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Porton Down

Mr. Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what inquiries (a) his officials and (b) the Chemical Defence Establishment, Porton Down have conducted since 1 January 1997 into allegations that service personnel were duped into taking part in experiments at Porton Down when they believed that they were taking part in research to find a cure for the common cold; and when each inquiry was conducted. [160061]

Dr. Moonie: Some research has been carried out in response to inquiries from former volunteers, parliamentarians and the Wiltshire police.

Many of the details of the trials that were undertaken at Porton Down are in the public domain, and papers in the Public Record Office. The subject has been covered in numerous publications. The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has done selective research of the public record and the Porton archive in support of the Wiltshire police inquiry and the Volunteers helpline. However, there has never been an opportunity for MOD to conduct a full and thorough search of all the sources, in particular the Porton archives, which contain unpublished technical papers, the original experimental books, and other contemporary material.

Against this background, we will conduct a comprehensive survey of the Volunteer programme. It will:

Be conducted by MOD officials and will be supervised by Professor Ian Kennedy, an external appointee from the School of Public Policy, University College, London.

Cover the period 1939 to 1989 because this is the period of most concern to surviving volunteers, and is the period of highest volunteer throughput.

Attempt to give a full description of the size and shape of the trials programme listing what exposures took place, and how many volunteers were exposed to particular substances, in what manner.

1 May 2001 : Column: 551W

The survey will seek, record and analyse all original documentation available relating to the way in which volunteers were recruited; the terms in which the programme was described to them; protocols for informing volunteers of the individual experiments; evidence of how risks were assessed and communicated to participants; evidence of whether and how consent was obtained. The survey will also look at how the relevant internal and external supervision of the programme developed together with evidence of how the practices in the trials reflected contemporary international and national ethical guidelines.

The findings of the Survey will be published.

Technology Readiness and Risk Assessment

Programme

Mr. Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the four UK defence contractors which are participating in the Technology Readiness and Risk Assessment Programme. [159804]

Mr. Hoon: The four participating contractors are Matra BAe Dynamics (UK), Alenia Marconi Systems, BAE Systems and Hunting Engineering Ltd.

Homosexuality and Lesbianism

Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what legal advice he sought regarding the guidance on the compatibility of homosexuality and lesbianism with service in HM Armed Forces issued to potential recruits to the armed forces; when the leaflet containing this guidance was last reprinted; how many copies were printed; and if he will make a statement. [159542]

Mr. Spellar: There is no specific leaflet offering guidance to potential recruits on the compatibility of homosexuality and lesbianism with service in the armed forces. Such guidance pre-dated the change of policy announced in January 2000. The present version of the armed forces recruiting application form refers instead to standards of personal behaviour expected from all Service personnel. Such behaviour is governed by the Armed Forces Code of Social Conduct.

In introducing both the new policy towards sexual orientation and the Armed Forces Code of Social Conduct, the Department sought legal advice to ensure that the policies were within the law and respected the rights of the individual.

RAF Board of Inquiry Reports

Mr. Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list those civilians, including retired Service personnel, who may have access to RAF Board of Inquiry reports held at the Inspectorate of Flight Safety. [159281]

Mr. Spellar [holding answer 30 April 2001]: Civilians including retired Service personnel, and Service personnel re-employed as civilians by the Ministry of Defence, whose continuing responsibilities require it, may have access to RAF Board of Inquiry reports held at the RAF Inspectorate of Flight Safety.

1 May 2001 : Column: 552W

Where a fatal accident has occurred, a declassified copy of the specific report, if requested, is provided to the next of kin of the deceased. Should they wish to disseminate the report further, this is a matter for them.

ELECTORAL COMMISSION COMMITTEE

Promotional Campaigns

Miss Widdecombe: To ask the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed, answering on behalf of the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, how the Electoral Commission proposes to divide the sum of £1.5 million allowed in the Electoral Commission (Limit on Public Awareness Expenditure) Order 2001 between promoting public awareness of (a) electoral systems, (b) systems of Government and (c) the institutions of the European Union; and if he will make a statement. [159974]

Mr. Beith: The provisions of section 13 of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 do not come into force until 1 July 2001. I understand from the Chairman of the Electoral Commission that, to date, no decisions have been taken as to the division of the £1.5 million available for 2001-02 between the three purposes specified in section 13 of the Act. Information about the Commission's spending plans under section 13 will be published later in the year, and copies placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

WALES

Special Advisers

Mr. Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales on how many occasions between 5 June 2000 and 31 March 2001 (a) departmental and (b) non-departmental special advisers have travelled abroad in an official capacity. [158553]

Mr. Paul Murphy: Wales Office special advisers have travelled abroad in an official capacity on three occasions between 5 June 2000 and 31 March 2001. I have no non-departmental special advisers.

Mr. Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what the total cost was of employing special advisers in his Department and its predecessor from 1997 to date. [160051]

Mr. Paul Murphy: Special advisers' salaries are negotiated individually within the three-band range announced to the House by my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office on 16 November 1998, Official Report, column 354W. Individual salaries and pension contributions are confidential to protect the privacy of the individuals concerned, so it is not possible to give the combined costs of employing special advisers.

Mr. Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many special advisers worked in his Department and its predecessor from 1997 to date. [160034]

Mr. Paul Murphy: Since 3 May 1997, no more than two special advisers have been in post at any one time in the former Welsh Office and the Wales Office.

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SOLICITOR-GENERAL

Lord Birt

Miss Widdecombe: To ask the Solicitor-General, pursuant to his answer to the right hon. Member for Maidstone and the Weald of 25 April 2001, Official Report, column 273W, on Lord Birt, what the emerging findings of Lord Birt's work were; if he will place in the Library a copy of the briefing setting them out; and if he will make a statement. [159977]

The Solicitor-General: I refer to the answer given by the Home Secretary, 27 March 2001, Official Report, column 594W.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

PFI Projects

Mr. Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how much money has been paid by his Department to (a) accountancy and (b) legal firms in each year since 1 May 1997 in relation to PFI projects. [153263]

Mr. Wicks [holding answer 12 March 2001]: This information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

1 May 2001 : Column: 554W

GCSEs (Shropshire)

Mr. Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what percentage of school pupils in Shropshire achieved five or more GCSEs in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement. [157600]

Ms Estelle Morris: The percentage of pupils in Shropshire who gained five or more GCSEs (or GNVQ equivalents) at grades A*-C are shown in the table:

	Percentage
1996-97	--
1997-98	53.3
1998-99	55.4
1999-2000	56.4

The figures show that there has been an increase of 3.1 percentage points since 1997-98 and that Shropshire has already achieved the national target of 50 per cent. by 2002.

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