asked Her Majesty's Government:

What discussions they have had with the United Nations Population Fund about its decision to renew its population control programme in China. [HL1166]

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) new programme of assistance to China will make quality, client-oriented reproductive health services available to Chinese men and women on a voluntary basis in selected counties in accordance with the standards of reproductive health care upheld at the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development. Discussions have been held with UNFPA about the programme both bilaterally and through the forum of the Executive Board. The UK Government strongly supports UNFPA's programme in China and its aim to remove coercion and provide reproductive choice to Chinese people.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What are the reasons for treating the non-payment of BBC television licence fees differently from other civil debts; and [HL1246]Whether they will take steps to ensure that the non-payment of BBC television licence fees is treated in the same way as other civil debts. [HL1247]

The television licence fee is not a civil debt. Although the BBC has responsibility for collecting the licence fee, it is a payment for permission to receive any television programme service, as defined in Section 2(4) of the Broadcasting Act 1990, and not for services provided by the BBC. There is at present no effective means of disconnecting television services to those who fail to pay the licence fee. As disconnection for non-payment becomes practicable with the development of digital broadcasting technology, the Government will reconsider the need for criminal sanctions. But at present decriminalisation of licence fee evasion would be likely to lead to an unacceptable increase in the level of evasion and in collection costs. The cost of evasion is ultimately borne by those who do pay their licence fee.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What was, for each of the years between 1978–79 and 1997–98 inclusive, per capita identifiable general government expenditure for (a) Scotland; (b) Wales; and (c) England. [HL1250]

Figures for per capita identifiable general government expenditure for the benefit of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland from 1992–93 to 1996–97 are presented in table 7.1 of Public Expenditure: Statistical Analyses 1998–99 (Cm 3901), which was published on 3 April. Statistics for general government expenditure for years back to 1985–86 are available in prior publications of the same name. Figures for 1984–85 were published in The Government's Expenditure Plans 1990–91 to 1992–93 (Cm 1021). For years before 1984–85 analyses of expenditure by country were conducted on different definitions to those presently used. Treatment of expenditure between successive publications may of course differ due to changes in the manner of data collection. Information is only collected for outturn years, and thus figures for 1997–98 are not yet available.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they intend that speculators, however defined, should not benefit from a Multilateral Agreement on Investment. [HL1281]

The intention of the Government—as of our negotiating partners—is that all investors should be entitled to the benefits and subject to the obligations of the MAI.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What measures are being proposed to ensure that the administration of a Multilateral Agreement on Investment is conducted along principles of democratic accountability. [HL1282]

Administration of the agreement will be the responsibility of a Parties Group, consisting of representatives of all Contracting Parties' governments, which will in turn be accountable under their national constitutions in the usual way.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Under the schedule to the Local Authorities (Transport Charges) Regulations 1998 (Table 1, item 10), if an accident results in the need for clearance of debris from the highway, whether it will be the responsibility of the police to inform the local highway authority of the accident and to apportion blame for the accident; and, in the event of damage-only accidents not reported to the police, who, if anyone, will be responsible for reporting the accident to the local highway authority. [HL1301]

An authority wishing to exercise the discretionary power to pursue the person responsible for the deposit of debris for the costs of removing it contained in the 1998 regulations will need to establish arrangements for obtaining information about the incident. Highway authorities already have a duty in law to maintain the highway, including the removal of debris. It is our understanding that the police currently inform highway authorities of collisions that result in the deposit of debris that the police do not clear away themselves and can supply names and addresses of those involved. We envisage that the local highway authority would then take matters up with those persons. The Government doubt that an authority would consider it cost-effective to seek to recover the costs entailed in minor collisions that are not reported to the police.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What techniques of environmental costs-benefit analysis are used by government departments and by the water companies to assess the values of sites of special scientific interest. [HL1283]

In February 1998, the Environment Agency issued to water companies a document entitled The Environmental Costs and Benefits of Water Resources—A Preliminary Methodology. Values to be assigned to sites of special scientific interest are considered in this methodology.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they consider eider ducks to be an endangered species. [HL1275]

In common with the European population as a whole, the eider population in Great Britain has undergone a long-term increase and is not considered to be endangered.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What actions they propose to take to deal with incompetent builders.

We are today launching a consultation paper Combating Cowboy Builders, which sets out a range of measures aimed at protecting householders from incompetent or dishonest builders. I am placing copies in the Library.The Government's aim is to protect consumers who want to find a competent builder but, through no fault of their own, suffer as a result of a cowboy builder. The first object is to help householders distinguish between the good and the bad builders. Then it is necessary to ensure that the householder, having selected a reputable builder, gets an assurance of good quality work underpinned by a means of redress if things still go wrong.The Government have always made it clear that tackling the cowboys was one of their priorities for the construction industry. There is no simple, single solution to the problem. However, the Government believe that the package of measures proposed in this consultation paper will bring real benefit to householders and make life much harder for the cowboys.The proposals contained in the document include: encouraging local authorities or other local agencies to offer their residents lists of reputable builders who operate in their areas; opening up Constructionline, the Government's own database of approved contractors, to the private sector and householders; developing the Construction Skills Certification Scheme (which records craft skills on an ID card) and familiarising householders with it; developing a construction industry kitemark to denote builders who will work to an agreed set of standards; strengthening warranties for use in the event of inadequate work; the possibility of broadening the building regulations regime so that it is better able to support quality across a wide range of repair and maintenance work; finding ways in which lenders and insurers can play a greater role in helping householders to keep their homes in good repair using reputable tradesmen.The paper invites comments and ideas from consumer groups, the construction industry and anyone with an interest.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What targets have been set for the Highways Agency.

The Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions is currently conducting a number of major policy reviews. In the light of the conclusions, particularly of the Integrated Transport White Paper and the Roads Review, we will be setting the Highways Agency new objectives. In the interim my right honourable friend the Secretary of State has set the Highways Agency the following key targets. They are to: provide a service achieving five out of six (and missing the sixth by no more than 10 per cent.) of the targets set in accordance with the Whitehall Standards (as set out in Annex E of the plan); submit to the Secretary of State a proposal for a revised Road User's Charter in line with the Government's published Integrated Transport Policy by the end of the third quarter; in the interim, improve performance against the Road User's Charter targets, set out in Annex E of the plan, where achievement levels were below target in 1997–98; complete 2,100 lane kilometres of surface renewal, including reconstruction, overlays, resurfacing, inlays and surface dressing; comply with the EU directive which requires that the trunk road network is available for use by 40-tonne vehicles on 1 January 1999; achieve 80 per cent. of national scheme milestones set out in Annex F of the plan; complete 20 projects, each costing less than £3 million, aimed at improving journey time reliability and/or reducing the impact of roads on the environment; complete 25 network control projects; contribute to the Government's target of reducing road casualties by one third by the year 2000 (compared to the annual average for 1981–85) by ensuring that accident rates between 1996 and 1998 on the motorway and all-purpose trunk road network do not exceed 21 accidents involving personal injury for every 100 million vehicle kilometres of travel and by completing 200 projects, each costing less than £3 million, aimed at improving road safety; publish congestion monitoring information, including National Road Network Assessment system (NARNAS) maps and TrafficMaster data; review the agency's environmental reporting requirements to agree changes as necessary with DETR and submit the results to the Secretary of State by the end of the third quarter; agree a revised environmental strategy for the agency in line with the Government's published Integrated Transport Policy and in consultation with DETR, and submit the results to the Secretary of State by the end of the third quarter; manage its programme and running costs within the agreed financial allocation; deliver better efficiency and effectiveness throughout its business activities and achieve the two aggregate indicators and 80 per cent. of the programme performance measure targets listed in Annex C 4.2 of the business plan; apply value management and value engineering guidelines to all national schemes at prescribed stages of preparation.These targets are included in an interim business plan for 1998–99, which will be published shortly. Copies will be placed in the Library of the House.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will publish proposals for a new ethical framework for local government.

We intend to publish tomorrow our proposals for a new ethical framework for local government in England. Copies will be placed in the Library of the House.This paper is the last in the series inviting discussion on the Government's agenda for modernising local government in England. It sets out our proposals for a new framework of conduct for councillors and council staff. These proposals are built on the Third Report of the Committee on Standards in Public Life, presented to Parliament in July 1997 (Cm 3702).

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether a draft European convention on citizen rights was approved by officials on 20 March; and, if so, whether and when, in the interests of open government, they will publish it for discussion. [HL1170]

A draft Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-Making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters has been the subject of negotiations within the United Nations Economic Committee for Europe (UNECE). The draft convention was discussed at UNECE's Committee on Environmental Policy on 17 March and will now be considered by UNECE Environment Ministers at the "Environment for Europe" meeting in Aarhus, Denmark, in June, where Ministers will be invited to adopt and sign the convention.In accordance with normal procedures in relation to treaties, a copy of the text of the convention, if signed by the UK, will be published as a Command Paper as soon as possible after signature, and laid before both Houses of Parliament with an Explanatory Memorandum for 21 Sitting days before any UK ratification takes place.The convention has not yet reached the stage when treaties are formally presented to Parliament. However, copies of the draft text as it stands are being placed in the Libraries of both Houses.We will be considering what steps may be necessary, once the text of the convention is agreed by UNECE Ministers, to publicise its existence more widely and to explain how the UK intends to implement its provisions.During the negotiations, a coalition of non-governmental organisations, which included a delegate from an organisation based in the United Kingdom, played a significant role in the development of the convention text.

asked Her Majesty's Government:In how many places are British military forces involved overseas; and in each case which forces and for what specific purpose. [HL1167]

This information is not held centrally, but available records show that, as at 27 March 1998, British forces had deployed overseas in the following places and for the following primary purposes. These figures do not include military staff in British Embassies, High Commissions and NATO headquarters:

Region	Force	Primary Purpose
Adriatic	RN	Support to NATO-led
		Stabilisation Force
Antarctica	RN	Hydrographic Survey
	Army
Argentina	Army	Training
Australia	RN	Exchange
	Army
	RAF
Austria	RAF	Training
Baltic States	RM	Training
	Army
Belgium	RN	Exchange, Training,
	Army	Movements Control and
	RAF	Air Traffic Control
Belize	Army	Training
Brazil	RN	Training
Brunei	RN	Brunei Garrison, Training
	Army	and Advice
	RAF
Canada	RN	Exchange, Training
	Army
	RAF
Chile	RN	Attending Airshow and
	Army	Training
	RAF
Cyprus	Army	Garrison of the Sovereign
	RAF	Base Areas and UN
	Joint Service	Operations
Czech Republic	RAF	Advice
Denmark	RN	Exchange
	RAF
Diego Garcia	RN	Administration of Naval
		Facility
Ethiopia	RAF	Advice
Falkland Islands	RN	Falkland Islands Garrison
	Army
	RAF
	Joint Service
Finland	Army	Equipment Trials
France	RN	Liaison, Training
	Army
	RAF
Former Yugoslavia	RN/RM	British contribution to
	Army	NATO-led Stabilisation
	RAF	Force
Georgia	Army	UN Operations
Germany	RN	Stationed Forces, Exchange,
	Army	Training
	RAF
Ghana	RM	Training and Advice
	Army
Gibraltar	RN	Gibraltar Garrison
	Army
	RAF
	Joint Service

asked Her Majesty's Government:What plans they have for the disposal of the four Upholder class submarines. [HL1407]

The Government of Canada have today announced their intention, subject to final negotiations, to lease all four of the Upholder class submarines for a period of eight years. Canada has chosen to acquire the submarines via a lease with an option to purchase, as this is the most satisfactory solution for them.During the period of the lease, the submarines will still be owned by the UK, but Canada will have full and unrestricted use and control of them and will indemnify the UK from any claims that may arise from Canadian operations. At the end of the lease period, the Canadian Government will have the option of purchasing the submarines outright. If Canada does not take up this option, Canada will dispose of the submarines on our behalf.This arrangement is worth some $610 million (Canadian) to the UK. Various UK companies will be involved in reactivating the submarines and GEC Marine at Barrow will be providing technical and logistic support, including the provision of training.This decision by the Canadian Government represents the most practical and cost-effective manner of securing the future of the submarines and is a strong indication of the continuing close relationship between the UK and Canada in defence matters. The links between our armed forces are traditionally strong, both bilaterally and within NATO. Her Majesty's Government hope that this deal will lead to further co-operation between the two navies and that it will enhance Canada's contribution to NATO.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What plans they have to change force levels in the Middle East. [HL1408]

We remain fully committed to ensuring that Saddam Hussein honours the agreement he made with the UN Secretary General on 23 February, subsequently endorsed by UN Security Council resolution 1154, giving free and unfettered access to UNSCOM and IAEA inspectors. Saddam has complied so far, but access alone is not enough. Saddam has not yet provided the evidence that we need in order to be sure that he has destroyed all his weapons of mass destruction. It is, therefore, too soon either to relax our vigilance or to reduce our military capability in the Gulf.We have been reviewing the composition of our forces to ensure that we have the best mix for the job. We have decided that, as temperatures in the Gulf increase, we should deploy additional Tornados to replace the Harrier GR7s embarked on HMS Illustrious, since Tornados are better suited to operations in extreme heat than Harriers operating from aircraft carriers. With the generous agreement of the Kuwaiti Government we will, therefore, be increasing to 12 the number of Tornados based at Ali Al Salem Airbase in the middle of April. HMS Illustrious will then depart from the Gulf. In July she will enter a major refit programme, which will include a number of enhancements to her capability to conduct joint air operations.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What plans they have to introduce ethnic monitoring in the reserve forces. [HL1385]

The Ministry of Defence is fully committed to promoting within the Armed Forces an environment which is free from harassment and racial discrimination. As part of our efforts to further that commitment, we have decided to begin monitoring the ethnic origin of members of the reserve forces. Monitoring began on 1 April and will cover all those who are in service and all those who join the reserve forces in future. Altogether, we expect around 68,000 members of the reserve forces to be included in the survey. The services are writing to units and individuals to invite them to take a full part in it.The initiative we are taking underlines the commitment that the Armed Forces have made to ensure that every serviceman and woman enjoys equal opportunities irrespective of their race. The methodology we shall follow for monitoring the reserves is based closely on that which is already in use for the regular Armed Forces. The statistical information derived from monitoring will allow the reserve force managers to analyses recruitment, retention and promotion and other trends; and it will enable them to develop and pursue policies which ensure that racial discrimination of any kind is eradicated from the reserves.The reserve forces involved are principally those which recruit directly from civilian life. Specifically they are the Royal Naval Reserve; the Royal Marines Reserve; the Territorial Army; the Royal Auxiliary Air Force; the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve Training; the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve University Air Squadron; and volunteers to the Royal Air Force Reserve.Because our reserves are recruited locally, and because many of them serve part-time, we do not expect the first statistics from the survey to be available until towards the end of this year. Thereafter the information will be available quarterly.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What matters were discussed, and with whom, during the visit to the United Kingdom of General Ismail Hakki Karadayi, the Turkish Chief of Staff. [HL1267]

General Ismail Hakki Karadayi visited the United Kingdom between 22 and 25 March. During his visit he had meetings with the Secretary of State for Defence, the Chief of Defence Staff, the Vice-Chief of Defence Staff, the Chief of the General Staff and the Chief of the Air Staff. A wide range of issues of mutual interest were discussed.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How much of the United Kingdom's defence effort, in terms of (a) money and (b) man-hours, is devoted to collaboration with Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United States, and how much to collaboration with the United Kingdom's European allies in NATO and in WEU; what degree of harmonisation between NATO and Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States has been reached; and what is the purpose of this harmonisation. [HL1208]

Information on the proportions of the UK's defence effort, in both financial and manpower terms, that is devoted to collaboration with particular nations or international organisations is not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost. The UK, the USA and Canada are NATO members; there is no formal relationship between NATO and Australia and New Zealand.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will publish data for Scotland showing for state schools, independent schools and all schools taken together the number and percentage of all pupils in P4, P7 and S2 in each of the years 1994 to 1997 taking and passing National Curriculum tests at levels A. B, C, D and E in the following subjects: mathematics, English and science, showing data separately for boys, girls and all pupils and including, for each category of school, the total number of schools and the number of pupils in P4, P7 and S2. [HL1227]

In Scotland the 5–14 curriculum including national testing, is non-statutory and national tests are carried out at five levels of attainment (A to E) for pupils between those ages in mathematics, reading and writing. There is currently no national testing in science. A pupil takes a test when his/her teacher deems this appropriate in order to confirm the teacher's judgment that the pupil has largely completed work at that level. Most pupils are expected to move on from one level to the next at roughly two-year intervals. The results of testing between 1994 and 1997 are not centrally available.As part of the initiative to raise standards in Scottish schools, the Government will seek in June 1998 the following information from each publicly funded primary and secondary school in Scotland: the number of pupils in P3, P5, P6 and P7 (Primary) and in S2 (Secondary); the number of pupils at each of these stages who have achieved each of the five levels in national tests by June 1998 for each of reading, writing and mathematics.As to publication of data in future, we are committed to making more information on performance available to parents and schools. The Ministerial Action Group on Standards in Scottish Schools has been asked to look at how the present published information can be improved, taking into account the development of target setting.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What was the amount of money in (i) cash terms and (ii) 1997–98 prices allocated in 1978–79 to each area of expenditure within the Secretary of State's responsibility, namely: (a) agriculture, fisheries and food; (b) industry, enterprise and training; (c) roads and transport; (d) housing; (e) other environmental services; (f) law, order and protective services; (g) education; (h) arts and libraries; (i) health; (j) social work services; (k) other public services; (1) local authority capital expenditure; (m) provision to match receipts from European Social Fund and European Regional Development Fund; (n) central Government support to local authorities' non-capital expenditure; (o) nationalised industries financing limits. [HL1248]

The information requested is shown in the following table, using the areas of expenditure recognised at that time.The figures are taken from

asked Her Majesty's Government:What was the amount of money in (i) cash terms and (ii) 1997–98 prices allocated in each financial year between 1978–79 and 1997–98 (inclusive of these years) to each area of expenditure currently within the Secretary of State for Scotland's responsibility. [HL1249]

Fully consistent information in the form requested could only be provided at disproportionate cost. Relevant information can be found in the following publications:

• Public Expenditure to 1985–86—A Commentary on the Scotland Programme
• Public Expenditure to 1986–87—A Commentary on the Scotland Programme
• Public Expenditure to 1987–88—A Commentary on the Scotland Programme
• Public Expenditure to 1988–89—A Commentary on the Scotland Programme
• Public Expenditure to 1989–90—A Commentary on the Scotland Programme
• Public Expenditure to 1990–91—A Commentary on the Scotland Programme
• Public Expenditure to 1991–92—A Commentary on the Scotland Programme
• Public Expenditure to 1992–93—A Commentary on the Scotland Programme
• Serving Scotland's Needs—The Government's Expenditure Plans 1991–92 to 1993–94 (Cm 1515)
• Serving Scotland's Needs—The Government's Expenditure Plans 1992–93 to 1994–95 (Cm 1915)
• Serving Scotland's Needs—The Government's Expenditure Plans 1993–94 to 1995–96 (Cm 2214)
• Serving Scotland's Needs—The Government's Expenditure Plans 1994–95 to 1996–97 (Cm 2514)
• Serving Scotland's Needs—The Government's Expenditure Plans 1995–96 to 1997–98 (Cm 2814)
• Serving Scotland's Needs—The Government's Expenditure Plans 1996–97 to 1998–99 (Cm 3214)
• Serving Scotland's Needs—The Government's Expenditure Plans 1997–98 to 1999–2000 (Cm 3614)

asked Her Majesty's Government:How much public money has been invested in mussel farming projects in Scotland in each of the last 10 years; how many farming projects were helped; and how many of these are no longer in business. [HL1272]

The principal central source of funding for mussel farming projects has been the Financial Instrument for Fisheries Guidance. This EU based scheme has assisted 19 projects with funding as follows:

Year	£
1988–89	119,154
1989–90	210,993
1990–91	—
1991–92	—
1992–93	—
1993–94	335,318
1994–95	59,755
1995–96	188,302
1996–97	474,108
1997–98	88,855
Total	1,476,485

The projects have also attracted government support of approximately £300,000 and could also have benefited from aid provided by Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise. I will ask the respective chairmen to write to the noble Lord on this.Information on how many of the businesses assisted are no longer in operation is not readily available but most are believed to be still trading. It may be of interest that production of mussels over the 10 years to 1996 inclusive (the latest year for which production figures are available) has increased from 262 tonnes to 1,072 tonnes.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many people are employed in mussel farming in Scotland. [HL1273]

In 1997 there were 48 full-time, 35 part-time and 21 casual staff employed in mussel farming.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What estimates there are of the population of eider ducks in the west of Scotland in each of the last 10 years. [HL1274]

There are no separate population estimates for eider ducks in the west of Scotland. I am asking the chairman of Scottish Natural Heritage to write to the noble Lord with its advice on this matter, based on the information available to it.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many states have ratified the ILO Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention 1958. [HL1288]

As of March 1998, 130 ILO member states had ratified this convention.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will ratify the ILO Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention 1958. [HL1289]

The Government have not yet ratified this convention although we are strongly committed to the principles contained in it. We are therefore currently reviewing the position towards ratification.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether it is within the law to serve beef on the bone from a home-killed beast to:

It would be permissible to serve beef on the bone only from an animal slaughtered on the owner's holding and only in circumstances restricted to private activities. It is unlawful under the regulations to supply beef on the bone.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When bans on the sale of those parts of beef carcasses regarded as likely to harbour bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) agents became effective; and how much time had elapsed since it was officially determined that BSE presented some risk to humans and other species. [HL1193]

Controls in GB on those bovine tissues known to, or which might potentially, harbour detectable BSE infectivity in infected animals, have been in place since November 1989. These have been regularly reviewed and updated since then on the basis of developments in scientific advice. Details of the controls are as follows:

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many horses are born in the United Kingdom each year; and how many of them are slaughtered for human consumption. [HL1202]

Information is not held centrally on the numbers of horses born each year in the United Kingdom. Precise figures are not kept on the number of horses slaughtered in the United Kingdom for human consumption. However, total exports of horsemeat (for human consumption and other uses) from animals slaughtered in the United Kingdom totalled 2,405 tonnes in 1997.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many horses are born in the European Union each year; and how many of them are slaughtered for human consumption. [HL1203]

Information is not held centrally on the numbers of horses born each year in the European Union. In 1996, approximately 370 thousand horses were slaughtered for human consumption.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Which veterinary medicines or types of medicines currently used to treat horses in the United Kingdom will be banned by the European Union on the grounds that the residue of the drug might be injurious to humans if the horse were to be slaughtered for human consumption. [HL1204]

Under Community legislation a marketing authorisation for a veterinary medicinal product intended for administration to an animal whose flesh or products are intended for human consumption cannot be granted unless a maximum residue limit has been established for the active substance(s) contained in it in accordance with the procedures established by Council Regulation 2377/90. Where a maximum residue limit cannot be established at whatever level in foodstuffs of animal origin, because the residues would constitute a hazard to the health of a consumer, the substance is listed in Annex IV to the regulation and products containing such substances and which are indicated for the treatment of animals intended for human consumption must be removed from the Community market.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether, under the authorisation procedure in European Council Regulation 2377/90, all drugs available for the treatment of horses before 1 January 1992 will continue to be available for use in the United Kingdom after 1 January 2000 for horses other than those intended for human consumption. [HL1205]

In accordance with Regulation 2377/90, the pharmacologically active ingredients of any veterinary medicine that is intended for an animal which may enter the human food chain must have a maximum residue limit (MRL) set. The horse is classified as a food producing animal in the European Union. However, we have been guided by a statement by European Commission officials that, if a horse is not destined for human consumption, maximum residue limits are not required. This has meant that veterinary medicines which contain active ingredients for which no MRL has been set can continue to be authorised for use in horses which are not intended for human consumption.There can be no guarantee of the future availability of veterinary medicines for which MRLs cannot be established, although current evidence indicates that they will continue to be available in the United Kingdom for use in horses not intended for human consumption.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When the latest report on bovine spongiform encephalopathy will be made available. [HL1286]

A further report on BSE in Great Britain was placed in the Library of the House on 30 March 1998.The report outlines the measures which have been taken to protect public health since June 1997, including the Government's announcements on the White Paper on proposals for a new Food Standards Agency and the Public Inquiry into BSE and nvCJD. It also outlines the measures which have been taken to protect public health during the period under report, including legislation on Beef Bones and Specified Risk Materials. It summarises the results of action to enforce existing public health measures, and outlines the action which has been taken to set up a cattle tracing system. An update on the number of cases of nvCJD is included.The epidemiology section shows that the epidemic of BSE in the UK continues to decline. The number of clinically suspect cases of BSE reported in Great Britain has continued to fall and for the six months to 31 December 1997 was 36 per cent. fewer than for the same period in 1996 and 68 per cent. fewer than for the same period in 1995. A continued improvement is expected for the future. The section shows that almost two-thirds of UK herds with adult breeding cattle have never had a case of BSE.Furthermore, 84 per cent. of beef suckler herds have never had a case of BSE. Reported incidence also shows that herds with more than four cases of BSE account for nearly three-quarters of all BSE cases, but represent only just over 10 per cent. of all herds.There is a section on the protection of animal health covering the controls on animal feed and the selective cull.The European perspective is reported in a section covering progress towards lifting the export ban, the European Parliament Temporary Committee of Inquiry and Commission proposals on Specified Risk Materials.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether, in allowing food containing genetically modified material into the country, and allowing it to be sold without specific identification, they are acting in accordance with the Precautionary Principle, or in accordance with the view that if ill-effects have so far not been identified, it is safe to assume there can be no ill effects. [HL1259]

Food containing genetically modified material can only be imported into the European Union if it has been approved following a rigorous safety assessment. In the UK this safety assessment is undertaken by the Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes. The Committee always takes a precautionary approach in arriving at its conclusions. As far as identification is concerned, the Government are determined to ensure that all foods containing genetically modified material are clearly labelled so that consumers can decide whether to purchase them or not. Detailed EC rules for doing this in the case of genetically modified soya and maize are expected to be agreed shortly. In the meantime, manufacturers and retailers have been labelling genetically modified products on a voluntary basis since the beginning of January.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they have calculated the economic impact on mussel farms in the United Kingdom of predation by eider ducks. [HL1276]

While the Government have not made an assessment of the economic impact of eider ducks on mussel farms, a research project to develop improved management and prevention strategies is already under way at the University of Glasgow. The project, worth £118,000 over three years, is jointly funded by industry and the National Environment Research Council under the Aquaculture LINK Programme.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they have had any recent discussions with representatives of the United States Government about the work of the American National Academy of Science: and whether they have made any assessment of its current investigation into the safety of Vitamin B6. [HL1268]

We are aware that the United States National Academy of Sciences is undertaking a review of B vitamins, including Vitamin B6. Officials have confirmed in correspondence with the Office of the United States Trade Representative in Washington that if further data on the safety of vitamin B6 becomes available during the current consultation exercise on the draft regulations required to implement the proposed controls on dietary supplements containing Vitamin B6 it will be taken into account by the Government. We have not discussed the issue with representatives of the United States Government, nor have we made any assessment of the National Academy of Sciences investigation, the results of which have yet to be published.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether their draft statutory instrument on the retail sale of Vitamin B6 supplements has yet been passed for comment to the European Commission and to other member states of the European Union. [HL1269]

A copy of the draft regulations required to implement the proposed controls on dietary supplements containing Vitamin B6 was sent to the European Commission on 2 April. It is the responsibility of the Commission to inform other member states of the European Union of the notification.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What advice they received regarding the European legal position prior to banning the sale of beef on the bone. [HL1109]

The Government took full account of advice regarding the European legal position prior to introducing the Beef Bones Regulations 1997 which include the ban on the retail sale of beef on the bone.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will place in the Library of the House any scientific and legal advice which they received prior to, or as part of, their consultation exercise in relation to the banning of beef on the bone. [HL1110]

The Beef Bones Regulations 1997, which include a ban on the retail sale of beef on the bone, were introduced after the Government received advice from the Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee (SEAC) that BSE infectivity had been found in the dorsal root ganglia (DRG), and possibly the bone marrow, of cattle infected experimentally with BSE. A copy of SEAC's advice is available in the Library of the House along with copies of all the responses received to the consultation on the proposals for legislation. The Chief Medical Officer's advice was the subject of a News Release issued by the Department of Health on 5 December 1997, also available in the Library. It is not the practice to publish legal advice given to the Government.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Who has been awarded the consultancy and on what date they expect to establish the cattle traceability system for the United Kingdom, and:

PA Consulting Group were awarded a contract on 16 May 1997 to assist the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in establishing the Cattle Tracing System (CTS) in Great Britain.The CTS will be administered by the British Cattle Movement Service (BCMS), which will be sited at Workington, Cumbria;Once it is fully operational, the BCMS will comprise up to 260 staff;Mr. David Evans has been appointed Director of the BCMS after an open competition;The establishment of the CTS and the new BCMS operation at Workington involves the deployment of a variety of computer equipment and software. The main items consist of specialised scanners and scanning software, a database server and software and dedicated printing facilities.The current estimates for the setting up of the CTS as a whole are as follows:

	Estimate (£ million)
Database development (further enhancements costing up to £3 million may also take place)	6.5
Project Management	3.7
BCMS (Accommodation)	3.5
BCMS (Equipment, Services and publicity)	3.7
Total	17.3

There is expected to be some test running of CTS over the summer;We expect CTS to be operating by late summer 1998.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will commission a cost benefit analysis of their achievement in getting export restrictions on beef lifted from some herds in Northern Ireland. [HL1125]

There are no plans to conduct a cost benefit analysis of the achievement in getting the beef export ban lifted. The value to Northern Ireland farmers of the export market prior to the ban was over £200 million per annum. The extent to which the Northern Ireland beef industry will regain its export markets will be dependent on a number of factors which cannot yet be evaluated.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What was the outcome of the Fisheries Council held in Brussels on 24 March. [HL1215]

My right honourable friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food chaired the meeting of the Fisheries Council in Brussels on 24 March. My honourable friend the Parliamentary Secretary, Mr. Morley, represented the United Kingdom together with my noble friend the Under-Secretary of State at the Scottish Office, Lord Sewel.The Council discussed the introduction of a ban on high seas drift nets. Views were divided. The UK, with a majority of other member states, argued for the phasing out of such nets because of the by-catch problems associated with them, particularly by-catches of dolphins. Several Minsters opposed a ban. However, at the end of the discussion my right honourable friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food was able to conclude that there was an expectation that there will be a qualified majority in support of a ban. This helps clear the way for a formal agreement before the end of June. In the meantime, the European Commission will prepare measures such as decommissioning or conversion, to be applied within existing funding provisions, for fishermen affected by the ending of drift netting for tuna, swordfish and other high seas species.The Council agreed by qualified majority, with Belgium voting against, new total allowable catches (TACs) and quotas for the North Sea. The six new TACs will help to conserve stocks by extending the quota system to cover anglerfish, megrim, skates and rays, turbot and brill, dab and flounder, lemon sole and witch. The new TACs are precautionary and national quotas are based on historic catches, so confirming large UK shares.Political agreement was reached, with the Netherlands dissenting, on a measure to rationalise by-catch limits for herring in industrial fisheries for other species and to limit industrial fishing for herring to part of the Baltic Sea. No other herring may be used for industrial purposes unless it is first offered for sale for human consumption and fails to find a buyer. Taken together, these measures should help to conserve sensitive herring stocks.The European Commission presented a report reviewing the operation of fisheries monitoring under the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) and drawing attention to areas where enforcement needs to be strengthened by means of a three-year action plan. In an orientation debate, the UK supported the introduction of new measures to achieve more effective and more consistent fisheries enforcement. As chairman, my right honourable friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food was able to conclude that there was general support for improved enforcement, and the Council welcomed the Commission's intention to come forward rapidly with concrete proposals, The Council will return to the subject at its next meeting.The Council unanimously agreed conclusions welcoming pilot regional meetings held during 1997 and calling for the initiative to be developed and extended in 1998. These regional meetings contribute to the UK's objective of increasing the involvement of fishermen in CFP discussions and developing the regional dimension of the CFP.Finally, the Council unanimously agreed, with Spain abstaining, autonomous tariff quotas for imports of fish products in 1998.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the United Kingdom is hosting one of the nine pilot projects on the electronic tagging of livestock as planned by the European Commission; and if not, whether they intend to have their own pilot project. [HL1147]

The United Kingdom is not participating in the IDEA project on the electronic identification of animals, principally because our resources in the area of cattle identification are already at full stretch in creating a national database of cattle movements. There are, however, a number of trials of this nature taking place in the United Kingdom.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many unfilled vacancies there are for chairmen and non-executives of NHS Trusts; and what is the longest period for which any of these vacancies has been outstanding. [HL1280]

At 31 March 1998, there were 146 vacant National Health Service trust chairmen and non-executive posts out of a total of 2,580 appointments. One of these vacancies has remained unfilled for two years pending the outcome of protracted discussion on service configuration.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Which members of the ministerial Health Team have, since I May 1997, formally met representatives of the:

All members of the Department of Health's ministerial team have met representatives from each of these organisations or groups, at least once, since 1 May 1997. Detailed information could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many children die each year as a result of breathing in their mother's cigarette smoke. [HL1119]

Although it is not possible to attribute the death of any child directly to exposure to parental tobacco smoke, a recently published report by the scientific committee on tobacco and health (SCOTH) concluded that infants and children exposed to tobacco smoke were more likely to suffer from serious respiratory illnesses and asthma attacks, which are common—and very occasionally fatal—conditions affecting thousands of children. The committee also concluded that the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) doubled with exposure to environmental tobacco smoke. Copies of the report are available in the Library.However, a co-author, D. Cook, of a key paper considered by SCOTH, Anderson Ross. H, Cook Derek G.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is their response to allegations of a breach of the Prime Minister's security, reported in

The planning application regarding my right honourable friend the Prime Minister's home contained details which should not have been made public for security reasons. When we were alerted to the situation, my right honourable friend the Home Secretary acted immediately to ensure that such details were no longer accessible.The security arrangements at my right honourable friend the Prime Minister's home have been very thoroughly tested and are fully effective.When major changes to the homes of public figures are planned on security grounds it is important that local residents who may be inconvenienced by building work are properly consulted so that their concerns can be taken into account. However, a balance needs to be struck between ensuring that local people have their say about major changes to any property and ensuring that the security of public figures is not compromised.The Home Office, the Security Facilities Executive (SAFE) and Sedgefield Borough Council acted in good faith but the security implications of the planning documents were not fully identified and acted upon. The Home Office and SAFE have introduced new procedures to ensure that this cannot happen in any future case. In addition, other planning authorities which have similar residences have been contacted to ensure that any such risks to security may be avoided.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When they expect the United Kingdom Periodic report on the United Nations Committee against Torture to be completed and whether they will place the Report in the Library. [HL1403]

The United Kingdom's Third Periodic Report under Article 19 of the United Nations Convention Against Torture has been submitted to the United Nations by the United Kingdom Mission in Geneva. A copy has been placed in the Library and copies have been sent to organisations with a known interest in the subject area. The report is also available on the Internet.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will publish the Instructions to Immigration Service and Home Office staff on dealing with immigration cases. [HL1402]

We are pleased to announce that a copy of the disclosable version of four of the six volumes of the Immigration Directorates' Instructions (IDIs) is being placed in the Library. The material is subject to periodic review and revision. We shall arrange to provide the Library with any necessary amendments or new instructions.The IDIs consist of internal guidance to staff about the handling of on-entry and after-entry immigration casework. They are being made available in accordance with the principles of openness in the White Paper on Freedom of Information and in the existing Code of Practice on Access to Government Information. A small amount of material cannot be disclosed, either on the grounds of national security or because disclosure would prejudice the effective operation of immigration controls.Arrangements are now in hand to make this information available on the Internet. Because of the volume of material and the technical arrangements involved, it is likely to take approximately six weeks before this process is complete. In the meantime, members of the Immigration and Nationality Directorate's After-Entry User Panel are being consulted about other suitable ways of facilitating access to this information.Separate sets of internal instructions on asylum, enforcement, European Economic Area and nationality casework will be made available in due course. We are also examining disclosure of the remaining two volumes of the IDIs in so far as they relate to immigration casework. Much of the material in those volumes relates to internal administrative matters, such as general guidance on the drafting of letters, which would not normally be relevant to those outside the Home Office.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will offer advice and assistance in an endeavour to counter the gun culture in the United States. [HL1308]

No. It is not this Government's policy to intervene in the lawful domestic arrangements in another sovereign state.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether police forces in the United Kingdom use small arms ammunition when attending an operational incident which the Armed Forces are prohibited from using in wartime. [HL1213]

Authorised police firearms officers may use soft point ammunition operationally. In accordance with our obligations under the Hague Convention of 1899, the Armed Forces would not use such ammunition in wartime. The convention does not apply to police use of firearms. The circumstances in which the police are, on rare occasions, required to use firearms are different from those found in wartime. Police use of soft point ammunition reflects the need for them to have ammunition which is effective in quickly incapacitating someone who is presenting an immediate threat to life and who cannot be dealt with in any other way. It is also important for the police to have ammunition which is less likely to pass through a target and thus put others at risk.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Williams of Mostyn on 3 June 1997

The information at 31 March 1998 is given in the table below. Audited details of compensation expenditure will be made available at the end of the scheme. These interim figures should therefore be regarded as provisional and subject to adjustment.

	Payments made (£ million)
Items surrendered	Individual	Dealer	Total
Large calibre handguns	14.02	3.99	18.01
Expanding ammunition	0.26	0.92	1.18
Small calibre pistols1	1.95	0.56	2.51
Ancillary equipment2	10.17	9.36	19.53
1 All payments made under the ex gratia surrender scheme for small-calibre pistols.
2 Includes payments made under the ex gratia surrender scheme for small calibre pistols.

In addition, interim payments of around £2.0 million have been made to firearms dealers pending full settlement of their claims.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What assistance they give to governments, such as the Government of Thailand, to protect children in South East Asia who are sold into prostitution and to combat the trafficking of children; and what discussions have been held between Home Office Ministers and their Thai counterparts. [HL1271]

The Government are committed to promoting the eradication of the commercial sexual exploitation of children both in this country and abroad. We already have extensive arrangements in place for assisting other countries in the investigation and prosecution of offences involving the sexual exploitation and trafficking of children, as well as for responding to extradition requests.Last August, my right honourable friend the Foreign Secretary signed a memorandum of understanding with the Philippines Government on co-operation to fight child abuse, which is the first of its kind in the world. On the practical front we are sharing intelligence and the expertise and training skills of our police with other governments. United Kingdom police forces have run training courses in the Philippines and Sri Lanka, the latter course being attended by officers from all parts of the sub-continent. Last month I visited Thailand, where I met the Interior Minister, the Deputy Foreign Minister and the Justice Minister, and discussed with them the issue of United Kingdom/Thai co-operation on child protection. I also launched a child protection training course run by officers from Northumbria Police.At the second Asia/Europe summit, held in London from 3–4 April, my right honourable friend the Foreign Secretary and Mr. Siazon, Foreign Secretaryof the Philippines, announced a major Anglo-Philippines initiative on combating the commercial sexual exploitation of children. A conference of experts will be held in London in October to share good practice and strengthen links between states, non-government organisations and international organisations.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many claims for compensation arising from the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1997 compensation scheme have been received in respect of:

It is not possible fully to categorise claims until they have been examined. The available information at 31 March 1998 based on claims received and registered on the Firearms Compensation Section's computer is as follows:

	Number of claims received
Claims under Options A and B	20,216
Claims under Options A, B and C (mixed claims)	17,688
Claims under Option C only	800

There are around 2,000 claims still to be registered, which will add to these numbers. The figures do not include applications under the

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many claims for compensation arising from the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1997 compensation scheme have been paid in respect of:

The information at 31 March 1998 is as follows:

	Number of payments made	Value
Claims under Option A	25,043	£9,778,413
Claims under Option B	26,279	£27,205,687

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether, in the context of international co-operation in the suppression of terrorism, they consider the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam to be an organisation that engages in terrorist activity. [HL1219]

The Government understand that the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam have been responsible for terrorist attacks overseas. We strongly condemn all acts of terrorism from whatever source.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will publish data for Wales showing for state schools, independent schools and all schools taken together, the number and percentage of schools and 14 year-old pupils in each of the years 1994 to 1997 taking National Curriculum tests in the following subjects: mathematics, English and science, including, for each category of school, the number of schools and the number of 14 year-old pupils. [HL1229]

I refer to the replies I gave on 12 March (WA 78–84). National curriculum tests are taken by all children reaching the end of Key Stage 3, not all of whom will have become 14 years old during the school year. The numbers of pupils assessed, given in my previous replies, cannot therefore be related to the numbers of 14 year-olds in schools. The Key Stage 3 data held by the Welsh Office relate to all pupils taking the tasks and tests, irrespective of the age of the pupils. The data collected by the external marking agency do permit analysis by age of pupil so that the results of only 14 year-old pupils could be analysed separately, but this would entail a disproportionate cost.The following table shows both the number of schools from which Key Stage 3 results were received and the number of schools with pupils at January who would have become 14 years old during the school year. As the number of schools supplying task or test results does not relate directly to the number of schools with 14 year-olds in January, percentages have not been calculated.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will publish data for Wales showing for comprehensive schools, independent schools and all schools separately, the percentage of all 16 year-old pupils in each of the years 1960 to 1997 passing GCSE examinations with grades A* to C or GCE O Level examinations with grades A to C (including CSE passes at grade 1) in the following subjects: mathematics, English or English language, English literature, sciences (showing separately percentages for Single Award Science or science, Double Award Science, physics, chemistry and biology), French, history and geography, showing data separately for boys, girls and all pupils and including, for each category of school each year, the number of schools and the number of 16 year-old pupils. [HL1240]

The information requested is only available centrally from 1992 onwards without incurring a disproportionate cost. Information for the years 1994 to 1997 was given in my earlier Answer to the Baroness Blatch on 11 February (WA 211–216). Information for 1992 and 1993 is given in the following table.

Percentage of 15 year-old boys achieving GCSE A* to C in selected subjects (a)
	Year
	1992	1993
Comprehensive schools (b)
Number of schools with 15 year-old pupils	225	225
Number of 15 year-old boys	16,656	15,739
Percentage of 15 year-old boys achieving GCSE grade A*-C in:
Mathematics (c)	34	35
English language	31	31
English literature	23	23
Sciences (d)	35	37
Single award science	3	3
Double award science	26	28
Physics	5	4
Chemistry	4	4
Biology (e)	3	3
French	13	14
History	12	13
Geography	22	22
Independent schools
Number of schools with 15 year-old pupils	41	39
Number of 15 year-old boys	568	561
Percentage of 15 year-old boys achieving GCSE grade A*-C in:
Mathematics (c)	65	70
English language	63	68