To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what plans she has to discuss sexual and reproductive health policy with her European counterparts at the forthcoming European Council meeting. [122489]

I will be discussing a range of development issues with my European colleagues at the forthcoming Development Council meeting, including EC policy on HIV/AIDS.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what plans she has to mark Debt Decision Day on 23 July; and if she will make a statement. [122099]

The Prime Minister and the Chancellor have informed the Japanese Presidency of the G7/8 that we would like to use the opportunity of the Okinawa Summit (21–23 July), and the meeting of the G7 Finance Ministers running up to the Summit, to review and encourage progress on the debt relief initiative.The Government are committed to keeping up the momentum in the run up to, and beyond, Okinawa, and will make every effort to see that resources are released for the eradication of poverty in HIPC countries.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she 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 she will make a statement. [122012]

My Department's standard contracts do not contain penalty clauses. In cases of poor performance we can withhold payment. We do not keep a central record of where poor performance has resulted in payment being withheld and this information could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what checks her Department carried out on the suitability of Defence Systems Ltd. prior to awarding the company a contract to clear mines and unexploded munitions in Kosovo. [122129]

When NATO troops entered Kosovo in June 1999, we invited a number of mine/unexploded ordnance (UXO) clearance organisations to submit capability statements so that self-contained rapid response teams could be immediately provided to deal with the mine threat in Kosovo. Five organisations, including DSL, were selected for an initial period of two months, on the basis of experience in stated capabilities, quality of key personnel, experience in humanitarian mine action, ability to deploy quickly the requisite skills, equipment and back-up, value for money and knowledge of the region.The United Nations Mine Action Co-ordination Centre (UNMACC) in Pristina later requested the services of these organisations, including DSL, for two further phases: another three months of emergency work; a phase for the year 2000 to address the mine/UXO threat in a more structured way. For the present phase, DSL and the other organisations were invited to submit detailed proposals which were assessed as above, in the light of their earlier performance in Kosovo and their ability to meet UNMACC's future needs. Before entering into a long-term contract with DSL, we consulted a range of Government departments, as is our normal practice in such cases.DSL has been accredited by UNMACC for work in Kosovo and has been commended both as a field operator and as a co-ordinator of mine action activities in southern Kosovo.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made of the supply of (a) food and (b) medical supplies to the Kambia region of Sierra Leone. [122026]

Kambia District, situated in the Northern Province, remained volatile after the signing of the peace agreement last July. Although access was, and is difficult, food security assessments were carried out in January and February 2000 by Caritas Makeni and Community Action through Progress (CAP) who are local implementing partners of Children's Aid Direct (CAD). CAD are supported by the Department for International Development.The CAD programme began in Kambia in March. So far it has been limited to assessments and targeting and registration of beneficiaries. The distribution of inputs will commence as soon as the security situation allows.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assistance her Department is giving to people of Halabja in the current year. [122130]

We are supporting the work of Professor Christine Gosden of Liverpool University to develop a prioritised programme, in conjunction with the universities in northern Iraq and the recently established post-graduate school at Halabja. This will benefit the victims of chemical and biological weapon attacks on the Kurds, principally at Halabja in northern Iraq. The programme will include developing proposals for palliative care, curative treatment, and neutralising environmental contamination. We shall consider providing more substantive assistance on the basis of these proposals. Other donors such as Switzerland, Sweden, Finland, Norway, Italy and the Vatican have shown an interest in providing humanitarian and other support.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment has been made of the viability of his Department's timetable for the switching off of analogue television transmitters. [121486]

We will be making regular assessments of the estimated timescale for the switch-over from analogue to digital transmission in the formal two-yearly reviews which I announced last autumn. The first of these reviews will be in autumn 2001. They will measure progress against the key tests of availability of digital services; affordability; and take-up of digital equipment. The Viewers' Panel, which we are setting up, will provide advice at each review on the extent of progress towards digital television from the viewers' point of view.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what criteria will be used to assess the performance of BBC News 24 in the Government's review; and if he will make a statement. [121487]

We aim to announce our proposals for the reviews of the BBC's digital services in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what measures he will take to encourage take up of Lottery funds to regenerate seaside resorts. [122364]

As a result of the National Lottery Act 1998 and Policy Directions issued by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State, distributors are already doing much to ensure Lottery money is distributed more equitably. Research into the impact of the National Lottery on the coalfields and other areas, soon to be published, should help to identify what more can be done to ensure that those in every area, including seaside resorts, have access to grants from the National Lottery.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the total cost was of administering the television licence system (a) in cash terms and (b) as a percentage of BBC licence fee revenue in each of the last 10 years. [122451]

The cost administering the television licensing system in the 10 years to 1998–99, the latest year for which figures are available, was as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many concessionary television licences have been withdrawn in Rotherham in (a) 1997, (b) 1998 and (c) 1999 in (i) council-run old peoples' homes and (ii) privately-run old peoples' homes. [122450]

Since 1991, the BBC has had statutory responsibility for the administration of the television licensing system, including the Accommodation for Residential Care concessionary licence scheme. The day-to-day management of the scheme is carried out by TV Licensing as agent for the BBC. I understand from the BBC that information on the concessionary scheme is not held in the form requested.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make a statement on consultation on the Communications White Paper. [123002]

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry and I have already announced an invitation for any comments on the Communications White Paper to be submitted to us by 23 June. As a further contribution to the debate and discussion on the issues at the heart of the White Paper, we have also asked a number of external experts individually to prepare policy papers on a variety of related subjects, which will form the basis for discussion at a seminar in July and which will be published on the internet.The experts are:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what support the Government provide to research into motor neurone disease; what involvement the Motor Neurone Disease Association has had in the channelling of Government resources into this research; what support the Government provide to the Motor Neurone Disease Association; what the level of Government funding will be for research into motor neurone disease in the next three years; and if he will make a statement. [120735]

The Government support research into motor neurone disease through the Medical Research Council (MRC) and the Department of Health.The MRC is the main Government agency through which we support research on the causes and treatment of disease and receives most of its income via grant-in-aid from the office of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry. In 1999–2000, the MRC spent approximately £1.6 million on motor neurone disease and on basic work on the function of motor neurones. They are also funding relevant underpinning research, for example on nerve function and damage. The MRC involve the Motor Neurone Disease Association (MNDA) whenever they consider an application for clinical trials in motor neurone disease.The Department funds research to support policy development in health and social care, and to support effective practice in the National Health Service. The Department also provides NHS support funding for research sponsored by charities, such as MNDA, and by the MRC that takes place in the NHS. The current commitment of centrally commissioned research projects relating to motor neurone disease is approximately £241,000. Information about expenditure on NHS service support and devolved Departmental research in the NHS are not held centrally. The total level of Department of Health support for motor neurone disease may therefore be higher than the expenditure for centrally commissioned research.Project details of Department funded research can be found on the National Research Register (NRR). This is available in the Library and most medical libraries on CD Rom, and on the Internet: http://www.doh.gov.uk/nrr.htm.It is not possible to predict what the future level of Government expenditure will be on specific areas of research as new research proposals are regularly being considered and commissioned.The Government do not provide financial support directly to the MNDA.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if there is a ban on the import of meat and meat products from cattle of over 30 months into this country; [121434](2) if the ban on the sale of meat products from cattle over 30 months old includes gelatine and other edible by-products; [121433]

[holding answer 9 May 2000]: I am advised by the Food Standards Agency that there is no restriction on the import of meat and meat products from cattle over 30 months, but the ban on sale of beef for human consumption from cattle aged over 30 months at slaughter applies to both home produced and imported supplies. The only exceptions to this ban are for meat from specialist grass-reared United Kingdom herds under the Beef Assurance Scheme (BAS) and meat from 14 non-EU countries that traditionally supplied the UK and have no history of BSE. As far as home supplies and meat imported into licensed premises are concerned, the ban is enforced by the Meat Hygiene Service. The carcase or part of a carcase of any bovine animal that is found to be more than 30 months old at slaughter (or over 42 months for BAS animals) is sterilised or stained immediately as an animal by-product. Local authorities are responsible for enforcement at other points in the supply chain.Imported gelatine and other edible by-products are not subject to the over 30 months rule. However, they are subject to controls on the use of specified risk materials in their production. The UK introduced these national SRM controls from 1 January 1998, pending the implementation of Community measures. Imports of gelatine and other edible by-products must be accompanied by a certificate confirming that they are SRM-free or that they are from animals born, reared and slaughtered in Australia or New Zealand.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the recommendations of the Scientific Steering Committee about extending the Specified Risk Material regulations in force in Britain to all EU member states. [121439]

[holding answer 9 May 2000]: The Scientific Steering Committee advises the European Commission on matters relating to the risks from BSE. It is for the Commission to decide, in the light of that advice, whether any proposals for measures to manage those risks at European Union level need to be made.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his plans are for the future of Harefield Hospital; and if he will make a statement. [121708]

Kensington and Chelsea and Westminster Health Authority has undertaken formal public consultation over proposals to move inpatient paediatric services from Harefield Hospital to the Royal Brompton Hospital. A decision to pursue these proposals has been contested by Hillingdon Community Health Council and it will, therefore, be referred to Ministers for a final decision. Any decision on the future location of Harefield Hospital's paediatric transplantation services would require the consideration of the National Specialist Commissioning Advisory Group.These proposals must be set in the context of longer term plans. Following detailed planning and assessment by National Health Service organisations in West London and the Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, a preferred option has been identified for the future of specialist inpatient services in West London, including cardiothoracic services. This would see services that are currently provided at Harefield Hospital located in a new building on the Paddington Basin site, alongside other West London specialist cardiothoracic services currently provided at the Royal Brompton and St Mary's Hospitals.An Outline Business Case is due to be submitted to the London Regional Office of the NHS Executive assessing a number of options, including that for the Paddington Basin. Full public consultation will be held in the summer of 2000 before any decisions are made.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of the adult population in Cheltenham are registered with an NHS dentist. [122006]

Information on dental registrations in individual constituencies is not collected by the Department. In the Gloucestershire Health Authority area 31 per cent. of the adult population was registered with a National Health Service dentist at 31 March 2000.In Cheltenham patients who are not registered with a NHS dentist can receive treatment under the personal dental service scheme. On Monday to Friday emergency patients can access treatment via the health authority's dental helpline. Gloucestershire Health Authority has submitted proposals for a dental access centre in Cheltenham. A decision about this scheme will be made shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps each health trust in Shropshire is taking to reduce the incidence of violence against NHS staff; and if he will make a statement. [121761]

We are determined to ensure that National Health Service staff are never faced with intimidation and violence, which is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. In addition to the national 'NHS Zero Tolerance Zone' campaign, each of the three local trusts in Shropshire are taking independent action to protect staff from violent and aggressive behaviour.The Royal Shrewsbury Hospitals NHS Trust have introduced the People Management Standards Document, which states that all staff in high risk areas will receive prevention of violence training by an approved organisation.The Princess Royal Hospital NHS Trust have recently updated their Dealing with Violence and Aggression Policy. Measures include logging abusive incidents, and the use of a 'Safe Haven' room for patients showing extreme aggression.Shropshire Community and Mental Health Services NHS Trust have carried out risk assessments in all work areas, to identify potential areas of weakness. Areas of activity resulting from this include additional staff training, and issuing mobile phones, pagers and personal alarms where appropriate.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many acute hospital care beds there are in NHS hospitals in the Greater London area. [122077]

The average daily number of available acute hospital care beds in the London region in the financial year 1998–99 was 17,022.Bed data are not collected by general geographical area. The area covered by London Regional Office has been used as the closest approximation of Greater London.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he intends to establish the General Social Care Council; and if he will make a statement. [122766]

We propose to establish the General Social Care Council on 1 October 2001.Originally we had intended to establish the new Council on 1 April 2001. However, the GSCC Advisory Group, set up to consider the requirements for a well functioning Council, has recommended October 2001 as a more appropriate start date. This will allow sufficient time to complete the many tasks that have to be undertaken for the Council to begin its important work. The Care Standards Bill, which is currently before this House, proposes vital functions for the GSCC that will increase the level of safety offered to the public. We see it as being in the best interests of the public and the GSCC itself that sufficient time is allowed in order to deliver a Council that is ready and able to take forward these vital functions.The GSCC Advisory Group will be continuing its role until the Council is established in shadow form.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance his Department issues to chairs of local authority social services committees concerning the operation of the Prohibition of Female Circumcision Act 1985. [122492]

As well as being illegal, female circumcision is an extremely unpleasant practice with lasting mental and physical effects on those girls on whom it is carried out. We have issued no specific guidance on this matter to chairs of social services committees but our wider advice, set out in "Working Together to Safeguard Children" on child protection procedures is clear. The Prohibition of Female Circumcision Act 1985 makes female circumcision, excision or infibulation (female genital mutilation (FGM)) an offence, except on specific physical and mental health grounds. A local authority may exercise its powers under section 47 of the Children's Act 1989 if it has reason to believe that a child is likely to be or has been the subject of FGM.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) cars and (b) commercial vehicles operated by his Department were manufactured (i) in the UK, (ii) in the EU and (iii) elsewhere. [122258]

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people have been diagnosed as having dystonia in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [119914]

The table shows a count of finished consultant episodes (FCEs) in National Health Service hospitals in England where the primary (main) diagnosis was dystonia, for the years 1994–95 to 1998–99.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many employers, broken down by size of firm, have been fined for paying less than the minimum wage. [122534]

The National Minimum Wage (NMW) Act provides for officers to issue a financial penalty against an employer who does not comply with an enforcement notice. So far, 141 enforcement notices have been issued. Only one of these has required follow up action with a penalty notice fining the employer for each day of non-compliance with the enforcement notice. The company concerned employs between 0–10 people.It is also a criminal offence to refuse or wilfully neglect to pay the NMW. So far it has not been necessary to use these criminal powers, though we will do so in appropriate circumstances.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the operation of regulations pertaining to advertising of cosmetic surgery. [122307]

[holding answer 16 May 2000]: I am satisfied that the powers given to the Director General of Fair Trading by the Control of Misleading Advertisements Regulations 1988, together with the self-regulatory system operated by the Advertising Standards authority, are effective in controlling advertising in the United Kingdom. However, the Government recognise that advertising controls alone may not be sufficient in the field of cosmetic surgery to ensure that the information patients receive is of an acceptable standard and my colleagues in the Department of Health are therefore considering how best to take this matter forward.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his answer of 11 May 2000, Official Report, column 445W, what engineering skills and qualifications will be required of the Government Chief Scientific Adviser. [122496]

The Government's Chief Scientific Adviser will need to have a first class international reputation in science or engineering. Candidates for the post are likely to be Fellows of the Royal Academy of Engineering or of the Royal Society. In addition to being excellent in their own disciplines candidates will need to have an understanding of a wide range of science and engineering issues.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has set the financial target for the Post Office for 2000–01; and if he will make a statement. [122924]

The Government are setting the Post Office a return on capital employed target of 13 per cent. in 2000–01 and this translates into an operational pre-tax profit target of £392 million in 2000–01. This target excludes the network of post offices, where the PIU report is awaited, and the non-operational interest arising from past surpluses held on the Post Office's balance sheet. This target will be subsumed within the overall post-tax profit target for the Post Office as a whole, as described in the White Paper.As already announced, the 'dividend' that the Government effectively take out of the Post Office is set at 40 per cent. of the post-tax profits of the business as a whole. This is subject to a dividend floor payment which this year will be raised from 80 per cent. to 90 per cent. of the dividend that would be paid if the Post Office meets its overall profit target.In order to help the Post Office to plan for the medium term, the Government are also setting an indicative financial target for 2002–03 of 13 per cent. return on capital employed (ROCE) in the Post Office's operational business, excluding the network of post offices and any non-operational interest arising from past surpluses. Return on capital employed is defined as profit before interest payable and tax, but after operating interest receivable, divided by operating capital employed.I have set the Post Office's financial target and dividend floor for 2000–01, and the indicative financial target for 2002–03 in the light of external benchmarking, the likely regulatory environment, market expectations, the Post Office's approved Strategic Plan for 1999–2004, and other projections from the Post Office.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on consultation on the Communications White Paper. [123003]

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport and I have already announced an invitation for any comments on the Communications White Paper to be submitted to us by 23 June. As a further contribution to the debate and discussion on the issues at the heart of the White Paper, we have also asked a number of external experts individually to prepare policy papers on a variety of related subjects, which will form the basis for discussion at a seminar in July and which will be published on the internet.The experts are:

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many times countries which have been granted export credit for military goods have defaulted on their repayments in each of the last 10 years. [122246]

[holding answer 16 May 2000]: The following list details the countries on which ECGD has paid claims in each of the last 10 years as a result of payment defaults in relation to export credits for defence equipment.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the companies, organisations and public bodies he has consulted over the removal of geographic exclusivity of licensed areas for gas transporters. [122324]

In October 1998. my Department published a consultation paper on the future of gas and electricity regulation. Among other things, this paper invited views on the abolition of geographic exclusivity. In October 1999, the Government's proposals for legislation in this area were published. That document set out the Government's decision to abolish geographic exclusivity. It also contained a list of those who had responded to the consultation paper, leaving aside only those who had requested confidentiality. Copies of that document were placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the reference to the Competition Commission of British Energy and AES. [122330]

This reference has been made by the Director General for Electricity Supply under the terms of the Electricity Act 1989 and the Competition Commission will report to him at the end of their inquiries.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what are the terms of reference of the Parental Leave Monitoring Group and the review of maternity pay and leave and parental leave. [122360]

The Parental Leave Monitoring Group will assess the impact of parental leave and look at the take-up of the new right by men and women. We are currently considering the terms of reference of the group in the light of the review on maternity pay and parental leave. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State made an announcement on 9 May setting out the scope of the review on maternity pay and parental leave.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the Parental Leave Monitoring Group will meet. [122359]

We are currently considering the terms of reference of the group in the light of the review on parental leave and maternity pay and a meeting will be convened in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will investigate the sales methods used by suppliers of domestic gas and electricity for new residents who are taking over previous contracts. [122353]

The Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (Ofgem) is responsible for regulating the activities of gas and electricity suppliers. It imposes a licence condition in respect of sales and marketing practices, which has recently been extended to 31 March 2002. Ofgem closely monitors the sales and marketing activities of suppliers, and is working with the industry to ensure that abuses are avoided. Where necessary it will take formal action against individual suppliers under the licence condition.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many UK patents have been granted for (a) human genes, (b) animal genes and (c) plant genes. [121305]

Patents are only available for inventions for new technical solutions. Under the Patents Act 1977 and a recent EC Directive on the legal protection of biotechnological inventions, genes as they exist in nature cannot be the subject of patent rights. However, material—including genes—isolated from its natural environment by means of an inventive technical process may be subject to patent rights. To be patentable, such inventions would have to satisfy the general criteria for patentability that the invention is new and would not be obvious to someone in the technical field.To date, approximately 50 patents relating principally to human genes or variants thereof; approximately 10 patents relating to animal genes or variants thereof; and, approximately nine patents relating to plant genes or variants thereof have been granted by the United Kingdom Patent Office.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he is taking to promote the development of internationally-agreed animal welfare standards in the context of the WTO negotiations building on existing work in the Council of Europe. [120123]

[holding answer 20 April 2000]: I have been asked to reply.We strongly supported the requirement in Article 8 of Directive 98/58/EC for the European Commission to report on the scope for developing wider international acceptance of EU farm welfare standards. Their report—which is overdue—will be a key element in defining how to approach this issue. For our own part, we have argued for the Office International des Epizooties to extend its activities to animal welfare: and we will take all opportunities offered by international gatherings such as the Animals 2000 World Congress of the World Society for the Protection of Animals to make contracts and advance this question.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the differences between DVLA's procedures for processing applications for vehicles purchased from (a) car importers and (b) traditional dealers. [121316]

When presented with an application for the registration of a new vehicle the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) needs to be satisfied that (a) the vehicle is new (b) it meets type approval requirements and (c) VAT has been/or will be paid. Longstanding arrangements allow franchise dealers to register new vehicles without producing documentary evidence. This facility is not currently available to independent commercial importers.The Agency is developing similar arrangements for importers. It is intended that a revised manual system of registration which will not require documentary evidence will be available to them by the end of the summer. An electronic system should become operational in 2001.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the documents and publications produced by his Department and Agencies that are available at sub-post offices. [121627]

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by the Under-Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, my hon. Friend the Member for Hull, West and Hessle (Mr. Johnson), on 15 May 2000, Official Report, column 23W.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what initiatives are being pursued to introduce fire-resistant materials in new tunnels. [121722]

For roads, there are a number of initiatives directly or indirectly concerned with fire and safety issues in tunnels. They are being undertaken by European and other international expert bodies. If these initiatives indicate it is appropriate that more fire resistant materials should be introduced into tunnels, they will be included into the UK's current tunnel design standards.Following the fire in the Channel Tunnel, research has been done into increasing the resistance of concrete tunnel linings under conditions of extreme and prolonged heat. This research has been adopted by the designers of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link (CTRL) and fire protected concrete will be used in the new rail tunnels under London and the Thames.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions 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. [122011]

It is not the policy of the Department of the Environment Transport and the Regions to use penalty clauses in its contracts as they are not legally enforceable. Legally valid clauses which require the contractor to make payments when in default have been invoked in 17 contracts since May 1997.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what the Government's policy is on bringing in new legislation to give local authorities control over jet skis and wet bikes; and if he will make a statement. [121926]

Local authorities have the power to regulate personal watercraft, such as jet-skis and water bikes, through local byelaws. For instance, strict speed limits may be imposed to exclude watercraft from specific areas. My Department's Review of Byelaw Powers for the Coast recommended, among other things, that local authorities should be given a new power to create bathing-only zones and more general powers to regulate activities on the coast which affect the wider environment, such as the use of personal watercraft. We shall introduce legislation where it is needed to implement the Review's recommendations. In the meantime, we have published a voluntary code of best and safe practice for leisure craft users, and we are exploring options for a voluntary boat registration and identification scheme, which would include jet-skis.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the role of the Mersey Basin campaign in relation to youth and community involvement in the North West Region. [122071]

The Secretary of State is aware of the achievements of the campaign in involving local communities in the care and maintenance of watercourses through the Mersey Basin Trust initiatives such as Stream Care, Waterside Revival and Green Action Grants. In addition through its Water Detectives resource packs for schools, the Campaign involves young people in the caring for their local rivers and streams.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what discussions his Department has had with Nottinghamshire County Council about the impact of a Gedling relief road on the A612 Nottingham to Burton Joyce at the junction of Shearing Hill and Burton Road.[122151]

There have been no discussions on this subject so far. The junction lies within the area of the Greater Nottingham Local Transport Plan which is being prepared jointly by Nottinghamshire County and Nottingham City Councils and will be submitted to Government by the end of July. It will form the basis for Government funding allocations for local transport initiatives and major local road schemes for the five year period 2001–06.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he has received in relation to the proposed Climate Change Levy being applied to combined heat and power where electricity sales made to licensed suppliers are subsequently sold on to business consumers; and what representations he has received on the effect on future investment in combined heat and power by commercial investors. [122150]

Thirty-five responses to the Government's proposals in the consultation document, "A Quality Assurance Programme for Combined Heat and Power", commented on the proposed arrangements for sale of electricity from combined heat and power installations to other users, in relation to the Climate Change Levy. One company has informed the Government that it has decided to defer its decision to proceed with two CHP proposals, citing a number of factors including the proposed provisions for the operation of the Climate Change Levy.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what proposals he has to extend the number of industrial sectors able to enter into negotiated agreements with Government in respect of the Climate Change Levy; and what particular plans he has to extend negotiated agreements to those manufacturing sectors currently excluded. [122123]

In his Budget statement on 21 March 2000, my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer confirmed that negotiated agreements will be open to those installations operating processes covered by Parts Al and A2 of the forthcoming Pollution Prevention and Control Regulations.A final consultation paper on these Regulations was recently published, by the Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions, with the objective of laying the Regulations in Parliament before the summer recess. As part of these wider consultations on the Regulations, and as is set out in the consultation paper, the Government are considering which processes currently covered by Part B of the PPC Regulations should, given their environmental effects, be more appropriately regulated under Part A2. Any processes that do move to regulation under Part A2 will become eligible for entry into the agreements.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the compatibility of the principle of rebates contained in the Climate Change Levy negotiated agreements with the European Commission's draft guidelines on state aid for environmental protection; and if he will make a statement. [122124]

The Climate Change Levy agreements seek to deliver significant improvements in energy efficiency in exchange for a reduction in the standard rate of levy. This reduction counts as operating aid and is the subject of a current State Aids notification. The Government have linked the availability of the aid to helping to achieve an important environmental policy objective that the Commission shares: ie, the need to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases. The Government believe they have prepared a robust, balanced case which will deliver significant environmental benefits while also helping to safeguard international competitiveness.In parallel, the European Commission's draft revised guidelines on State Aids for environment protection are being discussed with member states. The UK is playing a full part in these discussions and I understand the current draft is being revised further in the light of member states' comments.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what decisions he has come to following the Government's consultation on the proposed CHP Quality Assurance programme, in relation to the exemption of Good Quality CHP from the Climate Change Levy; and if he will make a statement. [123005]

The Chancellor announced in the pre-Budget Report in November 1999 that Good Quality CHP was to be exempted from the Climate Change Levy. The Government's proposals for determining 'Good Quality' were set out in the consultation paper "CHPQA—A Quality Assurance Programme for Combined Heat and Power", issued in January.Over 130 detailed responses to the proposals were received. There was general agreement that the proposed Quality Index (QI) approach provided a sound basis for measuring the thermal efficiency and environmental quality of the range of CHP installations of different sizes, type and fuel use, and for determining eligibility for exemption from the Climate Change Levy, and for other purposes. The consultation also identified a number of detailed improvements to the proposals.There was also general agreement that a QI score of 100 was the appropriate level at and above which installations should be eligible for full exemption from Climate Change Levy—that is to say, exemption of all heat and of all generated electricity used on site or sold directly to other users. There will be an interim commissioning period of 12 months for industrial installations, and 24 months for community heating installations, during which the threshold will be a QI of 95.There was also agreement that the proposed CHP Equivalent Generation Limit (CHP EGL) methodology provided a robust basis for determining the entitlement to partial Levy exemption for installations with a QI of less than 100. But respondents argued that the datum used in the calculation of CHP EGL for a scheme should be 100, rather than the figure of 110 in the consultation proposals, and the Government accept the case for this.Special provisions for simplified metering and monitoring arrangements for small-scale CHP schemes will apply to installations of 2 MWe or less, representing almost 90 per cent. of installations, rather than 1 MWe as previously proposed.The operation of CHPQA will be reviewed in the light of experience. Any changes made will apply to subsequent CHP developments, and will not be applied retrospectively to existing CHP schemes.The provisions for exemptions from the electricity supply licensing requirements are relevant to the operation of direct sale of electricity from Good Quality CHP. The Department of Trade and Industry's document, "Electricity (Class Exemption from the Requirements for a Licence) Order 1997 Proposed Amendments" sought views on possible changes, to facilitate CHP and other embedded generation. DTI are now considering responses, and will announce their conclusions shortly.I am grateful for the valuable contribution from CHP users and suppliers and other interested parties in developing these arrangements for the detailed operation of CHP's exemption from the Climate Change Levy—a measure which gives crucial recognition to the environmental, climate change and other benefits of CHP, alongside the exemption of Good Quality CHP from business rates and Government's other supporting initiatives.My Department will shortly publish a detailed consultation response, setting out the decisions in full. Meantime, I have placed a note with further details of the key elements in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will he seek access to (a) cabotage rights and (b) ownership of US carriers by UK carriers in the forthcoming UK-US bilateral aviation negotiations. [122080]

This Government will continue to press for the removal of all barriers to fair competition in the UK-US aviation market, including the refusal of cabotage rights and the restrictions on foreign ownership of US carriers. However, as cabotage and foreign ownership and control are banned by US law, it would require a change in US law to remove these barriers. The timetable for their removal must therefore extend beyond the horizon of the current round of negotiations.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he has received regarding the problems experienced with the theoretical knowledge examinations for the JAA Air Transport Pilot Licence; and what action he intends to take as a result of these representations. [122483]

[holding answer 16 May 2000]: The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is responsible for the day-to-day aviation safety regulation, including the licensing of pilots. The CAA shares the concern of those in the aviation industry and other interested parties over the recent disappointing results of those candidates who participated in the Joint Aviation Requirements Flight Crew Licensing (JAR-FCL) examinations. It is also aware of the importance of achieving a smooth transition to the new JAR-FCL examinations, but this change has been less smooth than originally was hoped. The CAA is keen to maintain a high level of standards within the UK, but none the less is looking closely into the failure rate of these examinations. I shall write to the hon. Member shortly with details of the CAA's findings and actions.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement about Government plans for providing support for vulnerable people; and how he intends to take forward, "Supporting People". [122566]

Britain is fortunate in having an effective and valuable stock of supported and sheltered housing, providing much-needed help to people such as older people, the mentally ill, the disabled and those with drink and drug problems.As with most services, things can always be improved. The Government value the supported housing sector and through "Supporting People" we want to improve how supported housing is funded to make sure the highest quality of services are given, in the areas it can be most effective.The "Supporting People" programme offers vulnerable people the opportunity to improve their quality of life through greater independence. It promotes housing-related services which are cost-effective and reliable, and which complement existing care services. It is a working partnership of local government, service users and support agencies.Users will benefit from the increased range and focus of support services that will be provided through the partnership of councils and support agencies under "Supporting People". The programme will raise the priority of support services and encourage councils to take a more strategic approach to provision, integrating it fully with social and health services, housing, neighbourhood renewal and community safety.While stakeholders broadly welcomed "Supporting People" in initial consultation, there are many challenges to be faced, and many complex issues to be worked through.Today I have published a short document, "Together towards 2003", with an Action Plan of clear goals that must be achieved in order to prepare for the full roll out of "Supporting People" in April 2003. These are:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what consultations he had with (a) organic growers and (b) the Soil Association in Herefordshire about the siting of the GM trials at Kempley, Gloucestershire and Preston Wynne, Herefordshire; and if he will make a statement. [122038]

[holding answer 15 May 2000]: There has not been any specific consultation with organic growers or the Soil Association about the siting of farm scale evaluations of GM crops at Kempley or Preston Wynne.However, my Department and the Ministry for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food have been in dialogue with UKROFS (United Kingdom Register of Organic Food Standards) and the Soil Association about the Farm Scale Evaluations. MAFF has also been encouraging discussions between organic farmers and the GM industry body, SCIMAC, and have established a forum aimed at finding ways that the two systems can operate successfully alongside one another.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he plans to publish further information on the design of the NATS public-private partnership. [122974]

The Government have today published an information brochure on the NATS PPP. A copy has been placed in the Library of the House and will shortly be available on the DETR website.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many (a) cars and (b) commercial vehicles operated by her Department were manufactured (i) in the UK, (ii) in the EU and (iii) elsewhere. [122267]

The Government Car and Despatch Agency operates a fleet of vehicles, in the following table, for the Government as a whole. Seven of these vehicles are own by GCDA but operated by the Cabinet Office (Infrastructure Division).

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many statutory instruments have been referred by Government departments to the National Assembly for Wales; and if he will list the dates on which a response was received from the Assembly in each case. [122456]

There is no general provision for statutory instruments to be referred by Government Departments to the National Assembly for Wales. The Government of Wales Act 1998 and the National Assembly for Wales (Transfer of Functions) Order 1999 both contain provisions which require that certain instruments are either subject to consultation with the National Assembly for Wales, or are subject to their consent being obtained.Other contacts takes place on an information basis, as covered in the bilateral concordats between Government Departments and the National Assembly for Wales. No central record is kept of such informal contact in relation to statutory instruments; and the information could only be collected at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if she will list the number and value of (a) bids and (b) grants made in each of the last three financial years for which figures are available, for each (i) area-based and (ii) other regeneration-related initiative for which her Department is responsible. [119802]

The Cabinet Office is responsible for the Better Government for Older People programme and the Drug Action Teams listed by DETR as under (ii) other regeneration-related initiatives.For the Better Government for Older People (BGOP) programme it is not possible to distinguish between direct/indirect government grants, redirected existing LGA provision, local partner funding and other contributions without incurring disproportionate costs. The Cabinet Office provides a small grant each year to help support the central co-ordination of the BGOP pilots and this figure is included in the expenditure totals.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if she will list for each (a) area-based and (b) other regeneration-related initiative for which her Department is responsible (i) the amount budgeted and (ii) the total expended in each financial year for the planned lifetime of each initiative. [119794]

The Cabinet Office is responsible for two of the programmes listed by DETR under 'other regeneration-related initiatives'—The Better Government for Older People and The Drug Action Teams. It is not possible to provide information as specifically requested. The Cabinet Office does not have accounting responsibility for the majority of expenditure made on these two initiatives.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many (a) men and (b) women are in receipt of a war pension. [121477]

The administration of the war pensions is a matter for the Chief Executive of the War Pensions Agency, Mr. Gordon Hextall. I have asked him to write to my hon. Friend.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what the total estimated expenditure was on Housing Benefit in Scotland in (a) 1998–99 and (b) 1999–2000, for (i) public sector tenants, (ii) housing association tenants and (iii) other private sector tenants. [122089]

The information is in the table.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list, for (a) 1996–97, (b) 1997–98 and (c) 1998–99, the gross expenditure on (i) rent allowances and (ii) rent rebates for each local authority in Scotland. [122088]

The information is in the table.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what account he will take in his reform of Housing Benefits of the differences between the English and Scottish housing systems; what plans he has to ensure that (a) tenants on the lowest incomes and (b) vulnerable households do not suffer financial loss from any changes to the Housing Benefit system; and what measures he plans to ensure that changes to Housing Benefit take account of other benefit and social policy reforms. [122086]

In our recent Housing Green Paper "Quality and Choice: A Decent Home For All" we acknowledge the importance of making sure that Housing Benefit and housing policies work together, and that the Government are sensitive to the housing policy aims and objectives of the devolved administrations.Housing Benefit provides valuable support so that those with low incomes can meet their rent. A basic principle of any reform is that those who are most in need should continue to be able to afford reasonable rents.We are determined to modernise Housing Benefit to improve customer service, tackle fraud and error and improve incentives to work. The Housing Green Paper contains proposals and ideas to reform Housing Benefit, and seeks the views of interested parties by 31 July 2000. We will take these views into account as we continue to work to improve Housing Benefit.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 8 May 2000, Official Report, column 275W, on the state pension, if he will identify separately the costs of (a) a £5 increase at 75–79 years and (b) a £10 increase at 80 years, if each increase were to be implemented without the other. [122251]

The information is in the table.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many (a) cars and (b) commercial vehicles operated by his Department were manufactured (i) in the UK, (ii) in the EU and (iii) elsewhere. [122254]

The Department has a total of 2,753 cars and commercial vehicles currently on its fleet.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of when the decommissioning section of the Belfast agreement will be implemented. [121150]

The Government regard the recent IRA statement as a very significant development, including for the first time a definite commitment to put weapons completely and verifiably beyond use.We believe we can now build on this announcement so that the Good Friday Agreement can be implemented in all its aspects.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of when he expects the decommissioning provisions of the Belfast agreement will be implemented. [121155]

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made on the decommissioning of illegally held arms and explosives. [121157]

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made in the process of decommissioning illegally-held weapons and explosives. [121163]

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the state of the peace process with regard to decommissioning. [121166]

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made on the decommissioning of illegally held arms and explosives. [121168]

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made on the decommissioning of illegally held arms and explosives. [121170]

I refer the right hon. Member and the hon. Members to the answer given earlier by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the current status is of the de Chastelain commission; and if its role will be extended beyond 22 May. [121161]

The role of the IICD will continue to be as stated in the joint declaration by the two Governments on 5 May:

The IICD will continue its task under the Agreement. The Governments will now ask the IICD to consider urgently, in consultation with representatives of the paramilitary organisations, whether there are any further proposals for decommissioning schemes which offer the Commission greater scope to proceed in a more effective and satisfactory way with the discharge of this basic mandate, and to report. The Governments will make further reports as necessary. Those reports will be published promptly by the two Governments.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what his policy is towards the inclusion of political representatives of paramilitary groups in the Northern Ireland Executive without the decommissioning of illegally held arms and explosives. [121165]

Our policy is to achieve both devolution and decommissioning on terms consistent with the Good Friday Agreement. With the British and Irish Governments' Joint Statement on 5 May and the IRA statement of 6 May, I believe there is now a basis for making progress in achieving both objectives.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he last met European Commissioners to discuss EU structural funds allocated to Northern Ireland. [121152]

On 25 November 1999 I met with Commissioner Neil Kinnock (Vice President Administrative Reform) over dinner at Hillsborough Castle but was unable to meet Commissioner Barnier (DG Regio) during his visit on 4 February 2000 due to political developments in relation to the suspension of devolution.I hope to have the opportunity to meet Commissioner Barnier on 18 May in London.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps have been taken to re-establish the Northern Ireland Executive and Assembly. [121153]

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps have been taken to re-establish the Northern Ireland Executive and Assembly. [121159]

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the prospects for re-establishing the Executive in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement. [121171]

I refer the hon. Members and my hon. Friend to the answer I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Ruislip-Northwood (Mr. Wilkinson).

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the current state of the peace process. [121154]

I refer the hon. Gentleman to my statement to the House on 8 May.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he last met the Irish Prime Minister to discuss progress towards peace. [121158]

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he last met the Irish Prime Minister to discuss progress on the peace process. [121160]

I last met the Irish Prime Minister during an intense period of negotiations at Hillsborough on 4 and 5 May.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will take further steps to gather statistics on the numbers of those exiled from their homes in Northern Ireland by paramilitary organisations. [121156]

Currently the RUC record figures relating to reported intimidation but paramilitary expulsions cannot be separately identified. Figures on exclusions are particularly hard to calculate, since those affected are often reluctant to notify the police. Exclusions can also vary from temporary decisions to leave a town or area within it and total "exclusion" from Northern Ireland. We would be prepared to explore ways with the police in which the quality of these statistics could be improved, but it is not easy to gather accurate statistics in this area.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement about the security situation in Northern Ireland. [121162]

The main paramilitary groups are maintaining their ceasefires and the recent IRA statement reflects a real reduction in the threat from that quarter. There remains a threat from dissident paramilitaries who are opposed to the Good Friday Agreement, and the security forces will continue to thwart attempts by these groups to undermine the peace process.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the impact of the Government's programmes for victim support. [121164]

Victim Support, which is funded by £737,000 from Government, dealt with 33,000 referrals of victims of crime during 1999–2000. The Government have also committed more than £6.25 million over three years to support victims of the Troubles. An evaluation of the Small Grants Scheme operated by the Community Relations Council is currently under way, and we have agreed to review the Core Funding Programme for victims groups, which is being administered by the Northern Ireland Voluntary Trust, during the 2001–02 financial year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proposals he has to promote tuition in Goidelic languages. [121167]

The Education (Northern Ireland) Order 1998 gave the Department of Education the power to fund a body which has as its objective the encouragement or promotion of Irish-medium education. Work is currently in hand to establish a new body, Comhairle Na Gaelscolaiochta, for this purpose. An Irish-medium curriculum materials unit has been established in St. Mary's University College, a College of the Queen's University of Belfast, under the auspices of the Education and Library Boards' Curriculum Advisory and Support Services, to provide a central source of Irish-medium expertise to support schools throughout Northern Ireland. The Northern Ireland Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment provides GCSE and GCE A level examinations through the medium of Irish in subjects as required.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the destruction by fire of the facilities at the Giant's Causeway. [121169]

The fire at the Giant's Causeway Visitor Centre destroyed 80 per cent. of the building. Senior Government officials met Moyle District Council on 4 May to discuss the development of a permanent replacement and the provision of temporary buildings in the interim so that services to visitors can be maintained. The Council has been asked to liaise with Government on a way forward.