Written Answers of 30 April 2001

DEFENCE

  Chinook Air Accident
  Mr. Swayne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the E5 fault code found on the FADEC of RAF Chinook ZD576. [158185]

  Mr. Spellar
  [holding answer 23 April 2001]: The E5 fault code which was found in the memory of the DECU of RAF Chinook ZD576 indicated that a soft fault had occurred at some point over the life of the DECU since delivery. A "soft fault" cannot affect the safe operation of the control system and is therefore one that has no impact on the normal control of the aircraft.

  The rotational speed (N2) of each engine's Power Turbine Spool is detected by two sensors. The E5 code would be displayed either because of a power interrupt (switching from the Auxiliary Power Unit to main generators, or the reverse) or if a discrepancy of 5 per cent. or more is detected between the two N2 signals. When such a discrepancy is detected the lower N2 signal is disregarded (or locked out). If the other signal is then lost, the original locked-out signal will be re-acquired Should both signals be lost, the fuel to the engines will be maintained at the pre-failure rate.

  The "E5" fault on the pre-production software that caused the Wilmington incident was significant as the system at that time operated differently. The team undertaking the test at Wilmington did not appreciate the significance of the E5 signal, which was displayed due to a discrepancy of 5 per cent. or more between the two N2 signals, causing the lowest signal to be latched. The team then removed a connector which resulted in the loss of the only remaining N2 signal. With the one signal latched, and the loss of the remaining N2 signal, unlike the system now, the pre-production software did not re-acquire the original locked-out signal. Instead the DECU "saw" an N2 value of zero, and in order to restore the N2, the system provided more fuel to increase the speed of the power turbine. This caused the rotors to accelerate which seriously damaged the aircraft.

  After the Wilmington incident the software was amended hence a similar incident could not have caused the Mull of Kintyre accident. Moreover, as I informed the hon. Member on 21 February 2000, Official Report, column 730W, the Air Accidents Investigation Board's report of their technical investigation into the accident found no evidence of a technical malfunction that could have contributed to the accident with the possible exception of a radar altimeter system fault.

  New DERA
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the total cost of changing the name New DERA to QuiniteQ will be. [158864]
  446W
  Mr. Hoon:
  [holding answer 26 April 2001]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 24 April 2001, Official Report, column 233W, to my right hon. Friend the Member for Walsall, South (Mr. George).

  Marine Richards
  Sir John Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he will complete his(a) disciplinary and (b) other inquiries into the death of Marine Richards; and how many cases involving deaths of service men in the UK have yet to have all proceedings and investigations completed. [159682]

  Mr. Spellar
  The disciplinary and other inquiries related to the death of Marine Richards are legal procedures and are wholly outside MOD Ministers' control in terms of their scope, their duration, and the conclusions they reach. The next stage in the process is the Coroner's Inquest, scheduled for 4–25 June 2001. Due process demands that only after its conclusion can a Military Police investigation be completed. This will be submitted to Headquarters Royal Marines who will then consider whether to recommend disciplinary action against any person or persons in connection with the death. If such a recommendation is made disciplinary action should follow, either summarily or by court-martial. Once any legal or disciplinary proceedings have been concluded, a Board of Inquiry will be convened. Its findings will be conveyed and explained to Marine Richards' next of kin. Though it is impossible to estimate accurately, these procedures are at the least expected to take a number of months to complete. They continue, however, to be pursued with as much speed and diligence as are consistent with thoroughness and proper respect for the rights of all those involved.

  We have taken "proceedings and investigations" yet to be completed to include outstanding Coroners' inquests, service and civil police investigations and service Boards of Inquiry. These include not just training accidents but numerous other cases such as road traffic accidents and incidents involving personnel not on duty. For service men in the UK, the figures are:

  Army: 81 cases

  RAF: 18 cases

  RN and RM: 11 cases.

  Sir John Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what lessons he has drawn from the death of Marine Richards; and what procedures have been put into place to avoid deaths in similar circumstances. [159683]

  Mr. Spellar
  The key lesson reinforced by Marine Wayne Richards' tragic death is that, whenever live ammunition is carried during training, procedures to prevent its being mistaken for blank must be continually monitored and frequently reviewed to ensure they are as fail-safe as humanly possible. The Army's independent Training Accident Investigation Team (TAIT) report, completed a month after this fatality, recommended improvements to the orders and procedures for carriage and identification of live ammunition on Woodbury Common. These improvements have been implemented, together with a timetable of frequent checks on compliance with revised orders and procedures, and were jointly reviewed by the TAIT and Health and Safety Executive (HSE) in January 2001. The HSE raised no substantive comments.
  447W
  The TAIT report has also been promulgated through the Army chain of command, and general recommendations aimed at preventing any recurrence have been issued throughout the armed services.

  COSMIC Security Classification
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the types of information covered by the COSMIC security classification. [159675]

  Mr. Spellar
  The term COSMIC is not a classification but a qualifying marking used by NATO. It signifies that the information is the property of NATO and remains the property of the originator and may not be passed outside NATO without the originator's consent. This qualifying marking is used only with top secret information, the unauthorised disclosure of which would result in exceptionally grave damage to NATO. "COSMIC top secret" is the highest classification marking in NATO and it is equivalent to "UK top secret".

  Depleted Uranium
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Minister of State's letter of 15 March, D/Min (AF) TS 0301/01/M, what consideration he is giving to the problem of lymph node analysis. [158779]

  Dr. Moonie
  The Ministry of Defence continues to consider what appropriate research is required in respect of DU, and we propose to expose our conclusions to independent scrutiny in due course. In the meantime, I have nothing further to add to the information given to my hon. Friend by my hon. Friend the Minister for the Armed Forces in his letter of 15 March, a copy of which will be placed in the Library of the House.

  European Armaments Agency
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made on the establishment of a European armaments agency; and if he will place in the Library a copy of the 'Masterplan for the European Armaments Agency'. [159282]

  Mr. Hoon
  Work by the nations of the Western European Armaments Group to examine the possible creation of a European Armaments Agency is making steady progress, with the aim of providing advice to national defence Ministers on its principles of operation this autumn. I am placing a copy of the "Masterplan for the European Armaments Agency" dated 17 November 1998 in the Library of the House. Revisions to the Masterplan which take into account developments since its original publication, including to its timetable of activities, are under discussion by the Group's officials.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

  Aid Policy
  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) what account she takes of religious freedom in developing countries when deciding levels of UK development assistance; [159395]
  448W
  (2) what plans she has to make compliance with Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights a feature of UK aid policy; [159394]

  (3) what discussions she has had with aid recipient countries about compliance with Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; [159391]

  (4) if she will list the UK aid programmes that have freedom from religious persecution as their primary objective. [159390]

  Clare Short
  The objective of my Department is the elimination of poverty. Our central focus is therefore respect for the human rights of the poor. Frequently the poorest are ethnic and religious minorities that face discrimination and social exclusion. Our strategy on human rights is set out in "Realising human rights for poor people" published in October 2000.

  Special Advisers (Overseas Visits)
  Mr. Tyrie
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development on how many occasions between 31 March 2000 and 31 March 2001(a) departmental and (b) non-departmental special advisers have travelled abroad in an official capacity. [158548]

  Clare Short
  Departmental special advisers from my Department undertook two visits abroad in an official capacity between 31 March 2000 and 31 March 2001. There are no non-departmental special advisers working for my Department.

  Helplines
  Mr. Levitt
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what telephone helplines to assist the public are administered by her Department and its agencies. [159503]

  Clare Short
  DFID operates a Public Enquiry Point which handles written, telephone and email inquiries from the general public. In the period 2000–01, the Public Enquiry Point dealt with a total of 10,410 inquiries.

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

  Operation Rose
  Mr. Peter Atkinson
  To ask the Solicitor-General when the trials of those accused of serious offences arising from Northumbria police's Operation Rose will be restarted; and if he will make a statement. [159529]

  The Solicitor-General
  Operation Rose is a large scale investigation by Northumbria police into allegations of historic physical and sexual abuse made by former residents of local authority care homes in the counties of Tyne and Wear and Northumberland, dating back to the 1960s. Operation Rose began in 1997, and the first prosecution was brought in the same year. The first trial of an Operation Rose case took place at Newcastle Crown court in 1998.

  Thereafter, Operation Rose continued, in a number of distinct phases, throughout 1998, 1999 and 2000. The investigation is now almost complete, and there have been a number of prosecutions during this period.
  449W
  So far, 27 defendants have been charged with various offences. Nine separate Crown court trials have taken place within the period from 1 January 2000 to 31 March 2001 and one retrial has taken place.

  Of the 27 defendants prosecuted, five have been found guilty, eight acquitted by a jury and two have been found not guilty at the direction of the judge. Indictments in respect of seven of the defendants have been stayed by the trial judge in three separate trials, two defendants have died awaiting trial and three defendants are to be tried later this year at Newcastle Crown court.

  Trial dates have been set for June and September 2001, in respect of two of the outstanding cases, and it is anticipated that the trial of the final case will take place before the end of the year, although a firm date has yet to be fixed. No further prosecutions are anticipated at this time.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Research and Development
  Dr. Starkey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list funding for scientific research and development in(a) the United Kingdom and (b) from the United States from (i) Government (ii) industry and (iii) charities for the year 1999–2000, in absolute terms, as a percentage of total research and development and as a percentage of gross domestic profit. [158803]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  The latest data from ONS for expenditure on R&D performed in the UK in 1999 are:

  Sector providing the funding

  Total £ million

  Percentage of total

  Percentage of GDP

  Government Departments

  2,299

  13.8

  0.25

  Research Councils

  1,199

  7.2

  0.13

  Higher Education Funding Councils

  1,157

  6.9

  0.13

  High Education Institutions

  143

  0.9

  0.13

  Business enterprise

  8,235

  49.4

  0.91

  Private non-profit

  701

  4.2

  0.08

  Abroad

  2,930

  17.6

  0.32

  Total

  16,664

  100.0

  1.84

  Data for previous years can be found in Table 6.3, on page 71 of SET Statistics 2000 (Cm 4902) a copy of which is in the Library of the House, and is also available from DTI's website at http://www.dti.gov.uk/ost/setstats.

  The ONS surveys do not identify the source country for expenditure from abroad.

  Dr. Starkey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the funding for scientific research and development from(a) Government, (b) industry and (c) charities for each of the years since 1997, in absolute amounts and as a percentage of total research and development spend. [158802]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  The information requested can be found in Table 6.3 on page 71 of SET Statistics 2000 (Cm 4902) a copy of which is in the Library of the House and is also available from DTI's website at http://www.dti.gov.uk/ost/setstats.

  Ultra-low Sulphur Fuel
  Mr. Hurst
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects ultra-low sulphur diesel and ultra-low sulphur petrol will be made readily available at all petrol stations. [159374]

  Mr. Hain
  Ultra-low sulphur diesel has been widely available across the UK since the latter part of 1999. Current information is that it is available at the vast majority of retail petrol outlets in the UK.

  The latest estimates produced by my Department are that, as of early April, over 80 per cent. of total UK petrol retail sites were converted to supply ultra-low sulphur petrol (ULSP). This means that ULSP accounts for 94 per cent. of total sales of petrol in the UK. All oil companies in the UK are making supplies of ULSP available to petrol stations in the UK. However, the logistical problems of supplying some of the smaller, more remote stations make it difficult to give a date by which all petrol stations will be selling ULSP.

  Broadband
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to fast track regulatory changes, in anticipation of establishing OFCOM, in order to speed up broadband access in the UK. [159478]

  Ms Hewitt
  [holding answer 27 April 2001]: The Government's plans to facilitate roll-out of higher bandwidth and broadband services are set out in "UK online: the broadband future", which was published on 13 February 2001. These plans are not dependent on regulatory changes. Legislation to establish OFCOM, as proposed in "A New Future for Communications" (Cm 5010) published on 12 December 2000, will be brought forward at the earliest opportunity.

  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what targets his Department has(a) for broadband access by UK households and (b) for the number of companies providing broadband access to UK households. [159479]

  Ms Hewitt
  [holding answer 27 April 2001]: As the Government announced in the recent White Paper "Opportunities for All in a World of Change", our goal is for the UK to have the most extensive and competitive broadband market in the G7 by 2005. This commitment was backed up by the publication of an action plan, "UK online: the broadband future", which set out how the Government will facilitate the roll-out of higher bandwidth and broadband services across the country.

  "UK online: the broadband future" also described the difficulties in assessing how quickly demand for these services will grow at such an early stage of this market. This analysis still holds and we believe that it would be premature to set targets of the sort that the hon. Member describes. DTI in collaboration with the e-Envoy, and aided by the recently established Broadband Stakeholder Group, will continue to monitor and assist the development of this important new technology.
  451W
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he has taken to ensure that Oftel will be equipped with adequate personnel with the relevant technical expertise to regulate competition in the broadband market. [159477]

  Ms Hewitt
  [holding answer 27 April 2001]: The staffing of Oftel is a matter for the Director General. Total resources for Oftel have been increased by 18 per cent. for 2001–02 compared with 2000–01. I and my colleagues meet the Director General from time to time to discuss a range of issues including the development of the broadband market.

  Below-cost Sales
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the reasons given by the Competition Commission not to make recommendations when it had identified adverse effects associated with the sale of products below cost. [159570]

  Dr. Howells
  The Competition Commission, in their report on supermarkets, made an adverse finding in relation to persistent selling below cost of some frequently purchased items, but recommended that no action be taken. In the press notice he issued when the report was published (10 October 2000), my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry outlined the reasons for this conclusion—essentially, the possible remedies would themselves have adverse effects and the intervention and monitoring required would be disproportionate to the problem.

  Religious Freedom
  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions he has had with the(a) Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs and (b) Secretary of State for International Development about educating UK businesses to employ business practices that promote religious freedom overseas. [159393]

  Dr. Howells
  [holding answer 27 April 2001]: There have not been any discussions between my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry and his colleagues at FCO and DfID on this issue.

  However, promotion of human rights is at the heart of the UK's foreign policy and HMG regard religious freedom as a fundamental human right. The Government condemn instances where individuals are persecuted because of their faith, wherever it happens and whatever the religion of the individual or group concerned.

  The Government acknowledge that UK businesses operating in international markets can play an important role in promoting human rights and are keen to help encourage this as part of the work to promote Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). Last year I was appointed as Minister with responsibility for corporate social responsibility with a remit including improving co-ordination of activity across Government to promote CSR, including establishment of an Interdepartmental Group of officials. Both FCO and DfID are among the Departments represented on this group.
  452W
  Government are working in a variety of ways to promote business awareness of human rights. For example, DTI supported Business in the Community's report "Winning With Integrity" which includes practical advice to businesses on how they can ensure their operations respect human rights. The DTI is actively promoting the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprise which refer to businesses respecting human rights and works closely with other Government Departments in these efforts. FCO has established a Global Citizenship Unit with a remit to work with Trade Partners UK, other Government Departments, individual companies, NGOs and posts abroad in support of global citizenship initiatives. British Trade International recognises that companies applying corporate social responsibility principles will have a better understanding of key social and environmental issues and will manage such risks in a more effective and competitive manner.

  Correspondence
  Sir Brian Mawhinney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the right hon. Member for North-West Cambridgeshire will receive a reply to his letter of 19 March on behalf of his constituent, Mr. R. G. Reeve. [159691]

  Mr. Byers
  As indicated in the response from my office dated 23 April, the letter has been transferred to the Health and Safety Executive for reply, as the matters raised by Mr. R. G. Reeve fall within its area of responsibility.

  Foot and Mouth
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will ensure that the request by Holne Chase Hotel in Dartmoor National Park under the Small Firms Loan Guarantee Scheme in respect of a loan of £250,000 is agreed to; and if he will amend his Department's guidelines for the scheme in respect of hotels and tourist attractions in National Parks to take account of the foot and mouth crisis, with particular reference to companies which have already, had a loan guaranteed under the scheme. [159607]

  Ms Hewitt
  Applications can be considered only from lenders once they are satisfied there is a viable business proposal that meets Small Firms Loan Guarantee Scheme criteria and are prepared to make the loan available, subject to a Government guarantee. All loans guaranteed before April 1993 are not counted towards the maximum borrowing under the Scheme. There are no plans to extend this criterion further.

  Chelsea Village Plc
  Mr. Wyatt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he began an investigation into share trading with the public listed company Chelsea Village; how many hidden trusts own Chelsea Village plc shares; how many of these hidden trusts are registered in the West Indies; and if hidden trusts have traded Chelsea Village shares between themselves. [159527]

  Dr. Howells
  I cannot discuss the affairs of individual companies but if my hon. Friend has information to suggest that there should be an investigation into the ownership of shares of Chelsea Village plc the Department will consider it.

PRIME MINISTER

  Special Advisers (Overseas Visits)
  Mr. Tyrie
  To ask the Prime Minister on how many occasions between 5 June 2000 and 31 March 2001 special advisers of the Chief Whip and Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury have travelled abroad in an official capacity. [158549]

  The Prime Minister
  None.

  Prime Minister's Office (Overseas Visits)
  Mr. Tyrie
  To ask the Prime Minister on how many occasions his(a) Chief of Staff, (b) Chief Press Secretary and (c) other members of his office travelled abroad on official business between 5 June 2000 and 31 March 2001. [158591]

  The Prime Minister
  Between 5 June 2000 and 31 March 2001, my Chief Press Secretary, my Chief of Staff and other members of my office have travelled overseas on official business, including accompanying me on official visits, on 39 occasions. All visits have been made in accordance with the rules set out in the Civil Service Management Code.

  These arrangements follow the practice of successive Administrations.

  Policy Unit (Overseas Visits)
  Mr. Tyrie
  To ask the Prime Minister on how many occasions members of the Number 10 Policy Unit travelled abroad on official business between 31 March 2000 and 31 March 2001. [158592]

  The Prime Minister
  Between 31 March 2000 and 31 March 2001 members of the No. 10 Policy Unit have travelled overseas on official business on 63 occasions. All visits have been made in accordance with the rules set out in the Civil Service Management Code.

  These arrangements follow the practice of successive Administrations.

  Euro
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Prime Minister which UK companies, in receipt of funds from the European Investment bank since 1997, have lobbied him over UK participation in the euro; which business leaders on the boards of the above companies have been associated with the Britain in Europe Campaign; and if he will make a statement. [158752]

  The Prime Minister
  I regularly meet a wide range of business leaders. The European Investment bank's annual report lists companies which have received funds from them. A list of Britain in Europe board and council members is available on its website www.britainineurope.org.

  Motorola
  Mr. Ashton
  To ask the Prime Minister what discussions he has had with Motorola on the future of its mobile phone factory in Bathgate; and if he will hold similar discussions with Ericsson of Worksop Notts, on the future of its mobile telephone plant. [159120]
  454W
  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 26 April 2001]: I spoke to Motorola on Tuesday 10 April in support of the company choosing to maintain production at Easter Inch, the largest, private sector manufacturing site in Scotland, rather than closing it to focus all its production at the company's plant at Flensburg.

  Now Motorola has made its decision the Scottish Executive will pursue with the company future options for the Bathgate site. There are a variety of options to explore with the company—ranging from sale as a going concern including to a contract manufacturer of mobile phones or another related business. The other alternatives include new employment for a new employer purchasing the site. We regret the redundancies, and Invest UK has already begun to assist the Scottish Executive with the task of future options.

  In order to assist the individuals affected the Scottish Executive is setting-up a Taskforce with Scottish Enterprise Edinburgh and Lothian, Employment Service, West Lothian Council, the Careers Service, Benefits Agency and the STUC. The Taskforce will draw up an Action Plan specifically to meet the needs of the Motorola workers. Subject to the agreement of Motorola, this is likely to include an on-site jobshop, business start up workshops and other support to assist people to find jobs. The Taskforce has already begun work today.

  Ericsson announced on 26 January 2001 that it will cease manufacture of telephone handsets throughout the world and that in consequence it intends to dispose of its plants making handsets, including Carlton near Worksop and Scunthorpe. The Government have kept in regular contact with the Managing Director responsible for the two sites and with Ericsson HQ in Sweden over new developments. Through the Regional Development Agencies, Government Offices and Invest UK, we are working closely with the company to find a buyer for the sites. Officials from the Department of Trade and Industry, Local Government Offices and Regional Development Agencies have also visited the Carlton and Scunthorpe operations in order to gain a better insight. I know my hon. Friend will shortly meet with the Minister for Small Business and E-Commerce.

  Foot and Mouth
  Mr. Norman
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will announce the terms of reference for the public inquiry into the foot and mouth crisis referred to by the Minister for the Environment in his Statement on 23 April 2001,Official Report, column 25. [159556]

  The Prime Minister
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the right hon. Member for Tonbridge and Malling (Sir J. Stanley) on 5 April 2001,Official Report, column 251W.

  Wal-Mart International
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 6 May 1999,Official Report, columns 445–46W, on planning, on what date he met the President of Wal-Mart International for a short courtesy call. [159800]
  455W
  The Prime Minister
  It is public knowledge that I met the President of Wal-Mart International in 1999. However it is not the normal practice of Government to provide the precise details of meetings with private individuals or companies.

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. Wilkinson
  To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his reply to the right hon. Member for Maidstone and The Weald (Miss Widdecombe) of 31 January 2001,Official Report, column 224W, and to the hon. Member for Ruislip-Northwood of 6 April 2001, Official Report, column 290W, if he will make a statement on the precedents he followed in not giving details of his meetings with individuals, foundations and companies. [158542]

  The Prime Minister
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Newport, West (Mr. Flynn) on 27 June 2000,Official Report, column 454W.

  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Prime Minister what reasons underlie the practice of Ministers not providing details of meetings held when requested in parliamentary questions. [159731]

  The Prime Minister
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Newport, West (Mr. Flynn) on 27 June 2000,Official Report, column 454W.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Pakistan
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Pakistani authorities over the subject of the treatment of Christians resident there. [159516]

  Mr. Wilson
  On 3 April, my noble Friend Baroness Scotland raised our concerns about the position of religious minorities with the Pakistani Attorney General and Minister of Law, Justice and Human Rights, Ms Shahida Jamil.

  Sri Lanka
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what issues concerning the Tamil community in Sri Lanka have been discussed by his Department with the Sri Lankan Government over the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement. [158732]

  Mr. Wilson
  We continue to raise with the Sri Lankan Government our concerns about the situation in Sri Lanka, including human rights, the Bindunawewa massacre, the safety of journalists and the need for food and medical supplies to reach citizens in the Vanni. We urge the Sri Lankan Government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam to work together with Norway to secure a settlement to the conflict that meets the aspirations of all communities in Sri Lanka.
  456W
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what areas of Sri Lanka the British High Commissioner and her staff have visited during the last six months; and if he will make a statement. [158733]

  Mr. Wilson
  The British High Commissioner and her staff regularly visit different regions in Sri Lanka. In the last six months, the High Commissioner has visited Trincomalee, Puttalam, Batticaloa, Galle and Nuwara Eliya. During her visits, she met Government officials, representatives of the security forces, non-governmental organisations, Tamil and Muslim communities and the Catholic clergy to discuss, among other things, the impact of the internal conflict on local communities.

  East Timor
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 30 March 2001,Official Report, column 797W, (1) if he will make a statement on when the relatives of the British newsmen killed at Balibo, East Timor in 1975 were informed of the investigation of the United Nations; and by whom; [159517]

  (2) if he will publish the FCO advice offered to British citizens resident in East Timor at the time of the Balibo conflict in 1975; [159515]

  (3) what communications have taken place between the relatives of the British newsmen killed at Balibo, East Timor in 1975 and the FCO over the last 12 months; [159519]

  (4) if it remains the view of his Department that the deaths of the British newsmen at Balibo in East Timor in 1975 were accidental; [159514]

  (5) what investigations into the death of the British newsmen killed at Balibo, East Timor in 1975 were already under way prior to the formal UN announcement; [159518]

  (6) what communications have taken place between the Australian Government and the FCO over the attack by Indonesian troops at Balibo in 1975. [159520]

  Mr. Battle
  Following the arrival of the UN Administration in East Timor (UNTAET), a number of people volunteered fresh information about the events in Balibo in 1975. In the light of this, in August 2000, the UN Prosecutor General took the decision to open an investigation into the deaths. While the investigation continues it would be inappropriate to prejudge its findings.

  The UK was not formally notified in advance of 15 September 2000, when UNTAET formally announced this decision to open an investigation. The FCO therefore did not have an opportunity to inform the relatives of the British journalists who died at Balibo beforehand. However, over the past year we have kept in regular touch with the relatives. I wrote to them most recently on 19 March. We have also maintained regular contact with the Australian Government.

  There was no formal mechanism to issue travel advice to British citizens prior to the establishment of the FCO Travel Advice Unit in 1990.

ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS

  GM Crops (North Essex)
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has for allowing GM crop trials in the North Essex constituency in the next 12 months; what consultation there has been with local communities and their representatives; and what representations he has received about such trials from them. [157577]

  Mr. Meacher
  [holding answer 9 April 2001]: The public register of releases shows that no GM crops are presently being grown in the North Essex constituency under research consents. I also understand that no National List trials of GM crops are presently taking place in Essex. My Department announced the locations of the spring 2001 Farm Scale Evaluations on 3 April; two of these sites, near the village of Wivenhoe, are in the North Essex constituency (TM051 221 and TM056 221). Details of any further GM crop releases, including their locations, will be placed on our web site at www.detr.gov.uk or in the case of National List Trials, on MAFF's web site at www.maff.gov.uk.

  East Devon District Council

  £million

  Nature of funding

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  92001–02

  Revenue support grant1

  2.510

  2.173

  2.086

  1.742

  2.063

  Income from national non-domestic rates1

  3.924

  3.949

  4.272

  4.738

  4.738

  Housing investment programme

  20.518

  0.671

  1.007

  31.715

  43.220

  Capital receipts initiative

  0.162

  0.495

  0.000

  n/a

  n/a

  Mid Devon Council

  £ million

  Nature of funding

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  92001–02

  Revenue support grant1

  1.917

  1.842

  1.769

  1.695

  1.894

  Income from national non-domestic rates1

  2.096

  2.118

  2.286

  2.567

  2.547

  Housing investment programme

  20.744

  0.667

  0.747

  31.772

  42.554

  Housing revenue account subsidy

  0.570

  0.324

  0.182

  50.191

  —

  Capital receipts initiative

  0.171

  0.581

  0.538

  n/a

  n/a

  Cash incentive scheme

  0.100

  0.080

  0

  n/a

  n/a

  Loan charges defective housing

  0.047

  0.047

  0.047

  60.047

  60.047

  Capital challenge (supplementary credit and basic credit approvals)

  0.120

  0.080

  0

  0

  0

  Devon County Council

  £ million

  Nature of funding

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  92001–02

  Revenue Support Grant1

  7266.389

  155.634

  158.924

  150.930

  166.866

  Income from national non-domestic rates1

  7205.912

  138.460

  151.558

  173.050

  170.054

  Local government reorganisation supplementary credit approval

  1.812

  0.765

  0

  0

  0

  Transport supplementary grant

  1.738

  1.238

  1.861

  0

  0

  Transport annual capital guideline

  1.738

  1.238

  1.861

  0

  0

  Transport block supplementary credit approval

  2.560

  1.214

  2.842

  10.281

  20.703

  Rural bus challenge grant8

  0

  0

  0.640

  0.300

  10—

  Rural bus subsidy grant

  0

  1.409

  1.409

  1.409

  1.799

  Capital challenge (supplementary credit and basic credit approvals)

  2.694

  2.257

  1.554

  0

  0

  Notes

  1 The amounts of revenue support grant and income from national non-domestic rates shown for 1997–98 and 1998–99 are the revised amounts allocated under "The Local Government Finance Report (England) 1997–98 Amending Report 1999" and "The Local Government Finance Report (England) 1998–99 Amending Report 2000" respectively.

  2 1997–98 HIP allocation inherited from the previous Government's spending plans. Present Government introduce CRI from 1997–98.

  458W
  My officials have written to parishes and local authorities in which a Farm Scale evaluation is to take place to provide information about the trial and to offer speakers for any public meetings the parish may wish to hold. We have received correspondence from members of the public in the Wivenhoe area about the siting of FSE sites in the parish.

  Departmental Policies (Tiverton and Honiton)
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to the constituency, the effects on Tiverton and Honiton of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997. [157808]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  The principal funding that this Department has provided to East and Mid Devon district councils and Devon county council in the years 1997–98 to 2001–02 is shown in the tables. These include grants and borrowing approvals for revenue and capital expenditure.

  It is not possible to determine how much of this money has been spent on Tiverton and Honiton constituency. It is for the local authority to decide where within its boundary these resources are applied.
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  3 Single housing pot introduced from 2000–01 resulting in CRI being merged with HIP.

  4 Resource accounting has resulted in a change to the way capital resources are allocated for 2001–02, with the introduction of a new major repairs allowance (MRA) to cover the cost of maintaining local authority housing in a sound condition. East Devon's MRA allocation for 2001–02 is £2.274 million and, for comparison purposes, is included in the 2001–02 HIP allocation. Mid Devon's MRA allocation for 2001–02 is £1.712 million.

  5 Provisional.

  6 Estimated.

  7 Devon was subject to a structural change order on 1 April 1998. The figures for revenue support grant and national non-domestic rates quoted for Devon county council for 1997–98 include an amount for the areas covered by the city of Plymouth and the borough of Torbay. The figures for 1998–99, 1999–2000, 2000–01 and 2001–02 exclude the amount for the areas covered by the city of Plymouth and the borough of Torbay.

  8 Rural bus challenge figures represent awards—actual spend profiles for schemes may cover more than one year.

  9 Where known

  10 Not known

  Departmental Policies (Ribble Valley)
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to the constituency, the effects on Ribble Valley of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997. [157846]

  £ million

  Nature of funding

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  2001–02

  Revenue Support Grant1

  0.5

  0.7

  0.6

  0.5

  0.6

  Income from National Non-Domestic Rates1

  1.6

  1.7

  1.8

  2.0

  2.0

  Housing Investment Programme2

  1.8

  2.0

  2.3

  3.9

  4.3

  Capital Receipts Initiative2

  n/a

  1.0

  1.1

  n/a

  n/a

  Challenge Fund3

  0.6

  0.6

  0.6

  1.1

  1.4

  ERDF Funding4

  0.01

  0.04

  1.0

  —

  —

  Transport Supplementary Grant

  3.7

  1.7

  2.9

  0

  0

  Transport Annual Capital Guideline

  2.1

  1.6

  1.5

  0

  0

  Transport Block Supplementary Credit Approval5

  4.9

  3.1

  5.2

  511.0

  28.0

  1 These figures are for Ribble Valley district council. They have not been adjusted to make year on year comparisons possible.

  2 Figures for Lancashire county council

  3 There are two SRB initiatives in the Lancashire area, both of which could impact on the Ribble Valley:

  Raising Achievement of Young People in Lancashire—Round 2

  A seven year thematic scheme covering the whole of Lancashire targeted at raising the achievement and enhancing the employability of young people who are disenchanted with the system. The aim is to reduce long-term benefit dependency, alienation and anti-social behaviour while enhancing the chances of individual prosperity and quality of life.

  Challenge Fund Total: £3.4 million—Scheme Total: £11.6 million

  Lancashire Tourism Partnership—Round 3

  A seven year scheme to improve the competitiveness of the Lancashire tourism industry and develop Lancashire as a major tourism destination. The schemes primary objectives are economic development aimed at generating income, employment opportunities and investment in the County.

  Challenge Fund Total: £7.5 million—Scheme Total: £36.8 million

  4 East Lancashire are eligible to bid for Objective 3 European Social Funding resources of around £240 million for the North West. A second bidding round is now under way, launched on 2 April 2001 with bids to be submitted by 25 May

  5 2000–01—This figure is from Lancashire county council's provisional Local Transport Plan settlement.

  Railtrack
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what conditions attach to the most recent tranche of public finance made over to Railtrack; and if he will make a statement. [158302]

  Mr. Hill
  The agreement in principle to the re-phasing of grants to Railtrack announced on 2 April 2001,Official Report, columns 8–9W, was subject to a number of conditions. The main points were enshrined in an agreed general Statement of Principles, copies of which have been placed in the House Library.
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  Ms Beverley Hughes
  The principal funding which this Department has provided to Lancashire county council and Ribble Valley district council in 1997–98 to 2000–01 is shown in the table. This includes grants and borrowings approvals for revenue and capital expenditure.

  It is not possible to determine how much money has been spent on the Ribble Valley. It is for the local authorities to decide where within their boundaries these resources are applied.

  In addition to delivering long-term savings to the taxpayer, this agreement provides the basis for a new relationship between the company and Government, including a commitment from Railtrack in consultation with Government to appoint a non-executive director to its main Board with a remit to provide a powerful public and consumer voice. The Statement of Principles also sets out a new competitive framework for procuring large enhancement projects. This will allow third party finance and project delivery skills to be deployed through public private partnerships to deliver enhancement projects, enabling the company to give more attention to the management of the core rail network.

  Appointments (Age Limit)
  Tony Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions 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. [158110]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  The Government are committed to equality of opportunity and to increasing the diversity of those appointed to public bodies. For this reason, the DETR places no upper or lower age limit on appointments to its public bodies and all appointments are made on merit.

  Rural Pubs
  Mr. Cotter
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will estimate the number of rural pubs that will receive 50 per cent. mandatory rate relief under the new Non-domestic Rating (Public Houses and Petrol Filling Stations) Order 2001. [158905]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  These figures are not held centrally. Under the Order, 50 per cent. rate relief is available to the sole pub with a rateable value of less than £9,000 in a designated rural settlement with a population of fewer than 3,000. We estimate that there are about 8,000 public houses with a rateable value of less than £9,000 situated in local authorities whose areas are predominantly rural. However, this figure includes public houses that are located in market towns and in settlements with more than one pub, neither of which would qualify for relief under the Order.

  Disability Discrimination Act (Railways)
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what measures he has taken to ensure that the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act 1994 will be met by the railway industry by the 2004 deadline. [158834]

  Mr. Hill
  The provisions of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (DDA) will require that, from 2004, service providers take reasonable steps to remove physical barriers to access. The Act does not set prescriptive accessibility requirements but the Disability Rights Commission will be publishing a revised Code of Practice which will give guidance on the new duties.

  In addition, my Department is producing a guidance document "Inclusive Mobility: A Guide to Best Practice on Access to Pedestrian and Transport Infrastructure", which will be available shortly. It is intended to give guidance to transport operators and local authorities on current best practice to help them in preparing to meet the requirements of the DDA.

  When assessing bids for replacement franchises, the Strategic Rail Authority will consider better access to the network, particularly for disabled people. All proposals will be tested for compliance with the SRA's Code of Practice (which was transferred from the Office of the Rail Regulator and is currently being revised).

  More generally, our Ten Year Transport Plan "Transport 2010", published in July 2000, demonstrates the Government's continued commitment to improving accessibility. The rate and level of new investment will
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  ensure that improvements in the accessibility of transport are brought forward more quickly. The Plan is also clear that building in accessibility for disabled people in all investment is a condition of public money being spent.

  Crime Prevention
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the implementation of the commitment in the 1998 White Paper on the future of transport relating to the adoption by public transport operators of crime prevention strategies contained in Guidance on Public Transport-Guidelines for Operators; how many public transport operators have formally adopted this guidance; and if he will instruct the Strategic Rail Authority to make it a condition of future franchise contracts that operators must formally adopt these guidelines. [158835]

  Mr. Hill
  These Guidelines have been widely distributed to transport operators, local authorities and other interested parties. As the Guidelines are not required to be implemented by the transport operators, we do not keep records on how many operators have adopted the Guidelines; nor do we have plans to make implementation mandatory. However, Local Transport Plans are required to address personal security issues in all modes and across the whole journey, and we will be undertaking a review of Local Transport Plans to see how local authorities have improved personal security.

  On rail, there are no plans to include the Guidelines in replacement franchise contracts, although we would expect operators to be aware of them.

  Gender Audits
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many public transport operators have undertaken gender audits in line with the Department's document, Women and Public Transport: the Checklist; what plans he has to ensure that more operators undertake gender audits; and if he will instruct the Strategic Rail Authority to ensure that gender audits are a requirement of future franchise contracts. [158826]

  Mr. Hill
  The Checklist has been widely distributed to transport operators, local authorities and interested parties. As the Checklist is not required to be implemented by transport operators, we do not keep records on how many operators have undertaken gender audits; nor do we have plans to make implementation mandatory. However, the Checklist is highlighted in 'Guidance on Full Local Transport Plans' as a useful tool to promote social inclusion, and we will be undertaking a review of Local Transport Plans to see how many local authorities have used the Checklist (and other departmental guidance) in their work to promote social inclusion.

  On rail, there are no plans to include the Checklist in replacement franchise contracts, although we would expect operators to be aware of it.

  Secure Stations
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many stations have received secure station accreditations; and if he will instruct the Strategic Rail Authority to make it a
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  condition of future franchise contracts that all appropriate stations should be brought up to secure station accreditation standard within a given timescale. [158832]

  Mr. Hill
  There are currently 97 stations accredited under the Secure Stations Scheme. The Secure Stations Scheme, which was launched in April 1998, is designed to improve and standardise good security practices at all overground and underground stations. To become an accredited Secure Station, each station operator needs to work with their local British Transport Police Crime Reduction Officer to ensure that their station meets the national standards on design and management to cut down crime. The standards relate to such measures as staff training, Help Points, CCTV, lighting and information. Operators also have to conduct an independent passenger survey to see whether passengers feel safe at the station and provide evidence that crime rates are low.

  We are aware that a number of stations are currently working towards accreditation and we will continue to work with the rail industry to encourage further accreditations. The Strategic Rail Authority is seeking to include Secure Stations and Secured Car Park accreditation at all appropriate locations as part of the franchise replacement process.

  Town and Parish Councils
  Mr. Ennis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many town and parish councils were abolished in each year between 1990 and 1997. [158799]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  The Local Government Act 1972 contains no provision for the abolition of parish councils. However, this legislation provides for the dissolution of parish councils where the population of a parish falls below 150. Dissolution in such circumstances is carried out by order of the district council. We have no record of any dissolution orders.

  The Local Government Act 1992 made provision for the abolition of parishes by the Secretary of State following a recommendation by the Local Government Commission. No parishes were abolished as a consequence of the structural review of local Government during 1992–97.

  Mr. Ennis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many town and parish councils have been created by his Department in each of the last 10 years. [158798]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  The following table shows the number of new parishes that have been created in each of the last 10 years:

  Year

  Number of parishes created

  1991–92

  10

  1992–93

  6

  1993–94

  10

  1994–95

  4

  1995–96

  18

  1996–97

  9

  1997–98

  1

  1998–99

  20

  1999–2000

  42

  2000–01

  16

  Domestic Violence
  Ms Moran
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list measures he has taken to tackle domestic violence since 1 May 1997. [159420]

  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  Since May 1997 my Department has put in place the following initiatives/ measures to help women who are fleeing from domestic violence, and who in many cases are threatened with homelessness as a result.

  Supporting People

  This new programme, to be implemented from April 2003, provides housing-related support services for vulnerable people, including survivors of domestic violence. The framework document "policy into practice" (January 2001), sets out how services will be planned and delivered. We are appointing two specialist co-ordinators and publishing further guidance to help local Supporting People partnerships develop their strategies for addressing domestic violence within the Supporting People programme.

  The Safer Communities Supported Housing Fund (SCSHF)

  This provides £120 million of capital and £17 million of revenue funding over three years, to be administered by the Housing Corporation (match-funding to be provided by local authorities) for housing and support services for a range of people, including women and children fleeing domestic violence.

  Grant Aid to Women's Aid Federation of England

  Since 1997 we have continued to support Women's Aid Federation of England through the Department's special grants programme, to develop a range of projects addressing the needs of survivors of domestic violence.

  Extending the Priority need categories of homeless people

  We will shortly be consulting on a proposal to extend the categories of people who have a priority need for accommodation under the homelessness legislation to include applicants who are vulnerable as a result of fleeing domestic violence or other violence.

  Interdepartmental initiatives

  My Department has contributed to the following interdepartmental initiatives and publications:

  Break the Chain

  Multi-agency guidance for addressing domestic violence

  Relation ship Breakdown, a Guide for social landlords.

  Foot and Mouth
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what public funding has been paid to rural businesses under the schemes announced by the Minister to help them during the foot and mouth crisis, up to Friday 20 April. [159048]

  Mr. Meacher
  [holding answer 26 April 2001]: The measures we have adopted in the last few weeks to help severely affected rural businesses respond to the impact of foot and mouth disease are expected to benefit business by around £230 million at the latest estimate, but clearly many depend on take up and application by affected businesses. It is not yet possible to estimate expenditure to date by all the agencies and local partners involved.

  Unadopted Roads
  Mr. Todd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what rebate is given to residents of unadopted roads within the council tax system; [159239]

  (2) what assessment he has made of the value of local services given to residents of unadopted roads. [159192]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  There are no specific reductions for residents who live on unadopted roads in the same way that there are no reductions for people who do not have children at school. This is because the council tax is essentially a means of contributing towards the cost of providing a range of services throughout a local area rather than a charge for specific services used or enjoyed directly by individual households. However, when assigning a dwelling to a valuation band any factor which might affect the value of a dwelling, such as its being on an unadopted road, is taken into account.

  Heathrow
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he has made to BAA over preparatory works in hand for Terminal 5. [159249]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  None. The enforcement of planning controls is a matter for the relevant planning authority.

  Bicycles
  Mr. Blizzard
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will require all new bicycles to be sold with lights attached. [159545]

  Mr. Hill
  The Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions carried out a public consultation exercise in 1998 and concluded that there was insufficient justification for amending current legislation to require all new bicycles to be sold with lights attached, as many pedal cycles are never used after dark.

  Furthermore, there is already a requirement under the Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989 that front and rear position lamps, meeting a prescribed standard, must be fitted and must be lit on pedal cycles when ridden at night.

  Transport Information Provision
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will place in the Library details of research commissioned by his Department into transport information provision and Transport Direct. [159230]

  Mr. Hill
  [holding answer 27 April 2001]: Details of the travel information research commissioned by my Department were published in April in the "Roads and Local Transport Research Programme, Compendium of research projects 2000–2001", pages 101–111. A copy of the "Compendium" is available on my Department's website and has now been placed in the Libraries of the House.

  Partnership Investment Programme
  Dr. Whitehead
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement regarding European Commission approval of the five new land and property regeneration schemes designed to partially replace the partnership investment programme. [159861]

  Ms Armstrong
  The European Commission has now approved all of the five new schemes which have been designed to partially replace the Partnership Investment Programme, as follows:a direct development scheme;
  two gap funding schemes, one for developments for a known end-user, the other for developments for disposal on the open market;
  a scheme for community regeneration, and
  a scheme for environmental regeneration.

  All the approved schemes are now in effect. As a result, Regional Development Agencies and English Partnerships will be able to support a wide range of land and property regeneration projects, including projects which can be taken forward in partnership with the private sector.

  Direct development involves the public sector acquiring the land to be redeveloped, carrying out the works, and selling the reclaimed site at open market value.

  Under gap funding, the public sector bridges the gap between development costs and the likely end value, allowing property developers to bring contaminated, derelict and disused sites back into full economic use. Small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) will be eligible for assistance under this scheme anywhere in England. Where the developer is not an SME, the project must be located in an Assisted Area.

  Under the Community Regeneration scheme, funding is made available to local organisations so that they can take forward small-scale regeneration projects. Funding is only available for projects which are put forward by non-profit making bodies working in the community or voluntary sectors.

  The purpose of the environmental regeneration scheme is to improve the environment by reclaiming derelict or potentially derelict land and providing a cover of vegetation. Subsequent uses of the site may include public open spaces, nature conservation areas and playing fields.

  We now intend to build on this success by continuing to press the Commission for a new regeneration framework, under which state aid would be permitted for the regeneration of derelict or disused land throughout England and the rest of the European Community.

  New Deal for Communities Programme
  Mr. Coleman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what resources he is prepared to make available to Round 2 partnerships under the New Deal for Communities Programme. [159928]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  I am delighted to announce that we have today offered the NDC Round 2 partnerships funding of over £1,100 million to implement their strategy for change. We have also made funding available to the remaining pathfinder partnership.
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  Following receipt of delivery plans in March, I am today allocating funding to the following 22 NDC partnerships:

  £ million

  District

  Neighbourhood

  Funding award

  Hartlepool

  West Central Hartlepool

  53.79

  Sunderland

  East End and Hendon

  53.89

  Oldham

  Hathershaw and Fitton Hall

  53.53

  Rochdale

  Old Heywood

  52.0

  Salford

  Charlestown and Lower Kersal

  53.0

  Sheffield

  Burngreave

  52.0

  Doncaster

  Central Doncaster

  52.0

  Derby

  Derwent

  38.0

  Coventry

  Wood End, Henley Green and Manor Farm

  54.0

  Birmingham

  Aston

  54.0

  Wolverhampton

  All Saints and Blakenhall

  53.5

  Walsall

  Blakenall

  52.0

  Luton

  Marsh Farm

  48.835

  Plymouth

  Devonport

  48.73

  Southampton

  Thornhill

  48.7

  Brent

  South Kilburn

  50.06

  Islington

  Finsbury

  52.92

  Haringey

  Seven Sisters

  50.12

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  North Fulham

  44.28

  Lambeth

  Clapham Park

  56.0

  Lewisham

  New Cross

  45.0

  Birmingham

  Kings Norton

  50.0

  The remaining Round 2 partnership, Knowsley, will take advantage of the additional three months they were given at the end of Phase 2 to work on community involvement and strategic linkages with key agencies. The partnership will submit a Delivery Plan in June 2001 with an announcement to follow shortly after.

  This brings the total resources allocated to NDC partnerships to just under £2,000 million over the next 10 years.

  Designated Airport Status
  Mr. Colman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what work has been undertaken by the Government, as part of the developing aviation white paper process, on the possibility of extending designated airport status to other airports in the UK. [159528]

  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  In the integrated transport White Paper "A New Deal for Transport: Better for Everyone" the Government announced their intention to prepare a UK airports policy looking 30 years ahead and bring forward new policies on civil aviation. The extent to which Government should rely on regulation to influence the environmental effects of aviation, and whether there should be greater reliance on economic instruments and voluntary agreements, is among the issues examined in the Government's recent consultation document on air transport policy—"The Future of Aviation". The closing date for responses to that consultation was 12 April 2001 and they are presently being studied.

  Transport Act (Contracts)
  Ms Kelly
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to extend the maximum length of a contract for a subsidised service as set out in Section 90(1) of the Transport Act 1985. [159280]
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  Mr. Hill
  None at present, although we have undertaken in the Rural White Paper to look at the possibility of extending the maximum period from five years to 10.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  Departmental Policies (Luton, South)
  Ms Moran
  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 constituency, the effects on the Luton, South constituency of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997. [156162]

  Mr. Wills
  Outlined are details of the effects of a range of the Department's policies on the Luton, South constituency and Luton local education authority.

  Beacon Schools

  There is one Beacon School in the Luton, South constituency: Hillborough Junior School.

  Schools with specialist status designated since 1997

  There is one Specialist School in the Luton, South constituency: Ashcroft High School, which has Technology College status.

  Education Maintenance Allowance

  Luton LEA is one of the new EMA pilot areas. Since September 2000 just over £260,000 has been paid out in EMAs to 569 students.

  School Achievement Awards

  15 Schools in the Luton, South constituency have been awarded a total of £121,250.00 under this scheme. The schools and awards are as follows:

  £

  Beech Hill Community Primary School

  12,030

  Dallow Infant School

  7,500

  Dallow Junior School

  7,310

  Denbigh High School

  29,880

  Denbigh Infant School

  8,800

  Foxdell Junior School

  5,350

  Hillborough Junior School

  5,520

  Orchard Centre PRU (formally Charles Street Tuition Centre)

  2,820

  Putteridge Infant School

  5,460

  Sacred Heart RC Infants School

  3,990

  Slip End Lower School

  3,410

  Someries Junior School

  6,450

  St. Mary's RC Lower School

  6,020

  Tennyson Road Primary School

  4,840

  Wigmore Primary School

  11,870

  Class Sizes

  Luton LEA

  £

  Revenue

  Capital

  1998–99

  0

  58,000

  1999–2000

  130,000

  574,396

  2000–01

  618,615

  79,500

  2001–02

  635,881

  0

  The September 2000 figures show that there are now only 380 (6.2 per cent.) pupils remaining in infant

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  classes of 31 or more. The figure in January 1997 was 2,427 (42 per cent.).

  Luton Performance Data

  Key Stage 2, percentage of pupils achieving level 4

  2000

  1999

  1998

  1997

  English

  LEA average

  72

  68

  61

  58

  England average

  75

  71

  65

  63

  Maths

  LEA average

  65

  62

  51

  54

  England average

  72

  69

  59

  62

  Science

  LEA average

  82

  74

  61

  63

  England average

  85

  78

  69

  69

  GCSE—percentage of pupils achieving

  2000

  1999

  1998

  1997

  5+ A*—

  LEA average

  39.7

  35.8

  35.0

  34.3

  England average

  49.2

  47.9

  46.3

  45.1

  5+ A*—G

  LEA average

  91.4

  92

  92.4

  89.9

  England average

  88.9

  88.5

  87.5

  86.4

  Luton LEA capital funding

  £000

  2001–02

  2000–01

  1999–2000

  1998–99

  1997–98

  Total

  Credit approvals

  ACG

  1,356

  2,918

  556

  201

  171

  5,202

  SCA

  —

  217

  1,033

  240

  40

  1,530

  Grants

  NDS Condition Funding

  392

  —

  —

  —

  —

  392

  NDS

  —

  2,275

  691

  322

  288

  3,576

  NGfL

  914

  625

  326

  374

  —

  2,239

  VA grant

  127

  239

  98

  73

  102

  639

  Schools devolved formula capital

  —

  1,344

  —

  —

  —

  1,344

  Science labs

  134

  134

  —

  —

  —

  268

  Energy

  —

  —

  —

  51

  —

  51

  AMP support

  —

  —

  25

  —

  —

  25

  Seed challenge

  161

  146

  —

  —

  —

  307

  Infant class size

  —

  110

  545

  57

  —

  712

  Security

  46

  65

  65

  57

  46

  279

  SSLUs

  54

  61

  —

  —

  —

  115

  Schools Access Initiative

  232

  17

  —

  —

  —

  249

  NDS Devolved Formula

  1,109

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1,109

  Outside Toilets

  —

  —

  —

  6

  —

  6

  Nursery provision

  —

  64

  —

  —

  —

  64

  Total

  4,525

  8,215

  3,339

  1,381

  647

  Further Education

  Student numbers at all Further Education Funding Council funded institutions where home postcode is in the local authority district of Luton are given in the table.

  1996–97 to 1999–2000

  FEFC funded

  Non-FEFC funded

  16–18

  Adult

  16–18

  Adult

  Full-time

  Part-time

  Full-time

  Part-time

  Full-time

  Part-time

  Full-time

  Part-time

  1996–97

  3,238

  794

  657

  9,042

  88

  368

  69

  633

  1997–98

  2,995

  1,130

  769

  10,810

  81

  307

  69

  604

  1998–99

  3,316

  723

  824

  10,441

  105

  534

  71

  799

  1999–2000

  3,385

  817

  817

  10,159

  112

  379

  179

  1,068

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  GCSE—percentage of pupils achieving

  2000

  1999

  1998

  1997

  No Passes

  LEA average

  3.2

  3.2

  2.1

  4.3

  England average

  5.6

  6.0

  6.6

  7.7

  Average Point Score

  LEA average

  36.7

  35.5

  35.9

  n/a

  England average

  38.9

  38.1

  37.0

  n/a

  A/AS level and Advanced GNVQ

  2000

  1999

  1998

  Average points for 2 or more A/AS levels

  LEA average

  13.6

  13.4

  14.1

  England average

  18.5

  18.2

  17.8

  A/AS average per entry

  LEA average

  4.5

  4.4

  4.6

  England average

  5.5

  5.5

  5.4

  Average point score GNVQs

  LEA average

  8.1

  9.0

  9.5

  England average

  10.1

  9.9

  9.6

  Funding per pupil

  In Luton LEA, funding per pupil has increase by £520 real terms between 1997–98 and 2001–02.
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  Modern Apprenticeships

  Information on Modern Apprenticeships for all English constituencies will be placed in the Library by the end of March.

  New Deal for Young People

  In the Luton, South constituency, 966 young people had joined the New Deal to the end of December 2000. 386 have found jobs, 299 of which are sustained.

  Labour market statistics

  The working age employment rate in Luton in autumn 2000 was 71.9 per cent., below the UK rate of 74.7 per cent. The rate in autumn 1997 was 77.0 per cent., in autumn 1998 73.0 per cent., and in autumn 1999 74.9 per cent. These figures are volatile at this level, and our best interpretation of the trend in the employment rate for Luton since 1997 is that it has been broadly flat.

  The claimant unemployment rate has fallen from 5.3 per cent. in February 1997 to 2.7 per cent. in February 2001 in the Luton, South constituency.

  Departmental Policies (Great Grimsby)
  Mr. Mitchell
  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 constituency, the effect on the Great Grimsby constituency of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997. [156248]

  Mr. Wills
  Outlined are the details of the effects of a range of the Department's policies on the Great Grimsby constituency and North-East Lincolnshire LEA.

  Sure Start

  There are two Sure Start programmes in North-East Lincolnshire.
  Nunsthorpe and Bradley Park: The programme was approved in January 2000. The level of grant approved was a maximum of £2,304,430 up until 31 March 2002 of which £785,000 for capital projects and £1,518,930 for revenue costs. The catchment area covers Nunsthorpe and Bradley Park, which is about two miles outside Grimsby and covers 550 0 to three-year-olds. Nunsthorpe and Bradley Park is a local authority led programme which offers services such as Story Sacks where parents work with an Adult Education Tutor to boost their involvement in their children's learning, a versatile information service which can be booked into various locations (schools, clinics etc.) and a Family Literacy Programme. The programme has close links with the Early Excellence Centre, which is adjacent to the main Sure Start Centre.
  East Marsh: A round 4 programme, which covers 800 0 to three-year-olds and is in an early stage of development. The programme is currently working to draw up its outline plan, which is due in the Sure Start Unit on April 25. Deadline for full delivery of the plan is 18 July 2001.

  Beacon Schools

  There is one Beacon school in North-East Lincolnshire Strand Infant School, which started in
  January 2001.

  Schools with specialist status designated since 1997

  There are three Specialist Schools in North-East Lincolnshire. Hereford School and Western School are jointly designated (Technology) and The Lindsey School (Arts).
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  Education Action Zone

  North-East Lincolnshire has one EAZ. Grimsby EAZ is a first round zone, which was established in September 1998. It has been approved for extension from three to five years, taking it to August 2003. The zone consists of 11 primary, three secondary schools and a nursery school (details follow). The zone receives up to £1 million in additional public and private sector funding each year.

  The zone's key activities are:
  Open school TV programmes taking the classroom into the living room via local TV station.
  Secondary schools as ICT Centres of excellence linking primary schools.
  Virtual classroom via the Internet.
  Daily sessions focusing on literacy, numeracy and IT for all pupils in the zone.
  In-school units for years eight and nine to reduce permanent exclusions.

  The zone has had some very encouraging results. Between 1998 and 2000 the proportions of zone children achieving level 2 in reading, writing and maths at key stage 1 have increased by 15 per cent., 15 per cent. and 16 per cent., compared with 4 per cent., 4 per cent. and 6 per cent. seen nationally. At key stage 4, the proportions of pupils gaining 5+ A*-C, 5+ A*-G and 1+ A*-G have increased by 4 per cent., 7 per cent. and 7 per cent., compared with national gains of 3 per cent., 1 per cent. and 1 per cent. respectively.

  Class sizes

  £

  Revenue

  Capital

  1998–99

  0

  518,483

  1999–2000

  377,000

  171,532

  2000–01

  715,302

  448,212

  2001–02

  646,908

  0

  The September 2000 figures show that there are now only 98 (1.8 per cent.) pupils remaining in infant classes of 31 or more. The figure in January 1997 was 2,393 (38 per cent.).

  North-East Lincolnshire Performance Data Key Stage 2, percentage of pupils achieving level 4

  2000

  1999

  1998

  English

  LEA

  71

  66

  58

  England

  75

  71

  65

  Maths

  LEA

  68

  66

  53

  England

  72

  69

  59

  Science

  LEA

  80

  73

  62

  England

  85

  78

  69

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  GCSE—percentage of pupils achieving

  2000

  1999

  1998

  5+A*-C

  LEA

  35.8

  35.5

  33.3

  England Average

  49.2

  47.9

  46.3

  5+A*-G

  LEA

  87.0

  84.8

  82.7

  England Average

  88.9

  88.5

  87.5

  No passes

  LEA

  6.7

  7.8

  10.1

  England Average

  5.6

  6.0

  6.6

  Average point score

  LEA

  33.5

  32.3

  30.8

  England Average

  38.9

  38.1

  37.0

  North-East Lincolnshire LEA capital funding

  £000

  2001–02

  2000–01

  1999–2000

  1998–99

  1997–98

  Annual Capital Guideline (ACG)

  191

  601

  957

  1,075

  474

  Supplementary Credit Approval (SCA)

  —

  228

  119

  38

  20

  New Deal for Schools (NDS)

  —

  2,173

  1,600

  1,472

  328

  Voluntary Aided (VA) grant

  38

  53

  203

  199

  36

  Seed Challenge Initiative

  151

  138

  —

  —

  —

  Public Private Partnerships (PPP)

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Formula Capital (Including additional)

  —

  259

  —

  —

  —

  National Grid for Learning (NGfL)

  847

  587

  390

  520

  —

  Science labs

  133

  133

  —

  —

  —

  Early Excellence Centre grant

  —

  153

  67

  —

  —

  Assist Management Plan (AMP) Assistance

  —

  —

  24

  —

  —

  Access at 85 per cent.

  232

  —

  3

  1

  —

  Security

  41

  60

  60

  59

  47

  Outside toilets

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Energy

  —

  —

  —

  60

  —

  Class Size Initiative

  —

  492

  91

  518

  —

  Nursery Provision

  —

  60

  —

  —

  —

  Secondary Learning Support Units

  43

  49

  —

  —

  —

  NDS Devolved Formula

  675

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Additional NDS Devolved Formula

  351

  —

  —

  —

  —

  NDS Condition Funding

  495

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Education Maintenance Allowance

  In September 2000 we extended the Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) scheme to 41 additional pilot areas, one of which is the North-East Lincolnshire LEA area. This is one of five pilots designed to identify the extent to which transport costs are a barrier to learning. There are currently over 700 young people in receipt of an allowance. Recent published evaluation

  1996–97 to 1999–2000

  FEFC funded

  Non-FEFC funded

  16–18

  Adult

  16–18

  Adult

  Full-time

  Part-time

  Full-time

  Part-time

  Full-time

  Part-time

  Full-time

  Part-time

  1996–97

  1,081

  368

  416

  5,715

  58

  314

  55

  771

  1997–98

  1,158

  381

  292

  5,628

  100

  274

  26

  855

  1998–99

  1,237

  360

  344

  5,653

  44

  281

  32

  827

  1999–2000

  1,272

  388

  300

  6,601

  40

  280

  62

  1,143

  Modern Apprenticeships

  Information on Modern Apprentice ships for all English constituencies will be placed in the Library by the end of March.
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  A/AS level and Advanced GNVQ

  2000

  1999

  1998

  Average points for fewer than 2 A/AS levels

  LEA

  2.6

  2.8

  3.1

  England Average

  3.0

  3.0

  3.0

  Average points for 2 or more A/AS levels

  LEA

  16.2

  15.9

  14.1

  England Average

  18.5

  18.2

  17.8

  Advanced GNVQs

  LEA

  8.5

  6.9

  10.8

  England Average

  10.1

  9.9

  9.6

  Funding per pupil

  In North-East Lincolnshire LEA, funding per pupil has increased by £590 in real terms between 1997–98 and 2001–02.

  reports show that EMAs are making a positive difference to young people's lives. On average, an additional 5 per cent. of eligible 16 and 17-year-olds are staying in education in the pilot areas because of EMAs.

  Further Education

  Student numbers at all Further Education Funding Council funded institutions where home postcode is in the local authority district of Great Grimsby are given in the table.

  New Deal for Young People

  In the Great Grimsby constituency, 1,974 young people have joined the New Deal to end December 2000. 991 have found jobs, 701 of which are sustained.
  475W
  Labour market statistics

  The working age employment rate in North-East Lincolnshire in autumn 2000 was 68.6 per cent., below the UK rate of 74.7 per cent. The rate in autumn 1997 was 66.6 per cent.

  The claimant unemployment rate has fallen from 8.9 per cent. in February 1997 to 6.5 per cent. in February 2001 in the Great Grimsby constituency.

  Departmental Policies (Sandwell)
  Mr. Bailey
  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 borough, the effects of his Department's policies and actions on the metropolitan borough of Sandwell since 2 May 1997. [156378]

  Mr. Wills
  [holding answer 30 March 2001]: Outlined are details of the effects of a range of the Department's policies on the metropolitan borough of Sandwell.

  Sure Start

  Sandwell local education authority has one initiative made up of three residential areas which includes Brickhouse, Rowley and Springfield estates.

  Schools with specialist status designated since 1997

  Wood Green High School has specialist arts status.

  Failing Schools

  St. Mary's RC and Willingsworth Schools are both in Special Measures.

  Private Finance Initiative (PFI)

  This scheme is to rebuild five primary schools and that complements regeneration proposals in the authority. One of the 5 schools included, Great Bridge Primary, is in the West Bromwich, West.

  School Achievement Awards

  Thirteen schools within the West Bromwich, West constituency achieved the awards for improvement. This amounted to £95,510 for the constituency.

  Education Action Zone

  An EAZ began operation in January 2000. It involves 4 secondary and 11 primary schools in the Wednesbury area and concentrates on strategies to raise achievement in literacy, numeracy and information and communications technology by means of new teaching and learning methods. The majority of the schools involved in the EAZ fall within the West Bromwich, West constituency.

  Class Sizes

  Figures for September 2000 show that Sandwell had 1.0 per cent. of infant pupils (99) taught in large classes with more than 30 pupils. This compares with 1.9 per cent.

  Sandwell LEA capital funding

  £000

  2001–02

  2000–01

  1999–2000

  1998–99

  1997–98

  Total

  Credit approvals:

  ACG

  494

  1,251

  1,006

  673

  2,481

  5,905

  SCA

  —

  202

  148

  282

  1,586

  2,218

  PFI credits

  —

  12,200

  —

  —

  —

  12,200

  Grants:

  NDS Condition

  788

  —

  —

  —

  —

  788

  NDS

  —

  4,687

  2,527

  464

  808

  8,486

  NGfL

  1,472

  1,056

  366

  406

  —

  3,300

  476W
  nationally. Sandwell has received capital funding of £1.5 million to build 19 additional classrooms, and revenue support of £3.3 million for 158 extra teachers.

  Sandwell performance data key stage 2, percentage of pupils achieving level 4

  2000

  1999

  1998

  1997

  English:

  LEA

  65

  59

  54

  52

  England average

  75

  71

  65

  63

  Maths:

  LEA

  60

  56

  45

  46

  England average

  72

  69

  59

  62

  Science:

  LEA

  77

  66

  54

  51

  England average

  85

  78

  69

  69

  GCSE—percentage of pupils achieving

  2000

  1999

  1998

  1997

  5+ A*—C

  LEA Average

  31.7

  29.7

  28.7

  26.9

  England Average1

  49.2

  47.9

  46.3

  45.1

  5+ A*—G

  LEA Average

  84.9

  84.0

  83.3

  80.2

  England Average1

  88.9

  88.5

  87.5

  86.4

  No Passes

  —

  —

  —

  —

  LEA Average

  7.9

  8.8

  9.7

  12.3

  England Average1

  5.6

  6.0

  6.6

  7.7

  Average Point Score

  LEA Average

  30.7

  30.1

  28.7

  n/a

  England Average

  38.9

  38.1

  37.0

  n/a

  A/AS level and advanced GNVQ

  2000

  1999

  1998

  1997

  Average Points for two or more A/AS levels

  LEA Average

  10.6

  11.8

  12.3

  11.1

  England Average

  18.5

  18.2

  17.8

  17.3

  A/AS average per entry

  LEA Average

  3.2

  3.7

  3.8

  n/a

  England Average

  5.5

  5.5

  5.4

  5.3

  Average point score GNVQs

  LEA Average

  9.5

  10.6

  8.6

  n/a

  England Average

  10.1

  9.9

  9.6

  n/a

  Funding per pupil

  In Sandwell LEA, funding per pupil has increased by £610 in real terms between 1997–98 and 2001–02.
  477W

  Sandwell LEA capital funding

  £000

  2001–02

  2000–01

  1999–2000

  1998–99

  1997–98

  Total

  VA grant

  108

  120

  90

  69

  69

  456

  Schools' formula capital

  —

  2,211

  —

  —

  —

  2,211

  Science labs

  194

  194

  —

  —

  —

  388

  Nursery provision

  —

  69

  —

  —

  —

  69

  Energy

  —

  —

  —

  90

  —

  90

  AMP support

  —

  —

  41

  —

  —

  41

  SEED challenge

  234

  208

  —

  —

  —

  442

  Infant class size

  —

  5

  5

  96

  —

  1,531

  Security

  73

  104

  106

  103

  82

  468

  SSLU's

  78

  89

  —

  —

  —

  167

  Schools Access Initiative

  349

  9

  3

  —

  —

  361

  NDS Devolved Formula1

  1,795

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1,795

  Total

  5,091

  8,752

  4,563

  1,228

  959

  20,593

  1 Formerly School's formula capital

  Further Education

  Student numbers at all FEFC funded institutions where home postcode is in the local authority district of Sandwell, are given in the table.

  1996–97 to 1999–2000

  FEFC funded

  Non-FEFC funded

  16–18

  Adult

  16–18

  Adult

  Full-time

  Part-time

  Full-time

  Part-time

  Full-time

  Part-time

  Full-time

  Part-time

  1996–97

  3,002

  1,405

  2,256

  15,604

  200

  206

  171

  365

  1997–98

  2,949

  l,605

  1,982

  16,146

  198

  277

  152

  425

  1998–99

  3,030

  1,531

  1,771

  15,270

  185

  418

  256

  706

  1999–2000

  3,175

  1,560

  1,828

  16,212

  180

  509

  295

  776

  Modern Apprenticeships

  Information on Modern Apprentice ships for all English constituencies will be placed in the Library by the end of March.

  New Deal for Young People

  In the West Bromwich, West constituency, 1,565 young people had joined the New Deal to the end of December 2000. 742 have found jobs, 567 of which are sustained.

  Labour market statistics

  The working age employment rate in Sandwell in autumn 2000 was 66.1 per cent., below the UK rate of 74.7 per cent. The rate in autumn 1997 was 69.2 per cent., in autumn 1998 71.5 per cent., and in autumn 1999 66.6 per cent. These figures are volatile at this level, and our best interpretation of the trend in the employment rate for Sandwell since 1997 is that it has been broadly flat.

  The claimant unemployment rate has fallen from 6.7 per cent. in February 1997 to 4.8 per cent. in February 2001 in the West Bromwich, West constituency.

  Child Care Workers
  Mr. Cann
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what estimate he has made of the effectiveness of the campaign to recruit child care workers. [158109]

  Ms Hodge
  The response to the campaign has been very positive. By 16 April 2001, the media advertising had generated over 64,000 calls to the national recruitment orderline and over 70,000 booklets have been sent out to callers. The latest survey of callers to the 478W
  orderline shows that over 70 per cent. of all respondents have taken or intend to take action to find work or training in the sector. A survey in January suggested that six months after contacting the orderline 16 per cent. of the sample had found work in the sector, 21 per cent. of an earlier, larger, sample of callers had attended a training course and that many others intended to do so.

  Primary Schools (Year 6)
  Mr. Tyrie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how much time is spent in primary schools in Year 6 on core subjects as a proportion of all teaching; and what the proportion was in May 1997. [158536]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The average percentage of Year 6 teaching time currently spent on the core subjects is 60 per cent. (27 per cent. for English, 22 per cent. for mathematics and 11 per cent. for science). This compares with an average of 53 per cent. (22 per cent. for English, 19 per cent. for mathematics and 12 per cent. for science) in 1996–97.

  We welcome the fact that primary schools are now spending more time teaching English and mathematics, where standards were unacceptably low in 1997. Since 1997, we have introduced the daily Literacy Hour and mathematics lesson, which have improved the quality of teaching and raised standards of achievement, not only in English and mathematics but also in science and the foundation subjects of the National Curriculum, which schools are required to teach.

  Truancy
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on the average level of fine imposed on parents for allowing their child to truant. [158842]

  Jacqui Smith
  [holding answer 26 April 2001]: Absence from school for no good reason is a serious matter. That is why we have introduced a range of measures designed to reduce the level of truancy. This includes a higher penalty for parents convicted of school attendance offences, which came into force on 1 March 2001.

  Parents convicted of school attendance offences can, as before, face a fine of up to £1,000 per parent per child. However under the new higher penalty for persistent and aggravated truancy, they could be fined a maximum fine of £2,500 per parent per child.

  While full details on the average level of fine imposed on parents convicted of school attendance offences are not collated centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost, we do know that fines were often as low as £20 under the previous fines regime. Under the new arrangements, however, magistrates will be able to impose a higher level of fine, typically £100-£200, that matches the seriousness of the offence. In addition, if prosecuted under the higher penalty, parents will have to turn up in court and face the consequences of their action. If they do not do so, they face arrest.

  Value Added Tables
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what representations he has received with regard to the introduction of value added tables; and what plans he has to introduce value added tables. [158848]

  Jacqui Smith
  [holding answer 26 April 2001]: We have received a number of representations about the use of value added measures in school performance tables. Their introduction is supported in principle by the head teacher associations and overwhelmingly by those who have responded to past consultation exercises.

  We are committed to supplementing the information already published in school performance tables with value added measures showing how far schools help their pupils to progress between the stages of their education. We will do this as soon as we have the necessary information about individual pupil performance and have tested successfully the processes involved.

  We intend to run a pilot this year on the calculation and presentation of value added measures from Key Stage 2 to Key Stage 3 and from Key Stage 3 to GCSE/GNVQ and to publish those measures for all schools in the secondary tables in 2002. We will then publish a value added measure for primary schools in 2003 after piloting in 2002. Following the introduction of "Qualifying for Success" reforms, introduction of value added in the 16–18 tables will necessarily have to wait at least until the first full set of results under the new framework has been awarded.

  Connexions
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many staff are employed by the Connexions Service National Unit; and what is its planned yearly running costs [158997]

  Mr. Wicks
  [holding answer 26 April 2001]: The Connexions National Unit now has responsibility for a number of different policy strands. As at 1 April 2001 95 (Full Time Equivalent) staff are employed, developing core activities and services for Connexions. A further 65 are included in the National Unit who are employed in the administration of programmes related to Connexions, for example Millennium Volunteers, the Neighbourhood Support Fund, New Start and the Learning Gateway. The National Unit's running cost budget for the year 1 April 2001 to 31 March 2002 is £6.4 million. This includes the running cost budget for the administration of the programmes referred to.

  Employment Zones
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on the number of people who have found jobs through the Employment Zones. [159003]

  Ms Jowell
  [holding answer 26 April 2001]: The latest figures available show that from April 2000 to the end of March 2001 the contractors running the Employment Zones had claimed for 8,057 people into jobs. This is an under-representation of the actual number of jobs achieved as the figure does not include those jobs for which contractors have yet to provide the necessary evidence.

  East Ravendale School
  Shona McIsaac
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on the outside toilets for children and staff at East Ravendale School, North-East Lincolnshire. [159354]

  Jacqui Smith
  I have asked officials within the Department to prepare a report on the particular problems faced by East Ravendale School for discussion when I meet my hon. Friend, the head teacher and Chair of Governors of the school and the Leader of North-East Lincolnshire Council, on Thursday 3 May.

  Correspondence
  Sir Brian Mawhinney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when the right hon. Member for North-West Cambridgeshire will receive a reply to his letter of 16 March on behalf of Mrs. Martin. [159687]

  Mr. Wills
  My right hon. Friend will reply to the right hon. Gentleman's letter of 16 March today.

CHURCH COMMISSIONERS

  Church Repairs
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners, what estimate has made of the total cost of repairs to the Church of England's places of worship likely to take place in the 12 months from 1 April 2001. [158169]
  481W
  Mr. Stuart Bell
  The Churches Main Committee—an ecumenical body—recently commissioned a study of the cost of repairs and maintenance to the buildings of several of the main Christian denominations. This indicated that in 1999 the cost of repairs to the Church of England's 16,250 parish churches and cathedrals was in the region of £29 million, with maintenance adding a further £11 million.

  Tenant Farmers
  Mr. Robathan
  To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners, what his policy is for assisting farmers who are tenants of the Church Commissioners. [158173]

  Mr. Stuart Bell
  The Commissioners acutely aware of the problems facing their farm tenants, including the severe effects of Foot and Mouth disease. Cases of hardship are considered individually and the Commissioners try to be as helpful as possible.

  Circumstances vary, but rent review settlements have typically seen reductions of an average of some 12 per cent.

  Churches (Alternative Uses)
  Mr. Fabricant
  To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners, what advice the Commission gives churches on their use for purposes other than worship. [158174]

  Mr. Stuart Bell
  The Church Commissioners' primary responsibility is the management of their assets to support the Church of England's nation-wide ministry. Advice is provided to parishes on the care, use and development of churches by the Council for the Care of Churches and at local level by the 43 Diocesan Advisory Committees for the Care of Churches.

  Unlisted Places of Worship
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners, if he will extend his commitment to help listed places of worship via the proposed grant scheme to unlisted places of worship. [158175]

  Mr. Stuart Bell
  My right hon. Friend the Chancellor has given priority to listed places of worship because of the specially costly burden borne by congregations who strive to care properly for their historic buildings.

  But I shall continue to remind him of the concern, expressed by the Churches Main Committee among others, as to the burden of VAT on places of worship that are unlisted, in the hope that it may in time prove possible to extend relief to them also.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

  Creative Industries
  Mr. Fitzpatrick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what his assessment is of the contribution of creative industries to the cultural and economic performance of the UK. [158146]
  482W
  Janet Anderson
  The creative industries in the UK generate revenues of around £112.5 billion and employ some 1.3 million people. Exports contribute around £10.3 billion to the balance of trade, and the industries account for over 5 per cent. of GDP. In 1997–98, output grew by 16 per cent., compared with under 6 per cent. for the economy as a whole.

  Mr. Ben Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make a statement about his Department's support for the UK's creative industries. [158162]

  Janet Anderson
  We published in March a new Creative Industries Mapping Document which estimates the industries generate around £112.5 billion in revenue, contribute some £10.2 billion in export earnings, employ 1.3 million people, and account for over 5 per cent. of GDP.

  My Department has sought to co-ordinate efforts across Government in support of the creative industries. Through the efforts of the Creative Industries Task Force, we have investigated generic issues which impact on the creative industries, and recommend changes in areas such as skills and training, finance for creative ventures, intellectual property rights and export promotion. These changes have resulted in better careers guidance on the creative industries; more efforts at regional level to provide appropriate finance for creative businesses; improved information services on intellectual property for creators, users and the general public; and a more streamlined and focused range of support for exporters.

  Sporting Events
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the Government's policy is towards the hosting of major sporting events in the UK. [158147]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  The Government are committed to attracting top international major sporting events to this country because they attract world wide audiences and can showcase the UK as well as helping to boost participation in sport. UK Sport's Major Events Strategy is aimed at ensuring that all bids are properly co-ordinated and based on sound financial planning. It is important to consider not just the sporting event itself but the wider opportunities presented for community regeneration and social cohesion.

  National Stadium (Wembley)
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when he next plans to meet the chairman of the Football Association to discuss progress of building the new national stadium at Wembley. [158149]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  I meet Geoff Thompson, the Chairman of the Football Association, from time to time to discuss a range of issues. I last met with him last week, and we did indeed discuss the Wembley project when we met.

  Royal Parks
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what representations he has received on the reopening of those royal parks which are closed because of the foot and mouth outbreak. [158150]
  483W
  Mr. Alan Howarth
  I received representations both for and against the reopening of these parks. The parks were reopened on 11 April.

  Museum and Gallery Visits
  Mr. Bill O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many people have visited museums and galleries sponsored by his Department in the last two years. [158153]

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  In 1999–2000 the number of visits to museums and galleries sponsored by my Department was 26.08 million. Based on recent data returns the figure for 2000–01 is 30.50 million.

  The 2000–01 figure represents an increase of over 20 per cent. on 1998–99 the last year before DCMS began to extend free entry at its sponsored museums and galleries.

  I believe that these figures represent a considerable success for my Department's access policies and reflect a great deal of hard work and commitment on behalf of the sponsored bodies involved.

  Arts Projects
  Mr. Illsley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what proposals he has to assist local authorities in promoting arts projects. [158154]

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  Last year my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State published "Creating Opportunities". The preparation of a local cultural strategy in accordance with this guidance document will help local authorities to develop a coherent vision for cultural activities and projects.

  Television Licences
  Ms Coffey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will introduce measures to allow televisions in communal areas in homes where all residents are over 75 years old to have a free licence. [158156]

  Ms Oona King
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will introduce measures to allow televisions in communal areas in homes where all residents are over 75 years old to have a free licence. [158163]

  Janet Anderson
  The Government have received a number of representations from hon. Members and members of the public on this subject. We are currently considering the matter.

  Liz Blackman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how people in sheltered housing have been affected by changes to the television licensing regime; and if he will make a statement. [158161]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  The only recent change relating specifically to sheltered housing has been an amendment to the regulations governing the £5 Accommodation for Residential Care (ARC) concessionary licence scheme in April 2000. This brought the qualifying age for men and women into line at 60. Information is not available on the number of additional beneficiaries resulting from this change.
  484W
  An estimated 500,000 people live in sheltered housing which qualifies for the ARC scheme. About 80 per cent. of these residents are aged 75 or over and therefore now qualify for the free licences introduced by the Government in November last year. The number of people living in sheltered housing which does not qualify for the ARC scheme is not known, but any residents who are 75 or over are also entitled to a free licence.

  Millennium Dome
  Mr. Wilkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what his estimate is of the costs of care and maintenance of the Millennium Dome from the date of the disposal of the majority of its contents by auction to 7 June. [158158]

  Janet Anderson
  The auction of the majority of the Dome's contents was completed on 2 March 2001. The cost of care and maintenance of the Dome site and structures from that date to 7 June is forecast to be about £1.6 million to £2 million covering rates, utilities, site servicing, security, and insurance, and a proportion of the IT and staffing support relevant to the care and maintenance function.

  Mr. Swayne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much the Millennium Commission has spent on the Millennium Dome; and if he will make a statement. [158151]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  The Millennium Commission has approved total grant to the New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) of £628 million for the Millennium Experience at Greenwich and its associated national programme of events and activities.

  Culture Online
  Mr. Wyatt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will place the tender documents for Culture online in the public domain. [158159]

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  My Department has not tendered for third parties to deliver materials and services for Culture online. This will be a matter for Culture online itself once it has been established as a statutory corporation. We ran a tendering exercise to appoint consultants to develop a business case for Culture online, between October 2000 and January 2001. Copies of this tender document have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses. The business case will be completed by summer 2001.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what space for poetry will be made available in Culture online. [158165]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  The provision of online poetry is within Culture online's broad remit. However, it will be a matter for Culture online itself to decide the amount of space that will be provided for individual projects and themes, including poetry, once it has been formed as a statutory corporation.

  Foot and Mouth
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to his oral answer of 26 March 2001,Official Report, column 663, on tourism

  485W
  and foot and mouth, what estimate he has made of the loss of tourism businesses as a result of the foot and mouth outbreak in the past four weeks. [158160]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  Our best estimate on the basis of the information so far obtained is that losses of revenue by the English tourism industry will be around £140 million per week averaged over the eight month tourist season. I do not have any estimate of the number of businesses which may be lost as a result of foot and mouth. It is precisely in order to prevent such losses that the Government have introduced a package of measures to help small and rural tourism businesses.

  Mr. Edwards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make a statement about financial compensation for tourist businesses adversely affected by foot and mouth. [158152]

  Janet Anderson
  A package of financial measures to help tourist businesses affected by foot and mouth was announced by my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Environment and chairman of the Rural Task Force, on 20 March.

  Mr. Levitt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what representations he has received from the Youth Hostels Association in respect of the damage it has suffered as a not-for-profit organisation within the tourist industry during the course of the recent foot and mouth experience; if he will take special measures to assist not-for-profit organisations in these circumstances; and if he will make a statement. [159348]

  Janet Anderson
  The Department has received representations from the Youth Hostels Association on the effects of the foot and mouth disease outbreak on the Association.

  A range of relief measures are now available in rural areas and we have provided additional funding for promotional work by the English Tourism Council and British Tourist Authority. However, we have no plans to introduce special measures for not-for profit organisations at this time.

  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what representations he has received from(a) the English Tourism Council and (b) the British Tourist Authority on the cost of additional marketing campaigns to combat the economic impact of foot and mouth disease. [159386]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  [holding answer 27 April 2001]: The English Tourism Council(ETC) has made representations for additional funding in support of the Government's aim to reinforce the message that Britain is open for business and to enable them to assist with the recovery plan following the foot and mouth outbreak. On 6 April, my Department announced that £3.8 million in additional funding was being made available to the ETC for an advertising and promotion campaign to restore public confidence in visiting the countryside. The British Tourist Authority (BTA) has also made representations for additional funding in support of the Government's aim to reinforce the message overseas that. Britain is open for business. On 6 April, my Department announced that £2.2 million in additional funding was being made available to the BTA for the pro notion of tourism overseas.
  486W
  On 25 April, my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister announced in the House that more money will be allocated to tourism promotion work. A further announcement will be made in the next few days.

  Tourism
  Sir Sydney Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make a statement about recent initiatives to encourage tourists to come to England. [158164]

  Janet Anderson
  The British Tourist Authority promotes England, along with the rest of Britain, as a tourist destination through its work in 27 markets overseas.

  England accounts for some 85 per cent. of all overseas visitors to Britain (estimated at over 25 million in 2000) and around 90 per cent. of overseas visitors' spending (estimated at £12.75 billion in 2000).

  Recent BTA initiatives aimed at attracting overseas visitors to England include promotions of film and TV locations, such as the locations used in the forthcoming 'Harry Potter' film, English gardens, and sporting venues and events.

  Mr. Simon Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make a statement on the work of the British Tourist Authority in promoting Wales abroad. [158148]

  Janet Anderson
  The British Tourist Authority (BTA) works with the Wales Tourist Board (WTB) as equal, strategic partners in promoting Wales abroad. The BTA has an Overseas Marketing Agreement with the WTB, which sets out their respective roles, responsibilities and working relationships in the overseas promotion of Britain and Wales. In addition, the Chairman of the WTB is a member of the BTA Board, representing Welsh interests and advising on strategic and policy matters whenever key decisions are taken.

  Mr. Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what arrangements he has made for his Department to monitor visitor numbers to major attractions and tourism destinations in rural areas. [159347]

  Janet Anderson
  The Department of Culture, Media and Sport, the English Tourism Council (ETC) and the Regional Tourist Boards are liaising regularly with a number of tourism-related bodies in order to monitor the impact of foot and mouth on tourism in both rural and urban areas. The ETC also conducts an annual survey of visits to visitor attractions, although this does not at present have a separate rural category.

  Mr. Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans he has to restore a marketing function to the English Tourism Council. [159346]

  Janet Anderson
  The English Tourism Council (ETC) was set up following the publication of the Government's tourism strategy, "Tomorrow's Tourism", in 1999. The ETC was given the role as a strategic body for tourism in England—undertaking research, ensuring quality, promoting best practice and innovation, overseeing systems for data collection and promoting sustainable tourism in England and wise growth.
  487W
  The ETC has neither been asked nor funded to carry out routine promotion campaigns—Ministers have taken the view that the marketing of English Tourism is best undertaken by the British Tourist Authority for marketing the country as a whole to overseas visitors and by the Regional Tourist Boards (RTBs) for their particular parts of England. These arrangements are reflected in the funding agreement between DCMS and the ETC. However the agreement has recently been amended to enable the ETC to carry out marketing for the recovery plan specifically prepared for the foot and mouth outbreak. The ETC has received an additional allocation of £3.8 million to help restore public confidence in visiting the countryside. To date, it has set up an English Visitor Hotline, launched a national advertising and promotional campaign and, working with the RTBs, it is providing public information leaflets.

  Arts (School Pupils)
  Mr. Hilary Benn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make a statement on encouraging more school pupils to participate in the arts. [158155]

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  Ensuring everyone has access to high quality arts education, from pre-school through to lifelong learning, is a key priority for my Department. We are working closely with partners on a range of policies to deliver this, including the Department for Education and Employment's £270 million Music Standards Fund, the £30 million Lottery funded National Foundation for Youth Music, the £130 million Spaces for Sport and Arts initiative, which will create around 300 multi-purpose sports and arts facilities for primary schools in some of the most deprived areas of the country and the new Artsmark award scheme which has been available to schools since January. We are also establishing 16 Creative Partnerships, targeted on deprived areas, ensuring every school child in the Partnership area has access to an innovative programme of artistic and creative opportunities.

  Digital Television
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the decision by the Italian Government to legislate for analogue switchover in 2006; and what discussions officials from his Department have had with the Italian Government concerning their decision. [159599]

  Janet Anderson
  It is not for me to comment on a decision taken by the Italian Government about a matter of domestic policy. However, my officials have had informal discussions with their Italian colleagues, which emphasised the differences between the broadcasting markets of the two countries.

  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if the Government's criteria to be met before analogue switchover occurs will be applied on a regional basis. [159598]

  Janet Anderson
  The criteria we have set out for digital switchover are UK-wide. Whether it will be appropriate to proceed on a regional basis will depend on the speed of take-up across the country.
  488W
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps he(a) is taking and (b) intends to take to promote digital television; and if he will make a statement on his target date for the switching off of the analogue transmitters. [159601]

  Janet Anderson
  Initiatives such as the digital television labelling scheme, the digital neighbourhood trials and plans to increase the power of digital signals on eight key transmitters have recently been announced. We will continue to work with broadcasters, manufacturers, and retailers on the promotion of digital television. The target timetable for switchover to digital television remains at 2006–10.

  Richmond Park
  Mr. Colman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when he intends to open Robin Hood Gate into Richmond Park. [159692]

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  Responsibility for the subject of this question has been delegated to the Royal Parks Agency under its Chief Executive, William Weston. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from William Weston to Mr. Tony Colman, dated 30 April 2001:
  I have been asked by the Secretary of State to reply to your Parliamentary Question about reopening Robin Hood Gate in Richmond Park as this is an operational matter for which I am responsible.
  We intend to reopen Robin Hood Gate on Wednesday 9th May. We have been refurbishing the gate as part of a planned programme of refurbishment and took the opportunity to carry out the work while the park was closed to traffic. Unfortunately we were unable to complete the work before the park reopened.

  Special Advisers (Overseas Visits)
  Mr. Tyrie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on how many occasions between 31 March 2000 and 31 March 2001(a) departmental and (b) non-departmental special advisers have travelled abroad in an official capacity. [158557]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  During the period 31 March 2000 to 31 March 2001, special advisers in this Department travelled overseas on official business on four occasion; to Venice (Italy), Berlin (Germany) and Apeldoorn and Haarlem (Netherlands).

  Appointments (Age Limit)
  Tony Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 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. [158112]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  In appointing people to the boards of public bodies sponsored by my Department, we are committed to equality of opportunity and to increasing the diversity of those appointed. This includes the principle of selection based on merit which matches the abilities, experience and qualities of individuals to the needs of the public appointment in question. There is no age limit.

  Ealing Studios
  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what representations he has received regarding the future of Ealing Studios; and if he will make a statement. [159400]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  [holding answer 27 April 2001]: I have received 226 letters about Ealing Studios; 224 of which have asked me to consider adding some of the buildings on the site to the statutory list of buildings of special architectural or historic interest. The buildings are, in fact, already under consideration for listing and I hope to announce my decision soon.

  Analogue Licences
  Mr. Gray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if existing analogue licences will be automatically renewed by those applying for digital licences. [159275]

  Janet Anderson
  [holding answer 27 April 2001]: Any national or local analogue independent radio service which has secured a place on a relevant digital multiplex may apply for its analogue licence to be renewed. The same system does not apply to television.

  Premier Christian Radio
  Mr. Gray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will grant automatic renewal to Premier Christian Radio's analogue licence. [159264]

  Janet Anderson
  [holding answer 27 April 2001]: The Radio Authority is required automatically to re-advertise, in an open competition, all analogue local licences in areas where the number of persons, aged 15 years or over, resident in the coverage area of that service exceeds 4.5 million. The only analogue services exempted from this requirement are those who broadcast, or are committed to broadcast, on a digital multiplex in the relevant area. As Premier Christian Radio is prohibited t y current legislation from holding a digital licence, its analogue licence cannot be automatically renewed. The Government are committed to bring forward communications legislation which would remove this prohibition.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Foot and Mouth
  Mr. Curry
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he will publish a daily total of the numbers of animals, by species, awaiting slaughter under the Livestock Welfare (Disposal) Scheme; [156904]

  (2) how many animals broken down by species, have been accepted for slaughter under the Livestock Welfare (Disposal) Scheme. [156908]

  Mr. Fabricant
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many animals were removed from farms under the welfare disposal scheme from the beginning of the foot and mouth outbreak to 31 March. [156923]

  Mr. Livsey
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many animals were slaughtered in the animal welfare slaughter scheme as a consequence 490W
  of the current foot and mouth outbreak in the period to 20 April; and how many animals remain to be slaughtered. [158601]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answers 9 and 26 April 2001]: As at close on 25 April 2001 the cumulative totals of animals by species which have been registered under the Livestock Welfare (Disposal) Scheme, slaughtered or withdrawn are as given in the table:

  Species

  Animals registered

  Registered animals withdrawn

  Animals slaughtered

  Total backlog

  Sheep

  893,068

  57,746

  310,781

  524,541

  Pigs

  340,501

  29,419

  146,740

  164,342

  Cattle

  96,007

  2,894

  17,867

  75,246

  Deer/goats/llamas

  5,394

  7

  439

  4,948

  Total

  1,334,970

  90,066

  475,827

  769,077

  A daily report of progress under this scheme is available in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if vaccinations for foot and mouth of(a) exotic animals and (b) rare breeds of domestic animals which are not intended for export would compromise disease-free status. [156652]

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 2 April 2001]: The European Commission have agreed that each member state may resort to emergency vaccination of susceptible species in zoos with endangered species listed on the red list laid down by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature.

  The vaccination of any susceptible animal, even where limited to special categories of animals not primarily concerned with trade, would usually affect an EU member state's foot and mouth status. This leaves unresolved the question of the UK regaining foot and mouth disease-free status if the Government decide to proceed with the vaccination of particular categories of animals. It is unlikely however such special cases would present a serious problem to the resumption of trade.

  Mr. Fabricant
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make it his policy to use trained hunt kennel men to augment slaughter teams. [156015]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 2 April 2001]: Hunt kennel men are already being used within slaughter teams, particularly in Cumbria. The Countryside Alliance is providing details of kennel men to the Ministry. This information is then disseminated to the slaughter teams.

  Mr. Fabricant
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many doses of foot and mouth vaccine are in stock. [156009]

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 2 April 2001]: The International Foot and Mouth Vaccine Bank at Pirbright holds stocks of an emergency vaccine which would protect against the O-type virus which is causing the present outbreak in the UK. 500,000 doses are ready to use in case they are needed. The acquisition of stocks of additional vaccine strains is considered annually, based on the perceived threat to International Vaccine Bank member countries.
  491W
  The European Vaccine Bank holds 5 million doses of a suitable vaccine. Effective vaccines are also available commercially.

  Mr. Fabricant
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action will be taken to identify sheep that have recovered from foot and mouth infection. [156014]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 2 April 2001]: Serological examination for antibodies to foot and mouth disease can identify when sheep have been exposed to infection. Serosurveillance is currently being used for diagnostic and epidemiological purposes, and as part of the process of relaxing infected area status. Over the longer term serology will underpin the strategy to resume disease-free status.

  Mr. Collins
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what advice he is issuing in relation to the foot and mouth epidemic to farmers disinfecting their vehicles when entering and leaving farm land. [157020]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 10 April 2001]: All farmers are advised to spray the wheels of all vehicles entering or leaving their premises with an approved disinfectant, and it is recommended that only essential visits or deliveries to farms are made.

  The MAFF website www.maff.gov.uk contains a list of approved disinfectants for use against foot and mouth disease, a list of suppliers of these disinfectants and guidance for proper use of disinfectants.

  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what impact the drainage system at Throckmorton airfield(a) has had and (b) will have on (i) excavating trenches for carcase disposal, (ii) discharges into local watercourses and (iii) the amenity lakes on the south side of the airfield. [157781]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 10 April 2001]: A Soil and Water Engineer is on site working closely with consulting engineers to ensure that any impacts are minimal. A senior hydrologist from the Environment Agency was also consulted prior to burial. A number of conditions were imposed upon the operation, which have been met.

  Mr. Fabricant
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when the pigs at the farm of Keith Mallaber, Grove Farm, Whittington Hurst, Staffordshire, will be removed under the welfare disposal scheme. [156924]

  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when a decision will be reached on the application by Mr. Tim Dunkley of Greenfield Farm, Upton Warren, Bromsgrove, for disposal of his stock under the welfare disposal scheme; and if he will make a statement on the reasons for the delay in making this decision. [157013]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answers 5 and 9 April 2001]: It is not possible to comment on the position of individual applications made under the Livestock Welfare (Disposal) Scheme. Major efforts are under way to provide appropriate help to applicants under the scheme. Details of work on welfare issues have been sent to all hon. Members by my noble Friend Baroness Hayman.
  492W
  Sir Peter Emery
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what support he is giving to the agricultural supply industry during the foot and mouth outbreak. [156281]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 2 April 2001]: We are aware that the outbreak of foot and mouth disease is having serious consequences for many businesses. The Task Force chaired by my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Environment announced measures on 20 March to assist businesses affected by the outbreak, such as agricultural suppliers, and alleviate the effects of foot and mouth disease. The Task Force is continuing to consider the economic impact of the disease and the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions is collecting information relating to this from all parts of the country.

  Mr. Fabricant
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will discuss with Department for Education and Employment the issuing of temporary work permits to Australian veterinary surgeons on holiday in the United Kingdom. [156012]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 2 April 2001]: Responsibility for the issue of work permits lies with Works Permits (UK), part of the Department for Education and Employment and with the Home Office. The Ministry has been in discussion with both these Departments regarding the issue of work permits to vets from abroad who want to work with the Ministry during the current outbreak.

  The Home Office has no objections to those qualified vets who are currently in the UK under the Working Holidaymaker Scheme taking up full employment on behalf of MAFF for the duration of the crisis without the need to obtain an additional work permit.

  A qualified vet currently in the UK as a visitor may make an application for leave to remain for the purposes of providing veterinary services to MAFF during the crisis. In those circumstances, consideration will be given to the granting of a period of six months leave to remain for the purpose of permit free employment with MAFF.

  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make it his policy to offer financial support fir day-to-day living costs to farmers who have confirmed outbreaks of foot and mouth disease and who wish to save the compensation received for slaughtered stock for purposes of restocking when their farms are declared clear. [157061]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 5 April 2001]: Compensation is paid for the full market value of all animals slaughtered as a result of foot and mouth disease. However, in addition to this MAFF is paying £156 million in optional agrimonetary compensation to livestock farmers. We have also ensured that, where animals slaughtered are the subject of a current subsidy claim, subsidy entitlement will be preserved as a result of the application of EU rules on force majeure. Overall, we have committed over half a billion pounds to farmers so far in the course of this outbreak.

  The Government's priority at present remains the eradication of the disease. However, the possibility of taking further action in order to assist the recovery of the agriculture industry is being given consideration.
  493W
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the Bruhn Newtech EOD Frontline hazard pre diction system with regard to the airborne dissemination of foot and mouth virus. [156919]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 5 April 2001]: The Ministry is aware of the system referred to and expert advice is that it would not deliver any additional capability over the models currently being used to predict airborne spread of foot and mouth disease.

  Mr. Gray
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many RSPCA inspectors who are qualified slaughtermen are being employed in the foot and mouth cull. [156901]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 5 April 2001]: There are no RSPCA inspectors currently dedicated to full-time foot and mouth slaughter duties. However, RSPCA inspectors (328 inspectors as of 19 April) are working with the Intervention Board, local MAFF Divisional Offices and the Meat and Livestock Commission, to slaughter stock in extreme cases, where there are animal welfare difficulties.

  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what representations he has received on the protection of rare breeds during the foot and mouth crisis; and if he will introduce(a) blood tests to spare those in a firebreak situation and (b) the use of vaccination to protect irreplaceable breeds; [156277]

  (2) what representations he has received on vaccinating rare breeds against foot and mouth disease; and if he will make a statement. [157019]

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answers 2 and 9 April 2001]: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 26 April 2001, Official Report, column 346W

  Mr. Duncan
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what his policy is on(a) reducing to a smaller area and (b) lifting altogether the designated foot and mouth infected area around Stonesby, Leicestershire. [156466]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 2 April 2001]: The infected area around Stonesby in Leicestershire was lifted on 19 April by the Foot and Mouth Disease (Revocation) Declaratory Order 2001.

  Mr. Baldry
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects the post-slaughter clean-up to begin at Grange Farm, Little Chesterton, Oxfordshire. [155438]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 26 March 2001]: The holding in question is split into to two premises. Post-slaughter clean up began, with preliminary cleansing and disinfection of both premises, immediately after slaughter. The final cleansing and disinfection of Grange Farm, the home premises, was completed on 11 April and was completed on the second premises on March 27. Restocking can begin 21 days after the final cleansing and disinfection has been completed. Restrictions will be lifted only when it has been shown that none of the animals has developed any clinical signs of foot and mouth.
  494W
  Mr. Gray
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if fat cattle farmers in restricted areas may be licensed to take 30-month-old cattle to a licensed abattoir in the same restricted area. [155333]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 23 March 2001]: The over30-month scheme is temporarily suspended. However all livestock, including cattle over thirty months of age, where they face serious insurmountable welfare problems due to the foot and mouth disease control measures, may be entered by their owner into the Livestock Welfare (Disposal) Scheme.

  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what guidance he issued to farmers, and when, on the requirements for applications for licences to move livestock with effect from 23 April; and if he will make a statement. [158874]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 26 April 2001]: Due to foot and mouth disease movements of livestock are not allowed unless under licence to slaughter or for welfare reasons. From 23 April it has been possible to move animals that are in an infected area but outside a surveillance zone to slaughter. Guidance on applying for a licence was made available prior to this date on the MAFF website and from local authorities who are responsible for issuing the licence.

  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what evidence he has collated recently of vaccinated meat entering the UK from(a) France, (b) Holland, (c) other EU countries, (d) Argentina and (e) South Africa. [158961]

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 26 April 2001]: None. Within the EU, the Netherlands is the only country vaccinating against foot and mouth disease. Vaccinated animals are being slaughtered and meat from them is not being placed on the market. The importation into the UK of fresh meat derived from foot and mouth susceptible animals originating in South Africa and Argentina is currently prohibited. Prior to the prohibitions meat from vaccinated animals could not be imported from South Africa. Meat from vaccinated animals could be imported from Argentina but it had to be deboned and fully matured so as to remove any risk of live foot and mouth virus being present.

  Mrs. Shephard
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has calculated the effect on pigmeat exports of the introduction of a vaccination against foot and mouth disease. [158882]

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 26 April 2001]: It is difficult to predict the effects of a vaccination programme on pigmeat exports. Given the scale of the outbreak we have suffered, we can expect that other countries will want to be satisfied that the disease has been fully stamped out. This will be the position whether we vaccinate or not.

  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when(a) he and (b) his officials were first alerted to (i) the possible presence and (ii) the confirmed presence of foot and mouth disease in Britain. [153364]

  Mr. Nick Brown
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the document available in the Libraries of the House entitled "Discovery and Confirmation of Foot and Mouth Disease in Great Britain: 19–24 February 2001".
  495W
  Mr. Stephen O'Brien
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the vaccine manufacturers, stockists and distributors(a) currently supplying (i) advice, (ii) services and (iii) materials and (b) working (A) for and (B) on behalf of (x) his Department and (y) 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. [156410]

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 30 March 2001]: We are not aware of any contacts with any manufacturers, stockists and distributors prior to 19 February. However, the UK is a member of the Foot and Mouth Disease International Vaccine Bank (IVB). The UK together with other stakeholders of the IVB and the Commission of the European Communities hold annual meetings to discuss Foot and Mouth Disease vaccine availability.

  Dr. Julian Lewis
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what his policy is on the use of vaccination(a) as an alternative to and (b) as a supplement to the policy of mass slaughter as a method of combating the foot and mouth epidemic. [156212]

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 30 March 2001]: Vaccination has always been and remains an option which we keep under constant review in the light of veterinary and epidemiological advice. We have given serious consideration to vaccinating cattle in North Cumbria and, possibly, Devon as a supplement to our existing strategy. However, without the support of a substantial majority of the farming community, veterinarians, the wider food industry and consumers, such a programme would be very difficult to implement on the ground.

  Mr. Fabricant
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make it his policy to immunise those dairy cows which are destined for the over-30-month slaughter scheme against foot and mouth disease; and if he will make a statement. [156744]

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 3 April 2001]: The Government are currently considering using vaccination as part of the strategy for controlling foot and mouth disease. 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.

  Vaccination in other areas has not been ruled out. But the weight of infection and the ratio of cattle to sheep distinguish these two areas from any others.

  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his oral statement of 9 April 2001,Official Report, columns 705–07, what plans he has to vaccinate deer in deer parks which are neither wild animals nor kept for food production in order to protect them from foot and mouth. [158220]

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 23 April 2001]: At present we have no plans to vaccinate deer. The risk of wild deer spreading foot and mouth disease is low and the risk to park deer of catching foot and mouth disease from the public is also low.
  496W
  Mr. Duncan
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what is the(a) minimum and (b) maximum period of time that he has decided should elapse before lifting a designated foot and mouth infected area; [157487]

  (2) what his policy is on deciding when a foot and mouth infected zone can be lifted. [157488]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answers 9 April 2001]: The procedure for lifting infected area restrictions involves a process of checking that there are no infected animals in the area surrounding the infected premises. Periodic veterinary inspections are made of all susceptible animals on holdings within 3 kilometres of an infected premises. These inspections continue for at least 21 days following the slaughter of animals from, and satisfactory preliminary disinfections of, the infected premises. This is then followed by blood tests of a statistical sample of all sheep and goats, within the 3 km zone.

  The infected area can be revoked 30 days after slaughter of animals and disinfection, provided all the samples are negative and there are no signs of clinical disease, or further confirmed or outstanding cases within the area. This period may be longer if surveillance suggests that disease may be present in the area. The effectiveness of this procedure will be kept under review.

  There is no maxi mum period before an infected area can be lifted. If disease continues to be present in an area, restrictions cannot be lifted.

  Sir David Madel
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make arrangements for the release of foot and mouth vaccine to zoos that include endangered species that are susceptible to foot and mouth disease; and if he will make a statement. [157520]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 9 April 2001]: The Standing Veterinary Committee of the European Commission recently authorised member states to vaccinate endangered species but only in very restricted circumstances. Any decision to vaccinate could be made only after the zoo had put in place a wide range of biosecurity measures including, if necessary, closure of the whole or part of the zoo.

  We are currently considering whether to pursue this option.

  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information(a) has been and (b) will be provided to parish councils in the vicinity of Throckmorton airfield about his Department's plans for carcase disposal; and if he will make this information available to all interested parties. [157782]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 10 April 2001]: The parish councils have been kept informed of developments on the site and members of parish councils have carried out an accompanied visit to the site.

  We will continue to liaise with parish councils particularly over any operational changes which may be necessary.

  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) how many lorry loads of fuel he estimates will have to be transported to Throckmorton airfield on a daily basis, and over what period, to permit the burning of animal carcases; [157063]
  497W
  (2) what assessment he has made of the implications for (a) local farms and (b) residential properties near Throckmorton airfield of burning animal carcases on the site; [156980]

  (3) what assessment he has made of (a) wind strength and direction and (b) the presence of birds and rats attracted to Hill and Moor landfill site on the suitability of Throckmorton airfield site for the burning and burial of carcases; [157892]

  (4) if the combustion materials being stored at Throckmorton airfield will be used to burn animals on that site; and if he will make a statement. [158187]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answers 5, 10 and 23 April 2001]: There are currently no plans to burn animal carcases at Throckmorton airfield. The site provides a convenient and central storage facility for pyre materials.

  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the implications for livestock farms in the immediate vicinity of Throckmorton of the use of the airfield as a disposal site for culled animals. [156995]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 5 April 2001]: The disposal of carcases at Throckmorton Airfield is carried out under close supervision. The burial site is isolated on all sides from livestock farms.

  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what types of lorry will be used to transport animal carcases to Throckmorton for burial; and what safeguards will be employed to prevent the spread of the virus from these lorries. [156994]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 5 April 2001]: Carcases are transported in clean, disinfected, leak-proof and covered transport. The load is disinfected and enclosed in plastic sheeting. Sawdust is used as an absorbent material. The tailgate of the lorry is sealed and the lorry covered with a suitable tarpaulin.

  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he made of the geological conditions of Throckmorton airfield before deciding to dispose of culled animals there; and if he will make a statement. [157060]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 5 April 2001]: Prior to agreeing with MAFF the location of the disposal site at Throckmorton, the Environment Agency undertook a risk assessment of the geological, hydrogeological and hydrological conditions at the airfield. This included an assessment of risk to local groundwater and surface water potable supplies.

  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) at what time on Thursday 29 March his Department notified(a) the Ministry of Defence, (b) Wychavon district council and (c) Worcestershire county council of his decision to use Throckmorton airfield as a disposal site for culled animals; [156985]

  (2) what consultation his Department had with representatives of the local community prior to the decision to use Throckmorton airfield as a disposal site for culled carcases; and if he will make a statement. [156984]
  498W
  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 5 April 2001]: The decision to use Throckmorton airfield as a disposal site for culled animals was not made until after 18:00 on Thursday 29 March. Discussions on the suitability of the site had taken place over the course of the previous days with Worcestershire county council, Wychavon district council and the Environment Agency. The Ministry of Defence was fully involved as the site is in its ownership.

  At 12 noon on Friday 30 March, a press conference was held which local people, parish councillors, Worcester county council and Wychavon district council attended.

  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make it his policy that only animals from contiguous culls carried out to prevent the spread of foot and mouth disease will be buried at Throckmorton airfield. [157006]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 5 April 2001]: The intention is that Throckmorton airfield will be used only to bury animals slaughtered from dangerous contacts, neighbouring farms and the Livestock Welfare (Disposal) Scheme.

  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what legal and planning processes must be completed to enable the burial of animal carcases(a) on the Ministry of Defence land and (b) at Throckmorton airfield. [156982]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 5 April 2001]: The regulations which govern the burial of animal carcases are the Animal By-Products Order 1999 and the Groundwater Regulations 1998. The requirements of these regulations must be satisfied before burial is carried out.

  Development carried out by or on behalf of the Crown, on Crown land, is not subject to statutory planning control. A non-statutory procedure for the consideration of such development proposals is set out in DOE Circular 18/84. These procedures are currently the subject of challenge in the courts. Whether planning permission is required in any particular case is a matter for the local planning authority concerned in the first instance.

  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if his assessment of the suitability of the Throckmorton site for the disposal of culled animals included an assessment of odour. [157066]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 5 April 2001]: The Environment Agency did not assess the potential impact of odour within its risk assessment process, prior to authorising the site, as there is no requirement under the Groundwater Regulations to do so. However, an odour control system is installed on the site, and this is currently being updated.

  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the sites that were under consideration as possible locations for a mass burial site for animals slaughtered to control foot and mouth disease at the time of the Prime Minister's recent visit to Worcestershire. [156992]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 5 April 2001]: No specific sites were under consideration during the Prime Minister's visit to Worcester. The need to identify suitable sites was highlighted as a priority during the discussions.
  499W
  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if live animals will be taken to the site at Throckmorton, Worcestershire selected as a mass burial site for animals slaughtered to control foot and mouth disease for slaughter on site prior to burial. [156993]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 5 April 2001]: There are no current plans to transport live animals to Throckmorton for slaughter on site.

  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will estimate the total number of carcases to be buried at Throckmorton airfield; and for how long the burial operation will last. [156981]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 5 April 2001]: We will be guided by the Environment Agency and our consulting engineers regarding the site capacity. The duration of operations will be determined by site capacity and how the disease develops.

  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make it his policy not to burn animal carcases at Throckmorton airfield. [157247]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 6 April 2001]: There are currently no plans to burn animal carcases at Throckmorton airfield.

  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if carcases from(a) Wales and (b) English counties other than Worcestershire or Herefordshire, (i) have been sent and (ii) will be sent to the Throckmorton airfield disposal site; [157891]

  (2) from what catchment area animal carcases will be sent to Throckmorton airfield for burial; what chemicals will be used during the burial of animal carcases; and what age and type of animals will be burned at this site. [156987]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answers 5 and 10 April 2001]: The Throckmorton burial site will predominantly be accepting carcases from Gloucestershire, Worcestershire, Herefordshire and Shropshire. In exceptional circumstances, carcases may well be accepted from outside the area under the Livestock Welfare (Disposal) Scheme.

  Chemicals used during the burial of animal carcases are disinfectants as listed in the Disease of Animals (Approved Disinfectants) (Amendment) Order 1999 and the Disease of Animals (Approved Disinfectants) (Amendment) (England) Order 2000. The main disinfectant used is citric acid BP.

  There are currently no plans to burn animals at the site. Sheep, cattle (born after August 1996) and pigs will be buried at the site.

  Agriculture Council
  Mr. Hood
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what the outcome was of the Agriculture Council held in Brussels on 24 to 25 April; what the Government's voting record was at the Council; and if he will make a statement. [159572]

  Mr. Nick Brown
  I represented the UK at the meeting of EU Agriculture Ministers in Luxembourg on 24 April. The Minister for Rural Development in the Scottish Executive, Ross Finnie, was also present.
  500W
  As I reported to the House on 26 April, I brought the Agriculture Council up to date on our efforts to combat foot and mouth disease and the fact that our measures are bringing about a decline in the number of new cases. The Council also heard reports on FMD from the Commission and from the Dutch Agriculture Minister, and in response to a UK/Dutch initiative there was collective agreement to hold a conference later in the year to discuss the lessons to be learned from these outbreaks.

  The Council also heard a report from the Commission on the results of the EU-wide testing programme for BSE, and in particular agreed conclusions inviting the Standing Veterinary Committee to extend the temporary ban on meat and bone meal beyond the end of June. With the support of several other member states, I secured agreement from the Commission that they would re-examine the use of fishmeal in ruminant feed in the light of their current evaluation of cross—contamination risks.

  Turning to market-related measures, the Council considered a compromise text from the Presidency and Commission on reform of the EU sugar regime, extending the duration of the quota system for a further four years but with a review before end-2002. Germany, Sweden, the Netherlands, Denmark and the UK were able to support this compromise, but others were strongly opposed. The issue will be re-examined in May.

  The Council reached unanimous agreement on measures to reform the cotton regime, within strict budgetary limits. The Council also adopted by qualified majority a proposal to permit organic producers to grow fodder legumes on set aside land; only France abstained in the vote on this small but worthwhile measure.

  The Council agreed conclusions on the integration of environmental concerns into the common agricultural policy; these will form part of a report on environmental sustainability going to EU Heads of Government in June. The Commission also reported to the Council progress with the setting up of the proposed European Food Authority.

  Organic Farming
  Mr. Gray
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if the use of slug pellets prevents the designation of a lettuce farm as organic. [159261]

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 27 April 2001]: EU standards for organic production contained in Regulation (EEC) 2092/91 permit the use of slug pellets based on metaldehyde. But they may be used only in traps and the formulation must contain a repellent to prevent them from being taken by higher animal species. Subject to review, authorisation for the use of this material expires on 31 March 2002.

  However, the private sector bodies that certify individual organic farmers may apply standards stricter than the EU standards if they wish and at least one does not permit the use of slug pellets.

  Flood Defence
  Mr. Todd
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will review the benefit cost factors allowable in analyses of flood defence projects. [159361]
  501W
  Mr. Morley
  The Ministry keeps its guidance on the economic appraisal of flood and coastal defence projects under review, inter alia, in the light of developing methodology. Revised guidance was published in 1999. The Environment Agency's "Lessons Learned" Report on the 2000 floods raises questions about the process of making investment decisions. I have asked the Agency to provide me with supporting evidence by September 2001 and the Ministry will then consider with them, and the other operating authorities, whether changes are required.

  Mr. Todd
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will assess the need for catchment flood planning; and if he will make a statement. [159352]

  Mr. Morley
  The MAFF Strategy for Flood and Coastal Defence, published in 1993, emphasised the importance of a strategic approach to the delivery of flood and coastal defences. At the time priority was given to coastal defences and, in partnership with operating authorities, MAFF developed guidance on the provision of Shoreline Management Plans.

  The floods of autumn 2000 re-emphasised the need for a strategic approach to inland floods and as a result the Government initiated catchment area studies leading to Catchment Flood Management Plans. These plans will provide a large scale strategic planning framework for the integrated management of flood risks. The Government have made provision for the payment of £2 million in both this year and the next to the Environment Agency on this initiative. Initially five pilot studies are being undertaken.

  Ministerial Visits
  Sir Brian Mawhinney
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he will list the Ministers in his Department who visited any of the constituencies which are in the Peterborough unitary authority area between 1 January 2000 and 14 February 2001, indicating in each case(a) the date of the visit, (b) the constituencies included in the visit and (c) if the local hon. Member met the Minister; [151020]

  (2) when he will give a substantive reply to the question tabled by the right hon. Member for North—West Cambridgeshire for answer on 26 February. [154727]

  Mr. Nick Brown
  [holding answers 26 February and 20 March 2001]: On 23 October 2000, my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary visited the North—West Cambridgeshire constituency and did not meet the local hon. Member. On 23 January 2001, I visited the North-East Cambridgeshire constituency and did not meet the local hon. Member.

  Less Favoured Areas
  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many producers within less favoured areas submitted integrated administration and control system (IACS) forms for the first time in 2000.[156111]

  Mr. Nick Brown
  This information could be supplied only at disproportionate cost.

  Farm Aid Package
  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will indicate for each component item of 502W
  the farm aid package announced on 30 March 2000 whether the funding provided is ring-fenced on an annual basis. [147850]

  Mr. Nick Brown
  [holding answer 30 January 2001]: Each component item of the £203.5 million farm aid package announced on 30 March 2000 was allocated for a particular purpose and time scale. The Regional Development Agencies have provision to carry over their share of this funding from one year to the next. It has also been agreed that the following underspends in 2000–01 can be carried over into 2001–02: £4.4 million on the Farm Business Advice Service, £3.9 million on the Pig Industry Restructuring Scheme, £0.6 million on the Agricultural Development Scheme and £0.3 million on the Rural Portal.

  Vets
  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many vets were employed by the State Veterinary Service in each year since 1997. [153242]

  Mr. Nick Brown
  In the State Veterinary Service there are 304 currently employed Veterinary Surgeons, which comprises 286 full-time posts.

  Year

  Full-time equivalent posts

  2000

  284

  1999

  283

  1998

  302

  1997

  289

  Anne M. Veneman
  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what(a) meetings and (b) telephone conversations he has had with Anne M. Veneman since her appointment as US Secretary of Agriculture. [153367]

  Mr. Nick Brown
  So far I have not had any meetings or conversations with Anne M. Veneman since her appointment as US Secretary of Agriculture. We had hoped to meet at the Agra Europe event on 29 March but unfortunately neither Ms Veneman nor I were able to attend. I hope that a meeting can be arranged at the earliest opportunity.

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he will provide a substantive answer to the question tabled for answer on 30 March (Ref. 156200). [159530]

  Ms Quin
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him on 26 April 2001,Official Report, column 349W.

  Land Use
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what percentage of land in England was(a) under cultivation for crops and (b) used for animal rearing purposes in (i) 1980, (ii) 1990 and (iii) the most recent year for which figures are available. [159595]

  Ms Quin
  The answer is in the table.
  503W

  Total area of England (Hectares)

  Crops (Percentage)

  Animal rearing (Percentage)

  1980

  13,042,200

  31.9

  37.8

  1990

  13,042,200

  32.7

  35.4

  2000

  13,042,200

  30.5

  31.2

  Notes:

  1. Crops include all arable crops some of which are grown for stockfeeding.

  2. Animal rearing is all grassland and rough grazing.

  3. Common land has not been included in the figures for animal rearing. There are 427,889 hectares of common land in England.

  Sources:

  Crops and Animal Rearing—June Agricultural Census 1980, 1990 and 2000 (main holdings only).

  Total Area of England—Office for National Statistics (2001 data).

HEALTH

  Sefton Health Authority
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much funding was allocated to Sefton health authority in total and per head of population in(a) 1995–96, (b) 1996–97, (c) 2000–01 and (d) 2001–02. [158518]

  Mr. Denham
  The allocation and allocation per weighted head of population for Sefton health authority for the period 1996–97 to 2001–02 are given in the table:

  Allocation (£ million)

  Allocation per weighted head of population (£)

  1996–971

  132.1

  428

  2000–012

  211.8

  709

  2001–02

  230.0

  772

  Notes:

  1 Allocations prior to 1996–97 were to regional health authorities.

  1 Figures for 1999–2000 onwards are for unified allocations covering hospital and community health services (HCHS) prescribing and discretionary general medical services. These figures are not comparable with earlier years, which are for HCHS only.

  Walk-in Centres
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS walk-in centres have been established in the north-west; and if he will list them. [158399]

  Mr. Denham
  There are currently eight walk-in centres in the north-west and these are based at:

  Manchester Airport

  Leigh

  Bury

  Rochdale

  St. Helens

  Wirral, Arrowe Park Hospital

  Wirral, Victoria Central Hospital

  Old Swan, Liverpool.

  A further two walk-in centres will be operational by August 2001. These will be based in Blackpool and Liverpool city centre.

  Waiting Times
  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to reduce inequities in waiting times between health authorities. [158925]

  Mr. Denham
  The National Health Service plan targets reduce the maximum waiting time to six months for inpatient treatment and three months for outpatient appointments by 2005. The Modernisation Agency and the Department's regional offices are working with the NHS to significantly improve access to care and to reduce variations in waiting times in the areas with the longest waits.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health which five health authorities have(a) the lowest and (b) the highest percentage of patients waiting for ordinary inpatient admission waiting more than one year; and what is the difference in unweighted net per capita funding for the two groups. [158924]

  Mr. Denham
  The information is shown in the tables. The use of unweighted populations takes no account of the relative needs of the population and comparisons should be treated with caution. Per capita figures on a weighted basis are also included.

  Inpatient data by health authority (HA) for December 2000—percentage of over 12 month waiters

  Health authority

  Percentage

  Lowest percentage

  Dorset

  0.2

  Sunderland

  0.5

  Doncaster

  0.6

  Gateshead and South Tyneside

  1.1

  County Durham and Darlington

  1.1

  Highest percentage

  North Cheshire

  11.6

  West Surrey

  12.3

  West Sussex

  13.4

  Southampton and SW Hampshire

  14.2

  East Surrey

  14.7

  Note:

  Data relate to ordinary admissions only.

  Source:

  Monthly waiting times return.

  Per capita funding

  £

  Health authorities with over 12 month waiters

  Unweighted

  Weighted

  Five HAs with lowest percentage

  797

  745

  Five HAs with highest percentage

  703

  743

  Waiting Lists
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people on(a) in-patient and (b) outpatient waiting lists were waiting more than 30 weeks in (i) health authorities and (ii) the NHS trusts that existed in March 1997. [159229]

  Mr. Denham
  [holding answer sent 27 April 2001]: Data are not collected on the number of patients waiting over 30 weeks.

  Mental Health Services
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the third tranche of the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services modernisation money for financial year 2001–02 will become available. [159157]

  Mr. Hutton
  In 2001–02 we shall be committing £35 million to the development of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) across health and local authorities. This includes the CAMHS Mental Health Grant to local authorities, which we have increased this year by £5 million to £15 million. The funds to the health service, £20 million, are now secure in health authority baseline allocations. I expect both health and local authorities to continue the good progress they have made over the last few years in developing services for this vulnerable group of children and young people.

  We set out a three-year modernisation fund programme for CAMHS in 1999, which included a further £10 million in 2001–02. However, in the spending review last year we decided to place as much funding as possible in main health authority allocations, allowing local health authorities to determine themselves how to implement national priorities, of which CAMHS is one.

  I am pleased to confirm that CAMHS will be part of the National Service Framework for Children's Services. This is a major development for CAMHS and will ensure that the quality of Child Mental Health Services will be at the top of the National Health Service agenda.

  Correspondence
  Sir Brian Mawhinney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the right hon. Member for North-West Cambridgeshire will receive a reply to his letter of 20 February about the colour imaging test. [159218]

  Mr. Denham
  [holding answer sent 27 April 2001]: A reply to the right hon. Member's letter of 20 February was sent on 26 April.

  Sir Brian Mawhinney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the right hon. Member for North-West Cambridgeshire will receive a reply to his letter of 21 March on behalf of his constituents Mr. and Mrs. Bolt. [159223]

  Ms Stuart
  [holding answer sent 27 April 2001]: A reply to the right hon. Member's letter was sent on the 23 April 2001.

  Sir Brian Mawhinney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the right hon. Member for North-West Cambridgeshire will receive a reply to his letter of 15 February on behalf of his constituent Ms P. Rogers. [159216]

  Mr. Denham
  [holding answer 27 April 2001]: A reply to the right hon. Member's letter of 15 February was sent on 26 April.

  Sir Brian Mawhinney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the right hon. Member for North-West Cambridgeshire will receive a reply to his letter of 12 February on behalf of his constituent Mrs. C. Dean. [159220]

  Mr. Denham
  [holding answer 27 April 2001]: A reply to the right hon. Member's letter of 12 February was sent on 28 April.
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  Sir Brian Mawhinney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 30 March 2001,Official Report, column 801W, when the right hon. Member's for North-West Cambridgshire will receive the promised reply to his letter on behalf of his constituent, Mr. Ball. [159228]

  Mr. Denham
  [holding answer sent 27 April 2001]: A reply to the right hon. Member's letter was sent on 27 May. I regret that the answer to the right hon. Member's question given on 30 March 2001, Official Report, column 801W contained an error in that it referred to a letter about another of the right hon. Member's constituents.

  Sir Brian Mawhinney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the right hon. Member for North-West Cambridgeshire will receive a reply to his letter of 12 March on behalf of his constituent, Mr. D. T. Vickers. [159214]

  Mr. Denham
  [holding answer 27 April 2001]: A reply to the right hon. Member's letter of 12 March was sent on 26 April.

  Sir Brian Mawhinney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the right hon. Member for North-West Cambridgeshire will receive a reply to his letter of 21 February on behalf of his constituent, Mr. J. T. Westgate. [159686]

  Mr. Denham
  A reply to the right hon. Member's letter of 21 February was sent on 26 April.

  Sir Brian Mawhinney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the right hon. Member for North-West Cambridgeshire will receive a reply to his letter of 21 February on behalf of his constituent Mrs. S. Cochrane.[159221]

  Mr. Denham
  [holding answer 27 April 2001]: A reply to the right hon. Member's letter of 21 February was sent on 26 April.

  NHS Beds
  Mr. Jim Murphy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what the average number of beds is in NHS hospitals in England; [159448]

  (2) what is the largest number of beds in an NHS hospital in England. [159449]

  Mr. Denham
  [holding answer 27 April 2001]: Bed data are collected annually at National Health Service trust level, rather than by individual hospital site. NHS trusts provide healthcare but may provide it at more than one hospital site.

  The average number of beds in NHS trusts in England in the financial year 1999–2000 was 548 (186,290 beds in 340 NHS trusts), the largest number being at Leeds Training Hospitals NHS trust with 2,709 beds.

  Patient Referrals (Non-medical Practitioners)
  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance his Department issues to non-medical practitioners when referring patients to hospital; and if he will make a statement. [146773]
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  Mr. Denham
  The largest groups are general dental practitioners and ophthalmic opticians and the conditions under which they make referrals are specified in their respective terms of service:"… a dentist who does not have the necessary facilities experience or expertise to provide the care and treatment the patient requires shall, if the patient agrees, refer him for the provision of that care and treatment by another dentist under the general dental services or by a hospital."
  "Where a contractor (ophthalmic optician) is of the opinion that a patient whose sight he has tested shows on examination signs of injury and disease in an eye or its immediate vicinity, or any other abnormality of the eye or the rest of the visual system which may require medical treatment he shall, if appropriate, and with the consent of the patient, inform the patient's doctor of his opinion."
  In emergencies and also under some locally agreed arrangements opticians refer patients direct to hospital ophthalmologists and notify the patient's general practitioner.

  Audiology
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the hospitals whose audiology department is equipped to use digital technology for patients with hearing loss; what plans he has to expand the use of this technology; and if he will make a statement. [159284]

  Mr. Hutton
  Twenty National Health Service trusts are participating in the Department's "modernising NHS hearing aid services" projects over the two years 2000–01 and 2001–02, which is evaluating digital hearing aid provision for NHS patients. The NHS trusts are listed as follows.

  Addenbrookes NHS Trust

  James Paget Healthcare NHS Trust

  Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust (Royal National Throat, Nose and Ear Hospital)

  Forest Healthcare NHS Trust

  Bradford Hospitals NHS Trust

  Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

  Trafford Healthcare NHS Trust

  Royal United Hospital Bath NHS Trust

  East Berkshire Community Health NHS Trust

  Royal Berkshire and Battle Hospitals NHS Trust

  Winchester and Eastleigh Healthcare NHS Trust

  Queens Medical Centre Nottingham University NHS Trust

  Sheffield Children's Hospital NHS Trust

  University Hospital Birmingham NHS Trust

  Royal Shrewsbury and Princess Royal Hospitals NHS Trust

  City Hospitals Sunderland NHS Trust

  Morecambe Bay Hospitals NHS Trust

  United Bristol Healthcare NHS Trust

  Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust

  The Kings Mill Centre for Healthcare Services NHS Trust.

  The Department will study the results of the project to determine how changes to hearing aid services should be rolled out to the NHS.

  Pending the outcome of the project, all NHS trusts, with the appropriate staff, training, equipment and experience have been informed through a newsletter that they are eligible to apply for access to the NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency contract for digital hearing aids.

  Endoscopic Sinus Surgery
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the current waiting times for endoscopic sinus surgery in each NHS trust in Greater Manchester. [159286]

  Mr. Denham
  The waiting times for endoscopic sinus surgery are not collected centrally.

  NHS Performance Indicators
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make it his policy to require the NHS Executive to collate and publish annually all relevant NHS performance indicators at the level of individual NHS trust, alongside those performance indicators appropriate to health authorities; and if he will make a statement. [159285]

  Mr. Denham
  The next set of National Health Service performance indicators, due to be published by the Department in the autumn, will include a full set of NHS trust indicators as well as health authority level indicators.

  Dermatological Research
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent representations he has had from Professor Jonathan Hadgraft of the Skin Forum Group on the availability of skin for dermatological research. [158884]

  Mr. Denham
  The Department has not had any recent representations from Professor Hadgraft on the availability of skin for dermatological research. However, Professor Hadgraft has written to the Department of Trade and Industry suggesting that the legislation for provision of human tissue for research should be examined.

  Quarry House
  Mr. Hammond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans his Department has to dispose of Quarry House in Leeds. [159604]

  Mr. Denham
  None. Overall responsibility for Quarry House lies with the Department of Social Security. The building remains an essential part of the Department of Health's headquarters.

  Senior Posts (Women)
  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list, by region, the percentage of senior managerial and clinical posts held by women. [158885]

  Mr. Denham
  The percentage of senior managerial staff and medical and dental consultants in National Health Service hospital and community health services (HCHS) held by women in each regional office area in England as at September 2000 is shown in the table.

  Female (percentage)

  England

  Consultants

  23

  Senior managers

  48

  Eastern

  Consultants

  22

  Senior managers

  48

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  Female (percentage)

  London

  Consultants

  29

  Senior managers

  54

  North West

  Consultants

  20

  Senior managers

  49

  Northern and Yorkshire

  Consultants

  20

  Senior managers

  42

  South East

  Consultants

  23

  Senior managers

  53

  South Western

  Consultants

  20

  Senior managers

  47

  Trent

  Consultants

  19

  Senior managers

  48

  West Midlands

  Consultants

  19

  Senior managers

  45

  Other

  Consultants

  43

  Senior managers

  28

  Notes:

  1. Percentages were calculated from numbers of staff expressed as headcount.

  2. "Other" includes staff employed by special health authorities, other statutory authorities and other centrally based services.

  Source:

  Department of Health workforce census.

  Department of Health medical and dental workforce census.

  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many chief executives of(a) NHS trusts and (b) health authorities are women; and what proportion of such posts these figures represent. [158886]

  Mr. Denham
  This information is not yet available. The Department has undertaken a survey of executive directors in the National Health Service and the results of the survey will be available shortly. The NHS is committed to employing a diverse workforce and this diversity should be reflected at all levels. The NHS has a target for representation of women at executive director level of 40 per cent. by 2004.

  Health Service Workers
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health on what basis mileage payments are set for health service workers who travel between hospitals during the working day. [159684]

  Mr. Denham
  Mileage allowances for National Health Service staff on national terms are determined by an agreement of the General Whitley Council. The current rates, effective from 1 July 2000, are set out in Advance Letter (GC) 2–2000, a copy of which is the Library.

  Cardiothoracic Hospital, Paddington Basin
  Mr. Wilkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if the Kensington, Chelsea and Westminster Health Authority has made a request for helicopter operating facilities at the site of its proposed new cardiothoracic hospital in Paddington Basin, West London, to(a) the Civil Aviation Authority and (b) the Greater London Authority. [158603]

  Mr. Denham
  Health authorities have no responsibility for any aspect of the planning application. While outline planning permission for these proposals has been sought by St. Mary's National Health Service Trust, the Royal Brompton and Harefield NHS Trust and Imperial College from Westminster city council, the proposals are not sufficiently advanced to include more detailed planning requests.

  BSE-infected Carcases
  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many BSE-infected carcases are awaiting destruction; what studies have taken place to assess the risk represented by incineration and airborne prions; and if he will make a statement. [150429]

  Ms Quin
  I have been asked to reply.

  The carcases of BSE suspect cattle are sent directly for incineration.

  A formal risk assessment to gauge the risk from disposing of BSE-infected cattle in animal carcase incinerators was carried out for the Environment Agency by DNV consulting in 1997 as part of a general consideration of risks from BSE via environmental pathways. The risk calculation showed that the likelihood of the most exposed individual ingesting, in one year, sufficient material to cause infection as a result of burning cattle in specially designated incinerators is less than one in 1 billion. As in other cases, the real risk to the general public will be well below the level assigned to the most exposed person. The broad conclusion that the Agency has drawn from its assessments is that, for all of the disposal options considered, the risk of human infection by the BSE agent is extremely small. In all cases, the results show that in one year the most exposed individual would be unlikely to consume, from environmental sources, more than a minute fraction—significantly less than 1 millionth part—of the dose of BSE infectivity needed to cause infection in humans. More information is available on the Environment Agency's website.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Appointments (Age Limits)
  Tony Wright
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department for what reason the advertisements for part-time lay members of the Financial Services and Markets Tribunal restricted applications to persons aged between 35 and 62 years. [158739]

  Mr. Lock
  A normal lower age limit of 35 for applicants to part-time judicial posts is principally set to ensure that those appointed have the length of experience and maturity necessary to fulfil their judicial functions in a way that will both ensure public confidence, and that
  511W
  they can meet the demanding burdens of judicial office. A normal upper age limit of 62 is principally set to take account of the retirement age for judicial offices, which for part-time judicial office holders is 65. In setting the upper age limit at 62 the Lord Chancellor has taken into account the expectation that office holders should be able to complete a reasonable period of service before reaching the compulsory retirement age.

  In exceptional circumstances these age limits may be relaxed at the Lord Chancellor's discretion. The Lord Chancellor's discretion may be invoked, for example, where an otherwise well-qualified candidate has had a career break or started his or her career later than usual.

  Magistrates (Political Affiliation)
  Mr. Ennis
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many justices of the peace there are in(a) Barnsley and (b) Doncaster broken down by party political affiliation. [158797]

  Jane Kennedy
  There are currently 129 magistrates on the Barnsley bench and 168 magistrates on the Doncaster bench. The figures currently held on party political affiliation are out of date. The database of records held on all 26,000 magistrates for which my noble and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor is responsible is being validated at present. As soon as figures for Barnsley and Doncaster are available I will write to my hon. Friend. My noble and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor intends to publish a breakdown of the lay magistracy in England and Wales by Commission Area for each balancing criterion (gender, ethnic origin, geographical spread, occupation and political affiliation) in his next Judicial Appointments Annual Report which is due in October this year. A copy of the report will be placed in the Library of the House.

TREASURY

  Census
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received about access to the census by disabled people; and what action he is taking in conjunction with ministerial colleagues to improve access. [159409]

  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. Tim Boswell, dated 30 April 2001:
  As National Statistician and Registrar General for England and Wales I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking what representations have been received about access to the Census by disabled people; and what action is being taken in conjunction with ministerial colleagues to improve access (159409).
  An important new initiative for the 2001 Census is the Community Liaison Programme, through which the Office for National Statistics (ONS) Census staff have consulted, and worked with community groups and national organisations specifically to assist those who would find the completion of the Census questionnaire difficult.
  For example, the Census Office has worked with the RNIB over the past two years to produce a set of support materials for the visually impaired. These include Large Print, Braille and audiotape
  512W
  formats of the census questions and information. This support material is aimed at providing details about the questions on the Census form to help a visually impaired person to understand what is being requested and to facilitate supplying the information.
  In addition text phone Helpline for the deaf has been operating since 1 April 2001.
  Specialist training presented by an external expert in disability awareness has been given to Census Area Managers and this training has been cascaded down to all members of the field force. An effective communication guide for all field staff which includes disability awareness has also been produced. Help in completing the form will be provided by Census-takers, on a one-to-one basis if necessary.
  Assistance with the completion of the form for anyone who has difficulty, for whatever reason, can be arranged by field staff, either when the Census-taker calls with the form, or via the Census Helpline (0845 301 2001).
  I have made alternative arrangements under the Census Regulations to cover cases where, in exceptional circumstances, it would be impossible or unreasonably difficult for the information to be collected by conventional means. This facility is not intended to be used generally, but where it is not possible to provide the necessary assistance locally, information can be provided over the telephone.

  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what precautions have been taken to ensure that the delivery of census forms does not contribute to the spread of foot and mouth disease from farm to farm; [158955]

  (2) what provision has been made for those who have not yet received a census form that they can be collected so deliveries on farms are avoided. [158956]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  [holding answer 26 April 2001]: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.

  Letter from Len Cook to Miss Anne McIntosh, dated 30 April 2001:
  As Registrar General for England and Wales I have been asked to reply to your recent questions asking (1) what precautions have been taken to ensure that the delivery of census forms does not contribute to the spread of food and mouth disease and (2) what provision has been made for those who have not yet received a census form that they can be collected so that deliveries on farms are avoided. (158955, 158956)
  On 2 April I released a statement announcing plans for conducting the Census in areas affected by foot and mouth disease. I attach a copy of this for your information.
  This explains that census-takers working in the countryside have been instructed to respect all foot and mouth restrictions, and the wishes of the farming community. Specific guidance for census-takers has been drafted in consultation with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAFF) and has been endorsed by the National Assembly for Wales, as well as by the National Farmer's Union.
  Specifically, in infected areas and premises within exclusion zones, census-takers have been instructed:
  not to attempt to gain access to any premises under MAFF restrictions;
  not to visit any premises with susceptible livestock;
  to obey any signs forbidding or restricting access to premises;
  to stay on metalled/public roads; and
  to try to make contact by telephone to find out how best to deliver the Census form.
  Details of these procedures have been provided to all Census area managers, and have been incorporated into the training of enumerators.

  513W
  New arrangements are in place so that Census forms can be delivered to farms and households by mail if necessary, or, where practical, collected from an agreed point such as a farm boundary. Completed forms will be returned by mail.
  The 2001 Census and Foot and Mouth
  National Statistician Len Cook today expressed confidence that the Census in England and Wales scheduled for 29 April can be conducted safely and efficiently despite the restrictions imposed to combat foot and mouth disease.
  Census-takers working in the countryside have been instructed to respect all foot and mouth restrictions, and the wishes of the farming community. New arrangements are being put in place so that Census forms can be delivered to farms and households by mail, or, where practical, to an agreed point such as a farm boundary. Completed forms will be returned by mail.
  The special instructions, drafted in consultation with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries & Food, have been endorsed by the National Assembly for Wales, as well as by the National Farmers Union. Details of the procedures have been delivered to area and district managers, and are incorporated in the training of census-takers.
  Mr. Cook said today "Senior Census officials last week visited teams in the regions worst affected by foot and mouth. They confirmed the practicality of the special arrangements for delivering Census forms in rural areas where there are restrictions.
  "I am certain that, with these arrangements in place, the Census can be carried through without danger of contributing to the spread of the disease."
  "I am very conscious of the distress and difficulty foot and mouth disease is causing, and we shall do nothing that might contribute to its spread."
  Census Director Graham Jones, who on Tuesday visited the North of England and met field staff from Cumbria, Northumberland and Yorkshire, today said: "The people at the sharp end say the revised procedures are entirely practical, and can be applied sensibility and flexibly by census-takers in the countryside."
  Alex Clark, Deputy Census Director, had meetings with field staff in Wales and Devon, and reported a similar positive reaction. In many places, area managers are liaising with local authorities to ensure compliance with local restrictions.
  Forms are scheduled for delivery to households between 9 and 20 April. Delivery in areas where there are restrictions may be delayed by a few days, but forms will reach households in time for the Census on 29 April.
  If necessary the deadline for returning forms will be extended.
  "The information made available by the Census is essential to the planning activities of a whole range of private and public sector bodies," Mr. Cook said. "It will help determine resource allocation decisions on billions of pounds of public expenditure, which will be vitally important for the rural community and the rural economy. In these extremely difficult circumstances we are delighted by the co-operation we are receiving".

  Alcohol and Tobacco Seizures
  Mr. Hilary Benn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on Customs and Excise policy as regards the seizure of alcohol and tobacco from persons who have bought it for their personal use. [158894]

  Dawn Primarolo
  I announced in March 2000 the tackling tobacco smuggling strategy, which aims to put tobacco smuggling into decline in three years and has provided £209 million for extra Customs resources. Customs efforts in the tobacco sector are, therefore, exclusively concentrated on attempting to tackle those who smuggle tobacco.
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  Customs do not seize alcohol or tobacco from people entering the UK from elsewhere within the EU where those people are able to satisfy Customs that those goods are for their personal use.

  Mr. Hilary Benn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what right of redress persons have when alcohol and tobacco bought for personal use are seized by Customs and Excise. [158893]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Customs take complaints very seriously and Customs Notice 1000 explains how to seek redress through Customs' own internal complaints procedures and through the Adjudicator and the Parliamentary Ombudsman, both of whom are independent of Customs and Excise.

  Hearing Aid Dispensers
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to tax hearing aid dispensers as a single supply under the single supply taxation of optical dispensing services to be introduced from 1 June. [158580]

  Dawn Primarolo
  As a result of a House of Lords judgment in January this year, changes have to take place to the tax treatment of the ancillary services provided by some businesses. Each case that may be affected by the House of Lords judgment needs to be considered on its own merits.

  Electronic Commerce
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 5 April 2001,Official Report, column 242W, on electronic commerce, if he will make a statement on (a) the nature of VAT rules for e-commerce supplies and the changes proposed by the Commission, (b) the purpose of the proposed directive on distance marketing of financial services and (c) when the proposed directive and changes to the VAT rules will next be considered by the ECOFIN Council. [158579]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Article 9 of the EC Sixth VAT Directive includes rules covering the VAT treatment of e-commerce supplies. The European Commission have proposed a number of changes to these rules, and these are next due to be discussed at the June ECOFIN.

  The proposed directive on distance marketing of financial services is intended to complement directive 97/7/EC, which established rules for the distance selling of goods and services other than financial services. The proposed directive includes principles for conduct of business and consumer protection for financial services sold at a distance across borders.

  Heat Insulation Standards
  Mr. Levitt
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will insist on a pipework heat insulation standard higher than BS5422 in Government private finance initiative and public-private partnership programmes. [158810]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  In the PFI, the public sector remains responsible for deciding, as the collective purchaser of public services, on the level of services required and the resources available to pay for them. It therefore focuses on specifying outputs rather than retaining detailed control over inputs.

  Scottish Bank Notes
  Mr. Randall
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if Scottish banks will be able to produce Scottish bank notes if the UK introduces the euro. [159248]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Buckingham (Mr. Bercow) on 28 November 2000,Official Report, column 589W.

  Macroeconomic Policy
  Mr. Ian Stewart
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement about his macroeconomic policy in the face of global instability. [160112]

  Mr. Gordon Brown
  As a result of the actions taken by this Government to reform the macroeconomic policy framework, British economic policy is much better placed in the face of global instability than it has been in the past. Inflation is low and stable, the public finances are sound and the Government are on track to meet their firm fiscal rules. Copies of my statement of 29 April to the International Monetary and Financial Committee have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

  In accordance with section 12 of the Bank of England Act 1998, I have written to the Governor restating the Monetary Policy Committee's remit which confirms, as stated in my Budget statement, that the inflation target remains 2.5 per cent. for the 12-month increase in the retail price index excluding mortgage interest rates (RPIX).

  My letter to the Governor has been laid before Parliament and a copy has been sent to the Chairman of the Treasury Committee. Copies have also been deposited in the Libraries of both Houses.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Disability Living Allowance
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security on what basis mileage payments are set for people in receipt of the mobility component of Disability Living Allowance for visits to hospitals. [159685]

  Mr. Bayley
  The mobility component of Disability Living Allowance (DLA) is intended to contribute towards the extra mobility costs incurred by severely disabled people as a result of their disability. The Department makes no specific provision, through DLA or other benefits, for the reimbursement of travel costs for visits to hospital.

  However, the hospital travel costs scheme, which is part of the NHS low income scheme, allows NHS trusts to reimburse patients on low incomes or in receipt of qualifying benefits for the costs, including private car mileage costs, of travel by the cheapest means of transport available to keep hospital appointments. Qualifying benefits for the schemes include income support and family credit, but not DLA. The schemes are the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health.

  Private Pensions
  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of the number of pensioners whose company pension is reduced because they are also receiving a state retirement pension. [158887]

  Mr. Rooker
  Information is not available in respect of pensioners whose occupational pension is reduced to take account of the fact that they are also in receipt of the state retirement pension. Such schemes, which have operated since 1948, have lower contributions to take account of the state pension.

  Occupational Pension Schemes
  Mr. Ben Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will review the costs and benefits to(a) employers and (b) employees of the legal framework governing the operation of occupational pension schemes. [159363]

  Mr. Rooker
  Occupational pension schemes in the UK are voluntary. As such, the legal framework that governs occupational pension schemes must achieve a balance between the necessary protection of scheme members, which will include employees as well as pensioner and deferred members, and the costs created for the employers who sponsor the schemes. We are always conscious of the need to maintain this balance and therefore keep the framework under continuous review.

  Two examples of recent changes to be introduced as a result of this on-going review are the member nominated trustee provisions, to ensure that all scheme members can play a role in the running of their schemes, and the proposals to replace the minimum funding requirement for occupational schemes.

  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what help he proposes to provide for those people who are in receipt of a final salary occupational pension plan. [158425]

  Mr. Rooker
  The pension credit will ensure that people of modest means are rewarded for building on the basic pension level through SERPS, a private or occupational pension, or other forms of income and savings.

  State Pension
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessment he has made of the cost of paying the state retirement pension from the day a claimant reaches pensionable age rather than from the Monday following that day. [158348]

  Mr. Rooker
  The current regulations, originally introduced in 1948, provide for the payment of retirement pension in whole weeks. These regulations also apply at the end of a claim as retirement pension is paid to the end of the week—regardless of the day in the week entitlement to the benefit ceases.

  If payment were made for part-weeks and, as now, no attempt was made to recover benefit paid for the remainder of the week after entitlement ceases, we estimate the costs would be up to £20 million.

  Pension Credit
  Mr. Willetts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if any pensioner will suffer a reduction in their income as a result of the abolition of the capital rules and the introduction of the new Pension Credit. [158692]

  Mr. Rooker
  As we set out in the pension credit consultation paper (Cm 4900, Chapter 4 paragraph 29), we will ensure that pensioners receiving the Minimum Income Guarantee will receive, at least, the same level of income with the introduction of the Pension Credit.

  Child Support Agency
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what progress has been made by the Child Support Agency on reducing the outstanding level of debt owing from full maintenance assessments in line with its performance target. [159169]

  Angela Eagle
  The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the chief executive, Mr. Doug Smith. He will write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Mr. Doug Smith to Mr. Steve Webb, dated 27 April 2001:
  I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about the Child Support Agency.
  The outstanding level of Full Maintenance Assessment debt at March 2000 was £578,750,801. At March 2001 debt was £396,527,557.
  Full Maintenance Assessment debt has been reduced by 31.5% in 00/01 against a target of 25%.
  The reduction (£182.2 million) exceeds the reduction in 99/00 (£103.6 million) by £78.6 million.
  The target for 2001/2002 is to reduce debt by a further 25%.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Crime Fighting
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to achieve greater co-operation with police forces to assist in the fight against crime. [160067]

  Mr. Rooker
  Following consultation with the Home Office, the DSS and the Association of Chief Police Officers of England, Wales and Northern Ireland have signed a memorandum of understanding. A copy has been placed in the Library. The memorandum sets out the principles underpinning the disclosure of personal information by the DSS to individual police forces engaged in the apprehension or prosecution of offenders. A similar memorandum will be signed shortly with the Association of Chief Police Officers (Scotland). Requests for information will now be considered in respect of all criminal offences rather than just the most serious ones.

  The revised DSS policy on disclosure is that all personal information held in social security records will continue to be regarded as confidential. Information will not normally be disclosed to third parties without the consent of the person concerned. However, information may be disclosed without consent to assist in the prevention or detection of crime or to aid the apprehension or prosecution of offenders; to meet statutory requirements; to comply with a court order or to prevent duplication of payments from public funds.
  518W
  The new policy will come into effect today. Initial guidance to all DSS staff will be issued, followed by more detailed amendments to the protection of customer information guide, which is also in the House library, and is available to all DSS staff.

  Departmental Advertising
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much his Department spent on advertising campaigns in 2000–01. [160113]

  Mr. Rooker
  The Department has spent £21,150,000 on advertising campaigns for the financial year 2000–01. The figure includes advertising, supporting literature and other material, telephone response lines, research and some direct mail for the following campaigns: Minimum Income Guarantee; pensions education; inherited SERPS; Winter Fuel Payments; Bereavement Benefits; anti-fraud; and New Deal for Lone Parents. This is a very small amount (around 0.02 per cent.) of the amount paid out in benefits. As not all invoices have yet been cleared the final confirmed figure may vary, but the variation is expected to be minimal.

  The figures given in recent parliamentary answers regarding advertising expenditure may vary, depending on whether advertising costs or advertising campaign costs have been requested. Inevitably the inclusion of helpline, literature, and other related costs will result in higher top-line figures than advertising costs alone. For example, the spend on advertising media and production alone for 2000–01 was £18,429,000.

  I have become aware of an error in a recent answer on advertising expenditure to the hon. Member for Havant (Mr. Willetts) on 7 March 2001, Official Report, column 233W. The correct information is as follows. I have written separately to the hon. Member about this matter, and placed a copy of the letter in the Library.

  Advertising, media and production costs

  £

  Year

  Cost

  1997–98

  1,430,698

  1998–99

  4,671,862

  1999–2000

  2,788,062

  2000–01

  18,429,000

  Average Yearly Cost

  6,829,905

  HOME DEPARTMENT
  We estimate that the total sum of expenses claims made by staff in the Home Office in connection with the case amounted to approximately £530. The cost of non-departmental legal advice amounted to £3,058.53.

  Fire Cover
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary for the Home Department what the standards of fire cover were in percentage terms for the year April 1999 to March 2000 for each fire service in Wales and England. [159766]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The Home Office, the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions (DETR) and the Audit Commission have agreed three Best Value Performance Indicators (BVPI) to measure how well brigades are meeting the standards of fire cover. These are shown in tables 1–3.
  519W

  Table 1. Percentage of incidents at which the number of appliances mobilised met the standards of fire cover 1999–2000

  Total incidents

  Successes

  Percentage of successes

  County Durham and Darlington

  11,814

  11,814

  100.0

  Derbyshire

  10,161

  10,161

  100.0

  Hereford and Worcester

  6,172

  6,172

  100.0

  Mid and West Wales

  6,200

  6,200

  100.0

  Northumberland

  3,528

  3,528

  100.0

  Oxfordshire

  7,024

  7,024

  100.0

  Royal Berkshire

  1,147

  1,147

  100.0

  Shropshire

  2,624

  2,624

  100.0

  Somerset

  3,862

  3,862

  100.0

  Warwickshire

  4,056

  4,056

  100.0

  West Sussex

  11,066

  11,066

  100.0

  West Yorkshire

  17,866

  17,866

  100.0

  South Wales

  6,073

  6,069

  99.9

  Cambridgeshire

  6,973

  6,963

  99.9

  West Midlands

  16,875

  16,849

  99.8

  Lincolnshire

  2,936

  2,931

  99.8

  Norfolk

  5,200

  5,186

  99.7

  Humberside

  7,206

  7,186

  99.7

  Backinghamshire

  4,777

  4,749

  99.4

  Wiltshire

  5,606

  5,569

  99.3

  Dorset

  4,360

  4,331

  99.3

  Merseyside

  14,370

  14,265

  99.3

  Devon

  6,245

  6,195

  99.2

  Essex

  7,068

  7,009

  99.2

  Staffordshire

  8,869

  8,787

  99.1

  East Sussex

  8,044

  7,956

  98.9

  Leicestershire

  1,345

  1,327

  98.7

  Cheshire

  7,501

  7,391

  98.5

  Avon

  9,282

  9,143

  98.5

  Isle of Wight

  884

  869

  98.3

  South Yorkshire

  5,010

  4,898

  97.8

  Gloucestershire

  4,112

  4,006

  97.4

  Surrey

  9,773

  9,510

  97.3

  Bedfordshire and Luton

  2,530

  2,452

  96.9

  London

  52,784

  51,098

  96.8

  Northamptonshire

  7,789

  7,455

  95.7

  Cleveland

  2,418

  2,301

  95.2

  Kent

  10,722

  10,154

  94.7

  Cornwall

  2,764

  2,589

  93.7

  Cumbria

  1—

  1—

  1—

  Greater Manchester

  1—

  1—

  1—

  Hampshire

  1—

  1—

  1—

  Hertfordshire

  1—

  1—

  1—

  Lancashire

  1—

  1—

  1—

  North Wales

  1—

  1—

  1—

  North Yorkshire

  1—

  1—

  1—

  Nottinghamshire

  1—

  1—

  1—

  Suffolk

  1—

  1—

  1—

  Tyne and Wear

  1—

  1—

  1—

  Total

  307,036

  302,758

  98.6

  Table 2. Percentage of incidents at which the number of riders met the standards of fire cover 1999–2000

  Total incidents

  Successes

  Percentage of successes

  West Midlands

  16,875

  16,834

  99.8

  Merseyside

  14,370

  14,287

  99.4

  Isle of Wight

  884

  878

  99.3

  Humberside

  7,206

  7,155

  99.3

  Norfolk

  5,200

  5,135

  98.8

  Lincolnshire

  2,936

  2,857

  97.3

  Northumberland

  3,528

  3,430

  97.2

  Mid and West Wales

  6,200

  5,914

  95.4

  Royal Berkshire

  1,147

  1,089

  94.9

  Hereford and Worcester

  6,172

  5,676

  92.0

  South Yorkshire

  5,010

  4,580

  91.4

  Smoerset

  3,862

  3,528

  91.4

  520W

  Table 2. Percentage of incidents at which the number of riders met the standards of fire cover 1999–2000

  Total incidents

  Successes

  Percentage of successes

  Cleveland

  2,418

  2,207

  91.3

  South Wales

  6,073

  5,506

  90.7

  Cambridgeshire

  6,973

  6,285

  90.1

  Dorset

  4,360

  3,890

  89.2

  Oxfordshire

  7,024

  6,188

  88.1

  Essex

  7,068

  6,133

  86.8

  Leicestershire

  1,345

  1,166

  86.7

  Avon

  9,282

  8,045

  86.7

  West Yorkshire

  17,866

  15,459

  86.5

  Devon

  6,245

  5,399

  86.5

  Staffordshire

  8,869

  7,568

  85.3

  Cornwall

  2,764

  2,348

  84.9

  Shropshire

  2,624

  2,200

  83.8

  Warwickshire

  4,056

  3,392

  83.6

  Wiltshire

  5,606

  4,593

  81.9

  Bedfordshire and Luton

  2,530

  2,004

  79.2

  Required by Standards of Fire Cover

  —

  —

  75.0

  Cheshire

  7,501

  5,619

  74.9

  Buckinghamshire

  4,777

  3,526

  73.8

  Gloucestershire

  4,112

  2,997

  72.9

  Hertfordshire

  7,453

  5,382

  72.2

  London

  52,613

  36,265

  68.9

  Kent

  10,722

  6,653

  62.0

  Northamptonshire

  7,789

  4,222

  54.2

  Country Durham and Darlington

  1—

  1—

  1—

  Cumbria

  1—

  1—

  1—

  Derbyshire

  1—

  1—

  1—

  East Sussex

  1—

  1—

  1—

  Greater Manchester

  1—

  1—

  1—

  Hampshire

  1—

  1—

  1—

  Lancashire

  1—

  1—

  1—

  North Wales

  1—

  1—

  1—

  North Yorkshire

  1—

  1—

  1—

  Nottinghamshire

  1—

  1—

  1—

  Suffolk

  1—

  1—

  1—

  Surrey

  1—

  1—

  1—

  Tyne and Wear

  1—

  1—

  1—

  West Sussex

  1—

  1—

  1—

  Total

  263,460

  218,410

  82.9

  Table 3. Percentage of incidents at which the attendance times met the standards of five cover 1999–2000

  Total incidents

  Successes

  Percentage of successes

  Warwickshire

  4,056

  4,044

  99.7

  Mid and West Wales

  6,200

  6,178

  99.6

  Northumberland

  3,528

  3,514

  99.6

  Norfolk

  5,200

  5,172

  99.5

  Somerset

  3,862

  3,841

  99.5

  Oxfordshire

  7,024

  6,970

  99.2

  East Sussex

  8,044

  7,956

  98.9

  Leicestershire

  1,345

  1,327

  98.7

  West Sussex

  11,066

  10,865

  98.2

  Humberside

  7,206

  7,058

  97.9

  Wiltshire

  5,606

  5,479

  97.7

  Gloucestershire

  4,112

  4,006

  97.4

  Derbyshire

  10,161

  9,892

  97.4

  Staffordshire

  8,869

  8,631

  97.3

  Suffolk

  6,391

  6,217

  97.3

  Lincolnshire

  2,936

  2,855

  97.2

  South Wales

  6,073

  5,899

  97.1

  Cambridgeshire

  6,973

  6,749

  96.8

  Shropshire

  2,624

  2,539

  96.8

  Dorset

  4,360

  4,199

  96.3

  Average

  —

  —

  96.1

  West Yorkshire

  17,866

  17,144

  96.0

  Cheshire

  7,501

  7,184

  95.8

  521W

  Table 3. Percentage of incidents at which the attendance times met the standards of fire cover 1999–2000

  Total incidents

  Successes

  Percentage of successes

  Hertfordshire

  7,453

  7,138

  95.8

  Northamptonshire

  7,789

  7,455

  95.7

  West Midlands

  16,875

  16,080

  95.3

  Isle of Wight

  884

  842

  95.2

  Kent

  10,722

  10,210

  95.2

  Essex

  7,068

  6,711

  94.9

  Merseyside

  14,370

  13,596

  94.6

  South Yorkshire

  5,010

  4,702

  93.9

  Royal Berkshire

  1,147

  1,076

  93.8

  Cornwall

  2,764

  2,589

  93.7

  Avon

  9,282

  8,635

  93.0

  Devon

  6,245

  5,794

  92.8

  Surrey

  9,773

  9,031

  92.4

  Buckinghamshire

  4,777

  4,409

  92.3

  Cleveland

  2,418

  2,187

  90.4

  Bedfordshire and Luton

  2,530

  2,271

  89.8

  County Durham and Darlington

  1—

  1—

  1—

  Cumbria

  1—

  1—

  1—

  Greater Manchester

  1—

  1—

  1—

  Hampshire

  1—

  1—

  1—

  Hereford and Worcester

  1—

  1—

  1—

  Lancashire

  1—

  1—

  1—

  London

  1—

  1—

  1—

  Standards of fire cover—Merseyside performance indicators

  Total incidents

  Successes

  Percentage of successes

  BVPI

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  Appliances mobilised

  14,073

  14,370

  14,056

  14,265

  99.9

  99.3

  Number of riders

  14,073

  14,370

  14,064

  14,287

  99.9

  99.4

  Attendance times

  14,073

  14,370

  13,321

  13,596

  94.7

  94.6

  Fire Statistics
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of the total numbers of fires in the UK in(a) 1998–1999 and (b) 1999–2000 were in each fire authority area. [159769]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The response is shown in the table.

  Number of fires1.2 in the UK and percentage of the total by fire authority area

  1998–993

  1999–20003

  Number

  %

  Number

  %

  United Kingdom

  405,174

  —

  487,425

  —

  England and Wales

  40,632

  84

  415,563

  85

  England

  315,489

  78

  384,233

  79

  England (Non Met Counties)

  170,475

  42

  205,082

  42

  Avon

  5,908

  1

  7,132

  1

  Bedfordshire

  2,817

  1

  3,518

  1

  Berkshire

  3,830

  1

  4,808

  1

  Buckinghamshire

  3,895

  1

  4,920

  1

  Cambridgeshire

  3,497

  1

  4,165

  1

  Cheshire

  5,996

  1

  7,336

  2

  Cleveland

  5,893

  1

  8,353

  2

  Cornwall

  2,338

  1

  2,697

  1

  Cumbria

  3,065

  1

  3,679

  1

  Derbyshire

  4,562

  1

  5,448

  1

  Devon

  5,771

  1

  6,532

  1

  Dorset

  3,164

  1

  3,606

  1

  Durham

  5,357

  1

  6,666

  1

  East Sussex

  4,063

  1

  4,994

  1

  Essex

  7,360

  2

  9,195

  2

  Gloucestershire

  2,673

  1

  2,887

  1

  Hampshire

  8,089

  2

  9,547

  2

  Hereford and Worcester

  3,345

  1

  3,832

  1

  Hertfordshire

  4,552

  1

  5,521

  1

  522W

  Table 3. Percentage of incidents at which the attendance times met the standards of fire cover 1999–2000

  Total incidents

  Successes

  Percentage of successes

  North Wales

  1—

  1—

  1—

  North Yorkshire

  1—

  1—

  1—

  Nottinghamshire

  1—

  1—

  1—

  Tyne and Wear

  1—

  1—

  1—

  Total

  250,110

  240,445

  96.1

  1 Not available

  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the standards of fire cover were in percentage terms in Merseyside in(a) January 1998 to January 1999 and (b) January 1999 to January 2000. [159765]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The Home Office, the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions and the Audit Commission have agreed three Best Value Performance Indicators (BVPI) to measure how well brigades are meeting the standards of fire cover. However the records held centrally are catalogued by fiscal year and cannot be converted to a calendar year basis. The records for Merseyside are shown in the table for fiscal years 1998–99 and 1999–2000.

  Number of fires1,2 in the UK and percentage of the total by fire authority area

  1998–993

  1999–20003

  Number

  %

  Number

  %

  Humberside

  7,762

  2

  9,006

  2

  Isle of Wight

  659

  0

  678

  0

  Kent

  8,825

  2

  10,762

  2

  Lancashire

  10,807

  3

  12,958

  3

  Leicestershire

  5,058

  1

  5,808

  1

  Lincolnshire

  2,985

  1

  3,555

  1

  Norfolk

  3,532

  1

  3,838

  1

  North Yorkshire

  2,957

  1

  3,493

  1

  Northamptonshire

  4,300

  1

  4,675

  1

  Northumberland

  2,088

  1

  2,864

  1

  Nottinghamshire

  6,665

  2

  9,231

  2

  Oxfordshire

  2,946

  1

  3,141

  1

  Shropshire

  2,599

  1

  3,141

  1

  Somerset

  2,359

  1

  2,770

  1

  Staffordshire

  6,165

  2

  7,390

  2

  Suffolk

  2,537

  1

  2,843

  1

  Surrey

  3,663

  1

  4,475

  1

  Warwickshire

  2,599

  1

  3,107

  1

  West Sussex

  3,470

  1

  3,974

  1

  Wiltshire

  2,314

  1

  2,528

  1

  Isles of Scilly

  10

  0

  7

  0

  England (Met Counties)

  145,014

  36

  179,151

  37

  Greater Manchester

  24,698

  6

  30,982

  6

  Merseyside

  17,292

  4

  22,592

  5

  South Yorkshire

  10,741

  3

  13,292

  3

  Tyne and Wear

  13,005

  3

  16,304

  3

  West Midlands

  20,923

  5

  25,822

  5

  West Yorkshire

  17,533

  4

  20,763

  4

  Greater London4

  40,822

  10

  49,396

  6

  Wales

  25,143

  6

  31,331

  6

  North Wales

  4,582

  1

  5,508

  1

  Mid and West Wales

  6,715

  2

  8,513

  2

  South Wales

  13,846

  3

  17,310

  4

  523W

  Number of fires1,2 in the UK and percentage of the total by fire authority area

  1998–993

  1999–20003

  Number

  %

  Number

  %

  Northern Ireland

  18,007

  4

  18,552

  4

  Scotland

  46,535

  11

  53,310

  11

  Strathclyde

  24,146

  6

  27,219

  6

  Highland and Islands

  2,345

  1

  2,284

  0

  Grampian

  3,570

  1

  3,964

  1

  Tayside

  3,669

  1

  4,334

  1

  Lothian and Borders

  7,149

  2

  9,508

  2

  Fife

  2,766

  1

  3,081

  1

  Central

  1,945

  0

  2,015

  0

  Dumfries

  945

  0

  904

  0

  1 Fires include primary (mainly property), secondary (mainly outdoors) and chimney fires

  2 Includes 'late' calls and heat and smoke damage incidents

  3 Provisional

  4 Includes estimates for missing data—secondary and chimney fires (London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority Q1 2000)

  Merseyside Fire Authority
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the Fire Inspectorate has received a response from Merseyside Fire Authority to the Principal Inspection report issued in the third quarter of 2000. [159767]

  Fires in dwellings by brigade and by presence and operation of smoke detectors, UK, 1999

  Percentage of alarms present that

  Total number of fires in dwellings

  Smoke alarm present

  Smoke alarm absent

  Operated and raised alarm

  Operated, but did not raised alarm

  Did not operate

  United Kingdom

  72,126

  26,890

  45,235

  63

  10

  27

  England and Wales

  60,725

  21,296

  39,429

  66

  9

  25

  England

  57,403

  19,800

  37,603

  66

  9

  25

  England—non-Met counties

  29,893

  11,375

  18,518

  64

  9

  27

  Avon

  960

  422

  538

  58

  14

  28

  Bedfordshire

  429

  74

  354

  69

  18

  14

  Berkshire

  726

  308

  418

  80

  4

  16

  Buckinghamshire

  679

  254

  425

  69

  9

  22

  Cambridgeshire

  547

  212

  334

  63

  16

  21

  Cheshire

  999

  382

  617

  61

  12

  27

  Cleveland

  836

  251

  585

  59

  10

  31

  Cornwall

  437

  149

  287

  66

  15

  19

  Cumbria

  609

  208

  401

  79

  6

  15

  Derbyshire

  783

  203

  580

  75

  4

  20

  Devon

  1,225

  555

  670

  77

  8

  15

  Dorset

  492

  180

  312

  68

  11

  21

  Durham

  677

  174

  503

  70

  2

  28

  East Sussex

  1,129

  430

  699

  60

  5

  35

  Essex

  1,220

  378

  842

  64

  8

  28

  Gloucestershire

  521

  221

  299

  62

  8

  30

  Hampshire

  1,487

  709

  778

  69

  9

  23

  Hereford and Worcester

  677

  290

  386

  72

  7

  20

  Hertfordshire

  942

  445

  497

  83

  4

  13

  Humberside

  1,104

  466

  638

  38

  15

  47

  Isle of Wight

  165

  75

  89

  81

  12

  7

  Kent

  1,269

  369

  900

  63

  6

  31

  Lancashire

  2,274

  898

  1,375

  59

  10

  31

  Leicestershire

  733

  206

  527

  57

  9

  34

  Lincolnshire

  520

  177

  344

  62

  12

  27

  Norfolk

  583

  157

  426

  54

  9

  38

  North Yorkshire

  546

  264

  282

  54

  7

  39

  Northamptonshire

  715

  407

  309

  70

  5

  26

  Northumberland

  309

  128

  181

  71

  5

  24

  Nottinghamshire

  1,102

  183

  919

  68

  4

  28

  Oxfordshire

  474

  244

  230

  56

  4

  40

  Shropshire

  434

  102

  332

  53

  7

  40

  Somerset

  386

  174

  212

  55

  21

  24

  Staffordshire

  1,179

  662

  517

  73

  10

  17

  524W
  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The Merseyside Fire Authority was last inspected by Her Majesty's Fire Service Inspectorate in February 2000. The subsequent report of Her Majesty's Inspector Gordon Russel made 17 recommendations concerning the management of the brigade. The inspector indicated that the fire authority should prepare an action plan to address these recommendations and noted that the Inspectorate would measure the Authority's progress against the plan during subsequent inspections.

  A copy of the Fire authority's action plan was received by the Inspectorate in February 2001.

  Copies of the Action Plan and Her Majesty's Inspector's report have been placed in the Library.

  Fire Alarms
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in what percentage of cases where fire alarms were present in dwellings on fire in 1999, they(a) raised the alarm, (b) operated but failed to raise the alarm and (c) failed to operate altogether, in each fire authority area. [159770]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The information requested (shown in the table) relates to the percentage of fires in dwellings where a smoke alarm was present and where the fire was attended by the local authority fire service.
  525W

  Fires in dwellings by brigade and by presence and operation of smoke detectors, UK, 1999

  Percentage of alarms present that

  Total number of fires in dwellings

  Smoke alarm present

  Smoke alarm absent

  Operated and raised alarm

  Operated, but did not raised alarm

  Did not operate

  Suffolk

  555

  286

  269

  56

  13

  32

  Surrey

  627

  224

  402

  58

  13

  29

  Warwickshire

  401

  98

  303

  67

  14

  18

  West Sussex

  658

  239

  420

  55

  12

  33

  Wiltshire

  483

  166

  317

  54

  11

  36

  Isles of Scilly

  1

  0

  1

  —

  —

  —

  England—Met Counties

  27,510

  8,425

  19,085

  68

  9

  23

  Greater Manchester

  5,121

  1,465

  3,655

  61

  12

  27

  Merseyside

  3,019

  913

  2,106

  69

  9

  23

  South Yorkshire

  1,433

  313

  1,121

  69

  11

  20

  Tyne and Wear

  2,241

  913

  1,328

  87

  2

  12

  West Midlands

  4,429

  2,015

  2,414

  70

  7

  23

  West Yorkshire

  2,504

  986

  1,518

  54

  12

  34

  Greater London

  8,763

  1,820

  6,944

  68

  12

  20

  Wales

  3,322

  1,496

  1,826

  62

  11

  27

  North Wales

  827

  395

  432

  69

  9

  22

  Mid and West Wales

  1,030

  472

  557

  66

  11

  23

  South Wales

  1,465

  628

  837

  54

  12

  34

  Northern Ireland

  1,990

  833

  1,157

  54

  18

  28

  Scotland

  9,411

  4,762

  4,650

  56

  9

  35

  Strathclyde

  4,724

  2,225

  2,500

  64

  7

  29

  Highland and Islands

  288

  200

  88

  35

  19

  46

  Grampian

  883

  590

  294

  63

  8

  28

  Tayside

  794

  390

  403

  49

  13

  38

  Lothian and Borders

  1,804

  896

  908

  42

  12

  46

  Fife

  437

  188

  248

  53

  15

  32

  Central

  327

  197

  130

  52

  10

  39

  Dumfries

  154

  76

  78

  33

  14

  53

  Notes:

  1999 data are provisional and based on a sample of all incidents.

  Including late call and heat and smoke damage incidents (not recorded prior to 1994).

  Source:

  Home Office Fire statistics

  Smoke Alarms
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Fire Research and Development Group, Part II-Review of Research 1999–2000, what were the conclusions and recommendations of the report on domestic smoke alarms (advice to the public). [159788]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  No formal report of the research carried out by the Institute of Child Health (ICH) referred to in the Fire Research and Development Group (FRDG) document Review of Research 1999–2000 has been published.

  The objective of the research was to determine whether the door-to-door distribution of free smoke alarms to inner-city residents in London would be effective in reducing the risk of residential fires, fire related casualties, and serious fire-related injuries and deaths. The programme was being conducted in Camden and Islington, areas identified as being of substantial risk and deprivation. It commenced in July 1997. The researchers provided some 20,000 smoke alarms, potentially sufficient to increase smoke alarm ownership by 50 per cent. in their intervention areas. However a year after the programme, the level of installed working alarms was found to be not significantly higher than it was in the control group (39 per cent. as opposed to 38 per cent).
  526W
  It is understood that the researchers feel the findings to date show the importance of not simply supplying smoke alarms, but of also having them installed professionally, if a 'give-away' initiative is to work.

  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of households owned smoke alarms in each fire authority area in(a) 1998 and (b) 1999. [159768]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The information requested is not available centrally.

  Smoke alarm ownership data are collected on a national basis via surveys. The Home Office Fire Safety Attitudes and Awareness Monitor shows that (a) 82 per cent. of households owned a smoke alarm in 1998 and (b) 81 per cent. of households in 1999 owned a smoke alarm.

  Scientific Staff (Attacks)
  Mr. Davidson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps the Government(a) have taken and (b) plan to take to protect scientific staff whose work involves animal testing from physical attacks and harassment directed at them because of their employment; and if he will make a statement. [158820]
  527W
  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The Government are totally committed to the protection of those working or otherwise connected with legitimate scientific research on animals.

  Proposals aimed at preventing protests outside homes and strengthening the law on malicious communications and harassment have been included in the Criminal Justice and Police Bill currently before Parliament. In addition, the Government have published a consultation paper on the Government's strategy for tackling animal rights extremism, a copy of which is in the Library. We will continue to liaise closely with the police and other criminal justice agencies to ensure effective enforcement of the law in this area.

  ADT v. K
  Dr. Harris
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 16 November 2000,Official Report, column 750W, how many hours of work by departmentally employed staff were put in to pursue the Government's case in ADT v. UK; what the total sum of expenses claims put in by staff working on the Government's defence was; and how much was paid to legal staff not already employed by his Department for advice and work on the case. [158841]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  Officials in the Home Office who worked on the Government's case in ADT v. UK did so as part of their wider duties of dealing with the law on sex offences. Records were not kept of the time taken in dealing with issues relating to this case. That was why I was unable to give the hon. Member an estimate of the total costs in defending the case in answer to the question he asked on 16 November.

  Funding allocation area

  Initiative

  Grant recipient

  Public or private sector

  Amount(£)

  Financial year (where appropriate)

  Crime reduction

  CCTV Challenge

  Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council

  Public

  52,400

  1996–97

  Crime reduction

  CCTV Challenge

  Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council

  Public

  105,400

  1997–98

  Crime reduction

  Youth Justice Board Development Fund

  Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council

  Public

  71,725

  1999–2000 to 2000–01

  Crime reduction

  Youth Justice Board—Youth Inclusion Programme

  NACRO Walsall

  Private

  81,065

  1999–2000 to 2000-01

  Crime reduction

  Splash scheme

  NACRO Walsall

  Private

  39,000

  12000–01

  Crime reduction

  Drug Arrest Referrals

  West Midlands Police Authority2

  Public

  5,000

  1999–2000

  62,552

  2000–01

  Crime reduction

  Reducing Burglary

  Walsall MBC

  Public

  61,407

  2000–01

  Crime reduction

  CCTV

  Walsall MBC

  Public

  309,629

  2000–01

  Crime Reduction

  Neighbourhood Wardens

  Walsall Housing Regeneration agency

  Private

  341,003

  2000–01

  Community safety

  Connecting Communities Grant

  Walsall Strategic Race Equality Grant

  Private

  192,000

  2000–01

  Community safety

  Connecting Communities Grant

  Walsall Ethnic Business Association

  Private

  155,000

  2000–01

  Drug prevention

  DAT (Drug Action Team)Development Funding

  Walsall DAT

  Public

  117,711

  1999–2000 to 2001–02

  Drug prevention

  Drug Prevention Education

  Walsall Health Education

  Public

  191,705

  1997–98 to 2001–02

  Drugs prevention

  Youth Service

  Walsall MBC (Training for youth workers)

  Public

  96,097

  1997–98 to 2001–02

  Drugs prevention

  Youth Service

  Youth Service (Walsall Walkways Project)

  Public

  25,000

  1996–97 to 1998–99

  Drugs prevention

  Community Work

  Activities funded through Health Action Zone programmes

  Public

  146,000

  1999–2000 to 2000–01

  Drug prevention

  Treatment for drug users

  Walsall Health Authority

  Public

  41,617,959

  1997–98 to 2001–02

  1 One scheme run under Summer Splash and one under Easter Splash. Funds to this initiative are also provided by the Department for Education and Employment and the Department of Culture, Media and Sport

  2 Grant is paid to Police Authority who then transfer it to Walsall Health Authority.

  3 Amount paid to date.

  4 Includes funds from the Department of Health.

  Government Funding (Walsall)
  Mr. Bruce George
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what additional funding has been allocated to(a) public and (b) private organisations in Walsall for (i) policing, (ii) crime reduction, (iii) community safety, (iv) regeneration and (v) drugs prevention and related matters for each year since 1996; and if he will identify the organisations and amounts allocated. [158922]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  Details of funding for crime reduction, community safety and drugs prevention are in the table.

  Regeneration is a matter for the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (DETR).

  West Midlands police received £2,791,185 in 2000–01 from the Crime Fighting Fund (CFF) for the recruitment of police officers over and above previous plans. Estimated CFF provision for 2001–02 is £7,397,000 but the amount may vary according to the success of the force's recruitment efforts and the timing of recruitment. They also received £3.3 million from the Police Modernisation Fund in 2000–01 to target robbery specifically, of which £50,000 has been allocated to Walsall.

  Grant supported funding from the Home Office and the DETR for the West Midlands police has been as follows: 1996–97 £344 million; 1997–98 £353.4 million; 1998–99 £371.9 million; 1999–2000 £380.6 million; 2000–01 £392.7 million; 2001–02 £409.7 million.
  529W 536W

  Firearms Compensation Scheme
  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for compensation under the Firearms Compensation Scheme remain unsettled. [158906]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  As at 25 April, of the initial 72,000 claims submitted, there were 623 claims made under the Firearms Compensation Scheme which have yet to be settled. Of these, payment of the compensation deemed appropriate under the Scheme has been made in 579 cases and we are currently awaiting return of final declarations of acceptance. Payment has been offered in the remaining 44 cases.

  Animal Welfare
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will set out, with statistical information, the effects of his Department's policies and actions in relation to animal welfare since 2 May 1997. [158903]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  We are continuing to work to ensure that the highest possible standards of welfare are applied to animals used in scientific procedures and that they are used only where it is fully justified—where the benefits outweigh the costs and where there are no suitable alternatives. To this end we are promoting the fullest application of the 3Rs—the replacement of procedures with others which do not use animals, the reduction of the number of animals used and the refinement of procedures to minimise pain and suffering.

  In addition to our commitment to the 3Rs, the other main individual measures this Government have introduced since the election to ensure that animals are used only where fully justified are as follows. We have: secured a voluntary ban on testing cosmetic finished products on animals; increased the budget made available to the Animal Procedures Committee to sponsor research on alternatives by 45 per cent. to £265,000 for 2000–01; banned the use of animals to test alcohol and tobacco products; increased the size of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Inspectorate from 18 to 21, and recruited seven new inspectors to fill these and other vacancies and recently announced plans to further increase numbers to 33 over the next three years; introduced a requirement that all establishments licensed under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 have local ethical review processes as a complement to the existing controls under the Act. We are now reviewing those processes to ensure dissemination of best practice; announced our intention never to allow the use of Great Apes (gorillas, chimpanzees, pygmy chimpanzees and orang-utans); announced that licenses for monoclonal antibody production by the ascites method will not be granted other than in exceptional circumstances; and ended the licensing of the LD50 test and of tests for skin corrosivity and phototoxic potential where valid alternatives exist.

  The number of scientific procedures in Great Britain in 1999 was nearly 2.66 million—very slightly down on 1998. The number of animals used was 2.57 million, about 24,000 fewer than in 1998. With the exception of 1997 this is the lowest number since 1955.
  530W
  The overall reduction in the use of animals reflects the Government's commitment to applying the principles of the 3Rs to all animal testing in the United Kingdom. However, it is very difficult to project the number of animals to be used in future years. Numbers depend on the type of project licence applications that will be made and progress on current project licences, as well as global trends in scientific endeavour.

  Other support given to animal welfare includes: bringing forward a Government Bill to address the issue of hunting with dogs; backing a Private Member's Bill which became the Breeding and Sale of Dogs (Welfare) Act 1999, a measure aimed at tightening regulation of commercial dog breeding establishments, and issue to local authorities of related detailed guidance; preparation, with the Association of Circus Proprietors, of a code of practice on the care and welfare of animals in travelling circuses; making an Order that allows for an indefinite prohibition of the culling of seals on the east coast of England, which has assisted in the recovery of common seals to pre-1988 numbers when a virus decimated their population—by 1999 their number had risen to 3,600 just 400 down on 1988 numbers.

  2 Marsham Street
  Mr. Leigh
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what date it is planned to start demolishing the old Department of the Environment offices at 2 Marsham Street. [158838]

  Mr. Straw
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave my hon. Friend, the Member for Regent's Park and Kensington, North (Ms Buck), on 28 July 2000,Official Report, column 1167W. Contract negotiations for developing the Marsham Street site as a public private partnership project are currently in progress with Anne's Gate Property plc, the preferred bidder. The City of Westminster has resolved in February to grant detailed planning consent subject to completion of a planning agreement which is currently being negotiated. Provided final contract terms can be agreed between the Home Office and the preferred bidder, a start on demolishing the old Department of the Environment offices is planned later this year.

  Justice and Home Affairs Council
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the Council Working Parties on Justice and Home Affairs, indicating(a) the number of meetings since 2000 and (b) the items on the agenda for each. [158757]

  Mrs. Roche
  The Treaty on European Union established the "Article 36 Committee", a co-ordinating committee of senior officials in the field of police co-operation and judicial co-operation in criminal matters. The Committee of Permanent Representatives has also approved, most recently in 1999, a list of working parties and committees in the Justice and Home Affairs sector. In addition, a number of the working parties established by the Permanent Representatives Committee in the General Affairs sector deal with issues with a justice and home affairs dimension.
  531W
  Since the start of the Swedish Presidency on 1 January 2001, there have been 176 meetings of these working groups. To provide an itemised agenda for each meeting would involve disproportionate cost. However, the agendas can be obtained individually from the Swedish Presidency website at "www.eu2001.se".

  List of Working Parties:

  Justice and Home Affairs

  Strategic Committee on Immigration, Frontiers and Asylum

  Working Party on Migration and Expulsion Visas Working Party

  Asylum Working Party

  (a) Dublin Convention

  (b) Eurodac

  Centre for Information, Discussion and Exchange on Asylum (CIREA) Working Party

  Centre for Information, Discussion and Exchange on the Crossing of Frontiers and Immigration (CIREFI) Working Party

  Working Party on Frontiers (including false documents)

  Committee on Civil Law Matters

  Working Party on Information Systems and Data

  Protection (excluding Schengen Information System)

  Schengen Information System (SIS) Working Party

  Schengen Information Technical (SIS-TECH) Working Party

  (a) General

  (b) Schengen Information System Network (SISNET)

  Supplementary Information Request at National Entry (SIRENE) Working Party

  Police Co-operation Working Party (including false documents)

  (a) Telecommunications

  (b) Investigative Techniques and Forensic Science

  (c) Exchange of Police Intelligence

  Europol Working Party

  Working Party on Terrorism

  Working Party on Drug Trafficking

  Customs Co-operation Working Party

  Working Party on Co-operation in Criminal Matters

  Working Party on Substantive Criminal Law

  Working Party on Collective Evaluation

  Working Party on Schengen Evaluation

  Working Party on the Schengen Acquis

  Multidisciplinary Group on Organised Crime (including the Pre-accession Pact Experts Group (PAPEG))

  Working Party on the European Judicial Network

  Working Party on the Contact and Support Network

  Working Party on Civil Protection

  General Affairs (Horizontal Issues)

  High Level Working Group on Asylum and Migration

  Horizontal Working Party on Drugs

  General Affairs (External Relations)

  Committee for Civilian Aspects of Crisis Management.

  Departmental Policies (Battersea)
  Mr. Linton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to the constituency, the effects on the Battersea constituency of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997. [158761]
  532W
  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The Home Office is working to build a safe, just and tolerant society in which the rights and responsibilities of individuals, families and communities are properly balanced, and the protection and security of the public are maintained. Detailed information on the impact of Home Office policies across the full range of responsibilities is set out in Home Office Annual Reports. A copy of the most recent report, Home Office Annual Report 2000–01, is available in the Library. Information on recorded crime and policing is also published. 'Recorded Crime England and Wales, 12 months to September 2000' and 'Police Service Strength England and Wales, 30 September 2000' can be found in the Library. The recorded crime statistics include information on recorded crime by Basic Command Unit and Crime and Disorder partnerships.

  The impact of Home Office policies and actions is not normally examined by constituency and the statistics which the Department collects, such as recorded crime, cannot be matched in the way requested although set out are examples relating to the Battersea constituency or the immediate locality.
  Reducing Burglary Initiative (RBI)
  The Metropolitan police in partnership with the London Borough of Wandsworth have been granted £7,000 for a project covering the over 60s in Wandsworth. The main interventions proposed include target hardening for repeat victims particularly among elderly households. Approximately £19,000 has been awarded to a project in Balham. The main interventions proposed are raising awareness, a crime prevention roadshow, target hardening and a property accreditation scheme for an area with large numbers of flats and houses in multiple occupation.
  Closed Circuit Television (CCTV)
  Wandsworth borough council was awarded £73,000 for a four-camera scheme to extend the current system covering two major car parks, public access points and Prince of Wales Drive in Battersea. The scheme aims to reduce overall crime by 10 per cent. in three years.
  Youth Offending
  Battersea is covered by the Wandsworth Youth Offending Team (YOT). It is currently receiving funding from the Youth Justice Board (YJB) for four Intervention Schemes and one Bail Support Scheme. The YOT consists of members of staff from five core agencies: Social Services, Police, Probation, Education and Health. During the past year the local health authority has increased its representation from a part-time psychologist to a full-time post. The YOT has an annual budget in excess of £1.5 million. Some key achievements in the last year include: staffing has provided to allow Balham Court House to open five days a week; a new database (YJB funded) has been installed to allow improved monitoring of the whole youth justice system; Persistent Young Offenders are being dealt with on average within 60 days; Restorative Justice Conferencing has been established with YJB funding, allowing the existing Family Group Meeting Service to be expanded to include young people and their families; an indirect reparation scheme is run on Saturdays in Battersea Park—young people are required to undertake basic maintenance tasks, for example sweeping leaves and cleaning Parks Police Cars. All young people in Wandsworth in receipt of a Final Warning are assessed for a programme of intervention and a Mentoring Scheme has been established, with 24 mentors already trained and over 10 matched with young people. Truancy Sweeps have been introduced using the YOT premises: 18 truants were picked up in the first sweep, some of those identified will be referred on to activities such as summer colleges. All YOT staff have participated in a full training programme including working with parents of offenders and cognitive ways of working.
  The YJB have contributed £65,000 towards a project aimed at young people in receipt of Final Warning, Community Sentences and those young people made subject to a Detention and Training

  533W
  Order. The Effective Supervision Project is particularly for persistent young offenders and includes individual programmes, group work and a cognitive behavioural offending programme. The Victim Offender Family Group Meeting Project provides a dedicated officer responsible for the recruitment and training of Victim Conferencing Co-ordinators and project development. This scheme has received a YJB grant of approximately £68,000. £99,000 has been contributed towards the Wandsworth Parenting Project. The main objective is to prevent offending by young people by the provision of appropriate and good quality parenting programmes that are credible to the courts, the parents concerned and the young offenders. Wandsworth YOT Mentoring Service will be a flexible scheme offering short-term task centred support or longer-term support helping to build a young person's self esteem. Almost £112,000 has been granted towards this scheme. The YJB are contributing approximately £157,000 towards a Bail Support Scheme, which aims to provide support and supervision for young people on remand to avoid them having to be removed from home because of their offending.

  More generally, all of the policies of the Home Office will impact on the residents of Battersea to a greater or lesser extent. For example: 376 Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships have been established; racial harassment and racially motivated crimes have been made criminal offences by the Crime and Disorder Act 1998; the asylum backlog has been cut from 103,495 at the end of January 2000 to 49,690 by the end of February 2001; and good progress is being made in reducing the incidence of fire deaths in England and Wales. They have dropped from 605 in 1997 to 534 in 1999.

  Information on the Home Office and its policies is also published on its website www.homeoffice.gov.uk.

  CCTV Challenge Fund
  Mr. Linton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much each London borough received in rounds one and two of the Home Office CCTV Challenge Fund allocations. [158784]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  We are now running a Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) Initiative, which replaced the earlier CCTV Challenge Fund. In round one of that initiative a total of £17.4 million was awarded to 52 schemes submitted by London boroughs. The shortlist of bids recently announced under round two of the CCTV Initiative includes 30 schemes from London boroughs, with a potential capital value of £19.1 million.

  A list of these schemes in London boroughs awarded funding under round one of the CCTV Initiative, and those that have been invited to the final stage of round two of the CCTV Initiative, has been placed in the Library.

  Police Defence Equipment
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what trials are being undertaken of(a) the advanced taser M26, (b) the laser dazzler, (c) the bean bag and (d) pepper spray; what the specifications are for each test; what police forces or other bodies have been approached or agreed to conduct further trials; what his estimate is of the cost of each trial programme; and what social impact assessment he will commission for each weapon. [158789]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  A wide range of technologies which could be used by the police for self-protection and the maintenance of law and order is currently being considered by the Home Office Police Scientific 534W
  Development Branch (PSDB), including the advanced air taser, laser dazzler and bean bag. This programme of work responds to an operational requirement set by the Association of Chief Police Officers. A preliminary review of the available equipment has recently been published by the Northern Ireland Office in relation to the Patten Report recommendations on seeking potentially less lethal alternatives to Plastic Baton Rounds. The fact that items are being studied does not of course mean that they will necessarily come into police use.

  Pepper spray has been discounted for use in the United Kingdom, but Sussex police are trialling a synthetic version of the spray, PAVA, in one of their Divisions.

  The total cost of the work being carried out for the Home Office at PSDB is £402,000. Formal social impact assessments are not carried out as part of this programme, but all relevant factors would be considered before any decision to recommend police use of any of the equipment in question.

  Circus Animals
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will list the(a) persons and (b) organisations his Department has consulted in preparing guidelines relating to the use of animals in circuses; [159592]

  (2) what plans he has to issue official guidelines on the use of animals in circuses. [159602]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The Association of Circus Proprietors has produced a Code of Practice on standards for the care and welfare of circus animals on tour. Copies of the Code of Practice will be made available to local authorities and circuses as well as other interested parties.

  I understand the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, the British Veterinary Zoological Society, the Zoological Society of London and the Universities Federation for Animal Welfare were all consulted on the content of the Code of Practice. Home Office officials provided some advice and assistance to the Association in the preparation of its Code but it remains the Code of the Association. The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and other organisations will be meeting me shortly to discuss it.

  Human Rights Commission
  Ms Kelly
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to establish a human rights commission for England and Wales. [159279]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  We have no present plans to establish a Human Rights Commission for England and Wales. The Joint Parliamentary Commission on Human Rights is currently scoping a study into the possibility of a Human Rights Commission, and we will be interested to see its conclusions.

  Police (Cambridgeshire)
  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers were in post per 1,000 head of population in the county of Cambridgeshire on 1 January in each year between 1996 and 2001. [159521]
  535W
  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The information is set out in the table. Police numbers are collected twice a year on 31 March and 30 September. The information in the table is therefore based on police numbers for 31 March of each year, except for 2001 where the special collection of police numbers for 31 January has been used.

  Cambridgeshire Constabulary

  Year

  Police numbers

  Population (mid June of preceding year)

  Police officers per 1,000 population(1)

  31 March 1996

  1,238

  693,871

  1.78

  31 March 1997

  1,302

  703,251

  1.85

  31 March 1998

  1,291

  712,240

  1.81

  31 March 1999

  1,274

  719,767

  1.77

  31 March 2000

  1,237

  724,897

  1.71

  31 January 2001

  1,309

  2724,897

  21.81

  1 Calculated on the basis of population figures, for June of the preceding year, provided by the Office for National Statistics.

  2 June 2000 population figures are not, yet available. June 1999 population data have been used.

  Ministerial Visits
  Mr. Stephen O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the total gross running cost to his Department was for travel, including fares, subsistence, accommodation and other expenses met from public funds for visits exclusively within the United Kingdom by(a) him and (b) Ministers, in the 12 months ending 30 April 1997. [157621]

  Mr. Straw
  Departmental records available for the 12 months to 30 April 1997 show the following costs:

  (a) Visits by the Home Secretary—£16,866.65

  (b) Visits by other Home Office Ministers—£38,035.75.

  These figures include where relevant the costs of an accompanying Private Secretary.

  Departmental Entertaining
  Mr. Stephen O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the total gross running costs to his Department were in the 12 months ending 30 April 1997 of entertaining by(a) Ministers and (b) officials. [157619]

  Mr. Straw
  The total gross running cost to my Department in the 12 months ending 30 April 1997 of entertaining by Ministers was £14,793 and by officials was £27,036.

  In my reply of 27 February 2001, Official Report, column 603W, I reported that the provisional gross running cost to my Department in the 12 months to 31 January 2001 of entertaining by officials was £160,095. It has since been found that a sum of £131,064 relating to the costs of conferences had been incorrectly classified in the accounting system as entertaining costs. Provisional expenditure on entertaining by officials in the 12 months to 31 January 2001 was £29,031.

  Crime Rates (Chichester)
  Mr. Tyrie
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information is provided on the knowledge network on the level of(a) recorded crime, (b) violent crime and (c) police manpower in the Chichester constituency; and what comparable statistics are available for 1997. [159265]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  (holding answer 27 April 2001]: Details of crime and police manpower are not collected centrally at constituency level, and so are not available for inclusion on the knowledge network.

  The most recent details of recorded crime in the Chichester Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership area, for selected offences, are available in the Home Office Statistical Bulletin 1/01, "Recorded Crime: England and Wales, 12 months to September 2000", which is available in the Library. Equivalent figures for 1997 are not available centrally.

  Metropolitan Police
  Ms Ward
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) serving officers of and (b) recruits to the Metropolitan police in 2000–01 reside in Hertfordshire. [159535]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  I am told by the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that this information is not held centrally.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the hon. Member for Walsall, North will receive a reply to his letter of 7 March, regarding a constituent: Ref. 6492/1. [159233]

  Mrs. Roche
  I wrote to my hon. Friend on 30 April 2001.

  Disorder
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what targets he has set for the reduction of incidents of disorder. [159021]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  [holding answer 26 April 2001]: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 26 April 2001, Official Report, column 391W. The target is that there should be a reduction in disorder; we expect to have sufficient data to produce a baseline this autumn and work on quantifying the target will follow.

  Crime (Walsall)
  Mr. Bruce George
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much money was given directly to(a) the local authority and voluntary organisations and (b) the police in Walsall by his Department to aid in crime reduction and crime prevention in each year since 1997. [158743]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  Amounts paid as grant under various Home Office initiatives to support crime reduction are as follows.
  537W

  Initiative

  Grant recipient

  Local authority, voluntary sector or police

  Financial year

  Amount (£)

  CCTV Challenge

  Walsall metropolitan borough council

  Local authority

  1996–97

  52,400

  CCTV Challenge

  Walsall metropolitan borough council

  Local authority

  1997–98

  105,400

  Youth Justice Board Development Fund

  Walsall metropolitan borough council

  Local authority

  1999–2000

  55,648

  Drug Arrest Referrals

  West Midlands police authority1

  Police

  1999–2000

  5,000

  2000–01

  62,552

  Youth Justice Board Development Fund

  Walsall metropolitan borough council

  Local authority

  2000–01

  16,464

  Reducing Burglary

  Walsall metropolitan borough council

  Local authority

  2000–01

  61,407

  CCTV

  Walsall metropolitan borough council

  Local authority

  2000–01

  309,629

  Neighbourhood Wardens

  Walsall Housing Regeneration Agency

  Voluntary sector

  2000–01

  41,003

  1 Grant is paid to police authority who then transfer it to Walsall health authority

  Special Advisers (Overseas Visits)
  Mr. Tyrie
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions between 31 March 2000 and 31 March 2001(a) departmental and (b) non-departmental special advisers have travelled abroad in an official capacity. [158559]

  Mr. Straw
  I have two departmental special advisers, one of whom made one official visit abroad between 31 March 2000 and 31 March 2001. The visit was a fact-finding programme to the United States of America to discuss law and order issues with policy advisers and practitioners. The visit was made in accordance with the Civil Service Management Code. My second special adviser was in the United States of America at the same time and attended parts of the programme but his visit was not supported by public funds.

  Police (West Sussex)
  Mr. Tyrie
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers, patrol officers and community beat officers there were in West Sussex in 1997; and how many there are today. [158597]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The information in the table has been provided by the Chief Constable of the Sussex police. I understand that of the five divisions that police the county of West Sussex two of them also police parts of the County of East Sussex, the number of officers available to police West Sussex will therefore vary from week to week.

  I am also told that because of changes to computer systems in December 1999 the force is unable to provide historical information about the distribution of officers between the divisions of the Sussex police. However, the force has been able to provide an estimate for 1997, which is based on the current distribution of police officers to divisions, and these are in the table.

  Number of police officers in West Sussex area of the Sussex police

  31 March 1997

  31 March 2001

  Total number of police officers

  916

  883

  Response (patrol) officers

  456

  442

  Community beat officers

  181

  174

  Lord Birt
  Miss Widdecombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much has been claimed to date 538W
  by Lord Birt in out-of-pocket expenses in respect of his role as a Government adviser on crime; and if he will make a statement. [158227]

  Mr. Straw
  I refer the right hon. Member to the answer given by the Prime Minister to the hon. Member for Lewes (Mr. Baker) on 17 November 2000,Official Report, column 801W. Lord Birt has not claimed out-of-pocket expenses since then.

  Benefit Fraud
  Mr. Willetts
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the(a) average sentence for people imprisoned for Housing Benefit fraud and (b) average length of time served by people imprisoned for Housing Benefit fraud was in each of the last five years. [158674]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The information requested is not available centrally.

  The offences of Housing Benefit fraud and Council Tax Benefit fraud are not separately identified on the Home Office's Court Proceedings Database.

  Appointments (Age Limits)
  Tony Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 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. [158108]

  Mr. Straw
  With the following exceptions, no age limits are placed on appointments to non-departmental public bodies sponsored by this Department.

  The Information Commissioner

  The Data Protection Act 1998 requires the Information Commissioner to vacate office on completing the year of service in which he/she attains the age of 65. This requirement is reflected in advertisements.

  Parole Board

  No mention is made of any age limit in the advertisement, but in the information pack sent to applicants (other than members of the judiciary) it states that candidates should be aged 70 or less on completion of the fixed term of three years.
  539W
  Criminal Cases Review Commission and Criminal Injuries Compensation Appeals Panel

  The information pack states that applicants are likely to be over 40 and should be under 70 at the time of appointment. However, these limits are applied flexibly and are not mentioned in the advertisement.

  Data Protection Tribunal

  In most circumstances, an age limit of 70 is applied to lay members in line with the designated retirement age of the chairman and deputy chairman, who are appointed by the Lord Chancellor. These posts are not advertised.

  Office of the Surveillance Commissioners

  The Chief Surveillance Commissioner and the Surveillance Commissioner are required to retire at 75 and must therefore be under 72 years on appointment for a fixed term of three years. These posts are not advertised. Assistant Surveillance Commissioners are required to retire at 72 and must therefore be under 69 years at the start of their three-year appointments. This limit is not mentioned in the advertisement. These limits are applied flexibly on an administrative basis.

  Misuse of Drugs Advisory Body and Appeals Tribunal

  The Chairmen of the Misuse of Drugs Advisory Body and Appeals Tribunal are appointed by the Lord Chancellor and are subject to a normal retirement age of 70, although this can be relaxed at the Lord Chancellor's discretion.

  Police Discipline Appeals Tribunal

  Chairmen are subject to a normal retirement age of 70, or 72 for those who were appointed prior to the Judicial Pensions and Retirement Act 1993. Members are appointed for five years from their retirement from the police service.

  Probation Orders (Breaches)
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the figures(a) nationally and (b) for each probation area for the number and proportion of cases under supervision by the Probation Service where breach action was taken in accordance with national standards in 2000–01. [158934]

  Mr. Boateng
  [holding answer 26 April 2001]: The figures for compliance with the national standard on breach are provided by the Association of Chief Officers of Probation audit of probation areas and are shown in the table. This gives the results of the most recent audit. The audit covers supervision of probation orders, community service orders (as community punishment orders and community rehabilitation orders were at the time) and licence cases only. The national totals show that breach action was taken in 65 per cent. of cases in accordance with national standards; in a further 5 per cent. of cases, management authorisation not to breach was given, also in line with national standards.

  Offenders breached

  Area

  Number breached

  Percentage

  Avon

  45

  83.3

  Bedfordshire

  13

  76.5

  Berkshire

  3

  37.5

  Cambridgeshire

  18

  64.3

  Cheshire

  27

  69.2

  Cornwall

  4

  100

  540W

  Offenders breached

  Area

  Number breached

  Percentage

  Cumbria

  25

  80.6

  Derbyshire

  41

  75.9

  Devon

  23

  54.8

  Dorset

  19

  86.4

  Durham

  22

  95.7

  Dyfed

  3

  100

  East Sussex

  21

  75

  Essex

  19

  79.2

  Gloucestershire

  18

  62.1

  Greater Manchester

  67

  68.4

  Gwent

  14

  87.5

  Hampshire

  39

  69.6

  Hereford and Worcestershire

  14

  73.7

  Hertfordshire

  12

  85.7

  Humberside

  46

  65.7

  ILPS

  52

  36.9

  Kent

  17

  31.5

  Lancashire

  60

  85.7

  Leicestershire

  38

  80.1

  Lincolnshire

  24

  96

  Merseyside

  68

  79.1

  Mid Glamorgan

  12

  66.7

  Middlesex

  33

  45.8

  NELPS

  31

  66.0

  Norfolk

  25

  59.5

  North Wales

  15

  62.5

  North Yorkshire

  5

  23.8

  Northamptonshire

  25

  75.8

  Northumbria

  46

  68.7

  Nottinghamshire

  57

  87.5

  Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire

  26

  56.5

  Powys

  5

  100

  SELPS

  18

  64.3

  Shropshire

  11

  68.8

  Somerset

  7

  50

  South Glamorgan

  22

  71.0

  South Yorkshire

  48

  45.3

  Staffordshire

  13

  38.2

  Suffolk

  15

  88.2

  Surrey

  14

  51.9

  SWLPS

  5

  50

  Teeside

  45

  78.0

  Warwickshire

  11

  73.3

  West Glamorgan

  12

  70.6

  West Midlands

  62

  53.9

  West Sussex

  17

  85

  West Yorkshire

  50

  52.6

  Wiltshire

  20

  100

  Total

  1,402

  65

  Asylum Seekers
  Mr. Ennis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the estimated total cost of dealing with asylum seekers cases was in each of the last seven years. [158800]

  Mrs. Roche
  The costs of dealing with asylum seekers' cases are not distinguished separately from the overall operational costs for Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND). The total cost of running IND operations over the past seven years is given in the table.

  £ million

  1994–95

  183

  1995–96

  199

  1996–97

  212

  541W

  £ million

  1997–98

  215

  1998–99

  209

  1999–2000

  260

  2000–011

  484

  1 Estimated

  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what consultations were held by his Department with(a) North East Lincolnshire and (b) South Humberside before accommodation agents began to purchase property there for the dispersal of asylum seekers; and if he intends to hold such consultations in the future; [158912]

  (2) what consultations he has held with (a) local authorities, (b) regional consortia, (c) regional development agencies, (d) health authorities and (e) education authorities before accommodation is purchased in their areas for the dispersal of refugees and asylum seekers; [158911]

  (3) what assessment he makes of the ability of areas to cope with the numbers of asylum seekers he allocates for dispersal to each; and how local authorities and the Health Service are recompensed for additional pressure on their facilities. [158917]

  Mrs. Roche
  Those who have been granted refugee status are free to live where they choose. National Asylum Support Service (NASS) is responsible only for providing accommodation to asylum seekers who have requested that this be provided as part of a support package. The identification of suitable cluster areas for the dispersal of asylum seekers and their dependants is based on research conducted centrally by NASS. Information is obtained from local authorities and other organisations with an interest in asylum. The presence of asylum seekers already in the area will also be taken into consideration.

  In common with the rest of the United Kingdom, before entering into a contract with an accommodation provider to provide housing in Humberside and North East Lincolnshire, NASS consulted the regional consortium to enable the relevant local authority to have an input into the decision making process. NASS has, and will continue to, provide information and advice to regional consortia on a regular basis.

  Provider

  Address

  Adelphi Hotels

  75 Church Road, Hove BN3 2BB

  Angel Group Limited

  Suite 4, Lion Court, 435 The Highway, London E1 9HT

  Accommodata Limited

  44–48 Cromwell Road, London SW5 9QL

  Capital Accommodation Limited

  PO BOX 3309, 16 Turnpike Lane, London N8 OPT

  Clearsprings

  26 Brook Road, Brook Road Business Park, Rayleigh, Essex SS6 7XL

  Glasgow City Council

  Hamish Allen, Centre, 180 Centre Street, Glasgow G5

  Roselodge Limited

  Wembley Point, 1 Harrow Road, Wembley, Middlesex HA9 6DE

  Safe Haven

  Raines Business Centre, Raines House, Denby Dale Road, Wakefield WF1 1HL

  The Landmark

  Conway Street, Liverpool L5 3NH

  YMCA Glasgow

  33 Petershill Drive, Glasgow G21 4QQ

  542W
  Funding for local authorities and the health service in England is by way of grant based on standard spending assessments which take account of the size of the population.

  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many private sector accommodation providers are(a) seeking and (b) purchasing property in North-East Lincolnshire to which asylum seekers can be dispersed. [158910]

  Mrs. Roche
  There are four National Asylum Support Service private sector contractors and one registered social landlord who are currently seeking to purchase property in North-East Lincolnshire.

  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how private sector accommodation providers who are participating in his programme of dispersal of asylum seekers are chosen and vetted; what form of contract they enter into with his Department; what influence he has on the areas in which they acquire accommodation; and how it is inspected and vetted by his Department. [158921]

  Mrs. Roche
  Each of the private sector contracts was entered into following standard Government Procurement Procedures and a bespoke Government Contract has been used to define the rights and obligations of the contracting parties. All accommodation is acquired within defined Cluster Areas the extent and location of which is agreed between the local authorities concerned and National Asylum Support Service (NASS).

  All property provided by the private sector will be inspected by NASS or its consultants within three months of the premises being available for use and in many cases before the bedspaces are occupied. The property is inspected by a combination of surveyors, contract managers and NASS inspectors.

  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the names and location of the head offices of the accommodation providers with whom he has entered into agreements to disperse asylum seekers and refugees since May 1997. [158908]

  Mrs. Roche
  The following private and public sector are under contract to National Asylum Support Service (NASS) to provide accommodation for asylum seekers dispersed by NASS.
  543W

  Provider

  Address

  Leena Corporation

  Premier House, 2nd Floor, 1 Canning Road, Harrow, Wealdstone, Middlesex HA3 7TS

  North East Consortium

  2 Jesmond Road West, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 4PQ

  Yorkshire and Humberside Consortium

  West Yorkshire/Humberside, Thorsby House, 2A Great George Street, Leeds LS2 8BB

  Yorkshire and Humberside Consortium

  West Yorkshire/Humberside, 4th Floor West, Merrion House, Leeds LS2 8BQ

  Yorkshire and Humberside Consortium

  South Yorkshire, 3rd Floor, 18–22 Union Street, Sheffiled S1 2JR

  North West Consortium East Region

  Minehead Resource Centre, Minehead Avenue, Withington M20 1FW

  West Midlands Consortium

  Auchinleck House, 7th Floor, Five Ways, Birmingham B15 1DS

  Northern Ireland Housing Executive

  32–33 Great Victoria Street, Belfast BT2 7BA

  Cardiff Council

  3rd Floor, Marland House, Central Sqaure, Cardiff CF10 1EP

  East Midlands

  The Belvoir Suite, Council Offices, Nottingham Road, Melton Mowbray, Leics LE13

  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what control he has over where private sector accommodation providers purchasing property for the dispersal of asylum seekers out of the south-east decide to make such purchases; and how he ensures an even spread of purchases rather than a concentration on these parts of the country where house prices are lowest. [158915]

  Mrs. Roche
  In consultation with local authorities National Asylum Support Service (NASS) has established approximately 70 cluster areas around the United Kingdom. NASS manages the acquisition of property from both public and private sector providers across cluster areas. Providers are required to provide accommodation within these cluster areas. NASS considers each area upon its merits and bases its acquisition of property upon demand and local circumstances.

  NASS is currently seeking to identify new cluster areas to ensure that asylum seekers continue to be dispersed on a fair and rational basis throughout the country.

  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what payments per capita are made to private sector accommodation agents for each asylum seeker dispersed from the south-east; and if these payments vary by region. [158913]

  Mrs. Roche
  I am afraid that I am unable to give this information since it is commercial in confidence.

  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consultations he holds with asylum seekers(a) individually and (b) collectively about dispersal out of the south-east by private sector accommodation providers and where they wish to be dispersed to; what information they are given about areas they are to be dispersed to; and what sanctions are imposed on those who migrate back to the south-east. [158918]

  Mrs. Roche
  Asylum seekers applying for accommodation as part of an application for support can ask to be located in a particular area. The National Asylum Support Service (NASS) will take this information and other information relating to the individual circumstances of an applicant into account in deciding whether dispersal is appropriate and, if so, the most appropriate location. The 544W
  asylum seekers will be given a written offer of the support package and before travel will be briefed by the voluntary sector about the arrangements for travel.

  An asylum seeker can apply to NASS to change the support package from subsistence and accommodation to subsistence only. But if they do this they have to find and pay for their accommodation themselves.

  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the total cost to his Department of arrangements made with private sector accommodation providers to disperse asylum seekers and refugees in the last five years. [158909]

  Mrs. Roche
  The Home Office has been responsible for the support costs of asylum seeking adults and families since 1 April 1999. The Department is not responsible for the support of refugees.

  Support for asylum seekers is currently provided either via social security benefits including Housing Benefit, or by local authorities under the interim scheme or since 3 April 2000 directly by the National Asylum Support Service (NASS). The amounts paid to private sector providers on behalf of asylum seekers on social security benefits and by local authorities on behalf of asylum seekers supported under the interim scheme are not known.

  The National Asylum Support Service began operation on the 3 April 2000 and the amount paid to private sector accommodation providers by the NASS in the period 3 April 2000 to the 31 March 2001 was £46 million.

  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for asylum were received from(a) Ethiopia and (b) Eritrea; how many and what percentage of these were initially accepted; how many and what percentage of those rejected went to appeal; and how many and what percentage of those appeals were successful in each of the last five years. [159283]

  Mrs. Roche
  The available information is given in the tables. I regret the other information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
  545W

  Applications received for asylum in the United Kingdom, excluding dependants, and decisions for nationals of Ethiopia and Eritrea during 1996–2000

  Granted of asylum or exceptional leave to remain (ELR)

  Granted ELR under backlog criteria1,2

  Applications for asylum

  Total initial decisions

  Total

  Percentage of initial decisions

  Total

  Percentage of initial decisions

  Ethiopia

  1996

  205

  325

  65

  20

  n/a

  n/a

  1997

  145

  245

  60

  24

  n/a

  n/a

  1998

  345

  110

  50

  44

  n/a

  n/a

  19993,4

  455

  260

  25

  10

  190

  73

  20003,4,5,6

  390

  475

  65

  13

  180

  38

  Eritrea

  1996

  135

  70

  25

  35

  n/a

  n/a

  1997

  125

  120

  30

  27

  n/a

  n/a

  1998

  345

  115

  20

  19

  n/a

  n/a

  19993,4

  565

  60

  5

  8

  30

  49

  20003,4,5,6

  510

  445

  70

  16

  120

  27

  1 Cases decided under pragmatic measures timed at reducing the pre-1996 asylum application backlog.

  2 Includes cases where asylum or exception leave has been granted under the backlog criteria.

  3 May exclude some cases lodged at Local Enforcement Offices between January 1999 and March 2000

  4 Data for years 1999 and 2000 are provisional.

  5 Cases considered under normal procedures may include some cases decided under the backlog criteria.

  6 Decision figures, by nationality, only available for the period April to December 2000.

  Notes:

  1. Figures other than percentages are rounded to nearest five.

  2. Decisions do not necessarily relate to applications made in the same period and exclude the outcome of appeals or other subsequent decisions.

  Crime and Disorder Partnerships
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how he will allocate the additional money being made available to Crime and Disorder Partnerships in England and Wales for the communities against drugs initiative; and how much each partnership will receive. [160066]

  Mr. Straw
  My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced in the Budget Statement that an additional £220 million would be made available over the next three years to Crime and Disorder Partnerships as part of the Communities Against Drugs initiative. This money, which is to be spent in agreement with local police commanders and Drug Action Teams, will be used to disrupt local drugs markets, and tackle drug related crime. All partnerships will benefit from this funding, but those with the largest populations and most serious problems will benefit most.

  I am now able to announce the allocation of the funding for 2001–02. It is important that partnerships know their allocation for this financial year quickly in order to plan its use. In order to let them know this important
  546W
  information in good time we have used a simple and straightforward allocation formula based on relevant and readily available information. The formula shares 20 per cent. of funds across all partnerships in England and in Wales, allocates 50 per cent. on the basis of certain recorded crimes which are often linked with drug abuse (burglary, robbery, theft and theft of and from a vehicle) and 30 per cent. on the basis of population levels. Each partnership will receive at least the same allocation of money in the following two years. The final allocations for 2002–03 and 2003–04 will be announced by the end of July.

  A new Communities Against Drugs Toolkit is now available on the Crime Reduction website, www.crimereduction.gov.uk, and Crime and Disorder Partnerships will find this a valuable tool in helping them use this funding.

  I will place a paper showing the detailed allocations to each partnership, and further information about the funding formula, in the Library, and the Minister of State, Home Office, my hon. Friend the Member for Norwich, South (Mr. Clarke) will write to hon. Members for constituencies in England and Wales with the same information.

  Communities Against Drugs Initiative: Funding Distribution
  Communities Against Drugs Initiative: Funding Distribution
  Consolidation Bills: Joint Committee Meetings
  Consolidation Bills: Joint Committee Meetings
  House of Lords: Report of Committee on Standards in Public Life
  House of Lords: Report of Committee on Standards in Public Life
  Zimbabwe: Commonwealth Ministerial Mission
  Zimbabwe: Commonwealth Ministerial Mission
  Nice Treaty: Enhanced Co-operation Measures
  Nice Treaty: Enhanced Co-operation Measures
  Solomon Islands
  Solomon Islands
  European "Reunification"
  European "Reunification"
  Mr Illie Ilascu
  Mr Illie Ilascu
  Foot and Mouth Disease: Government Departments' Websites
  Foot and Mouth Disease: Government Departments' Websites
  Foot and Mouth Disease: Diagnosis
  Foot and Mouth Disease: Diagnosis
  Foot and Mouth Disease: Livestock Slaughter Payments
  Foot and Mouth Disease: Livestock Slaughter Payments
  Foot and Mouth Disease Vaccine Storage
  Foot and Mouth Disease Vaccine Storage
  Factortame Litigation
  Factortame Litigation
  Farming and Tourism: Contribution to Gross Value Added
  Farming and Tourism: Contribution to Gross Value Added
  Small Local Abattoirs: Start-up Funding
  Small Local Abattoirs: Start-up Funding
  Foot and Mouth Disease: Assistance by Hunt Servants
  Foot and Mouth Disease: Assistance by Hunt Servants
  Foot and Mouth Disease: Vaccination Approval
  Foot and Mouth Disease: Vaccination Approval
  Swine Fever: Payment Scheme
  Swine Fever: Payment Scheme
  Rendlesham Forest: Tree Felling
  Rendlesham Forest: Tree Felling
  Pig Industry Outgoers Scheme
  Pig Industry Outgoers Scheme
  Tourism, New Media and Information Society Projects: EU Support
  Tourism, New Media and Information Society Projects: EU Support
  UK Jobs and EU Membership
  UK Jobs and EU Membership
  UK Withdrawal from EU: Tariff-free Access to Single Market
  UK Withdrawal from EU: Tariff-free Access to Single Market
  Foot and Mouth Disease: Assistance to Equestrian and Other Rural Businesses
  Foot and Mouth Disease: Assistance to Equestrian and Other Rural Businesses
  Greater Manchester Brain Injury Vocational Centre
  Greater Manchester Brain Injury Vocational Centre
  House of Lords: Writs of Summons
  House of Lords: Writs of Summons