Written Answers

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Written Answers To Questions

Wednesday 22 March 2000

Environment, Transport And The Regions

Tenant Subsidies

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what has been the average annual subsidy per tenant, taking into account housing benefits and capital grants paid by the Exchequer, to (a) council tenants and (b) tenants of registered social landlords, in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available. [114719]

Table 1 shows the information that is available on the level of Exchequer support for tenants of local authorities and of registered social landlords (RSLs), but the information does not allow a direct comparison between the two sectors. The table shows the Exchequer subsidy which is paid to local authorities in respect of their tenants as Housing Revenue Account subsidy, and the Housing Benefit paid to tenants of RSLs.Capital support for local authorities is in the form of permissions to borrow (known as Basic Credit Approvals) rather than capital grants; the interest on this borrowing is subsidised as part of the Housing Revenue Account subsidy.Table 2 shows the Exchequer capital grants paid as Social Housing Grant (SHG) to RSLs by the Housing Corporation through the Approved Development Programme (ADP). SHG enables RSLs to provide affordable housing for rent and sale. Because the benefit of the SHG is realised over the lifetime of the property there is no direct correlation between the grant paid in any one year and the number of tenants.

Table 1
£ per dwelling per annum
	Average per dwelling of Housing Element and Rent Rebate subsidy paid to local authorities	Average gross expenditure on rent allowances for tenants of registered social landlords
1990–91	922	—
1991–92	964	—
1992–93	1,044	—
1993–94	1,100	1,222
1994–95	1,145	1,430
1995–96	1,146	1,640
1996–97	1,173	1,825
1997–98	1,140	1,892
1998–99	1,078	1,977

Notes:

1. The figures are averages per dwelling.

2. Local authority information is derived from subsidy claim forms, and shows the sum of Housing Element and Rent Rebate subsidy.

3. For registered social landlords, estimates derived from quarterly and annual statistical returns, and annual subsidy claim forms, from local authorities.

4. Information on average gross expenditure for registered social landlords is not available before 1993–94.

5. England only

Table 2: Housing corporation gross approved development programme expenditure
£ million
Year
1992–93	2,351
1993–94	1,810
1994–95	1,484
1995–96	1,142
1996–97	1,044
1998–99	684
1998–99	607

Notes:

1. Housing Corporation's Approved Development Programme is the main component of the Social Housing Grant. RSLs bid for capital grants from the ADP to develop new social housing, with rents at sub-market levels.

2. Figures taken from Housing Corporation Stewardship Reports. Reliable information is only available from 1992–93.

3. England only

Rail Safety

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) how many of the directors of the safety company subsidiary of Railtrack will have a background in an industry other than railways; what will be the composition of the board; what arrangements have been made for funding the company; and to what extent he has been consulted on the appointments of directors; [114833](2) what talks he has held with the board and Chief Executive of Railtrack since the announcement of their decision to create a separate subsidiary safety company; what timetable is proposed for its establishment; who is to be its Chief Executive, to whom the board will report; and who are its members. [114834]

Work to establish the company is being overseen by a committee chaired by a senior DETR official on which Railtrack are represented at board level.The composition and arrangements for the appointment of the board of the safety subsidiary and its funding arrangements are matters for the Rail Regulator and the Health and Safety Commission to consider when taking forward changes to Regulations and to Railtrack's network licence, which are subject to public consultation procedures.

Empty Properties

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) if there is a centrally held list of empty properties owned by housing associations; and if so how many (a) have been empty for under six months, (b) have been empty for under one year and (c) have been empty over a year; [114801](2) how many properties owned by housing associations have been empty for

(a) under six months, (b) under one year and (c) over one year. [114800]

A centrally held list of properties owned by housing associations does not exist.

The Housing Corporation is the regulatory body for housing associations (also referred to as registered social landlords—RSLs). The Corporation keeps various details about stock owned/managed by RSLs (from the annual Regulatory and Statistical Return and other returns), but this does not include a list of property addresses.

The RSLs themselves maintain records of all their properties in order that they can manage their properties to the standards set down by the Corporation—and to provide information for audit purposes.

Number of vacant self-contained RSL units
At March 31 each year	Available for letting	Percentage	Not available for letting	Percentage	Total vacancies	Percentage
Vacancies in 1998
Less than 6 months	13,547	88	6,049	47	19,596	69
6 months to 1 year	1,043	7	2,908	23	3,951	14
More than a year	782	5	3,874	30	4,656	17
Total	15,372	100	12,831	100	28,203	100
Vacancies in 1999
Less than 6 months	15,143	88	7,852	53	22,995	72
6 months to 1 year	1,156	7	2,504	17	3,660	11
More than a year	863	5	4,514	30	5,377	17
Total	17,162	100	14,870	100	32,032	100

Sources:

Profile of the RSL Sector, 1998 (Table 3.9), published by the Housing Corporation

Profile of the RSL Sector, 1999 (provisional draft of table 3.9)—unpublished but due to be published during 2000 by the Housing Corporation

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) if he will list the number of empty council-owned properties in each local authority; [114799](2) if there is a centrally held database on the amount of council-owned empty property. [114798]

Local authorities in England provide information on the number of vacant dwellings in their ownership as part of their annual Housing Investment Programme submission to the Department. The latest available information, as reported by local authorities on their 1999 HIP returns, is on a computerised dataset available in the Library.A level of vacancy is a usual feature of housing management, reflecting turnover and movement within the stock. There is likely to be some variation in the proportion of dwellings that are vacant in a local authority from one date to another during the year.

Homelessness

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many people are registered on each local authority list as homeless. [114769]

Homeless households accepted by local authorities are those which, after investigation, were found to be eligible for assistance, unintentionally homeless and in priority need under part VII of the Housing Act 1996. The latest available information is given in the table.

The performance standards laid down by the Corporation include some that cover the control of empty properties. For instance, no more than two per cent. of properties under management should be empty at any time.

The overall RSL vacancy rate is not monitored continuously, so the current situation is not known. However, as a guide, the table shows the vacancy rates as at 31 March in 1998 and 1999—and how many vacant units had been empty for less than six months, for between six months and a year and for more than a year.

Number of households accepted by local authorities as being unintentionally homeless and in priority need under the provisions of the 1996 Housing Act: October-December 1999
	Number
North East
Alnwick	7
Berwick-upon-Tweed	5
Blyth Valley	9
Castle Morpeth	0
Chester-le-Street	4
Darlington	48
Derwentside	29
Durham	10
Easington	15
Gateshead	89
Hartlepool	65
Middlesbrough	94
Newcastle upon Tyne	74
North Tyneside	246
Redcar and Cleveland	63
Sedgefield	34
South Tyneside	40
Stockton-on-Tees	46
Sunderland	138
Teesdale	2
Tynedale	n/a
Wansbeck	13
Wear Valley	8
Yorkshire and The Humber
Barnsley	47
Bradford	282
Calderdale	66
Craven	n/a
Doncaster	n/a
East Riding of Yorkshire	60
Hambleton	2
Harrogate	26

Number of households accepted by local authorities as being unintentionally homeless and in priority need under the provisions of the 1996 Housing Act: October-December 1999
	Number
Kingston upon Hull	56
Kirklees	273
Leeds	530
North East Lincolnshire	16
North Lincolnshire	63
Richmondshire	2
Rotherham	59
Ryedale	4
Scarborough	41
Selby	14
Sheffield	n/a
Wakefield	49
York	67
East Midlands
Amber Valley	55
Ashfleld	10
Bassetlaw	52
Blaby	3
Bolsover	14
Boston	12
Broxtowe	27
Charnwood	23
Chesterfield	53
Corby	10
Daventry	27
Derby	242
Derbyshire Dales	6
East Lindsey	62
East Northamptonshire	12
Erewash	33
Gedling	35
Harborough	12
High Peak	34
Hinckley and Bosworth	20
Kettering	25
Leicester	162
Lincoln	13
Mansfield	42
Melton	13
Newark and Sherwood	61
North East Derbyshire	19
North Kesteven	11
North West Leicestershire	55
Northampton	73
Nottingham	n/a
Oadby and Wigston	6
Rushcliffe	11
Rutland	0
South Derbyshire	51
South Holland	5
South Kesteven	55
South Northamptonshire	26
Wellingborough	1
West Lindsey	9
East of England
Babergh	15
Basildon	82
Bedford	91
Braintree	n/a
Breckland	59
Brentwood	9
Broadland	42
Broxbourne	61
Cambridge	60
Castle Point	14
Chelmsford	74
Colchester	101
Dacorum	n/a
East Cambridgeshire	45

Number of households accepted by local authorities as being unintentionally homeless and in priority need under the provisions of the 1996 Housing Act: October-December 1999
	Number
East Hertfordshire	n/a
Epping Forest	26
Fenland	24
Forest Heath	8
Great Yarmouth	44
Harlow	68
Hertsmere	10
Huntingdonshire	30
Ipswich	46
Kings Lynn and West Norfolk	46
Luton	55
Maldon	26
Mid Bedfordshire	11
Mid Suffolk	19
North Hertfordshire	49
North Norfolk	24
Norwich	137
Peterborough	54
Rochford	9
South Bedfordshire	50
South Cambridgeshire	23
South Norfolk	29
Southend-on-Sea	18
St. Albans	26
St. Edmundsbury	36
Stevenage	28
Suffolk Coastal	26
Tendring	73
Three Rivers	22
Thurrock	n/a
Uttlesford	17
Watford	36
Waveney	22
Welwyn Hatfield	49
Greater London
Barking and Dagenham	66
Barnet	239
Bexley	66
Brent	252
Bromley	189
Camden	331
City of London	22
Croydon	291
Ealing	278
Enfield	201
Greenwich	294
Hackney	n/a
Hammersmith and Fulham	165
Haringey	428
Harrow	158
Havering	125
Hillingdon	229
Hounslow	192
Islington	295
Kensington and Chelsea	112
Kingston upon Thames	48
Lambeth	242
Lewisham	259
Merton	59
Newham	383
Redbridge	159
Richmond upon Thames	94
Southwark	303
Sutton	176
Tower Hamlets	264
Waltham Forest	n/a
Wandsworth	n/a
Westminster	288

Number of households accepted by local authorities as being unintentionally homeless and in priority need under the provisions of the 1996 Housing Act: October-December 1999
	Number
South East
Adur	58
Arun	46
Ashford	20
Aylesbury Vale	26
Basingstoke and Deane	44
Bracknell Forest	16
Brighton and Hove	201
Canterbury	60
Cherwell	25
Chichester	32
Chiltern	34
Crawley	52
Dartford	33
Dover	19
East Hampshire	29
Eastbourne	73
Eastleigh	10
Elmbridge	38
Epsom and Ewell	16
Fareham	44
Gosport	45
Gravesham	n/a
Guildford	25
Hart	32
Hastings	47
Havant	62
Horsham	55
Isle of Wight	49
Lewes	44
Maidstone	29
Mid Sussex	28
Milton Keynes	n/a
Mole Valley	21
New Forest	57
Oxford	83
Portsmouth	150
Reading	88
Reigate and Banstead	34
Rother	36
Runnymede	20
Rushmoor	n/a
Sevenoaks	32
Shepway	47
Slough	n/a
South Bucks	8
South Oxfordshire	46
Southampton	165
Spelthorne	12
Surrey Heath	30
Swale	28
Tandridge	21
Test Valley	41
Thanet	n/a
The Medway Towns	n/a
Tonbridge and Malling	23
Tunbridge Wells	85
Vale of White Horse	47
Waverley	20
Wealden	58
West Berkshire	53
West Oxfordshire	7
Winchster	12
Windsor and Maidenhead	23
Woking	33
Wokingham	24
Worthing	54
Wycombe	75

Number of households accepted by local authorities as being unintentionally homeless and in priority need under the provisions of the 1996 Housing Act: October-December 1999
	Number
South West
Bath and North East Somerset	58
Bournemouth	n/a
Bristol	278
Caradon	21
Carrick	50
Cheltenham	41
Christchurch	21
Cotswold	29
East Devon	36
East Dorset	18
Exeter	41
Forest of Dean	19
Gloucester	37
Isles of Scilly	0
Kennet	47
Kerrier	34
Mendip	26
Mid Devon	36
North Cornwall	42
North Devon	20
North Dorset	31
North Somerset	40
North Wiltshire	59
Penwith	27
Plymouth	260
Poole	n/a
Purbeck	16
Restormel	40
Salisbury	68
Sedgemoor	28
South Gloucestershire	n/a
South Hams	54
South Somerset	83
Stroud	3
Swindon	n/a
Taunton Deane	70
Teignbridge	56
Tewkesbury	20
Torbay	55
Torridge	10
West Devon	31
West Dorset	34
West Somerset	19
West Wiltshire	72
Weymouth and Portland	58
West Midlands
Birmingham	1,247
Bridgnorth	7
Bromsgrove	39
Cannock Chase	35
Coventry	90
Dudley	53
East Staffordshire	6
Herefordshire	51
Lichfield	13
Malvern Hills	20
Newcastle-under-Lyme	40
North Shropshire	20
North Warwickshire	6
Nuneaton and Bedworth	16
Oswestry	17
Redditch	60
Rugby	n/a
Sandwell	235
Shrewsbury and Atcham	29

Number of households accepted by local authorities as being unintentionally homeless and in priority need under the provisions of the 1996 Housing Act: October-December 1999
	Number
Solihull	136
South Shropshire	n/a
South Staffordshire	46
Stafford	18
Staffordshire Moorlands	13
Stoke-on-Trent	32
Stratford-on-Avon	20
Tamworth	20
Telford and Wrekin	50
Walsall	295
Warwick	56
Wolverhampton	106
Worcester	n/a
Wychavon	29
Wyre Forest	89
North West
Allerdale	13
Barrow-in-Furness	2
Blackburn with Danwen	36
Blackpool	36
Bolton	178
Burnley	57
Bury	31
Carlisle	6
Chester	25
Chorley	31
Congleton	n/a
Copeland	10
Crewe and Nantwich	53
Eden	12
Ellesmere Port and Neston	18
Fylde	7
Halton	n/a
Hyndburn	20
Knowsley	40
Lancaster	29
Liverpool	196
Macclesfield	n/a
Manchester	632
Oldham	269
Pendle	16
Preston	35
Ribble Valley	15
Rochdale	124
Rossendale	49

Regional Development Agencies
	Administration (£000)		Programme (£000)	Staff numbers
	1998–99	1999–2000	1999–2000	1 April 1999	30 September 1999
Yorkshire Forward	403	8,036	152,203	174.5	211
One North East	2,395	9,771	139,039	203	232
NorthWest	327	12,131	212,595	182	199
East Midlands	406	7,155	60,193	107	132
Advantage West Midlands	384	7,678	114,764	118.5	147
East of England	350	4,803	28,957	38	71
South East	411	5,486	82,850	60	95
South West	461	7,488	46,509	143	171
Total (all RDAs)	5,137	62,548	837,110	1,026	1,258

Note:

Staff numbers are full time equivalents except North West RDA with is staff-post

Number of households accepted by local authorities as being unintentionally homeless and in priority need under the provisions of the 1996 Housing Act: October-December 1999
	Number
Salford	101
Sefton	22
South Lakeland	8
South Ribble	35
St. Helens	25
Stockport	56
Tameside	123
Trafford	109
Vale Royal	n/a
Warrington	62
West Lancashire	4
Wigan	116
Wirral	156
Wyre	23

Notes:

1. n/a indicates the authority did not provide a return.

2. Figures reported may include a small number of residual cases eligible under 1985 Housing Act.

Source:

DETR quarterly P1(E) returns

Regional Development Agencies

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is (a) the annual cost, (b) the number employed and (c) the total expenditure of (i) the integrated regional office and (ii) the regional development agencies in (1) Yorkshire and Humberside, (2) the Northern Region, (3) the North West and (4) all English regions in (A) 1997, (B) 1998 and (C) 1999, respectively. [114903]

The first table shows the Regional Development Agencies' gross expenditure on their administration for the 1998–99 financial year when the agencies were being set up; and their allocations for administration and programmes for 1999–2000 at the start of the financial year. It also shows staff-in-post figures for 1 April and 30 September 1999, the latest data that are available.The second table shows the relevant data for Government offices. Information on programme expenditure in 1999–2000 is not available yet.

Government Offices
	Running costs (£000)	Programme costs (£000)	Staff numbers
1997–98
GO-NE	8,617	447,900	243
GO-NW	9,443	702,970	244
GO-M	4,200	404,920	113
GO-YH	8,475	575,470	237
GO-WM	9,758	564,720	316
GO-EM	6,436	349,640	191
GO-East	6,271	325,300	162
GO-SW	6,826	308,890	185
GO-SE	8,545	473,120	159
GO-L	13,459	1,057,600	305
GO-total	82,028	5,210,530	2,155
GO-CU	4,356	0
Grand total	86,384	5,210,530
1998–99
GO-NE	8,619	383,660	248
GO-NW	13,702	886,000	365
GO-M	n/a	n/a	n/a
GO-YH	8,683	521,770	241
GO-WM	9,474	535,830	305
GO-EM	6,754	332,590	192
GO-East	6,268	393,900	165
GO-SW	6,985	361,000	186
GO-SE	8,561	495,470	177
GO-L	12,722	1,439,600	311
GO-total	81,769	5,349,820	2,190
GO-CU	3,095	0
Grand total	84,864	5,349,820
1999–2000
GO-NE	8,356	—	234
GO-NW	13,020	—	351
GO-M	n/a	—	n/a
GO-YH	8,878	—	240
GO-WM	9,345	—	239
GO-EM	6,935	—	206
GO-East	6,991	—	165
GO-SW	7,865	—	199
GO-SE	8,657	—	209
GO-L	13,681	—	346
GO-total	83,728		2,189
GO-CU	3,757
Grand total	87,484

Notes:

1. GO-Merseyside and GO-NW merged during 1998–99

2. Running cost figures shown are final out-turns for 1997–98 and 1998–99; and budgets for 1999–2000

3. Programme costs 1997–98 and 1998–99 for GO-WM exclude European Programme payments covering period 1994–99 of total value £627.9m and £762.6m respectively; for 1997–98 GO-L excludes London Transport Funding

4. Staff numbers are staff-in-post averages (not full time equivalents) taken over the course of the year

5. GO-CU is the Government Offices' Central Unit

Aircraft Safety

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will require commercial airlines to make available sufficient leg room to ensure that all passengers can adopt the brace position in the event of an emergency. [114937]

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has set minimum requirements relating to the spacing of passenger seats for aircraft on the UK register. This is because, in the event of an emergency, it is one of a number of factors which can have an effect on the evacuation of an aircraft. We are not aware that any other country has a similar requirement.The CAA has also conducted extensive research into passenger brace positions and published its preferred brace position in a Notice to Air Operator Certificate Holders in 1993. This requires that the upper body is bent forward as far as possible with the head touching the back of the seat in front. However, it is recognised that there is not a seat pitch at which people from both extremes of the height range will be able to achieve this position. Where the preferred brace position cannot be adopted passengers should adopt a position as close as possible to it as the circumstances allow.

Landfill Tax

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he has made to the Chancellor of the Exchequer for the return to local authorities of the full value of the Landfill Tax to fund schemes for reduction, re-use and recycling of waste; and if he will make a statement. [114888]

None. The revenue raised from Landfill Tax is general Government revenue, not earmarked for particular purposes.The local government settlement for 2000–01 provides an additional £2.9 billion (5.8 per cent.) for councils' total revenue spending. The Government are considering the question of resources for local authority waste management as part of the overall year 2000 Spending Review.

Heathrow Slots

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what EU legislation governs the allocation of departure and arrival slots at Heathrow to British airlines which merge with non-EU airlines; and if he will make a statement. [115226]

Slot allocation at Heathrow is governed by EC Regulation 95/93, which was transposed into UK law by the Airports Slot Allocation Regulations 1993 (SI 1993/1067). Under these regulations, an independent co-ordinator has been appointed to allocate slots. He is charged with carrying out his duties in a neutral, transparent and non-discriminatory manner. No account is taken in the slot allocation process of the nationality of applicant airlines. However, European and national competition authorities have in the past had regard to the number of slots that would be controlled by a single operating entity, and any possible resultant detrimental effect on competition, when considering proposed mergers and acquisitions.

Private Zoos

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many private zoos there are in the UK; and how many reported accidents involving (a) animals and keepers and (b) animals and the public resulted in (i) hospitalisation and (ii) death in the last five years. [115118]

Official statistics about the ownership of zoos are not kept.The table shows the breakdown of injuries and death in zoos in Great Britain for the years 1994–98. These figures are reported to local authorities under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995 (RIDDOR) and relate to accidents arising out of work activities at zoos.

	Injured by animal
Severity of injury	1994–95	1995–96	1996–97	1997–98	Total
Employees
Fatal	1	—	—	—	1
Major	—	—	—	—	—
Over 3 day	—	2	1	1	4
Member of public
Fatal	—	—	—	—	—
Major	1	—	—	1	2
Total	2	2	1	2	7

Water (Kent)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what forecasts he made of water availability in Kent prior to deciding on the number of new homes to be built in the county. [115338]

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which my hon. Friend the Minister for Housing and Planning gave on 13 March 2000, Official Report, column 35W. The Secretary of State has made no decision on the number of new homes to be built in Kent. Details of our proposed changes to regional planning guidance in the South East will be published on 27 March 2000. These will include an illustrative breakdown of housing within the region to county level, including an annual rate of provision for Kent. We will be consulting SERPLAN and others on the distribution of housing within the region. Water availability will be one of the factors to be taken into account.

Post Offices

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to require councils to allow people to pay (a) rents and (b) council tax at post offices. [115485]

There is a range of payment facilities which local authorities offer to local tax and rent payers, including payment at Post Offices.Since the costs of payment facilities vary, we believe it is right that individual local authorities should be able to decide which facilities to offer in the light of local circumstances.

Zoos And Safari Parks

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what controls exist in respect of the methods used to cull diseased stock at (a) zoos and (b) safari parks; and if he will make a statement. [115276]

[holding answer 21 March 2000]: In accordance with the Zoo Licensing Act 1981, all zoos and safari parks in the UK must be licensed by the appropriate local authority.Inspectors appointed by the Secretary of State make recommendations to local authorities whether to grant a licence. In doing so, they are required to take account of the Secretary of State's Standards of Modern Zoo Practice.There is no guidance on culling in the existing Standards issued in 1988. Earlier this month, I published new Standards which include a requirement that zoos and safari parks must have a policy that ensures humane and timely euthanasia to minimise suffering. Such a course of action may be justifiable under certain conditions, particularly if an animal poses a serious and unavoidable threat to human safety. However, it should not take place without guidance from a veterinary surgeon. The actual method involved will vary depending on the species of animal in question. The new Standards come into force on 3 April.

Aviation Expenditure

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will publish an itemised breakdown of the £27 million additional expenditure for aviation on Page 55 of the supply estimates 1999–2000. [115634]

[holding answer 21 March 2000]: A breakdown of the application of the £27 million additional funding provided to the Civil Aviation Services section of the Transport Industries Vote during the Spring Supplementary Estimates is given in the table.

Description	£ million
Shortfall in Eurocontrol Receipts¹	8.0
Costs of Bechtel²	2.0
National Air Traffic Services (NATS) Public Private Partnership (PPP) Consultants³	6.0
Other Civil Aviation Authority (CAA)/NATS Costs⁴	11.0
Total	27.0
¹ Eurocontrol—This is mainly due to a shortfall in Eurocontrol receipts, which results from a reduction in the UK Government's entitlement, to adjust for an over-recovery two years previously.
² Costs of Bechtel—This is the Government's share in the cost of employing Bechtel, who were jointly hired by NATS and DETR to manage the New Scottish Centre air traffic control project. Bechtel expect to make savings of £80-£100 million on the cost of the project.
³ NATS PPP Consultants—Cost of employing professional advisers to assist the Government in preparing for NATS PPP.
⁴ Other CAA/NATS Costs—Government reimbursement to CAA and NATS of separation of the two, eg physical separation of CAA and NATS within CAA House in London, and separation of previously common functions. Under the terms of the Civil Aviation Act 1982, NATS and the CAA are entitled to reimbursement from the Government for the costs of advisers to help them to prepare for the NATS PPP.

Interactive Website

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans his Department has to set up an interactive website. [114822]

The central DETR has had an interactive website (at www.detr.gov.uk) since November 1997. The site provides access to a wide range of information about the Department and its policies and, in addition to the normal interactivity of any website, includes more than 300 inquiry e-mail addresses, which can be used to contact any area of the Department, four searchable databases, streamed video and audio and now a sub-domain for schools. There are plans for further developments in interactivity this year.

Draft Structure Plan (Avon)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he expects to reach a final decision in response to the draft structure plan for the former Avon area. [115853]

On 17 March the Secretary of State directed the four unitary authorities in the former Avon area not to adopt the structure plan before he has decided whether or not he should intervene. Every effort will be made to reach a final decision as quickly as possible.

Flooding (Copeland)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will provide financial assistance to Copeland Borough Council under the Bellwin Scheme in respect of costs incurred following flooding in the area on 5 November 1999. [116066]

I am satisfied that financial assistance under the Bellwin scheme is justified in the case of Copeland Borough Council given the exceptional nature of the flooding and the damage caused. A scheme will, therefore, be established under section 155 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989. Grant will be paid to the authority to cover 85 per cent. of its eligible costs above a threshold, which have been incurred by the authority in dealing with the flooding.

Property Advisory Group

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what are the findings of the Financial Management and Policy Review on the Property Advisory Group; and what is the Government's response. [116104]

The Property Advisory Group (PAG) advises DETR Ministers and officials on commercial property issues. Established in 1978, the PAG is a link with the property world, providing access to sources of expertise on property, financial and legal matters. The Group's current terms of reference are:

"to keep under review changes in the land and property market, advise on matters concerning the development process, and advise the Department generally on property issues".

As a non-Departmental public body, the PAG is subject to a financial management and policy review every five years, carried out internally. The review takes account of consultations both with the Group and relevant external bodies. This review has now been completed, and found in the first stage of its work that the Department had a continuing need for regular impartial advice from external sources on property matters, and that the Group was the most cost-effective means of providing this.The second stage of the review considered the operation of the Group, with a full review of its term of reference and the scope of its work as well as its composition, working methods, and public profile. The overall impression was favourable, but the review made a number of detailed recommendations in these areas. We accept these recommendations, and will be taking them forward in co-operation with the Chairman, Robin Broadhurst, and members of the Group.

Green Ministers

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when was the last meeting of Green Ministers; what was discussed; and which Departments were represented by (a) Ministers and (b) officials. [116205]

Green Ministers held their first meeting of this year on 16 March. The Committee agreed the publication of a series of guides to help promote sustainable development and the greening of Government across Whitehall and beyond. "Work of Green Ministers" lists all of the Government's targets and commitments in this area. It is also a good summary for those who would like to understand more about the role of Green Ministers and their work. "Sustainable development—what it is and what you can do" helps to explain sustainable development for the ordinary civil servant. The other leaflets will help public sector bodies prepare sustainable development awareness raising strategies and address biodiversity issues.At the meeting, Green Ministers discussed progress on environmental management systems, travel plans and integrating the environment into policy. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Office, their Green Minister, outlined progress on greening the police and prison service as well as the main department.Green Ministers agreed:

there should be an annual meeting of departments' senior officials responsible for sustainable development

to continue their work to make the Government's funding regimes, such as the Spending Review and the Private Finance Initiative, as sustainable as possible, including taking account of the environment.

target a number of associate bodies (including non-departmental public bodies and executive agencies) and help them become models for best practice on sustainable development, encouraging others to follow suit.

Since Green Ministers' last meeting in November, the Government have agreed proposals for new energy targets. From 1 April, Government will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 1 per cent. a year. In addition, Green Ministers will continue to make the benchmarking of Government buildings a priority and will investigate the feasibility of reporting on emissions from transport as well as buildings.

The Departments represented by Ministers were: Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions; Cabinet Office; Foreign and Commonwealth Office; Department for Health; Department of Social Security; the Chancellor's Departments; Law Officers Departments; Home Office; the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food; and the Welsh Office. Those represented by officials were: Department for International Development and Department of Trade and Industry.

Manchester Metrolink

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what progress has been made in respect of the Manchester Metrolink light rail scheme; and if he will make a statement. [116206]

Following the announcement in the Budget of an extra £280 million for transport spending, we intend to provide funding for the three extensions to the Manchester Metrolink for which Manchester Passenger Transport Authority has sought public funding. This is subject to formal completion of the project appraisal and agreement of the overall funding package. We expect that package to include a local contribution to the costs of the scheme. I shall make further announcements about the other elements of our package of additional transport spending shortly.

Home Department

Asylum Seekers

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the cost of the tendering process for the scheme to provide vouchers for asylum seekers; how many firms bid for the contract; on what basis was the contract awarded to Sodexho Pass International; what is the duration and cost of the contract with Sodexho Pass International; what profit margin is built in to the contract; and if he will publish the contract. [114760]

The cost of the tendering process for the new voucher scheme is not separately identifiable from the costs of other procurement activity undertaken in the course of establishing the new asylum support arrangements.In response to an advertisement placed in the "Official Journal of the European Communities" (OJEC) on 10 July 1999, we received nine expressions of interest from prospective suppliers in designing and operating the voucher scheme. Four suppliers were subsequently invited to prepare detailed proposals as a basis for negotiation and three of these went forward to submit revised formal offers.As anticipated in the OJEC, the decision to award the contract was taken with regard to the following factors: ability to achieve time scales; cost; technical competence; experience/ability; flexibility; commercial and financial strength; and, quality.The initial duration of the contract is three years. This may be extended by two further one-year periods. Contractual details are commercially confidential.

Road Accident Victims

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received about the decision of the police to refuse to release to the media the names and addresses of people injured in road accidents; and if he will make a statement. [115299]

My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary has received representations from the Director and Members of the Society of Editors about the Association of Chief Police Officers guidelines "Naming of Victims or Witnesses Involved in Crime, Road and other incidents", which he is carefully considering. A number of hon. Members have also made representations.

Anti-Social Behaviour Orders

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 14 March 2000, Official Report, column 162W, on antisocial behaviour orders, when the records of ASBOs will be collated centrally by his Department; and if he will make a statement. [115362]

We will be writing to local magistrates courts committees during the next few weeks asking them to provide us with information concerning the number of orders granted at their courts. We will be collating this information centrally as soon as we receive the responses.

Europol

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list those powers of Europol whose extension is under discussion; and what is his policy in respect of them. [115620]

At the European Council held in Tampere in October 1999, it was agreed that Europol's powers should be extended to cover money laundering in general, regardless of the type of offence from which the laundered proceeds originate. The Government welcome this proposal.It was also agreed at Tampere that arrangements for the setting up of joint investigation teams, as envisaged in Article 30(2) of the Treaty of Amsterdam, should be put in place without delay, as a first step to combat trafficking in drugs and human beings as well as terrorism. The arrangements should allow representatives of Europol to participate, as appropriate, in the joint teams in a support capacity. It is not envisaged that Europol's mandate will need to be extended to give effect to this conclusion.There are no other current proposals to extend Europol's powers.

Force Crest

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the average dimensions of the force crest on police cars in England and Wales; and what is the size of the (a) largest and (b) smallest crest on the side of police cars in England and Wales. [115570]

We do not collect this information from forces.

Prison Accommodation

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners in each prison establishment are held (a) two to a cell in a single cell and (b) three to a cell in a double cell. [115614]

The average number of prisoners for the financial year April 1999 to February 2000 held two in a single cell in each prison establishment is listed in the table. The Prison Service does not collect data on the number of prisoners held three in a double cell.These data are provisional and are subject to validation by prisons.

Average number of prisoners held two to a cell for one—April 1999 to February 2000
Prison name	Two to a cell
Acklington	0
Albany	0
Altcourse	416
Ashfield	0
Ashwell	0
Askham Grange	0
Aylesbury	0
Bedford	137
Belmarsh	0
Birmingham	758
Blakenhurst	371
Blantyre House	0
Blundeston	0
Brinsford	157
Bristol	102
Brixton	337
Brockhill	0
Buckley Hall	0
Bullingdon	77
Bullwood Hall	0
Camp Hill	138
Canterbury	223
Cardiff	471
Castington	0
Channings Wood	216
Chelmsford	66
Coldingley	0
Cookham Wood	54
Dartmoor	0
Deerbolt	0
Doncaster	589
Dorchester	147
Dover	0
Downview	32
Drake Hall	0
Durham	538
East Sutton Park	0
Eastwood Park	40
Elmley	218
Erlestoke	1
Everthorpe	64
Exeter	367
Featherstone	0
Feltham	47
Ford	0
Forest Bank	0
Foston Hall	0
Frankland	0
Full Sutton	0
Garth	0
Gartree	0
Glen Parva	301
Gloucester	180
Grendon	0
Guys Marsh	61

Average number of prisoners held two to a cell for one—April 1999 to February 2000
Prison name	Two to a cell
Haslar	0
Hatfield	0
Haverigg	0
Hewell Grange	0
Highdown	0
Highpoint	4
Hindley	0
Hollesley Bay	0
Holloway	0
Holme House	105
Hull	0
Huntercombe	3
Kingston	0
Kirkham	0
Kirklevington	0
Lancaster	0
Lancaster Farms	41
Latchmere House	0
Leeds	613
Leicester	286
Lewes	29
Leyhill	0
Lincoln	304
Lindholme	0
Littlehey	46
Liverpool	420
Long Lartin	0
Low Newton	36
Lowdham Grange	15
Maidstone	74
Manchester	387
Moorland	41
Morton Hall	0
Mount	8
New Hall	60
North Sea Camp	0
Northallerton	252
Norwich	213
Nottingham	0
Onley	0
Pare	0
Parkhurst	21
Pentonville	341
Portland	139
Preston	519
Ranby	50
Reading	140
Risley	65
Rochester	0
Send	0
Shepton Mallet	36
Shrewsbury	0
Stafford	0
Stanford Hill	0
Stocken	29
Stoke Heath	0
Styal	22
Sudbury	0
Swaleside	0
Swansea	198
Swinfen Hall	43
Thorn Cross	0
Usk	149
Verne	35
Wakefield	0
Wandsworth	432
Wayland	30
Wealstun	10
Weare	0
Wellingborough	0
Werrington	0
Wetherby	0

Average number of prisoners held two to a cell for one—April 1999 to February 2000
Prison name	Two to a cell
Whatton	0
Whitemoor	0
Winchester	299
Wolds	0
Woodhill	103
Wormwood Scrubs	270
Wymott	0

Secure Units

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to divide prison establishments into smaller units. [115626]

The Woolf Report recommended that prisons should be divided into small and manageable secure units. Since the Report was published, the Prison Service has focused upon this need when designing both new prison buildings (public and private) and new houseblocks (extensions of existing prisons). It is also a consideration when refurbishing existing prison accommodation—special attention is always given to improving the security of wings by adding new gates, control and restraint staircases and reinforcing the protection of roof spaces.

Roger Sylvester

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what internal disciplinary actions have been taken by the Metropolitan police concerning officers who were responsible for the custody of Roger Sylvester in January 1999. [115642]

The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis has informed me that the reports of the investigations into the death of Roger Sylvester by Essex police, supervised by the Police Complaints Authority, have been referred to the Crown Prosecution Service to consider whether criminal charges should be laid against any of the police officers involved in this case.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what special police actions by officers not based at Tottenham police station took place from 10 to 13 January 1999 in the Tottenham police division. [115643]

The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis has informed me that an investigation by the Complaints Investigation Bureau into the circumstances surrounding the detention of Roger Sylvester by officers based at Tottenham police station began on 11 January 1999.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects the Police Complaints Authority report into the circumstances surrounding the death of Roger Sylvester to be published. [115644]

The circumstances surrounding the death of Roger Sylvester have been investigated by Essex police, supervised by the Police Complaints Authority. The publication of Investigating Officers' reports resulting from public complaints is a matter for individual Chief Officers of Police, in this case the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis.The Government have accepted recommendation 10 of the Macpherson report regarding disclosure of Investigating Officers' reports to complainants. The action being taken to implement this recommendation is detailed in the First Annual Report on Progress on the Home Secretary's Action Plan, published on 23 February.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received concerning the death of Roger Sylvester in January 1999; and if he will make a statement. [115645]

Since January 1999, my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary has received a number of representations about the death of Roger Sylvester from several hon. Members, relatives of Roger Sylvester, members of the public and supporters of the Roger Sylvester Justice Campaign.Most of the representations call for a public inquiry into the circumstances surrounding Roger Sylvester's detention by the Metropolitan police. This matter has been investigated by Essex police, supervised by the Police Complaints Authority. The Investigating Officers' reports have now been referred to the Crown Prosecution Service for consideration.

Electoral Register

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to publish his plans for the regulation of the use of the electoral register under paragraphs 10 and 11 of Schedule 2 to the Representation of the People Act 1983 as amended by the Representation of the People Act 2000; what discussions he has had regarding those plans; and if he will make a statement. [115815]

I have met representatives from the banking, credit and mail order industries on several occasions. Officials are also engaged in a series of meetings with these and other organisations aimed at clarifying the issues to be addressed by the regulations. As soon as these discussions have been concluded the regulations will be drafted and published.

Political Parties, Elections And Referendums Bill

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if it is his intention that press notices issued by a Minister of the Crown, Government Department and local authority during the relevant period referred to in Clause 118 (2) of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Bill should be (a) posted on the internet and (b) otherwise be made publicly accessible; [115859](2) if he will publish a definition of the term press notice used in Clause 118 (3)(d) of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Bill. [115858]

As I indicated during the Report Stage of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Bill on 14 March 2000, Official Report, column 255, a press notice for the purpose of clause 120(3) of the Bill (as it is now) is a notice to the press and not to the general public.

It is the general practice of Government Departments to place their press notices on the Internet. They are not otherwise made available to the general public except in response to specific requests. We do not think that these facilities need to be suspended or modified during referendum periods.

The arrangements in respect of press releases issued by local authorities are a matter for them.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the oral statement of the hon. Member for North Warwickshire (Mr. O'Brien), of 14 March 2000, Official Report, columns 255–56, if he will publish guidelines on the role of (a) civil servants, (b) special advisers and (c) local government officers in future referendum campaigns; if he will publish draft guidelines whilst the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Bill is before Parliament; and if he will make a statement. [115857]

The Government fully intend that civil servants (including special advisers) should continue to be issued with guidance as to their conduct during general election and referendum campaigns. Such guidance is prepared and issued in respect of each general election and referendum campaign as and when it is required. Copies of the guidance issued in respect of previous referendums are available in the Library. Guidance to the employees of local authorities is not a matter for central Government.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to publish draft orders to be made under Clause 122 of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Bill. [115813]

The purpose of the order-making power in clause 124 of the Bill (as it is now) will be to set up arrangements for the administration of referendums by applying relevant provisions of the Representation of the People Acts and Regulations. A recent example of this kind of order is the Greater London Authority (Referendum Arrangements) Order 1998 (SI 1998–746). We do not envisage exercising the order-making power in the Bill until a referendum to which Part VII of the Bill applies is in immediate prospect.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the increase in the number of registered political parties as a result of the restriction on the description of candidates contained in Clause 19 (2) of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Bill; and if he will make a statement. [115832]

It will be for candidates and the organisations which they represent, if any, to decide whether to register. It seems likely that the number of registered parties will increase, but no basis is available for any reliable estimate of the extent of any increase.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research he has undertaken into the cost to registered political parties of compliance with the requirements of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Bill; if he will place a copy of that research in the Library; and if he will make a statement. [115827]

On 26 May 1999, the Home Office wrote to the main political parties requesting, among other things, a broad indication of the additional administrative costs that would be incurred in order to establish the systems to comply with the statutory disclosure regime. Only the Liberal Democrats submitted any estimate of such costs.Clause 32 of the Bill enables the Electoral Commission to allocate up to £500,000 in grants or assistance in kind (for example software programmes) to registered political parties to help them meet the initial costs involved in complying with the provisions of Parts III (accounting requirements) and IV (control of donations). This sum has been set on the basis of what the Government believe is both reasonable and affordable.The Home Office will shortly be inviting the main parties to enter into further discussions about the grants or assistance that the Commission might provide.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to appoint the interim Chief Executive of the Electoral Commission. [115830]

As soon as is practicable after the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Bill receives Royal Assent.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if it is his intention that the duty placed on the Electoral Commission to promote the institutions of the European Union under Class 11(1)(c) of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Bill should extend only to those institutions of the European Union that are directly elected; and if he will make a statement; [115835](2) if

(a) the European Single Currency and (b) the European Central Bank are institutions of the European Union within the meaning of Clause 11(1)(c) of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Bill. [115834]

As part of the Electoral Commission's role of encouraging greater public participation in the democratic process, including by voting at elections, clause 12 (formerly clause 11) of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Bill provides for the Electoral Commission to promote public awareness of the

institutions of the European Union.

For the purposes of this clause, the term includes any body constituted under the Treaty establishing the European Community and is not, therefore, confined to the European Parliament. Promoting greater understanding of the role of the Parliament cannot be achieved without reference to the other institutions of the European Union, including the Council of Ministers, the European Commission, the European Court of Justice and the European Central Bank. The European single currency is not an institution of the European Union.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the progress of his discussions with the Scottish Parliament and the Scottish Executive about the extent to which the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Bill should apply to Scotland. [115814]

Subject to a number of express limitations in respect of local government and local government elections, clause 151 provides for the whole of the Bill to apply to Scotland.As I announced during the Report Stage of the Bill on 13 March 2000,

Official Report, columns 47–48, the Scottish Parliament and Executive have indicated that they would welcome an enabling power, akin to that in clause 18 but exercisable in this case by Scottish Ministers, to transfer any of the functions of the Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland to the Electoral Commission. They have also agreed that there should be an enabling power, again exercisable by Scottish Ministers with the agreement of the Parliament, to extend the Electoral Commission's remit under clauses 9(3)(a)(ii), 12(1), and 135(1)(b) to local government elections in Scotland. Amendments to this effect will be introduced by the Government during the Bill's passage in Another Place.

In addition, the Scottish Parliament and Executive have agreed that proposed Government amendments to the Bill to amend section 75 of the Representation of the People Act 1983, so as to make it compatible with the European Convention on Human Rights following the European Court's decision in the Case of Bowman, should extend to local government elections in Scotland.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to begin the appointments process for electoral commissioners. [115829]

Preparatory work is already under way. A recruitment firm has been selected to assist in filling the posts and it is expected that advertisements will appear next month. The process will follow the Code of Practice for Public Appointments. A panel with independent representation will determine whom to recommend for appointment so that the procedure set out in Clause 3 of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Bill can be followed.

Criminal Justice And Court Services Bill

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what statutory mechanisms exist to ensure that (a) an offender convicted of an offence against a child not listed in Schedule 4 to the Criminal Justice and Court Services Bill and (b) an offender sentenced to a term of imprisonment of less than 12 months for an offence committed against a child is prohibited from working with children; what is the maximum term of such a prohibition; and if he will make a statement; [115818](2) if it is his intention that a disqualification order issued under Part II of the Criminal Justice and Court Services Bill, should apply indefinitely; and if he will make a statement; [115831](3) what mechanisms prevent

(a) sex offenders and (b) other offenders from working with children; and if he will make a statement. [115833]

There are several statutory mechanisms that currently exist to prevent sex offenders and other offenders from working with children. The Education Reform Act 1988, the Education Act 1996 and the Protection of Children Act 1999 provide for lists to be kept by the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, the Secretary of State for Health or the National Assembly for Wales of individuals deemed unsuitable, and therefore banned, from working with children in the areas of healthcare, social services, and education. In addition, there are Regulations relating to particular areas of work with children made under the Children Act 1989.The Criminal Justice and Court Services Bill introduces measures that would complete the establishment of an integrated system for the protection of children. Under this system, a judge would be able to disqualify those who commit serious criminal offences against children from working with them. In addition, the Bill proposes a new criminal offence of breaching a ban on working with children imposed either through inclusion on one of the relevant lists or by the courts. It also proposes a new definition of working with children which covers all such work in the public, private, voluntary and volunteering sectors.Under the Bill, an offender convicted of an offence not listed in Schedule 4, or convicted of such an offence but sentenced to a term of imprisonment of less than 12 months, would not be subject to the statutory disqualification against working with children imposed by a judge. However, if they already work with children in one of the areas covered by the lists kept under the Education Reform Act 1988, the Education Act 1996, or the Protection of Children Act 1999, they could be banned by the Secretary of State. They could also be banned under those lists as a result of conduct which demonstrates that they are unsuitable to work with children even if they are not convicted of any offence. Under Part V of the Police Act 1997, an offender's full criminal record will be available to those registered under the Act who countersign applications for criminal or enhanced criminal record certificates in respect of those to whom they intend to offer positions which involve working with children.An offender who is disqualified by a court under Part II of the Bill or is placed on one of the lists will be disqualified from working with children indefinitely. However, the Bill provides for a review of the disqualification order by a Tribunal. The individual must first prove to the Tribunal that his circumstances have changed sufficiently to warrant a review of the disqualification order. The individual must then demonstrate to the Tribunal that this change of circumstances is such that he is no longer a risk to children, and therefore need no longer be subject to disqualification. This review process is only available after a period of ten years (five years for juveniles) after the disqualification was imposed or the offender released from custody.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the number of persons who will be sent to prison annually as a result of the introduction under Clause 55 of the Criminal Justice and Court Services Bill of the three-month sentence for failing to secure regular attendance at school; what will be the cost to public funds; and if he will make a statement. [115854]

At present, some 80 per cent. of parents fail to turn up in court when prosecuted for school attendance offences. The intention of this measure is to compel the parent to attend court. Introducing the risk of imprisonment allows magistrates to issue a warrant for the arrest of a defendant who fails to turn up at court to answer charges when summonsed to do so. It also allows magistrates to impose other sentencing options such as community service orders. Magistrates will want to consider how best to secure education for the child involved, and we expect such a sentence will be appropriate only in wholly exceptional circumstances.The costs of implementing the measure are estimated at up to £1.2 million per annum. This assumes legal aid costs of up to £1 million, and some minor costs associated with enforcing the warrant to attend court and prosecution costs for education authorities.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of (a) the average cost to public funds of an exclusion order made under Part III of the Criminal Justice and Court Services Bill, (b) the number of orders that will be made annually and (c) the number of other community orders that will include exclusion requirements; if magistrates courts will be able to make such an order; and if he will make a statement. [115824]

The Bill contains provisions to enable these powers to be piloted. This will enable us to make a better judgment about the extent to which they may be used and their financial impact.In the meantime, the figures quoted in the Explanatory Memorandum assume that there will be about 440 free-standing exclusion orders and 755 exclusion conditions imposed annually. The estimated net impact on public resources (taking into account both costs and savings) is approximately £500 per exclusion imposed.As with all other community orders, magistrates courts will be able to make an exclusion order, or impose exclusion as a condition of a community order.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the number of prisoners who will be released on licence earlier than at present as a result of the introduction of (a) monitoring and (b) drug testing requirements for release on licence under the provisions of Part III of the Criminal Justice and Court Services Bill; and if he will make a statement. [115820]

The measures will not change any prisoner's eligibility for release. The basis of any discretionary release decision will continue to be careful risk assessment. The use of the new licence conditions will be subject to piloting before any consideration is given to wider implementation. Evaluation of the pilots will include consideration of the impact of the new licence conditions on discretionary release decisions taken by the Parole Board and by the Prison Service, on behalf of the Secretary of State.We estimate that the new powers to impose drug testing as a licence condition will have no impact at all on release decisions, but will act solely as a reinforcing measure in cases where release would have been authorised or required in any case. However, the wider availability of electronic monitoring may influence release decisions in a small number of cases involving prisoners serving determinate sentences of four years or more who are eligible for parole, and where the risk assessment is finely balanced. We currently estimate that the parole rate may rise by up to 4 per cent., which would represent approximately 230 additional prisoners granted parole per annum. These estimates will be tested through the pilots, and guidance will be issued to the Parole Board in the light of the pilots.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if it is his policy that a person breaching the provisions of (a) an exclusion order and (b) a drug abstinence order made under the provisions of the Criminal Justice and Court Services Bill should be taken before a court after the first breach; and if he will make a statement. [115822]

The Criminal Justice and Court Services Bill provides that an offender over 18 who fails unacceptably to comply with the conditions of an exclusion order or a drug abstinence order may be given a statutory warning that a second unacceptable failure to comply within 12 months would result in a return to court. There remains the option of returning an offender to court for a first unacceptable failure to comply.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if it is his policy that a positive test for (a) Class A and (b) Class B drugs conducted under Clause 48 of the Criminal Justice and Court Services Bill should be taken into account as an aggravating factor in the sentencing exercise if the suspect is subsequently convicted of the offence with which they have been charged; and if he will make a statement. [115819]

Clause 48 of The Criminal Justice and Court Services Bill provides for drug testing for specified Class A drugs only. The purpose is to identify and monitor drug misusers, who may need treatment; to inform bail decisions; and to assist in appropriate sentencing. The Bill does not make drug use an aggravating factor in relation to an offence.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if it is his policy that any suspect charged with an offence who subsequently tests positive for (a) Class A and (b) Class B drugs under the provisions of Clause 48 of the Criminal Justice and Court Services Bill should be prosecuted for unlawful possession of such a drug (i) in addition to prosecution for other offences with which they have been charged and (ii) in cases where the charges for other offences are subsequently dropped; and if he will make a statement. [115817]

The purpose of drug testing, for specified Class A drugs, as provided for in Clause 48 of the Bill, is to identify and monitor drug misusers who may need treatment and to inform bail decisions. A positive test will not, in itself, result in prosecution for unlawful possession.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the average cost to public funds of a drug abstinence order made under Part III of the Criminal Justice and Court Services Bill; what estimate he has made of the number of orders that will be made annually; what estimate he has made of the number of other community orders that will include drug abstinence requirements; if magistrates courts will be abe to make such an order; and if he will make a statement. [115823]

The average cost of a Drug Abstinence Order/ Requirement under community supervision is estimated at £1,500. The new drug testing regime will be piloted in the first instance. It is estimated that initial piloting in three areas would result in 3,500 offenders being made subject to the drug abstinence requirement.

Home Detention Curfew Scheme

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many offenders have been released to date under the home detention curfew scheme; how many offenders convicted of each category of offence have been released; how many offenders convicted of (a) unlawful supply of a controlled drug and (b) possession of a controlled drug with intent to supply have been released on the scheme; how many have re-offended while on the scheme, and what offences have been committed; and if he will make a statement. [115816]

As of 13 March 2000, 17,871 prisoners have been placed on home detention curfew since the scheme commenced on 28 January 1999. The original offences committed by these prisoners, and the number of prisoners convicted of each type of offence, are shown in the table.Of those prisoners released up to and including 13 March 2000, 969 were convicted of unlawful supply of a controlled drug and 1,238 were convicted of drugs possession with intent to supply.As of 13 March 2000, the Prison Service had received notification of 185 curfewees who had been charged with an offence committed while subject to the home detention curfew scheme. The offences with which the curfewees were charged are shown in the table.I refer to the replies I gave to the right hon. Lady on 7 March 2000,

Official Report, columns 571–72W and on 17 March 2000, Official Report, columns 378–80W.

Original offences committed by prisoners released on home detention curfew
Offence type	Number
Manslaughter	43
Other homicide and attempted homicide	150
Wounding	2,258
Assaults	441
Cruelty to children	21
Other violence against the person	235
Indecent assault	16
Buggery	1
Unlawful sexual intercourse	1
Abduction	1
Bigamy	10
Burglary	1,697
Robbery	717
Taking and driving away	216
Other theft	1,643
Handling stolen goods	563
Fraud	1,476
Forgery	77
Drugs	2,931
Arson	116
Criminal damage	82
In charge or driving under the influence of drink or drugs	617
Other motoring offences	1,530
Drunkenness	64
Blackmail	52
Kidnapping	26
Affray	472
Violent disorder	204
Perjury/libel/pervert the course of justice	267
Threat/disorderly behaviour	83

Original offenes committed by prisoners released on home detention curfew
Offence type	Number
Breach of Court Order	187
Other offences	673
Offence not recorded	1,001
Total	17,871

Offences with which home detention curfewees have been charged
Offence type	Number
Burglary, theft and theft from shops¹	66
Assault	32
Driving and Traffic Offences	18
Drug Offences	15
Breach of the peace²	15
Criminal Damage	10
Handling Stolen Goods/Deception	9
Threatening Behaviour	7
Possession of an offensive weapon	3
Breach of court injunction or Restraining Order	3
Rape	2
Harassment	1
Going Equipped	1
False Imprisonment	1
Arson	1
Indecent Exposure	1
Total	185
¹ Including taking without consent/taking and driving away.
² Including Drunk and Disorderly.

Note:

Where a curfewee was charged with more than one offence, they appear in the table next to the most serious offence. The table excludes those where, following initial notification, the Prison Service was informed that the charges had been withdrawn. Between 29 February (the date for which the data in this table were last provided) and 13 March, the Prison Service was informed of six cases where the curfewee had been charged with a further offence and three cases where earlier charges had been withdrawn.

Probation Service

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the cost to public funds of his plans to change the name of the probation service. [115856]

Creating a national unified service from the current 54 independent services involves a number of changes, of which the change of name is only one part. Others include structural changes to amalgamate some area services and to make all area services more accountable to the Home Secretary. We estimate that the costs involved in establishing a national identity may require central funding of around £800,000, although the cost of changing the name of itself is minimal.

Orders (Name Changes)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the cost to public funds of his plans to change the name of (a) probation orders, (b) community service orders and (c) combination orders. [115825]

Any administrative costs arising from the change of names of probation orders, community service orders and combination orders will be minimal and can be absorbed within current funding.

Defence

Courts-Martial (Royal Navy)

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of the courts-martial held for Royal Navy ratings between 1993 and 1999 were at the election of the accused. [107867]

[holding answer 1 February 2000]: This information is only available from 1994, and the details are as follows.

	Total numbers of courts martial for Royal Navy ratings	Percentage at request of accused
1994	80	18
1995	64	25
1996	44	14
1997	56	34
1998	52	37
1999	49	47

Until 1996 only Leading Rates and higher ranks were able to elect for courts martial. In 1996, the Armed Forces Act extended this right to all naval ratings, which accounts for the increase in the figures from 1997 onwards.

Sea King

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many units of the active noise reduction system for the Sea King MK2 his Department is seeking to acquire and at what cost; what estimate he has made of the additional cost of such an upgrade to the MK7; and if he will make a statement. [113900]

One hundred Analogue Active Noise Reduction (ANR) systems for the Sea King MK2 were delivered in 1999: the total cost of the programme was some £660,000 VAT inclusive. A further 30 are to be procured to support the Sea King Airborne Early Warning (AEW) MK7 flight trials programme at a unit production cost of £599. Work to develop an improved Digital ANR for the Sea King MK7 is still at an early stage but the cost of introducing such a system is estimated to be in the region of £1 million.

Minefield Detection System

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the results were of the phase 1 testing of the remote minefield detection system; what is his estimate of the total cost of the system; and if he will make a statement. [113904]

This is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Defence Procurement Agency. I have asked the Chief Executive to write to the hon. Member.

Letter from Sir Robert Walmsley to Mr. Mike Hancock, dated 22 March 2000:

I am replying to your question to the Secretary of State for Defence about the result of the phase 1 testing of the remote minefield detection system and the estimate of the total cost of the system. This letter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief of Defence Procurement and Chief Executive of the Defence Procurement Agency.

The aim of phase 1 of the remote minefield detection system Technology Demonstration Programme (TDP) was to evaluate a number of remote sensing technologies. Five emerging technologies were investigated over a ten month period for applicability to the remote minefield detection role. Following feasibility studies a formal sensor selection methodology recommended as Infrared Polarimetric Camera (IPRC) coupled with Ultra WideBand Synthetic Aperture Radar (UWB SAR) as the best complimentary combination. Other technologies were discarded as being too immature, poorly performing, or impractical for airborne operations. Phase 2, which began in November 1996, covers the detailed design and build of the sensors.

The cost of phase 1 of the TDP was some £411k. The technology is still at a very early stage and, as a consequence, it is too early to estimate the potential cost of any resulting system.

Shoeburyness

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he intends to visit Warden Bay to investigate the complaints by local residents about the noise levels of explosions from the firing range at Shoeburyness. [114508]

There are no plans for the Secretary of State for Defence, or indeed any Defence Minister, to visit Warden Bay to investigate the complaints by local residents about the noise levels of explosions from the firing range at Shoeburyness.My noble Friend the Minister for Defence Procurement is, however, due to discuss this issue shortly with the hon. Member for North Thanet (Mr. Gale).

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how much notice is given to local residents prior to the commencement of gun explosions at Shoeburyness; [114510](2) when the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency last visited Warden Bay to check monitoring levels for gun explosions at Shoeburyness; [114507](3) what work of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency at the firing ranges at Shoeburyness has been carried out on behalf of

(a) the UK's armed forces only and (b) the armed forces of foreign countries in the last 12 months. [114509]

This is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency. I have asked the Chief Executive to write to my hon. Friend.

Letter from Sir John Chisholm to Mr. Derek Wyatt, dated 22 March 2000:

I am replying to three of your parliamentary questions about activities at the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency range at Shoeburyness.

You ask how much notice is given to local residents prior to the commencement of gun explosions at Shoeburyness. A recorded message on a freephone telephone gives details of the firings scheduled for the following working day. The information given includes the type of activity, whether gunfire and/or explosions and the start time and the expected finish time. Additional information will be given if, for example, an activity is planned to take place outside normal working hours or it is expected to be particularly noisy. That said, the noise levels of activities undertaken at Shoeburyness are, for the most part, comfortably within the Ministry of Defence's guideline limit. We also endeavour to place notice of the out of hours and noisier activities in the local press and/or broadcast details on local radio. The timing of a press announcement will depend very much on the day of publication of the newspaper but could be up to a week in advance of the actual activity.

The closest monitor to Warden Bay is located at Sheerness Docks. All monitors are covered by an on-call maintenance contract which provides maintenance and repair cover for any failed monitor. Staff in the range operations office check the operation of all monitors on a daily basis and also hold records of the noise levels detected.

The majority of work carried out at Shoeburyness has been on behalf of UK's armed forces. In the course of the last 12 months, a very small amount of work has been undertaken for non-UK customers, but only with the support of the relevant MOD authorities. These activities did not generate any noise complaints.

I hope the above explains the situation.

Military Exercises (Kenya)

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the exercises carried out by Her Majesty's armed forces in Kenya in each of the last five years. [114429]

The Following exercises have been carried out, or are to take place in the immediate future, in Kenya by Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the years 1996 to 2000:

a. 1996

1. 4 January-15 February 1996—Ex GRAND PRIX 1/96.

2. 4 January-28 March 1996—Ex OAK APPLE 96.

3. 16 February-28 March I996—Ex GRAND PRIX 2/96.

4. 29 March-29 April 1996—Ex MONO PRIX 96.

5. 29 March-29 April 1996—Ex SHARP POINT 96.

6. 29 March-29 April 1996—Ex PINE APPLE 96.

7. 28 October-9 December 1996—Ex GRAND PRIX 3/96.

8. 28 October-9 December 1996—Ex CRAB APPLE 96.

b. 1997

1. 4 January-15 February 1997—Ex GRAND PRIX 1/97.

2. 4 January-28 March 1997—Ex OAK APPLE 97.

3. 16 February-28 March 1997—Ex GRAND PRIX 2/97.

4. 29 March-29 April 1997—Ex MONO PRIX 1997.

5. 29 March-29 April 1997—Ex SHARP POINT 97.

6. 29 March-29 April 1997—Ex PINE APPLE 97.

7. 23 April-15 May 97—Ex HIGH SLOPE.

8. 28 October-9 December 97—Ex GRAND PRIX 3/97.

9. 28 October-9 December 1997—Ex CRAB APPLE 97.

c. 1998

1. 4 January-15 February 1998—Ex GRAND PRIX 1/98

2. 4 January-28 March 1998—Ex OAK APPLE 98.

3. 16 February-28 March 1998—Ex GRAND PRIX 2/98.

4. 29 March-29 April 1998—Ex MONO PRIX 98.

5. 29 March-29 April 1998—Ex SHARP POINT 1998.

6. 29 March-29 April 1998—Ex PINE APPLE 98.

7. 28 October-9 December 1998—Ex GRAND PRIX 3/98.

8. 28 October-9 December 1998—Ex Crab APPLE 98.

d. 1999

1. 5 January-I6 February 1999—Ex GRAND PRIX 1/99.

2. 5 January-31 March 1999—Ex OAK APPLE 99.

3. 5 January-17 February 1999—Ex CYGENT GOLD.

4. 17 February-31 March 1999—Ex GRAND PRIX 2/99.

5. 31 March-1 May 1999—Ex MONO PRIX 99.

6. 31 March-1 May 1999—Ex SHARP POINT 99.

7. 31 March-1 May 1999—Ex PINE APPLE 99.

8. 5 August-24 September 1999—Ex CAPE AVALANCHE.

9. 21 October-31 December 1999—Ex GRAND PRIX 3/99.

10. 21 October-3 December 1999—Ex CRAB Apple 1999.

e. 2000

1. 11 January 20 February 2000—Ex GRAND PRIX 1/00.

2. 30 January-1 April 2000—Ex OAK APPLE 00.

3. 21 February-1 April 2000—Ex GRAND PRIX 2/00.

4. 21 February-1 April 2000—Ex DEVILS HORIZON.

5. 2 April-3 May 2000—Ex MONO PRIX 00.

6. 2 April-3 May 2000—Ex SHARP POINT 00.

7. 2 April-3 May 2000—Ex PINE APPLE 00.

Defence Diversification Council

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) when he expects the Defence Diversification Council to present its first Annual report; [115038](2) if he will name the Chairman and members of the Defence Diversification Council. [115039]

The Defence Diversification Agency began to operate last year and is already providing a substantial service, particularly to small and medium enterprises. The Defence Diversification Council has not yet been established.

Deterrent Capability

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the impact of, and reasons underlying, the change from minutes to days, as a measure of the United Kingdom's deterrent capability. [115539]

There has been no impact on our ability to deter threats to our interests. As we made clear in the Strategic Defence Review (SDR), improvements in the strategic environment now enable us to safeguard our national security at a lower level of nuclear deterrent readiness.One element of the change in posture announced in the SDR was the decision to maintain our nuclear forces at a "notice to fire" measured in days, rather than minutes. This reduced state of alert allows greater use of ballistic missile submarines for secondary tasks. The flexibility of the Trident system ensures, however, that we can restore a higher state of alert should it ever become necessary to do so.

Pensions

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what would be the cost of making payments, in line with the payments which would be made to the spouse of someone who had served all of their time in the armed forces after 6 April 1978, to spouses of deceased ex-service personnel (a) who married after their spouse retired from the armed forces, (b) whose spouses served in the armed forces before 6 April 1978 and (c) to both groups. [115355]

The MOD could not identify from its records the number of servicemen who retired before 1978 and subsequently married or remarried. As such marriages did not create pension entitlements, records of them were not kept. It would theoretically be possible to identify from pensions records the surviving widows of servicemen who retired after 1978 and subsequently married or remarried, and to calculate the pension entitlement which would be generated if service before 1 April 1978 qualified for a widow's pension; however, this would require a manual search of 76,000 widow's pensions files and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to review the position of spouses of deceased ex-servicemen who are not entitled to the forces family pension as part of his review of forces' pensions. [115354]

The question of spouses' pensions is being addressed as part of the Review of the Armed Forces Pension Scheme (AFPS) in which all aspects of the AFPS are being examined. The Review is scheduled to report during the summer and it would be premature to speculate about its outcome.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many spouses of deceased ex-service personnel are not eligible for a forces family pension; and for what reasons; [115352](2) what is the notional total value of pensions to which spouses of deceased ex-service personnel are not entitled. [115339]

No records are kept of the numbers of spouses of deceased service personnel who are not eligible for a Forces Family pension. When a serviceman dies, unless survivor benefits are payable, the pension record is closed and the personal file is archived. It follows that it is also impossible to calculate the notional total value of pensions which might be paid to the spouses of deceased ex-service personnel who at present do not receive them.Surviving spouses of service personnel are currently entitled to receive a widow/widowers' pension unless:

Their partner was engaged on non pensionable terms of service.

They have remarried or co-habit (except that widows over 60 and widowers over 65 continue to receive the Guaranteed Minimum Pension contracted out of SERPS).

They are a widow of a post retirement marriage whose partner retired from the armed forces before 6 April 1978.

They are widowers whose partner retired from the Service before 1 October 1987.

Their partner has opted out of the Armed Forces Pension Scheme in favour of a personal pension plan, and their death was not attributable to service.

Where a spouse's pension is received, it is calculated at one half the rate of the spouse's pension for service after 1 April 1973; and at one third the rate of the spouse's pension for service before that date.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many spouses of deceased ex-service personnel are entitled to only a part of the forces family pension; and for what reasons. [115353]

This information could be provided only at disproportionate cost as each of the Armed Forces Pension Scheme's 76,000 widow's files would have to be searched manually.A widow or widower might receive only a part of a Forces Family Pension for any of the following reasons:If she is the widow of a deceased officer or other rank who married after retirement but on or after 6 April 1978. Such an individual would be entitled only to half that part of the spouse's pension which relates to service from that date.

If he is the widower of a deceased officer or other rank who married on or after 1 October 1987. Such an individual would be entitled only to half that part of the spouse's pension which relates to service from that date.

Where a widow, on or after reaching age 60, or a widower, on or after reaching age 65 remarries or cohabits. In those circumstances only the Guaranteed Minimum Pension contracted out of SERPS remains in payment.

In some circumstances, the Forces Family Pension may be abated by the amount commuted under life commutation terms.

Where a widow or widower is separated from their partner at the time of the Serviceman's death, the award of the Forces Family Pension is at the discretion of the Defence Council.

Imphal Barracks

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if the Medical Group HQ can be accommodated at Imphal Barracks; at what cost; and if he will make a statement; [115536](2) when a new Medical Group HQ will be set up at Imphal Barracks, Yorkshire. [115535]

The HQ Medical Group will consist of three discrete elements; a deployable 1* Headquarters, HQ Army Medical Services (AMS) TA currently based at Imphal Barracks, York, and the Field Training Centre currently based at Strensall. All the elements of HQ Medical Group will ultimately be co-located in Strensall. This co-location will concentrate the command and control and training that is required to deliver hospital support on operations. To achieve this, a re-build at Strensall costing some £1.9 million is required, and it is estimated that this will take 18 months to complete (including the procurement process). The HQ Medical Group will therefore not be able to form up in Strensall until late 2001 at the earliest. In the meantime, the new HQ element will form up in Imphal Barracks at a cost currently estimated at some £0.2 million.

Absence Without Leave

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if a standard procedure is followed when a person goes absent without leave from the armed forces. [115572]

Each of the Services follows a set procedure when a person goes absent without leave, although there are slight differences of detail between the Services. After initial investigations by commanding officers to establish cases of absence, in all three Services it is standard procedure to inform the absentee's local police force, the Central Criminal Records and Information Office, and the Services' own internal provost, administrative and manning staffs of the absence. The three Services' procedures differ slightly regarding the time allowed to elapse before formal reporting proceedings commence. In the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force a period of seven days is allowed to elapse before formal reporting proceedings commence, whereas in the case of an Army absentee, formal reporting action is carried out immediately.

Live Firing Exercises

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many live firing exercises have been undertaken by the Royal Navy in each of the last five years stating in each case (a) the name of the exercise and (b) the number and cost of rounds expended by (i) the Goalkeeper gun system, (ii) the Phalanx gun system and (iii) the 114mm gun system; and if he will make a statement. [114547]

I am withholding this information in accordance with Exemption 1 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information, which relates to Defence, Security and International Relations.

Solicitor-General

John Howes

To ask the Solicitor-General if he will make a statement on the meeting between Mr. John Howes of the Treasury Solicitor's Department and members of the JDS Tribunal on 2 December 1999. [115412]

Mr. John Howes is a member of the Treasury Solicitor's staff. Between 1994 and 1998 he had conduct, on behalf of the Department of Trade and Industry (Companies Investigation Branch), of disqualification proceedings against the former Directors of Astra Holdings plc. These were pursuant to section 8 of the Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986. Those proceedings were finally discontinued on the instructions of the DTI in 1998. Mr. Howes was not involved in any consequential proceedings before the Accountants Joint Disciplinary Scheme ("JDS") Tribunal. Moreover he did not attend a meeting with the members of the JDS Tribunal on 2 December 1999 or at any other time.

International Development

Ungass Meeting

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development who will be attending the June UNGASS meeting on the implementation of the World Summit for Social Development. [115147]

The composition of the UK delegation is being actively considered. The Minister for Employment, Welfare to Work and Equal Opportunities plans to attend for part of the discussions.

Education And Employment

New Deal

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many New Deal participants have found sustained unsubsidised jobs of 13 weeks or more before having had a New Deal interview. [102104]

[holding answer 9 December 2000]: By the end of December 1999, 12,520 young people had left the Gateway for sustained unsubsidised jobs having been sent a letter telling them they are now on the New Deal.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many participants in the New Deal have been offered permanent employment to date. [101833]

Statistics are not collected using a category of "permanent" as this is not a term that adequately describes the realities of the modern labour market. However, we do know that by the end of December 1999, 185,250 young people under the New Deal for young people found jobs. Of these, 135,350 were sustained jobs lasting 13 weeks or more. In addition, 34,170 people under the New Deal for long-term unemployed people aged 25 and over found jobs (28,550 were sustained). A recent survey showed also that 57 per cent. of young people leaving the New Deal Gateway for unknown destinations had found a job.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what projects have been completed by the New Deal Environmental Task Force in the North-Essex Employment Service area since its inception. [115271]

[holding answer 20 March 2000]: In the North-Essex New Deal Unit of Delivery, the following 10 projects have been completed by the Environment Task Force:

Dyke clearance, pathway construction at Jaywick
Wide area clearance at Dovercourt
Planting, pathway construction, footbridge at Parkeston
Laying bark paths, constructing footbridge at Frinton
Refurbishment of lightship museum at Harwich
Alteration and decoration of Church Hall at Harwich
Construction of memorial gardens and play equipment at Brightlingsea
Decorating local Arts Trust Theatre at Dovercourt
Constructing of storage, recreational and play area for local school at Clacton
Construction of pathways and picnic benches at Parkeston.

There are four current projects under way as follows:

Path laying, tree cutting, hedge clearing at Chelmsford
Path laying, tree cutting, hedge clearing at Braintree/Colchester (two projects).

All these projects are contributing both to increased employability for young people and to the Government's wider environmental objectives.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many people have had their benefits stopped for failing effectively to pursue a New Deal option, at each benefit office in Copeland; and if he will make a statement. [115069]

[holding answer 20 March 2000]: Between 1 April 1999 and 31 December 1999 (the latest date for which data are available) 1,200 young people started on New Deal and at any time there were just over 1,440 young people participating in the New Deal in the Employment Service's Cumbria Unit of Delivery. During this nine-month period, 219 sanctions were imposed for failing to attend a New Deal option in Cumbria. This figure cannot be disaggregated to constituency level. The Cumbria Unit of Delivery includes the jobcentres in Carlisle, Cleator Moor, Cockermouth, Keswick, Maryport, Penrith, Whitehaven, Workington, Barrow in Furness, Kendal, Lancaster, Millom, Morecombe, Ulverston and Windermere.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many people have taken part in the New Deal Environmental Task Force in North-Essex Employment Service area (a) in the first year and (b) in the current year to date. [115269]

[holding answer 20 March 2000]: In the North-Essex New Deal Unit of Delivery, 57 young people started on the Environment Task Force in 1998; the figure for 1999 was 78. These figures have contributed towards the national total of 25,400 young people who have benefited from the work experience opportunities that the Environmental Task Force provides.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) what was the financial surplus or deficit for the New Deal Environmental Task Force in North-Essex Employment Service area (a) in the first year and (b) in the current year to date; [115270](2) what the cost was of the New Deal Environmental Task Force in the North-Essex employment service area

(a) in the previous year and (b) in the current year to date. [115424]

[holding answer 20 March 2000]: North-Essex is a private sector-led Unit of Delivery in which the New Deal for young people is led by SEETEC. Funding is on the basis of a unit cost for each participant and a monthly fee. This information, in line with all payments to contractors, is commercially confidential and cannot be released.

Departmental Documents

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) how many (a) consultation documents, (b) regulations, (c) revised or corrected regulations, (d) guidance notes, (e) requests for statistical information in addition to form 618G and (f) letters from Ministers, have been sent to local education authorities by his Department since May 1997; [111671](2) how many

(a) consultation documents, (b) regulations, (c) revised or corrected regulations, (d) guidance notes, (e) requests for statistical information in addition to form 7 and (f) letters from Ministers have been sent to schools by his Department since May 1997. [111672]

[holding answer 28 February 2000]: Since May 1997 this Department has sent local education authorities the following:

Topic	1997	1998	1999	2000
Consultation Papers
Employment	7	12	10	0
Early Years	1	6	3	0
Further and Higher Education	17	16	20	5
Literacy and Numeracy	1	1	3	0
Primary Schools	2	3	3	0
Secondary Schools	6	6	5	0
School Curriculum	5	1	5	1
School Discipline	4	6	3	0
School Finance	9	14	17	5
School Governance	2	5	4	0
School Health and Safety	1	3	2	0

Topic	1997	1998	1999	2000
School-Miscellaneous	4	10	8
School Organisation	1	3	5	0
School Premises	0	1	7	0
School Standards	6	3	4	0
Special Education	5	1	5	1
Teaching Profession	9	11	7	9
Regulations	35	132	191	29
Guidance
Employment	0	2	5	0
Early Years	1	4	11	1
Further and Higher Education	13	12	22	10
Literacy and Numeracy	0	4	19	3
Primary Schools	2	8	11	5
Secondary Schools	9	9	17	1
School Curriculum	0	2	3	1
School Discipline	0	2	4	1
School Finance	5	15	33	8
School Governance	1	4	11	3
School Health and Safety	0	2	6	2
School-Miscellaneous	3	3	9	3
School Organisation	0	7	12	1
School Premises	5	4	8	6
School Standards	3	9	26	4
Special Education	6	3	7	1
Teaching Profession	7	17	11	10
Data Collection
Employment	1	0	0	1
Early Years	0	2	1	3
Further and Higher Education	4	4	28	6
Literacy and Numeracy	0	0	0	0
Primary Schools	1	1	2	1
Secondary Schools	2	4	1	0
School Curriculum	0	0	0	7
School Discipline	0	0	1	5
School Finance	1	0	3	3
School-General	4	8	15	11
School Premises	0	0	0	1
School Standards	0	0	0	3
Special Education	2	2	3	1
Teaching Profession	1	4	5	2
Letters from Ministers	1	2	4	2

Teacher Training

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many persons were recruited into initial teacher training in 1999–2000 for secondary school teaching in (a) mathematics, (b) science, (c) languages and (d) technology; and what were the targets for that year for recruitment in those subjects. [112984]

Figures for recruitment into initial teacher training in 1999–2000 for secondary school teaching in mathematics, science, modern foreign languages and technology in England and corresponding targets are given in the table.

	Recruitment	Target
Mathematics	1,307	1,680
Science	2,362	2,390
Modern Foreign Languages	1,469	2,200
Technology	1,702	2,860

Notes:

1. Figures represent head-counts; that is the total of full-time and part-time recruitment.

2. Technology includes Design and Technology, Engineering, Computer Studies, Business Studies, Commerce, Home Economics and Needlecraft.

3. Targets for 1999–2000 exclude 300 for Mathematics and 300 for Science under the MS600 Scheme.

4. Recruitment data are provisional mid-year data.

Coverage:

Universities and other HE institutions, SCITT and OU.

Sources:

Intake: TTA Survey of ITT Providers

Targets: DfEE

As a result of the introduction of "Golden Hellos", recruitment to secondary teacher training in mathematics was 17 per cent. higher than the previous year. For science the figure was 4 per cent. and recruitment was very close to target. In both these subjects, the previous trend was a decline in recruitment. "Golden Hellos" will also apply to secondary teacher training in modern foreign languages from September 2000. In the longer term, the reforms announced in the Teachers Green Paper will improve

	1996–97			1997–98
	Final year trainess	Not gaining QTS	Percentage not gaining QTS	Final year trainess	Not gaining QTS	Percentage not gaining QTS
Mathematics	1,672	343	21	1,371	283	21
English and Drama	2,042	267	13	2,089	271	13
Science	2,791	495	18	2,488	451	18
Modern Foreign Languages	1,792	270	15	1,730	258	15
Technology	1,959	326	17	1,805	308	17
History	973	113	12	987	118	12
Geography	842	67	8	833	70	8
Physical Education	1,467	99	7	1,440	95	7
Art	908	85	9	889	88	10
Music	532	80	15	489	74	15
Religious Education	603	86	14	605	90	15
Other	333	42	13	281	27	10
Total	15,914	2,273	13	15,007	2,133	13

Notes:

1. Figures are for undergraduate and postgraduate Initial Teacher Training combined.

2. Technical includes Design and Technology, Engineering, Computer Studies, Business Studies, Commerce, Home Economics and Needlecraft.

3. Other includes Classics, Economics, Other social sciences and Other subjects.

4. The numbers of final year trainees not gaining QTS relate to providers final examination boards at the end of the academic year. Trainees awarded QTS at a later date—for example because they had to undertake a further period of teaching in school because of illness—were not recorded.

Source:

Teacher Training Agency—Performance Profiles.

Figures available are for initial teacher trainees for secondary school teaching in each subject who trained 10 years ago and did not enter the teaching profession. These are given in the table:

Percentage of secondary trained teachers ¹ qualified in 1988 who had not entered teaching ² by 31 March 1998 by subject specialism ³—England
Subject	Percentage not entering teaching
Mathematics	12
English⁴	8
Science	11
Modern Foreign Languages	7
Technology⁵	10
History	8
Geography	8
Art	13
Music	6
Religious Education	12
Physical Education	12
Other	14
All secondary	10

the pay, training leadership and support for teachers and encourage more of the best graduates to join the profession.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many persons recruited in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available into initial teacher training courses for secondary school teaching in each subject (a) left their course, (b) failed their examinations and (c) failed to enter the teaching profession. [112983]

Figures for persons recruited into initial teacher training courses for secondary school teaching in each subject who left their course are not collected centrally. The table gives the available figures for final year trainees not gaining Qualified Teacher Status in England.

¹ Those whose training specialised in teaching pupils of secondary age.

² Those who are not recorded as entering any sector of teaching. Some teachers will be counted as not entering service because their service is not recorded. These may include teachers in the 'old' university sector, in the independent schools sector who are not members of the teachers pension scheme (TPS), in part-time service outside the maintained nursery, primary, secondary and special sector who are not members of the TPS.

³ First subject specialism.

⁴ English includes Drama.

⁵ Technology includes Design and Technology, Engineering, Computer Studies, Business Studies, Commerce, Home Economics and Needlecraft.

Source:

DfEE Database of Teacher Records.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the numbers recruited into initial teacher training courses for teaching in secondary schools for (a) mathematics, (b) science, (c) languages and (d) technology in each of the last 10 years. [112981]

Figures for recruitment into initial teacher training for teaching in secondary schools for mathematics, science, modern foreign languages and technology in England over the last 10 years are given in the table.

Recruitment to initial teacher training in England over the last 10 years
	Mathematics	Science	Modern Foreign Languages	Technology ¹
1990–91	1,055	1,549	1,042	1,291
1991–92	1,541	2,111	1,277	1,937
1992–93	1,699	2,148	1,384	2,216
1993–94	1,790	2,397	1,550	2,160
1994–95	1,950	2,918	1,789	2,131
1995–96	1,795	2,794	1,790	1,854
1996–97	1,653	2,937	1,720	1,963
1997–98	1,464	2,789	1,799	1,982
1998–99	1,120	2,279	1,657	1,682
1999–2000	1,307	2,362	1,469	1,702
¹ Technology includes Design and Technology, Commerce, Home Economics and Needlecraft Engineering, Computer Studies, Business Studies, Commerce, Home Economics and Needlecraft.

Notes:

1. All figures before 1992–93 represent full-time equivalents. From 1992–93 onwards figures represent head-counts; that is the total of full-time and part-time recruitment.

2. Recruitment data are provisional mid year data.

Coverage:

Universities and other HE institutions, SCITT and OU.

Sources:

England: DFE Recruitment Survey, 1990–91 to 1993–94; HESES 1994–95; TTA Survey of ITT Providers 1995–96 onwards.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many applications for entry into initial teacher training courses starting in autumn 2000 for the secondary school subjects of (a) mathematics, (b) science, (c) languages and (d) technology have been made in the current academic year to date; and how many were made in 1999–2000. [112985]

Applications for initial teacher training courses can be made at postgraduate and undergraduate level. Applications in England and Wales to undergraduate courses at 4 February and postgraduate courses at 19 February for courses starting in 2000–01 together with equivalent figures and end of year figures for the previous year are given in the tables.

Undergraduate applications
	As at 4 February 2000–01	As at 5 February 1999–2000	End of year for 1999–2000
Mathematics	175	247	361
Science	225	271	342
Modern Foreign Languages	35	29	54
Technology	684	726	1,063

Source:

Universities and Colleges Admissions Service

PGCE applications
	As at 19 February 2000–01	As at 20 February 1999–2000	End of year for 1999–2000
Mathematics	407	529	1,690
Science	938	1,125	3,450
Modern Foreign Languages	806	904	2,307
Technology	318	441	1,619

Notes:

1. Figures for undergraduate and postgraduate cannot be combined as applicants can make up to six applications through UCAS, but only one application through GTTR.

2. Postgraduate end of year figures exclude applications made direct to the ITT provider.

3. Undergraduate end of year figures exclude applications made at the clearing stage.

4. Technology includes Design and Technology, Engineering, Computer Studies, Business Studies, Commerce, Home Economics and Needlecraft.

Source:

Graduate Teacher Training Registry

These figures show that at the equivalent time last year, only about a third of final applications had been recorded for postgraduate subjects in Mathematics, Science and Technology and under half for courses in Modem Foreign Languages. Over the last five years there has been a trend for secondary initial teacher training postgraduate applications to be made later in the year.

Fresh Start

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment he has made of recent developments in fresh start schools; and if he will make a statement. [115289]

The fresh start policy has been used to tackle schools with a long history of failure. These schools all present major challenges, and we are learning from the experiences of the first schools to identify and share the most successful strategies. The first three schools which opened in September 1998 have demonstrated improvements in examination success and reductions in truancy. We want all fresh schools to be equally successful and to change the life chances of their pupils. The alternative of continuing failure is unacceptable.

Education Services (Islington)

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the powers and functions of Islington Local Education Authority following the award of the contract for the provision of education services to Cambridge Education Associates. [115628]

[holding answer 21 March 2000]: I am placing a copy of the enabling direction from the Secretary of State for Education and Employment and a summary table in the Library. These detail the distribution of statutory functions across Islington LEA and the contractor, CEA, from 1 April 2000.

Schools (Lancaster And Wyre)

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the schools in Lancaster and Wyre which have had major capital improvements since 1 May 1997. [115636]

[holding answer 21 March 2000]: Schools in Lancaster and Wyre that have had major capital improvements since 1 May 1997 are:

Baines School
Central Lancaster County High
Hodgson High Technology College
Lancaster Ripley St. Thomas Church of England Secondary
Lancaster Royal Grammar
Lancaster Girls Grammar
Millfield High
Over Wyre St. Aiden's Church of England High
Brookfield School.

Special Needs

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to his answer of 27 January 2000, Official Report, column 310W, on special needs, what progress he has made with the setting up of an emotional and behavioural difficulties advisory group; and if he will publish the names and relevant expertise of its members. [115801]

The Advisory Group on Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties (EBD) met for the first time on 28 February. It will meet regularly over the next few months and work with officials dealing with EBD and Child Mental Health Issues. The members of the Advisory Group are as follows:

Bernard Allen, Headteacher, Southfield School, Wokingham
Marion Bennathan, Chair, Association of Workers for Children with Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties
Kathie Bull, HMI, EBD Specialist, Ofsted
Gerry Gamble, Chair of National Association of EBD Special Schools, head of Notton House School
Dr. Bob Jezzard, Department of Health adviser and child psychologist
Eleni Ionnides, Head of Children's Services, Swindon Council
Chris Marshall (Ofsted), Senior HMI responsible for SEN
David Moore, HMI responsible for pupil behaviour issues
Richard Rollinson, Principal Mulberry Bush School, Whitney
Allan Sigston, Assistant Principal Education Psychologist, Essex
Stephen Twigg, Behaviour Support Team, Langdon School, Newham
Trevor Williams, LEA Adviser (EBD), Lancashire LEA
Peter Wilson, Director Young Minds.

DfEE officials working in the Special Educational Needs Division (EBD Team) provide the chair and secretariat for the group.

Wales

Heart Disease

12.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the First Secretary and the Health Secretary on treatment for heart disease in Wales. [114273]

My right hon. Friend and I are in constant discussion with the First Secretary and the Assembly Health Secretary on various health issues affecting Wales. The Budget yesterday gave the Assembly the money needed to take the NHS in Wales to the top of the European league—an annual average real terms increase of 5.6 per cent. over the next four years.

Economic Policy

13.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has had with the First Secretary about the impact of Government economic policy in Wales. [114274]

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave earlier to my hon. Friend the Member for Preseli Pembrokeshire (Ms Lawrence).

Rural Affairs

14.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the First Secretary on the co-ordination of policies on rural affairs. [114275]

I meet the First Secretary on a regular weekly basis and we discuss a range of issues including the co-ordination of policies on rural affairs.

Mountain Rescue Teams

15.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he will meet the Secretary of State for Defence to discuss MOD involvement in the provision of mountain rescue teams in Snowdonia, the Brecon Beacons and other Welsh mountain ranges. [114276]

I meet my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence regularly when we discuss a range of issues.RAF St. Athan and Stafford provide a rescue service for Wales. Each team consists of about 30 volunteers and five full-time members and trains regularly with its civilian counterparts for the best possible co-operation and effectiveness.

Local Government

16.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received about the provisions contained in the Local Government Bill [Lords]. [114277]

Both my right hon. Friend and I have received a number of representations about the Local Government Bill, including correspondence from interested and personal representations from representatives of the Welsh Local Government Association and of local authorities in Wales.

Dairy Industry

17.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the First Secretary on proposals for the Welsh dairy industry. [114278]

I meet the First Secretary on a regular weekly basis and we discuss a wide range of issues including the Welsh dairy industry. I met a delegation from the National Union of Farmers on 15 March.

Child Abuse Inquiry

18.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he expects to introduce legislation to implement the recommendations of the north Wales child abuse inquiry. [114279]

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Clwyd, South (Mr. Jones).

National Assembly Executive

19.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will amend the Wales Act 1998 with respect to the appointment of members of the National Assembly Executive. [114280]

No.

Farming

20.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he last met representatives of the farming industry in Wales to discuss farming in Wales; and if he will make a statement. [114281]

I last met representatives from the farming industry in Wales on 15 March when I received a delegation from the National Union of Farmers.

Drug Abuse

21.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the impact of the Government's anti-drug abuse strategy on young people in Wales. [114282]

I have met the First Secretary and the UK Anti-Drugs Co-ordinator to discuss the implications of the Government's anti-drug abuse strategy for Wales. The Assembly will be issuing a refocused strategy for Wales which will continue to place an emphasis on prevention with children and young people under 25, but will recognise the need for work with individuals of all ages.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he last met the UK Drugs Co-ordinator to discuss the prevalence of soft drugs in Wales. [114269]

I met the UK Drugs Co-ordinator and the First Secretary of the National Assembly for Wales on Wednesday 20 October 1999 when we discussed issues relating to substance misuse in Wales.

European Structural Funds

22.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the First Secretary of the National Assembly for Wales concerning the Welsh Affairs Committee report on European Structural Funds, Session 1999–2000 (HC 46). [114283]

I meet the First Secretary regularly and we discuss a range of issues. In addition, our officials have been working together to respond to those recommendations which require a joint response and the UK Government will be submitting its response shortly.

Rural Post Offices (Montgomeryshire)

23.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will visit rural post offices in Montgomeryshire. [114284]

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I are both very aware of the important role played by rural post offices in maintaining the social fabric of their areas and have discussed this issue with colleagues in Central Government and in the National Assembly for Wales. I would be happy to meet with representatives of Montgomeryshire either in London or in Montgomeryshire.

National Assembly Buildings

24.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what requests he has received for the provision of extra funds from the UK central Government in relation to the existence of future National Assembly buildings; and if he will make a statement. [114285]

I have received no such requests. Future National Assembly buildings will be funded from the provision within the Welsh Block.

University Students

25.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he last discussed with the First Secretary the number of students at Welsh universities who have failed to complete their course of study. [114286]

I regularly meet the First Secretary and discuss a variety of issues, including further education.

Local Councillors (Remuneration)

26.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will introduce measures to increase the powers of the Welsh Assembly to set a ceiling for remuneration for local councillors in Wales. [114287]

The National Assembly for Wales already has a power under section 18 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 to make regulations relating to councillors' allowances.

Culture, Media And Sport

Athletics

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what was the expenditure by his Department on the sport of athletics in (a) 1997–98 and (b) 1998–99; and what are the planned levels of expenditure in (i) 1999–2000, (ii) 2000–01, and (iii) 2001–02. [113819]

[holding answer 13 March 2000]: Public funding of sport is channelled through the Sports Councils. Lottery Sports Funding, under the World Class Performance Programme, and exchequer expenditure on athletics by Sport England and UK Sport is as follows:

	£000
1997–98	3,930
1998–99	7,060
1999–2000	6,597

Note:

Sport England's figures for Lottery funding are for 11 months. End year figure may therefore be higher.

In addition, since the start of the National lottery Sport England has approved awards totalling £38,113,748 in respect of community athletics facilities.

Neither Sport England nor UK Sport is able at this stage to say what will be its total planned expenditure on athletics for 2000–01 and 2001–02.

Millennium Commission Loan

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if the proposed further £28 million loan has been allocated by the Millennium Commission to the New Millennium Experience Company. [114686]

This is a matter for the Millennium Commission. I shall write to the hon. Member in my capacity as Chairman of the Commission and place copies of my reply in the Libraries of the House.

				Percentage
Service	Period	Target Percentage	Hours per week¹	Proportion²	End-year³
BBC Choice	Year to October 1999	5	67	31.5	37.6
	November 1999 to end February 2000	10	121	22.6	—
BBC News 24	Year to October 1999	5	5.6	3.3	9.7
	November 1999 to end February 2000	10	18	10.7	—
BBC Knowledge	June 1999 to end February 2000	5	4	8.9	—
¹ Number of hours per week of subtitling on each channel—average for the period
² Percentage of total output subtitled—average for the period
³ Percentage of total output subtitled by end year—average for last four weeks of full year

Lottery Receipts

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the value of Lottery receipts that have not been allocated to good causes; and what plans he has to disperse them. [115486]

All National Lottery income available for good causes has been allocated to distributing bodies.

Wembley Stadium

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will list the representatives of Wembley National Stadium Ltd. who were present at the meeting with his Department's Ministers on 29 June 1999 described in his Department's memorandum to the Culture, Media and Sport Committee (HC 164, Session 1999–2000, p. 90); and if he will make a statement. [115229]

No representatives of Wembley National Stadium Ltd. (WNSL) were present at the meeting on 29 June 1999 as described. This was a genuine drafting error in the memorandum and in no way intended to

Subtitling

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) if his Department will publish figures for the percentage of programmes subtitled on each of the digital terrestrial television channels since their launch in November 1998; [115258](2) if all channels are meeting their requirements for subtitling on digital terrestrial television; and what exceptions have been made to the requirements; [115257](3) in what ways his Department is monitoring the levels of subtitling on digital terrestrial television. [115256]

The Independent Television Commission (ITC) are responsible for monitoring the levels of subtitling on commercial digital terrestrial programme services. The Commission has made no exceptions to the requirements to provide subtitling. The BBC has a subtitling unit which monitors the output of subtitling on BBC digital services.I understand from the ITC that they are currently evaluating data received from commercial digital terrestrial programme service licensees for the period 15 January to 31 December 1999.The BBC have provided the following figures on the percentage of programmes subtitled of BBC digital terrestrial channels:mislead the Committee. WNSL and the English Sports Council submitted papers to my Department on 17 June 1999 and 23 June 1999 respectively, reviewing the options to increase capacity at Wembley to 80,000 for athletics events. My officials met representatives of WNSL and Sport England to discuss these in detail on June 28 1999 and the then Minister for Sport, my hon. Friend the Member for West Ham, (Mr. Banks) then met representatives from the ESC on 29 June 1999 to discuss the capacity issues. It was agreed at that meeting that increasing the capacity in football mode from the start of the project was not viable, but that the design should preserve the option to be upgraded later in line with Olympic requirements. This view was subsequently communicated to WNSL by officials from my Department.

Dome

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what proposals he is evaluating for keeping the Millennium Dome Exhibition open after 31 December. [115261]

[holding answer 17 March 2000]: There are no proposals at present to continue the Millennium Experience beyond 31 December 2000.

Northern Ireland

Firearms

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many legally-held (a) handguns of over .22 calibre and (b) rifles of over .22 calibre have been stolen from private individuals, excluding police and prison officers, in Northern Ireland, and how many such weapons were stolen from members of (i) the armed forces, (ii) the police and police reserves and (iii) prison officers, in each of the last 10 years. [106064]

The following table shows the number of illegally held handguns stolen from private individuals, the Armed Forces, the Police and Prison Officers in each of the last 10 years.

Year	Private individuals	Armed forces	Police officers	Prison officers
1990	0	6	15	4
1991	8	5	12	2
1992	3	5	3	1
1993	7	1	5	0
1994	12	6	14	0
1995	7	2	6	0
1996	7	4	6	1
1997	11	1	2	0
1998	16	2	6	0
1999	7	1	1	1
Totals	78	33	70	9

During this period one rifle was stolen from a police officer.The Chief Constable has advised that the information in relation to the calibres of these firearms is not easily accessible and obtaining it would incur disproportionate cost.

Prisoner Releases

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the perceived paramilitary affiliation of those prisoners awaiting release under the Northern Ireland (Sentences) Act 1998 whose applications have been successful. [112963]

To date, a total of 109 prisoners whose applications for early release have been successful are awaiting early release under the Northern Ireland (Sentences) Act 1998. Information is held in relation to the perceived paramilitary affiliation of prisoners, where applicable, for management purposes. It should be noted, however, that with the exception of HMP Maze where links are more clearly defined, this information is based on a combination of factors including the offence, sympathies and associates. The table provides the breakdown by perceived affiliation and is taken from statistics which are current at 21 March 2000.

Perceived affiliation of prisoners whose applications for early release have been successful and who are awaiting early release under the NI (Sentences) Act 1998
	Total¹
UDA	13
No trace	1
UFF	5
PIRA	51
UVF	14
Loyalist	1
RHC	1
LVF	9
INLA	14
Grand total	109
¹ As at 21 March 2000

Mrs Rosemary Nelson

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what factors account for the delay between the Committee on the Administration of Justice informing him of the threats made to Mrs. Rosemary Nelson and the police seeking originals of those threats; and if he will make a statement. [113473]

[holding answer 10 March 2000]: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave him on 10 February 2000, Official Report, column 239W.

Correspondence

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he will respond to the correspondence received from Mrs. Laura Hamill; and if he will place a copy of that correspondence in the Library. [114646]

The Northern Ireland Office has no record of any correspondence sent to me by Mrs. Laura Hamill. I received one letter written on behalf of Mrs. Hamill from Mr. Mark Thompson, Co-ordinator of the Relatives for Justice, on 22 February 2000. I will place a copy of my reply to Mr. Thompson in the Library.

Justices Of The Peace

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the members of the Lord Chancellor's Advisory Committee responsible for making appointments of justices of the peace in the County Armagh area. [115407]

I have been asked to reply.The Lord Chancellor's directions for Advisory Committee on Justices of the Peace in Northern Ireland states that while membership may be confidential it is open to each Advisory Committee to determine whether or not it wishes to disclose its membership to current justices or to bona fide enquirers. The Chairman and the Advisory Committees for the Divisions of Craigavon, Armagh and South Down, which cover the Armagh area, have elected that the membership of these Committees remain confidential.

Portadown (Civil Disturbance)

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what support was offered by British Army and Royal Irish Regiment units to the Royal Ulster Constabulary to assist in respect of the civil disturbance in Portadown town centre on 27 April 1997. [115279]

[holding answer 21 March 2000]: There was no military involvement.

Sexual Assaults

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in the most recent year for which records are available, how many cases of sexual assault were reported to the Royal Ulster Constabulary; in how many of these cases the identity of the alleged perpetrator was known to the police; how many cases were referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions; how many prosecutions were brought; and how many convictions were secured. [115278]

[holding answer 21 March 2000]: A total of 1,605 sexual offences¹ were recorded by the Royal Ulster Constabulary for the year 1998–99. Of these, 1,221 offences were cleared, representing an overall clearance rate of 76.1 per cent.During the same period, 104 persons

² were proceeded against in the Crown courts. Eighty-one were found guilty and 23 not guilty. Comparable figures for the magistrates courts are not yet available.

¹ Relates to all Class 2 offences as recorded under revised Home Office counting rules introduced from 1 April 1998.

² Relates to primary offences only, all of which were referred to the DPP. It is not possible to determine the number of persons proceeded against in the Crown courts with a sexual offence being a secondary offence.

Pre-School Education (Kircubbin)

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what applications there are for the provision of pre-school education at Kircubbin, County Down; what funding is available for pre-school education; and if such funding would be available if pre-school provision in Kircubbin were under the control of the (a) South-Eastern Education and Libraries Board and (b) Council for Catholic Maintained Schools [115397]

An application for the provision of a free-standing community nursery school in Kircubbin has been offered capital funding of £225,000 under the EU Special Support Programme for Peace and Reconciliation by the Department of Education.Following discussions with representatives of the South-Eastern Education and Library Board and the Council for Catholic Maintained Schools, the community group promoting the nursery school in Kircubbin decided that it should be managed as a Catholic maintained nursery school but with a cross-community Board of Governors. The funding would equally have been available had the community group chosen to follow the management model for a controlled school.As the deadline for expenditure of these EU funds is 31 December 2000, the funding could not be transferred to an alternative project in the Kircubbin area at this stage.

Agriculture, Fisheries And Food

Gm Crops

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received on the risks attached to the exchange between plant and animal viruses in relation to GM crops; and if he will make a statement. [115034]

We are not aware of any representations on this issue.In 1994 this Department commissioned a report to assess the risks to the agricultural environment associated with the development of virus-tolerant GM plants. This report identified the creation of new viruses as an area which should be investigated and we have funded a number of research projects in this area, at a total cost of £755,000. These projects have not found any evidence of the creation of novel viruses. Details of all completed projects are available from the MAFF library.

Otms

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has been the (a) total number of carcases and (b) total amount of revenue claimed from the European Union in compensation for cattle disposed of under the over-thirty-months scheme for each month since the scheme began. [114825]

Full entitlement of EU reimbursement in respect of eligible over-thirty-months scheme (OTMS) animals is payable when the carcase is incinerated. In respect of animals which are rendered, reimbursement of full entitlement is payable once the equivalent amount of meat and bone-meal and tallow have been incinerated, although an 80 per cent. advance of the entitlement can be claimed once the animals have been rendered.Reimbursement by month, and the number of carcases to which reimbursement relates, is shown in the table.

Month of claim	Number of animals rendered/incinerated	Amount of claim (£)
July 1996	5,581	1,873,670.99
August 1996	5,165	1,695,156.40
September 1996	5,916	1,933,664.20
October 1996	7,616	2,489,349.19
November 1996	435,391	115,431,499.80
December 1996	5,483	1,569,572.70
January 1997	235,588	59,427,571.28
February 1997	142,782	33,202,079.85
March 1997	19,007	4,341,057.71
April 1997	27,011	6,047,245.68
May 1997	64,464	14,419,814.34
June 1997	54,584	11,579,134.78
July 1997	55,234	12,036,824.45
August 1997	70,891	14,858,390.25
September 1997	68,682	13,014,092.30
October 1997	379,311	83,558,624.57
November 1997	71,852	12,025,811.74
December 1997	57,932	9,658,691.62
January 1998	8,067	1,642,765.95
February 1998	142,260	23,462,250.74
March 1998	77,131	12,952,651.28
April 1998	77,349	13,008,253.72
May 1998	51,417	8,691,811.79
June 1998	63,749	10,693,139.72
July 1998	51,396	8,449,852.40

Month of claim	Number of animals rendered/incinerated	Amount of claim (£)
August 1998	48,385	8,104,191.12
September 1998	61,972	10,221,809.76
October 1998	221,688	46,272,929.96
November 1998	62,756	10,272,806.75
December 1998	85,417	14,083,784.24
January 1999	147,372	24,697,959.10
February 1999	75,958	12,913,319.20
March 1999	80,933	13,807,393.47
April 1999	74,618	12,546,061.20
May 1999	74,967	12,408,382.97
June 1999	68,065	11,074,018.67
July 1999	71,167	11,384,673.89
August 1999	56,197	8,997,993.17
September 1999	58,577	9,446,835.73
October 1999	49,368	7,945,399.51
November 1999	122,340	31,192,833.45
December 1999	75,685	12,252,040.94
January 2000	133,923	22,070,192.22
February 2000	98,747	15,727,238.56
Total	3,851,994	773,482,841.36

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the location of each site currently burning meat and bone-meal produced under the over-thirty-months scheme, and the names of the companies operating each site. [115111]

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Uxbridge (Mr. Randall) on 24 January 2000, Official Report, column 10W.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if the precautionary principle has been adopted in the decision to (a) allow storage of meat and bonemeal from over-thirty-months scheme cattle prior to incineration, (b) allow the storage of meat and bonemeal from over-thirty-months scheme cattle over a long period of time, (c) allow the incineration of meat and bonemeal from over-thirty-months scheme cattle that has been stored over a long period of time, (d) choose contracts offering rendering of over-thirty-months scheme cattle prior to incineration rather than those offering direct incineration and (e) allow tallow from over-thirty-months scheme cattle to be used as fuel. [115113]

The Environment Agency commissioned a number of assessments on the risk to human health from BSE via environmental pathways, which included the storage and processing of over-thirty-months scheme (OTMS) material. (Cattle showing clinical signs suggestive of BSE cannot enter the OTMS). The risk assessments were produced in consultation with SEAC, and were based on the precautionary principle. These showed the risks to the most exposed individual to be negligible, endorsing SEAC's advice in 1996. Copies of the risk assessments, which were published in June 1997, were placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are the total costs for transporting meat and bone meal produced under the Over-30-Months scheme from storage locations to incinerators. [115112]

Transport costs range from £9.50 and £13.50 per tonne of Meat and Bone Meal (MBM) depending on the location of the storage site and the distance to the incinerator.

Fishing Zone Rights

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what plans he has to alter the boundaries between the English fishing zones and those for (a) Scotland and (b) Wales; [114893](2) what reserved rights fishermen from England have to operate in United Kingdom fishing zones controlled and managed by the

(a) Scottish Parliament and (b) National Assembly for Wales; [114891]

(3) if he will list the responsibilities of (a) his Department and (b) the devolved Executives in respect of the delineation of fisheries zones in United Kingdom waters; and if he will make a statement. [114892]

The licensing arrangements put in place following devolution leave unchanged the rights of all UK fishermen to fish throughout British Fishery Limits.The Scottish Zone of British Fishery Limits was established by the Scottish Adjacent Waters Boundaries Order 1999 [SI 1999/1126] made under the provisions of Section 126(2) of the Scotland Act 1998. There is no Welsh zone, but as a result of the Government of Wales Act 1998 and the National Assembly for Wales (Transfer of Functions) Order 1999 [SI 1999/672] the National Assembly has devolved responsibility for fisheries matters in Wales out to the limit of adjoining territorial waters.There are no plans to change these arrangements.

Liquid Condensate

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer of 10 March 2000, Official Report, column 868W, if he will make a statement on the practice of spreading of liquid condensate on land in Staffordshire; when he intends to announce new proposals; and what public consultation is proposed in relation to the Committee's recommendations. [115087]

We are actively considering controls on the spreading of condensate from the rendering of ruminant animals to land. Once proposals are ready, we will consult on them.

Dna Degradation

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what advice he has been given on the conditions necessary for the degradation of DNA, particularly in food matrices; and if he will make a statement. [115499]

[holding answer 20 March 2000]: DNA is a normal part of the everyday diet. It is degraded to varying degrees during processing and cooking etc. according to the conditions applied. It is also degraded by the digestive processes of the gut once consumed.

Fishing Quotas

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer of 7 March 2000, Official Report, column 581W, on fishing quotas, what was the nature of the United Kingdom response to the Commission opinion. [115574]

In allocating quota to producer organisations and other groups in 1992 and subsequent years adequate provision was made for the return to the UK fleet of vessels which had been previously de-registered as a result of the Merchant Shipping Act 1988.

Animal Welfare (Transport)

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many times section 18(2a) of the Welfare of Animals (Transport) Order 1997 has been invoked in the last six months; and if he will make a statement. [115274]

[holding answer 21 March 2000]: To date, we have been notified of 404 notices issued under Article 18(2) of the Welfare of Animals (Transport) Order 1997 by inspectors of the Ministry or local authorities during the six months to 29 February 2000. Figures are not kept to show under which part of Article 18(2) these notices are issued.

Cap Afrique

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if his Department's officials discussed the weather and sea conditions with the Master of the Cap Afrique on the night of 2 March; and if he will make statement. [115241]

[holding answer 21 March 2000]: The weather and sea conditions on the night of 2 March were not discussed with the Master of the Cap Afrique. This is a matter for concern, given that the weather conditions were such that they ought to have triggered discussions between Ministry staff and the Master. The standing instructions to staff are being revised so as to tighten procedures on future occasions.

Tuna Licences

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to announce the arrangements and criteria for the allocation of tuna licences for the current year. [115629]

[holding answer 21 March 2000]: An announcement on the arrangements and criteria for the allocation of tuna licences for the year 2000 will be made shortly.

Health

Health Authorities And Trusts

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many elected members of local authorities have been appointed (a) chairman and (b) non-executive director of (i) health authorities and (ii) trusts since 1 May 1997, indicating the party affiliation in each case. [114366]

[holding answer 13 March 2000]: The information requested is given in the table.

Councillors appointed to the boards of National Health Service trusts and health authorities by political party since 1 May 1997
Political party	National Health Service trusts	Health authorities
Conservative
Chairs	6	1
Non-Executives	3	4
Liberal
Chairs	5	0
Non-Executives	27	8
Labour
Chairs	35	6
Non-Executives	234	43
Other
Chairs	0	0
Non-Executives	8	2
Total since 1 May 1997	318	64

This represents approximately 12.3 per cent. of those appointed to the boards of National Health Service trusts and health authorities since 1 May 1997.

Nhs Appointments

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list (a) the political affiliation of non-executives appointed to NHS bodies, in each of the last three years for which figures are available, broken down by body, health authority, region and in total, (b) the names of those whose political affiliation has changed during this period and (c) the political affiliation of those who have left non-executive posts in the same period; and if he will make a statement. [114211]

[holding answer 13 March 2000]: The Department does not collect information on the political affiliation of those appointed to National Health Service bodies. In accordance with guidance from the Commissioner for Public Appointments, information is collected on political activity undertaken by chairs and non-executives at the time they apply for a National Health Service appointment. Details of those board members who have undertaken political activity for different parties is published in the Department of Health Public Appointments Annual Report. Copies of the 1996, 1998 and 1999 reports are in the Library. The 2000 report will be published in May. Information on board members who have declared political activity and who have left non-executive or chair posts at National Health Service trusts or health authorities in the last three years is given in the table.

	Number
Conservative	133
Independent	10
Labour	98
Liberal Democrat	25
Other	10

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the total number of appointments to health authorities, trusts and other NHS bodies he has made in Greater London since 1 May 1997 indicating the total number who have declared a Labour Party background, their names, and Labour Party activities. [114772]

[holding answer 16 March 2000]: Information on candidates appointed to National Health Service boards and any political activity declared is recorded in the Department of Health Public Appointments Annual Report for 1999, copies of which are available in the Library. The 2000 report will be published in May.

ETU recipients (allowed cases) by pilot area, sex and average weekly award, October 1996 to September 1997
	Number of participants			Average weekly ETU (£)
Pilot area	Male	Female	All	Male	Female	All
All areas	11,195	12,253	23,448	26.43	23.67	24.99
Scheme A
Newcastle upon Tyne	1,914	1,909	3,823	25.10	21.90	23.51
Barnsley, Castleford, Pontefract, Wakefield and Dewsbury	1,253	1,393	2,646	26.66	21.99	24.20
Southend	432	568	1,000	24.48	22.00	23.07
Wales	1,299	1,402	2,701	26.16	23.41	24.73
Scheme B
Sunderland	3,136	3,235	6,371	26.79	24.35	25.55
Doncaster	1,605	1,989	3,594	27.17	24.90	25.92
Bournemouth	868	796	1,664	27.79	25.88	26.88
Scotland	688	961	1,649	26.32	24.31	25.15

ETU recipients (allowed cases) by pilot area, sex and average weekly award, October 1997 to September 1998
	Number of participants			Average weekly ETU (£)
Pilot area	Male	Female	All	Male	Female	All
All areas	15,966	16,310	32,276	27.47	24.51	25.97
Scheme A
Newcastle upon Tyne	2,586	2,547	5,133	26.35	22.81	24.59
Barnsley, Castleford, Pontefract, Wakefield and Dewsbury	1,684	1,717	3,401	29.35	23.61	26.45
Southend	471	679	1,150	26.94	23.02	24.63
Wales	2,218	2,027	4,245	27.91	24.50	26.28
Scheme B
Sunderland	4,506	4,244	8,750	26.92	24.90	25.94
Doncaster	2,343	2,737	5,080	28.08	25.39	26.63
Bournemouth	1,060	1,080	2,140	28.66	26.46	27.55
Scotland	1,098	1,279	2,377	26.41	25.08	25.69

ETU recipients (allowed cases) by pilot area, sex and average weekly award, October 1998 to September 1999
	Number of participants			Average weekly ETU (£)
Pilot area	Male	Female	All	Male	Female	All
All areas	15,579	16,400	31,979	27.44	23.98	25.66
Scheme A
Newcastle upon Tyne	2,563	2,624	5,187	26.60	22.97	24.76
Barnsley, Castleford, Pontefract, Wakefield and Dewsbury	1,634	1,659	3,293	29.91	23.20	26.53
Southend	471	669	1,140	28.61	23.28	25.48
Wales	2,149	2,035	4,184	29.66	24.93	27.36
Scheme B
Sunderland	4,201	4,248	8,449	26.16	23.79	24.97
Doncaster	2,459	2,682	5,141	27.18	24.21	25.63
Bournemouth	1,052	1,128	2,180	29.12	26.41	27.72
Scotland	1,050	1,355	2,405	24.57	23.87	24.17

Social Security

Earnings Top-Up Pilot

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list for each year of the earnings top-up pilot, the relevant local authority area in England and Wales and the total number of individuals, indicating their (a) gender and (b) average ETU award, who participated in the pilot. [115109]

The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is in the tables.

ETU cases disallowed, October 1996 to September 1999
Year	Number disallowed
1996–97	5,801
1997–98	6,635
1998–99	7,485

Notes:

1. Based on 100 per cent. caseload figures.

2. Figures are unrounded.

3. Figures represent the sum of all participants in each given period. Claims are only counted once in each year, although there will be a degree of double counting between years where a participant has been receiving ETU over more than one yearly period.

4. Detailed figures for disallowed cases of ETU are not available, as gender and pilot area are not recorded.

Source:

Earnings Top-Up Statistical Enquiry, February 2000.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on the arrangements for the evaluation of the effects of the Earnings Top-Up pilot. [115107]

A report providing a description of the programme of research to evaluate the effects of the Earnings Top-Up pilot was published in May 1996 and placed in the Library. Interim findings from the evaluation were published in the Department of Social Security Research Series in March 2000 and final results will be available in early 2001.

Winter Fuel Payments

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will extend Winter Fuel Payments to people with disabilities who are not in receipt of Income Support. [115047]

Following the European Court of Justice ruling Winter Fuel Payments were extended to both men and women aged 60 and over and the need to be in receipt of a qualifying benefit was removed. As before, payments are restricted to people who are ordinarily resident in Great Britain. As long as they satisfy the qualifying conditions, disabled people will be eligible for a Winter Fuel Payment, like anyone else in the same position.As well as Winter Fuel Payments, we also provide Cold Weather Payments towards additional heating costs for vulnerable groups on Income Support or income-based Jobseeker's Allowance. Disabled people, regardless of age, who are in receipt of Income Support or income-based Jobseeker's Allowance which includes a disability premium, are among those eligible for Cold Weather Payments. There are no plans to change these eligibility rules.

Family Credit (Norwich)

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people in Norwich were in receipt of (a) Family Credit and (b) the child care allowance in each of the last five years. [115096]

The information is in the tables.

Numbers of Family Credit recipients in Norwich local authority area August 1995–99
Thousand
Year	Number
August 1995	1.6
August 1996	1.8
August 1997	2.0
August 1998	2.1
August 1999	2.0

Notes:

1. Case load figures are taken at a point in time for which the month is August.

2. Sample size is 5 per cent. As the numbers are based on a relatively small number of sample cases the estimates are subject to a high degree of sampling error, ie for an estimate of 2,000 the true value will lie somewhere in the range 1,628 to 2,382.

3. Family Credit was replaced by Working Families Tax Credit in October 1999.

4. Local authorities are assigned by matching the postcode against the 1999 version 1 of the postcode directory.

5. Numbers are rounded to the nearest hundred and expressed in thousands.

Source:

Family Credit 5 per cent. sample of awards.

Family Credit recipients benefiting from the child care disregard, Eastern Government Office Region August 1995–99
Thousand
Year	Number
August 1995	1.3
August 1996	1.8
August 1997	2.0
August 1998	2.4
August 1999	3.1

Notes:

1. Case load figures are taken at a point in time for which the month is August.

2. Numbers are based on a 5 per cent. sample and are therefore subject to a degree of sampling error.

3. Family Credit was replaced by Working Families Tax Credit in October 1999.

4. Numbers are rounded to the nearest hundred and expressed in thousands.

Serps

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of the number of contributors to SERPS and their dependants who have suffered financial or other hardship as a result of the misleading information issued between 1986 and 1996 on changes in the provision of inherited SERPS. [115369]

No one should have suffered financial loss as a result of the information issued as the change was not due to come into effect until April 2000 and is now intended to be postponed for two and a half years until 6 October 2002. The inherited SERPS scheme will provide redress for those people who were wrongly informed and who, had they known the true position, would have made different arrangements.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what was the nature of the evidence referred to in the NAO report on SERPS (HC320) about the noting by his Department of the absence of information about changes to inherited SERPS in a draft leaflet on the changes to retirement pensions; and if the investigations referred to in his oral statement of 15 March 2000, Official Report, column 307, established whether Ministers' attention was drawn to this fact; [115368](2) if the investigations referred to in his oral statement of 15 March 2000,

Official Report, column 307, established whether Ministers had (a) sight of or (b) responsibility for the 1987 revision of the DSS leaflet, "Your Retirement Pension" (NP32), concerning the 50 per cent. reduction in inherited SERPS. [115371]

The failure to include the correct information about SERPS inheritance provisions in leaflets was an extended failure over a period of time. The National Audit Office and the Ombudsman have reviewed the available evidence and concluded that there is no documentary evidence that enables them to conclude one way or the other about the cause of the omission. All Ministers must inevitably bear a measure of responsibility for the leaflets issued by the Departments in which they hold office.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what will be the average weekly change, as a result of the changes to SERPS in the Social Security Act 1986, in inherited pension received by a surviving spouse whose partner dies after 5 April 2000 rather than before. [115373]

The changes referred to are to be postponed by two and a half years until 6 October 2002. There will therefore be no average weekly change in inherited pension for people whose spouse dies after 5 April 2000 rather than before.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if the investigations referred to in his oral statement of 15 March 2000, Official Report, column 307, established whether Ministers had (a) sight of and (b) responsibility for the leaflet contained in the DSS briefing pack publicising the 1986 reforms that mentioned the 50 per cent. reduction in inherited SERPS. [115372]

The National Audit Office reviewed the available evidence and has published its report. This particular leaflet had a signed foreword from the then Secretary of State. All Ministers must inevitably bear a measure of responsibility for the leaflets issued by the Departments in which they hold office.My hon. Friend is aware that Ministers in the current Administration do not have available to them papers from the previous Administration, although both the NAO and the PCA had access to all the papers on which to base their reports.

Benefit Payments

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what the difference in the cost of benefit payments is between an automatic credit transfer transaction and payment by giro; and if he will break down the cost difference between payments to the agencies concerned. [115483]

Payment by girocheque is over 130 times more expensive than payment by automated credit transfer (ACT).

The overall average total unit costs to the Benefits Agency are in the order of £1.36 for each girocheque and 1p for each ACT transaction. These figures include the production processing and distribution costs as well as the transaction charges paid to paying agents.

A breakdown of the costs to the individual components cannot be disclosed as some of this information is commercial in confidence.

Pensions Indexation

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessment he has made of the responses received during the recent consultation exercise on pensions indexation and investment-linked annuities. [116204]

We asked for views from the pensions industry, employers and the public on whether it would be right to relax the current indexation rules for money purchase pension schemes, to allow schemes to offer investment-linked annuities to any members who might wish to choose this option as an alternative to a traditional indexed annuity. Investment-linked annuities enable the annuitant to benefit from growth in a range of underlying investments after retirement, though this goes hand in hand with a risk of possible falls in pension income if investment performance is poor.The principle of introducing this greater flexibility for occupational scheme members was widely welcomed. The balance of opinion was against the introduction of mandatory guarantees to protect the level of pension paid by investment-linked annuities, because this would hamper product design and could have a significant effect on the potential growth in the annuitant's future income. A mixed response was received to the question of whether investment-linked annuities should also be allowed to be bought from "protected rights" elements of funds (that is, any part of the fund which has accrued in place of rights in SERPS).We have tabled an amendment to the Child Support, Pensions and Social Security Bill which will have the effect of allowing funds in occupational schemes subject to the "Limited Price Indexation" requirement to be used to purchase an investment-linked annuity. Protected rights will not be covered by the amendment, however. We intend to give further detailed consideration to the issues that arise for protected rights before deciding whether to make any changes to the indexation rules which apply to them. We shall also give careful consideration to the comments which many respondents made on the wider question of the application of indexation requirements to occupational money purchase pension schemes.I am arranging for copies of the responses received in the consultation exercise to be placed in the Library.

Housing Benefit

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what assessment he has made of the performance of contractors operating housing benefit administration; and if he will make a statement; [115650]

(2) what assessment he has made of the quality of service for housing benefit claimants resident in Hackney and Islington since IT Net was contracted to provide the service; and if he will make a statement. [115651]

Local authorities have a statutory duty to administer the Housing Benefit scheme. We are aware that a small minority of authorities has chosen to contract out support functions for their benefit services and that some have experienced difficulties as a result. It is a matter for the local authorities concerned to draw up and manage robust contracts with their suppliers and to take appropriate steps where contractors are failing to meet their obligations.From this April, Best Value performance indicators will be the main yardstick against which local authorities' performance will be judged. The indicators we have set for Housing Benefit delivery are designed to ensure that authorities provide their communities with a faster, more accurate service which is more secure against fraud, and which provides value for money and takes account of the views and needs of clients. Local authorities will be required to set challenging targets for improved performance against these indicators year on year.We are committed to working with local government to modernise and improve public services so as to ensure they are efficient and of high quality and are responsive to the needs of local people. However, we will not hesitate to act where necessary to protect the interests of local people. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has recently announced that where the Benefit Fraud Inspectorate identifies persistent failings in the Housing

Housing benefit administration
	1997–98		1998–99
Local Authority	LA estimated costs¹	DSS specific grant²	LA estimated costs	DSS specific grant
Barking and Dagenham	496	307	654	329
Barnet	1,869	507	2,086	520
Bexley	506	300	457	313
Brent	3,670	862	3,820	872
Bromley	1,778	473	1,680	490
Camden	3,291	846	3,169	851
City of London	232	30	263	33
Croydon	1,998	646	2,050	627
Ealing	3,745	676	4,177	692
Enfield	2,571	451	2,382	499
Greenwich	4,739	609	3,881	660
Hackney	5,600	1,036	4,529	1,114
Hammersmith and Fulham	2,935	604	2,832	623
Haringey	5,428	954	5,634	913
Harrow	985	291	1,191	298
Havering	915	268	1,021	250
Hillingdon	1,538	336	1,143	343
Hounslow	1,104	417	1,235	416
Islington	3,814	747	3,050	783
Kensington and Chelsea	3,690	523	3,090	525
Kingston upon Thames	485	160	484	154
Lambeth	5,052	1,009	3,679	1,050
Lewisham	6,167	919	7,227	942
Merton	664	300	684	296
Newham	7,363	997	7,691	1,023
Redbridge	1,932	386	2,538	414
Richmond upon Thames	976	225	853	223
Southwark	3,915	936	5,447	962
Sutton	1,209	225	1,190	233

Benefit service that is being provided he will use his statutory powers to direct the authority concerned on the standards it is to meet and the timescales for achieving them.

The Benefit Fraud Inspectorate is due to conduct inspections of the benefit services provided by the London boroughs of Hackney and Islington during the summer.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what advice he has given to housing benefit administrators concerning the processing of applications (a) that are more than six months late and (b) that have been lost by the processing agent. [115649]

Local authorities have an independent statutory duty to administer the Housing Benefit scheme in accordance with the legal framework set by Parliament. The Department issues general guidance to all authorities on the law governing the scheme through the Housing Benefit Guidance Manual and supplementary circulars. Where Housing Benefit claims are delayed or lost it is for the local authority concerned to decide what action to take in the light of the circumstances of each individual case.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will state (a) the total cost of housing benefit administration, (b) the subsidy provided by his Department and (c) the net cost to each London borough for (i) 1997–98 and (ii) 1998–99; and what is his estimate for the current year to date. [115648]

Information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is in the table.

Housing benefit administration
	1997–98		1998–99
Local Authority	LA estimated costs¹	DSS specific grant ²	LA estimated costs	DSS specific grant
Tower Hamlets	2,275	680	2,658	725
Waltham Forest	1,639	624	1,897	663
Wandsworth	2,096	782	2,101	756
Westminster	4,886	723	4,986	712
¹ The total expenditure on administration costs used in the calculations are those reported by the authorities to the Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions (DETR) on the RO4 form. Costs reported by Local Authorities can vary widely. The reasons for the differences include the different mix of caseload, their relative complexities to administer, and also the different components included in the total costs expenditure, for example, the treatment of overheads.
² DSS specific grant only, calculated using a grant allocation formula agreed with the Local Authority Associations. These figures do not include additional funding made available to authorities for anti-fraud work. DETR also pay subsidy for Housing Benefit administration as part of the Revenue Support Grant arrangements.

Notes:

1. Information is not yet available for Local Authorities' reported costs for 1999–2000.

2. It is not possible to show the net cost for each London borough as the DETR also make provision for Housing Benefit administration costs within the Revenue Support Grant arrangements.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security on (1) what date he expects local authority verification of the validity of housing benefit applications to commence; [115646](2) what estimate he has made of the cost of verification of the validity of housing benefit applications to local authorities; and what additional resources they will receive to accommodate this. [115647]

Local authorities have a statutory duty to administer the Housing Benefit scheme and we are committed to working with local authorities so as to ensure that local services are efficient and of high quality and are responsive to the needs of local people.We have provided local authorities with the Verification Framework (VF) which is a good practice guide about the secure and accurate administration of Housing Benefit. It sets out the information which must be verified before benefit is paid, specifies what is acceptable as evidence and what checks must be made during the life of a claim. An additional £100 million was made available over three years to help all local authorities implement the VF.Additionally, from this April, Best Value performance indicators will set challenging targets for local authorities. The indicators we have set for Housing Benefit delivery include new measures of the average time taken to process new claims and notifications of changes of circumstance, and the percentage of renewal claims processed on time.

Disability Benefits Unit

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many complaints about the conduct of medical examinations have been received by the Disability Benefits Unit in the past 12 months. [115654]

The Disability Benefits Unit has received a total of 190 complaints concerning medical examinations.

Child Support Agency

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will investigate the time taken by the Child Support Agency to deal with the case of Mrs. Janet Potter, a constituent, whose details have been supplied to him; and if he will make a statement. [115652]

The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive, Mrs. Faith Boardman. She will write to my hon. Friend.

Letter from Faith Boardman to Helen Jones, dated 23 March 2000:

I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about your constituent, Mrs Janet Potter, and the way the Child Support Agency has handled her case.

As individual cases are a confidential matter I have written to you privately.

Pensioners

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to amend the rules with regard to downrating of the state retirement pension for pensioners who go into hospital for six weeks or more. [115808]

Rules about the payment of benefits to people in NHS hospitals have been part of the Social Security system for over 50 years. We have no plans at present to revise the rules regarding the payment of Retirement Pension to people who remain in NHS hospitals for longer than six weeks. We continue to keep these rules under review.

Foreign And Commonwealth Affairs

Kosovo

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many members of the Kosovo Protection Corps have been arrested for committing human rights abuses; and when they will be prosecuted. [115525]

We are aware of recent reports about alleged misdeed involving some of the 18,000 applicants to join the Kosovo Protection Corps (KPC), who had previously been members of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA). The UN Mission (UNMIK) has overall responsibility for the KPC, including recruitment and dismissal procedures. UNMIK takes measures, including dismissal, against misdeeds committed by KPC members.

"Your Britain, Your Europe"

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will add to the websites listed in "Your Britain, Your Europe" literature details of those groups opposed to the organisation's whose sites are listed. [115566]

The "Your Britain, Your Europe" roadshow leaflet included details only of the official websites of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the EU institutions. We did not include details of any non-governmental organisations or pressure groups.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the purpose of the "Your Britain, Your Europe" questionnaire; how many have been printed; how many have been distributed to date (a) in total and (b) to persons not of voting age; and if he will make a statement. [115573]

The "Your Britain, Your Europe" leaflet included a questionnaire designed to gauge public interest in Europe. During the "Your Britain, Your Europe" roadshow we distributed almost 7,000 copies of the leaflet to members of the public, companies and educational institutions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what mechanisms exist for the promotion of public awareness in the United Kingdom of the institutions of the European Union; and if he will make a statement. [115828]

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office will publish a "UK in Europe" millennium brochure later this year, tracing Britain's involvement in Europe since the 1950s. Late last year, I visited 10 English cities in five days as part of a "Your Britain, Your Europe" roadshow to promote public awareness about the benefits of our membership of the EU. A variety of websites, including those of the FCO, the European Commission and the European Parliament offer information about the EU institutions. The UK Network of European Relays also offers information through various regional centres across the country. From 1 September 2000, the national curriculum will include an element on Europe and the European Union for secondary school pupils.

Human Rights

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list those former (a) Ministers, (b) senior armed forces personnel and (c) heads of state, who have visited the United Kingdom since 1 May 1997, about whose human rights records he received representations prior to their visits. [115545]

The FCO does not hold information on the entry of all people into the UK. Therefore, the FCO might not be aware of, for example, a private visit by a former Minister to the UK. To then find out whether the FCO received any representation on human rights grounds over any such visit would also demand a considerable amount of research at disproportionate cost.

Investments

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which countries have entered into agreement with Her Majesty's Government for the protection and promotion of investments; and when each agreement came into force. [115711]

Her Majesty's Government have entered into 93 Investment Promotion and Protection Agreements. Of these, 84 are in force and nine are awaiting entry into force. There are 22 OECD member states with which an Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement is not required. Protection of investments is generally considered to be satisfactory under the domestic legislation of OECD member states.The countries which have signed an Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement with the UK and which are in force are (date of entry into force in parenthesis):

Albania (30 August 1995)
Antigua and Barbuda (12 June 1987)
Argentina (19 February 1993)
Armenia (11 July 1996)
Azerbaijan (11 December 1996)
Bahrain (30 October 1991)
Bangladesh (19 June 1980)
Barbados (7 April 1993)
Belarus (28 December 1994)
Belize (30 April 1982)
Benin (28 November 1987)
Bolivia (16 February 1990)
Bulgaria (24 June 1997)
Burundi (13 September 1990)
Cameroon (7 June 1985)
Chile (21 April 1997)
China (15 May 1986)
Congo (9 November 1990)
Cote d'Ivoire (9 October 1997)
Croatia (16 April 1998)
Cuba (11 May 1995)
Czech and Slovak Republics (24 October 1991, amended 26 October 1992)
Dominica (23 January 1987)
Ecuador (24 August 1995)
Egypt (24 February 1976)
Estonia (16 December 1994)
Georgia (15 February 1995)
Ghana (25 October 1991)
Grenada (25 February 1998)
Guyana (11 April 1990)
Haiti (27 March 1995)
Honduras (8 March 1995)
Hong Kong (12 April 1999)
Hungary (28 August 1987)
India (6 January 1995)
Indonesia (24 March 1977)
Jamaica (14 May 1987)
Jordan (24 April 1980)
Kazakhstan (23 November 1995)
Kenya (13 September 1999)
Korea (4 March 1976)
Kyrgyzstan (18 May 1998)

Laos (1 May 1995)
Latvia (15 February 1995)
Lesotho (18 February 1981)
Lithuania (21 September 1993)
Malaysia (21 October 1988)
Malta (4 October 1986)
Mauritius (13 October 1986)
Moldova (30 June 1998)
Mongolia (4 October 1991)
Nepal (2 March 1993)
Nigeria (11 December 1990)
Oman (21 May 1996)
Pakistan (30 November 1994)
Panama (7 November 1985)
Papua New Guinea (22 December 1981)
Paraguay (23 April 1992, amended 13 June 1997)
Peru (21 April 1994)
Philippines (21 February 1981)
Poland (14 April 1988)
Romania (10 January 1996)
Senegal (9 February 1984)
Singapore (22 June 1975)
Slovenia (12 May 1999)
South Africa (27 May 1998)
Soviet Union (3 July 1991, now applies to Russian Federation)
Sri Lanka (18 December 1980)
St. Lucia (18 January 1983)
Swaziland (5 May 1995)
Tanzania (2 August 1996)
Thailand (11 August 1979)
Tonga (22 October 1997)
Trinidad and Tobago (8 October 1993)
Tunisia (4 January 1990)
Turkey (22 October 1996)
Turkmenistan (9 February 1995)
Uganda (24 April 1998)
Ukraine (10 February 1993)
UAE (15 December 1993)
Uruguay (1 August 1997)
Uzbekistan (24 November 1993)
Venezuela (1 August 1996)
Yemen (11 November 1983).

The nine countries which have signed Investment Promotion and Protection Agreements with the UK, which have yet to enter into force are:

Brazil
Colombia
Costa Rica
E1 Salvador
Lebanon
Morocco
Nicaragua
Sierra Leone
Zimbabwe.

The 22 OECD member states with whom an Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement is not required are:

Australia
Austria
Belgium
Canada
Denmark
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Iceland
Ireland
Italy
Japan
Luxembourg
Netherlands
New Zealand
Norway
Portugal
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
USA.

Sudan

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Canadian Foreign Minister regarding exports to Sudan; and if he will make a statement. [115720]

My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has not had the opportunity to meet recently with his Canadian counterpart.We have studied the Canadian report on Sudan and are discussing the issues it raises with the Government of Sudan.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Chinese and Sudanese Governments concerning reports that Chinese personnel have been involved in the displacement of Dinka and Nuer peoples from Heglig and Bentin areas; and if he will make a statement. [115723]

We are deeply concerned about the reports of human rights violations in Western Upper Nile. The recently published Harker report (available on the internet at http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca\foreignp\3110168-e.pdf) addressed many issues including displacement. We have already taken this up with the Government of Sudan bilaterally and through the EU.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the (a) Government of Sudan, (b) European Commission and (c) United Nations, regarding the recent bombings in Sudan. [115714]

We are aware of several reports of aerial bombing in the Sudan. We have raised specific cases and the more general issue with the Government of Sudan bilaterally and through the EU. At last year's UN Commission on Human Rights (UNCHR), an EU co-sponsored resolution on Sudan was agreed by consensus which calls on the Government of Sudan to

stop immediately the indiscriminate bombardment of civilian and humanitarian centres which runs counter to the fundamental principles on human rights and humanitarian law.

We expect the EU to co-sponsor a resolution at this year's UNCHR.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he plans to take to develop special economic measures to tighten export controls to Sudan; and if he will make a statement. [115712]

There is an EU arms embargo which we rigorously implement and expect to remain for as long as the civil war continues. There is no policy to halt commercial interests in the Sudan and we give full and frank advice to interested companies.

Banana Dispute

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what assessment he has made of when the banana dispute between the European Union and United States of America will be concluded; [115564](2) what meetings have taken place between Her Majesty's Government and the European Commission as part of efforts to resolve the banana dispute; [115562](3) what meetings are planned by his Department to resolve the banana dispute between the European Union and the United States of America; [115561](4) what recent meetings have been held between Her Majesty's Government and the EU Commission in connection with the banana dispute with the United States. [116000]

Throughout the banana dispute numerous meetings have taken place with the European Commission, other EU member states, the US, Caribbean governments and Latin American banana producing countries. We will remain in close touch with all the parties and continue to press for a rapid solution to this dispute which also addresses the needs of vulnerable Caribbean banana producers.Most parties have indicated they could accept the basic framework for a solution set out in the Commission, with differences outstanding on the details. On 20 March the EU Agriculture Council noted latest developments and encouraged the Commission to continue its discussions on these details with third countries in an effort to find agreement as quickly as possible. The exact date by which a solution to the dispute can be found will depend on when those details can be resolved.

Federal Republic Of Yugoslavia

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Gedling (Mr. Conker) of 14 March 2000, Official Report, column 142W, if the new case by case approach to consideration of export licences for dual use goods would allow the import into Montenegro of dual use goods which might benefit the internal security forces of the Montenegrin authorities. [115592]

We will not approve any applications to export dual use goods to the FRY where those goods could benefit the armed forces, security forces or similar entities of the government in Belgrade. All other applications, including those where the goods in question could benefit the Montenegrin internal security authorities, will be considered consistent with the national export licensing criteria announced in July 1997 and those in the EU Code of Conduct on Arms Exports.

Austria

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will seek to establish on whose behalf the Portuguese presidency of the EU was speaking on 13 March when it rejected Austria's request for the normalisation of relations within the Council of Ministers. [115496]

[holding answer 20 March 2000]: In confirming the position of the other EU member states on 13 March in relation to their measures against Austria, the Portuguese Prime Minister was speaking in an informal capacity as a coordinator for the 14 member states.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consultation took place between the Portuguese presidency of the EU and other EU Governments prior to their statement on 13 March rejecting Austria's request for the normalisation of relations within the Council of Ministers; and if Her Majesty's Government agreed the wording in advance. [115497]

[holding answer 20 March 2000]: In addressing the press on 13 March, the Portuguese Prime Minister was speaking in an informal capacity as co-ordinator for the 14 member states and reflecting the view of HMG that the measures of the 14 EU member states against Austria should continue to be implemented.

Flag Cars

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs for what reason a Grand Marquis has been bought for use as a flag car in Caracas; who has use of this car; what was the cost of this car; and if he will make a statement. [115737]

The Embassy in Caracas first explored the purchaser of a Rover 75, which is used as a flag car at several other overseas posts. However, this model was only able to take lead-free petrol which was not available at the time in Venezuela. A decision was then taken to purchase a Grand Marquis at a cost of £18,422.The flag car is reserved for official use by the Head of Mission. He is expected to use his private car for non-official (i.e. private use) purposes. The flag car may be used by the Charge when Head of Mission is not at post.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many flag cars have been purchased for the official use of ambassadors and high commissioners since 1 May 1997; how many of each model have been purchased; and at what total cost. [115736]

The following table shows how many flags cars have been purchased for the official use of Ambassadors and High Commissioners since 1 May 1997, how many of each model and the total cost.In addition the FCO purchased one Rolls-Royce on special concessionary terms.

Model	Number	Cost (£)
Cadillac	1	19,835.28
Daimler	1	34,500.00
Land Rover Discovery	23	541,244.94
Ford Mondeo	1	14,350.72
Ford Grand Marquis	1	18,422.36
Jaguar S Type	4	88,269.65
Jaguar Sovereign	10	502,409.51
Jaguar XJ6	2	47,302.00
Jaguar XJ8	15	481,071.99
Opel Omega	1	21,232.36
Range Rover	30	966,938.68
Rover 620	1	13,862.17
Rover 75	6	88,591.97
Rover 820	2	26,211.22
Rover 825/Sterling	13	1,126,372.67
Toyota L/c Vx	1	20,557.41
Volvo S80 F	1	19,253.40
Volvo V70	1	21,200.00
Total number/cost of flag cars purchased since 1 May 1997	114	4,051,626.33

Friends Of Europe Conference

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the official representatives from the Government who attended the Friends of Europe Conference on 9 March in Brussels. [115585]

The Ambassador and an official from our bilateral Embassy in Brussels attended the Friends of Europe conference on 9 March.

Caribiner Pr Company

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list those (a) Government projects and (b) projects organised in the UK by agencies of the European Community, which have used the services of Caribiner PR Company. [115567]

Since its foundation in 1997, Caribiner has co-organised 34 events (including Summits, conferences, visits by Heads of State and press conferences) with Government Departments. With regard to events organised for the EU institutions, I refer the hon. Gentlemen to the offices of the European Commission and the European Parliament.

Prime Minister

Visits

Q16.

To ask the Prime Minister when he last visited the Lewes constituency. [114303]

Regrettably I have been unable to do so, but I hope to be able to visit the hon. Member's constituency at some point in the future.

Engagements

To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 22 March. [115384]

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

Trade And Industry

Synchrotron

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what assessment he has made of the impact on (a) the North West economy, (b) science in North West universities and (c) science and technology in the North West of the decision to place the diamond synchrotron investment at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory in Oxfordshire; [115042](2) what account he took in coming to his decision on placing diamond synchrotron investment of the impact on joint science and technology projects between Daresbury and North West universities. [115105]

The synchrotron is a national facility that hosts scientists from across the country. I had to consider a wide range of issues before announcing this important decision and this included the implications in the long-term for the Daresbury laboratory and the North West. That is why I announced a number of steps to ensure the science base in the North West remains strong. We shall continue to work with partners in the region to bring forward a package of measures.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many representations he has received in favour of placing the diamond synchrotron investment at Daresbury; and from whom. [115040]

Our records to date show that we have received approximately 500 letters from individuals in favour of placing the new synchrotron project at the Daresbury Laboratory in Cheshire.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has had from French scientists who are synchrotron users in support of Daresbury as the site for Diamond. [115134]

[holding answer 17 March 2000]: Records to date show 10 cases of ministerial correspondence from scientists with addresses in France in favour of placing the new synchrotron project at the Daresbury Laboratory in Cheshire. Most of these are not French scientists, but scientists of a different nationality who are currently living in France. It is not possible from our records to obtain the nationality of individuals.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has had from scientists with an international reputation in support of Daresbury as the site for Diamond. [115135]

[holding answer 17 March 2000]: Records to date show about 200 letters from individuals at academic institutions in favour of placing the new synchrotron project at the Daresbury Laboratory in Cheshire. Of these letters about 70 were sent from scientific institutions outside of the UK. Of the letters that were sent from UK institutions about 50 were sent by Professors.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions he and his Ministers have had with the French Government in relation to the siting of the Diamond synchrotron project; and if he will publish the papers associated with the meetings. [115132]

[holding answer 17 March 2000]: My noble Friend Lord Sainsbury has met with the French Science Minister, Mr. Claude Allegre, on a number of occasions on which issues relating to the synchrotron project have been discussed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions he and his Ministers have had with the Wellcome Trust in relation to the siting of the Diamond synchrotron project. [115131]

[holding answer 17 March 2000]: I met representatives from the Wellcome Trust on 27 October 1999 and 10 February 2000 to discuss the synchrotron. My noble Friend Lord Sainsbury also discussed the synchrotron at a meeting with the Wellcome Trust on 27 October 1998, 23 September 1999 and 1 March 2000.The Wellcome Trust and I exchanged written correspondence on this issue on:

24 September 1999
4 October 1999
7 October 1999
11 October 1999
15 October 1999
1 November 1999
2 November 1999
11 November 1999
22 November 1999
23 November 1999
17 January 2000.

My noble Friend Lord Sainsbury received correspondence from the Wellcome Trust on the 21 January 2000.

In recent months, my noble Friend Lord Sainsbury has had a number of telephone conversations with the Wellcome Trust, during which the synchrotron was discussed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions he has had with the Wellcome Trust concerning the location of the diamond synchrotron investment. [115041]

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given today to my hon. Friend the Member for Warrington, South (Ms Southworth).

Medicalert

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received about the effect of the second change to London telephone numbers on the charity MedicAlert; and if he will make a statement. [115119]

Numbering is a matter for the Office of Telecommunications (Oftel). The first change to London telephone numbers in the past five years was in April 1995, PhOneday, on which all geographic codes were changed to begin 01. The second change to London numbers, due on 22 April, will mean that local numbers in London begin with a 7 or an 8, preceded by the new code 020. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has received 12 representations about the effect of the second change to London telephone numbers on the charity MedicAlert, and the Department as a whole has received about 60. Oftel has put in place parallel running for old and new numbers, and "changed number announcements", as well as ensuring that the current change has been publicised sufficiently to minimise the costs to charities such as MedicAlert.

Signals Broadcasts

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the combined power output of all the signals broadcast from the telecommunication masts at (a) the north site and (b) the south site on Old Blandford Road at Harnham Hill, Salisbury; and what assessment he has made of the potential risk to human health. [114804]

[holding answer 16 March 2000]: The responsibility for monitoring the level of power densities produced by telecommunications masts rests not with the Government but with the operators of the masts in accordance with their duties under their Health and Safety Work etc. Act 1974. The Health and Safety Executive expects operators to prevent access by members of the public to areas, usually within a couple of metres of the antennas, where power densities may exceed guidelines for restricting human exposure to electromagnetic fields issued by the National Radiological Protection Board.The Government are aware of public concerns with regard to reports of possible adverse health effects associated with telecommunications masts. It has initiated an Independent Experts Group on Mobile Phones, chaired by Sir William Stewart, to look at the issue. The Group is due to report in the spring.

Power Lines

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what are the implications for British energy policies of power lines proposed to be built from Lakenby to Shipton by Bellingborough; what impact they will have (a) on the local industry and (b) on the future of power stations; and if he will make a statement. [115538]

Each case for an overhead line is considered on its merits. The need for this particular overhead line was spelt out in the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Stockton, South (Mr. Taylor) on 26 March 1998, Official Report, columns 220–21W, and in the referred to departmental letter. Systems need to be planned to meet robust standards in order to provide reliable supplies of electricity to homes and businesses.

European Spallation Source

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions have been held within Government about the siting of the European Spallation Source which will replace the ISIS neutron machine at Rutherford Appleton Laboratory. [115133]

[holding answer 17 March 2000]: The European Spallation Source (ESS) is not a replacement for ISIS; ISIS will continue to operate independent of the site selected for the ESS.The Council for the Central Laboratory of the Research Councils (CCLRC), which operates the ISIS facility at RAL, is the UK partner in a 10-nation consortium that is developing plans for the ESS.

Astra Case

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the contents of file bundles 120, 121, 140 and 141 in the Astra case. [115410]

The references refer to file bundles created by the Companies Act inspectors and contain the inspectors' own copies of Astra company documents and their own working papers. The inspectors' work on these files and other matters is contained in their report published in June 1993.

Electricity Transmission

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate he has made of (a) the extra electricity transmission losses and (b) their cost, which will result from new build homes in the South East. [115406]

No such estimates have been made.

Post Offices (Gloucestershire)

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate he has made of the impact on the number of post offices in Gloucestershire of the provisions of the Postal Services Bill. [115701]

The Postal Services Bill is primarily about the letters and parcels market and is not itself expected to have an effect on the number of post offices in Gloucestershire or elsewhere.The Government are committed to ensuring that post offices are equipped and re-designed to face the future, and that they are thereby able to continue to play their role as an essential part of the country's social fabric. The Bill, therefore, has a requirement (at Clause 31) for the new regulator, the Postal Services Commission, to provide (in consultation with the new Consumer Council) advice and information to the Secretary of State about the number and location of public post offices and their accessibility to users of postal and other services. There is also provision (at clause 32) for the Secretary of State to issue statutory guidance to the Commission on social and environmental matters. It is envisaged that these will include access criteria for public post offices.The PIU in the Cabinet Office is carrying out a study on the post office network to identify the contribution made by post offices to the vitality of local communities; to consider how the post office network can best contribute to the Government's objectives for the future; and in the process to formulate objectives for the post office network, including recommendations on access criteria. Conclusions are expected in the spring.

Gas And Electricity Consumers

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the Government's policy on gas and electricity consumers' advocacy, complaints and representation in each region. [115500]

[holding answer 21 March 2000]: The Utilities Bill would establish a statutory Gas and Electricity Consumer Council in place of the existing Gas Consumers Council and Electricity Consumers' Committees. The Council would have access to information in its own right; assist consumers, provide advice and information to regulatory authorities, Government and others whose activities may affect the interests of consumers; and be the chief access point for complaints about energy companies. It would have the function of keeping itself informed of consumer matters and the views of consumers throughout Great Britain.The Bill recognises the changed circumstances of energy supply since the existing arrangements were put in place. In February, a consultation document seeking views of interested parties on two possible models for the new Council was issued by the Gas and Electricity Consumers Council Task Force. The first provided for regional offices in each of Wales, Scotland and England; the second for five regional offices, one each in Scotland and Wales and three in England. Both models could support regional panels to provide advice and mediate in cases referred by regional offices. The consultation period ends on 29 March 2000 and recommendations will then be made for Government to consider.

Automated Teller Machines

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will provide a regional breakdown of the 3,000 new automated teller machines to be installed in post offices which were announced by the Prime Minister. [115855]

I understand from the Post Office that contractual and commercial arrangements with potential partners for the provision and installation of new automated teller machines have yet to be finalised. Consequently, no decisions have yet been taken on the locations of the new machines.

Treasury

State Aid To Industry

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent communications he has received from the European Commission concerning the breach, or potential breach, of the terms of any EU legislation concerning state aids or taxation benefits for (a) firms in Northern Ireland, (b) shipbuilding and (c) motor manufacture or assembly, stating the topic and purpose of each communication. [115251]

I have been asked to reply.Under their general powers to monitor state aid, in June 1999, the Commission requested information on a Selective Financial Assistance grant to a company in Northern Ireland. The UK supplied the required information, demonstrating that the grant had complied with the terms of state aid approval of Selective Financial Assistance.

The UK has not received any recent correspondence from the Commission concerning the breach of the state aid rules as they apply to shipbuilding.

In December 1999, the Commission opened a formal investigation procedure into part of the proposed aid package for the BMW/Rover plant at Longbridge, Birmingham. This procedure is a normal part of the state aid notification process where the Commission requires all information including from third parties in order to assess the case.

Volume 346: debated on Wednesday 22 March 2000

Written Answers To Questions

Environment, Transport And The Regions

Tenant Subsidies

Rail Safety

Empty Properties

Homelessness

Regional Development Agencies

Aircraft Safety

Landfill Tax

Heathrow Slots

Private Zoos

Water (Kent)

Post Offices

Zoos And Safari Parks

Aviation Expenditure

Interactive Website

Draft Structure Plan (Avon)

Flooding (Copeland)

Property Advisory Group

Green Ministers

Manchester Metrolink

Home Department

Asylum Seekers

Road Accident Victims

Anti-Social Behaviour Orders

Europol

Force Crest

Prison Accommodation

Secure Units

Roger Sylvester

Electoral Register

Political Parties, Elections And Referendums Bill

Criminal Justice And Court Services Bill

Home Detention Curfew Scheme

Probation Service

Orders (Name Changes)

Defence

Courts-Martial (Royal Navy)

Sea King

Minefield Detection System

Shoeburyness

Military Exercises (Kenya)

Defence Diversification Council

Deterrent Capability

Pensions

Imphal Barracks

Absence Without Leave

Live Firing Exercises

Solicitor-General

John Howes

International Development

Ungass Meeting

Education And Employment

New Deal

Departmental Documents

Teacher Training

Fresh Start

Education Services (Islington)

Schools (Lancaster And Wyre)

Special Needs

Wales

Heart Disease

Economic Policy

Rural Affairs

Mountain Rescue Teams

Local Government

Dairy Industry

Child Abuse Inquiry

National Assembly Executive

Farming

Drug Abuse

European Structural Funds

Rural Post Offices (Montgomeryshire)

National Assembly Buildings

University Students

Local Councillors (Remuneration)

Culture, Media And Sport

Athletics