To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many representations he has received on the removal of the diamond synchrotron project from Daresbury to Oxford since 1 April 2000. [145205]

Since 1 April 2000, my Department has received 52 letters relating to the location of the diamond project.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what analysis he has undertaken of the reasons given by those in charge of sub-post offices for resigning from their posts in the last five years; and to what extent (a) the level of remuneration and (b) the perceived complexity of modern post office technology are factors in such decisions. [146945]

The Post Office conducts research on the reasons for resignation of sub-postmasters. That research is not undertaken to a regular timetable and therefore does not provide comparable data. Historical research on sub-postmaster resignations is not available.However, internal Post Office research from exit interviews with sub-postmasters has been conducted in the last six months. Of the sample of sub-postmasters interviewed, 9 per cent. cited financial viability of the outlet and 6 per cent. cited computerisation of the post office network as the reasons for resignation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many visits the Export Control Organisation's Compliance Unit made to exporters to examine records held with regard to open individuals export licences in (a) 1997, (b) 1998 and (c) 1999, indicating the number of visits to each exporter. [146654]

The number of visits made by the Export Control Organisation's Compliance Unit are set out in the table:

Year	Number of compliance visits
1997	371
1998	388
1999	477

The totals include visits to a small proportion of exporters who do not hold Open Individual Export Licences (OIELs), but are required to keep records as part of their usage of Open General Export Licences (OGELs).

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he will make an announcement concerning the submission made by John Moores University and TTL concerning its telescope project. [146855]

The report of the North-West Science and Daresbury Development Group is being given careful consideration. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry will be meeting the group shortly to discuss its recommendations. The contents of the report will be made public in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent contacts his Department has had with the Royal Bank of Scotland over Huntingdon Life Sciences. [146418]

[holding answer 22 January 2001]: We have kept in close contact with all the relevant parties and welcome the agreement arrived at on 20 January.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions he has had with Royal Mail regarding the redirection service to overseas addresses; and if he will make a statement. [146613]

[holding answer 23 January 2001]: I have had no discussions with Royal Mail concerning the redirection service to overseas addresses. This is an operational matter for the Post Office.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what consultations he has held with his ministerial colleagues on promoting initiatives to make use of the United Kingdom's expertise in motor sport and related technologies to develop improvements to reduce the environmental impact of future production cars. [146909]

HMG maintain a close working relationship with the Motorsport Industry Association (MIA) on a range of issues to enhance the competitiveness of the UK motorsport industry, including the exploitation of related technologies. DTI Ministers and officials continue regular contacts with the major vehicle manufacturers, SMMT and DETR to look at ways of reducing the environmental impact of motor vehicles without reducing the UK's industrial competitiveness. In addition, the DTI-led Foresight Vehicle programme is the UK's national automotive R&D programme which is supporting collaborative R&D in a range of areas including environmental performance (emissions, fuel efficiency, lightweighting and telematics), enhanced safety and lean manufacturing.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions he has had with the Government in Khartoum concerning Sudan's acceptance of an IMF audit for oil resources. [146828]

We have had no discussions with the Government in Khartoum about the IMF asking for an audit of oil resources. However, we continue to press for transparency in Government revenues and expenditures in Sudan, as does the IMF.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what directions overriding a note of dissent by an accounting officer have been given by the boards of non-departmental public bodies within her Department since May 1997. [147067]

There have been no such directions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he intends to publish the commentary clarifying his Department's position on the risks of depleted uranium and certain of his Department's documents recently quoted by the media. [147737]

The Ministry of Defence is today publishing a paper entitled "Depleted Uranium—Documents explaining the Ministry of Defence position on the risks and health hazards". This demonstrates the Ministry of Defence's determination to be open and transparent on the matter. Copies of the paper are being placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his reply of 15 January 2000, Official Report, column 144W, on depleted uranium, what units cleared Devil Dog dragoon range after the discharge of depleted uranium rounds in 1991; and if the personnel involved were warned of hazards deriving from the passage of depleted uranium rounds into compacted sand berms. [147016]

The contemporary (March 1991) official UK file on training areas and ranges contains a detailed note on the condition of Devil Dog dragoon ranges at that time, including that the clearance of the ranges was to be undertaken by the United States Marine Corps.Although personnel of 49 Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Squadron Royal Engineers and 221 EOD Company Royal Army Ordnance Corps (RAOC) were deployed to Devil Dog dragoon ranges in January 1991, this was for the provision of routine EOD cover during 1(UK) Division training, and not for any subsequent clearance of the ranges (although 221 Company destroyed a number of undetonated munitions on the Ranges in January 1991).Although the deployment of EOD personnel to these ranges was not solely or specifically connected to the use of DU munitions, 221 Company would have been issued with the 14 January 1991 RAOC Technical Ammunition Bulletin, a copy of which was placed in the Library of the House in February 1998. This provided safety procedures for those involved in clearance of DU from any range areas.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the methods used to contain, clean up and immobilise depleted uranium particles fragmented by the test firing of depleted uranium shells at Eskmeals. [145286]

Depleted Uranium (DU) Charm projectiles were fired into a semi-enclosed butt at VJ Battery on the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA) range Eskmeals (formerly part of the Ministry of Defence's Directorate of Proof and Experimental Establishments) during the period between March 1981 and September 1995 when firing ceased. The methods used to contain, clean up and immobilise depleted uranium particles fragmented by the test firing of such shells were in accordance with statutory regulations and were by the best practical means possible following consultation with the Health and Safety Executive. The Environment Agency was also kept informed of these measures throughout the period of the butt's use.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many depleted uranium rounds have been discharged at the range in West Freugh, Wigtownshire; in which years since 1971; and at what targets. [145929]

During 1998 and 1990, 100 and 215 rounds of depleted uranium ammunition respectively were fired into Luce Bay at the, now, Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA) range, West Freugh. These were part of experimental firings to examine the ricochet effects of ammunitions from Goalkeeper and Phalanx following first water impact. The ammunition was not fired at targets.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the Joint Strike Fighter will be able to carry the meteor missile internally. [143329]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence to my hon. Friend the Member for Wellingborough (Mr. Stinchcombe) on 17 January 2001, Official Report, columns 226–28W.The future weapons strategy for a UK JSF is still being developed. JSF would allow for the internal and external carriage of a range of air-to-air and air-to-surface weapons, including those meeting UK-specific requirements. In the case of Meteor, modifications would be needed for the missile to be carried internally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what research (a) his Department and (b) the chemical defence establishment, Porton Down, has carried out to compare the number of individuals exposed to nerve agent in experiments with the numbers exposed to these same chemicals in the military experimental programmes of other countries. [146691]

The Chemical and Biological Defence Sector of DERA at Porton Down has not undertaken any detailed comparison of the numbers of individuals exposed to nerve agents in the course of the Service Volunteer Programme and of those exposed to nerve agents in the military trials programmes of other countries. The number possibly exposed in the UK programme was 3,400.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 14 December 2000, Official Report, column 223W, on Porton Down volunteers, if his Department will compile reports on the nerve agent studies involving volunteers as part of the research to establish the definitive numbers. [146688]

Yes, we intend to identify the numbers of volunteers involved in each of the studies conducted at Porton Down. It is our intention to publish the findings.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) for what reasons the chemical defence establishment, Porton Down, initiated the survey of the health of service volunteers exposed to nerve agents reported in the document "A long-term follow-up of volunteers exposed to GB sarin (CDE Technical Note 175)" in July 1973; [146689](2) if he will place in the Public Record Office a copy of the document "A long-term follow-up of volunteers exposed to GB sarin (CDE Technical Note 175)". [146690]

CDE Technical Note 175 (TN 175) was published in July 1973 and was the second of three similar studies. (The other two were TN 120 published in February 1972 and TN 1010 published in August 1989). The work which led to CDE Technical Note 175 was a small scale study initiated by staff at Porton Down. This was intended to identify any long term health effect of single exposure to nerve agents during the volunteer programme. An examination of the medical records of individuals exposed to nerve agents during the remainder of their time in service indicated no increased incidence of ill health in comparison to a control group.I have arranged for a copy of the document to which the hon. Member refers together with TN 120 to be placed in the Library of the House (TN 1010 was placed in the Library in December 2000). Consideration as to whether or not the document should be placed in the Public Records Office will be given under the terms of the Public Records Acts 1958 and 1967.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service volunteers were tested with the oripavine derivative TL 2636 by staff of the chemical defence establishment, Porton Down, and in what years; for what reasons the tests were (a) started and (b) ended; what the results of these tests were how many technical papers recording the results of these tests have been produced by Porton Down staff; and what research has been carried out by his Department to establish the long-term effects of this chemical on the health of individuals. [146687]

The Service Volunteer Programme at the Chemical and Biological Defence Sector of DERA at Porton Down has undertaken research with the oripavine derivative TL 2636 as an incapacitating agent, part of which has involved service volunteers. The results of this aspect of research are collated in two formal technical papers, one of which covers the period between August 1961 and November 1963 and the second which details a particular trial in January 1968. However, there are several other technical papers which discuss different aspects of the research programme pertaining to this compound.The volunteer studies were undertaken because there was concern that this or similar compounds may be deployed against the UK armed forces to cause temporary incapacitation. A total of 141 service volunteers were involved in these studies which concluded that oripavine had the potential to cause both physical and mental incapacitation.To date no long-term follow-up studies have been undertaken, however TL 2636 is a member of the same group of drugs as morphine which has been used clinically for many years. The current evidence suggests that following single, acute doses of such compounds there are no significant long-term effects on health.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many scientific procedures on animals were carried out at Porton Down in each of the last five years. [146461]

The table shows the number of procedures for the last five years which have been reported to the Home Office by the Chemical and Biological Defence Sector of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA) at Porton Down.

	Total
1995	8,747
1996	11,097
1997	10,956
1998	11,091
1999	11,501

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what decisions his Department has made regarding intellectual property rights which will (a) be transferred to the privatised DERA and (b) stay with the retained DERA; if he will list them; how many intellectual property rights are still to be decided upon; and if he will make a statement. [146454]

I refer my hon. Friend to the announcement my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence made in the House on 24 July 2000, Official Report, columns 778–79, about our intention to proceed with the implementation of the Core Competence model for the DERA public-private partnership. Under Core Competence, around three-quarters of the current DERA organisations will be turned into a company, referred to as NewDERA. For strategic reasons, the remainder will be retained within the Ministry of Defence to carry out functions that could not appropriately be transferred to the private sector. This part will be known as the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory.As part of the PPP implementation process, we are currently carrying out a major programme to identify intellectual property rights within those elements of DERA that will form the new company. This programme is not yet complete, so no list is available. It is our intention that IPR owned by MOD that was developed within those areas of DERA that will form NewDERA should be transferred to the new company. This in essence would mean that NewDERA would be in the same position as it would have been had it been an industry contractor for research and technology work. The balance of MOD-owned IPR currently held by DERA will remain with DSTL.We are committed to ensuring that NewDERA will have access only to that IPR which it has a right to and is necessary for its continuing business with MOD. Use of third party intellectual property by NewDERA will be subject to contractual constraints involving the owner where required.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the staff budget for DERA is; and what proportion of that budget is allocated for expenditure in Scotland. [147012]

The DERA staff budget for the financial year 1999–2000 was £355.3 million of which some 2.7 per cent. was in respect of expenditure in Scotland.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) regular forces, (b) reserves and (c) cadets have used the reserve forces training camp at Altcar, Hightown, Merseyside in each of the last 10 years; and what training is provided there. [146946]

The facilities at Altcar offer a variety of training, including skill at arms training, specialised individual and collective training (including nuclear, biological and chemical and fighting in built up areas) and fitness training.In terms of usage, the Ministry of Defence collects data on the numbers of personnel occupying bed spaces and the numbers who actually fire on the ranges. This information is shown in the tables.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what factors underlay his Department's decision to relocate the facilities at Haslar to Queen Alexandra, Southampton and Selly Oak hospitals; what the overall cost is of these changes; and if he will make a statement. [146604]

The judgment was made in 1998 that the Royal Hospital Haslar would not remain viable as a stand-alone military hospital as it did not have the case mix and volume of patients to support the training accreditation required for Service medical personnel. Following an internal review the decision was taken to close Haslar and to open a MOD Hospital Unit at the Queen Alexandra hospital in order to retain a military medical presence in the Portsmouth area. In parallel, it was decided to establish a Centre for Defence Medicine (CDM) to provide a strong professional focus for Defence medicine. After competition, the University Hospital Birmingham NHS Trust, which embraces the Queen Elizabeth hospital and the Selly Oak hospital, was selected as our principal partner in the CDM, and as such, it will play an important part in the running of this important academic, teaching, and clinical centre. There are no plans to relocate any facilities from Haslar to Southampton.It has been the practice of successive Governments to withhold detailed financial planning assumptions (under exemption 2 of the Code of Practice of Access to Government Information). In broad order terms, however, we estimate that over the next four years (our formal planning period) establishing and developing the Centre for Defence Medicine—including the move of Royal Defence Medical College functions—and preparing for the move from Haslar to Cosham will cost about £30 million in additional running costs and capital expenditure. It is not yet certain, however, whether all the capital expenditure will need to be incurred. The annual running costs of the Centre for Defence Medicine will be more than offset by the savings at Haslar and Royal Defence Medical College once the transition is complete.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what research is being undertaken into thermobaric weapons at Fort Halstead; and if he will make a statement on the development of these weapons in the UK. [146626]

I have nothing to add to the answers I gave to the hon. Member for Sevenoaks (Mr. Fallon) on 15 January 2001, Official Report, column 44W.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what external legal advice he is taking on measures available in international law to protect the sites of maritime graves; and if he will make a statement. [146442]

From time to time my officials meet academics and other experts in international Maritime Law.Most recently they have had discussions with Mr. Mike Williams, Senior Lecturer in Law, University of Wolverhampton, Nick Gaskell, Professor of Maritime and Commercial Law, University of Southampton and Dr. Sarah Dromgoole, Senior Lecturer in Law, University of Leicester. The international and domestic aspects of the protection of military remains and the law of salvage were discussed on both occasions.These discussions form part of the wider consultation process that I referred to during the Adjournment Debate, on 1 November 2000,

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of each of Her Majesty's Forces are stationed in Scotland; how many civilians are employed by his Department in Scotland; and what the projected figures are in each case for (a) 2001–02 and (b) 2002–03. [146173]

[holding answer 22 January 2001]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Perth (Ms Cunningham) on 15 January 2000, Official Report, column 46W.The latest data available for civilian personnel levels indicate that as of 1 December 2000, the Ministry of Defence employed 9,464 personnel in Scotland.Projected figures for service personnel are not available at this time. I shall write to the hon. Member with details of these projections as soon as they are available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the circumstances surrounding an attack on Samawa, Iraq, on Saturday 20 January; how many people were killed; and what damage there was to buildings. [147182]

On Saturday 20 January coalition aircraft conducting humanitarian patrols of the Iraqi no fly zones, were subjected to repeated attacks from Saddam Hussein's forces, including multiple attacks by surface-to-air missiles as well as anti-aircraft artillery. Faced with these immediate threats to their safety, coalition forces responded in self-defence against Iraq's Integrated Air Defence System.We are aware of Iraqi claims that civilian facilities were hit and casualties caused by this action. While it is impossible categorically to disprove Iraqi allegations, painstaking battle damage assessment indicates that all weapons released hit their intended military targets, and that there was no damage to any Iraqi civilian facilities. Baghdad's claims, as ever, should be treated with the utmost caution. We know that Iraq systematically claims that military personnel injured or killed in such incidents are civilian. Iraq claims also that targets have been bombed when no weapons have been released.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the countries which are exempted from the commercial exploitation levy, indicating the reason in each case. [146069]

There are no countries exempted from the payment of the Commercial Exploitation Levy, although there is a reciprocal arrangement in place with the US which allows, under certain circumstances, waiver of levy.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what role the UK military personnel will play in the deployment of UNAMSIL peacekeepers to the RUF-controlled areas of Sierra Leone. [146481]

There are currently 15 UK military personnel serving as observers with UNAMSIL, and seven serving as Staff Officers within the Headquarters of UNAMSIL including the Chief of Staff. It is a matter for the UN Force Commander to decide on their involvement in any UNAMSIL deployments, although ultimately, the Commander of the UK contingent may overrule a decision concerning the deployment of UK personnel, as may those of other countries over their nationals.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the non-availability of his Department's medical staff is reflected in the funds provided for medical support; on what basis staff in a medically downgraded category can participate in military operations; and if he will make a statement. [146601]

As a result of the Strategic Defence Review additional funds were allocated for medical equipment and medical personnel. Further funding has recently been made available over the current and next financial years specifically to provide expedited medical treatment to personnel in shortage categories so that they can be returned to deployability more quickly.The deployment of personnel with medically downgraded categories on military operations is considered on a case-by-case basis. Personnel, with for example, conditions that can be controlled by medication or other intervention may be unable to undertake unrestricted operational military service, but may be suitable for duties in supporting roles.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if Her Majesty's Government will forthwith cease to deploy the Trident weapons system on the basis that it is illegal. [147189]

No. The Government remain confident that our entirely defensive minimum nuclear deterrent is consistent with international law.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what dates he has held minority ethnic press receptions; and which publications and programmes were represented. [146677]

[holding answer 23 January 2001]: I have not hosted a reception exclusively for the minority ethnic press. Representatives of the minority ethnic press are regularly invited to social events hosted by me and my Ministerial team.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the UK ethnic minority publications to which his Department subscribes, indicating the editors and producers he has consulted more than once in the last year. [146676]

[holding answer 23 January 2001]: This information will take some time to collate. I will write to my hon. Friend shortly and place copies of the letter in the Libraries of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is at issue between the British High Commission in Belize and Belize Telecom; and if he will make a statement. [146919]

Belize Telecommunications Ltd. has advised the British High Commission in Belmopan that it considers the latter's actions in using and circulating information about call-back services to be illegal and has pointed out that in their view they are not therefore obliged to maintain telephone services to the High Commission. On the basis of legal advice taken, we disagree.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what contact there has been between Interoute (UK) Ltd. and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office; and if he will make a statement. [146820]

None directly. Interoute forwarded its promotional leaflets to the High Commission in Belmopan. The High Commission circulated them as part of its normal activities in support of UK business, and informed Interoute of this action.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what savings to public funds have been made through the use by the British High Commission in Belize of a telephone call-back system; and if he will make a statement. [146817]

We do not hold figures for the total saving to date. But the use of call-back services reduces the cost to the High Commission of a one minute telephone call to the UK from approximately £2.04 to £0.61, representing a saving of 70 per cent.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent correspondence he has received from the Chairman of Belize Telecoms; and if he will make a statement. [146818]

The Secretary of State has received no correspondence from the Chairman of Belize Telecommunications Ltd. The British High Commission in Belmopan received three letters from Belize Telecommunications. All three were signed by the Chairman of the company.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which Ministers from his Department have visited (a) North Korea and (b) South Korea since May 1997, indicating the dates of the visits. [146638]

No Foreign Office Ministers have visited North Korea. There have been five ministerial visits to South Korea since 1997. Derek Fatchett visited in November 1997, July 1998 and April 1999. I visited in April 2000, and the Foreign Secretary in October 2000.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what support his Department gives to hon. Members to learn foreign languages; and if he will make a statement. [146730]

We welcome any initiatives hon. Members may decide to take to improve their foreign language skills. The FCO maintains a dedicated foreign language training Centre to support the operational requirements of the FCO. The expertise of the centre is available to all Government Departments on a full economic cost recovery basis through FCO Services. Hon. Members will be welcome to use the services of the Diplomatic Service Language Centre in the context of initiatives the Centre is taking to operate in wider markets. The charging basis will be the same. The House of Commons Library has been sent copies of the Centre's Guide to Services.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he takes to ensure his policy regarding the placing of recruitment advertisements for posts in his Department is applied to the Irish ethnic press on the same basis as other ethnic minorities; and on what date his recruitment policy was last subjected to a PAFT analysis. [146979]

I refer my hon. Friend to the replies given to him on 14 December 2000, Official Report, columns 228–30W.On advice from the former Fair Employment Commission in Northern Ireland we advertise all but the most junior posts in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office through the

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his UN counterparts about the imposition of a UN arms embargo in the Democratic Republic of Congo. [146832]

While the possibility of a UN arms embargo on the DRC has not been discussed in the UN Security Council in recent months, the conflict in the DRC is a major focus of concern for the Council as this matter remains under review.The UK fully implements and enforces the EU arms embargo on the DRC, which has been in place since January 1993. We are currently discussing with EU colleagues the case for widening the scope of this embargo.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 10 December 1997, Official Report, column 577W, on child labour, what progress has been made with the monitoring of child jockeys being sold into employment in the United Arab Emirates. [146753]

I share the hon. Member's concern about this issue. I have personally raised these concerns with the United Arab Emirates Authorities, most recently during my visit to Abu Dhabi and Dubai last year. We continue to monitor the situation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list payments authorised by the UN Compensation Fund since 1 January 1998 indicating the payees, the amounts concerned, the reasons for the payment, the total amounts authorised for payment by the Fund since its inception and the total amount of remaining outstanding claims. [147217]

The total payments authorised since the inception of the UN Compensation Fund to those who suffered losses as a result of Iraq's illegal invasion of Kuwait in 1990 are $32.2 billion (December 2000). For the more detailed breakdown which the hon. Gentleman has requested I refer him to the website of the UN Compensation Commission at www.unoq.ch/uncc.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action the United Kingdom Government have taken to implement the judgment of the International Court of Justice in 1995 in regard to the legality of the threat or use of nuclear weapons. [147188]

None. We do not believe that the 1996 Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice imposed any new disarmament obligations on the United Kingdom or that it required either a change in our entirely defensive nuclear deterrence policy or in the NATO doctrine of collective self defence.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what the average size of class taught by one teacher was in (a) primary and (b) secondary schools in East Sussex for each year from 1990 to the latest year for which figures are available. [146695]

[holding answer 23 January 2001]: The information requested is shown in the table.Class size data were recently published in a Statistical Bulletin, "Class Sizes and Pupil Teacher Ratios in England 2000" on 20 December 2000, copies of which are available from the Library, or alternatively can be accessed from the Department for Education and Employment statistical website www.dfee.gov.uk/statistics. Figures from this release show that in September 2000, there were just 30,000 infants in classes of over 30 compared with 485,000 in January 1998. Just 2 per cent. of infants are now in such classes compared with 29 per cent. in January 1998.January 2000 saw a fall in the size of the average junior class in England; and a continuing fall in the size of the average primary class, after rising for a decade. The size of the average secondary class nationally, at 22, is still five below the average primary class. Secondary headteachers are receiving an average of £50,000 this year in direct grant to spend as they choose. If this were spent on recruiting teachers, the average secondary class size could be reduced by up to 0.8.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many statutes enacted prior to (a) 1997, (b) 1995 and (c) 1990 have sections which have not yet come into force. [146237]

The information requested is not immediately available and cannot at present be provided other than at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to the Slough constituency, the effects on Slough of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997. [146934]

The Department has approved eight schemes to improve security, facilities for the disabled and general accommodation at Slough magistrates court. The cost of these schemes was approximately £180,000.The Slough Community Legal Service Partnership (CLSP) is one of 160 CLSPs throughout England and Wales. Throughout the constituency 12 solicitors firms and two Not For Profit organisations have been awarded contracts. The following organisations have received funding amounting to the contract value of £633,950.58:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will provide a list of offices maintained by the regional development agencies outside England; when they were opened; how many staff are employed in each; and what the cost is to each. [145727]

[holding answer 16 January 2001]: The table sets out the offices currently maintained by the Regional Development Agencies outside England, with details of when they were opened, how many staff are employed in each and what the annual cost is to each.

RDA/ Office location	Opened	Number of employees	Annual cost to RDAs	Other comments
Yorkshire Forward:
Asia Pacific	1983	2 full time	£130,000
Japan
North West Development Agency:
Asia Pacific	Late 1980s	2 part time	£50,000	Also have Marketing Agents since 1993 operating in Taiwan
Japan				(£20,000)
Advantage West Midlands:
Europe	November 2000	6 full time	£170,000	Brussels office is a joint office with West Midlands Local
Brussels				Government Association, Higher Education and others. The total cost is £500,000. Also have one rep in Germany since September 2000, that incurs salary costs only of £80,000.
Asia Pacific				One part time rep in Taiwan since April 1998, incurring salary costs only of £40,000; two part time agents in Korea since April 1996, incurring salary costs only of £20,000. From January 2001 six month contract for one rep in Australia incurring salary costs of £65,000.
East of England Development Agency:
Europe				Contribute 4 per cent, of total cost of office to East of England European Partnership Office in Brussels. The office is sponsored by local authorities and the seven TECS in the region. EEDA's contribution is £12,000.
North America				East of England Investment Agency, who carry out inward investment on behalf of EEDA, have a number of strategic alliances overseas, but at negligible cost. There is one part time marketing agent in the USA at an annual cost of £5,000.
East Midlands Development Agency:
North America	January 1998-September 2000	1 full time	£90,000 to September 2000	From October 2000, became a collaborative office with West Midlands.
Europe				Also have two part time agents operating in Germany, incurring salary costs of £28,000
Asia Pacific				One part time agent in Taiwan, incurring salary costs of £35,000. Two part time agents in Korea, incurring salary costs of £15,000.
South East of England Development Agency:
Europe	September 2000	1 full time	£50,000	Collaborative office with South east local authorities.
Brussels
South West of England Regional Development Agency:
Asia Pacific	1990	3 full time
Japan
North America			1£174,000	Also have five staff working from their homes in Sonoma California, Chicago, and Boston. The total cost of American and Japanese operations is £565,000 (£391,000 from public and private sector partners)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) if he will list the planning applications for housing development in England on greenfield sites (a) which he has called in and (b) for which he has issued a holding direction since 7 March 2000, indicating the location, number of houses and area of land involved; [146075](2) if he will list the planning applications notified to him under the Town and Country Planning (Residential Development on Greenfield Land) (England) Directive 2000, indicating the location and number of houses and area of land involved in each case; [146074]

Planning applications for housing development on greenfield sites in England
Site, location and Government Office Region	Size of site (hectares)	Number of dwellings	Departure	Greenfield Land Direction	Holding Direction	Called-in
Government Office North West
Higher Lane, Liverpool	4.2	168		Yes		Yes
Greensbridge Lane, Knowsley	8.6	1250		Yes
Tollemache Road, Wirral	2.6	1100	Yes
Cambridge Road, Sefton	0.1	2	Yes
Lawton Hall, Congleton	5.5	32	Yes			Yes
Larch Road, Hyndburn		1	Yes
Manor School, St. Helens	0.7	25	Yes

[holding answer 18 January 2001]: The information is set out in the table. The list of planning applications is based on information supplied to the Department by local authorities. Assumptions have had to be made about particular applications in order to present the information in the form sought. The information provided should not be taken as the definitive view of the Secretary of State for the purposes of decision-making.