asked Her Majesty's Government:How many of the reviews currently being undertaken by the Treasury will be published during the Parliamentary Summer recess. [HL2791]

I refer the noble Lord to the reviews I listed in my Answer to Baroness Hamwee on 8 July (Official Report, col. WA 141). Treasury Ministers have no plans to publish, during the Parliamentary Summer Recess, the results of any of the reviews for which the Treasury is responsible.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will list the organisations whose European Commission grants were suspended following the judgment of the European Court of Justice in case C-106/96 and the amounts involved in each case; why they did not take concurrent steps, as holders of the Presidency of the European Union, to secure agreement on measures to safeguard recipients against the effects of the ruling in the event of the action succeeding, instead of waiting until after the judgment; what action they have taken to restore this funding, in accordance with the assurances given by the Prime Minister to the European Parliament on 18 June; whether they have met the deadline of 17 July set by the meeting between the Economic Secretary to the Treasury and representatives of the European Commission and the European Parliament for solving the problems created by the Court's ruling; and whether they will seek to compensate the organisations concerned for the disruption of their activities caused by the interruption of legitimately expected funding. [HL2807]

No existing grants to organisations have been suspended following the judgment of the ECJ in case C-106/96. The making of new grants from a number of budget lines was, however, suspended while the European Commission carried out a review to establish whether funds could be used in accordance with the ECJ's ruling.Responsibility for the execution of the budget is solely a matter for the European Commission. The Government have, though, repeatedly urged the Commission to take account of the likely consequences of the ECJ's ruling by bringing forward proposals for a legal base for community expenditure where appropriate.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many of the reviews currently being undertaken by the Office of Public Service will be published during the Parliamentary recess. [HL2784]

The Office of Public Service has no reviews outstanding.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether, in accordance with the practice established in the case of the European Union Troika visit to Tibet, they will place a copy of the report by the European Union Troika mission to East Timor in the Libraries of both Houses of Parliament. [HL2575]

The conclusions of the EU Heads of Mission Troika visit to East Timor (27–30 June) have now been published. Copies have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they have received a report from the Iraqi Communist Party alleging that the Fayli Kurds who were detained in the early 1980s because of their alleged Iranian origin were held in the Abu Ghraib prison, and that some of them were used as guinea pigs in experiments to develop internationally prohibited weapons; and whether they will call for an international investigation of these allegations by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. [HL2603]

We have received a copy of the Iraqi Communist Party report about the testing of chemical weapons upon the Fayli Kurds and others held in Abu Ghuraib prison. We understand that the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights has passed the report to the UN Special Rapporteur on Iraq, who reports annually to the Commission on Human Rights with an interim report to the General Assembly.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will sign the Irish Goverment's nuclear disarmament initiative which has been signed by Brazil, Mexico, Egypt, South Africa, Slovenia and Sweden. [HL2613]

The statement was drafted by the states listed by the noble Lord and at no stage have we been invited to become involved.The statement calls for a clear commitment from the nuclear weapon states to the speedy, final and total elimination of nuclear weapons. We have made clear our commitment to the global elimination of nuclear weapons. We have taken some important steps towards this goal in the Strategic Defence Review and elsewhere.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What are the reasons underlying their intention not to sign the United Nations Convention on the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families. [HL2642]

This convention is problematic for the United Kingdom. Many of the rights enshrined in it go far beyond the scope of the UK's existing immigration laws. The Government consider that they have struck the right balance between the need for immigration control and protection of the interests and rights of migrant workers, who already have the protection of the United Kingdom's existing commitments under international law.This convention has not entered into force. It has only been ratified by nine states, and signed by three others. This suggests that the United Kingdom's problems are not uncommon.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the United States Administration's decision to transfer 14 frigates to Turkey and 11 frigates to Greece over the next two years and to transfer to Turkey 72 advanced ground-to-ground missiles, with a range of 150 miles, has been discussed within NATO; and whether these weapons are expected to reduce the risk of conflict between these two NATO allies. [HL2691]

NATO has not discussed any decision by the United States to transfer military equipment to Greece and Turkey. We continue to support fully the efforts of the NATO Secretary General to implement a series of confidence building measures to decrease tensions in the region.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they agree with the United States Administration that the transfer from Russia to the Government of Cyprus of S300 anti-missile missiles would be "destabilising". [HL2692]

The Government fully share the concern of the United States and other international partners that deployment of S300 missiles to Cyprus would exacerbate tension in the region. We have expressed this concern to the Government of Cyprus and shall continue to do so.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is the financial position in the Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organisation (KEDO), of which the European Union is a member, regarding payment for the heavy fuel oil promised by KEDO to North Korea; and whether in particular the United States is up-to-date with the funding to which it is committed. [HL2693]

The Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organisation (KEDO) is committed to delivering 500,000 metric tonnes of heavy fuel oil a year to North Korea. Deliveries should be completed by 20 October each year. The 1997 deliveries were completed in January 1998, three months late, at a cost of $64.9 million. The 1998 deliveries are also running behind schedule because of funding difficulties. By the end of July, some 218,000 metric tonnes will have been delivered, at a cost of $21.2 million. The estimated cost of delivering the balance (282,000 metric tonnes) is $28 million. KEDO has not yet secured funds for the 1998 balance and, after receipt of the 1998 EU contribution of 15 million ecu, will still have an outstanding debt of $48 million for 1997 and 1998 deliveries.In accordance with the agreed framework, the United States, on behalf of KEDO, has taken the lead in arranging funding for the heavy fuel oil deliveries. Of the $171 million total heavy fuel oil costs to date, the United States has contributed some $80 million, while the EU will have paid almost $50 million. President Clinton has recently reiterated the United States' commitment to providing full funding to enable KEDO to meet its commitments for 1998 heavy fuel oil deliveries.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What measures they have taken to implement United Nations Security Council Resolution 1173 (1988) which imposed further sanction on UNITA as from 1 July. [HL2972]

Resolution 1173 imposed a freeze on the funds and financial resources of UNITA, its officials and their immediate families; a ban on most official contacts in Angola with UNITA, a prohibition on the import of diamonds outside the governmental certificate of origin regime; and prohibitions on the sale or supply of equipment which may be used in mining or transportation, and on transportation services.We have instructed all our diplomatic missions overseas to avoid any contact with UNITA, whether locally or in Angola.The prohibition on the importation of diamonds will be given effect in the United Kingdom by amendment to the Open General Import Licence.The remainder of the prohibitions are to be implemented in the UK by the Angola (United Nations Sanctions) Order 1998 and in the Overseas Territories by the Angola (United Nations Sanctions) (Dependent Territories) Order 1998 made on 21 July and laid yesterday. Similar orders have been made to give effect to the resolution in the Crown Dependencies. These orders restrict the sale or supply of certain goods which may be used in mining or transportation and the supply of transportation services, impose a freeze on the funds and financial resources in relation to UNITA and persons connected with UNITA, and, for the Overseas Territories and Channel Islands, restrict the importation of diamonds exported from Angola on or after 1 July 1998. There is provision for medical and humanitarian exceptions.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many of the reviews currently being undertaken by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office will be published during the parliamentary Summer Recess. [HL2786]

None.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is the forthcoming business in the Council of the European Union for August; and what are the major European Union events for the next six months. [HL2969]

See below.This calendar is primarily concerned with European Union matters, but certain other relevant events are also included. Events and dates quoted are based on the information available on the date of issue.

European Calendar: August 1998—January 1999
Date	Location	Event
August 1998
There are no Councils scheduled for this month.
September 1998
3	Brussels	Political Committee
5–6	Salzburg	Foreign Ministers (Informal)
7–8	Brussels	Special Committee on Agriculture
10–12	Linz	Culture (Informal)
14–18	Strasbourg	European Parliament Plenary
15–16	Bregenz	Transport (Informal)
21	New York	Political Committee
19–22	St. Wolfgang, Austria	Agriculture (Informal)
24	Brussels	Justice & Home Affairs
24	Brussels	Internal Market
25–27	Brussels	ECOFIN (Informal)
28–29	Brussels	Agriculture Council
October 1998
1–2	Luxembourg	Transport Council
2–3	Luxembourg	Industry/Research & Technology (Informal)
5	Luxembourg	Labour & Social Affairs Council
5	Luxembourg	Political Committee
5–6	Luxembourg	General Affairs Council
5–9	Strasbourg	European Parliament Plenary
6	Luxembourg	Environment Council
12	Luxembourg	ECOFIN Council
13	Luxembourg	Research Council
13	Brussels	Political Committee
19–20	Luxembourg	Agriculture Council
19–23	Strasbourg	European Parliament Plenary
22	Luxembourg	Fisheries Council
23–24	Baden-bei-Wien	Education (Informal)
24–25	Innsbruck (t.b.c.)	Meeting of Heads of State/Government (Informal)
26	Luxembourg	Political Committee
26–27	Luxembourg	General Affairs Council
28–29	Luxembourg	Transport Council
29–30	Vienna	Justice & Home Affairs (Informal)
November 1998
4–5	Brussels	European Parliament Plenary
9	Brussels	Political Committee
9	Brussels	Internal Market Council
9–10	Brussels	General Afffairs Council
12	Brussels	Health Council
16	Brussels	Industry Council
16–20	Strasbourg	European Parliament Plenary
17	Brussels	Culture Council
20	Brussels	Budget Council
20	Brussels	Labour & Social Affairs Council
23	Brussels	ECOFIN Council
23–24	Brussels	Agriculture Council
25	Brussels	Telecommunications Council
26	Brussels	Youth Council
26	Brussels	Political Committee
30	Brussels	Development Council
30–1 Dec	Brussels	Transport Council
December 1998
1	Brussels	ECOFIN Council
1–2	Brussels	Labour & Social Affairs Council
2–3	Brussels	European Parliament Plenary
3–4	Brussels	Justice & Home Affairs
4	Brussels	Education Council
7	Brussels	Political Committee
7–8	Brussels	Environment Council
7–8	Brussels	General Affairs Council

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they plan to release more records of the wartime Special Operations Executive. [HL2970]

The records of the Special Operations Executive (SOE) have been released progressively since 1993. The next batch of records, covering Western Europe, have been transferred to the Public Record Office, and will be opened today. Further SOE records will be released in due course.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many of the reviews currently being undertaken by the Welsh Office will be published during the Parliamentary summer recess. [HL2790]

My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Wales plans to publish the following reviews during the parliamentary Recess:

• Review of the National Curriculum
• Review of Health Promotion Arrangements in Wales.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When they expect the annual report of the British Board of Film Classification for 1997–98 to be published. [HL2810]

I understand that the British Board of Film Classification intends to publish its annual report for 1997–98 during the week beginning 27 July 1998. As soon as the report is published, my right honourable friend the Home Secretary will make arrangements for it to be laid before this House and in another place as soon as possible.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the fact that telephone directory inquiries are unable to provide callers with a telephone number for the Independent Commission on the Voting System is conducive to maximum participation by the general public. [HL2849]

The Independent Commission's web site gives the commission's telephone number. It is also given out to inquirers by the Home Office.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will publish the ninth annual report of the Firearms Consultative Committee. [HL3042]

I have placed a copy of the annual report of the Firearms Consultative Committee in the Library today.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will publish the annual report for the Forensic Science Service. [HL3041]

I have today laid before Parliament copies of the Forensic Science Service (FSS) Annual Report and Accounts for 1997–98.The report and accounts detail the agency's performance against its targets. The FSS continues to grow at a signficant pace, and efficiency savings are at the highest level since it became an agency in 1991. The FSS passes on these improvements to customers through real price reductions and higher investment in both research and development and infrastructure to improve the quality of products and services.The achievement on four main indicators was as follows.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they propose to make changes to the arrangements for overseas domestic workers who accompany their employers to the United Kingdom. [HL3043]

We have been concerned for some time at reports of abuse of domestic workers accompanying their employers to the United Kingdom. We have been working with Kalayaan, the organisation which represents overseas domestic workers, to see what changes we could make to the conditions under which they are admitted with a view to improving them and preventing abuse.With effect from today, only those domestic workers whose duties exceed those set down in the International Labour Organisation's International Standard Classification of Occupations will be allowed to accompany their employer to the United Kingdom. This means that those whose duties are only cleaning, washing and cooking will not qualify. Once in the United Kingdom, they will be allowed to change domestic employment to another employer, provided the nature of their duties meets the above criteria.These changes, which we shall include in the Immigration Rules at a suitable opportunity, will reduce the number of overseas domestic workers admitted to the United Kingdom. However, once here, they will be able to change to anther employer if they suffer abuse from their original employer.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What progress has been made on the review of Training and Enterprise Councils in England. [HL3008]

The Government issued a consultation document on 9 July on the future role of TECs/CCTEs in meeting our strategic objectives. Copies of the document have been circulated widely to the many organisations and individuals with whom TECs work at local, regional, national and sectoral level. We have asked for comments by 30 September so that we can take them into account before issuing new strategic guidance for TECs in the Autumn. Copies have been placed in the Library and in the Printed Paper Office.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When they expect to announce the Chairman of the Scottish Fee Support Review Committee to be established under the Teaching and Higher Education Act 1998. [HL3040]

My right honourable friends the Secretaries of State for Education and Employment, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales are pleased to confirm that Sir George Quigley has agreed to chair the independent committee to be set up under Section 25(4) of the Teaching and Higher Education Act 1998 to review financial support for fees for students in the final honours year of first degree courses at Scottish institutions. Other members will be announced at a later date.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is the present value of current arms contracts between Indonesia and companies in the United Kingdom; and what these contracts are. [HL2541]

Information on individual contracts is commercially confidential and I am therefore withholding this information under Exemption 7 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information. The Ministry of Defence is, however, currently working with the FCO and the DTI to prepare the Government's first Annual Report on Strategic Export Controls. The Report will include details of export licence applications for UK Military List items and details of such equipment exported, including annual values. It is not possible to provide preliminary information in relation to Indonesia at present, as the details are still being prepared.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What percentage of officers in the three Armed Forces, above the rank of Major, Wing Commander or Lieutenant Commander, have served with their respective reserve forces; and what steps they are taking to ensure that as many officers as possible experience service with the reserve forces, especially those destined for the higher command positions. [HL2666]

Information on officers serving in the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force is not held in the form requested. About 10 per cent. of officers serving at the rank of major, equivalent to lieutenant colonel in the Army, or above in the Royal Marines have served or are serving with the Royal Marines Reserve. About 30 per cent. of officers serving at the rank of lieutenant colonel or above in the Army have served at Territorial Army units since 1975. The reserves are closely integrated with the regular forces and the figures requested would not fully reflect the extensive contact that regular officers in all three services have with reservists. While there is no policy to ensure that they experience service in a reserve unit, most regular officers can expect to meet and serve alongside members of the reserve forces during their careers, without necessarily being posted to a reserve unit.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will publish the Annual Report and Accounts of the Medicines Control Agency. [HL3038]

We have received the report and copies have today been laid before both Houses of Parliament in accordance with the requirements of section 5(2) and 5(3) of the Exchequer and Audit Departments Act 1921. Copies have also been placed in the Library.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will publish the Annual Report and Accounts for 1997–98 of the NHS Estates Executive Agency. [HL3039]

We have received the report and copies have today been laid before both Houses of Parliament in accordance with section 5 of the Exchequer and Audit Departments Act 1921. Copies have also been placed in the Library.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What monies they make available for the funding of bids from researchers into the causes and treatment of cancers; what criteria inform their decisions about such funding; and whether the total sum available in 1997–98 will be increased over the next three years; and [HL2800]Why their expenditure on Government-funded research into liver cancer was reduced from £29,000 in 1996–97 to nil in 1997–98; and [HL2803]What improvements they will be seeking over the next three years in research into the causes and the treatment of prostate cancer and liver cancer. [HL2804]

The Medical Research Council (MRC) is the main agency through which the Government support biomedical research, receiving its grant-in-aid from the Office of Science and Technology, which is part of the Department of Trade and Industry. The Council is an independent body deciding what research to support on its own expert judgment.Cancer research is one of the MRC's key areas, and it spends some £13 million each year on studies specifically addressing cancer.There are no pre-determined budgets for Department of Health and National Health Service Research and Development into any specific cancer; decisions on proposals from researchers are made on the merits of the work proposed. The fluctuation in spend stems from the cycle of commissioning, (as projects and programmes start and finish), rather than any policy to change funding levels.The Research and Development Directorate of the Department of Health is establishing expert groups to consider the research agenda in key areas, including cancer. Professor Michael Clarke (University of Leicester) is leading this work.The NHS Health Technology Assessment Programme will be funding a study looking at the feasibility of conducting a multicentre randomised trial of treatment for localised prostate cancer; early detection, recruitment strategies and a pilot study. This research is due to commence on 1 October 1998 and will cost £201,914.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many reviews currently being undertaken by the Department of Social Security will be published during the parliamentary Summer Recess. [HL2783]

The review of the Women's National Commission by a government review group led by the Minister for Women is expected to report in the autumn, although no publication date has yet been set.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions, the Home Office and the Ministry of Defence performed against last year's targets for reducing empty government homes; and what new targets have been set for 1998–99. [HL3036]

Details of achievement against targets for 1997–98, and new targets for 1998–99 are below.We are disappointed to have to report that despite considerable effort on the part of the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions (DETR), the Ministry of Defence and the Home Office the overall

Table to show Annual Targets for 1998–99 and Performance Figures for 1997–98 for the Disposal of Government Empty Homes
	Total stock at 1.4.98	Total empty stock at 1.4.97	Total empty stock at 1.4.98	Target for % empty at 1.4.98	Achievement against target	Target for % empty at 1.4.99	Target for % habitable homes empty more than 6 months at 1.4.98	Achievement against target	Target for % habitable homes empty for more than 6 months at 1.4.99	Action being taken to dispose of homes empty more than 6 months
Home Office	3,189	268	217	‹5%	6.8%	‹5%	‹1%	1.2% (37)	‹1%	26 Prison Quarters properties retained on security grounds and for chaplains; 5 on the market; 2 have serious repair problems; 1 now available following police operation; 1 adjoins an operational police office; 1 is to be offered to a housing association for short-term let; and 1 is in need of renovation.
Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions	2,473	690	692	‹18%	28%	‹18%	‹9%	10.5% (262)	‹7%	203 properties either in process of being marketed for sales or sales agreed and proceeding towards completion; 3 due for auction, 7 sales deferred to assess development potential; and 49 being let through managing agents.
Ministry of Defence	64,238	13,142	13,225	To dispose of 1,000 empty homes	1,562	To dispose of 1,200 empty homes

asked Her Majesty's Government:What steps they are taking to improve the environmental performance of small businesses. [HL3037]

The Government is to revamp its support to small businesses to help them improve their energy efficiency and environmental performance. The Energy Efficiency Best Practice Programme has an established reputation for helping businesses to improve their energy efficiency. The Programme is currently stimulating savings of around £500m each year across the economy. We now want to make the benefits of this programme more readily available to small and medium sized businesses by building up a network of locally based consultants who will be accessed through a freephone hotline.These new arrangements, which replace the smaller SCEEMAS programme which has had a very disappointing take up, will be developed jointly with the Government Offices in the Regions and with local businesses and business support agencies at a cost of some £2m pa.Businesses value authoritative advice that takes account of local needs and the EEBPP will also look at ways of working with Government Offices and local providers of advice to establish a more coherent programme of local support, providing small businesses with access to a greater range of local specialist advice services. The existing EEBPP energy helpline is to be improved to help small businesses access the information on energy efficiency they need. This will include the introduction of a new freephone helpline.The new arrangements will help bring energy efficiency advice on to the same footing as that delivered through the successful helpline and consultancy advice service run via the joint DTI/DETR Environmental Technology Best Practice Programme. When a small business wants to go green, it's important that the Government is there to help. This is part of our continuing efforts to rationalise the Government's support to businesses on energy and environmental performance via the Government Offices in the Regions and other organisations such as the Energy Saving Trust, Business Links, Training Enterprise Councils and local authorities, in providing a more effective support.For this reason we are going to phase out SCEEMAS grants as from 31 August 1998, which will be the deadline for all first time applications, and to terminate the scheme at the end of January 1999, the deadline for all claims. The resources from SCEEMAS will be diverted to contribute to the development of a co-ordinated network of energy efficiency advice underpinned by the EEBPP and designed to be complementary with other local providers.Further details of the developments to the Energy Efficiency Best Practice Programme, including the pilot phase of the new service to SMEs, are to be announced separately.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What the outcome of the Comprehensive Spending Review was for the Ordnance Survey. [HL3035]

The resources that have been made available to Ordnance Survey for the three year Comprehensive Spending Review period are as follows:

• 1999–2000 £23 million
• 2000–2001 £19 million
• 2001–2002 £18 million

These resources reflect this Government's recognition that a significant part of Ordnance Survey's work is vital to the national interest, rather than simply commercial in nature. To this end, a National Interest in Mapping Service Level Agreement (NIMSA) is being negotiated between the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions, as customer, and Ordnance Survey, as supplier. It is intended that the agreement will commence on 1 April 1999. NIMSA will comprise a set of explicit targets and Ordnance Survey's performance against these will be monitored annually.In addition to resources for NIMSA, resources are also available for other investment required by Ordnance Survey.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many responses they have received to the consultation exercise for amending the Special Waste Regulations 1996 and Waste Management Licensing Regulations. [HL3034]

The Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions received 53 direct responses. The Scottish Office received a further 30 responses and the Welsh Office two. I am depositing a list of those who responded in the Libraries of both Houses. Copies of the letters will be placed in the relevant departmental Library. We will issue a response once a full analysis has been undertaken.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What proposals they have for the payment of board members of the new regional development agencies. [HL3033]

As we stated in our White Paper Building Partnerships for Prosperity we propose that all Regional Development Agency board members be paid. The Regional Development Agencies Bill currently before Parliament provides for remuneration of board members to be determined by the Secretary of State. Subject to Parliamentary approval of this provision, we propose to pay the chair of each Agency a notional full time rate of £110,000 per year-this would amount to £44,000 for two days per week. We propose to pay the deputy chair a notional full time rate of £70,000—this would amount to £14,000 for one day per week. Other board members will be paid at the rate of £7,000 per year for two days per month. These payments are in line with those made to members of similar Non Departmental Public Bodies.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When they will publish the consultation paper on fishing vessel accidents and the recovery of those lost at sea. [HL3032]

We are publishing the Consultation Paper today. A copy has been placed in the Library of the House and it will be distributed widely to representatives in the fishing industry, and to others who have written to Ministers on this subject. The consultation period will extend to 31 October and the Government will announce the results by the end of the year.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will publish details of the public expenditure plans for environmental protection programmes. [HL3009]

Yes. We are today publishing details of the provision for environmental protection programmes, as agreed in the context of the Comprehensive Spending Review. In addition to the extra £174 million for energy efficiency announced by my right honourable friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, on 14 July provision for our other environmental protection programmes is being increased by £80 million over the next three years.£150 million of the new energy efficiency money is added to the existing £75 million a year expenditure on the Home Energy Efficiency Scheme creating a new expanded fuel poverty programme to help another 1,000,000 vulnerable households whose homes cannot be heated to the minimum level for good health.Support for the Energy Saving Trust is increased from £19 million, this year, to £22 million for 1999–2000 and to £25 million for each of the later years. An extra £1.5 million is provided for Energy Efficiency Best Practice Programme in 1999–2000 and further increases are planned to provide, among other things, new programmes of advice to businesses to help improve energy efficiency.The extra £80 million for environmental protection will enable us to:

asked Her Majesty's Government:Who erected and paid for the metal deer-proof fencing on either side of the M.40 motorway between junctions 8 and 9; why; and what is the cost. [HL2912]

Deer fencing was provided by what was then the Department of Transport on the M.40 between Junctions 8 and 9 as part of the construction of the motorway.Deer move across the line of the motorway between Boarstall and Shabbington Woods. Fencing was installed to direct the deer to special crossing points as there was a high probability that they would stray onto the motorway.The total cost of providing 10.4km of deer fencing and 7.9km of deer/badger fencing in 1989 was £300,000.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will allow local authorities an extension of the time allowed for them to submit their Transport Policies and Programme bids for 1999–2000 to enable them to take account of the contents of the Integrated Transport White Paper. [HL3010]

The guidance we issued to local authorities in April on the submission of their bids is consistent with the main messages in the White Paper. If authorities wish to take some time to ensure that their TPPs reflect those messages they will not be penalised. Under the TPP procedures they are always allowed a period in which to amend their TPPs. This year authorities have until 10 October to make changes to their bids.