he has taken to prevent fraudulent claims for working families tax credit. [113298]

The Tax Credits Act 1999, and the regulations made under that Act, provide the Inland Revenue with effective powers to make inquiries into applications. Where fraud is discovered, the Act provides for financial penalties to be charged, based on the amount fraudulently claimed. In the most serious cases, a criminal prosecution may be brought. The application form warns prospective applicants of the consequences of making a fraudulent claim.The Inland Revenue use risk assessment procedures to target their inquiries on the applications most likely to be fraudulent, and where the largest amounts are at stake.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the annual household income for the purposes of calculating working families tax credit includes child benefit to which the family is entitled. [114486]

[holding answer 14 March 2000]: No, child benefit is wholly disregarded in calculating entitlement to the working families tax credit.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the £200 a week minimum income received by families on working families tax credit includes child benefit. [114485]

[holding answer 14 March 2000]: Yes, it includes child benefit and working families tax credit as well as earnings net of tax and National Insurance.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what guidance he will issue to the Inland Revenue to ensure that working families tax credit is (a) paid in full and on time and (b) takes account of the amount owed when an employee claiming working families tax credit leaves their job. [114481]

[holding answer 14 March 2000]: From April, when tax credits start to be paid by employers through the payroll, the Inland Revenue will continue to assess awards. They will tell employers exactly when they have to start paying tax credit, when to stop, and how much to pay per calendar day (the daily rate) in each pay period during which they are responsible for paying tax credit. The start notification sent to the employer includes a table showing 1–31 multiples of the daily rate to take account of different pay periods.If an employee leaves his/her job before the end of the tax credit award, the employer will have to stop paying tax credit and issue the employee with a Certificate of Payments, showing the date up to which tax credit has been paid. The employee will send this to the Inland Revenue's Tax Credit Office, who will resume direct payments of tax credit to the employee.Full guidance has been issued to both Inland Revenue staff and employers on these arrangements, which will ensure that employees receive the correct amount of tax credit throughout their 26-week award.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the additional amount per week that would be received by a family entitled to working families tax credit, for (a) one, (b) two and (c) three children, when the family's annual income is £10,400 and (i) there are no child care costs and (ii) the parental contribution to child care costs per week is (1) £10, (2) £20, (3) £30, (4) £40 and (5) £45. [114478]

[holding answer 14 March 2000]: For such families with £10,400 gross income, and for 1999–2000, the value of the Working Families Tax Credit exceeds that of Family Credit by following amounts per week:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if small businesses will be reimbursed promptly in respect of payments made by them as a result of handling working families tax credit; and if he will make a statement. [114479]

[holding answer 14 March 2000]: Employers will be able to set tax credits paid to their employees against the PAYE income tax and National Insurance contributions and student loan deductions which they are due to pay to the Inland Revenue. Employers who think that they will have to pay out more in tax credits than they will deduct in PAYE income tax and National Insurance contributions and student loan deductions will be able to apply to the Inland Revenue for additional advance funding. They can apply up to six months in advance and do not have to wait until they have actually paid the tax credit.Payment of WFTC through the pay packet is central to demonstrating the rewards of work and making work pay for families on low incomes. The Inland Revenue has been providing an extensive range of direct practical help and support for employers, including a dedicated telephone helpline for employers and a range of literature and face to face workshops which are particularly aimed at small businesses. Every employer received a copy of the Inland Revenue's "Employer's Guide To Tax Credits".

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish the remit of the European Union's Taxation Policy Group. [114226]

[holding answer 14 March 2000]: The Taxation Policy Group was established following the Dublin European Council in December 1996 which noted the ECOFIN Council conclusions of November 1996. These conclusions welcomed a proposal for a group made up of member states and the Commission as set out in "Taxation in the European Union—Report on the Development of Tax Systems" of October 1996 (Com(96)546).The Taxation Policy Group has no power to take decisions. EU tax decisions are a matter for member states, acting by unanimity, within the Council.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what position was taken by Her Majesty's Government on (a) improving the VAT system in the internal market and (b) company taxation in the European Community, at the meeting of the European Union's Taxation Policy Group on 2 March. [114228]

[holding answer 14 March 2000]: The UK position at the meeting was wholly consistent with our public statements.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish the agendas and minutes of the meetings of the EU Taxation Policy Group which have taken place to date. [114227]

[holding answer 14 March 2000]: It has not normally been the Commission's practice to issue minutes. I will ensure that the agendas of Taxation Policy Group meetings are placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer who attends meetings of the European Union's Taxation Policy Group on behalf of Her Majesty's Government. [114225]

[holding answer 14 March 2000]: I am the Government's lead representative on the Taxation Policy Group. If I am unable to attend, senior officials may attend on my behalf.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if his Department plans to seek compensation from Andersen Consulting as a result of the delays to the new National Insurance Recording System. [115218]

My conclusion is that it would not be sensible or cost effective to seek further compensation from Andersen Consulting beyond the agreed amount of £4.1 million which was paid for delays in 1997 and 1998. This also involved Andersen Consulting in additional, unrecoverable development costs of £20 million.In reaching this decision I have taken into account not just the contractual and legal position, but also the further investment made by Andersen Consulting beyond the development costs of some £7 million, at no cost to the Government, to ensure that the system is fully functional. Beyond this, I am satisfied that taking action against Andersen Consulting would prejudice the partnership relationship now established between it and the Inland Revenue. This is essential to the delivery of future changes to the system in support of the Governments National Insurance and Pensions and Welfare Reform proposals.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the total wealth of the richest (a) 1 per cent., (b) 5 per cent., (c) 10 per cent. and (d) 50 per cent. of the United Kingdom population; and in each case what proportion of the United Kingdom total this represents. [113894]

The figures are shown in the table:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the full year cost from April 2000 of transferring an unused personal tax allowance from a married person to their earning spouse where (a) there are no children and (b) where that person's youngest child is (i) aged under five, (ii) under 11 and (iii) under 16 years at the beginning of the tax year. [113478]

The estimated costs for 2000–01 of allowing a married person to transfer an unused personal tax allowance to their earning spouse are given in the table.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the erosion of revenue from VAT as a result of the increase in e-commerce. [114568]

Although accurate figures are not available, the VAT currently at risk is not considered to be significant. However, we will continue to monitor this area closely.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the increased cost to United Kingdom businesses resulting from the introduction of IR35. [114500]

Such estimates were made for the Welfare Reform and Pensions Bill in the "Regulatory Impact Assessment for National Insurance Service Provision Through Intermediaries", which was published in October 1999.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the estimated tax receipts flowing from the introduction of IR35 are for the next financial year. [114503]

Estimates of the expected revenue consequences from the proposed measure to stop avoidance of tax and National Insurance Contributions using personal service companies were included in the Financial Statement and Budget Report (FSBR) which was published on Budget Day in March 1999.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the possible loss of revenue resulting from people leaving the United Kingdom following the introduction of IR35. [114499]

Information on our assumptions about the effects of the introduction of IR35 was included in the Regulatory Impact Assessment on the Welfare Reform and Pensions Bill which was published in October 1999.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will estimate the cost of the legislation introducing IR35; [114502](2) what the administrative cost of IR35 will be in each of the next three financial years. [114501]

This information is provided on pages 15 and 16 of the Regulatory Impact Assessment on the Welfare Reform and Pensions Bill published in October 1999.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will report on progress in the introduction of the NIRS 2; and if he will make a statement. [114696]

The majority of the NIRS2 system facilities are working well and we are now seeing considerable improvements. The Inland Revenue National Insurance Contributions Office is using the system to reduce backlogs and improve service to the customer.Remaining key elements will be in place in April 2000—this will mean that the Inland Revenue National Insurance Contributions Office can reduce backlogs of pension work which in turn will help the Benefits Agency clear benefits work.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take steps to implement the European directive allowing a reduced rate of VAT on specified labour-intensive work relating to churches. [114336]

The new EC Directive on reduced rate experiments for labour-intensive services is aimed at private dwellings, not churches.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 19 January 2000, Official Report, column 502W, on the basic state pension, what would be the real increase in the yield of national insurance contributions between 1999–2000 and 2010–11 if the total yield rose in line with average earnings. [114198]

If total national insurance contributions receipts for Great Britain in 1999–2000 were increased in line with average earnings each year until 2010–11, then this figure would be some £11.7 billion higher than the 1999–2000 figure in real terms¹.This estimate was provided by the Government Actuary's Department.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people were (a) employed and (b) unemployed in the former area of South Humberside in each year since 1981. [113902]

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

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the fall in seasonally adjusted volume of goods exports excluding oil and erratics since August 1999; and if he will make a statement. [113890]

[holding answer 14 March 2000]: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Director of the Office for National Statistics. I have asked him to reply.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to discuss proposals for a Tobin tax, at the forthcoming IMF spring meetings in Washington. [114355]

[holding answer 14 March 2000]: None. The Government believe the idea of a tax on currency speculation is, in principle, interesting, but has a number of practical drawbacks. In particular, it would be almost impossible to achieve a global coverage, and there would be huge scope for avoidance.Over the past two years the Government have worked with our G7 partners on measures designed to strengthen the international financial system and establish better mechanisms for crisis prevention and resolution. Much of the groundwork was laid during the UK presidency of the G7 with my right hon. Friend the Chancellor in the chair.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the conclusion of the recent IMF report on the value of capital controls. [114714]

The IMF report of 18 November 1999 helpfully advances interactional discussion on capital controls. The report makes clear that capital controls are no substitute for sound macroeconomic policies, and that strong prudential policies play an important role in orderly and successful capital account liberalisation.The Government believe that open capital markets can bring huge economic benefits, and support efforts to encourage orderly, progressive capital account liberalisation. The Government recognise that large short-term capital movements can be destabilising, and believe that the benefits of liberalisation are best enjoyed in countries which have embarked upon properly sequenced economic reform. Sound macroeconomic policy, open and credible institutions and procedures and a healthy financial sector are essential pre-conditions for orderly capital account liberalisation.At the Cologne Economic Summit, the UK Government and our G7 partners urged the IMF to continue its work on the appropriate pace and sequencing of capital market liberalisation, and to explore other issues related to the Fund's role in facilitating an orderly approach to liberalisation.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will commission a study into the feasibility of introducing a tax on currency transactions; [114712]

The Government have no plans to commission a study into the feasibility of introducing a tax on currency transactions, and will consider any proposals from others for a study on their individual merits.The Government believe the idea of a tax on currency speculation is, in principle, interesting, but has a number of practical drawbacks. In particular, it would be almost impossible to achieve global coverage, and there would be huge scope for avoidance.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the yield, in each of years 2002–03 and 2003–04 as a result of the abolition from 6 April 2001 of the ability to carry forward entitlement to pension payment tax relief for up to six years. [114762]

The proposal to remove the carry forward facility is intended to simplify pension administration not to raise revenue. It is part of a package of measures designed to increase pension take up. We do not expect the removal of carry forward to save tax relief.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what mechanism will replace tax credits in giving financial support to charities; and if he will make a statement. [114335]

The reform of corporation tax announced in 1997 will generate greater prosperity for businesses and those who invest in them. The withdrawal of payable tax credits on charities' dividend income did not come into effect until April 1999 and charities will receive generous compensation on a tapering basis in order to adjust, at a cost to the Exchequer of around £1.1 billion, for a further five years. The "Getting Britain Giving" package of measures which is being introduced in April, is estimated by the charity sector to be worth some £350 million a year to charities.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 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. [113968]

[holding answer 10 March 2000]: The Treasury press office does not use couriers to distribute press releases. Press releases are distributed by the Central Office of Information (COI) through fax and electronic means. However, before the financial year 1999–2000, couriers were used to deliver releases to COI, who would then use their various delivery methods. The costs for the period from 2 May 1997, until the Treasury abandoned this practice in the financial year 1999–2000 and decided to rely on electronic means, are as follows:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the (a) national, (b) regional and (c) local newspapers and media bodies to which his Department sent news releases during the period 2 May 1997 to 29 February 2000. [113994]

[holding answer 10 March 2000]: The Treasury distributes its new releases by fax and electronic means through the Central Office of Information (COI). The COI issues releases to organisations held on mailing lists that have developed over time. Distribution will vary according to the subject concerned. Since there are over 2,000 organisations on the lists, it is not possible to re-organise them into national, regional, local newspapers and media bodies without incurring disproportionately high costs.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will list by income decile in the UK the number of cancer deaths for each type of cancer for each year from 1992; and if he will make a statement; [114172](2) if he will list the number and type of cancers in people

[holding answers 13 March 2000]: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Director of the Office for National Statistics. I have asked him to reply.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his answer of 11 January 2000, Official Report, column 109W, on the nuclear industry, if he will list (a) the installation concerned, (b) the name of the company and (c) the date the reactor shutdown began and the duration of it along with the reasons for the shutdown. [113350]

The information is contained in the table. All shutdowns are publicly reported in the power station fortnightly newsletter, which is circulated to the local media and members of the sites' Local Community Liaison Committee.