asked Her Majesty's Government:When the Legal Services Ombudsman intends to publish his sixth annual report.

The Legal Services Ombudsman has today published his sixth annual report, and copies have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What are the arrangements for hearing appeals from those who need to have access to protectively marked government assets and have been refused security clearance or have had that clearance withdrawn.

An independent Security Vetting Appeals Panel, chaired by Sir Anthony May, will be established on 1 July to hear appeals against refusals or withdrawal of clearance at Security Check (SC) or Developed Vetting (DV) levels and to advise the head of the organisation concerned. The panel will be available to all those, other than recruits, in the public and private sectors and in the Armed Forces who are subject to security vetting at these levels, have exhausted existing appeals mechanisms within their own organisations and remain dissatisfied with the result. Separate arrangements are available to staff of the security and intelligence agencies. The establishment of the panel therefore brings to an end the role of the Three Advisers, who, since 1948, have been available to consider cases where security clearance was refused or withdrawn on the grounds of subversion.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What are their plans for religious education in schools, particularly in respect of the teaching of the Christian faith.

Most religious education in non-denominational schools will continue to be provided in accordance with an agreed syllabus which shall "reflect the fact that religious traditions in Great Britain are in the main Christian whilst taking account of the teaching and practices of the other principal religions in Great Britain" (Education Act 1996, Section 375 (3)).

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they are satisfied with the present level of support, financial or otherwise, given to maintain the standard and quality of theological teaching in universities and teacher training colleges.

Yes. The teaching of all subjects, including theology and religious studies, in publicly funded higher education institutions is subject to quality assessment by the Higher Education Funding Councils. The quality of initial teacher training is also subject to regular inspection by OFSTED. In addition, religious education is classed as a shortage secondary subject by the Teacher Training Agency and as such is included in the Priority Subject Recruitment Scheme. The scheme provides financial support to initial teacher training students on shortage subject courses of up to two years in length, and funds for initial teacher training providers to publicise their courses and make them more attractive to students.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they envisage the foundation of additional sixth-form colleges in England; and, if so, through what procedure.

The procedures for the establishment of new further education corporations are contained in the Further and Higher Education Act 1992. In normal circumstances I would expect establishment to follow consideration by the Secretary of State of a proposal from the Further Education Funding Council for England. No proposals are before him at present.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they have any plans to devolve responsibility for home to school transport to schools.

We have no plans to do so.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whose responsibility they consider it to be to maintain discipline on publicly provided home to school transport; and whether they consider it possible for the driver of a double decker bus to do this on his own.

The maintenance of discipline on transport vehicles is linked to pupil safety. Interpretation of the law in any particular case is a matter for the courts, but it is generally considered that the safety of children on journeys to and from school is the responsibility of the operators of the vehicles in which they travel. Where transport is arranged but not operated by a local education authority, the authority will also have a responsibility as regards pupil safety. LEAs should provide supervision if they consider it necessary to do so.

asked Her Majesty's Government:With reference to the present student loans system, what is the cost of administering it; what is the current rate of non-payment; and how many people it deters from taking up places in higher education.

The total grant in aid to the Student Loans Company in financial year 1996–97 was £21.28 million. At 31 March 1997, 49 per cent. of graduates were deferring repayment of around £465 million and 9.3 per cent. of graduates owing some £10.8 million were in default or in arrears. Only 9.2 per cent. of students entering higher education are from social classes IV and V, compared with 53.7 per cent. from classes I and II.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What information they have on the extent of the problem of cases passed on by the Employment Service to citizens advice bureaux for help with completion of jobseeker's allowance forms, and what legal responsibility rests on the Employment Service in these areas.

Responsibility for the subject of this question has been delegated to the Employment Service Agency under its Chief Executive, Mr. L. Lewis. The agency has therefore been asked to respond to the question and its reply is attached for your information.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will issue guidance drawing the attention of the Employment Service to Regulation 13(3) of the Jobseekers' Allowance Regulations, which allows claimants to restrict their availability provided the restrictions are reasonable in the light of the person's physical or mental condition.

The Employment Service is already aware of the Jobseekers' Allowance Regulations. The agency has been asked to respond to your question and its reply is attached.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the case of an unemployed man with an employed wife who was required to sign on at 4 pm when he was due to pick up his children from school illustrates the truth of the remark made by the Prime Minister at the Aylesbury Estate in South London on 2 June that "much more can be done to make work and family life compatible".

Responsibility for the subject of this question has been delegated to the Employment Service Agency under its Chief Executive, Mr. L. Lewis. The agency has therefore been asked to respond to the question and its reply is attached for your information.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What conclusions they have reached about future private sector involvement in the Prison Service.

The Government have expressed reservations about the principle of contracting out the management of prisons. It is generally accepted that responsibility for the incarceration of offenders must remain with the state. The issue is whether that responsibility should, as a matter of principle, be discharged through direct management in the public sector or whether it can properly and effectively be discharged under a regulatory framework. This was addressed in the recent report on prison management by the Home Affairs Select Committee: and the Government now wish to give further and careful consideration to the arguments deployed in that report before settling their overall approach to this issue.Existing management contracts will be honoured, as my right honourable friend the Home Secretary has already made clear. But we are considering ways in which the current regulatory framework might be strengthened. At present, all disciplinary hearings in contractually managed prisons are conducted by a state official—the Controller, a Prison Service governor, who also monitors the performance of the contractor on behalf of the responsible Prison Service Area Manager. This is an important principle from which we will not depart: and we are currently reviewing the scope for extending the Controller's powers in respect of prisoners' requests and complaints, sentence calculation, scrutiny of security classifications and frequency of security audits.On the letting of new contracts and the renewal of existing contracts, our immediate approach is necessarily determined by current expenditure plans, to which we are committed, and by operational requirements.We have inherited a prison population rising sharply (well above projections) with expenditure provision for new prisons limited to establishments to be designed, constructed, managed and financed by the private sector. Even with the new prison ship, Her Majesty's Prison Weare, there is huge pressure on capacity. We have therefore decided to proceed with existing procurement plans to provide additional new places on this basis by 1999–2000. This is an urgent operational requirement to overcome projected shortfalls in accommodation and to avoid dangerous levels of overcrowding and the use of police cells. We will shortly be launching competitions to provide an 800-place Category B local prison at Agecroft, Salford, and a 400-place Young Offender Institution at Pucklechurch, near Bristol.My right honourable friend has also authorised the renewal of the contract for the operation of Her Majesty's Prison Blakenhurst with the private sector operator, United Kingdom Detention Services. The existing contract expires on 25 May 1998; and we are required to give the operator one year's notice of a decision to renew the contract. The prison has been performing well against the current contract requirements and in comparison with comparable prisons in the public sector; and he is satisfied that the terms that have been negotiated for renewal of the contract offer value for money. The establishment could not be returned to public sector control without incurring additional expenditure, which would require offsetting savings elsewhere; and in the light of the current budgetary pressures on the Prison Service and pending our consideration of the Select Committee report, he is persuaded that no other course of action could be justified in current circumstances. However, in order to ensure that future options are kept as open as possible while our overall policy is under review, my right honourable friend has decided to renew the contract for three years only, the minimum practical—and contractually permissible—period.Moreover, before further decisions are made on prison procurement beyond the extra places within existing plans or on the renewal of any other existing contracts, he has asked the Prison Service to:

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether, in consultation with the nominating authorities of the non-Christian faiths, they will seek to develop guidelines for the determination of visiting hours which could be applied uniformly throughout the prison system of England and Wales.

This issue has been the subject of consultations with the nominating authorities of the non-Christian faiths through the Chaplain General's Consultation. Some responses have been received to an invitation to submit views; and consideration will be given to the case for guidelines when the process of consultation is complete.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the US still has use of bases in Albania, from which it deployed unmanned aerial vehicles over Bosnia on surveillance duties; and, if it no longer carries out such surveillance, when did it stop doing so; and whether these operations were transparent to NATO.

It is not for the British Government to provide information regarding the military deployments and activities of the US Government.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether it is the case, as reported by Latvian Radio on 1 April 1997, that Mr. Jeremy Greenstock, Deputy Under-Secretary of State and Political Director of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, expressed support for the Baltic States' admission to the European Union and to NATO.

During Mr. Greenstock's visit to the Baltic States from 31 March-4 April, he noted the UK's support for the accession of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania to the European Union as soon as each meets the necessary criteria. He also drew attention to the UK's concern for the Baltic State's security and made clear that decisions on the enlargement of NATO will be taken at the Madrid Summit from 8–9 July and that the door to NATO membership will remain open thereafter.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether, under the mutual transparency commitments in the Founding Act on Mutual Relations, Co-operation and Security between NATO and the Russian Federation, bilateral United States military and other security-related arrangements, including those between the US and Hungary, and the "charter" recently being negotiated between the US and the Baltic States will be disclosed.

Bilateral military and security-related arrangements and their disclosure are a matter for the individual countries concerned.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When the Founding Act on Mutual Relations, Co-operation and Security between NATO and the Russian Federation comes into effect, and when is it proposed that the first session of the Joint Council will take place.

The NATO/Russia Founding Act on Mutual Relations, Co-operation and Security came into effect on 27 May 1997 with the signature by Heads of Government of members of the Alliance, the Secretary General of NATO, and the President of Russia. The Act provides for the first meeting of the Joint Council to take place within four months of signature. No date has yet been set.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether, as reported in Ukraine, Mr. Solana sought to include Ukrainian agreement to the stationing of foreign troops in Ukraine in the agreement finally reached between NATO and Ukraine, and, if so, this proposed provision had been agreed by all members of NATO.

The NATO Secretary-General did not raise or seek to include in the NATO—Ukraine Charter, the possibility of Ukrainian agreement to the stationing of foreign troops in Ukraine in the context of the CFE (Conventional Forces in Europe Treaty) Flank Agreement. The charter, initialled on 29 May, notes that such stationing should take place only with the free consent of the host state or in accordance with internationally-accepted provisions.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is their current estimate of the costs of the envisaged enlargement of NATO to include (a) the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland; (b) Romania, Slovenia and Slovakia; and (c) other applicant states.

No decision has been taken on which countries will accede to NATO membership. The costs of enlargement, which fall both on the countries which join and on existing members of the Alliance and which will be incurred over a long period, will depend on that decision. Subject to that caveat, we expect the costs of enlargement to be manageable.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether, as stated by US Secretary of State Albright, NATO accession negotiations with invited states could be completed by the end of this year, and accession instruments signed by the December Ministerial Meeting of the North Atlantic Council.

We would welcome the early conclusion of accession negotiations with states which will be invited to join NATO at the Madrid Summit, and hope that accession instruments will be signed later in 1997.

asked Her Majesty's Government:In the light of the prominence of the US within NATO, and in light of the fact that three members of NATO have nuclear weapons and permanent membership of the Security Council, what meaning they attach to the statement made by NATO's Secretary General, Mr. Solana, that there "will be no second class members on the North Atlantic Alliance".

All provisions of the Washington Treaty of 1949 apply equally to all members of the Alliance, and will apply equally to new members.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether in the context of the enlargement of NATO, the sale of new weapons to applicant countries will be discussed among the NATO membership, so as to inhibit arms firms from placing undue commercial pressures on those countries.

While we expect new members of NATO to participate in the force planning process of the Alliance, decisions on how equipment requirements are met will remain a matter for each country. Decisions on procurement of particular equipment form no part of the criteria against which applications for NATO membership are judged.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will report on the Government's trade promotion policy towards Burma.

We will not provide any financial support to companies for trade missions to Burma or for trade promotion activities within Burma until there is progress towards democratic reform and respect for human rights in Burma. Officials in the UK and at the British Embassy in Rangoon will continue to provide British companies with routine advice about doing business in Burma. Wherever possible such advice will make clear the present realities in Burma, including the political and human rights situation and the state of the economy. It will also draw to businessmen's attention statements by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and other pro-democracy leaders discouraging trade and investment in Burma. We shall encourage our EU partners to take similar action.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What action remains to be taken to prepare their computer software for the year 2000; whether this action will be completed in time; and how much it is expected to cost.

This is essentially the responsibility of individual departments. However my right honourable friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster has recently written to all ministerial Heads of Department to ensure that they are aware of the arrangements which exist for dealing with the year 2000 date change problem.From within the Cabinet Office (OPS), departments are supported by the Central Information Technology Unit (CITU) and the Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency (CCTA). As part of that support, CITU and CCTA have identified a programme of action to ensure that government's response to the year 2000 problem is co-ordinated and coherent. This involves each department in producing a detailed and costed action plan by October to ensure that all their systems are modified and tested by January 1999.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When they intend to publish the report of the Efficiency Scrutiny into Prescription Fraud.

We have now received the report of the Efficiency Scrutiny into Prescription Fraud. We will be publishing it today, and placing a copy in the Library.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many confirmed cases of new variant CJD, by year of onset, have been reported to the Department of Health.

The number of definite and probable cases of new variant CJD reported to the Department of Health by the National CJD Surveileance Unit, as at 16 June 1997, are set out as follows by year of onset:

asked Her Majesty's Government:What consideration they have given to the British Dental Association's suggestion for a manpower review of NHS dentistry as recommended in paragraph 7.7 of the 26th Report of the Review Body on Doctors' and Dentists' Remuneration.

We are giving consideration to the suggestion of a workforce review.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they accept the recommendation contained in paragraph 7.35 of the 26th Report of the Review Body on Doctors' and Dentists' Remuneration that sums exceeding £10 million should be paid into access schemes to improve the availability of NHS dentistry.

We have noted the Review Body's comment about the sums which could be needed to make a significant impact on difficulties of access to the general dental services. We are currently considering how best to use the resources available to help ensure that patients who would otherwise have difficulty receiving general dental services can do so.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What progress has been made in providing compensation to dentists in cases where the fee scale is more than one financial year out of date as recommended in paragraph 7.25 of the 26th Report of the Review body on Doctors' and Dentists' Remuneration.

This was implemented on 1 April 1997. From that date, dentists are automatically paid compensation in cases where the fee scale applicable to a course of treatment is more than one financial year out of date.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they are satisfied that Northumbrian Water's recent decision not to accede to the health authorities' request for fluoridation is consistent with the will of Parliament.

Under the Water Industry Act 1991, Northumbrian Water may fluoridate the water supply in their area when requested to do so by the health authority. It is for the courts to decide the duties and responsibilities of water undertakers under the Act.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What steps they are taking to ensure that local decisions on whether to fluoridate water supplies are taken by health authorities rather than water companies.

The Water Industry Act 1991 gives health authorities the power to decide, after public consultation, whether or not to apply for fluoridation of the water supplies.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What action they are taking to ensure that health authorities fulfil their statutory obligation to provide dental inspection, dental treatment and dental health education of school children; andWhat measures they are taking to ensure the continuation of the intended use of the community dental services as a "safety net" for patients unable to obtain dental treatment in the general dental services, when the NHS trusts are making community dental service dentists redundant.

Guidelines have recently been issued to the National Health Service which reinforce the important roles of the community dental services in providing a safety net function for patients experiencing difficulty in obtaining treatment in the general dental service, and oral screening for children in state funded schools. A copy of the guidelines will be placed in the Library.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will list those health authorities which are proposing to cut their community dental services budgets.

Health authorities are responsible for determining service priorities within their budget allocation.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What action they intend to take to deal with the current situation whereby the objectives of the South Downs Environmentally Sensitive Area Schemes, designed primarily to promote traditional chalk grassland, are being frustrated by the much higher production subsides offered to farmers for cultivating oil seed crops.

The Government consider oil seed and fibre crops to provide a useful alternative source of primary raw materials for industry which should be encouraged. However, in view of the recent concern about planting of flax, we are looking at a range of options specifically to address the problem of cultivation of crops on valuable wildlife sites.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the European Commission, or national Governments, are able to identify the individual farmers who benefit from tobacco subsidies under the common agricultural policy.

We understand from the European Commission that each producer member state maintains a national register of individual tobacco growers who claim premia, and that the Commission keeps a copy of each register for control purposes.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What European legislation or proposals for legislation affect the use of Emtryl in the rearing of game birds.

Council Regulation (EEC) 2377/90 requires the setting of maximum residue limits for the active ingredients of all veterinary medicinal products used in food producing species. Following a review of dimetridazole, the active ingredient of the product Emtryl, the European Commission proposed that it be included in Annex IV of the Regulation, and a regulation entered into effect on 25 September 1995. Inclusion of Annex IV requires that, in principle, Marketing Authorisations for medicinal products containing dimetridazole should be withdrawn. However, because of serious health and welfare implications related to the rearing of game birds, we notified the Commission, under Article 9 of Council Regulation (EEC) 2377/90, that the UK had temporarily suspended the operation at the Commission Regulation No. 1798/95, which placed dimetridazole in Annex IV. We are currently conducting a residues surveillance programme in pheasants and partridges, the objective of which is to demonstrate that dimetridazole can be safely used in the treatment of game birds without creating any risk to human health. Results are being reported to the European Commission.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How they propose to discharge the manifesto commitments to provide an effective and integrated transport policy and to carry out a strategic review of the roads programme in Scotland.

My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Scotland intends to publish a White Paper early next year which will set out our proposals for a workable, effective and integrated transport policy appropriate to the needs of Scotland. Our development of that will operate in parallel with the development of the planned White Paper on integrated transport policy announced by my right honourable friend the Deputy Prime Minister on 5 June.One key strand of developing an integrated transport strategy is the strategic review of the trunk roads programme promised in the manifesto. We believe that we need a thorough examination of our rationale for new roads construction. Possible new roads projects must be properly examined in the context of their local and wider economic and environmental impacts and with the possible provision of alternative modes of transport properly considered in parallel. Our eventual decisions must meet our commitment to sustainable development.This review will consider the full range of factors, including traffic growth, which will give rise to pressure for further major improvements across the trunk road network over the next decade. In parallel with the review, as part of the work leading to the White Paper, we shall examine means of restraining growth, including consideration of the opportunities for doing so on the trunk road network. We will also consider the role which new technology and improved information systems can play.The review will examine the criteria (including accessibility, safety, economy and environmental impact) for setting priorities within the trunk road programme. It will also review the scope for improved value for money for expenditure on maintenance, structural repairs and minor schemes.The review is being conducted against the background of our clear commitment to control public expenditure overall and fundamentally to review expenditure priorities through the comprehensive spending review. Given this, no further procedural work on major schemes will be undertaken before the reviews are concluded. However, schemes under construction will continue; and the schemes for the A.828 (Creagan Bridge) and the A.75 (The Glen), which are both close to commencement, will also continue. Tenders are expected in July for a privately financed design, build, finance and operate contract on the M.8 (Baillieston to Shotts) and a decision on that will be announced after the evaluation of tenders, in the light of the information provided by the tenders and other relevant factors. The review will reach conclusions on options for the Kincardine Bridge in advance of those on other projects because of the uncertainties attaching to the operational condition of the bridge and the need to progress contingency plans.The Scottish Office will continue to invest in the maintenance and structural repairs of the existing network and take forward small schemes, costing less than £3 million, where route action and accident plans have identified measures to alleviate congestion and improve safety.There has been extensive comments about the previous Government's Green Paper

asked Her Majesty's Government:What has been the decision of the commissioner, Mr. James Mossop, who chaired the public inquiry into the proposal to develop Magheramorne Quarry as a waste landfill site.

The decision relating to this planning application will be announced soon. The report of the commissioner will be published at the same time as the decision.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they intend to extend the Dangerous Dogs Amendment Act 1997 to cover Northern Ireland.

The Department of Agriculture for Northern Ireland intends to amend the Dogs (Northern Ireland) Order 1983 and the Dangerous Dogs (Northern Ireland) Order 1991 to bring Northern Ireland legislation into line with the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 as amended by the Dangerous Dogs (Amendment) Act 1997.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Who are the members of the Parades Commission, when each member was appointed, and what were the criteria and qualifications required for membership.

The members of the Parades Commission are Alistair Graham (Chairman), Frank Guckian, David Hewitt, the Reverend Roy Magee, and Berna McIvor. Their appointment was announced on 26 March. In line with the recommendations contained in the North Report, the members of the commission reflect a broad mix of background, skills and experience which they have brought to bear in addressing the parades issue.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What plans they have to introduce a new permitted development right for householders to extend their gardens.

A consultation paper was issued last November on a proposal that householders should in future be able to extend their gardens onto adjacent land without needing to submit a planning application. The Department of the Environment received 425 replies, copies of which have now been placed in the department's library. Three hundred and sixty-one expressed opposition and only 34 offered support. Many objections concentrated on the damaging impact that such a proposal could have on the open countryside with the creeping suburbanisation of specially protected areas such as the National Parks and the Green Belt. Concern was also expressed about the resulting lack of control over the erection of ancillary buildings and the absence of any size limit on the land which could be added to a garden.The Government's view is that the impact of a proposed garden extension is best considered, as at present, through the normal planning process and my honourable friends the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions and the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Wales have therefore decided to withdraw this proposal.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When they will announce their decision on the Salisbury bypass.

The Salisbury bypass will be considered within the strategic roads review announced by my right honourable friend the Minister for Transport today. It is part of an accelerated review the results of which we propose to announce in July.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What progress is being made to include doorlock security in European vehicle standards.

The Commission were expected to produce a report accompanied, if appropriate, by proposals on door and luggage compartment locks by December 1996.As yet, no such report has been received and the Government are developing their own ideas, based on current best practice, which they hope to put to the Commission later this year.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they have any intention of reviewing the decision to allow drivers who fail a driving test to resit the test without any minimum intervening period of time.

The Driving Standards Agency issued a public consultation paper on 16 June about proposed changes to driving test arrangements. One of the proposals is to reintroduce a statutory waiting period between tests for unsuccessful candidates. I will arrange for copies to be deposited in the House Libraries.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When an announcement will be made on their review of the roads programme.

My right honourable friend the Minister for Transport has today launched the Roads Review. The objective of the review will be to determine the role which roads should play in an integrated transport policy and to establish a forward investment programme for the trunk road network in England.The review will be broadly based. Unlike reviews carried out by the previous government, it will not merely consider what road schemes should be added to or deleted from the trunk roads programme. It will look afresh at the environmental impact of roads and take into account parallel work on developing an integrated transport policy for the UK which my right honourable friend the Deputy Prime Minister announced recently, including, in particular, work on issues such as whether steps should be taken to manage demand for travel by road, and if so, what means should be used; and, the extent to which we should encourage the use of other modes of transport. It will also consider the role which new technology and improved information systems can play; and the impact which investment in roads could have on regional development. The Roads Review, work on an integrated transport policy and the comprehensive spending review will be very closely co-ordinated.We intend to consult widely during the course of the review. During the next few weeks my department will be consulting key representative bodies both about the range of issues which need to be covered and how we might involve them effectively in the review. We then intend to launch a public consultation in July, inviting responses by the end of October. We would particularly value contributions from the Regional Planning Conferences, local authorities and other regional bodies. We shall consider in due course what arrangements will be appropriate for continuing regional consultations on trunk road planning beyond the review, taking account of the comments received in response to the previous government's proposal to bring trunk roads within the regional planning guidance system.We hope to announce the conclusions of the review next spring. In the interim, the Highways Agency will continue to take forward maintenance work, small safety schemes, and two re-signing projects in line with existing plans. Schemes on which construction is already well advanced will continue, but preparatory work on new major schemes will he put on hold at the end of the current stage, except in the relatively few cases in which some procedural step needs to be taken to ensure that work done to date is not lost should we ultimately decide that the scheme should be taken forward. Work on developer funded schemes will also continue as these schemes either have been or will be scrutinised thoroughly in the appropriate planning processes and they are generally small improvements which do not have any wider strategic significance.There are also 12 cases on which urgent decisions are pending. We therefore propose to carry out an accelerated review of these cases against the criteria of accessibility, safety, economy and environmental impact and announce our decisions on them in July. It may be that in some of these cases we decide in July that a decision cannot be taken in advance of the main review. In the majority of cases we will take a decision either to take the scheme forward or to abandon it. The cases in question are:Birmingham Northern Relief Road (BNRR)M.25 Junctions 12–15M.66 Denton—Middleton Contract 3A.2/M.2 Cobham J4 wideningSalisbury Bypass/Wessex Link DBFOA.564 Derby Southern Bypass Contract BWeald and Downland DBFOCumbria Bradford DBFOSouth Midlands Network DBFOA.40 West London Approach DBFO

asked Her Majesty's Government:What was (a) the shortest and (b) the longest time taken from initiation to result of a planning application in England and Wales in each of the last five years.

Information on the time between receipt and determination for individual planning applications is not collected centrally, except, in England, for applications relating to mineral extraction and waste disposal. These account for fewer than 1 per cent. of all planning applications and will therefore be unrepresentative of the remainder.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will list the enquiries issued by London Underground for goods and services which were published in the European Journal during the last year, and the successful tenderer for each enquiry.

The information is set out in the table below.