Written Answers of 24 April 2001

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Female Prisoners (Shackling)
  Jackie Ballard
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on shackling female prisoners. [155153]

  Mr. Boateng
  I have written to the hon. Member.

  Ministerial Visits
  Mr. Stephen O'Brien
  To ask the secretary of State for the Home Department how many visits abroad were made by him and his Ministers on departmental business in the(a) three years ending 30 April 1997 and (b) 12 months ending 30 April 1997. [157617]

  Mr. Straw
  Departmental records contain the following information:

  (a) between 1 May 1994 and 30 April 1997 Home Office Ministers made 66 overseas visits on departmental business, 44 of which were within the European Union.

  (b) between 1 May 1996 and 30 April 1997 Home Office Ministers made 23 overseas visits on departmental business, 13 of which were within the European Union.

  Citizens Advice Bureaux
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which citizens advice bureaux have been invited to join one of the National Asylum Support Service's regional stakeholder groups; and on which dates the invitations were sent to the bureaux concerned. [157974]

  Mrs. Roche
  Regional Consortia, grant funded by the National Asylum Support Service (NASS), have been established to help deliver support at the local level. It is part of their remit to have strategies and procedures in place to co-ordinate services at both regional and local levels. They manage regional stakeholder groups and accordingly are responsible for membership. The groups should include the full spectrum of organisations and agencies involved and may include the Citizens Advice Bureau.

  Family Visit Appeals
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the net income from fees for family visit appeals has been since 2 October 2000; and what proportion of this net income relates to appeals which are currently outstanding. [157973]

  Mrs. Roche
  We calculate that the net income from fees for family visitor appeals in the period 2 October to 11 April 2001 is about £60,000. Of this, 40 per cent. relates to appeals which are currently outstanding and which may result in further refunds.

  Fee Fraud Letters
  Mr. Blunt
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many advanced fee fraud letters he estimates have come to the UK from(a) overseas and (b) Nigeria in each of the last five years; and what powers he has, in the case of operations known to the police, to intercept such letters before they reach their intended recipients. [158356]

  Mr. Straw
  [holding answer 23 April 2001]: Figures for the number of advance fee fraud letters which arrive in the United Kingdom are not held centrally.

  Under section 5 of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000, the Secretary of State may authorise the interception of postal items where this is necessary in the interests of national security; for the purpose of preventing or detecting serious crime; or of safeguarding the economic well-being of the United Kingdom.

  Bajram Zeqiri
  Ms Oona King
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Friend the Member for Aylesbury (Mr. Lidington) of 16 March 2001,Official Report, column 768W, if the Government intend to petition the House of Lords for leave to appeal against the Court of Appeal's judgment in the case of Bajram Zeqiri. [158744]

  Mrs. Roche
  The Government's petition for permission to appeal against the Court of Appeal judgment in the case of Bajram Zeqiri was lodged with the House of Lords on 12 April 2001.

  Police Operations (Cleveland)
  Dr. Kumar
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the Chief Constable of Cleveland on the amount of time he has spent on(a) Operation Lancet, (b) Operation Dallas and (c) Operation Eagle since May 1997; and if he will make a statement. [158131]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  [holding answer 23 April 2001]: No, it would not be appropriate to do so.

  Lord Birt
  Miss Widdecombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many reports Lord Birt has submitted to him in his capacity as an adviser on crime; and if he will make a statement. [158236]

  Mr. Straw
  I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Taunton (Jackie Ballard) on 27 March 2001,Official Report, column 594W.

  Electoral Register
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress he has made in producing draft regulations to ensure that registered political parties, elected representatives and candidates receive copies of updates of the electoral register. [158794]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  We have decided to bring forward self-contained regulations for this purpose and a draft was laid yesterday.

ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS

  Biffa Waste Disposal Site
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the use of the Biffa waste disposal site in Abbey Village, Chorley for animals slaughtered under the welfare slaughter scheme.[157194]

  Mr. Meacher
  The Environment Agency has identified licensed landfill sites which are suitable for the disposal of carcases from the Livestock Welfare Disposal Scheme. I understand that uninfected sheep and pig carcases from the scheme are being disposed of at this site under a contract agreed between the site operators and the Intervention Board Executive Agency.

  Rail Projects
  Mr. Spring
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions which rail projects listed in the Strategic Rail Authority's plans have a start date; and if he will make a statement. [157195]

  Mr. Hill
  The Strategic Rail Authority's Strategic Agenda identified a range of potential investment projects for the development of the rail network. The stage of development of these projects varies depending on their origins; but some are already under way. The authority is reviewing the future rail investment programme and expects to provide more information in its strategic plan about costs and timings of projects to be taken forward. The strategic plan is expected to be published in the autumn.

  Rural Coach Travel
  Mr. Blizzard
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the role of coach operators in meeting transport needs in rural areas. [157196]

  Mr. Meacher
  We fully appreciate that coach operators have a significant role to play in helping to meet the transport needs of those living in or wishing to visit rural areas.

  Kyoto Protocol
  Mr. David Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the need for further discussions on the Kyoto protocol following President Bush's decision to withdraw from it. [157197]

  Mr. Gerrard
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what discussions he has had with his US counterparts regarding the Kyoto protocol. [157198]

  Mr. Tynan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on discussions between his Department and the US Administration concerning the Kyoto climate change agreement. [157205]

  Dr. Whitehead
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the future of the Kyoto protocol. [157215]
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  Mr. Simon Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the Government's policies for future climate change negotiations. [157216]

  Mr. Meacher
  The Kyoto protocol is an important step in setting the framework for dealing with climate change. We will continue to work for an agreement at the next round of talks in July which will enable us and others to ratify Kyoto, with the aim of bringing it into force by 2002. We are also keen to continue a constructive dialogue with the US as it is important that they remain engaged in global efforts to tackle climate change.

  Mobile Telephone Masts
  Mr. Fallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he plans to implement the recommendations of the Stewart report on mobile phone masts. [157200]

  Mr. Raynsford
  On 16 March 2001 I announced a series of important changes to the planning system on the siting of mobile phone masts that significantly strengthen public consultation requirements.

  Rail Procurement
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will discuss rail procurement with Railtrack. [157201]

  Mr. Hill
  The spending plans set out in our 10-year plan, together with the post-Hatfield re-railing programme, should mean that there is no shortage of demand for rail. Procurement decisions are commercial matters for Railtrack.

  Private Landlords
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to introduce licences for private landlords. [157202]

  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  We set out in the Housing Green Paper, "Quality and choice: a decent home for all", a proposal to introduce licensing of the whole private rented sector in limited areas of low demand for housing in England. Following a positive response, we intend to consult further later this year.

  Park and Ride Schemes
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he has received on the locating of park and ride schemes on green belt sites; and if he will make a statement. [157203]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  Revised policy in respect of proposals to locate park and ride schemes on green belt sites is set out at paragraph 62 and at Annexe E to Planning Policy Guidance Note 13: "Transport", which was issued on 27 March. It provides that, in some circumstances, park and ride schemes may be permissible in the green belt where assessment shows such locations to be the most sustainable of the available options. A draft of PPG13 was issued for consultation in October 1999 and the majority of respondents commenting on the proposed changes were supportive.

  Foot and Mouth
  Mr. Paterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the Environment Agency's priorities for the disposal of foot and mouth infected carcases. [157204]

  Mr. Meacher
  It is essential that appropriate use is made of all the available options to dispose of the substantial number of carcases from the current epidemic. The priority in each case is to prevent the spread of the disease and to minimise the risk to public health and the environment. In broad terms, the preferred hierarchy of disposal options is rendering for all carcases; incineration in authorised facilities for all carcases; disposal in licensed landfill sites for sheep, pigs and, with the agreement of the licence holder, cattle born after 1 August 1996; burning for all carcases; and burial of sheep, pigs and cattle born after 1 August 1996.

  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what account he took of the need to minimise the possibility of spreading foot and mouth disease in deciding to authorise two sites in West Sussex for disposal of animals culled as part of the exercise to control that disease. [158342]

  Mr. Meacher
  [holding answer 23 April 2001]: The Environment Agency has identified a number of licensed landfill sites which are suitable for the disposal of animal carcases. The carcases consigned to these sites are those which MAFF authorise for disposal under Article 5(2) of the Animal By-Products Order 1999. The objective of the authorities responsible for the disposal arrangements is to ensure that carcases are transported for disposal (a) within infected areas or (b) within non-infected areas—but not from one area to another unless necessitated by factors such as the location of abattoirs or landfills.

  I understand that landfill sites at Small Dole and Warnham in West Sussex have been identified by the Environment Agency as suitable for carcases disposal but, in the event of their being used, only carcases from the local area will be consigned to them. Any such disposal of carcases will be carried out on the basis of a Best Practice Document (the Protocol) agreed between the Environment Agency, MAFF and the Environmental Services Association (ESA). A copy has been placed in the Library and is available on the Agency's website: http:// www.environment-agency.gov.uk/envinfo/fmd/protocol.pdf.

  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if the owners of holiday units available to rent will be eligible for rate relief under the Government's measures to help businesses affected by foot and mouth disease. [158265]

  Mr. Meacher
  Owners of any business paying rates, including holiday units available to rent, are able to apply for hardship rate relief. A hardship rate relief scheme, where local authorities are able to grant discretionary rate relief of up to 100 per cent. to any business suffering hardship, can be made available by any authority. However, as a consequence of the current foot and mouth disease outbreak, we have now extended the central Government contribution to the cost of the relief from 75 per cent. to 95 per cent. in cases where the business is located in one of the 151 eligible rural districts and has a198W
  rateable value of £12,000 or less. This higher rate of support is available initially for three months to 30 June 2001.

  Mr. Öpik
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to visit Montgomeryshire to discuss the effects of the foot and mouth outbreak with local business people. [158682]

  Mr. Meacher
  I have no plans to visit Montgomeryshire. The National Assembly and the Wales Office are represented on the Rural Taskforce and the National Assembly is leading on monitoring the impact of foot and mouth disease and action to alleviate it in Wales.

  Mr. Öpik
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) how much trade has been lost, in total, by individuals and organisations as a result of foot and mouth disease; and if he will make a statement; [158680]

  (2) what assessment he has made of the amount of financial support that would be required to prevent the closure of 5 per cent. of businesses which have been affected by the foot and mouth outbreak; and if he will make a statement. [158681]

  Mr. Meacher
  It is clear that the crisis has adversely affected many organisations and individuals and we have already announced a number of measures to alleviate their difficulties. We do not at present have comprehensive information about the scale and scope of the impact on individuals and organisations, the losses they have sustained and the number of businesses which may have to close directly as a result of foot and mouth disease, although we have been actively seeking it. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport has, however, estimated that the cost to English tourism is currently around £140 million per week.

  We are collecting further data and will continue to monitor the situation closely.

  Mr. Öpik
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what consultations he has had with Mid-Wales farmers and businesses regarding the degree of compensation required to support the region without business closures during the foot and mouth outbreak; and if he will make a statement. [158685]

  Mr. Meacher
  The National Assembly for Wales is leading on monitoring the impact of foot and mouth disease and action to alleviate it in Wales. Farmers and businesses in Wales also benefit from UK-wide initiatives such as measures allowing the deferment of tax and National Insurance contributions and the extension to the Small Firms Loan Guarantee Scheme. In addition the National Assembly and the Wales Office are represented on the Rural Taskforce.

  Mr. Öpik
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what discussions he has had with insurance companies to ensure fast payment of claims arising as a direct result of the foot and mouth outbreak; and if he will make a statement. [158724]

  Mr. Meacher
  I plan to meet representatives of the insurance industry to discuss the impact of the foot and mouth outbreak as soon as possible.
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  Mr. Öpik
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what action he has taken to provide information on a daily basis to individuals and firms who are not farmers but whose livelihoods are directly affected by the foot and mouth infection; and if he will make a statement. [158683]

  Mr. Meacher
  Information is being provided daily through Government websites such as the National Co-ordination Centre website at www.co-ordination.uk together with those at my Department, the Countryside Agency, DCMS, MAFF, DfEE and DSS.

  In addition information for small firms is available through the Small Business Service (SBS) and the network of Business Links, and a rural helpline—0845 600 9006—is operational. The Government have issued a number of newspaper advertisements and radio fillers and has leafleted Post Offices, tourist offices and many major visitor attractions.

  Mr. Woodward
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to promote the reopening of wildlife parks which have been closed as a result of the foot and mouth outbreak. [158229]

  Mr. Meacher
  The Government have taken every opportunity to make clear that the countryside is open for business. A list of those zoos and wildlife parks that are open to the public has been posted on the DETR website, which is updated weekly. The address is www.wildlifecountryside.detr.gov.uk/ruraltf/zoos/index.htm. MAFF have provided advice to zoos on the precautions to be taken to reduce the risk of susceptible animals catching the disease, details of which can be found at www.maff.gov.uk/animalh/diseases/fmd/animals.htm. Members of the public can also contact a telephone hotline (08456 071071) to discover what attractions are open or visit the open Britain website (www.openbritain.gov.uk). Finally, an extra £6 million has been made available to promote tourist attractions, which will include zoos and wildlife parks.

  Mr. Woodward
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if wildlife parks are eligible to claim for the foot and mouth preliminary financial compensation package, as announced by the Minister for the Environment on 20 March 2001,Official Report, columns 191–210. [158230]

  Mr. Meacher
  Wildlife parks, like other businesses affected by foot and mouth disease, may apply for assistance under the measures to help rural businesses that I announced on 20 March and subsequently, and for the extended Small Firms Loan Guarantee Scheme announced on 6 April, where they meet the qualifying criteria.

  Land Drainage
  Mr. Brazier
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what changes in planning guidance and planning law he is planning with regard to land drainage; and if he will make a statement. [157206]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The Government have recently consulted on a revised draft of the new Planning Policy Guidance Note (PPG) 25 "Development and flood risk" and intend to issue the PPG in May.
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  This PPG advises on the planning consideration of all aspects of land drainage and flood defence. It complements the flood defence policies of my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture. Fisheries and Food.

  Affordable Housing (South-east)
  Fiona Mactaggart
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to increase the supply of affordable housing in the south-east.[157207]

  Mr. Raynsford
  We have made available additional public investment and fiscal instruments to help increase the provision of affordable housing. In particular, we have almost doubled funding to the Housing Corporation through its approved development programme and have set up the Starter Homes Initiative. Furthermore, Regional Planning Guidance for the south-east (RPG9) sets out ways in which local authorities can identify and respond to local housing need.

  Air Traffic Control
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the future arrangements for air traffic control. [157208]

  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  As announced on 27 March 2001, the Government have selected the Airline Group as their strategic partner in the public-private partnership for National Air Traffic Services. Subject to certain conditions, including clearance under the European Commission Merger Regulation, our aim is for the Airline Group to take operational control of NATS on 1 June.

  Private Finance Initiative
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate he has made of the total value of the capital projects which have been funded by private finance arrangements since May 1997. [157210]

  Ms Armstrong
  My Department has signed or provided financial support to private finance contracts with a capital value of £1,045 million since May 1997. In addition DETR has allocated PFI credits with a value of £1,112 million to 56 local authority PFI projects in this period.

  Road Crashes
  Mr. Bob Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what the estimated cost is to public funds of a road crash involving(a) a fatality, (b) serious injury and (c) slight injury. [157211]

  Mr. Hill
  The values attributed in 1999 to the avoidance of road accidents are(a) fatal £1,089,130, (b) serious £146,890, and (c) slight £14,540. These amounts are the values to be used in cost benefit analysis. They take account of medical costs, lost production, human costs based on willingness to pay for reduction of risk, the costs of police and courts, insurance administration, and property damage. Included in these values are the sums of £5,970, £10,380, and £890 for fatal, serious and slight accidents respectively, for the cost to public funds for hospital and ambulance costs and the

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  costs of police and courts. The lost production element includes social security costs but these are not separately estimated. Further information is available in Highways Economic Note No. 1 "1999 Valuation of the Benefits of Prevention of Road Accidents and Casualties" a copy of which is in the Library of the House.

  Council Tax
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment has been made of the benefits of increasing the number of council tax band rates.[157212]

  Ms Armstrong
  We believe that the council tax is working well as a local tax. In our Green Paper on modernising local government finance, which we published in September 2000, we explained that the banding system makes tax bills predictable and stable. A number of respondents to the Green Paper proposed that additional council tax bands should be created. We are considering what they had to say in the context of preparing a White Paper on local government finance, which we intend to publish later this year.

  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement about the change in band D council tax in the last year. [157218]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  The average increase in band D council tax in England between 2000–01 and 2001–02 was 6.4 per cent.

  Runcorn-Widnes Bridge
  Mr. Derek Twigg
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the resources allocated in 2001–02 for the maintenance of the Runcorn-Widnes bridge. [157213]

  Mr. Hill
  I announced in November 2000 that as part of the local transport plan allocation for Halton borough council for 2001–02, £1 million is being made available towards maintenance of the Runcorn-Widnes bridge. Further funding will be provided during the period of the local transport plan to meet in full the maintenance scheme for this bridge.

  Housing (Southwark)
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how much money was requested by the London borough of Southwark for housing capital works in the year 2001–02; and how much has been allocated. [157214]

  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  The London borough of Southwark has been allocated £52,920,634 for housing in 2001–02 under the Housing Investment Programme and the Major Repairs Allowance. It is for the local authority to decide how this funding is prioritised. A further £1,225,554 housing capital funding has been allocated under SRB, through Peckham Partnership.

  Railway Maintenance
  Mr. Fabricant
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will 202W
  make a statement on the line refurbishment works being undertaken by Railtrack and the Strategic Rail Authority. [157217]

  Mr. Hill
  Railtrack has nearly completed its programme of replacement of rail and points in line with its national recovery plan. The company is separately taking forward a series of enhancement projects to increase the capacity of the network, including the west coast route modernisation. My right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister announced on 2 April that future major enhancement projects would be taken forward through public-private partnerships involving the Strategic Rail Authority and third parties.

  Regeneration (Falmouth and Camborne)
  Ms Atherton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the regeneration projects funded by his Department in the Falmouth and Camborne constituency. [157219]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  The Department is contributing funds to a wide range of projects in the Falmouth and Camborne constituency. Camborne, Pool and Redruth is the South West Regional Development Agency's first priority area for regeneration in Cornwall. Current RDA commitments in the constituency total nearly £18 million of investment, including in a new Tolvadden Energy Park, in transformation of derelict buildings at West End Stores and Alma Place in Redruth into social housing and a new Cornish Studies Centre, and in the Falmouth Maritime project. My Department has awarded a total of £7.8 million in Single Regeneration Budget funding in Rounds 4 to 6 to schemes in west Cornwall that include the Falmouth and Camborne constituency. In October 2000, my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister announced that Kerrier District is one of four areas in the south-west that will benefit from the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund to help improve housing, raise school standards, reduce crime and improve health in our most deprived communities.

  Standard Spending Assessment
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on his plans to review the local government standard spending assessment formula. [157209]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  We received over 16,000 responses to last September's Green Paper on modernising local government finance. A White Paper setting out our decisions on the future of the revenue grant distribution system will be published later this year.

  Road Traffic
  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what changes there have been to the volume of road traffic in England since May 1997. [158471]

  Mr. Hill
  [holding answer 23 April 2001]: The annual percentage changes to the volume of road traffic in England since 1997 are shown in the table.
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  Road traffic in England

  Year

  Percentage change

  1998

  1.7

  1999

  1.3

  South West Development Agency
  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if the grant given by the South West Development Agency to Business Links to combat the effects of foot and mouth disease in the region is for(a) grants and (b) loans to businesses; and what the deadline for its distribution is. [158588]

  Mr. Meacher
  The £3.5 million package of support announced by the South West Development Agency on 9 April included assistance for Business Links organisations to provide enhanced advice and guidance to businesses. Other RDAs have taken similar measures. To supplement these I announced on 11 April a further £15 million funding package for RDAs to expand existing programmes so as to provide additional short term practical help to business in the worst affected areas and in particular Devon, Cumbria and parts of the north-east and Welsh borders. This additional aid will be split between the RDAs for these areas with the south-west and north-west RDAs each receiving £5 million and the North East and West Midlands RDAs each receiving £2.5 million. This support can be used to provide a wide range of direct and indirect assistance, including grants to help sustain business by supporting marketing, reskilling and other activities, promotional campaigns, and regeneration projects.

  Rent Tribunals
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to increase opportunities for a wider range of people to sit on rent tribunals. [158731]

  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  All appointments to rent tribunals are now made following advertising and open competition. Advertisements encourage women and members of ethnic minorities to consider applying for appointment. Since the last general election, we have appointed 52 lay members to sit on rent tribunals in England, 10 of these are from ethnic minorities.

  Driving Licences (Asylum Seekers)
  Fiona Mactaggart
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what discussions he(a) has had and (b) is planning with refugee organisations and others about acceptable evidence of identity for asylum seekers applying for a driving licence. [158462]

  Mr. Hill
  The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) has been in correspondence with the Commission for Racial Equality and the Refugee Council regarding applications for photocard driving licences from asylum seekers. DVLA will shortly write again to these organisations to explain revised arrangements for those 204W
  asylum seekers who cannot produce a passport, birth certificate or Home Office documentation to support their application for a photocard driving licence.

  Fiona Mactaggart
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what evidence of identity is acceptable for asylum seekers applying for a driving licence. [158461]

  Mr. Hill
  The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) will accept a passport, birth certificate or Home Office issued travel document or naturalisation papers in support of an application for a photocard driving licence. If none of these documents is available, DVLA will consider whatever alternative evidence of identity an individual can submit.

  Planning Appeals
  Mr. Denis Murphy
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many appeals were made to the Planning Inspectorate against local authority planning decisions in each of the last five years; and how many were successful. [158458]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  The provision of information on planning appeals is the responsibility of the Planning Inspectorate. I have asked the Inspectorate's Chief Executive, Mr. Chris Shepley, to write to my hon. Friend.

  Letter from Chris Shepley to Mr. Denis Murphy, dated 23 April 2001:
  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your Question about planning appeals made and decided in each of the past five years.
  The table below gives the number of appeals made in each year from 1996/97 and, of those decided, the number allowed.

  Number of appeals

  Year

  Made

  Decided

  Number allowed

  Percentage allowed

  1996–97

  13,742

  12,026

  4,211

  35

  1997–98

  14,163

  13,075

  4,690

  36

  1998–99

  14,380

  12,976

  4,563

  35

  1999–2000

  14,285

  12,506

  4,508

  36

  2000–01

  15,333

  12,912

  4,487

  35

  Mr. Trickett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what percentage of planning appeals decided(a) by hearings, (b) by inquiries and (c) by written representations have been determined within (i) 22, (ii) 26 and (iii) 30 weeks for each year since 1996–97 in (A) England and Wales and (B) the Yorkshire and Humber Government Office region. [158275]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  The provision of information on planning appeals is the responsibility of the Planning Inspectorate. I have asked the Inspectorate's Chief Executive, Mr. Chris Shepley, to write to my hon. Friend.

  Letter from Chris Shepley to Mr. Jon Trickett, dated 23 April 2001:
  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your Question about the handling times of planning appeals decided since 1996–97.
  The percentage of planning appeals decided within the times you specified are enclosed.
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  Years

  Decided within 22 weeks

  Decided within 26 weeks

  Decided within 30 weeks

  Percentage of planning appeals in England, decided within given times:

  1996–97

  Written

  65.48

  82.30

  90.55

  Hearings

  4.16

  6.14

  10.96

  Inquiries

  10.16

  13.60

  16.35

  1997–98

  Written

  82.02

  90.80

  94.11

  Hearings

  12.39

  18.89

  27.52

  Inquiries

  12.34

  19.31

  28.00

  1998–99

  Written

  93.89

  96.55

  97.78

  Hearings

  59.69

  77.27

  86.01

  Inquiries

  26.67

  39.89

  52.28

  1999–2000

  Written

  94.79

  96.90

  97.88

  Hearings

  82.70

  91.98

  94.73

  Inquiries

  39.34

  59.48

  74.47

  2000–01

  Written

  96.94

  98.45

  99.05

  Hearings

  86.96

  94.05

  96.34

  Inquiries

  39.25

  62.87

  77.32

  Percentage of planning appeals in Wales, decided within given times:

  1996–97

  Written

  93.87

  96.57

  97.31

  Hearings

  60.92

  70.11

  87.36

  Inquiries

  14.52

  33.87

  51.61

  1997–98

  Written

  93.00

  96.84

  99.10

  Hearings

  73.15

  87.96

  95.37

  Inquiries

  32.26

  45.16

  70.97

  1998–99

  Written

  93.07

  96.43

  98.95

  Hearings

  71.65

  86.61

  93.70

  Inquiries

  8.55

  42.11

  66.67

  1999–2000

  Written

  96.16

  97.99

  98.65

  Hearings

  86.96

  94.78

  95.65

  Inquiries

  21.40

  46.00

  73.81

  2000–01

  Written

  98.42

  99.32

  99.55

  Hearings

  80.32

  88.52

  94.26

  Inquiries

  6.52

  21.74

  63.04

  Percentage of planning appeals in the Yorkshire and Humberside Government Office region, decided within given times:

  1996–97

  Written

  67.69

  82.96

  90.52

  Hearings

  3.32

  4.32

  6.98

  Inquiries

  6.58

  8.55

  13.16

  1997–98

  Written

  80.67

  89.93

  93.79

  Hearings

  8.86

  14.18

  24.30

  Inquiries

  7.78

  16.77

  26.35

  1998–99

  Written

  94.19

  96.47

  97.72

  Hearings

  57.78

  76.00

  87.11

  Inquiries

  26.55

  40.11

  48.02

  206W

  Years

  Decided within 22 weeks

  Decided within 26 weeks

  Decided within 30 weeks

  1999–2000

  Written

  95.41

  95.52

  97.88

  Hearings

  81.74

  97.11

  97.88

  Inquiries

  42.07

  58.54

  74.39

  2000–01

  Written

  97.18

  98.56

  99.14

  Hearings

  89.37

  95.91

  97.55

  Inquiries

  47.66

  73.44

  83.59

  Rail Safety
  Mr. Nicholls
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what reports he has received about the impact on safety of the grades of steel used in railway tracks since 1997; and if he will make a statement. [158248]

  Mr. Hill
  [holding answer 23 April 2001]: This is an operational matter for Railtrack. I understand from Railtrack that the choice of the grade of steel to be used in railway tracks has not changed for many years and certainly not since 1997.

  Energy Efficiency
  Mr. Efford
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to require commercial property owners to improve the energy efficiency of their buildings. [157107]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  Achieving greater energy efficiency in commercial buildings was the subject of an Adjournment debate on 24 January. My right hon. Friend the Minister for the Environment represented the Government on that day. My right hon. Friend will be writing shortly to my hon. Friend to follow up the debate and to set out his plans in this respect. A copy of the letter will be placed in the Library.

  Container Ports
  Dr. Julian Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement about anticipated increases in container port capacity in Harwich, Felixstowe and on the Shell Haven site in Essex. [157108]

  Mr. Hill
  The three cases, and any others, are or are likely to be subject to formal public inquiries before they are decided by the Secretary of State. On the general question of container port capacity, I refer to my answer to the hon. Member on 13 February 2001,Official Report, column 141.

  Half-fare Scheme
  Mr. Rapson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when men aged over 60 years will be able to benefit from the national half-fare scheme. [157199]

  Mr. Hill
  As soon as we are able to amend the relevant legislation, which currently links entitlement to travel concessions to the state pension age.

  Bus Lanes
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to allow licensed minicabs to use bus lanes. [158748]

  Mr. Hill
  It is for the relevant highway authority, usually the local authority, to decide what classes of vehicles, if any, other than buses should be allowed to use bus lanes.

  My Department provides guidance for local authorities on bus priority measures in Local Transport Note 1–97 "Keeping Buses Moving". The use of bus lanes by licensed minicabs is not recommended. When a wide range of vehicles are allowed access, enforcement can be more difficult and the benefits to buses reduced. In particular, where licensed minicabs do not have obvious features to identify them as minicabs, it is difficult to distinguish them from private cars and this can encourage more widespread violation as other cars follow them into a bus lane.

  Local highway authorities would need to consider these issues, in liaison with the police, in deciding whether to allow licensed minicabs to use a particular bus lane.

  London Underground
  Mr. Wilkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he intends Transport for London to assume full responsibility for London Underground before 7 June. [157182]

  Mr. Hill
  It is the Government's intention to transfer London Underground to the control of Transport for London once the framework is in place to deliver the massive long-term investment that the Underground requires. Our view is that the best way to do this is through the PPP. London Underground is making every effort to conclude the PPP as speedily as possible, consistent with the paramount requirement to maintain and improve safety and deliver best value, but it will be some months before contracts can be signed.

  Environmental Health Inspectors
  Mr. Alan Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many full-time equivalent staff have been employed as environmental health inspectors in British(a) airports and (b) ports in each of the last 10 years. [157032]

  Ms Stuart
  I have been asked to reply.

  Responsibility for employing environmental health officers at airports and ports rests with the local authorities which have responsibilities for the ports' health work. The number of enforcement officers is determined by the local authorities. The numbers of such officers are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Electricity Demand
  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assumptions have been used for growth in electricity demand in table 1 on page 53 of Climate Change, The UK Programme. [157606]
  208W
  Mr. Hain
  I have been asked to reply.

  The energy projections which underlie the UK's Climate Change Programme were published as Energy Paper 68 in November 2000. Energy Paper 68 presents baseline energy demand projections. These do not take account of measures set out in the Climate Change Programme.

  The growth in electricity demand between 2000 and 2010 is projected to be around 1 per cent. per annum, before taking account of measures in the Climate Change Programme. Further details are given in chapter 5 of Energy Paper 68. Energy Paper 68 is available in the Library of the House.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Basic State Pension
  Mr. Hurst
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the cost to the Treasury of uprating the basic state pension by(a) £5 per week for a single pensioner and (b) £8 per week for a pensioner couple. [158765]

  Mr. Rooker
  I refer my hon. Friend to the written answer I gave to the hon. Member for Havant (Mr. Willetts) on 30 January 2001,Official Report, columns 138–39W.

  Council Tax
  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what the percentage was of average income paid in Council Tax by Londoners(a) in 1996 and (b) on the latest date for which figures are available. [157894]

  Angela Eagle
  [holding answer 10 April 2001]: The information that is available is as follows:

  Average net Council Tax bill as a percentage of average gross household income

  London (per cent.)

  1996–97

  1.9

  1999–2000

  2.0

  Notes

  1. The source of the data in the table is the Family Resources Survey (Great Britain). The latest year for which data are available is 1999–2000.

  2. For the purposes of this analysis, Council Tax is taken to be net of Council Tax discount and any deductions to the bill resulting from the receipt of Council Tax Benefit.

  3. Those households who do not pay Council Tax (such as students) have not been included in this analysis.

  4. The estimates are based on sample counts, which have been adjusted for non-response using grossing factors that control for region, Council Tax band, tenure and a number of demographic variables. Estimates are subject to sampling error and to variability in non-response.

  5. Estimates of the size of small changes between one year and another, as shown in the table, may be particularly vulnerable to estimating error.

  6. All percentages have been rounded to the nearest 0.1 per cent.

  Housing Benefit
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the contractors for each London borough who are responsible for the administration of
  209W
  Housing Benefit; how many complaints have been received in the past year about each contractor; and what inspections he has authorised. [158653]

  Angela Eagle
  [holding answer 23 April 2001]: The administration of Housing Benefit is the responsibility of local authorities, regardless of whether or not it is contracted out.

  From May, we will be collecting information on local authorities who contract out Housing Benefit work.

  The following table represents, to the best of our current knowledge, the London boroughs that currently contract out this work and the contractors (two are in-house). The table also shows the number of written complaints we have received about the contracting-out of the administration of Housing Benefit in these boroughs, but not all specifically mention the contractor.

  London borough

  Contractor

  Number of complaints

  Bexley

  Capita

  0

  Brent

  EDS

  0

  Bromley

  Capita

  0

  Croydon

  CSL

  0

  Ealing

  Vertex Datasciences Ltd.

  0

  Hounslow

  ITNet

  0

  Islington

  ITNet

  2

  Lambeth

  Capita

  3

  Lewisham

  In-house

  0

  Newham

  CSL

  0

  Southwark

  CSL

  1

  Tower Hamlets

  In-house

  0

  Waltham Forest

  ICL

  1

  Westminster

  Capita

  4

  We also received two complaints relating to the administration of Housing Benefit in Hackney by ITNet (the contract was terminated on 31 March 2001).

  All of the boroughs in the table except Bexley and Hounslow have been inspected by the Benefits Fraud Inspectorate (BFI). These inspections were undertaken as part of a programme of inspections in England, Scotland and Wales which included local authorities which have contracted-out the administration of Housing Benefit and those which have not.

  Child Support Agency
  Mr. Hurst
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans his Department has to introduce a more rigorous assessment procedure on the part of the Child Support Agency. [158125]

  Angela Eagle
  Our reforms of the child support system will make both assessment and collection procedures more clearly focused on the needs of children and their parents—and on ensuring that maintenance due becomes maintenance paid. We intend to introduce the reformed scheme for new cases by April 2002, with existing cases transferring once the new system is shown to be working well.

  Stakeholder Pensions
  Mr. Willetts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will place in the Library a copy of his Department's research on businesses' understanding of stakeholder pensions which he referred to on BBC Radio on 6 April. [158686]

  Mr. Darling
  The 2000 Survey of Employers' Pension Provision commissioned by the Department will be completed and published later this year. However, initial findings into employer awareness of stakeholder pensions show that 90 per cent. of firms with more than 12 employees were aware of stakeholder pensions, 60 per cent. of firms with between five and 12 employees were aware, as were more than 50 per cent. of firms with fewer than five employees.

  Pension Credit Consultation
  Mr. Willetts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when the results of the pension credit consultation will be placed in the Library. [158691]

  Mr. Rooker
  We will be announcing our response to the pension credit consultation in due course.

  Winter Fuel Payment
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the number of newly eligible men who made a successful claim for the 2000–01 Winter Fuel Payment by 30 March. [157055]

  Mr. Rooker
  The administration of benefits is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency, Alexis Cleveland. She will write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Alexis Cleveland to Mr. Steve Webb, dated 23 April 2001:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking if he will estimate the number of newly eligible men who made a successful claim for the 2001–01 winter fuel payment by 30th March.
  Current records show that we have received over 1 million claims in respect of winter 2000 from men of which around 12,000 were unsuccessful, in the first instance. If a customer feels that the decision on their claim is incorrect they can ask for it to be looked at again. We do not hold statistics on successful claims following such reconsiderations.
  Information regarding claims received between 8 March and 30 March is not currently available in the format required.
  I hope this is helpful.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Business Questions
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the President of the Council, pursuant to her oral answer of 5 April 2001,Official Report, column 502, what the source was of the information pertaining to the constituency of my hon. Friend the Member for Tiverton and Honiton (Mrs. Browning); and if she will make a statement. [158344]

  Mrs. Beckett
  Information was provided by the Labour party.

PRIME MINISTER

  Appointments (Age Limits)
  Tony Wright
  To ask the Prime Minister what age limit is placed on appointments to public bodies in his Department; if this limit is mentioned in advertisements for such posts; and what the basis for this limit is. [158115]

  The Prime Minister
  I refer my hon. Friend to then answer given to him by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary to the Cabinet Office on Monday 23 April,Official Report, columns 120–21W.

  Government IT
  Maria Eagle
  To ask the Prime Minister when he will make an announcement about the continuing implementation of the recommendations contained within the "Successful IT: Modernising Government in Action", report. [158890]

  The Prime Minister
  I have decided that ministerial and official responsibility for continuing the implementation of these recommendations will move to HM Treasury and the Office of Government Commerce. This will provide greater synergy with the work that OGC already does with Departments on IT-enabled projects.

  It should be clear that both ministerial and official responsibility for the performance of individual projects remains with each Department.

  Lord Birt
  Miss Widdecombe
  To ask the Prime Minister how many reports Lord Birt has submitted to him in his capacity as an adviser on crime; and if he will make a statement. [158280]

  The Prime Minister
  I refer the right hon. Member to the answer given by the Home Secretary to the hon. Member for Taunton (Jackie Ballard) on 27 March 2001,Official Report, column 594W.

  Miss Widdecombe
  To ask the Prime Minister on how many occasions, and on what dates, he has met Lord Birt in his capacity as an adviser on crime; and if he will make a statement about the contribution of Lord Birt to Government policy on crime. [158240]

  The Prime Minister
  As part of his work, Lord Birt has met Ministers and officials from relevant Departments, including myself. As with previous Administrations it is not my practice to provide precise details of all such meetings.

HEALTH

  Childminders
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many childminders were registered with English local authorities in each year since 1995. [157282]

  Ms Hodge
  I have been asked to reply.

  The information about registered childminders is shown in the table. Over the same time period the number of registered day nurseries has increased from 4,800 to
  212W
  7,100, the number of registered holiday schemes from 2,900 to 9,300 and the number of registered out of school clubs from 1,300 to 3,700.

  Number1 of registered childminders for children under eight: 1995–2000

  Number of registered childminders2

  March 1995

  96,000

  March 1996

  101,300

  March 1997

  97,100

  March 1998

  93,300

  March 1999

  80,000

  March 2000

  74,800

  1These figures have been rounded to the nearest 100.

  2Excluding childminders provided by the local authority.

  The responsibility for day care provision transferred from the Department of Health to the Department for Education and Employment in March 1998.

  Specified Risk Material
  Mr. Dawson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what further action he plans to take to ensure that specified risk material does not enter the domestic food chain from abroad. [155834]

  Ms Stuart
  [holding answer 27 March 2001]: Under European Union single market rules only meat which has been produced in accordance with relevant EU meat hygiene and BSE protection rules may be marketed for human consumption within the EU. These rules include European Commission Decision 2000/418/EC, which requires the removal of specified risk material (SRM) from cattle and sheep carcases at the slaughterhouse. Single market rules do not permit border controls at points of entry in respect of meat imported from other EU member states, although random checks at points of destination are permissible. The importation of fresh meat containing SRM into the United Kingdom from third countries is prohibited by virtue of the SRM Order 1997. Meat imported directly into the UK from a third country is subject to official checks at the border inspection post to ensure that it complies with all relevant EU and national public and animal health requirements.

  In the UK such checks have shown that the vast majority of consignments of meat imported from other EU member states have complied with the relevant EU rules. A small number of consignments, however, have been found to contain carcases with small pieces of SRM still attached. The majority of these consignments (12 out of 14) were destroyed with the remaining two returned to the export approved plat in January 2001.

  As a result of these findings, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) has, in each case, taken up the matter vigorously with the national Government of the exporting country concerned and with the EC. The FSA has also put in place risk-based enhanced checks on meat imported from other EU member states. The Meat Hygiene Service, and its equivalent in Northern Ireland, has been instructed to check all consignments of imported carcase beef originating from those slaughterhouses which have previously exported carcases with SRM still attached. Since half of the findings of SRM have involved meat imported from Germany, the FSA has instructed that every consignment of carcase beef imported from

  213W
  Germany arriving at a licensed meat plant in the UK must be checked by the relevant authority for the presence of SRM. Local authorities throughout the UK have been advised to make extra checks at meat plants under their supervision known to receive imports of carcase beef, and to check every consignment of carcase beef imported from Germany for the presence of SRM.

  In addition, because of the disruption of British meat supplies arising from the outbreak of foot and mouth disease, enforcement authorities have been instructed by the FSA to step up levels of inspection of all types of imported meat, on a risk assessment basis, in order to ensure that all relevant public health requirements are met.

  The enhanced checks on meat imported from other EU member states, and the enhanced level of inspection of all imported meat, will be maintained for as long as the FSA considers such measures to be justified. The FSA will continue to monitor the situation.

  Prescription Charges
  Mr. Ian Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will extend exemption from prescription charges to patients who have had an organ transplantation and require lifelong medication. [158069]

  Ms Stuart
  People including those recovering from organ transplants are entitled to free prescriptions if they are aged under 16, or under 19 and in full-time education, or are aged 60 or over, or they (or their partner) are receiving Income Support, income based Jobseeker's Allowance or full tax credit (with net income up to £11,543). They may also claim help under the National Health Service low income scheme. We have no plans to change these arrangements.

  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make it his policy to provide free prescription charges for people on Incapacity Benefit. [158234]

  Ms Stuart
  No. Incapacity Benefit is not income related and it would not, therefore, be appropriate to extend automatic exemption from prescription charges to recipients of this benefit.

  Orphan Medicinal Products
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the definition is of orphan medicinal products referred to in Chapter 20 of the statement of revenue and expenditure of the European Agency for the Evaluation of Medicinal Products for 2001. [158355]
  214W
  Ms Stuart
  An orphan medicinal product is one used to treat a rare disease. A rare disease is defined by the Regulation (EC No. 141–2000) as one affecting not more than five people per 10,000 in the European Community.

  Nicotine Replacement Therapies
  Mrs. Spelman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what evidence he has collated on the effectiveness of the investment of smoking cessation services set up following the White Paper, "Smoking Kills". [158353]

  Yvette Cooper
  [holding answer 23 April 2001]: I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to the hon. Member for Oxford, West and Abingdon (Dr. Harris) on 5 April 2001, Official Report, column 267W.

  Nicotine replacement therapy, as announced on 14 March, is now available on National Health Service prescription from 17 April in England. This fulfils our commitment made in the NHS Plan last year.

  Mrs. Spelman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much public funding has been allocated for(a) nicotine replacement therapies and (b) bupropian (Zyban), for (i) 2000–01 and (ii) 2001–02. [158343]

  Yvette Cooper
  [holding answer 23 April 2001]: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Oxford, West and Abingdon (Dr. Harris) on 26 March 2001, Official Report, column 452W.

  Honey
  Mr. Simon Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list cases of honey sold in the United Kingdom found to contain GM pollen. [158503]

  Ms Stuart
  I am advised by the Food Standards Agency that it is not aware of any cases of honey containing genetically modified (GM) pollen on sale in the United Kingdom. Research commissioned by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has shown that GM pollen, if present, would represent no more than 0.00000000003g to 0.000000005g in a 500g jar of honey.

  Foot and Mouth
  Mr. David Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will publish guidance on the public health aspects of disposal of carcases of animals slaughtered as a result of the foot and mouth disease epidemic. [158892]

  Mr. Milburn
  I have today published guidance on measures to minimise the risk to public health from the slaughter and disposal of animals. The guidance will be issued to Regional and Health Authority Directors of Public Health, along with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and military personnel responsible for implementing the policy on slaughter and disposal.

  Copies of the guidance are available in the Library.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  School Achievement Awards
  Mr. McLoughlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many schools were misinformed by his Department about school achievement awards in England(a) in total and (b) in each local education authority. [157309]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  [holding answer 6 April 2001]: The information requested has been placed in the Library.

  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to his answers of 20 March 2001,Official Report, column 160–64W, on school achievement awards, which of the schools have since been found not to have been entitled to awards and which schools have been added to the list; and if he will make a statement. [157098]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  [holding answer 5 April 2001]: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Crawley (Laura Moffatt) on 30 March 2001, Official Report, column 842W. The information requested has been placed in the Library.

  Learning and Skills Council
  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what percentage of appointees to(a) each Learning and Skills Council and (b) Learning and Skills Councils in total have declared political activity for (i) the Labour party, (ii) the Conservative party, (iii) the Liberal Democrats and (iv) other parties. [157508]

  Mr. Wicks
  [holding answer 9 April 2001]: Appointments to the LSC and its local arms have been made through fair and open competition, in accordance with guidance issued by the Office of the Commissioner

  English region/local LSC area

  Labour

  Conservative

  Liberal Democrat

  Others

  North East

  County Durham

  1 (7%)

  —

  —

  1 (7%)

  Northumberland

  1 (9%)

  —

  —

  —

  Tees Valley

  4 (33%)

  1 (8%)

  —

  —

  Tyne and Wear

  3 (21%)

  —

  —

  —

  East Midlands

  Derbyshire

  6 (46%)

  —

  —

  —

  Leicestershire

  2 (17%)

  1 (8%)

  —

  —

  Lincolnshire and Rutland

  1 (7%)

  —

  1 (7%)

  1 (7%)

  Northamptonshire

  2 (15%)

  1 (8%)

  —

  —

  Nottinghamshire

  2 (17%)

  —

  —

  —

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  South Yorkshire

  4 (31%)

  —

  —

  —

  North Yorkshire

  —

  2 (15%)

  —

  —

  Humberside

  2 (14%)

  —

  —

  —

  West Yorkshire

  3 (25%)

  —

  —

  —

  West Midlands

  Birmingham and Solihull

  4 (31%)

  —

  —

  —

  The Black Country

  2 (15%)

  —

  —

  —

  Coventry and Warwickshire

  3 (25%)

  —

  —

  —

  Herefordshire and Worcestershire

  2(18%)

  —

  —

  —

  Shropshire

  2(17%)

  —

  1(8%)

  1(8%)

  Staffordshire

  4(27%)

  —

  —

  —

  216W
  for Public Appointments (OCPA). We have sought to attract applications from individuals with a wide range of appropriate experience, regardless of any political affiliation they may have.

  We wrote to all English MPs last year, asking them to encourage suitable candidates to apply. The great majority of applicants for LSC membership and of those appointed as members declared that they were not politically active within the last five years.

  Of the 16 members appointed to the national Learning and Skills Council, five (31 per cent.) declared political activity with the Labour party. There were no declarations in respect of other parties.

  141 of the 641 people who have been appointed and remain as members of the local Learning and Skills Councils declared political activity. These figures exclude Executive Directors of local Learning and Skills Councils as they were not required to declare political activity when applying for these posts. A breakdown by political party is set out in the table:

  Appointed

  Percentage of politically active members

  Conservative

  21

  14.9

  Labour

  107

  75.9

  Liberal Democrat

  10

  7.1

  Other

  3

  2.1

  Total

  141

  100

  As a percentage success rate, based on the number of applications by party, this breaks down as: 24 per cent. for Labour; 21 per cent. for the Conservatives; 13 per cent. for the Liberal-Democrats; and 12 per cent. for other parties.

  The table shows the percentage of appointees to each of the 47 local LSCs who have declared political activity, by party:

  217W

  English region/local LSC area

  Labour

  Conservative

  Liberal Democrat

  Others

  North West

  Cheshire/Warrington

  2(13%)

  —

  1(7%)

  —

  Cumbria

  2(13%)

  —

  —

  —

  Lancashire

  4(27%)

  —

  —

  —

  Greater Manchester

  5(33%)

  —

  —

  —>

  Greater Merseyside

  4(27%)

  —

  1(7%)

  —

  South West

  Devon and Cornwall

  —

  —

  1(7%)

  —

  Bournemouth, Dorset and Poole

  —

  —

  2(14%)

  —

  Gloucestershire

  1(8%)

  —

  —

  —

  Somerset

  1(7%)

  1(7%)

  1(7%)

  —

  Wiltshire and Swindon

  1(8%)

  2(15%)

  1(8%)

  —

  The West of England

  2(14%)

  —

  —

  —

  East of England

  Bedfordshire and Luton

  2(13%)

  1(7%)

  —

  —

  Cambridgeshire

  2(13%)

  —

  1(7%)

  —

  Essex

  3(21%)

  2(14%)

  —

  —

  Hertfordshire

  1(7%)

  1(7%)

  —

  —

  Norfolk

  2(14%)

  1(7%)

  —

  —

  Suffolk

  4(29%)

  1(7%)

  —

  —

  South East

  Berkshire

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Hampshire, Portsmouth, Southampton and IOW

  1(7%)

  —

  —

  —

  Kent and Medway

  2(13%)

  3(20%)

  —

  —

  Milton Keynes, Oxfordshire and Bucks

  2(13%)

  —

  —

  —

  Surrey

  1(7%)

  1(7%)

  —

  —

  Sussex

  2(13%)

  —

  —

  —

  London

  London Central

  4(31%)

  2(15%)

  —

  —

  London East

  4(26%)

  —

  —

  —

  London North

  2(14%)

  —

  —

  —

  London South

  2(18%)

  1(9%)

  —

  —

  London West

  3(21%)

  —

  —

  —

  Total

  107

  21

  10

  3

  (75.9%)

  (14.9%)

  (7.1%)

  (2.1%)

  Education Maintenance Allowance (Camden)
  Ms Glenda Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on the progress of the Education Maintenance Allowance scheme in the London borough of Camden; and how many students have taken up the allowance since its introduction. [158019]

  Mr. Wicks
  [holding answer 10 April 2001]: I am pleased to say that the progress of the Education Maintenance Allowance scheme in the London borough of Camden is good with 367 students receiving the allowance. Applications are still being received and these are processed within 48 hours. Over £162,000 has been paid to students this year. This includes end of term attendance bonuses of £7,750.

  Departmental Policies (Cannock Chase)
  Tony Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to the Cannock Chase constituency, the effects on Cannock Chase of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997. [158068]
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  Mr. Wills
  Details of the effects of a range of the Department's policies on the Cannock Chase constituency and Staffordshire local education authority have been placed in the Library.

  Students (Funding)
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how much funding is available to help full-time students who are in financial difficulties(a) this year and (b) in each of the last five years. [157823]

  Mr. Wicks
  The total amount available through higher education Access and Hardship Funds to help students in financial difficulty in 2000–01 is £87 million, almost four times the amount available in 1997–98. Both full and part-time students are eligible to apply for help, and the total includes £13 million for the fee waiver scheme introduced in 1998 specifically for part-time students on benefit or low incomes. Additionally, since 1998 full-time students have been able to apply for a discretionary Hardship Loan of up to £500 each year.

  The Government have made available a range of further education learner support funds for students facing

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  financial difficulties in further education. Discretionary funding has been massively increased to support the most disadvantaged students. In addition, we are piloting Education Maintenance Allowances (EMAs) in 56 local education authority areas to provide weekly support to further education students assessed on the basis of parental income.

  Table 1 shows the amounts available through the higher education Access and Hardship Funds since the 1995–96 academic year. The Funds were doubled in 1998–99 when part-time students became eligible to apply for help. The funding provided to meet fee waivers for part-time students since 1998–99 is separately identified.

  Table 2 shows the increase in discretionary funding available to disadvantaged students in further education over the same period.

  Table 3 shows the levels of funding made available up to 31 March 2001 for Education Maintenance Allowances. These figures relate to financial years since September 1999, when the pilots began.

  Table 1

  £ million

  Academic year

  Access and Hardship Fund

  Fee waivers for part-time students

  1995–96

  22

  —

  1996–97

  22

  —

  1997–98

  22

  —

  1998–99

  46

  2

  1999–2000

  75

  12

  2000–01

  87

  13

  Table 2

  £ million

  Academic year

  Discretionary funding

  1995–96

  6

  1996–97

  6

  1997–98

  6

  1998–99

  13

  1999–2000

  53

  2000–01

  101

  Table 3

  £million

  Financial year

  Education maintenance allowances

  1999–2000

  11

  2000–01

  81

  Nursery Vouchers
  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what steps he has taken to inform parents of the availability of nursery vouchers; how they may be applied for; and if he will make a statement. [158465]

  Ms Hodge
  holding answer 23 April 2001]: Nursery education vouchers were replaced in 1997 by a system of payments to nursery education providers. This system emphasises co-operation, rather than competition, between providers and is a more effective way of ensuring parents have access to the nursery education they want for their children.

  All four-year-olds have had access to a free nursery education place since September 1998. From September 2004, all three-year-olds will be entitled to a free nursery education place. Total spending on nursery education will double from £1 billion in 1996–97 to £2 billion by 2003–04. It is intended to fund 200,000 more free places for three and four-year-olds in 2001–02 than in 1997–98.

  To help parents choose suitable nursery education, they can obtain information about the early education and childcare provision in their area by contacting their local Childcare Information Service. There is also the ChildcareLink national freephone information line (0800 096 0296) and a website www.childcarelink.gov.uk from which parents can obtain details of provision in England and Scotland. We are also working with several major retailers and other organisations to enable parents to access this information in public places.

  Pre-school Groups
  Mr. Tyrie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many pre-school groups there were in(a) West Sussex and (b) the Chichester parliamentary constituency in 1997; and how many there are at present. [158594]

  Ms Hodge
  Data on pre-school groups are not available at constituency level. In March 1997 there were 353 registered pre-school groups in the West Sussex area and in March 2000 then were 309. In the light of changing patterns of demand, many pre-school groups are diversifying and expanding their provision into daycare and nursery education

  Over the same time period the number of registered day nurseries has increased from 79 to 90, the number of registered holiday schemes from 66 to 213 and the number of registered out of school clubs from 31 to 66. Free nursery education places for three and four-year-olds have increased from 8,245 in 1997 to 9,501 in 2001.

  £300 million is being made available nationally between April 2001 and March 2004 for the creation of new Neighbourhood Nursery centres in disadvantaged areas and many pre-schools may want to take advantage of this. We are making £986 million available over the years 2001–02 to 2003–04 for the provision of free nursery education places for three-year-olds, and other early years initiatives. Playgroups, along with other early education providers will benefit from this expansion. In addition, £6 million in capital between 2002–04 and

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  £4 million in revenue this year is also being made available specifically to help playgroups and maintained schools expand into childcare.

  We have also made available a total of £1.75 million in the three-year period 1998–2000 for special grants to voluntary pre-schools and playgroups facing short-term financial difficulties, to give them breathing space to consider their longer term plans. To date over 2,000 pre-schools and playgroups have received grants.

  Bonded Labour
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on the Government's planned approach to the United Nations International Labour Organisation meeting on bonded labour in June. [158284]

  Ms Jowell
  The Government fully support the ILO's Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work and its Follow-up. We actively encourage member states to fulfil their obligations and work towards ratifying and implementing the provisions of the Conventions covered by the Declaration which include the elimination of all forms of forced and compulsory labour, including bonded labour, the subject of the June Conference discussion.

  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if the Government will support the setting up of the monitoring unit for bonded labour under the International Labour Organisation Technical Co-operation Unit. [158119]

  Ms Jowell
  The Government fully support the follow-up process to the International Labour Organisation (ILO)'s Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work. We actively encourage member states to fulfil their obligations and work towards ratifying and implementing the provisions of the Conventions covered by the Declaration including those on forced and bonded labour.

  Appointments (Age Limits)
  Tony Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what age limit is placed on appointments to public bodies in his Department; if this limit is mentioned in advertisements for such posts; and what the basis for this limit is. [158111]

  Mr. Wills
  There is no such limit placed on appointments to public bodies in this Department.

  Full-time Education (Wiltshire)
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what the percentage of 16-year-olds in full-time education was in Wiltshire in 1999. [157789]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  [holding answer 23 April 2001]: At the heart of our drive to improve participation and attainment is the new Connexions Service which is being phased in from this month. The service will provide information, advice, support and access to personal development opportunities for all 13 to 19-year-olds, whatever their needs and circumstances, to keep them learning. Latest figures show that the numbers of 16 to
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  18-year-olds not in education, employment or training in England fell by 28,000 from 185,000 in 1998 to 157,000 in 1999.

  Participation rates by LEA for 16 and 17-year-olds are published in Statistical Bulletin 11/00: Participation in education and training by young people aged 16 and 17 in each local area and region, England, 1994–95 to 1998–99.

  The percentage of 16-year-olds in full-time education in Wiltshire local education authority was 73 per cent. in 1998–99, the latest year for which figures are available.

  Further Education (Burnley)
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many children have gone on to(a) higher education and (b) further education since leaving secondary school in Burnley in the latest year for which figures are available. [158398]

  Mr. Wicks
  At the heart of our drive to improve participation and attainment is the new Connexions Service which is being phased in from this month. The service will provide information, advice, support and access to personal development opportunities for all 13 to 19-year-olds, whatever their needs and circumstances, to keep them learning. Latest figures show that the numbers of 16 to 18-year-olds not in education, employment or training in England fell by 28,000 from 185,000 in 1998 to 157,000 in 1999.

  Data on the percentage of students continuing in post-compulsory education at age 16 are not calculated for areas smaller than LEAs. Participation rates by LEA for 16 and 17-year-olds are published in Statistical Bulletin 11/00: Participation in education and training by young people aged 16 and 17 in each local area and region, England, 1994–95 to 1998–99.

  The percentage of 16-year-olds in further education for Lancashire LEA, which includes the constituency of Burnley, was 76 per cent. in 1998–99, the latest year for which figures are available.

  Figures for the number of school leavers from Burnley who go on to higher education are not available centrally.

  Education Investment
  Mr. Woodward
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what the average total education investment per state school pupil was in(a) 2000 and (b) 2001; and what he estimates it will be in (i) 2002 and (ii) 2003. [158124]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The information requested is set out in the table.

  Financial year

  Per pupil funding in cash terms

  Per pupil funding in real terms

  Year on year increase

  1999–20001

  2,860

  2,860

  —

  2000–012

  3,110

  3,050

  190

  2001–023

  3,390

  3,250

  200

  2002–033

  3,610

  3,380

  130

  1Actual

  2Provisional

  3Planned

WALES

  Gross Domestic Product
  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will present figures for the gross domestic product per head at basic prices in Wales in(a) 1999 and (b) 2000 on the same basis as that used in table 5.29 of the 2000 edition of "Social Trends". [155457]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  The figures in table 5.29 of the 2000 edition of Social Trends are at factor cost. More recent figures are calculated at basic prices and reflect changes in the European System of Accounts used in calculating gross domestic product. Figures for 1989 up to 1999 at basic prices were published on 27 February 2001 in the Office for National Statistics news release "Regional gross domestic product" and are available in the March 2001 edition of "Economic Trends", a copy of which is available in the Library of the House. Figures for the year 2000 will be published on the same basis during the Spring.

  Single Rail Franchise
  Mr. Simon Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions regarding the commencement date for the single rail franchise for Wales; and if he will make a statement. [158095]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  I have regular discussions with my Cabinet colleagues about a range of issues affecting Wales.

  On 15 February, the Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) announced that Arriva plc in conjunction with Connex Transport UK Limited, FirstGroup plc, National Express Group plc, and Serco Rail had been shortlisted to compete for the Wales and Borders franchise. It will be for the SRA to determine a commencement date for the franchise.

  Waste Recycling (Wales)
  Mr. Simon Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much of Wales' waste has been recycled for each of the last five years. [156349]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  Figures for Wales alone are available only in respect of municipal waste. These are as follows:

  1996/97–4 per cent.

  1997/98–4 per cent.

  1998/99–5 per cent.

  Information on recycling since 1 July 1999 is a matter for the National Assembly for Wales.

  Departmental Policies
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to the Ynys Môn constituency, the effects on Ynys Môn of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997; [154962]
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  (2) if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to the Caernarfon constituency, the effects on Caernarfon of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997; [154964]

  (3) if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to the Meirionnydd Nant Conwy constituency, the effects on Meirionnydd Nant Conwy of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997. [154965]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  As these questions were originally addressed to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health, my response concentrates on the effects of my Department's policies and actions on health services prior to 1 July 1999, when responsibility for their provision transferred to the National Assembly for Wales.

  Because of the way in which health services are organised, it is not practicable to provide information which is specific to individual constituencies. The timing of financial and statistical exercises also means that some of the figures quoted relate to periods ending shortly before or shortly after 30 June 1999.

  In October 1997, an additional £2.2 million was made available to North Wales health authority, over and above its financial allocation for the year, to provide enhanced patient care. The authority's basic allocation for 1998–99, at £381.3 million, represented a year-on-year cash increase of £13.6 million. This was further enhanced by £4.1 million in April 1998 to address waiting list issues, and £2.6 million in November for dealing with winter pressures.

  Between annual counts taken in September 1997 and September 1999, the number of directly employed NHS nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff in the area of the North Wales health authority increased by 267.4 in full-time equivalent terms. Over the same period, medical and dental staff increased by 29.8.

  Health services in these constituencies will also have benefited from a range of important all-Wales policy initiatives which were developed between May 1997 and June 1999. These include:
  Delivering Care-Meeting Need—a comprehensive package of measures for primary and community health care (1997);
  Putting Patients First—which promoted a series of reforms for the NHS in Wales, such as the abolition of the internal market and GP fundholding, and the introduction of new structures such as Local Health Groups and Health Improvement Programmes (1998);
  Better Health, Better Wales—a strategy for improving public health (1998);
  Quality Care and Clinical Excellence—a programme for clinical effectiveness (1998);
  Reconfiguration of NHS Trusts—a programme of mergers which reduced the total number of NHS Trusts from 29 to 16 (1999).

  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to the Ceredigion constituency, the effects on Ceredigion of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997. [154963]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  As this question was originally addressed to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health, my response concentrates on the effects of my
  225W
  Department's policies and actions on health services prior to 1 July 1999, when responsibility for their provision transferred to the National Assembly for Wales.

  Because of the way in which health services are organised, it is not practicable to provide information which is specific to an individual constituency. The timing of financial and statistical exercises also means that some of the figures quoted relate to periods ending shortly before or shortly after 30 June 1999.

  In October 1997, an additional £1.8 million was made available to Dyfed Powys health authority, over and above its financial allocation for the year, to provide enhanced patient care. The authority's basic allocation for 1998–99, at £283.4 million, represented a year-on-year cash increase of £9.6 million. This was further enhanced by £3.0 million in April 1998 to address waiting list issues, and £1.9 million in November for dealing with winter pressures.

  Between annual counts taken in September 1997 and September 1999, the number of directly employed NHS nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff in the area of the Dyfed Powys health authority increased by 20.9 in full-time equivalent terms. Over the same period, medical and dental staff increased by 28.3.

  Health services in Ceredigion will also have benefited from a range of important all-Wales policy initiatives which were developed between May 1997 and June 1999. These included:
  Delivering Care—Meeting Need—a comprehensive package of measures for primary and community health care (1997);
  Putting Patients First—which promoted a series of reforms for the NHS in Wales, such as the abolition of the internal market and GP fundholding, and the introduction of new structures such as local health groups and health improvement programmes (1998);
  Better Health, Better Wales—a strategy for improving public health (1998);
  Quality Care and Clinical Excellence—a programme for clinical effectiveness (1998);
  Reconfiguration of NHS Trusts—a programme of mergers which reduced the total number of NHS Trusts from 29 to 16 (1999).

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Cosmetics (Animal Testing)
  Mr. Brake
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if the Government support a ban on the sale of cosmetics tested on animals. [158496]

  Dr. Howells
  [holding answer 23 April 2001]: The Government are seriously committed to ensuring the protection of animal welfare and to improving animal welfare standards. Currently the UK has a voluntary ban on animal testing for cosmetic products. The proposed 7th Amendment to the Cosmetics Directive introduces a mandatory testing ban on cosmetic products and their ingredients throughout the European Union. If adopted, it will help advance the protection of animal welfare in every member state of the European Union.

  Miners' Compensation
  Mr. Ennis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many widows are awaiting their claims to be resolved for their late husbands' mining compensation scheme for(a) Barnsley and (b) Doncaster. [158195]
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  Mr. Hain
  To date, in the Barnsley area, as defined by the postcodes S70, S72 and S73, there are 644 claims associated with miners' widows. A bereavement award is made in cases where the death certificate cites one of the following eight qualifying descriptors: emphysema; chronic obstructive airways disease; chronic obstructive lung disease; chronic airways disease; chronic airflow limitation; chronic airflow obstruction; chronic bronchitis; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. These qualifying conditions were agreed between the Department and the solicitors representing the claimants. In Barnsley, 188 widows have received bereavement awards, totalling £1.6 million.

  In the Doncaster areas, as defined by the postcodes DN1, DN3–5 and DN9, there have been 269 claims in relation to miners' widows. Of these 184 have received bereavement awards totalling £1.5 million.

  Mr. Ennis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the medical assessment rate per month is for claims that are waiting to be completed for the miners' compensation scheme for(a) Barnsley and (b) Doncaster. [158194]

  Mr. Hain
  Claimants are usually invited to attend an appointment to undergo the Medical Assessment Procedure, MAP, at a centre within a 25-mile radius of their residence. In the Barnsley area, as defined by the postcodes S70, S72, S73 and S75, there is a test centre serving residents and the surrounding 25-mile region. Claimants residing in Doncaster are served by centres in Huddersfield, Leeds, Mexborough, Pontefract and Sheffield. Each centre, when fully resourced with a respiratory specialist, lung function technician and administration staff, is capable of carrying out a minimum of 20 appointments per week, 40 in the case of Barnsley. The table shows the number of MAPs undertaken and appointments booked to date at each centre:

  Test centre

  MAPs undertaken

  Appointments booked

  Barnsley

  523

  163

  Leeds

  284

  3

  Huddersfield

  37

  6

  Mexborough

  408

  181

  Sheffield

  443

  115

  Pontefract

  586

  214

  The number of MAPs undertaken per week depends largely on the availability of respiratory specialists. Over the next three months, two new respiratory specialists working a minimum of 10 sessions per week each are scheduled to start work in Yorkshire and north-east England. Three more specialists working between six and 10 sessions per week each are also scheduled to start over this period.

  Mr. Denis Murphy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much compensation has been paid to miners, ex-miners and miners' families in respect of chronic bronchitis and emphysema in the Wansbeck constituency. [158460]

  Mr. Hain
  To date, IRISC, the Department's claims handlers, have registered 2,315 claimants in the Wansbeck constituency, as defined by the postcodes NE22 and
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  NE61–64. There have been 524 individual payments, including interims and full and final settlements, totalling £2.1 million.

  Offshore Windfarms
  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proportion of United Kingdom electricity generation is expected to be represented by the offshore windfarm sites announced on 6 April. [158135]

  Mr. Hain
  Depending on the proportion which go ahead and their capacity, these initial projects might contribute around 1 per cent. of UK electricity generation by 2010.

  Trading Standards (Test Purchases)
  Mrs. Gilroy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions he has had with other Government departments on the use of children of compulsory school age in undertaking test purchasing on behalf of local authority trading standards departments during school hours; and if he will make a statement. [158494]

  Dr. Howells
  I have had no discussions with other Government Departments on this matter. However, as Minister for Competition and Consumer Affairs I have always made it clear that the primary responsibility for avoiding illegal sales to children rests with retailers. They need to be aware of their legal obligations, and can help themselves to stay within the law by displaying notices detailing age restrictions; by asking a person's age if they have even the slightest doubt; and by being more ready to insist on seeing some form of proof of age.

  Nuclear Power
  Mr. Green
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps the Government are taking to reduce the contribution of nuclear power to generating electricity as a proportion of the United Kingdom's energy supply. [158655]

  Mr. Hain
  [holding answer 23 April 2001]: The Government have no plans to reduce the contribution of nuclear power to the nation's electricity supply needs. Generators can continue to operate nuclear plant as long as it remains safe and economical to do so.

  MOX Fuel
  Mr. Stunell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the notifications he has received from BNFL of contracts secured for the importation of irradiated MOX fuel for each of the last 10 years, in each case indicating(a) the originating company and country and (b) the quantity of material. [158412]

  Mr. Hain
  BNFL provides information to DTI, as its shareholder, about the company's commercial activities, including new contracts.

  Since 1990, BNFL has concluded reprocessing contracts with customers in Europe which include provision for a proportion of the fuel to be reprocessed to be MOX. The details and quantities of individual contracts are commercial matters for BNFL and its customers.
  228W
  Mr. Stunell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the applications he has received from BNFL in each of the last 10 years for the reprocessing of irradiated MOX fuel, in each case indicating(a) the originating company and country and (b) the quantity of material and the decision he has made on the application. [158413]

  Mr. Hain
  My Department has received no such applications. BNFL will need to satisfy the relevant regulators before reprocessing irradiated MOX.

TREASURY

  Minimum Wage (Witney)
  Mr. Woodward
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many(a) employees and (b) women in Witney have had their pay increased as a result of the minimum wage. [158123]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.

  Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Shaun Woodward, dated 24 April 2001:
  As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question about the number of employees and women in Witney who have had their pay increased as a result of the national minimum wage (NMW) (158123)
  The Office for National Statistics has published estimates of the number of jobs paid at less than NMW rates for 1998, 1999, and 2000. These include estimates for the UK broken down by gender. These estimates are based on an improved methodology using data from the New Earnings Survey (NES) and Labour Force Survey (LFS). This methodology provides the best estimates for the number of jobs in the UK paid below low hourly rate thresholds and was developed to overcome the deficiencies inherent in using the NES and LFS separately for measuring low pay.
  Estimates for the United Kingdom and Government Office Regions are posted on the National Statistics website at: www.statistics.gov.uk/rsbase/themes/labour_market/nmw_lowpay_tables.asp
  Estimates for Parliamentary Constituencies of numbers of jobs paid below NMW rates are not available on the basis of the methodology applied for producing the national and regional level figures.

  Agricultural Suicides
  Mr. Öpik
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many suicides there have been of individuals identified with the agricultural industry in each month since January 2000; and if he will make a statement. [158719]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.

  Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Lembit Öpik, dated 24 April 2001:
  As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent question about the number of suicides of those identified with the agriculture industry in each month since January 2000 (158719).
  The figures requested are not yet available. Two sets of annual mortality data are routinely released each year. Figures for deaths registered during 2000 are due to be published in May 2001. Figures for deaths which occurred during 2000 are due to be published in October 2001. For some deaths, including suicides, where the death

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  has been referred to the coroner, there is a delay between the occurrence of the death and the subsequent registration. As a result of this delay, figures based on registration data do not provide an accurate indication of the number of suicides which occur each month.

  Church Repairs (VAT)
  Mr. Hurst
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the number of churches which will benefit from the reduced rate of VAT on church repairs; and if he will make a statement. [158764]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The Government are introducing a new grant scheme for listed buildings used as places of worship.

  Accurate information on numbers of potential beneficiaries is not available.

  Child Poverty
  Mr. Willetts
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will set out the calculations on which the Government's claim that around 1 million children may have been lifted out of poverty since 1997 is based. [158694]

  Dawn Primarolo
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him on 14 March 2001,Official Report, column 609W, and to the answer given to my right hon. Friend the Member for Birkenhead (Mr. Field) on 19 May 2000, Official Report, column 296W

  Foot and Mouth
  Mr. Todd
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 10 April 2001,Official Report, column 526W, on Working Families Tax Credit, if he will waive the requirement that reviews are six months apart for those affected by foot and mouth disease. [158575]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Working Families Tax Credit (WFTC) is designed to provide medium to longer-term support for working families. Awards are based on the family's normal weekly income and last for 26 weeks. These basic rules keep the system simple and provide families with the security of a guaranteed and regular source of income for a substantial period. They are the basis of the current system, which provides much valued support to 1.17 million working families.

  Landfill Tax
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many registered environmental bodies(a) have and (b) have not made landfill tax grants in respect of the conservation of buildings, including places of worship. [R] [158408]

  Mr. Timms
  The regulator of the Landfill Tax Environmental Bodies Credit Scheme, ENTRUST, records details reported by the enrolled environmental bodies (EBs) of the expenditure against the various objects of the scheme. Object E covers restoring and repairing buildings which are for religious worship, or of architectural or historical interest. 270 EBs have reported spending contributions on object E projects and 2,164 EBs have not.

  Village Halls (Climate Change Levy)
  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the application of(a) VAT and (b) the climate change levy on activities in village halls. [158464]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 23 April 2001]: The activities of a village hall are generally business and are subject to the normal VAT rules. Climate change levy is not charged on the domestic use of energy or non-business use by charities.

DEFENCE

  Pay and Personnel Agency
  Dr. Iddon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what performance targets have been set for the Pay and Personnel Agency for 2001–02. [158795]

  Dr. Moonie
  The chief executive of the Pay and Personnel Agency (PPA) is responsible for providing pay and personnel information services for the Ministry of Defence as defined in the agency framework document. During 2001–02 the PPA will be set the following challenging key performance targets.

  1. To make 100 per cent. of all payments to staff by the due date (excluding late payments caused by invalid claims or late notification outside the control of the Agency).

  2. To keep error rates within the following limits:
  six per 1,000 payments of industrial and non-industrial pay
  15 per 1,000 awards for pensions
  five per 1,000 payments of expenses.

  3. By 31 March 2002 to have set up a Customer Service Centre covering 70 per cent. of PPA business operations.

  4. By 31 March 2002 to have provided direct access for customers through their communication channel of choice.

  5. By 31 March 2002 to have provided customers with electronic input for the eight most often used forms.

  6. To answer 95 per cent. of written complaints within 20 working days of receipt.

  7. To constrain expenditure on the business tasks of the Agency within the funding for those tasks agreed between DUS(CM) and PPA in their Service Level Agreement.

  8. To gain approval for a costed customer service improvement programme which delivers better value for the MOD.

  Defence Estate
  Mr. Russell Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress his Department has made towards meetings its targets for the disposal of surplus property from the Defence Estate. [158796]

  Dr. Moonie
  In the financial year 2000–01 the Ministry of Defence achieved receipts amounting to £209 million from the disposal of surplus land. Although less than the record £287 million achieved in 1999–2000, this is a significant contribution to the achievement of the target set in the Strategic Defence Review of property disposals amounting to £700 million by 2002, and to the wider target set in Spending Review 2000 of disposals of over £600 million of assets by March 2004.

  Joint Strike Fighters
  Mr. Quentin Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will enumerate the items on which the £600 million to be expended on UK specific requirements for the Joint Strike Fighter are to be spent. [157734]

  Mr. Hoon
  The items on which the £600 million is to be spent are: procurement of weapons and their supply to the US Engineering and Manufacturing Development Prime Contractor for test purposes in support of design activities for the integration of the UK weapons currently identified as initial fit requirements; ensuring JSF is fully operable in the UK and NATO Command, Control, Communications, Computers and Intelligence environments; compliance with UK aircraft and weapons safety, environmental and acceptance processes, and integration design activities and supply of weapons for test purposes for post-initial fit UK weapons.

  Warships
  Mr. Quentin Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which major mechanical faults have been reported on Royal Navy warships in each of the past three years; and which Royal Navy vessels have been involved in(a) collisions with other vessels and (b) groundings in each of the past three years. [157743]

  Mr. Spellar
  Details of those defects relating specifically to major mechanical faults in each of the past three years could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Royal Navy vessels involved in collisions with other vessels, and those vessels involved in groundings, in each of the past three years are shown in the table. There were no reported groundings during 1999.

  Collisions

  Groundings

  2000

  HMS Guernsy

  HMS Raider

  HMS Grimsby

  HMS Sandown

  RFA Fort Victoria/RFA Sir Bedivere

  HMS Grafton

  LCVP (HMS Ocean)

  HMS Triumph

  HMS Manchester

  HMS Victorious

  HMS Puncher

  1999

  HMS Endurance

  HMS Chidingford/HMS Nottingham

  HMS Ranger

  HMS Cardiff

  HMS Bristol

  HMS Pembroke

  HMS Tracker

  HMS Shetland

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  Collisions

  Groundings

  1998

  HMS Manchester

  RFA Black Rover

  HMS Cornwall

  RFA Sir Galahad

  HMS Exploit

  Missile Defence Systems
  Mr. Quentin Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence further to his answer of 3 April 2001,Official Report, columns 110–11W, on missile defence systems, if he will publish a report on the progress of the Technology Readiness and Risk Assessment Programme. [158075]

  Mr. Hoon
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Truro and St. Austell (Mr. Taylor) on 6 April 2001,Official Report, column 293W.

  Mr. Quentin Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence further to his answer of 3 April 2001,Official Report, column 111W, on national missile defence, for what reason it is premature to decide to acquire a ballistic missile defence for UK territory or forces deployed overseas. [158076]

  Mr. Hoon
  Our current judgment that it would be premature to decide on acquiring a ballistic missile defence capability for either UK territory or forces deployed overseas is based on our assessment of the threat, the rapidity with which relevant defensive technologies are changing, and the need to evaluate further the potential role of missile defences as one element of a broad-ranging defence response to missile proliferation.

  Type 45 Destroyer
  Mr. Quentin Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if the Type 45 destroyers will be provided with(a) Phalanx and (b) another close-in range defensive capability; and if he will make a statement; [157731]

  (2) what lessons he has drawn for the capability and assessment of the Royal Navy's Type 45 destroyers from the USS Winston Churchill; and if he will make a statement; [157733]

  (3) if the Type 45 destroyer will be provided with (a) an anti-ship and (b) a land attack capability; and if he will make a statement; [157748]

  (4) if the Type 45 destroyers will be provided with anti-submarine armament other than the torpedoes carried by their Lynx helicopter; and if he will make a statement. [157732]

  Dr. Moonie
  The Type 45 destroyer is primarily intended to provide effective area air defence against aircraft and missiles and will be equipped with the world-beating Principal Anti-Air Missile System. This will provide the Royal Navy with a significant increase in capability from the outset when it comes into service in 2007. In accordance with Smart acquisition practice, the Type 45 has been designed so that its capability can be upgraded throughout its life to take advantage of changes in defence requirements and technological advances.

  In addition to its primary role, the Type 45 will have an anti-submarine warfare (ASW) capability. Details of this capability were provided in answer to an earlier

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  question raised by the hon. Member on 30 January 2001, Official Report, column 98W. It includes sonar, Lynx HMA Mk 8 helicopter carrying Stingray anti-submarine torpedoes, Ship Surface Torpedo Defence System (SSTD) towed and expendable acoustic decoys and, in the longer term, enhanced SSTD countermeasures. Should additional ASW armament be required to that provided by the Stingray torpedoes carried by the Lynx helicopter, the Type 45 design allows for the later fitting of a double-tubed Magazine Torpedo Launch System.

  The Type 45's anti-surface ship capability will be provided by the Sea Skua missile, fitted to its Lynx helicopter, together with the ship's medium range gunnery system, the 4/" Mk 8 Mod 1 gun, and two 30 mm guns. The Type 45 design also allows for the fitting of a Surface to Surface Guided Weapon.

  To provide a close range defensive capability, it is planned to fit Phalanx Close-In Weapon Systems to each Type 45. Should the requirement for the Type 45 class to have a land attack capability arise, provision has also been made in Type 45 designs either for fitting a Vertical Launch System for missiles, or for a larger calibre gun to be used.

  Through our close collaboration with the United States, we naturally look to see what lessons can be drawn from their equipment procurement and operating experience, including that of ships such as the USS Winston Churchill and its systems.

  NewDERA
  Mr. Bruce George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost was of the new name and logo selected for NewDERA. [157333]

  Mr. Hoon
  DERA announced on 5 April that its new name, when it becomes a plc in July, will be QinetiQ. The name will also serve as a logo.

  The process for generating and deciding on a new name cost £42,000. The design work needed to devise an associated corporate identity for all areas of NewDERA where the name will be used has cost a further £365,000.

  The application of this design work to new stationery, signs, marketing literature, etc. is still on-going with a view to formal introduction when the plc is formed on 1 July.

  It is too early to calculate the final cost of this. It is important to note, however, that even if the name had not been changed, such work would in any case have been required in order to adapt NewDERA to its new status as a plc.

  Submarine Communications
  Mr. Quentin Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he intends to provide the Royal Navy submarine fleet with an extra high frequency communications capability compatible and interoperable with that now used by the US Navy in their submarine communications; and if he will make a statement. [157737]

  Mr. Spellar
  The Ministry of Defence has identified a requirement for the Royal Navy's submarine fleet to be fitted with a satellite communications capability that is compatible and interoperable with the US Navy's next 234W
  generation Extremely High Frequency (EHF) system. Options to meet the requirement are being evaluated as part of the SKYNET 5 programme.

  Related studies to address the integration of EHF satellite communications terminals into submarines are just getting under way.

  India
  Mr. Quentin Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what meetings he has had with his Indian counterpart in the past year. [157745]

  Mr. Hoon
  George Fernandes, the former Indian Defence Minister, and I met on two occasions in the past year. Our first meeting was during his official visit to the UK in June 2000, the second was during my visit to India last December as a guest of the Indian Government.

  I have also met the new Defence Minister, Jaswant Singh, three times in the past year, in his capacity as Foreign Minister.

  Mr. Quentin Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which Ministry of Defence staff are based in India in connection with procurement and disposal programmes. [157747]

  Mr. Hoon
  Service and civilian Ministry of Defence staff based at the British High Commission in New Delhi have a role in promoting UK procurement and disposal programmes as a part of their wider responsibilities.

  Mr. Quentin Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many visits have been made by Defence Procurement Agency personnel to India in the past two years. [157744]

  Mr. Hoon
  During the period 6 April 1999 to 5 April 2001, no duty visits were made by Defence Procurement Agency personnel to India.

  Mr. Quentin Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which former Royal Navy warships are in service with the Indian Navy; and what the date was of their commission into the Royal Navy. [157746]

  Mr. Spellar
  There are two former RN ships currently in service with the Indian Navy. They are:

  (i) Ex HMS Hermes (renamed INS Viraat), a Hermes Class aircraft carrier.

  (ii) Ex HMS Andromeda (renamed INS Krishna), a Leander Class frigate that was converted to a Training Ship for IN operations.

  HMS Hermes and HMS Andromeda were originally commissioned into RN service in November 1959 and December 1968 respectively.

  Future Aircraft Carriers
  Mr. Quentin Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what implications further delay in the down select for the Joint Strike Fighter would have on(a) the timings and (b) the cost of the development and construction of the two future aircraft carriers for the Royal Navy; and if he will make a statement. [157735]
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  Mr. Hoon
  The procurement strategy for the carriers has been designed to ensure coherency with the future carrier borne aircraft project, and the decision on the selection of a JSF variant. The time and cost implications for the future aircraft carrier programme of a delay in the down select of the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) would depend on the nature and length of any delay, and an assessment of its likely impact on both programmes.

  Eurofighter
  Mr. Quentin Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he will place the orders for the(a) second batch and (b) third batch of the Eurofighter within the planned total of 232 aircraft. [157719]

  Mr. Hoon
  We currently plan to place orders for the second and third tranches of Eurofighter aircraft in 2003 and 2007 respectively.

  Link 16
  Mr. Quentin Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to install Link 16 in naval and air platforms; and what the projected in-service dates are for each aircraft type and class of vessel. [157727]

  Mr. Spellar
  Link 16 is already in service on the Tornado F3 and Sentry E3D aircraft, and the UK Air Defence Ground Environment. Additionally, on current plans, we will install Link 16 in several in-service naval and air platforms as follows:

  In-service platform

  ISD with Link 16

  Type 42 destroyer (Batch 2 and 3)

  2004

  CVS (Invincible Class)

  2004

  Sea King AEW

  2002

  Nimrod (R)

  2003

  Sea Harrier FA2

  2004

  Major new naval and air platforms, such as Eurofighter and the Type 45 destroyer, will be provided with situational awareness through secure tactical data links, in many cases by installing Link 16.

  Nuclear Submarines
  Mr. Quentin Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Royal Navy SSNs are operational; and if he will make a statement. [157736]

  Mr. Spellar
  HMS Triumph is currently operational. HMS Tireless is expected to return to operational status in May and HMS Superb is due to return to operational status in June.

  Mr. Quentin Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects HMS Tireless to be operational; and if he will make a statement. [157750]

  Mr. Spellar
  HMS Tireless is expected to return to operations in May.

  HMS Valiant
  Mr. Quentin Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Royal Navy personnel are tasked with the maintenance of HMS Valiant. [157739]
  236W
  Mr. Spellar
  HMS Valiant has currently 18 staff. Not only do the ship's staff carry out routine maintenance work and safety checks but they are also responsible for the continuous security of the submarine.

  Mr. Quentin Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the future role of HMS Valiant. [157738]

  Mr. Spellar
  HMS Valiant has been decommissioned from the Royal Navy and will be stored afloat at Devonport.

  HMS Norfolk
  Mr. Quentin Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which private contractors are involved in the maintenance of the main gun armament of HMS Norfolk; what role Royal Navy personnel will have in the maintenance and repair of the gun system; and if he will make a statement. [157740]

  Mr. Spellar
  BAE Systems are responsible for the majority of support but routine on board maintenance and repair work of the 4.5 inch MK8 Mod I gun fitted to HMS Norfolk will be undertaken by suitably trained RN personnel.

  Rosyth
  Mr. Quentin Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what Royal Navy maintenance and refit work is under way at Rosyth; and what work is scheduled to be undertaken at Rosyth over the next three years. [157742]

  Mr. Spellar
  HMS Sceptre, HMS Spartan, HMS Ark Royal, HMS Liverpool, HMS Atherstone, HMS Sandown and HMS Inverness are currently undergoing maintenance and refit work at Rosyth Royal Dockyard. We recently announced the intention to contract with the dockyard owners for the refits of five Type 23 Frigates, all of which are planned to start during the next three years. In addition, on current plans for the next three years, work is also scheduled to be undertaken on: HMS Illustrious, HMS Invincible, HMS Ledbury, HMS Brecon, HMS Cottesmore, HMS Dulverton, HMS Inverness, HMS Bridport and HMS Dumbarton Castle.

  Foot and Mouth
  Mr. Quentin Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the implications are for the defence budget of his Department's contribution to meeting the foot and mouth emergency; and if he will make a statement. [157728]

  Mr. Spellar
  There are no significant implications for the defence budget arising from the support the armed forces are giving to MAFF during the current foot and mouth outbreak. It is normal practice when assistance is given to other Government Departments that additional costs will be refunded to the defence budget at the end of the crisis. The Ministry of Defence costs of combating the disease are, however, expected to be minor in comparison with the overall cost of fighting the disease.

  Sonar 2076
  Mr. Quentin Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if Sonar 2076 will be available for the first of
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  class of the Astute class submarines from the date of entry into service; and if it will provide the full stipulated military capability. [157730]

  Dr. Moonie
  The prime contractor, BAE Systems, has selected Sonar 2076 for Astute and it will be fitted to the first of class, HMS Astute, for its sea trials in 2004–05. Sonar 2076 is part of an incremental acquisition programme and will provide Astute with the full stipulated military capability.

  Fishery Protection Patrols
  Mr. Quentin Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the impact on the frequency and duration of fishery protection patrols following the replacement of Island class patrol vessels by future offshore patrol vessels. [157741]

  Mr. Spellar
  Subject to the satisfactory outcome of detailed discussions with the preferred bidder, Vosper Thornycroft (UK) Ltd., the Ministry of Defence would expect to be in a position shortly to place a contract for the lease of three future offshore patrol vessels to progressively replace the current Island class vessels from September 2002. Because of their higher availability, the three replacement FOPVs will provide identical fishery protection patrol frequency and duration to that which is currently carried out by the five Island class vessels.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

  Know How Fund
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development which countries have received assistance from the know how fund during the last 12 months. [158735]

  Clare Short
  The know how fund was the name by which the programme in central and eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union managed jointly by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the former Overseas Development Administration was generally known. Since May 1997 the programme has been managed by the Department for International Development (DFID) in the same way as other DFID programmes.

  In the last 12 months those countries that have received DFID assistance are Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Romania, Poland, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Albania, Serbia and Montenegro, Russia, Ukraine, Moldova, Armenia, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Belarus. We have also assisted Kosovo, which is administered by the United Nations.

  Myanmar
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assistance she has made for the condition of internally displaced people in Myanmar. [157902]

  Clare Short
  The situation for internally displaced people in Myanmar remains extremely vulnerable. Many of these people have taken refuge in remote, inaccessible 238W
  and politically sensitive areas, making it difficult to conduct any detailed humanitarian assessment of their situation.

  We are currently funding an international non-governmental organisation, Health Unlimited, to meet the emergency needs of displaced people in Kachin State, and we are providing core funding for United Nations humanitarian agencies and the Red Cross movement working inside Myanmar. Those agencies provide us with valuable information on the condition of internally displaced people in the country. In addition, my officials plan to visit the region in the coming months to look at the humanitarian situation in Myanmar and on the Thai/Myanmar border in more detail.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

  Departmental Policies (High Peak)
  Mr. Levitt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to the constituency, the effects on the High Peak constituency of his Department's policies and actions since May 1997. [156779]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  Since May 1997 my Department has introduced and developed a variety of initiatives which will impact on my hon. Friend's constituency which promote our objectives of access, excellence, education, and creativity and employment. We have published strategies to take this forward including Tomorrow's Tourism and A Sporting Future for All, which was recently followed up by The Government's Plan for Sport. We have tackled the issue of social inclusion taking forward the recommendations of Policy Action Team 10 on Arts and Sport and developing social inclusion policies across all our areas which is recognised within the most recent progress report, Building on PAT10.

  We have given more support to the cultural and sporting infrastructure. The Spending Review 2000 secured a doubling of the budget for sport and the largest ever increase for the arts: an increase of 80 per cent. from £186 million in 1997–98 to £336 million in 2003–04. In taking forward our aim to develop the educational potential of culture and sport £40 million has been allocated to developing Creative Partnerships; we have established through lottery funding the £30 million National Foundation for Youth Music; and secured an additional £130 million for primary schools sports and arts facilities through the Space for Sport and the Arts programme. With £120 million of central Government and Lottery funding we will be providing a school sports co-ordinator in one in four secondary schools to work with local primary and special schools to improve sporting provision and physical education for children in the most deprived areas. We have delivered free access to national museums for children and the over-60s and additional money will be provided to allow this to be extended to everyone in December 2001. We have commissioned a taskforce which is currently considering the issues facing non-national museums in the regions.

  We have made improvements in the way the Lottery is spent to ensure a fairer distribution. The introduction of the New Opportunities Fund for spending on health,

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  education and the environment has made a real difference to communities everywhere. For instance it has invested £120 million to support the People's Network, which will enable all 4,300 public libraries to offer free public internet access through UK online learning centres; and a further £50 million to stimulate development of content to support the Network.

  We have set up a Regional Cultural Consortium in each of the English regions outside London to champion culture and creativity, including heritage, sport and tourism, and to draw up regional cultural strategies identifying regional objectives and priorities.

  We have published a Green Paper, "Culture and Creativity: The Next Ten Years", setting out how individual creative talent can be given the support it needs from childhood to flourish; how artists and cultural institutions can be freed from bureaucratic controls; and how the freedom to explore and enjoy creativity and culture can be made available to all.

  Through their commitment to public service broadcasting, the Government have helped to foster an environment in which a creative, commercially successful broadcasting industry provides a wide range of UK-made, high quality, original programmes catering for all viewers and listeners. We have ensured a secure funding base for the BBC and S4C, while giving them the freedom to develop commercial operations which complement and support their public service remit. We have made clear in the Communications White Paper that public service broadcasting will continue to have a key role to play in the digital future. The Government have introduced free television licences for people aged 75 or over from 1 November last year.

  In delivering these initiatives we aim to make cultural and sporting activities inclusive ones, boosting participation and improving the quality of life for all.

  High Peak

  According to the information supplied to us by the distributing bodies for the national lottery awards database, there have been 115 national lottery awards to High Peak totalling £9,043,441.

  Thirty-nine Millennium Award Winners have been identified from High Peak and between them they have received grants totalling £143,968.

  Information from English Heritage (EH);

  Church Grants

  St. Margaret, Wormhill—£3,948 offered. Fully paid.

  St. Michael, Taddington—£15,900 offered. Fully paid.

  Others

  Derby county council—£10,000 offered towards a feasibility study on Torr Vale Mill. Fully paid.

  Conservation Area Partnership Schemes (CAPS)

  Buxton CAPS for 1997–98 and 1998–99—£149K p.a.

  Heritage Economic Regeneration Schemes (HERS)

  Buxton HERS for 1999–2000 and 2000–01—£20K p.a.

  Sport England have provided £32,000 for TOPs bags and £5,000 towards a 3-year sports development officer post.
  240W
  Information on the number of beneficiaries of free television licences by constituency is not available, but estimates based on the 1991 Census indicate that there were approximately 6,300 people aged 75 or over living in the High Peak constituency.

  The National Foundation for Youth Music has awarded:
  High Peak Community Arts £25,565. This is a large scale songwriting and performance project. A team of four music makers will facilitate young people in 10 youth clubs to create music. The music will be recorded on location and produced as a professional CD.
  Fosbrooks £12,064. The project will provide new musical direction for young people to work within a structured course designed to enable them to perform traditional music suitable for community events. Activities will cover absolute beginners through to the gifted and very able.

  There are of course other initiatives in the wider area which may have an effect on the High Peak constituency. These are:
  Under the Space for Sport and Arts scheme, Derbyshire local education authority has been allocated up to £2.2 million towards providing improved facilities for sport and arts in primary schools which can also be used by the wider community.
  £20,500,000 for Sheffield—Remaking the Heart of the City Millennium Project.
  North West Arts Board received £14,061,000 in 2000–01 from the Arts Council to support arts and cultural activity across its region. In 2001–02 this will increase to £15,491,266 or by 10.17 per cent.
  Sport England provide £242,000 for Derbyshire LEA and £25,000 p.a. for Active Sports and £6,500 p.a. for Coaching for Teachers for the County as a whole.
  Derbyshire Library Authority, which covers the High Peak constituency, received awards of £90,100, £101,099 and £95,000 from the DCMS/Wolfson Public Libraries Challenge Fund in 1997–98, 1998–99 and 1999–2000 respectively. The funding was given for public library ICT projects.

  Departmental Policies (Amber Valley)
  Judy Mallaber
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to the Amber Valley constituency, the effects on Amber Valley of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997. [157128]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  Since May 1997 my Department has introduced and developed a variety of initiatives which will impact on my hon. Friend's constituency which promote our objectives of access, excellence, education, and creativity and employment. We have published strategies to take this forward including Tomorrow's Tourism and A Sporting Future for All, which was recently followed up by The Government's Plan for Sport. We have tackled the issue of social inclusion taking forward the recommendations of Policy Action Team 10 on Arts and Sport and developing social inclusion policies across all our areas which is recognised within the most recent progress report, Building on PAT10.

  We have given more support to the cultural and sporting infrastructure. The Spending Review 2000 secured a doubling of the budget for sport and the largest ever increase for the arts: an increase of 80 per cent. from £186 million in 1997–98 to £336 million in 2003–04. In taking forward our aim to develop the educational potential of culture and sport £40 million has been

  241W
  allocated to developing Creative Partnerships; we have established through lottery funding the £30 million National Foundation for Youth Music; and secured an additional £130 million for primary schools sports and arts facilities through the Space for Sport and the Arts programme. With £120 million of central Government and Lottery funding we will be providing a school sports co-ordinator in one in four secondary schools to work with local primary and special schools to improve sporting provision and physical education for children in the most deprived areas. We have delivered free access to national museums for children and the over-60s and additional money will be provided to allow this to be extended to everyone in December 2001. We have commissioned a taskforce which is currently considering the issues facing non-national museums in the regions.

  We have made improvements in the way the Lottery is spent to ensure a fairer distribution. The introduction of the New Opportunities Fund for spending on health, education and the environment has made a real difference to communities everywhere. For instance it has invested £120 million to support the People's Network, which will enable all 4,300 public libraries to offer free public internet access through UK online learning centres; and a further £50 million to stimulate development of content to support the Network.

  We have set up a Regional Cultural Consortium in each of the English regions outside London to champion culture and creativity, including heritage, sport and tourism, and to draw up regional cultural strategies identifying regional objectives and priorities.

  We have published a Green Paper "Culture and Creativity: The Next Ten Years", setting out how individual creative talent can be given the support it needs from childhood to flourish; how artists and cultural institutions can be freed from bureaucratic controls; and how the freedom to explore and enjoy creativity and culture can be made available to all.

  Through their commitment to public service broadcasting, the Government have helped to foster an environment in which a creative, commercially successful broadcasting industry provides a wide range of UK-made, high quality, original programmes catering for all viewers and listeners. We have ensured a secure funding base for the BBC and S4C, while giving them the freedom to develop commercial operations which complement and support their public service remit. We have made clear in the Communications White Paper that public service broadcasting will continue to have a key role to play in the digital future. The Government have introduced free television licences for people aged 75 or over from 1 November last year.

  In delivering these initiatives we aim to make cultural and sporting activities inclusive ones, boosting participation and improving the quality of life for all.

  Amber Valley

  According to the information supplied to us by the distributing bodies for the national lottery awards database, there have been 136 national lottery awards to Amber Valley, totalling £3,211,436.

  Fourteen Millennium Award Winners have been identified from Amber Valley and between them they have received grants totalling £56,461.
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  Information on the number of beneficiaries of free television licences by constituency is not available, but estimates based on the 1991 Census indicate that there were approximately 6,600 people aged 75 or over living in the Amber Valley constituency.

  Derbyshire Library Authority, which covers the Amber Valley constituency received awards of £90,100, £101,099 and £95,000 from the DCMS/Wolfson Public Libraries Challenge Fund in 1997–98, 1998–99 and 1999–2000 respectively. The funding was given for public library ICT projects.

  The National Tramway Museum in Crich has been allocated funding from the Designated Challenge Fund as follows:
  £35,000 in 1999 towards curatorial support for project development and documentation/digitisation work on illustrations collections;
  £105,920 in 2000 towards the continuation of the above, and towards an extension to the existing tramcar restoration workshop; and £202,034 in 2001 mainly towards the building of an extension to the Museum's library and also a continuation of the digitisation programme.

  Fleet Arts have been awarded £10,249 by the National Foundation for Youth Music. This is a new departure for the Nail it Down project, extending it from rock and pop to include new technology and samba and the fusion of the two. The two music makers will create opportunities for performance and recording sessions and run workshops which are informal and focused on the individual and encourage the writing of original music and lyrics. English Heritage have offered the following:

  St. Matthew, Pentrich—£47,418

  Unitarian Chapel, Belper—£18,342

  All Saints, Mugginton—E75,476

  St. Luke, Heage—£65,014

  St. Michael Kirk, Langley—£49,745

  North Mill, Belper—£10,077 for feasibility study on major Building at Risk

  Heage Windmill—£38,775 for repairs as match funding with Heritage Lottery Fund Conservation Area Partnership scheme in Belper 1997–98—£100,000.

  There are of course other initiatives in the wider context of the region which may have an effect on the Amber Valley constituency. These include the receipt by the East Midlands Arts Board of £6,853,000 in 2000–01 from the Arts Council to support arts and cultural activity across its region. In 2001–02 this will increase to £7,771,701 or by 12.4 per cent.

  Departmental Policies (Eccles)
  Mr. Ian Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will set out, including statistical information relating as directly as possible to the Eccles constituency, the effects on Eccles of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997. [157284]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  Since May 1997 my Department has introduced and developed a variety of initiatives which will impact on my hon. Friend's constituency which promote our objectives of access, excellence, education, and creativity and employment. We have published strategies to take this forward including Tomorrow's Tourism and A Sporting Future for All, which was recently followed up by The Government's Plan for Sport. We have tackled the issue of social inclusion taking
  243W
  forward the recommendations of Policy Action Team 10 on Arts and Sport and developing social inclusion policies across all our areas which is recognised within the most recent progress report, Building on PAT10.

  We have given more support to the cultural and sporting infrastructure. The Spending Review 2000 secured a doubling of the budget for sport and the largest ever increase for the arts: an increase of 80 per cent. from £186 million in 1997–98 to £336 million in 2003–04. In taking forward our aim to develop the educational potential of culture and sport £40 million has been allocated to developing Creative Partnerships; we have established through lottery funding the £30 million National Foundation for Youth Music; and secured an additional £130 million for primary schools sports and arts facilities through the Space for Sport and the Arts programme. With £120 million of central Government and lottery funding we will be providing a school sports co-ordinator in one in four secondary schools to work with local primary and special schools to improve sporting provision and physical education for children in the most deprived areas. We have delivered free access to national museums for children and the over-60s and additional money will be provided to allow this to be extended to everyone in December 2001. We have commissioned a taskforce which is currently considering the issues facing non-national museums in the regions.

  We have made improvements in the way the lottery is spent to ensure a fairer distribution. The introduction of the New Opportunities Fund for spending on health, education and the environment has made a real difference to communities everywhere. For instance it has invested £120 million to support the People's Network, which will enable all 4,300 public libraries to offer free public internet access through UK online learning centres; and a further £50 million to stimulate development of content to support the Network.

  We have set up a Regional Cultural Consortium in each of the English regions outside London to champion culture and creativity, including heritage, sport and tourism, and to draw up regional cultural strategies identifying regional objectives and priorities.

  We have published a Green Paper "Culture and Creativity: The Next Ten Years", setting out how individual creative talent can be given the support it needs from childhood to flourish; how artists and cultural institutions can be freed from bureaucratic controls; and how the freedom to explore and enjoy creativity and culture can be made available to all.

  Through their commitment to public service broadcasting, the Government have helped to foster an environment in which a creative, commercially successful broadcasting industry provides a wide range of UK-made, high quality, original programmes catering for all viewers and listeners. We have ensured a secure funding base for the BBC and S4C, while giving them the freedom to develop commercial operations which complement and support their public service remit. We have made clear in the Communications White Paper that public service broadcasting will continue to have a key role to play in the digital future. The Government have introduced free television licences for people aged 75 or over from 1 November last year.
  244W
  In delivering these initiatives we aim to make cultural and sporting activities inclusive ones, boosting participation and improving the quality of life for all.

  Eccles

  According to the information supplied to us by the distributing bodies for the national lottery awards database, there have been 33 national lottery awards to Eccles, totalling £2,022,071. This includes an award from the Millennium Festival of £340,000.

  Five Millennium Award Winners have been identified from Eccles and between them they have received grants totalling £16,117.

  Information on the number of beneficiaries of free television licences by constituency is not available, but estimates based on the 1991 Census indicate that there were approximately 7,000 people aged 75 or over living in the Eccles constituency.

  £120 million of central Government and lottery funding is being invested in setting up a network of 1,000 School Sport Co-ordinators. These Co-ordinators will based in families of schools, in areas of greatest need, linked wherever possible through local education authorities to Specialist Sports Colleges. They will provide opportunities for young people to compete regularly for their school and take part in a wide range of sports. By 2004, there will be about 250 families established with 1,000 secondary schools and up to 6,000 primary schools benefiting directly from this programme. Eccles has School Sport Co-ordinators at Ashton-on-Mersey School.

  Under the Space for Sport and Arts scheme, Salford local education authority has been allocated up to £2.2 million towards providing improved facilities for sport and arts in primary schools which can also be used by the wider community. Moorfield and St. Peter's CE primary schools in my hon. Friend's constituency have been chosen to develop schemes under the SSA.

  On 21 February, Chris Smith announced the 16 areas in which it is hoped Creative Partnership pilots will be developed. Salford is one of these areas. The Arts Council of England, which is delivering the initiative, will be consulting schools and creative organisations in each location over the next few months to establish which bodies and schools will be involved. Details on how schools and cultural organisations can take part in Creative Partnerships will be available from the Arts Council from early May. Funding for the initiative will come on stream in April 2002.

  Salford Library Authority, which covers the Eccles constituency, received an award of £55,000 from the DCMS/Wolfson Public Libraries Challenge Fund in 1998–99. The funding was given for a public library ICT project. It is not possible to say what percentage of this funding benefited the Eccles constituency.

  English Heritage have awarded St. Mary the Virgin, Eccles, £159,046.

  There are of course other initiatives in the wider context of the region which may have an effect on the Eccles constituency. These are:
  North West Arts Board received £14,061,000 in 2000–01 from the Arts Council to support arts and cultural activity across its region. In 2001–02 this will increase to £15,491,266 or by 10.17 per cent.

  245W
  The Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester has benefits for Eccles constituents with the introduction of free access for children and the over 60s.

  Departmental Policies (Ribble Valley)
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to the Ribble Valley constituency, the effects on Ribble Valley of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997. [157851]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  Since May 1997 my Department has introduced and developed a variety of initiatives which will impact on the constituency of Ribble Valley which promote our objectives of access, excellence, education, and creativity and employment. We have published strategies to take this forward including Tomorrow's Tourism and A Sporting Future for All, which was recently followed up by The Government's Plan for Sport. We have tackled the issue of social inclusion taking forward the recommendations of Policy Action Team 10 on Arts and Sport and developing social inclusion policies across all our areas which is recognised within the most recent progress report, Building on PAT10.

  We have given more support to the cultural and sporting infrastructure. The Spending Review 2000 secured a doubling of the budget for sport and the largest ever increase for the arts: an increase of 80 per cent. from £186 million in 1997–98 to £336 million in 2003–04. In taking forward our aim to develop the educational potential of culture and sport £40 million has been allocated to developing Creative Partnerships; we have established through lottery funding the £30 million National Foundation for Youth Music; and secured an additional £130 million for primary schools sports and arts facilities through the Space for Sport and the Arts programme. With £120 million of central Government and lottery funding we will be providing a school sports co-ordinator in one in four secondary schools to work with local primary and special schools to improve sporting provision and physical education for children in the most deprived areas. We have delivered free access to national museums for children and the over-60s and additional money will be provided to allow this to be extended to everyone in December 2001. We have commissioned a taskforce which is currently considering the issues facing non-national museums in the regions.

  We have made improvements in the way the lottery is spent to ensure a fairer distribution. The introduction of the New Opportunities Fund for spending on health, education and the environment has made a real difference to communities everywhere. For instance it has invested £120 million to support the People's Network, which will enable all 4,300 public libraries to offer free public internet access through UK online learning centres; and a further £50 million to stimulate development of content to support the Network.

  We have set up a Regional Cultural Consortium in each of the English regions outside London to champion culture and creativity, including heritage, sport and tourism, and to draw up regional cultural strategies identifying regional objectives and priorities.
  246W
  We have published a Green Paper "Culture and Creativity: The Next Ten Years", setting out how individual creative talent can be given the support it needs from childhood to flourish; how artists and cultural institutions can be freed from bureaucratic controls; and how the freedom to explore and enjoy creativity and culture can be made available to all.

  Through their commitment to public service broadcasting, the Government have helped to foster an environment in which a creative, commercially successful broadcasting industry provides a wide range of UK-made, high quality, original programmes catering for all viewers and listeners. We have ensured a secure funding base for the BBC and S4C, while giving them the freedom to develop commercial operations which complement and support their public service remit. We have made clear in the Communications White Paper that public service broadcasting will continue to have a key role to play in the digital future. The Government have introduced free television licences for people aged 75 or over from 1 November last year.

  In delivering these initiatives we aim to make to make cultural and sporting activities inclusive ones, boosting participation and improving the quality of life for all.

  Ribble Valley

  According to the information supplied to us by the distributing bodies for the national lottery awards database, there have been 80 national lottery awards to Ribble Valley, totalling £3,416,734.

  Thirteen Millennium Award Winners have been identified from Ribble Valley and between them they have received grants totalling £29,350.

  Information on the number of beneficiaries of free television licences by constituency is not available, but estimates based on the 1991 Census indicate that there were approximately 6,700 people aged 75 or over living in the Ribble Valley constituency.

  Lancashire Library Authority, which covers the Ribble Valley constituency, was a member of a consortium of north-west library authorities which received an award of £215,992 from the DCMS/Wolfson Public Libraries Challenge Fund in 2000–01. The funding was given for a public library reader development project. It is not possible to say what percentage of this funding benefited the Ribble Valley constituency.

  English Heritage have awarded Old Lower Hodder Bridge £13,998.

  There are of course other initiatives in the wider context of the region which may have an effect on the Ribble Valley constituency. These include the receipt by North West Arts Board of £14,061,000 in 2000–01 from the Arts Council to support arts and cultural activity across its region. In 2001–02 this will increase to £15,491,266 or by 10.17 per cent.

  Departmental Policies (Tiverton and Honiton)
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to the Tiverton and Honiton constituency, the effects on Tiverton and Honiton of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997. [157813]
  247W
  Mr. Chris Smith
  Since May 1997 my Department has introduced and developed a variety of initiatives which will impact on the constituency of Tiverton and Honiton which promote our objectives of access, excellence, education, and creativity and employment. We have published strategies to take this forward including Tomorrow's Tourism and A Sporting Future for All, which was recently followed up by The Government's Plan for Sport. We have tackled the issue of social inclusion taking forward the recommendations of Policy Action Team 10 on Arts and Sport and developing social inclusion policies across all our areas which is recognised within the most recent progress report, Building on PAT10.

  We have given more support to the cultural and sporting infrastructure. The Spending Review 2000 secured a doubling of the budget for sport and the largest ever increase for the arts: an increase of 80 per cent. from £186 million in 1997–98 to £336 million in 2003–04. In taking forward our aim to develop the educational potential of culture and sport £40 million has been allocated to developing Creative Partnerships; we have established through lottery funding the £30 million National Foundation for Youth Music; and secured an additional £130 million for primary schools sports and arts facilities through the Space for Sport and the Arts programme. With £120 million of central Government and lottery funding we will be providing a school sports co-ordinator in one in four secondary schools to work with local primary and special schools to improve sporting provision and physical education for children in the most deprived areas. We have delivered free access to national museums for children and the over-60s and additional money will be provided to allow this to be extended to everyone in December 2001. We have commissioned a taskforce which is currently considering the issues facing non-national museums in the regions.

  We have made improvements in the way the lottery is spent to ensure a fairer distribution. The introduction of the New Opportunities Fund for spending on health, education and the environment has made a real difference to communities everywhere. For instance it has invested £120 million to support the People's Network, which will enable all 4,300 public libraries to offer free public internet access through UK on-line learning centres; and a further £50 million to stimulate development of content to support the Network.

  We have set up a Regional Cultural Consortium in each of the English regions outside London to champion culture and creativity, including heritage, sport and tourism, and to draw up regional cultural strategies identifying regional objectives and priorities.

  We have published a Green Paper "Culture and Creativity: The Next 10 Years", setting out how individual creative talent can be given the support it needs from childhood to flourish; how artists and cultural institutions can be freed from bureaucratic controls; and how the freedom to explore and enjoy creativity and culture can be made available to all.

  Through their commitment to public service broadcasting, the Government have helped to foster an environment in which a creative, commercially successful broadcasting industry provides a wide range of UK-made, high quality, original programmes catering for all viewers
  248W
  and listeners. We have ensured a secure funding base for the BBC and S4C, while giving them the freedom to develop commercial operations which complement and support their public service remit. We have made clear in the Communications White Paper that public service broadcasting will continue to have a key role to play in the digital future. The Government have introduced free television licences for people aged 75 or over from 1 November last year.

  In delivering these initiatives we aim to make cultural and sporting activities inclusive ones, boosting participation and improving the quality of life for all.

  Tiverton and Honiton

  According to the information supplied to us by the distributing bodies for the national lottery awards database, there have been 231 national lottery awards to Tiverton and Honiton, totalling £6,780,296.

  Sixty-Eight Millennium Award Winners have been identified from Tiverton and Honiton and between them they have received grants totalling £198,118.

  Information on the number of beneficiaries of free television licences by constituency is not available, but estimates based on the 1991 Census indicate that there were approximately 8,000 people aged 75 or over living in the Tiverton and Honiton constituency.

  Devon Library Authority, which covers the Tiverton and Honiton constituency, received an award of £113,647 from the DCMS/Wolfson Public Libraries Challenge Fund in 1997–98. The funding was given for a public library ICT project.

  There are of course other initiatives in the wider context of the region which may have an effect on the Tiverton and Honiton constituency. These are:
  South West Arts received £6,694,000 in 2000–01 from the Arts Council to support arts and cultural activity across its region. In 2001–02 this will increase to £7,766,575 or by 16 per cent.The National Foundation for Youth Music has awarded The National Trust—Devon Region £20,500. This project will involve a composer working with three groups of local children at National Trust properties. A body of work will be created by the composer in joint collaboration with the children and will lead towards a final performance.

  Departmental Policies (Plymouth Unitary Authority)
  Mrs. Gilroy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to(a) Plymouth, Sutton constituency, (b) Plymouth, Devonport constituency and (c) South-West Devon constituency, the effects on the Plymouth Unitary Authority area of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997. [158025]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  [holding answer 23 April 2001]: Since May 1997 my Department has introduced and developed a variety of initiatives which will impact on the Plymouth Unitary Authority area which promote our objectives of access, excellence, education, and creativity and employment. We have published strategies to take this forward including Tomorrow's Tourism and A Sporting Future for All, which was recently followed up by The Government's Plan for Sport. We have tackled the issue of social inclusion taking forward the recommendations of Policy Action Team 10 on Arts and

  249W
  Sport and developing social inclusion policies across all our areas which is recognised within the most recent progress report, Building on PAT10.

  We have given more support to the cultural and sporting infrastructure. The Spending Review 2000 secured a doubling of the budget for sport and the largest ever increase for the arts: an increase of 80 per cent. from £186 million in 1997–98 to £336 million in 2003–04. In taking forward our aim to develop the educational potential of culture and sport £40 million has been allocated to developing Creative Partnerships; we have established through lottery funding the £30 million National Foundation for Youth Music: and secured an additional £130 million for primary schools sports and arts facilities through the Space for Sport and the Arts programme. With £120 million of central Government and lottery funding we will be providing a school sports co-ordinator in one in four secondary schools to work with local primary and special schools to improve sporting provision and physical education for children in the most deprived areas. We have delivered free access to national museums for children and the over-60s and additional money will be provided to allow this to be extended to everyone in December 2001. We have commissioned a taskforce which is currently considering the issues facing non-national museums in the regions.

  We have made improvements in the way the lottery is spent to ensure a fairer distribution. The introduction of the New Opportunities Fund for spending on health, education and the environment has made a real difference to communities everywhere. For instance it has invested £120 million to support the People's Network, which will enable all 4,300 public libraries to offer free public internet access through UK online centres; and a further £50 million to stimulate development of content to support the Network.

  We have set up a Regional Cultural Consortium in each of the English regions outside London to champion culture and creativity, including heritage, sport and tourism, and to draw up regional cultural strategies identifying regional objectives and priorities.

  We have published a Green Paper "Culture and Creativity: The Next Ten Years", setting out how individual creative talent can be given the support it needs from childhood to flourish; how artists and cultural institutions can be freed from bureaucratic controls; and how the freedom to explore and enjoy creativity and culture can be made available to all.

  Through their commitment to public service broadcasting, the Government have helped to foster an environment in which a creative, commercially successful broadcasting industry provides a wide range of UK-made, high quality, original programmes catering for all viewers and listeners. We have ensured a secure funding base for the BBC and S4C, while giving them the freedom to develop commercial operations which complement and support their public service remit. We have made clear in the Communications White Paper that public service broadcasting will continue to have a key role to play in the digital future. The Government have introduced free television licences for people aged 75 or over from 1 November last year.
  250W
  In delivering these initiatives we aim to make cultural and sporting activities inclusive ones, boosting participation and improving the quality of life for all.

  Plymouth Unitary Authority area

  According to the information supplied to us by the distributing bodies for the national lottery awards database, there have been:
  116 national lottery awards to Plymouth, Sutton, totalling £13,749,090
  91 national lottery awards to Plymouth, Devonport, totalling £2,237,942
  106 national lottery awards to South-West Devon, totalling £4,766.036.

  Millennium Award Winners:
  Fifty-six have been identified from Plymouth, Sutton and between them they have received grants totalling £180,782
  Fifty-one have been identified from Plymouth, Devonport and between them they have received grants totalling £151,641
  Twenty-nine have been identified from South-West Devon and between them they have received grants totalling £70,659.
  In addition, there were two larger travelling festival events which covered all three constituencies with total grant of £150,000; plus a grant of £75,000 for Plymouth new years eve celebrations 2000—A Festival of Light.

  Information on the number of beneficiaries of free television licences by constituency is not available, but estimates based on the 1991 Census indicate that there were approximately:
  8,100 people aged 75 or over living in the Plymouth, Sutton constituency
  5,400 people aged 75 or over living in the Plymouth, Devonport constituency
  5,800 people aged 75 or over living in the South-West Devon constituency.

  The National Foundation For Youth Music have awarded Estover Percussion Project £58,500. This project will be run through a structure of taster, extended and advanced workshops in the skills of Djing, scratching and sampling using the latest developments in computer generated technology. The Consortium is made up of E-A-Z, Music Zone, Plymouth Youth Service and the Racial Equality Service and Estover Percussion Project.

  English Heritage have made the following awards:
  Smeaton's Tower, The Hoe, Plymouth (Plymouth City Museums and Art Gallery), £5,000 for feasibility study and £60,000 for works
  1 The Esplanade, The Hoe, Plymouth (Devon Historic Buildings Trust) £70,000
  Mutley Baptist Church, Mutley Plain, Plymouth £60,936
  Saltram House (National Trust) £20,570 (Electrical Installation), £27,016 (Lead Statuary)
  St. Aubyn's Church, Devonport, Plymouth £177,069
  Conservation Area Partnership Scheme—Plymouth offered £100,000 in 1997–98.

  There are of course other initiatives in the wider context of the region which may have an effect on the Plymouth Unitary Authority area. These are:
  South West Arts received £6,694,000 in 2000–01 from the Arts Council to support arts and cultural activity across its region. In 2001–02 this will increase to £7,766,575 or by 16 per cent.
  Plymouth Library Authority, which includes the Plymouth, Sutton/Plymouth, Devonport constituency, received an award of £31,282 from the DCMS/Wolfson Public Libraries Challenge

  251W
  Fund in 2000–01. The award was from the Fund's Wolfson British History Programme which is wholly sponsored by The Wolfson Foundation and was to enhance the history collections of public libraries. It is not possible to say what percentage of this funding benefited the Plymouth, Sutton/Plymouth, Devonport constituency.
  Under the Space for Sport and Arts scheme, local education authorities in the south-west region including Cornwall, Bristol, north Somerset and Plymouth were allocated £9.1 million towards providing improved facilities for sport and arts in primary schools which can also be used by the wider community. Plymouth City Council is currently developing detailed applications for facilities at four primary schools, Barne Barton, St. George's, Plym View and Whiteleigh Community Primary which will actually be used by over 20 primary schools in the area.

  National Lottery (Test Purchasing)
  Mrs. Gilroy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what his Department's policy is on the use of children of compulsory school age in undertaking test purchasing of National Lottery tickets during school hours; and if he will make a statement. [158490]

  Kate Hoey
  It is an offence to sell a National Lottery ticket to a child under 16 years of age and my Department, and the National Lottery regulator, the National Lottery Commission, are concerned to prevent such sales. The National Lottery operator, Camelot Group plc, makes test purchases using 16-year-olds who appear younger, but cannot make test sales using children under 16. Trading standards officers are able to make test purchases using children under 16. Advice to them on the use of children to make test purchases was included in Home Office Circular 17/1992. A copy of this Circular is in the Libraries of the House.

  After-school Learning and Child Care
  Mr. Linton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what is the amount of money allocated in Wandsworth from the New Opportunities Fund for out-of-school hours learning and child care; and if he will list the schemes available for pupils in Battersea from these allocations. [158555]

  Kate Hoey
  I understand the New Opportunities Fund has written directly to my hon. Friend with the information he requires. I am arranging for a copy of the letter to be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

  Libraries
  Mr. Woodward
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the quality of annual library plans which have been submitted to his Department. [158231]

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  Overall, the quality of annual library plans has much improved since they were introduced in 1998. I see this as a very positive development, indicative of the increased importance that library authorities are attaching to their duties. This is clearly demonstrated by the fact that for the first time more authorities have been assessed as providing 'good' plans than submitting 'satisfactory' plans. In 2000, 73 library authorities were rated as 'good', 71 plans were 'satisfactory', and only five were rated as 'poor'; we found none to be unacceptable. I am taking steps to help the five authorities rated as 'poor' improve their position.252W
  My right hon. Friend published a report on last year's annual library plans in January, and copies of the report, "Appraisal of Annual Library Plans 2000, Report on Outcomes and Issues", have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses. Copies of the report can also be obtained freely from my Department (write to Andy Birleson, Department for Culture, Media and Sport, 2–4 Cockspur street, London SW1Y 5DH; or telephone on 0207 211 6128; or email to andrew.birleson@culture.gsi,gov.uk.) In addition, the report can be accessed via the Department's website www.culture.gov.uk.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Magistrates Courts (London)
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many disabled people serve as justices of the peace in courts covering the Greater London area; and if she will make a statement. [158516]

  Jane Kennedy
  No figures are currently available on the number of people with a disability who serve as justices of the peace. However, following an equality audit of the procedures and practices surrounding the appointment of lay magistrates last year, my noble and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor plans to conduct a survey of existing magistrates later this year to find out how many classify themselves as having a disability.

CABINET OFFICE

  Civil Servants (Waivers)
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what proportion of senior grade civil servants in each Department have signed waivers for(a) working time rights and (b) other social chapter rights; and if she will make a statement. [158328]

  Marjorie Mowlam
  Information on the proportion of senior civil servants who have, under the working time regulations, entered into voluntary agreements to work more than 48 hours a week is not held centrally. It could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Social chapter rights do not give rise to waivers in other circumstances.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Advertising (Outside Agencies)
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list those occasions since 1 May 1997 on which his Department has used outside agencies for(a) rebranding and (b) advertising purposes; what the costs were; and if he will make a statement. [156272]

  Mr. Wilson
  [holding answer 30 March 2001]: British Trade International, which reports jointly to FCO and DTI Ministers, has employed outside agencies for branding and advertising purposes. Its two operating units are Trade Partners UK and Invest UK (formerly the Invest in Britain Bureau).
  253W
  (a) Trade Partners UK: established in May 2000, it has used outside agencies for (i) branding on one occasion, and (ii) advertising on two occasions. The costs were:

  £

  Branding

  Advertising

  1999–2000

  250,000

  350,000

  2000–01

  0

  1,400,000

  (b) Invest UK: it has used outside agencies for (i) rebranding on one occasion, the work being spread over three years, and (ii) advertising on numerous occasions, largely overseas, to market the United Kingdom as an inward investment location. The costs were:

  £

  Branding

  Advertising

  1997–98

  0

  1,225,000

  1998–99

  145,000

  1,187,000

  1999–2000

  95,000

  1,344,000

  2000–01

  140,000

  1,536,000

  In 1998, the FCO employed outside agencies as part of
  a £1 million publicity campaign to reduce the number of ticketless fans travelling to France for the World Cup finals and to explain what consular services were available.

  Later this year, we will be launching a public awareness campaign to encourage British travellers to be better prepared when travelling overseas. We have appointed an outside agency to undertake this work. The cost of public relations activity, which is to include press and radio advertising, will be £255,000.

  The FCO has also used outside agencies to assist with routine advertising in the domestic press for recruitment purposes. There have been between 200 and 250 recruitment campaigns. It would involve disproportionate costs to establish a breakdown of expenditure.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Animal Vaccination
  Mr. Stephen O'Brien
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if it is his Department's policy that animals must be slaughtered following all forms of vaccination in order to regain disease-free status for the United Kingdom. [158382]

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 23 April 2001]: The recent European Commission decision (2001/257/EC) authorises the vaccination without slaughter of cattle in specific areas in the UK. A copy of the decision has been placed on the MAFF website http://www.maff.gov.uk/.

  The Government are considering using vaccination as part of the strategy for controlling foot and mouth disease (FMD). Scientific and veterinary advice is that a limited programme of vaccinating cattle in north Cumbria, and possibly north Devon, is justified as a means of protecting animals. These animals would not be compulsorily slaughtered and could work out their normal economic lives.
  254W
  Chapter 2.1.1 of the OIE International Animal Health Code contains guidelines on the steps to be taken to regain FMD-free status in various circumstances.

  Foot and Mouth
  Mr. Stephen O'Brien
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he will hold a briefing for hon. Members representing areas affected by the foot and mouth outbreak on the contingency plans by his Department to combat, control and exterminate the disease; [154923]

  (2) how many meetings (a) he and his predecessor, (b) the Minister of State in this House, (c) the Minister of State in the House of Lords, (d) officials in his Department and (e) the Parliamentary Secretary have attended for contingency planning in relation to an outbreak of foot and mouth in the UK since 1 May 1997; [156420]

  (3)if a contingency planning committee in relation to an outbreak of foot and mouth in the UK has been (a) established and (b) maintained since 1 May 1997; [156422]

  (4) if he will list those who attended contingency planning meetings in relation to an outbreak of foot and mouth in the United Kingdom attended by (a) his Department's officials and (b) himself; [156419]

  (5) if he will list those who attended contingency planning meetings in relation to an outbreak of foot and mouth attended by (a) the Parliamentary Secretary, (b) the Minister of State, House of Lords and (c) the Minister of State in this House, since 1 May 1997; [156417]

  (6) if his Department's regional offices have been involved in contingency planning in the event of a foot and mouth outbreak in the UK since 1 May 1997. [156423]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answers 22 and 30 March 2001]: Contingency planning for foot and mouth disease is carried out by the state veterinary service and the Ministry's animal health group on an on-going basis. There is no specific planning committee, nor is it possible to list officials who have attended contingency planning meetings. Ministers have not attended any contingency planning meetings between 1 May 1997 and the state of the current outbreak.

  The northern region of the state veterinary service has 'lead region' responsibility for the foot and mouth contingency plan. All regional and animal health divisional offices will have been involved in regular exercises to test the contingency plan.

  There are no plans to hold a specific briefing on the foot and mouth contingency plans for hon. Members representing areas affected by the current outbreak. However, all hon. Members have received regular situation reports and have been advised where they can obtain further information, for example from the Ministry's website http://www.maff.gov.uk/. A daily update on the disease is placed in the Libraries of the House, and a mechanism has been put in place to ensure hon. Members are informed directly as soon as a case is confirmed in their constituencies.
  255W
  Mr. Tredinnick
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to what homoeopathic expertise his Department has access on the use of homoeopathic borax in the prevention of foot and mouth disease. [157706]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 9 April 2001]: The Veterinary Products Committee gives advice to Ministers with respect to safety, quality and efficacy in relation to the veterinary use of any substance or article to which provisions of the Medicines Act 1986 may apply. The Advisory Board on the Registration of Homoeopathic Products offers advice to Ministers on the registration of homoeopathic products, whether for the treatment of humans or animals. However, homoeopathic products for the treatment of food-producing species are not covered by the registration scheme and are subject to the requirement to obtain a marketing authorisation.

  Mr. Tredinnick
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what advice he has received on the use of homoeopathic borax in the prevention of foot and mouth disease. [157705]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 9 April 2001]: My officials have been in correspondence with the Dean of the Faculty of Homoeopathy in London on the use of the homoeopathic product borax.

  Mr. Tredinnick
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what trials he proposes to establish the effectiveness of the homeopathic remedy borax in the foot and mouth disease outbreak. [155117]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 23 March 2001]: The onus for providing evidence that supports the need for research into the effectiveness of borax against foot and mouth disease lies with the manufacturer. Products that are presented for the treatment or prevention of disease in animals, or which have that function, must be authorised under the terms of the Marketing Authorisations for Veterinary Medicinal Products Regulations 1994 before they can be legally sold or supplied in the United Kingdom. This ensures that such products are properly assessed and are demonstrated as being safe, of consistent good quality and effective when used in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions. The manufacturer of any such products may apply for such authorisation. No such application has been made for borax.

  Mr. Todd
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he will issue guidance on restocking to farmers whose stock have been culled as a result of foot and mouth. [156489]

  Ms Quin
  Guidance on restocking, for farmers whose animals have been slaughtered as a result of the foot and mouth outbreak, is currently being prepared and has been discussed informally with industry organisations.

  This guidance currently under discussion would require that no animals susceptible to foot and mouth disease may be brought on to an infected premises until at least 21 days have elapsed since the final cleansing and disinfection procedures have been completed. Animals for restocking can be introduced only from areas not subject to restrictions in relation to foot and mouth.

  Animals introduced to the premises will be subject to regular veterinary clinical inspection, with the frequency of inspection depending on the species. Sheep and goats will also be subject to serological testing. Restrictions will
  256W
  be lifted only when it has been shown that none of the animals has developed any clinical signs of foot and mouth.

  Mr. Stephen O'Brien
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he will list the manufacturers, stockists and distributors of protective clothing currently(a) supplying and (b) working (i) for and (ii) on behalf of (A) his Department and (B) agents of Government in relation to the foot and mouth epidemic who were contacted (x) by his Department and (y) on his Department's behalf before 19 February; [156412]

  (2) if he will list the manufacturers, stockists and distributors of (a) firearms and (b) firearms ammunition suitable for animal culling purposes currently (i) supplying and (ii) working (x) for and (y) on behalf of (A) his Department and (B) agents of Government in relation to the foot and mouth epidemic who were contacted (I) by his Department and (II) on his Department's behalf before 19 February; [156414]

  (3) if he will list the contractors and suppliers contacted by his Department centrally or regionally in the 36 months before 19 February in relation to a possible outbreak of foot and mouth disease in the UK; [156421]

  (4) if he will list the (a) vets, (b) hauliers, (c) renderers, (d) valuers and (e) slaughtermen, marksmen and contracting firms making available the services thereof currently (i) supplying services and (ii) working (A) for and (B) on behalf of (I) his Department and (II) agents of Government in relation to the foot and mouth epidemic who were contacted (x) by his Department and (y) on his Department's behalf before 19 February; [156413]

  (5) if he will list the (a) hardcore stockists and merchants, (b) timber stockists and merchants, (c) coal stockists and merchants, (d) diesel fuel stockists and distributors,
  (e) concrete slab stockists and merchants, (f) disinfectant stockists and merchants and (g) stockists and merchants of disinfectant sprayers currently (i) supplying and (ii) working (x) for and (y) on behalf of (A) his Department and (B) agents of Government in relation to the foot and mouth epidemic who were contacted (I) by his Department and (II) on his Department's behalf before 19 February; [156411]

  (6) if he will list the stockists and merchants of straw currently (a) supplying and (b) working (A) for and (B) on behalf of (i) his Department and (ii) agents of Government in relation to the foot and mouth epidemic who were contacted (y) by his Department and (x) on his Department's behalf before 19 February. [156415]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 30 March 2001]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him on 23 April 2001, Official Report, column 50W, in connection with a number of related questions.

  The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Baldry
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) when he expects that sheep belonging to Clive Hawes at Blankney Estates, Blankney, Sleaford, Lincolnshire will be slaughtered; and on what basis the compensation will be paid; [155923]
  257W
  (2) when he expects that sheep belonging to Clive Hawes at FH Farms, Car Colston, Nottinghamshire, will be slaughtered; and on what basis compensation will be paid; [155926]

  (3) when he expects that sheep belonging to Clive Hawes on Waterside Farm, Claydyke Back, Boston, Lincolnshire, will be slaughtered; and on what basis compensation will be paid; [155924]

  (4) when he expects that sheep belonging to Clive Hawes at Saracen's Head Farm, Holbeach, Lincolnshire, will be slaughtered, and on what basis compensation will be paid; [155925]

  (5) when he expects that sheep belonging to Clive Hawes at Lower Barn Farm Dedham, Mannington, Essex, will be slaughtered; and on what basis compensation will be paid. [155928]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 27 March 2001]: It is not practicable or appropriate to comment on the position of individual applications under the various schemes in operation to meet the needs of farmers during the foot and mouth outbreak. Every effort is being made to minimise delay in paying farmers in respect of animals slaughtered under foot and mouth measures.

  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the viability of the foot and mouth virus in vacuum-packed meats. [156661]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 2 April 2001]: The viability of the foot and mouth disease virus in meat depends on the treatment and preparation of the meat, and on the presence of bones. The drop in pH during rigor mortis generally kills the virus in meat, but viable virus can be found in the bone marrow and lymph glands. Vacuum packing does not affect the viability of the virus.

  Meat Imports
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what inspection is carried out at transit points for personal imports of foreign meat. [152381]

  Ms Quin
  In the course of normal surveillance of individuals entering the UK, Customs officers do become aware of personal imports of foreign meat or meat products from third countries. Where they suspect the import is not permitted, they notify either local authority officials or MAFF officials where appropriate who take the necessary action. In most cases this involves seizing and destroying the product.

  Meat Production Industry
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to review the performance of the meat production industry; and if he will make a statement. [157897]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 23 April 2001]: Once we have succeeded in eradicating foot and mouth disease, we shall be consulting a wide range of interests on how the meat production industry can most effectively be organised to provide consumers with the types and quality of meat products they wish to buy.

  Non-departmental Public Bodies
  Mr. Stephen O'Brien
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what the total gross running costs to his Department were of the NDPBs accountable through his Department in the 1996–97 financial year. [157627]

  Ms Quin
  Details of the net cost to MAFF of carrying out its NDPB sponsorship role in the financial year 1996–97 are shown in the 1997 edition of Cabinet Office publication "Public Bodies". Copies are available in the Libraries of the House.

  Dawn Cardington Abattoir
  Mr. Sayeed
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what discussions he has had with the owners of Dawn Cardington abattoir in Bedfordshire concerning a date for the re-opening of the abattoir. [156800]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 4 April 2001]: I understand that the owners of Dawn Cardington took a decision to close their abattoir, stating that this was in order to protect their boning and cutting plant on the same site from the risk of infection with foot and mouth disease. The Government have sought to encourage operators in the red meat industry to participate in the market in as normal a manner as possible. Guidance to slaughterhouse owners has been issued by the state veterinary service on the consequences of a confirmed case being detected on their premises. This can be found on the foot and mouth website under moving livestock to slaughter at http://www.maff.gov.uk/.

  Sheep Shipments
  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) when the sheep exported to France by Mr. H. Inizan on 31 January were slaughtered and subsequently tested for foot and mouth antibodies; [156435]

  (2) if sheep confirmed as infected with foot and mouth in France spent time (a) in the same vehicles or premises as those exported by Mr. H. Inizan on 31 January and subsequently identified as antibody positive and (b) in the proximity of Mr. Inizan's sheep. [156434]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answers 30 March 2001]: We are in touch with the French authorities to establish the circumstances relating to the export of sheep by Mr. H. Inizan.

  Departmental Policies (Amber Valley)
  Judy Mallaber
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to the Amber Valley constituency, the effects on Amber Valley of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997. [157133]

  Ms Quin
  MAFF does not hold statistical information on a constituency basis relating to the Department's policies. As many of the Department's policies flow from measures agreed within the framework of the EU Common Agricultural Policy, statistical data are normally available on a UK or England basis.
  259W
  Farmers in the UK receive approximately £3 billion per year in direct CAP payments. This does not include the significant additional costs to consumers as a result of CAP price supports which keep EU prices above prevailing world prices.

  Consumers in Amber Valley will benefit from the Agenda 2000 reforms of the CAP in the form of reduced food bills, with the average saving for a typical family rising to £65 a year by 2010.

  The Government are committed to securing a more economically rational CAP. This will benefit both consumers and taxpayers in Amber Valley. We aim to redirect public money from agricultural price support mechanisms to rural development measures of benefit to the wider rural community and visitors to the countryside.

  One of the most important outcomes of Agenda 2000 was the establishment of the Rural Development Regulation, which is being implemented in England through the England Rural Development Programme (ERDP), investing around £1.6 billion in rural areas over seven years. By supporting rural development, including diversification into tourist activities, and by conserving and enhancing the rural environment through support for "public" goods such as biodiversity and landscape appearance, the ERDP offers benefits to all who visit the countryside.

  Departmental Policies (Lincoln)
  Gillian Merron
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to the Lincoln constituency, the effects on Lincoln of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997. [152983]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 20 March 2001]: MAFF does not hold statistical information on a constituency basis relating to the Department's policies. As many of the Department's policies flow from measures agreed within the framework of the EU Common Agricultural Policy, statistical data are normally available on a UK or England basis.

  Farmers in the UK receive approximately £3 billion per year in direct CAP payments. This does not include the significant additional costs to consumers as a result of CAP price supports which keep EU prices above prevailing world prices.

  Consumers in Lincoln will benefit from the Agenda 2000 reforms of the CAP in the form of reduced food bills, with the average saving for a typical family rising to £65 a year by 2010.

  The Government are committed to securing a more economically rational CAP. This will benefit both consumers and taxpayers in Lincoln. We aim to redirect public money from agricultural price support mechanisms to rural development measures of benefit to the wider rural community and visitors to the countryside.

  One of the most important outcomes of Agenda 2000 was the establishment of the Rural Development Regulation, which is being implemented in England through the England Rural Development Programme (ERDP), investing around £1.6 billion in rural areas over seven years. By supporting rural development, including diversification into tourist activities, and by conserving
  260W
  and enhancing the rural environment through support for "public" goods such as biodiversity and landscape appearance, the ERDP offers benefits to all who visit the countryside.

  Departmental Policies (Gorton)
  Mr. Kaufman
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to the constituency, the effects on the Manchester, Gorton constituency of his Department's policies and actions since 30 November 2000. [154505]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 16 March 2001]: MAFF does not hold statistical information on a constituency basis relating to the Department's policies. As many of the Department's policies flow from measures agreed within the framework of the EU Common Agricultural Policy, statistical data are normally available on a UK or England basis.

  Farmers in the UK receive approximately £3 billion per year in direct CAP payments. This does not include the significant additional costs to consumers as a result of CAP price supports which keep EU prices above prevailing world prices.

  Consumers in Manchester, Gorton will benefit from the Agenda 2000 reforms of the CAP in the form of reduced food bills, with the average saving for a typical family rising to £65 a year by 2010.

  The Government are committed to securing a more economically rational CAP. This will benefit both consumers and taxpayers in Manchester, Gorton. We aim to redirect public money from agricultural price support mechanisms to rural development measures of benefit to the wider rural community and visitors to the countryside. One of the most important outcomes of Agenda 2000 was the establishment of the Rural Development Regulation, which is being implemented in England through the England Rural Development Programme (ERDP), investing around £1.6 billion in rural areas over seven years. By supporting rural development, including diversification into tourist activities, and by conserving and enhancing the rural environment through support for "public" goods such as biodiversity and landscape appearance, the ERDP offers benefits to all who visit the countryside.

  Departmental Policies (South Shields)
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to the South Shields constituency, the effects on South Shields of his Department's polices and actions since 2 May 1997. [153086]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 13 March 2001]: MAFF does not hold statistical information on a constituency basis relating to the Department's policies. As many of the Department's policies flow from measures agreed within the framework of the EU Common Agricultural Policy, statistical data are normally available on a UK or England basis.
  261W
  Farmers in the UK receive approximately £3 billion per year in direct CAP payments. This does not include the significant additional costs to consumers as a result of CAP price supports which keep EU prices above prevailing world prices.

  Consumers in South Shields will benefit from the Agenda 2000 reforms of the CAP in the form of reduced food bills, with the average saving for a typical family rising to £65 a year by 2010.

  The Government are committed to securing a more economically rational CAP. This will benefit both consumers and taxpayers in South Shields. We aim to redirect public money from agricultural price support mechanisms to rural development measures of benefit to the wider rural community and visitors to the countryside. One of the most important outcomes of Agenda 2000 was the establishment of the Rural Development Regulation, which is being implemented in England through the England Rural Development Programme (ERDP), investing around £1.6 billion in rural areas over seven years. By supporting rural development, including diversification into tourist activities, and by conserving and enhancing the rural environment through support for "public" goods such as biodiversity and landscape appearance, the ERDP offers benefits to all who visit the countryside.

  Departmental Policies (Don Valley)
  Caroline Flint
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to Don Valley constituency, the effects on Doncaster of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997. [153524]

  Ms Quin
  MAFF does not hold statistical information on a constituency basis relating to the Department's policies. As many of the Department's policies flow from measures agreed within the framework of the EU Common Agricultural Policy, statistical data are normally available on a UK or England basis.

  Farmers in the UK receive approximately £3 billion per year in direct CAP payments. This does not include the significant additional costs to consumers as a result of CAP price supports which keep EU prices above prevailing world prices.

  Consumers in Don Valley will benefit from the Agenda 2000 reforms of the CAP in the form of reduced food bills, with the average saving for a typical family rising to £65 a year by 2010.

  The Government are committed to securing a more economically rational CAP. This will benefit both consumers and taxpayers in Don Valley. We aim to redirect public money from agricultural price support mechanisms to rural development measures of benefit to the wider rural community and visitors to the countryside.

  One of the most important outcomes of Agenda 2000 was the establishment of the Rural Development Regulation, which is being implemented in England through the England Rural Development Programme (ERDP), investing around £1.6 billion in rural areas over seven years. By supporting rural development, including diversification into tourist activities, and by conserving and enhancing the rural environment through support for
  262W
  "public" goods such as biodiversity and landscape appearance, the ERDP offers benefits to all who visit the countryside.

  Departmental Policies (Jarrow)
  Mr. Hepburn
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will set out, with statistical information, relating as directly as possible to the constituency, the effects on Jarrow of his Department's actions since 2 May 1997. [153545]

  Ms Quin
  MAFF does not hold statistical information on a constituency basis relating to the Department's policies. As many of the Department's policies flow from measures agreed within the framework of the EU Common Agricultural Policy, statistical data are normally available on a UK or England basis.

  Farmers in the UK receive approximately £3 billion per year in direct CAP payments. This does not include the significant additional costs to consumers as a result of CAP price supports which keep EU prices above prevailing world prices.

  Consumers in Jarrow will benefit from the Agenda 2000 reforms of the CAP in the form of reduced food bills, with the average saving for a typical family rising to £65 a year by 2010.

  The Government are committed to securing a more economically rational CAP. This will benefit both consumers and taxpayers in Jarrow. We aim to redirect public money from agricultural price support mechanisms to rural development measures of benefit to the wider rural community and visitors to the countryside.

  One of the most important outcomes of Agenda 2000 was the establishment of the Rural Development Regulation, which is being implemented in England through the England Rural Development Programme (ERDP), investing around £1.6 billion in rural areas over seven years. By supporting rural development, including diversification into tourist activities, and by conserving and enhancing the rural environment through support for "public" goods such as biodiversity and landscape appearance, the ERDP offers benefits to all who visit the countryside.

  Departmental Policies (Houghton and Washington, East)
  Mr. Kemp
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to the constituency, the effects on Houghton and Washington, East of his Department's actions since 2 May 1997. [153028]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 12 March 2001]: MAFF does not hold statistical information on a constituency basis relating to the Department's policies. As many of the Department's policies flow from measures agreed within the framework of the EU Common Agricultural Policy, statistical data are normally available on a UK or England basis.

  Farmers in the UK receive approximately £3 billion per year in direct CAP payments. This does not include the significant additional costs to consumers as a result of CAP price supports which keep EU prices above prevailing world prices.
  263W
  Consumers in Houghton and Washington, East will benefit from the Agenda 2000 reforms of the CAP in the form of reduced food bills, with the average saving for a typical family rising to £65 a year by 2010.

  The Government are committed to securing a more economically rational CAP. This will benefit both consumers and taxpayers in Houghton and Washington, East. We aim to redirect public money from agricultural price support mechanisms to rural development measures of benefit to the wider rural community and visitors to the countryside.

  One of the most important outcomes of Agenda 2000 was the establishment of the Rural Development Regulation, which is being implemented in England through the England Rural Development Programme (ERDP), investing around £1.6 billion in rural areas over seven years. By supporting rural development, including diversification into tourist activities, and by conserving and enhancing the rural environment through support for "public" goods such as biodiversity and landscape appearance, the ERDP offers benefits to all who visit the countryside.

  Departmental Policies (Bristol, East)
  Jean Corston
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to the Bristol, East constituency, the effects on Bristol of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997. [150555]

  Ms Quin
  MAFF does not hold statistical information on a constituency basis relating to the Department's policies. As many of the Department's policies flow from measures agreed within the framework of the EU Common Agricultural Policy, statistical data are normally available on a UK or England basis.

  Farmers in the UK receive approximately £3 billion per year in direct CAP payments. This does not include the significant additional costs to consumers as a result of CAP price supports which keep EU prices above prevailing world prices.

  Consumers in Bristol, East will benefit from the Agenda 2000 reforms of the CAP in the form of reduced food bills, with the average saving for a typical family rising to £65 a year by 2010.

  Average subsidies received by full-time farm businesses, England 1999–2000

  £000

  Total direct subsidies

  Crop subsidies

  Of which: Livestock subsidies

  Agri-environment

  Other1

  Cereals

  37.8

  34.2

  2.3

  1.0

  0.1

  General Cropping

  31.8

  28.8

  2.4

  0.6

  0.0

  Horticulture

  0.4

  0.2

  0.0

  0.1

  0.2

  Pigs and Poultry

  3.6

  2.2

  1.4

  0.1

  0.0

  Dairy

  8.5

  2.8

  4.9

  0.8

  0.0

  LFA Cattle and Sheep

  29.3

  0.4

  25.4

  3.3

  0.2

  Lowland Cattle and Sheep

  14.1

  1.7

  10.6

  1.8

  0.0

  Mixed

  33.8

  21.4

  10.7

  1.7

  0.0

  All Types

  22.5

  14.8

  6.4

  1.2

  0.1

  1Includes capital grants and any other miscellaneous grants. These reflect a combination of nationally funded and partly match funded schemes.

  Notes:

  HLCA payments to hill farms are included under livestock subsidies

  The figures show direct subsidy payments; they do not include allowance for the financial benefit of prices supported above world market levels under the CAP.

  Source:

  Farm Business Survey
  264W
  The Government are committed to securing a more economically rational CAP. This will benefit both consumers and taxpayers in Bristol, East. We aim to redirect public money from agricultural price support mechanisms to rural development measures of benefit to the wider rural community and visitors to the countryside.

  One of the most important outcomes of Agenda 2000 was the establishment of the Rural Development Regulation, which is being implemented in England through the England Rural Development Programme (ERDP), investing around £1.6 billion in rural areas over seven years. By supporting rural development, including diversification into tourist activities, and by conserving and enhancing the rural environment through support for "public" goods such as biodiversity and landscape appearance, the ERDP offers benefits to all who visit the countryside.

  Departmental Policies (North-East Derbyshire)
  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to the North-East Derbyshire constituency, the effect on North-East Derbyshire of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997. [150879]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 26 February 2001]: MAFF does not hold statistical information on a constituency basis relating to the Department's policies. Information on land use, crop areas, livestock numbers, and labour on holdings in England by parliamentary constituency has been produced from 1 June 1999 Annual Agricultural and Horticultural Census. A copy has been placed in the Library of the House. Information from the 1 June 2000 census will be available shortly and also placed in the House Library.

  As many of the Department's policies flow from measures agreed within the framework of the EU Common Agricultural Policy, statistical data are normally available on a UK or England basis. Farmers in the UK receive approximately £3 billion per year in direct CAP payments. This does not include the significant additional costs to consumers as a result of CAP price supports which keep EU prices above prevailing world prices. The value of direct CAP payments to the average farmer is set out in the table.
  265W
  In addition to CAP direct payments, farmers in the UK are benefiting from £1.35 billion in short-term financial relief since 2 May 1997.

  This includes £785 million in agrimonetary compensation worth some £4,800 per average arable farmer, £3,200 per average dairy farmer, £1,400 per average sheep farmer, and £1,140 and £3,800 per average farmer for agrimonetary compensation related to the Beef Special Premium Scheme and Suckler Cow Premium Scheme respectively.

  Since May 1997 the Government have more than doubled expenditure on agri-environment schemes in England. We now have more than twice as much land covered by Countryside Stewardship agreements and we have increased the funding of organic conversion from £571,000 in 1997–98 to £12 million in 2000–01 and £18 million in 2001–02. Full-time hill farmers in England will be in receipt of some £6,360 on average following the introduction of the Hill Farm Allowance Scheme this year. This compares to £4,048 under the Hill Livestock Compensatory Allowance in 1997–98.

  Farmers in North-East Derbyshire can benefit from schemes available under the England Rural Development Programme, which is backed by funding of £1.6 billion over the period 2000–06. Three of the schemes within this programme—Rural Enterprise, Processing and Marketing, and Vocational Training—have a budget of around £190 million and are being operated on a regional basis; each region has its own allocation. These allocations are set out in the England Rural Development Programme.

  Average subsidies received by full-time farm businesses, England 1999–2000

  £000

  Total direct subsidies

  Crop subsidies

  Of which: Livestock subsidies

  Agri-environment

  Other1

  Cereals

  37.8

  34.2

  2.3

  1.0

  0.1

  General Cropping

  31.8

  28.8

  2.4

  0.6

  0.0

  Horticulture

  0.4

  0.2

  0.0

  0.1

  0.2

  Pigs and Poultry

  3.6

  2.2

  1.4

  0.1

  0.0

  Dairy

  8.5

  2.8

  4.9

  0.8

  0.0

  LFA Cattle and Sheep

  29.3

  0.4

  25.4

  3.3

  0.2

  Lowland Cattle and Sheep

  14.1

  1.7

  10.6

  1.8

  0.0

  Mixed

  33.8

  21.4

  10.7

  1.7

  0.0

  All Types

  22.5

  14.8

  6.4

  1.2

  0.1

  1 Includes capital grants and any other miscellaneous grants. These reflect a combination of nationally funded and partly match funded schemes.

  Notes:

  HLCA payments to hill farms are included under livestock subsidies.

  The figures show direct subsidy payments; they do not include allowance for the financial benefit of prices supported above world market levels under the CAP.

  Source:

  Farm Business Survey

  In addition to CAP direct payments, farmers in the UK are benefiting from £1.35 billion in short-term financial relief since 2 May 1997.

  This includes £785 million in agrimonetary compensation worth some £4,800 per average arable farmer, £3,200 per average dairy farmer, £1,400 per average sheep farmer, and £1,140 and £3,800 per average farmer for agrimonetary
  266W
  Consumers in North-East Derbyshire will benefit from the Agenda 2000 reforms of the CAP in the form of reduced food bills, with the average saving for a typical family rising to £65 a year by 2010.

  Departmental Policies (Staffordshire, Moorlands)
  Charlotte Atkins
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to Staffordshire, Moorlands constituency, the effects on Staffordshire, Moorlands of his Department's policies and actions(a) since 2 May 1997 and (b) in the 12 months ending on 1 May 1997. [149195]

  Ms Quin
  MAFF does not hold statistical information on a constituency basis relating to the Department's policies. Information on land use, crop areas, livestock numbers, and labour holdings in England by parliamentary constituency has been produced from 1 June 1999 Annual Agricultural and Horticultural Census. A copy has been placed in the Library of the House. Information from the 1 June 2000 census will be available shortly and also placed in the House Library.

  As many of the Department's policies flow from measures agreed within the framework of the EU Common Agricultural Policy, statistical data are normally available on a UK or England basis. Farmers in the UK receive approximately £3 billion per year in direct CAP payments. This does not include the significant additional costs to consumers as a result of CAP price supports which keep EU prices above prevailing world prices. The value of direct CAP payments to the average farmer is set out in the table.

  compensation related to the Beef Special Premium Scheme and Suckler Cow Premium Scheme respectively.

  Since May 1997 the Government have more than doubled expenditure on agri-environment schemes in England. We now have more than twice as much land covered by Countryside Stewardship agreements and we have increased the funding of organic conversion from

  267W
  £571,000 in 1997–98 to £12 million in 2000–01 and £18 million in 2001–02. Full-time hill farmers in England will be in receipt of some £6,360 on average following the introduction of the Hill Farm Allowance Scheme this year. This compares to £4,048 under the Hill Livestock Compensatory Allowance in 1997–98.

  Farmers in Staffordshire, Moorlands can benefit from schemes available under the England Rural Development Programme, which is backed by funding of £1.6 billion over the period 2000–06. Three of the schemes within this
  268W
  programme—Rural Enterprise, Processing and Marketing, and Vocational Training—have a budget of around £190 million and are being operated on a regional basis; each region has its own allocation. These allocations are set out in the England Rural Development Programme.

  Consumers in Staffordshire, Moorlands will benefit from the Agenda 2000 reforms of the CAP in the form of reduced food bills, with the average saving for a typical family rising to £65 a year by 2010.

  Comparable information for the 12 months preceding 1 May 1997 is not available.

  Food Imports: Safety Controls
  Food Imports: Safety Controls
  Hospital Cleanliness
  Hospital Cleanliness
  Head Injury Patients: Care
  Head Injury Patients: Care
  MoD Food Waste Disposal Methods
  MoD Food Waste Disposal Methods
  MoD Meat Purchasing Policy
  MoD Meat Purchasing Policy
  Fri-Service Legislation
  Fri-Service Legislation
  Armed Forces Bill and Policing Protocols
  Armed Forces Bill and Policing Protocols
  Former MPs: Websites
  Former MPs: Websites
  IT: Government Projects
  IT: Government Projects
  Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission
  Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission
  Transport and Telecommunications Council: Conclusions
  Transport and Telecommunications Council: Conclusions
  Employee Consultation: Proposed Directive
  Employee Consultation: Proposed Directive
  Tourism Summit
  Tourism Summit
  Banks and Small Businesses
  Banks and Small Businesses
  Foot and Mouth Disease and the Tourist Industry
  Foot and Mouth Disease and the Tourist Industry
  Air Passenger Duty
  Air Passenger Duty
  Euro Notes: Exchange
  Euro Notes: Exchange
  New Deal for Disabled People: Role of Rehab UK
  New Deal for Disabled People: Role of Rehab UK
  New Deal Employment Statistics
  New Deal Employment Statistics
  Flags of Foreign States: Protection
  Flags of Foreign States: Protection
  Electoral Registers: New Regulations
  Electoral Registers: New Regulations
  Scottish Intelligence Database
  Scottish Intelligence Database
  Palace of Westminster: Medical Facilities
  Palace of Westminster: Medical Facilities
  EU Pensions Policy
  EU Pensions Policy
  Foot and Mouth Disease: Vaccination of Fell Sheep
  Foot and Mouth Disease: Vaccination of Fell Sheep
  Foot and Mouth Disease: Vaccination of Zoo and Wildlife Park Animals
  Foot and Mouth Disease: Vaccination of Zoo and Wildlife Park Animals
  Veterinary Establishments
  Veterinary Establishments
  Breeding Stock Exports
  Breeding Stock Exports