To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if Mr. Tharcisse Muvunvi and Captain Valentine Strasser have been granted asylum within the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement. [113142]

[holding answer 7 March 2000]: I will write to the right hon. Member shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers have been relocated to Morecambe in the last 12 months. [120014]

Local authorities have been responsible for accommodating destitute asylum seekers in the last 12 months. Therefore, we do not know the number of asylum seekers who may have been relocated to Morecambe in the last 12 months.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his policy regarding the relocation of asylum seekers to seaside resorts through (a) voluntary and (b) compulsory dispersal schemes; and if he will make a statement. [120017]

The Home Office has not dispersed any asylum seekers under the voluntary dispersal arrangements. This is an arrangement between local authorities.Under the New Asylum Support Service arrangements, brought in on 3 April 2000, all areas of the United Kingdom will be expected to share the responsibilities of destitute asylum seekers. Those asylum seekers who are eligible for support are being dispersed on a fair and rational basis around the country. On this basis, destinations may include seaside resorts. However, it is our clear intention that no local authority should have a disproportionate share of the responsibility.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what is his policy on consulting hon. Members on the relocation of asylum seekers to their constituencies; [120016](2) what information is provided to hon. Members representing constituencies in the North West of England from the National Asylum Support Service and the North West Regional Consortium about proposals for relocating asylum seekers in their constituencies. [120019]

A letter will shortly be sent to Members of Parliament advising of the likely cluster areas for dispersal during the first three months of the new arrangements.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what plans the National Asylum Support Service has to use the Grosvenor Hotel in Morecambe to house asylum seekers; [120015](2) what visits have been made by his Department's officials to Morecambe to look at potential properties to house asylum seekers. [120018]

The National Asylum Support Service (NASS) has no plans to use the Grosvenor Hotel to house asylum seekers. NASS officials have not visited Morecambe to look at potential properties.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department by what means it is possible for a person with a well-founded fear of persecution in another country legally to enter the United Kingdom (a) when holding valid travel documents from the regime which they are fleeing and (b) in the absence of such documents. [120052]

All asylum applications, irrespective of the applicant's method of entry, are considered in accordance with the criteria set out in the 1951 United Nations Convention relating to the Status of Refugees. To be recognised as a refugee, a person must be outside his or her country of nationality and have a well-founded fear of persecution for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion.As a matter of law, any asylum applicant who gains entry by material deception having presented a valid travel document or who enters without any documents or using false documents is an illegal entrant.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the hon. Member for Maldon and East Chelmsford will receive a reply to his letter of 24 January to the Minister of State, the hon. Member for Hornsey and Wood Green (Mrs. Roche), concerning the proposal to house asylum seekers in the Maldon district. [119963]

The information necessary to provide the answer has been subject to protracted inquiries. I apologise for the delay and a reply will be sent to the hon. Member shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the amount (a) spent, (b) claimed and (c) reimbursed to each local authority in the United Kingdom, and in total, in relation to expenditure on asylum support in each six month period since 1 April 1999; how many payments to local authorities are (i) outstanding and (ii) in dispute; and if he will make a statement. [120055]

Tables showing the amount spent, claimed and reimbursed to each local authority in the United Kingdom have been placed in the Library. It is not shown in six month periods; for the first eight months from 1 April 1999 to 5 December 1999, these costs were covered by a special grant report, for the four months from then until 31 March 2000, the costs were covered by grant paid under the Asylum Support (Interim Provisions) Regulations 1999. These are shown separately. In each case, the amount claimed is the amount that has been paid.All claims received by the National Asylum Support Service so far have been paid, but all are still subject to audit.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what criteria must be met by those wishing to provide accommodation to the National Asylum Support Service. [120057]

The accommodation provider will have a contract with the National Asylum Support Service. They will ensure that the accommodation is "suitable" in that it will be of an adequate standard; the relevant standard. The relevant standards are the same as those applied by local authorities when re-housing any homeless residents.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to implement his proposals for regulation of the private security industry. [119566]

As we indicated in our White Paper last year, we intend to introduce legislation as soon as parliamentary time permits.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to bring forward proposals for better regulation of private investigators. [119567]

Our White Paper of last year, "The Government's Proposals for Regulation of the Private Security Industry in England and Wales", proposed that a new authority should be established to set and improve standards in the industry and to license those who work in the private security field. The White Paper proposed that licensing should apply to private investigators in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what specialist training and standard

£ million
		Planned expenditure
Initiative	Expended so far	2000–01	2001–02
Active Community Demonstration Projects	0.5	1.36	1.36
Drug Treatment Testing Orders1	1.75	20	40
Youth Justice Pilots2	1.3	0.1	n/a
Reducing Burglary3	12	4	Up to 42
Targeted Policing3	6.7	15.6	Up to 10.7
CCTV3	57.2	40.98	90
Locks for pensioners3	n/a	4.5	6.5
1 Funding added to probation grant. Y1 figures is for pilot areas. Y2 figure is for pilot areas to continue until October when the programme will be rolled out nationally subject to ministerial decision.
2£22 million annually has been built into local funding settlements from April 2000 onwards to resource national rollout from June 2000 of the new youth justice measures under the Crime and Disorder Act 1998. This figure reflects estimates in the November 1997 White Paper and the Financial Memorandum to the Crime and Disorder Bill.
3These initiatives are part of the Crime Reduction Programme, which has a three year budget including evaluation, development running and other overhead costs. Figures shown are what has been committed so far. Total available over three years to 2002 is £62 million for Reducing Burglary, £33 million for targeted policing, £153 for CCTV and up to £11 million for locks for pensioners (depending on take up). Figures of £4 million for targeted policing and 6 million for reducing burglary have been earmarked for evaluation.
4 There is potential for a further £5 million spend on deferred bids.

The Codes of Practice under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 require the presence of an appropriate adult whenever a mentally disordered person (including a person with learning difficulties) is being detained or questioned.National Police Training (NPT) has developed a two-week training course for Custody Officers which is available for delivery by forces. The course, which includes the content of the provisions of the Codes of Practice, is regularly updated and revised. It is, however, essentially for Chief Officers to decide on the training to be undergone by their officers.The Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) recognise the value and importance of the custody officer training package, and continue to work with NPT in promoting the use of this course by police forces.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will list the number and value of (a) bids and (b) grants made in each of the last three financial years for which figures are available, for each (i) area-based and (ii) other regeneration-related initiative for which his Department is responsible; [119796](2) if he will list for each

The Home Office is responsible for a number of initiatives which although not directly aimed at regeneration, contribute indirectly to the regeneration of deprived areas. The information requested on the sums already expended and planned budgets for the current and next financial years in respect of these initiatives is given in the table. Expenditure plans beyond March 2002 will be determined by the current spending review.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prohibited weapons are held by private individuals in England by permission of the Secretary of State. [119870]

The Secretary of State's authority to possess prohibited weapons is only granted to those people who can show they have a genuine need to possess them, almost always to allow them to follow their trade or profession. Authorities are conditioned to limit holdings of prohibited firearms to the minimum number required and specify stringent security conditions under which the weapons are to be kept.The vast majority of authorities are held by companies who either manufacture, sell or transport such weapons or who need them for research, development or testing purposes.There are only five private individuals in England authorised by the Secretary of State to possess a total of 1,282 prohibited weapons. The vast majority of these are held by one person in one of the most comprehensive private collections of historic firearms in the world. The remaining firearms are held by a forensic firearms expert; a lecturer and technical consultant; the owner of a private museum; and a professional trapper of dangerous animals who is called in by the police to deal with such animals as escaped big cats.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the occasions in the last three months when powers under the Royal Prerogative were exercised on advice from him. [118412]

As Prime Minister and Minister for the Civil Service, a number of powers under the Royal Prerogative are exercised on my advice. These include a range of public appointments, the conduct of foreign affairs and defence, and the management and regulation of the Civil Service. Records are not kept of the individal occasions on which such powers are exercised.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on his policy in respect of the use his Office, 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.[119505]

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to him by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary on 19 April 2000, Official Report, column 509W.

To ask the Prime Minister (1) if he will make it his policy in answering questions tabled by hon. Members to indicate in each case whether British Nuclear Fuels assisted in the preparation of the reply; [120047](2) if he will list each of the

Internal advice and the source of such advice is not made public in line with exemption 2 of the "Code of Practice on Access to Government Information".

To ask the President of the Council if she will make a final statement on the impact of the Millennium Bug on Government Departments and Agencies. [120545]

I am pleased to report that, as I predicted in my answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Warwick and Leamington (Mr. Plaskitt) on 28 February 2000, Official Report, columns 135-36W, thanks to the hard work carried out in Government Departments and Agencies, the Leap Year date change had a negligible impact on them. Very few incidents were reported, and none of them had any impact on the public. Completed questionnaires will be placed, as usual, in the Libraries of the House and published on the internet, as had been the Government's practice throughout. This degree of openness and transparency has been one of the distinguishing features of the Year 2000 programme.These will be the last questionnaires. My assessment of the impact of the Bug is that is has been very slight, both for central Government and for all the essential services in the national infrastructure. As I have said before, and repeat now, this success was not a matter of chance. Many people worked long and hard to bring it about. Government and businesses will continue to be vigilant throughout the year; but there is no longer any need for systematic monitoring.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when he will announce the funding available following bids under the most recent phase of the New Deal for Schools; and if he will make a statement. [118336]

Allocations to local education authorities were announced on 11 April 2000.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what new measures he will make available to the city academies to help ensure high standards of behaviour by pupils; and if he will make a statement. [118679]

[holding answer 11 April 2000]: The first City Academies to be established under the Education Act 1996 will be operating under funding arrangements agreed with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State. They are due to be set up in the autumn of 2001. Detailed arrangements for managing behaviour will be for the schools themselves to determine, but they will have access to my Department's guidance on a range of behaviour issues.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the schools in England and Wales with sixth forms and the relevant LEA giving the number of pupils in year (a) 12, (b) 13 and (c) 14+ for each of the past three years and the cost per full-time student in each of these schools. [119690]

The Department does not publish information on maintained schools with a sixth form in England at individual school level. Information held at local education authority area is contained in tables, copies of which have been placed in the Library.The Department is currently collecting information on sixth forms in maintained secondary schools for January 2000 and this data will be published in a statistical volume in September.For information on sixth forms in Wales, I refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many (a) maintained and (b) independent special schools there were in (a) 1970 and (b) 1999; how many children attending those schools came from broken homes; and what was the cost of the maintained special schools in both years. [119769]

In 1999 there were 1,148 maintained special schools and 84 independent approved schools. Latest expenditure available for costs in relation to maintained special schools is for 1998–99 and shows a unit cost of £10,350 per pupil. We do not have comparable figures for 1970 and we do not collect information on the domestic arrangements for children who attend these schools.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many children in (a) primary and (b) secondary schools were excluded in (i) 1970, (ii) 1980 and (iii) 1999; and if he will estimate how many of those came from broken homes. [119768]

The number of permanent exclusions from maintained schools (except special schools) submitting returns under the voluntary national exclusions reporting system which covered the period from April 1990 to April 1992 was 2,910 in year one and 3,833 in year two.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many children were statemented in (a) 1970, (b) 1980 and (c) 1999; and how many came from broken homes. [119767]

There are no figures available for 1970 and 1980; statements of special educational needs were only introduced after the implementation of the 1981 Education Act, in 1983. In 1999, 255,584 children had statements. We do not collect information on the domestic arrangements of children who have statements.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the education standard spending assessments per pupil for (a) England, (b) Devon, (c) Torbay and (d) Plymouth for the current financial year. [119855]

The following table shows the education standard spending assessment (SSA) per pupil and the DfEE special and specific grant allocations per pupils for the areas requested for 2000–01. The special and specific grant totals includes the money for schools announced in the Budget on 21 March.

£
	SSA per pupil	Special/specific grants per pupil
England	2,782	145
Devon	2,649	160
Torbay	2,712	141
Plymouth	2,695	145

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will publish the mechanism used to calculate a school's improvement since its last inspection as reported in the Performance and Assessment report using a 7-point scale. [119920]

PANDA (Performance and Assessment) reports are a matter for Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools, Chris Woodhead. I have asked him therefore to write to my hon. Friend and to place a copy of his letter in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment 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. [119547]

[holding answer 19 April 20001]: My Department follows the guidance on advertising given in the "Framework policy and guidelines for the use, management and design of public sector websites" published by the Cabinet Office, which recommend that:

Government sites are permitted to carry advertising. In designing pages. Departments and agencies should ensure that advertisers' branding does not detract from the effectiveness and appearance of their own branding or that of the Government as a whole. Particular attention should be given to avoid any implication of endorsement of products or services or of contradiction between Government messages and those of advertisers.

My Department does not currently carry advertising or receive sponsorship for its websites and as a consequence no revenue has been received or retained within the budget of the Department. That is also the position, to the best of my knowledge, in relation to the websites of my Department's agencies and non-departmental public bodies.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what steps his Department is taking to improve the availability of local labour market, learning and skills information. [120484]

I am pleased to announce that we are funding an increase in the sample size of the Labour Force Survey in England of approximately 40,000 households per year to improve the availability of local labour market, learning and skills data in partnership with the Office for National Statistics. This was recommended in the second report of the Skills Taskforce and, in addition, will aid in the monitoring of adult learning targets and the monitoring of equal opportunities issues at the local level.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will publish the recently completed Financial Management Survey of the Teacher Training Agency. [120483]

In accordance with the Government's policy of conducting quinquennial reviews of all non-departmental public bodies, my Department has undertaken a review of the Teacher Training Agency. I am today publishing the results of stage two of the quinquennial review, which comprised a financial management survey of the agency.The survey report states that the agency has good levels of financial control and has in place effective organisation, finance and management structures and systems. The report's recommendations will help the agency to address the areas for relatively minor improvement which have been identified, and make best use of resources in taking forward its corporate objectives.Copies of the financial management survey report are being placed in the Library of both Houses.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when the right hon. Member for North-West Cambridgeshire will receive a substantive response to his letter of 16 February on behalf of his constituent, Mr. Holmes. [120020]

A reply was issued on Wednesday 19 April 2000.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many former grant maintained schools have (a) used and (b) exhausted their reserves since 1998. [120259]

Information on the public balances held by former GM schools at the beginning and end of the 1999–2000 financial year will not be published by LEAs until 30 September 2000. Information on their private balances is not collected by local authorities or central government.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many former grant-maintained schools have sought financial contributions from the parents; and how much has thereby been raised since 1998. [120260]

Information on this is not collected by central or local government.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when he plans to make regulations and issue guidelines about minimum nutritional standards in school meals; and if he will make a statement. [119465]

We intend to lay regulations setting minimum nutritional standards for school lunches before the summer recess, and to make available guidance to school caterers this autumn. The regulations will come into effect in all maintained schools in April 2001. The standards have been developed in a practical non-prescriptive manner to ensure pupils receive good quality meals. Headteachers are now free to choose different suppliers for meals as a result of the Government's fair funding arrangements and these standards will help to ensure they are of consistent quality.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment which foodstuffs listed in the guidelines for minimum nutritional standards in schools contain iron, zinc, selenium and protein. [119502]

We intend that the regulations setting minimum nutritional standards for school lunches will set food—rather than nutrient—based standards. We shall aim for workable standards which will not contain compulsory food items. Schools and local education authorities will be required to offer options from the four main food groups.Supplementary guidance for caterers will offer advice and list those food items which best provide the nutrients which are particularly important in a young person's diet, such as iron.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what measures he plans to put in place to monitor the operation of, and enforce the guidelines for, minimum nutritional standards in schools.[119501]

Schools and local education authorities will be under a duty to comply with the regulations which will set out the new nutritional standards for school lunches. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will investigate any complaints that the standards are not being met and will if necessary issue a direction to ensure compliance with the statutory duties. Guidance on the regulations will include advice on monitoring of nutritional standards. Finally, the Department will be evaluating the impact of the nutritional standards over time.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what assessment he has made of the impact of the abolition of MIRAS on unemployed people with endowment mortgages; [119966](2) what plans he has to increase income support, or other state assistance, following the abolition of MIRAS, for unemployed people who are paying increased mortgage repayments as a result of mis-selling of endowment mortgages. [119965]

There should not be any effect due to the loss of MIRAS. Benefit was recalculated from 6 April automatically, and customers received a notification from the Benefits Agency, informing them of the change to their benefit. An endowment mortgage does not affect the recalculation of benefit. The mortgage scheme only makes payments on the interest element of the mortgage.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when the report on the Contributions Agency by the Benefit Fraud Inspectorate was published; and if he will place a copy in the Library. [119821]

The BFI report on the then Contributions Agency was published in July 1999. A copy was placed in the Library and can also be found on the Department's internet site at www.dss.gov.uk/

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the cost of increasing the basic state pension in line with average earnings over the next five years in (a) Scotland and (b) the UK. [119868]

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

Estimate for Great Britain and Scotland
£ million
	Great Britain		Scotland
Year	Gross cost	Net cost	Gross cost
2000–01	350	250	50
2001–02	900	700	100
2002–03	1,650	1,250	150
2003–04	2,450	1,900	250
2004–05	3,300	2,600	300

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the average length of time that (a) male pensioners, (b) female pensioners and (c) all pensioners have drawn the basic state retirement pension at five yearly intervals since 1970. [120053]

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

The mean and median length of time in years since reaching pensionable age for the population of pensionable age
	Men aged 65+		Women aged 60+		Men and Women aged 65+/60+
	Mean	Median	Mean	Median	Mean	Median
1970	7.6	6.1	10.9	9.5	9.9	8.3
1975	7.6	6.2	11.3	10.0	10.1	8.6
1980	7.8	6.7	11.8	10.8	10.5	9.2
1985	8.4	7.4	12.2	11.3	11.0	9.8
1990	8.6	7.3	12.8	11.4	11.4	10.0

The mean and median length of time in years since reaching pensionable age for the population of pensionable age
	Men aged 65+		Women aged 60+		Men and Women aged 65+/60+
	Mean	Median	Mean	Median	Mean	Median
1995	9.0	7.8	13.3	12.3	11.8	10.3
1998	9.2	8.1	13.4	12.4	11.9	10.6

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the annual cost in (a) Scotland and (b) the UK of raising the basic state pension to the level of the minimum income guarantee for (i) all pensioners, (ii) pensioners aged over 70 years and (iii) pensioners aged over 80 years. [119867]

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

Estimates for Great Britain and Scotland of the cost of raising the basic state pension to the level of the M1G in the year 2001–02
£ million
	All pensioners	Pensioners over 70	Pensioners over 80
Great Britain
Gross cost	5650	3750	1450
Net cost	4500	2850	950
Scotland
Gross cost	500	300	100

Notes:

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what (a) Reviews, (b) Task Forces and (c) Advisory Groups have been established by his Department since 22 February 1999; what is their membership; and what reports have (i) been published and (ii) are due to be published by (1) them and (2) other such bodies established before 22 February 1999. [119949]

A table containing the information requested on Task Forces, Reviews and Advisory Groups has been placed in the Library.Full lists detailing Government Task Forces and Review Groups will be published every six months. The next list covering the period to the end of April will be published in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what performance targets he has set the Benefits Agency for 2000–01; and if he will make a statement.[120588]

The targets we have set BA for 2000–01 are as follows.They reflect our determination to reform the welfare state and to modernise the Social Security system to encourage work for those who can and provide security for those who cannot.They underpin the Departmental Aim and Objectives set out in our Public Service Agreement.Further information on BA plans for 2000–01 is contained in their business plan, which will be published on 5 May. Copies will be placed in the Library.Targets for 2000–01 are:

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what the effect on housing benefit expenditure will be if social rents in (a) Scotland and (b) the UK were reduced by (i) 5 per cent. (ii) 10 per cent. and (iii) 15 per cent. [119978]

The information is in the table.

Estimated savings in Housing Benefit expenditure1 for percentagereductions in social rents2 at 2000–01 prices3
£ million
	5 per cent.	10 per cent.	15 per cent.
Scotland	40	90	130
Great Britain	420	830	1,240
1 Estimates relate to gross Housing Benefit expenditure (the amounts actually paid to claimants) in respect of the current financial year 2000–01
2 Social' rents are taken to refer to Local Authority and Registered Social Landlords
3 Estimated results are based on a combination of information from the Family Resources Survey 1997–98, uprated to 2000–01 prices and benefit levels, along with the forecasts underlying the Departmental Report 2000.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many pensioners have been entitled to means-tested benefits in each of the past five years; how many are expected to be entitled to be means-tested benefits in each of the following five years; and what proportion those represent of total pensioners in each year. [119944]

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

Total of number of pensioner benefit units receiving and number entitled but not receiving means tested benefits in 1996–97
	Number in millions	As percentage of all pensioner benefit units
Income Support	2.0 to 2.3	26 to 29
Housing Benefit	1.9 to 2.1	24 to 27
Council Tax Benefit	3.4 to 3.9	43 to 50

Total of number of pensioner benefit units receiving and number entitled but not receiving means tested benefits in 1997–98
	Number in millions	As percentage of all pensioner benefit units
Income Support	2.0 to 2.3	25 to 29
Housing Benefit	1.8 to 2.1	23 to 26
Council Tax Benefit	3.2 to 3.8	41 to 48

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the annual cost of (a) removing the means test for benefits for pensioners and (b) keeping SERPS in (i) Scotland and (ii) the UK. [119869]

The cost of removing the means test for benefits for pensioners depends on what assumptions are made. The net cost of uprating the basic State Pension to the level of the Minimum Income Guarantee is around £4.5 billion, excluding the effect on linked benefits. Retaining SERPS in preference to the State Second Pension would result in a cost saving because the State Second Pension will be more generous to some 18 million low and moderate earners, carers and long-term disabled people with broken work records. Estimates apply to Great Britain. Separate costs for Scotland are not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on the proposed pensioners tax credit; and when it will come into force. [119971]

My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in his Budget Statement, proposed that the pensioner credit should be introduced in the next Parliament.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer to the right hon. Member for Fylde (Mr. Jack) of 17 April 2000, Official Report, columns 401-02W, on pensions, if he will estimate his Department's expenditure on pensioners as a proportion of GDP in each year from 1979–80 to 1990–91. [120239]

The information is in the table.

Expenditure on people over 60 as a percentage of all social security benefit expenditure and as a percentage of GDP
		Expenditure as a percentage of:
Year	Expenditure (cash £ million)	All expenditure	GDP
1979–80	10,138	53.99	4.91
1989–81	12,134	53.55	5.15
1981–82	14,357	51.83	5.56
1982–83	16,105	50.92	5.70
1983–84	17,456	49.41	5.70
1984–85	18,496	48.39	5.61
1985–86	20,172	48.38	5.58
1986–87	21,697	48.31	5.58
1987–88	22,866	48.97	5.32
1988–89	23,652	49.97	4.94

Expenditure on people over 60 as a percentage of all social security benefit expenditure and as a percentage of GDP
		Expenditure as a percentage of:
Year	Expenditure (cash £ million)	All expenditure	GDP
1989–90	25,715	51.25	4.92
1990–91	28,490	50.42	5.06

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will place in the Library a copy of the combined pension statement launched on 12 April, referred to in departmental press release 00/114. [119945]

I have placed in the Library an example of the combined pension statement issued by the Prudential, which includes details of both state and private pension rights.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much it has cost to administer the winter fuel payments in each year since their introduction; and what the projected costs are for the forthcoming year. [119938]

The information is in the table.

Cost to administer the winter fuel payments since their introduction
£ million
Year	Cost
1997–98	13.7
1998–99	13.1
1999–2000	14.3

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what the additional cost to his Department's wage bill would be (a) in Scotland and (b) the UK if the minimum wage for all age groups was raised to (i) £4, (ii) £4.20 and (iii) £4.50 per hour. [119980]

The information is in the table.

The additional pay bill cost for the Department of Social Security of rises in the minimum wage
£
	Additional costs
Rate of minimum wage	All DSS staff (including Scotland)	DSS staff based in Scotland
4.00	2,634,176	308,366
4.20	7,398,281	869,668
4.50	15,260,259	1,803,400

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if his Department has completed checking the individual payroll items against the departmental central index; and if he will make a statement. [119860]

This Department does not at present match its payroll data against the departmental central index (DCI). To do so would involve a change of conditions of service of its staff and would have implications in respect of data protection legislation.However, the large employers unit of the Contributions Agency, now part of the Inland Revenue, does carry out a reconciliation of National Insurance contributions paid by employees of companies against its records. In common with other large employers, this Department has been examined by this unit.There is no evidence of widespread benefit fraud by staff: the last payroll cleansing exercise conducted by the Contributions Agency of the Department's payroll identified only one member of staff claiming benefit using their own national insurance number.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many pension schemes of companies that have (a) gone into liquidation and (b) otherwise ceased to exist are awaiting regulatory approval for their winding-up. [119950]

There is no system of regulatory approval for pension schemes that wind-up. The Inland Revenue gives approval in respect of arrangements made by the trustees to secure the pension rights when a scheme ceases to be contracted-out of the State Earnings Related Pension Schemes (SERPS). There are about 24,000 schemes in the process of ceasing to contract out. Many of them will also be winding-up. No information is available about schemes winding up because the sponsoring employer is insolvent.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 21 March 2000, Official Report, columns 477-78W, on Government pensions liability, what is the Government's liability in each case in each of the years referred to as a percentage of estimated gross domestic product assuming that gross domestic product increases in real terms at (a) 1.5 per cent. per annum and (b) 2 per cent. per annum. [120066]

The information is in the table.With real GDP growth of 1.5 per cent. per year pension expenditure is estimated to increase as a proportion of GDP between 2000–01 and 2030–31, from 4.3 per cent. to 4.7 per cent. After 2030–31 the proportion of GDP represented by pension expenditure falls, from 4.7 per cent. to 3.8 per cent. by 2050–51.With real GDP growth at 2.0 per cent. per year pension expenditure as a proportion of GDP follows a more general pattern of decline, from 4.3 per cent. in 2000/01 to 3.0 per cent. in 2050–51. This more general pattern of decline is wholly attributable to the faster increase in GDP.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security 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. [119515]

I refer my hon. Friend to the written answer from my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary on 19 April 2000, Official Report, column 509W.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many lawyers are employed by his Department; and how many were employed in 1995. [117813]

On 31 March 2000, 82 lawyers were employed by the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions, including its Agencies.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 4 April 2000, Official Report, column 430W, on alcohol limits for drivers in EU member states, what were (a) the nature and conclusions of the Council of Ministers' discussions on 28 March, concerning the Commission Communications, and (b) the Treaty Article on which any such harmonisation proposal would be based. [118840]

At the Transport Council meeting of 28 March 2000, the European Commission presented its recently adopted Communication on road safety. The United Kingdom strongly welcomed the Communication and other member states also responded positively. The Commission indicated that blood alcohol levels would be the subject of a Recommendation. However, the Commission pointed out that the proposal for a Directive which was first presented in 1988 remains on the table if the Council wishes to debate it. It was concluded that there should be a discussion of the Communication at the Council meeting in June.Any harmonisation proposal would be based on Article 75 of the Treaty of Rome which, as amended by the Maastricht Treaty, covers the competence of the Union to act in the field of road safety.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will name the board member for each regional development agency with responsibility for environmental issues.[118955]

Members are appointed by the Secretary of State on the basis of their experience and capacity and are not allocated responsibility for particular issues. However, some RDAs, as noted, have given responsibility for environmental matters to one or more of their members.

Agency	Members
East of England Development Agency	Richard Powell
Yorkshire Forward	Pamela Warhurst
North West Development Agency	Kath Reade
South East of England Development Agency	Kit Oliver
East Midlands Development Agency	Graham Chapman
	Gill Gardiner
	Bob Middleton

Agency	Members
Advantage West Midlands	Responsibility shared across all board members
South West of England Regional	Responsibility shared across all board members
One North East	Currently under consideration

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what was the (a) itinerary, (b) purpose and (c) cost of his visit to Japan.[119532]

[holding answer 17 April 2000]: I represented the United Kingdom at the meeting of G8 Environment Ministers from Friday 7 to Sunday 9 April in Otsu, Japan. I then travelled to Tokyo where on 10 April I had meetings with Prime Minister Mori, Foreign Minister Kono and the honorary Chairman of Toyota. I also visited the Tokyo traffic control centre and met UK and Japanese businessmen. I returned to the UK on Tuesday 11 April. All travel was in accordance with the Ministerial Code and my costs for the trip were approximately £7,500.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what his Department's policy is on use by local authorities of the revenue generated from charges for on-street car parking to pay for heritage projects and tourist facilities; and if he will make a statement. [119998]

The use by local authorities of on-street parking revenue surpluses is governed by section 55 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984. Briefly, this provides that local authorities may use surpluses for the provision and maintenance of off-street parking facilities but if it appears to the local authority that the provision of further off-street parking provision in their area is unnecessary or undesirable, surpluses may be used for the purpose of meeting the costs of public transport services and highway or road improvement projects. Local authorities may not therefore spend revenue from on-street car parking to pay for heritage projects and tourist facilities.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the passenger projections for Croydon Tramlink. [119839]

This is a commercial matter for Tramtrack Croydon Ltd., the private sector consortium which holds the concession to build, operate and maintain Croydon Tramlink.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list each of the (a) oral and (b) written parliamentary answers Ministers in his Department have provided since May 1997 which were based on (a) information and (b) a draft provided by British Nuclear Fuels. [120044]

Internal advice and the source of such advice is not made public in line with exemption 2 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list those private sector companies involved in the best value inspection regime. [119990]

No private sector companies are yet involved in carrying out best value inspections. However, both the Audit Commission and some of the other Inspectorates intend to use teams which include staff with private sector experience, either on secondment or as consultants. The Audit Commission are also in discussion with a number of potential private sector providers with a view to their use on future occasions.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the number and value of (a) bids for and (b) grants made in each of the last three financial years for which figures are available, for each (i) area-based and (ii) other regeneration-related initiative for which his Department is responsible. [119798]

The information requested is not held centrally and could not be collected in the time available. I will write shortly with the information to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list for each (a) area-based and (b) other regeneration-related initiative for which his Department is responsible (i) the amount budgeted and (ii) the total expended in each financial year for the planned lifetime of each initiative. [119793]

Expenditure since 1997 and the amounts budgeted for this financial year and for 2001–02, for the area-based and other regeneration-related initiatives for which my Department is responsible are set out as follows. The level of funding for each of these initiatives beyond March 2002 is being considered in the current spending review. Information on planned budgets and the total expenditure in previous years for other regeneration programmes may be found in the departmental Annual Report.

£ million
(i) Amount budgeted	2000–01	2001–02
Area-based initiatives
Single Regeneration Budget	813.8	878.5
New Deal for Communities	120.7	450.0
Other regeneration-related initiatives
European Regional Development Fund	286.2	231.2
Coalfields Regeneration Trust	20.6	18.2

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on his policy relating to monitoring severance payments made to council officials. [119859]

The Local Government (Discretionary Payments)(Amendment) Regulations 1999 introduced provisions which require local authorities in England and Wales to formulate and publish a written statement of their policy in connection with the exercise of their discretion to pay compensation, including severance payments, under parts II, III and IV of the Local Government (Discretionary Payments) Regulations 1996.The 1999 regulations require each employing authority to be satisfied that their policy is workable, affordable and reasonable having regard to the foreseeable costs. In that way, elected members have direct responsibility for the decisions taken within the terms of their published policy statement and are locally and legally accountable for them to local council taxpayers and to the District Auditor.My Department does not monitor individual severance payments made by local authorities, nor would it be appropriate to intervene in the way such authorities exercise these statutory functions. We do, however, remain in close touch with the Audit Commission, the Employers' Organisation and other interested parties on the continuing effectiveness of these regulations.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many submissions he received in response to the consultation paper on high hedges; and if he will make a statement.[119861]

We have received some 3,000 responses to this consultation, which we are currently analysing. We hope to make a statement, setting out our decisions on the way forward on this issue, and the reasons for them, by the summer.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what the Government have done to implement the findings of reports of the Social Exclusion Unit on rough sleeping.[119976]

Following the publication of the Social Exclusion Unit report, the Rough Sleepers Unit was established in April 1999 to deliver the Prime Minister's target of reducing rough sleeping by two-thirds by 2002. On 15 December 1999 the Government published their strategy on rough sleeping, "Coming in from the Cold", which set out in detail how we intend to meet the target. The Rough Sleepers Unit is working across Whitehall and beyond to implement the strategy and reduce rough sleeping.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what scope he plans for the use of economic instruments in relation to water abstraction. [120589]

Within the next two weeks, my Department will publish "Economic Instruments in Relation to Water Abstraction: a consultation paper". Copies will be placed in the Library of the House on the day of publication. The paper will say that the Government take the view that economic instruments may be applied to water abstraction in the following way:

(a) abstraction charges should remain limited to recovery of the Environment Agency's water resources management costs, but should be increased to the extent necessary to meet licence curtailment compensation costs when, but not before, these are incurred, thereby providing incentive for low-value users of water to reduce their licences voluntarily;

(b) trading in licences should be encouraged in such a way that it delivers environmental benefits together with economic gains, within the regulatory requirements of the abstraction licensing system as it will be following the changes which the Government announced on 31 March 1999, Official Report, column 756-57, and which it will bring forward in a forthcoming Water Bill;

(c) the Environment Agency should actively encourage abstraction licence trading with a general presumption that trading may be possible in most areas, and in particular by:

• ensuring that its licensing administrative processes operate speedily and efficiently, making full use of e-mail and other electronic means;
• clearly identifying, within its Abstraction Management Strategies, the scope for trading and any unavoidable limitations to particular types of trades;
• establishing an Internet site on which prospective buyers and sellers can record their interest in trading; and by
• requiring trading prices and other details of completed trades to be placed on the same Internet site.

The Government will consider this view further in the light of responses to the consultation paper and will announce their firm intentions in due course.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when the hon. Member for Morecambe and Lunesdale will receive a reply to her letter to him dated 3 January regarding farming issues in Morecambe and Lunesdale. [119741]

I replied to the letter from my hon. Friend the Member for Morecambe and Lunesdale on 19 April 2000.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what has been the percentage change compared to 1990–91 in his Department's energy efficiency in each year since 1990–91; and if he will make a statement. [118996]

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by the then Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State my hon. Friend the Member for Mansfield (Mr. Meale) on 22 July 1999, Official Report, columns 580-84W, which reported progress for all central government Departments to 31 March 1998.Figures for the Wales Office are currently included within the data for the National Assembly for Wales.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his Department's energy efficiency performance target, expressed as a percentage change in comparison to 1990–91, for each of the next five years; and if he will make a statement. [118997]

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Environment on 22 March 2000, Official Report, columns 548-49W.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales for what purposes his Department requires a birth certificate to be furnished by (a) employees, (b) contractors,(c) those applying for employment and contracts and (d) other persons.[120310]

My Department requires those applying for employment to provide either a birth certificate, passport, or driving licence in order to prove identity. Contractors, potential contractors, and other persons are not required to provide their birth certificates.

To ask the Chairman of the Accommodation and Works Committee how many reports of (a) mice and (b) other vermin in the Palace of Westminster he has received in each of the last five years.[119557]

Reports of mice and other vermin in the last five years have been as follows:

Year	Mice	Other vermin
1995	113	32
1996	187	34
1997	135	20
1998	53	30
1999	102	29

To ask the Chairman of the Accommodation and Works Committee what action is being taken to reduce the numbers of (a) mice and (b) other vermin within the Palace of Westminster. [119556]

A specialist pest control contractor is employed regularly to set and check bait boxes in all areas, particularly in Refreshment Department areas and other places where mice are seen. Further specialist advice is obtained from the MAFF expert. Apart from mice, the only other vermin generally found in the Palace of Westminster are insects; these are treated with insecticides appropriate to the type of pest and situation.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what contracts are let with KPMG relating to public appointments. [118295]

The information is not held centrally. However, in respect of public bodies sponsored by the Cabinet Office, no contracts are held with KPMG relating to public appointments.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if she will make a statement on her policy in respect of the use her 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. [119513]

I refer to the answer my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary gave on 19 April 2000, Official Report, column 509W.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what financial and logistical support the Cabinet Office has provided for Drug Action Teams. [119960]

Drug Action Teams (DATs) are a partnership of local agencies such as health and local authorities, police, probation and local eduction authorities. Funding for their activities is channelled for the most part through these agencies. However, they receive a grant from the Home Office Drug Prevention Advisory Service (DPAS) to fund the running costs for DATs, namely the post of the co-ordinator and administration costs. That grant is set to rise from some £5 million to some £6.7 million over this year to fund the creation of additional DATs, bringing the total up to some 150.DATs are supported by DPAS in partnership with the UK Anti Drugs Co-ordinator and Cabinet Office UK Anti Drugs Co-ordination Unit (UKADCU). DPAS provides the link between central government and local delivery and has nine regional offices providing advice and support to the DATs in their area in driving forward the Co-ordinator's Strategy. The Co-ordinator and staff of UKADCU also visit DATs and, in partnership with DPAS, organise conferences for DATs to discuss current and future issues.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what meetings she has had with the National Farmers Union as part of her duties as Chair of the Ministerial Group on Rural Affairs. [119937]

None. I am currently arranging a mutually convenient date for a meeting with the President of the NFU, Ben Gill.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what public speaking engagements have been undertaken by special advisers within her Department in each of the last three years. [119968]

The UK Anti-Drugs Coordinator and his Deputy have undertaken a large number of public speaking engagements in support of the Government's strategy to combat illegal drugs.Other special advisers within the Cabinet Office have not undertaken any official public speaking engagements over the last three years.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if she will list the foreign visits taken by Ministers on which they were accompanied by a special adviser since May 1997. [119933]

Information in the form requested is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. A list of Cabinet Ministers' visits overseas, and information on spend by all Ministers on travel overseas for the period 1 April 1999 to 31 March 2000 is currently being assembled, and will be published as soon as possible. The overall figure on spend on Ministers' travel overseas will include the cost of travel of any Special Advisers accompanying Ministers.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what targets are to be set for reducing the use of drugs in prisons; and what specific measures relate to those targets. [119930]

My Department has agreed the following targets with the Prison Service:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what meetings she has had in the last year with prison governors on the reduction of drug use in prisons. [119961]

None. My right hon. Friend the Minster for the Cabinet Office visited HMP Kirklevington Grange at Yarm, Cleveland, on Friday 11 February. This visit was to launch the Learning Labs initiative and to meet participants on the Prisoners' Passport project. On this occasion the prison governor was unable to be present.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if she will give details of the financial support provided by her Department for programmes designed to reduce the use of drugs in prisons. [119959]

The Prison Service receives no financial support from the Cabinet Office to support its drugs strategy.The Prison Service received an additional £76 million from HM Treasury for the three year period 1999–2000 to 2001–02 for its drugs strategy as a result of the Comprehensive Spending Review.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what proportion of Government services are currently available online through the internet. [119934]

My Department is currently preparing the spring 2000 report monitoring progress towards the targets for electronic service delivery, which will identify the information requested by the hon. Member. I will be placing the report in the Libraries of the House.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if she will list the targets she has set concerning the online availability of Government services. [119967]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Basildon (Angela Smith) on 30 March 2000, Official Report, column 203W.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if she will publish the 3, 4 and 5 waves of quantitative research carried out through the People's Panel. [120009]

The Government are committed to publishing the results of research carried out using the People's Panel. The results of the third wave of research were published on 15 July 1999, and the fourth wave of research on 3 April 2000. On 17 January 2000 we also published the results of a re-analysis of the first three waves of research which looked at the attitudes of older people. On each occasion, publication was announced by issue of a press release and copies of summaries placed in the House Libraries and on the People's Panel website at www.servicefirst.gov.uk/index/pphome.htm.The fifth wave of research, examining people's satisfaction with, and expectations of, public services is currently under way. We plan to publish the results in July.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the timetable is for future option studies for executive agencies and NDPBs. [120008]

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Tamworth (Mr. Jenkins) on 7 March 2000, Official Report, columns 608-09W. The Executive Non-Departmental Public Bodies 1999 Report, Cm 4657, and the Executive Agencies 1999 Report, Cm 4658, which were published and laid in both Houses on that day listed the current position regarding the quinquennial review of the non-departmental public bodies and the agencies included in each report.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what meetings she has had with the Prime Minister to discuss the work of the Performance and Innovation Unit on management of cross-cutting policies. [119953]

I have not had any meetings with the Prime Minister specifically to discuss the work of the Performance and Innovation Unit on management of cross-cutting policies, but this subject does come up from time to time in our frequent discussions across a range of subjects.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what meetings she has had with the Prime Minister in the current year to discuss the work of the Social Exclusion Unit. [119956]

I have not had any meetings with the Prime Minister in the current year specifically to discuss the work of the Social Exclusion Unit, but this subject does come up from time to time in our frequent discussions across the range of my responsibilities.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many times press officers have accompanied Ministers on foreign visits in each of the past three years. [119931]

Details of press officers accompanying Ministers on foreign visits are not held centrally. I can, however, respond regarding foreign visits of Cabinet Office Ministers since May 1997.As Minister for the Cabinet Office I have not been accompanied by a press officer on any of my foreign visits, nor was my predecessor. Records indicate that, since May 1997, press officers have accompanied other Cabinet Office Ministers as follows: my right hon. Friend the Member for South Shields (Dr. Clark) on five occasions and my hon. Friend the Member for Liverpool, Walton (Mr. Kilfoyle) on two occasions.