Sitting of 18 December 2003

Preamble
The House met at half-past Eleven o'clock
PRAYERS
[MR. SPEAKER in the Chair]
Oral Answers to Questions
  TREASURY
  The Chancellor of the Exchequer was asked—

  Basel II Accords
  Mr. Nigel Beard: What progress is being made in settling new international arrangements for banking regulation through the Basel II accords. [144716]
  The Chancellor of the Exchequer (Mr. Gordon Brown): The Basel committee on banking supervision expects to complete the new Basel accord on regulatory capital requirements by mid-year 2004, with implementation planned for the end of 2006.
  Mr. Beard: I thank my right hon. Friend for that reply. Given the increasing tendency of banks to transfer their risks to insurance businesses, does he agree that the capital adequacy of insurance companies that trade internationally may need international regulation similar to that provided for the banks by the Basel accord?
  Mr. Brown: I am grateful to my hon. Friend, who chairs an all-party committee that has been looking at this matter. The Basel accord is a voluntary arrangement that involves the banks. The EU directive that will flow from it will include financial institutions. I gather that a separate directive will cover the insurance industry, but this House would debate all those matters before any directive was agreed.
  Dr. Vincent Cable: Can the Chancellor confirm that one of the objectives of risk-based regulation under the Basel accord is the prevention of dangerous booms and busts in bank lending? Will he therefore explain why, at a national level, no one is taking responsibility for the often reckless debt promotion by the leading banks and credit card companies? Given yesterday's conclusions of the Treasury Committee, does that not suggest that the Government and the regulators are either blind or asleep where the banks are concerned?
  Mr. Brown: I suspect that the rest of the hon. Gentleman's party are using their credit cards and
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  injecting spending into the economy at this very moment, so that we can meet our growth target with greater confidence. His question was more about credit cards than the Basel accord, but I can tell him that I welcome the report from the Treasury Committee. It is clear that issues of transparency are involved, and that the various organisations mentioned in the report—the Office of Fair Trading and the Financial Services Authority, among others will want to look at the recommendations. It is in no one's interest that there is either irresponsible lending or irresponsible borrowing. I hope that he welcomed the consumer credit White Paper that was published a few days ago.
  Mr. John McFall: I assume that my right hon. Friend the Chancellor will be using his credit card prudently over the Christmas period. However, India and China are not included in the Basel II accords, and the USA is rumoured to be unwilling to sign up. Will that not have an effect on the final agreement?
  Mr. Brown: I am grateful again to the Chairman of the Select Committee. He has completed a report on credit cards and it is receiving the attention that it deserves today. I hope that people named by the Treasury Committee will look at the report's conclusions. I know that my hon. Friend has also taken an interest in the Basel accord, and it is true that it involves the G10. However, in the nature of things, other countries took up the recommendations in the previous Basel accord. As far as America is concerned, all those involved are working to the mid-2004 deadline. Despite the comments two days ago by one of the US regulators, I am assured that the intention is to complete the work as soon as possible. That will lead to implementation not in 2005 but in 2006. At the same time, we will be discussing an EU directive. That would not be voluntary: it would be a statutory guideline for banks and some financial institutions as well.

  Public Expenditure (West Cumbria)
  Tony Cunningham: If he will make a statement on levels of public spending in West Cumbria. [144717]
  The Chancellor of the Exchequer (Mr. Gordon Brown): Investment in public services since 1997 has resulted in Cumbria gaining 400 extra teachers and more than 700 extra teaching support staff, while Cumbria and Lancashire have gained nearly 100 extra general practitioners and 1,600 more nurses.
  Tony Cunningham: I thank my right hon. Friend for that reply. I hope that he will take the opportunity of coming to visit my constituency to see the success of the increased public spending. We have a new further education college, a new police station, four new roundabouts, a new bypass, two new Sure Start projects, and work has just started on the building of a new hospital. I am sure that he will agree that it is no coincidence that all that success has been achieved under a Labour Government.
  Mr. Brown: I was going to offer my hon. Friend a Christmas present from the Treasury, but it is clear that

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  he does not need one. He is absolutely right. In the typical constituency, £200 million more has been invested in each year since 1997. That has meant that we are able to pay for nurses, teachers, doctors and classroom assistants. The whole House will understand that that would not have been possible if we had reduced public spending by £80 billion, as the Conservatives plan.

  Employment Assistance
  4. Mr. Mark Todd: What representation he has received on measures promoted by his Department to help people into work. [144719]
  The Chancellor of the Exchequer (Mr. Gordon Brown): I receive a variety of representations on the Government's measures to help people into work. The success of those measures is evident in Wednesday's employment figures. There are more people in work now than at any time in our history, and the unemployment rate in Britain is at its lowest since 1975. The new deal has helped more than 950,000 individuals into work.
  Mr. Todd: I thank the Chancellor for that answer. There is a great deal for which we are thankful in South Derbyshire, with those who are unemployed and claiming benefit now numbering only 850—1,100 fewer than when the Government came to power. I would welcome his response to my gentle suggestion that he clarify the future of the export credits guarantee scheme, which is critical to the future of companies such as Rolls-Royce, which employs many of the workers in my area.
  Mr. Brown: I have met John Rose, the head of Rolls-Royce, and we are aware of the importance that it attaches both to export credit guarantees and to the Government's support for innovation and for science. My hon. Friend will know that we are doing more than any Government have done to promote science in this country.
  As for the new deal, not only has my hon. Friend's constituency seen a very big reduction in unemployment, but unemployment rates in almost every one of the constituencies of Conservative Front Benchers are now 2 per cent. or below.
  Mr. Michael Fallon: Will the Chancellor confirm that two thirds of the new jobs created this year are in the public sector and that, although many of them may be very worth while jobs in nursing and teaching, they all have to be paid for by the wealth-creating sector?
  Mr. Brown: I thought that the hon. Gentleman was going to congratulate us on the 60 per cent. cut in unemployment in his constituency since 1997. The reason why he did not is that the Conservatives want to abolish the very instrument for getting unemployment down£the new deal. He will know that it is completely untrue to say that two thirds of jobs created since 1997 have been created in the public sector. The fact is that 1.24 million jobs have been created in the private sector. Conservative Members should be congratulating us on
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  having the lowest unemployment rate of any of the major countries—something that they never achieved in 18 years of government.
  Valerie Davey: In Bristol, the new deal has been particularly successful in getting young people into work. Will my right hon. Friend comment on the level of youth employment nationally and its effect on the economy?
  Mr. Brown: Only around 5,000 young people—an average of eight per constituency—have been unemployed for more than a year. In the mid-1980s, under a Conservative Government, 350,000 young people were in that position. The fact that the Conservatives would abolish the new deal shows that they have learned nothing from the mistakes of the past.
  Bob Spink: In a spirit of Christmas cheer, I congratulate the Chancellor and the Government on their job creation efforts, which have gone well£there is no denying that.[HON. MEMBERS: "Oh!"] Well, fair play. However, may I encourage the Chancellor to look again at the growing level of regulation, which is depressing job creation in the wealth-generating sector?
  Mr. Brown: It is precisely because of the issues involved in regulation that we simplified the VAT system in the Budget and removed the audit requirements and the requirement on companies to issue two sets of accounts—one for the Inland Revenue and one for Companies House. The hon. Gentleman has welcomed the new deal—he should have a Christmas lunch with the shadow Chancellor, who said that the new deal is an expensive failure. They must reconcile those contradictory positions.
  Mr. Dennis Skinner: Is the Chancellor of the Exchequer aware that, in coalfield areas, particularly Derbyshire, the Tories took the pits out of the public sector, put them into the private sector and then shut every single one? Since 1997, we have had the mammoth task of trying to rejuvenate those areas. That has been a huge success, but we still have one pending—the Bolsover-Markham employment zone, near junction 29A off the Ml. Five thousand jobs will materialise in that area. Will he ensure that as the planning applications have not been called in we can have a Christmas present for all the people in north Derbyshire?
  Mr. Brown: Christmas cheer is around at the moment and I respect my hon. Friend's work, undertaken even when he was ill, in promoting coalfield regeneration. We will look back on the past few years as an attempt to resurrect communities that were left with terrible problems as a result of the way in which the coal industry was run down in the 1980s. I shall consider his proposal for Bolsover, but he should know that the new deal for communities is being expanded. There are now 2,000 designated enterprise areas, with huge incentives for development. We are intent on not only keeping unemployment low but tackling areas of continuing long-term unemployment that deserve the support of a compassionate Government.

  Stamp Duty Land Tax
  Mr. Bill Wiggin: What discussions he has had with representatives of licensees regarding the case for reform of stamp duty land tax. [144720]
  The Financial Secretary to the Treasury (Ruth Kelly): In the Finance Bill of 2003, the Government modernised and streamlined the stamp duty system. As a result of tax avoidance, only half the stamp duty owed on all large commercial property transactions was being paid. As part of our package, we reviewed the lease duty regime to ensure that businesses pay stamp duty fairly and consistently. Following consultation, including with the British Beer and Pub Association, the stamp duty land tax proposals were amended to help all tenants, but it was targeted at small and medium-sized businesses.
  Mr. Wiggin: Is it correct that independent evidence shows that the average pub licensee faces a tenfold increase in the amount of tax from £600 to £6,000? How can the Financial Secretary possibly justify that?
  Ruth Kelly: From the information that the licensed trade supplied, we know that very few leases were exempt from stamp duty under the old regime. However, increasing the threshold means that more than 30 times the number of leases in the sector will be exempt from stamp duty land tax duty.
  Mr. Mark Prisk: For licensees and others, the tax is half-baked and hideously bureaucratic, yet the real scandal is the increase in the tax burden, to which my hon. Friend the Member for Leominster (Mr. Wiggin) referred. Since 1997, stamp duty has been increased four times, and now we have discovered a fifth increase. Tucked away on page 217—how surprising—of the pre-Budget report is the information that the Government expect stamp duty revenue to rise from £7.5 billion this year to £9.3 billion next year. Given that property prices are expected to rise next year by 8 per cent., how do the Government plan to secure an increase of 24 per cent. in revenue?
  Ruth Kelly: The hon. Gentleman has got his facts completely wrong. The tax burden is lower now than it was almost throughout the 1980s. He must realise that the economy is stronger than it has ever been, with 1.7 million more people in work, interest rates at their lowest since 1955 and net wealth, including property prices, rising.

  Energy Efficiency
  Alan Simpson: If he will make a statement on the implications of the pre-Budget statement for the energy efficiency implementation plan to be proposed in the forthcoming energy White Paper. [144722]
  The Economic Secretary to the Treasury (John Healey): The Government plan to follow up the energy White Paper by publishing the implementation plan on energy efficiency early next year. The pre-Budget report
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  confirmed the case for using further economic instruments and we are giving close consideration to a range of measures. My hon. Friend knows that decisions on tax are, as always, a matter for the Chancellor in the Budget.
  Alan Simpson: I know that we made a commitment in the pre-Budget statement to introduce further measures on energy efficiency in the home. However, will my hon. Friend ensure that he, the Chancellor and Treasury team pay special attention to the warnings that we have just received from the Government's fuel poverty adviser that, unless there is a dramatic increase in the warm homes programme, we will fail to meet our commitments to tackle and to eliminate fuel poverty? Given the Chancellor's specific interests in the problems of child poverty, will he ensure that dealing with fuel poverty is a priority in the forthcoming Budget?
  John Healey: My hon. Friend is right about the value of the warm homes initiative. Indeed, in the past couple of weeks, I visited constituents, Mr. and Mrs. Cowdell, in Wath upon Dearne. They, like some of my hon. Friend's constituents, have benefited from the programme by insulating their home, cutting their bills and being kept warm throughout the winter for the first time in their lives. His points about trying to ensure that our measures improve energy efficiency and reduce domestic fuel poverty are well made. The pre-Budget report confirms that we see the case for using more economic instruments in this area to promote energy efficiency and reduce fuel poverty in the home. The work is complicated at present by a review of the reduced rates of VAT in Europe and by a review within government of corporation tax, but we are working hard on these measures and hope to make announcements on the budget cycle in due course.
  Richard Ottaway: The Minister will be aware that a key to sustainable and efficient energy is the renewables obligation. However, is he aware that, beyond that obligation, not a single new generating project is being developed owing to a complete lack of long-term finance? What steps is the Treasury taking to encourage long-term finance in the electricity generating sector?
  John Healey: Today's announcement about offshore wind capacity forms part of an extended programme of support that we are putting in place to encourage the kind of long-term investment that the hon. Gentleman is after. He is right to highlight the role of electricity generation in meeting our climate change targets but that is not the only area involved. The pre-Budget report and the track record of this Government since 1997 demonstrate that we will take decisions for the long term and put in place programmes of support that will help the UK to make a contribution to tackling the threat of global warming.

  Child Poverty
  8. Mr. Tom Harris: What measures his Department is taking to tackle child poverty. [144723]
  The Paymaster General (Dawn Primarolo): As part of their commitment to tackling child poverty, the

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  Government have improved financial support for families with children, increasing child benefit for the first child in every family by 25 per cent. in real terms since 1997, and introducing the child tax credit in April 2003. A total of 5.9 million families are already benefiting from the new tax credits. This is 98 per cent. of the total number of families expected to benefit in 2003–04.
  The Chancellor announced in last week's pre-Budget report an increase in the child element of the child tax credit by £180 to £1,625 a year in April 2004, equivalent to a weekly increase of £3.50, benefiting 7.2 million children in 3.7 million families. As a result, the Government are on track to meet or to exceed their public service agreement target to reduce the number of children in low income households by a quarter by 2004–05 on a before housing costs basis.
  Mr. Harris: I am sure that my right hon. Friend will agree that, if a Labour Government are for anything, they are for the fight against poverty, particularly child poverty. Given that the Joseph Rowntree Foundation announced only this month that the latest figures have passed the notable milestone of taking income poverty lower than at any time in the 1990s, does she agree that the Government's aspiration to abolish child poverty altogether should be founded not only on one party's policies but on bipartisan consensus?
  Dawn Primarolo: I congratulate my hon. Friend on all the work that he does on these issues in his constituency. I agree entirely, and I hope that Opposition Members will, even at this late stage, join the Government in an all-party crusade to eradicate poverty from society, particularly among children, instead of simply complaining about the fact that people live in poverty. It is difficult, however, to see how their commitment to cuts of £80 billion would help to achieve that.
  Mr. David Laws: The extra money for tackling child poverty announced by the Chancellor in the pre-Budget report is certainly welcome. Can the Minister explain, however, why the Chancellor did not have the honesty to explain in his statement that the child poverty measures were being funded by freezing other tax credits?
  Dawn Primarolo: I regret the tone of the hon. Gentleman's question, which is typical of the kind of carping that goes on, rather than joining in the celebrations. As he well knows, all the elements of the child tax credit were announced on pre-Budget day, as is always the case. He is trying to make it sound as though the House was misled, but perhaps I should remind him that for the first time millions of families are receiving the payment, which he and his party have yet to confirm that they would honour.
  Mr. Barry Sheerman: Does my right hon. Friend agree that, although we have made remarkable progress and invested so much in early years and the eradication of child poverty, it is still true that the Sure Start programme is one of the most effective that we have introduced? However, a lot of children in poor homes do not live in the 20 per cent. Of
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  wards that are the most deprived, so can she think of any way in which we can get to those poor children more quickly?
  Dawn Primarolo: My hon. Friend is entirely right. I am sure that everyone in the House will want to celebrate the massive achievements of the Sure Start programme. At its centre, it involves parents in shaping their future and that of their children.
  My hon. Friend will also know that the Government's commitment on children's centres is a commitment to roll out and to continue that programme. To take a much wider perspective, I am sure that he would acknowledge that in tackling poverty—particularly child poverty—the Government need to concentrate not only on the income of such families but on the full range of public services that are delivered to them.
  Mr. Henry Bellingham: The Chancellor has said lots of times that one of the best ways to tackle child poverty is to get unemployment down. Obviously, progress is being made, but can it continue? Has the Minister had a chance to examine the recent CBI report on Britain as a place to do business? It reveals that 60 per cent. of senior managers surveyed believe that the Government are not taking seriously their concerns about red tape and regulation, and 40 per cent. said that they were thinking of offshoring£
  Mr. Speaker: Order. That is far too wide of the question.
  Mr. George Mudie: May I speak on child poverty? I applaud the Chancellor and the Treasury team's £1 billion pre-Budget report initiative to deal with child poverty and particularly commend the children's bond, which will give the poorest children in the country £500 immediately, with additional sums so that they will have a nest egg at 18 that they would not have dreamed of having otherwise. However, does the Minister share my sadness that the official Opposition did not go into the Lobby last week£
  Mr. Speaker: Order. The first part of the question was in order.
  Dawn Primarolo: It is an excellent question, Mr. Speaker. I congratulate my hon. Friend because I know that he has done a huge amount of work in his constituency on that matter. He highlights the commitment to the child trust fund as one of many measures that the Government are taking. It is an asset of £500 for a child over their life. It encourages the savings habit and is an example of progressive universalism. I return to the point made by my hon. Friend the Member for Glasgow, Cathcart (Mr. Harris). We need all-party support and determination to tackle and to eradicate child poverty—support and determination that unfortunately are seriously lacking in both Opposition parties.

  NHS Expenditure
  Rob Marris: If he will make a statement on his policy for public expenditure to 2008 in relation to the NHS. [144724]
  The Chief Secretary to the Treasury (Mr. Paul Boateng): The Government are committed, as we announced last year, to raising health service funding by £41 billion over the five years to 2008—the biggest ever sustained increase in NHS funding.
  Rob Marris: I thank my right hon. Friend for that helpful and encouraging answer. I am pleased to hear his confirmation that the NHS will continue to receive the Government money it needs. May I seek his assurance that the Government will not seek to fund health care through devices such as vouchers, tax reliefs or any extension of co-payment?
  Mr. Boateng: I am happy to give my hon. Friend that assurance. He describes the policy of the Conservative party, which in office failed to invest sufficiently in the health service and ran it down, so that in 1997—[Interruption.] Conservative Members groan and moan but, if one compares health spending with what it was in 1997, one finds that by 2008 it will be 90 per cent. higher in real terms than when their party had stewardship of the economy.
  Mr. Oliver Letwin: The Chief Secretary congratulates the Government on raising NHS spending by £35 billion a year until 2008, but does he accept that the people of this country expect to get value for such vast amounts of money?
  Mr. Boateng: People are getting value. Let us examine what that money has bought. There are 25,000 more doctors, 80,000 more nurses and 100 new hospitals. Compare that with what was achieved under the stewardship of Conservative Members. When we came to power in 1997, not one new hospital had been built under the private finance initiative. That is their record: this is ours.
  Mr. Letwin: I am delighted that the Chief Secretary is able to name some things that the money has so far bought, but how does he explain the fact that a 37 per cent. increase in spending has led to only a 5 per cent. increase in the number of operations, and no increased improvement in waiting times?
  Mr. Boateng: Just look at the facts. Out-patient attendances in 1997–98 were 11.53 million, whereas in 2003 they were 13.03 million. Elective admissions were 4.46 million, and in 2003 were 5.32 million. [Interruption.]
  Mr. Speaker: Order. The hon. Member for North-West Norfolk (Mr. Bellingham) is using a camera.
  Mr. Bellingham: It is a mobile phone.
  Mr. Speaker: The hon. Member should not he using a mobile phone. I ask him to leave the Chamber.
  Mr. Boateng: On waiting times, 186,000 fewer patients are waiting for treatment now than when the Conservatives were in office. Out-patient waits of more than 26 weeks have been virtually eliminated, and 98.5 per cent. of suspected cancer patients are seen by a specialist within two weeks. We are proud of that
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  record. The right hon. Member for West Dorset (Mr. Letwin) should be ashamed of himself for denigrating and running down the NHS, as he does time and again.
  Mr. Letwin: I am sorry that the Chief Secretary is unable to explain the official figures. Can he do any better at explaining why, when there has been only a 5 per cent. increase in the number of operations, there has been a 45 per cent. increase in the number of managers? Does that accord with the Labour manifesto pledge to rebuild the NHS and to reduce spending on administration?
  Mr. Boateng: That is an old canard. It is no use the shadow Chancellor looking pained. He ought to look at the facts. The fact of the matter is that his definition of administrators and bureaucrats includes painters, gardeners, doctors' secretaries, electricians, cleaners and thousands of valuable support and ancillary workers, all of whom contribute to the success of the NHS. Why does not he give them and—yes, it is Christmas—us some credit for that achievement?
  Mr. James Plaskitt: I can tell my right hon. Friend what increased investment has already delivered to the NHS at Warwick hospital. There are 150 more nurses, 20 more consultants, and a 40 per cent. increase in activity levels. We want to go further and get booked appointments and even shorter waiting times. Will the additional investment be forthcoming to deliver that?
  Mr. Boateng: That is indeed the Government's policy—resources firmly linked to reform. That is why we have devolved power to front-line organisations, and why we are giving new financial incentives to improve performance. We are reforming the NHS. Given half a chance, the Conservatives would ruin it with charges, cuts and unfair, inequitable subsidies for private health insurance.
  Mr. Mark Field: The Chief Secretary will be glad to know that I shall not raise an old canard, but I may have a new canard in mind. I appreciate what he has to say about public funding for the health service, but equally he will appreciate that there need to be financial incentives for private health care. Does he believe that that is ideologically wrong, even if financial incentives for private health care ensure that there is a bigger pot for health care on which all our citizens can rely?
  Mr. Boateng: No, I do not. This has nothing whatever to do with ideology, but everything to do with how best to help people and how best to deliver an NHS that is fair and free at the point of use. We need to stand back for a moment and reflect on what health care would be like if we were to provide the subsidy for people with private medical insurance that some Opposition Members propose—including, I suspect, the hon. Gentleman. The Opposition's patient passport would increase deadweight costs by up to £1 billion. That would be the price the taxpayer would have to pay for something that was enjoyed only by the very richest in our society. That simply is not fair.
  Dr. Brian Iddon: The Government have a policy of closing the gap between target expenditure and that of NHS trusts covering constituencies such as mine which, in 1997, were far from the target. The gap is closing extremely slowly, however. Will my right hon. Friend look again at the formula that delivers extra expenditure to deprived communities like mine, and try to close the gap a little more rapidly?
  Mr. Boateng: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health is devoting considerable attention to that very question, and to the best way of ensuring that we continue to reduce inequity in health care and provision.
  Mr. Andrew Turner: Will the right hon. Gentleman put on record the Treasury definition of public expenditure, and also the Treasury definition of public sector investment, so that next time the Prime Minister is asked that question—as he was yesterday—he does not through ignorance lamentably and inadvertently mislead the House?
  Mr. Boateng: The Prime Minister did no such thing. This is a definition that has ensured that we are now delivering 450,000 more operations than in 1997–98. It is a definition that has ensured that we are now involved in providing 860,000 more elective admissions each year. It is a definition that has worked for this country, and for the NHS.

  Public Services (Wigan Borough)
  Mr. Neil Turner: What assessment he has made of the effect of proposals to change the level of investment in public services in the Wigan borough. [144725]
  The Chief Secretary to the Treasury (Mr. Paul Boateng): Wigan borough is benefiting from the Government's increased investment in public services, and will continue to do so, like all parts of the United Kingdom.
  Mr. Turner: Is my right hon. Friend aware that we have benefited from a £30 million programme delivering new surgeries for doctors, £25 million for a new hospital, £20 million for a further education college, £137 million to bring our housing stock up to decent standards, a new police station and a new fire station? Can he confirm that many of those would be threatened if we had to put up with a reduction of £80 billion in public expenditure in the coming financial year?
  Mr. Boateng: In the spirit of Christmas, I am happy to give that confirmation.
  Andy Burnham: In Leigh, the best part of Wigan borough, the NHS is improving, but at the end of the current spending round Ashton, Leigh and Wigan primary care trust will be some £10 million adrift from the funding target. Does my right hon. Friend agree that the best way of tackling health inequalities is to target resources where health is poorest? May I, like my hon. Friend the Member for Bolton, South-East (Dr. Iddon),
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  urge him to talk to his colleagues in the Department of Health to establish whether the pace of the "pace of change" policy can be quickened in the next spending round?
  Mr. Boateng: I assure my hon. Friend that we are well aware of the impact of health inequalities. That is why the Government introduced a fairer funding formula for the NHS in 2002. It was an historic settlement: every primary care trust gained at least 8.3 per cent. in cash terms this year. That is progress, but we must continue to build on it. There is no room for complacency, and I hear what my hon. Friend says.

  Council Tax
  Mr. Paul Tyler: What the average proportion of income paid in council tax by low-income households is in England in 2003–04; and if he will make a statement. [144726]
  The Paymaster General (Dawn Primarolo): Information for 2003–04 is not available. The latest available information, for 2001–02, shows that the bottom 20 per cent. of households paid 4.8 per cent. of their income in council tax, after allowing for council tax benefit.
  Mr. Tyler: The Minister will know that in Cornwall, and in the south-west generally, many households fall into that category while others are just above that level, and do not benefit from the council tax benefit concessions. Will she now give us a straightforward answer to a straightforward question? Has that proportion risen or fallen since the Government came to power?
  Dawn Primarolo: I am sure that the hon. Gentleman will congratulate the Government, as will his constituents, on the extra £340 million announced on Wednesday 10 December. That shows that the Government recognise the particular pressures on local authorities in terms of the environment and social services for children. That money is on top of the extra £420 million announced in the provisional statement in November. We should make the comparison with previous years. By next year, local authorities will have received a real-terms increase of some 30 per cent. since 1997, as against a fall of 7 per cent. in the last years of the previous Government.
  I note that the hon. Gentleman's party is not suggesting that it would vary expenditure levels from the Government's current position, so perhaps he would like to tell us what the magic answer is that the Government's proposals do not provide.
  Mr. Barry Gardiner: Given the effect of the council tax on low-income families, does my right hon. Friend agree that it is unsurprising to find that council taxes in Labour areas are, on average, the lowest, while those in Conservative areas are the highest, and those in Liberal Democrat areas are the second highest?
  Dawn Primarolo: What is important is that the Government and local authorities work together to

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  improve the quality of services, and that the decisions that local authorities take for their council tax payers are reflected in the quality of the services then provided. As the Government made clear as recently as last week in the pre-Budget statement, we stand ready to play our part; the question now is whether local authorities will continue to play theirs.
  Sir Patrick Cormack: Does the right hon. Lady accept that the last question was somewhat loaded, and will she also assure the House that however much the Liberal Democrats might rabbit on about local income tax, this Government will never introduce it?
  Dawn Primarolo: The Prime Minister has made it clear that we do not favour that particular proposal, but for such any such proposal to be taken seriously, the Liberal Democrats would need to move beyond generalisations and tell us exactly how it would be achieved, how much it would cost and what extra bureaucracy would be entailed, particularly in respect of employers, who currently collect pay-as-you-earn. How would they deal with such a highly complex system, and how much would it cost them?
  Mr. Stephen McCabe: Does my right hon. Friend agree that replacing the council tax with local income tax would entrench regional disparities, and result in the poorest people in the poorest regions bearing a far greater proportion of the cost?
  Dawn Primarolo: As you, Mr. Speaker, often say to Ministers at the Dispatch Box, it is not possible for us to speculate on the details of Liberal Democrat proposals. As always, the Liberal Democrats provide no detail and simply make win, win generalisations. Even superficial scrutiny of these proposals would reveal the problems of local disparities, the complexity of the system and the burdens on employers. As a result, the security of finance to local authorities could be seriously undermined.
  Mr. Andrew Tyrie: A moment ago, the Paymaster General referred to the £340 million that has been given to help contain the massive council tax rises resulting from Labour's burdening of local authorities with huge demands to supply more services. Is she aware that, either through incompetence—as I suspect—or design, the distribution formula means that each council tax payer in East Sussex and West Sussex will receive precisely tuppence of that £340 million? Does she not realise that those who are worst hit by these policies are poor people and pensioners in constituencies such as mine? How can she possibly justify a figure of tuppence a head?
  Dawn Primarolo: I welcome the hon. Gentleman to the Dispatch Box—this is the first time he has asked a question in Treasury orals. If he cares to look at the tax and benefit reform undertaken by this Government and opposed by his party, he will see, for example, the massive increases in respect of families with children in the poorest fifth of the population. On average, they will be £2,900 a year better off by September 2004. The
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  poorest one third of pensioner households have gained £1,600 a year in real terms. We have given £3.6 billion extra in resources and, as the hon. Gentleman well knows, the targeting of those resources at the very poorest in our community is the Government's priority, but his party has failed to commit itself to that strategy.

  Climate Change Levy
  Mr. Colin Challen: What his assessment is of the effectiveness of the climate change levy. [144727]
  The Economic Secretary to the Treasury (John Healey): The climate change levy was designed as an environmental tax, and is achieving important environmental gains. UK carbon emissions fell by 3.5 percent. in 2002, and although there are always a number of factors affecting emission levels, it is clear that the levy system will have played an important part in that reduction.
  Mr. Challen: I thank my hon. Friend for that answer, because it shows that a bold and decisive policy gets bold and decisive results. Will he assure me that the hard won gains in reduced carbon emissions will not be sacrificed owing to the exponential growth in aviation, and that the Government will take a similarly bold and decisive policy approach to reducing emissions from aircraft?
  John Healey: My hon. Friend is something of an expert on the subject; he serves with distinguished commitment on the Environmental Audit Committee. He is right that aviation is responsible for about 10 percent. of the UK climate change problem, but the projections that I think he has in mind overstate the potential problem, and fail to take into account a couple of important points, as he may recognise. First, the projections assume no improvements in technology, although over the past 30 years there has been a 50 percent. cut in fuel consumption. Secondly, they assume that no new measures will he put in place. My hon. Friend will know, because his Committee has studied the matter, that with the publication of this week's air transport White Paper, it is clear that we are putting in place what I hope he will acknowledge to be bold and decisive measures to deal with emissions that contribute to climate change, noise levels that affect local residents, and local air pollution. The air transport White Paper makes it clear that the additional capacity that we need in this country will be balanced by broad-ranging environmental measures to tackle the environmental consequences of aviation, which we need, too.
  Mr. Peter Pike: Does my hon. Friend recognise that although the policy has obviously achieved the environmental impact that he mentioned, the Government changed it considerably to meet the requirements of heavy energy users from the industrial sector? Will he confirm that discussions on that subject are ongoing, because as well as wanting environmental benefits, the Government recognise the importance of ensuring that our manufacturing jobs are secure, and that we keep those jobs?
  John Healey: I can indeed confirm that. My hon. Friend follows these issues closely, so he will know that

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  the climate change agreements that we put in place, which give the heavy energy-using sectors that he has in mind a discount of up to 80 per cent., have delivered three times the anticipated savings in carbon dioxide emissions. He will have noticed that last week my right hon. Friend the Chancellor confirmed that we are prepared to extend the eligibility for those negotiated agreements to equally intensive energy-using sectors that face international competition. I am sure that my hon. Friend will welcome that move, as will many parts of industry.

  Public Spending
  13. Lawrie Quinn: What assessment he has made of the effects on investment in infrastructure in Yorkshire of reducing public spending to 35 per cent. of GDP. [144728]
  The Chancellor of the Exchequer (Mr. Gordon Brown): As I announced in the pre-Budget report. total managed expenditure in the UK for 2003–04 will be 41.4 per cent. of national income. Cutting total managed expenditure by 6.4 per cent. of GDP in the UK, were it to be reflected locally, would mean, in Yorkshire, a cut in spending of £100 million for each constituency, and that would mean fewer doctors, nurses, teachers and classroom assistants.
  Lawrie Quinn: I thank my right hon. Friend for that answer. Does he agree that one of the main challenges in Yorkshire is the lack of investment in our transport infrastructure? If those policies were followed, what assessment would he make of our chances of clawing back the 30 years and more of under-investment in transport infrastructure in my region?
  Mr. Brown: The local transport capital expenditure for Yorkshire and Humberside was £180 million, and it is £106 million in 2003–04. That compares with just £70 million in 1999. That doubling of expenditure could not take place under a 35 per cent. of GDP quota. Nurses, doctors and teachers, as well as the road and rail programmes, would be affected by such a massive cut.
  Miss Anne McIntosh: How can the Chancellor square the record increase in investment in Network Rail with the fact that performance will not reach the levels enjoyed on the railways in 1997 for a considerable time to come? He is putting more money in, but performance and reliability on the railways is decreasing under this Government.
  Mr. Brown: The hon. Lady forgets that more people are using the railways than at any time for 50 years, as a result of the extra investment that has been put in by this Government. She appears not to have heard that her Front Benchers have regretted railway privatisation and apologised for it. Just as they were wrong on the new deal, the Bank of England and the minimum wage, they were wrong in the way they privatised the railways.
  Hugh Bayley: What would the impact be on investment projects —such as the three new schools being built in York, the £16 million upgrade of York district hospital, the £26 million that York city
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  council has to buy new buses and extend its bus services, and the university's planned expansion, with the creation of a new medical school and a new campus—if the Government were to go back to a 35 per cent. level of public expenditure?
  Mr. Brown: If we were faced with the spending level proposed by the Conservatives, with public expenditure pegged at 35 per cent., we would have to sack most of the 50,000 nurses, the 20,000 doctors, the 20,000 teachers and the 90,000 classroom assistants who have been employed—[Interruption]—and they laugh at the prospect of sacking such important public service workers.

  Home Energy Efficiency
  14.Sue Doughty: How many respondents to the recent Treasury consultation on economic instruments to improve household energy efficiency supported a rate of VAT of 5 per cent. for the supply and installation of energy-efficient products or materials in non-grant schemes when householders employ contractors. [144729]
  Brian White: How many respondents to the recent Treasury consultation on economic instruments to improve household energy efficiency supported capital allowances and enhanced capital allowances for companies to write off investments in energy saving equipment provided to social landlords and households. [144730]
  The Economic Secretary to the Treasury (John Healey): The Government have published a summary of consultation responses, which is available on the Treasury website. It explains that we received 126 responses to the consultation, of which 120 supported a reduced rate of VAT for the supply and installation of energy-efficient products or materials, and 67 supported capital allowances.
  Sue Doughty: I thank the Minister for his answer and for the response he gave earlier to the hon. Member for Nottingham, South (Alan Simpson). Will the Minister continue to examine closely the issue of reducing VAT on energy-saving materials and admit that the Government were wrong to suggest that Europe was stopping them reducing VAT to 5 per cent.? Will he make an announcement as soon as possible so that people can put plans in place to reduce the scourge of fuel poverty in this day and age?
  John Healey: The hon. Lady serves on the Environmental Audit Committee, so I am surprised by her question. I would have expected her to know that it is wrong to say that without a change in Europe we could introduce a reduced rate of VAT on, for instance, energy-saving materials for do-it-yourself installation in homes. She is also wrong to say that without a change in Europe we can introduce a reduced rate for energy-efficient products such as fridges, boilers and light bulbs. We continue to battle with our friends in other member states in Europe to try to win the argument and we will consider the much narrower areas where we have the

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  scope within the European system to introduce reduced rates that could help to achieve greater energy efficiency in the UK.
  Brian White: I thank my hon. Friend for his earlier responses and I congratulate the Government on the swift announcement today of their combined heat and power targets for the whole of the Government estate, as required by the Sustainable Energy Act 2003. I wish to draw his attention to the frustration in the industry at the fact that the barriers that the Treasury consultation document so rightly identified could be addressed more quickly if the issue of capital allowances were tackled. I urge him to do that when the Government present their energy efficiency plan in February.
  John Healey: In many ways I understand the point that my hon. Friend makes about impatience and frustration in the industry, but I hope that he will see the pre-Budget report as encouraging. It confirms that we see the case for using economic instruments to promote energy efficiency in the home and that we are considering a range of possible fiscal measures, including the capital allowances in which my hon. Friend is so interested. The work is complicated by the European review of reduced VAT rates and by a review that we have to undertake of the operation of corporation tax. Without a clearer idea of the outcome of both, it is difficult to make hard decisions. Nevertheless, we do not want to delay such decisions or announcements any longer than we need too.
  Sir Sydney Chapman: While I appreciate that in the area of energy efficiency VAT rating is a matter of EU directive interpretation and the decision of the Chancellor in his next Budget statement, will the Minister undertake a cost-benefit analysis well ahead of the Budget, which would indicate the loss to the Revenue on one side, if a selected group of energy efficiency materials had a lower rate of VAT—in particular, thermal insulation materials—against, on the other side, the benefits from improving energy efficiency in households? That would be helpful for the Government and the House in interpreting whatever measures the Chancellor announces in his next Budget.
  John Healey: As the House will expect, we do such analyses of the economic costs and benefits of any potential policy measures. This is part and parcel of the case that we are making in Europe to have greater freedom in the United Kingdom to introduce reduced rates. Clearly, those calculations and that analysis will be part of any decisions that the Government take and the Chancellor announces as part of the Budget next year and beyond.

  Millennium Development Goals
  Mr. Win Griffiths: If he will make a further statement on progress towards achieving the millennium development goals. [144731]
  The Chancellor of the Exchequer (Mr. Gordon Brown): In addition to our regular meetings at G7 and with African Finance Ministers, we are calling a conference on the millennium development goals and on the
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  international finance facility that we have proposed with China, India, Brazil and South Africa. We are also hosting at the Treasury a conference of Church leaders, faith groups and business to advance our proposals for the international finance facility. We are grateful for all-party support for this new proposal.
  Mr. Griffiths: I thank my right hon. Friend for that response. At the conference, will he use his good offices to impress on South Africa, India and China the need to make sure that all those extremely poor parts of the world that are war-riven are brought back to the table of peace, to make sure that there is the right context for the millennium goals to be achieved more quickly?
  Mr. Brown: I know how much work my hon. Friend does in this area and how active he has been in promoting the cause of peace and debt relief round the world. The Government are involved in trying to resolve many conflicts, in particular those that afflict areas of Africa such as the Democratic Republic of the Congo. We have proposed for countries that are coming out of conflict a far speedier process of debt relief so that, as they restructure their country, they can also restructure their economy free from the burden of debt. I hope that he and others will support us in what we are doing.
  Mr. Andy Reed: Nobody doubts the Chancellor's commitment to ensuring that the millennium development goals are met, but I am sure that he is aware that we are falling well short of the targets that we set ourselves on the way. Does he agree that they could be speeded up in two ways: by the World Trade Organisation talks getting back on track and, specifically—I speak as a member of the all-party group on heavily indebted poorest countries—by him looking again at the debt levels and sustainability of the HIPC initiative for a number of those countries, particularly in Africa, in the light of the reduction in the price of consumer products such as coffee?
  Mr. Brown: We continue to look at how we can advance debt relief. Twenty-seven countries are getting debt relief. Some of the countries mentioned by my hon. Friend the Member for Bridgend (Mr. Griffiths) could get debt relief if they were out of conflict. We continue to look at how we can persuade other countries to come up with more funds. My hon. Friend is right that the WTO talks are important to this and that public opinion matters in this. It is 20 years this Christmas since Bob Geldof's Band Aid raised public awareness of the problems of poverty in Africa. All parties and all good-minded people could combine and public opinion could be alerted to the blatant need to take further action to deal with world poverty.
  Mr. Speaker: I call question 17. Norman Lamb is not here; the question has been withdrawn.

  Fund Flows
  Michael Fabricant: Thank you, Norman Lamb, and Mr. Speaker.

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  What assessment has been made of current fund flows between the United Kingdom and (a) the European Union and (b) the United States; and if he will make a statement. [144733]
  The Financial Secretary to the Treasury (Ruth Kelly): The current account deficit in 2002 stood at 1.8 per cent. of GDP, well below past peaks. In 1989, the current account deficit reached more than 5 per cent. of GDP. The UK current account deficit is well below the US current account deficit of 5 per cent. of GDP.
  Michael Fabricant: I thank the Minister for that answer. Will she give an idea of the current trade deficit with the European Union and the current trade surpluses with the United States of America? What lessons on international trade do they give the Government?
  Ruth Kelly: I have already given the hon. Gentleman an idea of the figures. Despite the fact that the UK economy grew faster than any other country in the EC on average in 2001 and 2002, the latest statistics show that the trade deficit as a percentage of GDP has been stable over the past couple of years.

Police National Computer Records
12.30 pm
Mr. James Paice: To ask the Minister for Crime Reduction, Policing and Community Safety to make a statement on the completeness of police national computer records in the light of the Soham murder case.
The Minister for Crime Reduction, Policing and Community Safety(Ms Hazel Blears): The whole House will join me in expressing our sympathy with the families of Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman. We cannot imagine the pain that they must be suffering, but we can work together to ensure that lessons are learned from the girls' murders
My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary yesterday announced an independent inquiry led by Sir Michael Bichard. That inquiry will look into child protection procedures in Humberside police and Cambridgeshire constabulary. It will assess the effectiveness of the relevant intelligence-based record keeping, the vetting practices in those forces since 1995 and information sharing with other agencies. Importantly, it will report to the Home Secretary on matters of local and national relevance and make any recommendations it believes appropriate.
It is right that it should be Sir Michael Bichard who provides an authoritative answer on whether the completeness of police national computer records had a significant impact on the Soham case. I am sure the House will agree that I should not prejudge that independent inquiry. However, I can say that the speed and quality with which police forces record information on the police national computer has been the subject of a sustained focus by Her Majesty's inspectorate of constabulary in recent years.
A year-long inspection that ran in two phases from March 2001 to April 2002 was not encouraging. It found poor business processes, exacerbated by the lack of a national IT solution. The backlog of unentered case results was mainly due to the absence of strategic prioritisation of the issue and the failure to allocate sufficient people to the task. As a result of that inspection, the HMIC managed and monitored a yearlong programme of work in every force to improve performance. That has covered two areas. The first is arrest and summons reports, which initiate a new record. The target is for 90 per cent. of reports to be logged on to the system within 24 hours. Some 79 per cent. of cases in England and 76 per cent. of cases in Wales are meeting that target. The second relates to court results. Police forces are measured against a target of 90 per cent. of court results being inputted on to the police national computer within seven days. At the moment, 38 per cent. of cases in England and 30 per cent. of cases in Wales are meeting that target, with 80 per cent. of cases reaching it within 28 days.
Forces have worked hard with the inspectorate to improve the situation. As a result, every force improved its performance and some were at, or near to, the nationally agreed targets. However, both the inspectorate and the Home Secretary are clear that many police forces must do a lot better to reach the standards that we are entitled to expect. To ensure that
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improvements are being made and properly tracked, a new team has been established in HMIC to audit and monitor forces' performance and intervene where necessary on a targeted basis.
Further action has also been undertaken by the Association of Chief Police Officers, which has set up a group to pursue the implementation of the other recommendations in the HMIC report. Paramount among those is the development of a statutory code of practice under powers put in place under the Police Reform Act 2002. That will set standards for forces in relation to the timeliness of inputting. A draft has been produced and is out for consultation. The consultation ends in January, and our aim is that the code should be in place by next April. In parallel, we are working with the Court Service on a joint document to set out escalation processes to deal with problem cases should they arise.
We have made very considerable progress in recent years in trying to ensure that vetting is effective and thorough, but we know that the Criminal Records Bureau can only be as good as the data available to it. That is why our ongoing work with police forces to ensure that the police national computer is kept up to date is so important. I assure the House that the inspectorate will continue to drive improvement in those forces that are not meeting their targets and that any further recommendations that Sir Michael Bichard makes will be dealt with speedily. The House and the people of this country would expect nothing less.
Mr. Paice: I thank the Minister for her statement and for her kind words about my constituents, the families of the two little girls. Through her, I thank the Home Secretary for his promptness in setting up the inquiry headed by Sir Michael Bichard into the effectiveness of the vetting practices carried out by the Cambridgeshire and Humberside forces.
My constituents in Soham, as well as parents throughout the country, are angry and horrified that a man with so many allegations against him came through the process apparently without criticism, and they wonder why no charges were brought when so many victims are now describing their experiences. Although the inquiry must be thorough and effective, will the Minister tell the House when she expects it to be able to report?
Will the inquiry investigate allegations that the Data Protection Act 1998 and even perhaps the Human Rights Act 1998 have prevented Humberside police from keeping or passing on relevant information, and the counter-statement by the registrar that that is not the case? Will the inquiry also consider the present Criminal Records Bureau operations and its system of checking people for work with children? In particular, is it still possible for someone who changes their name to circumvent the checks?
Has the Minister, as I have done, looked at the forms used by the CRB and seen how easy it would still be for someone of evil intent to evade detection? Is she satisfied that the quality control of work carried out by the CRB, including in Bombay, is adequate? Will she instigate, as one of her hon. Friends has suggested, random sampling to check the rigour of the CRB system?
On the police national computer itself, is the Minister aware that, on 3 February this year, her predecessor, the right hon. Member for Southampton, Itchen

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(Mr. Denham), answered a written question from me on this very subject? At column 72W of the Official Report he said that, in the period to December last year, police forces took 71 days on average to enter all court disposals on to the database, against a target of what he then said was three days. The Minister said in her answer that the target was now seven days. Can she explain the discrepancy?
Will the Minister publish the report, which was apparently leaked yesterday, that suggested, according to the media, including the BBC, that the situation is getting worse rather than better? Will she explain why it was necessary to leak the report rather than publishing it in the interests of transparency, especially in the light of another answer that the right hon. Gentleman gave me on 30 October last year which, I am afraid flies in the face of what the Minister just told us when she said that the situation was very bad a year ago? The then Minister said:
"The Inspectorate's first report showed considerable progress. Its second report, on the programme overall, which indicates substantial further progress, is under consideration."—[Official Report, 30 October 2002; Vol. 391, c. 846W.]
Yet the Minister has just told us that, in fact, the situation was not showing any improvement at all. Can she explain how much of the delay in entering data on to the computer is caused by the courts not meeting their targets for notifying forces, and how much by forces not entering the data once they have received them? Is it not obvious that no vetting process can be effective if records are two months out of date? If, a year ago, the situation was apparently improving—as the then Minister told me—why does it seem that it has not got better since?
The tragic and evil events that occurred in my constituency have struck a chord with people all over the country and abroad. Although we can never eliminate risk, it is essential that we ensure that those who work with our children do so with our trust. Will the Minister promise the House that Sir Michael Bichard's report will be published in full, and that whatever needs to be changed—people, systems or laws—it will be done?
Ms Blears: My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary said yesterday when he announced the inquiry that he wanted it to be completed speedily, particularly so that it does not cause further distress to the families, who have already gone through such a terrible time. My interpretation of "speedily" is a time scale of three to six months. Clearly, that will be a matter for Sir Michael Bichard in terms of his findings, but I want the matter to be dealt with as speedily as possible so that we can learn the lessons from what has happened.
The hon. Member for South-East Cambridgeshire (Mr. Paice) asked whether the data protection legislation has inhibited the ability of forces to collect data and use them properly in the vetting process. I assure the House that the data protection legislation does not inhibit that process. The Data Protection Act 1998 provides that information should not be kept longer than is necessary, which requires forces, as it does all of us, to exercise a degree of judgment and professionalism in how they use data and how they deal
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with data in their system. There are requirements whereby data that relate to offences for which there has been imprisonment for more than six months, or to any kind of sexual or violent offences, should be retained. A detailed framework therefore exists in which information can be used properly while complying with the provisions of the Data Protection Act. Certainly, I do not see those provisions as a bar.
In terms of the assurance of the process, the hon. Gentleman will be aware that we have been very concerned since the establishment of the Criminal Records Bureau, and in all the measures that we have taken subsequently, to ensure the integrity of its record keeping. We have wanted to drive performance not just in terms of timeliness but in terms of the quality of the results obtained. Every Member will appreciate that the Criminal Records Bureau has made significant progress. It had a difficult beginning, but the current process is much better. There is an ongoing consultation not just in relation to fees but in relation to the issue that that the hon. Gentleman raised about quality assurance: whether we can put more checks in place to ensure that we get the identity of the person correct when an application for a disclosure is submitted. We will look very carefully at the results of that consultation to see whether we can provide more quality assurance on that issue.
The hon. Gentleman asked about the discrepancy between the seven-day target and the original three-day target. I understand that courts are given three days to pass such information to the police, who then have three days to put it on to the computer. Occasionally, I suppose, one of those days will be on a weekend, which explains why they are measured against a seven-day period.
The hon. Gentleman asked whether the Bichard report will be published. I can undertake that that report will be published and will be available. It will be important that we all look at it closely and learn the lessons from it.
The hon. Gentleman also raised the important issue—one that I raised myself with my officials—of what would happen in relation to a delay if information were not on the computer. We are dealing with two separate sets of information: convictions, which would be on the police national computer, and local intelligence. Many of the issues in the Huntley case concern local intelligence. Because there were no convictions, the incidents would not have found their way on to the police national computer in the first place. It is vital that forces have that local intelligence and that when someone applies for an enhanced disclosure from the Criminal Records Bureau, they access local intelligence as well as convictions, so there should be a rounded mix.
As for the delay that the hon. Gentleman properly raised, 80 per cent. of cases are now getting on to the computer within a reasonable period of time—within 28 days—but when people apply for an enhanced disclosure they also get access to the arrests and summons that have not yet been entered. There ought to be sufficient checks in the system to ensure that there is no loophole through which people can go. I hope that the inquiry will look searchingly at those matters to ensure that the integrity and robustness of the whole system can be maintained. I give the hon. Gentleman an

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assurance and undertaking that the recommendations and lessons from the inquiry and the separate but parallel inquiry into child protection measures launched by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Skills will inform the way in which we proceed.
Mr. David Heath: May I ask the hon. Member for South-East Cambridgeshire (Mr. Paice) to pass on our condolences to the families of the victims, as well as the whole community that he represents?
I welcome the inquiry. I hope that it will be thorough and speedy, and will take three, rather than six, months, if at all possible. I agree with the Minister that it is premature to point the finger of blame at individuals at this stage for what may be human error. Nevertheless, does she agree that there are clear signs of systemic failures in intelligence, data systems and media strategy? Given the catastrophic misunderstanding of the requirements of the Information Commissioner and the laws of data protection, will the Minister give me an assurance that, this very afternoon, as a matter of urgency, Her Majesty's inspectorate of constabulary will issue guidance in accordance with the commissioner's requirements to every police force about their responsibilities?
Data inputting into the police national computer has been a matter of concern for some time. The Minister explained what she is doing about the timeliness of inputting, but can she say something about accuracy, which is of equal concern? If people put rubbish in the system, they get rubbish out. Will there be an audit of the accuracy of information held on the police national computer? Will she confirm the answer that she gave my hon. Friend the Member for Mid-Dorset and North Poole (Mrs. Brooke) on 8 December that 20 per cent. of employers and organisations using the Criminal Records Bureau have refused to employ an individual as a result? That is a remarkably high figure.
On police operations, is the Minister satisfied with the system of mutual aid for small forces? I understand that, in Cambridgeshire, 300 officers from other forces were injected into the investigation at an early stage—that cannot but cause confusion in command and intelligence. Finally, has she had any indications that the police authorities in Humberside and Cambridgeshire are inquiring into the conduct of their senior officers?
Ms Blears: I can certainly confirm the importance of the speediness of the inquiry. I am concerned to make sure that we get on with it as quickly as possible.
As for system failures, they will be an essential part of Michael Bichard's investigation. I would not want to prejudge the issues in relation to Humberside and Cambridgeshire, as those are matters for the inquiry. However, the hon. Gentleman raised the important issue of systemic failures as well as individual culpability, and I am sure that those matters will be fully and properly explored. He asked whether HMIC can issue guidance this afternoon on information sharing. I cannot give an undertaking that that will happen this afternoon, but I acknowledge his right and proper call for urgent clarification. We shall certainly make sure that every force is aware of the legal position and the interaction of various bits of legislation. We must give them a firm foundation for the action that they take.
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The hon. Gentleman has again raised the issues of quality assurance and audit. As I said in my statement, a new team has been set up in HMIC, and we have considerably strengthened its capacity to audit the way in which forces are complying. For me, that is just as important in respect of quality as in respect of timeliness. Much of the information recorded by the CRB is very detailed and includes the colour of people's eyes and their distinguishing features. A previous audit showed that the information in relation to convictions is robust, but questions remain about the quality of some of the fine detail that is recorded. It is important for operational purposes that the police have that fine detail about eye colour, height and distinguishing features, and I am pleased to assure the hon. Gentleman that it was found that the PNC database's information on convictions was entirely accurate in more than 94 per cent. of cases. A previous report found that 85 per cent. of records contained errors or omissions but, as I said, those can be matters of very fine detail. The issue is important, and I do not want to underestimate it, but 94 per cent. of convictions records are entirely accurate, and we should be aware of that.
The hon. Gentleman asked about people being refused employment. It was stated that 20 per cent. of people came into that category and, as far as we are aware, that is correct. One reason why questions about data protection have arisen is that the commissioner has been involved in a couple of cases in which very old convictions—incurred in what some may consider innocuous circumstances—have remained on file at the CRB. People have complained that they have been denied employment because of events that happened a long time ago. An example might be a schoolyard fight between two fairly young people that would have no bearing on any job being sought. That is one reason why the retention of information has become such a current issue.
We must always aim at getting the right balance in these matters. People have genuine concerns about privacy and the information that is held on them, but the public interest is served by the Government having access to as much information as possible. The spectrum between individuals retaining absolute privacy and the public interest is a matter that we in this House discuss time and again in relation to access to data. This is another example of the tensions that arise as we try to strike the right balance between private protection and public interest. I have no doubt that Sir Michael's inquiry will drill down into some of those important issues.
Mr. Shaun Woodward: The Bichard inquiry may make various recommendations on data protection, human rights, the collection of information, local intelligence and so on, but they will only be as good as the degree of certainty that individuals are matched to the intelligence held on them. Whatever difficulties may arise in respect of civil liberties, does my hon. Friend agree that it would be a good idea for the Bichard inquiry to consider whether identity cards could have ensured that Huntley was

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unable to use an alternative identity? That he did so was clearly a deliberate attempt to prevent the police from putting together information about him.
Ms Blears: My hon. Friend makes an important point. The terms of reference are wide enough to allow Sir Michael to consider recommendations that he might want to apply nationally. We have recently had some good debates about the growth of the use of biometric information in connection with a range of identifiers for passports, driving licences and so on. We want to get as much information as we can to ensure that people who apply under the CRB procedures or who are on the PNC are who they say they are. That is a fundamental requirement for the integrity of the system as a whole.
Tim Loughton: Serious lessons from this case need to he learned, for child protection and for the forthcoming children's legislation, in which we hear that it is proposed to give identity numbers to 11 million children, only some of whom will be vulnerable. That provision will be greatly diluted if we do not have proper intelligence on the potential perpetrators of abuse and crimes against children. From what the Minister said, there is clearly confusion about how intelligence can be shared. She thinks that the guidelines are clear, but the police are confused about how they should be used. Conviction information may be readily available, but local intelligence needs to be shared properly--that is the key to better measures to combat child abuse. As a matter of urgency, will she ensure that it is made absolutely clear what intelligence about potential abusers--many of whom will have no criminal record—can be shared between the proper agencies dealing with child protection? Will she ensure that those findings are fed into the new children's legislation as soon as possible, so that children are protected and we can get better intelligence about the potential perpetrators of violence against them?
Ms Blears: That is clearly an important part of our considerations. The hon. Gentleman will know that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Skills announced a serious case review by the North East Lincolnshire area child protection committee. One of its terms of reference is to look specifically at how multi-agency working might be improved. Essential to that is the sharing of information. All of us who look at these matters now appreciate that we cannot get the results that we want if we work in silos. Coming, together and sharing information is the best way to protect children and make services more effective.
It concerns me that the data protection legislation can be prayed in aid so that information is not shared as much as I should like. The adoption of proper protocols and safeguards will help to achieve the data protection aims and allow information to be shared. The evidence for that is the fact that police forces and local authorities around the country share information effectively. One of the challenges for the Government is to clarify for people that it is safe and lawful to share information, and to encourage best practice in that respect. The issue is very current and important for us. Clearly, we will
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take on board any recommendations in the Bichard review that we should do more or change the law. The practice is not widespread, but in some areas the data protection legislation is sometimes used as a blanket inhibition on multi-agency work. It should not be used in that way.
Mr. John Denham: I welcome the statement by my hon. Friend that she is preparing a statutory code of practice on data entry into the police national computer. Will she confirm that that will be the first time that intervention powers in the Police Reform Act 2002 have been used to ensure that police performance is brought up to standard? She has implied already that, if things had worked properly, the only charge to appear on the PNC would have been the burglary charge, and that the other allegations would not have appeared. Can she assure me that people such as school caretakers, who are not defined legally as caring for children or being in charge of them, will none the less be subject in future to the enhanced disclosure procedures? If she cannot do that, will she ask Sir Michael Bichard to look at whether enhanced disclosure needs to be extended to those who work closely with, and have access to, children, even though those people are not caring for them or in charge of them?
Ms Blears: I am happy to confirm that Centrex has been working on preparing the statutory code of practice in this matter. I understand that it is not the first time that a code has been prepared, as a statutory code on the use of firearms by police was issued a few weeks ago. However, my right hon. Friend is right to say that the powers under the Police Reform Act are new and innovative, and I know that he played a fundamental part in taking that legislation through the House. The code of practice will be a great help to us.
My right hon. Friend asked whether a person applying to be a school caretaker would be required to obtain enhanced disclosure. That is important, but the requirements for enhanced disclosure apply to people who are regularly involved in caring for, training or supervising children, and to those who have sole charge of children. I understand that the Department for Education and Skills considers that caretakers would be required to undertake enhanced disclosure, as they can take the role of supervising children.
Mr. Douglas Hogg: Police records are never going to be wholly complete or up to date, so does the Minister agree that those who want to employ people in jobs that entail sensitive proximity to children would be well advised also to seek and follow up references in the traditional manner?
Ms Blears: The right hon. and learned Gentleman makes a reasonable, common-sense point. Criminal Records Bureau checks can only ever be one part of the jigsaw. Any sensible employer who is seeking to employ people in positions of sensitivity—whether it is around children or vulnerable adults, or with access to huge amounts of money—will obtain and follow up references in the normal course of that employment process. I thank the right hon. and learned Gentleman for reminding us that the Criminal Records Bureau is only one part of a much wider picture.

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While I am on my feet, I should give some clarification to the hon. Member for Somerton and Frome (Mr. Heath), who asked whether 20 per cent. of people had been refused employment as a result of CRB checks. In a recent survey, one in five employers said that they had used the information in order to refuse employment—the figure therefore relates to one in five organisations, not one in five applicants.
Mr. Andrew Miller: My hon. Friend is absolutely correct that the data protection laws are often prayed in aid unreasonably. Agencies are far too cautious and records are destroyed. In this case, it appears—I use that word very carefully because we only know about some of the evidence—that there was a local newspaper report, which was shown on television last night, about a previous charge, but the police did not have adequate records of it. I join the hon. Member for Somerton and Frome (Mr. Heath) in asking that, as a matter of urgency, proper guidance is given in that respect and that, as part of his inquiry, Sir Michael engages in dialogue with the data protection commissioner to find ways in which to strengthen guidance not only to the police, but to other agencies that may provide useful information.
Ms Blears: Obviously, I cannot comment on the particular case, which will be a matter for Sir Michael's inquiry. However, I should like to remind the House that the inquiry's terms of reference provide that he is not only urgently to inquire into child protection procedures in Humberside police and Cambridgeshire constabulary, but
"to assess the effectiveness of the relevant intelligence-based record keeping, the vetting practices in those forces since 1995 and information sharing with other agencies."
The terms of reference thus make it absolutely clear that Sir Michael will examine those very important issues. I note my hon. Friend's comments about urgent guidance and clarification the whole House would agree that that needs to take place as soon as possible.
Michael Fabricant: The Minister spoke at some length about the inputting of data on to the computer and its timeliness. If the Government are going to place such an additional obligation on local police constabularies, will they be given the necessary resources? If not, we will find that fewer police officers are available to detect crime.
Given that duplication and triplication may occur when information is put on to a local computer, then has to be re-entered on to a national computer, could not an integrated system save time?
Ms Blears: The hon. Gentleman raises a fundamental point. The whole purpose of gathering intelligence is to enable our police forces to be more effective in fighting crime. Those matters are not mutually exclusive. The introduction of the national intelligence model, which is now being implemented across forces, is designed to ensure that, in relation to level 1 local crime, level 2 organised crime and level 3 national and international crime, we have a proper business framework for drawing together all the information and evidence that is out there, so that we can target our resources to the best effect and use our police officers smartly and more
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intelligently. The message to forces is that collecting data is not a bureaucratic burden, but the means by which they get the necessary information to drive their performance and to bear down on reducing and tackling crime.
In asking about information technology, the hon. Gentleman perhaps inadvertently raises a fundamental point about why we are embarking on our police reform process. As he will know, we have a massive programme called CJIT—criminal justice information technology—to integrate IT solutions across the criminal justice system, including the police and the courts, to ensure that we do not constantly duplicate our information. I understand that it will be some time before we have an integrated court-police interface—they have a slightly better system in Scotland—but we are on the case in terms of developing our own integrated information technology solution.
Mr. Tony McWalter: But where the police collect intelligence with a view to a prosecution, it is not at all clear how much of that intelligence should be factored into a computer record. Sometimes it can be tittle-tattle, but in other cases there may be a large number of independent reports that somebody is behaving in an abusive way. Integrating that information is a major difficulty. Will my hon. Friend set her team to consider legislation to that end, independently of the inquiry? We have addressed the issue in relation to antisocial behaviour—why should we not do so in relation to abusive persons?
Ms Blears: In an information-rich world, an increasing multiplicity of reports is available to us. My hon. Friend makes the important point that that information would be of much more use to us if we learned to handle it in an integrated way. I am encouraged when I see a much better use of information and data during my visits to forces. Some police officers are highly computer literate—certainly, more so than me and they are beginning to use those tools in a much better way to fight crime.
As regards legislation, part of Sir Michael's remit is to make recommendations to us of a local or a national nature, and we shall want carefully to consider those recommendations before embarking on further legislation in this area.
Andrew George: Will the Minister ensure that the inquiry will also investigate procedural and organisational failures? In April this year, the Police Complaints Authority upheld 14 detailed complaints from one of my constituents in respect of the investigation by Cambridgeshire constabulary into the killing of her sister, Claire Oldfield-Hampson, in March in Cambridgeshire in 1996. Those complaints clearly identified serious systemic and organisational failures in that constabulary. Will the Minister ensure that the inquiry will consider not only that particular sad and tragic case, but circumstances where other constabularies have had a catalogue of complaints against them?
Ms Blears: I am not in a position to comment on the case that the hon. Gentleman mentions. However, it is important that as a fundamental part of his inquiry Sir

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Michael looks generally at the effectiveness of the police's intelligence-based records, the vetting practices that they undertake, and the way in which they share information. The way in which he organises the submissions that he takes in evidence is a matter for him, but I am sure that he will want to consider very carefully the systems that have been put in place and their effectiveness in handling information.
Dr. Brian Iddon: The problem is that dangerous people move from one part of the country to another. One such case was the murder of young Ryan Mason in my constituency, who was viciously attacked by a man who then dumped his naked body in a bin bag on Great Lever golf course. The man, who was from another town, had moved in with Ryan's mother. The police already had evidence that he had carried out vicious attacks on two other young children. The police are developing a very powerful database, in which I have taken a great interest, called VISOR—the violent and sex offenders register. I understand that it is being trialled in three parts of the country and is to be rolled out in the new year. In my opinion, had VISOR been running at the time of the attack on Ryan, his life might well have been saved, so can my hon. Friend update us on the stage that it has reached?
Ms Blears: My hon. Friend makes the important point that people nowadays are more geographically mobile than ever and it is therefore important that forces can use the national computer and their regional databases to track information. He mentioned the
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VISOR database, which is being developed. I undertake to write to him to give further details of the way in which the trials are proceeding.
Mr. Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: Does the Minister agree that the integrity of the Criminal Records Bureau depends on verification of personal details? Following on from the question of the hon. Member for Bolton, South-East (Dr. Iddon), it appears that it is possible to move to different parts of the country, use a different name and evade the checks. A senior police officer in this place suggested to me that instead of—or as well as—using a general credit reference, a specific credit card reference would be more precise and up to date. Will the Minister consider that and ask Sir Michael to look into it?
Ms Blears: I understand that, in the case of enhanced disclosures, the Criminal Records Bureau makes inquiries of the forces that cover the areas where the applicant has lived in the past five years. There is therefore provision in the Criminal Records Bureau process to try to track back to places where people have lived previously. I undertake to examine the hon. Gentleman's specific suggestion and ascertain whether it has merit and whether we could build it into the process.
Mr. Dennis Skinner: Does it not beggar belief that, in this day and age, when we have more police than at any other time in history, they allowed this man Huntley to get a job and escape the net for so long? Yet 20 years ago, the police, with fewer numbers but national priorities, were able to arrest 9,000 miners, nearly every single one of whom had a clean record. They were chucked in the clink, yet the police could not get hold of this man, who had been having sex with under-age girls all over Yorkshire and Humberside. It is time they got their priorities right.
Mr. Speaker: Order. I am going to move on

Business of the House
1.12 pm
Mr. Oliver Heald: Will the Leader of the House please give us the business for the first week after the Christmas break?
The Leader of the House of Commons (Mr. Peter Hain): The business for the week after the Christmas recess will be as follows:
MONDAY 5 JANUARY—Second Reading of the Traffic Management Bill.
TUESDAY 6 JANUARY—Second Reading of the National Insurance Contributions and Statutory Payments Bill.
WEDNESDAY 7 JANUARY—Opposition Day [1st allotted day]. There will be a debate on an Opposition motion. Subject to be announced.
THURSDAY 8 JANUARY—Second Reading of the Horserace Betting and Olympic Lottery Bill
The provisional business for the following week will be:
MONDAY 12 JANUARY—Second Reading of the Housing Bill.
TUESDAY 13 JANUARY—Opposition Day [2nd allotted day]. There will be a debate on an Opposition motion. Subject to be announced.
WEDNESDAY 14 JANUARY—SeCOnd Reading of the Employment Relations Bill.
THURSDAY 15 JANUARY—Second Reading of the Human Tissue Bill.
I should also like to inform the House that the business in Westminster Hall for the first two weeks following the Christmas recess will be:
THURSDAY 8 JANUARY—Debate on the report from the Public Administration Committee on ministerial accountability and parliamentary questions.
THURSDAY 15 JANUARY—Debate on the report from the Health Committee on sexual health.
I should like to wish all hon. Members, and especially the staff of the House, a merry Christmas and a happy new year.
Mr. Heald: May I associate myself and my hon. Friends with those remarks? A very merry Christmas to everybody.
Has the Leader of the House seen the important report of the high ranking Privy Councillor Review Committee on the Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001? That highly critical report calls for a separate and distinct body of terrorism legislation and demands several parliamentary debates separate from the debate that renews the 2001 Act. Given the gravity of those issues, will the right hon. Gentleman assure me that he will consider the way in which the matter will be handled on the Floor of the House and tell us either now or, perhaps more reasonably, after Christmas?
Does the right hon. Gentleman know of the allegation in the Health Service Journal that pressure was put on civil servants to give the Prime Minister's local hospital a three-star rating and an extra £1 million grant when the other local Member of Parliament, the right hon.
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Member for Darlington (Mr. Milburn), was Secretary of State for Health? Surely an independent inquiry should be held into the allegation that health service ratings were manipulated for political purposes. When can we expect a statement on that?
The Leader of the House announced Second Reading of the Human Tissue Bill. Given the ethical and scientific issues that surround it, and the Government's earlier suggestion that it would be suitable for pre-legislative scrutiny, will the right hon. Gentleman consider whether the measure is appropriate for consideration by a Special Standing Committee, in which evidence could be taken on those important aspects?
The Leader of the House will recall that, on 27 November, I raised the sitting hours. Subsequently, more than 230 hon. Members have signed early-day motion 262.
[That this House notes that the revised sitting hours and related arrangements have now been in place for 12 months; believes that there is now sufficient experience of the new arrangements to enable the House to judge what adjustments would be appropriate to enable the business of the House to be conducted more effectively; and calls for an urgent review of the reforms.]
In the light of that, and given last week's announcement of a questionnaire by the Procedure Committee, will the right hon. Gentleman tell us how he is getting on with setting up a review of the new arrangements?
Will the Leader of House comment on a modernisation measure—an early Christmas present for Conservative Members? Yesterday at Prime Minister's Question Time, the Leader of the Opposition asked the Prime Minister six questions. Of course, he did not get an answer but that did not surprise us. However, the Prime Minister asked my right hon. and learned Friend five questions. Is that not overwhelming evidence of the need for change and the introduction of Leader of the Opposition's Question Time? My right hon. and learned Friend generously said that he would support that and that he might even allow the Prime Minister more than six questions, if the right hon. Gentleman were ever prepared to answer a single question.
Mr. Hain: On the latter point, if the shadow Leader of the House is seriously pressing for a Leader of the Opposition's Question Time, it suggests that the Leader of the Opposition intends to remain in that position for a long time.
Let us consider the more serious points. The Newton committee review was published today and laid before the House with a written ministerial statement from the Home Secretary. We will issue a statement in response to the report and consider the hon. Gentleman's request.
The hon. Gentleman mentioned the former Secretary of State for Health. Let me make the procedural point that it would have been odd for him not to be involved in commenting on and raising queries about the formative stages of a brand new system of evaluation, especially since the Department of Health was responsible for producing the star ratings at the time. There is an important distinction between asking a question and issuing an instruction. The former Secretary of State asked a question, as he did about several hospital trusts that were introducing the system. Consequently, there

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were fluctuations—some ratings went up and others went down. Indeed, he asked a question about the hospital trust in the constituency of the right hon. Member for Maidstone and The Weald (Miss Widdecombe). I am happy to report that the star rating increased there, too.
The hon. Gentleman asked whether there would be special procedures, perhaps pre-legislative scrutiny, for the Human Tissue Bill. I am happy to consider that. He made an interesting suggestion about the Bill's suitability for consideration by a Special Standing Committee so that evidence could be taken. I shall look into the matter and write to him about it.
I noted the 238 names of hon. Members who signed the early-day motion on the hours of the House. I have consulted widely about the new hours. I have seen in my room more than 100 Members of Parliament from the three major parties. In addition, I have talked to individual Members about these matters in the corridors and the Tea Room. I have listened carefully to what everyone has said, and there are a lot of different views. Obviously, there is a large group of people—as illustrated by the early-day motion—who would like the hours to be changed. I very much doubt from the conversations that I have had that a majority would favour going back to the original hours, but there have been suggestions about how the existing hours could be modified and how some of the anomalies and difficulties could be removed. I shall continue to listen, and consider how to take the matter forward.
The Modernisation Committee has ownership of this issue in the sense that it drew up the report that led to the motion that came to the House, which led to the vote to change the hours. The Committee will want to consider at what point it will start the review that was promised in the motion that was carried by the House for the hours to remain as they are for the rest of this Parliament. I shall consult all hon. Members and others about how we take the matter forward.
The hon. Gentleman asked for an early Christmas present for the Opposition, and I should be happy to promise him one right now: I wish them every opportunity to spend many long years in opposition. I have already answered his point on whether there should be a Leader of the Opposition's Question Time.
Mr. Paul Tyler: May I suggest to the Leader of the House that the issue raised by the hon. Member for North-East Hertfordshire (Mr. Heald) about the allocation of appropriate Bills to a Special Standing Committee is precisely the kind of issue that ought to be discussed between the parties around the table, as was recommended by the Modernisation Committee and approved by the House? I drew this matter to the attention of the Leader of the House last week.
May we have a statement as early as possible after the recess from the Secretary of State for Education and Skills on today's Select Committee report on schools funding? This damning report draws two very important conclusions. It says:
"It was a serious weakness in the Department's strategy to implement the schools' funding changes without knowing in detail how schools would be affected."
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It goes on to say:
"If the Government has a desire for a greater degree of central control over schools funding, about which we would have serious reservations, it should provide itself with an effective means of exercising that control."
This report, produced by a Committee with a large Labour majority, makes it quite clear that the schools Minister was guilty of presiding over a complete disaster this year: a £1 billion bungle. He and the Secretary of State blamed local education authorities of all parties—not just Opposition parties—for the way in which they handled the issue, when in fact the blame should have stayed with the Department. Will the Leader of the House ensure that the Secretary of State comes to the House early in the new year, apologises to those local authorities on behalf of his ministerial team and gives us an assurance that this will not happen again in 2004–05?
Mr. Hain: On the question of discussions between the hon. Gentleman, the shadow Leader of the House and me on forthcoming matters, this has not been the practice in the past and I do not see any persuasive case for changing the arrangements. As the hon. Gentleman knows, however, I have written to the Chairman of the Liaison Committee about a large number of draft Bills, giving the Chairman and, therefore, all Select Committee Chairmen early notice of the timetable that we envisage for introducing draft Bills for pre-legislative scrutiny. The Chairman of the Liaison Committee very much welcomed that initiative, as did his colleagues on the Committee.
On schools funding, yes, there was a glitch in the system that caused considerable difficulty, but a package has been put in place by the Secretary of State that will ensure adequate resources for local authorities and provide minimum increases in funding for every school. It will also involve making early announcements, reversing cuts in grant and limiting central spending. All those measures will address the problems that were raised by this episode. The Secretary of State also answers questions regularly in the House when these matters have been raised, and that will continue to be possible. I would like to put this in perspective. Despite those unhappy glitches, the Government are introducing record investment into schools, recruiting thousands of extra teachers, and driving up standards in primary and secondary schools, achieving the highest levels of attainment and investment for decades. The difficulties to which the hon. Gentleman referred, which were unacceptable, should be set against this impressive record of continued educational investment and spending, and the rising standards that result from that.
Mr. Alan Meale:The Leader of the House will be aware of the magnificent efforts of our Post Office workers who have delivered record levels of Christmas mail in the last few weeks. He will also be aware that, some months ago, I came to the House and extracted from the Minister for Energy, E-Commerce and Postal Services a guarantee that before any sub-post offices were closed, the local Members of Parliament and local authorities would be consulted. My right hon. Friend will therefore be as alarmed as I was to learn of

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the announcement this morning of the closure of 11 sub-post offices in my area, without that guarantee having been met. Will he ask his colleagues at the Department of Trade and Industry to invite the chairman of Royal Mail, Mr. Allan Leighton to explain why he has baulked that guarantee? Perhaps it could be suggested to Mr. Leighton that if he spent as much time saving rural and urban post offices as he spends trying to save Leeds United, he would do a better job.
Mr. Hain: It is probably easier to save local post offices than it is to save Leeds United in the current circumstances. I am disturbed by the account to which my hon. Friend refers. It is imperative that local Members of Parliament and local councils, as well as the local public who will be affected, should be consulted by the Post Office on any planned closures. That is normally what happens, as I know from my own experience. If my hon. Friend has not been consulted, especially given the large number of closures involved, it is totally unacceptable. I am sure that the chairman of the Post Office will note my hon. Friend's anger about this matter. My hon. Friend will have the opportunity to raise the issue again in the debate on this subject planned for 7 January, and I hope that he takes the opportunity to do so.
Bob Spink: The local transport settlement for 2004–05 was announced in today's Order Paper, which gave notice of a written statement on the matter. Last year, there was an oral statement, which gave hon. Members the opportunity to question the Government on this important matter, particularly given the increased congestion and rail problems in certain areas. May we have a debate early in the new year to enable hon. Members to hold the Government to account on this important issue?
Mr. Hain: The hon. Gentleman has the opportunity to apply for an early debate, but I believe that at this moment just before the recess it was absolutely proper to have a written ministerial statement setting all these matters out. I am sure that he will also recognise that we have a very impressive record of extra investment in rail services, local transport schemes and extra bus provision, especially in rural areas. As a result of that investment, 1,500 new trains have come into service since we have been in power, and there has been a 20 per cent. rise in rail passenger journeys—[Interruption.] I hear a few scoffs from Conservative Back Benchers, but let us compare this with their Government's record of cuts in rail investment that led to the absolute shambles and danger to passenger safety that we inherited.
David Winnick: Does my right hon. Friend agree that a very nice Christmas box for Labour Members and for the majority of people in the country would have been an announcement that the Parliament Acts would be used to ensure that the Hunting Bill became law in the lifetime of this Parliament? Is he aware that the Countryside Alliance has produced playing cards with the 50 most dedicated opponents of fox hunting on them? I am pleased to say that I am on that list, but I would like to be higher up.
Mr. Hain: I am not sure whether I am on that list, but it would be an honour to be so. I have made our position
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absolutely clear, both at business questions and elsewhere, on how this matter is to be taken forward, and I do not have anything to add to that.
Sir George Young: The Leader of the House has been pressed on several occasions for a debate on the Procedure Committee report recommending legislation on Parliament square. He has said that that issue needed to be resolved sooner rather than later. That was on 27 November. How late can "soon" be, before "sooner" becomes "later"?
Mr. Hain: A number of different agencies are involved, as the right hon. Gentleman understands, such as the Royal Parks Agency, local authorities and the police, and consultations are taking place. I understand the point that he raises; "soon" means soon. I shall seek to address the matter as soon as I can. Equally, he will understand that the Procedure Committee report, which was strongly argued and persuasive, raised important issues and they need to be considered properly rather than prematurely.
Geraldine Smith: The Leader of the House will be aware of the success of the pension credit in helping some of the poorest pensioners in this country. In my constituency, more than 4,000 pensioners have benefited, but I would like a debate early in the new year to consider specifically how to increase take-up of the pension credit and find more ways to encourage pensioners to get the benefits that they are entitled to.
Mr. Hain: My hon. Friend raises an important matter. Already, 2.4 million pensioners receive pension credit, which is a big total. I would urge all Members of Parliament to publicise the credit and appeal to local pensioners to contact local pensioner groups to ensure that take-up is even better than it has been, because we need it to be extensive. The credit is a radical improvement in the lives of pensioners who have almost certainly been hard-working for all their working lives, who may have been thrifty and may have a small amount of savings. They have not had support if they received a small widow's pension or a small occupational pension or had modest savings.
The Government are delivering the pension credit as part of the £9 billion more a year we have spent on support for pensioners since we came to power. It is disgraceful that the Opposition plan to axe the pension credit.
Mr. Michael Jack: You may recall, Mr. Deputy Speaker, that the time available for questioning the Secretary of State for Defence on the publication of the defence White Paper was curtailed because of pressure of business in the House. Will the Leader of the House look again at providing an opportunity for a debate on defence procurement, because the Secretary of State mentioned in the White Paper, among other things, the possibility of reducing the number of aircraft in service or to be procured?
There is great uncertainty among the tens of thousands of aerospace workers in the north-west about that announcement and there is a great need for

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clarification of Government policy on this area. Would the Leader of the House have a look at the matter, please?
Mr. Hain: I know of the right hon. Gentleman's close constituency interest in the defence industry, and the long and expert interest he has taken in the issue of defence. I am sure that he will be pleased to know that his request will be accepted. The Secretary of State for Defence plans to have a debate on the White Paper as soon as it is possible to do so. [Interruption.] As soon as it is possible.
We agree with the right hon. Gentleman: the Government want strong defence for the country, and we want maximum opportunities for British defence-based industries to take advantage of supplying not only our own needs, but overseas contracts, too.
Rob Marris: I note that on 14 January the Employment Relations Bill is due to receive its Second Reading. I wonder whether the Leader of the House might arrange for a statement that day from the relevant Minister on the Government's employment strategy. My understanding of the unemployment figures in the paper today is that more people are employed in the United Kingdom than ever before. However, I understand that some people are suggesting that the Government's programmes of new deals for jobs should be scrapped. Can we have a statement to clarify that issue on the day that the Employment Relations Bill has its Second Reading?
Mr. Hain: I will look sympathetically at that, because the employment record of this Government is second to none. There has been a rise in employment of nearly 1.7 million and unemployment has been cut to the lowest for generations. On the question of the new deal, I find it astonishing that the Leader of the Opposition has said:
"We think the New Deal has been an expensive failure".
The right hon. Member for Bromley and Chislehurst (Mr. Forth) nods in agreement, as I suppose all Conservative Members alongside him are doing. In the constituency of the Leader of the Opposition, Folkestone and Hythe, an extra 650 young people have got jobs as a result of the new deal, and 1,450 people got jobs as a result of the new deal if we take over-25s into account. The role of the new deal in personal mentoring and individual advice is important.
Mr. Deputy Speaker (Sir Michael Lord): Order. I think that we are getting a little way away from next week's business.
Mr. Eric Forth: Whatever happened to pre-legislative scrutiny? The Leader of the House will recall that his predecessor but one produced a lot of high falutin' undertakings about how parliamentary life was going to be transformed by pre-legislative scrutiny. However, partly owing to the cock-up of last year's legislative programme and the late start this year, there is not much sign of any serious "pre-leg" scrutiny. Will the Leader of the House tell us how many of the Government Bills to be brought before the
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House in this year's programme will be subjected to full-blown, effective, proper pre-legislative scrutiny? Is the undertaking that was given to be honoured?
Mr. Hain: First, I welcome the right hon. Gentleman back to business questions in a reincarnation of his impressive and energetic parliamentary obstructionism. I think that it adds to the quality of our debates and of the House in general.
As the right hon. Gentleman knows, a dozen Bills have been announced as draft Bills that will be subject to pre-legislative scrutiny. That is the largest number ever, and I am sure that he will welcome that for obvious reasons. I wrote to the Chairman of the Liaison Committee, as I indicated a few minutes ago, giving the projected timetable so that the Select Committees involved can set up their own programmes of work. They found that very helpful, and I am sure that the right hon. Gentleman would wish to take any opportunity to get involved as well.
Keith Vaz: I wonder whether my right hon. Friend is a regular viewer of "EastEnders", or does he feel that being Leader of the House is enough exposure to soaps? May I draw his attention to early-day motion 309 and the case it involves?
[That this House notes that Dalip Tahil who plays Dan Ferreira in Eastenders may face removal from Britain for breach of work permit regulations; further notes press reports that he has received a letter from the Home Office rejecting his application to stay and work here; expresses its concern about these reports; and calls upon the Home Secretary to intervene in this case to ensure that Mr Tahil will be allowed to continue in his role not just because he is an excellent actor, and one of the few actors of Asian origin on national television, but also because the Ferreira family with their trials, tribulations and trysts will he left fatherless at this crucial time in all their lives.]
Dalip Tahil is an internationally renowned actor who faces removal from this country, not in the soap but in real life, because of work permit issues. I raised that matter with the Home Secretary on Tuesday, and he promised that officials would speak to me about it. I have just spoken to Mr. Tahil's solicitor and he has made an application to remain in this country under the highly skilled migrant workers scheme. I do not expect the Leader of the House to give me an answer today, but would he draw the attention of the Home Secretary to the early-day motion so that we can have the meeting that was promised?
Mr. Hain: I am sure that the Home Secretary will already have noted my hon. Friend's question, and I know of the close, expert interest he takes in such matters. This is a serious case with a lot of complications and he will understand that I cannot comment on individual cases.
My hon. Friend asked me about my television viewing habits. I must confess that I have not had time to see an episode of "EastEnders" for a very long time. I was in the humiliating position of answering a question about which two television programmes I saw more than twice a month. I am afraid that they were "The Premiership" and "Newsnight".
Mr. Douglas Hogg: Would the right hon. Gentleman please arrange

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an early debate on the question of detention without trial? That would enable us to press the Government on what they are doing with regard to the nine UK citizens in Guantanamo Bay and enable the Government to make a full statement on the 14 foreign nationals held in the UK under the anti-terrorism legislation. He will know full well that the Newton committee report published today suggests that part 4 of the Antiterrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001 should be replaced, and expresses grave concern about its powers. In that latter connection, he will remember that he said last week that he would communicate my anxieties to the Home Secretary. Has he done so, and what was the response?
Mr. Hain: I have indeed done so, and as I indicated to the shadow Leader of the House a few moments ago, the Government are studying the Newton report very carefully. The right hon. and learned Gentleman is right to express concern about the position of the 14 foreign nationals. Equally, he will understand that the security threat to this country from terrorism from foreign sources is the greatest ever. We have never been in this situation before—obviously the IRA experience was in a different category—and, therefore, we have to take such matters seriously. That is why the powers exist under the 2001 Act to allow us to do so.
I am sure that, following the dreadful attack on our Istanbul consulate, and the attacks that are constantly being threatened or carried out on British interests across the world, the right hon. and learned Gentleman would want us to be very careful about how we deal with suspects, or people whom we have arrested, and how we keep them in a position where they cannot mount any terrorist attacks.
Mr. Wayne David: Will the Leader of the House ensure that there is a debate as soon as possible on the legacy of pit closures in south Wales in the 1980s? Such a debate is vital, because it has recently been suggested that a favour was done for the people of Wales by the devastation of communities right across the coalfield. That statement was made by none other than the Leader of the Opposition, who—believe it or not—is a Welshman.
Mr. Hain: I will certainly consider my hon. Friend's request for a debate. It would be interesting to have one, precisely for the reasons that he gave. He is able to apply for a debate himself. I was astonished to read in The Western Mail the statement by the Leader of the Opposition that coal communities had
"revived very considerably under Margaret Thatcher."
What planet is he living on? Planet poll tax?
Mr. John Wilkinson: Does the Leader of the House recognise the importance of early-day motion 127?
[That this House calls upon Her Majesty's Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to mark the 70th anniversary of the Soviet-induced famine and genocide in Ukraine; urges it to recognise officially that in 1932–33 the Soviet regime under Stalin employed genocide to destroy opposition in Ukraine; emphasises that it should acknowledge publicly
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that some seven million Ukrainians were starved to death as a result of the enforced collectivisation of agriculture in Ukraine; reminds it of its duty to condemn any and all attempts to deny or misrepresent the facts about the Ukrainian famine and genocide; insists that it must admit that the Foreign and Commonwealth Office archives reveal that the United Kingdom Government was aware of the scale of genocide and famine in Ukraine in 1932–33 yet chose to remain silent on the issue; asserts that it should state publicly that information about the Ukrainian famine and genocide of 1932–33 was suppressed, distorted, or wiped out by the Soviet authorities and that fully reliable information has only relatively recently become available in Ukraine itself; presses it to direct a comprehensive review of the UK National Curriculum in schools in all matters concerning the Stalin era, especially with regard to the Ukrainian famine and genocide of 1932–33; and declares that it has a moral duty to support a motion, which is to be proposed at the United Nations in November 2003; seeking international recognition that the forced famine of 1932–33 in Ukraine was an act of genocide against the Ukrainian nation.
It was signed by 34 hon. Members from both sides of the House, including myself. Those signatures were acquired without canvassing.
Can Her Majesty's Government find time officially to recognise that the famine was deliberately induced by the artificial policy of collectivisation under Stalin? It was a deliberate act of genocide to wipe out opposition in Ukraine. If Her Majesty's Government could do that, it would be a bold step in support of human rights.
Mr. Hain: I respect the hon. Gentleman's reasons for raising this matter, and I pay tribute to him for keeping the issue under public scrutiny. Famine was one of Stalin's most terrible crimes. However, we do not think that the United Nations is the right forum in which to resolve such complex historical issues, even though terrible crimes are involved. I am advised that the Ukrainian Government withdrew a draft United Nations resolution, and instead issued a statement at the United Nations, which was agreed with the Russian Federation among others. We will obviously keep this issue under review.
Mr. Russell Brown: After years of dissatisfaction, weeks of deliberation and a certain amount of research, I applied earlier this week, through the good offices of the Speaker, for an Adjournment debate on honours lists. This morning, the Table Office informed me that such a debate could not be held, because such questions are usually referred to the Prime Minister, and he does not answer Adjournment debates. If Back Benchers cannot raise an Adjournment debate on the honours list system, will my right hon. Friend find time in the House for one to be held?
Mr. Hain: I am grateful to my hon. Friend for giving me prior notice of his question. I am concerned that he should have the opportunity to apply for a debate on the honours system and issues connected with it. It is a proper matter to discuss in the House. The Table Office quite properly advised him that the Prime Minister does

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not do Adjournment debates, and there is no procedure for a request for an Adjournment debate to the Prime Minister.
Mr. Heald: Modernisation.
Mr. Hain: If the hon. Gentleman can wait for it.
I am sure that there is a way of resolving this problem. I shall discuss with No. 10 whether a Cabinet Office Minister could answer any such debate should my hon. Friend be successful in applying for one.
I take this opportunity to encourage all hon. Members to do what I have written to Welsh Members of all parties encouraging them to do: to put forward names for honours to be considered by the relevant committees. Many people do fantastic voluntary work in our communities. They are the local heroes and heroines of our communities, and they make up the life of our country and contribute such a lot. They should be in pole position for honours. There should be more nominees, and I hope that all Members will put in their nominations.
Mrs. Patsy Calton: May I add my request for a debate on the botched and sham consultation procedures used by the Post Office for their closure programme? Yesterday, I was supposed to receive a special delivery package to inform me about closures in my constituency, but it was lost in the post, as was that of the hon. Member for Stockport (Ms Coffey). To lose one special delivery package could be considered a misfortune, but to lose two looks like carelessness. A copy has turned up today, but the clock is ticking on this consultation, which will end on 27 January. That is not six weeks from today or yesterday.
Given the timing of the start of this exercise over Christmas, will the Leader of the House support my request for an extension to the consultation period in my area, and for proper consideration of the needs of all our local communities based around post offices?
Mr. Hain: Given the number of questions that have been raised with me about post office closures, the Post Office must clearly think carefully about how it proceeds, especially about its consultations with local Members of Parliament. I replied to my hon. Friend the Member for Mansfield (Mr. Meale) about his situation. It is imperative that Members of Parliament are properly advised and fully involved. I am sure that the chairman of the Post Office will want to consider carefully the points that the hon. Lady and my hon. Friend have made.
Dr. Brian Iddon: The only day when my constituents can get down from my constituency to London, take the Line of Route tour and enjoy the workings of the House is a Monday. This year for the first time I am unable to book our sixth-form students on to the Line of Route on a Monday, because they will have taken their A-levels by the time a slot is available. My right hon. Friend may be surprised to learn that the Line of Route tour is booked up until late June or early July. Will he ask the House authorities
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to look into this problem, especially for constituencies further away from London, and to try to resolve the difficulties for Members of Parliament who, like me, have constituencies some distance from London? Our constituents do not believe that we cannot arrange visits to the House.
Mr. Hain: I am grateful that my hon. Friend has raised this matter with me. I, too, have been concerned about this situation. My constituency is almost 200 miles away, and I have had difficulty agreeing dates with local schools and others who want to visit the House and take advantage of the Line of Route tour. I have asked the Serjeant at Arms to look into this problem, because I think that we should have more flexibility and more structuring of the arrangements so that Members from London and nearby are encouraged to come in the earlier part of the day, and to begin Line of Route tours much earlier on a Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday than they currently do. The staffing and cost implications need to be considered, which is why the Serjeant is looking into the problem at my request. We could consider having extra opportunities on Fridays. I am sure that London Members would be willing to be allocated earlier times, especially on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, so that Members such as my hon. Friend and others with constituencies outside London can take advantage of the Line of Route.
This essential service is provided for our constituents to visit the Palace. As we all know, it is very popular, and it helps to keep the House of Commons and Parliament as a whole closely connected to the citizens who put us here. I am involved with fellow members of the Modernisation Committee in considering a range of issues about reconnecting the House of Commons with voters. They include not just the Line of Route but a proper reception centre, so that visitors can be treated properly and admitted with some dignity and with decent security. That is very much on our agenda.
Mr. Nigel Evans: One of the unintended consequences of the new hours is the loss of our opportunity to bring our constituents here on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. The Leader of the House tells us that he is having a "big conversation" with Members about the hours. What we do know is that they simply are not working. We cannot be in two places at once.
I remember how things were when I was elected in 1992. I am not saying that we should return to all-night sittings, which were clearly ridiculous, but the new hours have knocked the stuffing out of this place. I know the Leader of the House likes collecting jobs; well, there is a third job for him, now: to play Santa Claus, and ensure that the Modernisation Committee presents proposals early in January so we can think about the hours that we need to make this a proper working Parliament.
Mr. Hain: I understand and respect the hon. Gentleman's view. As I have discovered, there is an honest difference of opinion between Members of all parties. It is my job to try to find the centre of gravity, and 1 will do that.
There is no prospect of an urgent review by the end of January. The Procedure Committee is sending Members a questionnaire, and I shall be consulting them to try to

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find a consensus in an attempt to deal with some of the anomalies identified by the hon. Gentleman—but we should not forget what it was like in the past. He mentioned all-night sittings, and I agree with him that we do not want to return to those. Nor do we want to return to many of the other difficulties, inconveniences and anomalies that the old hours involved. We need to take the necessary time to ensure that we act with care and consideration on this.
David Cairns: My right hon. Friend began, appropriately, by wishing everyone a happy Christmas and a happy new year. Will he now join me in wishing members of the British Jewish community a happy Chanukah? In that connection, I draw his attention to early-day motion 123,
[That this House condemns the terrorist, anti-Semitic attacks on the two Istanbul synagogues 'Oasis of Peace' and 'Beth Israel' killing 25 people and injuring over 300; also condemns the arson attack which destroyed a Jewish school near Paris on the same morning; notes that these attacks were preceded by deadly anti-Semitic terrorist attacks on synagogues and Jewish community centres in Casablanca and Tunisia; recalls the description of Jews by German MP Martin Hohman as 'guilty people' and a nation of perpetrators': records the anti-Semitic speech of the outgoing Malaysian Prime Minister; recognises that the last three years have seen a dramatic increase in anti-Semitic incidents against the UK Jewish community and the rise in support for the BNP; notes that there is no conflict between Judaism, Islam and Christianity; rejects those who cynically
exploit differences of opinion over Israel and Palestine to promote anti-semitism; and calls upon the Government to institute a zero tolerance policy to combat anti-Semitism, Islamophobia and racism in all its forms by raising the issue at the UN and in Europe and encouraging firm action by the police and the Crown Prosecution Service.]
The motion outlines in horrific detail the rapid rise of anti-Semitism and increase in anti-Semitic attacks throughout Europe and beyond, citing the two bombs in Istanbul which killed 25 people and injured 300 more. Early in the new year, may we have a debate on the rise of anti-Semitism throughout Europe and in the United Kingdom in particular, so that all Members can say to the decent, law-abiding Jewish community in this country that anti-Semitism and anti-Semitic attacks are intolerable? In the past they have been allowed to go unchecked, and we know where that has led. A message must be sent to the Jewish community that the Government take this extremely seriously: they must be absolutely confident of that.
Mr. Hain: I am pleased to join my hon. Friend in wishing all members of the Jewish community a happy Chanukah. I am glad that he has given me the opportunity to do so.
Like my hon. Friend and, I am sure, all other Members, I am strongly committed to rooting out and confronting anti-Semitism and racism of all kinds wherever they appear, in this country or in Europe as a whole. It is essential that we confront the problem and do not duck it, whether in pub conversations, in local communities, in schools or in more threatening contexts. The rising tide of anti-Semitism throughout European Union countries, including Britain, is
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extremely disturbing. We have learned the bitter lesson of history that unless we confront anti-Semitism uncompromisingly, we shall reap a bitter harvest.
Mr. Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: May I return to the subject of our sitting hours? May I make a strong plea for the matter to be considered by Members of this Parliament, who have experience of the workings of the House of Commons? New Members will not have had the benefit of that experience.
One reason why I think the hours should be reformed is timetabling. Let me say, at the risk of boring the House, that I played a part in the progress of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Bill. It took a whole year to complete the passage of a major section of that Bill, dealing with important infrastructure projects such as terminal 5. It was not discussed in the House at all, and will have to be discussed in another place.
If our sittings ended at 9 pm every night, we would have an extra five hours. I believe that that would result in much less timetabling. It is a good example of the way in which the House ought to work. I urge the Leader of the House to consider the matter sooner rather than later.
Mr. Hain: The Planning and Compulsory Purchase Bill is a bad example of good programming and good timetabling, and lessons have been learned from it. As the hon. Gentleman will know, it is virtually alone in that respect. There are many good examples, such as the Communications Bill and the Hunting Bill, which were mentioned only recently in the Modernisation Committee's report on programming. After a debate on the Floor of the House following the publication of that report, the House agreed to the arrangements for timetabling.
The hon. Gentleman cannot blame the sitting hours for the difficulties with the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Bill, which were caused by the way in which the Standing Committee operated. I hope they will not be repeated. He pulled a 9 o'clock finish out of the hat, as it were. Having had detailed discussions with scores of Members in all parties, I can tell him that just about everyone has his or her own suggestion of a starting or finishing time for the House and for Committees. It is because I want to find a consensus that the Modernisation Committee will, in due course, wish to consider the matter. I will make an announcement to the House next year, when I am in a position to do so.
Mr. Clive Betts: Can the Leader of the House give us an idea of when the Second Reading of the Pensions Bill is likely to take place? It contains worthwhile proposals to guarantee that when firms become insolvent, their employees will keep their pensions.
Many people will not have a particularly happy time this Christmas. UEF in Sheffield and Hydrotools have already gone into liquidation, and employees' pension prospects have been substantially worsened as a result. Will the Leader of the House ask the Minister who presents the Pensions Bill to pay particular attention to early-day motion 200, tabled by my hon. Friend the Member for Cardiff, West (Kevin Brennan)?
[That this House acknowledges the plight of workers who have lost their final salary occupation pensions schemes through company insolvency despite being

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promised by firms and successive governments that their pensions were guaranteed and in many cases having been compelled to join their scheme as a condition of employment; further believes that the Government has a moral and possibly legal obligation to help these workers who have been stripped of their pensions through no fault of their own; and further calls upon the Government to introduce legislation to compensate victims of this singular injustice.]
The motion seeks to extend pension protection to workers whose firms have gone into liquidation in the past, as well as those who will have unhappy experiences in the future.
Mr. Hain: I well understand why my hon. Friend has drawn my attention to that important motion, signed by many Members. If I were a Back Bencher, I would have been inclined to sign it myself. I believe that some 44,000 workers—including employees of ASW in Cardiff, with which I have dealt as Secretary of State for Wales—have received disgraceful and scandalous treatment. Some have given 30 years' service and, having built up their pensions, have been robbed of them. That is why we are introducing legislation providing a pensions protection fund to prevent this from ever happening again. Discussions are being held with the Minister for Pensions to establish whether any assistance can be given to workers in this desperate predicament.
Mr. Colin Challen: Even at this late hour, may I assure my right hon. Friend that the only direction in which Leeds United is going is up?
Did my right hon. Friend see last week's CBI figures, which showed that capital intensity in each hour worked in the United Kingdom economy is 60 per cent. less than in the United States, 32 per cent. less than in Germany and 25 per cent. less than in France? Does that not tell us that the real British disease in UK productivity is the short-termism and conservatism of British capital, and the attitude to British industry? May we have a debate on UK productivity, so that we can expose the problem we have had to experience for so long?
Mr. Hain: After last night's defeat of Chelsea, my football club, I will not trade rival greetings with my hon. Friend. As for productivity rates, if he looks at the evidence in the Red Book and at the wider picture, he will see that the gap between British and German and French manufacturing, in particular, is closing rapidly. We still have a long way to go to catch up with the United States, but there have been improvements, and all our measures are designed to produce further improvements. The picture is not as bleak as he paints it; it is getting better, and I would expect him to welcome that.
Dr. Alan Whitehead: Will my right hon. Friend find time for a debate as soon as we return from the Christmas recess on the suggestion made by the Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs that further reform of the House of Lords, incorporating an elected element, may now be on the agenda? Does my right hon. Friend agree that an early
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debate on this possibility may well shed light on forthcoming legislation on the removal of hereditary peers and inform the associated discussion? An early debate could be very useful in the context of that legislation.
Mr. Hain: I cannot promise my hon. Friend an early debate, but he is of course free to apply for one. However, I can confirm that the Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs said the following in The Independent of 15 December:
"I am conveying the message as strongly as I can that the door is open and I'm keen for people to go through it. What that will involve depends upon having a proper discussion about it."
In other words, he is open to ideas about a final stage of House of Lords reform. The priority must now be to deal with the anomaly of the 92 hereditaries, and to establish a proper, independent appointments system. He also said the following in The Observer of 7 December:
"We do not say the changes we make in this House of Lords Bill represent the end of the road."
He is clearly indicating that if a consensus can be assembled—he will consult the Joint Committee on House of Lords Reform during the passage of the current legislation—we can establish whether the House can reach agreement on a proposal involving at least an elected element. As my hon. Friend knows, I—presumably like him—voted for a 100 per cent. elected House of Lords, and for all the other proposals involving an elected element.
Brian White: May I draw the attention of the Leader of the House to early-day motion 290?
[That this House congratulates the research team at The Open University led by Professor Colin Pillinger for their outstanding work on the Beagle 2 project which is scheduled to touch down on Mars on Christmas Day; notes that because this work was conducted in an open access institution, the research underpinning this project will bring benefit to far more students from a wider spectrum of backgrounds and in far quicker time than if it was conducted in a traditional selective-entry university; and calls on the Government to ensure that the special nature of The Open University and the unique access to excellence it provides should be recognised when considering research funding allocation in the future.]
Will he draw to his colleagues' attention the need to capitalise on this British success story, which is based on academic research and industry working in partnership, and to ensure that we get more science graduates from universities?
Mr. Hain: I am happy to join my hon. Friend—I know that he has a constituency interest in this matter and the whole House in congratulating Professor Pillinger and his team. The Beagle 2 project is very impressive, and the Open university makes a unique contribution to teaching and research. Current Government funding stands at £136 million for teaching and £5.6 million for research—an indication of our confidence in the Open university's role.
Mr. Gordon Prentice: May I say how much I am enjoying the seminars, teach-ins and

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Powerpoint presentations being laid on by our mutual friend the Secretary of State for Education and Skills concerning top-up fees? That is a marvellous innovation, but may I draw the attention of the Leader of the House to early-day motion 322?
[That this House congratulates Paul Martin, the new Prime Minister of Canada, on his decision to make democratic reform of the House of Commons a top priority; notes that the reforms are designed to strengthen the roles of individual parliamentarians and committees with an increased number of free votes; further notes that Ministers will be required actively to seek the support of their colleagues who are to be involved early in the policy development process; contrasts this approach to the way in which key policy initiatives are brought forward at Westminster; and urges the British Prime Minister to visit his counterpart's website http: //wwwl.pm.gc.ca/eng/dens—reform.asp for insights and inspiration.]
Really innovative things are happening in our sister Parliament in Ottawa, where Government Back Benchers are being involved in policy development at an early stage, and matters are not being sprung on them. As a result, there will be a greater number of free votes. He should look seriously at what is happening there.
Mr. Hain: I would certainly be happy to look at the Canadian experience. Indeed, the Modernisation Committee's current project, to which I referred earlier, concerns how we are to reconnect Parliament to the people—an issue that should concern us on a cross-party basis.
I hope that the excellent presentations by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Skills are persuading my hon. Friend of the Government's policy on top-up fees. Of course, a number of free votes are allowed in the House by custom and practice. I am sure that he will also praise the Government for introducing pre-legislative scrutiny;
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indeed, a dozen Bills in the current Session have been subject to such scrutiny. That is a big advance on the old situation, so doubtless he will welcome it.
Joan Ruddock: On sitting hours, I should point out to my right hon. Friend that Members of this place have always had to be in two places at once, and that it may just be that the silent majority—which includes me—feel that the current hours are working well. On visits to this House and London Members, his suggestions are very acceptable, but will he investigate the question of the closing of the doors of this Chamber? I brought constituents to the House on Monday evening, but because it got up early the Chamber was closed, even though the refreshment rooms were still open. Does he think that appropriate, or does he agree with me that if London Members are to be helpful in this regard, we should be able to bring our constituents into the Chamber at their convenience, in the evening?
Mr. Hain: I am concerned to hear that that was my hon. Friend's experience on Monday. Several Members have raised this issue with me; indeed, I referred to it recently during business questions. I had thought that, as a result, the authorities had made it common practice to leave the Chamber open in the evening for a time, so that Members representing constituencies throughout the country—not just London ones—could bring in their guests. It is an experience that constituents enjoy.
I welcome what my hon. Friend said about hours. A substantial number of Members are very satisfied with the broad parameters of the current hours settlement, for which I myself voted. There is no clear agreement that I have been able to discern so far; indeed, the early-day motion referred to earlier calls not for a specific alternative, but for a review, which is precisely what the Modernisation Committee will undertake. We would be very unwise to accept any demand simply to rush into a reversion to the old hours. The original hours gave rise to a lot of complaints, and as my hon. Friend says, Members have always had to be in more than one place at one time, given the busy lives that we lead

Point of Order
Mr. Adrian Bailey: On a point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker. May I bring to your attention Division No. 16, at column 1674 of yesterday's Hansard? I am recorded as having voted in both the Aye Lobby and the No Lobby. I must confess that there have been occasions since coming to this place when I felt as if I were going round in circles. However, I never expected that to be recorded, particularly given that on this occasion, I am certain that I voted in the No Lobby only. I furthermore note that a number of Labour colleagues, including three Ministers and a Whip, have been recorded as having voted in both the Aye Lobby and the No Lobby. May I ask that the matter be investigated and an accurate record be presented, not least in the interest of ministerial longevity? Perhaps we should also investigate whether the proximity to Christmas and its festivities has impacted on the operational effectiveness of our recording and printing processes.
Mr. Deputy Speaker (Sir Michael Lord): The hon. Gentleman is quite right to raise this matter with the Chair. Several Members have been wrongly recorded in Hansard as having voted for the reasoned amendment on Second Reading of the Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants Etc.) Bill yesterday. A corrected Division list has now been placed in the Vote Office, and the result of the Division will be reprinted in Hansard this evening. The incident will be fully investigated. I regret that embarrassment may have been caused to those right hon. and hon. Members affected by this error.

NORTHERN IRELAND GRAND COMMITTEE
Motion made, and Question put forthwith, pursuant to Standing Orders Nos. 114 (Northern Ireland Grand Committee (legislative proposals and other matters relating exclusively to Northern Ireland)) and 116 (Northern Ireland Grand Committee (sittings))
That (1) The proposal for a draft Rates (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Order 2004 be referred to the Northern Ireland Grand Committee; (2) the Committee shall meet at Westminster on Thursday 15th January at half-past Two o'clock; and (3) at that sitting (a) the Committee shall consider the legislative proposal referred to it under paragraph (1) above; and (b) the Chairman shall interrupt proceedings at Five o'clock; and (c) at the conclusion of those proceedings, a motion for the adjournment of the Committee may be made by a Minister of the Crown, pursuant to paragraph (5) of Standing Order No. 116 (Northern Ireland Grand Committee (sittings))—[Vernon Coaker.]
Question agreed to.

Christmas Adjournment
Motion made, and Question proposed, That this House do now adjourn.—[Vernon Coaker.]
Mr. Deputy Speaker (Sir Michael Lord): Before I call the first speaker, I remind the House that Mr. Speaker has placed a 15-minute limit on all Back-Bench speeches, which will operate from the beginning of the debate.
2.9 pm
Dr. Rudi Vis: I raised the case of Cyprus in Adjournment debates on 22 May 2003 and 17 July 2003, and countless times before that, and I return to the subject again today. On 17 July, I said that on the surface it appeared that many changes had taken place during recent months but that the reality was different. Unfortunately, my analysis now is that the situation appears to be much the same today.
Perhaps, only for a moment, about a month ago, it seemed as if there might be a glimmer of hope that Cyprus might join the European Union as a united island on 1 May 2004. Sadly, on 11 November 2003, the putative leader of the occupied territory of Cyprus, Mr. Denktash, commenting on the forthcoming so-called elections in the occupied territory scheduled for 14 December, said in an interview with Reuters:
"If the opposition win by a great majority it means that the people have lost confidence in me so why should I stay here and waste my time? But I know that will not happen."
Who are the opposition to whom he referred? The simple reality is that they are the Turkish Cypriots who want to join the EU with their Greek Cypriot counterparts. But who are those on the side of the Turkish Cypriot Mr. Denktash? A people imported from Turkey who, over the past 29 and a half years, have totally changed the demography of the occupied territory and were given voting rights in that somewhat dodgy election. The outcome of the so-called elective poll was deadlock, and it now seems highly unlikely that the occupied territory will be able to accede to the EU with its Greek Cypriot republican counterparts.
Although the Turkish Cypriot pro-EU side won slightly more of the vote last Sunday, the electoral system is complex enough to have given both sides 25 seats. It is equally important that if no coalition can be formed, new so-called elections must be held in mid-February 2004. Even worse, if the pro-EU side were to win a re-ballot, it is now too late for Cyprus to join as a united island. However, I am sure that President Papadopoulos of Cyprus will continue to do his utmost to find a solution.
There are other complications. Many people, including me, believe that the real power over the occupied territory lies in Ankara, and particularly with the Turkish Prime Minister, Mr. Erdogan. As the Minister is aware, Mr. Erdogan visited the occupied territory on 15 November, when he announced his total support of Mr. Denktash's stance. Such an endorsement, of course, reveals the fact that at present Mr. Erdogan rejects the Annan plan. The Foreign Minister of the Republic of Cyprus, Mr. Iacovou, described the Erdogan visit as "completely illegal and condemnable", and he wondered what now must be in the minds of the foreign mediators who have constantly attributed good will to Mr. Erdogan.

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Indeed, the European Commission, in its regular annual report on Turkey, identified a "serious obstacle" to Turkish hopes of starting formal accession talks with the EU if no settlement is reached over the divided island of Cyprus. The report says:
"The absence of a settlement could become a serious obstacle to Turkey's aspirations".
At present, the Government, like previous Governments, remain convinced that Turkey is fast becoming a healthy parliamentary democracy. I do not understand or agree with that blinkered view, in relation not only to Cyprus but to other major problems in Turkey.
Turkey has indeed started on ambitious reforms, but very few of them, so far as I can see, are being, or have been, implemented. I therefore ask my hon. Friend the Deputy Leader of the House to convey again to our Foreign Secretary and other Ministers that I, and many of my colleagues in the House, want real changes to be implemented in Turkey in practice for a considerable time, and a proper settlement in Cyprus, before even contemplating allowing Turkey to commence accession negotiations.
2.14 pm
Mr. Paul Tyler: I am glad to contribute to this debate. Unusually, I want to raise an issue of considerable importance to my constituency and one special family in it, but I think that the issue will be of concern to every hon. Member.
During the statement by the Secretary of State for Defence last Thursday, I listened with growing incredulity. He made a tiny reference to the National Audit Office report, published that morning, and to the Ministry's own report, entitled "Operations in Iraq: Lessons for the Future". His Conservative opposite number also ignored evidence of serious inadequacies. In the course of nearly 30 minutes of exchanges between the two Front Benchers, no hard evidence was given about the serious equipment shortfalls that were apparent from the reports. However, my hon. Friend the Member for Hereford (Mr. Keetch) was present and made a brief reference to the subject.
On Monday, there was another exchange about the NAO report, but the Secretary of State again attempted to play down the significance of detailed findings of mistakes and failures in his area of responsibility. This is more than a theoretical, logistics problem: it was and is a matter of life and death, as in the tragic case of Sergeant Steven Roberts from Wadebridge in my constituency.
Sergeant Roberts was the first British fatality in Iraq. He was shot during a confrontation with Iraqi dissidents on 24 March. There were several mysteries about the circumstances of the attack and his fatal wounds, and on behalf of his widow, his mother and his family, I have been seeking answers in three specific areas of concern ever since. I reiterated my inquiries in parliamentary questions last week, and in a debate that I initiated in Westminster Hall. They are as follows. First, why was Sergeant Roberts not wearing appropriate enhanced combat body armour? Was he ordered to pass on his reinforced flak jacket to other troops thought to be more vulnerable? Secondly, exactly who fired the fatal shot or shots? Thirdly, did Sergeant Roberts's weapon perform correctly?
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The report summary sent by the casualty visiting officer on behalf of the Ministry of Defence last week to Mrs Roberts states the conclusions with stark and tragic simplicity:
"During the course of enquiries it became apparent that Enhanced Combat Body Armour (ECBA) had been issued and then withdrawn from Sgt. Roberts. An issue/withdrawal sheet proving that Sgt Roberts had been provided with full body armour prior to deploying to the Gulf, and its subsequent withdrawal, has been recovered. The ECBA incorporated a cover with pockets front and rear for protective plates and included the required filler and protective plates.
However, the ECBA was withdrawn as 2 Royal Tank Regiment Battle Group (2 RTR BG) were short of 300 sets therefore the CO, having considered all options, deemed it necessary that dismounted Infantry soldiers had the ECBA protection and therefore ordered its redistribution. This left Sgt Roberts with Combat Body Armour (CBA), which is a temperate cover (not designed to house ceramic plates)."
I am sorry to have to repeat all that in full, but obviously the document has not been published; it has been made available to me by Mrs. Roberts and the family. It went on:
"To determine if Sgt Roberts would have survived had he been wearing the appropriate issue ECBA with protective plates, enquiries were established with the Defence Clothing Integrated Project Team (DCIPT) who provided details of the testing and procurement of ECBA. In essence the ECBA cover provides no protection, but is designed to house High Velocity (HV) plates front and rear to cover the heart and aorta. The inner is for fragmentation protection only and the HV ceramic plates are designed to defeat a NATO ball or tracer 7.62mm round at 50 metres. However, experience suggests that there is a very high probability, greater than 90%, that such a bullet would be defeated at 10 metres or less.
This statistical data was examined and considered by a Consultant Forensic Scientist who agreed with the specifications and protective properties of the HV plates.
A reconstruction was conducted under the direction of a Forensic Pathologist in consultation with evidence of the Consultant Forensic Scientist and their findings indicate that… The ceramic plate insert would have covered the entry wound site upon the front of the centre of the chest of Sgt Roberts. This was calculated by examination of post-mortem photographs, transposition of coveralls worn by Sgt Roberts at the time of his death compared against measurements taken at post-mortem.
Taking this into consideration with the protective properties of the HV plates, both the Forensic Pathologist and Consultant Forensic Scientist concluded that had Sgt Roberts been wearing ECBA with the protective plates correctly fitted at the time of shooting, the 7.62mm tracer round that struck him in the centre of his chest and ultimately killed would have been defeated."
It also states:
"The Forensic Pathologist also expressed the opinion that Sgt Roberts would have survived the second injury to his abdomen assuming appropriate medical assistance had been provided."
I am sure that every hon. Member can anticipate the reaction of his widow and family on receiving that news just before Christmas.
The NAO report was presented to the House last week and reported a very specific finding under the heading "ECBA":
"Doctrinally, the Department only intended to issue Enhanced Combat Body Armour for peace-keeping operations, for which the Department already held approximately 30,000 sets. These included 690 desert pattern covers, which were increased by 49,000 sets for operations and a further 31,500 sets for sustainability. 23,700 pairs of armour plates were also contracted, to supplement the 16,000 pairs already in service. The delivery deadline for items was set at 4 April 2003. The cost per soldier (cover, pairs of plates

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and filler) is £167.70, with total spending on body armour amounting to £2,954,300 (excluding the contracts for equipping the sustaining forces for Operation TELIC 2).
21,759 covers and 32,581 pairs of plates were issued into the supply chain by 24 March 2003. However, the Department's Defence Clothing Integrated Project Team estimated that approximately 200,000 sets had been issued since the Kosovo campaign in 1999, greatly exceeding the theoretical requirement, but these seem to have disappeared."
The Ministry of Defence prides itself on its audit trail on all equipment. How can the NAO report to the House that 200,000 sets seem to have disappeared, months afterwards? I find that extraordinary.
The NAO report continued:
"The Team questioned whether items should, therefore, be issued as part of an individual's personal entitlement for which they would be held accountable.
Despite these efforts, insufficient numbers were distributed in-theatre, largely as a result of difficulties with asset-tracking and distribution."
The Ministry of Defence's own report, which examined its own proceedings, said:
"Enhanced Combat Body Armour provided personnel with significant levels of protection. Initial analysis of data from the operation by the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) has indicated that body armour reduced the number of US forces killed in action from torso wounds by at least 50 per cent.(possibly up to 90 per cent.), and those killed in action overall by over 20 percent. (possibly up to 32 percent.). Although data was not available to conduct an analysis for UK soldiers, the results can be regarded as indicative."
In other words, Sergeant Roberts may not have been alone in being denied proper protection—critically so, in his case.
In chapter 8, the Ministry's report repeated the NAO criticisms of late delivery and accuracy of distribution of ECBA. The inevitable conclusion must be that Ministry of Defence incompetence, or inadequate preparations, despite the very long build-up before hostilities began, led to an entirely avoidable death in the case of Sergeant Steve Roberts. Faced with that irrefutable evidence, one can only dimly imagine the added trauma faced by his widow, his mother and his family.
The second question that arises is who fired the fatal shot. Immediately after the tragic events of 24 March, Sergeant Roberts's family received a sympathetic and supportive letter from a senior officer at the battlegroup headquarters of the 2nd Royal Tank Regiment. He wrote of the
"terrible shock to the Regiment and to his many friends".
He went on to say that
"it would appear that he was killed during an assault by an Iraqi Militant. Steve fired his pistol in self defence but the rounds failed to stop the man. In an attempt to help, one of the other commanders fired at the assailant killing him. Tragically, Steve was also hit."
That leaves in the air the uncomfortable possibility that he could have been killed by "friendly fire". That point has still not been clarified, despite my attempts to obtain an explanation from the Ministry of Defence. In the first awful shock of their loss, the family did not recognise the potential alternative interpretations of that last sentence—that it was a stray bullet from his colleague that caused Sergeant Roberts's fatal wound. Was it yet
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another case of friendly fire? In order to dispel that dreadful idea, I am still asking Ministers for an explanation. To this day. to my knowledge, the family have been given no explicit assurance on that aspect of the confused events of 24 March.
The final question is whether Sergeant Roberts's weapon malfunctioned. The investigation report from the Ministry, sent last week to Mrs. Roberts, includes a reference to tests of Sergeant Roberts's weapon:
"Further ballistic tests on Sgt Roberts' pistol have yet to be completed. Tests that have been undertaken on the weapon show … It was serviceable prior to deployment…Following the shooting two faults that might have contributed to a stoppage were identified; a tripping lever incorrectly chamfered and a stiff tripping lever plunger. In addition, the frame was fractured at the locking lever recess.
It is worthy of note that prior to this inspection the pistol was re-issued to a Staff Sergeant and a Corporal, both with 2 RTR, who did not experience any difficulty with the weapon, but did not fire it."
Again, that has worrying implications. It would seem to imply that there was no test of the pistol before it was reissued. The statement that those using it did not experience any difficulty hardly reassures his family or the rest of us, as it also states that they did not fire it.
What conclusions can we reach? Those are the facts, as far as the family have been made aware of them. Sergeant Roberts was a very brave man, doing his duty for his country. Those who serve in the armed forces on our behalf know the dangers that they face. Tragic mistakes are an inevitable feature of all hostilities, however sophisticated the technology may become. But and it is a big but—his widow and family are naturally devastated by that information, dragged out of the Ministry of Defence after eight long months of waiting and worrying. I believe that they are entitled to expect better.
Mrs. Roberts has told me that she wants to be absolutely sure that such awful mistakes can never happen again. She wants to be certain that no other family will be similarly, and unnecessarily, bereaved. I do not expect the Minister this afternoon to be able to offer comfort and reassurance to that family. However, the very least the Secretary of State should do is to agree that I should bring Mrs. Roberts, and other members of Sergeant Roberts's immediate family, to meet him. Then, perhaps, the family will at last have the consolation that some small good can come out of that terrible tragedy. Those who serve us in the armed forces, and their families, are entitled to know that Ministers are on their side and that they will take seriously the lessons of that unnecessary tragedy.
I express my good wishes for Christmas to you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, and to other colleagues, and I hope that we can agree that a family who have been so tragically and unnecessarily bereaved should receive that message, at Christmas, from the Secretary of State.
2.29 pm
Mr. Alan Hurst: I take the opportunity of this debate to raise an issue that was raised earlier this week—the White Paper on the future of air transport and the statement by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport on Tuesday. All hon. Members with an airport in or near their division came to hear the

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statement with some trepidation. Some were greatly relieved, and those who represent constituencies in north Kent will have been greatly relieved that the cloud that hung over Cliffe was finally dispersed. There were those of us who thought that Cliffe was a red herring and that there was no realistic prospect of the proposal ever being moved forward. Indeed, all of us would say that that was right and that Cliffe should not have been chosen. There were so many environmental and heritage arguments for not in any circumstances contemplating putting a major airport on the Cliffe marshes that that option was rightly dismissed.
Those from areas with other airport facilities, in particular Heathrow and Gatwick, at first breathed a sigh of relief, but on contemplation and consideration of what was said realised that the cloud was not lifted from them. The prospect may have been put a little further into the future, but it is still there, and will be an ever-ready prospect for some time to come.
One place did not even have the privilege and benefit of looking into the future and saying, "Not yet." That was Stansted. I have the privilege of representing a constituency close to Stansted, which is in the constituency of the Chairman of Ways and Means. The hon. Member for North-East Hertfordshire (Mr. Heald), who will speak for the Opposition today, is also geographically close to the proposed site.
Hon. Members will not be surprised to hear that local opposition to the proposal is almost unanimous. I know of a certain Australian writer who occasionally delivers pieces in national newspapers about how much she welcomes the fact that this monstrosity is a few miles down the road rather than next door. Not everyone who lives in the area has sufficient financial resources to move away with ease and profit, if the proposals come to pass.
Stansted is in the strangely named district council of Uttlesford, which undertook a referendum in which the turnout was higher than that at the last general election. Of the votes recorded—again the number was higher than in any parliamentary constituency, at least in modern times8—9 percent. were against the proposal and 11 percent. were in favour. Uttlesford covers a vast area from close to the airport site to many miles further away. That underlines the extent of the opposition to the proposal/
The local authorities are also united. I am not an expert on Hertfordshire local authorities, but I suspect that they are opposed. Certainly Essex county council is opposed on a tri-partisan basis. Uttlesford district council, which was formerly Conservative controlled and is now Liberal controlled, has been completely opposed in both phases. Braintree district council, which was formerly Labour controlled but is regrettably now Conservative controlled, has been united in opposition to the extension in both phases.
What is the position? At present there are about 19 million passengers going through Stansted airport. Some Members may have travelled on those flights. The most incredible bargains imaginable are offered. My constituency assistant, who comes from Ayrshire, regularly travels back to see her relatives for about £17 return. Frankly, that is a ludicrous price. It is almost as expensive to travel from Braintree to London as it is from Stansted to Ayrshire and back. I am told that some of the flights are valued at £1 to the company. No doubt
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all sorts of other sums come into the equation that make it worth while for the airlines to operate in what, on the face of it, is amazingly uneconomic mode.
One of the advantages of being a person of increasing years is that one has seen things before. There used to be an entrepreneur known as Freddie Laker who brought cheap air travel to the millions. Mr. Laker is no longer flying aeroplanes, or rather his company is not. That passed away. Whether flights at giveaway prices can be maintained in the long term is for the market to decide. While the market makes up its mind, there may he devastating effects on the people who live near entrepreneurial experiments.
The number of passengers at the moment is about 19 million, having increased from about 7 million only a few years ago. Now there is permission to increase to 25 million, and as the airport stands, without any more runways, it has a capacity for 35 million. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has announced a second runway, which will extend capacity to 47 million passengers per annum.
People mainly travel to Stansted on the motorways. It is difficult to travel by train although it is possible from London. The line from Braintree was taken out many years ago. Most travel by road. Whizzing—or, in due course, crawling along the motorway, one may not appreciate the nature of the countryside surrounding Stansted. It does not have the splendour of Ben Nevis or Snowdonia or the picture postcard charm of the Lake District, but it has a particular character all of its own—England as it used to be in the eastern counties. There are low rolling hills, streams, copses, woods and quiet little villages. There are literally hundreds of historical and listed buildings. Great Bardfield, which is in the Braintree division, is an amazingly picturesque old village. It should be a town, as it used to have a quarter session. It attracted a colony of nationally renowned artists in the 1930s, 1940s, 1950s and early 1960s, who settled there because of the scope it offered them to paint, draw and express themselves in art.
The area does not suffer from high unemployment. Unemployment is effectively nil. Therefore, employees to service increased passenger numbers will have to travel into the area. As Members can imagine from my description, property prices are not on the lowest rung, so employees at the airport will find it difficult to afford houses, even if they are suffering from blight. That means that they will have to travel in, thus creating further environmental difficulties, which have not been fully analysed for the White Paper.
The White Paper admits that certain things will have to change. It talks of the need for a thorough environmental assessment before the change is undertaken. I hoped that a thorough environmental assessment might take place before we had the announcement in the White Paper. The White Paper states that capacity needs to be considered on the west anglia mainline, the M11 and M25, and on local roads. None of that has yet been assessed, but the announcement has been made, with all the consequences that will follow.
If the second runway is built, we face the possible loss of 1,000 properties, two scheduled ancient monuments and 29 listed buildings—to say nothing of the devastation of the countryside and the inconvenience

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and distress caused to local people within a huge radius, way outside the acquired land. A general blight will fall on this historic part of Essex for many years to come. The White Paper talks flippantly about the new runway being expected to be in operation by 2011–12. That might have been possible at one time, but in these days of endless consideration and looking into things, I cannot see anything happening as early as that. The longer the consideration, the longer the blight, and the longer the distress to people who may have spent all their lives in that area and now fear what is to come.
The Government accept that it is for the airport operator to prepare a scheme to address the problem of generalised blight. Airport operators are not social institutions or foundations with charitable status, and, with all due respect to them, I cannot imagine that that will be high on their agenda for next year. The problem will therefore persist.
The White Paper seems to have made the situation even worse with regard to the second runway because of where it has been placed. One would not favour this, but the second runway could have been placed within the present boundaries of what is already an enormous airport. It could have been placed relatively close to the present runway, but that has not been done. The White Paper places the new runway almost as far away as possible from the present runway and from the boundaries of the airport. It concedes that extensive acquisition of land will be required in order to achieve that.
That raises two points First, how many other runways can be slotted in between the first and what people fear will be the fourth: will there be four rather than two? The other matter is the sheer increase in expense of the whole operation and the greater uncertainty and damage to countryside and buildings and the great undermining of people's domestic security.
I have no idea what the cost will be. I do not think that the Government have said what it will be, and when I questioned to the Secretary of State on Tuesday, he replied:
"As with any airport development, the private operator must finance airport construction, and, in the case of Stansted, BAA must make such a commercial judgment. I understand that it will say something further in the net few days, but it must decide whether it thinks the figures stack up commercially, and the Government will not step in and do that for it." —[Official Report, 16 December 2003; Vol. 415, c. 1445.]
To use a phrase from the 19th century, the whole thing is very much a leap in the dark. We do not know what it will cost and are waiting for the private operator to say what it will cost. Meanwhile, the concern and anxiety continue.
I appreciate that it is sometimes tiresome for Members who may know little about these places to hear people speak about them at length, so I shall draw my remarks to a close. There is great concern and fear among people who live in that part of Essex and in Hertfordshire. The sooner the whole thing is resolved, the better, and preferably that will be done in the negative sense that the proposal does not go ahead because it does not stack up and exists only because of
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cross-subsidy from Heathrow and Gatwick, which will soon become illegal and will have to be lifted if the proposal is even to be considered.
2.42 pm
Mr. Andrew Rosindell: Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, for giving me an opportunity to contribute to the Christmas Adjournment debate, which gives a great chance to all Members to raise a multitude of local, national and international issues that are important to them and their constituents. I intend to take the opportunity to raise a number of concerns with which many of my constituents agree.
First, this is a Christmas Adjournment debate. Many people in my constituency, like many hon. Members, are concerned by ongoing efforts by some individuals and, I am sad to say, by Government Ministers to downgrade the importance of Christmas. A lot of people have expressed disgust at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, which published a Christmas card that bears no relation to the celebration of the Christian festival of Christmas. Not so in Romford, where our schools, churches and community organisations have organised and hosted a range of magnificent Christian celebrations and activities over the past few weeks, welcoming people of all religions and including everybody in what is a Christian but also a national celebration for all British people.
I pay tribute to the schools that I have had the privilege of visiting over the past few days, which have organised concerts, nativity plays and similar activities. In particular, St. Mary's Hare Park Catholic primary school and St. Peter's Catholic primary school organised wonderful nativity plays and concerts only last week. My own ex-junior school, Rise Park, held a nativity concert involving many pupils, and I was privileged and proud to be present. Parklands infant school and St. Edward's Church of England primary also held events. Members will be pleased to hear that I have also been active on my recent Saturdays in visiting every school and church Christmas fair in the constituency. I have visited 21 Christmas fairs in the past month, including
those at Crowlands school, Squirrels Heath school, Nelmes school, St. Alban's church, St. Andrew's church and, last but by no means least, Havering Road Methodist church. Christmas is a wonderful Christian festival, and I hope that hon. Members—indeed, Ministers—will remember that in future.
This has been a great year in many ways in Romford, but it has been the greatest in my memory because Her Majesty the Queen visited my constituency for the first time. She visited Romford market and my local church, St. Edward's, in the marketplace. The people of Romford are very proud of their heritage of being British. We uphold the traditions of our country with great pride, and we were very proud to welcome Her Majesty on 6 March.
Early-day motion 239 is about the national anthem. I hope that we will not be afraid of playing the national anthem more often, and I mean not just playing the national anthem of the United Kingdom, but, proudly, playing the anthems of the countries that make up the nation—England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. We must be proud of the traditions of all parts

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of the United Kingdom, and that means being proud to fly the flag of our country, too, not hiding it away as if it is a shameful emblem. It is a flag of unity, and I hope that the British Parliament will follow the example of Her Majesty the Queen and fly the flag from Victoria Tower, just as the Queen does every day at Buckingham Palace, unless she is in residence, when the Royal Standard flies
I hope that the Government will be proud of our traditions and fight to defend the rights and freedoms of this country and reject any reheated Brussels constitution that may come to us at a later date. My hon. Friend the Member for Stone (Mr. Cash) will be at the forefront of opposition to any attempt to impose such a constitution on the British people, and he will have the support of my constituents and everyone on the Opposition side of the House in that
I want to turn quickly to some local issues. Romford is in the London borough of Havering, and hon. Members will have heard me say before that the borough is terribly underfunded by the existing system of Government grant. We are not given a fair deal by central Government, whether Labour or Conservative. My constituents need a fair deal. How can it be right that neighbouring boroughs get vast extra resources although they have very similar populations? How can it be right that outer London boroughs such as Havering continue to subsidise inner London in a range of areas? My hon. Friends the Members for Uxbridge (Mr. Randall) and for Ruislip-Northwood (Mr. Wilkinson), as outer London Members, will agree that outer London is fed up with subsidising inner London. We are tired of paying for the Greater London assembly, which has been a complete waste of money.
I hope that the Government will consider giving those in outer London boroughs the opportunity to vote in a referendum to opt out of the GLA, allowing us the chance to rekindle our historical links with the counties on the edge of London. I draw the House's attention to early-day motion 220, regarding the historic counties of our country. I hope that they are restored as soon as possible.
Policing in the London borough of Havering is under-resourced. Once again, we pay for police cover; we do not get it. The police are sent to inner London. I hope that the Government will find a fairer way to ensure that all boroughs are adequately covered by police resources.
It is important that we defend community facilities and things that are for all our people to enjoy, such as local parks. I commend the Friends of Rise Park who have fought for a number of years to restore Rise park to the family-friendly place it used to be—equally so, the Friends of Cottons Park. Both parks are in my constituency and both groups are working very hard to try to get funding to ensure that those parks are restored, so that they become the places that we all remember as children. It is sad when parks turn into havens for vandals, thugs and people who take drugs, turning what should be places for families and communities to enjoy into unsavoury areas that people simply wish to avoid.
I also ask the Government to consider allowing much more local control over matters such as planning. We are fed up with Governments of all parties overruling local authorities, so that we end up changing the nature
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of our town centres. My constituency, Romford, has the second largest number of nightclubs in London. Well, we do not want any more nightclubs. We want to ensure that local communities are for the people of those communities and that we do not turn our towns and cities into mini Sohos.
On road safety, I am very sceptical about speed cameras. However, they have their use in certain places. One of those areas is Havering-atte-Bower— the historic village in the north of my constituency that overlooks greater London—where we need a speed camera, but rules dictate that the local council cannot install one. Once again, such things are decided on a London-wide basis, and I hope that local control can be given over them.
I pay tribute to a new local community organisation that has been established by Mrs. Cecilia Shoetan, whose daughter sadly died from a condition known as sickle cell disease, which will be familiar to many hon. Members. Mrs. Shoetan lives in my constituency. Not too many people in my borough suffer from that condition, but Mrs. Shoetan's daughter Lorraine died in tragic circumstances, and she is quite rightly fighting to ensure that we receive resources so that local people in my borough who suffer from that condition can obtain help. I pay tribute to her for fighting and working so hard to establish the sickle cell support group in the London borough of Havering.
Two days ago, I had the privilege to visit Clarence house, where His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales hosted a seminar for Members of Parliament to highlight the excellent work that he is doing with the Prince's Trust, the Prince of Wales's Foundation for Architecture and the Built Environment and the Prince of Wales's Foundation for Integrated Health, among a number of other charities and causes in which he is involved.
At that seminar, I was very pleased to meet a young person, Kevin Johnson, who spoke passionately about his life as a youngster growing up in Glasgow. He managed to get himself hooked on cannabis when he was eight. By the age of 12 or 13, he was on heroin. He told us how the Prince's Trust has helped him to get back into a way of living that we would all hope all our young people would enjoy. In front of the Prince of Wales, he asked all the Members of Parliament who were present at Clarence house, "How can you MPs even consider liberalising drugs of any sort? I know the devastation that they cause to people of my age and others. Please do not weaken the drug laws." I hope that Ministers will remember that plea in future.
I wish briefly to speak up for people who are not represented in Parliament—the people of the British overseas territories and the Crown dependencies. They have no Members of Parliament, despite the fact that we make laws that affect them. They have no representation on any Select Committee or in the House of Lords. Let us remember those people, particularly the people of Gibraltar, who next year will celebrate 300 years of being British. I hope that all hon. Members will celebrate that great occasion in the history not only of Gibraltar, but of the United Kingdom.
Let us remember the people of Montserrat, which has been devastated by a volcano and needs more help; the people of St. Helena who desperately need an airport;

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the people of the Falkland Islands who are still concerned about the renewed efforts by the Argentine Government to gain sovereignty: the people of the Cayman Islands who are fed up with the European Union interfering in their affairs when they are not part of the EU; and, similarly, those of the Isle of Man and the channel islands, in which the EU is also interfering. Let us also remember the British Indian Ocean Territory and its people who were shamefully ejected by the British Government in the 1960s. They have a right to return eventually to their homeland.
In wishing you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, the staff of the Speaker's Office and the Officers of the House a very happy Christmas, I wish to make a final appeal as we approach Christmas: please read early-day motion 202, which I have submitted, regarding the importance of remembering that a dog is for life, not just for Christmas. I hope that all hon. Members will remind their constituents that if they purchase a dog for Christmas, it is a lifetime commitment, not a short-term one that leads up to Christmas and then gets forgotten about.
I hope that, in 2004, all of us can help to restore the bulldog spirit of this country that has been so lacking since 1 May 1997. I wish all hon. Members a happy Christmas and renewed confidence that, once again, our country will be proud, strong and remain free in 2004.
2.57 pm
Mrs. Louise Ellman: Earlier this afternoon, the Leader of the House condemned what he termed the rising tide of anti-Semitism. I believe that the House should not adjourn until it has debated the important issue of the role Islamicist organisations play in inciting racial hatred in the United Kingdom through propagating anti-Semitism under the guise of anti-Zionism. I wish to make it very clear that criticising the policies of the Government of Israel is not anti-Semitic. However, demonising Israel and Zionists—those who support Jewish national self-determination—by invoking images of disproportionate conspiratorial power is indeed anti-Semitism.
It is time that the spotlight fell on the Muslim Association of Britain, particularly the key figures, such as Azzam Tamimi, Kamal el Helbawy, Anas A1-Tikriti and Mohammed Sawalha. All of them are connected to the terrorist organisation Hamas. The Muslim Association of Britain itself is a branch of the Muslim Brotherhood— an extremist fundamentalist organization founded in Egypt in 1928, and the spiritual ideologue of all Islamic terror organisations. It is militantly anti-Semitic and always has been.
In June 2003, the Muslim Association of Britain organised a series of meetings with an American imam, Anwar Al Awlaki, as guest speaker. That gentleman is reportedly wanted for questioning by the FBI in connection with the 9/11 al-Qaeda terrorist attacks on New York and Washington. Azzam Tamimi often appears in the media, representing the Muslim Association of Britain. He is an adviser to Hamas in the middle east. In 1991, when he lived in Jordan, he was the official spokesperson of the Muslim Brotherhood
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and the Islamic Action Front. He worked for the Jordanian Muslim Brotherhood between 1989 and 1992. When he came to London, he continued his activities. He openly supports Palestinian suicide bombers. In July 2002, Azzam Tamimi spoke at a conference on Palestine in South Africa at which he said:
"Do not call them suicide bombers, call them Shuhada"—
martyrs. He continued:
"They"—
the Israelis—
"have guns, We have the human bombs. We love death, they love life."
He argues consistently that jihad is the only way forward for the Palestinians. He has said:
"For us Muslims, Martyrdom is not the end of the things but the beginning of the most wonderful of things.
He told a conference in Vienna that after Israel is destroyed and replaced with an Islamic state, the Jews should
"sail on the sea in ships back to where they came or drown in it."
I heard him speak at a Palestine Solidarity rally in November 2002 in this very building, and I heard him say:
"Listen Israel and Jews around the world, unless you change there is no future for you."
This is not a man of peace. He and his arguments incite hatred against Jews. He speaks regularly on behalf of the Muslim Association of Britain. Will the Muslim Association of Britain dissociate itself from him? Messages put out by that association and other Islamist groups, together with the far right—the traditional antiSemites—continue to incite growing violence against Jews in the United Kingdom. The Community Security Trust, part of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, has been documenting those attacks. It reports that
"in the 1st quarter of 2003, there were 89 anti-Semitic incidents in Britain, a 75 per cent. rise on the 1st quarter last year when 51 incidents occurred. This follows a 13 percent. increase in anti-Semitic incidents in 2002 on the previous year. There were 21 anti-Semitic incidents in January and 25 in February 2003. Eleven of the incidents in the first quarter took place on university campuses."
The situation in the rest of Europe is even more serious. In Paris, a school has been burned down. The Chief Rabbi of France has warned men not to wear head coverings in public for their own protection. We are all too aware of the bombs in Istanbul that claimed so many lives. The situation is so serious that the European Union commissioned a report on anti-Semitism. Sadly, it tried to suppress the findings of that report because it showed the link between anti-Semitic attacks and some elements of the Muslim community. It is tragic that the holocaust cannot be taught in some French schools because pupils dispute whether it happened. The situation is growing, and it is too serious to ignore.
We should not underestimate the impact of anti-Semitic messages beamed into this country from the Arab world. During Ramadan this year, Hezbollah satellite television, Al-Manar, broadcast thirty episodes of a Syrian production called "Al- Shatat". According to the Syria Times on 11 March this year it was a
"Syrian TV series recording the criminal history of Zionism."
Episode 20 shows a Christian child kidnapped by Jews, his throat cut, his blood collected in a metal bowl, and the blood then used to make Passover matzo. That is classic anti-Semitic blood libel of medieval Christian

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origin, but propagated more recently by the Nazis. I have viewed the footage, which is gruesome, revolting and an incitement to racial hatred. I call on the Government to make strong representations to Syria about that series.
I, like many, seek a peaceful solution to the tragic Israel-Palestinian conflict, based on a secure Israel with integrity as a Jewish state, and a viable Palestinian state beside Israel as a homeland for the Palestinians. A solution based on the division of land is realistic. I support the Geneva accords, which show a way forward, and I was pleased to participate recently in the Rabin peace seminar, which brought together members of the Israeli Knesset with leading members of the Palestinian Authority, at which I saw that there was a way to peace. Preaching hatred against Jews, however, is a handicap.
Preaching hatred of the sort that we are now hearing and seeing will undermine reconciliation and threatens community relations in the United Kingdom. It is already igniting anti-Semitism with potentially dire consequences for community relations in this country and in Europe as a whole. This must not be ignored. The Government are making valiant efforts to bring about peace in the middle east and to support good community relations in this country. I ask them not to ignore mounting anti-Semitism and to take action against it, from wherever, it comes, before it is too late.
3.5 pm
Mr. Nigel Evans: I am grateful for the opportunity to speak in this Christmas Adjournment debate.
Earlier, the Leader of the House said that we should all suggest names of people to be honoured in the forthcoming honours list. I thought that I would start the ball rolling and suggest my mother. She is an absolute heroine and a tremendous lady. There is one problem that worries me, however, and it may be the stumbling block to her recognition: she does not support the Government. She is not a Labour voter, she always votes Tory, and, for whatever reason, she does not like the Prime Minister. Given what I have read in the Sunday papers about the vetting of people who are suggested for honours, I wonder whether they have to be supporters of the Government. That would disturb me greatly. I hope that the Minister will reassure me that that hurdle will not be put in front of my mother and others who happen not to support the Government. As to the suggestion of sexing up the list with those whose names people can recognise, as opposed to those who deserve honours, I hope that that is not true. I hope that people included in the list will be there on their merits and for no other reason.
I want to endorse what my hon. Friend the Member for Romford (Mr. Rosindell) said about Gibraltar. It is its 300th anniversary next year, and I hope that we will all celebrate it. I am proud of our attachment to Gibraltar and the support that it has given us over the centuries. I hope that the celebrations will take place throughout the country, and that the Government will get behind them. I know that there is some feeling that we might offend the Spanish if we are seen to be over-rejoicing in the fact that we have a close association with Gibraltar, but they should not be so sensitive. It has
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been a British territory for 300 years—the first 300 years, I hasten to add—and we should rejoice in it. In a referendum held this year, the people of Gibraltar showed overwhelmingly that they wish the current association to remain. We should respect their wishes, and I hope that the Foreign Secretary and the Prime Minister will do so. Let us celebrate that 300th anniversary, and I hope that the Government will soon announce a number of things to help us celebrate it in this country—perhaps even an announcement that the Prime Minister will visit Gibraltar next year will give some support.
The Government need to look urgently at council tax because, in April, as we know, bills will be dropping through people's letter boxes. We have seen in the Daily Express a campaign that relates particularly to pensioners on fixed incomes who live in big houses, perhaps for historical reasons such as having raised a family there, and who wish to remain in them. We all understand that, but the increases in council tax that they have had to face over the past seven years have been horrific—about 70 per cent., including the increase this year, on typical band D homes, and most band D homes are now subject to bills of well over £1,000. I therefore hope that the Government will be more honest about the funding of local government. We know that there has been a lot of rigging in terms of the way in which money has been moved around the country.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer announced £400 million to dampen the effects of this year's increase, but in many areas it will still be more than 10 per cent., while the inflation rate is about 2.5 per cent. Nobody apart from MEPs got a 10 per cent. pay increase this year. That £400 million will therefore not keep council tax low, and the Chancellor or the Exchequer should have told local authorities what increase would be unacceptable before capping is introduced. We need to know that figure, but an increase that is four times the rate of inflation is unacceptable.
In business questions, the closure of post offices was mentioned twice, by Members on both sides of the House. I, too, know of a few post office closures in my constituency this year. We do not want to receive letters about branch closures in our offices, but, sadly, we do. I congratulate all postmen and women and postmasters and mistresses on their hard work and dedication throughout the year, but particularly at Christmas time. We must value the post office network. I am the first to concede that there were hundreds of closures under the previous Government as well, but this year about 205 branches have closed, and, from what we have heard today, the number seems to be escalating,. The network consists of about 17,200 post offices. Every Member of Parliament values the post offices in their constituency and our constituents are aware of their importance. The post office is the only shop in many villages and, apart from offering post office services, they sell goods. There are a number of such post offices in my constituency but, as I said, they are under threat. If people lose their post office, it is unlikely that they will ever get it back.
There have been a few closures in my constituency including, last year, Grindleton post office, which was the only shop in the village. Sometimes when we receive letters about a closure, the Post Office asks whether we can suggest anyone who is prepared to come in and run

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the local post office. We must acknowledge that post offices sometimes are not economically viable. Even with all the goods that they sell in addition to stamps, postal orders and so on, and even if the postmaster runs a convenience store too, pose offices, particularly given the salary that is paid, may not be economically viable. The profit margin on a number of goods sold in post offices is extremely low. For example, it is about 4 per cent. on phone cards, which are high-cost items.
If the Government value our post office network, they must do something to save it. Clearly, this year's initiative to get people to have their benefits paid directly into bank accounts has not helped. The Government say that people have a choice in relation to the way in which they receive their benefits, but some elderly people have received phone calls when they have said that they wish to carry on receiving their benefits in the post office trying to persuade them to have that money paid directly into a bank account. A lot of people are being badgered into changing their mind and agreeing to direct payment into a bank account. That does not help the post office network in any way whatsoever, so I would be grateful if the Minister would give us an assurance that people will have genuine choice with regard to the way in which their benefits and pensions are paid, and will not be badgered or forced into opening a bank account.
As for support for the network, the Government must be more imaginative about the ways in which they protect those post offices. There may be a rural subsidy or some other form of recognition to keep post offices open. Without such payments, the system may not be viable. People who work in post offices work long hours under enormous stress. They have to be accurate in all their work because, in the main, they are dealing with money. One postmistress who worked part time told me that it was not worth it—people who worked in McDonald's were getting a higher hourly rate than she was for a job that entailed a great deal of stress and responsibility. In the end she chucked it in, and that facility has been lost in one of my villages, which is very sad indeed.
We must acknowledge that working in a post office entails long hours. It is not at all an easy job, so we must provide support. Post offices are the lifeblood of the community. People know the postmaster and mistress and the individuals who work in the shop. I know of one post office where, if someone did not come in one week to get their benefit, the staff would go round to their house to see that they were all right. With the best will in the world, that does not happen at Asda and Tesco. We must recognise the importance of the job that those people are doing.
About 400,000 people get relatives or friends to pick up their benefits for them. They would not be able to get them to nip into Barclays or some other bank to do so. We must stop the rot—we must work out how we can keep our post offices viable and keep the network going as far as possible. I pay tribute to all the postmen and postwomen, and to my own postman, Trevor. I thank him for all the work that he has done delivering letters to the entire village and me—we are extremely grateful.
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In conclusion, I wish the House a merry Christmas and a happy new year. We look forward to 2004, when the people of the north will vote no to regional government.
3.16 pm
Mr. Kevan Jones: I should like to raise our constituents' ability to gain justice when a wrong is committed against them or a member of their family. I shall give two different examples of circumstances faced by my constituents in North Durham over the past year. Each constituent was let down by the system, and left angry and disillusioned with the legal system.,
The first case concerns Mrs. Ann Stevens of Annfield Plain in my constituency. In October 2002, Mrs. Stevens was involved in a road traffic accident. The other driver collided with Mrs Stevens's car but fled the scene of the accident. Her car was a write-off and she was hospitalised. The police arrested the other driver, a young man, who was brought before the local magistrates court and found guilty. Mrs. Stevens was awarded £150 in compensation but, even so, she was severely out of pocket. Her car, worth over £500, was written off, and she could not claim against her own insurance. The other driver had no insurance at all. In addition, Mrs. Stevens had to pay £105 for her vehicle to be recovered. Not only was she several hundred pounds poorer but she had to go to hospital and was left traumatised by the experience of the accident.
On 20 December 2002, Mrs. Stevens was notified by North Durham magistrates court that she would receive the compensation awarded to her on a monthly basis. She waited and waited, and the first payment arrived at the beginning of March this year. It was worth a grand total of £2.25. The cheque was accompanied by a letter explaining that compensation would be awarded on a monthly basis, and that her compensation was consolidated with amounts being paid to three other people by the person who caused the accident. The letter explained that deductions would be made from that individual's state benefit, and that the amount would be divided among all those being compensated. Mrs. Stevens was to receive a cheque worth £2.25 each month.
My constituent received payments for a few months, but nothing has arrived since 13 June. She has received no explanation as to why the payments have ceased. Mrs. Stevens is the victim in this case, but she is the one who is suffering, along with the taxpayer.
I also question the administrative costs in the case. Those costs include making deductions from the other driver's benefit, writing cheques to the recipients of compensation, and posting them off. The only winner is the person found guilty of the original crime.
In July, I wrote to the Under-Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs, my hon. Friend the Member for Shipley (Mr. Leslie), about the case. He replied:
"The enforcement of financial penalties is a priority. On 25 June, I announced a new and radical approach to the collection of financial penalties. Too many financial penalties are not paid and the authority of courts must be enforced. This 7 point plan will be driven by ministers in the department and we will intervene personally with any Magistrates court committees that continue to perform badly."

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Those are fine and tough words, but they are little help to Mrs. Stevens, or to other victims still waiting for compensation. It also misses the main problem: what is the point of imposing fines and compensation orders if they cannot be enforced? The Minister, like my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister, seems to want to be tough by imposing fines, but it is clear that in some cases alternatives —such as community orders and other sentences —need to be found. They may appear softer, but they are much more effective when it comes to securing justice.
Since I raised the case with the Minister, I have spoken to the Durham magistrates committee. It appears that the problem is not that the magistrates are unwilling to pursue defaulters, but that it is hard to collect the money because of evasion and the difficulty in tracing offenders. Also, repeat offenders incur mounting debts that become unmanageable.
Some 67 per cent. of offenders receive state benefits. The present system means that the Government are recycling their own money in a very inefficient way. Fines do not punish the guilty, and do not help victims. In poor areas, there are many people on benefit, and collection is very difficult. That means that the recovery rate for fines can be as low as 40 per cent., and the costs of recovery are disproportionately high. The system needs to be reviewed. To prevent the evasion that is clearly going on, fines and compensation orders should be made only when courts have full personal details about the people involved. We should stop wasting everyone's time by imposing fines on people receiving state benefits. Those fines cannot be collected, and the inefficient system does not help taxpayers. The task should be to ensure that fines and compensation are imposed only when they can be collected. Where alternatives are available, they should be pursued.
The other issue that I want to raise is the fight for justice by constituents who worked, or whose families worked, in the coal mining industry. Many people contracted debilitating lung disease from their exposure to coal dust, and many died slow and agonising deaths.
I congratulate the Government on putting in place the handling agreement that means that people are now being compensated. In North Durham, more than £10 million has been paid out to victims and their families— something that has been achieved because a Labour Government are in power.
However, I want to speak in particular about the unjust and unfair fees levied by solicitors and claim handlers on claimants and their families. Some of them act like vultures as they take a cut out of claimants' compensation, on top of the fees already paid to them by the Department of Trade and Industry. They exhibit nothing short of greed when they take money off the people and families for whom it was meant. Those people include many who are dying, as well as poor and aged widows.
In North Durham, I have been made aware of the activities of one particular firm of solicitors—Mark Gilbert Morse of Grey street in Newcastle upon Tyne. My constituents Mrs. Greener and Mrs. Elliott of Stanley agreed that the firm should handle their late father's case after a leaflet was pushed through their doors. Both recently received interim settlements of their claims, and in both cases just over 21 per cent. Of
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their claim was deducted by the solicitors in fees. Last week, an 83-year- old widow came to see me who had had £8,000 deducted in the same way. In the cases of Mrs. Elliott and Mrs. Greener, the irony is that the fees were deducted before their case has been completed. The letter that was sent to them clearly stated that under the conditional fee agreement into which they entered, up to 25 per cent. of the damages could be deducted.
That is nothing short of unjustified greed. Mark Gilbert Morse will have been paid its fees by the DTI, but not content with that it is eager greedily to plunder the compensation of my needy constituents. I have written to the Law Society about the firm and raised it with the Under—Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, my hon. Friend the Member for Edinburgh, South (Mr. Griffiths). I congratulate him on the strong line that he and the Government are taking against such companies in insisting that 100 per cent. of the compensation should go to the claimants. I issue a challenge to Mark Gilbert Morse to pay back to claimants the money that they have deducted. My hon. Friend the Member for Barnsley, West and Penistone (Mr. Clapham) has, on behalf of his constituents, made similar charges against a firm in Doncaster called Beresfords, which has agreed to pay back the money. I understand that Mark Gilbert Morse is dealing with thousands of claims in the north—east. If it refuses to pay the money back, the Government should seriously consider withholding any further payment of fees until there has been a full investigation of its activities.
Another problem in the north—east is that vulnerable people are being exploited by claims handlers, who are not solicitors and have no legal qualifications, but act as middlemen in sorting out claims. Last week, I heard about an horrendous case from a solicitor who was approached by a claims handler with several thousand cases on his books and asked if he wanted to buy them. I fear that next year, when the cut—off date for claims arrives, many people who think that they have submitted claims to firms of solicitors will find that they are languishing in the hands of claims handlers. I would urge my constituents, or anybody else, to avoid claims handlers like the plague. Action against those rogues is urgently required. Decent, hard—working people are being ripped off and having money that they justly deserve taken away from them.
In closing, Mr. Deputy Speaker, I take this opportunity to wish you and your family, and the rest of the House, all the best for Christmas and a prosperous 2004.
3.27 pm
Mr. John Wilkinson: Mr. Deputy Speaker, I wish that you had been in the Chair to hear the speech by the hon. Member for Braintree (Mr. Hurst), who eulogised the beauty of the countryside around Stansted, which you, Sir, know so well. He speculated as to why the proposed new runway that the Government have approved in principle should be so far from the existing one: that is a good point.
We benefited enormously, too, from the courageous speech by the hon. Member for Liverpool, Riverside (Mrs. Ellman). How right she was to warn us, at this time of peace, of the danger to community relations that is posed by Islamic fundamentalist fanatics who preach a hostile gospel against Jewry the world over.

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Last, but by no means least, I must mention my hon. Friend the Member for Romford (Mr. Rosindell), whose speech was a masterpiece of its kind. Most of us feel accountable to our constituents and are content to leave it at that, but he rightly feels that in all his doings in his constituency he is answerable to this House. He enjoined us, at least implicitly, to do something that, candidly, I have been unable to do as yet that is, to attend a school in the constituency for every day of Advent. I believe that this is admirable. He rightly made it clear to those who might have thought from his election literature that a bulldog was just for election time that a bulldog is not for an election or for Christmas but for life.
I wish that the Secretary of State for Transport—and for Scotland, for he is both—had presented his White Paper on civil air transport much earlier in the year. If he had done so, many of our constituents would not have appalling blight hanging over them this Christmastide. Parliament could have held a proper two-day debate on his strategic framework for air transport and reached considered conclusions. The planners could have progressed with all that was necessary to put in place airport and related facilities for developing civil air transport in our country for the next generation. Instead, there is grave uncertainty.
If I am fair to the Secretary of State—I try to be—I must say that there is some merit in his White Paper; it is half sensible. I suppose that one would expect a half sensible document from a half-time Secretary of State. I have no cavil with its basic premise that civil air transport is crucial to this country. I applaud the way in which he has fought off those, probably mostly in his party, but perhaps some Liberal Democrat Members, who are instinctively hostile to air transport and mainly want to tax it.
I also applaud the Secretary of State's measured, incremental approach to developing the industry in an uncertain world in the next 20 and 30 years. I am sure that this is wise. We do not know how terrorism will affect the industry or the impact of ultra-large aircraft such as the A380. We do not know the extent to which high-speed rail will compete in our continent and domestically, although Eurostar's share of passengers who previously travelled by air to Paris and Brussels is surely significant. I have outlined reasons for the Government to be cautious and I welcome the Secretary of State's incremental approach.
I also welcome the right hon. Gentleman's appreciation of the importance of air transport for regional development and his emphasis in the document on the importance of developing regional airports. I leave Scotland to him, but I shall comment on England because England and our English economy, not least in the south-east and London, make fundable those matters that the Scottish Executive cover. I have no quarrel with his aims for developing regional airports. An additional runway at Birmingham; the extension of Liverpool's runway and those at Newcastle, Teesside and Leeds-Bradford; and the extensions at Bristol and at Luton are wise and sensible measures.
The fullest use of minor airports in the south-east of England is important. They include Southend, which is
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an admirable airport. I used to instruct there—and at Stansted too in the good old days before the little hangar from which we used to operate was submerged under a terminal.
However, sentiment is not a basis on which to evolve a strategy; the Secretary of State must be decisive. He has failed in that because he has put off important decisions. The only significant decision that he has made is that there will be another runway at Stansted. When we get the debate on the White Paper, that is bound to go through because of the majority that the Government enjoy. That is an arithmetical fact.
However, great uncertainty remains about the two principal airports in the London system, namely Gatwick and Heathrow. In my judgment, the Government are fundamentally wrong about Heathrow. The main reason why they are unwilling completely to commit themselves to another east-west runway there, between the A4 and the M4, is that they are frightened of the European Union—the only body that makes the Government take fright and take notice. They are wary of infringing the directive on air pollution, particularly in relation to nitrogen dioxide emissions. On those grounds, they seek to say that all the environmental conditions have to be met, particularly on air pollution, but the main environmental condition is that it is a wholly inappropriate place to build another runway.
Why are the emissions so high there? Because it is a built-up, congested area that already has an enormous amount of air traffic and motor traffic—the M4 is part of the nearby motorway network. A lot of aircraft taxi around, and with a fifth terminal and the possibility of mixed-mode operation for at least part of the day, the level of emissions is likely to increase, even if the Government seek to impose higher landing charges on the more polluting aircraft.
The Government have therefore ducked the basic environmental issue, which is that this is the wrong place to put another runway. The airport's potential should be fully realised within the existing geographical confines of Heathrow. British Airways is to concentrate its services at the fifth terminal, rather than dividing them between the first and fourth terminals, which is all to the good. We also know that its domestic and European services will continue to decline because of the competitive impact of low-cost carriers such as Ryanair and easyJet. That being the case, I am not certain that the build-up of traffic at Heathrow is going to be quite so large as the Government anticipate.
Furthermore, the Government have assigned to the European Union what should be a basic national right: the right of any sovereign state to decide air service agreements and negotiate them with other Governments. I fear that the consequence of that will be that Brussels will decide that Heathrow is too preponderant on the north Atlantic routes, and that it will seek increasingly to grant air service agreements to carriers on those routes and other long-haul routes, stipulating Amsterdam, Frankfurt and Brussels as a gateway to the European Union, rather than Heathrow.
The proposed site for the new runway is on green-belt land on the edge of Harmondsworth village, where my hon. Friend the Member for Uxbridge (Mr. Randall)

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and I recently had the privilege of attending a carol service in the great barn alongside the mediaeval church, by virtue of an invitation from the hon. Member for Hayes and Harlington (John McDonnell). That village would be appallingly blighted by the new runway, as would Sipson. That part of the green belt is a crucial lung between highly developed Heathrow and the communities of Hayes, West Drayton and Uxbridge. I speak as the president of the Green Belt Council. It is an unpaid appointment, but I should declare my interest.
I urge the Government to think again about this proposal. There are also purely technical aspects that militate against it. There would be an inordinately long taxi from the central area to the new runway, for example. Aircraft would have to cross the more northerly of the two existing east-west runways to get there. Furthermore, movements on that northern runway will be impinged upon by departures out of RAF Northolt. The White Paper agrees that this is the case. In answer to a question asked by my hon. Friend the Member for Uxbridge, the House was told that flying operations out of RAF Northolt —a core station of strategic value to the country, as the White Paper admits—would impinge on the departure pattern of the most northerly of what will be three runways at Heathrow, if the new one is built. That, too, has not been thought out. Of course, there is a need for a sixth terminal alongside the new runway with parking facilities. High-speed transport links would have to be put in —who would pay for those? That question has not been answered. When the inspector recommended that the fifth terminal at Heathrow should go ahead, he said that in his judgment it should be conditional on there being no further runway development at Heathrow.
The Government have said in the White Paper that if the runway at Heathrow does
not go ahead, another should be built at Gatwick. In my judgment, if aviation professionals at the Department deem it sensible that there should be another runway at Stansted, another one at Gatwick is even more overdue because there are already two terminals there. Of course, there is a covenant or arrangement whereby this should not come into operation before 2019, but it is admitted that if another runway were built at Gatwick, the environmental impact would be less than at Heathrow. There would be less noise disturbance and fewer problems from pollution emissions, and those considerations ought to be taken into account.
To conclude, the White Paper is good in parts, but as far as the overall equation in the London area is concerned, the basic decisions have been ducked. There is more potential at Luton —particularly with its new transport links and extended runway —than is recognised. Luton has a great future. There is much more potential at City airport, and if we make more use of places such as Southampton, Manston and Southend in the south-east, we can take the pressure off the London system. That should be the way forward. We should certainly not build a third east-west runway at Heathrow.
3.42 pm
Geraldine Smith: In my contribution to this year's Christmas Adjournment debate, I will take the opportunity to
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comment briefly on the Government's proposals for funding higher education, and in particular their intention to allow English universities to levy variable tuition charges on graduates from those institutions.
I would like to make it clear at the outset that I share and support the Government's objectives of raising standards and widening access to higher education. I also welcome the significant funding increase that the Government are committed to over the next three years. The proposals to scrap up -front tuition fees and require graduates to make a contribution towards the cost of their courses are also a step in the right direction. However, I do not believe that that contribution should depend on which university a graduate has attended, or on the subjects they have studied. Such a crude attempt to introduce market forces to our universities is totally unacceptable, and I will oppose any Bill that contains such a measure.
The fact that our universities are desperately in need of additional funding is undeniable. After decades of underfunding, much of their infrastructure is overcrowded, outdated and crumbling. We must provide students with safe laboratories, modern classrooms and well-stocked libraries, as well as up-to-date IT facilities. It is equally important that we address the problem of university staff pay. Pay increases for both academic and support staff in universities have significantly lagged behind those in the rest of the economy during the past 20 years. There is ample evidence to suggest that staff are leaving the higher education sector in ever increasing numbers. Many have taken up better-paid post-; abroad. There is an urgent need for a modernised pay structure for university staff that provides rewards in terms of pay levels and opportunities for advancement that will enable universities to recruit and retain the best possible staff.
It is clear that even the huge investment that the Government are making in higher education will not be sufficient to plug the hole in our universities' finances caused by the many years of underfunding. It is also obvious that if the damage caused by underfunding is to be repaired and universities are to be expanded and improved, additional resources must be found.
It is wholly appropriate that students who benefit most from higher education and become graduates make an increased contribution towards bridging that funding gap. However, I fundamentally disagree with the measures that the Government intend to adopt to raise the additional charge. First and foremost, the proposed system of variable tuition fees is flawed and unfair. It is heavily biased in favour of high-profile universities, and the £3,000 ceiling is far too high.
There is no doubt in my mind that universities such as Oxford and Cambridge will be able to charge the maximum fees with impunity, and thus gain the greatest financial benefit. It is to those very institutions that many of the brightest and best students aspire to gain admission. To my mind, there is something perverse about a system that rewards those who have achieved a standard of excellence in their studies by imposing the highest charge on their higher education.
Although graduates from the poorest families may not be adversely affected financially by the maximum charge, all those further up the income scale will be.

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Those from families with incomes in excess of £31,231 per annum—who can hardly be described as rich—will have their fees almost trebled. It is true that the Government will relieve them of the need to pay upfront tuition fees, but I am sure that even the slowest student will be able to work out that swapping an upfront charge of £3,375 for an inflation-linked £9,000 debt is not that much of a bargain. I firmly believe that increases of that magnitude in tuition fees are unfair and cannot be justified. Indeed, it is only the Government's insistence on introducing variable tuition fees that makes the contemplation of such huge increases necessary.
As for the proposed system of bursaries and remission of fees for those graduates who meet the financial criteria, I am opposed to both those measures in their current form. Students who have the appropriate qualifications to gain a place at a university and who would currently qualify for full fee remission should not have to shop around for a bursary. We must not introduce a bursary system that could act as a cap on the number of students from poor backgrounds taking up places at the universities of their choice. I believe that it is the responsibility of the state, not the universities, to ensure that such students are adequately supported.
I can see no case for continuing the system of remission of fees, which should be abolished and replaced by maintenance grants. The Government are proposing that tuition fees be recovered from graduates once they are earning a minimum of £15,000 per year, at a rate affordable to each individual. It surely follows that the recovery process should apply equally to all graduates regardless of back ground. The Government have argued that a flat-rate increase in tuition fees would be wrong and unfair to some students who would have to pay more than they would pay under a variable fees increase. I have no recollection of any such concern being expressed by Ministers when up-front tuition fees were introduced a few years ago. Nor do they have much to say about the extortionate fees that many graduates will have to pay for the more popular courses at all universities under a variable fees system.
In one respect, however, the Government have a case in arguing for flexibility in university funding. I refer to the need to attract suitably qualified people to study unpopular yet vital subjects such as physics. I believe that the difficulty could be overcome if universities were allowed to offer grants or other incentives.
Let me summarise my view. I think that tuition fees should be levied on all graduates on a flat-rate basis, irrespective of which university they attend or which subject they study. I also think that any increase in fees should not take the total amount above £2,250 a year, double the current rate. I believe that the proposed bursaries for students and remission of fees should be scrapped and replaced by maintenance grants of equivalent value, payable at the start of each year.
I think that my suggestions offer graduates a fairer deal: universities would have the additional funds that they so desperately need, and would have the flexibility to respond to their individual difficulties. I sincerely hope that the Deputy Leader of the House will convey my views to his colleagues.
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It only remains for me to wish a happy Christmas and a peaceful new year to you and your family, Mr. Deputy Speaker, and to all Members and staff of the House.
3.51 pm
Mr. John Randall: It is a great pleasure to follow the hon. Member for Morecambe and Lunesdale (Geraldine Smith), who is known for speaking her mind in a principled way. She is right: the Government should have another look at their misguided plans on university fees.
I do not know whether, during his visits to his local school, my hon. Friend the Member for Romford (Mr. Rosindell) has heard the story of the Member of Parliament who, looking at pictures of a seasonal nature, noticed one of an aeroplane. When he asked what it had to do with Christmas, he was told that it depicted the flight to Egypt. He asked, "And who is that?", and was told, "It's Pontius the pilot." I make no apology for returning to the subject of the aviation White Paper.
My hon. Friend the Member for Ruislip-Northwood (Mr. Wilkinson) has already made a very good speech about why we think the Heathrow third runway option is wrong, and the hon. Member for Braintree (Mr. Hurst) has spoken about Stansted. I share his views, and his disappointment. The decision was indeed disappointing for those of us who are in the shadow of Heathrow. We thought that the environmental problems were insurmountable, and we still think that. As my hon. Friend pointed out, the advent of a fifth and possibly a sixth terminal, with a runway, and the introduction of mixed mode—which is also a possibility—would lead to many more flights and many more associated traffic movements. Levels of nitrogen dioxide would be likely to rise rather than fall.
People have been in a downbeat mood because of that, but yesterday, along with my hon. Friend the Member for Hayes and Harlington (John McDonnell), I attended a meeting at Heathrow school in Sipson. Given that I have already caught your eye, Mr. Deputy Speaker, I have no ulterior motive in saying this. Those at the meeting began by saying that their thoughts and prayers were with those living in the Stansted and Gatwick areas as well. We know what they are going through, and what it means when hundreds of people have their homes and communities threatened in this way.
Morale at the meeting was initially rather low, but after a while we realised that, although this might be regarded as a stay of execution and that we were still on death row, the alternative—execution—was probably worse, generally speaking, and that we could now work for the reprieve that my constituents and I feel we deserve. Although it may yet take a few years of hard-fought battle, we will eventually walk free from the threat of losing homes, and of our health being affected by the toxic fumes of traffic and aviation in our area.
By the end of the meeting, morale had risen so significantly that we finished with a rousing chorus of "Jerusalem". That is unusual for a meeting held in the constituency of my hon. Friend—on this occasion, he is my hon. Friend—the Member for Hayes and Harlington. I know that "Jerusalem" was written by a

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good socialist, but these days it is not normally regarded as something with which to finish a meeting of, say, the Campaign group.
As the chairman of the meeting pointed out, if it had been a rugby match, the scores at full time would have been level, with the environmentalists and residents having exactly the same number of points on the board as the aviation industry. As he also pointed out, however, both the 1966 football World cup and the recent rugby World cup were won by England in extra time. Singing "Jerusalem" has spurred us on, and we know that we will achieve the same result.
I should like to add my name to the list of those who are calling on the Government to establish a rugby foundation similar to the Football Foundation, which has done so much good work for that sport. Such a foundation would be able to upgrade stadiums, thereby providing decent facilities for rugby throughout the country. As recently as today, I received an e-mail from a young lady who runs a summer university in Tower Hamlets; in fact, it has proved so successful that it runs virtually throughout the year. She wants to organise some rugby, but it is proving very difficult to find pitches in that part of the world. That is exactly the sort of initiative that is needed. Given the huge tidal wave of interest and good will following our success in the World cup, we ought to be able to get a grip on this problem.
In case I am accused of jumping on the bandwagon, I should point out that I have been a member of Uxbridge rugby club for many years, that I am a Saracens season ticket holder, and that my son plays for Ruislip rugby club. I wish those teams extremely well over the Christmas period. I should tell anybody who is going to watch Watford over Christmas that they have a couple of difficult matches coming up. I should also like to pay tribute to Richard Hill, the Saracens player who will be captaining England in their match against the New Zealand Barbarians at Twickenham on Saturday. Richard Hill is very much an unsung hero of England, and I wish him and the rest of the team well. I should further point out that Taine Randell, the captain of the Barbarians, also plays for Saracens. Although his spelling of his name is a little mistaken, he is a very fine player.
Before I upset even more of my constituents than I normally do, I should also wish Uxbridge football club well in their match against Yeading. At that point, my hon. Friend the Member for Hayes and Harlington will revert to being the hon. Member for Hayes and Harlington, as Yeading is in his constituency.
On a more serious note, while many of us look forward to a pleasant, comfortable and warm Christmas, many people cannot do that, and I shall take the time I have left to talk about a forgotten area of Europe. In the wake of what has happened in Iraq and Afghanistan, we have often been told what a great success the campaign in Kosovo has been. However, I have a feeling that the truth about Kosovo is somewhat different, and that the plight of many people in that area has been rather forgotten, despite the fact that Kosovo is part of our own continent.
Nominally, Kosovo is still part of a country called Serbia and Montenegro. Hundreds of thousands of people who used to live there cannot return to homes that are sometimes only a few tens of kilometres away,
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so they are in refugee camps, although because they are still in the same country, they are called internally displaced people. They live in awful conditions, and have done for some time. That applies not only to people from Kosovo but to people from Krajina, which is part of Croatia.
The NATO and European Union regime in Kosovo is in some ways no better than the one that it replaced. According to all the reports, and the many people who have been there, Kosovo is still a lawless place. Only yesterday, in the debate on asylum, the hon. Member for Richmond Park (Dr. Tonge) talked about one of her constituents, a Kosovan asylum seeker who does not want to return to Kosovo, as even now he is in fear of his life because of reprisals by the Kosovo Liberation Army, and he is still in hiding. To think that the place is all sorted out now is, I am afraid, erroneous.
The Minister for Europe admitted earlier this year that fewer than 3,500 of the 260,000 people who fled Kosovo have returned, and that many of the few who remained are still leaving because of the continued abuse and terror. Some particularly gruesome and appalling crimes have taken place there during the year. On 13 August, 60 to 80 children were bathing in the river Bistrica near Gorazdevac, when they were suddenly machine-gunned by two criminals. It took an hour and a half for KFOR to arrive, to find two of them dead and two seriously hurt. No one has been caught for that crime.
I hope that in the coming year the Government will take the situation seriously and grasp the nettle of Kosovo. I, and the other members of the all-party group on Serbia and Montenegro, will do what we can in the House, and we will not let the subject be buried. At this time of year, we should remember that the spirit of good will and peace on earth is not just for Christmas; it should be for life.
5.3 pm
Mr. Adrian Bailey: Today I shall celebrate Christmas by talking about health. I shall describe some of the good practice in my constituency, which has some lessons for the health service as a whole, and flag up one or two issues that have been raised with me, which the Government need to take on board if they are to fulfil their strategic objectives for the health service.
In the debate on the health service, the concentration on the acute sector is understandable—perhaps, because of the passage of the Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Act this year, it is inevitable—but it is potentially a cause for concern. The disputes and the debate about the acute sector have obscured the real progress that has been made at primary care level as a result of the Government's investment in that sector.
I represent an inner-city area, which, in common with many others, has poor health statistics. The worst are centred in the traditional Tipton area, which consists of three wards, Princes End, Great Bridge and Tipton Green. All have high death rates from heart disease, stroke, cancer and chest disease. Other problems that are part health-related, part social include high teenage pregnancy rates, smoking and alcohol intake.
Specifically in order to address areas with acute health problems, the Government introduced personal medical service pilots, which started in 1998 in Tipton and have

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now been rolled out to some 30 per cent. of the population. In my constituency, the Tipton Care Organisation was set up. It covers a patient population of 37,500, with eight GP practices—one with six doctors and four with only one. It set up a board with representatives of the voluntary sector, the local community health team, tenants and local government. There is a further board consisting of local GPs, one from each practice. That structure has brought together expertise from all sectors of the local health economy and has stimulated new ways of working to benefit the local community, at both primary and acute level.
The organisation has introduced several innovations that should be singled out for their implications for the NHS. It first appointed two salaried GPs to support the existing GP coverage. Tipton, in common with many other similar areas, is under-provided with GPs. According to its population it should have 22, but at the time in question there were 18. The employment of two female salaried GPs has meant that the organisation has been able to support the practices with only one or two GPs, by providing cover for training and enabling them to reduce waiting times. It has also improved the service by allowing women who prefer to be seen by a female GP the opportunity to do so. It has considerably enhanced the GP service in several areas.
The organisation has also employed stress counsellors. In conjunction with the Counselling in Primary Care Trust and the health service management centre at Birmingham university, it has provided a specific counselling service in local practices. It is obvious that many visits to GPs are the result of stress-related or psychosomatic illnesses. By providing a specific counselling service, the organisation has improved the well-being of patients and cut the number of visits to GPs by around 29 per cent. I cannot help feeling that if such a service were introduced nationwide, the benefits of the reduced pressure on local GPs would be significant.
Another project was the introduction of an integrated nursing service for elderly patients in hospital. By assessing their needs in hospital and visiting them regularly once they had returned home, the organisation provided a level of support that has cut the average stay in Sandwell hospital by one and a half days for patients from the Tipton area, in comparison with the rest of the local area. Obviously, this has enormous implications in terms of pressure on waiting lists in the acute sector. It is a clear demonstration of the beneficial impact that investment in the primary care sector can have on the acute sector.
Other projects involve dealing with diabetes in terms of a proactive chiropody programme. The identification of no fewer than 956 diabetics who were not attending chiropody services and the establishment of a proactive chiropody monitoring service has resulted in nearly 10 per cent. being identified as requiring acute treatment. It is estimated that nine amputations were prevented as a result of the provision of that treatment. Many elderly people with diabetes do not understand its impact on their legs and feet. The setting up of a chiropody service to monitor that brings potential benefits to their health and well-being, and there is a substantial impact on the health service.
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I remember that, when I was a young boy an elderly auntie who lived with us had diabetes, but did not reveal to anybody—not even her doctor—the extent of the problem with her legs. That resulted in an amputation and subsequently she died. So I know at first hand just how essential that sort of service is in benefiting individuals and the acute sector.
Another and startling approach is being made to the medical management of drugs in the community. A survey was done of people, mainly over 65 and mainly suffering from coronary heart disease or diabetes, who were taking more than four sorts of medication, to find out how effective the drugs were. To my surprise—or perhaps not to my surprise—many of those who were suffering from a range of ailments could not read the labels, did not understand the instructions, or could not access the drugs from the packet. As a result, there was a significant level of over-prescription and lower efficacy than was needed. That in turn can lead to hospitalisation or residential care. As a result of action and support for elderly people in that category, the need for hospitalisation and residential care has been reduced, as has the drugs budget.
All these programmes have been carried out as a result of the extra investment at primary health care level. They demonstrate clear cost benefits and benefits for the acute sector.
One or two concerns have been raised with me. The first is about the medium-term provision of GP services within areas such as mine. In my area, in common with many former industrial areas, the local health service is highly dependent on the first generation of Asian doctors who came here 25 to 30 years ago. They have done sterling service for the people of Sandwell in my constituency. However, many will come up for retirement in the next few years. Despite the 12,000 extra doctors, there is a real danger that these areas will not be able to attract the number of doctors needed to sustain the good work that has been begun. That is obviously a challenge for the Government.
One way of dealing with the problem is to follow the lead of the United States by training and recruiting physician assistants. The anomaly is that Tipton Care Organisation has recruited two American physician assistants. Other primary care trusts are doing the same. There is a recognised role and potential use of physician assistants, but this country does not train them or recruit enough of them. They are educated and trained to a high level, although not to the level expected of a doctor, and carry out a range of support services under the supervision of a doctor, releasing the doctor's time for more specialised purposes. Physician assistants are widely used in the United States.
Unfortunately, physician assistants do not have a professional body. Work is being done with the General Medical Council to recognise them, and Birmingham university is involved in establishing a training facility, but it needs funding. I hope that the Government will seriously consider the proposal as a way of bridging the doctor-provision gap, which may emerge over the next few years as a result of the retirement of so many ethnic minority doctors.
There is another possible source of support. It came as a surprise to me to learn that about 500 medical orderlies leave the Army services each year. Those

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people would not necessarily become doctors, but given their basic medical training allied with new courses to train physician assistants, they are a source of medical expertise that is currently lost and could be used within local health care economies. The Government should seriously consider recruiting and training medical orderlies to promote the Government's long-term health objectives.
My area is pioneering joined-up thinking, utilising the Government's extra investment in primary care to provide better local services and to relieve pressure on acute services. However, I am worried that that investment may not be sustained. I hope that the Government will invest in recruitment to ensure that the good work that has taken place over the past few years is not lost because of a lack of forward planning.
4.18 pm
Bob Spink: As this is the Christmas Adjournment debate, I wish you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, and all at the Palace of Westminster a very happy Christmas and a peaceful new year. But while we enjoy the warmth of our homes, friends and family this Christmas, let us remember those in need.
There are homeless people in Castle Point and we have failed far too many of them. We must find ways to make more housing units available to help the many worthy cases that have been betrayed by the system. I include myself, as well as the Government and the local council, in that criticism. We must treat homeless people with dignity and charity, and that should be remembered at Christmas.
My hon. Friend the Member for Romford (Mr. Rosindell) mentioned the celebrations of an anniversary regarding Gibraltar. I throw in my call for decent celebrations of the 200th anniversary of Nelson's day on 22 October 2005. The Canvey Island Conservative club and the nation at large have noted Labour's politically correct reluctance to celebrate that anniversary, which marks a remarkable victory of our country over the French. As the celebration may take place after the next election, I call on my Front-Bench spokesmen, who by that time will have formed the Government, to ensure that we have a substantial and appropriate celebration of that remarkable battle and victory.
In a previous Adjournment debate on 3 April this year, the Parliamentary Secretary, Privy Council Office said:
"The hon. Member for Castle Point … confidently predicted many gains for his party in the local elections. We shall see."—[Official Report, 3 April 2003; Vol. 402, c. 1154.]
Since the Minister is so interested, let me tell the House what actually happened. At the time when the hon. Gentleman made those comments, Labour controlled the council, which had just 15 Conservative councillors. After the election, the Conservatives had 39 councillors and Labour just two. I ask hon. Members to join me in congratulating all 41 candidates who won that election, including the two Labour ones. I hope that they will serve their community assiduously and with dignity over the years.
I should like to startߞyes, I have not even started yet—with three good news stories in a spirit of Christmas good will. First, stopping under-age drinking on the streets and tackling youth drunkenness is
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incredibly important, as we all know from our surgeries. A crucial weapon in allowing the police to do their job in that respect was contained in the under-age drinking Bill, which was intended to allow the police to remove alcohol from kiddies—perhaps 16-year-olds, or perhaps even 10-year-olds. I introduced that private Member's Bill in 1997, and the police were given those powers on its enactment.
The Prime Minister then removed those powers from the police with his Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001, in an act of political stupidity that is typical of this Labour Government. In fact, the Association of Chief Police Officers and communities throughout this country very much regretted that astounding move. The good news is that, following pressure from me and other hon. Members on both sides of the House, the Government did a U-turn, and in the Licensing Act 2003, they reinstated the powers that my Act originally gave to the police. I urge all police forces to use those powers fully to protect not just those in communities that sometimes feel under siege from youth street nuisance and crime, but the kids themselves, because 90-odd per cent. of first use of drugs by young people takes place under the influence of alcohol, and youngsters need protection from that.
Of course the second good-news story relates to Cliffe. An airport in the Thames estuary would cause serious quality-of-life and environmental damage to the people of south Essex and Kent, including noise and air pollution and much else that we all know about. So I thank the Government for rejecting the Cliffe proposal. My constituents will feel that I was right to give them their say—to consult them, when the Government failed to consult them on that matter—and to fight on their behalf. They will feel that we won an important battle. Can the Minister confirm whether any further scheme for an airport in the Thames estuary will be ruled out for the entire White Paper 30-year strategic planning period, so that my constituents will know that we have won the war?
While you are in the Chair, Mr. Deputy Speaker, I should reiterate my support for the excellent campaign against the extra runway at Stansted, which must now get off the ground, and I know that you will be leading that campaign in your usual excellent manner.
The third good-news story, of course, involves Canvey Island football club, which passes into the new year at the top of the league, with a remarkable string of performances based on great effort, fitness and ability on the pitch at Park Lane. The club looks set for promotion into the conference next year, but I shall say no more about that because I do not wish to tempt fate.
Hospice funding is very important, and I have raised the issue several times in the House, including with the Prime Minister. Adult hospices get 32 per cent. of their funding from public funds, and children's hospices receive an average of 4 per cent. Little Haven children's hospice in my constituency, however, receives only 1.5 per cent. public funding. That seems too low, and I will encourage Ministers to consider that, to recognise the care and dedication of the staff and volunteers in the hospice movement, and to recognise the generosity of spirit of fundraisers who raised the other 98.5 per cent. for Little Haven—I am thinking of the Hadleigh, Benfleet and Canvey Island Conservative clubs that, year on year, raise money for that hospice and for other

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local good causes. The answer is not, however, as the Government believe, to redirect lottery money from other good causes to the hospice movement. The answer is that public Exchequer funds should be made available at a rate of 40 per cent. for both children's and adult hospices, which can then move forward and provide their wonderful service to families and children at the most difficult time in their lives.
I move now to the old issue of Canvey's third road, for which I apologise to the House. With neighbouring councils changing political control—Basildon this year, and Thurrock, I hope, next year—councillors may be minded to take a more responsible, community-spirited attitude towards a third road from Canvey Island going across parts of their borough. I ask them to do that, to be co-operative and to think about the wider community interest in that.
I want to raise a few questions about the Child Support Agency. The agency wrote to me on 11 December:
"The Agency began processing"—
by which, I think, it means assessing—
"new cases under the new child support scheme from 3 March 2003. A timescale has not been agreed when existing cases will be transferred to the new scheme. These cases will transfer once Ministers are satisfied that the new arrangements are working well."
My question is: why is the scheme not working well now, after almost a year of operation? Why do we not yet know that the scheme is working well so that we can confidently make sure that everybody is on an equal footing? To use different schemes to assess parents on the arbitrary date of 3 March seems to me to be inequitable. I therefore urge the Minister to consider the matter with a view to bring all cases under the new scheme as soon as possible.
I now move on to an Essex county council letter that was faxed to head teachers across Essex on 16 December, which referred to the primary school meals service. Essex county council sought to review the matter and to seek new tenders, for instance, to improve food quality and to increase usage of fresh products. We can all agree with that. Nevertheless, Mr. Deputy Speaker, you may not know—I certainly did not—that a decision had been taken by Essex county council not to accept any of the tenders, and to stop suddenly the primary school meals service and to put the responsibility on head teachers, who, probably from April next year, must make their own arrangements. That may be the right move, it may be financially necessary, and it may enable head teachers and primary schools to provide better school meals for children. There has been no consultation, however. We cannot simply make such decisions and impose them without consultation in this day and age. I therefore call on the Minister to seek a consultation on the matter. May I also say to him that the reason for all this is that the Government have withheld reasonable funding from Essex county council in their wrong-minded move to shift money up to Labour-controlled councils further north?
I turn to the important issue of post office closures which, in Castlepoint, is as disastrous for local communities, pensioners and vulnerable people as it is
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in other constituencies. My hon. Friend the Member for Ribble Valley (Mr. Evans) made an excellent, stirring speech about the matter, so I shall not go into further details, save to cite the National Federation of Sub-Postmasters, which told me on 11 December:
"Not only are people being forced change the way in which they collect their benefits … the Government has made it difficult for people to choose the post office based product … the way in which the direct payment programme has developed will undermine the ability of the national post office network to sustain itself."
As the NFSP says, Government policy is leading to post office closures, not staff retirement. If it were Government policy to make post offices viable, people would want to replace staff who were retiring. The public should not be in any doubt about who is to blame. They will, I am sure, let Labour know who is to blame at the next election.
Finally—I see that you are smiling, Mr. Deputy Speaker, at that word—the House will not be surprised if I return to a familiar subject in the usual suspects' debate. The hon. Member for Finchley and Golders Green (Dr. Vis) mentioned Cyprus in his opening contribution. I congratulate the opposition parties in north Cyprus on their success in recent elections in which they gained 50 per cent. of the seats and the majority of the popular vote. That is remarkable and praiseworthy in view of the widespread intimidation and corruption, multi-media bias and the rigging of the electoral register. Surely, however, pressure must be put on the Turkish Government to put pressure in turn on Mr. Denktash to make a settlement based on the Annan proposal so that, even at this late stage, a united island of Cyprus can accede to Europe in May 2004.
4.32 pm
Mr. Harry Barnes: Rhodia Eco Services Ltd. is a chemical manufacturing plant in Staveley in my constituency. It employs 75 people directly but also engages drivers and contractors, so an additional 40 to 60 people are employed on an ad hoc basis. Rhodia is the successor to Staveley Chemicals, which used to be a major employer in the town.
The Rhodia site is in a prominent position near the centre of Staveley. Everyone is aware of its presence, as well as its past. Homes in Staveley are issued with an action card telling people what to do if there is an emergency at the plant. It tells them about the initial warning system and the siren that is sounded. They are told to go indoors, shut windows and doors and keep away from cellars and basements. They are told to tune into local radio stations to find out what is happening. When the all-clear siren sounds, the emergency is over. The plant did not used to have an all-clear siren, and when there was a false alarm people hid for a number of hours, not knowing that it was all over. I raised that matter with officials, and the extra signal was introduced.
There have been four incidents at the plant in the past 18 months. I shall give details of the most recent emergency, which occurred on 3 November. The details are derived from information that I obtained at a meeting at Rhodia Eco Services in Staveley on 7 November. The meeting was attended by representatives from Derbyshire county council

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emergency services department, the firm's general manager and site manager, representatives of the Health and Safety Executive and of the Environment Agency, and members of the police and fire services. A local borough councillor, Jim MacManus, was also present.
I shall describe the incident in detail. Recommissioning was taking place at the chlorine plant. Because of a manual disconnection, a valve was left open, leading to an escape of chlorine gas. The procedure has been corrected, and that manual operation no longer takes place, so the problem that caused the incident has been resolved.
The gas escape happened between 1 pm and 1.15 pm. No one can be more precise, as there was some confusion in the plant. Six workers were affected—two employees, and four contractors. The ambulance service was finally called, and ambulance staff triggered the proper emergency procedures. The fire service was contacted, as were the police at 1.31 pm.
Although the company asked the ambulance service for help, it did not set the emergency procedures in train. That happened because the company finally acted to protect six workers, and to have them taken to hospital. The siren to which I referred earlier was not sounded until 1.50 pm, but people in the community were suffering distress well before then.
Staveley hall contains the offices of Staveley town council, but rooms there are also rented out to businesses. A strong smell, something like bleach, was detected in the car park, and many rooms were later rendered uninhabitable. Some of the events to which I refer took place before the siren was sounded. Rhodia Eco Services staff were contacted, and responded by suggesting the windows be opened to let the chlorine out—even though the procedures laid down require windows to be locked.
Many people suffered much discomfort, reporting runny eyes, hair that became like straw, and reddened complexions. Two hundred people took shelter in the local Morrisons supermarket, and others hid away in local schools. There was some confusion in the schools: although some people claimed to have heard the siren, kids were kept in, particularly at four schools in the area—at Netherthorpe, Norbriggs and Woodhouse in my constituency, and at Poolsbrook in the constituency of the hon. Member for Chesterfield (Paul Holmes). The schools in my area were quite close to where the emergency happened, and they were visited by the police.
The siren sounded for 45 minutes, between 1.50 pm and 2.35 pm. It was switched off to preserve the batteries. People depended on local radio for information about the emergency that was still taking place. No all-clear was sounded.
At 3.19 pm, a build-up of chlorine was discovered in pipes on the plant. Things did not look good, and it seemed likely that the emergency might have to last for another four to six hours. At 3.27 pm, roadblocks were put in place in various areas of the town, including around the plant and in places where the prevailing winds had blown the chlorine. At 3.53 pm, it was decided to move children from the schools, although there were no school buses, and the 200 people were let out of Morrisons and the other shops, as it was felt that
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it would be better for them to get to their homes than to be locked away for any longer. It was not until 5.50 pm that the all-clear siren was sounded.
An inquiry is being conducted by inspectors from the Health and Safety Executive and the Environment Agency, which, under 1999 regulations, form the competent authority for the control of major accident hazards. They need to face up to a number of problems. Should not the inquiry be conducted publicly, or at least have some public element. so that the people who were affected are in a better position to describe what occurred? Why did not Rhodia alert the emergency services when it called for an ambulance, and why did it not do so at an earlier stage? Why did emergency services follow an odd sequence of events by blocking roads, then letting people out of buildings to return to their homes, which seems to be the wrong way round? In one case, a young woman at Staveley Netherthorpe school, who lived in Wingerworth, had to walk outside the area of the roadblocks to Brimington, in another part of Staveley, in order to be collected and taken home. That led to a great deal of confusion.
The town council subsequently called for a public inquiry and for the closure of the plant. A few years ago, one could not have imagined that that would happen, because everybody's employment was dependent on Staveley Chemicals. In 1998, two incidents involving escapes of acid gas in Killamarsh in my constituency led to a massive campaign to close a similar-sized plant, which then transferred its operations. Now that plant is operated by Onyx, which took over from SARP. Chemical reclamation no longer takes place there, but new processes are operating. There might be some future for the Staveley site, but not for the processes that caused the problems and led to the situation whereby action cards had to be issued.
Of the six workers who were taken to hospital, three returned to work the following day, two returned the day after, and one was signed off work for a week by his GP. He subsequently packed in his job as he was suffering from panic attacks. I have asked, with that person's agreement, for the Health and Safety Executive and the Environment Agency to interview him. No one has been in touch with him since he resigned, either from the firm itself or from the officialdom that is engaged in the investigations.
I shall outline my second suggestion. At SARP UK, we had a visit from the then Minister for the Environment that eased the process of change and helped with later legislative changes on environmental matters. We need a visit from the current Minister for the Environment, who is responsible for the Environment Agency or perhaps the Minister for Work, who has responsibilities for the Health and Safety Executive. A visit took place to the site when it was under previous ownership, but that happened when the Conservatives were in office, and a Conservative Minister visited.
There are moves to arrange a public meeting in the area, and I shall attend it. It would be fruitful if a ministerial visit could take place at the time of meeting. I needed the opportunity to put those matters on the record. I have also looked for others devices to do that. This is my last opportunity to raise the matter before Christmas.

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Let me comment on the festive season. Some of my constituents will have a problem. They have received a letter from Serco Rail Maintenance, saying that essential railway engineering works will take place in the Clay Cross north junction area. Most of the Clay Cross railway is in a tunnel, and outside areas such as North Wingfield will therefore be affected. The letter states:
"Please be advised that essential engineering work is to be undertaken in the Clay Cross North Junction area which is located on the railway line adjacent to your home
This work is programmed to take place between 2200 hrs 24th December 2003 until 0700 hrs 27th December 2003."
The problem is that people will have noise and disruption for Christmas. I hope that Serco Rail Maintenance, which I shall contact, will respond properly to their anxieties so that my constituents can have a peaceful Christmas, as I hope we all shall.
4.47 pm
Mr. Laurence Robertson: It is rather a coincidence that I am following the hon. Member for North-East Derbyshire (Mr. Barnes) because I want to raise a similar issue. It relates to a company called Cleansing Services Group, which operated—I use the past tense, thank goodness—in the village of Sandhurst in my constituency. Three years ago, an explosion happened at the works, which was a chemical works although it was not authorised to be so. It had planning permission from the county council to treat oily waste and such substances, yet the Environment Agency gave it a licence to deal with much more hazardous waste, even though it had no planning permission for that.
Many villagers warned the Environment Agency, other agencies and people that things were not right at the site. A whistleblower was sacked for various reasons and won his case at the industrial tribunal. I visited several times and warned the agencies. They took some notice, but not enough. Three years ago, the place exploded. The effects on people's mental and physical health are difficult to measure. I shall not go into the same amount of detail as the hon. Member for North-East Derbyshire because I want to cover one or two other issues and I have raised the matter previously
The pressure from villagers has driven the company off the site, and that might offer some encouragement to the hon. Member for North-East Derbyshire. It decided that the best way in which to proceed was to sell the site, and we are all thankful for that. However, the pain, misery and effects of the explosion persist
I want a public inquiry to look not only into that incident and into the company, although those aspects should certainly form part of its terms of reference, but into the way in which the Environment Agency, the Health and Safety Executive, the county council and, to an extent, the health authority were monitoring the site. They were given many warnings about it and apparently visited it a number of times, yet they were unable or unwilling to take the necessary action. Such a public inquiry might determine that those bodies did not have enough power to take the action that we felt necessary, although I do not think that that would be the case
My constituents, like everyone else, pay an awful lot of tax—an increasing amount, sadly, under this Government, but that is not my main point—to fund
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those agencies on whom they rely to look after their health and the environment. That is the agencies' job, yet in this case they have signally failed to do it. To bring justice to my constituents who live in the village of Sandhurst and, perhaps more importantly, to avoid similar situations arising in the future, there should be a public inquiry into the performance of the agencies that were supposed to be monitoring that site.
The Deputy Prime Minister and the former Minister for the Environment, the right hon. Member for Oldham, West and Royton (Mr. Meacher), were very generous with their time shortly after the explosion. They had a number of meetings with me, and said that they would consider holding a public inquiry. First, however, they wanted to see whether there would be a court case against the company. It was, in fact, taken to court and, a week or two ago, was fined £250,000 and ordered to pay £400,000 costs. It deserves to pay at least that. My point is that that court case is now out of the way, so the Government could decide to hold a public inquiry into what went on when Cleansing Services Group was not being monitored properly and when the explosion happened, causing so many problems for my constituents.
That company is known as CSG. I now want to move on to SEN, which stands for special educational needs. I have raised this subject many times in the House, in an Adjournment debate and on other occasions. It is a big issue in Gloucestershire. The county council there is run by an unholy Lib-Lab pact—I make that point only so that it is clearly understood; it is not a party political point—which has a policy of questioning the viability of the special schools in the area. It seems to want to close them all down.
A few years ago, I served on the Standing Committee that considered the Special Educational Needs and Disability Bill, which was meant to provide for greater inclusion of children with special needs in mainstream schools. I was assured by the Minister at the time that it should not be seen as giving a green light for the wholesale closure of special schools: I think that those are pretty close to the Minister's words. In Gloucestershire, however, it has had the effect of giving that green light, and the county council is trying to bring about such a wholesale closure.
The Bownham Park special school in Stroud has been closed, and I understand that two schools in the Forest of Dean have been closed, although they are to be put on the site of a new school. That has still had the effect of merging two schools into one, however. The general drift in the county is towards the closure of special schools. There is a very good special school in my constituency called Alderman Knight school, whose future is currently out to public consultation. Given the previous actions of the county council, we know what its desires and intentions are.
I have asked many times for the Secretary of State to visit Alderman Knight school; I promise that he would be made very welcome there. I want him to listen not just to the politicians, but to the teachers and the head teachers of the mainstream and special schools, who are all saying the same thing. Nor do I want him to listen only to the parents. I want him to listen to the pupils. I want him to stand in front of them, as I have done, when they break down in tears and speak of their fears of being forced to go to a mainstream school. Listen to the

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pupils, not me—it does not matter what I think. Listen to their fears. If all the special schools are closed, where is the choice? It is, of course, a fact that many pupils with special educational needs go to mainstream schools and do very well, which should continue. My only point is that that is not right for all pupils. If those schools close, these pupils will have no option.
The Government's intention may be inclusion—I do not generally dispute that—but those pupils will not be included in future life. They will be excluded from society because they will not have had the care and education that they need as special cases. They will not cope in mainstream schools, and they will therefore be excluded from society in future life. I ask the Minister to come to Gloucestershire and see what is going on. He should look those children in the eye and tell me whether he agrees with it. I do not think he will.
We have had CSG and SEN. Now I want to discuss the OFT. The Office of Fair Trading is another subject on which I have held an Adjournment debate. It is carrying out various investigations, as hon. Members know. The investigation that particularly concerns me is the one being carried out into horse racing. Again, I have a constituency interest. My Tewkesbury constituency contains Prestbury Park, which is the Cheltenham race course. In my view, it is the greatest race course in the world. I do not necessarily fear for it as much as for the smaller race courses—the Herefords, the Ludlows and the Southwells. Those are feeder tracks where horses, jockeys, trainers and owners may start their careers. They are very important, particularly to national hunt racing.
The OFT is investigating the control of British horse racing, and it says that the British Horseracing Board's control of the fixture list is non-competitive. Technically, I suppose that the OFT might have a point. However, despite the fact that this industry is always disunited and has more arguments and rows than any other I have ever known, the OFT has unbelievably managed to bring all the warring factions together in opposition to its plans. It may have a point: there may be things in British horse racing that need to improve. The issue as regards control of the fixture list is not the only one it has identified. There is also the sale of data rights to one buyer rather than a number of buyers, which we have heard about in relation to BSkyB. A parallel case has been dealt with in the European Union recently.
The OFT says that a number of points in British racing have to change. The interesting thing is that the British Horseracing Board—like racing itself—is not denying that it has to make changes. It is making changes, but we are very concerned that the OFT could end up throwing the baby out with the bathwater if it forces those changes through in a heavy-handed way.
Who says so? The industry says so, as I do, but interestingly the Minister for Sport and Tourism appears to agree with my points, as does the Under-Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, the hon. Member for Bradford, South (Mr. Sutcliffe), the competition Minister. They have been honest enough to tell me that. How can it be that the OFT is doing something that the Government and the industry do not want it to do? Somehow it has become so powerful that it can do that against the wishes of the Government and the industry. Surely that cannot be right. I know that the
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competition Minister and the sports Minister have made their views known to the OFT, but I hope that the Government's representations to it will be powerful enough to persuade the OFT not to drop the case entirely but to proceed sensibly and take on board points made to it by the many strands of the racing industry.
Those are the main issues that I wanted to raise. I want to finish on one point; I do not want to take up any more time. In wishing everyone in the House a happy Christmas and a peaceful new year, I echo the views expressed, perhaps differently, by other hon. Members, one of whom was my hon. Friend the Member for Uxbridge (Mr. Randall). Many people in this country and throughout the world cannot look forward to a happy Christmas because of their personal circumstances. A year ago, I was in Ethiopia, and I witnessed the desperate poverty in that country at that time. Thank the Lord things are slightly easier this year, but countries such as Ethiopia and others in Africa that suffer from war, poverty and disease can be forgotten when we are concentrating, perhaps rightly, on Iraq or on the muddle in Europe over attempts to introduce a constitution. Many important issues may make us forget the plight of the starving people who live only to exist, and that of the children who each and every day have to walk miles to another village just to bring water back to their own village. That cannot be an acceptable life for anyone. When we concentrate on the problems of Iraq and the European constitution, we should not forget the plight of the third world.
Mr. Deputy Speaker, a very happy Christmas to you.
5.1 pm
John Cryer: Thank you for calling me in this Adjournment debate, Mr. Deputy Speaker. We have heard speeches about airport development, including those of my hon. Friend the Member for Braintree (Mr. Hurst) and the hon. Member for Uxbridge (Mr. Randall), who has fought a long campaign with my hon. Friend the Member for Hayes and Harlington (John McDonnell) against the proposed runway at Heathrow. As a member of the Campaign group, I assure the hon. Gentleman that at every meeting—on a quiet night we may have as few as 200 or 300 members of the parliamentary Labour party—we always have a rousing rendition of "Jerusalem" followed by the blood sacrifice of a bourgeois deviationist or two, or perhaps a captain of industry or a banker. That is a joke, in case some of my hon. Friends are getting worried.
The first issue that I want to raise is a bit more prosaic than that. There are quite a few landfill sites in my constituency, and most of the operators are responsible and have due regard to the local community. However, a company called Ahern, which operates a site at Ayletts farm in Rainham, is completely irresponsible and has no consideration for the local community. For many months, gases that give rise to smells have drifted across Rainham and the houses in the southern part of my constituency. That has affected the local populace. Attempts by the Environment Agency to control Ahern and to get it to take appropriate action, such as the installation of a burner, have come to nothing. Ahern is

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happy to make mountains of cash out of the taxpayer, but it treats the local community with utter contempt. All the attempts by the public sector to get the company to realise its responsibilities have so far come to nothing.
I have written to the Minister for the Environment. A solution for the future, which may help my constituents, would be the establishment of a community forum on a statutory basis, so that companies such as Ahern would have to meet members of the local community, the local authority, the Environment Agency and other groups. That may enable at least an examination of the records of some of the firms involved.
I emphasise that the vast majority of landfill operators are perfectly responsible and conduct themselves properly—especially Cleanaway, which is the biggest operator in my constituency. However, a few smaller firms behave irresponsibly.
I also want to raise the issue of Sure Start schemes, which have been successful in many areas, including in my own borough. However, there is a problem, not with the schemes, but with the criteria on the basis of which they are run. They are ward based, and if it is a mixed ward and the deprivation indices are too high because there are well-off areas alongside poverty-stricken areas, Sure Start funding cannot be accessed for those areas.
An attempt was made to obtain Sure Start funds for the Mardyke estate in my constituency. Unfortunately, because the ward contained better-off areas, we could not get those funds. The local primary care trust said, in a recent report on the estate.
"the PCT has investigated the possibility of establishing a Sure Start on the Estate, but it is too small to meet the qualification criteria set by the Sure Start Unit. About half of the households are lone occupancy, and lone parent households are quite prevalent."
That demonstrates that the criteria are too broad. If they were based on neighbourhoods rather than wards, my constituents on the estate would benefit. That is not, however, a criticism of Sure Start, which has proved very successful in much of the country.
The hon. Member for Romford (Mr. Rosindell) mentioned the raw deal given to the London borough of Havering, which we both represent, by central Government for a long time. There is some truth in what he said, but the borough recently received £3 million from Transport for London. I hope that the money will be spent wisely, because that is not always the case with our Tory council. For instance, it spent half a million pounds on raising councillors' allowances, while simultaneously jacking up the council tax by 17 per cent. That went down like a lead balloon. It spent a further half a million pounds on getting rid of the former chief executive, while the council tax rocketed. Those are just two examples. People are deeply unhappy when they see money frittered away on pet projects while the council jacks up the tax and moans about the raw deal that it gets from central Government.
Part of my constituency is in the Thames gateway region. In the next few years, more housing is to be built on the London riverside section, which covers my constituency and principally, on the north side of the Thames, those of my hon. Friends the Members for Dagenham (Jon Cruddas) and for Thurrock (Andrew
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Mackinlay). One of the first tranches of new housing will be at Dovers Corner, a former industrial estate. It is not in good condition: there are all sorts of environmental problems. The developer wants high-level, high-density housing, but that would not be in keeping with the surrounding area, because it would be on the edge of what is still to some extent a village. It is still has a village centre, Rainham.
I want to see more housing in my constituency and in my borough. Since the right to buy was introduced in 1979, thousands if not hundreds of thousands of council homes have been got rid of and have not been replaced by more council homes, or by housing association or housing trust properties. We need more public housing to give hope to the people who come to my advice surgeries—and, no doubt, those of many other Members—and say, "Our home is overcrowded. We want a house rather than a flat, or a flat with two bedrooms rather than one." There is not much help for them now, at least in my constituency.
What we do not want is a repeat of the mistakes of the 1960s and 1970s, when tower blocks were built in my constituency and others. If we had our time again, we would not do that; but there is the potential for a similar mistake if high-density housing schemes are allowed to proceed in east London. There must also be proper provision of doctors' surgeries and other facilities.
I also think that development regulations should be tightened. Local people were shown plans for a branch of B&Q at Roneo Corner, on the boundary between my constituency and Romford. The plans were approved, but when the building was finished it turned out that they had been changed. Local people then found that local authority planning officers had given permission for certain changes to be made. Those changes went down very badly with the people who live in the area; there is no way that they would have approved them had they known what was happening. Of course, they were faced with a fait accompli. The development had been built, and little could be done to reverse it. It is set in concrete and cement, and in brick and mortar.
I want the regulations to be tightened, so that certain guarantees have to be provided in respect of, for example, the size of a general practitioner's surgery, access to schools and the size and height of housing. That way, developers cannot make changes after getting outline planning permission and go ahead with such building.
One or two Members—particularly the hon. Member for Romford, who is my constituency neighbour—have mentioned the European constitution. I happen to be an opponent of the European constitution. I am also the chairman of Labour For A Referendum, which takes the view that profound constitutional changes, whether introduced through the European Union or through any other body, have to be put to the people. There has to be a plebiscite on such profound changes.
I have the uneasy feeling that if the Conservatives were not in opposition, they would put through any idea that happened to emerge from Brussels, because that is their record when in government. While pretending to wrap themselves in the Union flag, they agree to anything that Brussels lays before them. In the beginning, in 1972, they took us into the then Common

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Market without consulting the people in way whatsoever; it took a Labour Government to give us a referendum on membership. In 1986, they gave us the Single European Act—the single biggest reduction in democratic accountability and power that any British Government in living memory have undertaken. Then they gave us the Maastricht treaty—another massive abrogation of sovereignty and power— which was duly followed by the growth and stability pact.
So I do not take too seriously the argument advanced by Conservative Members—with a few honourable exceptions—whereby they are paint themselves in the colours of the critics of the European Union and argue that they would act completely different and would give the EU a hard time. I tend to think that, if ever they did return to government, they would have a complete change of heart, as they always do.
It just remains for me to wish you, Madam Deputy Speaker, the Members of the House and its staff a happy Christmas.
5.12 pm
Mr. Colin Challen: Many excellent speeches have been made this afternoon, so I hope that mine will not prove an anticlimax. I particularly enjoyed the speech of my hon. Friend the Member for Braintree (Mr. Hurst), who spoke eloquently in defence of his constituency, and against the juggernaut—if I may mix my metaphors —of the stupendous increase in aviation. Our policy in that regard seems to be not predict and provide, but promote and provide.
I also welcomed the contribution of the hon. Member for Tewkesbury (Mr. Robertson), who was the first to mention the developing world. That is a particularly important issue to raise in a Christmas Adjournment debate. Christmas is many things, but these days it seems to be more about conspicuous consumption than anything else. It is in that context that I shall talk about sustainable development, which has become the catchphrase of the new millennium. "Sustainable development" are the new buzz words that define all that Government and policy seek to achieve. I want to look at what those words mean in practice, and in doing so I must also explain what those words ought to mean.
Twenty years ago, the United Nations established the World Commission on Environment and Development. In 1987, it published a report known as the Brundtland report, after the commission's chairman, Gro Harlem Brundtland. The report defines sustainable development as
"development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs."
The report was by no means perfect—far from it—and nor was its definition, but we should contrast that definition with what the Government now use as their axiom of sustainable development: a better quality of life for everyone, now and for generations to come. That sounds much the same as the previous definition, but there is a key difference: the word "need" has been substituted for the word "quality". Those are two entirely different things, and the change allows for a much looser, and, in my view, diminished approach to
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the concept of sustainable development. There is a world of difference between providing what people need, and improving everybody's quality of life.
We now have a concept of sustainable development that draws no distinction between the unsustainable quality of life of a tiny proportion of the world's population, and the life of the great majority of that population. To put it another way, as Mahatma Ghandi said when asked if India should have the same standard of living as Britain:
"It took Britain half the resources of the planet to achieve this prosperity; how many planets will a country like India require?"
However, we march on regardless of that obvious painful truth. It is easy to see why. Nobody wants to say that we cannot carry on as we are, because if they did, they would soon be out of a job. So now we talk not about the poor majority of the world who have unmet basic needs. but about a more amorphous promise that everyone's quality of life must be improved—a promise that does not distinguish between the likes of Bill Gates and an Indian peasant, or between Rupert Murdoch and a Chinese sweatshop worker. Our new all-inclusive, wealthy-friendly policy of sustainable development admits of no exceptions.
How unfair and inequitable that is. It reflects current thinking that it is people like Gates and Murdoch who will be the saviours of sustainable development, because as the major business drivers of globalisation, they have in their hands the formula that will drive up global trade and save poor benighted countries from self-destruction. Many of those countries had first to contend with colonialisation, but that early history of globalisation is often neglected. Then they had to contend with the cold war, when many poor countries were used as pawns in spheres of influence. That is the period when many were pressed to acquire unsustainable levels of debt. Finally, they have become the beneficiaries of the post-modernist Washington consensus way of thinking, which dresses up our concerns with softer tones and kind words. Now the poor of the world are to be patronised by our business culture.
However, the massive benefits of decades of western-style development are nowhere better illustrated than they are in the United States, as opposed to the shanty towns of Mumbai or Sao Paulo. As The New York Review of Books says,
"More than 40 per cent of total income in America now goes to the highest 10 per cent. of earners, about the same level as in the 1920s and well up from 30 or so per cent. between the early 1940s and the late 1970s. The average income of the highest-earning 5 per cent. of families was nineteen times that of the lowest 20 per cent. in 1999; in 1979 it was a little more than eleven times. The wealthiest 1 per cent of households now own more than 40 per cent of all assets, including homes and financial investments (after deducting debt)—higher than in any year since 1929."
Even by the inadequate standards of current economic policy, inequality is spreading in the developed world. For all the efforts of the past 20 years, and for all the rhetoric of the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, the World Trade Organisation et al, inequality has worsened, not improved. The way in which developing countries are expected to ape our style of living has made matters worse, because, as Gandhi suggested, it is bound to.

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I am thankful to say that new ways of thinking are emerging, and are even being considered in the mainstream. Kyoto was an example of that, no matter how diluted its outcomes were designed to be. Clearly, international resistance to this sense of global responsibility is still very strong, and no one would argue that Kyoto, even if it were ratified by all the main greenhouse gas producers, would have a huge impact on the acceleration of global warming. What Kyoto did achieve, however, was a sense of shared responsibility—the first real benchmark for the principle that public goods should have a value in the global economic system. Public goods not only cover those areas such as health and education, which governments in civilised societies should deliver, but include biodiversity, the air we breathe, the sustainable management of natural resources and protection of the oceans, among others. It is easy to see how we value the former, as we can put a price on a hip replacement or the building of a new school, but until recently nobody gave much thought to the cost of resource depletion or environmental damage.
Indeed, an environmental bad could easily be seen as an economic good if, for example, a big clean-up of pollution leads to economic growth. The sinking of an oil tanker off the coast of Spain or Alaska may knock a hole in the local economy, but if that leads to economic activity during the clean-up and afterwards, the extra spending will probably exceed the original economic loss for fisheries or tourism, so leading to economic growth. Such thinking is clearly absurd, but will continue for as long as economics are divorced from the environment. The only way it seems to me that the dichotomy can be reconciled is to ensure that the application of the theory of economic growth is forced fully to internalise all the costs involved in creating so-called economic wealth in the first place. If this were to happen, we would see some strange reversals in the fortunes of countries—those previously known as developed would be heavily in debt, while those mainly in the south would have great surpluses.
At the moment we simply take it for granted that we can obtain commodities from the south very cheaply even if, as in the example of coffee, the prices in the shops do not reflect that. But western consumers will still benefit in one way or another from the southern coffee-growing countries' hidden subsidy, through the distribution of dividends, higher pensions or better paid jobs. If we had to pay the real price for oil, through the costs of the enormous environmental damage its extraction causes, or the costs of the wars, pollution and corruption it causes, we might be a bit more anxious to change to the alternatives.
Given my recent criticisms of China's unreconstructed dash for growth, I am pleased to see that its attitudes are changing. Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao has apparently said that development must be sustainable, and there are plans to draw up a green index that would be created by subtracting values given to resource depletion from the standard measure of economic growth. If China perfects that system, it will probably be the first country to do so. For China, the need to achieve a more sustainable form of development is pressing, as its exponential growth has already brought some very immediate problems, as in the case of
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one Chinese city which is having to curb the building of skyscrapers, because of the instability of ground conditions brought on by a shrinking water table, or the incredible news that another city is banning cyclists from some roads because they are getting too congested with cars.
We might permit ourselves some wry amusement at that turn of events, but it is happening here by default. Fewer people walk or cycle to school, and more are travelling by car. Perhaps our congested roads are seen as dangerous too, so the solution is to put more cars on to the roads. Of course, the responsibility to tackle that always lies with someone else. We think, "If only other people would change their ways first," or, "If only the Government would do something about it." That I am afraid is our attitude, and I have some sympathy with it because I know that such attitudes are deeply ingrained in our culture, and that has been made worse in the last 20 years by the attacks made on society on behalf of capital, which in that example has far more to gain by selling cars than it has by encouraging children to walk to school.
The insatiable global demand for our style of living can hardly be denied to others by us unless we change our ways. So it is our responsibility to take tough decisions to lead the way out of this impasse. It inevitably means that we must reassess what we mean by wealth. But if we stick to the idea that sustainable development refers to some open-ended commitment to quality of life rather than to our needs, we will find it difficult to gain a more comprehensive concept of wealth and change the way we measure it. I hope that the Treasury will consider developing its own green index, along the lines of the Chinese proposal, as a starting point for recalculating economic growth. If that happens, we will truly be putting the environment at the heart of government.
I wish you, Madam Deputy Speaker, your family, all hon. Members and all the staff of the House a happy and sustainable Christmas.
5.24 pm
Mr. Oliver Heald: We have had an excellent debate in a spirit of good will, as one would expect in such a season.
One of my hon. Friends who always speaks in this debate is absent today. I am thinking of my hon. Friend the Member for Southend, West (Mr. Amess). Hon. Members will know that on these occasions he almost invariably raises the case of his constituent Maajid Nawaz, who is in prison in Cairo. He is absent because he is visiting Mr. Maajid Nawaz today, and he has asked me to give his apologies to the House.
The debate has had at its core the care that hon. Members in all parties feel for others both at home and abroad. There has been a subset of issues to do with aviation and chemical escapes, but the broad theme has shown the House at its best.
The hon. Member for Finchley and Golders Green (Dr. Vis) started the debate with some remarks about Cyprus, which were echoed in the speech of my hon. Friend the Member for Castle Point (Bob Spink). It is a tragedy that the island has been divided for so long. If the people can come together, perhaps in the spirit of the

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season, but certainly during the next months, and join the European Union, all hon. Members would think that an extremely happy outcome for a beautiful island and a friendly and hospitable people who would make marvellous members of the EU.
The hon. Member for North Cornwall (Mr. Tyler) raised the constituency case of Sergeant Steven Roberts and shared with us the post-mortem findings. He raised the issue of equipment shortages in Iraq and suggested that the necessary body armour had not been available. He also highlighted the National Audit Office report that examined those concerns. It is good that he has been able to raise such an important issue. It is, of course, the purpose of this debate that matters that have not been raised before Christmas should be put before us. The hon. Gentleman said that in the discussion following the recent statement on the Defence White Paper, my hon. Friend the Member for Mid-Sussex (Mr. Soames) did not mention equipment shortages. If I may, I shall correct him, as I was there: my hon. Friend did refer to the issue.
The hon. Member for Braintree (Mr. Hurst) spoke about airport capacity and the aviation White Paper, as did my hon. Friends the Members for Ruislip-Northwood (Mr. Wilkinson), for Uxbridge (Mr. Randall) and for Castle Point. Clearly, this has been a troubling, worrying issue for constituents in all those areas over recent years. When the hon. Gentleman spoke about his part of Essex I thought of my neighbouring part of Hertfordshire. I thought of the tracery of lanes and small roads with villages and market towns and of the rural life that has been lived there over centuries. It is heartbreaking to think what the effect of the Stansted expansion would be.
I fully understand how hon. Members from other places that are threatened in this way feel. It is so destructive. Earlier this year, a number of hon. Members attended a march in London. All the campaigners from all the campaigns against airport expansion came together and marched through London to make the point that there is a united feeling about these issues. Villages in my constituency, such as Braughing, Little Hadham and Furneux Pelham, will think the proposal for Stansted disastrous. It is wrong that an environmental impact assessment has not taken place. The local road infrastructure and railways cannot take that development, which will cause immense damage.
The description of the campaign given by other hon. Members was equally moving. My hon. Friend the Member for Uxbridge said that they ended one meeting by singing "Jerusalem". Perhaps the hon. Member for Braintree and I should try that next time we campaign against the proposals. Perhaps that is the answer. I am sure that the campaign will continue in Essex and east Hertfordshire in the new year.
My hon. Friend the Member for Romford (Mr. Rosindell) told us about a Romford Christmas. He described the various events he attends and explained which schools and fairs he has visited. He also gave us the benefit of his thoughts on the UK and the EU, and how they interrelate; we heard about a useful charity in his constituency that supports people with sickle cell
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problems; and he ended by referring to Gibraltar. He gave us an instructive tour d'horizon, which showed how much he cares for Romford.
I am sorry that I missed the speech by the hon. Member for Liverpool, Riverside (Mrs. Ellman), who I understand gave an impassioned speech on anti-Semitism and highlighted the extremism of certain Islamic organisations. Every hon. Member will share her concern. It is vital that we remain a tolerant, liberal society. We must stand up for that. We all know of the desperate conditions that can occur if such extremism takes hold. She was right to raise that important issue.
My hon. Friend the Member for Ribble Valley (Mr. Evans) wanted an honour for his mother and complained that she would never get one because Labour has been fiddling with the honours system. He mentioned Gibraltar, council tax—for which we no longer have a level playing field—and post office closures. Hon. Members on both sides of the House are worried about post office closures. What has not come through sufficiently, however, is that the closures are the Government's fault. They have changed the benefit payments system and reduced the footfall in post offices. As a result, post offices are uneconomic and have to close. The Government decided to pay benefits directly and are stuck with the problem. They say, "Oh well, we are paying a little bit of money here and a little bit there towards the urban reinvention programme," but the scale of the closures is massive. The problem will continue throughout the new year and the Government must take much of the blame for it.
The hon. Member for North Durham (Mr. Jones) raised a constituency case about Mrs. Stevens, who was involved in problems arising from a car accident and compensation for it. He made a more general point on compensation fees for coal-mining cases and explained that some solicitors are behaving unscrupulously by taking part of the award, even though the fees are set by the Department of Trade and Industry, which is prepared to pay them. He is right to raise that issue. Again, that campaign will continue.
The hon. Member for Morecambe and Lunesdale (Geraldine Smith) was against variable fees for students. I agree that the expense of important courses, such as medicine and law, run by prestigious universities, is a barrier to poor people. They might want to take advantage of those opportunities, but will be more frightened by the prospect of the higher debt that they will incur if they have to pay those higher fees. Her point was that that will create a permanent barrier to using education as a ladder, so that people can go from the bottom of our society to the top and get into careers where a great deal of money is made. She asked for her views to be passed on to the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, and I hope that he will listen to them, because the same point is being made on both sides of the House.
I shall quote what the Labour party manifesto says on that point: one can understand Labour Members' nervousness on the subject when one reads:
"We will not introduce 'top-up' fees and have legislated to prevent them."
If that is the case and one stood for election on that manifesto as recently as 2001, one can understand the nervousness involved in telling all the young people and

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parents in a constituency, "Oh well, actually, we are going to introduce top-up fees and the legislation to prevent them is being repealed." Let us hope that the Secretary of State will think further about that.
In addition to his remarks about airports, my hon. Friend the Member for Uxbridge referred to the appalling conditions in which some refugees find themselves in Kosovo and Krajina. That issue has been raised in the House often recently, and it needs further investigation. I should be interested to hear what the Deputy Leader of the House has to say about that. Certainly, a promise that he will raise the matter with the Foreign Secretary would be welcome. My hon. Friend also mentioned rugby, and it is right that, as we approach Christmas, we should celebrate the fact that we won the rugby World cup, and the achievement of Richard Hill.
The hon. Member for West Bromwich, West (Mr. Bailey) raised some health issues, particularly in relation to Tipton, and he has some interesting ideas about using salaried general practitioners to fill gaps and about using physician assistants. No doubt the Deputy Leader of the House will pass on those ideas to the Department of Health.
My hon. Friend the Member for Castle Point raised a range of issues, such as housing needs and the 200th anniversary of Nelson's birthday. Perhaps in that context I can mention the fact that Letchworth garden city, which is in my constituency, celebrated its 100th birthday this year. We have had a marvellous year. The Duke of Gloucester opened the new Broadway gardens. We have had firework displays, and a new green lane has been opened all around Letchworth. It has been a marvellous anniversary. Let us hope that we can do something very good indeed for Nelson's 200th
My hon. Friend the Member for Castle Point has a long campaign behind him, and no doubt to come, on youth drunkenness. I remember that he introduced a Bill on the subject in the 1996–97 Session. His Bill was enacted, and the Act was not repealed without a fight. I remember leading for the Opposition when debating the Criminal Justice and Police Bill in 2001, when we fought the repeal of that measure, so it is good to see it back. I congratulate the Government on that successful U-turn.
The Child Support Agency is another thorny problem that comes up regularly in the Chamber. Of course the problem is the computer. New cases have been working on the new computer system since March, but Ministers always say, "Well, look, we can't bring the old cases on until the computer is working satisfactorily." Hon. Members will remember that we delayed the new cases for about two years because the computer did not work. It is time that the Government managed to get some of those computer projects working. Almost every computer project seems to be delayed, to be subject to criticism and to experience problems. I could list a dozen or so Government computer contracts that did not work, so perhaps the Deputy Leader of the House will pass on the message that we hope that the CSA computer will be in better health next year than it has this.
The hon. Member for North-East Derbyshire (Mr. Barnes) raised a concern about a chemical company in his constituency that involved four emergencies in a
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short time. Clearly, that is a very worrying situation, and no doubt the Deputy Leader of the House will tell us whether the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs will be able to go to the public meeting that the hon. Gentleman mentioned.
My hon. Friend the Member for Tewkesbury (Mr. Robertson) mentioned another chemical company and the problems with it. He also mentioned special schools —many Members feel that they should not be closed and that there should be adequate school facilities—the Office of Fair Trading inquiry into the British horse racing industry, which is a complicated issue, and Ethiopia.
The hon. Member for Hornchurch (John Cryer) told us about a tip with gas escapes—Ahern's tip. He also mentioned Sure Start schemes, and made a point with which I have a lot of sympathy about how the system is ward-based. It is a problem across the south-east of England that a ward can exist that has within it an area of valuable property and obvious prosperity, and right beside it an estate with all the indicators of deprivation that one would see in a totally deprived ward. Those who live there, however, cannot access some of the schemes that are designed to help people in their situation. That is a good point, which will no doubt be relayed to the Minister.
The hon. Member for Hornchurch also criticised us over Europe, which did not surprise me—it is a family tradition. Having said that, many Members on both sides of the House were very enthusiastic for the European project—I certainly was at one time: I went campaigning for Europe with Lord George-Brown in 1975. Over the years, however, we have come to see a different kind of Europe from the one for which we hoped. The hon. Gentleman will say that he always imagined that it would be just as it has turned out. Many of us, however, had hoped for something that was more a group of nation states co-operating together on issues of importance such as trade and the environment, and we feel that it has gone beyond that. That feeling exists not just in this country but more widely across Europe. If the EU does not come to appreciate that its peoples feel that they are not very close to the superstate that is developing, it will not survive. It is therefore important for Europe to try to move in a direction that takes it closer to its people.
Finally, the hon. Member for Morley and Rothwell (Mr. Challen) made a speech that ranged widely, but on important issues. He talked about sustainable development. I followed him to a certain extent, but when he described the problems of capital and pollution, and environmental problems, I was forced to think about whether in the east of Europe, where there was socialism, there were not a lot of environmental problems. I seem to recall that there were, so it strikes me that talk of the cost of resource depletion and the polluter pays principle goes so far—it is right that we should address those issues—but we cannot say that it is all the fault of the capitalists. There were plenty of socialists making a filthy mess.
In saying happy Christmas to everybody, including you, Madam Deputy Speaker, and in thanking the staff of the House, in all departments, for all that they do for us, which is tremendous, may I quote the words of Disraeli when he met a constituent on 24 December 1869? He said, "Merry Christmas."
5.43 pm
The Deputy Leader of the House of Commons (Mr. Phil Woolas): I thank the hon. Member for North-East Hertfordshire (Mr. Heald) for his typically polite, kind and open-minded remarks in winding up the debate. It is a particular pleasure to wind up this Christmas recess debate. I find myself in the perhaps enviable position of being the only person standing between the House of Commons and a drink in the bar—[Interruption.] I was going to offer to pay for the drinks, but I am pleased to see that the House has filled up recently, so perhaps we can restrict ourselves to halves.
The House of Commons and Parliament is subject to intense criticism—some would say cynicism—in the modern world of public debate. On behalf of the House, I want to say that an enormous amount of valuable work and public service has been done by Members on both sides of the House in the past term. I have done some background work on this Session. The House may be interested to know that since the Queen's Speech just a few weeks ago, Ministers have given 161 written statements on a broad range of subjects; there have been five oral statements; Select Committees, which are increasingly engaged in public debate, have provided the House with 16 full reports; and, of course, there was the important decision to introduce pay for Select Committee Chairmen, which bodes well for the future and may herald other changes. The House of Commons now has more than 250 all-party groups, which engage in debate with large numbers of pressure groups, carry out their own investigations and express points of view. Parliament and the House of Commons remain at the centre of public debate and public life in this country. I hope that hon. Members on both sides of the House appreciate that the main purpose of changes introduced by my right hon. Friend the Leader of the House, as well as other changes that we will debate in future, is to strengthen the role of Parliament in public life. Some of the changes were contentious and led to disagreement, but I hope that we all agree that they were intended to make the House of Commons the centre of public life and strengthen it in the eyes of the public. There is a balance to be struck between respect and relevance, but we are determined to achieve that balance.
To respond to points made in our debate, my hon. Friend the Member for Finchley and Golders Green (Dr. Vis) raised the important issue of Cyprus. He does so regularly in Adjournment debates, including at Whitsun and in the summer. I commend his single-mindedness, and hope I can offer reassurance by reminding him of the statement made by the Foreign Secretary on 15 December:
"A majority of the Turkish Cypriot people has voted for a Cyprus settlement and EU accession. The will of the Turkish Cypriots has been clearly expressed albeit by a narrow margin—despite the widespread concerns expressed by many about the way in which the campaign was conducted. It is important that this desire is fully respected."
I know that my hon. Friend will be pleased to hear that confirmation of Government policy.
The hon. Member for North Cornwall (Mr. Tyler) raised an important issue on behalf of one of his constituents—the case of Sergeant Steven Roberts, who was killed on 24 March this year. I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for the way in which he raised the issue, and I can reassure him that the Ministry of Defence
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continues to investigate the death of Sergeant Roberts. It has kept Mrs. Roberts informed, but cannot comment publicly on the progress of the investigation at this stage. The Secretary of State for Defence has met Mrs. Roberts and members of the family, and is happy to agree to the request of the hon. Gentleman to do so again. I believe that the whole House would want every effort to be made to investigate the situation.
My hon. Friend the Member for Braintree (Mr. Hurst) and several other Members raised the important issue of the future of national airports in the south-east at Stansted and Heathrow, as well as of regional airports. I remind the House of the purpose of the White Paper and the debate that has been launched. The Government should be commended on taking a long-term view. Planning for the position in 20, 30 or 40 years' time is important in the field of aviation but, in the past, both Conservative and Labour Governments have failed to put in place long-term plans to develop aviation. It is a telling fact that, in the time that we took to conduct an inquiry into the expansion of terminal 4 at Heathrow, Charles de Gaulle airport doubled its capacity. Governments must take heed of developments at Frankfurt, Schiphol, Charles de Gaulle and other major hub airports.
The aviation industry directly supports about 200,000 jobs, and indirectly supports up to three times as many. Aviation contributes £13 billion a year to Britain's gross domestic product, and one third, by value, of our visible exports go by air. Air freight tonnages have doubled since 1990, and are expected to double again by 2010. Also, two thirds of the visitors to this country travel by air.
However, I want to reassure hon. Members who have raised concerns about Heathrow, Stansted or elsewhere. The White Paper is statement of national policy. It does not authorise specific developments, which remain matters for the planning system. It will be for airport operators to bring forward planning applications for airport developments in the normal way. The White Paper attempts to provide a clear policy framework for individual decisions. In other words, much debate and discussion must still take place.
It is right and proper for hon. Members to raise constituency issues. That reinforces my earlier point about the House's value residing in the fact that it is a public forum where such debates can be held.
The hon. Member for Romford (Mr. Rosindell) made his usual impassioned and patriotic—some would call it nationalistic—speech. I began to think that the debate was being led by hon. Members from Essex, as there were a large number of contributions from that county.
Mr. Rosindell: We are assiduous.
Mr. Woolas: The hon. Gentleman says that Essex Members of Parliament are assiduous. He spoke about the need to reinforce Christmas as a Christian festival. I am happy to confirm that that is the Government's view, regardless of the mischief in some of our media. I am sure that that is all good fun, and I can tell the House that only last weekend I visited the famous traditional Christian carol service celebrated on horseback at an equestrian centre near Saddleworth. I was not on horseback myself, but that might happen in the future.

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I was surprised that the hon. Member for Romford criticised the number of nightclubs in Essex. I am not certain that that will be popular with younger people in his constituency, but he made a serious point about the nature of his town centre. He also reminded the House about early-day motion 239, tabled by my hon. Friend the Member for Hyndburn (Mr. Pope). It deals with the English national anthem, and it prompted many comments in the debate.
The hon. Member for Rumford said that he wants to retain "God Save The Queen" and that he did not want "Jerusalem" to replace it, as the early-day motion proposes. However, one of the most famous sons of his constituency is the late and great Ian Dury, who wrote "Reasons To Be Cheerful". Perhaps that should be adopted as Romford's anthem—although "Hit me with your Rhythm Stick" might cause me to stray beyond where I am willing to go.
The hon. Member for Romford also talked about his early-day motion 202, which concerns the "a dog is for life, not just for Christmas" campaign. I am pleased to inform the hon. Gentleman that my briefing sheet says that the Government support that early-day motion. Being a good, dog-loving Government, we endorse the Dogs Trust campaign for responsible dog ownership. We are reviewing animal welfare legislation, and one of the review's aims will be to increase owners' responsibility for their animals. We want to reduce the number of animals abandoned every year, and Christmas is a good time to reaffirm that.
My hon. Friend the Member for Liverpool, Riverside (Mrs. Ellman) made what was perhaps the most impassioned speech in the debate, and the House will agree that its subject—anti-Semitism and the dangers of extremism—was the most important of the afternoon. The Government believe that to equate anti-Zionism and attitudes to a particular Israeli Government with anti-Semitism is both erroneous and dangerous. As the length of time that has passed since world war two and the holocaust grows, we all should redouble our efforts on behalf of the Holocaust Educational Trust. I know that hon. Members of all parties are involved in that. We must heed my hon. Friend's warning that, unfortunately, anti-Semitism seems to be on the increase.
As I am sure my hon. Friend agrees, it is not only Jewish people but ordinary Muslim people who most strongly condemn and fear the extremism and intolerance of Islamic extremists. Islam is not an exclusive faith, but a faith of tolerance. It is worth reminding ourselves that, given the nature of the extremists to whom my hon. Friend rightly drew the House's attention, the tolerance that is a great characteristic of our country may be a bit naive. I think the Government will respond in that vein to my hon. Friend's comments.
The hon. Member for Ribble Valley (Mr. Evans) managed to congratulate his postman.
Mr. Evans: Trevor.
Mr. Woolas: He also did a bit of creeping towards his mother. I hope that his turkey is a good one; I am sure it will be.
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The hon. Gentleman had a pop at the Government about council tax. When Conservative Members talk about council tax, they never say that it was not only introduced to replace the disastrous policy of the poll tax, but was paid for by increasing VAT—a regressive tax that punishes the less well off—from 15 per cent. to 17.5 per cent. They call for the devolution of powers to local councils, yet scream blue murder when it is given. They perpetuate the myth that the Government have taken money off the southern councils and given it to the northern councils. Many of my constituents up north would disagree with that. I remind them that since 1997 all authorities have had above-inflation increases in their grant.
Mr. Heald: I do not know whether the Deputy Leader of the House has read the Audit Commission's report, but it proves exactly what he just denied.
Mr. Woolas: It does no such thing—it says that there are flaws in the local government finance system, which the hon. Gentleman's party introduced. It is obvious to anybody who is involved that as we are giving extra grant to counils across the board, it is unfair to say that we are robbing Peter to pay Paul.
But I must move swiftly on. The hon. Member for Ribble Valley accused us of fiddling the honours system, but this Government are introducing an independent appointments system for the House of Lords that his party in the other place is dead set against. I find the hon. Gentleman's accusation unfair, given our track record, but perhaps we can have a bit of point-scoring at Christmas.
My hon. Friend the Member for North Durham (Mr. Jones) raised important constituency issues on behalf of his constituent Mrs. Ann Stevens, in relation to the miners' compensation scheme. I am pleased to be able to inform him that my hon. Friend the Minister for Small Business and Enterprise is going to write to all firms involved, including Mark Gilbert Morse, to ask for confirmation of its charging policy. It is worth pointing out that, as my hon. Friend acknowledged, it was this Government who introduced the scheme in the first place.
The hon. Member for Ruislip-Northwood (Mr. Wilkinson) talked about airports policy. As a pilot and the representative of a constituency near London Heathrow, he speaks with a great deal of knowledge.
My hon. Friend the Member for Morecambe and Lunesdale (Geraldine Smith), who is another regular participant in Adjournment debates, raised her concerns about university fees, which I will of course bring to the attention of the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if he does not know them already. I look forward in the new year to a robust debate on how we can ensure that half our teenagers get the university degrees that will secure the graduate skills base we require in order to succeed in the modern industrial world.
The hon. Member for Uxbridge (Mr. Randall) raised several issues, including airports policy and Kosovo. I will of course bring the latter concerns to the attention of the Foreign Secretary.
My hon. Friend the Member for West Bromwich, West (Mr. Bailey) made important points about the NHS and confirmed his view that reform is necessary to

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improve it. I will ensure that the Secretary of State for Health is aware of the specific ideas that he put forward, and I welcome his contribution to the debate.
The hon. Member for Castle Point (Bob Spink) raised what seemed like dozens of issues in a wide-ranging speech. I shall pick on one, and assure him of support for Nelson's day. The Leader of the House has a model of Victory, Nelson's flagship, in his office, as hon. Members who have been involved in the consultations on the hours of the House know.
My hon. Friend the Member for North-East Derbyshire (Mr. Barnes) again raised the case of Staveley Chemicals. We shall write to him again about it.
The hon. Member for Tewkesbury (Mr. Robertson), and my hon. Friends the Members for Hornchurch (John Cryer) and for Morley and Rothwell (Mr. Challen) also made important speeches.
I wish the House a happy Christmas.

Illegal Camping
Motion made, and Question proposed, That this House do now adjourn—[Charlotte Atkins.]
6 pm
Mr. Mark Todd:I fear that the debate will have no seasonal edge. Illegal camping does not relate to Santa Claus, his elves and his reindeer, exhausted from delivering presents in South Derbyshire, finding temporary sustenance there. It is a regular nuisance that my constituents constantly fear and face. On this occasion, I want to concentrate on that nuisance when it occurs on Highways Agency property.
Few people in South Derbyshire have much good will towards those who camp illegally in our area, avoid the two authorised sites, damage other people's properties and leave often repulsive waste behind them when they go. Few will send Christmas cards to public bodies that are supine in the face of that illegality and throw public money away rather than using their legal rights as property owners.
I have raised matters that relate to illegal camping on several occasions in the House. Tonight, I shall focus on the way in which the Highways Agency handles intrusion on its property. I intend to refer to only two sites in my constituency, about which I have substantial facts that are based on my correspondence and parliamentary questions. Travellers' occupation of agency land in South Derbyshire is common, yet the obvious lessons that I shall present in the debate are never learned.
In April 2000, travellers occupied an agency site at the junction of the A38 and the A50 near Willington in my constituency. They were there for some time, and obvious and blatant breaches of law took place. The Environmental Protection Act 1990 seeks to prevent dumping waste at unauthorised sites. It also attempts to prevent the carriage of waste in unauthorised vehicles—clearly a dangerous and often unhygienic activity. The penalties for offences can rightly be severe and include confiscating vehicles.
The occupiers of the site turned it into something like a battlefield. Stripped-down, burnt-out cars were scattered over the site, which was in full public view. Entrance to it and activities on it could readily be observed. When the travellers left—the Highways Agency was so tardy in pursuing possession that they eventually left of their own accord—the agency cleared the site at a public cost of nearly £14,000. It spent nearly £4,000 erecting barriers at the entrance and a further £17,000 establishing a 24-hour watch on the site. A person lived in a caravan there to prevent a repetition of events. The figures exclude agency time, abortive legal costs and doubtless much else that fell outside the narrow confines of my parliamentary question. The site was sold and no occupations have since taken place.
What do we learn from the first incident? First, the agency possessed pockets of land, of some value to someone else, that it did not know what to do with. Once road schemes are completed, surplus land should be rapidly disposed of. Secondly, the agency is slow in obtaining possession. I am well aware that, like any public agency, the Highways Agency must act within the law and according to Government guidance on the

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matter. Correspondence with the agency constantly reiterates that anxiety. However, other public bodies—for example, the district and county councils in my area—perform similar obligations far more quickly, and they are governed by the same guidance and law. In some instances, the agency is prepared to go to some expense to protect a site once it has been violated. I shall return to this point later, because this is something that the chief executive of the agency appears not to recall.
The agency has little knowledge of environmental law. In the case of the illegal carriage of waste, it need be demonstrated only that a vehicle was being used for that purpose. No identification of the driver is required, and even perfunctory observation of this or other sites would have yielded prosecutable evidence without confrontation with individuals.
Let me turn to the next ease. In March, a group of travellers occupied a large agency site adjacent to the A50 at Foston. Again, it rapidly became obvious that waste carriage and dumping was taking place. It took until 9 May for proceedings to go to court. No attempts were made to impede activity on site, or to prosecute blatant offenders. Following my initial queries, the agency explained its approach thus:
"Unauthorised encampments are generally tolerated, particularly if there are no authorised sites to which the Gypsies may move. The Agency would not wish to move a problem on to other private land, especially if it meant worse problems might be created. This advice has been used in this case, resulting in the queried delays."
It is worth noting—clearly the writer of this letter was ignorant of this fact—that this site is within walking distance of an authorised site on Woodyard Lane. There is no evidence that the agency liaised with either the district council, which manages the site, or the county council, which is responsible for it, to determine whether authorised pitches were, or could be, made available, either there or at the other authorised site at Lullington.
The last sentence of the chief executive's letter illustrates the next problem. It reads:
"I anticipate the travellers will now move on and we will be able to secure the site against any further occupation."
Of course, the measures taken were woefully inadequate. The bund erected was removed in short order, and much the same group of travellers was back in August. It is fortunate—perhaps we should count this as a blessing amid all the staggering incompetence—that no attempt had been made to clear the site of waste that had been generated by the first occupation. If that had happened, the public cost would have been higher still.
"Happily", as the acting chief executive perhaps ironically told me, the agency once again obtained legal authority to reoccupy the site on 13 October. It is worth noting again the extraordinary delay. The occupation was in August, but the agency did not gain legal authority to reoccupy until 13 October. There had been some intervening difficulties. As Mr. Hickey's letter mildly puts it,
"there was a misunderstanding in communications at one stage, which resulted in unwarranted criticisms being levelled at the Police".
Perhaps I can give a rather more blunt account. The local police were asked to produce written reports, which they did in short order. They fondly imagined—
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although one wonders why, given their previous dealings with the Highways Agency—that the agency might be pressing ahead with some urgency. Instead, their efforts were swallowed in agency bureaucracy and then, worse still, residents were told that police delays were holding up proceedings. Optimistically, Mr. Hickey adds:
"However, our staff continue to enjoy excellent working relationships with the local constabulary."
Whatever those relations are, they are not excellent. I shall return with another illustration of that later in this account.
I also queried waste dumping on site. Mr. Hickey agreed that this was "vexing". He pleaded that there were no witnesses. We then had the waste clearance and site security costs to face. The cost of clearing the site was estimated at about £24,000, although I do not know what the final figure was. Securing the site properly was estimated to cost nearly another £2,000. Legal fees were approaching £4,000 with, when my parliamentary question was answered, more to come.
By this time, Archie Robertson had taken over as chief executive. I am not sure whether the turnover of people at the Highways Agency has had anything to do with competence in respect of handling such matters, but one can only hope for a better performance. I queried what efforts had been made to tackle quite blatant law breaking on the site. Perhaps too politely, I pointed to what appeared to be a passive approach. I should explain that the site is in even more public view than the Willington site, as it can be readily observed from all angles, and access to it can be watched with no difficulty whatever. On the suggestion that it might be cost-effective to observe the site, he remarked:
"Observing the site may help to bring a prosecution, however it might not prevent the waste being dumped, nor facilitate removal of the waste afterwards. It might present the possibility of recharging the travellers for the cost of clearing the site, but I am sure you can recognise the severe difficulties involved in bringing that off successfully.
Even if we could justify assigning Agency staff on a 24-hour basis"
—I shall return to that point in a moment—
"to observe a site, and I doubt that we could, I would still have concerns over the safety of my staff. After all, staff would be on their own, doing something antagonistic to the travellers, and would have to be close enough to them to take vehicle details, make detailed observations of characters and their actions etc. I would not want to put my staff into such a situation, but recognise that the Environment Agency may have appropriate surveillance capability."
There are obvious points to make. Again, the law seems little understood. That on waste carriage in particular is draconian. The owner of the vehicle is prosecutable regardless of whether they knew of the vehicle's illegal use. Simple identification of vehicles and tracing of owners is all that is required to enforce that section of the law. There is also concern for the agency's staff, which overrides any concern at the agency for upholding the law.
Furthermore, no attempt—I have checked this in conversation with the local police—was made to involve the police or the enforcement authorities, which are the Environment Agency and the district council, in addressing the problem. The constant references to collaboration with statutory agencies, which pepper the

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letters that I receive, are entirely confined to the narrow processes of complying with Government guidelines on the welfare of travellers.
Proper collaboration for the benefit of the local community or to save taxpayers' money is singularly absent. Also, the chief executive was unaware of the 24-hour surveillance paid for in my constituency by the agency, but two years earlier. He refers to it being quite impossible to consider 24-hour surveillance, although there is no evidence that it need take place for as long as that. As I have demonstrated, however, it was paid for in another location about 4 miles away.
Once again, after those costly events, the site was sold. The new owner—the former owner—will, I am certain, manage it effectively and ensure that these events become an unpleasant memory. Continued agency ownership, on its track record, would be a recipe for further cost and harm. Let me be clear about the simple steps that the agency must take and should have taken previously. First, it should review its surplus land immediately on completion of a road and transfer that land to proper ownership as a matter of urgency. In both sites, road construction had long passed by.
Secondly, in sites the agency must retain or where it cannot rapidly transfer ownership, it should appraise risk of occupation and take appropriate defensive measures.
Thirdly, should those defences be breached, it should co-operate with other agencies in enforcing the law, not merely in protecting the rights of illegal campers.
Fourthly, the agency should ensure that its operatives and agents have at least a basic knowledge of the law so that they may act as witnesses to any offences.
Fifthly, it should review its legal processes, uncover why it is renowned for sloth and increase its speed, because delay means cost.
Finally, it should not regard law breaking as a vexing problem to be swamped with taxpayers' money, but should instead recognise a responsibility to help to uphold the law and protect public resources.
Agency complacency, passivity and ignorance have cost more than £70,000 in this small area on just two sites. I dread to think how much of our money is hosed at this problem nationwide. New strategies, tactics and attitudes are required. I look forward to the Minister's response.
6.15 pm
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport (Mr. David Jamieson): I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for South Derbyshire (Mr. Todd) on securing this debate, and on giving us and Madam Deputy Speaker the opportunity to turn the lights out in the Chamber at the end of this year.
Like my hon. Friend, I take the problems associated with illegal camping very seriously. I know my hon. Friend has been concerned for some time about unauthorised camping by travellers in his constituency. I am also aware that he has written to the Highways Agency on several occasions about the travellers who occupied agency land, in particular near the A50 at Foston in Derbyshire.
It is with regret that I must apologise to my hon. Friend and his constituents for what I believe are
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inadequacies in the Highways Agency's handling of this matter. It is apparent from my investigations that the agency could have handled it very much better than it did.
In the first instance, the agency should have identified the vulnerability of the site and secured it appropriately. Secondly, it should have made the site more secure once the travellers had been removed, which would have prevented re-occupation. I believe that a 2-ft bund was built on the second occasion, which was clearly inadequate when it was known that the travellers were in the gardening business and had the tools to move a small bund. Unfortunately, that had escaped the notice of the people who secured the site.
I am pleased to say that the travellers were evicted for a second time on 17 October this year, and that the site has now been completely cleansed, properly secured and tenanted, and is awaiting sale.
I fully recognise that gypsies and travellers must have somewhere to live. I am sure that my hon. Friend realises also that beginning, or contributing to, an ongoing cycle of eviction is not a sensible, fair or sustainable way forward. Nevertheless, there are occasions when eviction is the only appropriate course of action.
The Highways Agency acquires land in connection with the construction and development of the strategic road network. After construction, any surplus land parcels are identified for disposal. That was the case at Foston, where the land was being reinstated prior to disposal, when it was illegally occupied. The agency works to meet Treasury disposal time scales in completing this procedure. It is my belief that these sites should be disposed of as rapidly as is practicable after it is found that they are surplus to requirements.
Eviction of unauthorised campers on land adjacent to the highway is dealt with by the police, given the obvious road safety implications. They can, and do, use their powers to remove any obstruction or safety hazard to road users. The position is more complicated where illegal camping occurs on Highways Agency land not directly connected to the highway. As my hon. Friend has stated, the Highways Agency, as a public body, must work within the policy set by Government for dealing with illegal camping. Consequently, great care needs to be exercised when taking the decision as to whether to evict the gypsies or travellers. The right balance must be struck between the needs of the gypsies and travellers and the concerns of the wider community, whose interests my hon. Friend has represented.
The general approach by all bodies when dealing with unauthorised camping on land not directly connected to the highway is that responses must be proportionate and carefully considered. That was the approach taken by the Highways Agency in the Foston case. As I am sure my hon. Friend understands, to have done otherwise would have left the agency vulnerable to criticism, and even action in the courts.
I realise that my hon. Friend feels that the Highways Agency has not been as quick in handling these incidents as other public bodies. I have asked the agency to investigate how it can capture the experience of other Government agencies, and make the necessary improvements.

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In the case of the Foston encampment, the fact that the land was surplus and ready for sale, the environmental concerns and the high level of local concern all carried significant weight. Nevertheless, the Highways Agency had to consider the arguments in favour of eviction against the travellers' right to education and housing and their health needs. Obviously the agency had to seek advice from other bodies when considering those counter-arguments. The need to consider such factors does take time in the process of trying to repossess land. As I have said, failure to give adequate consideration to such issues could have led to court action against the Highways Agency.
The agency believes it acts within the Government's best-practice guidance: that is what it tells me. Let me set out the main sequence of events at the Foston site. The agency first became aware of the illegal occupation on 26 March 2003. The next day officials sought urgent reports from the local education, health and social services departments, and the police. It was clear by 31 March that there was considerable local disquiet over the travellers' behaviour, and by 2 April the agency had advised the Treasury Solicitor's Office of the illegal occupation and the possible need for litigation. On that same day, the local health officer reported that there were no health concerns among the travellers.
On 3 April, the Highways Agency was advised that seven of the children on the site wished to attend school. The local education officer asked that the families be allowed to remain until the Easter school break on 12 April. While the agency could have proceeded with eviction action at that point, it chose not to. The decision was in line with Government policy to encourage greater education opportunities among the travelling community. A notice to vacate was not served until 9 April, which would come into effect after the end of the school term.
The first court hearing took place on 23 May. The last of the travellers moved off the site on 29 May, and bunding was put in place to secure the site and prevent re-entry. With the benefit of hindsight, the agency now accepts that the bunding was inadequate in the circumstances.
The next day, the agency's managing agent was instructed to obtain quotations for clearing the site. The agency approved the implementation of additional remedial works to prevent reoccupation on 22 August. However, the travellers reoccupied the site on 23 August, having breached the bunding.
The agency took the view, given the problems from the previous occupation, that the second illegal occupation had to be ended forthwith. However, it was again necessary to have regard to the travellers' needs. The other agencies' reports were received by mid-September, and by 9 October a further notice was sent to the occupiers.
Once the court hearing on 13 October had found in favour of the Highways Agency, the travellers were removed within four days. I believe that the site has now been completely cleaned, and I understand that action is in hand to sell it back to the former owner of the land. The site access has been blocked with sizeable concrete
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barriers to prevent re-entry. My hon. Friend and his constituents must have wondered why that was not done after the first occupation, or even why the barriers were not there before it. I shall certainly take that up with the agency.
I understand that the immediate costs arising from the Foston occupations were in the region of £31,000, yet putting in place the concrete barriers to begin with would probably have cost less than £2,000. This seems to be a case of a penny being spent today perhaps saving a pound wasted tomorrow. I hope that the Highways Agency will take note of that point. As my hon. Friend said, the majority of the costs related to site clearance, the remainder consisting of legal fees, police overtime and the provision of bunding and concrete blocks.
My hon. Friend has expressed concern about alleged illegally dumped waste at Foston. The Environment Agency has inspected the site and could identify only non-hazardous waste related to the work that the travellers were carrying out. It consisted mainly of tree clippings and a small quantity of building waste. No prosecutions could be brought, as it was impossible to ascertain its source to a prosecutable standard.
Mr. Todd: Will my hon. Friend concede that, despite the fact that the waste was undoubtedly non-hazardous, it was nevertheless deposited illegally, its carriage on to the site was almost certainly illegal as well, and the agency had taken no steps to prevent either offence?
Mr. Jamieson: My hon. Friend is almost certainly right.
I have made the Highways Agency aware of my concern at its lack of action in dealing with illegal waste dumping on its land. My hon. Friend pointed out that the agency provided 24-hour security at the Willington site. That action was instigated because the site still had a building on it. Although the structure was in a poor state of repair, the agency has a duty to protect its buildings from damage, so it employed a guard to do so. This measure had the additional effect of deterring re-occupation by travellers. The agency has agreed to investigate more proactive procedures to prevent illegal waste dumping, and to work much more closely with local enforcement agencies.
I accept that the Highways Agency could have acted more proactively in the Foston case, and I hope that it has learned very important lessons. It is clear that there is significant room for further improvement. In particular, the agency will reassess the vulnerability of its land, and secure it from illegal entry where the risk is considered high. I have instructed it to do that as a matter of urgency, both in my hon. Friend's constituency and in other areas of high traveller activity. It will review its procedures for securing land following eviction. It will also bear this issue in mind when acquiring new areas of land, in order to pre-empt the possibility of illegal occupation, and it will implement appropriate security measures. One of the most valuable lessons learned is the importance of working closely with all other interested parties, including the local community, public agencies and law enforcement bodies. It would appear that this liaison needs improvement, and the agency will need to look at how other public landowners handle illegal occupation and

1813
waste dumping. There are some simple lessons that it could easily learn and adopt, thereby improving its practice.
I am grateful to my hon. Friend for raising this issue, and for giving me the opportunity to explain the Highways Agency's handling of illegal camping at Foston. There have been mistakes, for which the agency sincerely apologises. It will take on board the valid points that he makes, and I am confident that in future—under the leadership of the new chief executive, Archie Robinson, in whom I have enormous confidenc—the handling of these matters will be sharpened, and lessons will have been learned. As always, my hon. Friend has raised such matters in a diligent way on his constituents' behalf. He has made an important point, which will prove of benefit to many other people, as well.
I take this opportunity to wish you a very merry Christmas, Madam Deputy Speaker, and a happy and successful new year. It is a pleasure for us to be here tonight, making the last contribution of the year. I look forward to making many further contributions, and to enjoying debates with you in the Chair.
Question put and agreed to.
Adjourned accordingly at twenty-nine minutes past Six o'clock.

Correction
Official Report, 17 December 2003: In col. 1674, Division No. 16 should appear as follows:

Division No. 16]

[6: 59 pm

AYES

Abbott, Ms Diane

Gidley, Sandra

Allan, Richard

Green, Matthew (Ludlow)

Baker, Norman

Hancock, Mike

Barnes, Harry

Harris, Dr. Evan (Oxford W & Abingdon)

Barrett, John

Beith, rh A. J.

Heath, David

Bennett, Andrew

Holmes, Paul

Brake, Tom (Carshalton)

Hughes, Simon (Southwark N)

Breed, Colin

Jackson, Glenda (Hampstead & Highgate)

Bruce, Malcolm

Burnett, John

Jones, Lynne (Selly Oak)

Burstow, Paul

Keetch, Paul

Cable, Dr. Vincent

Kennedy, rh Charles (Ross Skye & Inverness)

Calton, Mrs Patsy

Campbell, rh Menzies (NE Fife)

Kirkwood, Sir Archy

Carmichael, Alistair

Laws, David (Yeovil)

Chapman, Ben (Wirral S)

Llwyd, Elfyn

Chidgey, David

McDonnell, John

Connarty, Michael

Mahon, Mrs.Alice

Corbyn, Jeremy

Marshall, Jim (Leicester S)

Cotter, Brian

Marshall-Andrews, Robert

Davey, Edward (Kingston)

Moore, Michael

Davies, rh Denzil (Llanelli)

Morgan, Julie

Dawson, Hilton

Öpik, Lembit

Doughty, Sue

Price, Adam (E Carmarthen & Dinefwr)

Dunwoody, Mrs Gwyneth

Ewing, Annabelle

Pugh, Dr. John

Fisher, Mark

Reid, Alan (Argyll & Bute)

Foster, Don (Bath)

Rendel, David

George, Andrew (St. Ives)

Salmond, Alex

1814

Sanders, Adrian

Tonge, Dr. Jenny

Sawford, Phil

Tyler, Paul (N Cornwall)

Sedgemore, Brian

Vaz, Keith (Leicester E)

Simpson, Alan (Nottingham S)

Wareing, Robert N.

Skinner, Dennis

Webb, Steve (Northavon)

Smith, Llew (Blaenau Gwent)

Weir, Michael

Smith, Sir Robert (W Ab'd'ns & Kincardine)

Williams, Hywel (Caernarfon)

Williams, Roger (Brecon)

Stunell, Andrew

Wishart, Pete

Taylor, Matthew (Truro)

Younger-Ross, Richard

Taylor, Dr. Richard (Wyre F)

Teather, Sarah

Tellers for the Ayes:

Thomas, Simon (Ceredigion)

Mr. Neil Gerrard and Mr. Kelvin Hopkins

Thurso, John

NOES

Adams, Irene (Paisley N)

Cook rh Robin (Livingston)

Ainsworth, Bob (Cov'try NE)

Cooper, Yvette

Alexander, Douglas

Cranston, Ross

Allen, Graham

Cruddas, Jon

Anderson, Janet (Rossendale & Darwen)

Cummings, John

Cunningham, Jim (Coventry S)

Armstrong, rh Ms Hilary

Cunningham, Tony (Workington)

Atherton, Ms Candy

Curtis-Thomas, Mrs Claire

Bailey, Adrian

Davey, Valerie (Bristol W)

Baird, Vera

Davidson, Ian

Banks, Tony

Davies, Geraint (Croydon C)

Barron, rh Kevin

Dean, Mrs Janet

Battle, John

Denham, rh John

Bayley, Hugh

Dhanda, Parmjit

Beard, Nigel

Dismore, Andrew

Begg, Miss Anne

Donohoe, Brian H.

Benn, rh Hilary

Doran, Frank

Benton, Joe (Bootle)

Dowd, Jim (Lewisham W)

Berry, Roger

Eagle, Angela (Wallasey)

Betts, Clive

Eagle, Maria (L'pool Garston)

Blackman, Liz

Edwards, Huw

Blears, Ms Hazel

Efford, Clive

Blizzard, Bob

Ennis, Jeff (Barnsley E)

Blunkett, rh David

Farrelly, Paul

Boateng, rh Paul

Fitzpatrick, Jim

Bradley, rh Keith (Withington)

Fitzsimons, Mrs Lorna

Bradley, Peter (The Wrekin)

Flint, Caroline

Brennan, Kevin

Flynn, Paul (Newport W)

Brown, rh Nicholas (Newcastle E Wallsend)

Follett, Barbara

Foster, rh Derek

Brown, Russell (Dumfries)

Foster, Michael (Worcester)

Browne, Desmond

Foster, Michael Jabez (Hastings & Rye)

Bryant, Chris

Burden, Richard

Foulkes, rh George

Burgon, Colin

Francis, Dr. Hywel

Burnham, Andy

Gapes, Mike (Ilford S)

Burnside, David

Gardiner, Barry

Byers, rh Stephen

George, rh Bruce (Walsall S)

Caborn, rh Richard

Gibson, Dr. Ian

Cairns, David

Gilroy, Linda

Campbell, Mrs Anne (C'bridge)

Godsiff, Roger

Campbell, Ronnie (Blyth V)

Goggins, Paul

Caplin, Ivor

Griffiths, Jane (Reading E)

Casale, Roger

Griffiths, Nigel (Edinburgh S)

Cawsey, Ian (Brigg)

Griffiths, Win (Bridgend)

Challen, Colin

Grogan, John

Chapman, Ben (Wirral S)

Hain, rh Peter

Chaytor, David

Hall, Mike (Weaver Vale)

Clapham, Michael

Hall, Patrick (Bedford)

Clark, Mrs Helen (Peterborough)

Hamilton, David (Midlothian)

Clark, Dr Lynda (Edinburgh Pentlands)

Hamilton, Fabian (Leeds NE)

Hanson, David

Clark, Paul (Gillingham)

Harman, rh Ms Harriet

Clarke, rh Tom (Coatbridge & Chryston)

Harris, Tom (Glasgow Cathcart)

Havard, Dai (Merthyr Tydfil & Rhymney)

Clelland, David

Clwyd, Ann (Cynon V)

Healey, John

Coaker, Vernon

Henderson, Doug (Newcastle N)

Coffey, Ms Ann

Henderson, Ivan (Harwich)

Colman, Tony

Hendrick, Mark

1815

Hepburn, Stephen

Leslie, Christopher

Heppell, John

Levitt, Tom (High Peak)

Hewitt, rh Ms Patricia

Liddell, rh Mrs Helen

Heyes, David

Linton, Martin

Hinchliffe, David

Love, Andrew

Hodge, Margaret

Lucas, Ian (Wrexham)

Hood, Jimmy (Clydesdale)

Luke, Iain (Dundee E)

Hope, Phil (Corby)

McAvoy, Thomas

Howarth, rh Alan (Newport E)

McCabe, Stephen

Howarth, George (Knowsley N & Sefton E)

McDonagh, Siobhain

McFall, John

Howells, Dr. Kim

McIsaac, Shona

Hoyle, Lindsay

McKechin, Ann

Hughes, Beverley (Stretford & Urmston)

Mackinlay, Andrew

McNulty, Tony

Hughes, Kevin (Doncaster N)

MacShane, Denis

Humble, Mrs Joan

Mactaggart, Fiona

Hurst, Alan (Braintree)

McWalter, Tony

Hutton, rh John

McWilliam, John

Iddon, Dr. Brian

Mallaber, Judy

Illsley, Eric

Mann, John (Bassetlaw)

Irranca-Davies, Huw

Marris, Rob (Wolverh'ton SW)

Jackson, Helen (Hillsborough)

Marsden, Gordon (Blackpool S)

Jamieson, David

Marshall, David (Glasgow Shettleston)

Jenkins, Brian

Johnson, Alan (Hull W)

Martlew, Eric

Johnson, Miss Melanie (Welwyn Hatfield)

Meale, Alan (Mansfield)

Merron, Gillian

Jones, Jon Owen (Cardiff C)

Michael, rh Alun

Jones, Kevan (N Durham)

Milburn, rh Alan

Jones, Martyn (Clwyd S)

Miliband, David

Jowell, rh Tessa

Miller, Andrew

Joyce, Eric (Falkirk W)

Mole, Chris

Kaufman, rh Gerald

Moran, Margaret

Keeble, Ms Sally

Morley, Elliot

Keen, Ann (Brentford)

Morris, rh Estelle

Kemp, Fraser

Mountford, Kali

Khabra, Piara S.

Mudie, George

Kidney, David

Mullin, Chris

Kilfoyle, Peter

Munn, Ms Meg

King, Andy (Rugby)

Murphy, Denis (Wansbeck)

King, Ms Oona (Bethnal Green & Bow)

Murphy, Jim (Eastwood)

Murphy, rh Paul (Torfaen)

Knight, Jim (S Dorset)

Naysmith, Dr. Doug

Kumar, Dr. Ashok

Norris, Dan (Wansdyke)

Ladyman, Dr. Stephen

O'Brien, Mike (N Warks)

Lazarowicz, Mark

O'Hara, Edward

Lepper, David

Olner, Bill

1816

O'Neill, Martin

Soley, Clive

Organ, Diana

Southworth, Helen

Owen, Albert

Spellar, rh John

Perham, Linda

Starkey, Dr. Phyllis

Picking, Anne

Steinberg, Gerry

Pickthall, Colin

Stevenson, George

Pike, Peter (Burnley)

Stewart, Ian (Eccles)

Plaskitt, James

Stoate, Dr. Howard

Pond, Chris (Gravesham)

Strang, rh Dr. Gavin

Pound, Stephen

Stringer, Graham

Prentice, Gordon (Pendle)

Stuart, Ms Gisela

Prescott, rh John

Sutcliffe, Gerry

Primarolo, rh Dawn

Tami, Mark (Alyn)

Prosser, Gwyn

Taylor, rh Ann (Dewsbury)

Purchase, Ken

Taylor, Dari (Stockton S)

Purnell, James

Thomas, Gareth (Clwyd W)

Quin, rh Joyce

Timms, Stephen

Quinn, Lawrie

Tipping, Paddy

Rapson, Syd (Portsmouth N)

Todd, Mark (S Derbyshire)

Raynsford, rh Nick

Trickett, Jon

Reed, Andy (Loughborough)

Turner, Dennis (Wolverh'ton SE)

Reid, rh Dr. John (Hamilton N & Belshill)

Turner, Neil (Wigan)

Twigg, Derek (Halton)

Robertson, John (Glasgow, Anniesland)

Tynan, Bill (Hamilton S)

Walley, Ms Joan

Robinson, Geoffrey (Coventry NW)

Ward, Claire

Watson, Tom (W Bromwich E)

Roche, Mrs Barbara

Watts, David

Ruane, Chris

White, Brian

Ruddock, Joan

Whitehead, Dr. Alan

Russell, Ms Christine (City of Chester)

Wicks, Malcolm

Williams, rh Alan (Swansea W)

Ryan, Joan (Enfield N)

Williams, Betty (Conwy)

Salter, Martin

Wills, Michael

Savidge, Malcolm

Winnick, David

Sheerman, Barry

Winterton, Ms Rosie (Doncaster C)

Sheridan, Jim

Shipley, Ms Debra

Worthington, Tony

Simon, Siôn (B'ham Erdington)

Wright, Anthony D. (Gt. Yarmouth)

Singh, Marsha

Smith, rh Andrew (Oxford E)

Wright, David (Telford)

Smith, rh Chris (Islington S & Finsbury)

Wright, Tony (Cannock)

Wyatt, Derek

Smith, Geraldine (Morecambe & Lunesdale)

Tellers for the Noes:

Smith, rh Jacqui (Redditch)

Mr. Nick Ainger and Ms Bridget Prentice

Smith, John (Glamorgan)

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

  Afghanistan
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps are being taken to encourage(a) the use of alternative crops and (b) non-farming livelihoods in the Afghan provinces. [144859]

  Mr. Gareth Thomas
  We are providing more than £20 million over three years to our livelihoods programme in Afghanistan. This includes funding a Research in Alternative Livelihoods Project, (£3 million over three years) designed to help the rural poor in Afghanistan build new ways of making a living. Research grants will be given to organisations, which put forward innovative ideas for the development and promotion of new farming and non-farming opportunities in Afghanistan.

  Workshops will be held to share lessons learnt and information gathered by the projects being funded with other rural development projects across Afghanistan. We are also building the capacity of key Ministries to enable the Afghan Government to support the new livelihoods opportunities and engage with the local communities through newly established development councils.

  Global Fund
  Mr. David Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what proportion of the UK target figure for the Global Fund his Department has pledged for 2004–05. [141501]

  Hilary Benn
  For the financial year 2004–05 we will provide £30 million and have extended our current commitment through to 2008 bringing our total planned contribution to the Global Fund to fight AIDS TB and Malaria (GFATM) to US$280 million.

  At the 6th Board meeting of the Global Fund held in October, members of the Board of the Global Fund voted to move to a periodic replenishment model on a voluntary basis for all public donors, complemented by additional ad hoc donations. This is now the agreed system for contributions to the Global Fund and should put the Fund on a firmer financial footing.

  Future UK funding will be subject to the GFATM reflecting a clear poverty focus, achieving a better financing system, integrating the Fund's activities more effectively with national programmes and meeting agreed benchmarks to monitor its effectiveness. We have been working closely with the Fund on all of these issues and made some good progress at the recent Board meeting held in October—particularly on improving the financing system by moving to a more reliable system of
  1004W
  replenishment based on commonly agreed performance measures. Good results will encourage increased contributions to the Global Fund—both from the UK and, importantly, from the wider international community and this will help to ensure its future as an effective instrument to tackle these terrible diseases.

  Our contribution to the GFATM reflects only part of the UK's significant contribution to the fight against HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria. At country level, DFID has committed over £1.5 billion since 1997 to strengthening health systems so that better care and drugs can be delivered. Our commitment to HIV/AIDS is demonstrated by the increase in bilateral spending from £38 million in 1997–98 to over £270 million in 2003–04. We are now intensifying our efforts to tackle the HIV/AIDS epidemic. In the recently published "Call for Action", we state that we will make HIV/AIDS a priority for the extra £320 million the UK will be devoting to development in Africa by 2006. We will also double our core funding of UNAIDS.

  We also contribute to other global partnerships, which work on different aspects of these diseases. For example DFID has contributed £48 million over four years (1999–2003) to Roll Back Malaria, a global partnership which aims to halve the world's malaria burden by 2010. This financial year we are providing some £1.2 million in support for public private partnerships to develop a new generation of affordable drugs required for malaria control. DFID plays a major role in supporting TB control and the adoption of good practice in countries such as India, Russia, Zambia, Nepal, Bolivia and South Africa. The UK is also a member of the coordinating Board of the global Stop TB partnership and in 2002–03 we provided £0.75 million to the partnership.

  Identity Cards
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has, made of the implications of the introduction or compulsory identity cards for his Department. [142950]

  Mr. Gareth Thomas
  There has been no assessment made.

  Iraq (Medicines)
  Tom Brake
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on shortages of(a) antisera (anti-snake venom) and (b) anti-cancer medicines in Iraq. [143935]

  Hilary Benn
  Assessments by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Iraqi Ministry of Health earlier in the autumn indicated that there are no major shortages of essential medical supplies in Iraq. There are however still reported shortages of some very specialised supplies including antisera (ie anti snake venom) and some anti-cancer medicines.

  A great deal has already been achieved to re-establish drug systems in Iraq. The initial focus was, rightly, or securing adequate supplies of the most essential and most used medicines and vaccines. On 27 October, the Iraqi Ministry of Health estimated that 15,000 tons of pharmaceuticals and medical supplies had beer delivered in 150 days. However, new supply systems are

  1005W
  not yet fully operational. Until these are in place, including comprehensive accounting and reporting processes to ensure that needs are identified before shortages arise, some problems will continue to occur.

  Work is currently underway in the Iraqi Ministry of Health to develop a national drug formulary. This will enable improved sourcing of drugs and a new purchasing structure which will facilitate the arrival of some drugs which were almost non-existent under the old regime, including top-tier cancer drugs and other advanced pharmaceuticals. Work is also being done by the Ministry of Health, CPA and WHO to develop a complete overview of missing drugs and supplies. This is scheduled to finish in three months.

TREASURY

  Private Health Care
  6. Mr. Borrow
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent discussions he has had on financial incentives for private healthcare. [144721]

  Mr. Gordon Brown
  I have met BUPA and others. We estimate the cost of financial incentives for private medical insurance, including tax relief on private medical insurance and vouchers for private healthcare, at £2 billion.

  Council Tax
  19. Mr. McWalter
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what mechanisms are available to him to ensure that the resources he makes available to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister for the 2004–05 settlement for local authorities will generate council tax rises in that year no higher than the rate of inflation. [144734]

  Mr. Boateng
  The extra resources for local authorities announced in November and in the pre-Budget report amount to an additional £760 million for local government on top of previously planned increases in grant. Following the provision of these substantial extra resources provided, excessive increases should not be necessary, but the Government have capping powers and are prepared to use them to protect local taxpayers from excessive council tax rises imposed by local authorities.

  Information Technology
  Mr. Bacon
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer until what date and for how much money his Department has given financial commitments in relation to the funding of the National Programme for information technology in the health service. [144735]

  Mr. Boateng
  Although programmes of this scale do need Treasury approval, the Treasury does not commit funding to individual projects. It is for the Department of Health to ensure that the national programme for information technology is affordable within its budget, without pre-empting the results of future spending reviews.

  North-East
  Mr. Hepburn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action his Department is taking to promote wealth creation in the North East. [144736]

  John Healey
  All areas of the UK are benefiting from a stable macroeconomic framework, and the measures to promote entrepreneurship and set out in the pre-Budget report.

  Regulatory and VAT reforms could benefit 15,700 businesses in the North East:
  Better access to advice and finance could assist up to 33,000 SMEs in the North East;
  72,000 people have been helped into work in the North East by the New Deal.

  There has also been an indicative allocation rise, from £227 million in this year to £240 million in 2005–06, for the North East regional development agency to promote wealth creation in the North East.

  Child Trust Funds
  Mr. Leigh
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent discussions he has had with officials from the Inland Revenue regarding the introduction of Child Trust Funds. [144737]

  Ruth Kelly
  I am the Minister with specific responsibility for the Child Trust Fund and I have regular discussions with both the Chancellor and officials of the Inland Revenue on a wide range of issues in connection with the Child Trust Fund and its introduction.

  Equitable Life
  Sandra Gidley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on Equitable Life. [144738]

  Ruth Kelly
  Equitable Life's most recent interim accounts, which reflected its position as at 30 June 2003, confirmed that it remained solvent. However, the interim accounts also refer to the fact that it continues to face fundamental uncertainties over its mis-selling liabilities and, like all market participants, has had to operate in difficult economic conditions.

  Health Care Funding
  Mr. David
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received about the funding of healthcare through(a) charges and (b) private medical insurance. [144739]

  Mr. Boateng
  We have met BUPA and others to hear representations on private medical insurance. The Government believe that the best way to fund healthcare is through general taxation and that delivery of healthcare should be on the basis of clinical need not ability to pay.

  International Finance Facility
  David Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the proposed conditionalities to be applied to the proposed International Finance Facility. [144740]
  1007W
  John Healey
  The International Finance Facility would not impose new conditions on recipient countries.

  Child Benefit (Scotland)
  John Barrett
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people receive Child Benefit in Scotland, broken down by(a) parliamentary constituency and (b) local authority area. [144528]

  Ruth Kelly
  The latest available figures, for November 2002, are shown in a table which is being placed in the Library. Recent annual changes in the number of families in Scotland with Child Benefit awards have been very small.

  Foreign Debt
  Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to set up a realisation fund for outstanding Export Credits Guarantee Department debt. [144835]

  Mr. Boateng
  The Secretary of State for Trade and Industry informed the House of progress towards establishing the Export Credits Guarantee Department as a Trading Fund on 22 July 2002. Details of the structure of the Trading Fund will be set out in a public consultation document ahead of the move to Trading Fund status.

  Progressive Governance Conference
  Sue Doughty
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the total cost to public funds was of the Progressive Governance Conference hosted by the United Kingdom in July. [140566]

  Mr. MacShane
  I have been asked to reply.

  The Progressive Governance Conference from 11 to 13 July was organised and paid for by the think-tank Policy Network.

  The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) organised the subsequent Summit on 13 and 14 July for the heads of state or government of 14 countries. The final cost of organising the Summit was £251,929. This was met by the FCO. This excludes costs for policing.

TRANSPORT

  Airlines (Disciplinary Action)
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on how many occasions disciplinary action has been taken against airlines for(a) breach of aircraft noise arrival and departure regulations and (b) failure to follow preferred routes into and from Belfast City. Airport in each of the last three years. [144601]

  Mr. McNulty
  Noise and track-keeping procedure applicable at Belfast City Airport are a matter for local control by the Airport. The Department for Transport does not hold the information requested, which should be available direct from Belfast City Airport.

  Biofuels
  Dr. Kumar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has been made against the EU target for biofuels to reach two per cent. of the petrol and diesel market by December 2005. [144771]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The EU Biofuels Directive (2003/30/EC) requires member states to set indicative targets for sales of biofuels for 2005 and 2010, and provides reference values of 2 per cent. and 5.75 per cent. respectively. Member states must report to the Commission by 1 July 2004, indicating the level of their national indicative targets for 2005.

  Current sales of biofuels in the UK are around two million litres a month, which is approximately 0.05 per cent. of the transport fuels market. This represents a dramatic increase since the position prior to July 2002, when the 20 pence per litre fuel duty incentive for biodiesel came into effect.

  The Department for Transport will be consulting in early 2004 on its plans for implementing the Directive.

  British Transport Police
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what additional money has been given to the British Transport Police in this financial year for their duties under the Terrorism Act 2000. [145133]

  Mr. McNulty
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given today [144178].

  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what additional resources have been made available to the British Transport Police to take on anti-terrorist responsibilities since 2001. [144178]

  Mr. McNulty
  The resources available to the British Transport Police (BTP) are a matter for the BTP Committee, which overseas the Force and sets its budget. The rail industry is responsible for providing the necessary funding for the Force. In addition to this funding Government has agreed to provide the BTP in 2003–04 with an additional £1.5 million for anti-terrorist response vehicles in London.

  Speed Cameras (East Anglia)
  Mr. Spring
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many speed cameras there were in(a) Suffolk. (b) Cambridgeshire, (c) Norfolk and (d) Essex, in each year since 1997; and what amount of revenue was raised in each of those counties. [143348]

  Mr. Jamieson
  Before the safety camera netting off trial began in April 2000 local authorities were not obliged to inform central government about their camera activity. Essex have netted off since 2000 and Cambridgeshire and Norfolk since 2001. The number of camera sites (both fixed and mobile) for each is:

  2000–01

  2001–2002

  2002–2003

  Essex

  200

  356

  342

  Cambridgeshire

  —

  15

  40

  Norfolk

  —

  44

  60

  1009W
  Suffolk joined the scheme in April 2003. During the 2003–2004 financial year Suffolk's plans are to install 5 new fixed site camera housings in addition to their existing 3 and will be enforcing 41 sites with mobile camera units.

  Receipts from conditional offer fixed penalty fines for the latest audited years were:

  2000–01

  2001–02

  Essex

  1,843,480

  3,524,120

  Cambridgeshire

  —

  135,420

  Norfolk

  —

  160,140

  Suffolk

  —

  —

  A21
  Mr. Norman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make an announcement on the route for the A21 South of Pembury to Flimwell before Parliament rises on 18 December 2003. [144449]

  Mr. Jamieson
  An announcement will be made following full consideration. The Highways Agency is developing proposals for the section of the A21 between Kippings Cross and Lamberhurst. This area is particularly sensitive in environmental terms and it is important to achieve a balance between the impact on the environment and the impact on those living beside the existing route. I hope to make an announcement early in the New Year following further discussions with colleagues in the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs.

  The Highways Agency has not yet started looking at the Lamberhurst to Flimwell section of the A21 and the Lamberhurst bypass is currently under construction.

  A421
  Alistair Burt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what financial support is available from Government to assist returning the stretch of the A421, proposed to be de-trunked around Great Barford, Bedfordshire, following the construction of a by-pass, to its rural character. [144820]

  Mr. Jamieson
  Once de-trunking of the stretch of the A421 at Great Barford, Bedfordshire, has taken place, management becomes the responsibility of Bedfordshire County Council. They will be able to apply through the Local Transport Plan process for funding of any works they feel necessary to reflect the changed character of the road.

  A43
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what further developments are planned to improve the safety and capacity of junctions on the stretch of the A43 between junction 15A of the M1 and junction 10 of the M40. [144480]

  Mr. Jamieson
  I have asked the Chief Executive of Highways Agency, Mr. Archie Robertson, to write to the hon. Member.
  1010W
  Letter from Archie Robertson to Mr. Tim Boswell, dated 18 December 2003:

  I have been asked by the Transport Minister, David Jamieson to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about what further developments are planned to improve safety and the capacity of junctions on the A43 between Junction 15A of the M1 and Junction 10 of the M40.

  There were 3 improvement schemes on the A43: A43 M40—B4031 dualling; A43 Whitfield Turn—Brackley Hatch Improvement and the A43 Silverstone Bypass scheme which were all opened to traffic in September 2002. These schemes have already relieved many of the safety and capacity issues on the A43.

  Further developments include:
  A Route Management Strategy (RMS) is currently being developed for the complete length of the A43 trunk road between M1 J15A and M40 J10 as part of an RMS studying the length of the A43 and A45 route between the M40 and A14.
  An accident analysis study is currently in progress at the A43/M40 J10. This study is due to report in the spring of 2004. A broader ranging study to examine congestion factors at A43/M40 J10 is planned for 2004–05.
  A study into the short term and long-term options to relieve congestion at A43/A5 Tove junction is due to report in 2004.
  Investigation of improved traffic signing and road markings at A43 Blisworth/Tiffield junctions.

  If you would like to discuss any of these issues in more detail, you are welcome to contact the Highways Agency's Route Manager, Steve Davy, 49/53 Goldington Road, Bedford, MK40 3LL or via e-mail at steve.davy@highways.gsi.gov.uk

  BAe 146 Aircraft
  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he still expects the Air Accident Investigation Branch to publish in December its report of the investigation of a series of cabin air quality incidents involving BAe 146 aircraft and other similar incidents; and if he will make a statement. [144970]

  Mr. McNulty
  The Air Accidents Investigation Branch report following the investigation of a series of cabin air quality incidents involving BAe 146 aircraft and similar incidents to other aircraft is now complete, following extensive industry consultation. The report is to be processed for printing and publication in February 2004. Five safety recommendations were made during the course of the investigation.

  Departmental Spending
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much his Department has spent on the acquisition of works of art in each year since 1997, broken down by amounts spent on(a) paintings and (b) sculpture; what the single most expensive piece of art purchased by his Department since 1997 has been; how much it cost; and what the total revenue raised by his Department through sales of works of art has been since 1997. [142360]

  Mr. McNulty
  The Department for Transport was formed in May 2002 and since then no works of art have either been purchased or sold. All works of art within the Department have been provided on loan from the Government Art Collection.

  Drink Driving
  Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what percentage of drivers killed in traffic accidents were over the legal blood alcohol limit, in the last five years for which data are available. [144552]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The following table shows the percentage of drivers or riders killed in traffic accidents over the legal blood alcohol limit over the last five years.

  Percentage of Drivers and riders killed in road accidents over the legal blood alcohol limit

  Percentage over limit

  1998

  11

  1999

  9

  2000

  10

  2001

  10

  20021

  11

  1Provisional data

  Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the key characteristics of drink drive casualties are, broken down by(a) age, (b) gender, (c) time of day, (d) month of year and (e) mode of travel; and if he will list the measures he has put in place to combat drinking and driving. [144554]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The most recent road casualty statistics are contained in "Road Casualties Great Britain 2002: Annual Report", a copy of which is in the House Library.

  These show that:

  (a) About one third of all drink-drive casualties are aged 16–24;

  (b) Around one third of drink-drive casualties are female;

  (c)Nearly half of all failed breath tests occur between 10pm and 4am, and around half the drivers killed between those times had a blood alcohol level above the limit;

  (d)There are more drink-drive accidents and casualties during the summer and autumn months than during winter and spring;

  (e)The large majority of casualties in drink-drive accidents are car occupants, with only a small percentage among pedestrians and cyclists.

  As regards anti-drink-driving measures, the law has been changed to make drivers who cause death by careless driving while under the influence of drink or drugs take an extended driving test and the maximum penalty for this offence will shortly be increased from 10 to 14 years' imprisonment. Blood samples may now be taken from unconscious, hospitalised drivers suspected of committing drink-drive offences in order to make it easier to prosecute them. The option of referring drink-drive offenders to rehabilitation courses has been extended to courts throughout Great Britain as a means of reducing re-offending. The Government's drink-driving publicity campaigns are being extended to run at different times and in a variety of media throughout the year, rather than just at Christmas and in the summer.

  In addition, the Government have announced its intention to strengthen police powers to carry out evidential breathtesting at the roadside. We are also planning to introduce mandatory retesting as a penalty for repeat drink-drive offenders and are assessing
  1012W
  the potential effectiveness of breath alcohol ignition interlock devices as a further form of intervention to deal with drink-drive offenders.

  Give as You Earn Scheme
  John Barrett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many and what percentage of staff in his Department contribute to a charity through the Give as You Earn scheme; how much money is donated to charity per month by staff in his Department through the scheme; and what steps he is taking to encourage greater participation in the scheme by staff in his Department. [143911]

  Mr. McNulty
  DfT have only had a separate payroll from ODPM for the last two months, October and November. We can therefore only provide useful data for this period.

  October 2003: 107 staff donated to "Give As You Earn" (GAVE) out of a total headcount of 2049 staff. Percentage of staff = 5.22 per cent. Total charitable donation was £2471.90.

  November 2003: 107 staff donated to GAYE out of a headcount of 2,078 staff. Percentage of staff = 5.15 per cent. Total charitable donation was £2456.90.

  Rail Services
  Mr. Greg Knight
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what percentage of all journeys was made by rail in England and Wales in the last month for which figures are available. [142616]

  Dr. Howells
  [holding answer 8 December 2003]Data from the National Travel Survey on main mode of trip show that, over the period 1999–2001, 2.7 per cent. of all trips (excluding walking) by people in England and Wales were by rail (1.7 per cent. by surface rail and 1.0 per cent. by London Underground). Monthly figures are not available.

  Speed Cameras
  Mr. Whittingdale
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many fixed speed cameras there were in Essex in each of the last 10 years; how much revenue was raised from them in each year; and how many speeding convictions resulted from them in each year. [142044]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The numbers of fixed speed cameras placed in total in Essex are shown in the following table.

  Year

  New Camera Sites

  1994

  0

  1995

  9

  1996

  9

  1997

  0

  1998

  2

  1999

  8

  2000

  0

  2001

  28

  2002

  9

  2003

  17

  Total

  82

  1013W
  It is not possible to separately identify Conditional Offer Fixed Penalty Notices issued as a result of motorists detected speeding solely by fixed cameras. The amount of conditional offer fixed penalty receipts raised by fixed and mobile cameras in Essex during the first two years of the netting off safety camera scheme is shown in the following table:

  Year

  Penalty Receipts

  2000

  1,843,480

  2001

  3,524,120

  Taxis
  Mr. Rosindell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the estimated average cost is of establishing a taxi rank in an urban area a) at a major transport interchange and (b) at a main road. [144883]

  Mr. McNulty
  Taxi ranks in England and Wales are normally appointed by the relevant Licensing Authority. We do not collate information about the cost of appointing taxi ranks.

  Transport Funding
  Mr. Gardiner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will make a statement on how funding for transport in London will take account of the projected increase in London's population between 2001 and 2016; [144034]

  (2) what assessment he has made of the (a) infrastructure and (b) revenue investment in London transport required to meet London's projected population increase over the next 15 years.[144035]

  Mr. McNulty
  The Government's latest spending plans for London were set out in the Ten Year Plan for Transport, and its subsequent progress report "Delivering Better Transport". Spending plans and priorities are regularly reviewed. We will consider the case for additional resources put forward by TfL in their latest business plan in the run-up to next year's spending review, as well as the Mayor's emerging London Plan, which sets out his vision of the development of London over the next 15–20 years.

  Mr. Gardiner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the case put forward for extra funding for Transport for London in the next spending review. [144247]

  Mr. McNulty
  We will consider the case for additional resources put forward by TfL in their latest business plan. The Spending Review is expected to conclude in Summer 2004.

  U-turns
  Mr. Rosindell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list(a) the total mileage of roads in the Greater London area and (b) the total mileage of
  1014W
  roads in the Greater London area where u-turns were forbidden for the last five years for which figures are available. [144884]

  Mr. McNulty
  The total mileage of roads in the Greater London area is 8,959 miles (14,415 kilometres). Information on the total mileage of roads in the Greater London area where u-turns were forbidden is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

CABINET OFFICE

  Civil Service
  Mr. Gray
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office whether members of the Senior Civil Service are required to report an invitation to take up an external appointment in industry and commerce received whilst serving, and to whom; what restrictions they are subject to; and what obligations there are with regard to appointments in industry and commerce taken up once they have retired from their civil service posts. [143688]

  Mr. Alexander
  All civil servants are subject to rules on the acceptance of outside appointments. These rules are set out in Section 4.3 annexes A & B of the Civil Service Management Code, a copy of which is in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Flight
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many new recruits there were to the civil service in each year since 1997. [144657]

  Mr. Alexander
  The number of new recruits to the civil service between 1996–97 and 2001–02 are shown in the following table. The figures shown are on a headcount basis and apply to non-industrial civil servants only. The figures cover information on 98 per cent. of civil servants, based on data collected on individuals and held in a central database. Information on the remainder is only collected in aggregate form.

  More detailed information on entrants to the civil service is published annually in 'Civil Service Statistics', copies of which are laid in the Libraries of both Houses. The last edition, based on April 2002 data, was published in July 2003.

  Entrants to the civil service 1996–97 to 2001–02

  Non–industrials

  Of which

  Total recruits

  New recruitment

  Re-instatement to the civil service

  1996–97

  29,000

  27,910

  1,090

  1997–98

  26,640

  25,970

  670

  1998–99

  29,770

  29,230

  540

  1999–2000

  38,700

  37,900

  800

  2000–01

  31,530

  30,450

  1,080

  2001–02

  38,800

  38,290

  510

  Notes:

  Figures are on a headcount basis and apply to non-industrials only.

  Source:

  Civil Service Statistics

ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

  Landfill
  Valerie Davey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether, following the reform of the Landfill Tax Credit Scheme, the resulting funds are to be made available to the community waste and recycling sector. [143987]

  Mr. Morley
  A sustainable waste delivery public spending programme, administered by Defra, has been established following the reform of the Landfill Tax Credit Scheme (LTCS) in April 2003, to ensure that sustainable alternatives to landfill disposal are widely available. The funds are being administered by the Waste Implementation Programme.

  Plans for expenditure under the Programme are at various stages of development and execution. So far, for example, a review has been commissioned to identify any former LTCS projects which, if continued with Defra funding, would support the Programme's objectives. Similarly, the Programme will fund relevant waste research and community groups will be able to bid for those funds.

  Warm Front Initiative
  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the average length of time taken to supply equipment to households under the Warm Front initiative has been; and if she will make a statement. [141941]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  The Department has contracts with two scheme managers, Eaga Partnership and Powergen Warm Front Ltd. for the delivery of Warm Front. Heating materials are provided under separate contracts with two suppliers who have sub-contracts with a number of manufacturers.

  Following survey of a property, the average time taken to install measures ranges between 4 to 6 months for heating and 2 to 3 months for insulation.

  30-month Scheme
  Andrew George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to lift the market restrictions on beef from cattle over 30 months old. [143610]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  Ministers are still considering the FSA advice on replacing the OTM Rule and the OTM Scheme with testing. Defra has commissioned a study co-ordinated by the MLC (involving all sectors of the meat chain) to investigate the impact on the beef market of any changes to the OTM rule and OTMS exit. The Government are also investigating with the EU Commission the possibility of introducing an underpinning temporary market support measure to insure against any disruption to the market.

  Abandoned Cars
  Mrs. Spelman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what percentage of abandoned cars were set alight in the UK in the last 12 months for which figures are available. [143843]
  1016W
  Mr. Raynsford
  I have been asked to reply.

  In England, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) conducted a Municipal Waste Management Survey in 2001–02 which estimated that 292,900 abandoned vehicles were removed and destroyed by local authorities. No data are available for Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland for that year.

  An analysis of national fire statistics shows that in 2001–02 an estimated 22,700 fires occurred in vehicles that had previously been abandoned. This estimate represents 8 per cent. of all abandoned vehicles removed and destroyed, as recorded by the Defra survey.

  Mrs. Spelman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many vehicles she expects to be abandoned in each year before the End of Life Vehicles Directive is fully enforced. [143957]

  Mr. Morley
  It is not possible to estimate how many vehicles will be abandoned in the period leading up to January 2007, from which time producers will be required to take back end of life vehicles at no cost to the owner.

  Vehicle abandonment rates will be dependent on a number of factors, including the price of scrap metal.

  The Government have introduced a range of measures, including the advent of continuous registration in January 2004, which will enable local authorities to tackle abandoned vehicles effectively and make it much harder for last owners to evade responsibility for their vehicles.

  Mrs. Spelman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the total average cost per car was of disposal of end of life vehicles in the last 12 months for which figures are available [143955]

  Mr. Morley
  Based on estimated disposal costs of between £30 and £50 per vehicle, the total cost of disposal for end of life vehicles in the financial year 2001–02 was between £8.79 million and £14.65 million.

  Air Quality
  Mr. Randall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what action her Department is undertaking to reduce levels of nitrogen dioxide around Heathrow airport. [143793]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  The Air Quality Strategy sets out the Government's policies and measures to reduce levels of nitrogen dioxide and other key air pollution throughout the UK in general. Various emissions sources may contribute to levels of nitrogen dioxide in the Heathrow area. The Department is working with other departments, local authorities and other organisations concerned to secure improvements.

  Emissions arising in mainland Europe can contribute significantly to concentrations in London and the South East. Reductions agreed under the National Emission Ceiling Directive in UK and in other member states will cut emissions of oxide of nitrogen and other air pollutants at source.
  1017W
  Measures to cut emissions from transport include tighter vehicle emission and fuel standards, fuel duty differentials and schemes to promote the wider use of greener fuels and vehicles. The 10-year transport plan sets out measures to improve public transport, to cut congestion and to reduce air pollution. The UK is working through the International Civil Aviation Organisation to reduce emissions from aviation. Under a condition in the planning permission for the Fifth Terminal at Heathrow BAA plc are required to produce and review an action plan to minimise emissions—their Air Quality Strategy and Action Plan was published in April 2002 and is currently being reviewed.

  Under their statutory duties for air quality, the three local authorities adjacent to Heathrow have declared Air Quality Management Areas in the vicinity of the airport and are now developing action plans in order to improve local air quality.

  Mr. Randall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what targets her Department has set to reduce the levels of nitrogen dioxide by(a) 2005 and (b) 2010. [143823]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  The national Air Quality Strategy, published in 2000, sets a one hour mean air quality objective for nitrogen dioxide of 200 micrograms per cubic metre not be exceeded more than 18 times per year and an annual mean of 40 micrograms per cubic metre, both to be achieved by 31 December 2005. These objectives, together with objectives for six other air pollutants, are prescribed in the Air Quality (England) Regulations 2000. Local authorities are required to review and assess the objectives and, where these are unlikely to be met, to work towards the achievement. European Council Directive 99/30/EC sets similar limit values for nitrogen dioxide which members states are required to achieve by 2010. The limit values have been implemented by the Air Quality Limit Values Regulations 2003.

  American Ships (Decommissioning)
  Alan Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether the polychlorinated biphenyls in the US ships intended for decommissioning by Able UK have been analysed to determine whether the waste meets the necessary standards for(a) incineration and (b) landfill. [143442]

  Mr. Morley
  Not yet. Dismantling work on the ships is currently prevented while matters concerning their future are addressed.

  Mr. Sanders
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will take steps to prevent further US vessels crossing the Atlantic for dismantling in Hartlepool. [143663]

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 11 December 2003]: The remaining nine vessels in the contract, will remain in the US pending the resolution of US legal action which prevents them leaving the US before April 2004.

  Mrs. Spelman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether planning permission for the construction of the dry dock at Able 1018W
  UK was within its period of validity when the American ghost ships were given permission to come to the UK. [143808]

  Mr. Morley
  Whether a grant of planning permission is effective for the development concerned is a matter in the first place for the relevant local planning authority and ultimately the courts.

  Animal Welfare
  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations she has received asking her to ban the slaughter of animals without pre-stunning; and if she will make a statement.[141953]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  [holding answer 4 December 2003]: Following the recommendation in the Farm Animal Welfare Council report on the welfare of red meat animals at slaughter, a number of organisations concerned with animal welfare, and individuals, have called for a ban on slaughter of animals without prior stunning in this country.

  Jewish and Muslim groups have suggested that the practice be maintained. We hope to issue our response for consultation early next year.

  Mr. Gwyn Prosser
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether the UK Government's representatives are pursuing the policy of an eight-hour journey limit for slaughter animals in EU Council working group meetings; and if she will make a statement. [143844]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  The Government is seeking a finite journey limit for the transport of animals destined for slaughter and further fattening, in accordance with our policy of replacing the long distance transport of animals for slaughter with a trade in meat. Journey limits cannot be considered in isolation and must be part of an overall package of agreed measures that provide a significant improvement in animal welfare throughout the EU and beyond.

  Cattle Testing
  Mr. Paterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has for pre-movement testing of cattle for exposure to m.bovis. [144438]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  All farmers have been sent a leaflet "Golden rules for a healthy herd", which advises purchasers to check the disease status of cattle prior to purchase.

  In February 2003, the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs announced a review of our bovine tuberculosis strategy. Early in the new year we will be publishing a consultation document which will represent the outcome of the first stage of that review. The consultation document will include proposals for short-term measures for reducing the risk of geographic spread of bovine TB from high to low incidence areas, including consideration of proposals for the pre and/or post movement of cattle.

  Cod By-catches
  Sir Archy Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent research she has commissioned into cod by-catches in nephrops fisheries; and if she will make a statement. [143719]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  Defra and the other Fisheries Departments in the UK have sufficient data on the catches of vessels which take both nephrops and cod to be able to demonstrate that curtailing nephrops catches brings minimal benefit to cod stocks. We shall continue to draw to the attention of the European Commission the evidence we have on this.

  Common Agricultural Policy
  Andrew George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations she has received concerning the Common Agricultural Policy reform options of(a) individual historic payments and (b) regional average payments. [143609]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  We received over 800 responses to our consultation letter on CAP reform implementation. Most respondents presented arguments in favour of the individual historic, flat rate or hybrid models of allocating entitlements under the new Single Payment Scheme. We will follow our standing practice for public consultations in placing a list of the respondents in the House Library; making copies of individual responses available in the main Defra library (other than those where the respondent has specifically requested the letter or email be withheld); and providing a summary of views on the Department's website. Ministerial colleagues and officials have also had meetings with a range of stakeholders on this issue.

  Crop Areas
  Mr. Paterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether compensation will be paid by her Department to farmers affected by the over-estimation of the wheat area for this year's harvest; and if she will issue a formal apology to farmers. [143587]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  I regret that the error was made. Defra figures are only one of a number of sources of information available to the market and individual buyers and sellers have to use their own commercial judgment. Although there was an initial increase of approximately £5 per tonne immediately following publication of corrected figures, this had reduced by about half within a few days with the price back on trend. This reflects the UK's position as a price taker rather than a price maker in an international commodity market. UK production is only about 13 per cent. of EU production, and EU production is just over 20 per cent. of world production. On average, however, wheat prices this year are now some £50 per tonne higher than at the same period last year. They have risen steadily throughout the marketing season in response to serious reductions in supply elsewhere in Europe as a result of heat and drought in the summer. This has also coincided with a tighter global market which has seen world wheat prices at their highest levels in recent years. There was no 1020W
  discernable effect on prices when the provisional agricultural census results were published in the middle of September.

  Mr. Paterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures are being taken by the Department to ensure that the estimation of crop areas is accurate; and what assessment has been made of the causes of the error in estimation this year. [143588]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  The error in the estimation of crop areas this year was caused by unintentional double counting of holdings during the process of combining IACS crop areas with June Census returns. The computer program that extracts the necessary data from the IACS returns has now been rewritten to ensure that this error will not be repeated. In addition, the existing procedures for checking results will be strengthened and a risk assessment process will be instituted to ensure that potential problems are identified. Figures derived from surveys are always subject to some uncertainty, particularly when provisional results are issued, but every attempt is made to minimise this.

  Mr. Paterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures are in place to ensure that errors in estimation of the wheat area harvest are detected. [143589]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  The error in the estimation of crop areas this year was caused by unintentional double counting of holdings during the process of combining IACS crop areas with June Census returns. The computer program that extracts the necessary data from the IACS returns has now been rewritten to ensure that this error will not be repeated. In addition, the existing procedures for checking results will be strengthened and a risk assessment process will be instituted to ensure that potential problems are identified. Figures derived from surveys are always subject to some uncertainty, particularly when provisional results are issued, but every attempt is made to minimise this.

  Andrew George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps her Department takes to ensure the correct estimate of each year's wheat harvest is made. [143668]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  [holding answer 11 December 2003:] Estimating the size of the annual wheat harvest depends on information from a number of different sources gathered over time. A provisional estimate of planted area is normally published in September based on a combination of census and IACS data. Provisional yield information in the form of a production estimate is normally published in October. Updated figures are normally published in November and January respectively.

  A number of checks are in place to verify the information coming in from farmers, the processes and the credibility of the aggregate results. Unfortunately, the internal error in the calculation of this year's planted area figures was only discovered by Defra statisticians after the area results had been published, and a corrected Statistical Notice was therefore published on 1 December.

  Dairy Industry
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the help available to dairy farmers to increase innovation. [143654]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  Product innovation is, of course, for individual businesses to consider in line with the demands of the market. Nevertheless, Government can play a role in promoting innovation.

  Under the auspices of the Dairy Supply Chain Forum, chaired by my Noble Friend Lord Whitty, the Milk Development Council has been working with other members to establish a Market Development and Innovation sub-group. The objective of this group is to stimulate and co-ordinate innovation for the development of British dairy products by creating a forum for the exchange of market information and ideas that anticipate consumer needs. The group will also consider how barriers to innovation might be addressed.

  Furthermore, the Agriculture Development Scheme (ADS) offers grants for the various activities associated with the marketing of produce, including dairy products, and welcomes innovative applications. Support is also available under the England Rural Development Programme, which encourages the development of new products and markets through the Rural Enterprise Scheme and the Processing and Marketing Grant.

  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had with the Office of Fair Trading to seek clarification of competition rules regarding the production, processing and retailing of milk. [143655]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  The application of competition rules in the milk sector was discussed between Ministers and officials in Defra, the Department of Trade and Industry and the Office of Fair Trading during 2002. These discussions were prompted by comments on the impact of competition rules on collaborative ventures made in the report of the Policy Commission on the Future of Farming and Food. The outcome of the discussions is reflected in the Government's Strategy for Sustainable Farming and Food and in its Response to the Report of the Policy Commission on the Future of Farming and Food, both of which can be found on Defra's website at: http://defraweb/farm/sustain/newstrategy/index.htm

  Endangered Species
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many import permits her Department(a) granted and (b) refused for species listed on (i) Appendix I and (ii) Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species in each year from 1997, broken down by species. [143756]

  Mr. Morley
  This Department issues over 5,000 import permits each year for a wide range of CITES controlled species. We do not keep precise statistics of the numbers refused but we believe that approximately 1 per cent. are refused on scientific grounds with a further 2 per cent. to 1022W
  3 percent. refused on administrative grounds (e.g. failure to supply outstanding information or refusal to pay the fee).

  The breakdown between Appendix I and Appendix II species is not readily obtainable either. However, Annex A and Annex B of the relevant EC Regulation (338/97) broadly equate to CITES Appendices I and II. In recent years 11 per cent. of the permits issued have been for Annex A species and 89 per cent. for Annex B species.

  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much her Department charges for a permit to import species listed on(a) Appendix I and (b) Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species. [143757]

  Mr. Morley
  The charges are as follows:

  Fee

  Plants and Corals

  Application for fewer than five genera where the import, export or re-export is for commercial purposes

  £7 per genus

  Application in respect of five or more genera where the import, export and re-export is for commercial purposes

  £5 per genus

  Application in respect of any number of genera where the import, export or re-export is not for commercial purposes

  £5 per genus

  Mammals, Birds, Reptiles and Others

  Application for fewer than five genera where the import, export or re-export is for commercial purposes

  £10 per species

  Application in respect of five or more genera where the import, export and re-export is for commercial purposes

  £8 per species

  Application in respect of any number of genera where the import, export or re-export is not for commercial purposes

  £5 per species

  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many Article 10 certificates her Department granted for the sale of species listed on(a) Appendix I and (b) Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species in each year from 1997. [143758]

  Mr. Morley
  Article 10 certificates are issued under EC Regulation 338/97, which lists all CITES species in Annexes which broadly equate to the CITES Appendices. Annex A is therefore broadly equivalent to CITES Appendix I and Annex B to Appendix II. The Regulation requires the issue of Article 10 certificates only for Annex A species. The numbers of certificates produced for the years in question have been:

  Number

  1997

  5,738

  1998

  16,838

  1999

  14,498

  2000

  14,308

  2001

  18,754

  2002

  16,230

  2003

  116,150

  1 To date.

  1023W
  The 1997 figure is significantly lower than the others because the Regulation did not come into effect until I June in that year.

  Energy Consumption
  Mr. Bellingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the development of new technologies to help reduce the demand for energy consumption. [142848]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  The Energy White Paper recognised the need to promote innovation to find new ways to save energy in the future. We agreed with the Chief Scientific Adviser's Energy Research Report that energy efficiency should be a priority area for investment in research and development and an inter-departmental high-level group, on which the Energy Saving Trust and The Carbon Trust are also represented, is co-ordinating work in this field.

  The Carbon Trust has established the Low Carbon Innovation Programme, launched in 2002, which aims to accelerate the development of new and emerging low carbon and energy efficient technologies in the UK and provides funding across the low carbon innovation process—research, demonstration and development—
  by investing in projects and leveraging in further funding.

  Environmental Regulations
  Mrs. Spelman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the cost and enforcement of EU environmental regulations in(a) the UK, (b) other EU countries and (c) applicant states. [143809]

  Mr. Morley
  In 1998, this Government announced that no proposal for legislation, which has a potential to impact on business, the voluntary sector or charities, should be considered by Ministers without a Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA). Departments are required to undertake RIAs for all proposed regulations and policies, including environmental regulations, that impose a burden or realise a benefit to business, charities and the voluntary sector whether initiated by the UK or EU. The RIA includes an analysis of the costs of implementation and enforcement. It is an ex-ante appraisal and it is an explicit requirement that consideration is given to monitoring and review at the appraisal stage.

  The RIA process will be strengthened further by the National Audit Office (NAO) taking on a new role as an independent evaluator of selected RIAs. The NAO will focus on the quality of analysis in the RIAs and the thoroughness with which the RIAs have been undertaken. The findings and recommendations of best practice will be fed back to Departments.

  All RIAs published by Government Departments since January 2001 can be accessed via the Cabinet Office Regulatory Impact Unit website (http://www. Cabinet-office.gov.uk/regulation/index.htm).

  The responsibility for assessing the cost and enforcement of EU environmental regulations in other member states rests with individual member states.
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  In June 2002 the European Commission adopted an Action Plan for Better Regulation, in which it committed itself to the introduction of a two-stage impact assessment process, covering the economic, social and environmental impacts of policy proposals, the phased implementation of which started earlier in 2003. Impact assessment is to be applied to all proposals listed in the Annual Policy Strategy or Work Programme. All proposals will be subject to preliminary assessment, with some proposals being selected for extended assessment.

  The European Commission produces an annual survey on the implementation and enforcement of environmental Community law within existing member states. The 4th edition, which covers 2002, is now available and can be accessed through the Europa server (http://europa.eu.int). Comparable data on the implementation and enforcement of EU legislation in the Accession States will also be compiled once they join the EU.

  Fair Trade Products
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether it is the policy of her Department to use fair trade products, as a matter of course, in(a) sales on Departmental premises and (b) receptions and meetings involving staff and visitors.[142815]

  Alun Michael
  Yes. As explained by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 9 December 2002,Official Report, column 92W, the Government are committed to supporting ethical trading wherever possible within the boundaries set by Government's value for money policy and the EC procurement rules.

  Defra's policy is to work with the department's catering service providers so that fair trade tea and coffee is available to staff as customers and can be served at official meetings and conferences when appropriate.

  To date, Defra and its caterers have arranged for fair trade products to be available at nine of its 11 staff restaurants, including Defra's HQ and a number of regional offices in Guildford, York and Crewe. At each of these sites the teas and coffees served as official hospitality are fair trade products. Efforts to identify potential for serving more fair trade food products are continuing.

  Farm Animal Welfare
  Mr. David Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the Government's plans to regulate farm animal welfare through Codes of Practice that have been recommended by the Farm Animal Welfare Council. [144533]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  Defra takes account of advice from the Farm Animal Welfare Council when formulating and revising Codes of Practice relating to farm animal welfare. We are in the process of revising Codes of Practice for the welfare of red meat and white meat animals at slaughter and killing. They will be published next year. We also hope to publish revised Codes of Recommendations for the welfare of ducks, goats and turkeys by next summer.

  Farmer Subsidies
  Mr. Cawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the average subsidy to eligible farmers in(a) England and Wales, (b) Yorkshire and The Humber, (c) the East Riding of Yorkshire and (d) North Lincolnshire is in 2003–04. [142778]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  The table shows direct payments to farmers under the Common Agricultural Policy in the European Agriculture Guidance and Guarantee Fund 2003 year (16 October 2002 to 15 October 2003). Some farmers may also have received market support payments, though these are available to traders as well. In addition, farmers benefited from the effect of the market regimes and import tariffs, which kept the price of many commodities in the EU higher than elsewhere. Questions regarding payment of direct grants and subsidies in Wales should be directed to the devolved authorities in Wales.

  Area

  Number of farmers receiving subsidy

  Total subsidy (£)

  Average subsidy per farmer (£)

  (a) England

  88,978

  1,539,639,160

  17,304

  (b) Yorkshire and The Humber

  10,506

  191,985,666

  18,274

  (c) East Riding of Yorkshire

  1,650

  40,551,373

  24,577

  (d) North Lincolnshire

  518

  14,482,414

  27,958

  Fisheries
  Annabelle Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs who will lead the UK delegation at the December Fisheries Council. [142726]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  I will lead the UK delegation at the discussions on fisheries at the December Agriculture and Fisheries Council together with Ross Finnie, Minister for Environment and Rural Development in the Scottish Executive and Ian Pearson, Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Sanders
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) if she will make a statement on the progress of trials of active acoustic deterrents; when the trials will be completed; and when she expects to make an assessment of their effectiveness; [143540]

  (2) what type of fisheries will be covered by active acoustic deterrents deployment trials; over what timescale the trials will be conducted; and if she will make a statement. [143541]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  Defra is grant aiding a trial by the Sea Fish Industry Authority to assess the technical viability of using pingers on gill nets to prevent porpoise bycatch. The first phase has just been completed and the next phase with pingers modified to improve performance and to assess longer term durability is likely to start in February 2004. The timescale for this trial has not yet been fixed. The results will be presented in a Seafish Technical Report.

  The findings to date of these trials have been reviewed at a meeting of interested parties, including pinger manufacturers, under the auspices of a Biodiversity Action Plan for the protection of small cetaceans. This
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  review has helped to inform the next stage of the trials. The trials will also be useful in determining the next steps of the UK Small Cetacean Bycatch Response Strategy on which I hope to make an announcement early in the New Year, in consultation with the Devolved Administrations.

  Flame Retardants
  Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the review of Deca-BDE; and what advice she has received on potential alternatives. [144388]

  Alun Michael
  We have concluded the environmental risk assessment of deca-BDE carried out under the Existing Substances Regulation (EC) 793/93 and forwarded it to other Member States. Initial discussion has agreed that for the standard risk assessment, no further information nor risk management measures are needed. However, further data, not mandated by the Regulation, is available and this cannot be ignored. This information is of concern but it is not possible at this stage to conclude that there is a clear and unambiguous risk. It was therefore further agreed that the UK should recommend a monitoring programme, which will provide information as to the changing levels of deca-BDE in the environment. We are expecting levels to go down as industry controls its emissions more effectively. The environmental risk assessment is still being discussed within the European process and the final conclusion will ultimately be for the Community.

  The examination of alternatives (looking at both efficacy and cost) is a standard part of the next step of this process when looking to see if any risk reduction measures are appropriate. In the case of deca-BDE, some of this work has already been carried out on a precautionary basis—at present a ready, safer alternative has not been identified.

  Game Birds
  Mr. David Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) whether she plans to introduce provisions on the use of bits and specs for game birds in the Animal Welfare Bill; [144529]

  (2) what estimate she has made of the number of companies which use bits on game birds; [144531]

  (3) if she will make a statement on the (a) costs and (b) benefits of employing specs on game birds to minimise bird-on-bird aggression and egg-eating. [144532]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  One of the opportunities provided by the proposed Animal Welfare Bill would be the possibility of introducing codes of practice, including a code on the rearing of gamebirds, which would be subject to parliamentary scrutiny. The codes would support a statutory duty to promote the welfare of animals kept by man. The code on gamebirds would better regulate the methods, including bits and specs, used in rearing. It is not known how many companies currently use bits and what the costs and benefits of employing specs are.
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  Mr. David Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans the Government have to address mistreatment of game birds. [144530]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  Gamebirds are afforded protection under the Game (Scotland) Act 1772, the Game Act 1831, the Protection of Animals Act 1911, Protection of Animals Act (Scotland) 1912 and the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. The proposed Animal Welfare Bill provides an opportunity to modernise the law as far as gamebird rearing in England and Wales is concerned.

  Legislation
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what percentage of(a) primary and (b) secondary legislation sponsored by her Department in 2002–03 was introduced to implement EU requirements. [141135]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  The information is as follows:

  (a) In 2002–03, 50 per cent. of primary legislation sponsored by the Department was introduced to implement EU requirements.

  (b) During the same period, in the case of secondary legislation my Department was responsible for the making of 120 Statutory Instruments, of which, 57 per cent. were introduced to implement EU requirements.

  Nitrogen Dioxide (Heathrow)
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate her Department has made of the number of people who are exposed to nitrogen dioxide in the Heathrow area; and how many people she estimates will be exposed in(a) 2005 and (b) 2010. [144099]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  Defra has not carried out an assessment of the number of people exposed to nitrogen dioxide in the Heathrow area. Assessments have been carried out on the current and future concentrations of pollutants.

  Assessments of air quality impacts in the vicinity of Heathrow have been undertaken by the local authorities and by BAA plc. Having declared Air Quality Management Areas in the Heathrow area, the local authorities are developing action plans to reduce emissions. Some work has been undertaken on future predictions, for example by the London Borough of Hillingdon in relation to 2005. These assessments focus upon pollutant concentrations relative to limit values rather than exposed population.

  In the context of air quality work supporting decisions to be announced in the forthcoming Aviation White Paper, the Department for Transport has run air quality emissions scenarios out as far as 2020. I understand this work will be made public following the publication the Aviation White Paper.

  Organophosphates
  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she expects the database of government-funded projects examining ill health and organophosphates prepared by the 1028W
  Central Science Laboratory in York to be publicly available; and if she will make a statement on research progress relating to organophosphates. [141211]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  [holding answer 4 December 2003]: The database being prepared by the Central Science Laboratory (CSL) covers the whole range research into OPs, both Government sponsored and privately funded. This database can be accessed via the CSL website (www.csl.gov.uk/ops).

  Up-to-date information on the Government sponsored research into possible health effects of exposure to OP, including the findings so far, is available on the Veterinary Medicines Directorate's website (www.vmd.gov.uk). Some of this research was delayed in starting by practical problems arising from the FMD outbreak. The full results of this research are now not expected until 2006/07. These will all be peer-reviewed as a quality check before publication.

  The Veterinary Products Committee, the independent, expert advisory committee on the safety of veterinary medicines, has considered all of the results available to date and has concluded that none of these justify any additional regulatory action on the current authorisations for organophosphate sheep dips.

  Over Thirty Month Scheme
  Andrew George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent assessment she has made of the options for the lifting of the Over Thirty Month scheme with regard to(a) biodiversity, (b) prime meat market prices, (c) the viability of the beef market, (d) the viability of British meat and meat products and (e) British meat exports and (f) Government finances. [142275]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  Ministers are still considering the FSA advice on replacing the OTM Rule with testing. No direct assessment has been made on the impact of possible changes to the OTM Scheme on biodiversity although it is recognised that the marketing of slower maturing native breeds suited to environmental management would be facilitated by any changes to the Scheme.

  Defra has commissioned a study co-ordinated by the MLC (involving all sectors of the meat chain) to investigate the impact on the beef market of any changes to the OTM rule and OTMS exit. It is expected that the impact of a re-introduction of OTM beef would be reduced by import substitution and that the effect on prime beef prices would be minimal once the market adjusted. However the Government are investigating with the EU Commission the possibility of introducing an underpinning temporary market support measure to insure against any disruption to the market. British meat and meat products would be expected to benefit from the increased availability of competitively priced good quality lean beef, domestically produced.

  EFSA is currently considering whether export controls on UK beef from cattle born after August 1996 could be reduced.

  Packaging
  Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what initiatives her Department is promoting to minimise unnecessary packaging and use of wrapping paper during the Christmas period. [143514]

  Mr. Morley
  Minimisation of packaging needs tackling throughout the year not just at Christmas. The Advisory Committee on packaging has recently set up a new Task Force to look at the potential for further reductions in the amount of packaging used by businesses. The Committee will report its findings to Ministers early next year.

  We would encourage people to recycle wrapping paper where possible.

  Printer Cartridges
  Mrs. Spelman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on whether printer cartridges are included in the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive. [143954]

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 15 December 2003]: The WEEE Directive applies to whole products placed onto the market and not to individual components, sub-assemblies or consumables, for example, computer memory chips and graphics cards. The Government believes that printer cartridges fall into this cadre of items and are not separately covered. The eco-design provisions of the WEEE Directive would therefore not apply to them. However, these kinds of item would be included when retained within whole products, like a printer, when these become waste and are separately collected for recovery and recycling.

  Recycling (Christmas)
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the number of(a) Christmas cards and (b) Christmas trees that were recycled in 2003; what support she provides to local authorities with regard to the recycling of Christmas cards; and if she will make a statement. [144119]

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 15 December 2003]: The Department does not collect separate data on either of these two recyclates.

  Defra does support and take part in a Christmas Card Recycling Scheme run by the Woodland Trust that recycled 40 million Christmas cards (800 tonnes) in 2003. The charity Environ estimate that 750,000 Christmas trees were recycled during 2003 (approximately 12.5 per cent. of the total sold).

  Defra also provides a range of support for local authorities to help improve their recycling rates for all types of household waste.

  Set Aside
  Andrew George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the likely impact of the EC proposal to recommend that set aside rates be reduced. [143611]
  1030W
  Mr. Bradshaw
  The European Commission has proposed that the rate of compulsory arable set-aside be reduced from 10 per cent. to 5 per cent. for the 2004–05 EU marketing year. The proposal has been made in order to try to restore a more normal balance of supply in response to serious reductions in this year's cereals harvest as a result of prolonged hot weather and drought in Central and Southern Europe in the summer.

  The Commission estimates that the measure will increase the supply of cereals by around 7 million tonnes. It is not clear what the impact will be in the UK. There is normally around 400,000 hectares of land in compulsory set-aside each year, with a further and more variable area being set aside voluntarily. In theory, up to 200,000 hectares of additional land could be cropped in 2004 increasing UK cereal production by 1.4 million tonnes based on average yields. In practice, however, the additional output is likely to be significantly lower than this as the proposal has been made after many farmers have finalised their cropping plans for next season.

  Reducing the rate of compulsory set-aside may also have some impact on the environmental benefits which can be derived from uncultivated land, though it is difficult to assess this without knowing what land may be put back into cropping.

  Single Farm Payment Scheme
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will implement the Single Farm Payment Scheme; and if she will make a statement. [143562]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  We have already announced our intention to implement the new Single Payment Scheme in 2005, which is the earliest possible date provided for in the June CAP reform agreement. We are currently considering responses to a consultation exercise on how entitlements to payments under the scheme should be allocated.

  Snowfall
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what historical data(a) her Department and (b) other publicly-funded bodies collate on snowfall; and what the predicted future annual number of days when there is snowfall are for (i) London and (ii) Edinburgh in (A) 2010, (B) 2020, (C) 2030 and (D) 2050. [144120]

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 15 December 2003]: The Department does not collate historical data on snowfall. However, the Met Office, which is an agency of the Ministry of Defence, records daily snowfall frequency and amount at 80 stations in the UK. Most of these records go back to 1971.

  In April 2002, the Department published new "Climate Change Scenarios for the UK". These scenarios include information on total winter snowfall amounts, but not number of snowfall days. The scenarios show that snowfall in the London and Edinburgh areas could be reduced by between 55 per cent. and 90 per cent. by the 2080s (compared to the 1961–1990 baseline), depending on the degree of future climate change. Scaling these figures back to the years in question gives

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  the following estimates of the reduction in snowfall amount at both locations, depending on whether there is a low or high degree of climate change:

  Percentage reduction

  2010

  17–30

  2020

  22–38

  2030

  27–47

  2050

  37–65

  These figures represent general trends, not predictions of the amount of snowfall in specific years, which will be greatly influenced by natural year-to-year variability, particularly in the first few decades of the century. Further information is available in the full report in the Libraries of both Houses.

  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent assessment she has made of the predicted changes in the frequency of the number of days when there is snowfall in the United Kingdom under future scenarios of climate change; and what regional variations were identified in that assessment. [144121]

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 15 December 2003]: In April 2002, the Department published new "Climate Change Scenarios for the UK". The scenarios do not contain an analysis of the changes in the number of snowfall days, but show that climate change will cause the amount of snowfall to decline significantly throughout the UK in the future. By the 2080s, large areas of the UK are likely to experience quite long sequences of snowless winters. Coastal areas and the English lowlands are likely to show the largest percentage reductions (up to 90 per cent. or more by the 2080s compared to 1961–1990 baseline), while the Scottish Highlands and parts of Northern Ireland may experience smaller percentage reductions (50 per cent. or less).

  In addition, in July 2003 the Met Office published climate change scenarios for small islands within the British-Irish Council region. These include the Channel Islands, Isle of Man, Western Isles, Orkney Islands, and Shetland Isles.

  Both reports are in the Libraries of both Houses.

  Sustainable Development Summit
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what follow-up action has been taken since the Sustainable Development summit in Johannesburg; and if she will make a statement. [142041]

  Mr. Morley
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Portsmouth, South (Mr. Hancock) on 1 September 2003,Official Report, column 845W, which noted that the Government would be presenting an overview of progress against commitments made at the Johannesburg World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD). That progress report, which covers actions across Government, has now been published and is available at http://www.sustainable-development.gov.uk/eac-wssd/progress.htm

  Turkey Farms
  Andrew George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) whether any cases of the liver disease blackhead have been detected in commercial turkey farms in the UK this year; [143612]

  (2) what measures her Department has taken to protect commercial turkey farmers from the liver disease blackhead. [143665]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  [holding answer 11 December 2003]: Blackhead is not a notifiable disease so it is not possible to provide an accurate figure for the number of cases. Of the cases diagnosed by the Veterinary Laboratories Agency in 2003 most have been in back-yard turkey flocks of under 100 birds, with a very small number of turkey flocks of under 2,000 birds also affected. We are not aware of disease in any larger turkey flocks.

  Following the recent withdrawal of the only remaining authorised medication for the treatment of birds infected with Blackhead, the UK is pressing the EU Commission to keep the disease situation under review with a view to adopting remedial measures if the disease risk increases significantly.

  Good biosecurity is a key measure in the prevention of a number of poultry diseases including Blackhead. To reinforce this message, Defra has placed on its website guidance for poultry producers to minimise the risk of Blackhead. In addition VLA Regional Laboratories have circulated an update on blackhead including advice on control to veterinary practices.

  Waste Management
  Sue Doughty
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how she plans to reduce spending pressures on local government in respect of waste next year, as announced in the statement by the right hon. Member for Greenwich and Woolwich (Mr. Raynsford),Official Report, 19 November 2003, column 786. [143316]

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 10 December 2003]: We have announced that we are putting back the start date of the Landfill Allowance Trading Scheme to 2005. This is consistent with the views expressed by local authorities in the recent consultation on the implementation of the scheme. It will reduce spending pressures by around £10m overall.

  The Department is looking urgently at the options for meeting the remainder of its commitment to relieve spending pressures, and will be making an announcement shortly.

  Alistair Burt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what advice her Department gave his constituent, Mr. Ross Donovan, in relation to his company's compliance with Directive 2000/76/EC on the Incineration of Waste when he first contacted her Department; when this advice changed; and what advice her Department is currently able to give. [143854]

  Mr. Morley
  The Department's first contact with Mr. Donovan, (who is the hon. Member's constituent and not the Secretary of State's) and his company was on 19 September 2003. Mr. Donovan had previously
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  had discussions with the Environment Agency and attended a meeting at the Agency's Huntingdon office on 24 July 2003. During that meeting, Mr. Donovan was advised that there was a possibility that his plant would be subject to the Waste Incineration Directive and the Pollution Prevention and Control (England and Wales) Regulations 2000 (the PPC Regulations). Following the meeting, this advice was confirmed in a letter to Mr. Donovan of 13 August 2003. The letter also stated that the plant may fall within the regulatory remit of the appropriate local authority in England and Wales or the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA), depending on where the plant would be located.

  Prior to transposition of the Waste Incineration Directive at the end of 2002 it was difficult for the Environment Agency to be able to provide firm advice to every operator on whether they would be subject to it However, my Department consulted on draft Regulations and Directions during the summer of 2002. The transposition of the Waste Incineration Directive and the publication by my Department of draft "Guidance on the Directive 2000/76/EC on the Incineration of Waste" was publicised through articles in the trade press and at a ministerial press conference in January 2003.

  A group of my officials visited Mr. Donovan on 12 November 2003 to consider his case, at which time he was again advised that it was possible that his plant would be subject to the Waste Incineration Directive and the PPC Regulations. Following the visit and further consideration of Mr. Donovan's plant by my officials working with the Environment Agency, I will write to the hon. Member shortly with the outcome.

  Mrs. Spelman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures she is taking to ensure that the polluter pays principle applies to the(a) collection of and (b) management of municipal waste. [143281]

  Mr. Morley
  The Waste Framework Directive (75/442/EEC as amended by 91/156/EEC) sets out a range of measures on the management of waste including its collection and disposal. These measures include Article 8 which requires that "any holder of waste has it handled by a private or public waste collector"; and Article 15 which provides that "In accordance with the 'polluter pays' principle, the cost of disposing of waste must be borne by the holder who has it handled by a waste collector."

  The Government have put a range of measures in place under Part II of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, the Controlled Waste Regulations 1992 and the Waste Management Licensing Regulations 1994 to comply with the Directive's requirements. These measures include the arrangements for the collection and disposal of household waste by waste collection and disposal authorities. The cost of collection and disposal under these arrangements is met through taxation and charges. Most commercial and industrial waste is collected and disposed of by the private sector under arrangements which comply with the Directive. The cost of collection and disposal under these arrangement is met through charges.
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  Municipal waste includes household waste and any other wastes collected by a waste collection authority or its agents under Part II of the 1990 Act (Waste Strategy 2000 page 198 (Cm 4693–2)).

  Mrs. Spelman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which 10 local authorities had the(a) highest and (b) lowest recycling rates in the last year for which figures are available. [143282]

  Mr. Morley
  The percentage of household waste recycled and composted by the 10 highest and lowest performing local authorities, for which the most recent data available are 2001–02, is presented in the following table.

  Local authority

  Percentage of household waste recycled and composted in 2001–02

  Daventry District Council

  43.7

  Lichfield District Council

  32.8

  Eastleigh Borough Council

  29.5

  Forest Heath District Council

  29.2

  St. Edmundsbury Borough Council

  29.1

  Dorset County Council

  27.2

  Chiltern District Council

  26.8

  Melton Borough Council

  26.1

  Bath and North East Somerset Council

  24.9

  New Forest District Council

  23.6

  Trafford Metropolitan Borough Council

  2.2

  Liverpool City Council Metropolitan Borough Council

  2.1

  Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council

  2.0

  Bolsover District Council

  1.9

  North Cornwall District Council

  1.8

  Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council

  1.6

  Cannock Chase Council

  1.6

  Sunderland City Council

  1.3

  Hackney London Borough

  1.2

  London Corporation

  0.1

  1Municipal Waste Management Survey 2001–02.

  Mrs. Spelman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what high temperature incineration capacity she estimates the UK will require when provisions of the Landfill Directive relating to hazardous waste are implemented in the UK. [143283]

  Mr. Morley
  Current high temperature incineration capacity (HTI) in the UK is approximately 110,000 tonnes per annum. Work undertaken for the Hazardous Waste Forum suggests that the demand for HTI is likely to increase, but that the level of any increase is dependent on a number of factors, not least future arisings of hazardous waste. The Forum continues to keep these issues under review, in particular through the treatment and capacity task force.

  Mrs. Spelman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what additional(a) recycling, (b) composting, (c) energy recovery and (d) hazardous waste treatment capacity will be required in England to achieve compliance with the Landfill Directive in (a) 2009, (b) 2013 and (c) 2020. [143284]

  Mr. Morley
  Waste Strategy 2000 provided five estimates of waste management options over the period 2000 to 2020. A 'base case' was modelled so that the additional cost of meeting the landfill targets for biodegradable waste and the waste strategy goals could
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  be calculated. The other four models provided different mixes of recycling, composting and incineration and the additional capacity required for those facilities under each option.

  Cases 3 and 4 (increasing levels of recycling and composting with some incineration with energy recovery) were designed to meet the waste strategy targets, as well as the requirements of the Landfill Directive.

  The actual figures for additional capacity can be seen in annex C in Part Two of Waste Strategy 2000 (table C8 on page 194). A copy of the strategy is in the House of Common's Library and can also be accessed through the Defra website at: www.defra.gov.uk/environment/waste/strategy/cm4693/index.htm.

  Future hazardous waste treatment capacity required under the Landfill Directive depends in part on future arisings of hazardous waste. Currently some 5 million tonnes of hazardous waste is consigned each year in England and Wales. Analysis in support of the Hazardous Waste Forum shows that future arisings of hazardous waste will be affected, among other matters, by future levels of waste minimisation balanced against changes to the hazardous waste list. Nevertheless, the Landfill Directive requires all hazardous waste to be treated prior to landfill or to be dealt with in an alternative treatment option altogether, such as high temperature incineration or co-incineration. It is clear that new treatment plants for hazardous waste will be required, for example to solidify waste, and to enable hazardous waste to meet the landfill waste acceptance criteria under the Directive. The Hazardous Waste Forum is considering these issues and requirements in detail through its treatment and capacity task force.

  Mrs. Spelman:
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many tonnes of (a) glass, (b) paper, (c) wood, (d) plastic and (e) metal containers were recycled by community organisations in (i) 2000, (ii) 2001 and (iii) 2002; what the average cost per tonne was; and if she will make a statement on how their performance was audited. [143286]

  Mr. Morley
  As part of Defra's Municipal Waste Management Survey, local authorities are asked to submit any data on recycling carried out by community organisations in their area, that they are aware of. The responses for 2000–01 and 2001–02 are shown in the table. The data are not believed to be comprehensive.

  Voluntary/private collections

  Material recycled in thousand tonnes

  2000–01

  2001–02

  Paper and card

  24

  13

  Glass

  1

  1

  Compost

  1

  1

  Scrap metal and white goods

  0

  0

  Textiles

  4

  1

  Cans

  0

  0

  Plastics

  0

  0

  Co-mingled

  2

  4

  Other (inc. oils, batteries, aluminiumfoil, books and shoes)

  4

  14

  Total

  35

  34

  The Community Recycling Network, a national umbrella organisation for community and not-for-profit waste management groups claims that their
  1036W
  members account for approximately 7 per cent. of the total material collected from households for recycling in the UK.

  This Department does not collect the requested cost data nor does it audit the performance of community waste organisations.

  Mrs. Spelman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions her Department has had with representatives of the waste management sector on incorporating combined heat and power in new developments. [143287]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  The Department recognises that CHP has a part to play in effective waste management, as demonstrated in the recent changes to the criteria applied to waste PFI projects. These were in direct response to the views of the market and the waste management sector will be invited to contribute to a wider review of the criteria which is now in train.

  We also provide direct support to energy from waste projects through our Community Energy programme, delivering community heating mainly through the use of CHP. Meetings with the waste management sector have resulted in five energy from waste schemes receiving more than £2.5m or over 10 per cent. of the funding awarded.

  Mrs. Spelman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much public money has been spent on collecting and managing municipal waste in the United Kingdom in each year since 1997; and how much on average it cost to collect and manage one tonne of municipal waste in the UK in each year since 1997. [143291]

  Mr. Morley
  Annual net current expenditure by English waste authorities for providing the services of collection and disposal of municipal waste are taken from annual ODPM Local Authority Revenue Outturn Returns. Annual municipal waste arisings are taken from the Defra Municipal Waste Management Survey.

  The data are listed as follows are for the financial years 1997–98 to 2001–02 and are for English local authorities. An average net cost of managing one tonne of municipal waste has been estimated based on this data. Financial data exclude any capital charges.

  Financial year

  (a) Municipal waste arisings (thousand tones)

  (b) Net current expenditure (£000)

  (b/a) Cost to manage one tonne of municipal waste (£

  1997–98

  25,711

  1,198,880

  46.63

  1998–99

  26,337

  1,281,919

  48.67

  1999–2000

  27,480

  1,423,278

  51.79

  2000–01

  28,057

  1,521,338

  54.22

  2001–02

  28,823

  1,653,856

  57.38

  Alan Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in what circumstances solid polychlorinated biphenyls can be(a) landfilled and (b) incinerated. [143506]

  Mr. Morley
  Wastes contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls (RGBs) can only be landfilled where the authorisation allows it. Limit values apply to
  1037W
  all deposits of PCB contaminated waste and are given in Government guidance (Waste Management Paper No 6—"Polychlorinated Biphenyls").Additionally, implementation of the Landfill Directive will subject any solid PCB contaminated waste to the pre-treatment requirements and waste acceptance criteria.

  Similarly, PCBs can be incinerated in hazardous waste incinerators which have been authorised to burn such wastes. These incinerators are required to meet the stringent emission limits specified in the Hazardous Waste Incineration Directive (94/67/EC).

  Mrs. Spelman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the rate of landfill tax is in other member states of the European Union where such a tax is levied. [143290]

  Mr. Morley
  The Strategy Unit Report 'Waste not, Want not' published in November 2002 contained the following table:

  European Union state

  Tax rates (£/tonne)

  Austria

  18–54

  Belgium

  3–14

  Denmark

  28

  Finland

  9

  France

  4

  Germany

  None

  Greece

  None

  Ireland

  None

  Italy

  0.6–16

  Luxembourg

  None

  Netherlands

  8–40

  Portugal

  None

  Spain

  None

  Sweden

  17

  UK

  2–13

  Note:

  Figures are approximate due to rounding. Figures represent the latest years available and may not be consistent between countries.

  Average household water bill

  £

  1996–97

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  2001–02

  2002–03

  2003–04

  Water and sewerage companies

  Anglian

  128

  126

  124

  116

  107

  110

  113

  116

  Hartlepool

  88

  91

  96

  95

  —

  —

  –

  Dwr Cymru

  128

  135

  136

  134

  126

  123

  124

  122

  North West

  93

  99

  101

  103

  103

  107

  109

  118

  Northumbrian

  96

  98

  102

  100

  88

  88

  88

  90

  Essex and Suffolk

  116

  120

  127

  129

  107

  112

  111

  113

  Severn Trent

  88

  97

  105

  113

  106

  108

  108

  112

  South West

  127

  129

  125

  119

  109

  110

  115

  121

  Southern

  94

  101

  105

  111

  91

  91

  90

  91

  Thames

  88

  93

  99

  102

  95

  99

  104

  106

  Wessex

  114

  118

  124

  124

  107

  112

  113

  119

  Yorkshire

  104

  105

  108

  111

  100

  103

  104

  110

  York

  87

  89

  93

  96

  87

  90

  90

  94

  Water only companies

  Bournemouth and W. Hampshire

  94

  97

  103

  102

  99

  98

  101

  102

  Bristol

  100

  104

  108

  111

  101

  105

  106

  107

  Cambridge

  103

  106

  106

  98

  86

  87

  90

  94

  Cholderton

  126

  130

  151

  136

  130

  141

  153

  143

  Dee Valley

  –

  –

  –

  120

  107

  106

  104

  106

  Chester

  106

  108

  108

  –

  –

  –

  –

  –

  Wrexham

  130

  129

  129

  –

  –

  –

  –

  –

  Folkestone and Dover

  114

  118

  116

  117

  118

  125

  125

  135

  Mid Kent

  131

  135

  141

  146

  117

  123

  127

  128

  Portsmouth

  72

  72

  73

  74

  74

  75

  75

  76

  South East

  –

  –

  –

  –

  118

  114

  121

  126

  South East

  156

  155

  158

  159

  –

  –

  –

  –

  Mid Southern

  114

  115

  116

  120

  –

  –

  –

  –

  1038W
  Sources:

  OECD, ENDS and Austrian Federal Environment Agency, 2002

  Water Bills
  Mr. Edward Davey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the average household water bill was in(a) England and (b) each English region in each financial year since 1996–97. [142272]

  Mr. Morley
  Water bills and sewerage bills are set separately by each water and sewerage company and water company in England and Wales. The boundaries of these companies do not conform to the boundaries between England and Wales nor to the boundaries between English regions. It is therefore not possible to provide the information on exactly the basis sought.

  The average household water and sewerage bills in England and Wales in each financial year since 1996–97 are set out as follows.

  £

  Average household water bill

  Average household sewerage bill

  1996-–97

  101

  117

  1997–98

  106

  123

  1998–99

  112

  131

  1999–2000

  112

  134

  2000–01

  103

  116

  2001–02

  105

  119

  2002–03

  110

  121

  2003–04

  111

  125

  The following tables set out average water hills and average sewerage bills for each company in England and Wales for the same period.
  1039W

  Average household water bill

  £

  1996–97

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  2001–02

  2002–03

  2003–04

  South Staffs

  75

  78

  81

  85

  84

  86

  86

  89

  Sutton and East Surrey

  136

  135

  139

  134

  112

  120

  121

  126

  Tendring Hundred

  149

  150

  152

  151

  137

  142

  146

  153

  Three Valleys

  107

  112

  117

  124

  106

  111

  112

  116

  North Surrey

  108

  112

  123

  126

  109

  111

  103

  110

  Average household sewerage bill

  £

  1996–97

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  2001–02

  2002–03

  2003–04

  Anglian

  154

  158

  164

  156

  144

  151

  157

  163

  Dwr Cymru

  136

  146

  158

  166

  140

  147

  152

  155

  North West

  109

  122

  133

  143

  119

  122

  113

  116

  Northumbrian

  113

  118

  126

  141

  110

  112

  96

  101

  Severn Trent

  106

  112

  117

  115

  92

  95

  211

  221

  South West

  202

  213

  229

  237

  205

  203

  152

  159

  Southern

  131

  141

  152

  162

  148

  153

  93

  95

  Thames

  93

  98

  102

  104

  92

  95

  122

  127

  Wessex

  129

  135

  142

  144

  124

  133

  133

  142

  Yorkshire

  113

  115

  118

  123

  109

  112

  112

  117

  The above companies also provide sewerage services to water only companies.

HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION

  Give as You Earn Scheme
  John Barrett
  To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission how many and what percentage of House of Commons staff contribute to a charity through the Give as You Earn scheme; how much money is donated to charity per month by staff through the scheme; and what steps the Commission is taking to encourage greater participation in the scheme by staff. [143909]

  Sir Archy Kirkwood
  59 members of staff currently contribute to charity under the Give as You Earn scheme. This represents 3.6 per cent. of permanent staff on the payroll. The amount contributed in November was £1,467.13. The Board of Management encourages charitable giving, and details of how to contribute through GAYE are set out in the staff handbook. The last significant promotional activity was in 1999–2000 when the Charities Aid Foundation visited staff to encourage them to take up GAYE.

MINISTER FOR WOMEN

  Equal Pay
  John Barrett
  To ask the Minister for Women what action she has taken to support women to challenge pay discrimination in the workplace; and if she will make a statement. [142610]

  Ms Hewitt
  The Government is taking action to make it easier for women who have been discriminated against to take up equal pay cases with their employers. This includes the introduction of a questionnaire procedure that will help resolve matters in the workplace and measures to simplify and speed up equal pay tribunal 1040W
  procedures. The equal pay questionnaire came into effect on 6 April 2003 and enables individuals to request key information from their employers right at the start when they are deciding whether to bring a case. The frequent lack of transparency on pay has helped perpetuate the gender pay gap. The questionnaire will help individuals, often women, to establish whether they actually are being paid less than their comparators and, if so, why. Establishing the key facts quickly could encourage the issues to be settled without resort to tribunal, benefiting both employers and employees. We are looking at further ways to speed up and simplify complex equal value cases and will be consulting on proposals shortly. The Government also believes that carrying out an equal pay review should be good business practice for every employer and has developed a number of initiatives to help them, including funding the Equal Opportunities Commission to develop equal pay tool kits.

  John Barrett
  To ask the Minister for Women what discussions she has had with trade unions regarding the formulation of a development plan to tackle gender pay discrimination in the workplace. [142611]

  Ms Hewitt
  As a Government, we are committed to working in partnership with the trade union movement and others to tackle the barriers facing women in the workplace and reduce the gender pay gap. We provided additional funding of £151,867 (on top of an initial £145,000) to trade unions, for training representatives in equal pay issues in the workplace. The trade unions were fully consulted on the pay reviews of Civil Service Departments and supported the comprehensive guidance issued by the Cabinet Office. The Cabinet Office continues to have an open dialogue with the trades unions on progress across the Civil Service. We have a target that the Government will work with businesses and trade unions, the Equal Opportunities Commission and Opportunity Now towards ensuring that 35 per cent of large organisations have done pay reviews by 2006. We have provided the EOC with funds to take a sectoral approach to promoting equal pay reviews. We are also promoting pay reviews through the
  1041W
  Castle Awards, now incorporated in the 100 Best Companies To Work For, to recognise steps taken by employers of all sizes and in all sectors to promote equality of opportunity between men and women and to address the issues of pay inequality.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Business Investment
  Mr. Stephen O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry to what she attributes the percentage change in business investment during 2002.[143426]

  Ms Hewitt
  Business investment fell by 3.5 per cent. in 2002, following a combined 32 per cent. rise between 1997 and 2001. A number of investments planned for 2002 were deferred. The unexpected severity of the global economic slowdown in 2001 and added uncertainty in 2002 impacted on investment and business confidence across industrialised countries.

  Business investment is forecast to have grown by ¾ per cent. in 2003, with growth accelerating to be at least 3 per cent. in 2004 and 5½ per cent. in 2005.

  Call Centres
  Colin Burgon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many call centre jobs have been lost in the UK in the last six months. [143372]

  Ms Hewitt
  I refer to the answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Chorley (Mr. Hoyle) on 20 November,Official Report, column 1438W. The Government does not have statistics on the numbers of jobs outsourced abroad. Importantly, estimates such jobs take no account of the inflows of jobs created through the UK's success in international markets.

  Companies (Annual Earnings)
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) how many companies were required to restate their annual earnings in(a) 2002 and (b) 2003; [144183]

  (2) what her Department's policy is on companies with a trading presence in the UK who restate their earnings in the US. [144185]

  Jacqui Smith
  The Financial Reporting Review Panel (FRRP) considers whether the annual accounts of UK public companies and large private companies comply with the requirements of the Companies Act 1985. To date it has acted in response to complaints or other concerns and has always been able to resolve issues without the need to use its formal powers, which are to apply to the courts for an order requiring a company to restate its accounts.

  The FRRP would consider in the usual way any complaint made to it about a UK company which had restated its earnings in the US. The FRRP is also introducing a pro-active element into its work—that is it will select a number of accounts for review on the basis
  1042W
  of a risk assessment. It would be a matter for the FRRP to consider whether to look at the accounts of any UK company which restates its earnings in the US.

  Crown Estate
  Mr. Carmichael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how the Energy Bill will change the role of the Crown Estate with regard to(a) seabed control, (b) taxation of marine renewables and (c) planning control of marine renewables. [144898]

  Mr. Timms
  The Energy Bill when enacted will enable The Crown Estate to licence areas of the seabed in the Renewable Energy Zone for the purpose of exploring and exploiting the UK's wind, wave and tidal resources for the production of energy. The Renewable Energy Zone will be established around the UK, adjacent to the territorial sea, in accordance with the provisions of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

  Any financial consideration which The Crown Estate may charge for the use of the seabed is a matter for that organisation, in accordance with the Crown Estate Act 1961.

  Planning control of marine renewables is a matter for Government Departments.

  Departmental Staff
  Michael Fabricant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the levels of sick leave in her Department as reported in 'Analysis of Sickness Absence in the Civil Service 2002'.[143989]

  Ms Hewitt
  I welcome my Department's reduction in sick absence shown in the report. Reduction of sick absence continues to be a priority in the delivery of the DTI's Business Plan.

  Entrepreneurs
  Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many people(a) entered self-employment and (b) were considering going into business on the latest month for which figures are available, broken down by (i) region and (ii) local authority area. [143133]

  Nigel Griffiths
  The Office for National Statistics' Labour Force Survey estimates the stock of self-employed people in the UK, and in Summer 2003, there were 3.4 million self-employed people in the UK. Regional estimates are also available (see Table 1).

  New VAT registrations are the best guide to new business activity (start-ups) in the UK and are available for regions and local/unitary authorities are set out in Table 3 which I have placed in the Libraries of the House.

  In 2001, 12 per cent. of working age adults in England were considering going into business (or becoming self-employed). Data for the nine regions in England are shown in Table 2.
  1043W

  Table 1: Self-employed people in the UK and regions, summer 2003

  Region and country

  Total self-employed persons

  North East

  89,000

  North West

  321,000

  Yorkshire and the Humber

  228,000

  East Midlands

  224,000

  West Midlands

  244,000

  East

  361,000

  London

  535,000

  South East

  554,000

  South West

  343,000

  Wales

  171,000

  Scotland

  232,000

  Northern Ireland

  93,000

  United Kingdom total

  3,398,000

  Source:

  ONS Labour Force Survey, Summer 2003. Due to slight methodological differences between the way the national and regional LFS estimates have been interim adjusted for the 2001 Census, there may be slight differences between the UK total and the sum of the regional components

  Table 2: Would-be entrepreneurs by region, England, 2001

  Region

  Percentage of 16 to 64-year-olds

  East Midlands

  10

  Eastern

  9

  London

  15

  North East

  8

  North West

  11

  South East

  13

  South West

  11

  West Midlands

  12

  Yorkshire and the Humber

  10

  England

  12

  Source:

  SBS Household Survey of Entrepreneurship, 2001

  Environmental Liability Directive
  Brian Cotter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the impact that the proposed environmental liability directive will have on small businesses in the UK. [144208]

  Nigel Griffiths
  The proposed environmental liability Directive is still subject to the outcome of EU negotiations.

  The UK is working together with other Member States to ensure that the final version of the Directive does not stipulate compulsory financial security as this measure would be extremely costly and place a disproportionate burden on small businesses.

  European Legislation
  Dr. Iddon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what grant assistance is available to trade associations to help them meet the costs of consultation and representation associated with European legislation; and if she will make a statement. [144872]

  Jacqui Smith
  DTI values the important input that trade associations make to the development of robust policy in the UK and in Europe. Trade associations in sectors covered by DTI work closely with DTI sector units, which will, from time to time, co-sponsor joint projects.

  Flexible Working
  Sandra Gidley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment the Government have made of the demand for flexible working practices. [144513]

  Mr. Sutcliffe
  Evidence demonstrates that the demand for flexible working by employees is high.

  The Spring 2003 Labour Force Survey indicates that 22 per cent. of employees (5.5 million) presently work some form of flexible working arrangement. The preliminary findings of the 2003 DTI Work-Life Balance survey of employees shows that there is substantial demand for flexible working patterns amongst those who do not work in each of these ways; 49 per cent. wanting to work flexitime, 34 per cent. a compressed working week, 32 per cent. work term time only and 29 per cent. expressing a desire to regularly work from home. The full report is to be published early in 2004.

  This is supported by the findings of the CIPD/Lovells October 2003 research into the impact of the new flexible working law, which indicates that over a quarter (28 per cent.) of employers have seen an increase in the total number of requests for flexible working since the law was introduced in April 2003. The Government's Work-Life Balance Campaign continues to support demand by encouraging employers to follow best practice and providing flexible working opportunities across the workplace that meet the needs of the business.

  Sandra Gidley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what information she has collected on(a) the number of requests which have been received by businesses for flexible working and (b) the number of such requests which have been granted. [144514]

  Mr. Sutcliffe
  The DTI is collecting evidence from a number of sources to build up a clear picture of the demand for, and uptake of, flexible working:

  The second Work-Life Balance study of employers (fieldwork Dec 02-Apr 03) showed that:
  In the previous year, less than a fifth (17 per cent.) of employers had received a request, from an employee, to change their working pattern for a sustained period of time;
  Of those employees who made a request, over three-quarters (77 per cent.) said their request had been agreed.

  To provide a direct comparison over time, it is planned that the WLB survey will be repeated in 2005.

  A recent survey by the Chartered Institute of Personnel Development and Lovells (fieldwork Sept 2003) on the use of the new right to request flexible working in the first six months showed that:
  Over a quarter of employers (28 per cent.) have seen an increase in the total number of requests for flexible working since April 2003;
  Of those organisations that have received statutory requests since the right was introduced in April, nearly two thirds (62 per cent.) have approved at least half of all such requests, either in the form submitted by the employee or in modified form.

  The Department have also commissioned questions on flexible working which currently appear in the Office of National Statistics Omnibus survey. The results of these will be available in Spring 2004.
  1045W
  We continue to work with key intermediaries, such as Working Families and Maternity Alliance, who are collating data through member/supporter surveys.

  Industrial Tribunals
  Michael Fabricant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the total cost to UK businesses was of industrial tribunal cases concerned with(a) disability, (b) sex and (c) race discrimination in each of the last five years. [143831]

  Mr. Sutcliffe
  The Department does not hold statistics on the costs to employers of having an Employment Tribunal claim made against them under the main jurisdictions of disability, sex and race discrimination in each of the last five years.

  However, the estimated average cost per Employment Tribunal application to employers for all jurisdictions, including legal fees, management time and other staff time, is about £2,000. Not all applications registered will lead to a Tribunal hearing. The table below shows the number of claims each year by the main jurisdictions of disability, sex and race discrimination, each multiplied by £2,000 to give the estimated costs to employers, rounded to two significant figures.

  £ million

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  2001–02

  2002–03

  Disability discrimination

  2.9

  3.5

  4.2

  5.2

  5.4

  Sex discrimination

  12

  9.9

  34

  20

  16

  Race discrimination

  5.5

  6.5

  6.9

  6.4

  6.1

  These estimates will be on the low side since discrimination applications tend to be more complicated and hence require more staff time and higher legal fees than the average application.

  Iraq
  Mr. Bellingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on her assessment of the likely role of UK small businesses in rebuilding Iraq. [142845]

  Ms Hewitt
  Although most of the main reconstruction work in Iraq will be done by large contractors, there will be opportunities for small businesses in the supply chain, sub-contracting, and in the provision of equipment and specialist services. My Department is helping UK firms make the necessary contacts in Iraq through networking events in neighbouring countries and the provision of project information.

  MG Rover
  Mr. Bellingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much public assistance has been given to MG Rover since it was sold to the Phoenix venture capital group. [140519]

  Jacqui Smith
  MG Rover Group was sold in May 2000 to Techtronic (2000) Ltd. This company was later acquired by Phoenix Venture Holdings Ltd. Since May 2000, MG Rover has been offered public assistance of up to £9 million towards the cost of employee training and development. As of 1 December 2003, MG Rover 1046W
  had drawn down £3,512,211 which represents 39.7 per cent. of the total sum spent by the company under this programme.

  MG Rover has received one offer of grant for £62,500 under the Foresight Vehicle LINK programme, to fund collaborative research.

  Note:

  A consortium led by MG Rover has been successful in the Low Carbon Car Challenge, offered by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport. No funding has yet been given under this programme. The final amount that will be payable is the subject of some discussion between the company and officials from the Department for Transport.

  Miners' Compensation
  Jeff Ennis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many full and final settlements have been made to former miners suffering from(a) chronic bronchitis emphysema and (b) vibration white finger which total less than £2,143.[142194]

  Nigel Griffiths
  The number of claims settled by payment of less than 2,143 are:

  Number of claims settled by full and final payment of less than £2.143 as of 7 December 2003

  Respiratory disease

  40,538

  Vibration White Finger

  4,617

  Total

  45,155

  John Mann
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if her Department will examine the cases of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and vibration white finger claimants who entered into conditional fee agreements with solicitors prior to the April 2000 law change and have recently been charged success fees that reflect 25 per cent. of their awards; and what steps she is taking to ensure that solicitors do not double-charge by claiming success fees from both the defendant and the claimant. [143628]

  Nigel Griffiths
  Officials from the DTI met with officials from the Department for Constitutional Affairs and the Law Society on 11 December to discuss what action should be taken to address the concerns raised regarding agreements signed by claimants under the coal health compensation schemes. The Law Society have agreed to refer the matter to the next meeting of the their Compliance Board on 13 January. In the meantime I have written to all the solicitors and claims handlers who are processing claims under the health schemes asking them to re-pay any money taken from claimants' compensation on top of the costs paid by the DTI.

  John Mann
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps her Department is taking in relation to(a) solicitors who additionally charge their clients for undertaking their chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and vibration white finger claims and (b) the recovery of money paid by such claimants to their solicitors. [143807]

  Nigel Griffiths
  I believe that 100 per cent. of compensation should go to the claimants and I am writing all the solicitors and claims handlers who are
  1047W
  processing claims under the health schemes asking them to re-pay any money taken from claimants' compensation on top of the costs paid by the DTI.

  Miners Pensions
  John Mann
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what investments have been made using the Miners' Pension Fund surplus; and if she will make a statement. [143677]

  Mr. Timms
  Under the terms of the Government's Guarantee arrangements for the Mineworkers' Pension Scheme and the British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme, 50 per cent. of past investment surpluses were available for the Trustees to distribute to members as improved benefits. This has meant members now receive bonuses totalling around 30 per cent. on top of their guaranteed benefits.

  The remaining 50 per cent. went to the Guarantor's fund within the schemes and is payable to the consolidated Fund in instalments over 10 year periods.

  Ministerial Visits
  Keith Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to visit India. [144266]

  Ms Hewitt
  I have no plans to visit India in the near future. My hon. Friend the Minister of State for Trade, Investment and Foreign Affairs, is planning to visit India in the new year.

  National Environment Research Council
  Julie Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what criteria the Natural Environment Research Council uses to allocate funding to universities. [142998]

  Ms Hewitt
  NERC allocates research funding after assessment of individual project proposals received from institutions eligible for funding. Their three-stage review process consists of: an Initial Review by the Peer Review College; an External Review by independent peer reviewers; and a final review and grading by a Moderating Panel.

  At each stage, project proposals are assessed for Excellence; Fit to NERC Priorities; balance of Risk-Reward; and Cost Effectiveness. Details of the review process, assessment criteria and how they are applied to various categories of research proposals are set out on NERC's website at http://www.nerc.ac.uk/funding/preaward/criteria.shtml. Allocations are not made on a simple university basis.

  NERC determines the allocation of postgraduate studentships given to a department on the basis of NERC grant income and fellowships received by that department, provided the RAE rating of the department is not lower than 3b.

  MSc studentship allocations are reviewed every five years to assess the quality of the course, how it fits with NERC priorities and the overall balance within the NERC portfolio, and the relevance and/or benefits to end-users.
  1048W
  Fellowships are awarded after assessment against criteria which consider primarily the excellence of the science and the track record and potential of the individual. The assessors also consider the availability of required facilities at the proposed department of tenure.

  Network Reinvention Programme (North Yorkshire)
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the impact of the Network Reinvention Programme on the Post Office network in North Yorkshire. [144607]

  Mr. Timms
  The aim of the programme is a viable network of urban sub post offices, able to thrive commercially and to meet the needs of all parts of our communities.

  Post Office Ltd. (POL) is committed to ensuring that at the end of the programme nationally 95 per cent. of the urban population will still live within a mile of their nearest post office and the majority within half a mile.

  Oil-fired Appliances
  Jane Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many companies in(a) England, (b) Scotland, (c) Wales and (d) Northern Ireland which undertake (i) installation and (ii) maintenance of oil-fired domestic central heating systems are registered with the Oil Firing Technical Association.[143070]

  Ms Hewitt
  There are many companies within the UK which undertake installation and maintenance of oil-fired central heating systems registered with the Oil Firing Technical Association (OFTEC) and I would refer my colleague to OFTECs own website—http://www.oftcc.org/—which gives access to a comprehensive list of these companies.

  Personnel Administration
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when she will provide the information referred to in her answer to the hon. Member for Chesham and Amersham of 18 September,Official Report, column 880W, on personnel administration. [144159]

  Ms Hewitt
  [holding answer 16 December 2003]I have nothing to add to the letter which my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under Secretary for Small Business and Enterprise sent the hon. Member on 30 September.

  Post Offices
  Michael Fabricant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the proposed closure of the post office at 69–71 City Way, Rochester, Kent. [143561]

  Mr. Timms
  [holding answer 17 December 2003]Decisions on post office closures and relocations are an operational matter for Post Office Ltd. In accordance with the Code of Practice on Post Office Closures and Relocations—agreed between Post Office Ltd. and Postwatch, the consumer watchdog for postal services—the company enters into consultation on all proposed closures.
  1049W
  Postwatch are consulted on every post office closure proposal before a decision is made and there is every opportunity for those affected by a proposal, and the local MP, to make representations to the company or to Postwatch.

  Pre-Budget Report
  Mr. Stephen O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what measures are contained in the pre-Budget report to encourage investment in the(a) manufacturing and (b) service sector. [143424]

  Ms Hewitt
  The pre-Budget report contained a number of measures and announcements that will encourage investment across the manufacturing and service sectors:Doubling the amount of investment qualifying for the 40 per cent. plant and machinery first year allowances and a £400 million cash flow boost to smaller businesses over the next three years. Resulting from the increase in Company Law thresholds for small and medium-sized businesses in line with the new EU maxima;
  A new, clearer and more accessible R&D tax credit definition and extension of the scope of qualifying costs, to further promote the development of science and innovation;
  Reform of the way public sector engages with suppliers to provide greater clarity and certainty. Alan Wood of Siemens will be reviewing how we can improve the ability of UK firms to compete for public procurement contracts in the EU;
  Reforms to reduce the regulatory burden on enterprise;
  An extension of Employer Training Pilots for a third year to cover over a third of England;
  Measures to support fast growing innovative firms by reducing barriers to raising finance for small business, including a pathfinder round of Enterprise Capital Funds and proposed enhancements to Venture Capital Trusts and the Enterprise Investment Scheme;
  Launching an independent review of the Small Firms Loan Guarantee Scheme, to ensure its effectiveness;
  Measures to support regional growth, including details of the Local Authority Business Growth Incentives scheme, which will boost the role of local authorities in business growth, and, in Enterprise Areas, a Business Premises Renovation Allowance;
  Measures to promote a step change in the UK's enterprise culture, including supporting a national campaign by Enterprise Insight;
  Improvements to the VAT flat-rate scheme, including new lower rates, to ensure more businesses can benefit fully from compliance savings.

  Mr. Stephen O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what measures are contained in the pre-Budget report to encourage private sector investment. [143437]

  Ms Hewitt
  [holding answer 11 December 2003]The pre-Budget report contained a number of measures that will encourage private sector investment including:Reforms to reduce the regulatory burden on enterprise;
  Measures to overcome barriers to raising finance for small business, including a pathfinder round of Enterprise Capital Funds and proposed enhancements to Venture Capital Trusts and the Enterprise Investment Scheme;
  A new, clearer and more accessible R&D tax credit definition and extension of the scope of qualifying costs, to further promote the development of science and innovation;
  An extension of Employer Training Pilots for a third year to cover over a third of England.
  1050W
  In addition pre-Budget report announced:
  Launching an independent review of the Small Firms Loan Guarantee, to ensure its effectiveness;
  Consulting on the most appropriate structure for a tax transparent property investment trust, as recommended in the interim report of the Barker Review.

  Regional Development Agencies
  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what funding allocations have been made by each of the regional development agencies for the promotion of(a) tourism and (b) the arts in (i) 2003–04 and (ii) 2004–05; and if she will make a statement. [144671]

  Jacqui Smith
  I am advised that the following sums have been allocated by England's Regional Development Agencies from their single programme budgets to the promotion of tourism and the arts in the specified years. However, the figures should be treated as estimates because there is no generally accepted definition of the arts and because they will not include projects funded by the RDAs, such as regeneration activity, where tourism or arts are fundamental to the project but are not the main consideration. Furthermore, as the RDAs do not have a specific responsibility to promote the arts, some RDAs do not record spend against a dedicated budget heading. Proposals for RDA funding to promote tourism and the arts are considered against the priorities set out in the region's Regional Economic Strategy.

  Estimate of funds allocated to the promotion of tourism (£ million)

  2003–04

  2004–05

  AWM

  5.80

  6.33

  EEDA

  2.50

  3.29

  EMDA

  11.55

  12.43

  LDA

  219.44

  320.65

  NWDA

  2.00

  2.00

  ONE

  8.42

  13.17

  SEEDA

  1.20

  1.20

  SWRDA

  14.00

  14.00

  YF

  4.02

  1.32

  1EMDA spend on the promotion of tourism and the arts is recorded against a single budget heading.

  2LDA Single Programme and £15 million allocated to London's Tourism Recovery Plan and £1.85 million of DCMS grant from the GLA.

  3LDA Single Programme plus £1.85 million of DCMS grant from the GLA.

  Estimate of funds allocated to the promotion of the arts (£ million)

  2003–04

  2004–05

  AWM

  0.73

  0.54

  EEDA

  1.40

  0.82

  EMDA

  Not available1

  Not available1

  LDA

  10.20

  210.00

  NWDA

  Not available3

  Not available3

  ONE

  3.89

  4.59

  SEEDA

  410.00

  Not yet available

  SWRDA

  2.60

  3.00

  YF

  5 1. 19

  5 1. 04

  1EMDA spend on the promotion of tourism and the arts is recorded as a single budget heading.

  2Provisional figure from the Mayor's budget proposal.
  1051W
  3NWDA does not have a specific budget for the promotion of the arts.

  4SEEDA does not have a specific budget for the promotion of the arts and the figure covers support to the whole of the cultural sector.

  5 In line with the principles of the Single Pot, YF does not have specific budgets for the promotion of tourism and the arts. The figures provided relate to some of the notable projects supported.

  Second Charge Life Mortgages
  Mr. Gardiner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what discussions she has had with consumer groups about whether second charge life mortgages should continue to be regulated via the Consumer Credit Act 1974; [144337]

  (2) what plans she has to regulate the sale of second charge life mortgages over £25,000. [144338]

  Mr. Sutcliffe
  The Department have had no discussions with consumer groups about whether second charge life mortgages should continue to be regulated via the Consumer Credit Act 1974.

  Number of VAT registrations per 10,000 resident adults1

  1997

  1998

  1999

  2000

  2001

  2002

  England

  43

  43

  41

  42

  39

  39

  London

  68

  71

  68

  67

  59

  57

  Barking and Dagenham

  25

  25

  30

  31

  29

  26

  Barnet

  94

  91

  76

  76

  60

  59

  Bexley

  39

  35

  34

  35

  36

  31

  Brent

  61

  61

  59

  59

  52

  47

  Bromley

  45

  48

  39

  41

  41

  40

  Camden

  159

  158

  150

  142

  112

  110

  City of London

  2,212

  2,228

  2,200

  2,345

  1,653

  1,428

  Croydon

  41

  42

  39

  39

  37

  38

  Ealing

  56

  56

  52

  53

  49

  48

  Enfield

  40

  42

  40

  42

  37

  39

  Greenwich

  35

  35

  33

  33

  30

  29

  Hackney

  72

  83

  78

  81

  65

  63

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  77

  96

  84

  94

  85

  75

  Haringey

  57

  59

  59

  58

  51

  46

  Harrow

  58

  64

  55

  57

  54

  55

  Havering

  40

  41

  36

  36

  36

  34

  Hillingdon

  48

  49

  44

  46

  39

  43

  Hounslow

  50

  52

  50

  49

  51

  47

  Islington

  118

  126

  109

  97

  84

  82

  Kensington and Chelsea

  98

  102

  106

  105

  74

  78

  Kingston upon Thames

  60

  63

  55

  53

  48

  46

  Lambeth

  43

  45

  44

  43

  40

  42

  Lewisham

  34

  36

  34

  33

  32

  28

  Merton

  52

  56

  50

  52

  44

  39

  Newham

  33

  37

  35

  34

  31

  29

  Redbridge

  45

  50

  46

  46

  40

  38

  Richmond upon Thames

  72

  75

  70

  72

  65

  71

  Southwark

  57

  59

  55

  59

  55

  48

  Sutton

  43

  44

  39

  36

  36

  36

  Tower Hamlets

  73

  79

  78

  75

  65

  -62

  Waltham Forest

  39

  42

  41

  39

  36

  37

  Wandsworth

  57

  60

  61

  56

  53

  52

  Westminster

  329

  364

  390

  360

  304

  288

  1Mid-year resident adult (16 and over) population estimates.

  Note:

  For further information on the VAT statistics please see www.sbs.gov.uk/statistics/vatstats.php

  Source:

  Business Start-ups and Closures: VAT Registrations and De-registrations 1994–2002 from the Small Business Service; population data from The Office for National Statistics.
  1052W
  However, my Department have had a number of discussions with key stakeholders—business, consumer groups and enforcement agencies, regarding the removal of the £25,000 financial limit for consumer borrowing. This will ensure that in the case of second charge mortgages, all consumer borrowing will be captured by the Consumer Credit Act.

  Small Businesses
  Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the start up rate was for small businesses in(a) each London borough, (b) London and (c) England in each year since 1997. [144172]

  Nigel Griffiths
  [holding answer 15 December 2003]Value added tax (VAT) registrations and de-registrations are the best official guide to the pattern of start-ups and closures. These cover businesses of all sizes.

  The rates of businesses registering for VAT in each calendar year from 1997 to 2002 in each London borough, London, and England, are set out as follows.

  However, changes since 1997 have given the UK the highest VAT threshold in the EU and removed up to 700,000 businesses from the requirement to register for VAT.

  The Accident Group
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will appoint independent investigators to examine fees charged by receivers at the Accident Group. [144187]
  1054W
  Mr. Sutcliffe
  The Accident Group is in administration. The Secretary of State has no power to intervene in the fees charged by the administrators, which have been determined in this case by the creditors' committee.

  HOME DEPARTMENT
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many drug arrests have been made in the Hampshire police force area in each year since 2000–01. [144500]

  Ms Blears
  Available data on the number of persons arrested for drug offences within the Hampshire police force area are given in the table.

  Number of persons arrested for drug offences in Hampshire police force area, 2000–01 to 2002–03

  Arrests

  2000–01

  3,059

  2001–02

  3,121

  2002–03

  3,089

  Anti-Social Behaviour Orders
  Chris Ruane
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many refusals to grant Anti-Social Behaviour Orders there have been in each magistrate area, listed in descending order of number of refusals. [144831]

  Ms Blears
  A total of 35 notifications have been received by the Home Office, up to 30 June 2003 (latest available), of applications for Anti-Social Behaviour Orders (ASBOs) which have been refused. This represents a total of 3 per cent. of the total number of applications made to magistrates acting in their civil capacity.

  Information is given in the table, by Magistrates Courts Committee (MCC) area.

  In descending order, the number of notifications as reported to the Home Office, of applications for Anti-Social Behaviour Orders (ASBOs) which have been refused, from 1 April 1999 to 30 June 2003—England and Wales

  Magistrates Courts Committee (MCC) area

  Total number refused

  GLMCA/Metropolitan Police (3)

  7

  Merseyside

  5

  Greater Manchester

  4

  Kent

  4

  Wiltshire

  4

  Hampshire

  3

  Cleveland

  1

  Cumbria

  1

  Norfolk

  1

  Suffolk

  1

  Sussex

  1

  Thames Valley

  1

  West Midlands

  1

  West Yorkshire

  1

  England

  35

  Wales

  0

  Total England and Wales

  35

  Community Support Officers
  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Community Support Officers there were on the latest available date; and if he will provide a breakdown of their location by(a) police force area and (b) local authority area. [144582]

  Ms Blears
  There were 2,861 Community Support Officers (CSOs) in 38 police forces on 1 December 2003. The table provides a breakdown by police force area. Information on deployment of CSOs by local authority area is not held centrally. The deployment of CSOs within a police force area is a matter for the chief officer of the force concerned.
  1056W

  Number of CSOs recruited by police forces as of 1 December 2003

  Force

  Community Support Officers

  Avon and Somerset

  46

  Bedfordshire

  8

  Cambridgeshire

  59

  Cheshire

  30

  Cleveland

  80

  Devon and Cornwall

  55

  Dorset

  7

  Durham

  27

  Dyfed-Powys

  5

  Essex

  77

  Gloucestershire

  50

  Greater Manchester

  160

  Gwent

  50

  Hertfordshire

  30

  Kent

  62

  Lancashire

  103

  Leicestershire

  44

  Lincolnshire

  44

  Merseyside

  64

  Metropolitan Police

  1,044

  Norfolk

  34

  Northamptonshire

  12

  North Wales

  7

  North Yorkshire

  37

  Northumbria

  40

  Nottinghamshire

  43

  South Wales

  40

  South Yorkshire

  42

  Staffordshire

  10

  Suffolk

  12

  Surrey

  64

  Sussex

  72

  Thames Valley

  6

  Warwickshire

  28

  West Mercia

  10

  West Midlands

  59

  West Yorkshire

  96

  Wiltshire

  24

  Total

  2,681

  Correspondence
  Sir Paul Beresford
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will write to the hon. Member for Mole Valley with a substantive answer to his question, reference 138047. [142036]

  Paul Goggins
  I wrote to the hon. Member for Mole Valley (Sir Paul Beresford) on 11 December.

  Drug Action Team (Portsmouth)
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been in drug rehabilitation schemes in the area covered by the Portsmouth Drug Action Team, in each year since 2001–02. [144499]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  I have been asked to reply.

  The information requested is not collected centrally. The most recent statistics from the National Drug Treatment Monitoring System estimated that there were 140,900 drug misuses in treatment during 2002–03, an increase of 10 per cent. on the previous year of 2001–02.

  Miss Eulisa De Freitas
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will meet the hon. Member for Totnes to discuss the application for the renewal of the United Kingdom passport of Miss Eulisa De Freitas. [142868]

  Beverley Hughes
  [holding answer 11 December 2003]I wrote to the hon. Member on 26 November 2003 and will place a copy of my letter in the Library. I hope he will agree that a meeting would serve no useful purpose as there is nothing more I can add to that letter which sets out fully the issues in this case and the reasons why I have no power to issue a UK passport for Miss Freitas.

  Special Constables
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many special constables have been in post, in each half year, since September 2001. [144498]

  Ms Blears
  Home Office figures on police strength moved to an annual cycle from March 2002 and are available in the House Library, as are previous publications. The number of Special Constables in post in England and Wales for each half year available since September 2001 are set out as follows:

  Number

  September 2001

  12,068

  March 2002

  11,598

  March 2003

  11,037

  We are working with stakeholders to increase the size and effectiveness of the Special Constabulary. In particular, we are rolling out Home Office/Association of Chief Police Officers 'Good Practice Guidance'; we are also holding a 2nd National Specials Weekend on 28–29 February 2004 to help raise the profile of Specials and the invaluable work they do; and we have recently announced grants of up to £70,000 to assist forces to boost their capacity to recruit and manage Specials effectively.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

  Children's Centres
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many children's centres there are; what the locations are of(a) existing and (b) planned children's centres; and how many of each are in deprived areas. [144707]

  Margaret Hodge
  There are now 61 children's centres in England, all of which are based in disadvantaged areas (see following table for details). We are currently considering proposals from local authorities for the wider roll out of this programme, and will announce locations from early 2004 as new centres are designated. All children's centres will be based in the 20 per cent. most disadvantaged wards in England, or in pockets of disadvantage outside of these wards.

  Early designated children's centres as at December 2003

  Local authority

  Children's centre

  Bath and NE Somerset

  First Step Nursery

  Bedfordshire

  The Lawns Early Excellence Centre

  Blackburn with Darwen

  Sudell and Central Darwen Sure Start

  Blackpool

  Sure Start Grange Park

  Blackpool

  Sure Start Mereside and Clifton

  Bolton

  Harvey Early Excellence Centre

  Bristol

  Hartcliffe Early Excellence Centre

  Bristol

  Redcliffe Early Excellence Centre

  Camden

  Thomas Coram Early Excellence Centre

  Cornwall

  Sure Start Lescudjack Centre

  Coventry

  Sure Start Coventry South East

  Doncaster

  Denaby Main and Coinsborough Sure Start

  Dudley

  Sure Start Brierley Hill

  Durham

  Sure Start Peterlee

  Ealing

  South Acton Early Excellence Centre

  Ealing

  Grove House Nursery School

  Gateshead

  Sure Start Blaydon Winlaton

  Greenwich

  Robert Owen Early Years Centre

  Hackney

  Mapledene Early Years Centre

  Hampshire

  Sure Start Warren Park

  Hertfordshire

  Birchwood Nursery School

  Hertfordshire

  Oughton School

  Hertfordshire

  St. Alban's Children Centre

  Hertfordshire

  Westfield School

  Hillingdon

  Hayes Neighbourhood Nursery and Early Years Centre

  Islington

  Fortune Park Early Years Centre

  Islington

  New River Green Early Excellence Centre

  Knowsley

  Overdale Educare Centre

  Lambeth

  Ethelred Nursery School

  Lancashire

  Walton Lane Nursery School

  Leeds

  East Leeds Children Centre

  Leeds

  Parklands Children Centre

  Leeds

  Seacroft Children's Centre

  Liverpool

  Everton Children and Family Centre

  Manchester

  Benchill Children's Centre

  Manchester

  Clayton Children's Centre

  Manchester

  Hattersley Sure Start

  Manchester

  Martenscroft Early Excellence Centre

  Manchester

  Lightbowne Children's Centre

  Manchester

  Old Moat Children's Centre

  Manchester

  Rusholme Children's Centre

  North East Lincolnshire

  Nunsthorpe and Bradley Early Excellence Centre

  Northamptonshire

  Pen Green Early Excellence Centre

  Norfolk

  Sure Start Thorpe Hamlet

  Northumberland

  Sure Start Bedlington and Scotland Gate

  North Tyneside

  Howdon Children's Centre

  North Tyneside

  Sure Start Shiremoor and Killingworth

  Nottingham City

  Sure Start North West

  Oxfordshire

  ACE Centre EEC

  Oxfordshire

  Sure Start Rose Hill Littlemore

  Rotherham

  Aughton Early Years Centre

  Rotherham

  Rawmarsh Children's Centre

  Staffordshire

  Cannock Early Years and Sure Start Centre

  Southwark

  Bishops Early Years Centre

  Southwark

  The Arc Neighbourhood Nursery

  1059W

  Early designated children's centres as at December 2003

  Local authority

  Children's centre

  Sunderland

  Sure Start North Washington

  Shropshire

  Oswestry Children's Centre

  Telford and Wrekin

  Newdale Children's Centre

  Tower Hamlets

  Bromley by Bow Centre

  Thurrock

  Sure Start Tilbury Flagship Centre

  Worcestershire

  The W.A.N.D.S Project

  Children's Commissioner
  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the(a) role and (b) powers of the proposed Children's Commissioner will be. [142151]

  Margaret Hodge
  The Children's Commissioner as proposed in the Green Paper will be an independent children's champion who will be a voice for children and young people, especially the disadvantaged and vulnerable. The Commissioner will play a crucial role in raising the profile of the issues that affect children, working with a wide range of bodies, such as local and national government, service providers, business, media and the voluntary sector, to ensure that children and young people are involved in the policy making process.

  The Green Paper proposes that the Commissioner should work at a strategic level and would not investigate individual cases—except where they have wider implications for all children as directed by the Secretary of State. Nor will the Commissioner have a complaints or specific advocacy function—this will remain the responsibility of others. The Commissioner would work with the relevant Ombudsmen and statutory bodies to promote good practice and ensure that complaints procedures work and are quick and easy for children to access and follow.

  The Commissioner would have a duty to report annually to Parliament on progress against the key outcomes set out in 'Every Child Matters', reflecting what children and young people have been saying.

  Further details on the role and powers of the Commissioner are being developed in the light of the consultation which ended on 1 December, and legislation will be introduced to Parliament at the earliest opportunity.

  Higher and Further Education
  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will list the(a) higher education and (b) further education courses for which fee costs are paid by public sector employers. [144281]

  Alan Johnson
  For higher education courses, the Department for Education and Skills pays the fee costs of students attending post graduate initial teacher training courses. Information for other Departments and public sector bodies are not held centrally.

  For further education courses, we expect all adults, or their employers, in further education to contribute towards the cost of their learning. Those on low incomes or on basic skills courses do not pay tuition fees. There is no general provision of learning or special fee arrangements specifically for public sector employers. Individual colleges or other post-16 providers may
  1060W
  have locally organised arrangements with individual employers. No information is held centrally about such arrangements.

  Higher Education
  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what expenditure his Department proposes to allocate to(a) advertising campaigns and (b) publicity campaigns relating to higher education in each year from 2002–03 to the end of the current expenditure plan. [143277]

  Alan Johnson
  [holding answer 10 December 2003]The Department has run a number of campaigns in relation to higher education. These include:The 'Aimhigher' campaign, which has been running for three years, aims to raise the aspirations of young people and their parents by promoting the benefits of higher education;
  A campaign to raise awareness of foundation degrees among employers and potential students;
  An information campaign, run annually, aimed at potential higher education students and their parents informing them of the financial support available and how to apply for it;
  Following the publication of the Higher Education White Paper in January 2003, the Department ran a campaign informing potential and existing higher education students and their parents that changes were being proposed and signposting them to sources of further information.

  In 2002–03 the Department spent £8 million on higher education publicity campaigns of which £3.2 million was spent on advertising. In 2003–04 we expect to spend £13.8 million of which £6.08 million would be spent on advertising. Plans and budgets for the Department's communications activity for 2004–05, including campaigns relating to higher education, have not yet been developed so it is not possible to give the information requested.

  All costs exclude VAT.

  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what advertising campaigns his Department is introducing on the proposed changes to higher education funding; and what the level of funding allocated to each campaign is. [142651]

  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much has been spent in 2003 on advertising campaigns regarding student tuition fees; and what media have been used. [144146]

  Alan Johnson
  The Department regularly runs advertising campaigns to explain to potential students and their parents what financial support is available to those undertaking higher education courses. The current 2003 campaign, (for those applying for September 2004 and which runs to the end of February 2004) is closely linked to the Government's wider Aimhigher campaign, designed to encourage young people from non-traditional backgrounds to apply for university. The total cost of advertising is £682,000 which covers radio and poster advertising, and paid editorials.
  1061W
  In addition, following the publication of the Higher Education White Paper in January 2003, the Department ran a further information campaign to explain what was being proposed and to signpost further information. The total cost of advertising was £605,000. All costs are exclusive of VAT.

  Mental Health
  Mr. Gardiner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many referrals there have been to the Child and Family Mental Health Services of families with children up to the age of five years in England and Wales in each year since 1997; and who initiated the referrals. [144135]

  Dr. Ladyman
  I have been asked to reply.

  Information is not available in the form requested. The following table shows the number of referrals to child and adolescent psychiatry in England from general practitioners and others.

  Number of adolescent referrals to child and psychiatry: England

  Referral type

  GP

  Other

  1997–98

  41,834

  28,007

  1998–99

  37,356

  27,965

  1999–2000

  36,263

  26,892

  2000–01

  34,231

  24,004

  2001–02

  31,506

  24,875

  2002–03

  26,346

  20,228

  Note:

  Others includes referals from A&E, consultants in other specialities etc.

  Source:

  Department of Health form QM08.

  Pre-school Sector
  Mr. Swire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) what funds he will make available to the boards of pre-schools to meet possible staff redundancies;[142509]

  (2) what additional financial resources he will provide to the pre-school sector to enable staff better to comply with Ofsted inspections;[142506]

  (3) what plans his Department has fully to fund (a) pre-schools and (b) the Appletree pre-school in Sidmouth.[142510]

  Margaret Hodge
  Funding for pre-school settings is rightly a matter for local determination in the light of local needs and circumstances. From April 2003, we have increased local flexibility and autonomy by consolidating the resources to enable local authorities to meet their statutory responsibilities to provide free nursery education for three and four year olds through the under-fives sub-block of their Education Formula Spending Share (EFSS)—the main source of funding for education. In the current financial year, Devon's overall 1062W
  under fives sub-block is worth nearly £30 million. We calculate that more than £6 million of additional ring-Fenced funding is available to providers in Devon-through a variety of Sure Start funding streams administered by the local authority.

  Royal National Institute of the Blind
  Mr. Collins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the minimum level of funding was for trainees on the residential training for disabled adults course at the Royal National Institute of the Blind's Loughborough College in each year since 1995.[142960]

  Maria Eagle
  I have been asked to reply.

  The Residential Training Unit contracts with 14 national training providers, including Royal National Institute for the Blind's (RNIB) Loughborough College, to deliver specialist residential training for people with disabilities who are unable to train in their home area because local providers cannot offer the specialist help they need.

  Each provider is contracted with separately, and fees vary for each provider. Each trainee is funded separately depending on their own unique set of circumstances. Providers are paid a one-off fee for each trainee that starts a course; these start at £1,000 per trainee, rising to £2,000 when the provider passes a pre-set threshold. Weekly fees are also paid for each trainee.

  Additionally, providers are paid outcome payments; these are on a sliding scale ranging from £4,000 for a job outcome within 40 weeks of starting training to £1,000 for a job outcome after 12 months of finishing a training programme. Additional fees are also payable for specific support such as child care, tools, equipment, interpreters, readers, travel and special support for those with mental health problems.

  The standard weekly fees paid for trainees at RNIB's Loughborough College are in the table.

  >Weekly fees for trainees at RNIB's Loughborough College

  £

  Year

  Residential fee

  Day fee

  1995–96

  391

  315

  1996–97

  391/362

  315

  1997–98

  362

  315

  1998–99

  338

  299

  1999–00

  345

  299

  2000–01

  380

  299

  2001–02

  392

  300

  2002–03

  404

  300

  2003–04

  414

  308

  Note: The fees changed in 1996/97 due to a renegotiation of the contract.

  Source:

  Residential Training Unit

  Public Services (Ethnicity)
  Ms Buck
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment he has made of the effect of a person's ethnicity on their access to public services within the responsibilities of his Department. [143572]
  1063W
  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The Department's Race Equality Scheme, first published in 2002 and revised in August 2003, incorporates our action plan for equality, which assesses the impact of all the Department's policies on ethnic minorities. The Race Equality Scheme can be found on our internet site and is available in hard copy.

  Standard Attainment Tests
  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when he will publish the findings of the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority investigation into the standard attainment tests at age seven, 11 and 14. [141797]

  Mr. Miliband
  The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority published a report yesterday entitled "Comparability of National Tests overtime: Key Stage Test Standards between 1996 and 2001". A copy of the report is available on the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority website at: www.qca.org.uk

  Sure Start
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make a statement on Sure Start funding mechanisms. [144715]

  Margaret Hodge
  Grants are allocated to local authorities to support Sure Start initiatives. The Sure Start Unit is continually simplifying funding arrangements. Six separate funding streams for early years and child care have already been brought together in one simplified grant for 2003–04 and the number of ring-fenced funds has been halved. Strategic Guidance issued to local authorities in July 2003 has confirmed that they will have greater flexibility in setting local priorities and use of funding. A new performance management system with a set of streamlined targets will be introduced from April 2004.

  Funding for Sure Start local programmes is paid to the organisation nominated by the local partnership as the 'accountable body'. Annual revenue funding is approved by the Sure Start Unit, based on the programme's delivery plan. Capital funding is approved by the Sure Start Unit from submission of capital project plans. Payments for both capital and revenue funding are made on submission of quarterly funding claims.

  Sustainable Development
  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make a statement on how the national curriculum promotes awareness of sustainable development. [144710]

  Mr. Miliband
  Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) is a statutory part of the programmes of study for Science, Geography, Design and Technology and Citizenship within the National Curriculum. The Department and the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) also encourage schools to consider sustainable development issues within the teaching of all subjects. Since 2001, the Department has funded QCA to provide on-line guidance for teachers.

  Top-up Fees
  Mr. David Cameron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how much money has been spent in the last six months on advertisements to promote and explain top-up fees; how many advertisements have been broadcast; and what the total planned spending is on this campaign. (142642)

  Alan Johnson
  [pursuant to his reply, 9 December 2003, c. 359–60W]Advertising about the student finance package will in fact cost a total of £682,000 (excluding VAT).

  The Department has not spent any money on advertisements to promote top-up fees. We are, however, running advertising to inform those considering applying now for a higher education course in September 2004 about the student support package available to them and how to apply.

  Tuition Fees
  Michael Fabricant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much has been budgeted for the advertising campaign on university tuition fees; which media are being used; and when the campaign will finish.[144033]

  Alan Johnson
  The Department has no budget for an advertising campaign on proposed university tuition fees.

  The Department regularly runs advertising campaigns to explain to potential students and their parents what financial support is available to those undertaking higher education courses. The current 2003 campaign, (for those applying for September 2004 and which runs to the end of February 2004) is closely linked to the Government's wider Aimhigher campaign, designed to encourage young people from non traditional backgrounds to apply for university. The total cost of advertising is £682,000 which covers radio and poster advertising, and paid editorials.

  In addition, following the publication of the Higher Education White Paper in January 2003, the Department ran a further information campaign to explain what was being proposed and to signpost further information. The total cost of advertising was 605,000. All costs are exclusive of VAT.

  University Bursaries
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate he has made of the proportion of the proposed top-up fee income which will be required to be applied for in bursaries. [144852]

  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate he has made of the cost to universities of administering the proposed bursaries; and if he will make a statement. [144711]

  Alan Johnson
  We are considering and discussing the contents of access agreements and the duties of the Office for Fair Access, and will make a statement in due course.

DEFENCE

  Armed Forces (Christmas Post)
  Lady Hermon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what measures have been put in place by his Department to cope with the increased demand on postal services for troops serving in the Gulf this Christmas; and if he will make a statement on the effectiveness of the current arrangements for the sending of parcels to troops serving in the Gulf over the Christmas period. [143819]

  Mr. Ingram
  A full airmail service for letters and packets up to 2 kg is in place, and no charge is made for these items addressed to named personnel in the Gulf. In anticipation of increased volumes of mail for personnel in the Gulf over the Christmas period, arrangements have been made for appropriate space to be allocated on RAF flights to the region. The current arrangements are very effective, and a high quality of service is being achieved.

  Armed Forces Recruitment
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what measures are being taken to increase the numbers joining the armed forces; and what measures he is taking to increase recruitment into the armed forces from Commonwealth countries. [144797]

  Mr. Caplin
  All three Services undertake numerous and varied initiatives, both at national and local level, aimed at increasing the level of recruitment to the armed forces. Included amongst the many current initiatives are:The use of multi-media advertising campaigns.
  Services' Recruiting Teams' attendance at schools, careers fairs and Graduate Recruitment Seminars, road shows, exhibitions, youth clubs and organisations.
  Work experience placements within Service Establishments.
  Personal Development Courses and Look at Life Courses for young people who express an interest in the armed forces.
  Taster Day visits to HM Ships and Service Establishments. A dedicated careers website for each of the Services.
  An Army 'on-line' recruiting office, with plans for this to be replicated by the other Services.
  Specialist Ethnic Minority Recruiting and Diversity Action Teams aimed at promoting Armed Forces careers amongst the United Kingdom's ethnic minority and faith communities.
  A Partnership with the 'Jobcentre Plus', making use of its network (totalling in excess of 1,100) of local outlets.

  Although Commonwealth citizens are entitled, on nationality eligibility grounds, to serve in the UK Armed Forces, the Services do not actively market armed forces careers in Commonwealth countries. Selection and recruitment team visits to Commonwealth countries are limited to those locations where numbers of expected applicants justify the effort and where an invitation to conduct visits has been received from the respective Government. Nevertheless, the Services do process applications from Commonwealth citizens who have travelled to the UK at their own volition for such a purpose.

  Armed Forces Staffing Levels
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his Answer of 8 December 2003,Official Report, column 271W, on Armed Forces Staffing Levels, when he expects to announce the final conclusions of the End to End review. [143953]

  Mr. Ingram
  Following my announcement on the 10 September 2003,Official Report, columns 26–27WS. I placed a summary of the conclusions from the End to End (E2E) Review in the Library of the House. The review was wide-ranging and work is now being undertaken to determine how best to achieve the E2E objectives. This includes a Demonstration Phase designed to test the conclusions of the Review. It is too early to predict what the final outcome of this work will be. I shall keep the House informed of progress as this work continues.

  Arms Exports
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions he has raised(a) the waiver for United Kingdom companies from the United States International Traffic in Arms Regulations and (b) the fast track for United Kingdom defence export permits with the US Administration; and when he expects these issues to be resolved. [144853]

  Mr. Hoon
  I, and other members of the Government have raised the issue of improved defence trade cooperation with the US Administration on several occasions this year. The Government are seeking a United Kingdom waiver from the United States International Traffic in Arms Regulations, which will better meet the needs of UK industry than an agreement about processing times for the licensing of US items for export to the UK. The joint statement the Prime Minister issued with President Bush on 20 November affirmed that they both consider it a high priority to implement a licensing exemption that will facilitate defence trade between our countries.

  We hope that the waiver will come into effect next year, subject to congressional and parliamentary approval, and after the necessary implementing regulations and administrative procedures have been put in place.

  Army (Merging Regiments)
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on plans to merge regiments in the Army. [144799]

  Mr. Caplin
  There are currently no plans to merge Army regiments. The Defence White Paper, published last week, sets out the context for shaping the structure of the Armed Forces for many years ahead. Work is still to be done with regard to the details of individual systems and units within that overall structure, but at present no decisions have been taken.

  Attitude Surveys
  Angus Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the 10 most cited reasons for leaving or considering leaving the Royal Navy/Royal
  1067W
  Marines given by respondents to the last assessed Royal Navy/Royal Marine Continuous Attitude Survey; and if he will make a statement. [143627]

  Mr. Caplin
  The information requested is drawn from the May 2003 edition of the Continuous Attitude Survey.

  Main reasons for leaving Naval Service:

  Royal Navy

  Ability to plan your own life—long term

  Your pay in relation to the hours worked

  Ability to plan your own life—short term

  The level of job satisfaction you expect in the future

  Your enjoyment of Service life

  The degree of recognition and reward (other than pay) for long working hours

  Amount of separation from family and friends

  The amount of 'fun' in the Service

  The desire to live at home

  Your pay in general

  Royal Marines

  Ability to plan your own life—long term

  Your pay in general

  Ability to plan your own life—short term

  The extent to which you are doing the job for which you are trained

  Opportunities for promotion/advancement

  Pay in relation to hours worked

  Pay in relation to the responsibilities of your job

  Opportunities for educational activities of your choice for personal/professional development

  Amount of separation from family and friends

  The desire to live at home

  Angus Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reason Royal Navy and Royal Marines personnel are not asked about nationality in the current edition of the Continuous Attitude Survey; whether nationality was listed as a question in previous editions; and if he will make a statement. [143631]

  Mr. Caplin
  There has been no requirement to collect information about nationality through the current or previous editions of the Continuous Attitude Survey.

  Angus Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the Royal Navy/Royal Marine Continuous Attitude Survey last included questions on(a) overstretch and (b) privatisation and contractualisation; for what reason those questions are not included in the latest edition of the Royal Navy/Royal Marine Continuous Attitude Survey; and if he will make a statement. [143636]

  Mr. Caplin
  No requirement has been identified to collect information about(a) overstretch or (b) privatisation and contractualisation through the Continuous Attitude Survey. The impact on personnel of the high level of operational commitment by the Royal Navy and Royal Marines will be addressed in the future.

  Battle of Trafalgar
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans his Department has to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar. [143366]
  1068W
  Mr. Caplin
  While no final decisions have yet been made, it is anticipated that there will be a series of national and international events 'the Trafalgar Festival' co-ordinated by the Official Nelson Commemoration Committee which will include an International Fleet Review in the Solent.

  Further announcements will be made to the House in due course.

  Lady Hermon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much funding has been allocated by his Department for celebrations to mark the bicentenary of the Battle of Trafalgar in 2005; what form he expects the celebrations to take; which countries have been invited to take part; and if he will make a statement. [143567]

  Mr. Caplin
  Funding to mark the Bicentenary of the Battle of Trafalgar in 2005 is still under discussion and no final decisions have been made.

  Defence Science and Technology Laboratory
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many formal grievances have been raised by the staff of the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory since its formation; and how many relate to staff who are on secondment to, or have returned from, secondment to his Department. [143701]

  Mr. Caplin
  Records indicate that a total of 12 formal grievances have been raised by staff since the formation of Dstl. Of these, two were raised by staff that had been on secondment to main Ministry of Defence posts.

  Iraq
  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Christmas trees his Department has(a) shipped to Iraq and (b) procured in Iraq for the purpose of celebrations among personnel; and if he will make a statement. [144470]

  Mr. Caplin
  [holding answer 17 December 2003]Fifty Christmas trees were being sent to Iraq by the Expeditionary Forces Institute to be purchased locally by units deployed there. In addition, a number of units have made their own arrangements to import trees.

  Joint Strike Fighter
  Mr. Rosindell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the Joint Strike Fighter. [143548]

  Mr. Ingram
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 16 May 2003,Official Report, column 453W.

  Michael Morgan
  Mr. Benton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will re-open the investigation into the death of Michael Morgan, an employee of the Ministry of Defence in the sovereign base areas of Cyprus on 17 May 2001. [144461]

  Mr. Caplin
  No new information has come to light to cast doubt on the Coroner's original verdict. We therefore have no plans to re-open the investigation into Mr. Morgan's death.

  Procurement (Risk Assessment)
  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what criteria are used in evaluating the cost of risk assessed as attaching to bids to supply goods and services to the MoD; and whether bidders are informed of(a) such criteria and (b) their effect on their bids. [142613]

  Mr. Ingram
  In evaluating bids for the supply of goods and services the Ministry of Defence will assess risk in terms of likely Performance against the requirement; Timeliness of delivery and Cost. MOD employs various tools for bid evaluation including risk questionnaires and Three-Point Estimating.

  In line with the Codes of Best Practice agreed between MOD and the Defence Industry it is now standard practice for the MOD to make available to bidders the criteria and weightings used in the tender evaluation process.

  Secondments
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what procedures are in place to monitor secondments from his Department to other governments; and if he will make a statement. [143443]

  Mr. Caplin
  It is a management function of the sponsoring unit within MOD to monitor the effectiveness of individual secondments against the objectives for which they were established. There is no central control or monitoring of these management activities, and this information could therefore be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Warships
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what changes have been agreed since Main Gate approval to(a) specifications, (b) build quality and (c) delivery dates of the Landing Ship Dock (Auxiliary) vessels being constructed by Swan Hunter; [143311]

  (2) what cost overruns have been notified to his Department on the construction of Landing Ship Dock (Auxiliary) vessels by Swan Hunter; [143312]

  (3) what the expected commissioning date is of Landing Ship Dock (Auxiliary) vessels being built by (a) Swan Hunter and (b) BAE Systems Marine. [143313]

  (4) what claims for compensation from Swan Hunter have been made by BAE Systems Marine in respect of delays in the construction of two Landing Ship Dock (Auxiliary) vessels at Govan. [143314]

  Mr. Ingram
  Since Main Gate approval, a small number of enhancements have been made to the Landing Ship Dock (Auxiliary (LSD(A)) programme to ensure that each vessel complies with the latest statutory safety requirements. There have been no changes to the build quality of the vessels.

  Swan Hunter has recently announced delays to its build programme. We are currently reviewing the impact this will have on the In-Service Dates of all four LSD(A)s. Provisional dates supplied by both companies
  1070W
  suggest that the First of Class LSD(A) will now enter service in autumn 2005 with the final vessel entering service in summer 2006.

  The Department has a Firm Price contract with Swan Hunter and any contractual discussions that arise are commercially sensitive. I am, therefore, withholding this information under Exemption 7a of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information, which relates to the effective management and operations of the public service.

  BAE SYSTEMS Marine's LSD(A) contract is not with Swan Hunter but with the Ministry of Defence. Claims for compensation have been made by BAE SYSTEMS Marine as a consequence of delays to its build programme at Govan. These too are commercially sensitive, and I am also withholding this information in accordance with Exemption 7a of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

  Disabled Civil Servants
  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many senior civil servants in her Department are disabled, expressed in(a) numbers and (b) as a percentage of whole-time equivalents. [144983]

  Mr. Caborn
  The Department collects data on disability on a voluntary self-declaration basis. There are currently no members of the Department's senior civil service who have declared a disability.

  Funding for Children's Play
  Paddy Tipping
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when she intends to publish the report commissioned by the right hon. Member for Holborn and St. Pancras on funding from the New Opportunities Fund for children's play. [144668]

  Estelle Morris
  I expect the report commissioned from the right hon. Member for Holborn and St. Pancras to be published early in the New Year.

  Identity Cards
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment she has made of the implications of the introduction of compulsory identity cards for her Department. [144342]

  Mr. Caborn
  The Home Office has lead responsibility for developing the national identity cards scheme, which was announced by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary on 11 November 2003. My Department stands ready to take part in any on-going discussions, as appropriate.

  Intellectual Property (Performers)
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what further action she plans to implement the provisions of the World Intellectual Property Organisation Performances and Phonograms Treaty in respect of the rights of performers. [144478]
  1071W
  Ms Hewitt
  I have been asked to reply.

  UK law does not at present grant performers the moral rights required by the WIPO Performances and Phonograms Treaty, and we are planning to introduce these rights during the course of next year.

  Lottery Grants
  Chris Ruane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the total amount of Lottery grants given to(a) the richest 100 wards in the UK and (b) the poorest 100 wards in the UK was from the inception of the Lottery to 1 May 1997 and from 2 May 1997 to date. [144837]

  Estelle Morris
  The information requested is being placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

  The information cannot be provided in the exact format requested. Changes to ward boundaries in some of these wards make such comparisons impossible. Where boundaries have remained constant, the information requested is shown in the tables which are produced from data provided by the Lottery distributors. The tables are based on the Index of Multiple Deprivation for England only—no UK wide measure is available.

  Tourism (North-East)
  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent discussions she has had with representatives of One North East regarding(a) the tourism industry and (b) the Northumbria Tourist Board. [144962]

  Mr. Caborn
  Neither I nor my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State have had recent discussions with representatives of One North East regarding(a) the tourism industry and (b) the Northumbria Tourist Board. However, officials from my Department's Tourism Division and from the Government Office for the North East have been in regular contact with One North East as they have taken on their strategic responsibility for tourism in the region and have had discussions with representatives of the Northumbria Tourist Board. I have asked One North East and the other English Regional Development Agencies to work with their tourist boards and the industry to decide upon the best support structure for the tourism industry in their particular region. I understand that One North East is working towards the introduction of a new structure for the delivery of tourism in the North East.

  £000

  1996–97

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  2001–02

  2002–03

  2003–04

  2004–05

  Revenue Support Grant

  69,460

  65,703

  72,305

  75,574

  74,395

  78,789

  74,672

  91,122

  102,243

  National Non- Domestic Rates

  42,108

  39,269

  40,857

  44,154

  49,674

  48,615

  53,162

  51,772

  49,369

  Specific Grants within AEF1

  5,774

  4,548

  6,457

  6,988

  12,834

  18,546

  21,523

  24,891

  2—

  1Information on specific grants up until 2002–03 is taken from local authority outturn returns. From 2003–04, where outturn information is not yet available this is based on local authority budget returns.

  2Data not available until spring 2004 when they will be reported by local authorities on their RA and RA(SG) returns.

  Note:

  The grants are on an unadjusted basis and may not be comparable between years, because transfers of function may have taken place.
  1072W
  My officials continue to work with the RDAs to help ensure a planned and smooth transition to any new arrangements.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

  Fair Trade Products
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether it is the policy of his Department to use fair trade products, as a matter of course, in(a) sales on Departmental premises and (b) receptions and meetings involving staff and visitors. [142813]

  Yvette Cooper
  The purchasing policy of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister reflects the Government's value for money policy and the EC procurement rules, which require the procurement of goods and services to be based on value for money and acquired by competition unless there are convincing reasons to the contrary, and the objectives of the Office.

  Fair trade products are widely available in our offices. The restaurants sell fair trade products including coffee, tea and chocolate bars. The catering menus include options that allow for fair trade tea and coffee to be provided, on request, for official meetings and conferences.

  Landfill Directive
  Sue Doughty
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to his answer of 8 December 2003,Official Report, column 343W, if he will make a statement on the outcome of discussions within Government and with industry on the implications of the implementation of the Landfill Directive for regeneration of brownfield sites, including (a) potential obstacles identified and (b) agreed action. [144959]

  Keith Hill
  Discussions are continuing but have not yet reached the stage where we are able to report on outcomes. A further meeting of Government and industry representatives is to take place in January 2004.

  Local Authority Funding
  Mr. Woodward
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what level of grant from all Government sources St. Helens borough council has received in each year since 1996. [144325]

  Mr. Raynsford
  Tabled are details of revenue grants received by St. Helen's metropolitan borough council as part of gross Aggregate External Finance (AEF) between 1996–97 to 2004–05.

  Councillors
  Mr. Wiggin
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what his policy is on golden goodbyes for long-serving councillors; and how the scheme is financed. [1441001]

  Mr. Raynsford
  There is no provision for long-serving councillors in England to be provided with any form of severance payment. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has no plans to change this position.

  Pupil Mobility
  Ms Buck
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans his Department has to take into account levels of pupil mobility between schools when measuring education, skills and training deprivation in revised indices of deprivation. [143571]

  Yvette Cooper
  During the initial phase of work to update the Indices of Deprivation 2000 (ID 2000), the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister considered the issue of pupil mobility and investigated various avenues for constructing such an indicator. This investigation showed that, at present, there is no centrally held database on pupil mobility. As one of the criteria for inclusion of an indicator in the ID 2000 is that it must be nationally available at a small area level, we were unable to pursue this issue in the current update.

  Regional Assemblies
  Mr. Stringer
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) what target has been set for the turnout in the referendums on regional assemblies; [144874]

  (2) what budget has been agreed within the three Government Offices for the Regions to increase turnout in referendums on regional assemblies; and what organisational changes are planned in the three Government offices to help increase the turnout in the referenda on regional assemblies;[144875]

  (3)what guidance he has given to Government Offices for the Regions on increasing the turnout in the referendums on elected regional assemblies. [144876]

  Mr. Raynsford
  None—there is no turnout target.

  However, the Regional Assemblies (Preparations) Act 2003 (Chapter 10) gives the Electoral Commission the power to
  "do anything they think necessary or expedient for the purpose of encouraging voting"
  at these referendums.

  Tenancy Deposit Scheme
  Ms Oona King
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of whether the number of disputes requiring adjudication under a tenancy deposit scheme would differ from the current rate of alleged unreasonable withholding of deposits; and if he will make a statement. [144858]

  Keith Hill
  No reliable assessment has been made of the number of disputes requiring adjudication under a tenancy deposit scheme. But it is expected that the number of disputes will fall as and when well thought out arrangements for tenancy deposit protection are 1074W
  introduced. The Government are currently exploring with the key stakeholders how best that might be achieved.

  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when the outcome of the Government's consultation on a possible tenancy deposit scheme will be announced; and if he will make a statement. [145272]

  Keith Hill
  Following a consultation the Government will in the new year be considering options for legislative proposals for the safeguarding of tenancy deposits. We will then announce the outcome of our consultations and our legislative proposals.

PRIME MINISTER

  22 July Briefing
  Richard Ottaway
  To ask the Prime Minister (1) whether copies of the transcript prepared by Radio Technical Services of the briefing given by him en route to Hong Kong on 22 July 2003 have been made available to the Press; [145062]

  (2) if he will publish the transcript prepared by Radio Technical Services of the briefing given by him en route to Hong Kong on 22 July 2003. [145063]

  The Prime Minister
  Any comments I made en route to Hong Kong on 22 July 2003 were made on the record and were fully reported by the media at the time in the same way as any briefings I make on visits like this.

  Canada
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Prime Minister when he expects to meet the new Prime Minister of Canada; and if he will discuss with him parliamentary reform in Canada, with particular reference to the greater use of free votes. [145200]

  The Prime Minister
  I have spoken and written to the new Prime Minister of Canada, Paul Martin, to congratulate him on his appointment. I have no current plans to meet him, but look forward to doing so in the future.

  Honours
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Prime Minister pursuant to his answer of 15 December 2003,Official Report, column 657W, on honours, how many honours have been returned since 1 January 1997, broken down by type. [145058]

  The Prime Minister
  I have nothing further to add to my previous answer.

  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Prime Minister pursuant to his answer of 15 December 2003,Official Report, column 657W, on honours, how many people returning honours gave a reason for returning the honour. [145059]

  The Prime Minister
  I have nothing further to add to my previous answer.

  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will bring forward proposals for changing the system for awarding honours. [145066]
  1075W
  The Prime Minister
  The honours system is kept under continuous review.

  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Prime Minister what the procedure is for returning an honour; and if he will make a statement. [145072]

  The Prime Minister
  There is no formal procedure for the returning of honours. Those wishing to do so would normally write to my office or the Central Chancery of the Orders of Knighthood.

  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Prime Minister how many people in each year since 1997 refused an honour, broken down by type of honour. [145073]

  The Prime Minister
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave him on 15 December 2003,Official Report, column 657W.

  Imad Hage
  Adam Price
  To ask the Prime Minister what meetings his officials have held during 2003 with Mr. Imad Hage. [145214]

  The Prime Minister
  Officials have meetings with a wide range of organisations and individuals. As with previous Administrations, it is not the Government's practice to provide details of all such meetings under Exemptions 2, 7 and 12 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

  Adam Price
  To ask the Prime Minister what representations he has received during the last 12 months from Mr. Imad Hage. [145216]

  The Prime Minister
  As far as I am aware, I have not received any representations from Mr. Imad Hage.

  Iraq
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Prime Minister whether the work of the Iraq Survey group will be suspended pending the receipt of information from Saddam Hussein on the location of weapons of mass destruction; and if he will make a statement. [145199]

  The Prime Minister
  No. The work of the Iraq Survey Group will continue.

  Kyoto Protocol
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will place in the Library copies of his letters to President Putin, referred to in his answer of 10 November 2003,Official Report, column 3W; and if he will make a statement on when he expects the Kyoto Protocol to come into force. [145195]

  The Prime Minister
  The Kyoto Protocol must be ratified by a minimum of 55 countries, including developed countries representing 55 per cent. of developed countries' carbon dioxide emissions in 1990 before it enters into force. We understand that the Russian Federation is currently completing its assessment of the Protocol. We look forward to an early decision so that the Protocol can enter into force as soon as possible.
  1076W
  The Government believe that the Kyoto Protocol is the only existing international framework for tackling climate change and takes every opportunity to urge all countries that have not yet ratified it to do so as soon as possible.

  It is not the normal practice to release letters from the Prime Minister to another Head of Government under Exemption 1(b) of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

  People's Peers
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Prime Minister when he will invite the House of Lords Appointments Commission to submit its recommendations for the second round of people's peers. [145196]

  The Prime Minister
  I hope to do so shortly.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Airports
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) if he will make a statement on the proposed runway extension at City of Derry Airport; [144215]

  (2) if he will conduct a full public consultation before a decision is made on the proposed runway extension at City of Derry Airport. [144401]

  Mr. Spellar
  Derry City Council have made a funding application to both the Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland authorities in relation to its proposal to further develop the City of Derry Airport. Details of the proposed phasing and cost estimates for the project are expected shortly. A decision on the council's application will depend on the outcome of technical and economic appraisals and on policy and budgetary considerations. I will be happy to receive and consider any representations from persons interested in these matters.

  It will be necessary for the council to apply separately to the Planning Service of the Department of the Environment for planning permission for the proposed runway extension. As part of that process, the application will be advertised and a period of four weeks will be allowed for receipt of comments on the planning issues.

  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will assess the feasibility of constructing(a) a rail link to Belfast International Airport and (b) a new railway station at Belfast City Airport. [144278]

  Mr. Spellar
  Previous studies have shown that to construct a rail link to Belfast International Airport and a new railway station at Belfast City Airport would both involve considerable costs which could not be justified by the anticipated level of passenger demand.

  Antisocial Behaviour
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what measures he is taking to address anti-social behaviour on public transport in Northern Ireland. [144229]
  1077W
  Mr. Spellar
  Translink has advised that it has a dedicated internal working group to improve security on buses and trains. Translink operates a widely promoted scheme under which it offers rewards of up to £1,000 for information on attacks which lead to prosecutions. Translink staff liase closely with community representatives and the PSNI in an attempt to reduce attacks and general anti-social behaviour on public transport.

  Translink has also advised that security features within the Translink bus fleet include CCTV, driver protection screens, specially strengthened windows in the driver's cab area and double glazing over the rest of the vehicle. Communication systems also enable bus and train drivers to liase with Central Control staff regarding potential and actual incidents. Driver and passenger security have also been taken into account in the design of the new trains currently being built for NIR.

  Arrhythmia
  Lady Hermon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people in Northern Ireland are diagnosed with arrhythmia; what steps he is taking to raise awareness of this condition in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement. [145070]

  Angela Smith
  Figures are collected only on the number of patients admitted to hospital for the treatment of arrhythmia, not the total number diagnosed with the condition. There were 190 people admitted with cardiac arrhythmia conditions from April 2002 to March 2003.

  Following a Review of Cardiology Services undertaken by the Department, an action plan containing a number of recommendations to improve these services was issued in April 2003. I have asked my Department to monitor progress closely.

  Cannabis Reclassification
  Lady Hermon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the cannabis reclassification awareness raising campaign will begin; how long it will last; what format it will take; and if he will make a statement. [143568]

  Mr. Spellar
  The reclassification of cannabis will take effect in Northern Ireland from 29 January 2004 in line with other parts of the UK. The Government are conscious of the need to ensure the public have appropriate and accurate information so that everyone is aware about what this change means and not least to remind the public that the possession and consumption of cannabis will remain illegal and that the drug itself is harmful. To that end, my officials have been in contact with the Home Office to ensure that the campaign in Northern Ireland is in line with and will be as effective as, that planned elsewhere, while having a distinct local emphasis.

  I will make a public statement giving details of the campaign in Northern Ireland closer to the 29 January.

  Childhood Obesity
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what measures are in place to tackle the rise in childhood obesity.[145307]
  1078W
  Angela Smith
  We have strategies for food and nutrition and physical activity in place together with initiatives such as "Fresh Fruit in Schools" and the "Health Promoting Schools" project which promote healthy eating and physical activity. In addition the Health Promotion Agency has developed a community based nutrition programme entitled "Cook it", a new nutrition information booklet for parents called "Getting a good start—healthy eating from one to five", and launched a pilot scheme to encourage short physical activity sessions in primary schools.

  Cycling
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to improve facilities for cyclists; and what measures he is taking to encourage greater usage of Northern Ireland's cycling network. [144230]

  Mr. Spellar
  I have asked the Chief Executive of Roads Service to write to the hon. Gentleman in response to this question. A copy of the letter will be placed in the Library.

  Fishing Industry
  Mrs. Iris Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to complete the Strategic Review of the Fishing Industry. [144616]

  Mr. Pearson
  Following publication of the report of the Prime Minister's Strategy Unit on the medium to long-term prospects for the UK fishing industry, I intend to recommence the Strategic Review of the Northern Ireland fishing industry.

  Further Education
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the(a) financial and (b) operating (i) deficits and (ii) surpluses for each Northern Ireland further education college in each of the last five years. [144217]

  Jane Kennedy
  Northern Ireland Further Education Colleges became incorporated bodies on the 1 April 1998. The 2002–03 figures are the fifth set of accounts for colleges as incorporated bodies and cover a 12 month period from 1 August 2002–31 July 2003

  The annual accounts are prepared in accordance with the statement of recommended practice (SORP): Accounting for Further and Higher Education. The form and content of the annual college accounts are set out in the Accounts Direction for the Governing Bodies of Further Education Colleges in August 1998 and updated subsequently in August 2002.

  The operating surplus/(deficit) and historic surplus/(deficit) results for each individual further education college over the last five years has been placed in the Library.

  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the financial recovery plans of Northern Ireland's further education colleges. [144218]
  1079W
  Jane Kennedy
  Since Incorporation on 1 April 1998, six further education colleges have developed financial recovery plans:

  Castlereagh College of Further and Higher Education

  East Antrim Institute of Further and Higher Education

  Limavady College of Further and Higher Education

  Lisburn Institute of Further and Higher Education

  North West Institute of Further and Higher Education

  Omagh College of Further and Higher Education.

  North East Institute of Further and Higher Education is currently developing a financial recovery plan.

  The position of these colleges for the 2002–03 financial year is as follows:

  £000

  Colleges

  Total income

  Total expenditure

  Operating Surplus (deficit)

  Historic cost surplus (deficit)

  General reserve

  Castlereagh

  8,064

  7,277

  787

  908

  324

  East Antrim

  10,267

  10,302

  (35)

  192

  607

  Limavady

  5,800

  5,266

  534

  580

  1,732

  Lisburn

  8,532

  8,391

  141

  395

  188

  North East

  14,432

  15,004

  (572)

  (151)

  (590)

  North West

  25,438

  24,730

  708

  971

  (745)

  Omagh

  6,582

  6,220

  362

  523

  1202

  In April 2003 the Department for Employment and Learning issued a document entitled "Guidance on Colleges in Recovery" to the FE sector. This document, which is based on best practice, sets out comprehensive guidance about the operation of the financial recovery process.

  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the review of Northern Ireland's further education colleges will be published; and if he will make a statement. [144219]

  Jane Kennedy
  The review by the Department for Employment and Learning of its strategy for statutory further education in Northern Ireland is nearing completion. It is intended that the review will be published for consultation early in 2004.

  Give as You Earn Scheme
  John Barrett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many and what percentage of staff in his Department contribute to a charity through the Give as You Earn scheme; how much money is donated to charity per month by staff in his Department through the scheme; and what steps he is taking to encourage greater participation in the scheme by staff in his Department. [143899]

  Mr. Pearson
  Current figures show that 4,407 (14.8 per cent.) members of staff in the Northern Ireland Civil Service, and the Northern Ireland Office, contribute to charity through the Give As You Earn scheme, although this is unlikely to fully reflect the charitable activity of employees.

  The current monthly amount, in total, paid over through the scheme, via payroll, is £34,814.

  Since 2000, a promotion company, "Sharing The Caring", has had the operational responsibility for promoting the Give As You Earn scheme within the
  1080W
  Northern Ireland Civil Service and Northern Ireland Office. Through Sharing The Caring, staff can contribute to any charity they choose, provided it is a registered charity. Sharing The Caring representatives follow an on-going programme of visits to civil service buildings/locations during which they engage with staff to encourage them to sign up to the scheme. Since 2000, 308 such visits have been carried out.

  Northern Ireland Civil Service
  Lady Hermon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the strike action undertaken by the Northern Ireland Civil Service.[144672]

  Mr. Pearson
  Best available estimates indicate that just over 11,000 staff were absent without authority on 11 December 2003, equivalent to around 40 per cent. of the total non-industrial workforce. There was some disruption to a number of services including, for example, social security, child support, and driver and vehicle licensing and testing. On the whole, however, departments' contingency plans served to minimise inconvenience to the public.

  Palliative Care
  Mrs. Iris Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what action he is taking to increase the number of palliative care beds in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement. [144451]

  Angela Smith
  In March 2003 the Department asked Health and Social Services Boards to undertake an assessment of need for additional capacity in inpatient palliative care. This work is expected to be completed by autumn 2004. In addition, the Regional Cancer Services Framework Steering Group, chaired by the Chief Medical Officer, will be considering, among other things, the future development of palliative care, including the level of inpatient palliative care.

  Ports
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the total tonnage of cargo brought into(a) Lame and (b) Belfast ports was, including both bulk and unit loads, in each of the last five years. [144237]

  Mr. Pearson
  The information sought is set out in the following table.

  Tonnage of goods through Larne and Belfast Ports 1998–2002: Inward traffic

  Thousand tonnes

  Larne

  Belfast

  1998

  2,902

  9,168

  1999

  3,074

  9,740

  2000

  2,236

  9,736

  2001

  1,852

  9,804

  20021

  2,212

  9,197

  1The most recent year for which figures are available

  A new EC Maritime Statistics Directive (Council Directive 95/64/EC on statistical returns in respect of the carriage of goods and passengers by sea) has recently been implemented in the UK (1 January 2000). This required a complete overhaul of data collection

  1081W
  methods. It should be noted that the different collection system for freight traffic has resulted in some discontinuities in data series between 2000, 2001, 2002 and previous years.

  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the weight of cargo leaving(a) Lame and (b) Belfast ports was in each of the last five years; and what the percentage change was in each year. [144238]

  Mr. Pearson
  The information sought is set out in the following table.

  Tonnage of goods through Larne and Belfast ports 1998–2002: Outward traffic

  Thousand tonnes

  Larne

  Belfast

  Larne %change

  Belfast %change

  1998

  2,296

  3,066

  1999

  2,504

  3,122

  9.1

  1.8

  2000

  2,271

  2,748

  -9.3

  -12.0

  2001

  1,668

  3,598

  -26.6

  30.9

  20021

  2,083

  3,628

  24.9

  0.8

  1The most recent year for which information is available)

  A new EC Maritime Statistics Directive (Council Directive 95/64/EC on statistical returns in respect of the carriage of goods and passengers by sea) has recently been implemented in the UK (1 January 2000). This required a complete overhaul of data collection methods. It should be noted that the different collection system for freight traffic has resulted in some discontinuities in data series between 2000, 2001, 2002 and previous years.

  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what percentage of(a) inward and (b) outward traffic at Northern Ireland's ports comprised foreign unit load cargo in each of the last five years.[144239]

  Mr. Pearson
  The information sought is set out in the following table.

  Percentage of inward and outward traffic at Northern Ireland's ports comprised of Foreign unit load cargo 1998–02

  Inward traffic

  1998

  2.9

  1999

  2.9

  2000

  3.3

  2001

  3.4

  20021

  4.0

  Outward traffic

  1998

  3.7

  1999

  3.8

  2000

  3.9

  2001

  4.0

  20021

  4.0

  1The most recent year for which information is available

  A new EC Maritime Statistics Directive (Council Directive 95/64/EC on statistical returns in respect of the carriage of goods and passengers by sea) has recently been implemented in the UK (1 January 2000). This required a complete overhaul of data collection methods. It should be noted that the different collection system for freight traffic has resulted in some discontinuities in data series between 2000, 2001, 2002 and previous years.

  Public Transport
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the average age is of(a) Ulsterbus and (b) Citybus vehicle stock. [144225]

  Mr. Spellar
  Translink has advised that at 15 December 2003 the average age of the Ulsterbus fleet was 11.95 years and the average age of the Citybus fleet was 8.46 years.

  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to(a) improve access to public transport and (b) encourage the use of public transport by older people. [144231]

  Mr. Spellar
  The Department for Regional Development is funding the purchase by Northern Ireland Railways of 23 new trains which will comply with the requirements of the Rail Vehicles Accessibility Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001. The Department is also providing grant aid to assist Translink to purchase 190 new buses which meet the requirements of the Public Service Vehicles Accessibility Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003. All new developments at bus and railway stations include any necessary work to improve access for people with disabilities. Older people are encouraged to use public transport by the provision of Senior Smartpasses, which enable those over 65 to travel free.

  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what measures are in place to support the provision of park and ride facilities outside Greater Belfast; what plans he has to develop secure interchange sites at Trooperslane and Corrs Corner; and if he will make a statement. [144276]

  Mr. Spellar
  I have asked the Chief Executive of Roads Service to write to the hon. Gentleman in response to this question. A copy of the letter will be placed in the Library.

  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to develop bus lanes and quality bus corridors outside Greater Belfast. [144277]

  Mr. Spellar
  I have asked the Chief Executive of Roads Service to write to the hon. Gentleman in response to this question. A copy of the letter will be placed in the Library.

  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to promote the development of park and ride facilities; and if he will make a statement.[144402]

  Mr. Spellar
  I have asked the Chief Executive of Roads Service to write to the hon. Gentleman in response to this question. A copy of the letter will be placed in the Library.

  Rail Freight
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many tonnes of rail freight were carried from Northern Ireland to(a) Great Britain, (b) the Republic of Ireland and (c) other European destinations in each of the last five years. [144216]
  1083W
  Mr. Spellar
  Translink has advised that all rail freight carried from Northern Ireland in the last five years went to the Republic of Ireland. The quantities carried in each of the last five years were as follows:

  Tonnes

  1998

  52,300

  1999

  72,200

  2000

  48,700

  2001

  43,900

  2002

  26,500

  Remicade
  Lady Hermon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people in Northern Ireland are waiting for treatment with Remicade; and how many of these people have been waiting(a) less than six months, (b) between six and 12 months, (c) between 12 and 18 months, (d) between 18 and 24 months and (e) longer than 24 months. [144387]

  Angela Smith
  Remicade is one of the specialist medicines, known as biologic therapies, used for the treatment of severe rheumatoid arthritis. Information in relation to the number of people waiting for all biologic therapy treatment and the length of time they have been waiting is as follows:

  Rheumatoid Arthritis

  Number

  Less than six months

  89

  Between six and 12 months

  91

  Between 12 and 18 months

  77

  Between 18 and 24 months

  79

  Longer than 24 months

  53

  The decision as to whether to prescribe Remicade or another medicine for the treatment of an individual patient is a matter for clinical judgment and is the individual responsibility of the prescriber at the time when treatment is to commence.

  Road Accidents
  Lady Hermon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many(a) fatal and (b) non-fatal road accidents there were on the A2 Bangor to Belfast road in each of the past five years; and what steps he is taking to reduce such accidents. [143586]

  Mr. Spellar
  I have asked the Chief Executive of Roads Service to write to the hon. Lady in response to this question. A copy of the letter will be placed in the Library.

  Road Congestion
  Lady Hermon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to introduce tolls on roads in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the steps he is taking to tackle road congestion in Northern Ireland. [143818]

  Mr. Spellar
  The Regional Transportation Strategy (RTS) for NI 2002–2012, whose strategic direction and underlying principles were endorsed by the Assembly in 1084W
  July 2002, contains no proposals to introduce tolling in NI. It does, however, contain a commitment to monitor the impacts of fiscal demand management measures, such as road user charging.

  In the meantime, the issue of road congestion is being addressed as part of the wider transportation picture set out in the RTS. The RTS proposes that congestion be tackled through selected highway improvements and measures designed to encourage greater use of public transport, walking and cycling facilities. Overall it envisages £427 million in strategic highway improvements, £250 million on rail services, £98 million on bus services and "park and ride" in Belfast and almost £40 million on making it easier to walk or cycle. The actual level of resources invested in transportation will, however, depend on the normal budgetary processes, satisfactory economic appraisals and satisfactory progress through statutory processes (where relevant).

  The RTS will be progressed through three Transport Plans—the Regional Strategic Transport Network Transport Plan, the Belfast Metropolitan Transport Plan and the Sub-Regional Transport Plan. The first two plans have reached an advanced stage with 'Emerging Plans' being subject to separate working conferences earlier this year. Both plans are expected to be published in the first half of 2004.

  Road Haulage Industry
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many tonnes of freight were transported by road within Northern Ireland by goods vehicles over 3.5 tonnes in each of the last five years. [144221]

  Mr. Spellar
  Figures for the Continuing Survey of Road Goods Transport are as follows:

  Year

  Tonnes

  1998

  4,1232

  1999

  4,5519

  2000

  4,5692

  2001

  3,5089

  2002

  4,8116

WORK AND PENSIONS

  Housing Benefit
  Mr. Hayes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what discussions he has had with private landlords regarding proposals to pay housing benefit directly to tenants; and what the outcome of those discussions was. [145297]

  Mr. Pond
  The Department consulted both formally and informally on the Government's proposals for a Local Housing Allowance (LHA), which is now in operation or about to go-live in 9 "Pathfinder" local authorities.

  The formal consultation exercise was, as is customary, conducted through the Social Security Advisory Committee (SSAC). The Committee received 73 responses from both individuals and organisations with an interest in the LHA reforms, including

  1085W
  representative bodies of landlords. SSAC made a number of recommendations, to which the Government responded. The relevant Command Paper, 5955 was presented to Parliament on 24 September 2003 and is available in the Library.

  Additionally, Ministers and officials have received numerous informal representations about the Allowance. Many have been from landlords who have concerns about our decision to remove routine direct payments to them. We welcome this feedback and we are now encouraging it routinely in newsletters that the Department issues to landlords and welfare groups in the Pathfinder areas. We remain committed to the idea of making payment of Benefit to the tenant where possible in order to encourage them to take more personal responsibility for managing their affairs.

  Discussions are ongoing and the views and experiences of landlords will form an important part of the Department's evaluation of the Local Housing Allowance.

  Interest Rates
  Mr. Stunell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to bring calculations of claimants' notional rates of interest on savings into line with current average building society and bank deposit account interest rates. [142297]

  Mr. Pond
  The tariff income rules, whereby money is deducted from benefit in respect of capital, are not intended to represent any rate of return that could be obtained from investing that capital.

  The capital rules within the income related benefits exist to ensure that help is targeted on those with least resources while not completely denying help for those who have moderate amounts of capital. Where customers have substantial capital, current rules ensure that some of those funds are used for their maintenance before their needs can be met from public funds. The tariff income rules are designed to avoid a "cliff edge" effect which would occur if there was a simple capital limit beyond which benefit is completely withdrawn.

  We have made it clear that we will keep the treatment of capital in the income related benefits under review so that they strike a reasonable balance between providing targeted support for those who need it and not penalising those who have acted responsibly by saving.

  Pensioner Poverty
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what time-frame he has set for ending pensioner poverty. [145110]

  Malcolm Wicks
  One of the Government's key priorities is to tackle pensioner poverty. We want all pensioners to have a secure income in retirement and to share in the rising prosperity of the country.

  Our strategy is already working. Compared with the 1997 system, as a result of Government measures, from April 2004, on average pensioner households will be £1,250 a year better off in real terms. Our target is, that by 2006, Pension Credit should be in payment to at least 3 million pensioner households.
  1086W
  In addition, we also recognise the need for long-term solutions. Our proposals in Action on Occupational Pensions—Working and Saving for Retirement contain measures for reform to address the issues faced by an ageing population.

  Age Discrimination
  Sandra Gidley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) how many employers have adopted the voluntary Code of Practice on Age Diversity in Employment; [143855]

  (2) what estimate he has made of the number of companies which have had a recruitment policy which is disposed against the employment of older workers, in each year since 1997. [143882]

  Malcolm Wicks
  The information requested is not available. However, research shows that in the 18 months after the introduction of the code in June 1999 that awareness of the code rose from 14 per cent. to 37 per cent. of employers, and the proportion of employers who reported that age was considered as a selection criterion when recruiting fell from 27 per cent. to 13 per cent. We will be commissioning further research with employers in the coming year.

  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps his Department is taking to persuade employers of the economic benefits of having an age-diverse workforce. [145108]

  Sandra Gidley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps the Government are taking to promote the Age Positive campaign among(a) employers and (b) older people. [143937]

  Malcolm Wicks
  The Government are committed to extending opportunities for older workers and to introducing age discrimination legislation in 2006. Under the legislation, compulsory retirement ages are likely to be unlawful unless employers can show that they are objectively justified.

  In the meantime, our Age Positive campaign is encouraging employers to adopt non-ageist employment practises. Through Age Positive, we are promoting the business benefits of an age diverse workforce by encouraging employers to adopt the voluntary Code of Practice, "Age Diversity at Work, A Practical Guide For Business". Over 750,000 copies of the Age Positive Code have been issued to employers and individuals and it is available on the Age Positive website, which has 75,000 visits per month.

  The Age Positive campaign is widely promoted to employers and individuals through advertising, the website and press features in national, local and specialist publications and at exhibitions and workshops for employers. Age Positive awards help to further publicise the achievements of businesses and individuals who conquer age prejudice.

  Age Positive also works closely with organisations such the Federation of Small Businesses, Employers Forum on Age, Institute of Directors, TUC, CBI and Age Concern.

  Bank and Post Office Card Accounts
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what advice he has offered to those using Jobcentres in the use of bank accounts and Post Office Card Accounts for their payments. [144289]

  Mr. Pond
  The purpose of the information campaign supporting the move to Direct Payment is to ensure that customers choose the account option that best meets their needs and circumstances.

  In the case of Jobseekers, we believe they will be better prepared for employment if they already have a current or basic bank account into which their employer can pay their wages, which the Post Office card account does not allow.

  Benefit and Pensions Payment
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether those customers invited to transfer to direct payment who(a) do not reply and (b) reply and decline a direct payment option will be automatically transferred to the exceptions service; and if he will make a statement. [1430871

  Mr. Pond
  We will be further contacting customers who continue to be paid by order book. Any customers who cannot open or operate a bank account, or fail to respond to our mailing will continue to be paid by their current method of payment.

  Our plan is to design an exceptions method of payment to properly meet the needs of those customers who are unable to operate an account. Detailed arrangements for this method of payment are not finalised yet, but it is anticipated that it will be a cheque-based solution. Payment outlets will include Post Office branches. We are in the process of discussing the design of the exceptions method of payment with the representative bodies most directly affected.

  Mrs. Helen Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what priorities he has set in relation to increasing direct payment of benefits and pensions.[143208]

  Mr. Pond
  The Department has a published Public Service Agreement target that by 2005, 85 per cent. of customers will have their benefits paid by Direct Payment.

  The move to Direct Payment is progressing well. Key figures on the progress of conversion to Direct Payment are available in the Library updated every four weeks.

  Benefit Claims
  Annabelle Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to improve the operation of procedures for claiming(a) incapacity benefit and (b) disability living allowance. [142276]

  Maria Eagle
  We keep all of our procedures for claiming benefits under review and make changes where appropriate to existing processes and claim forms to ensure that all our customers receive the best possible service.
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  The Disability and Carers Service has embarked upon a major programme of process simplification and re-engineering, including substantially modernised information technology, which aims to produce a much improved service to its customers over the next three years. It is presently trialling an improved claim form for disability living allowance customers and expects to introduce an internet based claim form in 2004.

  Benefit Payments
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether individuals are permitted to cash giros at post offices after 2 pm. [144971]

  Mr. Pond
  Individuals are permitted to cash a valid, uncrossed Girocheque at any time when a post office is open for business.

  Mrs. Helen Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what evaluation he has made of the social benefits to(a) individuals and (b) local communities of direct payment of benefits and pensions through (i) Post Office accounts and (ii) bank accounts; [143203]

  (2) what assessment he has made of the relative (a) availability and (b) accessibility of (i) banks and (ii) post offices in relation to the payment of benefits and pensions; [143204]

  (3) what assessment he has made of the effect on (a) urban and (b) rural regeneration of the policy on direct payment of benefits and pensions. [143205]

  Mr. Pond
  The move to Direct Payment and the introduction of universal banking services has resulted in a number of benefits for individuals and the communities in which they live, particularly in terms of increasing customer choice, helping to address financial exclusion and improving access to banking for all.

  The new arrangements ensure a more modern, efficient and reliable service that increases customer choice, provides better value for the taxpayer, cuts fraud, and boosts financial inclusion. More customers are now paid into an account than by order book or girocheque.

  Customers have more choice about where and when they collect their money and there are a range of accounts that people can access at Post Office branches. There are a number of advantages to having a bank or building society account and over 85 per cent, of DWP customers already have access to a suitable account with the figure rising to 90 per cent. for pensioners. But this currently leaves around 3.5 million adults in the UK without access to a bank account and not able to take advantage of, for example, the savings to utility bills that come through making payments by Direct Debit from an account. Direct Payment will help spread financial inclusion by increasing the number of people who have bank accounts and giving them opportunities to benefit—this includes the new easy to operate basic bank accounts.

  New banking services, including the introduction of the Post Office card account, are central to the Post Office management's strategy for the network. For example, 20 million bank customers can now access their current accounts electronically in Post Office

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  branches. Banking at Post Offices has enabled banking to return to many rural areas where the last bank branch was closed many years ago. It has also introduced banking services into many deprived urban areas for the first time.

  The Government are providing significant investment for the Post Office network—some £2 billion in total during the five year period from April 2003, including £450 million to support the rural network until 2006. In addition the Government have instructed the Post Office to prevent avoidable closures in the rural Post Office network.

  Bereavement Benefit
  Julie Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people were refused bereavement benefit in(a) 2000–01, (b) 2001–02 and (c) 2002–03; and what the reasons given were for refusal, broken down by (i) numbers and (ii) percentages. [145225]

  Mr. Pond
  The information is not available.

  Child Support
  Vera Baird
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) when the new system for calculating child maintenance will be implemented with regard to existing cases; [144849]

  (2) what steps he is taking to remove differences in treatment of child support assessments between existing and new cases. [144857]

  Mr. Pond
  We will make a decision on the transfer of old scheme cases once we are sure that the new scheme is working well.

  Vera Baird
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions in what order the process of moving Child Support Agency maintenance cases onto the new system of assessment will be introduced in the regions. [144850]

  Mr. Pond
  I refer the hon. Member to the Written Answer I gave the hon. Member for Wycombe (Paul Goodman) on 3 December 2003,Official Report, column 83W.

  Mr. Goodman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what estimate he has made of the number of people paying child support under the new scheme who will be overpaying for(a) a year, (b) two years, (c) three years, (d) four years and (e) five years as a result of phasing in; [143519]

  (2) what estimate he has made of the average amount per year which people paying child support under the new scheme will be overpaying as a result of phasing in. [143522]

  Mr. Pond
  No one will overpay as a result of phasing. The phasing provisions are set in legislation. They give parents who have existing child support assessments time to adjust to the new amounts.

  Mr. Goodman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what estimate he has made of the loss incurred by each parent each month whose Child Support Agency case is not transferred from the old to the new scheme; [143520]
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  (2) whether parents who are incurring losses as a result of Child Support Agency cases not being transferred to the new scheme are entitled to compensation; and if he will make a statement. [143521]

  Mr. Pond
  Until the new scheme legislation is commenced for the bulk of the old scheme caseload, old scheme cases remain subject to the old rules, and so the question of loss does not arise.

  Child Support Agency
  Mr. Goodman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, (1) if he will make a statement on the work involved in transferring old Child Support Agency cases to the new scheme; [140878]

  (2) what plans he has to change the rules which detect anomalies, inaccuracies and incomplete data in the Child Support Agency's new scheme; and if he will make a statement; [140900]

  (3) what percentage of the Child Support Agency cases waiting to be transferred from the old to the new scheme contain anomalies, inaccuracies and incomplete data; [140880]

  (4) how many anomalies, inaccuracies and pieces of incomplete data are contained in the Child Support Agency records of the cases waiting to be transferred from the old to the new scheme; [140882]

  (5) how long he expects the work needed to bring records of Child Support Agency cases up to a standard acceptable for transfer to the new scheme to take; and if he will make a statement; [140899]

  (6)what proportion of the anomalies, inaccuracies and incomplete data contained in the Child Support Agency records of the cases waiting to be transferred from the old to the new scheme require human intervention; and if he will make a statement. [140879]

  Mr. Pond
  The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive, Mr. Doug Smith. He will write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Doug Smith to Mr Paul Goodman, dated 18 December 2003:

  In replying to your recent Parliamentary questions about the Child Support Agency the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive.

  You asked about the work involved in transferring old Child Support Agency cases to the new scheme. You also asked a number of related questions as follows:
  What proportion of the anomalies, inaccuracies or incomplete data contained in the Child Support Agency records of cases waiting to be transferred from the old to the new scheme require human intervention.
  What percentage of the Child Support Agency cases waiting to be transferred from the old to the new scheme contain anomalies, inaccuracies or incomplete data.
  How many anomalies, inaccuracies or incomplete data are contained in the Child Support Agency records of the cases waiting to be transferred from the old to the new scheme.
  How long will it take to do the work needed to bring records of Child Support Agency cases up to a standard acceptable for transfer to the new scheme.

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  and
  What plans the Secretary of State has to change the rules which detect anomalies, inaccuracies or incomplete data in the Child Support Agency's new scheme; and if he will make a statement.

  The existing computer system contains little validation around data entry and we have been progressively working through certain fields to ensure that apparent anomalies, inaccuracies or incomplete data are corrected. In designing and developing computer support for the new Child Support arrangements we created a series of 'business rules' designed to ensure the accuracy of data flowing from one system to the other. We have not yet finalised our data migration strategy or the timetable for that work. In doing so we will need to establish what business rules are applied at the point of migration and what data cleanse activity might sensibly be deferred until later in the process. In making this judgement our prime aim will be to ensure that clients gain the most accurate possible calculation and have a clear and responsive channel open to them to challenge and/or correct any errors. It is not possible to provide the further detail you require in advance of finalising our migration plans.

  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether it is the policy of his Department that officials of the Child Support Agency should seek to discourage their dissatisfied customers from seeking redress through their hon. Member; and if he will make a statement.[141516]

  Mr. Pond
  The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive, Mr. Doug Smith. He will write to the hon. Member with the information requested.

  Letter from Doug Smith to Mr. Christopher Chope:

  In replying to your recent Parliamentary question about the Child Support Agency the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executie.

  You asked whether it is the policy of the Department for Work and Pensions that officials of the Child Support Agency seek to discourage their dissatisfied customers from seeking redress through their honourable Member.

  The Child Support Agency certainly does not have a policy of seeking to discourage their dissatisfied customers from seeking redress through their Member of Parliament. Instead it has a policy of providing customers with the necessary information to enable them to make a complaint effectively. To this end the Agency has published a leaflet "How to complain about the Child Support Agency" advising customers of their rights and procedure to follow if they have a complaint about the service it provides. This leaflet is freely available from any local office of the Department or by contacting the National Enquiry Line; it is also available via the Agency's web site on the Internet.

  The leaflet includes guidance about contacting Members of Parliament for advice. It also describes the circumstances under which the Agency would consider making a special payment and signposts the customer to the "Financial Redress for Maladministration" booklet published by the Department.

  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to transfer the old CSA caseload to the new system; and if a new application will be required. [143089]

  Mr. Pond
  We will make a decision on the transfer of old scheme cases once we are sure that the new scheme is working well. A new application will not be required.

  Mr. John Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement about the performance of the Child Support Agency; and if he will cause replies to be made to Mrs. Samantha Mucklow of Solihull. [143491]
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  Mr. Pond
  The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive, Mr. Doug Smith. He will write to the hon. Member with the information requested.

  Letter from Doug Smith to Mr. John Taylor:

  In replying to your recent Parliamentary question about the Child Support Agency the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive.

  You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make a statement about the performance of the Child Support Agency; and if he will cause replies to be made to Mrs Samantha Mucklow of Solihull.

  A report on the performance of the Child Support Agency was placed in the Library on the 18th November 2003.

  As individual cases are confidential I will write to you privately concerning Mrs Mucklow, when I reply to your letter of 28th November 2003.

  Bob Spink
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he estimates that Child Support Agency cases existing prior to 3 March will be transferred to the new scheme. [145159]

  Mr. Pond
  We will make a decision on the transfer of old scheme cases once we are sure that the new scheme is working well.

  Child Trust Fund
  Mr. George Osborne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether the beneficiary of a Child Trust Fund will have the savings in the fund taken into consideration when an assessment is made for Jobseeker's Allowance. [141705]

  Mr. Pond
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Newcastle upon Tyne, Central (Mr. Cousins) on 15 December 2003,Official Report, columns 686–87W.

  Correspondence
  Mr. George Osborne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he expects to reply to the letters from the honourable Member for Tatton to the Minister for Pensions of 12 March and 25 April. [145132]

  Malcolm Wicks
  I regret we have no record of having received the hon. Member's letters. If he would forward copies I will arrange for them to be considered urgently.

  Council Tax Benefit
  Mr. Gordon Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners in Blackpool received council tax benefit in the last year for which figures are available. [141340]

  Mr. Pond
  The number of households where the recipient and/or their partner was aged 60 or over, and was in receipt of council tax benefit from Blackpool Borough Council at August 2003, is 7,700.

  Notes:

  1. The data refer to households claiming housing benefit, which may be a single person, a couple or a family.

  2. The figure is rounded to the nearest hundred.

  3. Figures exclude any Second Adult Rebate cases.

  Source:

  Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit Management Information System Quarterly 100 per cent. caseload stock-count.
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  Mr. Gordon Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent discussions his Department has had with(a) other Government Departments, (b) voluntary sector organisations and (c) local authorities on measures to improve take-up of council tax benefit among pensioners. [141363]

  Mr. Pond
  There have been a number of discussions between officials of this Department, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and representatives of the Local Authority Associations. In addition, Ministers have met with the Local Government Association and with Help the Aged, following their report on "The impact of council tax on older people's income".

  On Monday 15 December 2003, we announced a campaign to further support local authorities in their statutory duty to promote take-up of council tax benefit. On the same day, departmental officials wrote about the campaign to the National Assembly for Wales and the Wales Office; the Scottish Executive and the Scotland Office; voluntary sector organisations and other advisory groups with an interest in take-up such as Help the Aged, Age Concern and Shelter; and Local Authority Associations.

  Mr. Coleman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what representations he has received regarding council tax benefit restrictions; and if he will make a statement. [143859]

  Mr. Pond
  We have received several representations from local government and voluntary agencies, such as Help the Aged, regarding the council tax benefit restriction.

  As we announced on 15 December 2003, Official Report, columns 125–26WS, we have decided to abolish the council tax benefit restriction from April 2004.

  Departmental Hospitality
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his Department's hospitality budget was for(a) 2003–04 and (b) each of the last six years; and if he will provide a breakdown of the expenditure by main budget heading. [141524]

  Mr. Browne
  Information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is set out in the following table.

  All expenditure on official hospitality is made in accordance with published departmental guidance on financial procedures and propriety, based on the principles set out in Government Accounting. It is typically incurred by the various DWP Businesses to mark the launch of significant initiatives–for example: the introduction of New Deal 50+; the national introduction of New Deal for Partners; launching call centres for jobseekers; implementation of Employment Zones; and launch of ONE pilots in conjunction with local authorities and the private and voluntary sectors.

  The Department does not allocate specific budgets for official hospitality and it is not possible to provide expenditure information back to 1997–98 for the Department for Work and Pensions, which has existed only since 1 April 2001. The figures for 2001–02 and 2002–03 therefore are the only expenditure figures relating to the Department for Work and Pensions.
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  In order to provide figures which are reasonably comparable, information for the earlier years has been provided by combining expenditure on "official hospitality" by the former Department of Social Security (DSS), and on "official entertainment" by the former Employment Service (ES) which, together with relatively small numbers of staff from the Employment Policy Divisions of the former Department for Education and Employment (DFEE), combined to form the new Department for Work and Pensions. However, the expenditure incurred by the Employment Policy Divisions of DFEE is not separately identifiable.

  Estimated expenditure1 on official hospitality on this basis is as follows:

  1Figures rounded to the nearest £000.

  £

  1997–98

  46,000

  DSS+ES

  1998–99

  86,000

  DSS+ES

  1999–2000

  327,000

  DSS+ES

  2000–01

  127,000

  DSS+ES

  2001–02

  155,000

  DWP

  2002–03

  250,000

  DWP

  Note.

  Outturn figures for 2003–04 will be available in spring 2004.

  Disability Living Allowance Fraud
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what checks the Government have in place continually to assess a person's eligibility for the disability living allowance in order to protect the system against fraudulent claims. [141960]

  Mr. Pond
  The DLA Periodic Enquiry has introduced checks of Disability Living Allowance awards to ensure that those entitled to the benefit receive, and continue to receive, their correct entitlement, although it is not regarded primarily as an anti fraud measure.

  The process involves gathering up-to-date evidence about the customer's care and mobility needs, and making adjustments to the award of the benefit where appropriate. Changes in awards may be appropriate for example where the customer's condition improves or worsens, or where they adapt to their disability and therefore have fewer needs. Since the inception of Periodic Enquiry, 70 per cent. of the cases examined have resulted in no change to entitlement. Of the 30 per cent. of cases where the level of entitlement changed, two thirds resulted in entitlement to a higher level of award and in the remaining one third of cases entitlement either reduced or was extinguished altogether.

  E-mail
  Linda Gilroy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many inquiries his Department have received from pensioners by e-mail in each of the last three years. [143525]

  Malcolm Wicks
  From December 2002 to November 2003 a total of 21,806 emails were received from pensioners through our website. This figure does not include emails sent directly to The Pension Service Chief Executive's office, Ministers' offices, or other departmental email addresses that pensioners may have
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  obtained through sources other than our website. Figures fore-mail correspondence are unavailable before December 2002.

  Employment Retention and Advancement Project
  Mr. George Osborne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the(a) status of and (b) timescale for completion of the Employment Retention and Advancement Project is. [145117]

  Mr. Browne
  The Employment Retention and Advancement Project went live on 27 October 2003 in the following Jobcentre Plus districts:

  South East Wales;

  North East London;

  Renfrewshire, Inverclyde, Argyll and Bute;

  Gateshead and South Tyneside;

  Derbyshire.

  Manchester will begin delivering the programme on 5 January 2004.

  The Employment Retention and Advancement Scheme will recruit customers for one year and the programme will run for three years. The programme will end in July 2007 except in Manchester where it will end in September 2007.

  Exceptions Service
  Lembit Öpik
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether claimants who have failed to respond to the Government's Direct Payment invitation letter before 2005 will be automatically transferred to the exceptions service; and what criteria will need to be met to qualify for the exceptions service. [144113]

  Mr. Pond
  We will be further contacting customers who continue to be paid by orderbook.

  We have always recognised that there will be a small number of people who we cannot pay directly into an account. Our plan is to design an exceptions method of payment to properly meet the needs of customers in these circumstances. It is anticipated that it will be a cheque-based solution. Payment outlets will include Post Office branches. We are in the process of discussing the design of the exceptions method of payment with the representative bodies most directly affected.

  Fair Trade Products
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether it is the policy of his Department to use fair trade products, as a matter of course, in(a) sales on Departmental premises and (b) receptions and meetings involving staff and visitors. [142801]

  Maria Eagle
  The Government are committed to supporting the Fairtrade Foundation's efforts in promoting the supply and marketing of Fairtrade products. Where practicable, the Department aims to purchase sustainable goods for sale on departmental premises and for receptions and meetings.

  We are currently discussing with our estates partner, LandSecurities Trillium, the feasibility of introducing a target to increase the supply of Fairtrade goods.
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  However, in offices that do not have catering facilities, this is wholly dependent on the availability of Fairtrade goods through small local suppliers.

  Financial Services Industry
  John Barrett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what discussions he has had with representatives of the UK financial services industry regarding the transfer of jobs abroad; and if he will make a statement. [142838]

  Ms Hewitt
  I have been asked to reply.

  I am in regular contact with the financial services industry, as with many other sectors. In relation to the transfer of jobs abroad, we need to understand better what is happening, and to this end we have launched a consultation document inviting views from businesses—including those from the financial services industry, employees and their unions, and consumer groups. We will also be holding a round-table seminar in the New Year, to help inform the debate on the impacts of offshoring. The Government are also an observer on the Scottish Financial Services Strategy Group, recently set up by the Scottish Executive, which has a remit to boost financial services in Scotland and is also considering the impacts of outsourcing.

  Guaranteed Minimum Pension
  Mr. Woodward
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans the Government have to re-instate the full guaranteed minimum pension for members of final salary schemes where the assets of the scheme are insufficient to buy the full amount of guaranteed minimum pension when the scheme is wound-up. [144076]

  Malcolm Wicks
  Members of contracted-out occupational pension schemes can already, in certain circumstances, have some or all of their state scheme rights restored for the period they were contracted-out.

  Deemed buyback—the mechanism for restoring members' guaranteed minimum pensions—was introduced as part of the Pensions Act 1995. Deemed buyback can be applied when the date the scheme started to wind up is on or after 6 April 1997. It is dependant on the scheme meeting certain conditions.

  Where deemed buyback applies, the Inland Revenue can accept a lower amount from underfunded schemes than it would normally cost to restore the individual's rights in the state scheme. The actual transfer value held for each scheme member for whom deemed buyback applies is paid to the Inland Revenue, with the result of either the remainder being "deemed", or the member's rights being partially instead of fully restored, thereby extinguishing the scheme's liability to provide the member with contracted-out benefits.

  The final decision to buyback into the state scheme will be taken by the individual scheme member.

  Mr. Woodward
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what estimate the Government have made of the(a) proportion and (b) number of people who are entitled to a guaranteed minimum pension from their contracted-out final salary pension

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  schemes who will not receive their full entitlement due to the winding up of their employer's final salary pension scheme; [144077]

  (2) what estimate the Government have made of the number of people who are entitled to a guaranteed minimum pension from final salary pension schemes that (a) have been wound up and (b) are being wound up by (i) solvent and (ii) insolvent employers. [144081]

  Malcolm Wicks
  It is not possible to provide accurate estimates of the number of people entitled to a guaranteed minimum pension or those who might not receive their full entitlement in these circumstances. In order to produce such estimates, data on individual schemes' funding positions would be required. However, detailed information on this area is not available from existing data sources. Funding position information is particularly hard to obtain, given that it is highly sensitive to investment decisions and conditions in financial markets.

  The Pensions Schemes Registry (PSR), administered by the Occupational Pension Schemes Regulatory Authority (OPRA), holds information on the number of final salary schemes which are currently in the winding-up process and the number of schemes which have entered and completed winding-up. The registry database is, however, limited in a number of ways as described in the following footnote. Consequently, it does not provide a continuous record of the status of schemes, though it nevertheless remains the most comprehensive source of information available on the aggregate number of pension schemes in the UK.

  >Note:

  The Pension Schemes Registry (PSR) is not designed or intended to provide a comprehensive or continuous statistical record of the status of schemes. The PSR registers schemes for tracing purposes and collects the levy from pension schemes, including those in the process of winding-up. New scheme data are being reported to the PSR on a continuous basis. Therefore, the figures are subject to continuous revision. When a scheme has changed status, the previous status of the scheme is not recorded on the registry. Schemes have up to 12 months to notify OPRA of any status change.

  Incapacity Benefit
  Mr. George Osborne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions [pursuant to his answer to the right hon. Member for Newcastle upon Tyne East and Wallsend, of 1 December,Official Report, column 14W], what plans he has to invite (a) private companies and (b) voluntary organisations to pilot incapacity benefit programmes. [144602]

  Maria Eagle
  Plans for the Incapacity Benefit Reforms pilots have already been put in place and the first three began operations on 27 October; planning for the next four pilot areas is well-advanced and operations will commence in April 2004. The pilots are managed and run by Jobcentre Plus. From January 2004 one key element of the reforms, the condition management programmes, will be delivered in collaboration with NHS Primary Care Trusts (local health boards, in Wales). In some pilot areas the NHS may decide to contract with local providers from the private/voluntary sector in order to meet service demands.
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  The New Deal for Disabled People continues to support people on incapacity benefits into employment with a national network of Job Brokers. Organisations offering Job Broker services come from the public, private and voluntary sectors.

  National Employment Panel
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will publish the recommendations of the National Employment Panel for helping those on inactivity benefits back to work. [144934]

  Mr. Browne
  The National Employment Panel published their recommendations for increasing the numbers of lone parent who get, stay and progress in work in April this year in the report "Work Works". A copy has been placed in the Library.

  New Deal
  Mr. George Osborne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions for how long participants of the New Deal programme are tracked following completion of the programmes; and what independent assessment of the effectiveness of the timescale for tracking participants has been undertaken. [144596]

  Mr. Browne
  The tracking period for recording information on the destinations of leavers from New Deal programmes is 13 weeks. An independent assessment of the effectiveness of this tracking period has not been conducted, although research on the New Deal programme has been conducted by independent organisations, including that undertaken by the Policy Studies Institute and British Market Research Bureau (ESR67, March 2001), which is available in the Library.

  On the 16 December 2003, we announced the launch of the Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study which will link benefit and programme information held by this Department with employment records from the Inland Revenue. This work will improve our understanding of what happens in the longer term to people who leave our programmes, including the New Deal. We are also conducting a study to provide further information on New Deal unknown destinations and expect to publish the report on this survey next year.

  Mr. George Osborne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average cost per place was in the last 12 months of participants on(a) the New Deal for Young People, (b) the New Deal for Lone Parents and (c) the New Deal for Disabled People.[144597]

  Mr. Browne
  The New Deals are designed to ensure that individuals get the help they need by offering a tailored package of provision. There is, therefore, no such thing as an average participant, thus data is not collected on the average cost per place.

  However, as part of our evaluation of the New Deal programmes, average cost per additional job figures are available for New Deal for Young People participants; in 2000, we estimated that the average cost of a young person moving into work through the New Deal for Young People was around £4,000 per additional job.
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  In addition, cost benefit analysis published in June 2003 found that running the New Deal for Lone Parents in 2000–01 resulted in a net exchequer saving of £1,600 for each Lone Parent moving into work.

  Equivalent estimates of cost per job are not available for the other New Deal programmes.

  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the merits of reducing the time a person must be unemployed before being given New Deal 50 plus support. [145107]

  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make the help and advice offered by New Deal 50 plus available immediately rather than after a period of six months unemployment. [145126]

  Mr. Browne
  Currently around 75 per cent. of people claiming Jobseeker's Allowance aged 50 and over leave the benefit within the first six months. Therefore, New Deal 50 plus eligibility is set at six months to target help on those people who are in need of extra support to move into work.

  Sandra Gidley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people have(a) applied for and (b) received the £1,500 in-work training grant offered by the New Deal 50 Plus. [143938]

  Mr. Browne
  Between April 2000 and March 2003 5,520 people applied for and received the in-work training grant offered by the New Deal 50 plus. Jobcentre plus Personal Advisers discuss and agree training plans with eligible clients before the training is undertaken, therefore all those making an application will receive a grant.

  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to his answer of 8 December 2003,Official Report, column 325W, on New Deal for Young People. how many New Deal for Young People leavers moved into employment in each month between January 1998 and January 2003; and what his assessment is of the trend in the percentage of New Deal leavers moving into employment during that period. [144008]

  Mr. Browne
  The information has been placed in the Library.

  New Deal for Young People has been successful in helping more than 460,000 young people into work. It has helped reduce youth unemployment to around its lowest level since the mid 1970s, and, together with our other welfare to work policies, has been instrumental in virtually eradicating long-term youth unemployment.

  The percentage of people leaving New Deal for Young People for sustained employment may be distorted by the trend in leavers to unknown destinations, which has been steadily increasing since 1998. However, research undertaken on the destination of people leaving New Deal suggests that leavers to unknown destinations are just as likely to move into jobs as people leaving to known destinations i.e. 57 per cent.
  1100W
  On 16 December, we announced the launch of the Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study which will link benefit and programme information held by this Department with employment records from the Inland Revenue. This work will improve our understanding of what happens in the longer term to people who leave our programmes, including the New Deal. We are also conducting a study to provide further information on New Deal unknown destinations and expect to publish the report on this survey next year.

  Payment Modernisation Project
  Kate Hoey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) if he will place in the Library a copy of the document, Payment Modernisation Project, sent to field directors on 7 October by Mr. Alan Linton of Jobcentre Plus; [141420]

  (2) what advice has been given to field directors on encouraging more Jobcentre Plus customers to move to direct payment. [141421]

  Mr. Pond
  The document has already been widely circulated to hon. Members-it is now placed in the Library as requested.

  The Department has a published PSA target that by 2005 85 per cent. of customers will have their benefits paid by Direct Payment.

  The primary purpose of this document was to act as a reminder to staff of the need to ensure that new Jobcentre Plus customers are paid by Direct Payment from the outset of their claim. The document was designed to equip staff with the factual information they need to provide to customers, in order for customers themselves to choose the account which best meets their needs and circumstances.

  Pension Credit
  Sir Robert Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many of those in receipt of pension credit were not formerly receiving pensioners minimum income guarantee. [143361]

  Malcolm Wicks
  As at 30 November 2003 there were 302,000 Pension Credit households in Great Britain who were not formerly receiving the Minimum Income Guarantee.

  Notes:

  1. This figure was produced using data from the Generalised Matching Service (CMS), extracted at the week ending 14 November 2003 and up-rated to give an estimated figure at the end of November. Using end of November CMS data does not change the figure when rounding to the nearest thousand.

  Source:

  100 per cent. Generalised Matching Service (CMS) data.

  Mr. Laws
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent estimate he has made of the number of individuals who are eligible for pension credit; how many individuals receive pension credit in each region; and if he will make a statement. [143377]

  Malcolm Wicks
  The information is not available in the format requested. Information available as at the end of November, 2003 is set out in the following table.
  1101W

  Numbers eligible and receipt of pension credit by region

  Government Office Region

  Estimated number of households eligible for pension credit

  Pension credit recipients

  North East

  250,000

  125,000

  North West

  500,000

  281,000

  Yorkshire and the Humber

  350,000

  200,000

  East Midlands

  300,000

  141,000

  West Midlands

  350,000

  213,000

  East

  300,000

  149,000

  London

  450,000

  231,000

  South East

  350,000

  205,000

  South West

  300,000

  174,000

  Wales

  250,000

  120,000

  Scotland

  400,000

  217,000

  Notes:

  1. Figures have been rounded to the nearest thousand.

  2. Figures are based on Generalised Matching Service (CMS) data.

  3. Figures extracted weekend of 14/11/03 but rated up to give an estimated figure at end-November. Using end-November GMS data does not change the figures when rounding to the nearest thousand.

  4. Figures are for geographic Government Office Region (GOR) which is consistent with the Family Resource Survey, i.e. recipients have been assigned to a GOR according to where they live.

  Regional figures released in the December Progress Report published on 10 December are based on operational GORs.

  Source:

  IAD Information Centre, 100 per cent. sample

  Sir Archy Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of how much(a) single pensioners aged between 60 and 64, (b) single pensioners aged over 65, (c) pensioner couples aged between 60 and 65 and (d) pensioner couples aged over 65 will (i) receive and (ii) gain on average each week under the pension credit in each (A) constituency and (B) local authority area in Scotland. [143717]

  Malcolm Wicks
  The information has been placed in the Library.

  Paul Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what change there will be in the number of pensioner households and individuals who will qualify for pension credit in April 2004 as a result of the minimum income guarantee being increased in line with earnings while the savings threshold rises in line with prices. [144778]

  Malcolm Wicks
  We estimate that around 50,000 households will become newly entitled to pension credit in April 2004 following the increase in the pension credit guarantee credit and savings credit threshold.

  Notes:

  1. The figure is based on the Department's Policy Simulation Model, which makes use of 2001/2 Family Resources Survey data, projected forward to reflect changes in incomes, taxes and benefit rates to 2003/4, to estimate the extent of entitlement to pension credit for each benefit unit on the survey.

  2. The estimate is subject to a significant margin of error and given the likely inaccuracy it has been rounded up to the nearest 50,000.

  Mr. Stevenson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what he estimates(a) single pensioners and (b) pensioner couples will on average receive each week from pension credit in Stoke-on-Trent in 2003–04. [143878]
  1102W
  Malcolm Wicks
  The information requested is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is in the table.

  Weekly average amount of pension credit in payment at the end of November 2003

  £

  Local Authority

  All Pension credit households

  Pension credit households

  Pension credit individuals

  Stoke-on-Trent

  41.28

  48.9

  39.45

  Notes:

  1. Figures are based on 100 per cent. Generalised Matching Service (CMS) data.

  Data at 14 November 2003 has been rated up to give month end estimates.

  2. Local Authorities are assigned by matching postcodes against the relevant ONS postcode directory.

  Source:

  IAD Information Centre, 100 per cent. sample

  Pension Rights (Business Transfer)
  Mrs. Helen Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will include in the forthcoming Bill on company pensions proposals to assist employees whose pensions are affected by company take-over. [144969]

  Malcolm Wicks
  The Pensions Bill will include proposals to protect employees' on-going pension rights when affected by business transfer.

  TUPE Regulations do not currently provide any protection for employees' on-going occupational pension rights when businesses transfer. However, proposed legislation will require transferee employers to provide transferred employees, who were in an occupational pension scheme with the transferor employer, with either a defined benefit, defined contribution or stakeholder pension scheme. In addition, if the transferee employer sets up a defined contribution or stakeholder scheme, they must match employees' contributions up to 6 per cent. with more from either party at their discretion.

  The proposed debt on the employer regulations, published on 11 June 2003, will improve protection of employees' accrued rights if their scheme is wound up when their company is solvent. Legislation currently provides that, when a defined-benefit occupational pension scheme winds up, a deficiency in the pension fund becomes a debt on the employer. The proposed regulations will strengthen this protection by requiring that debt be calculated on the basis that a scheme wound up when the sponsoring employer is solvent should be able to meet the full costs of the rights accrued by scheme members.

  Progress2Work
  John Mann
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much Progress2Work has cost to date. [143751]

  Mr. Browne
  [holding answer 15 December 2003]: Progress2work is one of a number of initiatives we are introducing to provide more help to those who face the greatest barriers to employment. The programme is being implemented in three stages from April 2002; the third and final stage of awarding contracts will be completed by March 2004.
  1103W
  To the end of November 2003, £9 million had been spent on contracted provision for Progress2work. This figure excludes departmental administrative costs, which are not separately identified from other departmental running costs.

  Rent Service (Correspondence)
  Sir Archy Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will place in the Library(a) copies of his Department's correspondence since November 2001 with the Chief Executive of the Rent Service and (b) copies of the Chief Executive of the Rent Service's correspondence with the Rent Service's area manager for London. [143723]

  Mr. Pond
  Correspondence between the Department for Work and Pensions and the Rent Service is exempt from disclosure under the code of Practice on Access to Government Information. Correspondence is largely of a confidential nature, under Part 2 paragraph 2 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information, and to identify that correspondence which is not confidential would incur disproportionate cost.

  Correspondence between the Chief Executive of the Rent Service's and the Rent Service's area manager for London is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister as the Rent Service is an executive agency of his Department.

  Retirement
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to implement flexible retirement ages. [145127]

  Malcolm Wicks
  We are committed to extending opportunities for older workers. Our Green Paper 'Simplicity, Security and Choice: Working and Saving for Retirement', December 2002, outlined a number of incentives to help implement flexible retirement ages.

  From 2005, we propose changing the tax rules to allow people to continue working for the sponsoring employer while drawing their occupational pension. We intend to introduce more generous increases for deferral of state pensions including the option of a lump sum payment.

  From October 2006, we will implement age legislation covering employment and vocational training. This will include making compulsory retirement ages unlawful except in those cases where employers can show they are objectively justified. We will work with employers and representative groups to develop best practice and ensure that occupational pension rules do not discourage flexible working.

  In addition to this our Age Positive Campaign will continue to work closely with employers promoting and building on the known business benefits of recruiting and retaining older workers as part of an age diverse workforce.

  This is all part of our aim to encourage a flexible approach to retirement and reverse the 'cliff edge' by providing choice and opportunity for people to stay in work longer.
  1104W
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what representations he has received on(a) a flexible retirement age, (b) full employment for over 65s who wish to remain in work and (c) the operation of New Deal 50 plus to make support available immediately rather than after six months. [145130]

  Malcolm Wicks
  Our Green Paper 'Simplicity security and choice: Working and saving for retirement', in December 2002 set out our proposals for supporting flexible retirement and greater choice and opportunity for people to work up to and beyond state pension age where they wish.

  In response there was widespread support for flexible approaches to retirement, where that is based on individual choice and enables employers to retain experience and skills. Over 90 per cent. of respondents agreed with the proposal for individuals to be able to draw their occupational pension and continue working for the sponsor employer, with support coming from employers, individuals and representative organisations.

  Through our Age Positive campaign employers are increasingly expressing their support for removing compulsory retirement ages. However, some employers feel that retirement ages should be retained; the Department for Trade and Industry has been consulting on proposals for age legislation covering employment and are currently assessing the responses to inform a further consultation in 2004 on draft regulations.

  We have received a number of representations from organisations about the eligibility period for New Deal 50 plus. Currently, around 75 per cent. of people claiming Jobseeker's Allowance aged 50 or over leave the benefit within the first six months; New Deal 50 plus eligibility is set at six months to specifically help those people who are in need of extra support to move into work.

  Social Fund
  Mr. Love
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assistance the Government is providing to lone parents who are living below benefit levels as a result of loan repayments to the Social Fund. [144486]

  Mr. Pond
  The Social Fund is a vital source of support for people on low incomes, including lone parents.

  The Budgeting Loan scheme provides interest-free loans, available to those receiving income support or income-based jobseeker's allowance for at least 26 weeks and who satisfy the qualifying conditions. In addition, Crisis Loans are made to people who are suffering an emergency or disaster where there is no other means of preventing a serious risk to the health of the applicant or a member of their family.

  Repayment rates are set after taking account of deductions from benefit and all other debt repayment; where people find difficulty in meeting their loan repayments, they can apply to have their repayment terms reconsidered.

  Mr. Love
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans the Government has to replace the system of Social Fund loans with a grant system. [144487]
  1105W
  Mr. Pond
  We are considering the case for further reform of the Social Fund. However, interest-free loans allow efficient use of available resources to help large numbers of people, and have proven to be an effective way of enabling those on low incomes to cope with budgeting needs or short-term emergencies.

  In certain circumstances, non-repayable grants are available from the Social Fund. Community Care Grants are available for vulnerable people in a variety of circumstances. In addition the Social Fund provides grants to assist people with the costs associated with life events such as childbirth and bereavement.

  Student Incomes
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the number of full-time students in households where(a) Income Support and (b) disability benefits are paid; and in how many cases in each year since 1997–98 the attribution of the value of loans, grants and bursaries has occurred. [142326]

  Mr. Pond
  No information is available for disability benefits. However, Disability Living Allowance is not an income related benefit, and is therefore payable to anyone who meets the criteria, including students.

  The figures for numbers of students on income support are not available. The available information for students in receipt of a student loan and income support is in the table.

  Great Britain, Income Support benefit units with income recorded from a student loan at May each year from 2000–03

  Number of benefit units

  2000

  500

  2001

  1,000

  2002

  1,000

  2003

  1,400

  Notes:

  1. Figures have been rounded to the nearest hundred.

  2. Based on 5 per cent. sample and therefore subject to sampling variation.

  3. Benefit units refers to cases with either the claimants and/or partner (if they have one) receiving income from a student loan.

  4. Information is not available prior to 2000.

  Source:

  IAD Information Centre, 5 per cent sample.

  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what changes he proposes to make to the social security rules compelling full-time students in households reliant on benefits to take out or be deducted the full value of grants, loans and bursaries, in the light of the Government's proposals for higher education funding. [142331]

  Mr. Pond
  The benefit rules are regularly updated in order to take account of changes to the student support system. We will continue to ensure that any payments in respect of fees and course-related expenses are disregarded in assessing benefits while ensuring that the benefits and student support systems do not duplicate each other in providing for maintenance costs.

  Triplex Peterborough
  Mrs. Helen Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the pension fund prospects for employees at Triplex Peterborough. [144968]

  Malcolm Wicks
  The Government is aware of the situation of the employees at Triplex Peterborough, but has not made an assessment of the pension fund prospects in question. However, we have great sympathy for the uncertainties they, and other workers in similar circumstances, are facing in regard to their pensions.

  Winter Fuel Payment
  Annabelle Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many winter fuel payment claim forms have been issued in 2003 in each constituency in Scotland other than Perth; and how many such forms have been submitted. [142655]

  Malcolm Wicks
  The information is not readily available in the format requested but will be provided to the hon. Member and placed in the Library when it becomes available. However for all the constituencies in Scotland, excluding Perth, 3,337 claim forms have been issued so far for this winter and of those 2,504 have been returned.

  We are publicising the availability of Winter Fuel Payments and how to obtain a claim form. Those who need to claim for this winter have until 30 March 2004 to do so.

  Notes:

  Information to identify those likely to be entitled was extracted from the Departmental Central Index based on post codes.

  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many winter fuel payment claim forms have been issued in 2003; and how many claim forms were submitted before 19 September 2003 in order for people to receive their payment before Christmas, broken down by(a) region and (b) constituency. [143081]

  Malcolm Wicks
  The information is not readily available in the format requested but will be provided to the hon. Member and placed in the Library when it becomes available. However, the number of claim forms issued so far to people in Great Britain likely to become entitled for the first time to a Winter Fuel Payment is 302,353 and 171,547 claim forms were returned before 19 September 2003.

  We are publicising the availability of Winter Fuel Payments and how to obtain a claim form. Those who need to claim for this winter have until 30 March 2004 to do so.

  Notes:

  Information to identify those likely to be entitled was extracted from the Departmental Central Index based on post codes.

  Work and Pensions Projects (St. Helens)
  Mr. Woodward
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions which projects have been(a) wholly and (b) partly funded by his Department in St. Helens since 1997; when each project was announced; when it started or was expected to start; what funding was provided by (i) Government and (ii) a third party; what third party

  1107W
  provided funding; what the target group of the project was; what the projected outcome of the project was; and what the name of the project was. [141274]

  Mr. Browne
  Action Teams for Jobs, which were announced in May 2000, aim to help jobless people in the most employment deprived areas of the country find and remain in work. The St. Helens Action Team for Jobs was started in October 2000; it is wholly funded by the Department for Work and Pensions, receiving an annual budget of £400,000.

  St. Helens Action Team for Jobs is targeted at people in the following wards: Blackbrook; Sutton and Bold; Broad Oak; West Sutton; Parr and Hardshaw; and Queen's Park. The projected outcome was that the Action Team would find jobs for 280 people from the target group every year; so far the project has exceeded this target in each year. In the first nine months of 2003–04, the Action Team has helped 315 people into jobs.

  The Department also spends money on many other regional and national projects which also benefit those living in St. Helens.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Correspondence
  Mr. Kaufman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he will reply to the letter to him dated 10 November 2003 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mrs. M. Sam. [144639]

  Mr. Mullin
  My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary replied to my right hon. friend's letter of 10 November 2003 on 16 December 2003.

  European Constitution
  Keith Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last met the hon. Member for Birmingham, Edgbaston (Ms Stuart) to discuss the European consititution. [144226]

  Mr. MacShane
  During the period of the Convention on the Future of Europe, my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary had several meetings with my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Edgbaston (Gisela Stuart). Since the start of the Intergovernmental Conference, however, there have been no official meetings. I have had several conversations on Europe with my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Edgbaston.

  Mr. Rosindell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Estonian Government concerning prospects for a referendum in Estonia on the European Constitution; and if he will make a statement. [144676]

  Mr. MacShane
  My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has not discussed formally with the Estonian Government prospects for a referendum on the draft EU Constitutional Treaty. Our Embassy in Tallinn 1108W
  follows Estonian Government policy on this and other issues. The Estonian Government have said that it has no plans for a referendum.

  Food Supplements Directive
  Dr. Iddon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information has been given to the British embassies in each of the Member and Candidate States of the European Union about the practical implications for the UK health food sector of the provisions of the Food Supplements Directive; what action each embassy has been instructed to undertake to support the achievement of UK policy objectives in relation to the setting of maximum permitted levels for nutrients in food supplements; and if he will make a statement. [144873]

  Mr. MacShane
  The Food Supplements Directive 2002 lays out a framework for the future setting of the maximum permitted levels of vitamins and minerals in food supplements. Following this, the European Commission has to make a proposal listing EU maximum permitted levels for vitamins and minerals in food supplements. It has not yet done so and we do not expect it to do so for another 2–3 years.

  The UK continues to press its view—with the Commission and our EU partners—that maximum levels should be set on a safety basis. Our overseas posts have been kept informed of the follow-up to the Directive and have been asked to echo our general line with their own contacts.

  Give as You Earn Scheme
  John Barrett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many and what percentage of staff in his Department contribute to a charity through the Give as You Earn scheme; how much money is donated to charity per month by staff in his Department through the scheme; and what steps he is taking to encourage greater participation in the scheme by staff in his Department. [143902]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The answer is as follows:

  225 (3.8 per cent.) Foreign and Commonwealth Office staff contribute to a charity through the Give as You Earn scheme. The average total contribution is about £6,710 a month. In addition, many staff overseas give their time and money generously to local charities. We encourage staff to support their chosen charities through this scheme and have recently taken a number of steps to give it a greater profile, including information on the FCO intranet, a mail shot to all posts and dissemination of publicity posters.

  Guantanamo Bay
  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Attorney-General on sending Crown Prosecutors to Guantanamo Bay to consider what charges might be brought against the British detainees. [144838]

  Mr. Mullin
  None. Any prosecution of the detainees in the UK would be a matter for the police and the Crown Prosecution Service.
  1109W
  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what contingency arrangements have been made for the transport of British detainees in Guantanamo Bay to the United Kingdom to stand trial. [144839]

  Mr. Mullin
  None. Discussions between the Government and the US Administration on the position of all the British nationals detained at Guantanamo Bay continue. We have discussed, and are discussing, a range of options with the US, including the possibility of repatriation. The question of whether there will be a prosecution in the UK is a matter for the police and Crown Prosecution Service.

  Mr. Best
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on progress in the cases of the British prisoners held in Guantanamo Bay. [144331]

  Mr. Mullin
  Discussions between the Government and the US administration on the position of all the British nationals detained at Guantanamo Bay continue. As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister said during Prime Minister's questions on 22 October (Official Report, Columns 632–633), " … there are two alternatives: either sufficient undertakings will be given about the form of trial that the detainees will have under a military commission, or they will be returned to the United Kingdom". We hope to resolve the situation soon.

  Iraq
  Michael Fabricant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the Iraq Survey Group is expected to make its(a) next report and (b) final report. [144031]

  Mr. MacShane
  There is no set timetable for reporting by the Iraq Survey Group.

  Mrs. Heather Saunders
  Keith Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last met Mrs. Heather Saunders. [144227]

  Mr. Mullin
  My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary last met Mrs. Heather Saunders on 10 November 2003.

  Northern Cyprus
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the outcome of the elections for the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus Parliament on 14 December. [144878]

  Mr. MacShane
  My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary issued a press statement the day after the elections in northern Cyprus. A copy of the statement is available on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website: www.fco.gov.uk/policy/news/foreign-secretary.

  We remain committed to seeking a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement in Cyprus on the basis of the UN plan. We urge all concerned to seize the opportunity presented by this election outcome. What is now required is a clear demonstration of political willingness
  1110W
  to build on this result and to resume substantive settlement negotiations on the basis of the UN Secretary General's proposals as soon as possible.

  Olympic Games
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his policy is on the proposals by Greece for an Olympic Truce during the Olympic games in the summer of 2004; and if he will make a statement. [144877]

  Mr. Mullin
  The UK supports the idea of the Olympic Truce. It was pleased to co-sponsor the United Nations General Assembly resolution presented by Greece this year on 'Building a peaceful and better world through sport and the Olympic ideal', which included the concept of the Olympic Truce. Additionally, as a member of the European council, the UK agreed the presidency conclusions in Brussels on 12 December 2003, that "The European Council supports the idea of an Olympic Truce".

  Pitcairn Island
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the Pitcairn Island criminal cases which are to be tried in New Zealand are expected to be heard; what discussions his Department have held with the Pitcairn(a) Chief Justice and (b) Supreme Court on this matter; and if he will list those who occupy the positions of (i) Lord Chief Justice and (ii) judges of the Pitcairn Supreme Court. [144117]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  No date has yet been fixed for the trials, and no discussions have taken place between the Governor and the Chief Justice on their timing. It would be inappropriate to do so at present since the Supreme Court is still hearing preliminary arguments.

  The Chief Justice of the Pitcairn Supreme Court is Judge Charles Blackie. The other two Supreme Court judges are Judge Jane Lovell-Smith and Judge Russell Johnson.

  Roger Short
  Keith Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to honour the memory of Consul-General Roger Short. [142935]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  A memorial service was held in Istanbul this week for Roger Short, and services for all those who lost their lives will be held in Istanbul early in the new year. We are discussing separately with Mr. Short's family and the families of the other members of staff who were killed what other forms of commemoration would be appropriate.

  Student Visas
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to his answer of 8 December 2003,Official Report, column 239W, on student visas, what research he has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the reasons for the increased number of (i) applications for student visas and (ii) refusals; and if he will make a statement. [143952]
  1111W
  Mr. Mullin
  The Government have not directly commissioned any research into the increase in student applications. However, the British Council, which is partly funded by the FCO, has recently carried out research on the results of the Prime Minister's Initiative for international student recruitment which was launched in June 1999. Current indications are that the increases in the number of foreign student visa applications result from the success of the PMI marketing campaign aimed at attracting foreign nationals to study in the United Kingdom.

  In 2000 there were 125,139 student applications of which 16.1 per cent. fell for refusal.

  In 2002–03 there were 181,905 student applications of which 28.9 per cent. fell for refusal.

  All visa applications are assessed individually on their own merits so it is not possible to draw any general conclusions for the rise in the refusal rate. Possible factors might include the abolition of pre-assessment by UK visas (under which applicants who were unlikely to be successful were given the option to withdraw before the application was formally made) and improved methods of detecting forged documents.

  UN Declaration of Human Rights
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list countries which he considers to be in breach of Article 18 of the UN Declaration of Human Rights; in which respects each country is in breach; and if he will make a statement. [143192]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  We condemn instances where individuals or groups are persecuted because of their religion or belief. Where we believe a state to be in breach of its obligations in international human rights law, such as the obligation in Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights to ensure the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion, we take action, either alone or with our EU partners, on a case by case basis. Through our biannual Freedom of Religion Panel we work closely with NGOs and representatives of religious groups to identify countries and cases of particular concern. Our Annual Report on Human Rights highlights states which we believe to be the worst violators of the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion. This list is by no means exhaustive, but we do not believe that a league-table approach to human rights violations would add value to the important work already undertaken by NGOs in this field. A copy of our Annual Report on Human Rights has been placed in the Library of the House.

  Yemen
  Keith Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the Government's policy is on the readmission of Yemen to the Commonwealth. [144228]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  Yemen has never been a member of the modern Commonwealth. At their Meeting in Edinburgh in 1997, Commonwealth Heads of Government considered an application from Yemen. They agreed it would be kept under review in the light of the criteria endorsed by the Commonwealth Heads of 1112W
  Government. We welcome Yemen's wish to meet the obligations which would be entailed by Commonwealth membership.

CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

  1911 Census
  Mr. Carmichael
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs pursuant to his Answer of 10 December,Official Report, column 457W, on the Census (1911), what powers the Lord Chancellor has under the Public Records Act 1958 to release details from the 1911 census before 2011; and what conditions concerning confidentiality were agreed to by those who participated in this census. [144889]

  Mr. Leslie
  Section 5(1) of the 1958 Public Records Act provided for the general release of records after 50 years, and this was reduced in 1967 to 30 years. This section of the Public Records Act gives the Lord Chancellor the power to vary the normal closure period in relation to specific classes of records with the approval, or at the request, of the relevant minister.

  In 1966 the Lord Chancellor approved Instrument No.12, which sanctioned the closure of Decennial records for 100 years on the grounds that the information supplied by householders was given in strict confidence. The Open Government White paper (Cm 2290) of July 1993 recommended the retention of the 100 year closure period.

  The conditions quoted on the 1911 Census Householder's Schedule give the following assurance of confidentiality: "The contents of the Schedule will be treated as confidential. Strict care will be taken that no information is disclosed with regard to individual persons. The returns are not to be used for proof of age, as in connection with Old Age Pensions, or for any other purpose than the preparation of Statistical Tables".

  Call Centres
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what steps he is taking to ensure that British data protection requirements apply to customer information used by call centres outside this country operated by(a) UK banks and (b) other UK financial institutions. [144890]

  Mr. Leslie
  Where a company established in the UK either processes personal data itself in another country or has personal data processed on its behalf under contract by a company in another country, the UK company retains full responsibility for ensuring that the processing complies with the requirements of the Data Protection Act 1998.

  Compensation Orders
  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what(a) the total number and (b) the total value of compensation orders awarded by (i) magistrates' courts and (ii) Crown courts was in each criminal justice area in 2002. [144584]
  1113W
  Mr. Leslie
  Information on the total number or the value of compensation orders awarded by magistrates' courts is not collected centrally by my Department.

  The total number and the value of compensation orders made by the Crown court in each criminal justice area for 2002 is given in the following table entitled 'Compensation Orders made and total amount, by LCJB, 2002'.

  In addition, attached the Home Office Criminal Statistics Publication (Table SI, 6(A)), which shows that in 2002, a total of 106,881 offenders were ordered to pay compensation at magistrates courts (excluding summary motoring offences).

  Compensation orders made by the Crown court and total amount, by LCJB, 2002

  Local Criminal Justice Board

  Number of compensation orders made

  Total amount (£)

  Derbyshire

  152

  98,454.82

  Leicestershire

  144

  179,472.18

  Lincolnshire

  67

  68,548.96

  Northamptonshire

  49

  39,606.05

  Nottinghamshire

  125

  69,559.67

  Bedfordshire

  73

  249,971.61

  Cambridgeshire

  94

  73,438.10

  Essex

  215

  319,416.80

  Hertfordshire

  57

  66,557.85

  Norfolk

  113

  59,077.24

  Suffolk

  72

  88,959.29

  London Metropolitan

  1,182

  11,373,072.86

  Table S1.6 (A) Offenders ordered to pay compensation at magistrates courts by amount of compensation, offence group and average compensation1

  England and Wales 2002

  Number of offenders

  Amount of compensation

  Offence group

  Total

  £25 and under

  £26 up to and including £50

  £51 up to and including £100

  £101 up to and including £150

  £151 up to and including £200

  £201 up to and including £250

  Indictable offences

  Violence against the person

  7,754

  152

  948

  909

  669

  250

  371

  Burglary

  3,515

  77

  399

  325

  251

  470

  159

  Sexual offences

  253

  4

  27

  30

  20

  13

  9

  Robbery

  568

  1

  48

  26

  11

  143

  5

  Theft and handling stolen goods

  16,667

  534

  1,349

  1,003

  592

  5,321

  513

  Fraud and forgery

  4,110

  357

  292

  229

  198

  937

  185

  Criminal damage

  4,731

  86

  503

  524

  306

  391

  194

  Drug offences

  12

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  2

  Other indictable offences (excluding motoring offences)

  1,044

  41

  95

  78

  59

  63

  28

  Motoring offences

  96

  5

  13

  13

  5

  2

  21

  Total indictable offences

  38,750

  1,257

  3,675

  3,137

  2,111

  7,590

  1,487

  Summary offences (excluding motoring offences)

  68,131

  427

  4,831

  3,482

  1,862

  26,490

  1,363

  Total all offences (excluding summary motoring offences)

  106,881

  1,684

  8,506

  6,619

  3,973

  34,080

  2,850

  As sole or main penalty for all offences(excluding summary motoring offences)

  7,144

  127

  762

  640

  359

  866

  292

  £251 up to and including £300

  £301 up to and including £500

  £501 up to and including £750

  £751 up to and including £1,000

  Over £1,000

  Average comp £

  Violence against the person

  1,076

  770

  196

  2,206

  207

  231

  Burglary

  565

  330

  128

  747

  64

  208

  Sexual offences

  52

  15

  2

  79

  2

  188

  Robbery

  178

  1

  5

  149

  1

  79

  Theft and handling stolen goods

  2,789

  922

  412

  2,955

  277

  186

  Fraud and forgery

  614

  358

  193

  602

  145

  349

  Criminal damage

  883

  383

  133

  1,233

  95

  201

  Drug offences

  2

  —

  2

  5

  —

  177

  Other indictable offences(excluding motoring offences)

  227

  68

  26

  336

  23

  253

  1114W

  Compensation orders made by the Crown court and total amount, by LCJB, 2002

  Local Criminal Justice Board

  Number of compensation orders made

  Total amount (£)

  Cleveland

  152

  110,066.31

  Durham

  83

  132,746.01

  Northumbria

  160

  255,430.89

  Cheshire

  157

  388,541.05

  Cumbria

  53

  21,682.43

  Greater Manchester

  534

  321,195.93

  Lancashire

  233

  247,622.39

  Merseyside

  188

  143,121.33

  Hampshire

  274

  429,798.61

  Kent

  187

  548,588.63

  Surrey

  111

  176,465.49

  Sussex

  182

  207,725.46

  Thames Valley

  186

  217,716.75

  Avon and Somerset

  192

  221,299.70

  Devon and Cornwall

  237

  387,890.73

  Dorset

  92

  142,326.96

  Gloucestershire

  46

  69,787.93

  Wiltshire

  51

  215,217.59

  South Wales

  371

  317,036.19

  Staffordshire

  178

  124,713.92

  Warwickshire

  73

  79,417.69

  West Mercia

  143

  265,274.45

  West Midlands

  501

  585,626.54

  Humberside

  114

  94,516.51

  North Yorkshire

  57

  80,119.69

  South Yorkshire

  226

  180,578.13

  West Yorkshire

  259

  240,631.82

  Note:

  Figures for Dyfed Powys and North Wales LCJB's are combined in the South Wales and Cheshire LCJB figures respectively
  1115W

  £251 up to and including £300

  £301 up to and including £500

  £501 up to and including £750

  £751 up to and including £1,000

  Over £1,000

  Average comp £

  Motoring Offences

  7

  6

  2

  18

  4

  332

  Total indictable offences

  6,393

  2,853

  1,099

  8,330

  818

  217

  Summary offences (excluding motoring offences)

  12,164

  2,134

  682

  14,354

  342

  99

  Total all offences (excluding summary motoring offences)

  18,557

  4,987

  1,781

  22,684

  1,160

  142

  As sole or main penalty for all offences (excluding summary motoring offences)

  1,379

  530

  202

  1,872

  115

  187

  1 Excluding summary motoring offences

  Correspondence
  David Winnick
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs when the hon. Member for Walsall North will receive a reply to his letter of 13 November to Lord Filkin on the release of the 1911 Census records. [144856]

  Mr. Leslie
  I refer the hon. Member to my official's letter of 24 November in which we state that a reply will be sent by 22 December 2003.

  Departmental Identity Cards
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what assessment he has made of the implications of the introduction of compulsory identity cards for the Department. [144341]

  Mr. Leslie
  My Department is continuing to discuss with the Home Office and others the programme of work announced by the Home Secretary on 11 November.

  Electoral Commission
  Denzil Davies
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs pursuant to his Answer of 8 December,Official Report, columns 350—51W, on the Electoral Commission, how potential applicants for the position of Chair and/or member of the Electoral Commission were informed that an open competition would be held; and how many applicants indicated that they wished to be considered for the position of Chair. [144895]

  Mr. Leslie
  The selection process for appointments for the position of Chair and/or member of the Electoral Commission began in April 2000 with publication in the press of advertisements inviting applications to fill the posts.

  Due to the confidential nature of application forms it is not possible to state how many applicants indicated that they wished to be considered for the position of Chair.

  Denzil Davies
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs pursuant to his Answer of 8 December 2003,Official Report, columns 350–51W, on the Electoral Commission, if he will list the members of the selection panel which decided who should become Chair of the Electoral Commission. [144896]

  Mr. Leslie
  The members of the selection panel which decided who should become Chair of the Electoral Commission were: Elizabeth Filkin, the then Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards; Sylvia Denman, an academic lawyer specialising in equal opportunity issues; and Nigel Varney, the then Head of the Home 1116W
  Office Party Funding Unit. Sir David Omand, as the then Permanent Secretary at the Home Office chaired the panel.

  Give as You Earn Scheme
  John Barrett
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many and what percentage of staff in his Department contribute to a charity through the Give as You Earn scheme; how much money is donated to charity per month by staff in his Department through the scheme; and what steps he is taking to encourage greater participation in the scheme by staff in his Department. [143897]

  Mr. Lammy
  Currently, 534 members of staff in the Department for Constitutional Affairs contribute to charity via the Give as You Earn scheme. This represents a little over 4 per cent. of total staff in the Department. In November 2003 contributions to charity under the scheme totalled £4,839. My Department has had discussions with "The Giving Campaign" to determine what more can be done to encourage contributing to charity through payroll, and as a first step we are planning in co-operation with them to promote the present arrangements in the Department's staff magazine early in the New Year.

  Legal Aid
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs if he will make a statement on the implications for private practice in criminal work of the consolidation of the number of solicitors' firms to be supported under the legal aid franchise. [144882]

  Mr. Lammy
  The Legal Services Commission manages contracts with solicitors' offices which provide a comprehensive national network of quality assured legal services. The Commission is obliged by statute to ensure it achieves value for money and has therefore recently announced its intention to further develop its approach to contracting CDS services. In major urban areas, where services are often supplied through a multiplicity of relatively small contracted offices, this is likely to result in a reduction in the number of contracted offices, each undertaking greater volumes of work, but no reduction in the overall availability of services to the public. Outside the major urban areas, and particularly in rural areas, the Commission will be looking to provide arrangements which support and encourage supply in ways which recognise the need for access to quality services and the particular challenges facing solicitors in these areas.

  Mental Incapacity Bill
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what account is being taken in the Draft Mental Incapacity Bill of measures to improve support for people with learning disabilities requiring help to reach decisions affecting their future health needs. [144958]

  Mr. Leslie
  The Draft Mental Incapacity Bill will greatly improve decision making for people with learning disabilities by setting out the key principles that everyone must be assumed to have capacity and that 'all practicable steps' must be taken to help people make their own decisions. This will provide empowerment for people with learning difficulties in all decision making.

  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what his plans are for the draft Bill on mental incapacity; and what his policy is on the timing of that draft Bill in relation to the revised Mental Health Bill. [142111]

  Mr. Leslie
  A draft Mental Incapacity Bill was scrutinised by a Joint Committee during the summer and their report was published on 28 November. My Department is working together with the Department of Health and stakeholders to consider the Committee's recommendations. We will seek to introduce the Bill in the current session of Parliament. With regard to the revised Mental Health Bill, there is no relationship between the timings of the two Bills, but I am aware that the Mental Health Bill will be subject to pre-legislative scrutiny early next week. My Department continues to work closely with the Department of Health to ensure that the proposals are consistent with each other.

  Public Defender Service
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs if he will make a statement on progress in expanding the role of the Public Defender Service. [144881]

  Mr. Lammy
  The Legal Services Commission opened two further Public Defender Service offices in 2003, making a total of eight offices. There are no current plans to open further offices before the end of the four-year pilot in 2005. But the Government and the LSC have always said that the PDS provides a flexible option to deliver criminal defence services where existing provision is low, or of poor quality. We will review the future role of the PDS in the provision of criminal defence services, taking into consideration the researchers' evaluations of the PDS.

HEALTH

  Aphasia
  Mr. David Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what steps are being taken to develop and produce accurate measures of aphasia; [144525]

  (2) what steps are being taken to improve the quality of services available to people with aphasia; [144526]
  1118W
  (3) what steps are being taken to support services development for people with aphasia based on accurate measures of need and performance; [144527]

  (4) what steps are being taken to improve access to speech and language therapy for aphasic people. [144535]

  Mr. Hutton
  Primary care trusts have the responsibility of improving the health of the community, securing the provision of high quality services, and integrating health and social care locally. They have the resources to commission services, and to identify the number of professional staff that they need to deliver those services. This process provides the means for addressing local health needs within the community including the provision of speech and language therapy. No steps are being taken centrally to develop or produce measures of either the severity of aphasia or treatment outcomes.

  Chemotherapy-induced Anaemia
  Mr. Havard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients received blood transfusions for chemotherapy-induced anaemia in each year since 1997. [144494]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  Information on the number of patients who receive blood transfusions for chemotherapy induced anaemia is not collected centrally.

  Mr. Havard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps are being taken to inform cancer patients about the alternatives to blood transfusion for chemotherapy-induced anaemia. [144495]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  There is a national patient information leaflet produced by the National Blood Service for patients who may receive a blood transfusion. The leaflet includes a section on alternatives to blood transfusions—although this is directed principally at surgical rather than cancer patients. When the leaflet is next reviewed consideration will be given to providing more information on other possible alternatives to blood transfusion. In addition, guidance on information provision for cancer patients will be included in the supportive and palliative care guidance currently being produced by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence for publication next year.

  Community Paediatric Service
  Mr. Gardiner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many referrals of children up to the age of five years there were to the Community Paediatric Service in England and Wales in each year since 1997; and who initiated the referrals. [144137]

  Dr. Ladyman
  Information is not available in the form requested.

  Data about new episodes of care with the community paediatric nursing services in England are published in "Patient Care in the Community, NHS Specialist Care Nursing, Summary information for 2002–03, England"—available at http://www.doh.gov.uk/kc590203.

  The data collected do not include the age of the children involved or source of referral. The table shows numbers of new episodes in the financial years 1997–98 to 2002–03.
  1119W

  Initial contacts with community paediatric nurses, England, 1997–98 to 2002–03

  Number of initial contacts

  1997–98

  33,200

  1998–99

  36,000

  1999–2000

  37,100

  2000–01

  40,200

  2001–02

  41,100

  2002–03

  43,600

  Note:

  Referrals to community paediatric nurses are not necessarily the same as referrals to community paediatric services—which usually relate to medical services and a different client mix.

  Correspondence
  David Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will reply to the letter of 10 November 2003 from the hon. Member for Walsall, North, on the Royal Commission on Long Term Care, transferred to his Department from the Department for Work and Pensions. [144855]

  Dr. Ladyman
  A reply was sent to the hon. Member on 15 December 2003.

  Delayed Discharges (Suffolk)
  Mr. David Ruffley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what estimate he has made of the number of delayed discharge patients awaiting a domiciliary care package in Suffolk on the latest date for which figures are available; [143526]

  (2) what percentage of delayed discharge patients in (a) England and (b) Suffolk West had been waiting over 28 days for a transfer of care on (i) 1 September 2003 and (ii) 1 September 2002. [143644]

  Dr. Ladyman
  There were nine patients in Suffolk who were delayed in hospital awaiting a domiciliary care package in their own homes at the beginning of December 2003.

  In September 2003 in England, 26.3 per cent. of patients who experienced a delayed transfer of care from hospital for a period of 28 days or over, and in Suffolk West Primary Care Trust the figure was 38.89 per cent. This compares to 34.2 per cent. in England and 46.4 per cent. in Suffolk West PCT in September 2002.

  Departmental Job Losses
  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the results were of the Executive Agency review of job losses in his Department; and what the cost of the review was. [143054]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State, announced at the Health Select Committee on 30 October that he intends to undertake a review in 2004 of the Department's arm's length bodies. This review will embrace executive non-departmental public bodies and special health authorities as well as executive agencies.

  Electronic Care Record System
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will increase the number of doctors in practice to make up any shortfall in the NHS as the integrated care record system is introduced. [142705]

  Mr. Hutton
  There will not be a need to increase the number of doctors in practice in the National Health Service as a consequence of the introduction of the integrated care record system. The system will in fact produce efficiency savings for clinicians across the NHS. For example, summaries of records will be available across the whole of the NHS along with the necessary information to support clinical decisions.

  Some of the areas where doctors will save time include:
  Summarising records which are transferred by post between general practitioner practices;
  Having to read through large quantities of unsorted information prior to conducting consultations;
  Waiting for paper based information including results to be transferred around hospitals and between trusts to facilitate clinical decisions;
  Re-typing and re-entering information which has already been captured electronically elsewhere in the NHS.

  Five-a-Day Programme
  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how the participants are being selected for the FACET; and what its projected total cost is. [144561]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The impact of fruit and vegetable consumption in the 66 primary care trusts (PCTs) running Five-a-Day community initiatives is being evaluated using the Five-a-Day Consumption Evaluation Tool (FACET). The participants are being selected randomly from the electoral register for the 66 PCTS and control areas matched for multiple deprivation index. The total cost of the evaluation is estimated to be £330,000.

  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department has spent on the(a) logo development and (b) communications programme for the National Five-a-Day Programme. [144572]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The Five-a-Day logo is part of a wider educational programme to provide clear and consistent information on the benefits of eating at least five portions of a variety of fruit and vegetables a day. The cost to date of developing the Five-a-Day logo and related communications, including materials for use in primary care settings throughout the national health service, has been £549,000.

  Food Standards Agency
  Barbara Follett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many times in each of the last five years representatives of(a) the farming sector, (b) the food manufacturing sector, (c) the food retail sector, (d) consumer organisations, (e) academia and (f) other sectors have made presentations to the Food Standards Agency Board that are not recorded in the agency's board papers; [144025]
  1121W
  (2) how many briefing sessions not included in the agency's board papers have been held before the board of the Food Standards Agency. [144026]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  A total of 42 informal briefing sessions have been arranged for the board of the Food Standards Agency (FSA) since it established on 1 April 2000, as shown in the table.

  Total number of informal briefing sessions

  Number

  2000

  9

  2001

  10

  2002

  8

  2003

  15

  It is normal practice for informal briefing sessions to include a range of stakeholders or individuals with different views or perspectives on an issue. Details of the total number of informal briefing sessions organised for the board of the FSA since it was established on 1 April 2000 are shown in the table. Also indicated is the number of times specific sectors have participated in these informal briefing sessions. The figures for other sectors include participation by Government Departments, chairs or members of expert/advisory committees, enforcement organisations, professional associations and individuals.

  2000

  2001

  2002

  2003

  Total number of informal briefing sessions

  9

  10

  8

  15

  Including participation by the following groups:

  Farming sector

  —

  —

  —

  1

  Food manufacturing sector

  —

  —

  —

  1

  Food retail sector

  —

  2

  —

  1

  Consumer organisations

  2

  3

  1

  4

  Academia

  2

  1

  —

  2

  Other sectors

  15

  18

  12

  20

  The board of the FSA has recently agreed to publish the topics of, and (subject to their agreement) the groups invited to participate in, future informal board briefing sessions. This information will be published with papers put to open board meetings, beginning with the board's next open meeting on 12 February 2004.

  Fraud
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the amount of fraud in the NHS; and what research his Department has commissioned to estimate the level of unidentified fraud in the NHS.[144591]

  Mr. Hutton
  The National Health Service Counter Fraud and Security Management Service (NHS CFSMS) has an on-going programme of highly accurate risk measurement exercises—accurate to plus or minus 1 per cent.—designed to reveal levels of losses and, through repeated exercises, reductions in such losses, where they take place.

  Phase one of these exercises concentrated on patient fraud. The tables show the results.
  1122W

  £ million

  Year data selected

  Fraud losses

  Pharmaceutical patient fraud

  1998–99

  117

  1999–2000

  69

  Dental patient fraud

  1999–2000

  40.3

  2000–01

  30

  Optical patient fraud

  1999– 2000

  13.25

  2001– 02

  10.17

  A statistically valid sample of those prescriptions prescribed during March 2003 has been taken and a further measurement exercise has been completed. Further reductions in pharmaceutical patient fraud are anticipated and figures will be produced later this month.

  Phase two of the programme is now focussing on contractor fraud within the NHS. As the measurement programme extends, it will enable NHS CFSMS to accurately assess the totality of NHS fraud.

  Total patient fraud losses have reduced from approximately £170 million to £109.17 million per year, a reduction of 36 per cent. since the creation of NHS CFSin 1998.

  Fraud in the NHS is not acceptable. It deprives the NHS of the resources needed for the delivery of patient care and the continuing improvement of frontline services.

  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what work the NHS counter-fraud unit is undertaking on the use of agency staff in the NHS; and if he will make a statement. [144595]

  Mr. Hutton
  The National Health Service Counter Fraud Service, now Counter Fraud and Security Management Service (CFSMS), was created in 1998 with a remit to tackle fraud and corruption within the NHS. So far, it has produced a financial benefit to the NHS of more than £295 million. It works with more than 400 professionally trained and accredited local counter fraud specialists covering every health body in England and Wales.

  NHS bank and agency staff are an integral part of the NHS work force, but there is, unfortunately, a small minority of these staff who take advantage of the NHS and its resources. CFSMS have identified bank and agency timesheet fraud as a significant area of fraud and investigations, to date, have resulted in 33 criminal prosecutions. Some of the individuals involved have received terms of imprisonment ranging from nine to 21 months. Criminal prosecution is not the only action taken and CFSMS pursues a parallel sanctions policy, seeking to combine appropriate disciplinary procedures with civil action to freeze and recover assets.

  The CFMS is engaged in a national proactive exercise aimed at highlighting system and policy weaknesses in the NHS. As a result, information will be sent to the whole of the NHS in England and Wales on how to improve systems, stop the fraudulent practices that put resources at risk and prevent hank and agency staff fraud in the future. Local counter fraud specialists in NHS organisations that use bank and agency staff have

  1123W
  been required to check agency staff records, including timesheets, uncover incidents of fraud, assess systems used to monitor agency staff and deliver fraud awareness presentations to agency staff.

  This is the first of several exercises to be developed by CFSMS that will see NHS counter fraud specialists proactively detect and investigate fraud and where necessary apply tough sanctions.

  General Practitioners
  Dr. Murrison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the level of general practitioner involvement in community hospitals over the past three years; and what assessment he has made of how such involvement is likely to change in the next five years. [144400]

  Mr. Hutton
  We do not collect information centrally on the level of general practitioner involvement in community hospitals.

  Following the "Choice and Opportunity consultation", we are committed to undertaking a review of the arrangements for medical staff other than consultants employed in secondary and community care environments. Details of the scope of such a review will be considered in the light of the "Choice and Opportunity" consultation.

  Health Authority Staff
  Mr. Norman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many staff are employed within each strategic health authority in England broken down by staff group. [141916]

  Mr. Hutton
  Information on the number of staff employed within each strategic health authority area in England broken down by staff group as at September 2002 has been placed in the Library.

  Health Protection Agency
  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what improvements in(a) fighting infection and (b) dealing with chemical and radiological health issues have resulted from the replacement of the Public Health Laboratory Service with the Health Protection Agency. [144142]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The Health Protection Agency (HPA) has integrated into one organisation expertise which was previously located in a number of different bodies and published its first business and corporate plan in August, which identifies a wide range of key targets for its first five years.

  Since it was created, on 1 April 2003, the HPA has set up nine regional and 36 health protection teams across the country to bring a consistent approach to public health threats, and it has provided active management or assistance in a number of health protection activities. These include: an effective contribution to the international management of severe acute respiratory syndrome; leading the investigation of and assisting in the management of a national outbreak of salmonella infection; and providing expert advice in respect of a number of chemical incidents.

  Healthy Living Centres
  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the total funding being made available for Healthy Living centres is. [144564]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  In total, £300 million was made available by the New Opportunities Fund for healthy living centres across the United Kingdom, of which £233 million was for England.

  To date, 257 awards, worth £204 million, have been made in England.

  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what funding is being made available for Healthy Living centres with a focus on tackling obesity. [144567]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The information requested is as follows:

  114 healthy living centres (167 in the United Kingdom) are providing activities covering diet and nutrition and 207 healthy living centres (282 in the UK) are offering physical and sporting activities, which contribute to tackling obesity and which support other significant preventive health objectives such as reducing the risk of cancer and type- two diabetes.

  Mental Health
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking in conjunction with his counterparts in the Department for Education and Skills to promote awareness of links between physical and mental health in young people. [144842]

  Dr. Ladyman
  The children's national service framework (NSF) will provide an integrated view across all aspects of child health and development including the promotion of good physical and mental health of young people in schools and elsewhere. The Department for Education and Skills and the Department of Health are working jointly on the development of the NSF.

  Ministers in the Department of Health and the Department for Education and Skills have many regular meetings in which they have discussed health promotion and emotional well-being. In addition, officials at both Departments meet frequently to discuss services for children.

  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average waiting time for an appointment in mental health for patients under the age of 18 in(a) England and (b) each strategic health authority was in each of the last six years. [143711]

  Mr. Hutton
  The tables show the average (median) waiting times for first consultant out-patient appoint following general practitioner referral for the specialty child and adolescent psychiatry. As strategic health authorities have only been in existence since April 2002, it has only been possible to provide figures for one year.
  1125W

  Average (median) waiting times for 1st consultant out-patient appointment following GP referral: child & adolescent psychiatry: England

  Median waiting times (weeks)

  1997–98

  6.4

  1998–99

  6.1

  1999–2000

  5.9

  2000–01

  5.2

  2001–02

  6.5

  2002– 03

  6.8

  Source:

  Department of Health form QM08.

  Microbiologists
  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many consultant microbiologist posts are vacant in the NHS, broken down by region; [144372]

  Consultant three month vacancy rate in medical microbiology and virology for England at March 2003 by strategic health authority—England

  Strategic health authority name

  Vacancy rate (percentage)

  Number of vacancies

  Staff in post (WTE)

  England

  Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire

  0.0

  0

  14

  Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire

  1—

  2

  8

  Essex

  11.5

  1

  8

  North West London

  0.0

  0

  13

  North Central London

  4.9

  1

  19

  North East London

  0.0

  0

  14

  South East London

  0.0

  0

  14

  South West London

  8.0

  1

  12

  Northumberland, Tyne and Wear

  10.5

  2

  17

  County Durham and Tees Valley

  1—

  0

  9

  North and East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire

  0.0

  0

  11

  West Yorkshire

  6.0

  1

  16

  Cumbria and Lancashire

  0.0

  0

  14

  Greater Manchester

  4.9

  1

  20

  Cheshire and Merseyside

  0.0

  0

  18

  Thames Valley

  0.0

  0

  17

  Hampshire and Isle of Wight

  0.0

  0

  12

  Kent and Medway

  1

  1

  4

  Surrey and Sussex

  12.4

  2

  14

  Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire

  5.8

  1

  16

  South West Peninsula

  0.0

  0

  13

  Dorset and Somerset

  1—

  0

  7

  South Yorkshire

  0.0

  0

  11

  Trent

  0.0

  0

  14

  Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland

  1—

  0

  8

  Shropshire and Staffordshire

  1—

  0

  8

  Birmingham and The Black Country

  4.3

  1

  22

  Coventry, Warwickshire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire

  1

  0

  10

  Public Health Laboratory Service

  15.1

  5

  28

  1 Figures where sum of staff in post and three month vacancy are less then 10.

  Notes:

  (1) Staff in post data are from the Medical and Dental Census, March 2003.

  (2) Staff in post data exclude staff employed by Health Authorities, as vacancy information was only collected from Trusts, PCTs and Special Health Authorities.

  (3) Vacancy and staff in post numbers are rounded to the nearest whole number.

  (4) Calculating the vacancy rates using the above data may not equal the actual vacancy rates.

  The Department does not collect data on the number of newly appointed consultants in microbiology and virology. Workforce data are collected through the annual Department of Health medical workforce
  1126W
  (2) how many new consultant microbiologist posts have been created in England in each of the last six years; [144373]

  (3) how many training posts in microbiology (a) have been filled and (b) were available in each of the last six years. [144374]

  Mr. Hutton
  Vacancy data are collected by the Department of Health as three-month vacancies as at 31 March each year. These are vacancies which trusts are actively trying to fill, which have lasted for three months or more.

  The table shows the number of three-month microbiology and virology consultant vacancies as at 31 March 2003, by strategic health authority.

  census. Thecensus is a snapshot of data as at 30 September in the appropriate year. The information in the table shows the net increase in the number of microbiology and virology consultants since 1997:
  1127W

  Hospital, Public Health Medicine and Community Health Services (HCHS): Consultants within the medical microbiology
  and virology specialty—England

  Number (headcount)

  1997

  358

  1998

  362

  1999

  370

  2000

  389

  2001

  397

  2002

  431

  March 2003

  425

  June 2003

  383

  Note:

  Data as at 30 September 1997 to 2002, 31 March 2003 and 30 June 2003

  Source:

  Department of Health medical and dental workforce census

  The drop in the number of consultants between March and June 2003 is due to the re-categorisation of consultants to other specialties.

  Information on the number of training posts filled and available is not collected. The table shows the number of doctors in training in the specialty between September 1997 and September 2002. Numbers increased by 29 per cent. during this period.

  Hospital, Public Health Medicine and Community Health Services (HCHS): Doctors in training within the medical microbiology and virology specialty—England at 30 September each year

  Number (headcount)

  1997

  1998

  1999

  2000

  2001

  2002

  Doctors in training

  139

  136

  142

  141

  156

  179

  of which:

  Registrar Group

  125

  125

  131

  121

  143

  162

  Senior House Officer

  14

  11

  11

  20

  13

  17

  House Officer

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Note:

  '—' denotes zero

  Source:

  Department of Health medical and dental workforce census

  In 2003–03, central funding has been provided to support the implementation of eight additional specialist registrar (SpR) posts in microbiology and virology. Trusts also have the opportunity to locally fund up to 10 SpR training opportunities.

  Midwives
  Mr. Baron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many midwives(a) left and (b) entered the profession in each of the last six years in (a) London and (b) each region; what the turnover rate was in each case; and what the average age of a practising midwife was in each case; [144202]

  (2) what the average period was that a midwife had worked in the profession before leaving in each of the last six years, (a) in London and (b) in each region; [144210]

  (3) what the average overtime worked by a midwife was in each of the last six years, broken down by region; [144211]
  1128W
  (4) what the three-month midwifery vacancy rates were in each of the last six years in each (a) strategic health authority and (b) Government region area; and how many staff were in post in each case, broken down by (i) whole-time equivalent and (ii) headcount; [144246]

  (5) how many and what percentage of midwives working in the NHS were (a) full-time and (b) part-time in each of the last six years. [144287]

  Mr. Hutton
  [holding answer 15 December 2003]: Information on the number of midwives leaving and entering the profession, the average period that a midwife has worked in the profession before leaving, and the average overtime worked by a midwife is not collected centrally.

  Information on the average age of a practising midwife in London and each region and the number and percentage of midwives working in the National Health Service who were full-time and part-time in each of the last six years has been placed in the Library.

  Information on the rate of vacancies for midwives lasting three months or more since 1999 by Government Office for the Region, and since 2002, the first year the data was collected by strategic health authority, and a breakdown of staff in post in each case, broken down by whole-time equivalent and headcount has also been placed in the Library.

  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether student midwives will continue to have their liability for tuition fees met on their behalf by the NHS, without means testing, regardless of any increase in the level of fee. [144127]

  Mr. Hutton
  Existing contracts for midwifery training between strategic health authorities and higher education institutions cover the full cost of training, including the personal tuition fee. The consultation document, "Funding Learning and Development for the Healthcare Workforce", sets out our proposal for a national model contract. It is intended that this contract for national health service-funded pre-registration courses, to be introduced from 1 April 2004, will specifically prohibit the charging of top-up fees to students. If, under the proposed top-up fee arrangements, the existing tuition fee continues to be levied on students, then it will continue to be met by the NHS without means testing.

  National Health Statistics
  Mr. Baron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will list all the National Health statistics which the Government has decided no longer to(a) collect and (b) publish during the last three years; [143795]

  (2) if he will publish, for each of the last six years for which figures were available, each set of national statistics which the Government has decided not to collect during the last three years; [143796]

  (3) if he will publish, for each of the last six years for which figures are available, each set of statistics which the Government is considering no longer collecting; [143797]
  1129W
  (4) if he will list the national health statistics which the Government is considering no longer collecting or publishing; and which of these are undergoing a consultation process at present to assess the value of continuing to collect them. [143798]

  Mr. Hutton
  [holding answer 15 December 2003]: The Department is committed to minimising the burden on national health service and social care staff of collecting information while ensuring that information required to monitor performance and measure activity within health and social care system is available. As priorities change, statistical collections are reviewed and may

  Table 1—NHS collections discontinued between 1997 and 2003

  Return description

  Reference

  Year last collected

  Work area

  GP Fundholders and Health Authority commissioning activity and continuing care returns

  CIC, QMX, OT

  1997

  Hospital and Community Activity

  Wheelchairs and Artificial Limbs

  K073

  1997

  Hospital and Community Activity

  Purchasing Intentions of NHS Trusts

  P1(1), P1(2)

  1997

  Hospital and Community Activity

  NHS Performance Tables-Unit Details and data collection

  PT1 &PT2

  1997

  Hospital and Community Activity

  Summary of NHS Trust Activity

  QMX5

  1997

  Hospital and Community Activity

  Additional data items to be collected on waiting time returns

  1997

  Hospital and Community Activity

  Clinical Effectiveness Monitoring

  CLINMON

  1997

  Hospital and Community Activity

  Contract Cost Analysis

  MCP700

  1997

  Estates

  Maternity Medical Services Provided by GMPs

  SBE504

  1997

  Primary care

  Contraceptives Services Provided by GMPs

  D124

  1997

  Primary care

  Primary Care Act Pilots (PCAPS)

  1997

  Primary care

  ECR—ECR Tariffs

  ECR-ECR

  1997

  Finance

  Market Testing: Annual Returns & Result Cards

  EL(96)84

  1997

  Finance

  GP Fundholder Expenditure from Savings During year and Savings Available to Spend

  PC1–05, PC1–06

  1997

  Finance

  Plan Memorandum Information

  T8P

  1997

  Finance

  Trust Funds returns

  TAC101–109

  1997

  Finance

  Monitoring Local Pay

  LPNMIa

  1997

  Workforce

  Public Sector Payment Policy Performance

  (T)(6)

  1998

  Finance

  Cash Flow Forecast

  T7P

  1998

  Finance

  Abolition of HFR20 -Payments made from the joint finance allocation

  1999

  Finance

  Professional Advice and Support Programmes: Maternity Services (KC54)

  KC54

  2000

  Hospital and Community Activity

  HFR Summary Return of Patient Activity

  KP70

  2000

  Hospital and Community Activity

  General Ophthalmic Services (GOS) losses and Recoveries

  2000

  Primary care

  GP Fundholding Budget and Expenditure

  PC1–01 to 04

  2000

  Finance

  Monitoring of Delayed Discharges

  CCMON

  2000

  Miscellaneous

  Availability of Dentistry: Quarterly monitoring report

  A6

  2001

  Primary care

  Clinical Psychology Services

  KT24

  2003

  Hospital and Community Activity

  Table 2—Other statistical collections discontinued

  Last collected

  RH(N) Nursing care homes

  31 March 2001

  RA Residential homes

  31 March 2001

  Registration and inspection survey (number of home closures, etc.)

  2000–01

  Mid year data for seven Social Services Performance Framework (PAF) indicators

  2002–03

  Table 3—Statistical publications discontinued in the last three years

  Last published

  Activity, workload and resources of local authorities, health authorities and joint inspection clients; summary results of a survey in England

  1999–2000

  Community maternity services (KC54)

  1999–2000

  Residential Personal Social Services for adults (part now published as supported residents)

  2000–01

  Private Nursing Homes, Hospitals and Clinics

  2000–01

  Clinical psychology services (KT24)

  2002–03

  Patient Deterioration
  Mr. Rosindell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research he has commissioned on the extent to 1130W
  be dropped or revised, or new collections may be implemented.

  The Department is currently undertaking a thorough review of NHS statistical collections to reduce the burden that the centre places on the NHS. Details of the Department's current NHS statistical collections are available on the Department's website at www.doh.gov.uk/stats/rocr. Details of NHS collections discontinued between 1997 and 2003 are shown in table 1; information on other returns and publications discontinued in the last three years are shown in tables 2 and 3.

  which patients suffer deterioration in their disease prior to having an operation in (a) the United Kingdom, (b) Europe and (c) the United States. [143438]

  Mr. Hutton
  The Department has not directly commissioned such research, however, it has helped to initiate and is an active participant in a two year international Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development project on waiting times for elective surgery.

  Nurses
  Mr. Ruffley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average number of nurses per 100 beds was in(a) England and (b) the West Suffolk NHS Trust in each year since 1997. [143532]

  Mr. Hutton
  The information requested is shown in the table. Since 1997, the average number of nurses to every 100 beds in England has increased from 151 to 189 in 2002. In West Suffolk Hospitals National Health Service Trust, the number has increased from 100 to 127 in the same period.
  1131W

  NHS hospital and community health services: All qualified nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff per one hundred 'total available beds' in England and the West Suffolk Hospitals NHS Trust as at 30 September each specified year

  England

  West Suffolk Hospitals NHS Trust

  Headcount

  Whole-time equivalent

  Headcount

  Whole-time equivalent

  1996–97

  151

  124

  100

  72

  1997–98

  157

  128

  86

  64

  1998– 99

  163

  132

  107

  79

  1999–2000

  170

  138

  110

  81

  2000–01

  178

  143

  121

  93

  2001–02

  189

  152

  127

  97

  Notes:

  Figures are rounded to the nearest whole-number

  The 'total available beds' figure is the daily number of open and staffed beds on wards open overnight in NHS hospitals in England.

  Source:

  Department of Health Non-medical Workforce Census. 'Total available beds' figures are submitted annually on form KH03 by each NHS Trust

  Obesity
  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the projects being funded by his Department to tackle obesity. [144565]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The Department are leading on developing a Food and Health Action Plan, which will shape, co-ordinate and drive action to improve public health in England through better diet. Action on physical activity will be guided by an activity co-ordination team, jointly led by the Department of Health and the Department of Culture, Media and Sport. These two initiatives will be of direct relevance to the prevention and management of obesity and will provide the overall strategy.

  Projects funded by the Department which contribute to tackling obesity include:
  79 practice based projects to increase breast feeding and the annual National Breastfeeding Awareness Week
  the reform of the Welfare Food Scheme
  the Food in Schools programme
  the communications strand of the Five-a-Day Programme
  resources by non-Governmental organisations, including the British Dietetic Association Weight Wise website and Weight Concern's toolkit on obesity and guidance for health professionals for family-based behavioural treatment for childhood obesity
  work with industry to address the sugar, fat and salt content of the diet
  local exercise action pilots
  the distribution of pedometers via general practitioner practices the National School Fruit Scheme.

  Primary care trusts allocate funding from their own devolved budgets to deliver national targets and milestones and to meet local priorities, including work relating to diet, physical activity and obesity.

  Orthopists
  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimates he has made of the number of orthopists needed in the Health Service by 2006. [144190]
  1132W
  Mr. Hutton
  [holding answer 15 December 2003]Separate information is not collected in the non-medical workforce census on the number of orthopists employed in the National Health Service. The Delivering the NHS Plan target for increasing the number of therapists and scientists by 30,000 by 2008, over 2001 levels, includes orthotists as does the NHS Plan target for increasing the number of therapists and other key professional staff by 4,450 by 2004 over 1999 levels.

  There is only one course in England for prosthetists and orthopists that is commissioned by Cumbria and Lancashire Working Development Confederation. In 2002–03, there were 30 training places with 32 forecast for 2003–04.

  Paediatricians
  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many consultant paediatricians have left the NHS in each of the last six years; and for what reasons. [143048]

  Mr. Hutton
  The Department does not collect data centrally on. or reasons for, the number of leavers in the national health service.

  As part of the Department's recruitment and retention strategy, we are taking forward a programme of work to address key issues of concern to the medical profession. This programme of work is part of the "Improving Working Lives" initiative, which enables all staff, including consultants to strike a better balance between work and other aspects of their life outside work.

  Prisoners
  Julie Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of the 2002–03 budget for mental health in-reach work in prisons is dedicated specifically to women prisoners. [144069]

  Dr. Ladyman
  In 2002–03, £3,375,000 was made available for National Health Service mental health in-reach services in prison establishments in England, of which £425,000, or 12.5 per cent., was for services at six establishments holding only women. The comparable figures for 2003–04 are £9,400,000 and £903,000, or 9.6 per cent., at 11 establishments.

  Julie Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to ensure a consistent structure of oversight for prisoners' healthcare during the transfer of responsibility from HM Prison Service to the NHS. [144071]

  Dr. Ladyman
  In addition to routine performance monitoring by the Prison Service, Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Prisons and the independent monitoring boards at individual establishments oversee prisoners' healthcare. The Commission for Health Improvement's (CHI) responsibility for conducting reviews and investigations of healthcare extends to health services for prisoners commissioned or provided by National Health Service bodies. The Commission for Healthcare Audit and Inspection (CHAD will succeed CHI from April 2004.
  1133W
  Transfer of responsibility for commissioning health services for prisoners to NHS primary care trusts (PCTs) is due to begin in selected locations from April 2004, leading to full devolution of prison health resources to PCTs by the end of March 2006. As this process develops, prisoners' healthcare will come within the ambit of the normal NHS monitoring systems. We are considering with HM Inspectorate of Prisons and CHAI how the external inspection arrangements for prison health services should develop in the light of these changes.

  Public Health Laboratory Service
  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the funding levels were for the Public Health Laboratory Service in each of the six years before its abolition; and if he will make a statement. [144370]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The funding levels for the Public Health Laboratory Service (PHLS) in each of the six years in question are shown in the table.

  (£000)

  Revenue

  Capital

  Total

  2002–03

  62,867

  4,337

  67,206

  2001–02

  58,207

  5,355

  63,562

  2000–01

  58,423

  3,695

  62,118

  1999–2000

  59,211

  3,924

  63,135

  1998–99

  58,321

  2,030

  60,351

  1997–98

  56,385

  3,239

  59,624

  Source:

  PHLS audited published annual accounts.

  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health for what reasons the regional networks of microbiology laboratories were disbanded. [144371]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The Public Health Laboratory Service's regional network of microbiology laboratories has been replaced by the Health Protection Agency's (HPA) local and regional services division, which has a network of eight regional laboratories. This is supported by more than 300 National Health Service microbiology pathology laboratories across the country. The HPA has regional microbiologists (a newly created post in microbiology), who, working with regional epidemiologists and local communicable disease control teams. ensure that the public health outputs of the laboratories in their regions are maintained. This is a more comprehensive coverage of the public health needs across the country than was previously possible, filling some of the surveillance gaps identified by the Chief Medical Officer in his strategy for combating infectious diseases, Getting Ahead of the Curve.

  Respiratory Syncytial Virus
  John Mann
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether premature babies discharged from Guys and St. Thomas' Hospital in the last three months who were given the first course of their preventive treatment for respiratory syncytial virus will continue to receive that treatment by the hospital until their course is completed. [143682]
  1134W
  Mr. Hutton
  Guy's and St Thomas' National Health Service Hospital Trust has confirmed that all babies who meet the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) criteria for preventative treatment for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), including those for whom a programme has already been initiated, will have their full course of injections provided by the hospital. The protocol in use is the same as that used by other neonatal units in the Region.

  A second group of eight babies, who do not fulfil the criteria set out by the JCVI, were given the first dose at the hospital. The trust has reviewed the evidence and guidelines for this group in discussion with primary care trusts (PCTs) and parents, and is deciding on a case-by-case basis whether or not to continue the treatment.

  The trust has agreed with PCTs that it will not commence any new RSV courses which fall outside the current criteria without prior agreement with the regional specialist on infectious disease and agreement with the PCTs on funding for the whole course.

  Self-administered Treatments
  Andy King
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what his policy is towards new treatments which allow patients to self-administer at home; [144549]

  (2) what steps he is taking to help patients access new treatments which allow them to self-administer their treatment at home when recommended by their clinician. [144550]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  The Government's policy is to promote self-care and give patients greater control over their treatment. On 9 December, we published "Building on the Best: Choice, Responsiveness and Equity in the NHS". This document broadly sets out how we need to make the national health service more responsive to patients by offering more choice across the spectrum of health care. Redesigning services around the wishes and choices of different groups of service users will improve access to care and treatment and reduce health inequalities.

  Speech and Language Therapists
  Mr. David Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether speech and language therapy undergraduates will be charged top-up fees from 2006. [144536]

  Mr. Hutton
  Existing contracts between strategic health authorities and higher education institutions cover the full cost of training and top-up fees are not charged. The consultation document, Funding Learning and Development for the Healthcare Workforce, sets out our proposal for a national model contract. It is intended that this contract for National Health Service-funded pre-registration courses, which will include speech and language therapy undergraduates, to be introduced from 1 April 2004, will specifically prohibit the charging of top-up fees to students.

  Tuberculosis
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to his Answer of 8 December 2003,Official Report, columns 319–20W, on tuberculosis, what

  1135W
  research he has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the reasons for the increase in TB cases; what steps are being taken to deal with the problem; and if he will make a statement. [143951]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  The Department has not commissioned any research into the increase in tuberculosis cases. Within any given area, the number of notified cases fluctuates from year-to-year. The number of cases of tuberculosis notified nationally declined until the mid-1980s, but has been generally rising since then. The fluctuations in the number of tuberculosis cases in the Portsmouth and South East Hampshire area are not 1136W
  considered to have any additional significance beyond the national trends. At a local level, health professionals are constantly monitoring any cases and keeping the situation under general surveillance.

  The Department ran a national tuberculosis awareness campaign in 2002. This aimed to increase the awareness of tuberculosis, encourage early access to diagnosis and treatment and reduce delays in diagnosis and completion of treatment and encourage early diagnosis for cases of active tuberculosis and preventative measures. As a result of the campaign and improved surveillance, both detection and diagnosis of the condition has improved.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

  Regional and Local Referendums
  The Minister for Local Government, Regional Governance and Fire (Mr. Nick Raynsford)
  I have today published for consultation draft orders and papers on the arrangements for the forthcoming regional and local referendums:

  The consultation on registration and spending limits discusses how those wishing to campaign in the referendums (permitted participants) should register and how much money they should be able to spend. This paper will be accompanied by the draft Regional Assembly Referendums and Local Government Referendums (Referendum Expenses Limits for Permitted Participants) Order 2004.

  The consultation on combining regional and local referendums and on local referendum rules discusses the provisions being made for the combination of polls, the all-postal vote and other electoral issues. It is accompanied by the draft Local Government Referendums (England) Order 2004.

  Copies of the documents are available in the Libraries of both Houses. They will also be available on the website of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.

  The public consultation will run until 16 February and we would be very grateful for comments on these proposals.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Newton Committee
  The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Mr. David Blunkett)
  I am today placing the report of the review of the Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001 in the Library of the House.

  The Act came into force two years ago on 14 December 2001. The outrages committed on 11 th September meant that we faced a new and unprecedented threat. The nature of this threat has been further underlined by the terrorist outrages since then notably in Bali, Singapore, Kenya, Saudi Arabia and most recently Istanbul.

  The legislation introduced unique—though not unprecedented—powers. It was therefore right that a number of safeguards were put in place including an independent review committee made up of Privy Counsellors. This was established under the Chairmanship of Lord Newton of Braintree. I gave an undertaking that the Committee's report would be laid before Parliament and that both Houses would be able to debate the contents of their report. I am fulfilling the first part of that commitment today by presenting the report to the House at the earliest opportunity and look forward to debating the matters raised in the New Year.
  146WS
  I am grateful to Lord Newton and his Committee members for the work that has gone into this report and to all those who have contributed to the Committee's review. Their role as Privy Counsellors has enabled them to take evidence from a wide range of individuals and organisations including security and intelligence agencies.

  At its heart, the Act focuses on ensuring that there are effective powers in place for dealing with international terrorism. These powers complement those already in place under the Terrorism Act 2000. They were, and are, necessary as a direct response to the public state of emergency existing within the United Kingdom following the events of 11th September. The judgement of the Court of Appeal upheld this when considering the appeal against the derogation from Article 5 of the ECHR which was necessary before the key part 4 powers in the Act could be implemented. Other powers in the Act were needed to tackle crime and especially crimes which are closely associated with terrorism.

  As the House would expect given the nature of the legislation, the Committee makes a large number of detailed recommendations, which we are now in the process of considering carefully. I will also want to consider the report alongside that of Lord Carlile (the independent review of the Terrorism Act 2000 and Part 4 of the ATCS Act) and the work of the ISC.

  Some few of the Committee's conclusions can be implemented straightforwardly and quickly. For example, the Committee's point on statistics relating to the number of individuals detained under part 4 powers is well made—and I will ensure that these and the figures on terrorist arrests, which are already in the public domain, are placed on the terrorism website.

  I am also indicating to the House that I am willing to look very positively at many of Committee's other recommendations. For example, we welcome the Committee's recommendation that powers need to be enhanced to tackle identity theft, a crime that the Government have already identified as requiring urgent attention. We also welcome the Committee's support for strengthening measures to tackle terrorist finance. I will be publishing proposals shortly on strengthening our ability to deal effectively with all forms of organised crime.

  While I will, of course, look carefully at what the Committee has said in relation to the detention powers in Part 4 of the Act, I am not convinced that the current threat leaves us with any option but to continue to use these powers

  Part 4 of the Anti-terrorism Crime and Security Act 2001 introduced exceptional powers to counter the risks to the United Kingdom posed by terrorist activity of the kind that led to the events of 11 September. I have limited the use of the powers to the terrorist threat posed by A1 Qaida and the network of terrorist groups associated with it. The nature of that threat means that it is right to target those powers at foreign nationals. Because of that the specific powers we introduced are only used when an individual cannot be prosecuted and cannot be removed from the UK because of our international obligations, particularly Article 3 of the ECHR. Nonetheless all of those detained are entitled to

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  leave the United Kingdom at any time they chose—if a country is prepared to have them and countenance their presence—as two of those certified have already done.

  These were not powers I assumed lightly and I have only done so because of the nature of the threat that exists to the United Kingdom. I have never pretended that they are ideal, but I firmly believe that they are currently the best and most workable way to address the particular problems we face. My first responsibility is to protect the public and I believe that I would be failing to do so if the part 4 powers were removed from the armoury of measures available to protect the United Kingdom from specific terrorist threats. Ten of the detainees have already had their cases reviewed by the Special Immigration Appeals Commission—where they of course have the right to full legal representation—and in each case my judgement in certifying them has been upheld. I fail to see how the public would be adequately protected from those whom SIAC has confirmed are international terrorists by electronic tagging as the Committee has recommended. This is true not least because communication and organisation are as crucial here as custodial protection in a physical sense.

  The Committee conclude very firmly that terrorist are criminals—a view which I wholeheartedly support. I therefore do not accept that as a matter of principle we should separate counter-terrorism legislation from mainstream criminal legislation, terrorism does not fit neatly into such boundaries as has been acknowledged in both the original debate on the Act and the findings of the ISC.

  The Committee has used the provisions in section 123 to specify that the whole of the Act be considered when we come to debate its renewal. We will, of course, provide the House with the opportunity to do that. The Anti-terrorism and Crime Act 2001 has improved our ability to fight crime and terrorism and the scope and therefore title of the Act reflects that. I accept that my primary duty is the security and protection of citizens of the United Kingdom and that this measure is a key element in achieving that, look forward to a sensible arid informed debate so that we can continue to build on this foundation whilst recognising the need for appropriate safeguards.

  Draft Corruption Bill
  The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department (Paul Goggins)
  I am pleased to announce the publication of the Government response to the Joint Committee on the Draft Corruption Bill.

  The Draft Corruption Bill, which was published for pre-legislative scrutiny on 24 March 2003, was based on proposals from the Law Commission, which were widely welcomed in consultations carried out both by the Law Commission and by the Government. It aims to consolidate and clarify the criminal law on corruption which currently consists of a patchwork of common and statute law, with the latter dating back to 1889.

  The Government are grateful for the attention given to this draft Bill by the Joint Committee within demanding deadlines. The response, which we are publishing today sets out our reactions to their comments. A revised Bill will be introduced when Parliamentary time permits.
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  The proposed legislation forms part of our commitment to modernise and consolidate the criminal law and should be seen in the context of a multi-faceted strategy to combat corruption. The elements of this strategy were set out in the statement made to this House on 25 March by Hilary Benn. Progress has been made since then, not only on domestic law but also as regards the international law on corruption. In particular on 9 December the UK ratified the Council of Europe Criminal Law Convention on Corruption and signed the UN Convention Against Corruption.

  Yarl's Wood
  The Minister for Citizenship and Immigration (Beverley Hughes)
  On 8 December, the Daily Mirror published allegations about the management of Yarl's Wood removal centre including allegations that staff employed by Global Solutions Limited (GSL) at the centre had made racially derogatory remarks about detainees.

  I take these allegations very seriously. It is of the utmost importance that all staff at immigration removal centres should carry out their duties professionally and sensitively.

  GSL have mounted an internal investigation of the allegations by a senior manager, and I have asked for a report of the outcome of that investigation. In addition, the issues raised are such that I have concluded that it would be right to have a separate independent investigation, to establish whether there is any truth in the allegations and to assess the implications for the management of Yarl's Wood. Stephen Shaw, the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman, who is already inquiring into the events at Yarl's Wood on 14/15 February 2002, has agreed to undertake such an investigation, to report to me through the Director General of the Immigration and Nationality Directorate. I have asked Mr Shaw to complete this investigation as early as possible in the New Year.

  Ian Huntley
  The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Mr. David Blunkett)
  Ian Huntley has been found guilty of the horrific murders of Jessica Chapman and Holly Wells. Maxine Carr has been found guilty of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.

  No one can imagine the pain which the children's families must have endured. I hope they will find some comfort in the murderer's conviction.

  I have concerns, however, about the way in which the police handled intelligence about Huntley's past and about the vetting process when he took employment in a local school. I am determined, speedily, to get to the bottom of this.

  I have asked Sir Michael Bichard, Rector of The London Institute and a former Permanent Secretary at the Department for Education and Employment, to lead an independent inquiry with the following terms of reference:
  "Urgently to enquire into child protection procedures in Humberside Police and Cambridgeshire constabulary in the light of the recent trial and conviction of Ian Huntley for the murder of Jessica Chapman and Holly Wells. In particular, to assess the effectiveness of the relevant intelligence—based record keeping, the vetting practices in those forces since 1995

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  and information sharing with other agencies. Report to me on matters of local and national relevance and to make recommendations as appropriate".

  Sir Michael shares with me the view that what is needed here is an independent inquiry which gets quickly to the issues without putting the families and other parties through the stress which something long and drawn out could entail. He will expect full cooperation from all the parties. If he reports to me that this is unforthcoming I will not hesitate to use powers under section 49 of the Police Act 1996 which will allow the inquiry to summon and question witnesses.

  Additionally I have asked Sir Keith Povey, Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Constabulary, to look at an inquiry that the Metropolitan Police conducted into the police investigation and then to work with Cambridgeshire constabulary to implement the recommendations made. I will also want him to look at any lessons that could be learned by other forces facing a similar investigation.

  I will consider what further action may be appropriate when I have all the answers to the questions I have asked.

  Also my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Skills has informed me that the North East Lincolnshire Area Child Protection Committee will be commissioning a serious case review under the Government's guidance "Working Together to Safeguard Children".

  The aim of such a review would be to:

  establish whether there are lessons to be learned from the case about the way in which agencies in North East Lincolnshire worked together to safeguard children;

  identify clearly what those lessons are, how they will be acted upon, and what is expected to change as a result; and as a consequence. to

  improve inter-agency working and better safeguard children.

  I would hope that the Bichard Inquiry and the serious case review would together address the foil range of issues around safeguarding and protecting children that have arisen from this case.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Overseas Territories Consultative Council
  The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Mr. Bill Rammell)
  The fifth annual Overseas Territories Consultative Council, held in London on 8–10 December, provided an opportunity to review, with representatives of the UK overseas territories, progress in implementing the commitments made in the 1999 White Paper, "Partnership for Progress and Prosperity: Britain and the overseas territories" (Cm 4264).

  Several overseas territory representatives argued, in the context of constitutional reviews currently under way, for a greater devolution of responsibility and reduction in the powers of governors, in some cases amounting to full internal self-government and total abolition of the UK Government's reserved powers. Territory representatives also sought clarification of their rights of self-determination and free association under the terms of the United Nations General Assembly resolution 1541 of 1960.
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  I and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs emphasised that the security and good governance of the overseas territories remains a key foreign policy objective for the UK Government, as indicated in the White Paper "UK International Priorities: A Strategy for the FCO" Cm 6052, published on 2 December. Territories have the right to seek independence, where this is an option, hut, whilst the link with the United Kingdom remains, the UK Government will have to retain sufficient powers to protect its overall responsibility for ensuring good governance and compliance with international obligations and to minimise its contingent liabilities arising from its relationship with the territories. The UK Government consider it important to protect key values, particularly the independence of the judiciary, the political impartiality and integrity of the public service, and sound financial management in the territories. Governors have a key role to play in this.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  World Trade Organisation General Council
  The Minister for Trade and Investment (Mr. Mike O'Brien)
  At the Fifth World Trade Organisation (WTO) Ministerial Conference in Cancun (10-14 September 2003), WTO Members agreed to discuss issues further on the 15 December in Geneva.

  Since Cancun, all WTO members have reiterated their commitment to a successful conclusion to the Doha Development Agenda but it has not been possible for WTO members to bridge their differences. At the meeting in Geneva on 15 December officials from WTO Members agreed to further negotiations in the new year to discuss how to proceed with the Doha Development Agenda.

  This Government remain fully committed to securing a successful conclusion to the Doha Development Agenda. We will continue to work with our EU partners, the European Commission, and others, taking particular account of the views of developing countries. We are committed to ensuring free and fair trade rules which provide developing countries with the opportunity to trade themselves out of poverty and deliver on our commitments to reduce global poverty and remove trade distortions.

  Milk Marque
  The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (Mr. Gerry Sutcliffe)
  I am pleased to confirm that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry and the Competition Commission on the one hand and Milk Marque and the National Farmers Union on the other, have resolved the litigation between them concerning the recommendations of the Competition Commission and the decisions of the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry relating to the supply of milk in the United Kingdom, which preceded the break up of Milk Marque in 1999.

  The recent ruling by the European Court of Justice in this litigation (Case C 137/00) has clarified the law as regards the relationship between the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and the application of English

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  law, in particular the Fair Trading Act 1973 and competition law more generally, in the agricultural sector.

  The European Court of Justice judgment makes clear the freedom of Member States to apply competition law in the agriculture sector. However, the Court explained that, when they do, Member States must respect the objectives of the CAP, reconciling any conflicts, in such a way that none of the objectives is rendered impossible by any decision taken pursuant to domestic law. As the agricultural and dairy industries seek to come to terms with the effects of CAP reform on future business structures, I believe that all parties consider that the judgment will provide useful guidance for both industry and the UK authorities.

  Taking into account both this judgment and development in the milk market since 1999, I understand that Milk Marque and the National Farmers Union will not be pursuing their claims further.

  General Agreement on Trade in Services
  The Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (Ms Patricia Hewitt)
  The Government are today publishing a response to the DTFs consultation document "Liberalising trade in services—a new consultation on the World Trade Organisation GATS negotiations". Copies have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses, and are being sent to all who sent us their comments. The response can also be accessed via the DTI website http://www.dti.gov.uk/ewt/. Our response addresses the many issues raised in nearly 800 submissions and explains how they have been and will continue to be taken into account when negotiations resume in the WTO in the New Year.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

  Higher Education Research Forum Membership
  The Minister for Lifelong Learning, Further and Higher Education (Alan Johnson)
  The Minister of State for Lifelong Learning, Further and Higher Education, Alan Johnson and the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Science and Innovation, Lord Sainsbury of Turville are pleased to announce the establishment of our Higher Education Research Forum to be chaired by Sir Graeme Davies, Vice-Chancellor of the University of London. The membership has been drawn together through nominations from higher education representative bodies and key sector stakeholders and is set out as follows:

  Chair

  Sir Graeme Davies, Vice-Chancellor of the University of London

  Universities UK

  Professor Malcolm Grant, Vice-Chancellor, University College London

  Professor Sir Kenneth Caiman, Vice-Chancellor, University of Durham

  Professor David Eastwood, Vice-Chancellor, University of East Anglia

  Professor Diana Green, Vice-Chancellor, Sheffield Hallam University

  Professor Adrian Smith, Principal, Queen Mary University of London
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  Standing Conference of Principals (SCOP)

  Professor Elaine Thomas, Director, Surrey Institute of Art and Design

  Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE)

  Sir Howard Newby, Chief Executive of the Higher Education Funding Council for England

  Research Councils

  Professor Julia Goodfellow, Chief Executive of the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council

  Trade Unions and Professional Associations

  Dr Steve Wharton, Association of University Teachers

  Liz Alien, National Association of Teachers in Further & Higher Education

  National Academies

  John Endcrby, Physical Sciences Secretary and Vice-President, Royal Society

  Professor Roger Kain, Treasurer and Fellow, British Academy

  Confederation of British Industry

  Tim Bradshaw, Senior Policy Adviser on Technology and Innovation, CBI

  Regional Development Agencies

  Frances Hulbert, Director of Skills Policy, North West Development Agency

  Learning and Teaching Support Network

  Professor Madeleine Atkins, Pro Vice-Chancellor, University of Newcastle upon Tyne

  National Postgraduate Committee

  Dr Tim Brown of the National Postgraduate Committee

  National Teaching Fellow

  A National Teaching Fellow will be appointed.

DEFENCE

  Fylingdales
  The Secretary of State for Defence (Mr. Geoffrey Hoon)
  In a Written Statement on 5 February 2003,Official Report, columns 11-12WS, I informed the House that the Government had agreed to a US request to upgrade the early warning radar at RAF Fylingdales as part of the US missile defence programme. The Assistant Chief of the Air Staff, on behalf of the Ministry of Defence, has today signed an agreement setting out the management and financial arrangements and responsibilities for the radar upgrade. This agreement is made under the framework memorandum of understanding on missile defence that I announced to the House on 12 June 2003, Official Report, column 57WS, and comes into immediate effect. Design work for the upgrade is already in hand, and upgrade work on site is expected to start in spring 2004, lasting for some 30 months, including testing of the upgraded system and removal of old equipment. I am placing in the Library of the House a copy of this agreement, although one section relating to a technical point on the operation of the radar has been withheld at the request of the US authorities.

  Future Attack Submarine Programme
  The Minister of State, Ministry of Defence (Mr. Adam Ingram)
  The Minister for Defence Procurement (Lord Bach) announced on 19 February 2003,Official Report,

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  columns WA 175-77, in another place, that the Government had reached an agreement with BAE SYSTEMS on the way ahead for the Astute Class Attack Submarine project. However, at that point, it was accepted that some additional time would be required to establish the underpinning commercial arrangements and we undertook to report back to the House at a suitable moment. I am very pleased to be able to announce that on 17 December, an amended contract implementing the February Agreement was signed by the Ministry of Defence and BAE SYSTEMS.

  This amended contract, which covers the design and construction of the first three boats, is designed to reduce risk while incentivising the company to improve its performance in delivering the programme. It also covers a number of project management improvements and oversight.

  Considerable progress has already been made in introducing these improvements and the MOD will be looking to the company to build on this as we jointly restore confidence in the programme. In February, we announced that the ISD for the first of class would be delayed. The company is now formally working to deliver HMS ASTUTE in 2008.

ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

  Combined Heat and Power
  The Minister for the Environment (Mr. Elliot Morley)
  In compliance with Section 5(1) of the Sustainable Energy Act 2003,1 am specifying a target to source at least 15 per cent. of electricity for Government use from good quality combined heat and power by 2010. My officials will work with departments in early 2004 to agree how they will implement the target, taking into account the extent to which they use electricity generated from renewable sources. By the end of 2005, we will review the validity of the target to ensure it reflects the market's ability to deliver the level of capacity at the right price

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Criminal Justice System
  The Minister of State, Northern Ireland Office (Mr. John Spellar)
  at a document setting out the Purpose and Aims of the Northern Ireland Criminal Justice System (CJSNI) has been published today. Copies of the Purpose and Aims document have been placed in the Library.

  The Purpose and Aims were first published in 2001, and the document has been refreshed to reflect the significant work carried out by all the criminal justice organisations in working towards those aims, and towards implementation of the Criminal Justice Review.

  The publication of the Purpose and Aims demonstrates the commitment of the CJSNI towards delivering a criminal justice system which serves and protects the people of Northern Ireland and in which the whole community can have confidence.
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WORK AND PENSIONS

  Housing Benefit
  The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Mr. Chris Pond)
  On behalf of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions I am announcing the publication of performance statistics for local authority administration of housing benefit and council tax benefit (HB and CTB) for the second quarter of 2003–04. A copy of the quarterly statistics for all local authorities in Great Britain has been placed in the Library and has been published on the Department for Work and Pensions web-site at http://www.dwp.gov.uk/asd/other_stats.asp

  Publishing these statistics is part of our strategy for reforming housing benefit and for ensuring that local authorities are accountable for their performance in administration of housing benefit and council tax benefit.

  Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit performance statistics show that in the second quarter of 2003/4:
  127 (31 per cent.) authorities reported meeting the standard of processing new claims, on average within 36 days, compared with 117 (28 per cent.) authorities in the second quarter of 2002/3;
  the average reported number of days to process new claims reduced from 58 days in the second quarter of 2002/3 to 50 days in the second quarter of 2003/4;
  authorities in the worst quartile of performance reported processing times between 56 and 149 days;
  156 (38 per cent.) authorities reported meeting the standard of processing changes in circumstances, on average within nine days, compared to 139 (34 per cent.) in the second quarter of 2002/3;
  228 (56 per cent.) authorities reported an improved performance between quarters 1 and 2 at processing new claims.

  The statistics are un-audited and are provided quarterly by local authorities to the Department.

  Child Poverty
  The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Mr. Andrew Smith)
  I have today published "Measuring Child Poverty". A copy has been placed in the Library.

  The Government issued a consultation document in April 2002 to promote debate on how best to build on their existing indicators to measure child poverty in the long term. The document published today outlines a long-term measure of child poverty for the UK. Our conclusions are based on a thorough analysis of the responses to the consultation document and further methodological work. None of this affects any of our existing PSA's which we remain committed to.

  Our new measure of child poverty will consist of: absolute low income—to measure whether the poorest families are seeing their incomes rise in real terms; relative low income—to measure whether the poorest families are keeping pace with the growth of incomes in the economy as a whole and material deprivation and low income combined—to provide a wider measure of

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  people's living standards. Using this measure, poverty is falling when all three indicators are moving in the right direction.

TRANSPORT

  Local Transport Settlement
  The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport (Mr. Tony McNulty)
  I am announcing today firm allocations for the 116 local highway authorities and six Passenger Transport Authorities in England, outside London, for capital expenditure in 2004/05. This settlement amounts to a £1.86 billion package of funding for local transport, and approval for twenty new major local transport schemes. It will maintain and increase the momentum of our local transport investment programme, building on the £1.6 billion we announced for each of the two previous years.

  In December 2000 we provided five-year indicative allocations to enable authorities to implement smaller integrated transport and highway maintenance schemes under their local transport plans (LTPs). My announcement today honours those commitments for 2004–05 and also provides additional funds to the authorities that are delivering most effectively against national and local targets, and that have shown the most impressive year-on-year improvement. Only in the case of four authorities whose performance is relatively weak are we providing allocations less than the indicative figures. We are therefore providing the stable funding that is necessary to enable local authorities to deliver effective investment in local public transport and local roads. Authorities undertaking approved major schemes are also being given allocations to cover their spending on these schemes in 2004–05.
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  The twenty new major local transport schemes we are provisionally or fully approving come on top of the 113 other major schemes accepted since the start of our 10-Year Plan in 2000. I am particularly pleased to announce that several of these new schemes will allow authorities to transform the quality of bus services.

  The full list consists of
  Getting Northampton to Work, a series of major bus route enhancements;
  A509 Isham Bypass, also in Northamptonshire;
  Liverpool South Parkway integrated bus/rail interchange;
  "Yorcard" smart card scheme across South and West Yorkshire;
  Yellow buses for schoolchildren in West Yorkshire;
  Luton Town Centre Improvements
  Cambridge to Huntingdon Rapid Transit guided bus network;
  Translink guided bus in Luton and Bedfordshire;
  Upperton Road Viaduct major maintenance scheme in Leicester;
  A1056 Northern Gateway Stage 2 in North Tyneside; Freckleton Street Bridge in Blackburn;
  JETTS Quality Bus Corridors in Greater Manchester;
  Undercliffe Drive restoration on the Isle of Wight;
  Central Milton Keynes Public Transport Improvements
  Weymouth Relief Road in Dorset;
  Tunstall Northern Bypass in Stoke-on-Trent;
  Coleshill Multi-modal Interchange in Warwickshire;
  Darlaston SDA Access Project in the West Midlands conurbation;
  Brierley Hill Access Network also in the West Midlands; Coventry Quality Bus Network

  Details of the 2004/05 allocations have been placed in the Libraries of the House. Right hon. and hon. Members representing English constituencies outside London will receive full details for the local transport plan area covering their constituencies shortly, from their regional government Office.

Preamble
The House met at eleven of the clock (Prayers having been read earlier at the Judicial Sitting by the Lord Bishop of St Albans): The CHAIRMAN OF COMMITTEES on the Woolsack.

Gulf War 1990-91: Vaccines
Lord Morris of Manchester: My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question standing in my name on the Order Paper. I declare an interest—not a pecuniary one—as honorary parliamentary adviser over many years to the Royal British Legion.
The Question was as follows:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what further consideration they are giving to the problems and needs of veterans of the 1991 Gulf Conflict with still undiagnosed illnesses.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Bach): My Lords, the Government remain determined to address the concerns of those Gulf veterans who are ill. Medical assessments are available from the Gulf Veterans' Medical Assessment Programme. The Defence Medical Services and NHS deliver medical treatment. Financial support is available when appropriate through pensions and the Veterans' Agency Welfare Service provides help for war pensioners. We remain committed to funding relevant scientific research to shape the Government's approach to this important and complex issue.
Lord Morris of ManchesterMy Lords, I am grateful to my noble friend. Does he recall the noble and gallant Lord, Lord Bramall, being told in this House two years ago that we must wait until 2003 for the report on Porton Down's research on animals to test the safety or otherwise of the vaccines our troops were given 14 years ago? Where is its report, and how can that research possibly replicate the immunisation regime adopted for our troops when the MoD does not know who had what vaccines and when?
With thousands of veterans in broken health, many terminally ill, and for all the reasons so admirably set out by the Royal British Legion, is not the best course now to concede a public inquiry; act more generously to veterans and dependants; and cut the spiralling costs of the MoD's litigation against them over war pension appeals?
Lord Bach: My Lords, of course I recall the Question asked by the noble and gallant Lord, Lord Bramall, some time ago. My noble friend knows that the research at Porton Down is continuing; he knows that it is a very complex research programme; and he knows that the preliminary results were announced in April for the first three months of the study. They were
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not only announced but published too. These show no apparent adverse health consequences three months after the administration of the vaccine and/or bromide. The whole programme is due to complete by the end of this year, 2003. So in 2004 the results of that particular part of the research—which is not the only research being carried out in this field; the Government are spending up to £8.5 million on it— will be known.
Lord Bramall: My Lords, in the absence of the final report—and if the Minister can bear another question from me—can he at least confirm that Gulf War veterans given that cocktail of inoculations have had a higher incidence of neurological illness than any comparable group outside? Should that not be taken into account when awarding attributable pensions?
Lord Bach: My Lords, it is a pleasure always to have a question from the noble and gallant Lord— sometimes it is more pleasurable than at other times— and I am delighted to attempt to answer him. The figures are difficult and complex. There is no doubt that there are veterans of the Gulf War who are ill. We say that there is absolutely no medical evidence that there is anything called "Gulf War syndrome". All the medical evidence is absolutely against that at this stage. But the point of the research is to determine whether that is actually so.
Lord Campbell of Croy: My Lords, can the noble Lord give an estimate of the number of surviving veterans with these illnesses and what progress is being made in finding a cure and treatment?
Lord Bach: My Lords, it is difficult to say how many veterans of the Gulf War have illnesses. But I can tell the noble Lord that in the period between April 1991 and June 2003, 600 Gulf veterans had died; but from a comparable group 613 had died. So there was no difference in the overall death rate between Gulf veterans and the control sample. So far as suicide is concerned—a matter which has been raised in the House before—110 Gulf veterans had, alas, committed suicide compared to 103 from the comparable control group. The next update on those figures will be early next year.
The Countess of Mar: My Lords, I ask my question as patron of the Gulf Veterans' Association. It is my understanding that members of Her Majesty's Armed Forces, both territorials and regulars, who are currently serving in the Gulf are now getting in touch with the Gulf Veterans' Association because they have been having vaccines, in bulk, as happened during the first Gulf War. Can the Minister either confirm that this is not the case or explain why, unlike members of the American Home Guard who have been having their vaccinations over a period of 18 months, we have not been doing the same in this country?
Lord Bach: My Lords, regular personnel and volunteer reserve personnel at a high-readiness state

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are routinely offered vaccination over a period of time. Any decision to vaccinate personnel over a shorter period of time than normal is undertaken only after a risk assessment has been conducted and specialist advice sought. The decision to vaccinate over the reduced time period is balanced—and it is an important balance—against the risk of contracting a disease or diseases during deployment. In such circumstances full account is taken of any other treatment or medication that an individual may be receiving at the time. Vaccinations are administered only after the individual is found fit and suitable to receive them and—this again is important—has given his or her informed consent.
Lord Roberts of Conwy: My Lords, is it not a fact that motor neurone disease is far more prevalent among Gulf War veterans than among other people of a similar age group? Is it not a fact that it has been found also among American Gulf War veterans? Is it not time that we sorted out this business, as the Americans have done?
Lord BachMy Lords, I am not in a position to say whether there are more cases of motor neurone disease among Gulf War veterans than among other people. I shall look into the matter and write to the noble Lord.
Lord Wright of Richmond: My Lords, I apologise for the third intervention from the Cross Benches. Is the Minister aware that it is my noble and gallant friend's 80th birthday? May I on behalf of the Cross Benches, if not the whole House, offer him our congratulations?
Noble LordsHear! Hear!
Lord Bach: My Lords, I confess that I was not aware of it. I am delighted that I have been told and the House has been told. I, too, offer him felicitations.

Foreign Office Travel Advice
11.9 a.m.
Lord Hurd of Westwellasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will review the system by which the Foreign and Commonwealth Office issues advice to British citizens planning to travel abroad.
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean): My Lords, yes. We are already doing so. My right honourable friend the Foreign Secretary announced a review of the basis of FCO travel advice in a Written Statement to Parliament on 10th December. We have done a great deal in recent years to ensure that our travel advice is as accurate and as timely as possible.
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The review will look again at how we can best ensure that it enables its users to make informed and responsible decisions about risks overseas.
Lord Hurd of Westwell: My Lords, I thank the Minister for that reply and, indeed, for the review which has been announced. The full terms of reference are in Hansard. As she knows, this is an extraordinarily difficult balance: Foreign Office Ministers must weigh up the particular danger at particular times in particular places against the negative effect which negative travel advice has. Will she confirm that this can include not only tourism, although that is important enough, but trade missions, which lose their grant and are cancelled, and professional conferences, which collapse? It could lead to the withering away of the whole range of our contacts, as British people, with overseas countries, which are so important and which, of course, are precisely what the terrorists want to destroy. Would it not be possible to set out the facts, as plainly and fully as intelligence considerations allow, but then in general leave grown-up people to make up their own mind in the light of those facts on whether to maintain their plans?
Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: My Lords, I know how difficult this is, for the very good reason that I am both the consular Minister and the Minister for counter-terrorism. So I have in my portfolio both the aspects to which the noble Lord has quite rightly drawn our attention. Of course, any travel advice about not going to particular countries disrupts tourism and commercial relationships. As the noble Lord has rightly pointed out, in many respects it can be argued that it precisely meets the terrorists' objective by causing the very disruption they seek.
The noble Lord's point about simply setting out the facts and leaving people to draw their own conclusions is precisely the sort of area on which the review needs to focus a good deal of its attention. Many people want advice about whether they should or should not travel. Should they undertake non-essential travel? Is the Foreign Office talking about particular cities or towns? We need to have as much factual advice as possible. The question of judgment in the review will then involve the very question that the noble Lord has raised about advice. If I may say so, I hope that he contributes—I saw his excellent article on this very point, which is most important in this discussion.
Lord Thomson of Monifieth: My Lords, is the Minister aware that there will be a great deal of support for the thrust of the concern expressed by the noble Lord, Lord Hurd? Does she agree that this new phenomenon of suicidal international terrorism is likely to be a long haul? Does she also agree that, given our considerable experience over the decades of terrorism in Ulster, we are in a position to give a lead in seeing these matters in proportion and not giving the terrorists the satisfaction of disrupting disproportionately our foreign travel, whether it is for business purposes or tourism?
Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: My Lords, I have a great deal of sympathy with that point but I also put to your Lordships the very important point that the first responsibility of any government has to be the security of their citizens. This is an enormously difficult issue. When I was in Turkey, very shortly after the appalling bomb in Istanbul, the point that noble Lords have made was put to me by the Turks themselves. They said that the advice might do the terrorists' job for them. But I also had to make it clear that it is the Government's responsibility not just to lay out the facts but to decide about the advice. One of the points in the terms of reference of the current review is precisely this balance: what should be the balance in our travel advice between information, warning and advice? That is the nub of the issue, and we would very much welcome the views of your Lordships.
Lord Howell of Guildford: My Lords, personally, I find the current level of Foreign and Commonwealth Office travel advice extremely good, particularly its website, which I strongly recommend to your Lordships. However, does the noble Baroness recall that after the Bali atrocity more than a year ago, the parliamentary Intelligence and Security Committee produced its own report on questions of travel advice and strongly recommended that there should be a more sensitively graded system of warnings, steering between alarmism at the one extreme and complacency at the other? Has that idea been adopted and is it enfolded in the current level of advice?
Baroness Symons of Vernham DeanMy Lords, travel advice is a dynamic process—it is changing all the time and the approach to it is changing all the time. This is a major review to look again at whether we need to focus in a different way. The short answer to the noble Lord's point is yes. The travel advice regarding Turkey at the time of the terrorist outrage on our Consulate-General in Istanbul was already more nuanced than, for example, the travel advice of the United States. Its advice was aimed at the whole of Turkey; ours very specifically pointed out that the dangers were very much greater in big cities and towns. We have tried to pick up the very helpful points that came out of the parliamentary Intelligence and Security Committee report and to be more sensitive in the way that we nuance it.
Lord Dubs: My Lords, is there not a difficulty in not giving specific advice that tourists should not visit particular places because of the problem of travel insurance? Will my noble friend confirm that travel companies will allow people to change the date or get a refund if there is clear advice that people should not travel, but in the absence of that advice, there might be insurance problems?
Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: Yes, my Lords, that is true, but I do not think that that consideration should determine what the travel advice is. The travel advice has to be accurate; 60 million trips are made overseas from this country every year. I would advise everybody to look at the Foreign Office's excellent
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"Know Before You Go" campaign which focuses on what I would describe as common sense issues, such as having proper travel insurance, having the right inoculations and knowing something about the customs of the country to which one is travelling. There is advice specific to backpackers and to skiers. People should consider those basic points—and the point about insurance is important—very carefully before they travel.

Legislative Process: Public Involvement
11.17a.m.
Lord Phillips of Sudburyasked Her Majesty's Government:
What plans they have to inform and involve the public better in the legislative process.
The Lord President of the Council (Baroness Amos):
My Lords, the Government are keen to involve the public in the legislative process and are doing so through consultation on legislative proposals and through publication of more Bills in draft for pre-legislative scrutiny.
Lord Phillips of Sudbury: My Lords, I am obliged to the noble Baroness for her Answer. I should probably declare an interest, as founder and president of the Citizenship Foundation, which is pre-eminently preoccupied with matters of citizen information.
In the spirit of Christmas and of fairness, I accept that we are all in the same boat on the issue of citizen competence. Whichever yardstick one uses—whether anecdote, polling data or electoral turnout figures—it is common ground that the public have never felt so uninformed as they do today. My question is this: if the public were much better informed and involved, would not the sheer volume and complexity of law-making defeat the purpose of information and consultation, given that we are now legislating at the rate of 12,500 pages of new law a year—that is two, three and four times the amount generated by comparable countries? Does not this lead to information overload, suffocating bureaucracy and, above all, a sense of public resentment? What will the Government do to address this overarching problem in 2004?
Baroness Amos: My Lords, I thank the noble Lord, Lord Phillips of Sudbury, for his Question. He made some very similar points in our debate on the Queen's Speech, which I took on board.
The noble Lord has raised the issue with respect to public information and the volume and complexity of our legislation. There are two separate issues here: first, the content of the legislation and what we are trying to do with it, and, secondly, how we talk about it, when we sit, and the access that the public have to both Houses of Parliament. While there is a volume and degree of complexity in our law-making, the public are quite able to understand when there are major policy issues at stake, if we take the trouble to

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explain them. There is a responsibility not only on us as a Government but on others involved in the process to be clear about what we are trying to do through legislation. There is also an issue relating to the kind of language that we use in Parliament, which we need to take on board.
Baroness Buscombe: My Lords, it is a challenge to explain the process. For example, the public surely will not understand, because many noble Lords do not understand, why the Government are so eager to allow pre-legislative scrutiny for Bills such as the civil partnership Bill, but not for a Bill that will fundamentally change our constitution and, in particular, our administration of justice.
Baroness Amos: My Lords, the decisions on pre-legislative scrutiny are taken by considering a range of different factors, including urgency, how ready a Bill is for publication and the overall needs of the programme. This Government should be congratulated on bringing Bills forward for pre-legislative scrutiny.
Lord Elis-Thomas: My Lords, does the Minister agree that the development of e-government needs to be paralleled by a development of e-democracy? Should we not therefore have appropriate electronic consultation at the pre-legislative stage of all draft Bills—which should perhaps include most Bills? Is that not particularly relevant when we are dealing with the rather opaque situation of devolution, when primary legislation for Wales is drafted not always with the full interests of Wales or the National Assembly at heart?
Baroness Amos: My Lords, the noble Lord is right. We need to use all the facilities available to us, which is why there is an e-envoy and why all Bills and their Explanatory Notes, and draft Bills, are published on the Parliament website. That is why we are considering ways in which committees can engage more through that process.
Lord Campbell-Savours: My Lords, I wonder how my noble friend would answer a question that might be asked of her by a member of the general public. Why do some Members of this House insist on resisting the idea that the House of Commons has primacy over the House of Lords? That was indicated by the fact that a majority of this House repeatedly voted against and ultimately destroyed Clauses 41 and 42 of the Criminal Justice Bill, on jury trial, despite the fact that the House of Commons on three separate occasions with increasing majorities indicated that it wanted to keep those clauses in the Bill. The Commons wanted it and we said, "No". I wonder how my noble friend would seek to explain to a member of the general public what is right about that.
Baroness Amos: My Lords, my noble friend raises a very important point, which is at the heart of the relationship between the two Houses. It is important
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that we recognise and respect the fact that the other place is the elected Chamber. We do that through a number of conventions. Of course, this House has the right to ask the other place to think again. However, I agree with my noble friend that there have been times when the other place has made its views absolutely clear on a number of occasions and when this House has time and time again gone back to the other place.
The relationship between the two Houses will evolve over time. Looking back at those examples, I am sure that we will be part of that process.
Lord Peyton of Yeovil: My Lords, will the Minister take care that this suggestion does not lead to inflicting unnecessary pain on the public? Before the public are further involved in our processes, would it not be just as well if those processes were really tidied up, especially down the other end of the corridor?
Baroness Amos: My Lords, I am not entirely certain which particular suggestion the noble Lord makes reference to. There is an issue with respect to consolidation of legislation, which is being considered; but the wider point of involving the public is one that is very well taken by the Government.
Baroness Strange: My Lords—
Lord Grocott: My Lords, we have had 24 minutes. We have only six minutes left for the next Question.

Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy
11.25 a.m.
The Countess of Marasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether, in the light of recent Appeal Court judgments, they will reconsider the position of individuals who have mistakenly been labelled as having Munchausen syndrome by proxy.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Education and Skills (Baroness Ashton of Upholland): My Lords, following the judgment in Sally Clarke's appeal case, the Attorney-General has established a working group to consider whether any cases in which Dr Williams has given significant evidence require a more in-depth review. We await the result of the group's considerations. We have not yet seen the written judgment in Angela Canning's appeal case. Once it is given, which we understand will not now occur until the new year, we shall study it carefully.
The Countess of Mar: My Lords, I am grateful to the Minister for that reply. Is she aware that, apart from the cases in which children are murdered, when the mother usually goes to court and is either found guilty

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or not guilty, there are many thousands of women who have been accused of or labelled as having Munchausen syndrome by proxy, without any clinical or legal assessment? They have no recourse to the courts and, each time they protest, they are told that they are in denial and that it is a sign of having Munchausen syndrome by proxy. This is an equivalent of the stigma of witchcraft in the Middle Ages; there is no trial, and one is guilty until one can prove that one is not guilty, and one has no way in which to prove that one is not guilty. What recourse do those people have to clearing their names? How do they get free of that awful stigma?
Baroness Ashton of Upholland: My Lords, the Appeal Court judgments were on cases in which the individuals were charged with murder, and were not linked in any way with Munchausen syndrome by proxy.
In my previous Answer to the noble Countess, Lady Mar, who I know feels very passionately about this issue, I described the approach that we have taken as a multi-agency approach to ensure that professionals from different sectors of our agencies are involved in determining whether there is anything to be investigated, and those matters should not be investigated lightly.
In the light of recent events, the issue of record-keeping is prominent in all our minds. I remind noble Lords that I have said on previous occasions that it is important that record-keeping is understood to be a vital component in child protection, including ensuring that when groundless accusations are made, that too is recorded. That is the best defence for families and children.
Baroness Walmsley: My Lords, will the Minister confirm that, whatever is done, the protection of children is always pre-eminent? Given the medical differences of opinion, what are the Government doing to encourage more medical research into the issue? I am sure that the Minister is aware of the working party chaired by the noble Baroness, Lady Kennedy of The Shaws, which is drawing up guidelines for professionals to follow in the event of a cot death. Will she tell us when that report is likely to be published and whether it will receive input from the parents to whom the noble Countess, Lady Mar, has referred?
Baroness Ashton of Upholland: My Lords, I agree wholeheartedly with the noble Baroness that child protection must be the pre-eminent factor in all these cases. If we could create a perfect system, we would. On the question of medical research, it is important that we consider all the issues and, in the case of Appeal Court cases, sudden infant death syndrome is an issue and area in which we clearly have work to do.
I am unable to give the detail on the working group chaired by the noble Baroness, Lady Kennedy of The Shaws, but I shall write to the noble Baroness, Lady Walmsley, and put a copy in the Library.
Earl Howe: My Lords, does the Minister share my concern that there are only very limited routes of appeal for families who have been split apart by the family courts on the grounds of Munchausen syndrome by proxy? Should there not be better and genuine appeal mechanisms, bearing in mind the closed nature of the family courts and the fact that the threshold of proof that applies in them is lower than that which applies in the criminal courts?
Baroness Ashton of Upholland: My Lords, I know that the noble Earl feels very strongly about the issue of privacy within the family courts. However, confidentiality is the other side of that coin. In seeking to look at how the family courts operate, we need to be clear that we protect in the best possible sense the interests of all those involved. I know that the noble Earl is very interested in the mechanisms. I can say to noble Lords that we will examine those issues very carefully. However, I am reluctant to be drawn while issues are being investigated and while we are awaiting the results of the cases before the Court of Appeal.
Lord McColl of Dulwich: My Lords, does the Minister agree that Munchausen syndrome by proxy does exist—many cases have been proven as such— and that it would be a pity to suggest that it does not?
Baroness Ashton of Upholland: My Lords, the label which we prefer to use is fabricated or induced illness, instances of which have indeed been proven to the satisfaction of all professionals. It is a very difficult matter to prove. The latest guidance produced by the Department of Health—which, as I said, now comes under the jurisdiction of my department in this regard—is therefore critical in ensuring that professionals work together when someone is suspected of fabricating or inducing an illness in a child which may lead to irreparable harm to that child.

Executive Powers and Civil Service Bill [H.L.]
11.31 a.m.
Lord Lester of Herne Hill: My Lords, I beg to introduce a Bill to place under the authority of Parliament executive powers exercisable by Ministers of the Crown by virtue of the Royal prerogative to make provision relating to the appointment and conduct of and general duties relating to civil servants and special advisers, to establish a procedure for the making of certain public appointments and for connected purposes. I beg to move that this Bill be now read a first time.
Moved, That the Bill be now read a first time.— (Lord Lester of Herne Hill.)
On Question, Bill read a first time, and ordered to be printed.

Wild Mammals (Protection) (Amendment) Bill [H.L.]
Lord Donoughue: My Lords, I beg to introduce a Bill to amend the Wild Mammals (Protection) Act 1996.I beg to move that this Bill be now read a first time.
Moved, That the Bill be now read a first time.— (Lord Donoughue.)
On Question, Bill read a first time, and ordered to be printed.

Gender Recognition Bill [H.L.]
11.32 a.m.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs (Lord Filkin):
My Lords, I beg to move that this Bill be now read a second time.
The Gender Recognition Bill is a part of the Government's commitment to reforming the constitution so that it better meets the needs of all people. It also reflects our commitment to social inclusion. It is essential that no one is left behind as we create the conditions for a credible and effective modern democracy. There is a strong tradition of legislation in this country that has sought to respond to the concerns and needs of minority groups, whether these be ethnic minorities, people who are disabled, or now, with this Bill, transsexual people. I believe that this is a reformist tradition of which we can be proud.
Our commitment to further developing a culture of rights in this country is exemplified by the introduction of the Human Rights Act 1998. The Gender Recognition Bill continues the process of "bringing rights home". The Bill provides transsexual people with the opportunity to gain the rights and responsibilities appropriate to the gender in which they are now living. Transsexual people, at present, live in a state of limbo. Their birth gender determines their legal status, even though they may have lived fully in the opposite gender for many years.
The absence of legal recognition is no mere technicality. For example, a person who is now living as a woman may take out motor insurance in her new name. That would seem the natural thing to do. If, however, she has an accident, she risks prosecution for driving without insurance and for fraud, as her legal status is still determined by her gender at birth. She is therefore faced with little choice but to take out insurance under her previous name, in the gender to which she no longer feels she belongs. She then has to explain, every time she has to produce her insurance documents, why there is a discrepancy between those documents and the reality of how she presents to the world.
These are extremely personal matters. Yet transsexual people, because of the disjuncture between their birth gender and the gender in which they are now living, have to describe their gender history to
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complete strangers. The Gender Recognition Bill will ensure that this intensely private matter can remain private.
The Bill is the product of much thought and consultation with stakeholders over many years. The Interdepartmental Working Group on Transsexual People, set up in 1999, published its report in April 2000, and that work led to the publication of a draft Bill on 11th July 2002.
The Gender Recognition Bill has also been influenced by the judgments of the European Court of Human Rights. The court, in interpreting the European convention, now a part of UK law, has stated that a system for recognising transsexual people in their acquired gender must exist and that transsexual people must be granted their rights under Article 8, the right to respect for private life, and Article 12, the right to marry.
The Law Lords, in the case of Bellinger, concurred with the view that transsexual people ought to have a means of marrying in their acquired gender. Their Lordships stated that transsexual people do not have that right at present and legislation will be required to ensure that they do.
The draft Bill has been subject to pre-legislative scrutiny by the Joint Committee on Human Rights. The Joint Committee received submissions from a wide range of sources, and I am grateful to the committee for its report. The Government have now responded to this report and copies are available in the Library. We have not accepted all the recommendations of the Joint Committee. However, I am glad to note that the Joint Committee has welcomed, as the report puts it,
"the Government's determination to deal with the very difficult problems faced by people in this field".
The Gender Recognition Bill proposes to provide legal recognition in the acquired gender to those transsexual people who have taken decisive steps to live fully and permanently in that gender. The effect of legal recognition will be that a transsexual person gains the rights, and responsibilities, appropriate to the acquired gender. For example, a person will be able to marry in the acquired gender; a person's entitlement to benefits and pension will be determined according to the acquired gender; and a new birth certificate will be issued to those with UK birth register entries. In order to ensure that the privacy of transsexual people is protected, the Bill will ensure that a new birth certificate does not reveal that a person has changed gender.
The first section of the Bill sets out the criteria for application and the process by which applications will be determined. The Bill proposes the establishment of a gender recognition panel to determine all applications. The panels will consist of legally and medically qualified members. Schedule 1 sets out some of the detail of the proposed practice and procedure of these panels. My department has been consulting extensively on this process. Our aim is to create a process that meets the needs of those who will be

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entering the process, transsexual people, and those who will be providing evidence as a part of the process, medical professionals.
An application for recognition in the acquired gender will be considered according to four criteria. The person must have or have had a gender dysphoria, the recognised medical condition that drives a transsexual person to live in the opposite gender; must have lived in the acquired gender throughout the preceding two years; must intend to continue to do so until death; and must comply with the evidence requirements under Clause 3. The criteria are designed to establish whether a person has taken decisive steps to live fully and permanently in their acquired gender. That must be the test for legal recognition in the acquired gender, not whether the person's physiology fully conforms to the acquired gender, nor whether the person "looks the part".
The Bill must also account for the situation of transsexual people who are in an existing marriage. Such marriages will not be able to continue. The Joint Committee on Human Rights recommended that existing marriages should not have to end. However, there is an issue of principle at stake here. Marriage is an institution for opposite-sex couples. After recognition in the acquired gender is attained, if existing marriages could continue, these would become marriages between same-sex couples. The Government are not going to change the fundamental nature of the institution of marriage in this way.
What the Bill provides, however, is a simple mechanism whereby an individual who has decided to seek recognition can dissolve his or her existing marriage. We are concerned to leave the individual in control of this process and to tackle the practical difficulties that ending an existing marriage may create. If a married individual applies and is successful in their application, they will receive an interim gender recognition certificate. This certificate will provide the basis for a new ground for dissolution of the marriage, provided in Schedule 2. On dissolving the marriage, the court will substitute a full gender recognition certificate for the interim certificate.
In that way, the Bill proposes to avoid the situation where a married applicant first has to end his or her marriage and only then learns whether or not his or her application meets the criteria. The process provided in the Bill eliminates the potential for that vulnerability and allows a person to plan his or her affairs. When dissolving the marriage, the court will also be able to deal with practical matters, such as, for example, the sharing of pensions or making provision for children of the family.
The Government will also be bringing forward legislation on same-sex civil partnership in this Session. If that legislation is enacted, a couple who have to end their marriage to allow one party to gain recognition in the acquired gender will be able to enter into a civil partnership. The couple will be able to acquire again a legal status for their relationship, with legal rights and responsibilities. As the civil partnership legislation is developed, the Government
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will seek to minimise the time between the marriage ending and the civil partnership commencing. We expect to minimise it to one day.
The second section of the Bill outlines the consequences of the issue of a gender recognition certificate. Once a certificate has been granted, a person's gender becomes in law the acquired gender. The Bill proposes to provide transsexual people with access to the rights and responsibilities appropriate to their acquired gender. That change of gender is, however, prospective only. The Bill does not rewrite history.
Clause 10 and Schedule 3 are critical. Following a successful application for recognition, the panel will issue a certificate. The Registrar General will then create a new record in relation to the individual in the gender recognition register. A birth certificate in the new name and gender recorded on the gender recognition certificate can then be issued from the new record. The link between that new birth certificate and the original birth certificate will be confidential.
There has been some speculation in the media over the past few days on the implications of the Bill for sport. Frankly, I have been puzzled by some of what has been said. Let me make it clear that it will not be possible for a man simply to declare that he is of the opposite gender and then compete in women's competitions. A person seeking recognition in the acquired gender will have to apply to the panel, and a gender recognition certificate would be issued only if the panel were satisfied that all the criteria were met.
Further, and perhaps even more fundamentally, the Bill does not bring transsexual people into existence. Sporting bodies already deal with the issues raised by the participation of transsexual people. As part of the process of developing the Bill, more than 300 sporting bodies were consulted. Nothing in the Bill forces sporting bodies to allow transsexual people to compete in their acquired gender. In fact, the Bill allows sporting bodies the flexibility to deal with the issue in the way each believes most appropriate to its own circumstances. Sporting bodies already do that.
Other countries already have systems for recognising a change of gender, and their sporting bodies have been doing that, too. There may well be considerations of safety or competitive parity, and guidance will be published to enable sporting bodies to make informed choices about how best to treat transsexual people within the context of their sport.
Finally, Clause 21 prohibits the disclosure of information about a person's application for gender recognition or about a successful applicant's gender history. That information is to be protected whenever it has been acquired in an official capacity. The prohibition on disclosure is essential as the positive effect of allowing a person to change gender in law would be greatly diminished if, at the same time, there were to be widespread and indiscriminate access to the fact that the person used to be of another gender.
The Government do not accept that all people need to know whether a person who has recognition in the acquired gender used to be of another gender. The

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relevance of that intensely personal fact is questionable, and the distress or embarrassment that a transsexual person may suffer at its disclosure is considerable. However, there will of course be instances when the previous identity of an individual is relevant. Clause 21 therefore sets out the limited circumstances in which disclosure is permissible, such as for the purposes of prevention or detection of crime.
I present to the House a Bill that seeks to provide transsexual people with the opportunity to enjoy the rights and responsibilities appropriate to their acquired gender and to leave behind the vulnerable position which they presently have to endure. The Bill provides a long-ignored minority with social justice, legal rights and a place in our evolving democracy. I commend the Bill to the House.
Moved, That the Bill be now read a second time.— (Lord Filkin.)
11.44 a.m.
Baroness Buscombe: My Lords, it gives me pleasure to make it clear straight away that in principle—I stress "in principle"—we on these Benches are supportive of the Bill. We believe it is right to confront the issues that it raises, so that changes can be made in the law to bring about great improvements in the lives of Britain's 5,000 transsexuals.
I am, however, concerned that the Government may be attempting to play down the Bill and to give it a low profile. Why did the Government choose to exclude it from the gracious Speech, despite the fact that it was clearly part of the immediate legislative agenda? The day before State Opening, I was asked for diary availability for Second Reading before Christmas Recess, yet the following day there was no mention of it in the gracious Speech. What was the reason for that? I advise the Minister that there is nothing to hide in the Bill, which if we get it right—I emphasise that—can bring great comfort to a section of society that has been so badly affected by living, hitherto, in limbo.
It is to the great credit of the Joint Committee on Human Rights that it has considered with care a number of key aspects of the Bill in draft form, as set out in its 19th report of the 2002–03 Session. The Bill raises a number of serious issues and begs a number of important questions and concerns that remain to be answered by the Government. Probably one of the most difficult issues to resolve is the potential effect on a marriage and the children of a marriage given that, as the Bill is currently drafted, where a person is married and then changes his or her gender, that change will not be fully recognised as long as that person continues to be married. The simple notion of introducing legislation to insist, in certain circumstances, on divorce or annulment of a marriage goes very much against the grain. That said, we on these Benches have never supported the legalisation of same-sex marriages.
The Bill makes provision for an interim certificate to be issued while the person is still married. What happens if the individual wants to stay married? Will
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the interim certificate expire after a time? Will it be renewable? I note that the Joint Committee on Human Rights states in its report that it is,
"troubled by the submissions which draw attention to the distress caused to parties to a marriage and their children, who still form part of a close and loving family group, by the idea that the marriage would have to be annulled or dissolved before the applicant's change of gender could be legally recognised".
Will the civil partnerships Bill contain provisions similar to the French Pacte Civil de Solidarité, which enables two people to register their union and then, three years later, enjoy the statutory rights afforded by that registration? I note that the Minister said today that he was hopeful that there would be just one day between divorce or annulment and the ability to enter into a civil partnership arrangement, but that still raises the question of what happens during that day. That is an important question of principle that we need to consider further.
Can the Minister throw a more focused light on the Government's intentions with regard to the timetabling for bringing the Bill into force, and how that relates to the timing of measures introduced in the civil partnerships Bill? I note that he said that he was keen for that Bill to be brought into law this Session. At the same time, however, I know that the usual channels have had some difficulty agreeing whether that Bill should have pre-legislative scrutiny. If it did, that could considerably delay its introduction. If there is a significant delay before that Bill, that will clearly have implications for those couples forced to divorce to permit one of the pair to obtain a full gender recognition certificate.
There are also fundamental issues of human rights in the Bill, affecting individuals who have not themselves undergone a change of gender but may have their rights compromised by a person who has changed gender. For example, it will be possible for an individual to change their gender without undergoing an operation for a sex change. That person will then be quite within his or her rights, as we understand it, to, for example, share a prison cell, nurses' quarters or sports changing facilities with others of their chosen gender. Even though there is treatment to modify sexual characteristics, should we not consider the feelings of those with whom that person shares very private areas? Whose human rights take precedence? How does one judge in individual circumstances what is balanced and proportionate? It is very difficult for all concerned.
I know that my noble friend Lord Moynihan will be focusing upon the impact that these measures will have on participants in sports. In response to the Minister's comments on sport, I say straight away that we fundamentally reject his arguments. I know that my noble friend will be able fully to illustrate why. The potential outcomes have not been thought through in the Bill.
There are numerous additional points to which we on these Benches would like a response from the Minister. For example, can he set out to the House, for the sake of clarity, the new arrangement for birth certificates? Precisely what documents will be kept in

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the transsexual register? And what will appear in the register of births that is open to the public? How will an individual entitled to track down the original certificate—for example, a police officer conducting a criminal investigation—be prompted to look in the transsexual persons' register if they have no suspicion that the person concerned is a transsexual?
Clause 21 makes it an offence for a person who has acquired protected information under the measure in an official capacity to disclose that information to any other person. However, Clause 21(4) provides certain exemptions to that offence. Those provisions are by no means clearly drawn. In particular, it is not an offence for a person to disclose protected information if, under Clause 2l(4)(f),
"the disclosure is for the purpose of preventing or investigating crime".
There is no procedure stated on who should inform the person holding the information of how an assessment can be made of whether a crime will be prevented, or what "investigating" means.
In addition, Clause 21(5) provides that the Secretary of State may by order prescribe circumstances in which the disclosure of protected information will not be an offence. Furthermore, what will be the criteria for issuing further birth certificates for those who wish to resume their original gender? Given the fact that the Bill allows for a clergyman to refuse to marry a person in his or her acquired gender, would it not be sensible to allow ministers access to original birth certificates where there is a dispute, deception or suspicion?
I am anxious to hear what safeguards are in the Bill to prevent encroachment on religious freedom. I am sure the Government understand that some people, many people, will continue to believe that a person remains the sex designated at birth in the eyes of God, even if the law states otherwise. Those law-abiding citizens have strong beliefs. May those individuals find themselves pursued in the courts as a consequence of their unwillingness to recognise and associate with transsexuals? Would the Church be breaking the law by refusing to ordain transsexual priests?
Can the Minister confirm that the minimum age of legal access to the transgendering process remains 18? For the Bill to be effective, the "acquired gender" of an individual must be taken to be his or her sex for the purpose of all other legislation. I understand that that is the Government's intention and I welcome the changes made to Clause 9(1) to make that more explicit. But, I would welcome reassurances from the Minister that—with particular regard to the Sex Discrimination Act 1975—the Government view the Bill as sufficiently clear in that respect and beyond possible misinterpretation.
I am also keen to hear the Minister's reasons for rejecting the call in the Joint Committee on Human Rights report to rectify the law, which currently permits discrimination against a transsexual in the fields of education, housing and the supply of goods
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and services. As I understand it, the committee heard significant amounts of evidence detailing ongoing discrimination in those fields and the Bill would seem to be the natural place to rectify that. Will automatic annulment of marriage be legally available where one of the partners is transgender? I suspect that other noble Lords will have more questions and concerns to put to the Minister. In particular, I am looking forward to hearing the comments of the noble Lord, Lord Chan, who is an eminent paediatrician; and the perspective of the right reverend Prelate the Bishop of Winchester.
In conclusion, I stress that it will not be enough for the Minister to say that we should accept the Bill because it will affect only a small number of people. The measures involve some important principles of law, so we must proceed with caution. Whatever the outcome, I believe it is equally important in all our debates on the Bill that we approach the many issues with care and compassion for those for whom the measures are intended.
11.55 a.m.
The Lord Bishop of Winchester: My Lords, the Bill places me in two dilemmas, the first especially pressing. There can be no argument about the acute, distressing and chronic effects of gender dysphoria upon those who suffer with it; so they should clearly have the greatest possible sympathy and assistance from others—especially from the Churches. They should be free to live as fully as possible in their acquired gender confidently and without what they may experience as discrimination, let alone molestation. Indeed, some, and some of their medical advisers, assert that it is a necessity for their fullest health. Yet, and I quote Lord Reed,
"what is possible has to be decided having regard to the interests of others (so far as they are affected) and of society as a whole (so far as it is engaged), and considering whether there are compelling reasons, in the particular context in question, for setting limits to the legal recognition of the new gender".
With many other Christians across the whole range of the Churches, with many of other faiths and with many others, it seems that there may be such "compelling reasons" on both of Lord Reed's counts for opposing a number of the Bill's provisions including that described by the Government in the Explanatory Notes as its "fundamental proposition".
My second dilemma has to do with the legal position in which both the Government and your Lordships' House find themselves. It appears that we are bound by the European Court of Human Rights judgment in Goodwin and by the Government's acceptance of it; yet if I may dare to say, as a layman with regard to the law, that judgment seems to leave a good deal to be desired in the quality and comprehensiveness, and so in the cogency, of its argument.
My basic point is that nothing in the judgments of the Court of Appeal, or of your Lordships' House, in the case of Mrs Bellinger, and nothing in Goodwin— and I have re-read all three this week—seems to me to present a cogent argument that a person's sex can be

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changed. So I cannot agree to "for all purposes" in Clause 9(1), the Bill's "fundamental proposition", which will especially permit people to marry in their acquired, recognised, gender. Their noble and learned Lordships admit in different ways that that is to change irrevocably the fundamental character of marriage in UK law:
"Marriage according to the law of this country is the union of one man with one woman".
That is proclaimed by the plaque on the wall of every register office. To change fundamentally that character of marriage will have incalculable effects down all the years to come.
If the Bill becomes law as it stands, the words "woman" and "man" will no longer have the meaning that everyone, including the law, has always assumed. Whatever their protestations the Government will have introduced marriage of two people of the same sex. And as the noble and learned Lord, Lord Hobhouse, notes at paragraph 74 of the House of Lords judgment:
"once you make this change, how do you, in a non-discriminatory way, deal with mere cohabitees or with homosexuals of the same gender?".
Yet there is no section on page 16 of the Explanatory Notes to this Bill about its effects on marriage, arguably the most critical building block of a healthy and fruitful society; just as there is no consideration of marriage in the risk assessment section of the consultation document on civil partnerships.
Therefore, I am grateful for the presence in the Bill of paragraph 3 of Schedule 4, which gives to those bound by law to conduct the marriages of parishioners an exemption on grounds of conscientious objection. I much appreciate all the patient contact between officials of the DCA and of its predecessors and those of the Archbishops' Council. I also appreciate the two meetings that I have been able to have with Ministers—one 14 months ago with Roman Catholic and Evangelical Alliance colleagues, and one a month ago with the noble Lord the present Minister.
However, how will clergy of the Church in Wales or of the Church of England or anyone else, whether Roman Catholic priest, Rabbi, Imam or Baptist minister, who, on grounds of belief, cannot conduct the marriage of two people of the same sex, know the truth about the person who has approached them for marriage? Must there not be added both a requirement that a person of acquired gender, seeking to marry, discloses that fact about himself to the person whom he is asking to conduct the marriage, and a right in conscience for those other than the clergy of the Church of England and the Church in Wales to decline to conduct such a ceremony? And should not such provisions also include registrars, who do such a critically important job so well? Without such a provision, shall we see registrars threatened with dismissal on account of their beliefs, like the social workers who were not prepared to further adoptions by same-sex couples?
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Staying with the Government's responsibility to support, honour and defend marriage, I am glad to find myself agreeing with the Joint Committee on Human Rights, the Equal Opportunities Commission and the noble Baroness, Lady Buscombe, about Clause 5, with its requirement of divorce or annulment before a full gender recognition certificate may be issued. However, I believe that I may differ from all those in what I am about to say.
As the Minister knows, I have seen the letter to another bishop, copied to the noble and learned Lord the Lord Chancellor, from a couple who have worked through the enormous pain and upheaval in their marriage caused by the gender dysphoria of one of them. They are desperately distressed by the implications for them of that provision, and, to my knowledge, they are not the only married couple in that position.
In the Government's mind, the provision safeguards the possibility of creating a same-sex marriage. The Minister has already laid that out. However, to me, that is already the effect of the Bill. But I believe it also follows that that is not the effect of honouring such a couple's commitment to their marriage because the sex of the party recognised as having an acquired gender has not, in fact, been altered. Nor will it do to say, as has been said elsewhere and as the Minister said this morning, that such a couple should be permitted a fast-track entry into a civil partnership. That is not what they committed themselves to, perhaps many years earlier, and it is not the equivalent of marriage.
There is, too, deep anxiety in the Churches and the faith communities about their human rights in matters of employment, appointment, selection for training for ordination and ordination itself and its various equivalents. I was grateful that those points were raised in outline in the speech of the noble Baroness, Lady Buscombe. What conscientious rights and safeguards will there be for bishops and their equivalents in other Churches and other faiths—and for whole congregations in those Christian and other bodies where the whole congregation makes an appointment—where,
"male and female created He them".
is held to be intrinsic to the community's beliefs? That goes not only for Christians but for Jews and Muslims, too, and where ministers and others are required to exemplify the community's teaching.
It is not enough to say that degree certificates and the like will not, under the present form of the Bill, be retrospectively altered. Some already want to see provisions of that kind added. As the Bill stands, to whom may such information be disclosed? And what about professional directories and the like— Crockford's Clerical Directory in the case of clergy—if the publisher is obligated not to include elements of the public history of the individual before she or he began to live in the acquired gender and name? What of the expectations and rights of the purchaser and user of the directory?

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In Clauses 2 and 3, the Bill is more widely drawn— I understand why—than, for example, Goodwin, which requires the recognition only of post-operative transsexual persons. How will that work out in practice in matters and places of employment, leisure or sport? And is it the Government's intention to make provision for those who may, at some later point, feel compelled to seek de-recognition, as some will?
As we know, the Government are not seeking to legislate in these extraordinarily delicate and complex matters only on account of the distress of those who suffer this disability and who, with their supporters, understandably long and press for the fullest recognition in their acquired genders. They are doing so following the judgments, to which reference has already been made, of the Court of Appeal in 2001, of the ECHR in 2002 and of your Lordships' House this year. All three— but the last, it seems to me, largely on the basis of the second—point towards the overturning of the judgment in Corbett v Corbett (otherwise Ashley) 1970.
The last two of the three—the ECHR and your Lordships' House—rely largely on the medical evidence given to the Court of Appeal. However, that court appears to have heard evidence only from three experts, who broadly agreed with each other, and from none who would have offered contrary expert advice. None of the three courts gives any recognition to the fact that these are still highly controversial, contested matters, as I understand it, within the medical professions.
The judgment in Goodwin, on which the Government appear bound particularly to rely is, to me, in parts a frankly shocking read in its unjudicial one-sidedness. The court, quite unbelievably, heard no advocate for marriage as it considered—again, I quote Lord Reed—
"whether there are compelling reasons… for setting limits to the legal recognition of the new gender",
and before it decided to put much weight on what I considered to be the limp-wristed view that,
"marriage has changed, [it] is not what it was".
I hope that the Minister will be able to tell me, too, the status of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union and who gave it that status. In its paragraph 100, the court places some reliance on Article 9 of the charter and on the "no doubt deliberate" difference between its wording and Article 12 of the convention.
Others will speak in this debate and in the Bill's further stages from the standpoint of other Christian Churches, other faiths—some of us have received a very concerned briefing from a representative of the Islamic Medical Association of the UK—and of sporting and other bodies. I must, too, own that at later stages there could be different views to mine expressed from these Benches.
I repeat my agreement that those who suffer from gender dysphoria should have the greatest possible sympathy and assistance—from the law as well as in other ways. Therefore, I deeply regret that it seems that neither the ECHR nor some of our own learned, and
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noble and learned, judges or the Government have grasped the significance for society of what this Bill is attempting or its profound significance for marriage and, thus, for the health of millions of individuals and our society down the years to come.
12.9 p.m.
Baroness Gibson of Market Rasen: My Lords, I am very pleased to follow the very thoughtful and helpful contribution of the right reverend Prelate. I know that in the future we shall discuss many of the points that he has raised today.
This has been a good week for me. For the second time this week I thank the Government for bringing forward a Bill that those of us who worked in the equality field before joining your Lordships' House have long awaited. On Monday I welcomed the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Bill. The House was fairly unanimous in its reception. Today I welcome the Gender Recognition Bill, but I understand that it will need careful consideration by this House.
The Bill is part of the Government's social inclusion initiative and, as has been said, among other things it provides for the updating of transsexuals' birth certificates, so paving the way for those who wish to marry in their acquired gender. The Bill has been welcomed by others, including, as one may expect, Claire McNab who is Vice President of Press For Change, the transgender pressure group which praises the Government for,
"its commitment to British values of fairness as well as to international human rights law".
As on domestic violence, I speak as a former trade union official who over the years has dealt with a number of cases of gender change and who has seen at first hand how that affects the individuals concerned, their families and friends and their work colleagues. Relatively speaking, there are few transsexual members of trade unions, but every member has a right to expect support and advice from his or her trade union official. After all, that is why they pay money to the union. I enjoyed assisting those members who decided to change their gender—not an easy choice. No one should underestimate the difficulties faced by people who take that decision.
Of the members with whom I worked each had experienced a mind-numbing period of self-doubt, often from a very early age. That was usually followed by worries about the inevitability of taking decisions, including medical decisions to change their gender, and particularly about how to begin to explain to the world at large why they had taken such a momentous step. All those with whom I worked changed their gender from men to women. When they took the decision to change, each faced varying degrees of prejudice, scorn and blatant discrimination. But a great deal depends on how the news is received by those with whom they work.
The first member who came to see me worked in an engineering company, where the employees were mostly male. He took the decision to change his gender

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in the summer and to use the occasion of the two-week July holiday, which in those days was relatively standard in the Midlands, to change from a male employee to a female employee and to dress accordingly. The management of the company was excellent. I went with the member to meet members of the management and when they heard their employee's reasonings, they were totally supportive. That assistance was taken as far as providing a woman's toilet in an area where none had previously existed. That is perhaps a simple matter, but an important one.
Somewhat to my surprise and pleasure the other workers were also supportive, the management having given the lead. Of course, there was some surprise expressed and a certain wariness and wondering about such a sudden change in their workmate. But there was not the prejudice or misunderstanding that I and the transsexual member had feared.
That story contrasts sharply with another case in which I helped a member a number of years later. In that case the management, to put it mildly, was outraged. They refused to assist the person, even threatening dismissal if the employee continued to change his gender. Because he was made to feel so uncomfortable and because he became so miserable at work, he chose to leave his workplace and to find a job elsewhere as a woman worker. He did not want the hassle and worry of challenging his employer.
I give those examples to show the importance of taking a positive approach to transsexuality, as the Government are doing in this Bill. Many of the benefits of the Bill will be highly practical; for example, the issue of a new birth certificate will mean that the holder will not have to reveal that he or she is a transsexual, thus keeping private something that is highly personal.
As has been indicated by speeches already, as in all Bills there will be issues—valid and important ones— that we shall need to consider in more detail in the future. But I believe that that is the strength of this House. We can and we do work together to improve Bills and I am sure that this Bill will be no exception. I am also sure that as we deliberate we shall improve the Bill and so improve the law for a group of people who have waited for this legislation for far too long.
12.15 p.m.
Lord Carlile of Berriew: My Lords, it is a particular pleasure to follow the noble Baroness, Lady Gibson of Market Rasen. I agree with every word that she has said about the Bill. I commend the Government for introducing it. I am particularly grateful to the noble Lord, Lord Filkin, for taking much trouble to consult those whom he knew had an interest in the subject and who may have a contribution to make.
Getting on for 20 years ago, as a fairly young Member of another place, I was approached by a group of transsexual people who became Press For Change. I assisted them at the time when they formed Press For Change. I hope that others who speak in the debate, who may be less supportive of the Bill than I,
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have taken the same trouble to discuss with transsexuals the issues contained in it as well as to read fully about the issues surrounding gender dysphoria.
Not long after I first became interested in this matter and determined that it was a human rights problem— I still regard it as such—I arranged a fringe meeting on it at the Liberal Party conference. At the time the issue was on the cusp; it was translating itself from being a freaks' issue to one of curiosity. I am delighted to say that it has moved well on from being a matter of curiosity to a matter of law and rights. I hope that others will take seriously the human rights aspect.
When I introduced this subject to the Liberal Party conference—not for the first time—my then party leader, my noble friend Lord Steel of Aikwood, was not well pleased with me. I recall that we attracted more publicity than his meaningful visit to a seaside telephone exchange or whatever he was doing that day. But those involved in the meeting were all glad that we were able to command a half page in the Daily Mail for the first time, highlighting some serious matters about trans-gender issues.
Subsequently, I was once fortunate enough to come fourth in the Private Members' ballot in another place. I introduced a Bill, much shorter than the present Bill, that sought to achieve the same aims. At that time the Labour Party, then in opposition, undertook when in government to bring forward legislation. It has been a long time coming, but I make no complaint about that because we are thankful that it has arrived. I pay tribute to Dr Lynne Jones MP who has played a significant part in assisting Press For Change and other interested parties on this issue and Glenda Jackson MP and others who have been prepared to put their heads above the parapet on what has sometimes been an uncomfortable matter.
I say to those who feel uncomfortable about this proposed legislation that we are talking about a rights issue and a medical issue. When I started my involvement in these matters people used to ask me whether it was a psychological matter, a somatic matter, a psychosomatic matter or something else, as if one could pigeon-hole gender dysphoria as akin to measles (a physical illness) on the one hand or schizophrenia (a mental illness) on the other hand. After 20 years of research into this matter and a huge amount of reading, one cannot pigeon-hole this condition in any particular way. It is a whole person, whole body condition.
I say with great respect to the right reverend Prelate the Bishop of Winchester that the issue is sometimes the result of honest mistakes by medical practitioners—and we shall hear later from a very distinguished paediatrician. Sometimes the gender of a new-born baby is far from clear. Very occasionally— and every instance matters—people have been certified—mistakenly, as it turns out—as being male or female, and the full truth of their true gender has only emerged after a number of years. If someone has been a girl—for example—for nine years and in reality he is a boy, it is extremely difficult to change at that stage. Of course his parents, his school and society do

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not want him to change and dramatic surgical operations are not carried out on children if they can be avoided.
Some people have lived agonising lives until they have had the courage to address what may well have been inevitable issues throughout their lives. That is the kind of situation with which we are dealing.
A number of my friends and acquaintances have suffered from gender dysphoria. If I were to introduce noble Lords to many of them, they would not have a clue which were the men who had been registered at birth as girls or the women who had been registered at birth as boys. There is still a great deal of unjustified knee-jerk prejudice about the issue.
I further say to the right reverend Prelate that I recognise, as we all do in this House, his responsibility, let alone his right, to give us moral guidance. I certainly recognise his right to guide us on matters of Canon law, with which we are not concerned here, and I recognise his right to comment on matters of civil law, which we do recognise here, but we cannot in reality be choosy or picky about our international legal obligations.
Successive governments have recognised those international legal obligations. We may hear from the noble Lord, Lord Tebbit, in the debate. I respectfully remind the noble Lord, for whom I have a very great regard, that for several years he was a member of a government who repeatedly strengthened our international legal obligations, including our commitment to European Union law and European human rights law. I remind the House that the European Convention on Human Rights has been in existence since 1948—the year in which I was born— and no governments have taken steps to remove us from it; indeed, quite the opposite.
Therefore, as regards the cases referred to by the right reverend Prelate, the reality is that they are part of our law, and we have to follow our law. They are as much part of our law as though they had been decided in the Chester Crown Court.
The Lord Bishop of Winchester: My Lords, I thank the noble Lord for giving way. I thought I made it clear that I was not questioning the fact that we were bound by the cases, but the quality of that judgment by which we are bound.
Lord Carlile of Berriew: My Lords, that highlights another problem. Our judges are appointed to interpret and apply our law. I say with the greatest respect to the right reverend Prelate that I do not think we dignify ourselves by saying that an issue decided by the courts is wrong because we happen to think that the judgment was not of sufficient quality.
I also say to the right reverend Prelate, again with great respect, that he is exaggerating enormously when he predicts that there will be an "incalculable effect", as he put it. We are not the first country to introduce legislation of this kind. Other civilised countries with a higher church attendance than ours have done so. Marriage and civil order has not fallen apart. Society
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has continued and, indeed, transsexual people, who have been able to benefit from the changes in the law, have been left with a far better state of mind and in a far better legal status than in our own country—at least until this legislation is passed.
Having said all that, I recognise that we must consider the legislation very carefully in Committee, as the noble Baroness, Lady Gibson, said. I hope that I may have the opportunity to be part of that process.
There are a number of specific points which I seek to highlight at this stage in an effort to be helpful. The first is on the matter of pensions of older female to male transsexuals. A very small group of people have taken their cases all the way to the European Court of Human Rights. They have planned their lives on the basis that Britain will treat them as female even though they are male, so they will get their pensions, like it or not, at the age of 60. Two handfuls of people within that category is probably about the maximum order. I would ask the Government to consider their position and urge them to table an amendment to ensure that their pension rights are protected. If not, amendments will be tabled along those lines—probably simple amendments related to date of birth.
The second matter I raise has already been mentioned in some detail in the debate; that is, the status of existing marriages. I have personal experience of this. In my own constituency—although it was not known to me when I started my interest in this subject—there is a couple, a farmer and his wife. One member of the couple went through full gender reassignment. They remained a loving couple with children. The pain of an enforced divorce will be considerable for such couples. We ask the Government to consider extremely carefully the translation—if that is what is to occur—between a marriage and a civil partnership, in order to ensure that there is minimal pain and, indeed, minimal cost for these couples. Far be it for me to discourage anyone from paying money to lawyers. I am generally completely in favour of it, but on this occasion I do not think that it would fall into the pockets of lawyers such as myself with a moment of satisfaction. That is a practical issue. I hope the Government will be open to looking for solutions if we can find them.
The third particular I want to make relates to sport. There has been a great deal of publicity, as the noble Lord, Lord Filkin, said earlier this week, about problems relating to sport. I suggest to the House that if necessary we must look for a practical solution. If amendments are required, we should have amendments. However, sports have self-governing bodies which are perfectly entitled to set out their own lawful rules.
I read some grossly exaggerated publicity this week about supposed cheating by transsexuals, who apparently in droves were going to change their gender so that they could win Wimbledon and score the winning goal in the Cup Final. For a start, it is quite hard to do either, and changing one's gender does not generally achieve it for one.

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Moreover, I have to say that it ill behoves some sports to become sanctimonious about cheating in relation to a group of people whose very honesty has been the cause of their pain. Some sports need to put their own houses in order and drive out cheating before we start accusing a group of people, not one of whom in this country has ever cheated in this way.
However, I return to what I said at the beginning, I do not want particularly to be confrontational about the issue, I just think that we must be practical and, if necessary, find a solution. We shall take up other issues in Committee, but I do not propose to weary the House with them now. I simply close by saying to the Government that I commend them on the legislation and I hope that it will make good and relatively unimpeded progress.
12.29 p.m.
Lord Tebbit: My Lords, even for me, it is unusual to be attacked for what I might say even before I have made a speech, but I guess that that is par for the course for the noble Lord.
I thought that it would be as well if we understood what we were talking about, so I took the trouble to read certain definitions in the Oxford English Dictionary. One was that of sex. I learnt, if I had not already guessed, that sex is defined as,
"Either of the two divisions of organic beings distinguished as male and female respectively".
Gender is defined as, "set or class", but there is another definition in paragraph l(a):
"In modern (esp. feminist) use a euphemism for the sex of a human being often intended to emphasise the social and cultural as opposed to the biological distinctions between the sexes".
I noticed that in introducing the Bill, the Minister scarcely used the word "sex"—I think he used it two or three times. He concentrated on the word "gender", and I can well understand why. I checked to ensure that my understanding of dysphoria was correct and found it defined as a,
"malaise or discomfort, a state or condition marked by feelings of unease or (mental) discomfort".
We should bear those definitions in mind.
By the way, and before I forgeť, when my noble friend Lady Buscombe said that we on these Benches welcome the Bill, she did not speak for me or for a number of others.
Baroness Buscombe: My Lords, perhaps I may make clear that I said that we support the Bill in principle, but have a good number of problems with it.
Lord Tebbit: My Lords, I do not support the Bill in principle, in any way, up hill or down dale. This is a bad Bill. It is a most offensive Bill. It is certainly offensive to the followers of more than one religion, but I do not intend to make those criticisms today. In the speech of the right reverend Prelate, we heard of some of his telling concerns.
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Sex cannot be changed. It is no good the Minister shaking his head. Sex is decided by the chromosomes of a human being. If we have XX chromosomes, we are women; if we have XY chromosomes, we are men. I might perhaps accept the Bill if an additional requirement for registering changes of gender were that it had been discovered that those concerned had inappropriate chromosomes for the sex in which they had been registered. That is the only way in which the Bill could avoid telling a lie. So far as I know, there is no law nor any known medical procedure that can change the sex of a human being. The Bill purports to do so. It is therefore an objectionable farce.
Moral and constitutional issues are also involved. The Bill requires members of a gender recognition panel, on the production of certain evidence, in broad terms to certify that a person who was born a woman, lived as a woman, married as a woman and has borne children is, despite all that, entitled to be issued with a birth certificate falsely professing that she was born as a male child. That cannot be anything other than a lie. It is a lie that the state would require its servants, such as the Registrar General, to certify as a truth.
Under this Government, we have become accustomed to a certain lack of precision and distinction between what is true and what is untrue, but this is going a long way beyond that. It is of a different order. Not only does it provide that an untruth can be made a truth, that a legitimately and properly attested document may be altered to purport something different, but it provides for the punishment of anyone who dares to speak the truth about the matter.
The noble Lord, Lord Carlile, properly referred to some of the problems in sport. When a six foot eight inch, 22 stone lady turns up to join the hockey club and denies that she has changed gender, who can attest to the contrary? Her birth certificate will have been altered and it will be a criminal offence for anyone to reveal that fact. Just how do we proceed in that matter? It is no good saying that we can leave it to people in the sporting associations. We cannot. That is impossible.
Even worse, it is not quite an offence for anyone to reveal the truth about the matter because, properly, under Clause 21, the Secretary of State or Scottish Minister is to have by order power to make provisions prescribing circumstances in which disclosure of the truth would not be an offence. We have read in the papers during the past day or two some of the background to the Soham murders and about the real difficulty caused by the clash between data confidentiality and the need of the police to be able to identify people who have not been convicted of any crime.
Let us consider the Bill in relation to that. Suppose the suspected person had changed gender. That would be difficult to track back, because he would be a different person with a different birth certificate. If this wretched legislation is passed, I hope that the Attorney-General has thought his way through that one before we have another problem on the scale of the Soham affair.

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Mind you, all that is somewhat small beer compared to the power given to the Secretary of State in Clause 22 to modify,
"the operation of any enactment or subordinate legislation in relation to… persons whose gender has become the acquired gender under this Act, or… any description of such persons".
So there is the potential to deal with what we may call the Soham problem but, as I said, I hope that the Attorney-General will tell us exactly how that will operate. He must have thought it through. The Bill has not suddenly emerged; it has been thought about for a long time.
As I read it, the Bill would also purport that a marriage lawfully undertaken and consummated would be annulled where one of those false certificates had been issued in respect of one of those who had been lawfully joined together in an indissoluble union in the presence of God. We have heard the right reverend Prelate's reservations about that. I wonder what His Holiness the Pope thinks about it.
Clause 16 provides that if an Earl re-registers himself as a woman, he fortunately does not have to become a Countess. That is a most liberal part of the Bill; for such small mercies we should be grateful. I therefore presume that if a King should undertake gender reassignment, he could rule as a woman, but he would still be a King. I must say that that would raise some curious thoughts.
Earl Ferrers: My Lords, my noble friend's speech is so fascinating that it has stimulated my thoughts. What happens if an Earl becomes a woman? Does his son then become the Earl?
Lord Tebbit: My Lords, I really do not know. Presumably, as he would remain an Earl rather than becoming a Countess, his son would have other problems on his mind than whether he would immediately succeed to the title.
Baroness O'Cathain: My Lords, let us hope that my noble friend is not going to do it.
Lord Tebbit: Indeed, my Lords, we hope that my noble friend's interest in the matter is not entirely personal.
Clause 12, which can only be described as part of the script of a farce in a theatre of the absurd, states that although a woman may be certified as having been born a man, he or she—I do not know which—remains the mother of her children. What an extraordinary mess; it defies logic. Whatever the noble Lord, Lord Carlile, says, it is clear that the problem, which is very real for some, is a psychological illness, not a physical one.
One of the distressing aspects of the Bill is that it will encourage the practice of sexual mutilation in what are called sex-change operations, when it is impossible to change the sex of a human being, unless one has discovered a way to change his or her chromosomes. The Bill is so bad that it should be taken away, and the
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Government should think of another way to help people who suffer this acutely distressing psychological illness.
12.41 p.m.
Lord Chan: My Lords, although none of us would argue against the principle of the rights of people, including transsexuals, the Bill is not a satisfactory solution. In view of the detailed and learned speeches of other noble Lords, I intend to focus mainly on the clinical diagnosis of transsexual people and the grounds on which gender recognition certificates can be issued and birth certificates altered. The freedom of third parties must be protected; that is to say, people of the gender that the transsexual has acquired and members of the transsexual's family.
There are 5,000 transsexual people in the United Kingdom, among them more men than women. Transsexuals are also classified as having gender dysphoria or gender identity disorder. Sex-change operations were introduced in the 1930s to meet the demand for creating people of one sex who are chromosomally of the other. It has been estimated that only a proportion of transsexuals undergo surgery. Many refuse essential preparation, such as living successfully for two years as the opposite sex, and fail to keep follow-up appointments, so disqualifying themselves from surgery. In addition, among transsexual people there is a high rate of psychiatric disturbance, such as an increased rate of suicide, irrespective of surgical treatment.
The medical profession is divided on the issue of transsexualism. The term is used to describe, and has wide international recognition as, a mental and behavioural disorder in the World Health Organisation's International Classification of Diseases (10th edition). However, there are other classifications, such as in the United States, where the terms gender dysphoria or gender identity disorder are used, but they are also classified as behavioural disorders.
There is no consensus among clinicians about the effectiveness of psychological treatment for transsexualism, but there is evidence that the perceived quality of life of a proportion of transsexuals may be improved by cosmetic and reconstructive surgery, according to a recent review. As the European Court suggests, surgery and prolonged hormonal treatment involve numerous and painful interventions, reflecting an extraordinary level of conviction on the part of the person with gender dysphoria.
Transsexual people feel that they belong to one sex while their biological make-up is clearly that of the other. There is little evidence to show a genetic basis for the condition, because transsexuals have normal male or female chromosomes. Their genital organs are also normal male or female. Difficulties of diagnosis in cases of ambiguous genital organs at birth—so-called intersex syndromes—are rare. Most cases involve a chromosomal female with an enlarged clitoris due to congenital adrenal hyperplasia, a hormonal condition that is not difficult to treat. In such cases, the baby is

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a female, with two X chromosomes. A recent paper published this year in the Archives of Disease in Childhood on the surgical management of ambiguous genitalia, on behalf of the British Association of Paediatric Surgeons working party on the surgical management of children born with ambiguous genitalia, provides some useful information and advice. It states:
"In view of the comparative rarity and complex issues involved in treating these children, we would unreservedly recommend their early referral to the nearest regional centre for both immediate and continuing management by a multidisciplinary team. No assignment of gender should be made prior to referral. The disciplines involved must include appropriately trained paediatric surgeons and/or paediatric urologists, neonatologists, and paediatric endocrinologists and their specialist nurses/support workers, geneticists, biochemists, psychologists, and gynaecologists".
As the condition is so rare, it does not contribute to transsexualism.
Male transsexuals have been reported to have more feminine brain microstructure. It is difficult to determine whether brain structure influences their behaviour, or whether brain changes have come about through long-continued behaviour. An example is that of an unusual study on London taxi drivers, who have enlargement of the part of the brain associated with navigation—that is a genuine study. Studies on enzyme and hormonal abnormalities, physical dexterity and psychological profiles of transsexuals have also been carried out, but there is little consistency between the studies; they are poorly replicable and demonstrate only minor links between sexual behaviour and the variables studied.
The ruling of the European Court supports a situation in which personal feelings and beliefs are given precedence over verifiable medical evidence. In support of that are four reports, which I have read, of men who were labelled as transsexual or having a gender identity disorder, but who no longer feel that they are women, and, a few years later, function normally as men. That demonstrates that the condition of some transsexuals is not permanent or lifelong.
Clause 2, on the determination of applications for a gender recognition certificate, requires two professional reports: one from a registered medical practitioner practising in the field of gender dysphoria or gender identity disorder, and another from a doctor, who need not practise in gender dysphoria, or a chartered psychologist. Other requirements are evidence that the person has lived in the acquired gender throughout a two-year period and an intention to continue to live in the required gender until death. No mention is made of undergoing reconstructive surgery of the genital organs.
It is therefore likely that individuals applying for gender recognition certificates will continue to be men with male sexual organs. About half of male transsexuals have not undergone surgery. If they are then given gender recognition certificates classifying them as females, serious consequences would affect their partners, children and other people, including women who use public toilets. There will doubtless be
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more reports of outrage by women protesting against the use of their toilets by people possessing gender recognition certificates as women who have male genitalia.
In sport, transsexual females with male chromosomes have been shown to have more muscle power than most women. The commitment of the individual wanting to have gender reassignment should surely need to be evidenced by undergoing reconstructive surgery. That requirement of surgery for gender recognition would give less committed individuals an opportunity to reconsider their position.
Individuals with gender recognition certificates are entitled to marry. In New Zealand and Australia, post-operative transsexual people are regarded as members of their acquired sex and can marry. As has already been stated, Paragraph 3 of Schedule 4 makes provision for ministers of religion to decline on grounds of conscience or religion from conducting a marriage of a transsexual person. That recognises the position of the Christian church, of Islam and of the Jewish religion that the only gender a person can have is that of their biological sex. Christian and Muslim organisations such as the Evangelical Alliance, the Christian Medical Fellowship and the Islamic Medical Association of the United Kingdom have contacted me to make their position clear with regard to the Bill. I join other noble Lords in asking the Minister how the human rights of religious groups will be upheld in the light of the Bill.
More medical research is needed into transsexual people in order to provide them with appropriate support. The Gender Recognition Bill assumes that the condition is already a discrete and clearly agreed medical condition, which is not the case. Therefore, I fear that the Bill would infringe the rights of third parties.
12.52 p.m.
Baroness O'Cathain: My Lords, the issue before us is one of the most difficult that I have ever considered in this House. It would have been much easier for me to have been absent today or to shrug my shoulders and let the Bill take its course without expressing interest or concern. Unfortunately, on issues such as gender recognition, I can see yet another brick being torn away from the fabric of family relationships in this country. Therefore, I am putting my head above the parapet once more.
Today, I have an additional problem. My noble friend Lady Buscombe, who is unfortunately not in her place, stated that we on these Benches broadly support this Bill. I must disassociate myself wholeheartedly and totally with that statement. I am disturbed that, although my name has been on the speakers' list for some time, I was never approached by my noble friend either to inquire about my view or to tell me that we on these Benches support the Bill. At least it shows that independence is alive and well and living on the Back Benches of Her Majesty's Opposition.

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Under this Bill, transsexual people will, according to the Government, "gain the legal recognition of their acquired gender".
However, can gender be acquired? I know full well that there are people who genuinely wrestle with a very strong feeling that they are trapped in the wrong body. Those feelings can become uppermost in the mind colouring every thought and action and feeding permanently on themselves. It must be a veritable living torment.
However, a large body of research and experience composed among others of members of the medical profession, maintains that the condition is a delusion—a fantasy. The problem is psychological, not physical. Psychologists agree about that. For decades gender dysphoria has been well known as a psychological condition. There is no evidence for changing that view, apart from a form of political correctness. My noble friend Lord Tebbit described that brilliantly. He made a textbook sound utterly clear. I am sure that these views will be challenged, but I draw your Lordships' attention to a letter in the Daily Telegraph on 15th July last year from medical professionals at the Portman Clinic. It states:
"The experience of many psychiatrists, psychoanalysts and psychotherapists working with transsexual patients is that they are individuals who, for complex reasons, need to escape from an intolerable psychological reality into a more comfortable fantasy. By attempting to live as a member of the opposite sex, they try to avoid internal conflict, which may otherwise prove to be too distressing".
The letter continues:
"It is a measure of the urgency and desperation of their situation that they frequently seek surgery to make their fantasy real. By carrying out a 'sex change' operation on their bodies, they hope to eliminate the conflict in their minds".
The very important part, according to the eight medical people, is that:
"Unfortunately, what many patients find is that they are left with a mutilated body, but the internal conflicts remain".
It is only fair to admit that some transsexual people who have had sex reassignment surgery do, indeed, experience some measure of comfort and relief. However, in the absence of any long-term research we only ever hear of the few really convincing and passable transsexual people who appear before the media. They are not generally typical.
At this point, I must take issue with the noble Lord, Lord Carlile of Berriew. He stated that the Bill was about intersex conditions. That is highly misleading. The number of truly intersex cases, globally, is minuscule. The Bill is overwhelmingly about people whose bodies are perfectly healthy and, indeed, who may be fathers. The noble Lord has confused transsexuality with intersex. The clarity of the exposition of the condition of intersex given to us by the noble Lord, Lord Chan, was most masterly, and leaves none of us in any doubt about the way intersex can be dealt with.
Research suggests that the majority of transsexual people experience instinctive human/societal rejection as they are pretty obvious to anyone who deals with them. Let me hasten to say at this point that I certainly
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do not condone any form of unfair prejudice or discrimination. I can express that no better than the right reverend Prelate the Bishop of Winchester who spoke so movingly on the issue earlier in the debate. The sad thing is that transsexual people often suffer from post-surgical expectations being dashed, still require ongoing lifetime therapy simply to cope and often lead a ghetto-like lifestyle. It should be noted that, internationally, transsexual people are beginning to request reversal procedures having realised that they made a mistake or were badly advised. What will the Bill do to consider the needs of those people?
Transsexual people are not really trapped in the wrong body. The body is healthy and the physical appearance and chromosomes are all in agreement, which was beautifully described by the noble Lord, Lord Chan. Lobbyists to the Scottish Committee taking evidence on this Bill stated that:
"The situation is actually very simple, given that gender dysphoria is a medical condition like any other medical condition. Unfortunately, because it relates to gender, that makes everything complicated. Currently we do not have the right to have our true gender recognised. We object to the use of the phrases such as 'sex change'. We have not undergone a sex change, we have aligned our gender to our true gender, which is the one in which we should have been born but unfortunately were not".
This is surely wrong. At the risk of being repetitious, gender dysphoria is not a medical condition. We are born either male or female. To quote from Genesis 1:27:
"So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them".
Transsexual people are born with a gender that fits all known scientific criteria. Just because we have a yearning to be a boy or a girl does not make it so. It is just fantasy, reminding me how we used to pretend to be gnomes or sprites in the early days in the kindergarten sandpit. I have used the word "delusion" before—I use it again. I am sure that I am not alone in questioning whether it is right to go along with transsexual people in this delusion.
Some people shrug their shoulders and turn away from the problem. The implications of the Bill are too serious to permit such inaction, as the delusions or fantasies of a few individuals will be imposed on many. Surely, it is better to help them gently to come to terms with reality, rather than trying to change reality to fit their delusion.
If a person is paranoid and believes that he is being chased by secret agents, we do not hire a 24-hour bodyguard and buy them elaborate security devices. Similarly, if a person suffers from agoraphobia, we do not brick them into their home. Yet, instead of getting them all possible psychological help, surgeons trap transsexual people in their delusion by performing sex re-assignment surgery.
The issues and problems created by the Bill not only for transsexual people but for the rest of us are very serious. During the progress of the Bill, I shall address many issues. I give notice of them today. Will the recommendations of the Joint Committee on Human Rights be followed? One issue is the inclusion in the Bill of the supply of goods and services. They do not

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appear to be included at the moment. If they are included, it would cause serious problems for shops, pubs, the churches and voluntary organisations. Can the Minister give me an assurance that the Bill will not be extended in that way?
The noble Lord, Lord Chan, referred to the message that we got from Dr Majid Katme, spokesman for the Islamic Medical Association of the UK on medical ethics. In order not to prolong the debate, I will not read it out, but I think that it is required reading. It would be a good idea if I gave a copy to the Minister, who could circulate it. It is all about the issue.
Transsexuality is seen as a privacy issue, until it comes to demanding benefits and coerced responses from the public. The important question that no one seems to care about is the rights of third parties, something that the noble Lord, Lord Chan, drew to our attention. It seems to have been completely ignored by the Joint Committee on Human Rights. I shall come back to that.
Will pubs be able to enforce bans on transsexual people, for example following public complaints on the issue of using female facilities? What will be the situation if a transgendered man competes as a woman in female sports? I shall not go further on that matter. I am sure that my noble friend Lord Moynihan will deal with it, in view of his comments in The Times yesterday. I hate to admit it, but men are usually physically stronger than we are. The whole area of women's sport could be turned upside-down.
Will churches be able to prevent transgendered men insisting on attending the ladies' fellowship meetings and using female facilities? In that context, I realise that I have not pointed out that some 50 per cent of transsexual people never undergo sex re-assignment surgery. That issue has already been dealt with.
Those are some of the problems that the Bill raises. I am now gently leading the House into considering the fundamental problems that the Bill raises for society as a whole, which I foreshadowed just a few moments ago. The Bill proposes to convene a gender recognition committee, which, by a single vote, can determine that a man is a woman. A man who has lived as a man for 40 years or so, has married and has fathered children can be deemed to be a woman, for legal purposes, by the committee. Surely, that is wrong. We should think about the effect on the children, the extended family of nieces, nephews or even his grandchildren. If the committee vote is split on whether he is a man or a woman, the chairman has the casting vote. Is that even believable? It is ludicrous. It could even be comic, but it is extremely serious.
Society can be rocked by this, even though, I am told, there are only about 5,000 transsexual people in our population of 60 million. Let us not ignore the effect on the many hundreds or even thousands of people acting in an official capacity who will have to go along with the pretence. Many of them will feel that their conscience is being profoundly compromised. The Bill does not provide a conscience clause for those who have to get involved with, for example,
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performing and registering marriages. Under the Bill, a biological man will be able to marry a biological man. It may be obvious to a registrar that a particular couple who present themselves for marriage are of the same sex, and the registrar may believe strongly that marriage should be only between people of opposite sexes. I think that it was the right reverend Prelate who drew our attention to the fact that the definition of marriage is in every registry office in the land, saying that it is the union of people of opposite sexes.
1 p.m.
Lord Tebbit: My Lords, it would not be an issue of conscience for a registrar of marriages. He is prohibited by law from marrying two people of the same sex. Under the law, he must reject such an application.
Baroness O'Cathain: My Lords, I am grateful to my noble friend. I was going to ask whether the registrar would lose his job, if he refused to perform the ceremony. He loses either way.
In the case of religious marriage, it could be equally difficult. Churches, alongside everyone of common sense, believe in the definition of marriage as a union between a biological man and a biological woman That, to me, is a matter of enormous spiritual and moral significance. That is a wholly personal view, but I think that others will support it.
How can the Government abuse their position of power by creating a legal fiction allowing a biological man to marry a legal but non-biological woman, while maintaining that they support only the marriage of opposite sex couples, as the Minister said? How can we have a legal woman who is a man? How can any government create and dictate such a ridiculous and nonsensical category? It is against all reality, natural senses and scientific fact.
It is Christians' religious conscience that forbids many from endorsing transsexualism as a valid lifestyle. Schedule 4 gives clergymen a conscience clause, saying that they are not obliged to marry transsexual people, but that is meaningless if they have no authoritative means of determining the true sex of the persons wishing to be married. Under the Bill, they have no right to see the original birth certificate. All that they would be entitled to see is the new birth certificate in the person's chosen gender, which will look exactly like a real—original, I should say—birth certificate. The situation is fraught for the clergy. We must do something to protect them in such situations. It is not beyond the bounds of possibility that the clergy could be sued, as happened in a case that went against the person who sued.
We must not allow our natural sympathy for those who struggle with a serious psychological problem to blind us to the problems that the Bill will create for other people. If the Government persist in pushing through the Bill, they must make radical amendments to protect the freedom of conscience of those who simply do not believe that the law can declare a man to be a woman or a woman to be a man. It is only

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common sense and a basic human right for individuals to be free to believe fact rather than fiction, otherwise we are entering a dark future of coerced totalitarian-style law making.
I have a final question for the Minister. Will the Bill be whipped? My understanding is that it was always going to be a free vote.
1.8 p.m.
Lord Goodhart: My Lords, like the noble Baroness, Lady Buscombe, I start by saying that, on these Benches, we support the Bill. The difference between us in that, in my case, it happens to be true. Gender dysphoria is a condition that causes enormous distress. We believe that the Bill will go some way—by no means the whole way—towards reducing that distress and will cause no foreseeable harm.
Views on sexual behaviour and the nature of sexuality in law have changed radically. Forty years ago, homosexual acts between consenting adults were criminal offences. It would be unthinkable for us to go back to the conditions of 40 years ago. We now have openly gay people in politics—indeed, in the Cabinet—in the professions and in many other walks of life.
The Government are going to introduce a civil partnerships Bill to permit the registration of same-sex partnerships, which will have many of the characteristics of marriage. Until now, the laws on the position of transsexual people have lagged behind the changes that have been made in the case of homosexual people. I believe that gap is now being filled by this Bill.
Of course, there are problems with the Bill, some of which are relatively minor. The most substantial problem relates to existing marriages. On that, I feel that the Government are being rigid. We are not suggesting that marriages should be entered into between same-sex couples. But the Government's principle does not have to be extended to the dissolution of a marriage that was validly entered into, and which both parties wish to retain in spite of the recognition of the gender change of one of them.
Of course, we recognise that the issue of a registration certificate should be a ground for annulment should either party to the marriage wish to bring an end to that marriage. But the annulment of the marriage should not be the precondition for a grant of the full certificate.
The Government refer to the possibility of a couple annulling their marriage and then entering into a civil partnership as a same-sex couple. But I see two problems with that. The first problem is obvious: we do not have civil partnerships and are unlikely to have them for some time to come. Secondly, it is easy to envisage circumstances where one or both parties to the marriage might want the marriage to continue in spite of the gender change to one of them, but be unwilling to enter into a new single-sex partnership. To require people to do that as a condition of renewing the partnership between those parties is unnecessary and undesirable.
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Some minor points have already been mentioned. My noble friend Lord Carlile of Berriew referred to problems, which I entirely see and with which I entirely agree—in particular, the problem as regards the female to male gender change. People may make plans in expectation of receiving a retirement pension at the age of 60, but find that they are unable to draw their pension until they reach the age of 65. For those aged 50 or more at the time that the Bill comes into force, it would be reasonable to make a change to cover their situation.
I understand and respect the points made by the right reverend Prelate the Bishop of Winchester. The principle that he raised is fundamental and there is no way of reconciling it with my views or those that lie behind this Bill. One simply has to accept that there is an irreconcilable difference here.
Of course, there are cases in which the biological sexuality of individuals is unclear. The right reverend Prelate's arguments did not consider those. The noble Lord, Lord Chan, said that these were relatively rare. A distinguished expert in reproductive science, to whom I was talking the other day on the subject, said that there are a significant number of people who are affected by ambiguous sexuality. But I accept that that cannot be said of all people who seek to change their gender. So I am afraid that the right reverend Prelate and I will simply have to disagree on the principle.
I accept that it is proper to allow the clergy to refuse to marry transsexual people in their acquired gender. However, I believe—no doubt the Minister can reassure me—that there is nothing in the Bill which prevents a clergyman from asking a couple who present themselves for marriage as members of opposite sexes whether either of them has an acquired gender. If one party admits that or refuses to answer, obviously it would be legitimate to refuse. I certainly would not accept the extension of this principle to registrars.
As regards sport, there is undoubtedly a difficulty. The Minister accepted that and said that it was within the powers of the sports authorities to make their own regulations to cover it. Whether that is sufficient, I do not know. I shall listen with interest to what the noble Lord, Lord Moynihan, has to say and I will keep an open mind on that subject. Certainly, there is nothing in the Bill to prevent an official from a sporting competition asking a potential competitor whether he or she has acquired a gender, if that is relevant.
This is not an easy issue. The issues raised by the noble Lord, Lord Chan, unquestionably, are important and show that opposition to the Bill is by no means irrational. As he said, the medical profession is divided. It is well known that gender reassignment is not always successful. Ultimately, I believe that this Bill will help a group of people who suffer from a problem that is deeply painful for them and it can assist without unavoidable damage or injury to them or to other people. The injury to other people is not caused by recognition; it is caused by their involvement in a problem which may involve a dearly loved partner and which causes them great distress.

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Once the gender change has occurred, the fact that it is recognised by certificate is a step forward in helping people.
Lord Tebbit: My Lords, I am most grateful to the noble Lord. At the beginning of the noble Lord's speech, he referred to the way in which we have legislated in recent years to accommodate changes in social attitudes. Does he not recognise that while there is a perfectly respectable case to be made for the law to be changed in relation to those matters, it is a very different matter when a Bill is introduced to change the law relating to a person's sex? This involves that which cannot be true; that is, a person with a double-X chromosome is not, in fact, a woman, but is a man. Does the noble Lord not understand the difference between those two types of legislation?
Lord Goodhart: My Lords, of course the noble Lord, Lord Tebbit, makes a point that is a justifiable part of the argument. But our belief is that we should recognise that there is a group of people who while, biologically (chromosomally perhaps) are of one sex, are socially and in other respects—psychologically— of a different sex. In those cases, I believe that it is legitimate. It obviously is not compulsory, but it is legitimate for the Government to take the view that they should be treated in relation to the sex to which they socially belong and not to their chromosomal sex. I am not attempting to persuade the noble Lord, Lord Tebbit. Of course, his argument, which he holds very firmly, is equally legitimate.
1.19 p.m.
Lord Moynihan: My Lords, I speak today in my capacity as shadow Minister for Sport. Thus, my speech will focus on the subject of sport, which has been raised by a number of your Lordships. I believe that sport needs to secure full exemption from the Bill if competitive sport is to continue as we have known it. From the outset, I would like to say, in particular to my noble friends, that in my experience, the great advantage of Second Reading debates is the readiness of Her Majesty's Opposition to listen, to reflect and to respond. Such is the advantage of debates of high quality, as exemplified today. In my humble opinion, to listen, to reflect and to respond, we must.
The noble Lord, Lord Chan, the right reverend Prelate and my noble friends all recognise that transsexuals go through deep personal trauma and that the condition of sexual dysphoria is serious. But as with so much of the legislation presented to Parliament over recent years, this Bill does not follow through to the consequences of the intentions laid out by the Government. On the contrary, it is a patchwork quilt of proposals, as my noble friend Lord Tebbit highlighted in the context of the interesting consequences both for inheritance and, indeed, for royal succession. However, I am pleased to note that in both of those examples, the Government have recognised the principle of exemption. I shall seek to argue why, with regard to competitive sport and sport
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in general in this country, there should be exemption. Amendments will be tabled at later stages to secure and protect the future of competitive sport.
I contest today that the Bill as drafted would decimate the continuation of competitive sport. That is not because I disagree with the first principle raised by the Minister, who rightly said that anyone who is recognised under this legislation will have to satisfy all the criteria. Perhaps we have been reading different newspapers, but those I have read on the subject of sport all recognise that the criteria of this legislation would need to be satisfied by a transsexual.
However, it is the second point made by the Minister that is of greatest concern. I do not believe that the Minister can reasonably argue that the status quo with regard to sport—namely, the continued determination of competition by governing bodies—will stay unchanged. This Bill will change fundamentally the relationship between governing bodies and sportsmen and women because its whole purpose is to give—here I quote the Minister's summary—a long-ignored minority legal rights. Armed with those legal rights the transsexual can challenge any governing body, sports club or national federation.
If there is no need for the Bill in the first place, the consequences are such that the status quo would remain. But if, as I understand, it is the Government's full intention to give the transsexuals concerned under this legislation full legal rights, that totally changes the status quo between those individuals and the governing bodies of sport.
The Government's position is clear: under the Bill, a trans-gender man or woman is as much a man or woman as anyone else. To prohibit them from competing in their acquired gender at any level would therefore fall foul of any number of human rights such as, for example, Article 8 covering the right to respect for private life. Cases are already in progress in which transsexual athletes are claiming that their exclusion amounts to restriction of employment. If a Bill is passed which would prohibit them from competing, that would provide a beanfeast for lawyers—a point I made earlier this week.
Why is that? It is because Ministers, including through collective responsibility the Prime Minister and the Minister responsible for sport, are seeking de facto today to redefine what constitutes "male" and "female". In sport the law has sensibly regarded male and female as determined by biological appearance, testosterone levels and chromosomes. Today, a new and overriding criterion is being proposed. As a result of the condition of sexual dysphoria, that condition is to be treated, in summary, as, "My gender is what I think it is". My view is that it is essential for the future of sport in the United Kingdom that it is specifically exempted from this legislation.
Recognitions for a sex change under the Bill do not, as the noble Lord, Lord Chan, pointed out, require invasive surgery. The requirement is that a transsexual should be able to demonstrate to the gender recognition panel that the individual has changed their sexuality from whatever appeared on their birth

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certificate. This requires no necessary physical change of the person. It is, precisely, a mental change. Here I pick up a point made by the noble Lord, Lord Carlile. I do not believe that it is necessarily a whole-body experience. It can be for some, but in the context of the legislation as currently drafted, it is not necessarily an experience of the whole body. This will mean that the belief of the individual concerned is overriding in seeking recognition as a woman or, vice versa, as a man. If the gender recognition panel is convinced, the full weight of the law will support the applicant.
Under Clause 2(1), a transsexual person may achieve full legal recognition of their acquired gender without going through any kind of physical medical procedure. The International Olympic Committee has its own definition of a woman. That definition is capable of being stretched to include post-operative transsexual people. However, that is markedly different from what the Bill would require for a transsexual to be fully recognised as a woman. Its terms leave sports governing bodies open to legal action if they attempt to exclude any transsexual athlete from competing in their acquired gender. The implications for sport are therefore manifestly serious and I say that particularly in relation to maintaining fair competition, safety issues and to the drug testing of trans-gender athletes.
There are also many practical difficulties to be faced by sporting bodies at all levels in the absence of any defined policy on trans-gender athletes. These difficulties would not be resolved by the Bill in its present form. The only effective way satisfactorily to resolve them is for the Bill to include a precisely defined exemption for competitive sports. I am grateful to noble Lords on the Liberal Democrat Benches for accepting the importance of giving due consideration to those amendments when they are brought forward and for considering the points made about sport and recreation at later stages of the Bill.
Lord Carlile of Berriew: My Lords, I am grateful to the noble Lord for giving way. I wanted to be clear about the Conservative Party's view of this question. Does the noble Lord agree that someone who had previously been a man who simply wanted to go through gender reassignment so that they could compete, for example, in a woman's sport, would fail the test set out in Clause 3 and therefore would not obtain a certificate from the panel? If that is right, surely the problem he is talking about is one that is barely going to register on the Richter scale of reality.
Lord Moynihan: My Lords, I agree with the noble Lord on his first point, but we are not talking about those people. We are talking about the category of people with the condition of sexual dysphoria; the transsexual who, as a result of changing his sex, will then have the full weight of the law when facing a governing body and, indeed, demanding that as a former man, he is now a woman recognised by the panel as a woman, and thus can compete as a woman in national and international events.
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Whether this concerns 1 million people, 100,000 or even 10,000 people, it is bad law if, as a result, someone in those circumstances can win a 100-metre race in national finals or—to be more appropriate and accurate—a 2,000-metre rowing race in the Olympics. That is the point I seek to make. If the noble Lord will allow me, it is rather like arguing, "Fortunately, we do not have too many cheats as a result of doping in this country". But surely that does not lead the noble Lord to conclude that we should not put a tremendous effort into ensuring that we do not have people cheating by using performance-enhancing drugs to improve their performance.
I had the personal misfortune to be beaten in the 1980 Olympic Games by a fraction of a second by a crew who, post the end of the Cold War, are now seen to have all been on drugs. A silver medal came my way—I did not want the gold medal because I was beaten on the day—but the point I make is that, if it were only that one crew on drugs, it still sets an example to young people over the length and breadth of this country that cheating can win. We have to be tough and stand against that, even if the numbers are small.
I argue simply that while I agree with the opening comment of the noble Lord, we cannot allow a situation to occur whereby, as a result of this legislation, the whole definition of "male" and "female" is thrown into relief so that sport then has to require that someone who is a transsexual in a male body, but satisfies all the conditions of the Bill, can then demand to participate in female events at the Olympic Games.
I said that I would try to help noble Lords on the four principal areas of my concern with regard to sport. The first is fairness. Participation in competitive sport at all levels is based on an expectation of physical fairness and a level playing field. This would be severely compromised if the situation I have outlined came into being.
The second issue concerns doping. A person competing as a woman who had a full male anatomy would fail a random drugs test due to the far higher levels of testosterone present in the male body. UK Sport has already stated that the testing of post-operative transsexuals is a minefield. Guidance from the World Anti-Doping Association has not been forthcoming. The IOC has issued no clear guidelines. The British Olympic Association has indicated that its position will be governed by what the IOC eventually decides.
The world of sport is in turmoil over this. There is no clear answer from either the International Olympic Committee, the British Olympic Association or the governing bodies; nor, indeed, from the agency that would need to determine whether someone is competing as a man or a woman—that is, the anti-doping agency currently run by UK Sport.
The possibility of dropping the male and female category distinction would have to be considered in favour of a high testosterone/low testosterone eligibility. This is a recipe for chaos. We gave the world

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the rules governing major international sports. Let us not give the world this unworkable legislation in addition.
The third issue relates to that. Again, I should like to pick up on something that the noble Lord, Lord Carlile, said in his critique of some of the governing bodies of sport and, indeed, the anti-doping agency and the need to clean up sport. I agree that these issues, particularly in regard to the anti-doping agency, need to be seen against, for example, the removal of Michelle Verroken this week. I have called time and again for an independent UK anti-doping agency reporting to the Minister and accountable to Parliament. That decision can be made in an hour. It does not need further review at taxpayers' expense.
The anti-doping agency is one of the three principal functions of UK Sport. Today UK Sport is in chaos. It continues to run an anti-doping policy while simultaneously funding many of the sports it has a duty to keep clean. The principal reason it has steered through this conflict of interests is because of the professional and respected work of Michelle Verroken. She, like myself, is tough on drugs and very concerned about the issues before the House today. She more than I sees the challenges in this critical area of policy, where without people like her competition between athletes would all too soon become competition between chemists' laboratories. She has led this country in the development of drug testing in British sport. I appointed her when I was Minister for Sport. With a record like hers over the past 15 years she does not deserve to be treated like this. Our system is not perfect and she would be the first to admit that, but some governing bodies have resisted change.
The principal reason for the imperfections lies with the Minister who constantly washes his hands of an independent anti-doping agency reporting to him, backed, if necessary, by statutory powers. Whenever asked, he and his colleagues—and, I have to say, the Minister today—shift responsibility to governing bodies. I say to the Government that it is their responsibility. UK Sport is their responsibility; the anti-doping agency and its national and international commitments are the responsibility of the Minister for Sport. Today, they lie in shambles. How can you sack the respected head of the anti-doping agency on the eve of the Rio Ferdinand hearing without far-reaching consequences?
The Government should come to the House and make a Statement. Yet the Minister, Richard Caborn—as with this ill-considered legislation—is nowhere to be seen. This is no isolated case. This week UK Sport also lost its chief executive, the respected Richard Callicott. UK Sport is in chaos. When Richard Caborn next leaves the offices of UK Sport, will he please turn out the lights and start taking some responsibility for this Bill and for the future of sport?
Lord Tebbit: My Lords, before my noble friend sits down, I am very impressed with the rigour and the clarity with which he is dealing with the potential effect of the Bill upon the world of sport. But would he not
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agree that if the whole of the Olympic competition crashed into ruins it would not do a great deal of damage to society? Could he turn his attention just for a moment to the effects on society of the institution of marriage being brought down? That seems to me something that he should not neglect before he sits down.
Lord Moynihan: My Lords, I shall certainly not neglect my noble friend's latter point. I clearly agree with the implications raised by him and by other speakers in the debate. But I shall not allow my noble friend to get away with his opening remarks in regard to the world not crashing down if we lose the Olympic movement. I passionately believe—I have done so all my life and will do so forever—that excellence in sport and the culmination of widespread participation gives young, middle-aged and old people a tremendous sense of achievement. For young people it is a vehicle whereby in fair competition they can learn to live within the rules of society and the rules of the game, learn to work as a team, to keep fit, which is so essential for them, and to make sure that the benefits of sport ultimately allow them to recognise and admire heroes who set good examples within the Olympic movement. With that small personal aside, I wish the 2012 London Olympics committee every success in securing the games for London.
Because of the interventions I have gone on for two minutes longer than I wished. With the indulgence of the House, perhaps I may swiftly refer to the point made about safety issues. In some contact sports at any level there would be serious safety concerns if pre-operative transsexual people were allowed to participate in their acquired gender.
The issue of communal changing facilities and how to handle transsexual people—especially pre-operative transsexual people—when they have the full legal rights envisaged in the Bill demands careful consideration. The scope for causing offence is significant and genuine. However, clubs the length and breadth of the country will have a real fear of being charged with discrimination.
There is also the matter of the cost of compliance. The Government's regulatory impact assessment dismisses the burden likely to be placed on sporting bodies by the Bill as some minor additional costs. This could not be further from the truth. Many people will be greatly concerned at the idea of themselves or their children being forced to share a changing room with a transsexual person. The cost and complexity of providing facilities suitable for all the concerned parties would place an immense burden on a small sports club as well as on local authority leisure facilities.
There is no doubt that the process of changing gender is a challenging and extremely traumatic experience. Anything that can reasonably make the life of a transsexual person easier has my understanding and support. But competitive sport has its own unique concerns. The practical impact of the Bill would be to force sports governing bodies at all levels to allow pre-operative transsexual people to compete in their

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acquired gender without any surgical operation leading to a sex change. This is unacceptable and the potential consequences, both at the elite level and community levels, are disproportionate to any benefit realised by such a measure.
The terms of the Bill are ill conceived. The complexities of the issue raised are obvious. There is much further work to be done on the Bill.
1.38 p.m.
Lord Filkin: My Lords, as is not unusual in this House, some of our legislation brings out the range of interest and experience of Members, not least when we are dealing with issues that touch on faith, gender, sexuality, the law and human rights all at the same time. This will clearly be one of those Bills that will demonstrate the full range of interests.
I start by thanking the noble Baroness, Lady Buscombe, for expressing her support in principle—I emphasise the word "principle", as she did—for this measure. We are not unused in this House to finding that Front-Bench and Back-Bench views on measures are not unanimous. Nevertheless, the noble Baroness outlined a number of areas of question and challenge. I will respond to a fair number now but, given the length of the debate, I will be writing, as is my wont, to all Members before the Bill goes into Committee, seeking to go into more detail on any points to which I cannot do justice in the amount of time available without testing your Lordships' patience. I also give an undertaking that if any Members who have taken part in this debate or others in the House wish to have further face-to-face discussions with me before the Bill goes into Committee, I shall be pleased to see them.
The noble Baroness, Lady Buscombe, asked about the interim certificate. What if a person wanted to stay married? I think in that situation, they would not apply for gender change. Therefore, they would not put themselves in that position.
Concern was expressed about whether the civil partnership Bill will follow on in sufficient time to allow a translation without delay between the ending of a marriage and the registration of a civil partnership. I cannot specify exactly when the civil partnership Bill will come before the House and be enacted, but we hope it will be in this Session. If, however, there was a gap between the one piece of legislation and the other, one would expect anyone who wished to avoid making themselves subject to the legal anomaly to wait before they applied for gender recognition change as a consequence. That would be their right and their freedom of choice.
Many human rights issues were touched on. The noble Baroness, Lady Buscombe, talked about sporting facilities and changing facilities. For a start, most people—not all—will have had surgery. The fundamental issue is that this is already happening. There are transsexuals in our society, the vast majority of whom do not wish to draw attention to themselves or cause embarrassment to others. Therefore, whether or not the law is changed, these issues are being coped with in society as we speak.
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On the important issue of discrimination, Clause 9 makes it clear that a transsexual person would have protection under the Sex Discrimination Act as a person of the acquired sex or gender. Once recognition has been granted, they will be able to claim the rights appropriate to that gender.
Fundamentally, however, the Gender Recognition Bill is about the legal recognition in the acquired gender and not anti-discrimination law. While the Bill amends the sex discrimination legislation in the fields of employment and vocational training, that is only to the extent necessary as a direct consequence of the provisions on recognition. The Bill does not, as a number of people said, go further than that with regard to goods and services. Some will deplore that and some will rejoice.
On 5th November 2003, the European Commission published a draft directive on sex discrimination in the field of goods and services. Negotiations on this directive will start in the new year. The Government's view has been that as there is a European directive on this measure, we should wait for that, see how it progresses and use that as the vehicle by which we make any necessary change in respect of goods and services.
The noble Baroness also asked about the working of the registry. The purpose of the gender recognition register is simply to create a new record from which the Registrar General may produce a new birth certificate. The birth register will be linked to the gender recognition register and a birth register entry for a person who also has an entry in the gender recognition register will be marked. This will ensure that when a person applies for a new birth certificate in their acquired gender, the Registrar General does not incorrectly issue the birth certificate in the original gender.
The noble Baroness asked further about the age at which a person can apply for recognition. I am sure she will be glad to know that no one under the age of 18 will be able to apply for a gender recognition certificate. She also asked about how others will have access to gender history. The fundamental issue here, as has been touched on by a number of speakers, is crime or the prevention of crime. First of all, I should make the point that there is no reason to assume that there is in principle any more risk with transsexual people than with anyone else, in that respect. Nevertheless, before a person is cleared to work with children, the employer carries out background checks with the Criminal Records Bureau. We have clearly seen the importance of those checks this week. The CRB will have access to information about any offences committed by a transsexual person in their previous gender and identity. The CRB will, therefore, be able to continue its lawful function and transsexual people will not be able to evade traces made by the bureau.
Lord Tebbit: My Lords, I hate to delay the Minister. However, I hope that he recognises that even by changing his name, Huntley seemed to manage to dodge some of the provisions.
Lord Filkin: My Lords, I shall not prejudge the conclusions of the inquiry that my right honourable friend the Home Secretary announced this week, to be led by Sir Michael Bichard. However, if I am to believe what the radio said, the issue seemed to relate as much to delay by police forces in entering issues of suspicion about a person as the name change itself.
The right reverend Prelate the Bishop of Winchester, with whom I was privileged to have a discussion on the issue—and perhaps we may have further discussions—expressed the greatest possible sympathy. I believe that he is genuine when he expresses that, as I believe many other speakers are. Where we differ is that the Government are clear that that sympathy must be turned into some action, to give effect to changing what we believe is an injustice.
The right reverend Prelate asked important questions, as other noble Lords did, about the position of clergy, with specific reference to clergy in the Church of England or the Church of Wales. He asked how the clergy will know the truth. In fact, the clergy will have the right, as the noble Lord, Lord Goodhart, said, to ask a person whether they have had a gender change recognised. The clergy will also have the right to refuse, either if the person says "Yes", or if that person refuses to answer the question. No doubt, in Committee that will be challenged further. It seems unlikely that a person who has had a gender change recognition would place themselves in the embarrassment of forcing the issue before a clergyman who, in conscience, did not wish to marry them.
The noble Lord, Lord Goodhart, is right about registrars. We do not intend to allow a similar exemption for registrars. Many people in their public office must undertake functions that they may not always, in every single respect, agree with. That is part of being a public office holder and being a public employee. We see no reason why a registrar who did not agree in conscience—although one would respect that—should have the liberty to inquire into and refuse to exercise his function.
We shall undoubtedly return in Committee to the issue of the ending of marriage in detail. It is one of the most difficult and painful issues. I have set out as clearly as I can the Government's position on that matter, and we shall not change it. We shall not allow the recognition of marriage between people whose legal status is of the same sex. Although we shall return to the matter, we shall not move from that position. As to whether that is unfair to those who are now married, one of whom wishes to have gender change, it is not a full or happy answer to them but they do not have to force the issue if they do not want to. I shall say no more than that.
The right reverend Prelate referred to the ECHR judgment. I shall not go into full detail on that, but gender dysphoria is a recognised medical condition. The Chief Medical Officer recognises it and the NHS provides treatment for it. We are glad to stand by our
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international obligations in that respect. Moreover, we also believe that it is a wrong that needs to be recognised.
The Lord Bishop of Winchester: My Lords, I am grateful to the Minister for his replies to elements of my remarks, and I shall not name again those to which he has not replied. I look forward to the letter that he promised. However, it is important to ask what he anticipates will be the position of clergy and Ministers of other Christian traditions, and their equivalents in other faiths. Supposing they are faced with somebody with an acquired gender, quite apart from the question of disclosure, will they be actionable? Will an imam, a rabbi or a Baptist minister be actionable, should they in conscience refuse to solemnise a marriage?
Lord Filkin: My Lords, with the aim of brevity, I was keeping my answer relatively focused on Church of England clergymen. In effect, the position will be exactly the same for ministers of other faiths and religions. If they wish to inquire and, as a consequence of the information or non-information, refuse to conduct a religious rather than a civil ceremony, they will be perfectly at liberty to do so. The Bill has a measure specifically with regard to Anglican clergy because they have a legal obligation to carry out a marriage ceremony, because it is both a religious and a civil marriage at the same time. That is why we have brought the exemption into effect.
As I indicated, the noble Baroness, Lady Gibson, spoke from her experience in a way that we should keep before us when considering the Bill. We are talking about real human beings who are suffering real pain as a consequence. I know that that issue cuts both way in this argumentation. However, the issue at the heart of it is how to address the pain and the need to enable people to live their lives as they believe they have the need and the right to do.
I am grateful for the support, knowledge and expertise on this issue of the noble Lord, Lord Carlile. I can well believe that I shall need that expertise before we have completed our consideration of the Bill. He pointed out that we are not alone in making this change; in fact, if anything, we are behind the times in making it. All of the 15 European Union countries except Ireland and ourselves have already legislated to allow such a process to be recognised. Before the noble Lord, Lord Tebbit, comes to his feet, I should add that that does not necessarily mean that we are necessarily right in doing so. However, it should give us pause for thought about whether we are automatically wrong.
I turn to the specific points raised by the noble Lord, Lord Carlile. The pension issue is an interesting and sharp one. Clearly, there is no issue as regards private pensions, where an inequality issue arises across the genders regardless. Clearly, given that we are going to equalise, there will also be no issue as regards state pensions from 2020; that issue arises only between now and then. I shall write in more detail on this issue as it is an important one, and, as ever, I shall copy it to the Front Benches.

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My good and noble friend Lady Hollis of Heigham advises me that essentially, in practice, if we are talking about a female-to-male switch, we are talking about the loss of state pension for the years in which the person is over 60 but under 65. She advises me that such individuals can claim jobseeker's allowance or, if they do not wish to apply for work, pension credit guarantee. She believes that the effect of those will be to equalise the gap. I am sure that other noble Lords will welcome that. We shall write accordingly.
On these and other issues, the noble Lord, Lord Tebbit, is one of the parliamentarians for whom one has the greatest respect. However, it is almost impossible to respond satisfactorily to a debate about issues of principle. If one starts from a completely different foundation, nothing that is said will be able to change that foundation. All one can do is honestly respect that people differ and seek to engage on the practical issues as far as possible. I recognise that that will not give satisfaction. However, I do not pretend that, even if I spoke for two or three hours, I would be able to have the slightest effect on the view of the noble Lord, Lord Tebbit, or other noble Lords whom one respects in this respect.
All I would point out is that the law is not seeking to change an individual's sex but to recognise that a change has occurred. That may be seen as a semantic point; nevertheless, we are not seeking to bring about a gender change as a consequence.
I shall say only a few words in response to the noble Lords, Lord Tebbit and Lord Chan, on the medical issues and medical evidence that we must and should consider in considerable detail in Committee. The Government have discussed the Bill with the key organisations representing the profession, including the BMA, the GMC, the Royal College of General Practitioners, the Royal College of Psychiatrists and the British Psychological Society. Clearly, there are elements of the medical profession that maintain that there is no convincing evidence of a physiological cause for transsexualism and that to recognise the new gender is to pander to psychological delusion, as has been argued in this debate.
The opinion of the Chief Medical Officer is strongly that gender dysphoria is a medical condition and that treatment is available on the NHS as a consequence. A point I should mention now is that, in the Goodwin and I judgment, the European Court of Human Rights took the view that the continuing debate over the nature and aetiology of transsexualism should no longer stand in the way of transsexual people enjoying their human rights as others do. I think that that is food for thought in our debate.
The noble Lord, Lord Tebbit, also raised the question of how police or investigating authorities will know if someone changes their name. I touched on that previously but, for the avoidance of doubt, I should say that the Registrar General will be aware through the note on the register if someone has changed gender, and will be able to supply the
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information to the police relating to previous names. It is quite right to press that point, as it is essential that that be the case.
I was saddened to be on the opposite side of the debate from the noble Baroness, Lady O'Cathain. I preferred it when we were on same side, I seem to recollect, in debates on smoking advertising two years or so ago. She mentioned two matters in particular. The first was that we are talking about approximately 5,000 people. One needs to have some sense of proportion, by which I do not mean that the moral issues are swept aside because we might be talking of one rather than 5 million. On the other hand, in terms of the societal effect, one has to reflect on the likely impact. She also raised the subject of the effect on children. As the Minister responsible for family justice, for my sins, I am deeply interested in that and no doubt will come back to it in Committee.
The noble Baroness asked whether the Bill would be whipped. It is a government Bill, so the Government will whip it. She knows as well as I do the traditions of this House, and the severity of the sanctions that Front-Benchers are unable to put on their Back-Benchers when, in conscience or for other reasons, they do not always choose to follow the party line. I will say no more, as I do not want to encourage dissent from my Back-Benchers on the Bill.
I thank the noble Lord, Lord Goodhart, for his support on the Bill. We have talked about existing marriages, civil partnerships and a little about clergy already, so I do not need to respond specifically to those points among the Liberal Democrats' concerns on the Bill.
The noble Lord, Lord Moynihan, brought an important debate to the Bill, and it was a most effective advertisement for other measures at the same time. One listened with interest to that. We have consulted pretty extensively on the matter. As he said, our position is that we do not believe that there is a problem. However, clearly the role of this House, and of Committee, is to explore whether such a belief is the case. If he would assist me, I would be most pleased to get any evidence or argumentation that he has from the sporting bodies to suggest that we should look at a problem that he does not believe has been addressed by my response to date.
I shall not weary the House by emphasising why we think that the Bill matters. We should be legislating on the issue, irrespective of any ECHR judgment, because it is part of the response of a civilised society to recognise the differences in that society in ways that do not infringe the rights of others. Having said that, it is clear that we will have some vigorous Committee debates on the Bill. I look forward to that and to the proper probing and testing that will come as a consequence. In principle, we are clear that we should legislate, and we look forward to doing so.
On Question, Bill read a second time, and committed to a Grand Committee.

Local Government Best Value (Exemption) (England) Order 2003
1.59 p.m.
Lord Bassam of Brightonrose to move, That the draft order laid before the House on 17th November be approved [First Report from the Joint Committee].
The noble Lord said: My Lords, I should like to explain the background to the order. Currently, the Best Value regime applies to all parish councils other than those whose budgeted income was less than £500,000 in any of the financial years commencing in 1997, 1998 and 1999. That means that all parishes, including small ones, created after 1999 are subject to the duties of Best Value. The order will change that position by exempting all but 41 of the larger and well established parishes from the Best Value regime.
The order will exempt all parish and town councils, except those whose budgeted income was above £500,000 in each of the years commencing 1997, 1998 and 1999, from the duties of Best Value as defined by the Local Government Act 1999.
The duty of Best Value, as defined in that Act, requires authorities to make arrangements to secure continuous improvement in the way they deliver their services, having regard to economy, efficiency and effectiveness. In doing so, they must consult local people, publish Best Value performance plans, carry out reviews of their services and be subject to audit and inspection. In cases of failure, they may also be subject to the Secretary of State's powers of intervention.
Under the Local Government Act 1999 that duty would apply to all local authorities, including all 8,700 or so parish councils. The size of those parish councils varies considerably. Some are large, with budgets of over half a million pounds. Others are very small—no more than a part-time clerk supporting a few councillors. The requirements of Best Value would have been quite onerous for the smaller town and parish councils. They would find it unnecessarily burdensome to be required to prepare and publish Best Value performance plans and to review their functions. No doubt, some may feel threatened by the prospect of Best Value inspections and in a worse case scenario, they could be subject to intervention. The Government recognised that it was not right to burden those small town and parish councils with the duty of Best Value, nor would it have been cost effective.
Therefore, the Government issued the Local Government Best Value (Exemption) (England) Order 2000 to exempt those councils whose budgeted income was less than £500,000 in any of the financial years to which I have referred. That resulted in only the largest 41 town and parish councils becoming subject to the duty of Best Value. They are key local players with sizeable incomes. Typically, they run community centres and markets; they operate "one-stop" shops, providing local information; and work in partnership with others in a variety of ways to meet the needs of their community. It is right that they should follow
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Best Value principles. For those bodies we have streamlined the Best Value framework as far as possible to reduce the burden on them.
However, the Local Government Best Value (Exemption) (England) Order 2000 did not exempt parish councils which were created after the order was made. To date, around 100 such parish councils have been created, most are very small. It was not the Government's intention that such councils should be subject to the duty of Best Value. The draft order therefore proposes to revoke the current order and replace it with one which secures the exemption of all parish councils from the duty of Best Value, except those with budgeted income over £500,000 in the financial years to which I have referred. It will also exempt any parish and town council that may be created in the future.
I can reassure noble Lords that the proposed order will not change the position of the current Best Value town and parish councils. We wish them to continue to build on the excellent progress that they have made to date in implementing the principles of Best Value. I particularly acknowledge their contribution in enhancing the quality of life for the communities they serve.
The order does not change the position of the majority of parish councils. The smaller ones that were in existence before 1999 are exempt from the duties of Best Value and will remain so. The order will clarify the position of those town and parish councils created since April 2000 and any that may be created in the future. The Third Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation in the other place considered the order on 8th December and has confirmed that it is content. I commend the order to this House.
Moved, That the draft order laid before the House on 17th November be approved [First Report from the Joint Committee].—(Lord Bassam of Brighton.)
Lord Hanningfield: My Lords, I thank the Minister for his explanation of the order. These Benches support the move. I thought that there were nearly 10,000 parish councils, but the Minister said that there were 8,700. Whichever figure is right, there are a large number of parish councils across the country, representing more than 16 million people. They are the oldest structure of government in our country and are vital to the health of our local democracy.
Four of the seven quality parishes—a new classification—are in my county of Essex. I am delighted that my county has such a strong record of parish government, and the county council which I lead is committed to serving our parish councils.
As the Minister said, the effect of the order will be to remove certain Best Value obligations from parish councils which fall within the Best Value regime. There are 41 such councils and I am sure that they will welcome this loosening of the grip of Whitehall on their functions. Indeed, many authorities—not only parish councils—would welcome such derogation.

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I was pleased to hear what the Minister said because I was intending to ask about parish councils which will be created in the future. I believe that he has clarified the future situation and I am grateful for that. Obviously, I hope that in the coming years many more parish councils will be created. I would encourage that, as, I am sure, we all would. Therefore, I am grateful for the Minister's clarification and do not believe that I need to ask any questions. I welcome the order and wish the Minister a merry Christmas.
Lord Shutt of Greetland: My Lords, I am all in favour of a merry Christmas. I support the order. It is interesting that in the other place, when referring to Best Value, the Minister said that the requirements are quite demanding. That was certainly my experience during my period of service as a municipal councillor, which ended in May. If ever a pudding was over-egged, it was the one called "Best Value". Of course, one cannot talk against best value or good value. However, in my view, what became known as the Best Value regime took over local government. It would be interesting to know whether, on balance, local government has been the better for it. Having said that, the order exempts from the regime brand new parishes with minimal powers and minimal resources. Clearly, that is right and I support the order.
The Earl of Erroll: My Lords, first, I declare an interest as chairman of Evalue Group, which has been helping local authorities to achieve e-procurement targets. That is supposed to happen by 2005 but many will not hit the targets. I should probably mention that, although he does not know it, we have been helping some of the districts in the county of the noble Lord, Lord Hanningfield.
I very much support this statutory instrument as it reduces much of the burden of regulation. However, it is a pity that it is limited only to parish councils with a turnover of less than £500,000. In trying to help districts, in particular, to achieve greater efficiency, we found that those concerned tended to think, "Oh God, not another initiative". They not only have to deal with best value; they now also have comprehensive performance assessments and many other things, too.
The main point that I want to make is that Section 4 of the Local Government Act 1999 states that best value authorities shall have regard to,
"a combination of economy, efficiency and effectiveness".
However, that is looking at the issue only from the authority's point of view. If one takes into account efficiency and effectiveness only from the authority's point of view, many SMEs in the area could be bankrupted because one is trying to consolidate procurement.
I believe that the Act is flawed in that it does not also have regard to the impact on the local area. In some such initiatives, one can easily find that, in trying to be very efficient, at the same time, one bankrupts one's local economy and then money is pumped into a regeneration project. Therefore, I very much welcome
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the order. I believe that it is a move in the right direction. I only wish that it had been extended a little further by making more exemptions.
Lord Bassam of Brighton: My Lords, I do not find too many points to reply to. I believe that, for the first time, the noble Lord, Lord Hanningfield, missed the opportunity of asking a question on a local government matter when at the Dispatch Box. Therefore, I suppose that I should return his good cheer for the season and congratulate him on that.
In response to the noble Lord, Lord Shutt, I can only say that I believe that best value has done a great deal for district and county authorities, metropolitan authorities and London boroughs and so on. I also believe that the 41 parish town councils and one city council that fall into that category have benefited from it as well. If the House wanted me to, I could regale it with endless stories of improved efficiency and enhanced service performance achieved as a result. Such improvement has had quite a bearing, particularly on councils that have concentrated on marketing—to pick up the point about regeneration— on improving the quality of community facilities and on enhancing regeneration programmes locally, particularly where they have been undertaken in partnership.
I congratulate the noble Lord, Lord Hanningfield, on spotting his four parish councils, on one of whose playing fields I attempted in my youth to play football and failed rather badly. I am most grateful for the words of support and warmth. I wish everyone good cheer.
On Question, Motion agreed to.

Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Businesses Regulations 2003
2.10 p.m.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Trade and Industry (Lord Sainsbury of Turville)rose to move, That the draft regulations laid before the House on 3rd December be approved [2nd Report from the Joint Committee].
The noble Lord said: My Lords, the Government's main objective in putting forward these draft regulations is to safeguard the rights of work-seekers, the interests of hirers and employers and the needs of the private recruitment industry. We are repealing those requirements that now appear out of date and unnecessary, while also introducing new provisions, which address practices not foreseen or not adequately dealt with when the existing legislation was introduced.
The regulations will achieve a number of objectives. They will enable us to help to ensure that agency workers acquire the rights to which they are entitled, to stamp down on abuses, to lift outdated bureaucratic burdens from agencies, to improve the reputation of reputable firms that operate in the private recruitment industry, to protect the interests of hirers, and in turn

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third parties to whom hirers may owe a duty of care, and to reduce recruitment costs for employers across the economy.
The Employment Agencies Act 1973 and associated regulations, which govern the conduct of the private recruitment sector, have different definitions for employment agencies which find work for work-seekers with employers and employment businesses which employ workers themselves and then hire them out to act for and under the control of others. Where possible today I will, for ease of reference, use the term "employment agencies" to apply to both.
The Government fully recognise the central role that the private recruitment industry has to play in the modern, flexible labour market. The industry estimates that its total annual turnover is about £23 billion, which reflects the extent to which every part of the economy now relies on the services provided by the industry. The Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Businesses Regulations 1976 are the main regulations giving effect to the 1973 Act. Since that legislation was introduced almost 30 years ago, the industry has changed dramatically. These regulations will therefore update, clarify and improve the existing regulations.
There is a continuing need for such legislation. The DTI's Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate enforces the legislation governing the conduct of the private recruitment industry and almost 1,000 of the 10,000 enquiries that the employment agency standards helpline receives on average each year are formal complaints concerning actual or alleged breaches of the legislation by agencies.
I turn to the specific benefits for workers in the new regulations. First, entertainment agencies will no longer be allowed to charge upfront fees before they find work for actors, models and extras. That will prevent the abuse whereby agencies in the entertainment and modelling sectors charge work-seekers a fee but then provide little or no work-finding services. Under the new regulations an agency will be able to receive a fee only out of the earnings that the work-seekers receive for work that the agency has found them. The proposed regulations will also tighten up controls on client accounts so that workers in the entertainment and modelling sectors, whose earnings are paid to their agencies, are properly protected. It will be compulsory for agents handling workers' earnings to operate proper client accounts.
Secondly, on authenticated timesheets, employment businesses will no longer be able to withhold workers' pay purely because they cannot produce an authenticated timesheet. It is clearly not satisfactory that temporary agency workers' earnings can be withheld merely because they are unable to produce a timesheet signed by the hirer. Other groups do not have payment of their earnings made conditional on them producing such a document. However, the regulations allow an employment business to satisfy itself that the worker actually worked for the particular period covered by the timesheet.
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Thirdly, agencies will have to obtain information on any health and safety risks known to the hirer and the steps taken to prevent or control those risks. Agencies clearly have a duty of care for their work-seekers and the regulations place a responsibility on the agency for their health and safety.
Fourthly, on temp-to-perm transfer fees, realistic limitations will be placed on provisions in contracts between employment businesses and hirers that prevent temporary workers from taking up permanent jobs with hiring companies, unless a transfer fee is paid to the employment business. Any charge that discourages hirers employing the temporary worker has the effect of limiting labour market flexibility to the disadvantage of both work-seekers and hirers.
Fifthly, there are other transfer fees. Similar restrictions will be placed on terms in contracts that prevent temporary workers being employed by persons to whom the hirer has introduced them and on terms preventing those workers being supplied to the hirer by a different employment business.
We are extending the coverage of these regulations to work-seekers who operate through limited company contractors (LCCs). Many LCCs are highly paid and highly skilled and do not want to be covered by the regulations. In their view, they are operating under a business-to-business contract and do not, therefore, need protections that are designed to safeguard the interests of workers. However, these work-seekers will be able to opt out of coverage by the regulations, but the regulations include protections to prevent more vulnerable workers being forced to opt out.
The net effect of the new regulations should be to reduce recruitment costs for employers across the economy, and to make the labour market more efficient.
Barriers to companies employing temporary workers on a permanent basis will be reduced. That will enable the hirers to employ workers they have previously engaged as temps and whom they know will be suitable. Hirers will also be given the opportunity to have the temporary worker supplied by another employment business, which may be offering a better service or more competitive rates.
Agencies supplying individuals to work with vulnerable persons—for example, children, the sick or the elderly— will be required to carry out additional checks to ensure that the work-seekers are not unsuitable. If new information, which indicates the work-seeker's unsuitability, comes to light, the agencies will be required to withdraw that worker or inform the employer.
This package seeks to establish a modern and forward-looking regulatory framework to ensure that the private recruitment industry has the opportunity to continue to grow and expand its role in the labour market in the future. Outdated bureaucratic provisions will be repealed. For example, there will no longer be a requirement that agencies should provide the DTI with copies of their current terms of business;

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or for agencies to check whether young persons have received vocational guidance before they introduce them to employers.
All agencies will be required to check the identity of the work-seekers, to ensure that they have the necessary qualifications and to take all reasonable steps to ensure that the work-seeker and the hirer are aware of any legal requirements to be satisfied to enable the work-seeker to work for that hirer.
The regulations will help make temporary work more attractive to prospective agency workers. The various additional safeguards for temporary workers and removing barriers for temporary workers to move into permanent employment will encourage more individuals to choose to seek temporary work placements. That will enable agencies to offer a better service through wider choice and better-qualified persons to hirers.
The proposed regulations cover a complex set of relationships. We have taken considerable care to ensure that these are the appropriate legislative measures for agencies, and also for the work-seekers and hiring companies that use their services. My department has undertaken three comprehensive consultation exercises since 1999, inviting comments on the proposed regulations. In addition, Ministers and officials undertook a series of meetings with bodies representing agencies and workers and with agencies and workers themselves to obtain more detailed information on the views expressed in those consultations.
These regulations were amended to reflect many of the concerns expressed by the industry in those consultation exercises. The draft regulations have evolved since the first consultation exercise began in 1999. The industry's general impression of the original regulations was that they did not meet the needs of the industry. The department has endeavoured to strike a balance between the sometimes conflicting interests of all parties concerned. The success of those efforts is reflected in the encouraging comments of interested parties published since these regulations were laid last month. I commend the draft regulations to the House.
Moved, That the draft regulations laid before the House on 3rd December be approved [2nd Report from the Joint Committee].—(Lord Sainsbury of Turville.)
Baroness Miller of Hendon: My Lords, I thank the Minister for his explanation of these comprehensive and complex regulations. I can be brief, both because we have had such a clear explanation from the Minister and because the regulations were the subject of extensive consultation followed by almost an hour's discussion in the 2nd Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation in another place. Although that sounds grand, in fact only 12 honourable Members, including the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department of Trade and Industry, were present and the regulations were approved by a vote of nine to three. However, that is what we have.
The Recruitment and Employment Confederation has been instrumental in helping the DTI to create regulations that are not damaging to the industry or
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the labour market—not too damaging, that is— although it hopes that we are sending strong signals to other European countries that we have a rigorous regulatory framework that protects agency workers. Despite those hopes, there are strong reservations about some aspects of the regulations, which I shall briefly mention.
First, Regulation 10, the so-called "temp to perm" fees restriction, is incompatible with Article 6.2 of the Agency Workers Directive. Regulation 10 sets a time-limit for claiming a fee. Article 6.2 enables the agency to receive a "reasonable fee" for the loss by what is in effect the poaching of its agency worker. The time-scale is not a reasonable way to define the word "reasonable".
I suspect that when the directive comes into effect, the present definition may be incompatible with it. We may then be faced with revised regulations. It is a pity that the Government did not anticipate the terms of the intended directive. There is no need to rush into the regulations domestically while there is still uncertainty about the directive. To change domestic regulations twice in a short space of time is not good government.
The regulations resemble the curate's egg in that they are certainly good in parts. For example, we welcome the removal of up-front fees for actors, models and extras, who are often vulnerable and prone to be exploited by unscrupulous agencies. It is right that an agency should not be able to withhold pay from an agency worker on the excuse that an authenticated time sheet is not available.
We certainly approve of the responsibility being placed on agencies to obtain information about health and safety. However, there may be problems with the drafting. I should be grateful if the Minister would answer my points in his reply.
Regulation 20 states that where information comes to light that suggests that the work-seeker is not suitable for an assignment, the agency is obliged to inform the client. In the most extreme cases, the agency will be required to terminate the assignment. However, Regulation 20 seems to be at odds with Regulation 28, which states that agencies may not disclose information about work-seekers without their prior consent. There are three exceptions to that rule, but they do not cover the circumstances set out in Regulation 20. There is a danger that in meeting the requirements of Regulation 20, agencies may well find themselves in breach of Regulation 28 and therefore liable to action by the temporary worker.
My honourable friend the Member for North West Norfolk told the committee that he thought that, as a whole, the regulations would enhance the standing of employment businesses and agencies. However, the cloud in front of that silver lining is that, as the Explanatory Memorandum concedes, the one-off administrative costs of the regulations will be £6.2 million and the costs of lost "temp to perm" business will be an annual recurring loss of between £6.1 million and £15.4 million. That is a lot of money for one industry to bear. I cannot see how that will help either the industry or the workers who seek agency work

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because for one reason or another they cannot engage in or do not want full-time regular permanent employment.
However, despite those reservations, as the industry either accepts or is at least reconciled to the regulations, we certainly do not oppose them.
Lord Sainsbury of Turville: My Lords, I thank the noble Baroness for her points. Regulation 10 is complicated but it covers a complicated issue. I could explain that in detail, but it has already been done in another place. We believe that the order is compatible with Article 6.2 of the European directive. In any case, it would be wrong to require that the legislation be brought exactly into line with the directive, when we do not know when it will be implemented.
The express provision of Regulation 20 on disclosing information where it becomes clear that the worker is unsuitable will prevail over Regulation 28, in the same way as the disclosure provisions in the Act prevail. That deals with the two major issues that the noble Baroness raised.
The noble Baroness mentioned the loss of fees. That is a question of the business involved. In this context, one business's loss is another's gain. No doubt, fees will be adjusted to take account of that point. On that basis, I commend the order to the House.
On Question, Motion agreed to.

Adjournment
2.26 p.m.
Lord Grocott: My Lords, I beg to move that the House do now adjourn. As is traditional at this time, I shall take just a few moments of the House's time, as shall several other noble Lords, to perform the pleasant duty of thanking staff for the services that they have provided for us so efficiently throughout the year.
By its nature, political life is unpredictable, in this House as in the other place. We appreciate the reassuring stability and calm of the Clerk of the Parliaments and his department, including all who work therein—I shall not list everyone. In the knowledge that I would say a few words, I listed all the other departments that serve us, among which are some Cinderellas as regards the mentions that they receive from time to time. In addition to the Clerk of the Parliaments' Office are other familiar departments, such as the Refreshment Department, to which I express many thanks. I am sure that the former chairman of that department, who is present, will endorse that. I thank the Parliamentary Works Services Directorate, which had the job of dealing with September sittings. I shall say no more about September sittings, other than that we dealt with them. I also thank the Library, the Computer Office and the Accountant's Office—do not ask me about computers, but I am certain that that department does a terrific job for us all. I think that I am allowed to mention the
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Government Whip's Office—at any rate, the front office—which works extraordinarily hard. Hansard, which manages to make all speeches including this one much better than they actually sounded, does a terrific job.
I cannot mention Black Rod's Department without referring to the Doorkeepers. Some longstanding Members of this House still make the mistake, when they are unsure what is happening, of asking the Government Chief Whip. The Government Chief Whip asks the Doorkeepers and then relays the information back to the Member. If new Members join us in the new year, as rumours say they might, I shall advise them of that short-circuit procedure for discovering how things are going.
It is a mistake to mention too many names, but I will mention just three people who retired during the course of the year, one of whom has given quite phenomenal service to the House. Liz Murray has been here for a staggering 35 years. Prior to that, she ran the garden rooms at Number 10. That is an unparalleled record of service, including service to six Clerks. I am sure that all the other speakers will want to join me in wishing her all the very best indeed and our superlative thanks for all those years' work.
I also wish to mention Brigadier Alastair Clark, who cannot be here at the moment. Many of us were with him a short time ago while he was enjoying a well earned drink, as were some of the rest of us. He has also given sterling service to the House during the 10 years that he has been here. From the few comments that I exchanged with him, I am sure that he will have a very happy retirement.
I hope that I shall be allowed one more small indulgence to mention one other name—of the person who helped me into the mysteries of Lords' procedure. I thought that I might know something about that, having come from the Commons, but I discovered that knowing about Commons procedure was nothing but a disadvantage in operating here. Mary Robertson had the responsibility of being the private secretary to my noble friend Lord Carter before me and briefly to me. She moved on to the legal profession after leaving here, so it seems inevitable that she will return to the red Benches sooner or later. As I look around from time to time, most Members here seem to be members of the legal profession. She would certainly manage the job very well.
I conclude by doing what I promised to do—to be brief—because I know that everyone wants to go. However, the thanks that I have given to everyone are heartfelt and sincere.
Moved, That the House do now adjourn.—(Lord Grocott.)
2.51 p.m.
Lord Cope of Berkeley: My Lords, I should like to associate myself both personally and on behalf of those on this side of the House in my party with the tributes that have been rightly paid by the Captain of the Gentlemen-at-Arms to all the staff who serve us so

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well here. It has been a very busy year and all the departments that he listed—I will not go through them all—have served us extremely well.
I always like showing visitors round, because one sees the House in a different way. One gets used to coming here every day, but when one shows visitors around, one sees the building through their eyes. One suddenly appreciates the tremendous amount of work that goes into keeping this place so nice and into running it all so smoothly. Visitors are looked after very well by the Doorkeepers who show them into the Galleries and so forth, and they see the Clerks in action. However, there are also the people who they do not see—who clean the House for us, look after the stonework and the gilding and keep it so well—at the works department. A tremendous amount of work goes on and we really do appreciate it.
The Captain of the Gentlemen-at-Arms mentioned three people in particular. Liz Murray has worked for six Clerks. I have been searching in my mind for the collective noun for Clerks of the Parliament. However, I realised that it would be in Latin, which is out of favour, quite apart from the fact that my Latin is extremely rusty, so I gave up the search. However, she has given tremendous service.
Brigadier Clark came here after distinguished military service on the right of the line in the Royal Regiment of Artillery—I cannot help pointing out— with which I also had the honour of serving very briefly, but not in as distinguished a way as Brigadier Clark. However, as has been said, he has been here for 10 years and given us great service as well.
I had to deal with Mary Robertson on many occasions. People define the usual channels as the Chief Whips, and sometimes the Leader of the Party and the Convenor are included. However, in her last job in the House, Mary Robertson was the usual channels in an almost more important respect than those of us speaking today. I certainly wish all three of them and everyone else who serves the House, especially those who have left our employment, the very best in their future lives, and in their retirement in the case of those who are retiring.
I should like to wish a Happy Christmas to all the staff of the House and, for that matter, all the Members of the House. Next year will no doubt be busy, but I wish you all as happy a new year as we can possibly have.
Lord Roper: My Lords, from these Benches, I join the Captain of the Gentlemen-at-Arms and the noble Lord, Lord Cope, in reinforcing what they have said. However, I begin by thanking them and the Convenor for the co-operation that has operated among us. In spite of having, from time to time, a slightly bumpy year, useful work goes on between offices. That enables me to pay particular tribute to Mary Robertson, who was responsible for educating the noble Lord, Lord Cope of Berkeley, and me in what the usual channels could and could not do. That is an important function. The private secretary to the Government Chief Whip is, effectively, private
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secretary to the usual channels. She or he keeps the operation going, which is extremely important and ensures that we have the House functions effectively.
Apart from the people who work for the House, there are other people who chair and look after the committees that make sure that the House operates effectively. As the Captain of the Gentlemen-at-Arms said, the noble Lord, Lord Colwyn, has ensured for a long time that we had good catering. He has left a tough challenge for his successor, and we are grateful for all that he has done.
I thank those who provide the framework in which we work. Obviously, first, there is the Parliament Office. Like others, I want to refer particularly to the extraordinary contribution made by Liz Murray over 35 years. She was a wonderful example of quiet efficiency—a Rolls-Royce of a secretary, if I may say so. I wish that I had ever had a secretary quite as efficient. There are the other parts of the House: the Library, Hansard, the various dimensions of Black Rod's office and, of course, Alastair Clark, who is returning to Salisbury—not too far from Larkhill. From the point of view of those of us who are responsible for accommodation, he did a very good job until now of making sure that we had enough places for our colleagues at the right time. There is also the Refreshment Department.
I also thank the Metropolitan Police. I am pleased to see that the noble Earl, Lord Rosslyn, is present, as he is so often, on this occasion. He and his colleagues have done extraordinary things in a difficult situation. I hope that he will be able to pass on to them our appreciation for all that they have done in this difficult period.
Those people make up what I call the family of the House. We are, in a sense, a family. Such people ensure that the House is not only an efficient legislature but an extraordinarily pleasant place in which to work. Happy Christmas.
Lord Craig of Radley: My Lords, I am delighted to endorse, on behalf of all Cross-Benchers, the words of the Captain of the Gentlemen-at-Arms and the two opposition Chief Whips, in expressing our thanks and appreciation for the excellent support that we enjoy from the staff in all departments of the House.
There have been new working arrangements, extensive re-building of kitchen facilities, boiler replacements and many other fabric maintenance activities and expectations of regular rising at ten o'clock—observed more frequently in the breach than seems reasonable. All were part of a package of reforms to working practices that demands great tolerance and willingness at all levels. This House— indeed, this Parliament—still expects and gets service of the most devoted and loyal kind. In a society that too often seems to put self before all, the House is fortunate in the attitude and sense of duty of the staff that work here. Getting to work on time and getting home at some unprogrammed late hour is becoming harder, given less reliable public transport. I place on record heart-felt thanks and appreciation from these Benches.

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Finally, I add the warm thanks and good wishes of myself and all on these Benches, in particular, to Liz Murray, Mary Robertson and to Brigadier Alastair Clark, the Administration Officer, who has worked so assiduously behind the scenes for the good of us all. Not all of his efforts were unseen: I believe that he had much to do with the arrangements for the lying in state of Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, a classic example of all that can be done so well and so appropriately by the nation. The country has been well
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served both in the Army and in your Lordships' House by Brigadier Clark. We wish him and his family well in his new retirement. Perhaps I may also add my thanks to those in the usual channels for their support to me as Convenor. It has been enormously helpful. On that note, Happy Christmas to one and all.
On Question, Motion agreed to.
House adjourned at twenty minutes before three o'clock until Monday 5th January at half-past two o'clock.

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