Written Answers of 3 December 2001

DEFENCE

  Suez Campaign Medal
  Bob Spink
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has had in the last five years regarding the issue of a medal for those who saw active service in Egypt between 1951 and 1954. [18178]

  Dr. Moonie
  Within the last five years, the Ministry of Defence has received a number of representations from hon. Members and the general public on the subject of a retrospective campaign medal for service in the Canal Zone during the period 1951 to 1954. From available records it has been determined that the Ministry of Defence has received at least two parliamentary questions for oral response, 16 parliamentary questions for written response (including this one), 340 letters from MPs on behalf of constituents and recorded as ministerial correspondence, seven early-day motions, two Adjournment debates, nine letters to a Defence Minister from other than an MP, which were answered direct by him or on his behalf by his office and 300 letters from members of the public which were variously addressed to the Prime Minister, a Defence Minister, or to Her Majesty the Queen and were answered by an official on behalf of the Ministry of Defence. It should be noted that a number of MPs have written to the Ministry of Defence on this subject on more than one occasion and a small number of veterans have written many times.

  Rotorcraft Procurement
  Mr. Laws
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on his plans for the support, amphibious and battlefield rotorcraft procurement. [18755]

  Dr. Moonie
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for North Essex (Mr. Jenkin) on 8 November 2001,Official Report, column 378W.

  Parliamentary Ombudsman
  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many formal notices his Department has received in the last year from the Parliamentary Ombudsman expressing an intention to carry out an investigation; and in respect of each notice how long it took to respond. [18769]

  Dr. Moonie
  [holding answer 27 November 2001]: Information on the outcome of statutory investigations which were concluded during 2000–01 are set out in the Parliamentary Ombudsman's Annual Report for 2000–01, copies of which are available in the Library of the House, or on the Parliamentary Ombudsman's website at www.ombudsman.org.uk/pca/document/par01/index.htm

  Between 1 April 2001 and 31 October 2001, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) has received one new statutory statement of complaint from the Parliamentary
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  Ombudsman. The MOD responded to this case within the time scale requested by the ombudsman. The time taken to respond was 24 working days.

  A formal notice regarding a matter in the War Pensions Agency was sent to the then Department of Social Security in March 2001. Following transfer of responsibility for the War Pensions Agency, the MOD will be responsible for responding to any observations the ombudsman makes in his report.

  Defence Aviation Repair Agency
  Mr. John Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to introduce further measures to monitor DARA's ability to control the agency's progress in improving turnaround times. [19184]

  Mr. Ingram
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Rhondda (Mr. Bryant) on 23 October 2001,Official Report, column 110W. There are currently no plans to introduce further measures to monitor DARA's performance.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many and what proportion of letters received by his Department between 20 June and 20 July were replied to(a) in under 15, (b) in under 20, (c) in under 30, (d) in under 40 and (e) in over 40 working days; [18586]

  (2) how many letters his Department received from hon. and right hon. Members between 20 June and 20 July. [18566]

  Dr. Moonie
  The Ministry of Defence does not record centrally the total number of letters it receives. However, between 20 June and 20 July 2001, the Department received 478 pieces of correspondence from hon. and right hon. Members, Members of the European Parliament, Members of the devolved legislatures and Peers, which received substantive replies from Ministers as follows:

  Number of working days

  Number of pieces of correspondence

  Percentage replied to

  Within 15

  426

  89

  Within 20

  453

  95

  Within 30

  460

  96

  Within 40

  468

  98

  Over 40

  10

  2

  Ministers also received 662 pieces of correspondence for answer from members of the public during this period.

  Service Families Taskforce
  Mr. Swayne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the work of the Services Families Taskforce. [19815]

  Mr. Ingram
  The Service Families Taskforce was set up in 1999 to deal with service family issues that were outside the control of the Ministry of Defence (MOD). It is headed by a Ministerial Group which last met on 15 November. I also meet with representatives of service families twice a year to discuss areas of concern. The
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  Service Families Taskforce has been involved in a wide range of issues since its conception. The main areas of progress over the last year are:

  (a) The MOD is being consulted by the Department of Health in the drafting of new Adoption legislation to ensure that service families will not be disadvantaged.

  (b) We have resolved the problems that some service families had encountered, as a result of the payment of local overseas allowance, in claiming working families tax credit on return to the UK from an overseas posting.

  (c) We have resolved the problems that some service spouses had encountered, due to the interpretation of residency status, in claiming Child Support Agency payments when on an overseas posting.

  (d) Discussions are taking place with the Department for Education and Skills, and with local education authorities, to see what measures can be taken to improve the schools admissions process for service families.

  (e) Discussions are taking place with the NHS Waiting and Booking Team on the problems service families face when transferring between NHS trust areas.

  (f) Discussions are taking place with the Department for Work and Pensions to identify any problems service families have faced in the claiming of benefits while on overseas postings.

  (g) Since 1 April 2001 service spouses have been able to open Stakeholder pensions while on an overseas posting.

  Cluster Bombs
  Harry Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has been informed by his United States counterpart of the locations in which cluster bombs have been used by US armed forces in Afghanistan. [18506]

  Mr. Ingram
  We are aware of the targets struck by US cluster bombs in Afghanistan.

  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent discussions he has had with the US Defence Secretary over the use of cluster bombs. [18353]

  Mr. Hoon
  [holding answer 27 November 2001]: I speak to the US Defence Secretary regularly on a number of issues.

  Gibraltar
  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the closest operational NATO(a) air base and (b) port available to UK forces to Gibraltar is; and if he will make a statement. [17983]

  Mr. Ingram
  [holding answer 26 November 2001]: The closest Allied air base to Gibraltar that would be available to UK Gibraltar-based aircraft is Beja in Portugal. The closest Allied port available to UK Gibraltar-based forces is Lisbon, although Portimao, also in Portugal, could be used for smaller ships.
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  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what additional operational restrictions are imposed on(a) Royal Navy and RFA Ships, (b) RAF Aircraft and (c) UK troop deployments (i) on visits to and (ii) returning from Gibraltar; and if he will make a statement. [17980]

  Mr. Ingram
  [holding answer 26 November 2001]: There are restrictions on the direct transit of Royal Navy and FRA ships from Gibraltar to a Spanish port or from a Spanish port to Gibraltar. RAF aircraft on visits to and from Gibraltar are not permitted to over-fly Spanish territory with Gibraltar as the destination or as the airport of departure. UK troops on duty are not allowed across the border from Gibraltar to Spain.

  Depleted Uranium
  Chris Ruane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many(a) armour piercing and (b) hard target penetrator warheads containing depleted uranium have been tested in Wales in each of the last 10 years. [17485]

  Mr. Ingram
  [holding answer 27 November 2001]: No depleted uranium rounds have been tested in Wales in each of the last 10 years.

  War Pensions Agency
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the recommendations of the War Pensions Agency's 1999 DMA study were implemented in 2000–01. [19120]

  Dr. Moonie
  Following the recommendations of the 1999 Decision Making Appeals Study the War Pensions Agency worked with ex-Service organisations and the Lord Chancellor's Department to improve war pension appeal legislation and processes, and within the Ministry of Defence to improve the process and time scale for delivery of service documentation.

  Once these improvements were achieved, the recommendations from the study were piloted during 1999–2000 and fully implemented across the Agency during 2000–01.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the recommendations of the 1999 War Pensions Agency Prior Options Review relating to the regulations of the War Pensioners Welfare Service and the partnership opportunities associated with the management of Ilford Park Polish Home were implemented by 31 March. [19117]

  Dr. Moonie
  A review of the objectives of the War Pensioners Welfare Service was undertaken and a report on its findings was widely circulated to the ex-service community in February 2001 inviting comment. The review's recommendations on how welfare services can be developed have received widespread support. As at 28 November 2001, 16 recommendations have been fully implemented, the remainder will be implemented during 2001–02.

  The potential for establishing a partnership with a suitable organisation to provide day-to-day management of Ilford Park Polish Home was reviewed and a report produced in July 2000. The report identified key issues to be addressed and the position is being kept under review.
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  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the service performance standards published in the War Pensions Agency's Service First Charter were achieved in 2000–01. [19121]

  Dr. Moonie
  During 2000–01, the War Pensions Agency achieved all of the standards set out in their Service First Charter. All of the WPA's claims and appeals average clearance time targets were achieved.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the War Pensions Agency met its target to generate efficiency during 2000–01 to absorb the effect of pay and price pressures. [19119]

  Dr. Moonie
  During 2000–01, the War Pensions Agency delivered efficiencies necessary to absorb the effect of pay and price pressures. By adopting a sharply focused and integrated approach to human resources and expenditure management, the agency has been able to implement additional measures to enable operation within its running cost allocation.

  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many armed forces personnel have applied to the War Pensions Agency for a war pension; and if he will make a statement. [19771]

  Dr. Moonie
  A claim for war disablement pension may only be made after discharge from the armed forces. 10,799 claims were received by the War Pensions Agency during the year April 2000 to March 2001; 5,866 claims have been received in the period April 2001 to October 2001.

  Unallocated Funds
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will estimate the total unallocated funds within his departmental expenditure limit(a) at the start of the financial year and (b) to date; and what was the month seven forecast on outturn underspend against his departmental expenditure limit in (i) real and (ii) percentage terms. [19439]

  Mr. Hoon
  The allocation of the Ministry of Defence's departmental expenditure limit at the start of the year is set out in "The Government's Expenditure Plans 2001–02 to 2003–04—Ministry of Defence" (Cm 5109). Revised allocations are reported to Parliament in Supplementary Estimates. Outturn against six month forecast for each request for resources will be published on 4 December in the winter Supplementary Estimates Summary Request for Supply as usual.

  Benchmark Capabilities
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to reassess the benchmark of capabilities set out in the Strategic Defence Review; what the timescale is for this re-assessment; and if he will make a statement. [19770]

  Mr. Hoon
  The Strategic Defence Review (SDR) left the armed forces well placed to participate in the campaign against international terrorism, but we need to look more closely at asymmetric threats of the kind that we saw on 11 September and ensure that we have the right concepts, forces and capabilities to deal with them.
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  I expect to be in a position to publish some conclusions from this work in the spring or early summer of next year.

  Afghanistan
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the proposed supporting role of the Territorial Army in Afghanistan. [18639]

  Mr. Ingram
  I refer the hon. Member to theanswer I gave on 13 November 2001,Official Report, columns 630–31W.

  Mr. Rosindell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the decision process for determining which line infantry battalions should be put on increased alert for deployment in Afghanistan. [19586]

  Mr. Hoon
  The infantry battalions originally placed at a reduced notice to move for a possible deployment to Afghanistan were selected from those within the Joint Rapid Reaction Force and reflected their place in the operational and training cycle and their suitability for the possible operations envisaged.

  Transferred Employees
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the number of cases that have occurred whereby workers have transferred from an external employer to his Department; and in particular where this has involved(a) dismissal and (b) re-employment. [19466]

  Dr. Moonie
  [holding answer 30 November 2001]: This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Major Projects Report
  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the capability shortfalls in the areas highlighted by the major projects report 2001, page 13, section 1.25; what steps are being taken to rectify the shortfalls; when he expects the shortfall to be overcome in each area; and if he will make a statement. [18930]

  Dr. Moonie
  I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House following the hearing.

  Personnel (Credit Ratings)
  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps are being taken to ensure that service personnel are not(a) given a poor credit risk rating and (b) denied credit as an effect of their membership of the services; and if he will make a statement. [18929]

  Mr. Ingram
  The granting of credit to an individual is a decision for the credit companies to make. The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has held talks with the British Banking Association, the Council of Mortgage Lenders and the Finance Leasing Authority which have assured us that their members do not deny credit to service personnel because of their membership of the armed forces; their credit worthiness is assessed in the same way as for their civilian counterparts. Although some companies will not lend to service personnel who are overseas, there are sufficient companies (including NAAFI) who will do so
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  in order to provide the armed forces with adequate choice. While some service personnel may experience difficulties, I am not aware that obtaining credit represents a significant problem for the armed forces more widely. There is no intention, nor would it be appropriate, for the MOD to involve itself in the decisions taken by private companies on the credit worthiness of armed forces personnel.

  Army Recruiters
  Patrick Mercer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what guidance he has given to the MOD on the employment of soldiers on regimental duty to act as recruiters. [20630]

  Mr. Ingram
  Only Senior Non-Commissioned Officers appointed to specialist recruiting roles and who have attended the Regular Recruiters Course, run by the Army School of Recruiting, are termed recruiters. While serving with the Recruiting Group of the Army Training and Recruiting Agency they are not serving at Regimental Duty. Officers and Warrant Officers serving at Regimental Duty and who will conduct duties in support of recruiting operations as Team Leaders, undertake specific courses in support of their duties. Others who will serve as members of recruiting teams are given a one-day briefing prior to their deployment. Soldiers involved in the Satisfied Soldier Scheme are briefed by recruiting staff at the local Careers Office where they are deployed.

  Honorary Medals
  Mr. Swayne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the cost of issuing the Queen's Golden Jubilee medal to holders of the George cross and Victoria cross; and if he will make a statement. [19840]

  Dr. Moonie
  It is estimated that the cost to the Ministry of Defence of issuing the Golden Jubilee medal to holders of the Victoria cross and George cross would be in the order of £1,000.00.

  Mr. Swayne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the convention under which holders of VC and GC decorations are awarded honorary medals. [19839]

  Dr. Moonie
  The United Kingdom honours system does not include the concept of honorary medals.

PRIME MINISTER

  Correspondence
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Prime Minister (1) how many letters he received from right hon. and hon. Members between 20 June and 20 July; [18575]

  (2) how many and what proportion of letters received by him between 20 June and 20 July were replied to (a) in under 15, (b) in under 20, (c) in under 30, (d) in under 40 and (e) in over 40 working days. [18591]

  The Prime Minister
  The information is not available in the manner requested. Between 20 June and 20 July 2001 I received approximately 250 letters from Members of Parliament including invitations and requests concerning constituency matters which were dealt with as appropriate.
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  I receive about 500,000 items of post per year, and my office works hard to deal with them as efficiently as possible.

  General Service Medals
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Prime Minister when he expects the Committee on the Grant of Honours, Decorations and Medals to put forward its recommendations in respect of general service medals for those who served during the Suez canal emergency 1951–54. [20008]

  The Prime Minister
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave the hon. Member for Castle Point (Bob Spink) on 29 November 2001,Official Report, column 1057W.

  Intelligence Services Commissioner
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Prime Minister (1) if he will make a statement on the circumstances in which the Intelligence Services Commissioner could uphold a complaint to the Investigatory Powers Tribunal; [18538]

  (2) what mechanism exists to ensure that the operation of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 is (a) achieving its desired ends and (b) being used in a manner consistent with the safeguards contained in the Act. [18525]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 27 November 2001]: The Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 ensures that there is independent judicial oversight of the powers in the Act. The Act requires the Interception of Communications and Intelligence Services Commissioners to report annually to the Prime Minister on any matters relating to the carrying out of their functions. These reports, excluding, after consultation with the Commissioners, confidential material, are laid before Parliament. Similarly, the Police Act 1997 requires the Chief Surveillance Commissioner to make an annual report to the Prime Minister which is laid before Parliament.

  The Act also requires the Secretary of State to issue codes of practice relating to the performance of the powers and duties under this Act and to which users of the powers must have regard.

  The Investigatory Powers Tribunal investigates complaints in relation to any proceedings incompatible with rights conferred by the ECHR and which concern the use of investigatory powers under the Act. It also considers any complaint by a person who believes that he has been subject to any use of these investigatory powers. The tribunal would determine whether the complainant was subject to such powers and, if so, whether their use was in contravention of the provisions in the Act. The Intelligence Services Commissioner's role in this respect is to provide assistance but only as required by the tribunal.

  Cuba
  Mr. Davidson
  To ask the Prime Minister what recent discussions he has had with the US President on the US blockade of Cuba. [20246]

  The Prime Minister
  I have not recently discussed the US blockade of Cuba with the US President.
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CHURCH COMMISSIONERS

  Internet Access (Clergy)
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners, if he will increase stipends to take account of the additional costs to the clergy of going on-line. [17022]

  Mr. Bell
  Any additional costs relating to the use of computer and e-mail equipment in the course of clergy duties should be reimbursed through expenses.

  Child Care
  Caroline Flint
  To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners, what resources have been provided to assist the development of child care provision in communities in the past 12 months. [17023]

  Mr. Bell
  None. The Commissioners' primary legal responsibility is the financial support of the parish ministry of the Church of England.

  Vandalism
  David Taylor
  To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners, what recent discussions he has had with Church leaders in relation to the vulnerability of churches to vandalism. [17024]

  Mr. Bell
  I have had no discussions with Church leaders on this matter as it lies outside the Church Commissioners' and my own area of responsibility.

  In the Church of England, the responsibility for the security of churches and churchyards lies with the individual parish authorities, although the care of individual monuments in churchyards is generally a matter for the family concerned. Advice is available from church insurers, Diocesan Advisory Committees for the Care of Churches and, nationally, from the Council for the Care of Churches. The National Churchwatch scheme also offers seminars on security in churches and the personal safety of those using them.

  The view of both the Church authorities and insurers is that the best safeguard for a church against theft and vandalism is for it to be kept open and in regular use. However, the duty to care for and protect our churches should not solely concern the church authorities but the whole community. Realistic prevention lies in good citizenship not taller walls.

  Poverty
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners, if he will make a statement on levels of poverty among clergy with particular reference to those clergy who are(a) retired and (b) about to retire. [17025]

  Mr. Bell
  Clergy in office are provided with a house and paid a stipend. On retirement, a full service pension from the Church for 37 years' service amounts to two thirds of the National Minimum Stipend and a lump sum of three times the pension. Clergy are responsible for their 10W
  own housing in retirement but are given assistance through a retirement housing scheme. Clergy also receive a state pension.

  The Clergy Stipends Review Group has recently published a report "Generosity and Sacrifice", which looked at the issue of stipends and pensions. The Group noted that if stipends levels are no better than adequate, the current quantum of pension is not over generous in relation to stipends or in absolute terms. It felt, however, that a number of details of the provision of the pension and stipend scheme were in need of reconsideration. The General Synod at its November sessions agreed that the report should be sent to dioceses for consultation. The responses to that consultation are likely to be considered by General Synod at the end of next year.

  Church Repairs (VAT)
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners, what recent discussions he has had with the Chancellor on the reduction of VAT on church repairs. [17026]

  Mr. Bell
  I have not discussed the matter further with my right hon. Friend the Chancellor recently because we are waiting for the imminent announcement by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport of the details of the VAT reimbursement scheme and how it will operate. The Church has a number of concerns about the funding of the scheme which have yet to be clarified and we will be studying the details of the scheme very closely once these are published.

  Ms Walley
  To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners, what guidance has been issued in respect of value added tax concessions and listed church buildings. [18455]

  Mr. Bell
  The Department for Culture, Media and Sport will, I understand, shortly announce the details of the Listed Places of Worship Grants Scheme. The Church of England and other faith groups represented by the Churches Main Committee look forward to the implementation of the Scheme and will want to study the criteria and other aspects of the Scheme following publication.

  Bishop of Chichester (Palace)
  Norman Baker
  To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners, how much is being spent on the refurbishment of the Bishop of Chichester's palace; for what reason rooms hitherto publicly accessible in the palace are being converted into private rooms; and if he will make a statement. [18368]

  Mr. Bell
  The refurbishment is in fact on-going works, which are partly alterations and partly maintenance and redecoration.

  The alterations are due to the need to improve the office accommodation. This has been re-located from the first floor to a more accessible site on the ground floor and there are consequential changes flowing from that move. The cost of these alterations is approximately £65,000.

  It should be noted that Bishop Kemp's episcopacy lasted 27 years and was unusually long. This resulted in a large number of maintenance and redecoration items

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  being deferred to this scheme of works. The total maintenance cost will be approximately £40,000 and this will cover general maintenance, decorations and safety related items such as upgrading the electrical installation.

  VAT will be additional, although it will not apply to the alterations as the building is listed. The house is a Grade 1 listed building and the quality of work needs to reflect the special status of the building.

  The question also refers to publicly accessible rooms. Bishop Kemp did not use the Tudor room and so it was used occasionally for external functions; for example, an art exhibition was held there once a year. The Tudor room is to resume its original function as the main room for receiving visitors but it will continue to be available to the public by appointment. It is envisaged that the room will also be available for seminars.

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

  Euratom Treaty
  Llew Smith
  To ask the Solicitor-General what steps Her Majesty's Government intend to take in respect of the reply by the European Commission on 3 September to written question number E-1828/OIEN rejecting the judgment of the British court case, dated 29 March on whether the Euratom Treaty covered military nuclear activities. [17940]

  Mr. Hoon
  I have been asked to reply.

  An Appeal Court hearing is due to take place shortly in respect of this case (Regina v. Environment Agency ex parte Marchiori). The Government note the Commission's views, but their position remains that the Euratom treaty does not apply to military activities.

WALES

  Fair Trade
  Mr. Weir
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what fairly traded products, other than tea and coffee, have been purchased by his Department in each of the last five years; and what was their value. [17557]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  My Department has very limited requirements for goods which are subject to fair trade schemes and since coming into existence on 1 July 1999 has not purchased any.

  Mr. Weir
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the value of fairly traded(a) tea and (b) coffee used in his Department in each of the last five years. [17556]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  My Department has purchased no fairly traded tea or coffee. It has fewer than 50 staff and does not provide snack or canteen facilities.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many letters his Department received from right hon. and hon. Members between 20 June and 20 July. [18571]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  I received three letters from Members of Parliament in this period.
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  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many and what proportion of letters received by his Department between 20 June and 20 July were replied to(a) in under 15, (b) in under 20, (c) in under 30, (d) in under 40 and (e) in over 40 working days. [18595]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  The information is set out in the table:

  Days

  Correspondence answered

  Under 15

  10

  16–19

  0

  20–29

  3

  30–39

  1

  40 or more

  1

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Plastic Baton Rounds
  Mrs. Humble
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish the phase II report by the steering group appointed to lead the research programme aimed at finding an acceptable, effective and less potentially lethal alternative to the plastic baton round. [20400]

  Jane Kennedy
  After consultation with ministerial colleagues in the Home Office and the Ministry of Defence, I have today placed in the Library of the House a copy of the second report compiled by the steering group. The group was set up to take forward two recommendations in the Patten report.

  This report concludes the second phase of a four-phase research programme. It is the most comprehensive analysis of the issues yet published. It reflects both the commitment and the urgency with which Government are progressing the programme aimed both at finding an acceptable, effective and less potentially lethal alternative to the plastic baton round and a broader range of public order equipment.

  The report clearly sets out the priorities in this wide-ranging programme and the timetable for the next phase. It includes work seeking less lethal options as an alternative to the police use of firearms, and the Government are grateful to the Association of Chief Police Officers for its leading role in this area.

  In publishing the report, I am inviting comments on it from interested parties. We shall work closely with the Northern Ireland Policing Board in taking the programme forward.

  Murder Campaigns
  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what(a) ethnic and (b) religious murder campaigns have taken place in Northern Ireland since 1971. [11058]

  Jane Kennedy
  Paramilitaries from both communities in Northern Ireland do carry out acts of violence and intimidation not only against the other community but also against individuals and groups within their own
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  community. Police investigations of such offences are often hampered when victims generally decline to make a formal complaint.

  It is therefore important that members of communities, within which these attacks are taking place, notify the police if they have any relevant information. They may do so in strict confidence using the Crimestoppers line.

  The Government regularly keep themselves apprised of these acts of paramilitary intimidation and support any measures taken by the police to bring these to an end. These on-going acts of intimidation are symptomatic of the situation prevailing within Northern Ireland.

  The Government have a duty to protect the whole community from the threat of violence from whatever quarter and in whatever form. The Government utterly condemn any form of intimidation by groups on either side of the community.

  Aylesbury Vale district council

  £

  Nature of funding

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  2001–02

  Revenue support grant (£ million)

  3.075

  2.802

  2.468

  3.058

  Income from national non-domestic rates (£ million)

  4.969

  5.382

  6.012

  6.026

  Housing investment programme (£ million)

  889

  1.033

  2.968

  15.512

  Management and maintenance allowance (housing revenue account subsidy)

  2,3753.11

  2,3765.08

  2,3792.24

  2,3796.44

  Capital receipts initiative (£ million)

  1.413

  1.247

  n/a

  n/a

  Cash incentive scheme (£ million)

  0.1

  0

  n/a

  n/a

  1£0.995 million Housing Investment Programme and £4.517 million Major Repairs Allowance

  2Management and Maintenance allowance allocations are a more reliable indicator than the amount of subsidy paid which is demand lead and fluctuates according to the number of dwellings in the HRA and the number of tenants entitled to housing benefit

  3Per dwelling

  Buckinghamshire county council

  £ million

  Nature of funding

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  2001–02

  Revenue support grant

  102.324

  101.353

  95.891

  111.397

  Income from national non-domestic rates

  96.628

  105.481

  119.63

  117.618

  Rural bus challenge grant1

  0.100

  0.985

  0

  n/a

  Rural bus subsidy grant2

  0.265

  0.561

  0.489

  0.716

  Transport supplementary grant

  1.954

  1.381

  0.066

  7.5

  Transport annual capital guidelines

  1.954

  1.381

  0.216

  0

  Transport supplementary credit approval

  0.946

  1.615

  6.029

  13.035

  1 Rural Bus Challenge figures represent awards—actual spend profiles for the schemes awarded funding may cover more than one year. 2001–02 awards will be announced shortly

  2 RBSG figures represent Grant totals actually paid to the authority. 2001–02 figure represents allocation

  Channel Tunnel
  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 17 July 2001,Official Report, column 97W, on the channel tunnel, whether the draft directives and guidance published on 13 July retain the specific goal to increase freight traffic by 80 per cent. [12976]

  Mr. Jamieson
  Yes.

  London Underground
  Ms Bridget Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many delays have been caused by signal failures on the Jubilee line since January; and what is the total length of time, in hours, lost as a result. [15571]
  14W

TRANSPORT, LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND THE REGIONS

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on the allocation of central Government funds to(a) Aylesbury Vale district council and (b) Buckinghamshire county council in each of the last four years. [14215]

  Dr. Whitehead
  Full details of all central Government allocations to county and district councils could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The principal kinds of funding that this Department has provided to Aylesbury Vale district council and Buckinghamshire county council between 1998–99 and 2001–02 are shown in the tables. These include grants and borrowing approvals for revenue and capital expenditure.

  Mr. Jamieson
  Detailed in-year operational information of this nature is a matter for London Underground and I understand that information is not collated in exactly the form requested. However, London Underground advise that, between 7 January and 13 October (the latest date for which figures have been collated), signal failures caused 75 delays of 15 minutes or more on the Jubilee line. The total initial delay resulting from these incidents was 51 hours.

  Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 23 November 2001,Official Report, column 493W, on London Underground, for what reason the final assessment will be completed under Treasury Investment Appraisal guidelines; if it is his policy to ask Ernst and Young to conduct Monte Carlo simulations as

  15W
  an element of their robustness assessment; if the final agreement with Ernst and Young specified an end date of 17 December; and if he will make a statement. [19870]

  Mr. Jamieson
  London Underground—a publicly owned company—is negotiating contracts to put in place the Government's plans for modernising the Tube. It is clearly appropriate for London Underground to evaluate these contracts in line with Treasury Investment Appraisal guidelines. The answer given to the hon. Member for Hendon (Mr. Dismore) on 23 November 2001,Official Report, column 493W, made clear the terms of reference for Ernst and Young's review of London Underground's value for money evaluation of the contracts for the Tube modernisation plans.

  Aviation Industry
  Alistair Burt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans he has to increase support for the airline industry; and if he will make a statement. [15666]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The Government have underwritten, on a temporary basis, third party war risk insurance for UK airlines and service providers to the aviation industry and are considering further support for UK airlines, consistent with European Commission guidelines.

  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans he has to give financial aid to compensate(a) airlines and (b) airports for the four day period after 11 September when US airspace was closed. [18454]

  Mr. Byers
  The Government have underwritten, on a temporary basis, third party war risk insurance for UK airlines and service providers to the aviation industry and are considering whether further support should be made available within European Commission guidelines. The Commission guidelines permit financial aid to be made available only to airlines.

  Channel Tunnel Rail Link
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (1) how much Government(a) expenditure and (b) investment there has been on (i) research for and (ii) building urban re-development projects associated with the Channel Tunnel Rail Link (A) in total and (B) in each year since the project was first proposed; [15743]

  (2)how much Government (a) expenditure and (b) investment there has been on (i) research for and (ii) building the Channel Tunnel Rail Link (A) in total and (B) in each year since the project was first proposed; [15742]

  (3)how much Government (a) expenditure and (b) investment there has been on (i) research for and (ii) building development projects associated with the Channel Tunnel Rail Link (A) in total and (B) in each year since the project was first proposed. [15744]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The following information is as much as can be provided without incurring disproportionate cost.
  16W
  Government expenditure on building the Channel Tunnel Rail Link:

  Government expenditure associated with the Channel Tunnel Rail Link

  Year

  £000

  Building

  1995–96

  0

  1996–97

  0

  1997–98

  0

  1998–99

  0

  1999–2000

  0

  2000–01

  8,550

  2001–02

  1112,562

  Total

  121,112

  Research

  1995–96

  28

  1996–97

  10

  1997–98

  0

  1998–99

  128

  1999–2000

  554

  2000–01

  22

  2001–02

  1104

  Total

  846

  Building development projects

  1996–2000

  3,180

  2000–01

  14,680

  2001–02

  119,947

  Total

  37,807

  1To date

  Correspondence
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many letters his Department received from right hon. and hon. Members between 20 June and 20 July. [18559]

  Dr. Whitehead
  Information on the volume of correspondence from Members of Parliament received by Ministers, agency chief executives, Departments and agencies, and performance in handling them is published annually by the Cabinet Office. The most recent report, covering 2000, was announced by the then Minister for the Cabinet Office on 6 April 2001,Official Report, column 325W.

  Between 20 June and 20 July, this Department received 839 letters from right hon. and hon. Members.

  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many and what proportion of letters received by his Department between 20 June and 20 July were replied to(a) in under 15, (b) in under 20, (c) in under 30, (d) in under 40 and (e) in over 40 working days. [18579]

  Dr. Whitehead
  The information is not available in the form requested. The information we have is as follows:

  Ministerial letters1

  From MPs

  From others

  Number of cases

  839

  1,178

  Answered within 15 days

  Number

  696

  1,001

  Percentage

  83

  85

  17W

  Ministerial letters1

  From MPs

  From others

  Answered within 20 days

  Number

  751

  1,079

  Percentage

  90

  92

  Answered within 25 days

  Number

  784

  1,118

  Percentage

  93

  95

  1 20 June to 20 July

  Non-ministerial litters1,2

  Number

  Percentage

  Cases received

  186,689

  —

  Answered within 15 days

  178,661

  96

  1 July to September

  2 This figure represents the total volume of non-ministerial correspondence received by the Department between 1 July and 30 September. The centre of the Department collects this data on a quarterly basis to monitor performance against our Service First target of replying to correspondence within 15 working days

  Mr. Kaufman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (1) when he will reply to the letter to him dated 20 September from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr. James Hamlett; [20366]

  (2) when he intends to reply to the letter to him dated 20 September from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr. James Hamlett. [16246]

  Mr. Spellar
  I replied to my right hon. Friend's letter on Thursday 29 November.

  Rail Regulator
  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (1) when he last met the Rail Regulator since 5 October; and if he will make a statement; [17115]

  (2) when he last met the Rail Regulator. [18943]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The Secretary of State last met Tom Winsor on 5 October.

  London-Norwich Rail Line
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what rail improvement projects are included in the Railtrack Network Management Statement on the London to Norwich line; and by when they will be completed. [18423]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The 2001 Network Management Statement includes the installation on this route of the Train Protection Warning System as part of the national programme. I understand that planned work on signal fitments is due to be completed by 31 March 2003.

  Vehicle Design Standards
  Mr. Lazarowicz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will take steps to limit vehicle performance by the introduction of mandatory design standards for vehicles. [18853]
  18W
  Mr. Jamieson
  There is already a requirement in Great Britain to limit the performance of the heavier goods and passenger vehicles by fitting top-speed limiters. This requirement applies to vehicles having a maximum gross weight exceeding 7.5 tonnes. The relevant legislation is contained in Regulations 36A and 36B of the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986. The Government are currently arguing the United Kingdom's corner with our European partners on a European Commission proposal to extend the requirement for top-speed limiters to goods vehicles exceeding 3.5 tonnes in maximum gross weight, and to vehicles used for the carriage of passengers comprising more than eight seats in addition to the driver.

  RenewCo
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what advice the ONS gave his Department on the treatment of RenewCo in the national accounts. [18773]

  Mr. Byers
  [holding answer 27 November 2001]: The Office for National Statistics informed the Treasury that the RenewCo proposals would be classified as public sector borrowing.

  Rent Restructuring
  Mr. Coleman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what further plans he has to consult tenants regarding the introduction of rent restructuring from April 2002; and if he will make a statement. [19040]

  Ms Keeble
  A number of tenants organisations responded to the consultation on the Housing Green Paper last year, and to the consultation this year on proposals to change Housing Revenue Account subsidy to take account of rent restructuring. We are pressing ahead with rent restructuring from April 2002. We will monitor the impact and maintain a dialogue with all interested parties, including tenants groups, about the issues arising on the implementation of the policy as it develops. It would be for local authorities and registered social landlords to consult their tenants about the rents they propose to set from April 2002.

  Best Value
  Andrew George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (1) what assessment he has made of the relative success of best value performance indicators which depend on the measurement of(a) inputs, (b) outputs and (c) outcomes; [19275]

  (2) which of the best value performance indicators (a) apply to the Council of the Isles of Scilly and (b) do not apply because of (i) its size, (ii) its geographical location and (iii) other reasons; [19372]

  (3) which of the best value performance indicators measure (a) inputs, (b) outputs and (c) outcomes; [19274]

  (4) what assessment he has made of the applicability of best value indicators to local authorities, with particular reference to size of authority. [19285]
  19W
  Dr. Whitehead
  The Best Value Performance Indicators have been designed to provide a rounded view of local government's performance. They reflect the resources devoted to the different services, the efficiency with which those resources are used, the quality of the services and service users' experience. They therefore include a mix of indicators which measure inputs, outputs and outcomes; the intention is to rely increasingly on outcome indicators whenever these can be clearly identified. The number of indicators against which an authority is required to report depends on the nature of an authority and the number of services it delivers. For 2001–02 unitary and metropolitan authorities are required to report performance on up to 123 indicators while for district councils the maximum number of indicators is 68. These will be reduced for 2002–03.

  The Best Value Performance Indicators provide valuable information about the performance of individual authorities and enable local people to view the performance of their own authority alongside that of similar authorities. They will also track performance changes over time. Once best value performance plans are published in 2002 it will be possible to assess change over the two years that best value has been in place.

  The Council of the Isles of Scilly is required to report on those services which it provides to local people. I understand that the Council has agreed to design a set of indicators appropriate to its circumstances, and will need to discuss these with the District Auditor.

  Andrew George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what timetable he has set for implementing the results of his review of the operation of best value for local government. [19273]

  Dr. Whitehead
  The Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions announced on 1 October a three month review of the best value regime for local authorities aimed at improving the quality of services. A review group, under the chairmanship of the Minister for Local Government and the Regions, has been set up to take this work forward. The review group has been asked to report to the Secretary of State by the end of this year. The Secretary of State will consider its report early in the new year and respond to its recommendations. The timetable for implementing any measures announced in his response will depend on their nature, but the intention is to act as quickly as possible ahead of the 2002–03 financial year.

  Mr. Moss
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what was the estimated cost in the latest available year of the best value regime to(a) central Government Departments, (b) local government, (c) fire authorities and (d) non-department public bodies and executive agencies. [19892]

  Dr. Whitehead
  (a) For the financial year 2001–02, £1,751,000 has been allocated for administrative costs associated with best value in central Government.

  (b) £52 million has been allocated in 2001–02 by DTLR to cover the cost of best value audit and inspection in England. £21.7 million of this will be paid as grant to the Audit Commission and the remainder has been distributed through the Revenue Support Grant to cover the cost of audit fees charged to local authorities. No
  20W
  reliable estimates exist as to the other administrative costs incurred by authorities in complying with their duty under the Local Government Act 1999.

  (c) Fire authorities precept from county councils and are thus included in the figures.

  (d) The Audit Commission is the only NDPB with a formal role in best value. Their costs are met by DTLR as indicated.

  Light Rail Schemes
  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the average cost is in(a) overall terms and (b) cost per mile of light rail schemes (i) under consideration by the Government and (ii) in development. [19347]

  Ms Keeble
  The capital costs of light rail lines will depend on a significant number of factors. These include land prices, whether the route is segregated or contains street running sections, the degree of double tracking along a section of route, whether there is a need for major works such as tunnels or bridges as well as the extent of wider impacts such as utility diversions. Cost figures will also include vehicles. An average cost figure per kilometre across all schemes is therefore not particularly meaningful. The table sets out a very crude calculation of the capital cost per kilometre of light rail schemes that are currently under development using the latest figures for the overall capital costs of the relevant scheme divided by the length of the route. The figures are given in cash terms.

  £ million

  Scheme

  Overall capital cost

  Capital cost per km

  Sunderland Extension to Tyne and Wear Metro1

  100

  5.41

  Nottingham Express Transit2

  149

  13.8

  Manchester Metrolink phase 33

  513

  8.9

  Leeds Supertram: three lines3

  484

  17.3

  South Hampshire Light Rail3

  190

  13.3

  Merseytram

  215

  11.3

  Stockport extension to Manchester Metrolink

  61.5

  7.24

  Midland Metro extensions to Birmingham centre and Wednesbury to Brierly Hill

  165

  11.1

  Bristol and South Glos. light rail

  190

  11.2

  1 Due to open March 2002

  2 Due to open in 2003

  3 Construction to start in 2003

  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 23 November 2001,Official Report, column 498W, on light rail and tram schemes, which other schemes could open before 2006. [19132]

  Ms Keeble
  In view of the need to obtain powers under the Transport and Works Act, to carry out a tendering process and to construct the new lines, we do not currently expect lines other than those identified in my previous reply to be open by 2006

  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the average estimated length of time is from first submission of a proposal to the Department to completion of a new light rail project independent of an existing system. [19351]
  21W
  Ms Keeble
  Light rail systems typically take many years of planning and promoters are encouraged to discuss their ideas with the Department at an early stage. Accordingly, it is hard to identify precisely first submission of a proposal. The table shows the period between funding being approved and the opening of schemes in operation.

  Scheme

  Year of firm funding approval

  Year opened

  Croydon

  1997

  2000

  Midland Metro

  1995

  1999

  South Yorkshire Supertram

  1990

  1994–95

  Manchester Metrolink line 1

  1989

  1992

  Railtrack
  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on Railtrack's cashflow position. [18937]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The cashflow of Railtrack plc is being managed by the administrator, to ensure the continued operations of the company, drawing down from the loan agreement that was put in place at the time of the administration, as necessary.

  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if Railtrack will be permitted to raise investment funding from any other source apart from the Government during the administration period. [18934]

  Mr. Jamieson
  Under paragraph 8.1.10 of the loan agreement, made available to the administrator, the administrator has the power to raise or borrow money.

  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what public subsidy to Railtrack in administration has been requested by the administrator for the period 7 October to the end of the 2001–02 financial year. [18953]

  Mr. Jamieson
  There is no public subsidy being provided to Railtrack in administration. Funding for Railtrack plc in administration is being provided through a commercial loan agreement, copies of which are in the House Library.

  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what estimates the Railtrack administrator has made of the final cost of completing the west coast main line modernisation. [19001]

  Mr. Jamieson
  A number of options for taking the project forward are currently under discussion. Until these discussions have been concluded, and final outputs agreed, an estimated cost of completion will not be known.

  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what was the most recent estimate by Railtrack of the total cost of the west coast main line modernisation prior to administration. [18954]
  22W
  Mr. Jamieson
  Railtrack's 2001 Network Management Statement, published in May, estimated the cost of the project at £6.3 billion.

  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what procedures the Government are putting in place to ensure that routine(a) track and (b) signal maintenance is carried on a scheduled basis during the period of administration. [19850]

  Mr. Jamieson
  This is a matter for the administrator. The Government will continue to provide the administrator with sufficient funding to ensure the rail network operates on a "business as usual" basis during the administration period.

  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 23 November 2001,Official Report, column 496W, on Railtrack, what his Department's assessment of the value of the assets of Railtrack plc was as at 5 October. [19780]

  Mr. Byers
  The Department assessed the cash-flows that the assets would generate, and concluded that they would be insufficient to cover Railtrack's debt liability payments.

  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 21 November 2001,Official Report, column 277W, on Railtrack, what his Department's estimate of the cash needs of Railtrack plc in administration is in addition to the £3.5 billion already identified. [19910]

  Mr. Byers
  The cash needs of Railtrack plc in administration will depend on how long it remains in administration.

  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what is the credit rating of Railtrack bonds. [19425]

  Mr. Spellar
  Railtrack bonds currently have a long term credit rating of BB+ from Standard & Poor's and Baal from Moody's Investors Service.

  Peter Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 26 November 2001,Official Report, column 606W, on Railtrack, how many Railtrack shares were held by (a) individual and (b) institutional investors at flotation and in each subsequent year. [19841]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The number1 of shares in Railtrack Group plc held by individual and institutional investors at flotation on 20 May 1996 and in each subsequent year—as detailed in the Annual Report and Accounts—is shown in the table.

  Million

  Individual

  Institutional

  20 May 1996

  290

  210

  24 April 1997

  170

  325

  5 May 1998

  150

  355

  30 April 1999

  115

  390

  5 May 2000

  90

  420

  1 May 2001

  90

  430

  1 Figures rounded to the nearest 5 million

  23W
  Peter Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the average Railtrack shareholding of individual investors was in each year since flotation. [19842]

  Mr. Jamieson
  This information is not available to the Department.

  Peter Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions in(a) cash and (b) percentage terms, what profit including

  Value of share at sale

  Sale price minus flotation price (£)

  Dividends received before date of sale (£)

  Cross cash return on flotation price (£)

  Gross percentage return on flotation price

  Highest value on 23 November 1998 = £17.68

  13.88

  0.60

  14.48

  381

  Lowest value on 20 September 2001 = £2.52

  -1.28

  1.40

  0.12

  3

  Average value between 20 May 1996 and 5 October 2001 = £9.15

  5.35

  11.13

  6.48

  171

  1 Shares were traded at the average daily share price several times, all falling in the 2000–01 financial year. Dividend payments therefore assume that the share was sold in 2000–01.

  The returns do not take account of any tax liabilities or transaction charges paid by individual investors.

  Peter Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what proportion of Railtrack shares were held by institutional investors on(a) 1 May and (b) the first of each month up to 1 October. [19494]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The proportion of shares in Railtrack Group plc held by institutional investors on 1 May 2001—as detailed in the Annual Report and Accounts—was 83 per cent. Information on the proportion held on the first of each month up to 1 October is not available to the Department.

  Airtrack
  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what his policy is on the Airtrack proposal. [19337]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The Strategic Rail Authority is sponsoring a demand study to establish numbers of air passengers and domestic (non-airport) users who might use an Airtrack service. Work on this is well advanced, and in the new year we hope to take a view on the next stage of development of the Airtrack proposal.

  We are proposing to issue a consultation paper on airport policy in general early in the new year, and this will include consideration of public transport access to airports.

  Speeding
  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when he intends to publish revised guidance to highways authorities on speed policy. [19272]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The Transport Act 2000 committed the Government to consider the development of a rural road hierarchy for speed management purposes. I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Hyndburn (Mr. Pope) on 28 November 2001,Official Report, columns 942–43W.
  24W
  dividends received a Railtrack investor would have made in selling a single share bought at flotation when its value was at (i) its highest, (ii) its lowest and (iii) its average level. [19496]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The gross returns on a single share bought at flotation for £3.80 and sold at the highest ever, lowest ever and average closing price of Railtrack shares are provided in the table.

  In addition, the first year report executive summary on the cost recovery system for traffic safety cameras was published on 13 August. Copies were placed in the Libraries of the House.

  Local Authority Websites
  Dr. Kumar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (1) what action his Department recently has taken to promote good practice in the creation and development of local authority websites; [19061]

  (2) what measures he has taken to ensure that local authority websites are accessible to those with a range of disabilities; and which organisations have been consulted. [19062]

  Dr. Whitehead
  We have made available £350 million of funding as part of our drive to ensure that all local authorities achieve 100 per cent. electronic service delivery capability by 2005. In 2001–02 this funding is being used to support 24 local authority pathfinders (with a further pathfinder being funded under the Invest to Save Budget) in a programme of innovation and shared learning. Many of the pathfinders are developing interactive websites, which other councils can then use as a model to create their own.

  We are also in the process of developing guidance for local authorities on how they design their websites. This guidance will cover accessibility for people with disabilities, and we will consult widely when the draft document is published next year.

  Energy Saving
  Ms Shipley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what recent measures he has taken to ensure that buildings insulation targets are met. [19106]

  Dr. Whitehead
  The Building (Amendment) Regulations 2001 were laid before Parliament on 11 October 2001, and come into force on 1 April 2002. Their supporting approved documents published on 31 October give guidance on the building insulation
  25W
  targets that are to be met. These significantly increase the building insulation standards that apply whenever building work is carried out.

  Special Advisers
  Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will list the special advisers in his Department. [19344]

  Dr. Whitehead
  The Department's special advisers are:

  Dan Corry

  Michael Dugher Jo Moore.

  Departmental Expenditure

  Departmental Expenditure
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when he expects to spend the £920 million that was allocated to his Department for 2000–01 but not spent. [19527]

  Dr. Whitehead
  The 2000–01 underspend on the DETR Main Programmes Departmental Expenditure Limit became available for use in following years in accordance with the end-year flexibility arrangements (the set of rules by which Departments are allowed to carry forward unspent budget from one year to the next). The entitlement generated from 2000–01 and previous years was announced in Table 6 of Public Expenditure 2000–2001 Provisional Outturn (Cm 5243). £516 million end-year flexibility take up is being sought in the Winter Supplementary Estimates for the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions; £93 million has been transferred to the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (as part of machinery of government changes) and further take-up will be sought in the spring Supplementary Estimates. Any unused end-year flexibility will be carried forward into future years.

  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will estimate the total unallocated funds within his departmental expenditure limit(a) at the start of the financial year and (b) to date; and what was the month seven forecast on outturn underspend against his departmental expenditure limit in (i) real and (ii) percentage terms. [19442]

  Dr. Whitehead
  The Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions Departmental Annual Report for 2001 (Cm 5105) contains the Departmental Unallocated Provision (DUP) set for the present financial year in table A6a. Draw-down of the DUP has been reported to Parliament in the Winter Supplementary Estimates for the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions presented on 29 November. Outturn against six month forecast for each Request for Resources will be published in the Winter Supplementary Estimates Summary Request for Supply as usual.

  Train Operating Companies
  Peter Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what estimate he has made of the revenue lost(a) to each of the train operating companies and (b) in total in each of
  26W
  the last five years resulting from shortages of (i) booking office staff, (ii) ticket machines and (iii) on-board conductors to collect fares. [19554]

  Mr. Jamieson
  No such estimate has been made. This is a matter for the train operating companies.

  Portable Buildings
  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions in relation to Statutory Instrument 2718 and the accompanying guidelines, what discussions his Department has had with all other Government Departments on the number of portable buildings they use which will have to be disposed of after five years; and what the estimated cost to public funds of disposing and replacing these units will be. [19878]

  Ms Keeble
  Statutory Instrument 2718 is The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (Amendment) (England) Order 2001. This order amends the planning guidelines relating to telecommunications masts, and has no relevance to portable buildings. There have thus been no such discussions with other Government Departments, or estimates made, in relation to this Statutory Instrument.

  However, the hon. Member did raise the issue of portable buildings in the debate in the Second Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation on 21 November 2001 which considered the Prayer against both Statutory Instrument 2718 and Statutory Instrument 3335, The Building (Amendment) Regulations 2001. The Approved Document to Part L2 of the Building Regulations, which Statutory Instrument 3335 amended, gives guidance on how portable buildings may meet the requirements of Part L2 of the Regulations under the heading "Buildings constructed from sub-assemblies".

  There is nothing in the guidance in the Approved Document that indicates that portable buildings will have to be disposed of after five years. It indicates that there are no restrictions at all on portable buildings that are moved from one place to another on the same site. With regard to buildings moved from one site to another the guidance is that a building constructed from external fabric sub-assemblies obtained from other premises or from a stock manufactured before 31 December 2001, would normally be considered to meet the requirement if the fabric thermal resistance or the prospective annual energy use will be no worse than the relevant performance standards given in the 1995 edition of Approved Document L.

  It would thus have been inappropriate to have discussions, in relation to this Statutory Instrument and its supporting Approved Documents, with other Government Departments on the number of portable buildings they use which will have to be disposed of after five years, and what the estimated cost to public funds of disposing and replacing these units will be.

  Bus Safety
  Mr. Edwards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what criteria determine the number of passengers permitted to stand on a scheduled bus; and how many people standing are permitted on an(a) 48 seater and (b) 53 seater bus. [19754]
  27W
  Mr. Jamieson
  Every public service vehicle must have a Certificate of Initial Fitness on which is specified the maximum number of seated and standing passengers.

  The Public Service Vehicles (Carrying Capacity) Regulations 1984 prohibit the carriage of any standing passengers on:

  (a) a vehicle with a seating capacity of less than 13 passengers;

  (b) a vehicle with a gangway any part of the height of which is less than 1.77 metre;

  (c) a half decked vehicle.

  Where a vehicle is permitted to carry standing passengers the criteria used to establish the number is as follows: the total number of standing passengers carried on a single deck vehicle or the lower deck of a double-decked vehicle shall not exceed the number obtained by dividing by 1,900 the total floor area of that deck (in square centimetres) available to standing passengers. The floor area for calculation shall not include:

  (a) any space occupied by a seat or within 225mm of the front of a seat required for the accommodation of seated passengers;

  (b) any area which is within 225mm of the top of a step;

  (c) any step and any space within 225mm of an entrance or exit other than a Secondary Emergency Exit or an exit required by Regulation 21(11) of the Public Service Vehicles (Conditions of Fitness, Equipment, Use and Certification) Regulations 1981. The space being measured from the outside edge of the vehicle and having the same width as the opening;

  (d) any space forward of a transverse plane that touches the rear of the driver's seat when it is located in its rearmost position;

  (e) any space on the higher level of a split level floor which is within 225mm of the edge of any unprotected step in the change of levels;

  (f) any space which does not have access to a gangway as specified in sub-paragraph (g);

  (g) any part of a gangway which is not at least 450mm wide at all levels;

  (h) any space in which it is not possible to inscribe a square having 355mm sides.

  The number of standing and seated passengers is required to be marked on the vehicle but the operator can, if he so wishes, use a lower number than that established by the above procedure.

  It is not possible to give a general answer to the cases of a 48 seat vehicle and 53 seat vehicle as the above criteria may be different for each design.

  Illegal Meat Imports
  Andrew George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what discussions he has had with other Government Departments on the(a) level of illegal meat imports to the UK and (b) effectiveness of port controls and enforcement measures, in respect of his own Department's responsibility in overseeing local authority ports and airports. [19546]

  Mr. Jamieson
  Local authority ownership of certain ports and airports does not result in any DTLR responsibility in relation to meat imports. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs leads the Government's work in this area. Officials from my Department take part in discussions with DEFRA as necessary.

  Holiday Accommodation
  Andrew George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what was the total number of dwellings in each local authority in England and Wales in the last four years for which figures are available for which a business rate was payable in respect of their use as holiday accommodation. [19431]

  Dr. Whitehead
  The number of premises in England which are subject to non-domestic rates and let as self-catering holiday homes in the last four years is as follows:

  Year

  Number

  1998–99

  14,607

  1999–2000

  14,589

  2000–01

  15,145

  2001–02

  15,398

  While most of these premises are homes, the figures do include accommodation units that are purpose built for holiday letting and could not be used as homes. It is not possible to segregate these two types of property. The figures do not include premises where it is not intended that the property is let as holiday accommodation for more than 140 days in a year as these are subject to council tax and not to non-domestic rates.

  I will write separately to the hon. Member with equivalent figures for each local authority in England.

  The rating of holiday accommodation in Wales is a matter for the National Assembly for Wales.

  Council Tax
  Andrew George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what level of total council tax discount was made in each local authority in England and Wales for the last five years for which figures are available in respect of(a) furnished second residences privately owned for recreational investment or other private purposes, (b) all categories of privately owned empty properties, whether furnished or substantially unfurnished, (c) properties available to the armed forces or visiting forces accommodation, (d) halls of residence and (e) other categories subject to a 50 per cent. discount; and what was the total amount. [19432]

  Dr. Whitehead
  The information is not available in the breakdown requested, and reliable estimates are not available for individual local authorities.

  The council tax bill for a dwelling that is no-one's main home, or where all the occupants are disregarded for council tax purposes is currently reduced by 50 per cent. in each local authority in England. In 2001–02 in England 588,942 properties were entitled to a 50 per cent. discount, at a total estimated cost of £220 million. Of this total, it is estimated that £80 million relates to second homes, £125 million relates to empty homes and £15 million relates to dwellings where all the occupants are disregarded.
  29W
  In addition, the following classes of dwellings prescribed in legislation are exempt from council tax:

  Class A
  Exemption for: Empty and substantially unfurnished dwellings where works are required, under way or recently completed (valid for up to 12 months)

  Class B
  Exemption for: Empty dwellings owned by charities

  Class C
  Exemption for: Dwellings left empty and substantially unfurnished (valid for up to 6 months)

  Class D
  Exemption for: Dwellings left empty by prisoners

  Class E
  Exemption for: Dwellings left empty by patients in hospitals and care homes

  Class F
  Exemption for: Dwellings left empty by deceased persons

  Class G
  Exemption for: Dwellings where occupation is prohibited by public law

  Class H
  Exemption for: Empty clergy dwellings

  Class I
  Exemption for: Dwellings left empty by people receiving care

  Class J
  Exemption for: Dwellings left empty by people providing care

  Class K
  Exemption for: Dwellings left empty by students

  Class L
  Exemption for: Repossessed dwellings

  Class M
  Exemption for: Halls of residence

  Class N
  Exemption for: Dwellings occupied only by students or school leavers

  Class O
  Exemption for: Armed forces' accommodation

  Class P
  Exemption for: Visiting forces' accommodation

  Class Q
  Exemption for: Dwellings left empty by bankrupts

  Class R
  Exemption for: Empty caravan pitches and boat moorings

  Class S
  Exemption for: Dwellings occupied by minors only

  Class T
  Exemption for: Empty annexes which cannot be let separately

  Class U
  Exemption for: Dwellings occupied only by persons who are severely mentally impaired

  Class W
  Exemption for: Annexes occupied by dependent relatives.

  In 2001–02, 646,128 properties in England were exempt from paying council tax at a total estimated cost of £480 million. Of this total, we estimate that £50 million relates to accommodation for armed forces or visiting forces, and £15 million relates to halls of residence.
  30W
  "Council Tax: A consultation paper on proposed changes for second homes and long term empty homes" was published by DTLR on 23 November 2001. This paper invites views on a range of proposed changes to council tax discounts and exemptions in England, and includes questions on how best to define second homes and long-term empty homes.

  Operation of the council tax system in Wales is a devolved matter for the National Assembly for Wales.

  Mr. Moss
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on the anticipated average percentage change in Band D council tax in England in 2002–03. [19889]

  Dr. Whitehead
  Decisions on council tax are for local authorities to take, after consulting with their local electorate and taxpayers.

  Mr. Moss
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what assessment he has made of the likely use of his reserve powers to regulate council tax set by English local authorities in 2002–03. [19890]

  Dr. Whitehead
  Decisions on council tax are for local authorities to take, after consulting with their local electorate and taxpayers. This Government do not operate a system of crude and universal pre-announced capping.

  Mr. Moss
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on the circumstances in which the Government would use their reserve powers to regulate the Greater London Authority council tax precept. [19891]

  Dr. Whitehead
  Decisions on the GLA council tax precept are for the GLA to take, after consulting with their local electorate and taxpayers. This Government do not operate a system of crude and universal pre-announced capping.

  Mr. Moss
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what impact the heightened state of alert against terrorism will have on the level of council tax in English local authorities in the context of increased civil defence and emergency planning expenditure; and if he will make a statement. [19596]

  Dr. Whitehead
  Decisions on council tax levels are a matter for local authorities after consulting with their local electorate and taxpayers. My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer last week made available an additional £30 million towards the extra security pressures on police authorities in England and Wales for 2001–02.

  Mr. Wiggin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what action the Government are taking in respect of the charging of council tax on empty homes. [19603]

  Dr. Whitehead
  "Council Tax: A consultation paper on proposed changes for second homes and long term empty homes" was published by DTLR on Friday 23 November.

  Copies of this consultation paper have been placed in the House of Commons Library and can be found at www.local.dtlr.gov.uk/finance/ctax/2homes

  Right to Buy
  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will curtail the right to buy in areas covered by urban regeneration initiatives. [19719]

  Ms Keeble
  No. As we said last year in our Housing Green Paper "Quality and Choice: a decent home for all", we do not intend to make any further significant changes to the right to buy scheme.

  Road Schemes
  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will list the road schemes costing more than £5 million initiated in England and Wales since 1997 which are complete. [19755]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The following information covers England only. The provision of road schemes within Wales is a matter for the National Assembly for Wales.

  The following road schemes in England costing more than £5 million have been completed as a result of decisions made since 1997 to begin construction on them:

  Trunk Roads

  A1 Tempsford Junction Improvements

  A50 Derby Southern Bypass (Contract B)

  M60 Denton-Middleton Contract 3

  Local Roads

  A6002/A6007 Coventry Lane Imp.

  Seaham Town Centre Link

  Bridgwater Northern Distributor Road.

  Further trunk and local roads are currently under construction and will be opening over the course of the next two years and many more will follow as schemes accepted as part of local transport settlements or which have been added to the Government's targeted programme of improvements complete their statutory procedures.

  A41
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (1) what assessment he has made of the Highways Agency's plans to cut back vegetation obscuring vision at the A41 roundabout at High Street and Stocklake, Aylesbury; [19706]

  (2) when he expects the Highways Agency to replace missing signposts at the (a) A41 Henley roundabout at the left turn into Haydon Road and Weedon Road, Aylesbury, and (b) A41 High Street, Aylesbury, by Vale Park. [19705]

  Mr. Jamieson
  I have asked the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency, Tim Matthews, to write to the hon. Member about these operational issues affecting the A41 trunk road.

  Letter from Tim Matthews to Mr. David Lidington, dated 3 December 2001:
  The Transport Minister, David Jamieson, has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions about the A41 in Aylesbury.
  The signs situated at the left turn into Haydon Road and Weedon Road at the Henley Roundabout, Aylesbury and the High Street, Aylesbury, by Vale Park were subject to vandalism and in one case
  32W
  accidental collision. I am pleased to inform you that replacement signs are currently being manufactured and will be erected by mid December.
  Work to cut back vegetation on roundabouts is undertaken as a matter of routine during the winter pruning maintenance period between now and March. Where there is a particular safety concern immediate action is taken. The roundabout on the A41 at High Street and Stocklake, Aylesbury was not considered to be a cause for concern in terms of safety. However, the roundabout has been inspected again and there is now ivy growing over a directional sign, which will be removed as a matter of urgency.
  I hope this reply is helpful.

  Fire Authorities (Radio Systems)
  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what advice his Department issues to fire authorities on the need to ensure interoperability of radio systems with other emergency services. [19704]

  Dr. Whitehead
  There is existing Home Office guidance on inter-agency communications at the scene of operational incidents.

  The fire service in England and Wales is currently procuring replacement wide area radio systems. The agreed operational requirement is that replacement systems must support effective inter-working between neighbouring fire brigades and must also provide an effective and continuing interface with the police and with the emergency ambulance service.

  Roads (SSAs)
  Mr. Sanders
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will list the changes made to the(a) measurements and (b) methodology used for determining the length of roads as used for the purposes of standard spending assessments for local authorities since 1997. [19547]

  Dr. Whitehead
  In calculating Standard Spending Assessments (SSAs) for 1996–97 to 2001–02 the lengths of roads used have been estimated from local authority returns, to the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (DTLR). Over this period DTLR (or its predecessor Departments) has made no change to the method of determining the lengths of minor roads. The Department does not hold central information on whether individual authorities have changed the basis they use for recording these lengths. Starting with the calculation of 2001–02 SSAs DTLR' s Transport Statistics Roads Division (TSR) have used Geographical Information System (GIS) data to make comparisons between data from local authorities and their own major road network data, ironing out differences between the two, such as the elimination of the double-counting of dual carriageways by some authorities. This exercise has now been completed in time for the 2002–03 SSAs and the major road length estimates for this settlement are based on these data. No announcement has yet been made regarding the basis for minor road lengths to be used in 2002–03 SSAs. This will form part of the forthcoming consultation announcement on the provisional local government finance settlement.

  Mr. Sanders
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will publish the total mileage of roads for each local authority
  33W
  used for the purposes of calculating standard spending assessments for each year since 1997 including the figures for 2001–02. [19548]

  Dr. Whitehead
  The total length of roads, in kilometres, comprising of principal and minor roads, used to calculate SSAs for each local authority for the years 1996–97 to 2002–02 has been placed in the House of Commons Library.

  Road Safety (Horses)
  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on road safety and horses; and whether he plans regulating changes on this subject. [20109]

  Mr. Jamieson
  We have no plans for regulations affecting the safety of horseriders. We are, however, concerned that road users should understand their vulnerability and give them due consideration on the road. We are considering publicity to increase public awareness of the need to be careful around horses.

  Air Traffic
  Sandra Osborne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what his estimate is of the downturn in transatlantic air traffic in the period between September 2001 and September 2002. [17668]

  Mr. Jamieson
  [holding answer 30 November 2001]: UK and US airlines have reduced capacity on some transatlantic routes since 11 September. Scheduled UK and US carriers have filed proposals with my Department which indicate plans to operate 0.7 per cent. fewer frequencies in summer 2002 compared with 2001.

  Radioactive Material
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many crashes occurred involving(a) road vehicles, (b) aircraft and (c) trains carrying radioactive material in the UK in each year from 1997 to date. [20169]

  Mr. Jamieson
  Information on accidents and incidents involving the transport of radioactive material in the UK is published annually. The reports covering events in each year have been placed in the House Library.

  Rural White Paper
  Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Stroud (Mr. Drew) of 27 November 2001,Official Report, columns 859–60W, on the rural White Paper, if the £239 million allocated for rural bus service improvements includes the £15 million in the parish transport fund. [20139]

  Ms Keeble
  The £239 million allocated for rural transport over the next three years includes the Countryside Agency's £15 million parish transport fund.

  Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Stroud (Mr. Drew) of 27 November 2001,Official Report, columns 859–60W, on
  34W
  the rural White Paper, which changes ensure the revised PPG13 will develop the role of market towns as hubs for jobs and services. [20144]

  Ms Keeble
  Our new planning policy guidance for transport (PPG13) sets out how local authorities in rural areas should plan for new development to be primarily sited at the most accessible locations in the local area. In remote locations, well away from large urban areas most development, including for jobs and services, should be located at local service centres. These centres will include market towns and are expected to be the focal points for services in the countryside. Local service centres should be designated in the development plans prepared by local authorities. These plans form the framework within which decisions on proposals for development are taken.

  Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Stroud (Mr. Drew) of 27 November 2001,Official Report, columns 859–60W, on the rural White Paper, if he will list (a) the organisations which received funds and (b) the amount that they received to fund improvements for rural bus services in 2001–02; and what proportion of the fund has been allocated to improve rural bus services in 2002–03. [20027]

  Ms Keeble
  Local authorities have received the following amounts in rural bus grant to date in 2001–02 through the rural bus subsidy grant and rural bus challenge schemes.

  Local Authority

  Payments to date (£)

  Bath & NE Somerset

  71,492

  Bedfordshire

  512,742

  Blackburn with Darwen

  19,933

  Bracknell Forest

  20,450

  Bristol

  5,410

  Buckinghamshire

  286,599

  Cambridgeshire

  706,378

  Cheshire

  313,006

  Cornwall

  623,684

  Cumbria

  1,196,144

  Darlington

  43,219

  Derbyshire

  364,752

  Devon

  990,684

  Dorset

  717,498

  Durham

  540,339

  East Riding

  619,349

  East Sussex

  966,752

  Essex

  1,440,828

  Gloucestershire

  698,377

  Greater Manchester

  67,585

  Halton

  6,479

  Hampshire

  1,320,239

  Hartlepool

  15,081

  Herefordshire

  508,519

  Hertfordshire

  484,304

  Isle of Wight

  81,351

  Kent

  851,887

  Lancashire

  780,725

  Leicestershire

  776,664

  Lincolnshire

  1,067,597

  Medway

  78,189

  Merseyside

  42,636

  Middlesbrough

  5,895

  Milton Keynes

  166,120

  NE Lincolnshire

  38,124

  Norfolk

  1,500,147

  North Lincolnshire

  344,434

  North Somerset

  67,858

  North Yorkshire

  1,213,987

  35W

  Local Authority

  Payments to date (£)

  Northamptonshire

  701,499

  Northumberland

  779.618

  Nottinghamshire

  652,363

  Oxfordshire

  828,512

  Peterborough

  73,518

  Plymouth

  4,983

  Redcar & Cleveland

  48,857

  Rutland

  54,657

  Shropshire

  801,616

  Somerset

  519,856

  South Gloucestershire

  171,095

  South Yorkshire

  608,689

  Staffordshire

  807,230

  Stockton-on-Tees

  29,280

  Stoke-on-Trent

  4,836

  Suffolk

  1,253,255

  Surrey

  949,883

  Swindon

  49,848

  Telford and The Wrekin

  67,518

  Thurrock

  116,499

  Torbay

  117,725

  Tyne and Wear

  693,737

  Warrington

  53,313

  Warwickshire

  668,483

  West Berkshire

  118,806

  West Midlands

  44,335

  West Sussex

  517,826

  West Yorkshire

  705,668

  Wiltshire

  1,160,774

  Windsor & Maidenhead

  45,214

  Wokingham

  69,216

  Worcestershire

  1,102,672

  York

  65,444

  Total

  33,442,284

  A total of £68 million will be available for rural bus grants in 2002–03. Allocations of rural bus subsidy grant to local authorities for 2002–03 and the decisions on the 2001 rural bus challenge competition will be announced shortly.

  Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Stroud (Mr. Drew), of 27 November 2001,Official Report, columns 859–60W, on the rural White Paper, what the criteria are for mandatory 50 per cent. rate relief for non-agricultural enterprises on farms; and if he will make a statement. [20142]

  Dr. Whitehead
  Under the Rating (Former Agricultural Premises and Rural Shops) Act 2001, 50 per cent. mandatory rate relief is available to any rateable non-domestic property with a rateable value of no more than £6,000. This is provided that it consists wholly or mainly of land or buildings which were subject to the agricultural exemption from rates for at least 183 days during the one year period immediately preceding the date on which the rate relief scheme came into effect. The scheme came into effect in England on 15 August 2001. It has yet to be commenced in Wales, which is a matter for the National Assembly for Wales. The scheme will run for five years from commencement, when it will be reviewed and can be extended by Order. If the scheme is extended, each property will be eligible for relief up to five years from when it first received the relief.

  Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Stroud (Mr. Drew), of 27 November 2001,Official Report, columns 859–60W,
  36W
  on the rural White Paper, what changes have been made to ensure the revised PPG7 will develop farm diversification. [20148]

  Ms Keeble
  We revised our planning policies for the countryside (PPG7) to reflect the importance this Government attach to effective planning for sustainable farm diversification projects. Local planning authorities are expected to be supportive of well-conceived farm diversification schemes for business purposes that are consistent in their scale with their rural location.

  PPG7 should be taken into account by local authorities in preparing their development plans which form the framework within which decisions on proposals for development are taken. The guidance may also be material to decisions on individual planning applications and appeals.

  Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Stroud (Mr. Drew), of 27 November 2001,Official Report, columns 859–60W, on the rural White Paper, how many new affordable homes in rural settlements were occupied in 2001–02. [20033]

  Ms Keeble
  Information is not available in the form requested.

  New affordable homes in rural settlements in England with a population of 3,000 or less are funded by the Housing Corporation and local authorities or through the planning system without public subsidy.

  From 1 April to 31 October 2001, 379 affordable homes in rural settlements were approved, and 270 were completed, under the Housing Corporation's Approved Development Programme. Local authorities approved 142 units and completed 82 units in the same period.

  Flood Defence Levy
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will base SSA in respect of the flood defence levy on actual payments requested in 2002–03. [19485]

  Dr. Whitehead
  An authority's SSA for flood defence is based on expenditure, including levies, from past years. This is subject to scaling back to match the agreed national SSA total for flood defence.

  The Government have announced that although we review local government finance, we will not be making any changes to the SSA methodology until 2003–04. We will, however, be consulting soon on options arising from the separate DEFRA-led review of financial and administrative arrangements for flood defence, which may affect SSAs from that date.

  Homelessness
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what measures there are to provide accommodation for elderly people who are homeless. [19359]

  Ms Keeble
  Under the homelessness legislation (Part 7 of the Housing Act 1996), local housing authorities must ensure that suitable accommodation becomes available for all applicants who are eligible for assistance,
  37W
  unintentionally homeless and who fall within a priority need group. The priority need groups include a person who is vulnerable as a result of old age or with whom such a person resides or might reasonably be expected to reside.

  The Housing Corporation, through the approved development programme, currently funds registered social landlords to provide accommodation for elderly people who are homeless. A continued commitment to this client group is recognised in the Housing Corporation's National Investment Strategy for 2003–04.

  Planning
  Mr. Wyatt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if consultation draft PPG25 will apply planning applications originally submitted before its introduction. [20509]

  Ms Keeble
  The draft of PPG25 ("Development and Flood Risk") was superseded by the final version when it was published in July 2001. All planning policy guidance notes are material considerations, to be taken into account by local authorities where relevant to their decisions on planning applications during the period they are in force.

  Low-carbon Transport
  Mr. Lepper
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on the Government's proposed action to deliver a low-carbon transport system. [20744]

  Mr. Jamieson
  I have today, together with the Minister of State Department for Trade and Industry, the Financial Secretary to the Treasury and the Minister of State Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, published a draft Government strategy on "Powering Future Vehicles", for consultation. This draft strategy sets out how Government propose to lead, encourage and facilitate the shift to a low-carbon transport system. This marks the start of a consultation, which will last three months. In the spring the Government will publish a final Powering Future Vehicles strategy. I have placed copies of this document in the Library.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

  Sport (Rural Areas)
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on the provision of opportunities for sporting activities in rural areas. [16993]

  Mr. Caborn
  The Government are fully committed to providing a wide range of opportunities for sporting activities in all areas of the country, including rural areas. A number of initiatives including School Sports Co-ordinators, Spaces for Sport and the Arts, and the New Opportunities Fund (NOF) PE and School Sport Programme, will help to improve provision in rural areas.

  Digital Services (Wales)
  Mr. Simon Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on the regulation of digital services in Wales. [17000]
  38W
  Dr. Howells
  The Independent Television Commission are responsible for the regulation of all digital television services in Wales except for BBC licence funded services and S4C.

  Digital Boxes
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make available digital set top boxes free of charge to(a) pensioners and (b) others on low incomes. [17001]

  Dr. Howells
  My Department has no plans to make available digital set top boxes free of charge. However, the Government are committed to ensuring that terrestrial analogue broadcasting signals are maintained until switching to digital is an affordable option for the vast majority of people. As a target indicator of affordability, 95 per cent. of consumers should have access to digital equipment.

  Supporters Direct Scheme
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on funding available to sports clubs through the Supporters Direct scheme. [17002]

  Mr. Caborn
  Supporters Direct was established to assist groups of supporters wishing to get involved in the responsible running of football clubs. It provides legal and other advice, and limited financial help with administrative costs, to groups wishing to form club-based supporters' trusts.

  Swimming Pool (Upminster)
  Angela Watkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on the plans for a new swimming pool at Central park, Harold Hill, Upminster, sponsored by Sport England. [17003]

  Mr. Caborn
  Sport England provided a lottery grant of £4.2 million towards the costs of developing the new swimming facilities in Central park, Harold Hill, Upminster in December 1999 which included a six lane, 25m pool. The total project costs at the time of the award were estimated to be approximately £8.3 million.

  Public Libraries
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on the standard of public library provision. [17005]

  Tessa Jowell
  The Government have encouraged better planning, accountability and performance in public library services through the introduction of Annual Library Plans (ALPs) in 1998 and standards of service on 1 April this year. The authority's performance against the Library Standards will be monitored, by the Department, through ALPs. Additionally, to help libraries provide a better service, £170 million of lottery money is being made available to libraries through the People's Network programme to upgrade their ICT infrastructure, create innovative digital content and train library staff in the use of ICT.

  New Millennium Experience Company
  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement about the cost of running the New Millennium Experience Company since 1 January and its future plans. [17006]

  Tessa Jowell
  The New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) has incurred wind-down costs of £8.81 million in the period 1 January to 31 October 2001. NMEC is engaged in a wide range of tasks necessary to prepare the company for solvent liquidation including closing out and finalising all aspects of the company's financial affairs. It is intended that a liquidator will be appointed around the end of this year.

  Eden Centre (Cornwall)
  Linda Gilroy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment she has made of the performance of the Eden centre in Cornwall. [17007]

  Tessa Jowell
  This is a matter for the Millennium Commission. I will write to my hon. Friend in my capacity as Chair of the Commission, and place copies of my reply in the Libraries of both Houses.

  Gambling
  Mr. Barker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on gambling legislation. [17008]

  Dr. Howells
  We are now considering all the comments which we have received since July on the report of the independent Gambling Review Body. We shall announce our conclusions early next year.

  Mr. Denis Murphy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what(a) evidence and (b) advice the Gambling Review Body considered before including Recommendation 70 in its recent report.[19952]

  Mr. Caborn
  Annex B to the report of the Gambling Review Body summarises the information and evidence on which it based its recommendations.

  Sports (Yorkshire and the Humber)
  Kali Mountford
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on her plans to develop grassroots sports in Yorkshire and the Humber. [17009]

  Mr. Caborn
  The Government are committed to the development of sport and increasing opportunities for participation throughout the country. The strategy for sport—A Sporting Future for All—and the Government's Plan for Sport set out an action plan on how we intend to achieve those objectives. Responsibility for developing grass roots sport at the regional level rests with a number of organisations including Sport England, local authorities, local education authorities, schools, sports governing bodies, sports clubs, volunteers, and in order to ensure the best use of resources it is essential that all these interests work in partnership.

  In the Yorkshire Region Sport England and the Regional Sports Board are working closely together to produce a new strategic plan for sport in the region.
  40W
  All of the programmes for providing better sports facilities and improving sports provision are being implemented in the Region including Lottery funding, where over £130 million has been committed to the region, the School Sport Co-ordinators programme and specialist sports colleges while the Spaces for Sport and Arts, NOF Round three and NOF Green Spaces programmes will all be injecting significant new resources into facilities which will be available to schools and the wider community.

  For the future I have made it clear that I wish to see a strengthened regional structure for the delivery of sport in the regions which involves local decision making and strong partnerships with all the key local interests. I will be discussing these issues with the Sport England Council and its new Chief Executive when he is in post.

  Sports Participation (Young People)
  Judy Mallaber
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what action she is taking to encourage and assist participation in sports by young people. [17010]

  Tessa Jowell
  The Government have initiated a variety of programmes to encourage and assist participation in sports by young people—notably £120 million over four years to establish a network of 1,000 School Sport Co-ordinators in secondary schools across England and £581 million of lottery money in England, from the New Opportunities Fund 3rd round, to help build and refurbish school sport facilities across England.

  Mr. Hepburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on how she encourages sport among young people in the community. [17015]

  Mr. Caborn
  The Government have set up and are running a number of programmes to encourage sports among young people in the community. The Space for Sports and Arts is a joint initiative between DCMS, DfEE, Sport England, Arts Council of England and the New Opportunities Fund which has allocated £130 million to 65 LEAs to develop new sports and arts facilities on primary school sites. These will be used by young people and will also be available for community use. £581 million New Opportunities Fund money will be invested in strengthening the foundation of sport across England by building and refurbishing PE and sports facilities in schools. These will be made available to the wider community. On 11 January 2001 the Government announced an investment of £7 million over two years to train up to 60,000 young people and adult volunteers for sport. The scheme, 'Leadership and Volunteering in Community Sport,' will foster leadership skills and self-confidence in young people and contribute significantly to their personal development and employability.

  Regional Theatres
  Mr. Gerrard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what action her Department is taking to support regional theatres(a) in the United Kingdom and (b) in London. [17011]

  Tessa Jowell
  Theatre funding is a matter for the Arts Council of England and the Regional Arts Boards. The Arts Council has already announced significant additional
  41W
  funding for theatre in England from 2002–03 which will see the budget for theatre rise from its current level of £45 million to £70 million by the end of the current planning cycle (2003–04). The theatre budget for London will increase from £8,620,514 in 2000–01 to £14,574,655 in 2003–04, or by 69 per cent.

  Mr. Levitt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what support her Department is giving to regional theatres in the east midlands. [20994]

  Mr. Caborn
  Funding for theatre remains a matter for the Arts Council of England and the Regional Arts Boards. In March this year, the Arts Council announced a significant increase in funding for theatre in 2002–03 and 2003–04, including a 62 per cent. increase for subsidised theatre throughout the east midlands by the end of the period.

  Sports Facilities (Havering)
  Mr. Rosindell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on her support for sports facilities in the London borough of Havering. [17012]

  Mr. Caborn
  It is the Government's aim to ensure maximum participation in sport from all members of all communities.

  In order to improve sports facilities in the London borough of Havering, the Lottery Sports Fund has awarded grants totalling over £4.6 million to 11 projects with a total project cost of over £8.9 million.

  Tourism (Balance of Trade)
  Mr. Hendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the balance of trade is on tourism. [17013]

  Dr. Howells
  The latest estimate of balance of payments deficit from tourism (seasonally adjusted figures) in the year to September 2001 is £13.7 billion. Earnings and overseas expenditure in the years to September 2000 and 2001 are summarised in the following table.

  Balance of expenditure by overseas visitors to the UK and UK residents abroad

  £ billion

  12 months ending:

  September 2000

  September 2001

  Visitors to the UK

  12.8

  11.8

  UK residents

  23.8

  25.5

  Balance (deficit)

  -11.0

  -13.7

  Source:

  Derived from International Passenger Survey

  BBC (Digital Services)
  Miss Begg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on her recent decision on the BBC's new digital services. [17014]

  Tessa Jowell
  On 13 September, at the Royal Television Society Convention in Cambridge, I announced my decision on the BBC's proposals for new digital television and radio services.
  42W
  I gave approval to the following new services:
  two new television channels for children—one aimed at children aged six to 13, another for the under six-year-olds;
  BBC4—a television service intended to create a forum for debate and aimed at anyone interested in culture, arts and ideas that will replace BBC Knowledge;
  five new digital radio services aimed separately at a young specialist audience (Network X), an Asian audience (Asian Network), and sports lovers (Five Live Sports Plus) as well as an archive music channel (Network Y) and an archive voice channel (Network Z) plus an extension of the BBC World Service to the UK.

  I have set strict conditions for each service covering commitments to high quality, interactivity and the use of home-grown talent and productions. I have also set general conditions including one which requires the BBC to draw up and publish a plan for promoting digital television and radio services by the end of 2001.

  I assessed each of the proposals against the published DCMS guidelines for BBC public service approvals and invited comments from the broadcasting and communications industry, the Independent Television Commission, the Radio Authority and consumer groups. I concluded that each approved service is distinctive and that its likely impact on the market is proportionate to its public value.

  I did not give approval to BBC3, a television service aimed at 16 to 34-year-olds, which was a proposed replacement for BBC Choice. I was not convinced that the proposals were truly distinctive in an already crowded market, and have invited the BBC to put forward fresh proposals.

  I will be reviewing all the new services in 2004 as part of the review of the Charter and-Agreement and licence fee funding.

  Football Association
  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent discussions she has had with the Football Association; and what matters were discussed. [17016]

  Mr. Caborn
  With my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State, I had a meeting with the chairman and chief executive of the Football Association on 25 September. We discussed a range of football issues.

  Channel 5
  Mr. Carmichael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans she has for expanding the coverage of Channel 5 to all areas of Great Britain. [17004]

  Dr. Howells
  There are no such plans, because the provision of digital terrestrial television now has priority for the use of scarce spectrum. Channel 5 services are carried free-to-view on all digital platforms. The Government's aim is to make the main analogue channels universally available in digital across the UK, at least matching the existing analogue coverage of 99.4 per cent. of the population.

  National Lottery
  Brian Cotter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) what guidance she gives to Camelot on the designation of Lottery outlets; [19109]

  (2) what representations she has received from retailers in each of the last five years with regard to the allocation of lottery outlets; and what appeals procedure exists for retailers who have been rejected as lottery providers. [19110]

  Mr. Caborn
  There have been a number of representations from retailers during this period about decisions by Camelot Group plc not to install a terminal on their premises. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has issued no guidance to Camelot on this matter. However, its licence from the National Lottery Commission requires Camelot to provide a terminal for each postcode district within which there are at least 2,000 residents, and to make available for public inspection its criteria for selecting and de-selecting retailers. It is for Camelot to exercise its commercial judgment in applying these criteria, and there is no separate appeals procedure.

  Film Industry
  Dr. Kumar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will list the films which were made in the UK; and how many shot footage in the Teesside region in the last five years. [19069]

  Mr. Caborn
  The British Film Institute's Film and Television Handbook lists the films produced in the UK in a number of different categories, some of which were only partly shot in the UK. The lists have been copied for the last five years and I am arranging for copies to be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

  The Northern Screen Commission advises that the following films contain footage filmed in the Teesside region:

  Elizabeth: 1997

  Shopping: 1997

  Like Father: 1998

  Billy Elliott: 1999.

  Harry Potter and the Philospher's Stone: 2000

  £

  Local authority

  Project

  Sport England funding

  Other agencies funding

  Total

  Barrow

  School holiday provision

  4,000

  —

  4,000

  Barrow

  Disability sports development worker

  93,215

  —

  93,215

  Barrow

  Active living for all men's worker

  49,386

  52,500

  101,886

  Barrow

  Active living for all women's worker

  13,489

  67,500

  80,989

  Barrow

  Active living all for older people's worker

  35,986

  45,000

  80,986

  Total

  196,076

  165,000

  361,076

  Copeland

  Health communities worker

  7,500

  77,629

  85,129

  Departmental Expenditure Limit
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will estimate the total unallocated funds within her departmental expenditure limit(a) at the start of the financial year and (b) to date; and what was the month seven forecast on outturn underspend against her departmental expenditure limit in (i) real and (ii) percentage terms. [19437]

  Mr. Caborn
  The Department's Unallocated Provision (DUP) for the present financial year is set out in the detailed allocations table on page 223 of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport Annual Report for 2000–01 (Cm 5114). There has been no draw-down of the Department's DUP to date. Outturn against the six month forecast for each Request for Resources will be published in the Winter Supplementary Estimates Summary Request for Supply as usual.

  Derek Casey
  Nick Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how the amount paid to Sport England's former chief executive, Derek Casey, upon the termination of his contract, was determined; what the amount was; what conditions were placed upon the payment; what form the payment took; for what reasons the amount was not disclosed earlier; what part(a) her Department and (b) Sport England played in arriving at the amount and nature of the payment; and if she will make a statement. [19518]

  Mr. Caborn
  Full details of the severance package for the former Chief Executive of Sport England and of the process by which it was agreed will be included in the Sport England accounts which will be laid before the House as soon as possible.

  Sports Action Zone (West Cumbria)
  Dr. Jack Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what projects the Sports Action Zone in West Cumbria has initiated in(a) Allerdale, (b) Barrow and (c) Copeland; what sum of money is involved in each case in each borough; and if she will make a statement. [18966]

  Mr. Caborn
  [holding answer 30 November 2001]: Details of projects initiated by the West Cumbria Sports Action Zone are as follows:
  45W

  £

  Local authority

  Project

  Sport England funding

  Other agencies funding

  Total

  Total

  7,500

  77,629

  85,129

  Allerdale/Copeland

  Sport for health manager

  30,000

  40,000

  70,000

  Total

  30,000

  40,000

  70,000

  Overall total

  233,576

  282,629

  516,205

  Dr. Jack Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when the Needs Assessment and Action Plan for the West Cumbria Sports Action Zone will be published; and if she will make a statement. [18965]

  Mr. Caborn
  [holding answer 30 November 2001]: The Needs Assessment and Action Plan for the West Cumbria Sports Action Zone will be published in mid-December.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) how many and what proportion of letters received by her Department between 20 June and 20 July were replied to(a) in under 15, (b) in under 20, (c) in under 30, (d) in under 40 and (e) in over 40 working days; [18593]

  (2) how many letters her Department received from hon. and right hon. Members between 20 June and 20 July. [18573]

  Mr. Caborn
  Information on the volume of correspondence from Members of Parliament received by Departments and agencies and performance in handling them is published annually by the Cabinet Office. The most recent report, covering 2000, was announced by the then Minister for the Cabinet Office on 6 April 2001,Official Report, column 325W. Between 20 June and 20 July 2001 Ministers received 1,091 letters—298 of which were from hon. and right hon. Members. 78 per cent. of the replies to these were issued within the Department's target of 18 working days. It is not possible to break this down any further without incurring disproportionate costs.

  Sport Skills
  Mrs. Helen Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on her proposals to enable talented, young sports students to develop their skills. [20992]

  Mr. Caborn
  My Department's financial assistance to support and develop talented young athletes is channelled through two lottery funded initiatives administered by Sport England—the World Class Potential Programme and the World Class Start Programme.

  My officials and I are also discussing with the private sector the potential for commercial sponsorship to assist with talent development.

  Sports Projects
  Harry Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what major sports projects in 2002 her Department is promoting in London. [17813]
  46W
  Mr. Caborn
  Next year, the country joins Her Majesty the Queen in celebrating her Golden Jubilee. As part of these celebrations in the London region, there is a nine day festival of sport planned from 6 July to 14 July.

  This will involve on the weekends of 6 and 7 July and 13 and 14 July, the London Heathrow Youth Games preliminaries and finals. The London Youth Games began in the Queen's Silver Jubilee Year and will therefore be in its 25 year in 2002.

  On 11 July there will be the Mini Youth Games for primary aged children.

  Both events involve 32 London boroughs and the Corporation of London.

  On 8, 9 and possibly 10 July there will be the Active Sports Talent Camps which are specifically linked to the Manchester Commonwealth Games under the Spirit of Friendship' banner. This will incorporate training and coaching clinics for those young people who show potential for 1 of 9 sports. The sports involved are: athletics, basketball, girl's football, hockey, netball, rugby league, rugby union (boys and girls), swimming and tennis.

  School Sports
  Jeff Ennis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans she has to apply the money for the new opportunities fund investment in school sports. [17249]

  Mr. Caborn
  Plans for the new opportunities for PE and Sport in Schools programme are set out in the new opportunities fund's recently published document "Building for Tomorrow"—copies of which I am placing in the Libraries of both Houses. The programme will provide PE and sports facilities for young people and the community in general and is intended to have a long-term impact on key issues facing local communities such as education, health, crime and drugs use.

  Royal Palaces
  Andrew Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to her answer of 13 November 2001,Official Report, column 634W, on royal palaces, which persons residing in royal palaces have council tax charged against that accommodation they occupy; and if this tax is paid by (a) the royal household and (b) the occupant. [18375]

  Mr. Caborn
  Council tax is paid by all of the 244 residents residing in royal palaces listed in my hon. Friend's answer of 13 November 2001,Official Report, column 634W. The grant in aid for property services is only responsible for council tax on vacant properties.
  47W
  Andrew Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to her answer of 13 November 2001,Official Report, column 634W, on royal palaces, which members of the royal family occupy accommodation in the royal palaces other than Her Majesty the Queen and Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother. [18376]

  Mr. Caborn
  The other members of the royal family who occupy self-contained residential accommodation in the royal palaces are:

  The Prince of Wales

  The Princess Royal

  The Princess Margaret

  The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester

  The Duke and Duchess of Kent Princess Alexandra

  Prince and Princess Michael of Kent.

  Andrew Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to her answer of 13 November 2001,Official Report, column 634W, on royal palaces, which persons residing in royal palaces occupy accommodation that is separate hereditaments for council tax purposes. [18377]

  Mr. Caborn
  The 244 residents with self-contained residential accommodation in royal palaces are liable to pay separate council tax.

  Andrew Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to her answer of 13 November 2001,Official Report, column 634W, on royal palaces, if she will list the commercial occupants of the royal palaces. [18379]

  Mr. Caborn
  The commercial lettings outside the security cordon are mainly arranged by estate agents. These properties are marketed in the same way as other properties included in the letting portfolios of these agents. It would be inappropriate to list the individuals concerned. None of them has any connection with the Royal Household or the Royal Family.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Brazilian Mahogany
  Mr. Blizzard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps she is taking to support the Brazilian Government's moratorium on trade in mahogany. [17837]

  Nigel Griffiths
  Brazilian mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla) is listed in appendix III of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). Its import into the United Kingdom is covered by annex C of EU regulation 338/97 and must be accompanied by an export permit or certificate of origin issued by the Brazilian Government's CITES management authority.

  Omega, Warrington
  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps she is taking to assist the development of the Omega site in Warrington; and if she will make a statement. [17906]
  48W
  Alan Johnson
  [holding answer 26 November 2001]: The Omega site in Warrington is identified in the NWDA regional strategy as one of the 11 strategic sites for investment in the North-west.

  English Partnerships and Warrington borough council are taking forward the development of this site. The North-West development agency has contributed £25,000 towards the Omega partnership, which was formed to co-ordinate and oversee all aspects of the project.

  Economic Development (Lancashire)
  Geraldine Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of(a) the number of jobs created, (b) the number of jobs created to be taken up by residents of communities in need and (c) the estimated cost per job created as part of the (i) Luneside East, (ii) Lancaster West Business Park, (iii) Heysham Business Park, (iv) Kingsway, (v) Mellishaw North and (vi) Luneside West developments included in the bid for an economic development zone by Lancaster City Council. [18253]

  Alan Johnson
  [holding answer 26 November 2001]: Lancaster's bid for economic development zone status is currently being assessed, along with those of other EDZ contenders, by independent consultants appointed by the Government office for the north-west.

  Geraldine Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations she has received from the North-West development agency in relation to the bid put forward by Lancaster city council for an economic development zone. [18251]

  Alan Johnson
  [holding answer 26 November 2001]: None.

  Lune Industrial Estate
  Geraldine Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations she has received from the North-West development agency on access to the Lune industrial estate. [18250]

  Alan Johnson
  [holding answer 26 November 2001]: No representations have been received from the North-West development agency on access on the Lune industrial estate.

  Postal Services
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions she has had with Consignia on the proposal to charge customers for post and delivery before 9.30 am. [17421]

  Mr. Alexander
  [holding answer 26 November 2001]: The Department has regular discussions with Consignia about a range of strategic issues facing the company. However, ideas about altering charging or delivery arrangements are operational issues for the company provided that it remains within the terms of the licence issued to it by the Postal Services Commission.

  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the proposed abolition of the second postal delivery. [17419]
  49W
  Mr. Alexander
  [holding answer 26 November 2001]: Consignia's proposals in relation to second delivery are operational issues for the company provided that it remains within the terms of the licence issued to it by the Postal Services Commission.

  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions she has had with the management of Consignia on charging for the second postal delivery. [17420]

  Mr. Alexander
  [holding answer 26 November 2001]: The Department has regular discussions with Consignia about a range of strategic issues facing the company. Consignia's proposals in relation to the second postal delivery are operational issues for the company provided that it remains within the terms of the licence issued to it by the Postal Services Commission.

  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent discussions she has had with Consignia; and if she raised the issue of industrial relations. [19470]

  Mr. Alexander
  [holding answer 30 November 2001]: The Department has regular discussions with Consignia about a range of strategic issues facing the company. The handling of industrial relations and the resolution of any disputes are issues for the management of the company and the unions. The Government have encouraged the management and unions to work in partnership to implement the recommendations in the Sawyer report published in July 2001. Progress has been encouraging but a lot more still needs to be done.

  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the Government's policy on the ending of the second post, with special reference to rural areas. [19471]

  Mr. Alexander
  [holding answer 30 November 2001]: Consignia's proposals in relation to the second delivery are operational issues for the company, subject to the regulatory powers and duties of the Postal Services Commission in respect of service standards.

  Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration
  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many formal notices her Department has received in the last year from the parliamentary ombudsman expressing an intention to carry out an investigation; and in respect of each notice how long it took to respond. [18770]

  Ms Hewitt
  [holding answer 27 November 2001]: The Department has received two formal inquiries from the ombudsman in the last year (ie from 23 November 2000). In the first case, a full response was sent 26 days from the date of the inquiry, and in the second case 35 days from the date of the inquiry.

  Employment Tribunals
  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many applications to employment tribunals were(a) upheld, (b) dismissed and (c) withdrawn in the last year for which information is available. [19761]
  50W
  Alan Johnson
  The following is the information.

  outcome of employment tribunal cases disposed of in 2000–01

  Number of cases

  ACAS conciliated settlements

  33,169

  Withdrawn

  27,502

  Successful at hearing

  13,640

  Dismissed at hearing (out of scope)

  1,884

  Dismissed at hearing (other)

  9,582

  Disposed of otherwise

  7,161

  Total

  92,938

  Source:

  Employment Tribunals Service

  A claim may be brought under more than one jurisdiction or subsequently amended/clarified in the course of proceedings, but will only be counted once in the above table (against the main jurisdiction).

  Transatlantic Radio Signal (Centenary)
  Andrew George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions she has had with her counterparts in Canada and the US in respect of arrangements to celebrate the centenary of the successful transmission of a transatlantic radio signal. [19573]

  Mr. Alexander
  My officials in the Department and the Radiocommunications Agency have had extensive' discussions with Canadian Government officials about arrangements for the celebration of the centenary. At the end of September, a senior official represented the agency and contributed to the Wireless Vision Congress at St. John's Newfoundland which was part of the Canadian celebrations of the centenary. There have been no discussions with the US Government on this issue.

  Andrew George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what arrangements her Department has made to support the celebration of the centenary of the first transatlantic radio signal. [19572]

  Mr. Alexander
  I am due to host a reception at the Radiocommunications Agency on 12 December to mark this important achievement. There will be a link-up from the reception to agency officials who will be in Poldhu, where the agency has donated radio equipment to the Poldhu amateur radio club to commemorate the centenary. The agency has also produced a souvenir booklet, "Wireless over the Waves", which has achieved a wide circulation and is on its website.

  Recruitment Industry
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what criteria were used to select the Recruitment and Employment Confederation as the main negotiator for the UK employment industry. [19855]

  Alan Johnson
  I have met the Recruitment and Employment Confederation, which is the main representative body in the private recruitment industry, to discuss the draft conduct of employment agencies and employment businesses regulations and other issues relating to the private recruitment industry. My officials and I have also discussed these matters with a number of other representative bodies in the industry and individual recruitment companies.
  51W
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the average cost is for an information technology staffing agency to provide an IT professional to a client. [19868]

  Alan Johnson
  I have no estimate of the average cost to an information technology recruitment agency of providing an IT professional.

  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what percentage of temporary information technology staff operate through personal service companies. [19865]

  Alan Johnson
  I have no estimate of the percentage of information technology temporary staff who operate through personal service companies.

  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what evidence she has received that demonstrates that the quarantine period proposed in the draft of the conduct of employment agencies and employment business regulations 2001 has been set at an appropriate timescale for recruitment of information technology personnel. [19862]

  Alan Johnson
  The principles underlying our proposals on the quarantine periods to apply to the payment of transfer fees are in line with suggestions made by the Recruitment and Employment Confederation, the private recruitment industry's principal trade association.

  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she has completed a regulatory impact assessment on the proposed draft of the conduct of employment agencies and employment business regulations 2001; and if she will make a statement. [19860]

  Alan Johnson
  A regulatory impact assessment on the proposed new Employment Agency regulations has been produced and published on my Department's website.

  Our objective in overhauling the existing regulations, which date from 1976, is simpler, clearer regulations, which are relevant to the market of today and of the future. The proposed new regulations are in many cases updated versions of existing requirements. They are designed to benefit recruitment agencies, those employed through them and hirers. They will remove unnecessary restrictions on agencies operations and the services they offer, while protecting the interests of work seekers and vulnerable groups.

  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she is planning to undertake further consultation on the draft of the conduct of employment agencies and employment business regulations 2001. [19854]

  Alan Johnson
  I will be consulting further on the main changes we propose to the draft conduct regulations.

  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) how many IT agencies operate in the UK; and what percentage of these have a turnover in excess of £2 million per annum; [19866]

  (2) what information she has collated on the number of IT staffing agencies which are privately owned and managed small and medium-sized enterprises and if she will make a statement. [19867]
  52W
  Alan Johnson
  I do not have full details on the information requested, but the Association of Technology Staffing Companies, the body representing the IT staffing companies, estimates that there are some 2,000 companies in the sector with a total annual turnover of almost £2 billion.

  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent discussions she has had with(a) representative organisations and (b) individual companies in the recruitment industry. [19858]

  Alan Johnson
  In recent months I have met a number of representative bodies and individual companies from the private recruitment industry to discuss the draft conduct of employment agencies and employment businesses regulations and other issues.

  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) if she will list the(a) companies, (b) organisations and (c) individuals who have been invited to discuss the proposed draft of the conduct of employment agencies and employment business regulations 2001; [19852]

  .(2) if she will publish the names of the (a) individuals and (b) organisations who have commented on the proposed draft of the conduct of employment agencies and employment business regulations 2001. [19857]

  Alan Johnson
  A list of the respondents to the last consultation exercise on the proposed draft conduct of employment agencies and employment businesses regulations has been placed in the Libraries of the House. I have also held discussions with a number of these.

  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she has received representations from the IT industry about the proposed draft of the conduct of employment agencies and employment business regulations 2001; and if she will make a statement. [19859]

  Alan Johnson
  I received representations on the draft conduct of employment agencies and employment businesses regulations from the representative bodies, individual recruitment companies and workers within the IT industry.

  Our draft conduct regulations are designed to benefit recruitment agencies, employment businesses, their clients and those seeking employment through them. They will remove unnecessary restrictions on organisations in the recruitment industry, including the IT sector, and the services they can offer, while protecting the interests of work seekers and vulnerable groups. I recognise that the IT sector plays an increasingly important role in the recruitment industry.

  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what specific concerns prompted the review of the Employment Agencies Act 1973; [19853]

  (2) if she will she make a statement on the aspects of the Employment Agencies Act 1973 which triggered a revision of the present legislation. [19863]

  Alan Johnson
  I have no plans to review the Employment Agencies Act 1973 at the present time. The Government consider that the existing Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Businesses Regulations 1976 do not meet the Better Regulation Taskforce's five central principles of good regulation:
  53W
  transparency, accountability, targeting, consistency and proportionality. Our objective in overhauling the existing legislative framework governing agency conduct, which dates from 1976, is simpler, clearer, regulations, which are relevant to the labour market of today and of the future.

  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what studies have been conducted into the number of temporary employees who have taken up permanent employment in the(a) nursing, (b) secretarial, (c) information technology and (d) transport industries in the last 12 months. [19861]

  Alan Johnson
  The Recruitment and Employment Confederation estimates that about one fifth of temporary workers transfer to permanent employment each year. However, I have no breakdown by specific sectors.

  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when she last met the Association of Technology Staffing Companies; and if she will make a statement. [19864]

  Alan Johnson
  Although I have met a number of bodies representing the various sectors within the private recruitment industry over recent years, I have not yet had the opportunity to meet representatives of the Association of Technology Staffing Companies (ATSCo). However, my officials have had a number of productive meetings with the ATSCo over the past year.

  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry by what date she expects to lay the draft of the conduct of employment agencies and employment business regulations 2001. [19856]

  Alan Johnson
  I expect to lay the draft conduct regulations before Parliament early in the new year.

  Galileo Project
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if the next stage of funding for the Galileo project was discussed at the November European Space Agency ministerial meeting; what commitments were made by each member state; and if she will make a statement. [19085]

  Ms Hewitt
  [holding answer 29 November 2001]: Yes. A declaration for subscription to the next phase of the Galileo programme was opened at the Ministerial Council. A majority of ESA member states subscribed. The UK indicated that it would want to await the outcome of the EU Transport Council before finalising its position.

  My Department is working closely with the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions and others within Whitehall to examine the economic case for providing further funding to the Galileo project, if it goes ahead.

  Age Discrimination
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will consult on(a) employment and (b) goods and services in age discrimination legislation. [18837]
  54W
  Alan Johnson
  The forthcoming consultation on age discrimination legislation will focus on employment and vocational training. This is our priority, and will implement the EU employment directive. Those responding to the consultation are free, of course, to raise related matters, including the question of extending provision to goods and services.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many letters her Department received from hon. and right hon. Members between 20 June and 20 July. [18570]

  Ms Hewitt
  My Department received 936 letters from hon. and right hon. Members between 20 June and 20 July.

  Railtrack
  Mr. Swire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what her policy is on the proposed takeover of Railtrack by WestLB. [17285]

  Mr. Jamieson
  I have been asked to reply.

  The Government welcome the interest shown in the role of the network operator by third parties. However, ultimately it is for the administrator to formulate a proposal for a transfer scheme and put it to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions for approval.

TREASURY

  Pre-Budget Report
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish disaggregated figures for the(a) Customs and Excise duties and (b) other taxes and royalties shown on lines 8 and 10 of table B8, page 174, of the pre-Budget report 2001. [20129]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  More detailed figures for tax receipts in 2000–01 and 2001–02 are shown in table C7, page 192, of the Budget 2001 and in table B11, page 184, of the 2001 pre-Budget report.

  Financial Services Authority
  Mr. Gardiner
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer for what reason the FSA took two months to issue a public statement after being informed on 24 September of a previously undisclosed letter dated 1 April 1999 from Mr. Christopher Headdon, then Actuary to Equitable Life, to Irish European Reinsurance Company. [19887]

  Ruth Kelly
  I understand that the FSA disclosed the existence of the letter at the earliest point that it was appropriate to do so. The letter was relevant to commercial negotiations which have only just been concluded and the FSA press statement of 26 November reported the outcome of those discussions as soon as practicable following the conclusion of the negotiations.
  55W
  Mr. Russell Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has received a copy of the report requested in the letter of 16 October from the Economic Secretary to Sir Howard Davies; and if he will publish it. [20817]

  Ruth Kelly
  The FSA sent the report to the Treasury on 20 November 2001. I have today forwarded the report to Lord Penrose as further input to his Inquiry. I have also asked the FSA to make the report publicly available. Copies of my letter to Lord Penrose and the report itself have been deposited in the Library of the House.

  London Underground
  Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what involvement officials from HM Treasury have had in the value for money assessment of the public-private partnership for the London Underground; if he will place in the Library the assessment he has received from the Office for National Statistics concerning the accounting treatment for the PPP for the London Underground; and if he will make a statement. [19519]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  The value for money assessment of the London Underground PPP will be carried out by London Transport in line with the relevant guidance produced by HM Treasury and the Treasury Taskforce. London Transport is also working to ensure that when it evaluates final PPP bids it addresses the issues raised by the National Audit Office in its report 'The financial analysis for the London Underground Public Private Partnerships'.

  The Office for National Statistics has made no assessment of the accounting treatment of the PPP.

  Treasury Investment Appraisal Guidance
  Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what changes he plans to make to Treasury investment appraisal guidance; and if he will make a statement. [19521]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  A review of the Capital Appraisal process, including the detailed guidance issued by the Treasury on investment appraisal, was announced at the time of the pre-Budget report last year. When the review concludes I will decide whether any changes need to be made to the current guidance.

  Cross-border Bank Transfers
  Mr. Rosindell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the average charge for a cross-border bank transfer of 100 euros(a) in the Euro zone and (b) involving a UK bank; and if he will make a statement. [19587]

  Ruth Kelly
  The Treasury has made no assessment of charges for cross-border credit transfers either(a) in the Euro zone, or (b) involving a UK bank.

  Capital Assets
  Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 20 November 2001,Official Report, column 270W, on capital assets, (1) if he will place in the Library the classification of each asset
  56W
  reverting to the public sector for PPP contracts signed in the last 12 months; and what was their aggregate value; [19185]

  (2)what proportion of PPP contracts by value in 2000–01 were classified as (a) finance leases and (b) operating leases; and if he will make a statement; [19188]

  (3)if he will place in the Library the aggregate value of capital assets expected to revert to public sector ownership in each of the next 25 years; and if he will make a statement. [19186]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  This information is not held centrally. Information on the assets held by each department and major PPP projects is available in departmental resource account.

  Regional Investment
  Adam Price
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the expenditure was(a) under the single regeneration budget, and its equivalents, (b) under the housing capital programmes outside the SRB, (c) under the European regional development fund and the European social fund, (d) by specialised economic regeneration agencies, (e) by TECs, skills and learning councils and on education and training by the Employment Service and the further education funding councils, (f) by the DTI on regional policies including regional selective assistance, (g) by the enterprise boards and (h) under specialist regeneration activities including employment zones and new deal in communities in each of the last 10 years for each of the nations of Great Britain. [18522]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  Spending in devolved areas is a matter for the devolved Administrations to determine within their overall departmental expenditure limits, announced following Spending Review 2000. Information on receipts from European Community institutions analysed by fund and by Department is published in table 14d of the departmental report of the Chancellor's Departments (Cm 5116). Information on the programmes of UK Government Departments is published in the relevant Department's departmental report.

  Adam Price
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to allow regional development agencies to issue regional bonds as a regional investment facility. [18514]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  There are no such plans. However, Regional Venture Capital Funds will shortly be up and running across the country. These will provide at least £270 million of investment in the regions and are supported by up to £80 million of Government resources.

  Asian Community Events
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many Asian community events he has attended within the last 12 months. [15914]

  Ruth Kelly
  Over the last 12 months, Treasury Ministers have attended numerous meetings at which members of the Asian business, faith and other communities have been present, including the Bradford Mela (Peel Park, Bradford, 1 July 2001), Diwali celebrations in Southend-on-Sea (5 November 2001) and 16th Anniversary Asian Traders Dinner (London, 13 November 2001).

  Residents (Tyne and Wear)
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the numbers of residents of each authority in Tyne and Wear in each year since 1991(a) in total and (b) the percentage in the age ranges (i) 0 to 4, (ii) 4 to 14 and (iii) 14 to 24 years. [19491]

  Ruth Kelly
  The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.

  Letter from John Pullinger to Mr. Jim Cousins, dated 30 November 2001:
  The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question concerning the number of residents in each local authority in Tyne and Wear in each year since 1991. I am replying in his absence. (19491).
  The information for the total number of residents and the percentage in the age ranges 0–4, 5–14 and 15–24 in the local authorities in Tyne and Wear is in the attached table.

  Estimated resident population mid-1991 to mid-2000 for districts within Tyne and Wear metropolitan county

  Total persons

  Percentage of persons aged

  Year/district

  (thousands)

  0–4

  5–14

  15–24

  1991

  Gateshead

  203.1

  6.2

  11.8

  13.8

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  278.2

  6.4

  11.3

  17.0

  North Tyneside

  195.5

  6.2

  12.3

  12.6

  South Tyneside

  157.2

  6.7

  12.6

  12.7

  Sunderland

  296.4

  7.0

  13.4

  14.7

  1992

  Gateshead

  203.1

  6.3

  12.0

  13.2

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  281.7

  6.4

  11.6

  16.4

  North Tyneside

  195.2

  6.2

  12.4

  12.2

  South Tyneside

  157.3

  6.6

  13.0

  12.3

  Sunderland

  297.1

  7.0

  13.6

  14.2

  1993

  Gateshead

  202.9

  6.3

  12.2

  12.8

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  285.3

  6.4

  11.9

  15.8

  North Tyneside

  194.8

  6.2

  12.6

  12.0

  South Tyneside

  157.2

  6.5

  13.3

  11.9

  Sunderland

  297.8

  6.9

  13.8

  13.7

  1994

  Gateshead

  202.4

  6.2

  12.2

  12.4

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  283.6

  6.4

  12.0

  16.2

  North Tyneside

  194.1

  6.1

  12.6

  11.6

  South Tyneside

  156.7

  6.5

  13.4

  11.5

  Sunderland

  297.2

  6.7

  13.8

  13.7

  1995

  Gateshead

  201.8

  6.1

  12.2

  12.0

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  283.1

  6.4

  12.2

  16.5

  North Tyneside

  193.9

  6.0

  12.5

  11.4

  South Tyneside

  156.3

  6.3

  13.5

  11.3

  Sunderland

  295.8

  6.6

  13.8

  13.7

  1996

  Gateshead

  201.0

  6.0

  12.3

  11.4

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  282.3

  6.1

  12.4

  16.7

  North Tyneside

  193.6

  5.9

  12.4

  11.1

  South Tyneside

  156.1

  6.1

  13.6

  10.9

  Sunderland

  294.3

  6.3

  13.8

  13.6

  1997

  Gateshead

  200.2

  5.9

  12.4

  10.9

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  279.5

  6.0

  12.6

  17.0

  North Tyneside

  193.3

  5.7

  12.4

  10.7

  South Tyneside

  155.4

  6.0

  13.7

  10.6

  Sunderland

  293.0

  6.1

  13.9

  13.6

  1998

  58W

  Estimated resident population mid-1991 to mid-2000 for districts within Tyne and Wear metropolitan county

  Total persons

  Percentage of persons aged

  Year/district

  (thousands)

  0–4

  5–14

  15–24

  Gateshead

  198.9

  5.8

  12.4

  10.6

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  276.1

  5.8

  12.7

  17.2

  North Tyneside

  194.0

  5.7

  12.4

  10.4

  South Tyneside

  154.6

  5.8

  13.8

  10.3

  Sunderland

  292.3

  5.9

  13.8

  13.7

  1999

  Gateshead

  198.1

  5.7

  12.3

  10.4

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  273.0

  5.6

  12.5

  18.4

  North Tyneside

  193.2

  5.6

  12.3

  10.1

  South Tyneside

  153.5

  5.6

  13.7

  10.6

  Sunderland

  290.7

  5.7

  13.8

  14.1

  2000

  Gateshead

  196.9

  5.5

  12.3

  10.5

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  270.5

  5.3

  12.4

  18.6

  North Tyneside

  194.1

  5.6

  12.1

  10.2

  South Tyneside

  152.7

  5.5

  13.5

  10.9

  Sunderland

  289.5

  5.6

  13.6

  14.1

  Source:

  Office for National Statistics

  Teenage Pregnancy
  Richard Burden
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many girls resident in Birmingham, Northfield registered(a) the conception and (b) the birth of a child before the age of 16 years in each year since 1997 [19390]

  Ruth Kelly
  The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.

  Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Richard Burden, dated 30 November 2001:
  As National Statistician I am replying to your recent question on the number of girls resident in Birmingham, Northfield that registered the conception and birth of a child before the age of 16 years, in each year since 1997 (19389).
  There is no requirement to register conceptions in England and Wales. Estimates are however produced by the Office for National Statistics, based on registrations of births and notifications of abortions performed under the Abortion Act (1967). The available figures for estimated conceptions and registered livebirths under 16 for residents of Northfield Parliamentary Constituency since 1997 are given in the table:

  Number of conceptions and livebirths under age 16. Residents of Birmingham Northfield Parliamentary Constituency. 1997–2000

  Conceptions under 16

  Livebirths under 16

  1997

  19

  4

  1998

  29

  1

  1999

  21

  5

  2000

  1—

  6

  1 Figures not yet available

  Source:

  Office for National Statistics

  House Sales
  David Wright
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the average cost of charges to(a) sell and (b) buy a house has been in each of the last five years broken down by region. [18911]
  59W
  Ruth Kelly
  The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.

  Letter from Len Cook to Mr. David Wright, dated 30 November 2001:
  As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent question on the average cost of charges when buying and selling a house in each of the last five years broken down by region (18911).
  Available estimates are of average weekly expenditure on fees for moving house and are shown in the attached table. They are from the Family Expenditure Survey and are for the United Kingdom. Two figures are shown for each year, the first averaged over all households and the second averaged just over the households who had any expenditure on moving house fees.
  Like all estimates from sample surveys these figures are subject to sampling variability. This is particularly high for an item such as moving house fees because the sample of households who incur such expenditure is small and the amounts they spend cover a wide range. For this reason it is not possible to give reliable breakdowns by region or for buying and selling separately.

  Household on professional fees for buying and selling a house

  United Kingdom 1995–96 to 1999–2000

  £per year

  Expenditure on professional fees for moving house

  Financial year

  Averaged over all households

  Averaged over households with any expend

  Average annual household expenditure

  1995–96

  48

  1,250

  1996–97

  60

  1,230

  1997–98

  73

  1,260

  1998–99

  59

  1,220

  1999–2000

  75

  1,300

  Source:

  ONS, Family Expenditure Surveys 1995–96, 1996–97, 1997–98, 1998–99 and 1999–2000

  Crown copyright 2001.

  Census
  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects all 2001 Census forms to be(a) processed and (b) analysed. [19879]

  Ruth Kelly
  The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.

  Letter from John Pullinger to Mr. Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, dated 30 November 2001:
  The National Statistician and Registrar General for England and Wales has been asked to reply to your recent question on when all 2001 Census forms are expected to be (a) processed and (b) analysed. I am replying in his absence (19879)
  The processing of the 2001 Census is being carried out in two main phases. Our main contractors Lockheed Martin are scheduled to capture, code and deliver data on an area-by-area basis over the period September 2001 to April 2002.
  On delivery to ONS, the data for each area is then subject to a complex set of 'downstream' computing and manual activities, which ultimately create a full and final database of Census records from which all national and local area Census outputs can be generated, and which is expected to be completed by the end of June 2002.
  60W
  The 2001 mid-year national and local authority population estimates based on the final Census area counts are scheduled to be published in August 2002, and the first key analyses from the census itself to be released by the end of December 2002. Further, more detailed, analyses will continue throughout 2003.

  Export Credit Guarantees Department
  Mrs. Lawrence
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he will proceed with the second stage of the independent review of the implementation of the recommendations made by KPMG in December 1999 on the adequacy of the(a) risk management system and (b) processes of the Export Credit Guarantees Department. [20818]

  Mr. Boateng
  My predecessor announced to the House on 30 November 2000 that KPMG would carry out a post-implementation review of ECGD's progress in addressing the recommendations made by KPMG in December 1999. The first stage of that review was completed last January, and was reported to the House on 31 January. I am pleased to announce that the second stage has now commenced. The review is expected to take between four and six weeks, and I will place a copy of KPMG's report in the Library of the House.

  Public Service Pensions
  Barbara Follett
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to increase public service pensions from April 2002. [20816]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  Legislation governing public service pensions requires public service pensions to be increased annually by the same percentage as state earnings-related pensions (additional pensions). My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions announced on 28 November 2001,Official Report, column 894W that benefits such as additional pensions will be increased by 1.7 per cent., in line with the annual increase in the Retail Prices Index up to September 2001. Public service pensions will therefore be increased by 1.7 per cent. from 8 April 2002, except those which have been in payment for less than a year, which will receive a pro-rata increase.

  Tax Credits
  Mr. Blunt
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which tax credits he defines as public expenditure. [19838]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  The Treasury's calculation of net taxes and social security contributions treats all tax credits as reductions in tax collected since the working families and business tax credits appear as reductions in their tax bills.

  The Treasury's calculation of public sector receipts, drawn from ONS's national accounts treats some tax credits as public expenditure—mostly WFTC and DPTC.

  Council Tax Payers
  Mr. Sanders
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many council tax payers there were in each year since 1997; and what his estimate is of this figure for the 2001–02 financial year. [19646]

  Dr. Whitehead
  I have been asked to reply.
  61W
  We do not collect information on the number of council tax payers in England. Figures for the number of properties in England subject to a council tax charge for each financial year from 1996–97 are given in the table.

  Total number of dwellings subject to a council tax charge from November 1995

  Number of chargeable dwellings as at:

  In respect of financial year:

  Total

  Percentage increase over previous year

  1 November 1995

  1996–97

  19,755,865

  —

  1 November 1996

  1997–98

  19,933,603

  0.9

  3 November 1997

  1998–99

  20,055,311

  0.6

  3 November 1998

  1999–2000

  20,233,435

  0.9

  3 November 1999

  2000–01

  20,374,128

  0.7

  1 November 2000

  2001–02

  20,585,744

  1.0

  1 November 20011

  2002–03

  20,717,285

  0.6

  1 Estimate

  Mortality Ratios
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the standard mortality ratios for each(a) parliamentary constituency in Scotland and the north-eastern Government office region of England and

  Standardised mortality ratios1 for selected causes, for wards in Newcastle upon Tyne metropolitan county district Years of registration of death 1991–93

  All causes

  Respiratory disease2

  Coronary heart disease2

  Stroke2

  Cancers2

  Ward

  Males

  Females

  Males

  Females

  Males

  Females

  Males

  Females

  Males

  Females

  Benwell

  141.5

  148.6

  183.9

  182.3

  137.6

  147.9

  160.8

  171.6

  139.9

  122.1

  Blacklaw

  124.4

  126.2

  84.7

  104.2

  128.4

  128.0

  182.5

  86.3

  164.0

  109.4

  Byker

  129.5

  123.5

  136.9

  113.7

  120.1

  105.8

  146.9

  95.5

  158.2

  149.3

  Castle

  83.2

  99.3

  101.1

  68.8

  66.8

  78.4

  52.9

  121.0

  104.5

  118.9

  Dene

  90.0

  76.3

  50.4

  51.7

  114.7

  89.9

  74.0

  49.4

  94.4

  92.4

  Denton

  109.4

  109.4

  101.8

  93.4

  128.1

  121.4

  159.2

  81.5

  119.2

  118.2

  Elswick

  173.2

  122.3

  209.4

  125.4

  126.7

  111.9

  156.6

  105.6

  183.3

  138.8

  Fawdon

  109.5

  93.9

  99.6

  80.6

  119.3

  130.1

  86.6

  67.6

  125.8

  95.7

  Fenham

  100.9

  98.0

  124.1

  61.0

  105.3

  89.3

  96.7

  81.7

  126.8

  117.7

  Grange

  130.3

  116.3

  119.8

  114.7

  96.3

  102.8

  147.6

  116.1

  148.4

  116.7

  Heaton

  99.1

  96.6

  85.2

  86.3

  105.9

  97.4

  58.8

  95.8

  114.0

  118.1

  Jesmond

  132.9

  104.0

  112.8

  92.2

  96.1

  139.4

  130.5

  109.4

  101.8

  98.4

  Kenton

  122.5

  109.3

  109.0

  117.9

  88.6

  139.7

  122.7

  143.4

  116.0

  114.0

  Lemington

  131.5

  124.5

  125.0

  55.0

  109.8

  93.6

  153.0

  211.18

  100.8

  115.0

  Monkchester

  161.6

  139.1

  144.5

  197.3

  163.0

  166.8

  123.0

  122.1

  162.1

  172.2

  Moorside

  124.2

  97.0

  66.3

  85.3

  133.6

  88.7

  115.4

  112.8

  129.3

  101.5

  Newburn

  129.7

  103.4

  104.0

  128.5

  139.5

  116.9

  114.0

  64.5

  128.3

  131.5

  Sandyford

  120.0

  106.7

  81.7

  85.9

  102.6

  118.0

  160.2

  114.5

  103.6

  144.7

  Scotswood

  128.2

  97.4

  90.8

  144.0

  107.4

  110.6

  104.2

  65.8

  155.2

  95.4

  South Gosforth

  106.0

  104.2

  57.9

  87.0

  111.6

  102.3

  99.0

  113.3

  95.0

  117.9

  Walker

  151.4

  130.7

  189.1

  126.9

  122.8

  138.0

  133.4

  106.4

  184.2

  131.2

  Walkergate

  145.8

  117.6

  144.3

  133.7

  148.5

  114.8

  142.5

  131.5

  141.5

  118.2

  West City

  171.4

  151.4

  190.6

  151.0

  165.4

  126.5

  178.6

  140.7

  185.8

  130.6

  Westerhope

  94.4

  98.1

  71.6

  70.5

  93.1

  109.6

  153.3

  96.9

  101.0

  120.3

  Wingrove

  117.6

  107.5

  119.0

  94.6

  124.7

  104.9

  106.5

  81.7

  106.4

  132.9

  Woolsington

  109.7

  99.3

  71.0

  41.5

  136.6

  122.3

  39.0

  114.6

  126.2

  87.4

  1 Standardised to the population of England and Wales

  2 International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision codes:

  Respiratory disease—460–519

  Coronary heart disease—410–414

  Stroke—30–438

  Cancer—140–208

  62W
  (b) electoral ward in the City of Newcastle upon Tyne, for all causes, and for (i) respiratory disease, (ii) coronary disease, (iii) stroke and (iv)cancer. [19487]

  Ruth Kelly
  The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.

  Letter from John Pullinger to Mr. Jim Cousins, dated 30 November 2001:
  The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question asking for the standardised mortality ratios (SMRs) for (a) each parliamentary constituency in Scotland and the North Eastern Government Office Region of England and (b) each replying in his absence (19487)
  Figures for Scotland are the responsibility of the Scottish Executive.
  SMRs for electoral wards and parliamentary constituencies can be calculated only on the basis of ward populations from the 1991 Census. This pre-dates the creation of Government Office Regions. Hence the available data on parliamentary constituencies does not match Government Office Regions.
  The attached table shows SMRs for all causes of death, and for (i) respiratory disease, (ii) coronary disease, (iii) stroke and (iv) cancer for each ward (as constituted at the time of the 1991 Census) in Newcastle upon Tyne District Metropolitan County District, in the years 1991–1993, based on populations from the 1991 Census.

  Economic Activity and Employment Rates
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate(a) the economy activity rate and (b) the employment rate of those aged over 21 years and up to pensionable age in each region and nation of the UK for each year since 1996, broken down by age and sex. [19488]

  Ruth Kelly
  The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.

  Letter from John Pullinger to Mr. Jim Cousins, dated 30 November 2001:
  The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question on economic activity and employment rates. I am replying in his absence (19488).
  The Labour Force Survey (LFS) provides estimates of economic activity and employment rates for people aged 16 and over. The economic activity rate is the number of people who are economically active as a percentage of the relevant population. The employment rate is the number of people in employment as a percentage of the relevant economically active population. The latest available LFS estimates are for summer (June to August) 2001.
  These estimates are available through the House of Commons Library.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many letters his Department received from right hon. and hon. Members between 20 June and 20 July. [18562]

  Mr. Boateng
  663 letters were received.

  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many and what proportion of letters received by his Department between 20 June and 20 July were replied to(a) in under 15, (b) in under 20, (c) in under 30, (d) in under 40 and (e) in over 40 working days. [18582]

  Mr. Boateng
  A sample of the 663 letters received in the period concerned indicates that 69 per cent. were answered within 15 days, 87 per cent. within 20 days, 96 per cent. within 30 days and 98 per cent. within 40 days.

  Landfill
  John Mann
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what effects the proposed changes in the landfill tax credit scheme will have on parish council-led regeneration projects. [19342]

  Mr. Boateng
  There are at present no proposals to change the scheme. The Government are attracted to replacing all or part of the scheme with a public spending programme to direct resources towards Government priorities on sustainable waste management. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) is aiming to issue a consultation paper by the end of this year.

  Smuggling
  Ms Stuart
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what further steps are being taken to reduce the levels of illegal imports of(a) beer and (b) alcohol. [19450]
  64W
  Mr. Boateng
  As part of the pre-Budget Report the Government announced on 27 November that Customs activity this year to tackle cross-channel passenger smuggling of alcohol and tobacco has had a profound impact. Revenue losses from this form of smuggling have been reduced by 76 per cent. compared to last year, with cross-channel passenger smuggling of beer almost eliminated and cross-channel passenger smuggling of wine and spirits more than halved.

  Building on these successes, and those of its wider efforts to tackle tobacco smuggling, the Government published alongside the PBR a paper "Tackling Indirect Tax Fraud" which sets out the strategic principles that underlie the Government's approach to tackling fraud and outlines the steps being taken to tackle other forms of fraud and smuggling in the alcohol sector.

  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what discussions he has had with Commissioner Bolkestein regarding distortions to the working of the Single Market caused by the level of UK excise duty rates; [19368]

  (2) what discussions he has had with Commissioner Bolkestein regarding HM Customs and Excise policy of policing at ports of entry; [19369]

  (3) if he has been able to reach agreement with Commissioner Bolkestein regarding the confiscation of vehicles and goods from suspected smugglers before conviction. [19370]

  Mr. Boateng
  I met Commissioner Bolkestein on 20 November and explained that the Government are totally committed both to the principle that EU citizens should be able to engage in cross border shopping for their own use in other member states and to tackling criminal smuggling. The Government are confident that the approach of UK Customs to tackling those individuals who seek to break the law by smuggling alcohol and tobacco into the UK is fully consistent with our EU obligations and that once the European Commission is fully informed of the situation, they too will be satisfied.

  Vehicle Seizures
  Sue Doughty
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what records HM Customs and Excise are required to keep of the number of private cars seized by them; and what plans he has to change that requirement. [19396]

  Mr. Boateng
  Customs collate centrally and publish annual statistics on the number of vehicles seized across the UK. At a local level, Customs maintain specific records of all vehicles seized to deal with appeals and court cases as well as for intelligence gathering.

  Sue Doughty
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much compensation was paid in each year since 1995 to drivers and their families from costs arising from cars wrongly impounded by Her Majesty's Customs and Excise, including(a) consequential costs arising from loss of use of a car, (b) loss of items in the car, (c) loss of earnings and (d) travel costs incurred in collecting the car from Her Majesty's Customs and Excise. [19401]

  Mr. Boateng
  Information in this form is not centrally collated by Customs.
  65W
  Sue Doughty
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what procedures are in place for the audit and reporting of(a) the number of private cars impounded by HM Customs and Excise at Channel ports, (b) personal possessions contained in private cars impounded by HM Customs and Excise at Channel ports and (c) disposal of tax discs in cars disposed of by HM Customs and Excise. [19402]

  Mr. Boateng
  At a local level, Customs maintain specific records of all vehicles seized to deal with appeals and court cases as well as for intelligence gathering. Personal possessions are returned to the owner either at the time of seizure, or can be collected within 30 days. Tax discs are an integral part of a vehicle to legalise road use and are retained. Local managers carry out assurance checks on all information held, and all Customs procedures are subject to internal audit and scrutiny by the National Audit Office.

  Sue Doughty
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much revenue from the disposal of private cars and personal possessions in those cars was retained by Her Majesty's Customs and Excise in each of the last five years. [19400]

  Mr. Boateng
  None. All moneys relating to the sale of seized vehicles are returned to the Exchequer.

  Sue Doughty
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what procedures are in place for(a) handling tax discs and (b) disposal of personal possessions in private cars which have been disposed of by Her Majesty's Customs and Excise at channel ports. [19398]

  Mr. Boateng
  Once a vehicle has been forfeited to the Crown, Customs dispose of the vehicle in the most cost-effective way. If Customs choose to sell the vehicle at auction then the tax disc is sold as part of the vehicle. If the vehicle is crushed, Customs return the tax disc to the DVLA and the Exchequer is refunded.

  In the great majority of cases any personal possessions in private vehicles are taken by the individual at the time of seizure. However, Customs allow at least 30 days for the collection of personal possessions before they are disposed of.

  Sue Doughty
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many private cars were impounded by HM Customs and Excise at channel ports in each year since 1995; and how many have been released to their owners by HM Customs and Excise following appeals by the car owners. [19397]

  Mr. Boateng
  Customs' centrally held information on the numbers of private vehicles seized does not distinguish the location at which seizure took place, nor is the number of vehicles restored on successful appeal centrally collated.

  For the number of vehicles seized across the whole of the UK from 1994–95 to 1997–98, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 18 June 1998, Official Report, column 274W. For the number of vehicles seized across the UK in 1998–99, 1999–2000 I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 15 January 2001, Official Report, column 125W. Figures for the number of vehicles seized by Customs across the UK during 2000–01 are contained in the Government's response to the independent report by John Rogues into "The Collection
  66W
  of Excise Duties in HM Customs and Excise" (House of Commons command 5329, July 2001), a copy of which was placed in the Library on 19 July 2001.

  Sue Doughty
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much revenue was raised from the disposal of personal possessions in private cars disposed of by Her Majesty's Customs and Excise in each of the last five years. [19399]

  Mr. Boateng
  In the great majority of cases any personal possessions in private vehicles are taken by the individual at the time of seizure. However, Customs allow at least 30 days for the collection of personal possessions before they are disposed of. In the rare event that personal possessions are not claimed within a reasonable period, Customs dispose of them. It is not normally Customs practice to sell such items.

  Scout Uniforms (VAT)
  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the imposition of VAT on certain scout uniforms. [19338]

  Mr. Boateng
  VAT reliefs for young children's clothing and footwear apply also to items of scout uniform.

  Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration
  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 20 November 2001,Official Report, column 272W, on Equitable Life, if he will inform the hon. Member for Christchurch as soon as the response has been sent to the Parliamentary Ombudsman. [18661]

  Ruth Kelly
  [holding answer 27 November 2001]: The response was sent to the Parliamentary Ombudsman on 30 November.

  Financial Services Authority
  Mr. Gardiner
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what guidelines the FSA has issued to companies about reinsurance practices following the disclosure of Irish European Reinsurance Company's involvement with(a) Independent Insurance and (b) Equitable Life. [19633]

  Ruth Kelly
  The FSA's Interim Prudential Sourcebook for Insurance Companies already makes provisions covering reinsurance practices. In particular, it requires insurance companies to prepare their accounts following the insurance accounting guideline contained in the ABI Statement Of Recommended Practice. This covers the treatment of reinsurance contracts in some detail, and requires that the accounts should properly reflect the economic substance of any transaction.

  The Interim Prudential Sourcebook also requires companies to have appropriate procedures for assessing the creditworthiness of counterparties, including in particular reinsurers.

  In addition, the FSA has placed a responsibility on all firms to be "open and honest" with the regulator and, for certain firms covered by schemes of operation, there will be a specific requirement to disclose reinsurance arrangements and to notify the FSA of a material change to these.
  67W
  The FSA intends to review the use of financial reinsurance within the insurance market and the extent of the industry's reliance on it.

  Customs and Excise
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he intends to publish the next departmental report and expenditure plans for HM Customs and Excise. [20201]

  Mr. Boateng
  In April 2002.

  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he intends to publish the annual report 2000–01 for HM Customs and Excise. [20202]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Customs hope to publish the annual report for Customs and Excise in late January 2002.

  Equitable Life
  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 19 November 2001,Official Report, column 135W, on Equitable Life, if he will give the total cost of the review; what is the sum of the costs which have already been recovered by way of fees imposed by (a) the PIA and (b) the Treasury; and what the total is of the remaining costs to be recovered by the FSA by way of fees. [20286]

  Ruth Kelly
  The FSA has informed me that its total costs in preparing the review were around £4 million, of which £1.3 million was incurred in the FSA's financial year ending 31 March 2001. These costs will have been recovered by £1.07 million of fees charged on behalf of the insurance directorate and £0.23 million on behalf of the PIA. The balance of £2.7 million will be recovered by subsequent fees.

  Aggregates Levy
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he plans to publish draft regulations to implement the aggregates levy. [20196]

  Mr. Boateng
  Customs are in intensive discussions with representative industry bodies about detailed implementation of the levy and aim to issue draft regulations reflecting those discussions by the end of December.

  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the rate of aggregates levy(a) imposed and (b) planned by each member state of the European Union. [20198]

  Mr. Boateng
  The aggregates levy is designed to address the environmental effects of aggregate extraction in the UK. Aggregate taxes in other EU member states are a matter for the individual states themselves.

  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the likely differential impact of the aggregates levy on each of the regions of the United Kingdom. [20197]

  Mr. Boateng
  A regulatory impact assessment for the aggregates levy was published at the time of Budget 2000. It is available from the Customs and Excise website.
  68W
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if imported concrete products will be subject to the aggregates levy. [20199]

  Mr. Boateng
  No concrete products are subject to the aggregates levy.

  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what arrangement he plans under the aggregates levy for bad debt relief. [20195]

  Mr. Boateng
  Primary legislation gives the Commissioners of Customs and Excise the power to make regulations relating to bad debt relief. Customs are in intensive discussions with representative industry bodies about this subject and aim to issue draft regulations reflecting those discussions by the end of December.

  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how he plans to regulate the relationship between the aggregates levy and existing contracts for aggregates. [20188]

  Mr. Boateng
  Appropriate provision has been made in section 43 of the Finance Act 2001.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

  Public Service Agreements
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will make a statement on the public service agreement targets for a 1 per cent. reduction in unit spending per full-time equivalent(a) higher and (b) further education student in 1999–2000 over 1998–99. [14052]

  Margaret Hodge
  Between 1989 and 1997, publicly planned funding per full-time equivalent higher education student fell by over 36 per cent. from just under £7,600 to just over £4,800. Lord Dearing' s national committee of inquiry into higher education concluded in 1997 that higher education institutions could not absorb the reduction planned by the previous Government of over 6 per cent. He proposed that higher education institutions should be asked to deliver no more than a 1 per cent. reduction in costs and the Government accepted his recommendations.

  In practice, the actual reduction in unit of funding per student in 1999–2000 was 0.3 per cent.

  Last November, the Government announced cash increases in publicly planned funding of £412 million, £268 million and £298 million over the three years to 2003–04. This means that for the first time in over a decade there will be a real-terms increase in the unit of funding per full-time equivalent student of 0.7 per cent. in 2001–02, with fully funded increases in student numbers over the following two years.

  The current PSA target for higher education is that while maintaining standards we will increase participation towards 50 per cent. of those aged 18 to 30 by the end of the decade.

  It is too early to comment on the achievement of the PSA target for further education. Data for 1999–2000 are not yet available. However, while there was a real-terms per capita funding cut of 5.8 per cent. between 1995–96 and 1998–99, under the current Government's spending

  69W
  plans funding to the sector has increased overall. The Government have announced year-on-year increases of £527 million and £237 million in 2001–02 and 2002–03 in publicly planned further education funding allocated to the Learning and Skills Council.

  Women Role Models
  Dr. Kumar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps have been taken to provide female students at all levels with women role models who have succeeded in traditionally male dominated fields. [16265]

  Margaret Hodge
  A number of steps have been taken, both by my Department and other Government Departments, as well as by institutions in the education sector, to provide both women and men with role models to encourage them to learn, train and work in non-traditional fields.

  For example, as a result of a very successful pilot programme offering girls work experience in non-traditional work areas such as construction, engineering, IT and telecommunications, my Department is taking forward taster days for girls and is currently working with the national education business partnership network on a roll-out of the programme for girls at key stage 4.

  The science and engineering ambassadors scheme is being launched in January 2002 as part of Science Year and has been jointly developed by DfES/DTI. It will give more young people the opportunity to interact with female role models who are practising scientists and engineers. The DTI, through the work programme of its promoting SET (science, engineering and technology) for women unit and engineering policy unit enables organisations such as the SETpoints, the careers education and business partnerships, Let's Twist at Bradford college and the WISE campaign to run events with women scientists and engineers, produce posters and magazines such as SPARK that promote positive images of women in non-traditional careers. Science Year is particularly targeting some of its resources and publicity at girls. For example, television advertisements and a careers video have featured girls and women. The faces of modern science photographic project includes a large number of role models for all under-represented groups and will result in the production of a book for use by careers advisers and ConneXions officers.

  Many colleges and training providers are actively engaged in programmes to attract more women into male dominated fields and a number of initiatives funded by the European Social Fund involve the use of women role models. WISE, mentioned above, the Association for Women in Science and Engineering, the Women's Engineering Society and the British Council are all proactively using women role models from within industry as a mechanism for encouraging other women to study in non-traditional fields.

  We are also encouraging men to undertake work in areas where they are under-represented, such as child care. The second phase of our national recruitment campaign, "Do Something You Love for a Living" is actively promoting the recruitment of men and people from ethnic minority backgrounds into the work force while placing a heavy emphasis on training and qualifications. We
  70W
  featured a male nursery nurse in one of our advertisements and screened this at times when there was likely to be a large male audience. Men are also featured in the campaign booklet and accompanying case studies and research into the effectiveness of the campaign showed that the advert featuring the man was the best-recalled one. Aside from raising the status of working in the sector, the focus on training and qualifications should encourage more men to respond to the campaign.

  Supply Teachers
  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many registered supply teachers there are in England and Wales. [17118]

  Mr. Timms
  We do not keep a central register of supply teachers.

  There were 19,600 short-term supply teachers (on contracts of less than one month) employed for the whole day in the English maintained schools sector on the 18 January 2001, the date of the annual census of teachers in service, approximately 4.6 per cent. of all teachers employed in the maintained schools sector.

  Hardship Funds
  Alistair Burt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much was allocated for hardship funds for universities in the United Kingdom, broken down by university, in(a)2000–01 and (b)2001–02. [17288]

  Margaret Hodge
  [holding answer 22 November 2001]: The Government have provided £93 million for higher education students through the access and hardship funds in 2001–02, over four times the amount in 1997–98. The funds are used to provide hardship payments and access bursaries, as well as fee waivers for part-time students on benefit and low incomes, and opportunity bursaries for young disadvantaged students through the excellence challenge programme.

  The following table shows amounts allocated by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) for students in hardship in 2000–01 and 2001–02. In 2001–02, the funding allocated includes access bursaries for students with children. Access and hardship funds for institutions in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are a matter for the National Assembly for Wales, the Scottish Executive and the Northern Ireland Executive respectively.

  Final allocations for universities in England in 2000–01 and 2001–02

  Universities

  12000–01

  2001–02

  Anglia Polytechnic University

  691,486

  854,662

  Aston University

  276,030

  278,577

  University of Bath

  267,498

  271,888

  Birbeck College

  111,608

  121,252

  University of Birmingham

  875,448

  901,753

  Bournemouth University

  384,087

  445,844

  University of Bradford

  385,141

  417,907

  University of Brighton

  583,768

  755,668

  University of Bristol

  541,065

  541,229

  Brunei University

  588,193

  647,004

  University of Cambridge

  531,125

  578,031

  University of Central England

  778,045

  872,064

  University of Central Lancashire

  979,553

  1,489,797

  City University

  261,495

  267,026

  Coventry University

  606,472

  644,015

  71W

  Final allocations for universities in England in 2000–01 and 2001–02

  Universities

  12000–01

  2001–02

  De Montfort University

  1,249,159

  1,415,411

  University of Derby

  765,302

  942,961

  University of Durham

  521,220

  555,678

  University of East Anglia

  405,690

  465,111

  University of East London

  736,867

  1,120,286

  University of Essex

  227,538

  257,669

  University of Exeter

  444,830

  480,717

  Goldsmiths College

  353,339

  457,685

  University of Greenwich

  751,574

  1,017,097

  University of Hertfordshire

  727,393

  947,762

  University of Huddersfield

  678,624

  751,882

  University of Hull

  593,822

  679,622

  Imperial College

  452,918

  423,603

  Keele University

  309,558

  335,842

  University of Kent at Canterbury

  336,590

  415,866

  King's College London

  636,907

  650,510

  Kingston University

  570,969

  643,022

  Lancaster University

  425,412

  445,961

  University of Leeds

  874,808

  1,086,166

  Leeds Metropolitan University

  830,705

  934,475

  University of Leicester

  455,502

  450,902

  University of Lincoln

  577,290

  727,194

  University of Liverpool

  627,509

  646,298

  Liverpool John Moores University

  847,622

  996,410

  London Guildhall University

  667,305

  951,555

  Loughborough University

  474,876

  466,898

  University of Luton

  462,662

  544,196

  University of Manchester

  902,642

  899,678

  UMIST

  261,519

  250,127

  Manchester Metropolitan University

  1,388,324

  1,610,662

  Middlesex University

  1,082,189

  1,475,900

  University of Newcastle upon Tyne

  598,166

  587,039

  University of North London

  872,810

  1,214,406

  University of Northumbria at Newcastle

  798,650

  923,715

  University of Nottingham

  568,494

  551,515

  Nottingham Trent University

  984,801

  1,081,621

  Open University

  1,042,445

  993,033

  University of Oxford

  625,931

  579,448

  Oxford Brookes University

  488,594

  562,141

  University of Plymouth

  901,311

  1,143,584

  University of Portsmouth

  706,458

  818,947

  Queen Mary, University of London

  439,926

  464,513

  University of Reading

  423,670

  453,033

  Royal Holloway, University of London

  245,889

  236,960

  University of Salford

  820,310

  946,017

  University of Sheffield

  812,753

  954,623

  Sheffield Hallam University

  1,123,355

  1,328,270

  University of Southampton

  672,875

  697,594

  South Bank University

  875,250

  1,338,506

  Staffordshire University

  825,018

  944,026

  University of Sunderland

  747,135

  898,232

  University of Surrey

  220,311

  212,410

  University of Surrey Roehampton

  418,472

  540,877

  University of Sussex

  388,644

  474,880

  University of Teesside

  521,456

  652,280

  Thames Valley University

  734,478

  1,022,286

  University College London

  660,411

  655,840

  University of Warwick

  487,581

  516,493

  University of West of England, Bristol

  901,535

  1,033,502

  University of Westminster

  729,804

  978,103

  University of Wolverhampton

  1,042,587

  1,353,182

  University of York

  388,130

  429,327

  General college

  2000–01

  2001–02

  Bath Spa University College

  209,428

  309,506

  Bolton Institute of Higher Education

  409,387

  537,382

  Buckinghamshire Chilterns University College

  311,510

  356,388

  Canterbury Christ Church University College

  328,053

  429,332

  Cheltenham and Gloucester College of HE

  371,907

  446,249

  Chester College of Higher Education

  168,486

  204,287

  University College Chichester

  239,544

  318,550

  Edge Hill College of Higher Education

  336,041

  418,087

  King Alfred's College, Winchester

  199,854

  223,519

  72W

  General college

  2000–01

  2001–02

  Liverpool Hope

  329,629

  419,066

  University College Northampton

  486,555

  550,760

  College of Ripon and York St. John

  192,368

  220,291

  St Mary's College

  127,618

  137,086

  Southampton Institute

  753,050

  794,565

  University College Worcester

  229,879

  294,181

  Specialist Colleges

  Bishop Grosseteste College

  54,511

  58,845

  Arts Institute at Bournemouth

  20

  116,650

  Bretton Hall

  179,843

  30

  Institute of Cancer Research

  0

  3,840

  Central School of Speech and Drama

  42,087

  47,328

  Conservatoire of Dance and Drama

  0

  14,294

  Cranfield University

  136,777

  131,722

  Cumbria College of Art and Design

  66,612

  73,901

  Dartingdon College of Arts

  34,911

  46,442

  Institute of Education

  113,454

  144,679

  Falmouth College of Arts

  84,247

  110,769

  Harper Adams University College

  57,639

  55,565

  Homerton College, Cambridge

  68,431

  40

  Kent Institute of Art and Design

  118,665

  123,269

  University of London (Institutes and Activities)

  30,489

  26,175

  London Business School

  23,633

  21,270

  London School of Economics and Political Science

  145,905

  140,045

  London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine

  18,905

  17,633

  The London Institute

  663,760

  884,242

  Newman College

  83,473

  111,666

  Northern School of Contemporary Dance

  11,273

  12,756

  Norwich School of Art and Design

  56,324

  70,196

  School of Oriental and African Studies

  132,870

  183,514

  School of Pharmacy

  28,502

  28,442

  Ravensboume College

  40,536

  54,936

  RCN Institute

  20,476

  25,783

  Rose Bruford College

  32,505

  36,185

  Royal Academy of Music

  45,736

  43,772

  Royal Agricultural College

  0

  18,042

  Royal College of Art

  159,848

  143,863

  Royal College of Music

  44,979

  40,481

  Royal Northern College of Music

  26,067

  25,260

  Royal Veterinary College

  31,414

  38,232

  St George's Hospital Medical School

  47,852

  73,960

  College of St. Mark and St. John

  193,382

  269,175

  St. Martin's College

  305,004

  440.093

  The Surrey Institute of Art and Design University College

  135,961

  150,707

  Trinity and All Saints

  200,478

  210,760

  Trinity College of Music

  23,800

  24,030

  Wimbledon School of Art

  34,239

  44,376

  Writtle College

  92,300

  97,560

  Total

  56,849,126

  66,643,000

  1 In addition to the allocations listed in 2000–01, the Government made available a total of £14.8 million for mature student bursaries. HEFCE is not able to provide a breakdown of the bursary allocations.

  2 Arts Institute at Bournemouth, Institute of Cancer Research, Conservatoire of Dance and Drama and Royal Agricultural College are all showing not to have an allocation in 2000–01, as these institutions were not funded by HEFCE at that time.

  3 Bretton has no allocation in 2001–02 as it has now merged with Leeds Metropolitan University.

  4 Homerton College received an allocation in 2000–01, but for 2001–02 their allocation was added to the University of Cambridge's total.

  Further Education Funding
  Alistair Burt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and skills what the operating costs were of(a) The Further Education and Funding Council and (b) The training and enterprise councils in relation to their functions in administering the funding of further education in (i) 1999–2000 and (ii) 1998–1999. [17295]
  73W
  Margaret Hodge
  [holding answer 22 November 2001]: The total Further Education Funding Council (FEFC) cost of administration taken from its published accounts was £23.3 million in 1998–99 and £25.5 million in 1999–2000.

  There were no specific grants paid to TECs by the DfES for further education and it is not possible to identify how much was spent by them on this particular activity.

  The Learning and Skills Council has taken over the functions previously carried out by the FEFC, much of what was done by TECs, as well as various activities carried out by the Department for Education and Employment and Government offices. It has also taken on additional activities such as greater involvement and intervention at local level to raise basic skills, and managing a 9 per cent. real terms increase in the overall programme budget allocated to post-16 education and training compared to plans for 2000–01. In spite of this, its overall operating costs (its administration budget this year is £188 million) are significantly lower than the £270 million—£280 million which was estimated to have been spent by its predecessors.

  Higher Education
  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many, and what percentage of, pupils entered higher education at age 18 from the Isle of Wight in(a) 1996, (b) 1997, (c) 1998, (d) 1999 and (e) 2000. [17676]

  Margaret Hodge
  The available data are shown in the table.

  Students aged 18 from the Isle of Wight local education authority entering higher education courses1 at HE institutions2 in the UK

  Academic year

  Entrants

  As proportion of 18-year-old population (%)

  1996–97

  153

  12

  1997–98

  165

  12

  1998–99

  166

  11

  1999–2000

  142

  10

  2000–01

  186

  13

  1 Full-time and part-time undergraduate courses, as at December 1.

  2 Data on the home LEA of students who enter HE courses at FE institutions is not available centrally, so these students have been excluded from the answer.

  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, pursuant to her answer of 8 November 2001,Official Report, column 511W, on higher education, if she will break down the data given to (a) teaching staff, (b) research staff and (c) combined teaching and research staff. [18333]

  Margaret Hodge
  The data are shown in the table.

  Academic staff in UK higher education institutions

  Teaching staff

  Research staff

  Combined teaching and research

  1995–96

  Full-time

  9,000

  33,210

  69,250

  Part-time

  4,060

  4,130

  6,930

  Total

  13,060

  37,340

  76,180

  74W

  Academic staff in UK higher education institutions

  Teaching staff

  Research staff

  Combined teaching and research

  1996–97

  Full-time

  8,210

  33,350

  69,220

  Part-time

  4,790

  4,360

  7,650

  Total

  13,000

  37,700

  76,870

  1997–98

  Full-time

  7,530

  33,800

  69,160

  Part-time

  5,330

  4,030

  8,230

  Total

  12,860

  37,830

  77,390

  1998–99

  Full-time

  6,400

  34,560

  71,420

  Part-time

  5,550

  4,400

  8,740

  Total

  11,950

  38,960

  80,160

  1999–2000

  Full-time

  6,860

  35,080

  71,860

  Part-time

  5,990

  6,310

  9,660

  Total

  12,850

  41,390

  81,510

  Source:

  Higher Education Statistics Agency's Staff Record. Numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10.

  School Trips (Risk Assessment)
  Mr. Edwards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) what duty is placed on(a) schools and (b) local education authorities to undertake a risk assessment when organising school visits by bus; [17872]

  (2) what guidance she gives to local education authorities about ensuring the safety of pupils on school visits. [17873]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 require schools and local education authorities, as employers, to assess the risks of all types of school visit.

  My Department issued 'Health and Safety of Pupils on Educational Visits: a Good Practice Guide' for schools in England in 1998. Supplementary advice will become available in December.

  National Curriculum Tests
  Dr. Julian Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if the results of individual primary schools in national curriculum tests for(a) reading and (b) mathematics at age seven years are available centrally to her Department. [18261]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  Yes. For pupils aged seven (key stage 1), my Department collects individual pupil level data, by school and local education authority, for task and test results in English and mathematics and teacher assessment results in English, mathematics and science. In English, the task and test results are split into reading task, reading test, writing task and spelling. These results are aggregated at national level and published together with the key stage 2 and 3 results in a statistical release.

  Streaming
  Dr. Julian Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) what recent assessment she has made of the continental European system of advancement from year to year based on academic performance rather than age; [18262]

  (2) what assessment she has made of the relative efficiency of teaching classes grouped by (a) age and (b) ability. [18263]

  Mr. Timms
  The Government support a flexible approach to pupil grouping, including setting by ability where appropriate. The White Paper "Schools—achieving success" emphasises the need to increase opportunities for all pupils to progress in line with their abilities. There will be more flexibility in future for younger gifted pupils to learn alongside older pupils.

  School Sport
  Ms Shipley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans she has to promote sport and PE in schools. [18337]

  Mr. Timms
  I refer my hon. Friend to the replies I gave on 26 October 2001,Official Report, column 459W and 22 November 2001, Official Report, column 451W respectively. The number of school sport co-ordinators has now increased to 372.

  Nursery Places
  Mr. Reed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what level of funding has been made available to Leicestershire to provide free nursery places to three-year-olds; and what assessment she has made of the total cost of providing free nursery places for all three-year-olds in Leicestershire by 2004. [18498]

  Margaret Hodge
  In 2001–02 £3.1 million has been made available to provide 2,638 free nursery education places for three-year-olds in Leicestershire. This level of funding could increase before the end of 2001–02 if Leicestershire receives additional funding in the spring term as a result of its recent bid for additional places.

  No assessment has yet been made of the total cost of providing free nursery education places for all three-year-olds in Leicestershire by September 2004. This will be dependent on the demand for places and also the level of provision that the local education authority decides to make available for three-year-olds from its own resources.

  Early Years Development Partnerships
  Mr. Reed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what guidance her Department gives to local education authorities on their relationship with early year development partnerships. [18499]

  Margaret Hodge
  Strategic guidance is issued to local education authorities and early years development and child care partnerships every two years. This includes guidance on the relationship between the two.
  76W
  The strategic guidance is supported by implementation guidance issued annually which sets out the operational framework in which the local education authority and early years development and child care partnership should work over the coming year.

  Mr. Reed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what guidance her Department gives to local education authorities about providing additional funding to early year development partnerships to provide free nursery places for all three-year-olds. [18500]

  Margaret Hodge
  The Department for Education and Skills does not provide guidance to local education authorities on providing additional funding to their early years development and child care partnerships for free nursery education places for three-year-olds. Such spending priorities are determined locally and are at the discretion of the local authority.

  In 2001–02 £3.1 million has been made available to provide 2,638 free nursery education places for threeyear-olds in Leicestershire. This level of funding could increase before the end of 2001–02, if Leicestershire receives additional funding in the spring term as a result of its recent bid for additional places.

  Teacher Vacancies
  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the source was of the figures she used which illustrate the gap between the supply and demand of teachers in her speech on the social market function. [18345]

  Mr. Timms
  The graph on page 11 of my social market foundation pamphlet shows two columns for 2001. The lower figure of 410,000 is the number of teachers in post. The higher figure, of some 435,000, includes vacancies and occasional teachers covering for other teachers. The figures are drawn from the publication "Statistical First Release on Teachers in Service and Teacher Vacancies"—the latest edition is for April 2001, and this is in the House of Commons Library and on the DfES website. The final column for 2006 is a projection based on recent trends.

  Andrew Selous
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many teacher vacancies there were in Bedfordshire in October(a) 1997 and (b) 2001. [19736]

  Mr. Timms
  The information is not available for the dates requested. Full-time teacher vacancies in maintained nursery, primary, secondary and special schools reported by the Bedfordshire local authority were as follows:

  Date

  Vacancies

  January 1998

  26

  January 2001

  76

  School Finance
  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many Government initiatives offer additional funding which require schools to lodge specific applications. [19404]
  77W
  Mr. Timms
  Schools are required to lodge specific applications for the following initiatives, which attract addition al funding:

  Teachers' Threshold Grant

  Teachers' Performance Pay Progression Grant

  Welcome Back Bonuses

  Golden Hellos

  Grammar School/Non-selective School Partnerships

  Training Schools

  Specialist Schools

  Grant Maintained School Transitional Grant for Insurance

  Capital funding for Voluntary Aided Schools.

  Most other additional funding is allocated and paid to local education authorities through the standards fund: they must devolve around 75 per cent. of the grant to their schools to spend according to their own needs and priorities. It is for authorities and schools to agree the particular arrangements for allocating the grant to schools. Almost all standards fund grants are allocated to LEAs on a formula basis and the Government expect LEAs to devolve grants to schools by a fair formula, in which case schools should not have to apply for grant.

  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of total school spending in England and Wales is spent on schemes and improvements instigated by her Department. [19343]

  Mr. Timms
  The table shows the total national SSA allocation and total national grant funding for schools in England in 2001–02.

  £ million

  National SSA Allocation: 2001–02

  Total SSA

  122,512.900

  National Grant Funding for Schools: 2001–02

  Standards Fund revenue

  1,524.810

  School Standards Grant

  600.306

  Education Budget Support Grant

  52.000

  Education Action Zones

  58.400

  Teachers Pay Reform Grant

  2—

  Transitional Funding (former GM Schools)

  9.600

  Capital

  1,818.404

  Total

  4,063.520

  1 Including support for Early Years, Youth Service and other non-school spending by local education authorities

  2 The figures will not be known for a while, but Threshold costs for each academic year are expected to be in the region of £450 million

  Schools and local education authorities have the freedom to decide how to spend their education budget support grant and school standards grant. Schools also have considerable freedom over the use of their standards fund allocations.

  Funding for schools in Wales is the responsibility of the National Assembly for Wales.
  78W
  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of total school spending in England and Wales is allocated to teacher salaries and related costs. [19379]

  Mr. Timms
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State is responsible for England only. The latest available data are for the financial year 1999–2000. The proportion of total spending on teacher salaries and related costs in pre-primary and primary schools is 62 per cent., and 66 per cent. for secondary schools.

  Teacher Housing
  Mr. Goodman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what recent discussions she has had with local authorities on teacher housing; and if she will make a statement. [18886]

  Mr. Timms
  Officials and Ministers are in regular contact with local education authorities on a range of issues concerning teachers including housing. Policy on key worker housing is a matter for the Department for Transport Local Government and the Regions (DTLR). Officials and Ministers in this Department work closely with DTLR colleagues to deliver programme such as the starter home initiative which will provide over 3,500 teachers with help to buy their first home.

  Autistic Spectrum Disorders
  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans she has to increase funding allocated to deal with children diagnosed with difficulties in the autistic spectrum disorders. [18910]

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

  More than £23 billion is available annually for the education of school children, including children with special educational needs. Over £1 billion of this is used by LEAs to provide additional support for children with special educational needs.

  We have also made £91 million of supported expenditure available for special educational needs in next year's standards fund (2002–03). This is five times the amount available in 1997–98. The fund can be used for a range of activities, including training for staff in special educational needs, improvements in speech and language therapy provision for children with communication difficulties and the greater inclusion of children with SEN in the mainstream. This latter includes early intervention for pupils with SEN, training on child development and behaviour management, and improved links between special and mainstream schools.

  Domestic Violence
  Ms Shipley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what guidance she provides to schools to help education professionals identify students affected by the impact of domestic violence. [19099]
  79W
  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  Children who experience or witness domestic violence can suffer in many ways, and the education service has a significant role to play in identifying these and children who are at risk of harm, or who are in need. We issued guidance to all schools about their role in identifying the needs of children affected by a range of difficulties, including domestic violence, in 1995.

  My officials are in the process of reviewing and updating that guidance to reflect the guidance in "Working together to Safeguard Children", the Government's most recent guide to inter-agency working to safeguard and promote the welfare of children. Among other things, this stresses that everyone working with children should be alert to the frequent interrelationship between domestic violence and the abuse and neglect of children. These messages will be reflected in the updated guidance to schools that my Department will issue next year.

  Ms Shipley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what support she offers to education professionals to help them deal with the impact of domestic violence on their students. [19100]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  My Department's guidance to schools about their role in protecting children strongly advises that all schools should have an appropriately trained designated teacher who is known to all staff. Designated teachers provide support and guidance on child protection issues to other education staff. They also liaise with other agencies, including social services and the police, to safeguard the best interests of children.

  In addition, from next September schools will introduce the new curriculum subject "Personal, Social and Health Education and Citizenship". Within this subject there is scope to discuss domestic violence in a safe environment, including how families deal with it and where to go for help.

  Education Action Zones
  John Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what information she has on which schools, in education action zones in which McDonald's has been a partner, have used that company's schools resource packs. [19107]

  Mr. Timms
  We hold no information on which schools in education action zones have used McDonald's schools resource packs.

  John Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills in which education action zones McDonald's has been a partner. [19108]

  Mr. Timms
  Two education action zones (EAZs), Weston and Ellesmere Port, have franchisees of McDonald's as partners on their zones' action forum.

  The EAZs listed have McDonald's as a sponsor and contributor for cash and in-kind donations:
  80W

  Statutory EAZs

  Herefordshire EAZ

  Newcastle EAZ

  North East Lincolnshire—Grimsby EAZ

  Plymouth EAZ

  South Tyneside EAZ

  Breightmet and Tonge (Bolton) EAZ

  Bridgwater EAZ

  Dingle, Granby and Toxteth EAZ

  Downham and Bellingham EAZ

  Dudley EAZ

  East Manchester EAZ

  Gillingham EAZ

  North Stockton EAZ

  North West Shropshire EAZ

  Preston EAZ

  Speke Garston EAZ

  Excellence in Cities (EiC) Action Zones

  Barking Gateway to Excellence EiC Action Zone

  Liverpool—EXCITE EiC Action Zone

  Liverpool—North Deanery EiC Action Zone

  Willington—North Tyneside EiC Action Zone.

  Student Loans
  Mr. Edwards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what facility exists to pay off the outstanding balance on a student loan. [19811]

  Margaret Hodge
  Borrowers can pay off the outstanding balance on their student loans direct to the Student Loans Company at any time. Borrowers who wish to do so are advised to contact the SLC to arrange the most appropriate way to make the payments.

  Mr. Edwards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans she has to require the Student Loans Company to issue regular statements to individuals about the outstanding balance, repayments made and the projected term of the loan. [19813]

  Margaret Hodge
  Borrowers under the pre-1998 scheme (mortgage style loans) receive annual statements from the Student Loans Company. They sign a loan agreement which sets out the repayment terms—five years for less than five loans and seven years for five or more loans.

  For borrowers under the new income-contingent loans scheme, repayment is collected by their employers through deductions from their earnings, in line with tax and national insurance contributions. These borrowers will get a statement from the SLC after the end of the tax year, once the SLC has received details of their repayments from the Inland Revenue.

  Self-employed borrowers would receive their statements after the end of the tax year as long as they made their self-assessment returns to the Inland Revenue on time.

  Loan repayments under the income contingent scheme rise or fall with earnings. They do not, therefore, have a projected repayment term.
  81W
  Mr. Edwards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans she has to improve the information available by the Student Loans Company about the balance on an individual's outstanding loan. [19814]

  Margaret Hodge
  Borrowers under the pre-1998 scheme (mortgage style loans) can contact the Student Loans Company at any time to obtain information on their outstanding loan.

  For borrowers under the new income-contingent loan scheme, repayments are collected by their employers, through deductions from their earnings, in line with tax and national insurance contributions.

  These borrowers will get a statement from the SLC after the end of the tax year. This will happen after the SLC has received details of their repayments from the Inland Revenue.

  Self-employed borrowers would receive their statements after the end of the tax year as long as they make their self-assessment returns to the Inland Revenue on time.

  My officials are currently working with the SLC to find better ways of providing account updates for income contingent loan borrowers, in particular to ensure that repayments are stopped as soon as the loan is repaid.

  Mr. Hendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many student loans have been issued; and what is the total value of student loans issued, broken down by each LEA area. [20193]

  Margaret Hodge
  In academic year 2000–01, there were 648,500 loans to the value of £1,920.8 million issued to students normally domiciled in England and Wales. Information broken down by LEA area is not held centrally, but we are asking the Student Loans Company to write to the hon. Gentleman further on this.

  Education Initiatives
  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) how many statutory(a) plans and (b) reports (i) primary and (ii) secondary schools complete annually; [19403]

  (2) how many new education initiatives that require action by head teachers have been launched by her Department in the current financial year.[19708]

  Mr. Timms
  Primary and secondary schools are statutorily required to produce each year a report from the governing body for parents, a report for parents on their children's achievements, and an annual budget plan. Since the start of April 2001, the Department for Education and Skills has sent primary schools 20 documents for action of which nine were new, and secondary schools 22 documents for action of which nine were new.

  Sex Discrimination (Single-faith Schools)
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will ensure that existing sex discrimination legislation is enforced in respect of single-faith schools. [19630]

  Mr. Timms
  All schools in the maintained sector are already required to comply with existing sex discrimination legislation.

  Departmental Underspend
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when she expects to spend the £1.44 billion that was allocated to her Department for 2000–01 but not spent. [19528]

  Estelle Morris
  Of the £1.44 billion available in end-year flexibility from the former Department for Education and Employment, my Department has so far drawn down £584 million to spend this year and transferred £326 million to the Department for Work and Pensions. The remaining funds have been allocated and will be drawn down when needed.

  "Curriculum Online"
  Mr. Damian Green
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when she will publish the Government's conclusions following the consultation paper, "Curriculum Online"; and if she will make a statement. [19609]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  The consultation paper "Curriculum Online" closed on 1 July; we received 159 responses, which have now been analysed. We are considering the responses and are currently making arrangements for publication shortly.

  In summary, the responses demonstrated widespread support for the Government's vision of a service to provide teachers with easy online access to a consistent, coherent and comprehensive set of digital learning materials to support teaching across the curriculum.

  Departmental Expenditure Limit
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will estimate the total unallocated funds within her departmental expenditure limit(a) at the start of the financial year and (b) to date; and what was the month seven forecast on outturn underspend against her departmental expenditure limit in (i) real and (ii) percentage terms. [19436]

  Estelle Morris
  The Department for Education and Employment annual report for 2000–01 (Cm 5102) contains the departmental unallocated provision (DUP) set for the present financial year in table 4.2, under the line entitled "Emergency Reserve".

  There has been no draw down of the Department's DUP to date. Outturn against six-month forecast for each request for resources will be published in the winter supplementary estimates summary request for supply as usual.

  University Resources
  Dr. Gibson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans she has to include university interaction with the community when assessing the allocation of resources to universities. [19459]

  Margaret Hodge
  The higher education reach-out to business and the community fund and its successor, the higher education innovation fund, have given higher education institutions (HEIs) the opportunity to apply for funding for interaction with the community.
  83W
  Furthermore, the higher education active community fund of £27 million will be distributed over three years to HEIs to support volunteering among students and staff. Volunteering helps HEIs to build bridges with their communities; it helps students to gain workplace experience and staff to develop their careers; and it helps voluntary sector organisations gain access to higher level skills and knowledge. The HE active community fund will assist in the creation of 14,000 new volunteering opportunities for HE students and staff.

  Additionally, higher education institutions are receiving £57 million of widening participation funding over three years from the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) as part of the Government's excellence challenge policy. This money helps institutions to reach out to more young people from communities who do not have a tradition of entering higher education.

  Student Drop-outs
  Mr. Damian Green
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the first year student drop-out rate was in new universities in(a) 1997, (b) 1998, (c) 1999 and (d) 2000. [19615]

  Margaret Hodge
  [holding answer 30 November 2001]: The available information on non-continuation rates is contained in "Performance Indicators in Higher Education", published by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE). The figures show, for each individual HE institution in the UK, the proportion of entrants to full-time first degree courses who do not continue in higher education beyond the first year. HEFCE also calculates a sector-wide non-continuation rate, but nothing is published for all new universities in aggregate. Copies of the HEFCE publications covering students starting courses in 1996–97 and 1997–98 are available in the House Library; prior to 1996–97, non-continuation rates were not published for individual HEIs.

  Primary Schools
  Mr. Letwin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will allow the redesignation of primary schools as three to 11 year-old schools at the request of local education authorities. [20150]

  Mr. Timms
  Where a local education authority wishes to alter the age range of a community primary school, by a year or more, it must publish notices to do so after consulting all interested parties, in particular the local early years development and child care partnership. If there are no objections and the proposals are not linked to others to be decided by the local school organisation committee, the local education authority may determine to implement them. In other cases it will be for the school organisation committee, or, where the school organisation committee does not reach a unanimous view, the Schools 84W
  Adjudicator, to decide whether the change can be made. In the case of voluntary or foundation schools it is for the governing body to publish proposals, but the decision-making procedure is otherwise the same. The Secretary of State no longer decides such proposals.

  Higher Education Review
  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the terms of reference are for the higher education review. [20194]

  Margaret Hodge
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State set out the scope of the current review of higher education in her speech at the London Guildhall university on 22 October 2001.

  The review will cover the key areas that form the overall mission of the higher education sector, looking to the longer-term structure of incentives required to ensure that each is resourced and supported. The areas being considered in the review are:

  Widening participation

  World-class research

  Linking universities with industry and communities

  Teaching excellence

  Management and leadership.

  Class Sizes
  Patrick Mercer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what initiatives her Department has in place to reduce class sizes in English secondary schools. [20626]

  Mr. Timms
  The average size of a secondary class taught by one teacher in England in January 2001 was 22.0. The January 2001 figure also shows that the secondary pupil/teacher ratio improved for the first time in 10 years and now stands at 17.1. The improvement reflects increased Government spending on schools.

  Teachers' Pensions
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she intends to make provision for increases in employers' contributions to teachers' pension costs in 2002–03 in her support to education authorities. [19486]

  Mr. Timms
  In 2002–03 education standard spending will increase by over£1.3 billion, a 6 per cent. rise on this year's figures. The 6 per cent. increase is enough to cover all the cost pressures on local education authorities next year, including the rise in employers' contributions to teachers' pensions.

  Specialist Schools
  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much was raised in sponsorship by each specialist school since its year of designation. [19240]

  Mr. Timms
  There are no specific requirements for specialist schools to raise sponsorship after designation and we do not keep any records about this.
  85W
  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what is the average(a) pupil-teacher ratio in secondary schools in England and (b) pupil-teacher ratio for specialist schools.[19241]

  Mr. Timms
  The pupil-teacher ratio in maintained secondary schools as at January 2001 was 17.1.

  The equivalent figure for maintained secondary specialist schools was 16.9.

  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will make a statement on the various means of selection used by those specialist schools which select a proportion of their intake; and what advice has been given by her Department on the means of selection which may be used. [19242]

  Mr. Timms
  We do not hold information on the means of selection. Admission arrangements are set locally by a school's admission authority (local education authorities for community and controlled schools, and the governing

  Specialist schools: selection by aptitude

  Specialism

  School

  LEA

  Percentage

  Technology

  Archbishop Blanch School

  Liverpool

  5.6

  Technology

  Archbishop Temple School

  Lancashire

  10.0

  Language

  Bohunt School

  Hampshire

  10.0

  Arts

  Brentwood Ursuline Convent School

  Essex

  10.0

  Technology

  Chaucer Technology School

  Kent

  Up to 100

  Arts

  Chestnut Grove School

  Wandsworth

  16.0

  Technology

  Cornwallis School

  Kent

  10.0

  Technology

  Deacon's School

  Peterborough, City

  15.0

  Technology

  George Spencer GM School

  Nottinghamshire

  10.0

  Technology

  Heathside School

  Surrey

  4.0

  Language

  Hockerill Anglo European School

  Hertfordshire

  10.0

  Arts

  Intake High School

  Leeds

  10.0

  Technology

  Lodge Park School

  Northamptonshire

  10.0

  Technology

  Lynn Grove VA High School

  Norfolk

  15.0

  Technology

  Mill Hill County High School

  Barnet, London borough of

  10.0

  Technology

  Ninestiles School

  Birmingham

  10.0

  Sports

  Oakbank School

  Bradford

  10.0

  Sports

  Oldfield School

  Bath and North East Somerset

  10.0

  Technology

  Philip Morant School

  Essex

  15.0

  Technology

  Sandwich Technology School

  Kent

  10.0

  Technology

  Small Heath School

  Birmingham

  10.0

  Technology

  St. Margaret's C of E High School

  Liverpool

  15.0

  Technology

  St. Martin's School

  Essex

  10.0

  Arts

  St. Marylebone School (The)

  Westminster

  10.0

  Sports

  Wye Valley School (The)

  Buckinghamshire

  10.0

  Notes:

  This information was taken from progress reports submitted by 403 schools in December 2000. Progress reports for schools operational as of September 2000 are currently being received but the information from these has not yet been collated.

  The 1998 School Standards and Framework Act provides for schools with a specialism to select up to 10 per cent. of their intake on the basis of aptitude for a specialist subject prescribed in regulations. Prior to the 1998 Act schools had greater discretion over aptitude selection and this accounts for the percentages above 10 per cent.

  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many specialist schools(a) allow primary schools to use their facilities and (b) provide specialist teaching in neighbouring primary schools. [19245]

  Mr. Timms
  We do not hold collective records of specialist school involvement with primary schools under these headings. However, all specialist schools have arrangements with primary schools whereby the latter benefit from use of the specialist school's facilities or staff time or both.
  86W
  body for aided and foundation schools), and this includes deciding how children will be tested for their aptitude for a particular subject. My Department's code of practice on school admissions (1999) advises that:
  "tests used to identify whether a pupil has aptitude for a particular subject should be objective, have a distinctive subject focus, should not discriminate against applicants on the grounds of gender, ethnic origin, disability or family background, and that they must test for the subject aptitude concerned, not for any other aptitude or for ability".

  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list those specialist schools which select a proportion of their pupils by aptitude for their specialist subjects; and what percentage of pupils is so selected in each school. [19243]

  Mr. Timms
  The latest available information is for school year 1999–2000. For that year, specialist schools which had selected a proportion of their pupils by aptitude for a subject or subjects relevant to their specialist designation, together with the percentage of pupils selected in each school, is shown in the table.

  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many specialist schools allow their local community to have free use of the specialist facilities. [19244]

  Mr. Timms
  We expect every specialist school to have arrangements whereby some members of the local community benefit from the use of some of the school's facilities. We do not collect data on the ways in which this expectation is realised.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many letters her Department received from hon. and right hon. Members between 20 June and 20 July. [18560]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  Information on the volume of correspondence from Members of Parliament received by ministerial agency chief executives and Departments and agencies, and performance in handling them, is published annually by the Cabinet Office. The most recent report, covering the year 2000, was announced by the then Minister for the Cabinet Office on 6 April 2001,Official Report, column 325W. Between 20 June and 20 July 2001, the volume of correspondence received by my Department and percentage of replies within the set target was:
  Total volume of ministerial correspondence received: 1,783
  Percentage of replies sent within the target: 71 per cent.

  Recruitment and Retention Fund
  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills for what reason the recruitment and retention fund is limited to two financial years. [19340]

  Mr. Timms
  Funding of £35 million for the recruitment and retention fund was made available in April and we said that there would be at least that available next year. No decisions have been made concerning the future of the fund.

  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what criteria were used to allocate the recruitment and retention fund. [19377]

  Mr. Timms
  The fund was allocated on the basis of vacancy data from the annual census of vacancies conducted each January averaged over the three years 1998–2000.

  Terrorism
  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much she forecasts will be spent in the current financial year by her Department as a direct result of measures associated with the current action against terrorism. [10951]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  The additional costs forecast to be incurred by the Department for Education and Skills on enhanced security measures in the current financial year, as a direct result of measures associated with the current action against terrorism, is£233,783. That figure includes £100,000 for IT network resilience.

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

  Correspondence
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Solicitor-General how many letters her Department received from hon. and right hon. Members between 20 June and 20 July. [18590]

  The Solicitor-General
  Information on the volume of correspondence from Members of Parliament received by ministerial agency chief executives, and Departments and agencies, and performance in handling them is published 88W
  annually by the Cabinet Office. The most recent report, covering 2000, was announced by the then Minister for the Cabinet Office, on 6 April 2001, Official Report, columns 325–27W. Between 20 June and 20 June 2001 a total of 22 letters were received by my Department from hon. and right hon. Members.

  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Solicitor-General how many and what proportion of letters received by her Department between 20 June and 20 July were replied to(a) in under 15, (b) in under 20, (c) in under 30, (d) in under 40 and (e) in over 40 working days. [18576]

  The Solicitor-General
  Of the 22 letters received by my Department from hon. and right hon. Members between 20 June and 20 July, 95 per cent. were replied to in under 15 working days and 100 per cent. were replied to in under 20 working days.

  During June and July some 212 letters were received from members of the public and of these 70 per cent. received replies within the target of 20 working days.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Zimbabwe
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations(a) his Department and (b) international organisations to which the UK belongs, have made to the Government of Zimbabwe on the approval of a Public Order and Security Bill and the operation of free media. [18090]

  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Government of Zimbabwe regarding the proposed introduction of a new Public Order and Security Bill in Zimbabwe. [18878]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  [holding answer 28 November 2001]: The Government of Zimbabwe have said that they plan to table a Public Order and Security Bill, to replace the Law and Order (Maintenance) Act, introduced in 1960. The Bill itself has not yet come before the Zimbabwe Parliament. Discussion at this stage would thus be premature. The early indications are that, if enacted, the Act could have a profoundly negative impact on freedom of expression in Zimbabwe.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many letters his Department received from hon. and right hon. Members between 20 June and 20 July. [18561]

  Mr. Straw
  My Department received 1,349 letters from hon. and right hon. Members between 20 June and 20 July 2001.

  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many and what proportion of letters received by his Department between 20 June and 20 July were replied to(a) in under 15, (b) in under 20, (c) in under 30, (d) in under 40 and (e) in over 40 working days. [18581]

  Mr. Straw
  Of the 1,349 letters received from hon. and right hon. Members between 20 June and 20 July:
  89W

  (a) 72 per cent. were replied to in under 15 days;

  (b) 79 per cent. were replied to in under 20 days;

  (c) 81 per cent. were replied to in under 30 days;

  (d) 82 per cent. were replied to in under 40 days;

  (e) 18 per cent. were replied to in over 40 days.

  Joint Entry Clearance Unit
  Mr. Carmichael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he has taken(a) to assess the extent of and (b) to raise awareness of institutional racism with entry clearance officers working for the Joint Entry Clearance Unit. [17988]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  All correspondence to the Joint Entry Clearance Unit is monitored for allegations of racism. The work of entry clearance officers is scrutinised by the independent monitor, who reports to Parliament on the quality of the decision making process. The Parliamentary Ombudsman can investigate allegations of maladministration, including racism. He has received one such complaint this year, which was unfounded.

  All entry clearance staff are trained in race awareness.

  Sudan
  Mr. Dawson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Government of Sudan about the recent bombing of civilian and humanitarian facilities in Malualkon, Bahr E1 Ghazal; and if he will make a statement. [20203]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  We are aware of recent aerial bombing incidents in Bahr E1 Ghazal which affected humanitarian operations there. The UN have made strong protests to the Sudanese Government about these incidents. We regularly call on the Government of Sudan, both bilaterally and within the framework of the EU Sudan dialogue, to stop the indiscriminate aerial bombardment of civilian and humanitarian targets. We have urged both sides to stop immediately hostilities in order to create an environment conducive to negotiations and to engage in a continuous and sustained negotiation towards a just and lasting political settlement.

  Royal Visits
  Andrew Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on how many occasions in the past five years members of the Royal Family, other than Her Majesty the Queen, Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, have been accommodated(a) in the residences of United Kingdom representatives overseas and (b) at public expense when primarily involved on private visits overseas. [18378]

  Mr. Straw
  Members of the Royal Family on private visits overseas may be accommodated at the residences of UK representatives overseas, particularly if security questions are involved, but no consolidated record is kept.

  The FCO does not pay hotel and other bills when members of the Royal Family travel privately.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

  Correspondence
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) how many letters her Department received from right hon. and hon. Members between 20 June and 20 July; [18564]

  (2) how many and what proportion of letters received by her Department between 20 June and 20 July were replied to (a) in under 15, (b) in under 20, (c) in under 30, (d) in under 40 and (e) in over 40 working days. [18584]

  Clare Short
  We received 139 letters from right hon. and hon. Members between 20 June and 20 July. Of these, 98 were answered in less than 15 days, 17 in less than 20 days and two in over 40 days. Twenty two letters did not require a response.

  Tuvalu
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assistance her Department is making available to the people of Tuvalu. [19251]

  Clare Short
  DFID does not provide bilateral assistance to Tuvalu. My Department administers a regional programme in the Pacific totalling some £4 million per year, which is inclusive of the poorest Pacific island countries. We work closely with key regional partners including the Form Secretariat, Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) and South Pacific Applied Geoscience Commission (SOPAC). Given the regional nature of the programme, it is not possible to determine exactly how much of this assistance goes directly to Tuvalu. DFID also contributes to the multilateral programmes maintained by the Asian Development Bank, World bank, the EU and the UN from which Tuvalu benefits.

  Animal Health Research
  Mr. Letwin
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement about the future of the Centre for Tropical Veterinary Medicine at the University of Edinburgh. [20178]

  Clare Short
  My Department has contracted the Centre for Tropical Veterinary Medicine at the university of Edinburgh to manage our animal health research programme.

  We have no responsibility for the future of the centre.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Correspondence
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the President of the Council (1) how many letters he received from right hon. and hon. Members between 20 June and 20 July; [18568]

  (2) how many and what proportion of letters received by his Department between 20 June and 20 July were replied to (a) in under 15, (b) in under 20, (c) in under 30, (d) in under 40 and (e) in over 40 working days. [18588]
  91W
  Mr. Robin Cook
  I received 21 letters from hon. and right hon. Members during this period.

  Of the total replied to, the information requested is as follows:

  (a) 18 (86 per cent.)

  (b) 1 (4 per cent.)

  (c) 2 (10 per cent.)

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

  Correspondence
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many and what proportion of letters received by his Department between 20 June and 20 July were replied to(a) in under 15, (b) in under 20, (c) in under 30, (d) in under 40 and (e) in over 40 working days. [18592]

  Mr. Leslie
  Information on the volume of correspondence from Members of Parliament, received by agency chief executives and Departments and agencies, and performance in handling them, is published annually by the Cabinet Office. The most recent report, covering the year 2000 was announced by the then Minister for the Cabinet Office on 6 April 2001,Official Report, column 325W.

  Within the period 20 June and 20 July 2001 the Cabinet Office received 54 letters from hon. and right hon. Members. Out of these, 20 letters were transferred to other Government Departments or required no response. Of the remaining 34 letters left for the Cabinet Office to reply, (a) 27 (80 per cent.) were replied to within the 15 working day target, (b) a further five (94 per cent.) letters were replied to within 20 working days and (c) the remaining two (100 per cent.) letters were replied to within 30 working days. For (d) and (e) the Cabinet Office have a 100 per cent. success rate as all letters were replied to within 30 working days.

  Information on the volume of other correspondence, including letters from members of the public was published as part of the six service standards for central Government. The report, covering the financial year 2000, is referred to in my answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Croydon, Central (Geraint Davies) on 19 July 2001, Official Report, column 454–56W, and a copy is available in the Libraries of the House. These types of correspondence are not collected in the format requested and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many letters his Department received from hon. and right hon. Members between 20 June and 20 July. [18574]

  Mr. Leslie
  Information on the volume of correspondence from Members of Parliament received by ministerial agency chief executives, and Departments and agencies, and performance in handling them, is published annually by the Cabinet Office. The most recent report, covering 2000, was announced by the then Minister for the Cabinet Office on 6 April 2001,Official Report, column 325W. Between 20 June and 20 July the Cabinet Office received 54 letters from right hon. and hon. Members: to the Department replied to 80 per cent. within the 15 working day target.

  Islamic Society of Britain
  Dr. Julian Lewis
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what inquiries he made about the credentials, impartiality and political record of the Islamic Society of Britain before signing its Pledge to Muslims on religious tolerance. [14843]

  Mr. Leslie
  Officials made appropriate inquiries before the Government signed the pledge on religious tolerance.

  Dr. Julian Lewis
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) if he will state what steps were taken by the Cabinet Secretary to check the credentials, impartiality and political record of the Islamic Society of Britain before signing its Pledge to Muslims on religious tolerance; [14781]

  (2) if he will make a statement on the decision by the Cabinet Secretary to sign the Pledge to Muslims on religious tolerance organised by the Islamic Society of Britain. [14780]

  Mr. Leslie
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 29 November 2001,Official Report, columns 1056–57W.

  Unallocated Funds
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will estimate the total unallocated funds within his departmental expenditure limit(a) at the start of the financial year and (b) to date; and what was the month seven forecast on outturn underspend against his departmental expenditure limit in (i) real and (ii) percentage terms. [19435]

  Mr. Leslie
  The Cabinet Office departmental annual report for 2001 (Cm 5119) contains the Cabinet Office Departmental Unallocated Provision (DUP) set for the present financial year in Table 6 on page 87. Draw-down of the DUP was reported to Parliament in June 2001 in the Cabinet Office Summer Supplementary Estimate (Cm 5215).

  Outturn against the six month forecast for each Request for Resources will be published in the Winter Supplementary Estimates Summary Request for Supply as usual.

SCOTLAND

  Correspondence
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many letters her Department received from right hon. and hon. Members between 20 June and 20 July. [18569]

  Mrs. Liddell
  Information on the volume of correspondence from Members of Parliament received by ministerial agency chief executives, and Departments and agencies and performance in handling them is published annually by the Cabinet Office. The most recent report, covering 2000, was announced by the then Minister for the Cabinet Office on 6 April 2001,Official Report, column 325W. Between 20 June and 20 July, the volume of correspondence and percentage of replies within the set target was: nine letters and 66.67 per cent. on target.
  93W
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many and what proportion of letters received by her Department between 20 June and 20 July were replied to(a) in under 15, (b) in under 20, (c) in under 30, (d) in under 40 and (e) in over 40 working days. [18597]

  Mrs. Liddell
  The information is as follows:

  (a) 103 letters or 83.7 per cent. replied to in under 15 working days;

  (b) 112 letters or 91 per cent. replied to in under 20 working days;

  (c) 122 letters or 99.2 per cent. replied to in under 30 working days;

  (d) 122 letters or 99.2 per cent. replied to in under 40 working days; and

  (e) one letter or 0.8 per cent. replied to in over 40 working days

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr Peter Duncan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what percentage of parliamentary questions replied to by the Scotland Office were the subject of a holding answer in the last three Sessions of Parliament. [20009]

  Mrs. Liddell
  Approximately 25 per cent. in each of the Sessions December 2000-May 2001; November 1999-November 2000; and November 1998-November 1999.

  West Coast Main Line
  Mr. Peter Duncan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions she has had with Railtrack, since 5 October, concerning the timing of upgrades to the west coast main line. [19984]

  Mrs. Liddell
  I hope to meet with Railtrack senior management shortly to discuss a range of matters.

ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

  Genetically Modified Fish
  Mr. Alan Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the views expressed by the Director General of the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation, on 7 March 2000, in relation to genetic modification of aquatic species and the safety of genetically modified organisms. [6639]

  Mr. Meacher
  The views of the Director General on genetically modified organisms are expressed in the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation report on the State of the World's Fisheries published in 2000. The Director General's statement says:"We have no problem with genetically modified organisms (GMOs) as long as they are proved to be safe to human beings and have no negative impact on the environment. That is a very clear position."

  In assessing this statement I agree that safety for human health and the environment is paramount. This is the rationale behind the European Regulatory regime, which prohibits releases of genetically modified organisms into the environment. Directive 90/220 requires that anyone wanting to release genetically modified organisms in any country in the EU must have prior approval subject to a detailed risk assessment.
  94W
  However this does not mean that there are no problems with the marketing and use of GMOs. In addition to the safety aspects, there are other issues of concern including public acceptance, ethics, liability and socio-economic impacts.

  In relation to genetic modification of aquatic species, such as fish, I refer to my recent statements on this topic on 19 November 2001, Official Report, column 77W and on 20 November 2001, Official Report, column 198W.

  White Goods Disposal
  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on what grounds a local authority can refuse to take away used white goods where no other form of waste disposal exists. [17888]

  Mr. Meacher
  Waste collection authorities can refuse to take away only those used white goods that are classified as 'commercial' waste. They may arrange to collect and dispose of such waste, if approached by commercial traders, but they are not obliged to. Waste collection authorities have a statutory duty to arrange for the collection of household waste. However, they are entitled to impose a charge for collection for certain items, set out in Schedule 2 to the Controlled Waste Regulations 1992.

  Waste disposal authorities have a statutory duty, under section 51(1) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, to provide reasonably accessible sites where householders can dispose of their waste free of charge but they may restrict the availability of specified sites to specified descriptions of waste.

  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations her Department has received from(a) retailers, (b) local authorities and (c) environmental groups regarding EC Regulation 2037/2000 and its implementation in the UK. [17891]

  Mr. Meacher
  My Department has received a number of representations from retailers, local authorities and environmental groups concerning EC Regulation 2037/2000. More recently we have received representations regarding the collection and disposal of domestic fridges and freezers from retailers and local authorities, in particular through a number of stakeholder meetings, hosted by DEFRA and DTI.

  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps have been taken to ensure that there are alternative recycling routes for used fridges and freezers. [17900]

  Mr. Meacher
  The Department, and the DTI, have hosted a number of stakeholder meetings to discuss the maintenance of existing systems for householders wishing to dispose of old fridges and freezers. Local authorities have statutory duties to accept and collect household waste, including bulky waste.

  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many used fridges and freezers have been taken back for recycling by UK retailers in 2001 prior to 17 November. [17893]
  95W
  Mr. Meacher
  My Department does not hold this information. We would estimate that 1.3 million fridges and freezers have been taken back by UK retailers in 2001 prior to 17 November. However, we do not know what proportion was recycled.

  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans there are to build a recycling plant capable of removing CFCs from fridges and freezers under EC regulation 2037/2000. [17892]

  Mr. Meacher
  I understand that a number of commercial companies intend to invest in plant in the UK.

  Mrs. Brooke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress is being made in respect of(a) finalising measures to manage waste refrigeration equipment and (b) announcing assistance and advice for local councils consequent upon the impact of EC regulation 2037/2000. [18556]

  Mr. Meacher
  [holding answer 28 November 2001]: The Department has written to all local authorities in England informing them of the requirements regarding the recycling/disposal of fridges under the regulation. A further letter will be issued shortly to remind local authorities of their obligations to receive and collect waste refrigeration equipment from householders. Guidance on storage of waste refrigeration equipment has been issued in draft. An announcement, on financial assistance for local authorities, will be made shortly.

  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what guidance has been issued to local authorities informing them of their obligation to meet EC regulation 2037/2000 when storing and recycling used goods. [17889]

  Mr. Meacher
  The Department wrote to all local authorities in England informing them of the provisions of the regulation. A further letter will be issued to remind local authorities of their obligations to receive and collect waste refrigeration equipment from householders. Guidance on storage of waste refrigeration equipment has been issued in draft and will be finalised shortly.

  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures her Department is taking to ensure that the UK conforms to EC regulation 2037/2000. [17895]

  Mr. Meacher
  My Department and the DTI have published three guidance booklets covering the requirements of EC regulation 2037/2000. More recently both Departments have hosted a number of stakeholder meetings to discuss the management of waste refrigeration units. My Department has been liaising with the Environment Agency to develop guidance on the standards for extracting CFCs form insulation foam in fridges, and on the storage of waste fridges and freezers, pending treatment. Draft guidance on these issues has been issued and will be finalised shortly. A statutory instrument to assign regulatory functions and to set out offences penalties has been drafted and is expected to come into force in the new year.

  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what guidance she has issued on the safe disposal of goods containing CFCs as required by EC regulation 2037/2000. [17901]
  96W
  Mr. Meacher
  My Department has already issued draft guidance on the extraction of CFCs from fridges and freezers, and draft guidance on the storage of waste refrigeration equipment, prior to CFC extraction. These will be issued in final form shortly. Information for householders on safe disposal of fridges and freezers will also be issued.

  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions her Department has had with European recycling plants in preparation for the implementation of EC regulation 2037/2000 on 1 January 2002. [17894]

  Mr. Meacher
  Officials from the Department have had a number of meetings with representatives from a recycling company in Germany. Representatives of the German industry more recently attended the stakeholder meetings hosted by DEFRA and have been consulted on draft guidance and standards for CFC removal.

  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what advice she has issued to local authorities on the maximum charges that can be levied on consumers for collecting bulky appliances from private residences. [17890]

  Mr. Meacher
  No advice has been issued to waste collection authorities on the maximum charges that can be levied on consumers for the collection of bulky appliances from private residences. Charges are to be set to recover a local authority's costs but not to make a profit and are a matter for the authority concerned.

  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what funding is being made available for local authorities to re-process end-of-life refrigerators under the Draft Environmental Protection (Control of Ozone Depleting Substances) Regulations 2001. [18173]

  Mr. Meacher
  An announcement on financial assistance for local authorities will be made shortly.

  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the storage facilities that local authorities, as waste disposal authorities, will need in order to re-process end-of-life refrigerators under the Draft Environmental Protection (Control of Ozone Depleting Substances) Regulations 2001. [18172]

  Mr. Meacher
  Local authorities will need to store waste refrigeration units until suitable processing facilities come on-line. The number that will require storage prior to recycling is dependent on the construction of suitable facilities for the recovery of ozone depleting substances. Some of these could be operational as early as spring 2002. Guidance on the storage of waste refrigeration units has been issued in draft and will be finalised shortly.

  Critical Sewers
  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what guidance she gives to water companies on the expected asset life of critical sewers; and what action she will take to ensure that critical sewers are replaced before they fail completely. [18081]
  97W
  Mr. Meacher
  In 1998 in "Raising the Quality" the then Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions gave guidance that water and sewerage companies should maintain their assets in a way which will deliver a high standard of serviceability to customers and the environment. Ofwat has identified this as an area for companies to include in their draft business plans for the 2004 periodic review of prices. The water industry, Ofwat and the Environment Agency are working together on the assessment of future capital maintenance needs, for the review. Asset lives are a factor in this.

  Nuclear Risk Assessment (France)
  Mr. Swayne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the dangers of a civil emergency arising out of nuclear contamination consequent upon a nuclear accident in France; and if she will make a statement. [18198]

  Mr. Meacher
  No specific assessment of the risk of nuclear contamination as a result of an accident in France has been made. However, the UK has arrangements in place for co-ordinating the response to any overseas nuclear accident that may occur. These arrangements include a bilateral agreement with France and were fully tested in May 2001 as part of a joint international exercise based upon a nuclear accident at Gravelines nuclear power station, situated on the French coast. Further tests and exercises are conducted on a regular basis throughout the year to consider various nuclear accident conditions.

  Energy Efficiency
  Linda Gilroy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to her answer of 26 October 2001,Official Report, column 409W, on energy efficiency, (1) what analysis of overall percentage improvements in domestic energy efficiency is required before figures for those overall percentage improvements can be published; and when she intends to publish the figures; [18732]

  (2) what the closing date was for the energy conservation authorities to report their energy efficiency improvements to 31 March. [18731]

  Mr. Meacher
  Energy conservation authorities were asked to submit their fifth annual progress reports to 31 March 2001 to their region's Government office, by 31 August this year. While many met the deadline, a large number did not.

  Before publishing the overall reported percentage improvement, we check that each report has been completed fully and accurately, going back to the authority with questions if necessary. Until we have done this for all authorities—around 350—and provided written feedback to each on this year's performance, we are not in a position to publish the reported percentage improvement.

  We have nearly completed our analysis and expect to publish this information early next year.

  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what proportion of her Department's budget is spent on promoting energy saving. [17430]
  98W
  Mr. Meacher
  [holding answer 27 November 2001]: The Department is responsible for energy efficiency. The latest complete figures available relate to the predecessor Department (DETR) in the financial year 2000–01. The funding made available to support and promote energy efficiency in 2000–01 totalled about £163.5 million, 6 per cent. of that Department's programme expenditure.

  The major elements of expenditure were on the energy efficiency best practice programme, support for the Energy Saving Trust and the home energy efficiency scheme.

  DEFRA funding in this financial year for energy efficiency is likely to be in the region of £220 million. This includes £50 million for the work of the Carbon Trust.

  Packaging
  Dr. Kumar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress has been made in encouraging companies to reduce packaging. [19054]

  Mr. Meacher
  The EC Directive on Packaging and Packaging Waste—94/62/EC—was implemented in Great Britain by the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations 1997 (as amended).

  The regulations require businesses who deal with packaging to recover and recycle specified tonnages of packaging waste, calculated by the amount of packaging handled by the business. Businesses can reduce their obligation by using less and reusing packaging whenever possible. By increasing the amount reused producers are able to reduce the tonnages of packaging waste they are required to recover and so lessen their costs of compliance.

  The recovery and recycling targets for 2001 under the packaging regulations are 56 per cent. for recovery and 18 per cent. for material-specific recycling of packaging waste. Data received to date suggest that, if businesses meet their obligations, these targets should be met.

  Dr. Kumar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the timetable to publish the implementation of European Commission packaging directives. [19050]

  Mr. Meacher
  The EC Directive on Packaging and Packaging Waste—94/62/EC—came into force in 1994. The Directive was implemented in Great Britain by the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations 1997.

  We are currently awaiting a proposal from the European Commission for revised targets to be met in 2006.

  Waterways
  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she will publish the report of the freight study group on the potential usage of the waterway system for the carriage of freight. [19530]

  Mr. Meacher
  The report of the Freight Study Group is expected early in the new year.
  99W
  Mr. Kidey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what arrangements her Department has for co-ordinating policy relating to canals with the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions. [19531]

  Mr. Meacher
  We recognise the need for close liaison between DEFRA and DTLR on issues of common interest relating to canals. As a consequence the Freight Study Group will report to both Departments, and respective Ministers received a joint briefing recently from the chairman of the Freight Study Group.

  River Quality
  Mr. Breed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to her answer of 23 November 2001,Official Report, column 517W, on river quality, what chemical levels of (a) biochemical oxygen demand and (b) concentrations of dissolved (i) oxygen and (ii) ammonia are deemed to be (A) good, (B) fair, (C) poor and (D) bad in the Environment Agency's general quality assessment scheme for rivers. [19237]

  Mr. Meacher
  [holding answer 30 November 2001]: The Environment Agency's General Quality Assessment (GQA) scheme assigns stretches of rivers and canals to one of six quality grades (ranging from A for water of very good quality to F for water which is of bad quality) based on the monitoring results for biochemical oxygen demand and concentrations of dissolved oxygen and ammonia. The overall grade is that of the poorest of the three determinants. The grade classes are expressed as percentiles as set out in the table.

  Standards for the chemical GQA

  GQA grade

  Dissolved oxygen (% saturation) 10-percentile

  Biochemical oxygen demand (mg/l) 90-percentile

  Ammonia (ntgN/l) 90-percentile

  A (very good)

  80

  2.5

  0.25

  B(good)

  70

  4

  0.6

  C (fairly good)

  60

  6

  1.3

  D (fair)

  50

  8

  2.5

  E (poor)

  20

  15

  9.0

  F (bad)

  less than 20

  —

  —

  Correspondence
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many and what proportion of letters received by her Department between 20 June and 20 July were replied to(a) in under 15, (b) in under 20, (c) in under 30, (d) in under 40 and (e) in over 40 working days. [18577]

  Mr. Morley
  Information on the volume of correspondence from Members of Parliament received by ministerial agency chief executives, and departments and agencies and performance in handling them is published annually by the Cabinet Office. The most recent report covering 2000, was announced by the then Minister for the Cabinet Office on 6 April 2001,Official Report,
  100W
  column 325W. Between 20 June and 20 July 2001, the volume of correspondence and percentage of replies within the set target was:

  Letters received: 718

  8 per cent. received replies within 15 working days;

  7 per cent. received replies within 20 working days;

  13 per cent. received replies within 30 working days;

  3 per cent. received replies within 40 working days;

  17 per cent. received replies over 40 working days.

  The Department keeps a central log of ministerial cases only and so this figure does not include letters received in this period that were dealt with by officials.

  We are working hard to ensure the Department' s record is improved and the targets met. The Department has suffered severe disruption due to allocating top priority to defeating the foot and mouth epidemic. I accept this is not an adequate excuse for not giving hon. Members good service and now that normality is returning to the Department one of our urgent priorities is to rectify any weakness in our service delivery.

  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many letters her Department received from hon. and right hon. Members between 20 June and 20 July. [18589]

  Mr. Morley
  Information on the volume of correspondence from Members of Parliament received by ministerial agency chief executives, and Departments and agencies and performance in handling them is published annually by the Cabinet Office. The most recent report covering 2000, was announced by the then Minister for the Cabinet Office on 6 April 2001,Official Report, column 325W. Between 20 June and 20 July 2001, the number of letters received was 718. The Department keeps a central log of ministerial cases only and so this figures does not include letters received in this period that was dealt with by officials.

  Mr. Peter Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she will reply to the letter of 12 September from the hon. Member for Hexham regarding assistance to Tyredale council to promote tourism. [20028]

  Alun Michael
  A response to the hon. Member's letter of 12 September has been sent today.

  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent assessment she has made of the efficiency and promptness of her Department's staff in responding to correspondence received from hon. Members; and if she will make a statement. [20025]

  Mr. Morley
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State wrote to all Members on 14 November setting out her assessment of the current problems faced by the correspondence section. The Department suffered severe disruption due to allocating top priority to defeating the foot and mouth epidemic. On top of this the sheer volume of correspondence received since the creation of DEFRA has had a severe impact on the section. I accept this is not an adequate excuse for not giving hon. Members good service, and now that normality is returning to the Department one of our urgent priorities is to rectify any weakness in our service delivery.
  101W
  The size of the section has increased threefold and the management strengthened; our IT systems are in the process of being improved, and new guidance and training is being rolled out throughout the Department. We hope that this will bear fruit in the very near future.

  Rural White Paper
  Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to her answer to the hon. Member for Stroud (Mr. Drew) of 27 November 2001,Official Report, columns 859–60W, on the rural White Paper, if she will make a statement on clarifying guidance on best and most versatile land. [20151]

  Alun Michael
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Minister for Housing, Planning and Construction on 21 March 2001,Official Report, columns 253–55W. This included an amendment to guidance in Planning Policy Guidance note 7 (PPG7), "The Countryside—Environmental Quality and Economic and Social Development", on best and most versatile agricultural land. Decisions about the development or protection of such land are for local planning authorities to take in accordance with that guidance. The guidance is on DTLR's website at www.planning.dtlr.gov.uk/policy.htm.

  Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to her answer to the hon. Member for Stroud (Mr. Drew) of 27 November 2001,Official Report, columns 859–60W, on the rural White Paper, what proportion has been allocated and which organisations have received funding from the community service grants schemes in 2001–02. [20140]

  Alun Michael
  The Countryside Agency has allocated £1.5 million for expenditure on Community Service grants for this financial year.

  I have today deposited in the Library of the House a list of organisations that have received funding under the scheme.

  Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to her answer to the hon. Member for Stroud (Mr. Drew) of 27 November 2001,Official Report, columns 859–60W, on the rural White Paper, if she will outline the work done to date on the Countryside Agency's policy-maker's checklist and the extent of consultation during this process. [20155]

  Alun Michael
  The Policy Makers' Rural Proofing Checklist was published by the Countryside Agency on 24 April 2001. It followed consultation by the Countryside Agency with Government Departments and a number of other interested organisations, including the Local Government Association, the Country Land and Business Association and the Council for Protection of Rural England. The Checklist is available on the Countryside Agency's website at: www.countryside.gov.uk

  Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to her answer to the hon. Member for Stroud (Mr. Drew) of 27 November 2001,Official Report, columns 859–60W,
  102W
  on the rural White Paper, how many communities have received support from the parish plans fund in 2001–02; and what amount they have received. [20141]

  Alun Michael
  To date 243 parish and town councils have registered an interest to produce a plan. 72 have been made a formal offer of grant and 44 parishes have received funding. A list of those parishes has been deposited in the Library of the House today.

  Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to her answer to the hon. Member for Stroud (Mr. Drew), 27 November 2001,Official Report, columns 859–60W, on the rural White Paper, when the consultation paper on quality parish and town councils will be published. [20152]

  Alun Michael
  The consultation paper on quality town and parish councils was published on 7 November 2001. Copies of the consultation paper were placed in the Vote Office and I wrote to each Member of Parliament enclosing a copy of the consultation paper.

  Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to her answer to the hon. Member for Stroud (Mr. Drew) of 27 November 2001,Official Report, columns 859–60W, on the rural White Paper, which market towns have received funding from the regeneration programme in 2001–02. [20143]

  Alun Michael
  Regional development agencies and their partners have agreed 112 towns for inclusion in the market towns initiative and most of these will have received some degree of support in 2001–02 depending on the stage they have reached in the consultation, planning and implementation process. The agreed list of 112 market towns has been deposited in the Library of the House today.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Asylum Seekers
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many asylum applications have been granted in each of the past two years in Northern Ireland; and how many applications await adjudication; [18859]

  (2) how many asylum seekers have sought refuge in Northern Ireland in the last two years broken down by (a) gender, (b) adult/child status, (c) country of origin and (d) country from which they entered the UK. [18858]

  Angela Eagle
  Information on asylum applications and decisions in Northern Ireland is unavailable. Asylum applications data are not available at regional level except by port of application. Corresponding information on initial decisions relating to regional applications is also unavailable. The requested information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost by examination of individual case records.

  Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Bill
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will estimate the number of
  103W
  suspected terrorists who he expects to be detained under the Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Bill; and if he will make a statement. [18850]

  Mr. Blunkett
  It would not be right for me to provide estimates at this stage but as the Prime Minister stated during oral questions on 14 November 2001,Official Report, column 854, our assessment is that the power will be required
  "only in a small number of cases".

  Harry Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will place in the Library copies of legal advice, received by his Department, which relates to the obligation to respect private lives of individuals and the provisions specified in clauses 17 to 19 of the Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Bill.[17194]

  Mr. Blunkett
  No. Such advice falls within the category described in Part II, section 4(d) of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information and will not be disclosed.

  Suspicious Financial Transactions
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many referrals relating to suspicious financial transactions have been referred to NCIS in each of the last three years; and how many prosecutions have resulted. [17916]

  Mr. Blunkett
  [holding answer 27 November 2001]: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Truro and St. Austell (Matthew Taylor) on 23 October 2001, Official Report, column 203W.

  public Service Agreements
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on progress towards the public service agreement target for increasing the numbers of asylum decisions.[16923]

  Angela Eagle
  Increasing the number of asylum decisions was a public service agreement (PSA) target in the years 1999–2000 and 2000–01 but is not a PSA target in 2001–02. Outturn in 2000–01 was 132,840 against a target in the range 130,000 to 150,000.

  Correspondence
  Derek Conway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will instruct the Integrated Casework Directorate of the Immigration and Nationality Department to acknowledge the letters from the hon. Member for Old Bexley and Sidcup dated 13 August, 2 October and 26 October concerning Yuliya Smirnova, his reference S.1042831. [16837]

  Angela Eagle
  My officials wrote to the hon. Member on 22 November. I am sorry for the delay in replying. The Integrated Casework Directorate (ICD) stopped automatically sending acknowledgements of receipt of Members' representations addressed to the Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND) Board about 12 months ago. However, it is LCD's policy to acknowledge the receipt of applications and other casework-related correspondence where an acknowledgement is requested.
  104W

  Muslim Fundamentalism
  Dr. Julian Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the level of support for Muslim fundamentalism within the United Kingdom. [16409]

  Angela Eagle
  The total Muslim population in the United Kingdom is estimated to be between one and one and a half million. The number of people supporting what might be described as a "Muslim fundamentalist" view is impossible to assess, as it will depend on precisely how the term is interpreted. But support within the Muslim community for what might be regarded as extreme Islamist views is commonly judged to be small.

  Dr. Julian Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment his Department has made of the continuing threat of Muslim fundamentalist terrorism in Britain after the destruction of the bin Laden organisation in Afghanistan. [17029]

  Mr. Blunkett
  There have been a number of public threats made by bin Laden and his supporters against Western interests since 11 September.

  While we do not comment on intelligence, we believe the overall level of threat to the United Kingdom has remained at the heightened level identified immediately post 11 September. We believe that attacks against the United States remain bin Laden's priority. We do of course keep these issues under review.

  European Arrest Warrant
  Mr. Letwin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the Government's policy on protection of the principle of speciality in the Council Framework Decision on the European arrest warrant; and if he will make a statement. [20147]

  Mr. Bob Ainsworth
  The United Kingdom (UK) does not intend, generally, to apply the dual criminality test to requests made to the UK authorities under the provisions of a European arrest warrant, and therefore would not, generally, expect to apply the rule of specialty in a case where a person is surrendered by the UK to another European Union member state.

  Mr. Letwin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if it is his intention to apply the dual criminality test to offences listed under Article 2.4 in the Belgian Presidency's draft text of the Framework Decision on a European arrest warrant; and if he will make a statement. [20149]

  Mr. Bob Ainsworth
  Draft Article 2.4 of the Framework Decision allows the executing member state to decide whether to apply the dual criminality test, and this point will be finalised in the legislation necessary to implement the Framework Decision.

  The Government will reflect on this, in particular, whether it should retain the dual criminality test for abortion and euthanasia.

  Mr. Letwin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy to include in the Framework Decision on the European arrest warrant power for a person who is due to be extradited to oppose their
  105W
  extradition on the grounds that their human rights under the ECHR would not be protected by the requesting country; and if he will make a statement. [20154]

  Mr. Bob Ainsworth
  The Framework Decision is intended to create a system enabling faster procedures for surrender of a fugitive as between European Union member states. Protection for the individual is provided in the domestic incorporation of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) in the issuing state's criminal justice system, rather than before courts in the United Kingdom (UK). This is the principle of mutual recognition on the basis of which we would similarly expect our EU partners to return those we want to bring to our courts to stand trial.

  The question of compatibility with ECHR rights will be addressed again by the Government as part of the legislative process to implement the Framework Decision. It is conceivable that there may be a wholly exceptional case in which the UK courts may judge that there is a risk of treatment, on return of a fugitive to an EU member state, that is incompatible with the ECHR. Under those circumstances, the District Judge could refuse to execute a request for a European arrest warrant.

  Kainos Wings
  Mr. Damian Green
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance he has given the Prison Service regarding the closure of Kainos wings; and if he will make a statement. [19608]

  Beverley Hughes
  None. The closure of the Kainos wings is properly within the discretion of the Prison Service Management Board.

  Sense in Sentencing
  Ms Shipley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many responses his Department has received following its consultation, Sense in Sentencing; and if he will list those who have responded. [18511]

  Beverley Hughes
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Minister of State for the Home Department, on 21 November 2001,Official Report, column 355W, which gave details of the level of response to the consultation on the Halliday report, `Making Punishments Work'. Those who have responded will be listed in the summary of responses to be published at the end of January 2002.

  Young Offenders Institutions
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the number of(a) mentally and (b) personality disordered prisoners now held in young offenders institutions. [16313]

  Beverley Hughes
  The table shows the principal findings for young people aged 16 to 20 in a survey of the prevalence of mental ill health in the prison population of England and Wales carried out in 1997 by the Office for National Statistics. The report of this survey, `Psychiatric Morbidity among Prisoners' was published in 1998. A second report, 'Psychiatric Morbidity among Young Offenders in England and Wales', which contains further analysis of the data from the survey, was published in 2000.
  106W

  Percentage

  Remanded young men

  Sentenced young men

  Sentenced young women

  Functional psychosis in the past year1

  8

  10

  29

  Neurotic disorder in past week3

  52

  41

  67

  Hazardous drinking in year before imprisonment

  62

  70

  51

  Drug dependence in year before imprisonment

  57

  52

  58

  Personality disorder1

  84

  88

  284

  1 From clinical interview

  2 Probable diagnosis identified during lay interview

  3 From lay interview

  Immigration Hotline
  Mr. Ian Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will improve the quality of service of the hon. Members' hotline for immigration matters. [18272]

  Angela Eagle
  The hotline was set up to deal with representations in general non-asylum cases which involve urgent or compelling compassionate circumstances. It currently deals with about 500 calls a week.

  The number of operators has recently been increased to 10 to offer a rapid response to hon. Members.

  Drug Treatment and Testing Orders
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the cost to public funds in(a) 2000–01 and (b) 2001–02 of drug treatment and testing orders. [17330]

  Mr. Bob Ainsworth
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 28 November 2001,Official Report, column 956W.

  Terrorism Act
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons have been arrested under the Terrorism Act 2000 since its enactment in connection with(a) Northern Ireland-related terrorism and (b) international terrorism; how many of each have been subject to extended detention; on how many occasions an extension order was refused; and how many individuals in each category have been (i) charged under the Act, (ii) charged with other offences and (iii) subject to other procedures. [17764]

  Mr. Blunkett
  The Terrorism Act 2000 came into force on 19 February 2001. I refer my hon. Friend to the following table.

  Great Britain

  Northern Ireland

  S41 arrests/detentions

  Irish terrorism

  14

  93

  International terrorism

  71

  0

  Total

  85

  93

  Extensions of detention

  Irish-related cases

  11

  8

  International related cases

  11

  0

  Applications refused

  0

  1

  Charges

  107W

  Great Britain

  Northern Ireland

  Terrorist related offences

  15

  11

  Other offences

  12

  17

  Immigration procedures

  13

  0

  Dual Nationals
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take powers to collect statistics relating to the number of UK citizens with dual nationality with(a) Pakistan, (b) Bangladesh and (c) India. [17359]

  Angela Eagle
  Information that is currently collected relates to the number of persons granted British citizenship; the number of persons who were granted British citizenship in the United Kingdom in 2000 whose previous nationality was Pakistani, Bangladeshi or Indian is given in the table.

  Previous nationality1

  Grants of British citizenship in 2000

  Pakistani

  8,631

  Bangladeshi

  5,380

  Indian

  8,135

  1 Nationality possessed (or main nationality in cases of dual nationality) immediately before acquiring British citizenship

  It would not be possible or viable for the Home Office to collect information on the number of United Kingdom citizens with dual nationality as part of the process of applying for citizenship, since it would not be possible to determine the number of persons who renounced or retained their previous nationality.

  At present there are no plans to collect the information requested.

  Passports
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what additional steps he is taking to make UK passports more difficult to(a) forge and (b) alter; and if he will make a statement. [17416]

  Angela Eagle
  The Government take very seriously the security and integrity of the United Kingdom passport. The United Kingdom Passport Service works very closely with the Immigration Service and other agencies to monitor the incidence of attempted forgery and manipulation of United Kingdom passports

  The new digital British passport which the United Kingdom Passport Service has been using since October 1998 contains advanced security features to prevent forgery and alteration. These include a digital image of the holder's portrait and signature on the personal identification page of the passport which has been moved from the back cover to the last page of the passport. Both of these changes are designed to increase protection against portrait substitution.

  The personal identification page is also protected by a clear plastic laminate which incorporates a holographic device, and a series of laser perforations. In seeking to fully protect the passport special attention has also been paid to the component materials, and special printing techniques have been applied to the page designs.
  108W
  The design of the passport and the special security features incorporated within that design are kept under constant review.

  Asian Community Functions
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the Asian community functions(a) he and (b) his Ministers have attended since 7 June. [18744]

  Mr. Blunkett
  I attended the Asian community 30th Anniversary of Gujurat Samachar (Asian Voice) event on 31 October, which took place at the HoC. I also visited the Industry Road Mosque in Sheffield on 5 October. In addition I and several of my Ministers have had a large number of meetings with representatives of the Asian faiths as well as chairing meetings of the Race Relations Forum and speaking at the Ethnic Minority Network Conference organised by my Department. Ministers within my Department who have attended specific functions are as follows.
  10 October: Keith Bradley Asian Community Celebratory Event in Manchester
  29 September: John Denham Forum Against Islamophobia and Racism (FAIR) in London.

  Heather Arnold
  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will determine the parole application of Heather Arnold. [13921]

  Beverley Hughes
  The Parole Board has considered Mrs. Arnold's case and has made a recommendation. In line with normal practice, the Secretary of State will need to consider whether the Parole Board's recommendation may be accepted. The Secretary of State will make a decision on this case as soon as possible.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Community Legal Service
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what(a) number and (b) percentage of advice providers listed in the Community Legal Service Directory have failed to make a positive commitment in writing to the aims and objectives of the Community Legal Service and to commit to making a Quality Mark application by the deadline of October; and if she will break these figures down (i) with reference to type of advice provided, (ii) with reference to client group and (iii) excluding legal firms. [18846]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  There are 9,878 organisations listed in the current Community Legal Service Directory (3rd Edition) and 7,112 (72 per cent.) have either made an application or have obtained the Quality Mark. Of the remaining 2,766 (28 per cent.), most have made a formal commitment in writing to apply for the Quality Mark by October 2001 but a small number have not applied. The organisations who failed to meet the October deadline may write to the Legal Services Commission setting out the reasons why they were unable to apply by that date and consideration will be given as to whether or not to accept the application.
  109W
  The Legal Services Commission is working with the London Learning and Skills Council to help support small and ethnic groups achieve the Quality Mark. A pilot is being run in two London boroughs and includes disability groups.

  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when she intends to remove advice providers without Quality Marks from the Community Legal Service directory; and what target she has set for the(a) number and (b) percentage of advice providers who should have a Quality Mark by this date. [18845]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  Those organisations which have not applied for a Quality Mark will not appear in the next edition of the Community Legal Service Directory, which is to be published in April 2002 (4th Edition). The deadline for applications was the end of October 2001. Organisations which have failed to meet this deadline may write to the Legal Services Commission setting out the reasons why they were unable to apply by that date and consideration will be given as to whether or not to accept the application. There are currently 502 Quality Mark holders at the General Help and General Help including casework levels, and over 1,700 organisations that have applied for the Quality Mark at General Help and General Help including casework level. The target for the number of advice providers to April 2002 is 1,250 at the General Help and General Help including casework levels.

  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what estimate she has made of the(a) cost and (b) burden to an advice provider of applying for a Quality Mark; and what plans she has to offer small voluntary organisations help to meet these costs and burdens. [18843]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  The Legal Services Commission is working with the Learning and Skills Council to assess the resource implications for an advice provider in applying for a Quality Mark. This work is due to be completed in April 2002 and will feed into the Legal Services Commission's Quality Mark support strategy. The Legal Services Commission has commenced a number of initiatives that have the potential to provide information about the needs of advice providers and identify barriers to accessing the Quality Mark. A number of the projects are targeted at smaller organisations including Black Minority Ethnic groups and refugee support groups.

  CAFCASS
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department (1) what steps she has taken by the Children and Family Courts Advisory and Support Service to negotiate with NAGALRO and guardians ad litem following the judgment of Mr. Justice Scott Baker on 14 September; [16465]

  (2) what plans she has to review the operations of CAFCASS following the judgment of Mr. Justice Scott Baker on 14 September; and if he will make a statement; [16466]
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  (3) how many guardians ad litem in the UK have resigned since the establishment of CAFCASS; what impact this has had on waiting lists for children seeking (a) support, (b) welfare and (c) help; and if she will make a statement. [16467]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  The Lord Chancellor issued a statutory direction to CAFCASS on 3 October instructing them to begin consultation about the issue of the self-employed guardians' contracts. This consultation is under way, and CAFCASS have written to all self-employed guardians. The discussions with NAGALRO will be chaired by an independent person, and the responses of the guardians to consultation will also be assessed independently.

  The information we have received from CAFCASS shows that of 716 self-employed guardians, 28 have withdrawn their services altogether, and a further 90 are not accepting new cases. 175 previously self-employed guardians have accepted contracts as employed guardians. The remainder of the guardians, employed or self-employed, continue to work normally, as do the other employees of CAFCASS. In addition CAFCASS has advertised for and identified 197 people eligible for appointment as guardians.

  At the week ending 16 November, guardians were working on 11,930 cases nationally. A further 282 cases were allocated that week. The number of unallocated cases was 177. In the hon. Member's South West Region there were 848 active cases. A further 26 cases were allocated that week and six cases awaited allocation.

  CAFCASS is subject to independent inspection by HM Magistrates' Court Service Inspectorate. The Inspectorate will complete its first inspection next year. Its preliminary view, based on the initial visits it has carried out so far, is that:
  "CAFCASS … has generally continued to deliver a service to children, families and courts to at least the same quantity and quality standards as in the previous services prior to CAFCASS being established in April 2001. In addition, there has been a significant investment in IT that is beginning to pay dividends".

  The Lord Chancellor and I are monitoring the situation closely. I am having weekly meetings with the Chairman of CAFCASS, and am also receiving weekly reports from him. We value extremely highly the work of all the guardians and other staff of CAFCASS, whether they are employed or self-employed, and I hope that all sides can now move on to develop the child-focused service that we all want to see.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many letters her Department received from right hon. and hon. Members between 20 June and 20 July. [18565]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  Information on the volume of correspondence from Members of Parliament received by ministerial agency chief executives, and Departments and agencies and performance in handling them is published annually by the Cabinet Office. The most recent report, covering 2000, was announced by the then Minister for the Cabinet Office on 6 April 2001,Official Report, column 325W. Between 20 June and 20 July 2001, 149 letters were received directly by the Lord

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  Chancellor's Department; however, 27 of these letters were transferred to other Government Departments, and 19 were transferred to agencies of the Lord Chancellor's Department. Of the 103 letters dealt with by the Lord Chancellor's Department 65 per cent. were replied to within the 20 day departmental target.

  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many and what proportion of letters received by his Department between 20 June and 20 July were replied to(a) in under 15, (b) in under 20, (c) in under 30, (d) in under 40 and (e) in over 40 working days. [18585]

  Mr. Wills
  For general correspondence received at LCDHQ 320 letters were received within the period. 282 (88.1 per cent.) were responded to in under 15 days, 303 (94.7 per cent.) were responded to in under 20 days, 317 (99.1 per cent.) were responded to in under 30 days, 319 (99.7 per cent.) were responded to in under 40 days, one (0.3 per cent.) responded to in over 40 days.

  For the Court Service, 565 letters were received within the period. 542 (97.4 per cent.) were responded to in under 15 days, 563 (99.11 per cent.) were responded to in under 20 days, 565 (100 per cent.) were responded to in under 30 days, nil under 40 days, nil over 40 days.

  For the Public Guardianship Office, 6,103 letters were received in June. 5,686 (93.2 per cent.) were responded to in under 15 working days. In July 5,063 letters were received, (93.4 per cent.) were responded to under 15 working days.

  Further information about PGO response times is not available.

  Ministerial Visits (North-East)
  Dr. Kumar
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many times since November 2000 Ministers from the Lord Chancellor's Department have visited(a) the Teesside area and (b) Middlesbrough, South and Cleveland, East constituency to meet locally based businesses. [19074]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  Since November 2000, Ministers from the Lord Chancellor's Department have not met any locally based businesses from either(a) the Teesside area or (b) Middlesbrough, South and Cleveland, East constituency.

  Parliamentary Ombudsman
  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, pursuant to her answer of 28 November 2001,Offical Report, column 1005W on the Parliamentary Ombudsman, what the circumstances were of the cases which gave rise to (a) a period of 91 working days and (b) a period of 55 days being taken by the Court Service to respond. [20185]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  The information given was in calendar days rather than working days as had been requested. Those cases were dealt within 64 and 38 working days. I attach a copy of the amended statistical table.(a) The case of Lavender was sent to the Court Service on 7 August. The PCA asked for comments by 17 September. A reply was sent to the PCA on 6 November. There was a delay of 34 working days. The
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  delay was due to the file being mislaid. The PCA was kept informed of the progress in locating the file at all times. (b) The case of Glasser was sent to the Court Service on 6 July. The PCA asked for comments by 23 August. A reply was sent to the PCA on 5 September. There was a delay of eight working days. A meeting has been arranged between the Court Service and the PCA to address the problems that occurred in these matters and to avoid any future difficulties.

  Formal notices issued by Parliamentary Ombudsman: 1 April to 31 October 2001

  Department

  Number received

  Number responded to

  Working days to respond to each notice

  Lord Chancellor's Department1

  2

  2

  16, 17

  Court Service

  10

  10

  8, 9, 24, 12,

  17, 17, 24,

  33, 38, 64

  Public Guardianship Office

  2

  1

  26

  HM Land Registry

  1

  1

  19

  Northern Ireland Court Service

  0

  0

  —

  Public Record Office

  0

  0

  —

  1 Letter of 27 February 2001 not received until 30 April 2001

  Parking (Royal Family)
  Andrew Mackinlay
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what special arrangements(a) the Royal family and (b) spouses of the Royal family have for parking in London when not on official business. [18374]

  Mr. Wills
  Subject to security considerations, there are no special parking arrangements for members of the Royal family, including spouses, when not on official business.

  Referral Fees
  Mr. Burnett
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what assessment he has made of the proposal by the Law Society to enable solicitors to pay referral fees. [R] [19557]

  Mr. Wills
  While the Lord Chancellor has noted the consultation document "Solicitors Introduction and Referral Code" issued by the Law Society in January 2001, he has yet to see any firm proposals from the Law Society. The Lord Chancellor will consult the designated judges on any application that requires his approval under the provisions of Schedule 4 of the Courts and Legal Services Act 1990. He will also consider whether to consult with the Legal Services Consultative Panel and the Director General of Fair Trading.

  Employment Tribunals (North Wales)
  Gareth Thomas
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what plans he has to provide a permanent location for Employment Tribunals in North Wales. [18868]

  Alan Johnson
  I have been asked to reply.

  The Employment Tribunals Service is actively seeking to establish a permanent location for hearings in North Wales as soon as possible.
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WORK AND PENSIONS

  Incapacity Benefit
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will list the proportion of total claims for incapacity benefit paid in respect of the main relevant medical conditions. [11322]

  Malcolm Wicks
  [holding answer 31 October 2001]: The information requested has been placed in the Library.

  Ageism
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) if he will make a statement on recent measures he has introduced to tackle age discrimination; [19362]

  (2) what measures there are to get more people in their 50s and 60s into work. [19366]

  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  This Government recognise the importance of tackling age discrimination in the workplace. We have already provided voluntary guidance to help employers. By 2006, we will legislate against age discrimination in the workplace. This timescale will allow us to consult extensively with employers, individuals, and expert groups on age positive practices, and on all aspects of the legislation.

  We are committed to employment opportunity for all, regardless of age. For those over 50, there is a comprehensive range of back to work programmes, including new deal 50 plus, new deal 25 plus and the new deal for disabled people. Government support has ensured that the employment rate for the over 50s has increased each year for the last four years. Through new deal 50 plus alone, which was launched in April 2000, more than 51,000 people have been helped into work.

  The Department also leads with its AgePositive campaign, which is vigorously promoting the business benefits of employing an age diverse workforce. The campaign focuses on the Code of Practice on Age Diversity in Employment and a wide range of research and promotional activities. On 3 December we launched a new AgePositive website and a range of new research studies.

  Benefits (Birmingham, Northfield)
  Richard Burden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) how many people in Birmingham, Northfield claim(a) both disability living allowance and income support and (b) a disability premium as part of their income support applicable amount; [19384]

  (2) how many over 60-year-olds in Birmingham, Northfield have the (a) disability and (b) higher pensioner premium added to their income support applicable amount; [19385]

  (3) how many single parent families in Birmingham, Northfield are in receipt of (a) working families tax credit and (b) income support. [19388]

  Malcolm Wicks
  The information is in the table.
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  Benefit recipients in Birmingham, Northfield constituency

  Thousand

  Income support (IS) recipients receiving disability living allowance

  1.1

  IS recipients with a disability premium

  2.8

  Pensioners receiving MIG with a disability premium

  0.8

  Pensioners receiving MIG with a higher pensioner premium

  1.9

  Lone parents receiving IS

  1.8

  Lone parents receiving working families tax credit

  1.3

  Notes:

  1. All figures are for May 2001.

  2. Figures are based on 5 per cent. sample data and are therefore subject to a degree of sampling error.

  3. Figures are rounded to the nearest hundred.

  4. IS recipients with DLA are cases where DLA is paid to the benefit recipient. Cases where DLA is paid to the partner only are not included.

  5. Disability premiums are classed as severe disability premium, disability premium and enhanced disability premium.

  6. Pensioners are cases where the benefit recipient and/or partner are aged 60 or over.

  7. IS lone parents are single parents aged under 60 who do not receive a disability premium.

  Sources:

  Income Support Quarterly Statistical Enquiry August 2001.

  Working Families' Tax Credit Statistics Quarterly Enquiry May 2001.

  Richard Burden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many benefit claimants in Birmingham, Northfield are not in receipt of income support but are in receipt of(a) housing benefit and (b) council tax benefit. [19386]

  Malcolm Wicks
  The available information is in the table.

  Total housing benefit and council tax benefit case load in the Birmingham city council area where the recipient is not in receipt of income support or jobseeker's allowance1

  Local authority

  Number of cases

  Birmingham

  Total housing benefit cases not in receipt of income support/jobseeker's allowance1

  23,390

  Total council tax benefit cases not in receipt of income support/jobseeker's allowance1

  34,400

  1 Income based

  Notes:

  1. The data refer to benefit claims, which may be a single person or a couple

  2. The figures have been rounded to the nearest 10 cases

  3. The table also includes people not receiving jobseeker's allowance (income based), due to insufficient data we are unable to exclude these cases

  4. Figures are only available by local authority area

  Source:

  Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit Management Information System Quarterly 100 per cent. case load stock-count taken in May 2001

  Richard Burden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners in Birmingham, Northfield claim the minimum income guarantee. [19387]

  Mr. McCartney
  As at May 2001 there were 3,000 minimum income guarantee recipients in the Birmingham, Northfield constituency.

  Richard Burden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many households in Birmingham, Northfield have children in receipt of free school meals. [19383]

  Mr. Timms
  I have been asked to reply.
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  Information on free school meals is not available in the form requested.

  The number of children known to be eligible for free school meals in maintained nursery, maintained primary, maintained secondary and special schools in the parliamentary constituency of Birmingham, Northfield as at January 2000 was 4,305.

  War Pensions Agency
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what additional cost savings measures referred to on page 75 of the 2001 departmental report were taken to enable the War Pensions Agency to operate within its running cost allocation in 2000–01. [19118]

  Dr. Moonie
  I have been asked to reply.

  During 2000–01, the War Pensions Agency adopted a carefully controlled expenditure regime ensuring that proper financial procedures were embedded within the
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  Agency. Monthly reviews of expenditure were undertaken and closely scrutinised to enable the agency to operate within the running cost allocation for 2000–01.

  The 2000–01 programme of work was regularly reviewed and the impacts of any proposed changes to the agency's capacity to deliver the programme were considered. Links were also ensured between the agency's work programme, investment appraisal procedures and appropriate approval routes for change initiatives.

  Benefit Reductions
  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what reductions are applied to a liable person's liability to pay(a) rent and (b) council tax during a period of in-patient hospital treatment. [19116]

  Ms Keeble
  I have been asked to reply.

  Liability to pay rent would not normally be reduced during a period of in-patient hospital treatment, unless the landlord specifically agreed to this. Nor does any general reduction from council tax apply in such circumstances. However, if a person moves permanently into a hospital, his or her previous home will be exempt from council tax if it is unoccupied.

HEALTH

  Health Authority Modernisation
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place a copy of each health authority's local modernisation review for 2002–03 in the Library as soon as they are received. [14713]

  Mr. Hutton
  [holding answer 14 November 2001]: The purpose of the local modernisation reviews (LMR) is to engage local partners, frontline staff, and patients' representatives in reviewing what needs to be done to deliver national health service priorities locally. The outputs from this year's LMR will inform the annual planning round and the development of the 2002–03 "Service and Financial Frameworks" (SaFFs). These frameworks set out the levels of NHS activity and resources allocated to achieve the local health system's contribution to national targets for the coming year. NHS organisations will sign accountability agreements in relation to delivering their contribution to the 2002–03 SaFF.

  LMRs are local planning exercises. The Department itself does not receive copies of these documents. We are unable, therefore, to place copies of LMRs in the Library. External scrutiny to the LMR process has been secured through local peer review and involvement by lay members of the local modernisation boards.

  Hearing Aids
  Mr. Heath
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) from what date East Somerset health trust will be included in the modernising NHS hearing aid services project; [15596]

  (2) which NHS health trusts will be part of the modernising NHS hearing aid services project for 2002–03. [15597]

  Jacqui Smith
  There are currently 20 national health service trusts taking part in the modernising NHS hearing aid services project, as listed in the table.

  It is too early to say when a specific trust might be involved in the project. Evaluation of the project by the Institute of Hearing Research is on-going. Subject to favourable evaluation, the Department, on advice from the project's implementation team, will make decisions about how best to spread the modernised services. Trusts would be invited to be part of the project on the basis of geographical spread, preparedness to modernise, and the commitment of the local health community to the aims of the project.
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  NHS trust

  Start year

  Addenbrookes NHS Trust

  2000–01

  James Paget Healthcare NHS Trust

  2000–01

  Royal National Throat, Nose and Ear Hospital

  2000–01

  Whipps Cross University Hospital NHS Trust

  2000–01

  Bradford Hospitals NHS Trust

  2000–01

  Leeds Teaching NHS Trust

  2000–01

  City Hospitals Sunderland NHS Trust

  2001–02

  Trafford Healthcare NHS Trust

  2000–01

  Morecambe Bay Hospitals NHS Trust

  2001–02

  Royal United Hospital Bath NHS Trust

  2000–01

  United Bristol Healthcare NHS Trust (children)

  2001–02

  Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust

  2001–02

  East Berkshire Community Health NHS Trust

  2000–01

  Royal Berkshire and Battle Hospitals NHS Trust

  2000–01

  Winchester and Eastleigh Healthcare NHS Trust

  2000–01

  Queens Medical Centre University NHS Trust Nottingham

  2000–01

  The Kings Mill Centre for Healthcare Services NHS Trust

  2001–02

  Sheffield Children's Hospital NHS Trust (children)

  2000–01

  University Hospital Birmingham NHS Trust

  2000–01

  Royal Shrewsbury and Princess Royal Hospitals NHS Trust

  2000–01

  Religious Circumcision
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS trusts make provision for religious circumcision. [15468]

  Jacqui Smith
  In 1999–2000 205 national health service hospitals in England recorded a total of 21,763 inpatient episodes where the main operation was circumcision. It is not possible to determine whether the procedure was carried out for religious reasons.

  Associate Specialists
  Alistair Burt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to ensure that associate specialists in the UK obtain equal treatment to those from the EU(a) in gaining entry to the Specialist Register and (b) in the appointment of consultant posts. [16198]

  Mr. Hutton
  Standards for entry to the specialist register in the United Kingdom are the same for all doctors working in the European Economic Area as all doctors have to have completed a period of training recognised by the competent authority. Appointment to consultant posts in the UK is governed by the National Health Service (Appointment of Consultants) Regulations 1996, which apply equally to all EEA doctors.

  Statins
  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is on the prescribing of statins; and if he will make a statement. [15792]

  Jacqui Smith
  The National Service Framework for Coronary Heart Disease, revised in the Chief Medical Officer's Update in February 2001, sets out the policy for the prescribing of statins. The first priority is to ensure that people with established CHD are treated with statins to lower their cholesterol level either below 5.0 mmol/1 or to reduce total serum cholesterol by 20–25 per cent., whichever would result in the lowest level. (The equivalent figures for LDL cholesterol would be 3.0 mrno1/1 or by a 30 per cent. reduction, whichever
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  results in the lowest level.) The next step is the treatment of those without diagnosed CHD but whose risk of a cardiac event is greater than 30 per cent. over 10 years.

  This is consistent with the guidance already issued to the national health service by the Standing Medical Advisory Committee and with the Joint British Society Guidelines published in the British Medical Journal.

  Health Service Staff (Leicestershire)
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many(a) doctors and (b) nurses were employed in the national health service in Leicestershire in (i) 1997 and (ii) 2001. [15751]

  Jacqui Smith
  The number of doctors and nurses employed in the area covered by Leicestershire health authority in 1997 and 2000 (the latest year available) are given in the table. Data relating to 2001 will not be available until February 2002.

  National health service hospital and community health services and general and personal medical services: All doctors and nursing staff within Leicestershire health authority area are as at 30 September each year

  Headcount

  1997

  2000

  All staff

  9,540

  9,930

  All practitioners (excluding GP retainers)1,2

  560

  540

  of which:

  UPEs3

  500

  500

  HCHS medical and dental staff4

  1,120

  1,260

  Total nursing staff

  7,870

  8,140

  of which:

  Qualified staff

  5,260

  5,740

  Qualified (HCHS) nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff

  4,950

  5,420

  Practice nurses

  300

  330

  Unqualified (HCHS) nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff

  2,610

  2,400

  1 All practitioners (excluding GP retainers) include unrestricted principals and equivalents (UPEs), restricted principals, assistants, GP registrars, salaried doctors (Para. 52 SFA) and PMS others

  2 As at 30 September 2000 there were eight GP retainers within Leicestershire HA

  3 UPEs include GMS unrestricted principals, PMS contracted GPs and PMS salaried GPs

  4 Excludes hospital medical practitioners and medical clinical assistants, most of whom are also GPs working part-time in hospitals

  Notes:

  1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10

  2. Due to rounding totals may not equal the sum of component parts

  3. Figures exclude learners and agency staff

  4. In 1997, Leicestershire HA comprised of the following organisations: Leicestershire HA, Leicester General Hospital NHS Trust, Leicester Royal Infirmary NHS Trust, Glenfield Hospital NHS Trust, Leicestershire Mental Health Service NHS Trust, Leicestershire Ambulance and Paramedics Services NHS Trust and Fosse Health, Leicestershire Community NHS Trust

  5. In 2000 following mergers, Leicestershire HA comprised of the following organisations: Leicestershire HA, Leicestershire and Rutland Healthcare NHS Trust and University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust

  6. Practitioner figures were collected as at 1 October in 1997

  Sources:

  Department of Health non-medical work force census

  Department of Health medical and dental work force census

  Department of Health general and personal medical services statistics
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  Nurses' Allowance
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will make a statement on the(a) purpose and (b) aims of the cost of living allowance for nurses; [16131]

  (2) which counties in the (a) south west, (b) south east and (c) eastern parts of England benefit from the cost of living allowance for nurses; [16133]

  (3) if accommodation and the cost of living for nurses in Essex is being considered as part of his active review of the cost of living for nurses' allowance; and if he will extend the scheme to Essex; [16130]

  (4) if he will make a statement on the reason for the exclusion of Essex in the counties to receive the cost of living allowance for nurses; [16132]

  (5) when his Department's review of the cost of living allowances for nurses in the south of England will be complete. [16134]

  Mr. Hutton
  [holding answer 20 November 2001]: Cost of living supplements for qualified nurses and some allied health professionals were introduced in April 2001 as part of a wide ranging strategy to address the low national health service participation rates of these particular staff groups and the associated recruitment and retention difficulties in parts of England.

  For 2001–02, eligible staff working in London and in the following health authority areas are entitled to these supplements:

  South west

  Avon HA

  Wiltshire HA

  South east

  Berkshire HA

  Buckinghamshire HA

  East Surrey HA

  North and Mid Hampshire HA

  Oxfordshire HA

  Isle of Wight, Portsmouth and South East Hampshire HA (excluding staff working in the Isle of Wight)

  Southampton and South West Hampshire HA

  West Surrey HA

  West Sussex HA

  Eastern

  Bedfordshire HA

  Cambridgeshire HA

  East and North Hertfordshire HA

  West Hertfordshire HA.

  Geographic coverage has been determined by reference to the Market Forces Factor, which is an up to date and objective measure of external labour market pressures on NHS employers. The health authorities in Essex do not meet the current eligibility criteria.

  We have not yet finalised decisions on the geographic scope of cost of living supplements for 2002–03. These decisions will be informed by the latest market forces factor data.

  We intend to monitor the impact of cost of living supplements more fully before considering options for any significant changes to the structure or scope of the

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  scheme. It is too early to judge the impact of these payments at present but we hope to be able to reach a more considered assessment during 2002–03. As part of this ongoing review, we shall take into account any alternative proposals put to us for assessing the geographic coverage of the scheme.

  Blood (Cancer Patients)
  Mr. Havard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what specific blood substitute therapies will be made available for treating cancer patients with anaemia-related fatigue following the adoption of additional screening; [16348]

  (2) if he will introduce into the NHS those (a) blood transfusion and (b) blood substitute regimes for cancer patients used in overseas hospitals treating NHS patients which are more effective and efficient than UK practices. [16350]

  Mr. Hutton
  [holding answer 20 November 2001]: There are a number of erthropietin drugs licensed to shorten the period of anaemia in patients receiving platinum-containing chemotherapy. These are available for clinicians to prescribe when it is clinically beneficial.

  The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) helps clarify, both for patients and professionals, which drugs are clinically effective and cost-effective. NICE helps the national health service to focus its increasing resources on those treatments that will best improve peoples' health. Criteria have been established by the Department, the National Assembly for Wales and NICE to help determine which interventions are referred to NICE. They have been applied consistently for all NICE guidance to date and are available on the NICE website.

  Anti-TNF Drug Treatment
  Martin Linton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if NICE will issue interim guidance to health authorities on anti-TNF drug treatment for rheumatoid arthritis. [16684]

  Jacqui Smith
  No. The National Institute for Clinical Excellence is proceeding with its appraisal of anti-TNF drugs for rheumatoid arthritis and it is anticipated that guidance will be published in March 2002.

  Head Injury Patients
  Mr. Berry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to commission further research on provision of services for patients with head injuries. [17263]

  Jacqui Smith
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave him on 12 November 2001,Official Report, column 549W.

  Acquired Brain Injury
  Mr. Berry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what joint working arrangements are in place with other Government Departments regarding the provision of rehabilitation services for people with acquired brain injury. [17260]

  Jacqui Smith
  Getting people back to functional independence following illness or injury is a high priority for the national health service. This year, the Department 122W
  is planning job retention and rehabilitation pilots, together with the Department for Education and Skills and the Department for Work and Pensions. £12 million has been invested in the pilots which aim to test the relative effectiveness of different employment and health strategies in helping people with prolonged illness or disability, including head injury, remain in their jobs.

  Mr. Berry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to improve the provision of rehabilitation services for people with acquired brain injury. [17261]

  Jacqui Smith
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave him on 7 November 2001,Official Report, column 282W.

  Cancer
  Mr. Bailey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures he is taking to improve the five year survival rates for(a) lung, (b) breast and (c) prostate and (d) colon cancer sufferers in the Sandwell health authority. [15894]

  Jacqui Smith
  [holding answer 22 November 2001]: The NHS Cancer Plan published in September 2000 identifies two important areas where cancer prevention activity should be focused. Changes in lifestyle related to smoking and diet can significantly reduce chances of getting cancer. With this in mind the NHS Cancer Plan sets out a clear agenda for improving cancer prevention:

  In Sandwell, cancer networks have been putting together three year service delivery plans to specify how they are going to meet the range of targets outlined in the NHS Cancer Plan.

  Those plans include how they are going to improve overall survival rates including smoking cessation initiatives, extended cancer screening and extension of fruit pilots. The health authority is also currently achieving high standards for urgent referral of patients with suspected cancer. In addition there are a raft of plans in the pan-Birmingham network which are addressing survival rates for all cancers, in which Sandwell health authority is included.

  Years of Life Lost
  Ms Buck
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to review the use of the Years of Life Lost formula for allocating health service resources; and if he will make a statement. [17779]

  Mr. Hutton
  The Advisory Committee on Resource Allocation has reviewed the Years of Life Lost index and this will be reflected in 2002–03 health authority allocations which will be announced shortly.

  MacFarlane Trust
  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many HIV sufferers have received compensation under the MacFarlane Trust since its establishment. [17380]

  Ms Blears
  Since its establishment, the MacFarlane Trust has made special payments to 1,240 registrants with haemophilia and HIV and 62 others, who are either infected partners or infected children.

  Local Bodies
  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list those local bodies which were set up under legislation which is the responsibility of his Department since May 1997.[17593]

  Mr. Hutton
  481 primary care groups were established as sub committees of health authorities in 1999. PCG, both individually or together with other PCGs, can become primary care trusts. The first 17 PCTs began operating on 1 April 2000. There are currently 164 PCTs in operation and more are being established to become operational on 1 April 2002. A full list of these organisations has been placed in the Library.

  Nurses
  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimates have been made of the number of NHS employed nurses who work as agency staff during their holidays to supplement their income in(a) England and (b) the Isle of Wight; and what steps are taken to ensure that leave is taken. [17685]

  Mr. Hutton
  The information requested is not collected centrally.

  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average annual cost of an(a) A, (b) D and
  (c) F grade NHS employed nurse is; and what the equivalent cost of an agency nurse at each grade is. [17680]

  Mr. Hutton
  Information about the estimated annual costs of an A, D and F grade nurse employed in the National Health Service is shown in the table.

  £

  2001 average cost

  Grade A

  115,500

  Grade D

  122,300

  Grade F

  128,300

  1 To the nearest £100

  Sources:

  Department of Health's August 2000 NHS staff earnings survey, pay Advance Letters and paybill figures.

  The equivalent cost of an agency nurse at each grade is not centrally available.

  Primary Care Groups
  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost of establishing primary care groups has been. [17681]

  Mr. Hutton
  The establishment of primary care groups was funded using moneys released by the abolition of general practitioner fundholding. The previous Government had set aside an annual budget of £180 million to run fundholding. We have used those moneys both to set up primary care groups and to improve services to patients. Approximately £150 million additional moneys was used following the establishment of primary care groups.

  Waiting Lists
  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the in-patient waiting list was, expressed per 124W
  1,000 of weighted population for the Isle of Wight in March (a) 1997, (b) 1998, (c) 1999, (d) 2000 and (e) 2001. [17686]

  Jacqui Smith
  The information requested is in the table.

  As at March

  Size of in-patient waiting list

  Weighted population

  In-patient waiting list per 1,000 head of weighted population

  1997

  4,229

  143,959

  29.4

  1998

  3.864

  136,022

  28.4

  1999

  3,552

  134,882

  26.3

  2000

  3,522

  137,041

  25.7

  2001

  3,392

  136,786

  24.8

  Notes:

  1. In April 2001, Isle of Wight health authority merged to form Isle of Wight, Portsmouth and South East Hampshire HA.

  2. The data provided refers to the old HA.

  3. Population is weighted for age, additional need (over and above that accounted for by age) and variations in the unavoidable cost of providing health care (market forces factor etc.)

  4. Populations for 1997, 1998 and 1999 are not directly comparable to those for 2000 and 2001 as unified allocations covering hospital and community health services (HCHS), prescribing and GP infrastructure are included from 2000 onwards.

  Source:

  QF01 waiting times returns/FD Resource Allocation 2 population data

  social Services
  Mr. Mark Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will publish his final guidance for local authorities on charging for social services. [17673]

  Jacqui Smith
  We published final guidance for local councils on charging for non-residential social services on 23 November. The guidance is available on the Department's website at www.doh.gov/scg/homecarecharges.

  General Practitioners
  Andy Burnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of general practitioner practices in the(a) Leigh constituency, (b) Wigan borough and (c) Greater Manchester are below minimum standards. [16886]

  Mr. Hutton
  [holding answer 26 November 2001]: The information requested is not available centrally. However, at the last inspection visit, all practices in the Wigan and Leigh areas met the minimum standards.

  IT Expenditure
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer, of 20 November 2001,Official Report, column 243W, on expenditure on IT, if he will publish such information as he has on expenditure. [18234]

  Ms Blears
  [holding answer 26 November 2001]: The figures for information technology management are not separately collected across the Directorates. The figures for the Information Policy Unit from its establishment in January 1999 are: 1999–2000—£2.98 million; 2000–01££2.91 million; 2001–02—£2.09 million. These resources are from The Departmental Vote.

  Multiple Sclerosis
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is on the use of interferon beta and glatiramer in the treatment of multiple sclerosis; and if he will make a statement. [17248]

  Ms Blears
  [holding answer 26 November 2001]: We are currently holding discussions with the manufacturers to consider a range of options under which drugs for multiple sclerosis might be made available under the national health service. One option is a 'risk-sharing' scheme which will evaluate their clinical and cost effectiveness, and until these discussions are concluded we cannot provide the information requested.

  Dentists
  Mr. Djanogly
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the number of dentists providing NHS treatment in Huntingdon; and if he will make a statement. [17480]

  Ms Blears
  [holding answer 26 November 2001]: A monthly assessment of the number of national health service dentists in the Huntingdon area is made by Cambridgeshire health authority. This information is made available to members of the public on the NHS Direct website.

  In the Huntingdonshire Primary Care Trust area there are 56 general dental practitioners providing NHS treatment. Sixteen of these are currently accepting new NHS dental patients.

  In addition, a daily dental service is provided for people in the Huntingdon area who need urgent treatment and are not registered with a dentist.

  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of the adult population in(a) England, (b) Cornwall and (c) the United Kingdom were registered with NHS dentists in (i) 1997–98, (ii) 1998–99, (iii) 1999–2000 and (iv) 2000–01. [19947]

  Ms Blears
  The percentage of adults registered with a general dental service (GDS) dentist per head of population is shown in the table for England, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly health authority and the United Kingdom for 30 September in each of the years 1997–98 to 2000–01.

  The registration rates for September 1997 are not comparable with the later figures as they reflect a 24 month registration period, the later figures reflect a 15 month registration period.

  The registration rates for 1999–2000 and 2000–01 are affected by the number of patients now seen in the Cornwall personal dental services (PDS) schemes. During 2000–01 some 13,000 individual adult patients were seen via these PDS schemes, which corresponds to about 3 per cent. of the local population.

  General dental service: Percentage of adult registrations1 per population2 1997–98 to 2000–01

  September each year

  England

  Cornwall and the Isles of Stilly HA

  United Kingdom

  1997–983

  351

  348

  351

  1998–99

  44

  39

  44

  126W

  General dental service: Percentage of adult registrations1 per population2, 1997–98 to 2000–01

  September each year

  England

  Cornwall and the Isles of Stilly HA

  United Kingdom

  1999–2000

  43

  37

  44

  2000–01

  43

  37

  44

  1. Based on the number of adult registrations at 30 September for each financial year.

  2. ONS mid year adult population estimates used to calculate percentage of adult patients registered.

  3. Registration rates reflect a 24 month registration period rather than 15 months which is the basis of the later figures.

  Labels and Leaflets
  Nick Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what recent representations he has received from the pharmaceutical industry about compliance with the Labels and Leaflets Directive (Directive 92/27/EEC); [15659]

  (2) what steps his Department takes to ensure that patients receive the information required by the Labels and Leaflets Directive (Directive 92/27/EEC) when a prescription medicine is dispensed; [15657]

  (3) if he will list the information that is required to be provided to a patient about a prescription medicine when it is dispensed and the form in which that information should be provided; [15660]

  (4) what guidance (a) his Department and (b) its agencies have issued to pharmacists to ensure that they comply with the Labels and Leaflets Directive (Directive 92/27/EEC) when dispensing a prescription medicine; [15658]

  (5) what steps he will take to ensure that patients receive the information that is required by the Labels and Leaflets Directive (92/27/EEC) when prescription medicines are dispensed. [18392]

  Ms Blears
  The Directive was incorporated into United Kingdom law by the Medicines (Marketing Authorisations Etc) Regulations 1994. It is an offence for any person in the course of business to sell or supply a medicine to which the Directive relates without the approved leaflet and appropriate label. Neither the Department nor its agencies have issued guidance to pharmacists.

  The information required to be provided to a patient about a prescription medicine when it is dispensed, and the form in which the information should be provided, is set out in the Medicines for Human Use (Marketing Authorisations Etc) Regulations 1994 and Directive 92/27/EEC—copies of which are available in the Library.

  We receive representations about compliance with the Directive from time to time from the pharmaceutical industry and others.

  Smear Tests
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average turnaround time is for cervical smear tests within the NHS in the last 12 months for which figures are available. [18372]
  127W
  Jacqui Smith
  [holding answer 29 November 2001]: Guidance from the national health service cervical screening programme states that women should have to wait no longer than six weeks for the written results of their cervical smear test. Results are sent either by the health authority or by the general practitioner according to local practice. Two thirds of health authorities currently send the results directly.

  Information on waiting times for screening test results is only available for those areas where the result letters are sent to women by the health authorities. In 2000–01, 60 per cent. of women in these health authorities received their written cervical screening test result within six weeks. 91 per cent. received their written result within 10 weeks1. Where the six week target is not achieved, we look to the relevant health authority to address reasons for this.

  1 Statistical Bulletin: Cervical Screening Programme, England: 2000–01

  Bed Blocking
  Mr. Hoban
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many beds were unavailable in the Isle of Wight, Portsmouth and South East Hampshire Health Authority to incoming patients as a result of their occupation by(a) delayed discharge patients who were awaiting social

  Health authority

  Practice budgets as notified to PPA (£)

  Forecast Outturn (£)

  Forecast Overspend (percentage)

  Bradford

  QDD

  49,491,460

  53,637,712

  8.38

  Calderdale and Kirklees

  QDT

  63,994,855

  67,020,545

  4.73

  County Durham

  QDE

  70,200,309

  72,227,760

  2.89

  East Riding

  QDF

  65,741,920

  68,719,434

  4.53

  Gateshead and South Tyneside

  QDG

  39,769,623

  41,583,981

  4.56

  Leeds

  QDH

  82,995,925

  88,023,114

  6.06

  Newcastle and North Tyneside

  QDJ

  51,552,434

  54,302,659

  5.33

  North Cumbria

  QDK

  36,045,994

  38,620,593

  7.14

  North Yorkshire

  QDR

  75,304,849

  79,101,136

  5.04

  Northumberland

  QDM

  35,127,268

  36,691,539

  4.45

  Sunderland

  QDN

  33,763,329

  35,766,265

  5.93

  Tees

  QDP

  65,515,468

  68,419,994

  4.43

  Wakefield

  QDQ

  35,466,500

  38,028,472

  7.22

  Barnsley

  QCG

  28,065,208

  30,244,835

  7.77

  Doncaster

  QCK

  36,099,848

  38,073,186

  5.47

  Leicestershire

  QCL

  93,929,875

  98,508,149

  4.87

  Lincolnshire

  QCM

  74,145,519

  81,394,561

  9.78

  North Derbyshire

  QCH

  37,487,465

  40,913,705

  9.14

  North Nottinghamshire

  QCN

  42,114,993

  45,242,065

  7.43

  Nottingham

  QCP

  60,499,404

  65,661,240

  8.53

  Rotherham

  QCQ

  26,979,488

  30,045,053

  11.36

  Sheffield

  QCR

  53,708,543

  58,723,274

  9.34

  South Humber

  QDL

  34,371,750

  36,546,887

  6.33

  Southern Derbyshire

  QCJ

  55,418,649

  58,837,770

  6.17

  Bedfordshire

  QA6

  54,371,270

  57,519,263

  5.79

  Cambridge and Huntingdon

  QER

  71,093,206

  74,858,157

  5.30

  Hertfordshire

  QEX

  99,093,919

  106,869,997

  7.85

  Norfolk

  QET

  88,487,524

  93,431,112

  5.59

  North Essex

  QAX

  90,240,070

  96,245,777

  6.66

  South Essex

  QAY

  69,799,277

  75,654,699

  8.39

  Suffolk

  QCF

  72,658,297

  78,804,162

  8.46

  Barking and Havering

  QAP

  38,981,289

  40,330,199

  3.46

  Barnet, Enfield and Haringey

  QEW

  78,202,699

  81,639,119

  4.39

  Bexley, Bromley and Greenwich

  QEY

  71,043,576

  73,959,182

  4.10

  Brent and Harrow

  QAR

  46,755,854

  49,904,010

  6.73

  Camden and Islington

  QAT

  33,999,268

  35,027,373

  3.02

  Croydon

  QAD

  28,546,850

  29,999,322

  5.09

  Ealing, Hammersmith and Hounslow

  QAV

  62,062,477

  64.367,616

  3.71

  East London and City

  QAW

  59,104,397

  61,817,578

  4.59

  Hillingdon

  QA2

  23,197,100

  23,594,295

  1.71

  Kensington, Chelsea and Westminster

  QA3

  29,092,369

  30,390,325

  4.46

  128W
  services funding and (b) delayed discharge patients who had fully funded social service packages arranged, in each quarter in (i) 2000 and (ii) 2001. [19195]

  Ms Blears
  [holding answer 29 November 2001]: The information requested is not available centrally.

  Dentistry (Fareham)
  Mr. Hoban
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many dentists accepted NHS patients in Fareham in(a) 1995, (b) 1996, (c) 1997, (d) 1998, (e) 1999 and (f) 2000. [19198]

  Ms Blears
  [holding answer 29 November 2001]: The information requested is not available centrally.

  Prescription Pricing Authority
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health for each health authority area, what was the September forecast by the Prescription Pricing Authority, indicating projected overspending or underspending during the present financial year. [19318]

  Ms Blears
  [holding answer 29 November 2001]: The table sets out the prescribing budgets notified to the Prescription Pricing Authority by each health authority. They are practice level prescribing budgets and do not include any contingency reserves held by the health authority.
  129W

  Health authority

  Practice budgets as notified to PPA (£)

  Forecast Outturn (£)

  Forecast Overspend (percentage)

  Kingston and Richmond

  QAG

  30,014,716

  30,449,072

  1.45

  Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham

  QAH

  67,128,321

  70,605,392

  5.18

  Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth

  QAJ

  55,463,897

  58,118,247

  4.79

  Redbridge and Waltham Forest

  QA5

  42,510,877

  43,711,911

  2.83

  Berkshire

  QA7

  70,559,047

  75,659,464

  7.23

  Buckinghamshire

  QA8

  62,211,041

  66,528,772

  6.94

  East Kent

  QAE

  71,881,294

  75,407,428

  4.91

  East Surrey

  QAK

  42,347,787

  42,327,096

  -0.05

  East Sussex, Brighton and Hove

  QAM

  86,909,580

  92,331,262

  6.24

  Isle of Wight and Portsmouth and South East Hants

  QEV

  70,249,164

  75,014,698

  6.78

  North and Mid Hampshire

  QD1

  47,210,615

  51,029,798

  8.09

  Northamptonshire

  QCC

  55,279,066

  57,467,162

  3.96

  Oxfordshire

  QCE

  54,188,718

  57,464,495

  6.05

  Southampton and South West Hants

  QD3

  56,973,211

  59,875,104

  5.09

  West Kent

  QAF

  96,076,221

  105,083,957

  9.38

  West Surrey

  QAL

  61,468,564

  65,429,413

  6.44

  West Sussex

  QAN

  84,286,628

  88,822,453

  5.38

  Avon

  QD8

  92,983,094

  97,867,484

  5.25

  Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly

  QDV

  59,619,660

  62,634,738

  5.06

  Dorset

  QDW

  75,175,594

  75,847,283

  0.89

  Gloucestershire

  QDY

  57,403,791

  58,919,964

  2.64

  North and East Devon

  QDX

  51,958,609

  53,644,999

  3.25

  Somerset

  QD5

  50,470,846

  53,522,847

  6.05

  South and West Devon

  QD6

  66,432,177

  70,965,510

  6.82

  Wiltshire

  QD7

  59,094,411

  62,774,744

  6.23

  Birmingham

  QD9

  103,723,220

  109,457,523

  5.53

  Coventry

  QEA

  32,740,237

  35,548,591

  8.58

  Dudley

  QEC

  31,604,000

  33,745,605

  6.78

  Herefordshire

  QED

  16,650,484

  17,623,361

  5.84

  North Staffordshire

  QEH

  50,863,793

  54,359,854

  6.87

  Sandwell

  QEE

  34,093,938

  34,940,247

  2.48

  Shropshire

  QEF

  49,115,312

  51,879,277

  5.63

  Solihull

  QEG

  23,226,544

  23,653,585

  1.84

  South Staffordshire

  QEJ

  62,472,831

  61,613,956

  -1.37

  Walsall

  QEK

  29,181,052

  29,868,607

  2.36

  Warwickshire

  QEL

  51,744,497

  56,531,625

  9.25

  Wolverhampton

  QEM

  23,711,980

  28,056,977

  18.32

  Worcestershire

  QEN

  53,137,664

  56,426,316

  6.19

  Bury and Rochdale

  QCT

  43,736,081

  47,138,170

  7.78

  East Lancashire

  QCX

  58,318,642

  65,201,689

  11.80

  Liverpool

  QC2

  52,164,069

  61,443,559

  17.79

  Manchester

  QC3

  53,996,448

  58,456,213

  8.26

  Morecambe Bay

  QC4

  38,391,129

  40,220,526

  4.77

  North Cheshire

  QCV

  35,905,320

  39,047,301

  8.75

  North West Lancashire

  QCY

  61,236,621

  63,259,424

  3.30

  Salford and Trafford

  QC6

  55,963,487

  59,628,307

  6.55

  Sefton

  QC7

  32,205,042

  35,608,958

  10.57

  South Cheshire

  QCW

  75,908,512

  83,049,782

  9.41

  South Lancashire

  QC1

  35,242,497

  36,561,473

  3.74

  St. Helens and Knowsley

  QC5

  43,837,225

  46,927,531

  7.05

  Stockport

  QC8

  35,366,700

  36,965,543

  4.52

  West Pennine

  QC9

  49,785,950

  53,164,840

  6.79

  Wigan and Bolton

  QDA

  64,247,917

  71,330,199

  11.02

  Wirral

  QDC

  No Data

  44,758,134

  —

  Health Care (Performance)
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place in the Library a copy of the NHS South East Regional Office's Atlas of NHS and Social Care Performance. [19319]

  Ms Blears
  [holding answer 29 November 2001]: A copy of volume I Maps and volume II Ranked Bar Charts and Source Data will be placed in the Library.

  Acute Beds
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many acute beds there are per 1,000 residents
  130W
  in (a) the Buckinghamshire Health Authority area and (b) England. [19315]

  Ms Blears
  [holding answer 29 November 2001]: The information requested is shown in the table.

  Number of acute beds per 1,000 population in the Buckinghamshire health authority area and England 2000–01

  Total acute beds:

  located in Buckinghamshire HA area

  for England

  Available acute beds

  1,189

  107,956

  Population

  692,891

  49,997,089

  Acute beds/1,000 population

  1.72

  2.16

  Source:KH03

  Accident and Emergency Departments
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients admitted to hospital in October via an accident and emergency department had to wait more than four hours for a bed; and what proportion that figure represents of all patients so admitted to hospital during October. [19321]

  Ms Blears
  [holding answer 29 November 2001]: The latest figures are for quarter one (April to June 2001). In quarter one, 531,063 patients were admitted to hospital via accident and emergency departments.

  Of these, 66,383 (12 per cent.) had to wait more than four hours for a bed.

  Children (Local Authority Care)
  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the average time during which looked after children were held in care under the responsibility of local authorities in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the trend. [19203]

  Jacqui Smith
  [holding answer 29 November 2001]: The table provides figures on the average number of care days per child, together with the number of children looked after at any time in the year, and the total number of care days provided, for looked after children in years ending 31 March 1996 and 31 March 2000. The figures are broken down according to legal status.

  The figures show that the average number of days in care per child in a year has increased.

  Long-term trends show that although the total number who are looked after at any time in the year has been increasing in recent years, annual totals for the number who started to be looked after and the number who ceased to be looked after in the previous 12 months have both been slightly decreasing over the same period.

  At the beginning of 2001 the Department commissioned the Thomas Coram Research Unit (Institute of Education, University of London) to conduct a tightly focused research study into the reasons that lie behind this increase in the number of children looked after by local authorities.

  The research is designed to assess, among other things, the extent to which drug taking, alcoholism, violence and mental health problems within the family may have been significant factors underlying decisions made by Courts and local authorities to look after children.

  Number of children looked after at any time during the year, and the number of days of care provided during years ending
  31 March 1996 and 2000, England

  1996

  2000

  1995–20001

  Total

  Number of looked after children in year

  79,400

  81,500

  3

  Care days provided (thousand)

  18,227

  20,820

  14

  Average number of days per child

  229

  255

  11

  Full care orders and interim care orders

  Number of looked after children in year

  35,500

  43,700

  23

  Care days provided (thousand)

  10,494

  13.094

  25

  Average number of days per child

  296

  300

  1

  Section 20 of Children Act 1989

  Number of looked after children in year

  43,600

  37,700

  -13

  132W

  Number of children looked after at any time during the year, and the number of days of care provided during years ending 31 March 1996 and 2000, England

  1996

  2000

  1995–20001

  Care days provided (thousand)

  7,140

  6,977

  -2

  Average number of days per child

  164

  185

  13

  Other legal statuses

  Number of looked after children in year

  7,100

  8,300

  16

  Care days provided (thousand)

  592

  749

  27

  Average number of days per child

  83

  91

  9

  1 Percentage increase

  Notes:

  1. Table excludes children looked after under a series of short term placements

  2. A child may appear in more than one legal status category in the year, hence sub-totals do not add up to total of all children

  Source:

  DH annual statistical return SSDA 903

  Adoption
  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health on what basis he judges whether local authority social services departments are adequately providing services related to adoption and adoption support; and whether he proposes to compile performance tables as a result of the Adoption and Children Bill. [19220]

  Jacqui Smith
  [holding answer 29 November 2001]: At present the social services inspectorate inspects services using standards. In November 2000 the social services inspectorate produced an inspection report "Adopting Changes: Survey and Inspection of Local Councils' Adoption Services", a copy of which is available in the Library. The report provides comprehensive and up-to-date information about the current position, examples of good practice and a checklist for councils to use to review their services.

  One of the 50 personal social services performance assessment framework indicators directly relates to adoption (the percentage of children looked after adopted during the year, indicator reference C23).

  The social services inspectorate assesses each council's performance every year, taking into account evidence from indicators, inspections and other sources. Assessment of adoption services is included as part of this overall assessment. Next year, the overall assessment will be published in the form of a star rating for each council. We are currently developing additional monitoring mechanisms including collecting information on the types of adoption support services made available by councils at present. This is intended to help councils benchmark their services against those of other councils. In addition, the adoption and permanence task force has published an audit tool (available at www.doh.gov.uk/adoption) to help councils review their adoption support services and identify possible areas for development.

  These mechanisms will be developed further to monitor the implementation of the Adoption and Children Bill.

  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what organisations he has met this year to discuss the Adoption and Children Bill. [19297]
  133W
  Jacqui Smith
  [holding answer 29 November 2001]: I have met the British Agencies for Adoption and Fostering, the Associate Parliamentary Group for Looked After Children, and the All Party Parliamentary Group on Adoption. As a member of the Special Standing Committee, I have also heard the views of a wide range of key stakeholders in adoption.

  Departmental officials have met with a group convened by the British Agencies for Adoption and Fostering on several occasions this year to discuss the Bill. The membership of this group encompasses a wide range of organisations which represent children, adopted adults, adoptive families and birth families. These include the British Agencies for Adoption and Fostering, the Local Government Association, the National Organisation for Counselling Adoptees and Parents, the Catholic Children's Society (Westminster), After Adoption, the Adoption Forum, Adoption UK, the Family Rights Group and the Law Society.

  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the likely cost of implementation of the Adoption and Children Bill to(a) local authorities, (b) voluntary adoption agencies and (c) adopting parents. [19209]

  Jacqui Smith
  [holding answer 29 November 2001]: The main financial implications of the Adoption and Children Bill for local authorities lie in the provisions on adoption support, the independent review mechanism, access to information, special guardianship, the Adoption and Children Act Register and the new system of placement for adoption. In each case, any additional costs will be proportionate to the improvements in the level of service provided to people affected by adoption.

  Voluntary adoption agencies will principally be affected by the provisions in the Bill on the Adoption and Children Act Register, the independent review mechanism and consistent access to information. The regulatory impact assessment describes the expected impact of the Bill on voluntary adoption agencies in more detail. This is not expected to be significant. The Bill will not create any additional costs for adoptive parents and in practice will ensure that many more adoptive families get the financial and other support they need.

  We have already made available an extra £66.5 million for adoption over three years. The resources required to implement the Adoption and Children Bill will also be addressed as part of the forthcoming spending review.

  Attendance Allowance
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on what powers local authorities have to treat attendance allowance as a means-tested benefit for the purpose of social care charges. [19903]

  Jacqui Smith
  [holding answer 30 November 2001]: Councils have discretion under the Health and Social Security Adjudications Act 1983 to decide whether to take Attendance Allowance into account when assessing ability to pay charges for home care and other nonresidential social services. Statutory guidance issued to councils on 23 November 2001 expects councils which take attendance allowance into account to undertake a specific assessment of a person's disability-related expenditure, to ensure that any charge is reasonable. This
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  guidance will be implemented by no later than 1 October 2002 for people receiving more than 10 hours home care weekly and no later than 1 April 2003 for all other service users.

  Nurses (Portsmouth)
  Mr. Hoban
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many additional nurses can be employed by the Portsmouth hospitals NHS trust as a consequence of the recent award of additional funds to the trust; and what impact he expects this to have on accident and emergency waiting times. [19479]

  Ms Blears
  [holding answer 30 November 2001]: The allocation to Portsmouth hospitals national health service trust to fund additional nursing posts in accident and emergency and support the development of the emergency care strategy is £18,321 this year and £75,117 for 2002–03.

  Information on how the extra resources are to be used and the expected benefits for accident and emergency services is available from the chairman of the trust.

  Waiting Times (Cosham)
  Mr. Hoban
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients were waiting for treatment more than four hours from arrival at the Queen Alexandra hospital at Cosham at the end of each quarter in(a) 2000 and (b) 2001. [19478]

  Ms Blears
  [holding answer 30 November 2001]: The information requested is not available centrally.

  Accident and Emergency Units (Portsmouth)
  Mr. Hoban
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many nurses were employed in the accident and emergency units run by the Portsmouth hospitals NHS trust at the end of each quarter of(a) 2000 and (b) 2001. [19476]

  Ms Blears
  [holding answer 30 November 2001]: The information requested is not available centrally.

  Social Care Charges
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the ability of a local authority to impose social care charges upon an individual living at home who is receiving prescribed medical treatment. [19902]

  Jacqui Smith
  [holding answer 30 November 2001]: Local councils have discretion whether to charge for home care or other non-residential social services for a person living at home. Services for which the national health service has underlying responsibility, are free at the point of use, except where there are specific charging powers, such as those for NHS prescriptions.

  Health Authority Funding
  Mr. Hoban
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the per capita funding by each health authority in England in(a) 1995, (b) 1996, (c) 1997, (d) 1998, (e) 1999 and (f) 2000. [19475]
  135W
  Mr. Hutton
  [holding answer 30 November 2001]: Allocations per weighted head of population for each health authority in England for the financial years 1996–97 to 2000–01 are shown in table 1.

  Table 1

  £

  Health authority

  1996–97

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1999–20001

  2000–01

  Avon

  430

  435

  466

  622

  681

  Barking and Havering

  425

  453

  468

  623

  694

  Barnet

  446

  460

  491

  644

  691

  Barnsley

  414

  431

  440

  612

  669

  Bedfordshire

  402

  426

  448

  606

  663

  Berkshire

  410

  415

  446

  606

  666

  Bexley and Greenwich

  435

  470

  493

  662

  729

  Birmingham

  443

  450

  464

  632

  693

  Bradford

  429

  440

  450

  621

  684

  Brent and Harrow

  445

  463

  496

  649

  704

  Bromley

  406

  443

  471

  626

  688

  Buckinghamshire

  409

  428

  460

  613

  668

  Bury and Rochdale

  420

  438

  449

  622

  687

  Calderdale and Kirklees

  430

  445

  459

  631

  687

  Cambridge and Huntingdon2

  415

  425

  454

  321

  n/a

  Cambridgeshire2

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  671

  Camden and Islington

  4S6

  479

  500

  651

  710

  Cornwall and Isles of Scilly

  424

  445

  465

  643

  701

  County Durham

  419

  435

  448

  613

  674

  Coventry

  425

  437

  448

  607

  669

  Croydon

  417

  434

  464

  621

  681

  Doncaster

  416

  434

  447

  629

  688

  Dorset

  431

  447

  477

  643

  701

  Dudley

  419

  437

  459

  622

  677

  Ealing, Hammersmith and Hounslow

  440

  453

  479

  625

  688

  East and North Hertfordshire

  427

  437

  471

  624

  679

  East Kent

  403

  431

  463

  640

  705

  East Lancashire

  429

  442

  451

  624

  683

  East London and the City

  439

  433

  445

  603

  666

  East Norfolk2

  421

  440

  461

  633

  n/a

  East Riding

  426

  439

  454

  626

  689

  East Surrey

  432

  448

  483

  641

  703

  East Sussex, Brighton and Hove

  404

  446

  469

  642

  705

  Enfield and Haringey

  430

  447

  471

  633

  691

  Gateshead and South Tyneside

  433

  448

  460

  625

  682

  Gloucestershire

  445

  450

  479

  652

  708

  Herefordshire

  435

  451

  466

  628

  685

  Hillingdon

  438

  440

  464

  631

  684

  Isle of Wight

  435

  479

  504

  674

  736

  Kensington, Chelsea and Westminster

  427

  428

  443

  576

  637

  Kingston and Richmond

  448

  469

  496

  644

  706

  Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham

  425

  445

  466

  628

  705

  Leeds

  428

  444

  457

  632

  694

  Leicestershire

  414

  432

  448

  613

  670

  Lincolnshire

  431

  448

  463

  632

  681

  Liverpool

  433

  448

  465

  644

  702

  Manchester

  459

  469

  473

  645

  704

  Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth

  439

  457

  487

  643

  700

  Morecambe Bay

  444

  466

  485

  656

  710

  Newcastle and North Tyneside

  441

  452

  462

  634

  696

  Norfolk2

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  688

  North and East Devon

  435

  454

  474

  640

  697

  North and Mid Hampshire

  426

  452

  480

  638

  693

  North Cheshire

  459

  470

  482

  639

  694

  North Cumbria

  429

  443

  463

  630

  691

  North Derbyshire

  422

  445

  465

  626

  684

  North Essex

  399

  426

  453

  624

  687

  North Nottinghamshire

  423

  439

  452

  621

  672

  North Staffordshire

  418

  439

  451

  614

  678

  North West Anglia2

  419

  432

  451

  616

  n/a

  North West Lancashire

  415

  434

  447

  626

  688

  North Yorkshire

  422

  440

  464

  626

  684

  Northamptonshire

  428

  438

  466

  638

  694

  Northumberland

  422

  443

  461

  629

  687

  Nottingham

  414

  432

  447

  614

  673

  Oxfordshire

  403

  424

  454

  610

  672

  136W
  Prior to 1 April 1996 allocations were made to regional health authorities. Allocations per weighted head of population for each regional health authority in 1995–96 are shown in table 2.
  137W

  Table 1

  £

  Health authority

  1996–97

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1999–20001

  2000–01

  Portsmouth and South East Hampshire

  417

  440

  468

  627

  688

  Redbridge and Waltham Forest

  420

  457

  484

  658

  714

  Rotherham

  419

  439

  450

  626

  682

  Salford and Trafford

  436

  444

  459

  644

  701

  Sandwell

  431

  444

  460

  622

  684

  Sefton

  428

  441

  468

  637

  709

  Sheffield

  441

  458

  471

  640

  698

  Shropshire

  418

  438

  458

  626

  678

  Solihull

  433

  451

  472

  636

  690

  Somerset

  423

  443

  467

  634

  691

  South and West Devon

  431

  448

  469

  641

  698

  South Cheshire

  426

  443

  465

  631

  694

  South Derbyshire

  433

  445

  459

  615

  677

  South Essex

  392

  423

  450

  607

  677

  South Humber

  435

  457

  477

  650

  701

  South Lancashire

  434

  461

  479

  643

  702

  South Staffordshire

  433

  450

  466

  633

  686

  Southampton and South West Hamptonshire

  405

  431

  464

  629

  688

  St. Helens and Knowsley

  422

  431

  451

  627

  684

  Stockport

  415

  425

  447

  631

  691

  Suffolk

  427

  444

  476

  638

  694

  Sunderland

  423

  440

  450

  625

  682

  Tees

  427

  432

  451

  624

  682

  Wakefield

  439

  457

  471

  632

  693

  Walsall

  417

  433

  446

  623

  679

  Warwickshire

  443

  464

  481

  645

  699

  West Hertfordshire

  432

  447

  476

  638

  691

  West Kent

  409

  439

  472

  632

  694

  West Pennine

  419

  434

  446

  618

  676

  West Surrey

  439

  450

  489

  643

  706

  West Sussex

  406

  427

  463

  624

  684

  Wigan and Bolton

  410

  427

  441

  608

  667

  Wiltshire

  444

  449

  481

  639

  702

  Wirral

  424

  433

  457

  642

  710

  Wolverhampton

  422

  440

  456

  622

  677

  Worcestershire

  428

  454

  475

  639

  692

  England

  426

  443

  464

  629

  688

  1 Allocations for 1999–2000 onwards are not comparable with those for 1996–97 to 1998–99 which cover hospital and community health services (HCHS) only. 1999–2000 was the first year of unified allocations which cover HCHS, prescribing and discretionary general medical services

  2 Cambridge and Huntingdon, East Norfolk and North West Anglia health authorities merged on 1 April 1999 to form Cambridgeshire health authority and Norfolk health authority

  Table 2

  £

  Regional health authority

  Allocation per weighted head of population

  Northern and Yorkshire

  476

  Trent

  469

  Anglia and Oxford

  460

  North Thames

  478

  South Thames

  464

  South and West

  472

  West Midlands

  479

  North West

  469

  England

  471

  Acute Beds (Portsmouth)
  Mr. Hoban
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many acute beds the Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust had at(a) the most recent date for which figures are available, (b) 31 December 2000, (c) 31 December 1999 and (d) 31 December 1998; and how many of those beds were occupied by delayed discharges (i) awaiting social services funding and (ii) with social services funding. [19477]
  138W
  Ms Blears
  [holding answer 30 November 2001]: The latest available figures are for the financial year 2000–01. Portsmouth Hospitals National Health Service Trust had 1011 average daily number of acute beds in wards open overnight. A count of beds as at 31 December 1998, 1999 and 2000 is not available centrally.

  The specific information requested on the delayed discharges affecting these beds is not available centrally. Information on delayed discharges in the Portsmouth area has been placed in the Library.

  Motor Racing (Tobacco Sponsorship)
  Mr. Barron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the Government's policy is on the European Commission's draft proposals relating to tobacco sponsorship of Formula 1 motor racing. [20166]

  Jacqui Smith
  The current text of the European Commission's proposals for a directive on tobacco advertising and sponsorship includes a provision prohibiting the sponsorship of events taking place in
  139W
  several member states or having similar cross-border effects if such sponsorship is with the aim of promoting a tobacco product.

  The current text provides for implementation up to two years after a directive is adopted. The date for adoption is at present uncertain.

  In 1998 we agreed with our European partners that global sporting events should have until 1 October 2006 to phase out tobacco sponsorship, provided first that they do not sign new contracts with tobacco companies and secondly that they phase out the current sponsorship that they receive. This remains our view.

  NICE Review
  Mr. Barron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made towards establishing the review of NICE; when the review will commence; who will conduct the review; what the terms of reference are; what arrangements there will be for consulting interested parties; and when he expects the review to be concluded. [20161]

  Mr. Heald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he intends to conduct a fundamental review of NICE; and if he will make a statement. [20287]

  Jacqui Smith
  The report of the Bristol Royal Infirmary Inquiry makes some far-reaching recommendations on the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE). We are therefore considering how these will affect the review of NICE. We will also need to take into account the recent announcement that the Health Select Committee is to hold a short inquiry into the progress NICE has made in achieving the key goals envisaged in A First Class Service.

  Non-tobacco Goods
  Mr. Barron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimates he has made of the value of the UK market for non-tobacco goods which share tobacco branding. [20164]

  Jacqui Smith
  We have not made any such assessment.

  Bristol Royal Infirmary Inquiry
  Mr. Barron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will publish the Government's response to the Bristol Royal Infirmary Inquiry; and if he will make a statement. [20163]

  Jacqui Smith
  The Government's response to the Bristol Royal Infirmary Inquiry will be published shortly.

  NHS Direct
  Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the answer of the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to the hon. Member for Stroud (Mr. Drew), 27 November Ref 19267 2001,Official Report, Columns 859–60W, how many inquiries have been received by NHS Direct since its inception; what proportion of those inquiries come from rural areas; and what proportion of those inquiries required (a) a visit to the doctor and (b) treatment in a hospital. [20032]
  140W
  Ms Blears
  Since NHS Direct was launched in March 1998 it has handled over 8,000,000 calls. This calendar year alone it has handled over 4,500,000 calls, averaging 90,000–100,000 calls a week. NHS Direct call volume data are collected as a figure for the total population area covered by a particular site and not by rural/urban split. Out of the 4,500,000 calls made to NHS Direct this calendar year, 38 per cent. of callers were advised to see their general practitioner, and 11 per cent. advised to visit a hospital.

  NHS Direct has not been set up to merely reduce demand on other health services. It is about making sure that patients get to the right service at the right time, and giving people reassuring clinical advice so that they can look after themselves if that is the appropriate thing to do.

  Preserved Rights
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much money has been allocated to local authorities in England for 2002–03 in relation to the transfer of responsibility for preserved rights cases from 8 April 2002; of that sum, how much relates(a) to the sum that is transferred from the Department for Work and Pensions relating to what would have been paid through income support and (b) to the costs of the shortfall between the preserved rights income support rates and existing care homes as stated in the draft guidance to local authorities regarding the abolition of preserved rights; on what basis the sum allocated to cover the shortfall referred to in (b) has been allocated between local authorities; and whether the basis for the sum allocated to cover the shortfall referred to in (b) reflects the variations in shortfall between local authorities. [17250]

  Jacqui Smith
  Local authorities in England will receive additional funding of £614 million in 2002–03 because of the transfer to them from 8 April next year of responsibility for people with preserved rights. Of this sum, £528 million is a transfer from the Department for Work and Pensions. It represents the difference between what the DWP estimate they would have spent on income support, attendance allowance and disability living allowance on preserved rights residents under the current arrangements and what they estimate will be spent on Income Support for such residents under the new system. The remaining £86 million is intended to meet the cost to authorities of carrying out care assessments and the estimated shortfall between preserved rights income support rates and the care home fees of the residents concerned. We shall announce as part of the Local Government Finance Settlement how we intend to allocate these resources between individual local authorities.

  Older People
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to implement the National Service Framework for Older People, with particular reference to Standard Six on falls and osteoporosis. [20183]

  Jacqui Smith
  The National Service Framework for Older People sets a standard and associated milestones for the development and introduction of integrated falls services across all health and social care systems by April 2005. Annual milestones are set from April 2003. Early planning and supporting work has begun on implementation and the National Institute for Clinical
  141W
  Excellence has been asked to develop clinical guidelines for the assessment and prevention of falls including recurrent falls in older people, with an associated clinical audit dataset, database and methodology.

  Carers
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assistance he plans to give to people who take the responsibility of looking after elderly family members and are not able to work. [19358]

  Jacqui Smith
  Through the National Strategy for Carers, we are making resources available to help carers. We introduced the Carers Grant in 1999, the sole purpose of which is to enable local councils to enhance provision of community care and children's services and in particular to enable carers to take a break from their caring role. To reach the NHS Plan target of ensuring that 75,000 more carers receive a break by 2004, the Carers Grant will increase from £70 million this year to £100 million in financial year 2003–04.

  The Carers and Disabled Children Act 2000, which came into force in April, gives local councils further duties and powers to help carers.

  In addition, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions announced a package of measures last Autumn that will provide over £500 million extra support for carers over three years, from which more than 300,000 carers could benefit financially.

  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assistance he will give pensioners to help with the costs of long-term care. [19354]

  Jacqui Smith
  The NHS Plan announced that an additional £1.4 billion a year would be made available for improving services and standards of care for older people by 2003–04. Over £400 million of the £1.4 billion represents funds for a range of reforms to the long-term care system which we have introduced. These reforms will assist pensioners with the costs of long-term care and many of them have already been enacted. Free nursing care in nursing homes for current self-funders was introduced from October, as has a system of deferred payments to avoid people having to sell their homes when they first enter residential care. Since April the value of a property has been disregarded for 12 weeks when undertaking the residential care means test.

  Care for the Elderly
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the costs of home care for the elderly and what choice old people have in what service they receive. [19357]
  142W
  Jacqui Smith
  Councils have discretion under the Health and Social Services and Social Security Adjudications Act 1983 whether to charge for home care or other non-residential social services. The Department issued statutory guidance, "Fairer Charging Policies for Home Care and other non-residential Social Services", to councils on 23 November 2001.

  The Department published for consultation draft National Minimum Standards for Domiciliary Care on 31 October 2001. Standards 7 and 9 concern the need to respect service users' choices.

  Local "Better Care, Higher Standards" charters for long-term care are expected to set out the ways in which individuals' views about their care will be sought and respected.

  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on(a) primary and (b) intermediate care for the aged. [19356]

  Jacqui Smith
  Older people can expect the same rights of access to primary care as any other patient group. In addition, in recognition of the specific health needs of older people, patients over 75 are entitled to an annual health check from their general practitioners on request and, since 2000, all people aged 65 and over have been offered free immunisation against influenza.

  The NHS Plan makes clear that intermediate care is a priority service for older people. This was reinforced in the National Service Framework for Older People. Intermediate care has an important role to play in tackling delayed transfers of care. A recent survey indicates that good progress is being made towards meeting the NHS Plan targets for intermediate care—by 2004 an extra 5,000 intermediate care beds and 1,700 supported places, together benefiting an additional 150,000 older people.

  CT/MRI Scanners
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the allocation of the next 50 CT and MRI scanners; and if he will state(a) when allocations will be announced and (b) what consultations will be held with health authorities on this distribution. [19907]

  Jacqui Smith
  The allocation of the 50 CT and 50 MRI scanners outlined in the NHS Cancer Plan is likely to be announced in the summer of 2002. Criteria for their distribution have yet to be decided. These scanners are due for installation in 2003–04.

  Databases of current equipment and regional provision as well as local information, such as the cancer networks facilities and equipment strategies, will be used to help formulate criteria for allocation. When allocations are considered they will be discussed with the new strategic health authorities before they are finalised with individual NHS trusts.

  Young Carers
  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures he is taking to ensure that the current information campaign for carers' rights will include young carers. [19987]

  Jacqui Smith
  Information for carers has been made accessible through telephone helplines, publications by the Government and voluntary organisations, carers centres and on-line services such as the Government carers website.

  We are committed to addressing the needs of young carers as set out in both the Quality Protects programme launched in 1998 and the National Strategy for Carers published in 1999. The views and comments of young carers are taken into consideration when developing policy for the Quality Protects programme.

  We currently fund the Children's Society to take forward "The Young Carers Initiative" which involves consulting directly with young carers about their views and needs. The information obtained from the consultation will be used as a basis for producing a practice guide and resource pack. These packs will
  144W
  contain information on how best to deliver the needs of young carers and to encourage better partnership working within agencies.

  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures he is taking to ensure the needs of young carers will be targeted as part of his Department's funding of mental health services. [19986]

  Jacqui Smith
  A target has been set for mental health services that by March 2002 all regular carers of people on enhanced Care Programme Approach (CPA), including young carers, will have their own written support plans which will address their caring, physical and own mental health needs. These support plans will be implemented by October 2002.

  Diabetes
  Mr. Woodward
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will publish the Diabetes National Service Framework; and if he will make a statement. [19560]

  Jacqui Smith
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Bethnal Green and Bow (Ms King) on 15 October 2001,Official Report, column 1046W.

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  ECHR: Report of Evaluation Group
  Animal Disease Prevention: UK Veterinary Services
  Animal Disease Prevention: UK Veterinary Services
  Energy Crops
  Energy Crops
  DEFRA: Devon Foot and Mouth Inquiry
  DEFRA: Devon Foot and Mouth Inquiry
  Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000: Appeals Inspectors
  Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000: Appeals Inspectors
  Special Advisers
  Special Advisers
  Senior Civil Service: Diversity
  Senior Civil Service: Diversity
  Prime Minister's Office: Baroness Morgan of Huyton
  Prime Minister's Office: Baroness Morgan of Huyton
  Millennium Dome: Payments
  Millennium Dome: Payments
  Structure Planning
  Structure Planning
  Heathrow Airport: Flights from Inverness
  Heathrow Airport: Flights from Inverness
  Rent Restructuring
  Rent Restructuring
  Pupils: Reintegration
  Pupils: Reintegration
  School Sport Alliance
  School Sport Alliance
  Social Fund Computer System
  Social Fund Computer System
  Vaccine Damage: Disability Benefits
  Vaccine Damage: Disability Benefits
  London Heart Hospital
  London Heart Hospital
  NHS Hearing Aid Services
  NHS Hearing Aid Services
  Haemophilia Patients
  Haemophilia Patients
  Healthcare Professionals: Right of Appeal to Judicial Committee of the Privy Council
  Healthcare Professionals: Right of Appeal to Judicial Committee of the Privy Council
  Measles, Mumps and Rubella Immunisation
  Measles, Mumps and Rubella Immunisation
  Measles, Mumps and Rubella: Incidences
  Measles, Mumps and Rubella: Incidences
  Human Cloning
  Human Cloning
  Autism: Costs to Community
  Autism: Costs to Community
  Adverse Drug Reactions: Autism
  Adverse Drug Reactions: Autism
  Sexual Health and HIV Services
  Sexual Health and HIV Services
  Long-term Care Residents
  Long-term Care Residents
  Residential and Nursing Care: Funding
  Residential and Nursing Care: Funding
  Intermediate Care
  Intermediate Care
  National Institute for Clinical Excellence
  National Institute for Clinical Excellence
  Independent Healthcare Providers
  Independent Healthcare Providers
  NHS Information Network
  NHS Information Network
  Information Management and Technology: Health Authorities' Local Implementation Strategies
  Information Management and Technology: Health Authorities' Local Implementation Strategies
  Electronic Patient Record Level 3
  Electronic Patient Record Level 3
  Integrated Primary Care and Community Electronic Patient Records
  Integrated Primary Care and Community Electronic Patient Records
  Nursing Staff: Retirements
  Nursing Staff: Retirements
  Physical Activity
  Physical Activity
  Advisory Group on Teenage Pregnancy
  Advisory Group on Teenage Pregnancy