To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions 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. [122260]

[holding answer 17 May 2000]: The position at 1 April 2000 was as follows:

	Cars	Commercial	Total
UK	179	361	540
EU	317	79	396
Elsewhere	118	42	160
Total	614	482	1,096

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he proposes to begin the consultation on proposed changes to planning regulations in relation to small regional airports. [122784]

The Department has no plans to change planning regulations for small regional airports. If my hon. Friend wishes to write to me with more details of his concerns in this area, I will provide a substantive reply.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate he has made of the funds required to clear the current backlog of repairs to and modernisation programmes of local authority housing stock; and how much this figure represents per dwelling. [123013]

We estimate, on the basis of sample data collected in the 1996 English House Condition Survey, that the backlog of renovation work on the council housing stock amounts to around £10 billion with a further £9 billion being required for improvement/ modernisation work. This equates to an average of between £5,500 and £6,000 a dwelling. The renovation backlog will have been tackled in around a quarter of a million homes by March 2002 as a result of the extra resources we have made available for housing investment.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations his Department has received from the Joannou and Paraskevaides Construction Group in the last three years. [123139]

[holding answer 22 May 2000]: The Department is not aware of any representations received from the Joannou and Paraskevaides Construction Group in the last three years.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what construction contracts his Department has awarded to the Joannou and Paraskevaides Group in the last three years. [123143]

[holding answer 22 May 2000]: None.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what planning appeals his Department has received involving the Joannou and Paraskevaides Construction Group in the last three years. [123141]

[holding answer 22 May 2000]: I am not aware of any planning appeals received from the Joannou and Paraskevaides Construction Group in the last three years.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what studies he has carried out to ascertain the possible contamination by methyl tertiary butyl ether from the discharge of unburned fuel from water craft on inland waters in England and Wales. [123444]

I am not aware of any studies currently under way on this issue. Although the Environment Agency considers that the main risk from MTBE is to groundwater and has commissioned research on this, it has also carried out limited monitoring for MTBE in surface waters. Many water craft are powered by diesel fuel which does not contain MTBE.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the (a) terms of reference of and (b) people carrying out, the study on the incidence of methyl tertiary butyl ether in groundwater in England and Wales; and when he expects the study to be completed. [123442]

The Environment Agency has commissioned a study to investigate known fuel oxygenate occurrence in groundwater in England and Wales, gathering evidence from (a) Environment Agency regional and area records (b) water companies, and (c) additional bodies and sources of information; to review and evaluate the presence and behaviour of oxygenates in groundwater; to inform the EA's strategic regulatory thinking, the risk assessment process and monitoring strategy, and to recommend any future research directions. The study, which is being carried out by the environmental consultancy firm Komex Clarke Bond, is expected to be available in the summer.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 12 May 2000, Official Report, column 485W, on housing, what plans he has to include guidance to local authorities and fire authorities on the standard of fire safety provision for houses in multiple occupation, in the guidance documents that accompany the draft legislation; and whether that guidance will include reference to the installation of residential automatic fire sprinkler systems. [123532]

As we indicated in the Housing Green Paper we are developing a housing health and safety rating system to replace the existing housing fitness standard. Within this we envisage risk-based guidance on

Site operator	Site location	Type of facility	Waste planning authority area
Shanks and McEwan	Brogborough	Landfill	Bedfordshire
Cory Environmental	Mucking	Landfill	Thurrock
Cleanaway	Pitsea	Landfill	Essex
Shanks and McEwan	Stewartby	Landfill	Bedfordshire
Clean away	Ockendon	Landfill	Thurrock
Greenways Waste Management	Aveley	Landfill	Essex
Viridor	Great Blakenham	Landfill	Suffolk
Cory Environmental	Stanway	Landfill	Essex
SITA	Godmanchester	Landfill	Cambridgeshire
Shanks and McEwan	Arlesey	Landfill	Bedfordshire
Lafarge Redland	Radlett	Landfill	Hertfordshire
Shanks and McEwan	Dogsthorpe	Landfill	Peterborough
Fenside Waste Management	Warboys	Landfill	Cambridgeshire
Star Quarry Products	Hertford	Landfill	Hertfordshire
Anti Waste	Milton	Landfill	Cambridgeshire
Greenways Waste Management	Ongar	Landfill	Essex
Cory Environmental	Barling	Landfill	Essex
Anti Waste	Buckden	Landfill	Cambridgeshire
Pioneer Aggregates Ltd.	Ware Quarry	Landfill	Hertfordshire
Hales	Ugley	Landfill	Essex
Greenham Construction Materials	Elsenham	Landfill	Essex
Anti Waste	Feltwell	Landfill	Norfolk
Mick George Haulage Ltd.	Southorpe Quarry	Landfill	Peterborough
Hales	Attlebridge	Landfill	Norfolk
Lafarge Redland	Roxwell	Landfill	Essex
St. Albans Sand and Gravel	Ware	Landfill	Hertfordshire
St. Albans Sand and Gravel	St. Albans	Landfill	Hertfordshire
Suffolk Waste Disposal Company	Lackford	Landfill	Suffolk
M. Dickerson	Hemingford Grey	Landfill	Cambridgeshire

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the mechanisms for ensuring the accountability of housing associations for their decisions; and if he will make a statement. [123771]

Housing associations (now known as registered social landlords) are regulated by the Housing Corporation, an Executive NDPB of my Department, through published performance standards covering governance, finance, lettings, tenant involvement, development and management. Registered social landlords are expected to meet these standards. Where they do not, the Housing Corporation has regulatory powers to enforce compliance.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list in order of the quantity of waste dealt with the main waste disposal facilities in the east of England. [123383]

[holding answer 23 May 2000]: The list of main waste disposal facilities in the east of England, in order of quantity of waste dealt with, is given in the table. For the purpose of this response, a main waste disposal facility is taken to mean their taking in excess of 90,000 tonnes of waste per year. The figures relate to 1998–99 (or the nearest available year).In the course of this year, the Housing Corporation is reviewing governance arrangements in the registered social landlord sector. It will be issuing revised performance standards, following consultation, in April 2001.My Department has also contributed to the work of the Committee on Standards in Public Life in producing its reports on Local Public Spending Bodies.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he plans to publish the White Paper on leasehold reform; and if it will contain the draft Bill. [123660]

As was announced in the Gracious Speech given on 17 November 1999, Official Report, columns 4–7, we intend to publish a draft Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill for consultation during this session.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions which sites in the UK are under consideration for building new incinerators. [123713]

My Department does not keep a central record of sites under consideration for new incinerators. However, it is the responsibility of individual local planning authorities to consider planning applications for incinerators and they will keep their own records.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if the Government's procurement policy will include a commitment to buying timber and timber products from certified legal and sustainable sources. [123165]

The Government's model policy statement for greening Government operations includes a commitment to purchase sustainably produced timber and timber products by, for example, requiring suppliers to provide documentary evidence that the timber has been lawfully obtained from forests and plantations which are managed to sustain their biodiversity, productivity and vitality, and to prevent harm to other ecosystems and any indigenous or forest-dependent people.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will increase the level of Standard Spending Assessments of local authorities in respect of costs specific to provision of services in rural areas. [123915]

Standard Spending Assessments already include elements that recognise that there are additional costs in providing services in rural areas. In the White Paper, "Modern Local Government—In Touch With The People", we said that we did not expect to make fresh changes to the method of calculation of Standard Spending Assessment while we conduct a review of the system of grant distribution.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what statistics relating to the responsibilities of his Department are collated by parliamentary constituency, indicating the dates covered in each case. [123843]

The Department's statistics are not compiled routinely by parliamentary constituency.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what plans he has to commission a third party to undertake independent verification of the abnormal indivisible loads notification system, with particular reference to evaluating the robustness of the software to analyse the strength of bridge structures; [123022](2) what dates for

I have asked the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency, Mr. Peter Nutt to write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) which (a) countries and (b) sections of the European Commission his Department consulted before announcing the change in its hydrofluorocarbons policy, referred to in DETR Climate Change Programme-HFC Policy Change; [123025]

My Department did not hold any formal consultation before the Government's new HFC policy was announced in the draft climate change programme, which was published for consultation on 9 March 2000. However, officials have been involved in meetings that have taken place at international and European level between technical experts, industry representatives, officials from other countries and officials from the environment and enterprise sections of the European Commission on the use and projected trends in emissions of hydrofluorocarbons.In addition my Department commissioned a report in 1998 from March Consulting Group to provide updated annual UK emissions data for HFCs, PFCs and SF

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many laptop computers used by Ministers, officials and special advisers in his Department have been (a) lost and (b) stolen since May 1997. [123735]

Since May 1997 seven laptop computers have been stolen and one has been lost in transit.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement about the programme for transferring existing organisations or parts of organisations to the Greater London Authority, London Transport Users' Committee, Transport for London and the London Development Agency. [124187]

The transfers of existing bodies takes place on four main dates. As I announced in response to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Croydon, Central (Mr. Davies) on 1 April 2000, Official Report, columns 420–21W, the London Ecology Committee, London Planning Advisory Committee and London Research Centre were abolished, and their staff, assets and liabilities were temporarily transferred to the Secretary of State.On 8 May these staff, assets and liabilities (other than those relating to a small number of London Research Centre staff who will transfer later to Transport for London) transferred to the Greater London Authority (GLA), along with a small number of planning staff from the Government Office for London, and the GLA Transition Team and staff newly recruited for the GLA.Transfers to Transport for London (TfL) and the London Development Agency (LDA), and to the London Transport Users Committee (LTUC), will take place on 3 July. On that date the following will transfer to TfL:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what outcome he expects from the forthcoming UN Informal Consultative Process on the Oceans to be held in New York on 30 May to 2 June. [124190]

The establishment of a UN Informal Consultative Process is a new and promising development. For a long time, I have been calling for a single global focus for integrating action on the oceans. At the 1999 meeting of the Commission on Sustainable Development, I particularly highlighted the need for better preparation of the annual UN General Assembly debate on Oceans and the Law of the Sea and better implementation by all states of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and Chapter 17, Oceans and All Seas, of Agenda 21. I believe that the new Informal Consultative Process will address both these points.The UK has played a leading role in getting the new Process established and we are looking forward to participating in a productive meeting. Although all aspects of the oceans and seas are closely interrelated and need to be considered as a whole, discussion should focus on one or two main areas, to get agreement on the progress to be made. In this inaugural meeting, the issues of tackling illegal, unregulated and unreported fisheries and the economic and social implications of marine pollution have emerged as issues of particular concern. These are important issues and we want to ensure that the new process makes a real difference to progress in tackling them. In particular, there needs to be early entry into force of the UN fish stock agreement and full implementation of that agreement, the FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries, and the Global Programme of Action against land-based marine pollution. The new Process should promote concerted action for this purpose by all the different international bodies involved.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the age-related demographic factors used in setting SSAs. [123296]

A wide range of indicators is used in working out Standard Spending Assessments. The following age-related demographic factors were used in calculations for the 2000–01 settlement:

• Resident population aged 0–4; 5–10; 11–15 11+; 16–24; 0–17; 18–64; 65+; 75–84; 85+
• Household residents aged 65+; 75–84; 85+
• Pupils aged 4; 5–10; 11–15; 16+
• Resident pupils aged 5–10; 11–15
• Children of lone parents
• Children of Income Support/income-based Jobseeker's Allowance claimants
• Country of birth indicator; proportion of household residents under 16 years of age who were born outside the UK and whose head of household was born outside the UK, the Irish Republic, USA or the Old Commonwealth
• Children in one adult households
• Children living in flats
• Children with limiting long-term illness
• Elderly in receipt of Income Support/income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
• Elderly in receipt of Attendance Allowance or Disability Living Allowance
• Pensioners living in rented accommodation
• Pensioners not in a couple and not head of household
• Pensioners living alone
• >Elderly household residents with limiting long-term illness
• Elderly residents with limiting long-term illness
• Young male unemployment-related benefit claimants
• Income Support/income-based Jobseeker's Allowance claimants aged 18 to 64
• Standardised morbidity ratio 18 to 64
• Standardised mortality ratio (constructed using age banded data)
• The proportion of household residents living in a lone parent family with at least one dependent child.

To ask the Prime Minister on how many occasions honours have been removed from those who received them, and for what reasons, in the last ten years. [122904]

In the last ten years, there have been 13 cases of forfeiture of honours for which the Prime Minister is responsible. The reasons leading to these forfeitures are:

• (i) corruption (mis-use of their position): five cases;
• (ii) company fraud: three cases;
• (iii) sexual offences against children: three cases; and
• (iv) theft: two cases.

To ask the Prime Minister if a conviction for perjury constitutes grounds for recommending the removal of a life peerage. [122905]

This would require legislation to be passed by both Houses of Parliament. Once a Peer has been created, neither the Sovereign, the Prime Minister nor the House of Lords alone can cause his or her title to be forfeited.

To ask the Prime Minister what discussions he had with the Japanese Prime Minister about debt relief at their recent meeting. [123105]

Prime Minister Mori and I met on 3 May. We covered issues in preparation for the G8 Summit in Okinawa in July, and agreed on the importance of discussing debt issues at the Summit. We are both concerned to see that the debt relief measures agreed at the Cologne Summit last year are implemented.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will place the responses received by his Department to the Performance and Innovation Unit's report, "Rural Economies", in the Library; and if he will make a statement. [123397]

[holding answer 24 May 2000]: The Performance and Innovation Unit's report, "Rural Economies", asked for comments on the report to be sent to the Rural White Paper Team at the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions by 11 February 2000. Copies of the responses received will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses in due course (except for those which respondents request remain confidential).

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he and the Ministers in his Department last had a meeting with the Ethiopian Ambassador to the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement. [123528]

I last met the Ethiopian Ambassador when he accompanied the Ethiopian Foreign Minister, Atto Seyoum Mesfin, who called on me on 9 December 1999. I saw him again on 23 May when I strongly criticised Ethiopia's renewal of fighting against Eritrea.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has received the report from the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs on the prospects for free and fair elections in Zimbabwe; and if he will make a statement. [124185]

I understand that a distinguished, international delegation organised by the National Democratic Institute visited Zimbabwe from 15 to 22 May. After over 30 meetings with representatives of government, political parties and civil society the delegation called for "heightened observation" of the elections by the international community. Their findings reflect an atmosphere of anxiety and fear, a news bias in favour of the ruling party, and that the Registrar General has so far failed to establish an open and transparent electoral process. We hope that the delegation's observations are closely heeded in Zimbabwe.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what changes have been made to EU sanctions in place against Burma. [124186]

On 26 April the Council of the European Union adopted a Common Position (2000/346/CFSP) which enhanced EU sanctions against Burma by strengthening the existing visa ban, imposing a freeze on the funds of those individuals subject to the visa ban and imposing a ban on the supply of equipment which might be used for internal repression or terrorism.Following from this Common Position, the Council adopted Regulation 1081/2000 on 22 May. The Regulation prohibits the sale, supply, export or shipment of goods listed in an Annexe to the Regulation, directly or indirectly, whether or not originating in the Community, to any person or body in Burma or to any person or body for the purpose of any business carried on in, or operated from, the territory of Burma.The Regulation also provides that all funds belonging to individual listed in an annexe to the Regulation shall be frozen and that no funds shall be made available, directly or indirectly, to or for the benefit of those persons.The Regulation applies within the territory of the Community including its air space and on board any aircraft or any vessel under the jurisdiction of a member state and, to any person elsewhere who is a national of a member state and any body which is incorporated or constituted under the law of a member state.The Regulation entered into force on 24 May and is directly applicable in the UK. Legislation to provide for enforcement, including penalties, will shortly be in effect.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many laptop computers used by Ministers, officials and special advisers in his Department have been (a) lost and (b) stolen since May 1997. [123736]

There are three instances of FCO laptops going missing. In two cases, overseas, these are recorded as losses. But every loss may, in fact, be a theft. The third instance was theft, again overseas.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what action the Government are taking to increase the level of sporting opportunity in areas of high deprivation and social exclusion. [123524]

Our recently published sports strategy—A Sporting Future for All—and the report of Policy Action Team 10, recognise the unique contribution which sport can make to tackling social exclusion. As a result, we will be working with other agencies to develop creative and innovative ways of using sport to re-engage people and equip them with the skills and confidence to re-join the main stream of society. We have also asked all funding bodies in sport to ensure that the promotion of social inclusion is a key part of all their work, and have called for a concerted effort to recruit, train and support more women, people with disabilities and people from ethnic minority groups as coaches, officials and sports administrators. All agencies receiving public funding will be required to demonstrate that they have adopted pro-active solutions to any inequities which exist.Sport England's Lottery Strategy, which was published in May last year, sets out its commitment to target funding at social inclusion and deprived areas. This means that at least two-thirds of its Lottery funds are invested in community facilities or activities, of which at least 50 per cent. will go to areas of greatest need; young people, recreationally deprived groups and people with disabilities are a priority; and equality of access for all. Specific programmes include the Priority Areas Initiative which targets deprived areas and allows a higher rate of funding and Sport Action Zones, the first 12 of which were announced in January, which aim to provide comprehensive sports development infrastructures aimed at increasing opportunities for participation in some of the most recreationally deprived areas of the country. Sport England will also be using its powers of solicitation to invite applications for funding from schools in Sport Action Zones, Education Action Zones and Excellence in Cities areas.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if the Millennium Commission has any further plans to provide financial support to the Millennium Experience at Greenwich; and if he will make a statement. [124339]

On 22 May the Millennium Commission considered an application for additional grant totalling £38.6 million from the New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC). While the Commission had serious reservations about providing further grant, they concluded that it would be foolish to withdraw support when the best of the year for visitor attractions is yet to come. They also felt that the value of the Dome as the centrepiece of the nation's millennium celebrations should be recognised and continued. The potential costs to the public sector arising from immediate closure, along with the economic impact on employment and tourism were other factors taken into account.In light of this, the Commission announced that a further grant of £29 million, subject to stringent conditions, would be made available to NMEC. The Commission's decision was taken after an independent review of the NMEC's financial systems and business plans. The conditions are that there should be:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how he intends to help coalfield areas to benefit further from the National Lottery. [124188]

I am committed to ensuring that Lottery funding is distributed fairly and equitably both geographically and across all groups of society. On 5 June my Department will be publishing a report which examines the impact of the National Lottery on coalfield areas. Copies of the report will be available in the Library of the House. My Department and distributors will follow up the recommendations in that report in order to help coalfield and other areas of low take-up to benefit.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what was his Department's budget for opinion research in the financial year 1999–2000. [123850]

None. My Department has no budget set aside for this purpose.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will place copies of the results of all market and opinion research carried out by his Department, agencies and non-departmental public bodies since May 1997, in the Library. [123805]

Given the extensive number of sources and documents, many unpublished, this material could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what statistics relating to the responsibilities of his Department are collated by parliamentary constituency, indicating the dates covered in each case. [123842]

Since 1993 my Department has maintained a database of National Lottery awards, from which a breakdown by parliamentary constituency is available on the DCMS website (http:/www.culture.gov.uk)

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many indemnity undertakings were given by departments under section 16 of the National Heritage Act 1980 for the six month period ended 31 March; and what was the value of (a) any contingent liabilities in respect of such undertakings given at any time under that section which remain outstanding as at 31 March, (b) non-statutory Government indemnities in respect of loans handled by the Government Art Collection which remain outstanding as at 31 March and (c) non-statutory undertakings to Her Majesty in respect of loans from the Royal Collection which remain outstanding at 31 March. [124189]

The provision for the Government Indemnity Scheme is made by the National Heritage Act 1980. The scheme facilitates public access to loans of works of art and other objects for public display made to museums, galleries and other such institutions by private owners and non-national institutions. It does this by indemnifying lenders against loss or damage to their loan. Loans covered by the scheme must be for public benefit. The scheme also covers loans of such objects for study purposes within borrowing institutions where this would contribute materially to the public's understanding or appreciation of the loan. Examples of this are enhancing interpretation or explanation to the public of objects or bringing into the public domain, the conclusions of any study.In the six month period ended 31 March 2000, the following undertakings to indemnify were given under section 16 by the relevant Departments for objects on loan to national and non-national institutions:

Department	Number
Department for Culture, Media and Sport	626
Scottish Executive Education Department	102
The National Assembly for Wales	59
Department of Education for Northern Ireland	11

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what technical specifications he has set for the computers he plans to be leased to people on income support. [123380]

I have been asked to reply.The specification set under the Computers within Reach initiative for low-income learners and families is for a desktop computer with a minimum of a Pentium 1 processor, preferably a 133 MHz processor or faster, or Apple equivalent. The specification also includes a minimum of 32 Megabytes of RAM, 1 Gigabyte hard disk drive, 20-speed CD-ROM drive, V90 56k modem, an operating system and web browser software. The specification is set at a relatively high level given the intended duration of the initiative until 2002.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he plans to change the remit of the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee. [124311]

In accordance with Section 12 of the Bank of England Act 1998, I have today written to the Governor restating the MPC's remit and how it will be held accountable for meeting the remit.My letter has been laid before Parliament and a copy has been sent to the Chairman of the Treasury Committee. Copies are also being deposited in the Libraries of both Houses.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many married women actively revoked their decision to pay the reduced rate of National Insurance contributions in each year from 1977 to the present; [120999]

[holding answer 5 May 2000]: The number of women who actively revoked their election to pay the reduced rate of National Insurance contributions is not available. A series of the number of women paying at the reduced rate is available in Table 11 of "Contributions and Qualifying Years for Retirement Pension 1995/96-Volume 2", a copy of which is in the Library of the House. However, the year on year reductions in the numbers paying at the reduced rate will be due only in part to those actively revoking their election.A copy of the 1989 mailshot has been placed in the Library. The mailshot was issued to around 300,000 married women. The coverage went wider than those whose election might have resulted in them paying more NICs at that time.A copy of a 1978 CF383 and a current version of CF383 have been placed in the Library.I can confirm that a further publicity exercise will be undertaken later this year. It will be aimed at all women who hold a valid election to pay National Insurance contributions at the reduced rate.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent representations he has received about working families tax credit; what plans he has to make changes in the working families tax credit system; and if he will make a statement. [123280]

In the Budget, the Government announced their intention to build on the success of WFTC by introducing an integrated child credit and an employment tax credit from 2003.The integrated child credit will bring together the support for children in WFTC and IS/JSA and the new Children's Tax Credit to create one payment to the main carer. This will create a seamless and transparent system of support for children which will further help to deliver the Government's commitment to end child poverty within a generation.The adult credit element of WFTC will, along with the Disabled Person's Tax Credit and the Employment Credit component of the New Deal 50 plus, form the foundation of a new employment tax credit which will extend the principle of WFTC to people without children. Paid through the wage packet the employment tax credit will form a single visible instrument, underpinned by the national minimum wage, to make work pay.The budget paper, "Tackling Poverty and Making Work Pay—Tax Credits for the 21st Century", sets out this next stage of reform in more detail.We have received a number of representations regarding the development of the new credits and we will continue to discuss the proposed reforms with interested parties.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 19 May 2000, Official Report, column 294W, on poverty, if the figure of £2.7 billion extra financial support for children from the working families tax credit given in chart 5.2 of the March 2000 Economic and Fiscal Strategy report includes expenditure on the disabled person's tax credit. [123855]

The figure for the extra financial support delivered through the Working Families Tax Credit includes the additional expenditure on the Disabled person's Tax Credit for families with children.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the annual cost of (a) a 10 per cent., (b) an 8 per cent. and (c) a 5 per cent. rate of VAT on restoration work for listed buildings. [123723]

Customs and Excise do not have estimates of the costs of reducing the VAT rate on restoration work for listed buildings because reliable estimates of amounts of VAT which have been paid in the past on such work are not available.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which environmental taxes he approves under EU proposals for Common EU environmental taxes. [123792]

Any EU proposal on tax is considered by Treasury Ministers, and follows the normal process set out in my reply to the right hon. Member of 9 May 2000, Official Report, column 334W.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 19 May 2000, Official Report, column 294W, on poverty, (a) when 1.2 million children will be lifted above the 60 per cent. of median household income threshold and (b) if this figure is net of those children in households whose income moves below this threshold. [123853]

On (a), the estimate that 1.2 million children will be lifted above 60 per cent. of median income looks at the effect of all personal tax and benefit changes announced in the past four Budgets; all of these measures will have taken effect by April 2001. On (b), the estimates given in Box 5.1 of the Economic and Fiscal Strategy Report are net of any children in households whose incomes move below the income thresholds.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 19 May 2000, Official Report, column 294W, on poverty, if the figure of 1.2 million children to be lifted above 60 per cent. of median earnings includes tapering for (a) housing benefit and (b) council tax benefit. [123854]

The definition of income used in this figure is consistent with that in "Households Below Average Income" and includes Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit. The estimate of 1.2 million children therefore includes the effect of the Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit tapers.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will place in the Library copies of the results of all market and opinion research carried out by his Department, agencies and non-departmental public bodies since May 1997. [123808]

I regret that this information is not held centrally and can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much has been paid from the landfill tax to each of the top 20 recipients among independent environmental trusts; and if he will name them. [123753]

Information about which environmental bodies have received contributions under the Landfill Tax Environmental Bodies Credit Scheme and how much they have received is a matter for the Regulator for the scheme, ENTRUST. I have therefore asked them to provide such data as they hold and I will place a copy of their response in the Library.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to make changes to the way landfill tax credits are paid to environmental trusts. [123754]

My right hon. Friend the Minister for the Environment will shortly publish the Waste Strategy 2000. This will set out the Government's plans to encourage greater support for sustainable waste management activities through the Landfill Tax Environmental Bodies Credit Scheme.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what he estimates would be the cost to the Treasury of tax relief for the basic state pension if such relief were (a) restricted to the 10 per cent. tax rate, (b) restricted to the 22 per cent. tax rate and (c) unrestricted. [120547]

The information is not available.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many laptop computers used by Ministers, officials and special advisers in his Department have been (a) lost and (b) stolen since May 1997. [123747]

Of the laptops used by HM Treasury, one was reported as lost and six as stolen, since May 1997.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what progress has been made with the Statute Law Database; and if he will make a statement. [123598]

Subject to a few exceptions, the Statute Law Database currently holds electronic versions of all public general statutes that were in force on 1 February 1991 as well as all statutes and printed statutory instruments, both general and local, enacted since that date. The Statutory Publications Office is editing statutes on the database, grouped together according to subject matter, bringing them fully up to date by the application of amendments made by subsequent legislation. During the course of the year 2000, successive groups of statutes will become available to end users in a fully updated form. The inquiry facility is currently available to selected Government users.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when he intends to publish the Review of Civil Justice in Northern Ireland. [124191]

The final report of the Civil Justice Reform Group will be published on 16 June with a consultation period until the end of September. Copies will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many laptop computers used by Ministers, officials and special advisers in his Department have been (a) lost and (b) stolen since May 1997. [123741]

Figures for lost or stolen laptop computers within the Lord Chancellor's Department and associated offices since May 1997 are shown in the table.

Lost or stolen computers—Lord Chancellor's Department and associated offices
	Lost	Stolen
1997	0	0
1998	0	1
1999	0	2
2000	0	1

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many committals for sentence there were at the Crown court by magistrates in each of the last five years for which figures are available. [123864]

The total number of cases committed for sentence to the Crown court by magistrates courts for the last five years are:

Years	Number
1995	8,757
1996	9,287
1997	11,835
1998	26,090
1999	27,086

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will place copies of the results of all market and opinion research carried out by the Lord Chancellor's Department, its agencies and non-departmental public bodies since May 1997, in the Library. [123811]

Copies of all published items relating to market and opinion research since May 1997 will be placed in the Library.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what statistics relating to the responsibilities of his Department are collated by parliamentary constituency, indicating the dates covered in each case. [123831]

No statistics relating to the responsibilities of the Lord Chancellor's Department are collated by parliamentary constituency.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if an Office of Veterinary Services contract has been awarded by the Meat Hygiene Service in respect of the new meat plant at Merthyr Tydfil; and if he will make a statement. [121218]

[holding answer 10 May 2000]: I am advised by the Food Standards Agency that the Meat Hygiene Service (MHS) has yet to put out to tender the contract for the provision of Official Veterinary Service (OVS) duties to the new abattoir currently being built at Merthyr Tydfil. This plant has yet to be licensed by the Food Standards Agency and has not commenced operations.The contract for the provision of OVS duties to the licensed cutting plant that is currently operating from the same site was awarded to the Abbey Veterinary Centre at Abergavenny.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health in what ways he intends the provisions of the Care Standards Bill [Lords] will affect the regulation of private hospitals. [123130]

Our plans for the regulation of private hospitals and other independent health care establishments were published in "The Way Forward" in December last year, following a wide-ranging consultation exercise. A further paper, "Developing The Way Forward", was published in March this year. This outlines how we envisage regulation of independent health care by the proposed National Care Standards Commission, to be established by the Care Standards Bill, will work in practice. These documents have been placed in the Library and are available on the Department's website at:

• "The Way Forward"—www.doh.gov.uk/regulate2.htm
• "Developing The Way Forward"—www.doh.gov.uk/regulate4.htm

The regulation of the private and voluntary health care sector in Wales, including private hospitals, will be the responsibility of the proposed new care regulatory arm of the National Assembly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what policies his Department has to protect the interests of consumers of private health care; and if he will make a statement. [123635]

Independent sector health care establishments are currently regulated under the Registered Homes Act 1984. Our proposals for the future regulation of private hospitals and other independent health care establishments were published in "The Way Forward" in December last year, following a wide-ranging consultation exercise. A further paper, "Developing The Way Forward", was published in March this year. This outlines how we envisage regulation of independent health care by the proposed National Care Standards Commission, to be established by the Care Standards Bill, will work in practice. Ensuring safeguards and quality assurance for patients will be addressed. These documents have been placed in the Library and are available on the Department of Health website at:

• "The Way Forward"—www.doh.gov.uk/regulate2.htm
• "Developing The Way Forward—www.doh.gov.uk/regulate4.htm

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the reports he has received from the Social Services Inspectorate about the implementation of Circular HSC1999/162: LAC (99) 28; how many of them indicate that the Circular is being implemented properly and fully at local level; and if he will make a statement. [123081]

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Sutton and Cheam (Mr. Burstow) on 20 April 2000, Official Report, column 624W.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people with (a) physical and (b) mental disabilities are cared for at home by their families. [123291]

The requested information on the number of people cared for at home by families is not available.However, the General Household Survey (GHS) indicates that there are around 5.7 million people who are carers in Great Britain. The table shows the percentage of people who are acting as carers by the type of disability of the dependant. The number of carers who are looking after people by disability of dependant can not be estimated accurately because of small sample sizes.

Disability of main dependent by whether that dependant lived in carer's household, 1995 Great Britain
Percentage
	Carers with main dependant
Dependant's disability	In the same household	In another private household	Total
Physical only	66	57	60
Mental only	7	7	7
Physical and mental	22	12	15
Old age	5	23	17
Other	0	1	1

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent research the Government have commissioned to assess dioxin levels in meat and dairy products (a) produced in and (b) imported into the United Kingdom. [123490]

[holding answer 3 May 2000]: I am advised by the Food Standards Agency that it has a continuing programme of surveys on dioxins in food consumed in the United Kingdom, including meat and dairy products. The results show the levels of dioxins and polychlorinated biphenyls in food are continuing to fall. The average dietary intake of these chemicals in the UK is below the Tolerable Daily Intake recommended by the UK Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment. Details of all surveys are available on the Agency's website at www.foodstandards.gov.uk.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate has been made of the effect on the cost of ambulances of the recent EU Directive relating to ambulances; and which European producers make ambulances consistent with the Directive. [123326]

[holding answer 23 May 2000]: No estimate of the potential costs to National Health Service Ambulance Service trusts has been made of introducing the standards recommended by the Comité Européen de Normalisation (CEN) and adopted by the British Standards Institute (BSI). The NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency is working with the ambulance services and manufacturers to determine the costs. Currently no European manufacturers make ambulance vehicles to the new CEN/BSI standards.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement setting out the implications of the EU Directive on ambulances; what the object of the Directive was; and what was the policy of Her Majesty's Government on it. [123325]

[holding answer 23 May 2000]: Following a period of consultation with manufacturers and users, two new European standards for ambulance vehicles and their equipment were recommended by the Comité Européen de Normalisation (CEN) in August and September last year. Membership of CEN is wider than European Union member states and their recommendations have force only through the Public Procurement Legislative Programme. The object of this programme is to reduce technical barriers to trade throughout the European Free Trade Area.The British Standards Institute adopted the CEN recommendations as national standards in January 2000. New ambulance vehicles and their equipment will be expected to conform to these standards in the future. We recognise that good purchasing practice by the ambulance services requires the inclusion of agreed standards in specifications where these exist.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many ambulances in the United Kingdom are consistent with the requirements of the EU Directive. [123327]

[holding answer 23 May 2000]: The new British Standards for ambulance vehicles and equipment were adopted in January this year and apply only to new vehicles specified and purchased after that date. The National Health Service Purchasing and Supply Agency is currently working with NHS Ambulance Services trusts and vehicle manufacturers to identify those elements of the standards with which they are currently able to conform and the time scale for full compliance with the standards.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress he has made on setting up an independent national advisory group on teenage pregnancy. [124314]

I am pleased to announce that the Independent Advisory Group on Teenage Pregnancy has now been established, and that the first meeting of the Group will take place today. It will be chaired by Winifred Tumim, who is currently Chair of the National Council of Voluntary organisations.The Group's role will be to provide advice to Government and to monitor the overall success of our strategy to cut teenage pregnancy rates and reduce the risk of long term social exclusion for teenage parents and their children.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health which institutions housing young offenders come within the definition of a children's home in section 1 of the Care Standards Bill [Lords]; what discussions he has had with the Home Office and the Youth Justice Board regarding the definition of a children's home; and if he will make a statement. [123599]

Clause 1 of the Care Standards Bill defines what is a children's home for the purposes of the Bill. In relation to institutions housing young offenders, the current definition of a children's home will not be altered. For that reason, we have had no discussions with the Home Office or the Youth Justice Board regarding the definition of a children's home, as institutions housing young offenders do not come within the definition of a children's home.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list how many (a) electronically powered indoor/outdoor wheelchairs and (b) wheelchair vouchers were issued by each health authority in (i) 1997, (ii) 1998 and (iii) 1999; and what was the cost to each health authority. [123505]

Table 1 shows the totals for numbers of electrically powered indoor/outdoor wheelchairs issued to users and numbers of people issued with a voucher for 1997–98 and 1998–99, along with forecasted outturn figures for 1999–2000, in England.Table 2 shows the totals for the total committed spend on electrically powered indoor/outdoor wheelchairs, and total actual spend on vouchers for 1997–98 and 1998–99, along with forecasted expenditure figures for 1999–2000, in England.A breakdown by each health authority of these national figures has been placed in the Library.

Table 1
	1997–98	1998–99	1999–2000
Numbers of electronic indoor/outdoor wheelchairs issued to users	4,464	4,033	3,263
Numbers of people issued with a voucher	560	5,010	6,217

Table 2
£
	Total committed spend on powered indoor/outdoor wheelchairs	Total actual spend on vouchers
1997–98	6,428,468	764,000
1998–99	8,098,511	3,457,516.51
1999–2000	6,936,225.91	3,968,668.66

To ask the Secretary of State for Health when Sir William Stewart first indicated the likely contents of his report and the conclusions of the inquiry into mobile telephone emissions to officials in his Department; and when this information was made known to ministers. [122334]

[holding answer 16 May 2000]: From 1 November 1999, the Government publicly stated that,

"Officials of the Department of Health and the Department of Trade and Industry are observers at the Group's meetings while it is taking evidence and may also be observers when the Group considers, in private, its conclusions and recommendations for the report. Such information will not be released outside Government".

Officials saw draft conclusions and recommendations which were being formulated by Sir William Stewart and members of the group during the period to 23 March. Ministers did not see these drafts, nor were they briefed on their contents. Officials were not present for the final deliberations of the Group nor did they see the final set of conclusions and recommendations. Ministers and officials took receipt of the completed report on 3 May 2000.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what effect the European Court of Justice's ruling on pensions for part-timers will have on NHS pensions; and what estimate he has made of the maximum and minimum cost to NHS pension funds of the ruling. [123263]

I have been asked to reply.I refer the hon. Member to my written answer on 23 May 2000,

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to implement the recommendation of SEAC that the spreading of liquid condensate on grazing land should cease; and if he will make a statement. [118536]

I have been asked to reply.We are actively considering how to take forward the SEAC advice and hope to consult on proposals shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the average percentage increase in salaries of non-industrial civil servants, excluding members of the senior civil service, in his Department for 1999–2000; and to what extent the pay awards were staged. [121680]

[holding answer 18 May 2000]: The headline pay settlement was 2 per cent. on the paybill and, together with the additional funds from staff turnover, staff in post received in total performance related increases averaging 4 per cent. The increases were not staged.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his answer of 3 April 2000, Official Report, column 325W, if he will list the companies and sites in the United Kingdom that manufactured methyl tertiary butyl ether in 1999. [123453]

One company, TotalFina Great Britain Ltd., manufactured methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) in the UK in 1999, at Lindsay Oil Refinery, South Killingholme, Humberside.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his answer of 3 April 2000, Official Report, column 325W, what large-scale manufacturing processes in the United Kingdom other than in the petroleum industry include the use of methyl tertiary butyl ether. [123449]

Methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) is used in small amounts by the oil refining industry, with the average concentration of MTBE in UK petrol about 1 per cent., well below that permitted under EU law. The chemicals and pharmaceuticals industries also use MTBE in small amounts.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the executive agencies, non-departmental public bodies and local public spending bodies for which his Department is responsible that (a) have been transferred since 1992 and (b) are planned to be transferred (i) to and (ii) from the Northern Region. [123408]

None of the Department's executive agencies or non-departmental public bodies has relocated since 1992 either to or from the area covered by the North East and North West Government Offices. There are no current plans for such relocations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to reduce the percentage of the surpluses from the Mineworkers Pension Scheme and British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme taken by the Government. [123438]

Since 1994, the DTI has acted as guarantor to the former British Coal pension schemes. In doing so it underwrites 100 per cent. of any downside risk to guaranteed benefits in the event of scheme deficits. The guarantee means that basic pensions will always rise at least in line with inflation and will never fall in cash terms. In return the Government receive 50 per cent. of any actuarial scheme surpluses—the remaining 50 per cent. being available to the scheme Trustees for distribution among their memberships. The Government have no plans to re-open the guarantee arrangements, but it is discussing with the Trustees whether there are opportunities to build upon them to the mutual benefit of Scheme members and Government.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he next plans to meet trade unions to discuss the use of the surplus in the Mineworkers' Pension Scheme and the British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme. [123126]

[holding answer 24 May 2000]: Decisions on the allocation of the members' share of any surpluses in the coal pension schemes are principally issues for the Trustees of the schemes. I meet representatives of the mining unions regularly and I am always prepared to discuss a broad range of issues including the Mineworkers' Pension Scheme.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action the Government are taking to support manufacturing industry in the north-west; what related discussions he has had in the north-west during the last year; and if he will make a statement. [123527]

Support for manufacturers is listed at Annexe A of the DTI report, "Manufacturing in the Knowledge Driven Economy". This report provides contact details for further information and can be found on the DTI website: www.dti.gov/comp/knowledge.htm.In addition there are a number of initiatives which will assist in the creation and development of manufacturing companies—Regional Capital Venture Funds; a Phoenix Fund, the UK High Technology Fund and the Innovative High Growth Start Up Initiative which will be open to companies across the whole of the North West. As part of the Government's response to the financing problems of SMEs, we have introduced the new Enterprise Grant scheme. It is proposed that this will cover 64 per cent. of the population in the north-west.We are also consulting Regional Development Agencies on the potential for the development of Regional Centres for Manufacturing Excellence and Productivity.Ministers have regular discussions on regional matters. As my hon. Friend is aware, I am due to be in the region on 2 June to meet him and my hon. Friends the Members for Rossendale and Darwen (Janet Anderson) and for Hyndburn (Mr. Pope).

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many regulations have been repealed by his Department since May 1997; and what estimate he has made of the resulting cost savings. [123302]

[holding answer 23 May 2000]: My Department revoked seven regulations between May 1997 and the end of March this year. In most cases the effects were cost neutral. In the period between May 1995 and May 1997 only four regulators were revoked. These were cost neutral.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects to submit an application to the European Commission for the approval of £25 million of regional selective assistance for the proposed new Marconi site at Ansty; and if he will make a statement. [123307]

[holding answer 23 May 2000]: The Government's offer of Regional Selective Assistance for this high quality project is, like any such offer, subject to the rules governing state aids. Individual notification of the project to the European Commission will not be required.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) if he will list opinion research projects undertaken on behalf of his Department in the financial year 1999–2000, broken down into (a) focus group research, (b) quantitative surveys and (c) other market research surveys; and if he will list in each case where and when the results were published; [123308]

Surveys involving an element of opinion gathering carried out during the 1999–2000 financial year
Title	Purpose
Regular surveys
Census of hospital-treated firework injuries	Advertising campaign evaluation
Survey of gas suppliers	Quantitative research
EMIC user satisfaction questionnaire	Customer satisfaction
Business information security survey	Programme evaluation
Tracking study on business support needs	Customer satisfaction
Benchmarking and awareness tracking (EMRS)	Programme evaluation
Subtotal (6)
Ad-hoc Surveys
Survey of school science teachers	Programme research
Evaluation of the Renewable Energy Programme in the UK	Programme evaluation
Survey of small firms awareness, knowledge and access to information on individual employment Rights	Programme evaluation
Market research into the introduction of automated payroll service	Programme evaluation
Supply and availability of facilities to manufacturing bio	Market research
Measurement, requirements, awareness and practices of SMEs	Programme research
UK business potential for virtual reality	Programme research/state of industry
Central Accounting Unit Customer Survey	Customer satisfaction
Assessment of centres of expertise	Programme research/state of Industry
Evaluation of small firms publications	Programme evaluation
New minimum wage ethnic campaign	Programme evaluation
British trade international branding customer survey	Programme evaluation
EuroPlanner evaluation	Customer satisfaction
Evaluation of the Link Programme on hydrocarbon reservoirs	Programme evaluation
Update of unwanted computer equipment: A guide to re-use	Campaign evaluation
Survey of local authority enforcement of the Working Time Regulations	Programme evaluation
Subtotal (16)

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the impact of the Queen's Awards to Industry. [123547]

[holding answer 24 May 2000]: The Queen's Awards for Export, Technological and Environmental Achievement (formerly The Queen's Award for Industry) were reviewed in 1999 by a Committee under the chairmanship of HRH The Prince of Wales. The Review Committee made 16 key recommendations including a new generic title, "The Queen's Awards for Enterprise", with broader criteria for the three categories: International Trade, Innovation, and Environmental Achievement. The Committee also recommended further work to define criteria for a Queen's Award in the field of sustainable development to be incorporated into the Awards in 2001. The Committee's recommendations were accepted in full by Her Majesty The Queen and the Prime Minister in September 1999.

[holding answers 23 May 2000]: (i) The following table lists all surveys carried out by the DTI and it's agencies in the financial year 1999–2000, which involved an element of opinion research, and which are subject to survey control. All of the surveys listed are considered to contain an element of opinion research, but it is not possible to break these down further into Focus Group, Quantitative and other sub-divisions with any accuracy. Details of where and when results have been published can be provided only at disproportionate cost.(ii) The total cost to the department for all surveys carried out in the financial year 1999–2000 containing an element of opinion research was about £578,000.The Review commissioned market research into perceptions of the Queen's Awards among a structured sample of businesses across a wide range of sectors of business activity. Almost 90 per cent. of all respondents said that British business continued to attach importance to the Queen's Awards; over 90 per cent. of organisations said that people employed in Award winning units continued to be enthusiastic about the Awards and that the Awards provided recognition of outstanding achievement; 74 per cent. of respondents said that the Queen's Awards were the most prestigious awards for achievement in the UK economy; and 78 per cent. of Award winners said that the Awards provided an incentive to outstanding achievement.Since the Awards were first introduced in 1966, a total of 45,534 applications have been submitted with a total of 4,282 applicants being granted a Queen's Award. Each year many previous Award winners reapply because of the highly positive effect on their marketing of the use of the Queen's Awards emblem on their products, stationery and advertising material. They also cite the enhanced morale and team spirit among their staff which flows from the company winning such a prestigious accolade.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will estimate the ratio of (a) sales and (b) profit to Departmental grant under the SMART and SPUR schemes in each year since the inception of the schemes. [123537]

[holding answer 24 May 2000]: The data are not available to provide all the information requested. However, an evaluation of SMART in 1991 forecasted a grant:profits ratio of 9:20 resulting from awards made in 1988. A second evaluation of SMART in 1994 calculated a grant:sales ratio of 1:6. An evaluation of SPUR in 1994 concluded that it was too early to assess the grant:profit ratio, given that SPUR had only started in 1991. A further evaluation of Smart is planned for later this year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which Middle East countries have informed him of their support for Turkey's planned Ilisu dam project. [123797]

No Middle East countries have notified us that they support the project.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent assessment he has made of the impact of the proposed Ilisu dam on the built heritage in the area to be inundated. [123826]

We are currently awaiting the updated Environmental Impact Assessment Report, which is expected to cover, among other issues, the impact on heritage, and the Turkish plans for mitigating this.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry against what environmental consideration the Ilisu dam will be assessed in relation to ECGD support. [123775]

Merger referred	Date referred
BA/CityFlyer	January 1999
Johnston Press/Portsmouth & Sunderland Newspapers	February 1999
News Communications and Media/Portsmouth and Sunderland Newspapers	February 1999
Newsquest/Portsmouth and Sunderland Newspapers	February 1999
Air Products/DeVilbiss Medequip	February 1999
Hepworth/Naylor Industries	March 1999
Trinity/Minor Group	March 1999
RIM /Mirror Group	March 1999
NTL/Newcastle United	April 1999
Whitbread/Allied Domecq	July 1999
Alanod Aluminium/Metalloxyd	July 1999
Universal Foods/Pointing Holdings	August 1999
CHC Helicopter Corporation/Helicopter Services Group	September 1999
NTL/CWC	November 1999
Vivendi/BSkyB	November 1999
Newsquest/News Communications and Media	December 1999
Johnston Press/News Communications and Media	December 1999

ECGD support for Ilisu will be assessed on the basis of the updated Environmental Impact Assessment Report, which will be reviewed in the light of internationally accepted standards.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what evidence he has of smuggled petroleum products being offered to petrol retailers in the North West of England since 1999. [122946]

[holding answer 24 May 2000]: There is no substantiated evidence of smuggled products being offered to petrol retailers in the North West of England.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the size of the road transportation retail fuel market in England and Wales for (a) diesel and (b) petrol in (i) 1998 and (ii) 1999. [122945]

[holding answer 24 May 2000]: Retail sales for all types of petrol in England and Wales were 19,662 thousand tonnes in 1998 and 19,444 thousand tonnes in 1999. Retail sales for automotive diesel (DERV) were 6,018 thousand tonnes in 1998 and 6,329 thousand tonnes in 1999. These figures exclude direct deliveries to commercial customers. The 1999 data are provisional.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he plans to appoint a new Director General of the Office of Fair Trading. [123751]

A successor to John Bridgeman as Director General of Fair Trading is currently being recruited through open competition. My intention is to appoint someone to take over when John Bridgeman's term ends on 30 September 2000.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the cases where he has referred mergers to the Competition Commission (a) on the advice of and (b) against the advice of the Director General of the Office of Fair Trading. [123782]

The table lists all the merger cases that I have referred to the Competition Commission.The Director General of Fair Trading (DGFT) does not advise on newspaper mergers. With the exception of NTL/CWC, all other references were made in accordance with the advice of the DGFT.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) if he will make a statement on the (a) role, (b) size and (c) powers of the board he is proposing for the Office of Fair Trading; [123750](2) when he plans to introduce legislation to change the structure of the Office of Fair Trading. [123749]

I have proposed that a new Authority for the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) should be established to increase the breadth of experience and expertise guiding the OFT's work. Recent legislation including the Competition Act 1998 has increased the regulator's powers significantly. The role of the new Authority will be to work under the chairmanship of the Director General of Fair Trading to promote effective and competitive markets which benefit consumers. The Authority will have a minimum of five members. The Authority will have the powers currently vested in the Director General of Fair Trading. We will introduce legislation to create an Authority when parliamentary time allows.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what his Department's policy is on vertical integration in relation to competition matters; and if he will make a statement. [123637]

I examine each merger case that comes before me on its own merits. I reach my decision in the light of the Director General of Fair Trading's advice.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what assessment his Department has made of the views expressed by the OFT in November 1999, concerning further vertical integration of BUPA's private healthcare activities; and if he will make a statement; [123636](2) what assessment he has made of the risks posed by vertical integration in the private healthcare sector in respect of

An assessment of the private medical insurance (PMI) and private medical services (PMS) market was made by the Office of Fair Trading (OFT), which under UK competition law in the first instance has the responsibility to investigate allegations of anti-competitive behaviour and possible abuses of a dominant position.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the number of companies in Wales which are not paying the minimum wage. [123935]

The Government have asked the Low Pay Commission to assess the impact of the minimum wage. Their Second Report, published on 15 February, said early indications were that the vast majority of businesses throughout the UK were meeting their obligations to pay the national minimum wage and that the Inland Revenue had made a successful start to enforcement. As at the end of April 2000, minimum wage compliance offices have dealt with 204 cases of suspected underpayment of the national minimum wage in Wales.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he will announce his decision on ICI Chemicals and Polymers Ltd.'s proposal to build a combined heat and power station at Runcorn, Cheshire. [124315]