asked Her Majesty's Government:What was the outcome of the Commonwealth Centre held during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.

The first ever Commonwealth Centre highlighted the importance of the role of non-governmental organisations in the Commonwealth. With our full support, the Commonwealth Centre—led by the Royal Commonwealth Society and supported by the Commonwealth Foundation, the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations, the British Council and The Prince's Trust—hosted a full programme of conferences, discussions, workshops and exhibitions by over 100 organisations. It was a tremendous success. Over 25,000 members of the public and 20 Heads of Government, led by the Prime Minister and the Commonwealth Secretary General visited the centre.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will make available to the House a copy of the United Nations register of conventional arms and its further development.

A copy of the UN Secretary-General's report has been placed in the Libraries of the House. We are disappointed that the 1997 Group of Experts reviewing the operation and development of the UN arms register was unable to agree any substantive measures to expand or strengthen the register. Our aims remain clear: to encourage increased participation by UN member states; to broaden the scope of the register by including military holdings and procurement from national production on the same basis as imports and exports; to expand current categories of equipment to include weapons of lesser capability; and to encourage the provision of details of the type of equipment transferred. We shall continue to use both bilateral and multilateral contacts to encourage states to work towards these goals. We welcome the Group of Experts' agreement on recommendations for several technical adjustments. We fully endorse these recommendations and urge other states to do the same.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What was the outcome of the General Affairs Council held in Brussels on 10 November.

At the General Affairs Council in Brussels on 10 November the nine A points in document 11996/97 were approved. and the EP resolutions of 20–24 October in document 11109/97 were noted. The texts will be placed in the House as soon as they become available.The Commission presented a communication on the future of ACP-EU relations which formed the basis for an orientation debate. This will help inform Commission drafting of an EU mandate for the renegotiation of the Lomé Convention. There was a general welcome for the way ahead set out by the Commission and in particular for the emphasis on poverty, enhanced political dialogue and integration of ACP economies into the world trading environment.The council took stock of discussions on enlargement and Agenda 2000. In particular, it considered the role of the Council in the accession partnerships of the reinforced pre-accession strategy. The Committee of Permanent Representatives will continue discussion this week.The Council Secretariat introduced a paper on the incorporation of the Schengen Secretariat into the General Secretariat of the Council. It was agreed that the Schengen Secretariat would be invited to give its opinion on the matter, which will then be discussed further in the Committee of Permanent Representatives, before returning to council.The council held a preliminary discussion on the Council Secretary General's paper on implementation of the declaration annexed to the Amsterdam Treaty on the creation of a policy planning and early warning unit. There was wide support for the new CFSPD High Representative taking up his duties as soon as the Amsterdam Treaty is ratified; and for the new unit to become operational at the same time. The Political Committee and Committee of Permanent Representatives were tasked to take forward detailed work on the unit and to report back to the council.The council discussed EU relations with Turkey. The presidency announced its intention to arrange an informal ministerial meeting with Turkey on 24 November.The council discussed preparations for the forthcoming visit to the Middle East by the presidency of the council and Vice-President Marin of the European Commission. The council agreed on the importance of close co-ordination with the US Administration in support of US efforts to bring about a full resumption of negotiations in the Middle East peace process. It also agreed on the need for the presidency to emphasise EU concerns about the effects of continuing Israeli settlement activity on the prospects for progress and about the postponement of the further redeployments of Israeli troops from Palestinian areas foreseen in the Hebron Agreement.The council considered a report from EU Special Envoy Moratinos on ways in which the EU might support agreement between Israel and the Palestinians on the opening of Gaza Airport, the construction of Gaza seaport and the establishment of "safe passage" arrangements for Palestinians travelling between the West Bank and Gaza. The council agreed that the report should be considered further at technical level.The council discussed negotiations between the EU and Switzerland in the light of new Swiss proposals on the question of land transport through the Alps. It was decided that the Committee of Permanent Representatives should report back to the council on how the negotiations might be brought to a successful conclusion.The presidency reported on preparations and arrangements for the Employment Summit on 21 November.The council discussed EU/Albania relations. Ministers agreed that the 1992 trade and co-operation agreement between Albania and the EC should be reactivated to help with the process of economic and political development. A ministerial level political dialogue and official level joint committee under the agreement might be held early in 1998.The council adopted a review of the situation in former Yugoslavia in the context of the conditionality in the EU regional approach; and a message to the people of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia setting out the EU's policy. On Bosnia the council supported the conclusions of the 6 November steering board and the High Representative's efforts to reform the Republika Srpska media.Under any other business, the council discussed ways of promoting observance by EU member states of the eight common criteria on arms export agreed by the council in 1991 and 1992. The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs drew partners' attention to our intention to work during our presidency for an EU code of conduct on arms sales.Sweden highlighted the opportunity presented by the entry into force on 1 December 1997 of the partnership and co-operation agreement (PCA) to tackle some of the irritants in the EU/Russia relationship. Ministers confirmed that a full discussion of the relationship would take place at the 24 November General Affairs Council in preparation for the inaugural Co-operation Council. to be held during the 8–9 December General Affairs Council.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Which countries in the European Union treat the horse as an agricultural animal and which do not.

This is not information which the Government collect on a regular basis, and national legislation may not be comparable in an area unregulated by EU law. However, we believe that France, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Portugal broadly regard the horse as an agricultural animal, irrespective of the use to which it is put.

asked Her Majesty's Government:On what grounds they opted out of Directive 90/427/EEC of 26 June 1990 which declared that the horse was an agricultural animal and that ownership of horses should be encouraged.

The United Kingdom have not opted out of Council Directive 90/427/EEC. However, there is no requirement in it for member states to classify horses as agricultural animals.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What action they will propose at the Third Climate Change Convention in December to remedy the failure of most industrialised countries to provide the "new and additional resources" for ecologically sustainable development in the less affluent nations which were promised at the Earth Summit in 1992.

We do not propose to announce specific action at the third meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Framework Convention on Climate Change (FCCC). However, we shall provide the necessary resources for our development programmes, including those aspects concerned with the protection of the global environment. We are also fully committed to a substantial replenishment of the global environment facility, which provides the financial mechanism for the FCCC, and shall encourage other industrialised countries to follow our example.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When the Lord Advocate expects to receive the reports on the investigations into the allegations made against Mr. Mohammed Sarwar, MP.

Strathclyde Police are continuing their investigations under the direction of the Procurator Fiscal, who has kept Crown counsel informed of the progress of these investigations. It is not possible to state when the final report will be submitted for consideration by Crown counsel.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many doses of Botulinum serum were procured and taken to the Gulf between August 1990 and March 1991 for treatment purposes and how many doses were returned after the withdrawal of British troops.

During the Gulf War a programme was established at CBD Porton Down to manufacture anti-toxin for Botulinum toxin (BTx), based on serum derived from human volunteers and goats who had been inoculated against particular strains of BTx. 3,000 doses of human anti-toxin and 17,000 doses of goat anti-toxin were pre-positioned in the Gulf for use in the event of an Iraqi biological warfare attack using BTx. So far as MoD is aware, all 20,000 doses of anti-toxin were returned to the UK after hostilities ended. However, the MoD fact finding team, which has been established to look into the implementation of the anti-biological warfare agent immunisation programme, will also be reviewing the available information concerning BTx anti-toxin.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What plans it has for the rationalisation of the Army's storage estate.

Work has now been completed on a study, initiated by the previous Administration, on the potential for further rationalisation of the Army Base Storage and Distribution Agency's (ABSDA) storage estate. The analysis has shown that there are likely to be some increases in aspects of the Army Storage task, for example some equipment and stores return from Bosnia. The overall balance of factors, however, including the likely impact of the new Government's strategic defence review, indicates that there will be significant reductions in ABSDA's future storage requirement. This reflects the need to drive down the overall size of the Army storage inventory to reflect changes in defence planing assumptions and to reduce the costs of our storeholdings. Obtaining greater efficiency from defence spending is a central part of the strategic defence review. All support activities are being rigorously scrutinised against the benchmark of value for money and the need to ensure that we retain only those assets which are essential for defence needs.We have, therefore, decided to accept, as the basis for consultation with the trades unions and other interested parties, the recommendation that the ABSDA sub-depots at Thatcham in Berkshire, and Old Dalby in Leicestershire, should close. This would realise savings of some £35 million in net present value terms over a 10-year period. We also intend to suspend the ABSDA stores division CFQ study for the time being.Final decisions will be taken in the light of representations made during the consultation period. A copy of the consultation document is being placed in the Library of the House.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What arrangements are being made for the future delivery of pay, pensions and personnel administration services for the armed forces.

The previous administration announced on 20 February this year that the Armed Forces Personnel Administration Agency (AFPAA) was to be launched as a tri-Service organisation on 1 April, and that plans were in hand to appoint a commercial partner to deliver most of the agency's services on its behalf. AFPAA was launched on the due date, and the necessary evaluation and approval processes for its partnering contract have now been completed. We have agreed that the contract should be awarded to Electronic Data Systems (Defence) Ltd. (EDS).As part of the modernisation of our Armed Forces for the 21st century, this public/private partnering contract is the beginning of a comprehensive programme of improvement and redevelopment in the delivery of pay, pensions and personnel administrative services. It will bring new skills and technology to this area of work, and importantly, it will provide the necessary capital, under private finance arrangements, at a level which could not be expected from the Defence budget. The contract will run for up to 12 years at an estimated cost of over £300 million. The effective date for transfer of responsibility to EDS, including staff and capital assets, is planned for 1 January next year. About 900 civilian staff will move permanently to EDS, with 100 military personnel being placed with the company in the first instance.In about three years time, elements of the Army personnel centre in Glasgow will come under AFPAA's responsibility. This will mean the transfer of a further 500 civilian staff to EDS. There are no plans to relocate these jobs from Glasgow and any proposals would need ministerial approval.

asked Her Majesty's Government:(a) by which senior officers Lance Sergeant Haane Manahi of the Maori Battalion was recommended for a Victoria Cross for his gallantry at Takrouna in Tunisia in 1943; (b) for what reason the recommendation of a Victoria Cross for Lance Sergeant Manahi was changed to a Distinguished Conduct Medal; and (c) by whom the recommendation was changed.

Lance Sergeant Manahi was recommended for the Victoria Cross in 1943. The recommendation was staffed through his chain of command up to and including the rank of General. Official Army records confirm that the initial recommendation for the Victoria Cross was downgraded to a Distinguished Conduct Medal, but do not reveal the basis for the decision or by whom it was taken.

asked Her Majesty's Government:In how many cases a recommendation to award a Victoria Cross to a New Zealand soldier in the Second World War had been downgraded.

I regret that this answer cannot be provided without incurring disproportionate cost.

Standard operating procedure for UK Armed Forces requires that all chemical or biological alarms be assumed in the first instance to be genuine. Follow up drills are then implemented. Chemical alarms in the Gulf War would have been followed up using equipment such as the residual vapour detector, the chemical agent monitor and detector papers to test further for chemical agents. The biological warfare detection equipment which was fielded involved a three stage testing procedure, the third of which was capable of identifying a number of biological warfare agents. Had any of these follow up procedures suggested that a genuine chemical or biological detection had occurred, arrangements were in place in theatre for information to be immediately passed to the chain of command and for samples to be taken from the air or ground and returned to CBD Porton Down for further testing and positive identification of the agent or agents involved.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether any of the epidemiological research studies commissioned by them are designed to indicate whether there are higher levels of reported illness among specific groups of members of Her Majesty's Armed Forces who served in Operation Granby than there are among those who did not serve in the operation.

The MoD is funding two epidemiological studies, recommended by the Medical Research Council, which are intended to establish whether Gulf veterans are suffering an unusual amount of ill-health. One study under Professor Cherry at Manchester University aims to determine whether Gulf veterans are experiencing greater ill-health than Service personnel who did not take part in the conflict and to identify possible exposures and predisposing factors associated with any distinctive patterns of symptoms which may be found. The other study under Dr. Doyle at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine will examine the reproductive health of Gulf veterans and the health of their children. As part of their research, the study teams will consider whether any patterns of unusual illness which they may find are associated with particular sub-groups of those who served in the Gulf.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will list the research studies currently being undertaken at DERA, Porton Down, into the possible causes of illness among members of Her Majesty's Armed Forces who served in Operation Granby.

The Chemical and Biological Defence (CBD) sector of DERA at Porton Down is not conducting any research into the possible causes of illness among Gulf veterans. Some of the new research announced on 14 July by my right honourable friend the Minster (Armed Forces) to investigate the possible health effects of the combination of vaccines and tablets given to troops in the Gulf will be undertaken at CBD Porton Down. The results of this work will both provide scientific data with which to address veterans' concerns about the use of medical countermeasures during the Gulf War and also inform the Government's policy on the future use of such countermeasures.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether there is any indication from the medical assessment programme for members of Her Majesty's Armed Forces who served in Operation Granby that there are specific patterns of disease confined to specific groups of individuals on the basis of the military units in which they served.

No. However, the diagnostic coding and preparation of statistical data from the MoD's medical assessment programme has only been completed for a small proportion of the veterans who have so far been seen and diagnosed by MAP physicians. As my right honourable friend the Minister of State for the Armed Forces announced on July 14, the new Government has taken steps to speed up this process, and the MoD intends to publish later this year detailed results relating to approximately the first 1,000 patients who have been seen by the MAP. Thereafter, further information will be released as it becomes available, including details of any patterns of illness associated with particular sub groups of Service personnel who served in the Gulf if these are found.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether among the political and economic issues which are now to be discussed within NATO and within the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council, the desirability of keeping defence expenditures as low as is compatible with efficiency will be given priority, particularly in view of the level of defence industry lobbying taking place among the pre-invitee countries; and whether United Kingdom know-how fund advice on defence procurement is being offered to these governments.

NATO Ministers issue resource guidance to enable military authorities to work in a realistic financial framework. The Government has made clear its determination to ensure the best possible output from defence resources, and does not wish to encourage any country to spend more on defence than it requires to meet its legitimate security aspirations. The resource implications of enlargement for the countries invited at the Madrid Summit to join the alliance are being analysed; their defence burden will reflect the position that no NATO ally is forced to rely on its national efforts alone in dealing with basic security challenges. No know-how fund advice has been given to these countries on defence procurement matters.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is (a) the per capita income in pounds sterling; and (b) the per capita energy consumption, of each member state of the European Union.

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Chief Executive of the Office for National Statistics. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is (a) the perinatal mortality rate; and (b) the percentage of home confinements, for each Member State of the European Union.

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Chief Executive of the Office for National Statistics. who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What are the roles of the Invest in Britain Bureau, the Welsh Development Agency and Scottish Enterprise in attracting inward investors to the United Kingdom, and whether they propose to make any changes to the current arrangements.

The Invest in Britain Bureau was formed in 1977 to be the UK's principal inward investment agency responsible for promoting the UK as a whole as an attractive location to inward investors. The Welsh Development Agency and Locate in Scotland (which is a joint operation of the Scottish Office and Scottish Enterprise) promote the attractions of Wales and Scotland respectively as investment locations and also work with the IBB to deliver inward investment projects locally. There are no plans to change these roles as described.

asked Her Majesty's Government:With which countries the United Kingdom has no extradition treaty.

Details of the United Kingdom's extradition arrangements are not available on this basis. Those countries with whom the United Kingdom has extradition arrangements are listed below. The Extradition Act 1989 enables special extradition arrangements to be made with foreign states with whom the United Kingdom has no extradition arrangements. In addition, there are a number of international conventions which allow for the extradition of fugitives between ratifying states for certain serious offences, even in the absence of an extradition arrangement.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When they will publish the Annual Report and Accounts for the Prison Service.

We are pleased to report that we have today published the Prison Service Report and Accounts for 1996-97, along with those for 1995-96. Copies have been placed in the Library. In future, we will aim to publish Prison Service annual reports and accounts within six months ofthe end of the financial year.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What action they intend to take to prevent frequent lottery draws in pubs and other premises.

The Government have given careful consideration to the issues raised by frequent lottery draws in premises. The Gaming Board has expressed serious concern to the Government about plans by a company which runs lotteries on behalf of charities under the Lotteries and Amusements Act 1976 to run frequent on-line lotteries in a range of outlets, including pubs and clubs. The 1976 Act did not contemplate on-line lotteries, and therefore does nothing to prevent them. The use of on-line technology would allow the promotion of successive large scale lottery draws, in a series running through the day, simultaneously in a large number of different outlets.Such rapid draw lotteries would have many of the characteristics of hard gambling. Their thus unrestricted availability to the public in high street and neighbourhoods raises serious issues of gambling control. Such a development in pubs where, of course, alcohol is available, and other public places, would undermine the long-standing policy, which this Government fully support, that the harder forms of gambling should be confined to premises specially licensed for gambling and with appropriate controls. Under the National Lottery etc. Act 1993 the then Secretary of State for National Heritage used his powers to direct the Director General of the National Lottery not to license games which encourage excessive participation. The director general himself has made it clear that he does not consider that rapid play lotteries are an appropriate development for the National Lottery. However, the 1976 Act needs to be strengthened to give sufficient protection in the case of other lotteries.We therefore propose to introduce legislation to amend the 1976 Act to restrict frequent lottery draws. The measure, which will be introduced in Parliament as soon as possible, will not interfere with existing conventional lotteries run for charitable or other purposes. It will only restrict new forms of rapid draw lottery. The Government recognise that these lotteries could raise additional money for charities but, given the social risks, we do not consider that the new type of lottery would be an acceptable development. Since this will be primary legislation, those with an interest will have every opportunity to put their points of view in Parliament on the principle and the detail. We are also proposing to publish the legislation in draft form to allow interested parties a few weeks in which to make any representations. We have placed in the Library an explanatory document which sets out the position in more detail.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What plans they have to update the British zoo licensing system.

British zoos have a deservedly high reputation for their progressive approach; the way in which their animals are kept and cared for; and the contribution they make to the conservation of endangered species through scientific research and captive breeding programmes. They have also played an important part in increasing public awareness of, and interest in species conservation issues. It is now more than 10 years since the Zoo Licensing Act came into operation, and we believe it is time to update the system to reflect the changes in the role and management of zoos which have taken place during this time, and to ensure that consistently high standards are maintained in all British zoos.We have therefore undertaken a review of the Act. Having considered the views of a wide range of organisations concerned with zoos, we have concluded that the system is fundamentally sound and generally working well. However, we believe that there are some areas in which improvements can be made.We propose to make a number of changes to modernise the system. The main elements are:a review of the Secretary of State's standards of modern zoo practice, with a view to encouraging greater efforts by zoos to promote conservation;closer monitoring of local authorities' performance and strengthened advice from central government to local councils and zoo operators;the establishment of a broadly-based zoos forum to oversee the zoo licensing system and advise Ministers. We propose that the forum should comprise representatives of local authorities, voluntary bodies, and independent animal welfare and public safety experts;more flexible zoo inspection teams (though we believe that the requirement for teams to include a veterinary expert and one other inspector appointed by the Secretary of State should remain, and there would be no change to the frequency of inspections);tightening the inspection arrangements by encouraging local authorities to use their existing powers to undertake informal, unannounced inspections at least annually;supporting measures to improve zoo standards throughout the European Community.This is a balanced package which will improve the level and consistency of standard throughout British zoos, strengthen their role in wildlife conservation, and reduce unnecessary bureaucracy. It will enable us to make a system which is already good even better, and by promoting greater openness and wider consultation, should help to increase public confidence in the zoo licensing system as a whole.We now want to seek the views of those directly involved with or interested in zoos before finalizing our package of improvements, and we have today issued a consultation paper setting out our proposals in more detail.We would hope that all those with a concern for standards in our zoos will feel able to contribute, and we will certainly consider carefully all comments and proposals which we receive.Copies of the consultation paper have been placed in the House of Commons and House of Lords Libraries.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When they expect to consult appropriate organisations on the text of the draft revision of the

We have today in accordance with Section 38(3) of the Road Traffic Act 1988 sent copies of the draft revision of the Highway Code for consultation to representative organisations, requesting responses by 31 January 1998. We shall welcome constructive comments on the style and the content of the draft. Copies will be placed in the Library of the House.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether any hedgerow established under an enclosure award made before 1845 and, therefore, regarded as an important hedgerow under the provisions of Schedule 1, Part II, paragraph 5(c) to the Hedgerow Regulations 1977, should be so recognised by each relevant local authority.

For the purposes of the Hedgerows Regulations 1997, a hedgerow is important if it has existed for 30 years or more and satisfies at least one of the criteria listed in Part II of Schedule 1 to the regulations. One such criterion (in Schedule 1, Part II, paragraph 5(a)) specifies that the hedgerow is recorded in a document held at 24 March 1997 at a Record Office as an integral part of a field system pre-dating the Inclosure Acts. Not every hedgerow established under an enclosure award made before 1845 will necessarily satisfy the criterion. This is because, in addition, it must be identified, in relation to the wider field system, in a document placed in a Record Office before 24 March 1997 and must be considered an integral part of that field system, for the criterion to be met.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to Written Answers given by the Lord Chancellor on 22 July

The United Kingdom is bound by Article 53 of the Convention to abide by the decision of the Court in any case to which it is a party. The Committee of Ministers adopted a Resolution on 29 October 1997 declaring that the United Kingdom has executed the judgment in the Goodwin case.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the Lord Chancellor's Department or the Court Service maintain data or other information so as to enable them to ascertain whether decisions of United Kingdom courts and tribunals to refer questions to the European Court of Justice are implemented within a reasonable time; and, if so, whether they will publish such information showing the position for each year during the past five years.

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