To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the closure of HMS Cambridge. [132232]

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 8 June 2000, Official Report, column 338W, to the hon. Member for Chingford and Woodford Green (Mr. Duncan Smith). The investment appraisal concluded that the establishment's residual training activities could be delivered more cost-effectively elsewhere and the matter was subject to a period of formal consultation with the MOD trade unions. No representations have been received and consultation on this matter is now complete.I have, therefore, endorsed the proposal that HMS Cambridge should close and that plans for decommissioning and site vacation should proceed accordingly.Consultation will continue on matters affecting staff.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what Key Targets have been set for the Duke of York's Royal Military School for the financial year 2000–01. [132238]

The chief executive of The Duke of York's Royal Military School has been set the following Key Targets for 2000–01.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what Key Targets have been set for the Defence Estates Agency for the financial year 2000–01. [132239]

The following key targets have been set for Defence Estates for 2000–01:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the pattern of military low flying activity in the United Kingdom during the training year 1999–2000. [132240]

The ability to fly fast and low continues to be an essential skill in our armoury of tactics. Training for aircrew to achieve and maintain these skills is vital.The amount of low flying training carried out in the UK Low Flying System during the training year April 1999 to March 2000 was the minimum necessary for aircrew to reach and maintain these skills. Hours booked for low flying training during this period amounted to some 15 per cent. less than for 1998. Some of this reduction can be attributed to the number of aircraft and crews committed to overseas deployments. Since detailed records of hours booked began in 1995, the total overall has reduced by 36 per cent. (some 24,200 hours) with fixed-wing activity showing the greatest reduction of 42 per cent. (19,800 hours).The distribution of low flying training across the UK has not changed significantly. We continue to try and spread it as widely as practicable, but for a variety of operational, geographical and climatic constraints some parts of the country will see more than others.The paper published for 1998 (see the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Brent, North (Mr. Gardiner) 28 April 1999,

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the most recent figures for deaths among (a) Gulf veterans and (b) the comparison group. [132241]

Deaths of UK Gulf veterans1April 1991–30 June 2000—Causes (coded to ICD-9)2
ICD Chapter	Cause of death	Gulf	Era	Mortality rate
	All deaths	452	439	1.03
	All cause coded deaths	445	429	1.04
	Disease-related causes	156	190	0.82
I	Infectious and parasitic diseases	3	2	1.50
II	Cancers	64	68	0.94
III	Endocrine and immune disorders	1	4	0.25
V	Mental disorders	8	11	0.73
VI	Diseases of the nervous system and sense organs	7	4	1.75
VII	Diseases of the circulatory system	57	76	0.75
VIII	Diseases of the respiratory system	7	4	1.75
IX	Diseases of the digestive system	6	11	0.55
IV, X-XVI	All other disease-related causes	3	10	0.30
EXVII	External causes of injury and poisoning	289	239	1.21
	Railway accidents	4	1	4.00
	Motor vehicle accidents	103	80	1.29
	Water transport accidents	3	1	3.00
	Air and space accidents	25	16	1.56
	Other vehicle accidents	0	2	0.00
	Accidental poisoning	9	12	0.75
	Accidental falls	7	6	1.17
	Accidents due to fire/flames	0	1	0.00
	Accidents due to natural environmental factors	2	2	1.00
	Accidents due to submersion/suffocation/foreign bodies	15	6	2.50
	Other accidents	31	24	1.29
	Late effects of accident/injury	0	1	0.00
	Suicide and injury undetermined whether accidental	83	79	1.05
	Homicide	4	4	1.00
	Injury resulting from the operations of war	3	4	0.75
	Other deaths for which coded cause data are not yet available	4	5	—
	Overseas deaths for which cause data are not available	3	5	—
1 Service and ex-Service personnel only
2 World Health Organisation's International Classification of Diseases 9th revision 1977

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what data he has collated on the general pattern of chemical warfare agent alerts during the Gulf conflict. [132242]

Our 1997 policy statement "Gulf Veterans' Illnesses: A New Beginning" set out a number of commitments to help address the health concerns of Gulf Veterans. One of these commitments was to review specific incidents of suggested biological or chemical

Peer reviewed scientific data comparing the mortality of UK Gulf veterans to an era group of service personnel who did not deploy to the Gulf was published for the first time in "The Lancet" on 1 July 2000. The Ministry of Defence will now continue to monitor the mortality of both Gulf veterans and the era group and will publish updated figures on a regular basis. The figures as at 30 June 2000 are shown in the table. Overall, in the period 1 April 1991 to 30 June 2000 the mortality of UK Gulf veterans was only slightly greater than that of the comparison group. The number of Gulf veterans dying from disease-related causes is rather less than for the comparison group, whereas the number of Gulf veterans dying of external causes is rather higher than for the comparison group.The Ministry of Defence will conduct a more detailed analysis of road traffic accidents, to establish whether there are any underlying tends that might help explain this excess.warfare exposures. As part of this commitment I am today publishing the third paper looking at incidents where veterans have suggested they were exposed to chemical warfare agents. This paper is entitled "A Review of UK Forces Chemical Warfare Agent Alerts During the 1990–1991 Gulf Conflict". I am placing a copy in the Library of the House.This paper looks at the general pattern of chemical alarms during the conflict. The review has shown that there was usually a straightforward explanation given at the time for chemical warfare agent detection equipment alarming. There is no evidence to suggest Iraqi use of chemical weapons, or the presence of chemical weapons in any of the UK alarms.The paper reviews in detail two specific incidents: Dhahran on the night of 20 January 1991 when a Scud was destroyed by a Patriot missile close to the airfield there, and Al Jubayl on the morning of 16 February 1991 when a Scud landed in the water in the port area. On both occasions there is no evidence to suggest that the Scuds carried anything other than a conventional warhead.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many of the (a) RAF, (b) Royal Naval, (c) Army and (d) other military bases in the United Kingdom where US personnel outnumber UK personnel have been visited by Ministers from his Department since 1 May 1997; and what percentage this represents of the total number of each such base in the United Kingdom. [131330]

Of the bases, all RAF, in the UK where US personnel outnumber UK personnel, two have been visited by Ministers from this Department since 1 May 1997. These are RAF Fairford and RAF Menwith Hill. This represents 25 per cent. of the total number of such bases.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if the simulation undertaken by the Defence Research Agency as part of the Board of Inquiry investigation into the crash of RAF Chinook ZD576 was able to determine the (a) precise indicated airspeed and (b) height of the aircraft 40 seconds prior to impact; [131525](2) if DERA at Boscombe Down considered the FADEC system for the Chinook MKII to be flight safety critical at the time of the Mull of Kintyre crash in 1994. [131524]

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 Secretary of State for Defence if the Air Accident Investigation Branch were given unrestricted access to all personnel and all information during the investigation into the crash of RAF Chinook ZD576. [131526]

Yes.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will describe the deployment of each home unit of the Royal Irish Regiment on each day from 2 to 13 July. [130465]

During the period in question, the six Home Service Battalions of the Royal Irish Regiment were deployed at various locations around the Province on security duties in support of the RUC. Information about the specific deployment of each unit within each Battalion for each day in the period 2–13 July is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many soldiers of the Royal Irish Regiment in each unit (a) applied to take and (b) took leave from their duties on (i) 25 June, (ii) 2 July and (iii) 9 July. [130466]

The dates mentioned fell within a period during which the Royal Irish Regiment were either preparing for, or actually engaged in, operations to support the RUC over the Marching Season. This precludes the taking of leave.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 12 June 2000, Official Report, column 449W, (a) in what circumstances this photograph was taken, what interpretation he puts on this photo-shoot and what assessment has he made of the impact of this upon community relations in the area, (b) what formal administrative action procedures have been initiated and what stage they are at now, (c) what body or rank of officer was responsible for considering whether to initiate disciplinary action against (i) the major and (ii) the warrant officer who took photographs, (d) what instructions have been issued subsequent to this inquiry concerning soldiers agreeing to pose for photographs with sectarian displays, (e) if the soldiers were under orders to pose for these photographs, (f) how many refused, (g) what attempts have been made to seek the return and destruction of these photographs, (h) if the flag was obtained with the consent of the Loyal Orange Lodge, (i) how the flag was transported to the Royal Irish Regiment barracks, (j) what the cost of printing 40 copies of the photograph was, (k) who paid this bill, (1) who owned the camera with which the photograph was taken, (m) how many companies of the Royal Irish Regiment have posed for regimental photographs with sectarian flags or banners in the current year and (n) if he will place a copy of the Special Investigations report in the Library. [130467]

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence further to his answer of 15 March 2000, Official Report, column 204W, if he will review his decision not to deem the Loyal Orange Order a secretive organisation within the scope of the Joint Service Defence Council Instruction (JS DCI 75/99) on Membership of Societies such as Freemasons. [130468]

I have no plans to review my decision.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will quantify the amount of work potentially available to yards other than those of BAE Systems and Vosper Thornycroft under the modular procurement system to be used for the purchase of Type 45 destroyers. [130632]

This is a matter for the chief executive of the Defence Procurement Agency. I have asked the chief executive to write to my hon. Friend.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what amounts were (a) budgeted for by her Department, (b) expended and (c) not spent in (i) 1997–98, (ii) 1998–99 and (iii) 1999–2000; and if the funds not spent in each of those years were carried forward. [130864]

Expenditure compared with Departmental Expenditure Limits (DEL) for the period in question is as follows:

£ million
	Total DEL	Total expenditure	Balance carried forward
1997–98	1,595	1,592	3
1998–99	1,777	1,740	37
1999–2000	1,943	11,938	5
1 Estimated, subject to confirmation by the National Audit Office.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will request from BNFL copies of technical papers on the subject of the dry storage of previously wet stored magnox fuel and place them in the Library. [131364]

I understand that BNFL does hold technical papers which deal with this issue. These are the property of either BNFL or other companies. I have, therefore, asked the Chairman of BNFL to write to my hon. Friend directly in response to his request.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the implications of the agreement at the June 2000 OSPAR conference for BNFL's future business plan. [130866]

In planning its future business, BNFL will need to take account of the UK's commitments to OSPAR and in particular of the draft National Discharge Strategy published by DETR in June. BNFL has already stated that it welcomes that strategy document and has expressed its commitment to helping to achieve its aims.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assistance the Government provide to people who have recently suffered a bereavement or who are considering funeral arrangements. [132231]

In conjunction with his ongoing inquires into consumer issues related to at-need funerals, the Director General of the Office of Fair Trading has published online advice to help anyone who is in the daunting position of planning a funeral. The website is at www.oft.gov.uk

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on his plans to assist firms to develop e-commerce capacity. [130166]

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Morecambe and Lunesdale (Miss Smith) on 27 June 2000, Official Report, column 457W, which described plans to support firms to develop e-commerce capacity.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many parliamentary questions were tabled to his Department between 19 October 1999 and 20 April which requested information, pursuant to his previous answers. [131227]

Of the 1,552 parliamentary questions tabled during the period, 56 requested information pursuant to previous answers.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to the oral statement by the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food of 8 June 2000, Official Report, column 501, if he will list the (a) dates on which meetings took place between Advanta Seeds and officials from his Department between 17 April and 17 May, (b) names and functions of the officials attending those meetings, (c) subjects discussed, (d) conclusions reached and (e) advice given by his officials to Advanta Seeds. [128467]

Officials from my Department met with representatives from Advanta Seeds Ltd. on 17 April. A note of that meeting, which gives the information requested, is available in the House Library. There were no subsequent meetings.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what progress has been made on evaluating research commissioned by him on the effect of GMOs in the human and animal food chain; and what representations he has received on such research. [128595]

My Department has not commissioned any research on the effect of the GMOs in the human and animal food chain. Responsibility for this lies with the Food Standards Agency.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list by administrative region for each of the last five years the number of (a) MOT centres that have lost their certification, (b) nominated testers that have lost their accreditation in these centres, (c) nominated testers that have lost their accreditation in centres that have not closed, (d) complaints

Summary of authorised examiners withdrawn and nominated testers disqualified following a check by VI
	1999–2000		1998–99		1997–98		1996–97		1995–96
Area	AEs withdrawn	Testers disqualified	AEs withdrawn	Testers disqualified	AEs withdrawn	Testers disqualified	AEs withdrawn	Testers disqualified	AEs withdrawn	Testers disqualified
Scotland	13	23	7	18	10	25	18	35	17	30
North Eastern	13	60	19	44	31	55	25	73	37	67
North Western	13	23	19	27	14	28	17	68	15	53
West Midlands	10	25	32	34	17	37	19	45	12	21
Eastern	8	32	19	31	26	34	21	25	17	28
South Eastern	12	33	15	65	13	64	53	87	35	53
Western	9	24	17	51	17	50	21	66	24	75
South Wales	15	22	15	19	13	7	7	9	10	9
National	93	242	143	289	141	300	181	407	167	336
Total checks	55,561		57,913		74,742		73,642		72,202
As percentage of checks	0.17	0.44	0.25	0.50	0.19	0.40	0.25	0.55	0.23	0.47

[holding answer 13 July 2000]: The premises at which MOT testing is carried out are known as vehicle testing stations (VTS), operated by an Authorised Examiner (AE), which may be an individual, a partnership or a company. If an examiner's authorisation is withdrawn, the premises can no longer be used as a Vehicle Testing Station and identity as such ceases. Nominated Testers (NT) work under the direction of the Authorised Examiner.The number of Authorised Examiners that have had their authorisation withdrawn and nominated testers disqualified from testing in the last five years, by region, is shown in the table.The number of authorisations withdrawn or testers disqualified, following complaint to, or targeted check by the Vehicle Inspectorate, or following a routine check, is not collated by region and could be supplied only at disproportionate cost; the tables show the figures nationally.The number of nominated testers disqualified from testing at VTS where the authorised examiner's authorisation has not been withdrawn is not held centrally.

Summary of authorised examiners withdrawn and nominated testers disqualified following a routine check by VI
	Number	Routine checks	As percentage of checks
1999–2000
Authorised Examiners	26	39,385	0.07
Nominated Testers	10		0.03
1998–99
Authorised Examiners	16	38,346	0.04
Nominated Testers	15		0.04
1997–98
Authorised Examiners	8	49,074	0.02
Nominated Testers	14		0.03
7996–97
Authorised Examiners	36	47,618	0.08
Nominated Testers	26		0.05
1995–96
Authorised Examiners	27	45,314	0.06
Nominated Testers	6		0.01

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans his Department has to (a) strengthen and (b) enforce the legal requirement for changes of vehicle ownership to be registered; and if he will make a statement. [130644]

The Vehicle Crime Reduction Action Team (VCRAT) has drawn up a number of proposals, which will strengthen vehicle registration requirements. The Government are seeking a suitable opportunity to introduce the necessary legislation.Both the buyer and seller are required to tell the Secretary of State of a vehicle transfer. DVLA already takes enforcement action against vehicle keepers who do not comply with the requirements to notify acquisition and disposal. Around 39,000 cases were dealt with last year. In addition, a further 12,000 cases were actioned following failure to undertake Statutory Off-Road Notification (SORN).

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assistance his Department is giving to councils which, because changes of vehicle ownership have not been registered, are (a) unable to recover the cost of removing abandoned vehicles and (b) cannot take action to prosecute; and if he will make a statement. [130645]

No assistance is being given at this time. The existing arrangements with local authorities will be reviewed as we develop proposals for implementing the proposed European End-of-Life Vehicles Directive in the UK.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if RDAs are notified by the British Railways Board of its intention to dispose of former railway land; if their consent for disposal is needed; and if he will make a statement. [130627]

Before the British Railways Board disposes of former railway land, the marketing process requires the Board to notify rail industry parties, local authorities, local transport operators and Passenger Transport Executives of its intention. The British Railways Board has confirmed that it includes Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) in this notification process. The consent of RDAs is not a prerequisite for disposal but their views are taken into account before a final decision is taken.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to encourage the development of a tramway system in the Greater London area. [131161]

This is a matter for the Mayor of London. However, as the Government's 10 year plan for transport indicates, the Government will provide resources which could deliver at least two new tram/guided bus schemes in London.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what his reasons were for delegating to the Government Office of the South East the response to Horsham District Council's letter of 31 May regarding regional planning guidance. [130793]

The Government Office for the South East, who lead on the work on Regional Planning Guidance, have received over 900 responses to consultation on the draft Regional Planning Guidance for the South East (RPG9). In the case of such consultation exercises it is normal practice for the Secretary of State to delegate to officials the task of collating, analysing and acknowledging responses.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on measures to increase rural bus services in Shrewsbury and Atcham. [131158]

Shropshire County Council was allocated £630,354 of Rural Bus Subsidy Grant in 1998–99, with the same amount allocated to the Council for 1999–2000 and 2000–01.In 1999–2000 the Council used its allocation to fund 58 services, of which 28 served Shrewsbury. Of the services serving Shrewsbury, 10 were entirely new and 18 were improvements to existing services. The County Council have also introduced a bike bus between Ellesmere and Shrewsbury, funded through the 1999 Rural Bus Challenge Competition, and on 11 July we invited bids for the 2000 Rural Bus Challenge Competition.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what reports he has received on the hearing held by the European Parliament's Transport Committee in June on the transport of nuclear waste and other radioactive materials. [130847]

I have not received any reports of the public hearings held by the European Parliament's Committee on Regional policy, Transport and Tourism on 21 June into the Transport of Radioactive Material in the European Union at this time. I understand that information on these hearings, including any reports, will be made available on the internet website http://www.europarl.eu.int/ when they are published.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) if he will request from the European Commission more time for the European Transport Workers' Federation to consult its members on the Commission's proposals on Access to the Port Service Market; [R] [130858](2) what assessment he has made of the implications for the Port of London Authority of the proposals of the European Commissioner for Energy and Transport made on 26 May in respect of state aid and port services; and if he will make a statement; [R] [130860]

[holding answer 18 July 2000]: The European Commission has not yet published formal proposals on port services and state aid, but we understand that proposals are planned for later this year. Officials are continuing to keep in touch with the Commission on these issues. We shall consult widely on any specific proposals that the Commission brings forward, and I would be happy to meet representatives of the dock and maritime trade unions in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when his officials last met representatives of Border Biofuels; and what discussions they had concerning the construction of a power station at Carlisle. [131411]

There have been no meetings between the Secretary of State's officials and Border Biofuels to discuss their planning application, but I understand that the company has been in discussion with the Environment Agency about related (IPPC) authorisations.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the Scottish port authorities consulted by his Department regarding the inclusion of indirect fees for port waste management facilities into the harbour dues, proposed by the European Parliament in the Draft Directive on Port Waste Reception Facilities; and if he will make a statement. [131013]

[holding answer 19 July 2000]: Throughout the process of working up the Government's policy on port waste management planning, we developed our proposals through consultation with the Marine Pollution Advisory Group, which includes representatives of central and local government, the ports, shipping and waste industries and environmental non-governmental organisations. Because the provision of adequate port waste reception facilities is an international obligation under the MARPOL Convention, we need a national strategy. That strategy takes account of the interests of ports in all parts of the UK.The EC Directive substantially mirrors the UK's own port waste management legislation and practice. The UK has been involved at every stage of the Directive, and—while we have not consulted, or received representations from, any individual ports—we have consulted closely with the representative bodies of the UK ports industry on specific issues associated with the Directive.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) how he monitors the application of building regulations; and if he will make a statement; [131575]

Under the Building Act 1984, local authorities are responsible for enforcing building regulations in the areas, subject to provisions in the Act for private sector approved inspectors to carry out building control in cases where the person carrying out the work opts for this alternative. Local authorities' building control services are subject to the duty of Best Value, and are periodically inspected by the Audit Commission.Under the approved inspectors regulations persons or bodies wishing to become approved inspectors must apply to the Construction Industry Council which is the body designated by the Secretary of State for the purpose of approving inspectors. The CIC carefully scrutinises applicants' qualifications and experience. Approved inspectors' terms of approval last for five years, and those wishing to continue must apply to the CIC for re-approval.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the outcome of the June 2000 OSPAR conference. [130867]

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Blaenau Gwent (Mr. Smith) on 10 July 2000, Official Report, columns 397–98W.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what written guidance he has given to BNFL on ensuring its commitments under the OSPAR Sintra agreement are met in respect of discharges from Sellafield. [130868]

BNFL is aware of the Government's policy that there should be progressive reductions in radioactive discharges. The Government will shortly publish for consultation a draft of the statutory guidance that it proposes to issue to the Environment Agency on the setting of radioactive discharge authorisations under the Radioactive Substances Act. The draft guidance will reiterate the requirement that there should be progressive reductions in radioactive discharges. The guidance will also ensure that discharge authorisations granted by the Agency are consistent with the Government's radioactive discharges strategy, a draft of which was published for consultation on 21 June. The strategy sets out how the Government are going to meet the commitments entered into at the OSPAR meeting in Sintra in 1998 to reduce radioactive discharges.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he has received a copy of the resolution passed by the Isle of Man Tynwald on 21 June in respect of the OSPAR convention and Sellafield; and if he will place a copy in the Library. [130869]

Yes. I understand that the text of the resolution can be found in the Tynwald Votes and Proceedings on the Tynwald website www.tynwald.isle-of-man.org.im. I will place a copy in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will extend the fuel duty rebate to electrically-operated vehicles which perform taxi duties. [131531]

Under current legislation operators of local bus services are rebated part of the duty they have paid on the fuel used in providing those services. We have no plans to pay fuel duty rebate to the operators of taxi services or to extend it so that it provides a grant to operators of vehicles to which fuel duty is not applicable.The Commission for Integrated Transport is currently examining possible changes to the fuel duty rebate scheme as part of its study of all aspects of public funding for bus services. We will carefully consider the Commission's recommendations which are due later this year.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when the public examination of the draft Regional Planning Guidance for the South West will be completed; when the Inspector's report on the draft Regional Planning Guidance for the South West will be issued; when the final Regional Planning Guidance for the South West will be issued for material consideration by planning authorities; and if he will make a statement. [131580]

The Public Examination of the draft Regional Planning Guidance for the South West took place in March 2000. The report of the Panel for the Public Examination has not yet been received, but is expected shortly. Arrangements will be made for its publication on receipt of it. The Secretary of State's proposals for change to the draft Regional Planning Guidance will be made in the light of the Panel's report and recommendations, and other consultation comments received by the Panel in autumn 1999 but not addressed at the Public Examination. These proposals for change should be available for consultation in the autumn, and the final revised Regional Planning Guidance for the South West published early in 2001.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what the net present cost is of the Birmingham Northern Relief Road project under the Private Finance Initiative; what the value is of the public sector comparators in (a) pre-risk and (b) risk adjusted terms; what risks are identified as having been transferred; and if he will make a statement. [131585]

The Birmingham Northern Relief Road is to be built, financed, operated and maintained by the concessionaire Midland Expressway Ltd. at its own cost and risk and without recourse to Government Funds or to Government guarantees. A cost benefit analysis carried out in 1991 showed the scheme proposed by Midland Expressway having a benefit: cost ratio of more than 2:1.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when the Government Response to the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution's 21 report (Setting Environmental Standards) will be published. [132371]

The Government's Response to the Commission's Report on Setting Environmental Standards has been published today. I wish to express my thanks to the previous Chairman of the Commission, Sir John Houghton, the current Chairman, Sir Tom Blundell, and their colleagues for their continued commitment to issues which are of equal importance to the public as to the Government.The Government are responding positively to many of the points made by the Commission in its report on Setting Environmental Standards;

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he plans to implement the proposal in his White Paper, entitled "Tomorrow's Roads, a Review of Penalties for Road Traffic Offences". [130304]

I have been asked to reply.The work of the review of penalties for road traffic offences is almost complete. The Government hope to publish a consultation document, setting out the proposals of the review, shortly.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will break down the appointments to the House of Lords, by party affiliation, since 1 May 1997; and if he will make a statement. [123626]

The information requested is as follows:

Appointments to the House of Lords since 1 May 19971
Party	New life peerages2	Hereditaries who became life peers on 2 November 19993	Law Lords
Conservative	30	7	—
Labour4	98	2	—
Lib. Dem.	31	0	—
Crossbench	27	1	4
Other	1	—	—
1 Appointment is taken to mean the date on which a peerage was publicly announced
2 Includes the right hon. Member for Huntingdon's (Mr. Major) Resignation Honours (10 Conservative, announced on 2 August 1997), but not his Dissolution Honours which were announced before 1 May 1997
3 Four Hereditaries of first creation who accepted life peerages and six Hereditaries who were former Leaders of the House
4 Includes Baroness Lester, now deceased

The current position is that there are 233 Conservative peers, compared to 199 Labour peers and 63 Liberal Democrats. The remainder are 164 Crossbenchers, 26 archbishops and bishops and 10 others.From 1979 to 1997 the last Conservative Government created 365 peers (excluding Law Lords). Despite retaining an almost 4 to 1 advantage over Labour in the House of Lords the number of Conservative peers created was nearly double that of Labour peers. The party breakdown of these was as follows: Conservative 173, Labour 96, Liberal/SDP/Liberal Democrats 27 and Independent/Crossbencher 69.

To ask the Solicitor-General when the Director of the Serious Fraud Office intends to publish her annual report. [132237]

I can confirm that I have today placed copies of the annual report in the Libraries of the House.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when Ministers in (a) his Department, (b) the DETR, (c) the Scotland Office, (d) the Wales Office, (e) the Northern Ireland Office and (f) the Cabinet Office were first informed of the contamination of Advanta rapeseed with GM varieties. [126859]

[holding answer 19 June 2000]: MAFF Ministers were informed on 18 April. The co-ordination of Government policy in this area falls outside my ministerial responsibilities.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when the Government first informed (a) the Food Standards Agency, (b) English Nature, (c) the Scottish Executive, (d) the Welsh Assembly, (e) the Advisory Commission on Releases into the Environment and (f) the Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes that Advanta rapeseed had become contaminated with GM varieties. [126820]

[holding answer 19 June 2000]: The co-ordination of Government policy in this area is not part of my ministerial responsibility.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the administration costs of paying agricultural aid. [128304]

[holding answer 29 June 2000]: The administration costs of paying agricultural aid was approximately £67.5 million in the last financial year. This figure covers the payment of some £2.2 billion under CAP and agri-environment schemes, and BSE emergency measures, by the Ministry's regional organisation and the Intervention Board. It also includes the cost of support work carried out by the Farming and Rural Conservation Agency and ADAS on the agri-environment schemes.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what recent estimate he has made of the proportion of the national herds of cattle and national flocks of sheep which die each year and have to be disposed of as fallen stock; what estimates he has made of the costs involved; and to what extent such work is currently performed by hunts. [130264]

This Department has made no estimates of the proportion of the cattle and sheep populations which have to be disposed of as fallen stock, or of the costs involved. However, the Meat and Livestock Commission estimates that for all livestock production, the proportion is between 2 and 4 per cent. For cattle, the Licensed Animal Slaughterers and Salvage Association has estimated the proportions as 7.5 per cent. (dairy) 3.5 per cent. (beef) and 5.5 per cent. (other cattle). A small-scale and limited survey carried out by this Department suggested that, of these fallen stock, around 40 per cent. of calves, 32 per cent. of adult bovines and 15 per cent. of sheep were disposed of to hunt kennels in 1999.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received from the Institute of Grocery Distribution in respect of a code of practice for buyers and sellers in the food chain. [130925]

We have encouraged the major retailers to draw up a code of good practice covering business relationships throughout the food chain. The Institute of Grocery Distribution is facilitating this exercise and is keeping us informed of progress.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the level of quota swap which has occurred between sand eels and Baltic cod. [131252]

None. There have been no recent exchanges of quota between member states involving sand eels and Baltic cod.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if the Government support the National Federation of Fishermen's Organisations and the Scottish Fishermen's Federation policy document, "Zonal management; a new vision of Europe's fisheries". [131352]

The Government welcome this document which makes a useful and constructive contribution to the debate on how to secure an improved regional dimension to the Common Fisheries Policy and greater involvement by fishermen in fisheries management.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on expenditure in the UK in the past three years from EU budget line B2–903A. [130786]

This is a new budget line established in 2000. I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to him on 28 June 2000, Official Report, column 497W, which explained its purpose and that it does not cover funding of national projects.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many vessels, broken down by nationality, fish for sand eels within the six and 12 mile limits. [130789]

Only UK vessels are able to fish for sand eels within the six to 12 mile limits. However, our records do not enable us to identify how many do so.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if any specified risk material has been imported for destruction in this country. [131378]

[holding answer 18 July 2000]: The Specified Risk Material Order 1997 and the Specified Risk Material (Northern Ireland) Order 1997, in force since 1 January 1998, do not permit the importation of SRM into the UK for destruction.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the applications he has received seeking permission to import specified risk material into this country, indicating in each case the (a) name of the applicant, (b) date of the application and (c) outcome of the application. [131377]

[holding answer 18 July 2000]: Since the introduction of the Specified Risk Material Order 1997 and the Specified Risk Material (Northern Ireland) Order 1977 on 1 January 1998, eight applications have been received to import SRM into the UK, all of which were approved. Details of the names of the applicants are commercially confidential.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he will publish the 1999–2000 Annual Report for the Central Science Laboratory. [132367]

The 1999–2000 Annual Report and Accounts for the Central Science Laboratory were laid before Parliament today. Copies are available in the Library of the House.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many applications for resources allocated under the outgoers element of the Pig Industry Restructuring Scheme have been made by pig producers (a) nationally, (b) in the Bury St. Edmunds parliamentary constituency and (c) in Suffolk. [131134]

None; under state aid rules, we must await European Commission clearance of the Pig Industry Restructuring Scheme before opening the outgoers element for applications.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many abattoirs have closed in each of the past 18 months. [131097]

I have been asked to reply.The number of abattoirs in Great Britain which ceased operating in each month from January 1999 to June 2000 is in the table.

	Fresh meat		Poultry meat, farmed game meat and rabbit meat
	Full throughput	Low throughput	Full throughput	Low throughput
1999
January	—	—	1	2
February	—	2	—	1
March	—	3	—	1
April	—	3	—	2
May	2	—	—	—
June	—	2	—	—
July	—	3	—	1
August	—	—	—	—
September	—	1	—	—
October	—	2	—	—
November	1	1	—	1
December	—	2	1	—

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list for his Department and its agencies the approved list of manufacturers of (a) cars and (b) commercial vehicles; and if he will make a statement on his Department's leasing and purchasing policy. [128995]

The only cars used by the Wales Office are provided for ministerial use by the Government Car Service, and no commercial vehicles are used. My Department does not have any agencies, and neither leases nor buys vehicles.The answer given by my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office on 19 July 2000,

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many people in Wales who have completed the New Deal once have (a) re-entered the gateway to New Deal for a second time and (b) progressed onto a second New Deal option. [130987]

To the end of April 2000, 2,560 young people in Wales entered the gateway for a second time. Of these, 873 progressed onto a New Deal option.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many people in Wales who have been participants in (a) the New Deal for 18 to 24-year-olds, (b) the New Deal for those aged 25 and over and (c) the New Deal for older workers have subsequently enrolled on the New Deal for a second time. [130989]

To the end of April 2000, 3,030 young people in Wales and 4,100 people aged 25+ entered the New Deal for a second time. Similar information is not available for the 50+ New Deal programme.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what procedures are in place to monitor the effectiveness of the concordats between the Government and the Welsh Assembly. [131042]

My Office has responsibility for ensuring that the devolution settlement for Wales continues to be implemented as effectively as possible. This includes monitoring the mechanisms and procedures which have been put in place to deliver devolution.The concordats are informal and flexible agreements to which both parties commit themselves. The overarching and bilateral concordats provide for a review by the parties to them after one year of operation and thereafter at regular intervals.The Joint Ministerial Committee also keeps the broad operation of the settlement under review and looks at the effectiveness of concordats and bilateral relations in general.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many parliamentary questions were tabled to his Department between 19 October 1999 and 20 April which requested information, pursuant to his previous answers. [131226]

Between 19 October 1999 and 20 April 2000 there were three parliamentary questions tabled to my Department which requested information pursuant to previous answers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans his Department has for ministerial visits in (a) the rest of 2000 and (b) 2001 to (i) Bulgaria, (ii) Cyprus, (iii) the Czech Republic, (iv) Estonia, (v) Hungary, (vi) Latvia, (vii) Lithuania, (viii) Malta, (ix) Poland, (x) Romania, (xi) the Slovak Republic, (xii) Slovenia and (xiii) Turkey; and if he will make a statement. [130855]

The ministerial visits programme for 2001 has not yet been agreed. For the remainder of 2000 the visits programme is as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the occasions in each year from 1995 to 2000 when (a) Bulgaria, (b) Cyprus, (c) the Czech Republic, (d) Estonia, (e) Hungary, (f) Latvia, (g) Lithuania, (h) Malta, (i) Poland, (j) Romania, (k) the Slovak Republic, (l) Slovenia and (m) Turkey received ministerial visits from his Department; in each instance indicating the (i) head of the UK delegation and (ii) length of stay; and if he will make a statement. [130854]

It will take some time to collate all the information requested by the hon. Member. I will write to him once it is available and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action he plans to take following the admission by Romania that it broke United Nations sanctions against Yugoslavia. [130948]

The UK has consistently urged all states to comply fully with their obligations to implement and enforce mandatory United Nations sanctions. We understand that the Romanian Government is conducting an inquiry into allegations concerning violations of the UN sanctions against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia during the previous Romanian Administration.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the latest Middle East talks chaired by President Clinton. [130951]

We welcome the summit at Camp David between the Israelis and Palestinians, called by President Clinton. It is an important event in the progress towards a Permanent Status Agreement. We encourage all participants to show the courage needed to reach an agreement which is just and lasting.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the Government's policy is on the ethnic conflict in Indonesia. [130953]

We have been deeply disturbed by reports of escalating violence in Maluku. Diplomatic efforts are focused on bringing pressure to bear on the Indonesian government to take effective action and bring the perpetrators of violence to justice. I discussed this with the Indonesian Ambassador on 3 July. The head of the Diplomatic Service raised our concerns directly with President Wahid on 4 July and EU Ambassadors reinforced this at a further meeting with the President on 17 July. There is an urgent need to respond to the growing humanitarian crisis. We are pressing the Indonesians to ensure guaranteed safe access and acceptance of a humanitarian response by UN agencies and Indonesian NGOs. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is working closely with the Indonesians on humanitarian co-ordination.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received of assassinations of Christian leaders in Iran in the past five years. [130773]

None, however I refer my hon. Friend to my answer today to his question UIN 130772, Official Report column 269W.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to encourage religious tolerance in Iran. [130771]

Human Rights are a high priority in our dealings with the Iranian Government. We and our EU partners take every appropriate opportunity to press the Iranian authorities over our concerns about their treatment of religious minorities in Iran, particularly the Bahai and Jewish communities. The Iranian authorities are well aware that we and our EU partners view persecution on religious grounds as totally unacceptable.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received concerning religious liberty in Iran. [130792]

We receive reports from a number of sources on a wide range of human rights issues in Iran including religious liberty. These sources include among others our Embassy in Tehran, the UK and Iranian media, Amnesty International and the United Nations Commission of Human Rights Special Representative's annual reports. Most of these sources recognise that there have been a number of improvements in Iran since the election of President Khatami in 1997, but that a number of concerns remain. Our policy of engagement allows us to raise our concerns with the Iranian authorities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received concerning the activities of the Ministry of Islamic Guidance in Iran. [130790]

Our Embassy in Tehran has reported that the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance is responsible for issuing licences and control of all printed material, music, film and other cultural and touristic activities. It also has responsibility for maintaining religious standards.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to the Iranian authorities concerning the assassination of Christian pastors. [130772]

There have recently been a number of calls in Iran for further investigation into the appalling killings of four Christian clerics in 1994. We and our EU partners continue to hope that those responsible for these crimes will be brought to justice.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Iranian authorities concerning (a) equality of access to education for all religions,(b) freedom of the press and (c) the death sentence for apostasy. [130791]

(a) and (c) are most relevant in the context of Iranian treatment of the Baha'i community. We and our EU partners regularly raise our concerns about Iranian treatment of the Baha'is. We do so bilaterally through our Embassy in Tehran, and the Iranian Ambassador to London. We also do so multilaterally through the twice yearly UN resolutions on Human Rights in Iran, which we sponsor in conjunction with our EU partners, the most recent of which was adopted in April.We also raise our concerns through the EU/Iran dialogue. On

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list those spouses of Ministers who within the last year have stayed as guests at the British (a) Embassy and (b) Residence in Lisbon when not accompanied by their Minister spouses; and if he will give the duration of the stay in each case. [131260]

[holding answer 18 July 2000]: The only unaccompanied ministerial spouse to stay at the Residence in Lisbon during the last year was my wife, Maria Fernandes, who stayed for one night on 26 June before the EU-India Business Summit on 27 June. As Minister for Europe, I had planned to attend the Summit but was forced to cancel owing to other ministerial duties. Ms Fernandes attended the Summit in her own right as a Member of the Council of the Law Society for Ethnic Minorities and met her own travel expenses to and from the Summit.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action the Government have taken to ensure that people who are partially sighted claim their entitled discount on their TV licence; and if he will make a statement. [130289]

I have been asked to reply.The 50 per cent. reduction in the television licence fee which the Government introduced on 1 April this year is available to all registered blind people. Statutory responsibility for the administration of the television licensing system, including concessions, rests with the BBC. I understand that the BBC's agent, TV Licensing, is including details of the concession in letters that are being sent to every household about free television licences for the over-75s. Additional leaflets have also been produced, with audio and Braille versions. Other promotional activity includes local radio trails, information on the BBC's Website and liaison with community links and outreach centres. The BBC has liaised with the Royal National Institute for the Blind on the subject of this concession and Post Office Counters staff have been informed of it.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many pensioners in the Carlisle constituency received Winter Fuel Payments in (a) 1998–99 and (b) 1999–2000; and how much was paid in total in each of those years. [127807]

The administration of Winter Fuel Payments is a matter for Alexis Cleveland, the Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency. She will write to my hon. Friend.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the total amount spent on Cold Weather Payments and Winter Fuel Payments to pensioners in Warrington, North constituency for each year since 1979. [127316]

[holding answer 26 June 2000]: The administration of Cold Weather and Winter Fuel Payments is a matter for Alexis Cleveland, the Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency. She will write to my hon. Friend.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many valid Winter Fuel Payment claims for the years (a) 1997, (b) 1998 and (c) 1999 are outstanding; and when he expects all these payments to be completed. [130125]

Under the original Winter Fuel Payment scheme, before changes in light of the European Court of Justice ruling on 'Taylor', Winter Fuel Payments were made automatically to those entitled. Claims were not required. All payments for last winter were made before Christmas 1999.However, in light of the changes, those who are now eligible to Winter Fuel Payments must make a claim for payments for any of the past winters if they think they are eligible (1997–98, 1998–99 and 1999–2000).We are currently processing these claims and payments for past winters are being made just as soon as the claims are determined. The first payments were issued in the week commencing 26 June 2000 and our current plan is that all payments should be issued by the end of September.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 25 May 2000, Official Report, column 618W, how many people were denied Winter Fuel Payments because they were in temporary respite care from 20 to 26 September 1999; what the cost would be of paying them Winter Fuel Payments; and for what reason the revisions to regulations were not applied in respect of such people. [130126]

The information is not available in the format requested. Under the original Winter Fuel Payment scheme people living in residential care or nursing homes who received Income Support or income-based Jobseeker's Allowance were not eligible for a Winter Fuel Payment (unless they were a member of a couple admitted temporarily while their partner remained in the family home). This provision was made on the basis that people in such situations were already receiving public assistance with their care costs—which includes heating.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what, in each European Union country, the (a) average pensioner income and (b) average state pension, is on a comparable basis; and what each of these figures was at the beginning of 1997. [130690]

The information is not available in the format requested. Information in relation to Great Britain pensioner income is set out in The Pensioners' Incomes Series.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what the estimated rate of return on capital is to the contractors under the PFI contracts in his Department. [131348]

We currently have only one PFI contract, the Private Sector Resource Initiative for Management of the Estate (PRIME), and this information is commercially confidential to the contractor, Trillium.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the total paid in 1999 by fathers to their children via the CSA; and what was the total unpaid liability. [131108]

The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive, Mrs. Faith Boardman. She will write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many pensioners receive the Minimum Income Guarantee and live in the London Borough of Wandsworth. [131472]

There are around 7,400 pensioners benefiting from the Minimum Income Guarantee in the local authority area of Wandsworth.