To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list, by country, for each of the past 10 years, the amount of state aid permitted by the European Commission to each EU country by sector. [158326]

The latest available information on expenditure of compatible state aid by member state can be found in the 5^th, 6^th, 7^th and 8^th Surveys on State Aid in the European Union on the European Commission website at www.europa.eu.int. Copies of all these surveys will be placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent discussions he has had with EU colleagues on the Social Chapter. [158611]

Since fulfilling our manifesto commitment to end the UK opt out to the Social Chapter, the Government have participated at EU Council and other meetings at which measures brought forward under the Social Chapter have been discussed. I last met with EU colleagues on 20 December at the Employment and Social Policy Council.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what his Department's policy is regarding the purchase of (a) hydrocarbons and (b) other environmentally benign refrigerants to meet the refrigeration and other relevant energy needs of buildings and premises owned and leased by his Department; and if he will make a statement. [160014]

The Department's policy is to reduce the emissions of greenhouse gasses, and other substances detrimental to the environment, from its buildings.When purchasing new or replacement equipment, the Department will therefore consider equipment using less environmentally damaging refrigerants where practicable.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which London headquarters building or premises owned or leased by his Department use (a) chlorofluorocarbons and (b) hydrochlorofluorocarbons for refrigeration and other relevant energy needs. [160018]

The Department has one HQ building, Kingsgate House, where a small proportion of the refrigeration and other energy needs are met using chlorofluorocarbons.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry to what extent his Department's headquarters buildings use hydrofluorocarbons for (a) refrigeration and (b) air conditioning; what amounts of hydrofluorocarbons have been purchased in each year since 1995; and what plans he has to phase out the (i) purchase and (ii) use of hydrofluorocarbons. [160009]

One building (1 Victoria street) uses a small amount of hydrofluorocarbons for its refrigeration.Between the period April 2000 and March 2001, 1 kg of hydrofluorocarbons was purchased. Data for previous years could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.When replacing plant which currently uses hydrofluorocarbons, the Department will consider plant using alternative refrigerants where practicable.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the current requirements for maternity pay and leave. [160153]

The responses to the consultation on the Green Paper "Work and Parents—Competitiveness and Choice" have confirmed that the existing rules for maternity pay and leave are unnecessarily complex for employers and employees. This complexity is particularly a problem for small businesses.Through the consultation process employers, their representatives, working parents and those representing unions and family groups have told us that they want to see simplification of these rules.I have responded to these strong calls for simplification by today publishing a framework for a simplified maternity pay and leave system, including an assessment of the likely benefits and costs of any changes.This new framework will deliver simplicity, certainty and improved planning time for both employers and employees. It sets out changes to the notification procedures and periods and unified and simpler qualification requirements.An integral part of the new system is the Government's decision, following the consultation, to allow mothers the choice to take up to a year's maternity leave in total. This was strongly supported by parents and their representatives. This will be another important step in the process of helping parents balance their work and home lives. It builds on the steps announced by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer in the Budget Statement and by me, in my answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Crawley (Laura Moffatt), on 25 April 2001,

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the terms of the settlement reached between the European Community and the United States of America concerning the importation of bananas from associated states of the Community and non-associated producers of bananas, together with the consequential effects on traditional imports from current and former members of the Commonwealth, and the consequent financial and social effects. [158816]

I have been asked to reply.We have placed in the Library of the House copies of the "Understanding on Bananas", which sets out the basis of the agreement between the European Commission and the United States of America.The new regime will enable Commonwealth banana-exporting countries in the Caribbean which have traditionally supplied the UK market to continue to do so. The precise quantities of bananas imported will depend on commercial decisions by banana traders. However, to the extent that contractions in the Caribbean banana sector which have been seen in recent years continue, it will remain essential that, in these countries, Community funds are used for viable development activities such as restructuring, diversification and safety net schemes to help cope with ongoing changes in the banana sector.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many special advisers worked in her Department from 1997 to date. [160026]

Since 1997 I have had two special advisers at any one time and five different individuals have occupied the posts.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what successful steps the Government have taken since May 1997 to achieve multilateral nuclear disarmament. [158786]

Since May 1997 the UK has:

ratified the Treaty of Raratonga (South Pacific Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone) in September 1997:

ratified the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) in April 1998, worked actively for its entry into force and for its verification arrangements to be established as soon as possible;

agreed strengthened international safeguards arrangements for the UK with the International Atomic Energy Authority (IAEA) in September 1998, following international agreement of model strengthened international safeguards arrangements for non-nuclear weapon states in May 1998;

helped ensure a positive outcome to the 2000 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference, and played a key role in the success of the negotiation of a Final Document which both reviewed progress over the last five years and set out an agenda for the next five. Of particular significance in the Document was the "unequivocal undertaking by the

nuclear-weapon States to accomplish the total elimination of their nuclear arsenals leading to nuclear disarmament to which all states are committed under Article VI of the NPT".

engaged in consultations among the Nuclear Weapons States (NWS) leading to the joint NWS announcement in May 2000 that "none of our nuclear weapons are targeted at any State";

agreed to contribute £70 million over the next 10 years as part of the G8 programmed to help dispose of Russian weapons-grade plutonium announced at the Okinawa summit in July 2000.

ratified the Treaty of Pelindaba (African Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone) in February 2001.

The UK has also worked hard internationally to create the broader security environment necessary to enable further nuclear reductions without jeopardising our own security.The practical measures on nuclear disarmament in the Strategic Defence Review (SDR) in July 1998 enabled the Government to show the commitment of the UK as a Nuclear Weapon State to make its own contribution to the goal of the global elimination of nuclear weapons. They included the reduction in the size of our deterrent and greater transparency about our nuclear and fissile material stockpiles. These SDR measures will help lay the ground for UK participation in multilateral negotiations when the conditions are right.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what inquiries (a) his officials and (b) the Chemical Defence Establishment, Porton Down have conducted since 1 January 1997 into allegations that service personnel were duped into taking part in experiments at Porton Down when they believed that they were taking part in research to find a cure for the common cold; and when each inquiry was conducted. [160061]

Some research has been carried out in response to inquiries from former volunteers, parliamentarians and the Wiltshire police.Many of the details of the trials that were undertaken at Porton Down are in the public domain, and papers in the Public Record Office. The subject has been covered in numerous publications. The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has done selective research of the public record and the Porton archive in support of the Wiltshire police inquiry and the Volunteers helpline. However, there has never been an opportunity for MOD to conduct a full and thorough search of all the sources, in particular the Porton archives, which contain unpublished technical papers, the original experimental books, and other contemporary material.Against this background, we will conduct a comprehensive survey of the Volunteer programme. It will:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the four UK defence contractors which are participating in the Technology Readiness and Risk Assessment Programme. [159804]

The four participating contractors are Matra BAe Dynamics (UK), Alenia Maroni Systems, BAE Systems and Hunting Engineering Ltd.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what legal advice he sought regarding the guidance on the compatibility of homosexuality and lesbianism with service in HM Armed Forces issued to potential recruits to the armed forces; when the leaflet containing this guidance was last reprinted; how many copies were printed; and if he will make a statement. [159542]

There is no specific leaflet offering guidance to potential recruits on the compatibility of homosexuality and lesbianism with service in the armed forces. Such guidance pre-dated the change of policy announced in January 2000. The present version of the armed forces recruiting application form refers instead to standards of personal behaviour expected from all Service personnel. Such behaviour is governed by the Armed Forces Code of Social Conduct.In introducing both the new policy towards sexual orientation and the Armed Forces Code of Social Conduct, the Department sought legal advice to ensure that the policies were within the law and respected the rights of the individual.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list those civilians, including retired Service personnel, who may have access to RAF Board of Inquiry reports held at the Inspectorate of Flight Safety. [159281]

[holding answer 30 April 2001]: Civilians including retired Service personnel, and Service personnel re-employed as civilians by the Ministry of Defence, whose continuing responsibilities require it, may have access to RAF Board of Inquiry repots held at the RAF Inspectorate of Flight Safety.

To ask the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed, answering on behalf of the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, how the Electoral Commission proposes to divide the sum of £1.5 million allowed in the Electoral Commission (Limit on Public Awareness Expenditure) Order 2001 between promoting public awareness of (a) electoral systems, (b) systems of Government and (c) the institutions of the European Union; and if he will make a statement. [159974]

The provisions of section 13 of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 do not come into force until 1 July 2001. I understand from the Chairman of the Electoral Commission that, to date, no decisions have been taken as to the division of the £1.5 million available for 2001–02 between the three purposes specified in section 13 of the Act. Information about the Commission's spending plans under section 13 will be published later in the year, and copies placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales on how many occasions between 5 June 2000 and 31 March 2001 (a) departmental and (b) non-departmental special advisers have travelled abroad in an official capacity. [158553]

Wales Office special advisers have travelled abroad in an official capacity on three occasions between 5 June 2000 and 31 March 2001. I have no non-departmental special advisers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what the total cost was of employing special advisers in his Department and its predecessor from 1997 to date. [160051]

Special advisers' salaries are negotiated individually within the three-band range announced to the House by my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office on 16 November 1998, Official Report, column 354W. Individual salaries and pension contributions are confidential to protect the privacy of the individuals concerned, so it is not possible to give the combined costs of employing special advisers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many special advisers worked in his Department and its predecessor from 1997 to date. [160034]

Since 3 May 1997, no more than two special advisers have been in post at any one time in the former Welsh Office and the Wales Office.

To ask the Solicitor-General, pursuant to his answer to the right hon. Member for Maidstone and The Weald of 25 April 2001, Official Report, column 273W, on Lord Birt, what the emerging findings of Lord Birt's work were; if he will place in the Library a copy of the briefing setting them out; and if he will make a statement. [159977]

I refer to the answer given by the Home Secretary, 27 March 2001, Official Report, column 594W.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how much money has been paid by his Department to (a) accountancy and (b) legal firms in each year since 1 May 1997 in relation to PFI projects. [153263]

[holding answer 12 March 2001]: This information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Medical school intake targets in England
Institution	1998–99	1999–2000	2000–01	2001–02	2002–03	2003–04
University of Birmingham	213	232	332	332	332	372
Universities of Brighton and Sussex	0	0	0	0	0	128
University of Bristol	155	169	169	169	230	249
University of Cambridge	254	276	276	296	296	296
University of East Anglia	0	0	0	0	110	100
Universities of Hull and York	0	0	0	0	0	130
Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine	286	311	326	326	326	326
King's College London	343	360	360	370	380	390
University of Leeds	200	218	218	258	258	258
Leicester Warwick Medical School	175	190	239	303	303	403
University of Liverpool	200	218	218	268	268	308
University College London	330	330	330	330	330	330
Universities of Manchester and Keele	240	261	311	341	341	341
Universities of Newcastle and Durham	185	201	220	290	340	340
University of Nottingham	178	194	202	218	234	324
University of Oxford	104	113	113	160	170	180
Peninsula Medical School	0	0	0	0	127	167
Queen Mary and Westfield College	222	241	241	253	253	305
University of Sheffield	200	218	223	238	238	238
University of Southampton	157	171	200	200	200	200
St. George's Hospital Medical School	172	187	222	222	257	257
Total England	3,614	3,890	1,200	4,574	4,993	5,652

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) how many people with severe learning difficulties are in work (a) in total and (b) as a percentage of the total number of people with severe learning difficulties; [158102]

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what percentage of school pupils in Shropshire achieved five or more GCSEs in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement. [157600]

The percentage of pupils in Shropshire who gained five or more GCSEs (or GNVQ equivalents) at grades A*-C are shown in the table:

	Percentage
1996–97	—
1997–98	53.3
1998–99	55.4
1999–2000	56.4

The figures show that there has been an increase of 3.1 percentage points since 1997–98 and that Shropshire has already achieved the national target of 50 per cent. by 2002.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many student places there were in the medical schools of each university in (a) 1998–99, (b) 1999–2000 and (c) 2000–01; and what the projected numbers are for (i) 2001–02, (ii) 2002–03 and (iii) 2003–04. [157903]

[holding answer 26 April 2001]: The number of medical places in each university, for each year from 1998 to 2001 and the predicted numbers for 2001 to 2004 are as follows:(2) how many people with learning disabilities are unemployed. [158091]

The latest labour force statistics indicate that there are 47,000 people in Great Britain with severe or specific learning difficulties in employment; this accounts for 29 per cent. of the total number of people with severe or specific learning difficulties. The same source indicates that in Great Britain 12,000 people with severe or specific learning difficlties are unemployed; this represents 7 per cent. of the total number. The remaining 64 per cent. of those with severe or specific learning difficulties are classed as economically inactive.The White Paper "Valuing People—A New Strategy for Learning Disability for the 21st Century" which was published in March 2001 sets out the Government's commitment to improving the life changes of people with learning difficulties. It states our aim to increase the number of people with learning disabilities in employment and to work towards their achieving parity with other disabled people in the work force.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on the criteria used for the award of Beacon College status. [159000]

[holding answer 26 April 2001]: Taking into account the advice of Inspectorates, Ministers have awarded beacon status to colleges that are considered to

UCAS home accepted applicants (aged 18 or 19): 2000 year of entry cycle by LEA of domicile (England) and social class
Sum of accepted applicant
			Social class
LEA	Professional	Intermediate	Skilled non-manual	Skilled manual	Partly skilled	Unskilled	Total
Barking	23	76	39	70	30	9	247
Barnsley1	67	204	60	120	68	9	528
Bedfordshire1	290	754	150	202	122	24	1,542
Birmingham	415	1,174	323	686	336	177	3,111
Blackburn with Darwen1	52	186	70	118	59	26	511
Bolton1	111	422	95	173	93	25	919
Bradford	193	683	176	349	124	115	1,640
Brent	186	491	240	324	118	42	1,401
Brighton and Hove1	108	279	45	97	25	9	563
Bristol	215	435	118	131	83	9	991
Bromley1	244	613	192	160	56	9	1,274
Calderdale1	80	310	56	98	40	17	601
Camden	135	250	60	82	39	8	574
Cheshire1	653	1,567	280	382	232	22	3,136
City of Derby1	108	258	67	138	79	23	673
Cornwall1	250	821	183	304	152	33	1,743
Coventry1	137	380	84	219	148	31	999
Croydon1	247	655	248	203	81	12	1,446
Cumbria1	255	750	134	284	147	21	1,591
Derbyshire1	374	1,134	235	379	204	42	2,368
Dudley1	104	423	113	199	82	32	953
Durham1	215	652	163	228	140	40	1,438
Ealing	209	547	218	299	162	49	1,484
East Riding1	182	551	127	196	85	13	1,154
East Sussex1	312	863	170	246	89	17	1,697
Essex1	750	2,240	492	646	255	40	4,423
Gateshead	56	220	81	138	56	4	555
Gloucestershire1	445	1,081	307	287	184	25	2,359
Greenwich	77	232	74	96	35	10	524
Hackney	43	139	61	90	62	24	419
Halton	27	132	37	86	48	7	337
Hammersmith and Fulham	61	208	54	67	32	4	425
Hampshire1	970	2,289	557	614	264	36	4,730
Haringey	138	298	83	124	64	23	730
Hartlepool	26	91	28	72	29	10	256
Herefordshire1	113	380	72	88	42	12	707
Islington	88	174	59	78	38	10	447
Kensington and Chelsea	102	260	45	51	23	8	489
Kent1	845	2,389	634	653	311	71	4,903
Kingston	152	291	104	80	38	2	667

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list those areas which are currently participating in the Excellence Challenge; and what percentage of undergraduate entrants from those areas are from social categories III, IV and V. [159001]

[holding answer 26 April 2001]: The percentage of young accepted undergraduate applicants from social categories III, IV and V from each of the areas participating in the Excellence Challenge is shown in the following table.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the initial teacher training providers that have not, in their admissions policy, accepted the equivalence to GCSE English and Maths of Curriculum 2000 Level Two Key Skills Qualifications in Communications and Application of Numbers. [159287]

[holding answer 30 April 2001]: This information is not held centrally. We do not require that initial teacher training (ITT) providers publish a list of those qualifications they accept as equivalent to GCSE English and maths. It is the responsibility of ITT providers to decide whether an applicant holds qualifications that meet the Secretary of State's entry requirements for courses of ITT, including those relating to the key skills of communication and the application of number. Qualifications must, however, be of the equivalent standard to a GCSE grade C, or above.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how the 20,000 new teaching posts to be created by 2002 will be allocated between (a) key stage 1, (b) key stage 2 and (c) key stages 3 and 4; and if he will make a statement. [159439]

I assume that the hon. Gentleman is referring to our target to increase by 20,000 the number of teaching assistant posts by 2002. Between 1999–2002 we are making available to local education authorities in England around £350 million to meet the cost of recruiting and training the equivalent of 20,000 new teaching assistants. We have met our target a year earlier than expected—there has been a rise of over 25,000 full-time equivalent teaching assistants between 1999 and 2001. The appointment, training and deployment of teaching assistants are matters for schools and local education authorities to consider in the light of local needs and circumstances.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Truro and St. Austell (Mr. Taylor) of 9 February 2001, Official Report, column 764W, on student loans, if he will estimate the nominal rate of interest required to hold the net present value of student loans at £590 million, if the threshold of student loans repayment were increased to £13,000. [159543]

The net present value of the estimated £982 million income contingent loans issued in 1999–2000 to students domiciled in England and Wales is estimated to be £590 million. The nominal rate of interest required to maintain this net present value with a threshold for repayment of £13,000 per year is estimated to be around 3½ per cent. It should be noted that such calculations should be treated with caution, due to their dependence on the estimates of the resource cost of income-contingent loans. Any interest rate calculated will consequently be subject to some fluctuation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make it his policy to extend the funding available for vocational programmes to allow young people to develop craft and technical skills. [159673]

From September 2002, there will be a significant expansion of vocational opportunities for young people at Key Stage 4, with additional developmental funding of £18 million in 2002–03 rising to £20 million in 2003–04 being made available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will take steps to require vice-chancellors to be subject to election by the university community. [159797]

My right hon. Friend has no such plans. The appointment of a vice-chancellor is a matter for the governing body of an individual university to determine.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many students in each English local education authority area are in receipt of educational maintenance allowances. [159812]

In England, as of 16 March 2001, there were almost 70,000 students receiving EMAs in the 56 pilot local education authorities (LEAs). This number is constantly increasing as applications continue to be received by LEAs. Following is the information: