Written Answers

                    The text on this page has been created from Hansard archive content, it may contain typographical errors.
                

Written Answers To Questions

Tuesday 27 March 2001

Treasury

National Insurance

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the National Insurance Contribution liability was of a self-employed person earning (a)£20,000 and (b)£30,000 in the financial years (i) 1996–97, (ii) 1999–2000 and (iii) 2000–01; and what it will be in 2001–02. [150049]

[holding answer 12 February 2001]: Since 1999, this Government have introduced a package of measures to build a fairer National Insurance system, to improve work incentives and encourage job creation. In particular, we have aimed to improve the position of lower earning self-employed people and to address the under-contribution of the self-employed as a whole to the National Insurance Fund, compared with the National Insurance contributions (NICs) payable by employees and employers.The self-employed pay class 2 which is a weekly flat rate charge and class 4 which is charged as a percentage of profits over the lower profits limit up to the upper profits limit.In the March 1999 Budget the Chancellor announced a reform of self-employed NICs to reduce the burden of National Insurance on the lowest earning self-employed and encourage the start up of self-employed businesses. The flat rate was reduced from £6.55 a week to £2 a week and the class 4 rate was increased from 6 per cent. to 7 per cent. The starting point for payment of Class 4 NICs has also been aligned with the income tax personal allowance. These changes were introduced following recommendations of the Taylor report.Over the period mentioned in the question the Government have also introduced a number of measures on income tax. For example, we have introduced and extended the 10p starting rate, cut the basic rate to 22p, introduced the Working Families Tax Credit and the Children's Tax Credit, which reduce direct tax.By October 2001 as a result of personal tax and benefit measures, UK households will be on average £590 a year better off and families with children will be £1,000 better off on average from measures introduced over the parliament as a whole.The NICs and income tax liabilities will depend on many circumstances.The table shows the net effect of changes to NICs and income tax for a single self-employed earner who has no children.

£
Year/Income	NICs	Income tax	Total
1996–97
10,000	503.00	1,340.40	1,843.40
20,000	1,103.00	3,740.40	4,843.40
30,000	1,322.60	6,258.00	7,580.60
1999–2000
10,000	488.80	1,107.95	1,596.75
20,000	1,088.80	3,407.95	4,496.75
30,000	1,448.80	5,707.95	7,156.75
2000–01
10,000	497.05	1,052.90	1,549.95
20,000	1,197.05	3,252.90	4,449.95
30,000	1,744.45	5,452.90	7,197.35
2001–02
10,000	486.55	976.70	1,463.25
20,000	1,186.55	3,176.70	4,363.25
30,000	1,879.55	5,376.70	7,256.25

The following table shows the net effect of changes to NICs, Family Credit, Child Benefit and Income Tax (including the abolition of the married couple's allowance and introduction of the Children's Tax Credit and Working Families Tax Credit) for a family unit which contains a single self-employed earner, who is working more than 30 hours, married and has two children under 11.

£
Year/Income	NICs	Family credit/Child benefit	Income tax (including WFTC)	Total
1996–97
10,000	503.00	2,031.91	1,071.90	-457.01
20,000	1,103.00	1,019.20	3,471.90	3,555.70
30,000	1,322.60	1,019.20	5,989.50	6,292.90
1999–2000
10,000	488.80	2,075.64	-690.28	-2,277.12
20,000	1,088.80	1,248.00	3.210.95	3,051.75
30,000	1,448.80	1,248.00	5,510.95	5,711.75
2000–01
10,000	497.05	1,300.00	-2,700.04	-3.502.99
20,000	1,197.05	1,300.00	3,215.83	3,112.88
30.000	1,744.45	1,300.00	5,452.90	5,897.35
2001–02
10,000	486.55	1,344.20	-3,456.43	-4,314.08
20,000	1,186.55	1,344.20	2,587.64	2,429.99
30,000	1,879.55	1,344.20	4,856.70	5,392.05

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many self-employed persons paid (a) only class 2 National Insurance Contributions and (b) class 2 and class 4 Contributions in 1999–2000; and what estimate he has made of the same figures for 2000–01; [144833](2) what the proceeds were of

(a) class 2 and (b) class 4 National Insurance Contributions in (i) 1998–99 and (ii) 1999–2000; and what estimate he has made of the same figures for 2000–01. [144832]

The reform of class 2 and class 4 National Insurance Contributions (NICs) will reduce the burden on low earners and encourage business start-ups. In 1999–2000, around 0.7 million self employed are estimated to be liable to pay only class 2 and 1.8 million are estimated to be liable to pay class 2 and class 4 NICs. For 2000–01 around 0.2 million are estimated to be liable to pay only class 2 and some 2.3 million are estimated to be liable to class 2 and class 4 NICs. Theses estimates are based on the survey of personal incomes.Estimates for class 2 and class 4 NICs receipts in 1998–99 to 2000–01 for the United Kingdom are given in the table.

£million
	UK NICs receipts
Year	Class 2	Class 4	Total
1998–99	680	960	1,640
1999–2000	730	990	1,720
2000–01	350	1,040	1,390

These estimates were provided by the Government Actuary's Department.

Working Families Tax Credit

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the oral answer of 1 March 2001, Official Report, column 1022, from the Paymaster General, on what evidence she based her claim that the majority of employers have welcomed the Working Families Tax Credit. [155433]

The evidence is that over 1.1 million working families now receive WFTC—300,000 more than received Family Credit at its peak. Thanks to the generosity of WFTC awards, employers are now able to offer jobs to people who would otherwise face financial barriers to work. This is a significant benefit to employers and the economy as a whole. The CBI has supported the WFTC which it has described as playing

"a key role in raising incentives to work by targeting additional resources on those people who are most likely to suffer from the poverty and unemployment traps".

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the entitlement to Working Families Tax Credit is of a lone parent with three children under 16 in receipt of child benefit and with eligible child care costs of £200 per week and gross earnings of (a) £34,000, (b) £40,000 and (c)£45,000. [155355]

[holding answer 23 March 2001]: Whether such families are entitled to Working Families Tax Credit, and the sizes of their awards, depends on other conditions, including their savings. The Inland Revenue booklet WFTC/BK1, "Your Guide to Working Families' Tax Credit" explains how to calculate whether a family is entitled to an award, and its size. A copy is available on the Inland Revenue website:www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk. The values of the various credits, and the income threshold, for 2000–01 and 2001–02 are shown in Table A.3 of the Budget 2001 Red Book.

Budget Measures (London)

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the (a) expected impact of the 2001 Budget and (b) combined impact of the Budget measures of 1998, 1999 and 2000 on (i) women and (ii) men in London. [155007]

The impact of Budget measures on men and women cannot be measured separately for London. For the UK as a whole, by October 2001, as a result of personal tax and benefit measures:

on average women rill be £85 a year better off and men will be £80 a year better oft from Budget 2001, compared to an indexed Budget 2000 base;

on average women will be £440 a year better off and men will be £225 a year better off from measures introduced over the Parliament as a whole, compared to an indexed 1997 base. For households, the average gain will be £590 a year.

Looking at the impact of individual new measures on people in London:

the introduction of the Children's Tax Credit will benefit 475,000 families;

the increase in the 10p income tax band will benefit around three million tax payers;

the £5 increase in WFTC will benefit 85,000 working families.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer in what circumstances self-employed persons may become eligible for the Working Families Tax Credit; and if he will make a statement with specific reference to those businesses affected by foot and mouth disease. [155352]

Both self-employed people and employees may be eligible for Working Families Tax Credit (WFTC) if they are on low or middle incomes, work 16 hours or more a week and if they are responsible for one or more children. WFTC is available to people working in businesses affected by foot and mouth disease, just as it is to other employed or self-employed people.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer in what circumstances employees who work for small businesses which have cash flow problems resulting in reduced working hours and changed conditions of employment may become eligible for the Working Families Tax Credit and if he will make a statement with specific reference to businesses affected by foot and mouth disease. [155353]

Working Families Tax Credit (WFTC) provides an earnings top-up for low and middle income working families. An employee working for a small business—including any business affected by foot and mouth disease—would be eligible to apply for WFTC as long as he or she works for 16 hours or more a week and has one or more dependent children.

Inland Revenue

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many buildings the Inland Revenue (a) owned and (b) rented in (i) Scotland and (ii) the United Kingdom in (A) 1998–99 and (B) 1999–2000; and what was the insurance expenditure to cover buildings and employees in those years. [155310]

The information is as follows:

	1998–99		1999–2000
	Freehold	Leaseholds	Freehold	Leaseholds
Scotland	16	27	16	28
United Kingdom	117	360	117	371

Government policy is to self-insure.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the number of Inland Revenue employees by UK region, indicating the wage cost (a) in total and (b) by region for 1998–99,1999–2000 and 2000–01 and separately identifying the costs of London allowances and weighting. [155307]

For the staff numbers, I refer the hon. Gentleman to the Cabinet Office publications Civil Service Statistics 1998 and 1999 and the Cabinet Office news release of 29 November 2000. The cost of wages by UK region is not available.

Customs Staff

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer to how many HM Customs staff who left in 2000 compulsory Early Severance Terms under the pre-1987 agreement applied. [155566]

Six people left HM Customs and Excise in 2000 on Compulsory Early Severance terms with reserved rights under the pre-1987 agreement.

Guaranteed Annuities

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what date in 1998 his Department received the report of the Government Actuary's Department into life offices' exposure to guaranteed annuities options. [154807]

[holding answer 22 March 2001]: I understand that the Government Actuary's Department sent a report on reserving for annuity guarantees to HM Treasury in September 1998.

Vehicle Repairs (Vat)

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what factors underlie the decision to exempt motor vehicle repair shops owned by insurance companies from VAT on labour costs. [155142]

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Preseli Pembrokeshire (Mrs. Lawrence) on 25 January 2000, Official Report, column 210W.

Local Government Finance

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many appeals have been received to alter the valuation of business premises in the rating list which came into effect on 1 April 2000; and how many are still outstanding. [155039]

Information concerning the number of appeals received will be given in the Valuation Office Agency's Annual Report and Accounts, to be published later in the year.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many Valuation Office staff are engaged in the programme of deciding proposals to alter the 2000 rating list. [155037]

A precise breakdown of the number of staff involved is not available.

Parliamentary Questions

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he will answer the question from the hon. Member for Hertsmere, Reference Number 150049, regarding national insurance contributions, tabled for answer on 12 February. [152744]

I have done so today.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) when he will reply to the parliamentary question tabled by the hon. Member for Chichester on 30 January, reference 148435, on Treasury staff costs; 154279](2) when he will reply to the question tabled by the hon. Member for Chichester on 6 February (ref. 148435). [154671]

[holding answer 20 March 2001]: I have done so today.

Office For National Statistics

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many employees of the Office for National Statistics there were broken down by UK region, indicating the wage bill (a) in total and (b) by region for (i) 1998–99 and (ii) 1999–2000 and separately identifying the costs of London allowances and weighting. [155311]

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

Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Andrew Welsh, dated 26 March 2001:

As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question about the number of employees in the Office for National Statistics Office (ONS) in total and by region. (155311)

The ONS employed 3,384 staff in 1998/99 and 3,449 staff in 1999/00. The breakdown by region and salary cost is shown in the table below.

	1998–99		1999–2000
Location	Employee headcount	Pay bill(£000)	Employee headcount	Pay bill(£000)
London	914	23,742	890	24,242
Newport	898	16,575	974	17,398
Runcorn	143	2,461	156	2,619
Southport	634	9,051	644	9,161
Titchfield	795	15,279	785	15,696
Total	3,384	67,108	3,449	69,116

London Weighting was abolished for new entrants in 1994 and existing staff retained it as an allowance until 1997, when it was consolidated into the London pay scale.

Unemployment Statistics (London)

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many children in families with no one in work (a) there were in 1996 and (b) there are in 2001 in each London borough. [155008]

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

Letter from Len Cook to Ms Harriet Harman, dated 26 March 2001:

As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your parliamentary question about children from families where no one is in work in each London Borough. (155008).

The Labour Force Survey (LFS) provides information on the number of dependent children in families where neither parent is in work. The table gives this information for London Boroughs for autumn (September-November) 2000. Estimates are not available by Borough for 1996.

Children ¹ in workless families in London by borough—autumn 1996 and autumn 2000 not seasonally adjusted
		Thousand
	1996	2000
Greater London	442	419
Inner London	237	222
Outer London	205	196
City of London	²—	³—
Barking and Dagenham	²—	12
Barnet	²—	11
Bexley	²—	³—
Brent	²—	11
Bromley	²—	³—
Camden	²—	13
Croydon	²—	12
Ealing	²—	17
Enfield	²—	19
Greenwich	²—	15
Hackney	²—	21,
Hammersmith and Fulham	²—	³—
Haringey	²—	23
Harrow	²—	³—
Havering	²—	³—
Hillingdon	²—	11
Hounslow	²—	³—
Islington	²—	20
Kensington and Chelsea	²—	³—
Kingston upon Thames	²—	³—
Lambeth	²—	12
Lewisham	²—	16
Merton	²—	³—
Newham	²—	38
Redbridge	²—	19
Richmond upon Thames	²—	³—
Southwark	²—	27
Sutton	²—	³—
Tower Hamlets	²—	26
Waltham Forest	²—	12
Wandsworth	²—	³—
Westminster	²—	³—
¹Children aged under 16, and those aged 16–18 in full-time education
²Figure not available
³Figure too small for reliable estimate

Source:

ONS Labour Force Survey

Earnings Statistics

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the percentage of (a) full-time employees and (b) all employees who earned below £930 per week in 2000–01; and if he will provide corresponding estimates for each standard planning region. [155477]

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

Letter from Let Cook to Mr. Steve Webb, dated 26 March 2001:

As National Statistician. I have been asked to reply to your recent question about the number of employees earning less than £930 per week. (155477)

The New Earnings Survey (NES) is carried out in April each year. This provides weekly earnings data for all employees and full-time employees. The release of NES data is restricted to figures that are derived from a sufficiently large sample of employees, and have an acceptable level of accuracy.

The table provides the available data for Great Britain and the Government Office Regions. These are based on the 2000 NES, the latest survey for which data are available.

Percentage of employees earning less than £930 per week for Great Britain and the Government Office Regions; April 2000
	Full-time employees	All employees
Great Britain	96.7	97.4
North East	98.7	99.1
North West	97.8	98.3
Yorkshire and the Humber	98.0	98.5
East Midlands	98.3	98.7
West Midlands	97.6	98.2
South West	98.0	98.5
East	96.7	97.5
London	91.4	93.0
South East	96.0	96.9
Wales	98.6	98.9
Scotland	97.8	98.3

Source:

New Earnings Survey

Average Pay (Northern Region)

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the average pay was in the Northern Region (a) in 1996 and (b) at the latest date for which figures are available. [155051]

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

Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Fraser Kemp, dated 26 March 2001:

As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question on average pal in the Northern region (155051).

Government Office regions (GORs) are now used as the standard classification for regional analysis or statistics. The one used for the Northern region is the North East GOR.

The New Earnings Survey (NES), carried out in April of each year, is the most comprehensive source of earnings information in Great Britain. This shows that in the North East Government Office Region the average weekly pay was £315.2 in 1996 and £365.8 in 2000, the latest date for which figures are available. The figures provided are for full-time to employees on adult rates of pay, whose pay for the survey period was not affected by absence.

Minimum Wage (London)

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people in London had their pay increased on implementation of the minimum wage. [154948]

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

Letter from Len Cook to Ms Harriet Harman, dated 26 March 2001:

As National Statistician, I have been asked I to reply to your recent question about the number of people in London who had their pay increased on implementation of the national minimum wage (NMW) (154948).

The Office for National Statistics has published estimates of the number of jobs paid at less than NMW rates for 1998, 1999, 2000. These estimates are based on an improved methodology using data from the New Earnings Survey (NES) and Labour Force Survey (LFS). This methodology provides the best estimates for the number of jobs in the UK paid below low hourly rate thresholds. Estimates for the United Kingdom and Government Office Regions, including London, are posted on the National Statistics website at: www.statistics.gov.uk/nsbase/themes/ labour_market/nmw_lowpay_tables.asp

The new methodology has been developed to overcome the deficiencies inherent in the two surveys, the NES and LFS, in measuring low pay.

Census

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his policy is regarding the collection of census forms in April; and if he will make a statement.[155548]

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

Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Nick Gibb, dated 26 March 2001:

As Registrar General for England and Wales I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking about the policy regarding the collection of census forms in April (155548).

For the first time in a census in England and Wales the main method of collection will be the post-back of completed forms. Postage paid envelopes will be delivered with the census forms. This policy will ensure that field staff resources are concentrated in those areas where lower levels of postal response are experienced, and where additional effort may be necessary to collect completed forms or provide assistance.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the cost will be of the 2001 Census; and how much will be attributed to (a) fieldwork and (b) data processing. [155252]

[holding answer 23 March 2001]: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.

Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Richard Ottaway, dated 27 March 2001:

As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent question on what the cost will be of the 2001 Census; and how much will be attributed to (a) fieldwork and (b) data processing (155252).

The total estimated cost for the 2001 Census in England and Wales over the 13-year period 1993/94 to 2005/06 is £207 million. Of this, some £92 million is attributed to fieldwork activities, mainly concentrated in the period 1999/00 to 2001/02, and £86 million is attributed to processing, mainly concentrated in the period 2001/02 to 2003/04.

The census is a devolved matter in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the plans his Department has in place to ensure that each household in England and Wales will be visited and all inhabitants counted for the purposes of the Census during the foot and mouth outbreak. [155847]

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

Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Stephen O'Brien, dated 27 March 2001:

As National Statistician and Registrar General for England and Wales I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking what plans are in place to ensure that each household in England and Wales will be visited and all inhabitants counted for the purposes of the Census during the foot-and-mouth outbreak. (155847)

On 20 March I released a statement outlining new plans for conducting the Census in areas affected by foot-and-mouth disease. I attach a copy of the statement. This explains that the Census-takers working in the countryside will respect all foot-and-mouth restrictions, and new arrangements will be put in place to allow delivery to farms and households by mail, or where practical to an agreed point such as a farm boundary. Specific guidance for enumerators is being prepared in consultation with MAFF and the National Assembly for Wales.

In response to the understanding we now have this week about the potential maximum scale of the foot-and-mouth outbreak, I intend to provide an update to this statement this week.

Census: foot-and-mouth

Statement by National Statistician, Len Cook

Plans for conducting the Census in areas affected by foot-and-mouth disease were announced today by Len Cook. National Statistician, and Registrar General for England and Wales.

The Census will continue.

"Census-takers working in the countryside will respect all foot-and-mouth restrictions, whether statutory or otherwise imposed". Mr Cook said. "I am conscious of the distress and difficulty the disease is causing, and we shall do nothing that might contribute to its spread."

Census enumerators are local people, working in local communities, in local conditions. New arrangements will be put in place so that in rural areas Census forms can be delivered to farms and households by mail, or, where practical by prior arrangement to an agreed point such as a farm boundary. Census-takers are being instructed to be flexible in arranging the delivery of forms. On no account will they use taped-off thoroughfares or pass warning signs. They will also comply at all times with local disinfecting requirements. Specific guidance for Census enumerators is being prepared in consultation with MAFF and the National Assembly for Wales.

People in rural England and Wales have responded particularly well in past Censuses, and this makes it possible to introduce a much more flexible approach to counting people in these parts of the country, in response to the outbreak.

Census Day is Sunday 29 April. This year, as will be the case nationwide, households in affected areas will return their forms by post.

Barney Holbeche, Head of Parliamentary Affairs at the NFU of England and Wales, welcomed the plans.

"We are grateful to the Census organisers for recognising the need to minimise any risk of further spreading infection, and to make special arrangements for the delivery and collection of forms from farmers and their staff in the restricted areas of the country," he said. "It is important that this exercise is conducted in a sensitive manner at this time of great stress for farmers, and we will be working with the Census-takers to facilitate this process."

Households that cannot be reached personally by a census-taker, can expect to receive a Census form by post. In Wales,there will be forms in both Welsh and English. Also included will be an explanatory letter, an information leaflet and a post-back envelope. The letter will explain that additional or different forms can be obtained by phoning the Census Helpline, which will be available from Sunday 1 April 2001.

Drug-Related Deaths (Peterborough)

To ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) where Peterborough stands nationally in relation to drug-related deaths per 100,000 of the population; [155115](2) how many drug-related deaths there were per 100,000 of the population in Peterborough in the last 12 months for which figures are available; and what the

(a) highest, (b) lowest and (c) average figure was for constituencies in England. [155116]

[holding answer 23 March 2001]: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.

Letter from Len Cook to Mrs. Helen Brinton, dated 26 March 2001:

As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent questions about where Peterborough stands nationally in relation to drug-related deaths per 100,000 of the population, how many drug-related deaths there were per 100,000 of the population in Peterborough in the last 12 months for which figures are available and what the highest, lowest and average figures were for constituencies in England. (155115, 155116).

Rates per 100,000 population are only available for Local Authorities. The Office for National Statistics holds a database on drug-related deaths. This contains information on deaths from accidents and suicides involving drugs, as well as poisonings due to drug abuse and drug dependence. It includes deaths from drugs such as paracetamol and aspirin as well as drugs of abuse. The full definition of deaths relating to drug poisoning can be found in Health Statistics Quarterly 09 (copies of which are in the House of Commons library).

In 1999, the age-standardised death rate from drug poisonings in Peterborough Unitary Authority was 3 deaths per 100,000 population, compared to an average of 5 deaths per 100,000 for England as a whole. In Local Authorities with more than one death during 1999, the highest age-standardised mortality rate was 16 deaths per 100,000 population. There were 14 local authorities where no deaths were recorded.

Civil Servant Costs

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will separately identify the average cost of the (a) salary, (b) superannuation, (c) accommodation and (d) personal secretaries support, assuming one secretary per official, of employing a team leader, former grade 5 equivalent, in the Treasury in the financial year 2000–01. [148435]

[holding answer 6 February 2001]: Treasury staff in range F fall within Senior Salaries Review Body pay bands 1 and 2. The SSRB's recent report (Cm 4995) gives more details. The average salary for a Treasury range F is £55,400. Superannuation averages £9,170.

The average accommodation or personal secretary cost for a range F cannot be separately identified.

Ministerial Meetings

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many ministerial meetings with hon. Members have been cancelled by Ministers since 1 January. [155234]

This information is not held centrally.

International Development

Ministerial Meetings

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many ministerial meetings with hon. Members have been cancelled by Ministers since 1 January. [155241]

Since 1 January no ministerial meetings between Ministers from my Department and hon. Members have been cancelled.

Sudan

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made of the contribution to peace and development in Sudan being made by foreign oil companies operating in Sudan. [155147]

We are aware of some efforts by oil companies to provide services to the local populations in the areas of their oil concessions. The exploitation of Sudan's natural resources has the potential to be a major driver of development for the people of Sudan. But for this to happen there needs to be a peaceful solution to the civil war.

Indonesia

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what reports she has received on East Timorese who are in camps in West Timor. [155027]

Accurate information on conditions in the West Timor refugee camps is difficult to obtain, following the withdrawal of UN staff and international NGOs in the aftermath of the killing of three UN workers in Atambua last September. But the Indonesian Government have managed the situation in the camps relatively well, and there have been no reports of widespread hunger. Some international NGOs, including Medecins sans Frontieres and Save the Children Fund, are considering re-establishing programmes. A UN mission is due in West Timor soon to review the security situation and decide whether conditions are safe enough for UN staff to return. The UN are particularly keen to ensure that all of those in the camps who want to return to East Timor are able to do so by 20 June, to enable them to register to vote in the Constituent Assembly elections planned for 30 August.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what contributions she is making to alleviate the conditions of internally displaced persons in Aceh, Indonesia. [155026]

We contributed £500,000 to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) appeal for Indonesia last year; and we support the work of the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue in Geneva (also known as the Henri Dunant Centre) which brokered the recent "humanitarian pause" in Aceh. We are also working with the UN system in Indonesia to help strengthen its conflict management activities and its response to humanitarian emergencies, whether natural or conflict related.

Administration Of Justice

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what help she is giving to poorer countries to improve the administration of justice. [155128]

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer 1 gave my hon. Friend the Member for Slough (Fiona Mactaggart) on 7 February 2001, Official Report, column 597W.

St Helena

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what response she has made to the recommendations set out in the access report proposed on St. Helena prepared by High Point Rendell. [155774]

My Department will comment on the draft final report of the Comparative Study of Air and Sea Access within the next week. High Point Rendell will then proceed with preparation of the final report. Its recommendations will then need to be discussed with the St. Helena Government.

Colombia

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much the Government are contributing to the EU assistance package of aid to Colombia; and if she will make a statement on how this money will be spent. [153934]

The UK's attributed share of EC expenditure varies from year to year. In 1999, the last year for which we have finalised figures, the UK's share was 17.75 per cent. Details of the proposed aid package are still being determined and will be discussed at a meeting of the European Union of member states and the Colombian Government on 30 April 2001.

Child Soldiers

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she Will list the countries that her Department is in discussion with about combating the use by those countries of child soldiers in military conflicts. [154456]

My Department has been working with UNICEF to strengthen its capacity to protect and assist children in crisis situations. UNICEF is engaged on these issues with governments, NGOs and other UN agencies in a wide range of countries including Uganda, ECOWAS states, Ethiopia and Eritrea, Cambodia, the Philippines, East Timor, Indonesia, Paraguay, South Sudan and Democratic Republic of Congo. My Department has also been supporting work on child soldiers in Sri Lanka with UNICEF's Children and Women in Armed Conflict programme, the Quaker UN office, the International Committee of the Red Cross and the Save the Children Fund.

Culture, Media And Sport

Royal Parks Constabulary

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when he will publish the report on the inspection of the Royal Parks Constabulary by Mr. Anthony Speed; and if he will make a statement. [155988]

The report was published today and I have placed copies in the Libraries of both Houses. The report is also published on the DCMS website www.culture.gov.uk. I am grateful to Mr. Anthony Speed and his assistant for conducting a thorough inspection of the Royal Parks Constabulary (RPC).The review was commissioned by the Royal Parks Advisory Board which has considered the report carefully. In reaching my conclusions on the report's recommendations, I have had the benefit of the Board's advice for which I am grateful.I accept the report's analysis and its recommendations for improved efficiency and effectiveness. Immediate action has been taken to remedy deficiencies and further changes and improvements are being taken forward. Mr. Speed makes 23 recommendations. In the following list I give the action taken on each of them to date.It is essential for the morale of the RPC and for recruitment and retention that the Force is properly remunerated. The Government have agreed, therefore, to make more money available to maintain the link between the salaries of RPC officers and of the Metropolitan police service at 85 per cent. The award is being backdated to 1 September 2000. The question of an additional London Allowance is under consideration.My Department is discussing with the Home Office the future relationship between the RPC and the Metropolitan police service. The current position is that the RPC remains part of the Royal Parks Agency. There are options for change, as Mr. Speed's report recognises. These options require further detailed examination and discussion. I recognise that uncertainty can be unsettling and we shall reach a conclusion as soon as possible.Mr. Speed's report acknowledges the level of public satisfaction with the way in which the Royal Parks are policed. They are relatively crime-free areas. This is due to the dedication and professionalism of the officers of the RPC which I recognise and to which I pay tribute.

Report of the formal inspection of the Royal Parks Constabulary by Mr. Anthony Speed
Recommendation	Progress
1. The duality of function of the Chief Officer should cease (Paras 2.3–2.10)	The Chief Officer no longer has responsibilities as head of personnel. He remains a member of the Management Board
2. The Chief Officer should be a superintendent on secondment from a Home Office Police Force (Paras 2.20–2.23)	This is being discussed with the Home Office
3. The Deputy Chief Officer should be a Chief Inspector (Para 2.24)	A Promotion Board for Chief Inspector/Deputy Chief Officer post was held on 26 March 2001
4. The Chief Officer should be allowed to run the Royal Parks Constabulary alone. on properly constituted lines (Paras 2.26–2.27)	The Chief Officer now has full operational control of the Force
5. The Royal Parks Constabulary should produce an annual, costed, policing plan, which gives a clear account of performance in the previous financial year (Paras 3.12–3.15)	Properly costed policing plan for 2001–02 prepared, following full consultation. Currently being professionally reproduced for distribution
	Further work necessary in respect of comparisons with performance in previous financial year
6. Planning guidelines should be produced by the Force showing the link between the community and the Constabulary and include a clear timetable for the contribution from all parties to the plan (Paras 3.16–3.17)	Interim guidelines produced to enable preparation of the policing plan for 2001–02
	These guidelines are being reviewed now and a more detailed document will be produced for distribution in April 2001
7. A properly constituted Police Authority should be formed, with clear links to Her Majesty's Inspector of Constabulary to hold the Chief Officer to account for Force performance (Paras 3.19–3.22)	This is being discussed with the Home Office
8. A budget should be set for the Force allowing the Chief Officer to set staffing levels (Para 3.24)	Budget currently being set for financial year 2001–02
9. A full participative management programme should be published which clearly shows how policy is developed and how each rank contributes to that process (Paras 3.26–3.34)	Manual of Guidance now produced and distributed
	Minutes of Senior Management Team meetings being prepared in greater detail, with policy decisions highlighted. Hard copies being circulated to supplement distribution by e-mail. Target set to circulate minutes within seven working days of meetings A newsletter has been distributed to every officer to explain the process of change taking place and further editions will be sent out at regular interval.
	The consultation guidelines for the Policing Plan 2001–02 include the opportunity to take the views of staff (both police and civil) into account in the setting of Force aims and objectives Further actions to follow
10. The Force should produce a detailed Human Resources strategy document (Para 4.1)	This document is being prepared
11. The Constabulary should not seek any further Investors in People (IIP) assessments until recommendations from previous assessments have been implemented (Para 4.4)	Meeting with IIP assessors held and areas identified for further action. Work continuing
12. Staff development should be improved including the use of acting ranks to cover absences (Paras 4.10–4.11)	Temporary promotions made in the ranks of chief inspector,inspector and sergeant
	Substantive promotion made in the rank of sergeant and about to be made in the rank of chief inspector
	Training plan for 2001–02 prioritises staff development
13. Pay parity should be immediately linked to 85 per cent., and allowances increased, in line with the total remuneration of the MPS package (Paras 4.20–4.22)	Pay award has just been made for payment at the end of March. Award backdated to 1 September 2000
	Award links pay to 85 per cent. of national police pay rates and includes payment of MPS allowances in respect of London
	Weighting and London Allowance(2)¹. Discussions will be held with the Treasury over payment of the Metropolitan police service allowance known as London Allowance(1), currently £1,011 pa ¹London Allowance(2), currently £3,327 pa, is paid to officers who joined after 1994 and who are not in receipt of recent allowance
14. The Constabulary should immediately start monitoring gender and racial matters	Additional monitoring of gender and racial matters is now taking place

Report of the formal inspection of the Royal Parks Constabulary by Mr. Anthony Speed
Recommendation	Progress
15. The Constabulary should immediately commence diversity training using the help and expertise in the Home Office (Para 4.42)	Additional diversity training for all officers is already scheduled to take place between January and April 2001
	Further diversity training to be carried out between September and December 2001. This second stage training will encompass best practice from the Home Office and will be designed so as to reflect both Force policy and the specific needs of the community and RPC officers
16. The Constabulary should establish clear guidelines on grievance procedures (para 4.42)	Grievance procedures have been redrafted taking account of comments received as a result of consulation. Final draft will be produced for publication by May 2001
17. Meetings of all parties involved in event management should be held to further the understanding of each other's roles and improve co-ordination (Para 5.31)	Meetings already held to prepare an Events Seminar for RPA/RPC managers in April 2001
	Further seminar to be developed for RPA/RPC and all outside agencies involved in events, for delivery before summer 2001
18. An IT policy and procedures manual should be produced (Para 6.2)	Interim IT User Security Operating Procedures instruction issued in November 2000
19. The RPC should commence negotiations with the British Transport Police for enhanced call handling facilities and install the necessary infrastructure as soon as possible (para 6.11)	Contract for the provision of control room services by the BTP became operative on 1 December 2000. System went live on 7 January 2001
	New control room facility is dealing with an average of around 200 calls for police action/attention per week. It is projected that it will handle over 10,000 calls per year. A significant improvement in call handling and response has already been achieved
20. The Constabulary install locks on the open drive of each computer terminal (Para 6.11)	New software system introduced to prevent the use of unauthorized floppy discs
21. A submission should be made to the Home Secretary to change the law so that RPC officers retain full police powers throughout the judicial process (Para 6.22)	This is being discussed with the Home Office
22. The RPC should seek full Computerised Crime Reporting System enablement with the MPS as soon is possible (Para 7.12)	Cost implication of this measure currently being examined
23. Start up moneys should be provided for the RPC to come under Home Office control as a ring-fenced division of the MPS or, alternatively, funds should be provided to allow proper management, accountability and policing by the Royal Parks Constabulary	Exercise currently being undertaken as to the cost effectiveness of the two options. This will be discussed with the Home Office
Outside the 23 main recommendations, the following specific areas were singled out for action:
Consultants
In the opinion of the Review Team there was no need for further use of the consultants in the spheres of dogs and the mounted section and, when their contracts are complete, they should not be renewed (Paras 4.12–4.13)	It may be necessary to retain the consultants for a longer period because of the departure of key personal in the dog and mounted sections
Search Team
The RPC have a dedicated, trained search team, who know and understand their particular search area. This should continue (Para 5.22)	Relicensing of search trained officers commenced November 2000. Force now has a properly relicensed search team
Brompton Cemetery Warden Scheme
The Review Team urges that negotiations commence immediately with all parties, the RPC, the Friends of Brompton Cemetery, the local community and the local authority to prepare a properly structured community safety plan for the cemetery (Para 6.21)	Initial meeting with Friends of Brompton Cemetery took place in January 2001. Follow up action continuing
Richmond Park. Isabella Plantation Warden Scheme
The Review Team urges all parties to draw up detailed plans for dealing with issues of training, equipment accountability, powers and personal safety, with regular monitoring and feedback (Para 6.22)	Once properly arranged, the Brompton Cemetery Warden Scheme will be used as a model for Richmond

Defence

Hms Excellent

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department has spent at HMS Excellent in the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [155801]

The operating and major works costs for HMS Excellent over the last five years are set out in the table:

£million
Financial year	Operating costs	Major works costs
1995–96	14.304	3.617
1996–97	15.385	0.633
1997–98	16.408	0
1998–99	16.117	0
1999–2000	16.350	0

Defence Training Review

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the outcome of the Defence Training Review. [155985]

Training is crucial to the success of our armed forces, and of the business of the Ministry of Defence itself. It represents a resource investment of some £4.2 billion each year. Increasingly, we face new challenges and it is vital to ensure that our training continues to meet our needs and is cost-effective. Against this background, my predecessor announced on 22 July 1999, Official Report, columns 614–615W that he had ordered a fundamental review of education and individual training. This review has now concluded and its report, entitled "Modernising Defence Training", is published today. A copy has been placed in the Library of the House.The key findings of the review are that, overall, our training and education are of high quality, as demonstrated by operational successes, most recently in Kosovo and Sierra Leone. Improvements are nevertheless required to ensure that we have a training and education system to meet the challenges of the 21st century. The report therefore sets out a coherent set of measures designed to deliver a training and education system that is better integrated, aligned to operational and business needs, responsive to change and cost-effective.To reflect changing operational priorities, in particular those which emerged from the Strategic Defence Review, the report proposes more joint training between the services, and more multinational and inter-agency training for individuals at all levels. In line with the modernising government initiative, we will introduce improvements to civilian training and to leadership and management training, and will make the leadership expertise of MOD and the armed services more widely available as a resource for the UK as a whole. We will exploit the opportunities provided by new technology to make training better and more accessible, in particular through the expansion of e-learning.We also propose significant improvements in the field of education. The Royal College of Defence Studies, the Joint Command and Staff College and the Royal Military College of Science, with two new organisations—a Joint Services Warrant Officers School and a Defence Leadership Centre—will be brought together to form a Defence Academy, which we intend to become a national and international centre of excellence for postgraduate education and research. We plan to set up a defence sixth-form college and a defence undergraduate bursary scheme to boost recruitment of engineers and scientists, and to introduce a programme of progressive civilian accreditation of defence education and training. A common theme behind many of our proposals is the need not only to prepare our service and civilian personnel for the tasks we require of them, but to support their personal development, in line with the Government's commitment to lifelong learning which is already enshrined in the learning forces initiative. This will help recruitment and retention, and also—recognising that for most people the services will not be their only career—provide transferable skills and qualifications that will enhance the national skills base.We have identified significant scope for improving coherence and cost-effectiveness through training and estate rationalisation, in particular by delivering a significant proportion of specialist training in new defence schools, either joint or lead service, rather than on an individual basis. As well as eliminating duplication, this would improve the quality of training, particularly that in support of joint forces and operations. This will be investigated further by project definition teams over the next 12 months. Subject to the outcome of this work, we believe that the rationalisation programme will result in more cost-effective training and will free resources both to fund improvements we have identified and for defence as a whole.Finally, to drive through and sustain all of these improvements we will establish a Director General Training and Education, who will provide a central strategy and policy focus.The review has been comprehensive and wide-ranging, and has been conducted in close consultation with all interested parties both within the Ministry of Defence and the armed forces, and outside, including allies. The resulting proposals will build on our existing strengths to provide a better focused and more effective training and education system, ensuring that our service-men and women and civil servants receive the training and education they need to meet the challenges of the 21st century, and helping to maintain this country's reputation for professional, effective and successful armed forces.

Depleted Uranium

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what responses have been received to his Department's consulative document on screening arrangements for service personnel and civilians who have served in the Balkans and the Gulf and who are concerned about exposure to depleted uranium; and if he will make a statement. [155986]

I am pleased to say that we have received a total of 32 very helpful and constructive responses to our consultative document on the technical aspects of a screening programme. These are being used in the development of plans for the next stage of work. We now plan to publish a second consultative document with our proposals by 11 April. This is a little later than we had hoped, but the change is necessary if We are to take proper account of the comments we have received.

Chemical Weapons

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he requested Professor Peter Lachmann to subject to peer review his report into the zinc cadmium sulphide trials which was published in March 2000; and if he will make a statement. [154792]

The Ministry of Defence commissioned Professor Peter Lachmann and his colleagues to produce a report of their independent findings for publication. The report was published and a copy placed in the Library of the House on 24 March 2000. I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 13 December 2000, Official Report, column 165W, which referred to the separate matter of the subsequent plan of Professor Lachmann and his colleagues to submit to a scientific journal a scientific paper, based on the report, for peer review and possible publication. This is a matter for Professor Lachmann and his colleagues. Peer review is a normal part of the process of publishing such papers in scientific journals.

Foot And Mouth

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what requests for assistance in dealing with foot and mouth disease have been received from other Government Departments. [155557]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 26 March 2001, Official Report, column 521W.

Compensation Claims

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many claims from (a) UK and (b) non-UK citizens for compensation are outstanding against his Department because of accidents; how many claims have been outstanding for more than (i) one, (ii) two and (iii) three years; and if he will make a statement; [155795](2) how many outstanding claims for compensation his Department is dealing with relating to service personnel who received injuries at the time of duty; how many have been outstanding for more than

(a) one, (b) two and (c) three years; and if he will make a statement; [155796]

(3) how many outstanding claims for compensation his Department has from civilian employees for work-related accidents; how many are more than (a) one year and (b) two years old; and if he will make a statement. [155797]

The number of claims for compensation outstanding against the Ministry of Defence from UK and non-UK citizens as a result of injury caused by accidents as at 23 March 2001 is as follows:

Outstanding	UK citizens	Non-UK citizens
Total	284	51
Less than one year	148	38
More than one year	75	9
More than two years	31	2
More than three years	30	2

These figures relate to public liability claims against the Ministry of Defence and therefore exclude claims from service personnel and civilian employees.

The number of claims for compensation outstanding against the Ministry of Defence from service personnel who received injuries in service was 1,596 at 23 March 2001. Of these 652 have been outstanding for less than one year, 413 for more than one year, 214 for more than two years and 317 for more than three years.

The number of claims for compensation outstanding against the Ministry of Defence from civilian employees who received injuries as the result of work-related accidents is as follows:

Outstanding	Civilian employees
Total	833
Less than one year	204
More than one year	386
More than two years	243

When compensation claims are submitted, they are considered on the basis of whether or not the Ministry of Defence has a legal liability to pay compensation. Where there is a legal liability to pay compensation we do so. The time taken to settle a claim is dependent on a number of factors including the complexity of the case as it relates to determining liability and the nature of the injury, which can range from simple bruises or fractures, for example, to catastrophic injuries where the long-term medical prognosis cannot be assessed for some considerable time.

In line with all other defendants, the Ministry of Defence is bound by the Civil Procedure Rules introduced on 26 April 1999, which specify time scales for the handling of claims. The courts have the power to impose financial sanctions against defendants for non-compliance with the rules. No such sanctions have been imposed against the Ministry of Defence.

Royal Navy Fire Fighting School

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what the cost was of re-locating the fire fighting school to Whale Island, Portsmouth; and if he will make a statement; [155800](2) what the costs were of the fuel tanks recently installed at Whale Island, Portsmouth; and if he will make a statement. [155798]

The overall cost of the new fire fighting training units at HMS Excellent, HMS Raleigh and Strathclyde fire brigade was £6.50 million (excluding VAT) per annum over a 20-year period. These provide all the fire fighting training for the Royal Navy.The overall project was funded as a private finance initiative (PFI) with Flagship Fire Fighting Ltd. under the public-private partnership agreement between the Navy Recruiting and Training Agency and Flagship Training Ltd. Flagship own the facilities at HMS Excellent and HMS Raleigh and the Royal Navy pays a monthly cost for the training, currently estimated to average £500,000 per month. The cost of demolition of the fire fighting training facility at Horsea island was £65,000.

The fuel tanks referred to are, in fact, waste water tanks which hold waste water expended following completion of the day's fire fighting training activities.

The cost of the waste water tanks is included within the PFI contract with Flagship Fire Fighting Training Ltd.

Rosyth

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the assets disposed of by his Department at Rosyth, indicating in each case the nature of the asset, the date of its disposal and the sum realised on disposal. [151652]

Babcock Rosyth Defence Ltd., the owners of Rosyth royal dockyard, currently operate a regional marketing agreement for the disposal of surplus Ministry of Defence assets in Scotland, northern England and Germany. A list of those assets disposed of since the agreement came into operation in January 1997 could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Smart Procurement

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much was paid by his Department, including the Defence Procurement Agency to consultants to develop the smart procurement initiative. [153450]

[holding answer 13 March 2001]: The Ministry of Defence has received advice from a number of consultancy companies on various aspects of the smart procurement initiative (SPI) and related changes.The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, McKinsey and Co. Inc. were paid £1.35 million for their work specifically to help develop SPI.

Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he had on the replacement of General Sir Rupert Smith as Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe by General Dietrich Stockmann; if the UK made a nomination for this post; and if he will make a statement. [155794]

This change was part of an agreement reached preceding implementation of the new NATO command structure in 1999, under which the United Kingdom and Germany will alternate the provision of Senior Commanders at Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) and Regional Headquarters Allied Forces Northern Europe (RHQ AFNORTH). At SHAPE, we will provide either Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe (DSACEUR) or the Chief of Staff and at RHQ AFNORTH we will provide either the Commander in Chief (C in C) or the Deputy C in C. The nation filling the DSACEUR post will provide the Deputy C in C at the Regional HQ; the UK has recently taken over the key C in C NORTH post in anticipation of General Sir Rupert Smith handing over to General Stockmann as DSACEUR.

Education And Employment

Planning Agreements

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment which Government programmes allow for the use of section 106 contributions from planning agreements as match-funding; and if he will make a statement. [152491]

Section 106 agreements are sometimes used to secure funding for school projects across all sectors. There is no obligation for match funding under such agreements, though money from a section 106 agreement could be used to part-fund a school's project. Current Government policy on use of section 106 funding is set out in circular 1/97 issued by DETR.

Teacher Vacancies

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will set out, for each month since May 1997, for each local education authority in England, the teaching post vacancies notified to his Department. [153279]

[holding answer 12 March 2001]: Information on teacher vacancies in January each year since 1995, for each local education authority, is shown in table 42 of Statistics of Education, Teachers, England and Wales, 2000 edition, which is available in the House of Commons Library.Teacher vacancies for each local authority are collected only for January of each year.The number of regular teachers (excluding short-term supply) in the maintained schools sector in England at January 2000 was 404,600, the highest for 10 years and 6,900 higher than January 1998.There was a growth of more than 2,000 in the number of people training to be teachers between 1999–2000, and 2000–01, the first such increase since 1992–93.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) what guidance his Department provides to schools on publications in which teaching vacancies are advertised; [155603](2) what guidance his Department provides to colleges on the publications in which teaching vacancies are advertised. [155625]

My Department does not publish guidance on this matter, which is best decided by schools and colleges themselves in the light of their individual circumstances and requirements.

Coalmining Areas (Departmental Support)

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what specific support his Department has provided to coalmining communities by (a) region and (b) local education authority area since 1997. [154304]

Most funding provided by the Department is distributed via local education authorities. The Department does not hold information on support provided to coalmining communities by region. The tables set out the total funding to coalfield areas for the years 1996–97 to 2001–01 by local education authority area. The following revenue grants have been included: DfEE contributions to the standards fund; class size reduction grant; funding for education action zones; grant for nursery vouchers in 1997–98; school budget support grant; and school standards grant.Where there are no figures against years 1996–97 or 1997–98, the authority had either been subject to local government reorganisation, or had yet to be created as a result of LGR.

£million
	SSA	Grants	Capital
1996–97
Kent	n/a	n/a	n/a
Staffordshire	n/a	n/a	n/a
Stoke-on-Trent	n/a	n/a	n/a
Doncaster	119.7	1.0	6.4
Warwickshire	164.0	1.4	24.1
Derbyshire	n/a	n/a	n/a
Leicestershire	n/a	n/a	n/a
Nottinghamshire	n/a	n/a	n/a
Nottingham City	n/a	n/a	n/a
North Yorkshire	185.9	2.0	3.9
Barnsley	76.9	0.9	3.8
Rotherham	102.4	1.1	2.5
Sunderland	114.9	1.0	8.8
Salford	82.5	0.8	7.0
Sheffield	171.0	1.6	4.9
Calderdale	77.2	0.7	1.3
Kirklees	141.5	1.7	2.7
Leeds	252.5	2.4	8.6
Trafford	76.7	0.7	3.8
Wakefield	111.6	1.2	13.4
Wigan	110.1	1.5	4.4
St. Helens	66.6	0.6	2.2
Middlesbrough	61.5	0.5	1.7
Durham	n/a	n/a	n/a
Northumberland	113.5	1.5	3.0
Newcastle upon Tyne	99.7	1.5	1.0
South Tyneside	59.0	0.7	1.5
1997–98
Kent	n/a	n/a	n/a
Staffordshire	279.1	12.9	7.4
Stoke-on-Trent	87.0	4.3	1.6
Doncaster	118.6	5.3	1.5
Warwickshire	162.6	6.6	3.0
Derbyshire	236.4	10.7	4.0
Leicestershire	201.1	6.6	2.9
Nottinghamshire	n/a	n/a	n/a
Nottingham City	n/a	n/a	n/a
North Yorkshire	187.9	7.9	5.4
Barnsley	76.1	3.9	3.2
Rotherham	101.9	4.8	2.9
Sunderland	113.7	5.0	7.9
Salford	82.2	4.1	5.5
Sheffield	168.7	7.9	7.5
Calderdale	76.8	3.3	1.3
Kirklees	142.9	7.1	3.6
Leeds	254.0	12.3	9.2
Trafford	78.5	3.4	5.0
Wakefield	111.5	5.9	5.2
Wigan	109.4	5.5	6.5
St Helens	67.1	2.9	1.8
Middlesbrough	60.6	2.7	2.6
Durham	178.1	8.8	9.2
Northumberland	114.4	5.3	2.6
Newcastle upon Tyne	97.9	7.9	3.0
South Tyneside	59.5	3.0	1.5

£million
	SSA	Grants	Capital
1998–99
Kent	525.6	4.7	22.5
Staffordshire	305.8	3.8	28.6
Stoke-on-Trent	95.9	1.3	5.0
Doncaster	130.4	1.5	2.2
Warwickshire	178.0	2.6	6.3
Derbyshire	257.6	4.7	12.7
Leicestershire	215.3	3.5	6.2
Nottinghamshire	280.5	3.2	10.4
Nottingham City	111.1	2.1	2.8
North Yorkshire	206.7	3.1	8.4
Barnsley	83.3	1.8	7.2
Rotherham	109.9	1.7	6.5
Sunderland	123.9	1.6	6.9
Salford	91.0	1.5	5.5
Sheffield	184.6	3.2	14.7
Calderdale	83.5	1.3	3.0
Kirklees	156.6	2.9	4.6
Leeds	278.7	4.0	10.3
Trafford	84.9	1.1	4.1
Wakefield	122.9	1.8	7.8
Wigan	119.5	2.6	9.6
St Helens	73.7	0.8	3.7
Middlesbrough	65.6	1.5	2.4
Durham	194.5	3.5	11.4
Northumberland	123.3	2.3	4.5
Newcastle upon Tyne	106.5	3.0	8.7
South Tyneside	65.7	1.4	2.5
1999–2000
Kent	553.5	14.3	21.3
Staffordshire	323.1	9.3	17.2
Stoke-on-Trent	99.5	4.2	98.5
Doncaster	136.1	5.3	5.0
Warwickshire	187.6	6.5	7.3
Derbyshire	272.4	10.3	13.0
Leicestershire	228.2	7.6	9.3
Nottinghamshire	296.00	8.6	14.0
Nottingham City	116.7	6.0	4.4
North Yorkshire	219.7	8.0	17.5
Barnsley	87.4	3.9	5.1
Rotherham	116.1	4.8	5.3
Sunderland	129.1	3.5	8.3
Salford	95.2	4.3	5.6
Sheffield	195.0	8.2	69.4
Calderdale	88.2	3.6	3.3
Kirklees	164.3	5.9	7.1
Leeds	292.4	11.3	17.0
Trafford	91.1	2.9	4.9
Wakefield	129.0	4.6	7.5
Wigan	125.3	5.4	11.4
St. Helens	76.5	1.9	4.5
Middlesbrough	68.5	3.7	2.2
Durham	203.4	8.2	12.0
Northumberland	129.3	4.8	6.2
Newcastle upon Tyne	111.0	4.6	9.2
South Tyneside	68.8	3.0	3.4
2000–01
Kent	588.3	34.0	61.0
Staffordshire	336.8	21.5	34.2
Stoke-on-Trent	104.2	11.2	10.0
Doncaster	141.7	11.5	10.7
Warwickshire	196.7	13.2	16.6
Derbyshire	288.1	21.4	27.0
Leicestershire	241.0	15.5	21.0
Nottinghamshire	311.5	20.5	44.2
Nottingham City	120.8	13.7	9.0
North Yorkshire	232.1	16.8	23.9
Barnsley	91.4	7.7	7.0
Rotherham	121.1	12.8	10.0
Sunderland	133.3	10.6	14.2

£million
	SSA	Grants	Capital
Salford	98.8	12.2	10.7
Sheffield	204.9	23.0	15.2
Calderdale	93.0	6.7	8.3
Kirklees	172.6	11.7	73.7
Leeds	306.6	32.1	62.2
Trafford	95.8	6.2	9.3
Wakefield	135.5	11.7	12.6
Wigan	130.5	11.2	14.1
St. Helens	80.4	5.9	6.9
Middlesbrough	70.8	7.3	4.6
Durham	212.3	17.5	19.6
Northumberland	134.9	11.9	16.0
Newcastle upon Tyne	114.6	9.9	7.6
South Tyneside	71.8	6.5	5.6

DfEE has commissioned research to look at educational participation and attainment in the coalfields.

Teacher Numbers

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many teachers there were in (a) Nottinghamshire and (b) nationally (i) in May 1997 and (ii) at the latest date for which figures are available. [154462]

The full-time equivalent numbers of regular teachers (ie excluding short-term supply teachers) in the maintained schools sector at January 1997 and January 2000 were as follows:

£million
	1996–97	1997–98	1998–99	1999–2000	2000–01	2001–02
SSA	86.3	89.1	93.7	98.2	101.9	106.2
Grants	0.8	3.1	1.2	3.2	8.9	¹11.0
Of which:
Standards Fund²	0.8	0.9	1.2	2.9	7.1	7.7
Class size reduction	—	—	—	0.3	0.3	0.3
Education action zones	—	—	—	—	0.2	¹0.2
Nursery vouchers	—	2.2	—	—	—	—
School standards (special grant)	—	—	—	—	1.1	2.0
School budget support grant	—	—	—	—	0.2	—
Education budget support grant	—	—	—	—	—	0.8
Capital	1.2	0.9	1.9	3.5	7.0	N/A
¹ DfEE contributions only. Figures for 2001–02 are provisional.
²2001–02 funding for education action zones not included in letter of 16 February 2001 as amount had not been allocated.

In the Budget on 7 March, national increases of £100 million for school standards grant and devolved new deal for schools capital were announced. Wandsworth will benefit from these increases; the precise allocations are being calculated, and have not been included in the table above.Real-terms national recurrent funding per pupil will rise year on year by over £200 in 2001–02 and will have risen by over £500 since 1997–98. There will be an average real-terms increase in per pupil funding of around £750 between 1997–98 and 2003–04.

Education Funding And Teacher Recruitment (West Sussex)

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on education funding and teacher recruitment in West Sussex. [154836]

	1997	2000
Nottinghamshire	7,800	5,900
City of Nottingham¹>	n/a	2,100
Nottinghamshire total:	7,800	8,000
England	399,200	404,600
¹Nottinghamshire was split into City of Nottingham and Nottinghamshire in the local Government re-organisation of April 1998.

The number of regular teachers in the maintained schools sector increased by 6,900 between January 1998 and January 2000.

There was a growth of 2,300 in the number of people recruited to train to be teachers between 1999–2000 and 2000–01, the first such increase since 1992–93.

Wandsworth Lea

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the funding allocations, by scheme, to Wandsworth local education authority in each year since 1996; and what his estimates are for the 2001–02 financial year. [154791]

1 refer my hon. Friend to the letter sent to him by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State on 16 February.The total funding for Wandsworth local education authority since 1996–97 is set out as follows:

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the letter sent to him by the Secretary of State on 16 February. In the Budget on 7 March, national increases of £100 million for school standards grant and devolved new deal for schools capital were announced. West Sussex will benefit from these increases; the precise allocations are being calculated.Regarding teacher recruitment, latest figures (January 2000) show the West Sussex teacher vacancy rate as 0.8 per cent. The average for England is also 0.8 per cent. West Sussex will benefit from the Government's existing and planned general measures to improve teacher recruitment and retention, including initiatives resulting from the additional £200 million announced in the Budget.

Fresh Start Schools (Staff Vacancies)

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many unfilled vacancies for permanent members of teaching staff there were at each fresh start school on (a) 31 December 2000 and (b) 28 February; and when he expects them to be filled. [155165]

[holding answer 26 March 2001]: We do not collect this information centrally. However, the Department has provided each of the 25 schools which have undergone a "fresh start" since 1997 with additional funding to support their plans for raising standards. Those fresh start schools which have encountered difficulties over teacher vacancies have been able to use these funds both for supply cover, in the short term, and to offer the recruitment and retention allowances needed to attract and keep permanent teaching staff in the longer term.

Foot And Mouth

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the meetings and conferences organised by his Department and agencies of his Department which have been (a) cancelled and (b) postponed owing to foot and mouth disease; and if he will make a statement. [155358]

[holding answer 23 March 2001]: The information is not held centrally and could be collated only at disproportionate cost.

Jewish Schools

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many (a) Jewish schools in the UK received public funds and (b) Jewish schools there were in the UK, in each of the last five years. [155618]

The total number of Jewish schools and the number which received public funds as maintained schools in England as at 1 January in the last five years are as follows:

	Total number of Jewish schools	Number of maintained Jewish schools
1997	70	26
1998	72	27
1999	74	28
2000	78	31
2001	¹78	32
Provisional

Information about Jewish schools in the rest of the UK can be obtained from the Scottish Executive, the National Assembly for Wales and the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Solicitor-General

Departmental Policies (Chichester)

To ask the Solicitor-General if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to the Chichester constituency, the effects on Chichester of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997. [155283]

In October 1999, in line with national policy, the Chichester office of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), in liaison with a number of other criminal justice agencies including courts, police and local lawyers, introduced procedures based upon the Narey proposals. All defendants charged with a criminal offence where a guilty plea is anticipated now make their first appearance before the magistrates within five working days. All other cases appear in court within 48 hours.In April 2000, the CPS at Chichester changed its structure in line with the proposals of the Glidewell review. As a first step towards a trial unit, it established a Crown Court Committal unit. This enables the Crown Prosecution Service to place greater emphasis on serious crime cases, which are heard at both Chichester and Lewes Crown courts.The Chichester office also has fast track procedures in place to deal with Persistent Young Offender cases heard at Crown courts and Youth courts. CPS Sussex recorded the best improvement overall in the country in terms of the time taken to bring persistent young offenders to court. The average time taken was reduced from 144 days to 84 days. CPS Sussex is working continually towards the Government's 71-day target. All these changes illustrate the Government's successful policy of speeding up the criminal justice system.The Chichester office is also involved in the Direct Communication with Victims initiative. This provides a written explanation when the CPS either discontinues or substantially alters a charge in the Crown court cases within the initiative. In some circumstances the CPS will meet with victims to explain why a decision was taken.The Chichester office deals with a broad range of work, including murders. One such case made legal history with the conviction of a man for murder where the victim died more than a year and a day after the assault. Using the Law Reform (Year and a day Rule) Act 1996, and with the consent of the Attorney-General, a prosecution for murder was instituted and the defendant convicted. The case was an important decision as it was one of the first occasions when a defendant, who had been previously convicted of an assault before the victim died, was later tried again in respect of the same conduct and convicted of murder.Actions and policies of the Treasury Solicitor's Department and the Serious Fraud Office do not directly affect the Chichester constituency.

Health

Pithing

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the implications of the EU ban on pithing on the safety of abattoir employees. [144340]

[holding answer 8 January 2001]: I am advised by the Food Standards Agency that it has undertaken an extensive public consultation on the potential impact of a ban on pithing. The risk to worker safety through involuntary kicking of stunned animals and the need for structural changes to abattoir premises in order to enable slaughtering to be carried out safely without pithing were among the points raised in response. We have recognised these concerns and have delayed implementation of the ban until 1 April 2001 to allow abattoir operators more time to make the necessary adjustments to premises.Safety in the workplace is the responsibility of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). The HSE has, in collaboration with the Meat Trades Joint Working Party, developed guidelines and procedures which will help to minimise any potential risk to abattoir employees.

Tablet Blister Packs

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make it the policy of the Government to seek to ensure that blister packs of medicinal tablets imported into the UK must have the day of the week identified in English; and if he will make a statement. [153042]

[holding answer 9 March 2001]: The requirements for the labelling of medicinal products are set out in Directive 92/27/EEC. Printing the days of the week on blister packs is not one of these requirements. In considering the proposals from importers for the labelling of imported products, the Medicines Control Agency (MCA) must ensure that these comply with the terms of the Directive. If they do, the MCA cannot prohibit the importation of the products nor insist that where the days of the week are present in a foreign language they should be translated.It is therefore the policy of the MCA, where the days of the week are present on the blister strip in another language, to ask importers to provide a translation either on the labelling or within the patient information leaflet. In general the industry is co-operating with this policy. The MCA will continue to pursue it with individual importers on a case by case basis during the evaluation of their applications and with their trade associations.

Dental Services

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost is per patient treated under (a) the Cornwall Personal Dental Services Pilot and (b) the General Dental Service in England and Wales as a whole. [153963]

In 1999–2000 the average cost per patient treated under the Corn wall Personal Dental Service (PDS) pilot was £65.50 and under the General Dental Service (GDS) in Cornwall the average was £42.10 per patient. A corresponding average for the GDS in England and Wales is not available because children having only an examination are not separately recorded as their treatment costs are covered in capitation payments.An accurate comparison of figures is not possible because PDS work differs from the GDS average mix. For example, several PDS pilots deal with specialist dentistry and most do not register patients. The Cornwall PDS pilot includes general anaesthetics, special needs and orthodontic services. It is an access centre and operates through a network of 20 sites across the county, complementing the service provided by local GDS dentists. It has proved very popular with patients and is now seeing about 2,000 patients a month.

Foot And Mouth

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans the Government have to include provision for mental health services among farmers in proposals for assistance in respect of the foot and mouth outbreak; and if he will make a statement. [155328]

The Department is working closely with the Ministry of Aqriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAFF) in support of the development of the rural stress action plan (RSAP), which offers support to help alleviate stress in rural areas. Through the RSAP, MAFF has already made available £500,000 to support farmers as part of the Prime Minister's action plan for farming.The RSAP group, which includes representatives from Government, the voluntary mental health sector and national farming organisations met again on 20 March this year to discuss details of future assistance, particularly in respect of the current foot and mouth outbreak. In addition, the Department of Health has also provided the Rural Stress Information Service and MIND with funding through the Section 64 scheme for projects developing support networks and access to information, care and support for people in rural areas.

Food Labelling

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if the red tractor symbol meets his Department's requirements in respect of country of origin food labelling. [155471]

[holding answer 26 March 2001]: The "British Farm Standard", denoted by the red tractor symbol, is a voluntary scheme developed by the National Farmers' Union. The presence of the red tractor symbol on a food product indicates compliance with specific farm assurance schemes Under European competition rules, use of indications like the red tractor symbol (and other similar indications), which are indications of quality, not origin, cannot be restricted to national produce.

Asylum Seekers

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he takes to ensure that the basic needs of young asylum seekers are met, with particular reference to the duties of social services departments. [155933]

Local authority social services departments have a duty under the Children Act 1989 to provide services for children in need in their area. The definition of a child in need is set out in section 17(10) of the Act including for example disabled children. If a young asylum seeker falls within that definition, social services departments have the same responsibilities to provide services to them as to other children who are also in need.This means that local authorities must ensure that the welfare of all relevant children are safeguarded and promoted. They must assess the needs of each individual child and provide services as appropriate to meet the assessed needs. Our £885 million Quality Protects programme is designed to improve the management and delivery of children's social services and ensure that our objective of improving the life chances of children in need is met.

Primary Care Trusts (Dorset)

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he has taken to ensure that the appointments process to the boards of primary care trusts in the Dorset health authority area has been conducted in accordance with the Nolan rules. [155810]

All chairs and non-officer members of primary care trusts in the Dorset health authority area have been appointed following a selection process that accords with the commissioner for public appointments' guidance on public appointment procedures. These appointments were advertised locally and all candidates were interviewed by a panel including an independent member. The recommendations made to Ministers included confirmation that the proper procedures were followed.

Complementary And Alternative Medicine

To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the Government will publish its response to the House of Lords Science and Technology Committee 6^th Report of Session 2000–01 on Complementary and Alternative Medicine. [155983]

The Government's response to the House of Lords Science and Technology Committee's 6^th Report on Complementary and Alternative Medicine is published today and copies will be placed in the Library. The Government welcome the Committee's Report and believe its main recommendations will help protect the interests of patients and other consumers.

Environment, Transport And The Regions

London Underground

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the London Underground public-private partnerships. [155958]

Bob Kiley and I today had a full exchange on the state of progress on the PPP negotiations. Mr. Kiley had earlier written to me following the recent talks between the Government and Transport for London. I have now replied to Mr. Kiley setting out the changes to the PPP which both parties had discussed and which the Government had been prepared to consider. These were offered in an attempt to reach an overall agreement on the PPP consistent with Mr. Kiley's aim for "unified management control". I am placing a copy of my letter to Mr. Kiley in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what training was given to London Underground station staff between December 2000 and February 2001 inclusive on procedures to evacuate passengers from crowded station platforms in emergencies. [154564]

London Underground inform me that they operate a programme of continual training for all of their station staff. They state that the training in evacuation procedures is an important part of this ongoing programme. Station Assistants and Station Supervisors are

taught evacuation procedures as part of their initial training. When deployed to their first station after training they then have to undertake additional training (including evacuation) to become familiar with that station. London Underground inform me that evacuation plans for central stations are required to be practised every six months and that all station staff have to be included in such training practices. This additional training has to be repeated each time a Station Assistant or Supervisor transfers to another station.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if a risk assessment has been carried out on the likely severity of injuries to standing passengers in the event of an accident on the Circle and Hammersmith and City Line Underground.[154559]

Yes. I understand that London Underground have well-developed safety risk control systems, which are the subject of continuous improvement. Risk assessments have been carried out for a wide range of possible incidents on all Underground Lines. In all cases the risk to standing passengers has been assessed as 'very low'. This is considered by London Underground to be `as low as reasonably practical' under regulations set down by the Health and Safety at Work, etc Act 1974.

Ports

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he has received on the impact of the proposed European Directive Access to Ports Services on ports; and if he will make a statement. [154707]

The European Commission published proposals for a Directive on access to port services on 14 February as part of its Communication on Sea Ports. We have received representations on this from the Transport and General Workers Union, Hutchison Ports, the UK Major Ports Group and the British Ports Association. There are a number of important issues to be addressed in developing the Government's position on the proposals. We are submitting an Explanatory Memorandum to Parliament, and we will be consulting widely in order to assess the potential impact.

Hazardous Road Freight (Morecambe And Lunesdale)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the (a) hazardous and (b) radioactive material which has been transported through the Morecambe and Lunesdale constituency by road on a regular basis in the last year. [154834]

There are no regulatory requirements for transporters to notify movements of dangerous goods by road and therefore my Department does not hold this information.Information on the movement of radioactive material is not routinely held by this Department. However, I understand from British Nuclear Fuels plc that they have made 17 shipments of new nuclear fuel from their plant at Springfields, Preston, to Heysham Nuclear Power Station, by road, in the last 12 months.

Concessionary Travel

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will estimate the cost of a concessionary travel scheme that would allow pensioners to travel for half fare on all buses in the country. [155132]

We have already guaranteed that from 1 June all pensioners (and disabled people) will receive at least half fare reductions on local buses, with a free pass. The cost of extending that to allow travel at half fare on buses anywhere in England is provisionally estimated at £25 million a year.

£million
Nature of funding	1997–98	1998–99	1999–2000	2000–01	2001–02¹
Revenue Support Grant	2.577	2.272	2.149	1.969	2.363
Income from National non domestic Rates	3.304	3.339	3.644	4.089	4.073
Housing Investment Programme²	1.192	1.131	1.247	2.966	1.362
Housing Revenue Account Subsidy	0.72	0.13	0	⁴0	N/A
Capital Receipts Initiative	0.305	1.004	1.124	0	0
Cash Incentive Scheme	0	0.04	0	0	0
SRB Funding³	—	—	—	0.035	1.5
Transport Supplementary Grant	4.088	0.674	0.755	0	0
Transport Annual Capital Guideline	4.088	0.714	0.693	0	1.135
Transport Block Supplementary Credit Approval	0.871	0.925	1.326	4.562	11.289
Rural Bus Challenge Grant	⁵—	0.2486	0.2180	0.313388	—
Rural Bus Subsidy Grant	⁵—	0.293252	0.579324	0.579324	0.739752
¹Where known.
²Housing Investment Programme—between 1997–98 and 1999–2000 includes Annual Capital Guidelines, Private Sector Renewal Grant and Disabled Facilities Grant. From 2000 onwards, due to the single pot allocations are Annual Capital Guidelines and Disabled Facilities Grant.
³SRB funding covers deprived towns in West Sussex. This includes Selsey within Chichester district council area.
⁴Provisional figure.
⁵Grants not available.

Council Dwellings (Sales)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what the cost to public funds is of the discounted sales of council dwellings under Consent A3.3 in each of the last three years in (a) Wandsworth and (b) the United Kingdom; [155124](2) how many council dwellings have been sold to non-council tenants under Consent A3.3 in each of the last five years in (a) Wandsworth and (b) the United Kingdom. [155123]

The data collected centrally on sales and disposals of council dwellings do not distinguish between them by type of consent.

Railtrack

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what powers (a) the Government and (b) the Rail Regulator have to ensure the compliance of Railtrack with the 21 May deadline; and if he will make a statement. [155331]

The Rail Regulator has enforcement powers under the Railways Act 1993. Railtrack has told the Regulator that it would restore normal operation for most train operating companies by 21 May. The Regulator, having judged that Railtrack is currently in breach of its

Departmental Policies (Chichester)

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 Chichester constituency, the effects on Chichester of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997. [155284]

The principle funding this Department has provided to Chichester District Council from 1997–98 to date is shown in the table. It includes grants and borrowing approvals for revenue and capital expenditure.It is not possible to determine how much of this money has been spent on the Chichester constituency. It is for the local authority to decide where within its boundary these resources are applied.obligations under Condition 7 of its network licence, is using his powers under section 55 of the Railways Act 1993 to ensure Railtrack's compliance with that deadline. On 19 March he issued a provisional order under section 55 requiring Railtuck to restore its network to normal capability in most cases by 21 May.Any failure to comply with the order would expose Railtrack to further action by the Regulator using his powers under the Railways Act, including his powers to impose penalties.The Secretary of State has no enforcement powers under section 55 in respect of breaches of licence conditions.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assurances he has (a) sought and (b) received from Railtrack concerning the time scale for reinstating the railway infrastructure. [155247]

My right hon. Friend the Minister for Transport chairs the Rail Recovery Action Group. Since its establishment in December, the Group has been assessing reports from Railtrack at least weekly on its progress in implementing its National Recovery Plan, and has been urging the company to ensure the network is restored to normal condition as soon as possible, consistent with high safety standards. Railtrack has reiterated its commitment to delivering recovery in accordance with the timetable specified in the Rail Regulator's provisional enforcement order of 19 March.

Climate Change Levy

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he has received on the impact of the climate change levy on rural enterprises, with particular reference to farms, horticultural producers, sub-post offices and small hotels; and if he will make a statement. [155270]

I have received a wide range of representations about the impact of the climate change levy, including representations about farms, horticulture, post offices and hotels. Farms producing pigs, poultry meat and eggs are eligible to join climate change agreements to obtain an 80 per cent. reduction in the rate of levy in return for commitments to achieve agreed reductions in their energy consumption. Horticulture has been granted a 50 per cent. reduction in the rate of levy for five years and we have allocated up to £5 million over three years (subject to State Aid approval) to provide energy efficiency advice to help them to adjust to the full rate. The horticulture sector has committed itself to a voluntary agreement to reduce energy consumption as part of this arrangement. The hotels sector has already entered into a similar agreement. Small businesses in rural areas will be subject to the levy. However, the smallest businesses, with domestic levels of et energy usage, will be exempt. Like other businesses, sma11 rural enterprises will be entitled to free energy efficiency advice from the Government's Energy Efficiency Best Practice Programme and from the Energy Efficiency Advice Centres funded by the Energy Savings Trust.

Motor Vehicle Body Repair Shops

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what regulations apply to motor vehicle body repair shops and the use of volatile organic compounds an 1 other hazardous substances. [155140]

Occupational Health and Safety legislation considered to be the most relevant to the use of volatile organic compounds and other hazardous substances in motor vehicle body repair shops is (i) Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, (ii) Highly Flammable Liquids and Liquefied Petroleum Gases Regulations 1972, (iii) Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 1999, (iv) Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, (v) Personal Protective Equipment at Work Equipment Regulations 1992, and (vi) Electricity at Work Regulations 1989.

Foot And Mouth

To ask the Secret try of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to allow rural businesses in the tourist industry a payment holiday in respect of business rates as a result of losses incurred during the foot and mouth outbreak. [155106]

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Mid-Worcestershire (Mr. Luff) on 26 March 2001, Official Report, columns 425–26W.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make it his policy to ensure that businesses whose cash flow has been significantly affected by the consequences of the foot and mouth outbreak receive immediate assistance in the form of (a) interest free loans, (b) relief on business rates and (c) other measures. [155157]

[holding answer 23 March 2001]: I set out a package of short term help for businesses in my statement to the House on 20 March 2001, Official Report, columns 191–210, and further details of the discretionary hardship rate relief scheme in my answer to the hon. Member for Mid-Worcestershire (Mr. Luff) on 26 March 2001, Official Report, columns 425–26W.

Incinerators

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the sites which have received ash from the Edmonton incinerator since 1996, for use (a) in building bricks, blocks, paving stones and other building materials, (b) in public and private roads and streets, (c) in compost, potting soil, growing medium or fertiliser and (d) on farms, livestock/poultry holding sites and feedstuffs companies. [155314]

[holding answer 26 March 2001]: Section 34 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 imposes a duty of care on waste producers and others who have control of waste. The parties to the transfer of waste are required to keep records but information on waste transfers is not held centrally. The information available to the Environment Agency indicates that bottom ash has been consigned from the Edmonton incinerator to Ballast Phoenix Ltd. for recycling as a secondary aggregate but that ash is not otherwise consigned from the incinerator for use in (a), (b), (c) or (d).

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when the Environment Agency requested that the mixing of fly ash and bottom ash at Edmonton be stopped; when the mixing was halted; what assessment has been made of (a) the increase in and (b) toxicity of dioxin concentrations in the mixed ash; and if the toxicity falls within the range observed in urban soils. [155377]

[holding answer 23 March 2001]: The Environment Agency advises that it has made no such request but confirms that it was informed by the operator of the Edmonton incinerator that the mixing of precipitator ash with bottom ash ceased in August 2000. The Environment Agency has no information on the toxicity of dioxin concentrations in ash mixed before that date. However, the Agency was informed by the operator that test results showed the dioxin levels of mixed ash to be close to background levels (i.e. those found in normal urban soil).

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the studies carried out into dioxin and furan levels in and around the Byker incinerator. [155379]

[holding answer 23 March 2001]: The Environment Agency monitors combined dioxin and furan releases from the combustion process at the Byker Heat Station, details of which are available on the public register and the Agency website. Monitoring of local air quality outside the Byker site is the responsibility of the appropriate local authority.

Disabled People (Parking)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on progress made in reviewing the Disabled Persons Parking Badge scheme. [155425]

The UK-wide review of the scheme began last autumn. Group discussions at national and local levels have taken place with disability organisations, local authorities, enforcement bodies and badge holders themselves. The next stage will be a discussion paper which will be widely disseminated to interested parties including users this spring. The results of this consultation will inform our proposals.

Waste Strategy

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps his Department is taking to help local authorities reach the targets set by the National Waste Strategy. [155764]

The Waste Strategy 2000 set targets for the recovery of municipal waste and the recycling and composting of household waste and the reduction in the landfilling of biodegradable municipal waste.In Waste Strategy 2000 we announced that we would consult on the design and operation of a scheme of tradeable landfill permits for waste disposal authorities to meet the landfill diversion targets. We have published that consultation paper today.Waste Strategy 2000 also announced targets for doubling the recycling or composting of household waste within three years and nearly tripling it within five years, to be underpinned by statutory performance standards for each local authority under the Best Value regime. These standards were published on 5 March.Spending Review 2000 provided major extra funding directly to local authorities to address waste and recycling, as set out in answer to the hon. Member for Ashford (Mr. Green) on 14 December 2000,

Official Report, column 200W. The new Waste and Resources Action Programme, whose funding now stands at £40 million over the next three years, will operate across all waste streams to foster markets for recycled materials.

On 10 March, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport announced the next round of lottery funding (the New Opportunities Fund), including a programme to expand community sector waste reuse, recycling and composting. Such community sector activity can help local authorities to meet their targets.

On 23 June we issued guidance on managing the waste function within Best Value and on 5 March we published guidance to local authorities on municipal waste management strategies. These strategies will set out authorities' plans for achieving all of their targets.

Waste management was a theme in the first year of the Beacon Council Scheme. We have launched an initiative in partnership with the Local Government Association, the Improvement and Development Agency, the Institute of Wastes Management and the Environmental Services Association to establish and maintain networks of authorities, the industry and community sectors to spread good practice.

Hazards(Employee Training)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what action is taken by his Department to ensure that site operator employees are trained as required by the Control of Major Accident Hazards regulations. [155776]

The Control of Major Accident Hazard Regulations 1999 (COMAH) do not contain specific training requirements. They are "goal setting regulations" supported by duties on operators with the highest hazards to demonstrate in a safety report that they have taken the measures necessary to prevent a major accident. The training of staff forms an integral part of the safety management arrangements.The COMAH Competent Authority (HSE and Environment Agency in England and Wales) assesses the safety reports that sites with the highest hazards are required to produce and also the major accident prevention policies produced by other major hazard installation operators to ensure that they contain the necessary measures. Inspection at these installations includes checking compliance with the safety management arrangements set cut in the major accident prevention policies and safety reports.Competent Authority Inspectors also enforce a range of other health, safety and environmental legislation that include training requirements.

National Air Traffic Services

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what progress has been made towards the establishment of a public-private partnership for National Air Traffic Services Ltd. [155959]

I am pleased to announce that today the Government have selected the Airline Group as the strategic partner fir the National Air Traffic Services public-private partnership. The Airline Group have satisfied the Government that they will maintain the high safety standards achieved by NATS. Their strategic investment plan will provide NATS with the investment it needs to meet the demands of steadily increasing air traffic, and will guarantee the future of the new air traffic control centres at Swanwick and Prestwick. The Airline Group will also introduce management skills into NATS which will help it to operate efficiently.The NATS public-private partnership will be regulated by the Civil Aviation Authority, which will ensure that NATS continues to operate safely, while reducing costs to users. The Government will retain a 49 per cent. shareholding to enable them to protect the public interest on strategic matters Staff will have a direct interest in the company through a 5 per cent. stake.

Since last November, when the legislation enabling the establishment of the public-private partnership was announced, the Government have beets taking the views of all sections of the aviation community on their proposals. The report on the discussions held during this three month period is being laid in the Libraries of both Houses today.

This will be the first true public-private partnership, helping to ensure the safe and efficient provision of air traffic services, and providing the opportunity for NATS to emerge as a major worldwide player in its field.

M6 Junction 34

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to upgrade junction 34 of the M6; and if he will make a statement. [155792]

The Highways Agency is aware of the problems with junction 34 on the M6. Long term plans for the junction are dependent on d3cisions about the proposed local authority link road between Morecambe/ Heysham and the M6. In the interim, shorter-term measures have been identified by the Agency. Bids for funds for the 2002-03 financial year will be considered on their merits and in the light of other regional priorities. I have asked the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency, Mr. Tim Matthews, to write 10 my hon. Friend.

Letter from Tim Matthews to Mr. Hilton Dawson, dated 27 March 2001:

The Transport Minister, Keith Hill, has asked me to write to you in reply to your recent question about the plans to upgrade Junction 34 of the M6.

Safety is a top priority for the Highways Agency and we constantly monitor the operation of our network to identify where improvements are needed. In recognition of this the Highways Agency is currently working in partnership with Lancashire County Council on plans for a link road between Morecambe/Horsham and the M6. One of the route options being considered would see a link road connecting with the M6 at Junction 34 However, this would require a major change in the layout of the junction. Our long-term plans for Junction 34 very much depend on the outcome of these discussions about the link road.

In the meantime, following a study last year into the junction, a number of short-term improvements have been identified. These include extending the southbound on slip road, dualling the northbound off slip road and making improvements to the signs and road markings at the junction. A bid for funds will be made to carry out this work during the 2002/03 financial ear. However any bid will be considered on its merits and in the light of other funding priorities.

If you would like any other further information, please contact the Route Manager, Bob Baldwin at Sunley Tower, Piccadilly Plaza, Manchester MI 4BE—Tel: 0161 930 5680.

Regional Development Agencies

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how much has been spent by the South East England Development Agency in lobbying activities in the last twelve months. [155930]

We expect to see regional development agencies keep their partnership organisations, elected representatives in their regions and others in touch with developments affecting their region. It is not possible to disaggregate the costs of this liaison from RDA programme and administration budgets.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will set out the guidelines for overseas travel by (a) members and (b) officials of regional development agencies. [155931]

It is for the individual regional development agencies to set their own guidelines for overseas travel. The regional development agencies are expected to operate systems which are broadly in line with those for the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions.

Registered Social Landlords

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what progress has been made towards meeting the commitment set out in the Government's housing policy statement "A Way Forward For Housing", to strengthen the obligation on registered social landlords to co-operate with local authorities in the discharge of their statutory housing functions. [155836]

In the Housing Policy Statement (The Way Forward for Housing, December 2000), the Government undertook to strengthen the obligation on registered social landlords to work with local authorities on lettings. We will deliver this undertaking through best practice guidance derived from the experiences of the 27 local authority choice-based letting pilots announced on 22 March 2001, Official Report, column 291W, and through strengthened guidance to registered social landlords from the Housing Corporation, under S36 of the Housing Act 1996. The Corporation plans to issue for consultation a draft of its revised Statutory Housing Management Guidance in May.

Queen Elizabeth Ii Conference Centre

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what performance targets he has set for the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre Executive Agency for 2001–02. [155951]

The Agency's principal financial target for 2001–02 is to achieve a minimum contribution to the Exchequer of £1,400,000.An operational target has been set to achieve combined room occupancy of 600 days in the three key conference areas within the centre.The Agency is also being required to increase the number of banqueting events by 50 per cent. It also has the following quality of service targets: overall score of value for money satisfaction of 90 per cent.; the number of complaints received to be less than two per 100 events; and an average response time when answering complaints of less than four working days.

Correspondence

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when the right hon. Member for North-West Cambridgeshire will receive a reply to his letter of 8 February on behalf of Sawtry parish council. [155934]

I regret the delay in this matter. A reply will be sent to the right hon. Member shortly.

Combined Heat And Power

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what recent investigations he has carried out into the possibility of saving energy through the use of micro combined heat and power; and if he will make a statement. [155631]

My Department is increasing its research in new technology such as micro CHP through both our Energy Efficiency Best Practice Programme and new feasibility studies for low carbon technologies. This underlines our commitment to ensuring that households, suppliers and the environment can benefit from micro CHP technology. Micro CHP will also figure in our CHP Strategy, on which we will consult in the coming months.

Business Rates (Rural Areas)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what discussions he has had with the devolved Administrations in (a) Scotland and (b) Northern Ireland about extending the provisions of the Rating (Former Agricultural Premises and Rural Shops) Bill to those areas of the United Kingdom. [155807]

Rating in Scotland and Northern Ireland is a matter for the Scottish Executive and Northern Ireland Executive respectively. We have kept all the devolved Administrations informed of our intentions to extend rate relief to certain rural enterprises in England.

Bilston Urban Village

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the timescale for the development of Bilston Urban Village. [1553891

Bilston Urban Village is a proposed "mixed-use", housing, light industrial and open space development near Wolverhampton. Advantage West Midlands, the Regional Development Agency, has made a significant investment of million to date via English Partnerships funds, to work up a feasibility study in partnership with Wolverhampton metropolitan borough council. An outline planning application is expected to be submitted to the local planning authority during 2001. Commencement of the scheme will depend on the outcome of the statutory procedures.

Road Clearance

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will amend the Highways Act 1980 to bring its provisions on the clearance of snow and ice from public roads into line with those of section 34 of the Roads (Scotland) Act 1989. [1155936]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for North Essex (Mr. Jenkin) on 30 January 2001, Official Report, column 128W.

Planning Guidance

:To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when PPG 13 will be published; and if he will make a statement. [156064]

We are today publishing the final version of PPG13. This is a major step towards integrating planning and transport at the local level and helping deliver the Government's 10 Year Plan for Transport. It forms a key part of our transport, urban and rural policies.PPG13 is about getting the right development in the right place and ensuring people have a choice in transport. We want local authorities to actively manage the pattern of growth to make the fullest use of public transport and to integrate local transport investment decisions with location decisions for the major land uses.PPG13 introduces Transport Assessments, to replace Traffic Impact Assessments, which will ensure that assessments of major development proposals cover access by all modes of transport. These assessments will help to promote development which is located and designed to provide access by a choice of modes and encourages developers to incorporate measures such as car-sharing schemes as part of travel plans. We will shortly be publishing good practice advice on undertaking Transport Assessments.The guidance provides encouragement for well-designed and well-conceived park and ride schemes, ensuring that such proposals will be given favourable treatment through the planning system. In some circumstances, park, and ride schemes may be permissible in the Green Belt, provided a thorough assessment shows the scheme to be the most sustainable of the available options.PPG13 also carries forward proposals set out in the Rural White Paper to promote housing, jobs and services in rural service centres, including market towns. We also want local authorities to take a positive approach to farm diversification proposals to promote rural employment opportunities and to help reduce long-distance commuting to urban areas. Such diversification proposals should not be rejected where they would give rise to only modest additional traffic and would not have significant impact on minor roads.The public consultation exercise on the draft version of PPG13 showed strong support for the guidance and for the use of national maximum parking standards for the major land uses. However, we have made changes to the standards, and how, they are applied, to address business concerns and ensure the approach encourages investment in town centres an I will be conducting a review of the impact of the standards over the next two to three years.Copies of the guidance are being placed in the House Libraries and it is also available on the DETR website (at www.planning.detr gov.uk).

Agency Targets

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what targets he has set for the (a) Driving Standards Agency, (b) Driver Licensing Agency, (c) Vehicle Licensing Agency, (d) Vehicle Certification Agency and (e) Vehicle Inspectorate. [156079]

Key targets have been set for the agencies. They are included in the agencies' business plans. The plans also include management objectives, performance indicators and key tasks appropriate to the agencies' businesses. Copies of the business plans will be placed in the Library in due course.

The key targets for the Driving Standards Agency are:

90 per cent. of all customers to be satisfies with the overall level of service received from the Agency.

95 per cent. of candidates to have obtained a theory test appointment at their preferred test centre within two weeks of their preferred date.

The national average practical car test waiting time to be no more than six weeks.

Keep 99.5 per cent. of all theory to it appointments, and 99.5 per cent. of practical test appointment that are in place two days prior to the test appointment.

90 per cent. of calls to booking offices will be answered by a human voice in no more than 20 seconds (following routing by the call handling system).

To achieve a 1.7 per cent. return on capital employed (ROCE) on statutory activities in 2000–01;

Use examiner resource efficiently by achieving an average examiner utilisation for car practical tests of 83 per cent.

The key targets for the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency are:

To achieve an overall efficiency gain of 2.5 per cent;

95 per cent. of registration documents for new vehicles and changes to a registration document to be delivered within 12 working days;

95 per cent. of ordinary driving licences to be delivered within 11 working days;

95 per cent. of vocational and first provisional licences delivered within eight working days,

95 per cent. of VED refunds to be delivered within 30 working days;

95 per cent. of written replies to be, delivered within seven working days;

95 per cent. of all telephone calls to be answered within 30 seconds;

95 per cent. of e-mails to be replied to within seven working days.

For 95 per cent. of available service hours, customers have lines available to the Customer Enquiry Unit;

97 per cent. of registration documents for new vehicles, changes to registration documents and driving licences to be produced without DVLA induced error;

To complete 700,000 enforcement cases.

The key targets for the Vehicle Certification Agency are:

To achieve a £100 K surplus on the commercial accounts after a 6 per cent. rate of return on capital employed has been applied.

To have at least 98 per cent. of approval certificates issued error free.

To achieve a score of at least 90 per cent. on the quality and service matrix targets shown in the Plan.

To ensure that the figure for average debtor days is 60 calendar days or less.

To ensure that invoices for Management System Certification work are issued within an average of 25 working days after completion of the chargeable work.

To achieve a higher score overall in the Spring 2001 customer satisfaction survey against key success factors compared to the score in 1998–99.

The key targets for the Vehicle Inspectors are:

To deliver against an effectiveness and quality improvement programme.

To deliver effective road safety and environmental standards activity as agreed with DETR.

To continue to improve customer focus across VI and DVO through the implementation of initiatives in line with the Modernising Government agenda.

To break even year on year and achieve a 6 per cent. real rate of return on capital, over the period 1 April 1998—31 March 2003.

To increase value for money.

To improve performance management across the business. To secure the long-term development of the organisation.

Departmental Expenditure Limit

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what proposals he has to change his Departmental Expenditure Limit for 2000–01. [156107]

The DETR Local Government Departmental Expenditure Limit (DEL) will be increased by £18 million from £35,361,468,000 to £35,379,468,000 by drawing on the Department's End Year Flexibility Entitlement announced in the Public Expenditure 1999–2000 Provisional outturn White Paper (Cm 4812). In addition there will be transfer of £2 million Provision from the Voted to the non-Voted element of this Departmental Expenditure Limit which will increase from £137,911,000 to £139,911,000. The increase in DEL will be offset by a charge to the DEL Reserve and will not therefore add to the planned total of public expenditure.

Community Well-Being

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he intends to publish statutory guidance to local authorities on community well-being. [156108]

The Government are today publishing their guidance to local authorities on the use of their new power to promote or improve the economic, social or environmental well-being of their communities.This broad new power will enable local authorities to take a wide range of action to address the priorities of local people, as set out in their community strategies.

Environmental Audit

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when the Government will publish the response to the Environmental Audit Committee's report "Environmental Audit: The First Parliament". [156127]

I am pleased to announce that I have today laid in the Libraries of both Houses, copies of the Government's response to the Environmental Audit Committee's report.I thank the Committee for their report which is a valuable contribution to our process of greening government. As our response shows, we have made a great deal of progress and have a record to be proud of.But there is of course still much to do, and the Government look forward to discussions with the Committee about their two main recommendations for improving their audit function.

Green Ministers

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when the last meeting of Green Ministers took place; what was discussed; and which Departments were represented by Ministers and which by officials. [156128]

Green Ministers held their first meeting of this year on 19 March. The Under-Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, my hon. Friend the Member for Stretford and Urmston (Ms Hughes), the Green Minister at DETR spoke about sustainable development at local and regional level.The Green Ministers Committee approved in principle a target for the purchase of renewable electricity by Departments and agreed a target to reduce water consumption across the Government estate.The Departments represented by Ministers were: Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions; Department of Health; Department for International Development; Law Officers' Department, Lord Chancellor's Department, Department of Social Security, Department of Trade and Industry, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Department for Education and Employment, the Northern Ireland Office.Those represented by officials were: The Chancellor's Departments, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Ministry of Defence and the Home Office.

Mobile Phones

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps he is taking to encourage the mobile phone industry to recycle discarded phones. [155100]

I have been asked to reply.The European Information and Communications Technology Industry Association (EICTA), formerly European Trade Organisation for the Telecommunication and Professional Electronic Industry (ECTEL), have already initiated a UK mobile phone take back and recovery scheme on a voluntary basis. The Government welcome this scheme which pre-empts some of the likely requirements of the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive (WEEE) currently being considered by the Council of Ministers and the European Parliament. The WEEE Directive is likely to result in increased levels of mobile phone recovery.The initial ECTEL launch in 1997 involved only the mobile phone manufacturers—Alcatel, Ericsson, Motorola, Nokia, Panasonic and Philips. The extended scheme, re-launched in 1999, included the network operators—BT Cellnet, Orange, Vodafone, and One 2 One—who together with the mobile phone manufacturers are defined as "producers" for the dual branded mobile phones under the Producer Responsibility Initiative.Under the Government's Producer Responsibility Initiative, industry is encouraged to take a share of the responsibility for what happens to their products at end-of-life and to take action to increase recovery and recycling rates. In "Waste Strategy 2000", the Government made clear their commitment to achieving substantial increase in recovery and recycling rates.

Social Security

Departmental Policies (Ceredigion)

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to the Ceredigion constituency, the effcts on Ceredigion of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997. [154939]

The Department's policies and initiatives have made a significant contribution to the Government's overall objectives of:

Eradicating child poverty in 20 years, and halving it within 10;

Promoting work as the best form of welfare for people of working age while protecting the position of those in greatest need; and,

Combating poverty and promoting security and independence in retirement for today's and tomorrow's pensioners.

These goals are being pursued nationwide and our achievements are sot out in our annual "Opportunity for all" reports. Our sec and report, "Opportunity for all-One year on: making a difference" (CM4865, September 2000) sets out what progress has been made in the past year, as well as highlighting what more needs to be done. Nationwide statistical information is necessarily more complete than constiuency level data, but the following provides a comparative guide to the effect of the Department's policies and actions in Ceredigion since May 1997.Measures in our five Budgets so far will lift over 1.2 million children nationally out of poverty. These include record increases to Child Benefit, the introduction of the Working Families Tax Credit, increases in the income-related benefits, the minimum wage and tax changes.Child Benefit will be worth £15.50 a week for the eldest child and £1).35 a week for other children from April 2001: nationally about seven million families receive Child Benefit, and in Ceredigion 6,763 families benefit.

We now have the lowest unemployment rate in 25 years. The New Deals have helped lone parents, the young unemployed, the long-term unemployed, the over 50s and partners of the unemployed to move from benefit into work. In the period since May 1997 the number of people claiming Jobseeker's Allowance nationally has reduced from 1,562,400 to 960,600; in Ceredigion the number has reduced from 1,800 to 1,200. Since May 1997 the number of lone parents who claim Income Support has decreased from 1,013,500 to 894,100 nationally; in Ceredigion the number has increased from 700 to 900.

Older people are disproportionately affected by fuel poverty. So we have introduced Winter Fuel Payments to help with their heaviest fuel bill. This winter, the payment is £200 for households who qualify. Around 15,500 older people in Ceredigion have received a Winter Fuel Payment for this winter.

To demonstrate our commitment to combating pensioner poverty, this year we will Tend £4.5 billion extra in real terms on pensioners. Some 14,100 pensioners in Ceredigion will benefit from the substantial increases in the basic State pension this April aid next; this year's increase is £5 a week for single pensioners and £8 for couples. In addition, we have introduced free TV licences for the over 75s of whom we estimate there are about 5,500 in Ceredigion. 1,300 peusioner families in Ceredigion are receiving the Minimum income Guarantee, which we introduced in April 1999 to help our poorest pensioners. From April they will be al least £15 a week, or £800 a year, better off in real terms as a result of Government measures since 1997.

Other reforms in the pipeline include the new Pension Credit in 2003 designed to ensure that pensioners benefit from their savings; the launch of Stake holder Pensions in April this year; and the introduction of the State Second Pension in April 2002 both of which will help provide greater security for tomorrow's pensioners.

Departmental Policies (Ynys Mon)

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to the Ynys Mon constituency, the effects on Ynys Mon of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997. [154940]

The Department's policies and initiatives have made a significant contribution to the Government's overall objectives of:

Eradicating child poverty in 20 years, and halving it within 10;

Promoting work as the best form of welfare for people of working age while protecting the position of those in greatest need; and,

Combating poverty and promoting security and independence in retirement for today's and tomorrow's pensioners.

These goals are being pursued nationwide and our achievements are set out in our annual "Opportunity for all" reports. Our second report, "Opportunity for all-One year on: making a difference" (CM4863, September 2000) sets out what progress has been made in the past year, as well as highlighting what more needs to be done. Nationwide statistical information is necessarily more complete than constituency level data, but the following provide a comparative guide to the effect of the Department's policies and actions in Ynys Mon since May 1997.Measures in our five Budgets so far will lift over 1.2 million children nationally out of poverty. These include record increases to Child Benefit, the introduction of the Working Families Tax Credit, increases in the income-related benefits, the minimum wage and tax changes.Child Benefit will be worth £15.50 a week for the eldest child and £10.35 a week for other children from April 2001: nationally about 7 million families receive Child Benefit, and in Ynys Mon 7,541 families benefit.We now have the lowest unemployment rate in 25 years. The New Deals have helped lone parents, the young unemployed, the long-term unemployed, the over 50s and partners of the unemployed to move from benefit into work. In the period since May 1997 the number of people claiming Jobseeker's Allowance nationally has reduced from 1,562,400 to 960,600; in Ynys Mon the number has reduced from 2,500 to 1,700. Since May 1997 the number of lone parents who claim Income Support has decreased from 1,013,500 to 894,100 nationally and in Ynys Mon from 1,100 to 900.Older people are disproportionately affected by fuel poverty. So we have introduced Winter Fuel Payments to help with their heaviest fuel bill. This winter, the payment is £200 for households who qualify. Around 15,300 older people in Ynys Mon have received a Winter Fuel Payment for this winter.To demonstrate our commitment to combating pensioner poverty, this year we will spend £4.5 billion extra in real terms on pensioners. Some 14,600 pensioners in Ynys Mon will benefit from the substantial increases in the basic State Pension this April and next; this year's increase is £5 a week for single pensioners and £8 for couples. In addition we have introduced free TV licences for the over 75s of whom we estimate there are about 5,900 in Ynys Mon. 2,300 pensioner families in Ynys Mon are receiving the Minimum Income Guarantee, which we introduced in April 1999 to help our poorest pensioners. From April they will be at least £15 a week, or £800 a year, better off in real terms as a result of Government measures since 1997.Other reforms in the pipeline include: the new Pension Credit in 2003 designed to ensure that pensioners benefit from their savings; the launch of Stakeholder Pensions in April this year; and the introduction of the State Second Pension in April 2002 both of which will help provide greater security for tomorrow's pensioners.

Departmental Policies (Caernarfon)

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to the Caernarfon constituency, the effects on Caernarfon of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997. [154938]

The Department's policies and initiatives have made a significant contribution to the Government's overall objectives of:

Eradicating child poverty in 20 years, and halving it within 10;

Promoting work as the best form of welfare for people of working age while protecting the position of those in greatest need; and,

Combating poverty and promoting security and independence in retirement for today's and tomorrow's pensioners.

These goals are being pursued nationwide and our achievements are set out in our annual "Opportunity for all" reports. Our second report, "Opportunity for all—One year on: making a difference" (CM4865, September 2000) sets out what progress has been made in the past year, as well as highlighting what more needs to be done. Nationwide statistical information is necessarily more complete than constituency level data, but the following provides a comparative guide to the effect of the Department's policies and actions in Caernarfon since May 1997.Measures in our five Budgets so far will lift over 1.2 million children nationally out of poverty. These include record increases to Child Benefit, the introduction of the Working Families Tax Credit, increases in the income-related benefits, the minimum wage and tax changes.Child Benefit will be worth £15.50 a week for the eldest child and £10.35 a week for other children from April 2001: nationally about 7 million families receive Child Benefit, and in Caernarfon 6,377 families benefit.We now have the lowest unemployment rate in 25 years. The New Deals have helped lone parents, the young unemployed, the long-term unemployed, the over 50s and partners of the unemployed to move from benefit into work. In the period since May 1997 the number of people claiming Jobseeker's Allowance nationally has reduced from 1,562,400 to 960,600; in Caernarfon the number has reduced from 2,200 to 1,600. Since May 1997 the number of lone parents who claim Income Support has decreased from 1,013,500 to 894,100 nationally and in Caernarfon from 800 to 700.Older people are disproportionately affected by fuel poverty. So we have introduced Winter Fuel Payments to help with their heaviest fuel bill. This winter, the payment is £200 for households who qualify. Around 13,500 older people in Caernarfon have received a Winter Fuel Payment for this winter.To demonstrate our commitment to combating pensioner poverty, this year we will spend £4.5 billion extra in real terms on pensioners. Some 13,500 pensioners in Caernarfon will benefit from the substantial increases in the basic State pension this April and next; this year's increase is £5 a week for single pensioners and £8 for couples. In addition we have introduced free TV licences for the over 75s of whom we estimate there are about 5,700 in Caernarfon. 2,200 pensioner families in Caernarfon are receiving the Minimum Income Guarantee, which we introduced in April 1999 to help our poorest pensioners. From April they will be at least £15 a week, or £800 a year, better off in real terms as a result of Government measures since 1997.Other reforms in the pipeline include: the new Pension Credit in 2003 designed to ensure that pensioners benefit from their savings; the launch of Stakeholder Pensions in April this year; and the introduction of the State Second Pension in April 2002 both of which will help provide greater security for tomorrow's pensioners.

Departmental Policies (Meirionnyd Nant Conwy)

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to the Meirionnydd Nant Conwy constituency, the effects on Meirionnydd Nant Conwy of his Department's policies and actions since May 1997. [154937]

The Department's policies and initiatives have made a significant contribution to the Government's overall objectives of:

Eradicating child poverty in 20 years, and halving it within 10;

Promoting work as the best form of welfare for people of working age while protecting the position of those in greatest need; and,

Combating poverty and promoting security and independence in retirement for today's and tomorrow's pensioners.

These goals arc being pursued nationwide and our achievements are set out in our annual "Opportunity for all" reports. Our second report, "Opportunity for all—One year on: making a difference" (CM4865, September 2000) sets out what progress has been made in the past year, as well as highlighting what more needs to be done. Nationwide statistical information is necessarily more complete than constituency level data, but the following provides a comparative guide to the effect of the Department's policies and actions in Meirionnydd Nant Conwy since May 1997.Measures in our five Budgets so far will lift over 1.2 million children nationally out of poverty. These include record increases to Child Benefit, the introduction of the Working Families Tax Credit, increases in the income-related benefits, the minimum wage and tax changes.Child Benefit will be worth £15.50 a week for the eldest child and £10.35 a week for other children from April 2001: nationally about 7 million families receive Child Benefit, and in Meirionnydd Nant Conwy 4,273 families benefit.We now have the lowest unemployment rate in 25 years. The New Deals have helped lone parents, the young unemployed, the long-term unemployed, the over 50s and partners of the unemployed to move from benefit into work In the period since May 1997 the number of people claiming Jobseeker's Allowance nationally has reduced from 1,562,400 to 960,600; in Meirionnydd Nant Conwy the number has reduced from 1,300 to 800. Since May 1997 the number of lone parents who claim Income Support has decreased from 1,013,500 to 894,100 nationally; in Meirionnydd Nant Conwy the number has remained at around 400.Older people are disproportionately affected by fuel poverty. So we have introduced Winter Fuel Payments to help with their heaviest fuel bill. This winter, the payment is £200 for households who qualify. Around 10,500 older people in Meirionnydd Nant Conwy have received a winter fuel payment for this winter.To demonstrate our commitment to combating pensioner poverty, this year we will spend £4.5 billion extra in real terms on pensioners. Some 10,700 pensioners in Meirionnydd Nant Conwy will benefit from the substantial increases in the basic State pension this April and next; this year's increase is £5 a week for single pensioners and £8 for couples. In addition we have introduced free TV licences for the over 75s of whom we estimate there are about 4,500 in Meirionnydd Nant Conwy. 1,700 pensioner families in Meirionnydd Nant Conwy are receiving the Minimum Income Guarantee, which we introduced in April 1999 to help our poorest pensioners. From April they will be it least £15 a week, or £800 a year, better off in real terms as a result of Government measures since 1997.Other reforms in the pipeline include: the new Pension Credit in 2003 designed to ensure that pensioners benefit from their savings; the launch of Stakeholder Pensions in April this year; and the introduction of the State Second Pension in April 2002 both of which will help provide greater security for tomorrow's pensioners.

Departmental Policies (Chichester)

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to the Chichester constituency, the effects on Chichester of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997 [155281]

The Department's policies and initiatives have made a significant contribution o the Government' s overall objectives of:

Eradicating child poverty in 20 years, and halving it within 10;

Promoting work as the best form of welfare for people of working age while protecting the position of those in greatest need; and,

Combating poverty and promoting security and independence in retirement for today's and tomorrow's pensioners.

These goals are being pursued nationwide and our achievements are set out in our annual "Opportunity for all" reports. Our second report, "Opportunity for all—One year on: making a difference" (CM48 i5, September 2000) sets out what progress has been mad in the past year, as well as highlighting what more Leeds to be done. Nationwide statistical information is necessarily more complete than constituency level data, but the following provides a comparative guide to the effect of the Department's policies and actions in Chichester since May 1997.Measures in our five Budgets so far will lift over 1.2 million children nationally out of poverty. These include record increases to Child Benefit, the introduction of the Working Families Tax Credit, increases in the income-related benefits, the minimum wage and tax changes.Child Benefit will be worth £15.50 a week for the eldest child and £10.35 a week for other children from April 2001: nationally about seven million families receive Child Benefit, and in Chichester 10,303 families benefit.We now have the lowest unemployment rate in 25 years. The New Deals have helped lone parents, the young unemployed, the long-term unemployed, the over 50s and partners of the unemployed to move from benefit into work. In the period slice May 1997 the number of people claiming Jobseeker's Allowance nationally has reduced from 1,562 400 to 960,600; in Chichester the number has reduced from 1,100 to 700. Since May 1997 the number of lone parents who claim Income Support has decreased from 1,013,500 to 894,100 nationally; in Chichester the number has increased from 800 to 900.Older people are disproportionately affected by fuel poverty. So we have introduced Winter Fuel Payments to help with their heaviest fuel bill. This winter, the payment is £200 for households who qualify. Around 26,800 older people in Chichester have received a Winter Fuel Payment for this winter.To demonstrate our commitment to combating pensioner poverty, this year we will spend £4.5 billion extra in real terms on pensioners. Some 25,700 pensioners in Chichester will benefit from the substantial increases in the basic State pension this April and next; this year's increase is £5 a week for single pensioners and £8 for couples. In addition we have introduced free TV licences for the over 75s of whom we estimate there are about 11,600 in Chichester. 2,200 pensioner families in Chichester are receiving the Minimum Income Guarantee, which we introduced in April 1999 to help our poorest pensioners. From April they will be at least £15 a week, or £800 a year, better off in real terms as a result of Government measures since 1997.Other reforms in the pipeline include: the new Pension Credit in 2003 designed to ensure that pensioners benefit from their savings; the launch of Stakeholder Pensions in April this year; and the introduction of the State Second Pension in April 2002 both of which will help provide greater security for tomorrow's pensioners.

Correspondence

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when the hon. Member for Cunninghame, South will receive a reply to his letters of 22 November 2000 and 20 February, concerning Marie Harris of Katrine Place, Irvine. [155808]

A reply was issued on Wednesday 21 March 2001.

Horizon Project

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of the final net costs of the Horizon swipecard project to eliminate social security fraud to (a) public funds, (b) the Post Office and (c) the commercial promoters. [151611]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Friend the Member for Hertsmere (Mr. Clappison) on 15 January 2001, Official Report, column 84W, for information on the costs to the Department. The costs to the Post Office and the commercial promoters (ICL) is a matter for those organisations.

Trade And Industry

Overhead Power Lines

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent representations he has received on the setting up of a Royal Commission on the relationship between overhead power lines and the incidence of cancer and leukaemia; and if he will make a statement. [155052]

The only representation which has been received on the setting up of a Royal Commission was the recent correspondence forwarded by the hon. Member for the Vale of York from one of her constituents, Professor Henshaw.The hon. Lady will know that the Advisory Group on Non-Ionising Radiation published its report: "Extremely low frequency Electromagnetic Fields and the Risk of Cancer" on 6 March 2001. (Documents of the NRPB Vol 12, No 1, 2001). Copies have been placed in the Library of the House.The independent Advisory Group that is chaired by Sir Richard Doll reports directly to the Board of the National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB). Its terms of reference are:

"To review work on the biological effects of non-ionising radiation relevant to human health and to advise on research priorities".

The remit covers static and extremely low frequency electric and magnetic fields (including those at power frequencies) and radio-frequency fields and radiation such as infrared, visible and ultraviolet.

The members of the Advisory Group are appointed by the NRPB on the basis of their proven research expertise. They are also independent of Government and commercial interests. Membership reflects the work of the Advisory Group at any particular time.

There is every benefit in maintaining a group that is independent and comprises a number of particularly eminent scientists. I could not foresee the need for establishing a Royal Commission on this issue.

Departmental Policies (Chichester)

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to the Chichester constituency, the effects on Chichester of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997. [155278]

The Chichester constituency has benefited from a range of initiatives that has been implemented since May 1997.

The Sussex Business Link

The Sussex Business Link, covering the whole of East and West Sussex, receives funding from the Department to assist businesses at all stages of development. The Business Link also has an independent income stream. Initiatives are aimed to reach groups of businesses that have shown a need for a more direct approach. It would not be possible to dis-aggregate the benefit for Chichester and the figures shown are for the whole area covered by the Business Link.

DTI funding for Business Link
	£000
1997–98	2,319
1998–99	2,707
1999–2000	3,171
2000–01	¹3,693
¹Includes £152,361 British Trade International funding

The Farm Business Advisory service supports farmers to develop and manage their businesses.

The Business Advisory Service gives easy access to a wide range of quality business services, initial business diagnosis, impartial expert advice on business issues, and practical value for money support tailored to the make the most of an individual's potential.

The Export Counselling Service was a scheme initiated in 1997 to aid local businesses develop an export market.

Other initiatives include:

British Trade International—a separately funded unit dealing with expanding the export and raising the profile of British goods abroad.

SMART awards—two awards have been made to Ocean Air Marine Ltd. totalling £126,000 to develop innovative technological ideas to improve the business.

Small Business Service—from April 2001 the Sussex Business Link will provide services on behalf of the Small Business Service. This will be a sharper and more focused service, acting as a gateway to the wide range of services available to local businesses.

Miner's Compensation

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many ex-miner claims for compensation for Vibration White Finger had been registered (a) by 30 October 2000 and (b) up to the latest date for which figures are available. [155640]

At 29 October 2000, IRISC had registered 114,000 claims in respect of Vibration White Finger, VWF. To date, the number of claims initiated is 118,000. There was a cut-off date for claims on 30 September 2000. The Department reserves its position regarding limitation for claim; received after this date.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many meetings with hon. Members he has had to discuss the issue of miners' compensation since 15 January. [155639]

As Minister for Energy responsible for miners' compensation, I have had eight formal meetings with hon. Members on this issue since 15 January. I have also had a number of informal meetings. I have met hon. Members during my visits to all the coalfield regions of Britain, including several to South Wales and one to North Wales. I attach great importance to this issue, and will continue to meet hon. Members and keep them informed on a regular basis.

Arms Exports

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he will publish a draft Bill on arms exports; and if he will make a statement. [154103]

The Government are committed to publishing a draft Export Control Bill during this Session of Parliament and intend to publish the Bill soon. Publication of the Bill in draft will give all interested parties an opportunity to comment on the Government's detailed proposals for new export control legislation.

Multinational Enterprises

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he has taken to promote and implement the revise d OECD Guidelines for multinational enterprises in the United Kingdom. [156080]

The UK Government are committed to promoting both the use of the Guidelines and their effective implementation. Primary responsibility for promoting and implementing the Guidelines in the UK rests with the UK National Contact Point, based within the Department of Trade and Industry, but working in liaison with other Government Departments and interested bodies.The UK NCP has undertaken a number of activities to promote the Guidelines including the launching today of a booklet explaining its role and the Guidelines more generally. This is being distributed to relevant organisations and is available free of charge from DTI Publications. Copies have also been placed in the Libraries of the House.In addition, a website has been established, www.dti.gov.uk/worldtrade/ukncp.htm . The NCP has already held meetings with UK business, trade unions, and other non-governmental organisations and will continue to do so.Future activities include the production of a publicly available Annual Report covering the activities of the UK NCP; using Government contact with business at all levels to promote the Guidelines and the UK Government's support for them; and contributing to OECD efforts to raise awareness in non-adhering countries.This is in addition to its main task of responding to any inquiries or concerns about the activities of Multinational Enterprises raised with the NCP.

Mirror Group Newspapers

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the inspectors investigating the affairs of Mirror Group Newspapers plc completed their report; and when it will be published. [156082]

The inspectors have now completed their report. In view of the fact that while in opposition the Secretary of State questioned whether Kevin and Ian Maxwell should receive legal aid, he has been advised by officials, who consulted independent counsel, that he should stand aside from decisions flowing from the submission of the report. The Secretary of State has accepted this advice, has not seen a copy of the report and has delegated decisions on the report to me.I have considered this matter carefully and decided that publication would be in the public interest.I therefore intend to publish the report before the end of March 2001.

Employment Conditions (Contracted-Out Staff)

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will take steps to reduce disparities between staff in contracted-out public services who are transferred on TUPE terms and other employees of the contractor. [156083]

The Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employees) Regulations are designed to preserve the continuity of employment and protect the rights of those affected by business transfers. All employees have already benefited from the framework of basic minimum standards introduced by this Government. We are nevertheless examining whether unfair disparities between different groups of workers doing the same work for the same employer may arise where one group retains rights as a result of a TUPE transfer following contracting-out and others are then employed under different terms and conditions of employment. This will be considered in parallel with our wide-ranging review of the TUPE Regulations, on which we intend to consult in the summer.

Byker Plant

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much public subsidy has been provided each year since 1979 to the Byker plant. [155382]

[holding answer 23 March 2001]: The Byker plant received support from the Fossil Fuel Levy under NFFO-1 arrangements between 1992 and 1998. No public support has since been provided.Information on the amount of support provided to individual projects under NFFO arrangements is commercially confidential to the contracting parties.

Renewables

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how developers of renewable energy and technology businesses will have access to the further money he referred to on 6 March 2001, Official Report, column 465. [155550]

The allocation between technologies of the further money for renewable energy announced by the Prime Minister on 6 March is subject to the recommendations of the Performance and Innovation Unit who will be reporting later in the year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps his Department takes to promote renewable energy. [155773]

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend, the Members for Preseli Pembrokeshire (Mrs. Lawrence) and for South Swindon (Ms Drown) on 22 March 2001, Official Report, columns 463–65.

Low Sulphur Petrol

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many garages in England and Wales sell low sulphur petrol. [155651]

My department estimates that 68 per cent. of total UK petrol retail sites have converted to ultra-low sulphur petrol (ULSP). This corresponds to 77 per cent. of total petrol sales being ULSP. There are no separate figures for England and Wales.

Palestine

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what initiatives his Department has undertaken to encourage British companies to invest in the territory under the administration of the Palestinan National Authority. [155449]

Trade Partners UK, in conjunction with the British Consulate-General Jerusalem, provide a wide range of services including advice and information for British companies considering doing business in the territories under the administration of the Palestine National Authority. In November 1999 in conjunction with the Middle East Association, Trade Partners UK organised a seminar in support of the Bethlehem 2000 Project. In July 2000 the Export Promoter for West Bank and Gaza arranged with the support of the BC-G Jerusalem and the Institute of Packaging, two seminars in market and earlier this year Trade Partners UK organised an inward mission to a UK exhibition for the hospitality industry.

Medicines

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to support the reform of the trade-related aspects of intellectual property rights agreement to improve poor people's access to essential drugs and medicines. [155480]

[holding answer 26 March 2001]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Clydebank and Milngavie (Mr. Worthington) on 9 March 2001, Official Report, column 348W.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what his policy is on the proposed introduction of TRIPs plus laws; and if he will make a statement. [155482]

[holding answer 26 March 2001]: The UK and EU have no intention of seeking to impose on other countries intellectual property rights regimes that are more stringent than the minimum standards of TRIPs. Standards higher than these are a matter of policy for individual governments to decide.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to introduce compulsory licences to reduce the price of drugs to treat HIV/AIDS and related infections under the TRIPs proposals. [155479]

[holding answer 26 March 2001]: Compulsory licences are a matter for national law. I have no plans to introduce compulsory licences to reduce the price of drugs to treat HIV/AIDS and related infections in the UK market. I also refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Clydebank and Milngavie (Mr. Worthington) on 9 March 2001, Official Report, column 349W.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received regarding the introduction of compulsory licences to reduce the price of drugs to treat HIV/AIDS and related infections under the TRIPs proposals. [155478]

[holding answer 26 March 2001]: None in respect of the UK which is the only market where the Government would have the right, in certain circumstances, to issue a compulsory licence. I also refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Clydebank and Milngavie (Mr. Worthington) on 9 March 2001, Official Report, columns 348–50W.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the use of World Trade Organisation-sponsored trade sanctions against

developing countries which produce and export cheap generic medicines used in the treatment of HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis. [1554811

[holding answer 26 March 2001]: Generic medicines are those which are off patent and are therefore not covered by the TRIPS Agreement. Copies of patented drugs can ire legitimately made under the TRIPS Agreement through voluntary or, in certain circumstances, compulsory licensing arrangements. There are no examples where, consequent upon the decision of a Dispute Settlement Panel, WTO sanctions have been imposed on intellectual property rights grounds.

Sub-Post Offices (Cornwall)

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many former non-Crown sub-post offices there were in the St. Ives constituency in (a) 1992, (b) 1997 and (c) 2001. [155737]

I understand from the Post Office that data on the post office network are not held on a Parliamentary constituency basis.

Miners' Pensions

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a decision in respect of sacked miners' eligibility for pensions; and if he will make a statement. [154641]

The Department is giving full consideration to responses to the consultation document issued on this subject last year and I will make a full statement in due course.

Sudan

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps the United Kingdom Government are taking to encourage investment by UK companies in Sudan. [155148]

Trade Partners UK, in consultation with the British Embassy in Khartoum as necessary, provides frank and comprehensive information about the investment climate in Sudan. In particular, we point out current FCO travel advice and sign-post companies to relevant web based resources.

Home Department

Young Offenders

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how retch money has been set aside to provide payment to private consultants to achieve the Government's pledge with regard to young offenders; and if such funding will be available in future years. [155846]

The Youth Justice Board has provided £49,075 in 1998–99, £1,624,932 in 1999–2000 and £2,879,237 in 2000–01 for private consultants to tackle delays in the youth justice system including with persistent young offenders. It will provide further funding in 2001–02.

Police Numbers

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Gravesham (Mr. Pond) of 22 March 2001, Official Report, columns 323–28W, on police numbers, if

Police strength figures as at 31 January 2001
Police force	Chief constables	Assistant chief constables	Superintendents	Chief inspectors	Inspectors	Sergeants	Constables	Total
Avon and Somerset	1	3	20	34	146	447	2,318	2,968
Bedfordshire	0	2	13	14	51	138	813	1,031
Cambridgeshire	1	2	15	12	72	208	999	1,309
Cheshire	1	3	16	26	102	331	1,543	2,021
Cleveland	1	2	24	2	74	207	1,116	1,426
Cumbria	1	2	8	14	49	162	813	1,049
Derbyshire	1	3	23	23	88	282	1,397	1,816
Devon and Cornwall	1	4	35	35	143	415	2,294	2,927
Dorset	1	2	15	22	64	201	1,034	1,339
Durham	1	2	19	23	81	213	1,258	1,596
Essex	1	3	26	42	132	441	2,214	2,859
Gloucestershire	1	2	10	18	55	169	905	1,160
Greater Manchester	1	6	80	90	333	970	5,387	6,867
Hampshire	1	3	34	43	166	551	2,653	3,451
Hertfordshire	1	3	22	29	108	278	1,513	1,954
Humberside	1	2	21	22	97	274	1,485	1,902
Kent	1	4	27	43	144	477	2,612	3,308
Lancashire	1	3	32	34	157	506	2,512	3,245
Leicestershire	I	3	16	21	95	268	1,617	2,021
Lincolnshire	1	2	10	16	61	182	918	1,190
London, City of	1	2	10	12	46	103	537	711
Merseyside	1	4	43	49	170	604	3,205	4,076
Metropolitan police	5	29	186	386	1,218	4,077	18,959	24,861
Norfolk	1	2	12	22	67	211	1,082	1,397
Northamptonshire	1	2	11	10	52	164	921	1,161
Northumbria	1	4	40	58	182	542	3,041	3,868
North Yorkshire	1	2	11	10	63	210	1,003	1,299
Nottinghamshire	1	3	20	18	110	293	1,814	2,258
South Yorkshire	1	4	39	49	175	499	2,424	3,190
Staffordshire	1	2	19	23	101	342	1,651	2,138
Suffolk	1	2	13	15	55	168	880	1,133
Surrey	1	3	16	22	92	298	1,655	2,088
Sussex	1	5	32	38	167	445	2,163	2,851
Thames Valley	I	4	44	35	185	549	2,906	3,723
Warwickshire	1	2	13	10	42	126	748	942
West Mercia	1	3	17	33	92	288	1,464	1,899
West Midlands	1	4	60	48	301	981	6,043	7,438
West Yorkshire	I	6	47	69	240	637	3,804	4,804
Wiltshire	1	2	14	14	59	179	845	1,114
Dyfed-Powys	1	2	13	18	47	178	804	1,063
Gwent	1	2	11	15	59	198	979	1,265
North Wales	1	2	13	26	68	231	1,091	1,432
South Wales	1	4	30	38	162	448	2,421	3,103
Total all forces	46	151	1,180	1,580	5.969	18,489	95,841	123,256

Notes:

1. These figures are in terms of full-time equivalents, and have been rounded to the nearest whole number. Consequently, the force figures do not necessarily add precisely to the total

2. The figures exclude secondment to NCS NCIS, central services and inter-force units.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Gravesham (Mr. Pond) of 22 March 2001, Official Report, columns 323–28W, on police numbers, if he will list the (a) wastage and (b) recruitment figures for each police force in England and Wales for the period 30 September 2000 to 31 January. [155940]

The request d details are in the table.

he will provide a breakdown by rank of police strength for each force and for England and Wales as a whole at 31 January. [155941]

The requested details are in the table.

Total officer recruitment and wastage 1 October 2000 to 31 January 2001
Police force	Recruitment	Wastage
Avon and Somerset	56	58
Bedfordshire	48	26
Cambridgeshire	63	25
Cheshire	47	34
Cleveland	31	17
Cumbria	22	22

Total officer recruitment and wastage 1 October 2000 to 31 January 2001
Police force	Recruitment	Wastage
Derbyshire	51	18
Devon and Cornwall	71	34
Dorset	53	26
Durham	32	19
Essex	97	58
Gloucestershire	31	20
Greater Manchester	199	88
Hampshire	89	71
Hertfordshire	52	64
Humberside	49	53
Kent	128	63
Lancashire	78	40
Leicestershire	31	24
Lincolnshire	44	18
London, City of	14	21
Merseyside	82	74
Metropolitan police	594	337
Norfolk	36	26
Northamptonshire	29	18
Northumbria	92	38
North Yorkshire	24	19
Nottinghamshire	75	22
South Yorkshire	71	50
Staffordshire	26	25
Suffolk	37	24
Surrey	79	36
Sussex	103	65
Thames Valley	82	47
Warwickshire	40	17
West Mercia	56	26
West Midlands	231	117
West Yorkshire	92	85
Wiltshire	42	21
Dyfed Powys	36	18
Gwent	28	24
North Wales	47	30
South Wales	116	24
Total all forces	3.304	1.942

Notes:

1. Recruitment and wastage figures are in terms of numbers of officers (whereas the total strength figures are in full-time equivalents).

2. The force figures exclude transfers to and from other England and Wales forces.

3. For the reasons stated above, the previous strength total plusrecruitment minus wastage does not equal the current strength total.

Airwave

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has invited the Health and Safety Executive to advise on the health and safety implications for police officers of using Airwave equipment; and if he will make a statement. [155809]

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) are aware of the issue. It is conducting its own independent assessment based on available information.I have asked both the Defence Evaluation Research Agency and the National Radiological Protection Board to conduct reviews of the relevant science. The result of these two exercises will be published. If, during the course of these exercises, any issue arises which suggests a risk to health, it will be made public without awaiting the publication of final reports.

In addition, I anticipate that further research in areas that are directly relevant to the technology used in Airwave, will be undertaken within the independent Mobile Telecommunications and Health Research Programme. The Health Research Programme has been initiated by the Government in response to the Stewart Report on mobile phone health issues and is focusing on emerging technologies.

Hinduja Brothers

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the right hon. Member for Hartlepool (Mr. Mandelson) told (a) him, (b) Ministers and (c) officials in his Department that the telephone conversation about Mr. S. P. Hinduja's naturalisation application between the right hon. Member and the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department, the hon. Member for North Warwickshire (Mr. O'Brien), which took place in June 1998 was private. [155819]

I refer the hon. Member to paragraph 5.775.83 and paragraph 5.209 of Sir Anthony Hammond's report "Review of the Circumstances Surrounding an Application for naturalisation by Mr. S. P. Hinduja in 1998" (HC287) which was published on 9 March 2001.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) for what reasons Mr. S. P. Hinduja's naturalisation application was prioritised in 1998; and if he will make a statement; [155821](2) if Mr. S. P. Hinduja's second naturalisation application was prioritised because of the involvement of

(a) the right hon. Member for Hartlepool (Mr. Mandelson) and (b) the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department, the hon. Member for North Warwickshire (Mr. O'Brien). [155817]

The full circumstances of Mr. S. P. Hinduja's naturalisation application are detailed in Sir Anthony Hammond's review which was published on 9 March 2001.The detail of the priority afforded to the application is given at paragraphs 5.166 to 5.177 of the review.The general guidance for handling requests for priority treatment of citizens hip applications is given at Annexe D of the review.

Hammond Inquiry

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action his Department has taken on the recommendations of the Hammond report (HC 287). [155815]

Chapter 9 of Sir Anthony Hammond's report recommends hat Departments review their Private Office working practices on the monitoring and recording of telephone calls and general record keeping. My Department has put in hand such a review in order to ensure that consistent arrangements are in place across Private Office.In paragraph 5.191 of the report, Sir Anthony Hammond notes that, a number of measures have been put in place since 1998–99 to improve the working practices of the nationality group of the Integrated Casework Directorate. Caseworkers have been reminded of the need fully to document action and decisions in all cases.

Parliamentary Candidates (Credentials)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what contact his Department has had with the British National Party concerning the verification of the credentials of their parliamentary candidates and their access to party election broadcast; [155483](2) what discussions he has had with electoral registration officers about ensuring the verification of the credentials of British National Party candidates in respect of their access to party election broadcasts; [155484](3) what safeguards he is introducing to ensure the verification of the credentials of parliamentary candidates in relation to their access to party election broadcasts. [155485]

Subject to sections 11 and 37 of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000, the allocation of party election broadcast, is a matter for the broadcasting authorities (that is, the British Broadcasting Corporation, Independent Television Commission, Radio Authority and Sianel Pedwar Cymru). section 11 of the Act requires the broadcasting authorities, in determining their policy on party political broadcasts (including party election broadcasts), to have regard to the views of the Electoral Commission. Section 37 of the Act provides that only parties registered under Part II of the Act may qualify for such broadcasts.We have held no discussion is with electoral administrators concerning the British National Party's eligibility to qualify for an election broadcast. We have had no discussions with the British National Party and would not be disposed toward having any.In response to concerns that unscrupulous candidates had in the past misled electors into supporting their nomination, the Representation of the People Act 2000 made it an offence for a person to include in his nomination paper any fraudulent or fraudulently obtained signatures of persons purporting to Act as a candidate's seconder or assentor.

Replica Guns

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about the availability of replica guns, with special reference to those which fire ballbearings. [155635]

There is a range of different types of replica firearms available in this country, some of which are capable of discharging projectiles and some of which are not.As regards the first category, controls will depend on whether any projectile which is expelled is capable of inflicting a lethal injury. For example, fully functioning replicas of historic guns, whether breech loading or muzzle loading, are subject to the full control of the firearms legislation. Replica breech loading cartridge firing pistols are prohibited weapons which may only be held with the express authority of the Secretary of State. The possession of replica air weapons capable of lethal performance is governed by the wider provisions of the Firearms Act 1968 as amended and such weapons cannot be sold to a person under 17 or give n to a person under 14. They are also subject to the provisions of the Firearms (Dangerous Air Weapons) Rules 1969.

Replicas which fire small plastic pellets or, in some cases, steel ball bearings with insufficient energy to penetrate the skin are not regarded as lethal barrelled weapons. Nor are blank firing replicas which cannot readily be converted to fire a live round, and realistic non-firing replicas. Such guns do not fall under the controls of the Firearms Act 1968 as amended and may freely be bought by anyone.

Under the Toys (Safety) Regulations 1989 any toy gun which discharges a hard projectile must not have an energy level in excess of 0.08 joule.

The Government recognise the concerns which have been expressed in relation to the misuse and ready availability of realistic replica guns and are looking carefully at the possibility of introducing additional controls. This is a difficult and complex matter, not least because of difficulties of definition, and the Firearms Consultative Committee have been asked to consider the detailed implications of any changes and to report back.

Correspondence

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the hon. Member for Walsall, North will receive a reply to his letter of 31 January regarding a constituent, Ref. 2093/1. [155811]

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave him on 26 March 2001, Official Report, column 488W.

Porton Down

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has received a report from the Operation Antler team of the Wiltshire police regarding its inquiries into allegations relating to experiments on NHS patients for biological warfare purposes during the 1960s at the chemical and biological defence establishment at Porton Down; and if he will make a statement. [154763]

No, but I have received oral briefings on Operation Antler itself during a visit to Wiltshire Constabulary and from Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary. In addition officials and members of Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary have from time to time discussed matters arising from it with Wiltshire Constabulary.

Asylum Support

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his Department's forecast is for the average cost of asylum support, expressed as a figure per asylum seeker, in the financial year 2000–01; and if he will make a statement. [152873]

Asylum seekers are currently supported either by payments under arrangements put in place following the Asylum and Immigration Act 1996 from the Department of Social Security, or by local authorities, or for newer applicants following the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999, directly by the National Asylum Support Service (NASS). The costs of all three methods of support are met from the Home Office budget, subject, in the case of local authorities, to agreed unit cost limits. Based on current forecasts of cost and estimates of the average number of asylum seekers supported for the year,

the average forecast cost in 2000–01 of supporting an asylum seeker (ie an applicant for asylum or a dependant of one) who has requested support, is £6,100 for the whole year. These costs include accommodation or Housing Benefit where provided.

Oakington Reception Centre

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what criteria are used to determine which asylum seekers should be sent to Oakington Reception Centre; what the qualifying nationalities for detention at Oakington are; how many and what percentage of new asylum seekers from each of the nationalities listed in the instructions were sent to Oakington in the last three months for which figures are available; on what grounds the nationalities listed in the instructions are selected; and if he will make a statement. [155568]

[holding answer 26 March 2001]: Applicants are referred to Oakington where it appears that their application can be decided quickly, including those which may be certified as manifestly unfounded, and there are no other circumstances which would make their claim unsuitable for Oakington. Nationality is a factor, although not the only factor, in deciding whether a case is suitable for consideration at Oakington as the country of origin has a bearing on the likely complexity of the claim. Information on nationalities currently potentially suitable for consideration at Oakington is provided in the table. Operational constraints, for example the availability of interpreters, limit the range of nationalities than can, in practice, be dealt with at Oakington at any one time.

Applications received for asylum in the United Kingdom, excluding dependants, and those cases referred to Oakington, December 2001 to February 2001¹
Nationality	Total applications²	Cases referred to Oakington	Percentage sent to Oakington
Albania	395	125	32
Bangladesh	215	38	18
Bolivia³	10	0	0
Brazil³	10	0	0
Cameroon¹3	85	0	0
China	380	190	50
Ivory Coast	85	0	0
Czech Republic	280	167	59
Estonia	20	8	42
Ghana	45	14	31
Hungary³	*	0	0
India	355	75	21
Iraq	2,130	167	8
Kenya³	60	0	0
Latvia	40	18	45
Lithuania	60	15	25
Nigeria	130	65	51
Pakistan	585	112	19
Poland	190	89	47
Romania	430	85	20
Slovakia	5	3	43
Slovenia³	5	0	0
Tanzania	25	9	38
Ukraine³	135	0	0
Uganda	80	22	27
Federal Republic of Yugoslavia	745	117	16
Zimbabwe	390	212	54
¹Provisional figures
²Figures are rounded to the nearest 5. "*" denotes 1 or 2
³ Recently introduced nationalities

Note:

Referrals to Oakington in December 2000 to January 2001 do not necessarily relate exactly to applications in that period

Criminal Justice Review

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the outcome of the criminal justice review undertaken by Lord Birt. [155151]

The work undertaken by Lord Birt was considered alongside that undertaken by the Home Office, the Lord Chancellor's Department, the Law Officers' Department and Her Majesty's Treasury in preparing the Government's strategy document, "Criminal Justice:The Way Ahead" (Cm 5074), which was published on 26 February 2001.

Departmental Policies(Regent's Park And Kensington,North)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will set out, including individual statistical information relating as directly as possible to the constituency, the effect upon Regent's Park and Kensington, North of his Department's policies since May 1997. [155351]

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 next 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 Regent's Park and Kensington, North constituency or the immediate locality:

Closed Circuit Television (CCTV)

The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea was awarded £117,000 for a six-camera system covering two residential areas in North Kensington, Swinbrook estate and St. Quintin Park The scheme aims to reduce incidents of assault, criminal damage and vehicle crime on both estates.

Youth Offending

The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC) Youth Offending Team (YOT) covers the entire borough. Its aim is to reduce offending by children and young people aged 10–17. During 2000–01 the YOT dealt with 170 new case This represents approximately one in 70 of the youth population. The borough attributes its apparently low offer ding rate to the success of partnership arrangements aimed at reducing crime including the YOT, as well as the excellence of its Youth Service and Social Services Departments (as evidenced by recent Ofsted and Joint Review inspections). Robbery, burglary and violent offences are a priority for the YOT and its partners for 2001–02. The Youth Justice Plan contains objectives to develop intensive supervision programmes for persistent young offenders, develop an anger management programme and to share intelligence with the Police Service in relation to the most prolific young offenders in the Royal borough.

The YOT contracts with the Divert Trust for the delivery of a mentoring scheme. This scheme provides positive adult role models for young offenders. 17 volunteers from RBKC are currently on the scheme. RPS Rainer have been contracted to provide a bail supervision service aimed at reducing offending on bail as well as decreasing non-attendance at court. The YOT is part of the Royal borough's Community Safety Strategy and has specific targets to meet around early intervention in work, support and guidance for parents of young offenders and the development of an assessment framework. The RBKC YOT piloted the new assessment framework called ASSET. The team continues to be part of the research programme investigating the efficacy of ASSET. The YOT places a particular emphasis on early intervention. During 2000–01, 70 per cent. of young offenders given a Final Warning took part in a rehabilitation programme, (despite the fact that attendance is voluntary). A sample of 50 cases showed only five occurrences of re-offending. This re-offending rate is lower than the previous cautioning rate. A course for young people at risk of offending or school exclusion called "Chance to Change" is run annually. Last year only one of 12 attendees subsequently re-offended.

In addition to statutory community orders, the YOT operates a groupwork programme for male and female offenders (separately), aimed at tackling anti-social behaviour and improving life skills. The YOT also operates a Youth Inclusion Programme to in the north of the borough aimed at providing an intensive programme for the 50 young people in the area most at risk from offending. This programme is run in partnership with the Royal borough's Youth Service. The YOT has operated as a catalyst for developing joint work within partner agencies. Links with the voluntary sector have been strengthened and the incorporation of a victim perspective has brought a whole new dimension to youth justice interventions.

More generally, all of the policies of the Home Office will impact on the residents of Regent's Park and Kensington, North to a great or lesser extent. For example:

376 Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships have been established;

racial harassment and racially motivated crimes have been made criminal offences by the Crime and Disorder Act 1998;

the asylum backlog has been cut from 103,495 at the end of January 2000 to 66,195 by the end of December 2000; and

good progress is being made in reducing the incidence of fire deaths in England and Wales. They have dropped from 605 in 1997 to 534 in 1999.

Information on the Home Office and its policies is also published on its website www.homeoffice.gov.uk.

Racism

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had with the National Union of Students regarding the operation of racist groups on college and university campuses. [155452]

I have not discussed this matter with the National Union of Students (NUS) nor have I been asked to meet the NUS to discuss this issue. The Government are fully committed to tackling racism and anti-Semitism wherever it occurs. We have laws, such as the law on incitement to racial hatred, to deal with those who seek to stir up racial hatred. The question of whether groups on college or university campuses are breaching these laws is a matter for the police.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what initiatives his Department is undertaking to monitor websites which contain antisemitic material. [155451]

The Government condemn those who use the internet to distribute racist material of this kind. The law on incitement to racial hatred applies to material on the internet which comes within our jurisdiction.Monitoring criminal activity is a matter for the police. In November last year my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary announced that the Government were making available £25 million to the police over the next three years to initiate the implementation of a national high-tech crime strategy. That will enhance the capability of law enforcement to investigate crime, including racially-motivated crime, more effectively where new technology is used.Additionally, the Government are assisting the Internet Watch Foundation to set up a complaint hotline which will enable the public to report racially inflammatory material they find on the internet.

Prisoners (Gender Reassignment)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people who are currently serving a prison sentence (a) have undergone some part of the gender reassignment process, (b) are undergoing treatment for gender reassignment and (c) have requested an assessment for gender reassignment. [155267]

Information is not routinely collected centrally on the number of prisoners with gender dysphoria, or who are receiving treatment for that condition in prison. However, 16 cases of prisoners needing assessment, care or treatment for gender dysphoria have been drawn to the attention of Prison Service Headquarters in recent years.

Departmental Policies (Chichester)

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 Chichester constituency, the effects on Chichester of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997. [155287]

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 next report will be available 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 Chichester constituency or the immediate locality:

Closed Circuit Television (CCTV)

Two schemes submitted by Chichester district council were awarded a total of approximately £320,000. Selsey CCTV Provision was awarded over £125,000 for a five-camera system to cover the High Street shopping area. The scheme aims to reduce overall crime in the Selsey parish by 15 per cent. over three years, with incidents of criminal damage, violence against the person and vehicle crime greatly reduced.

Midhurst CCTV Provision was awarded almost £195,000 for eight cameras to cover the length of the main shopping area, Midhurst Grammar School and surrounding residential areas. The scheme will reduce overall crime in the Midhurst parish area by 15 per cent. over three years, with incidents of criminal damage, violence against the person and vehicle crime greatly reduced.

Youth Offending

The West Sussex Youth Offending Team (YOT) comprises staff and resources from West Sussex County Council, Sussex police, the Probation Service and the health authority and is a countywide service. It brings together staff from the five partner agencies to form an integrated, operational team. The YOT has been involved at a strategic and operational level in the key issues around 'speeding up youth justice', which has assisted in bringing down the average times for the processing of all youth cases, including Persistent Young Offenders. The court service has been improved by providing informed and proactive court duty officers to the increased number of scheduled youth courts, to promote the issues which assist in reducing unnecessary delays in the processing of young offenders.

A Remand Management Service has been established in partnership with RPS Rainer. This has resulted in a reduction in the number of young people being remanded to custody and local authority accommodation. A mentoring service, in partnership with Divert and the Crime Reduction Initiative has achieved the recruitment of over 30 trained mentors matched with the high-risk and persistent offenders. In partnership with Parentlink, a

parenting support programme offers both voluntary and mandatory programmes to parents of teenagers in trouble. A substance and alcohol misuse counselling service, which is a partnership between West Sussex Health Authority, the Drug Action Team (DAT) and Crime Reduction Initiative has been set up using DAT development funds and charitable funding. West Sussex county council arid the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children are working in partnership on a young abusers assessment and treatment project which is aimed at young people who sexually abuse other children and young people. The YOT are also involved in an appropriate adult project. This aims to recruit and train volunteers to meet the requirements of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 in providing trained adults to custody suites to assist in the interviewing of arrested children and young people.

More generally, all of the policies of the Home Office will impact on the residents of Chichester to a greater or lesser extent. For example:

376 Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships have been established;

racial harassment and racially motivated crimes have been made criminal offences by the Crime and Disorder Act 1998;

the asylum backlog has been cut from 103,495 at the end of January 2000 to 66,195 by the end of December 2000;and

good progress is being made in reducing the incidence of fire deaths in England a id Wales. They have dropped from 605 in 1997 to 534 in 1999

nformation on the Home Office and its policies is also published on its website www.homeoffice.gov.uk.

Prisoner Education

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will make a statement on the provision of education and skills training to inmates of HM prisons; [155772](2) what plans he has to improve the provision of education to inmates of Her Majesty's prisons. [155771]

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Stockport (Ms Coffey) on 14 February 2001, Official Report, column 172W.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what (a) provision of ITC skills training programmes in KM Prisons there is and (b) plans he has to extend such provision. [155751]

The Prison Service is working to include Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in the education provision of all Prison Service establishments. The Service held an Information Technology (IT) conference in London on 21 March and it is intended to follow this up by creating a steering group to facilitate IT strategy and policy for all prison education departments. The Prison Service is developing a number of pilots including the University for Industry/"learn direct" in six establishments, aimed at enhancing basic and key skills using interactive computing technology; the European Computer Driving Licence in the Yorkshire and Humberside area; die computer repair and maintenance (CRAM) project, in conjunction with the National Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders (NACRO) in Brighton, to teach prisoners how to repair computers and linked to a job search programme; the Leonardos pilot, a tri-national project run by the probation service to enhance learning for different nationalities.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to encourage inmates of HM prisons to participate in distance learning. [155770]

The Prison Service has arrangements for eligible prisoners to undertake degree and other higher education courses with the Open University. Many prison education departments facilitate open learning through the National Extension College while some use courses provided by the National Distance Learning College. In the longer term the Prison Service partnership with the University for Industry will provide access for prisoners to distance learning packages.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has plans to make the internet accessible to inmates of HM Prison service. [155768]

There are no plans to provide prisoners with unrestricted direct access to the Internet. Many prison education departments have internet accessible computers allowing information to be downloaded by the relevant member of staff when required.Prisoners do have access to internet based learning material through the Learn Direct partnership. There are also a number of education departments that have CD-ROM based learning material with the aim of improving literacy and numeracy, thereby avoiding the need for direct internet access.

Foreign Nationals

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to replace the application forms for foreign nationals wishing to apply for leave to remain in the United Kingdom. [155987]

The current application forms are valid for use until 14 April 2001. Revised forms will be prescribed before then and should be available by the end of March 2001. From the time they are issued until 14 April 2001, applications may be made on either the newly prescribed forms or the current versions. Only the new forms may be used for applications made on or after 15 April 2001. Copies will be placed in the Library as soon as they are available.

Animal Rights Extremism

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures he is taking to combat animal rights extremism. [156062]

The Government have included a number of measures in the Criminal Justice and Police Bill, currently before Parliament, air led at combating the activities of animal rights extremists. These include a new power for police to remove pros esters from outside homes; measures to strengthen provisions on the sending of malicious communications; and a system to prevent disclosure of the home addresses of Directors of vulnerable companies.

We have also consulted closely with the police and the Crown Prosecution Service to encourage a consistent approach to enforcement in this area. A consultation document is being issued tomorrow, 28 March, setting out a package of measures in this area, and copies will be placed in the Library.

Agriculture, Fisheries And Food

Live Animal Exports

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many (a) live sheep and (b) live pigs were exported for (i) slaughter, (ii) further fattening and (iii) breeding in 2000 broken down by country of destination. [147060]

The total number of live sheep and live pigs certified for export from the UK during 2000 for slaughter, further fattening and breeding are shown in the following table:

Country of destination	Breeding	Fattening	Slaughter
Live sheep
Belgium	178	593	—
Denmark	—	—	2,170
France	1,233	199,327	—
Germany	86	30,003	—
Greece	—	4,350	—
Republic of Ireland	255	3	120
Italy	—	51,912	—
Netherlands	39	304,809	—
Portugal	—	3,800	300
Spain	20	32,769	—
Switzerland	376	—	—
Tristan da Cunha	80	—	—
United Arab Emirates	15	—	—
Total	2,282	627,566	2,590
Live pigs
Austria	9	—	—
Belgium	13,454	—	—
Canada	42	—	—
Cyprus	336	—	—
Czech Republic	150	—	—
Denmark	121	—	—
France	2,458	—	—
Germany	40,158	—	—
Greece	716	—	—
Republic of Ireland	1,261	200	61,393
Italy	5,498	—	—
Japan	2,285	—	—
Latvia	1,736	—	—
Malaysia	731	—	—
Mexico	529	—	—
Netherlands	16,898	—	—
Poland	252	—	—
Portugal	404	—	—
Romania	418	—	—
Slovakia	41	—	—
South Korea	1,235	—	—
Spain	8,861	—	—
Thailand	1,200	—	—
United States of America	24	—	—
Serbia, Montenegro, Kosovo	617	—	—
Total	99,434	200	61,393

Owing to a computer malfunction which occurred at the end of 2000, the above figures exclude some exports which took place during the month of December 2000.

These figures are derived from the computer system used to issue export health certificates and are subject to updating and amendment.

Horseracing

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what advice he has given to the British Horseracing Board about the holding of (a) horseracing fixtures in general and (b) the Cheltenham Festival in March; and if he will make a statement. [152288]

[holding answer 5 March 2001]: On 5 March my Department provided the British Horseracing Board with a detailed veterinary assessment of the conditions necessary to reduce the risk of spreading foot and mouth disease through horserace meetings. The key conclusions are as follows:

(i) No meeting should be held within three kilometres of an infected premises.

(ii) No livestock have been on the racecourse or areas accessible to the public within the previous 28 days.

(iii) No livestock are present in adjoining fields during the 24 hours prior to and during the race meeting.

(iv) All members of the public are restricted exclusively to hard areas, stands and enclosures (not in field areas) during a race meeting.

The decision as to whether individual meetings, including the Cheltenham Festival, should proceed is a matter for the race organisers and racecourse owners. If required, the Foot and Mouth Order 1983 provides powers to prohibit the holding of any sporting or recreational event inside an infected area.

Foot And Mouth

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will speed up the arrangements for valuing animals that have to be slaughtered because of foot and mouth disease. [156065]

An Order has been made to change the valuation procedure for animals slaughtered for foot and mouth disease. This Order gives farmers the option of payments at standard rates, or of having animals valued by a valuer. This is intended to help speed up the valuation process and so ensure that animals can be slaughtered as quickly as possible.The standard rates of valuation are as follows:

£
Sheep
Breeding ewes (in lamb/lamb at foot)	90
Cull/draft ewes	32
Hoggets (male and female old season's lamb)	55
New season's lamb	60
Rams	150
Pigs
Gilts	190
Breeding sows	130
Cull sows	80
Piglets on sow	18
Stores: Breeding units (weaners)	30
Stores: Finishing unit	55
Boars	520

£
Cattle
Clean cattle: steers (under 30 months old)	600
Clean cattle: heifers (under 30 months old)	500
Clean cattle: young bulls (under 30 months old)	580
Breeding cows	1,100
Breeding heifers	900
Breeding bulls	1,000
Cull cattle (including clean cattle over 30 months old)	325

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what advice he has given to county councils about the disinfection of vehicles using public roads near locations associated with outbreaks of foot and mouth disease. [153840]

[holding answer 15 March 2001]: The Foot and Mouth Order 1983 sets out requirements for the disinfection of vehicles that enter or leave an infected premises. While there are no powers or EU rules to require the disinfection of vehicles that pass adjacent to such premises, MAFF has posted advice on its website about the precautionary measures people should take in the vicinity of livestock farms.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to ensure that meat imported for the Ministry of Defence and local authorities does not come from countries infected with foot and mouth disease; and if he will make a statement. [154010]

All meat imported to the UK for human consumption must comply with Community animal and public health provisions that require meat to be accompanied by veterinary certification and to come from approved establishment in approved countries. These permit the importation of meat from some countries where foot and mouth disease is present but only where the veterinary authorities have contained the disease in specific regions. Community rules permit imports of meat from those regions only if it has been deboned and fully matured and is therefore not considered to present a risk of spreading foot at d mouth disease. Countries to which these controls currently apply are Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Zimbabwe, Argentina, Brazil, Colombia and Uruguay However, because of their foot and mouth disease situation meat may not currently be imported from South Africa, Swaziland or Argentina. There is, and I envisage, no exemption from these general rules for the Ministry of Defence or for local authorities.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what discussions he has had with farmers and farm organisations over his Department's decision increasingly to restrict herds where inconclusive reactions to foot ant mouth tests are found. [154036]

[holding answer 27 March 2001]: Ministers have held regular and wide ranging meetings with farming and other organisation since the earliest days of the foot and mouth outbreak. Restrictions are imposed on herds where disease is suspected to exist. Disease may be confirmed on clinical grounds alone is the State Veterinary Service is satisfied that animals are clearly exhibiting signs of the disease. Where doubt exists as to whether the clinical symptoms actually relate to foot and mouth disease, samples are taken for testing. The testing process will ultimately lead to a positive or negative result. On occasions it may be necessary to take further samples before a clear result is obtained, particularly a negative. Restrictions will not be lifted until it is certain that the disease is not present.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how frequently his Department's website relating to the foot and mouth crisis is updated; and if he will make a statement. [154282]

The Ministry's website www.maff.gov.uk relating to foot and mouth disease is updated at least twice a day. We recognise the importance of putting a wide range of information on the internet 10 assist farmers and the industry, and will continue to ensure that we provide a comprehensive and timely service.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what equipment for handling carcases of slaughtered livestock infected by foot and mouth disease was transported from Marsh Farm, Fambridge, Essex to Wick Farm, Layer-de-la-Haya, Essex; how and when it was transported; and what measures were taken to disinfect equipment before it was transported. [154314]

[holding answer 19 March 2001]: One teleporter, hired from Sonic Rail Services Ltd., was moved under its own power with a MAFF escort on 10 March 2001 between 19.00 hours and 20.30 hours. Before being transferred between premises the teleporter was fully disinfected in accordance with the Foot and Mouth Disease Order 1983. The disinfection was supervised by a MAFF official.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the risk of foot and mouth being spread throughout Shropshire by vehicles transporting infected carcases, to the rendering plant at Widnes. [154485]

[holding answer 19 March 2001]: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to Me hon. Member for Vale of York (Miss McIntosh) on 26 March 2001, Official Report, columns 513–14W.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what evidence he has received indicating a linkage between foot and mouth disease and Welshpool market; and if he will make a statement. [154557]

We have confirmed a number of cases of foot and mouth disease in animals which have passed through Welshpool market. Further epidemiological investigations are continuing, the results of which will be published.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans are in place to use the rendering plant at Marsh Barton, Exeter for foot and mouth cases. [154436]

[holding answer 19 March 2001]: Following the successful introduction of rendering foot and mouth carcases at the Prosper de Mulder plant in Widnes, carcases have been sent to the plant at Marsh Barton since 16 March. Further plants at Great Torrington in Devon and at Paisley are now also being used.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish a list of suspected foot and mouth sites on his Departmental website at the time of signature of form C. [154492]

[holding answer 19 March 2001]: Details of premises under form C are now placed on the Ministry's website. This will be updated once a day.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what methods of slaughter were used for killing livestock at Wick Farm, Layes-de-la-Haye in Essex; and what assessment he has made of the extent to which the methods used complied with the required animal welfare standards. [154719]

[holding answer 20 March 2001]: The susceptible livestock were slaughtered by licensed slaughtermen using captive bolt, an approved safe method of slaughter.

Fisheries

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make it his policy to seek to ensure that Polish fishing vessels are prohibited from fishing in the North Sea and the Irish Sea; and if he will make a statement. [155442]

The Government's objective for fisheries is to ensure that any quotas granted to Poland and other acceding member states cover only those areas and stocks for which they already have recognised track records. As Poland has no track record in fishing in the North Sea and Irish Sea since the establishment of the Common Fisheries Policy it will not receive any quota for these upon accession.

Genetically Modified Crops

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the pesticides approvals granted and extended by him for spraying in connection with genetically modified crops, indicating (a) the approval reference number, (b) the date where applicable of (i) approval and (ii) extension, (c) the permitted annual maximum area to be treated, (d) the date, where applicable, of (iii) expiry and (iv) extension of the approval, (e) the active ingredients and the products approved and (f) the company or other person holding the approval. [154337]

The only approvals that we have specifically granted for the use of pesticides on genetically modified crops are experimental approvals. Unlike commercial level approvals, experimental approvals are not published for reasons of commercial confidentiality.We are, however, in the process of reviewing the current arrangements to provide for greater openness and transparency. In the meantime the Pesticides Safety Directorate have been asked to seek the consent of the relevant approval holders to the release of the information requested. I will write with as much of the information requested as is consistent with proper safeguards for commercial confidentiality. Copies of the letter will be made available to the Libraries of the House.

Scotland

Civil Servants (Salary Increases)

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what the average percentage increase in salaries of non-industrial civil servants, excluding members of the senior civil service, was in her Department for 2000–01. [152791]

[holding answer 14 March 2001]: The average performance-related increase in consolidated basic pay for staff of the Scotland Office was 5.6 per cent. An average non-consolidated performance bonus of £528 was also paid to staff who performed to a higher level.

Special Advisers

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many special advisers were employed by the Scottish Office in (a) 1995–96 and (b) 1996–97; and at what cost. [154254]

[holding answer 19 March 2001]: During both years there were two special advisers in post at any one time at a cost of £76,855 in 1995–96 and £92,587 in 1996–97.

Lord Chancellor's Department

Departmental Policies (Chichester)

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if she will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to the Chichester constituency, the effects on Chichester of she Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997. [155286]

The Lord Chancellor's Department is responsible for the administration of the courts and for legal services. We have taken steps to improve the management and effectiveness of the services we provide and to meet customer needs, including working closely with other agencies to provide a fair, swift and effective system of justice, improve the availability of affordable and good-quality legal services and to improve the lives of children and help build and sustain strong families.

			Sitting hours
Courthouse	Courtrooms	January-December 1998	April 1999-March 2000	April 2000-December 2000
Abingdon, Oxon	1	520.10	Closed	—
5 King George V Road, Amersham	1	608.50	568.00	268.00
5 King George V Road, Amersham	2	368.00	298.25	120.00
Walton Street, Aylesbury	1	1,111.75	990.25	837.75
Walton Street, Aylesbury	2	459.75	726.00	695.50
Walton Street, Aylesbury	3	993.00	657.75	546.25
Warwick Road, Banbury	1	1,073.00	928.15	756.20
Warwick Road, Banbury	2	864.00	924.30	737.80
Warwick Road, Banbury	3	278.00	164.30	95.45
Windsor End, Beaconsfield	1	433.00	559.75	306.50
Windsor End, Beaconsfield	2	677.75	241.75	664.75
Queen's Avenue, Bicester	1	785.00	553.45	485.80
Queen's Avenue, Bicester	2	249.00	378.15	301.40
Town Square, Bracknell	1	869.75	923.75	539.25
Town Square, Bracknell	2	578.25	483.25	375.50
Town Square, Bracknell	3	59.50	72.67	6.25
Verney Close, Buckingham	1	272.25	246.00	147.00
Mereland Road, Didcot	1	459.40	798.30	693.00
Mereland Road, Didcot	2	96.80	60.60	89.50
Northfield End, Henley On Thames	1	232.10	Closed	—
Bridge Road, Maidenhead	1	783.25	942.30	841.50
Bridge Road, Maidenhead	2	465.00	539.85	472.00
Bridge Road, Maidenhead	3	227.00	331.80	282.00

The Arun, Chichester and Horsham Community Legal Services Partnership (CLSP), which covers the Chichester constituency, is one of 165 CLSPs throughout England and Wales.

Within Chichester, the Legal Services Commission awarded contracts for 2000–01 to the value of £111,339. The contracts cover a range of categories and these include family, employment, housing, mediation, mental health and personal injury.

Thames Valley Courts

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department which courthouses in the Thames Valley magistrates courts committee area (a) do not meet the statutory requirements for disability and (b) do not comply with the provisions of the Human Rights Act 1998 with regard to custody cases. [155814]

The Thames Valley magistrates courts committee has made an assessment of its accommodation. Based on this assessment, the courthouses at Banbury, Bicester, Bracknell, Didcot, Maidenhead, Newbury, Oxford, Reading, Slough, Thame, Wantage and Witney do not fully meet the current statutory requirements for disability. The custody areas at Banbury, Oxford and Witney courthouse, require work to remove potential ligature points and install panic alarms. Works will be carried out during tie 2001–02 financial year to improve this position.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department for how many hours each courtroom in the Thames Valley magistrates courts committee area was used in each of the last three years. [155813]

Sitting hours were collected for the calendar year up to the end of 1998, and for the financial year from April 1999 onwards. No data were collected centrally for the period January to March 1999. Data are given for the three completed quarters in the current financial year. The information is in the table.

			Sitting hours
Courthouse	Courtrooms	January-December 1998	April 1999-March 2000	April 2000-December 2000
301 Silbury Boulevard, Milton Keynes	1	675.00	3,080.65	540.85
301 Silbury Boulevard, Milton Keynes	2	770.00	344.45	631.25
301 Silbury Boulevard, Milton Keynes	3	1,295.00	640.05	952.20
301 Silbury Boulevard, Milton Keynes	4	1,090.00	595.05	898.25
301 Silbury Boulevard, Milton Keynes	5	570.00	393.80	486.30
301 Silbury Boulevard, Milton Keynes	6	520.00	355.65	382.70
301 Silbury Boulevard, Milton Keynes	7	460.00	202.70	862.40
Mill Lane, Newbury	1	972.00	904.50	651.75
Mill Lane, Newbury	2	786.50	694.25	520.50
Mill Lane, Newbury	3	145.00	193.00	145.50
Speedwell Street, Oxford	1	1,340.40	1,397.10	850.00
Speedwell Street, Oxford	2	1,043.20	1,067.40	898.00
Speedwell Street, Oxford	3	1,022.80	1,120.50	861.00
Speedwell Street, Oxford	4	707.80	796.20	774.00
Speedwell Street, Oxford	5	564.70	535.40	603.75
Speedwell Street, Oxford	6	48.70	35.80	170.25
Civic Centre, Reading	1	971.25	833.00	617.25
Civic Centre, Reading	2	1,189.25	1,189.75	832.00
Civic Centre, Reading	3	1,131.50	1,211.25	847.75
Civic Centre, Reading	4	606.50	548.00	468.50
Civic Centre. Reading	5	761.00	771.00	564.25
Civic Centre, Reading	6	366.00	258.25	258.50
Chalvey Park, Slough	1	667.75	1.195.25	820.25
Chalvey Park, Slough	2	710.00	1,064.75	835.50
Chalvey Park. Slough	3	517.50	558.05	400.00
Lower High Street, Thame	1	668.10	600.60	292.00
Lower High Street, Thame	2	113.20	93.10	28.00
Church Street, Wantage	1	349.20	430.20	328.75
Church Street. Wantage	2	104.70	79.50	44.00
Alma Road. Windsor	1	542.25	Closed	—
Alma Road, Windsor	2	278.75	Closed	—
Welch Way, Witney	1	643.00	539.90	417.00
Welch Way, Witney	2	419.00	434.30	268.95
Easton Street. High Wycombe	1	946.00	791.00	519.50
Easton Street, High Wycombe	2	1,200.00	958.95	961.00
Easton Street, High Wycombe	3	720.00	527.25	628.00
Easton Street, High Wycombe	4	750.00	594.25	646.75
Wycombe	Directions	—	39.50	45.00
Grand totals	—	38,130.20	36,462.97	29,313.05

Notes:

1. Thames Valley MCC was created in April 1999.

2. Data for the earlier year is the aggregation of Berkshire and Oxfordshire MCC and Buckinghamshire MCC.

Extra-Statutory Scheme (Northern Ireland)

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what criteria the Lord Chancellor will use to assess applications for funding from the extra-statutory ex-gratia scheme, in Northern Ireland. [156081]

I can advise my hon. Friend that my noble and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor will consider each application for funding from the Extra-Statutory Scheme on its individual merits and in the round. In so doing the Lord Chancellor will have regard to

(a) whether the issues raised in the application fall outside the scope of a coroner's inquest;

(b) whether the applicant would qualify financially for full civil legal aid in other circumstances;

(c) whether an effective investigation of the death by the state is needed, and whether the inquest is the only way to conduct it;

(d) whether the applicant has a sufficiently close relationship to the deceased to warrant funding;

(e) whether an alternative to public funding is available;

(f) whether the applicant needs representation in order to participate effectively in the inquest—for example, because there are unusually complex questions of law or fact, or evidential difficulties, or because of the level of representation of others who have an interest in or are involved in the inquest;

(g) whether there is a significant wider public interest in representation being provided;

(h) the views of the coroner, if expressed; and

(i) any other matters which appear to be relevant to the individual circumstances of the case.

The Lord Chancellor is writing to interested parties to invite their views on the criteria.The consultation exercise for these criteria will conclude on 30 June 2001. In the meantime and until the Lord Chancellor reaches a conclusion on the final criteria to be adopted, he will apply the criteria set out to any applications for funding from the extra-statutory fund.

Northern Ireland

Parades Commission

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the persons who have served on the Parades Commission from the date of the coming into effect of the Public Processions (Northern Ireland) Act 1998, giving in each case the date of the original appointment, the dates of its expiry and subsequent extension, and, in the case of each member

Member	Appointment date	Expiry date	Extension	Resignation date
Alister Graham	March 1997	February 1999	1 year	—
David Hewitt	March 1997	February 1999	1 year	—
Frank Guckian	March 1997	February 1999	1 year	—
Berna Mclvor	March 1997	February 1999	—	February 1998
Roy Magee	March 1997	February 1999	—	December 1997
Glenn Barr	February 1998	February2000	—	April 1998
Tommy Cheevers	February 1998	February 2000	—	—
RoseAnne McCormick	February 1998	February 2000	—	—
Aidan Canavan	February 1998	February 2000	—	—
Barbara Erwin	June 1998	February 2000	—	—
Billy Martin	June 1998	February 2000	2 years	—
Tony Holland	February 2000	—	—	—
John Cousins	February 2000	—	—	—
Reverend Roy Magee	February 2000	—	—	—
Peter Osborne	February 2000	—	—	—
Sir John Pringle	February 2000	—	—	—
Peter Quinn	February 2000	—	—	—

Foreign And Commonwealth Affairs

Sierra Leone

15.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the current situation in Sierra Leone. [154101]

Our policy remains to repel the rebels, restore the peace process, and to help rebuild the country. Sierra Leone still has a considerable way to go. But I am encouraged by the start, on 14 March, of the UN peacekeeping force UNAMSIL's deployment forward into rebel held areas.I also welcome the unanimous adoption of UNSCR 1343 (2001) on 7 March, imposing sanctions on Liberia. We co-sponsored this resolution in response to the UN Expert Panel report, which clearly identified Liberian President Taylor as the primary supporter of the Revolutionary United Front rebels. UNHCR 1343 is designed to persuade President Taylor and his associates to cease their malign activities in the region.

Coca Crops

16.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Bolivian Government on the drugs trade in coca crops. [154102]

We take every opportunity to discuss drugs with the Bolivian authorities. On 28 February I confirmed to the Bolivian Minister of Justice the UK's continuing support for his Government's efforts. We have contributed over a million pounds in counter-drugs assistance to Bolivia since 1997 and I am pleased to announce to the House that I have just approved a further who resigned before their term of office expired, the date of their resign Mon and the reason they gave for their resignation. [155601]

The table lists the members of the Parades Commission, together with their dates of appointment, expiry date, subsequent extension if relevant, and resignation date. The reasons given for resignation are a f personal matter for the individuals concerned which it would be inappropriate for me to disclose.contribution of £100,000 towards a crop survey in Bolivia's Yungas region to identify areas of land currently being used for illicit coca cultivation.

Cyprus

17.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his latest assessment is of the prospects for the reunification of Cyprus. [154104]

The UK strongly believes that the current UN settlement process, launched in December 1999 by the UN Secretary General, offers an excellent opportunity to achieve a just and lasting settlement in Cyprus. This is in the interests of all concerned. The UN process is currently at a sensitive and difficult stage but the UK has every confidence in the ability of the UN to find a way to resolve the current difficulties and move forward. To that end we will continue strongly to urge all those involved to remain fully and positively engaged in the search for a solution.

Burma

18.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his policy on Burma following the International Labour Organisation's decision on forced labour conditions. [154105]

In 1997 the European Community suspended GSP privileges to Burma in reaction to the use of forced labour there. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Employment wrote to employers and workers groups in the UK on 18 February, asking them to draw the ILO decision to their members' attention and to consider how to give effect to the ILO Resolution. We too are actively considering what further steps HMG could take; I discussed this issue with ILO Director General Somavia on 21 March in Geneva.

Brazil

19.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Government of Brazil regarding the problem of forced labour. [154106]

We are in regular contact with the Brazilian authorities on a broad rant of human rights issues, including forced labour.During talks between the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Brazilian Government in Brasilia in December last year, Embassy officials again raised our concerns about the use of forced labour in Brazil. We have subsequently passed on a copy of Anti-Slavery International's latest briefing on force I labour to Brazil's National Secretariat for Human Rights.

Human Rights (Colombia)

20.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made on human rights in Colombia to the 57th session of the UN Commission on Human Rights. [154107]

We are very concerned about increasing levels of violence in Colombia In recent months, particularly directed at trade unionists such as Wilson Borja and other human rights defenders. We have raised our concerns directly with the Colombian authorities. I issued a statement on 13 February reiterating our concerns. The President of the European Union intends to issue a statement on the situation in Colombia on behalf of all EU member states at the 57th Session of the UN Commission on Human Rights taking place in Geneva at the moment.I did discuss these matters in Geneva last week with the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mary Robinson.

Hawk Aircraft

21.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last made representations to the Indian Government on the question of a purchase of Hawk aircraft. [154108]

My right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry and the Secretary of State for Defence raised this issue with the Indian Government during their respective visits to India in January and December.

East Timor

22.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the prospects for elections in East Timor. [154109]

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the prospects for elections in East Timor. [154118]

34.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the prospect for elections in East Timor. [154121]

Sergio Vieira de Mello, the Head of the UN Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET), announced on 16 March that the first democratic election for an 88-member constituent Assembly will be held on 30 August 2001. These elections will mark a key stage in the transition towards an independent state, expected in early 2002.

Luxembourg

23.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the state of bilateral relations between Britain and Luxembourg. [154110]

Relations with Luxembourg are traditionally very good. Ministers and officials have frequent contact with their Luxembourg counterparts at EU meetings. There were also four substantive bilateral ministerial meetings in 2000, including a meeting between the two Prime Ministers in London. The Under-Secretary of State for Social Security, my hon. Friend the Member for Wallasey (Angela Eagle) visited Luxembourg on 21 March to speak on welfare and pensions reform and meet her opposite numbers and there are plans for my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary to have talks with his opposite number Madame Polfer. Trade relations thrive, with the UK exports to Luxembourg reaching £219.8 million last year.

China

25.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next plans to visit China; and if he will make a statement. [154112]

My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary will visit Beijing from 24–25 May to attend the ASEM (Asia-Europe) Foreign Minister's meeting.

Zimbabwe

26.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the South African Government concerning the economic crisis in Zimbabwe. [154113]

I discussed our concerns over Zimbabwe with South Africa's Deputy Foreign Minister on 6 March. We welcome President Mbeki's expressed intention to meet President Mugabe soon to discuss the situation in Zimbabwe.

29.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on bilateral relations with Zimbabwe. [154116]

Given the long shared history between our two countries, we would wish to have better relations with the Government of Zimbabwe. But that is not possible while the Government of Zimbabwe pursue their current policies, which are damaging the economy of the country and its international reputation.

Terrorism (Israel)

27.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to the Palestinian National Authority in relation to terrorist attacks in Israel. [154114]

The Government condemn all acts of violence in the middle east, and call on both parties to take steps to reduce the violence and build confidence. This of course includes action where possible to prevent terrorist acts. We take every opportunity to raise this with both Palestinian and Israeli representatives. The European Council in Stockholm on 23 March called for the immediate resumption of security co-operation and urged both parties to do all in their power to end violence, restrain extremism and minimise incitement and provocations.

Illegal Drugs

28.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on recent initiatives to tackle the international trade in illegal drugs. [154115]

This Government are at the forefront of international efforts to combat the drugs trade. Our aim, as stated in the 10-year drugs strategy, is to halve the availability of those Class A drugs which cause the greatest harm, particularly heroin and cocaine.

Kashmir

30.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the human rights situation in Kashmir. [154117]

We remain deeply concerned about the human rights situation in Kashmir, including reports of abuses by security forces and militants. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary discussed this issue with his Indian counterpart, Jaswant Singh, during talks in London in November last year. We will continue to monitor the situation closely.

Democratic Development (Third World)

32.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the chairman of the Westminster Foundation for Democracy on the development of democracy in the third world. [154119]

We take a close interest in the democracy building activities of the Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD) and are in contact with the Chairman of the Board of Governors. In this financial year £4,325,500 of FCO funds has been channelled towards successful WFD activity in a range of countries, with a particular focus on Africa, the Balkans and the Former Soviet Union.

Middle East

33.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on progress in the middle east peace initiative. [154120]

Following a successful EU Troika visit to the region, Heads of State and Government discussed the situation in the middle east at the European Council in Stockholm on 23 March. The Council reaffirmed the Union's determination to contribute to peace, stability and future prosperity in the middle east. To that end it requested the EU High Representative Javier Solana to explore how the EU can play an enhanced role in promoting the resumption of the peace process. While there has been an overall reduction in the level of violence in the past two weeks, we remain deeply concerned at the continuing tensions and instability. We urge both parties to take immediate parallel steps to address the current crisis.

Libya

35.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on relations with Libya. [154122]

The United Kingdom has full diplomatic relations with Libya. We are constructively engaged with Libya and continue to encourage them to play a positive role in the international community.

Vojvodina

36.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the situation in Vojvodina. [154123]

We welcome the recent, constructive dialogue between Belgrade and Vojvodina. This is a further encouraging sign that a mutually agreed and lasting constitutional settlement can be reached on a redefinition of autonomous powers for the province.

St Helena

37.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects British citizenship to be restored to residents of the island of St. Helena. [154124]

We are fully committed to introducing legislation to give British citizenship to the people of St. Helena and the other Overseas Territories. We will make parliamentary time available to introduce the legislation for this measure as soon as practicable. Preparatory work to agree the principles of such a bill along with drafting Instructions for the Parliamentary Counsel has been completed.

Charter Of Fundamental Rights

38.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the impact of the charter of fundamental rights on EU law; and if IN will make a statement. [154125]

The Charter of Rights is a political declaration. It is not legally binding. It creates no new powers or tasks for the EU and does not modify powers or tasks defined by the Treaties. It sets out fundamental rights, freedoms and principles that the EU should respect when going about its daily business, and it promotes the visibility of those rights.

Democratic Republic Of Congo

39.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what measures his Department is taking to assist the peace process in the Democratic Republic of Congo. [154126]

My right hon. Friends the Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for International Development had separate meetings with President Kabila on 13 March. We pressed him to implement the Lusaka Agreement, assured him of our continued political and practical support and stressed that those who fail to honour their commitments would be held to account by the international community.

European Charter For Regional And Minority Languages

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on progress towards the ratification of the European Charter for Regional and Minority Languages. [155984]

I am pleased to announce that the UK has today ratified the Charter. In doing so, we have undertaken a binding commitment to protect and preserve Welsh, Scottish-Gaelic, Irish, Scots and Ulster-Scots as an essential part of our cultural heritage. We are considering the case for Cornish to be included. Our Instrument of Ratification lists the specific provisions, in Part III of the Charter, which we have undertaken to promote the use in public life of Welsh, Scottish-Gaelic and Irish. Copies of the Charter and the Instrument of Ratification have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

Volume 365: debated on Tuesday 27 March 2001

Written Answers To Questions

Treasury

National Insurance

Working Families Tax Credit

Budget Measures (London)

Inland Revenue

Customs Staff

Guaranteed Annuities

Vehicle Repairs (Vat)

Local Government Finance

Parliamentary Questions

Office For National Statistics

Unemployment Statistics (London)

Earnings Statistics

Average Pay (Northern Region)

Minimum Wage (London)

Census

Drug-Related Deaths (Peterborough)

Civil Servant Costs

Ministerial Meetings

International Development

Ministerial Meetings

Sudan

Indonesia

Administration Of Justice

St Helena

Colombia

Child Soldiers

Culture, Media And Sport

Royal Parks Constabulary

Defence

Hms Excellent

Defence Training Review

Depleted Uranium

Chemical Weapons

Foot And Mouth

Compensation Claims

Royal Navy Fire Fighting School

Rosyth

Smart Procurement

Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe

Education And Employment

Planning Agreements

Teacher Vacancies

Coalmining Areas (Departmental Support)

Teacher Numbers

Education Funding And Teacher Recruitment (West Sussex)

Wandsworth Lea

Fresh Start Schools (Staff Vacancies)

Foot And Mouth

Jewish Schools

Solicitor-General

Departmental Policies (Chichester)

Health

Pithing

Tablet Blister Packs

Dental Services

Foot And Mouth

Food Labelling

Asylum Seekers

Primary Care Trusts (Dorset)

Complementary And Alternative Medicine

Environment, Transport And The Regions

London Underground

Ports

Hazardous Road Freight (Morecambe And Lunesdale)

Concessionary Travel

Council Dwellings (Sales)

Railtrack

Departmental Policies (Chichester)

Climate Change Levy

Motor Vehicle Body Repair Shops

Foot And Mouth

Incinerators

Disabled People (Parking)

Waste Strategy

Hazards(Employee Training)

National Air Traffic Services