To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how much waste was imported for use in cement kilns in each of the last 10 years. [142262]

The estimated quantity of hazardous waste imported into the United Kingdom from 1997 to date for use as fuel in cement and lime kilns is as follows:

	Tonnes
1997	3,580
1998	2,932
1999	8,209
2000	7,150

Final figures for 2000 will not be available until the summer of 2001 since, under European law, the kilns have 180 days following receipt of the waste to provide the UK regulatory authorities with a certificate of recovery confirming the actual quantity of waste used as a fuel.Accurate information about imports solely for cement kilns, rather than for cement and lime kilns can be provided only at disproportionate cost. Information about waste burnt imported for burning at such facilities before 1997 is not available since the UK regulatory authorities do not hold such data.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what emission standards are applicable to cement kilns and high temperature incineration plants. [142259]

Processes subject to Directives 89/369/EEC and 89/429/EEC on the reduction of air pollution from municipal waste incineration plant, and 94/67/EC on the incineration of hazardous wastes are required to comply with the emission limits set out therein. Other processes subject to Integrated Pollution Control (IPC) are expected to achieve the benchmark emission standards set out in the Environment Agency's published guidance notes in accordance with BATNEEC. Benchmark emission standards for cement works are set out in the Agency's IPC Guidance Note S2 3.01, and for incinerators in Guidance Note S2 5.01. Where hazardous waste is burned in cement kilns, the processes must comply with the terms set out in the Hazardous Waste Incineration Directive. Specific emission limits have been set for each plant and are stated in individual authorisation, which can be obtained from the public registers located at the relevant local Environment Agency or local authority office.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will amend planning regulations to require a planning application to be submitted when composition of materials to be burnt in cement kilns is modified significantly. [142263]

The modification of the composition of materials to be burnt in cement kilns would not, in itself, constitute a change of use for which planning permission would be needed. We therefore have no intention to amend the planning system to require a planning application in such cases.Any proposal to burn a modified composition of fuel will, however, require the operator to submit an application for a variation to their authorisation where they are regulated under the Integrated Pollution and control regime. If the variation is significant, the Environment Agency must consult with interests parties prior to its determination.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what tonnage of hazardous waste was disposed of in cement kilns and high temperature incineration plants in each of the last 10 years. [142260]

The estimated quantity of hazardous waste disposed of in cement and lime kilns, and high temperature incinerators from 1997 to date are set out in the table.

Tonnes
	Quantity in cement and lime kilns	Quantity in high temperature incinerators
1997	51,895	126,978
1998	131,325	123,646
1999	117,937	117,996

Final figures for 2000 will note be available until the summer of 2001 since, under European law, both types of facilities have 180 days following receipt of imported hazardous waste to provide the UK regulatory authorities with a certificate of disposal or recovery confirming the actual quantity of waste handled.Accurate information about waste disposed of in cement kilns, rather than for cement and lime kilns can be provided only at disproportionate cost. Any information about waste disposed of at these facilities prior to 1997 could be provided only at disproportionate cost, since the UK regulatory authorities are not required to hold data for previous years.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) if he will list the locations of cement kilns and high temperature incinerators in the UK; [142257](2) what tonnage of emissions there were for each cement kiln and high temperature incineration plant per year in each of the last 10 years; [142261](3) if he will list the cement kilns with combustion-emission monitoring equipment in place. [142265]

A list of 15 cement kilns and 64 high temperature incinerators¹, including three merchant high temperature incinerators, has been placed in the House Library. All of the cement kilns listed have equipment in place for monitoring emissions to air. Reported emissions from each site are publicly available on the Environment Agency's Pollution Inventory for each year since the site was authorised under Integrated Pollution Control. IPC was phased in during the early to mid 1990s. The Pollution Inventory can be accessed on www.environment-agency.gov.uk. Details of emissions prior to authorisation under IPC are not held centrally and can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list emission limits applicable to plants burning fuel. [142266]

Plant burning fuel which are subject to regulation under Part I of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 are required to use the best available techniques not entailing excessive cost (BATNEEC) for preventing the release of harmful substances; where that is not possible emissions must be minimised and rendered harmless.Plant burning fuel listed under Chapter 1.3, Part A, of the Environmental Protection (Prescribed Processes and Substances) Regulations SI1991/No.472 are expected to achieve the benchmark emission standards set out in the Environment Agency's published guidance notes in accordance with BATNEEC. Benchmark emission standards for combustion processes are set out in IPC Guidance Note S3 1.01, for combustion plant. Specific emission limits are set for each plant and stated in individual authorisations which can be obtained from the public registers located at the relevant local Environment Agency or local authority office.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to allow the export of hazardous waste from the UK. [142264]

The legally binding UK Management Plan for Exports and Imports of Waste currently prohibits all exports of waste for disposal. This approach is consistent with longstanding UK policy that developed countries should be self-sufficient in waste disposal. Consistent with the UN Basel Convention, exports of hazardous waste for recovery are permitted only to OECD countries and Liechtenstein.This summer the UK Government went out to consultation on revised UK export and import policies. The consultation paper proposed an exception to the current prohibition on exports for disposal in two tightly defined circumstances:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many deaths there were from (a) carbon monoxide poisoning and (b) fire in houses in multiple occupation in (i) each of the last 20 years in England and (ii) 1980 to 1998 in Wales. [141687]

[holding answer 11 December 2000]:Carbon monoxide (CO) poisoningI refer my hon. Friend to my answer of 13 November 2000,

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many people over 60 years (a) have had work carried out and (b) he estimates will have had work carried out by 31 March 2001 under the new home energy efficiency plus scheme. [142485]

The table identifies the number of people over 60 years of age who have (a) received HEES and HEES Plus measures up to 30 November 2000; and (b) are projected to do so up to 31 March 2001:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many grants were awarded under the home energy efficiency scheme in the Eccles constituency between 1997–98 and 1999–2000; and what was the (a) total value of grants and (b) average value of grants. [142482]

The table identifies the value of grants and the average spend per property in the Eccles constituency for the financial years 1997–2000:

£
Financial year	Value of grants	Average value of grants
1997–98	296,960	168
1998–99	365,397	246
1999–2000	423,702	227

The new Home Energy Efficiency Scheme (HEES) for England was launched on 1 June 2000. It replaced the more limited scheme that operated since 1991. HEES provides packages of insulation and heating measures, linked to the condition of the property and the circumstances of the householder. The grant maximum has been increased from £315 up to £2,000. As a consequence, the average value of work per household will substantially increase in the current financial year.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what recent discussions has he had with the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police on ways in which to increase the speed of flow of traffic in the London metropolitan area. [142530]

None. The Mayor of London and Transport for London are now responsible for strategic transport matters in London.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he next plans to meet leaders of the transport industry to discuss ways in which HGV vehicles can be discouraged from using roads in central London. [142533]

Neither my right hon. Friend nor I have any such plans. This is a matter for the Mayor of London and the Association of London Government's Transport and Environment Committee.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) how many times in the last year he has met staff of the Mayor of London to discuss (a) the average speed of road traffic in London and (b) the ways in which the flow of traffic on London roads can be improved; [142564](2) how many times in the last year he has met the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis to discuss the flow of traffic on London roads. [142695]

Neither my right hon. Friend nor I have had any such meetings. However, before 3 July 2000, officials of the Government Office for London, the Highways Agency and the Traffic Director for London had regular meetings with the Metropolitan police at operational level. On that date the Mayor of London and Transport for London became responsible for strategic transport matters in the capital.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) when he last met representatives of the London Hackney Carriage Trade to discuss the activities of unlicensed private hire vehicles in central London; [142528](2) when he plans to introduce regulations concerning competition between licensed taxis and

A system of licensing London's private hire operators, drivers and vehicles is being introduced in three stages through the implementation of the Private Hire Vehicles (London) Act 1998. From 22 January next year, Transport for London will start licensing London minicab operators; from 22 October it will be an offence to operate minicabs without the appropriate licence. Transport for London will take forward the second and third phases of implementation. I understand that they are having discussions with the taxi and private hire trades. It is already an offence to tout for minicab services; enforcement is a matter for the police.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he expects the speed restrictions on the Heathrow Express to be lifted. [142580]

Railtrack says that as at 15 December there is currently one 40mph emergency speed restriction on the down line at Ladbroke Grove, imposed following the Hatfield derailment. Railtrack is working to remove this emergency speed restriction as soon as possible.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what recent discussions he has held with transport safety organisations to discuss the level of (a) cyclist and (b) pedestrian casualties in metropolitan London. [142535]

DETR Officials have met officers of Transport for London and the Road Safety Officers of the Boroughs on a number of occasions to discuss these issues, particularly in the context of the Mayor's Transport Strategy.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what financial assistance the Government have provided to (a) Railtrack and (b) rail operating companies in each of last three years. [142877]

Government subsidies are paid to train operating companies (TOCs) in the form of Support for Passenger Rail Services (SPRS) paid by the Franchising Director and grants paid by Passenger Transport Executives (PTEs). The table provides details, for 1997–98, 1998–99 and 1999–2000, of SPRS and PTE payments to TOCs.

Passenger grants paid to TOCs, etc.
£ million cash prices
	1997–98	1998–99	1999–2000
SPRS payments	1,429	1,196	1,031
PTE payments	375	337	312
Total Government subsidies to TOCs	1,804	1,533	1,343

Since privatisation, no Government subsidies have been paid direct to Railtrack, but the company's profitability is contingent on public money. Some 85 per cent. of Railtrack's income is paid to the company by TOCs in access charges, a substantial proportion of which are supported by Government subsidies.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 13 December 2000, Official Report, column 160W, concerning the rail network, if he will provide the same information for the period 1992 to 1997. [143357]

Due to the implementation of a new database by the Health and Safety Executive, the information requested by the hon. Member is not currently available. I will write with the information in January and a copy will be placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what representations he has received from United Kingdom ports on the proposed EU Directive on ports services; [142840](2) if it is Her Majesty's Government's policy to oppose the proposed EU Directive on port services; [142839](3) what assessment he has made of the cost of the proposed EU Directive on port services; [142838](4) when United Kingdom ministers will discuss the proposed EU directive on port services with their counterparts in other EU member states. [142841]

[holding answer 15 December 2000]: The European Commission has not yet published its proposals for a Directive on access to port services, but officials have been keeping in touch with the Commission's thinking, and we understand that proposals may be launched early in the new year. Once these are public, we shall consult widely on them, aiming to take account of the full range of views on the possible impact, including port and terminal operators, port service providers, port users and customers, trade unions and other interests. There will also be opportunities for discussions with other member states. There are likely to be a number of important issues that will need to be addressed. Representations have been received from the UK Major Ports Group and we are also aware of the views of the British Ports Association and a number of port and terminal operators. Our general policy is to support the broad principles of liberalisation and competition in the provision of port services, subject to appropriate safeguards and standards.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what due diligence inquiries have been undertaken into the financial supporters of Legacy plc. [143272]

Inquiries were made by the competition team, as is normal practice in a matter of this nature. The competition team has advised on bids and bidders throughout the process and will continue to advise while negotiations carry on with Legacy plc.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) when Treasury Holdings acquired a financial interest in Legacy plc; and what that financial interest is; [143271](2) when he was informed of Treasury Holdings' financial interest in Legacy plc. [143275]

The precise details are commercially confidential. However, Treasury Holdings' involvement in the Legacy plc bid has been known for some time.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what guarantees have been (a) sought from and (b) given by Legacy plc regarding the retention of the Millennium Dome structure for a minimum period of time. [143274]

Details of negotiations with Legacy plc are commercially confidential. However, the rules of competition require that the Dome structure is retained for a minimum of 15 years.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what the involvement is of BT, 3Com, Sun Microsystems and NTL in relation to Legacy plc's bid for the Millennium Dome. [143273]

Such information is commercially confidential while negotiations with Legacy plc continue.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if the provisions contained in Part I of the Homes Bill relate to park homes. [143313]

Possible changes to the provisions on the sale of park homes are being considered separately following the report of the Park Homes Working Party, published earlier this year. We have consulted on, and are considering, the Working Party's recommendations.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions which projects put forward for Objective 1 funding in the Merseyside programme are being re-assessed in relation to the rulings made by the European Commission concerning state aid. [143175]

None of the projects presently receiving funding from the 1994–99 Structural Funds Objective 1 programme on Merseyside have been re-assessed because of state-aid issues. The Merseyside Structural Funds Programme Secretariat is currently appraising applications for funding under the 2000–06 Objective 1 programme. It is a condition for the receipt of grant that all projects accepted for funding must comply with the European Commission State Aid rules and the appraisal process will take this into account for all applications.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will give additional powers to local authorities to enable them to more fully investigate complaints from private rented sector tenants about harassment and unlawful eviction by landlords. [143311]

Local authorities already have powers under the Protection from Eviction Act 1977 to investigate and prosecute complaints of harassment and illegal eviction.My Department has recently published a research report on harassment and unlawful eviction, and accompanying best practice guidance for local authorities on dealing with harassment and illegal eviction, including advice on overcoming barriers to effective action.We have discussed the position with representatives of Tenancy Relations Officers, but have no current plans to change the law.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will publish a national register of actions taken by local authorities against the harassment and illegal eviction of private rented sector tenants. [143312]

We have no plans to publish such a register.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many prosecutions have been initiated by the Health and Safety Executive in each of the past five years under the Gas Safety (Installation in Use) Regulations 1998. [142641]

The Gas Safety (Installation and Use Regulations) 1998 replaced the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1994. The number of informations laid in each of the last five years under these regulations is as follows:

Year	Number
1995–96	113
1996–97	144
1997–98	223
1998–99	256
1999–2000	208

The 1999–2000 figures are provisional. Finalised figures for prosecutions in 1999–2000 will be available during April 2001.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps he is taking to protect the public from the dangers arising from do-it-yourself gas fitting work; and if he will make a statement. [142640]

By law only a competent person can carry out gas fitting work. The Government, the Health and Safety Commission and the Health and Safety Executive undertake various awareness-raising and publicity activities to make the public aware of this. The Executive's leaflets and its Gas Safety Advice Line explain that do-it-yourself work can be dangerous and is likely to be illegal. Retailers have been contacted to encourage them to remind purchasers of gas fittings about the importance of using only competent, registered installers for gas fitting work.The Commission addressed this question in its recent Gas Safety Review. Its review report proposes increased publicity to discourage do-it-yourself gas work, more encouragement to retailers to provide 'point of sale' safety advice to consumers and encouragement to equipment manufacturers to include warnings in product literature.While the Commission has concluded in its Review that there is insufficient hard evidence from incident data at present to justify the introduction of a legal ban, it has proposed that the Executive should introduce improved arrangements for the reporting of incidents and the identification of accident causation, including do-it-yourself activity, so that the scale of the potential problem can be more accurately assessed. It is envisaged that the legal position will be reviewed again when this information has become available.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he has reached a decision on the outcome of the 1997 to 1999 consultation on his proposals to reduce the noise limits for aircraft departing from Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted and to improve monitoring of efficiency; and if he will make a statement. [143599]

On 24 November 1997 the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions published a new consultation paper proposing lower noise limits and improved monitoring arrangements. This consultation followed the Court Order of 16 April 1997, made after challenges by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) to the 1996 decision on this subject. The Order, made with the consent of the parties, enabled interim arrangements to be put in place until the outcome of the new consultation. The November 1997 paper was also challenged by IATA but the association withdrew its application for leave to apply for judicial review when the Department undertook to publish a supplementary consultation paper. That was done on 26 March 1999. All the proposals were unchanged. They were:

(a) to relate the noise limits to a fixed reference distance, 6.5 km from start of roll;

(b) to continue to monitor noise levels at the fixed monitors in L_max dBA and to apply the noise limits to all departing aircraft except Concorde and a number of specified exemptions (see (h));

(c) to reduce the noise limits by 3 dBA (daytime) and 2 dBA (night-time), to 94 dBA and 87 dBA respectively;

(d) to retain the five monitors at Gatwick and eight monitors at Stansted currently operating under the interim arrangement, but to resite a Stansted monitor to a better position. At Heathrow to keep the eight sites in the interim arrangements and to add two further monitors as previously proposed;

(e) to calculate the positional adjustments on a revised basis;

(f) to allow a reduction of not more than 2 dB of the noise recorded in specified tail wind conditions;

(g) to require aircraft to be at a height of 1000 ft aal at 6.5 km from start of roll;

(h) to exempt from the new daytime noise limits certain aircraft given exemptions from the Chapter 2 phase out requirements in accordance with the provisions of the EC Directive;

(i) to begin a further review of both monitoring efficiency and noise limits in 2000.

Comments were invited on any aspect of the proposals and on the details covered in the supplementary paper. The closing date for responses was 4 June 1999. Taking account of the information and comments we received, we have decided to implement the proposals, with two modifications:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he intends to make an announcement about Regional Planning Guidance for the south-east. [143600]

Earlier this year, the Government published for consultation proposed changes to draft Regional Planning Guidance for the south-east. We have listened to comments made and strengthened our policies for delivering an urban renaissance, providing affordable housing, avoiding profligate use of land, promoting a living countryside and encouraging development to the east of London in Thames Gateway.

To ask the Prime Minister which areas of responsibility undertaken by European Union institutions he is seeking to remove from them. [141318]

This Government are firmly committed to the reform of the EU's institutions to make them work better and more efficiently. Furthermore, a key concept governing the EU is that of subsidiarity, whereby action should only be taken by the European Union if the objectives cannot be achieved by the member state alone.

To ask the Prime Minister if it remains his policy that Ministers should notify right hon. and hon. Members in advance if Ministers plan to make an official visit to their constituencies. [141531]

[holding answer 11 December 2000]: Yes.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will list those agreements reached at the European Council Meeting in Nice to permit enhanced co-operation on matters not within the scope of existing EU treaties stating the position taken by the United Kingdom on each such agreement and the reasons for it. [142385]

No such agreements were reached. Enhanced co-operation will remain possible only within the limits of the EU's competence.

To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his oral statement of 6 December 2000, Official Report, column 31, what was the basis for his statement concerning the costs of compulsory competitive tendering and Best Value. [142508]

[holding answer 13 December 2000]: The net benefits of Best Value are considerably greater than those of compulsory competitive tendering (CCT). The estimates of annual savings under CCT were in the region of £500 million to £550 million per annum. Best Value aims to improve efficiency by 2 per cent. per authority per annum—a total saving equivalent to £1.5 billion per year. It has only been in place since 1 April this year, but already the first Best Value reviews are revealing the very significant scope for savings which will be available to reinvest in improving services.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations the Government have made to the Government of Sri Lanka concerning the massacre of 25 Sri Lankan youths on 25 October. [143387]

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.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent talks (a) he and (b) his officials have had with the Kenyan Government on the economic, environmental and political prospects of Kenya. [143385]

During my most recent visit to Kenya on 27 November I had detailed discussions with President Moi and a wide range of his Government officials on the political and economic prospects for Kenya. Our High Commission maintains a constant dialogue with all sides of the political debate in Kenya on a wide range of issues.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his reply of 12 December 2000, Official Report, column 122W, how many of his decisions to overturn the refusal of entry visas at posts in India since October 1999 involved applications for workers employed by (a) SHRICO and (b) other companies to work on the new Temple in Wembley. [143068]

None of my decisions to overturn visa refusals at Indian posts have involved workers employed by SHRICO or other companies to work on the new Temple in Wembley.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when HMS Ark Royal will return to operational service; when (a) HMS Bulwark and (b) HMS Albion will enter into service; and when he expects the repairs to HMS Tireless to be completed. [143071]

[holding answer 15 December 2000]: HMS Ark Royal is currently in refit and will be available for operational duties from spring 2002. HMS Bulwark and HMS Albion both enter into service in 2003. We plan to complete the repair of HMS Tireless by the end of March 2001.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which Swiftsure class submarines he expects to be operational next year. [143046]

[holding answer 15 December 2000]: HMS Superb, HMS Sceptre and HMS Splendid are expected to be operational next year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he intends to privatise the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency by means of (a) outright sale to an existing plc or a consortium of plcs, (b) sale to venture capital strategic investors, (c) an initial purchase flotation and (d) other means; and what is his timetable for the privatisation. [141354]

[holding answer 12 December 2000]: I refer the hon. Member to the announcement which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence made in the House on 24 July 2000, Official Report, columns 777–89, about our intention to proceed with the implementation of the Core Competence model for the DERA Public Private Partnership (PPP). Under Core Competence, around three quarters of the current DERA organisation will be turned into a company, referred to as NewDERA. For strategic reasons, the remainder will be retained within MOD to carry out functions that could not appropriately be transferred to the private sector.The exact method and timing of sale will depend on value for money considerations, but our preference is to seek a flotation on the stock market as soon as the company's potential is suitably developed. We will keep open the option to seek a strategic investor as an interim step.The PPP timetable is challenging and envisages organisational separation of NewDERA and the retained elements will be complete early in the new year. This will be followed by a period of shadow operation to test the organisations and their infrastructures. Once this is complete, NewDERA would be vested with its assets and established as plc.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he and his officials have had with (a) employee representatives, (b) management and (c) pension fund companies about future pension arrangements for current DERA employees. [141359]

[holding answer 12 December 2000]: Officials have worked closely with employee representatives in designing pension arrangements for employees who will transfer to the new company. Trade Union representatives were invited to, and have participated in, a pension scoping group which was established to explore potential pension schemes. As this work has progressed, dialogue has continued with employee representatives and we will shortly begin a period of formal consultation on a selected scheme.In addition to formal consultation, a series of roadshows for all affected employees will be conducted in the new year and these will offer staff the opportunity to learn more about the detail of the new scheme benefits and to have their options explained.To ensure that the new scheme meets the Government's commitment to providing broad comparability with the public sector pension scheme, detailed discussions have taken place between DERA management, MOD officials and relevant Government Departments including the Government Actuary's Department, HM Treasury and the Cabinet Office. These discussions will continue as the scheme is established and its rules and administrative arrangements are developed.Early in the process, DERA appointed actuarial and pension fund consultants to assist them in the development of occupational pension arrangements. There have been no discussions with pension fund companies.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if DERA Boscombe Down will (a) remain a military airfield and (b) become a civil airport subject to the Civil Aviation Authority; and if he will make a statement. [141355]

[holding answer 12 December 2000]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave earlier. The future regulatory status of the DERA Boscombe Down airfield has yet to be confirmed. Work to achieve this is part of the detailed implementation process currently under way and includes discussions between the Ministry of Defence and the CAA.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence by what legal process he will change the status of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency from an agency of his Department to (a) a Government owned company and (b) a plc; and what will be the timetable. [141356]

[holding answer 12 December 2000]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave earlier. On the date of Vesting, the relevant assets of the existing DERA will be transferred via a Business Transfer Agreement into a wholly Government owned company created under the Companies Act 1985.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the future status of DERA Boscombe Down within the proposed private-public sector partnership. [141357]

[holding answer 12 December 2000]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave earlier. Under Core Competence, only those most sensitive parts of DERA such as the Chemical and Biological Defence laboratories at Porton Down will remain in MOD. DERA activities at Boscombe Down will form part of the new company, NewDERA.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will set out the timetable for (a) the introduction of shadow structures and operations and (b) the establishment and ownership of a plc at DERA Boscombe Down. [141358]

[holding answer 12 December 2000]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave earlier. The timetable for the implementation of the Core Competence model envisages organisational separation of NewDERA and RDERA will be complete early in the new year. This will be followed by a period of shadow operation to test both organisations and their respective infrastructures. Only once this is completed satisfactorily will NewDERA (of which DERA Boscombe Down would be part) be vested with its assets and established as a plc wholly owned by Government. The precise timing of any transaction thereafter will depend on value for money considerations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many DERA employees will cease to be civil servants from 1 April 2001. [141360]

[holding answer 12 December 2000]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave earlier. At the point of Vesting, around three quarters of current DERA employees, approximately 9,000 personnel, will cease to be civil servants.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the role of drug rehabilitation activity in the Armed Forces. [143101]

The Armed Forces regard drug taking as a matter of the utmost seriousness. A comprehensive drugs education and awareness programme, together with a random Compulsory Drugs Testing (CDT) programme is employed to dissuade Armed Forces personnel from taking drugs. A positive CDT test result by a member of the Services will, in most cases, lead to an administrative discharge which no rehabilitation offered. Those few personnel who test positive, and are retained under exceptional circumstances, receive a formal warning and are closely monitored and subject to no-notice drug re-testing for a period of between two and five years. They also attend the routine Services' drug education and awareness programme during the monitoring period.The position for those Service personnel who are detained at the Military Corrective Training Centre (MCTC) following a conviction for a drug related criminal offence is slightly different. MCTC employ a civilian drugs counsellor to provide confidential counselling and advice to drug offenders. This support is enhanced further by a civilian medical officer and welfare officer.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on service pensions for war widows who have subsequently remarried. [141825]

I will assume that the hon. Member refers to those widows who have been awarded a War Widow's Pension by the DSS War Pensions Agency and who have, in addition, been awarded an attributable forces family pension under the Armed Forces Pension Scheme (AFPS). Attributable pensions for widows and widowers of ex-Service personnel were introduced to the AFPS in 1973.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which helicopter squadron (a) is allocated to HMS Invincible and (b) will be allocated to her in 2001. [143037]

[holding answer 15 December 2000]: No anti-submarine warfare (ASW) squadron is being specifically allocated to HMS Invincible in 2001. A Carrier Air Group including a ASW helicopter component will always be available for the Fleet Flagship Aircraft Carrier if required. HMS Invincible will continue in this role until April 2001, when she hands over to HMS Illustrious. 820 Naval Air Squadron will provide the ASW component in 2001.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made in the establishment of a joint RAF-Luftwaffe Tornado Squadron. [143027]

[holding answer 15 December 2000]: There are no plans to form a joint RAF-Luftwaffe Tornado squadron.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what investigations are taking place into alleged thefts at Faslane naval base; and if he will make a statement. [143049]

[holding answer 15 December 2000]: The Ministry of Defence Police currently has 74 cases of alleged theft at Her Majesty's Naval Base Clyde under investigation. It would not be appropriate for me to comment further regarding on-going police investigations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what improvements he (a) has made and (b) intends to make for meeting the special educational needs of dyslexic pupils. [141958]

We are committed as a Government to helping all children with special educational needs (SEN) to develop their full potential. We are taking a number of steps to raise the awareness of dyslexia and help teachers to improve the identification and assessment of children who have or may have dyslexia, including through baseline assessment, which—although this is not its primary purpose—can be a useful first screen to help teachers identify where a child has learning needs which may require further, more specialist investigation and assessment. The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority is now consulting on our proposals for revising statutory baseline assessment, including our proposal that the 90 current baseline assessment schemes be replaced by a single national scheme, which should help to improve the identification of learning needs. Any national scheme will incorporate the features of local schemes that have been most successful in identifying possible SEN. Training for teachers to support the new scheme would focus on how to use it to identify learning needs needing further investigation and how to devise strategy to help children progress.The National Literacy Strategy has raised standards for all children, including those with dyslexia, and we have started to build on this success by introducing pilot projects in September in 17 LEAs involving over 200 schools to transform standards in English and mathematics for 11 to 14-year-olds. We will implement this nationally in 2001.We are also taking work forward in partnership with some of the voluntary organisations that support children with dyslexia, including the British Dyslexia Association and the Dyslexia Institute. This includes the Department, together with the National Lottery Charities Board and WH Smith, funding a two year "Spell It" (Study Programme to Evaluate Literacy Learning through Individualised Tuition) research project run by the Dyslexia Institute to evaluate the effects of structured programmes of intervention, targeted at seven year old pupils who are experiencing specific difficulties in learning to read, write and spell. Two key aspects of the project are to develop activities that parents can do at home and to share the knowledge and skills of specialist teachers more widely.Following a seminar convened by the DfEE in July 1999 to bring together bodies with an interest and expertise in the field of teaching children with dyslexia, the Pathways Group was formed consisting of representatives from the DfEE and key partners in the field of dyslexia. The Group has been engaged in producing a leaflet designed to help teachers interested in pursuing further training on specific learning difficulties to access relevant training. It is envisaged that the leaflet will direct these teachers towards more detailed course information which will be available via the Department's Inclusion website.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many (i) further education trusts, (ii) foundation schools and (iii) city technology colleges were in existence on 1 April; and if they are (a) statutorily required to publish annual reports, (b) statutorily required to publish annual accounts,

	Question	FE sector	Foundation schools	City Technology Colleges
A	Statutorily required to publish annual reports?	FE sector do not have to publish an annual report just examination results.	Yes	14 of the 15 CTCs are limited companies and as such are required to prepare and publish an annual report. The remaining CTC has no legal status, an annual report is prepared but not published.
B	Statutorily required to publish annual accounts?	Yes. Requirement of instrument of government.	Yes	14 of the 15 CTCs are limited companies and as such are required to prepare and publish their annual accounts. The remaining CTC has no legal status, an annual account is prepared but not published.
C	Subject to the jurisdiction of the parliamentary or local government ombudsman?	No. The funding councils are subject to the parliamentary ombudsman. Complaints about individual colleges can be made to either the funding council or the Secretary of State.	Yes	No, the commissioner would only be able to test whether CTCs were in his jurisdiction if a complaint were made to him.
D	Subject to audit by the National Audit Office?	No, but the NAO have the right to inspect accounts (section 53 of the FHE Act 1992).	Yes	No, the NAO have inspection rights but do not audit.
E	Subject to audit by the National Audit Office?	No	Yes	No
F	Statutory requirement to admit the public to committee meetings?	No. It is up to the governing body to decide who can attend a governing body or committee meeting. Members of the public do not have a statutory right to attend such meetings.	No. It is up to the governing body to decide who can attend a governing body or committee meeting. Members of the public do not have a statutory right to attend such meetings.	No
G	Statutory requirement to hold public meetings?	No	Yes, at least one a year.	No, but they are required to hold an Annual Governors meeting with parents.
H	Statutory requirement to publish the agendas of meetings?	Yes. (Instrument of Government)	Yes	No
I	Statutory requirement to publish the minutes of meetings?	Yes. (Instrument of Government)	Yes	No

On 1 April 2000 there were (a) 425 colleges in the FE sector, (b) 858 foundation schools and 19 foundation special schools and (c) 14 City Technology Colleges and one City College for the Technology of Arts.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment 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. [142184]

This information is not held centrally. Recent reports point to a wide range of formal, informal, statutory and non-statutory partnerships covering a wide range of interests. As a result, the Government are trying to encourage greater rationalisation. The recently issued draft guidance on local strategic partnerships is intended to encourage the development of a single co-ordinated framework for partnership arrangements at the local level. We have also set up the Regional Co-ordination Unit. The Unit has recently published an action plan which sets out how the Government intend to modernise the way it works at regional and local level and improve the way services are delivered on the ground.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many Modern Apprenticeships there are in the engineering industry. [141696]

[holding answer 11 December 2000]: On 30 June 2000 (the latest date for which figures have been published) there were 17,200 young people on Advanced Modern Apprenticeships in Engineering Manufacturing and Engineering Construction in England, accounting for 13 per cent. of those in training on all Advanced Modern Apprenticeships. For Foundation Modern Apprenticeships, there were 3,000 young people in Engineering Manufacturing in England, accounting for 4 per cent. of the total.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) how much money has been paid in subsidies to schools to recruit classroom assistants under the New Deal; [141690](2) how many jobs as classroom assistants have been created under the New Deal. [141692]

[holding answer 11 December 2000]: The New Deal is about making people employable, through training and experience of work for example, rather than directly creating jobs. People who find jobs helped by New Deal do so in the regular labour market.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and employment what representations he has received from youth organisations on the effects of having their volunteers checked by the Civil Records Bureau. [142699]

My Department has received representations from the National Council for Voluntary Youth Services, three other national voluntary youth organisations, and one local council for Voluntary Youth Services, about proposals for the payment for checks on the suitability of volunteers to work with children and young people.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will provide statistical analysis of the professional background of those serving as school inspectors in England. [142585]

Information is not held centrally about all those who undertake inspection work in schools in England. Ofsted holds information about HM Inspectors of Schools and those who are registered or enrolled to conduct or assist with inspections of schools under section 10 of the School Inspections Act 1996. I have asked HM Chief Inspector of Schools in England, Mike Tomlinson, to write to the hon. Member and to place a copy of his letter in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what overall average amount of funding per student English universities received in each of the last four years. [142587]

The publicly planned funding per full-time equivalent higher education student in England is published annually in the departmental report for the Department of Education and Employment. The table shows the publicly planned funding per full-time equivalent higher education student in England, at 1999–2000 prices. Unit funding per student rounded to the nearest £5 is:

	£
1989–90	7,620
1990–91	6,935
1991–92	6,585
1992–93	6,090
1993–94	5,745
1994–95	5,585
1995–96	5,335
1996–97	4,980
1997–98	4,845
1998–99	4,820
1999–2000	4,785
2000–01	4,750

The rate of decrease slowed appreciably in the last four years, and my right hon. Friend announced on 18 July that for the first time in over a decade there will be a real-terms increase in funding per student in 2001–02, which will be sustained in the following two years.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many schools in (a) London and (b) the rest of England take part in schemes to promote walking to school. [142198]

[holding answer 13 December 2000]: The information requested is not held centrally. However, the Government, working with the School Travel Advisory Group (STAG), have introduced a number of initiatives to support safer routes to school, including promoting walking to school. We have also produced guidance to schools, governors and Local Education Authorities to help them put in place measures to encourage healthier, safer and more sustainable school travel.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will report progress on the re-accreditation of national vocational qualifications. [142296]

[holding answer 13 December 2000]: There has been a 20 per cent. reduction in the number of NVQ titles since they peaked in 1997. The QCA accredits NVQs on a rolling basis and future market needs will be reflected through their re-accreditation programme.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will set out, for each local education authority in England for 2000–01, the amount of standards fund grant (a) contribution received from central Government, (b) contributed by the local education authority, (c) devolved directly to schools and (d) spent centrally by the local education authority in total. [142488]

[holding answer 13 December 2000]: Nationally, the DfEE is providing £1,741 million in grant for the Standards Fund this year, and local education authorities are contributing £604 million. At least 75 per cent. of all Standards Fund grants must be devolved to schools.Tables showing the contributions made by DfEE and local education authorities, on an individual local education authority level, split between revenue and capital grants, have been placed in House of Commons Library.Figures on the precise level of Standards Fund grant which individual local education authorities have devolved to schools, and have held centrally, are not available. The LEA comparative table of budgeted expenditure, published on 29 June, shows each local education authority's level of delegated funding, including devolved Standards Fund grant. A copy of the table has been placed in the House of Commons Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how much money was paid to Cambridgeshire schools through the Standards Fund in each year since 1997–98. [142871]

The following table shows payments made to, or to be made, to Cambridgeshire County Council from the Standards Fund in 1997–98, 1998–99, 1999–2000 and 2000–01. The figure for 1999–2000 is provisional, subject to audit. The figure for 2000–2001 is the total grant currently expected to be paid to Cambridgeshire this financial year. The figures include all grants paid through the Standards Fund payment system, excluding New Deal for Schools Capital, which is not part of the Standards Fund programme. The amount actually paid to schools will depend on local expenditure decisions by schools and the local authority.

Standard Fund payments to Cambridgeshire County Council
£
1997–98	2,599,357
1998–99	3,374,197
1999–2000	5,365,139
2000–01	14,881,499

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what decision he has made on the public funding of Rudolph Steiner schools; and if he will make a statement. [142822]

We are considering, in discussion with the Steiner Waldorf Schools Fellowship, what the scope might be for providing public funding to Steiner schools. No conclusions have yet been reached.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what discussions he plans to have with (a) the Children and Young People's Unit and (b) the Minister for Youth about consulting children and young people on the development of education policy. [142825]

I attach great importance to ensuring that the views of young people are taken into account in developing education policy and assessing its impact. I shall be working closely with the Children and Young People's Unit and the Minister for Young People to ensure that good practice is shared and built upon.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what data he collects on the (a) numbers and (b) circumstances of pupils who are not on school rolls. [142826]

Section 19 of the Education Act 1996 places a responsibility on local education authorities to provide suitable education outside school for children unable to attend school because of illness, exclusion from school or otherwise. By 2002 provision for pupils excluded from school must be full time.LEAs reported that in January 2000 there were 15,089 pupils of compulsory school age not on the roll of a school or pupil referral unit. This figure includes those pupils being educated at home by local authorities, in community homes or units and arrangements made for the education of children in travellers' families. We do not collect centrally the number of pupils educated at home by their parents.The January 2000 Schools' Census reported that 8,479 pupils were being educated at pupil referral units (PRUs).Statutory guidance from the DfEE advises local education authorities to set up systems for collecting data on the number of children of all ages who are out of school, and their achievements. Such a register will help authorities ensure that vulnerable groups do not become lost in the system between education and employment.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a progress report on negotiations with training and enterprise councils for the apportionment of their assets spent; and how many (a) have or (b) have not yet reached agreement with the Department, the value of assets taken into public ownership or divested elsewhere and the value of such public assets put under the control of local learning and skills councils. [142630]

[holding answer 14 December 2000]: Discussions are progressing well with individual TEC/CCTEs about the precise distribution of their asset base. We expect to reach decisions in principle with all TECs early in the new year. The final position will not be know until well into the new financial year after TECs have delivered their contracts and completed their final year's accounts. I will update the hon. Member on progress in the new year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on the readiness of the Learning and Skills Council's information technology systems for its opening for business in April 2001. [142631]

[holding answer 14 December 2000]: The Learning and Skills Council's information technology (IT) systems are currently under development. A number of IT suppliers have been appointed, including FI Group for systems development and ICL for the support and maintenance of IT equipment. The general approach is to manage the transition to the Learning and Skills Council by making maximum use of existing systems from Training and Enterprise Councils and the Further Education and Funding Council and then gradually phasing in new systems. Some Learning and Skills Council systems, eg for payroll and finances, are already in place. Others will be brought in before the Council becomes fully operational.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on progress made towards the achievement of the Commonwealth Heads of Government target on the proportion of women in decision-making roles in political, public and private sectors by 2005. [142513]

[holding answer 14 December 2000]: Statistics are not currently held centrally on all areas listed. However, of the 35,000 appointments made to public bodies some 33 per cent. are held by women. This represents a rise of 10 per cent. on the position in 1991. The Government intend that 50 per cent. of all public appointments should be held by women. In some areas, such as appointments to NHS bodies, this has already nearly been achieved (some 48 per cent.), and the Women's Unit and the Public Appointments Unit are working closely together on strategies which will be sustainable over time to accelerate the overall rate of progress towards that target.Eighteen per cent. of those elected to the House of Commons, 37 per cent. of those elected to the Scottish Parliament and 40 per cent. of those elected to the National Assembly of Wales are women. 23 per cent. of Cabinet members are women. While the Government believe that a more representative proportion of women in political office strengthens the democratic process, selection procedures remain a matter for the political parties concerned.Statistics are not held centrally on women's participation in decision-making across the private sector. However, work continues to develop opportunities for women to participate equally in decision making in the private sector. For example, the Government's work-life balance campaign aims to raise awareness of the benefits of introducing policies and working practices which enable employees to balance their work with other responsibilities and needs in their lives.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what steps he is taking to help schools in coalfield communities meet the match funding requirements for the establishment of specialist sports or arts colleges. [143142]

The Government part fund the Youth Sport Trust and the Technology Colleges Trust to help schools seeking to apply for sports and arts college status. This help includes advice and support on seeking and attracting appropriate sponsorship from the private sector including donations from charitable foundations, private trust funds and individuals.The Government recognise the difficulties which some schools face in raising the private sector sponsorship to support their applications for specialist schools status. It is a challenging task, particularly in areas of socio-economic and rural deprivation. In recognition of this the Government have recently reduced the minimum sponsorship requirement from £100, 000 to £50,000. In return, a school designated as a Specialist School receives a further £100,000 towards its capital building project and additional annual grants totalling around £500,000 over four years.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many free alarm clocks have been distributed to jobseekers by his Department. [142836]

[holding answer 15 December 2000]: We are determined to help people into work as quickly as possible. Local managers have the authority to decide the best way of doing that for each individual, including buying alarm clocks where that makes a difference to someone's chances of finding work We do not hold records centrally on the numbers of alarm clocks that have been given to jobseekers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what the proposed salary scale is for Connexions personal advisers; and whether the scale is linked to the pay of teachers. [142814]

Connexions Personal Advisers will be employed directly by Connexions Partnerships be seconded to partnerships from a range of organisations, or be employed by organisations sub-contracted to deliver Personal Adviser services. We are also working with Partnerships to broaden the pool of people from which Personal Advisers will be recruited. It would not, therefore, be appropriate to impose national salary scales, and there will not be a direct link to the pay of teachers. We have, however, been working with Connexions Pilots on how best to harmonise terms and conditions, and I will shortly be issuing guidance on setting salary scales to Connexions Partnerships.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on medical examinations for vibration white finger in respect of the intermittent nature of the condition. [142153]

The medical assessment process for Vibration White Finger (VWF) has been developed with experts in the area of vibration disease. It allows for a claimant with a history of exposure to vibration to undertake a number of controlled tests and to set out for the examining doctor their symptoms.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent representations he has received from the foundry industry concerning new (a) domestic and (b) European regulations. [142524]

On 23 November I chaired a metals tripartite meeting involving the trades unions and the metals industry trade associations. The foundry industry representatives took the opportunity to draw my attention to their increasing concerns about the burden of domestic and European regulations, particularly in respect of the environment, health and safety, energy and employment. Previous foundry industry representations to Ministers have involved my right hon. Friend the Minister for Trade on anti-dumping issues.In addition the foundry industry and its representative bodies continue to have a good working relationship with DTI officials and matters such as these are discussed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate he has made of the compliance cost to the foundry industry of the climate change levy to be implemented in April 2001. [142729]

There are no compliance costs associated with payment of the climate change levy, as the sum payable will be added to energy bills. However, there may be some limited compliance costs for those businesses who enter Negotiated Agreements to deliver energy or carbon savings in return for the 80 per cent. discount, depending on the existing level of energy monitoring within individual businesses.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many (a) foundries have closed and (b) jobs have been lost from the foundry industry in the last two years. [142685]

We estimate that just over 75 foundries have closed or announced the intention to close over the last two years resulting in some 3,600 job losses.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent assessment has made of the economic situation of the foundry industry. [142522]

The Department has recently commissioned a new series of competitiveness analyses of the metals sectors, including the foundry industry. Work is under way and the final reports are due to be completed in spring 2001. The outcome of the research will be shared with the trade associations representing the industry in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what support from (a) central Government and (b) RDAs the foundry industry has received in each of the last two years. [142523]

The DTI has provided grant funding of £480,111 (1998–99) and £233,193 (1999–2000) under the Innovation budget (including Sector Challenge) for sectoral competitiveness work in support of the foundry industry. The Department is also supporting other foundry industry projects this financial year as well as the new competitiveness analysis study, but to date only a proportion of the funding has actually been paid (£55,582).In addition, Regional Selective Assistance grants totalling £465,000 (1998–99), £773,000 (1999–2000) and £169,000 (2000–01 to end November) have been paid to companies in the foundry industry.It is not possible to separately identify financial support from other DTI (or other Government) schemes that have directly benefited companies in the foundry industry.Information on specific RDA support to particular industry sectors is also not readily available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 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. [142709]

The DTI's expenditure on advertising through the Central Office of Information is set out in the tables. The criteria for assessing the effectiveness of each publicity initiative varies depending on the nature of the policy or service involved, and a judgment on the best means of getting messages to the target audiences. Specific advertising strategies form part of a wider range of activities to publicise individual policies or services, and it is sometimes difficult to untangle the impact of advertising from other actions. However, measures of success are incorporated into the planning for all campaign and advertising expenditure, and full account is taken of the guidance issued by the Cabinet Office on the use of public funds for this purpose.

DTI advertising expenditure through COI
Period	Advertising activity	Amount (£)
1996–97	Queens Awards	185,295
	Export licences	8,510
	Import licences	58,674
	Biotechnology Means Business	178,991
	Business Links	2,527,747
	Fireworks safety	85,150
	Invest in Britain	9,377
	Miscellaneous	110,230
	Total	3,163,974

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many employers have been found to be in contravention of national minimum wage legislation since its inception. [142700]

During the period April 1999 to November 2000, as a result of their investigations, National Minimum Wage Compliance Officers found some 2,500 employers to be in contravention of national minimum wage legislation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if subpostmasters are covered by minimum wage regulations; and if he will make a statement. [143095]

The National Minimum Wage Act and Regulations apply to "workers" as defined in section 54 of the Act, plus agency workers and home workers as defined in sections 34 and 35. It is for employment tribunals to determine whether certain individuals do or do not count as workers, depending on the facts in each individual case. The contractual arrangements of subpostmasters may vary from case to case. Where there is a dispute about an individual's status for minimum wage purposes, section 28 of the Act puts the burden of proof on the alleged employer to prove that the individual is not a worker. If this cannot be proved, then the individual will be taken to be a worker.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many calls have been received by the Minimum Wage Hotline (a) nationally and (b) from Scotland to date. [142690]

During the period April 1999 to November 2000 over 170,000 calls in total were handled by the National Minimum Wage Helpline. In addition, a private sector helpline took 50,000 calls between January and March 1999. Therefore the total number of calls received up to the end of November 2000 is in excess of 220,000.Information on the location of callers is not recorded by region or country. The vast majority of calls to the helpline are simply for information and advice and there is no need to take personal details.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the impact of the General Agreement on Trade in Services on developing countries. [142512]

[holding answer 14 December 2000]: The General Agreement on Trade in Services was one of the agreements concluded at the end of the Uruguay round. It applies to all member countries of the World Trade Organisation (the majority of whom are developing countries) and includes specific provisions relating to flexibility for individual developing countries, particularly the least-developed countries.The GATS provides for successive rounds of negotiations aimed at achieving progressive liberalisation of trade in services. Each member country, including developing countries, chooses for itself both which sectors they want to liberalise and the extent of that liberalisation by choosing the commitments they make (the "bottom-up" approach). They do not have to liberalise if they choose not to. In the current round, which began in January 2000, developing countries have sought to emphasise the importance of liberalisation in sectors of export interest to them, such as tourism services and movement of people. The Government support the GATS negotiations and believes that its results should bring benefits to all WTO members, including developing countries.