To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the published and pre-reviewed studies that the Government have assessed to date on the safety of GM crops. [117029]

There are hundreds of published and peer-reviewed scientific papers and studies that inform the safety assessments of GM crops. It is not possible to list them all here but some examples considered recently by the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment (ACRE) are as follows. This body of knowledge on GM crops which is contained in the scientific literature is brought to bear on risk assessment not only through the individual experts on Government advisory committees, such as ACRE, but also via the Government's own scientists and Non-Governmental Organisations.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what measures he took to notify district and parish councils about the GM crop trials in (a) St. Osyth and (b) Wivenhoe in Essex. [121276]

[holding answer 8 May 2000]: Information about the Farm Scale Evaluations of GM crops is widely available. I announced the programme on 17 March and wrote to the hon. Member and other MPs with constituencies in England, outlining the aims and nature of the research.A full list of proposed site locations is available on my Department's website, along with more detailed information about the programme and GM crops in general. The Cabinet Office website also contains further information.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he has received from Herefordshire about the siting of the GM trial sites in Kempley, Gloucestershire, and Preston Wynne, Herefordshire; and if he will make a statement. [122039]

Following notification of the proposed Farm Scale Evaluation of oil seed rape at Kempley, Gloucestershire, my Department has received 18 letters from those objecting to, and seeking further information about, the Evaluations programme.My Department was told about the GM maize at Preston Wynne on 26 April, at which time details were placed on the Department's website. To date, no letters have specifically referred to this field site.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions in each of the last five years, how many times the Health and Safety Executive has investigated hygiene and food safety standards in hospitals through (a) spot checks, (b) pre-arranged inspections and (c) legal action for the enforcement of standards. [120990]

The Health and Safety Executive has not, in any of the last five years, investigated any hygiene and food safety standards in hospitals.These matters are properly the responsibility of Environmental Health Officers employed by local authorities for the districts in which the premises are located.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate he has made of the cost to his Department of converting air conditioning and refrigeration equipment from using HFC refrigerants to using (a) hydrocarbons and (b) ammonia. [120427]

[holding answer 8 May 2000]: My Department's local property managers are asked to assess the practicality and cost-effectiveness of such measures in drawing up plans to reduce the environmental impact of our estate.Estimating the costs of converting from HFC refrigerants, consistent with the draft UK programme on climate change, requires studies by appropriate specialists to determine on a case by case basis the practical and economic options. These studies address the size and costs of replacement plant and associated works as well as the cost of replacement refrigerants.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has for improving the management of programmes for disadvantaged neighbourhoods. [121453]

The Government's plans for the future management of regeneration programmes, targeted at deprived neighbourhoods, will take account of the recommendations in the National Strategy for Neighbourhood Renewal (the framework document of which was published for consultation on 12 April) and the Urban and Rural White Papers (scheduled for publication later in the year). The National Strategy framework document proposes a significant number of recommendations for overcoming the problems of deprived areas, including ideas for improving the way regeneration, and other, programmes are managed and delivered centrally and regionally.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to make the installation on buses of safety equipment designed to alert drivers to faults in bus wheels mandatory. [121491]

Faults in wheels of commercial vehicles and buses are identified during normal maintenance checks depending on a particular operator's maintenance schedule. My Department's Guide to Maintaining Roadworthiness, which is issued to all vehicle operators, emphasises the need for a daily "walk round" check by the driver. My Department is aware of several proprietary devices intended to give a visual indication of loosening of wheel retaining nuts, which could assist the driver in this check, but there are not any plans to introduce these as a mandatory requirement. Certain wheel faults such as cracks or excessive wear are only apparent on close inspection which is not normally expected to be within the competence of the driver.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the number and quality of green transport plans produced by private sector businesses. [121481]

A survey carried out in early 1998 showed that at least 200 organisations (excluding local authorities) were implementing plans. The provisional Local Transport Plans submitted in 1999 suggest that numbers have increased significantly in some areas since then. We intend to commission a full survey shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what recent research he has undertaken on the impact of upward-only rent reviews on town centre property markets. [121483]

My hon. Friend the Minister for Housing and Planning published a research report on 19 April about the impact of the property industry's Code of Practice on Commercial Property Leases. This considered, among other things, the extent of upward-only review clauses in the property market generally. The research did not look specifically at town centre property markets.The study, by the University of Reading, found that upward-only rent review clauses still predominate in longer leases. We have asked the property market and professions to consider how the market could best promote alternatives to upward-only rent review clauses. We recognise that landlords may seek a higher initial rent to offset the greater risk of letting without such a clause. It will therefore be important for market promotion to draw the tenant's attention to the offsetting advantages of renting without an upward-only provision, as well as to any higher rent.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what contact his Department has had with Gedling Borough Council regarding the proposed sale of part of the Stoke Lane Allotments. [121946]

The Department has had no contact with Gedling Borough Council regarding the proposed sale of part of the Stoke Lane Allotments.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 2 May 2000, Official Report, column 4W, on Whitley Way, if he will list the representations he has received about this road. [122300]

There have been six separate representations on this matter. In addition to the reply that the then Under-Secretary of State, my hon. Friend the Member for Greenwich and Woolwich (Mr. Raynsford) sent the hon. Member on 19 August 1998 in response to representations on this issue, one further representation was received from Winchester City Council in September 1999. Representations were made by three local members of the public between April and June 1999. More recently, representations have been received from one further member of the public.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what proposals he has to return moneys collected from the landfill tax to local authorities; and if he will make a statement. [121023]

I have been asked to reply.There are no such proposals. Revenues raised from the landfill tax contribute to general Government revenue. The Government are considering the question of resources for local authorities as part of the overall 2000 spending review.

To ask the President of the Council what plans she has to introduce mechanisms to oversee the use of statutory instruments to amend primary legislation under the provisions of the Human Rights Act 1998. [121505]

The Government intend to invite the House to give the proposed Joint Committee on Human Rights the task of scrutinising remedial orders shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) what steps he will take to ensure that teachers can obtain a response from his Department about receiving their subsidy under the Computers for Teachers scheme; [121948](2) what assessment he has made of the operation of the Computers for Teachers scheme; and if he will make a statement. [121947]

[holding answer 12 May 2000]: The Computers for Teachers Initiative was launched on 12 January 2000. Due to high teacher take-up, the first phase of the scheme was closed on 30 April, with a deadline for receipt of applications of 5 June. Some 17,000 applications have been received, with over 2,200 teachers already having received their subsidies. The Department has put in place a range of measures to answer teachers' inquiries, including the recruitment of extra staff, opening further telephone lines and arranging a dedicated Computers for Teachers e-mail address.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many people resident in the Cheltenham constituency have (a) applied for, (b) been accepted into and (c) graduated from full-time courses in higher education in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available. [122004]

The available data for 1998–99 and 1999–2000 are given in the following table; the data on student postcodes from which these figures are derived is not sufficiently complete to allow similar figures to be produced for earlier years.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment for what reason changes were made to the calculations for parental income in assessing liability for student support contributions whereby MIRAS relief was disapplied in 2000–01; and for what reason life assurance premiums were similarly disapplied. [121339]

[holding answer 11 May 2000]: The removal of the disregard of parental income in student support for mortgage interest that attracts tax relief follows the wider Government decision to abolish tax relief for mortgage payments from April 2000. The abolition of MIRAS has been public for some time and the families of students entering higher education this year will be well aware of it. We will ensure that the families of students already in higher education are not asked to pay any more as a result of the abolition of MIRAS in the 2000–01 academic year. From the 2001–02 academic year, we are raising the contribution threshold from £17,805 to £20,000, as announced by the Secretary of State on 25 January. This increase is well above the rate of inflation and will benefit both mortgage payers and those who do not have mortgages.The Government keep the student support system under review to ensure that support is targeted at those students who need it most. The disregard for life assurance premiums which attract tax relief has been removed because it gave a limited group of parents with certain life assurance policies a double benefit of tax relief on payments and a disregard from their income in determining their contribution to their children's support.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what recent representations he has received from schools that are having to fund the use of supply teachers in place of teachers who are on jury service; and if he will make a statement. [121730]

No such representations have been received.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on progress at each of the Fresh Start schools. [121970]

Fresh Start policy is in its infancy—only 15 schools have undergone a fresh start to date, 11 secondary and four primary. Three opened in September 1998, eight in September 1999, two in January 2000, one in April 2000 and one in May 2000.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what proportion of pupils achieved at least five GCSEs at grades A^* to C at (a) Blakelaw school, (b) Earl Marshall school and (c) Regis school in (i) 1996, (ii) 1997 and (iii) 1998. [121969]

The proportion of pupils who achieved at least five GCSEs at grades A^* to C was as follows:

Percentage
	(i) 1995–96	(ii) 1996–97	(iii) 1997–98
(a) Blakelaw School	10	9	7
(b) Earl Marshall	8	11	10
(c) Regis school	24	25	29

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many New Deal places have been (a) offered, (b) taken up and (c) completed within Sheffield City Council since the start of the New Deal initiative. [121492]

From April 1998 to date (10 May 2000), Sheffield City Council have employed two new deal 25+ clients on the New Deal subsidised employment option. These were a result of the clients being encouraged by their New Deal personal advisers to market the option themselves to prospective employers.One client commenced subsidised employment on 7 September 1999 and has since been retained after the six-month subsidy period.The other client commenced subsidised employment on 26 April 2000, and is in the process of completing the subsidised period of six months.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list each publication issued by his Department since May 1997, the number of copies printed of each publication and the cost of publication, printing and distribution of each publication. [121328]

[holding answer 9 May 2000]: It is not possible to provide all the information requested on individual publications without disproportionate expense.The Department faces enormous communication challenges in reaching its diverse audiences, including around 6.5 million parents, over 415,000 teachers, some 8.5 million students in further and higher education and up to 3.2 million small and medium-sized employers. Since May 1997, the Department has spent £5.85 million from its central Advertising and Publicity Budget on printing 559 new information leaflets and booklets. Print runs vary greatly—from 4.3 million copies of the leaflet "It all adds up", which shows parents easy ways to help with their children's mathematics, to 5,000 copies of an information pack on Millennium Volunteers.Distribution costs for publications cannot be separated from the Department's contract with its mailing house without disproportionate expense. Since May 1997 this contract has cost £5.22 million for distribution and fulfilment of requests for publications funded from the Advertising and Publicity Budget.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on the funding available for individual students at further education colleges on similar courses when sourced by (a) the Further Education Funding Council and (b) New Deal programmes. [121688]

Currently the Further Education Funding Council and Employment Service funding systems are not directly comparable. We intend that all post-16 funding should be on a more comparable basis in future. We are currently consulting on a common funding system across the Learning and Skills Council and Employment Service.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many further education corporations have not yet cleared their 1998–99 accounts following external audit. [121687]

Matters concerning external audits and college accounts are dealt with by the Further Education Funding Council (FEFC). I have asked the Chief Executive to reply to the hon. Member direct.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on what date he expects to publish his joint report with the Department of Trade and Industry on compensation for distant-water trawlermen. [121955]

It is not customary for policy advice given by officials to Ministers to be made publicly available. I can assure the House that the trawlermen's case is well understood and that the Government are considering it as a matter of urgency.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what representations he has received on the environmental impact caused by the cut in grant in aid for the Environment Agency for fisheries work; [121734](2) what representations he has received on the effects on the Environment Agency's fisheries work as a result of the cuts in their grant in aid. [121758]

I have received representations from a number of individuals and organisations, including some 150 letters from Members of Parliament and over 90 letters from the general public.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what initiatives he is pursuing to aid migratory salmonid fisheries. [121733]

The report of the independent Group established by Ministers to review all aspects of salmon and freshwater fisheries legislation and policy in England and Wales was issued for public consultation in March. This report includes many recommendations aimed at improving migratory salmonid fisheries. Interested parties have until 31 July to submit their views; we shall then prepare a Government response setting out how we intend to take matters forward.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if his current policy to allow a general licence to shoot pests includes (a) sporting events and (b) mass shoots; and if he will make a statement. [121782]

The shooting of certain 'pest' bird species is permitted under the terms of general licences issued by MAFF and DETR under the provisions of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. The general licences allow authorised persons, such as the landowner or occupier, or a person acting with the owner or occupier's permission, to kill or take certain bird species. This control is permitted for the purposes of preventing damage to agriculture (licensed by MAFF) and to preserve public health or public or air safety (licensed by DETR) and does not cover sporting events.The populations of the species concerned are monitored and there is no evidence that their conservation status is currently threatened by any of these control measures.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many primates are kept in research laboratories in the UK funded through the European Community; and if he will make a statement. [121306]

I have been asked to reply.Home Office records are not held in such a way as to identify the numbers of primates, or other animals, being held at designated establishments at a particular time, nor do they record centrally the sources of funding of establishments engaged in animal research. It is the nature of the work proposed in relation to the cost/benefit assessment, rather than the source of funding, which is the key consideration in deciding whether a project should be licensed under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986.

To ask the Prime Minister how many letters have been received by his office since 1 May 1997 supporting greater religious freedom in broadcasting. [121324]

Between 1 May 1997 and 20 April 2000 my Office received 9,898 letters regarding broadcasting. Information on whether letters supported greater religious freedom in broadcasting is not kept.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what is his latest estimate of net receipts to the New Millennium Experience Company from ticket sales. [120229]

[holding answer 2 May 2000]: Net receipts from ticket sales up to 31 December 1999 will be published in the company's 1 April 1999–31 December 1999 Annual Report and Financial Statements due to be published before the end of June. Forecast net receipts from ticket sales over the project life-time are an integral part of the business review. They will be informed by assumptions and judgments made about ticket yield and about percentages of sales through the different ticket distribution channels—the call centre, the National Lottery, the website (www.dome2000.co.uk). The potential range of net receipts under discussion are commercially confidential because they are directly relevant to the company's competitive position in the visitor attraction market-place.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what expressions of corporate interest in acquiring the New Millennium Experience Company as a going concern he has received. [121952]

[holding answer 12 May 2000]: The Dome Legacy competition has received one serious expression of interest in acquiring the New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) as a going concern since financial offers were invited.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make a statement on attendance figures for the Millennium Dome. [120806]

[holding answer 5 May 2000]: Attendance at the Dome to date totals 2.1 million, making it the most popular pay-to-visit attraction in the UK. Visitor figures are posted on the Dome website (www.dome2000.co.uk) weekly.The latest independent survey shoes that visitors have overwhelmingly enjoyed their day at the Dome with satisfaction levels of over 80 per cent. This is borne out by the largest monthly attendance to date of 579,333 visitors in April and May day's record attendance of 32,192 visitors.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many responses were received to the dome legacy competition; if he will publish them; and if he will make a statement. [121953]

[holding answer 12 May 2000]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer my right hon. Friend, the Minister for Local Government and the Regions gave my hon. Friend the Member for Battersea (Mr. Linton) on 17 January 2000.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent representations he has received regarding the cancellation of sporting and charitable events due to the imposition of charges for road closures; and if he will make a statement. [121358]

My Department has received three letters recently about the cancellation of athletics events on the public highway. The Association of Chief Police Officers is undertaking work on the staging of sporting events on the public highway and I am consulting it on the current position. I will write to the hon. Member as soon as I have had a response, placing copies of my reply in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport for what reason religious groups are prohibited from applying for local digital radio licences. [121320]

Schedule 2 to the Broadcasting Act 1990 (as amended by the Broadcasting Act 1996) disqualifies a body whose objects are wholly or mainly of a religious nature from holding local digital multiplex or digital sound programme service licences.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many letters have been received by his Department since 1 May 1997 supporting greater religious freedom in broadcasting. [121323]

Since 1 January 1999, my Department has replied to around 16,500 letters on religious broadcasting. Figures relating to the period since 1 May 1997 are not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what progress has been made towards implementing the recommendations of the report of the National Advisory Committee on Creative and Cultural Education; and if he will make a statement. [121950]

[holding answer 12 May 2000]: The Secretary of State for Education and Employment and I announced the Government' s response to the NACCCE report, "All our Futures: Creativity, Culture and Education", in January and have placed copies in both Libraries of the House. We have made significant progress in implementing the commitments, notably: guidance on creative development for pre-school children is available to accompany the new Early Learning Goals; schools will be working with a more flexible National Curriculum from September with greater emphasis on the need for creative and cultural education; guidance on building partnerships between schools and arts practitioners has been published; an arts award for schools is being developed and will be piloted shortly; the creation of the National Foundation for Youth Music and the injection of £180 million has made a huge impact on the teaching of music.We will also be making £150 million available to create multi-purpose sports and arts facilities for primary schools; and work by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority on the role of arts and creativity in the curriculum will further strengthen standards of teaching and learning. This is a substantial body of work and underlines the importance we place on creativity and culture in education. But this is just a small snapshot of where we have got to so far. The real value of the NACCCE report is the influence it is continuing to have as our thinking develops.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what funds museums in the North West of England will receive from the amounts which his Department has allocated to cut museum entry fees; and which museums will receive the money. [119101]

Due to an error my answer was incorrectly printed. The correct version is as follows:In 1990–2000 to enable free admission for children at the two museums funded by my Department in the North-West which are affected, the National Museums and Galleries on Merseyside (NMGM) received £719,000 and the Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester (MSIM) £188,000. In 2000–01, to enable free admission for children and people over 60, NMGM has been allocated £855,000, and for free children only MSIM has been allocated £188,000. The allocation of funds to cut museum entry fees at the museums and galleries funded by my Department in 2001–02 is still under consideration and no detailed figures are available yet. An announcement will be made in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what is the remit of the European Community Humanitarian Aid Office; what public reports it has issued; and what are the (a) percentage and (b) total of United Kingdom Overseas Development funds that are channelled through the European Union. [121637]

The European Community Humanitarian Office (ECHO) is mandated to provide humanitarian assistance to people outside the European Union, particularly in developing countries, who are affected by natural disasters or man-made crises.Since 1993 ECHO has published an Annual Report, periodic information updates (ECHO News and ECHO Files) and special reports on particular aspects of its activities such as disaster preparedness. A full list of current publications is available on the ECHO website (http://europa.eu.int/comm/echo/index.html).Some 30 per cent. of UK development funds are currently channelled through the EC. In 1998–99 (the latest year for which confirmed figures are available), the total DFID contribution to EC external spending was approximately £706 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much food aid was promised by the European Union through ECHO to Ethiopia in 1999; and when and where it was delivered. [121094]

Food Aid is the responsibility of the EC's DG-Development rather than ECHO. The EC pledged some 150,000 metric tonnes (MT) of food aid in 1999 and delivered about 190,000MT. EU pledges against Government of Ethiopia Emergency appeals are effectively multi-annual. Food pledges one year may not be delivered in the same year. The process is in effect a rolling programme of support with food from the year before filling gaps in the food pipeline. We do not have details of where the food was distributed.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much food aid has been committed to Ethiopia by the European Union through ECHO in 2000; and when and where it will be delivered. [121095]

Food aid is the responsibility of the EC's DG-Development rather than ECHO. The EC has committed 432,526 metric tonnes (MT) of food aid this year. A further 110,000MT will be provided by July 2001. Britain contributes 17 per cent. of the cost. Two shipments carrying 46,500MT of cereals have arrived. We do not have details of where the food was distributed.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if ECHO is committed to finding the cheapest appropriate food aid on the open market in responding to humanitarian need in Ethiopia and other such crises. [121097]

Food aid is the responsibility of EC DG-Development. EC procurement rules for food aid include assurances on value for money and takes quality and quantity into account.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office when she expects to announce the new chair of the Agriculture and Environment Biotechnology Commission; and what role this body will fulfil with regard to the GM farm scale trials. [120717]

Appointments to the AEBC will be made shortly.The Commission will have a wide-ranging remit to provide Government with independent strategic advice on developments in biotechnology and their implications for both agriculture and the environment.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the consolidation of the Service Discipline Acts. [122507]

We recognise the importance of updating the legislation governing discipline in the armed forces. It has been the intention for some time to consolidate the Army and Air Force Acts 1955 and the Naval Discipline Act 1957. We have been taking stock of the consolidation in the light of the changes to the present legislation made by the Armed Forces Discipline Bill and the likelihood of further changes in the quinquennial Armed Forces Bill in the next Session.A further consideration is the Government's intention, indicated in the Strategic Defence Review, to replace the three present Acts with a single tri-Service Act. It is planned that the substantive development of this important project should get under way as soon as the quinquennial Bill is enacted and that, when the work is complete, the resulting legislation should be introduced when the parliamentary timetable allows. As a consequence, legislation consolidating the present Acts would be likely to have an effective life of only a few years.We have therefore concluded that the most sensible approach would be to subsume consolidation within the development of the tri-Service Act, the purpose of which will be to provide legislation that better meets the requirements of the three Services in an increasingly joint environment.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to Civil Service Appeal Board Case No. AB/6751, held on 13 April, concerning Mr. A. J. Ely of Linlithgow and ABRO (MOD), what response he has made to the request by the Board to examine the implementation of the case, with particular reference to the rating of the offence in the charge letter, in their current review of disciplinary procedures. [120836]

The Civil Service Appeal Board (CSAB) makes reference to a current review by the Ministry of Defence of its disciplinary procedures. The review was completed some time ago and, following lengthy consultation with the trade unions, revised guidance has been issued on the handling of the most serious disciplinary offences. This has also been made available to the CSAB.The rating of a disciplinary offence as gross misconduct in the particular case in question followed full and proper consideration of the facts of the offence committed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what failure rates for cluster bomb submunitions are assessed as acceptable. [121693]

The small possibility of submunition failure is taken into account when reaching decisions on the use of UK cluster bombs in the light of national Rules of Engagement and targeting constraints.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Ranger anti-personnel mines have been cleared from the Falkland Islands. [121977]

No Ranger anti-personnel mines have been laid by UK forces in the Falklands, and therefore none have been cleared.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Lynx helicopters are in reserve. [121601]

[holding answer 11 May 2000]: As of 10 May 2000, the Ministry of Defence has a total of 203 Lynx helicopters. All aircraft are rotated through a routine of operational use and regular maintenance, including update work such as the conversion from Mk 3 to Mk 8. There are no Lynx helicopters held as a "reserve", although some aircraft in maintenance are characterised, for fleet management purposes, as an In-Use Reserve.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reasons the number of Royal Navy Lynx helicopters has been decreased to 59. [121599]

[holding answer 11 May 2000]: The Royal Navy has 59 Lynx helicopters available for front-line units, sufficient for our current operational requirements. Other Naval Lynx are undergoing routine deep maintenance or conversion work.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Sea Harriers are available to the Royal Navy; how many are in service; of these how many are in reserve and how many Sea Harriers (a) have been converted to FA2 standard, (b) are undergoing conversion and (c) will be converted in due course. [121596]

[holding answer 11 May 2000]: The Royal Navy Sea Harrier FA2 programme consisted of 52 aircraft: 18 were purchased from new and a further 34 were converted from Sea Harrier FRS1. The conversion programme was completed in 1999. Allowing for attrition losses, the Royal Navy now has 47 Sea Harriers of which 29 are available to meet operational requirements. Of the remainder, a number are undergoing updates to the navigational system. The balance is held in reserve.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he plans to publish his proposals for education and training for social workers; and if it is his policy that undergraduate and postgraduate social work qualifications should continue to be recognized when the General Social Care Council assumes its responsibilities. [119694]

Independent contractors have completed reports on the content and delivery of the Diploma in Social Work. We shall make these reports available when we publish our Quality Strategy Green Paper for social care later in the spring.In carrying out its functions the General Social Care Council will recognise existing professional social work qualifications at both entry and post qualifying levels.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many children have died following a routine vaccination in each year since 1990. [111958]

Over 150 million doses of vaccine have been distributed in the United Kingdom for use in the childhood programme in the last 10 years.A report of a particular suspected reaction does not necessarily mean that it has been caused by the vaccine. There is no evidence to support the suggestion of a causal link between any of the childhood vaccines recommended in the UK and death.Yellow card reports to the Medicines Control Agency of suspected adverse reactions to a routine vaccine where a child, aged 16 years or less, died are presented in the table for the UK.

Year	Reports of a fatal reaction to a vaccine
1990	2
1991	9
1992	10
1993	7
1994	4
1995	4
1996	3
1997	5
1998	2
1999	align="right">4

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the current percentage take-up for each childhood vaccination. [122157]

The information available about the percentage of children receiving childhood vaccinations is contained in the Statistical Bulletin, "NHS Immunisation Statistics, England: 1998–99". A copy of the bulletin is available in the Library and can also be found on the Department's website: www.doh.gov.uk/public/sb9928.htm.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the potential side-effects for each of the current childhood vaccinations. [122155]

The potential side effects for each of the current childhood vaccines are listed in the UK health departments' handbook, "Immunisation against infectious disease", a copy of which is in the Library. A revised chapter on meningococcal vaccine, including reference to the new meningococcal Group C conjugate vaccine, was issued on 18 October 1999 under cover of PL/CMO/99/4, PL/CNO/99/8, PL/CPHO/99/3; a copy of this is also available in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is (a) the total cost to date and (b) the total budgeted cost on completion of the Strategic Services Review being undertaken by South Staffordshire Health Authority. [121579]

The review of South Staffordshire health services commenced in July 1999 and has involved the health authority, National Health Service trusts, primary care groups and social services serving the health community. To date the review has spent £65,000 on specialist advice and consultants support and an additional £8,000 in respect of materials and publications to keep staff and the public informed (these costs exclude normal staff and professional time). It is anticipated that expenditure for the assessment and recommendation phases will not exceed £100,000.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 8 May 2000, Official Report, columns 324–25W, on transfer of work, how many of the bodies listed in (a) (i) and (ii) have been transferred since 1992 or are planned to be transferred to and from the Northern Region. [121624]

Of the bodies listed at (a)(i) (executive agencies), National Health Service Estates relocated its headquarters from London to Leeds in April 1993; it also has staff at the regional office headquarters in Durham and has an office in Newcastle, opened in April 2000.Of the bodies listed at

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is his policy on taking power to issue statutory guidance to local authorities concerning their social services charging policies. [121612]

[holding answer 11 May 2000]: Our White Paper, "Modernising Social Services", recognised that the scale of variation in discretionary charges for non-residential care is unacceptable. This has now been confirmed in the Audit Commission report, "Charging with Care". We are considering all the options for changing the current system, and will consult representatives of service users, carers, local authorities, and other interested parties.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assumptions are made by his Department in the social services Standard Spending Assessment for the recoupment of costs by means of charges. [121611]

[holding answer 11 May 2000]: The Standard Spending Assessment (SSA) for personal social services comprises four elements: SSAs for children's services, residential care services for older people, non-residential care services for older people, and services for adults aged 18 to 64 yearsThe SSA formula for residential services for older people includes an estimate of the actual amount of income collected. The SSA formula for non-residential services for older people reflects differences in the potential to raise charge income in different councils. However, SSAs are intended to reflect relative differences in councils' need to spend. The Department does not set targets for recoupment rates, nor make assumptions regarding the monetary value of cost recoupment.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much the reimposition of VAT on continence products is estimated to cost the NHS in 1999–2000 and 2000–01. [122106]

Details of expenditure on continence products are not held centrally. The estimate of £9 million per annum given in the reply to the hon. Gentleman on 2 March 1998, Official Report, column 487W, was based on an earlier study. However, there is no reason to suppose that this estimate is not valid for 1999–2000 and 2000–01.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the proportion of patients in the last five years who knew that the drugs dispensed to them had been tested on animals; and if he will make a statement. [122103]

No estimate has been made of the proportion of patients in the last five years who knew that the drugs dispensed to them had been tested on animals. Although there is no statutory requirement for pharmaceutical product labels to include a statement on animal testing, such information is often available in the Summary of Product Characteristic.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to provide mothers with vouchers for food supplements to help with the breastfeeding of their babies; and if he will make a statement. [122142]

The Welfare Food Scheme is being reviewed and the Prevention Modernisation Action Team is examining a wide range of options but no conclusions have been reached. Any proposals for change will be subject to parliamentary approval.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement about the increase in the cost of phenobarbitone over the last three years. [122143]

Table A shows the change in prescription items and the net ingredient cost of phenobarbitone dispensed in the community, 1996 to 1998, and January 1999 to September 1999.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what clusters of sufferers of leukaemia there are around (a) current and (b) past rubbish tips. [122154]

Epidemiological studies have not demonstrated that there is a connection between landfill sites and leukaemias. We have commissioned the Small Area Health Statistics Unit at Imperial College, London, to carry out a study of health outcomes, including leukaemias, in populations living near landfills in England, Scotland and Wales during the period 1982 to 1996. The study is expected to be completed this year. Further information is available on the Department website, at http://www.doh.gov.uk/landh.htm

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make respite care available for parents of children with severe physical, mental or physiological difficulties. [120943]

Respite care is already available for families with disabled children. Availability of respite care is being boosted by two important Government initiatives. First, the Carers National Strategy, which gives a strong commitment to improving services and support for all carers, including parent carers of disabled children. The Carers Grant in 2000–01 includes £10 million for services for families with disabled children.Secondly, Quality Protects, the Government's £375 million programme to improve children's services includes the specific sub-objective for all local authorities to:

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what support is available to businesses in deprived neighbourhoods outside the inner city. [120125]

The full range of business support from the Small Business Service is available throughout the country. In the Assisted Areas, grants are available for eligible investment: in Tiers 1 and 2 Regional Selective Assistance, and in Tier 3 Enterprise Grants. There is a wider range of regeneration initiatives in the most deprived neighbourhoods, and the Government are currently consulting on a new National Strategy for Neighbourhood Renewal.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what support his Department gives to the Eco-schools scheme. [121672]

I have been asked to reply.Eco-schools is run by Going for Green and is funded through ENTRUST (the approved regulator of the Landfill Tax Credit Scheme) by Coca-Cola/Sita Environmental Trust. The Department also pays grant to Going for Green and its sister company, the Tidy Britain Group, to run a number of programmes, including Eco-schools, that will create an awareness of, and a demand for, litter free and sustainable environments. The Department paid a total grant of £3,763,000 in 199–2000, with the same amount available in 2000–01.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he has taken to establish UK representation in a WTO parliamentary body to meet alongside future WTO ministerial meetings. [121964]

The UK Government support the current consultations by WTO Director General Mike Moore and General Council Chair Ambassador Bryn which include consideration of WTO consultative and decision-making procedures. We would not like to pre-judge the outcome of these consultations—including any ideas concerning a WTO parliamentary body—which will need to take into account a wide range of views among WTO members on the nature of the issues and the shape of solutions for reform, in order to reach consensus between WTO members on a way forward.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions the Government have undertaken with the Inter-Parliamentary Union about organising the representation of parliamentarians at future WTO ministerial meetings. [121965]

The UK Government support the current consultations by WTO Director General Mike Moore and General Council Chair Ambassador Bryn which include consideration of WTO consultative and decision-making procedures. We would not like to pre-judge the outcome of these consultations—including any ideas concerning the representation of parliamentarians at future WTO ministerial meetings—which will need to take into account a wide range of views among WTO members on the nature of the issues and the shape of solutions for reform, in order to reach consensus between WTO members on a way forward.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to the oral statement by the Minister of State, the hon. Member for Neath, (Mr. Hain) of 3 May 2000, Official Report, column 84WH, on what dates each of the UK's nuclear reprocessing plants, including those used to process military nuclear materials, were (a) put under Euratom safeguards and (b) made liable to inspection by the International Atomic Energy Agency. [121978]

Civil nuclear material at UK reprocessing facilities became subject to the safeguards provisions of the Euratom Treaty on 1 January 1973. Such material became subject to the terms of the United Kingdom's safeguards agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and Euratom (INFCIRC/263) when that agreement entered force on 14 August 1978. All reprocessing in the UK since March 1996 has been performed under Euratom safeguards and been liable to inspection by the IAEA under the terms of the INFCIRC/263 agreement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is his latest estimate of the number of British jobs lost as a result of the banana dispute between the EU and the US. [121711]

The number of jobs lost within UK companies in the targeted sectors will depend on a number of factors, including the length of time that the retaliatory measures remain in place, and the ability of affected companies to find alternative customers for their goods. I have received many representations from UK companies affected by the US retaliation and recognise that there is a real risk of damage to UK companies in terms of both lost trade and jobs.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the Council of Ministers will next meet to discuss the banana dispute between the EU and the US. [121709]

I understand that Commissioner Lamy intends to report to the General Affairs Council on 22 May.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what initiatives he is pursuing to safeguard jobs in the motor components industry which may be under threat from the sale of Rover; and if he will make a statement. [121728]

The sale of Rover cars to the Phoenix consortium is the best outcome to safeguard jobs in the supply chain for the models produced at Longbridge and the R75.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many deep mine coal pits are operating in Great Britain; and what percentage of national electricity generation is fuelled by coal. [121448]

There are currently 17 major deep mine coal pits in operation in the UK.There are also a number of smaller deep mines, each producing less than 100,000 tonnes of coal per year.In 1999, coal accounted for 29 per cent. of national electricity generation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list those documents and publications produced by his Department and its Agencies, including the Royal Mail but excluding the Post Office, that are available at sub-post offices. [121628]

I understand from the Post Office that the information requested is not readily available in the form sought. However, they have supplied their list of stores items available to be sent to sub-post offices. I have arranged for a copy of this information to be placed in the Libraries of the House. The Post Office has advised that changes to the list can occur on a weekly basis as items are withdrawn and new items added.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what will be the objectives of the European Union in respect of its initiating a further new world trade round; and what problems the Commission seeks to resolve in respect of specific market problems referred to in paragraph 1.2 of its work programme. [121636]

The EU objectives for a future round of trade negotiations remain as set out in the October 1999 General Affairs Council Conclusions. This was confirmed at the Porto Informal Ministerial for EU Trade Ministers which I attended on 17–18 March. A copy of these Conclusions has been placed in the Library of the House and is also available on the European Commission's website at: www.europa.eu.int/comm/trade/pdf/agr15en.pdf.The Commission has an ongoing programme to secure the removal of a wide variety of obstacles to EU exports in a range of third country markets by various means, including resort to the WTO disputes settlement procedure.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry in the action for miners' compensation for chest disease, how many claims questionnaires have been sent out by his Department's solicitors; and how many of them have been returned by miners' solicitors in each week from 1 January to the present. [121523]

In total, to date, the Department's claim handlers have issued 27,372 claims questionnaires to solicitors in England, Wales and Scotland, and of these 11,722 (42.8 per cent.) have been returned. Detailed weekly statistics separately for Claims Questionnaires back to January are not readily available. But the return of full claims packs (consisting of Claims Questionnaires, Financial and Other Loss Questionnaires and Mandates) is monitored. From levels of 200 a week in the early part of the year, these have now risen to around 700 a week currently. This needs to rise to about 1,000 a week as the Medical Assessment Process becomes fully operational.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will publish for each medical assessment centre set up by Healthcall Services Ltd. for handling miners' compensation claims for chest disease (a) its location and whether it is a hospital, (b) the number of chest consultants employed at the centre in full-time equivalents, (c) the capacity of the centre in terms of the number of medical assessment procedures per month and (d) the total number that have to date undergone medical assessment procedures at the centre. [121522]

The information is as follows:

Centre	Centre type	Whole time equivalents	Capacity of tests per month
Enfield	Healthcall	0.2	35
Newcastle	Healthcall	1.0	156
Nottingham	Healthcall	0.6	90
Sheffield	Healthcall	0.7	105
Newport	Healthcall	1.1	175
Swansea	Healthcall	1.1	175
Mountain Ash1	NHS	0.0	272
Mansfield	Union	2.6	400
Glasgow	Healthcall	1.3	210
Lochore	Union	1.3	210
Coventry	Healthcall	0.4	60
Deal	Union	1.0	160
Chesterfield1	Union	0.0	272
Mexborough	NHS	0.4	70
Pontefract	NHS	0.4	70
Stoke	Union	0.7	105
Manchester	Healthcall	0.9	140
Huddersfield	Healthcall	0.3	55
Cannock	Union	0.3	55
Durham	Union	0.8	130
Bristol	Healthcall	1.0	160
Barnsley	NHS	0.3	55
Edinburgh	Healthcall	0.9	140
Wrexham	Union	0.6	90
Ayr	Other	1.1	175
Unallocated3	—	3.1	413
Floaters/Holidays only4	—	2.8	363
Total		24.9	3,941
1Floating/unallocated consultants will be used here
2Estimate
3Consultants who have agreed to do sessions and will work in their holidays
4Consultants trained or to be trained and will work in their holidays

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will publish for each company of solicitors involved in the claims for miners' compensation for chest disease in South Wales (a) the total number of claims questionnaires sent to date, (b) the total number of completed questionnaires returned to date and (c) the percentage of those sent that have been returned. [121524]

The information is as follows:

Solicitors in South Wales	Questionnaires issued	Questionnaires returned (percentage)	Incomplete questionnnaires referred back to the solicitor (percentage)
Hugh James	6,542	1,544 (23.6)	149 (9.7)
Thompsons	3,158	2,275 (72)	378 (16.6)
Randall Saunders	354	77 (21.7)	13 (16.9)
Morgan Cole	233	139 (59.6)	7(5)
TS Edwards	212	149 (70.2)	15(10.1)
Thomas and Company	155	87 (56.1)	6 (6.9)
Gabb and Company	23	1(4.3)	0(0)
Osborne Jones	2	1(50)	0(0)
David W. Harris	2	2(100)	0(0)
Leo Abse and Cohen	1	0(0)	0(0)
Total	10,682	4,275(40)	568(13.3)

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of Beacon Gas's practices in respect of taking over consumers' gas supplies. [121444]

It is for the Director General of Gas and Electricity Supply to monitor the performance of individual suppliers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what guidance he has given to Ofgem about its treatment of companies that take over consumers' energy supplies without their consent. [121446]

In 1998, the Government worked with Ofgem in introducing a licence condition governing the sales and marketing practices of gas and electricity suppliers. Under the condition, suppliers are, among other things, required to make all reasonable efforts to confirm that individual customers wish to proceed with a change of supplier. Ofgem recently renewed the condition for a further two years, and is currently consulting on enhancing it by requiring suppliers to have effective management of their sales agents; ensuring that gas, as well as electricity, suppliers provide customers with copies of the terms and conditions of contracts entered into over the telephone; extending coverage of the condition to sales undertaken in public places and to certain sales over the internet; and requiring suppliers to take steps to ensure that the customer understands that he has entered into a contract.The Government support these proposals to give additional protection to consumers. The Utilities Bill currently before Parliament would allow Ofgem to impose financial penalties for breaching the licence condition, including infringements relating to involuntary transfer.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on progress in implementing the new electricity trading arrangements. [122510]

Implementation of the new electricity trading arrangements is planned to take place this autumn in the period following the change from British Summer Time to Greenwich Mean Time on 29 October. The project remains on target. A contract with Logica for the central computer systems has now been agreed which specifies 21 November 2000 for the new market to be implemented.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received on the introduction of paid parental leave. [120974]

From the start of the consultation on the Maternity and Parental Leave Regulations on 4 August 1999, we have received over 300 representations in support of paid parental leave.As announced in the Budget speech, we will be undertaking a review of parental leave and maternity pay. The findings of the review will contribute to our future thinking on this issue.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate he has made of the change in the total number of (a) full-time equivalent employees and (b) hours worked due to the introduction of the minimum wage; and if he will make a statement. [121745]

The second report of the Low Pay Commission, published in February 2000, looked at these matters but found no indication so far of significant effects on the economy as a whole as a result of the introduction of the national minimum wage. Some sectors have been affected more than others and this is dealt with in detail in the report.The Low Pay Commission continues to monitor and evaluate the implementation of the national minimum wage and is due to report again by July 2001.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate he has made of the (a) absolute and (b) proportional gross impact of the minimum wage on hourly wage rates for employees who were previously paid below the minimum wage; and if he will make a statement. [121744]

According to the second report of the Low Pay Commission, the average increase in hourly earnings in the year to April 1999 for those earning below minimum wage rates in April 1998 was between 18 and 31 per cent.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what price elasticities of demand for domestic fuels were used in the document entitled "Energy Projections for the UK, Working Paper, March 2000"; and if he will make a statement. [121747]

The long run price elasticities of demand for domestic fuel implied in the working paper "Energy Projections for the UK, March 2000" are given in the table. This paper represents work in progress, on which comments have been invited.

Fuel	Price elasticity
Electricity	-0.29
Gas	-0.35
Oil	-0.22
Solid fuel	-1.46

The table is interpreted in the following way:The electricity price elasticity implies that, in the long run, for a 10 per cent. increase in the price of electricity, demand for electricity would be expected to decrease by 2.9 per cent.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which relocation companies his Department has used when relocating civil servants since May 1997. [122295]

Since May 1997, the Department has used only one company for relocating civil servants, Bradford and Bingley Relocation Services (before March 1999, known as Black Horse Relocation Services).

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to improve access to finance for small businesses through the Small Firms Loan Guarantee Scheme. [122074]

David Irwin, Chief Executive of the Small Business Service, will be taking a close look at the problems faced by small businesses in accessing finance and what improvements might be made to existing forms of financial support provided by the Small Business Service, including the Small Firms Loan Guarantee Scheme. To assist this work the Small Business Service will shortly be setting up a dedicated finance division.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list those areas of policy where the United Kingdom would lose its veto if the Commission proposals in Com(2000)34 were adopted. [120812]

[holding answer 5 May 2000]: The Commission's opinion Com(2000)34 is not an agenda for the intergovernmental conference. Only member states can make changes to voting procedures in the Treaty. The Government will consider the possible extension of qualified majority voting on a case-by-case basis. When it is in Britain's interests to support QMV, we shall do so. However, where key national interests are at stake—such as on treaty changes, border controls, social security, taxation, own resources and defence—we shall insist on retaining unanimity.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the areas of policy where the United Kingdom has a veto over EU proposals. [120813]

[holding answer 5 May 2000]: There are 73 articles and sub-articles subject to unanimity in the main EU Treaties. I have placed a complete list in the House of Commons Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what level of response was anticipated to the questionnaire on the "Your Britain, Your Europe" campaign; and what plans he has to issue further questionnaires. [121513]

Although we distributed almost 7,000 copies of the "Your Britain, Your Europe" leaflet, we have no level of anticipation on the response numbers. We have no plans to issue any further questionnaires in the near future.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many copies of the postcard, "50 years of solidarity, property and peace" have been printed by the European Union; for what purpose; at what cost; and if he will make a statement. [121495]

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the office of the European Commission in London.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Government policy towards human rights in Belarus; and what representations he has made to the Government of Belarus on this issue. [121494]

Her Majesty's Government regularly raise our concerns over the human rights situation in Belarus with the Belarusian authorities. Our Embassy in Minsk is in close contact with human rights groups, trades unions and members of the Belarusian opposition. Embassy officials have been attending trials of members of the Belarusian opposition including the ongoing trial against Mr. Chigir, former Prime Minister. During 2000, we have funded visits to the UK by two members of the Belarusian Independent Trade Unions. Mr. Vyachorka, Chairman of the BPF-Renewal party, will visit the UK next week for a series of meetings. Mr. Sharetsky, Speaker of the 13th Supreme Soviet (former Parliament disbanded by President Lukashenko in 1996), is planning to visit the UK in early June and will have meetings with senior officials.EU policy towards Belarus is based around the General Affairs Council Conclusions of September 1997 which substantially restrict relations pending demonstrable improvements on constitutional and human rights matters. The EU has made a number of representations to the Government of Belarus including, most recently, a Declaration deploring the use of force by the Belarusian authorities to suppress an opposition-organised march in March 2000 and a formal representation on human rights concerns in April 2000.