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Personnel (Scotland)

Mr. Welsh: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people were employed by his Department in Scotland in (a) 1979, (b) 1989, (c) 1994 and (d) 1999, broken down into (i) civilian and (ii) military personnel and including territorial forces. [125574]

Dr. Moonie: The table gives details of the number of people employed by the Ministry of Defence in Scotland in (a) 1979, (b) 1989, (c) 1994 and (d) 1999 broken down into (i) civilian and (ii) military personnel.

Year	(i) Regular Forces	(ii) MOD civilians
(a) 1979	19,016	n/a
(b) 1989	20,035	12,209
(c) 1994	18,030	11,238
(d) 1999	14,937	9,274

Notes:

1. The data cover UK Regular Forces and UK based civilian personnel counted in official Ministry of Defence civil service figures. They exclude UK based casual civilian personnel and permanent civilian personnel whose salaries are paid for or reimbursed by other non MOD organisations such as NATO and USAF.

2. Civilian figures are full-time equivalents where part-time staff are counted in proportion to hours worked. Since 1995 the method of counting part-time civilian staff has reflected actual hours worked (on average approximately 60 per cent. of full-time) rather than the notional 50 per cent. previously used.

3. The data for Royal Navy Regular Forces include personnel on board ships in their home waters who are included in the region of their ships home port. The method of allocating personnel to location was changed in 1995 from having a category for location on the record of Service to using the postcode of the unit to which personnel are attached.

4. Location data for territorial forces are only readily available for 1999 for the Royal Navy and RAF and are not readily available at all for the Army. Such incomplete data are of little use for comparative purpose of the PQ and have therefore not been included in the written answer.

It is not possible, without disproportionate cost, to obtain data for civilian personnel prior to 1980. Location data for the territorial forces of all three Services for the dates requested are not available without disproportionate cost.

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PRIME MINISTER

Serbia

Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his letter of 2 June, what ways of funding the Serbian health system the Government have identified in the last 12 months and are considering for the next 12 months; and if he will give details of the initiative to which he refers to facilitate the return of Serb communities which have fled Kosovo. [125604]

The Prime Minister [holding answer 12 June 2000]: We have contributed £2.5 million each to the Balkans appeals of the ICRC and UNICEF. There are no specific allocations to Serbia, but UNICEF plans support to mother and child health services for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and refugees. ICRC programmes include provision of essential medicines to IDPs, refugees and the socially vulnerable in Serbia. In addition, ECHO plans support to primary health care services in remote locations, including to IDPs and refugees.

We have provided £120,000 for roads and community schemes managed by British and Swedish troops of Multi National Brigade (Central) to encourage Serbs to return to villages in the Sliovo area, and Albanians to return from Pristina to their villages in the region.

Government Annual Report

Mr. Evans: To ask the Prime Minister when the Government's third annual report will be published. [125939]

The Prime Minister: By the end of July.

Criminal Assets

Mr. Pickthall: To ask the Prime Minister when the Performance and Innovation Unit will publish its report on the pursuit and seizure of criminal assets; and if he will make a statement. [126158]

The Prime Minister: The Performance and Innovation Unit's report "Recovering the Proceeds of Crime" is being published today as agreed Government policy. Copies have been placed in the Vote Office and in the Libraries of the House. It is also available on the Cabinet Office website at www.cabinet-office.gov.uk/innovation.

The PIU report sets out the Government's new approach to tackling crime through its finances. In implementing the report, the Government are determined to show that crime will not pay in the UK. We aim to reduce crime and to increase confidence in the criminal justice system. The report sets out a plan of action covering the following areas:

(i) a more strategic approach to asset recovery, including a dedicated National Confiscation Agency and greater cross-Government co-operation;

(ii) more emphasis on financial investigation to help law enforcement uncover criminal assets as a routine part of their business;

(iii) a new legislative attack closing legal loopholes and calling all convicted offenders to account for their assets where they have clearly benefited from their crimes; and introducing civil forfeiture giving the courts power to recover unlawful gains currently beyond the reach of the law;

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(iv) tightening the money laundering regime, simplifying and consolidating the money laundering laws;

(v) taxing unlawful gains by using tax powers more effectively to target criminal wealth; and

(vi) setting a higher international standard, working with our partners overseas to drive up standards and close boltholes.

My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary, in collaboration with my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary, will take forward implementation of the conclusions of the report and introduce legislation as soon as possible. The report is being widely circulated so that views received by the Home Office by the end of August can be taken into account prior to introduction of legislation. Further information can be found on the Home Office website at www.homeoffice.gov.uk.

Performance and Innovation Unit

Mr. Ian Bruce: To ask the Prime Minister what the annual cost is of the Performance and Innovation Unit; and what action the Government are taking to implement its reports. [124285]

The Prime Minister: For the financial year 1999-2000 the Performance and Innovation Unit (PIU) spent £2.3 million. For 2000-01 the unit has an allocation of £2.6 million.

Whenever PIU reports represent Government policy, implementation plans with lead responsibilities and timetables for action are included. I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for South Cambridge (Mr. Lansley) on 3 May 2000, Official Report, columns 109-10W.

Engagements

Sir Peter Tapsell: To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 14 June. [125403]

The Prime Minister: This morning I had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in the House, I will have further such meetings later today.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

New Millennium Experience Company

Mr. Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport which accountants have been paid fees by the New Millennium Experience Company; and for what purpose. [124385]

Mr. Chris Smith [holding answer 5 June 2000]: The New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) has paid fees to four firms of accountants.

Deloitte & Touche--tax advice.

Ernst & Young--external audit; accounting advice; provision of interim management of staff; and IT consultancy.

PriceWaterhouseCoopers--tax advice; IT consultancy; internal audit; and financial planning.

Arthur Anderson--internal audit.

Mr. Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make a statement on the resignation of the Chairman of the New Millennium Experience Company. [124483]

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Mr. Chris Smith [holding answer 5 June 2000]: Robert Ayling decided to resign as Chairman of the New Millennium Experience Company on 23 May. His decision was made in the best interests of the Dome. He served the Dome as Chairman for three years and his decision to step down was in keeping with the fact that he has always put the good of the project first. I would like to pay tribute to Robert Ayling for his contribution to the Millennium Experience.

Mr. Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) if the (a) contingency draw down, (b) £60 million cash flow facility and (c) £29 million additional cash flow facility made available to the New Millennium Experience Company will be repaid; [125023]

(2) which Millennium Commission projects have received funding additional to their original grants; for what purposes; and to what value in each case. [125024]

Mr. Chris Smith [holding answer 8 June 2000]: These are matters for the Millennium Commission. I will write to the hon. Member in my capacity as Chairman of the Commission, and place copies of my reply in the Libraries of the House.

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