To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 30 March 2000, Official Report, column 228W, on housing improvement agencies, what previous experience Collective Enterprises Ltd. has had in administering Government grants; and on what basis he determined that CEL possessed (a) broad-based expertise in housing and care issues, (b) the capacity to support individual agencies and their managing agents across England and (c) the ability to deliver services from a position of independence and impartiality. [121844]

Officials of my Department and the Department of Health evaluated the tenders received from Care and Repair England Ltd. and Collective Enterprises Ltd. (CEL) against a range of criteria, including those mentioned by the hon. Member, and recommended that CEL's tender as a whole offered a more effective approach to the delivery of the requirements of the national coordinating role. My Department's contract with CEL does not require them to administer the system of grants to individual home improvement agencies.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what the average fine imposed on businesses prosecuted by the Environment Agency was in each of the last three years; [121843](2) how many businesses were successfully prosecuted by the Environment Agency in each of the last three years. [121842]

The Environment Agency publishes prosecution statistics in its annual reports. Although these figures do not distinguish between companies and individuals, and it would cause disproportionate cost to do so here, most prosecutions are against businesses. The 1999–2000 annual report will be laid before Parliament in July. Figures for the previous two years are as follows.

Function/year	Number of prosecutions	Average fine (£)
Water Quality
1997–98	222	4,258
1998–99	258	16,157
Waste
1997–98	313	1,999
1998–99	301	1,060

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he will publish good practice guidance on urban design in the planning system. [122345]

The good practice guidance we have prepared in partnership with the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment will be published on Monday 15 May. Copies of "By Design Urban design in the Planning System; towards better practice" will be placed in the Library of the House."By Design" will form a key part of the Government's strategy for promoting better urban design in the planning and development system. It provides sound, practical advice on how to implement the Government's commitment to good design as set out in Planning Policy Guidance, in particular PPG1 "General Policy and Principles" and PPG3 "Housing". It also reinforces the call in the Urban Task Force's report "Towards an Urban Renaissance" for earlier, greater and better-informed attention to urban design.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what the total budget is for each of the regional development agencies for 2000–01; and if he will break it down in each case by programme. [122460]

The budgets of the regional development agencies for 2000–01 are as follows.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what his policy is on checking the reliability of privately-produced studies of proposed rail schemes, with particular reference to Virgin Trains' commercial study of electrification of the North Wales main line. [121839]

The Franchising Director would normally verify the accuracy of any privately produced railway study, using external consultants where necessary. Virgin Trains' study was presented to the former Office of Passenger Rail Franchising (now the shadow Strategic Rail Authority), and the Franchising Director judged its conclusions to be valid, having considered it in line with the organisation's process of due diligence.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 18 April 2000, Official Report, column 444W, which of the reviews, public inquiries and commissions of inquiry listed have been carried out by paid appointees; who are the paid appointees; and what is their level of remuneration. [121845]

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

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on (a) train, (b) signal and (c) track failures in each financial year since 1994–95 for each line of the London Underground and the cumulative figures for all lines. [119670]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to his earlier question on 21 December 1999, Official Report, column 523-24W. London Underground has provided the figures for the extra years which have been requested and these are included in the table, along with the figures for the full year 1999–2000.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions which EU member states have privatised their air traffic control facilities in the last five years. [121295]

No state in Europe has privatised its main air traffic control service provider. However, a number of states are, like the UK, looking at ways to commercialise their service providers and at how to introduce new management expertise and financing into the provision of air traffic control.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will instruct the Highways Agency to add to the list of possible noise mitigation schemes, published in the Official Report on 11 November 1999, columns 681-83W, (a) the A46 at Harvington and (b) the M5 at Whittington. [121313]

No. Neither location meets the criteria established in the announcement of 22 March 1999 to determine whether the need for noise remedial measures should be studied in further detail. The A46 at Harvington carries far less traffic than would generate a roadside noise level of 80dB (A). The M5 at Whittington was improved more recently than 1988 and noise mitigation measures were provided in accordance with current standards.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will review the criteria for potential road noise mitigation schemes published on 22 March 1999 to include roads built or widened after 1988. [121314]

The purpose of the policy is to focus attention on cases where people may not have had the benefit of noise mitigation measures provided in accordance with current standards. These standards were introduced in 1988 and it is not appropriate to review schemes where noise mitigation was designed within those standards.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what powers he has to recover the cost to the community of site clearance and waste disposal caused by unauthorised camping. [121297]

Under section 59(8) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, the Environment Agency or local authority is entitled to recover its costs incurred from any person who made, or knowingly caused or permitted, the illegal deposit of any waste.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he will introduce licensing legislation in respect of houses in multiple occupation in England and Wales. [121776]

We will introduce the necessary primary legislation as soon as Parliamentary time can be found. Key conclusions and a summary of responses to our 1999 consultation paper for England will be published in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what communications he has received on the proposed establishment of a European research area; and how much money the Community has spent in the United Kingdom for research projects chosen by the European Community. [121633]

I have been asked to reply.The Commission issued a Communication "Towards a European Research Area" [COM (00)6] on 18 January 2000. An explanatory memorandum on this Communication was deposited in the House of Commons and House of Lords on the 17 March 2000. It is expected that at its meeting on 15 June the Research Council will adopt a Council Resolution as a formal response to this Communication.The European Community's main instrument for funding scientific research and development is the Framework Programme. This is administered by the European Commission. As a matter of policy the Commission do not publish data showing the amount of funding awarded on a country-by-country basis.

To ask the Chairman of the Public Accounts Commission if the National Audit Office has (a) a contract and (b) a framework agreement with Electronic Data Systems. [121790]

The National Audit Office has neither a contract nor a framework agreement with Electronic Data Systems.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office when guidance on public opinion research will be published. [122308]

Guidance on Government Research into Public Attitudes and Opinions is being published today. A copy of the guidance has been placed in the Libraries of the House.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to her answer of 2 May 2000, Official Report, column 88W, what is the guidance concerning the carrying of Ministerial Red Boxes on trains; and of what breaches of that guidance she has been notified in the last six months. [121135]

Ministerial Red Boxes generally contain official papers or other material which may be sensitive or valuable. Due care therefore needs to be given to their protection when carried on any form of public transport, as set out in the general rules governing the control of such material. There is no requirement to notify me of breaches of the guidance.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what funding is available from his Department for facilities for the provision of athletics in the area of Bridgnorth District Council. [121355]

Funding for athletics is available from a variety of sources. The National Lottery provides funding for facilities across a wide range of different sports, including athletics. The Lottery Sports Fund provides around £200 million to distribute each year. Funding may also be available from other sources including local authorities, Sports match (the Government's business incentive scheme for sport) and the Foundation for Sport and the Arts.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what data he has collated on differential rates of spending on the National Lottery by different social classes (a) in absolute terms and (b) as percentages of income; if he will publish this data; and if he will make a statement. [120626]

The National Lottery Commission supports a social research programme on participation in the National Lottery. Report No. 1 of this programme, published in May 1999, contains data on participation by social class and income category. Copies of this report are being placed in the Libraries of the House today.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what guidance he proposes to issue to library authorities about the public library services they should be providing. [122346]

I am publishing draft public library standards on Monday 15 May, a day which already marks the celebration of 150 years of public libraries, and I shall be placing copies of those draft standards in the Libraries of the House that morning. Following a wide consultation with library authorities, users, key organisations and other interested people, I hope to publish final standards later in the year and intend that they should then take effect from 1 April 2001.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement about her policy on ethically produced food in developing countries, with particular reference to (a) animal welfare standards, (b) employment practices and (c) consequences for the environment. [121840]

The Government support ethical approaches to business and trade, which have an important part to play in promoting sustainable development and in bringing benefits to poor people in developing countries. We take account of animal welfare standards, employment practices and consequences for the environment.My Department has developed detailed guidelines on the use of animals for any purpose, agricultural or otherwise. These guidelines govern animal welfare standards in all our programmes and projects. They reflect the broad guiding principles that use must be humane and that harms of a certain degree or kind ought under no circumstances to be inflicted on an animal. A copy of these guidelines is being placed in the Library of the House.We encourage British retailers to examine their global supply chains to ensure they comply with the Core Labour Standards, as set internationally by the ILO within the Declaration of Fundamental Principles and Rights to Work, or can be bettered by voluntary codes of conduct such as SA 8000 or the base code of the Ethical Trading Initiative, which is supported by my Department.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what financial assistance her Department has given to the victims of the disaster in the states of Gujarat and Rajasthan in India. [121318]

My Department has provided £500,000 to Oxfam for drought relief activities in Gujarat and Rajasthan. We are in close contact with other agencies working in this area and also in the drought affected regions of Pakistan and Afghanistan. We stand ready to respond further to assessed needs.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions he has had with BP Amoco concerning their investment in Petrol China in relation to its plans to operate in Tibet. [121586]

Neither I, nor the Secretary of State, have had discussions with BP Amoco concerning their investment in Petro China.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what percentage of the United Kingdom's assistance for security sector reform in Sierra Leone is paid for by (a) her Department and (b) other Government Departments. [121583]

Assistance provided for security sector reform to date amounts to £1.15 million all of which is to be met by our Department.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on her Department's support for security sector reform in Sierra Leone. [121584]

Security is a top priority for the poor. Without basic security it is impossible for poor people to build a better life and to work their way out of poverty. During the eight years of civil war in Sierra Leone unaccountable armed forces became part of the security problem. Our Department has been working closely with the Government of Sierra Leone, as well as the World Bank and others to support the disarmament and demobilisation programme as well as supporting wider reform in the security sector including reforms to the military and the police force.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list the projects her Department supports in Sierra Leone, indicating the financial support provided to each. [121585]

£ million
Support to the Government of Sierra Leone's National Programme for Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration	12.4
Emergency support to Lungi Demobilisation Camp	1.6
Security Sector Project (SILSEP)	1.7
Support to the Commonwealth Police Development Taskforce (includes Police Humanitarian Fund and Public Order support)	2.45
Provision of an Inspector General of Police	0.25
Military Reintegration Plan (MRP)	3.4
Commonwealth Community Safety and Security Project	12.9
Support to Campaign for Good Governance (Civil Society)	0.2
Support for the return of Paramount Chiefs	2.0
Law Development Project (incl. Legal Draftsman)	2.2
Media Development Project	1.1
Governance assistance programme: British Council project management	1.1
Support to the President's office	0.2
Humanitarian Relief and reconstruction	5.0
Budgetary Support for essential services/repayment of debts	20.5
Ferry	1.5

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent representations she has received on bonded labour in Pakistan; and if she will make a statement. [121587]

We receive occasional representations from human rights groups and from individuals.The Secretary of State's statement to the House of Commons on 10 November 1999,

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will instruct the Food Standards Agency to conduct an inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the closure of the Mead Webber Abattoir at Eardisley, with particular reference to the conduct of the Meat Hygiene Service. [121219]

DFID has allocated resources in support of the following projects in Sierra Leone:

[holding answer 10 May 2000]: This is a matter for which the Food Standards Agency is responsible. I understand that a formal complaint has been received from Mead Webber Ltd. about the circumstances surrounding the closure of the abattoir, and that it has been agreed by the Food Standards Agency that an independent investigation will be carried out. The most appropriate way of doing this, acceptable to both parties, is being urgently considered, with a view to it starting as soon as possible.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients have used the E112 procedure to have medical treatment abroad in each of the last five years. [121788]

The information requested is as follows:

Year	Number of E112s issued
1995	1409
1996	815
1997	859
1998	812
1999	860
1 Records incomplete

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what decision has been taken with respect to Hilary Rowland's chairmanship of the Royal Liverpool Children's NHS Trust; who took the decision; which Ministers were consulted on this decision; and if he will make a statement. [121787]

Hilary Rowland, Chief Executive, is on extended leave from her post at the Royal Liverpool Children's National Health Service Trust after what has been an exceptionally demanding period, both for her and for Alder Hey Children's Hospital. During this time, Ms Rowland remains in contact with regional officials at the NHS Executive North West and has their continuing support.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health for what reason there has been a delay in the selection of pilot sites for human papilloma virus testing. [121784]

The Department is currently establishing an advisory group, which will oversee the commissioning and running of the pilot sites for human papilloma virus testing and provide expert advice and support on all aspects of the scope of the project. A limited competition exercise will be held in the summer to select the pilot sites, and it is anticipated they will be chosen by the autumn. Testing will begin when preparatory work at each site is complete.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what estimate he has made of the savings which will result from closing the (a) Axminster and (b) Exmouth magistrates courts. [121785]

None. Under the provisions of the Justices of the Peace Act 1997 the Axminster and Exmouth magistrate's courts are managed locally by the Devon and Cornwall Magistrates Courts Committee. Decisions concerning closure are for that Committee to determine, although a contributing local authority may appeal to the Lord Chancellor against a proposed closure. The procedure for such appeals is set out in section 56 of the Act. In the absence of an appeal the Lord Chancellor has no locus in the matter.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many (a) rifles minus their bolts and (b) complete rifles were stolen from their civilian owners in Northern Ireland in each of the last three years for which figures are available; and of these how many were (i) 22 calibre and (ii) full bore. [121259]

The Chief Constable has advised me that the information is not retained in a manner which readily permits obtaining the detail necessary to answer this question without incurring a disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many legally held firearms have been destroyed in the last 12 months for which figures are available, as a consequence of the authority to hold such a firearm being (a) withdrawn and (b) given up by the holder; and of those firearms how many were (i) handguns, (ii) rifles of 22 calibre, (iii) rifles over 22 calibre, (iv) shotguns and (v) other firearms. [121258]

The Chief Constable has advised me that the following firearms, legally held on certificate, were destroyed during the period 1 May 1999 to 30 April 2000.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what performance targets have been set for the Social Security Agency for the current financial year. [122440]

The following targets have been set with the objective of continuing to provide high levels of service to customers. I am satisfied that the targets represent a demanding challenge for the Agency. The targets will be included in the Agency's 2000–03 Strategic and Business Plan, which is due for publication this month. A copy of the Plan will be placed in the Library. The targets are as follows:

1. Customer Satisfaction

90 per cent. of customers to regard the Agency's services as satisfactory or better.

2. New Deal initiatives

To increase the numbers of Lone Parents participating in the scheme by 25 per cent. year on year.

To have 5 per cent. of those Partners of the Unemployed targeted agree to participate in the scheme.

3. Resource Management

To achieve cash efficiency savings of the order of £1.4 million.

4. Benefit Accuracy

Disability Living Allowance—To pay the correct amount in at least 88 per cent. of cases.

Incapacity Benefit—To pay the correct amount in at least 95 per cent. of cases.

Income Support—To pay the correct amount in at least 89 per cent. of cases.

Jobseeker's Allowance—To pay the correct amount in at least 91 per cent. of cases.

5. Fraud

To achieve a 5 per cent. reduction in the level of fraud and error in Income Support and Jobseeker's Allowance.

6. Financial Recovery

Recovery of overpayments—£3.7 million.

To ask the Prime Minister when he will publish the Performance and Innovation Unit's report on the social value of rural post offices; and if he will make a statement. [121126]

To ask the Prime Minister when he expects to publish the Performance and Innovation Unit report on the Post Office. [120480]

The Performance and Innovation Unit report on the Post Office network will be published shortly.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the departments which have spent money directly or indirectly on asylum seekers in the years (a) 1995, (b) 1996, (c) 1997, (d) 1998, (e) 1999 and (f) 2000 to date. [119451]

[holding answer 17 April 2000]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary on 9 May 2000, Official Report, columns 332-33W.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will define social exclusion. [120672]

Social exclusion is a shorthand term for what can happen when people or areas suffer from a combination of linked problems such as unemployment, poor skills, low incomes, poor housing, high crime environments, bad health and family breakdown.

To ask the Prime Minister if he is evaluating proposals for acquiring aircraft for his official use. [118108]

[holding answer 10 April 2000]: No. As my answer to the hon. Member of 3 April 2000, Official Report, column 279W, made clear, decisions on which aircraft to use will be determined on cost, the numbers of people travelling with me, security and business considerations and the availability of aircraft. There is no dedicated aircraft which is solely for my use.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the Government's policy is on arms sales to Zimbabwe; and if he will make a statement. [122442]

The Government's policy on export licence applications for Zimbabwe was set out in my statement to the House of Commons on 3 May 2000, Official Report, columns 149-62.As I informed the House, the Government decided last week, in the light of the deteriorating situation in Zimbabwe, to refuse from 3 May all applications for new licences for Zimbabwe for goods and technology listed in part III, schedule 1, of the Export of Goods (Control) Order 1994, as amended (commonly known as the Military List).This included all new licence applications for spare parts in connection with previous contracts. We also began a review of all extant export licences for Zimbabwe.In line with my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister's statement of 9 February 2000,

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Government policy towards China and human rights discussions in the United Nations. [121501]

The United Kingdom has a wide-ranging relationship with China. As Permanent Members of the United Nations Security Council we regularly discuss an extensive range of international interests and responsibilities including global and regional security, as well as political, financial, economic and environmental issues.The UN Commission on Human Rights considered a resolution tabled by the United States on the human rights situation in China on 18 April. We voted against a Chinese sponsored "No-Action" motion to guillotine discussion on a US sponsored resolution. The EU Presidency condemned the continuing restrictions upon the fundamental freedoms of thought, expression, religion, assembly and association. on behalf of the EU, the Presidency also made it clear that it was vital that the human rights dialogue with China should continue and be kept under regular review.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last met the High Commissioner of Sri Lanka; and if he will make a statement on the Sri Lankan Government's imposition of emergency regulations on 3 May. [121581]

I last met the Sri Lankan High Commissioner on 20 January when he paid a courtesy call on me.We are concerned by the possible restrictions on civil liberties and press freedoms following the introduction of the regulations by the Sri Lankan Government and hope that they will be lifted as soon as possible. It is not clear how the regulations will be implemented. We shall continue to monitor the situation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many women there are in his Department in the top three senior management grades; and what these figures were 10 years ago. [121775]

As at 1 April 2000 there were eight women at JESP 13 and above, which equates to Grades 1-3, the top three senior management grades.In 1990, the Department did not record the gender of those in the most senior grades. Figures for 1990 could therefore only be provided at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many women graduates recruited into his Department in 1980 are still serving in his Department. [121715]

No women were recruited to the FCO in 1980 through the fast stream competition where candidates are required to have a degree. Women graduates may have been recruited into other grades, but in these cases information on whether or not they had a degree was not systematically recorded as possession of a degree was not a requirement for recruitment in most cases.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 8 May 2000, Official Report, columns 257-58W, if he raised the issue of legal proceedings concerning members of the Jewish community when he spoke to Iranian Foreign Minister Kharrazi on 28 April regarding the postponement of his visit to Iran; and what factors underlay his decision to postpone the visit. [121674]

[holding answer 11 May 2000]: Further to my answer of 8 May 2000, Official Report, columns 257-58W, the Foreign Secretary has raised this issue on a number of occasions with Foreign Minister Kharrazi (including when he visited London in January), and with the Iranian ambassador. He did not discuss it or other foreign policy concerns during his telephone call to Foreign Minister Kharrazi on 29 April which focused exclusively on the postponement of his visit to Iran in the light of the situation in Zimbabwe.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much his Department has spent on (a) champagne and (b) other wine in each year since 1 May 1997. [121781]

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office does not maintain a comprehensive central record of these categories of expenditure. A comprehensive breakdown of expenditure could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance his Department has provided to the British soldier Richard Hudson currently detained in Skopje jail in Macedonia; and if he will make a statement. [121956]

At the time of his arrest Mr. Hudson was working as a civilian sub-contractor for KFOR. He is not a member of HM armed forces.Our consular staff in Macedonia have visited Mr. Hudson regularly since his arrest and will continue to do so during his detention. They have pursued every complaint or rumour of maltreatment, and taken up his case at the highest levels in the Macedonian Government.Mr. Hudson has made an application for a transfer to a UK prison under the Council of Europe Transfer of Prisoners Agreement. We have passed his application to the UK prison service and to the Minister of Justice in Macedonia. We will continue to press the Macedonian Government for a quick decision.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 5 May 2000, Official Report, column 240W, when he expects to conclude his consideration of the principles to be addressed in the Overseas Territories Bill. [121841]

We hope to conclude consideration of the principles to be addressed in the Overseas Territories Bill by the end of May this year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many former service personnel who participated in the nuclear tests programmes in Australia and the South Pacific have been awarded war pensions after they developed (a) leukaemia, excluding chronic lymphatic and (b) multiple myeloma; when was the first time that former service personnel were awarded war pensions after developing these illnesses; and if he will make a statement. [121615]

The administration of the War Pensions Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive of the War Pensions Agency, Mr. Gordon Hextall. He will write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many claims for war pensions by British nuclear test veterans have been (a) made and (b) awarded to date. [121303]

The administration of the War Pensions Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive of the War Pensions Agency, Mr. Gordon Hextall. He will write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the conclusions reached at the Council of Ministers meeting of 28 March on maritime safety; what measures are under discussion involving co-operation with (a) defence ministers and (b) European defence agencies for future presentation to a European Council meeting concerning a global strategy by the European Union in the Field of Maritime Security; and what is his policy thereon. [119815]

I have been asked to reply.In answer to the first part of his question on maritime safety I refer the hon. Member to my reply given on 30 March 2000,

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on what date his Department received export licence application number 8664; on what date he expects it to be determined; and if he will make a statement about its progress. [122037]

Licence Application 8664 was received by the Export Control Organisation (ECO) on 15 December 1999. The application is currently under consideration in conjunction with other Government Departments. A decision on the licence application will be reached as quickly as possible consistent with the need to give full consideration to the issues involved.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proposals he has to ensure that applications for export licences are published in advance, allowing for proper public and parliamentary debate before decisions are made. [121717]

The 1998 White Paper on Strategic Export Controls proposed that new primary legislation should provide for parliamentary scrutiny of secondary export control legislation, but the White Paper stated that the Government did not consider there should be advance parliamentary scrutiny of individual export licence applications as this would slow down significantly the process of decision making and raise difficult issues of commercial confidentiality. The Foreign Affairs and Trade and Industry Committees endorsed this conclusion while the Quadripartite Committee on Strategic Export Controls has stated that it will seek to come to conclusions on this issue in its next Report.All the White Paper proposals are under review in the light of comments received. In coming to conclusions on this issue, the Government will take account also of the conclusions of the Committees, including any conclusions reached by the Quadripartite Committee on this matter. We will be announcing proposals for new export control legislation following conclusion of the review.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what research his Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the way that assistance is given to small firms in the regions. [121662]

The DTI is responsible for many forms of assistance to small firms. All those services are subject to regular evaluation.At a regional level, business support can be provided in a variety of ways. Some services are provided by the Government Offices in the regions; others are provided by the Regional Development Agencies. But the most important mechanism for providing support for small businesses at the local level in England is the network of Business Link partnerships. These provide their own services, but also access to other forms of support from both the public and private sector. Funding mechanisms also vary and, in relevant areas, EU funding can be a significant source of business support.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the small firms who will directly benefit from the Government's Enterprise Fund (a) nationally and (b) in the Crosby constituency. [121660]

The main elements of the Enterprise Fund are the Small Firms Loan Guarantee Scheme, the UK High Technology Fund and the Regional Venture Capital Funds.With regard to the Small Firms Loan Guarantee Scheme, the Government act as guarantor to the lenders in the scheme. The loan is arranged between the lender and the small firm and is subject to commercial confidentiality procedures.Both venture capital elements of the Enterprise Fund, namely the UK High Technology Fund and Regional Venture Capital Funds are currently being developed. They will be managed by professional fund managers. All their investment decisions will be made on a commercial basis. As an investor in the funds, the Government will not be able to forecast which small businesses will directly benefit.It is therefore not possible to list, either nationally or for the Crosby constituency, which small firms will directly benefit from the Government's Enterprise Fund.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how the Partnership Fund will achieve its aims of fostering new attitudes and approaches to partnership at work; and how much money is to be made available for the Fund. [121663]

The Fund supports projects to develop partnership approaches in the workplace and to disseminate best practice. Up to £5 million is being made available in a series of calls over four years.Thirty-five projects, having a total value of £2,880,000, are being supported under the first call for proposals of the Partnership Fund. The second call for proposals was launched by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on 9 May 2000 and the deadline for applications is 21 July 2000.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will ensure that Shipbuilding Intervention Fund money will remain available to UK shipbuilders for the remainder of this year. [121470]

I announced on 25 January 2000, Official Report, column 199W that I had decided to extend the availability of the Shipbuilding Intervention Fund to 31 December 2000. I am pleased to confirm that that remains the position.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on (a) perceptions of the effectiveness of the home shipbuilding credit guarantee scheme and (b) the plans the Government have to alter the scheme. [121469]

I believe that the scheme has played an important role in helping UK yards win new orders since its inception in the 1960s, and continues to do so. The scheme has supported some 1,200 vessels to the value of more than £4.5 billion. It currently supports UK built ships to the tune of £200 million.The Department runs the scheme on a comparable basis to similar schemes in our main competitor countries and we believe that its current terms facilities are competitive. To this end, and in response to recommendations from our partnership with the industry in the Shipbuilding Forum in 1999, we delivered significant improvements to the scheme by making loans available in euros and US dollars, and by making guarantees only facilities available too. This makes the scheme one of the few to offer guarantees only, and to offer finance of up to 12 years.Following the introduction of these improvements, there is now a high level of inquiry for finance under the scheme involving potential orders for eligible ships at virtually all the UK yards.In line with our general approach we remain ready to consider constructive suggestions for ways that the scheme might be strengthened in the future.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on his Department's support for shipbuilding (a) on the River Clyde and (b) in the United Kingdom as a whole. [121315]

My Department's strategy is to support and promote all parts of the UK shipbuilding industry equally, irrespective of their location. In particular, the policy is to assist the industry to improve its competitiveness. In July 1998 my Department established the Shipbuilding Forum whose membership comprises representatives of the shipbuilding and ship repair industry, trades unions, equipment suppliers and customers, both private and public sector. Also involved are the National Training Organisation for the marine sector and relevant Government Departments. The Forum's terms of reference are to consider the current situation of the shipbuilding and ship repair industry and how to improve its competitiveness so as to increase its share of the European market, leading to increased output, profitability and employment.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he is taking to penalise gas and electricity companies that take over control of peoples' energy supplies without their consent. [121445]

The Government take seriously the distress and inconvenience caused by involuntary transfers and has encouraged Ofgem to take firm action with the companies concerned.It is for the Director General of Gas and Electricity Supply to determine what action should be taken to combat involuntary transfers of energy supply. The Office of Gas and Electricity Markets [Ofgem] is taking steps that will significantly reduce these transfers. Among other things, Ofgem recently renewed the licence condition for gas and electricity suppliers governing sales and marketing practices, and is presently consulting on further enhancements. Ofgem also works closely with individual suppliers to resolve problems that lead to customer complaints.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what consultations Her Majesty's Government have had with the authorities responsible for airport radar systems in respect of the distribution of new frequencies for mobile phones. [121360]

None of the radio frequencies for the licences assigned by the recent third generation mobile communications auction is used by airport radar systems.A proposal to share frequency bands, including those used by civil airport radar in the UK, for possible future expansion of third generation mobile systems, is to be discussed at the World Radio Conference currently taking place in Istanbul (WRC-2000). The authorities concerned with civil airport radar were fully involved in the UK's preparations for WRC-2000, and ensured that the requirements of safety were taken into account. The agreed European position is that further study is required before any decisions can be taken.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when new licences for mobile phones will be issued; and what effect the distribution of frequencies will have on the optimal use of the spectrum. [121362]

Subject to the provisions of the Wireless Telegraphy (Third Generation Licences) Notice 1999, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry will grant a Wireless Telegraphy Act Licence for Third Generation Mobile Communications within 20 business days of the successful bidder for the licence confirming either that it is not subject to any preconditions or that it is no longer subject to any preconditions. Licences were issued to TIW UMTS UK Ltd. and One 2 One Personal Communications Ltd. on 9 May 2000.A well designed auction with well informed bidders should ensure that spectrum licences go to those who place the highest value on them and are most likely to make optimal use of the spectrum. In addition, the issue of five licences, including one reserved for a new entrant, should help to ensure that the available spectrum is used effectively by increasing sustainable competition and encouraging the faster roll-out of innovative services.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will send copies of the interim report from the Rover Task Force to hon. Members with West Midlands constituencies; and if he will place a copy in the Library. [121134]

[holding answer 8 May 2000]: May I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry to my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Northfield (Mr. Burden) on 5 May 2000, Official Report, column 231W.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects to receive the money from the sale of the radio spectrum; and if he will make a statement. [121198]

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry expects to receive all of the receipts from the auction of Wireless Telegraph Act licences for Third Generation mobile communications in the current financial year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many businesses there are which conduct retail, after sales and repair of motor vehicles in the United Kingdom; and how many of them employ fewer than 50 people. [121590]

[holding answer 11 May 2000]: In 1999, there were 60,455 businesses in these sectors. 8,435 employed fewer than 50.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the motor retail franchised dealers (a) he and (b) his officials have visited in the United Kingdom since July 1999. [121595]

[holding answer 11 May 2000]: My officials are in regular contact with the Retail Motor Industry Federation (RMIF) which also includes the National Franchise Dealers Association.I met with John Edwards of the Phoenix Consortium, a Rover dealer and a member of the RMIF during the recent contacts over Rover.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what recent representations he has received on the controls on licensed production and brokerage of arms for export; and if he will make a statement; [121732](2) what initiatives he is pursuing for greater control of licensed production and brokerage of arms for export; and if he will make a statement. [121731]

The 1998 White Paper on Strategic Export Controls (Cm 3989) contained proposals to extend controls on trafficking and brokering in several areas, including in respect of the supply of arms and other controlled goods to any country subject to embargo and the supply of equipment the export from the UK of which has been banned because of evidence that goods of the same type have been used in torture. All the White Paper proposals are currently under review in the light of comments received.As part of this review the Government are also considering the issue of licensed production overseas following the raising of this issue in a number of the responses to the White Paper. However, a licence is already required for the export of any controlled equipment or technology in tangible form needed for an overseas manufacturing facility.In recent months the Department for Trade and Industry has received representations on the issues of arms brokering and licensed production from Oxfam and Amnesty International's UK Directors, from many individual members of these two organisations and from other members of the public.The Government will announce proposals for new export control legislation following conclusion of the current review of the White Paper proposals.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the contracts entered into with private sector companies for the provision of goods or services since May 1997 where penalty clauses were triggered for non-performance; and if he will make a statement. [122015]

Where appropriate, DTI contracts include liquidated damages clauses. Penalty clauses are not legally enforceable. The DTI has a great number of contracts in operation at any one time, the details of which are not held centrally. It would entail disproportionate cost to find out which of these contracts included liquidated damages clauses and which of those clauses had been invoked.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the areas within his Department and its agencies where functions have been contracted out, listing (a) the cost involved, (b) date of contract with expiry term, (c) the name of the company and (d) the area within the DTI from which the functions have been taken since May 1997. [121619]

I will arrange to write to the hon. Member with this information shortly.

To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee which anti-viral drugs are available to hon. Members and staff at the Palace of Westminster to treat influenza. [121972]

Stocks of a number of common drugs for emergency use are kept in the occupational health consulting room off the Lower Waiting Hall. These include drugs for treating angina, asthma and bacterial infections. These can be issued by the occupational health doctors, and by certain medically qualified hon. Members. The occupational health service also provides influenza vaccinations for hon. Members and staff in the at-risk groups.The service does not, however, hold other drugs (including anti-viral influenza drugs) as the House's medical services are not intended to replace normal GP services.

To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, how many surveillance devices are in use (a) inside and (b) outside buildings on the Parliamentary Estate; what is the (i) nature, (ii) location, (iii) purpose and (iv) cost of installing and running each such device; and if he will make a statement. [120773]

[holding answer 11 May 2000]: The outturn for expenditure on security services in 1998–99 for the House of Commons was £13,953,000 as shown in the commission's Twenty-First Annual Report for 1998–99 (HC721); in 1999–2000 the cost was £13,454,174.It is not the practice to give detailed information of the type asked for by my hon. Friend.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on the findings of the first stage of the quinquennial review of Remploy Ltd. [122343]

The Department has now completed the prior options stage of the quinquennial review of Remploy. Copies of the report have been placed in the Library and will be sent to those who contributed to the consultation exercise. The report is also available on the DfEE website (www.dfee.gov.uk).The review considered a number of options but decided that Remploy's position and NDPB status should remain as it is for now. The next stage of this review will start shortly and will be completed within three months. During this stage the review team will look at the relationship between the Government and the Company to ensure that it operates to the highest standards in line with the commitment set out in the Modernising Government White Paper.There will be a further review in two years time to assess the impact of Remploy's new Corporate Plan—Remploy 21.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when he will reply to the letter dated 30 March from the hon. Member for West Derbyshire in relation to the Chairman of the Governors of the Fitzherbert School in Fenny Bentley, Derbyshire. [121450]

A reply to the hon. Member was issued on Wednesday 10 May 2000.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when the hon. Member for West Derbyshire will receive a reply to his letter of 30 March about the William Gilbert School in Duffield, Derbyshire. [121441]

A reply to the hon. Member's letter was issued on 8 May 2000.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many (a) men and (b) women from ethnic minority communities living in the Greater London area have benefited from the New Deal. [121122]

New Deal actively promotes equality of opportunity and outcome for people of all ethnic and racial groups. Targets have been set for all Units of Delivery to achieve parity of outcome on jobs between white and ethnic minority young people, by the end of this Parliament. Latest figures show that to the end of February 2000, in Greater London, 19,157 men and 10,035 women from ethnic minority groups have benefited from starting the New Deal for young people and that 12,198 men and 2,565 women from ethnic minority groups have benefited from starting the national New Deal for long-term unemployed people aged 25 or over. Many others will have benefited from the New Deal for Lone Parents and other New Deals.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many children living in the Greater London area were receiving free school meals on 1 April. [121973]

The data are not available in the form requested. Figures on the number of day pupils attending maintained schools¹ in the Greater London Government Office Region who took a free meal in January this year is currently being collected. Latest estimates show that there were 226,000 such pupils, which represents 21 per cent. of the pupil population.Final national figures will be published in the Statistical Volume "Statistics of Education: Schools in England 2000" in September, a copy of which will be available in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how much was spent per pupil in (a) Gloucestershire and (b) England and Wales, in (i) primary schools and (ii) secondary schools in each of the last ten years for which figures are available. [122005]

The following table sets out spending per pupil in Gloucestershire and England, from 1990–91 to 1998–99, the latest year for which expenditure figures are available. The figures are based on Net Institutional Expenditure.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to encourage higher education institutions to introduce standardised testing for scholastic attainment. [119143]

[holding answer 17 April 2000]: Admissions procedures are a matter in the first instance for individual higher education institutions.The Government wish to see a widening of access to higher education, and we share the aspiration of those who promote the use of Scholastic Aptitude Tests (SATs) that higher education should be available to all who can benefit from it. The substantial reform of post-16 qualifications to be introduced from September will help broaden access to university by giving recognition to a wider range of qualifications. In addition, we are investing heavily in raising standards in deprived areas through "Excellence in Cities". This year we shall be launching new summer schools to help young people to understand better the opportunities higher education can offer. New "Opportunity Bursaries" of up to £1,000 per year will also be introduced from next year to give able young people from areas without a history of participation in higher education the extra financial incentives and confidence they need to embark on a higher education course.The Sutton Trust is running a small pilot of SAT-type tests in schools in England this year.Although its research is entirely separate from DfEE activities in this area we are happy to work closely with the Trust because its work is focused on widening the socio-economic profile of students in higher education. We have learned from its experience in running summer schools and have adopted much of its best practice in the summer schools we will launch this summer.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) what is the average per pupil education standard spending assessment for 2000–01 in (a) primary and (b) secondary schools in (i) England and (ii) Somerset; what is the reason for the difference between (i) and (ii); and if he will make a statement; [121235](2) if he will estimate the additional cash which would be available for education in Somerset if the average per pupil standard spending assessment for primary and secondary schools in Somerset was the same as the average for England; and if he will make a statement. [121221]

[holding answer 10 May 2000]: The following table shows for 2000–01 education SSA per primary and secondary pupil for Somerset and England.

£
SSA	Somerset	England	Difference
Primary per pupil	2,310	2,474	164
Secondary per pupil	2,984	3,175	191

The differences between the figures for England and those for Somerset are a result of the authority receiving a below average share of the national total for education standard spending to reflect social deprivation and area costs. If Somerset's SSA per pupil for primary and secondary schools were the same as the national average it is estimated that its education SSA would be £11 million higher. Since 1997–98 Somerset's education SSA per pupil has increased by £338, and its special and specific grants per pupil have increased by £193.