To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what plans he has to implement a complete ban on MBM in animal feeds in the United Kingdom; [141648](2) what plans he has to issue new regulations relating to animal feeds for all animal livestock in the United Kingdom. [141649]

My Department is considering the measures necessary to implement expeditiously the Decision taken by the Agriculture Council on 4 December relating to animal feed.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the effect on quota values of including heifers in the suckler cow quota. [142255]

The inclusion of heifers on suckler cow premium claims up to a maximum of 20 per cent. is only one of a number of factors contributing to the recent rise in lease and sale values of suckler cow premium quota. Its effects cannot be determined in isolation. Other relevant factors include:

the reduction in the overall availability of quota resulting from the Agenda 2000 settlement;

the lack of any allocation from the national reserve this year;

the seasonally high demand to secure quota before the end of the suckler cow premium claim period—6 December.

Most farmers already have sufficient quota to support their claims; only a small percentage of the 1.7 million units of quota in the UK is traded each year.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in which scientific journals post mortem tests for BSE used in other EU countries have been subject to peer review; and if he will arrange for these papers to be placed in the Library. [141717]

[holding answer 11 December 2000]: According to our information none of the post mortem tests for BSE used in the EU have been submitted to a peer reviewed journal. However, the EC has undertaken an independent evaluation of BSE diagnostic tests. Four tests were submitted last year and a report outlining the results of this evaluation was published in July 1999. 1 have arranged for a copy to be placed in the Library. The EC recently announced that an evaluation of five new tests for BSE will begin shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps she took at the G8 meeting on December 6 to 8 to urge G8 Governments to support developing countries, in exercising their rights under the TRIPs agreement, to use compulsory licences to reduce the prices of drugs to treat HIV/AIDS and related infections; and if she will make a statement about the outcome of the meeting with regard to development issues. [141559]

At the recent meeting in Japan, the UK Government, with other G8 Governments, reaffirmed our commitment to improved access and affordability of health services, commodities and information to developing countries. There was increased G8 political and financial commitment to improving availability and affordability of medicines, in particular for HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria, for developing countries.There is a need to ensure increased access to affordable, effective drugs and vaccines. We also need to ensure research and development for new medicines for diseases of the poor in the future. Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) provide an essential incentive for private investment in research and development. The WTO Agreement on Trade Related Aspects of Property Rights (TRIPs) sets out minimum standards for IPR. TRIPs allows compulsory licensing under certain circumstances but this needs to be used in exceptional circumstances, otherwise it would reduce the incentives for pharmaceutical company investment in research better to meet the needs of poor countries.As indicated in my Government's new White Paper on Globalisation, the UK Government have commissioned urgent work to develop new proposals to improve access to existing medicines, and to tackle the lack of incentives for investment in research for future vaccines and treatments for HIV/AIDS, malaria and TB medicines.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many parliamentary questions have been tabled to her Department in each year since 1997; and if she will make a statement. [142510]

1,155 parliamentary questions were tabled to my Department in the parliamentary year 1997–98, 1,140 in the parliamentary year 1998–99, and 1,280 in the parliamentary year 1999–2000.We endeavour to ensure that all questions are answered promptly, accurately and informatively.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the quinquennial review of the Defence Secondary Care Agency, the Defence Dental Agency, the Medical Supplies Agency and the Defence Medical Training Agency will take place; and what the aim of and arrangements for the review will be. [143496]

A single quinquennial review is to begin in February 2001 embracing these four Defence medical agencies and covering also medical arrangements for personnel in Germany and Northern Ireland and interrelationships between primary and secondary care.The aim of the review is to make recommendations on the future means of delivery of the functions and services provided by the organisations which are the subject of this review. In doing this Phase 1 of the review, which is expected to be completed by the end of June 2001, will:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on Tucano aircraft and the training of pilots in Australia. [143420]

The Tucano recovery programme is proceeding to plan and full training capacity is expected to be available by the end of February 2001. Fifteen students are to complete their basic fast jet flying training in Australia with the Royal Australian Air Force, assisted by three RAF Qualified Flying Instructors. The first group of 10 students started flying training in Australia on 6 November and the arrangement is working well. The remaining five students will start their training on 29 January 2001.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of the Territorial Army were deployed in (a) Bosnia and (b) Kosovo in each of the past 12 months. [143034]

The number of individual Territorial Army reservists deployed in Bosnia and Kosovo in each of the past 12 months are:

Month	Bosnia	Kosovo
January 2000	282	228
February 2000	291	250
March 2000	271	174
April 2000	238	195
May 2000	205	191
June 2000	203	222
July 2000	197	226
August 2000	180	266
September 2000	145	184
October 2000	158	198
November 2000	140	156
December 2000	146	152

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people (a) left and (b) joined each of the three armed services in each of the past six months. [143025]

The numbers of personnel who joined and left each of the three armed services in each of the last six months for which records are available, are set out in the table.

	Naval service		Army		RAF
Month	Intake	Outflow	Intake	Outflow	Intake	Outflow
May	590	461	1,292	1,278	301	378
June	353	415	748	1,210	281	363
July	395	445	1,074	1,239	283	386
August	15	295	918	1,280	191	404
September	633	458	2,596	1,345	533	386
October	529	471	1,536	1,545	188	403
Total	2,515	2,545	8,164	7,897	1,777	2,320

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what the cost of implementing the New Deal for Young People in the South Cambridgeshire constituency was between April 1998 and September 2000. [141304]

New Deal expenditure is not available by constituency. However, the cost of implementing the New Deal for Young People between April 1998 and September 2000 in the Cambridgeshire unit of delivery was approximately £1,733,011.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on the effect on the Leeds, Central constituency of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997. [141310]

Details outlining the effect on the Leeds, Central constituency and Leeds LEA of a range of the Department's policies will be placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what the per pupil expenditure was in 1996–97, and what it is projected to be for (a) 2000–01 and (b) 2001–02 (i) on average, (ii) in primary schools and (iii) in secondary schools. [142402]

Funding data for the years in question are contained in the following table:

Standard spending assessment and special and specific grants per pupil
£
	SSA	Cash Grants	Total
Primary
1996–97	2,050	30	2,080
1997–98	2,130	30	2,160
2000–01	2,470	260	2,740
2001–02	2,590	380	2,960
Secondary
1996–97	2,730	20	2,750
1997–98	2,780	30	2,810
2000–01	3,180	210	3,380
2001–02	3,310	280	3,590
Primary and Secondary
1996–97	2,350	30	2,370
1997–98	2,410	30	2,440
2000–01	2,780	240	3,020
2001–02	2,910	330	3,240

£
	Real terms 2000–01 prices
	SSA	Grants	Total
Primary
1996–97	2,270	30	2,300
1997–98	2,290	30	2,330
2000–01	2,470	260	2,740
2001–02	2,520	370	2,890
Secondary
1996–97	3,020	30	3,050
1997–98	2,990	30	3,030
2000–01	3,180	210	3,380
2001–02	3,230	270	3,500
Primary and Secondary
1996–97	2,600	30	2,630
1997–98	2,600	30	2,630
2000–01	2,780	240	3,020
2001–02	2,840	320	3,160

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when he will issue annual grant letters to the Higher Education Funding Council and the Teacher Training Agency. [142281]

[holding answer 12 December 2000]: The annual grant letter to the Higher Education Funding Council for England was issued on 29 November 2000. The grant letter to the Teacher Training Agency will be issued shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when the next phase of Sure Start will be announced; and what plans he has to include in it small pockets of deprivation outside city council areas. [142834]

I will write to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when his Department will conduct a quinquennial review of the Employment Service. [143500]

In March this year my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister announced plans to develop a brand new agency which will provide a single point of access for advice on looking for work and accessing benefits. The new agency will draw together the Employment Service and those parts of the Benefits Agency dealing with people of working age. This announcement effectively overtook the quinquennial review of the Employment Service which was planned to be undertaken this year in parallel with a review of the Benefits Agency. Following consultation, my right hon. Friend the Minister of State, Cabinet Office has formally agreed to cancel the requirement for a quinquennial review of the Employment Service. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Security will be making a statement about the review of the Benefits Agency.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans his Department has to assist bus companies to recruit drivers in areas where there are significant driver shortages; and if he will make a statement. [142062]

My Department is aware of the difficulties being experienced by bus operators in recruiting and retaining bus drivers in some areas. We have been in regular contact with the bus industry to consider the extent of this problem, which has also been a matter considered as part of the Department's research on trends in the industry.The responsibility for ensuring that they have sufficient drivers is primarily a matter for individual bus companies. However, my Department and the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) and Driver Standards Agency (DSA) have been pursuing with the industry what steps can be taken to assist with the current problems. For example a pilot procedure has recently been introduced by DVLA with one nominated operator on a trial basis, with the aim of providing a high speed response to PSV driver licence applications.In addition, I understand the Department for Education and Employment has provided £145,000 to TRANSfED, the bus industry's National Training Organisation, to identify and address future skills needs.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many bids for funding from local authorities for the creation of home zones he has received; and how many grants for funding towards the creation of home zones his Department has made since 1999. [142063]

A number of local authorities have bid for funding for home zones in the Local Transport Plan settlement. My Department is currently monitoring nine pilot home zone projects. However funding for home zones is not ring fenced and therefore comes out of the general local transport plans settlement announced yesterday, 14 December 2000, Official Report, columns 202–03W, for the next five years.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what resources the Highways Agency has been allocated to meet obligations arising out of designated air quality management areas under the Environment Act 1995. [141307]

Within its role as network operator the Highways Agency is resourced to meet its obligations under the Environment Act 1995.Where local authorities decide to designate air quality management areas the Agency is ready to play its part in the preparation and implementation of local authorities' action plans. A number of local authorities have been informally consulted on a document giving information on how best to involve the HA in this process. The final version will be issued shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what research his Department has commissioned to assess the benefit of erecting physical barriers to disperse air pollution. [141306]

Physical barriers alongside roads are generally erected to reduce the noise impact on adjacent buildings or amenity areas. Noise radiates from a source and so can be effectively blocked by a solid barrier, screening locations behind it. In contrast, air pollution, over a period of time, will find its way over or around the barrier.I understand that Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council are currently consulting on their stage 3 review and assessment of air pollution in their locality. If there are air pollution problems in the vicinity of a particular road, then the local authority will need to consider with the Highways Agency, where appropriate. the best means of reducing vehicle emissions.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what budget has been set aside for road schemes on (a) A5 Nesscliffe Bypass, (b) A6 Rothwell-Desborough Bypass, (c) A6 Rushden and Higham Ferrers Bypass, (d) A10 WadesmillColliers End Bypass, (e) A21 Lamberhurst Bypass, (f) A23 Coulsdon Relief Road, (g) A46 Newark-Lincoln Improvement and (h) A63 Selby Bypass; and what progress has been made towards their implementation; [141673](2) what budget has been set aside for road schemes on

I have asked the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency, Tim Matthews, to write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how much of the money allocated for the national rail network in the 10-year transport plan will be spent on (a) new signalling, (b) station improvements and (c) new rolling stock; what schemes are planned; and what progress has been made with their implementation. [141671]

The 10-Year Plan for Transport includes £15 billion of public rail investment over the 10 years 2001–02 to 2010–11. It is estimated that, over that period, a further £34 billion of private investment can be levered in. The £49 billion of total investment consists of (a) £38 billion of enhancement and renewals investment for passenger services, (b) £7 billion of investment in passenger rolling stock and (c) £4 billion of investment in rail freight (including freight rolling stock). More detail on future expenditure will be made available in the SRA' s strategic plan to be published early next year.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how much money his Department spent on (a) road maintenance,

£ million cash
	1994–95	1995–96	1996–97	1997–98	1998–199	1999–2000	Total
Total roads expenditure1	4,324	3,996	3,694	3,453	3,301	3,410	22,178
of which:
Road maintenance	2,825	2,609	2,456	2,440	2,556	2,781	15,667
Local road construction	400	410	360	240	162	106	1,678
Trunk road construction	1,099	977	878	773	583	523	4,833
Light rail schemes2	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	497
Guided bus schemes	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	3
1 Includes expenditure on road widening schemes, road building schemes, bypass schemes and junction improvements.
2 A year-by-year breakdown of Government expenditure on light rail and guided bus projects is not available. Total Government support forvarious light rail and guided bus schemes is shown.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how much of the money allocated for light rail and bus schemes in the 10-year transport plan will be spent on (a) light rail projects, (b) guided bus schemes, (c) park and ride schemes, (d) priority route schemes and (e) improved rural travel; what schemes are planned; and what progress has been made with their implementation. [141669]

The 10-year plan announced public expenditure of £51 billion on local transport outside London, including £1.3 billion on light rail. My Department has today announced funding for the Local Transport Settlement for the allocation of £8.4 billion of capital investment over the next five years. We envisage that up to £2.6 billion may be spent on major schemes costing more than £5 million. However, since there are many schemes for which the case is not yet sufficiently developed for us to take a view, it is not at this stage (b) road widening schemes, (c) road building schemes, (d) bypass schemes, (e) junction improvements, (f) light rail projects, (g) guided bus schemes, (h) park and ride schemes, (i) priority bus routes, (j) rail signal improvements and (k) the national rail network in each of the last six years. [141666]

Expenditure data for each of the last six years for all these categories are not readily available. The following table shows expenditure on national and local roads in each of the last six years and total Government support for light rail and guided bus schemes. Expenditure on park and ride schemes and priority bus routes is made via local transport settlements for which data are not available in the form requested.Apart from level crossing grants of £32 million and £34 million in 1994–95 and 1995–96 respectively paid to Railtrack while it was still in the public sector, my Department has not spent any money directly on rail signal improvements or on the national rail network since 1 April 1994. Railtrack is responsible for maintaining, renewing and developing the national rail network, including signalling. Although my Department has made no payments direct to the company since it was privatised, its profitability is contingent on public money. Some 90 per cent. of Railtrack's income is paid to the company by train operating companies (TOCs) and freight operating companies (FOCs) in access charges, a substantial proportion of which are supported by public money.possible to identify the precise amounts that may be spent on each of the types of scheme identified. Nor is it possible to identify all of the individual schemes that authorities may decide to take forward.As regards light rail, we have given a provisional view that two extensions to the Midland Metro, costing £165 million, pass our economic appraisal tests. We hope to make further announcements on schemes proposed for Leeds, South Hampshire, and Bristol and South Gloucestershire shortly.We are providing funding of £10 million for the Crawley Fastway guided bus scheme and giving provisional approval for the Chester Deeside Transport System guided bus scheme (subject to Transport and Works Act powers being obtained and a revised economic appraisal). We have also given a provisional view that the Leigh guided bus scheme passes our economic appraisal tests.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how much of the money allocated for national roads in the 10-year plan will be spent on (a) measures to tackle congestion, (b) safety measures, (c) road widening schemes, (d) bypass schemes and (e) junction improvements; what schemes are planned; and what progress has been made with their implementation. [141668]

Scheme	Capital cost (£ million)	State of progress
Nottingham Express Transit	1180	Under construction
Tyne and Wear Metro extension to Sunderland	100	Under construction
Manchester Metrolink extensions: three lines (Oldham-Rochdale, Ashton under Lyne, Manchester Airport)	513	Construction to start early 2002 subject to outcome of applications for Transport and Works Act (TWA) powers
Docklands Light Railway: extension to London City Airport	98	Construction to start late 2001 or early 2002, subject to the outcome of an application for TWA powers
Midland Metro extensions: two lines (Birmingham city centre, Wednesbury-Brierley Hill)	2165	Provisional view announced that scheme passes economic appraisal—PTE to make application for TWA powers
Leeds Supertram	2434	Under consideration—announcement to be made as soon as possible
South Hampshire Rapid Transit System	2190	Under consideration—announcement to be made as soon as possible
Bristol LRT	165	Under consideration—announcement to be made as soon as possible
1 Being taken forward under the Private Finance Initiative
2 No decisions taken yet on Government funding

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many people he estimates died over the past three years as a

The money allocated for strategic roads in the 10-year plan will allow the Highways Agency to complete the 41 schemes in its Targeted Programme of Improvements. Twenty of these schemes are bypasses, 12 are widening schemes, five are junction improvements and four are congestion schemes. All these schemes have been assessed using the New Approach to Appraisal (NATA) which includes measurement of their impact on safety and congestion levels. Taken together they will deliver significant journey time and safety benefits.To ensure that it delivers these schemes, the Highways Agency has included 24 milestones for this year in its 2000–01 Business Plan. Following the provision of additional money in the 2000 Budget for accelerating scheme starts, 13 of these milestones are for award of contracts leading to start of construction works. Further milestones for 2001–02 will be published in the 2001–02 Business Plan.Decisions about the use of the remainder of the money allocated for strategic roads will depend upon the outcome of the multi-modal studies and decisions taken in the context of Regional Planning Strategies. The Access to Hastings multi-modal study reported in December 2000 and we expect a further 12 multi-modal studies to be completed in 2001, with the remaining eight finished in 2003.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will (a) list the light rail projects announced in the 10-year transport plan, (b) give the budget for each scheme and (c) state the progress made towards their implementation. [141667]

Eight light rail schemes were specifically mentioned in paragraph 6.61 of Transport 2010: The Ten Year Plan. The current position on each of these projects is set out below. A number of proposals have also been made by other local authorities which are being developed for further consideration.result of gas explosions; and how many of such deaths would have been prevented had excess flow valves been fitted to dwellings. [141362]

Following are the figures for fatalities resulting from gas-related explosions/fires reported to the Health and Safety Executive under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995 for the three years up to 31 March 2000:

Year	Number
1997–98	8
1998–99	11
1999–2000	19
1 Provisional

Further analysis of the causation of the incidents would be required before it could be determined precisely how many of these deaths would have been prevented had excess flow valves been fitted. In the judgment of the Health and Safety Executive the majority of the incidents, including those arising from gas escapes from mains and user error in failing to light an appliance after turning it on, would not have been prevented by the presence of an excess flow valve.However, the Executive will consider further the safety case for the use of such devices in the context of developing the safety-related research strategy proposed in the Health and Safety Commission's recently published Gas Safety Review report.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the timetable for phasing out railway carriages that allow excrement from toilets to be discharged on to the line. [142388]

Although there is no specific timetable for this, the introduction of new rolling stock currently on order and as part of the franchise replacement process will lead to a progressive reduction in train toilets that discharge on to the track. There is a specific requirement for all Mark I rolling stock to be replaced by 1 January 2005.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the pending planning applications for cement kilns and high-temperature incinerators. [142258]

My Department does not keep a central record of planning applications. It is the responsibility of individual local planning authorities to consider planning applications for these and all other categories of development, and they will keep their own records.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the regional chambers set up in England, indicating if they are (a) statutorily required to publish annual reports, (b) statutorily required to publish annual accounts, (c) subject to the jurisdiction of the parliamentary or local government ombudsman, (d) subject to audit by the National Audit Office, (e) subject to audit by the Audit Commission, (f) statutorily required to admit the public to committee meetings, (g) statutorily required to hold public meetings, (h) statutorily required to publish the agendas of meetings, (i) statutorily required to publish the minutes of meetings, (j) statutorily required to publish the papers or documents for meetings, (k) statutorily required to keep and make publicly available a register of members' interests and (l) statutorily required to consult and report to local authorities in their areas on their plans and policies. [142399]

The eight regional chambers are: the North East Regional Assembly, the North West Regional Assembly, the Regional Chamber for Yorkshire and Humberside, the West Midlands Regional Chamber, the East Midlands Regional Assembly, the East of England Regional Assembly, the South East of England Regional Assembly and the South West of England Regional Assembly. Each chamber has been established voluntarily by bodies representing the interests of the relevant region, and there are no statutory obligations upon them under any of the matters listed at (a) to (l).

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many of the recommendations made in the seventh report of the Committee on Environment, Transport and the Regions, Session 1999–2000, his Department has implemented; and how many it plans to implement in the future. [141736]

[holding answer 12 December 2000]: The seventh report of the Environment, Transport and Regional Affairs Committee made 41 recommendations, mainly concerning what should be in the Rural White Paper. The Government's formal response to the Committee's report is set out in Cm 4910 and refers to the White Paper "Our countryside: the future, A fair deal for rural England", published at the same time. We have accepted 36 of the Committee's recommendations and are giving further consideration to one other recommendation.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he has received from the Radioactive Waste Management Committee about the management of fast reactor fuels held by the UKAEA at Dounreay; and if he will make a statement. [141487]

[holding answer 12 December 2000]: The management by UKAEA of prototype fast reactor (PFR) fuels at Dounreay is a matter for the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry. The Radioactive Waste Management Advisory Committee submitted a response to the Department of Trade and Industry public consultation exercise "Making the Right Choice" about the management of PFR fuels at Dounreay on 7 June 2000. A further representation to clarify the key issues was made on 7 August 2000. The text of both submissions is published in full in the RWMAC's Twentieth Annual Report, the text of which was submitted to the Environment, Transport and the Regions Ministers on 6 November 2000 and published on 30 November 2000. Copies are available in the House Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the SSA for each London borough for the next financial year on provision of respite care facilities. [142301]

[holding answer 14 December 2000]: There is no separately identifiable SSA element for respite care facilities; rather the provision is made through the four Personal Social Services SSA sub-blocks. As Revenue Support Grant is unhypothecated, it is up to each local authority to decide how much to spend on this, as any other, service.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what measures were taken by the Environment Agency to consult local people about the application by BNFL at Bradwell Power Station for the use of incinerators to burn low level nuclear waste. [142747]

[holding answer 14 December 2000]: The application by BNFL for the use of incinerators at Bradwell Power Station to burn low level waste was one of four applications made by BNFL to the Environment Agency in January 1998 for the disposal of radioactive waste at Bradwell. A public consultation was held on these applications, beginning on 26 May this year and formally ending on 31 August.The Environment Agency consulted widely, including members of the public, national and local public bodies, interested groups and organisations, and the Bradwell Local Community Liaison Council. Copies of the consultation documents were supplied to local authority public registers, local libraries within Essex and main libraries in Suffolk and Kent. Information about the consultation was made available on the Agency's internet site. The start of the three-month consultation period and the availability of the consultation package were advertised in the national and local press, and the Agency issued a press notice.The Agency also arranged public meetings and "surgeries" in the neighbourhood of the power station, which provided an opportunity for face-to-face discussions between individual members of the public and Agency staff. On 22 November 2000 the Agency received a request from West Mersea Town Council/Colchester Borough Council for a further public meeting to discuss BNFL's applications for Bradwell. The Agency has now agreed to hold a public meeting and surgeries in the vicinity of West Mersea as soon as arrangements can be made.The Agency will continue to give consideration to responses from members of the public received after the formal closure date of the consultation, for as long as it remains practicable to do so.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what forecasts his Department has made of the extent of (a) damage only road accidents, (b) injury road accident, (c) motorist fatalities, (d) pedestrian casualties and (e) pedestrian fatalities arising from increases in road traffic since October. [142887]

No estimates are yet available of the levels of injury road accidents and resultant casualties since October of this year. Statistics relating to damage-only road accidents are not collected by this Department.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his letter W/029539/00 of 22 November, when he will reach conclusions on the report into the effectiveness of cycle helmets by Adrian Cook and Aziz Sheikh. [142813]

There is a body of research on the effectiveness of cycle helmets. However, the results are not consistent. We will continue to review the case for making the wearing of cycle helmets compulsory as new evidence becomes available.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when the rebate for vehicle excise duty announced for road hauliers in the pre-Budget Statement will be paid. [R] [142842]

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for North Essex (Mr. Jenkin) on 14 December 2000, Official Report, column 201W.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to introduce legislation on the control of high hedges. [142954]

The Government announced their plans to bring forward legislation on high hedges on 10 August. Although it was not possible to make provision for a Bill in the Queen' s Speech, we are ready to bring one forward as soon as there is space in the parliamentary timetable.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to make a statement to the House on his Green Paper on Civil Aviation. [143036]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Edmonton (Mr. Love) on 11 December 2000, Official Report, column 25W.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he will announce revised details of the Revenue Support Grant. [143498]

I am today sending to all local authorities in England revised details of their proposed Revenue Support grant allocations for 2001–02. On this revised basis, the total of Revenue Support grant will be £21,122,232,459 if the rules I proposed on floors and ceilings are used in distributing grant; and £21,110,821,243 if they are not. The revisions take account of the extended timetable for the introduction of the provisions of the Children (Leaving Care) Act 2000; of updated data on allocations of Basic Credit Approvals, and council tax base; and of other minor changes or corrections.Copies of the documents setting out revised figures to inform consultation have been placed in the Vote Office and the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when his Department will conduct a quinquennial review of the Benefits Agency. [143499]

All executive agencies are required to undertake a formal review of their organisation every five years to examine whether further improvements in customer service, use of modern technology and value for money could be made.In March this year my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister announced plans to develop a brand new agency which will provide a single point of access for advice on looking for work and accessing benefits. The new agency will draw together the Employment Service and those parts of the Benefits Agency dealing with people of working age.This announcement effectively overtook the quinquennial review of the Benefits Agency which was planned to be undertaken this year in parallel with a review of the Employment Service. Following consultation, my right hon. Friend the Minister of State, Cabinet Office has formally agreed to cancel the requirement for a quinquennial review of the Benefits Agency. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Employment will be making an announcement about the review of the Employment Service.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many people work in the Office of the Independent Case Examiner for the Child Support Agency; [143014](2) what is the average duration of an initial review of complaints by the Independent Case Examiner for the Child Support Agency; [143012](3) how many complaints are awaiting investigation by the Independent Case Examiner for the Child Support Agency; [143011](4) what is the date of reference of the earliest case which was referred to the Independent Case Examiner of the Child Support Agency where the initial review has yet to begin; [143015]

There are currently 54 members of staff employed in the office of the Independent Case Examiner (ICE), including six members of staff on secondment from the Child Support Agency.On receipt of a complaint the office of the ICE completes a 'gateway' check, or initial review. Part of this check is to ask the Agency if their complaints procedures have been exhausted, and once this is known, the client is informed whether or not the office of the ICE will investigate their complaint. The average duration of this initial review (gateway check) on cases awaiting investigation is currently four working days. Once the investigation process has begun, the investigation officer will seek to clear the complaint by a resolution process. If this action is not successful or not appropriate, a full report is prepared and issued by the ICE.There are currently 219 cases that have passed the gateway process and are awaiting investigation by the ICE office.The earliest case, referred to the Independent Case Examiner where, on 14 December 2000, the initial review (gateway check) was yet to begin, is 12 December 2000. The waiting time between a complaint being referred to the Independent Case Examiner for the Child Support Agency and the beginning of the investigation of that complaint is currently 13 weeks.The office of the Independent Case Examiner opened in April 1997; no complaints were referred to the office before that date. The information requested is in the table:

	1997–98	1998–99	1999–2000	2000–01
Complaints received	1,087	1,226	1,536	1,015
Gateways checked	1,087	1,226	1,536	,989
Resolution	54	239	445	175
Full report	150	235	220	191

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what the average cost is of an oral hearing in the magistrates courts. [143024]

The statistics collected by the Lord Chancellor's Department are not broken down to a level that shows the average cost of a hearing. This information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what remedies are being considered to assist rural communities excluded from ADSL internet access following local unbundling. [142687]

For technical reasons, ADSL will not work where the end user is more than 3–4 km from the local exchange. There are other broadband technologies available, including satellite which can potentially cover the whole country.As stated in the recent DTI/DCMS White Paper "A New Future for Communications", the Government will

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proportion of employment in manufacturing industry is in industries covered by the integrated pollution prevention and control regulations. [142883]

Neither the Government nor the Environment Agency have this information available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he will announce his decision on PowerGen CHP Ltd.'s proposal to build a combined heat and power station at the North Mersey Goods Yard, Port of Liverpool. [143442]

I have today granted consent under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989 to PowerGen CHP Ltd. for the construction of the 60 MW combined heat and power combined cycle gas turbine power station at the North Mersey Goods Yard. Planning permission for the station was granted subject to 39 planning condition agreed with the Metropolitan Borough of Sefton.Copies of the Press Notice and decision letter are being placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to update his Department's figures on energy use by United Kingdom industry. [142884]

Provisional figures for overall energy consumption by the industrial sector in the UK for 2000 will be published on 26 April 2001 in the Department's statistical bulletin, "Energy Trends". Final figures, giving a broad industrial breakdown, will be published in the Digest of UK Energy Statistics on 26 July 2001. A copy of the 2000 edition of the Digest of UK Energy Statistics is available in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what progress has been made on the National Stadium project at Wembley; and if he will make a statement. [141423]

[holding answer 11 December 2000]: The Government welcome the Football Association's decision on 8 December to take a more prominent role over the Wembley project and their determination to review non-core business activities and to bear down on project costs. Sport England will continue to monitor the Wembley project to safeguard the substantial commitment made from the Lottery Sports Fund.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will set out, including statistical information relating as directly as possible to the constituency, the effect on the Blackpool, South constituency of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997. [142231]

The most readily available statistical information broken down by parliamentary constituency is that relating to the National Lottery, including the New Opportunities Fund (NOF), Millennium Award Winners and English Heritage (EH).Blackpool, South has received 29 awards from the National Lottery since 2 May 1997 with a total value of £3,989,088 (nearly three times as much as the period prior to May 1997). Seven awards were for sports projects with a total value of £1,409,363 and five awards were for arts projects with a total value of £93,775. The other 12 awards were to promote social inclusion, lifelong learning and to provide leisure and recreational facilities for all members of the community with a total value of £1,950,749.Blackpool, South has three Millennium Award Winners, so far, who have received £4,947.NOF has provided £93,973 for Out of School Hours Childcare schemes in Blackpool, South and £285,180 for Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Training for Teachers and School Librarians (£441,228 for the whole of Blackpool).The largest DCMS/Wolfson Foundation Challenge Fund for public library projects, to date, was used to create a library and (ICT) Network across the North of England, linking 284 library service points; in 1998–99 Blackpool was granted a DCMS/Wolfson award of £52,000 to establish the Blackpool Community Network across all of Blackpool's libraries. The Network was created in response to both expressed demand and to support the Council's policies, in particular social inclusion and economic regeneration.Blackpool has three Year of the Artist awards since 2 May 1997 worth a total of £10,204 and on a regional level, the North West Arts Board received an additional £9,766,313 from the Arts Council this year to support arts and cultural activity across the region.In May 1997 EH paid £7,000 towards essential fabric repairs on the grade II Grand Theatre in Blackpool (this was the final payment of a total grant of £63,000).There are, of course, other initiatives in the wider context of Blackpool which will have had an effect on the constituency of Blackpool, South; since 2 May 1997 Blackpool has received 48 awards with a total value of £5,219,135.Blackpool's bid for Round 6 of the Single Regeneration Budget (SRB) Removing Barriers/Creating Opportunities in Blackpool is worth £20 million (SRB). The scheme, worth a total of £96.2 million, will focus on encouraging economic growth in the tourism sector through initiatives in, for example, education, training, and crime prevention. Blackpool's previously successful SRB scheme, which focused on economy, training and education, housing, community and health, was worth a total of £68.707 million (£19.4 million, SRB).Blackpool has also been granted eligibility under the 2000–06 programme for Objective 2 funding and is also eligible for Regional Selective Assistance (RSA) as an Assisted Area (RSA is granted in support of investment projects to secure employment opportunities and increase regional competitiveness and prosperity).

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will list the local, sub-regional and regional partnerships, boards of zones and other cross-sectoral bodies supported by his Department; and the funding streams with which they are associated. [142191]

The only bodies of this type which are currently supported directly by my Department are the eight Regional Cultural Consortiums in the English regions outside London, which are funded from my Department's programme budget.From April 2002, my Department will also be supporting at least 12 Creative Partnerships in deprived areas of England. These will be funded by an additional £40 million grant-in-aid to the Arts Council of England, which will administer the scheme.In addition, my Department's non-departmental public bodies can support cross-sectoral work, which may include support for some partnerships, zones and other cross-sectoral bodies, using grant-in-aid, National Lottery funding and funding from other sources.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what account the National Lottery Commission is required to take of the work of the Camelot Foundation in making decisions about the National Lottery's role in supporting good causes. [142195]

[holding answer 12 December 2000]: Subject to ensuring that the National Lottery is run with all due propriety and that the interests of participants are protected, the National Lottery Commission is required by statute to maximise the returns to the good causes set out in the National Lottery etc. Act 1993 (as amended). The Camelot Foundation does not contribute to the National Lottery Distribution Fund and therefore the Commission will take account of its work only if it believes it impacts on ticket sales.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will list for (a) 1996–97, (b) 1997–98, (c) 1998–99, (d) 1999–2000 and (e) 2000–01, (i) his Department's total spending on advertising campaigns, (ii) the cost of each individual advertising campaign and (iii) the criteria that were established to gauge the effectiveness of each campaign; and what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of each campaign based on these criteria. [142711]

There were no advertising campaigns over this period.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) if he will make a statement on the development and progress of the Masterplan for the South Bank; [142628](2) what discussion he has had with the South Bank Board on the implementation of the Masterplan for the South Bank; if building under Jubilee Gardens and upon the Hungerford Car Park site is envisaged in the plan; and if he will make a statement. [142597]

[holding answer 14 December 2000]: I welcomed the publication of the masterplan earlier this year as a major opportunity to secure a bright future for visitors, residents, artists and performers in this most important location. The masterplan contains a number of options upon which decisions have yet to be made. Some options involve building under Jubilee Gardens and upon the Hungerford Car Park site. The implementation of the masterplan is a complex process involving many stakeholders, and an admirably comprehensive public consultation process has been carried out by the development team. I meet the Chairman and Chief Executive of the South Bank Centre on a regular basis to keep in touch with developments, and look forward to continued progress towards the realisation of the masterplan.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the saving from withdrawing his proposed child tax credit from higher rate taxpayers at a rate of (a) £10 loss of credit per £5 of extra income, (b) £10 loss of credit per £4 of extra income and (c) £10 loss of credit per £3 of extra income. [141342]

[holding answer 11 December 2000]: The saving from withdrawing the children's tax credit from higher rate tax payers at a rate of £10 loss of credit per £5 of extra income, £10 loss of credit per £4 of extra income, and £10 loss of credit per £3 of extra income is estimated to be around £60 million, £65 million and £75 million respectively.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the average bank interest rate for mortgages has been since October 1995. [142478]

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much interest would have been accrued on unpaid national insurance contribution rebates since 1997 if they had been (a) invested 80 per cent. in equities and 20 per cent. in gilts and (b) had grown in line with the average growth of funded pensions. [142477]

It is estimated that the return accrued on unpaid national insurance contribution rebates since 1997 might have been some £9 million if 80 per cent. had been invested in equities and 20 per cent. gilts. A similar figure would be generated if the interest accrued in line with the average growth of funded pensions.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list for (a) 1996–97, (b) 1997–98, (c) 1998–99, (d) 1999–2000 and (e) 2000–01, (i) his Department's total spending on advertising campaigns, (ii) the cost of each individual advertising campaign and (iii) the criteria that were established to gauge the effectiveness of each campaign; and what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of each campaign based on these criteria. [142719]

With regard to the total costs of advertising undertaken by HM Treasury, I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary to the hon. Member for Guildford (Mr. St. Aubyn) on 18 May 2000, Official Report, column 256W. Information on the costs and effectiveness of individual advertising campaigns could be obtained only at a disproportionate cost.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received from the Professional Contractors Group on contractors who have left the UK since the introduction of IR35; and if he will make a statement. [142565]

Ministers have received a range of correspondence regarding this legislation. We have received no representations from the PCG as a body about this particular issue.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Sri Lankan Government concerning (a) the Bandarawela massacre on 25 October and (b) the continuing level of violence in that country. [142566]

We were shocked to learn of the terrible massacre at the Bindunuwewa Rehabilitation Centre. We have made clear our concerns to the Sri Lankan government and I raised the incident with the Sri Lankan Prime Minister when I visited Colombo last month. We are pleased that the government quickly undertook to conduct a full inquiry into the massacre. We have underlined the need for the inquiry to be independent, swift and transparent. The on-going conflict is the major root-cause of violence in Sri Lanka. We continue to urge both sides to cease hostilities and seek a peaceful, negotiated settlement. We are encouraged by the positive statements made both by the government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE about taking the peace process forward.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs for what reason the British Council has closed down its operation in Belarus. [142802]

The decision to close in Belarus followed a strategic review by the British Council designed to maximise its effectiveness world wide. Its new strategy involves updating its overseas network to ensure maximum impact in countries of greatest importance to the United Kingdom, and to free up funds for investment in new, IT-based services. This entails closing in a small number of countries, as well as expanding in some others.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what support the Government are giving to the OSCE mission in Belarus. [142801]

The UK, with EU partners, strongly supports the work of the OSCE's Advisory and Monitoring Group (AMG) in Belarus, including through appropriate interventions at the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna, in other international fora, through public statements in Belarus and beyond, and in private contacts with the Government of Belarus. Her Majesty's Government provides 9 per cent. of the common costs of the AMG and one of the five international staff members of the AMG—a political and legal counsellor. We have also made voluntary contributions to support OSCE projects in Belarus.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the structures that have been put into place to provide a framework for dialogue, consultation and co-operation between the non-EU NATO countries and the EU countries concerning the nature and functioning of EU-led operations using NATO assets and capabilities. [143056]

The Presidency Report to the Nice European Council sets out the structures and procedures for involvement of non-EU European members of NATO and makes initial proposals regarding Canada.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what arrangements the EU has made to provide the non-EU NATO members with a voice in shaping EU decisions in crisis management. [143041]

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for West Suffolk (Mr. Spring) on 11 December 2000, Official Report, column 31W.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the conclusions reached at the first meeting between the EU interim Political and Security Committee and the North Atlantic Council held in September 2000. [143060]

The meeting agreed on the importance of taking forward work in NATO and the EU to develop European Defence. The meeting reviewed the work already done in the EU/NATO ad hoc Working Groups established following the Feira European Council and noted the input that NATO experts were already making to EU nations' work on the development of the capabilities Headline Goal.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if non-EU NATO member countries will be given a seat on the EU Permanent Political and Security Committee. [143058]

No, but non-EU European members of NATO and other countries candidate to join the European Union may appoint representatives to act as interlocutors with the PSC. And the PSC will have regular meetings with representatives of the other countries concerned.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects that the final shape of the structure for consultations between the EU and the non-EU NATO countries will be established. [143057]

The Nice European Council invited the Swedish Presidency to take forward implementation of the permanent structures for European Security and Defence Policy, including for consultation with non-EU European NATO Allies and other accession candidates.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the impact of the transfer of the WEU Institute for Security Studies to the EU on its working relations with the WEU and its Assembly. [143061]

No decision has yet been taken on the detailed arrangements for the transfer of the institute of Security Studies to the EU. These will be examined under the Dutch WEU and Swedish EU Presidencies.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the agreements with (a) other countries, (b) the EU and (c) NATO concerning arrangements for the European Rapid Reaction Force; and which of these agreements have been published. [142960]

The arrangements for the EU' s Common Security and Defence Policy have been set out in the published European Council decisions at Cologne (June 1999), Helsinki (December 1999), Lisbon (March 2000), Feira (June 2000) and Nice (December 2000). The Nice European Council set out provisions for involvement of non-member states and proposals for permanent arrangements between the EU and NATO. The public statements of the NATO Summit at Washington (April 1999) and the Foreign Ministers' meeting at Florence (May 2000) set out NATO's support for European Defence.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance he has issued to health authorities regarding continuing care criteria for children and adults with special medical needs who require respite care; and if he will make a statement. [141308]

Guidance on eligibility for continuing health care for children and adults requiring respite care is included in Health Service Guidance (95)8 "NHS Responsibilities for Meeting Continuing Health Care Needs", copies of which are available in the Library. This guidance is currently under review with a view to issuing revised guidance in the new year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will authorise the establishment of the Royal Berkshire Ambulance Service as a pilot site for Category C calls; and if he will make a statement. [141325]

As part of an overall programme for developing and modernising the health care system, we welcome careful piloting and evaluation of alternative ways of responding to Category C 999 calls that are neither life-threatening nor serious. Pilots must take account of the needs of patients, be agreed by local health communities and be carefully explained to the local public. All pilots must be thoroughly evaluated and best practice identified for dissemination across the ambulance service before a final decision is made.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent discussions he has had with his EU counterparts on the issue of embryo cell research; and what was the outcome of these discussions. [142036]

We have had no specific discussions with our European Union counterparts on this issue.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the House of Lords will reply to a letter sent to him by the hon. Member for Altrincham and Sale on 23 November seeking intervention in the case of a 14-year-old constituent suffering from spinal scoliosis. [142193]

[holding answer 12 December 2000]: A reply to the hon. Member's letter was sent on 12 December.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the hon. Member for Walsall, North will receive a reply to his letter of 22 November regarding a constituent. [142732]

[holding answer 14 December 2000]: A reply was sent to my hon. Friend's letter on the 13 December.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to introduce a country of origin labelling scheme for farmed products; and if he will make a statement. [142114]

[holding answer 13 December 2000]: United Kingdom and European Union law requires country-of-origin labelling where its omission might mislead and on certain specified foods, and on all foods in cases where its omission might mislead consumers as to the true origin of the food. The Food Standards Agency is pressing the European Commission to propose compulsory origin labelling for a wider range of foods and tighter rules on the use of terms such as "produce of".

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many ambulance hours were lost for each of the last two years for each NHS Ambulance Trust as a result of delays in admitting a patient to an accident and emergency department; [141503](2) what the average turn-around time was at hospital accident and emergency departments in each quarter for the last two years for each NHS Ambulance Trust. [141504]

[holding answer 13 December 2000]: The information requested is not collected centrally. Each National Health Service ambulance trust works very closely with their hospital accident and emergency departments to ensure that patients receive treatment as quickly as possible according to clinical priority.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment has been made of the impact on attendance times by ambulance trusts as a result of changing numbers of people travelling by road in the last three months. [141502]

[holding answer 13 December 2000]: The information requested is not available centrally. Ambulance services continue to make progress towards our target of responding to 75 per cent. of life threatening calls within eight minutes irrespective of location by 31 March 2001. Achievement of this target across the country could save as many as 1,800 lives a year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what contingency plans have been made since October by each ambulance trust to ensure that attendance times are maintained. [142886]

National Health Service ambulance trusts have a good track record of managing winter pressures and assessment of NHS ambulance trusts' winter plans demonstrates that they are well prepared for the winter and have effective escalation and contingency plans in place.We have set national ambulance response time targets for the ambulance service in England. By 31 March 2001, conditions which may be immediately life-threatening should be responded to within eight minutes irrespective of location in 75 per cent. of cases. Four NHS ambulance trusts are already meeting the 75 per cent. target and most NHS ambulance trusts are expected to reach the target early next year. We have invested an extra £21 million in NHS ambulance trusts in England in 2000–01 to help them to continue making progress on their response times. This money has been invested in extra vehicles and extra front line staff. Evidence suggests that in achieving the 75 per cent. target, 1,800 lives each year will be saved in people under 75 years of age suffering acute heart attacks.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to co-ordinate the activities of NHS Direct and the ambulance service. [142199]

[holding answer 13 December 2000]: As part of an overall programme for developing and modernising the health care system, NHS Direct and National Health Service ambulance trusts are already working together. Co-operation includes co-location of call-taking centres and working together to pilot alternative ways of responding to Category C 999 calls that are neither life-threatening nor serious.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to set national standards and protocols for medical and surgical care administered by ambulance service staff. [142206]

[holding answer 13 December 2000]: Last year the Department asked the Joint Royal College Ambulance Liaison Committee (JRCALC) to develop pre-hospital national clinical guidelines. JRCALC made the guidelines available to all National Health Service ambulance service trusts in October 2000. A copy of the guidelines is available in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to educate the general public in the correct use of the 999 ambulance service staff. [142206]

[holding answer 13 December 2000]: Advice to the general public on the appropriate use of the 999 emergency telephone number is provided locally by National Health Service ambulance trusts, for example, through visits to schools and presentations at other public events.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the number of additional ambulances and crew required by the London Ambulance Service (a) to achieve the best eight minute response rate currently achieved by an urban trust and (b) for 55 per cent. of calls to be responded to in eight minutes, using the most recent annual figures available. [142546]

[holding answer 14 December 2000]: It is not possible to identify the number of additional ambulances and crew required by the London Ambulance Service (LAS) to achieve the best eight minute response rate currently achieved by an urban trust.The LAS have a plan for the achievement of 55 per cent. of calls to be responded to in eight minutes. In the plan, the number of additional crew required is 125 additional staff on the establishment. The number of additional ambulances needed to meet this response rate is 25. However, meeting this target is not just a matter of more ambulances and crew members; location of ambulances in the area is a factor, as are working practices of the LAS.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what senior positions in the Meat Hygiene Service are vacant; and if he will make a statement. [142627]

[holding answer 14 December 2000]: There is currently one senior management vacancy within the Meat Hygiene Service (MHS). This is the position of Director of Veterinary Services, which is currently filled on an acting basis, pending the recruitment of a permanent successor by open competition.In addition to this, Johnston McNeill, MHS Chief Executive, will be leaving the MHS on 31 December to take up the position of Chief Executive (Designate) of the new Common Agricultural Policy Paying Agency.Chris Lawson, Head of the Food Standards Agency's Meat Hygiene Division, will become Acting Chief Executive of the MHS from January 2001, until a permanent successor has been appointed by open competition.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he has taken to promote equality between (a) older people, (b) disabled people, (c) ethnic minorities, (d) religious minorities, (e) women and (f) gay and lesbian people, and the rest of the population in each case, with respect to the services and employment overseen by his Department. [142515]

[holding answer 14 December 2000]: As an equal opportunities employer, the Department is committed to fairness and equality of opportunity for all in employment, and advancement on the basis of suitability. The Department's equal opportunities statement requires that no eligible job applicant should receive less favourable treatment on the grounds of age, disability, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origins, religion or religious affiliation or because they work part-time.As an employer we aim to develop the Department into an organisation that values the diversity of its staff and enables all to realise their potential by valuing the contribution of all and recognising the positive benefits that difference can bring.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the (a) actual and (b) target figure for the percentage of people with a history of coronary heart disease prescribed statins in 2000. [142942]

The National Service Framework for Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) sets the standard that all people with established cardiovascular disease or a past history of CHD should be identified and offered comprehensive advice and appropriate treatment to reduce their risks. Effective interventions include the prescription of statins and dietary advice to reduce the level of cholesterol.At present the exact percentage of people with a history of CHD who are currently receiving statins is not known. However, the percentage of people in the priority groups for lipid-lowering drugs—those who have had a heart attack and those with angina—is estimated at 4.8 per cent. of the population aged 35 to 69. The NSF sets a milestone of April 2003 for primary care teams to keep clinical audit data which will enable them to provide data on the number and proportion of their patients with recognised CHD, or at high risk of developing it, and the advice offered about appropriate interventions to reduce risk. This will include data on these patients' cholesterol levels and the advice and treatment offered to them.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is on the availability of the statin class of drugs on the National Health Service to those with a high cholesterol rate but no history of coronary heart disease. [142940]

The National Service Framework for Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) sets out the approach to be taken for people at high risk of CHD—those with symptoms of heart disease or other arterial disease, or who exhibit multiple risk factors. Identifying and treating people at greatest risk is one of the highest priorities of the National Service Framework. Chapter Two includes advice on the prescription of statins to eligible patients, and sets a practical threshold of risk that will target resources at those in greatest need.Our first priority is to treat those with established cardiovascular disease. The next step, and a high priority for the NSF, is the treatment of those without diagnosed CHD or other cardiovascular disease but whose risk of a cardiac event—their CHD risk—is greater than 30 per cent. over 10 years. This is consistent with the guidance already issued to the NHS by the Standing Medical Advisory Committee and with the Joint British Society guidelines published in the

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which Government Departments (a) carry out and (b) fund procedures licensed under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986. [142408]

Licence authorities to carry out scientific procedures under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 are held by 11 Government establishments, undertaking work on issues including the management and conservation of fish stocks, the diagnosis and treatment of diseases of agricultural animals and the safety testing of vaccines. A number of other establishments licensed under the 1986 Act with executive agency, non-departmental public body and research council status also have links with Government Departments. The parent and associated Government Departments for these two groups of licensed establishments include the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, the Ministry of Defence, the Department of Health, the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions and the Scottish Executive.The Home Department does not hold detailed information centrally on the sources of funding for research programmes licensed under the 1986 Act. The Home Department liaises with a number of grant awarding bodies on issues relating to the licensing of scientific research under the 1986 Act. Government Departments which may fund such research directly or indirectly include the Department of Trade and Industry, the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions, the Department of Health, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, the Ministry of Defence and the Scottish Executive.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what steps his Department is taking to explain to the public the criteria used to license scientific procedures under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986; [142410](2) what steps his Department is taking to consult the public about research licensed under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986. [142409]

The Statistics of Scientific Procedures on Living Animals Great Britain (1999: Cm 4841) are published annually and explain the system of control in detail in Appendix A.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what reason the refusal notices and appeal forms stemming from the Immigration Appeals (Family Visitor) Regulations make no reference to legal aid; and if he will make a statement. [142241]

The notice of refusal to issue entry clearance to a family visitor does not make reference to the possibility of funding from the Legal Services Commission. We are urgently considering ways of providing suitable advice.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the average rate of staff sickness in terms of working days per person in the period since 1 April. [142444]

The latest available information shows that the average number of working days lost owing to sickness absence between 1 April and 31 October is 3.37 working days in the Home Department and its agencies (excluding the Prison Service); and 7.89 days in the Prison Service.This equates to an annual rate of 7.58 working days in the Home Department and its agencies (excluding the Prison Service); and 13.53 days in the Prison Service.Because of the way the sickness absence data are collated some of the more recent absences may not have reached the centralised recording system as yet.The Home Department and its agencies have introduced new guidelines, policies and procedures with a view to reducing sickness absence in the Department.The Department's Service Delivery Targets for April 2001 to March 2004, which include a target for reducing sickness absence, were published on Friday, 3 November, and are available on the Home Office website

www.homeoffice.gov.uk/pfd/sda2000.htm. The targets to reduce sickness absence, and sustain this improvement thereafter, are:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to increase the capacity for detaining asylum seekers; what is the (a) current and (b) planned capacity; what sites have been identified for new detention places; on what dates it is intended to open new detention facilities; and if he will make a statement. [142632]

We plan to increase the Immigration Detention estate from its current capacity of around 900 places to about 2,700 places. Work has already started to provide by next summer 900 places at the Defence Evaluation Research Agency (DERA) site near Bedford and 440 additional new places at Harmondsworth near Heathrow Airport. We are also finalising plans to deliver within the next six months up to a further 150 places at Dungavel Prison in Scotland. Our plans to provide 300 new detention places at Aldington, Kent, cannot be progressed as quickly because the public inquiry into the planning process has been adjourned pending the final outcome of litigation of another case before the courts in respect of a project at Alconbury.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if convictions for any of the offences created by (a) Schedule 2 and (b) Schedule 3 of the Hunting Bill would be disclosable on (i) the Criminal Conviction Certificate, (ii) the Criminal Record Certificate and (iii) the Enhanced Criminal Record Certificate. [143003]

All three levels of certificate to be issued by the Criminal Records Bureau will show convictions and, in the case of the two highest levels of certificate, cautions, reprimands and warnings recorded on the Police National Computer (PNC). With certain exceptions, imprisonable offences only are recorded on the PNC. Since the offences in the Hunting Bill are not imprisonable, convictions would not presently be entered. An Enhanced Criminal Record Certificate (ECRC) would also contain information from local police records which the police considered relevant to the purpose for which the certificate was being sought. The purposes for which an ECRC may be relevant are set out in detail in sections 115 and 116 of the Police Act 1997. In the main, they relate to posts which involve regularly caring for, training, supervising or being in sole charge of children and young persons, or of vulnerable adults; to certain licensing matters in connection with gaming and lotteries; and to judicial appointments.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons in England and Wales permit their land to be used for hunting wild mammals with dogs. [143002]

No figure of this kind is available and the Committee of Inquiry into Hunting with Dogs in England and Wales made no attempt to try to ascertain it.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what positions (a) in the judiciary, (b) in the police service and (c) elsewhere in the public service a person convicted of an offence created by (i) Schedule 2 and (ii) Schedule 3 of the Hunting Bill would be disqualified from holding either by statute or by policy because of such a conviction; and if he will make a statement. [143023]

There is no specific reference in the Hunting Bill to these posts. A criminal conviction per se would not disqualify a member of the judiciary from continuing to hold his or her office, nor would it preclude an appointment to the judiciary. It would be for the Lord Chancellor to consider in the light of the particular circumstances what action, if any, it would be appropriate to take in the event of such a conviction.It is for individual chief officers of police to consider the disciplinary action to be taken as the result of a police officer's criminal conviction on a case by case basis. The level of disciplinary action taken against an officer can range from a caution to a dismissal. Similarly, it is for individual chief officers to decide whether a particular conviction should be a bar to the recruitment of an applicant.Information about the effect of a criminal conviction elsewhere in the public service is not held centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what will happen to the proceeds of forfeiture orders made under the Hunting Bill. [143020]

The proceeds of forfeiture orders made under the Hunting Bill will be treated as proceeds under existing forfeiture orders. The regulations governing this are the Police (Property) Regulations 1997. These require the proceeds of sales of forfeited property to be paid into the Police Property Act Fund. Money in the fund, including the interest on it, may be used to defray the costs of storage and handling such property, to pay reasonable compensation to persons by whom the property has been delivered, or for charitable purposes.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what assessment he has made of the implications of (a) Schedule 2 and (b) Schedule 3 of the Hunting Bill for delay in (i) the magistrates courts and (ii) the Crown courts; [143019](2) what estimate he has made of the

We have no reason to believe that those who engage in hunting are not law-abiding members of the community. There should not therefore be increased levels of crime as a consequence of any of the options.My officials have consulted the Association of Chief Officers of Police (ACPO) about the Bill. ACPO does not believe that any of the options will place demands on resources that will be significantly greater than those that police forces already face in policing anti-hunt activities.I am advised that there have been no discussions with the probation service and the court service, nor have they made any representations on these matters.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what criteria are to be applied to a mammal to define if it is wild for the purposes of the Hunting Bill; and if he will make a statement. [143022]

The criteria to be applied to a mammal to define if it is wild are the definition of "wild mammal" contained in each schedule to the Bill and the ordinary and natural meaning of the word 'wild' in accord with the usual rules of judicial interpretation.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the number of (a) dogs and (b) other animals that will be destroyed if (i) Schedule 2 and (ii) Schedule 3 of the Hunting Bill is enacted; and if he will make a statement. [143021]

The options contained in Schedules 2 and 3 to the Hunting Bill have been put forward by the Middle Way Group and Deadline 2000 respectively and they are responsible for the content, and consequences, of those Schedules.

Pay (ACPO ranks)
	With effect from 1 September 2000
	Officers appointed on a fixed term basis	Officers not appointed on a fixed term basis
Assistant Chief Constable	£66,435-£76,260	£63,270-£72,630
Designated Deputies ACC (D)	80 per cent. of the basic salary of their Chief or £76,260, whichever is higher	80 per cent. of the basic salary of their Chief or £72,630, whichever is higher
Chief Constable
Population band
up to 500,000	£79,620-£91,059	£75,825-£86,718
500,001 to 1,000,000	£83,694-£98,421	£79,710-£93,732
1,000,001 to 2,000,000	£91,059-£105,780	£86,718-£ 100,743
over 2,000,000	£100,767-£ 113–718	£96,075-£108,429

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make available to the House the advice he has received on the compatibility of each of the options in the Hunting Bill with the Human Rights Act 1998. [143007]

It has been the policy of successive Governments not to publish the legal advice that is made available to Ministers.