To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if the price of the DFM contract for the first three type 45 destroyers awarded to BAE Systems assumes (a) the involvement of BAE Systems Marine and Vosper Thornycroft in developing a single design definition for the type 45 destroyer and (b) that the first and third ships will be assembled by BAE Systems Marine and the second ship by Vosper Thornycroft; [153706](2) if it is his policy that a single design definition for the type 45 destroyer should be developed involving BAE Systems Marine and Vosper Thornycroft and that the first and third ships will be assembled by BAE Systems Marine and the second ship by Vosper Thornycroft; [153705](3) if the DFM contract for the first three type 45 destroyers awarded to BAE Systems

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 30 January 2001, Official Report, column 99W. I can confirm that the type 45 DFM contract assumes, and is priced on the basis of, the procurement strategy for this Programme announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence on 11 July 2000, Official Report, columns 701–02. Under this, the first ship would be assembled by BAE Systems Marine with a substantial contribution by Vosper Thornycroft (VT), the second by VT and the third by BAE Systems.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the components are of the welfare package for forces serving in Sierra Leone. [154581]

The components of the Operational Welfare Package (OWP) for Op Silkman are as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) e-mail terminals, (b) telephones and (c) mail drops per week are available for Her Majesty's forces serving in Sierra Leone. [154580]

The Operational Welfare Package (OWP) for Op Silkman includes internet access, telephones and mail drops. The numbers are as follows:

(a) There are currently four e-mail terminals, with a further eight on order. Access to e-mails and the internet is free.

(b) There are 12 welfare telephones provided under Project Welcome. Service personnel are allowed 20 minutes of publicly funded telephone calls per week.

(c) There is one resupply flight a week that brings in and takes out mail. Free `blueys' (aerogrammes) and concessionary parcel rates are authorised in both directions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 13 March 2001, Official Report, column 509W, on nuclear submarines, where his Department plans to situate the land storage facility for redundant nuclear submarines. [154494]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 14 March 2001, Official Report. columns 601–02W, to the hon. Member for South-East Cornwall (Mr. Breed).

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence further to his answer of 23 January 2001, Official Report, column 536W, on depleted uranium (a) when he expects to send his letter and (b) what are the reasons for the delay. [152820]

I have replied today to my hon. Friend. The delay in replying was caused by the need to obtain information from sources outside the Ministry of Defence.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he will give a substantive reply to the letter from the right hon. Member for North-West Cambridgeshire on behalf of his constituent Mr. Coakes, following preliminary responses on 22 November 2000 and 6 January 2001. [154724]

In my letters, I explained that research into the issues raised was continuing. This has involved research into records dating back 10 years and contacting key personnel in the unit to which Mr. Coakes was attached. Our inquiries are now complete and I hope to write to the right hon. Member within the next week.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) civil servants and (b) other personnel from his Department have attended sessions of the Saville inquiry. [154050]

Sessions of the Bloody Sunday Inquiry have been attended variously by nine Ministry of Defence officials and one Army officer.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many persons, from which divisions and with which specialisms comprise the Bloody Sunday Inquiry Unit in his Department; [154051](2) what the composition is of the Bloody Sunday Inquiry Unit in terms of

The Bloody Sunday Inquiry Unit is an integral part of the Ministry of Defence and comprises five officials who are dedicated full-time to supporting the work of the Inquiry. They are all administrators; currently three are men and two are women; none of them come from Northern Ireland.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will review the pension provision for officers who were in service before their 21st birthdays but whose service before those dates is not counted for service pension purposes. [154295]

The recently published Ministry of Defence Consultation Document on a new Armed Forces Pension Scheme includes the proposal that pension benefits should begin to accrue from the date of entry to the armed forces for both officers and other ranks. This compares with the current scheme under which benefits accrue from age 21 for officers and age 18 for other ranks. In line with usual practice in public sector pension schemes, these changes would not be retrospective.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence under what statutory powers he appoints members of the MOD Police Committee. [154579]

Members of the Ministry of Defence Police Committee are appointed in accordance with the provisions of section 1(5) of the Ministry of Defence Police Act 1987.

To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners, how many meetings of the Church Commissioners there were in 2000; and what the attendance record was of each commissioner. [153768]

The Church Commissioners' Board of Governors, of which all but six of the 33 Commissioners are members, met five times in 2000. The Annual General Meeting of the Church Commissioners was also held. Average attendance at Board meetings was 70 per cent.The Church Commissioners' six committees, whose members include Commissioners and others, met throughout the year to transact the business for which they have separate responsibility. Attendance was broadly in the region of 65 per cent. to 80 per cent.The committees' membership and remit are detailed in the Church Commissioners' annual report and accounts, of which my hon. Friend will have received a copy. It is not the Commissioners' practice to publicise the attendance details of individual members.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent consultations he has had with the First Secretary of the National Assembly for Wales on assistance to Corus workers. [154085]

I regularly discuss a wide range of issues with the First Secretary, including the assistance available to help those facing job losses in Corus.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the, television, newspaper and radio advertising and other promotional campaigns conducted by (a) his Department, (b) its agencies and (c) its departmental public bodies, in each of the past five years, showing for each the expenditure incurred by his Department; and if he will make a statement. [153410]

[holding answer 12 March 2001]: My Department has run no television, newspaper, radio advertising or any other kind of promotional campaign since its creation in July 1999. It has no agencies or departmental public bodies within its responsibilities. Its predecessor Department, the Welsh Office, spent

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his Danish counterpart on the exercise of Denmark's automatic opt-out in relation to the EU Rapid Reaction Force under the terms of the Edinburgh agreement. [153502]

My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary discussed the European Security and Defence Policy and Denmark's opt-out when he met his Danish counterpart in London on 17 January 2001.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which Ministers signed the provisional Treaty of Nice on 26 February; and what press statements were released in connection with this event. [153501]

The Treaty of Nice was signed on 26 February by the Foreign Ministers of all 15 member states of the European Union. This event was highlighted in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) daily bulletin of 23 February, available on the website at www.fco.gov.uk. An FCO press release was sent to various national newspapers, and the FCO published a pamphlet setting out the main features of the Nice Treaty.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to publish the text of the Treaty of Nice as signed on 26 February. [154929]

A Command Paper containing the Treaty of Nice as signed on 26 February was published today as Cm 5090. Copies are available from the Vote Office and the Printed Paper Office.For the first time in generations, there is a real prospect of uniting Europe. The Treaty of Nice brings this goal closer by reforming the EU's institutions to enable them to operate effectively after the accession of up to 12 new member states.The Treaty increases the relative weight of Britain's vote in the Council of Ministers and raises the threshold for a qualified majority. The democratic legitimacy of decisions taken by qualified majority voting is assured by the addition of a population threshold, which means that the three largest member states (including the UK) can still block decisions together. In addition a qualified majority must have the support of at least the majority of member states.The Treaty delivers a reformed Commission, with one Commissioner per member state from 2005 up to a maximum of 27. It proposes more qualified majority voting where this is in Britain's interests, and preserves the veto in areas where the Government said we would.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what further representations he will make to the Government of Turkmenistan on behalf of Shageldy Atakov. [153724]

On 23 February the British Government, with EU Partners and the US issued a demarche to the Turkmen Foreign Minister regarding the detention of Shageldy Atakov and called for his release on humanitarian grounds. The Foreign Minister took note, and undertook to pursue the issue. We still await a formal response but will continue to remind the Turkmen authorities of our concern.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the security situation in Bosnia-Herzegovina and the progress made in implementing the Dayton Peace Accords. [154018]

I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 9 March 2001, Official Report, column 397W. I also refer him to the letter I sent him on 16 March.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his policy is on the granting of financial aid to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia conditional upon its Government co-operating with The Hague concerning the tribunal case against Slobodan Milosevic. [154055]

No conditionality relating to the International Criminal Tribunal on the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) was attached to the 200 million euro package of humanitarian and emergency assistance to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) agreed by the EU in October 2000, nor to UK bilateral assistance programmes over the winter (amounting to over £13 million).

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the Government's position is on the future status of Montenegro. [154019]

The UK and the EU would prefer to see a renegotiation of the relationship between Montenegro and Serbia take place within the framework of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. The EU set out this preference in the Conclusions of the General Affairs Council of 22 January. Decisions on status will need to be taken in an open, democratic and consensual manner, taking full account of the need to preserve the internal stability of the FRY and the regional stability of south eastern Europe.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the Government's policy is on the future status of Vojvodina. [154013]

Vojvodina is a province of the Republic of Serbia. We support the efforts of the democratically-elected authorities in Novi Sad and Belgrade to reach political agreement on a redefinition of the autonomous powers of Vojvodina within that framework.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the situation in southern Serbia and Macedonia. [154930]

The Yugoslav Army (VJ) and ethnic Albanian extremist groups in southern Serbia agreed a ceasefire brokered by NATO on 12 March. The agreement provides for the unconditional cessation of all military activities and use of force by either side. The Commander of KFOR (COMKFOR) retains his authority over the 5 km ground safety zone on the Kosovo/Serbia boundary. On Macedonia the situation remains tense. KFOR is providing support to the Macedonian authorities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which Minister will attend the UN Commission on human rights in Geneva this month; and for how long. [154014]

I will visit Geneva on 20–22 March, and deliver the UK national statement to the plenary session of the Commission on Human Rights on 22 March.During my stay, I will also meet the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (Mrs. Mary Robinson), the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (Mr. Rudd Lubbers), the Director of the Joint UN Programme on HIV/AIDS (Dr. Peter Piot), and the Director-Generals of the International Labour Organisation (Mr. Juan Somavia), the UN Office at Geneva (Mr. Vladimir Petrovsky), the International Organisation of Migration (Mr. Brunson McKinley) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (Mr. Paul Grossrieder).

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the additional

The allocation of responsibilities between Ministers at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office is a matter for my discretion.On 7 May 1997, the Minister for Europe, then my hon. Friend the Member for Newcastle-upon-Tyne, North (Mr. Henderson), was allocated responsibility for Europe, Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union.On 28 July 1998, my right hon. Friend the Member for Gateshead, East and Washington, West (Ms Quin) was appointed Minister for Europe. The portfolio was not amended.On 29 July 1999, my right hon. Friend the Member for Ashfield (Mr. Hoo

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what occasions the enfranchisement of citizens of Gibraltar for European parliamentary elections has been raised at meetings of the European Council in the last two years; and if he will make a statement. [153996]

The enfranchisement of Gibraltar for European parliamentary elections has never been raised at European Council. However it has been raised at General Affairs Council and remains on the agenda of the relevant Council working group.HMG unequivocally accepts the obligation, arising out of the Matthews judgment, to secure the European parliamentary franchise for Gibraltar. We are carefully considering all possible options for achieving this objective before the 2004 European parliamentary elections.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Government of Spain on the enfranchisement of citizens of Gibraltar for European parliamentary elections. [153995]

[holding answer 16 March 2001]: The Foreign Secretary last raised the issue of the enfranchisement of Gibraltar for European parliamentary elections with the Spanish Foreign Minister, Sr. Pique, in London on 24 January.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what communications he has received from the Holy See concerning discussions with Catholic bishops in Northern Ireland on the future of the Police Service in Northern Ireland. [154076]

The Government have had discussions with the Catholic Bishops about policing arrangements in Northern Ireland and believe that this is consistent with the Good Friday agreement, which calls for new arrangements to be

"unambiguously accepted and actively supported by the whole community".

The Government have, however, received no communication from the Holy See concerning these discussions.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on safety standards for road barriers. [152920]

Safety barriers on roads are designed to contain and then deflect along the line of the barrier a typical car colliding with it at a shallow angle. The safety barrier at Great Heck was 42.7 metres long. The minimum standard required is 30 metres at full height. Pending the report of the police into the tragic accident at Great Heck near Selby on 28 February, I have asked the Highways Agency to review the standards for safety barriers.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps he is taking to encourage the creation of bicycle lanes in central London. [152921]

This is now a matter for the Mayor of London and the relevant local highway authorities. My Department allocates an annual transport grant to the Greater London Authority to help maintain and improve transport in London. Over the next three financial years, this grant will amount to some £3.2 billion.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on road safety. [152922]

The Government launched their new road safety strategy for Great Britain, "Tomorrow's Roads—Safer for Everyone", in March 2000. This included targets to reduce overall deaths and serious injuries by 40 per cent. and to reduce child deaths and serious injuries by 50 per cent. by 2010, compared with the average for 1994 to 1998,together with details of many policies and initiatives that will help to achieve them.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make further funds available to enable the provision of additional traffic calming road safety schemes. [152941]

We have made £8.4 billion available for local transport improvements over the next five years with £2.8 billion available for small-scale measures. In 2001–02 the total allocation, from which spending on traffic calming could be made, is £559 million. It is for individual

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he will make a statement about his proposals on the reform of local government finance. [152923]

A White Paper setting out our decisions on the way forward will be published later this year.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what action he will take to reform the local government grant system to reflect the importance of the services provided by local authorities. [153849]

[holding answer 19 March 2001]: Ensuring the availability of high quality services is a primary objective for local authorities depends in part on the resources each authority receives through the grant system.Last September's local government finance Green Paper consulted on options for making the current grant distribution system for local authorities fairer. A White Paper will be published later this year setting out our decisions on the way forward.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on local transport plans. [152924]

Authorities submitted their first full Local Transport Plans last July. In December we announced an £8.4 billion package for local transport improvements over the next five years to help deliver what local people want. Authorities will be submitting their first annual progress reports later this year and we shall be closely monitoring the delivery of schemes on the ground.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on Government support for the UK's shipping industry. [152925]

We have a tonnage tax option for shipping companies, and a capital allowances measure for those not in tonnage tax.The Government support seafarer training.We also pay crew relief cost grant. And seafarers spending more than half the year abroad pay no income tax. We have removed excess regulation.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the introduction of neighbourhood wardens. [152926]

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the neighbourhood wardens programme. [152938]

DETR and the Home Office have jointly allocated £18.5 million until 2003–04 towards the Neighbourhood Warden programme. 86 Neighbourhood Warden schemes are receiving funding across England and Wales. Neighbourhood Wardens have a number of different roles depending on local need. Their overall purpose is to tackle anti-social behaviour, racial harassment, litter and graffiti. They will help to reduce crime and the fear of crime and will contribute to environmental and quality of life improvements.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the future of civil aviation in Wales. [152927]

The study of regional airports and air services in Wales announced in the 1998 Transport White Paper was completed last year. Its findings are currently being reviewed as part of a UK wide Regional Co-ordination Study. This will provide a basis for a series of Regional Air Services Consultation Documents to be published later on this year. One of these documents will cover Wales and will provide a framework for discussion of the future of civil aviation within Wales. Responses will be considered alongside those on "The Future of Aviation" national document, on which we are currently consulting, providing a key input to the Air Transport White Paper.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on measures to improve access for disabled people to transport services. [152928]

We have made significant progress over recent years towards a transport system that is accessible to all our citizens, including those who are disabled.Accessibility regulations for new trains, and more recently, for new buses and coaches used on local and scheduled services have been introduced under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995, which set technical standards for accessibility, including wheelchair access. Similar regulations for taxis will follow.Access to public transport infrastructure is also being addressed under Part III of the DDA.In addition, the 10 Year Transport Plan, published last summer, introduced a new commitment to ensuring that access for disabled people is a condition of all new public investment in transport.Taken together such initiatives will ensure that in future disabled people, including those who use wheelchairs, have the same opportunities for mobility as everyone else.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to provide assistance to improve local municipal parks. [152929]

Since 1997–98, Government grant to local government has gone up by 13.6 per cent. in real terms. Local authority spending on the Environmental, Protective and Cultural Services Block which covers spending on parks, will increase each year by an average 1.8 per cent. in real terms up to 2003–04. We are also encouraging more effective use of resources and promoting better practice, by developing more specific Best Value performance indicators and a new Beacon Council theme for 'Improving Urban Green Spaces'Last November, we published our Urban White Paper—"Our towns and cities: the future", which sets out our comprehensive proposals for improving urban parks, play areas and green spaces. In January we set up the Urban Green Spaces Taskforce, which has begun its work to drive forward the implementation of our commitments. We will set up a Working Group of the Taskforce to examine resource issues and how to make best use of the funding streams that are available.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what recent assessment he has made of the operation of the council tax system. [152930]

An assessment of the council tax system was included in our Green Paper on modernising local government finance which we published in September 2000. We have recently published a summary of responses to the Green Paper on the DETR website and will announce our policy intentions for the local government finance system, including council tax, in a White Paper later this year.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions in how many local authorities are over 50 per cent. of homes in band A for council tax. [152931]

According to the Valuation List for each local authority on 16 October 2000, 57 billing authorities have over 50 per cent. of their homes in council tax band A.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions in projecting housing needs, what assumption he has made of the number of asylum seekers who will remain in the UK in each year up to 2016. [152932]

Household projections, and population projections on which they are based, are one piece of the evidence used to assess housing requirements. In forming projections of population growth the Government Actuary's Department includes projections of asylum seekers allowed to remain per annum based on information from the Home Office.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will announce the initiation of the public-private partnership for the London underground within two months. [152934]

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on progress made towards a public-private partnership for the London underground. [152946]

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he expects to conclude the public-private partnership arrangements for the London underground. [152933]

My right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister announced last month that he had agreed to work together with the Commissioner of Transport for London, Bob Kiley, and with London Underground, on developing mutually acceptable modifications to the public-private partnership. Mr. Kiley has said in discussions with the Government that he seeks the unified management control of key Underground operations, mainly through keeping the maintenance of track and signalling within London Underground. The 55-point plan that he is now discussing with us provides for that control within the overall structure of the PPP.There are inevitably some technical issues still to be worked out but I believe that there is now a real basis for an agreement to allow the PPP competitions to proceed to a satisfactory conclusion. Discussions are being taken forward as quickly as possible so that we can get on with the PPP competitions and the massive investment which the Underground so urgently needs.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what recent representations he has received about the introduction of the landfill tax. [152936]

The tax was introduced in 1996. Since then we have had comments on the level and coverage of the tax from various individuals and bodies.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the requirement for impartiality laid on his Department for considering planning applications which have been called in by his Department. [152937]

General guidance is given to all Ministers in the "Ministerial Code—A Code of Conduct on Procedures for Ministers". The activities of officials in handling planning casework and providing advice to Ministers are governed by the "Civil Service Code" and the "Staff Handbook". There is also specific "Guidance on Propriety Issues in the Handling of Planning Casework in DETR". A copy of the "Guidance" may be found on the Department's website. The guidance which applies to Ministers also applies to Parliamentary Private Secretaries in DETR.The "Guidance" includes the advice that any Planning Minister should

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the Government's policy on the number of incinerators which convert waste into energy which are to be built over the next 10 years. [152939]

The Government set out their aims and objectives for sustainable waste management in "Waste Strategy 2000", published in May 2000.The choice of waste facilities is a matter for local councils to take, in consultation with their local communities. The Government have no plan for any particular number of incinerators, but recognise that the recovery of energy from waste may have a role to play, alongside recycling and composting, in an integrated waste management plan.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will re-assess the needs of the North-East Derbyshire district council following the closure of the BCC pipeworks at Clay Cross. [152940]

We continue to work with North-East Derbyshire district council, and other local partners in the BCC Response Group, to assess how best to meet the needs of those affected by the closure and its wider economic impact.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what recent representations he has received on the subject of bringing Railtrack back into (a) full public ownership and (b) part-public ownership; and if he will make a statement. [152943]

I have received representations on both issues. The Government have no plans to implement options which entail reorganisation, upheaval and loss of

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how much Government funding has been given to the (a) south-west regional development agency and (b) Government office of the south-west in the 2000–01 financial year. [152944]

The south-west RDA out-turn allocation for 2000–01 is £81.3 million. The Agency expects to generate income of £20.3 million during 2000–01, leaving net Government funding of £61.0 million. Running costs stand at £8.6 million.Government office for the south west has funded a wide range of programmes in the 2000–01 year with a total value of £446.8 million. The running cost allocation to Government Office for the south west in 2000–01 totalled £8,721,830.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on his policy on planning permission for mobile phone masts. [152945]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 16 March 2001, Official Report, columns 748–51W by my hon. Friend the Minister for Housing and Planning, in response to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Basildon (Angela Smith).

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how much has been spent by his Department on departmental and agency logos and associated branding since 1 May 1997. [152658]

The main departmental or agency logo and brand development costs that can be separately identified since 1 May 1997 are £176,690.This figure covers development of the following logos:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps he takes to ensure that the environmental commitments of Her Majesty's Government through the Kyoto Protocol and the UK Climate Change Programme are reflected in the EU's determination of European standards for air conditioning equipment; and if he will make a statement. [153618]

European Standards (ENs) are determined by the European Committee for Standardization (CEN). The British Standards Institution (BSI) is the United Kingdom member of that Committee and carries out public consultations on draft ENs. In developing any proposal for standards on air conditioning equipment, the Government would expect BSI, CEN and industry to take account of the commitments given by the UK Government and the European Union as a whole to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. However, responsibility for these standards and resolving any technical issues, ultimately falls to the BSI.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what action he has taken since 1997 to improve services for passengers travelling into Euston from Hatch End, Headstone Lane, and Harrow and Wealdstone stations. [153567]

On the route between Hatch End, Headstone Lane and Harrow and Wealdstone stations, there have been track renewals and drainage improvements, which helped to improve performance. The SRA are currently considering an extension to the Silverlink franchise, providing it offers tangible improvements for passengers and value for money.The Government are committed to developing an integrated transport system. We have created the Strategic Rail Authority and announced our Ten Year Transport Plan which provides for long term investment in transport of £180 billion to cut congestion and modernise the nation's transport system. This includes £60 billion for railways.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he will (a) publish green and white papers on regional governance and (b) introduce referendums to allow the creation of directly-elected regional assemblies. [153770]

We remain committed to move to directly-elected regional assemblies where there is support as demonstrated in referendums. As a first step, we would expect to undertake a public consultation exercise on the way forward.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what powers local councils have to establish community initiatives. [153936]

Local authorities have a broad new power which enables them to take action to promote or improve the economic, social or environmental well-being of their area, including establishing and supporting local community initiatives. In deciding how to exercise the power, authorities must have regard to their community strategy, which should reflect local communities' priorities and long-term aspirations. Local authorities must work through local strategic partnerships to develop and implement their community strategies, to integrate the work of the council with that of other public, private, voluntary and community organisations.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on Government policy on restoring the business rate to the control of local councils. [153802]

In our White Paper, "Modern Local Government: In Touch with the People" (July 1998), we said that the present system of a national business rate had some advantages and we would therefore retain it. However we said that we would also give local authorities a limited freedom to vary the business rate in their areas. In our Green Paper, Modernising Local Government Finance (September 2000), we sought views on how this might work in detail. A summary of the responses to the Green Paper has been published on the DETR website. We will publish our conclusions in a White Paper later this year.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many council houses for rent were held on 21 April 1991 by each of (a) Cannock Chase, (b) East Staffordshire, (c) Lichfield, (d) Newcastle-Under-Lyme, (e) South Staffordshire, (f) Stafford, (g) Staffordshire, Moorlands, (h) Stoke-on-Trent and (i) Tamworth; and what the current figures are. [154146]

The latest available information provided by local authorities on their annual Housing Investment Programme returns is as follows:

Total local authority stock on 1 April
	1991	2000
Cannock Chase	7,743	6,858
East Staffordshire	6,232	5,756
Lichfield	5,686	0
Newcastle-Under-Lyme	10,621	0
South Staffordshire	5,732	0
Stafford	7,441	6,528
Staffordshire Moorlands	3,674	3,168
Stoke-on-Trent	25,412	22,606
Tamworth	6,399	5,634

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many council houses for rent in each of (a) Cannock Chase, (b) East Staffordshire, (c) Lichfield, (d) Newcastle-under-Lyme, (e) South Staffordshire, (f) Stafford, (g) Staffordshire, Moorlands, (h) Stoke-on-Trent and (i) Tamworth local

The authorities in Staffordshire which have transferred all or part of their housing stock under Large Scale Voluntary Transfer arrangements are as follows:

Number of
Authority	Date	dwellings1
Transfers before 1 May 1997
South Staffordshire	7 March 1997	5,273
Lichfield	19 March 1997	4,921
Transfers after 1 May 1997
Stoke-on-Trent	31 March 1998	2917
Newcastle-under-Lyme	31 January 2000	9,887
Staffordshire, Moorlands	26 February 2001	3,132
1The number of dwellings specified in the consent letter includes dwellings held on long leaseholds (eg flats sold under Right to Buy provisions) where the authority had retained the freehold
2Partial transfer

In addition, East Staffordshire has sought the Secretary of State's consent to the transfer of its housing stock, which if granted, will enable the transfer of 5,637 homes at or before the end of this month.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many of NATS' air traffic controllers are eligible to retire under the early retirement agreement; how many of these are watch supervisors; how many are involved in training for the NERC; how many his Department estimates will exercise their option to retire if Serco is selected as NATS' strategic partner; and what impact this would have on the capacity of the air traffic control system. [153964]

The Flexible Retirement Scheme for NATS Air Traffic Controllers (ATCOs) was introduced on 1 April 1998. Since the scheme was introduced, 106 Controllers have become eligible to retire early, of whom 25 have exercised their right to do so. Of the remaining 81, 52 remain in employment and could exercise their right to retire. Controllers wishing to retire under the scheme are required to give a minimum of

"12 months notice of intention to retire".

This "notice of intention" was specifically built into the agreement to minimise the impact on the operational service of controllers wishing to retire under the scheme.Between 1 April 2001 and 31 March 2002, a further 56 NATS Controllers become eligible to retire under the scheme, of whom two are watch managers and 18 work on the activity to be transferred to NERC.It is not possible to estimate whether any more air traffic controllers might opt to retire early as a result of the selection of a Strategic Partner for the NATS PPP.As regards the impact on capacity, the training programme for the transfer of air traffic operations from West Drayton to Swanwick is in progress and the overall staffing position is currently tight but manageable. If a

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on his plans to improve the A74 between Carlisle and the Scottish border. [154229]

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

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what research he has carried out to develop alternative fuels for aircraft; and if he will make a statement. [154008]

None. We are aware of industry research which has identified several potential alternative fuels. For technical, economic or environmental reasons, singly or in combination, none seems viable at present. The possible exception is hydrogen, which is being examined further.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the outcome of the meeting of G8 environment ministers in Trieste. [154208]

I am pleased with the outcome of the recent G8 Environment Ministers' meeting, which I attended in Trieste. On Climate Change, all Ministers—including the US—expressed the view. that a successful outcome at COP6 bis was necessary to allow early entry into force of the Kyoto Protocol. Ministers also confirmed their support for the World Summit on Sustainable Development (Rio+10) in 2002 and the importance of improving existing environmental governance structures. We also re-affirmed our continued support for the development of common environmental guidelines for Environmental Credit Agencies. Food safety and the links between the environment and health were also discussed. Ministers also agreed unanimously to condemn the

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans his Department has to repeal Section 28 of the Local Government Act 1988. [154022]

Following the vote by the House of Lords against the repeal of section 28 during the passage of the Local Government Act 2000 last summer, the Government reluctantly concluded that it could not pursue the repeal in that Act without jeopardising the other important reforms it contained.The Government remain committed to the repeal of this unnecessary and div

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when the funding for objective 2 grants for the East of England was received from the EU; and where the money is at present located. [153977]

The European Commission is expected to formally approve the East of England Objective 2 Programme by the end of March and to release the first block of funds in April.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will explain the reasons behind, and apologise to the hon. Member for West Chelmsford for, breaching the Ministerial Code of Conduct by failing to give him advance warning of his visit to Chelmsford on Tuesday 13 March. [154323]

Paragraph 79 of the Ministerial Code says that it is the custom for MPs to be informed when a Minister visits their constituency. My office is under strict instructions to inform constituency MPs of all Government or Departmental visits. My visit to Chelmsford was to attend a private Labour Party function and under those circumstances I did not consider it necessary or indeed appropriate to inform the constituency MP.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he expects to make a payment to Lewes district council in respect of the application made under the Bellwin Scheme. [154493]

My Department has received an interim claim dated 28 February 2001 from Lewes district council in respect of costs arising out of flooding between October and December 2000. In accordance with arrangements to which I referred in answers given to the hon. Member for Vale of York (Miss McIntosh) on 8 February 2001, Official Report, column 642W and

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what reports he receives from Railtrack about its approval of rail company timetables; and if he will make a statement about GNER timetables after 6 April. [154664]

None. The passenger railway timetable is agreed between the train operator and Railtrack. I understand from GNER that a nearly normal timetable will be introduced in early April.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions to what purpose financial surpluses from the Driving Standards Agency are put. [154736]

The Driving Standards Agency operates under a trading fund regime and is required to generate a financial surplus equivalent to 6 per cent. of its average net assets in order to cover the cost of the public resources being used by the organisation. This 6 per cent. return is paid to the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions in the form of dividends plus loan repayments and interest.Where the Agency makes a financial surplus above the 6 per cent. requirement, this is retained by the Agency as a reserve and may be used to offset future fee increases.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions by what process the Driving Standards Agency informs is test applicants of a vehicle recall. [154737]

Motor manufacturers are responsible for advising owners of vehicle recalls. If the Driving Standards Agency becomes aware of a vehicle problem that could affect the safety of the candidate, the examiner and other road users, the Agency would display information on posters in driving test centres and on the Agency's website. The Agency would also tell driving instructors via its newsletter "Despatch".

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) if Scottish and North of England en-route services will be provided from the new air traffic control centre at Prestwick; and if Oceanic services for the North East Atlantic will continue to be served from Prestwich; [154717]

£million
					2001–02
Nature of funding	1997–98	1998–99	1999–2000	2000–01	(where known)
Lincoln city council
Revenue support grant	5.285	5.048	5.000	4.867	5.208
Income from national non-domestic rates	2.674	2.678	2.861	3.151	3.117
Housing investment programme	1.665	1.642	1.733	5.269	16.914
Housing revenue account subsidy (manager rent and	£826.19 per	£836.63 per	£866.39 per	£902.07 per	£934.72 per
maintenance allowance)	property	property	property	property	property

The NSC, as part of NATS' two centre strategy for the provision of en route air navigation services endorsed by the Government, is expected to have the capacity to service the Scottish FIR, the Oceanic region and provide a significant contingency in the case of catastrophic failure of the Swanwick or West Drayton centres. The latest review of the two centre strategy, carried out in 1997, proposed the transfer of the services provided by the Manchester Area Control Centre to Swanwick, although the NATS Strategic Partner may wish to review this.NATS has informed the Government that a New Scottish Centre with around half the number of workstations that Swanwick will have should be able to handle up to about 70 per cent. of normal traffic levels in the event of the Swanwick centre going out of action.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions for what reason passengers from Tilbury Town Station were not invited by the Strategic Rail Authority to complete the UK Rail Travellers Survey on 15 March; in which stations (a) in the borough of Thurrock and (b) outside Thurrock on the c2c line to Surrey the survey was distributed; and if he will make a statement. [154667]

In the latest wave of National Passenger Survey, all but one of C2C's stations, Dagenham Dock, have been or will be covered between 3 March and 23 March. Tilbury Town was covered on 8 March and 13 March.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to the Lincoln constituency, the effects on Lincoln of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997. [152979]

The majority of Lincoln constituency lies within the city of Lincoln and the district of North Kesteven. The principal kinds of funding that this Department has provided to the local authorities between 1997–98 and 2001–02 are shown in the tables. These include grants and borrowing approvals for revenue and capital expenditure.It is not possible to determine how much of this money Lincolnshire county council and North Kesteven district council have spent on Lincoln constituency. It is for the local authorities to decide where within their boundary these resources are applied. The city of Lincoln lies entirely within the Lincoln constituency.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will set out, including statistical information relating as directly as possible to the Newbury constituency, the effects on Newbury and west Berkshire of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997. [154572]

The principal kinds of funding

£million
Nature of Funding	1997–98	1998–99	1999–2000	2000–01	2001–021
Revenue Support Grant	2—	36.023	35.205	33.867	38.760
Income from National Non-Domestic Rates	2—	33.874	36.819	41.541	40.669
Local Government Reorganisation Supplementary Credit
Approval	3—	3—	2.643	3.740	—
Housing Investment Programme	0.299	0.253	0.269	1.317	0.604
Capital Receipts Initiative	0.087	0.274	0.277	—	—
ERDF Funding	0.895	0.179	—	—	—
Transport Supplementary Grant	0.675	0.234	0.600	—	—
Transport Annual Capital Guideline	0.675	0.234	0.600	—	—
Transport Block Supplementary Credit Approval	2.481	0.370	0.650	1.819	2.885
Rural Bus Challenge Grant	—	0.033	0.076	0.102	—
Rural Bus Subsidy Grant	—	0.233	0.233	0.233	0.297
1Where known
2Not available
3No bid made

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he intends to transfer the functions of the Local Government Commission for England to the Electoral Commission; what the consequences for the programme of periodic electoral reviews will be; and if he will make a statement. [154900]

As the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department, my hon. Friend the Member for North Warwickshire (Mr. O'Brien), told the House on 8 January 2001, Official Report, column 830, we intend, subject to the approval of the House and the other place, to make an Order under section 18 of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000, transferring the functions of the Local Government Commission for England (LGC) to the Electoral Commission with effect from 1 April 2002. We also intend, provided for in the 2000 Act, to include provisions in the Order to modify and to transfer to the independent Electoral Commission the Secretary of State's current functions relating to the implementation of the LGC's recommendations on electoral reviews. The proposed modifications are to take account of the constitution of the independent Electoral Commission and its statutory Boundary Committee for England, and to improve the procedures for conducting and implementing reviews, including allowing the Commission's Boundary Committee, after undertaking a review, to undertake a further review of the electoral arrangements of part of the local authority's area.On this basis, from 1 April 2002, the programme of periodic electoral reviews and their implementation would become the responsibility of the Electoral Commission.Electoral reviews are implemented, on a normal election day for the council concerned, by the making of an electoral changes order prior to that date. We intend that it will be for the Electoral Commission to make all the electoral change orders for reviews implemented on the normal election day in 2004 and subsequent normal election days. Electoral change orders for reviews to be implemented on the normal election day in 2003 will also be made by the Electoral Commission, except where a review is completed sufficiently prior to April 2002 that it is practicable for the Secretary of State to make the Order to assist the Electoral Commission as it takes on its new functions transferred from the LGC.This approach means that it will be for the Electoral Commission, on or after 1 April 2002, to decide whether or not to give effect to the LGC's current review recommendations for the counties of Derbyshire, Devon, Durham and Surrey which are due to be implemented on the normal election day in 2005 under the programme of reviews announced to the House on 2

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he will announce the exemptions or concessions he will prescribe for disabled people from road user charges and the workplace parking levy in England. [154902]

The Government are at present reviewing the operation of the Blue Badge scheme for parking concessions for disabled people. As part of the review we will be seeking views on whether there should be a link between that scheme and the exemption or concession arrangements for disabled motorists from road user charges and workplace parking levies. We expect to complete this review by the end of this year, and we then plan to consult on the scope of England-wide exemptions or concessions from road user charges and workplace parking levies.The aim will be to provide a uniform minimum standard of exemptions and/or concessions throughout England including Greater London, subject to considering whether an exception should be made for the unique circumstances of central London. It will be open to individual charging authorities to give exemptions and/or concessions above the minimum if they wish.If in due course the Government decide on an England-wide exemption or concession which is greater than one included by a charging authority in a charging scheme, we will give the authority adequate time to bring its scheme into line with the national requirements.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions on what date construction work on the Barford bypass in Warwickshire is expected to start. [154723]

The Barford bypass was provisionally accepted for funding in the Local Transport Settlement announced on 14 December 2000. Warwickshire county council are now progressing the £6.9 million scheme with the aim of starting construction in 2003.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how much high activity liquid waste is projected to arise from reprocessing at the Thorp plant at Sellafield; and what plans there are to condition this radioactive waste for long-term management. [154198]

I have been asked to reply.The 1998 United Kingdom Radioactive Waste Inventory indicates total arisings of 2,350 m

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to introduce routine checks for spongiform encephalopathy in all animals slaughtered for human consumption. [141645]

Following discussion by the European Union Council of Ministers, member states agreed to introduce the testing for bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) of animals slaughtered at over-30-months old, both those dying on the farm or in transport and those subject to normal slaughter, so that only meat from those animals with a negative test result may enter the human chain. All member states have been required to carry out this testing since 1 January 2001. In the United Kingdom, since we prohibit the sale for human consumption of beef from cattle aged over-30-months at slaughter, this testing requirement only applies to cattle slaughtered aged up to 42 months under the Beef Assurance Scheme, which covers registered herds with very low risk of BSE. Fallen stock is also being tested as required, although these do not go into the food chain. There are no plans routinely to test animals slaughtered at 30 months of age or younger.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment the Government have made of the threat to human health posed by the illegal sale of imported over-30-month beef; and when that assessment was made. [144250]

I am advised by the Food Standards Agency that it assessed, in December 2000, that any illegal sale of imported over-30-month (OTM) old beef from countries where there have been cases of BSE would pose a slightly higher risk than legally sold carcase meat imported from those countries. It should be borne in mind that the OTM rule is only the first defence against BSE and that the most risky parts of the animal, the specified risk material, such as the brain and spinal cord, are removed at slaughter. This greatly reduces the amount of infective material from older cattle.In addition, from 1 January 2001 cattle aged over-30-months that are slaughtered in the European Union must test negative for BSE before being allowed into the food chain. This provides consumers with some additional protection, though the tests are limited in their sensitivity to pre-clinical infection.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what studies the Government have conducted of the impact on health of eating French beef products. [144389]

[holding answer 8 January 2001]: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 30 January 2001, Official Report, columns 149–50W.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps have been taken to inform consumers about the inclusion of processed meat products in the ban on sales of imported over-30-months meat. [144492]

The Food Standards Agency issued a statement advising on imported beef and beef products on 22 December 2000. This is available on the Agency's BSE controls review website, and a copy has been placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health which Ministry has responsibility for preparations to enforce a ban on the import of beef. [146403]

No such ban is envisaged, for the reasons given in the reply to the hon. Member on 8 January 2001, Official Report, column 436W.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he plans to publish the draft regulations covering the work of the Children's Rights Director; and if he will list the organisations and individuals he intends to consult about them. [146515]

We plan to publish the draft regulations covering the work of the Children's Rights Director later this year. There will then be a full public consultation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many prosecutions there have been in respect of imported food that has been repacked or processed in the UK and sold as British. [150987]

Information is not collected in the form requested.Local authority enforcement data for 1999, collected under Article 14 of the Official Controls of Foodstuffs Directive 89/397/EEC, does not distinguish prosecutions taken in respect of imported food repacked or processed in the UK.A copy of the full return for 1999, the most recent year for which figures are available, is in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list those countries in Europe and North America which license the MMR and those which license single vaccinations for mumps, measles and rubella. [149345]

All European Union member states and the United Stales of America recommend a two dose vaccination schedule with MMR vaccine.There is no comprehensive list available of measles, mumps and rubella combination vaccines, two-component vaccines or single component vaccines that are currently licensed in Europe and North America. The Medicines Control Agency has obtained the following information from

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 22 January 2001, Official Report, column 430W, on MMR vaccine, which measles and mumps vaccines meet the specifications of the extant licences for those vaccines; and under what circumstances those vaccines can be imported. [149362]

None of the single measles and mumps vaccines licensed in the United Kingdom is manufactured for, or marketed in the UK, and the licence holders advise that the products they manufacture outside the UK for other countries do not fully comply with their UK licences. None of the single measles and mumps vaccines imported into the UK are licensed for use in the UK, or in full compliance with an extant UK product licence. Consequently, as unlicensed vaccines, they may only be imported and supplied to fulfil special needs, in response to the prescription of a doctor, and for use by his/her individual patients on his/her direct personal responsibility.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the unit cost of an injection of (a) MMR and (b) each of its constituent it vaccines if given separately. [150096]

The United Kingdom is supplied by two manufacturers of measles, mumps and rubella vaccine and by one supplier of rubella vaccine. The cost to the Department of purchasing MMR and rubella vaccines is commercially confidential. However, the price of a single dose of MMR vaccine as listed in the British National

					£million
	1996–97	1997–98	1998–99	1999–2000	2000–011
Ambulance Services	0.40	—	—	—	—
Antibiotics	—	—	—	0.17	—
Blood Donation	0.38	0.60	1.70	20.22	—
Children's Services	—	—	—	—	0.60
Drugs	—	—	—	0.34	—
Flu	—	—	—	—	0.23
Maternity	0.10	—	—	—	—
NHS including Nurse Recruitment	1.43	1.30	4.90	4.21	4.90
NHS Direct	—	0.12	0.78	1.20	1.15
Organ Donation	—	—	0.77	0.47	0.49
Prescription Fraud	—	—	0.38	—	1.40
Sexwise/Teenage Pregnancy	—	—	—	0.39	1.01

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of children aged between 12 and 15 months who have not received their MMR vaccination in each of the last six months. [150383]

This information is not available in the format requested. At 31 March 2000, the latest date for which figures are available, 87.6 per cent. of children in England aged two had received the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine. 12.4 per cent. of children aged two had, therefore, not received the MMR vaccine. This means that approximately 75,000 children aged two at 31 March 2000 had not been immunised with the MMR vaccine by their 2^nd birthday.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the total expenditure and the breakdown of expenditure was in his Department for the financial years (a) 1996–97, (b) 1997–98, (c) 1998–99 and (d) 1999–2000, and what the planned expenditure and breakdown of expenditure for 2000–01 is on (i) public opinion research, (ii) television, radio and newspaper advertising and (iii) direct mail. [149265]