To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how much compensation has been paid and is expected to be paid to householders following the widening of the M25 between junctions 8 and 9. [112543]

[holding answer 2 March 2000]: 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 how many reported incidents involving liquid and gas spills caused by hose failures there have been in the United Kingdom in the last five years for which figures are available; what was the cost of cleaning up each incident and who met the cost in each case; what the estimated cost was of the (a) environmental damage and (b) property damage caused by each incident; and how many people sustained injuries in each incident. [114220]

[holding answer 13 March 2000]: Incidents involving liquid and gas spills are reported to HSE under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995. From April 1996 to date (a period of just under four years), there were 69 incidents defined as "Dangerous occurrences" and "chemical transfer" (including transfer by hose, pipeline or vehicles). Dangerous occurrences include the release of 100kg or more of flammable liquid, or 10kg of a flammable gas or vapour. Information that would allow us to ascertain how many were caused by hose failures and the number of people sustaining injuries is not always recorded or readily available in all cases.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what research his Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the incidence of Mundic in housing. [115193]

My Department has an on-going programme of research into the better understanding of the deterioration mechanism which affects housing constructed using mundic aggregate. The work is developing methods of testing and assessment to enable the maximum number of houses to be safely accepted by mortgage lenders for obtaining mortgages. Initial recommendations were made in 1994 and 1997 from which the Council of Mortgage Lenders agreed to mortgage about 80 per cent. of houses that had previously been blighted. Further recommendations covering a proportion of the remaining houses will be made in the next few months.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to ensure that company car drivers pay their own insurance. [115221]

None. The law requires the user of a vehicle to have valid insurance cover. It does not require that he pay for it himself.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement about the public inquiry in Gloucestershire concerning the transport strategy for the region. [115027]

[holding answer 16 March 2000]: The Public Examination of the draft revised Regional Planning Guidance for the South West prepared by the South West Regional Planning Conference, is currently taking place in Exeter. The draft Guidance includes a draft Regional Transport Strategy, which will be examined on 30 and 31 March. The final version of the Guidance including the Regional Transport Strategy, will be issued by the Secretary of State next winter in the light of the advice of the Panel for the Public Examination and following consultation on any significant changes.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what investigation he has carried out into the use of carbon monoxide detectors in homes; and if he will make a statement. [115028]

[holding answer 16 March 2000]: My Department, with the Health and Safety Executive and the Department of Trade and Industry commissioned the Building Research Establishment to investigate the optimal siting of electrical carbon monoxide (CO) detectors/alarms in domestic premises. The summary report of this work entitled "Evaluation of carbon monoxide detectors in domestic premises" was published in 1999 by HSE. In partnership with some members of the gas industry we are also currently supporting further research work by BG Technology on the sensitivity and long term reliability of electrical carbon monoxide detectors.The role of these detectors/alarms is being addressed in the HSE' s fundamental review of the health and safety regime for the installation and use of gas. Currently responses to a discussion document are being evaluated and Ministers should receive a report this Summer.My Department's view is that carbon monoxide detectors/alarms have a role to play in reducing risks from carbon monoxide but the need to properly maintain combustion appliances is paramount.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he intends to issue for consultation a revised draft Planning Policy Guidance Note 17 (Sport and Recreation). [115376]

I hope to publish a consultation draft soon.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how much London Transport has spent on external consultants to date in relation to the public-private partnership for London Underground, stating both (a) actual and (b) budgeted costs. [115420]

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Harrow, West (Mr. Thomas) on 21 December 1999, Official Report, column 525W. I will provide an up-dated figure in due course, in line with the commitment we have given to the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the transparency of the decision-making process of those authorities which have experimented with the cabinet-style arrangements envisaged by the Local Government Bill [Lords]. [115491]

We have made no general assessment of experimental arrangements. However, any such experiments have been carried out within the existing statutory framework which was not designed to deliver the transparency of decision-making which will be put in place by our proposals in the Local Government Bill.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps he will take to ensure transparency in the decision-making process of the cabinet-style arrangements envisaged by the Local Government Bill [Lords]. [115489]

The arrangements we are proposing in Part II of the Local Government Bill and draft guidance are designed to ensure transparent and inclusive decision-making. These new arrangements involve:

an inclusive process of formulating a council's policy framework and budget, which will be the responsibility of the full council in public;

publicly known individuals—the executive—being personally responsible for implementing this framework and budget;

accurate recording of decisions and their reasons, and timely publication of these and of the background and factual papers available to the decision-maker(s); and

powerful overview and scrutiny committees, meeting in public:

to discuss and make recommendations on the development of policies; and

to hold each executive member to account for what he or she has done and is planning to do.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the responses to the Consultative Draft Guidance and Regulations with respect to the Local Government Bill [Lords]. [115490]

We have received very many helpful and constructive responses to the consultative draft guidance and regulations on new constitutions for councils. We are currently analysing these responses in detail and will consider them all carefully when revising the drafts for further consultation.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many meetings his officials have had with European Commission officials on the climate change levy. [115264]

[holding answer 17 March 2000]: Recognising the crucial importance of state aids guidelines for our climate change levy policy, my Department's officials have met five times since September with the European Commission to discuss the climate change levy. They will continue to have further meetings to take forward our notification of the arrangements proposed for the levy.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will call for a report from London Underground as to why lifts are not operating, walls are unfinished and netted off, and considerable areas have been left unsightly, untidy and strewn with garbage at Westminster underground station. [115136]

[holding answer 17 March 2000]: I understand from the London Underground that three of the five lifts at Westminster station are in service. The work required, and safe methods for carrying it out, on the remaining two are under discussion with contractors and HM Railways Inspectorate. The walls of the station are finished to the approved architectural design. The netting is to catch any foreign objects, which might be thrown by passengers. The Bridge Street underpass is currently cordoned off by contractors to allow for the permanent lighting to be installed; this may look untidy until the work is completed.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he will announce the results of the consultation on the Government's proposals for the control of hedges; how many letters of support he has received from individuals and organisations with regard to each of the four options outlined in his proposals; which option gained the most support; which option he will seek to implement; and what his timescale is for putting forward his proposals. [115242]

[holding answer 20 March 2000]: The deadline for responses to the consultation paper "High hedges: possible solutions" was 31 January. We are currently analysing the thousands of replies that we have received, and so are not yet in a position to provide the information requested. We will be taking account of all comments in considering the best way forward on this issue. We will announce the results of consultation, and our conclusions, when that consideration has been completed.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 14 March 2000, Official Report, column 120W, on what date the Greater London Returning Officer made (a) a provisional and (b) a firm order for the necessary paper for the Greater London mayoral elections booklet. [115510]

[holding answer 20 March 2000]: A provisional order for the printing of this booklet, including the paper, was placed on 2 March. A firm order was placed by the Department on 7 March.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what briefing from him is available for prospective mayoral candidates for the Greater London Authority election. [116033]

Briefings for prospective Mayoral candidates on organisational and administrative matters are available on request to the Greater London Authority Transition Team.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what provision he is making for the cost of rail services secured by English passenger transport executives in 2000–01. [116034]

A special grant report has been laid before the House today for the payment of Metropolitan Railway Passenger Services Grant in 2000–01 to English Passenger Transport Authorities (PTAs). The main purpose of the grant is to provide support to those PTAs for the local rail services provided by franchise operators and secured by the PTAs' Passenger Transport Executives under the terms of franchise agreements with franchisees and the Director of Passenger Rail Franchising.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to seek an amendment to the Treaty of Rome to allow the continuation of the gap funding mechanism of the Partnership Investment Programme; and if he will make a statement. [115504]

We are working with the European Commission to try to identify a means of continuing to work in partnership with the private sector to regenerate derelict sites and buildings, within the existing Treaty rules. Ministers have recently held discussions with Commissioner Monti on the problems we face since the Commission ruled that the Partnership Investment Programme (PIP) breached the State aid rules. These discussions are continuing at official level.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to the letter to him from the hon. Member for Shrewsbury and Atcham dated 18 February on sewerage agency agreements, if he will ensure that regulations are introduced to preserve local authority employees' pension entitlements; and if he will make a statement. [115730]

Under the provisions of the Local Government Pension Scheme Regulations 1997, local authority employees who are members may already preserve their pension entitlements, indexed in line with inflation, on leaving. Alternatively, the regulations also allow for suitable actuarial transfers to be arranged to provide an equitable service award in any new scheme.The extent to which employees in local authorities work on the delivery of privatised water company services through agency agreements, and the availability of alternative broadly comparable pension arrangements to those employed under them, is currently being established with the co-operation of the United Kingdom Steering Committee on local government pensions. The results of that survey will be considered carefully.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will give an itemised breakdown of the £1,550,000 budget of the Commission for Integrated Transport in 1999–2000. [115635]

The Commission for Integrated Transport's provisional budget for 1999–2000 had to be allocated well before its launch. A sum of £1.5 million was originally allocated from within DETR's programme budget for this purpose.Because CfIT was not launched until July 1999, however, it will spend much less than the £1.5 million figure. Its projected spend to the end of this financial year is £269,000.

£
	Projected spend to end of March 2000
Salaries	90,000
Consultancy	125,000
Travel and Subsistence	24,000
Hospitality	5,000
Publicity	25,000
Total	269,000

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on progress with the review of local government finance. [115998]

Joint reports prepared by central and local government officials on the revenue grant distribution and capital finance reviews will be discussed at the next meeting of Central Local Partnership on 22 March. Copies of these reports will be available from the House of Commons Library and the DETR and LGA websites after the meeting.Decisions about the merits of the various options for reform will not be taken until we have consulted widely this summer.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make the issuing of licences for the use of handheld radios on railway yards site-specific. [114514]

I have been asked to reply.The issue of licences for railway operational purposes requires that hand radios are listed in the licence, according the site where they will be used.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps the European Community takes when, in respect of existing trade agreements with other countries, there ceases to be an agreed definition and interpretation of their territorial scope of applicability. [115314]

The Community continues to apply agreements while they remain in force.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what safeguards he will put into place to ensure that (a) charities and (b) MedicAlert will not be faced with a third change to telephone numbers and consequent expenses; and if he will make a statement. [115120]

Numbering is a matter for the Office of Telecommunications (Oftel). The current change to London telephone numbers is the result of Oftel's wide 1996 consultation of consumers, businesses and other organisations. The new scheme ensures that there is now a large amount of additional capacity to meet new demand (for example London will now have 80 million numbers behind the 020 code). The extra capacity created is far in excess of forecast demand and will last for the foreseeable future. However, it is impossible to predict all the new services which technological change and market developments may bring into being this century. It is therefore not possible for Oftel to be certain that it will never need to change the scheme further, or that charities, including MedicAlert, will never be faced with such a change again. Oftel has ensured the current change has been widely publicised in advance to allow organisations to plan for it.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on when he expects the next British astronaut to take part in a space mission. [115192]

Following wide consultation with industry and the science sector, the Government concluded that the provision of an astronaut did not best meet our space priorities of commercial exploitation and good space science. Within the inevitably limited funds we have available, we must prioritise in the best interests of the British space science community and industry. A British astronaut is not therefore anticipated in the near future. It is still possible, however, for British nationals to apply for overseas astronaut training schemes.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if, prior to the conclusion of an internationally-recognised final settlement between Israel and its Palestinian and Syrian neighbours, the Commission has authority to conclude and implement agreements on behalf of the European Community without the consent of member states that would allow the benefits of trade preferences to accrue to Israeli settlements and enterprises established in the territories occupied by Israel since 1967. [115315]

No.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if Israel and the European Community established a single specific definition and interpretation of the territorial scope of their agreements' applicability prior to concluding them. [115313]

No.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his answer of 10 March 2000, Official Report, column 839W, what consultations, on what dates, he held with consumer groups concerning the decision to remove the provisions concerning telecommunications and water industries from the Utilities Bill; on what date or dates he received representations from the National Consumer Council and the Consumers Association; and if he will make a statement. [115383]

There were no consultations. Representations were received from the National Consumer Council on 1 March and from the Consumers Association on 29 February.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the average payment per week of (a) Family Credit and (b) child care allowance via Family Credit in Southwark in the last year of Family Credit. [114839]

It is not possible to provide a reliable estimate of the average Family Credit award at a local authority level. However, for Great Britain as a whole, the average amount of Family Credit received was £62.05 at August 1999 and, for the London Government Office Region, the average amount of Family Credit received at August 1999 was £66.16.Within Family Credit, eligible child care is treated as a disregard and can be offset against earnings when Family Credit is calculated. Due to the relatively small numbers, it is not possible to provide a reliable estimate of the amount of child care disregard either by local authority or by region. However, for Great Britain as a whole, the average amount that recipients benefited from the child care disregard was £22.04 at August 1999.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people in Southwark were in receipt of (a) family credit and (b) the child care allowance in each of the last five years. [114835]

The information is in the tables.

Number of Family Credit recipients in Southwark local authority area, August 1995–99
Thousand
Year	Family Credit recipients
August
1995	1.6
1996	2.0
1997	2.1
1998	2.5
1999	2.6

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many pensioners in (a) Stoke on Trent, South parliamentary constituency and (b) the City of Stoke on Trent are in receipt of the minimum income guarantee. [115081]

The information is in the table.

Income Support pensioners aged 60 and over, by parliamentary constituency/local authority: November 1999
Thousand
Area	Pernsioners aged 60 and over
Stoke on Trent, South parliamentary constituency	2.9
Stoke on Trent local authority	8.3

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimates he has made of the number of severely disabled children aged three and four years who will benefit from the provisions of the Welfare Reform and Pensions Act 1999 in (a) Barnsley and (b) Doncaster. [115199]

This information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is as follows.In 2001–02, we estimate that approximately 7,000 severely disabled children aged three or four in Great Britain will become entitled to the higher rate mobility component of Disability Living Allowance (DLA). If the proportion of gainers in the areas requested were in line with the proportion of all DLA higher rate mobility recipients in these areas, about 60 children would qualify in both Barnsley and Doncaster.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security on what basis he has calculated the net average income of single pensioners at £132 per week. [115115]

The £132 per week figure refers to mean incomes of single pensioners from all sources, after tax payments and before housing costs have been deducted. The figure quoted is for the financial year 1997–98 and is expressed in July 1997 prices.The figure is taken from "The Pensioners' Incomes Series 1997/8" (PI) which is based on data from the Family Resources Survey (FRS). The PI series looks at cash incomes directly received by pensioners in Great Britain. The FRS does not collect information on people living in institutions, such as prisons or nursing homes, therefore the PI series does not cover these people.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the average payment per week of (a) Family Credit and (b) child care allowance via Family Credit in Norwich in the last year of Family Credit. [115099]

It is not possible to provide a reliable estimate of the average Family Credit award at a local authority level. However, for Great Britain as a whole, the average amount of Family Credit received was £62.05 at August 1999 and for the East Government Office Region the average amount of Family Credit received at August 1999 was £61.29.Within Family Credit, eligible child care is treated as disregard and can be offset against earnings when Family Credit is calculated. Due to the relatively small numbers, it is not possible to provide a reliable estimate of the amount of child care disregard either by local authority or by region. However, for Great Britain as a whole, the average amount that recipients benefited from the child care disregard was £22.04 at August 1999.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what the Government's liability is for (a) the basic state pension, (b) SERPS and (c) state second pension in (a) 2000, (b) 2005, (c) 2010, (d) 2015, (e) 2020, (f) 2030, (g) 2040 and (h) 2050 at current real values. [115102]

The information is in the table.

Estimated future liability for basic state pension, state earnings-related pension (SERPS) and state second pension— 1999–00 prices
£ billion
Year	BSP	SERPS	State second pension	Total
2001–01	33.7	4.9	0.0	38.6
2005–06	34.8	7.0	0.1	41.9
2010–11	37.5	8.6	0.9	46.9
2015–16	39.1	9.4	1.9	50.4
2020–21	40.4	9.7	3.1	53.1
2030–31	48.7	9.5	7.7	65.8
2040–41	52.2	6.9	12.9	72.0
2050–51	50.5	3.6	19.0	73.1

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessment he has made of automated systems for cross-checking the consistency of data between different departmental computer systems as a means of reducing fraud and error. [115367]

A continuous programme of data matching activities has taken place since 1995. Results confirm matching data from a number of sources across the Department is an effective tool in identifying losses to programme expenditure caused by fraud and error.Between April 1998 and March 1999, cross checking data held on departmental computer systems resulted in 139,292 referrals for further investigation, 63 per cent. of which were found to be incorrect, resulting in savings estimated at £114.8 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when the hon. Member for Newcastle upon Tyne, Central will receive a reply from the Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency to his request for details of the implications of the outcome of the Lawrence inquiry for the recruitment and career development procedures of the Benefits Agency. [115503]

A reply was issued to my hon. Friend on 17 March 2000.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 8 March 2000, Official Report, columns 731–32W, what notification of interest changes he has received from the Office for National Statistics since 11 May 1999. [114821]

The information is in the table.

Percentage
Date of notification from Office for National Statistics	Average interest rate notified
11 May 1999	6.66
9 June 1999	6.65
7 July 1999	6.65
12 August 1999	6.60
7 September 1999	6.59
29 October 1999	6.58
9 November 1999	6.62
8 December 1999	6.67
12 January 2000	6.88
8 February 2000	6.88
8 March 2000	6.92

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the cost of exempting all persons who have reached pension age by April 2000 from the proposed 50 per cent. cut in inherited SERPS entitlement, on a basis consistent with his estimate of a cost of £2,500 million for his proposed deferral of the cut until October 2002, assuming that this policy was implemented in place of his proposals announced on 15 March. [115528]

The estimated cost is £7,100 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to carry out research into calculating disability-related living costs in a manner which allows them to be taken into account when deciding local authority service charges. [114715]

Our White Paper "Modernising Social Services" recognised that the scale of variation in discretionary charges is unacceptable. The Audit Commission is preparing a report on home care charges and we shall take this into account when considering how to address these variations.

To ask the Prime Minister what plans the Government have to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Korean War. [115037]

The United Kingdom will be represented at the Opening Ceremony of the Commemoration Programme taking place on 25 June in the Republic of Korea, to recognise the 50th Anniversary of the outbreak of the Korean War. The ceremony will be held at the Korean War Cemetery, Seoul. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence will attend. Contingents of veterans are being invited.A comprehensive series of commemorative events are planned over the next three years in the Republic of Korea. The United Kingdom will be represented at a number of these events at an appropriate level.

To ask the Prime Minister what factors led him to decide that the new synchrotron should be built at Rutherford Appleton Laboratory in Oxfordshire. [115138]

[holding answer 17 March 2000]: The Government's position is that the scientific case was marginally in favour of Rutherford and site issues were neutral.Both partners expressed the view that they favoured the Rutherford site. The French Education Ministry stated publicly that

To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on his recent meetings with Acting President Putin; and what assistance he agreed to provide in Chechnya. [115604]

I had useful and constructive meetings with Acting President Putin in St. Petersburg on 11 March which focused on Chechnya and the Russian economy. I made clear that the Russian response to events in Chechnya had to be proportionate and strongly urged that independent international observers be given access to assess whether human rights violations had taken place. I stressed the urgent need for a political process to begin in Chechnya. Mr. Putin assured me that Russia would permit access by the UN High Commissioner on Human Rights, Mary Robinson, and by international bodies such as the International Committee of the Red Cross, the Council of Europe and the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will meet Mr. Hans von Sponeck, on his return from Baghdad to discuss (a) sanctions against Iraq, (b) water problems and (c) the effects on the children of Iraq of trauma in relation to bombing. [115633]

I had detailed discussions about Iraq with the UN Secretary General when he visited London earlier this month. I see no need to discuss this further with Mr. von Sponeck.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the expenditure incurred by his Department, agencies and non-departmental public bodies on (a) the setting up and (b) the operation of websites, indicating the cases in which the expenditure has been above that budgeted; and if he will list for each website (i) the topics which have been covered, (ii) the current average number of hits per month and (iii) the estimated expenditure on each website for each of the next three years. [115393]

The FCO has four websites:

(a) The main FCO website (www.fco.gov.uk) covers all aspects of the UK's external relations, including regular updates on current developments, travel, consular and trade matters, as well as providing material on British domestic policy for overseas audiences. Relaunched in 1998 it receives c. 1.5–2 million hits per month.

(b) The 'Planet Britain 2000' (www.planet-britain.org) website and accompanying CD-ROM is a wide-ranging site aimed at a youth audience overseas. It carries a wealth of information about British education, culture, music, sport, technology and fashion. It receives 350,000 hits per month.

(c) 'Information From Britain' (ww.informationfrombritain.com) is Whitehall's first e-commerce site, allowing customers worldwide to order and pay electronically for Foreign Office publications. It was set up in 1998 and receives c. 40,000 hits per month.

(d) The FCO's Human Rights Project Fund database is published on the Human Rights in Foreign Policy site (hrpd.fco.gov.uk) which receives about 16,000 hits per month.

The set up costs of the above sites were:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to appoint an experienced member of an appropriate non-Governmental organisation as atomic energy counsellor to the British Embassy in Tokyo. [115357]

None.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many mass grave sites have been identified in Kosovo; and how many of these have been investigated in detail. [115335]

The International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) have said that there are in excess of 500 reported grave sites. ICTY have already investigated 195 sites which yielded over 2,000 bodies. Further investigations will begin again shortly with the spring thaw.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his estimate of the number of Kosovar Albanians killed by Serb police and armed forces in Kosovo between June 1998 and June 1999. [115334]

Our estimate for the number of Kosovar Albanian civilians killed in Kosovo between June 1998 and June 1999 is at least 10,000.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations have been made to the Iranian Government on the sentences on (a) Mr. Zabihullah Mahrami, (b) Mr. Musa Talibi, (c) Mr. Ataollah Hamid Nasirizadeh, (d) Mr. Zabihi-Moquaddan, (e) Mr. Kashefi-Najafabadi and (f) Mr. Manuchehro Khulusi. [115605]

We and our EU partners regularly raise with the Iranian authorities our concerns over their treatment of the Baha'i religious minority, particularly cases where the death sentence is involved. Most recently I raised the cases of Mr. Zabihi-Moquaddam, Mr. Kashefi-Najafabadi and Mr. Khulusi with Deputy Foreign Minister Sarmadi during a meeting on 7 March.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will provide assistance to NGOs from less developed countries to enable them to participate in the Millennium Civil Society Forum in May. [115146]

To be truly representative, the Millennium Forum needs to secure the participation of civil society groups from developed and developing countries. The Government have therefore in principle offered financial assistance to the Forum to help fund the attendance of civil society representatives from less developed countries.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many motorists were convicted of speeding in the Greater London area as result of the use of speed cameras during 1999. [114992]

Figures relating to convictions for speeding following the use of speed cameras are not available.However, there were 8,297 prosecutions taken and 15,323 fixed penalty notices issued for speeding offences as a result of the use of speed cameras in the area covered by the Metropolitan Police in 1997, the latest year for which figures are available. There were none in the City of London.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the recruitment target is for the Metropolitan Police for the current year. [115033]

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for North-East Hertfordshire (Mr. Heald) on 13 March 2000, Official Report, columns 91–92W.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the number of entrants to the Metropolitan Police Service on intake start date 13 March. [115758]

The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis tells me that the information requested is 65.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many investigations were carried out between 1 April 1998 and 31 March 1999 by the South West Area Major Investigation Pool of the Metropolitan Police; how many of those investigations concerned one or more deaths; how many officers worked in the pool; and what was the total sum available to the pool in that period for overtime payments. [115728]

The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis has informed me that between 1 April 1998 and 31 March 1999 the South West Area Major Investigation Pool undertook 37 investigations. The number of investigations involving one or more deaths was 31. There were approximately 95 police officers employed by the Pool over the year. The actual cost of overtime worked by police and civil staff was £525,756.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the rate of absenteeism of Metropolitan police officers for each of the years 1990 to 1999. [115223]

The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis tells me that records are kept of sickness absences. Figures before 1994–95 are not readily available. Details over the last five financial years are shown in the table:

	Working days lost
1994–95	369,140
1995–96	375,829
1996–97	386,001
1997–98	395,395
1998–99	289,789

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Metropolitan police officers were serving in specialist units for each of the years from 1990 to 1999. [115224]

The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis tells me that the numbers of officers other than recruits in training, or in units other than Boroughs and Holding Branch, since 1990 are given in the table:

	Metropolitan police officers employed in some form of specialism
December 1990	7,825.00
December 1991	8,151.00
December 1992	8,551.18
December 1993	7,882.35
December 1994	7,550.39
December 1995	7,654.47
December 1996	7,541.41
December 1997	7,502.65
December 1998	7,420.10
December 1999	7,670.73

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much the Jill Dando murder investigation has cost to date broken down into (a) salary, (b) expenses and (c) other costs; and if he will make a statement. [115238]

The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis has informed me that, as of 16 March 2000, the salary costs of the officers employed on the Jill Dando murder investigation were approximately £1,342,000; expenses were approximately £26,000; and other costs approximately £542,000.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) full-time and (b) part-time police officers and (c) civilian police staff are working on the Jill Dando murder investigation. [115360]

The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis has informed me that, as of 16 March 2000, the investigative team comprised 38 full-time police officers and seven full-time civilian staff. There are no part-time officers on the team.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the number of prison places required within the prison Service in England and Wales over the next five years. [114994]

The estimate of the number of prison places required over the next five years is determined by the latest prison population projections, which were published on 10 February in Home Office Statistical Bulletin No. 2/00, "Projections of Long Term Trends in the Prison Population to 2007", a copy of which is available in the Library and a summary of which is available on the Home Office website http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/ index.htm. The projection provides three variants. The projected average prison population for each of the next five years for the central variant is given in the table.Under existing plans, the Prison Service will increase planned operational capacity from an average of 67,800 in 1998–99 to 71,400 in 2001–02—the third year of the Comprehensive Spending Review settlement. The number of places to be provided after 2001–02 will be determined as part of the next spending review.

Prison population projections for 1999–2000 to 2004–05
Year	Central variant
1999–2000	65,300
2000–01	68,100
2001–02	70,100
2002–03	70,800
2003–04	71,300
2004–05	71,900

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 22 February 2000, Official Report, column 875W, on peat compost, what percentage of the compost used in his Department's estate gardens is peat; when use of peat compost will be phased out on his Department's estates; and if he will make a statement. [115237]

No central records are kept of the amount or percentage of peat used on the Department's estate. This information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. However, the Department's Greening Operations Policy (published in 1998) and its Procurement Manual both state that peat free composts should be used and the current estimate is that if the Home Office makes any use of peat at all this is minimal.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had with the Association of Chief Police Officers concerning the decision by the police to prevent the release of names and addresses of people injured in road accidents; and if he will make a statement. [115298]

My officials have been in close contact with the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) Media Advisory Group which has been monitoring the effect and operation in practice of the ACPO guidelines "Naming of Victims or Witnesses Involved in Crime, Road and other Incidents". ACPO is currently reviewing the application of the guidance. Initial findings are expected to emerge by Easter.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much was spent by each police force in England and Wales, and in total, on the purchase of CS gas in the year April 1998 to March 1999. [115093]

The quantities of CS incapacitant spray purchased by police forces in England and Wales is a matter for individual Chief Constables. The amount purchased and total expenditure are not collated centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what criteria he uses in reaching decisions on whether to refer decisions on tariffs for prisoners to the Lord Chief Justice for determination. [115415]

The statement made by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary to Parliament on 13 March 2000, Official Report, columns 21–24, announced transitional tariff-setting arrangements for those sentenced to be detained during Her Majesty's pleasure. Under those arrangements, detainees whose tariffs have not expired will be invited to make representations to the Lord Chief Justice. Where they do so, he will consider them and make a recommendation to the Secretary of State who will then regard himself as bound to set fresh tariffs no higher than those recommended by the Lord Chief Justice.The tariff-setting arrangements for adult murderers remain unaltered. The Secretary of State will continue to set their tariffs after considering a report from the trial judge, the judicial recommendations on tariff and any representations from the prisoner on the tariff information disclosed to him.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which towns with populations of less than 200,000 have been awarded city status since 1970. [115713]

There have been four grants of city status since 1970. Of these, St. David's and Armagh. both granted city status in 1994 in recognition of their long and venerable Christian traditions, have populations of less than 200,000.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what pilot schemes of innovative electoral procedures he has approved for the May local elections. [115903]

I am making orders to enable the following pilot schemes to take place at this May's local elections:

• Amber Valley—extension of entitlement to postal vote
• Blackburn with Darwen—early voting
• Blackpool—early voting
• Bolton—all postal ballot
• Broxbourne—electronic counting
• Chester—early voting
• Coventry—early voting
• Doncaster—all postal ballot
• Eastleigh—extension of entitlement to postal vote
• Gateshead—all postal ballot
• Gloucester—extension of entitlement to postal vote
• Kingston upon Hull—early voting
• Knowsley—early voting
• Leeds—extended hours of poll
• Manchester—early voting
• Milton Keynes—extension of entitlement to postal vote
• Mole Valley—extended hours of poll
• Plymouth—early voting
• Redditch—early voting
• St. Helens—early voting
• Stevenage—all postal ballot
• Stoke-on-Trent—early voting
• Sunderland—early voting and mobile voting
• Swindon—all postal ballot
• Wigan—all postal ballot
• Windsor and Maidenhead—mobile early voting facility.

In addition, I hope to be able to make orders in relation to the following schemes very shortly:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what powers are available to him governing the movement of monkeys from holding centres to research establishments; what documentation must be provided to allow such movements; and if he will make a statement; [115731](2) what steps he is taking to establish what will happen to monkeys held at the Shamrock Farm once that establishment is closed; and if he will make a statement. [115729]

I am advised that most of the animals were pre-allocated to purchasers on arrival at Shamrock Farm. The remaining animals are in the process of being allocated now. The establishment will remain open and continue to be licensed and regularly inspected until this process has been completed and all of the animals have been removed. I understand that there will be no surplus animals.The Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 requires both dispatching and receiving establishments in the United Kingdom to keep detailed records of the source and disposal of animals moving from one location to another. The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food regulates the transportation of live animals, including primates. The Welfare of Animals (Transport) Order 1997, which is administered by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, requires that the animals must be fit to travel, carried in a way that does not cause injury or unnecessary suffering, and be accompanied by someone competent to look after their welfare.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many investigations were carried out in 1999 under the Animal Scientific Procedures Act 1986; how many of these revealed that a criminal offence had been committed; and if he will make a statement. [115732]

The Animals (Scientific Procedures) Inspectorate carried out one major investigation commissioned by the Secretary of State in 1999. This was the Harlan UK investigation. My reply to my hon. Friend the Member for South Thanet (Dr. Ladyman) on 8 March 2000, Official Report, columns 661–62W, reported the outcome of that investigation.The Inspectorate also investigated a number of other alleged infringements of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 in 1999. Most of these were self-reported. A number of these cases have yet to be completed. A report on infringements, and their outcomes, will be included in the Statistics of Scientific Procedures on Living Animals 1999 to be published in July.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to reply to the letters to him dated 13 December 1999 and 13 January and 17 February with regard to Mr. M. Ahmad. [115631]

My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary wrote to my right hon. Friend today. I am sorry for the delay in replying.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what approaches he has made to the Spanish Government regarding sharing the costs to the UK taxpayer of the legal action brought against Senator Pinochet. [114048]

It would not be appropriate for me to make any such approach. The European Convention on Extradition, to which Spain and the United Kingdom are both parties, requires, under Article 24 of the Convention, that:

expenses incurred in the territory of the requested Party by reason of extradition shall be borne by that Party.

Costs under the Convention are, therefore, borne on a reciprocal basis. Spain bears the costs of the extradition requests which it receives from the United Kingdom.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the average number of hours per week spent by prisoners on purposeful activity in 1990. [115757]

The average number of hours spent by prisoners in purposeful activity in the 1990–91 financial year was 22.3 hours.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to introduce a novel feed regulation to ensure the safety and labelling of genetically modified animal feedstuffs. [113764]

[holding answer 13 March 2000]: Animal feed legislation is a harmonised area under European law, and it is not therefore possible to introduce national rules on such labelling. We are, however, pressing the EC Commission to bring forward proposals for control within this area as soon as possible. We expect these to be submitted to the Council later this year.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what plans the Government have to implement an authorisation process for livestock feed additives under the provisions of Regulation 13 of Article 9K of Council Directive 96/51/EC; [115246](2) when he will announce the Government's proposals for the implementation of Regulation 13 of Article 9K of Council Directive 96/51 concerning additives in feedstuffs. [115245]

[holding answer 20 March 2000]: The consultation on the Feeding Stuffs Regulations specifically requested comments on the proposed Regulation 13. This was in order that all the implications of a prohibition on livestock additives used outside feeds could be assessed. The Advisory Committee on Animal Feedingstuffs (ACAF) has recently recommended that non-feed uses of additives should be retained but should be subject to controls.We will be in a position to make a decision on this issue shortly, when we have studied all the responses to the consultation and considered how we may be able to carry forward the ACAF recommendation.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many carcases he estimates will be rendered under the over-30-months scheme in each of the next five years. [114828]

The Intervention Board's current estimate is that around 600,000 over-30-months scheme (OTMS) animals a year will be rendered.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how tallow produced as a byproduct under the over-30-months scheme is classified by his Department. [114830]

Tallow from OTMS animals is classified as a waste because of the need for material from such animals to be destroyed. As such it is managed and disposed of in accordance with waste management controls. All disposals to date and those planned for the future involve energy recovery.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the locations where tallow from Over-30-Months Scheme cattle is stored, indicating the tonnage at each site. [114829]

Tallow produced from the rendering of animals under the Over-30-Months Scheme is being stored at three locations in the UK. As at 29 February 2000, the stock level at each site was:

Store location	Tonnage as at 29 February 2000
Canvey Island, Essex	104,229
Eastham, Merseyside	80,001
Bootle, Merseyside	24,121

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the price (a) per carcase and (b) per tonnage paid by the Intervention Board in each year since 1996 to each company awarded a contract to render cattle under the Over-30-Months Scheme. [114827]

Renderers are paid according to the tonnage of OTMS material processed. In 1996 and 1997 a centrally negotiated rate of £105 (£110 in Northern Ireland) per tonne of Over-30-Months Scheme (OTMS) material processed (equivalent to around £52.50 per animal) was paid to contracted renderers. This rate included the cost of collection of raw material from abattoirs, estimated at £10–15 per tonne. Since 1998, and following a competitive tender, the average rate paid for the rendering of OTMS material is as set out in the reply given to the hon. Member on 24 January 2000, Official Report, column 11W.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many premises were licensed as slaughterhouses in England and Wales in the years (a) 1979, (b) 1989 and (c) 1999. [114949]

The table gives end of year figures for 1979, 1989 and 1999 for red and poultry meat slaughterhouses in England. Prior to 1993, slaughterhouses in England and Wales were not licensed by MAFF, but by local authorities. The England figures for 1979 and 1989 have therefore been derived from records of State Veterinary Service visits during those years and are approximate. For poultry meat slaughterhouses in England, no figures are available prior to 1983.

Year	Red meat	Poultry meat
1979	975	—
1989	690	107
1999	339	119

The licensing of slaughterhouses in Wales is a devolved matter. The National Assembly for Wales, which now has responsibility for the administration of such matters, has provided the following information in relation to slaughterhouses in Wales. No poultry meat slaughterhouse figures are available for 1979 or 1989:

Year	Red meat	Poultry meat
1979	79	—
1989	66	—
1999	34	12

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what exemptions from procurement rules have been granted to Alvis for the supply of transmission mechanisms for the CVR(T); and for what reasons. [113191]

[holding answer 6 March 2000]: Alvis Vehicle Ltd. have been granted no exemptions from procurement rules for the supply of transmission mechanisms for the CVR(T).

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the unit cost of production of tritium for use by his Department. [114444]

I am withholding details of the unit cost for tritium production under the terms of the Exemption Categories 1 (Defence, Security and International Relations) and 13 (Third party's commercial confidences) of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many repossession proceedings his Department initiated in respect of RAF quarters in each of the last three years; how many of those proceedings resulted in a court order for the eviction of the occupants; and if he will make a statement. [114209]

[holding answer 13 March 2000]: DHE manage Service Family Accommodation (SFA) as a Tri-Service resource and records are not kept centrally or on a single Service basis. To obtain the information requested, a manual search of every repossession case over the past three years would have to be made and this could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make it his policy to prohibit activities by United States authorities on his Department's land, which are contrary to the terms of anti-ballistic missile treaty. [114423]

[holding answer 14 March 2000]: The interpretation of the anti-ballistic missile treaty is a matter for the parties to that treaty, not for the United Kingdom or any other non-party.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent discussions his Department has had with the United States regarding a European-wide ballistic missile defence system. [114326]

[holding answer 14 March 2000]: We continue to monitor the threats posed by ballistic missiles, and the development of the technology available to counter them. We will continue to consult closely with the US and take account of the work they are doing, to help us take an informed decision on whether to acquire such a capability ourselves in the future.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a copy of the 1985 Strategic Defence Initiative Memorandum of Understanding. [114325]

[holding answer 14 March 2000]: No. I am withholding this information under Exemption 1 (Defence, Security and International Relations) of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list those scientific research projects on which his Department is collaborating with other European countries. [114328]

[holding answer 14 March 2000]: Details of specific projects could be provided only at disproportionate cost but, under bilateral or multilateral arrangements relating to research, my Department has significant numbers of joint programmes or information exchanges with the following countries or organisations:

Country/organization	Number of programmes
France	85
Sweden	26
Netherlands/Norway	25
Germany	17
WEAG1/EUCLID2	30
GARTEUR3	8
Miscellaneous	10
1 Western European Armaments Group: informal grouping of European Defence Ministers providing policy direction for armaments and research issues
2 European Cooperation for the Long-term in Defence (EUCLID) based on competition and contracts placed on lead contractors, usually with some industrial funding
3 European aerospace forum involving UK, France, Germany, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and Italy

International research collaboration also takes place under the umbrella of NATO. Details are not included as NATO also includes non-European countries.Many technologies are involved, including:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the scientific areas covered by his Towers of Excellence initiative. [114327]

[holding answer 14 March 2000]: As part of our strategy for defence science and technology, the Ministry of Defence has been developing an approach known as the "Towers of Excellence" model. The intention, in partnership with industry, is to identify areas in which technological excellence might best be concentrated and defence-specific technologies enhanced to the level required to produce world class equipment for our Armed Forces.To do this on a systematic basis requires a comprehensive view of industrial capabilities and aspirations. There must be sufficiently coherent clusters of technology to enable UK industry to continue to be able to bid for a substantial proportion of UK defence equipment. These towers must therefore align with industry's own plans. We expect this alignment to be informed by the defence industries' own technology strategy which they have prepared to complement that of MOD.Industry and MOD have agreed on a process for bringing their respective strategies together and defining priorities for constructing technological "towers of excellence" within available resources. Work is likely to continue through to the end of 2000.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans his Department has for the use of HMS Birmingham; and if he will make a statement. [114767]

HMS Birmingham is no longer operational and is currently awaiting disposal.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans there are to fit further Royal Navy ships with Sonar 2087; and if he will make a statement. [114803]

We plan to fit Sonar 2087 to all Type 23 frigates. In the longer term it might also be a contender for fitment to the Future Surface Combatant.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the sum invoiced to his Department by Air Foyle Ltd. for the charter of an Air Foyle Antonov 124–100 aircraft to Transport four Royal Air Force Puma helicopters from RAF Brize Norton to South African Air Force Base Heudspruit on Friday 3 March. [114744]

[holding answer 15 March 2000]: I am withholding details of the sum invoiced to the MOD by Air Foyle Ltd. for the charter of an Antonov 124–100 under Exemption 13 (Third party's commercial confidences) of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the maximum number of RAF Puma helicopters which can be carried in (a) Hercules C130K, (b) Hercules C130J, (c) Boeing C17 and (d) Antonov 124–100 transport aircraft; and how many refuelling stops each aircraft requires, carrying its respective maximum complements of Puma helicopters, on a flight from RAF Brize Norton to South African Air Force Base Heudspruit. [114745]

[holding answer 15 March 2000]: The Hercules C130K Mk1 cannot carry the Puma helicopter. Both the Hercules C130K Mk3 and the C130J can carry one Puma helicopter and would normally require three en-route stops to complete the flight from Brize Norton to SAAF Base Heudspruit.According to information publicly available the Boeing C17 is capable of carrying three Puma helicopters and would normally require two en-route stops to complete the flight.The AN124–100 is capable of carrying four Puma helicopters and would normally require two en-route stops to complete the flight.The degree to which the Puma is dismantled dictates whether or not the maximum number of airframes can be loaded into transport aircraft. The requirement for en-route stops can vary according to prevailing weather conditions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the cost of the facilities being offered to Railtrack for training by his Department; what is the length of time for the course; where it is taking place; and what facilities exist for re-charging Railtrack for these facilities. [115085]

The Army has provided Railtrack with limited assistance in the form of presentations and involvement in a Railtrack seminar. Discussions have also been held at working level with the company on the possible provision of Logistic Planning Workshops by the Royal Logistics Corps. The presentations and attendance have lasted around two days and Railtrack have paid the full costs of this help. Any further assistance provided will be charged for at appropriate rates.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 10 March 2000, Official Report, column 828W, on peat compost, when his officials began their assessment of the full impact of phasing out the use of peat on his Department's estate; and if he will make a statement. [115234]

My officials began their formal assessment on 7 February 2000.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer on 10 March 2000, Official Report, column 828W, on peat compost, if he will list all his Department's estate gardens; and if he will make a statement. [115235]

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what experts from outside the Department he consulted in preparing rebuttal arguments relating to the views of Professor Hooper at the meeting of the Independent Panel on Gulf War Illnesses on 29 March 1999; if he will place copies of the Government's evidence to the Panel in the Library; and if he will make a statement. [115540]

No outside experts were consulted. The Panel is briefed on the current state of interactions research at its meetings and has therefore received copies of MOD papers on Gulf veterans' illnesses, copies of which are already in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he will decide on the contracts for the (a) beyond visual range air-to-air missile and (b) future transport aircraft. [115128]

[holding answer 17 March 2000]: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence hopes to announce decisions on both of these projects in the next few weeks.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to issue a campaign medal to those who served in the British Commonwealth Occupation Force in Japan in the years 1945 to 1948; and if he will make a statement. [115593]

There are no plans to institute a medal for service in the British Commonwealth Occupation Force in Japan between 1945 and 1948. The Committee on the Grant of Honours, Decorations and Medals, which advises the Sovereign on all matters relating to the institution of medals, has a longstanding policy that it will not consider cases for the retrospective award of medals for service given many years ago.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to publish the numbers of weapons and items of equipment being exported from the United Kingdom in the next Annual report on Strategic Export Controls on a country by country basis; and if he will make a statement. [115425]

The Government will continue publishing details of weapons and equipment exported in the Annual Report on Strategic Export Controls using information obtained from the United Nations Conventional Arms Register and HM Customs and Excise. The Government are committed to strengthening the Arms Register and also to achieving greater international transparency in the sales overseas of major defence systems. Information relating to the two previous years is contained in Part III of the 1997 and 1998 Reports, copies of which are available in the Library of the House. It is planned to publish the 1999 Report later this year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussion he has had with other NATO countries about allowing members of the armed services to become members of trade unions; and if he will make a statement. [115145]

There have been no discussions with other NATO countries about this issue. Due to the unique nature of Service life it is Ministry of Defence policy not to have a Service trade union, or federation, for members of the Armed Forces. There are no plans for change.The Ministry of Defence has agreements with a number of major trade unions, as well as concessions with professional associations, whereby Service personnel may be recognised as eligible for membership. No restrictions are placed on attendance at meetings of civilian trade unions, professional associations, or courses of instruction run by them intended to enhance trade skills and professional knowledge, provided Service uniform is not worn, Service duties are not impeded and no action is taken which would bring the Services into disrepute. It is important that the Armed Forces maintain a position of political neutrality. Service personnel may not therefore participate in industrial action, or any form of political activity organised by a civilian trade union, or professional organisation, to which they belong.