asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they intend to continue the Serious Fraud Office in its present form or whether they intend to replace it.

The Government intend that the Serious Fraud Office shall continue to discharge its present role.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will set up an inquiry into the allegations of,

The Director of the Serious Fraud Office has carefully examined the many allegations by Mr. Nadir over the years even though he is a fugitive from justice. There is no basis for a further inquiry. Those of his complaints which have a bearing on his guilt or innocence should be examined by the Crown Court once he has returned to the jurisdiction.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether any instruction has been issued by the Department of Health to fundholding GPs that they are no longer to honour prescriptions instigated by consultants in non-NHS hospitals.

No such instruction has been issued. However, general practitioners are not obliged to continue prescribing initiated by a hospital consultant, whether National Health Service or private. It is for the GP's clinical judgment as to whether continued prescribing is appropriate for the patient, and, if so, whether he or she is prepared to take on the clinical responsibility.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the Chief Medical Officer's Update 14: "National Focus for work on response to chemical incidents and surveillance of health effects of environmental chemicals" includes incidents where agricultural pesticides and veterinary medicines affect individuals or groups of people or where illegal practices such as burning of plastic materials on bonfires affect such people; whether the primary reporting point is now to be the National Focus, and whether affected individuals as well as GPs should report such incidents to National Focus.

Reporting arrangements for both individuals or general practitioners on the suspected effects of exposure to agricultural pesticides and veterinary medicines or of exposure to combustion products of bonfires remain unchanged. The National Focus has been established to support the Department of Health and the National Health Service in responding effectively to accidents causing chemical contamination, and to provide improved co-ordination of local surveillance of the possible health effects of environmental chemicals.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When they expect to receive the report commissioned by the Department of Health on the workings of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990 with regard to the issues raised by the case of Mrs. Diane Blood.

We expect a consultation document to be issued during the summer. Following consideration of the responses received, we anticipate that the final report will be available for consideration early next year.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many recorded cases of the new strain of CJD there have been in the last two years in the United Kingdom, on a monthly basis.

Figures on the incidence of Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease, including the new variant, have been published monthly since 2 December 1996 in a Department of Health press release. Copies are available in the Library.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they can provide figures for the number of annual recorded cases of the new strain of CJD in other member countries of the European Union.

There has been only one case of new variant Cruetzfeldt-Jakob Disease confirmed outside the United Kingdom, in France in 1996.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will make representations with a view to ensuring that the parcel of old deeds and documents relating to Liverpool currently stored in a cellar below the public library in Everton will be properly filed and stored in a more suitable place.

The question concerns a matter which has been assigned to the Public Record Office under the terms of its framework document. I have therefore asked the Chief Executive to respond.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they agree with the intention, expressed by the previous Government, that "there will be no return to the 'casual system of working' in the docks industry" (H.C. Deb. 17 April 1989 col. 45) and, if so, whether they will use their 12.4 million shares in Mersey Docks and Harbour Company to convene a meeting of all concerned to attempt a settlement of the present dispute.

The nature of dock work requires the flexible use of labour. However, the Government consider that it is neither necessary nor acceptable in today's conditions for employers to resort to the extreme forms of casual employment which once existed in the industry. It is not our intention to use the Government shareholding in the Mersey Docks and Harbour Company to become involved in the operation of the company. The two sides to the dispute have been involved in discussions to resolve the matter in recent months and the independent Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service, which has been in touch with both sides, remains ready to provide assistance if both agree.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What are their plans for a new export initiative.

This Government are committed to helping British companies to trade successfully overseas and to the launch of a new export initiative.As promised in our business manifesto, we need to ensure that those export promotion programmes currently in place are targeted in the most effective way at the needs of British industry. As a first stage, the DTI and the FCO will set up a new export forum—a working group, with representation from Whitehall and from business, to carry out a full assessment of how well these programmes work. This group will look at the strengths and weaknesses of official support for trade fairs, trade missions, identifying sales leads, export marketing research, UK firms bidding for overseas projects and other export promotion activities. It will examine the current arrangements for interdepartmental consultation, the current arrangements for consultation with business, the interface between the overseas trade services and business links, the present system for establishing market and sectoral priorities and the marketing and branding of official export promotion services.I will be asking the group to report by the autumn with their recommendations.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they consider the greater regulation of estate agents to be desirable.

The Director-General of Fair Trading is responsible for the enforcement of the Estate Agents Act 1979. He has demonstrated that he has the powers necessary to take vigorous action against estate agents who misbehave, including the ultimate power to prohibit their trading as estate agents. If the noble Lord has evidence which indicates the need for further regulation I would be grateful if he could forward it to my right honourable friend the President of the Board of Trade.

asked Her Majesty's Government:In view of the economic necessity of an operative dockyard in Gibraltar, what assistance they are prepared to give towards its re-opening.

We regret the closure of the dockyard, and have offered to help the Government of Gibraltar find a new operator.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they would be in favour of periodic meetings of Commonwealth trade Ministers, like those held by Commonwealth finance Ministers.

We welcome the fact that Commonwealth Heads of Government will discuss the theme of trade, investment and development at their meeting in Edinburgh in October. This will be preceded by a Commonwealth business forum in London. We hope the Commonwealth will consider a wide range of measures to increase Commonwealth prosperity including the possible role of trade ministers.

Unpaid Parking Fines
Position	Diplomatic Mission	1996	1995
1	Malaysia	71	32
2	Bangladesh	62	19
3	Pakistan	61	22
4	Thailand	50	20
5	Egypt	49	20
6	Ghana	47	66
7	Turkey	45	17
8	Cameroon	44	13
9	India	43	83
10	Qatar	42	20
11	Hungary	40	11
11	Cuba	40	6
13	Philippines	39	31
13	Oman	39	22
15	Morocco	37	6
16	Jordan	36	16
17	Russian Federation	35	15
18	Kenya	34	15
19	Romania	33	27
19	Cyprus	33	16
19	Bahrain	33	5
22	Uganda	30	18
23	Zimbabwe	26	15
23	Portugal	26	4
25	League of Arab States	24	26
25	Azerbaijan	24	13
27	Tunisia	23	7
28	Algeria	21	19
29	Tanzania	20	14
29	Jamaica	20	7
31	Poland	18	12
31	France	18	11
31	Afghanistan	18	8
34	Mexico	16	4
35	Japan	15	9
35	El Salvador	15	1
37	Spain	14	8
37	Brunei	14	7
39	Greece	13	20
39	Peru	13	5
39	Armenia	13	2
42	Albania	12	14
42	Liberia	12	3
44	Mauritius	11	1
44	Belgium	11	0
		1,340	710
International Organisations
1	Commonwealth Secretariat	20	16

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many parking fines were incurred by diplomatic missions in London during 1996.

During 1996 the London diplomatic mission incurred a total of 1,676 unpaid parking fines, which is slightly more than the 1995 figure of 1,586. In February this year this department wrote to all diplomatic missions to give them an opportunity to pay off all outstanding parking tickets, or appeal to have the ticket cancelled. Since then payments totalling £48,640.00 have been received, compared with £11,600.00 in 1996. The table below shows only missions which have 11 or more fines outstanding.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What plans he has to change consular fees.

An Order in Council was made on 20 May which reduces both the cost of a five year multiple entry visa and the cost of a certificate of entitlement and completes the three staged increase in settlement visa fees designed to achieve full cost recovery in this category. The order also abolishes the fee for the confirmation of the right of abode (now obsolete). The order will come into effect on 10 June.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will reopen discussions with the American Government on handing over to the International Criminal Tribunal on the former Yugoslavia recordings made jointly by US and British intelligence agencies of conversations involving President Milosevic and others, which may constitute evidence of complicity in war crimes.

It is long-standing practice not to comment on the detailed activities of the intelligence and security services. We are strongly committed to supporting the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia. Where relevant, we will consult the United States Government on our responses to the tribunal's requests for information. Within the constraints of national security we are as helpful as possible to the tribunal on such matters, and provide a similar level of co-operation as we would to the corresponding British authorities.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Which British embassies or other overseas government posts have or support their own sites on the world-wide web; and, if any, what are the universal resource allocators (URLs) of these sites.

"BRITAIN IN THE USA", maintained by British Information Services, New York on behalf of all Posts in the United States.http://britain./nyc.ny.us/"BRITISH INFORMATION SERVICES AUSTRALIA", maintained by the British High Commission, Canberra.http://bisa.netinfo.net/"GROSSBRITANNIEN ONLINE", maintained by the British Embassy, Bonn.http://www.britbot.de/BRITISH CONSULATE-GENERAL DUSSELDORFhttp://www.british-dgtip.de/

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they consider that no expansion of NATO to the east should take place without the agreement of Russia.

Enlargement of the Alliance is a matter for NATO and those countries which apply to join it. The United Kingdom and other allies are committed to announcing at the NATO Summit meeting in July that one or more countries will be invited to join.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they have received the human rights report of the United Nations Special Rapporteur Nigel Rodley on persons subjected to torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment; what action was taken by the previous Government on the recommendations made by Mr. Rodley in 1995 and 1996; and what actions they will be taking in the light of the present Report and their undertaking in the gracious Speech.

We have indeed received Mr. Rodley's latest report on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. The UK co-sponsored a number of resolutions at the Commission on Human Rights in 1996 and 1997 based on Mr. Rodley's 1995 and 1996 reports, and generally supporting his work. We are committed to ensuring that promotion of human rights is at the centre of the UK's foreign policy.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What proposals they have concerning the pay of medical and dental officers in the Armed Forces.

The Armed Forces Pay Review Body has made recommendations on the pay of medical and dental officers in the Armed Forces. The review body recommends that the daily rate of basic pay should be increased by an average of 3.4 per cent. from 1 April. They have further proposed some significant changes to the pay structures of Service medical and dental officers which will see many forms of additional payments, such as consultant pay, consolidated into basic pay. The Review Body also mentioned that it welcomed the fact that the Ministry of Defence was, in future, proposing to base the pensions of Service medical and dental officers on representative rates of their own salaries rather than that of their combatant counterparts. These changes will serve to give a greater degree of comparability between the pay of defence medical staff and their counterparts in the NHS. The Government have decided to accept the review body's recommendations. Along with earlier recommendations of the Armed Forces Pay Review Body, and the recommendations of the other review bodies, these will be staged, with 2 per cent. of the award being back dated to 1 April, and the remainder being payable from 1 December.

asked Her Majesty's Government:By what measure "Britain has a smaller share of 17 and 18 years olds in full-time education than any major industrial nation" (to quote from the Labour party manifesto); on what data that measure is based and by what means it may be derived therefrom; whether Her Majesty's Government are content for their record to be judged by that measure; and whether that measure also applies to Northern Ireland.

The statement is based on age participation rates for 1992 published by the OECD in 1995 in Education at a Glance, copies of which are in the Library. These rates are derived from the data supplied by my department, and by other countries direct to the OECD. They are the numbers of pupils and students of the relevant age expressed as a percentage of the population of the same age and they cover the whole of the UK. I am content for my department to continue to make this information available to the OECD to allow for a comparison of our performance with other countries.

asked Her Majesty's Government:By what measure "nearly half of 11 year olds in England and Wales fail to reach expected standards in English and Maths" (to quote from the Labour Party manifesto); on what data that measure is based and by what means it may be derived therefrom; whether it is by that measure that progress towards the achievement of the manifesto target that "within a decade every child leaves primary school with a reading age of at least 11 may be judged; and whether that measure and target apply also to Scotland and Northern Ireland.

In the 1996 national curriculum tests, 42 per cent. and 46 per cent. of 11 year olds did not meet Level 4—the expected level for their age—in English and mathematics respectively. The target announced by my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Education and Employment was that by the year 2002, 75 per cent. of 11 year olds in these tests in mathematics and 80 per cent. in English will reach Level 4. Separate task forces in literacy and numeracy have been established to boost standards in primary schools. The targets apply to England and Wales.

asked Her Majesty's Government:By what measure "nearly two thirds of the British workforce lack vocational qualifications" (to quote the Labour Party manifesto); on what data that measure is based and by what means it may be derived therefrom; whether it is by that measure that progress towards the achievement of the manifesto pledge that "We will promote adult learning both at work and in the critical sector of further education" may be judged; and whether that measure and pledge apply also to Northern Ireland.

The skills audit, published in 1996, showed that in 1994 24 per cent. of the workforce had vocational qualifications at Level 2 and above, with a further 6 per cent. having served a trade apprenticeship. We hope and expect that measures to promote lifelong learning will increase the proportion of those with qualifications in all parts of the United Kingdom.

asked Her Majesty's Government:By what measure the achievement of the objective "all parents should be offered real choice through good quality schools, each with its own strengths and individual ethos" (to quote from the Labour Party manifesto) may be assessed; on what data that measure will be based; and by what means it may be derived therefrom; andHow they hope to procure the achievement of the objective "all parents should be offered real choice through good quality schools, each with its own strengths and individual ethos" (to quote from the Labour Party manifesto) in rural areas.

We will set out our plans for raising standards in all schools in a White Paper to be published before the end of summer term.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they have, in the last five years, undertaken any complete comparisons of the GCSE results obtained by individual students with the A-level results which those students subsequently achieved; and if so, whether the data on which those comparisons were based will be made available (subject to suitable safeguards) to independent researchers who so request.

Several documents have been published in recent years which undertake comparisons of the GCSE results obtained by individual students with the GCE A/AS results they subsequently achieve. A list of publications is given below:

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is their estimate of the proportion of children in comprehensive schools who are subject to "setting", and on what data that estimate is based.

The information requested is not collected centrally by the Department for Education and Employment. However, the following information has been provided by Ofsted. Between September 1995 and April 1996 Ofsted inspectors inspected 88,000 lessons in comprehensive schools under Section 9 of the Education (Schools) Act 1992. Forty-six per cent. of these had either only upper ability, middle ability or lower ability pupils and 54 per cent. were mixed ability lessons.

asked Her Majesty's Government:By what measure the achievement of the objective "Our task is to raise the standards of every school" (to quote from the Labour Party manifesto) may be assessed; on what data that measure will be based; and by what means it may be derived therefrom.

The Government have set very clear targets for raising standards of literacy and numeracy for every child by the age of 11. The targets are measurable against achievement in national curriculum assessments. Each school will set its own targets for performance at each key stage. The Government also intend to publish a White Paper in the near future which will have as its main objective the raising of standards in every school.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they intend that, following any devolution of powers to a Scottish assembly, responsibility for forestry in England should be transferred from the Scottish Office to another Ministry; and if so, why they do not make such a transfer now.

The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has responsibility for forestry in England, the Secretary of State for Scotland has responsibility for forestry in Scotland, and the Secretary of State for Wales has responsibility for forestry in Wales. For matters affecting forestry in Great Britain as a whole, all three Ministers have equal responsibility, but the Secretary of State for Scotland takes the lead.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will supply a breakdown of how the £20 million spent annually on the monitoring of wildlife in Scotland is allocated, giving particular detail to expenditure in rural areas; and what monitoring is planned for the future.

It is difficult to identify expenditure specifically on wildlife monitoring. The £20 million figure was an estimate of the annual expenditure in Scotland on all environmental monitoring by Her Majesty's Government and their main agencies. I shall write to the noble Lord to clarify the position, and on the question of future plans, as soon as possible.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will publish the key performance targets set for Historic Scotland for 1997–98.

My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Scotland has set Historic Scotland the following key performance targets for 1997–98:

	Target
Protecting Scotland's Built Heritage
No. of monuments scheduled	380
No. of listed building resurvey units	178
No. of weeks in which 80 per cent. of scheduled monument consent cases resolved	12
Percentage of listed building consent cases resolved within 28 days	97 per cent.
No. of historic building repair projects newly assisted by grant	145
Total value of grant-assisted repairs in progress	£34m
Programme of conservation of monuments in care [*]	meet programme
Promoting and Presenting the Built Heritage
HS market share compared to major paid heritage attractions in Scotland [*]	47 per cent.
Percentage of satisfied visitors (based on surveys)	95 per cent.
Average spend per visitor	£1.12
Agency management
Percentage efficiency gains/savings on all non-grant expenditure	1.5 per cent.
Net Exchequer funding of running costs [*]	£ 12.0m
[*] for details see Historic Scotland Corporate Plan to be published in July.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When the sterling area ceased to be viable and why.

The sterling area ceased to be viable in 1979, when exchange controls were abolished.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they have any plans to publish the Eurostat Report on poverty in Britain referred to in the

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the chief executive of the Office for National Statistics who has been asked to reply.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What are the current rates of unemployment in (a) the United Kingdom; (b) the United States of America; and (c) Japan.

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the chief executive of the Office for National Statistics who has been asked to reply.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What support they will be giving to Volunteers Week.

Volunteers Week, which my honourable friend the Minister of State was pleased to help launch this morning and which will run until 7 June, is a great opportunity to celebrate the enormous commitment made by volunteers to the life of our communities, and to encourage the involvement of others. The National Centre for Volunteering co-ordinates this annual event and receives financial support from the Home Office to do so.My honourable friend, the Minister of State is delighted to be able to participate in the week by taking up the challenge issued by the Women's Royal Voluntary Service (WRVS) to honourable Members and noble Lords to give up an hour of their time to volunteer on a WRVS project. I hope that all noble Lords will join my honourable friend in participating in Volunteers Week to acknowledge the achievements of volunteers, who give freely of their time and talents throughout the year and whose involvement makes such a difference to so many people.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether records will continue to be maintained of compensation or

Records will be maintained of payments made in relation to the surrender of prohibited weapons, expanding ammunition and ancillary equipment under any scheme operated under the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1997 or as a result of new legislation that may extend the ban on handguns to small-calibre pistols. Such records will differentiate between payments made to dealers and those made to individuals and will include the following categories:

(i) large calibre pistols;

(ii) expanding ammunition;

(iii) small calibre pistols; and

(iv) ancillary equipment.

asked Her Majesty's Government:In relation to the Charities Commission inquiry into the Scarman Trust (formerly the Charter 88 Trust), how many people were assigned to the inquiry, over what period of time, and what was the total cost of the inquiry.

The Commission's inquiry lasted seven months and was conducted chiefly by one case officer, as part of other duties, with advice from lawyers and other officers as appropriate. The Commission does not keep records of the cost of individual cases.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will consider taking steps to update British electoral law along the lines suggested in

Further research would be required into the detailed arrangements necessary to support a system of "rolling registration" as proposed in The Economist article of 29 March before a sensible assessment could be made of the costs and any benefits which would follow from a change such as the article proposes. We have no immediate plans to amend the registration procedure but will keep the matter under review.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is the current status in the United Kingdom and nationality of Robert Oliver Hill (HMP Brixton—RW 0595) and his wife, Mrs. Lynne Hill.

It is not our practice to comment on immigration or nationality status without the consent of those concerned.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they are satisfied with the health of Robert Oliver Hill (HMP Brixton—RW 0595).

Mr. Hill is receiving treatment appropriate to his needs and medical staff at Brixton are satisfied with the level of this case.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they intend to abandon the plans of the previous government to establish five secure training centres for 12 to 14 year old persistent offenders.

No decisions have been taken in respect of the secure training centre programme. A contract for a secure training centre at Cookham Wood was signed on 3 March 1997. We are currently considering how that secure training centre should be used.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What are their plans for the introduction of proportional representation for the 1999 European Parliamentary elections.

The Government are committed to the introduction of a proportional voting system for elections to the European Parliament but the timetable for making such a change has yet to be determined.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the amount of radioactive nuclear waste in this country has increased in recent years and if so by how much in each year and whether they have plans to bring about an immediate and continuing decrease.

The latest figures available show that total stocks of radioactive waste within the UK rose from 59,000 to 71,000 cubic metres between 1991 and 1994. This increase arose primarily as a result of the day to day operation of the nuclear industry. Every effort is made to ensure that radioactive waste is not unnecessarily created.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether and why they welcome or deplore the successful if unintended reintroduction of wild boar to large areas of Kent and East Sussex.

The indiscriminate release of animals not ordinarily resident in Great Britain in a wild state and of uncertain genetic origin is not welcome. Section 14 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 prohibits such releases. The impacts of an unmanaged wild boar population are uncertain but may result in damage to features of nature conservation interest. While there have been sporadic sightings of wild boar in the wild, many of these have not been substantiated, and there is no confirmed evidence of established breeding populations in the wild.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is the nature of the work at present in progress in the centre of Parliament Square, especially the work taking place next to the statue of Sir Winston Churchill, and when they expect this work to be finished.

The site next to the statue of Sir Winston Churchill involves a shaft used for work in connection with construction of the Jubilee Line extension. This section of work is now complete and the area is being reinstated. I understand that, nearby, Thames Water have also been using the centre of the square to gain access to a sewer for repairs. I believe that this work too is now finished and the area is being reinstated.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When they will make regulations formally to transpose into UK legislation the EC Directives concerning the quality required of shellfish waters and the quality of fresh waters needing protection or improvement in order to support fish life.

Regulations concerned with the quality of waters for fresh water fish and for shellfish in England and Wales were laid in Parliament today. Together with directions issued to the Environment Agency, they will replace the non-legislative mechanisms by which the requirements of the Freshwater Fish Directive and the Shellfish Waters Directive have been implemented since the early 1980s. The Directives prescribe certain mandatory minimum water quality requirements.The new instruments follow consultations with interested parties in October 1995 and January 1997. The existing arrangements for protection of waters will continue in place. However, the Regulations are the first step in a process to initiate a review of implementation policy. The department will consult further on aspects of implementation including the designation of relevant waters.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will publish in the

(a) Total numbers broken down by gender, excluding Gurkhas and part-time members of the Royal Irish Regiment, part-time personnel at 1 April 1997 are:

Male	Female	Total
104,640	6,932	111,572

(b) Trained Manpower broken down by gender, excluding Gurkhas and part time members of the Royal Irish Regiment.

Male	Female	Total
94,864	5,655	100,519

(c) Personnel serving in Northern Ireland broken down by gender, excluding Gurkhas and part time members of the Royal Irish Regiment.

Male	Female	Total
12,610	754	13,364

asked Her Majesty's Government:When they intend to publish the 1997 White Paper on Defence.

As the strategic defence review will be conducted during 1997, it would not be appropriate for the Ministry of Defence to publish this year a forward-looking statement of policy in the form of the Statement on the Defence Estimates (SDE). Factual material on the activities of the department and the Armed Forces in the last year, which is usually contained in the SDE, will appear in an expanded MoD performance report which the department plans to publish in the Autumn.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Under which parts of what legislation they are able to inspect quarantine kennels.

All quarantine kennels must be licensed under Article 9 of the Rabies (Importation of Dogs, Cats and Other Mammals) Order 1974. Such a licence is granted only where the Minister is satisfied that the conditions of the licence are capable of being met, and that the provisions of the order are capable of being complied with. The

	1995				1996				1997
	Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4	Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4	1Q1
Eastern Region	378	291	301	288	268	170	182	132	109
Midlands and West	992	749	743	734	694	396	373	295	169
Northern Region	566	429	415	420	402	235	215	228	122
South East	509	335	372	340	313	191	199	161	107
South West	1,439	1,090	957	957	980	571	565	473	326
England Total	3,884	2,894	2,788	2,739	2,657	1,563	1,534	1,289	833
Wales	420	297	299	306	265	123	129	117	76
Scotland	217	141	155	158	125	56	59	61	40
Northern Ireland	58	36	33	46	36	7	17	15	10
UK Total	4,579	3,368	3,275	3,249	3,083	1,749	1,739	1,482	959
1 Information for the first quarter of 1997 is not complete.

licence is granted subject to the Conditions in the Standard Requirements for the Design, Construction, Operation and Management of Authorised Quarantine Premises. Paragraph 2 of these requirements provides for inspection of quarantine kennels.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What are the most recent quarterly figures for the incidence of BSE, and to what extent the incidence of BSE has declined in the last two years.

The information is given in the following table:

	Number of cases1	Change since previous quarter
1995
Q1	4,579
Q2	3,368	-26%
Q3	3,275	-3%
Q4	3,249	-1%
1996
Q1	3,083	-5%
Q2	1,749	-43%
Q3	1,739	-1%
Q4	1,482	-15%
1997
Q1	959	-35%
1 Confirmed cases are included during the quarter when the restriction notice was served (i.e. when the disease was suspected rather than when the laboratory tests were completed). The figures for the first quarter of 1997 are incomplete.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What are the quarterly figures, broken down on a regional and United Kingdom basis, for the number of recorded cases of BSE in the last two years.

The number of cases of BSE (recorded by date of issue of a restriction notice) is given in the following table:

asked Her Majesty's Government:What are the quarterly figures for the percentage of outbreaks of BSE occurring in (a) pure beef,

	1995				1996				1997
	Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4	Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4	Q11
Beef herds	15%	13%	15%	17%	12%	11%	12%	15%	11%
Dairy herds	78%	80%	78%	75%	78%	79%	79%	75%	78%
Mixed herds	5%	5%	5%	5%	6%	6%	5%	5%	5%
Dairy/mixed herds (a)	1%	1%	1%	1%	1%	<1%	1%	1%	<1%
Unknown (b)	1%	1%	1%	2%	3%	3%	3%	4%	6%
1 The figures for the first quarter of 1997 are incomplete.
(a) In Northern Ireland, BSE cases on dairy and mixed enterprises are recorded in a single category.
(b) In Great Britain the type of enterprise where some BSE cases have occurred is not recorded.
Further information on these cases could not be obtained except at disproportionate cost.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many outbreaks of BSE in other countries of the European Union they are aware of in the last two years.

The following table gives the number of confirmed BSE cases in cattle in other Member States of the European Union during the last two years:

Number of cases1
Member state	1995	1996	1997 (to 13 May)
France	3	12	2
Germany			1
Republic of Ireland	16	73	29
Netherlands			2
Portugal	14	29	8
1 As reported to the Commission under Council Directive 82/894/EEC (as amended).

asked Her Majesty's Government:What was the outcome of the Agriculture Council held in Brussels on 20 May.

My right honourable friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food represented the United Kingdom at the meeting of EU Agriculture Ministers held in Brussels on 20 May. He was accompanied by the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Scottish Office, Lord Sewel.My right honourable friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food informed the Council of Ministers of the priority which the United Kingdom Government attaches in the field of food and agriculture to protecting the health and well being of the consumer and the environment. He also made clear his intention to work constructively with our European colleagues to bring about a lifting of the ban on UK beef exports in accordance with the Florence Agreement, and to achieve further reform of the Common Agricultural Policy.

The percentages requested are provided in the following table:The Council unanimously adopted an important animal welfare measure concerning the protection of animals during transport, specifically the introduction of Community-wide criteria for staging points. My right honourable friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food welcomed this proposal, but drew attention to the concerns of the United Kingdom, shared by Ireland and Denmark not to jeopardise the high health status of breeding pigs when in transport and thus damage a valuable trade. The Council at his insistence agreed a declaration requesting the Commission to examine the possibility of special measures to deal with this issue, and to report to the Council as soon as possible.The Council also discussed the serious situation facing the EU beef market, and in particular the adequacy of the early marketing and calf processing schemes in reducing excess production. My right honourable friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food stressed the urgency of bringing forward far-reaching proposals for reform of this sector, including reductions in support prices, and emphasised the distorting effects which these schemes were having on the UK market in particular. He pressed the Commission to review them as quickly as possible. In response, the Commission presented a detailed analysis of the current situation and prospects for the EU beef and veal market, and undertook to report further on the early marketing and calf schemes as a matter of urgency.The Commission reported on its negotiations with third countries, in particular the United States, for the conclusion of veterinary and plant health equivalence agreements. My right honourable Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food urged the Commission to resolve outstanding matters with the United States as rapidly as possible.In the margins of the Council of Ministers, my right honourable friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food held bilateral discussions with Commissioner Bonino and with several EU Ministerial colleagues. As the first member of the new Government to visit the European Parliament, he also took the opportunity to hold talks with a number of MEPs, including Pauline Green, leader of the Parliamentary Group of the Party of European Socialists, and with the Chairmen of the Agriculture Committee and the Temporary Committee inquiring into BSE. They discussed the UK Government's priorities for agricultural policy, and the particular issue of BSE.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they consider that payments to United Kingdom farmers under the common agricultural policy should be proportionately greater for smaller farms.

The Government intend to seek reforms to the CAP not to redistribute production subsidies but progressively to phase them out, thereby bringing the policy closer to market realities.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What progress they hope to make at the Intergovernmental Conference on quota hopping.

Tackling the quota hopping issue is a top priority for the Government and we shall be looking to make real progress by the conclusion of the Intergovernmental Conference.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether, in the light of the lifting of the ban on the growth of industrial hemp, it is their policy to encourage its growth; and what support, in the form of grants or otherwise, they will give to those who are growing it.

Hemp for industrial use has been produced in the UK under Home Office licence since 1993. MAFF's policy is to encourage the development of renewable raw materials, including hemp, where these have the potential to become economically viable. Work on hemp includes research and action to encourage the development of industrial markets. The common agricultural policy regime for hemp provides area payments to hemp growers, worth £645.99 per hectare in 1996. Projects to develop the industrial use of hemp may also qualify for assistance under other schemes, such as the Challenge for Agriculture Scheme in Objective 5b areas.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will review current arrangements for housing benefit for prisoners.

The Government have no plans at the moment to review existing arrangements for housing benefit for prisoners.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When they intend to introduce a bill on freedom of information.

A Bill will be introduced when a full consultation process has taken place. To this end, the Government will shortly be setting out in a White Paper our proposals for freedom of information. We then hope to publish a draft bill, for consultation, early in the new year.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will consider restoring the prohibition against the broadcasting of religious advertising.

The prohibition previously applying to all broadcast religious advertising was only removed subject to various safeguards. Such advertising must comply with codes determined by the broadcasting regulators. It must not be used to expound religious doctrine, denigrate other beliefs, play on fear, or target young or vulnerable people. Advertising may not be broadcast on behalf of bodies which practice or advocate illegal behaviour, or whose rites or other forms of collective worship are not normally directly accessible to the general public. Broadcasters are, moreover, free to refuse to carry any religious advertising if they so wish. The Government will continue to keep this area under review, but has no current plans to restore the prohibition.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will ensure that the names of the sponsors of the Millennium exhibition will be made public before any lottery grant is given.

Lottery money for the Millennium Exhibition is being channelled through the Millennium Commission, which is independent of the Government. The Millennium Commission has already made grants for the Millennium Exhibition. The Exhibition operating company, Millennium Central Ltd., has made good progress in its negotiations with sponsors, but feels it would be inappropriate to name the companies involved while negotiations are ongoing.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What are the dates, amounts and uses of commitments made by lottery funds to the Royal Opera House, and what are the sources and amounts of matching funds so far committed.

The Arts Council of England announced on 20 July 1995 that it had agreed to provide an initial National Lottery grant of £55 million, plus a possible further £23.5 million, to the Royal Opera House Covent Garden development project. Both grants were approved subject to certain conditions. The Arts Council agreed on 19 March 1997 that those conditions had been met and confirmed the full grant of £78.5 million.Of that amount, £16.5 million has so far been released in staged payments. These monies have been used to fund both the capital development at Covent Garden and some of the extra costs incurred as a result of the need to mount productions elsewhere during the closure period.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will take steps to ensure that public admission to the future Tate Gallery of Modern Art at Bankside (excepting admission to special, temporary exhibitions) will be free at all times.

The Government are concerned about the introduction of admissions charges in national museums and galleries, and are undertaking a review of the practice However, the decision on whether to introduce admissions charges is and will remain one for the board of trustees of each national institution to take. It is for the trustees of the Tate Gallery to decide, in the context of their statutory objectives, whether admissions charges should be levied at the Tate Gallery of Modern Art at Bankside.