Written Answers

Friday, 31st July 1998.

Europol Convention

asked Her Majesty's Government:What measures are being put in place to ensure that the United Kingdom complies with the provisions in the Europol Convention related to breaches of discretion or confidentiality following entry into force on 1 October 1998. [HL3251]

Article 32(4) of the Europol Convention requires that, prior to the entry into force of the Convention, each member state shall introduce the provisions required under national law to proceed against breaches of discretion or confidentiality. To this end, we are certifying the Europol Convention as an agreement to which an international organisation is a party, under section 12(2)(b) of the Official Secrets Act 1989. This will have the effect of ensuring that members and employees of Europol will be treated as "government contactors" for the purposes of the Official Secrets Act, and will ensure that the United Kingdom will comply fully with the relevant provisions in the Convention.

Probation Service

asked Her Majesty's Government:When they will publish their proposals on the future of the Probation Services and for improving their joint effectiveness with the Prison Service [HL3252]

We will be publishing a consultation document shortly entitled Joining Forces to Protect the Public, which seeks views on my right honourable friend the Home Secretary's plans for reforming the organisational structure of the probation services, and for improving its systems of accountability and its joint effectiveness with the Prison Service. Copies will then be placed in the Library.The proposals are the product of the emerging findings of the Prisons-Probation Review which was announced on 16 July last year in another place, (

Official Report, col. 172) and which formed part of the Comprehensive Spending Review. Among other things, the document sets out our proposals for creating a modern unified national Probation Service as a Next Steps Agency forming part of the Home Office, directly accountable to the Home Secretary through a Chief Executive. The proposals form one part of our wide-ranging programme to modernise and improve the performance of the criminal justice system in England and Wales. The consultation exercise will continue until 27 November, and we will announce final decisions before the end of the year.

To assist the consultation process we will also make available the report of the review of options which has informed our proposals.

Corruption And Misuse Of Public Office

asked Her Majesty's Government:What plans they have to reform and consolidate the law of corruption and what progress has been made on the recommendations by the Committee on Standards in Public Life to (i) clarify the law of corruption in relation to Members of Parliament and (ii) the introduction of a new statutory offence of misuse of public office. [HL3253]

As a Government, we are committed to ensuring high standards in both public and private life. On 9 June last year, we published a consultation document on the reform of the corruption statutes entitled The Prevention of Corruption: Consolidation and Amendment of the Prevention of Corruption Acts 1889–1916: A Government Statement, a copy of which is in the Library. This had been preceded in December 1996 by the publication of the Home Office discussion document Clarification of the Law Relating to the Bribery of Members of Parliament, an issue on which the Committee on Standards in Public Life had earlier reported. In November last, the Joint Committee on Parliamentary Privilege emerged on its current inquiry into parliamentary privilege, including the law of corruption as it relates to Members of Parliament; and in March the Law Commission for England and Wales helpfully published its proposals in its report No. 248: Legislating the Criminal Code: Corruption. We are also committed to supporting and giving effect to international efforts through the European Union, the Council of Europe and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) to deal with international aspects of corruption including implementing the OECD Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions. These domestic and international initiatives taken together provide us with a sound basis on which to review and modernise the law of corruption.Although we are still awaiting the recommendations of the Joint Committee on Parliamentary Privilege, we have set up two inter-departmental groups to examine (i) the Law Commission's Report on Corruption and (ii) the possibility of a new statutory offence of misuse of public office. It is clear from the many representations received that there is much to support the Law Commission's recommendations for the common law of bribery and the present statutory offences of corruption to be restated in a modern statute, with a clear definition of what is meant by acting in a corrupt manner. At this stage, we also accept, in principle, the Law Commission's proposal that there should be a single offence of corruption to cover both public and private sectors. This reflects the reality that some functions which would, in the past, have been carried out by the public sector are now carried out by public/private partnerships or in the private sector. It also reflects the importance of ensuring equally high standards of probity in all aspects of life, whether in the public or the private sector. The inter-departmental working group on corruption expects to complete its work by the end of the year. When it has done so we propose to publish a paper setting out the Government's detailed proposals for the consolidation and amendment of the law on corruption. When available, we will also take into account the views of the Joint Committee on Parliamentary Privilege.The level of response to the consultation paper about a possible new offence of misuse of public office and the quality of replies demonstrates the importance of, and interest in, public probity. The Committee on Standards in Public Life in its third report recommended that all holders of public office should be covered equally by a statutory offence of misuse of public office, which enables action to be taken against them in the event of misconduct which is serious, but does not entail bribery and corruption. This is a complex area. The inter-departmental working group set up to consider the recommendation by the Committee on Standards in Public Life in this area, with the assistance of the Criminal Law Commissioner as recommended by the Committee on Standards in Public Life, is looking carefully at the inter-relationship between any new offence, existing offences, civil remedies and disciplinary codes. It is also taking into account proposals being developed by my right honourable friend the Deputy Prime Minster and Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions on the establishment of a new Standards Board for local government and the creation of a new code of conduct for local councillors. As with corruption, this inter-departmental working group also expects to complete its work by the end of the year.

School Inspections And Road Safety

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether OFSTED reports take into account the efforts of schools to promote road safety and to educate children in the attitudes to vehicular use that they will need to adopt in order to become safe drivers; and [HL3082]Whether OFSTED reports take into account the efforts of schools to seek the implementation of safer routes to schools and to provide appropriate fixtures, such as lockers and cycle parking facilities, to make it practical for pupils to cycle to school; and [HL3083]Whether OFSTED reports take into account traffic conditions in the vicinity of schools at their starting and finishing times. [HL3084]

The content of school inspection reports is prescribed in OFSTED's Framework for Inspection, which is a matter for Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools in England. I have asked the Chief Inspector, Chris Woodhead, to write to the noble Lord and to place a copy of his letter in the Library.

Kensington Gardens: Visitor Numbers

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is the maximum increase in visitors to Kensington Gardens that is compatible with the first four principles listed in the questionnaire of 7 July on the possible Memorial Garden to the late Diana, Princess of Wales, commissioned by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. [HL2823]

There has already been a significant increase in visitors. One of the objectives of the Memorial Committee's proposals is to provide an opportunity to disperse those visitors in ways which respect the environment. An environmental impact assessment is being commissioned and this will examine a range of visitor numbers.

Somerset House: Removal Of Inland Revenue Personnel

asked Her Majesty's Government:When the agreement made between the then Deputy Prime Minister and the then Chancellor of the Exchequer for the removal from Somerset House of all Inland Revenue personnel will be implemented; and what is the total number of such personnel currently working in that building. [HL3049]

The Inland Revenue currently occupy parts of Somerset House under the terms of a 25 year lease with Somerset House Limited, signed on 25 November 1997. Some 610 Inland Revenue staff work in the building.

Greater London Authority: Location

asked Her Majesty's Government:Where it is intended that the Greater London Authority will be located. [HL3258]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions

(Lord Whitty)

We have now drawn up a list of eight possible locations for London's new mayor and assembly. These have been selected from information on over 50 buildings, new developments and sites sent to Knight Frank, our agents.They are:

Camelford House, SE11 (refurbishment of a Thames-side building);
Canary Wharf, E14 (site WF-9—overlooking the Thames and the City);
Dean Ryle Street Building, SW1 (refurbishment—formerly part of Westminster Hospital);

London Bridge City, SE1 (a site between Tower Bridge and London Bridge on the Thames);
Regent's Place, Euston Road, NW1 (new development close to Regents Park);
St. George's Court, New Oxford Street, WC1 (refurbishment of a former Ministry of Defence building);
Vauxhall Cross, SE11 (the Effra site by Vauxhall Bridge); and
Victoria House, Bloomsbury Square, WC1 (refurbishment).

The next step will be to provide the owners, managers and developers of these buildings and sites with details of the GLA's likely requirements and to invite them to submit details on how they can fulfil these, how quickly and at what cost. Some of the eight options are also being considered for other uses and may fall out. Some will need planning and other approvals and these will need to be considered by the appropriate authorities. If other possible locations come forward in the next few weeks, these too will be considered.

We anticipate that there will be strong competition to provide the high quality building which the mayor and assembly deserve. We hope to announce the final decision around the end of the year.

Opencast Coal Mining: Planning Policy

asked Her Majesty's Government:What progress has been made with the review of planning policy on opencast coal and the appeal cases which are currently before the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions for decision. [HL3259]

Planning policy for coal extraction, including opencast coal mining is set out in Minerals Planning Guidance Note 3 (MPG3). Following the completion of the Energy Fuels Review, we will be preparing a revised draft of MPG3 for England which will be issued this autumn for a period of full consultation with all interested parties. This revised draft will take into account our pre-election commitments on opencast coal, the responses to our consultation in 1997 on Labour's 10-point plan for opencast coal, and, when available, the final conclusions of the Energy Fuels Review on the future of coal as a fuel for UK power generation.Meanwhile, my department has issued the Secretary of State's decisions on four opencast appeal cases which have been delayed whilst the Energy Fuels Review has been in progress. It would not have been reasonable to delay these any longer. In deciding future cases after the publication of the revised draft of MPG3 for England, its emerging policies, as well as those in the current MPG3, will in appropriate cases be relevant considerations both for mineral planning authorities and for the Secretary of State, and as such will need to be taken into account.

Car Parking Charges For The Disabled

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they are considering giving any guidance to local authorities about car parking charges for the disabled in town centres. [HL3126]

Disabled people who are Orange Badge holders may park free of charge for up to three hours on yellow lines and without limit of time at on-street parking meters and pay-and-display areas (except in central London and a few other areas). This is a matter of regulation, not guidance.Many local authorities allow Orange Badge holders to park free of charge at their off-street car parks but this is a decision for them and we do not offer guidance on it.

Shopping Centres: Planning Policy

asked Her Majesty's Government:What steps they are taking to encourage in-town as against out-of-town shopping. [HL3127]

Our response to the House of Commons Environment Committee report on shopping centres (July 1997, Cmnd 3729) reaffirmed the Government's support for Planning Policy Guidance Note 6: Town Centres and Retail Developments. The guidance aims to sustain and enhance the vitality and viability of town centres by encouraging new retail and other development in existing centres. The guidance has been well received and has all party support.

Social Exclusion Unit: Rough Sleeping Report

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the Social Exclusion Unit, in the course of investigating rough sleeping, discussed what proportion of rough sleepers first became homeless when 16 or 17 years and are not entitled to benefits. [HL2895]

The Government have no information on the correlation between rough sleepers aged 16 or 17 and non-entitlement to state benefits. Paragraph 1.6 of the Social Exclusion Unit Report on Rough Sleeping reports figures from Homeless Network suggesting that there are now very few rough sleepers under 18.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to paragraph 4.23 of the Social Exclusion Unit's Report on Rough Sleeping, whether, before considering action to introduce new powers to compel places in hostels to be taken up, they will consider the problem of appropriate penalties, in particular the difficulty of fining the homeless and the effect on the prison budget of imprisoning them. [HL2897]

Paragraph 4.23 of the Social Exclusion Unit's Report on Rough Sleeping makes it clear that the Government have no present plans to change the powers in respect of rough sleepers, but believe the public will feel they have a right to expect hostel places to be taken up as more become available. It will be one of the tasks of the new London body to monitor this closely and if new powers were needed the Government would take all the relevant circumstances into account in considering the matter.

Motorway Service Areas

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is their policy on the spacing of motorway service areas. [HL3151]

Motorway service areas (MSAs) exist to meet a road safety need by giving drivers somewhere to stop and rest. It is nevertheless important to strike a balance between the needs of motorists and the protection of the countryside from unnecessary development.Policy on MSAs was last set out by the previous Administration in Annex A to PPG13 and Roads Circular 1/94. In summary, MSAs were to be not more than around 30 miles apart and, to increase competition and choice, could be provided as frequently as about every 15 miles.Some six years after its introduction, there is little evidence of new operators entering the MSA sector. We are, however, concerned that additional MSA provision has been at the expense of other considerations, particularly in areas of planning restraint. We therefore intend to return to a policy based on the provision of MSAs approximately every 30 miles in order to provide drivers with adequate opportunities to stop and rest. Services at closer intervals will not be ruled out completely but we will in future expect to approve them only where there are exceptional need and safety grounds for doing so.We are today issuing detailed guidance on this and a number of related MSA matters. Copies have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses. This new advice will take effect immediately and we will expect developers, planners and others to take account of it when considering proposals for new MSAs. Where it differs from previous statements of policy, the new guidance should be regarded as taking precedence. It will be incorporated in a consolidated circular on MSA policy in due course.

Water Abstraction: Environmental Damage

asked Her Majesty's Government:What action is being taken to ensure that there will be no significant further environmental damage as a result of water abstraction. [HL3188]

We published on 19 June a consultation paper setting out a wide range of proposals for changes in the water abstraction licensing system in England and Wales. A copy is in the Library of the House. Proposals on making changes to licences for abstractions which may be causing environmental damage are incorporated. In addition, possible water company investment to deal with particularly damaging abstractions is under consideration as part of the periodic review of water company price limits.

Genetically Modified Crops

asked Her Majesty's Government:What advice they have received concerning the adequacy of the regulatory arrangements for the use of genetically modified crops. [HL3189]

The use of genetically modified crops is controlled by Part VI of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and the Genetically Modified Organisms (Deliberate Release) Regulations 1992 (as amended in 1995 and 1997). These implement fully the European Directive 90/220/EEC on the deliberate release of genetically modified organisms into the environment.English Nature, on behalf of the statutory nature conservation agencies, has recommended that changes are made in the regulatory system to take account of potential ecological effects when assessing the risks of releasing genetically modified organisms. Potential ecological effects of GMOs are already addressed under the current regulatory regime. However the Government are considering how wider issues, such as agricultural management, can be taken into account.

Ashford International Station

asked Her Majesty's Government:Why passengers travelling by train from Europe to Kent are not allowed to disembark at Ashford International Station; and what arrangements are being made to enable passengers to disembark there. [HL3144]

Passengers travelling on Eurostar trains from continental Europe are permitted to disembark at Ashford International Station so long as it is a normal station stop for the train.

Maritime And Coastguard Agency: Strategy

asked Her Majesty's Government:When they will announce the decision on the outcome of consultation on HM Coastguard's five-year strategy in the context of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency merger. [HL3266]

Following extensive consultation which included staff, trades unions and Members of the House, and in the light of the new Maritime and Coastguard Agency created on 1 April, we have decided that the five-year coastguard strategy will be taken forward as proposed, though with some changes in timing.The five-year strategy involves a major investment of £5-£10 million in new digital technology to re-equip and improve the operation of a major rescue service. The new equipment will provide an integrated communications system, replacing outdated equipment which is approaching life-expiry. Associated with the new investment is a programme to close selected coastguard co-ordination centres which will effectively be replaced by the greater capability of the new equipment. The timing of these closures has also been revised following the consultation process. The centres at Oban and Pentland were proposed for closure by the end of 1999, and this has been revised to Autumn 2000; for Tyne Tees and Liverpool the proposed closure date by the end of 2000 has been revised to Autumn 2001; while the co-location of Portland and Lee on Solent, formerly proposed for the end of 2002, has been revised to Autumn 2003.The new equipment will provide more effective backup to the frontline coastguard, whose local knowledge will be supported by modern technology. In view of interest in the relationship between the new technology and the station closures, we will keep the re-equipment programme under close monitoring to ensure high standards of service are maintained.We have arranged for copies of the Operational Research Unit's analysis of responses to the consultation document to be placed in the Library of each House.We have also agreed proposals for management changes within the Maritime and Coastguard Agency which will yield further progress in the closer integration of its two predecessor agencies, to the benefit of all the new agency's customers.

Trunk Roads: Investment

asked Her Majesty's Government:What provision they intend to make for investment in trunk roads in England. [HL3265]

We have today announced our new priorities for trunk road investment. Planned provision for the Highways Agency's programmes for the next three financial years is as follows:

	1998–99	1999–2000	2000–01	2001–02
Trunk road maintenance	651	740	794	780
Making better use of trunk road network	139	139	193	220

	1998–99	1999–2000	2000–01	2001–02
Existing road schemes	445	350	259	137
New schemes in Targeted Programme of Improvements	0	0	51	234
Private Finance	114	177	238	208
Total	1,349	1,406	1,535	1,579

The Highways Agency will work up more detailed plans for delivering this programme which will be published as a part of its normal planning cycle.

Nhs Trusts: Debt Structure

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they have any plans to change the debt structure of NHS trusts. [HL3263]

The New NHS White Paper made clear the Government's intention to abolish the internal market in the National Health Service and amend the NHS trust financial regime to make it more transparent and more suitable for a public service based partnership. As part of our programme to achieve this aim, we are changing the debt structure of NHS trusts. We have already taken steps to stop issuing long term interest-bearing loans to NHS trusts to finance their capital expenditure. Instead we are issuing Public Dividend Capital (PDC). The NHS Executive will now be making arrangements to replace existing interest-bearing debt with PDC without the application of premia or discounts because the Exchquer funds NHS trusts' normal debt servicing costs. This will supersede the present, market driven financial structure, reduce bureaucracy and provide a simpler, clearer and more understandable arrangement, in tune with NHS trusts' status as part of the public sector.

"Investing In Dentistry" Initiative

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is the total amount of funds allocated to "Investing in Dentistry" so far, and which health authority areas have applied for funding in 1997–98 and 1998–99 to date; and [HL3149]Which applications for funding under "Investing in Dentistry" have been successful; and how much has been allocated to each. [HL3150]

Since the "Investing in Dentistry" initiative was announced in September 1997, 159 requests have been approved for grants totalling £4,195,107. The following tables give details of the health authorities who submitted "Investing in Dentistry" funding requests to my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Health in 1997–98 and 1998–99, those whose requests were successful, the amount awarded and location of the scheme.

Investing in Dentistry requests received by Health Authority

Avon
Barnsley
Barnet
Bedfordshire
Berkshire
Bexley & Greenwich
Birmingham
Bradford
Bury & Rochdale
Calderdale & Kirklees
Cambridge & Huntingdon
City & East London
Coventry
Cornwall
County Durham
Doncaster
Dorset
Dudley
Ealing Hammersmith & Hounslow
East Kent
East Norfolk
East Riding
East Lancashire
Enfield & Haringey
Gloucestershire
Herefordshire
Isle of Wight
Kensington
Lambeth Southwark & Lewisham
Leeds
Leicester
Lincolnshire
Merton Sutton & Wandsworth
Morecambe Bay
North & Mid Hampshire
North West Lancashire
Newcastle & North Tyneside
Norfolk
North & East Devon
North Essex
North Cumbria
North Cheshire
North Derbyshire
North Staffordshire
North Yorkshire
Northamptonshire
Nottingham

Oxfordshire
Portsmouth & South East Hampshire
Redbridge & Waltham Forest
Rotherham
Salford & Trafford
Sandwell
Shropshire
Somerset
South Lancashire
South Saffordshire
South & West Devon
South Cheshire
South Essex
South Humber
South Derbyshire
Southampton & South West Hampshire
St. Helens & Knowsley
Suffolk
Sunderland
Tees
Walsall
Warwickshire
West Kent
West Hertfordshire
West Sussex
West Surrey
Wigan & Bolton
Wiltshire
Wirral
Wolverhampton
Worcestershire

Approved Investing in Dentistry requests by Health Authority
Health Authority	Town	Amount in £
Avon	Bishopsworth	30,000
Avon	Chew Magna	11,000
Avon	Bedminster	20,000
Avon	Stockwood	20,000
Bedfordshire	Kempston	15,000
Bedfordshire	Bedford	15,000
Berkshire	Woodley	20,000
Berkshire	West Reading	15,000
Berkshire	Sunninghill	10,000
Berkshire	East Reading	30,000
Berkshire	Bracknell	10,000
Birmingham	Nechells	57,000
Cambridge & Huntingdon	Cambridge	25,000
Cambridge & Huntingdon	Godmanchester	10,423
Cornwall & Isles of Scilly	Camborne	27,000
County Durham	Darlington	2,790
County Durham	Spennymoor	25,000
County Durham	Darlington	82,200
Dorset	Sherborne	19,500
Dorset	Weymouth	10,000
East Riding	Hull	20,000
East Riding	Hull	30,000
East Riding	Hull	20,000
East Riding	Driffield	24,200
East Norfolk	Wymondham	50,000

Approved Investing in Dentistry requests by Health Authority
Health Authority	Town	Amount in £
East Norfolk	Watton	26,000
East Norfolk	Attleborough	20,000
Gloucestershire	Dursley	10,000
Gloucestershire	Lydney	15,000
Gloucestershire	Cheltenham	12,000
Gloucestershire	Cheltenham	31,000
Gloucestershire	Cheltenham	35,000
Gloucestershire	Gloucester	13,000
Gloucestershire	Cheltenham	25,000
Gloucestershire	Cheltenham	15,000
Gloucestershire	Newent	1,000
Gloucestershire	Gloucester	15,000
Isle of Wight	Sandown	50,000
Isle of Wight	Newport	35,000
Leicestershire	Shepshed	15,000
Lincolnshire	Louth	30,000
Morecambe Bay	Barrow	40,000
Morecambe Bay	Barrow	21,000
Morecambe Bay	Morecambe Bay	14,000
Morecambe Bay	Kirkby Lonsdale	35,000
Morecambe Bay	Lancaster	12,000
Morecambe Bay	Ulverston	15,000
North Derbyshire	Matlock	60,400
North Staffordshire	Kidsgrove	16,000
North Staffordshire	Tunstall	16,800
North Staffordshire	Leek & Cheadle	40,000
North Staffordshire	Kidsgrove	48,000
North Staffordshire	Sneyd Green	16,000
North Staffordshire	Newcastle	32,000
North & East Devon	Exeter	9,500
North & East Devon	Torrington	16,000
North & East Devon	Bideford	55,000
North & East Devon	Cullompton	24,750
Newcastle & North Tyneside	North Tyneside	47,000
Nottingham	Eastwood	16,300
Nottingham	Hyson Green	19,405
North Essex	Saffron Walden	18,400
North & Mid Hampshire	Andover	11,050
North & Mid Hampshire	Andover	38,600
North & Mid Hampshire	Andover	9,000
North & Mid Hampshire	Oldham	7009
North & Mid Hampshire	Whitchurch	10,000
North Cumbria	Whitehaven	50,000
North Cumbria	Cleaton Moor	50,000
North Cumbria	Whitehaven	50,000
North Cheshire	Warrington	50,000
North Yorkshire	Easingwold	25,000
North Essex	Saffron Walden	19,000
Northamptonshire	Kettering	10,000
Northamptonshire	Kettering	10,000
Northamptonshire	Thrapston	15,000
North West Lancashire	Central Blackpool	25,409
North West Lancashire	Thornton	32,176
North West Lancashire	Marton, Blackpool	30,287
North West Lancashire	Kirkham	40,000
Oxfordshire	Blackbird	12,000
Oxfordshire	Wallingford	25,000
Oxfordshire	Headington	75,000
Portsmouth & South East Hampshire	North Porthmouth	6,000
Portsmouth & South East Hampshire	Havant	15,000

Approved Investing in Dentistry requests by Health Authority
Health Authority	Town	Amount in £
Portsmouth & South East Hampshire	Hayling Island	20,000
Portsmouth & South East Hampshire	Fareham	2,500
Portsmouth & South East Hampshire	Leigh Park	2,500
Rotherham	Masbrough	24,000
Rotherham	Eastwood	24,760
Rotherham	Masbrough	12,000
Rotherham	Brinsworth	12,600
Rotherham	Dinnington	15,000
South Staffordshire	Stafford	25,000
South Staffordshire	Litchfield	30,000
Salford & Talford	Trafford	18,259
Salford & Talford	Trafford	4,000
Shropshire	Donnington, Telford	3,250
Shropshire	Bridgnorth	24,000
Shropshire	Dawley, Telford	40,000
Shropshire	Stirchley, Telford	11,500
Shropshire	Shrewsbury	45,000
Shropshire	Cleobury Mortimer	42,000
Somerset	Bridgewater	13,265
Somerset	Somerton	32,693
Somerset	Yeovil	26,000
Somerset	Langport	20,000
South Cheshire	Crewe	40,000
South Cheshire	Chester	25,000
South Essex	Chelmsford	40,000
South Lancashire	Skelmersdale	23,341
South & West Devon	Tavistock	30,000
South & West Devon	Newton Abbot	40,000
South & West Devon	Newton Abbot	22,000
South & West Devon	Torquay	8,150
South & West Devon	Brixham	25,000
Southampton & South West Hampshire	Eastleigh	9,654
Southampton & South West Hampshire	Southampton Central	23,500
Southampton & South West Hampshire	North Baddesley	38,000
Southampton & South West Hampshire	Southampton West	40,260
Southampton & South West Hampshire	Romsey	25,000
Southampton & South West Hampshire	Hythe	50,000
Southampton & South West Hampshire	Southampton East	59,769
Southampton & South West Hampshire	Southampton Central	30,000
Southern Derbyshire	Derby	12,000
St. Helens & Knowsley	Huyton (Stockbridge Village)	20,000
St. Helens & Knowsley	Haydock	35,000
St. Helens & Knowsley	Rainford	25,000
Suffolk	Stowmarket	7,500
Suffolk	Stowmarket	25,000
Suffolk	Eye	15,000
Suffolk	Sudbury	30,000
Suffolk	Sudbury	11,500
Suffolk	Woodbridge	20,000
West Hertfordshire	Watford	40,000
West Kent	Tonbridge	43,070
West Kent	Medway	37,125
West Surrey	Egham	40,000
West Surrey	Chobham	40,000
West Surrey	Chertsey	59,360
West Surrey	Farnham	28,725
West Sussex	Crawley	5,000
West Sussex	Worthing	10,000
West Sussex	Bognor Regis	8,500
West Sussex	Midhurst	17,116
West Sussex	Bognor Regis	50,000

Approved Investing in Dentistry requests by Health Authority
Health Authority	Town	Amount in £
Wiltshire	Swindon	36,011
Wiltshire	Swindon	40,000
Wiltshire	Swindon	80,000
Wiltshire	Salisbury	35,000
Wiltshire	Trowbridge	40,000
Wiltshire	Swindon	50,000
Wiltshire	Swindon	50,000
Wiltshire	Salisbury	15,000
Wiltshire	Salisbury	15,000
Wiltshire	Salisbury	15,000
Wiltshire	Warminster	50,000
Wiltshire	Salisbury	40,000
Wiltshire	Salisbury	36,000
Total		£4,195.107.00

Xenotransplantation: Regulation

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will publish the responses to the consultation exercise held last year on Animal Tissue into Humans report of the Advisory Group on the Ethics of Xenotransplantation. [HL3262]

We are making the responses available and announcing our action on the regulation of xenotransplantation today. Fifty one responses were received. Two respondents asked that their responses be kept confidential. All other responses are being made publicly available through the Department of Health, Scottish Office, Welsh Office, Northern Ireland Office and the Library.

Breast Cancer: Radiotherapy (Start) Trial

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the randomised clinical trial (START), designed to establish whether or not fraction sizes greater than 2 Gy lead to improved results in radiotherapy treatment for breast cancer, has begun; what the total cost of the trial is expected to be; how many United Kingdom Radiotherapy Treatment Centres have qualified as participants and when the trial will be completed. [HL3110]

The United Kingdom Co-ordinating Committee on Cancer Research (UKCCCR) Standardisation of Breast Radiotherapy (START) Trial has not yet begun. It is hoped to begin in the autumn.Costs for the study are as follows:

Main START Trial:	£714,317
Radiotherapy Quality Assurance programme:	£452,177
Health economic evaluation:	£9,060

We understand that 28 centres are currently waiting to be registered by the radiotherapy Quality Assurance team, which has so far visited and checked 13 of these centres.The Trial will last for five years.

Invalid Vehicle Service

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they have considered the consultants' report following their review of the Invalid Vehicle Service. [HL3261]

We have considered this report carefully and decided to accept the consultants' recommendations that the Invalid Vehicle Service (IVS) should close on 31 March 2003, with help being given to drivers to take up alternative forms of transport. The scheme was closed to new drivers in 1976 and with around 720 invalid three-wheeler vehicles left on the road, it is becoming increasingly difficult to maintain this service. We now need to plan ahead and safeguard the interests of the remaining drivers. The long lead in period before closure will give drivers the time to look at all the options available. Those leaving the scheme will be eligible for the higher rate mobility component of the Disability Living Allowance and drivers will be able to use this to switch to modern four-wheeler cars, scooters, and powered wheelchairs, possibly taking advantage of the Motability scheme. Help with driving lessons and adaptations to vehicles will be given.

Tobacco Advertising And Sponsorship

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will publish the Eleventh Annual Report of the Committee for Monitoring Agreements on Tobacco Advertising and Sponsorship. [HL3260]

We will be publishing the report shortly. Copies will be placed in the Library.

Ministerial And Departmental Meetings: Record

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether meetings between officials, information officers or special advisers and lobbying organisations are, under the Civil Service Code or Rules for Special Advisers or otherwise, reported to Ministers or the permanent secretary in each department; if so, whether they will publish the rules for recording such meetings; and, if not, whether they have plans to introduce routine logging of them; and [HL2931]Whether meetings between Ministers and lobbying organisations are, under the Rules of Procedure for Ministers or otherwise, reported to the permanent secretary in each department; if so, whether they will publish the rules for reporting and recording such meetings; and if not, whether they have plans to introduce routine logging of them; and [HL2932]Whether meetings between Ministers, special advisers, information officers or officials and lobbying organisations are logged and recorded by any Government department; and, if so, whether they will state by which ones they are recorded, in what way they are recorded and whether they are reported centrally. [HL2933]

There is no requirement for meetings between Ministers, special advisers or civil servants and lobbying organisations to be recorded or reported. The First Report of the Nolan Committee on Standards in Public Life expressly recommended against the establishment of a public register of lobbyists. Ministers and civil servants meet many groups who are concerned to press their own interests or those of their clients. Ministers and officials take due care to consider these representations within the wider public interest and within Government policy. In addition, some lobbyists may attend meetings with Ministers and civil servants but as part of a delegation led by an MP or outside interest group, and the information will not therefore be separately identifiable. It would not therefore be practicable to keep a register of such contacts.

Hm Prisons: Use Of Illegal Software

asked Her Majesty's Government:In the light of the damages recently paid in respect of the use of illegal software by one of Her Majesty's prisons, what steps they are taking to ensure that no department or agency uses illegal software in future. [HL3050]

It is the responsibility of the accounting officer for each department to ensure that all aspects of the business of the department are conducted with the utmost propriety.Software does not merit any special treatment, but the noble Lord may be interested to learn that the Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency (CCTA) is preparing to issue shortly a reminder to departments and agencies to bring legal arrangements up to date where applicable.

Negotiating Boards For Salaries And Wages: Funding

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Williams of Mostyn on 11 May (

WA 98), what financial contribution they intend to provide to teaching, nursing, medical and civil service unions in connection with their staff side activities, in respect of their negotiating boards for salaries and wages. [HL1928]

No financial contributions are provided to teaching, nursing, medical or civil service unions in respect of their negotiating boards for salaries and wages. It is not proposed to make any changes to the existing arrangements. I am sorry for the delay in replying.

Asylum Seekers Sleeping Rough

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the Social Exclusion Unit has formed an estimate of the proportion of rough sleepers who are asylum seekers. [HL2898]

The Social Exclusion Unit has itself made no estimate of the proportion of rough sleepers who are asylum seekers. In central London during 1997–98, outreach workers funded under the Government's Rough Sleepers Initiative, recorded two asylum seekers out of more than 2,500 they worked with who slept rough at some point during that year.

Rough Sleepers Disentitled To Social Security Benefits

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the Social Exclusion Unit has formed an estimate of the proportion of rough sleepers who become homeless after being disentitled to Social Security Benefits. [HL2929]

The Social Exclusion Unit has itself made no estimate of the proportion of people who become rough sleepers after being disentitled to Social Security Benefits. So far as the unit is aware, the information is not available.

Special Advisers: Salaries

asked Her Majesty's Government:In which Government departments a special adviser is paid more than the parliamentary under-secretary. [HL2946]

Special advisers are paid within a salary range of £24,836 to £74,954. Their salaries are negotiated individually and are confidential. All special advisers are paid more than parliamentary under-secretaries in the Commons (whose Ministerial salary is £24,273). Thirty-one special advisers are paid more than parliamentary under-secretaries in the Lords (who are paid £44,832). In line with the practice of successive Administrations it would not be appropriate to identify the Government departments where a special adviser is paid more than a parliamentary secretary in the Lords in order to protect the privacy of the individuals concerned.

Task Forces And Reviews: Report Dates

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by the Lord McIntosh of Haringey on 12 February (

WA232–247), how many additional reviews and task forces

have been announced since that date; which of the reviews and task forces listed in that answer have reported to date; and what is the anticipated report date for all reviews and task forces which are yet to report. [HL2461]

Sixty-nine of the reviews and 18 of the task forces listed in Lord McIntosh of Haringey's Written Answer of 12 February (WA 232–247) have reported. Forty-eight additional reviews and seven additional task forces

Government Reviews Announced Since 1 May 1997
Review	Department	Actual Report Date	Anticipated Report Date
Review of the Crown Prosecution Service	Attorney General	Published 1 June 1998
Review of International Development Policy	Department for International	5 November 1997
Leading to the Publication of a White Paper	Development
Review of the Department for International	Department for International		30 November 1998
Development's Relationships with Civil Society	Development
Organisations Including Non-Government Organisations
Review of Civil Justice and Legal Aid	Lord Chancellor's Department	Reported to Ministers September 1997. (Published October 1997)
Review of Welfare Services to the Courts	Lord Chancellor's Department, Home Office and the Department of Health		Consultation Paper published 29 July 1998. Final report to Ministers Winter 1998. (Dependent on response to public consultation)
Review of Enforcement of Civil Court Judgments	Lord Chancellor's Department		Report to Ministers June 2000
Study and Evaluation of Current Tax Appeals Systems	Lord Chancellor's Department		Report to Ministers September 1998
Review of Lord Chancellor's Department Funding for Marriage Support and Research Services	Lord Chancellor's Department		Report to Ministers End 1998
Review of Procedures Consequent on the Decision to Transfer or Commit Fraud Trials	Lord Chancellor's Department		Report to Ministers October 1998
Review of the UK Legislation Controlling the Disposal of Animal Waste	Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food		Consultation on legislation following the review expected Summer 1998
Review of the Public Analyst Arrangements Services in England and Wales	Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food		By end of 1998
Review of Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries	Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food		By end of 1999
Review of the Future Funding of Regulatory Arrangements for Pesticides	Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food		December 1998
Review of the Current Rules on Quarantine of Imported Pet Animals	Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food		Publication expected shortly
Review of the Hill Livestock Compensatory Allowance Scheme	Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food		Outcome will be made known via a Consultation exercise, expected Autumn 1998
Review of the Home Grown Cereals Authority	Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food	12 May 1998
Review of the Rates and Structure of Aid to Farmers Under the Organic Aid Scheme	Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food	Reported to Ministers in December 1997 and published 2 April 1998
Review of Arrangements for Enforcing the Rules on the Welfare of Animals Exported Live to the Continent	Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food	27 September 1997

have been announced in Parliament since 12 February 1998.

A fully updated list of reviews and task forces notified to this Parliament since 1 May 1997 is given below, with details of their report dates. To ensure comprehensive coverage in this Answer, a trawl has been undertaken across all departments and this list therefore includes, for the first time, a number of reviews already announced to the House in the usual way since 1 May 1997.

Government Reviews Announced Since 1 May 1997
Review	Department	Actual Report Date	Anticipated Report Date
Review of the Milk Development Council	Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food	29 October 1997
Review of Fishing Vessel licensing	Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food		December 1998
Review of Food from Britain	Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food		Shortly
Review of Nitrate Sensitive Areas	Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food		April 1999
Review of Environmentally Sensitive Areas, Stage IV	Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food		June 1999
Review of Access Provisions Under the Agri-Environment Schemes	Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food		By the end of 1999
Review of Bovine Tuberculosis in Cattle and Badgers	Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food	Krebs Committee reported December 1997 Decisions on action to be taken will follow
Review of Meat and Livestock Commission	Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food		By end of 1999
Review of Raw Cows' Drinking Milk Policy	Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food		Options being considered following consultation exercises. Announcement will be made in due course
Review of the Threshold Exempting Employers with Fewer than 20 Employees From the Employment Provisions of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995	Department for Education and Employment		Report to Ministers August
Review of the Qualifications Appeal Systems	Department for Education and Employment	Reported to Ministers July 1998
Review of the Bureaucratic Burden on Teachers	Department for Education and Employment	Reported to Ministers 16 January 1998
Review of the Role of TECs	Department for Education and Employment		Interim report to Ministers August 1998
Review of Pensions	Department of Social Security		Green Paper to be published later this year
Reviewing of the major components of the social security system	Department of Social Security	Review on-going. Green Paper—New Ambitions for our Country—A New Contract for Welfare—published 26 March 1998.	Further announcements in due course
Review of the Women's National Commission	Department of Social Security*		Autumn 1998
Review of Child Support	Department of Social Security	Review on-going. Green Paper published 6 July 1998	Further announcements in due course
Review of Fraud Strategy	Department of Social Security	Review on-going. Green Paper published 13 July 1998	Further announcements in due course
Review of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information	Cabinet Office	July 1997
Review of Quangos	Cabinet Office	29 June 1998
Review of the Charter Programme	Cabinet Office	30 June 1998
Review of the Existing Drugs Strategy	Privy Council Office	White Paper published 27 April 1998
Review on the United Kingdom's Position Under Various International Human Rights Instruments	Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Home Office		Individual decisions have been announced as made. The entire review is expected to be completed in 1998
Review of Policy Towards the Remaining UK Overseas Territories	Foreign and Commonwealth Office		Reporting timetable not yet determined

Government Reviews Announced Since 1 May 1997
Review	Department	Actual Report Date	Anticipated Report Date
Review of the Criteria Used in Considering Licence Applications for the Export of Conventional Arms	Foreign and Commonwealth Office	28 July 1997
Strategic x Review	Ministry of Defence	8 July 1998
Review of the Arrangements for Compensating Service Personnel (or Their Dependents) and for the Payment of Death and Invaliding Benefit	Ministry of Defence		No decision has been taken on the timing of the publication of the outcome
Review of Information Services: Northern Ireland Office	Northern Ireland Office	5 November 1997
Review of Trust Ports in Northern Ireland	Northern Ireland Office	Announced to Parliament on 12 May 1998
Review of the 1993 Strategy for the Support of the Voluntary Sector and for Development in Northern Ireland	Northern Ireland Office		December 1998
Review of the District Council's Community Services Programme	Northern Ireland Office		December 1998
Review of Training Centres and Further Education Colleges in Northern Ireland	Northern Ireland Office	Reported to Ministers May 1998
Fundamental Review of the Economic Development Strategy in Northern Ireland	Northern Ireland Office		Autumn/Winter 1999
Review of the Industrial Development Support Services: Northern Ireland	Northern Ireland Office	Reported to Ministers March 1998
Policy Review of the Youth Service: Northern Ireland	Northern Ireland Office		Report to be published at end of September for a two month consultation. After considering comments, the review group will put proposals to the department by March 1999
The Northern Ireland Strategy on Alcohol Misuse—A Policy Development Project	Northern Ireland Office		January 1999
Review of Ambulance Provision in Northern Ireland	Northern Ireland Office		April 1999
Review of Services for Acutely III Children	Northern Ireland Office		September 1998
Review of Cardiology Services in Northern Ireland	Northern Ireland Office		December 1998
Review of Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company	Northern Ireland Office		Consultants report now under consideration. No date set for an announcement of the outcome of the review
Review of the Law Relating to Surrogacy	Department of Health		Summer 1998
Review of the Evidence Relating to Silicon Breast Implants	Department of Health	14 July 1998
Review of the Breast Screening Programme in Devon and the Implications for the Breast Cancer Screening Programme as a Whole	Department of Health	3 November 1997
Strategic Review of Health Services in London	Department of Health	Reported to Ministers 18 November 1997
Review of the Latest Information Available on Inequalities in Health	Department of Health		Autumn 1998
Independent Review of proposals for the transfer of Bulk Blood Processing and Testing from Liverpool to Manchester	Department of Health	Interim Report given in September 1997. Final report published in April 1998.
NHS Charter Advisory Group. (Review of NHS Charter)	Department of Health		Summer 1998
Review of the National Curriculum in Wales	Welsh Office		Full report to Ministers Summer 1998

Government Reviews Announced Since 1 May 1997
Review	Department	Actual Report Date	Anticipated Report Date
Strategic Review of the Welsh Trunk Road Programme	Welsh Office	28 July 1998
Review of the Role of the Welsh Language Board in Welsh Education	Welsh Office		December 1998
Review of the Number and Shape of NHS Trusts in Wales	Welsh Office		To Ministers October 1998
Review of Economic Regeneration in Wales Now Known as an Economic Strategy for Wales	Welsh Office	9 July 1998
Welsh Office Review of Planning Policy for Opencast Coal Mining	Welsh Office		By the end of 1998
Proposals for Modernising Local Government	Welsh Office	31 July 1998
Comprehensive Spending Review	Her Majesty's Treasury	14 July 1998
Review of the North Sea Fiscal Regime	Her Majesty's Treasury		Under Review
Review of Capital Gains Taxation	Her Majesty's Treasury	Announced in 17 March 1998 Budget statement
Review of Charities' Taxation	Her Majesty's Treasury		Consultation Document will be issued Autumn 1998
Review of Leakage and Avoidance of Direct Taxes	Her Majesty's Treasury	Rolling review. (Initial results announced in the 17 March 1998 Budget statement)	Work is ongoing
Review of Alcohol and Tobacco Duties	Her Majesty's Treasury	Report published 28 July 1998
Review of the Venture Capital Trust Scheme and Enterprise Investment Scheme	Her Majesty's Treasury	Results announced in Budget statement, 17 March 1998
Review of Tax and Benefits	Her Majesty's Treasury	Taylor Report published 17 March 1998
Review of Landfill Tax	Her Majesty's Treasury	Report published 18 March 1998
Review of the Revenue Effect of a Reduced Rate of VAT for Energy Efficient Materials and Alternative Options for Targeted Relief to Help Those on Low Incomes to Save Energy	Her Majesty's Treasury	Report published November 1997
Review of Private Finance Machinery	Her Majesty's Treasury	13 June 1997
Review of Research and Development	Her Majesty's Treasury and Department of Trade and Industry	Consultation document published 17 March 1998
Review of the Calculation of Vehicle Excise Duty for Lorries	Her Majesty's Treasury		Under Review.
Further Review of the Capital Gains of Companies	Her Majesty's Treasury	Consultation document published 17 March 1998	Ongoing consultation
Review of Public/Private Partnership Options for the Royal Mint	Her Majesty's Treasury		Autumn 1998
Review of Company Car Taxation	Her Majesty's Treasury		Ongoing Consultation
Review of Graduated Vehicle Excise Duty for Cars	Her Majesty's Treasury	Consultation Document issued 16 June 1998	Under Review
Review of Aggregates Tax	Her Majesty's Treasury		Under Review
Review of Double Tax Relief	Her Majesty's Treasury		Under Review
Review of Management Recruitment Incentives for High Tech Small and Medium Sized Enterprises	Her Majesty's Treasury		Under Review
Review of General Anti-Avoidance Rule	Her Majesty's Treasury		Under Review

Government Reviews Announced Since 1 May 1997
Review	Department	Actual Report Date	Anticipated Report Date
Review of VAT Registration Limits	Her Majesty's Treasury	Consultation Document issued 10 July 1998	Under Review
Review of VAT Group Treatment	Her Majesty's Treasury	Consultation Document issued 9 June 1998	Under Review
Office and Northern Ireland Office Review to Consider Permanent UK Wide Counter Terrorism Legislation	Home Office and Northern Ireland Office		Shortly
Review of the Law Relating to Bribery and Corruption	Home Office	31 July 1998
Strategic Review of National Police Training	Home Office		Autumn 1998
Interdepartmental Review of Police Pensions	Home Office	31 March 1998
Review of Arrangements for Confiscation of Criminal Assets	Home Office		Late Summer/Autumn 1998
Review of Firefighters Pension Scheme	Home Office	31 March 1998
Review of Community Fire Safety	Home Office	Review to the Home Secretary October 1997
Review of Prison Nursing Services	Home Office	Subsumed into the review of the Long-term Future of Prison Services Health Care	September 1998
Review of Long-term Future of Prison Service Health Care	Home Office		September 1998
Review of Prison Service Drug Strategy	Home Office	March 1998. Public report 12 May 1998
Review of Prisons Investigation Strategy	Home Office		Autumn 1998
Review of the Operation of Release of Prisoners on Temporary Licence	Home Office	Reported to Ministers in June. Outcome announced 22 July 1998
Review of Government Proposals for Youth Justice	Home Office		Outcomes will be implemented in the Crime and Disorder Bill
Review of Measures to Deal With Anti-Social Behaviour	Home Office		Outcomes will be implemented in the Crime and Disorder Bill
Review of Measures to Deal With Protection of Communities From Known Sex Offenders Who Pose a Continuing Risk	Home Office		Outcomes will be implemented in the Crime and Disorder Bill
Review of Measures on Community Safety	Home Office		Outcomes will be implemented in the Crime and Disorder Bill
Intra-Departmental Review of the Treatment of Vulnerable and Intimidated Witnesses	Home Office	Published 10 June 1988
Review of the Future Role of Local Civil Protection in England and Wales	Home Office	Reported to Ministers February 1998. Outcomes announced in the Chancellor of the Exchequer's statement, 14 July 1998
Review of the Control of Unscrupulous Immigration Advisors	Home Office		Autumn 1998
Review of Immigration and Asylum Appeals	Home Office	Consultation paper issued 13 July 1998
Working Party on Electoral Procedures	Home Office	Interim report to Home Secretary, July 1998	Date of full report to be determined
Prisons—Probation Review	Home Office		Consultation Paper, to be issued shortly
A Comprehensive Review of the Food Related Scientific Services in Scotland	Scottish Office		End September 1998

Government Reviews Announced Since 1 May 1997
Review	Department	Actual Report Date	Anticipated Report Date
Review into the System of Land Ownership and Management in Scotland	Scottish Office
Review of Transport Policy In Scotland	Scottish Office	White Paper published 22 July 1998
Review of the Scottish Roads Programme	Scottish Office		Late 1998
Review of Skye Bridge Tolls	Scottish Office	Outcome announced by the Secretary of State on 4 July 1998 by press release
Review Countryside Access Legislation in Scotland	Scottish Office		November 1998
Review to Identify Areas of Scotland Appropriate for Designation as National Parks	Scottish Office	Reported to Ministers in November 1997 and to Parliament on 16 December 1997
Review of the Scottish Water Industry	Scottish Office	Report to Ministers in November 1997 and to Parliament on 16 December 1997
Review of Rural Water and Sewerage Grant Scheme	Scottish Office		October 1998
Review of Gaelic Broadcasting	Scottish Office	Reported to Ministers in June 1998, Published for consultation June 1998
Scottish Enterprise Strategy Review	Scottish Office	Reported to Ministers
Review of the Scottish Awards Agency for Scotland	Scottish Office	Announcement to Parliament 12 May 1998, April 1998
Review of Scottish Homes' Support for Owner Occupation	Scottish Office	Reported to Ministers in December 1997: Results announced as part of the Comprehensive Spending review in July 1998
Review of Scottish Homes' Support for Rented Housing	Scottish Office	Reported to Ministers in March 1998: Results announced as part of the Comprehensive Spending review in July 1998
Commission on Local Government and Scottish Parliament	Scottish Office		Report to the first Minister on his/her appointment
Review of Scotland's Bathing Waters	Scottish Office		June 1999
A Safer Way, A Review of Community Disposals and the use of Custody for Women Offenders in Scotland	Scottish Office	Reported to Ministers in April. Results announced 13 May 1998
Scottish Interdepartmental Review of the Treatment of Vulnerable and Intimidated Witnesses	Scottish Office		Autumn 1998
Review of the School Placing Request System in Scotland	Scottish Office		October 1998
Planning Policy Review on Opencast Coal in Scotland	Scottish Office		October 1998
Review of Arrangements for the Supervision of Sex Offenders in Scotland	Scottish Office	Announced on 16 December 1997
Review of Domestic Violence by Scottish Partnership	Scottish Office		Interim report in April 1999
Review of Community Education	Scottish Office		September 1998
Review of Fishing Vessel Licensing Arrangements	Scottish Office		December 1998
Review of the Law and Practice of Compulsory Purchase and Land Compensation	Scottish Office		Report on phase 1 by March 1999

Government Reviews Announced Since 1 May 1997
Review	Department	Actual Report Date	Anticipated Report Date
Review of Post Offices	Department of Trade and Industry		Autumn 1998
An Audit of the Foresight Programme which is a programme to bring together businesses, Government and academia to identify market and technology opportunities for the future	Department of Trade and Industry	Reported to Ministers 22 October 1997
Review of New and Renewable Energy	Department of Trade and Industry		By end December 1998
Review of Clean Coal Technology	Department of Trade and Industry		Autumn 1998
Review of Utilities	Department of Trade and Industry	27 July 1998
Review of Electricity Trading Arrangements	Department of Trade and Industry	Reported to Ministers 29 July 1998
Review of Energy Sources for Power Regeneration	Department of Trade and Industry	25 June 1998. Further announcements following consultation in the Autumn
Review of Company Law	Department of Trade and Industry		March 2001
Review of Structure for Export Promotion	Department of Trade and Industry		Autumn 1998
Review of Film Policy	Department of Culture, Media and Sport	Report published March 1998	March 1998
Review of Arrangements for Celebrating the Millennium	Department of Culture, Media and Sport	June 1997
Review of the National Lottery, Leading to the Publication of a White Paper	Department of Culture, Media and Sport	White paper published 21 July 1997
Review of Policy on Admission Charging by National Museums (Now subsumed within the Comprehensive Spending Review)	Department of Culture, Media and Sport	Consultation Document published 24 July 1998
Review of the List of Nationally Important Sporting Events Which Must be Made Available on Free-to-Air Terrestrial TV Channels	Department of Culture, Media and Sport	Reported to Ministers on 20 March 1998 and announced 20 June 1998
An Independent Review of the Future of the Royal Opera House Companies and the English National Opera	Department of Culture, Media and Sport	Report published 30 June 1998
Review of Rolling Stock Leasing Market	Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions	Reported to the Deputy Prime Minister on 17 April 1998. Results published 15 May 1998
Sustainable Production and Use of Chemicals (Formerly the "Review of Policy on Chemicals in Environment")	Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions	Consultation document published 27 July 1998
Review of the National Air Quality Strategy	Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions		December 1998
Review of The Pilotage Act	Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions	Reported to Ministers 26 March 1998 and published 28 July 1998
Review of the Water Charging System and a Review of the Water Abstraction Licensing System	Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions	Consultation papers issued 1.4.98 and 19 June 1998
Review of UK Sustainable Development Strategy	Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions		Late 1998/early 1999
Fundamental Review of Transport Policy	Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions	White Paper published 20 July 1998
Review of Compulsory Competitive Tendering Regulations and Guidance	Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions	25 July 1997

Government Reviews Announced Since 1 May 1997
Review	Department	Actual Report Date	Anticipated Report Date
Financial Management and Policy Review of the Local Government Commission	Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions	Reported to Ministers March 1998
Review of Political Restrictions on Local Government Officers	Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions		Became incorporated into the Consultation Paper on Modernising Local Government: A new Ethical Framework (published 7.4.98). Report will be part of the Local Government White Paper (due to be published shortly)
Review of Home Buying and Selling Process. (Previously known as: "Review of the Conveyancy Process.") (Reports to the Ministerial Task Group on the Home Buying Process.)	Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions	Pilot: January 1998	Full Study-Autumn 1998
Review of Trust Ports	Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions	Parliamentary Report 8.12.97	Second report August 1998
Review of Railway Safety Standards Arrangements	Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions		End 1998
Opencast Coal: Review and Planning Policy	Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions	Results of consultation reported to Ministers January 1998. Second stage to come
Review of Waste Strategy for England and Wales	Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions		Final Strategy to be published before the end of 1999
Financial Management and Policy Review of the UL Ecolabelling Board	Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions		Announced 30 July 1998
Review of the Environmental Action Fund	Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions	Reported to Ministers and the Regions. 22 July 1998
Review of the Home Energy Efficiency Scheme	Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions		Autumn 1998
Financial Management and Policy Review of the Audit Commission	Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions		Summer 1998
Lord Donaldson's Review of Salvage and Intervention and Their Command and Control (Independent review on behalf of DETR and reporting direct to the DPM)	Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions	Autumn 1998
Review of legislation Relating to Integration Within the Environment Agency and Scottish Environment Protection Agency	Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions		Early 1999
* This review was initiated by the department of Social Security but will be completed in another Department

Government Task Forces Announced Since 1 May 1997
Task force	Department	Actual Report Date	Anticipated Report Date
Ministerial Task Group on Home Buying (Linked to the review of the Home Buying and Selling Process)	Lord Chancellor's Department	Pilot study reported to Ministers December 1997	Final report to Ministers Autumn 1998
Careers Service Special Needs Task Force	Department of Education and Employment		December 1998
Disability Rights Task Force	Department of Education and Employment		By July 1999
Further Education Student Support Advisory Group	Department of Education and Employment	Reported to Minsters March 1998. Consultation Document published 19 June. Consultation ends 30.9.98
Numeracy Task Force	Department of Education and Employment	Reported to Ministers 11 June 1998
National Advisory Group for Continuing Education and Lifelong Learning	Department of Education and Employment	Reported to Ministers 11 November 1997
National Schools Standards Task Force	Department of Education and Employment		On-going group with Ministerial reports as necessary

Government Task Forces Announced Since 1 May 1997
Task force	Department	Actual Report Date	Anticipated Report Date
New Deal Task Force	Department of Eduation and Employment		On-going group with Ministerial reports as necessary
Skills Task Force	Department of Education and Employment		Final report to Ministers due December 1998
Pension Provision Group	Department of Social Security	4 June 1998
Pensions Education Working Group	Department of Social Security	16 June 1998
Better Regulation Task Force	Cabinet Office	(5 interim reports have been published)	1st Report in September 1998
Export Forum	Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Department of Trade and Industry	4 November 1997
Ministerial Task Force on the Eu Presidency	Foreign and Commonwealth Office		No report, wound up at the end of the presidency
Panel 2000 Advisory Group	Foreign and Commonwealth Office		A consultation document will be published summer/autumn 1998
Northern Ireland New Deal Task Force	Northern Ireland Office		Ongoing group which reports as and when necessary
Independent Commission on Policing Northern Ireland	Northern Ireland Office		Summer 1998
NHS Charter Advisory Group	Department of Health		Summer 1998
NHS Efficiency Task Force	Department of Health		Ongoing groups which report as and when necessary
8 Regional Task Forces to Support the Waiting List Action Team	Department of Health		Ongoing groups which report as and when necessary
Ministerial task Force on the Government's response to the Children's Safeguards Review.	Department of Health		Autumn 1998
Welsh Childcare Strategy Working Group	Welsh Office	22 June 1998
Education and Training Action Group: Welsh Office	Welsh Office		Now by April 1999
Wales New Deal Advisory Task Force	Welsh Office		Provides ongoing advice as and when necessary
The Working Group on the Financing of High Technology Business (Previously known as the McCullagh Group)	Her Majesty's Treasury	Consultation document published 17 March 1998
Private Finance Task Force	Her Majesty's Treasury		Set up to advance the Private Finance Initiative and Public/Private Partnerships
Task Force on Economic Instruments for Industrial and Commercial Use of Energy.	Her Majesty's Treasury, Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions and Department of Trade and Industry		Under Review
Scottish Advisory task Force on New Deal	Scottish Office	Advises on ad hoc matters and does not report formally
Prestwick Task Force: To Assist in the Economic Development of Prestwick in The Light of Recent Job Losses	Scottish Office	October 1998
Action Group on Standards in Scottish Schools	Scottish Office	Advises on ad hoc matters and does not report formally
The Waiting List Support Force	Scottish Office	Project management/progress chasing body—does note report
President of the Board of Trade's Competitiveness Advisory Group	Department of Trade and Industry		Not expected to report
Competitiveness Working Parties (6)	Department of Trade and Industry	Reported to Ministers 6 April 1998

Government Task Forces Announced Since 1 May 1997
Task force	Department	Actual Report Date	Anticipated Report Date
Low Pay Commission	Department of Trade and Industry	Reported to Ministers 26 May 1998
Interdepartmental task Force on Competitiveness in Europe	Department of Trade and Industry	Reported to Ministers 6 April 1998
TECH Stars Steering Group	Department of Trade and Industry		Not expected to report
Creative Industries Task Force: to look for ways of maximising the economic impact of British goods and services in the creative sector	Department of Culture, Media and Sport	Provides ad hoc advice as and when necessary
The Football Task Force. (Due to report by end 1997 on its remit to investigate, and recommend new measures to deal with, the public's concerns on issues such as racism, ticket prices, access for disabled and the increasing commercialism of football. Deadlines have been extended to allow more time for wide consultation	Department of Culture, Media and Sport	Separate reports will be made during 1998 on a range of issues
The Construction Task Force	Department of Environment, Transport and the regions	Reported to the Deputy Prime Minister 16 July 1998
The Coalfields Task Force	Department of Environment, Transport and the regions	18 June 1998
Joint DETR/Environment Agency Task Force on Risk Assessment and Risk Management for Environment Protection	Department of Environment, Transport and the regions		September 1998
Shipping Working Group to Consider Measures to Revive the UK Shipping Industry and to Increase Employment in Training British Seafarers	Department of Environment, Transport and the regions		Autumn 1998
Export Group on Thaumasite	Department of Environment, Transport and the regions		Autumn 1998
Urban Task Force	Department of Environment, Transport and the regions		Spring 1999
A Task Force on Youth Justice: to Drive Forward the Government's Proposed Changes for Young Offenders	Home Office		Final report, 30 July 1998
The Prime Minister's Task Force on the Active Community	Home Office		The Prime Minister announced, on 26 March 1998, his intention to set up this task force. It has not yet been established. It will form part of a wider initiative and it is not yet possible to say when the task force will report
Official Group on Organophosphates	Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food	Report published on 25 June 1998

Written Question

asked Her Majesty's Government:When they will reply to the Written Question [HL1825] by the Countess of Mar dated 7 May; and why an answer to this question was published on the front page of the

Sunday Telegraph dated 7 June. [HL3022]

An answer to the Written Question was sent to the noble Countess on 24 July (Official Report, 27 July, WA 173–174). The Question was not answered within the usual 14-day deadline because it required the central collation and verification of relevant data about the anthrax immunisation programme, which was obtained from various locations in the UK, Germany and the Gulf region.In connection with an article which ultimately appeared in the

Sunday Telegraph on 7 June, the Ministry of Defence was asked by a journalist what the actual rate of uptake of anthrax immunisation in the Gulf had been. At that time the only available data were an assessment, made in early April, that 27 per cent. of personnel who had been offered an initial dose of anthrax vaccine whilst serving in the Gulf theatre had accepted it. This information was provided to the journalist. It was not used as the basis for the answer to the Written Question as it excluded those individuals who were being offered anthrax immunisation at locations in the UK and Germany prior to moving out to the Gulf region.

Armed Forces: Peacekeeping And Humanitarian Missions

asked Her Majesty's Government:What are the equipment and weapons implications of an increased emphasis on peacekeeping and humanitarian missions by the armed forces. [HL2881]

None. Our experience in Bosnia and elsewhere proves that forces equipped and trained for warfighting are also well suited to conducting peace support and humanitarian operations. Many of the improvements in the capabilities of our forces planned as a result of the Strategic Defence Review, such as enhanced strategic lift and logistics, will have a direct application in peace support and humanitarian deployments.

Raf St Athan

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is the future of RAF St. Athan. [HL3254]

We indicated earlier this year in the context of the Strategic Defence Review that RAF St. Athan will become a part of the new Defence Aviation Repair Agency. This will form in April 1999 and move as soon as practicable thereafter to a Trading Fund. In the light of these recent decisions, we have now considered the outcome of the competition inaugurated in 1994 under the Competing for Quality programme for the management of the off-aircraft engineering and on-site support activities at RAF St. Athan. We have also taken into account that the competition did not meet all our financial objectives. We have therefore decided that the best value for money for defence is most likely to be achieved by not proceeding any further with the competition. Challenging efficiency targets will be given to RAF St. Athan, and these will be carried forward within the context of the Defence Aviation Repair Agency. These decisions mean that RAF St. Athan can look forward to a clear future which builds upon its important contribution to our defence effort.

Ottawa Convention: Implementation

asked Her Majesty's Government:What action they are taking to implement the Government's obligations under the Ottawa Convention. [HL3264]

As of today, the moratorium we have had in place on the use of anti-personnel landmines has become a total ban, without exception. Instructions to this effect have been issued to all Command Headquarters and training establishments. Other actions the Ministry of Defence is taking to implement the convention, such as the destruction of stockpiles and assistance to humanitarian demining, are well known to noble Lords.

Berkeley Centre Magnox Facility: Nuclear Material Study

asked Her Majesty's Government:What work for the Ministry of Defence will be undertaken at the BNFL Magnox facility at Berkeley Centre in Gloucestershire. [HL3250]

A programme of work will be carried out at the Berkeley Centre on a small quantity of nuclear material owned by the Ministry of Defence and held outside international safeguards. The term unsafeguarded means that the nuclear material involved is outside the scope of our international agreements under which civil nuclear material in the UK is subject to inspection by Euratom and, if they so choose, the International Atomic Energy Agency, IAEA. The Berkeley Centre has previously only worked with safeguarded material, as it has not been involved in military nuclear programmes, which are unsafeguarded. The work is essential to meet a clear requirement to provide assurance of the continued safe operation of submarine nuclear reactors, and it is not connected with the nuclear weapons programme. The facilities to be used are unique to the Berkeley Centre. The work, which is a short study, will take about seven months to complete. Upon completion of the study and the removal of the unsafeguarded material the Berkeley Centre will return to its fully safeguarded status.

Fishing Research Laboratory, Conwy

asked Her Majesty's Government:What plans they have for the future of the fisheries research laboratory at Conwy. [HL3092]

The Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food

(Lord Donoughue)

The laboratory at Conwy is part of the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS), an Executive Agency of MAFF. Consistent with the agency's obligation to provide an efficient and effective scientific service, CEFAS has been reviewing the future requirements for this laboratory. Conwy is the smallest CEFAS laboratory and currently has spare capacity. The agency has explored whether it is realistic for this to be taken up by new work or whether it would be more efficient to relocate the existing functions to another CEFAS site.

The review has concluded that, in the interests of adapting CEFAS' structure to the longer term needs of its customers in an increasingly competitive market, the programme of work currently carried out at Conwy should be transferred to other CEFAS sites. As a result, the agency plans to vacate the Conwy laboratory by March 2000. It is intended to move the shellfish and fish cultivation work programme and the majority of staff presently based at Conwy to the CEFAS Weymouth laboratory, and the work on coastal zone management and the environmental effects of fishing to the agency's laboratory at Lowestoft. CEFAS has initiated a resettlement programme that will allow as many as possible of the science specialists at Conwy to continue their work at the new locations. Redundancies will be kept to a minimum. Recognisising local concerns, in disposing of the Conwy site we will be sympathetic to bids that propose to make use of the facilities to support the Welsh fishing industry.

The consolidation of work at CEFAS' laboratories at Weymouth and Lowestoft will improve the utilisation of existing facilities. It will enable the agency to provide a

	Commercial interests		Non-commercial interests
SEAC Member	Name of organisation	Nature of interests	Name of organisation	Nature of interests
Professor Sir John R. Pattison (Chairman)	None	None	Medical Research Council	Senior Medical Adviser to the Chief Executive
Dr. R. G. Will (Deputy Chairman)	Unilever	Share holding	Department of Health	Grant Holder
	SmithKline Beecham	Share holding	Scottish Home and Health Dept.	Grant Holder
	Marks and Spencer	Share holding	Medical Research Council	Grant Holder
			European Commissioned BIOMED	Programme Grant Holder
			Office International des	Adviser
			Epizooties Expert Group on BSE and Related diseases (1990-present) World Health Organisation	Adviser
			European Union	Member of the Multi-disciplinary Scientific Committee
Professor Dr. A. Aguzzi	Boehringer Ingelheim	Consultancies on an occasional basis	Swiss National Foundation No: 31-36059.92 3100-040827.94	Principal investigator
	Abbott Laboratories (Chicago)	Support of some laboratory costs e.g. care of mice, instrumentation	Cancer League of the Kanton Zurich	Principal investigator
	Immune A G (Vienna)	Support of some laboratory costs e.g., care of mice, instrumentation	European Union No. BMHI-CT93-1142	Co-investigator
			National Institutes of Health USA No 1-ROI-NS33377-01	Co-investigator
			Swiss National Research Program NFP38 & NFP38+	Principal investigator
Professor J. W. Almond	Medeva	Consultant	Society for General Microbiology	Member of Council
	Cobra Therapeutics	Consultant	Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council	Chairman of the Working Group of the Biology of the Spongiform Encephalopathies Programme
	Arpex Biosciences Ltd.	Consultant
Professor R. M. Anderson	Scientific Advisory Boards:		The Wellcome Trust	Governor
	—Decode	Member of Board
	—IMS	Member of Board
	IBHSC Ltd.	Director

more cost effective service to its customers and enhance its position as a world leader in the areas of environment, fisheries and aquaculture science.

Spongiform Encephalopathy Committee

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will provide updated details of the commercial and non-commercial interests of the members of the Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee which would potentially conflict with responsibilities incumbent on a member of the Committee. [HL3093]

Members of the Spongiform Encephalopathy Committee (SEAC) are not required by law to declare their commercial and non-commercial interests as this is a scientific advisory committee with no trading or financial objectives. However, in the interests of open government, the members of SEAC provide such information and the interests declared by members are listed in the following table.

	Commercial interests		Non-commercial interests
SEAC Member	Name of organisation	Nature of interests	Name of organisation	Nature of interests
Dr. C. J. Bostock (Appointed as an expert from the Institute for Animal Health (IAH), a Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council sponsored institute)	Marks and Spencer plc	Share holding	The UK and some overseas Government	Research contracts with the IAH
	J Sainsbury plc	Share holding	Non-governmental organisations and companies, spanning a wide range of interests including food, agriculture, chemicals and Pharmaceuticals. Further details of the customers of IAH can be found on the Institute's Web Site (www.iah.bbsrc.ac.uk)	Research contracts with the IAH
Mr. R. Bradley	Taylor By-Products	Adviser	Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food	Adviser
	European Natural Sausage Casings Association	Adviser	Veterinary Laboratories Agency	Adviser
	Meat and Livestock Commission	Adviser	World Health Organisation	Adviser
	National Dairy Council	Adviser	Office International des Epizooties	Adviser
	Jackson and Walker (Attorneys, Counsellors)	Adviser	European Agency for the Evaluation of Medicinal Products	Adviser
	Kraft, Jacobs, Suchard	Adviser	Food and Agriculture Organisation (UN)	Adviser
	National Renderers Association Inc.	Adviser	European Commission	Adviser
	Fats and Proteins Research Foundation Inc.	Adviser	National Governments and individuals; especially in Africa, Europe and the Americas	Adviser
	Dr. R. Oberthur	Adviser
	F. D. Bisplinghof and Associates Inc.	Adviser
Profesor F. Brown	None	None	None	None
Professor J. Collinge	None	None	Wellcome Trust	Research Grant Holder
			Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council	Research Grant Holder
			Department of Health	Research Grant Holder
			European Commission	Research Grant Holder
			BIOMED programme
			Medical Research Council	Research Grant holder
			Motor Neurone Disease	Chairman, Research
			Association	Advisory Panel
			World Health Organisation	Adviser
Professor A. Ferguson	None	None	Medical Research Council	Grant Holder
			Scottish Home and Health Department	Grant Holder
			Wellcome Trust	Grant Holder
			Marlow Foods	Grant Holder re. clinical research
			Norgine	Adviser, collaborations re. clinical research
			Astra Pharmaceuticals	Adviser, collaborations re. clinical research
			Nutricia	Adviser, collaboraitons re. clinical research
			Shering Plough	Collaborations re. clinical research
Dr. P. N. Goodfellow	SmithKline Beecham Pharmaceuticals	Senior Vice President, Discovery Worldwide. (Head of research worldwide)
	SmithKline Beecham	Share holding
	Axys (an American Biotechnology Company)	Share holding
	Hexagene (a UK Biotechnology Company)	Major share holding

	Commercial interests		Non-commercial interests
SEAC Member	Name of organisation	Nature of interests	Name of organisation	Nature of interests
Professor W. Hueston	Mullin, Hoard and Brown (Solicitors)	Consultant	Food & Drug Administration (USA)	Adviser
	Cytotherapeutics	Consultant
	Datascope	Consultant
Professor H. Kimbell	Bass plc	Small share holding
	Tesco's plc	Small share holding
Dr. R. H. Kimberlin	Pharmaceutical Industry (world-wide)	Consultant	National Governments in Europe, the Americas and Australasia	Adviser
	Meat and Livestock Commission	Consultant
Dr. M. J. Painter	None	None	None	None
Mr. D. B. Pepper	The Veterinary Defence Society Ltd.	Director and Claims Consultant	None	None
	Pfizer Animal Health (Pfizer Ltd.)	Adviser
	Intervet International BV (Netherlands)	Adviser
	Intervet UK Ltd.	Adviser
Professor P. G. Smith	None	None	Department of Health	Grant Holder
Dr. W. A. Watson		Farmer	None	None
	ADAS	Adviser
	Pan Livestock	Adviser
	Huntings plc	Adviser
	Landell Mills plc	Adviser

Pesticides Safety Directorate: Senior Staff And Business Appointments

asked Her Majesty's Government:What are the procedures and rules governing senior civil servants who move from posts in the Pesticides Safety Directorate to those in private industry. [HL3020]

The rules and procedures governing Crown Servants (including staff of the Pesticides Safety Directorate), who wish to take up business appointments after leaving the service, are set out in Chapter 4.3 of the Civil Service Management Code. A copy of the code is available in the Library of the House.

Pesticides Safety Directorate: Annual Report And Accounts

asked Her Majesty's Government:When they will publish the 1997–98 Annual Report and Accounts for the Pesticides Safety Directorate. [HL3126]

I am pleased to announce that the 1997–98 Annual Report and Accounts for the Pesticides Safety Directorate were laid before Parliament on 28 July. Copies are available in the Library of the House.I should like to congratulate all staff on their achievements during the year.

Meat Hygiene Service: Annual Report And Accounts

asked Her Majesty's Government:When they will publish the 1997–98 Annual Report and Accounts for the Meat Hygiene Service. [HL3163]

I am pleased to announce that the 1997–98 Annual Report and Accounts for the Meat Hygiene Service were laid before Parliament on 28 July. Copies are available in the Library of the House.I should like to congratulate all staff on their achievements during the year.

Veterinary Medicines Directorate: Annual Report And Accounts

asked Her Majesty's Government:When they will publish the 1997–98 Annual Report and Accounts for the Veterinary Medicines Directorate. [HL3161]

I am pleased to announce that the 1997–98 Annual Report and Accounts for the Veterinary Medicines Directorate were laid before Parliament on 28 July. Copies are available in the Library of the House.I should like to congratulate all staff on their achievements during the year.

Central Science Laboratory: Annual Report And Accounts

asked Her Majesty's Government:When they will publish the 1997–98 Annual Report and Accounts for the Central Science Laboratory. [HL3164]

I am pleased to announce that the 1997–98 Annual Report and Accounts for the Central Science Laboratory were laid before Parliament on 28 July. Copies are available in the Library of the House.I should like to congratulate all staff on their achievements during the year.

Calf Processing Aid Scheme

asked Her Majesty's Government:What action they will take when the operation in the United Kingdom of the calf processing aid scheme becomes voluntary on 30 November. [HL3171]

1.2 million calves have been processed under the scheme since April 1996. The UK has thus made the most significant contribution to reducing beef output in Europe. The obligation to operate this scheme or the Early Marketing Scheme for Veal Calves expires on 30 November 1998 and it seems unlikely that many member states will opt to slaughter young calves, that scheme alone being available thereafter on a voluntary basis.Throughout its life in the UK, the Calf Processing Aid Scheme has been criticised from a number of quarters. It has also inflated the cost of calves for beef production to the detriment of beef finishers.After widespread consultation with industry interests, my colleagues and I have decided that it would be inappropriate to maintain this scheme in the UK. Its continuation would distort calf prices in the short term and artificially constrain the production of home-reared beef in the medium term. It must be borne in mind that we will continue to make a very significant contribution to balancing the European Beef market by operating the Over Thirty Months Scheme for cattle, at very considerable expense to the UK Exchequer.The Government have therefore decided that the scheme will close on 30 November 1998.

Beef Export Ban

asked Her Majesty's Government:When they expect to report progress in lifting the ban on beef exports from the United Kingdom. [HL3170]

In June the EU Commission made a proposal for a Decision which would allow the restarting of beef exports on a UK basis from animals born after 1 August 1996. Some progress has been made in discussions of the proposal, but agreement will not now be possible before the summer break.One element of the Commission's proposal is that before beef exports resume a cull of offspring of BSE cases should have been completed. The Government are anxious that this should not delay the renewal of exports. To this end, we announced on 29 July that from early August the culling of all offspring born on or after 1 August 1996 to BSE cases will begin on a voluntary basis. Details of how the voluntary cull will operate have been placed in the Library of the House.Farmers will receive the market value for their animals, in some cases taken from a scale rather than individual valuations. These offspring will be slaughtered at the Government's expense. We believe that, with the active support of the NFU and other farming bodies, rapid progress can be made in tackling the cull.Payments for offspring surrendered on a voluntary basis will rest on the sole authority of the Estimates and the confirming Appropriation Act. The voluntary cull will be superseded by a compulsory offspring cull as soon as agreement is reached in Brussels on the Date Based Export Scheme (DBES) and powers exist to make UK regulations. Farmers will be compensated for the market value of their animals under the compulsory cull on the same basis as the voluntary cull, ensuring equal treatment for owners of BSE cases' offspring whether slaughtered under the voluntary or compulsory phases of the cull.SEAC's advice is that the UK's existing controls to protect the consumer are sufficient. Nonetheless, the Government believe that the prompt start of the offspring cull will minimise the time between agreement being reached on the DBES and exports resuming.

British-Registered Fishing Vessels: Uk Economic Link

asked Her Majesty's Government:What progress has been made on the introduction of measures to ensure that all British-registered fishing vessels maintain a real economic link with United Kingdom populations dependent on fisheries and related industries. [HL3172]

The Government are pleased to announce that following on from the Prime Minister's exchange of letters with the President of the European Commission in June 1997, the Commission has now confirmed that our proposals for ensuring an economic link between UK flagged vessels and populations dependent on fisheries and related industries are compatible with Community Law.A new licence condition will be introduced with effect from 1 January 1999 requiring all vessels to

demonstrate an economic link with the UK by one of the following means:

(a) landing at least 50 per cent by weight of the vessel's catch of quota stocks into the UK, or

(b) employing a crew of whom at least 50 per cent. are normally resident in a UK coastal area, or

(c) incurring a given level of operating expenditure in the UK for goods and services provided in UK coastal areas, or

(d) demonstrating an economic link by other means (including combinations of the above) providing sufficient benefit to populations dependent on fisheries and related industries.

A paper setting out the new economic link requirements has been deposited in the Library of the House. Fisheries Departments will be writing to industry shortly with further details concerning the introduction of the new arrangements.

Organic Aid Scheme

asked Her Majesty's Government:What decisions they have taken on the recommendations of the review of the organic aid scheme. [HL3169]

Since the Government came to office, we have been determined to encourage more farmers to convert to organic production. We have made more resources available for advice to help them and I am pleased to say that many more are realising the opportunities that organic farming can offer and are seeking to convert. However, conversion has costs and the additional returns cannot be realised immediately.More support is justified for farmers during the conversion period. Subject to the agreement of the European Commission, it is the Government's intention to increase payment rates under the English scheme to those recommended in the review which we commissioned last year.If organic farming is to become a mainstream option, it is important to encourage larger farms to convert. For this reason, we intend to go beyond the recommendations of that review and lift the 300 hectare limit on the area which can qualify for aid. We will also be going beyond the recommendations of the review by making the annual payment at the end of the first quarter, thus helping farmers' cash flow at a difficult time.

Acp Banana Regime

asked Her Majesty's Government:What steps they propose to take to help Caribbean banana producers following the agreement of European Union agricultural ministers to end their preferential tariff regime. [HL3098]

The Council of European Union Agriculture Ministers on 22–26 June agreed changes to the EU bananas regime to bring it into conformity with World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules whilst maintaining preferential access to the EU market for African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) bananas. This was one of the UK's Presidency priorities and the deal the Government secured honours both our commitments to ACP countries under the Lomé Convention and our obligations to the WTO; a declaration agreed by the Council recognised this.Access for traditional ACP banana producers will be 857,700 tonnes at zero tariff, significantly above the current level of ACP sendings. The ACP countries have separately agreed to work together to ensure that the interests of the more vulnerable suppliers are not put at risk. Commonwealth Caribbean suppliers should now be able to export to the EU all the marketable bananas they can produce.The operation of the revised import arrangements will be reviewed in 2004 but no date has been set for their termination. This should help to provide a reasonable period for the ACP suppliers to restructure their industries and improve their competitivity. Discussions on a new aid framework for the traditional suppliers are continuing. This should be agreed very soon.Substantial financial assistance is already channelled to the Windward Islands via the EU: Stabex funds alone have exceeded 160 million ecu since 1992.

Bse Statistics

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by Lord Donoughue on 20 April (

WA 180–181), whether they will update the figures on the number of cases of BSE in Great Britain. [HL2997]

The following table shows the number of cases of BSE confirmed in Great Britain during each week of 1997 and during each of the first 29 weeks of this year, together with the moving annual total of cases reported.

Annual total cases reported (52 week moving total) and number confirmed each week 1997 and January to 17 July 1998
Week Number	Number confirmed each week	52 week Total Reported
1997
1	80	10,476
2	203	10,310
3	167	10,146
4	136	9,931
5	103	9,717
6	121	9,523
7	179	9,333
8	136	9,200
9	114	9,042
10	133	8,888
11	86	8,735
12	109	8,529
13	95	8,271
14	16	8,161

Annual total cases reported (52 week moving total) and number confirmed each week 1997 and January to 17 July 1998
Week Number	Number confirmed each week	52 week Total Reported
15	74	8,099
16	211	7,980
17	58	7,861
18	112	7,747
19	23	7,660
20	109	7,541
21	195	7,420
22	64	7,314
23	132	7,259
24	76	7,176
25	113	7,096
26	119	7,055
27	73	6,984
28	72	6,900
29	103	6,833
30	86	6,766
31	108	6,697
32	53	6,596
33	43	6,558
34	6	6,471
35	51	6,434
36	79	6,376
37	45	6,271
38	93	6,207
39	84	6,127
40	58	6,072
41	173	6,002
42	95	5,952
43	71	5,889
44	32	5,783
45	82	5,726
46	28	5,721
47	102	5,673
48	76	5,663
49	77	5,640
50	103	5,613
51	25	5,588
52	34	5,595
1998
1	58	5,572
2	65	5,551
3	70	5,524
4	88	5,528
5	89	5,524
6	140	5,497
7	156	5,447
8	122	5,438
9	57	5,426
10	138	5,402
11	56	5,352
12	71	5,309
13	55	5,311
14	94	5,287
15	55	5,271
16	21	5,249
17	41	5,231
18	102	5,186
19	96	5,167
20	36	5,121
21	73	5,100
22	26	5,088
23	31	5,055
24	160	5,046
25	83	5,039
26	63	4,976
27	49	4,950
28	41	4,936
29	61	4,909

Note:

Week 1 is the week ending on the first Friday of the year.

Adjustments to figures published previously for the 52 week total reported for the last week of 1997 and the early weeks of 1998 reflect information which has become available since the reply given on 20 April 1998 ( WA 180–181) was prepared.

Court Welfare Service

asked Her Majesty's Government:How the Government intend to take forward consideration of the case for setting up a new court welfare service. [HL3249]

Following the announcement on 16 February (Hansard, Commons, cols. 465) of a review of the scope for improving the effectiveness of the welfare services currently provided by several agencies in family proceedings through the creation of a new unified service, my right honourable friends the Secretaries of State for the Home Department, Health and Wales and I are today publishing a consultation paper seeking wider views on these issues. Copies of the paper are being placed in the Libraries of both Houses, are being sent to a wide range of interested bodies and will be gladly sent to individuals on request. The closing date for responses is 13 November.

Kosovo: Arms Control Measures

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether NATO or any other international grouping is seeking to prevent new arms reaching those fighting in Kosovo; and, if so, how. [HL2774]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office

(Baroness Symons of Vernhain Dean)

Foreign Ministers of the Contact Group of countries meeting on 9 March 1998 decided to pursue a UN Security Council resolution imposing an embargo on the sale and supply of arms and related material to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, including Kosovo. This was adopted as UNSCR 1160 on 31 March.Those international organisations, including the OSCE with a presence in the region, have undertaken to support the UN Secretary-General's efforts to monitor the implementation of the resolution.

Kosovo: Moscow Agreement Implementation

asked Her Majesty's Government:What progress has been made in Kosovo in implementing the Moscow Agreement of 16 June and any subsequent agreements, with particular regard to:

(a) the ending of repressive action against civilians;

(b) Serb-Kosovan political negotiations, including the subject of autonomy for Kosovo;

(c) the return of all refugees, including those internally displaced;

(d) free access for international humanitarian organisations and for aid supplies;

(e) renewed membership of the Organisations for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) for Yugoslavia and access for an OSCE Peace Mission;

and, if little progress has been made, what action by international organisations (including NATO) is proposed; and when the next meeting of the Kosovo Contact Group will take place. [HL2817]

On 8 July, the contact group meeting in Bonn assessed that, while there had been some limited progress, particularly in access for humanitarian organisations, Belgrade needed to take further action to implement fully the undertakings made by President Milosevic in Moscow on 16 June and the requirements of the contact group.The contact group on 8 July and the EU General Affairs Council on 13 July called for an immediate cessation of hostilities to pave the way for a dialogue on the future status of Kosovo. To date, neither side has heeded this call.EU Troika Political Directors are visiting Belgrade and Pristina on 28–30 July and will press for a ceasefire and the start of a dialogue. The contact group has already given both sides a list of basic principles for a resolution of the Kosovo issue, and is now developing a paper on options for a settlement for transmission to the parties.There has been little progress in securing the return of refugees and displaced persons. UNHCR estimate that 107,000 people have been forced to leave their homes in Kosovo since the beginning of the crisis.An OSCE assessment mission visited the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) on 14–22 July. The mission concluded that there was a need for the rapid re-establishment of the long term missions to Kosovo, the Sandzak and Vojvodina. However, the authorities in Belgrade insisted that they were only prepared to accept the long term mission to Kosovo in return for the simultaneous participation of the FRY in the OSCE. It remains the UK view that the FRY should make further progress on the issues identified by Snr. Gonzalez in December 1996 before the FRY participates in the work of the OSCE.NATO planning on a full range of options continues. No date has been fixed for the next meeting of the contact group.

International Criminal Court

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is their current policy towards the establishment of an International Criminal Court; how far this coincides with the policy of the United States; and what consultations are taking place between the Ministry of Defence and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on the United Kingdom's position. [HL2884]

I refer the noble Lord to the statement I made to the House on 20 July (H.L. Deb., cols. 623–625). Unlike the UK, the US was unable to support the Statute which was adopted by the Rome Conference. The FCO and MoD have been in close touch throughout the several years of preparation for the conference and MoD officials played a full and active part in the UK Delegation to the conference.

Security Threats: Countermeasures

asked Her Majesty's Government:Following the range of security threats identified in the Strategic Defence Review, what interdepartmental strategy is being developed between the Ministry of Defence, the Department for International Development, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Home Office and the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions to deal with terrorism, environmental disasters, international crime, weapons proliferation, narcotics and similar matters. [HL2901]

A number of cross-Whitehall co-ordinating mechanisms exist to deal with the security threats identified in the Strategic Defence Review, many of which pre-date the review. Notably:

on terrorism, the FCO and other relevant departments and agencies meet regularly to discuss terrorist threats and co-ordinate closely on counter-terrorism strategy;
work on environmental and other disasters is being pursued in the context of the White Paper on Eliminating World Poverty (Cm 3789), on which the Department for International Development co-operates closely with the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. These departments also work for early and effective international action to prevent the dangerous environmental change which can lead to such disasters;
work on international crime and drugs is being taken forward in the context of the strategy set out in the Communique of the G8 Birmingham Summit. Drug-related work is co-ordinated by the Government's Special Representative for International Drugs Issues. The Special Representative, who was appointed in 1996, was closely involved in the formulation of the SDR, and is pursuing follow-up with the UK Anti-Drugs Co-ordinator and relevant departments and agencies;
there are a number of cross-Whitehall committees co-ordinating on weapons proliferation, including the FCO-chaired Non-Proliferation Steering Group.

United States' Un Dues

asked Her Majesty's Government:What response they receive from the United States when they urge the United States to pay their arrears and future contributions to the United Nations promptly and in full. [HL2956]

We raise this question regularly with the US. The Administration, while assuring us that it wishes to solve the problem, points to political difficulties in the Congress. Many members of Congress blame the blockage on the Administration's unwillingness to accept the language on family planning in the relevant legislation.

Latvia

asked Her Majesty's Government:How they view the recent economic action of the Russian Federation against the Republic of Latvia and what action they propose to take to ensure peace, stability and prosperity in the Baltic Region. [HL2975]

The EU, including the UK, consider current measures implemented by various Russian organisations against Latvia to be unjustified. By adversely affecting trade between Latvia and Russia and by encouraging nationalist sentiment in Latvia, they harm the sizeable Russian-speaking minority in Latvia, whose interests they are supposed to promote. The EU has made clear to the Russian Government its wish for these measures to stop, and will continue to do so. More generally, Her Majesty's Government, through the EU and bilaterally, is working in a number of ways to reintegrate the Baltic States into mainstream European structures and to promote regional co-operation to ensure peace, stability and prosperity in the Baltic region.

Turkey: Outstanding Echr Fines

asked Her Majesty's Government:What mechanisms exist to ensure that Turkey pays the £1.2 million in fines imposed on it by the European Court of Human Rights in 950 separate cases so far completed; and whether some, or any, of these fines have not been paid. [HL2980]

According to statistics provided by the Council of Europe, 972 cases have been referred to the European Court of Human Rights since 1960 in respect of all states parties to the European Convention on Human Rights. Forty-four of these cases were brought against Turkey. The Court has found at least one violation and awarded just satisfaction in 18 of these 44 cases. Turkey has paid non-pecuniary damages, pecuniary damages or costs and expenses in nine of the 18 cases, and paid part of the award of just satisfaction in a further three cases. Payment is outstanding in six cases. In three of the six outstanding cases the time limit set by the Court for payment of just satisfaction has not yet expired.Under the procedure set out in Article 32 of the Convention, the Committee of Ministers' Deputies has found at least one violation and awarded just satisfaction in a further seven cases against Turkey. Turkey has paid non-pecuniary damages and costs and expenses in six of the seven cases and payment is outstanding in one case.

Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they were aware, when they signed the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty and became a depository power for it, that the United States intended to carry on simulating nuclear explosions with high-performance computers and that it had given an unwritten promise to Russia to provide it with high-performance computers to simulate nuclear explosions. [HL2984]

The Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (of which the UN Secretary General is the Depositary) was signed by the previous government. When we ratified it, we were aware that the US intended to maintain the safety and reliability of their stockpile by means not prohibited by the treaty. Relations between the US and Russia are a matter for them.

Ottawa Convention

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is to be NATO's collective approach to anti-personnel landmines and to the Ottawa Convention that bans them. [HL2985]

All NATO Allies have expressed their commitment to efforts to contribute to the objective of the elimination of anti-personnel landmines. Work is in hand to resolve issues of interoperability, command and control and logistics arising from the fact that not all Allies have yet signed the Convention.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When the United Kingdom will ratify the Ottawa Convention banning anti-personnel landmines. [HL3256]

Our instrument of ratification will be deposited with the UN Secretary General in New York today, thus fulfilling our pledge to be among the first 40 ratifications and helping to bring the Convention into force.We have placed in the Libraries of the House the note accompanying the instrument of ratification, which sets out our understanding that the mere participation in the planning or execution of operations, exercises or other military activity by the United Kingdom's Armed Forces, or individual United Kingdom nationals, conducted in combination with armed forces of States not party to the Ottawa Convention which engage in activity prohibited under the Convention, is not, by itself, assistance encouragement or inducement for the purposes of Article 1, paragraph 1(c) of the Convention.

Sanctions: Humanitarian Exemptions

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether, in the case of economic sanctions, governments imposing them are required by international law or custom to consider any consequent collateral casualties. [HL3027]

The Security Council regularly provides for humanitarian exemptions when adopting a resolution imposing sanctions. The UK strongly supports this. Indeed the UK has taken the lead in drafting successive Oil for Food resolutions which provide for food, medicines and humanitarian supplies to reach the Iraqi people.

Westminster Foundation For Democracy: Annual Report

asked Her Majesty's Government:When the Annual Report of the Westminster Foundation for Democracy will be available. [HL3255]

Copies of the Foundation's Annual Report for 1997–98 have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.The foundation received £2,713,650 from the FCO, along with £139,099 from other sources, for its activities in 1997–98. With these funds it supported 256 new projects in 47 countries. It directed most of its funds to supporting democratic institutions in Central and Eastern Europe, the former Soviet Union and Anglophone Africa, and also supported worthwhile projects in other parts of the world. It makes a valuable contribution to the promotion of democracy overseas. Projects have included work with political parties, parliaments, the independent media, trades unions, human rights groups, women's groups and other non-governmental organisations involved in political development.

Ethiopia And Eritrea: Arms Shipments

asked Her Majesty's Government:What action they are taking in light of the recent press reports of the shipment of arms in both Ethiopia and Eritrea. [HL3257]

We are aware of reports of shipments of arms from China to Ethiopia, and from Bulgaria to Eritrea on a Ukrainian aircraft. We are seeking to establish whether these arms were ordered before or after the border dispute between Ethiopia and Eritrea had broken out.There are no arms embargoes against either Ethiopia or Eritrea. But we are nevertheless extremely concerned that both countries, two of the poorest in the world, should apparently be seeking to rearm themselves at a time when the OAU, supported by the United Nations and the EU, are engaged in mediation efforts to settle their dispute by peaceful means.

Papua New Guinea: Tidal Wave

asked Her Majesty's Government:What assistance they have been able to give in relation to the tidal wave disaster that has befallen Papua New Guinea; and what is the latest information they have on the extent of the disaster and of Commonwealth and other international aid given for the relief of suffering in the disaster area. [HL2994]

The Department for International Development is in close contact with the Papua New Guinea authorities through the British High Commission in Port Moresby. In response to the initial appeal for assistance, we have offered up to £250,000 to meet the immediate relief and recovery needs of those affected by the tidal wave. Of this contribution, £75,000 has been allocated to the International Federation of the Red Cross to provide family rehabilitation kits containing basic household items, and materials to rebuild houses. A further £44,944 has been channelled through the UK Foundation for the South Pacific, a non-governmental organisation, for the provision of medical supplies and temporary shelters. We have asked other humanitarian organisations active in the region urgently to submit proposals for the remaining funds.With regard to the extent of the disaster, and of Commonwealth and other international aid given. I will place the latest UN situation reports in the Library of the House.

Belize: Debt Relief

asked Her Majesty's Government:What plans they have to assist Belize with debt relief. [HL3090]

My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for International Development has agreed with the Government of Belize the cancellation of repayments of aid debt due from Belize to the UK between April and October 1998, amounting to £1.146 million.We were able to make the offer under the Commonwealth Debt Initiative in recognition of the Belize Government's commitment to reduce poverty and promote accountable government, and to put in place sustainable economic policies.

The funds which would otherwise have been used to repay aid debts will now be used for poverty focused projects in education and water supply, specifically: rural water schemes in several villages; classroom furniture, equipment and materials in schools in poorer areas; textbooks for primary schools in poorer areas, under the textbook loan scheme.

We will hold further talks with the Government of Belize early in 1999 to consider further debt relief.

Homeless Persons: Permanent Accommodation

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will investigate the possibility that "silting up" in direct access hostels for the homeless might be reduced if help with deposits were available through the Social Fund. [HL2998]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Social Security

(Baroness Hollis of Heigham)

It is important that people receive all the assistance possible to help the move out of short term hostels into permanent accommodation. Following the recent Social Exclusion Unit report we will be looking at ways of improving such help.The Social Fund already helps such people through the provision of grants or loans for setting up home and rent in advance. Help with returnable deposits has been excluded because of concerns that landlords may be encouraged to either introduce or increase deposits.The new simplified budgeting loan system to be introduced in April 1999 will allow claimants greater flexibility in borrowing to meet the costs of establishing a new home.

War Disablement Pensioners: Age Allowances

asked Her Majesty's Government:What consideration they have given to the proposal by the British Limbless Ex-Service Men's Association for age additions to war pensions; and what action they propose to take. [HL3059]

Age allowances have existed in the War Pensions Scheme since 1957. The allowances for war disablement pensioners range currently from £7.40 a week for those aged 65 or over whose war pensioned disablement is assessed at 40 to 50 per cent., to £22.90 for those whose disablement is assessed at over 90 per cent.I wrote to the General Secretary of the British Limbless Ex-Service Men's Association on 26 June about the proposal to increase the allowances at age 70, and then again at age 80, and I undertook to keep the proposal in mind.

Written Answers

Volume 592: debated on Friday 31 July 1998

Written Answers

Europol Convention

Probation Service

Corruption And Misuse Of Public Office

School Inspections And Road Safety

Kensington Gardens: Visitor Numbers

Somerset House: Removal Of Inland Revenue Personnel

Greater London Authority: Location

Opencast Coal Mining: Planning Policy

Car Parking Charges For The Disabled

Shopping Centres: Planning Policy

Social Exclusion Unit: Rough Sleeping Report

Motorway Service Areas

Water Abstraction: Environmental Damage

Genetically Modified Crops

Ashford International Station

Maritime And Coastguard Agency: Strategy

Trunk Roads: Investment

Nhs Trusts: Debt Structure

"Investing In Dentistry" Initiative

Xenotransplantation: Regulation

Breast Cancer: Radiotherapy (Start) Trial

Invalid Vehicle Service

Tobacco Advertising And Sponsorship

Ministerial And Departmental Meetings: Record

Hm Prisons: Use Of Illegal Software

Negotiating Boards For Salaries And Wages: Funding

Asylum Seekers Sleeping Rough

Rough Sleepers Disentitled To Social Security Benefits

Special Advisers: Salaries

Task Forces And Reviews: Report Dates

Written Question

Armed Forces: Peacekeeping And Humanitarian Missions

Raf St Athan

Ottawa Convention: Implementation

Berkeley Centre Magnox Facility: Nuclear Material Study

Fishing Research Laboratory, Conwy

Spongiform Encephalopathy Committee

Pesticides Safety Directorate: Senior Staff And Business Appointments

Pesticides Safety Directorate: Annual Report And Accounts

Meat Hygiene Service: Annual Report And Accounts

Veterinary Medicines Directorate: Annual Report And Accounts

Central Science Laboratory: Annual Report And Accounts

Calf Processing Aid Scheme

Beef Export Ban

British-Registered Fishing Vessels: Uk Economic Link

Organic Aid Scheme

Acp Banana Regime

Bse Statistics

Court Welfare Service

Kosovo: Arms Control Measures

Kosovo: Moscow Agreement Implementation

International Criminal Court

Security Threats: Countermeasures

United States' Un Dues

Latvia

Turkey: Outstanding Echr Fines

Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty

Ottawa Convention

Sanctions: Humanitarian Exemptions

Westminster Foundation For Democracy: Annual Report

Ethiopia And Eritrea: Arms Shipments

Papua New Guinea: Tidal Wave

Belize: Debt Relief

Homeless Persons: Permanent Accommodation

War Disablement Pensioners: Age Allowances