To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many of the written parliamentary questions tabled to his Department between 19 October 1999 and 20 April have not received substantive answers, excluding those not answered citing disproportionate cost, stating that the information is (a) not available, (b) not held centrally, (c) not held in the form requested and (d) citing commercial or other confidentiality. [131234]

[holding answer 20 July 2000]: Of replies to parliamentary questions tabled to the Department during the period citing commercial or other confidentiality, I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 29 June 2000, Official Report, column 575W.In addition, five replies stated that the information was not available, 27 replies stated that information was not held centrally and 20 replies stated that the information was not held in the form requested.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what discussions he has had with travel companies about the differential costs of holidays that encourage holiday absences in schools. [131468]

[holding answer 20 July 2000]: We are engaged in on-going discussions with the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) to see what we can do together to reduce the number of family holidays taken during term time.As a result of earlier discussions, ABTA wrote to all its members on 15 December 1999, asking them to remind parents of the implications of taking holidays in term time. ABTA members were also requested to remind parents of the importance of discussing their plans with the school before making any firm commitment.Our recent guidance to all schools, "Social Inclusion: Pupil Support" underlines this approach. The guidance makes clear that while parents should not normally take children out of school for holidays, each request for absence should be considered individually, taking into account factors such as the time of the year proposed for the holiday and the overall attendance pattern of the pupil.We will continue to talk to ABTA about the issue of family holidays during school term time, and to get the message across to parents that they must consider the impact of absence from school during term time on children's education.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what money has been provided for Public-Private Partnership initiatives to all South West local education authorities in each of the last two years. [131581]

In 1998–99, local education authorities in the South West bid successfully for a total of £4.12 million New Deal for Schools funding to support Public-Private Partnerships. In 1999–2000, South West local education authorities received £3.28 million from the same source for Public-Private Partnerships, plus £14.2 million in PFI credits for a schools Private Finance Initiative scheme.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list those schools that have received money for Public-Private Partnership initiatives in each of the last two years. [131606]

120 and twenty schools in 1998–99, and 230 schools in 1999–2000, are benefiting from projects supported by the Private Finance Initiative. In addition, we are supporting a number of Public-Private Partnership schemes through the New Deal for Schools, in which the following schools are benefiting:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will set out the terms of contract for external assessors under the teachers' performance-related pay scheme, with particular reference to the length of term of such contracts; and what additional costs will be incurred as a result of the High Court judgment of 14 July. [131752]

Cambridge Education Associates (CEA) have been contracted by DfEE to recruit, deploy and quality assure external assessors. In turn CEA contract with individuals to work as threshold assessors. The terms of this contract are a matter between the individual and CEA. The length of the contract depends on the individual assessor's availability to work for CEA. It is not yet clear what, if any, additional costs will be incurred as a result of the High Court Judgment of the 14 July.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what estimate he has made of the costs which will be incurred if the School Teachers' Pay Review Body recommends changes to the standards set for teachers to meet the threshold requirements under performance-related pay and all applications have to be re-submitted. [131753]

The Department has asked the School Teacher Review Body to start the process of consulting formally on the threshold standards. At this time it is not possible to say whether the Review Body will recommend any changes. Therefore the Department cannot estimate the costs that will be incurred at this stage.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what advice he received prior to the recent court ruling on teachers' performance-related pay concerning how the (a) determination and (b) imposition of threshold standards under the teachers' performance-related pay scheme should be dealt with, with particular reference to his statutory powers. [131974]

My right hon. Friend receives advice as appropriate before he takes decisions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will publish the HMI report on the Sheffield Education Action Zone. [131754]

Ofsted intends to publish reports on those Education Action Zones which are formally inspected. A report on the Education Action Zones in Sheffield will be published if these zones are selected for inspection.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what customer service level for employers target will be set for the Employment Service in 2000–01. [132477]

In a first for executive agencies, I have set the Employment Service a customer service target for employers. ES is committed to working closely with employers to help them to fill their vacancies and in doing so encourage them to open up more opportunities to disadvantaged jobseekers. The setting of such a target reinforces the ES's commitment to achieving the highest standards of customer service. In addition to the challenging goals that I have already announced, the setting of a stretching but realistic target level for employer service will help the ES to achieve the high level of performance that I expect of it in 2000–01.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the humanitarian impact is of the drought affecting south and west Asia; and how the Government are responding. [132627]

The drought is part of a regional system affecting a belt of countries across west and south Asia. Its effect on the population is particularly acute in southern Afghanistan, western India, southern and central Pakistan, and to a lesser extent parts of Iran and Iraq. Water shortages have been exacerbated in many areas by poor management of limited sources. The principal effects of the drought include reduced crop production, sharp drops in household income, death of livestock and weakening of remaining herds, and health problems associated with reduced food intake and scarcity of water.We have committed over £3.2 million for relief projects in response to the drought regionally. This support has been channelled through the World Food Programme for food distribution and food for work programmes; and through NGOs for schemes that target the more remote and vulnerable communities unlikely to be benefiting from Government schemes. We have also seconded a five-person team of specialists to support the UN in their assessment of the drought in Pakistan. We are monitoring the situation carefully and currently considering what further assistance to provide.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what reports she has received of delays in the payment of pensions to former civil servants in Zimbabwe; if she will make representations to the Government of Zimbabwe calling for the timely payment of such pensions; and if she will make a statement. [131971]

I have been asked to reply.We are well aware of the delays in the payment of pensions by the Zimbabwe Government. We believe that the main cause for this has been a lack of foreign exchange. The British High Commission in Harare has lobbied the Pensions Department and the Reserve Bank. We will continue to press for timely payment.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what complaints have been made by the Defence Clothing and Textiles Agency to Feuchter in relation to the fitness for purpose of the Mark II combat gloves they have delivered; [129727](2) what experience Feuchter had in the manufacture of gloves prior to being awarded the contract for manufacture of the Mark II combat glove in 1998; [129726](3) how many Mark III combat gloves were manufactured in the UK by Feuchter; and how many Mark II combat gloves manufactured

[holding answer 7 July 2000]: The pre-production sample of Mark II Combat Gloves provided by Feuchter was found to be unacceptable. Feuchter took the necessary action to improve their production process and, as a result, all gloves subsequently delivered under the terms of the contract proved to be acceptable. No gloves manufactured by Feuchter were therefore formally rejected under the terms of the contract. Following inspection by DCTA staff, a total of 3,260 pairs of Mark II Combat Gloves manufactured by other companies were, however, rejected as being unfit for purpose.Feuchter held five other DCTA contracts for the manufacture of mittens (extreme cold weather—inners, outers and liners), prior to the award of the contact for the manufacture of Mark II Combat Gloves in 1998. For the duration of the contract for the manufacture of the Mark II Combat Gloves, Feuchter sub-contracted the manufacturing operation to Zova in Poland; no gloves were manufactured in the UK by Feuchter. During their visits to view the manufacturing operation, DCTA staff were satisfied that Zova possessed the necessary capabilities for the manufacture of leather gloves, although a requirement for some additional training on the table cutting operation was identified. Some 47,000 pairs of gloves had been manufactured by Zova before this additional training was provided. No other leather working was being undertaken at the time of the visits, as Zova's manufacturing capacity was fully committed to fulfilling DCTA contracts.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his oral answer of 3 July 2000, Official Report, column 11, concerning the proportion of the Army's clothing orders which go to British firms, what percentage of these orders was made up by clothing manufactured in the United Kingdom. [130441]

[holding answer 13 July 2000]: The Defence Clothing and Textiles Agency (DCTA) procures clothing for all three Armed Services, with many items common to all three. To separate the cost of clothing destined specifically for the Army could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, during the financial year 1999–2000, of the 83 per cent. of clothing contracts placed by the DCTA with British-based companies, and referred to in my answer of 3 July 2000, Official Report, column 11, 48.9 per cent. by value will be manufactured in the United Kingdom.

Signed deals (up to 10 July 2000)	Start date	Value (£ million)	Clawback
Support vehicles for the RAF	February 1996	35	No
Support vehicles in Germany	February 1996	52	No
Logistics Information Systems Army	March 1996	30	No
Provision of storage facilities	April 1996	30	No
TAFMIS (Army Training Management IS)	August 1996	14	No
Materials Handling Services	September 1996	8	No
Defence Helicopter Flying School	November 1996	118	No
Hazardous Stores Information Systems	February 1997	1	No
Armymail	April 1997	11	No
Defence Fixed Telecommunications Service	July 1997	70	No
Medium Support Helicopter Training Facility	October 1997	100	Yes
Armed Forces Personnel Administration Agency IT Systems	November 1997	150	No
Hawk Aircraft Simulator Training Facility	December 1997	10	Yes
Tidworth Garrison Water and Sewerage	February 1998	6	No
Joint Services Command and Staff College	June 1998	68	No
RAF Lossiemouth Family Quarters	June 1998	24	No
Attack Helicopter Training Service	July 1998	165	Yes
Yeovilton Family Quarters	July 1998	8	No
RAF Lyneham Sewage Treatment	August 1998	5	No
RAF Mail	November 1998	12	No
Fylingdales Power Supply	December 1998	7	No
Fire Fighting Training at NRTA	December 1998	35	Yes
Light Aircraft Flying Task	January 1999	30	No
RAF Cosford/Shawbury Family Quarters	March 1999	13	Yes
Tornado GR4 Training Service	June 1999	65	Yes
Central Scotland Family Quarters	August 1999	13	No
Army Foundation College	February 2000	33	Yes
Main Building Refurbishment	May 2000	350	Yes
Tri-Service Materials Handling	May 2000	32	No
Naval Communications	June 2000	55	Yes

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the average period of time is between the completion of a full business case and signing of the final contracts for private finance initiative contracts in his Department; and if he will make a statement. [130276]

[holding answer 13 July 2000]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 18 July 2000, Official Report, column 101W.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many foreign military personnel and from which countries have been involved in military training in the UK during the last 12 months. [131251]

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the PFI contracts entered into by his Department, indicating (a) their dates of commencement, (b) their value, (c) if they have been subject to refinancing and (d) if his Department has a clawback entitlement to share in savings arising from refinancing. [129046]

Details of the PFI deals signed by the Ministry of Defence up to 10 July 2000 are shown. To date one of these has involved refinancing. Nine of the contracts have provision for sharing benefits shown in the form of clawback. In other contracts, alternative means of protecting the Department's interests are available.

The numbers of foreign military personnel who have been involved in military training in the UK in the year to 31 March 2000 are listed. This is the latest period for which statistics are available. They include all overseas military personnel trained by UK military personnel, or contracted civilian instructors, on UK military establishments or ships (or Royal Fleet Auxiliary ships). They also include some overseas military personnel studying at academic institutions in the UK.

Country	Total
Albania	7
Algeria	11
Antigua	2
Argentina	7
Armenia	1

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 29 June 2000, Official Report, column 593W, on the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency Base, West Freugh, if he will specify the employees included under the item 16 others. [131461]

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many reservists in total have served in Former Yugoslavia since 1992. [129933]

The number of Royal Navy and Royal Marines reservists who have served in the Former Yugoslavia since 1992 is 49. In addition, seven officers have served in support of operations in the Former Yugoslavia. They have been employed in the UK, elsewhere in Europe, and at sea.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) men and (b) women who are serving in the armed forces are under the age of 18 years. [130774]

As at 1 June 2000, there were 5,228 men and 569 women under the age of 18 in the armed forces.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many British troops are serving in (a) Kosovo and (b) Sierra Leone; how many of these are from the Teesside region; and if he will make a statement. [130497]

[holding answer 17 July 2000]: We currently have some 3,300 troops committed to operations in Kosovo and around 500 committed to operations in Sierra Leone. Information on the geographical origin of individual troops involved in these operations is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the occasions in the last 10 years when the conclusions of the president of an RAF board of inquiry have been over-ruled by reviewing officers. [131256]

[holding answer 18 July 2000]: I will write to my hon. Friend and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will preserve all files and papers relating to the procurement and introduction of the FADEC system for the Chinook Mk2. [131257]

[holding answer 18 July 2000]: We are not aware that any files or papers relating to the procurement and introduction of the FADEC system for the Chinook Mk2 have been destroyed and have no intention of destroying them while public interest in this matter continues. However work on the FADEC system for the Chinook Mk2 began in 1988 and it is possible that some of the earlier papers have been destroyed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the establishment of pilots is in the RAF; how many are in post; and if he will make a statement. [131408]

The position on 1 June 2000 was as follows:

	Requirement1	Trained strength	Surplus/deficit
Pilots-All Ranks	2,338	2,210	-128
Junior Officer Pilot2	1,496	1,404	-92
1 The requirement figure is the usual baseline against which the RAF measures shortfalls or surpluses and includes non-flying posts for which aircrew experience and knowledge are required. The majority of these non-flying posts require senior officers.
2 Flight Lieutenant (and Squadron Leader specialist aircrew) and below, included in the all ranks total. Junior Officer Pilot is the RAF's most critical manning category.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to review the age of retirement for MOD police. [131406]

My officials are currently reviewing age retirement policy for all departmental employees including the Ministry of Defence Police.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on proposed future uses for RAF Fairford. [131532]

[holding answer 20 July 2000]: There are no plans to change the current status of RAF Fairford.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the proposal to introduce US airforce stealth bombers to RAF Fairford. [131561]

[holding answer 20 July 2000]: The US are examining an operational concept in which in a crisis aircraft would be deployed to forward operating locations. This concept would not involve any permanent stationing of aircraft at these locations, but some equipment would be pre-positioned. However, the concept is still being studied and no request to use RAF Fairford, or any other UK base, has yet been made. RAF Fairford has of course been used as a standby operating location in the past, most recently during the Kosovo campaign.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress is being made towards preparation of the Communications White Paper. [132481]

As announced on 17 May 2000, Official Report, columns 130–31W, we invited a number of experts to prepare papers which they have now presented at a seminar held on 3 July. We asked them to examine a range of policy issues against some guiding objectives for the Communications White Paper. These are:

(i) The creation of the most dynamic market possible for communications services, especially in the light of the growth of the e-economy;

(ii) Ensuring universal access to diverse services of the highest quality;

(iii) Guarding consumer interests—protection, choice and value for money.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) if he will make a statement on the tendering process for consultants supplying business information to farmers under the Action Plan for Farming; [131806](2) if he will estimate how many farmers will benefit from the business advice announced in the Action Plan for Farming; and if he will make a statement; [131804](3) if he will estimate the cost per consultant of supplying advice to farmers through the Small Business Service; [131807](4) how many consultants will be employed by the Small Business Service to provide advice specifically to farmers as a result of the announcement in the Action Plan for Farming. [131805]

MAFF's budget for the Farm Business Advice Service in 2000–01 should enable up to 5,000 farmers and growers in England to be helped. It will be for Business Links, which will deliver the service, to decide in the light of local circumstances how many consultants to engage, at what rates and by what tendering process.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many rural businesses have received advice from the Small Business Service in the last 12 months. [131902]

The Small Business Service (SBS) provides advice to all SMEs but data collected on users do not differentiate between rural and urban location.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if the Office of Fair Trading will publish its

Name	Company
Industry
Brownell, Norman	Commercial Director, Swan Hunter (Tyneside) Ltd.
Bunney, Andrew	Managing Director Shipbuilding, Vosper Thorneycroft (UK) Ltd.
Cameron, Sam	Vice President, SSA/Marketing Director BAE Systems
Dickinson, Alan	Chairman, Pallion Engineering
Dunnett, Alan	Chief Executive & Managing Director Ferguson Marine Plc
Granger, Nick	Director, SSA
Harrison, Terry	President Shipbuilders and Shiprepairers Association
Jeffrey, David	Director BMEC
Kroese, Jaap	Chairman Swan Hunter Shipyards Ltd.
Leggetter, Rod	Group Managing Director (Operations) BAE Systems
MacPherson, Allan	Director of Nuclear Safety BESD International
Martin, Brett	Deputy Chief Executive, Cammell Laird Plc

The Office of Fair Trading is currently considering with the providers of the research data the copyright and confidentiality implications of disclosure of some or all of the information to a complainant.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans the Office of Fair Trading has to meet representatives of Dixons, Compaq and Packard Bell in the next three months in relation to the market for home personal computers. [131683]

The Office of Fair Trading will meet representatives of Dixons, Compaq and Packard Bell in relation to the market for home personal computers, if and when necessary.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if the Office of Fair Trading has met representatives of Dixons, Compaq and Packard Bell in the last three months in relation to the market for home personal computers. [131681]

The Office of Fair Trading has not met representatives of Dixons, Compaq or Packard Bell in the last three months in relation to the market for home personal computers, but has had correspondence with some of these companies.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if the Office of Fair Trading will reopen its inquiry into the competitiveness of the retail market for home personal computers. [131684]

The Office of Fair Trading is actively considering a complaint in this area.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on what date he expects to start paying the recently announced grants to the coal industry. [131821]

As I indicated to the House on 17 April 2000, Official Report, columns 697–712, we expect funds to be made available during the course of this financial year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list those who attended the meeting he held on 13 July to discuss shipbuilding. [131192]

[holding answer 18 July 2000]: Those attending the Shipbuilding Meeting on 13 July were:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 19 April 2000, Official Report, column 582W, how many licence applicants, grant applicants and other data subjects described in his answer the Revenue had obtained personal data about from the London Borough of Waltham Forest; what steps his Department has taken to inform applicants for licences and grants and recipients of payments of this disclosure to the Revenue; and if the arrangements for the London Borough of Waltham Forest apply to all local authorities within London. [129188]

The personal data supplied by the London Borough of Waltham Forest to the Inland Revenue are supplied under legal obligations. These obligations arise from the issue of statutory notices which require the Borough to make returns. The Inland Revenue does not normally disclose information about the returns made by a person or a body. Whether the London Borough of Waltham Forest is prepared to make this information public in response to a direct request is a matter for the Borough.The Inland Revenues does not inform data subjects individually about any disclosure of their personal data. It complies with its obligations under the Data Protection Act 1998 to process personal data fairly and lawfully by publishing a Data Protection Act statement which is widely reproduced on its forms and guidance notes.All London Boroughs are required to produce similar information.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 19 April 2000, Official Report, column 588W, what estimate he has made of total expenditure on the Employment Tax Credit under the illustrative system outlined in the Treasury paper, Supporting Work Through an Employment Tax Credit, including that part which is currently included in the Working Families Tax Credit; and if he will make a statement. [130647]

The illustrative employment tax credit outlined in the Treasury paper "Tackling Poverty and Making Work Pay—Tax Credits for the 21^st Century" includes an estimate of around £300 million a year as the cost of extending support to people without children. This is based on extending the adult credit in the Working Families Tax Credit under certain specified assumptions. These assumptions, and the modelling involved, apply only to people without children.As noted in paragraph 3.22 of the paper, details of eligibility and the relative size of the credits for singles and couples do not have to be the same for parents and non-parents. The precise design parameters are under consideration and will not be finalised until nearer the time of the introduction of the new credits.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will outline the measures taken by his Department to publicise the new Children's Tax Credit in (a) Scotland and (b) the United Kingdom. [130957]

The campaign to publicise the new Children's Tax Credit began on 19 June 2000 and ran throughout both (a) Scotland and (b) the United Kingdom for a total of four weeks. The measures taken comprised national, ethnic and women's press, local radio, and direct mail.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proposals he has to improve the method by which the Working Families Tax Credit is calculated. [130958]

The findings from the current evaluation of the Working Families Tax Credit and the Disabled Person's Tax Credit will inform the design of the employment tax credit and the integrated child credit which will be introduced from 2003.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when (a) he and (b) his Ministers consulted with the Board of Inland Revenue on the Land Settlement Association's compensation arrangements. [131474]

Treasury Ministers have received representations about the raising of tax changes by the Inland Revenue in respect of out of court compensation paid by MAFF to a number of former tenants of the Land Settlement Association. However, Ministers do not intervene in individual cases. The Inland Revenue's independence from Treasury Ministers in the handling of individuals' tax affairs and the application of the tax law must be scrupulously observed.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action he intends to take to monitor the spending by Departments of their capital allocations. [130145]

[holding answer 20 July 2000]: Capital spending is monitored by monthly returns from Departments to the Treasury. In addition, as part of the 2000 Spending Review, each Department has been asked to prepare Departmental Investment Strategies setting out their plans for allocating and managing future investment. These will be published in the autumn.

To ask the Prime Minister what has been the cost of his Office for each year from 1997 to date; and what is the estimated expenditure for 2000–01. [126504]

[holding answer 20 June 2000]: Before coming to office the Government clearly set out its aim to have a strong strategic centre of government.Since May 1997, some of the administrative burdens on my office have greatly increased. For example, extra staff have had to be employed to deal with over 500,000 items of correspondence received by my office in the last year—an 84 per cent. increase over the previous year. This compares with an estimated 25,000 items received annually five years ago.The actual costs of my office were £6.9 million from 1 May 1997 to 31 March 1998; £8.7 million in 1998–99 and £10.4 million in 1999–2000.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he has undertaken a quinquennial review of the Pensions Ombudsman. [132478]

The quinquennial review of the Pensions Ombudsman has been undertaken in accordance with the Government's modernising agenda. Copies of the report have been placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what omissions and ambiguities were found during the systematic review of the social security leaflets conducted between 1996 and 1999; and what changes were made to the leaflets in consequence. [131903]

We have carried out more than one systematic review of Social Security leaflets since 1996.Between 1996–99, the Benefits Agency undertook a wholesale review of its customer information leaflets with the aim of making them much more customer focused. This piece of work involved primary research and continuous product testing, as well as consultation with key stakeholders. The leaflets were redesigned and the information within them laid out differently, but the core information was not altered.In June 1999 a further review was commissioned to identify any erroneous information that needed to be removed or any information which was missing from our leaflets.This exercise was completed in August 1999 and no major amendments were identified. There were a few minor changes made due to a combination of minor omissions and lack of cross-referencing. Revisions and future changes were also identified around JSA leaflets. These future changes being incorporated later in the year.The Benefits Agency review resulted in the roll-out of a new suite of leaflets; fewer in number by a third, better targeted to client groups and easier for customers to negotiate their way around. Full evaluation of these new leaflets is in progress; all the early indications are positive.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the circumstances in which his Department requires insurance companies to divulge redemption values of policies held by claimants. [132022]

A person claiming an income-related benefit may be asked to provide evidence of the value of any capital asset. Depending on the type of asset this may be the face value, the market value or the surrender value. However, evidence would not normally be sought if it was clear that the value would be disregarded. For example, the surrender value of life insurance policies is fully disregarded. No evidence of surrender value would be needed in this case.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what action his Department is taking to ensure that Railtrack's plans for the West Coast Mainline upgrade provide sufficient train paths to make possible an expansion of existing commuter and freight services; and if he will make a statement. [130232]

The Rail Regulator and the Franchising Director are ensuring that the needs of all train operators using the West Coast Main Line (WCML) are met by Railtrack's plans for the provision of train paths. The Rail Regulator has issued an order requiring Railtrack to produce final plans and options for the WCML upgrade. In particular, he is seeking information about the extent to which these plans would meet the capacity commitments which Railtrack gave to the Rail Regulator in April 1998. The Rail Regulator also issued a consultation document on 20 June about reviewing the increased costs associated with the WCML upgrade as part of his periodic review of Railtrack's access charges. He is consulting widely on these costs, which have risen from the original estimate of £2.3 billion to a new figure in the region of £5.85 billion. These figures will be subjected to considerable scrutiny and discussion with the Franchising Director before the Rail Regulator announces his draft conclusions later this month.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what projection he has made of the level of housing investment in 2001–02; what the figure was in 1996–97; and if he will make a statement. [130484]

Capital resources for housing investment in 1996–97 were £2.1 billion. Following the 1998 Comprehensive Spending Review, plans for 2001–02 were £3.1 billion and my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced on Tuesday that housing investment in 2003–04 will be £1.6 billion higher than now. Full details of the new spending plans for housing in 2001–02 to 2003–04 will be announced in the next few days.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the environmental impact of the relative costs of and levels of taxation on fuel products transported by (a) pipeline, (b) rail and (c) road; and if he will make a statement. [130716]

The Government have not undertaken a specific assessment of the environmental impacts or cost implications of the transportation of fuel products by different modes of transport. All fuel products are distributed from the refinery to the final consumer in the UK through a combination of pipeline, rail, road or ship, although the exact modes of transport used vary depending on where the fuel is refined and consumed.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 3 July 2000, Official Report, column 84W, if he will specify the problems with the final trainborne element of the Automatic Train Operation signalling system; and if he will make a statement. [131366]

There are two faults which have developed: stopping inaccuracy and overrunning platforms. Almost all station stops are now to specification. Minor stopping inaccuracy no longer causes significant service delay.The problems with ATO arise from the train failing to register the station properly and overrunning the station platform. Although this creates no safety risk, it causes disruption for customers and the timetable.The Central Line should be fully ATO operational by the end of the year subject to HMRI approval.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list each departmental initiative since May 1997 requiring bids for funding together with the total resources available, the number of successful bids and the proportion this represents of total bids received; and what data he collects on the average expenditure of organisations bidding for funding through each initiative. [131082]

I refer my hon. Friend to my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary's reply of 17 July 2000, Official Report, column 93W.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will introduce legislation to make provision for compensation for loss of business caused by roadworks carried out by highway authorities. [131250]

Highway works ultimately benefit the whole community. Occupies of premises may be entitled to compensation if something is done improperly (for example, the blocking of access without authority) but not otherwise. Businesses have no right in law to any given level of passing trade, and may suffer temporary loss owing to disruption of traffic flows. Trade may fluctuate for a variety of reasons, and accurately assessing the losses directly attributable to works in the highway can be difficult. There is, too, an element of 'windfall' profit and loss: often when one trader suffers a rival business in the neighbourhood stands to gain custom as a direct result of the same works. There are therefore no plans to introduce legislation to create legal liability to compensate anyone for loss of trade when a highway authority properly executes road works under its statutory powers.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what the estimated rate of return on capital is to the contractors under the PFI contracts for roads. [131351]

The internal rates of return for the eight trunk road DBFO projects in England were estimated at the time of contract award to lie between 9.5 and 13.9 per cent.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment. Transport and the Regions, pursuant to the Cabinet Office memorandum of 16 June 1998 to the Select Committee on Public Administration, published in its report on the Government Information and Communication Service, Session 1997–98, HC 770, and using the same methodology, if he will calculate (a) the total cost of his Department's press office, including salary and running costs, in (i) 1998–99, (ii) 1999–2000 and (iii) 2000–01 and the estimated cost for 2001–02 and (b) the total number of people employed in the press office (excluding staff providing general administrative support) in 1999–2000, and the projected estimates for (1) 2000–01 and (2) 2001–02. [130802]

[holding answer 17 July 20001: The costs of the Department's media centre (formerly press office) from 1995–96 are as shown in the table:

	Staff numbers	Total running costs (£ million)
1995–96	36.0	1—
1996–97	26.1	1.09
1997–98	26.3	1.04
1998–99	30.2	1.29
1999–2000	38.3	1.55
2000–01	38.2	1.61
2001–02	37.0	21.61
1 Costs are not available
2 Estimate

The costs (staff salaries only) are consistent with those for 1996–97 and 1997–98 given for the Department, and former Departments of Environment and Transport, in the memorandum dated 16 June 1998 to the Select Committee on Public Administration and published in its report on the Government Information and Communication Service (HC 770) in July 1998.The figures are based on the average staff in post (up to and including 1999–2000) and projected average staff in post for the subsequent years.The increase in staff from 1998–99 to 1999–2000 reflects the filling of vacancies at that time and the need to respond to the recommendations of the Mountfield report on the Government Information and Communication Service (1997).

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on how the planned increase in rail investment will benefit Shrewsbury and Atcham. [131159]

The planned increase in rail investment, provided for in the 10-year Plan for Transport, will enable progress to be made on a number of initiatives of benefit to Shrewsbury and Atcham, for example, modernisation of the West Coast Main Line and the Midland Capacity Study of congestion blackspots in the West Midlands. Improvements in local service patterns will result from changes in franchise boundaries in line with the indicative map of likely franchises published by the Shadow Strategic Rail Authority on 20 June. Improvements in journey quality will result from investment in new rolling stock by Virgin Trains and by operators of local train services. The planned increase in rail investment also involves a continuation of the Rail Passenger Partnership scheme, which provides funding for worthwhile projects put forward by local stakeholders.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he has received concerning the indirect fee proposal regarding the EU Draft Directive on port waste reception facilities; if he intends to support the proposal; and if he will make a statement. [130557]

[holding answer 17 July 2000]: The UK has been involved at every stage of the Directive on port waste reception facilities and strongly supports the principles which it embodies. The European Parliament and the Council, meeting at the Conciliation Committee, agreed the Directive on 28 June.During the negotiation of the Directive, my Department consulted closely with a range of bodies—including those representing the UK shipping, ports and waste industries and environmental non-governmental organisations—on the practicalities of the proposal that ships calling into a port of an EC member state contribute to the costs of waste reception facilities, irrespective of actual use of the facilities. The consensus was that ease of use and meeting the operational needs of the ships regularly using the ports were the key factors. Latterly, I have received representations from the Kommunenes Internasjonale Miljøorganisasjon (KIMO) supporting the principle of a charge being levied irrespective of use. I have also received representations from the North Sea Commission and the Wadden Sea Cooperation which have focused on the manner in which the charge should be calculated.The Directive substantially mirrors current UK port waste management legislation and practice (the merits of which have also been recognised by the International Maritime Organization, which agreed guidelines, earlier this year, which are based on the UK model).

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he plans to invite tenders for the construction of the M6 between Carlisle and the Scottish border. [131410]

As this is an operational matter for the Highways Agency I have asked Peter Nutt, the Acting Chief Executive, to write to my hon. Friend.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what discussions he has had with the Strategic Rail Authority to ensure that, following the new rail franchises affecting services between Cambridge and London, steps will be taken to ensure the facility exists for cross ticketing across the two train operating companies. [131520]

At least one type of ticket between any two points on the network is regulated by the Franchising Director. Regulated tickets must be inter-available, that is for use on the trains of any operator. This does not and will not necessarily apply to unregulated ticket types. Operators may choose to restrict the availability of these tickets in order to offer the passenger the option of a lower fare in return for giving up some flexibility. Where restrictions apply to the use of any tickets, this has to be made clear at the point of sale.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he has received concerning the proposal by Kelda Group to mutualise the assets of the former Yorkshire Water company. [131464]

[holding answer 19 July 2000]: My Department has received several written representations on this proposal from customers and others.The Director General of Water Services issued a public consultation document on the issues raised, inviting comments by 17 July. The Director General has received written representations in response. The proposals were also discussed at a meeting in Leeds on 6 July, arranged by the Yorkshire Customer Service Committee, to which the public were invited, addressed by representatives of Kelda, the proposed Yorkshire Water Mutual, the Drinking Water Inspectorate, the Environment Agency and Ofwat.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what powers he has to stop the Kelda Group from selling the assets of Yorkshire Water. [131466]

[holding answer 19 July 20001: Under the Water Industry Act 1991 the Director General of Water Services has a duty to act in the manner he considers best calculated to secure that the interests of customers are protected. The Director General has powers to modify the conditions of appointment of Yorkshire Water Services as a statutory undertaker by agreement with the company. If agreement cannot be reached between the Director General and the company he can refer the case to the Competition Commission. The Secretary of State can also require the case to be referred to the Competition Commission, which would consider whether modification of the licence were needed in the public interest.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to order Kelda Group to extend the period of consultation over its plans to mutualise the assets of the former Yorkshire Water. [131465]

[holding answer 19 July 2000]: The Director General of Water Services has said that he considers that more consultation with customers is necessary before the proposal by Kelda could go ahead. Following receipt of responses to his earlier consultation paper, he intends to publish a position paper on the issues raised by Kelda's proposal before 31 July, including how best such further consultation should be conducted.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what discussions he has had with the Federation of Master Builders in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement. [131574]

My Department has regular discussions with the Federation of Master Builders, as with other construction trade associations, on a range of policy issues.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 11 July 2000, Official Report, column 505W, if the Government are considering applications for grant aid for track access charges from Freightliner's competitors. [132017]

The Department's Freight Grants Unit is currently considering applications for track access grant from English Welsh and Scottish Railway, and Mendip Rail.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps he has taken to improve the protection of inter-tidal wetlands. [131991]

The Countryside and Rights of Way Bill, currently before Parliament, contains provisions to enhance the protection given to Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs), including those designated for wetland interests in the inter-tidal area. The Bill will provide for, among other things, for a more structured approach to management advice and a new power to refuse consent for damaging activities, the development of management schemes to help combat neglect, the introduction of management notices, increased penalties for deliberate damage, a new court power to order restoration of the damaged special interest, where this is practicable; and a new general offence to apply to damage by any person. In addition, public bodies will be under a statutory duty to further the conservation and enhancement of SSSIs, both in carrying out their operations and exercising their decision-making functions.My Department has also set up a review to evaluate the success of previous statutory and voluntary marine nature conservation measures and to put forward proposals for improving marine nature conservation in England. Among other things, this involves looking at the protection currently afforded to inter-tidal areas. The Review may also inform separate proposals for marine conservation in Wales.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to relax the planning regulations with regard to the establishment of farmers' markets. [131811]

Part 4 of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995 (GPDO) SI 1995 No. 418 grants a general planning permission for the temporary use of land for up to 28 days in any calendar year, subject to a number of restrictions and conditions. In the case of markets, the permitted use is limited to a total of 14 days in recognition of the parking, litter and noise problems that often arise from such uses. We have no current plans to relax these provisions.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 9 May 2000, Official Report, column 360W, concerning fifth freedom rights, for what reason the UK Government have rejected applications from Singapore for fifth freedom transatlantic rights. [131907]

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Chesham and Amersham (Mrs. Gillan) on 13 June 2000, Official Report, column 557W.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 3 July 2000, Official Report, column 83W, if he will provide a breakdown of the cost to date met by his Department and the Government Office for the South-east of distributing copies of draft regional planning guidance for the South-east; and if he will make a statement. [131972]

The costs to date met by my Department were for the initial despatch of draft regional planning guidance for the South-east, from the Department's distribution contractor. The cost incurred by the Government Office for the South-east, covered postal distribution from the Government Office and included a small amount for courier distribution.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if a quinquennial review of the Joint Nature Conservation Committee is due; and if he will make a statement. [132373]

A review of the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) will begin shortly. In accordance with standard practice, the review will begin by examining the functions and structure of JNCC before moving on, if appropriate, to look at performance issues. Detailed terms of reference are being drawn up. I expect the review to be completed by the early summer of 2001.Queries or comments about the review may be made to Roger Pritchard, head of the European Wildlife Division in DETR at Room 907, Tollgate House, Houlton Street, Bristol, BS2 9DJ.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when the detrunking of the A339 through Newbury will be completed. [131904]

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 what assistance will be provided to local councils in England which have had areas classified as having Objective 2 status following the spending review. [131913]

When the guidelines for the Objective 2 programmes were drawn up, it was agreed that any funds provided by the EU would have to be "matched" by corresponding funds drawn from the public and private sector of the member state.In England it was decided that to emphasise the fact that the drawing up and implementing of these programmes rested with the local partnerships, they should be responsible for securing the match funding.This approach to match funding is designed to ensure that there is local commitment to pursue the projects that are to be funded and that an innovative approach is taken to securing the funding.The role of the central Government in the framework of the structural funds is to provide advice, guidance and monitoring. In terms of match funding, its role is to guide partnerships toward the many sources of potential funding, both private and public.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on progress on the distribution to National Bus Company pensioners of the settlement sum paid over last July. [132479]

Distribution of the settlement is the responsibility of the National Bus Company pension trustees. We recognise this is a complex and substantial task but we have made clear to the trustees that we expect it to be completed as quickly as possible.I am pleased to note that interim payments were made in April to 8,000 pensioners who began receiving their Standard Life pension before April 1986 and that there will be interim payments from 1 August for post-1986 Standard Life pensioners who were members of the NBPF or who are widows of BEST or NBPF members.I understand that there will be a court hearing next week which the trustees hope will clear the way for further interim payments to be made as soon as possible.The Government hope that all concerned will do their utmost to remove any remaining obstacles to completion of the distribution without any unnecessary delay. We will remain in close touch with the trustees.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he expects to publish the report on the Financial Management and Policy Review of Rent Assessment Panels in England. [132557]

I have today published a report on a review of Rent Assessment Panels in England, recommending a range of measures for improving the quality and effectiveness of the Panel service.We want to retain the Rent Assessment Panels as independent and expert bodies to deal with fair rent appeals and resolve disputes between leaseholders and landlords. However, there are a number of areas where the Panels, and the committees and tribunals drawn from them, need to improve their performance and make themselves more accessible to parties who use them.The report lays the foundation for raising standards of expertise and ensuring best practice across the Panels. A flexible, more simplified process for all parties and changes to the way in which the Panels are managed and organised will reduce the time taken for decisions to be reached by committees and tribunals. We are looking to implement the report recommendations as soon as possible.Copies of the report have been placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what responses he has received to the consultation papers, "The Local Government Bill 2 Consultative Draft of Proposed Guidance and Regulations on New Constitutions for Councils", and "The Local Government Bill; The Conduct of Referendums and Elections for Directly-Elected Mayors". [132626]

To date we have received 122 written responses to "The Local Government Bill 2^nd Consultative Draft of Proposed Guidance and Regulations on New Constitutions for Councils" and 28 responses to "The Local Government Bill; The Conduct of Referendums and Elections for Directly Elected Mayors". The responses, which we are now considering carefully, contain a wide range of helpful comments and suggestions, with clear support for many of the amendments made after the first consultation round.A list of all the responses has today been placed in the Library of the House and full copies of the responses are available from my Department's library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what representations he has made to the BBC calling for increased coverage of Welsh soccer and Welsh soccer league results; and if he will make a statement. [130927]

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has made no such representations to the BBC.It is a well established principle of the Government's approach to broadcasting that we do not seek to intervene or comment on detailed issues of programming content or scheduling. These matters are properly for broadcasters' editorial judgment subject to independent regulation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans he has to allocate the revenue from the sale of the Millennium Dome (a) towards the running costs of the NMEC Exhibition at the Dome and (b) to English Partnerships for regeneration programmes. [130848]

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 11 July 2000, Official Report, columns 481–82W, to the hon. Member for East Surrey (Mr. Ainsworth).

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if stamp duty will be payable on the disposal of the Dome. [131372]

[holding answer 18 July 2000]: As in all acquisitions of assets, stamp duty will become payable in accordance with the Stamp Acts.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) what the value is of net VAT payments made by the New Millennium Experience Company (a) prior to and (b) since 31 December 1999; and if he will make a statement; [131375](2) what estimate he has made of net VAT

[holding answer 18 July 2000]: We have contacted the New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) to request the information required, and I will write to the hon. Member as soon as it is available, placing copies of my letters in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when he will make available to the House the Annual report and financial statement for the period ended 31 December 1999 of the New Millennium Experience Company. [132564]

I have today placed copies of the New Millennium Experience Company's Annual Report and Financial Statements for the period ending 31 December 1999 in the Libraries of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when he will reply to the question tabled by the hon. Member for East Surrey on 19 June concerning the Osborne Estate (reference 127308). [131973]

I answered the hon. Member's question on 19 July 2000, Official Report, columns 212–13W.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) what self-contained accommodation in the occupied Royal Palaces is occupied by employees of the Royal Collection Department; what rental is paid; and how the rentable values are calculated; [132021](2) if he will update the information provided by the Department of National Heritage to the Committee of Public Accounts in Annexe 1 of its report on Property Services in the English Occupied Royal Palaces, Session 1994–95; which of the officials referred to pay rent; and on what basis rent is calculated. [132023]

We have contacted the Royal Household to request the information required. I shall write to my right hon. Friend as soon as it is available, placing copies of my letter in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what sporting occasions his Permanent Secretary has been invited to this year; how many such invitations he has accepted; and at what cost to the public purse. [131759]

My Permanent Secretary has been invited to three sporting occasions which have taken place this year: the London Marathon, the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis championships and the Davis Cup match against Ecuador. He accepted and attended the second only. There was no cost to the public purse.