To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he will announce the outcome of consultation on the local government finance settlement for 2000–01; and if he will make a statement. [107553]

I have today laid before the House the Local Government Finance Report (England) 2000–01 and the Special Grant Report (No. 52). These reports establish the amounts of revenue support grant (RSG) and non-domestic rates (NDR) to be paid to local authorities in 2000–01, and the basis of their distribution; and provide for Standing Spending Assessment (SSA) Reduction Grant and Central Support Protection Grant to be paid to certain authorities for 2000–01. Drafts of these reports were issued for consultation on 25 November 1999. The Department received written representations from the Local Government Association and the Association of London Government, as well as from 166 local authorities and local authority groups.Having considered the views of the local authority associations and others who have commented on my initial proposals, I have decided not to make changes to SSAs, although the SSAs for individual authorities may be slightly different from those at consultation, generally reflecting more accurate data that have become available since then.Since the autumn, it has become clear that £35 million less than provided will be needed to meet transitional costs of local government reorganisation. I have decided that it would be appropriate to increase grant support to local authorities by £35 million to help fund service improvements at a more modest cost in council taxes.This year's settlement provides an overall increase of 5.8 per cent. in Government grant on top of the substantial increase of 5.5 per cent. given to local authorities in the first year of the Comprehensive Spending Review. We have provided a 5.4 per cent. increase in Education Standard Spending Assessments. We have made it clear that education is the Government's top priority, and we expect councils to pass on this increase to schools, in the expectation that the great majority of schools should receive an increase per pupil at least in line with inflation. In the last three years this Government have increased grant to local authorities by £6 billion—a real terms increase of 7.8 per cent in contrast to the previous three years of a real cut in grant of 4.3 per cent.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate he has made of the proportion the population in the United Kingdom which has had access to free concessionary bus transport in each year since 1990. [106820]

The information available to my Department indicates that almost 2.1 million pensioners in the United Kingdom benefit from local authority schemes for free concessionary bus travel—that represents 3.55 per cent. of the UK population. I regret that information is not available for other groups who receive free concessionary bus travel (such as people with disabilities).

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the local authorities which provide free transport on buses to persons of pensionable age. [106821]

A survey carried out by my department showed that in 1995–96 the following authorities had free travel schemes for pensioners (with age group restrictions and cost of bus pass as indicated):

Local authority	Age group restriction	Cost of pass (£)
Greater London boroughs and City of London	—	—
Merseyside PTA	—	—
West Midlands PTA	—	—
Bassetlaw	—	—
Bracknell Forest	—	20.00
Brentwood	—	100.00

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he will publish the list of brownfield sites in the United Kingdom. [106778]

The first phase of the National Land Use Database collected information, for England, on previously developed sites which may be available for redevelopment. Provisional estimates of the amount of previously developed land that may be available for redevelopment for each Government office region were published last May in the Department's Information Bulletin 500. Final estimates will be published shortly.Publication of details for individual sites is subject to current work on licence agreements to protect the local authorities' intellectual property rights in the data.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) how many complaints have been received in respect of noise in the previous 12 months at (a) Humberside, (b) Sheffield, (c) Manchester, (d) Leeds-Bradford, (e) Birmingham International, (f) East Midlands, (g) Newcastle, (h) Liverpool Speke, (i) Luton, (j) Stansted, (k) Heathrow and (l) Gatwick airport; [107000](2) what percentage of (i) passengers and (ii) employees at each of

Figures available from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) for the numbers of passengers arriving at the following airports by public transport in the last 12-month period reported were:

	Airport	Percentage
1994	Humberside	7
1998	Manchester	10
1992	Leeds-Bradford	2
1996	Birmingham	8
1992	East Midlands	3
1994	Newcastle	8
1996	Luton	14
1996	Stansted	33
1998	Heathrow	32
1998	Gatwick	30

The CAA does not hold figures for the numbers of employees arriving at airports by public transport.For the three airports designated under the Civil Aviation Act 1982 the numbers of complaints about aircraft noise, as recorded by BAA plc in 1999, were:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what estimate he has made of the number of new municipal waste incinerators that will need to be built by May 2002 to meet the Government's international commitments; [107377](2) what plans he has to increase the number of waste incinerators; and if he will make a statement. [107378]

There are no international obligations requiring the construction of municipal waste incinerators, although there are stringent EU standards for emissions from such incinerators. Proposals for higher standards are under consideration.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what grant-in-aid has been provided to the Environment Agency in Wales in each of the last two years to fund emergency works arising from leaks from underground fuel tanks; and if he will make a statement. [106147]

Grant-in-aid to the Environment Agency in Wales is unhypothecated, and it is a matter for the Environment Agency to determine its own priorities for expenditure within the context of such high level objectives as the sponsoring body may set. Over the last two years, no grant-in-aid has been provided to the Environment Agency in Wales specifically to fund emergency works arising from leaks from underground fuel tanks. However, a small sum from general grant-in-aid has been spent on investigation and advice, and in responding to major incidents including those at Bontddu and Llanrwst.Prior to 1 April 1999, grant-in-aid to the Environment Agency was paid on an England and Wales basis by the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. With effect from 1 April 1999, grant-in-aid has been paid separately toward the Environment Agency's activities in Wales, initially by the Secretary of State for Wales and, since the transfer of functions on 1 July 1999, by the National Assembly for Wales.I would also refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him by my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Environment on 17 January 2000,

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what extra funding is planned for the NHS in Wales this year in response to the influenza outbreak. [106855]

This is a matter for the National Assembly for Wales.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what preparations in Wales were made in 1999 to deal with the annual rise in demand for the NHS over the Christmas period. [106857]

It was envisaged early on that this winter would be particularly difficult, with the potential additional problems from the Millennium date change and the possible impact of Millennium celebrations on hospitals.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the need for additional resources for the Welsh Assembly to implement the first part of their recent strategic plan, with particular reference to the 30 target objectives; and what representations he has received on this matter. [107226]

I have made no such assessment as the detailed actions and targets of the recent strategic plan for the period up to the end of the current Assembly (May 2003) are consistent with existing spending plans, and this is a matter for the National Assembly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what has been the impact on the National Assembly for Wales during the financial year 2000–01 arising from the designation of West Wales and the Valleys as an Objective 1 area. [107225]

It is too early to know the impact of Objective 1 on the National Assembly for Wales for the forthcoming financial years 2000–01. The figures set out by the National Assembly for Wales and the Welsh Partnership on the Objective 1 financial tables relate to expected commitments of funding over the full life of projects. The actual rate of expenditure will depend on the spending profiles of projects submitted and approved, which are not yet known.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the European Commission over the eligibility of private or voluntary sector finance to contribute to the member state's match-funding for European Objective 1 projects; and if he will make a statement. [107228]

I have had no such discussions. The European Structural Funds Regulations, which apply to all EU member states, set no requirements for sources of match funding, which is the responsibility of the grant applicant. It is the eligibility of the activities of each specific project which needs to be assessed against the priorities in the Objective 1 programming document. Match funding from the private and voluntary sectors has been used in previous Structural Funds programmes across the UK and there is no reason why this should not continue for the new Objective 1 programme.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 17 January 2000, Official Report, column 356W, what assumptions he made about the level of VAT evasion which would occur with a 5 per cent. rate on house repair and refurbishment relative to the current rate. [107110]

The effect on the level of VAT evasion of levying a 5 per cent. rate of VAT both on house refurbishment and repair and on construction on previously undeveloped land is uncertain. My answer of 17 January therefore made no allowance for any such effect.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many disabled people in (a) Shrewsbury and Atcham and (b) Shropshire have benefited from the disabled persons tax credit since its introduction; and if he will make a statement. [107252]

Reliable estimates for the numbers of families in receipt of the disabled persons tax credit are not yet available on a constituency or county basis, but will be available shortly.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the UK share of Community resources provided to the Federal Council of the International European Movement on 6 November; what was the nature of that support; and what was the nature of UK participation. [105539]

I have been asked to reply.The International Secretariat of the European Movement received a subsidy of euro 300,000 from the European Community budget in 1999.In 1999, the UK's gross contribution to the EC budget (i.e. before abatement) was approximately 15 per cent.The relevant budget lines are administered by the Commission headquarters in Brussels.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what assessment he has made of the progress made by football clubs in tackling racist behaviour among football spectators; [106286](2) what measures his Department is taking to tackle racist behaviour among football spectators. [106287]

Under Section 3 of The Football (Offences) Act 1991, as amended by Section 9 of the Football (Offences and Disorder) Act 1999, it is an offence for a person to engage or take part in chanting of a racist nature at football matches. The 1999 Act came into effect in September 1999 and the police and courts have been urged to use the extended powers at their disposal.The Football Association, the League Managers Association, the Professional Footballers Association, the Football Association Premier League, football clubs and supporter groups are all working hard to eliminate racism from football. The Government will continue to play their part by providing the necessary legislative framework; monitoring implementation of the various measures recommended by the Football Task Force; and supporting initiatives like Show Racism the Red Card.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on progress being made on the establishment of the Criminal Records Bureau. [106528]

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Clwyd, West (Mr. Thomas) on 16 December 1999, Official Report, columns 271–72W. Since that time, following evaluation of the bids received from potential private sector partners, we have shortlisted three bidders who have been invited to take part in a technical design study in the spring.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of violent crimes, in the most recently published figures, were crimes of domestic violence. [106779]

The information requested is not available. Recorded crime figures are based on the legal definition of offences. The relationship of the victim and any alleged offender is not recorded.In the 1998 British Crime Survey, it was estimated that 25 per cent. of the violent offences it addressed were domestic in nature. The most detailed information on domestic violence, collected in the 1996 British Crime Survey, is given in the Home Office Research Study No. 191 called "Domestic Violence: Findings from a new British Crime Survey self-completion questionnaire", which was published in 1999.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the increase was in the number of police officers in Wales from 1998 to 1999. [106854]

The number of police officers in the police service in Wales increased between March 1998 and March 1999 by 29 to 6,646.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to increase (a) funding for the Police Service and (b) the number of police officers in Wales in the next 12 months. [106870]

Under the spending plans of the Government and the National Assembly for Wales, funding of the police service in Wales is set to increase by 2.6 per cent., or £9.3 million in 2000–01. It is for the individual chief constables and their police authorities to determine staffing levels within the resources available.Police forces in Wales are eligible to bid for a share of the crime fighting fund to recruit 5,000 police officers over and above the number they would otherwise have recruited over the next three years. All four forces have submitted applications. They will be informed of our decision in the next few weeks.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many contracts for the provision of accommodation for asylum seekers after 1 April have been entered into by his Department; how many units of accommodation each will contract provide; and what are the estimated costs of each unit of accommodation so provided. [106687]

No contracts have yet been signed for the provision of accommodation. Contract negotiations are currently being conducted and should be concluded shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the visitor's right of appeal on the refusal of entry will be reinstated. [106781]

We are committed to restoring a right of appeal to family visitors who have been refused entry clearance. Part IV of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 enables us to do this. We will be bringing Part IV into effect on 2 October 2000, the day on which the Human Rights Act 1998 comes into force.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions there were in (a) 1998, (b) 1993 and (c) 1988 under Regulation 103 of the Motor Vehicle (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 relating to obstruction of a footpath by a motor vehicle; and what the breakdown was in each year by police authority in England. [106570]

This offence cannot be distinguished from other offences of obstruction, waiting and parking in the statistics collected centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what further information he requires concerning the Enderby Leisure Centre CCTV proposal before he makes a final decision on the bid, and when he will make a final decision. [106478]

The Home Office has asked the crime and disorder partnership responsible for the Enderby Leisure Centre Closed Circuit Television bid to provide further information relating to the proposed operational and technical requirements for the system and the need for an adequate code of practice to govern its use. We will work closely with the partnership to resolve these issues as quickly as possible once the required information has been provided.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy to allow the employment of au pairs from Lithuania; and if he will make a statement. [106475]

No. There are no plans at present to extend the au pair scheme under the Immigration Rules to Lithuania, or to any other country.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers there were in the Colchester Police Division in September each year from 1995 to 1999; and if he will make a statement. [106557]

The information available, which is set out in the table, has been provided by the Chief Constable of Essex. The force is not able to provide figures for 1995 and 1996.I understand that the reduction between 1997 and 1998 was partly due to the transfer of some posts from Divisional strength to Headquarters strength, although the officers concerned remained based in Colchester.

Essex Police—E Division, Colchester
Year (as at 1 September)	Number of police officers
1995	n/a
1996	n/a
1997	190
1998	180
1999	180

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many officers there were in the Essex police force in each year from 1985 to 1999, giving figures on a quarterly basis from 1995 onwards; and if he will make a statement. [106548]

The information available is set out in the table. Since 1995, police numbers have been collected only twice a year—in March and September— so as to reduce administrative burdens on the police.

Essex police numbers: 1985–99
	Number of officers
Year	As at 31 March	As at 30 September
1985	2,650	—
1986	2,666	—
1987	2,723	—
1988	2,728	—
1989	2,754	—
1990	2,822	—
1991	2,889	—
1992	2,898	—
1993	2,936	—
1994	2,937	—
1995	2,921	2,897
1996	2,884	2,927
1997	2,961	2,944
1998	2,929	2,903
1999	2,891	1—
1 Not yet available

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many additional police officers he will agree can be added to his Department's authorised number employed by the Essex Police Authority as a result of the transfer on 1 April to the Essex Police Authority of that part of Essex currently policed by the Metropolitan Police. [106550]

Each police force in England and Wales has a "notional establishment" of police officers for the purposes of allocating 10 per cent. of the police grant (most of the grant is allocated according to a needs-based funding formula). For the purposes of allocating the police grant in 2000–01, the notional establishment of Essex police was increased by 137 to take account of the enlargement of the Essex police area as a result of the change to the boundary of the Metropolitan police district on April 2000. This followed consultation with Essex police, Essex Police Authority and the Metropolitan police.The actual numbers of police officers in the Essex police area following the boundary change will be a matter for the Chief Constable on the basis of the resources made available to him.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much the Metropolitan Police budget will be reduced from 1 April when that part of the County of Essex currently policed by the Metropolitan Police is transferred to the Essex Police Authority. [106547]

Funding for the Metropolitan Police in 2000–01 will reduce by around £5.9 million over 1999–2000 levels to reflect the boundary change with Essex Police Authorities.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Metropolitan Police officers will transfer to the Essex Police Authority from 1 April when that part of the County of Essex currently policed by the Metropolitan Police is transferred to the Essex Police Authority; how many will stay with the Metropolitan Police; and how many will retire. [106549]

The Metropolitan Police Commissioner tells me that there is no fixed allocation of Metropolitan Police Officers to the area that is to be transferred from the Metropolitan Police District to Essex Police Authority from 1 April. As a result of the boundary change, 10 Metropolitan Police Officers will transfer to the Essex Police before 1 April and four afterwards.In addition, 32 Metropolitan Police Officers are expected to be seconded to Essex Police on 1 April for up to 18 months, after which they will return to duties in the Metropolitan Police District. No Metropolitan Police officer is expected to retire as a consequence of the boundary change.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what additional funding he will give to Essex Police Authority in 2000–01 to police that part of the county which from 1 April is transferred from the Metropolitan police; and if this figure, indexed accordingly, will be built into the authority's base figure in future years. [106546]

The proposed funding allocation for the Essex Police Authority in 2000–01 will increase by 7.2 per cent., or £11.8 million, over 1999–2000 levels to £174.8 million. This increase is significantly above the national average increase of 2.8 per cent. as it takes into account the enlargement of the Essex police area as a result of the boundary changes with the Metropolitan police from 1 April 2000.Funding allocations for the police service in England and Wales are made by means of a needs-based formula. Allocations for future years will reflect the Essex Police Authority's new boundaries from 1 April 2000.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what rights prisoners have to confidentiality in interviews conducted with journalists. [106446]

Interviews with journalists are conducted in the same way as other visits, and thus are governed by policy set out in Prison Service Standing Order 5A, a copy of which is in the Library. Under this Order, for reasons of security and control, prisoners do not have the right to confidentiality, except in the case of visits from their legal advisers.Visits are conducted within the sight of a prison officer, and are liable to be within the officer's hearing, particularly where security considerations require close supervision of the visit.The provisions for legal visits are different, in order to ensure that a prisoner's access to the legal system is not in any way compromised. Such visits take place within the sight, but not within the hearing, of prison officers.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people seeking entry to the UK in each of the last five years have been refused under the provision of Immigration Rule 320(18). [106985]

The available information relates only to persons refused leave to enter and removed where the principal reason for the decision was taken under paragraph 320(18) and is given in the table.

Year of decision	Passengers refused Leave to enter because of a criminal conviction and removed
1995	8
1996	13
1997	16
1998	15
19991	214
1 1st half
2 provisional

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what further appointments he has made to the Police Complaints Authority. [107855]

I am pleased to announce that Her Majesty the Queen has approved the appointment of Sir Alistair Graham as Chair of the Police Complaints Authority and that I have appointed Mrs. Wendy Towers as a member of the Authority.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to change the AD suffix in official year references. [107179]

None.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many post offices there were in (a) Derbyshire and (b) the West Derbyshire constituency in each year from 1980 to 1999; and if he will make a statement. [107127]

I understand from the Post Office that they do not hold historic information on the numbers of post offices in each parliamentary constituency or local administrative area and that such information cannot readily be compiled.The Post Office advise that in October 1999 the number of post offices in the county of Derbyshire was 337 and in the West Derbyshire constituency was 64.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he last met the senior management of Marks and Spencer to discuss the impact on employment levels of their decision to terminate supply contracts with W. S. Baird Ltd. [107022]

I am due to meet senior managers of Marks and Spencer in the coming few weeks for a routine briefing. No doubt product sourcing will be one of many issues discussed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions he has held with Department for Education and Employment ministers on the impact on employment of Marks and Spencer's decision to discontinue sourcing from W. S. Baird Ltd. [107021]

I have not discussed the decision of Marks and Spencer to discontinue sourcing from W. S. Baird Ltd. with Ministers from the Department for Education and Employment. However, Government Departments, including the Department of Trade and Industry and the Department for Education and Employment are in regular contact and work together to provide a range of support to the textile and clothing industry.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the impact of worker participation on innovation; and if he will make a statement. [106522]

The impact of employment practices on all aspects of a firm's performance is of key interest to my Department. The Workplace Employee Relations Survey, published last September¹, clearly shows that workplace outcomes and performance appear to be influenced by the way employees are managed. Workplaces with modern employment practices (which included problem-solving groups) were associated with improved performance, less resignations, less dismissals and better management-employee relations.DTI analysis of data from the Community Innovation Survey and some results form survey work on SME innovation by the Centre for Business Research in Cambridge

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what reports he has received from the Low Pay Commission on the impact on unemployment of the national minimum wage; and if he will make a statement. [106524]

The Government asked the Low Pay Commission to examine the effect of the introduction of the national minimum wage, in particular its impact on employment. I received the Commission's report in December and am consulting other Government Departments about the report's findings. Once this consultation is completed, I will publish the report and the Government's response.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent representations he has received to increase the level of the national minimum wage; and if he will make a statement. [106523]

My Department has received a number of representations on the level of the national minimum wage in recent weeks. As with its introduction, any future changes to the national minimum wage rates will take account of the economic circumstances prevailing at the time.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the economic impact of the closure of Bradwell Power Station. [106179]

[holding answer 24 January 2000]: An assessment was prepared in 1998 by PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PWC) who were commissioned by Essex Training and Enterprise Council (TEC) and key partner organisations to undertake a review on the impact of Bradwell Power Station upon the local economy, and of the mechanisms which might be put in place to counter any effects of the closure of the plant. No further assessment has been made by the Government.Arrangements are being made with Essex TEC for a copy of the PWC report to be placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assistance from public funds will be available to mitigate the economic effects of the closure of Bradwell Power Station; and if he will make a statement. [106180]

[holding answer 24 January 2000]: Maldon has been designated by the Government as an Enterprise Grants Area. Under the Enterprise Grant Scheme grants up to £75,000 may be paid in support of new investment by business employing up to 250 people. Investment by SMEs in the vicinity of Bradwell may therefore be eligible for financial assistance.The Small Business Service franchisee for Essex and the Learning and Skills Council for Essex will need to consider whether to make available special assistance for business start-up and for retraining to help people made redundant when Bradwell closes in 2002.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate he has made of the (a) volume and (b) value of imported garments for retail sale in the last 12 months for which figures are available. [106923]

In the 12 months to October 1999, the UK imported apparel and clothing accessories worth £7,611 million. Within this total, it is not possible separately to identify imports for retail sale. Information, in volume terms, is available only for clothing and footwear. In the 12 months ended October 1999, imports of clothing and footwear, in 1995 prices, were 44 per cent. higher than in 1995.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to the answer of 17 January 2000, Official Report, column 261W, on MOX fuel, what issues he plans to explore in respect of the proposals to return unused MOX fuel from Japan; what meetings have been held, or are planned between representatives of the United Kingdom and Japanese Governments and the respective nuclear authorities; and if he will make a statement. [106730]

This issue will be discussed between the UK and Japanese Governments.I have met with the Japanese Ambassador, and officials are to visit Japan in the near future.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the (a) short and (b) long-term contributions that photovoltaics could make in reducing carbon emissions in the UK. [106792]

For the short term, photovoltaics (PV) is a relatively expensive technology, and the cost is unlikely to decrease sufficiently for it to make more than a small contribution to carbon emission reductions in the UK over the next decade. In the longer term, however, PV has the potential to make a significant contribution to carbon savings. The DTI has been supporting a programme of research, development and demonstration of the technology in the UK for several years and, together with support from the European Union, a number of major examples of building integrated PV are now operating, such as Northumbria University, Ford Engine Factory, and Doxford Solar Offices.The annual generating capacity of PV installed in the UK at the moment is around 0.5 gigawatt hours (GWh). A study conducted for my Department in 1998 suggested that, for five key applications, new and refurbished offices, superstores, new housing and prestige public buildings, the maximum potential, disregarding cost, would be around 7 terrawatt hours (TWh) a year in 2010, around 2 per cent. of current electricity consumption. Investment costs were estimated at around £30 billion. The likely market potential for these applications without substantial levels of subsidy, but assuming significant cost and performance improvements and significant levels of carbon and pollution taxes, was estimated at less than 0.2 TWh/yr by 2010. Clearly, all such estimates can only give a broad indication of potential and the figures quoted are not comprehensive, excluding retrofit installation of PV on domestic roofs for example, where costs are currently high but the theoretical potential is large. Nevertheless, I believe that they give a reasonable indication of the possible scale of contribution in the short to medium term.This compares with a theoretical estimate of around 270 TWh/yr available in 2025 from installing PV on all available walls and roofs for the entire building stock. More realistically, if PV were to be installed on all south-facing roofs and facades this would yield an annual output of around 70 TWh, or a little over 22 per cent. of current electricity consumption, which stands at around 324 TWh/yr. Alternatively, if 50 square miles (about 0.1 per cent. of the UK's total land area) were covered with PV panels, this would have the technical potential to generate about 15 TWh of electricity (about 5 per cent. of current consumption). The extent and rate at which this longer term potential is exploited will depend on a number of factors, principally on the rate at which costs are reduced, itself the subject of much debate.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what initiatives his Department is taking to promote clean coal technology. [106935]

The Government's policy on cleaner coal technologies is set out in Energy Paper 67: "Cleaner Coal Technologies—Future plans for research, development and export promotion", which was published in April 1999. The promotional activities that my Department has initiated as part of the policy set out in Energy Paper 67 includes:

initiating a portfolio of research and development projects in collaboration with UK industry and universities (R&D projects are being supported following an annual call for proposals. Details of the call process are available on the DTI website);

undertaking a DTI led mission to China with UK industry in September 1999 to promote UK expertise (A further DTI led mission to India will take place in September this year);

publishing an export directory and a series of capability brochures on UK expertise in cleaner coal technologies; and

publishing a number of reports on the technology status of cleaner coal technology and the financing the development of the technologies.

Copies of Energy Paper 67 are available in the Libraries of the House and on the DTI website (www.dti.gov.uk/ent/coal), together with other publications arising from the programme. The DTI website is being used to help promote UK capability in cleaner coal technologies and provide up to date information on developments in the DTI programme.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proportion of the Export Credits Guarantee Department's 1998–99 exposure in unrecovered claims for exports to Nigeria is for defence-related exports. [105932]

[holding answer 24 January 2000]: Nine per cent. of the unrecovered claims relating to Nigeria are defence-related. These claims were all authorised prior to 1996 and are currently recorded on ECGD's Balance Sheet as assets.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent representations he has had concerning British involvement in the National Roads and Bridges Project in the Philippines; and if he will make a statement. [107375]

We have discussed the National Roads and Bridges Project in the Philippines with interested companies. Several consortia are involved and the question as to whether this should be a competitive tender or a negotiated contract has arisen. However, this Project is being funded by the Department for International Development and the companies should keep in close contact with them.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many representations he has received about the proposed payment of benefits directly into bank accounts rather than at post offices; and how many of these representations are (a) in favour and (b) against. [104723]

I have been asked to reply.Letters often cover a number of subjects but we have received around 500 dealing with ACT in some way.Starting in 2003, we will be moving to a more modern, secure and efficient method of paying benefits through automated credit transfer (ACT). Payment by ACT will become the norm for paying benefits.However, we have given an assurance that those benefit recipients, whether paid by ACT or otherwise, will continue to have a choice of where they access their cash, with those who wish to collect at post offices still being able to do so.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 13 January 2000, Official Report, column 231W, on stakeholder pensions, what have been the findings of recent departmental surveys on (a) the number of people with non-mortgage debt and (b) the distribution of non-mortgage debts among persons with annual earnings in the range £9,000 to £21,500 who are not members of an occupational or personal pension scheme. [106805]

The necessary combined information on non-mortgage debt, earnings and pension provision is not available from departmental surveys. Some data are available from one wave of the British Household Panel Survey, which showed the following distribution of reported non-mortgage debt among survey respondents with earnings between £9,000 and £21,500 and who were not current members of an occupational or a personal pension scheme. Reliable estimates of the numbers of such persons with non-mortgage debt cannot, however, be derived from this source.

Level of non-mortgage debt	Percentage of respondents
Nil	55
Less than £500	12
£500 to £1,500	11
£1,500 to £4,000	13
Over £4,000	10

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when he expects the computer system necessary for the pensioners' free TV licence scheme to be in place; upon what date he expects that the scheme will commence; when he expects to publish details of the scheme, with particular reference to terms for refunds for those reaching the age of 75 years within the duration of a licence; and if he will make a statement. [107181]

[holding answer 27 January 2000]: My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced in his pre-Budget statement on 9 November 1999, Official Report, columns 883–91, that people aged 75 or over will receive their television licence free of charge from this autumn. The Government intend to announce shortly the precise starting date and details of how the scheme will operate.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions his Department has had with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food concerning farmers diversifying into tourism. [104919]

We were, of course, consulted when the UK's Rural Development proposals were being prepared. We fully support the proposals of my right hon. Friend the Agriculture Minister to introduce a radical redirection of support for agriculture. This initiative will give new help to farmers wishing to diversify into other activity, including tourism, through a significant increase in expenditure on rural development measures, including the environment and diversification. We are now involved in discussing how this programme of measures, when approved by the Commission, can best contribute to sustainable tourism in rural areas—to the long-term benefit of farmers and visitors alike.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many children who have been diagnosed dyspraxic have been refused treatment by the Thames Gateway NHS Trust in North Kent since May 1997. [104862]

The information requested is not available. However, no children with verbal dyspraxia have been refused speech and language therapy services. For motor dyspraxia all urgent referrals are seen. These children are assessed and given an activity programme to do at home and their progress is reviewed every three months.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what assessment he has made of the impact of his proposed regulations on the number of businesses in the long-term care industry; and what percentage of the available long-term beds these businesses account for; [106378]

The new National Care Standards Commission will regulate care services and private healthcare. The Commission will ensure that services meet the finalised minimum standards. The proposals in "Fit for the Future?" are aimed at promoting better quality care and helping to prevent abuse by grounding practice on the principles of dignity, choice, privacy and respect.The Department did not carry out research into the impact of each of the standards proposed. However, Laing and Buisson were commissioned to work on a cost-benefit analysis of the standards to ascertain the likely burden on providers nationally. Additional information was gathered from Heads of Inspection regarding the current standard of provision. Information from these studies was published in "Fit for the Future?" along with a regulatory impact appraisal.We will be issuing a revised regulatory impact appraisal with the published standards later this year.The Department has not conducted any specific research into the impact on the National Health Service of the proposals concerning ratios of qualified nurses to other staff in nursing homes. However, we are funding a major study by Kings College, University of London, tracking the careers of 3,000 new entrants to nursing. Although not the focus of the research, this will help assess the demand for nurses, including from the private sector. We are also actively considering models for assessment of nursing needs which would allow levels of qualified nurses to relate more flexibility to assessed needs.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health when a Minister in his Department will next visit the Christie Hospital in Manchester. [106692]

I visited the Christie Hospital on Friday 21 January.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what (a) guidelines and (b) regulations are in force concerning the rights of elderly residents in nursing homes who may be forced to leave those homes as a result of a change in registration by the owners of such homes. [106924]

Residential care homes are currently required to give reasonable notice to residents of any intention to terminate arrangements for accommodating them. Nursing homes are not currently under the same statutory obligation. This will be remedied in the new arrangements for regulating care, through the regulations and national standards we are introducing.None the less we regard it as good practice that any decision to close a home or part of a home is handled as sensitively and appropriately as possible. When a home does have to close or beds are redesignated, the essential thing is that there should be proper arrangements made for the safe and satisfactory transfer of all residents to other suitable homes. Adequate time should be allowed for this to be done and in a way that allows both residents and their relatives a choice in where they are to move to, and which creates the minimum possible discomfort to all concerned.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what recent representations he has received on age discrimination in applying the 'needs test' system with respect to the provision of digital hearing aids; [107058](2) what proposals he has to increase the funding of audiology services within the NHS; [107057](3) if he will make a statement on availability of digital hearing aids in the NHS. [107056]

We have not received any representations about age discrimination for the supply of digital hearing aids. A project will start in England later this year to trial digital hearing aids for National Health Service patients. This project will help inform our plans to modernise hearing aid services. Detailed proposals for the scheme are being developed, but we anticipate that the project will cover 20 hearing aid departments and that an estimated 20,000 to 30,000 patients will benefit from the scheme. The project is intended to lead to improvements for all NHS patients.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will place copies of the correspondence between his Department and Mr. Radonur Putnikovich in the Library. [106872]

[holding answer 25 January 2000]: I would be happy to place copies of this correspondence in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the outcome of the General Affairs Council held in Brussels on 24 to 25 January; and if he will make a statement. [107150]

The General Affairs Council in Brussels on 24 January adopted the A points listed in document no. 5443/00 and noted the resolutions, decisions and opinions adopted by the European Parliament in its sessions of 1–2 December in Brussels, listed in document no. 12794/99, and 13–17 December in Strasbourg, listed in document no. 13877/99. Copies of the documents listing the A points and the resolutions will be placed in the House Libraries as soon as they become available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for instituting battle management systems and digitisation testbed configurations within the Royal forces. [99416]

Battle management systems are being introduced to optimise decision support in areas from crisis management to operations in theatre. The Joint Operational Command System (JOCS) provides this capability to the Permanent Joint Headquarters and its deployed headquarters and has been used on recent operations. All three services have programmes to deliver battle management systems which will integrate with JOCS. They include:

The Command Support System for the Royal Navy. Currently being introduced into service, it provides for enhanced information systems and management functions between ships, submarines and shore headquarters.

The Army's Formation Battle Management System will provide a fully integrated and deployable command and control system from a Corps headquarters down to units. It will be linked with the Battle Group Battle Management System.

The RAF Command and Control Information System is currently being implemented. It will provide for the command and control of air assets from operational stations to headquarters. It is envisaged that it will develop towards the Joint Command System (Air) and integrate with other command systems.

Joint Battlespace Digitization, which is in the early stages of development, aims to integrate operational information systems across the land, sea and air environments to enhance military capability in joint operations.A study is currently being conducted to explore the feasibility for a joint service test and reference facility to incorporate the current single Service reference centres in providing a joint digitization testbed. The programme is in the very early stages.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the total cost to his Department of the Jaguars that were sent to India in the last three years. [104109]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 20 December 1999, Official Report, column 364W.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reasons his Department decided not to contribute to France's Helios 2 project. [104320]

The MOD has neither sought nor received any proposals for direct UK participation in, or contribution to, France's Helios 2 programme. The UK, as a member of the Western European Union, is considering the potential of a number of satellite observation programmes to meet WEU requirements. The Helios 2 programme may be offered to meet these requirements.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much of the Government's budget has been allocated for defence research in the current financial year and in each of the past six years. [104361]

Expenditure under "major customers' research budgets" in the Appropriation Accounts for the years in question is as follows:

Financial year	Expenditure (£ million)
1993–94	452.735
1994–95	534.754
1995–96	484.015
1996–97	533.421
1997–98	455.868
1998–991	460
1999–20001	457
1 Forecast

These are net figures and at outturn prices (i.e. with no allowance for inflation). These figures differ from those published in the annual "Forward Look" publication on Government-funded science, engineering and technology because the latter are based on statistical categorisation of expenditure rather than resource allocations and include, for example, technology demonstrator programmes and loans and grants to DERA.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence from whom his Department has received representations supporting the leasing of C17 transports from the USA. [104404]

Representations by several companies having a potential commercial interest in the Royal Air Force's acquisition of C17 transports have been forwarded by hon. Members. I am withholding details under Exemption 13 (third party's commercial confidences) of the Code of Practice on access to Government Information, on the grounds that a particular company's support for one option in a current competition is a matter potentially within that company's commercial interest.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what requirement there will be for volunteers working within the cadet forces to be subject to checking with the Criminal Records Bureau. [106134]

Adults currently working within the cadet forces will not be subject to check with the Criminal Records Bureau, as their suitability has already been assessed by my Department. The Criminal Records Bureau will carry out checks on new adult volunteers who wish to work within the cadet forces when this service is provided to the public and voluntary sector.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will list the (a) people and (b) organisations representing defence manufacturers who have made representations to his Department about arms sales to Zimbabwe over the last 17 months; and when such representations were made; [106951](2) how many representatives of arms manufacturers have made representations to

The Department receives numerous inquiries, through face to face contacts, correspondence and over the telephone from people and organisations representing defence manufacturers inquiring about defence equipment sales opportunities worldwide. It is not practical to maintain detailed records of all such inquiries and the information requested is not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if each expression of interest in the purchase of RAF Finningley was followed up. [106946]

Yes. Of the 11 expressions of interest following the 1996 marketing exercise, 10 of the parties were interviewed by our agents and the other decided to withdraw. Of the 15 new expressions of interest following the 1997 exercise, five of these withdrew, and our agents conducted interviews with all the others.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence by what methods expressions of interest in the purchase of RAF Finningley were sought. [106944]

Our selling agents, Drivers Jonas of London, conducted an advertising campaign in 1996 and 1997 seeking expressions of interest through advertisements in the "Estates Gazette", a sale board at the site and contacting potential developers and other interested parties listed on their commercial database. A four-page colour brochure was also produced and sent to all inquirers. A detailed package of information was sent to those who requested it.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many expressions of interest have been received in connection with the purchase of RAF Finningley. [106943]

Following the initial advertising campaign in 1996, 11 firm expressions of interest were received. The sale process was delayed to allow the Home Office to consider whether the site would be suitable for use as a prison. A subsequent advertising campaign in 1997 produced 23 firm expressions of interest (including eight reaffirmations from the 1996 campaign).

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what process was used to determine the final purchaser of RAF Finningley. [106950]

After receipt of detailed proposals, discussions and negotiations were conducted with the two highest bidders. Their bids were broadly similar, and substantially in excess of the other bids, but further inquiries were needed to determine the timing, certainty and full value of their proposals. Given the potential use of the site for a major civil airport, advice was also sought from DETR and from the Government Office for Yorkshire and Humberside. As a result of this process and a final best bid stage, Peel Holdings plc was selected as the preferred purchaser. The site was sold to them in June 1999.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what method was used to evaluate expressions of interest in the purchase of RAF Finningley. [106945]

At interview all parties were evaluated on the basis of experience of developing similar sites, realism of development proposals including time scale, method of funding and a general assessment of their experience and ability. This resulted in a shortlist of six parties who were invited to provide detailed bids.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the answer of 17 January 2000, Official Report, column 282W, on the meeting between the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency and the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency, if he will place in the Library a copy of the working notes taken at the meeting. [106726]

The working notes of the meeting between the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency and the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency are a record of internal discussions and I am therefore withholding them under Exception 2 (Internal discussion and advice) of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many rounds of ammunition by type were expended in the Royal Navy other than in operations in each of the last five years; [107246](2) how many rounds of ammunition by type were expended in the Army by the

[holding answer 27 January 2000]: I am withholding this information in accordance with Exemption 1 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information, which relates to Defence, Security and International Relations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the cost to his budget, by category, of provisioning Russian forces at Pristina airport; and if he will make a statement. [107089]

[holding answer 27 January 2000]: Following receipt of a request from the commander of the Russian forces in Kosovo, the then Commander of KFOR, Lieutenant General Sir Mike Jackson took the decision to supply the Russians with 15,000 litres of bottled water, along with a small number of maps on 16 June. The costs to my Department were £2,356 and £3 respectively.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he plans to order the 200-bed primary casualty receiving ship announced in the Strategic Defence Review. [107249]

[holding answer 27 January 2000]: A range of procurement options for the Primary Casualty Receiving Ship is being considered, including a full PFI service. Current indications are that we should be in a position to place a contract during 2002. The programme to achieve this date is being developed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the future of RAF Neatishead. [107395]

The issues raised during consultation on the future of RAF Neatishead and RAF Buchan are currently being investigated. An announcement will be made once this work is complete.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he sold the Old Range at Shoeburyness; to whom; and at what price. [107027]

[holding answer 27 January 2000]: The whole of the Old Ranges and Horseshoe Barracks, Shoeburyness, was sold, subject to contract, on 20 January 2000 with completion expected towards the end of March 2000. Until then, details of the purchaser and purchase price remain commercially confidential and I am therefore withholding this information under Exemption 7 of the Code of Access to Government Information.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what reports he has received concerning the presence of Royal Navy vessels in the vicinity of the Harvester at the time of its sinking; and if he will make a statement. [107061]

At the time of the tragic loss of the Solway Harvester the nearest vessel was the RFA Bayleaf, a tanker of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary. She was some 30 miles west of the Solway Harvester when the mayday was raised and took part in the rescue operation. There were no other Royal Navy vessels in the vicinity of the Isle of Man. There were no submarines in the area.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) men and (b) women from ethnic minority backgrounds are serving in each of the British armed services. [107121]

As at 1 December 1999, the latest date for which figures are available, there were 2,113 men and 210 women from ethnic backgrounds serving in the UK regular Armed Forces. The individual figures for each Service are:

	Men	Women
Naval Service	350	25
Army	1,219	136
RAF	544	49

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will review the effects of the restructuring of the Territorial Army on the availability of the premises of the Territorial Army for use by other community activities, with particular reference to TA centres in rural Wales. [107130]

The main purpose of Territorial Army Centres (TACs) is to train members of the TA, but links with local communities are greatly valued by the Army and, wherever practicable, local groups will continue to be allowed use of TACs.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent measures his Department has taken to maximise the procurement of domestically produced meat for the armed forces. [107129]

The supply of food to our Armed Forces is contracted out to "3663" (formerly trading as Booker Foodservice). They are required to seek best market prices and, in doing so, to give full consideration to British products. As a result our contractor is currently sourcing all beef for consumption by our UK-based service personnel from British intervention stocks. In addition, 100 per cent. of our pork and some 50 per cent. of our bacon and gammon is being sourced in the UK. Our contractor has so far been unable to identify competitively priced sources of British lamb but continues to keep this under active review.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many of each type of cluster munitions are held by (a) the Royal Air Force, (b) the Royal Navy and (c) the Army. [107273]

I am withholding this information in accordance with Exemption 1 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information, which relates to Defence, Security and International Relations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the Air Accident Investigation Branch (a) considered and (b) ruled out the possibility of an uncommanded flying control movement, that left no trace as having occurred prior to the fatal crash of RAF Chinook 2D576 on the Mull of Kintyre in 1994. [107274]

I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many bovine samples were sent from each country outside the United Kingdom to Weybridge Veterinary Laboratory since 1980; and what was the number of the samples from each country that were diagnosed with BSE in that period. [106323]

[holding answer 24 January 2000]: The subject of the question relates to matters undertaken by the Veterinary Laboratories Agency. I have asked its Chief Executive, Mr. T. Little, to arrange for a reply to be given.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when the right hon. Member for North-West Cambridgeshire will receive a reply to his letter of 30 September 1999 on behalf of his constituent Mr. Chambers. [105920]

[holding answer 20 January 2000]: A reply to the letter from the right hon. Member for North-West Cambridgeshire was sent on 25 November 1999.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what plans she has to publish full text versions of new departmental documents on her Department's website. [106433]

Plans are under way to have the majority of DFID publications produced since May 1997 available in full text format on DFID's website.All new DFID publications, as well as much of our research material, is already available through DFID's website in full text format.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what representations she has received concerning the situation of women's human rights in Afghanistan; and if she will make a statement. [107008]

Human rights issues are frequently covered in discussions on Afghanistan between my Department and other interested parties. We have had no specific representations on women's human rights recently.We remain extremely concerned about abuses of human rights in Afghanistan. The people of Afghanistan, in particular women and children, have suffered immeasurably as a result of two decades of conflict, destruction and displacement. In pursuing its programme of humanitarian assistance to the Afghan people, DFID actively participates in the principled common programming approach under the United Nations-led Strategic Framework for Afghanistan. This approach is designed to ensure that assistance works towards the eradication of any form of discrimination, including, of course, gender discrimination.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many Press releases her Department issued in each year from 1995 to 1999. [106119]

Number of press releases issued from 1995–99 are outlined as follows:

	Press releases
Issued by ODA
1995	71
1996	50
To May 1997	16
Issued by DFID
From May 1997	42
1998	74
1999	82

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is the geographical statistical unit being used to judge the outcome of the Sure Start areas. [103003]

[holding answer 16 December 1999]: I have been asked to reply.Sure Start will be judged on its outcomes for children, families and areas. The geographical statistical unit for which area outcomes will be judged will be the local Sure Start programme area.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many pupil attacks on teachers were recorded in each of the years since 1992. [107478]

This information is not available centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will publish the consultation document on teacher competencies that has been sent to the teacher trade unions together with a list of all those who have been consulted on the document. [107540]

No consultation document has been published. As part of on-going discussions with teacher and headteacher unions about proposed reforms of the teaching profession, DfEE has had informal discussions about the standards which teachers would be required to meet in order to cross the proposed new performance threshold. We will write to School Teachers' Review Body statutory consultees during February 2000 to invite views on the proposed standards.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when he expects to receive the report by Hay McBer on teacher competencies and other aspects of performance-related pay; and if he will place a copy in the Library. [107536]

DfEE expects to receive the final report from Hay McBer on the characteristics of effective teaching at the end of February 2000 and intends to publish it shortly thereafter, probably during March 2000. A copy will be placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list those local education authorities on which Ofsted has reported, and the outcome of each report. [107537]

To date, 55 Ofsted inspection reports have been published on 51 LEAs. A list of the LEAs inspected, including those that were re-inspected, is as follows. The Education Act 1997 requires each LEA to submit a post-Ofsted inspection action plan setting out how it intends to tackle the recommendations in its Ofsted inspection report. In a number of cases the Secretary of State has taken additional action as follows.In Hackney, following reports by the consultants KPMG, the Secretary of State directed the LEA to outsource its School Improvement Service and Ethnic Minority Service to Nord Anglia.In Islington, the consultancy firm PWC were appointed to prepare for the outsourcing of the LEA's services to schools, pupils and parents. On 14 January, Cambridge Education Associates were appointed to run the contract from April 2000.In Leicester, City OPM were appointed to advise on next steps. The OPM report made several recommendations which are now being taken forward by the LEA, including the establishment of a Partnership Board to oversee Education Services.In Liverpool, KPMG were appointed to advise on post-Ofsted action. As a result, a contract is being put in place between the schools and the Education Service which will include setting out exactly what services and standards schools can expect from each part of the Education Service. A monitoring and review board with an independent chair has also been set up.Capita were appointed in Haringey and KPMG in Southwark to provide consultancy services on how best to improve both education services. Work is on-going in both LEAs. In Walsall and Bristol, we are in the process of appointing consultants to advise on the most appropriate course of action following the publication of their Ofsted reports.