To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the non-departmental public bodies responsible to him which have duties relating to Scotland, indicating their budget and staffing in Scotland, the number of Scottish board members and their emoluments. [137695]

A list of the non-departmental public bodies that are sponsored by my Department and which have a remit covering Great Britain or the United Kingdom is set out in the following annexe.The remaining information is not held centrally in the form requested but general information on expenditure, staffing, board members and levels of remuneration is published annually in the Cabinet Office publication "Public Bodies". Copies of "Public Bodies 1999" have been placed in the Libraries of the House and "Public Bodies 2000" is due to be published next month. Information on board membership and remuneration can also be downloaded from the Cabinet Office Public Appointments Directory website (www.cabinet-office.gov.uk)

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to make available extra moneys for river dredging flood defence works in East Sussex. [137545]

[holding answer 14 November 2000]: Additional funding of £51 million over four years has already been announced for, inter alia, an accelerated programme of river flood defence capital works in England. The Environment Agency's staff in East Sussex are reviewing options for flood defence of communities on East Sussex rivers in the light of experience of the recent floods. They plan to meet local residents in the near future to explain those options. It is therefore too early to say what plans there are for river dredging flood defence works in East Sussex, whether it would be effective, or the extent to which such work would attract funding from this Department.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to strengthen and enhance the flood defences at York. [138545]

I understand that the flood defences at York have operated to their design standard or better in the recent flooding. The Environment Agency will be checking the necessity for urgent repairs and reviewing the need for strengthening and enhancing the defences once the immediate work of dealing with the floods is completed. No doubt they will consider if advantage can be taken of the Government's additional funding over the next four years, a major element of which is aimed at accelerating the programme of river flood defence works.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment has been made of the impact of global warming and sea level rise on the risk of the Thames Barrier being unable to withstand future storm surges. [138498]

The Thames Barrier is the largest component of the complex system of gates, walls and embankments which form the tidal barrier to London and the Thames Estuary. The Barrier is a robust and flexible installation with a design based on rates of sea level rise predicted in the 1970s which were higher than those currently anticipated. It provides London with a high level of protection from tidal flooding and with normal care and maintenance should continue to do so until at least the latter half of this century. Even then, although the Barrier may need to be closed more frequently, it will continue to fulfil its primary function.The Environment Agency is currently developing its tidal defence strategy for the next 100 years, with several studies already in progress.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans the Government have to regulate flows of water in the (a) River Severn, (b) River Derwent, (c) River Ouse, (d) River Aire and (e) River Don. [138560]

[holding answer 16 November 2000]: I have asked the Environment Agency, in conjunction with their partners, to produce a full report on the flooding, its effects, how flood warning and emergency response worked and what lessons we can learn. The Agency will initiate this when the immediate work of dealing with the floods has been completed; the report should be available by Easter. In the meantime there are no new plans for these rivers.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the river improvement schemes that will be funded from the new money he has announced for the Environment Agency. [138559]

[holding answer 16 November 2000]: The additional funding of £51 million over the next four years is primarily for the Environment Agency, but some may be allocated to local authorities and Internal Drainage Boards as well. A major element of the package is designed to accelerate the programme of river flood defence works. The Ministry is approaching all the operating authorities to establish their plans with a view to determining the content of the enhanced national river works programme.

To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee what operational and financial assessment she has made of the arrangements for guided tours of the Palace of Westminster during the 2000 summer recess with special reference to the effectiveness of (a) these arrangements and (b) the previous practice of using the same guides in the recess as in the parliamentary session. [139138]

I refer the hon. Gentleman to my answer of 14 November 2000, Official Report, column 589W.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to his answer of 23 October 2000, Official Report, column 19W, what the perceived community background is of members of the Chief Constable's Change Management Team. [135824]

As I indicated in my earlier reply, I do not consider it appropriate to comment on the perceived community background of members of the Change Management Team.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on how many occasions and on what dates the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission has given him advice with respect to taking measures to create rights supplementary to those in the European Convention on Human Rights; and what advice was given which was not supplementary to the European Convention. [136706]

One of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission's statutory duties is to provide advice to the Secretary of State on the scope for defining, in Westminster legislation, rights supplementary to those in the European Convention on Human Rights. The Commission is currently undertaking an extensive consultation exercise and will submit a preliminary report to the Secretary of State next March.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what arrangements he has made to carry out a quinquennial review of the Compensation Agency. [139442]

I have agreed that a review should be undertaken. The Compensation Agency was previously reviewed in 1995. Accordingly it should, like other agencies, now be subject to a quinquennial review. The review will commence immediately and should be completed by 30 May 2001.The review will be directed by a Steering Group under the Chairmanship of the Director of Resources in my Department.The Steering Group will be supported by a Project Team led by a member of the Senior Civil Service from outside the Agency. The leader of the Project Team will report to the Steering Group on a regular basis.The review process will provide extensive opportunities for consultation with internal and external stakeholders and will follow the procedures recommended in the guidance for the review of agencies and non-departmental public bodies published by the Cabinet Office.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what arrangements he has made to carry out a quinquennial review of Forensic Science Northern Ireland. [139443]

I have agreed that a review should be undertaken. Forensic Science Northern Ireland completed five years of operation as an executive agency on 31 August 2000. Accordingly it should, like other agencies, now be subject to a quinquennial review. The review will commence immediately and should be completed by 30 April 2001.The review will be directed by a Steering Group under the Chairmanship of the Director of Resources in my Department.The Steering Group will be supported by a Project Team led by a member of the Senior Civil Service from outside Forensic Science Northern Ireland. The leader of the Project Team will report to the Steering Group on a regular basis.The review process will provide extensive opportunities for consultation with internal and external stakeholders and will follow the procedures recommended in the guidance for the review of agencies and non-departmental public bodies published by the Cabinet Office.

To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 24 July 2000, Official Report, columns 442-43W, on Lord Birt, if he will list the activities undertaken by Lord Birt in his capacity as his adviser on crime; how many meetings he has had with Lord Birt on crime since Lord Birt's appointment; what reports on crime he has been presented with by Lord Birt; and what has been the total amount to date claimed by Lord Birt for out-of-pocket expenses. [137320]

[holding answer 8 November 2000]: Lord Birt is looking at criminality and long-term social trends. The focus of his work to date has been analysing existing data on offenders, offences and victims. As part of this work, Lord Birt has met Ministers and officials from relevant Departments and practitioners. I understand that he has claimed just over £300 in out-of-pocket expenses.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions his Department has held concerning the retention of Chambré Hardman's photographs, negatives and house in Liverpool; and what was the outcome of those discussions. [138749]

We acknowledge that the Chambré Hardman collection is of national importance and support the wish to ensure its conservation and presentation to the public. My Department has had discussions with a number of interested parties, including the National Museums and Galleries on Merseyside, the National Museum of Film, Photography and Television, and the North West Museum Service, to ensure the preservation of the collection and the house.There are a number of potential solutions for the long-term care and public presentation of both the collection, and Chambré Hardman's house in Liverpool. It is now for the Trustees of the Chambré Hardman Trust to assess all of the available options; to determine which of these is the most realistically able to meet its objectives; and to develop a viable business case for the preferred solution.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people in (a) the City of Leeds and (b) the Leeds, Central constituency have been in receipt of (i) Income Support, (ii) Disability Living Allowance, (iii) Incapacity Benefit, (iv) Unemployment Benefit and (v) Housing Benefit in each of the last 10 years. [138261]

The administration of benefits is a matter for Alexis Cleveland, the Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency. She will write to my hon. Friend.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 31 October 2000, Official Report, columns 346–47W, what conclusions the Benefits Agency internal audit came to regarding the role of EDS in the duplication of income support payments on 17 and 18 January. [138338]

The administration of benefit payments is a matter for Alexis Cleveland the Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency. She will write to my right hon. Friend.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what strategic measures he is taking to allow for environmental changes induced by climate change. [137183]

I refer my hon. Friend to the written answer from my right hon. Friend the Minister of State for the Environment on 13 November 2000, Official Report, columns 469–70W.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 2 May 2000, OfficialReport, column 37W, on relocation of civil servants, which relocation companies hold contracts with his Department for the relocation of civil servants; when these contracts were last renewed; where the contracts were advertised; and what the length and value is of each contract. [137096]

This Department has a contract with Cendant Relocation plc. The contract was advertised in Official Journal European Communities (OJEC0) on 13 August 1997. The contract was renewed in May 1998 for three years with a possible two-year extension and has an estimated annual value of £800,000.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what information he collects on the minimum incomes required by different categories of pensioner households to afford a minimum acceptable standard of living; and what proposals he has to improve its (a) flow and (b) accuracy. [137270]

A number of research studies have been conducted in this area. The range of methods which can be used to explore questions of absolute and relative adequacy of benefits include budget standards methodology, deprivations studies, expenditure studies and consensual studies. All these research methods are considered when assessing benefit levels; however, no single method can be used to calculate an "adequate" income. What people need to live on varies greatly depending on their needs, age, proximity to friends and relatives—it is not possible to produce figures showing what is adequate for all pensioner families.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many (a) men and (b) women will reach the statutory retirement age in each of the next five years. [138521]

The information is in the table.

Population attaining state pension age in year shown, United Kingdom
Thousand
Year	Men	Women	Total
2001	269	294	563
2002	273	319	592
2003	276	341	616
2004	275	347	622
2005	266	348	614

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many pensioners who are entitled to the Minimum Income Guarantee there are in the constituency of Middlesbrough, South and Cleveland, East. [138857]

There are around 2,800 recipients of the Minimum Income Guarantee in the parliamentary constituency of Middlesbrough, South and Cleveland, East.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when the Benefits Agency will have fully recovered from the effects of the delayed implementation of the NIRS2 computer; and if he will make a statement. [139571]

The contract for NIRS2 was signed in 1995 and there have been problems with the system from the start, the full effects of which we are still trying to resolve.We are sorry to report that the Benefits Agency (BA) will not complete its review of benefit claims affected by the delayed implementation of NIRS2 by the end of this year as had been expected. Although good progress has been made with outstanding cases in BA offices, full completion of the necessary benefits reviews is dependent on the clearance of work arrears in the Inland Revenue's National Insurance Contributions Office (NICO) that result in a change to the contribution record.NICO is urgently looking at when it expects to have completed its own recovery from the late implementation of NIRS2. BA recovery cannot be achieved until after the NICO recovery has been achieved and this will not be by the end of this year.As contribution records are brought up to date, BA offices will be prompted by NIRS2 to review an old or existing benefit claim if the change to the record has affected the previous benefit rate. Many of these prompted reviews however will not require the rate in payment to be revised because the contingency arrangements deployed by the Benefits Agency will have ensured the new NIRS2 rate is already in payment.I would like to take this opportunity to express my regret and apologise to those pensioners and other benefit claimants who have been adversely affected by these delays. Although most benefit reviews have been completed and in the great majority of cases the rate in

payment found to be correct because of the contingency measures deployed by the Benefits Agency, my hon. Friend will wish to know that:

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 13 November 2000, Official Report, column 526W, on pension expenditure, if he will provide corresponding estimates for each year from 1992–93 to 1995–96 inclusive. [139074]

By 2002–03 GDP is forecast to reach a level 32 per cent. higher in real terms than it was in 1992–93.

Expenditure as a percentage of GDP
	Retirement pensions1	Means-tested benefits for pensioners2	Other benefits paid to pensioners3	Total
1992–93	4.35	1.19	0.02	5.56
1993–94	4.34	1.25	0.02	5.62
1994–95	4.18	1.22	0.02	5.42
1995–96	4.14	1.18	0.02	5.35
1 Includes Retirement Pension basic and earnings-related components.
2 Includes Income Support, Social Fund Payments, Housing Benefit paid to people aged 60 and over.
3 Includes non-contributory Retirement Pension and Christmas Bonus.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security on how many occasions he has used his powers to require local authorities to take specific measures to tackle housing benefit fraud; and if he will list in each case the date those powers were exercised and the local authority concerned. [139072]

To date we have made one such Direction, to Northampton Borough Council, in August 2000.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many RAF aircraft, and of which types, have been (a) retired from service and (b) put into reserve, in each of the past three years. [138426]

The information requested in the table.

	Number withdrawn from service1			Number placed in storage2
Aircraft Type	1997	1998	1999	1997	1998	1999
Bulldog T1	0	0	21	0	0	0
Gazelle HT Mk3	12	11	0	0	0	0
Nimrod MR2	0	31	31	0	0	0
Tornado GR1	0	0	0	0	0	0
VC10	0	1	2	0	0	0
Wessex	0	2	0	0	0	0
1 Aircraft withdrawn from service during the year prior to disposal or transfer to an upgrade programme. Excludes aircraft lost in crashes.
2 Aircraft placed in storage during the year. Excludes aircraft withdrawn from service and awaiting disposal.
3 The Nimrod MR2 fleet is being reduced prior to the introduction of the Nimrod MRA4. These airframes have been transferred to the Nimrod MRA4 programme.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects the Tucano aircraft to be returned to service; and if he will make a statement on the airworthiness of the Tucano fleet. [138428]

Following the temporary cessation of Tucano flying on 4 September 2000 the first Tucano aircraft were returned to service on 29 September 2000. There is a rolling programme under way to bring the entire fleet back into service and the full training fleet of aircraft should be available by the end of February 2001.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the cost of repairs to the faults recently identified in the RAF's Tucano aircraft. [138427]

The cost of repairs to the rudder controls on aircraft currently in the Tucano training fleet is estimated at around £250,000. Modified parts with a greatly extended service life will subsequently be fitted across the Tucano fleet. The total cost of the repair and subsequent modification programme to all RAF Tucano aircraft will be in the order of £1 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the service life is of the Royal Navy's stocks of Harpoon missiles; and what upgrade and refurbishment work is planned. [138430]

Ship launched stocks of Harpoon missiles are planned to provide offensive anti-ship capability to the Royal Navy until 2025. Submarine-launched stocks of Harpoon missiles are currently planned to go out of service in 2003.Regular maintenance and minor modification is carried out as required; there are presently no plans for a major missile refurbishment programme. Some modification work is being undertaken on Type 22 and Type 23 frigates to enhance the missile system capability within coastal waters. Other options for increasing the Royal Navy's offensive capability are being considered, which may lead to an upgrade of some of the existing missile stock.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence to what extent Royal Navy personnel are capable of diving in conditions other than shallow and benign waters; and if he will make a statement. [138995]

RN personnel divers can dive in sea conditions up to sea state five and to depths of up to 80 m. In extremis RN divers can operate in poorer sea states to prevent loss of life.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he will give a substantive reply to the question from the hon. Member for Leyton and Wanstead, to which he gave a holding answer on 25 July 2000, Official Report, column 554W. [139150]

I will write to my hon. Friend shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list those arms and components for military or security equipment licensed for sale to Israel since 1997. [135470]

Details of export licensing decisions between 2 May 1997 and 31 December 1999 have been set out in the Government's Annual Reports on Strategic Export Controls, published by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office; copies are in the Library of the House. The reports list by country of destination the numbers of export licences issued and refused in each equipment category and give details of the military equipment for which licences have been granted. They also set out the value of defence exports to each country.As regards the period 1 January to 31 October 2000, 153 Standard Individual Export Licences (SIELs) and 12 Open Individual Export Licences (OIELs) were issued covering the export to consignees or end-users in Israel. The information is as summarised broken down according to the entries in the Military List under which the goods on each licence are controlled (known as their rating). It could not be broken down in the manner requested as the equipment covered by most entries in the Military List could be used for military or security purposes.Individual licences may cover a range of goods with various ratings (and OIELs may also cover a range of countries). Where this is so, the licence is included in the Table in the total for all of the relevant ratings.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the factors underlying the rate of post office closures since 1997. [136710]

Post office closures remain below past peak levels. In 1991–92, 478 offices closed and in 1984–85 395 closed. The number of rural office closures in the first half of the current financial year is running at a lower level than in the same period last year. I have asked the Post Office for an analysis of the factors underlying Post Office closures. This analysis is to include age of person moving out of the business, property sold, location and reason. In addition, we are implementing in full the recommendations of the Performance and Innovation Unit report to modernise the post office network and strengthen its future viability.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the representations received in connection with consumer protection legislation. [138514]

[holding answer 16 November 2000]: We have had 31 representations from members of the public, including nine coupons from the National Consumer Council's campaign in the Daily Express. We have had nine joint representations from the National Consumer Council and the National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux, as well as a further representation from the National Consumer Council and representations from individual Citizens Advice Bureau. In addition we have had representations from the Consumer's Association with the Federation of Small Business, the Welsh Consumer Council and Direct Line Insurance plc.Many of the representations were forwarded to us by Members of Parliament. In addition we have received representations from my hon. Friends the Members for Clwyd, South (Mr. Jones), for Newport, West (Mr. Flynn), for Stourbridge (Ms Shipley), and for Vale of Clwyd (Mr. Ruane), and two from my hon. Friend the Member for Great Grimsby (Mr. Mitchell).

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the reasons for the delay in the merger of SmithKline Beecham and Glaxo. [138553]

[holding answer 16 November 2000]: The European Commission approved the merger of Glaxo Wellcome and SmithKline Beecham on 8 May. The US Federal Trade Commission are considering the competition implications of the market in smoking cessation products relating to Glaxo Wellcome's prescription drug Zyban and SmithKline Beecham's over-the-counter products Nicorette and Nicoderm. This is a matter for the US authorities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will refer the retail pricing of petrol products to the Competition Commission. [139100]

Under UK competition legislation, it is for the Director General of Fair Trading to investigate allegations of anti-competitive behaviour and if appropriate make a reference to the Competition Commission under the Fair Trading Act 1973 or take action under the Competition Act 1998.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what recent discussions he has had with the senior management of Corus regarding the future of the steel industry in Teesside and research and development in Corus; [138854](2) what recent discussions he has had with the senior management of Corus on the future of the steel industry. [138856]

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has had discussions with senior executives from Corus on several occasions in recent months to discuss a range of matters affecting UK operations. From time to time we also visit Corus plants for discussions with local management and my officials maintain a regular dialogue with the company.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent communications he has had from the European Commission in respect of the adequacy of data provided to the Commission in regard to the applicability of Euratom Treaty Article 37 to the MOX demonstration facility at Sellafield. [137871]

I have been asked to reply.Acting on a complaint, the European Commission has asked what general data have been provided under Article 37 of the Euratom Treaty, covering the operation of the MOX Demonstration Facility, and requested other information relevant to the issue of whether such data should have been submitted. The Government's response confirmed their view that, on the basis of current guidance and of discussions with the Commission in 1996, no submission of data is necessary in respect of the MOX Demonstration Facility. Notwithstanding this view, the Government have offered to provide the Commission with comprehensive background information in order to assist it in replying to the complainant.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many deregulation orders have been passed in each of the last three years. [136407]

I have been asked to reply.The deregulation orders passed in each of the last three years are as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements he has put in place to deal with applications for financing under the European Refugee Fund. [139444]

The European Refugee Fund (ERF) is intended to support three categories of project:(i) conditions for reception; (ii) integration of persons whose stay in the member state is of a lasting and/or stable nature; and (iii) voluntary return and reintegration. The ERF is administered in European Union member states by Responsible Authorities. The Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND) is the Responsible Authority for the United Kingdom.IND is issuing a public call today for proposals for financing under the ERF in 2000 and 2001. The public call notice summarises the criteria for financing, how to obtain detailed guidelines and an application form, and arrangements for submitting applications. Applications must be submitted by 29 December. The public call notice can be found on the IND website (www.homeoffice.gov.uk/ind) and a copy has been placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent assessment he has made of the reliability of DNA testing (a) in convicting the guilty and (b) in exonerating the innocent. [137936]

The reliability of DNA evidence is assured through the internal quality assurance measures adopted by the Forensic Science Service (FSS) and through external accreditation by the British Standards Institute (BSI) and United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) to the BS EN ISO 9000 and M10 National Standards. This independent accreditation of the DNA process involves regular audit to ensure the standards are maintained.The more advanced SGMplus technique was introduced by the FSS in September 1999. A statistical assessment, to be published in the International Journal of Legal Medicine, showed that when using this process the probability of a chance match between a full DNA profile obtained from a suspect's sample and another one from a crime scene stain left by another person was less than one in a billion.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the ratio of staff to inmates is in (a) each prison holding 18 to 21-year-olds and (b) each institution holding juveniles. [137724]

This information is given in the table. Information about Doncaster prison was not readily available and I shall write to the hon. Member about this.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 2 November 2000, Official Report, column 611W, if he will (a) list the categories of offence for which the 1,756 people were sentenced and (b) the action taken following the breaches of the conditions of their release. [137993]

An analysis of the index offences of the 1,756 prisoners who were placed on the home detention curfew scheme and who breached the conditions of their licence is contained in the table.Where a breach is notified to the Prison Service, consideration is given to the most appropriate course of action, in the light of the available legal powers and the circumstances of the individual case. Where an offender breaches his licence conditions, the presumption is that the Prison Service will always revoke the licence unless there are legal considerations which prevent this or make it impracticable, or other exceptional circumstances. Of the 1,756 cases referred to, 1,294 had their licences revoked by the Secretary of State pursuant to section 38A(1) or section 39 of the Criminal Justice Act 1991. In a further 46 cases, the breach was reported to the police or probation service to consider initiating breach action through the courts under section 38(1) of the Act. In addition, those prisoners who were convicted of committing a further offence during the currency of their licence, and therefore were in breach of their licence conditions, would have been liable, under section 40 of the Act, to an additional sentence of imprisonment.In 416 cases legal considerations prevented revocation action. The majority of these were cases where the breach of licence was notified to the Prison Service only after the licence had expired; as my answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Corby (Mr. Hope) of 22 May 2000,

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will issue guidelines on mobility programmes for young people serving sentences on a detention and training order. [138436]

The detention and training order was implemented on 1 April 2000. It is the new main custodial sentence for juveniles aged 12–17.The rules for mobility programmes (which can involve escorted absences or temporary release for training and rehabilitation) vary between types of institutions.We are looking at the policy and arrangements, with a view to issuing guidance over the next few months.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will provide a substantive reply to the question from the hon. Member for Ludlow tabled on 23 October (ref. 134594) relating to the European Public Prosecutor. [138859]

The question to which the hon. Member refers raises a difficult issue which is being considered. I shall provide a substantive reply shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many anti-social behaviour orders have been issued since April 1999 in the boroughs of (a) Middlesbrough, (b) Stockton, (c) Hartlepool and (d) Redcar and Cleveland; and if he will make a statement. [138855]

A breakdown of the number of anti-social behaviour orders (ASBOs) issued by borough is not held centrally. However, Cleveland Police inform me that seven ASBOs have been issued so far in Cleveland—two in Middlesbrough, two in Hartlepool and three in Stockton on Tees.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what the average cost is of issuing anti-social behaviour orders;[137599](2) how many anti-social behaviour orders have been issued since April 1999 in

[Pursuant to the reply, 13 November 2000, c. 531W]: At least 10—rather than 30 as previously stated—anti-social behaviour orders issued since the measure was implemented have been made in the Greater London area.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the number of ethnic minority (a) officers and (b) civilian staff in Cleveland police force in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement. [138853]

The figures are as follows:

	Officers	Civilians
March
1998	18	5
1999	9	5
2000	17	4

My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary has set every police force in England and Wales minority ethnic employment targets which are intended to ensure that forces are representative of the communities which they serve by 2009. Cleveland police's target for minority ethnic officers is 29, and for civilians is 12.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office when the last meeting of the Cabinet Office Central IT Unit on e-government took place; and when the next meeting will be. [138740]

The Central IT Unit (CITU) has not existed as a separate Division within the Cabinet Office since it was subsumed into the Office of the e-Envoy in July this year. At the same time it was renamed the "e-government group".The Central Information Technology Unit (CITU) was set up in November 1995. CITU's remit was to advise Ministers on the development of their strategy for the use of IT by Government.Current activities include taking forward the Information Age Government agenda of the Modernising Government White Paper including the follow up work to "e-government: a strategic framework for public services in the Information Age". This work includes advising Departments on the development of their own e-business strategies and monitoring progress on the Prime Minister's target that by 2005 100 per cent. of dealings with Government should be available.This work now sits within the Office of the e-Envoy, a group comprising approximately 75 people organised in three groups:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if she will list the regulatory impact assessments published in the last six months. [139137]

The Government are committed to ensuring that regulations are necessary, give effective protection, balance cost and risk, are fair and command public confidence. In accordance with this, we require Departments to produce and publish RIAs for all regulatory proposals likely to have an impact on business.I have presented to Parliament today a Command Paper listing 107 RIAs published between 1 January and 30 June 2000. Copies of those listed have been placed in the House Libraries. This is the thirteenth such Command Paper.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many times the Electronic Commerce Consultation Forum has met; on what dates; if he will publish their deliberations and recommendations; and if he will list the sub-groups of the forum.[135899]

The Electronic Commerce Consultation Forum has met three times since its establishment in June 1999. The dates and minutes of these meeting and details of the sub-groups can be found on the Inland Revenue website at www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/ e-commerce/ecom4.htm.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to Table B11 of his pre-Budget Report, what the assumptions are behind the increases in projected beer and cider excise duty revenues between the financial years 2000–01 and 2001–02 in respect of (a) the measure of inflation used, (b) the rate of inflation projected, (c) the month and year in which inflation is projected and (d) the increase in pence per pint of (i) beer and (ii) cider, will such an increase give rise to in financial year 2001–02. [138660]

The measure of inflation used is the all-items PRI in the 12 months to September 2001, as published in Table B3 of the pre-Budget Report. Estimates of the effect of duty changes on the price of beer and cider are published by HM Treasury in the "Tax Ready Reckoner and Tax Reliefs, November 2000". copies of which are in the Library.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he will provide a substantive reply to the question tabled by the hon. Member for Louth and Horncastle for answer on 6 November (ref. 135972). [138851]

Shortly.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proposals he has to amend the Inland Revenue Departmental Expenditure Limit and running costs limit for 2000–01. [139445]

Subject to parliamentary approval of the Supplementary Estimate for Class XVI, Vote 6 the Inland Revenue Departmental Expenditure Limit for 2000–01 will be decreased by £14,800,000 from £2,245,371,000 to £2,230,571,000. The Inland Revenue running cost limit will also be reduced by £3,500,000 from £2,377,079,000 to £2,373,579,000. This is needed to offset a reduction in anticipated receipts within the Valuation Office Agency.The reduction arises from a £15 million transfer to the Cabinet Office for the Department's contribution to the Government IT gateway project offset by Valuation Office Agency award of £0.2 million from the Civil Service Modernisation Fund.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will set out, including statistical information relating as directly as possible to the constituency, the effect on the Manchester, Gorton constituency, of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997. [136169]

The Gorton constituency has benefited from a range of Government initiatives since 2 May 1997 including:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how much has been applied for by each local authority in their local transport plans for (a) maintenance of principal highways, (b) maintenance and strengthening of bridges, (c) individual schemes costing over £5 million and (d) integrated transport measures costing less than £5 million for each year from 2001–02 to 2005–06. [138068]

I have placed a copy of the information requested in the Libraries of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will mark next year's International Year of Volunteers by spending a day working as a volunteer. [137427]

[holding answer 13 November 2000]: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary on 13 November 2000, Official Report, column 531W. I fully support the aims of the International Year of Volunteers and will consider any request to participate nearer the time.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he intends to publish the UK's climate change programme [139109]

I have today laid before Parliament, "Climate Change: The UK Programme (Command Number 4913)". Our programme sets out how we will deliver the UK's Kyoto target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 12.5 per cent. below 1990 levels by 2008–12 and move towards our domestic goal to cut carbon dioxide emissions by 20 per cent. below 1990 levels by 2010. We estimate that the policies and measures set out in the programme could cut the UK's greenhouse gas emissions by 23 per cent. by 2010 and carbon dioxide emissions by 19 per cent. Further non-quantified measures could achieve the domestic goal.I am also publishing the following documents alongside the programme, copies of which will be placed in the Libraries of the House:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what recent reports he has received on the availability of medical services in the armed forces; and what advice he has received on increasing their availability; [136008](2) if he will make a statement on trends in the availability of medical services in the armed forces over the last three years. [136007]

Defence Medical Services (DMS) is responsible for providing medical services in the armed forces. The Department of Health is aware of the report issued by the Ministry of Defence in December 1998 entitled, "Defence Medical Services: A Strategy for the Future" which explained that there are serious workforce shortages in DMS.At present workforce levels are stabilising and the MOD are exploring new ways of meeting the regular and reserve medical manpower requirements. This work is being undertaken in close consultation with the Department and the National Health Service. For example, the NHS will in future be including DMS' requirements in medical student numbers.The future strategy for DMS identified a gap at the higher 'strategic' level and closer links have now been established between the MOD and Department with NHS representatives being appointed to the two DMS top management boards. To supplement this activity and to direct work a Joint Steering Group has been established by the MOD and Department with the Scottish Executive and the Welsh Office also represented.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the future of the wheelchair voucher scheme. [136270]

We have asked all wheelchair services to continue to operate a voucher scheme, which offers users a choice of wheelchair to meet their needs. In making the funding for the wheelchair initiatives recurrent from 1 April 2000, we have removed the distinction on what should be spent on National Health Service indoor/outdoor powered wheelchairs and or vouchers. We have asked health authorities and provider services to consult with service users and take a flexible approach to ensuring the money meets local wheelchair needs and priorities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 23 October 2000, Official Report, column 86W, on the Prosorba Column, what reports he has received on the effectiveness of the Prosorba Column as a treatment for arthritis. [137086]

The Department has not received any reports on the effectiveness of the Prosorba Column as a treatment of arthritis.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the progress of the Electronic Record Demonstrator Implementation Programme and progress towards achieving a national electronic health record database; what timescale he is working to; and if he plans to fund the chosen programme from (a) NHS funds, (b) a public-private partnership and (c) other sources. [137273]

The Electronic Record Development and Implementation Programme (ERDIP) was launched in November 1999. Following the selection exercise the names of the successful Electronic Health Record (EHR) and Electronic Patient Record (EPR) demonstrator sites were announced in April and June 2000 respectively. These have been placed in the Library.The NHS Information Authority (NHSIA) is currently finalising deliverables, timescales and associated release of funding with each of the individual sites. Detailed Project Initiation Documents will be available on the NHSIA website at http://nww.nhsia.nhs.uk once the Project Briefs have been approved.The work of the demonstrator sites is being supported by three projects managed centrally by the NHSIA:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many staff are employed by his Department under the New Deal for Young People. [137961]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office on 13 November 2000, Official Report, columns 551–52W.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for the Home Department about measures to protect NHS staff from assault. [137933]

Our campaign to tackle violence against NHS staff, the "NHS zero tolerance zone", has been developed by the Department working with colleagues in the Home Office, Lord Chancellor's Department and in the Crown Prosecution Service.This cross-Government approach is also reflected in the new national sentencing guidelines which were issued to magistrates courts in September for a wide range of offences. The guidelines now include as aggravating factors, to be taken into account when sentencing, whether the offence occurred in hospital or medical premises and whether the victim was serving the public.My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has also met recently with the Home Secretary and other Ministers to discuss the role of the National Health Service in local crime and disorder reduction partnerships.