To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions hat steps he is taking to assist with the renovation of dilapidated housing stock in (a) Barnsley and (b) Doncaster. [42655]

It is for local authorities to decide how best to apply the resources available to them for investment in housing to meet local needs and priorities. The table shows resources allocated by the Government for housing in 1998–99 to the Metropolitan Borough Councils of Barnsley and Doncaster:

£ million
	Barnsley	Doncaster
(i) Housing Annual Capital Guidelines	2,905	3,137
(ii) Private Sector Renewal support grant	700	775
(iii) Disabled Facilities Grant	284	345
(iv) Capital Receipts Initiative	3,035	3,424

In Doncaster, we are supporting ongoing Estate Action work to renovate housing in Stainforth and Dunscroft villages and SRB Challenge Fund projects which include renovation of housing in the Balby and Northern Corridor areas.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he has received from (a) local hon. Members, (b) local authorities, (c) private sector businesses and (d) other organisations on Thames river crossings. [42797]

Between 1 May 1997 and 1 May 1998, a total of 176 written representations about new East Thames River Crossings were received. They can be categorised as follows: (a) 15 from local hon. Members, (b) 61 from local authorities, (c) 107 from private sector businesses and (d) 93 from other organisations.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when the East Thames Appraisal Framework results and the Secretary of State's consequent decision will be published. [42796]

We are currently considering the case for new river crossings east of Tower Bridge following an assessment of options using the East Thames Appraisal Framework (ETAF). No decisions have yet been taken. The ETAF results will be made available in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions in each of the years from 1992 to 1997 how many planning applications in England were referred to his Department (a) because they were applications raising issues of more than local significance, (b) following referral by the local planning authority as proposals which depart from the local development plan and (c) following voluntary referral by the local planning authority; and how many in each category were called in. [42153]

[holding answer 18 May 1998]: Information is readily available only in the form set out as follows from 1995 onwards. The approximate total number of planning applications referred to this Department as departures from the local development plan, and the total number of planning applications called in, in each of the years from 1995/96 to 1997/98 are as shown. The figures for departure applications include applications referred under the "Shopping" Directions in the West Midlands and South West Regions. Information on departures for 1992 to 1994 could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Year	Departures	Call-ins
1995–96	1,010	144
1996–97	985	139
1997–98	1,088	147

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if an environmental appraisal was produced for the 'A Mayor and Assembly for London' White Paper. [42665]

Our Green Paper, "New Leadership for London" (Cm 3724), invited views on a range of proposals for an environmental role for the new Greater London Authority. Our White Paper, "A Mayor and Assembly for London" (Cm 3897), sets out our detailed proposals, taking into account consultation responses.Under our proposals, the Greater London Authority will have extensive environmental responsibilities. It will be placed under a duty to promote the environmental, economic and social well being of Londoners. It will also be placed under a duty to promote sustainable development. The Mayor will also be placed under a duty to produce an air quality management strategic plan and an integrated municipal waste strategy for London, and to take action to promote efforts to reduce the impact of noise. The Mayor will have power to promote Local Agenda 21 and biodiversity within London. The Mayor will produce a report every four years on the state of the environment in London and, in consultation with the boroughs, will produce a further report every four years on the contribution made by London towards the Government's national programme for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 13 May 1998, Official Report, column 118, if he will list the Park and Ride schemes initiatives, by local authority funded by his Department. [42792]

The table shows the single scheme referred to in the answer of 13 March 1998, Official Report, column 362–64, for which a local authority has received a specific allocation, and lists those which authorities could pursue using their block allocation from the Department.

Authority	Scheme
Specifically funded scheme
Cheshire	Chester: Park and Ride Phase 2
Fundable from block allocation	Allocation
Bedfordshire	Cardington Cross Park and Ride Phase I
Bedfordshire	Elstow Park and Ride
Birmingham	Maypole Park and Ride—King's Heath
Blackburn	Whitebirk Park and Ride
Bournemouth	Riverside Avenue Park and Ride
Bradford	Shipley Rail Park and Ride Extension
Bradford	Menston Rail Park and Ride
Cambridgeshire	Cambridge: Newmarket Road Park and Ride
Cambridgeshire	Cambridge: Babraham Road Park and Ride
Cornwall	Ponsharden Park and Ride
Coventry	Park and Ride: North of City
Derby	Wyvern Park and Ride
Devon	Park and Ride: Dartmoor
Devon	Honiton Road Park and Ride
Devon	Digby Park and Ride: Security Improvements
Devon	Digby Park and Ride: Facilities
Devon	Matford Park and Ride: Promotional Signs
Devon	Matford Park and Ride: Facilities
Devon	Balls Corner Park and Ride
Gloucestershire	Arle Court Park and Ride Stage 1
Gtr Manchester PTE	Cycle Parking at Rail Stations (unspecified)
Hampshire	Winchester Park and Ride Stage 2
Kent	New Dover Road Park and Ride
Kent	Bus Priority for A249 Park and Ride Site
Knowsley	Unspecified Park and Ride proposals
Lancashire	Chorley Railway Station Park and Ride
Leeds	Horsforth Park and Ride
Lincolnshire	North Lincoln Park and Ride
Norfolk	Norwich: Eastern Corridor Park and Ride Route—Traffic Management
North Yorkshire	Harrogate Park and Ride: Land Acquisition
North Yorkshire	Scarborough Park and Ride: Weoponess and Other Sites
North Yorkshire	CCTV Surveillance Equipment at Various Sites
Nottingham	Queens Drive Park and Ride Site
Nottingham	Racecourse Park and Ride Site
Nottingham	Park and Ride Sites—Block Provision
Nottinghamshire	Gamston Park and Ride Site
Oldham	Park and Ride: Shaw, Hollinwood.and Mumps

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what assessment his Department has made of the impact of a fast rail link from the Channel Tunnel to the north via Ebbsfleet, Stratford and St. Pancras on levels of road freight transport; [43096](2) what assessment he has made of the impact on investment of a fast rail link from the Channel Tunnel to the north via Ebbsfleet, Stratford and St. Pancras; [43094](3) what estimate he has made of the total cost to the Government of

On 27 March 1998, Official Report, columns 295–96, my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister said that the cure period under the Channel Tunnel Rail Link (CTRL) Development Agreement within which London and Continental Railways (LCR) could bring forward any improved proposals to the Government had been extended to 29 May 1998. Proposals have now been received and we are discussing them with the company. The economic and transport implications (including freight) of decisions on the CTRL will be a key consideration for my right hon. Friend in assessing the proposals put to him by LCR.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 27 March 1998, Official Report, column 295, if he has received revised proposals from London and Continental Railways; and if he will make a statement. [43546]

I have received revised proposals from London and Continental Railways which are being discussed with the company. I will make a statement to the House as soon as I can after the Whitsun recess.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he expects to announce the date of the elections to the Greater London Authority. [42977]

We hope to announce the proposed date of the elections to the Greater London Authority later this year.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what proposals he has to grant local authorities discretion to vary the level of council tax imposed upon the owners of second homes; [42996](2) if his review of the council tax system has included the issue of varying the level of council tax imposed upon the owners of second homes from the present mandatory 50 per cent; and if he will make a statement; [42997](3) what representations he has received from

The consultation paper "Improving local financial accountability" invited views on whether there is a case for change to the council tax. We have received a number of representations about discounts given on second homes including from the South Lakeland District Council and from other local bodies, and individuals. Our proposals will be set out in a White paper which we shall publish in the summer.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will define the terms of reference of the inquiry into the feasibility of an agrochemical levy. [42713]

Work has recently been commissioned by the DETR into whether a tax or charge on pesticides would be an effective way to reduce water pollution and negative impacts on the terrestrial environment, and to consider how such a tax or charge might work. The terms of reference for the study, to be carried out by ECOTEC research consulting limited cover inter alia detailed design issues; potential distributional impacts; and assessment of the issues affecting competitive positions of sectors of the UK economy.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the relative risks of (a) cycling and walking and (b) powered two-wheel vehicle use; and if he will ensure that the latter is not excluded from the Integrated Transport Policy on the grounds of safety. [42330]

Table 1.6 of Transport Statistics Great Britain 1997 shows that, for every billion passenger kilometres travelled in 1995 (latest figures), there were 1,507 two-wheeled motor vehicle users killed or seriously injured. The comparable figures for pedal cyclists were 881 and 611 for pedestrians. Motorcycle use, like other modes of transport, will be addressed in the Integrated Transport Policy White Paper.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to end the requirement that provisional motorcycle licence holders who fail to pass their driving test within two years are subject to a one year ban. [42331]

We are preparing a consultation paper that will consider the options for amending the current rule, whilst ensuring that any alternative arrangements provide that learner riders are properly trained and tested.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what percentage of drivers randomly tested were found to be over the legal alcohol limit in the last year for which figures are available. [42714]

The police do not have powers to take breath samples from motorists on a random basis. Motorists may be breath tested following an accident, when they appear to have committed a moving traffic offence or where there is a suspicion of alcohol use.In 1996, the latest year for which figures are available, 781,100 breath tests were administered in England and Wales and in 13 per cent. of those, either the test showed a positive (over the limit) reading or the driver refused to provide a sample.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is his Department's policy on the amount of alcohol which may be safely consumed by those intending to drive; and if he will make a statement. [42715]

The limit up to which a person can legally drive after consuming alcohol is 80mg of alcohol in 100ml of blood. However, alcohol affects people in different ways according to factors such as the person's sex, body weight and whether food has been consumed. Even a small amount of alcohol can impair performance. The Department's advice, which is endorsed by its current drink-drive publicity campaign, is therefore not to drink and drive.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list (a) the average number of school children in England travelling by school transport each day and (b) the number of (i) fatalities and (ii) injuries of school children involved in road accidents associated with school transport in each of the last five years. [42423]

The average number of children (aged 4–16) resident in Great Britain in 1992–96 who travelled to school by bus each day was about 1.7 million. Of these, about 0.5 million used a school bus.The number of road accident casualties in England who were school pupils going to or from school by bus or coach is as shown for each of the last five years for which figures are available. It is not, however, possible to identify how many of these were travelling in a school bus.

School child casualties (aged 4–16) travelling to or from school by bus, coach or minibus in England
Year	Killed	Injured
1992	1	530
1993	1	708
1994	1	536
1995	0	568
1996	1	761

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to allow local planning authorities fully to determine applications for motorway service areas. [42924]

We have no plans to change the existing arrangements under which motorway service area planning applications are dealt with in the same way as those for any other development. Applications which are called in for determination by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State, or are the subject of an appeal by the intending developer, will normally be considered at a public inquiry before an independent Inspector. In such cases, the Inspector reports to my right hon. Friend who takes the final decision. In all other circumstances, the decision rests with the local planning authority.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to take direct responsibility for the location of motorway service areas; and if he will make a statement. [42923]

Planning Policy Guidance Note 13 ("Transport") and Roads Circular 1/94 give advice to intending developers and local planning authorities on the spacing of motorway service areas (MSAs). We are considering whether there is any need to amend that advice but we have no plans to review the underlying policy that, within the constraints set by the spacing guidance, identification of specific sites for proposed new MSAs is a matter for the private sector.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he will publish a revised Framework Document for the Planning Inspectorate. [43344]

I have today arranged for copies of the Planning Inspectorate's revised Framework Document to be published and for copies to be placed in the Library.It is part of the usual arrangements for Next Steps Agencies to review their operation and revise their Framework Document every three to five years. The revised Framework Document will set out the relationship between the Planning Inspectorate executive agency and its parent Departments (the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions and the Welsh Office).

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what progress he has made in drawing up proposals to address the problem of fair rent increases affecting tenants under the Rent (Agriculture) Act 1967 and the Rent Act 1977; and if he will make a statement. [43437]

The Government are very concerned that private tenants with regulated tenancies and secure tenants of registered social landlords have faced exceptional rent increases in recent years. After market rents were introduced in 1989 for all new lettings, these tenants continued to have the protection of the fair rent system. However, they could never have anticipated the high level rent increases that some of them have faced. Many of them are elderly and on fixed incomes. They have planned their affairs on the basis that they would be able to remain in their present homes and are now faced with real financial difficulties. My Department is today issuing a public consultation paper setting out how we propose to tackle this problem.The proposals would apply to those private tenants and secure tenants of Registered Social Landlords who have a fair rent registered under the Rent (Agriculture) Act 1976 or the Rent Act 1977. Increases would be limited by an Order made under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985. The limits would be RPI plus 10% for the first re-registration after the Order comes into effect and RPI plus 5% for subsequent re-registrations. The limits would not apply if the rent had not previously been registered or a substantial increase in rent was due as a result of repairs or improvements by the landlord to the property. The limits would not apply to rent increases for assured and assured shorthold tenancies.Comments on the proposals are invited by 24 July. Copies of the consultation paper have been placed in the Library. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales is issuing a similar consultation paper in Wales.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on recent developments in the safety of roll-on roll-off passenger ferries. [43438]

I am pleased to announce the publication of an updated list of ferries operating to and from UK ports detailing the dates by which they must comply with the higher survivability standard specified in the Stockholm Agreement. We believe that it is important to continue to provide public information on ferry safety and will publish further lists when there are significant changes.Officials from my Department recently attended a conference hosted by the Swedish Government in Stockholm to consider the Report of the Joint Accident Investigation Commission of Estonia, Finland and Sweden into the loss of the ESTONIA in September 1994. The conference was a welcome initiative from the Swedish Government and I thank them for it. It considered whether or not international action since the ESTONIA tragedy had sufficiently addressed the Report's recommendations. It was agreed that most issues, particularly the potential problem of capsize due to water entering the car deck, had been satisfactorily addressed, confirming the significant progress which has been made in recent years. The conference also agreed that there were areas where research might identify further potential safety enhancements. We will look closely at these to establish whether there are any further measures we can take to enhance the already very high safety standard of ferries operating to and from UK ports.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when the HSC will make proposals on Mark 1 rolling stock and on train protection. [43439]

I am pleased that the Commission has today launched a consultative document proposing regulations on the installation of train protection systems (to all trains and at key signals) and on Mark 1 rolling stock. Copies of the consultative document have been placed in the Library. Rail is already one of the safest forms of transport but I welcome the Commission's proposals for making the network even safer.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has for the future of the Building Regulations Advisory Committee. [43176]

The Building Regulations Advisory Committee is a statutory advisory non-departmental public body constituted under Section 14(1) of the Building Act 1984. The Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions is statutorily obliged to consult the Committee on Building Regulations and other subjects connected with those regulations. The regulations apply in England and Wales. Appointments to the Committee are made jointly by the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions and by the Secretary of State for Wales.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will place in the Library copies of (a) The Hydrogeology of Dounreay Nuclear Power Development Establishment (1978), prepared by the Institute of Geological Sciences, (b) Environmental Radioactivity in Caithness and Sutherland, AERE-R17999 (1988), (c) the annual health and safety reports for Dounreay since 1956 and (d) the earliest report made by the UK Atomic Energy Authority to the Government on the accident at its waste shaft, D1225, at Dounreay in May 1977. [39673]

[holding answer 30 April 1998]: I have been asked to reply.I have arranged to place in the Library a copy of the Hydrogeology Report, the Report on Radioactivity in Caithness and Sutherland and the UKAEA's report on the 1977 incident at the Intermediate Level Waste Shaft at Dounreay. The Library already holds copies of the Health and Safety Executive's Reports covering the period 1987–94.

Consultation paper	Date published	Closing date for submissions	Number of respondents
Judicial Case Management: the fast-track and multi-track	2 July 1997	26 September 1997	91
Civil Procedure Rules about Costs	August 1997	31 October 1997	90
Restoration of 'Price Paid' to the Land Register	23 October 1997	12 February 1998	over 450
New procedures for Clinical Negligence	31 October 1997	31 December 1997	53
New Procedures for Multi-Party Actions	31 October 1997	31 December 1997	46
Civil Procedure Rules—Security for Costs	November 1997	31 December 1997	40
The amalgamation of Knowsley, Liverpool, St. Helens, Sefton and Wirral magistrates' courts committees	November 1997	6 February 1998	32
Procedures for the Specialist Jurisdictions of the High Court	31 November 1997	30 January 1998	66
Small Claims Procedure	1 December 1997	31 January 1998	113
Civil Procedure Rules—Judgments and Order	December 1997	27 February 1998	25
Civil Procedure Rules—Service of Court Process Abroad	December 1997	27 February 1998	25
The amalgamation of Birmingham, Coventry, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall and Wolverhampton magistrates' courts committees	December 1997	28 February 1998	49
Who Decides? Making Decisions on behalf of Mentally Incapacitated Adults	10 December 1997	31 March 1998	over 4,000
Interest on County Court Judgment Debts under £5,000 which include a Claim for Interest under the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Legislation	22 December 1997	16 February 1998	75
New guidance on appointment of justices' chief executives and justices' Clerks (amendments only)	8 January 1998	27 February 1998	7
Control of Unscrupulous Immigration Advisors (joint LCD and Home Office paper)	22 January 1998	23 March 1998	60
Increase to Bailiff Fees	23 January 1998	13 March 1998	9
Civil Procedure Rules—Transitional Arrangements	5 February 1998	3 April 1998	47
Access to Justice: Civil Court Fees	20 February 1998	1 May 1998	58
Access to Justice with Conditional Fees	4 March 1998	30 April 1998	233
Determination of Paternity & Parental Responsibility for Unmarried Fathers	6 March 1998	5 May 1998	102
The Professionalisation of Court Clerks in the Magistrates' Courts	13 March 1998	15 May 1998	80
Simplification of Transfer Procedure	31 March 1998	15 May 1998	39
Creation of a Unified Stipendiary Bench	1 April 1998	13 May 1998	43
The Next Phase of HM Magistrates' Courts Service Inspectorate Inspections	15 April 1998	22 June 1998	consultation period open
Special Immigration Appeals Commission (Procedure) Rules	20 April 1998	15 May 1998	17
Recovery of Social Security Benefits and Payments into Court	5 May 1998	29 May 1998	consultation period open

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he has received in respect of the takeover bid by J. C. Decaux for the More Group; and how many of these were from local authorities. [43042]

My right hon. Friend has received correspondence from J. C. Decaux, and the company has outlined its proposals to officials in this Department. I have received no specific representations from local authorities or other bodies. Mergers are a matter for the competition authorities.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list the consultation papers published since 1 May 1997 giving the date of publication, closing date for submissions and the number of respondents. [42248]

The information requested is set out in the table.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consideration he has given to the future status of Montserration evacuees in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement. [43586]

We have decided that Montserration evacuees in the United Kingdom should be allowed to remain here indefinitely if they wish. This offer will also apply to Montserratians still on the island and those who moved elsewhere in the Caribbean because of volcanic activity, should they wish to come to the United Kingdom.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his policy on proposals from the forensic science community for the creation of a Registration Council for Forensic Practitioners; and if he will make a statement. [43620]

I am pleased to announce the Government's support for the creation of a Forensic Science Registration Council, in line with the central recommendations made by the industry's own Working Group in December 1997. The Working Group, which was chaired by Lord Lewis, was established following an initiative by the Forensic Science Service.The Council's aim will be to promote and maintain high standards of competence, practice, discipline and ethics amongst forensic science practitioners. It will be non-statutory, self-financing, self-regulating and independent, with input from users. The Council will operate on a three tier basis, comprising:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 13 May 1998, Official Report, column 125, if he will list the persons appointed to the Race Relations Forum. [40841]

I am pleased to announce that the first meeting of the Race Relations Forum will be held on 23 June. The following have confirmed that they are willing to serve as members of the Forum:

Mr. Rumman Ahmed; Ms Yasmin Alibhai-Brown; Mr. Michael Boye-Anawomah JP; Ms Rachel Campbell; Mr. Thomas Chan; Ms Gobnait NÍ ChrualoaoÍ; Mr. Lincoln Crawford QC; Mr. Mohammed Dhalech; Lord Navnit Dholakia OBE JP; Mrs Zerbanoo Gifford; Mr. Bernie Grant MP; Ms Ros Howells OBE; Mr. Lee Jasper; Mr. Makbool Javaid; Dr. Gus John; Ms Mukami McCrum; Mr. Norman McLean; Dr. Dwain Neil; Sir Herman Ouseley; Mr. Adam Hafejee Patel; Ms Shushila Patel; Mr. Trevor Phillips; Ms Rachel Pickavance; Mr. Iqbal A. K. M. Sacranie; Mr. Gurbux Singh; Mr. Ranjit Sondhi; Dr. Richard Stone; The Rt. Revd Wilfred Wood.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) teachers and (b) care staff are currently under investigation for retrospective allegations of sexual abuse of former pupils. [41132]

It is difficult to answer my hon. Friend's question with any precision because it refers to investigations rather than convictions and it is difficult to see how such information could be collected centrally. Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary is undertaking a thematic inspection on child protection, which will look at how records and intelligence are collated and shared across agencies, and what good practice can be promoted on how to conduct major abuse inquiries.The Department for Education and Employment maintains a list of individuals who are barred from working in schools: (List 99), while the Department of Health consultancy index also contains information about individuals who are considered to be unsuitable to work with children and young people.A Ministerial group chaired by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health is following-up work across Government arising from Sir William Utting's report 'People Like Us'. Among the issues arising from that report is the need to strengthen recruitment and vetting procedures for adults who work with children living away from home.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Wakefield (Mr. Hinchliffe), of 30 March 1998, Official Report, column 391, of the two young men held in adult prison accommodation which was not separate from adult prisoners, if he will list (a) their ages, (b) the prison or prisons in which they were held, (c) the reasons they were held in accommodation not separate from adult prisoners, (d) the period for which they were held in such accommodation and (e) the number of other young men held in accommodation not separate from that of adult prisoners since 1 May 1997. [38578]

I will write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will provide a breakdown of the staff, transport and subsistence costs incurred on each occasion other prisons had to provide staff to support Parc Prison, Bridgend; what effect this had on staffing levels at the prisons which provided staff; how many prison officers are employed at Parc and at each of the prisons which provide staff in proportion to the number of prisoners; and if Parc' s staffing level was at full complement at the time of each occasion when other prisons provided staff. [42070]

Parc Prison has requested assistance from neighbouring prisons for help with disturbances on three occasions since it opened on 17 November 1997.On 20 February 1998, a total of 43 staff from Swansea, Cardiff and Usk prisons provided assistance to Parc. The staffing costs were £1,788.00, and the travel and subsistence costs were £708.26. Swansea reports no effect on its staffing levels and Cardiff and Usk report minor disruption to regimes and association.On 18 April, a total of 43 staff from Swansea, Cardiff and Bristol prisons provided assistance to Parc. The staffing costs were £1,806.00, and the travel and subsistence costs were £560.58. Swansea and Bristol prisons report no effect on their staffing levels and Cardiff reports minor disruption to regimes.On 6 May, a total of 119 staff from Swansea, Cardiff, Bristol, Usk, Long Lartin, Gloucester and Erlestoke prisons provided assistance to Parc. The staffing costs were £11,199.00, and the travel and subsistence costs were £2,338.28. Usk and Erlestoke prisons report no significant effect on their staffing levels. Swansea, Cardiff, Bristol, Long Lartin and Gloucester prisons report minor disruption to regimes.The number of staff and prisoners at Parc prison, and the establishments which assisted them on 6 May, is set out in the table (The staffing figures are for all unified staff):

Establishment	Number of staff	Number of prisoners
Parc	193	738
Bristol	334	599
Cardiff	258	700
Erlestoke	102	301
Gloucester	137	305
Long Lartin	634	379
Swansea	136	330
Usk	90	334

Parc Prison's staffing complement for the three occasions when assistance was provided was: on 20 February 1998, 211 staff in post against a target staff figure of 225; on 18 April 1998, 204 staff in post against a target staff figure of 225; and on 6 May 1998, 193 staff in post against a target staff figure of 225.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of public money disbursed to assist families and relatives of victims was provided (a) to individual victims and families, (b) family support groups and (c) collectively in respect of (i) the Hillsborough disaster and (ii) Stephen Lawrence's murder; and by what method the allocations were determined. [42983]

The Criminal Injuries Compensation Board advise that injuries sustained in the Hillsborough disaster were not regarded as the result of a crime of violence for the purposes of the criminal injuries compensation scheme, and that, accordingly, no compensation in respect of that disaster was awarded under the scheme.As regards the Stephen Lawrence murder, in accordance with the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information, it is not the practice of the Board, or the new Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (which deals with applications lodged on or after 1 April 1996), to disclose details about individual applications, including whether applications have been made.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what provisions were made out of public funds in respect of costs to (a) commission expert evidence and (b) challenge expert evidence put by another party at the public inquiries into (i) the Hillsborough disaster and (ii) Stephen Lawrence's murder; what was the outturn cost to public funds of such assistance for each inquiry; and how costs were agreed, verified and disbursed. [42981]

The original papers relating to the Taylor inquiry into the Hillsborough Stadium disaster are being examined to see what information was kept on costs. I will reply to my hon. Friend when that has been done.The Stephen Lawrence inquiry is still in progress. The Chairman of the inquiry, Sir William Macpherson of Cluny, has been asked to recommend how the costs of the inquiry should be met. The inquiry was called under section 49 of the Police Act 1996. There is power under section 49 to defray any costs of the inquiry out of the police fund.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many drivers have been banned from driving for one year for drink-related offences in the last year. [43081]

Information is not available in precisely the form requested because the published motoring offences are based on offences rather than offenders, and offences involving drugs cannot be separated from those involving drink. There were 35,287 disqualifications imposed for 'Driving etc after consuming alcohol or taking drugs' in England and Wales in 1996, the latest year for which figures are available.Such figures are published annually in "Offences relating to motor vehicles. England and Wales 1996. Supplementary tables", copies of which are available in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the answer of 14 May 1998, Official Report, column 181, how many children involved in Operation Charlie (a) received the specific tuition and (b) were used for comparison; and how many hours tuition the children received. [42901]

The number of children involved in Project Charlie that (a) received the intervention was 44; (b) the number of comparison children was 233; the Project Charlie children received a lesson of at least 30 minutes each week for 39 weeks.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the answer of 14 May 1998, Official Report, column 181, if the review of the value of Operation Charlie recommended further investigation. [42902]

The report on the follow up evaluation of Project Charlie strongly suggested that primary school drugs education programmes can have a delaying effect for the onset of drug use. It also recommended that further research be carried out. The Government's anti-drugs strategy signifies clearly the value of drugs education in schools from age 5 upwards, and identifies the commissioning of long-term evaluation's of the effectiveness of prevention and education programmes as a priority.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many offences involving a loaded antique firearm have been committed in the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement. [42800]

It is not possible, from the statistics held centrally, to determine how many offences are committed with antique firearms.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases of people driving under the influence of drugs have been reported by South Yorkshire Police in each of the last five years. [42656]

The information requested is not available centrally.There is no information collected centrally that distinguishes between driving under the influence of drugs and driving under the influence of alcohol.The Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions have in the past produced an estimate of the number of drug/driving cases based on information supplied by the Forensic Science Service, but this does not enable a police force breakdown to be made. Neither do South Yorkshire police themselves have any local information.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the training courses offered to Metropolitan Police officers in 1997 and 1998 to date. [42805]

The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis has provided a copy of the Metropolitan Police's Training Prospectus for courses held centrally at Hendon's Training Schools under the Director of Training and Development. I have placed a copy of the prospectus in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the total training budget of the Metropolitan Police for the current financial year. [42807]

The Commissioner tells me that training in the Metropolitan Police is delivered on three levels: centrally; by area; and by divisions.In addition, some training is purchased from outside trainers through the use of external budgets. As a consequence, the information requested is not readily available and can be obtained only at disproportionate cost. However, the Commissioner tells me that the total resource budget for centrally-delivered training is £24 million. Centrally based training under the Director of Training and Development is responsible for approximately 40 per cent. of all training delivery in the Metropolitan Police Service.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will list the funds and assistance provided in each year since 1994–95 to the Association of Chief Police Officers of England, Wales and Northern Ireland from (a) the Home Office, (b) other Government Departments and (c) each police authority or board; [42410](2) if he will list the grades within the uniformed police or civilian police service which make up the membership of the Association of Chief Police Officers of England and Wales and Northern Ireland. [42406]

The membership of the Association of Chief Police Officers of England, Wales and Northern Ireland comprises:

the chief constables, and assistant chief constables, including assistant chief constables (designated), of the forces in the police areas listed in Schedule 1 of the Police Act 1996 (full members)

the commissioners, assistant commissioners and commanders of the Metropolitan Police Service and the City of London Police (full members)

the chief constable, deputy chief constable and assistant chief constables of the Royal Ulster Constabulary (full members)

the chief police officers appointed/seconded to the National Criminal Intelligence Service and National Crime Squad (full members)

senior civilian staff of the forces and organisations listed above who are deemed by the Association to hold a post equivalent to that at least of an assistant chief constable (associate members)

those chief police officers of other police forces who accept the Association's invitation to become members (associate members).

In respect of the Association of Chief Police Officers of England, Wales and Northern Ireland, the Home Office contributed £466,000 in 1994–95, £470,000 in 1995–96 and £458,000 in 1996–97 towards staff salaries and administrative costs of the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) Secretariat under the common police service arrangements. In 1997–98, under different arrangements, the Home Office contributed a further £458,000 towards these costs.Contributions from police authorities in 1997–98 are listed in the following table. Before 1996–97, ACPO was organised differently with a limited central function. Work undertaken in the ACPO cental office from part-way through 1996–97 was previously carried out in forces for which no specific costs are available. Police authorities contributed £330,000 as a part-year cost for setting up the reorganised ACPO in 1996–97. In 1994–95, the police authorities' contribution was 49 per cent. of the total net cost of all common police services, of which the contribution to the costs of ACPO was a small part. This was apportioned between police authorities on the basis of a per capita charge based on the authorised establishment of each force. From 1995–96 to 1997–98, the costs of common police services were taken into account when the level of police grant was set for police authorities. These arrangements followed detailed discussions and agreement between the parties involved.

Contributions made by police authorities to the Association of Chief Police Officers of England, Wales and Northern Ireland in 1997–98
£
Force	Police authority contribution
Avon and Somerset	14,792.22
Bedfordshire	5,456.95
Cambridgeshire	6,353.12
Cheshire	9,451.31
City of London	5,284.64
Cleveland	7,109.47
Cumbria	5,393.29
Derbyshire	8,808.48
Devon and Cornwall	15,014.00
Dorset	6,151.13
Durham	6,922.83
Dyfed Powys	4,563.41
Essex	14,287.26
Gloucestershire	5,567.67
Greater Manchester	33,020.60
Gwent	5,962.97
Hampshire	16,876.94
Hertfordshire	8,478.17
Humberside	9,943.65
Kent	12,689.32
Lancashire	15,800.42
Leicestershire	8,971.59
Lincolnshire	5,441.39
Merseyside	21,382.39
Metropolitan	139,033.22
Norfolk	7,370.29
North Wales	6,640.81
North Yorkshire	6,792.39
Northamptonshire	5,608.91
Northumbria	18,271.40
Nottinghamshire	11,252.53
Royal Ulster Constabulary	54,322.10
South Wales	14,339.69
South Yorkshire	14,942.69
Staffordshire	10,267.55
Suffolk	5,962.47
Surrey	7,486.28
Sussex	14,429.38
Thames Valley	19,481.84
Warwickshire	4,656.28
West Mercia	9,831.60
West Midlands	33,486.12
West Yorkshire	25,293.17
Wiltshire	5,857.04
Total	669,048.98

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development when she expects to announce the results of her review of the aid programme to Malawi; and if she will make a statement. [41952]

I expect to complete the review in July. I am optimistic that we can build partnerships with the Government and others aimed at systematically reducing poverty in Malawi.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what initiatives her Department is taking to relieve developing countries' debt during the United Kingdom presidency of the European Union; and if she will made a statement on how she is taking these forward. [43092]

We work with the Treasury to seek to mobilise increasing international commitment to assist heavily indebted poor countries. In addition, we have contributed $10.5 million to help the African development bank meet its costs of providing debt relief under the heavily indebted poor countries debt initiative, and are encouraging other donors to do likewise. We have signalled our readiness to contribute $10 million to an international fund for Mozambique, an action which helped break the impasse among creditors earlier this year.I convened an informal meeting of donors to Rwanda in Brussels on 19 May, which considered among other matters ways of helping resolve that country's debt problems. At the donors' meeting in Stockholm on 2–3 June, Britain will announce a significant contribution to the multi-donor debt trust fund, which will provide debt relief to Rwanda over the next few years. We are providing nearly £500,000 in the form of technical assistance to help developing countries improve the management of their debt portfolios. We are continuing to urge other donors to follow the UK's example and write off their aid loans to the poorest developing countries.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assistance her Department gives to agencies providing trauma counselling in post-conflict situations. [42873]

We recognise that trauma counselling is an important component of health care in post-conflict situations. We support a number of projects which provide direct assistance to children affected by conflict, including after-care for traumatised children. In the past, we have supported a major social rehabilitation programme with World Vision for children abducted by the Lord's Resistance Army in Uganda. More recently, we have provided assistance to non-governmental and UN agencies working in Liberia.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on her Department's contribution to the drawing up of the Government's annual report of strategic exports. [42872]

My Department does not lead on the Government's annual report of strategic exports. We take part in interdepartmental discussions and will be consulted on the report before it is published.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions her Department has had with other Government departments on arrangements for the monitoring of arms export licences to less developed countries. [42877]

The Export Control Organisation of the Department of Trade and Industry is the licensing authority. All relevant individual licence applications are circulated by the DTI to other Government Departments with an interest, in line with their policy responsibilities. These include the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Ministry of Defence and my Department.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development who represented her Department at the World bank meeting in Washington on 1 April on international humanitarian aid efforts for Indonesia; what was discussed; and if she will make a statement. [42762]

The purpose of the meeting, which was attended by a member of the Department for International Development's Asia division, was to discuss the social consequences for Indonesia of the Asian financial crisis and prospects for mobilising additional support from multilateral and bilateral sources. Copies of a press release issued by the bank after the meeting have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses. The conclusions of the meeting has been largely overtaken by current developments in Indonesia. As circumstances permit, we shall continue to explore opportunities of working with civil society, non-governmental organisations and other donors to bring effective help to poor people, including those affected by the crisis.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) what is the average salary of (a) male and (b) female members of boards of non-departmental public bodies responsible to her Department; [42814](2) what is the average attendance fee of

The majority of board members of non-departmental public bodies give their time and services voluntarily and receive no payment other than normal travel and subsistence expenses. Where members do receive remuneration, this can vary between an annual salary, an honorarium or an attendance fee (which itself can be a daily rate or a half-daily rate, or calculated on a per meeting or per case basis). Individuals' remuneration therefore is not directly comparable. Full details of all payments to board members of non-departmental bodies, by gender, are given in the Cabinet Office publication "Public Bodies". Copies of "Public Bodies 1997" are available in the Libraries of both Houses.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on her policy towards providing aid to countries with extensive military programmes, including the development of weapons of mass destruction. [42390]

My Department seeks to develop long-term partnerships with countries that are committed to the elimination of poverty and are pursuing appropriate economic, social, environmental and political policies. In considering the opportunities for partnership, we take into account a wide range of factors. These would certainly include the impact on the poor of excessive military expenditure and the development of weapons of mass destruction.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what plans she has further to fund Zimbabwean police and army training at United Kingdom establishments. [41583]

The Department for International Development is supporting an organisational development project with the Zimbabwe Republic police, to reduce crime and the costs of policing through improved management and operational efficiency. Under this project, we have agreed to fund 12 curriculum development officers to attend training programmes at the Scottish police college over the next 12 months. The Department for International Development does not provide assistance for military personnel.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment her Department has made of the type of food and levels of supplies available for (a) adults and (b) children in Sudan. [42871]

Last week, my officials visited some of the seriously affected areas. Food supplies are adequate at present. Bulk grain (sorghum) and pulses are being provided to vulnerable communities. Children are also receiving Unimix and other specialised food mixtures. Access remains the major constraint, together with freedom for relief agencies to operate unhindered. Unless a ceasefire is implemented and people can plant their crops, food needs will continue throughout the year.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what representations she has received about the resources available to Operation Lifeline Sudan; and if she will make a statement. [42761]

In February, the UN inter-agency consolidated appeal sought US$109 million for Operation Lifeline Sudan in 1998. To date, some US$33 million has been committed to the appeal. A number of donors, including the UK, announced additional contributions at a meeting held on 18 May. Since February, Britain has committed £10.23 million to OLS.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions her Department has had with the IMF and World bank concerning debt relief to Rwanda; and if she will make a statement. [42878]

Rwanda's debt burden is severe, and one of a number of constraints on the Government's capacity to make progress towards achieving the poverty reduction targets. On 19 May, I convened an informal meeting in Brussels to discuss how external assistance could help relieve these constraints. The IMF and World bank were represented. These discussions will continue at a donars' meeting that the Government of Rwanda and the World bank will hold in Stockholm on 2–3 June. At that meeting, Britain will announce a significant contribution to a new multi-donor debt trust fund designed to ease Rwanda's debt burden in the period leading up to eligibility under the heavily indebted poor countries initiative become available.Leaders at the G8 Summit in Birmingham recognised the need to respond to the exceptional needs of poor post-conflict countries such as Rwanda as they rebuild their political, economic and social systems, and agreed that, particularly for those countries with arrears to the international financial institutions, there was a need for debt relief mechanisms to be used to release more resources, and more quickly, for essential rehabilitation. We shall be pressing for this work to be taken forward urgently.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what estimate she has made of the cost to her Department of the accelerated programme of debt relief proposed under the Mauritius mandate. [42879]

The main element of the Mauritius mandate is to press for faster implementation of the heavily indebted poor countries debt initiative. To help achieve this aim, the Department for International Development is prepared to contribute to international efforts to ensure speedy debt relief to HIPC countries. We have contributed $10.5 million to help Uganda, have pledged $10 million to help Mozambique, and may contribute to others, but at this stage it is not possible to quantify the total likely cost.As part of the mandate, I indicated that I was willing to cancel the remaining aid debts owed to the UK Government by lower-income Commonwealth countries, provided the poor benefited from this action. The potential cost of this is up to £132 million. The mandate also signalled our readiness to finance through the aid programme technical assistance to poor countries, particularly those in the Commonwealth, to assist in debt management. We are providing over £750,000-worth of technical assistance to the Governments of Tanzania and Nepal for this purpose. We have also agreed to contribute £400,000 to the core costs of Debt Relief International, an organisation that provides technical assistance in debt management to HIPC countries.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development when her Department's action plan for increasing the number of women holding public appointments will be published; and if she will place a copy in the Library. [42816]

My Department's action plan will be published shortly. Copies will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to implement the recommendation of the Scottish Secondary Teachers' Association for a review of the continuous assessment part of standard grade and higher examinations; what advice he has given to teachers in dealing with suspected plagiarism in internal assessment reports; and if he will make a statement. [40252]

[holding answer 30 April 1998]: Responsibility for the setting and marking of both standard grade and higher grade examinations rests with the Scottish Qualifications Authority. To ensure the quality and rigour of its qualifications, the authority works closely with experts in the education and training fields; it provides schools with clear guidance on internal assessment, including advice on suspected plagiarism; and it closely monitors assessment arrangements in schools.Independent research has recently confirmed the successful maintenance of standards in higher grade examinations. In relation to standard grade examinations,

£
Year	Dounreay	Hunterston A	Hunterston B	Torness	Chapelcross	Year total
1995–96	65,223	22,048	1—	19,425	24,629	131,325
1996–97	175,297	18,791	65,554	37,095	24,016	320,753
Totals	240,520	40,839	65,554	56,520	48,645	452,078
1 Charges relating to Hunterston for 1995–96 were not site specific between A and B

£
Year	Dounreay	Hunterston A	Hunterston B	Torness	Chapelcross	Year total
1989–90	326,817	179,412	303,481	452,218	427,341	1,689,269
1990–91	858,403	92,339	262,917	354,151	350,458	1,918,268
1991–92	732,124	134,135	484,053	382,480	376,212	2,109,004
1992–93	676,245	91,730	310,901	283,845	232,206	1,594,927
1993–94	427,784	182,368	334,895	453,121	292,288	1,690,456
1994–95	426,858	246,784	369,096	446,393	327,061	1,816,192
1995–96	566,086	305,263	604,169	530,251	344,368	2,350,137
1996–97	673,569	176,740	1,258,656	373,330	297,647	2,779,942
Totals	4,687,886	1,408,771	3,928,168	3,275,789	2,647,581	15,948,195

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the cost to his Department of administering grants to agriculture in the last year; and how many (a) full-time and (b) part-time staff were involved. [42437]

This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the annual cost to his Department or public bodies responsible to his Department, since May 1979, of the oversight and implementation of environmental safety at (a) Dounreay nuclear power establishment, (b) Hunterston nuclear plant, (c) Torness nuclear plant and (d) Chapelcross nuclear materials production plant. [39671]

[holding answer 30 April 1998]: Such information as is readily available is shown in the tables. The first table comprises information relating to charges raised in connection with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency's inspection and monitoring duties at nuclear sites. The site operators are liable for payment of these charges, which are intended to cover the cost to the Agency of undertaking such duties. The second table shows the costs incurred by the Health and Safety Executive in connection with regulation safety at nuclear sites. Nuclear operators pay the HSE charges, which are broadly designed to meet these costs.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will list by fire service board in Scotland, (a) the level of the capital expenditure budget and (b) the number and capital cost of fire appliances expected to be acquired for the current financial year; [41814]

	Fire brigade1
	Central Scotland	Dumfries and Galloway3	Fife	Grampian3	Highlands and Islands	Lothian and Borders	Strathclyde	Tayside
1995–96
Capital expenditure budget (£000)	945	300	469	1,362	1,460	1,520	4,450	717
Fire appliances2 acquired:
number	2	0	3	0	4	4	15	2
cost (£000)	210	—	1—	—	384	480	1,613	235
Average age of fleet (years)	6.6	7.5	7.6	7	8.5	8	7.3	6.5
1996–97
Capital expenditure budget (£000)	885	585	852	2,290	1,575	1,732	6,490	1,571
Fire appliances2 acquired:
number	2	50	2	0	4	6	13	2
cost (£000)	217	158	229	—	400	770	1,115	216
Average age of fleet (years)	7	8.5	6.8	8	8.3	7.5	6.0	7.1
1997–98
Capital expenditure budget (£000)	1,058	515	826	1,457	1,696	2,421	6,365	1,232
Fire appliances2 acquired:
number	3	4	3	8	5	5	4	4
cost (£000)	330	350	353	837	436	670	5966	446
Average age of fleet (years)	6.7	7.5	7.1	7	7.1	7.5	4.6	7
1998–99
Capital expenditure budget (£000)	2,175	479	777	1,361	1,576	2,457	5,734	1,134
Fire appliances2 acquired:
number	2	1+1 chassis	2	6	5	4	4	4
cost (£000)	220	160	240	650	472	450	435	430
1 The information is given for all 8 Scottish Fire Brigades: Dumfries and Galloway Fire Brigade and Fife Fire and Rescue Service are directly administered by the Councils for those areas, not by joint boards
2 The information relates to operational fire appliances of the conventional type. Aerial and other special appliances, and light fire appliances, have been excluded
3 Vehicle purchase to some extent funded from revenue
4 Up to 1996–97 Fife Fire and Rescue Service's appliances were all leased
5 Expenditure is shown, here and elsewhere in the table, in the year in which it was incurred. Brigades frequently purchase chassis in one year and take delivery of completed fire appliances in the following year

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish the key performance targets he has set for the Scottish Office Pensions Agency for 1998–99. [43588]

I have set the Scottish Office Pensions Agency the following key performance targets for 1998–99:

• To ensure that 99.5% of awards and transfer payments are accurate.
• To pay on time 99.5% of all pensions and lumps sums where the target date for receipt of claims is met.
• To make transfer payments within 12 working days of members' final instructions to transfer pensions rights.
• To ensure that 97% of contributions due from employers of teachers are received within 15 days of the end of the month to which they relate.
• To reduce total identified operating costs per member/beneficiary by 5% in real terms.

The information is set out in the table.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many United Kingdom citizens convicted of criminal offences abroad and deported back to the United Kingdom in the years 1990 to 1997 have re-offended in Scotland; [41738](2) how many criminals convicted of murder or homicide abroad and deported back to the United Kingdom in the years 1990 to 1997 have re-offended in Scotland; [41739](3) how many United Kingdom citizens, convicted of murder or homicide abroad have been deported back to the United Kingdom and have come to reside in Scotland in each year since 1990; [41740](4) how many United Kingdom citizens convicted of criminal offences abroad have been deported back to the United Kingdom and have come to reside in Scotland in each year since 1990. [41741]

I refer my hon. Friend to the answers he received today from the Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Neither the information relating to re-offending nor that on place of residence is held centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what changes have been made to the previously reported targets for Forest Enterprise for 1997–98 and 1998–99. [43587]

The targets for Forest Enterprise in 1997/98 and 1998/99 were changed to take account of the fall in timber prices and our moratorium on large scale sales of forest land. The original and the amended targets are as follows:

£ million
	Original target	Amended target
1997–98
Cash Surplus	28.7	24.7
1998–99
Cash Surplus	33.7	29.8
Operating Profit	18.6	12.4
Cubic Metres of Wood Harvested	5.0	5.1
Income from Disposals of Buildings and Land	25.0	10.0

Copies of the agency's corporate plan, which contains more detail about the agency's targets, will be placed in the Library of the House when it is published in June.

Performance measures	Key targets
The number of prisoners unlawfully at large	No A category prisoners should escape
	The number of escapes by B category prisoners should be no higher than 1.00 per 1,000 prisoners
	The number of escapes by C category prisoners should be no higher than 1.6 per 1,000 prisoners
The number of serious assaults on staff and prisoners	The number of serious assaults on staff should be no higher than 3 per 1,000 staff
	The number of serious assaults on other prisoners should be less than the 1997–98 outturn
Basic quality of life for prisoners	By end March 1999, 71 per cent. of prisoners will have access to forms of night sanitation
The amount of available opportunities for prisoners' self-development	To ensure that 600 prisoners have completed a cognitive skills programme and 60 prisoners have completed a sex offender programme during 1998–99
Average annual cost per prisoner place	To keep costs within £27,904 per place available for use
The level of absence through staff sickness	To reduce the average number of days lost per person per year through staff sickness to 14

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the remit of the safety review currently being conducted of the fuel cycle area at Dounreay. [43068]

The review was announced on 15 May and is being carried out by the Health and Safety Executive's Nuclear Installations Inspectorate and the

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what targets have been set for the Forestry Commission Research Agency for the current financial year. [43590]

The Forestry Commission Research Agency has been set the following targets:

• To achieve at least 92 per cent. customer satisfaction by value and by customer numbers.
• To have the entomology research programme reviewed by a Visiting Group during the financial year and have confirmation that the research does meet current quality standards.
• To increase the output of peer-reviewed scientific papers submitted and subsequently accepted for publication by 5 per cent. on the 1997–98 figure.
• To achieve a 2 per cent. real cost reduction in the weighted average unit cost of chargeable staff days in 1998–99 compared with 1997–98.
• To achieve full cost recovery from customers.
• Copies of the agency's corporate plan, which contains more detail about these targets, will be placed in the Library when it is published in June.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what targets he has set for the Scottish Prison Service, as an executive agency for 1998–99. [43589]

I have set the chief executive of the Scottish Prison Service the following targets:Scottish Environment Protection Agency. The terms of reference are to carry out a detailed audit of the management of safety at Dounreay, including: the effects of contractorisation; the management of reprocessing operations; the management of radioactive waste; the management of decommissioning; the arrangements for dealing with incidents; the interface between Dounreay and UKAEA's corporate management; and to make recommendations and publish a report.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what further plans he has to extend prescribing powers to district nurses and health visitors in the two demonstration sites to the whole of Scotland; and what further expenditure has been planned in order to facilitate this process. [42570]

There is a commitment to continue with the phased roll-out of the nurse prescribing scheme across Scotland.We have been proactively extending the scheme from the original two demonstration sites in May 1997, and by the end of May 1998 there will be 550 nurse prescribers in Scotland.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list (a) the number of (i) district nurses and (ii) health visitors who are currently able to prescribe from the nurse formulary in Scotland, (b) the locations in which they are currently working, (c) the total public expenditure involved to date and (d) the level of public expenditure per location. [42571]

(a) By the end of May 1998, there will be 550 nurse prescribers in Scotland. A breakdown of this figure into district nurses and health visitors is not held centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to publish the Scottish Local Government Boundary Commission proposals for the new local government boundaries in the Scottish Borders council area. [42572]

The Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland has not yet submitted its report on the electoral boundaries for the Scottish Borders council, although it is expected by the end of June.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list (a) the average number of school children in Scotland travelling by school transport each day and (b) the number of (i) fatalities and (ii) injuries of school children involved in road accidents associated with school transport in each of the last five years. [42421]

Tables 1 and 2 show the number of schoolchildren in Scotland provided with free transport. The figures are derived from a survey of school transport provided by education authorities in September each year.Table 3 shows the number of road accident casualties in Scotland who were school pupils going to or from school by minibus, bus or coach for each of the last five years for which figures are available. It is not possible to identify how many of these were travelling in school transport provided by education authorities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to publish the Scottish Local Government Boundary Commission proposals for the new local government boundaries in the Scottish Borders council area. [42572]

The Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland has not yet submitted its report on the electoral boundaries for the Scottish Borders council, although it is expected by the end of June.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the remit of the safety review currently being conducted of the fuel cycle area at Dounreay. [43068]

The review was announced on 15 May and is being carried out by the Health and Safety Executive's Nuclear Installations Inspectorate and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency. The terms of reference are to carry out a detailed audit of the management of safety at Dounreay, including: the effects of contractorisation; the management of reprocessing operations; the management of radioactive waste; the management of decommissioning; the arrangements for dealing with incidents; the interface between Dounreay and UKAEA' s corporate management; and to make recommendations and publish a report.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the total estimated amount of new deal funding to be provided in Wales for (i) young people and (ii) disabled people. [42672]

The new deal is about meeting individual needs, and therefore expenditure will be determined by the number of eligible people taking-up the opportunities and the nature of their requirements.On the basis of the planning assumptions for 1998–99, we anticipate expenditure in Wales on the new deal for 18–24 year olds to be around £20 million to £25 million.Expenditure on people with disabilities is more difficult to estimate at this stage because the new deal for disabled people includes a number of initiatives which are currently under development. I am delighted that we have recently secured for Wales one of the first six personal adviser service pilots, which will be in the eastern valleys.In addition to this, both the new deal for 18–24 year olds and the new deal for those aged 25 and over will provide assistance to people with disabilities who are in receipt of the job seekers' allowance and who join these programmes.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the competitiveness of manufacturing industry in Wales, with particular reference to the steel production centres in Wales. [42447]

According to the annual census of production 1996, figures indicate that manufacturing productivity in Wales was around eight per cent. higher than in the UK and around 48 per cent. higher for metals manufacturing compared to the UK. Figures relating to the competitiveness of the steel production centres in Wales are not available.