To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received regarding co-operation between the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency and the NXT. [117844]

No representations regarding co-operation between the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA) and NXT have been addressed to DERA and I am not aware that any representations have been received elsewhere in the Department.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will estimate the sums to be spent each year on the new carriers until they enter service; [118265](2) if he will estimate the annual operating costs of each of the new carriers. [118268]

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 the basis was for his Department's statements concerning the inability of UK yards to design and build roll-on/roll-off ferries to meet his Department's known requirements. [118899]

The statement in the press on 28 March attributed to an MOD spokesman was taken out of context. The Ministry of Defence press office issued a statement that day making it clear that it did not represent my view, nor that of the Ministry of Defence and that there was no reason why British shipyards should not be able to bid competitively for roll-on roll-off ferry work either in the UK or abroad.The Government have encouraged consortiums bidding for the MOD sealift contract to look to UK shipyards. Bids are still being considered and we expect a decision to be taken in the late spring.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent discussions he has had with the President of the Western European Union; and what issues were discussed. [119589]

The "Presidency" of the Western European Union is currently held by Portugal, who also currently hold the Presidency of the European Union. I have met my Portuguese counterpart in his EU capacity where we discussed future arrangements for European Defence—but we have not met in his WEU capacity.The senior appointment in the WEU, that of the Secretary General, is held by Javier Solana, who is also currently the High Representative for the EU's Common Foreign and Security Policy. I have met with Snr. Solana in his EU capacity where we discussed future arrangements for European Defence—but have not met him in his purely WEU capacity.I have not yet met the President of the Western European Union Assembly, Klaus Bühler.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what performance targets have been set for the Defence Analytical Services Agency for 2000–01. [120180]

Key Targets have been set for the Chief Executive of the Defence Analytical Services Agency for the financial year 2000–01. The targets build on the progress already made by the Agency since it was formed in 1992 and are as follows:

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the outcome of the Agriculture Council held in Luxembourg on 17 to 18 April; and if he will make a statement. [119918]

I represented the UK at the Agriculture Council meeting in Luxembourg on 17 April.The Council reached political agreement by qualified majority (only Denmark expressing dissent) on a Community wide system of rules for the compulsory labelling of beef. The first stage of the scheme—providing for most beef sold to consumers to show the member state where it was slaughtered and cut/deboned and the approval numbers of the relevant establishments—should come into effect on 1 September 2000. The second stage, coming into effect on 1 January 2002, will additionally require labelling by reference to country of origin. I welcomed this agreement which will ensure British consumers can look forward to clearer, more informative labelling on beef. The agreement will now be put to the European Parliament for its consideration with a view to adoption of a Regulation before 1 September.Commissioner Franz Fischler reported the latest developments in the WTO agriculture negotiations in Geneva. Along with many other Ministers, I welcomed the start of negotiations and encouraged the Commission to continue its efforts to facilitate the launch of a new Round of comprehensive trade negotiations and to continue pursuing a constructive line in the agriculture negotiations in accordance with the Council mandate agreed last autumn.Under Other Business, I raised concerns about the impact on British millers of the operation of a WTO concession permitting the import of maize from third countries into Spain and Portugal at reduced duty rates. Originally intended to cover maize for animal feed, an increasing proportion was being imported as flint maize which is used for processing into breakfast cereals. This was distorting the single market to the detriment of millers in the UK and other northern member states. Commissioner Fischler undertook to try to resolve this problem with the main exporting countries in time for the next marketing year.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what research assistance his Department gives to the (a) organic and (b) biotechnology sectors to help them establish the safety of their products. [118582]

I have been asked to reply, as responsibility for food safety and standards matters has now passed to the Food Standards Agency (FSA) which reports to Parliament through Health Ministers.The FSA funds extensive independent research programmes to support and further its aim of protecting public health from risks which could arise from the consumption of food. The results of these are made widely available to all sectors of the food industry via scientific literature, and from the agency on request, to assist them in ensuring that the food that they are supplying does not pose an unacceptable risk to health. The availability of the results is also publicised in the Agency's Food Safety Information Bulletin when the work has been completed.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many factory inspection visits on average (a) a principal inspector of health and safety and (b) a qualified inspector of health and safety, in a field office of the Field Operations Directorate of the Health and Safety Executive made in the last financial year. [118408]

The information requested cannot be produced at this time, because full-year data on inspectors' work for the year ended 31 March 2000 are not yet available and HSE's recording system does not make any distinction between factory inspection visits and inspection visits to other types of premises by Field Operations Directorate Inspections.In 1998–99 Field Operations Directorate inspectors carried out the number of inspection contacts shown in the following table.

The average number of inspection contacts completed, in 1998–99, by HSE Field Operations Directorate inspectors in operations groups
	Number
Principal inspector	33
Qualified inspector	160

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when the Review of Gas Safety will be published. [118904]

I anticipate receiving the findings and conclusions of the Health and Safety Commission on its review of gas safety in the summer. These findings will be publicised thereafter. Consequential legislative changes would be subject to the Commission's normal consultative process.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions which canal structures will be affected by British Waterways restoration plans. [119097]

British Waterways have a number of restoration projects in hand, each of which may affect canal structures. The hon. Member may wish to write to my noble Friend the Minister with responsibility for Inland Waterways if there are specific plans of concern to him.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the 10 largest urban areas by population in England which are more than six miles distant from a trunk road. [119180]

The list is as follows (in descending order of population):

• Southend-on-sea/Raleigh/Shoeburyness
• Margate/Ramsgate/Broadstairs
• Basildon
• Torquay/Paignton
• Harrogate
• Weymouth
• Clacton
• Canvey Island
• Braintree
• Bridlington.

In the July 1998 paper, "A new deal for trunk roads in England", the Government announced their intention to transfer to local authorities responsibility for approximately 40 per cent. of the current trunk road network. When implemented, this will increase the number of urban areas more than six miles distant from a trunk road.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what information he provided to his Japanese counterpart in respect of British Nuclear Fuels during his meeting in Japan on 8 and 9 April; if he will place in the Library copies of the documentation given to Japanese authorities on MOX plutonium fuel in connection with the meeting; and if he will make a statement on the outcome of the meeting. [119136]

I was in Japan to attend the G8 Environment Ministers meeting at Otsu from Friday 7 April to Sunday 9 April, and I am placing a copy of the communiquéissued at the end of the meeting in the House of Commons Library. There was no discussion of British Nuclear Fuels during this meeting.After the G8 meeting, I travelled to Tokyo and met the new Japanese Prime Minister Mori on 10 April. I expressed the UK Government's regret at the problems recently caused by BNFL and assured him that the Government would give the highest priority to sorting these out.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on his policy in respect of the use his Department, its agencies and public bodies will make of the powers relating to the authorised obtaining of communications data in Part I, Chapter II of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Bill once the Bill is enacted. [119506]

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given today by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department at column 509W.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the compatibility of the data matching activities of (a) the Audit Commission and (b) local authorities in respect of benefit fraud with Article 8 of the Human Rights Act 1998; what representations he or the Commission have received on this subject; and if he will make a statement. [119526]

It is the responsibility of the independent Audit Commission and local authorities to ensure that their data-matching activities conform to Article 8 of the Human Rights Act 1998. The Commission's legal advice is that the data-matching techniques, which it uses with local authorities, do so conform, and it is continuing discussions on these techniques and their implications with the Information Commissioner.We are not aware of any representations about the Human Rights Act and the data-matching activities of the Audit Commission or local authorities.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will review the operation of legislation to ensure that water companies do not save costs by switching off sewage treatment facilities at the risk of increasing pollution levels in coastal waters. [119580]

Legislation provides powers for the Environment Agency to set conditions in consents for water company discharges so that necessary water quality standards are met. Where disinfection processes are in place, the Environment Agency requires disinfection over the whole year except where there are no clear benefits to ecological or human interests. The Environment Agency has powers to prosecute water companies in breach of consent conditions.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to restrict the use of vehicles over 10 years old on British roads. [119755]

The Department has no plans to restrict the use of vehicles over 10 years old.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to include motorway driving in the driving test. [119756]

We have no plans to include motorway driving in the driving test. We include high-speed dual carriageways in driving test routes wherever possible, which require similar driving skills to motorways, and we examine knowledge of motorway rules in the theory test. The introduction of moving image hazard perception testing, in 2002, will offer us a further opportunity to test the skills needed to drive safely on motorways.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) if he has set targets for the Highways Agency for noise reduction and the use of noise-reducing surfaces; and if he will make a statement; [119760](2) if he will make a statement on his policy on reducing noise from trunk roads and motorways. [119761]

The Government set out their policy towards dealing with the problems of traffic noise on roads managed by the Highways Agency in "A New Deal for Trunk Roads in England". In addition to the increased use of quieter surfaces both for new roads and for roads needing maintenance, we proposed to set aside a budget for the Highways Agency to provide additional mitigation in the worst cases where no other action was being taken. The budget and qualifying criteria were announced on 22 March 1999 and a letter from the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency listing locations which would be subject to a detailed investigation of feasible measures was published in the 11 November 1999, Official Report, columns 681–83.For 2000–01, the Government have set a target for the Highways Agency to treat 10 sites from this list. Targets for future years will be reviewed in the light of progress.I have not set any target for the use of quieter road surfaces in general because the Highways Agency routinely considers their use in all cases where a trunk road needs to be re-surfaced. The Highways Agency currently uses quieter materials for approximately 80 per cent. of the total amount of resurfacing undertaken.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the compensation payments made to residents in the proximity of the M25 for excessive road noise. [119762]

Details of individual settlements between the Highways Agency and the claimants are confidential. However, the overall compensation paid since 1 January 1995 to date under Part 1 of the Land Compensation Act 1973 for noise and other factors is £24,213,027.It is not possible to provide information on payments prior to this date as our records are not specific to schemes.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if all claims relating to the French lorry drivers' dispute in 1997 have been settled. [119740]

We are not aware of any claims in respect of disputes in 1997. We understand, however, that all claims in respect of the lengthy blockade in November 1996 have now been processed by the French authorities, and payment agreed in the case of all eligible claims. This has been achieved after sustained effort over many months by staff in the Department and in the British Embassy in Paris.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he plans to publish the consultation paper on the management and disposal of nuclear waste referred to in the Government's response of October 1999 to the Lords Science and Technology Committee report on Management of Nuclear Waste (HL 41, 1998–99); and if he will make a statement. [119727]

We aim to publish the consultation paper on the management of radioactive waste when it is ready.The consultation paper will set out the procedures the Government intend to follow in order to choose and implement its radioactive waste management policy. It will not endorse deep disposal or any other management option.Copies will be placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many of the representations he has received from local authorities which were in favour of the new proposals on the index of local deprivation were from (a) district councils, (b) county councils and (c) metropolitan authorities; and if he will make a statement. [120030]

The responses which were in favour of the new proposals were from the following: 24 district councils; 20 county councils; 12 metropolitan authorities outside London; five London boroughs; eight unitary authorities and 20 'others' including several development partnerships.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many road (a) fatalities and (b) personal injury accidents took place in Greater London during 1999. [119809]

The information requested on personal injury accidents is not available. However, provisional estimates of road casualties for the first nine months of 1999 are given in the table.

Casualties in road accidents in Greater London January-September 1999
Severity of casualty	Number (provisional)
Fatal	196
Seriously injured	4,224
Slightly injured	29,056
Total	33,476

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to encourage the use of concessionary travel passes for retired people which can be used throughout the UK; and if he will make a statement. [119810]

Both the train operating companies and the National Express coach company already offer commercial discount cards for nation-wide travel by senior citizens. I would be interested in similar proposals from the bus industry.The Transport Bill at present before Parliament contains provisions to guarantee that all elderly people will be entitled to at least half-price travel on local buses; the associated bus pass will be free of charge. These measures will bring benefit to many pensioners and will be particularly welcome in areas where at present the local authority offers a less generous concessionary fare scheme, or none at all.At present schemes often cover only the area of the issuing local authority, but it will remain possible for local authorities to arrange travel outside their own area, as many do.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on progress with leasehold reform. [119805]

As was announced in the Gracious Speech given on 17 November 1999, Official Report, columns 4–7, we intend to publish a draft Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill for consultation during this session. My hon. Friend the Minister for Housing and Planning announced the publication of a summary of the main leasehold measures we intend to include in the draft Bill on 20 December 1999, Official Report, column 345W. Copies were placed in the Library. Following consultation on the draft Bill, we intend to bring forward legislation as soon as parliamentary time allows.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to ensure that mobile phone companies and local authorities undertake adequate public consultation before the erection of mobile phone masts. [119463]

It is important that the public has an opportunity to comment on the proposed installation of telecommunications masts. Where it is proposed to erect a mast subject to a planning application, the statutory requirement for a local authority to publicise any planning application will apply. In respect of mast development carried out under the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995 (GPDO), under the 42 day prior approval procedure, the operator is required to erect a site notice to publicise the development proposed, in order to provide the public with a clear opportunity to comment to the local planning authority on the siting and appearance of the proposed mast.The Independent Expert Group on Mobile Phones, set up at the instigation of the Government and chaired by Sir William Stewart FRS FRSE, is currently considering the possible health effects of the use of mobile phones, base stations and transmitters and is conducting a comprehensive assessment of existing research. The Group is expected to finalise its report shortly. The Government will consider the Group's recommendations and issue a response.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of Railtrack's figure for the investment needed to improve rail services and safety in Britain. [119458]

The Government have made clear that substantial sums will have to be invested in railway infrastructure to deliver the increased rail capacity and quality needed for the future. We will be publishing in the summer our 10-year plan for transport, which will set out indicative plans for transport expenditure, building on the advice of the Shadow Strategic Rail Authority, and responses of the Rail Regulator and others to Railtrack's 2000 Network Management Statement.The process of reviewing the 2000 Network Management Statement is carried out by the Rail Regulator. He announced on 30 March 2000 that he would be consulting with the Shadow Strategic Rail Authority, PTEs and train operators, to determine in particular whether the plans meet their needs and aspirations.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what discussions he has had with Railtrack regarding future levels of investment in railways, with particular reference to the West Coast Main Line and railways in the North-west. [119459]

A group consisting of officials from the shadow Strategic Rail Authority (sSRA), the Office of the Rail Regulator, Railtrack and the train operators involved in the West Coast Main Line, both passenger and freight, has been established and meets regularly. The sSRA reports to Ministers as necessary. Railtrack has confirmed that it is on course to meet its contractual commitments to Virgin in 2002 and 2005. The Rail Regulator has published a draft final order he proposes to make, which would require Railtrack to produce robust plans which demonstrate that it can in fact do so, and that it can meet the reasonable requirements of other train operators and funders including the sSRA. The sSRA has input into all development plans for the railways via consultation with Railtrack, both on a formal and, on an informal basis.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what discussion he has had with Railtrack since the Paddington disaster with regard to reducing the possibility of signals 109 Ladbroke Grove, S862 Swinton Manchester, MP503 Ordsall Lane Manchester, MP324 Ardwick Junction Manchester Piccadilly, MP332 Ardwick Junction, North Manchester and MP64 Lonsight Manchester being passed at danger; and what action has been taken. [119460]

After the accident at Ladbroke Grove, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) issued one prohibition notice and two improvement notices to Railtrack requiring them to reduce the risk of the signals listed being passed at danger. Since then, the HSE has been in detailed discussion with Railtrack about these signals. As a result, Railtrack has been given until 22 May 2000 to implement an action plan for reducing the risk of these signals being passed at danger.

To ask the Secretary of State for jythe Environment, Transport and the Regions what his Department's policy is on (a) advertising and (b) acknowledging company sponsorship on the websites of his Department, agencies and non-departmental public bodies; which companies (i) have placed advertisements and (ii) are acknowledged as sponsors on those websites; how much revenue has been received for each financial year since 1997 from such advertisements and sponsorship; and if that revenue has been retained within the budget of his Department, agencies and non-departmental public bodies. [119546]

The DETR's policy for its main website complies with the Cabinet Office's framework policy and guidelines for the use, management and design of public sector websites. These form part of the e-government strategy (formerly known as the Government corporate IT strategy). Copies of this document are available from the Library of the House.DETR's main website has not so far carried any advertising nor been sponsored by companies. Were we to accept sponsorship, it would be subject to the policy for other forms of publication, which is in line with the Cabinet Office note "Guidance for Departments on Sponsorship", May 1997. Copies of this document are also available from the Library of the House.Above all, acknowledgement of any sponsorship would not imply any endorsement of the sponsor's goods or services, nor be open to misinterpretation as influencing policy making.It will take longer to gather information requested in respect of the Department's Agencies and NDPBs. I will write to the hon. Member with this information and place a copy in the Library in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions on how many occasions since 1998 (a) the sleeping cars and (b) the rest of the Royal Train have been hired out to (i) Government departments and (ii) commercial undertakings; and if he will make a statement. [119852]

The Train has been used once for official Government business since 1998—for a function hosted by Mrs. Blair for the wives of the G8 Heads of Government on 16 May 1998. The Train, including sleeping cars, has not been hired out to any commercial undertakings during this period. The Train is available for use by Government departments and appropriate organisations, on a reimbursable basis.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many properties in the Ribble Valley, Pendle, Blackburn with Darwen, Burnley, Rossendale and Hyndburn are in council tax bands (a) A and (b) H; and what percentage of the total number of properties in each council area this represents. [119849]

The information requested is given in the table. The number of dwellings in bands A and H are as shown on the Valuation List for the authority on 15 October 1999.

	Band A		Band H
	Number	% of total	Number	% of total
Ribble Valley	3,022	13.2	181	0.8
Pendle	24,427	64.8	48	0.1
Blackburn with Darwen	36,692	62.8	63	0.1
Burnley	26,184	64.5	17	0.04
Rossendale	15,613	54.0	39	0.1
Hyndburn	21,624	61.3	12	0.03

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will take steps to enable the Union Flag to be printed on car number plates; and if he will make a statement. [119774]

I refer the hon. Member to the announcement made by my noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State on 30 March, copies of which were placed in the Libraries of both Houses, on our proposed number plate regulations. These included the optional display of the GB national identifier on a blue background on the left edge of the plate, an option which dispenses with the need for "GB sticker" when travelling in Europe. We have no plans for other symbols to be included on number plates. People are free to decorate their vehicles with such flags, designs or messages they choose, providing they do not obscure their vision or the number plate.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what criteria water authorities may use when calculating water charges; and if he will make a statement. [119772]

Except as provided otherwise, a water company, under section 142 of the Water Industry Act 1991, may fix charges by reference to such matters and may adopt such methods and principles for the calculation and imposition of the charges as appear to them to be appropriate. This discretion is governed by specific conditions set by the Director General of Water Services in companies' instruments of appointment, notably the price limits and a prohibition on undue discrimination and undue preference in charging.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what discussions he has had with British Nuclear Fuels in respect of its plans to increase the maximum speed of transportation of spent nuclear fuels on the railways. [120043]

Discussions take place between my officials and representatives of BNFL on a regular basis. On several of these occasions over the past few years the issue of the maximum speed of transportation of spent nuclear fuels on the railways has been raised. To date there has been no change in the speed limit, and such a change would only be permitted after agreement by all the appropriate safety regulators.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what consents are necessary from his and other Government Departments and agencies for the construction and operation of an (a) onshore and (b) offshore wind farm; and if he will make a statement. [119924]

The position is:(a) An onshore wind farm needs planning permission under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.(b) An offshore wind farm requires either an Order made by the relevant Secretary of State under the Transport and Works Act 1992, or navigation consent under Section 34 of the Coast Protection Act 1949 and a licence from the Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food under the Food and Environmental Protection Act 1985 for the placing of materials in the sea or on the sea-bed. Wind farms within UK waters also require a licence from the Crown Estate Commissioners as owners of the sea-bed. Wind-energy developments with a capacity greater than 50MW also require consent under Section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what measures he is taking to revise drinking water regulations in England, following the requirement to implement the new EC Drinking Water Directive by December 2003. [120067]

My Department has today issued a consultation paper setting out proposals to bring standards for drinking water supplied by English water companies into line with those set out in the new EC Drinking Water Directive. Responses are invited by 30 June 2000.The quality of drinking water is a vital element of public health. Its overall quality in England and Wales is very high. Of the nearly three million tests carried out on drinking water in 1998, 99.78 per cent. met the required standard. The new regulations will revise and tighten standards to take account of the latest scientific and medical advice. The most important change proposed is a reduction from 50μg/1 to 10μg/1 by 2013 in the maximum permitted concentration of lead in drinking water. This change is in accordance with the latest World Health Organisation guidelines and is introduced primarily to protect unborn children and infants. Neuro toxic effects from exposure to excessive levels of lead are known to contribute to problems in learning and behaviour and to slightly lower IQs.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what targets he has set for the Rent Service. [120068]

Key targets have been agreed for the Agency. They are included in the Agency's Business Plan, which includes management objectives, performance indicators and key tasks. Copies of the Business Plan will be placed in the Library in due course.The key targets for the Rent Service are:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what performance targets he has set Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre Executive Agency for 2000–01. [120279]

The Agency's principal financial target for 2000–01 is to achieve a minimum contribution to the Exchequer of £1,450,000.Operational targets have been set to increase occupancy of the three key conference areas as follows: Churchill Auditorium to 225 days; Fleming Room to 225 days; Mountbatten Room to 225 days.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what targets he has set for the (a) Driving Standards Agency, (b) Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency, (c) Vehicle Certification Agency and (d) the Vehicle Inspectorate. [120280]

Key targets have been set for the agencies. They are included in the agencies' business plans which also include management objectives, performance indicators and key tasks appropriate to the agencies' businesses. Copies of the business plans will be placed in the Library in due course.The key targets for the Driving Standards Agency are to: contribute to the achievement of a 40 per cent. reduction in riders and drivers killed or seriously injured in road accidents, in the age group up to age 24 years, by 2010 (compared with an average for 1994–98) and to achieve the following customer service targets:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he will announce the outcome of his Department's review of the property industry's Code of Practice on Commercial Property Leases; and if he will make a statement. [120069]

Research which I am publishing today shows that small business tenants still have little knowledge of property matters. I consider it essential that they should be properly informed, to enable them to get the best deals in the market rather than the standard packages still too often on offer.I urge the industry and professions to join Government in ensuring that small businesses, and particularly those starting in business for the first time, have access to information about property arrangements. We will be making a contribution through the new Small Business Service, but I look to the industry and the professions to play their part.We need to consider how Government, industry and the professions can be more proactive. It is not just a matter of providing information: we need to prompt those setting up in business to ask the right questions at the outset, to help them make the right choices, thus ensuring that their form of property occupation assists rather than hinders their business development.The research, on the impact of the Code of Practice on Commercial Property Leases since its introduction in 1995, was carried out by Reading University and was designed to see how far the Code of Practice had brought about more flexibility in the commercial property market.The findings show that while the Code itself has had little impact, the market is now granting much shorter leases and has become more transparent.I am concerned that upward-only rent reviews still predominate in longer leases, and while I welcome the report's evidence of greater flexibility, I am disappointed that the Code of Practice has not had a greater influence.To see if we can avoid regulating lease terms, I invite the industry and property professions to consider:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when the residual work of the Civil Aviation Authority in administering the Public Safety Zone policy will be transferred to his Department. [120070]

Since 1 January 1982, the Civil Aviation Authority has, under a Memorandum of Understanding negotiated with the then Secretary of State for Trade, undertaken responsibility, on behalf of the Secretary of State, for advising local authorities on planning applications relating to sites within Public Safety Zones. The draft circular issued for consultation on 15 June 1999 contained guidance to local authorities to enable them to decide planning applications within Public Safety Zones without the need for advice from the Authority. In the light of the comments received on the draft circular, I am satisfied that I should meet the Authority's wish to discontinue its role in Public Safety Zone administration. The Authority will be terminating the Memorandum of Understanding with early effect. In the interim period before the new circular comes into effect, my Department will be willing to provide advice to local authorities in place of the Authority where this would be appropriate.The announcement of 15 June 1999 also referred to the establishment of Public Safety Zones at other airports for which modelling work suggested that this would be justified. In the light of the modelling work so far completed, Public Safety Zones will be established for Biggin Hill, Exeter, Humberside, Inverness and Plymouth airports.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what progress he has made in his negotiations with newspaper publishers to develop a voluntary agreement for increases in the levels of recycled content in newspapers; and if he will make a statement. [120297]

I am pleased to be able to announce today the successful conclusion of my negotiations with the newspaper publishers. Ten years ago, the publishers entered into a voluntary agreement with the Government to increase levels of recycled fibre in newspapers. Over the last decade this has led to increases in the recycled content of newspapers from 28 per cent. to 52.4 per cent.Both I and the newspaper publishers acknowledge that to achieve further significant increases in recycled content will require a major addition to the recycled output from British newspaper mills. However, in anticipation that the new capacity will be forthcoming within the next two years UK publishers have agreed the following targets: 60 per cent. by the end of 2001; 65 per cent. by the end of 2003; 70 per cent. by the end of 2006.The newspaper publishers have said that it is their firm intention to achieve these targets but the Government recognise that there may be factors beyond their control. Progress towards these targets will, therefore, be continually monitored by the Newspaper Recycling Working Group with formal in-depth reviews carried out at each target stage. At these reviews, the following factors will be taken into account:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what are the findings of the Financial Management and Policy Review of the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution. [120298]

The Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution advises Ministers on dangers to the environment, environmental issues and priorities, and ways of integrating environmental concerns and objectives with other, economic and social, objectives in order to achieve sustainable development. As a non-departmental public body, the Commission is subject to a financial management and policy review every five years and my Department appointed in-house consultants last January to undertake this work. The Review, which comprised two stages, is now complete. Stage 1 found that there is a continuing need for the Royal Commission to advise Government on environmental policy and sustainable development and that the Commission provided the most efficient and cost-effective means of delivering this.The second stage of the Review considered the performance of the Commission in greater depth, making recommendations on the Commission's relationship with Government; its strategic planning arrangements, including processes for reviewing performance and auditing impact; internal organisation and working methods, financial management, staffing and the role of the secretariat; and membership arrangements, including appointments. The overall conclusion of the Review is very positive and, though a number of recommendations are intended to enhance effectiveness, the Review commends the Commission for action which it has already taken to update and improve its working methods.We accept all the findings of the Review and are developing an implementation strategy for future action taking up its Recommendations. The Review is available on my Department's website www.detr.gov.uk and copies are being placed in the Library of the House. A detailed Implementation Strategy is being prepared, which will also be available on the DETR website.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how he plans to consider the application by EasyJet Airline Ltd. for an order under section 40 of the Airports Act 1986 designating London Luton Airport as an airport at which a cap would be imposed on the maximum amount to be levied by the airport operators by way of airport charges. [120340]

As provided for in section 16 of the Civil Aviation Act 1982, I have asked the Civil Aviation Authority for assistance and advice in this matter. The Authority will take representations from EasyJet and London Luton Airport Operations Ltd., and seek views from other interested parties as it sees fit. I have asked the Authority to report to me, with a recommendation, by the end of July.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what policies are in place to cover the management of separated plutonium and plutonium contaminated wastes in the United Kingdom. [119133]

[holding answer 13 April 2000]: I have been asked to reply.The Government's policies on these materials are set out in United Kingdom Civil Nuclear Policy Including Plutonium, which was presented to the House in January 1998, and Review of Radioactive Waste Management Policy Final Conclusions, Cm 2919 of July 1995, respectively.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make a statement on consultation on the Communications Reform White Paper. [120179]

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry and I encourage anyone with ideas or thoughts on the substance of the White Paper to submit them to us, either in writing or via our e-mail address, consultation@communicationswhitepaper.gov.uk, by 23 June 2000.Unless contributors make it clear that they do not want their contributions to be published, we intend to place most of the material submitted to us on our website. We hope that this will generate further comment and debate as we prepare the main messages of the White Paper.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what his Department's policy is on (a) advertising and (b) acknowledging company sponsorship on the websites of his Department, agencies and non-departmental public bodies; which companies (i) have placed advertisements and (ii) are acknowledged as sponsors on those websites; how much revenue has been received for each financial year since 1997 from such advertisements and sponsorship; and if that revenue has been retained within the budget of his Department, agencies and non-departmental public bodies. [119553]

My Department's policy on website advertising is in accordance with that set out in the Framework policy and guidelines for the use, management and design of public sector websites, which forms part of the e-government strategy.My Department's policy on website sponsorship is the same as that which applies to any other form of Departmental publication.No advertisements have appeared on the Departmental or agency websites in the period mentioned. Nor have any website sponsorship arrangements been entered into.Information on the non-departmental public body sites could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the use made of the weekly Mojahed publication by (a) the terrorist group Mujaheddin Khalq Organisation of Iran and (b) the National Council of Resistance in Iran; if this publication is registered as a newspaper with the Post Office; and if he will make a statement on the contents of this publication. [119017]

This Government's position on both the Mujaheddin-e-Khalq Organisation (MKO) and the National Council for the Resistance of Iran (NCRI) is clear. We do not recognise the NCRI, of which the MKO is the dominant group. The British Government remain firmly opposed to the violence practised by the MKO.We understand that the Mojahed publication is registered as a newspaper with the Post Office. As long as people do not break our laws, they are free to express views with which we might profoundly disagree.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many countries receive BBC World Service broadcasts. [119590]

The BBC World Service broadcasts to all countries in the world. The latest weekly global audience figure of 151 million is based on surveys of listeners in 122 countries. There are very few places where the World Service cannot be received. But in a number of places it is difficult or impossible to measure audiences.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has held with his ministerial colleagues in the European Union concerning the appointment of a commission by the Indian Government relating to religious freedom in India; and if he will make a statement. [119561]

Officials in our High Commission in New Delhi regularly discuss human rights issues, including freedom of religion, with their EU counterparts. I also discussed rights of minorities, including religious minorities, with my Indian interlocutors during my visit there in November. We will continue to monitor the situation closely.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made in the current discussions about issues concerning Gibraltar in the European Union. [119997]

I am pleased to announce that, following extensive consultation with the Government of Gibraltar and with their support, and with the encouragement of our EU partners, the United Kingdom has successfully concluded discussions with Spain to overcome difficulties which have arisen on a number of issues within the European Union concerning Gibraltar. As a result:

arrangements have been established whereby formal communications and notification of decisions between Gibraltar authorities and their counterparts in other member states under EU legislation will be conveyed through a Unit established in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London. The arrangements will enable Gibraltar to derive immediate benefits in the development of its banking and insurance industries. They will unblock important measures for the development of the single market and in the Justice and Home Affairs field to the benefit of the UK and Gibraltar and prevent similar blockages in the future. The arrangements uphold the constitutional position of Gibraltar, while at the same time removing a major obstacle to the development of EU business. The arrangements are being notified to the Secretary General of the Council in Brussels together with an exchange of correspondence between the UK and Spanish Permanent Representatives to the EU. A copy of the exchange of correspondence and the arrangements will be placed in the Library of the House.

the identity card issued in Gibraltar will be recognised as a valid travel document throughout the EU, following some reformatting which is proposed by the Government of Gibraltar to associate the identity card with the UK as the member state responsible for Gibraltar. The UK Permanent Representative to the EU is writing to the Permanent Representatives of all other EU member states to inform them of the proposed reformatting. A copy of this letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

arrangements will be established under the Schengen Convention to enhance co-operation between the Royal Gibraltar Police and the Spanish police forces in the fight against transfrontier and other crimes in the region, as part of the Europe-wide fight against crime called for at the Tampere Special European Council last October and in keeping with Gibraltar's longstanding commitment in this respect. These arrangements have been initialled. The intention is that they will be signed by the Home Secretary and his Spanish counterpart, as required by the Schengen Convention, when the Council Decision on the UK Schengen application is adopted. A copy of the initialled text will be placed in the Library of the House.

a revised version of the draft Council Decision on the UK's Schengen application, including the relevant addition covering Gibraltar which has hitherto been left open, will be circulated by the Presidency shortly. It will provide for Gibraltar's participation in all the provisions in which the UK participates (except the Schengen Information System and cross border surveillance). It will be submitted to the scrutiny committee.

The Government welcome the outcome of these discussions. It represents a very good outcome for the UK, for Gibraltar and for all our EU partners. We hope that it will also help to improve the climate of dialogue and the spirit of co-operation with regard to Gibraltar between Spain, and the UK and Gibraltar.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of (a) the appointment of the Presidential Special Representative for Human Rights in Chechnya and (b) whether Council of Europe representatives working with him will have operational freedom to investigate human rights abuses without hindrance from the Russian authorities. [119453]

We accept that the appointment of Mr. Kalamanov is intended to demonstrate Russia's commitment to its human rights undertakings in Chechnya. We have supported the efforts of the Council of Europe's Secretary General to establish conditions for the attachment of CoE Representatives to Mr. Kalamanov's office which ensure that they will be able to examine and report cases of human rights violations which are brought to their attention.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions donor countries have had with the countries of South Eastern Europe with respect to their role as parties to the Stability Pact. [119455]

Donor countries have had numerous discussions with countries of South Eastern Europe about the Stability Pact, both multilaterally and bilaterally. The most recent multilateral meeting was the Regional Funding Conference which I attended in Brussels on 29–30 March.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions are taking place between Albania, Bulgaria and Macedonia and Stability Pact donors about finance for Corridor 8. [119457]

Albania, Bulgaria and Macedonia discussed the question of Corridor eight most recently at a meeting of their Foreign Ministers on 24 March. We know from the summary of basic infrastructure investments prepared by the European Investment Bank for the Regional Funding Conference for South-Eastern Europe that Albania has also had discussions with the European Investment Bank and Italy about its proposals for Corridor eight. Decisions on allocating funds to particular projects in the framework of the Stability Pact are expected soon.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what resources have been committed by each significant donor to the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe; which resources have already been disbursed; and for what purpose. [119454]

The Office of the Special Co-ordinator of the Stability Pact has not yet produced details of donor commitments. The total commitment made at the recent Regional Funding Conference for South-Eastern Europe was over 2.4 billion euros. The Office of the Special Co-ordinator is arranging a meeting to discuss commitments to individual projects.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress is being made on bilateral and multilateral initiatives with respect to (a) economic development, (b) trade and (c) organised crime and corruption in South Eastern Europe. [119456]

Numerous initiatives concerning these issues have been submitted by individual countries and international financial institutions. A large number have been proposed under the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe and were tabled at the Regional Funding Conference in Brussels 29–30 March (details are on www.stabilitypact.org). The Office of the Special Co-ordinator is arranging a meeting to discuss commitments to individual projects.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent exchanges he has had with the Russian Foreign Minister on human rights. [119504]

During my right hon. Friend's visit to Moscow in February human rights were high on the agenda for talks with Acting President Putin and Foreign Minister Ivanov, with the focus very much on Chechnya. The Prime Minister also discussed Chechnya at length with Acting President Putin in St. Petersburg on 11 March and most recently on 17 April.

To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, what steps the House of Commons has taken following the judgment of the High Court in the case of Harmon v. Corporate Officer of the House of Commons. [119804]

On 28 October 1999, His Honour Judge Lloyd QC gave judgment on liability in this action, which was brought by an unsuccessful tenderer for the fenestration contract for Portcullis House. The judge held that the Corporate Officer, on behalf of the House, was liable to Harmon for breach of the Public Works Contracts Regulations 1991, of European law and implied contract. The action is now continuing for the purpose of assessing the amount of the damages.Concerned by the judgment, the House of Commons Commission asked the Clerk of the House to arrange an independent inquiry. On 17 January 2000, the Clerk accordingly appointed Sir Thomas Legg KCB QC, a former Permanent Secretary of the Lord Chancellor's Department, and Mr. Peter Bosworth, a consultant specialising in project management, to consider the judgment in the case, to inquire into the circumstances which led to it, and to advise him, and through him the Commission, on any action to be taken, including any changes in the structure and practices of the Parliamentary Works Directorate.Sir Thomas and Mr. Bosworth completed their inquiry, and submitted their report, on 21 March 2000. The action is still

To ask the President of the Council, pursuant to her oral answer of 6 April 2000, Official Report, column 1152, if she has initiated a review of procedures for making documents available to hon. Members; in what terms she has written to her ministerial colleagues on their responsibilities to the House; and if she will publish their responses and her conclusions at the end of this review. [118657]

I have written, in my capacity as Leader of the House, to ministerial colleagues reminding them of the importance of making documents available to hon. Members in the House.I also refer the right hon. Member to Madam Speaker's comments on 18 April 2000,

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much has been spent on (a) the upkeep and (b) the purchase of works of art in his Department for each financial year since 1992. [117477]

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him by the Under-Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, my hon. Friend the Member for Newport, East (Mr. Howarth) on 4 April 2000, Official Report, columns 392–93W.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the percentage of police officer time in Leicestershire spent on paperwork in the last year for which figures are available. [113169]

Information on the proportion of time spent by police officers on different tasks is not held centrally. The Association of Chief Police Officers is currently recommending a paper-based method of activity sampling which can be subjected to automated analysis, and is examining Information Technology solutions for the future. These will be compatible with systems being developed under the Home Office's National Strategy for Police Information Systems (NSPIS).The Government are determined to do everything in their power to help increase the effectiveness of the police in fighting crime, and to ensure that officers are able to spend as much of their time as possible on the front line, as the following measures demonstrate:The NSPIS Custody and Case Preparation systems, in which we recently announced a new £40 million investment, will minimise the effort involved in completing forms from arrest to prosecution. There are about 1.3 million paper case-files a year which travel between the police, the Crown Prosecution Service and the courts. In the course of preparing cases, police officers complete many different forms, repeating information which had already been made available for other legal requirements. The Custody and Case Preparation systems will automatically share information for delivery to the relevant bodies. This not only saves the police time completing forms, but also avoids making mistakes which take further time to resolve.The National Automated Fingerprint Identification System (NAFIS) will make possible the electronic capture and identification of fingerprints directly from those who come into custody. This eliminates the need for paper copies and clerical activity and speeds up access to any relevant history.The introduction of the Public Service Radio Communications System (PSRCS), which will provide data as well as voice communications, will give the police direct information links to police computer systems while they are on patrol, reducing the need to return to the station to complete forms or to obtain important operational information and increasing their operational availability.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what methodologies have been developed to estimate the time spent by police officers on (a) paperwork, (b) detection and (c) prevention of crime; and if he will make a statement. [114365]

[holding answer 13 March 2000]: Information on the proportion of time spent by police officers on different tasks is not held centrally. The Association of Chief Police Officers is currently recommending a paper-based method of activity sampling which can be subjected to automated analysis, and is examining Information Technology solutions for the future. These will be compatible with systems being developed under the Home Office's National Strategy for Police Information Systems (NSPIS).The Government are determined to do everything in their power to help increase the effectiveness of the police in fighting crime, and to ensure that officers are able to spend as much of their time as possible on the front line, as the following measures demonstrate:The NSPIS Custody and Case Preparation systems, in which we recently announced a new £40 million investment, will minimise the effort involved in completing forms from arrest to prosecution. There are about 1.3 million paper case-files a year which travel between the police, the Crown Prosecution Service and the courts. In the course of preparing cases, police officers complete many different forms, repeating information which had already been made available for other legal requirements. The Custody and Case Preparation systems will automatically share information for delivery to the relevant bodies. This not only saves the police time completing forms, but also avoids making mistakes which take further time to resolve.The National Automated Fingerprint Identification System (NAFIS) will; make possible the electronic capture and identification of fingerprints directly from those who come into custody. This eliminates the need for paper copies and clerical activity and speeds up access to any relevant history.The introduction of the Public Service Radio Communications System (PSRCS), which will provide data as well as voice communications, will give the police direct information links to police computer systems while they are on patrol, reducing the need to return to the station to complete forms or to obtain important operational information and increasing their operational availability.Measures introduced last November following the recommendations of the Narey report on Delays in the Criminal Justice systems have gone some way towards reducing the administrative burdens on police officers, and it may be that action which is now being taken pursuant to the Glidewell report on the Crown Prosecution Service will also help in this respect. But work on prosecution case files forms only a part, albeit an important one, of the paperwork required of the police.The Cabinet Office 'Public Sector Efficiency Team', set up to investigate and provide ways of reducing the burden of bureaucracy in the public sector, have recently published "Making a Difference: Reducing Police Paperwork". The report examines the impact of paperwork on front-line officers, identifying forms that are a burden to the police. It sets out practical solutions that will lead to a significant reduction in the amount of time police have to spend on paperwork by simplifying or removing reports from the system.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what previous political activity will make a person unsuitable to be appointed as an electoral commissioner. [119147]

The recruitment process to find the Commissioners will begin shortly and applicants will be asked to declare any political activity within the last ten years. It will be for the selection panel to determine whether that activity has been such as to make the applicant unsuitable for consideration for appointment. For the Commission to perform effectively the functions given to it by Parliament, it must command wide confidence that it is entirely independent and non-partisan. Accordingly, Commissioners must not be, or be perceived to be, associated with any political party.We also think that it is right that there should be statutory disqualifiers. My noble Friend, the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department said on Second Reading of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Bill in another place that the Government intend to bring forward amendments to disqualify from appointment as Commissioners persons who have had substantial involvement in party politics.The Government will be seeking to disqualify any person who within the last ten years has

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the number of Kosovan refugees living in Greater London. [118830]

Information on the number of Kosovan refugees living in Greater London is not available.Information on the location of refugees is not available, since once an asylum seeker becomes a refugee they no longer are an immigration case, so the Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND) do not hold any further information on the person/family.Kosovan asylum seekers are not separately identified within IND statistics. Kosovo is a region in Yugoslavia and applications from Kosovans are included within the nationality Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY), which also includes Serbia and Montenegro. Information on asylum seekers is recorded on a national rather than regional basis and information on the location of asylum seekers is not held centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many recorded incidents of (a) suicide, (b) attempted suicide and (c) self-injury at youth offenders' institutions in England there were in each year since 1991. [119139]

The information requested is given in the tables.

Self-inflicted deaths at young offender institutions 1991–2000
	Number
1991	4
1992	4
1993	1
1994	1
1995	2
1996	6
1997	5
1998	5
1999	8
20001	1
Total	37
1 As at 14 April 2000

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many recorded incidents of (a) suicide, (b) attempted suicide and (c) self-injury there were at Brinsford Young Offenders' Institution in each year since the prison was opened. [119023]

The information requested is given in the tables.

Self-inflicted deaths at HMYOI and RC Brinsford 1991–20001
	Number
1991	0
1992	1
1993	0
1994	1
1995	0
1996	1
1997	0
1998	0
1999	2
20001	2
Total	7

Incidents of self-harm at HMYOI and RC Brinsford 1990–91 to 1999–2000
	Number
1990–91	0
1991–92	30
1992–93	77
1993–94	61
1994–95	237
1995–96	301
1996–97	157
1997–98	90
1998–99	105
1999–002	n/a
1 As at 14 April 2000
2 Not yet available

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will request an inquest into the death of Mary Walls; and if he will make a statement. [117956]

[holding answer 6 April 2000]: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Stalybridge and Hyde (Mr. Pendry) on 18 April 2000, Official Report, column 423W.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the annual cost to the public of making telephone calls to a police central switchboard at national rates; and if he will assess the benefits of subsidising the service in order to encourage more people to report crime. [119232]

The Home Office has made no such estimate.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in relation to the Metropolitan Police disciplinary hearing for Sergeant Gurpal Virdi in February, what was the outcome of the request for a tape recorder; what assurance was given of the availability of the transcript; how many days have passed since the end of the hearing without a transcript being made available to Sergeant Virdi; when the police solicitors received a copy; and if he will authorise the release of the transcript. [119477]

The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis informs me that Counsel for Sergeant Virdi withdrew his request for the proceedings to be separately tape-recorded. As a result, no tape recorder was provided for the defendant. A private company employed by the Metropolitan police undertook the official transcription and indicated that they would be able to provide a full transcript within 17 working days from the conclusion of the hearing. Thirty working days have passed since the conclusion of the hearing on 3 March 2000. The Metropolitan Police Complaints Investigation Branch took delivery of the transcripts on 12 April. These are now being collated with all the other relevant papers and will be sent simultaneously to Sergeant Virdi and Metropolitan police solicitors as soon as they are ready. The release of the transcripts is a matter for the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations the Metropolitan police made about the date of the tribunal on the unfair dismissal claim by Sergeant Gurpal Virdi; and when they first asked for a postponement. [119478]

The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis informs me that the position in relation to Sergeant Gurpal Virdi's case before the employment tribunal remains unaltered since my reply to the hon. Gentleman on 30 November 1999, Official Report, column 110W, and that no further postponement has been sought by the Metropolitan police.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his policy in respect of the use his Department, its agencies and public bodies will make of the powers relating to the authorised obtaining of communications data in Part I, Chapter II of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Bill once the Bill is enacted. [119510]

Part I, Chapter II of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Bill provides the law enforcement, security and intelligence agencies with the power to require communications data, such as subscriber details and itemised billing, in a closely controlled manner and for a number of specific purposes such as preventing or detecting crime.The Bill provides greater safeguards than those which are currently in place for the provision of such data under the Data Protection Act regime, but the purposes for which it may be obtained under the new legislation are very similar. As a result, I do not expect any significant change in the extent to which communications data are obtained.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects the Immigration and Nationality Directorate to make a decision on the case of Home Office visa application number S1016548 in the name of Phailin Sae Kuay; and if he will make a statement. [119657]

A decision has now been made in this case and a reply to the hon. Member was sent on 17 April from the Integrated Casework Directorate.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to set a national level of fines on people parking illegally in areas reserved for disabled drivers. [119303]

[holding answer 17 April 2000]: There is a maximum national level of fines for the offence of parking illegally in an area reserved for disabled drivers. The maximum penalty is a level 3 fine, currently £1,000. When such offences are brought before the courts it is for the court to decide the nature and severity of penalties, taking account of the circumstances of the offence and the offender.More commonly, such offences are dealt with under the fixed penalty system in which the offender is required to pay a fixed penalty notice in lieu of prosecution. This is currently £20 for all such non-endorsable offences outside London, £30 inside London and £40 on Red Routes. The different levels of penalty reflect greater traffic pressures and congestion in London and the need for greater compliance. The level of fixed penalty are under review.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to respond to the crime of distraction burglary. [120181]

Bogus callers claim over 16,000 victims every year, but the true figure is believed to be much higher because many people do not report the burglary.This is a particularly nasty crime as its victims are usually the most vulnerable people in our society; more often than not they are older people living alone.I have established a steering group bringing together government and industry. Its membership is made up of: Severn Trent Water, Water UK, the Electricity Association, the Association of Chief Police Officers, Age Concern, BT Security, Crime Concern, Crimestoppers, the National Neighbourhood Watch Association, the Institute of Trading Standards, the National Housing Federation and the Womens Royal Volunteer Service. It first met on 11 April and is currently finalising a detailed set of proposals to take forward its work.This group will:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his Department's policy is on (a) advertising and (b) acknowledging company sponsorship on the websites of his Department, agencies and non-departmental public bodies; which companies (i) have placed advertisements and (ii) are acknowledged as sponsors on those websites; how much revenue has been received for each financial year since 1997 from such advertisements and sponsorship; and if that revenue has been retained within the budget of his Department, agencies and non-departmental public bodies. [119549]

My Department's policy follows the guidance given in the Framework policy and guidelines for the use, management and design of public sector websites. This document, which forms part of the e-government strategy, can be found on the website of the Information Age Government Champions. The official websites of my Department and its executive agencies do not currently carry any advertising or company sponsorship and have never done so in the past. The non-departmental public bodies have set up their own websites independently of the Home Office in most cases. The information requested for these bodies is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will place a copy of Professor Paul Weller's report containing recommendations on the Coronation Service in the Library. [119721]

A copy of Professor Paul Weller's interim report on his research project on religious discrimination was placed in the Library on 27 January. The report mentions the Coronation Service in passing, but makes no recommendations about it.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 13 April 2000, Official Report, column 258W, if his estimates of the cost of a police recruit, published in the Crime Fighting Fund bidding guidelines still apply; what the cost is of providing (a) the 2,000 additional recruits in 2000–01 and (b) the 3,000 additional recruits in 2001–02; if he has announced funding for the provision of the 2,000 additional recruits in 2000–01 above the £11 million he announced on 6 April 2000 and the £35 million he announced on 30 September 1999; what discussions he has had with police forces on the revised allocation of those recruits and of funding for them; if he will publish the revised allocation; and if he will make a statement. [119780]

I refer the right hon. Member to the reply I gave her on 6 April 2000, Official Report, columns 595–96W.The estimates of the cost of a police recruit as set out in the Crime Fighting Fund bidding guidelines, a copy of which was placed in the Library on 2 December 1999, still apply. My officials have held discussions with police service and police authority representatives and I will make a further announcement as soon as the details of the accelerated scheme have been finalised.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if his Department has carried out research into the impact on life expectancy for residents of the closure of residential homes for the elderly; and if he will make a statement. [119470]

There has been no research carried out into the impact on life expectancy for residents of the closure of residential homes for the elderly.We are considering the need for such research and expect to make an announcement in the near future.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health on how many occasions, during official visits outside London, the Under-Secretary of State for Health, the hon. Member for Birmingham, Edgbaston (Ms Stuart), has met (a) trade union representatives and (b) Community Health Council representatives. [119471]

I have met representatives of trades unions, staff and Community Health Councils informally during official visits outside London. I also met with members of the Manufacturing, Science and Finance Union on 4 November 1999 and the Association of Community Health Councils for England and Wales on 22 February 2000 in London.Both organisations have a role to play in modernising the National Health Service and I will continue to meet with their representatives as appropriate.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what representations he has received from LEAs requesting central Government ring-fenced financing for voice output communication aids in special schools for pupils with communication difficulties; and if he will make a statement; [119221](2) what steps his Department is taking to help special schools and LEAs to improve the provision of communication aids for children with speech and communication problems; [119222](3) if he will make a statement on his Department's policy on the provision of voice output communication aids in special schools, for children with learning disabilities and lack of verbal communication skills; [119223](4) what responsibility his Department has for the provision of voice output communication aids for pupils attending special schools who have health-related disabilities; and if he will make a statement. [119224]

We have received no direct representations from local education authorities about communication aids for children in special schools.Between 1992 and 1995, the Department, in collaboration with the Department for Education and Employment (DfEE), funded an initiative on communication aids for children which published Guidelines to Good Practice in 1995. This promotes the importance of a jointly planned, funded and delivered service. It advocates a multi-professional local service to meet local needs.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the services which (a) his Department and (b) the executive agencies responsible to his Department (i) provide online and (ii) expect to be deliverable online by 2002. [119440]

So that the Cabinet Office can publish the spring 2000 report monitoring progress towards the delivery of all Government services electronically by 2005, we are currently collecting data, which will include our progress on delivering 25 per cent. of Government services electronically by 2002. I do not want to pre-empt that report but I can say that we currently provide a range of services electronically. Those included are:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what estimate he has made of the amount spent on infection control in the NHS for each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement; [118853](2) how many NHS trusts have infection control teams in place; and what is the average amount spent by trusts on infection control in each of the past five years. [118852]

[holding answer 17 April 2000]: All acute National Health Service trusts have an infection control team. Details of the amount spent by the NHS, including trusts, on infection control, are not held centrally. Expenditure on infection control is a matter for individual organisations to determine in the light of their local circumstances. Infection control is a priority for the NHS and is a "must do" in the "Modernising Health and Social Services National Priorities Guidance 2000/01—2002/03".

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he is taking to revise his Department's 1995 guidance on infection control following the report by the National Audit Office on the Management and Control of Hospital-Acquired Infection in Acute Trusts in England; and if he will make a statement. [118855]

[holding answer 17 April 2000]: Action has already been taken to update and reinforce the 1995 guidance. Infection Control standards for National Health Service acute trusts were issued in November 1999 and a circular was issued on 11 February setting out a timetabled programme of action to strengthen arrangements for the prevention and control of infection in hospitals.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of current standards of care for patients in the acute stage of Guillain-Barré syndrome. [119775]

We are not aware of any assessments made into the current standards of care for patients in the acute stage of Guillain-Barré Syndrome.There are a number of National Health Service services which patients with Guillain-Barré Syndrome may access. These services can include care and advice from their general practitioner, support from therapists and nursing support.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of patients suffering from Guillain Barré Syndrome received (a) intravenous immunoglobin and (b) plasma exchange in (i) 1997, (ii) 1998, (iii)1999 and (iv) 2000. [119776]

The tables show the number of finished consultant episodes (FCEs) where the main diagnosis was Guillain-Barré Syndrome, for selected procedures, in National Health Service hospitals in England, for the years 1996–97 to 1998–99. Data for 1999–2000 are not yet available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people have been deregistered for financial reasons by their dentist, in each health authority area, in each year since 1992; and if he will make a statement. [119163]

Over the period 3 July 1992 to 29 March 1996, a weekly survey was carried out to see how many patients were being de-registered because their dentist was dissatisfied with the remuneration system. The results have been placed in the Library. The survey was ended after 1996 when registration stabilised. At the end of February 2000, 23.5 million people were registered with a GDS dentist, virtually the same as in February 1999, 23.6 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 3 April 2000, Official Report, column 354W, on cleaning staff, if he will give details of (a) the total number of support staff in the NHS and (b) the total cost to the NHS of contract hotel services and laundry and cleaning equipment in the last financial year; and if he will make a statement. [119164]

National Health Service expenditure for contract hotel services, laundry and cleaning equipment in England 1998–99 is shown in the table.Expenditure on in-house cleaning services is not collected centrally.

Analysis of NHS expenditure on contract hotel services and laundry and cleaning equipment—England, 1998–99
	Expenditure (£)
Contract hotel services (including cleaning)	247,634,567
Laundry and cleaning equipment	66,329,277
Total	313,963,844

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if the National Radiological Protection Board has finalised its report on the possible health effects of the use of mobile phones, stations and transmitters; and when the report will be published. [119462]

The National Radiological Protection Board was asked to set up an independent expert group on mobile phones. The group, chaired by Sir William Stewart FRS FRSE, has been considering the possible health effects from the use of mobile phones, base stations and transmitters and conducting a comprehensive assessment of existing research. The group is currently finalising its report and publication is expected in May.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the development of his Department's research plans on the biological and health effects of mobile phone masts; when these plans will be announced; and how they will be funded. [119461]

Following our response to the report of the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee on the scientific advisory system and mobile phones and health, discussions were held with the industry about funding a collaborative United Kingdom based research programme. Detailed research plans are currently being developed and will take into account the recommendations of the Independent Expert Group on Mobile Phones expected to be published in May.