To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the future provision of training for the Sierra Leone army. [147833]

Since June 2000, British forces have provided short-term training to Sierra Leone. Some 6,500 members of the Sierra Leone Army (SLA) have been given basic infantry skills. The training programmes have gone well, with the SLA demonstrating its ability to strengthen control of Government-held areas.To consolidate the achievements to date, provide more officer/NCO and specialist training and put the SLA in a position to train itself in future, we are planning a further package of training by British teams until September. This will prepare the way for handing over the international military advisory and training team (IMATT), announced by the Prime Minister in March 2000, which will take on the continuing training task. Some six countries, including a sizeable British contingent, are expected to be represented in the IMATT. We plan to increase the IMATT's overall size from the 90 posts originally envisaged to 126. This reflects a detailed assessment of what will be required to consolidate the excellent work that British forces will have achieved through the short-term training teams. We also plan to maintain an operational headquarters in Sierra Leone for the rest of the year, and to demonstrate, through periodic exercises, the availability of the over-the-horizon rapid reaction capability. These measures will increase the cost of our training and equipment programme by some £5 million.These further measures demonstrate the Government's continuing commitment to help the Government of Sierra Leone and the UN to restore peace and stability throughout Sierra Leone.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the programme of closures of meterological outstation observing offices at civil airports; when he expects this to be complete; and what arrangements are being made to continue the provision of the information which these offices previously provided to their internal and external customers. [146644]

This is a matter for the chief executive of the Meteorological Office. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the value of DERA's assets is; and what percentage of these assets are in Scotland. [147013]

[holding answer 25 January 2001]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to him on 22 January 2001, Official Report, column 423W.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost is of the upgraded Pegasus engines for the Royal Air Force's future fleet of BAE System Harrier GR9A; and if he will make a statement. [147079]

The estimated cost of upgrading Pegasus engines for the Royal Air Force Harrier aircraft will be approximately £120 million. Aircraft equipped with the upgraded engine will be designated GR9a.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the report of the French food agency into the screening of French cattle for BSE; and if he will make a statement. [144332]

[holding answer 8 January 2001]: My officials have studied this report, which details the interim analysis of the results of the first 15,000 cattle investigated in an intended study of 40,000 cattle in the regions of Lower Normandy, Brittany and the Loire. The survey is intended to target the populations of cattle where there may be an increased probability of finding BSE cases—found dead, culls and emergency slaughtered cattle.This comprehensive report indicates that there probably has been significant under-reporting of suspect BSE cases in France in the past. The targeted surveillance programme identified 32 positive cases, whereas in the same regions and over the same time period (7 August to 24 October 2000), the clinical surveillance programme identified only 11 BSE cases.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to seek a UK derogation on the EU ban on fishmeal in animal feed. [146406]

[holding answer 22 January 2001]: I will consider the UK position in the light of the outcome of the current consultation exercise on the feed ban, the results of Commission missions to member states, and other developments.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food which Government department is responsible for monitoring imports of over-30-month beef at its point of entry into the UK. [146409]

[holding answer 22 January 2001]: Over-30-month beef does not have to be monitored at the point of import as there are no import requirements relating to the age of beef. Controls on the age of beef relate to its sale for human consumption which is a matter for the Food Standards Agency.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what record the Government keeps of how much imported over-30-month beef is entering the United Kingdom. [146410]

[holding answer 22 January 2001]: Records of beef imports into the UK are not broken down by age.

To ask the Solicitor-General if it is his policy that the Crown Prosecution Service should pay compensation to the victims of crime whose cases are the subject of administrative maladministration by the Crown Prosecution Service and who suffer loss as a result; and if he will make a statement. [147034]

The Crown Prosecution Service is committed to delivering a modern, first class, public service. The Crown Prosecution Service has set clear standards for performance and has a readily available complaints procedure together with systems to provide appropriate redress for citizens when administrative maladministration occurs. Redress may take a variety of forms—an apology, a correction of the error, an undertaking to improve procedures or systems, a payment, or a combination of these actions.In the majority of cases, an apology and correction of the error will be the appropriate form of redress. On the occasions when a victim suffers a financial loss, an appropriate compensation payment may be made. Every case is considered on its merits. During this financial year two such cases have occurred and compensation payments totalling £1,112.00 have been made.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he intends to review the earnings limit on carers in receipt of Invalid Care Allowance. [146723]

We have reviewed the Invalid Care Allowance earnings limit and an announcement was made on 3 October 2000 of our intention to increase it to the rate of the lower earnings limit from April 2001. We will lay regulations in due course which will enable this measure to be introduced.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessment he has made of the impact of the earnings limit on home carers in receipt of Invalid Care Allowance. [146736]

One of the issues which arose in the course of the recent review of financial support for carers was the difficulty some carers experienced in combining caring with employment because of the Invalid Care Allowance earnings limit which has remained at £50 (after allowable expenses) since 1993.The proposed increase in the earnings limit to the level of the lower earnings limit (£72 a week from April 2001), announced on 3 October 2000, will therefore allow those carers to earn substantially more while retaining their entitlement to Invalid Care Allowance.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what powers local authority fraud investigators have to request information from banks relating to suspected benefit fraudsters. [146353]

Local authorities have the power to make inquiries of employers in cases where their employees are claiming or receiving housing benefit or council tax benefit where fraud is suspected.Powers to obtain information from banks and other specified private sector organisations on suspected fraudsters are to be introduced in the Social Security Fraud Bill currently before Parliament.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what changes he is implementing to improve the administration of the compensation recovery scheme in regard to ex-miners' compensation. [147946]

We are working very closely with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and its claims handlers and are introducing a number of administrative changes to speed up the whole process, not just DSS' involvement, in order to facilitate speedy payment to miners.These changes will include, for example, easier and quicker means of determining the date of start of the disease; allowing DTI more time to negotiate with the miner, without the need to contact the DSS; and reducing duplication and red tape. These changes will ensure that delays in the process do not occur.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many asylum seekers claimed benefits in (a) Kent and (b) other parts of the UK during the most recent period for which figures are available. [147082]

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many disabled Income Support claimants would see their income rise and how many people would become newly entitled to Income Support if the capital rules for people with disabilities were increased to match the new rules for pensioners. [146341]

We estimate that around 15,000 Income Support recipients would gain, and a further 5,000 people would become newly entitled, if the Income Support capital limits for people with a disability premium were increased to match the limits for pensioners.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much is available in the local Social Fund budget for the London borough of Wandsworth in the 2000–01 financial year. [146511]

The Social Fund budget is allocated to Benefits Agency districts, which are not generally coterminous with local authorities. Most of the London borough of Wandsworth is covered by the Benefits Agency Thames South District, with a small part falling into the Surrey District.Details of Social Fund allocations to districts for 2000–01 are in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many Gulf War veterans have been waiting (a) over six months and (b) over one year for a hearing before the Pensions Appeal Tribunal; [147425](2) how many Gulf War veterans are awaiting a hearing before the Pensions Appeal Tribunal. [147426]

The information is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many (a) people and (b) vehicles have been supported in each year since 1995–96 for which figures are available, under the Invalid Vehicle Service. [146725]

I have been asked to reply.The information requested is shown in the table.

At 31 March	Drivers	Vehicles
1995	1,197	11,405
1996	960	11,270
1997	821	1,215
1998	745	1,054
1999	630	951
2000	535	745
1 Numbers of vehicles in fleet in 1995 and 1996 are estimates as figures were not kept.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessment he has made of the effect of the closure of the invalid care allowance announced in July 1998. [146724]

I have been asked to reply and understand that the hon. Member is referring to the Invalid Vehicle Service.The decision to close the Invalid Vehicle Service on 31 March 2003 was taken after a thorough assessment by independent consultants of the likely effects of all available options. Ministers decided to accept the consultants' advice to close the service because the cost of maintaining an ageing fleet of vehicles was likely to rise while the number of people supported declined rapidly. Since then technical officers from the Invalid Vehicle Service have visited each remaining driver to discuss their future needs. Each driver's full circumstances will be taken into account and each will be advised on the option most suited to his or her needs.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will publish a report on the improvements resulting from work carried out under the Home Energy Conservation Act 1995, showing for each energy conservation authority (a) expenditure on energy efficiency improvement, (b) percentage improvement in residential energy efficiency, (c) estimated reduction in carbon dioxide emissions and (d) estimated reduction in levels of fuel poverty. [145763]

The Secretary of State presented a report to Parliament on 13 April 1999 covering activity by energy conservation authorities over the period from 28 June 1995 to 31 March 1998, and other developments up to the end of 1998. Copies of the report were placed in the Libraries of the House. Alternatively, a copy is available on DETR's website at:www.environment.detr.gov.uk/energy/heca95/index.htmDetails of reported percentage energy efficiency improvements in England in the period 1 April 1996 to 31 March 2000 were given in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Plymouth, Sutton (Mrs. Gilroy) on 30 November 2000,

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many (a) buses and (b) taxis were retrofitted to use LPG through the Powershift programme (i) before 1 January 2000 and (ii) during 2000; and if he will make a statement regarding targets for 2001 and beyond. [146627]

Before 1 January 2000, the Powershift programme supported the conversion of 55 buses and five minicabs to operate on LPG. During 2000 Powershift supported the conversion of 37 buses and 57 minicabs.The Clean Up Programme, which is administered on my Department's behalf by the Energy Saving Trust, has part funded the conversion of 10 black taxis to run on LPG and will be supporting the conversion of approximately 130 black cabs in the current financial year.My Department and the Energy Saving Trust will issue a consultation document in the spring seeking views on the future scope and direction of the Powershift programme. It will discuss a range of options for targeting the programme's resources over the next three years to secure environmental benefits and to support the development of the wider market for alternative fuel vehicles. The outcome of the consultation will inform the setting of future targets for the conversion of specific vehicle types.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he has received requesting the broadening of the eligibility criteria for the Powershift programme in respect of older vehicles. [146633]

My Department has received a number of representations from MPs and individuals about why the Powershift programme only provides grants towards the conversion to gas of vehicles less than one year old.The rationale for restricting grants to relatively new vehicles is that the ultimate aim of Powershift is to encourage vehicle manufacturers to manufacture production line gas vehicles rather than the after-market conversions that currently dominate the market. Not only will the objective of cleaning up vehicles be achieved more cheaply with production-line vehicles than after-market conversions, but their emissions performance should also be better.My Department also sponsors the Energy Saving Trust's Clean Up programme that aims to reduce emissions from existing vehicles operating in urban areas. The programme includes targeted projects to fit emission reduction technologies and to convert older vehicles to run on alternative fuels, including LPG, where it proves cost effective and environmentally beneficial to do so. An example of Clean Up support for conversions of older vehicles is the conversion of a pilot fleet of 10 London black cabs to run on LPG.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what the Government's contribution to funding for the Powershift programme was in each of the last three financial years and in the current year. [146629]

In 1997–98 the Government contributed £0.6 million towards the Powershift programme. This figures rose in the next two years to £2.2 million and £3.3 million respectively. Funding for the current financial year stands at £9.9 million for expenditure in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. In addition the Scottish Executive are providing a total of £0.5 million for Powershift activities in Scotland in the current year.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what his estimate is of the number of passenger cars in the UK; and how many of these were powered by road fuel gases or were bi-fuel (a) in the first quarter of 1998, (b) in the first quarter of 1999 and (c) in the first quarter of 2000, and (d) at the latest date for which figures are available. [146632]

Figures from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency show that the number of passenger cars in Great Britain registered as being powered by either road fuel gases or bi-fuel, and the total number of cars registered, are as set out in the table. The figures do not include vehicles in Northern Ireland for which quarterly data are not available.

	Total cars registered	Total road fuel gas and bi-fuels
Q1 1998	22,984,336	7,326
Q1 1999	23,458,476	11,232
Q1 2000	24,167,000	15,096
Q3 2000	24,383,344	18,298

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what research he has (a) evaluated and (b) commissioned into the amount of energy required through the refining process to produce a standard measure of distance travelled in vehicles propelled by (i) LPG, (ii) ULSD and (iii) ULSP. [146630]

The Government have not commissioned any specific research regarding the amount of energy required to refine ULSD and ULSP. We do, however, regularly commission and evaluate research on the overall CO₂ emissions and energy consumption from the downstream oil refining sector. A joint DTI and DOT study, "Alternative Road Transport Fuels: a preliminary lifecycle study for the UK", published in 1996 provides estimates of the amount of energy used during the refining of petrol, diesel and LPG. A more recent research by DTI published last year, "Emission effects and cost of sulphur free petrol and diesel", considered the relative impact of the production of 10 ppm sulphur fuels could have on overall energy consumption and CO₂ emissions from refineries. It should be noted, though, that the attribution of energy consumption during refining to particular petroleum products is often difficult, as oil refining is an integrated process and there are large variations in energy consumption from individual refineries.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what research he has (a) evaluated and (b) commissioned regarding the comparative environmental qualities of LPG, ULSD and ULSP in respect of (i) prevalence of particulates, (ii) noise, (iii) carbon dioxide emissions, (iv) oxides of nitrogen, (v) benzene and (vi) 1.3 butadiene. [146628]

Information from a wide range of sources is used by my Department to evaluate the environmental impacts of different road fuels, including LPG, ULSD and ULSP. DETR itself has a large vehicle emission testing research programme; for instance we funded this year a major project with the SMMT and CONWARE which considered ultra fine particulate emissions from road vehicles using different fuel specifications. The final report from this project is due to be published shortly. Valuable emission data are also received often on a confidential basis from stakeholders, including vehicle operators, fuel companies and motor manufacturers, while Powershift—funded by DETR—regularly monitors the emissions performance of gas powered vehicles supported by Powershift grants.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what information he has collated on the engine life of vehicles propelled by (a) petrol, (b) diesel and (c) LPG; and what assessment he has made of the consequent whole life sustainability of fuel technology. [146987]

The Government have not undertaken any specific research on the durability of different engine types. Motor manufacturers design engines which easily last the lifetime of the average vehicle, which for passenger cars is around 13 years in the UK. It is widely acknowledged, however, that diesel engines tend to be more durable than petrol engines, due to their combustion characteristics. We have no evidence to suggest the durability of a petrol engine is affected by conversion to LPG.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what his estimate is of the total number of public forecourt refuelling stations and sites in the UK; how many of these provided LPG (a) in the first quarter 1999, (b) in the first quarter 2000 and (c) at the latest date for which figures are available; and what estimates he has on the future rate of increase of public forecourt LPG refuelling sites. [146631]

At the end of December 1999, there were some 13,700 branded forecourt refuelling stations in the UK.Currently there are approximately 230 forecourt sites that retail LPG, an increase of over 100 in the last 12 months. Figures dealing with the number of sites in the first quarter of 1999 are unavailable. My Department estimates that the number of LPG refuelling sites in total will rise to over 1,000 by the end of 2001, with approximately one third of these expected to be public forecourt stations.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what financial assistance his Department has given in conjunction with the London borough councils in seeking to improve their boroughs' priority bus routes in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement. [146941]

The London Bus Priority Network received an allocation of £15 million in the 2000–01 London local transport settlement. Future allocations will be the responsibility of the Mayor.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how much his Department has made available for highway maintenance for Staffordshire County Council in each year from 1990–91 to 2000–01. [146980]

Maintenance expenditure for Staffordshire from 1991–92 until 2000–01 is shown. It should be noted that from 1996–97 onwards Stoke-on-Trent became Unitary and received its separate maintenance allocation which is also shown.

Staffordshire TPP/LTP maintenance allocations
Thousand
	Staffordshire	Stoke-on-Trent1
1991–92	751	—
1992–93	5,250	—
1993–94	6,830	—
1994–95	5,953	—
1995–96	4,526	—
1996–97	2,750	—
1997–98	5,346	1,502
1998–99	4,062	1,646
1999–2000	3,878	2,642
2001–022	4,554	1,161
1 Stoke-on-Trent allocated separate maintenance budget in 1997–98
2 Provisional LTP allocation

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what benefits have arisen from the imposition of a 40 mph speed limit on the elevated section of the M4 in West London. [146954]

There has been a reduction in personal injury accidents on the elevated section of the M4 in West London since the introduction of a 40 mph speed limit.This is an encouraging and welcome trend, but is too early to say it is a long term benefit.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what benefits have arisen from the imposition of a 50 mph speed limit on the M4 eastbound section between Heathrow Airport and the elevated section. [146953]

The introduction of a 50 mph speed limit on the eastbound M4 between Heathrow and the elevated section has led to a decrease in personal injury accidents.This is an encouraging and welcome trend, but is too early to say if it is a long term benefit.In addition, the independent Transport Research Laboratory's (TRL) report of their monitoring of the M4 bus lane during the first year calculates that during off peak periods, noise levels are one dBA lower, CO, emissions have reduced by 16 per cent. and fuel consumption of vehicles using the road has improved by 16 per cent.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions for what policy reason taxi-cabs are (a) permitted to use the bus lane on the M4 and (b) not permitted to use the bus lane on the Heathrow Airport spur road. [146965]

There are no policy reasons for taxi-cabs being permitted to use the M4 bus lane but not the one on the Heathrow Airport spur road. The decisions were based on the need to obtain the best traffic flows in each situation. Allowing taxis to use the spur road bus lane would overload the traffic signals at the end of the spur and delay traffic. The end of the M4 bus lane has sufficient capacity to allow excluded traffic to merge easily with bus lane traffic.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the impact of cyclist boxes at traffic signals in terms of (a) the danger to cyclists and (b) the delay to motorists. [146966]

Advanced Stop Lines for cyclists (ASLs) were introduced to reduce the vulnerability of cyclists at traffic signal junctions from other vehicles. Assessments since 1986 when the first ASL was installed have shown that enabling cyclists to be at the head of queuing traffic can greatly improve their safety, because of the ability to clear the junction ahead of other traffic. Observations have shown that delays to other vehicles are minimal. Further research is being carried out into the effects of ASLs on capacity.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what research has been undertaken by his Department into the suitability of footpath stiles for use by people with vision impairment. [146712]

My Department has not undertaken any research to look specifically at this question. However, the Countryside Agency are at the moment looking at ways of increasing access to the countryside for disabled people as part of their remit of increasing access to the wider countryside. This work will include recommending specifications for path furniture including ages and stiles. As part of this process they will consult organisations representing disabled people, including the Royal National Institute for the Blind, and intend to pilot the developing designs in a variety of countryside settings.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what funding has been provided for the maintenance of local highways in the north east of England in each of the last 10 years. [146823]

Funding through Local Transport Capital Settlement (Transport Policies and Programmes and Local Transport Plans) and Revenue Support Grant has provided the following for the maintenance of local highways in the north east of England over the last 10 years:

£
Year	Capital funding	Revenue funding	Total
1991–92	4,107,000	104,479,000	108,586,000
1992–93	8,404,000	107,506,000	115,910,000
1993–94	18,090,000	102,938,000	121,028,000
1994–95	17,720,000	102,973,000	120,693,000
1995–96	15,984,000	103,184,000	119,168,000
1996–97	13,584,000	102,308,000	115,892,000
1997–98	15,960,000	101,612,000	117,572,000
1998–99	13,331,000	100,086,000	113,417,000

Housing
£ million
Programme	1997–98	1998–99	1999–2000	2000–01	2001–02	Total
Main HIP	14.602	4.285	5.342	12.113	5.251	31.593
Capital Receipts Initiative	0.916	3.141	2.894	—	—	6.951
Additional PSR support2	0.3	1.238	0.117	—	—	1.655
Indicative Major Repair Allowance	—	—	—	—	11	11
Capital Challenge3	2.15	2.374	2.523	—	—	7.047
Total	7.968	11.038	10.876	12.113	16.251	58.246
1 The HIP figure for 1997–98 was already allocated by the previous Government.
2 PSR = Private Sector Renewal. From 2000–01 onwards these became part of the Housing Single Capital pot and separate allocations are no longer provided.
3 Capital Challenge was not a specific housing programme but the resources could be used for any capital priority. It was a three year pilot programme introduced by the previous Administration; the present Government continued the commitments.

Local transport expenditure
£ million
Year	Total	Block allocation	Maintenance	Major schemes
2000–01	3.361	2.200	1.161	0
1999–2000	4.529	1.887	2.642	0
1998–99	2.520	0.874	1.646	0
1997–98	2.573	1.071	1.502	0

Five year LTP allocation
£ million
Year	Total	Block allocation integrated transport	Maintenance
2001–02	6.373	5.100	1.273
2002–03	5.860	4.700	1.160
2003–04	5.670	4.800	0.870
2004–05	5.770	4.900	0.870
2005–06	5.670	4.800	0.870

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list for each year since May 1997 the total amount of funding made available by his Department in the City of Stoke-on-Trent. [146572]

The City of Stoke-on-Trent has benefited from a range of Government Initiatives since 2 May 1997 including:

General grant assistance
£ million
	1998–99	1999–2000	2000–01
Revenue support grant	94.320	98.644	97.407
National non-domestic rates	59.968	64.651	72.444
Total	154.285	163.315	169.852

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what proportion of waste from plastics has been recycled in each of the last five years for which figures are available. [146470]

	2000	1999	1998	1997	1996
Amount of plastic waste produced (tonnes million)	3.00	2.94	2.88	2.83	2.77
Post consumer recycling (tonnes thousand)	238	218	145	121	115
Post consumer recycling (per cent.)	7.9	7.4	5.0	4.3	4.2
Total plastic waste recycled (tonnes thousand)	663	643	570	546.5	540.5
Combined recycling (per cent.)	22.1	21.9	19.8	19.3	19.5

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he plans to announce the future funding arrangements for (a) Vale Link Community Transport, (b) Yate and Sudbury dial-a-ride and (c) other community transport schemes in South Gloucestershire. [147203]

[holding answer 25 January 2001]: Funding for three years' operation of the Vale Link Community Transport scheme and the Yate and Sodbury dial-a-ride scheme was given to South Gloucestershire Council as part of a successful award of £612,000 from the 1998 Rural Bus Challenge. We have not received a bid for further funding of the existing services. However, the Council has bid in the 2000 Rural Bus Challenge for funding to extend the operation of the current schemes to cover peak times. We will announce the results of that competition shortly.I announced on 16 January our intention to give local authorities more flexibility in the use of the Rural Bus Subsidy Grant to assist the provision of ongoing support for services initially supported by the Rural Bus Challenge. Whether to use the grant in this way would be a matter for decision by South Gloucestershire Council.Any bids for funding of these projects, and other community transport schemes, would continue to be considered in future Rural Bus Challenge competitions. Our Rural Transport Partnership, administered by the Countryside Agency, is another source of funding for rural schemes. Bids for urban schemes would be eligible for consideration under the new Urban Bus Challenge.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what progress the shadow Strategic Rail Authority has reported to him in respect of the refurbishment works at (a) Cheam station and (b) Sutton station. [147486]

The following works have been completed at Cheam station: platform repairs, refurbished canopy, resurfaces car park to eliminate flooding, new handrail in subway, CCTV installation and a customer information system.The major refurbishment works at Sutton are progressing well although there has been some slippage in the original timetable. In a project of this size and when working on an old building it is not unusual for timetables

The British Plastics Federation has provided the estimates for the UK. They include packaging and non-packaging waste and, in the total figure, an estimated 425,000 tonnes of recycled pre-consumer plastic waste each year.to change as a result of some of the works proving to be more complicated or additional work proving necessary. Particular issues encountered at Sutton station include drainage, the state of lift shaft 4 and additional work proving necessary to the roof. The waiting room and platform surfaces and lift shaft 1 should now be completed in mid to late February; the ticket hall by the end of February; lifts 2 and 3 and the disabled car park by middle of March. These dates are not guaranteed and must be regarded as best estimates provided by the contractors.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) if he will make a statement on his Department's discussions with the Housing Corporation with regard to co-operative housing. [147539](2) if he will make a statement on his Department's policy on co-operative housing. [147538]

Resident empowerment is at the core of the Government's policies for social housing. We want to bring choice, self-reliance and responsibility to social tenants by giving them a direct stake in managing their own homes. Tenants should be encouraged to explore and to choose from a range of options including tenant management and, where the circumstances are right, developing a resident controlled organisation, including housing co-operatives.Local authorities have a vital role to play in promoting resident control as part of their housing strategies. Stock transfers, in particular, provide an opportunity for tenant management and central. All housing transfer landlords have at least one-third tenant members on their governing bodies. Where tenants want it, a resident controlled registered social landlord can take on local authority stock. We want to encourage more tenants to think about the opportunities for taking on ownership and management of their homes in stock transfers. We would expect new landlords to honour existing arrangements for resident control and to support its development in the stock they take on.Officials in my Department and from the Housing Corporation are in regular and close contact to ensure that we have a joined up approach that gives maximum benefit to residents.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions under what powers telecommunication companies and freeholders of a property can obtain planning permission for mobile phone masts under 15m high without consulting leaseholders and tenants; and if he will make a statement. [147537]

Licensed telecommunications code system operators are authorised under Part 24 of Schedule 2 to the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995 (GPDO) (as amended) to install specified telecommunications apparatus without the need to make a planning application to the local authority.Under the GPDO certain types of development, such as the installation of ground-based masts of up to 15m in height, are subject to a prior approval procedure, under which the local planning authority has the opportunity to say whether it wishes to approve details of the siting and appearance of the installation. Following amendments to the GPDO in 1999, local planning authorities have 42 days to carry out this process in respect of ground-based masts and the operator is required to erect a site notice to publicise the development proposed so that local people can let the local planning authority have their views on a mast proposal. The local planning authority can supplement this requirement by publishing proposals themselves.For development such as the installation of masts on a building or structure the equivalent period is 28 days. While there is no statutory requirement for local planning authorities or operators to consult on the proposals, DETR Circular 4–99 advises local planning authorities to publicise proposals for permitted telecommunications development that are subject to this procedure so that people likely to be affected by the proposal can make their views known to the authority.Under the prior approval procedure, if, after due consideration, the authority considers that the development will pose a serious threat to amenity, it is able to refuse approval.Following the publication of a report into the health effects of mobile phone technologies by the Independent Expert Group of Mobile Phones (IEGMP), chaired by Sir William Stewart, the Government issued a consultation paper seeking views on changes to the planning arrangements to allow better opportunities for public consultation on applications for new telecommunications masts.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when the new Policy Planning Guidance on Telecommunication Masts will be published. [147536]

A consultation exercise seeking views on possible changes to the planning laws relating to telecommunications masts ended on 31 October 2000. The consultation paper also contained draft revised planning policy guidance. The Department is currently analysing the responses. We shall announce any changes as soon as practicable.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the number of (a) deaths and (b) serious injuries on all roads in December for each of the last three years. [147548]

The following table includes the number of casualties on all roads in December for the three most recent available years.

Casualties in December in 1997, 1998 and 1999
	Severity
Accident year	Fatal	Serious
1997	310	3,700
1998	328	3,374
1999	358	3,388

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he will reply to the letter sent to him on 12 November 2000 by Mrs. V. Cooper, of Cox Green, Maidenhead, Berkshire. [147549]

The letter refers to the felling of trees on the A404M. This matter is being investigated and a full reply will be sent within the next week.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to mark the 100^th anniversary of the first successful wireless transmission across the Atlantic Ocean to the Americas. [147257]

This will be a significant anniversary and we are considering how best we might be able to contribute to this important milestone in the use of radio.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on planned information campaigns on the euro for business. [147464]

I refer the hon. Member to HM Treasury's "Fourth Report on Euro Preparations", copies of which have been deposited in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will place in the Library copies of the reports which have been produced by the Export Credits Guarantee Department since 1 January 2000 to report its progress towards achieving the key performance targets set out in the Service Delivery Agreement. [146658]

The Service Delivery Agreement for ECGD is effective from 1 April 2001. The Service Delivery Agreement was published on ECGD's website "www.ecgd.gov.uk" on the 3 November 2000. Progress against targets will be published and made available to the House in the Expenditure Plans Report.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will place in the Library copies of the minutes and agendas of the meetings of the Audit Committee of the Export Credits Guarantee Department since 1 January 2000. [146651]

It is not intended that the minutes and agendas of the meetings of the Export Credits Guarantee Department's Audit Committee should be published. The information requested would be classed as

information whose disclosure would harm the frankness and candour of internal discussion,

under Part II exemption 2 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information. The minutes of the meetings of the Export Guarantees Advisory Council, whose role and membership were reformed as a result of the recent review of ECGD's Mission and Status, will, however, be placed on ECGD's website www.ecgd.gov.uk.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will place in the Library (a) a list of papers which have been presented to the Export Guarantees Advisory Council of the Export Credits Guarantee Department and (b) the minutes and agendas of the Council, since 1 July 1999. [146660]

The minutes of meetings of the Export Guarantees Advisory Council (EGAC), whose role and membership were reformed as a result of the recent Review of ECGD's Mission and Status, will be placed on ECGD's website www.ecgd.gov.uk. The first such minute relating to the meeting on 12 December 2000 will be placed on the website shortly. Prior to the reform of the Council, records of meetings and details of the items discussed were not published as the EGAC considered issues, which involved commercial confidentiality.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will place details of the Export Credits Guarantee Department cover made available to Mivan Ltd. and Kier International to construct low cost housing and provide water services to villages in Romania in the Library; and if he will make a statement. [147062]

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Eastwood (Mr. Murphy) on 6 April 2000, Official Report, column 533W.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the dates of the meetings of the Export Guarantees Advisory Council of the Export Credits Guarantee Department since 1 January 2000. [146659]

Meetings of the Export Guarantees Advisory Council since 1 January 2000 were held on the following dates:

2000

• 19 January
• 16 February
• 22 March
• 19 April
• 17 May
• 21 June
• 18 July
• August—no meeting
• 20 September
• 18 October
• 15 November
• 12 December.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the Export Credits Guarantee Department first produced its publication "ECGD News". [146656]

1 July 1998.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the outside directors who have been appointed to the Management Board of the Export Credits Guarantee Department since 25 July 2000; what the functions are of outside directors on the Board; what the financial interests are of each of these outside directors; by what means members of the public can ascertain the financial interests of these outside directors; and if he will list the committees within the Export Credits Guarantee Department on which each of these outside directors sit. [146652]

The process of identifying and selecting suitable outside directors for ECGD's Management Board is still under way and no appointments have yet been made.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will place in the Library a copy of the most recent version of the Project Underwriting Handbook produced by the ECGD. [146657]

ECGD's Project Underwriting Handbook contains detailed guidance for its officials on the terms and conditions on which they are authorised to negotiate with exporters, their banks and overseas buyers and borrowers and subsequently underwrite support for export contracts while at the same time best safeguarding the interests of the taxpayer. Disclosure of such detailed guidance could prejudice the conduct of commercial negotiations and the competitive position of ECGD and hence is exempt from disclosure under exemption 7 to the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information. Accordingly I do not intend to place the handbook in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will place in the Library (a) copies of the minutes and agendas of the meetings of the Management Board of the Export Credits Guarantee Department and (b) a list of the papers submitted to such meetings since 1 January 2000. [146650]

The Government do not intend to publish the agenda or minutes of meetings of the Export Credits Guarantee Department's Management Board or a list of the papers discussed. The information requested would be classed as

information whose disclosure would harm the frankness and candour of internal discussion,

under Part II exemption 2 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if supply teachers covering key stage 3 maths classes will qualify to receive the £500 subsidy for the purchase of computer equipment. [147554]

Supply teachers covering Key Stage 3 mathematics classes will qualify to receive the subsidy providing they meet all other eligibility criteria for the scheme, and that they are contracted to teach at least one mathematics Key Stage 3 lesson per week for at least one term.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the schools in the Basildon parliamentary constituency which have received funding under the New Deal for Schools since May 1997, showing the amount of funding in each case. [147392]

New Deal for Schools Allocations to schools in the Basildon constituency
Year/School	Project details	Grant awarded (£)
1997–98
Included within LEA wide package:
Woodlands school	Improvement of science block	11,170,000
Nicholas school (now James Hornsby High school)	Refurbishment
1998–99
Seven school package LEA wide	Replacement of ageing boilers	1384,800
Eight school package LEA wide	Replacement of ageing boilers	1379,750
Orsett CE (VA) Primary school	Playground reconstruction	50,800
1999–2000
Five school package LEA wide	Energy management scheme	12,947,000
Bulphan CE (VC) Primary school	Replacement of boiler plant	56,500
2000–01
Included within a 29 school package:
St. Anne Line Catholic Infant and Junior schools (VA)	Boiler replacements	11,610,355
Included within a six school package:
James Hornsby High school	Remedying structural defects	1353,535
Included within a three school package:
Lincewood Infant school	Asbestos removal	1141,578
Lincewood Junior school
Included within a four school package:
Swan Mead Junior school	Sewage pumping station plant renewal	137,650
Vange Primary school	Extension to replace substandard accommodation	768,163
Included within a six school package:
De La Salle School RC (VA)	Resurface/reconstruct paving	1230,888
Gable Hall Secondary school	Replacement of boilers and plant	54,294
Hassenbrook Secondary school	Replacement of boiler, plant, main and sports hall	276,936
Abbots Hall Junior school	Replacement of boiler and plant	45,254
Giffards Junior school	Rewiring	70,368
St. Clere's Secondary school	Roof insulation	17,852
Abbots Hall Infant school	Rewiring	72,939
Orsett CE (VA) Primary school	Resurface car park and roadway	12,224
Stanford-le-Hope Infant school	Tarmac pedestrian paths	20,383
Giffards Junior school	Doors and windows	24,801
Stanford-le-Hope Infant school	Boiler house refurbishment	22,654
Arthur Bugler Junior school	Refelt Durox roof	72,804
1 Allocations made to package projects to Essex local education authority, which will be able to advise the value of projects at schools in the Basildon constituency which benefited from these allocations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the prescription rate for beta interferon is (a) nationally, (b) in North Yorkshire and (c) in other EU member states. [145603]

The following table shows the schools in the Basildon constituency which have benefited from investment through the New Deal for Schools programme, which commenced in 1997–98. These allocations formed part of the £25.232 million investment made so far in schools in Essex local education authority, and of the £2.835 million investment made so far in schools in Thurrock local education authority, under the New Deal for Schools programme. The New Deal for Schools was introduced as a new additional programme targeted specifically at addressing the backlog of urgent repairs in school buildings that had built up after 18 years of under funding under the previous administration. It has been in addition to other capital funds made available to both Essex and Thurrock local education authorities.Nationally, investment in school buildings has tripled from £683 million a year in 1996–97 to over £2 billion in 2000–01. It will be £3.2 billion in 2003–04, including grant, credit approvals and Private Finance Initiative credits. There will be central Government investment of £7.8 billion in school buildings in total from 2001–02 to 2003–04.

We estimate that on 1 January 2000 some 1,700 patients were being treated with beta interferon on the National Health Service in England. This is equivalent to around 3 per cent. of all patients with multiple sclerosis in England.Information is not routinely collected centrally on prescribing rates in individual health authorities, or in other European Union countries.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to ensure that stocks of BCG vaccine are maintained at adequate levels. [146325]

BCG vaccine against tuberculosis is currently available for those individuals at higher risk of TB. The routine schools immunisation programme for 10 to 14-year-olds was suspended nationally from September 1999 following manufacturing problems encountered by the sole United Kingdom licensed source, Celltech Medeva. By the autumn school term last year sufficient supplies were available to allow health authorities to restart school immunisations in the London region, as the area with the highest rates and number of tuberculosis cases.The Department is working to secure a robust supply of UK licensed and batch released BCG vaccine, and will announce as soon as possible when the routine schools programme can resume in the rest of the country. All those who missed their BCG vaccination due to the suspension will be recalled when the programme restarts.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to ensure that residents of elderly persons' and nursing care homes are granted rights to reasonable notice of closure of the places where they live. [146266]

Residential care homes are currently required to give reasonable notice to residents of any reasonable intention to terminate arrangements for accommodating them. Nursing homes are not currently under the same statutory obligation, but this will be remedied from April 2002. In consequence there are no immediate plans to give residents the right to reasonable notice of closure.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health which European countries export animal feed; and which animal feeds are imported into the UK. [146499]

I am advised by the Food Standards Agency that material used as or in animal feed is exported to some extent by most European countries. A partial breakdown of the United Kingdom import position, provided by Her Majesty's Customs and Excise and based on their commodity codes, is given in the following table. The figures should be read with caution: although the materials are recorded as having arrived from other European countries, some may have originated from elsewhere.It is unlikely that UK imports from continental European countries include much finished feeds. The commodity code which covers feeds—

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) when the pilot studies for HPV testing will commence; [146445](2) what total resource allocation he has made of pilot studies on HPV testing; what the resource allocations are for each HPV pilot test project; and if he will break down the allocation to each HPV pilot test project. [146446]

The three sites of the pilot for human papilloma virus testing and liquid based cytology should begin testing in March 2001. Preparatory work has been under way since October 2000.We have allocated a total of £650,000 to the pilot preparations in 2000–01 and a further allocation to support the project will be made in 2001–02. This will fund service costs, central purchase of equipment for use by the sites, project management and training for laboratory staff. Decisions will be taken shortly on the allocations to each site for the duration of the project.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the total cost was of medicines prescribed for coronary heart disease on the NHS (a) in the last six month period for which data are available prior to, and (b) in the first six month period for which data are available since, the implementation of the national service framework for coronary heart disease. [146956]

It is not possible to identify the total cost of medicines prescribed for coronary heart disease on the National Health Service, as prescribing data are not broken down by the condition which is being treated. Most drugs used in the treatment of heart disease are also prescribed solely for people with, or at serious risk of, coronary heart disease. The most recent information on the cost of statins—for the quarter ending 30 June 2000— has been placed in the Library.The National Service Framework (NSF) for coronary heart disease includes guidance on targeting statins towards the patients most likely to benefit from their use. The number of prescriptions for, and the cost of, statins have been rising since 1997. We expect that, as a result of the NSF, the marked recent increase in their use will continue.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average cost per patient episode was for patients (a) treated under personal dental services pilots and (b) treated under general dental services. [146962]

The average cost of claims by dentists for a course of treatment in the General Dental Services was £34.82 for adults and £29.88 for children in England in 1999–2000. This information comes from remuneration claims.Comparable figures are not available for the Personal Dental Service as services are locally organised and employ different payment regimes.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what agreement he has reached with the Joint Epilepsy Council on implementing the findings of the Clinical Standards Advisory Group report on epilepsy. [146755]

The Department published its response to the Clinical Standards Advisory Group (CSAG) epilepsy report on 30 March 2000 and commended the examples of good practice contained in the report to the NHS. The Department has funded the Joint Epilepsy Council through the Section 64 scheme of grants to undertake a good practice project which will draw upon the good practice advice in the CSAG report and other recent epilepsy initiatives.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will make a statement on the availability of single sex clinics for the treatment of male breast cancer in each region of the health service; [146811](2) what guidance exists for the treatment of male breast cancer in mixed sex clinics. [146810]

We are committed to improving breast cancer services for both men and women. Male breast cancer is a rare disease with only approximately 200 cases diagnosed every year in the United Kingdom.Due to the low number of cases of male breast cancer, it is not feasible to have separate clinics for men and women. However, there must be sensitivity to the needs of every patient and factors that could cause embarrassment need to be addressed at a local level.The NHS Plan set out the intention to make available authoritative guidance on all aspects of NHS cancer care. The "Improving Outcomes in Breast Cancer" guidance was first published in 1996 (available in the Library) and an update will be available from March 2001. The guidance recommended that diagnosis of primary disease should normally be carried out using "triple assessment" for each new patient at a single visit. This increases the accuracy of diagnosis and decreases anxiety resulting from any delay.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will make a statement on the number of reported cases of male breast cancer in each of the last five years, broken down by regional health authority; [146814](2) if he will make a statement on the number of reported cases of male breast cancer in each of the last 10 years; [146815](3) which health authority had the highest number of reported cases of male breast cancer over the last five years; and by how much this varied from the average authority. [146813]

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many recorded deaths from sudden adult death syndrome there were in each of the last 10 years. [146916]

In the years to 1999, the last year for which final figures are available, the Office for National Statistics (ONS), classified deaths using the Ninth Revision of the International Classification of Disease (ICD9). Unexplained sudden deaths where the cause could not be ascertained would have been classified to a variety of ICD9 codes, depending on what was recorded on the death certificate. For some of these cases insufficient information was available to determine whether they were true sudden adult death syndrome deaths.However, where death certificates contained a mention of sudden adult death syndrome, these were coded by the Office of National Statistics to ICD9 798.1— instantaneous death, cause unknown. Figures given are those for which this was the underlying cause of death. For the reasons given, these figures may understate the total number of sudden unexplained deaths.

Deaths where the underlying cause of death is ICD9 798.1, for ages 16 and over, England and Wales, 1990–991
	Number of deaths
1990	0
1991	0
1992	1
1993	6
1994	10
1995	22
1996	12
1997	30
1998	49
1999	35
1 1990–92 based on number of deaths registered in a year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many nurses have been recruited into the NHS from Sub-Saharan Africa in the last three years. [146841]

The information requested is not held centrally. Information on applications from nurses outside the UK for registration to the United Kingdom Central Council for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting (UKCC) can be found in the UKCC annual statistical analysis of the UKCC professional register. Information on the number of work permits issued to employers is available from the Overseas Labour Service.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects NICE to issue guidelines on the treatment of pressure sores. [147033]

We expect the National Institute for Clinical Excellence to issue guidelines on the treatment of pressure sores by summer 2001.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects NICE to issue guidelines on the treatment of back pain. [147032]

The National Institute for Clinical Excellence has not been asked to issue clinical guidelines on back pain. However, the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) produced a guideline on acute low back pain in 1996 and updated this in summer 1999. This guideline is available from the RCGP and is on their website at www.rcgp.org.uk.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what directions overriding a note of dissent by an accounting officer have been given by the boards of non-departmental public bodies within his Department since May 1997. [147064]

There have been no such directions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance he has given to the NHS in England with regard to the disposal of clinical waste from hospitals; and if he will make a statement. [147202]

The National Health Service has a range of guidance on waste management and in particular the disposal of clinical waste from hospitals produced by NHS Estates Agency (an Executive Agency of the Department of Health) and other organisations. The main sources of information are:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has for the distribution of the remaining money available from the New Opportunities Fund for the undertaking of research and other work in the field of cancer treatments; and if he will make a statement. [147221]

[holding answer 25 January 2001]: In England, the New Opportunities Fund 'Living With Cancer' programme has provided £93 million to fund equipment to screen for, diagnose and treat cancer. A further £23.25 million is funding home care, support for carers and information projects that target socially disadvantaged groups or minority ethnic communities. Over 99 per cent. of these funds have now been awarded. Any remaining funds will be used for similar projects. This programme is not intended to fund medical research.The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has recently completed a consultation exercise on new proposals for health. This new programme will build on the 'Living With Cancer' programme and Government plans for the modernisation of cancer services.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 22 January 2001, Official Report, column 431W, (1) concerning care home bed numbers, how many local authorities were in the survey; and how many responded; [147283](2) if he will set out how and to whom the survey results were disseminated; [147281](3) if he will set out the judgments he came to in the light of the survey findings; [147280](4) what the estimated cost of the survey was. [147282]

All 150 councils with social services responsibilities provided information. The information was obtained electronically. The cost of obtaining the information was therefore small but cannot be estimated accurately. The information was used to inform judgments by the regional offices of the social services inspectorate about the preparedness of councils. It was only disseminated within the Department.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance he proposes to issue following the judgment in the case of South Lanarkshire v. McGregor, in relation to delays in providing nursing home care for persons assessed as needing it. [147295]

South Lanarkshire Council have provisionally lodged an appeal against this decision. It would therefore be inappropriate to comment directly on this case in the meantime.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average hourly cost of a junior agency nurse is; and how much commission the NHS pays the agency. [147395]

The information requested is not held centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make it his policy that minimally invasive heart surgery is carried out in cases where it is the preferred choice of the surgeon. [147391]

Minimally invasive heart surgery is not undertaken routinely at present. Two research projects are currently being carried out into its use and effectiveness, and are due for completion next year. The most common form of heart surgery, revascularisation, is carried out either by open-heart surgery (a bypass operation) or by balloon angioplasty, a non-surgical procedure.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people died in each of the last 24 months for which figures are available, broken down by (a) region and (b) age categories (i) 0–64, (ii) 65–74, (iii) 75–84 and (iv) 85 years or above. [146322]

[holding answer 22 January 2001]: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.