To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the business plan of the Driving Standards Agency concerning its future policy on test centre closures; if he will list, by region, the test centres targeted for closure; and what the timetable is for such closures.[125588]

The Driving Standards Agency's Business Plan for 2000–01 announced targets for the disposal of all vacant space over a five-year period. The target for 2000–01 is a 48 per cent. reduction, which should save fee payers about £145,000 annually. Closures of individual test centres will be considered on their merits and with regard to local circumstances.The Agency has consulted on the closure of the following driving test centres in the Wales and Western Area:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 5 June 2000, Official Report, column 59W, on RMS St. Helena, for how long RMS St. Helena was made available for service during the Falklands conflict; and for how many days it was in the war zone.[125592]

RMS St. Helena was made available for Royal Navy charter between May and September 1982 but did not leave the UK until 13 June 1982. The ship was in the war zone for 17 days from 26 June 1982 to 12 July 1982 which was the end of the qualifying period.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many civilians served on RMS St. Helena during the Falklands conflict; of these how many were from (a) St. Helena, (b) the Falklands, (c) the United Kingdom and (d) elsewhere; and how many have been awarded the South Atlantic Medal.[125593]

Approximately 32 civilians served on RMS St. Helena at the time of the Falklands War. Of these, 21 were from St Helena, none from the Falklands, 11 were from the United Kingdom and none from elsewhere. None of these people have been awarded the South Atlantic Medal.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what action he has taken to reduce the number of deaths on North Yorkshire's roads.[125872]

This Government are committed to further improvements in road safety. We launched a new road safety strategy in March this year, and we are providing substantial extra resources for Local Transport Plans.In the Local Transport Capital Settlement for 2000–01, North Yorkshire County Council (NYCC) received £8.5m as a block allocation, an increase of 58 per cent. over 1999–2000. This increase will allow NYCC to place additional emphasis on local safety schemes during the current financial year.We have also in the region commissioned two safety studies which will investigate trunk road safety problems, one between Bramham and Barton on the Al and the other between Scotch Corner and Penrith on the A66. Details of these studies, together with other planned trunk road safety schemes, are outlined in the letter from the Acting Chief Executive of the Highways Agency to the hon. Member, 29 February 2000,

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many accidents involving one or more vehicles occurred on the stretch of the A21 between the intersections with the B2079 and B2099 in each of the last five years, setting out in each case whether personal injury occurred.[125735]

The numbers of personal injury accidents on this stretch of road is shown for the last five years for which figures are available.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 8 June 2000, Official Report, column 312W, what representations he has received from local authorities and others concerning the effectiveness of powers under section 59(b) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 in penalising the depositing of waste by unauthorised campers.[125772]

I am not aware of any representations on the effectiveness of these powers.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what steps he is taking to evaluate new approaches to allocating social housing, as proposed in the Housing Green Paper; and if he will make a statement;[126013](2) what recent guidance he has given to local authorities on dealing with categories of applicants who have not traditionally applied for local authority accommodation; and if he will make a statement.[126017]

In April, we published a Housing Green Paper, "Quality and choice: A Decent Home For All". This included our proposals for modernising policies that affect people's opportunities to access social housing. The Housing Green Paper set out proposals to give applicants for social housing a greater say over where they live. Local authorities will be encouraged to develop lettings systems which provide applicants with much more information about available housing, allowing them to make decisions about their housing options. People who may not have traditionally applied for social housing will be able to apply for vacant properties but we will want to ensure that priority goes to people in the greatest housing need. However, in some areas, local authorities may wish to implement local lettings plans to tackle social problems on particular estates. This may involve giving priority to people who would help to create more sustainable communities or to provide housing for key public sector workers.Responses to the Housing Green Paper have been invited by 31 July 2000. Following the consultation period, the Government will invite local authorities to pilot customer-focused schemes. This will include the need to test the impact of local lettings plans. All the pilot schemes will be carefully evaluated. The Government will also issue a revised version of the Code of Guidance on lettings and homelessness advising local authorities how they can implement choice-based lettings under the current legislative framework.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if the definition of homelessness contained in the Housing Act 1996 will be used in future housing legislation; and if he will make a statement.[126016]

The Housing Green Paper, which was issued for consultation on 4 April, includes proposals for strengthening the protection available to homeless people. The Government intend to take forward these proposals in the light of responses to the Green Paper. There are no present plans to change the statutory definition of homelessness.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to review the system of landing slot allocations at major UK airports.[126201]

Slot allocation is governed by EC Regulation 95/93. At airports where demand for slots significantly exceeds supply, they are allocated by an independent slot co-ordinator, using criteria set out in the Regulation, in international guidelines, and in any local rules. There are currently four such airports in the UK: London Heathrow, London Gatwick, London Stansted and Manchester. We are awaiting proposals from the Commission for reform of EC 95/93.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment his Department made, prior to the publication of the Waste Strategy 2000: England and Wales (Command Paper 4693), of the experiences in other countries of landfill mining, with particular reference to Germany; and if he will make a statement.[126633]

[holding answer 19 June 2000]: UK landfill practices differ from most other countries. The mixing of hazardous and non-hazardous waste is more common in UK landfill sites, and they contain more moisture due to wet landfill operating systems. There would be significant engineering problems in drying excavated waste, some of which would be hazardous. The Environment Agency has therefore advised that landfill mining has limited potential in the UK.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what was the (a) itinerary, (b) cost and (c) purpose of his visit to (i) Nigeria and (ii) Sierra Leone in the week beginning 12 June.[126547]

[holding answer 19 June 2000]: I visited Nigeria and Sierra Leone at the request of the Prime Minister from 11–15 June in order to enhance bilateral relations, encourage UK business and thank the service men and women leaving Sierra Leone as well as visiting those who have just arrived.I visited Abuja, Lagos, Kano and Freetown. In Nigeria I was accompanied by a business team and met the President, Vice-President and other Ministers as well as religious leaders, NGOs and British and Nigerian business leaders.In Sierra Leone I met the President, Vice-President and Foreign Secretary and the Mayor and other civic leaders of Freetown. I also visited HMS Ocean and met service men and women from the Royal Marines, the Royal Navy, the Royal Naval Reserve and 2 Royal Anglian, who are providing the Short Term Training Team, as well as members of other armed services.The cost of my visit to Nigeria was approximately £5,500. For security reasons I flew to Sierra Leone with the RAF. The cost was approximately £24,000.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate the Government have made of the cost to public funds of implementing their proposals on access to the countryside, including start-up costs and operational costs.[126863]

[holding answer 19 June 2000]: Placing monetary values on the cost of the Government's proposals for creating a new statutory right of access to open countryside well in advance of such a right coming into force is inevitably subject to a degree of uncertainty. The Government have undertaken a Regulatory Impact Assessment which suggests the additional annual costs to the public sector, for which monetarised values have been derived, to be in the order of £2 million to £3 million a year, with one-off costs of about £6 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what account local authorities are obliged to take of public health concerns when determining planning applications for telecommunications masts.[126986]

Health considerations and public concern can in principle be material considerations in determining applications for planning permission and prior approval. Whether such matters are material in a particular case is ultimately a matter for the courts. It is for the decision-maker (usually the local planning authority) to determine what weight to attach to such considerations in any particular case. In doing so, authorities may have regard to the report of the Independent Expert Group on Mobile Phones published on 11 May.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what discussions he has had with the Scottish Executive on their advice to local authorities with respect to planning applications for telecommunications masts.[126988]

My officials regularly discuss aspects of telecommunications development with officials from the Scottish Executive. They have, in particular, held discussions about the range of actions being taken forward in response to the Stewart report's recommendations on planning.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what guidance he has given to local authorities with respect to determining planning applications for telecommunications masts; and if he will make a statement. [126987]

Government planning policy for telecommunications is set out in Planning Policy Guidance note 8 (revised): Telecommunications, and the Department's Circular 4/99, "Planning for Telecommunications". In addition, a letter was sent to all Council leaders on 23 July 1999, providing advice about the health aspects of telecommunications masts.In its response to the report of the Independent Expert Group on Mobile Phones, issued on 11 May 2000 and placed in the Libraries of both Houses, the Government said that they were minded to introduce a requirement for an application for full planning permission for all new telecommunications masts, but would need to consult widely before doing so, including on the principle and precise scope of any new arrangements. A copy of the response was sent to all Chief Planning Officers on 11 May.We aim to issue a consultation document in the summer, with a view to being able to introduce revised procedures and guidance by the end of the year. In the meantime, Local Planning Authorities should continue to deal with planning applications for telecommunications on the basis of the current legislative arrangements and policy guidance.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps the Government are taking to enable local authorities to meet the set-up costs for intensive recycling. [126469]

Funding for local authorities is being considered as part of the current spending review, alongside all the Government's spending pressures. The outcome of the review will be announced by the end of July.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland at what time and on what date the RUC Special Branch's Tasking and Co-ordinating Group was informed by any branch of the security forces or services of security operations associated with incidents in the Forfar Street area of Belfast on 9 September 1987, the Newington Street area of Belfast on 16 May 1988, the Waterville area of Belfast on 23 September 1988 and the Forterllian Drive area of Belfast on 12 February 1989.[114593]

My hon. Friend refers to the following:The incident that occurred in Forfar Street area on 9 September 1987. I have assumed he is referring to the murder of Patrick Hamill on 8 September 1987. The details of the incident were referred to the Royal Ulster Constabulary's Tasking and Co-ordinating Group at 17.55 hrs on 8 September 1987;The incident that occurred in the Newington Street area on 16 May 1988. I have assumed he is referring to the murder of Mr. Terence McDade on 10 May 1988. The details of the incident were referred to the Royal Ulster Constabulary's Tasking and Co-ordinating Group at 22.39 hrs on 10 May 1988;The incident that occurred on 23 September 1988. An exact time of when the incident was referred to the Royal Ulster Constabulary's Tasking and Co-ordinating Group is not available, but police were informed at 04.32 hrs on 23 September 1988;The incident that occurred in the Forterllian area on 12 February 1989. I have assumed he is referring to the murder of Mr. Patrick Finucane at Fortwilliam Drive. The details of the incident were referred to the Royal Ulster Constabulary's Tasking and Co-ordinating Group at 19.41 hrs on 12 February 1989.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on (a) the effectiveness of his Department's no-smoking policy and (b) the proportion of his Department's offices that do not allow smoking.[125150]

The NIO has a well established policy on smoking. A complete ban on smoking has operated effectively in the Department since 1995. This policy is supported by participation in the national no-smoking day campaign and a series of health awareness events where staff who smoke are offered practical advice and information on how to stop.Smoking is not permitted in any NIO offices apart from designated smoking rooms.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what arrangements have been made for the appointment of a new Police Authority for Northern Ireland to succeed the present Authority whose term of office expires on 28 June.[127323]

The Police Authority has a vital task to perform in securing the maintenance of an effective and efficient police force. It also has a very important role to play in continuing to enhance the relationship between the police and the public it serves in the period before the planned Policing Board takes over from the Authority.I have therefore appointed the current Chairman, Vice-Chairman and 16 members of the Police Authority for Northern Ireland to serve from 29 June 2000 for a further three years (as required by statute) or until the Policing Board takes over from them, probably at the end of March 2001. I have also appointed four new members and in making those appointments I have, as required by the Police (NI) Act 1998, consulted the 26 local district councils. In addition, and in accordance with the guidelines issued by Dame Rennie Fritchie, the Commissioner for Public Appointments, applications for appointment were invited from other individuals. As a result, the Authority widely represents the community and will provide a necessary measure of continuity in the period leading to establishment of the Policing Board.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much financial assistance will be available to fund organic conversion in the current financial year.[127017]

We expect to spend £12 million on aid for conversion under the Organic Farming Scheme in financial year 2000–01.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food which European Union countries provide continuous financial support to farmers after the conversion process to organic farming has been completed. [127019]

The hon. Member may like to refer to the table of statistics (page 51 of the Minutes of Evidence) on this matter included in the Report of the Inquiry on "Organic Farming and the European Union" undertaken by the House of Lords European Communities Committee (Sub-Committee D) in Session 1998–99 (HL Paper 93).

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what percentage of agricultural land is certified organic and in conversion in (a) Austria, (b) Denmark, (c) Finland, (d) France, (e) Sweden and (f) the United Kingdom.[127016]

In respect of organic areas in other EU member states, the hon. Member may like to refer to the table of statistics (page 49 of the Minutes of Evidence) on this matter included in the Report of the Inquiry on "Organic Farming and the European Union" undertaken by the House of Lords European Communities Committee (Sub-Committee D) in Session 1998-99 (HL Paper 93). Currently, around 3 per cent. of agricultural land in the UK is certified organic or in conversion.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to the answer of 11 April 2000, Official Report,column 134W, on organic food, what additional financial assistance he will make available to farmers wishing to convert to organic farming, in addition to free conversion advice and on-farms visits by the Organic Conversion Information Service, before the Organic Farming Scheme reopens. [127025]

We have no plans to provide funding additional to the £12 million we already plan to spend in 2000–01 under the Organic Farming Scheme. The OFS will reopen to new applications early in 2001 following the review of the scheme, which is currently taking place.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress the Environment Agency has made in implementing its action plan in response to the independent report on the Easter 1998 floods; and if he will make a statement on the serious flooding in Todmorden and other areas of northern England in early June.[127295]

The Chairman of the Environment Agency has provided me with a report of progress up to the end of April 2000. Copies are being placed in the House Libraries.I am pleased to note that the major work programme set out in the Action Plan is almost complete.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what performance targets have been set in respect of the employment service in Scotland's aims and objectives in 2000–01.[127225]

The aim of the Employment Service is to help people without jobs find work and employers to fill their vacancies. The Employment Service in Scotland makes a significant contribution to an efficient and flexible labour market and to meeting the Government's objectives of high and stable employment and growth, opportunity for all and social inclusion. Its main priority is to help people faced with particular difficulties in the labour market move from welfare and economic inactivity into sustainable employment. It is taking forward an ambitious programme of technological change and business improvement and is preparing for the merger with the Benefits Agency in 2001. I am announcing today the targets we have set for the Employment Service in Scotland for 2000–01, which relate to its four key objectives.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list the applications made by her Department to the Captial Modernisation Fund, giving the (a) intended recipients, (b) financial value and (c) outcome of each application.[126450]

DFID has made one application to the Capital Modernisation Fund, which was unsuccessful. This was to meet the costs of a proposed project to implement overseas Information Communications Technology centres to serve three African communities. The cost was estimated at £850,000.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list (a) the total number of publications issued by her Department each year since 1997, (b) how many of each were printed and (c) the total cost of each publication.[126448]

As part of our commitment to openness, as well as to raising awareness and understanding of development issues, we now make publicly available all our strategy documents, including all country and

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list (a) the cost and (b) number of copies printed of the Departmental report in (i) 1999 (ii) 1998 and (iii) 2000.[126443]

The total cost and number of copies printed of the Departmental Report are as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list (a) the number of project completion reports received from Zimbabwe since 1 May 1997 and (b) each project that has met its objective.[126452]

Since 1 May 1997, 10 Zimbabwe Project Completion Reports have been received. Of these, eight (80 per cent.) were judged to have either fully or largely achieved their objectives. The following table lists the reports received, indicates their overall achievement rating and describes the rating system used.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if the police project in Zimbabwe funded by her Department will meet its objective as set out in her Department's Public Service Agreement.[126457]

A formal review of the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) Organisational Development Project in October 1999 showed that it was successful in contributing to DFID's objectives as set out in the Public Service Agreement. The review concluded that the project was enabling organisational change to take place in ZRP to the benefit of the people of Zimbabwe, including the poorest.However, since February the ZRP has not enforced the law or upheld their own charter in relation to the attacks on the opposition and the land invasions. I have therefore decided that we will continue to support police activities which directly relate to confidence building with civil society, community based organisations and human rights groups. I have also suspended the supply of Land Rovers.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) pursuant to her answer of 12 June 2000, Official Report, columns 442–43W, on land acquisition in Zimbabwe, for what reasons she did not list (a) the number, acreage and cost of farms acquired, (b) the person to whom the farms were transferred and (c) the acreage which remains in production; [127092](2) pursuant to her answer of 12 June 2000,

As I have made clear, producing the information required would involve disproportionate cost.I am happy to place a copy of the 1988 ODA evaluation report in the House of Commons Library.The 1993 study on land reform was prepared by the office of the Zimbabwean Comptroller and Auditor General.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many staff and at what

Our programmes in these countries are small or non-existent and administered by Embassy staff, who are appointed by the FCO, and Staff Appointed In Country (SAIC). Details of staff and their grades for each country are as follows:

• DS9 (also covers programme in Kyrgyzstan)—70 per cent.
• DS7 (also covers programme in Kyrgyzstan)—15 per cent.
• SAIC Grade III—100 per cent.

• DS9–15 per cent.
• SAIC II—100 per cent.

• DS9–15 per cent.
• SAIC III—100 per cent.

• No staff employed

• SAIC Grade II—100 per cent.
• SAIC Grade III—100 per cent.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list the total numbers of locally employed staff employed by her Department on (a)1 May 1997 and (b) 1 May 2000.[126445]

Figures for locally employed staff, now known as Staff Appointed in Country (SAIC), were not collected centrally in 1997. The figure for SAIC employed by the Department on 1 May 2000 was 410.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list (a) the total number and (b) the total cost of job advertisements placed by her Department since 1 May 1997.[126446]

The total number of advertisements and their associated costs in each of the financial years since 1997 are as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what proportion of her Department's bilateral country programme aid for Sierra Leone is spent by the Government of Sierra Leone. [126458]

Currently, we are providing £10 million of programme aid to the Government of Sierra Leone for two purposes: to meet the Government's debt service obligations to the international financial institutions (IFIs); and to help pay the salaries of public sector teachers and health workers, and the police. The programme aid grant is administered on behalf of the Government of Sierra Leone by Crown Agents Financial Services Ltd. (CASL). CASL make current debt service payments direct to the IFIs on behalf of the Government of Sierra Leone as they become due. CASL reimburses the Government of Sierra Leone for prior expenditure on public sector salaries, and then carries out independent audit checks on payroll to guard against fraudulent claims.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list the total cost of refurbishment and redecoration of her Department's ministerial offices since 1 May 1997.[126444]

Since 1997 our Department has spent the following amounts on the refurbishment of ministerial offices, which included replacement furniture and redecoration:

• 1997: £7,978
• 1998: £7,376
• 1999: Nil.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what aid her Department is providing to Eastern European countries under the Know How Fund; and if she will make a statement.[125229]

Over the last five years bilateral programmes of financial and technical assistance to Eastern European countries have totalled around £80 million a year. This assistance is channelled directly to Governments, and also to other institutions including local governments, non-governmental and civil society institutions. In addition the UK provided assistance through its contributions to multilateral institutions including the European Community and World Bank.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the nature is of the investigation the Meat Hygiene Service is planning into official veterinary surgeon supervision at the Mead Webber plant since 10 April; and what the timescale is for the investigation.[122042]

[holding answer 15 May 2000]:I understand from the Food Standards Agency that it is arranging for Mead Webber Ltd.'s complaints against the Meat Hygiene Service (MHS) to be investigated independently. The investigation will be carried out as quickly as possible.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many Official Veterinary Surgeons have attended the Mead Webber abattoir since the Meat Hygiene Service took over responsibility for supervising it; and when Mr. Yogaratnam was appointed as OVS to the plant.[122056]

[holding answer 15 May 2000]: I am advised by the Food Standards Agency that, owing to a fire at a central Government filestore in 1998, the Meat Hygiene Service (MHS) is unable to provide a categorical statement as to how many official veterinary surgeons (OVSs) have attended the Mead Webber abattoir since it took over responsibility for supervising these premises.However, available records show that 19 OVSs have attended the Mead Webber abattoir since the MHS took over responsibility for supervising it. Two of these have acted as the lead OVSs throughout this period, and as such have been responsible for the production of HAS scores for the plant. The other 17 have been used to provide locum cover.Mr. Yogaratnam was appointed as OVS to the Mead Webber plant in April 1997.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many staff from his Department were seconded to private sector companies in (a) May 1997 to April 1998, (b) May 1998 to April 1999 and (c) May 1999 to April 2000; and if he will list in each case the companies to which staff were sent, the names and ranks of the staff involved and the duration of the secondment.[123424]

[holding answer 24 May 2000]: Interchange is a key component of the reform agenda. The Modernising Government White Paper committed us to increasing interchange, in particular by bringing in more people on secondment and sending more of our people out. Secondments and attachments are part of the Interchange Initiative which promotes the exchange of people and good practice between the Civil Service and other organisations. All sectors of the economy are involved: voluntary, education, health, public and private.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he has had, and with whom, about giving greater support to nursing staff working in accident and emergency units at NHS hospitals in the Greater London area to combat violence towards staff from the general public.[125767]

We are determined to ensure that National Health Service staff who spend their lives caring for others are not rewarded with intimidation and violence. Violence to staff is unacceptable and will not be tolerated."Working Together", the national human resources strategic framework for the NHS, sets out a number of HR targets and priorities for NHS employers. One of these concerns violence to staff. NHS employers have been asked to put in place systems for the recording and monitoring of violent incidents and to meet targets to reduce these by 20 per cent. by 2001 and 30 per cent. by 2003. Regional offices of the NHS Executive are asked to monitor progress against these targets. The London Regional Office through its performance management processes will be measuring progress against these targets in 2001.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the answer of 17 May 2000, Official Report, column 129W, on cosmetic surgery, what assessment he has made of the operation of regulations pertaining to advertising of cosmetic surgery; and what contact has taken place between his Department and the Department of Trade and Industry on the same.[126320]

Our response to the Health Committee's Fifth Report on the regulation of private and other independent healthcare made it clear that we agreed that normal advertising controls alone may not be sufficient in the field of cosmetic surgery to ensure that the information that patients receive is of an acceptable standard. Officials in the Department of Health and the Department of Trade and Industry worked together on this issue. The Care Standards Bill, as drafted, will allow us to introduce regulations covering standards of information given to patients in the independent sector, including promotional material.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has (1) to improve awareness among health care professionals of the risk factors and symptoms of diabetes; [126513](2) to raise awareness of diabetes among the public, with particular reference to those in higher-risk groups. [126512]

We recognise the importance of raising awareness about the risk factors and symptoms of diabetes among both the public and health care professionals. Ministers have asked the United Kingdom National Screening Committee, which advises Government on all aspects of screening policy, to consider whether there is a case for the introduction of a targeted screening programme for Type 2 diabetes and, if so, how this could most effectively be achieved. The conclusions of the Committee will inform the work of the Expert Reference Group for the National Service Framework for diabetes in England.The aims of the diabetes National Service Framework are to improve health outcomes for people with diabetes by raising the quality of services and reducing variations between them. Its scope includes prevention, identification and management of diabetes and its complications.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what methods his Department will use to identify the estimated one million people living undiagnosed with diabetes;[126427](2) what plans he has to move resources within the NHS from treating the complications of diabetes towards prevention and early diagnosis;[126397](3) what plans he has to reduce the incidence of diabetic complications through prevention, early diagnosis and intensive management of the condition.[126418]

We recognise the importance of detecting diabetes as early as possible. Ministers have asked the United Kingdom National Screening Committee, which advises Government on all aspects of screening policy, to consider whether there is a case for the introduction of a targeted screening programme for Type 2 diabetes and, if so, how this could most effectively be achieved. The conclusions of the Committee will inform the work of the Expert Reference Group for the National Service Framework for Diabetes in England that we announced last year. The scope of the Framework includes prevention, identification and management of diabetes and its complications.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the costs to his Department of switching from the pound to the euro.[126399]

Should the United Kingdom decide to join the euro, the cost of the changeover would depend on the detailed approach taken to a changeover.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the total cost of the (a) adolescent and child psychiatry service, (b) adolescent and child psychology service, (c) community psychiatric nursing service, (d) cervical cytology screening programme and (e) accident and emergency service in (i) 1970, (ii) 1980, (iii) 1990 and (iv) 1999. [126824]

[holding answer 19 June 2000]: Information on the costs of the community psychiatric nurses is not collected centrally. Information is not collected separately on the child and adolescent psychology service.The NHS Cervical Screening Programme began in 1988. The National Audit Office estimated in 1998 that the Programme costs around £132 million per year, around £34 per woman screened

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement about the targets he has set health authorities for coronary care services.[126111]

The National Service Framework for Coronary Heart Disease was published on 6 March. The Framework sets 12 national standards for improved prevention, diagnosis and treatment, and goals to secure fair access to high quality services over the 10-year period. This will include building up capacity, increasing the specialist workforce, improving prevention and creating faster access to services.Last October we announced a £50 million investment for the expansion of cardiac surgery. Last month we announced a further investment of £50 million, to be used to establish rapid access chest pain clinics, to speed up ambulance response times, to purchase defibrillators and to reduce waiting times for treatment.Regional offices are working with their health authorities and National Health Service trusts to ensure that these resources are targeted most effectively to increase the use of marginal capacity and to meet the greatest need within their region. A top priority for Dr. Roger Boyle, the National Director for Heart Disease, is to look with regional offices and with cardiac centres at the initial plans to ensure that we make the very best use of all the available skills and capacity.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the hon. Member for West Worcestershire will receive an answer to his letters of 23 March, 5 May and 2 June, relating to the case of his constituent, Ms Wendy Hands of Ashbrooke, Church Walk, Upton-upon-Severn, addressed to the Minister for Public Health.[126982]

I shall let the hon. Member have a reply to his letters as soon as possible.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many children were adopted in the UK in 1999. [126267]

I have been asked to reply.The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Director of the Office for National Statistics. I have asked him to reply.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much additional funding will be made available to (a) schools and (b) the Health Service in Wales as a result of specific measures announced in the Budget.[118188]

There will be an increase of £49.6 million in the Welsh Block as a consequence of the increase in education funding for 2000–01 and of £1,299 million as a consequence of the increase in health funding for 2000–01 to 2003–04, £99 million of which will fall in 2000–01. The allocation of these funds is entirely a matter for the Assembly.The Assembly Finance Secretary has announced allocations of £20.6 million to schools delegated budgets to raise standards of teaching and learning; £26.8 million for capital investments in schools; £2.2 million for teacher recruitment measures; and £40 million for joint working between NHS, Social Services, voluntary organisations and others to deal with all-year emergency pressures on the NHS and for the NHS to reduce waiting times. She has said that the rest of the increase will be allocated to health; discussions are ongoing on how best to allocate it to other identified priority areas.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has had with the First Secretary concerning the impact of (a) hard and (b) soft drugs upon Deeside; and if he will make a statement.[126518]

My right hon. Friend and I have regular discussions with the First Secretary and other Assembly Secretaries about a range of topics including drug abuse.On 25 May, Jane Hutt, the Assembly Secretary for Health and Social Services, launched "Tackling Substance Misuse in Wales: A Partnership Approach", copies of which have been placed in the Library of the House. New developments in North Wales include the appointment by the Community Drug and Alcohol Service of two young people's workers and a specialist midwife.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has had with the First Secretary concerning the provision of improved rural bus services; and if he will make a statement.[126973]

I have regular discussions with the First Secretary on a range of topics including rural bus services.I am pleased that the Assembly has decided to continue the Bus Subsidy Grant scheme in the current financial year. Of the £5 million budget, £3 million is reserved solely for boosting the number and range of services in rural areas. The balance is available for use at local authorities' discretion—which can include yet further support to rural services. These figures are in addition to approximately £10 million a year which authorities already spend on subsidising non-commercial local bus services throughout their areas.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has had with the First Secretary concerning new policies to assist rural Wales; and if he will make a statement.[126972]

I have regular discussions with the First Secretary about a range of matters including the needs of rural Wales.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current year's budget and staff establishment of the Defence Intelligence and Security Centre. [125201]

[holding answer 12 June 2000]: The cash allocation for Financial Year 2000–01 is £18.448 million. The Defence Intelligence and Security Centre's current staff establishment is as follows: The Assembly is addressing the specific needs of rural Wales and its communities in the development of several new policies and programmes. These include the Communities First programme; Local Regeneration Fund; Objective 1 Single Programming Document; Objective 2 and Transitional Funding for many parts of the rural East; and the Rural Development Plan for Wales.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on (a) the effectiveness of his Department' s no-smoking policy and (b) the proportion of his Department's offices that do not allow smoking.[125158]

My Department's aim, in line with wider Government policy, is to create a non-smoking working environment in so far as this reflects the wishes of staff. Detailed guidance on this policy is promulgated in the "Departmental Health and Safety Handbook, Joint Service Publication 375", a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House.The implementation of departmental policy on smoking, in common with other health and safety matters, is a local line management responsibility, and consequently, no central record is held on the proportion of the Department's offices that do not allow smoking. This information could, therefore, be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the (a) Army, (b) Navy, (c) RAF and (d) TA exercises cancelled for budgetary reasons in (i) 1999–2000 and (ii) 2000–01.[125707]

The following table sets out the Royal Navy exercises cancelled for budgetary reasons in the specified period.No Army, RAF or TA exercises have been cancelled for budgetary reasons during 1999–2000.No Navy, Army, RAF or TA exercises planned to take place during financial year 2000–01 have been cancelled (or are expected to be cancelled) for budgetary reasons.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what the cost has been to date of the BOWMAN project;[125783](2) what alternatives to the BOWMAN project he has

This is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Defence Procurement Agency. I have asked the Chief Executive to write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the inclusion of DERA West Freugh in the DERA public-private partnership.[125950]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 17 April 2000, Official Report, columns 366–67W, to my hon. Friend for Huddersfield (Mr. Sheerman), which outlined our proposals for the DERA public private partnership. These are described in more detail in the consultation document, a copy of which can be found in the Library of the House and on the internet at www.mod.uk/commercial/ppp/dera/. Under current proposals, we envisage that the capabilities provided by West Freugh will form part of the NewDERA company. It is, therefore, likely that West Freugh would transfer to the private sector.Our proposals are designated to secure a long-term future for both NewDERA and those elements to be retained within the Ministry of Defence. The new freedoms proposed for NewDERA will open up a range of commercial opportunities not previously available and help secure jobs in the longer term.No final decisions on the PPP will be taken until all the inputs received during the consultation exercise, which ended on 9 June, have been fully analysed. We hope to be in a position to make an announcement on the way ahead for DERA before the summer recess.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reasons army doctors during the recent deployment in Sierra Leone and Senegal did not carry sufficient supplies of (a) mefloquine and (b) savarine; and if he will make a statement.[126055]

[holding answer 15 June 20001: The normal anti-malarial drugs for Sierra Leone are mefloquine, or chloroquine and proguanil tablets for aircrew. Supplies of these drugs were readily available. The reasons why some personnel deployed to Sierra Leone without supplies of mefloquine are being investigated by the Ministry of Defence. The French anti-malarial drug savarine, which is a combination of chloroquine and proguanil, was acquired locally as an interim measure and distributed within 24 hours of personnel arriving in theatre. Personnel who had deployed without supplies of mefloquine were transferred to mefloquine within four days of arrival in theatre.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his policy on medical preparedness of (a) the spearhead battalions of the Rapid Reaction Corps and (b) other armed forces personnel in all three Services, with particular reference to Sierra Leone; and if he will make a statement.[126056]

[holding answer 15 June 2000]: It is the Ministry of Defence's policy that all Service personnel should be up to date with routine vaccinations and that members of the Joint Rapid Reaction Forces should be up to date with certain additional vaccinations, depending on their degree of readiness. Personnel deploying to high risk areas should receive further vaccinations specific to the risks they face. Other aspects of medical preparedness will depend on the role of the deploying forces and the geographical location to which they are deploying.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what records are kept (a) centrally, (b) in theatre and (c) on individual service personnel relating to (i) inoculations, (ii) prophylactic drugs and (iii) other medications. [126053]

[holding answer 15 June 2000]: Details of inoculations, prescribed prophylactic drugs and other medications are recorded in individuals' personal medical records known as Form F Med 4. These records are normally held by the individuals' parent units. Information may also be held on medical centre computer systems. Any medical treatment administered to personnel in-theatre is recorded for each individual in an operational medical record (Form F Med 965). This information is incorporated into F Med 4s on return. In addition, the Army records the nature and date of vaccinations given to individuals centrally on personnel information systems. A central record has been maintained on vaccinations given to personnel while deployed on Operation Palliser.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will enforce the agreement between the Ministry of Defence and Hodge (Eastern) Ltd. on recreational land at Caversfield in Oxfordshire.[126663]

The former Ministry of Defence land at Caversfield, sold to Hodge (Eastern) Limited in December 1996, included two areas of 'bare' land, which the clawback clause in the transfer refers to as

open space either for playing fields or agricultural purposes.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when a Minister from his Department last visited RAF Feltwell.[126648]

[holding answer 19 June 2000]: Since 1 May 1997 no Minister of this Department has visited RAF Feltwell.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much has been spent by his Department on advertising in each year since May 1997.[125695]

This information is not required in the requested format, for internal MOD management purposes and, as a result, is not collected centrally. It could, therefore, be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, related cost information is as set out.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence in respect of DA-Notice No. 4, how many (a) sites and (b) individuals have been identified where disclosure of locations and addresses would not be in the public interest.[126876]

There are under 10 sites where disclosure of location would not be in the public interest. The locations of other sites covered by DA-Notice No. 4 are not concealed, although their security arrangements are classified.Each Ministry involved in security and counter-terrorist measures holds its own list of high threat personnel addresses. That for the Ministry of Defence contains those of 22 serving military personnel, 46 retired military personnel, three civil servants and four Ministers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what steps have been taken to restore stocks of precision guided and non-precision guided munitions back to pre-operation levels following Operation Allied Force; and if he will make a statement;[124207]

[holding answer 5 June 2000] [pursuant to his reply, 13 June 2000, c. 559–60W]: The unit price of Paveway II is some £18,000 (VAT exclusive) and not £8,000 as previously stated.

To ask the Prime Minister how many (a) special advisers and (b) officials are authorised to respond to correspondence on his behalf.[126506]

The nature and origin of correspondence will determine whether a Minister, official or special adviser replies.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will introduce a code for Ministers and special advisers on contacts with the Press.[126502]

Guidance for Ministers on contacts with the Press is set out in the "Ministerial Code". Guidance for all civil servants, including special advisers, on contacts with the Press is set out in "Guidance on the Work of the Government Information Service".

To ask the Prime Minister what methods are used to resolve conflicts of interest within the terms and conditions of employment in the case of special advisers invested with power to direct civil servants.[126297]

Advice on handling conflicts of interests for all civil servants is set out in the "Civil Service Management Code". For Special Advisers, this is supplemented by guidance set out in the "Model Contract for Special Advisers".

To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the visits undertaken to the United States by (a) Ministers and (b) special advisers since 1 May 1997.[126549]

Detailed information in the form requested is not held centrally. A list of Cabinet Ministers' visits overseas costing more than £500, and information on spend by all Ministers on travel overseas for the period 2 May 1997 to 31 March 1999 was placed in the Library of the House on 17 June 1999, Official Report, columns 196–97W. This included the costs of accompanying special advisers. A similar list and information on spend for the financial year 1999–2000 is currently being assembled and will be published shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on progress with his discussions with the banking industry concerning charges levied on holocaust survivors in respect of conversion of pensions from deutschmarks to sterling.[122449]

Earlier this year I approached a number of major banks about their charging policy in respect of regular payments made by the German Government to survivors of the Holocaust living in the UK.I am pleased that all the major banks have agreed to waive their charges relating to holocaust payments in future. The Department of Trade and Industry will seek the help of the German authorities to identify those who might benefit from this arrangement, but in the meantime potential beneficiaries should make themselves known to one of the following banks: Bank of Scotland; Barclays; HSBC; Lloyds TSB and Royal Bank of Scotland/National Westminster.These banks have agreed to waive future charges. Because of the large number of other payments the banks process, those who receive Holocaust-related payments from the German Government through a bank account should contact one of these banks to benefit from this new arrangement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the (a) organisations and companies consulted in 1998–99 as part of the consultation on the EU directive on distance selling and (b) those organisations and companies that responded to this consultation.[125951]

Consultations on the implementation of the Directive 97/7/EC on the Protection of Consumers in respect of Distance Contracts (the Distance Selling Directive) were conducted in June 1998 and November 1999. A total of 576 organisations, including consumer and business organisations, individual businesses, and local authority trading standards departments, were consulted. In addition, there have been over 350 downloadings of the second consultation document from the DTI website at www.dti.gov.uk/CACP/ca/distance/A list of the organisations, businesses and individuals consulted in 1998–99 and those that responded to this consultation has been made available for inspection in the Libraries of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the organisations and companies consulted in 1998–99 as part of the consultation on the EU directive on distance selling, indicating the organisations and companies that responded to the consultation.[126894]

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave him today to his question above.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how he defines the difference between responsible risk takers and culpable bankrupts for the purpose of implementing the recommendations of the Insolvency Working Party; and if he will estimate the proportion of each.[126035]

I am satisfied that there is a clear distinction to be drawn between individuals who are dishonest or whose conduct with regard to their creditors is irresponsible and those whose use of credit and treatment of their creditors is conscientious and above board. Examples of irresponsible conduct would be an individual continuing to trade and incur credit at a time when he or she knew themselves to be insolvent; or an individual consumer obtaining credit without any regard to his ability to repay the debts incurred. Information available from Official Receivers indicates that the very great majority of individuals subject to bankruptcy are neither dishonest nor irresponsible.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on what basis he estimates that seven to 12 per cent. of bankrupts are culpable; and what relationship these percentages have to the findings of the Insolvency Service's Study of Business Failures in January and February 1999. [126040]

An estimate of the number of bankrupts who may have been guilty of misconduct in relation to their creditors can be made by reference to the number of bankrupts reported by Official Receivers as having, prima facie, committed criminal offences; the number of bankrupts identified by Official Receivers as having committed criminal offences but in respect of whose affairs further investigation or prosecution would not, in the public interest, be warranted; and information obtained from Official Receivers as in their survey of Business Failures.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many (a) individuals and (b) firms are regulated by each of the bodies responsible for regulating the insolvency industry. [126484]

The Insolvency authorising bodies are responsible for the authorisation of individuals as insolvency practitioners. Firms cannot be authorised. The numbers of individuals concerned are:

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action his Department has taken over the report issued by Mr. Justice Ferris and his proposals for setting the fees of insolvency practitioners. [126486]

Following receipt of the first report by Mr. Justice Ferris, The Association of Business Recovery Professionals (formerly the Society of Practitioners of Insolvency) issued preliminary guidance to its members on the possible format of application for fee approval. Further guidance is awaiting publication of the final report of the Ferns Working Party and the issue of a revised Statement of Insolvency Practice on remuneration of office holders. My Department is represented on the Working Party and is continuing to monitor the position.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what inquiries his Department has made into (a) receiverships and (b) liquidations started more than 10 years ago but still not finalised; and how many liquidators come into this category. [126479]

This information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many complaints about the conduct of the insolvency practitioners have been lodged with each of the bodies responsible for regulating the insolvency industry since 1997.[126485]

The number of complaints about insolvency practitioners received between 1 January 1997 and 31 December 1999 for each authorising body is as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will set up an independent investigation into the administration and liquidation of (a) J. S. Bass & Co. Limited and (b) Exchange Travel.[126476]

No. However, as I indicated in my recent letter to my hon. Friend, officials are in touch with the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales concerning the handling of the complaint about the insolvency practitioners in the Bass case.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will place the comments received on the Insolvency Working Party's interim and final reports in the Library.[126482]

The Insolvency Regulation Working Party was established by the insolvency authorising bodies and comments made to it were a matter for the Working Party and not for Ministers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the receiverships and liquidations begun more than 20 years ago and still not finalised.[126480]

This information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will introduce legislation under which the receivers and liquidators will be required to owe a duty of care to all the stakeholders affected by their decisions.[126481]

I have no plans to do so.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action his Department has taken over the receivership of Heritage plc.[126490]

The complaint about the receivers of Heritage plc was a matter for the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, the authorising body of the practitioners concerned. The Institute found there to be no prima facie case of misconduct.In view of continuing concerns expressed by the complainant, officials have been in touch with the Institute and are in the process of carrying out a review of the handling of the complaint.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the (a) Atlantic Computers, (b) Coloroll, (c) Barlow Clowes and (d) Stone Platt receiverships and liquidations began; when they were finalised; what fees have been collected by the insolvency practitioners; and if he will make a statement.[126478]

The information requested is not immediately available. I will write to my hon. Friend about this matter and place a copy of that letter in the Libraries of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proposals he has for expanding the supply of insolvency practitioners.[126489]

The requirements to be fit and proper and to meet certain criteria as to education, practical training and experience are designed to ensure that authorisation will only be granted to individuals who can demonstrate a high standard of integrity and professionalism.There are presently 1,834 authorised insolvency practitioners of whom some 1,270 are currently understood to take appointments.The Insolvency Bill presently before Parliament provides for the Secretary of State to have the additional power to recognise a body so that it may authorise individuals to take appointments but only in the capacity of nominee or supervisor of a voluntary arrangement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action (a) he and (b) the Recognised Professional Bodies have taken against the insolvency practitioners whose actions were highlighted in Channel 4's "Dispatches" programme broadcast on 19 June 1996.[126477]

The relevant Recognised Professional Bodies were made aware of the programme at the time and I have no reason to doubt that any matters arising which related to the conduct of authorised insolvency practitioners would have been fully and thoroughly investigated by the bodies concerned.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will propose legislation which will prevent auditors acting as consultants for their audit clients.[126487]

We have no plans to do so.It is central to the role of the company auditor that he or she is independent in mind and in appearance. The provision of non-audit services to audit clients can call into question the auditor's independence of the entities being reported on. It will be appropriate for the new Ethics Standards Board, when it is established as part of the new independent Framework of Regulation for the accountancy profession, to look at the ethical rules and guidance in this area.The law in the UK already requires that the bodies responsible for supervising the work of company auditors have adequate rules to ensure that the auditor does not have an interest likely to conflict with the proper conduct of the audit. The current professional guidance, which forms part of those rules, acknowledges that the provision of non-audit services may give rise to threats to independence. The auditor is required to put in place appropriate safeguards and to be able to demonstrate that he or she has reasonably concluded that those safeguards are adequate. Otherwise the auditor either cannot take on the audit engagement or cannot provide the non-audit service.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the outcome of the additional round of Science Enterprise Challenge will be announced. [126744]

I have today announced that four additional enterprise centres are to be established at the universities of Durham, Oxford, Ulster and Warwick.These centres will join the existing network of eight centres I announced in September 1999. These centres will foster the commercialisation of research and new ideas, will help stimulate scientific entrepreneurialism and will incorporate the teaching of enterprise into science and engineering curricula in universities.The quality of the proposals demonstrates the wealth of talent and creativity within our science and engineering community, and the enthusiasm for innovative thinking and entrepreneurialism.I very much look forward to seeing these centres develop. I am confident that they will make a significant contribution to the enterprise and innovation culture in the UK.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list (a) the date when the inspectors were appointed to investigate the affairs of the business dealings of the late Robert Maxwell, (b) the cost of the investigation to date, (c) the likely date of publication, (d) representations received from any party which objects to the publication of the inspectors' report and (e) the reasons for the delay in publishing the report.[126488]

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to him on 5 May 1999, Official Report, column 416W. The cost to date of the inspection into the affairs and membership of Mirror Group Newspapers is £7,676,952. The inspectors have not yet reported to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State. I am not aware that any representations have been received which object to the publication of the inspectors' report.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list those occupations which involve grooming and other aspects of personal care which are not regulated.[126415]

The grooming and personal care occupations cover a number of different industries, all of which are governed by general legislation on the supply of goods and services. There are no sector specific regulations.Following publication of the Consumer White Paper "Modern markets: confident consumers", we continue to encourage sectors to develop effective codes of practice. These can raise standards of consumer protection and help inform consumers of the level of service they can expect and of methods of redress should the service not meet their expectations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will place in the Library the letter of warning from the European Commission regarding the incorrect transposition of the Parental Leave Directive and the response from the Government to this letter.[126286]

Correspondence between the European Commission and the UK Government on the implementation of the Parental Leave Directive is confidential.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many applications have been received from United Kingdom companies for ECGD cover concerned with projects relating to the Sudan oil industry in each of the last three years.[126659]

One application has been received in 1997 but no ECGD cover was provided.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if Sudan is accepted for ECGD cover. [126660]

No.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the British companies which have been banned from World bank contracts because of fraud and corruption in the last five years.[127076]

The companies and individuals debarred by the World bank for infringing its procurement guidelines and which are listed on the World bank's website are as follows:

• Pradeep S. Nair of London, United Kingdom
• Crown Sakura Ltd. of London, United Kingdom
• Chase Berkeley Cavendish Ltd. of London, United Kingdom
• Amani B. P. Ltd. of London, United Kingdom
• Case Technology Ltd. of Watford, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom
• Labh Singh Gill of Warwickshire, United Kingdom
• Pradeep Menon of London, United Kingdom
• Shivshanker Pre Nair of London, United Kingdom
• Agricultural Development Services Ltd. of London, United Kingdom
• Ana Exports Ltd. of London, United Kingdom
• Consultants for International Development plc of London, United Kingdom
• Cord Construction Ltd. of Isle of Man, United Kingdom
• Cybertek International of London, United Kingdom
• Drill Technologies & Co. of London, United Kingdom
• Economic Consulting Group of London, United Kingdom
• Emkay Enterprises Ltd. of London, United Kingdom
• Engineering Projects International of London, United Kingdom
• First Fuji Ltd. of Isle of Man, United Kingdom
• Flair Developments Ltd. of Isle of Man, United Kingdom
• Infotek & Co. of London, United Kingdom
• International Development Projects Services of London, United Kingdom
• Inter-Russ Ltd. of Isle of Man, United Kingdom
• Labh Universal of Coventry, United Kingdom
• Medirite Group Ltd. of Middlesex, United Kingdom
• Mirna International of Berkshire, United Kingdom
• Norsk-Agro Ltd. of London, United Kingdom
• Resource Development Ltd. of Isle of Man, United Kingdom
• Ribalco International of Berkshire, United Kingdom
• Shivind Ltd. of Isle of Man, United Kingdom
• Thrust Technologies & Co. of London, United Kingdom
• Times International & Co. of London, United Kingdom
• United Basel Ltd. of Isle of Man, United Kingdom
• West End Associates Ltd. of Isle of Man, United Kingdom
• Agric-Canada of United Kingdom
• Overseas Project Services Ltd. of United Kingdom.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many British companies have been prosecuted in the UK for bribing foreign officials in the last five years. [127077]

Official records do not distinguish between prosecutions of companies or individuals; nor do they distinguish between prosecutions in respect of domestic or foreign officials. The figures for prosecutions in England and Wales under the Prevention of Corruption Acts 1889 to 1916 for the last five years for which figures are currently available are as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Advertising Standards Authority.[126329]