Sitting of 8 February 2002

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards
  Peter Bottomley
  To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, when the Commission's media adviser first met the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards. [33364]

  Mr. Kirkwood
  On Tuesday 22 January, at her request.

  Peter Bottomley
  To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, when the Chairman of the House of Commons Commission received complaints from(a) members of the public and (b) hon. Members about the work of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards. [33360]

  Mr. Kirkwood
  I understand that Mr. Speaker has received a number of letters from members of the public and from hon. Members, both in the previous Parliament and the present Parliament, about matters relating to the system of self-regulation and standards. However, so far as formal complaints to the House of Commons Commission are concerned, the position remains as set out in my reply to the hon. Member for Hull, North (Mr. McNamara), of 19 December 2001,Official Report, column 331W.

  Press Cuttings Service
  Peter Bottomley
  To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, whether the Commission receives a press cuttings service. [33366]

  Mr. Kirkwood
  No. Officials bring relevant items to the attention of the Commission as necessary.

  Media Adviser
  Peter Bottomley
  To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, whether the Media Adviser's term of appointment is for a specific period and for a known number of days. [33365]

  Mr. Kirkwood
  The appointment is for an initial period of three months, subject to review. The number of days worked varies.

  Peter Bottomley
  To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, how many candidates were on the short list before Mr. John Stonborough was chosen as media adviser. [33362]
  1176W
  Mr. Kirkwood
  The House of Commons Commission considered two possible candidates before selecting Mr. Stonborough on a short-term contract to work with the House's communications adviser.

  Peter Bottomley
  To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, which persons participated in the selection process for the Commission's media adviser. [33363]

  Mr. Kirkwood
  The selection was made by the House of Commons Commission.

WORK AND PENSIONS

  Director's Pay
  Mr. Clelland
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what were the total amounts paid to(a) executive directors and (b) non-executive directors in (a) 1997–98, (b) 1998–99, (c)1999–2000 and (d) 2000–01. [20423]

  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  The information is in the table.

  £000

  Financial year

  Executive directors

  Non-executive directors

  1997–98

  855

  25

  1998–99

  819

  41

  1999–2000

  913

  59

  2000–01

  11,192

  121

  1 In 1999–2000 the Department decided to designate some existing senior civil service posts as Executive Directors. The costs for 2000–01 reflect these changes.

  New Deal
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many new deal candidates have participated in the customised job preparation programme in preparation for jobs in the Civil Service; if he will list the Government Departments for which such programmes(a) exist and (b) do not exist; and how many requests are outstanding from Government Departments and agencies for such programmes. [25977]

  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  A new deal gateway specifically designed to prepare new deal candidates for work in the Civil Service was piloted last year in Edgware, London. 16 participants completed the pilot, which led to job opportunities with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Department for Trade and Industry. In addition, a customised new deal gateway pilot was also developed for the Benefits Agency in east London. This resulted in job offers in the agency for all 21 participants. These job preparation programmes were designed to be pilot schemes that responded directly to localised employer-led demand.

  There are no outstanding requests from Government Departments and agencies for customised gateways at present. However, given the success of the first programmes, further gateways are being considered for the Benefits Agency in London and the north-west. The Employment Service is continuing to promote the Civil Service new deal gateway and the employment of new deal clients within Departments and their agencies.
  1177W
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of participants in the new deal for young people from non-white ethnic minorities found(a) jobs and (b) sustained jobs in each year since 1997; and if he will give a breakdown by different ethnic minorities. [25984]

  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  The available information is in the table.

  Proportion of young people from ethnic minorities starting on the new deal for young people who had gained a job1,2

  1998

  1999

  2000

  Black-Caribbean

  All jobs

  46

  47

  50

  Sustained

  32

  34

  36

  Black-African

  All jobs

  38

  40

  42

  Sustained

  26

  28

  30

  Black-Other

  All jobs

  46

  48

  50

  Sustained

  32

  34

  36

  Indian

  All jobs

  52

  51

  53

  Sustained

  41

  41

  43

  Pakistani

  All jobs

  45

  46

  47

  Sustained

  35

  35

  38

  Bangladeshi

  All jobs

  47

  48

  47

  Sustained

  38

  40

  39

  Chinese

  All jobs

  43

  45

  45

  Sustained

  36

  38

  38

  Other

  All jobs

  45

  44

  44

  Sustained

  35

  35

  35

  Total

  All jobs

  45

  46

  48

  Sustained

  34

  35

  37

  1Ethnicity details are not available for all participants in the new deal for young people.

  2Many participants leaving the new deal for young people are recorded as leaving for unknown destinations. Research has shown that over 50 per cent. of these people are actually leaving to take up employment.

  3Figures for 2001 are not yet available.

  Jobcentre Plus
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the incident that took place at the Jobcentre Plus office at Harlesden on 18 January. [32613]

  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  [holding answer 1 February 2002]: A jobseeker's allowance customer attending Harlesden Jobcentre Plus office on Friday 18 January was refused an immediate payment. Later that day he returned to the office and damaged computer equipment. Prompt action by security guards meant that the man was arrested within minutes and subsequently charged by the police.
  1178W
  This was a distressing incident. However, no members of staff or other customers were physically assaulted or threatened. A further health and safety risk assessment review is being conducted and lessons learned or action recommended will be implemented.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

  Angola
  Tony Baldry
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development for what reason her Department's total aid programme for Angola has been halved over the last five years; and what resources her Department will commit to achieving the aims of the Peace Building and Civil Society in Angola report published by her Department. [33946]

  Hilary Benn
  Angola has been in a state of renewed conflict since the breakdown of the Lusaka Peace Protocol in 1998. It is for this reason that it has not been possible to establish a long-term partnership for the development of the country. We continue however to provide humanitarian assistance.

  Angola needs peace and the Government continue to support the United Nations sanctions against UNITA while calling for both sides to seek a peaceful solution to the conflict. My Department sees a role in encouraging the Angolan Government to use their substantial resources to alleviate the dire poverty in the country. DFID are currently funding a series of seminars on the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP) process which have brought together representatives of the Government, Parliament and civil society. We welcome the recent report and are considering how best to build on our existing work on peace building with civil society.

  Accountancy Services
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the total cost to her Department was for accountancy services in each of the last four years. [34175]

  Hilary Benn
  Most of the accountancy work in DFID is carried out by our own in-house staff. We paid £100,815 for external accountancy advice in 2000–01 as part of the preparation for the CDC public-private partnership, and we have paid £17,102 to date in 2001–02 for external accountancy advice in relation to resource accounting and budgeting. These are the only costs for additional accountancy services which we can readily identify in the past four years.

  Public Bodies (Chairmen)
  Mr. Forth
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list the appointments made by her Department since 1 May 1997 of chairmen of(a) non-departmental public bodies, (b) commissions, (c) inquiries, (d) agencies and (e) task forces; and if she will list their (i) term of office, (ii) salary and (iii) known political affiliation (A) past and (B) present. [33885]

  Hilary Benn
  The following chairmen were appointed by my Department.
  1179W

  (a) Non-departmental public bodies

  Name

  Term

  Salary

  Political affiliation

  Commonwealth Development Corporation (CDC)

  Lord Cairns

  For 3 years from July 1998, but appointment cut short when CDC became a public limited company in December 1999. Lord Cairns then became chairman of the new organisation

  £30,000 a year

  No known political affiliations

  Commonwealth Scholarship Commission

  Geoffrey Caston

  For second 3 year term from December 1999

  No remuneration

  No known political affiliations

  Commonwealth Scholarship Commission

  Ms T. Harpham

  For a 3 year term from December 2001

  £5,000 a year

  No known political affiliations

  Our remaining non-departmental public bodies have, or had, as their chairmen either Ministers or civil servants who fill the roles in an ex-officio capacity.

  (b) Commissions

  Commission on Intellectual Property Rights

  Professor John Barton. April 2001 to June 2002.

  A per diem of £500 (approximately £9,500 a year)

  No known political affiliations.

  No chairmen have been appointed to inquiries, agencies or task forces.

  Free Basic Education
  Mr. Simon Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps she is taking to secure the abolition of education charges by 2005. [33517]

  Hilary Benn
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Banbury (Tony Baldry) on 21 January 2002,Official Report, column 604W.

  Mr. Simon Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps are being taken to launch a global initiative to achieve free basic education for all; and if she will make a statement. [33518]

  Hilary Benn
  At the Education for All (EFA) High-Level Group meeting in Paris in October, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Development made clear that the international response to the Dakar Framework for Action has been slow and has lacked effective co-ordination. She called for international action to be stepped so that we can accelerate current progress and ensure that we meet the target of quality primary education for all children by 2015. DFID's "Children out of school" paper sets out these proposals and urges much greater international energy and co-operation in taking them forward.

  Achieving universal primary education (UPE) can happen only through reform and action at country level. A key indicator of commitment is the rapid abolition of user fees and other direct cost barriers to education. Other indicators are the development of sound national education policies, closely linked to the country's poverty reduction strategies; the resources allocated to education, and specifically to primary education; and evidence of efforts to promote gender equality.

  Where countries are making these commitments, the international community must deliver the additional resources they require. We believe this is best achieved through analysis and action at the country level. The Dakar resource pledge should be incorporated into all
  1180W
  country level negotiations on poverty reduction strategies. It will also require a change in the level of international financing to support and sustain UPE, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. Development agencies and the multilateral development banks, including the World bank, must increase the resources committed to helping reforming Governments deliver UPE.

  The Government are involved in three major international initiatives focusing on implementing the commitments made at Dakar. They are: the UNESCO and the EFA High-Level Group; the World bank (which is preparing a paper for its spring meeting); and the G8 (whose education task force will report to this year's summit in Canada).

  Botswana
  Mr. Hawkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what action her Department has taken in relation to the forced relocation of the Bushmen of the Kalahari of Botswana to New Xhade. [34766]

  Hilary Benn
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Falmouth and Camborne (Ms Atherton) on 16 January 2002,Official Report, column 311W. Further to this, our high commissioner to Botswana met the Minister for Local Government on 22 January. He advised that the severance of essential supplies, such as water, cuts across previous assurances and will provoke criticism from the international community.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Afghanistan
  Ann Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the treatment of UK citizens who have been captured in Afghanistan and held by US forces, with special reference to(a) when consular officials will have access to them, (b) when the International Committee of the Red Cross will have access to them, (c) whether they will have legal representation, (d) whether they are prisoners of war under the Geneva conventions and who made the determination as to their status and (e) whether the UK citizens will be treated in accordance with the Geneva conventions. [28334]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  A team of British officials visited Guantanamo Bay between 17 and 20 January and saw three British detainees. We continue to investigate reports of a small number of individuals detained in Afghanistan
  1181W
  who might be British. We are aware of two British nationals who are detained in Kandahar by the US authorities.

  The International Committee of the Red Cross have established a presence at Guantanamo Bay and their officials have access to the detainees at any time. They also have access to detainees held by the US authorities in Afghanistan.

  We have asked the US to clarify what access the detainees will have to legal representation.

  Whether any individual is a prisoner of war depends on the facts of each individual case. It is for the US as the Detaining Power in the first instance to take a view. The US authorities have said that the detainees are being treated humanely and consistently with the principles of the Geneva conventions.

  Israel
  Mr. Ancram
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he(a) last met and (b) intends to meet the Israeli Foreign Secretary. [31684]

  Mr. Straw
  I met the Israeli Foreign Secretary in Israel on 25 September 2001 and in Brussels on 10 December 2001. We are due to meet again on 13 February when I visit Israel.

TRANSPORT, LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND THE REGIONS

  Road Noise Reduction
  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what targets the Government have set for resurfacing the strategic road network with noise-reducing surfaces; what funding has been earmarked for this work; and what percentage of this financial year's earmarked funding has been spent to date. [27024]

  Mr. Spellar
  [holding answer 14 January 2002]: The Government's 10-year plan for transport tasked the Highways Agency with installing quieter surfaces on more than 60 per cent. of the motorway and trunk road network including all concrete stretches. Funding will be allocated over the period as part of the agency's roads renewals budget. This financial year, the agency plans to spend around £250 million. To date, they have spent nearly 74 per cent. (£184 million) and they expect to spend to budget.

  Road Tax
  Mr. Swayne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what recent discussions the Minister of Transport and his officials have had with their Austrian counterparts regarding Austrian road tax charges at point of entry. [27717]

  Mr. Spellar
  My Department takes a close interest in developments in lorry road-user charging throughout Europe, including the scheme operated by the Austrian Government and regular discussions are held with national Administrations, including Austria.
  1182W

  Railtrack
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 11 December 2001,Official Report, columns 783–84W, on the company limited by guarantee as a model for Railtrack, if he will list (a) the failures of the existing regime from which lessons have been learned and (b) the tried and tested cases of companies limited by guarantee to which he refers. [31596]

  Mr. Spellar
  Railtrack failed in a number of key areas. These include lack of knowledge of the company's assets, failure to manage projects and contracted-out work effectively, an inadequate skills base and a lack of customer focus.

  A company limited by guarantee is a suitable vehicle for a wide range of activities. For example, many national charities are set up as companies limited by guarantee. Companies limited by guarantee are also frequently used for the not-for-profit promotion of education, sport or commerce. Examples of companies limited by guarantee in commerce include the British Phonographic Industry Ltd., City Disputes Panel Ltd., the National Readership Surveys Ltd., British Venture Capital Association, BioIndustry Association, Lloyd's Register of Shipping Trust Corporation Ltd. and Glas Cymru Cyfyngedig.

  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when the dedicated unit within Railtrack which is aimed at identifying and more speedily addressing problems and faults with the railway infrastructure was set up; how many people are employed within the unit; and what its remit is. [33044]

  Mr. Byers
  [holding answer 4 February 2002]: Railtrack advise that there is currently no dedicated unit as described. However, the company has identified as a priority the need to improve the management and operation of the railway infrastructure and this is currently being taken forward.

  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what proportion of(a) public money and (b) the private finance set out in the 10-year plan for the railways is for Railtrack in administration and its successor company. [33995]

  Mr. Spellar
  Railtrack in administration and its successor company will continue to receive income from grant and other sources as set out in the regulator's October 2000 periodic review and in the 2 April agreement between Government and Railtrack.

  Gypsy/Traveller Camps
  Mr. David Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when he expects to publish a revision of the Good Practice Guide on Managing Unauthorised Camping by gypsy and travellers; and if he will make a statement. [32466]

  Ms Keeble
  Work is in hand to produce a revised version of the Good Practice Guide on Managing Unauthorised Camping.

  Rail Safety
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant
  1183W
  to his answer of 18 December 2001, Official Report, column 225W, on the rail industry, if he will list (a) each of the health and safety issues contained in railway safety cases and (b) for each train operator the address of the premises at which railway safety cases are available for public inspection. [32693]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The health and safety issues contained in railway safety cases are included in the schedules of the Railway (Safety Cases) Regulations 2000. They are: risk assessments, health and safety management systems, developing and maintaining staff competence, specifications and procedures, infrastructure, train operation, train integrity assurance and maintenance, station operation, control of contractors, incident investigation, compliance with safety cases, emergency response arrangements, safety case change control, additional criteria for infrastructure controllers.

  The address where the safety case is available for inspection can be obtained from train operators. Contact details for passenger train operators are given on the Strategic Rail Authority website at www.sra.gov.uk.

  Rail Industry Group
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will list the members of the Strategic Rail Authority's cross-industry working group; when this group(a) first met and (b) subsequently met; what are the terms of reference of this group; and what outcomes have emerged to date as a result of the work of the group. [32610]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The Rail Industry Group (RIG) was formed in early 2001 building on the successful collaborative arrangements developed following the Hatfield crash. RIG is chaired by the SRA and its membership includes senior representatives from ATOC, Raitrack, EWS, infrastructure maintenance contractors and the Rail Passengers Council. Observers from the DTLR, Office of the Rail Regulator, Health and Safety Executive and Rail Industry Association attend meetings. The group meets on an ad hoc basis depending on circumstances.

  The purpose of the RIG is to bring the SRA and industry leaders together to discuss, agree and then implement changes to Britain's railway. The work of the RIG has been wide ranging, including co-ordinating changes to the possessions regime and setting up groups to address skills shortages.

  The new chairman of the SRA, Richard Bowker, has been asked by the Secretary of State to review existing arrangements to determine if changes are needed to improve efficiency and effectiveness.

  London Underground
  Mr. Mark Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what representations he has received on the proposed public-private partnership for London Underground; and if he will make a statement. [33037]

  Mr. Jamieson
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Minister for Transport to the hon. Member for Hexham (Mr. Atkinson) on 29 January 2002,Official Report, columns 176–77W.
  1184W

  Ministerial Meetings
  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if(a) he and (b) other Ministers have met the Rail Regulator in the last month. [33367]

  Mr. Jamieson
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 11 December 2001,Official Report, column 789W.

  Millennium Dome
  Nick Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if financial responsibility for the upkeep of the millennium dome will be transferred to Meridian Delta upon completion of the contract. [32804]

  Ms Keeble
  Yes.

  Congestion Charging
  Mr. Mark Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if the Government will consider the likely net revenues of the Mayor of London's proposed congestion charging scheme against the opportunity cost of the scheme when assessing whether the spending plan represents value for money. [33741]

  Ms Keeble
  It is the Mayor of London's responsibility to consider the costs and benefits of the proposed congestion charging scheme before deciding whether or not to confirm the scheme order.

  My right hon. Friend will have regard to the relevant statutory requirements in deciding whether to approve the spending plan.

  Mr. Mark Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what criteria he will use when assessing whether the Mayor of London's plan for spending congestion charging revenues represents value for money. [33742]

  Ms Keeble
  My right hon. Friend will consider the final version of the spending plan when he receives it in the light of the statutory requirements. Paragraph 16(1) of Schedule 23 to the Greater London Authority Act 1999 provides that the net proceeds of a charging scheme shall be available for "relevant transport purposes". These purposes are defined by paragraph 1 as any purpose which directly or indirectly facilitates the implementation of any policies or proposals set out in the Mayor's transport strategy. And paragraph 16(5) provides that the net proceeds of charging schemes may only be applied for purposes which provide value for money. My right hon. Friend will wish to satisfy himself that the spending plan is consistent with the Mayor's transport strategy which he has considered at an earlier stage.

  Strategic Rail Plan
  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what representations the Strategic Rail Authority has made on the achievability of the 50 per cent. target for passenger growth in the 10-year plan. [32936]
  1185W
  Mr. Spellar
  [holding answer 4 February 2002]: The SRA has made no representations on this issue to the Department.

  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what proportion of the public funding for investment in the railways in the 10-year plan is uncommitted. [32944]

  Mr. Spellar
  [holding answer 4 February 2002]: Currently around £8.1 billion remains contractually uncommitted out of a total budget of £18.6 billion.

  Data Protection Act
  Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the period of time elapsed is for the oldest outstanding request for information under the Data Protection Act 1998, since receipt of the(a) original request and (b) administration fee. [33447]

  Dr. Whitehead
  In respect of(a) 97 days, and in respect of (b) 46 days. The 40-day deadline for this case is not technically due to expire for a further two weeks since the further information required by the Department to respond to it was not supplied by the applicant for some time following receipt of the original request and administration fee.

  Councillors
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many(a) county, (b) district and (c) unitary councillors there are in England; and what the average amount they draw in allowances and expenses was in the last 12 months for which figures are available. [34040]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The total number of members of the following types of council in England as of May 2001 was:

  (a)County: 2,140

  (b)District: 10,715

  (c)Unitary: 2,413

  Source:

  The Municipal Yearbook, 2002 Edition

  My Department does not collect information from councils on the allowances and expenses paid to council members.

  The average allowances of council members of local authorities who have made the information available to the Improvement and Development Agency, by local authority type, as of 4 December 2001, are as follows:

  Average allowances

  £

  Basic

  Leader

  Executive member

  Met district

  7,380

  20,737

  10,155

  Shire county

  7,548

  21,701

  11,643

  Shire district

  3,122

  8,454

  4,466

  Unitary

  5,273

  15,426

  7,732

  Source:

  "www.idea-knowledge.gov.uk", Member Allowance Summary Survey

  Colne to Skipton Railway
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will ask the Strategic Rail Authority to commission a study on the(a) feasibility and (b) benefits of re-opening the Colne to Skipton railway line. [34280]

  Mr. Spellar
  The Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) has no current plans to consider the possibility of re-opening this line. The relevant local authority could take forward such a study if they saw benefit in doing so. If funding for such a study were required it might be available through the SRA's Rail Passenger Partnership scheme, which has been extended to include the possibility of funding feasibility work.

  Aviation Industry
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (1) how many meetings have taken place in the last year between(a) Ministers and (b) civil servants and representatives from the aviation industry; [34135]

  (2) how many meetings have taken place in the last year between (a) Ministers and (b) civil servants and representatives from non-governmental organisations regarding the environmental impact of the aviation industry. [34134]

  Mr. Spellar
  Ministers and civil servants meet many people as part of the process of policy development and analysis. All such contacts are conducted in accordance with the Ministerial Code, the Civil Service Code and Guidance for Civil Servants: Contacts with Lobbyists. Some of these discussions take place on a confidential basis, and in order to preserve confidentiality, it is not the normal practice of Governments to release details of specific meetings with private individuals or companies.

  National Parks
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions whether he plans to exclude national park authorities from the proposed parliamentary procedures for major infrastructure projects. [34827]

  Mr. Byers
  We are still consulting on the proposals contained in our document "Major Infrastructure Projects: Delivering a Fundamental Change". The closing date for comments is 22 March 2002.

  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans he has to retain the Silkin test for major developments in national parks. [34825]

  Mr. Byers
  The `Silkin test' for major developments in national parks forms part of the national guidance to local planning authorities set out in paragraph 4.5 of Planning Policy Guidance (PPG) note 7 on the Countryside. We have no plans to change this policy.

  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of the arrangements for pre-planning application discussions operated by the national park authorities. [34824]
  1187W
  Mr. Byers
  The Department has not carried out an assessment of these discussions, which are not a part of the statutory planning process. We encourage pre-application discussions between planning applicants and local planning authorities. These can help to guide applicants through the planning process, clarify what is required and help them to formulate their proposals.

  Local Authority Debt
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will list the level of(a) on-balance sheet and (b) off-balance sheet debt for each local authority in each year since 1997. [34822]

  Mr. Byers
  Local authority off-balance sheet information is not collected by DTLR. Figures for local authority outstanding debt at 31 March 1997 and 31 March 2000 have been placed today in the Libraries of the House. Outstanding debt is equivalent to on-balance sheet debt. Figures for 1998 and 1999 are not available centrally. Outstanding debt for individual authorities as at 31 March 2001 will be published shortly on the DTLR website www.dtlr.gov.uk/finance/stats.

  It should be noted that authorities with high levels of debt are generally those which have undertaken capital investment and that long-term borrowing to finance capital expenditure is regulated by Government through the issue of credit approvals.

  A40
  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what discussions he has had with the Highways Agency regarding the de-trunking of the A40 into Cheltenham; and if he will make a statement. [34637]

  Mr. Spellar
  The Secretary of State has asked the Highways Agency to discuss the proposed de-trunking of the A40 through Cheltenham with the relevant local authorities. These discussions are continuing.

  An announcement will be made when draft orders for the de-trunking are published.

  Travel Concessions Bill
  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to his answer (ref. 33646),Official Report, column 838W, if he will estimate the cost to local authorities of implementing the Travel Concessions Bill. [34672]

  Ms Keeble
  The additional cost to local authorities of implementing the Travel Concessions (Eligibility) Bill in England is estimated at £50 million per year.

PRIME MINISTER

  UK OECD Delegation
  Mr. Miliband
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will announce the membership of the United Kingdom delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe. [35530]
  1188W
  The Prime Minister:
  I have appointed 13 representatives from the Parliament of the United Kingdom to act as the United Kingdom delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe. The next meeting of the Assembly will take place in Vienna on 21–22 February 2002. The delegation will consist of eight members of the Labour party, three members of the Conservative party and two members of the Liberal Democrat party. I have also appointed a number of substitute delegates.

  The appointment of Conservative and Liberal Democrat party representatives and substitutes have been made on the basis of nominations by the parties concerned.

  Representatives from the Government benches will be: the hon. Member for City of York (Hugh Bayley), the right hon. Member for Birmingham, Hodge Hill (Mr. Davis), the right hon. Member for Walsall, South (Mr. George) who will act as Leader, the Baroness Hilton of Eggardon, the hon. Member for Thurrock (Andrew Mackinlay), the hon. Member for Hyndburn (Mr. Pope), the hon. Member for Dundee, West (Mr. Ross) and the hon. Member for Dunfermline, West (Rachel Squire).

  Representatives from the Conservative party will be: the hon. Member for Mid-Sussex (Mr. Soames), the hon. Member for Esher and Walton (Mr. Taylor) and the Earl of Northesk.

  Representatives from the Liberal Democrat party will be: the right hon. and learned Member for North-East Fife (Mr. Campbell) and the hon. Member for Somerton and Frome (Mr. Heath).

  The following substitutes have been appointed to act as necessary on behalf of the delegates:

  From the Government benches the hon. Member for Rossendale and Darwen (Janet Anderson), the hon. Member for Tooting (Mr. Cox) and the Lord Ponsonby of Shulbrede.

  From the Opposition benches the hon. Member for Richmond Park (Dr. Tonge).

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  InvestoSave
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on what InvestoSave bids are relevant to the rate of use of sub-post offices for electronic communication and transfer; and what progress is being made in this field. [25689]

  Mr. Alexander
  The Post Office is involved with three projects under the joint HM Treasury/Cabinet Office initiative, InvestoSave, namely the national geospatial data framework, the change of address project and extension of websites of Norfolk local authorities. It is too early to say to what extent work on these projects will impact on business of the sub-post office network.

  Beer and Cider
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the organisations from which she has
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  received complaints regarding short measures in the sale of beer and cider in each year since 1997, including those made in response to consultations. [27605]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  Since 1997 the following organisations have submitted complaints to the Department alleging short measures in the sale of draught beer:

  Crosby Constituency Labour party

  Hartlepool borough council

  Walsall metropolitan borough council

  City of York Environment and Development Services

  Redcar and Cleveland borough council

  CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale)—north Sussex branch

  Devon county council

  Newport borough council

  West Yorkshire Trading Standards

  Campaign for Real Ale

  Campaign for Real Ale—north Hertfordshire branch

  Metropolitan borough of Wirral

  Glasgow city council

  East Renfrewshire council

  South Ayrshire council

  Shropshire county council

  Wolverhampton Trading Standards

  Conwy county borough council

  Stoke-on-Trent council

  LACOTS (Local Authorities Co-ordinating Body on Trading Standards)

  Durham county council

  West Yorkshire Trading Standards

  Pontypridd council

  JR Hardings—Drinks, Dispense and Cooling Consultants

  Birmingham city council

  Lewisham council

  North Lincolnshire council.

  The following organisations indicated to the Department their concern about alleged short measures in the sale of draught beer and cider in response to the Department's consultation paper "Fair Measure" (issued in June 1999):

  Ulster Unionist party

  Midlands Coordinating Group on Trading Standards

  Angus council

  Scottish Metrology Liaison Group

  Southend-on-Sea borough council

  Norfolk county council

  Scottish Borders council

  Metropolitan borough of Wirral

  Argyll and Bute council

  Luton borough council

  Renfrewshire borough council

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  Midlothian council

  South Ayrshire council

  Dorset county council

  Somerset county council

  Croydon council

  Birmingham city council

  Humber authorities

  ERCOTS (Eastern Region Coordinating Body on Trading Standards) Metrology SFG

  North West Metrology Panel

  Northern Counties

  Institute of Trading Standards Administration

  AGMA Metrology Panel

  South East Trading Standards Authorities

  Society of Directors of Public Protection—Wales

  Crossing The Boundaries Metrology Group

  Inner London Metrology Liaison Group

  St. Helens Metropolitan borough council

  North East Trading Standards Liaison Group

  South Yorkshire Chief Trading Standards Officer Liaison Group

  West Sussex county council

  ITSA (Institute of Trading Standards) Scottish Branch

  Lancashire county council

  Inverclyde Council Trading Standards Service

  Durham county council

  Redcar and Cleveland borough council

  West Dunbartonshire council

  Sefton council

  London borough of Sutton

  West Yorkshire Trading Standards Service

  Hertfordshire county council

  Gateshead metropolitan borough council

  Solihull metropolitan borough council

  Fife council

  Glasgow city council

  East Riding of Yorkshire

  University of Teesside

  LACOTS (Local Authorities Co-ordinating Body on Trading Standards)

  Northern Ireland Co-Op

  Co-operative Union Ltd.

  CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale).

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  The following organisations indicated to the Department their concern about alleged short measures in the sale of draught beer and cider in response to the Department's consultation paper "Measures of Draught Beer and Cider" (issued in December 2000):

  Brewing, Food and Beverage Industry Suppliers Association

  Independent Society of Brewers

  Hallamshire Brewery Services Ltd.

  Campaign for Real Ale

  Campaign for Real Ale—Peterborough branch

  National Federation of Consumer Groups

  Cheshire Trading Standards

  Isle of Anglesey Trading Standards

  Surrey county council

  Merton Environmental Services

  South West England Regional Co-ordination of Trading Standards

  Durham county council

  Gwynedd council

  Worcestershire county council

  West of Scotland Metrology Group

  West Yorkshire Trading Standards

  South East Trading Standards

  Trading Standards Institute

  Unitary authorities of Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland,

  Stockton-on-Tees, and Hartlepool

  LACOTS (Local Authorities Co-ordinating Body On Trading Standards)

  Metropolitan borough of Wirral

  Food Standards Agency.

  Overseas Trips
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list each of the overseas trips made by herself and other members of her Ministerial team in each of the last four years, specifying the purpose and cost of each trip. [30172]

  Ms Hewitt
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister on 4 February 2002,Official Report, column 707W.

  Consumer Protection
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to introduce consumer protection legislation in the next 12 months. [30747]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  We announced our intention, in the Queen's Speech, to introduce the Enterprise Bill during the current session, subject to available parliamentary time. The Bill would benefit consumers by

  Power project supported by ECGD since 1997

  Project name

  Goods/service provided

  Country

  UK company

  Fuel Type

  Guarantee issue date

  Final draw-down date

  Shandong

  Boilers

  China

  Mitsui Babcock Energy Ltd.

  Coal

  1/5/1998

  1/10/2004

  Bulawayo

  Refurbishment

  Zimbabwe

  Mitsui Babcock Energy Ltd.

  Coal

  13/1/1998

  31/12/1999

  Manjung

  Engineering and construction

  Malaysia

  Alstom Power Ltd.

  Coal

  9/8/1999

  30/8/2003

  Afsin-Elbistan

  Steel structures

  Turkey

  Corus UK Ltd.

  Coal

  26/4/2000

  31/3/2005

  AK Enerji

  10 gas turbines

  Turkey

  Alstom Power Ltd.

  Gas

  20/7/2000

  31/5/2001

  Bilkent

  Steam turbine

  Turkey

  Allen Steam Turbines

  Gas

  6/10/1998

  30/9/1999

  Manzanillo

  Spares and services

  Mexico

  Howden Power Ltd.

  Gas/Coal

  7/6/2000

  30/9/2000

  St. Kitts Power

  Generating sets

  St. Kitts and Nevis

  Mirrlees Blackstone Ltd.

  Oil

  21/8/1998

  7/2/2000

  Elege Alimentos

  Diesel generators

  Brazil

  F. W. Wilson Ltd.

  Oil

  11/5/1998

  28/2/1999

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  strengthening the competition regime, introducing measures to take tough action against traders who harm consumer interest and clamping down on anticompetitive practices.

  Insolvency Service
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the minister responsible for the Insolvency Service will meet with the hon. Member for Leicester, East to discuss the insolvency of BCCI. [31859]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  A letter dated 22 November offered a meeting. The hon. Member's office contacted the Department recently and a meeting has been arranged for 7 March 2002.

  Enron
  Adam Price
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the role played by(a) Enron Europe, (b) the Enron Corporation and (c) executives of those firms in the PIU Energy Review. [31936]

  Mr. Wilson
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 4 February 2002,Official Report, column 689W.

  Fossil Fuel Projects
  Tom Brake
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the fossil fuel energy projects that the ECGD is supporting including the(a) project name, (b) country the project is situated in, (c) the UK companies in receipt of support, (d) the type of plant and (e) start and completion dates of the projects. [31834]

  Ms Hewitt
  The table lists the project name, country, UK exporter, fuel type and the ECGD guarantee issue and final loan draw-down dates of the fossil fuel energy projects for which ECGD has provided guarantees since 1997.

  In addition, ECGD has provided Overseas Investment Insurance and other insurance for 11 fossil fuel power projects with a total generating capacity of around 8,700MW. Details of these projects are commercially confidential.

  ECGD does not normally hold information on project start and completion dates, but the guarantee issue date should correspond approximately to the start of project construction and the final loan draw-down date (where applicable) should correspond to the start of operations.

  For most of the projects listed, the UK exporter is one of several contractors and ECGD is guaranteeing only part of the total project financing.
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  Power project supported by ECGD since 1997

  Project name

  Goods/service provided

  Country

  UK company

  Fuel Type

  Guarantee issue date

  Final draw-down date

  Anguilla Electricity

  Diesel generators

  Anguilla

  Mirrlees Blackstone Ltd.

  Oil

  10/8/1998

  15/9/1999

  Ghubrah

  Engineering and construction

  Oman

  Weir Westgarth Ltd.

  Oil

  2/11/1999

  1—

  San Pedro

  Engineering and construction

  Dominican Republic

  Motherwell Bridge Engineering Ltd.

  Oil

  18/4/2000

  28/2/2003

  Magnesita

  4 diesel generating sets

  Brazil

  Man B&W Diesel Ltd.

  Oil

  27/11/2001

  30/4/2003

  Outer Islands Power

  Plant extension

  Indonesia

  Allen Power Engineering Ltd.

  Oil

  3/12/1997

  31/10/2001

  For certain ECGD insurance products a final draw-down date is not applicable

  Departmental Leave Entitlement
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what has been the average annual leave entitlement of staff in her Department in each of the last four years. [31751]

  Ms Hewitt
  In the years ending 31 July average annual leave entitlement has been:

  Year

  Days

  1998

  26.9

  1999

  27.2

  2000

  27.6

  2001

  28.4

  Sub-Post Offices
  Mr. Mark Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many sub-post offices closed between May 1997 and the latest available date in Greater London. [33015]

  Ms Hewitt
  I am informed by Post Office Ltd. that for the year ending March 2001 in the London region, there were 10 net closures; to the end of December 2001, there were nine net closures. I understand from Post Office Ltd. that historic data on the post office network before the year ending March 2001 are not held on a regional basis.

  Mr. Randall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many sub-post offices have closed in the London borough of Hillingdon in each of the last four years. [34096]

  Ms Hewitt
  I am informed by Post Office Ltd. that post office closure figures are not collated in the form requested.

  For the year ending March 2001, there were 10 net closures in the London region. Before the year ending March 2001, historic data on the post office network are not held on a regional basis.

  Medical Schools
  Dr. Gibson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps have been taken to ensure new medical schools receive research support money. [33430]

  Ms Hewitt
  Under the £1 billion Science Research Investment Fund (SRIF), a partnership between Government and the Wellcome Trust, £675 million has already been allocated to Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) to fund improvements in infrastructure, such as 1194W
  new or refurbished buildings and new equipment. Some HEIs have deployed SRIF to support their new medical schools.

  Researchers at all medical schools and faculties of medicine are eligible to apply to the Medical Research Council for research funds. Proposals are accepted in the same way as those from any other eligible institution. The MRC welcomes high quality applications for support into any aspect of human health and these are judged in open competition with other demands on funding. Awards are made according to their scientific quality and importance to human health.

  I understand that the impact on NHS research support budgets of the new medical schools has been assessed. NHS R&D funding will be made available to NHS care organisations to defray the NHS costs that they incur in supporting eligible research generated by the schools.

  Broadband
  Jim Knight
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the publicity given to the Broadband Fund by the South-West Regional Development Agency between 8 October 2001 and 20 December 2001 in raising awareness within the private sector; [33726]

  (2)how much funding has been provided to broadband projects in the south-west by the Broadband Fund since its announcement; [33754]

  (3)if she will make a statement on (a) the regulations for application and (b) the application process for applicants seeking funding from the Broadband Fund. [33760]

  Mr. Alexander
  The Government made a well-publicised announcement on the fund on 9 October 2001, and referred inquiries to the relevant body. The UK Broadband Fund was established to support the RDAs and devolved Administrations in taking forward innovative schemes to meet local requirements for extending broadband networks. There was no 'application process', since the fund was not established to assist individual businesses.

  £3.78 million has been allocated to the South-West Regional Development Agency (SWRDA). Use of funds, along with publicity within the south-west, is a matter for SWRDA, who carry out the projects in accordance with the action plan agreed with Government and the guidance laid down in October.

  Jim Knight
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what part mapping of existing broadband service availability in the UK forms of her strategy for
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  broadband deployment; to what extent mapping has been completed; and to what extent the mapping data is available in the public domain; [33750]

  (2) if she will make a statement on deployment of broadband on a region by region basis in the UK. [33752]

  Mr. Alexander
  The Government have a rolling programme of research into the broadband market, including assessment of availability of broadband services across the UK. A map showing geographical availability of technologies is contained in the second annual UK Online report (http://www.e-envoy.gov.uk/ukonline/progress/anrep2001/default.htm) and has been placed in the Libraries of the House.

  Departmental Budget
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the total running costs budget is for(a) her Department in 2001–02 and (b) the public bodies reporting to her Department. [33990]

  Ms Hewitt
  The Department of Trade and Industry's Expenditure Plans Report (Cm 5112) shows, in Table B9, the total planned administration cost expenditure for the Central Department for 2001–02 is £483 million. This includes the expenditure of: ACAS, Employment Tribunal Service, Insolvency Service, British Trade International, National Weights and Measurement laboratory and Radiocommunications Executive Agency.

  Table B9 also shows the total planned administration cost expenditure for Regulators, while Table C5 shows the planned administration cost expenditure for NDPBs and together these amount to £560.6 million, excluding the ACAS total which has already been included in the central Department.

  Lost/Stolen Property
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list those items valued at less than £50 each which have been stolen or lost from her Department in each of the last four years. [34209]

  Ms Hewitt
  The Department of Trade and Industry's log of missing items is a mix of lost, stolen or misplaced items belonging to the Department or its work force. In the majority of cases the value of items is not recorded and it is not possible to answer this question in detail without incurring disproportionate cost.

  Spectrum
  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will publish the United Kingdom Spectrum Management report submitted by Professor Martin Cave. [33309]

  Mr. Alexander
  [holding answer 4 February 2002]: My right hon. Friends the Chancellor of the Exchequer and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry have just received the report. We will make a further announcement shortly.

  Employment Tribunals
  Brian Cotter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry in how many cases an employment tribunal awarded costs to(a) the employer and (b) the employee in each of the past five years. [34370]
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  Alan Johnson
  The information requested is displayed in the table.

  Costs awarded

  To applicant (employee)

  To respondent (employer)

  2000–01

  80

  167

  1999–2000

  61

  125

  1998–99

  85

  136

  1997–98

  136

  140

  1996–97

  1—

  1—

  1Due to changes to the database system of the ETS in1996,statistics for 1996–97 are not available.

  Source:

  Employment Tribunals Service

  Ispat International
  Adam Price
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations she has received from employees or directors of Ispat International between May 1997 and December 2001; and if she will list them by date and subject. [33111]

  Mr. Wilson
  [holding answer 4 February 2002]: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry received no representations from employees or directors of Ispat International between May 1997 and December 2001.

  Miners' Compensation
  Mr. Woodward
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many compensation claims by former miners living in(a) St. Helens, South and (b) St. Helens metropolitan authority (i) have yet to be settled and (ii) have been paid their final sum. [28698]

  Ms Hewitt
  [pursuant to the reply 22 January 2002, Official Report, c. 742W]: The information I gave regarding the number of settled claims for respiratory disease in St. Helens, South was unfortunately incorrect.

  The correct figure should be 69.

  Food Supplements Directive
  Dr. Fox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many specialist health food(a) retailers and (b) manufacturers there are in England and Wales; what figures she has collated on turnover of these sectors in the last year for which figures are available; what assessment she has made of the impact upon the profitability of these businesses of the forthcoming EU food supplements directive; and if she will make a statement. [21689]

  Yvette Cooper
  I have been asked to reply.

  I am advised that there are no separate figures for retailers or manufacturers of specialist health food products as these estimates, although collected by the Office for National Statistics as part of the annual business inquiry, are combined with other specialist retailers and manufacturers.

  The Food Standards Agency, which is responsible for negotiating this directive on the Government's behalf, has consulted widely on its likely impact. There would be labelling costs falling on manufacturers of all food supplements, but these would be substantially offset by a

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  two year transitional period. For the specialist food supplement sector and consumers of these products any additional impact would depend on future developments on lists of permitted nutrients and maximum limits.

ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

  Environmental Conservation
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what resources are being put towards teaching school children about environmental conservation; and if she will make a statement. [31614]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  I have been asked to reply.

  Pupils' statutory entitlement to sustainable development education is supported, as are other areas of the National Curriculum, through the Government's local funding for schools. Overall, the Education Standard Spending Assessments for 2002–03 have been increased by £1.3 billion for 2002–03; the standards fund grant has been increased by almost £160 million; and the direct grant for schools by 2.75 per cent.

  The revised National Curriculum, which we introduced in September 2000, provides the framework for sustainable development education in schools. Sustainable development is specifically included in Geography and Science, together with Citizenship, which will be introduced in September this year. Pupils learn about the connections between environmental, social and economic issues and about the consequences of the choices they make for the environment and other people. We have also sponsored the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority to provide online resources for teachers (available at http://www.nc.uk.net/esd/). The Environmental Action Fund (£4.2 million) is this year funding 21 projects out of 115 to advance education for sustainable development for young people, while next year education will be one of only two priorities for the fund. The Growing Schools initiative (£0.5 million), which launched in September, will promote farming and growing as an education resource.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

  Press Officers
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many press officers there were in her Department in each of the last four years; and what was the annual cost of their remuneration over that period. [27470]

  Dr. Howells
  Numbers of press officers over the past four years in my Department (at 1 April in each year), and their remuneration are as follows:

  Date

  Number

  Remuneration (£)

  1998

  19

  207,619

  1999

  8

  236,150

  2000

  9

  245,039

  2001

  8

  265,631

  1Includes two staff working part-time.

  Departmental Expenditure
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will list her Department's total expenditure by month in each financial year since 1997–98. [32786]

  Dr. Howells
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by my hon. Friend the Economic Secretary to the Treasury on 4 February 2002,Official Report, column 692W.

  Golden Jubilee
  Mr. Davidson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many Queen's Golden Jubilee Medals will be struck; to whom they will be distributed; what the total cost of this exercise will be; and if she will make a statement. [34050]

  Tessa Jowell
  The estimated requirement is for 370,000 medals. Around 185,000 will he issued to serving members of the armed forces and Royal Fleet Auxiliary with a minimum of five years' reckonable service on 6 February 2002. Around 185,000 will be issued under the same criteria to members of the emergency services accessed by dialling 999.

  The total cost to Government are estimated at £7.8 million (including the cost of the ribbon, delivery and an element for administration).

  Mr. Soames
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment she has made of the impact of (1) recent legislation and regulations on the organising of street parties and other celebrations for the Queens' Golden Jubilee; [34153]

  (2) the Human Rights Act 1998 on the organising of street parties and other celebrations for the Queen's Golden Jubilee. [34152]

  Tessa Jowell
  [holding answer 7 February 2002]: I can see no reason for the Human Rights Act 1998 to obstruct the organisation of street parties and other celebrations. Apart from the proposed regulatory reform order to extend licensing hours on the night of 3 June, no legislation is being enacted specifically to apply to the Golden Jubilee celebrations. I would expect those organising parties and other Jubilee events, including local authorities where street parties are being held, to consider the impact of all relevant legislation which will apply during the Jubilee celebrations as at any other time.

  Mr. Rosindell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how the Government plans to mark the occasion of the Queen's Golden Jubilee. [34049]

  Tessa Jowell
  I refer the hon. Member to the announcements made by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 23 November 2000 and 22 June 2001. Also relevant is the joint Home Office and Ministry of Defence press notice of 15 February 2001, in which my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary announced the Golden Jubilee commemorative medal.

  After taking on responsibility for the Golden Jubilee celebrations, I announced on 3 August 2001 details of the extended bank holiday 'Jubilee Weekend' over the period 1 to 4 June 2002. On 4 December 2001, I announced that the distribution of the Golden Jubilee medal had been

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  widened beyond the armed forces and Royal Fleet Auxiliary to include the emergency services. Copies of both press notices are in the Library of the House.

DEFENCE

  NATO Budget
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received from the NATO Secretary General regarding NATO member contributions to the 2002 NATO budgets for(a) civil, (b) military and (c) security and investments; and if he will make a statement. [33191]

  Mr. Hoon
  I talk regularly to the NATO Secretary General on a range of issues, including the NATO budgets. I have received no specific representations from the NATO Secretary General regarding national contributions to the two NATO budgets that are a matter for the Ministry of Defence, namely the Military Budget and NATO's Security Investment Programme. Issues concerning NATO's Civil Budget are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs.

  RAF Aircraft Maintenance and Spares
  Angus Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the total cost was of RAF aircraft maintenance and spares on a fleet-wide basis in the last year for which figures are available. [32444]

  Mr. Ingram
  [holding answer 1 February 2002]: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Service Personnel (Scotland)
  Angus Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many aircrew in the United Kingdom forces were born in Scotland; how many are pilots of(a) combat aircraft, (b) transport aircraft and (c) helicopters by arm of the service; and how many are other aircrew, by (i) arm of service and (ii) function. [32440]

  Mr. Ingram
  [holding answer 1 February 2002]: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Homelessness
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what research his Department has commissioned into the incidence and causes of homelessness among ex-service personnel; and what recent changes he has made to policy and practice to assist ex-service personnel. [32666]

  Dr. Moonie
  [holding answer 6 February 2002]: The Ministry of Defence does not itself monitor homelessness among ex-service personnel. The Social Exclusion Unit report, published in 1998, identified that between one quarter and one fifth of rough sleepers had been in the armed forces at some stage, predominantly as national servicemen. The MOD has, therefore, been working in partnership with the Rough Sleeper's Unit (RSU) and the charitable sector to reduce some of the most acute cases of homelessness, those sleeping rough on the streets. In
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  particular, preventative mechanisms have been put in place at pre-discharge, point of discharge and post-discharge to help the more vulnerable make a smoother transition to civilian life. Measures taken by RSU and its partners to date have reduced levels of rough sleeping by at least two-thirds in line with the Prime Minister's target and DTLR have confirmed that interim analysis of rough sleeping data collected in November 2001 shows that the percentage of rough sleepers with an armed forces background has decreased markedly since the 1998 SEU report. We welcome this as evidence of what is being achieved through closer co-operation within Government and with the voluntary sector.

  We recognise that there is further work to be done in this area and, in particular, as part of the Veterans' Initiative, are looking at how we can improve resettlement arrangements for the most vulnerable service leavers. This would include addressing the risk of homelessness.

  Service Women
  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what duties have been extended to women members of each service since 1997; and what has been the cost of implementing those extensions. [34831]

  Mr. Ingram
  From April 1998, all posts in the Royal Artillery, Royal Engineers and Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers were opened to women. From July that year, some 1,300 specialist posts attached to the Royal Marines were also opened to women. No costs associated with these extensions are identifiable.

  Tomahawk Cruise Missile
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made on joint-design work between the Royal Navy and the US Navy on the torpedo tube-launched Tomahawk cruise missile; and if he will make a statement. [32891]

  Dr. Moonie
  The Block IIIC Tomahawk missiles currently in service with the Royal Navy are launched from submarine torpedo tubes. The next generation, Tactical Tomahawk Block IV, missile is currently designed for vertical launch only. Jointly funded UK-US studies to assess the feasibility of launching the Block IV missile from submarine torpedo tubes have been successfully completed, and further development work is planned to start later this year, subject to completion of contractual negotiations.

  Spearfish Torpedo
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made in upgrading the Royal Navy's Spearfish torpedo; and if he will make a statement. [32890]

  Dr. Moonie
  Spearfish is currently in the process of replacing Tigerfish as the Royal Navy's Heavy Weight Torpedo. Contracts for Concept work for a Mid Life Update of the Spearfish torpedo have been placed with QinetiQ and BAE Systems Electronics Ltd. Underwater Weapons Division, Waterlooville. The contracts have been let progressively from November 1998 and work is on-going.
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  Manpower
  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the manpower of each service was in each year since 1997; and how many vacancies were reported. [34834]

  UK full-time personnel: UK Regulars, FTRS1 and Gurkhas

  1 April 1997

  1 April 1998

  1 April 1999

  Service

  Trained strength

  Surplus/(deficit)

  Trained strength

  Surplus/(deficit)

  Trained strength

  Surplus/(deficit)

  All services

  197,390

  -8,325

  193,914

  -8,025

  190,506

  -8,732

  Naval Service

  Total

  41,680

  -1,231

  40,356

  -1,581

  39,071

  -1,872

  UK Regulars

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  FTRS

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Army

  Total

  101,514

  -4,845

  100,881

  -4,594

  99,674

  -5,597

  UK Regulars

  97,756

  -5,597

  97,452

  -5,080

  96,300

  -6,089

  FTRS

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Gurkhas

  3,758

  752

  3,429

  586

  3,374

  492

  Royal Air Force

  Total

  54,196

  -2,249

  52,677

  -1,850

  51,761

  -1,263

  UK Regulars

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  FTRS

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  UK full-time personnel: UK Regulars, FTRS1 and Gurkhas

  1 April 2000

  1 April 2001

  1 January 2002

  Service

  Trained strength

  Surplus/(deficit)

  Trained strength

  Surplus/(deficit)

  Trained strength

  Surplus/(deficit)

  All services

  190,419

  -8,000

  189,026

  -9,438

  187,789

  -9,397

  Naval Service

  Total

  38,877

  -986

  38,539

  -1,358

  37,578

  -2,189

  UK Regulars

  38,535

  -1,328

  38,023

  -1,874

  36,930

  -2,837

  FTRS

  342

  342

  516

  516

  648

  648

  Army

  Total

  100,334

  -6,062

  100,381

  -6,592

  100,914

  -6,059

  UK Regulars

  96,475

  -6,611

  96,285

  -7,641

  96,373

  -7,553

  FTRS

  486

  486

  646

  646

  919

  919

  Gurkhas

  3,373

  63

  3,450

  403

  3,622

  575

  Royal Air Force

  Total

  51,208

  -952

  50,106

  -1,488

  49,297

  -1,149

  UK Regulars

  50,993

  -903

  49,847

  -1,517

  48,995

  -1,186

  FTRS

  215

  -49

  259

  29

  302

  37

  1FTRS: Full Time Reserve Service, ie for Naval Service and Army FIRS individuals serve in vacant regular posts and there is therefore no separate requirement for these. RAF FIRS strength figures comprise Full Commitment (FC), Limited Commitment (LC) and Home Commitment (HC). FC individuals in the RAF serve in vacant regular posts, whereas LC and HC establishments are shown as a separate requirement.

  Note:

  Figures are for UK Full Time Personnel and therefore exclude the Home Service battalions of the Royal Irish Regiment, mobilised reservists, Gibraltar Permanent Cadre and Naval Activated Reservists.

  Taliban and al-Qaeda Prisoners
  Sir Sydney Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Taliban and al-Qaeda prisoners taken by allied Afghan forces subsequently escaped from Afghanistan to Pakistan; by what means; and if he will make a statement. [33261]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  I have been asked to reply.

  No firm information is available as the situation on the ground is very difficult. HMG take seriously the need to prevent escaped fighters from pursuing terrorist activities.
  1202W
  Mr. Ingram
  The manpower strength of each of the services since 1 April 1997 and the surplus/deficit against the trained requirement are as follows.

TREASURY

  Advance Corporation Tax Relief
  Mr. Flight
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the impact which the abolition of advance corporation tax relief has had on the annual savings gap of £27 billion between what people need to save and what they actually save for their retirement outlined in FSA Consultation Paper 121, paragraph 3.54. [33957]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  The Government recognise the importance to individuals of saving, including as a way of providing comfort in retirement. The Government's
  1203W
  strategy for encouraging more people to save is set out in "Helping People to Save", published in November 2000. The Government monitor closely developments in the savings market.

  Consumers should benefit from increased choice under the FSA proposals.

  Financial Products
  Mr. Flight
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to limit the amount of product provided through an intermediary by a shareholder in that intermediary as part of the implementation of the proposal for abolishing limits on product-provider investment in FSA Consultation Paper 121. [33958]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  This is an issue which is addressed in FSA Consultation Paper 121, in particular paragraphs 4.41 to 4.46.

  Polarisation
  Mr. Flight
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what impact he forecasts the abolition of polarisation will have on long-term trends in the savings ratio. [33960]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  The polarisation proposals are designed to ensure increased choice and competition for consumers in the tied market for packaged investment products.

  Mr. Flight
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what measures he will consider using to ensure that abolishing polarisation does not lead to a strengthening of the position in the marketplace of larger tied distributors of financial products such that there are adverse consequences for competition; [33952]

  (2) what measures he will consider using to ensure that the abolition of polarisation does not result in major tied distributors operating commission bias in the provision of packaged products. [33959]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  This is an issue which is addressed in FSA Consultation Paper 121, in particular paragraphs 4.22 to 4.28, and in the proposals for enhanced disclosure in Part 5.

  Mr. Flight
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received from consumers' representatives regarding FSA Consultation Paper 121 on the impact on the interests of consumers arising from a consolidation in the position of larger tied financial distributors as a result of the abolition of polarisation. [33955]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  None.

  Mr. Flight
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many IFAs are registered as operating in the UK; and what he estimates will be the number in operation five years after abolishing polarisation. [33954]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  6,018 IFA firms were individually "grandfathered" into the FSA at 1 December 2001, of which 4,692 had previously been regulated by the Personal Investment Authority and 1,416 were regulated by recognised professional bodies. In addition, there are about 6,500 appointed representative IFA businesses that are mainly members of the larger IFA networks. At the 1204W
  same time (in the run up to N2) 32,181 registered individuals worked for firms that were registered with the PIA.

  The FSA Consultation Paper 121 analyses the likely impact of these proposals on the IFA sector at paragraphs 4.19 to 4.21.

  Mr. Flight
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what role the Universal bank will play in meeting the goals set out in FSA Consultation Paper 121. [33956]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  Under the proposals for universal banking services, the Post Office Card Account will provide an electronic payment service for paying benefits and tax credits. Investments will not be part of universal banking services, so the polarisation proposals are not relevant.

  Sports Clubs
  Kate Hoey
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list those sports in which community amateur sports clubs would have difficulty in qualifying for charitable status because they are(a) not considered healthy, (b) considered dangerous and (c) considered too costly. [34339]

  Mr. Boateng
  Eligibility for charitable status is a matter for the Charity Commission to decide. Sports' representative bodies are working closely with the Charity Commission in the development of guidelines for charitable status.

  Kate Hoey
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the estimated cost is of the tax exemptions for the Inland Revenue proposals contained in Promoting Sport in the Community. [34335]

  Mr. Boateng
  Cost will depend on any finalised tax package and subsequent take-up.

  Kate Hoey
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list those sports recognised by the Sports Council which are eligible for the Inland Revenue CASC tax concessions. [34340]

  Mr. Boateng
  The list of sports eligible for any separate Inland Revenue administered tax package would be finalised in due course, when decisions are made as part of the normal Budget process.

  Kate Hoey
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the estimated cost is of the tax exemptions for the Charity Commission proposals contained in the consultative paper Promoting Sport in the Community. [34336]

  Mr. Boateng
  The cost of the Charity Commission decision will depend on take-up by sports clubs. Community amateur sports clubs are able to apply immediately and there have been a significant number of inquiries from sports clubs interested in taking advantage of the new charitable purpose.

  Kate Hoey
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what the cost will be of granting mandatory rate relief to community amateur sports clubs as set out in Annexe B in the consultation paper; [34338]

  (2) what the cost of granting 80 per cent. mandatory rate relief to community amateur sports clubs based on the criteria set out in Annexe A of Promoting Sport in the Community would be. [34337]
  1205W
  Mr. Greenway
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the cost of providing 80 per cent. mandatory relief from business rates for(a) those community amateur sports clubs (CASCs) which achieve charitable status and (b) those CASCs which qualify for his proposed tax relief package. [34509]

  Mr. Boateng
  The cost of granting 80 per cent. mandatory relief to community amateur sports clubs eligible for charitable status will depend on the take-up of charitable status. 80 per cent. mandatory rate relief is not part of the proposed Inland Revenue tax package set out in Annexe A of the "Promoting Sport in the Community" consultation document.

  Mr. Greenway
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many written responses have been received to the Treasury consultation paper, "Promoting Sport in the Community". [34510]

  Mr. Boateng
  A number of responses to the consultation document "Promoting Sport in the Community" have been received from a wide range of sports clubs and representative bodies. Views expressed will be considered before decisions on the best way to support community amateur sports clubs are made.

  Mr. Greenway
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects to respond to the consultation document on "Promoting Sport in the Community". [34508]

  Mr. Boateng
  Decisions on the best way to support community amateur sports clubs that make a positive contribution to their local communities will be made as part of the normal Budget process.

  Mr. Greenway
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many copies of the Treasury consultation paper, "Promoting Sport in the Community", were(a) printed and (b) circulated. [34511]

  Mr. Boateng
  5,000 copies of the "Promoting Sport in the Community" consultation document were printed and it was also available on the Treasury public internet site. The consultation document was circulated to sports clubs and their governing bodies, Sport England and the Central Council of Physical Recreation. Given the diversity of the sector, the Government have been keen for as many interested parties as possible to have the opportunity to respond.

  Credit Unions
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the impact of the Saving Gateway proposal on credit unions. [34351]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  The Government set out their latest proposals for the Saving Gateway in "Delivering Saving and Assets", published in November 2001. The Government announced their intention to pilot the Saving Gateway in a number of locations, to understand better how the Saving Gateway might work in practice. Many decisions about the operation of the Saving Gateway remain to be taken, so it is not possible to say how it might affect credit unions, although credit unions might be expected to benefit from an increase in awareness and understanding of the benefits of saving. A number of 1206W
  credit unions have expressed an interest in being involved in elements of the Saving Gateway, including financial education.

  The Government welcome the continued involvement of all interested parties, including credit unions, in the development of the proposals for the Saving Gateway, including responses to "Delivering Saving and Assets for All".

  Lost/stolen Property
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list those items valued at less than £50 each which have been stolen or lost from his Department in each of the last four years. [34223]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  The information from HM Treasury's database of reported thefts is as follows:

  Item

  Number

  1998

  Dictating machines

  5

  Answerphones

  2

  Wall clock

  1

  Briefcase

  1

  1999

  Dictating machine

  1

  Computer memory chip

  1

  2000

  Desklamps

  2

  Deutschmarks

  100

  2001

  Computer mouse

  1

  Pack of Duracell Ultra batteries

  1

  Our policy is that all thefts and losses, no matter how small, should be reported to security. It is, however, likely that the loss of very low value items will not be reported consistently.

  Transport Funding
  Tom Brake
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he has met the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions since 1 January to discuss funding for the(a) London Underground and (b) Strategic Rail Authority plan published on 14 January 2001; and what the subject of the meetings was. [34644]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  Treasury Ministers and officials hold meetings with colleagues in other Departments to discuss a variety of issues on a regular basis.

  Money Laundering
  Mr. Wyatt
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many(a) UK banks and (b) banks registered in the UK have signed up for the Wolfsberg AML Principles on money laundering. [34668]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  While the Government welcome commitments from private institutions to strengthen their anti-money laundering systems, detailed data on the number of banks who have signed up to the Wolfsberg Principles are not held centrally.

ADVOCATE-GENERAL

  Scotland Office
  Annabelle Ewing
  To ask the Advocate-General on how many occasions the Scotland Office has been a client of the Office of the Solicitor to the Advocate-General in terms of requests for legal services. [33398]

  The Advocate-General
  [holding answer 4 February 2002]: The Office of the Solicitor to the Advocate-General regularly provides legal advice and other legal services, including the drafting of statutory instruments, to the Scotland Office. Providing legal advice and services is an on-going process and no record is kept of the number of requests for advice or other services.

  Devolution
  Annabelle Ewing
  To ask the Advocate-General if she co-operated with the Scottish Executive with respect to the development of her role under the Scotland Act 1998. [33403]

  The Advocate-General
  [holding answer 4 February 2002]: There is good communication and co-operation between the Scottish Executive and the Government, including my office, both in the exchange of information the discussion of issues arising under the Scotland Act 1998.

  Annabelle Ewing
  To ask the Advocate-General which UK Government departments she has consulted prior to making a determination as to whether her intervention in devolution issue cases before the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council is necessary. [33400]

  The Advocate-General
  [holding answer 4 February 2002]: Prior to deciding whether or not to intervene in devolution issue cases before the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, or another court, I consult any United Kingdom Government Department which I consider has an interest in the issue under consideration.

  Annabelle Ewing
  To ask the Advocate-General according to which criteria she determines whether her intervention in devolution issue cases before the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council is necessary. [33399]

  The Advocate-General
  [holding answer 4 February 2002]: In my answer of 25 January 2002, Official Report, column 1124W, on devolution I explained my approach to intervention in devolution issue cases. Where cases reach the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, intervention may be particularly apt because that is the final authority.

  Annabelle Ewing
  To ask the Advocate-General if she will break down by subject area the 1,300 devolution issue cases that have been intimated to her office since May 1999. [33397]

  The Advocate-General
  [holding answer 4 February 2002]: The number of devolution minutes raising devolution issues intimated to me since May 1999 is 1,480. The figure of 1,375 is the number of devolution issue cases intimated and the reason for the difference is that sometimes a number of minutes relating to the same case are intimated to me. Approximately 85 per cent. of the devolution minutes involve claims of a breach of Article 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights,
  1208W
  which concerns the right to a fair trial. These claims involve a range of different legal arguments of varying importance. Article 8, which concerns the right to respect for private and family life, is the next most commonly referred to Article with approximately 5 per cent. of the minutes intimated referring to it. The remainder cover a variety of different issues.

  Annabelle Ewing
  To ask the Advocate-General which parties have a right of audience in devolution issue cases before the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council. [33401]

  The Advocate-General
  [holding answer 4 February 2002]: The relevant rules relating to both appeals and references are found in Part II of the Judicial Committee (Devolution Issues) Rules Order 1999. In appeals and references from another court Law Officers have an additional right to enter appearance and become a party to proceedings before the Judicial Committee, even when they have not been a party to the original proceedings.

  In references from other courts to the Judicial Committee any party to the proceedings in the court making the reference, including a Law Officer who is a party, may participate in the proceedings before the Judicial Committee by entering appearance. In appeals, parties to the original proceedings, including a Law Officer who is a party, have a right to appear before the Judicial Committee. Which of the Law Officers have this right depends on the circumstances as set out in the rules.

  In addition, in references by a Law Officer under paragraph 34 of Schedule 6 to the Scotland Act 1998, any other Law Officer may enter appearance and become a respondent to the proceedings.

  Annabelle Ewing
  To ask the Advocate-General with which UK Government Departments she co-operates with respect to the development of her role under the Scotland Act 1998. [33402]

  The Advocate-General
  [holding answer 4 February 2002]: I co-operate closely with the other United Kingdom Law Officers and with other ministerial colleagues who are concerned with constitutional matters or with particular subject matters under consideration.

  Annabelle Ewing
  To ask the Advocate-General in what special circumstances she would intervene in devolution issue cases as a UK Law Officer in fora other than the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council. [33420]

  The Advocate-General
  [holding answer 4 February 2002]: In my answer of 25 January 2002, Official Report, column 1125W, on devolution, I explained my approach to intervention in devolution issue cases.

  Annabelle Ewing
  To ask the Advocate-General on how many occasions she has met(a) the First Minister, (b) Scottish Executive Ministers, (c) the Lord Advocate, (d) the Solicitor-General for Scotland and (e) the Law Society of Scotland since 20 May 1999. [33396]

  The Advocate-General
  [holding answer 4 February 2002]: Since May 1999 I have had regular meetings with the Lord Advocate and Solicitor General for Scotland and meetings with other Scottish Executive Ministers as appropriate. In addition, I also meet with representatives of the Law Society of Scotland.

  Legal Services
  Annabelle Ewing
  To ask the Advocate-General with respect to which subject areas the Office of the Solicitor to the Advocate-General has provided legal services to the Department for Work and Pensions. [33418]

  The Advocate-General
  [holding answer 4 February 2002]: The Office of the Solicitor to the Advocate-General provides legal services to the Department for Work and Pensions and its agencies (other than the Employment Service) in the following subject areas: social security; child support; pensions; and employment. A full range of legal services is provided including court and tribunal work, primary and subordinate legislation and general advisory work.

  Office Budget
  Annabelle Ewing
  To ask the Advocate-General what is the budgetary provision for the total cost of her office in 2001–02. [33419]

  The Advocate-General
  [holding answer 4 February 2002]: In my answer of 25 January 2002, Official Report, column 1127W on departmental costs I explained that the

  Learning and Skills Council Budget Data 2001–02

  LSC/National Office Directorate

  Admin budget

  Programme budget

  Budget total

  East Midlands

  Derbyshire

  2,961,207

  84,199,461

  87,160,668

  East Midlands

  Nottinghamshire

  3,471,336

  126,235,090

  129,706,426

  East Midlands

  Lincolnshire and Rutland

  2,000,523

  43,099,739

  45,100,262

  East Midlands

  Leicestershire

  2,595,228

  88,082,684

  90,677,912

  East Midlands

  Northamptonshire

  2,028,258

  46,143,926

  48,172,184

  East of England

  Norfolk

  2,308,116

  58,646,515

  60,954,631

  East of England

  Cambridgeshire

  2,669,927

  55,396,126

  58,066,053

  East of England

  Suffolk

  1,853,759

  45,350,782

  47,204,541

  East of England

  Bedfordshire and Luton

  2,072,032

  47,448,103

  49,520,135

  East of England

  Hertfordshire

  2,389,925

  69,363,760

  71,753,685

  East of England

  Essex

  3,526,304

  125,324,915

  128,851,219

  Greater London

  London North

  2,849,098

  114,039,787

  116,888,885

  Greater London

  London West

  4,212,485

  125,480,762

  129,693,247

  Greater London

  London Central

  4,945,555

  210,772,438

  215,717,993

  Greater London

  London East

  4,838,360

  213,164,413

  218,002,773

  Greater London

  London South

  3,464,543

  118,194,063

  121,658,606

  North East

  Northumberland

  1,603,832

  18,299,048

  19,902,880

  North East

  Tyne and Wear

  4,658,853

  137,312,786

  141,971,639

  North East

  County Durham

  2,261,677

  46,739,421

  49,001,098

  North East

  Tees Valley

  3,015,845

  98,659,567

  101,675,412

  North West

  Cumbria

  1,952,868

  42,691,367

  44,644,235

  North West

  Lancashire

  3,931,820

  166,715,753

  170,647,573

  North West

  Greater Merseyside

  4,417,319

  172,348,608

  176,765,927

  North West

  Greater Manchester

  6,264,609

  306,386,007

  312,650,616

  North West

  Cheshire and Warrington

  2,561,104

  75,273,022

  77,834,126

  South East

  Milton Keynes, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire

  3,368,112

  94,250,521

  97,618,633

  South East

  Berkshire

  2,755,023

  61,423,348

  64,178,371

  South East

  Hampshire and Isle of Wight

  4,309,889

  180,221,626

  184,531,515

  South East

  Surrey

  2,886,200

  78,874,210

  81,760,410

  South East

  Sussex

  3,410,021

  116,510,117

  119,920,138

  South East

  Kent and Medway

  3,499,610

  107,634,064

  111,133,674

  South West

  Devon and Cornwall

  3,769,338

  144,983,848

  148,753,186

  South West

  Somerset

  1,755,420

  54,263,188

  56,018,608

  South West

  Bournemouth, Dorset and Poole

  2,441,213

  50,060,473

  52,501,686

  South West

  West of England

  3,119,672

  86,833,647

  89,953,319

  South West

  Wiltshire

  2,120,452

  58,677,976

  60,798,428

  South West

  Gloucestershire

  2,334,200

  43,876,871

  46,211,071

  West Midlands

  Shropshire

  1,535,707

  45,273,080

  46,808,787

  West Midlands

  Staffordshire

  2,687,697

  101,759,898

  104,447,595

  West Midlands

  Black Country

  4,070,795

  132,672,736

  136,743,531

  West Midlands

  Birmingham and Solihull

  4,159,367

  176,594,243

  180,753,610

  West Midlands

  Herefordshire and Worcestershire

  2,586,116

  64,093,095

  66,679,211

  West Midlands

  Coventry and Warwickshire

  2,625,394

  92,396,130

  95,021,524

  1210W
  Office of the Advocate-General for Scotland forms part of the Scotland Office with the Office of the Secretary of State for Scotland. Not all the costs of the Scotland Office can be separately allocated to each of these two offices and no separate budgetary provisions are made.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

  Learning and Skills Councils
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what was(a) the total bill for salaries and expenses for board members, (b) the administrative operating costs and (c) the total annual budget in the latest year for which figures are available for each of the learning and skills councils in England. [30196]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  The administrative operating costs and the total annual budget for the latest year for which figures are available, for each of the learning and skills councils in England, are detailed in the table.

  The amount of salary and expenses paid to LSC Board members is a matter for the Learning and Skills Council.
  1211W

  Learning and Skills Council Budget Data 2001–02

  LSC/National Office Directorate

  Admin budget

  Programme budget

  Budget total

  Yorkshire and The Humber

  North Yorkshire

  2,402,925

  63,883,458

  66,286,383

  Yorkshire and The Humber

  West Yorkshire

  5,736,359

  190,682,080

  196,418,439

  Yorkshire and The Humber

  South Yorkshire

  4,674,720

  133,142,449

  137,817,169

  Yorkshire and The Humber

  Humberside

  2,921,390

  96,114,879

  99,036,269

  Sub-total

  148,024,204

  4,809,590,080

  4,957,614,284

  National

  National Office

  91,975,798

  498,375,920

  590,351,718

  Total

  240,000,002

  5,307,966,000

  5,547,966,002

  Important notes: As at 31 January 2002

  The Administration Budget is the latest negotiated position with DfES and includes £27 million transitional costs. The Programme Budget has been taken from version two of the budget data. Version three totals are not as yet broken down by individual LSC. The LSC has yet to complete a full financial year therefore budget data rather than actual expenditure has been provided.

  Primary Pupils (Expenditure)
  Mr. Todd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list for each local education authority ranked in order of total spend in 2000–01 the money spent per primary age pupil on their education(a) by the local education authority, (b) by central Government, allocated direct to schools, to local authorities and other agencies and (c) in total in (i) 1996–97 and (ii) 2000–01. [30622]

  LEAs ranked by per pupil spend 1999–2000

  Pre-primary/primary

  LEA name

  1996–97

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  England

  2,130

  2,070

  2,190

  2,340

  City of London

  5,280

  5,080

  5,190

  5,930

  Isles of Scilly

  3,160

  3,190

  3,160

  4,140

  Westminster

  3,100

  3,180

  3,430

  3,850

  Kensington and Chelsea

  3,450

  3,510

  3,510

  3,720

  Hackney

  3,260

  3,110

  3,210

  3,610

  Lambeth

  3,660

  3,120

  3,230

  3,460

  Camden

  3,110

  3,000

  3,160

  3,450

  Tower Hamlets

  3,190

  3,160

  3,250

  3,380

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  2,950

  2,950

  2,950

  3,370

  Southwark

  3,030

  2,960

  3,010

  3,290

  Islington

  2,810

  2,880

  3,060

  3,270

  Greenwich

  2,820

  2,660

  2,820

  3,140

  Wandsworth

  2,620

  2,680

  2,790

  3,110

  Lewisham

  2,900

  2,880

  2,940

  3,030

  Haringey

  2,910

  2,730

  2,840

  3,020

  Waltham Forest

  2,460

  2,400

  2,390

  2,990

  Birmingham

  2,340

  2,310

  2,520

  2,760

  Brent

  2,500

  2,520

  2,720

  2,750

  Hounslow

  2,510

  2,410

  2,560

  2,730

  Harrow

  2,580

  2,440

  2,460

  2,710

  Newham

  2,330

  2,180

  2,320

  2,690

  Barking and Dagenham

  2,450

  2,350

  2,510

  2,590

  Barnet

  2,470

  2,370

  2,540

  2,580

  Ealing

  2,450

  2,380

  2,470

  2,580

  Slough

  —

  —

  2,260

  2,560

  Nottingham City

  —

  —

  2,390

  2,540

  Merton

  2,300

  2,400

  2,490

  2,530

  Sutton

  2,280

  2,200

  2,310

  2,530

  Enfield

  2,330

  2,290

  2,400

  2,520

  Croydon

  2,370

  2,250

  2,340

  2,500

  City of Bristol

  2,220

  2,210

  2,280

  2,490

  Rutland

  —

  2,240

  2,420

  2,470

  Coventry

  2,150

  2,210

  2,370

  2,460

  Gateshead

  2,180

  2,130

  2,170

  2,460

  Portsmouth

  —

  2,180

  2,290

  2,460

  Southampton

  —

  2,200

  2,280

  2,450

  Sandwell

  2,210

  2,200

  2,310

  2,430

  York

  1,900

  1,900

  1,980

  2,420

  Windsor and Maidenhead

  —

  —

  2,190

  2,420

  Blackburn

  —

  —

  2,190

  2,420

  Luton

  —

  2,250

  2,340

  2,400

  1212W
  Mr. Timms
  The information requested is not collected in the way it has been asked for. Data collected from section 52 and RO1 returns do not distinguish between what local authorities spend and how grants provided by central Government are spent. The following table includes figures using data taken from Net Current Expenditure (after recharges) per pupil per LEA:
  1213W

  LEAs ranked by per pupil spend 1999–2000

  Pre-primary/primary

  LEA name

  1996–97

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  2,270

  2,320

  2,320

  2,390

  North East Lincolnshire

  2,050

  1,930

  2,150

  2,390

  Isle of Wight

  2,120

  2,170

  2,300

  2,390

  Bromley

  2,060

  2,010

  2,210

  2,380

  Richmond upon Thames

  2,330

  2,290

  2,330

  2,380

  Bath and North East Somerset

  2,200

  2,100

  2,180

  2,380

  Kingston upon Thames

  2,190

  2,130

  2,210

  2,370

  Wolverhampton

  2,210

  2,140

  2,210

  2,370

  Oldham

  2,080

  2,040

  2,170

  2,370

  Sheffield

  2,020

  1,970

  2,060

  2,370

  Bradford

  2,220

  2,540

  2,570

  2,360

  Stockton-on-Tees

  1,930

  1,880

  2,080

  2,360

  Leicester

  —

  2,180

  2,140

  2,360

  Suffolk

  2,170

  2,100

  2,190

  2,360

  Knowsley

  2,150

  2,130

  2,230

  2,350

  Liverpool

  2,010

  2,010

  2,170

  2,350

  Thurrock

  —

  —

  2,170

  2,350

  Cumbria

  2,160

  2,170

  2,240

  2,350

  Barnsley

  2,010

  1,970

  2,080

  2,340

  Leeds

  2,140

  2,000

  2,180

  2,340

  North Tyneside

  2,030

  1,990

  2,110

  2,330

  Durham

  —

  2,060

  2,180

  2,330

  Halton

  —

  —

  2,180

  2,330

  Hillingdon

  2,360

  2,180

  2,270

  2,320

  Bolton

  2,090

  2,010

  2,240

  2,320

  Manchester

  2,170

  2,100

  2,210

  2,320

  Kirklees

  2,100

  2,000

  2,160

  2,320

  Salford

  2,040

  1,970

  2,020

  2,310

  Doncaster

  2,140

  2,190

  2,160

  2,310

  Reading

  —

  —

  2,110

  2,310

  Kent

  —

  —

  2,110

  2,310

  Oxfordshire

  2,030

  2,000

  2,150

  2,310

  Brighton and Hove

  —

  2,130

  2,160

  2,300

  Cornwall

  2,100

  2,000

  2,130

  2,300

  Bedfordshire

  —

  2,030

  2,100

  2,280

  Stoke on Trent

  —

  1,930

  2,130

  2,280

  Blackpool

  —

  —

  1,970

  2,280

  Rotherham

  1,940

  1,860

  2,010

  2,270

  Sunderland

  1,990

  1,960

  2,110

  2,270

  City of Kingston-upon-Hull

  2,060

  1,990

  2,180

  2,270

  East Sussex

  —

  1,940

  2,050

  2,270

  Redbridge

  2,150

  2,090

  2,130

  2,260

  Wirral

  2,020

  1,900

  2,100

  2,260

  Plymouth

  —

  —

  2,150

  2,260

  Nottinghamshire

  —

  —

  2,190

  2,260

  Havering

  2,060

  2,000

  2,100

  2,250

  St. Helens

  2,050

  2,030

  2,160

  2,250

  Redcar and Cleveland

  1,950

  2,000

  2,100

  2,250

  North Lincolnshire

  2,240

  2,120

  2,220

  2,250

  Milton Keynes

  —

  1,970

  2,080

  2,250

  Bracknell Forest

  —

  —

  2,100

  2,250

  Rochester and Gillingham

  —

  —

  2,090

  2,250

  Shropshire

  —

  —

  2,120

  2,250

  Northumberland

  2,070

  1,950

  2,110

  2,250

  Surrey

  2,110

  2,060

  2,190

  2,250

  Calderdale

  2,030

  1,970

  2,110

  2,240

  North Yorkshire

  2,000

  1,960

  2,050

  2,240

  Derby

  —

  1,950

  2,130

  2,240

  Southend

  —

  —

  2,030

  2,240

  South Tyneside

  1,970

  1,900

  2,050

  2,230

  The Wrekin

  —

  —

  2,070

  2,230

  Sefton

  2,080

  2,020

  2,100

  2,220

  North Somerset

  2,120

  2,100

  2,220

  2,220

  Hampshire

  —

  2,020

  2,040

  2,220

  Devon

  —

  —

  2,050

  2,220

  Essex

  —

  —

  2,140

  2,220

  West Sussex

  2,020

  2,000

  2,070

  2,220

  Bexley

  1,970

  1,880

  2,040

  2,210

  Lancashire

  —

  —

  2,080

  2,210

  Somerset

  1,910

  1,950

  2,030

  2,210

  Dudley

  1,890

  1,830

  2,070

  2,200

  1214W 1215W

  LEAs ranked by per pupil spend 1999–2000

  Pre-primary/primary

  LEA name

  1996–97

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  Rochdale

  1,960

  1,940

  2,000

  2,200

  West Berkshire

  —

  —

  2,000

  2,200

  Cambridgeshire

  —

  —

  2,100

  2,200

  Torbay

  —

  —

  2,020

  2,200

  Norfolk

  1,950

  2,060

  2,090

  2,200

  Warwickshire

  2,060

  1,960

  2,100

  2,200

  Walsall

  2,100

  2,030

  2,130

  2,190

  South Gloucestershire

  1,990

  1,950

  2,110

  2,190

  Cheshire

  —

  —

  2,100

  2,190

  Herefordshire

  —

  —

  2,080

  2,190

  Wakefield

  2,010

  1,900

  2,030

  2,180

  Leicestershire

  —

  1,910

  2,080

  2,180

  Wokingham

  —

  —

  1,890

  2,180

  Dorset

  —

  2,030

  2,150

  2,170

  Tameside

  1,920

  1,910

  2,010

  2,150

  Middlesbrough

  1,990

  1,980

  1,980

  2,150

  Bournemouth

  —

  1,860

  2,100

  2,150

  Wiltshire

  —

  1,980

  2,000

  2,150

  Hertfordshire

  2,130

  1,980

  2,070

  2,150

  Northamptonshire

  1,970

  1,870

  1,990

  2,150

  Buckinghamshire

  —

  1,970

  2,050

  2,130

  Darlington

  —

  1,890

  2,070

  2,130

  Gloucestershire

  1,940

  1,910

  2,020

  2,130

  Wigan

  1,940

  1,870

  2,010

  2,120

  Warrington

  —

  —

  2,010

  2,120

  Solihull

  2,020

  1,900

  2,000

  2,110

  Bury

  2,040

  1,860

  1,900

  2,100

  Trafford

  1,880

  1,830

  1,940

  2,090

  Poole

  —

  1,850

  1,930

  2,090

  Peterborough

  —

  —

  2,140

  2,090

  Worcestershire

  —

  —

  2,010

  2,070

  Lincolnshire

  2,000

  1,910

  1,930

  2,060

  Derbyshire

  —

  1,900

  1,980

  2,050

  Stockport

  1,930

  1,800

  1,930

  2,040

  Hartlepool

  1,810

  1,830

  1,990

  2,040

  Staffordshire

  —

  1,770

  1,870

  2,030

  East Riding of Yorkshire

  1,990

  1,910

  1,890

  2,020

  Swindon

  —

  1,820

  1,880

  1,880

  Pre LGR Bedfordshire

  2,100

  —

  —

  —

  Pre LGR Buckinghamshire

  2,040

  —

  —

  —

  Pre LGR Derbyshire

  1,980

  —

  —

  —

  Pre LGR Dorset

  1,980

  —

  —

  —

  Pre LGR Durham

  2,060

  —

  —

  —

  Pre LGR East Sussex

  2,070

  —

  —

  —

  Pre LGR Hampshire

  2,120

  —

  —

  —

  Pre LGR Leicestershire

  1,980

  —

  —

  —

  Pre LGR Staffordshire

  1,840

  —

  —

  —

  Pre LGR Wiltshire

  1,980

  —

  —

  —

  Pre LGR Berkshire

  2,030

  1,890

  —

  —

  Pre LGR Cambridgeshire

  2,120

  2,030

  —

  —

  Pre LGR Cheshire

  1,970

  1,970

  —

  —

  Pre LGR Devon

  1,980

  1,930

  —

  —

  Pre LGR Essex

  2,090

  1,990

  —

  —

  Pre LGR Hereford and Worcester

  2,020

  1,940

  —

  —

  Pre LGR Kent

  2,030

  1,990

  —

  —

  Pre LGR Lancashire

  1,990

  1,950

  —

  —

  Pre LGR Nottinghamshire

  2,150

  2,100

  —

  —

  Pre LGR Shropshire

  1,930

  1,920

  —

  —

  Notes:

  1. Information for 2000–01 is not yet available

  2. Figures for 1996–97 to 1998–99 include grant maintained schools. Figures for 1990–2000 include ex-GM schools.

  3. All figures are in real terms at 2000–01 prices (using GDP deflators published by Treasury on 20 December 2001), and rounded to the nearest £10.

  4. Expenditure data for 1990–2000 are taken from section 52 outturn statements completed by local education authorities and returned to DfES.

  5. A number of LEAs have yet to submit clean section 52 outturn data for 2000–01. Full information for 2000–02 is therefore not yet available.

  6. Data for previous years are taken from DTER's Revenue Outturn Returns.

  7. Pupil numbers used in calculating per pupil figures are financial year averages, based on January Annual School Census returns.

  8. Per pupil amounts are shown for years in which LEAs existed-local government re-organisation affected a number of LEAs between 1996–97 and 1998–99
  1216W 1217W

  Autism
  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, pursuant to his answer on 3 December 2001,Official Report, column 77W, on autistic spectrum disorders, what the change in the number of children diagnosed with autistic spectrum disorders has been since 1980; and if she will increase funding for children with SEN, with specific reference to autistic spectrum disorders. [32915]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  The Department does not collect education data on the number of pupils with autistic spectrum disorders, though we are examining whether data on different types of special educational needs could be collected, probably from January 2004. The Medical Research Council's recently completed review of the epidemiology and causes of autism notes that in recent years there has been a widespread perception that the number of people with autism coming to clinical attention has greatly increased. It states that the apparent increase in prevalence of autism is likely to have resulted from better diagnosis and clearer definition as well as increased awareness. Direct comparisons are, however, complicated by the different definitions and methodologies used in research studies in the past.

  Funding is not made available for specific categories of special educational need. Rather, funding is allocated and distributed via local education authorities (LEAs), who have a duty to provide appropriately for all children in their area. This includes the duty to identify children's individual special educational needs and to deliver the most appropriate provision to meet those needs.

  Overall funding for education, including for pupils with special educational needs, is increasing. Details of provisional 2002–03 Education Standard Spending (ESS) allocations for each LEA were announced in December, with an overall increase of more than £1.3 billion compared to the current year. Alongside this we have also made £91 million of supported expenditure available for special educational needs in next year's Standards Fund (2002–03), an increase from the £82 million available this year. The fund can be used for a range of activities including training for staff in special educational needs. By 2003–04 average recurrent funding per pupil will have increased by over £760 in real terms since 1997–98.

  Departmental Secondments (Energy Industry)
  Tom Brake
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many staff were seconded between(a) BP, (b) Shell, (c) Enron, (d) Exxon-Mobil, (e) Conoco,(f)Texaco and (g) TotalFinaElf and her Department in (i) 1999–2000, (ii) 2000–01 and (iii) April 2001 to the latest date for which figures are available.[33206]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  There have been no staff seconded between BP, Shell, Enron, Exxon-Mobil, Conoco Texaco or TotalFinaElf and this Department in any of the periods described.

  Classroom Assistants
  Mr. Damian Green
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many classroom assistants were employed in(a) primary schools and (b) secondary schools on (i) 31 December 1997 and (ii) 31 December 2001. [33034]
  1218W
  Mr. Timms
  The available information is shown in the table.

  Full time equivalent number of teaching assistants1,2in maintained primary and secondary schools3, England (January each year)

  1997

  1998

  2001

  Primary3

  39,751

  42,727

  63,176

  Secondary3

  7,821

  8,973

  15,467

  1 Includes both full-time and the full-time equivalent of part-time non-teaching staff.

  2 Includes nursery assistants, special needs support staff, minority ethnic pupil support staff and non-teaching assistants.

  3 Includes middle schools as deemed.

  Source:

  Annual Schools' Census

  Budgets
  Mr. Damian Green
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of(a) secondary school and (b) sixth-form college budgets are accounted for by the Standards Fund in 2001–02. [33036]

  Mr. Timms
  Two separate Standards Fund are in operation: one paid by the Government to local education authorities, most of which is passed on by them to schools; the other administered by the learning and skills council and is paid to further education institutions.

  School budget statements for 2001–02 indicate that the Standards Fund represents 6.9 per cent. of secondary school budgets.

  The largest element of funding for sixth form colleges is from the learning and skills council's participation funding. In addition, they receive grant from the Standards Fund managed by the learning and skills council. It is estimated that the Standards Fund will account for 4.8 per cent. of these two funding streams in 2001–02. Sixth-form colleges may receive other funding in their budgets, but details of these are not available centrally.

  Examination Marking
  Mr. Goodman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many requests for re-marks in England and Wales of(a) A-level, (b) A-S level and (c) GCSE papers in 2001 were refused because of the loss of the relevant exam scripts; and what the corresponding (i) A-level and (ii) GCSE figures were for the previous four years. [33103]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  Awarding bodies do not refuse requests for re-marks where scripts are lost. If a script cannot be found after an exhaustive search, the awarding body will make a special award based on careful consideration of the other assessment evidence of the candidate's performance. The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority does not as part of its monitoring exercise collect figures on the incidence of such cases.

  Mr. Goodman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many re-marked(a) A-level, (b) A-S level and (c) GCSE papers there were in England and Wales during 2001 by subject; if he will list each figure as a percentage of the overall number of relevant subject papers; and if he will list the corresponding (i) A-level and (ii) GCSE figures for the previous four years. [33104]
  1219W
  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  Figures are not normally collated by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority at subject level as quality assurance focuses on qualification type and awarding body performance.

  Mr. Goodman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the average length of time taken by exam boards limits in England and Wales during 2001 was to re-mark(a) an A-level script, (b) an A-S level script and (c) a GCSE script; and what the corresponding (i)A-level and (ii) GCSE figures were for the previous four years. [33102]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) has been collecting data since 1999 on the percentage of re-marks completed by the awarding bodies within the agreed target periods. Reports for 1999 and 2000 are available on the QCA website. The report for 2001 will be published on 25 March 2002.

  QCA does not collect information on exactly how many days any particular re-mark took. In the table, the percentage of remarks completed within the target time is given for 1999 and 2000 by all awarding bodies offering GCSEs in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland:

  Percentage

  A/AS-level

  GCSE

  1999

  82

  68

  2000

  95

  93

  Mr. Goodman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many pupils in England and Wales were subject to the remarking of(a) A-level, (b) AS-level and (c) GCSE papers in 2001; what the total of these figures is as a percentage of the total number of pupils; and what the corresponding (i) A-level and (ii) GCSE figures were for the previous four years. [33105]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  Data are only collected with respect to candidates. The data for 2001 are currently being collated by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority and will be included in the authority's annual report to be published on 25 March. Figures have been collated only since 1999; the figures for 1999 and 2000 are set out as follows.

  2000

  1999

  A-level

  Number of candidates subject to remarks

  29,640

  25,983

  Percentage of candidates subject to remarks

  3.8

  3.3

  AS-level

  Number of candidates subject to remarks

  1,149

  1,005

  Percentage of candidates subject to remarks

  1.5

  1

  GCSE

  Number of candidates subject to remarks

  57,772

  26,371

  Percentage of candidates subject to remarks

  1

  0.5

  Mr. Goodman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many re-marked(a) A-level, (b) AS-level and (c) GCSE papers in England and Wales during 2001 resulted in upgrades; what percentage these figures were of the total number of papers; and what the corresponding (i) A-level and (ii) GCSE figures were for the previous four years. [33108]
  1220W
  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  Data for 2001 are currently being collated by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority and will be included in the Authority's annual report to be published on 25 March 2002. Figures have been collated only since 1999; the figures for 1999 and 2000 are set out as follows.

  2000

  1999

  A-level

  Number of remarks resulting in an upward grade change

  4,644

  3.476

  Percentage of total number of papers

  0.6

  0.4

  GCSE

  Number of remarks resulting in an upward grade change

  6,601

  2,960

  Percentage of total number of papers

  0.1

  0.06

  Mr. Goodman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many schools in England and Wales asked for(a) A-level, (b) AS-level and (c) GCSE papers to be re-marked in 2001; and what the corresponding (i) A-level and (ii) GCSE figures were for the previous four years. [33109]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  The monitoring of progress and outcomes of a remark is at candidate level rather than school or college level. It is not possible within the current systems to collate information about individual candidates across awarding bodies to produce cumulative data for schools.

  Mr. Goodman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many of the re-marked(a) A-level, (b) AS-level and (c) GCSE papers in England and Wales during 2001 were upgraded by two or more grades; what the total of these figures is as a percentage of the total number of re-marked papers; and what the corresponding (i) A-level and (ii) GCSE figures were for the previous four years. [33107]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  Information on remarks resulting in upgrades by two grades or more is not available. The data collated by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority focus on the number of grade changes made by the awarding bodies rather than the degree of change.

  Faith Schools
  Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many children in(a)each metropolitan district council area and (b) England receive their full-time education in (i) Roman Catholic, (ii) Church of England, (iii) Jewish and (iv) Muslim private schools. [33281]

  Mr. Timms
  The available information is shown in the table.

  Full-time pupils in independent Muslim and Jewish schools in each metropolitan district in England1

  Muslim

  Jewish

  England

  10,265

  9,205

  Barnet

  2—

  1,319

  Birmingham

  1,051

  2—

  Bolton

  598

  2—

  Bradford

  562

  2—

  Brent

  864

  24

  Bromley

  131

  2—

  Bury

  410

  178

  1221W

  Full-time pupils in independent Muslim and Jewish schools in each metropolitan district in England1

  Muslim

  Jewish

  City of Westminster

  2—

  172

  Coventry

  65

  2—

  Ealing

  790

  57

  Gateshead

  2—

  713

  Hackney

  377

  4,420

  Hammersmith & Fulham

  166

  2—

  Islington

  2—

  195

  Kensington & Chelsea

  109

  2—

  Kirklees

  705

  2—

  Lambeth

  29

  2—

  Leeds

  85

  46

  Manchester

  494

  234

  Newham

  90

  2—

  Salford

  2—

  1,392

  Sheffield

  44

  2—

  Tower Hamlets

  422

  2—

  Waltham Forest

  96

  2—

  Wandsworth

  322

  2—

  1Similar information on Roman Catholic and Church of England independent schools is not collected.

  2Data not available.

  Source:

  Independent Schools Registration Team, DfES

  Drug Awareness
  John Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what action she is taking to promote drug awareness in schools [33735]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  All schools are required to deliver drugs education as a statutory part of the national curriculum. In addition, three years of focused effort has raised the profile of drug education and increased drug awareness by: the production of guidance for schools; the launch of the joint Department of Health and Department of Education and Skills National Healthy School Standard (NHSS) in October 1999, of which drug education is a key component; and the publication of the Personal, Social, and Health Education Framework (PSHE) in November 1999.

  £15 million is available this year to all LEAs through the Standards Fund to support drug education. It will help teachers deliver a drug education programme, which equips them with the knowledge and awareness to recognise the dangers of drug misuse and make informed choices. It will also fund drug advisers to work directly with schools, the training of Connexions personal advisers for 13 to 19-year-olds and ensure that key partners are engaged in developing drug education programmes relevant to the needs of the local community.

  Teacher Retention
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what research she has commissioned into the reasons for teachers leaving the profession. [34005]

  Mr. Timms
  The Department has commissioned Professor Alan Smithers and Dr. Pamela Robinson, from the University of Liverpool, Centre for Education and Employment Research to undertake research into the factors affecting teachers' decisions to leave the profession. The research commenced in December 2001 and we expect the report to be published in March 2003.
  1222W

  Further/Higher Education (Romford)
  Mr. Rosindell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of 16-year-olds in Romford have opted to continue into further and higher education in each of the past five years. [34143]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  Data on the proportion of 16-year-olds continuing in post-compulsory education is not calculated for areas smaller than LEAs as reliable estimates cannot be made.

  The percentage of 16-year-olds participating in full-time and part-time education for Havering LEA, which includes Romford, in the latest five years for which data are available is as follows:

  Percentage of 16-year-olds participating in full-time and part-time education1: Havering LEA

  Full-time

  Part-time

  1995–96

  74

  5

  1886–97

  71

  4

  1997–98

  73

  10

  1998–99

  71

  4

  1999–2000

  72

  4

  1 Includes participation in schools, sixth form colleges and further education colleges.

  Participation rates by LEA for 16 and 17-year-olds are published in an annual statistical bulletin, "Participation in Education and Training by Young People Aged 16 and 17 in Each Local Area and Region, England".

  Figures for the number of school leavers who later go on to higher education are not collated centrally on a constituency basis.

  Post-16 Provision (Funding)
  Mr. Gareth R. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what action she is taking to equalise the per capita funding for post-16 provision in colleges with school sixth forms. [34502]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  The Government are firmly committed to bringing up the level of funding for colleges towards that of school sixth forms. As we have repeatedly made clear, this will take time and must be done as resources allow. We are considering this issue as part of the current spending review.

  Value-added School League Tables
  Mr. Gareth R. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what progress she is making in introducing value-added school league tables; and if she will make a statement. [34564]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  We are committed to supplementing the information already published in performance tables with information about how far schools help their pupils to progress between the various stages of their education.

  In November last year, we published the results of a pilot programme for the calculation of value added measures for secondary schools, showing the progress made from Key Stage 2 to Key Stage 3 and from Key Stage 3 to GCSE/GNVQ. An evaluation of the pilot and further consultation that will take place shortly, will inform decisions on the publication of these two measures for all secondary schools in the 2002 performance tables.
  1223W
  We also intend to run a pilot this year on the calculation and presentation of a value added measure from Key Stage 1 to Key Stage 2 with a view to publishing this measure for all schools in the primary tables in 2003.

  Asthma (Schoolchildren)
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) what guidelines she issues to ensure that children at school(a) are not exposed to asthma triggers and (b) have quick access to their medication; [34590]

  (2) what recent measures she has taken to ensure that all schools have an asthma plan and members of staff who know what to do if a child has a serious attack. [34589]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  The Department for Education and Skills, along with the Department of Health, has produced "Supporting Pupils with Medical Needs: a good practice guide" to encourage local education authorities and schools to draw up medical support policies and put in place effective management systems to support pupils with medical needs, such as asthma. The guide and its availability on the web, at www.dfes.gov.uk/medical, were promoted last year in the Department's Spectrum publication, sent to all local education authorities and schools in England.

  Cortical Visual Impairment
  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many children aged up to 10-years-old suffer from cortical visual impairment(a) in England, (b) in the north-west and (c) in Lancashire; and what provision is made for young people suffering from cortical visual impairment in each of the counties of England. [32922]

  Jacqui Smith
  I have been asked to reply.

  A study undertaken by the Institute of Child Health in Liverpool in 1996 estimated the prevalence of children affected by cortical visual impairment at 5.8 per 10,000. I understand that many children have additional disabilities. The Special Educational Needs (SEN) framework provides for individual children's educational needs to be identified, assessed and catered for as quickly as possible. For children with severe or complex needs, local education authorities carry out a multi-professional statutory assessment and issue a statement of SEN setting out each child's needs in detail and the provision to be made for meeting those needs by the education and health services.

  Examination Results (Children in Care)
  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many children who(a) did not gain any GSCEs and (b) gained fewer than 5 A*-C GCSEs were in care in each of the years (i) 1996–97, (ii) 1997–98, (iii) 1998–99, (iv) 1990–2000 and (v) 2000–01. [32847]

  Jacqui Smith
  I have been asked to reply.

  Educational achievements of children looked after by local councils have only been collected by the Department since 1 April 1999. These data relate to the educational achievements of children leaving care aged 16 or over.
  1224W

  Number of children who ceased to be looked after during the years ending 31 March 2000 and 2001, aged 16 and over, by level of qualifications achieved

  England

  Year ending 31 March:

  2000

  2001

  Number with

  No GCSE passes

  4,900

  4,200

  Fewer than 5 GCSE passes at grade A*-C

  5,530

  6,200

  Percentage with

  No GCSE passes

  71

  64

  Fewer than 5 GCSE passes at grade A*-C

  96

  95

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

  Emergency Planning
  Charlotte Atkins
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what responses he has received to the recent discussion document on the future of emergency planning in England and Wales; and if he will make a statement. [35593]

  Mr. Leslie
  Over 260 responses to the discussion document were received, of which over half were from local government. Copies of the responses have been placed in the Library together with a summary analysis of them by the Civil Contingencies Secretariat. This summary will also be placed on the secretariat's website, www.ukresilience. info. I am working with officials to develop proposals on the next steps, including the need for new legislation in this field. This will be done in consultation with local government and other stakeholder groups and we will take full account of the points made in the course of debate on the Civil Defence (Grant) Bill. I shall keep the House fully informed of the progress of this important exercise.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Data Protection Registrar
  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what recent representations he has received over the Data Protection Registrar's involvement in parliamentary correspondence between hon. Members and Government Departments. [33285]

  Mr. Wills
  I have received no such representations. However, in an adjournment debate in Westminster Hall on 31 October 2001,Official Report, 304–10WH, my hon. Friends the Members for Cunninghame, South (Mr. Donohoe) and for Coventry, South (Mr. Cunningham) raised the question of the effect of the Data Protection Act 1998 upon hon. Members' constituency work. The hon. Member for West Worcestershire (Sir Michael Spicer) also raised the matter during Business Questions on 29 November 2001, Official Report, column 1110.

  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many hon. and right hon. Members are registered with the Data Protection Registrar. [33284]
  1225W
  Mr. Wills
  The Data Protection Registrar became the Data Protection Commissioner when the Data Protection Act 1998 came into force in March 2000. She was renamed the Information Commissioner on 30 January 2001. The registration requirement of the Data Protection Act 1984 was replaced by a notification requirement under the 1998 Act.

  The Commissioner exercises her functions independently of Government, but I understand from her that 271 Members of Parliament are currently registered in their capacities as such. This figure includes notifications made under the 1998 Act and register entries made under the now-repealed 1984 Act which are still valid.

  Courts Service
  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many cases were handled by the Courts Service for each year since 1992. [33354]

  Mr. Wills
  Information concerning the number of cases dealt with in the criminal and civil courts under the administration of the Lord Chancellor's Department, 1992 to 1994, and then the Court Service, 1995 to 2000, are published annually in the departmental annual report "Judicial Statistics". Copies of the publication can be found in the Libraries of the House.

  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what his policy is on the reorganisation of the Courts Service. [32403]

  Mr. Wills
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave him on 4 February 2001,Official Report, column 712W, to his question number 32053. The Government are considering the recommendations in Sir Robin Auld's report and intend to publish a White Paper in the spring.

  The Court Service as an executive agency of the Department is currently undergoing a quinquennial review. That report will also be published in the spring and its recommendations will be carefully considered by the Department.

  Law Commission
  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many reports or submissions the Law Commission has completed since it was first established; and if he will list them. [33291]

  Mr. Wills
  The Law Commission has completed 161 consultation papers, 274 reports and 25 other publications since it was first established in 1965. A list of these publications has been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

  Land Registry
  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what training is made available to administrative staff in the Land Registry. [33300]

  Mr. Wills
  The Land Registry is committed to providing all staff with appropriate training and development to enable them to do their jobs effectively. A range of training is available including induction 1226W
  courses for new entrants, job skills training and management training. The opportunity to study for an accredited qualification in land registration practice is also available.

  Judges (Transport)
  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what is the average annual cost per judge of providing transport in the last 12 months for which figures are available. [33683]

  Mr. Wills
  The average annual cost, for the period April 2000 to March 2001, of providing transport to High Court judges was £6,284 per judge. The average annual cost of travel and subsistence payments, for the same period, for circuit, district and part-time judges is £1,311 per judge. Separate figures for travel costs alone are not collected in a format which can answer the question. To do so would incur disproportionate costs to the Department.

  Public Record Office
  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many categories of record the Public Record Office hold; and if she will list the numbers held in each category. [33294]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  The Public Record Office is charged with the selection, preservation and provision of public access to records created by Government bodies. The categorisation of the records is based on the Department of state or other Government body that created them. There are currently 353 categories.

  No statistics are held of the number of records in each category and it would not be possible to obtain them without incurring disproportionate cost.

  The PRO catalogue, which is accessible on-line through the PRO's website at www.pro.gov.uk, lists over 9 million separate pieces. A piece can be a single document or a file or a volume. The catalogue can be searched in a variety of ways from simple keyword to advanced Boolean.

  Parking Spaces
  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what car parking spaces are provided for staff employed in the Land Registry; and what the average annual cost is of providing such spaces. [33659]

  Mr. Wills
  The Land Registry currently provides 4,705 parking spaces for use by its staff. A further 253 spaces are available for visitors and disabled drivers.

  The Land Registry is unable to provide specific information on the cost of providing car parking spaces at its offices as costs are not separately identified in the processes of acquisition or maintenance of Land Registry property.

  IT Contracts
  Richard Younger-Ross
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what has been the total expenditure of his Department on IT systems and support in each year from May 1997 to date; how many IT contracts have been let in each of those years; of the
  1227W
  other main contracting party in each of those contracts, how many have been (a) companies whose registered office is in (i) England and Wales, (ii) Scotland and (iii) Northern Ireland and (b) foreign companies; and what are the names of the companies falling within category (a). [33674]

  Mr. Wills
  The following shows the total expenditure of the Lord Chancellor's Department on IT systems and support in each year from May 1997 to date and details of IT contracts let in each of those years.

  contracts

  Supplier

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  2001–02

  England and Wales

  Albany Software

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  AMP Limited

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  Assetware Technology Limited

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  Business Information Technologies

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  Cable and Wireless

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  Computers in personnel

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Cyberscience Corporation

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  Dunnett Shaw and Partners

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  Edis International

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  MEC Europe Limited

  —

  3

  —

  —

  —

  Financial Times Info Limited

  —

  —

  2

  —

  —

  Guardian IT Group

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  ICL

  —

  1

  1

  —

  —

  Information Initiatives

  2

  1

  1

  1

  —

  Network Associates

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  One Zero

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  PC Associates

  —

  —

  2

  —

  —

  Pixel

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  Respond

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  Taxsoft

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  Tower Perrin

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  Total England and Wales

  5

  9

  7

  3

  6

  Scotland

  Total Scotland

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Northern Ireland

  Total Northern Ireland

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Foreign

  Total Foreign

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  In addition to the above the Lord Chancellor's Department also let a PFI contract to CSL Group Ltd. The contract is for the provision of accounting, financial, human resources/payroll and management information services. It was awarded in December 1997 and runs until 4 January 2007. The services have IT elements and are delivered using a corporate IT infrastructure provided through the contract. However, the IT elements of the contract are not separable from the accounting, financial, human resources/payroll or management information service provision elements. Therefore, cost information is expressed for the contract as a whole. Since contract award, in response to new requirements from the Department, there have been a number of significant variations to the services provided within the scope of the contract.

  Current estimated total service charges for the life of the contract amounts to £118.05 million.
  1228W

  Expenditure

  Lord Chancellor's Department

  £ million

  IT systems/support

  1997–98

  5.38

  1998–99

  12.84

  1999–2000

  21.03

  2001–01

  49.98

  2001–02

  36.88

  Total

  126.11

  Legal Aid Firms
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many legal aid firms Ministers in his Department have visited since 7 June 2001. [31863]

  Mr. Wills
  The Department's Ministers occasionally visit law centres, solicitors' firms and barristers' chambers. In December 2001, as part of one such visit, the Lord Chancellor visited a Birmingham solicitors' firm which holds a contract to carry out publicly funded criminal work. In addition, the Legal Services Commission, for which the Lord Chancellor has ministerial responsibility, visits firms which carry out publicly funded work on an on-going basis, for development and audit purposes.
  1229W

  Fair Trade Fortnight
  Mr. Lazarowicz
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what steps he is taking to encourage participation by his Department in Fair Trade Fortnight from 4 to 17 March. [33537]

  Mr. Wills
  Within the context of the Department's limited opportunity to buy free trade goods, we take every opportunity to encourage their purchase in line with Government policy.

  For instance, at our headquarters building, our caterers currently offer fair trade coffee and are investigating the future sale of fair trade tea. In additional, our caterers in our courts in the northern, north-eastern and north Wales regions offer both fair trade tea and coffee.

  Regarding Fairtrade Fortnight, at the Department's suggestion both these caterers have agreed to support this important and worthwhile event and in the coming weeks will be producing marketing literature and advising customers of a number of linked promotions.

  Census Online
  Mr. Hawkins
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how much taxpayers' money is in the possession of the Public Record Office as pre-payment for Census Online. [32144]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  No taxpayers' money is in the possession of the Public Record Office as a pre-payment for Census Online.

  Remuneration
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if she will estimate the number of individuals in her(a) Department, (b) related agencies and (c) related non-departmental public bodies whose annual remuneration including benefits in kind exceeded (i) £100,000 and (ii) £200,000 in each of the last four years. [26318]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  The number of individuals whose annual remuneration (i) exceeds £100,000 (including basis salary, allowances and bonuses, but excluding overtime and pensions benefits) is as follows:

  As at 1 April 2001

  (a)LCD Headquarters: 4

  (b)The Court Service, the Public Guardianship Office, the Northern Ireland Court Service, the Land Registry and the Public Record Office: 2

  As at 1 April 2000

  (a)2

  (b)0

  As at 1 April 1999

  (a)2

  (b)0

  As at 1 April 1998

  (a)2

  (b)0.

  (ii) There are no individuals whose annual remuneration exceeds £200,000.
  1230W
  As regards (c)I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office on 29 January 2002, Official Report,column 252W.

  Ministerial Transport
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what her estimate is of the cost of(a) ministerial cars and drivers and (b) taxis for her Department in each of the last four years. [27911]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  Regarding part(a), I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office on 30 January 2002, Official Report, columns 405–06W

  As for part (b), expenditure against the departmental taxi service contract has been as follows:

  1 July 1998 to 31 March 1999: £30,596

  1 April 1999 to 31 March 2000: £53,852

  1 April 2000 to 31 March 2001: £71,828

  1 April 2001 to 16 January 2002: £50,175.

  The existing contract commenced on 1 July 1998 and determining taxi expenditure before that date would involve disproportionate cost.

  The figures exclude any amounts spent on taxi hire outside of the departmental contract and reclaimed by officials as travel and subsistence expenditure.

  Ministerial Trips
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if she will list each of the overseas trips made by the Lord Chancellor and other members of her ministerial team in each of the last four years, specifying the purpose and cost of each trip. [30179]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister on 4 February 2002,Official Report, column 707W.

HEALTH

  Dentists
  Ms Munn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to change the way in which dentists are remunerated in order to encourage greater preventive care. [17959]

  Ms Blears
  While there are no immediate plans to change the way dentists are remunerated, we are continuing to work with the profession and other stakeholders to modernise national health service dentistry and to improve systems of delivery for NHS dentistry.

  Taunton and Somerset NHS Hospital Trust
  Mr. Flook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the standard retirement age is for(a) doctors and (b) consultants in the Taunton and Somerset NHS hospital trust; how many in each category were compulsorily retired for age reasons in each of the last five years. [18402]
  1231W
  Ms Blears
  The information requested is not held centrally. The hon. Member may wish to contact the chair of Taunton and Somerset national health service trust for this information.

  NHS Direct
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many calls NHS Direct has received. [20016]

  Ms Blears
  Since NHS Direct was launched in March 1998 it has handled around 9,000,000 calls. NHS Direct currently averages 120,000 calls a week.

  Orthodontist Services
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many children and young people under the age of 16 years in England were waiting for an appointment to see an orthodontist(a) at the latest available date and (b) in March 1997. [24710]

  Ms Blears
  [holding answer 8 January 2002]: Information on waiting times for orthodontic treatment is not held centrally.

  Health Care (Isle of Wight)
  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients on the Isle of Wight waited over one hour for treatment in casualty in(a) 1997, (b) 1998, (c) 1999, (d) 2000 and (e) 2001; and what percentage each figure represents of total casualty attendances [20380]

  Ms Blears
  [holding answer 4 December 2002]: The information requested is not collected centrally.

  The latest available figures for national health service trusts in the Isle of Wight, Portsmouth and South-East Hampshire health authority area for accident and emergency attendances are 2001–02—Quarter 2 and are given in the table.

  Accident and emergency services activity for Isle of Wight,Portsmouth and South-East Hampshire health authority area,2001–02 Q2

  Attendance

  Org ID/NHS organisation name

  First

  Subsequent

  Total

  5FD

  East Hampshire PCT

  1,305

  324

  1,629

  RHU

  Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust

  29,670

  1,879

  31,549

  RR2

  Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Trust

  9,827

  887

  10,714

  Total attendances for health authority area

  40,802

  3,090

  43,892

  Source:

  KH09Q—Out-Patient and accident and emergency service

  Nursing and Residential Home Beds
  Mr. Hoban
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many nursing and residential home beds there were in(a) Hampshire and (b) in the Portsmouth, Isle of Wight and south east Hampshire health authority in (i) 1993, (ii) 1998, (iii) 1999 and (iv) 2000. [22376]
  1232W
  Ms Blears
  [holding answer 11 December 2001]: The table shows the number of residential and nursing care home beds in (a) Hampshire and (b) the Portsmouth, Isle of Wight and south-east Hampshire health authority.

  (a) Hampshire1

  (b) Portsmouth, Isle of Wight and south-east Hampshire health authority

  At 31 March

  Residential

  Nursing

  Residential2

  Nursing

  19933

  44—

  3,659

  4—

  2,096

  1998

  12,181

  5,436

  24,015

  2,174

  1999

  11,859

  4,820

  23,925

  2,229

  2000

  11,485

  5,027

  23,829

  2,027

  2001

  12,109

  5,140

  23,606

  2,045

  1 Information is presented for the geographical area covered by Hampshire shire county and Portsmouth and Southampton unitary authorities and the north and mid-Hampshire, Portsmouth and south-east Hampshire and south-west Hampshire health authorities. The Isle of Wight is excluded.

  2 Information on residential places is for Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight unitary authorities only. Information for the south-east Hampshire health authority area is not available centrally.

  3 Nursing bed figures for 1993 were collected at the time of main inspection between 1 October 1992 and 31 March 1993.

  4 Not available

  Source:

  Department of Health's annual returns

  Strategic Health Authorities
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects the appointments to be made of the chairs and other members of the boards of the strategic health authorities in England. [24637]

  Ms Blears
  [holding answer 8 January 2002]: The names of 27 of the new health authority chairs were announced by the national health service appointments commission on 19 December 2001. The appointment of the remaining chair was announced on 21 December 2001. The Commission expects to appoint the non-executive members between January and April this year.

  Community Health Councils
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many representations he has received from members of community health councils supporting their abolition; [24625]

  (2) how many representations he has received urging the Government not to abolish community health councils. [24723]

  Ms Blears
  [holding answer 8 January 2002]: The listening exercise on "Involving Patients and the Public in Health Care" generated a large number of responses from a wide range of sources—including community health councils, members of the public, the voluntary sector, the national health service and local government. We were not consulting on whether CHCs should be abolished—that is our intention and is currently subject to parliamentary scrutiny. We were seeking views on the how the replacement arrangements should work.

  The Association of Community Health Councils in England and Wales and the majority of CHCs accept that the system of patient and public involvement in the NHS needs to be modernised and that the new system has many advantages. We continue to work with the Association for

  1233W
  Community Health Councils in England and Wales and other key stakeholders to ensure that what replaces CHCs builds on the best of CHCs and secures improved patient and public involvement in the NHS.

  Paramedics
  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many paramedics are on long-term sick leave in England as a result of(a) work-related injuries and (b) being physically assaulted by the general public in the line of work. [24332]

  Ms Blears
  [holding answer 8 January 2002]: Information on levels of sickness absence resulting from work-related injuries or violence at work, by individual staff group, is not collected centrally, but may be held at a local level by individual national health service employers.

  The Department conducted a survey of NHS trusts in England in 1998–99. The survey found that, on average, seven violent incidents were recorded each month per 1,000 staff. This is equivalent to approximately 65,000 violent incidents against NHS trust staff each year. The average monthly accident rate for NHS ambulance trusts was 38 per month per 1,000 staff. Details of the survey can be found in Health Service Circular 1999/229: `Managing Violence, Accidents and Sickness Absence in the NHS', a copy of which is in the Library.

  The average sickness absence rate for staff directly employed by NHS ambulance trusts in 1999 was 6.6 per cent.

  Patient Confidentiality
  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the NHS guidelines and rules regarding patient confidentiality. [31221]

  Ms Blears
  Guidance on patient confidentiality was issued to the national health service in March 1996 entitled `The Protection and Use of Patient Information'. This has been supplemented by guidance to NHS staff responsible for advising their organisations on patient confidentiality—Caldicott Guardians—in the form of a manual entitled `Protecting and Using Patient Information: A manual for Caldicott Guardians' issued in March 1999. A strategic framework for improving confidentiality as part of wider work to modernise the NHS was published in December 2001 entitled 'Protecting and Using Patient Information: A strategy for the NHS'.

  Primary Care Budgets
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will state for each primary care organisation in England at the most recent date for which figures are available(a) the prescribing budget for 2001–02, (b) the forecast outturn for 2001–02, (c) the projected overspend or underspend and (d) the projected overspend or underspend as a percentage of budget. [32306]

  Ms Blears
  [holding answer 1 February 2002]: A table setting out the prescribing budgets notified to the Prescription Pricing Authority (PPA) by each primary care trust or primary care group has been placed in the Library. They are practice level prescribing budgets. They do not necessarily reflect the total resource set aside
  1234W
  locally for prescribing as primary care trusts, primary care groups and health authorities may hold contingency reserves. The forecast outturns are based on prescribing data up to and including November 2001.

  Surgical Instruments
  Dr. Murrison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the value of the re-usable instruments destroyed following the advice of the Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee on their use. [32778]

  Jacqui Smith
  The information requested is not collected centrally.

  Dr. Murrison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what factors were used to inform purchasing decisions for single-use instruments for tonsillectomy in 2001. [32781]

  Jacqui Smith
  The following criteria were used to evaluate suppliers and their products to make sure that single use instruments were acceptable to the national health service:The instruments had to be of high quality; fit for purpose and clinically acceptable
  The suppliers had to be able to supply sterile instruments and were certified by the Medical Devices Agency standards to do so
  The instruments had to comply with the Medical Devices Directive 93/42/EEC (CE marking)
  Suppliers had to have manufacturing quality systems in place
  Price
  Suppliers had to be capable of supplying the required volumes within the short timescales
  Suppliers had to have a risk management policy in place.

  Road Traffic Accidents
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patient stays in the last three years in NHS hospitals were subject to recovery of costs because the individual concerned had been involved in a motor accident; and how much revenue arose(a) by entitlement to recovery and (b) by actual repayment. [32462]

  Ms Blears
  [holding answer 4 February 2002]: Since April 1999 the recovery of national health service charges following road traffic accidents has been undertaken centrally by the Compensation Recovery Unit (CRU) on behalf of the Secretary of State for Health. Charges are recoverable where a road traffic accident victim is treated at a NHS hospital and subsequently makes a successful claim for personal injury compensation. The CRU collects charges from insurers and pays them direct to NHS trusts when the compensation claim settles. CRU is responsible only for recovery on claims that settle on or after 5 April 1999.

  The amount of income potentially owing to NHS trusts in England for patient stays since 5 April 1999 is £71.7 million and the total amount paid to NHS trusts is £74.9 million. These figures do not represent the full amounts potentially owing or paid to NHS trusts as they relate only to patient stays since 5 April 1999. Although the CRU can only recover costs where a personal injury compensation payment settles on or after 5 April 1999, there are a large number of cases where the accident and patient's hospital treatment will have occurred before this date.
  1235W

  Out-patients
  Mr. Hoban
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the answer of 29 January 2002 (ref 27681),Official Report, column 272W, what the figure would have been for (a) 1999 and (b) 2000 if the counting procedures had been corrected in those years. [32858]

  Ms Blears
  [holding answer 4 February 2002]: As a result of the changes in the counting procedures it would not be possible to calculate with any degree of accuracy the corrected number of out-patients waiting for treatment for 1999 and 2000.

  Beta Interferon
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) when a decision is expected on funding arrangements for beta interferon; [33128]

  (2) what progress is being made on discussions with the drugs companies on the provision of beta interferon. [33129]

  Ms Blears
  [holding answer 5 February 2002]: I am pleased to announce that in line with the recommendation from the National Institute for Clinical Excellence we have concluded an agreement with five companies on an innovative scheme which allows patients with multiple sclerosis meeting the criteria of the Association of British Neurologists to be treated cost-effectively with disease modifying therapies on the national health service. The companies have agreed terms for the supply of their products under the scheme. Patients will be monitored to confirm whether the drugs are working. Prices will be reduced if patients do not benefit as expected.

  The scheme starts on 6 May 2002. NHS bodies are expected to fund any treatment within this scheme prescribed by clinicians for eligible patients, in accordance with statutory directions. Consultant neurologists, in consultation with patients, will have a choice of treatments within the scheme taking into account expected benefit and potential side effects. The products included in the scheme are Avonex (Biogen), Betaferon (Schering), Copaxone (Teva/Aventis), Rebif 22mg and 44mg (Serono).

  Patients whose condition does not come within the ABN guidelines and who are currently receiving treatment with these drugs will continue to do so in line with NICE's recommendation on this point. I am also taking steps to ensure that those patients who have funded their treatment privately because the drug was not available to them locally on the NHS will have the costs of their prescription met from today.

  Copies of the Health Service Circular issued to the NHS to explain the scheme have been placed in the Library.

  Social Care Recruitment Campaign
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many of the calls to the help line and visits to the website resulted in job applications in respect of the first phase of the social care recruitment campaign announced on 19 October 2001. [32660]

  Jacqui Smith
  [holding answer 6 February 2002]: The main aim of the social care recruitment campaign is to raise the number of people applying for social
  1236W
  work training by 5000 by 2004. As the current social work training takes two years, and the earliest that someone reacting to the campaign could join a course is autumn 2002, we would not expect the campaign to cause an increase in job applications until summer 2004 at the earliest.

  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what outcome measures have been set for each phase of the social care recruitment campaign announced on 19 October. [32672]

  Jacqui Smith
  [holding answer 6 February 2002]: The overall aim of the social care recruitment campaign is to raise the number of people applying for social work training by 5,000 by 2004. We will monitor numbers applying for training through the figures provided by the Social Work Admissions Service. The figures for autumn 2002 (the first year to be affected by the campaign) will be publicly available in December 2002.

  The target for the first phase of the campaign (19 October 2001 to 30 November 2001) was to generate at least 9,000 calls to the help line. This target was exceeded by over 60 per cent., with over 14,000 calls to the help line as well as over 11,000 visitors to the campaign website.

  Medicines Control
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what statistical information is collected by the Medicines Control Agency to enable it to monitor the adverse effects associated with inappropriate use and overuse of medication. [32661]

  Ms Blears
  [holding answer 6 February 2002]: Reports of adverse effects to medicines are collated by the Medicines Control Agency (MCA) and the Committee on Safety of Medicines (CSM) through the spontaneous reporting scheme, the Yellow Card Scheme. Although the main focus of this scheme is the early detection of previously unrecognised adverse reactions to medicines in normal clinical use, the Yellow Card Scheme does collect reports of adverse events arising from overdose or maladministration. A number of articles have been published in the regular bulletin "Current Problems in Pharmacovigilance" to alert health professionals to concerns in relation to specific medicines.

  Guidance on the use and side effects of medicines is provided to patients in the "Patient Information Leaflet" which accompanies the medicine. The MCA and the CSM continually monitor the safety of all medicines to ensure that the product information contains appropriate and up-to-date guidance on safe, correct use at the recommended dose and warnings about side effects.

  Expenditure (Somerset and Dorset)
  Mr. Laws
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his estimate is of the expenditure by weighted head, in real terms using 2000–01 prices, by health authorities and primary care trusts in(a) Somerset and (b) Dorset for each year from 1985–86 to 2000–01; and if he will make a statement. [32559]
  1237W
  Ms Blears
  [holding answer 8 February 2002]: For the reasons set out in the notes to the table, expenditure per head cannot be reliably compared between health authorities.

  The expenditure per weighted head of population in for 1996–97 to 2000–01 in real terms is shown in the table. Data prior to 1996–97 are not comparable owing to the reorganisation of the national health service on 1 April 1996.

  Expenditure per Weighted head in cash terms

  £

  Health authority

  Dorset

  Somerset

  1996–97

  662.77

  670.89

  1997–98

  619.23

  654.16

  1998–99

  661.42

  680.07

  1999–2000

  758.69

  734.63

  2000–01

  1,023.69

  825.30

  Notes:

  1.In many health authorities there are factors which distort the expenditure per head. These include:

  the health authority acting in a lead capacity to commission health care or fund training on behalf of other health bodies;

  asset revaluations in national health service trusts being funded through health authorities; and

  some double counting of expenditure between health authorities and primary care trust within the health authority area.

  Allocations per weighted head of population provide a much more reliable measures to identify differences between funding of health authorities.

  2.Expenditure is taken from health authority and primary care trust summarisation forms which are prepared on a resource basis and therefore differ from allocations in the year. The expenditure is the total spent by the health authority and by the primary care trusts within each health authority area. The majority of General Dental Services expenditure is not included in the health authority or primary care trust accounts and is separately accounted for by the Dental Practice Board.

  3.Health authorities and primary care trusts should account for their expenditure on a gross basis. This results in an element of double counting where one body acts as the main commissioner and is then reimbursed by other bodies. The effect of this double counting within the answer for 2000–01 cannot be identified

  Sources:

  Health authority accounts 1996–97 to 1998–99

  Health authority summarisation forms 1999–2000 and 2000–01

  Primary Care Trust summarisation schedules 2000–01

  Weighted population estimates 1996–97 to 2000–01

  Correspondence
  Mr. Laws
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health for what reasons he has not replied to the letter from

  1996

  1997

  1998

  1999

  2000

  2001

  Number

  %

  Number

  %

  Number

  %

  Number

  %

  Number

  %

  Number

  %

  Conservative

  90

  7.15

  18

  3.14

  49

  3.90

  30

  3.51

  57

  4.61

  71

  4.14

  Labour

  103

  8.19

  139

  24.30

  247

  19.67

  145

  16.98

  229

  18.53

  358

  20.86

  Liberal Democrat

  16

  1.27

  22

  3.85

  27

  2.15

  9

  1.05

  39

  3.16

  69

  4.02

  Independent

  5

  0.40

  2

  0.35

  7

  0.56

  7

  0.82

  9

  0.73

  18

  1.05

  Other

  9

  0.72

  2

  0.35

  6

  0.48

  3

  0.35

  5

  0.40

  8

  0.47

  None

  1,035

  82.87

  389

  68.01

  290

  73.25

  660

  77.28

  897

  72.57

  1,192

  69.47

  Total

  1,258

  100.00

  572

  100.00

  1,256

  100.00

  854

  100.00

  1,236

  100.00

  1,716

  100.00

  1238W
  Somerset county council, dated 29 November 2001, to his Department on social services funding; and if he will make a statement. [32875]

  Ms Blears
  [holding answer 6 February 2002]: The Department has no record of receiving the original letter from Chris Davies, corporate director of Somerset county council. A duplicate copy of this letter was received on 1 February 2002. A reply will be sent as soon as possible.

  Hospital Waiting Times (Somerset and Dorset)
  Mr. Laws
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people have been waiting for more than(a) three months, (b) six months, (c) nine months, (d) 12 months, (e) 15 months and (f) 18 months for (i) in-patient and (b) out patient treatment in (A) Somerset and (B) Dorset health authorities; and if he will make a statement. [32562]

  Ms Blears
  [holding answer 6 February 2002]: The latest published information on waiting times in Somerset and Dorset health authorities is shown in the tables.

  Patients Waiting for ordinary and day case adminissions at 30 September 2001

  Somerset HA

  Dorset HA

  0–5 months

  8,558

  8,684

  6–11 months

  2,659

  73

  12–17 months

  406

  1

  18 months plus

  0

  0

  Sourse:

  Hospital in-patient Waiting list statistics, England, population based: The "Yellow Book".

  Patient Waiting for a first out-patient appointment at 30 September 2001

  Somerset HA

  Dorset HA

  13–25 weeks

  2,370

  604

  26 weeks plus

  818

  35

  Source:

  Waiting times for first out-patient appointment, England, population based: The "Purple Book".

  NHS Appointments
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 29 January 2002,Official Report, column 269–70W, on NHS appointments, how many people in each year since 1996 who have been appointed to a position within the NHS have declared a political interest, broken down by political parties; and what proportion of the total number of appointees this represents for each political party.[34156]

  Ms Blears
  [holding answer 7 February 2002]: The information requested is shown in the table.
  1239W

  Delayed Discharges
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many hospital beds were unavailable in each quarter in(a)2000 and (b) 2001 to incoming patients from the Buckingham constituency as a result of their occupation by (i) delayed discharge patients who were awaiting social services funding and (ii) delayed discharge patients who had fully funded social services packages arranged. [17856]

  Jacqui Smith
  Information is not collected centrally in the format requested.

  Quarterly information for Buckinghamshire health authority, for patients aged 75 and over, has been placed in the Library.

  Lord Mayor Treloar Hospital
  Sandra Gidley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health on what date the commencement of the demolition of Lord Mayor Treloar Hospital in Alton, Hampshire was decided; and who gave the instruction. [31341]

  Ms Blears
  Demolition is currently under way on the site of the Lord Mayor Treloar Hospital. The land was sold by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State to a private developer in November 2001. The demolition of existing buildings and the future development of the site is in the control of the new owner.

  Departmental Savings
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the saving to public funds in(a) 2000–01 and (b)2001–02 is from the abolition of 14 administrative forms, referred to on page 17 of the 2001 departmental report. [14910]

  Mr. Hutton
  The Department does not hold information on the savings to public funds from this measure. The 14 forms abolished were administrative forms which the Department issued in respect of applications for grants, licences, registrations etc. These forms were abolished in pursuance of Government policy to reduce regulatory burdens on business, charities and voluntary organisations including reducing the burdens of form filling where this can be done without removing the necessary controls.

  Pharmacists
  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to ensure that pharmacists are represented on each of the primary care trusts when they are fully established. [25535]

  Ms Blears
  Current legislation allows for the inclusion of all family health service contractors, including pharmacists, to be members of the primary care trust. Professional membership of the PCT has to reflect the services for which it is responsible.

  Staff to Beds Ratio
  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the ratio of administration staff to total number of beds operating in the national health service was for each of the last 10 years. [14342]
  1240W
  Ms Blears
  [holding answer 13 November 2001]: The information requested is in the table. Comparative figures for 2001 are not yet available. Between 1996–97 and 2000–01 NHS management costs have fallen by £848 million and we remain on course to meet our manifesto commitment of £1 billion savings by 31 March 2002

  Administration and estates staff1

  Total daily average of NHS Beds2

  Ratio3

  1991

  189,710

  258,550

  0.7

  1992

  200,610

  246,080

  0.8

  1993

  199,980

  236,170

  0.8

  1994

  203,330

  224,380

  0.9

  1995

  197,840

  217,510

  0.9

  1996,

  196,530

  212,680

  0.9

  1997

  196,700

  210,520

  0.9

  1998

  198,540

  206,410

  1.0

  1999

  204,620

  203,340

  1.0

  2000

  212,020

  199,730

  1.1

  1 Figures are the headcount of Administration and Estates staff collected on 30 September each year in the Department of Health Non-Medical Workforce Census. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10.

  2 Total Daily Average of NHS beds are the overnight beds, ie beds in wards open overnight. All NHS operating beds, includes other categories of beds such as beds that are in day only wards and NHS residential care beds, which are nursing home beds managed by the NHS. Source of data is Korner return KHO3 "bed availability and occupancy".

  3 Ratios have been rounded to one decimal point.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Child Abduction
  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what discussions his Department has had with the Romanian authorities regarding abduction of children from that country; [26490]

  (2)how many cases of children abducted from Romania have been investigated by police in the last five years; [26491]

  (3)what assessment he has made of the incidence of children abducted in Romania being brought to the UK. [26492]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  I have been asked to reply.

  The United Kingdom and Romania are both parties to the 1980 Hague convention on the civil aspects of international child abduction. In total we have received four requests for the return of children allegedly abducted from Romania, of which two are currently outstanding. Other than the liaison between the respective central authorities in relation to these cases, there have been no recent discussions between my Department and the Romanian authorities on the subject of child abduction. My Department does not have information about police investigations into alleged child abduction cases.

  Wolvercote Clinic
  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the Wolvercote clinic will move out of Epsom by the end of March according to schedule; and if he will make a statement. [33717]
  1241W
  Beverley Hughes
  [holding answer 5 February 2002]: The lease on the site at Horton hospital for the Wolvercote clinic has been extended to 30 April 2002.

  Drugs
  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy that the unlawful possession of a significant quantity of a controlled drug should constitute prima facie evidence of intent to supply; and if he will make a statement. [34778]

  Mr. Bob Ainsworth
  The intent to supply may be proved in a number of ways, for example by the circumstances, an admission, or the evidence of a witness. The quantity of the drug found is often an important consideration, but it is not always conclusive; drug dealers do not always carry large quantities. The Government and the police believe that the circumstances of the arrest are more important and that introducing a threshold would limit the effectiveness of enforcement action against drug dealers.

  Arranged Marriages
  Mr. Soames
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will review the regulations on arranged marriages. [34150]

  Angela Eagle
  [holding answer 7 February 2002]: The immigration rules relating to marriage are applied equally to all applicants. There are no regulations which relate specifically to arranged marriages.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Kaufman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to reply to the letter to him dated 23 November 2001 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton, with regard to Mrs. F. Qamar. [29964]

  Mr. Blunkett
  I wrote to my right hon. Friend on 6 February 2002.

  Age Discrimination
  Ms Atherton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action his Department has taken to tackle discrimination against older people. [16330]

  Mr. Blunkett
  The Home Office Older Volunteers Initiative was launched in January 1999. Its aim is to improve the quality and quantity of volunteering for those aged 50 and over. £1.5 million has been committed over three years. Eighteen projects have been completed while eight are still ongoing. As part of the initiative the Home Office's Active Community Unit has produced a resource pack, "Lifelong Action", to promote good practice in attracting and retaining older volunteers. The initiative is being evaluated by a team from the University of Surrey at Roehampton and their evaluation report is due to be published and distributed by March 2002.

  Following the recommendation of the Winning the Generation Game report, the Home Office has established the Experience Corps to encourage more people aged 50 plus, specifically those aged between 50 and 65 years old, to become involved in their local community through volunteering. The Home Office is providing the
  1242W
  Experience Corps with £19 million over three years. Formed in March 2001 and chaired by Baroness Sally Greengross, the Experience Corps is aiming to have 120,000 volunteers in place by March 2004. The company started the roll out of this initiative in the north west, north east and Yorkshire and Humberside regions in November 2001 and in the London region in January 2002. Details of the Experience Corps are at www.experiencecorps.co.uk.

  The Home Office's employment policy on discrimination is set out in our equal opportunities statement. It gives the Department's commitment that staff and job applicants will not be discriminated against on the basis of any 'irrelevant factor', which would normally include age. The statement is currently being updated.

  Asylum Seekers
  Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the cost has been to Government Departments of airline tickets for the deportation of failed asylum seekers to Zimbabwe in each of the last 12 months for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [27844]

  Angela Eagle
  [holding answer 16 January 2002]: For the period 1 January to 31 December 2001 £162,868 was spent on public expense removals to Harare. This figure includes the cost of any escorts that might have been needed. The following figures cover asylum and non-asylum removals:

  Month

  £

  January

  5,283

  February

  7,815

  March

  9,056

  April

  9,691

  May

  10,703

  June

  11,584

  July

  15,371

  August

  9,260

  September

  21,031

  October

  19,644

  November

  10,524

  December

  32,906

  Records do not differentiate between asylum and non-asylum removals.

  Where we can identify the inbound carrier the cost of removal will fall to be met by the company responsible for bringing the person to the United Kingdom.

  Arthur Andersen
  Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what dates since 7 June 2001(a) Ministers and (b) special advisers in his Department have met employees of (i) Andersen and (ii) Accenture on official business; and if he will make a statement. [32102]

  Mr. Blunkett
  Home Office Ministers and civil servants meet many people as part of the process of policy development and analysis. All such contacts are conducted in accordance with the ministerial code, the civil service code and guidance for civil servants: Contacts with Lobbyists.
  1243W
  Some of these discussions take place on a confidential basis, and in order to preserve confidentiality, it is not the normal practice of Governments to release details of specific meetings with private individuals or companies.

  Police
  Annabelle Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if police officers in areas other than London receive(a) an additional allowance and (b) weighting allowance. [33121]

  Mr. Denham
  [holding answer 4 February 2002]: Following a recommendation by the Police Negotiating Board (PNB), the statutory regulating body for police pay and conditions, my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary, while Home Secretary, approved an allowance for officers in eight forces surrounding London who were appointed on or after 1 September 1994 and are not in receipt of housing allowance. The allowance was awarded in recognition of the recruitment and retention problems associated with the higher cost of living in the south-east.

  Qualifying officers in Essex, Hertfordshire, Kent, Surrey and Thames Valley receive an additional £2,000 a year, while qualifying officers in Bedfordshire, Hampshire and Sussex receive an additional £1,000 a year.

  Police officers in London receive London weighting of £1,773 a year. Police officers in areas other than London do not receive a weighting allowance.

  North London Mosque
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what search warrants have been(a) requested and (b) executed relating to a North London Mosque in the last two years; and if he will make a statement. [25186]

  Mr. Blunkett
  I am informed by the Metropolitan police that no search warrants have been executed in respect of the North London Central Mosque in the last two years. I am aware that there are at least 75 mosques in north London and the information requested could be obtained only in respect of every mosque at disproportionate cost. Records of search warrants requested are not held centrally.

  Departmental Entertainment
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much his Department(a) budgeted to spend and (b) spent in each of the last six years on entertaining; and if he will break down these figures into categories. [32676]

  Angela Eagle
  [holding answer 6 February 2002]: The Department has spent in 1996–97 to 2001–02 the following amounts on entertaining official visitors and guests:

  Financial years

  Expenditure (£)

  1996–97

  58,346

  1997–98

  67,459

  1998–99

  84,468

  1999–2000

  77,822

  2000–01

  143,269

  2001–02

  154.106

  1 To end January

  The figures for 2001–02 exclude the Fire and Emergency Planning Directorate and the Fire Service College as responsibility for fire and emergency planning transferred to the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (DTLR) and the Cabinet Office respectively as part of Machinery of Government charges

  Race Hatred
  David Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the enforcement of the law on incitement to race hatred. [34076]

  Angela Eagle
  The enforcement of the law on the incitement to racial hatred is an operational matter for the police and the Crown Prosecution Service. The Government, while not involved in individual cases, have urged the police and the CPS to work more closely together on these cases and to pool experience relating to the sometimes complex issues surrounding incitement to racial hatred.

  The Government have also strengthened the law on incitement to racial hatred. The Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001 extended the scope of the offences to hatred directed against members of racial groups outside Great Britain and increased the maximum penalty for the offences from two to seven years imprisonment.