To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what changes she intends to make to the Modernising Government Action Plan targets for delivery of Government services electronically. [117046]

In October 1997, the Prime Minister announced that within five years a member of the public would be able to carry out a quarter of dealings with Government electronically through their telephone, television, or computer. Further, in March 1999, in our Modernising Government White Paper we proposed that all Government services should be available online by 2008.We have been making good progress. Already, we offer online tax returns and online advice in areas such as health, overseas travel and consumer protection. Businesses can make online returns to Companies House, and soon they will be able to make VAT returns online. Next week the Small Business Service will launch a website offering small and medium businesses tailored advice based on their size, location, and sector.But we want to increase the pace of change in Government so that we can offer our businesses and citizens more efficient and effective services. I am pleased to announce that the Prime Minister has today decided to bring forward the date by which all Government services should be available online from 2008 to 2005. Also, in line with the outcome agreed at the Lisbon summit, Government Departments will be expected to prioritise their proposals for offering all services online by 2005 so as to ensure online access to main basic public services by 2003.We are also introducing an improved monitoring regime. Progress towards the target will no longer be based on the number of individual transactions with Departments. Instead we will monitor progress on the basis of the number of services that we deliver online. The monitoring regime for UK based services will as far as possible be aligned with public service agreements and service delivery agreements.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if she will estimate the total administrative cost imposed on businesses as a result of regulation since May 1997. [R] [115689]

The information required is not held in the form requested and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if an agreed definition of taskforces has been identified since the publication of the sixth report of the Neill Committee (Cm 4557-1). [116640]

I refer the right hon. Member to the answer given to the right hon. Member for Wells (Mr. Heathcoat-Amory), on 9 December 1999, Official Report, column 634W. We are considering carefully the recommendations made in the sixth Report of the Committee on Standards in Public Life and will respond in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when the Government will respond to the final report of the disability rights taskforce. [117387]

The final report of the Disability Rights Taskforce, "From Exclusion to Inclusion", was published on 13 December 1999. The Government has already announced that they intend to legislate to address the Taskforce's recommendations on education, introducing significant new civil rights for disabled children and students in school, further, higher and adult education. We issued a public consultation paper on the measures to be included in the legislation on 17 March 2000.Further to the response to the education recommendations, the Government have issued today an interim response to the Taskforce's report, which is available on the Government's Disability website at www.disability.gov.uk or from the DDA Help line on 0345 622 633. Copies have been placed in the House Libraries. The interim response covers a range of the Taskforce's recommendations in the areas of local government, health and social services, housing and the environment and participation in public life.The Taskforce made a number of recommendations that require changes to the Disability Discrimination Act and the Government are still considering these. A final response to the report will be made in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement about the outcome of the latest valuation of the teachers' pension scheme. [117306]

I have today laid formally before both Houses; the Report and Supplementary Report of the Government Actuary on the Teachers' Pension Scheme for the period 1991–96. As a result of the Supplementary Report, the rate of contribution payable by employers will be increased by 0.95 per cent. from 1 April 2002.In the Government Actuary's initial report on the valuation of the scheme he recommended that the employer contribution rate should be increased from April 2000 to remove the balance of liability over the next 40 years as required under the pension regulations. The Government Actuary was subsequently asked to advise on the consequences of an alternative approach, which would enable the increase in the employer contribution rate to come into effect in 2002, but with the deficit still being removed within 40 years from 2000. We have decided to adopt the alternative approach with the result that some £90 million will be available in each of the next two years for the direct benefit of schools. Teachers can be assured that this approach does not in any way affect the security of the Teachers' Pension Scheme or the level of benefits payable to its members.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what amounts are projected to be spent from public funds in (a) the United Kingdom, (b) England, (c) Wales, (d) Scotland and (e) Northern Ireland (i) in cash terms and (ii) as a proportion of GDP for financial years 1999–2000, 2000–01 and 2001–02 on education; and if he will make a statement. [116645]

Next year, the proportion of GDP spent on UK education and training will be around 5.0 per cent., not including education and training supported under the New Deal.UK education spending will increase from £41.1 billion in 1999–2000 to £45.8 billion in 2000–01, using the narrower definition of education in "Budget 2000", and, subject to spending review decisions to be announced in the summer, £48.0 billion in 2001–02.The Manifesto commitment was to increase the share of national income spent on education. We shall meet that commitment: spending will be higher as a proportion of GDP by 2001–02 than it was in 1996–97, and over 16 per cent. higher in real terms.Details of spending in England will be published shortly in the DfEE Departmental Report. Spending in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland is the responsibility of the National Assembly, Scottish Executive and Northern Ireland Office.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what impact there has been on (a) the timetable for and (b) the cost of providing internet access to schools as a result of delays caused by the Competition Commission's review of the proposed acquisition by NTL of Cable and Wireless Communications' cable interests. [116960]

The Government do not anticipate any delays in the programme for connecting all schools to the internet by 2002. The cost of providing Internet access for schools is subject to a number of factors, including the availability of relevant services and competition in the market. It is not yet clear what effect, if any, the proposed merger will have on the cost of such services.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what was the permanent exclusion rate (a) per 1,000 pupils, (b) per 1,000 white pupils and (c) per 1,000 black pupils in each local education authority in (i) 1996–97, (ii) 1997–98 and (iii) 1998–99. [116075]

The information requested is available in tables, copies of which have been placed in the Library. Information on permanent exclusions for the academic year 1998–99 is currently being collected and national estimates are expected to be published in a Statistical First Release in May.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list by unit of delivery (a) how many people joined the full-time education and employment option of the New Deal for 18 to 24-year-olds between January 1998 and the end of September 1999 and (b) how many people were on this option at the end of each month between January 1998 and the end of September 1999. [113677]

[holding answer 9 March 2000]: There are four separate New Deal options—full-time education and training, employment, voluntary sector and environment task force. There is no full-time education and employment option.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what factors he took into account in setting recruitment targets for 1999–2000 for recruitment into initial teacher training for secondary school teachers of (a) mathematics, (b) science, (c) languages and (d) technology. [112978]

Targets for recruitment to initial teacher training use teacher supply models which take into consideration: future demand for teachers; projected flows of teachers into and out of the maintained nursery, primary and secondary sectors, split by age and gender.Further details of assumptions used in the Teacher Supply Models can be found in 'Teacher Supply and Demand Modelling: A technical description', published in July 1998, copies of which are available in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish information about the United Kingdom's chemical protection programme. [117307]

The UK's chemical protection programme is designed to protect against the use of chemical weapons. Such a programme is permitted by the Chemical Weapons Convention, with which the United Kingdom is fully compliant. Under the terms of the Convention, we are required to provide information annually to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons. In accordance with the Government's commitment to openness, I am placing in the House of Commons Library a copy of the summary which has been provided to the Organisation outlining the UK's chemical protection programme for 1999.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what proposals he has for moving infantry units to the north of Scotland; [l16781](2) what plans he has to assess proposals for the closure of the Aldershot infantry base; [116784](3) when Major General Anthony Palmer's report on location changes for Army units will be

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the future of the Aldershot military garrison. [l16783]

An internal discussion document entitled, "The Strategic Development of the Army Training and Recruiting Agency" has been prepared by the Chief Executive of the Agency. The document does not address the location of trained units of the Field Army but rather outlines a possible future strategy for the Agency and covers training establishments only. The report constitutes internal discussion and advice and will not be published under Exemption 2 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.The work is at a very early stage and recommendations will not be made to Ministers until detailed staffing at an official level has taken place.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to acquire Primary Casualty Receiving ships. [116452]

[holding answer 27 March 2000]: Our current requirement for a Primary Casualty Receiving ship capability was identified in the Strategic Defence Review and is based on the provision of two ships at different states of readiness each capable of carrying a 200 bed hospital. We hope to place a contract for this in 2002 with the ships being available from 2005.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made in the upgrading of afloat medical support facilities. [116450]

[holding answer 27 March 2000]: The three vessels whose medical support facilities are to be upgraded are the Royal Fleet Auxiliaries Argus, Fort George and Fort Victoria. The design work necessary to upgrade the facilities is well advanced and the procurement of equipment has commenced. We plan to carry out the installation work on Argus and Fort George in 2001 and on Fort Victoria in 2002, during scheduled maintenance periods.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) when the expected in-service date is for the Royal Navy survey ships which will replace HMS Beagle and HMS Bulldog; [116454]

[holding answer 27 March 2000]: The existing Royal Navy Hydrographic Survey Squadron includes HMS Herald, HMS Bulldog, HMS Beagle, and HMS Roebuck (HMS Hecla was taken out of service in December 1996). The first three of these vessels are planned to leave service between mid 2001 and early 2002 with HMS Roebuck being maintained into 2003.To meet our future requirements, we plan to replace these ships with new, more capable, multi-role survey vessels, backed by a long-term in-service support contract. These new vessels will provide both hydrographic and oceanographic military surveying data, as well as a combat survey and mine warfare support capability. Balance of investment considerations, including the number of vessels to be acquired, are ongoing, as are contractual negotiations with the preferred bidder, Vosper Thornycroft. We plan to place a contract in the next few months, with new vessels entering service from 2002.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what will be the cost of each Type 45 destroyer. [116449]

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.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what civilian use he envisages for the new roll-on, roll-off ferries on order for his Department. [116132]

[holding answer 27 March 2000]: 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.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he will place a contract for the Alternative Landing Ships Logistic Programme; and at which shipyard the work will be carried out. [116458]

[holding answer 27 March 2000]: 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.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proposals have been made by the United States Department of Defense to use the communications bases at Menwith Hill and Fylingdales as part of the planned United States National Missile Defense Strategy. [116271]

We have received no formal request to this effect, nor would we expect any until after a US decision on whether or not to proceed towards deployment of such a system.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many workplace car parking spaces are available at the buildings used and controlled by his Department. [116771]

My Department uses and controls only one building, which has six workplace car parking spaces available.Additionally, my Department has offices in the National Assembly building in Cardiff, where we share the car parking facilities, although no specific car parking spaces are reserved for my Department's use.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the expenditure incurred by his Department, agencies and non-departmental public bodies on (a) the setting up and (b) the operation of websites, indicating the cases in which the expenditure has been above that budgeted; and if he will list for each website (i) the topics which have been covered, (ii) the current average number of hits per month and (iii) the estimated expenditure on each website for each of the next three years. [115843]

My Department has one website which contains information about the purpose and structure of my office, together with all our press notices. It was built "in house" at no extra cost to the Welsh Office, our predecessor Department. It is operated on our behalf by NISS (National Information Systems and Services) based at Bath University. Their charges—now and in the future—are a matter of commercial confidentiality but are well within the expenditure budgeted for them. At the present time we are averaging 4,000 (mainly document) hits per month.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what estimate he has made of the expenditure on the New Deal for those aged over 50 years in 1999–2000; and what is his estimate for 2000–01. [115077]

I have been asked to reply.New Deal 50 plus was introduced in nine selected areas in October 1999. Forecast expenditure for 1999–2000 is £1.7 million. The New Deal for 50 plus will be available nationally from 3 April 2000 with estimated expenditure for 2000–01 set at £16.1 million from the Windfall Tax and a further £102 million set aside within this Department's Annually Managed Expenditure to cover Employment Credits.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what estimate he has made for the New Deal expenditure for over 25-year-olds in 1998–99 and 1999–2000; and if he will estimate the expenditure for 2000–01. [115076]

I have been asked to reply.My Department has spent or allocated the following sums to the New Deal for people aged 25 years and over:

£ million
1998–991	26
1999–20002	90
2000–013	130
1 Outturn
2 Estimated outturn
3 Provisional allocation

In addition New Deal for 25 plus clients have access to the Work Based Learning for Adults programme which has an annual budget of £328 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what estimate he has made of the spending on the New Deal for 18 to 24-year-olds in each year since 1997–98; and what estimate he has made of expenditure in 2000–01. [115075]

I have been asked to reply.My Department has spent or allocated the following sums to the New Deal for 18 to 24-year-olds in each year since 1997–98:

£ million
1997–981	36
1998–991	254
1999–20002	345
2000–013	470
1 Outturn figures
2 Estimated outturn
3 Provisional allocation

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the progress towards implementing the change to the boundaries of the Metropolitan Police District to make them coterminous with the boundaries of the London boroughs. [117309]

The change to the boundaries takes effect on 1 April, as planned. The responsibility for policing those parts of Essex, Hertfordshire and Surrey which are currently within the Metropolitan Police District will pass from the Metropolitan Police to the respective county forces.Essex Police, Hertfordshire Constabulary, Surrey Police, their Police Authorities, and the Metropolitan Police have prepared for the changeover in a thorough and professional manner. A great deal of detailed work has been put in since I announced the change in June 1998. I commend them for their close co-operation, and I am confident that there will be a smooth transfer of responsibilities. People in the transferring areas need have no concerns about disruption to their local policing service.The funding for the three county Police Authorities will be increased from April to reflect their enlarged areas. In addition, we are making special payments out of the police grant totalling £10 million to go towards costs arising out of the transfer.I am confident that the benefits of the boundaries change will soon show through. I decided to change the boundaries for three main reasons.First, it makes it easier for the criminal justice agencies in the area to work together in the fight to reduce crime. Local councils and other agencies will no longer have to work with two different police forces when discharging their responsibilities under the Crime and Disorder Act 1998. This is an important step towards aligning boundaries in the criminal justice system, thereby improving efficiency and effectiveness.Secondly, the change supports democratic accountability. It gives local people a say, through their county Police Authority, in the way their area is policed. People in the transferring areas will not have a vote in the forthcoming election for London's Assembly members, who will be in the majority on the new Metropolitan Police Authority. It is right that these areas be policed by county forces whose Police Authorities, with councillor members in the majority, already provide local democratic accountability.Thirdly, the change allows the Metropolitan Police to focus its efforts on the huge task of policing the nation's capital.The Metropolitan Police have policed the transferring areas since the time of Sir Robert Peel. I would like to pay tribute to the efforts of all the officers and civil staff of the Metropolitan Police who have worked in these areas over the years. They deserve the Government's thanks, and the thanks of the local communities.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Metropolitan Police Commissioner's Policing and Performance Plan for 2000–01 will be published. [117310]

The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis tells me that he will be publishing details of his Policing and Performance Plan for 2000–01 on the Metropolitan police website http://www.met.police.uk on Friday 31 March.Advertisements have also been placed in the London press summarising key performance data and targets set out in the Plan.Some of the performance data for 1999–2000 are provisional. Audited data will be included in a hard copy version of the Plan to be published in June.The Policing and Performance Plan combines the requirements of an annual Policing Plan, an annual Efficiency Plan and, for the first time, an annual Best Value Performance Plan.The Plan sets out the Metropolitan police's two key priorities for 2000–01: reducing crime and disorder and diversity. The Plan sets out the Metropolitan police's crime reduction targets—a two per cent, reduction in burglary, stopping the increasing level of street crime and an eight per cent. reduction in vehicle crime—together with key activities for delivery. It also contains a suite of Best Value Performance Indicators (BVPIs) with a summary of the Metropolitan police's performance against those BVPIs for which historical data is available and targets for future performance. The Plan also sets out a five-year plan of Best Value reviews. The areas selected for review in the coming year are; investigating and detecting crime; combating bureaucracy and managing information; and consultation.The Plan also sets out the means by which the Metropolitan police aims to exceed the two per cent, efficiency gains required by the Government from all police forces.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will publish the Prison Service's Business Plan and the Key Performance Indicators for 2000–01. [117466]

Essex police—sickness absence for police officers and civilian support staff
	1996–97	1997–98	1998–99
Police officer working days lost through sickness	28,399	34,066	38,748
Average days sickness per police officer	10	12	13
Civilian support staff working days lost through sickness	16,903	21,309	19,232
Average days sickness per civilian support staff	12	14	13

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what requirement, in terms of objectivity, is requested of members of the Scientific Procedures Committee. [116952]

The Animal Procedures Committee was established by the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986. The Act requires the Secretary of State, who appoints members, to have regard to the desirability of ensuring that the interests of animal welfare are adequately represented. There is also a requirement that the committee shall have regard both to the legitimate requirements of science and industry and to the protection of animals. The key consideration in making appointments to the committee is the need to maintain a breadth of professional experience and a proper balance of views among the membership.In 1998, the committee adopted a Code of Conduct for Members. This requires members at all times to act in good faith and observe the highest standards of impartiality, integrity and objectivity in relation to the conduct of the Committee's business; to declare any personal or business interest which may influence their judgment: not to participate in discussion of matters in which they have a personal or business interest; and to understand that they are appointed as individuals and not as representatives of organisations with which they have significant contacts.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the progress of negotiations with the British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection in respect of their lifting their restrictions on the full publication of the Harlan report; and if he will publish the full report. [117012]

I am pleased to report that the British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection (BUAV) agreed on Monday 27 March to waive confidentiality of all

The Prison Service Business Plan for 2000–01, which includes the key performance indicators, has been published today and copies have been placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the absence through sickness rate among (a) police officers and (b) civilian support staff in the Essex police for each month since 1 May 1997. [116859]

The information requested for monthly sickness rates is not held centrally but annual sickness rates for the last three years for Essex police are given in the table.of the material in the report stemming from videotapes, an audio tape and diaries kept by the undercover investigator and an interview conducted with her during the course of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Inspectorate's investigation. I have, therefore, today laid in the Library, copies of a fuller version of the report in which only those sections containing commercially sensitive information, or information relating to individuals and third parties remain censored. I regret that the BUAV were unable to agree to release this information earlier as I requested.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the author of the British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection report on Harlan UK is a member of the Scientific Procedures Committee. [116958]

The administration of the Animal Procedures Committee is the responsibility of the Chairman, the Reverend Professor Michael Banner. He will write to my hon. Friend.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department who will represent the United Kingdom at the official opening of the European Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia on 7 and 8 April in Vienna. [116955]

The United Kingdom will be represented at the official opening of the European Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia on 7-8 April in Vienna by either a Minister or a senior official (yet to be finalised) from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, and by the Director of Constitutional and Community Policy from the Home Office.This Government remain committed to the work undertaken by the Centre. The event in Vienna marks the official opening of the Centre, but in fact it has been in existence for over a year now. The Centre is supported financially by the European Commission; the Home Office provided £48,000 to cover the running costs of the Centre's United Kingdom Secretariat during 1999–2000.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many board members he appoints to each non-departmental public body. [116336]

A full list of the non-departmental public bodies to which I make appointments is published in the publication "Public Bodies 1999", a copy of which is available in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many workplace car parking spaces are available at the buildings used and controlled by his Department. [116761]

The Home Office Central London Estate, which comprises six buildings, has a total of 177 car park spaces. Figures for the rest of the Home Office estate could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. We are extending travel plans for all our key buildings in line with the commitment set out in the Transport White Paper and are reviewing the scope for reducing our car parking requirements in that context.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 14 March 2000, Official Report, column 168W, concerning external consultants used by his Department since 1997, if the individual value of every consultancy contract is commercial in confidence, with particular reference to Clear Communications; and if he will indicate the reasons for commercial confidentiality in each case. [116774]

In line with the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information issued by the Cabinet Office, my Department encourages transparency and openness in the tendering and contracting process and where possible, we will publish information on individual contract values. However, where publishing such information would prejudice the legitimate commercial interest of any person or competition between service providers or where such information has been given in confidence, it is my Department's policy to treat this information as commercial in confidence unless consent to publish has been obtained.It had not been possible, in the reply I gave the hon. Gentleman on 14 March 2000,

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consultancy contracts the Smith Group has entered into with his Department since May 1997. [116775]

From the information available, there is no record of the Smith Group entering into any contracts with my Department since May 1997.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will order an external inquiry into the handling of the immigration case of Jon Riser, deceased. [116733]

Following Mr. Riser's tragic death in the United States of America, I am making arrangements for a senior officer within the Home Office to conduct an urgent and detailed investigation into the handling of the case by the Immigration and Nationality Directorate. I have asked to be provided with a full report of the findings.I will of course inform the hon. Member of the outcome. I should also be happy to meet the hon. Member to discuss his concerns, and am making arrangements to do so.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how he intends to take forward the reform of research and development in the NHS. [117075]

We are today announcing a programme of modernisation to give strategic direction to the management of Research and Development in the National Health Service.High quality modern health care depends on high quality research-based evidence. These changes bring the management of R&D in the NHS into line with the principles set out in "The new NHS" (Cm 3807, December 1997). They provide a quality framework within which all R&D funded from NHS resources will respond to the priorities and needs of the NHS.The Department of Health will take the lead in expressing priorities for the national effort in health services research, on behalf of the NHS. The NHS will work with other funding bodies and the universities to deliver advances in knowledge the NHS needs for evidence-based practice and policy.Collaboration will replace unproductive competition. There will be no time-consuming NHS-wide bidding for NHS R&D allocations from April 2001. Instead, the Government will use a modernisation fund to encourage research partnerships and networks in areas of high priority for the NHS. We want to ensure that consumers of health services are involved at every stage in the research process. New guidance will reinforce the standards of governance and performance management required of R&D in the NHS.The NHS is part of the national science base. These reforms ensure the NHS and the Department of Health meet the obligations of their partnership with other research funding bodies. Within this framework, the NHS will target resources on providing a suitable environment for high quality research conducted within strategies that take account of its priorities and needs.The paper, "Research and Development for a First Class Service: R&D funding in the new NHS", sets out a new statement of policy and principles together with plans for implementation. Copies have been placed in the Library. It is also available on the Department of Health's website.These reforms build on a review led by Professor Michael Clarke on behalf of the Central R&D Committee for the NHS. We are today making his report available on the Department of Health's website. As well as the management and funding of R&D in the NHS, Professor Clarke's review considered NHS priorities for R&D related to cancer, the elderly, heart disease and stroke, mental health, and primary care and took account of a review of research priorities for accidental injury. We are placing these reports on the Department's website. We intend to make early progress with the R&D priorities for cancer, heart disease and stroke, and mental health.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what account he takes of the expenditure by local authorities on social service functions in framing his Department's expenditure plans. [116777]

The Department takes full account of the current level of service provided by local government to social services recipients when considering the level of specific and special grants paid to local authorities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much the Mid-Essex Hospital Trust has spent from 6 April 1999 to the latest date for which information is available on having NHS patients treated in the private healthcare sector. [116732]

The information requested is not available centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many workplace car parking spaces are available at the buildings used and controlled by his Department. [116769]

There are 1,745 car parking spaces available for use by visitors and staff at premises occupied by the Department and its agencies.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much money Essex Rivers Healthcare Trust has spent in the latest financial year for which figures are available for the treatment of NHS patients by the private healthcare sector. [116840]

The information requested is not available centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will introduce antenatal screening for genetic abnormality, including biochemical screening for Down's syndrome; and if he will make a statement. [116731]

The United Kingdom National Screening Committee advises the Government on all aspects of screening policy. It considers the aim of all antenatal screening to be informed choice for parents. The NSC would rarely recommend the introduction of a blanket test such as a blood test for chromosomal disorders for all or most pregnant women, but rather a specific test for a known disorder. At present, individual women who have already had an affected pregnancy or have a family history of a genetic disorder should be offered specific genetic testing and counselling. We are currently considering the Committee's recommendation to offer all pregnant women second trimester serum screening for Down's Syndrome.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement about his plans for the future treatment of cleft lip and palate patients from Buckinghamshire. [116956]

A final decision on the future configuration of cleft lip treatment centres is still to be taken. Any changes to services will be subject to full statutory public consultation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will respond to the Crown report on the Review of Prescribing, Supply and Administration of Medicines. [116905]

We announced our decisions on the implementation of the main recommendations of the Review on 13 March.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health for what reasons some private practices are being denied access to the meningitis C vaccine. [107990]

The campaign to immunise all children and young people under the age of 18 with the new meningococcal Group C conjugate vaccine is being undertaken by the National Health Service. Any child eligible to receive this vaccine can do so via the NHS. Any individual in the country may approach a general practitioner for NHS treatment, including immunisation if appropriate. Treatment is conditional on the GP's acceptance of the patient for NHS services.The meningococcal Group C conjugate vaccine is new and manufacturers held no stockpiles in advance of the launch. We have distributed every batch of vaccine as fast as it has been released. Distribution has been in line with the implementation schedule with the vaccine being targeted specifically at those groups at highest risk first.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how he intends to ensure sufficient supplies of the meningitis C vaccine are produced. [107992]

The meningococcal Group C conjugate vaccine is a brand new vaccine. The Department has calculated the amount of vaccine needed to immunise those covered by the immunisation programme and has contracted with vaccine manufacturers to ensure sufficient vaccine is available to implement the programme. The Department continues to liaise closely with manufacturers and the National Institute for Biological Standards and Controls, which tests every batch of vaccine for safety and potency, to ensure vaccine is made available to the NHS as soon as it becomes available. The Department will continue to seek to ensure adequate supply through close liaison with vaccine manufacturers. The NHS is the first healthcare system in the world to protect people with this new vaccine.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if the meningitis C inoculation programme for the under-18s will be completed this year. [107993]

Yes, subject to manufacturers meeting their supply contracts.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if a non-NHS patient in the high risk categories can receive a vaccination by a GP working in the NHS. [107991]

Any individual in the country may approach a general practitioner for National Health Service treatment, including immunisation if appropriate. Treatment is conditional on the GP's acceptance of the patient for NHS services.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make it his policy to discover what proportion of the energy supplied to his Department by utility companies comes from renewable sources. [116270]

Buildings occupied by the Department and its agencies currently purchase energy from utility companies through contracts let by the buying agency.In future procurement of energy, where the Department of Health is the lead Department, we will require the supplier to provide information on the proportion of the energy supplied that comes from renewable sources.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made in giving an individual trust board member the responsibility for volunteer involvement; and how many NHS trusts have achieved this. [116444]

The National Health Service Executive has taken, and continues to take, a great deal of action on the recommendations of the "Making a Difference: Strengthening Volunteering in the NHS" report. NHS trusts were asked to name a volunteering 'champion' at Board level. A recent progress update showed that 76 per cent, of trusts have a member in place.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the (a) chairmen and (b) non-executive directors of health trusts and health authorities who have made a declaration of political activity indicating the party affiliated in each case. [116973]

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, a copy of which is in the Library. The 2000 report will be published in May.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his timetable is for reviewing the residential care allowance as proposed in the White Paper, "Modernising Social Services". [116750]

As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced in the House on 2 December 1999, Official Report, columns 444-45, we are examining the implications of phasing out the residential allowance and transferring the resources to councils as part of the year 2000 spending review, which will be completed this summer. We are planning to seek the views of councils, service users and their carers and families and care providers on the impact of such a change over the next few weeks. We shall publish a White Paper on long-term care later this year.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what the key performance targets are for Her Majesty's Land Registry and the Public Record Office executive agencies for 2000–01. [117393]

The following tables set out the key performance targets that the Lord Chancellor has set for Her Majesty's Land Registry and the Public Record Office for 2000–01.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department which bodies the Lord Chancellor intends to prescribe as entitled to take advantage of the costs recovery provisions contained in section 30 of the Access to Justice Act 1999; what criteria he will take into account in determining status as a prescribed body; and what procedure membership organisations should follow if they wish to be approved as prescribed bodies. [117308]

Section 30 of the Access to Justice Act 1999 comes into force on 1 April. From that date membership organisations with prescribed body status will be able to recover a sum as part of legal costs from unsuccessful opponents to reflect the provision of legal help for members and their families.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many workplace car parking spaces are available at the buildings used and controlled by his Department. [116760]

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

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to change his departmental expenditure limits for 1999–2000. [117304]

(i) The DETR Main Programmes Departmental Expenditure Limit will be increased by £700,000 from £10,403,990,000 to £10,404,690,000 as a result of a transfer of this amount from the DETR Local Government Departmental Expenditure Limit. There are also changes between the Voted and non-Voted elements of the Main Programmes Departmental Expenditure Limit. The changes are set out in greater detail as follows.

(a) Provision within the non-Voted element of the DETR Main Programmes Departmental Expenditure Limit will be increased by £7,413,000 from £1,697,254,000 to £1,704,667,000. This reflects a transfer of £700,000 from the DETR Local Government Departmental Expenditure Limit, a transfer of £910,000 from Class III, Vote 2 (Planning, roads, local transport and vehicle safety); and £5,803,000 from Class III, Vote 6 (Transport industries).

(b) The transfer of £700,000 from the DETR Local Government Departmental Expenditure Limit to the non-Voted element of the DETR Main Programmes Departmental Expenditure Limit is to provide other capital support to the London Borough of Haringey.

(c) The change for Class III, Vote 2 (Planning, roads, local transport and vehicle safety) is a transfer of £910,000 to the non-Voted element of the DETR Main Programmes Departmental Expenditure Limit for transport Supplementary Credit Approvals.

(d) The change for Class III, Vote 6 (Transport industries) is a transfer of £5,803,000 to the non-Voted element of the DETR Main Programmes Departmental Expenditure Limit to take account of British Rail's revised grant claim for 1999–2000.

(ii) The DETR Local Government Departmental Expenditure Limit will be increased by £720,000 from £34,218,737,000 to £34,219,457,000. This increase is the net effect of a take-up of end year flexibility of £1,420,000 and a transfer of £700,000 to the DETR Main Programmes Departmental Expenditure Limit. The changes are set out in greater detail as follows.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will provide the details of the 2000–01 charging scheme for local air pollution control under Part I of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. [117388]

Charges to cover the costs of local enforcing authorities in regulating processes which are subject to Part I of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 were introduced in April 1991.With the approval of the Treasury, and following consultation with local authority associations and industry, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions has made a revised scheme specifying the scale of fees and charges to take effect from 1 April 2000.The initial application fee will be unchanged and the annual subsistence fee will be increased by roughly 0.75 per cent. The main change is that the standard subsistence fee is increased by £6 from £790 to £796. The standard application fee remains at £1,280.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what amount of Greater London Authority transport grant he has determined for 2000–01. [117389]

I have today formally determined GLA Transport Grant at £392,700,000. £73,768,000 is to cover period before Transport for London assumes its full responsibilities on 3 July 2000. This is therefore for amounts to be spent by the relevant predecessor bodies of Transport for London, including the Secretary of State himself. The balance of £318,932,000 will be paid in instalments to the Greater London Authority for the purposes of Transport for London.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he expects to announce the key targets for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency for 2000–01. [117390]

I have today placed in the House Library a copy of the Agency's Business Plan which includes its key targets for 2000–01. The key targets are:

to agree a new statutory safety regime for under 12 m fishing vessels by 31 October for implementation by 30 April 2001;

to complete at least 95 per cent. of the agreed programme of vessel inspections by March 2001;

to decide on the search and rescue response to accidents and life-threatening situations, and to initiate action if necessary, within 5 minutes of being alerted in at least 95 per cent. of cases;

to undertake a review of the UK Search and Rescue Helicopter coverage as recommended in the National Audit Office report, "Civil Maritime Search and Rescue", and make recommendations to Ministers by December;

following the Marine Environment High Risk Areas consultation we will prepare for Ministers a response plan by autumn 2000 proposing the most cost effective options for Emergency Towing Vessel provision;

to evaluate and report to Ministers on the effectiveness of the National Contingency Plan for Counter Pollution by March 2001;

to evaluate the provision of UK port waste reception facilities and report to Ministers on this by December;

following an analysis of Headquarters and regional management costs, produce a specific programme for new efficiency measures and proposals to reduce such costs, and set targets for Agency management costs against pay and non-pay costs by July, for each of the years 2001–04;

to analyse the first annual cycle of the time-recording Management Information System to agree, by September, specific national and regional targets for chargeable, other core and non-core activities undertaken by operational staff for 2001–04;

to complete re-location programme by releasing properties in Liverpool, Great Yarmouth, Plymouth and Newcastle by 31 March 2001.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what further progress has been made with the London Underground public private partnership; and if he will make a statement. [117391]

London Transport awaits bids for the two deep tube infrastructure service contracts tomorrow. These will be very detailed, weighty proposals. It will take several weeks to analyse and clarify them properly. When this process is completed, the bids will be tested for best value against the public sector comparator.I have today placed in the Library of the House a detailed note which describes how London Transport have constructed the public sector comparator against which bids for infrastructure improvement and maintenance contracts under the Public Private Partnership (PPP) can be tested.The methodology on which the comparator has been built is designed to offer a fair and reliable estimate of how much it would cost London Underground itself to carry out all the work needed to upgrade and maintain the Underground network over the next 30 years, to the standard required under the PPP contracts. The comparator will show the cost for each of the three infrastructure companies separately, so that each bid can be directly assessed against its public sector alternative.The comparator will also explicitly establish how much it would cost to deliver the required contract outputs if London Underground were to raise the necessary finance through the issuance of public sector bonds. The bids will also be tested against this means of raising finance.The methodology which London Underground is using, and which is described in the note that I have placed in the Library, has been reviewed by KPMG as London Underground's independent, external auditors. KPMG were asked to consider whether the note accorded with the relevant Treasury guidance and was appropriate to the circumstances of the PPP. KPMG will also be asked to review the actual comparator and the bond-financed variant before they are used to test bids for best value.The actual values produced by the comparator can be released only once negotiations with bidders have been completed, so as not to expose the taxpayer's negotiating position, and thus jeopardise the chances of securing best value.As well as the external audit undertaken by KPMG, the design, construction and use of the comparator will be made available for scrutiny by the National Audit Office (NAO). The NAO has made clear that while it is always available to give guidance to the bodies whom it audits on areas of risk and uncertainty, and to draw attention to relevant financial experience in NAO and Public Accounts Committee reports—my Department has accordingly received such guidance—it could not go further and become involved in the decision-making process. This would inevitably lead to questions about its ability subsequently to carry out an independent examination for Parliament, once the key decisions on the PPP have been taken.The NAO, however, notes that as part of the decision-making process, London Transport is having its work on building and using the public sector comparator reviewed by KPMG. The NAO regards it as being in line with good practice for such comparators to receive scrutiny external to the project.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what targets he has set for the Highways Agency for 2000–01. [117392]

The key targets set for the Highways Agency are included in the Agency's business plan for 2000–01, which is being placed in the Library.The key targets are to:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to review the Planning Inspectorate. [117394]

My Department has today launched a review of the Planning Inspectorate. The Planning Inspectorate was established as an Executive Agency in April 1992 and, in line with Cabinet Office guidelines for all executive agencies, it must be reviewed at least every five years.The last review of the Inspectorate in 1995 confirmed its Agency status. This review which will be completed by the end of 2000 will be undertaken in two stages.The first will consider all the organisational options for the Inspectorate including abolition; continued agency status; contracting-out; market testing; merger or rationalisation; privatisation.If Agency status is confirmed, the second stage will consider how the Inspectorate's efficiency could be improved.The review will be undertaken jointly by DETR and the National Assembly for Wales. The Agency's customers and other interested parties will be consulted.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what compensation payments are available to those living in an area where an energy-from-waste plant is to be constructed. [116779]

None. A planning application for such a plant would be determined by a local planning authority in accordance with the development plan for the area, unless material considerations indicated otherwise. Such considerations could include the effects of the proposal on the locality and the views of local people. In some cases planning conditions or obligations might be appropriate to mitigate the effects of a proposed scheme.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what was the actual expenditure on social services for each local authority in England for (a) 1997–98 and (b) 1998–99; and what is the estimated expenditure for (i) 1999–2000 and (ii) 2000–01. [116836]

English local authorities have reported a total net current expenditure on social services of £8,454 million in 1997–98 and £9,059 million in 1998–99 and a budgeted expenditure of £9,645 million in 1999–2000. The information for 2000–01 is not yet available.The information by local authority has been placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what organisation has been contracted to undertake the administration of grants to the housing improvement agencies; when the contract was granted and at what value; which organisations (a) sought and (b) were short-listed for the contract; and if the contract was let under the European negotiated procedure. [116888]

Collective Enterprises Ltd. has been appointed the national co-ordinating body for home improvement agencies under a contract awarded on 8 March. The value of the contract is £1,576,515 (excluding VAT) over four years. Five organisations expressed interest in the contract of which two, Care and Repair England Ltd. and Collective Enterprises Ltd., were invited to tender. The contract was awarded under the EU Restricted Procedure.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make public the options he decides to take forward following the decision-making process outlined in the consultation paper, Appraisal Framework for Airports in the South East and Eastern Regions, to reduce the potential for blight and developmental delays. [116885]

As I stated in my answer to the hon. Member on 14 March 2000, Official Report, column 116W, the options will be appraised through the process of successive sifts, and following completion of the study there will be a public consultation on the options arising from it. In advance of that consultation, it would be premature to comment on the status of any option.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment the South East and East of England Air Study will make of work done by the Runway Capacity to serve the South-East Working Group. [116887]

The final terms of reference for the South East and East of England Regional Air Services Study make it clear that in undertaking the study it will be necessary to take advantage, where appropriate, of the technical work done on the options examined by the Working Group. As my right hon. Friend the Member for Hamilton, North and Bellshill (Dr. Reid) indicated in his announcement on 11 March 1999, Official Report, columns 360-61W, the study has started from the position that nothing is ruled in or ruled out.I announced publication of the final terms of reference to the House on 9 February 2000,

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if the South East and East of England Air Services Study will include an assessment of the effects of growth of aircraft movements at airports in the South East and East of Manchester Airport. [116886]

Forecasts of future aircraft movements at airports in the South East and East of England used in the assessment of options in the South East and East of England Regional Air Services study (SERAS) will take into account potential capacity gains at other airports including Manchester Airport.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if, in announcing new housing development for the South East, an assessment was made of the effects of any increases in runway capacity at South East airports. [116889]

No assessment has been made of the effects of airport proposals which are not covered in current permissions or development plans. The South East and East of England Regional Air Services study is examining a wide range of options to address changes in demand for air services. In doing so it will, among other impacts, assess regional planning guidance implications and urbanisation impacts, including housing, of airport development options. Following completion of the study, we shall consult on a shortlist of options. After decisions have been taken on airport development, any implications for housing provisions will be taken into account in future revisions of housing rates in the light of the monitoring and review arrangements set out in draft Regional Planning Guidance for the South East and East Anglia.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what was the outcome of the Transport Council held in Brussels on 28 March; and if he will make a statement. [117118]

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the outcome of this week's EC Council meeting of Transport Ministers. [116843]

The Transport Council met in Brussels on 28 March. My right hon. and noble Friend the Minister for Transport represented the United Kingdom.The Commission gave a further report on progress of the definition phase of the Galileo satellite navigation project. Commissioner de Palacio asked for member states' support at the forthcoming World Radio Conference, to ensure that the Galileo project has the radio frequencies needed. She reported that the public private partnership had attracted expressions of interest from the private sector. My right hon. and noble Friend emphasised the need for full cost benefit analysis of the project. The Presidency asked for a written report from the Commission to the June Council.There was a debate on the Commission's Communication on air transport and the environment, first presented at the December 1999 Council. The Communication describes the Commission's proposed five-year work plan for policies and measures to limit or reduce noise and gaseous emissions from aircraft. Member states broadly welcomed the Commission's approach. The UK was among the member states, which emphasised that, where possible, international noise standards should be developed at the global level through the International Civil Aviation Organisation. Likewise, on the question of aviation fuel tax, my right hon. and noble Friend joined others in stressing that this was best handled at the global level. Council Conclusions were adopted, confirming the Commission plan and setting priority areas for action.The Commission set out recent development on the hushkits issue. The Regulation on the use of hushkitted aircraft would come into force on 4 May; it was possible that some changes could be made to the date of application to third country aircraft. Work would continue on a joint declaration, committing the EU and the US to a new standard in ICAO. My right hon. and noble Friend referred to the need for a new international standard, and stressed that the Commission should do all possible to seek a solution. The Council agreed Conclusions, endorsing the Commission's further engagement with the US.The Commission stated that it would be producing a list of air passengers' existing rights. This would be followed by legislative proposals. At the June Council, they would report in full on the recent consultation exercise. The Presidency, identifying the issue of a European Charter of Air Passenger Rights as a priority, encouraged the Commission to submit its Communication, including legislative proposals in time for the June Council.The Commission presented a working paper on establishment of a European aviation safety authority (EASA). My right hon. and noble Friend expressed disappointment that the paper did not provide a full analysis of the options of an international organisation or an EU agency, as the December Council had requested. The Presidency said that the Transport Council should aim to take a decision in June on the best legal form for the EASA.The Presidency tabled a revised text of the draft directive on the interoperability of conventional rail systems, which had been presented by the Commission to the December Council, and which the UK broadly supports. The Presidency noted that substantial progress had been made in the Working Group. The Commission agreed that progress had been made and felt that a common position on the draft directive should be possible in June.The Commission presented to the Council its Communication on road safety. Key proposals for action were: further development of the European new vehicles crash testing programme (ENCAP), use of speed limiters on larger vehicles, higher levels of seatbelt and child restraint usage, safer car fronts, and targeting of accident blackspots. Legislative proposals would follow in these areas. My right hon. and noble Friend welcomed the general approach of the Communication, which fitted in well with the recently announced UK road safety strategy. The Communication also refers to the Commission's intention to bring forward a recommendation for a maximum blood alcohol level of 0.5 milligrams per millilitre. The Presidency concluded that further work should be done on the Communication, in preparation for discussion at the June Council.The Commission introduced new proposals on maritime safety, stressing that it was important to make progress in preventing future accidents like that involving the Erika. Action was proposed in two stages. The first stage would involve measures tightening the regulation on port state control of ship standards, improving control of classification societies, and phasing out single-hulled tankers, the last in line with the US timetable. In the short-term, oil companies would be asked to avoid voluntarily the use of tankers more than 15 years old. The second stage of the Commission's proposals involves a change in the information system for all ships, building on the new EQUASIS international database, better monitoring of sea movements of freighters, setting up a European Maritime Safety Agency, and examination of the liability and compensation aspects of oil pollution accidents. Member states supported the proposals for directives on port state control and classification societies, but, more generally, the need for the International Maritime Organisation to be involved was widely stressed. The UK was among member states, which stressed the importance of a proper prior assessment of the economic impact of a rapid phase-out of single hulled tankers. My right hon. and noble Friend also noted the UK's recent proposals to increase the ceiling for payments from the International Oil Pollution Compensation Fund (IOPCF), and suggested that wider reform should be pursued through the IMO. The Commissioner felt that global action alone was not enough and argued for her proposal on single hulls. The Presidency, however, asked for more work to be done in preparation for the June Council. They urged member states to work together to increase compensation levels in the IOPCF.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) under what headings of expenditure the aid to be provided for the Manchester Metrolink will be spent; [116864](2) what proportion of the aid to be provided for the Manchester Metrolink will be given as

As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State made clear in his reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Manchester, Central (Mr. Lloyd) on 22 March 2000, Official Report, column 549W, the final details of the funding package are still to be determined. However, it will include both grant and credit approvals. Public support will be towards the capital costs of the project which would typically include construction costs, rolling stock, utility diversion and land purchase.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what EU measures he supports to reduce noise from civil aircraft. [116846]

The UK broadly supports the Commission's proposals in the recent communication on Air Transport and the environment, particularly the need to work through the International Civil Aviation Organisation for new standards. We shall consider the proposals as they come forward on their merits. My hon. Friend the Member for Streatham (Mr. Hill) will report the conclusions of the transport council today.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what measures he will adopt to reduce the noise of civil aircraft over the Stour Valley in Essex and Suffolk. [116845]

Local concerns about an increase in over flight, following the introduction of a second stack for Stansted, have been addressed as far as possible, given the competing demands for airspace and the general build up of air traffic in the South East. We shall continue to press for international agreement on higher noise certification standards and the phasing out of noisier aircraft. This will benefit people there and elsewhere.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if it is his policy to support the establishment of EASA as an international rather than an EU body; and if the rules of EASA are intended to have direct effect and direct applicability in the law of the member states. [116867]

The Government are committed to taking action with their Community partners on setting up a new aviation safety body which will raise aviation safety standards across Europe in an effective and efficient way.

n: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what encouragement he gives to research into ways of reducing the hazards associated with the transport of air cargo. [116849]

Certain types of cargo are known to present specific hazards when transported by air and these are categorised as dangerous goods. The carriage of dangerous goods by air is governed by the Air Navigation (Dangerous Goods) Regulations 1994 which implement the requirements of Annex 18 to the Chicago Convention. This requires that all dangerous goods transported by air must be carried in accordance with the International Civil Aviation Organisation's Technical Instructions for the Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods by Air. The Technical Instructions themselves are based upon the UN Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods.The Technical Instructions are reviewed regularly by an ICAO panel of experts on dangerous goods. The Department funds a dangerous goods specialist from the Civil Aviation Authority to participate in the panel, which she currently chairs. The ICAO panel does not consider that any research is necessary.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the regulations governing the use of frozen carbon dioxide for packaging for chilled and frozen goods transported by air. [116848]

n: In accordance with Annex 18 to the Chicago Convention the transport of all dangerous goods by air in the UK is governed by the International Civil Aviation Organisation's (ICAO) Technical Instructions for the Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods by Air. The Technical Instructions are regularly reviewed by an ICAO panel (which includes a UK member) and revised biennially. The hazards from frozen carbon dioxide are well known and the ICAO panel considers that the present requirements for its carriage are adequate.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if it remains his policy to oppose the EU Galileo project; and if he will make a statement. [116844]

The Government have not opposed the EU Galileo project. They have adopted a prudent approach to the project as they consider that key issues such as cost, funding (including arrangements for a public-private partnership), user benefits, security and management arrangements need to be properly evaluated. Such views are shared by other EU member states. Hence, the Transport Council, at its meeting in June 1999, adopted a Resolution that invited the European Commission to proceed only with the Definition Phase of Galileo in conjunction with member states and the European Space Agency. This phase has begun and includes detailed work on the issues of concern to the UK and other EU states. Based on the results of this work and negotiations with the US and the Russian Federation, the Commission is required, by the end of this year, to put forward proposals to the Council on the best way to proceed with the project either independently or in co-operation with international partners.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the assumed scale of net regional population migration underlying the projected level of household formation proposed for the current round of draft regional planning guidance (a) in each of the eight English regions and (b) for the spatial development plan for London. [116653]

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

To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, if he will make a statement about the membership of the Advisory Committee on Works of Art. [116746]

Madam Speaker has appointed the hon. Member for West Ham (Mr. Banks) in place of the hon. Member for Dudley, North (Mr. Cranston) as a Member of the Advisory Committee on Works of Art.

To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee how many hon. Members currently have passes for temporary research assistants from overseas. [l16957]

Forty-seven.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent representations he has received from businesses on the introduction of employment regulations. [115672]

I receive many representations from business on a variety of employment issues.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps his Department is taking to relieve small businesses of regulatory burdens. [115673]

One of the primary functions of the Small Business Service will be to ensure that the "Think Small First" philosophy is applied across Whitehall. The Small Business Service will also encourage Government Departments to make information on regulations more comprehensible and accessible, including through an SBS gateway.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the Government's initial response is to the consultation document, "A National Strategy for the UK Textile and Clothing Industry". [115674]

The Government welcome the production of the consultation document "National Strategy for the UK Textile and Clothing Industry". We shall make a detailed response to the report, including the recommendations, when the final document is produced later in the spring.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the regulation of employment agencies. [115675]

Our review of the agency conduct regulations, following last year's consultation, is progressing well. The new regulations will be laid before Parliament shortly. We will streamline and clarify the existing regulations while ensuring workers' and hirers' interests are properly protected.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent discussions he has had with interested parties relating to cybersquatting. [l15676]

The Department of Trade and Industry has been working for some time both in the UK and in international fora to develop consistent and workable procedures for resolving domain name disputes.The law applies online just as much as it does offline so, where the UK courts have jurisdiction, owners of trade marks and other well known names can pursue legal remedies against cyber squatters who infringe their rights under UK law.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how the Post Office will help tackle financial exclusion. [115677]

The Horizon project to computerise the whole of the post office network will provide an automated IT platform from which basis the Post Office can substantially extend its arrangements to act with banks and building societies on an agency basis. In addition, my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced in his recent Budget statement that he has asked the banks to work with the Post Office to offer a universal banking service available at post offices. Development of these measures has the potential to provide banking facilities to the substantial number of people currently financially excluded.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on competition in the milk industry. [115678]

I welcomed the voluntary decision by the members of Milk Marque to break up into three independent successors. All sectors of the UK dairy industry will benefit from a more competitive structure.I have asked the Director General of Fair Trading to advise me by Easter whether the market is now operating competitively. I will make an announcement once I have considered his advice.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he next expects to review the level of the national minimum wage. [115680]

We are asking the Low Pay Commission, in its new remit, to continue to monitor the minimum wage and advise on a range of issues including whether there is a case for a further increase in the minimum wage rates and, if so, by how much. The Commission has been asked to report again by July 2001, and the Government will implement any rate changes in October of that year.Meanwhile, in the light of the Low Pay Commission's positive findings in its second report, which we published on 15 February, we have already announced increases in the minimum wage rates later this year. The youth rate increases to £3.20 on 1 June 2000 and the main rate increases to £3.70 on 1 October 2000.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what account is taken of an employer's provision of board and lodging when calculating the minimum wage payable. [115693]

The only benefit in kind which counts towards national minimum wage pay is accommodation. The maximum amount which can be offset against national minimum wage pay by employers who provide accommodation is £19.95 per week.The provision of other benefits such as meals is not taken into account when calculating whether the national minimum wage has been paid. This approach follows recommendations by the Low Pay Commission in its first and second reports and its special report into the accommodation offset.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the role of sub-post offices in supplying electronic services to local communities. [115681]

The Government are fully committed to a nationwide network of post offices and are contributing nearly £500 million towards the cost of equipping the network with a modern, automated IT platform. The system will be installed at some 18,000 post offices throughout the country by spring 2001, to enable the Post Office to improve services and take advantage of new business opportunities. Creation of an extensive automated infrastructure will facilitate the use of the Post Office network as a delivery channel for electronic Government services.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects to receive the Performance and Innovation Unit report on the sub-Post Office network; and if he will make a statement. [115769]

[holding answer 22 March 2000]: As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister indicated in his answer to the hon. Member for Torbay (Mr. Sanders) on 17 January 2000, Official Report, column 267W, the Performance and Innovation Unit's report on the Post Office network is expected to be completed this spring.