To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the review for compensation arrangements for those killed and disabled during service with the armed forces will be completed; how the review will be presented to Parliament; if payments resulting from the review will be retrospective; and if he will make a statement. [154044]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Eastwood (Mr. Murphy) on 16 March 2001, Official Report, column 756W. This stage of the review has taken longer than expected because of legal and financial complexities. It is proposed that any new scheme would be introduced for all incidents giving rise to illness injury or death after the date of introduction. Claims relating to incidents which occurred before this time would continue to be covered by the existing arrangements. Following consultation, we expect to take final decisions on the review by early next year, when we will inform Parliament in the normal way.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much has been spent by his Department on departmental and agency logos and associated branding since 1 May 1997. [152645]

This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reason service officers have not had the same job evaluation as enlisted personnel; and if he will make a statement. [153979]

Job evaluation of both Other Ranks and Officer posts has been routinely undertaken since 1970. A new job evaluation system was introduced in 1997 and was extensively tested across all ranks including Officers. During the period leading up to Pay 2000, priority has been given to evaluating Other Ranks in order to assign posts to pay ranges based on job weight. Most Senior Officer posts have now been evaluated. We are about to begin a comprehensive programme of evaluation for the remainder of the Officer corps with the aim of completing the first tranche by September to meet the stated requirements of the Armed Forces Pay Review Board.

To ask the President of the Council how many members of the public have contacted the Appointments Commission to give their views on its role and the criteria and the process used to select applicants for nomination for a peerage. [153807]

I understand that 40 members of the public have responded to the Commission's invitation for views on the process and the criteria it has drawn up to guide its assessment of nominations.

To ask the President of the Council how many applicants for a People's Peerage have their main home outside the United Kingdom. [153764]

I understand that of the 3,200 applications for consideration by the Appointments Commission as non-political peers received by 17 November 2000, 17 have their main home outside the United Kingdom.

To ask the President of the Council how many hon. Members voluntarily elected to forgo (a) part and (b) all of their parliamentary salary in the 2000–01 financial year. [154516]

No hon. Members have taken a reduced parliamentary salary during this financial year.

To ask the Chairman of the Catering Committee what fair-traded products are (a) used and (b) sold in the cafeterias and restaurants of the Palace of Westminster. [155066]

While I cannot, of course, answer for the policies of the Refreshment Department in another place, I am pleased to confirm that the following Fairtrade Mark products are sold in the cafeterias and restaurants of the House of Commons: "Clipper" teas; "Tikki Café" coffee beans and ground coffee from Matthew Algie Tea and Coffee Merchants; and "Divine" milk chocolate and "Dubble" chocolate rice bars from The Day Chocolate Company.The House of Commons Refreshment Department also has a policy to support the aims of the Cotonou Convention, specifically with reference to the purchase of Caribbean bananas and cane sugar.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to the constituency, the effects on the Manchester, Gorton constituency of his Department's policies and actions since 30 November 2000. [154496]

I wrote to my right hon. Friend on 30 November 2000 regarding a similar query. I explained that the impact of Home Office policies and actions is not normally collected by constituency and the statistics which the Department collects cannot be matched in the way requested. The three major projects which I mentioned are ongoing. They are a burglary reduction project in Rusholme, a targeted policing project against armed crime in South Manchester and the neighbourhood wardens projects in three parts of Gorton.The Manchester Youth Offending Team received a visit from my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary in December 2000 and there was a significant increase in the number of Pre-Sentence Reports prepared for the courts during that quarter. There are plans for this progress to be sustained.As I explained in the earlier reply, all the policies of the Home Office will in a more general way impact on Manchester, Gorton to a greater or lesser extent. Changes since I last wrote to my right hon. Friend are as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will set out, including statistical information relating as directly as possible to the Sutton and Cheam constituency, the effects on Sutton and Cheam of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997. [154416]

The Home Office is working to build a safe, just and tolerant society in which the rights and responsibilities of individuals, families and communities are properly balanced, and the protection and security of the public are maintained. Detailed information on the impact of Home Office policies across the full range of responsibilities is set out in Home Office annual reports. A copy of the most recent report, Home Office Annual Report 1999–2000, is available in the Library. The latest report will be published shortly. Information on recorded crime and policing is also published. 'Recorded Crime England and Wales, 12 months to September 2000' and 'Police Service Strength England and Wales, 30 September 2000' can be found in the Library. The recorded crime statistics include information on recorded crime by Basic Command Unit and Crime and Disorder Partnerships.The impact of Home Office policies and actions is not normally examined by constituency and the statistics which the Department collects, such as recorded crime, cannot be matched in the way requested although set out are examples relating to the Sutton and Cheam constituency or the immediate locality:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to the Lancaster and Wyre constituency, the effect on Lancaster and Wyre of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997. [154681]

The Home Office is working to build a safe, just and tolerant society in which the rights and responsibilities of individuals, families and communities are properly balanced, and the protection and security of the public are maintained. Detailed information on the impact of Home Office policies across the full range of responsibilities is set out in Home Office Annual Reports. A copy of the most recent report, Home Office Annual Report 1999–2000, is available in the Library. The latest report will be published shortly. Information on recorded crime and policing is also published. 'Recorded Crime England and Wales, 12 months to September 2000' and 'Police Service Strength England and Wales, 30 September 2000' can be found in the Library. The recorded crime statistics include information on recorded crime by Basic Command Unit and Crime and Disorder partnerships.The impact of Home Office polices and actions is not normally examined by constituency and the statistics which the Department collects, such as recorded crime, cannot be matched in the way requested although set out are examples relating to the Lancaster and Wyre constituency or the immediate locality:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent representations he has received on the subject of David Blagden; and if he will make a statement. [154418]

I have received a good deal of correspondence on Mr. Blagden's behalf suggesting that his continued custody is unfair and unjust given the nature of his index offence and the length of time he has served. There has also been considerable media interest in the case of this discretionary life sentence prisoner both at local level and nationally.Legal advisers acting for David Blagden are currently challenging by judicial review the content of material due to be put before my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary, for his consideration of the Parole Board's recommendations following its hearing of this case on 2 May 2000. Until this action is concluded, it is not possible to respond to the Parole Board's recommendation.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what the education budget for the Prison Service was for the 2000–01 financial year; and what it will be for the 2001–02 financial year; [154525](2) what the education budget for the Prison Service was for the financial years

The information available is for certain identifiable areas of education expenditure, covering payments to education and library service providers and purchase of education materials. It does not include the private sector managed prisons.Expenditure in 1999–2000 was £47.4 million. Forecast expenditure in 2000–01 is about £50 million.Both of these figures include Value Added Tax (VAT) payments, where applicable, but do not include refunds to prisons of any recoverable VAT, details of which are not readily available.As announced in paragraph 23 of the recently published plans for the new partnership between the Prison Service and the Department for Education and Employment "Improving Prisoners' Learning and Skills", a copy of which is in the Library, funding for education, libraries and education materials will be at least £51 million in 2001–02, with planned increases to at least £59 million in 2002–03 and £63 million in 2002–04. These figures allow for VAT refunds.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the average number of hours per prisoner spent in educational classes per week, in each year from 1992 to present; and if he will make a statement. [152874]

The available information is set out in the table. Information is not available for years before 1995. Comparable data are not collected from private sector prisons.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list, for the period between the commencement of the Home Detention Curfew scheme and 28 February inclusive, (a) the number of prisoners released on the scheme, (b) the number of prisoners convicted of each specific offence who were released on the scheme, with a breakdown of the offences committed, including specific offences committed by prisoners normally classified under the categories (i) other homicide and attempted homicide, (ii) other violence against the person, (iii) drug offences, (iv) assaults and (v) other offences, including a breakdown of the prisoners normally classified in the sub-category of other offences called other offences, (c) the average sentence (i) received and (ii) served, and the average period spent on the scheme, in respect of each specific offence, (d) the number of prisoners released on the scheme, with a breakdown of the offences committed, who (i) breached the conditions of the curfew, (ii) disappeared and were recaptured, (iii) disappeared and remain unlawfully at large and (iv) had their licences revoked, and for what reasons, (e) a breakdown of the specific offences committed by prisoners released on the scheme while on the scheme, including all offences committed by prisoners who committed more than one offence and (f) a breakdown of the specific offences committed by prisoners released on the scheme who committed a further offence while on the scheme that was similar in character to that for which they were originally convicted, including all offences committed by prisoners who committed more than one offence; and if he will make a statement. [152693]

[holding answer 8 March 2001]: I have written to the right hon. Member and placed a copy of the letter in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will respond to the letters from the hon. Member for Manchester, Central dated 19 October 2000 and 17 January about Mr. H. H. R. (H11001080). [154589]

Lord Bassam wrote to my hon. Friend on my behalf on 16 February.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what average time was spent on remand in 2000 by (a) females aged under 21 years, (b) males aged under 21 years, (c) adult females and (d) adult males, respectively. [154653]

Provisional figures for time spent on remand are given in the table.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the longest period of detention a person at present seeking asylum in the United Kingdom has been held in detention since arrival at a port of entry in the UK; and if he will make a statement. [154453]

The longest period of detention of an asylum seeker currently detained under Immigration Act powers and so detained since their arrival in the United Kingdom on 30 July 1999, is 600 days.While detention under Immigration Act powers should always be for the shortest period possible, the decision on whether to maintain detention is strictly monitored and made on a case-by-case basis. Various factors influence that process, such as an individual's previous history, connections with the United Kingdom and an assessment on their willingness to comply with the terms of any temporary admission or release. In all cases detention must be considered essential for it to continue.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his policy with regards to ethnic Albanians from Presevo returning to that part of Serbia after being refused asylum in the United Kingdom. [154260]

Under the Milosevic regime, the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) was not prepared to accept failed asylum seekers back into the country. It has therefore not been possible to make returns to FRY (apart from Kosovo) for several years. However, following the change of government and the restoration of full diplomatic relations, we are in touch with the authorities of the FRY about arrangements for returning FRY nationals with no basis for continued stay in the United Kingdom. We shall not seek to enforce returns unless we are satisfied that to do so would be consistent with our international obligations.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) men and (b) women have been deported in each of the last three years for (i) criminal and (ii) immigration offences; and if he will make a statement. [154459]

The requested information on the number of persons deported in each of the last three years for criminal and immigration offences is shown in the table. Information on the gender of those persons removed is not held centrally and could be obtained only by examining individual case files.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the number of animals that were used for experimental purposes in England and Wales during the last 12 months. [154458]

Information relating to scientific procedures performed on living animals is collected and published for each calendar year and laid before Parliament in a Command Paper in late summer the following year. The number of animals used in scientific procedures which were started in 1999, the latest year for which figures are available, was 2.57 million. More detailed information is given in Table la of the publication Statistics of Scientific Procedures on Living Animals, Great Britain, 1999, a copy of which is in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department under what circumstances business volunteers working as mentors in schools will be required to be checked by the Criminal Records Bureau: and if so whether they will be exempt from paying the fee. [154004]

On the assumption that the person's role was unpaid and entailed working in a school or unsupervised access to children, the person would be eligible for a high level disclosure which would be free of charge.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were convicted of cruelty to animals in England and Wales in each of the last three years, who were sentenced to a term of imprisonment. [154455]

Information taken from the Home Office's court proceedings database showing the number of persons convicted of cruelty to animals who were sentenced to a term of imprisonment during the period 1997–99 is given in the table. The proportion of those convicted of an animal cruelty offence sentenced to a term of imprisonment rose from 4.9 per cent. in 1997 to 5.4 per cent. in both 1998 and 1999.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Metropolitan Police officers have been suspended from duty for a period of over 18 months due to allegations about their conduct in each of the last five years. [154452]

The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis has provided the information in the table:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to introduce legislation to treat sectarian motivated violence and harassment as a specific crime. [154389]

We have no present plans to introduce legislation to make a specific offence of violence or harassment motivated by hostility based on

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the criteria under which an immigration officer may grant (a) an asylum seeker and (b) an immigrant a 28 day permit to enter the United Kingdom. [154297]

Although immigration officers are able to exercise discretion when granting leave to enter, there are no specific categories which provide for entry for 28 days only; therefore, no criteria exist for such a grant of leave.Newly arrived asylum seekers would not normally be granted entry on arrival. They would, instead, be granted temporary admission pending consideration of their application for asylum. Dependent upon circumstances, the period of temporary admission will vary. However, if they had no friends or family in the United Kingdom and were granted temporary admission, this could initially be for one month, but again no specific criteria exist for this.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) asylum seekers and (b) immigrants were given temporary admission to the United Kingdom by immigration officials at Heathrow in each of the last six months. [154308]

The information is given in the table

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment has been made of the trials of the Airwave public safety radio communications system; and if he will make a statement. [154431]

The main evaluation began on 19 March when Divisions in the Lancashire Constabulary started to migrate progressively to Airwave and use the service operationally. Service performance will be assessed continually by the Lancashire force and the Police Information Technology Organisation (PITO) against rigorous criteria and a formal report is planned for issue in June 2001. If the service meets the criteria set out in the main Airwave contract then national implementation of the service will begin.Last autumn a number of contractually defined tests to prove radio coverage and service features and performance were carried out. Both Lancashire and PITO were party to these tests which proved satisfactory. PITO subsequently ran and monitored a large number of scripted quasi-operational tests on the to system for a seven week period between November 2000 and January 2001. These tests involved some 300 police personnel drawn from the majority of forces in England, Wales and Scotland. User feedback was generally very positive.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what additional information the Charity Commission has requested from the Coram family since the Attorney-General intervened in the collection scheme. [153669]

This is a matter for the Charity Commission, who will write to the hon. Gentleman. A copy of the Commission's reply will be placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 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. [153420]

[holding answer 12 March 2001]: The information requested is as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what factors arising from the downsizing of Corus will be taken into account in his current review of company law. [154515]

The wide-ranging review of company law launched by Government in 1998 is being conducted by an independent steering group of company law experts, business people and others. It is expected to present a final report to Ministers later this year. I am sure that the steering group will take all relevant factors into account in reaching its conclusions and recommendations

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what arrangements his Department has made for undertaking further medical assessment procedures in the north east of Wales since the current office was refused planning permission by Wrexham County Borough Council.[154545]

Healthcall has been asked to cease assessments in May. There are only a small number of claimants in the Wrexham area and Healthcall is investigating alternative sites in the area for the portakabin modular unit with the help of the local council.In addition, Healthcall is in the process of equipping two mobile testing units to be used throughout Great Britain. If it is unable to identify an alternative site for the portakabin it plans to use the mobile units to test in Wrexham as and when the need arises.I visited this site recently and have given an undertaking that there will be no disruptions or delay to the processing of claims of appointments.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many more claims for compensation his Department expects to receive from ex-miners and their families from the north east of Wales. [154547]

It is difficult to forecast the number of further claims of compensation for respiratory disease expected. Nation-wide, there are currently 1,000 new claims initiated in respect of respiratory disease each week. The current number of claims is currently 140,000.In relation to vibration white finger, VWF, there was a cut-off date on 30 September 2000. The total number of claims is 118,000.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what timescale his Department has for processing claims for compensation from ex-miners and their families from the north east of Wales. [154546]

It is difficult to say how long it will take before the last claim is assessed in the north east of Wales. New claims can still be made and across the UK there are about 1,000 new claims each week. We are prioritising the most injured and eldest miners and widows.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many claims from ex-miners and their widows from the north east of Wales coalfield his Department has received in the last five years. [154548]

In the area of north east Wales, as defined by the postcodes LL11–16, 18–22, 24, 26, 28–29, 32–34, CH1 and 4–8, IRISC, the Department's claims handlers, have registered 1,256 claims in respect of compensation for respiratory disease and 549 claims in relation to vibration white finger, VWF. To date, there have been 371 individual payments totalling £1.37 million in respect of respiratory disease and 139 individual payments in respect of VWF amounting to £0.66 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the price paid for electricity and gas (a) by very large consumers in the United Kingdom steel industry and (b) by their competitors in Europe. [154276]

Figures are not separately available for energy prices to the iron and steel industry.In general, industrial consumers in the UK paid lower prices in real terms for electricity in 2000 than in any year since 1970. Average prices paid by industrial consumers for electricity in the UK in 1999 were seventh lowest of the 12 EU member states for which data are available. We recognise that some large industrial consumers may be paying more for electricity than their EU counterparts.In general, industrial consumers in the UK paid higher prices in real terms for gas in 2000 than in 1999, however they remain lower than in any year prior to 1996. Average

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions he has had with BNFL in respect of the implementation of the company's new management of change arrangements. [154200]

I met senior managers of BNFL on Tuesday 13 March, but managing change within BNFL is a matter for the company, subject to the satisfaction of the nuclear safety regulator, the Health and Safety Executive.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the progress towards a settlement between British Coal and its canteen workers on equal value claims. [153613]

Negotiations between the legal representatives of British Coal and the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) have re-opened. On 7 March, British Coal made a new and significantly improved offer, but unfortunately there has, as yet, been no response from the NUM side.I very much hope the NUM will give the offer the serious consideration which it merits, as I am anxious that a way can be found to allow payments to be made to the claimants as quickly as possible.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will set out, including statistical information relating as directly as possible to the Sutton and Cheam constituency, the effects on Sutton and Cheam of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997. [154417]

The parliamentary constituency of Sutton and Cheam has benefited from a range of initiatives since May 1997. Direct business advice and support to small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) has been provided by the DTI through core programmes and the Business Links. While my Department does not collect detailed statistical information on a constituency basis, over 2.360 requests for advice, information and support from SMEs in Sutton and Cheam have been handled by the Business Links since May 1997

To ask the secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will set out, including statistical information relating as directly as possible to the Truro and St. Austell constituency, the effects on Truro and St. Austell of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997.[154530]

The Department has provided the following support for businesses in Truro and St. Austell constituency since May 1997.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent discussions her Department has had with the Council of Europe to develop joint policies for the welfare and protection of children. [154449]

My Department has not had any recent discussions with the Council of Europe on child protection. However, children are central to DFID's programmes for the eradication of poverty.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what checks her Department makes on goods imported into the United Kingdom to ensure that they are not made by child labour; and if she will make a statement. [154457]

My Department is committed to the reduction of child labour with special emphasis on the worst forms. We do not make checks on goods imported into the UK but are supporting the efforts of Governments, non-governmental organisations, and international bodies such as the International Labour Organisation to end exploitative child labour in developing countries in both domestic and export sectors.We are also providing assistance to business, through, for example, the Ethical Trading Initiative and the Resource Centre for the Social Dimensions of Business Practice, for the elimination of child labour and other exploitative labour practices, including in supply chains. We support the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development guidelines for multinational enterprises.In November 1999 we published a report on child labour—"Helping not Hurting Children"—which outlines the dangers for children of calls for boycotts and trade sanctions. A copy will be sent to my hon. Friend.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement about the impact of the proposed General Agreement on Trade in Services on basic services in developing countries. [154302]

Developing and developed country governments choose both the sectors in which and the extent to which they liberalise services under the General Agreement on Trade in Services. Services supplied in the exercise of governmental authority—that is, public services like health and education services—are explicitly excluded from the GATS (although private services are covered by the GATS).Further liberalisation of private services under GATS offers developing countries potential benefits in a number of different sectors. Increased competition in basic services such as banking, transport and telecommunications would provide more efficient and effective infrastructure in developing countries, which is vital if they are to achieve the economic growth they need to reduce poverty.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what representations she has made to the US Government concerning the use of herbicide spraying as part of the drug-crop eradication campaign, Plan Colombia. [153933]

I have been asked to reply.The FCO and other Departments maintain a wide-ranging and regular dialogue on drugs issues with the US Government and other key international partners. This dialogue includes discussion of drug crop eradication methods in Colombia and in other drug producing countries.We have indicated our support for the principle of independent international monitoring of the aerial fumigation of large-scale illicit drug cultivation in Colombia.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development when her corporate strategy unit for aid policy department was established; which of its reports are placed in the public domain; how many departmental or non-departmental special advisers participate in its work; how many regular (a) non-departmental and (b) departmental staff participate in its work; and how many of these work for the unit on a full-time basis. [150370]

A strategy unit was established in DFID's Policy Department in 1998. The unit itself publishes no reports, but it played a co-ordinating role in the production by DFID of a set of nine publicly available strategies for achieving the International Development Targets. Special advisers do not participate in the work of the unit. It contains two full-time and one part-time regular departmental staff.

To ask the Solicitor-General if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to the constituency, the effects on the Manchester, Gorton constituency of his Department's policies and actions since 6 November 2000. [154500]

I refer my right hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 6 November 2000, Official Report, column 1W.On 13 November 2000, the City of Manchester branch of the Crown Prosecution Service underwent the reorganisation I referred to in my previous answer. In line with the Glidewell proposals, the branch now has Trial Units and Criminal Justice Units covering the North and South Manchester Policy Divisions. At the present time and for the foreseeable future, it is unlikely that the Crown Prosecution Service will be able to co-locate with the police at Elizabeth Slinger Road Police Station.In partnership with other agencies, the Crown Prosecution Service has made a concerted effort to reduce the length of time, between arrest and sentence, that persistent young offenders remain within the criminal justice system. On 25 November 2000, there were 201 persistent young offender cases currently before Manchester Youth Court. On 14 March 2001, that figure had been reduced to 137. Similarly, the average time from arrest for all current cases has shown a reduction from 98 days to 89 days over the same period. All these changes illustrate the Government's successful period. All these changes illustrate the Government's successful policy of speeding up the work of the criminal justice system.On 15 January 2001, section 51 Crime and Disorder Act 1988 came into force. One of the first cases dealt with by the City of Manchester branch involved the arrest of four defendants under Operation Auction 1. This, as my right hon. Friend knows, is a police operation set up to combat a high level of street robberies in Gorton. The four defendants made their first appearance before Manchester City Magistrates Court on 16 January 2001. On 24 January 2001 they appeared before the Crown Court. One of the defendants, Stuart Smith, indicated immediately that he intended to plead guilty to assault with intent to rob. He entered his guilty plea on 8 February 2001 and was sentenced to a Detention and Training Order for two years. This illustrates the potential effectiveness in speeding up serious cases. Slightly over three weeks from the.date of his first court appearance, the defendant received a substantial custodial sentence. Previously the case was unlikely to have been finalised within three months. Committal proceedings would have taken approximately eight weeks and a further four weeks would have elapsed between committal and a plea and directions hearing at the Crown Court.Actions and policies of the Treasury Solicitor's Department and the Serious Fraud Office affect my right hon. Friend's constituency only indirectly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on NATO's decision to allow Serb forces into a section of the buffer zone between Kosovo and Macedonia. [154012]

Following the successful negotiation of a ceasefire between the Yugoslav army and local Albanian leaders, the Commander of KFOR (COMKFOR) has authorised the return of FRY forces to one sector of the 5 km Ground Safety Zone (GSZ). Around 900 FRY military personnel have deployed to a small section of the GSZ on the border with Macedonia. In accordance with pre-conditions laid down by COMKFOR, they will not deploy any tanks or heavy artillery. They must also ensure that no Serb irregular or paramilitary forces enter the GSZ. The deployment is being monitored by KFOR.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what advice he gave to the Princess Royal concerning her plans to visit Tibet. [154209]

Government discussions with the Royal Households about the planning and pattern of overseas visits are always in confidence.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the conduct of the presidential election in Uganda. [154299]

The presidential elections in Uganda provided a genuine choice of candidates and alternative policy platforms. In general candidates were able to campaign throughout the country and to present their policies through the media.We share the concerns expressed in the preliminary report by the consortium of local organisations which monitored the elections (NGO Election Monitoring Group-Uganda) over reports of violence and intimidation including by Government agents, which marred the later stages of the campaign, and over reports of serious irregularities in some areas on polling day. We await the Ugandan Electoral Commission's response to these concerns.The patience and goodwill of the majority of Ugandan voters is a testament to their desire for democratic participation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations were made to the UK by the Belgian Government regarding President Mugabe's recent meeting with the Belgian Foreign Minister. [154673]

The Belgian Government made no representations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations were made to the Government of Belgium regarding President Mugabe's recent meetings with them. [154672]

[holding answer 20 March 2001]: The UK's views on the situation in Zimbabwe were explained to the Belgian Government in writing before their meetings with President Mugabe on 5 March.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the annual cost was in 2000 of the Customs and Excise staff, vehicles and equipment used to combat the smuggling of motor Fuel products into Northern Ireland; and how much excise duty he estimates was lost as a result of such smuggling .[153428]

[holding answer 12 March 2001]: The annual cost of Customs and Excise staff in Northern Ireland tackling all criminal activity affecting its areas of responsibilities was £3.3 million in 2000.Customs and Excise do not have an estimate of excise duty lost through smuggling of motor fuel products in 2000.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to the constituency the effects on the Manchester, Gorton constituency of his Department's policies and actions since 6 November 2000. [154498]

Since 6 November, the pre-Budget Report 2000 and Budget 2001 have introduced a number of policies which will further benefit the Manchester, Gorton constituency. In particular, all 10,900 pensioners in Manchester, Gorton will receive an above-inflation increase in the basic state pension from April 2001; and all 2,300 Working Families Tax Credit recipients in Manchester, Gorton will receive an additional £5 per week from June 2001.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will set out, including statistical information relating as directly as possible to the Truro and St. Austell constituency, the effects on Truro and St. Austell of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997. [154537]

Truro and St. Austell, along with the rest of the United Kingdom, is benefiting from the long-term action we have taken to build economic stability and secure high and stable levels of growth and employment. Since the general election, claimant unemployment in the constituency has fallen by 1,210, or 41 per cent., youth unemployment is down by 84 per cent., and long-term unemployment has fallen by 75 per cent.Macroeconomic stability is being complemented at the microeconomic level by the Government's policies to ease the transition from welfare into work and to make work pay. To the end of December 2000, the New Deal for 18 to 24-year-olds had helped 1,161 young people in Truro and St. Austell constituency gain valuable skills and experience—646 (56 per cent.) of whom had moved into employment. The Working Families Tax Credit (WFTC), introduced in October 1999, is helping to make work pay for low and middle income families. In August 2000, 2,600 families in Truro and St. Austell constituency were benefiting from WFTC.The Government are also committed to policies which enable pensioners to share in the country's rising prosperity. All pensioners, including 22,700 in Truro and St. Austell, will receive an above-inflation increase in the basic State Pension from April 2001. Single pensioners will receive an extra £5 a week, and couples will receive an extra £8 a week. All pensioners aged 75 or over have also been entitled to a free TV licence since November 2000—including around 13,800 in Truro and St. Austell.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to the Lancaster and Wyre constituency, the effect on Lancaster and Wyre of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997. [154683]

Lancaster and Wyre, along with the rest of the United Kingdom, is benefiting from the long-term action we have taken to build economic stability and secure high and stable levels of growth and employment. Since the general election, claimant unemployment in the constituency has fallen by 590. or 33 per cent., youth unemployment is down by 74 per cent., and long-term unemployment has fallen by 66 per cent.Macroeconomic stability is being complemented at the microeconomic level by the Government's policies to ease the transition from welfare into work and to make work pay. To the end of December 2000, the New Deal for 18 to 24-year-olds had helped 596 young people in the Lancaster and Wyre constituency gain valuable skills and experience—327 (55 per cent.) of whom had moved into employment. The Working Families Tax Credit (WFTC), introduced in October 1999, is helping to make work pay for low and middle income families. In August 2000, around 1,500 families in the constituency were benefiting from WFTC.The Government are also committed to policies which enable pensioners to share in the country's rising prosperity. All pensioners, including 22,100 in Lancaster and Wyre, will receive an above-inflation increase in the basic state pension from April 2001. Single pensioners will receive an extra £5 a week, and couples will receive an extra £8 a week. All pensioners aged 75 or over have also been entitled to a free TV licence since November 2000—including around 14,400 in Lancaster and Wyre.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will set out, including statistical information relating as directly as possible to the Sutton and Cheam constituency, the effects on Sutton and Cheam of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997. [154413]

Sutton and Cheam, along with the rest of the United Kingdom, is benefiting from the long-term action we have taken to build economic stability and secure high and stable levels of growth and employment. Since the general election, claimant unemployment in the constituency has fallen by 786, or 56 per cent., youth unemployment is down by 84 per cent., and long-term unemployment has fallen by 86 per cent.Macroeconomic stability is being complemented at the microeconomic level by the Government's policies to ease the transition from welfare into work and to make work pay. To the end of December 2000, the New Deal for 18 to 24-year-olds had helped 260 young people in Sutton and Cheam constituency gain valuable skills and experience—150 (58 per cent.) of whom had moved into employment. The Working Families Tax Credit (WFTC), introduced in October 1999, is helping to make work pay for low and middle income families. In August 2000, 500 families in Sutton and Cheam constituency were benefiting from WFTC.The Government are also committed to policies which enable pensioners to share in the country's rising prosperity. All pensioners, including 15,400 in Sutton and Cheam, will receive an above-inflation increase in the basic state pension from April 2001. Single pensioners will receive an extra £5 a week, and couples will receive an extra £8 a week. All pensioners aged 75 or over have also been entitled to a free TV licence since November 2000—including around 10,100 in Sutton and Cheam.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many families in Wales are eligible for the Working Families Tax Credit; [154552](2)how many people in Wales have

Estimates of the number of families in Wales in receipt of the Working Families Tax Credit (WFTC) are shown in the WFTC Quarterly Enquiries, copies of which are in the Library.On the Children's Tax Credit, I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answers given to the right hon. Member for Caernarfon (Mr. Wigley) on 6 February 2001,

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent representations he has received on the level of fuel duties; and if he will make a statement. [154708]

The Government have received numerous recent representations on a wide range of issues including fuel duties. These have all been given careful consideration.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people have gained since 1 May 1997 in Shrewsbury and Atcham from the (a) reduction in VAT on fuel, (b) reduction in the basic income tax and (c) introduction of the 10p starting tax rate; and if he will make a statement. [154659]

All people in Shrewsbury and Atcham who have purchased domestic fuel and power since 1 September 1997 will have benefited from the reduced rate that came into effect on that day.Nationally, almost all income tax payers gain from the introduction of the 10p starting tax rate and more than 85 per cent. of taxpayers gain from the cut in the basic rate.For the number of taxpayers in Shrewsbury and Atcham, I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave him on 19 January 2000,

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will set out the calculation underlying the statement in the Red Book 2001, page 95, paragraph 5.67, on the costs of undertaking annuity reform; and if he will make a statement.[154144]

Relaxing the existing requirement to purchase an annuity would provide an incentive for some to use pension schemes for purposes other than providing a secure income throughout retirement. Costs will vary depending on the nature of any reforms, including what level of income must first be secured and what tax charge is applied to withdrawals above that level. Proposals for tax-free withdrawals could cost billions of pounds a year in lost income tax and extra tax relief.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many days leeway are allowed before a fine is imposed for late submission of personal income tax returns after the due date. [154584]

Where a tax return is received on the day after the statutory filing date, no penalty is imposed for late submission.The statutory filing date for most returns is 31 January, so such a return received on 1 February is not penalised. A return found in tax office post box by 7.30 am on 2 February is assumed to have been delivered before midnight on 1 February,and is not penalised.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many midwives there were in (a) May 1997, (b) 1979 and (c) at the latest date for which

The information requested is set out in the table.The system of classifying National Health Service staff by occupation code introduced in 1995 has proved successful, improving quality of information and at the same time reducing the burden on data suppliers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the role of local councils following the abolition of community health councils. [144193]

The democratic deficit in the National Health Service has long been recognised. In future, democratically elected councillors will take on from community health councils the important function of scrutinising local NHS service through local authority overview and scrutiny committees (OSCs)The provisions that give local authority OSCs the new powers to scrutinise the NHS are contained within the Health and Social Care Bill, which is currently before Parliament. The Bill will enable the OSC to scrutinise and review the operation, management and development of the NHS bodies within its area, it will then make reports and recommendations of those NHS bodies based on the results of that scrutiny.The aim of the new scrutiny arrangements is to allow flexibility and to enable the building of local authority scrutiny models that are fit for ensuring that the NHS is scrutinised rigorously, and that scrutiny is democratically accountable to the local population.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate his Department has made of the average cost per NHS patient of treatment by (a) an orthopaedic and (b) a podiatric surgeon [147270]

We have made no such estimates.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what housing is being built for nurses employed in NHS hospitals in the Greater London area. [148312]

In the spring of last year a housing co-ordinator was appointed to facilitate access to appropriate affordable housing for National Health Service staff in London and already some 500 units have been available.An accommodation bureau has also been established and a database now exists containing all the units available. The bureau will enable individual members of staff to he made aware of what is available and to ensure that maximum efficiency is made of the accommodation we currently now access.A number of bids involving some 7,500 new homes for own occupation for NHS staff have been made under the Starter Home Initiative Challenge Fund via the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions. These are currently being evaluated and an announcement will be made in June.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what support and assistance he will be providing to assist overseas doctors in completing the required professional and language tests to enable them to register in this country as part of his proposal to recruit overseas doctors under the NHS plan. [149804]

We have no plans to support doctors (many of whom will still be resident in their home countries) while they prepare for professional and language tests that are, in themselves, no guarantee of employment in the United Kingdom. The early stages of testing are, however, more accessible as they are now available in a number of countries outside the UK.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people in (a) the UK and (b) each health authority area benefited from free eye tests in the last year.[153147]

In 1999–2000, there were some 11.8 million free National Health Service sight tests carried out in the United Kingdom. Figures for health authorities in England are shown in the table.