---

Cancer Rates (Southern Iraq)

Mr. Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she has received the conclusions of the World Health Organisation study on the possible increase of cancer rates in southern Iraq; and if she will make a statement. [146383]

Clare Short: The World Health Organisation (WHO) have not yet undertaken this study. WHO's Head of Non-Communicable Diseases is in Baghdad this week, leading a team of experts in reviewing the Iraqi Ministry of Health's capacity in epidemiological surveillance, including their ability to monitor and register cancer, including leukaemia, across Iraq.

We have offered WHO support for improving health information systems in Iraq and are discussing funding their proposed programme to build Iraqi capacity to monitor cancer epidemiology.

Nigeria

Dr. Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what requests her Department has received for assistance for Nigeria's Human Rights Violations Investigation Commission. [146830]

Clare Short: We have received no requests for assistance for Nigeria's Human Rights Violations Investigation Commission.

31 Jan 2001 : Column: 237W

Reproductive Health Policy

Ms McCafferty: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what representations she has made to her American counterpart concerning the USA's international reproductive health policy. [147596]

Clare Short: I have as yet had no contact with the new US Administration. The implications of the decision announced by President Bush on 22 January will become clearer as new guidance is issued. This decision by the US Administration will make no difference to the commitment of our Government to helping poor people access good quality family planning and sexual and reproductive health services.

Hinduja Brothers

Miss Widdecombe: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development which Ministers and officials in her Department have (a) been contacted by and (b) contacted (i) Mr. G. P. Hinduja and (ii) Mr. S. P. Hinduja since 2 May 1997; if she will list the occasions on which there was such contact; and if she will make a statement. [148078]

Clare Short: I met one of the Hinduja brothers at a dinner in honour of President Carter on 7 October 1999. Mr. S. P. Hinduja had two days before contacted the Head of DFID India about possible co-operation with the Hinduja Foundation. Mr. S. P. Hinduja wrote to me on 19 October 1999 suggesting a meeting with me about possible co-operation which I declined and suggested a meeting at official level. Following a meeting with a representative of the Hinduja Foundation at official level on 23 November 1999, I and one of my officials accepted an invitation by Mr. S. P. Hinduja and Mr. G. P. Hinduja to a lunch on 11 January 2000 at which co-operation between DFID and the Hinduja Foundation on HIV/AIDS work in India and a possible publication with the Hindi community on the 2015 International Development targets was discussed.

I have had no further contact with the Hinduja brothers. No concrete proposals for co-operation between DFID and the Hinduja Foundation were identified.

SOCIAL SECURITY

Far East Prisoners of War

Mr. Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement about the funding of ex-gratia payments to former Far Eastern prisoners of war or their surviving spouses. [148536]

Mr. Bayley: The authority to make these payments will rest entirely on the Appropriation Act. Parliamentary approval for this new scheme will be sought in a Supplementary Estimate for the Central Government Administered Social Security Benefits and Other Payments Vote (Class XII Vote 1).

Pending that approval, urgent expenditure estimated at £190 million will be met by repayable advances from the Contingencies Fund.

31 Jan 2001 : Column: 238W

Winter Fuel Payment/Free Television Licence

Mr. Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will place in the Library an estimate for each parliamentary constituency of (a) the number of beneficiaries from the Winter Fuel Payment and (b) the number of recipients of free television licences. [147806]

Mr. Rooker: The information is not available in the format requested. The latest figures for Winter Fuel Payments and estimates of the over-75 population who may benefit from a free television licence for each constituency in Great Britain have been placed in the Library.

TV Licensing administers the free television licence scheme for the BBC. I understand that geographical breakdowns of the number of free licences are not available.

WALES

Policing

4. Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent meetings he has had with the First Secretary to discuss policing in Wales. [146524]

Mr. Paul Murphy: I meet the First Minister regularly to discuss a number of issues, including policing in Wales. In addition, I meet, from time to time, the four Welsh Chief Constables.

Census

5. Mr. Blunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the First Secretary with regard to the census in Wales. [146525]

Mr. Paul Murphy: I have regular meetings with the First Minister to discuss a range of subjects, including this one.

NHS Waiting Lists

6. Sir George Young: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has had with the First Secretary with regard to the progress of the Government's commitment to reduce health service waiting lists. [146526]

Mr. Hanson: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I meet regularly with the National Assembly's First Minister and the Assembly Health and Social Services Minister to discuss the NHS in Wales. The subject of waiting lists is, of course, often on the agenda.

Benefit Recovery

7. Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he last met the Secretary of State for Social Security to discuss the impact of the Social Security (Recovery of Benefits) Regulations 1997 upon the people of Wales; and if he will make a statement. [146527]

Mr. Paul Murphy: I have met my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Security regarding this issue. He is now examining, with the claimants' solicitors, ways of speeding up and simplifying the system, and is proposing to issue "nil" certificates when interim

31 Jan 2001 : Column: 239W

payments are made, to extend the time for which recovery certificates are valid, and to accept sworn statements from former miners when they become ill.

Optical Electronics

8. Mr. Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he plans to meet representatives of businesses involved in optical electronics in North Wales. [146528]

Mr. Hanson: My right hon. Friend visited Avimo Optical Imaging, Prestatyn in September and is due to visit Thales Optronics, Llandudno Junction (formerly Pilkington Optronics) next week.

Dairy Farming

10. Mr. Fabricant: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has had with the First Secretary on dairy farming in Wales. [146530]

Mr. Hanson: My right hon. Friend discusses a range of issues in his weekly meetings with the First Minister. I also regularly meet the Assembly Agriculture Minister to discuss a variety of issues.

Manufacturing Industry

11. Mr. Barry Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the First Secretary concerning prospects for manufacturing industry in Wales, with particular reference to the future of the steel industry. [146531]

Mr. Paul Murphy: I regularly meet the First Minister and discuss a wide range of issues including manufacturing and the steel industry.

The UK steel industry is among the most productive in the world. Each steelworker today is four times more productive than he or she was 20 years ago. Seventy per cent. of steel qualities available today have been developed in the last 10 years to meet increasing demands for stronger, lighter materials. Those are the reasons why, despite its current difficulties, I firmly believe that the UK steel industry has a future in today's knowledge driven economy.

21. Mr. Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what meetings he has had with the First Secretary to discuss manufacturing industry in Wales. [146542]

Mr. Paul Murphy: I regularly meet the First Minister and discuss a wide range of issues including manufacturing.

Manufacturing is a key part of the economy. The Government appreciate the difficulties facing manufacturers in some sectors and are supporting them by providing macro-economic stability. Low inflation, low interest rates and sound public finances will help UK manufacturers in the long term.

Dee Estuary

12. Mr. Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the Assembly Environment Secretary on cross-border concerns relating to the environment of the Dee Estuary. [146532]

31 Jan 2001 : Column: 240W

Mr. Hanson: My right hon. Friend has regular discussions on environmental issues with the First Minister, and I have regular meetings with the Assembly Minister for Transport, Planning and the Environment to discuss a range of environmental matters.

In the vast majority of cases such decisions as they affect Wales are a matter for the National Assembly for Wales, in discussion with the lead Whitehall Department and the Environment Agency where appropriate.

---