Written Answers of 17 December 2001

CHURCH COMMISSIONERS

  Bishop of Exeter
  Mr. Butterfill
  To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners, whether the Church Commissioners have provided support to the Bishop of Exeter in connection with his role as Chairman of the South West Regional Convention; and if he will make a statement. [23627]

  Mr. Bell
  The Church Commissioners support the Bishop of Exeter in paying for his office and working costs as Bishop of the diocese. The Bishop's costs in connection with his role as Chairman of the South West Regional Convention have been reimbursed by a non-Church organisation.

  Commission of the Bishops' Conference
  Mr. Rosindell
  To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners, which European Community-funded bodies receive funding from the Church Commissioners, with particular reference to the Commission of the Bishops' Conference of the European Community. [22878]

  Mr. Bell
  None. The Church Commissioners' primary responsibility is to manage their assets for the financial support of the Church of England's serving and retired ministry.

  The Commission of the Bishops' Conferences of the European Community is a Roman Catholic body, wholly funded by that Church. It holds regular dialogue with partner ecumenical organisations, which include Anglican representatives, but there is no direct financial or structural link.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards
  Peter Bottomley
  To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, who first briefed the media of the contents of the recent letter to the Chairman of the Commission from the Parliamentary Commissioner. [21980]

  Mr. Kirkwood
  The Speaker's Secretary was approached by the media from 3 December seeking confirmation of reports that the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards had written to the Speaker informing him that she did not wish to apply for reappointment. On 4 December he confirmed to the media that these reports were correct. He made it clear that the text of the letter would not be released.
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  Peter Bottomley
  To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, when members of the Commission or the Chairman's office was informed of the Parliamentary Commissioner's intention to make her letter available in full to the media if part of its contents were communicated to the media. [21981]

  Mr. Kirkwood
  Members of the House of Commons Commission were not aware that the letter would be released, nor did the Speaker's Office understand that this course of action would be followed.

  Peter Bottomley
  To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, if the Commission will establish an inquiry into reports of briefing against the Standards Commissioner. [22723]

  Mr. Kirkwood
  The Commission will consider the reply of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards to Mr. Speaker's letter of 5 December when it is received, and will then consider what action is appropriate.

  Peter Bottomley
  To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, when the Commission was first informed of reports of campaigns against the Standards Commissioner; when a member of the Commission first raised reports of a campaign for discussion by the Commission; when the Commission was informed of(a) the contents, (b) the partial and (c) the total release of the contents of the Standards Commissioner's letter to the Speaker dated 28 November; and what action on the reports of a campaign against her was taken before the Speaker's statement of Wednesday 5 December. [22724]

  Mr. Kirkwood
  The Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards said in her letter of 28 November to Mr. Speaker that pressure had been applied to her. The letter was copied to members of the Commission shortly after it was received, and was considered by the Commission at its meeting on 5 December. I and, I understand, other Commissioners were made aware by journalists of the release of the letter during the evening of 4 December. At its meeting on 5 December the Commission was informed that the Speaker's Office had the previous day in response to specific inquiries confirmed reports that the Parliamentary Commissioner had decided not to seek reappointment but had indicated to the media that the text of the letter would not be released. Following the Commission's consideration of the letter, Mr. Speaker wrote to the Parliamentary Commissioner to ask her to provide details.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

  Kenya
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list the aid that her Department is giving to Kenya; and what projects are benefiting from that aid. [22970]

  Clare Short
  In financial year 2001–02 my Department will disburse £30 million in Kenya on poverty-reducing programmes principally on health; education; enterprise
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  development and livelihoods; governance and public sector reform; and drought relief. The largest projects are as follows:

  In health we fund: an HIV/AIDS prevention and care programme including by educating teachers and children about HIV/AIDS; malaria prevention including social marketing of insecticide treated malaria bednets; efforts to decentralise health care; and family planning and safe motherhood programmes. In education we give matching funds to a new Government budget for primary school textbooks and equipment.

  In enterprise and livelihoods we help Kenya to improve its business environment; work with the finance sector and NGOs to give poor Kenyans access to credit; help smallholder farmers and pastoralists with marketing, animal health improvements, and the supply of pedal powered water pumps for irrigation.

  In governance we fund the provision of civic education; are helping Kenya to develop its Poverty Reduction Strategy; fund anti-corruption activities; are helping with development of a new government financial management system and public service pay policy; support Parliament's key institutions; and through programmes in Nairobi's and Mombasa's urban slums, are helping to reform local government. Programmes in conflict prevention, drought relief and environmental governance will also reduce the threat to livelihoods.

  Sudan
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what financial assistance the UK is giving to Sudan. [22976]

  Clare Short
  This calendar year DFID has pledged over £6.3 million for humanitarian work in Sudan.

  This includes contributions to both of the 2001 Appeals for Sudan made by the International Committee of the Red Cross and World Food Programme (£2 million and £1 million respectively); other responses, funded through non-governmental organisations (NGOs)—such as Save the Children, Medecins sans Frontieres, Action Contre la Faim, Care, the Intermediate Technology Development Group and Oxfam—have involved emergency therapeutic feeding (for children) in North Darfur; emergency medical intervention (for children) in western Darfur; water projects in North Darfur and South Kordofan; flood relief; Kala Azar treatment in Gedaref State and Upper Nile; TB treatment in Upper Nile; alleviation of malnutrition in Bentiu; assisting women's rights development associations; and the returning of abducted women and children to their homes.

  We monitor the situation carefully and will make further responses as necessary.

  Somalia
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what financial assistance her Department has given to aid agencies working in Somalia in(a) 2000 and (b) 2001; and if she will list the assistance according to type. [22689]

  Clare Short
  The information is as follows.
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  2000

  Agriculture:

  World Vision: agricultural rehabilitation work in Middle Juba (£198,230).

  Minority Rights Group: pastoralist communities in seven countries including Somalia (£154,1411).

  Health:

  World Vision: primary health care programme in Bay region (£198,582).

  Health Unlimited: Saxan Saxo Well Women Project, Somaliland (£250,0001).

  Primary Education:

  Save the Children: community based primary education project in Belet Weyn (£230,518).

  Nutrition:

  Action Contre la Faim: emergency nutritional intervention in Gedo (£168,722).

  General Emergency and Humanitarian:

  International Committee of the Red Cross: 2001 Appeal for Somalia (£1,000,000).

  Security and Co-ordination of Relief Work:

  United Nations: 2001 Consolidated appeal for Somalia-for UN security and co-ordination activities (£410,850).

  Health:

  World Vision: primary health care projects in Middle Juba (£328,785) and Bay Region (£266,163).

  Medecins sans Frontieres: health assistance projects in the Bakool Region (£207,000) and Middle Shabelle Region (£377,689).

  Gender/Peace:

  International Organisation for Migration: workshop to encourage Somali women's participation in the peace process (£88,969).

  Water and Sanitation:

  Norwegian Peoples' Aid: water rehabilitation in the Sool Region (£200,173).

  Education:

  Africa Educational Trust: developing community school partnerships in Somaliland (£123,8631).

  1 These projects were funded by the Civil Society Challenge Fund and the contribution covers three to five years operations. All other projects run for 12 months or less.

  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent assessment her Department has made of the humanitarian situation in Somalia. [22685]

  Clare Short
  Last month DFID's field manager covering Somalia visited some of the most vulnerable parts of the south. The Somalia Desk also keeps in close contact with (and support) agencies working in the more at-risk areas, receiving regular reports from them.

  Our current assessment of the situation, derived from these sources, is that there are pockets of urgent need, particularly in the south of the country. These needs are primarily a consequence of the continuing conflict—though the background of poor rainfall has not helped (most notably in Gedo).

  Refugees (Former Yugoslavia)
  Sue Doughty
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made of the humanitarian problems in the refugee
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  camps in Bosnia Herzegovina; if she will provide funding directly to the refugee camps; and if she will make a statement. [23196]

  Clare Short
  The UNHCR is responsible for monitoring the situation of refugees in Bosnia Herzegovina. We have not provided bilateral funds to support refugee camps. We provided £1.6 million for a refugee programme that ended earlier this year. We have also provided £582,000 to assist Serb refugees to return to Croatia, including from Bosnia Herzegovina.

  We have agreed with the authorities in Bosnia Herzegovina to support social and economic reform. Our commitments are described in the DFID country strategy paper for Bosnia Herzegovina, published in September 2000.

  Commonwealth Development Corporation
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list the(a) number and (b) value of deals completed by the Commonwealth Development Corporation in each of the last five years, stating in each case the country concerned and grouped by the OECD developing countries and territories measurement of (i) least developed countries, (ii) low income countries, (iii) lower middle income countries and territories, (iv) upper middle income countries and territories and (v) high income countries and territories; and if she will make a statement. [21520]

  Clare Short
  I have asked the Finance Director of CDC to provide information about CDC investments in the last five years where this information is centrally available and is not commercially sensitive. He will reply direct and I will arrange for a copy of his reply to be placed in the Library of the House.

  Yugoslavia
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on changes in the levels of humanitarian assistance to Serbia in the post-Milosevic era. [22692]

  Clare Short
  Following the resumption of democratic rule in Serbia in October 2000, the UK provided a £10 million immediate assistance package for Serbia. We also contributed £22 million towards the EC's euro 188 million humanitarian aid programme, and provided a further £8.4 million to help the Serbian authorities pay arrears in family welfare benefits.

  Over the last year, we have developed a programme of support for economic and social reforms, as set out in the DFID Country Strategy Paper for the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Other donors have also developed longer-term, strategic assistance programmes. Such support for essential reforms is key in meeting the longer-term needs of the poor and vulnerable in Serbia.

  The EC Humanitarian Affairs Office (ECHO) is providing euro 47.8 million of humanitarian assistance for
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  Serbia in 2001. DFID' s share of this is £5.7 million. Other donors, including the international relief agencies, are continuing to provide humanitarian assistance.

  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what her Department is doing to support(a) internally displaced persons and (b) refugees within the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia during the winter. [22691]

  Clare Short
  Humanitarian assistance from the international community, including assistance for internally displaced persons and refugees, is co-ordinated by the United Nations Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs, and the European Commission Humanitarian Affairs Office (ECHO). The UK provides funds for these agencies, including 19.7 per cent. of the ECHO budget.

  We are not planning to provide bilateral assistance to refugees and internally displaced persons this winter. Our bilateral programme focuses on providing technical assistance for institution and capacity building, and for economic and social reform. We aim to address the longer-term needs of poor people in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia by helping to restructure the economy, strengthen public administration and improve the delivery of social and health care services. This strategy is described in the DFID Country Strategy Paper for the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.

  Zimbabwe
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what support her Department is giving to civil society organisations in Zimbabwe. [22690]

  Clare Short
  In Zimbabwe we are helping church and school communities to deliver supplementary feeding to children and vulnerable adults. We are also supporting civic organisations on democratic and legal rights awareness. We are helping to build the capacity of NGOs to respond to emergency needs. We also meet regularly with UK based NGOs to discuss development policy and effectiveness, and to give advice and support on operational concerns.

TRANSPORT, LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND THE REGIONS

  Fishing Communities
  Mr. Blizzard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions by how much each regional development agency's budget was reduced to provide money for the Fishing Communities Regeneration Initiative. [18271]

  Ms Keeble
  My right hon. Friend the then Minister for Regeneration announced this initiative on 4 April 2001 Official Report, column 182W. The Government had previously stated that funding for RDAs' would rise from £1.45 billion in 2001–02 to £1.7 billion in 2003–04. £5.5 million (0.35 per cent.) of the RDAs' indicative 2001–02 allocation was redistributed to help fishing communities in the final allocation announced on 9 March 2001. The contribution of each was as follows.
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  RDA

  £ million

  ONE

  0.68

  NWDA

  1.18

  YF

  0.82

  EMDA

  0.35

  AWM

  0.55

  EEDA

  0.22

  SEEDA

  0.38

  SWRDA

  0.25

  LDA

  1.07

  Total

  5.50

  Regeneration
  Adam Price
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what his estimate is of per capita Government public expenditure on regeneration in each of the regions of England in the present financial year. [18520]

  Ms Keeble
  The incidence of regeneration spending1 in the English regions for 2001–02, on a per capita basis, from the regeneration programmes for which DTLR is responsible, is estimated to be:

  English regions£

  £

  North East

  69

  North West

  49

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  49

  East Midlands

  23

  West Midlands

  32

  East

  28

  South East

  11

  South West

  11

  London

  63

  1 Population figures based on 1995 data. Estimated expenditure is based on a combination of budgets and forecasts. Includes figures for DTLR's Land and Property Programme, Single Regeneration Budget, Housing Action Trusts, Estate Action, Neighbourhood Renewal Fund, New Deal for Communities and work undertaken by English Partnerships. Excludes £15 million from the Coalfields Regeneration Trust and Coalfields Enterprise Fund whose expenditure is distributed on the basis of different regional boundaries, cross-cutting projects by other Government Departments and any local authority expenditure contributing to regeneration. Also excludes European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) money. Total projected ERDF spend for 2001–02 on regeneration in the English regions is £248 million.

  2 The Eastern Region did not receive funding from English Partnerships for physical regeneration during 2001–02. This is because there are no coalfields; collapsing land; nor, at present, any Urban Regeneration Companies (these are English Partnerships' principal regeneration function).

  West Dorset Council (Freemasons)
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what action was taken by the Government Office for the South West following the Southern Eye documentary, 'Anything to Declare' about the activities of Freemasons on West Dorset Council; and if he will make a statement. [19763]

  Dr. Whitehead
  I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of the letter in the Library of the House.
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  SSA Methodology
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will publish figures showing the effect of each of the changes in SSA methodology introduced in 1998 on(a) SSAs for each class of authority and (b) each local authority in England in each year since 1998–99 (i) for each year and (ii) cumulatively, in (A) percentage terms and (B) cash terms. [20378]

  Mr. Byers
  This question could be answered only at disproportionate cost.

  Housing (Barnet)
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what will be the actual cap levels for formula rents for registered social landlords and council housing in Barnet in 2011. [20836]

  Ms Keeble
  The cap levels for formula rents for RSL and council housing will rise at RPI+1 per cent. a year from the current figures.

  Rents
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what estimate he has made of the impact of formula rents on local authority housing revenue accounts; and if he will make a statement. [20852]

  Ms Keeble
  We estimate that the impact will vary from authority to authority depending on how local authorities determine the means by which they implement rent restructuring.

  Local Government Commission
  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what time scale is set for the Local Government Commission to undertake a structural review of a local authority in England. [21632]

  Dr. Whitehead
  No structural reviews are currently taking place and so no prescribed time scales have been set.

  Train Staff
  Mr. Alan Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what account he will take of train operators assuming a right to require staff to work their leave days unless specifically declaring their non-availability when renewing franchises. [21439]

  Mr. Jamieson
  Staffing matters, including working hours, are the responsibility of the train operating companies and are not prescribed in franchise agreements. There are no plans to change this.

  New Deal (Young People)
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many people are employed by the Department under the new deal for young people; and at what cost to public funds. [21315]
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  Dr. Whitehead
  New deal recruits take up existing vacancies so extra costs are limited to the subsidy, where appropriate, and any additional training and development which may be needed. The total number of new deal 18–24 staff currently in DTLR is 29. The Department receives a subsidy of £60 per week for six months, for each full-time new deal employee. In addition, a training allowance of £750 is provided. The cost per employee is £2,190. The total cost to public funds for the 29 new deal staff in DTLR will be £63,510.

  Local Government Association
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will outline the financial support given by his Department to the Local Government Association; and how this mechanism of funding operates. [20718]

  Dr. Whitehead
  [holding answer 5 December 2001]: The Government do not provide financial support to the Local Government Association.

  National Association of Local Councils
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will outline what(a) financial and (b) other support he gives to the National Association of Local Councils. [20719]

  Dr. Whitehead
  [holding answer 5 December 2001]: The Government do not give financial or other support to the National Association of Local Councils.

  Railtrack
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what assessment was conducted by his Department into the value of(a) assets and (b) separate groups within Railtrack Group plc prior to Railtrack plc being placed into administration; and if he will place copies of the documentation in the Library. [21045]

  Mr. Jamieson
  An assessment of the cash-flows that Railtrack's assets would generate is included in the evidence presented to the High Court on 7 October, copies of which have been placed in the House Library.

  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans he has to provide funding to Railtrack from the roads budget as(a) loans and (b) other financial arrangement. [23364]

  Mr. Byers
  We are reviewing our expenditure plans, as we always intended to do, as part of the Review of the 10-Year Plan and work on Spending Review 2002.

  Rolling Stock
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what steps he is taking to improve the arrangements by which train operating companies(a) purchase and (b) lease rolling stock from ROSCOs. [21049]

  Mr. Jamieson
  I am not aware of any specific proposals to change the arrangements for the purchase or leasing of rolling stock. However, the industry has experienced problems in getting new stock into service and the Strategic Rail Authority has therefore set up a10W
  cross-industry Working Group to develop the mechanics for ensuring rapid acceptance of reliable trains onto the network.

  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what arrangements are in place to assist train operating companies with the(a) purchase and (b) lease of new rolling stock in the latter years of their contracts as franchise operators. [21053]

  Mr. Jamieson
  There are provisions within the Railways Act 1993 (s27(9) and s54) and the Transport Act 2000 (s211) which, for example, enable specific undertakings to be given in respect of new rolling stock where the length of the new lease is greater than the remaining length of the franchise and which allow the SRA to ensure that specified rolling stock leases are passed from one franchisee to another in the event of a change of control.

  Light Rail
  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what proportion of the allocated public funds for light rail under the 10 year transport funds has not been committed. [21850]

  Ms Keeble
  Our current estimate is that some £500 million of the £2.4 billion of public capital funding assumed in the 10 Year Plan for light rail is committed to schemes already approved. The precise amount will depend on the final funding arrangements to be agreed once the procurement processes for some of these schemes have been completed.

  Motorway Service Areas
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what research his Department has conducted into the relative merits of on-line and junction motorway service areas. [22064]

  Mr. Byers
  It is for the private sector rather than my Department to bring forward proposals for new motorway service areas and whether a developer opts for an on-line or junction location will depend on the circumstances of the individual case. The Department, through the Highways Agency, will invariably comment on specific proposals but it has no general policy preference between the two types of site.

  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions on what basis he decided that the planning inquiry into motorway service areas on the M4 and M40 should be treated as six individual inquiries; and what implication this has for the budget of(a) his Department, and (b) the local authorities concerned. [22063]

  Mr. Byers
  The planning inquiry into motorway service areas on the M25, M4 and M40 is being treated as a single inquiry. No decision has been taken to treat it as six individual inquiries. It is normal practice for the local authority to provide the venue and for the Planning Inspectorate to supply the Inspector, each bearing its own costs. At the pre-inquiry meeting on 3 December the
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  preference at the meeting was to hold the inquiry at a single location and the local authorities concerned will be liaising on this.

  Freight Factory Grants
  Mr. Weir
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what freight factory grant money has been awarded to(a)the Port of Tyne and (b) DFDS since 1979. [21786]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The Port of Tyne has been awarded £977,350 through two freight facility grants, and the DFDS #x00A3;2,549,922 through three freight facility grants. These awards were for improving rail facilities to allow freight traffic handled at the ports to arrive and depart by rail rather than road.

  HMOs
  Ms Oona King
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will list the local authorities in England who operate a discretionary registration scheme for houses in multiple occupation under Part XI of the Housing Act 1985. [22451]

  Ms Keeble
  The local authorities operating such schemes are as listed:

  Allerdale

  Ashford

  Barking and Dagenham

  Barnsley

  Barrow-in-Furness

  Basildon

  Basingstoke and Deane

  Bexley

  Birmingham

  Blackpool

  Blyth Valley

  Bolton

  Bolton

  Bournemouth

  Bracknell Forest

  Brighton and Hove

  Bromley

  Bromsgrove

  Bury

  Calderdale

  Cambridge

  Camden

  Canterbury

  Carlisle

  Castle Morpeth

  Cheltenham

  Cherwell

  Chester

  Chiltern

  Colchester

  Croydon

  Dacorum

  Darlington

  Derby

  Dover

  Ealing

  East Hertfordshire

  12W

  East Riding of Yorkshire

  Eastbourne

  Enfield

  Fenland

  Gateshead

  Gravesham

  Greenwich

  Guildford

  Hackney

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  Haringey

  Harlow

  Harrogate

  Harrow

  Hastings

  Hereford

  Hillingdon

  Hounslow

  Islington

  Kettering

  Kings Lynn and West Norfolk

  Kingston-upon-Thames

  Kingston-upon-Hull

  Kirklees

  Lambeth

  Lancaster

  LB Brent

  Luton

  Mansfield

  Melton

  Mid Bedfordshire

  Mid Devon

  Middlesborough

  Milton Keynes

  NE Lincolnshire

  Newark and Sherwood

  Newbury

  Newcastle

  Newcastle

  Newham

  North Hertfordshire

  North Lincolnshire

  North Norfolk

  North Somerset

  North Warwickshire

  Norwich

  Nottingham

  Oxford

  Petersborough

  Portsmouth

  Preston

  Redditch

  Rochdale

  Rother

  Rotherham

  Rushcliffe

  Rushmoor

  Salford

  Scarborough

  Sefton

  13W

  Sheffield

  Shepway

  South Tyneside

  Southampton

  Southwark

  St. Albans

  Stockton-on-Tees

  Stroud

  Sunderland

  Surrey Heath

  Sutton

  Tendring

  Test Valley

  Thanet

  Tower Hamlets

  Watford

  Waveney

  West Oxfordshire

  Westminster

  Weymouth and Portland

  Wigan

  Wirral

  Wokingham

  Wolverhampton

  Worthing

  Wyre Forest

  York.

  Lincolnshire County Council
  Gillian Merron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when the KPMG public interest report on Lincolnshire county council will be(a) issued to those named in the report and (b) published. [22218]

  Dr. Whitehead
  [holding answer 11 December 2001]: The publication of a public interest report into the affairs of a council is a matter entirely for that council's Auditor. I am unable to comment or offer any guide with regard to the publication of any report that may be in preparation.

  Bus Services (Buckingham)
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of local bus services in the Buckingham constituency; and if he will list the bus routes cancelled since 1997. [22653]

  Ms Keeble
  Local authorities have the primary role in assessing whether bus service needs in their area are being met adequately by current provision. I understand that Buckinghamshire county council carried out an assessment of the bus service provision in Buckingham, by parish, when preparing their local transport plan, and that their view is that in general the bus services there have been gradually improving since 1997. No data are available on which bus services have been withdrawn in the Buckingham constituency since 1997.
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  London Underground
  Tom Brake
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the changes were in the average real fare on London Underground in each year since 1990–91. [22719]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The average increase across all Underground fares in relation to inflation was as follows:

  Average increase across all Underground fares in relation to inflation (as RPI)

  1990

  RPI + 3 per cent.

  1991

  RPI + 1 per cent.

  1992

  RPI + 4 per cent.

  1993

  RPI + 7 per cent.

  1994

  RPI + 4 per cent.

  1995

  RPI + 2 per cent.

  1996

  RPI + 2 per cent.

  1997

  RPI + 1 per cent.

  1998

  RPI + 1 per cent.

  1999

  RPI + 1 per cent.

  2000

  RPI + 1 per cent.

  2001

  RPI + 0 per cent.

  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what his estimate is of the total cost of advisory fees in respect of the London Underground PPP. [22702]

  Mr. Spellar
  I refer the right hon. Member to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for South Ribble (Mr. Borrow) on 4 December 2001,Official Report, column 296W.

  Local Education Authorities
  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will list by local education authority in England, the amounts that he has(a) deducted for existing statutory responsibilities taken away and (b) added for new statutory responsibilities imposed in the provisional settlement for 2002–03. [22747]

  Dr. Whitehead
  There were two deductions for responsibilities transferred elsewhere: £1,356 million for school sixth forms to the Learning and Skills Council and £5 million for the National College for School Leadership. I have placed the figures for individual education authorities in the Libraries of the House, together with the revised Learning and Skills Council transfer amounts notified to authorities last week.

  Mobile Phone Masts
  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 10 December 2000,Official Report, column 580W, in what way he has significantly strengthened the planning arrangements for telecommunications development in respect of the siting of mobile phone masts in PPG8. [22768]

  Ms Keeble
  On 22 August this year we introduced changes that significantly improved the planning procedures and guidance for telecommunications mast
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  development. The changes, which included amendments to the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995:
  strengthened public consultation requirements on mast proposals of 15 metres and below so that they are the same as for planning applications;
  increased the time for a local planning authority to deal with prior approval applications to 56 days;
  underlined that school governors must be consulted on all proposals for new masts on or near a school or college; and
  increased fees to enable authorities to carry out full public consultation.

  Uninsured Drivers
  Bob Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what proposals he has to assist victims of road crashes caused by drivers who are not insured; and if he will make a statement. [22713]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The Motor Insurers' Bureau pays compensation from a guarantee fund to victims of uninsured and untraced drivers under long-standing agreements with Government. Motor insurers fund the Bureau pro rata to the amount of insurance they sell.

  Pete Wishart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what estimate he has made of the number of uninsured drivers using the roads; and what plans he has to reduce this number. [22769]

  Mr. Jamieson
  It is estimated that between 4 per cent. and 6 per cent. of motorists drive while uninsured, an offence for which 300,140 people were convicted and more than 28,000 were disqualified during 1999. The motor insurers' recently established Motor Insurance Database will lead to a significant reduction in uninsured driving as police are now able to query insurance details immediately from the roadside. Police inquiries to the database are running at 22,000 a day.

  Residential Gardens (Dumping)
  Bob Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what proposals he has to extend the scope of the planning acts to enable local authorities to deal with residential gardens which become dumping grounds for household and other rubbish; and if he will make a statement. [22714]

  Ms Keeble
  There are powers already available to local planning authorities under section 215 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 to require landowners and occupiers to clear up sites adversely affecting amenity in their area. If nothing is done, authorities can carry out the work themselves and charge the owner the cost. These powers are in addition to those available to authorities under environmental protection legislation to tackle fly-tipping and litter.

  Cherished Number Plates
  Pete Wishart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how much money was collected by the sale of cherished number plates in the past five years. [22770]
  16W
  Mr. Jamieson
  The gross revenue raised over the past five years as at the end of 2000–01 was £314 million.

  Uniform Business Rate
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many businesses paid uniform business rates in the Buckingham constituency in each year since 1997; and what was the total amount paid. [22645]

  Dr. Whitehead
  The information requested is collected only at local authority level, so figures for the Buckingham constituency are not available. Information for the local authority covering the constituency (Aylesbury Vale district council) is given in the table:

  £

  Number of hereditaments1

  Non-domestic rates paid to Aylesbury Vale district council2

  1997–98

  4,092

  26,194,000

  1998–99

  4,137

  27,234,000

  1999–2000

  4,182

  27,717,000

  2000–01

  4,317

  30,981,000

  2001–02

  4,365

  31,928,000

  1 The number of hereditaments is taken from the National Non-Domestic Rates Provisional Contribution to the Pool Return and is based on the rating list in place on 31 December in the previous financial year. In addition to businesses, these include properties that are liable to non-domestic rates, such as schools and advertising hoardings.

  2 The figures given relate to non-domestic properties on the local rating list which, from 1 April 2000, includes those that were previously exempt crown properties. In addition, some other non-domestic properties in the area of Aylesbury Vale district council (eg gas and electricity supply networks) are on the central list and so pay non-domestic rates direct to central Government. Figures are taken from NNDR returns to the Department. Those for 2001–02 are estimates.

  Millennium Dome
  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to his answers of 5 December 2001,Official Report, column 382W, on the Millennium Dome, for what reason the Government are committed to retaining the Dome structure; by how much the value of the site is affected by the Dome structure; if the Government will sell the Dome structure separately; what the Government's estimate is of the value of the peninsular site (a) with and (b) without the Dome structure; and when the hon. Member for Cotswold will receive an answer to his question tabled on 29 November, ref. 19849. [22790]

  Ms Keeble
  [holding answer 13 December 2001]: Like many others, including the London borough of Greenwich, the Government are committed to the Dome staying in Greenwich. It is an important landmark on the London skyline, which has hastened the regeneration of the Greenwich Peninsula and has added to the quality and variety of world-famous structures that were already so prominent in the area. Delivering a successful future

  17W
  for the Dome will build on this, ensuring continued recognition worldwide and enabling the regeneration momentum that has been established to continue.

  A pre-sale valuation of the Dome site has been undertaken in the context of this process for securing a long term use for the Dome. Any valuations and Government appraisals of the financial value of the site are commercially confidential.

  The question, ref. 19849, from the hon. Member for Cotswold (Mr. Clifton Brown) was answered on 5 December 2001, Official Report, column 382W.

  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will (1) list each proposal to lease the Millennium Dome that has been received indicating(a) the date it was received, (b) the consideration it received, (c) the dates of the proposed lease and (d) the status of each bid; [22858]

  (2)make a statement on the process by which (a) bids for and (b) proposals to lease the Millennium Dome are considered; [22855]

  (3) list each bid received for the Millennium Dome, indicating (a) the date it was received, (b) the consideration it received and (c) the status of the bid. [22857]

  Ms Keeble
  [holding answer 13 December 2001]: Large numbers of proposals have been received by English Partnerships. These have varied greatly in terms of substance and detail, but full consideration is given to every proposal commensurate with its nature. To reveal details of any proposals would not be conducive to a successful conclusion of relevant discussions and would be against the public interest.

  The on-going market testing is exploring all avenues in relation to the long-term future use of the Dome, and on professional advice we are in discussion with a small number of serious contenders. All proposals for short-term uses are considered on their merits.

  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many expressions of interest have been received by(a) people and (b) undertakings interested in holding an event at the Millennium Dome over new year's eve. [22863]

  Ms Keeble
  [holding answer 13 December 2001]: The Ministry of Sound were the only organisation to directly express an interest and put forward a properly worked up proposal for new year's eve. This formed the basis for contractual discussions, resulting in the event that has been announced for new year's eve at the Dome.

  English Partnerships have negotiated a proper commercial return from the Ministry of Sound, including a basic hire charge of £75,000 plus a share of ticket revenue. In addition, Ministry of Sound is paying for all the costs of organising the event.

  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many people have visited the Millennium Dome since 1 July, indicating the nature and purpose of each visit. [22856]

  Ms Keeble
  [holding answer 13 December 2001]: The number of visits to the Dome (including repeat and
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  work-related visits) from 1 July 2001 to 11 December 2001, and the nature of those visits, is as follows:

  Number

  Short-term use inquiries

  404

  Decommissioning related

  4,743

  Potential purchaser inquiries

  55

  Civil servants

  13

  Court visit (Millennium Diamond case)

  47

  Other

  68

  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many(a) guests and (b) staff of English Partnerships have been invited to attend the Ministry of Sound's new year's eve party at the Millennium Dome. [22852]

  Ms Keeble
  [holding answer 13 December 2001]: As is normal business practice in event management, Ministry of Sound has offered English Partnerships a maximum of 200 complimentary tickets to the new year's eve event. These tickets have nil face value and will be taken up by English Partnerships' staff (and their immediate families) and guests. The overall attendance at the event is expected to be 40,000 people.

  Rail Passengers
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what steps his Department has taken to improve the accountability of(a) customer views and (b) customer satisfaction on the railways; and if he will make a statement. [23195]

  Mr. Jamieson
  All train operating companies are required to carry out regular Customer Satisfaction Surveys to monitor passengers' perception of the quality of service they offer. If satisfaction falls below benchmarks (based on the results of surveys carried out at the time of franchising) the companies can be required to produce an action plan to remedy the problem. The Strategic Rail Authority have initiated a new National Passenger Survey (NPS) which asks passengers nationwide the same questions about service quality. This enables the Authority to compare companies against one another. As with the existing Customer Satisfaction Surveys, benchmarks for the NPS will be set in new franchise agreements.

  Out-of-town Shopping Centres
  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many out-of-town shopping centres have received planning consent since 1997. [22902]

  Ms Keeble
  Since 1997 only eight out-of-town centres have been given planning permission. Out-of-town centres have been defined by the definition used for the sustainable development indicator for the location of new retail floorspace. "Out-of-town" means outside town centres and includes sites in urban areas. Centre includes all purpose-built shopping developments and factory outlet centres over 50,000 sq ft gross lettable area.
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  New Homes (Greater London)
  Martin Linton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many new homes were built in Greater London between 2000 and 2001; and how many are(a) planned and (b) proposed between 2001 and 2003. [22948]

  Ms Keeble
  The number of new dwellings built in London in the financial year 2000–01 was 14,200. The number built in the following six months, to September 2001, was 6,300. Information on how many dwellings will be built by March 2003 is not available.

  Worcestershire SSA
  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what assessment he has made of the adequacy of Worcestershire's standard spending assessment for fire services; and if he will make a statement. [23219]

  Dr. Whitehead
  Worcestershire county council is a constituent local authority of the Hereford and Worcester fire authority. For 2002–03 the fire standard spending assessment for the constituent authorities will in total be, provisionally, £16.004 million. This represents an increase of 4.9 per cent. on the current year (for Worcestershire county council this represents an increase of 4.8 per cent). It compares with an average increase of 4 per cent. for fire authorities in England.

  Boundary Changes (Deprivation Funding)
  Gillian Merron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what assessment he has made of the impact of boundary changes on eligibility for deprivation related funds; and what was the outcome of that assessment. [23088]

  Ms Keeble
  We are aware that there is a high level of change in ward boundaries in England. We are intending to commission a project shortly that will explore, along with other issues, the extent of such change since the Indices of Deprivation 2000 were developed.

  Gillian Merron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what discussions he has had with other departments on the impact of boundary changes on eligibility for deprivation related funds. [23091]

  Ms Keeble
  The impact of the high level of changes in ward boundaries in England has been recognised. There is work under way, led by the Office for National Statistics, to minimise the amount of change. In the longer term the intention is to develop a new system of geography to support deprivation related data which will not be subject to such change. This will be based on Census Output Areas.

  Mobile Phones
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans he has to deter motor vehicle drivers from using mobile phones while driving. [23081]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The Highway Code makes it clear that drivers should never use hand-held mobile phones while driving and that it is best not to use hands-free phones.20W
  The Government will continue to educate drivers about the dangers of using a mobile phone while driving. The Department produces a leaflet, "mobile phones and driving", which is used by road safety officers and the police in local campaigns. We are currently preparing a new publicity campaign for early next year.

  The police will continue to use existing powers to prosecute irresponsible drivers. This includes the offence of not having proper control of a vehicle, which is contrary to regulation 104 of the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986. If an accident should occur, drivers may be prosecuted for careless or even dangerous driving.

  Satellite Television Dishes
  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on the planning restrictions on the siting of satellite television dishes on residential properties, including the date upon which it came in to force; and what plans he has to change the planning restrictions to take into account the change in design of satellite television dishes. [22851]

  Ms Keeble
  [holding answer 13 December 2001]: Class H of Part 1 of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995 (as amended) allows for the installation of one satellite dish on a dwelling house without a requirement for planning permission subject to limitations on the size of the dish and the position of the dish on the building. In environmentally sensitive areas, such as Conservation Areas and National Parks, there are additional requirements relating to the position of the dish on the building and the height of the building. The permitted development right derives from the Town and Country Planning General Development (Amendment) (No 2) Order 1985 which came into force on 1 March 1986.

  As indicated in our Broadband Strategy, published on 3 December 2001, we shall review planning regulations relating to satellite terminals to determine how current rules could be relaxed to facilitate broadband deployment, while continuing to minimise the environmental and visual impact of residential satellite terminals.

  Neighbourhood Renewal Unit
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what reports the neighbourhood renewal unit is planning to publish on(a) social exclusion and older people and (b) the involvement of older people in neighbourhood renewal initiatives. [23292]

  Ms Keeble
  The neighbourhood renewal unit is not planning to publish any reports on social exclusion and older people in the near future. Engaging members of the local community to take decisions on solving local problems is a central aspect of neighbourhood renewal. This involves ensuring that groups which are often hard to reach are involved in and benefit from neighbourhood renewal activity. The neighbourhood renewal unit has developed a race strategy to ensure that this is the case in relation to black and minority ethnic communities. This strategy will be used as a pathfinder for other groups, including older people. Work on this will take into
  21W
  consideration the work of the Better Government for Older People programme which was launched in 1998 to improve public services for older people.

  South West Regional Assembly
  Mr. Butterfill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions whether the South West regional assembly has provided support to the South West regional convention; and if he will make a statement. [23626]

  Dr. Whitehead
  The South West regional assembly has been established voluntarily by bodies representing the interests of the region. Its running costs are a matter for the assembly and its members. However, I understand that it has not provided any support for the South West constitutional convention.

  Planning
  Dr. Jack Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when he proposes to consult on procedures for involving Parliament in speeding up the processing of major infrastructure projects in the planning system. [23909]

  Mr. Byers
  In July I announced a package of measures to streamline the handling in the planning system of major infrastructure projects, such as new airports, runways, rail links and roads. The objective was to speed up the decision-making process so as to cut the delay, cost and uncertainty of the present process, while making sure that people continue to be properly involved and have the opportunity to make their views known.

  The package comprised:
  up-to-date statements of Government policy before major infrastructure projects are considered in the planning system to help reduce inquiry time spent on debating the policy;
  an improved regional framework which will assist consideration of individual projects (e.g. through the revised arrangements for Regional Planning Guidance);
  new procedures to give Parliament the opportunity to approve projects in principle before consideration of the details at inquiry;
  improved inquiry procedures for major infrastructure projects;
  improved arrangements for compulsory purchase and compensation.

  We are today publishing a consultation paper setting out our detailed proposals for new parliamentary procedures. Copies are being laid before both Houses. The deadline for comment is 22 March 2002.

  It is right that Parliament should have the opportunity to consider infrastructure projects of major importance to the country and to the economy. Parliament's involvement will add weight and accountability to the process without reducing the opportunities for people to have their say. Parliament's endorsement of the principle of, need for and location of a project will speed up the decision-making process by removing the necessity for the subsequent planning inquiry to look at these issues. We propose to underpin this with new powers for Planning Inspectors to focus discussion at the inquiry, which will just look at the details of implementing the project on the ground. The final decision on a project will rest with the Secretary of State.
  22W
  Our proposals give people a clear opportunity to make their views known before Parliament debates the issues. They provide a mechanism for people to make objections or other representations about a proposed project. Parliament would have copies of all of them and a summary. In addition, the parliamentary stage would be preceded by development of a statement of Government policy, on the content of which there would normally be prior public consultation, and people can express their views at a subsequent inquiry on the detailed aspects of the scheme.

  These opportunities for people to be involved at three key stages of the process would be over and above the consultations between developers and local people on proposed projects before an application for planning consent is submitted. We want local people to be involved as early as possible in shaping proposals affecting them and the areas in which they live.

  Introducing the new procedures would require primary legislation. This will be brought forward when parliamentary time allows.

  Mr. Paterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if the planning Green Paper will propose that spatial development strategies no longer be decided at county council level. [22391]

  Ms Keeble
  I refer the hon. Member to chapter 4 of our consultation paper entitled "Planning: delivering a fundamental change".

  Revenue Support Grant (West Sussex)
  Mr. Flight
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what weighting was given in the recent provisional revenue support grant figures for West Sussex county council to(a) pressures on social services for the elderly, (b) changes in transport costs for education and social services and (c) flood damage in West Sussex caused by last year's heavy rains; and if he will make a statement. [23653]

  Dr. Whitehead
  The Government looked at the pressures facing local government when setting the spending plans for 2001–02 to 2003–04 in the Spending Review 2000. Those spending plans provide for good increases in grant to local authorities overall. Our proposals for the funding of local authority revenue expenditure next year provide real terms increases for education, social services and environmental, protective and cultural services. The proposals include the £300 million over the SR2000 plans which the Government have provided for this year and the next to assist councils in building care capacity.

  In allocating the overall level of funding between authorities, the SSA formulae recognise that pressures on social services are higher for some authorities than for others. For example, they take account of the size of the elderly population in each authority and other factors such as deprivation. General grant to West Sussex in 2002–03 under our proposals is £343 million which is an increase of £22.5 million or 7 per cent. on a like for like comparison. This is above the average for comparable authorities.
  23W
  The Government have also provided £26 million in emergency financial assistance through the Bellwin scheme to councils affected by flood damage as a result of last year's heavy rains. West Sussex county council received £6 million. Revenue expenditure by West Sussex on flood defence not covered through the Bellwin scheme is taken account of in the calculation of West Sussex's flood defence SSA.

  In addition, recognising the severity of last year's floods, the Environment Agency in Sussex has benefited from £1.1 million for emergency response and repair costs and £0.2 million for design and feasibility costs of river strategies. It will also receive a grant for the capital programme of £9.6 million in 2002–03.

  Remote-controlled Model Aircraft
  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on the use of remote-controlled model aircraft in areas used by the general public. [23402]

  Dr. Whitehead
  The Department offers to local authorities standard forms of byelaws to prohibit or regulate the use of power-driven model aircraft, including those controlled by radio-signal, in pleasure grounds and open spaces. Before making this type of byelaw, local authorities are advised to bring their proposals to the notice of the British Model Flying Association and of any local model aircraft clubs, and consider their views.

  Flood Plains
  Mr. MacKay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make an assessment of the need for special consideration where water from a site drains to a flood plain in the context of the PPG25 Guidance. [23538]

  Ms Keeble
  PPG25 already indicates that applications of such a size or nature relative to the receiving watercourse/drainage system that there could be a significant increase in surface water run-off from the area are likely to require particular consideration of flood risk issues. This applies whether a development is within the flood plain or is outside it but drains into the flood plain.

  PPG25 also advises that developers should carry out an assessment of the flood-risk and run-off implications of their proposals that is appropriate to the scale and nature of the development and the risks involved. In particular it advises that the run-off implications of development for all areas are controlled, where possible, through the use of sustainable drainage systems.

  RAF Staff College, Bracknell
  Mr. MacKay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what assessment he has made of the calculation of his inspector in the report on the Bracknell Borough Local Plan regarding the limits on the number of dwellings in the development of the RAF staff college site in Bracknell. [23540]

  Ms Keeble
  I understand that the area referred to is included in the council's draft local plan, which has been assessed by an independent inspector after a public inquiry. It is a matter for the local council to take forward 24W
  the recommendations of the inspector. The Secretary of State also comments on draft plans and did so in this case, supporting the independent inspector's conclusions.

  Mr. MacKay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will limit the built area of the site at the RAF staff college site, Bracknell, to 25 hectares. [23536]

  Ms Keeble
  The details of any site are a matter for the local authority who have primary responsibility for the planning of their area. I also understand that there is an outstanding planning application for the site, so cannot comment on the details of this application.

  Mr. MacKay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what assessment he has made of the Inspector's report on the Bracknell Borough Local Plan, relating to the impact on local roads of the construction of housing on the site of the RAF staff college. [23537]

  Ms Keeble
  The Inspector charged with examining the Draft Local Plan's proposals had the benefit of hearing views on the traffic impacts of this proposal and recognised the need for measures to address the issue, before making his recommendations. The Council will also be able to assess transport impacts as part of their consideration of any planning application.

  Postal Votes
  Mr. Moss
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many votes were cast by post during the 2000 Greater London Authority elections(a) in absolute terms, (b) as a percentage of all valid and non-valid votes cast and (c) as a percentage of the London electorate. [23367]

  Dr. Whitehead
  There is no central figure for the number of votes cast by post during the 2000 GLA elections.

  Fire Service (Shropshire)
  Mr. Paterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will(a) introduce a spatial factor and (b) increase the total for fire service funding for Shropshire and The Wrekin. [22390]

  Dr. Whitehead
  As a combined fire authority, Shropshire and Wrekin Fire Authority draws its revenue funding from its constituent local authorities, namely Shropshire county council and Telford and Wrekin council. As part of the provisional local government finance settlement, announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State on 4 December 2001,Official Report, column 167, the total fire standard spending assessment for those authorities would be increased from £9.267 million in the current year to £9.461 million in 2002–03.

  There are no plans to make changes to SSA formula methodology for 2002–03. However, the Government are committed to funding the fire service by a means of grant distribution that is fairer, more stable, and free from perverse incentives. It is therefore working up proposals in partnership with local government for reformed grant allocation formulae to be introduced in 2003–04. One of the options, which is being considered as part of this review, is the inclusion of a sparsity indicator in the fire

  25W
  funding formula. The Government are also willing to consider proposals for other spatial measures which might be included in the formula.

  Local Government (Electronic Delivery)
  Mr. Miller
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will set out the allocations he intends to make available next year under the local government Online project. [23876]

  Mr. Raynsford
  We have recently published the Local Government White Paper "Strong Local Leadership—Quality Public Services" setting out our vision for a stronger local government and improved public services. E-government is essential to that vision and many councils are seizing this opportunity to transform the way they deliver services and engage their communities.

  To this end the Government have committed £350 million over three years to support putting local government online. So far, £25 million has been allocated to 24 pathfinder projects (with a further pathfinder being funded under the Invest to Save Budget) to develop new approaches which can be shared with the wider government community.

  We expect all councils to rise to this challenge, and deliver e-enabled services by 2005. To help them achieve this the Government intend, subject to the agreement of Parliament, to provide a capital grant of £200,000 each to 398 local authorities in 2002–03 to support proposals contained in their Implementing Electronic Government (IEG). Subject to demonstrating that they have made good progress, and have used the first tranche of money to good effect, we also intend them to receive a further £200,000 each in 2003–04. We will accordingly lay a Special Grant report before the House setting out this intention, in the near future.

  We have also made provision for financial support to facilitate partnerships both between local authorities, and between local authorities and other public bodies, as well as for further national projects available for use by all local authorities.

  We shall be writing to leading potential partnerships between councils and with other public services seeking further evidence of how their partnership will contribute to delivering joined up, e-enabled services.

  We have struck a balance between resources for individual councils to help them meet local priorities, support for partnerships, pathfinders and other national projects which provide the essential building blocks for every council to use.

  The draft national local government Online strategy to be published early in the new year will set out how we will continue to support pathfinders, and seek views on new national products which can help all councils move quickly and cost effectively toward the standards of e-enabled service offered by the best. We will announce detailed plans for the remainder of the funding in the new year alongside the publication of this strategy.

  Nuclear Decommissioning
  Linda Perham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what estimate she has made of the financial costs involved in 26W
  disposing of nuclear waste and decommissioning nuclear power stations over the last 20 years; and what future projections she has made for the next 10 years. [22295]

  Mr. Wilson
  I have been asked to reply.

  Expenditure by the Liabilities Management Authority is expected to be approximately £1 billion a year over the next 10–15 years. The other information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

TREASURY

  e-tendering
  Mrs. Lawrence
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on progress towards meeting the target on e-tendering for Government business. [24095]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  We are currently piloting an internet-based electronic tendering service (OGC Tendertrust) with 10 Departments. This pilot will ensure that the whole of Government have access to a service that will assure the delivery, security and integrity of tenders across the internet and authenticate all parties to the transaction. This service uses digital certificates and smartcards and has received formal Government security accreditation. The evidence from the pilot shows that further work is needed to maintain the right level of security and encourage take up of the service. We will therefore revise our target of sending and receiving 100 per cent. of tenders electronically by December 2002.

  VAT
  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to introduce the experimental reduced VAT rate scheme for labour intensive services agreed in October 1999; and if he will make a statement. [23105]

  Mr. Boateng
  The experimental scheme agreed in 1999 gave member states the option to apply a reduced VAT rate to a limited range of labour intensive services during the calendar years 2000, 2001 and 2002. The Isle of Man applies a reduced VAT rate of 5 per cent. under the scheme to renovation and repairs of domestic housing. The Chancellor has no plans for the UK to participate further.

  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what information he has collated on which EU countries have elected to use the experimental reduced VAT rate scheme for labour intensive services. [23106]

  Mr. Boateng
  Belgium, Greece, Spain, France, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal and the UK (on behalf of the Isle of Man only) apply the experimental reduced rate of VAT to certain labour intensive services.

  Tax Credits Bill
  Mr. Hoban
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assumptions concerning(a) rates and (b) tapers were used in preparing the regulatory impact assessment for the Tax Credits Bill. [22985]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The regulatory impact assessment assumes, for illustrative purposes only, that the current systems of support are replicated as closely as possible.
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  Defence Expenditure
  Rachel Squire
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the £100 million on defence expenditure he cited in his pre-Budget statement is the same money as the £107 million announced in the Ministry of Defence's Departmental Expenditure Limit for 2001–02. [22949]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  No. The increase in total DEL for the Ministry of Defence of £107.080 million announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence on 28 November 2001,Official Report, column 909W, arises from the winter Supplementary Estimate presented to the House on 29 November (Cm. 5303). On the resource side, it comprises primarily the take-up of DEL end-year flexibility and the consequences of Machinery of Government changes, while the minor increase in capital also arises from a Machinery of Government change.

  The sum of up to £100 million that my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced in his pre-Budget report has not yet been included in Supplementary Estimates.

  Departmental Underspending
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much underspend there was in real terms in each year between May 1997 and April 2000 in the(a) Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions and (b) Home Office. [13205]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  The table sets out details of cash underspends at 1999–2000 prices for spending by the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions and the Home Office. For 1999–2000 underspends are measured against final Departmental Expenditure Limits (introduced on 1 April 1999) and for 1997–98 against final cash limits within the Control Total.

  £0001

  1999–2000

  1998–99

  1997–98

  Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions2

  800,690

  226,342

  80,195

  Home Office

  147,948

  22,999

  48,795

  1999–2000 prices

  2 Main DEL

  National Health Service
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if it is his policy to raise the level of one tax in order to pay for increased expenditure on the national health service. [22035]

  Dawn Primarolo
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Yeovil (Mr. Laws) on 6 December 2001,Official Report, column 526W.

  International Tax Recoveries
  Mr. Gray
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answers of 25 October 2001,Official Report, column 374W, 21 November 2001, Official Report, column 360W, and 30 November 2001, Official Report, column 1217W, on international tax recoveries, how much of the £499 million recovered in tax by International Division from the taxpayers paying more than £100 million in the year ended 31 March 2000, was made up of
  28W
  (a) interest and (b) penalties; and what the totals paid by them were for each of these categories of payment in that year. [22124]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The £499 million included interest of £75 million. No penalty was levied.

  Taper Relief
  Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what will be the cost of taper relief for financial years(a) 2002–03 and (b) 2003–04. [22192]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The costs of capital gains tax taper relief for 2000–01 and 2001–02 are given in the Tax Ready Reckoner and Tax Reliefs, which was published on 27 November 2001. Estimates for future years are highly dependent on assumed growth in asset values.

  Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the reasons for the change in the cost of taper relief for financial years(a) 2000–01 and (b) 2001–02 between November 2000 and November 2001 tax ready reckoners; and if he will make a statement.

  Dawn Primarolo
  For 1999–2000, taper relief was only available in respect of disposals of business assets. For long held assets, the proportion chargeable was 85 per cent.

  For 2000–01, taper relief was also available for non-business assets. The proportion chargeable was 95 per cent. for long held non-business assets and 75 per cent. for long held business assets.

  For 2001–02, the proportion chargeable reduces to 50 per cent. for long held business assets and 90 per cent. for long held non-business assets.

  The change in cost of taper relief between years reflects the progressive maturity of these taper relief structures as well as such factors as asset values, volumes of disposals and tax rates and allowances.

  The change, between November 2000 and November 2001, in the estimates of the cost of taper relief for 2000–01, reflects changes in the underlying estimate of CGT liability for that year (liabilities for 2000–01 are mostly paid in 2001–02). This is due to new information on asset prices and disposal volumes through 2000–01 and higher than expected CGT receipts in 2000–01.

  Social Security Contributions
  Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the reason for the change in the seasonal pattern of social security contributions in(a) 2000–01 and (b) 2000–02; and if he will make a statements.

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  Figures for social security contributions on an accrued basis are published in table PSF3 of the monthly National Statistics first release on the Public Sector Finances. The source of a key part of the data has changed from the Government Actuary's Department to Inland Revenue, and the new methodology, which has been implemented from the figures for 2000–01 onwards, better reflects the true quarterly pattern. Published figures on cash receipts are not affected by this change.
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  R and D Tax Credit
  Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what consideration the Chancellor is giving to a regional enhancement to his research and development tax credit for the assisted areas; and if he will make a statement. [22467]

  Dawn Primarolo
  A further consultation on the design of a "volume-based" R and D tax credit for large companies was launched on 4 December 2001. It aims to inform the detailed design of the scheme. There are no plans to introduce enhanced R and D tax credits for specific regions.

  Tax
  Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the recommendation of the Tax Law Committee's memorandum relating to the tax law on transfer of assets between spouses following separation and divorce; and what estimate he has made of the cost of extending the time period by a further two years in which assets could be transferred between separated spouses without any gain or loss of treatment as advised by the Tax Law Committee; and if he will make a statement. [22465]

  Dawn Primarolo
  We have noted the recommendation by the Tax Law Committee.

  Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment his Department has made of the extent to which the lower rate of income tax has achieved its objective of reducing in-work poverty; if he will place such studies in the Library; and if he will make a statement. [22468]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The introduction of the 10p rate of income tax in April 1999, together with its widening in April 2001, is worth between £100 and £188 a year to taxpayers, with the largest gains going to the low paid. Together with the cut in the basic rate of income tax and the reforms to national insurance contributions introduced during the last Parliament, the 10p rate is worth £330 a year to a single person working full-time on the minimum wage. This represents a 30 per cent. reduction in their combined income tax and national insurance bill, compared to the 1997 system.

  The Government's approach to tackling poverty and making work pay has been set out in the series of reports: "The Modernisation of Britain's Tax and Benefit System" published alongside Budgets and pre-Budget reports over the last four years. All of these reports are available in the House of Commons Library.

  Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the change in tax liability for a median taxpayer if the lower rate and basic rate of tax were amalgamated at 22 per cent.; and what estimate he has made of the savings in compliance costs from such a change to the Inland Revenue and the taxpayer. [22463]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The estimates requested are not available.
  30W
  Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the opinion of the Tax Law Committee on the impact of the number of tax rates; and if he will make a statement. [22464]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The Government keep the whole tax system under review, acting where possible to change tax rules to remove complexity in line with its objective of a modern and fair tax system.

  Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the opinion in the memorandum on tax reform by the Tax Law Committee on the taper relief system for capital gains tax and compliance costs; what estimates he has made of the costs of compliance for taper relief; and what estimate he had made of the proportion of taxpayers who benefit from the taper. [22466]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Taper relief is an intrinsically simple system: the taxpayer decides whether an asset has been a business asset or a non-business asset and then applies a percentage figure from a table to reduce the amount of gain charged to tax depending on how long the asset has been held.

  Our proposal to reduce the length of the business assets taper to two years will ease that calculation in many cases, and we are currently considering suggestions for further amendments to the details of the taper relief rules which have been proposed in response to our consultation on simplifying Capital Gains Tax.

  The Inland Revenue has a programme of compliance cost research and will study the taper system once it has had time to settle in and data become available. The Inland Revenue estimate that about 85 per cent. of those paying Capital Gains Tax in 2002–03 will benefit from taper relief.

  Uninsured Drivers
  Pete Wishart
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the loss incurred to public funds as a result of drivers not being insured in the past five years. [22772]

  Ruth Kelly
  No such estimate has been made.

  Beer Duty
  Mr. Stephen O'Brien
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on progress towards introducing a system of progressive beer duty. [22912]

  Mr. Boateng
  The Government have announced that they are minded to introduce a reduced rate of duty on the beer produced by small breweries. Customs and Excise are consulting with the main brewers' representatives. A decision will be announced in Budget 2002.

  Airline Industry
  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the answer of 5 December 2001,Official Report, column 328W, on the airline industry, if he will extend the scheme beyond January. [23237]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  The UK replacement insurance scheme for the aviation industry has been extended until 22 January 2002, in line with European guidelines. EC
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  guidelines say that Government schemes may run until the end of January, with a final deadline for schemes of the end of March 2002.

  The Government have no intention of intervening permanently in the aviation insurance market. The temporary Government scheme was set up with the objective of encouraging the return of commercial insurance at an appropriate market rate. The scheme will be withdrawn as more commercial insurance becomes available.

  Inward Investment (US)
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to assure US investors that public-private partnerships in the UK are attractive investment opportunities. [15269]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  Public-private partnerships (PPPs) are undertaken to deliver value for money services for the taxpayer, combining the complementary skills and experience of the public and private sectors.

  Extensive information on individual PPPs is made available by departments to interested parties through the Official Journal of the European Communities and other channels, and appropriate opportunities for public-private partnerships are promoted by Partnerships UK.

  Public Spending
  Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what factors underlay the decision to review the consistency of (1) incentives to budget holders with guidance to budget holders through the Green Book, as described in the Treasury document, 'Planning sustainable public spending', paragraph 61; and if he will make a statement; [22500]

  (2) guidance to budget holders through the Green Book with best practice as described in the Treasury document, 'Planning sustainable public spending'; and if he will make a statement. [22499]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  As paragraph 61 of the document referred to sets out, the purpose of the review is to ensure that the project appraisal and capital approval system embodies best practice.

  Development Assistance
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what development assistance spending has been as a percentage of gross national product in each of the last 20 years. [18189]

  Mr. Boateng
  [holding answer 27 November 2001]: The ODA/GNP ratio is an input target whose elements are set by the Development Assistance Committee (DAC). The Government remain committed to reaching the 0.7 target of Overseas Development Assistance as a percentage of GNP, we are steadily increasing the DOD budget—45 per cent. in real terms by 2003–04, the largest UK development assistance budget ever in real as well as cash terms. Development assistance as a percentage of GNP will rise to 0.33 per cent. in 2003–04, up from 0.26 per cent in 1997.
  32W
  DfID's publication "Statistics on International Development" (ISBN 186192397X), shows the UK's ODA/GNP ratio for the last 25 years.

  Capital Gains Tax
  Mr. Laws
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his estimate is of the reduction in the level of capital gains tax receipts in each of the next five years as a result of the reduction in the capital gains tax rate from 40 per cent. to 10 per cent. for assets held for longer periods; and if he will make a statement. [22475]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 13 December 2001]: The total costs of capital gains tax taper relief for business and non-business assets for 2000–01 and 2001–02 are given in the Tax Ready Reckoner and Tax Reliefs, which was published on 27 November 2001. These are £360 million and £580 million respectively. Estimates for future years are highly dependent on assumed growth in assets values.

  Mr. Laws
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his estimate is of the effect on the yield from the upper income tax rate of 40 per cent. as a consequence of the introduction of a capital gains tax rate of 10 per cent.; and if he will make a statement. [22476]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 13 December 2001]: The proposed modifications to the taper relief rules for business assets are not expected to diminish the income tax yield to any significant extent because the effective capital gains tax rate of 10 per cent. will not be reached until the asset in question has been held for two years, and because there are rules already in place ensuring that income is charged to income tax.

  We shall, however, be keeping the position under close review and will not hesitate to take action to protect the income tax yield if tax avoidance schemes for turning income into capital are introduced.

  National Insurance
  Mr. Swire
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the total number of (1) employees with earnings above the national insurance contribution ceiling; [22241]

  (2) earnings by employees in excess of the national insurance contributions ceiling. [22240]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 17 December 2001]: It is estimated that total earnings over the Upper Earnings Limit of £500 per week for Class 1 Employee Contributions in 1999–2000 were £48.3 billion; and that the average weekly number of employees earning over £500 per week during 1999–2000 was 3.8 million.

  These estimates were provided by the Government Actuary's Department and are the latest available figures.

  War-risk Insurance (Airline)
  John Barrett
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much money has been given to each airline to underwrite their third party war risk insurance. [22964]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  The Government have not given money to UK airlines to underwrite their third party war risk insurance. The scheme set up by the Government on
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  24 September provides cover to fill the gap in the market; airlines are offered insurance above that which is currently available in the market up to the level at which they were insured before the terrorist attacks on the US.

  Airlines and aviation service providers are charged a commercially based premium for cover under the scheme, although for the first month of the scheme charges were waived for airlines in recognition of the particular financial difficulties they faced in the immediate aftermath of 11 September. Premiums charged to airlines and service providers are in line with European guidelines.

  Before 11 September, war and terrorism insurance was included in the premium for the airlines' primary policy. The airlines still hold this: the premiums charged for Government insurance are over and above the premiums for the primary policy.

  Working Families Tax Credit
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 4 December 2001,Official Report, column 203W, on working families tax credit, how many people are in receipt of the various components of working families tax credit with a final income of (a) 20 to 30 per cent., (b) 30 to 40 per cent., (c) 40 to 50 per cent., (d) 50 to 60 per cent., (e) 60 to 70 per cent., (f) 70 to 80 per cent., (g) 80 to 90 per cent. and (h) 90 to 100 per cent. more than initial income. [22667]

  Dawn Primarolo
  It is estimated from the Family Resources Survey that, under the working families' tax credit (WFTC) regime applying to awards starting from June 2001, the numbers of such families are in the following table:

  Estimated number of families for which WFTC increases net income by between 20 and 100 per cent. under the June 2001 WFTC regime

  Percentage increase in final net income1 over initial net income1

  Families (Thousands)

  (a)20 to less than 30

  180

  (b)30 to less than 40

  120

  (c)40 to less than 50

  90

  (d)50 to less than 60

  50

  (e)60 to less than 70

  30

  (f)70 to less than 80

  40

  (g, h)2 80 to less than 100

  30

  1Final net income is as projected, including estimated entitlement to WFTC, housing benefit (HB) and council tax benefit (CTB). Initial net income if this less the estimated entitlement to WFTC, plus any consequent increase in estimated entitlement to HB and CTB.

  2 The sample size is too small to yield separate reliable estimates for (g) and (h).

  Notes:

  1 Estimates are derived from 1999–2000 FRS with incomes projected forward to 2001–02 and assuming the 2001–02 regimes for income tax and national insurance contributions. They are subject to sampling error.

  2 Survey results are calibrated to the number of families on maximum WFTC awards yielded by administrative data.

  Business Administration
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many businesses in the Buckingham constituency are 34W
  (a) administering working families tax credit, (b) providing access to stakeholder pensions and (c) administering repayment of student loans. [22639]

  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many businesses in the Epsom and Ewell constituency are(a) administering working families tax credit, (b) providing access to stakeholder pensions and (c) administering repayment of student loans. [23425]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The information is either not available, or could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Exchange Rate
  Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the 2001 IMF Article IV, consultation Concluding Statement, assessment of the impact of the level of the pound on the manufacturing sector; and if he will make a statement. [23758]

  Ruth Kelly
  The Government's latest forecast for manufacturing output was published in the pre-Budget Report (Cm 5318) and takes account of all relevant factors, while Annex A, Box A5 discusses recent developments in the manufacturing sector.

  Benefits (Fareham)
  Mr. Hoban
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people in the Fareham constituency(a) received and (b) were entitled to (i) WFTC, (ii) DPTC and (iii) child tax credit in (A) 2000–01 and (B) 2001–02.

  Dawn Primarolo
  Estimates of the numbers in the Fareham constituency receiving the working families tax credit (WFTC) and the disabled person's tax credit are published in the respective Quarterly Inquiries, copies of which are in the Library. The estimates for WFTC are however based on 5 per cent. samples of awards, and are therefore subject to sampling error. No estimates are available of the numbers in Fareham who are eligible for those tax credits.

  It is estimated that about five million families will benefit from the children's tax credit for 2001–02. Figures for each constituency are not available, but it is estimated that about 675,000 of these families are in the south-east (excluding London).

  Journalists
  Mr. Rosindell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what EU funds are available to(a) train and (b) facilitate the activities of journalists; and what representations he has made on them. [22935]

  Ruth Kelly
  The Community budget is implemented by the European Commission in accordance with the Treaty, EC legislative decisions and the amounts agreed annually by the budgetary authority (Council and European Parliament). Any individual or organisation may make a case to the Commission for support from the budget; for example there is an EC subsidy available for the "Journalists in Europe" association.
  35W

  Annuities
  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will amend the rules governing annuities so that it is not compulsory for pensioners to translate all relevant funds into an annuity at the age of 75. [22738]

  Ruth Kelly
  The Government's policy on annuities and proposals for reform will be set out in a consultation document which will be published shortly.

  Carbon Trust
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the forecast cost of the Carbon Trust over(a) the present and (b) the subsequent three financial years. [20471]

  Mr. Meacher
  I have been asked to reply.

  The Carbon Trust's first year funding from Government and the devolved Administrations is expected to be around £50 million, from Climate Change Levy receipts and the Government's Energy Efficiency Best Practice Programme.

  For the following two years it is anticipated that the Trust will continue to receive funding of around £50 million per year from the Government and devolved Administrations subject to relevant parliamentary approvals. The forecast funding of the Carbon Trust beyond this time is subject to the outcome of forthcoming Spending Reviews.

PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL

  Staff Numbers
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the President of the Council how many people were employed in his Department in each of the last four years. [23792]

  Mr. Robin Cook
  The information requested is as follows:

  Year

  Number of staff1

  1997–98

  33

  1998–99

  31

  1999–2000

  29

  2000–01

  41

  1 As published in The Departmental Report 2001, Cm 5199, copies of which are available in the House of Commons Library.

  Departmental Sickness
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the President of the Council how many days were lost owing to sickness absence by staff in his Department in each of the last four years. [23377]

  Mr. Robin Cook
  The information requested is as follows:

  Year ending 31 December

  Number of days lost to sick absence

  1997

  265

  1998

  295

  1999

  178

  2000

  363

  36W
  As a small Department the Privy Council Office is not included in the published annual report "Analysis of Sickness Absence in the Civil Service" but it is fully committed to working to the overall target to reduce the level of sick absence to five days per person by 2003. The Privy Council Office Service Delivery Agreement confirms this commitment and our requirement to monitor sickness levels quarterly.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

  Regulations
  Mr. Prisk
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many regulations her Department has proposed to Parliament since June; what regulatory impact assessments have been made for those regulations her Department has implemented in 2001; and what plans her Department has to reduce the number of regulations affecting small businesses. [21970]

  Dr. Howells
  My Department has proposed the following regulations since June 2001:

  The Broadcasting (Subtitling) Order 2001

  The European Convention on Cinematographic Co-production (Amendment) (No. 2) Order 2001

  The Football Spectators (Seating) Order 2001

  The Gaming Act (Variation of Monetary Limits) Order 2001

  The Gaming Machines (Maximum Prizes) Regulations 2001

  The National Lottery (Licence Fees) Order 2001

  The Protection of Wrecks (Designation) Order 2001

  The draft Regulatory Reform (Golden Jubilee Licensing) Order 2002

  The Regulatory Reform (Special Occasions Licensing) Order 2001

  The Safety of Sports Grounds (Designation) Order 2001.

  Regulatory impact assessments were published in respect of the eighth and ninth items on this list. The Department also published a regulatory impact assessment on 5 December 2001 on the National Heritage Bill, which is currently before Parliament. In addition, a regulatory impact assessment previously published by the Home Office, on four sets of regulations to do with increases in gaming and lotteries fees, was re-published on my Department's internet site on 28 November 2001.

  My Department's contribution to the Government's forthcoming Regulatory Reform Action Plan will reaffirm our commitment to important regulatory reforms, such as modernising regulation of the converging telecommunications and broadcasting sectors, reforming alcohol and entertainment licensing law and reforming gambling law and regulation.

  BBC3
  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on what date she received the revised proposals from the BBC for BBC3; by what process she will determine her decision on the new proposals; and on what date she will announce her decision on the new proposals. [22362]

  Dr. Howells
  [holding answer 11 December 2001]: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State received a new proposal from the BBC for BBC3 on 4 December. My

  37W
  right hon. Friend will consider the proposal against my published guidelines for assessing BBC public services approvals. In accordance with these guidelines, my right hon. Friend has invited comments on the proposals from interested parties. The consultation period will end on 25 January 2002. Having given proper consideration to all the information and responses received, my right hon. Friend will announce my decision as soon as possible thereafter.

  Ecotourism
  Nick Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps the Government have taken to participate in the International Year of Ecotourism 2002; and if she will make a statement. [22496]

  Dr. Howells
  The Government have made no plans to participate in the United Nations International Year of Ecotourism.

  Free TV Licences
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many pensioners over 75 in the Buckingham constituency receive a free television licence. [22637]

  Dr. Howells
  Everyone aged 75 or over is entitled to benefit from a free television licence. TV Licensing, which administers this concession for the BBC as Licensing Authority, is not able to provide geographical breakdowns of the number of free licences issued. However, estimates based on the 1991 Census indicate that there were approximately 4,300 people aged 75 or over in the Buckingham constituency.

  Digitally Originated Graphics
  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to her answer of 6 December 2001,Official Report, column 502W, on digitally originated graphics, what assessment she has made of the (a) benefits and (b) disadvantages to television viewers of the use of on screen digitally originated graphics, other than electronic programme guides, to identify and promote (i) television channels, (ii) programme strands, (iii) internet links and (iv) other programmes. [22797]

  Dr. Howells
  [holding answer 13 December 2001]: The Government have made no such assessment.

  Culture Online
  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when she will make an announcement on the funding arrangements for Culture Online; and when it will open. [22843]

  Dr. Howells
  [holding answer 13 December 2001]: We are currently considering a number of options for Culture Online. We hope to make an announcement in the near future.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Kaufman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when she intends to reply to 38W
  the letter to her dated 6 November from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton, with regard to Ms Pamela Flynn. [23807]

  Tessa Jowell
  I replied to my right hon. Friend on 22 November 2001 and I have sent him another copy of my reply.

  Pirate Tapes
  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate she has made of the costs (1) to(a) the television industry and (b) the Exchequer of illegal copying in each of the last five years; [22988]

  (2) to (a) the music industry and (b) the Exchequer of illegal copying of music in each of the last five years; [22986]

  (3) to (a) the film industry and (b) the Exchequer of illegal copying of films in each of the last five years; [22987]

  (4) to (a) the arts industry and (b) the Exchequer of illegal copying in each of the last five years. [22989]

  Dr. Howells
  The Government recognise the importance of combating counterfeiting and piracy for all the creative industries, and are working with the industries concerned towards achieving this objective. My Department does not collect independent figures for the financial impact piracy has on these industries and the Exchequer. Figures from a survey carried out by the Alliance Against Counterfeiting and Piracy indicate, however, that the cost of counterfeiting and piracy to UK industry as a whole was almost £9 billion in 2000, an increase of 8.36 per cent. on the figure for 1999. This is estimated to be equivalent to approximately £1.55 billion in lost revenue to the Exchequer. Within this total, it is estimated that the loss to the music industry in 2000 was £20 million and to cinema and home entertainment £180 million. There are no separate sectoral figures for the arts and television industries.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Human Rights Commission
  Lembit Öpik
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the Government intend to respond to the recommendations made in the report on its effectiveness submitted by the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission to the Secretary of State in February in accordance with section 69(2) of the Northern Ireland Act 1998; and if he will make a statement. [22457]

  Jane Kennedy
  We are pleased to have received the report from the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission and are currently considering the Commission's recommendations.

  The report is 78 pages and contains 25 recommendations. Detailed consideration is at present being given to the recommendations, all of which recommend changes to primary legislation. Given the importance and complexity of the proposals, the Government intend to publish its report in the new year.
  39W

  Departmental Sickness
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many days were lost owing to sickness absence by staff in his Department in each of the last four years. [23376]

  Jane Kennedy
  The Northern Ireland Office is committed to the effective management of sick absence and our current Service Delivery Agreement (SDA) sets out our proposal to reduce average sickness absence rates for Home Civil Servants (HCS) during the planning period as follows:

  Average sick absence targets (HCS staff)

  Target

  Baseline (1998)

  6.5 absences per staff year

  2001–02

  15.2 absences per staff year

  2002–03

  24.9 absences per staff year

  2003–04

  34.6 absences per staff year

  1 20 per cent. saving

  2 225 per cent. saving

  3 30 per cent. saving

  It will seek reductions of a similar order for the larger Northern Ireland Civil Service (NICS) group in the Department in conjunction with other Northern Ireland Departments.

  Within the last four years sick absence data are available only for 1998 and 1999. The figures are as follows:

  1999: 8.0 absences per staff year

  1998: 6.5 absences per staff year.

  Figures are not available in a comparable format for the NICS staff group.

  Electoral Fraud
  Lady Hermon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to use national insurance numbers to help eliminate electoral fraud in Northern Ireland. [21819]

  Mr. Browne
  I have noted the arguments pressing for the inclusion of national insurance numbers as one of the items of personal information required of an elector in Northern Ireland on registration. I am looking closely at how national insurance numbers might be used in the electoral process and whether their use would help our efforts to combat fraud.

  European Court Judgments
  Lembit Öpik
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if the Government intend to change the law to comply with the judgments of the European Court of Human Rights delivered on 4 May in the cases of Jordan v. UK, Kelly v. UK, McKerr v. UK and Shanaghan v. UK; and if he will make a statement. [22458]

  Jane Kennedy
  As a signatory to the European Convention on Human Rights, the Government take very seriously the findings of the European Court of Human Rights. The Court's 4 May judgments identified a procedural breach of Article 2 of the Convention with respect to the regimes in place at the time to investigate deaths caused by the security forces. However, the Court was not prescriptive about the mechanisms the 40W
  Government should put in place in order to comply with their obligations under Article 2. This is a matter for the Government to determine in consultation with the Committee of Ministers (the Council of Europe body that oversees the implementation of European Court judgments) in Strasbourg.

  The Government are giving active consideration to a package of measures necessary to satisfy our Article 2 obligations and have already been in contact with the Committee of Ministers. Finalising the package of measures has proved a detailed exercise, requiring wide-ranging consultation across Government Departments, and it would not be appropriate for me to comment on such discussions.

  I should point out that some areas that caused the Court concern have already been addressed, notably through the establishment of the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland. The Government have also indicated the strong likelihood that they will remove Rule 9(2) of the Coroners Rules (Northern Ireland) 1963, dealing with compellability, and the Belfast Coroner was so advised on 14 September.

  The Government are committed publicly to finalising their response in time for the next meeting of the Committee of Ministers, expected in February 2002. Our final decision with respect to the changes that we intend to make to comply with Article 2 will therefore be a matter of public knowledge very shortly.

  Saville Inquiry
  Mr. Blunt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the cost of the Saville inquiry is to date; and what estimate he has made of the cost of the whole inquiry. [19773]

  Mr. Browne
  The cost of the Bloody Sunday inquiry to the Northern Ireland Office, as at 4 December 2001, is £52 million. The current estimated cost to the Northern Ireland Office for the whole inquiry is £100 million. This figure assumes that the rates of payment to lawyers remain as at present for the remainder of the inquiry, and makes no allowance for any change of venue which may follow the divisional court's judgment of 16 November 2001, currently subject to appeal. Neither of these figures includes cost to other Departments such as the Ministry of Defence.

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

  Departmental Sickness
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Solicitor-General how many days were lost due to sickness absence by staff in her Department in each of the last four years. [23378]

  The Solicitor-General
  The Crown Prosecution Service has lost days due to sickness absence in the last four years for which data have been published, as follows:

  1996—10.2 per member of staff

  1997—10.4 per member of staff

  1998—9.7 per member of staff

  1999—9.4 per member of staff

  41W
  The CPS has issued guidance to managers to assist them in managing attendance proactively, and we are working towards achieving the challenging targets set to reduce the level of sickness absence by 20 per cent. on the 1998 average by December 2001.

  The Serious Fraud Squad ('the SFO') has lost the following days due to sickness:

  1998—9.9 days per member of staff

  1999—10.8 days per member of staff

  2000—8.6 days per member of staff

  2001—8.3 days per member of staff (projected figures).

  The SFO is continuing in its commitment to reduce sick absence through careful monitoring and regular management reporting. The annual figures have shown a reduction in absence over the past two years, and the SFO is on course to meet its target of reducing sick absence by 20 per cent. (8.8 days) by the end of 2001. The aim is for absence to be reduced by 30 per cent. (7.7 days) by the end of 2003.

  In the Treasury Solicitor's Department the average days lost was:

  1996—6.5 days per member of staff

  1997—7.2 days per member of staff

  1998—11.8 days per member of staff

  1999—9.7 days per member of staff

  A specific target to reduce sick absence days by 30 per cent. is included in the Treasury Solicitor's Department's Service Delivery Agreement. The Legal Secretariat to the Law Officers is included in the figures for the Treasury Solicitor's Department.

  The Law Officer's Departments are fully committed to managing sick absence effectively.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Council of Ministers (UK Delegation)
  Adam Price
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs at which Council of Ministers' meetings since May 1999 National Assembly Ministers have(a) been present and (b) led the United Kingdom delegation. [20595]

  Peter Hain
  The information is as follows:Welsh Ministers' attendance at Council
  May 1999 to December 2001

  9 November 2000—Jane Davidson (Education and Lifelong Learning): Attended Education and Youth Council (led for UK on part of the agenda).

  20–21 November 2000—Carwyn Jones (Rural Affairs): Attended Agriculture Council.

  13 December 2000—Jane Hutt (Health and Social Services): Attended Health Council.

  26–27 February 2001—Carwyn Jones (Rural Affairs): Attended Agriculture Council.

  28 May 2001—Jane Davidson (Education and Lifelong Learning): Attended Education and Youth Council.

  42W

  21 June 2001—Jenny Randerson (Culture, Sport and Welsh Language): Attended Culture Council.

  23 July 2001—Carwyn Jones (Rural Affairs): Attended Agriculture Council.

  20 November 2001—Carwyn Jones (Rural Affairs): Attended Agriculture Council.

  29 November 2001—Jane Davidson (Education and Lifelong Learning): Attended Education and Youth Council.

  Afghanistan
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of European involvement in dealing with the flow of illicit narcotics from post-Taliban Afghanistan; what assessment has been made of the role of the restructuring of Afghanistan in curtailing drug production; and if he will make a statement. [22356]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  We and our European partners are committed to preventing the flow of illegal drugs from Afghanistan. The Central Asian Drugs Action Plan, which may be formally signed later this month, is an EU initiative to provide a framework for tackling the flow of Afghan opiates to and through the central Asian states of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. We and our EU partners also give assistance to other countries that lie on the drug transit route to Europe, such as Iran, Pakistan and Turkey.

  The Afghan interim administration fully understand that there can be no place for illegal drug production in Afghanistan in the future and that they have a responsibility to root out that problem. One objective of the international reconstruction effort will be to promote economic and law enforcement policies in Afghanistan which encourage and support former opium poppy farmers in pursuing other livelihoods.

  Gibraltar
  Mr. Stephen O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what changes to the constitution of Gibraltar will be subject to primary legislation in the United Kingdom. [21744]

  Peter Hain
  [holding answer 10 December 2001]: Should a comprehensive agreement affecting sovereignty emerge from the current Brussels Process discussions, changes to the Gibraltar constitution which flowed from such an agreement would trigger primary legislation in the United Kingdom.

  Public Service Agreements
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on progress towards the Public Service Agreement target to prepare an overseas estate rationalisation programme. [22549]

  Mr. MacShane
  We are making progress in estate modernisation.

  Properties that are surplus, not operationally effective, or not providing value for money, are being sold. Under an agreement with the Treasury, the proceeds are then reinvested. In financial year 1999–2000 we recycled £30 million for investment, and in financial year 2000–01 some £19 million. This financial year, we are aiming to

  43W
  achieve sales worth over £40 million, thus meeting our target of £90 million for the CSR triennium financial year 1999–2000 to financial year 2001–02. In the period financial year 2001–02 to financial year 2003–04 we aim to sell property worth £100 million.

  The proceeds of estate sales have enabled us to fund a range of estate improvement projects, including in Accra, Algiers, Baku, Bucharest, Caracas, Dar es Salaam, Lima, London, Moscow, Tunis and Yerevan.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on progress towards the Public Service Agreement target for the British Council to keep overheads as a proportion of turnover below 5 per cent. over the period 2001–02. [22583]

  Mr. MacShane
  Since 1997 the British Council has reported corporate overheads as less than 5 per cent. of turnover. The current estimate for the financial year 2001–02 is 4.8 per cent.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on progress towards the Public Service Agreement target performance indicator for the percentage of passports issued within five working days. [22514]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  In 2000, 92 per cent. of posts issued passports within the PSA target of five working days.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on progress towards the Public Service Agreement target for making savings through improved procurement procedures. [22590]

  Mr. MacShane
  Savings of over £9.1 million had been achieved by 30 September.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on progress towards the Public Service Agreement target for securing alignment of financial legislation in the UK's Overseas Territories with international standards. [22511]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  In the year following publication of the KPMG review of financial regulation in the Caribbean Overseas Territories and Bermuda in October 2000, the Overseas Territories have made good progress in strengthening their financial regulatory frameworks in line with international standards and good practice, particularly in the priority areas of money laundering, regulatory co-operation and the establishment of independent regulatory authorities. All the Overseas Territories reviewed now have comprehensive anti-money laundering frameworks fully in place. The HM Treasury/FCO press release of 3 December, copies of which have been placed in the Library of the House, provides further details of the progress that has been made in other areas and where further work is required.

  The Overseas Territories have agreed to publish further progress reports in February 2002 to explain how implementation of the KPMG recommendations are progressing. The UK will continue to work closely with the Overseas Territories to enable them to meet international standards in full.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on progress in 2000–01 towards meeting the public 44W
  Service Agreement target performance indicator for the percentage of posts meeting target times for decisions on non-settlement visa applications. [22512]

  Mr. MacShane
  In financial year 2000–01 89 per cent. of posts met the target time for resolving straightforward non-settlement visa applications within 24 hours, against the Public Service Agreement target of 90 per cent.

  This answer is based on monthly statistical reports from the 112 posts where 98 per cent. of applications were received.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on progress towards the Public Service Agreement target for the consolidation of business units that supply services within his Department into a service organisation to yield efficiency gains. [22509]

  Mr. MacShane
  FCO Services was set up in April 1999 by the FCO as a single service providing organisation in order to maximise efficiencies and create an internal market. By April 2002 FCO Services will have realised efficiency gains of approximately £7 million. As part of the process to develop the internal market, to enable the FCO to secure best value for money from its support services, FCO Services opened to external competition services worth £21 million annually in April 2001 with more scheduled to be opened to competition in April 2002.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on progress towards the Public Service Agreement target for the proportion of business undertaken electronically. [22538]

  Mr. MacShane
  The FCO's continued progress towards the Prime Minister's goal of making all services available electronically by 2005 is detailed in the most recent electronic service delivery report which was published by the Cabinet Office on the Office of the e-Envoy's website.

  Seventy nine per cent. of the FCO's services are now available electronically. We are on track to have 93 per cent. available by the end of 2002, and to meet the PSA target of 100 per cent. by the end of 2005.

  Consular, passport and immigration information, forms and assistance are all available electronically from the FCO. We offer users of our website the chance to communicate with us electronically, provide information about foreign embassies in London and detailed information on a host of foreign policy issues. Our award winning website www.fco.gov.uk has been recognised by The Sunday Times as one of Britain's best websites.

  We aim to have 99 per cent. of the FCO's worldwide staff on the same IT network by June 2002.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on progress towards the Public Service Agreement target for progress towards implementation of the White Paper on Overseas Territories. [22510]

  Mr. MacShane
  Considerable progress has been made in key areas covered by the White Paper. The Bill giving effect to the offer of British citizenship has been introduced into Parliament. Structured political dialogue
  45W
  between the political leaders of the territories and HMG has been strengthened by three meetings of the annual Consultative Council and visits by the Minister for the Overseas Territories. Constitutional modernisation reviews are in progress in most territories. A number of good governance programmes have been supported in areas of law enforcement, drugs interdiction, prison monitoring and electoral process in Montserrat. Environment Charters were adopted by the UK and territory governments in September. Progress has been made in strengthening territory financial regulatory frameworks in line with international standards and good practice in the UK; human rights programmes to support compliance with international convention obligations with regard to children and families and excluded groups have been supported in all territories, economic studies have been undertaken in Anguilla, the British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands and the Turks and Caicos Islands. A Caribbean regional drugs strategy has been prepared. A study on institutional arrangements for aviation safety and security has been supported and regional conferences on disaster preparedness and aviation safety held.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on progress in 2000–01 towards meeting the Public Service Agreement target performance indicator for the percentage of posts meeting target times for interviewing applicants for non-settlement visas.

  Mr. MacShane
  In financial year 2000–01, 72 per cent. of posts met the target of dealing with non-straightforward non-settlement visa applications within 10 working days, against the Public Service Agreement target of 90 percent. The shortfall was due to increased demand and staffing supply difficulties.

  Note:

  This answer is based on monthly statistical reports from the 112 posts where 98 per cent. of applications were received.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on progress towards the Public Service Agreement target for BBC World Service efficiency savings in 2000–01 following restructuring of the BBC supplier directorate. [22584]

  Mr. MacShane
  The Public Service Agreement target for BBC World Service cumulative efficiency savings over the period April 1999 to March 2002 is £25 million (i.e. a little over £4 million per annum new savings). New savings of £4 million were achieved in 2000–01. By the end of 2000–01 the BBC World Service was on track against target having achieved cumulative savings of £14 million.

  Function

  Timeframe set

  PSA target (percentage)

  Performance by posts (percentage)

  Birth registrations

  Five working days to issue

  92.0

  93.6

  Death registrations

  Five working days to issue

  94.0

  98.4

  Notarial acts

  One working day to produce document

  93.0

  97.8

  Customer satisfaction

  In response to questionnaires

  97.2

  99.1

  Prison visits

  Contact within 24 hours of notification

  92.0

  99.9

  Hospital visits

  Contact within 24 hours of notification

  98.0

  100.0

  46W
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the use of a scorecard approach for monitoring progress with the Public Service Agreement target for increasing public support for European Union activities. [22518]

  Peter Hain
  The FCO sets public and internal objectives for each financial year, and allocates resources according to these objectives. Our Public Service Agreement commits us to promoting increased support for and better understanding of the merits of EU membership. We review progress against our objectives on a regular basis.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on progress towards the Public Service Agreement target for reducing accommodation running costs in London. [22508]

  Mr. MacShane
  We have made good progress. The number of properties occupied by the FCO in London has been reduced from 10 in 1997–98 to five (soon to be four) at present. These are shown in the list. Annual expenditure on rent, rates and service charges has consequently been reduced by 70 per cent., from £12 million to the current figure of £3.7 million.

  1997–

  Main building

  Old Admiralty building

  1 Carlton Gardens

  Cromwell house

  1 Palace street

  4 Matthew Parker street

  20 Victoria street

  22–24 Whitehall

  8 Cleveland Row

  Clive house.

  2001–

  Main building

  Old Admiralty building

  1 Carlton Gardens

  St. Christopher house (to be surrendered in August 2002)

  Space at 89 Albert Embankment, SE1 (Joint Entry Clearance Unit operated jointly with Home Office).

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on progress towards the performance indicator of posts fulfilling consular action plan targets based on the Citizen's Charter. [22515]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  In calendar year 2000, most of our overseas posts met or exceeded consular action plan targets (set for the year ending March 2000). Details are:
  47W
  Passport issuing performance is covered in my answer to the hon. Member's question UIN 22514.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on progress towards the Public Service Agreement target performance indicator for the percentage of his Department's internal services to be reviewed under Better Quality Services guidelines by 2001–02.

  Mr. MacShane
  The PSA performance target"regularly and systematically to review services in line with Government policy"
  stems from the Whitehall-wide requirement under the Better Quality Services (BQS) initiative to institute a five-year rolling programme of reviews. These are aimed at ensuring that better quality services are provided at the optimum cost to the taxpayer.

  The FCO's BQS programme, agreed with the Cabinet Office in 1999, is broadly on target. Two major reviews, of consular services and security, were due to commence in the early autumn, but had to be put on hold following the events of 11 September. These have now been rescheduled for completion during the first half of 2002. The Department will not be in a position until the end of the financial year to say whether the performance indicator of 60 per cent. of internal services reviewed by end 2001–02 has been met.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the progress towards the Public Service Agreement target for reform of the Common Agricultural Policy. [22516]

  Peter Hain
  There is no specific FCO Public Service Agreement target on reform of the Common Agricultural Policy, for which the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is the lead Department. But we are working with DEFRA towards the common Government objective of the reform of the CAP under FCO PSA target 6: a"modern, reformed and enlarged EU … whose policies reflect UK political, social and economic priorities …".

  We want to reduce the overall burden of the CAP, align EU and world prices more closely, and target support measures on the rural economy and the environment. These are also important for our ambitions for international trade and development and for an enlarged EU. The Government's objective is to secure changes that benefit consumers, taxpayers, the rural economy, the farming community and the environment. There is increasing recognition within the European Union of the need for reform.

  There has been progress. In the 1980s spending on the CAP was over 60 per cent. of the European Community budget. In 2001 it will be around 45 per cent. As a result of the Agenda 2000 package agreed at the 1999 Berlin European Council, spending on the CAP will decline in real terms from 2002. Mid-term reviews of certain CAP regimes are scheduled for 2002–03.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on progress towards the Public Service Agreement target for prompt payment for goods and services. [22539]
  48W
  Mr. MacShane
  In 2000–01 the Foreign and Commonwealth Office paid 97.8 per cent. of invoices within 30 days of receipt or the agreed contract terms were these to differ. Calculations are in accordance with HM Treasury's approved method.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what practical benefits have resulted from achieving the Public Service Agreement target for obtaining commitments from other countries to co-operate with the UK in combating drugs, crime, abuse of human rights and environmental degradation. [22585]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  The fight against drugs and crime requires political commitment and practical co-operation. In 2001, nine more ratifications of the three UN drugs conventions have been recorded, including from Turkey, Albania and Ukraine. The FCO's Drugs and Crime Fund (£7.3 million in 2001–02), supports bi- and multilateral project work to combat drug production and trafficking, organised crime, paedophilia, child pornography and money-laundering in more than 40 countries committed to working with the UK and others on these issues. FCO-funded training for overseas law enforcement agencies and operational co-operation with them has led to some notable drug seizures, removing some of the heroin and cocaine consignments destined for the UK and Europe. The UK was a leading player in the negotiation of the UN Convention on Transnational Organised Crime, which already has more than 120 signatory states, and will provide a new framework for international co-operation to fight serious organised crime world-wide. The UK is currently negotiating law enforcement memoranda of understanding with 14 countries as the basis for further practical co-operation with them.

  On the environment, FCO engagement helped secure successful outcomes at international climate change conferences this year in Bonn and Marrakech; in particular, by maintaining the commitment of key countries to the Kyoto Protocol following its rejection by the US. The FCO's contribution to the UK's work in the International Whaling Commission (IWC) has been instrumental in maintaining the international commercial moratorium on whaling which came under heavy pressure but emerged intact from the IWC meeting in July 2001. FCO environmental project funds have helped leverage co-operation with other countries (and with UK's Overseas Territories) to directly address restoration of degraded habitats and the control or removal of invasive species of animals and plants.

  As a result of our achieving our targets on human rights, a number of people who would otherwise have faced the death penalty no longer do so; there is a stronger world-wide coalition against torture and improved mechanisms for exposing it and, more generally, growing recognition of the importance of human rights. Of course, there is still a great deal to be done—including on child rights, where we have not been so successful in meeting our target (on reducing extreme forms of child labour). The Government remain committed to promoting human rights at the heart of foreign policy and to backing up action in international forums with practical support from our Human Rights Project Fund.
  49W
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on progress towards the Public Service Agreement target to achieve full cost recovery by the Government Hospitality Fund by 2000–01.

  Mr. MacShane
  The Government Hospitality Fund has been dissolved and the equivalent budget is now held by Conference and Visits Group (CVG), a new business unit that forms part of FCO Services. CVG are working towards full cost recovery and have installed a computerised business information system to capture the necessary information. Full cost recovery is now likely to be achieved during the 2002–03 financial year.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on progress towards the Public Service Agreement target for reform of the EU' s structural funds. [22517]

  Peter Hain
  The FCO's current Public Service Agreement commits the Government to pursue a modern, reformed and enlarged EU whose policies reflect UK political, social and economic priorities.

  Lead responsibility for EU structural funds lies with the Department for Trade and Industry. The UK benefits substantially from the Structural Funds: UK regions will receive some £10 billion between 2000–06. The Structural Funds will be reviewed in the context of the next Financial Perspective.

  Diplomatic Staff
  Mr. Love
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 20 July 2001,Official Report, column 485W, on diplomatic staff, what reference is made in setting pay levels of locally engaged civilian staff to the local poverty datum line; whether the pay levels can fall below local poverty datum lines; and if he will make a statement. [22778]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  Pay scales and other conditions of service for our locally engaged staff in each country are set in comparison with the generality of responsible employers in that country. Typically the comparators are other western diplomatic missions, international agencies and major private companies. Our missions pay what is required to recruit, retain and motivate suitable staff. Normally we expect to be in the middle range of rates of pay: neither leading the market nor poor payers. We also meet the requirements of local employment law. Accordingly we are confident that pay levels for our local staff will be above poverty datum lines.

  Zimbabwe
  Mrs. Browning
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations the Government have made to the South African Government in respect of the situation in Zimbabwe. [23596]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  Ministers and officials have regular contact with all levels of the South African Government on the full range of international concerns about the situation in Zimbabwe.
  50W

  Middle East
  Richard Burden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the outcome of the EU General Affairs Council with respect to the middle east. [23116]

  Peter Hain
  There was intensive discussion of the middle east at the 10 December General Affairs Council. The Council adopted the following conclusions:

  At a time when the situation in the middle east is extremely serious, we cannot be inactive.

  We are convinced that only determined and concerted action by the European Union, the United Nations, the United States and the Russian Federation can help the parties to break the cycle of violence and commit themselves once again to the search for peace. This requires:
  the reaffirmation and full recognition of Israel's irrevocable right to live in peace and security within internationally recognised borders;
  the establishment of a viable and democratic Palestinian state and an end to the occupation of Palestinian territories.

  As a first step, the following pledges must be given:
  by the Palestinian authority: the dismantling of the Hamas and Islamic Jihad terrorist networks, including the arrest and prosecution of all suspects; a public appeal in Arabic for an end to the armed intifada;
  by the Israeli Government: the withdrawal of their military forces and stop to extrajudicial executions; the lifting of closures and of all restrictions imposed on the Palestinian people; a freeze on settlements.

  On the basis of this EU position and in the light of the discussions which took place on 10 December in Brussels with Mr. Shimon Peres and Mr. Nabil Shaath, we have asked Javier Solana, SG High Representative for the CFSP, to go to the region and report back to the Laeken European Council.

  The aim is to contribute, in concertation with the United Nations, the United States and Russia, to a speedy resumption of negotiations, without preliminaries.

  Greece
  Mr. Jenkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will issue fresh advice to UK citizens travelling to Greece on the activities that may lead to arrest. [23317]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  The FCO travel advice for Greece was updated on 30 November 2001 to include the following advice:"Do not take photographs near military or official installations. Seek permission before photographing individuals".

  Scottish Executive
  Angus Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on how arrangements are made between the Scotland Office, Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Scottish Executive to facilitate Scottish Executive officers working internationally. [23604]
  51W
  Mr. Straw
  The conditions for arrangements are detailed in the Memorandum of Understanding and concordat on International Relations between the UK Government and the devolved Administrations.

  Correspondence
  Mrs. Shephard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he will reply to the letter of 18 June from the right hon. Member for South-West Norfolk concerning Manwai Ahmed. [23104]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  The right hon. Member's correspondence did not reach the Joint Entry Clearance Unit until 11 December 2001.

  I will send a reply as soon as we have consulted the overseas Post.

  Percentage of full-time regular teachers March 2000

  Under 25

  25–29

  30–34

  35–39

  40–44

  45–49

  50–54

  55–59

  60 and over

  All full-time regular

  All regular teachers January 2001 fte

  Darlington

  3.6

  13.3

  10.1

  9.4

  12.4

  25.7

  19.1

  5.3

  1.0

  100

  780

  Hartlepool

  5.6

  13.6

  10.7

  8.1

  15.4

  23.5

  18.8

  3.9

  0.3

  100

  840

  Middlesbrough

  3.1

  13.1

  9.4

  8.1

  15.2

  22.6

  21.4

  5.9

  1.3

  100

  1,270

  Redcar and Cleveland

  4.8

  14.3

  9.9

  6.8

  14.1

  24.0

  19.4

  6.1

  0.6

  100

  1,280

  Stockton on Tees

  4.4

  13.0

  9.7

  9.0

  14.1

  20.7

  21.5

  6.9

  0.7

  100

  1,740

  Durham

  4.9

  11.7

  9.4

  9.1

  14.5

  24.0

  19.1

  6.3

  1.0

  100

  4,240

  Northumberland

  3.5

  11.8

  9.9

  9.5

  15.2

  24.1

  20.4

  4.7

  0.9

  100

  2,620

  Gateshead

  4.9

  14.7

  11.9

  9.8

  11.9

  24.5

  16.6

  4.9

  0.6

  100

  1,670

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  4.2

  12.3

  9.0

  10.6

  14.2

  25.5

  18.4

  5.1

  0.7

  100

  2,180

  North Tyneside

  3.9

  13.9

  8.8

  10.2

  14.5

  23.6

  18.1

  6.1

  0.8

  100

  1,820

  South Tyneside

  3.1

  11.5

  9.5

  9.2

  15.0

  23.3

  18.2

  8.8

  1.3

  100

  1,440

  Sunderland

  3.8

  12.3

  10.0

  9.1

  15.4

  22.8

  19.3

  6.7

  0.6

  100

  2,670

  Blackburn and Darwen

  4.2

  10.6

  10.9

  11.7

  16.5

  20.8

  18.6

  6.0

  0.7

  100

  1,310

  Blackpool

  6.2

  16.2

  11.4

  9.8

  13.4

  23.5

  14.5

  4.7

  0.3

  100

  1,100

  Halton

  4.8

  14.3

  13.0

  11.6

  13.9

  20.6

  16.8

  4.6

  0.5

  100

  1,140

  Warrington

  4.7

  18.7

  11.9

  10.2

  13.3

  20.3

  16.6

  3.7

  0.6

  100

  1,680

  Cheshire

  4.3

  15.0

  11.6

  9.0

  14.1

  21.0

  18.4

  5.9

  0.8

  100

  5,600

  Cumbria

  3.0

  12.7

  11.4

  8.6

  15.3

  23.4

  20.0

  5.2

  0.5

  100

  4,180

  Bolton

  5.3

  13.5

  14.0

  10.0

  13.3

  19.7

  17.9

  5.4

  0.9

  100

  2,500

  Bury

  4.5

  13.4

  11.1

  10.7

  13.4

  22.1

  19.0

  5.0

  0.7

  100

  1,480

  Manchester

  3.8

  14.0

  14.0

  11.7

  11.5

  19.7

  18.0

  6.0

  1.2

  100

  3,790

  Oldham

  4.4

  14.4

  12.9

  11.5

  13.5

  21.5

  15.9

  5.3

  0.7

  100

  2,280

  Rochdale

  5.3

  15.7

  10.9

  8.8

  15.1

  22.7

  16.1

  4.9

  0.6

  100

  1,870

  Salford

  4.9

  16.7

  12.7

  9.6

  13.0

  22.6

  15.2

  4.6

  0.7

  100

  1,920

  Stockport

  3.7

  14.1

  12.8

  10.0

  13.3

  19.6

  18.8

  7.0

  0.7

  100

  2,330

  Tameside

  3.9

  15.3

  10.0

  9.8

  12.0

  23.0

  18.8

  6.7

  0.7

  100

  1,930

  Trafford

  4.2

  14.3

  13.6

  9.6

  11.7

  21.7

  17.6

  6.9

  0.6

  100

  1,900

  Wigan

  3.8

  11.8

  9.2

  8.6

  17.2

  23.3

  19.2

  6.2

  0.6

  100

  2,590

  Lancashire

  3.6

  12.8

  10.3

  10.1

  15.0

  22.1

  19.7

  5.6

  0.7

  100

  9,710

  Knowsley

  5.2

  15.9

  11.9

  11.6

  12.3

  21.5

  16.0

  5.0

  0.6

  100

  1,530

  Liverpool

  2.4

  12.2

  10.5

  9.5

  13.4

  25.8

  19.4

  5.9

  1.0

  100

  4,320

  Sefton

  3.7

  13.9

  11.6

  10.3

  13.2

  21.7

  16.8

  7.9

  0.8

  100

  2,520

  St. Helens

  3.2

  13.0

  12.4

  11.6

  11.6

  25.1

  17.0

  5.8

  0.4

  100

  1,670

  Wirral

  3.3

  11.0

  10.6

  11.4

  14.2

  24.0

  18.4

  6.6

  0.7

  100

  3,020

  East Riding of Yorkshire

  4.6

  12.2

  9.4

  8.4

  14.6

  24.2

  20.4

  5.6

  0.5

  100

  2,530

  Kingston-Upon-Hull

  5.5

  11.9

  8.1

  6.8

  15.8

  25.9

  19.5

  5.9

  0.8

  100

  2,110

  North East Lincolnshire

  5.0

  11.9

  7.9

  8.7

  14.4

  27.8

  18.5

  5.7

  0.3

  100

  1,360

  North Lincolnshire

  3.8

  12.5

  8.5

  7.2

  15.5

  27.8

  18.7

  5.5

  0.4

  100

  1,340

  York

  4.5

  13.0

  13.4

  9.4

  12.6

  19.7

  20.9

  6.2

  0.4

  100

  1,380

  North Yorkshire

  3.5

  13.4

  10.8

  10.2

  14.2

  20.3

  19.6

  7.2

  0.9

  100

  4,940

  Barnsley

  4.0

  13.3

  8.9

  10.2

  16.5

  24.0

  17.1

  5.1

  0.9

  100

  1,640

  Doncaster

  4.4

  13.3

  10.2

  8.1

  13.4

  23.4

  21.0

  5.6

  0.5

  100

  2,690

  Rotherham

  3.5

  12.1

  9.6

  10.0

  14.6

  23.9

  18.6

  6.4

  1.3

  100

  2,500

  Sheffield

  2.6

  11.0

  10.1

  9.3

  13.4

  25.4

  21.0

  6.7

  0.5

  100

  4,190

  Bradford

  2.5

  10.2

  10.9

  11.3

  16.7

  23.9

  18.9

  4.6

  1.1

  100

  4,400

  Calderdale

  3.9

  14.6

  11.9

  10.1

  14.6

  20.9

  18.3

  5.2

  0.4

  100

  1,840

  Kirklees

  3.4

  11.8

  10.1

  11.0

  15.5

  23.9

  18.5

  5.1

  0.7

  100

  3,370

  Leeds

  4.2

  13.8

  10.7

  10.7

  12.6

  21.6

  19.6

  5.9

  0.9

  100

  6,040

  Wakefield

  4.1

  14.7

  11.0

  8.7

  15.3

  22.2

  18.1

  5.5

  0.5

  100

  2,700

  City of Derby

  4.4

  12.7

  10.0

  11.3

  16.2

  21.8

  17.9

  4.7

  0.8

  100

  1,980

  Leicester City

  4.3

  14.1

  11.3

  10.8

  15.0

  19.3

  18.7

  5.9

  0.5

  100

  2,760

  City of Nottingham

  3.8

  13.7

  12.0

  11.1

  13.1

  22.1

  18.4

  5.2

  0.6

  100

  2,110

  Rutland

  1.7

  13.7

  7.7

  9.4

  12.4

  23.5

  21.8

  8.1

  1.7

  100

  240

  Derbyshire

  4.4

  11.9

  8.6

  9.7

  14.9

  22.6

  21.0

  6.3

  0.6

  100

  5,760

  52W

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

  Teacher Numbers
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many teachers there are, broken down by age, school results and local education authorities. [9883]

  Mr. Timms
  The information is not available in the form requested. The percentage of full-time regular teachers in the maintained schools sector in each age band in March 2000, and the total of all regular full and part-time teachers in the maintained schools sector January 20011,2, were as follows:
  53W

  Percentage of full-time regular teachers March 2000

  Under 25

  25–29

  30–34

  35–39

  40–44

  45–49

  50–54

  55–59

  60 and over

  All full-time regular

  All regular teachers January 2001 fte

  Leicestershire

  3.7

  14.1

  10.5

  9.0

  14.1

  22.3

  18.6

  7.1

  0.7

  100

  5,020

  Lincolnshire

  5.3

  15.3

  9.9

  9.3

  12.9

  21.2

  19.0

  6.3

  0.8

  100

  5,300

  Northamptonshire

  5.2

  15.6

  10.8

  10.3

  13.8

  21.1

  16.9

  5.6

  0.6

  100

  5,330

  Nottinghamshire

  3.6

  12.0

  11.0

  9.8

  13.6

  24.9

  19.5

  5.2

  0.5

  100

  5,970

  Herefordshire

  3.4

  12.7

  9.0

  8.1

  16.3

  20.3

  21.9

  6.9

  1.3

  100

  1,300

  Stoke-on-Trent

  4.7

  13.9

  9.5

  9.2

  13.9

  24.8

  17.5

  5.8

  0.6

  100

  1,920

  Telford and Wrekin

  3.9

  13.8

  10.9

  10.6

  15.3

  21.1

  19.6

  4.4

  0.4

  100

  1,410

  Shropshire

  3.3

  13.4

  11.4

  10.3

  14.6

  23.3

  17.7

  5.2

  0.8

  100

  2,110

  Staffordshire

  4.3

  14.0

  9.6

  8.7

  15.2

  22.7

  18.6

  6.5

  0.5

  100

  6,800

  Warwickshire

  5.1

  15.9

  9.8

  8.3

  12.6

  22.5

  19.0

  6.1

  0.8

  100

  4,150

  Birmingham

  4.4

  15.7

  13.0

  9.5

  13.3

  20.8

  16.6

  5.9

  0.8

  100

  10,220

  Coventry

  3.9

  13.4

  9.8

  9.3

  13.4

  24.2

  17.8

  7.1

  1.0

  100

  2,870

  Dudley

  4.7

  15.1

  10.9

  10.2

  15.2

  21.2

  15.8

  6.2

  0.7

  100

  2,780

  Sandwell

  4.7

  16.6

  10.0

  9.7

  16.7

  22.6

  15.0

  3.9

  0.7

  100

  2,620

  Solihull

  6.5

  16.5

  11.9

  9.2

  13.0

  20.7

  16.9

  4.8

  0.5

  100

  2,050

  Walsall

  3.6

  13.0

  9.8

  9.9

  16.2

  23.7

  17.9

  5.1

  0.9

  100

  2,570

  Wolverhampton

  4.0

  12.0

  10.9

  9.1

  17.8

  23.8

  15.8

  5.6

  1.0

  100

  2,290

  Worcestershire

  4.2

  13.3

  10.9

  9.0

  14.3

  23.4

  18.7

  5.6

  0.7

  100

  4,270

  Luton

  4.4

  14.5

  10.1

  10.4

  13.3

  20.6

  18.5

  6.6

  1.6

  100

  1,660

  City of Peterborough

  6.9

  16.8

  12.5

  8.9

  12.2

  20.9

  15.9

  5.3

  0.6

  100

  1,510

  Southend

  5.3

  15.9

  9.4

  10.8

  14.1

  21.1

  15.8

  6.2

  1.3

  100

  1,410

  Thurrock

  8.2

  17.0

  11.0

  9.1

  12.0

  18.3

  17.4

  6.3

  0.9

  100

  1,180

  Bedfordshire

  3.5

  12.3

  9.3

  9.5

  14.6

  22.2

  19.7

  8.0

  0.9

  100

  3,250

  Cambridgeshire

  5.3

  15.9

  11.3

  9.1

  13.6

  20.9

  17.8

  5.5

  0.6

  100

  4,040

  Essex

  5.4

  16.2

  10.4

  9.6

  14.5

  20.1

  16.6

  6.2

  0.9

  100

  10,520

  Hertfordshire

  6.4

  18.5

  11.4

  9.0

  12.4

  17.9

  17.1

  6.4

  0.9

  100

  9,170

  Norfolk

  3.5

  12.1

  8.7

  9.2

  13.7

  23.4

  20.6

  7.8

  1.1

  100

  6,050

  Suffolk

  4.5

  13.6

  9.1

  8.2

  15.2

  22.3

  19.3

  6.9

  0.9

  100

  5,490

  Camden

  3.4

  20.9

  19.3

  14.4

  10.7

  12.0

  12.0

  5.2

  2.0

  100

  1,430

  City of London

  0.0

  28.6

  21.4

  21.4

  0.0

  14.3

  14.3

  0.0

  0.0

  100

  20

  Hackney

  0.3

  4.6

  8.4

  10.2

  18.4

  25.5

  21.2

  9.2

  2.2

  100

  1,480

  Hammersmith

  4.9

  23.7

  16.5

  11.9

  10.8

  14.3

  12.1

  4.6

  1.2

  100

  1,000

  Haringey

  2.8

  14.7

  17.0

  16.4

  14.8

  14.3

  12.7

  5.8

  1.4

  100

  1,850

  Islington

  3.2

  17.5

  19.0

  16.7

  12.2

  14.0

  10.8

  5.6

  1.0

  100

  1,300

  Kensington and Chelsea

  0.8

  10.2

  18.6

  13.4

  12.9

  15.2

  18.4

  8.7

  1.8

  100

  660

  Lambeth

  2.9

  14.0

  17.0

  15.3

  13.9

  17.9

  13.5

  3.8

  1.6

  100

  1,580

  Lewisham

  3.4

  14.3

  15.2

  13.6

  13.6

  18.8

  14.8

  5.6

  0.7

  100

  1,980

  Newham

  7.4

  23.3

  16.8

  11.6

  12.1

  13.8

  11.1

  3.4

  0.6

  100

  2,420

  Southwark

  3.5

  17.2

  15.3

  13.5

  13.8

  17.3

  13.3

  4.1

  1.8

  100

  1,960

  Tower Hamlets

  3.4

  14.6

  15.8

  16.0

  14.9

  16.1

  13.2

  4.8

  1.2

  100

  2,180

  Wandsworth

  4.6

  21.2

  17.9

  11.4

  11.1

  15.8

  11.8

  4.9

  1.3

  100

  1,730

  Westminster

  4.2

  25.1

  18.1

  11.9

  10.1

  11.4

  11.7

  5.6

  2.0

  100

  1,250

  Barking

  8.1

  20.4

  14.8

  11.0

  12.9

  14.8

  13.4

  3.6

  0.9

  100

  1,480

  Barnet

  5.5

  19.7

  15.7

  12.4

  11.6

  14.5

  13.8

  5.4

  1.5

  100

  2,740

  Bexley

  5.9

  16.4

  12.2

  9.8

  14.4

  17.8

  16.2

  6.2

  1.1

  100

  2,030

  Brent

  4.4

  15.4

  13.1

  11.7

  14.2

  17.0

  15.1

  7.0

  2.0

  100

  2,110

  Bromley

  4.9

  17.3

  13.7

  10.2

  12.5

  16.9

  17.9

  5.8

  0.9

  100

  2,540

  Croydon

  4.9

  17.7

  13.0

  9.9

  12.5

  17.9

  15.6

  7.2

  1.3

  100

  2,820

  Ealing

  6.4

  21.2

  16.7

  10.0

  11.7

  13.6

  13.8

  5.5

  1.0

  100

  2,220

  Enfield

  5.2

  19.9

  13.3

  11.9

  14.3

  16.5

  13.3

  4.7

  0.8

  100

  2,670

  Greenwich

  4.8

  16.0

  14.3

  10.7

  13.0

  20.3

  14.4

  5.4

  1.2

  100

  2,030

  Harrow

  5.5

  17.1

  14.2

  10.1

  12.6

  16.9

  15.0

  7.3

  1.2

  100

  1,490

  Havering

  6.1

  14.6

  12.4

  10.8

  14.3

  19.4

  14.4

  6.7

  1.2

  100

  1,950

  Hillingdon

  7.6

  23.0

  14.7

  9.6

  12.2

  15.0

  12.8

  4.4

  0.7

  100

  2,180

  Hounslow

  6.1

  20.1

  17.5

  11.1

  10.5

  14.5

  13.0

  6.2

  1.1

  100

  2,020

  Kingston upon Thames

  6.2

  22.2

  12.8

  10.4

  10.5

  17.7

  14.1

  4.9

  1.2

  100

  1,070

  Merton

  4.7

  19.6

  14.0

  10.6

  13.1

  16.7

  13.7

  6.6

  1.1

  100

  1,210

  Redbridge

  7.1

  21.2

  13.4

  10.3

  13.9

  15.0

  13.3

  4.8

  0.8

  100

  2,370

  Richmond upon Thames

  5.1

  20.4

  15.4

  9.2

  12.0

  19.4

  12.3

  5.3

  0.8

  100

  1,040

  Sutton

  4.8

  21.3

  13.0

  8.3

  10.0

  19.2

  16.0

  6.1

  1.3

  100

  1,530

  Waltham Forest

  3.2

  14.6

  14.3

  13.7

  14.3

  19.2

  13.5

  5.7

  1.6

  100

  1,940

  Bracknell Forest

  5.7

  17.9

  10.5

  7.6

  13.0

  19.4

  19.1

  6.0

  1.0

  100

  760

  Brighton and Hove

  2.4

  14.4

  16.2

  12.4

  13.8

  20.1

  15.5

  4.6

  0.8

  100

  1,730

  Isle of Wight

  2.8

  12.5

  10.1

  9.4

  14.1

  23.3

  20.6

  6.4

  0.8

  100

  1,100

  Medway

  3.8

  16.4

  10.5

  9.9

  13.7

  19.6

  18.3

  7.1

  0.6

  100

  2,180

  Milton Keynes

  5.2

  15.6

  12.6

  11.7

  15.0

  21.2

  13.6

  4.4

  0.7

  100

  1,760

  Portsmouth

  3.8

  16.3

  11.9

  9.9

  13.2

  21.2

  15.9

  7.1

  0.8

  100

  1,480

  Reading

  6.8

  17.1

  11.9

  7.8

  12.3

  20.1

  16.0

  6.9

  1.2

  100

  990

  Slough

  6.1

  17.7

  13.7

  8.3

  13.4

  16.6

  16.4

  6.4

  1.4

  100

  1,090

  Southampton

  5.8

  17.1

  12.8

  9.8

  12.3

  19.3

  16.5

  5.1

  1.2

  100

  1,640

  West Berkshire

  5.1

  19.1

  12.7

  9.1

  13.1

  18.7

  14.7

  6.5

  1.0

  100

  1,330

  Windsor and Maidenhead

  5.3

  15.6

  11.2

  9.6

  12.1

  19.9

  16.8

  8.4

  1.1

  100

  990

  Wokingham

  3.6

  16.6

  9.7

  8.2

  13.6

  20.6

  19.3

  6.3

  2.1

  100

  1,280

  Buckinghamshire

  5.6

  17.8

  10.4

  8.2

  11.9

  20.9

  18.2

  6.0

  0.9

  100

  3,900

  East Sussex

  4.6

  13.8

  13.1

  11.1

  15.0

  20.5

  16.3

  4.6

  0.9

  100

  3,610

  54W 55W

  Percentage of full-time regular teachers March 2000

  Under 25

  25–29

  30–34

  35–39

  40–44

  45–49

  50–54

  55–59

  60 and over

  All full-time regular

  All regular teachers January 2001 fte

  Hampshire

  5.8

  16.8

  11.4

  8.9

  12.5

  20.4

  17.1

  6.3

  0.7

  100

  8,970

  Kent

  5.3

  15.0

  10.1

  9.1

  14.9

  21.2

  16.9

  6.4

  1.0

  100

  11,320

  Oxfordshire

  4.4

  16.1

  12.8

  10.6

  12.3

  18.4

  18.2

  6.2

  1.0

  100

  4,790

  Surrey

  6.7

  20.5

  15.0

  8.6

  10.8

  16.6

  14.8

  6.1

  1.0

  100

  7,310

  West Sussex

  3.7

  15.8

  11.7

  10.5

  14.7

  20.3

  16.9

  5.5

  0.9

  100

  5,610

  Bath and NE Somerset

  3.6

  17.7

  12.0

  9.8

  12.9

  19.8

  17.3

  6.0

  0.9

  100

  1,390

  Bournemouth

  3.3

  14.8

  9.7

  9.3

  13.1

  23.9

  18.2

  6.4

  1.4

  100

  1,110

  City of Bristol

  4.9

  15.8

  13.7

  11.2

  12.3

  19.8

  17.0

  4.7

  0.6

  100

  2,790

  North Somerset

  4.0

  14.6

  11.8

  10.4

  14.1

  19.3

  18.9

  6.0

  0.9

  100

  1,420

  City of Plymouth

  3.1

  13.5

  12.2

  12.8

  14.8

  19.2

  17.2

  6.5

  0.5

  100

  2,210

  Poole

  4.5

  14.4

  11.1

  8.9

  14.4

  20.9

  19.5

  5.9

  0.4

  100

  1,030

  South Gloucestershire

  4.6

  16.4

  12.4

  10.6

  13.4

  19.0

  16.9

  5.9

  0.8

  100

  2,120

  Swindon

  6.9

  16.7

  11.9

  9.1

  12.1

  19.7

  15.7

  7.2

  0.7

  100

  1,440

  Torbay

  4.2

  14.1

  11.5

  9.2

  12.4

  20.6

  20.8

  6.3

  0.8

  100

  970

  Cornwall

  2.2

  10.9

  9.7

  10.5

  15.3

  23.4

  20.4

  6.6

  1.2

  100

  3,800

  Isles of Scilly

  0.0

  0.0

  15.8

  15.8

  15.8

  26.3

  15.8

  5.3

  5.3

  100

  20

  Devon

  3.4

  11.8

  11.4

  9.9

  14.0

  23.1

  19.1

  6.5

  0.9

  100

  5,030

  Dorset

  4.5

  15.3

  10.8

  10.1

  15.0

  20.5

  17.8

  5.3

  0.7

  100

  2,880

  Gloucestershire

  4.3

  15.6

  12.3

  9.8

  12.6

  21.3

  18.3

  5.2

  0.6

  100

  4,680

  Somerset

  3.7

  12.6

  9.0

  10.0

  15.9

  22.4

  19.9

  5.9

  0.6

  100

  3,770

  Wiltshire

  4.2

  16.5

  11.2

  11.0

  12.9

  21.5

  16.8

  5.5

  0.5

  100

  3,340

  England

  4.5

  14.9

  11.5

  9.9

  13.8

  21.0

  17.6

  5.9

  0.9

  100

  410,170

  1 Totals may not appear to equal the sum of their component parts due to rounding.

  2 Estimates of part-time teachers by age have not been given because about 10 per cent, to 20 per cent, of part-time teachers are not recorded on the Teachers Pension Scheme, from which the data are obtained.

  Head Teacher Vacancies (London)
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many vacancies there are for head teachers at schools in each of the London education authorities. [10265]

  Mr. Timms
  Full-time vacancies for head teachers in maintained nursery, primary, secondary and special schools in London at January 2001 is as follow:

  Vacancies

  Camden

  0

  City of London

  0

  Hackney

  1

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  2

  Haringey

  1

  Islington

  2

  Kensington and Chelsea

  0

  Lambeth

  5

  Lewisham

  2

  Newham

  3

  Southwark

  4

  Tower Hamlets

  2

  Wandsworth

  1

  City of Westminster

  2

  Barking and Dagenham

  0

  Barnet

  5

  Bexley

  0

  Brent

  0

  Bromley

  0

  Croydon

  3

  Ealing

  0

  Enfield

  2

  Greenwich

  0

  Harrow

  0

  Havering

  0

  Hillingdon

  0

  Hounslow

  0

  Kingston upon Thames

  0

  Merton

  0

  Redbridge

  0

  Richmond upon Thames

  2

  Sutton

  0

  Waltham Forest

  0

  56W

  Head Teacher Vacancies (London)

    Teachers (East Yorkshire)
    David Davis
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) what the shortfall in the number of supply teachers is in the East Riding of Yorkshire(a) for the current academic year and (b) for each year since 1996; [10726]

    (2) how many foreign nationals were employed as (a) primary and (b) secondary school teachers in the East Riding of Yorkshire during the (i) 2000–01 academic year and (ii) previous four academic years.

    Mr. Timms
    The information is not collected centrally.

    Teaching Qualifications
    Mr. Brady
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many and what percentage of teachers in maintained secondary schools did not have an appropriate subject qualification for the subject which they teach in each of the last five years. [13040]

    Mr. Timms
    [holding answer 6 November 2001]: The most recent figures available show that, in 1996–97, 18 per cent. of secondary school teachers did not hold an appropriate qualification in the subject that they were teaching, including teachers of subjects for which qualifications are not commonly held.

    Pupil Spending (Bassetlaw)
    John Mann
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what has been the change in spending per(a) primary and (b) secondary school pupil in Bassetlaw since 1997; [21212]

    (2) what the average spending per pupil is in Bassetlaw in (a) primary and (b) secondary education compared to the national average. [21304]
    57W
    Mr. Timms
    The information requested is submitted to the Department according to local education authority areas, rather than districts within an area. Bassetlaw is a district of Nottinghamshire Local Education Authority. The information for Nottinghamshire LEA is as follows:

    Nursery/primary

    Secondary

    Nottinghamshire

    1998–99

    1,910

    2,470

    1999–2000

    2,010

    2,560

    England

    1997–98

    1,860

    2,530

    1998–99

    1,960

    2,550

    1999–2000

    2,070

    2,640

    The figures are based on net institutional expenditure per pupil and are expressed in real terms and at 2000–01 prices. The SSA increase for Nottinghamshire for 2002–03 is 5.9 per cent. 1998–99 was the last year for Nottinghamshire with its current boundaries.

    Individual Learning Accounts
    Mr. Swire
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what action she plans to take in respect of individuals who have been defrauded of their individual learning accounts when they have applied for courses with genuine learning providers. [21059]

    John Healey
    The ILA programme is now closed and we shall not be accepting further bookings of learning. We are continuing to log details of complaints and will follow these up.

    Our commitment to adult learning remains cast iron and the Secretary of State has already said that this is not the end of Government funding for adult learning, or of Government support for those who find a lack of money a barrier to returning to education, learning or training. We are developing future plans for a successor ILA-style scheme which build on the successful elements of the ILA programme.

    Alistair Burt
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate she has made of the number of learning providers who have ceased business as a result of the ending of the individual learning account scheme; and if she will make a statement. [22158]

    John Healey
    [holding answer 10 December 2001]: The Department has made no estimate of the number of learning providers who may have ceased business as a result of the closure of the individual learning account programme.

    Teachers Earnings
    Mr. Webb
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will estimate the average weekly earnings of(a) a fully qualified teacher, (b) a primary school head teacher and (c) a secondary school head teacher in 2001–02.

    Mr. Timms
    [holding answer 6 December 2001]: The estimated average weekly gross pay of full-time teachers in England and Wales from April 2001 is as follows.
    58W

    Teachers in England and Wales

    £

    Qualified teacher in the maintained schools sector1

    550

    Head teacher in maintained nursery and primary

    750

    Head teacher in maintained secondary

    1,020

    1 Including staff on the leadership scale.

    Departmental Staff (Home Working)
    Mr. Challen
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps her Department is taking to encourage staff to work from home; and how many staff do so on a regular basis. [21836]

    Mr. Ivan Lewis
    The Department of Education and Skills believes everyone should be allowed to balance their work and home commitments and that home working should be available to all staff, not just those with caring responsibilities. We encourage a culture of trust where people feel comfortable working from home and do not feel tied to working a fixed 9–5 pattern and try to discourage long hours working among staff. Staff can work at home on a full-time basis or for part of the week on a regular or occasional basis. Business needs remain at the top of our agenda. However, managers are encouraged to be sympathetic to all requests and grant them whenever possible.

    The Department publicises its policy on flexible working to all staff and people working wholly or partly from home have access to our remote working system, which currently has 1,175 registered users, 27 per cent. of our total work force.

    New Schools
    Chris Grayling
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many new schools were opened in each of the last 10 years. [21957]

    John Healey
    The following table shows the numbers of new maintained schools opened each year since 1996. The figures exclude new schools opened as a result of an amalgamation or reorganisation of schools or fresh start proposals. Reliable information is not available on the number of new schools opened prior to 1996.

    Year

    Primary

    Secondary

    Total

    1996

    7

    0

    7

    1997

    15

    8

    23

    1998

    18

    3

    21

    1999

    22

    6

    28

    2000

    13

    3

    16

    2001

    21

    7

    28

    Education Standard Spending Assessment
    Mr. Willis
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list for each of the years 1995–96 to 2001–02(a) the total amount of education SSA provided to local education authorities, (b) the final education budget agreed by local education authorities and (c) the amount by which the education budget exceeded SSA.

    Mr. Timms
    [holding answer 11 December 2001]: The information is set out in the following table.
    59W

    £

    Year

    Total education standard spending assessment

    Total education budget

    Surplus or deficit

    1995–96

    17,024.1

    17,821.1

    797.0

    1996–97

    17,764.2

    18,411.3

    647.1

    1997–98

    17,853.8

    18,399.2

    545.4

    1998–99

    19,383.7

    19,809.5

    425.8

    1999–2000

    20,414.1

    20,802.0

    387.9

    2000–01

    21,478.6

    21,812.0

    333.3

    2001–02

    22,512.9

    22,713.7

    200.8

    Notes:

    Total education budget for 1995–96 to 2000–01 is taken from local authorities' revenue accounts returns.

    For 2001–02 the education budget is total education revenue expenditure recorded at line five on local education authorities' section 52 budget statements, less income from grants recorded at lines 6a and 6b.

    Schools (Buckingham)
    Mr. Bercow
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many schools have operated four day weeks in the constituency of Buckingham in(a) 1999, (b) 2000 and (c) 2001. [22652]

    Mr. Timms
    My Department is not aware of any schools in the Buckingham constituency which have operated a four day week in the years in question.

    Teachers (South Tyneside)
    Mr. Hepburn
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many(a) primary and (b) secondary school teachers were working in South Tyneside local education authorities on 1 May; and what are the projected figures for 1 May 2002. [22665]

    Mr. Timms
    The information is not available for the dates requested. The full-time equivalent numbers of regular teachers in maintained nursery, primary and secondary schools in the South Tyneside local education authority in January 2001 were as follows:

    Number

    Nursery and primary

    675

    Secondary

    655

    My Department does not project teacher numbers for individual local authorities.

    Standards Fund
    Mr. Kidney
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list by local education authority in England the amount per pupil in(a) primary and (b) secondary education paid out of the Standards Fund in (i) 2000–01 and (ii) 2001–02 to date. [22682]

    Mr. Timms
    The following table shows allocations for the Standards Fund, shown as an amount per pupil, for 2000–01 and 2001–02, for each local education authority. The figures cannot be disaggregated between primary and secondary as most Standards Fund grants cover both phases and the precise distribution will be determined at local level. The figures include recurrent and capital Standards Fund grants excluding those that are specifically for nursery education, further education 60W
    and adult education. The Standards Fund includes Government grant and local authority contributions, which have both been included in the calculations.

    Standards Fund per pupil

    £ per pupil

    Local education authority

    2000–01

    2001–02

    Corporation of London

    1,762

    1,786

    Camden

    549

    656

    Greenwich

    485

    683

    Hackney

    607

    810

    Hammersmith and Fulham

    467

    720

    Islington

    524

    754

    Kensington and Chelsea

    562

    691

    Lambeth

    509

    700

    Lewisham

    435

    634

    Southwark

    490

    667

    Tower Hamlets

    660

    847

    Wandsworth

    496

    665

    Westminster

    479

    614

    Barking

    302

    477

    Barnet

    178

    364

    Bexley

    200

    315

    Brent

    281

    523

    Bromley

    236

    317

    Croydon

    268

    359

    Ealing

    358

    561

    Enfield

    271

    416

    Haringey

    490

    719

    Harrow

    236

    362

    Havering

    207

    341

    Hillingdon

    248

    328

    Hounslow

    307

    448

    Kingston upon Thames

    369

    502

    Merton

    343

    533

    Newham

    426

    579

    Redbridge

    260

    351

    Richmond upon Thames

    386

    357

    Sutton

    219

    334

    Waltham Forest

    412

    617

    Birmingham

    389

    530

    Coventry

    321

    434

    Dudley

    268

    347

    Sandwell

    274

    449

    Solihull

    243

    341

    Walsall

    307

    427

    Wolverhampton

    360

    528

    Knowsley

    430

    702

    Liverpool

    390

    573

    St. Helens

    263

    489

    Sefton

    261

    410

    Wirral

    272

    460

    Bolton

    295

    385

    Bury

    248

    332

    Manchester

    513

    657

    Oldham

    321

    455

    Rochdale

    320

    548

    Salford

    553

    551

    Stockport

    279

    351

    Tameside

    281

    377

    Trafford

    250

    336

    Wigan

    262

    347

    Barnsley

    284

    419

    Doncaster

    277

    369

    Rotherham

    425

    532

    Sheffield

    401

    556

    Bradford

    452

    607

    Calderdale

    319

    354

    Kirklees

    352

    482

    Leeds

    344

    497

    Wakefield

    287

    410

    Gateshead

    336

    551

    Newcastle upon Tyne

    335

    532

    North Tyneside

    288

    465

    61W

    standards Fund per pupil

    £per pupil

    Local education authority

    2000–01

    2001–02

    South Tyneside

    312

    488

    Sunderland

    292

    487

    Isles of Scilly

    1,781

    1,725

    Bath and North East Somerset

    290

    385

    City of Bristol

    303

    463

    North Somerset

    278

    360

    South Gloucestershire

    279

    360

    Hartlepool

    292

    555

    Middlesbrough

    314

    511

    Redcar and Cleveland

    272

    450

    Stockton-on-Tees

    315

    506

    City of Kingston-upon-Hull

    306

    479

    East Riding of Yorkshire

    294

    387

    North East Lincolnshire

    318

    386

    North Lincolnshire

    346

    400

    North Yorkshire

    316

    389

    York

    316

    369

    Bedfordshire

    310

    419

    Luton

    362

    481

    Buckinghamshire

    295

    377

    Milton Keynes

    285

    393

    Derbyshire

    306

    366

    Derby City

    307

    431

    Dorset

    269

    365

    Poole

    240

    289

    Bournemouth

    351

    503

    Durham

    305

    443

    Darlington

    314

    425

    East Sussex

    271

    342

    Brighton and Hove

    305

    390

    Hampshire

    237

    353

    Portsmouth

    273

    382

    Southampton

    276

    364

    Leicestershire

    270

    306

    Leicester City

    362

    493

    Rutland

    340

    497

    Staffordshire

    245

    307

    Stoke-on-Trent

    333

    546

    Wiltshire

    296

    344

    Swindon

    291

    330

    Bracknell Forest borough council

    258

    361

    RB of Windsor and Maidenhead

    283

    376

    West Berkshire district council

    338

    365

    Reading

    354

    442

    Slough borough council

    364

    424

    Wokingham district council

    281

    407

    Cambridgeshire county council

    284

    364

    Peterborough city council

    308

    391

    Cheshire county council

    252

    336

    Halton borough council

    334

    573

    Warrington borough council

    244

    325

    Devon county council

    266

    367

    City of Plymouth

    248

    336

    Torbay borough council

    260

    334

    Essex county council

    256

    345

    Southend-on-Sea borough council

    242

    326

    Thurrock council

    302

    398

    Herefordshire council

    327

    364

    Worcestershire county council

    265

    326

    Kent county council

    266

    344

    Medway council

    253

    336

    Lancashire county council

    311

    392

    Blackburn with Darwen

    435

    528

    Blackpool borough council

    293

    384

    Nottinghamshire county council

    278

    327

    City of Nottingham

    384

    662

    Shropshire county council

    266

    341

    Telford and Wrekin

    358

    417

    Cornwall

    295

    361

    Cumbria

    308

    406

    Gloucestershire

    285

    375

    62W

    standards Fund per pupil

    £per pupil

    Local education authority

    2000–01

    2001–02

    Hertfordshire

    255

    315

    Isle of Wight

    329

    406

    Lincolnshire

    288

    400

    Norfolk

    290

    412

    Northamptonshire

    270

    387

    Northumberland

    250

    385

    Oxfordshire

    300

    362

    Somerset

    360

    356

    Suffolk

    259

    325

    Surrey

    233

    324

    Warwickshire

    274

    367

    West Sussex

    240

    320

    Notes:

    1. Figures include Standard Fund grants relating to five to 16 pupils only. Grants for under-fives and post 16-provision have not been included.

    2. Figures include both Government grant and local authority contributions to the Standards Fund.

    3. Figures include recurrent and capital grants.

    Formula-funded Allocations
    Mr. Kidney
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list by local education authority in England, the amount per pupil for(a) primary and (b) secondary education of the formula-funded allocations in the provisional settlement for 2002–03. [22743]

    Mr. Timms
    The information requested is shown in the following table.

    provisional education SSAs per pupil 2002–03

    £

    LEA

    Primary per 5–10 pupil

    Secondary per 11–15 pupil

    City of London

    3,816

    7,607

    Camden

    3,888

    4,767

    Greenwich

    3,622

    4,650

    Hackney

    4,034

    5,382

    Hammersmith and Fulham

    3,871

    4,858

    Islington

    3,937

    5,177

    Kensington and Chelsea

    4,075

    4,813

    Lambeth

    4,058

    5,624

    Lewisham

    3,765

    4,913

    Southwark

    3,898

    5,030

    Tower Hamlets

    4,143

    5,320

    Wandsworth

    3,516

    4,459

    Westminster

    3,774

    4,508

    Barking and Dagenham

    3,125

    4,050

    Barnet

    2,992

    3,755

    Bexley

    2,824

    3,589

    Brent

    3,423

    4,400

    Bromley

    2,790

    3,521

    Croydon

    3,042

    3,946

    Ealing

    3,227

    4,186

    Enfield

    3,106

    3,937

    Haringey

    3,555

    4,587

    Harrow

    2,943

    3,823

    Havering

    2,778

    3,562

    Hillingdon

    2,926

    3,742

    Hounslow

    3,154

    3,946

    Kingston upon Thames

    2,793

    3,555

    Merton

    2,994

    3,838

    Newham

    3,531

    4,521

    Redbridge

    2,972

    3,801

    Richmond upon Thames

    2,753

    3,475

    Sutton

    2,830

    3,534

    Waltham Forest

    3,292

    4,211

    Birmingham

    2,891

    3,721

    63W

    Provisional education SSAs per pupil 2002–03

    £

    LEA

    Primary per 5–10 pupil

    Secondary per 11–15 pupil

    Coventry

    2,702

    3,457

    Dudley

    2,490

    3,183

    Sandwell

    2,745

    3,531

    Solihull

    2,461

    3,119

    Walsall

    2,622

    3,335

    Woverhampton

    2,758

    3,534

    Knowsley

    3,005

    3,924

    Liverpool

    2,972

    3,817

    St. Helens

    2,612

    3,357

    Sefton

    2,601

    3,304

    Wirral

    2,682

    3,454

    Bolton

    2,607

    3,316

    Bury

    2,522

    3,222

    Manchester

    3,087

    4,016

    Oldham

    2,683

    3,424

    Rochdale

    2,721

    3,472

    Salford

    2,732

    3,542

    Stockport

    2,458

    3,164

    Tameside

    2,596

    3,310

    Trafford

    2,523

    3,232

    Wigan

    2,499

    3,186

    Barnsley

    2,609

    3,371

    Doncaster

    2,674

    3,442

    Rotherham

    2,582

    3,274

    Sheffield

    2,648

    3,392

    Bradford

    2,770

    3,575

    Calderdale

    2,618

    3,351

    Kirklees

    2,639

    3,389

    Leeds

    2,612

    3,347

    Wakefield

    2,535

    3,250

    Gateshead

    2,657

    3,405

    Newcastle upon Tyne

    2,801

    3,606

    North Tyneside

    2,576

    3,318

    South Tyneside

    2,716

    3,482

    Sunderland

    2,659

    3,414

    Isles of Scilly

    4,775

    6,165

    Bath and North East Somerset

    2,437

    3,064

    City of Bristol

    2,687

    3,466

    North Somerset

    2,462

    3,169

    South Gloucestershire

    2,390

    3,087

    Hartlepool

    2,678

    3,438

    Middlesbrough

    2,849

    3,722

    Redcar and Cleveland

    2,686

    3,417

    Stockton-on-Tees

    2,620

    3,375

    City of Kingston-upon-Hull

    2,785

    3,564

    East Riding of Yorkshire

    2,485

    3,197

    North East Lincolnshire

    2,673

    3,424

    North Lincolnshire

    2,593

    3,352

    North Yorkshire

    2,557

    3,244

    York

    2,478

    3,192

    Bedfordshire

    2,663

    3,408

    Luton

    2,893

    3,708

    Buckinghamshire

    2,656

    3,411

    Milton Keynes

    2,745

    3,527

    Derbyshire

    2,492

    3,197

    Derby

    2,671

    3,429

    Dorset

    2,494

    3,179

    Poole

    2,452

    3,133

    Bournemouth

    2,574

    3,275

    Durham

    2,628

    3,378

    Darlington

    2,602

    3,338

    East Sussex

    2,713

    3,498

    Brighton and Hove

    2,813

    3,596

    Hampshire

    2,582

    3,322

    Portsmouth

    2,779

    3,532

    Southampton

    2,829

    3,650

    Leicestershire

    2,411

    3,094

    Leicester

    3,850

    3,647

    Rutland

    2,466

    3,039

    Staffordshire

    2,451

    3,146

    64W

    Provisional education SSAs per pupil 2002–03

    £

    LEA

    Primary per 5–10 pupil

    Secondary per 11–15 pupil

    Stoke-on-Trent

    2,658

    3,407

    Wiltshire

    2,509

    3,220

    Swindon

    2,495

    3,200

    Bracknell Forest

    2,711

    3,498

    Windsor and Maidenhead

    2,724

    3,432

    West Berkshire

    2,587

    3,280

    Reading

    2,792

    3,643

    Slough

    3,157

    4,148

    Wokingham

    2,465

    3,177

    Cambridgeshire

    2,533

    3,225

    Peterborough

    2,710

    3,481

    Cheshire

    2,469

    3,149

    Halton

    2,739

    3,546

    Warrington

    2,449

    3,147

    Devon

    2,559

    3,290

    Plymouth

    2,610

    3,314

    Torbay

    2,578

    3,316

    Essex

    2,710

    3,465

    Southend

    2,760

    3,520

    Thurrock

    2,880

    3,681

    Herefordshire

    2,588

    3,314

    Worcestershire

    2,472

    3,157

    Kent

    2,708

    3,470

    Medway

    2,688

    3,440

    Lancashire

    2,589

    3,319

    Blackburn

    2,776

    3,574

    Blackpool

    2,634

    3,394

    Nottinghamshire

    2,506

    3,219

    Nottingham City

    2,897

    3,744

    Shropshire

    2,534

    3,228

    The Wrekin

    2,616

    3,363

    Cornwall

    2,594

    3,335

    Cumbria

    2,581

    3,299

    Gloucestershire

    2,497

    3,186

    Hertfordshire

    2,750

    3,503

    Isle of Wight council

    2,792

    3,600

    Lincolnshire

    2,586

    3,311

    Norfolk

    2,606

    3,325

    Northamptonshire

    2,529

    3,232

    Northumberland

    2,562

    3,288

    Oxfordshire

    2,671

    3,399

    Somerset

    2,529

    3,245

    Suffolk

    2,526

    3,221

    Surrey

    2,718

    3,466

    Warwickshire

    2,489

    3,173

    West Sussex

    2,638

    3,365

    Schools Revenue Budget
    Mr.Kidney
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportions of her Department's Schools Revenue Budget for 2002–03 are(a) special grant, (b) standards fund and (c) formula-funded allocations. [22744]

    Mr. Timms
    The Department does not hold a single Schools Recurrent Budget. Recurrent funding for schools is made up of Education Standard Spending, the Standards Fund and Special Grants. For 2002–03, these three elements break down as follows:

    Funding source

    Amount (£ million)

    Proportion (Percentage)

    Education Standard Spending (ESS)

    23,858

    89.2

    Standards Fund

    1,711

    6.4

    Special Grants

    1,168

    4.4

    65W
    Education Standard Spending is the amount the Government consider appropriate for local authorities to spend on education from their total budgets. Local authorities receive about three quarters of their funding from central Government, through the Revenue Support Grant and business rates, and about a quarter through council tax. The figure for the Standards Fund includes Government grant only as the local authority contributions are included in the ESS figure.

    Teachers' Superannuation Scheme
    Mr. Kidney
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what contributions local education authorities have been required to make to the Teachers' Superannuation Scheme in each of the last three years; and what contributions they will be required to make in 2002–03. [22745]

    Mr. Timms
    The rate of contribution payable by all employers to the teachers' pension scheme is determined through actuarial valuations. The percentages of salary payable for the years 1999–2000 through to 2002–03 are:

    Percentage

    2001–02

    7.2

    2001–03

    7.4

    2001–04

    7.4

    2002–03

    8.35

    Children's Fund Budget
    Mr. Woodward
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the Children's Fund budget for 2001–02 will be spent on, broken down into categories. [22493]

    Mr. Denham
    The Children's Fund consists of two distinct elements: local partnerships of public agencies and the voluntary sector to provide preventive services for children at risk aged 5–13; and the Local Network Fund which provides small grants to local voluntary organisations to address child poverty at all ages, 0–19.

    The Children's Fund budget of £100 million for 2001–02 has been allocated as follows:
    Preventive services through local partnerships, including evaluation costs: £80 million
    Local Network Fund, including evaluation: £10 million
    National support, including partnership support and development, initiatives for children and young people and the costs of the Children and Young People's Unit: £10 million.

    It is for local partnerships to determine their expenditure on individual services from their allocation in accordance with their local strategies for preventive services for children based on guidelines issued by the Children and Young People's Unit.

    Landscape Contracting
    Mr. Luff
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what discussions she has had with the British Association of Landscape Industries about training and certification of qualifications; and if she will make a statement. [22906]
    66W
    John Healey
    No discussions have been held with the British Association of Landscape Industries about training and certification of qualifications.

    Mr. Luff
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment she has made of the arrangements for training in the landscape contracting sector. [22907]

    John Healey
    Arrangements for training in the landscape contracting sector are a matter for the employers in that sector, as in any other. A network of national training organisations (NTOs), set up by employers and formally recognised by the Government, provides strategic leadership and practical guidance about the learning, skills and qualification needs for a defined sector.

    The Construction Industry Training Board is the NTO for the building and civil engineering sector, which includes "hard" landscaping, that is laying driveways; constructing walls; constructing or repairing swimming pools, playing fields and grounds for sporting or recreational purposes.

    Lantra is the NTO for land-based industries, including "soft" landscaping, that is horticultural activities such as the landscaping of gardens and parks.

    The Government recently announced plans to build a stronger sector network that will engage employers more fully in the planning and delivery of learning and skills. Sector skills councils will be set up which build on the achievements secured by NTOs.

    Construction Industry Training Board
    Mr. Luff
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what responsibility the Construction Industry Training Board has for the landscape contracting sector; and if she will make a statement. [22908]

    John Healey
    The Construction Industry Training Board is responsible for the provision of practical guidance on the learning, skills and qualification needs related to the following landscaping activities:

    Laying driveways.

    Constructing walls.

    Constructing or repairing swimming pools; playing fields; grounds for sporting or recreational purposes.

    Restoring land affected by the working of coal by opencast operations.

    Site preparation in connection with all of these.

    Mr. Luff
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what is the eligibility of the landscape contracting sector for payment of the Construction Industry Training Board Levy; and if she will make a statement. [22910]

    John Healey
    Employers fall within the scope of the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) if their main activity is one of the following:

    Laying driveways.

    Constructing walls.

    Constructing or repairing swimming pools; playing fields; grounds for sporting or recreational purposes.

    Restoring land affected by the working of coal by opencast operations.

    Site preparation in connection with all of these.

    67W
    Such employers would be assessed to levy in respect of their work force except for any employees engaged in "soft" landscaping operations where those activities fall within the definition of agriculture.

    Employers whose main activity is "soft" landscaping do not fall within the CITB's scope.

    Local Education Authorities (West Midlands)
    Mr. Luff
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills which local education authorities in the West Midlands have access to sources of European funding to supplement the grants they receive from the Government. [22980]

    Margaret Hodge
    All local education authorities have access to the European Commission's education, training and youth programmes, as well as the European social fund. Funding under each of these programmes is awarded on a competitive basis following a bidding round. Local authorities are well placed to encourage institutions and schools in their areas to take advantage of the opportunities the programmes offer, and can also apply for project funding themselves.

    The Socrates programme aims to promote the European dimension in the field of education, and covers all phases of education from primary schools to higher education, including activities focused on adult education and ICT and distance learning; the Leonardo da Vinci programme funds vocational training, and the youth programme focuses on non-formal learning. The European social fund supports the development education and training systems as part of lifelong learning policy in the wider context of strengthening economic and social cohesion.

    Further details of the bidding procedures and activities covered can be found at the Commission website http: //europa.eu.int/comrn/dgs/educationculture/ and on the ESF at http: //www.dti.gov.uk/europe/mf1.htm.

    Pupil Funding
    Mr. Luff
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the per pupil standard spending assessment is for(a) secondary and (b) primary pupils of (i) shire counties, (ii) other local education authorities and (iii) the average English education authority for (A) 2000–01, (B) 2001–02 and (C) 2002–3. [23082]

    Mr. Timms
    The information requested is in the following table:

    £

    2000–01

    2001–02

    2002–031

    Secondary (pupils aged 11–15)

    Shire

    3,024

    3,157

    3,310

    Non-shire

    3,304

    3,447

    3,620

    National

    3,175

    3,313

    3,476

    Primary (pupils aged 5–10)

    Shire

    2,348

    2,456

    2,587

    Non-shire

    2,577

    2,697

    2,846

    National

    2,474

    2,588

    2,728

    1 The amounts for 2002–03 are provisional

    68W

    Education Funding (Worcestershire)
    Mr. Luff
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will make it her policy to bring spending per pupil in Worcestershire closer to the average for the shire counties; and if she will make a statement. [23085]

    Mr. Timms
    The Government are currently working up proposals, in partnership with local government and other education interests, for the introduction of a new funding system in 2003–04. We are taking a fresh and objective look at what provision is needed, and at the additional costs some authorities undoubtedly face. We want a system that is both fair and clear. The element of the proposals set out in the Green Paper most relevant to Worcestershire's position is that LEAs should receive a basic entitlement per primary or secondary school pupil, with enhancements only for authorities where significant deprivation adds to costs, or schools need to pay more to recruit and retain staff. This would mean that a number of LEAs would get the same funding per pupil, rather than those like Worcestershire getting less than almost all others.

    Sex Education
    Mr. Rosindell
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what criteria the Government follow in determining the suitability of(a) publications and (b) materials to be used in the teaching of sex education. [22881]

    Margaret Hodge
    Our sex and relationship education guidance published last year, and underpinned by the Learning and Skills Act 2000, gives heads and governors a statutory responsibility to have regard to the guidance in ensuring that young people are protected from inappropriate teaching and materials.

    Education Funding (South Gloucestershire)
    Mr. Webb
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills for what reason South Gloucestershire has a negative SSA for post-16 education in 2002–03; how many other authorities are in the same position; and if she will make a statement. [22604]

    Mr. Timms
    [holding answer 13 December 2001]: South Gloucestershire has a negative net post-16 SSA because the deduction in respect of its Learning and Skills funding allocation for post-16 education is greater than its gross post-16 SSA for 2002–03. There are a further six authorities in this position. We will be making a special grant available, to guarantee that no authority will have a net post-16 SSA which is less than 7.5 per cent. of its gross post-16 SSA. Allocations of this special grant will be announced once the Local Government Finance Settlement is finalised at the end of January.

    Returnees Bonus
    Mr. Boswell
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many teachers have(a) applied for, (b) been rejected for and (c) received the returnees bonus for teachers; and if she will make a statement on the numbers and nature of those applicants who have been disqualified from teaching in the interim since their last full-time post. [23114]
    69W
    Mr. Timms
    Information on the total number of applications for the bonus received by local education authorities, and the number of those to have been assessed as ineligible, is not collected centrally. To date, four local education authorities have submitted claims to my Department for the reimbursement of bonus payments made to seven teachers in their areas, but the bulk of claims will not be made until the new year. Any teacher who has been disqualified from the profession would be barred from working in a school and therefore ineligible to apply for the bonus.

    Special Education Grant (Worcestershire)
    Mr. Luff
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans she has to pay a special education grant to Worcestershire for 2002–03 financial year; and if she will make a statement. [23495]

    Mr. Timms
    We propose to pay a grant to those authorities where there is a significant impact from the transfer of funding from Education Standard Spending to the Learning and Skills Council. The grant will guarantee:all LEAs a post-16 SSA after their LSC allocation has been deducted of at least 7.5 per cent. of their post-16 SSA before the LSC deduction; and
    all LEAs at least 85 per cent. of the increase in their education SSA to be available for purposes other than sixth forms.

    Allocations of this grant will be finalised in January, after the consultation on the Local Government Finance settlement has been completed, and final figures for LSC allocations and Education SSAs are available. We have no other plans for special grants to support LEA budgets for 2002–03, because increases in funding mean there is less need for special grant support from Government than there was in 2001–02: over £1.3 billion extra in Education Standard Spending Assessments (SSAs); a further increase in Standards Fund grant of almost £160 million; and an increase in the direct grant for schools of 2.75 per cent.

    Student Support
    Mr. Liddell-Grainger
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans she has to consult with Universities UK on the new system of student support. [23549]

    Margaret Hodge
    My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Skills has written to Prof. Roderick Floud, President of Universities UK, to inform him that a review is under way. We plan to consult on any proposals for change and would expect Universities UK to contribute.

    Specialist Schools
    Mr. Chaytor
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what advice she has received from Ofsted on the performance of specialist schools; and when the advice was received. [22322]

    Mr. Timms
    Ofsted's report, "Specialist Schools: An evaluation of progress", was published on 9 October 2001. An initial draft of the report was received within the Department for Education and Skills at the beginning of July. Ofsted's report confirms that four out of five of the schools surveyed are achieving the aims of the specialist schools programme and are making good use of the 70W
    advantages it brings. The report's first main finding states that: "For these schools specialist status has often been a catalyst for innovation and helped to sustain or accelerate the momentum of school improvement." Technology, language and arts colleges are improving attainment at a faster rate than is the case nationally and in GCSE examinations in 2000 the combined average points score for each pupil for specialist subjects was higher in all four categories of specialist school than the average for all other maintained secondary schools. Ofsted also found that, with few exceptions, the community dimension was the weakest part of the school's work. However, sports colleges had responded well to this challenge and the report found that about half of the technology and language colleges visited had developed good examples of community support. We expect all specialist schools to benefit from the findings in the Ofsted report.

  DEFENCE

    Procurement
    Mr. Vaz
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much new equipment has been purchased in the last financial year. [17203]

    Dr. Moonie
    This information is contained within the Defence Procurement Agency's "Annual Report and Accounts for 2000–01" (Pages 8 and 11) which was published on 28 November and laid before the House. I am arranging for copies to be placed in the Library of the House.

    Fair Trade Goods
    Mr. Weir
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what fairly traded products, other than tea and coffee, have been purchased by his Department in each of the last five years; and what the value was. [18161]

    Dr. Moonie
    We do not keep records of purchases that fall into the fair trade category.

    Defence Aviation Repair Agency
    Mr. John Smith
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the cost of repairing the sewerage and water systems of RAF St. Athan. [19422]

    Dr. Moonie
    The Ministry of Defence is currently engaged in a GB-wide public private partnership project, Project Aquatrine, which will involve the transfer of responsibility for delivering water and wastewater services to a private sector service provider over a 25 year contract period. RAF St. Athan is within the scope of Project Aquatrine. The bidders are responsible for assessing both the priority and level of investment in the waste and wastewater infrastructure, and pricing accordingly in their bids.

    Defence Jobs, Ilford
    Linda Perham
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the number of jobs that are dependent on defence spending in the Ilford, North constituency. [22293]
    71W
    Dr. Moonie
    There were 24 regular armed forces personnel employed at 1 July 2000 within the local area authority of Redbridge, of which the Ilford, North constituency is a part. In addition to these there are a number of Territorial Army personnel, and within Ilford there were fewer than 10 Ministry of Defence (MOD) civilians at the same date.

    In addition to this direct employment, the MOD supports a significant number of defence related jobs in industry throughout the UK.

    Troop Deployment (Christmas and New Year)
    Mr. Keetch
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of the(a) RAF, (b) Army and (c) Royal Navy he expects to be (i) serving abroad and (ii) deployed on front-line duties between 24 December and 2 January 2002; what percentage of trained strength of each force this represents; what provisions he has made to ensure family contact over that period; and if he will make a statement. [18932]

    Mr. Ingram
    [holding answer 10 December 2001]: The current estimate of the number of personnel who will be serving abroad and deployed on operations overseas over the Christmas and new year period is shown in the table.

    Royal Navy

    Army

    Royal Air Force

    Estimated number serving abroad

    6,300

    22,300

    6,300

    As a percentage of trained strength

    17

    22

    13

    Estimated number of those serving abroad deployed on operations

    3,000

    9,350

    3,200

    As a percentage of trained strength

    8

    9

    6

    We attach great importance to ensuring service personnel deployed overseas are able to keep in touch with their families, especially over Christmas and new year. It is for this reason that personnel on operations over Christmas are, as last year, being given a further 20 minutes free phone call home in addition to the standard 20 minutes free weekly phone call. Free 'blueys' (aerogrammes), 'e-blueys' and concessionary parcel rates as well as internet and e-mail access are also available as part of the standard Operational Welfare Package.

    Armed Forces Pension Scheme
    Mr. Todd
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made on the review of the Armed Forces Pension Scheme; what restrictions have been placed on the review in respect of its potential cost; and if he will make a statement. [22800]

    Mr. Ingram
    With regard to progress on the review of the Armed Forces Pension Scheme, I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 25 October 2001,Official Report, column 319W, to the hon. Member for New Forest, West (Mr. Swayne).

    With regard to the potential cost of the proposed new scheme, it is Government policy that improvements in public service pensions should generally be paid for either by savings elsewhere in the scheme, or by scheme members through contributions. In addition, the review took account of the fact that the current Armed Forces Pension Scheme is one of the most expensive in the public sector. In the proposals issued for public consultation in
    72W
    March of this year, we sought to re-balance the benefits to reflect the needs of the modern armed forces, with regard both to those who can expect to serve a full career and those who we require to leave earlier. These proposals were cost neutral. We will, of course, consider carefully the views submitted in response to the consultation.

    C-17 Globemaster
    Mr. Hancock
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many C-17 Globemasters are owned by the British armed forces; if Globemasters are deployed in Afghanistan; what plans his Department has for further purchase of the Globemaster; and if he will make a statement. [23223]

    Mr. Ingram
    We have leased four C-17 Globemasters from the US, but currently do not plan to purchase these, or any additional C-17s. The four RAF Globemasters have not been deployed in Afghanistan but have been used in support of the on-going campaign against international terrorism.

    Smart Procurement
    Mr. Hancock
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much Smart Procurement has saved his Department since its inception; how much it is projected to save over the next five years; and if he will make a statement. [23225]

    Dr. Moonie
    Since the introduction of Smart Acquisition, the Ministry of Defence has identified £2.4 billion of savings in equipment procurement in the 10-year planning period between 1998 and 2008. The savings are set out in more detail in the Comptroller and Auditor General's Major Projects Report 2001 which was published on 23 November. Some £1.5 billion of these savings were made against planned expenditure between 2002 and 2007. Over the last three financial years, savings on the costs of in-service support of equipment attributable to Smart Acquisition, have totalled some £350 million. It is anticipated there will be on-going savings of £250 million per annum over the next few years.

    Work is also under way to develop broader metrics and targets for assessing the benefits of Smart Acquisition.

    Porton Down
    Matthew Taylor
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 15 November 2001,Official Report, column 823W, on Porton Down, if further staff from his Department are to be assigned to work full-time to conduct the comprehensive survey of the service volunteer programme at the chemical defence establishment, Porton Down. [22874]

    Dr. Moonie
    We currently have no plans to do so.

    Matthew Taylor
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 19 November 2001,Official Report, column 10W, on Porton Down, on what dates the in-depth searches of his Department's archives were conducted. [22876]

    Dr. Moonie
    Searches of the Ministry of Defence archives have been carried out over the past two years since allegations emerged that participants in the Service
    73W
    Volunteer programme were recruited under the pretext of common cold research. The precise dates on which such searches have been carried out are not recorded.

    Tactical Training Areas
    Mr. Simon Thomas
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions his Department has made a formal objection to the siting of wind turbines in tactical training areas; which sitings were objected to; and on what grounds. [23136]

    Dr. Moonie
    Over the last two years, the Ministry of Defence has objected to 26 proposals to site wind farms within the tactical training areas (TTA). The details of these are withheld for reasons of commercial confidentiality in accordance with Exemption 13 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information. The objections relate to the physical obstruction that would be caused by the wind farms within areas where fixed wing aircraft are engaged in operational low flying (OLF) training down to 100 ft minimum separation distance (MSD). Outside the TTA low flying fixed wing aircraft are not permitted to fly below 250 feet MSD. In order to preserve the tactical freedom to practise OLF it is important that the number of tall obstacles, such as wind turbines, is minimised within those areas. For this reason an objection is often, but not always, raised to proposals to locate turbines in any of the TTA.

    Mr. Simon Thomas
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his Department's policy is regarding the siting of wind turbines in tactical training areas. [23138]

    Dr. Moonie
    I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 22 March 2001,Official Report, column 297W, to my hon. Friend the Member for Wirral, South (Mr. Chapman).

    Territorial Army
    Mr. Weir
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of the Territorial Army were involved in assisting the regular Army with operations during the foot and mouth outbreak in Scotland. [23205]

    Mr. Ingram
    Some 90 members of the Territorial Army were involved in assisting the Regular Army with operations during the foot and mouth outbreak in Scotland.

    Mr. Weir
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of the Territorial Army from Scottish bases have been called upon to assist the Army in overseas operations in each of the last five years; and on how many occasions. [23357]

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

    Afghanistan
    Ms Shipley
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on coalition plans for the removal of unexploded ordnance from Afghanistan. [23046]
    74W
    Mr. Ingram
    I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 5 December 2001,Official Report, columns 343–44W, to my hon. Friend the Member for Newcastle-under-Lyme (Paul Farrelly) and the hon. Member for Epsom and Ewell (Chris Grayling).

    Ms Shipley
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many children have been(a) killed and (b) maimed by cluster bombs in Afghanistan since 11 September. [23044]

    Mr. Ingram
    I refer my hon. Friend to the answer that I gave on 12 December 2001,Official Report, column 860W, to my hon. Friends the Members for Birmingham, Selly Oak (Lynne Jones) and for Coventry, South (Mr. Cunningham).

    RAF Staff College Site, Bracknell
    Mr. MacKay
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the timescale for disposal of the RAF staff college site, Bracknell. [23539]

    Dr. Moonie
    Defence Estates had planned to market the former RAF Staff College site with the benefit of planning permission early in 2002. However, delays in the adoption of the Local Plan, and obtaining planning permission, means this timetable may slip to late 2002, with completion expected in 2003. The site is available for development with the current Local Plan period to 2006.

    Lynx Helicopters
    Mr. Gray
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to convert further Lynx helicopters from Mark 3 to Mark 8 standard; and if he will make a statement. [23624]

    Mr. Ingram
    I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 5 December 2001,Official Report, column 351W, to the hon. Member for Yeovil (Mr. Laws).

    Aircrew Retention
    Mr. Kevin Hughes
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the outcome of the comprehensive review of aircrew retention. [23809]

    Mr. Ingram
    The Ministry of Defence has conducted a Comprehensive Review of Aircrew Retention this summer. We sought to identify why we have a shortfall in this highly trained group of personnel and how that shortfall might best be addressed. A study team including representatives from the three Services, HM Treasury and external consultancy have reviewed aircrew requirements and have looked at employment patterns, career structures, training systems and remuneration as well as the recruitment and financial policies of the commercial sector.

    The Working Group collated the views of over 1,000 aircrew (probably the largest such survey the armed forces has undertaken) as well as those of managers. They examined and identified why people leave service life, as well as the attraction of the commercial sector.

    The main cause of the shortage of aircrew was a failure of the training system to deliver against challenging targets. That has already been addressed, but it will take time to deliver. We intend, therefore, further to improve the retention of our current aircrew.
    75W
    The Working Group identified a series of issues impacting on retention. Many of the quality of life issues emerging from the Review of Aircrew Retention were already being tackled. For example, the very significant programmes introduced to spend an additional £1 billion over the next 10 years on modernising single living accommodation and to spend £650 million by November 2005 on upgrading married quarters. We recognise that accommodation problems spread beyond housing and action is needed to address sub-standard working and technical accommodation as well. Senior service officers have also set in hand work to address a number of key concerns raised by aircrew—for example on operational tempo, career management, frequency of moves, and more. The impact of resolving these concerns will also be of benefit to personnel beyond the aircrew community. Some of the issues raised by aircrew are misperceptions, and to address this better communication is being developed across the services.

    There are some remuneration aspects arising from the review and, as is usual, we have made proposals to the Armed Forces Pay Review Body (AFPRB). The outcome will be reported to the House in due course—probably early February.

    We are monitoring closely developments in the commercial sector. But, even if the pull to the private sector decreases as a result of a contraction in the civil sector, we still have a responsibility to deal with the natural factors which cause personnel to leave, and which are preventing us reaching aircrew manning balance.

  HOME DEPARTMENT

    Antisocial Behaviour
    Mr. Gordon Marsden
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he has to(a) assess and (b) publish the variation in applying for antisocial behaviour orders between different police forces. [21156]

    Mr. Denham
    Figures to 30 September this year show that 466 Antisocial Behaviour Orders (ASBOs) have been issued. I am placing a copy of the force by force breakdown in the Library. I am pleased to say that 16 Antisocial Behaviour Orders have been issued to Lancashire Constabulary.

    There are areas of good practice throughout England and Wales, but we are not complacent about the position. The White Paper on police reform, published on 5 December, makes it clear that the Government are seeking still more effective use of Antisocial Behaviour Orders.

    Vernon Coaker
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent assessment he has made of the measures he has taken to encourage parents to take greater responsibility for the anti-social behaviour of their children. [21164]

    Mr. Denham
    We introduced the parenting order on 1 June 2000, and its progress is promising. We are also launching youth offender panels, linked to referral orders which have a key role for parents. We are taking a number of wider steps to support families and assist parenting.
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    The White Paper on policing set out steps to encourage the use of Antisocial Behaviour Orders and Acceptable Behaviour Contracts.

    Mr. Simon Thomas
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the number of antisocial behaviour orders made in the last year in(a) Dyfed Powys and (b) Wales. [21127]

    Mr. Denham
    For the period 1 June 2000 to 30 September 2001, there were no Antisocial Behaviour Orders made in Dfyed-Powys. There were four made in total in Wales. Much more use has been made of Antisocial Behaviour Orders in other areas, a total of 466 in England and Wales.

    Hugh Bayley
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many magistrates courts have used antisocial behaviour orders. [21129]

    Mr. Denham
    We now have information relating to the use of Antisocial Behaviour Orders in all magistrate court committee areas. I have placed the breakdown in the Library of the House: it shows that Orders are being used in 38 of the 42 Magistrates Court Committee Areas. As I said in response to a Question earlier from my hon. Friend the Member for Blackpool South (Mr. Marsden), the White Paper "Policing a New Millennium" makes clear that we intend to take action to promote their use still more widely.

    Mr. Pond
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he is taking to tackle persistent youth disorder. [21140]

    Mr. Denham
    The Government have introduced a range of measures to tackle disorder and antisocial behaviour. The Crime and Disorder Act 1998 introduced crime and disorder partnerships, anti-social behaviour orders, child curfews and changes to the youth justice system. We have also introduced new community sentences for youth offenders including reparation orders, final warnings, child safety orders and parenting orders.

    The White Paper "Policing the Next Century" proposes:
    A new capacity for support staff to contribute to community safety in public places;
    A much greater organised presence of other agencies accredited by the police;
    New powers available to enable accredited organisations to tackle lower level antisocial behaviour; and
    Firmer action on antisocial behaviour.

    Active Citizenship
    Mr. Rammell
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to promote(a) community engagement and (b) active citizenship. [21158]

    Mr. Blunkett
    Community engagement and active citizenship are fundamental to the fabric of our society. I aim to ensure that they underpin all aspects of policy development in the Home Office and across Government.

    Asylum System
    Mr. Randall
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to reform the asylum system. [21159]
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    Angela Eagle
    My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary announced the steps being taken to reform the asylum system in his statement to the House on 29 October. We are determined radically to overhaul the asylum system.

    Further details will be published in the forthcoming White Paper.

    Police Pensions
    Mr. Heath
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to reform police pensions. [21160]

    Mr. Brady
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the funding of police pensions. [21162]

    Mr. Denham
    We are looking at ways of modernising police pensions to make them more flexible and affordable for future entrants and to reflect modern lifestyle patterns. The Government aim to complete this work as quickly as possible.

    We are aware of police authorities' concern over the increasing burden of the funding of pensions. The Home Office and Treasury are reviewing the options for a revised system of funding which would give police authorities and chief officers greater certainty about pensions obligations on individual forces.

    Special Constables
    Patrick Mercer
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he last met the president of the Association of Chief Police Officers to discuss funding for special constables. [21163]

    Mr. Denham
    The Home Secretary formally met the President of Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) on Monday 3 December to discuss a range of matters in respect of the police reform programme.

    The Government are committed to increasing the strength of Special Constabulary. We are considering a number of options for achieving substantial improvements in the conditions of service, management and deployment of Special Constables, to ensure that they are deployed effectively and provide an increased visible presence in our communities.

    Police (Upminster)
    Angela Watkinson
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the level of police resources in Upminster. [21125]

    Mr. Denham
    The Commissioner tells me that at the end of October Havering division had 323 police officers. This is 26 more than in December 2000. The Havering division also had 83 civilian support staff at the end of October.

    In addition, the borough benefits from central and specialist services such as the territorial support group, traffic officers and specialist crime units, which are not budgeted for at borough level.
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    Asylum Seekers
    Mr. Gibb
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy not to extend the asylum seekers' identity cards to the population as a whole. [21126]

    Angela Eagle
    The Government have no plans to extend to the population as a whole the Application Registration Card which will shortly be issued to asylum seekers.

    Mr. Robathan
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress he has made on his targets for the(a) deportation and (b) removal of failed asylum seekers and illegal immigrants. [21135]

    Angela Eagle
    The current Service Delivery Agreement target relating to the removal of failed asylum seekers from the United Kingdom is to remove 30,000 in 2001–02; 33,000 in 2003–04; and 37,000 in 2003–04. The totals include dependants.

    The 30,000 target for this year has always been ambitious and high risk. To enable us to reach and exceed 30,000 removals a year by 2003, we need to remove about 2,500 people a month. It remains our aim to achieve this monthly total by March 2002.

    Published figures are not yet available for non asylum removals but there have been 5,330 asylum removals from April to September including 570 dependants.

    Mr. Goodman
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many failed asylum applicants have been removed from the country in the last 12 months. [21139]

    Angela Eagle
    There have been 5,330 asylum removals1 from April to September including 570 dependants2.

    Information on the number of asylum removals is published on a quarterly basis. The next set of data will be published on 28 February 2002 on the Home Office Research, Development and Statistics Directorate website http: //www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration 1.html.

    1 Provisional figures, rounded to the nearest five. Figures may not sum due to rounding. Removals includes persons departing 'voluntarily' after enforcement action has been initiated against them and persons leaving under Assisted Voluntary Return Programmes run by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM).
    2 Data on dependants of asylum seekers removed have only been collected since April 2001.

    Mr. Paterson
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he has granted permission to the Angel Development Corporation to house asylum seekers at the Centrex site at High Ercall, Shropshire; [19747]

    (2) what discussions he has had with the Angel Development Corporation about the future of the Centrex site at High Ercall, Shropshire; [19749]

    (3) if a feasibility study has been carried out on the suitability of the Centrex site at High Ercall, Shropshire, for the housing of asylum seekers; [19748]

    (4) what the Government's intentions are with respect to the Centrex site, at High Ercall, Shropshire. [19746]
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    Angela Eagle
    [holding answer 4 December 2001]: The Angel Group is under contract to the National Asylum Support Service to provide accommodation for asylum seekers. Any discussions that have taken place have related to the services provided under that contract.

    My officials are currently looking at a number of potential sites for use as accommodation centres but no decisions have yet been made on individual sites to be used.

    Mr. Paterson
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many places are being sought to accommodate asylum seekers around the country; and how many have so far been filled; [19743]

    (2) what conditions must be fulfilled before permission is granted to those organising sites for the accommodation of asylum seekers; [19744]

    (3) what the planned maximum number of asylum seekers is for each centre accommodating them in remote rural areas of the United Kingdom. [19745]

    Angela Eagle
    [holding answer 4 December 2001]: It is intended to establish a number of accommodation centres for asylum seekers, with a total capacity of 3,000, in order to trial the new approach set out in the Home Secretary's statement of 29 October. No decisions have yet been made about the location of the centres.

    In 2002 the Home Office will run competitions for the development and operation of sites to be used as accommodation centres for asylum seekers. The criteria for the award of any contracts that might result from the competitions have yet to be determined.

    No maximum capacity for individual accommodation centres has been set. The capacity of individual sites will depend on a number of issues, including the availability of existing accommodation and the availability of land for development.

    Dr. Tonge
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his Department's policy is towards asylum seekers from Zimbabwe in spring 2002. [22474]

    Angela Eagle
    [holding answer 12 December 2001]: All asylum claims made by Zimbabwean nationals are considered under the terms of the 1951 United Nations convention relating to the status of refugees. The Home Office, in conjunction with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, closely monitors the situation in Zimbabwe. A country assessment on Zimbabwe is produced by the Home Office and published on the Immigration and Nationality Directorate's website. The assessment was revised in October 2001 and will be revised again in April 2002, taking into account the latest situation in Zimbabwe, particularly the presidential election that is due to be held there by April 2002.

    Julie Morgan
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department to what locations the asylum seekers who left Cardiff prison last month were dispersed. [22184]

    Angela Eagle
    During the week commencing 12 November the remaining 20 immigration detainees held at Her Majesty's Prison Cardiff were transferred to Immigration Service detention facilities: 18 were transferred to Harmondsworth Detention Centre and two were transferred to Campsfield House Detention Centre.
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    Legal Migration
    Mr. Ross
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to provide controlled legal migration routes into the UK. [21128]

    Angela Eagle
    My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary made reference to his plans for sensible, controlled legal migration routes into the United Kingdom in his statement to the House of Commons on 29 October. Details of an entry programme for highly skilled migrants were announced in a reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Liverpool, Riverside (Mrs. Ellman) on 13 December 2001,Official Report, columns 1010–11W. Further details of specific managed migration policy proposals will be included in a White Paper to be published early in the new year.

    Prison Service
    Mr. Blunt
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about the quality of management in the prison service. [21130]

    Beverley Hughes
    Evidence shows that performance in the Prison Service has been increasing year upon year. A key factor in this improvement is the overall quality of management in the Prison Service.

    Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act
    Mr. Dalyell
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what provision he has made for the internment without trial of persons covered by the Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001. [21131]

    Mr. Blunkett
    None. No one is being interned. The provisions are allowing extended detention for suspected international terrorists who threaten national security and for whom there is no immediate prospect of removal requiring a limited derogation from European Convention of Human Rights (ECHR) article 5 providing protection for the public and sending a strong signal to others.

    Banning Order Appeals
    Jeremy Corbyn
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many appeals have been held against banning orders under existing anti-terrorist legislation in the last six months. [21132]

    Mr. Blunkett
    Since the Terrorism Act 2000 (Proscribed Organisations)(Amendment) Order 2001 came into force on 29 March, there have been five applications to the Home Secretary for deproscription.

    Four of those applications have so far been refused:

    Lashkar e Tayyaba (LT)

    Mujaheddin e Khalq (MEK)

    International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF)

    Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK).

    One application is still under consideration:
    Revolutionary People's Liberation Party-Front (DHKP-C).

    Three organisations have appealed to the Proscribed Organisations Appeal Commission (POAC):

    Lashkar e Tayyaba (IT)

    Mujaheddin e Khalq (MEK)

    International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF).

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    Remand Prisoners
    Bob Russell
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made with the installation of safe cells for remand prisoners. [21133]

    Beverley Hughes
    Progress with the installation of safer cells was summarised in my written replies to the hon. Member on 25 October 2001,Official Report, columns 229–30W. A total of 681 safer cells will be installed in prisons in 2001–02. These cells will be used for all categories of prisoners, including those on remand.

    Prison Health Service
    Helen Jones
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made in improving links between the prison health service and the NHS. [21134]

    Beverley Hughes
    The first annual report of the Prison Health Policy Unit and Task Force, which was published last month, records the progress made during the first year of the partnership between the prison and national health services. I am arranging for copies to be placed in the Library. The text of the report is also available on the prison health section website of the Department of Health www.doh.gov.uk/prisonhealth.

    Drug Testing and Treatment Orders
    Mr. Kidney
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the introduction of drug testing and treatment orders. [21136]

    Beverley Hughes
    Between 1 October 2000, when the Drug Treatment and Testing Order was rolled out to courts in England and Wales, and 31 October 2001, 3,956 orders were made, of which 1,089 were revoked. Implementation of the order is being closely monitored by the National Probation Service and consideration is being given to how research can assist us to understand the longer-term effectiveness of this new court disposal. It is, however, still too early for any independently evaluated information on the effectiveness of the order since roll-out.

    The order had previously been piloted for 18 months in three areas. An independent evaluation of the pilot schemes found that on average there were significant reductions in the spending on illegal drugs and number of crimes committed by offenders subject to Drug Treatment and Testing Orders.

    Crime (Christmas Holiday)
    Kevin Brennan
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures he is taking to reduce crime over the Christmas period. [21137]

    Mr. Denham
    The Government's £1 million advertising campaign to cut drink driving was launched on 4 December and features new radio adverts to complement a major television offensive. Guidance has been issued to the police which will better co-ordinate the response of the emergency services to domestic violence. Publicity material has also been sent to police forces to assist local campaigns warning the public not to leave valuables on display in their home or cars.
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    Police Auxiliaries
    Martin Linton
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to appoint(a) police auxiliaries and (b) neighbourhood wardens in the Metropolitan police area. [21138]

    Mr. Denham
    The White Paper "Policing a New Century" outlines our proposals for developing the "Extended Police Family". This represents a major increase in the capacity of the police and others to provide an effective public presence giving reassurance and support for decent civil communities.

    The appointment of Community Support Officers is an operational matter for the Chief Officer and neighbourhood wardens are usually employed by a local authority.

    Police Numbers
    Linda Perham
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to increase the number of police officers. [21141]

    Mr. Denham
    By next spring police strength will have reached the all time record of 128,290 officers. I have set a target for police strength to reach 130,000 officers by spring 2003.

    To help forces reach these targets, the Crime Fighting Fund (CFF) is funding the recruitment of 9,000 officers over and above forces previous recruitment plans in the three years to March 2003. In addition, the first ever national recruitment campaign for the police service was launched in August 2000. By early December 2001 over 45,000 expressions of interest generated by the campaign had been forwarded to forces.

    Rehabilitation
    Mr. Win Griffiths
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on training and into work schemes undertaken by the correctional services to help rehabilitate offenders. [21142]

    Mr. Keith Bradley
    The Prison Service and National Probation Service (NPS) are committed to improving the employability and employment of offenders.

    The Prison Service has a target of doubling the number of released prisoners getting jobs or training places by 2004, and pathfinder schemes in employment and resettlement are being developed by NPS in conjunction with the Employment Service and Prison Service respectively.

    Victims of Crime
    Mr. Allen
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his oral answer of 19 November 2001,Official Report, column 7, on victims of crime, if he will publish figures on the time it takes the police forces of the United Kingdom to answer telephone queries from the public; and if he will make a statement. [21157]

    Beverley Hughes
    The most recent information on call handling in forces in England and Wales was published on 16 October, Command Paper 230, in the "Report of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Constabulary 2000–01", a copy of which is placed in the Library. This covers 999
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    calls only. Information on response times for non-emergency calls to the police is not collected centrally. Information on Scottish forces is the responsibility of the Scottish Executive and, for the Police Service of Northern Ireland, of the Northern Ireland Assembly.

    Re-offending Rates
    Mrs. Brooke
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has collated on re-offending rates of discharged prisoners who have served sentences of more than two years, broken down by(a) prisons and (b) type of programmes provided within prisons in (i) 1999–2000 and (ii) 1998–99. [22443]

    Beverley Hughes
    [holding answer 11 December 2001]: Information on re-offending rates for discharged prisoners is not collected. However information on two-year reconviction rates is collected and published annually in Prison Statistics England and Wales. The latest reconviction rates cover prisoners discharged during 1997 and the first quarter of 1998 and are contained in chapter 9 of Prison Statistics England and Wales 2000 (Cm. 5250) a copy of which is available in the Library. Prisoners who have served sentences of two years or more will often have spent time in a number of prisons. It is therefore difficult to attribute reconviction rates to the impact of a particular prison.

    Two offending behaviour programmes within prisons have been evaluated using offenders' reconvictions following discharge. The following tables show the percentage of offenders (both treated and similar untreated offenders) who have been reconvicted of an offence within two years of discharge by risk category. Comparison group offenders were matched to those who had participated in treatment on factors which are known to increase the likelihood of reconviction eg age at discharge, number of previous offences etc. This is to ensure, as far as possible, that the evaluation was comparing like with like offenders.

    Table 1 refers to offenders who participated in two pre-accredited cognitive skills programmes (Thinking Skills and Reasoning and Rehabilitation). These offenders were treated between 1994 and 1996 and had been sentenced to two years or more. Table 2 refers to offenders who completed the pre-accredited Sex Offender Treatment Programme between 1992 and 1996 and had been sentenced to four years or more.

    Overall, the results illustrate that offenders who have participated in offending behaviour programmes have consistently lower reconviction rates, two years after discharge, than similar untreated offenders.

    Table 1. Evaluation of Prison Service cognitive skills programmes.

    Table 1—Evaluation of Prison Service Cognitive Skills Programmes.

    Percentage

    Offender risk level

    Treatment group reconviction rate

    Comparison group reconviction rate

    Difference between reconviction rates1

    Low

    5

    8

    3

    Medium-low

    18

    32

    14

    Medium-high

    43

    54

    11

    High

    75

    80

    5

    Adjusted overall

    44

    52

    8

    1 Percentage point reduction

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    Note:

    1. Reconviction rates reflect the proportion of offenders reconvicted after two years. Offenders were treated between 1994 and 1996 before the accreditation process was introduced. The treatment group consists of 667 offenders and the comparison group consists of 1,801 offenders.

    2. The adjusted overall figure takes account of the different number of offenders in the treatment and comparison group.

    Table 2—Evaluation of Prison Service sex offender treatment programme

    Percentage

    Offender risk level

    Treatment group reconviction rate

    Comparison group reconviction rate

    Difference between reconviction rates 1

    Low

    1.9

    2.6

    0.7

    Medium-low

    2.7

    12.7

    10.0

    Medium-high

    5.5

    13.5

    8.0

    High

    26.0

    28.1

    2.1

    Adjusted overall

    4.6

    9.9

    5.3

    1 Percentage point reduction

    Note:

    Reconviction rates reflect the proportion of offenders reconvicted of a sexual and/or violent offence after two years. Offenders were treated between 1992 and 1996 before the accreditation process was introduced. The treatment group consists of 647 offenders and the comparison group consists of 1,910 offenders. The adjusted overall figure takes account of the different number of offenders in the treatment and comparison group.

    Rape Victims
    Mr. Willis
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures he has in place to provide support to victims of rape; and what funding he provides to support rape victims. [22449]

    Mr. Keith Bradley
    The Government are fully committed to meeting the needs of all victims of crime, particularly victims of serious crimes such as rape.

    The Government grant to victim support, which offers support to victims of all crime, including rape and other sexual crimes, has doubled from £11.7 million in May 1997 to £25 million in April 2001. In 2000–01, victim support offered help to almost 5,000 victims of rape.

    A first time grant, of £406,000, has been made available this financial year to the Rape Crisis Federation. The Federation provides training, support and consultancy services to the network of rape crisis groups across the country.

    From April 2001, the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme has increased the minimum award paid to victims of rape by almost 50 per cent. (from £7,500 to £11,000).

    The 1998 Speaking Up for Justice report led to special measures being included in the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999 to help rape victims face the ordeal of a court case. These measures included prohibiting the cross-examination of rape victims by the defendant in court, and further restrictions to limit the questions that rape victims can be asked under cross-examination about their previous sexual history.

    Schengen Information System
    Mr. Rosindell
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on United Kingdom participation in the second generation Schengen information system. [14808]
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    Angela Eagle
    In accordance with Council decision 2000/365/EC on the United Kingdom's partial participation in the Schengen acquis, the United Kingdom will participate in those aspects of the Schengen Information System (SIS) which relate to police and judicial co-operation, excluding Article 96 data on persons for immigration purposes. The United Kingdom is in the process of implementing the present system (SIS 1+) as part of its overall partial implementation of the Schengen acquis in the United Kingdom.

    The United Kingdom will participate in development of the second generation SIS(SIS II) for the same purposes.

    The Justice and Home Affairs Council adopted, at its meeting on 6–7 December, a regulation under the treaty establishing the European Community and a decision under the treaty on European Union on funding of the development of SIS II from the community budget; the United Kingdom has opted in to the adoption of the regulation in accordance with its title IV Protocol. A recital to both decisions makes it clear that the United Kingdom's participation is without prejudice to the arrangements set out in Council decision 2000/365/EC.

    While the primary aim of the next generation system (SIS II) is to increase its capacity for the new member state upon enlargement, the Council is also examining the scope for SIS II to have an increased range of functions and for a wider range of authorities to have access to SIS data.

    Foreign Nationals
    Mr. Cox
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many foreign nationals are waiting to be extradited from the UK; and what is the longest period such a person has been waiting. [22482]

    Mr. Bob Ainsworth
    117 persons are currently the subject of extradition proceedings in the United Kingdom. The figure includes those who may be United Kingdom nationals. The oldest case has been outstanding since July 1995.

    Correspondence
    Dr. Cable
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Twickenham of 7 August regarding Mrs. Muriel Mason and family (ref. GV 100/52417); and when he will make a decision regarding the matter. [18007]

    Angela Eagle
    I wrote to the hon. Member on 14 December. I am sorry I did not reply sooner.

    Mr. Colman
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will reply to the letter of 10 September from the hon. Member for Putney with regard to his constituent Mrs. Marva Corrodus (Ref. C494223). [20350]

    Angela Eagle
    [holding answer 5 December 2001]: I wrote to my hon. Friend on 14 December. I am sorry I did not send an earlier reply.

    Mr. Colman
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will reply to the letters of 11 and 25 October from the hon. Member for Putney with regard to his constituent Ms Megen Muller (Ref. M1002596). [20349]
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    Angela Eagle
    [holding answer 5 December 2001]: I wrote to my hon. Friend on 17 December. I am sorry I did not send an earlier reply.

    Mr. Lloyd
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will reply to the letters of 18 September and 17 October from the hon. Member for Manchester, Central regarding his constituent Mrs. S. B. A (reference A377560). [17474]

    Angela Eagle
    [holding answer 23 November 2001]: I wrote to my hon. Friend on 14 December. I am sorry he did not receive an earlier reply.

    Dr. Dizaei
    Mr. Boris Johnson
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the officers monitoring Dr Dizaei's telephone conversations on the police telephone network between September 1999 and January 2001 were part of the team investigating him. [21687]

    Mr. Denham
    The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis informs me that the staff monitoring Superintendent Dizaei's telephone conversations on the police telephone network were not part of the team investigating him.

    Forced Marriages
    Mr. Wray
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what help is available in the Government's action plan to those who do not wish to make public the fact that they are being forced into marriage. [21616]

    Angela Eagle
    We have introduced a package of care to support victims of forced marriage, which includes help in escaping from the situation for those who want to.

    Information can be accessed and obtained in schools via the welfare officer, police stations, GP's surgeries, via the internet and the Community Liaison Unit at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO).

    The Foreign and Commonwealth Office have re-examined and identified ways in which staff in key posts overseas, handle forced marriage cases. Developing links and funding a number of women's refuges to provide support and accommodation to victims abroad. Further links are continuing to be developed with social services and other statutory agencies to ensure victims receive the support they need once they return to the United Kingdom.

    Mr. Wray
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures in the immigration rules protect British Muslims from being sent abroad to marry against their will. [21617]

    Angela Eagle
    The Immigration Rules are there to regulate the grant to overseas nationals of leave to enter and remain in the United Kingdom. They do not seek to regulate the control of British Nationals, entering or leaving the United Kingdom. However, the Government are tackling the problem of forced marriage in a number of ways.

    Included in the recent forced marriage progress report by the Home Office and Foreign and Commonwealth Office are some of the steps being taken to provide help, advice and support to victims and potential victims of forced marriage.
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    The Foreign and Commonwealth Office have also published a leaflet, "Forced Marriages Abroad". This gives advice and guidance on what to do if someone fears they may be forced into a marriage, while abroad.

    War Crimes
    Mr. Rosindell
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his policy towards the establishment of a European Network of Contact Points in Respect of Persons Responsible for Genocide, Crimes against Humanity and War Crimes; which will be the UK contact point; what nature of information will be forwarded to other EU member states; if material relating to cases occurring prior to UK legislation being passed pertaining to the accused's crime will be passed on to the states where retrospectivity is in force for those offences; and in which instances spontaneous transmission will occur under Article 5. [22883]

    Mr. Bob Ainsworth
    The Government support the establishment of such a network, which is the subject of a draft European Union (EU) Council decision being considered by member states. An explanatory memorandum was submitted for parliamentary scrutiny on 24 October. The network would exchange information relevant to the investigation and prosecution of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide. The Government want to see the fullest possible exchange of such information, in respect of both formal requests and spontaneous transmission, and without limits on when events took place. Options for the UK contact point include National Criminal Intelligence Service and the UK Central Authority.

    Departmental Expenditure Limit
    Mr. Bercow
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of the increase in the departmental expenditure limit from 2001–02 to 2002–03 will be accounted for by wage costs. [20675]

    Mr. Blunkett
    The level of wage costs within departmental budgets this year and in future years will be dependent upon negotiations. Departmental reports published next spring will give full retrospective costs.

    Mr. Burstow
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 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. [19446]

    Mr. Blunkett
    The Home Office Departmental Annual Report for 2000–01 [C5106] contains the Departmental Unallocated Provision (DUP) set for the present year in Table 6, page 109. 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.

    Competitive Bidding
    Mr. Cameron
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the schemes administered 88W
    by (a) his Department and (b) its agencies where funds are allocated by a competitive bidding process; and what was the amount of money allocated to each scheme. [19734]

    Angela Eagle
    [holding answer 3 December 2001]: Grant schemes administered by the Home Office, where a competitive bidding process has taken place, were allocated a total of approximately £340 million during this financial year. This has funded 226 projects under 17 schemes. The main grant schemes are as listed.

    £

    Grant scheme

    Allocation

    Active Community Grants

    17,042,532

    ACU Grants funded by Capital Modernisation Fund

    8,226,017

    Race Equality Unit—Summer Activities

    7,000,000

    Race Equality Unit—Connecting Communities

    5,000,000

    Family Support Grants (for voluntary organisations)

    2,000,000

    Research Challenge Fund

    260,000

    Refugee Integration Challenge Fund

    500,000

    Crime Reduction Programme

    51,500,000

    Crime Reduction Programme—CCTV Capital Grants

    70,000,000

    Partnership Development Fund

    2,100,000

    Electronic Chipping Initiative

    2,300,000

    Confiscated Assets Fund

    7,000,000

    Drug Prevention Advisory Service Grants

    1,907,000

    Crime Fighting Fund

    151,000,000

    The following grants schemes were approved by ministers during 2001, and will run until 2004:

    £

    Grant scheme

    Allocation

    Mentoring Fund Grants

    3,448,691

    Infrastructure Grants

    7,719,500

    Immigration and Nationality Directorate
    Mr. Nigel Jones
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the application from Mrs. Susan Crwys-Williams, a constituent of Cheltenham, sent by recorded delivery (Ref: RB 13663205GB) on 15 October, for indefinite leave to remain in the United Kingdom as a spouse of a UK citizen, will be logged on the system of the Immigration and Nationality Directorate; when he expects a decision to be made on her application; and what compensation is payable by his Department to those applicants who have purchased air tickets in advance to travel abroad at Christmas on the expectation that applications will be dealt with in the time period advertised. [22141]

    Angela Eagle
    The application has been decided. Mrs. Crwys-Williams' passport and other documents were returned by recorded delivery on 7 December.

    Compensation will not normally be offered to applicants who have made travel plans in the expectation that their application would be completed within any particular time scale. Information on the application form and the Immigration and Nationality Directorate website about the likely time scales for processing applications is intended for guidance only and should not be taken to imply that any application will necessarily be completed within that time scale. The website currently advises

    89W
    applicants not to make non-urgent travel plans such as holidays until the outcome of the application is known and their documents have been returned. If an applicant wishes to travel their documents will be returned but applications will not normally be considered out of turn.

    Conviction Statistics
    Mr. Lilley
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what definitions are used for(a) convicted after trial rate in Crown courts in quarterly Business Information and (b) percentage of those pleading not guilty convicted for persons tried at the Crown court in Table 6C of Criminal Statistics. [22281]

    Mr. Keith Bradley
    The "Convicted after contested trial rate" in the Criminal Justice Business Quarterly Report focuses on those defendants, from Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) records, who pleaded not guilty in the Crown court, no guilty pleas being entered, and a jury was sworn in. The resultant contested hearings include those resulting in a judge directed acquittal as well as those convicted or acquitted on the verdict of the jury.

    The "Percentage of those pleading not guilty convicted" given in Table 6C of Criminal Statistics England and Wales is derived from Crown court records and focuses on a larger group of defendants. Non-CPS prosecutions are included as well as some defendants who pleaded not guilty to the principal offence and guilty to other charges. A jury trial may not have occurred and those not convicted include judge-ordered acquittals, judge-directed acquittals and jury acquittals.

    Corporate Manslaughter
    Linda Perham
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to review the criminal justice system as it relates to corporate manslaughter. [22291]

    Offenders convicted under the Explosives Acts, England and Wales, 1996 to 2000

    Total number convicted

    Principal statute

    Offence description

    1996

    1997

    1998

    1999

    20001

    Explosives Act 1875 (except sec. 80) and Orders in Council and rules thereunder2

    Manufacture and keeping of gunpowder and other explosives

    24

    28

    16

    21

    17

    Explosives Act 1923 and Orders in Council and rules thereunder2

    Offences in relation to explosives, firearms etc.

    Fireworks Act 19512

    Offences in relation to dangerous fireworks and making of fireworks etc.

    Explosives Act 1875 sec. 80

    Throwing, casting or firing any fireworks in or into any highway, street, etc. public place

    34

    49

    36

    27

    40

    Total

    58

    77

    52

    48

    57

    1 Staffordshire police force were only able to submit sample data for convictions at magistrates courts for the year 2000. Although sufficient to estimate higher orders of data, these data are not robust at a detailed level and have been excluded from this table

    2 Data for these offences are not separately identifiable on the Home Office Court Proceedings Database

    Note:

    All data are given on a principal offence basis

    Public Service Agreements
    Mr. Bercow
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the Public Service Agreement target to plan and meet electronic Government needs was achieved. [21288]
    90W
    Mr. Keith Bradley
    We have considered responses to our consultation paper "Reforming the Law on Involuntary Manslaughter" which included our proposals in relation to corporate manslaughter. We will legislate on this issue as soon as parliamentary time allows.

    Resource Allocation
    Mr. Syms
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give(a) the reasons for the projected change in net provision of money for fire and emergency planning in 2001–02, (b) details of those areas of action which have received less funding than was provided for at the commencement of financial year 2001–02 and (c) examples of measures which are funded under Request for Resource 1-H. [22132]

    Mr. Blunkett
    [holding answer 10 December 2001]: As a result of Machinery of Government changes announced by the Prime Minister on 8 June 2001, resources were transferred to the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions for the Fire Service, and to the Lord Chancellor's Department for Remembrance Day in line with the transfer of responsibilities.

    No areas have received less funding than was provided for at the start of the financial year. The reduction in resources is wholly attributable to the Machinery of Government transfer.

    The remaining resources under Request for Resources 1-H fund the Emergency Planning function. These resources are also subject to the Machinery of Government changes and will be transferred to the Cabinet Office in the spring.

    Explosives Offences
    Mr. Weir
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many convictions have been recorded for offences under the Explosives Acts in each of the last five years. [22349]

    Beverley Hughes
    The information held centrally on the Home Office Court Proceedings Database relating to England and Wales for the years 1996–2000 is given in the table.

    Mr. Blunkett
    The proportion of my Department's services capable of electronic delivery is currently 47 per cent. By the end of 2002, this should have risen to about 70 per cent. This compares with the Government's target of 25 per cent. by 2002.
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    My Department's e-Business Strategy is published on the internet. The body of the strategy can be found at http: //www.homeoffice.gov.uk/ebusiness/stratmain.pdf. The appendixes are at http: //www.homeoffice.gov.uk/ebusiness/stratapp.pdf.

    Appendix A lists Home Office services and progress towards their e-enablement.

    Departmental Sickness
    Mr. Bercow
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many days were lost due to sickness absence in his Department in each of the last four years. [21346]

    Mr. Blunkett
    The average number of working days lost due to sickness absence in the Home Office is as follows:

    1998: 10.4

    1999: 11.1.

    Figures for 2000 and 2001 are not currently available.

    The Home Office and its agencies have introduced new guidelines, policies and procedures with a view to meeting its target to reducing sickness absence, published in its Service Delivery Agreements for April 2001 to March 2004.

    Crime and Disorder
    Mr. Blizzard
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will announce the budget allocations for local crime and disorder reduction partnerships under the safer communities initiative. [21667]

    Mr. Denham
    We are working on plans for a safer communities initiative (SCI) as a coherent and consistent framework for delivering crime reduction funding to local crime and disorder partnerships, to help them tackle crime and disorder in their areas, to meet local and national crime reduction priorities.

    We aim to announce detailed arrangements for the safer communities initiative soon.

    Joint Entry Clearance Unit
    Mr. Vaz
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he next plans to visit the Joint Entry Clearance Unit. [18748]

    Angela Eagle
    My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary has not yet visited the Joint Entry Clearance Unit and has no immediate plans to do so. However, I visited on 12 November and my right hon. and noble Friend Lord Rooker, Minister for Immigration and Asylum, visited on 4 July.

    Alcohol
    Mr. Ben Chapman
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the trend in the incidence of youth disturbance involving the intake of alcohol in the last three years. [20984]

    Mr. Denham
    The information requested is not routinely collected by police forces or held centrally. Youth disturbance may vary from nuisance behaviour through to more serious disorder and criminal activity.
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    Tackling the problems associated with underage drinking is a key objective of the Home Office action plan on alcohol-related crime, disorder and nuisance. The most recent Youth Lifestyles Survey, published in October 2000, showed that 15 per cent. of young people aged 12 to 17 admitted to committing some form of antisocial behaviour during or after drinking—most often getting into a heated argument. Frequent drinkers were also more likely to have behaved antisocially.

    We have strengthened the law, from 1 December, to go further in tackling the sale of alcohol to underage drinkers. Section 30 of the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001 now places a positive duty on staff in licensed premises to check the age of young customers before selling alcohol, and section 31 provides a power for the police and local authorities to enforce the law by using under-18s to make test purchases. We expect these important new measures to assist in our determination to tackle under-age drinking as part of our wider programme to reduce youth crime and antisocial behaviour.

    Illegal Immigration
    Mr. Martyn Jones
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his meeting with the French Minister for the Interior at the United Kingdom-France summit held on 29 November in relation to cross-channel illegal immigration and the effectiveness of checks conducted on persons and vehicles. [22399]

    Angela Eagle
    The Home Secretary and Daniel Vaillant did not meet at the UK-French summit on 29 November. Interior Minister Vaillant was forced to cancel his participation at the last minute due to his involvement in detailed negotiations with the French Police Unions.

    However, my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister and Monsieur Lionel Jospin the French Prime Minister had an hour long bilateral during which they discussed among other issues the Red Cross Centre at Sangatte and the Civil Penalty. Discussions also took place between my right hon. Friend the Minister for Europe and his French counterpart M. Moscovici. In addition to formal meetings at ministerial level, officials on both sides meet regularly to discuss proposals to combat illegal immigration between our two countries.

    Victim Support
    Mrs. Betty Williams
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the victim support scheme. [21147]

    Mr. Keith Bradley
    The National Audit Office is currently conducting a study of Victim Support, which is an independent organisation and the principal supplier, on behalf of the Home Office, of services for victims of crime and witnesses.

    Contingency Planning
    Mr. Moss
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representatives from(a) devolved Administrations, (b) local authorities and (c) London have been invited to sit on the (i) Civil Contingencies Committee and (ii) the Sub-Committee on UK Resilience. [19591]
    93W
    Mr. Blunkett
    I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 5 November 2001,Official Report, columns 6–8W, about the terms of reference and composition of the Civil Contingencies Committee (CCC) and its Sub-committees. The hon. Member will also be aware of the letter I wrote to individual Members of this House on 9 November explaining how the Civil Contingencies Secretariat is exercising its support responsibilities.

  WALES

    Public Bodies
    Mr. Andrew Turner
    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list those local bodies which were set up under legislation which is the responsibility of his Department since May 1997. [17617]

    Mr. Paul Murphy
    This information is not held centrally.

    Heart Operations
    Ann Clwyd
    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has had with the Health Secretary in the National Assembly about steps to reduce the waiting time for a heart operation similar to those announced for England on 6 December. [23493]

    Mr. Touhig
    My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I meet regularly with the National Assembly First Minister and Health Minister to discuss the NHS in Wales.

    The Assembly is exploring with the Department for Health a range of options including some outside the Welsh NHS. At present, where it is appropriate, cardiac patients are offered the opportunity to receive their treatment in England, notably at the Hammersmith Hospital, co-ordinated by the Specialised Health Services Commission for Wales.

    The target by the end of March 2002 is that no patient needing routine cardiac surgery should wait more than 12 months for treatment. By 2003–04 the target is that cardiac waiting time will have further reduced to six months and then down to three months by 2006–07.

    Absence
    Mr. Bercow
    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many days were lost due to sickness absence in the Department in each of the last four years. [21333]

    Mr. Paul Murphy
    In conjunction with the National Assembly for Wales, which manages my Department's personnel functions under the terms of a service level agreement, we are committed to achieving substantial reductions in the number of days lost through sickness.

    The average number of working days sickness absence per staff year were as follows:

    Number

    1996

    9.0

    1997

    8.3

    1998

    7.6

    1999

    7.6

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    Notes:

    1. Details cover the most recent four years for which data are available.

    2. Figures for 1996–98 relate to Welsh Office, Cadw and Estyn (formerly OHMCI).

    3.1999 figures relate to Welsh Office, Cadw and Estyn up to 30 June, and to Wales Office: National Assembly for Wales, Cadw and Estyn from 1 July.

    New Deal (Young People)
    Mr. Bercow
    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many people are employed by the Department under the new deal for young people; and at what cost to public funds. [21318]

    Mr. Paul Murphy
    None at present. The Wales Office is staffed entirely by secondees from other organisations and so does not undertake its own external recruitment. But I should be delighted if people employed through new deal were to offer themselves for secondment to my Department.

    Departmental Expenditure Limits
    Mr. Bercow
    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proportion of the increase in the departmental expenditure limit from 2001–02 to 2002–03 will be accounted for by wage costs. [21237]

    Mr. Paul Murphy
    The departmental expenditure limit which is available for the Wales Office's own expenditure, after payment of block grant to the National Assembly for Wales, is not set to increase between 2001–02 and 2003–04.

    Departmental Staff (Home Working)
    Mr. Challen
    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what steps his Department is taking to encourage staff to work from home; and how many staff do so on a regular basis. [21831]

    Mr. Paul Murphy
    My Department is staffed entirely by secondees, predominantly from the National Assembly for Wales. We adopt the same approach to home working as does the Assembly; currently one member works regularly from home.

    Regulations
    Mr. Prisk
    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales on how many regulations his Department has been consulted by other Government Departments since June; what regulatory impact assessments have been made by his Department of the cost of UK Government regulations to business in Wales over the last 12 months; and what representations his Department has made to other Government Departments seeking to reduce the burden of regulations on small businesses in Wales. [21968]

    Mr. Paul Murphy
    I have regular discussions with Cabinet colleagues, and my Department is routinely consulted, about the impact of Government policies on business in Wales. The Wales Office has itself undertaken no regulatory impact assessments during the past 12 months.
    95W

  SCOTLAND

    Ferry Services
    Mr. Alan Reid
    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland which businesses were consulted by Steer Davies Gleave while they were compiling, on her behalf, the feasibility study for a ferry service between Campbeltown and Ballycastle; what questions were asked of the businesses; by what means Steer Davies Gleave advertised to businesses the fact that they were compiling the study; what fee was charged by Steer Davies Gleave; and when and where she will make the report available to the public. [17299]

    Mr. Foulkes
    [holding answer 22 November 2001]: The Scotland Office appointed Steer Davies Gleave to undertake a transport and economic appraisal of the Campbeltown-Ballycastle ferry in consultation with the Scottish and Northern Irish Executives and after a competitive tendering process. The fee paid to the consultants was £18,600. In the course of their work on this study, I understand that the consultants questioned a number of companies within the local areas of Kintyre and Moyle and beyond to assist them in evaluating the likely usage and benefits from a new ferry service.

    A copy of the final report will be placed in the Library of the House.

    Scottish Parliament
    Mr. Peter Duncan
    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what weight will be given to public opinion in Scotland in completing her consultation on MSP numbers; [23390]

    (2) when she intends to conclude her consultation period on considering the number of Members of the Scottish Parliament; and how soon thereafter she will publish the results. [23391]

    Mrs. Lait
    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when she plans to publish her consultation document of the number of Members of the Scottish Parliament. [23808]

    Mrs. Liddell
    I expect to make an announcement shortly about the consultation on the size of the Scottish Parliament.

    Scottish Executive Officers (International Arrangements)
    Angus Robertson
    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if the Government give direct financial support to fund Scottish Executive officers working internationally under arrangements made with the Scotland Office and Foreign and Commonwealth Office. [23606]

    Mrs. Liddell
    Scottish Executive officers working overseas are funded by the Scottish Executive. However, the full resources of the British embassies overseas are available to assist the executive as well as the other devolved Administrations.

    Friends of Scotland
    Angus Robertson
    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people outside the United Kingdom have signed up to the Friends of Scotland initiative since it was launched. [23605]
    96W
    Mrs. Liddell
    There is no requirement for people abroad to "sign up" to the Friends of Scotland initiative. I have contacted diplomatic missions to inform them of the initiative and to seek their assistance in taking it forward.

    Angus Robertson
    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many Scotland Office staff members are working full-time in the Friends of Scotland unit. [23602]

    Mrs. Liddell
    Currently there are two full-time officials working on the Friends of Scotland initiative. Recruitment of further staff is under way and secondments from the private sector are being explored.

    Angus Robertson
    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many target overseas participants the Scotland Office has for the Friends of Scotland initiative in the first(a) six months and (b) 12 months of operation. [23601]

    Mrs. Liddell
    The first meeting of the advisory committee will take place on Tuesday 18 December, at which the issues and targets will be discussed.

  PRIME MINISTER

    Capital Punishment (USA)
    Vera Baird
    To ask the Prime Minister what representations he has made to the state of Georgia, USA, regarding the proposed execution of British national Tracey House1; and if he will make a statement. [23392]

    The Prime Minister
    The Government are taking what steps we properly can. The Consul General in Atlanta has recently written to the Governor of Georgia underlining the Government's opposition to the death penalty and asking the Georgia authorities to commute Mr. Housel's sentence to a term of imprisonment.

    Project for the Successor Generations
    Norman Baker
    To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on contacts since 1 May 1997 between Ministers and the British/American project for the successor generations. [23184]

    The Prime Minister
    The British/American project aims to strengthen the vital and longstanding relationship between the US and UK. As part of that process, it arranges meetings, including with Ministers, for young leaders from the business, economic, professional, cultural, artistic, governmental, academic, scientific, medical, military and social life of the two countries.

    Policy Announcements
    Norman Baker
    To ask the Prime Minister if his undertaking that announcements of Government policy should be made in the first instance in Parliament prevents(a) special advisers and (b) civil servants briefing the media before such an announcement. [23181]

    The Prime Minister
    In their response to the report from the Public Administration Select Committee on the Ministerial Code, the Government made clear that when the House is sitting announcements of Government policy should be made, in the first instance, to Parliament. Contacts between civil servants, including special
    97W
    advisers, and the media are conducted in accordance with the Guidance for the Government Information Service and the GICS Handbook.

    Waste Policy
    Norman Baker
    To ask the Prime Minister whether the published review of waste policy being undertaken by the performance and innovation unit will constitute formal planning guidance to waste disposal authorities. [23186]

    The Prime Minister
    No. The performance and innovation unit will look at the whole range of issues around delivery of the waste strategy, which will include planning issues. Any recommendations or conclusions which the PIU may draw will not constitute formal planning guidance but will inform future policy.

    Minister for Retail
    Barbara Follett
    To ask the Prime Minister what plans he has to create a Minister for retail. [23319]

    The Prime Minister
    one. My hon. Friend the Minister for E-Commerce and Competitiveness is responsible for the retail sector. Additionally, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Small Business champions the interests of small retailers and the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Whitty) is responsible for issues specific to food and drink retailing.

    BioIndustry Association
    Miss Widdecombe
    To ask the Prime Minister how many times he has met Mr. Simon Best, deputy chairman of the BioIndustry Association; and what the purpose of each meeting was. [23243]

    The Prime Minister
    I have meetings with a wide range of organisations and individuals. As with previous Administrations, it is not my practice to provide details of such meetings.

  DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

    Lobbying
    Norman Baker
    To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what guidance is provided to Government bodies in respect of the expenditure on funds on lobbying activities; and if he will make a statement. [23189]

    Mr. Leslie
    All contacts with lobbyists are conducted in accordance with the guidance on contacts with lobbyists which is set out in the Directory of Civil Service Guidance, Volume 2. Copies of the Directory are in the Library of the House and on the Cabinet Office website http: //www.cabinet-office.gov.uk/guidance/two/default.htm. Any departmental expenditure will be conducted in accordance with the guidance on Government Accounting.

    E-envoy
    Mr. Wyatt
    To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when the annual report from the e-envoy will be published. [23271]
    98W
    Mr. Leslie
    The Ukonline annual report was published on 4 December, copies of which have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses. It is also available at www.e-envoy.gov.uk/ukonline/champions/anrep menu.htm.

    Public Service Agreements
    Mr. Bercow
    To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on progress with the Public Service Agreement target for introducing new development and training packages for Departments' staff. [21250]

    Mr. Leslie
    The Cabinet Office has delivered training packages and other new developments to extend the skills of staff and enhance their leadership potential as part of the Government's programme of Civil Service reform.

    The Centre for Management and Policy Studies is promoting improved leadership across the Civil Service through an updated group of corporate development programmes and networks for the Senior Civil Service, including interactive e-learning, and through a wide range of re-focused training programmes for staff at all levels.

    Other developments aimed at improving the quality of leadership across the wider public sector include the Public Service Leaders Scheme which brings together young high potential middle-ranking officials from the wider public sector and the Civil Service for a two-year development programme. The new Pathways Programme is a two-year Senior Leadership Development Programme designed to identify and develop senior managers from ethnic minorities. We have also introduced a bursary scheme to enable civil servants with disabilities to achieve leadership potential.

    Details of these activities have been placed in the Library of the House.

  LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

    Magistrates Courts
    Simon Hughes
    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department which magistrates courts in England and Wales closed in each year since 1992; what plans there are for future closures; and if he will make a statement. [21644]

    Mr. Wills
    I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the noble Lord Phillips of Sudbury by my noble and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor on 12 November 2001,Official Report, House of Lords, column WA49. Since that answer we have subsequently been advised that Gravesend courthouse in Kent closed on 9 June 2000. This information was not available at the time the answer was given.

    I am aware that 11 magistrates courts committees are currently considering courthouse closures. These are Warwickshire, Wiltshire, Surrey, Durham, North Yorkshire, Thames Valley, Greater Manchester, West Mercia, West Midlands, the Greater London Magistrates' Courts Authority and Staffordshire.
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    Magistrates courts committees are not statutorily required to inform the Lord Chancellor's Department of proposed courthouse closures which are not subject to an appeal by its paying authority or authorities.

    It is the Government's policy that decisions concerning the number, location and future of magistrates courts are for each magistrates courts committee to determine, in consultation with its local paying authority or authorities.

    Justices of the Peace
    Mr. Cox
    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, what is the payment made to justices of the peace for a daily loss of earnings; and when this payment was last(a) reviewed and (b) increased. [22484]

    Mr. Wills
    The amount payable to justices who are self employed for loss of earnings is £41.78 for sitting up to four hours and £83.56 for over four hours. As the Inland Revenue treat this allowance as compensating for loss of profits self employed justices are liable to pay tax. The amounts payable to employed justices are £32.17 for sitting up to four hours and £64.34 for over four hours.

    The rates at which allowances are paid are reviewed annually by the Lord Chancellor's Department. The allowances were reviewed earlier this year and the new rates became payable on 1 September 2001.

    Departmental Sickness
    Mr. Bercow
    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, how many days were lost due to sickness absence by staff in her Department in each of the last four years. [22834]

    Ms Rosie Winterton
    The number of days lost due to sickness absence is collected, averaged to show working days lost per person per annum for each Department, and published annually by the Cabinet Office in the reports "Analysis of Sickness Absence in the Civil Service". For the Lord Chancellor's Department(including agencies), the last four published figures (in working days lost per person per annum) are as follows:

    1996: 10.7 days

    1997: 10.7 days

    1996: 10.7 days

    1999: 10.0 days.

    The Department is committed to managing sick absence effectively and has set targets for reducing sickness absence in its Service Delivery Agreement (SDA).

    Gravesend County Court
    Mr. Pond
    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many cases were dealt with by Gravesend county court in each six-month period beginning from January 1999. [18429]

    Mr. Wills
    [pursuant to his reply, 27 November 2001,830W]: Certain work load information was inadvertently omitted. This concerned the total number of default and fixed date claims issued and how many mortgage and rent possession actions were made. A revised table follows.
    100W

    Claims issued, small claims hearings and possession applications heard at Gravesend county court during selected periods

    Total claims issued1

    Small claims hearings

    Mortgage and rent possession applications

    January to June 1999

    769

    46

    197

    July to December 1999

    802

    34

    252

    January to June 2000

    699

    33

    215

    July to December 2000

    724

    35

    182

    January to June 2001

    575

    17

    190

    July to October 2001

    531

    21

    187

    1 Includes default and fixed date claims

  TRADE AND INDUSTRY

    Employment Tribunals
    Mr. Woodward
    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent representations she has received to amend the Equal Pay Act 1970 to allow for an extension of the time limit beyond six months from termination of employment for bringing an equal value pay claim before an employment tribunal. [15072]

    Ms Hewitt
    [holding answer 19 November 2001]: Under the Equal Pay Act 1970 a woman (or man) may bring a claim within six months of the time when she (or he) was last employed in that job for equal work, that is: or like work, work rated as equivalent, or work which is unlike but which the claimant believes is of equal value. Reference was made to time limits which apply in equal pay cases in the "Review of Women's Employment and Pay" published on 5 December by Denise Kingsmill CBE. That review made proposals to deliver improvements to women's employment prospects and reduce the pay gap between women and men. However, there was no formal recommendation made on tribunal time limits. The Government have received no other recent representations.

    Telecom Services
    Mr. Weir
    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to introduce regulations to ensure that customers of telecoms companies can transfer existing numbers between suppliers of telecom services. [16812]

    Mr. Alexander
    [holding answer 22 November 2001]: The regulation of telecoms operators is the responsibility of Oftel. All telecoms operators are subject to a licence condition, enforced by Oftel, which obliges them to provide number portability when customers switch networks, wherever that is reasonable.

    We are now considering whether action is needed to ensure the regulatory framework meets the challenges of a competitive market.

    Grant Schemes
    Mr. Whittingdale
    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) if she will list the grant schemes administered by her Department; [18529]

    (2) if she will list the grant schemes to be administered by her Department following its restructuring under each of the five portfolio headings; [18528]
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    (3) if she will list those business grant schemes administered by her Department which she proposes to abolish. [18530]

    Ms Hewitt
    [holding answer 27 November 2001]:Grant schemes form part of my Department's wider programme of expenditure in support of business. The Review of Business Support has so far identified 183 business support programmes operated by my Department, of which 59 provide grants direct to business. A number of these programmes consist of a range of sub-activities. The review is continuing to analyse this information to ensure all relevant programmes and business support activities have been identified. Decisions about whether and where these programmes fit in the new portfolio system will be made later in the review.

    Energy Sector
    Mr. Stunell
    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the total(a) direct and (b) indirect Government support for the energy sector, including oil and gas production, was in each year since 1990. [18831]

    Mr. Wilson
    [holding answer 28 November 2001]: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to him on 16 November 2001, Official Report, columns 918–19W. Direct support for oil and gas production is set out in the table.

    Since 1998 the Government have also worked with the oil and gas industry through the Oil and Gas Industry Task Force, now PILOT, to identify and deliver the measures necessary to ensure continued profitable activity on the UK Continental Shelf. The industry has made clear to me that they see PILOT as playing a crucial role in getting investment back to 1998 levels. Capital expenditure on UKCS projects was near £3 billion in 2000 and looks set to be substantially higher this year, and oil and gas production remains at peak levels of 4 million barrels of oil equivalent per day.

    Sustained Hydrocarbons Additional Recovery Programme (SHARP) and predecessor programmes:

    Financial year

    £ million

    1989–90

    5.000

    1990–91

    5.631

    1991–92

    5.087

    1992–93

    5.196

    1993–94

    5.000

    1994–95

    4.400

    1995–96

    4.400

    1996–97

    2.251

    1997–98

    3.215

    1998–99

    2.963

    1999–2000

    2.857

    2000–01

    2.731

    2001–02

    11400

    1To date

    Support for the development of new products and services and competitiveness improvement within the UK oil and gas supplies sector:

    Financial year

    £million

    1989–90

    2.316

    1990–91

    2.958

    1991–92

    3.12

    102W

    Financial Year

    £ million

    1992–93

    2.671

    1993–94

    2.718

    1994–95

    2.34

    1995–96

    4.04

    1996–97

    2.603

    1997–98

    1.657

    1998–99

    1.667

    1999–2000

    1.65

    2000–01

    1.537

    2001–02

    1.71

    1 Total

    Correspondence
    Mr. McLoughlin
    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when she will reply to the letter of 22 October from the hon. Member for West Derbyshire on Harrington Generators International. [21471]

    Ms Hewitt
    The matters raised were the responsibility of the Ministry of Defence and my noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State responsible for procurement has written to the hon. Member.

    Departmental Strategy Board
    Mr. Key
    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if there will be engineers on her Department's Strategy Board. [21505]

    Ms Hewitt
    I am currently considering the criteria to be applied for the appointment of three non-executive members of the Strategy Board. I expect to make the appointments before 1 April 2002, and will announce them when they are made. We will be adopting an open and transparent procedure for making these appointments and I shall be making an announcement on this procedure in due course.

    Export Credits Guarantee Department
    Mr. Whittingdale
    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the savings have been resulting from hedging the cost of interest make-up on fixed rate export finance loans offered by the Export Credits Guarantee Department in each of the last 20 years. [21976]

    Ms Hewitt
    ECGD's interest rate hedging activity protects against the risk of increased support costs arising from adverse interest rate movements under the Fixed Rate Export Finance (FREF) scheme.

    ECGD began hedging its exposure 15 years ago, using interest rate swaps. During the previous five years, the total net cost of FREF interest support, without hedging, was £2,189 million. Over the following 15 years, up to and including 2000–01, the total net cost of support was £1,703 million, within which the net cost of interest rate swaps was £319 million. The yearly breakdown of net swap costs over the period was as follows:

    Year

    £ million

    1986–87

    4.4

    1987–88

    10.2

    1988–89

    -6.2

    1989–90

    -27.4

    1990–91

    -3.6

    1991–92

    13.1

    103W

    Year

    – million

    1992–93

    37.9

    1993–94

    48.1

    1994–95

    48.7

    1995–96

    15.6

    1996–97

    37.4

    1997–98

    29.8

    1998–99

    21.7

    1999–2000

    71.6

    2000–01

    12.9

    318.9

    Future outturn will depend on future interest rate movements and business volumes.

    Matthew Taylor
    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the reasons for which the annually managed expenditure of the Export Credit Guarantees Department has risen. [22195]

    Ms Hewitt
    Annually managed expenditure (AME) for the Export Credits Guarantee Department has risen due to the extra cost needed to unwind interest rate swaps. These swaps were used to hedge interest make up (IMU) costs on fixed rate export finance loans and commitments being guaranteed by ECGD. These loans are now being refinanced using direct funding from HM Treasury, as this produces greater value for money in terms of cost and hedging uncertainty. AME estimates have risen as the cost of unwinding swaps in the financial markets has increased since the AME forecast figures were last published at the time of the Budget 2001.

    Mr. Todd
    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent assessment she has made of the impact of the processes of and terms offered by the Export Credits Guarantee Department on the competitiveness of UK aviation exports. [23283]

    Ms Hewitt
    The major aircraft financing support for Airbus and Rolls Royce is governed by the OECD Consensus Large Aircraft Sector Understanding Arrangements.

    Officials at ECGD together with those from its European partners, Hermes (Germany) and Coface (France) have been reviewing their products which are applicable to this agreement and intend to announce new products by 30 March 2002.

    This review and product development has been carried out in consultation with the major manufacturers and they are broadly happy with progress to date. These products as a package are intended to match those provided to Boeing by the US authorities.

    Together, the three Export Credit Agencies which provide support to Airbus and Rolls Royce continue to match the needs for support placed on them by these manufacturers especially since September 11 this year.

    Tom Brake
    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what power projects planned in(a) the Philippines and (b) Thailand, the Export Credits Guarantee Department has agreed to support; and which UK companies are involved; [23282]
    104W
    (2) what power projects the Export Credits Guarantee Department has provided support for in (a) the Philippines and (b) Thailand during the last five years; and which UK companies are involved. [23281]

    Ms Hewitt
    In the Philippines ECGD has provided support for the following power project.

    Year/description

    UK investor

    Insured amount ($ million)

    2000

    Overseas Investment Insurance for San Lorenzo Project: 500 MW gas fired combined cycle power station

    British Gas (BG Group plc)

    122

    In Thailand ECGD has provided support for the following power projects:

    Year/description

    Exporter

    Contract value (£ million)

    1997

    Mini Hydros for Provincial Electricity Authority

    Balfour Beatty

    9

    2000

    Pluak Daeng substation for the Electricity Generating Authority

    Va Tech Reyrolle

    7

    ECGD has not currently agreed to support any future power projects in these countries.

    Combined Heat and Power Schemes
    Mark Tami
    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what proportions of energy supply is supplied by combined heat and power schemes; [22332]

    (2) what proportion of the UK's energy requirements were produced by combined heat and power schemes in each of the last 10 years. [22334]

    Mr. Wilson
    The available information is as follows. CHP statistics were not compiled on an annual basis before 1993.

    Percentage

    Proportion of UK gross inland energy consumption from CHP

    Proportion of electricity Proportion of UK gross supplied (gross) by all UK generating companies provided by CHP

    1993

    2.8

    4.0

    1994

    2.7

    3.4

    1995

    3.2

    4.8

    1996

    3.0

    4.8

    1997

    3.0

    5.1

    1998

    3.1

    5.5

    1999

    3.1

    5.8

    2000

    3.1

    6.5

    Source:

    Digest of United Kingdom Energy Statistics 2001 Tables 6A (and corresponding tables in earlier Digests), 1.11 and 5.12

    While electricity generated by CHP schemes has almost doubled since 1993, heat generation has increased by only 6 per cent. This is because gas turbines working at a

    105W
    higher power to heat ratio have increasingly displaced steam turbines (with lower power to heat ratios) as the main prime movers in CHP plant.

    Nuclear Waste
    Mr. Weir
    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what discussions she has had with BNFL regarding identification of new storage sites for nuclear waste; and if she will make a statement; [22345]

    (2) what discussions she has had with the Scottish Executive regarding proposals to remove nuclear waste from current storage containers in Scotland and the construction of new storage containers; [22347]

    (3) what discussions she has had with BNFL regarding removal of nuclear waste in Scotland from current storage; and if she will make a statement; [22346]

    (4) what recent discussions she has had with the Scottish Executive regarding storage of nuclear waste at nuclear installations in Scotland. [22348]

    Mr. Wilson
    None.

    Liabilities Management Authority
    Mr. Stunell
    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when(a) Thorp and (b) the Sellafield MOX plant will be transferred to the Liabilities Management Authority; and if she will make a statement. [22115]

    Mr. Wilson
    It is important that Sellafield continues to be managed as a single, unified site. Therefore Thorp and the Sellafield MOX plant will be transferred to the Liabilities Management Authority (LMA) following its establishment. The necessary legislation will be brought forward in due course.

    Mr. Stunell
    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what financial contribution BNFL will make towards the decommissioning of(a) Thorp and (b) the Sellafield MOX plant; and if she will make a statement. [22114]

    Mr. Wilson
    As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry indicated in her statement to the House on 28 November, the Government intend that a Liabilities Management Authority (LMA) will take on responsibility for the UK's historic public sector civil nuclear liabilities and the associated assets including funds earmarked by BNFL for decommissioning and clean-up.

    It is important that Sellafield continues to be managed as a unified site. Therefore once the LMA is established, ownership of both Thorp and the Sellafield MOX plant will transfer from BNFL to the LMA. The expectation is that the commercial revenues from these plants will be sufficient to fund their decommissioning costs.

    Wind Farms
    Mark Tami
    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action she has taken to encourage the development of offshore wind farms in the United Kingdom. [22333]

    Mr. Wilson
    The Government are vigorously encouraging the development of all forms of renewable energy including wind energy, both onshore and offshore.106W
    The main mechanism through which this development will be supported is the Renewables Obligation and the associated Renewables Obligation Scotland. This will oblige all licensed electricity suppliers in Great Britain to supply a specified and growing proportion of their electricity from renewable sources. The Obligation will create a long-term market incentive for renewables which taken with the exemption of renewables electricity from the climate change levy (CCL) and continuing support for NFFO projects, is expected to be worth over £1 billion by 2010.

    The Government have put in place substantial direct funding specifically for the development of offshore wind farms. A total of £74 million has been allocated in the form of capital grants to support the development of this young industry. This fund of £74 million includes £25 million of the £100 million announced by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister last March, £39 million from the DTI and £10 million from the New Opportunities Fund.

    The Government have also recently consulted on the offshore consents process, and plan to bring forward a streamlined approach which should make it easier for project developers to get their projects up and running.

    It is very encouraging that 18 projects for the wind farms successfully pre-qualified for seabed leases from the Crown Estate earlier this year.

    BAE Systems
    Mr. George Osborne
    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions the Government have had with BAE Systems about job losses at their Woodford site; and if she will make a statement. [21770]

    Mr. Wilson
    My officials are already in close touch with BAE Systems. The North West Regional Development Agency and the local Employment Service are also working closely with the company but I am looking carefully at arrangements to ensure that Government are deploying their resources as effectively as possible to mitigate the effect of the Regional Jet programme closure.

    The prospects for the aerospace sector in the medium to long term remain robust.

    E-commerce
    Linda Perham
    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the need for international agreements on the practice of e-commerce. [22299]

    Mr. Alexander
    The Government believe it is important that we have a clear, coherent, pro-competitive and predictable international framework for e-commerce and are working for this at European and global levels through our bilateral and multilateral channels. To be effective, this work needs the involvement of Governments, providers and consumers. The Government therefore believe that co-regulation is often the most appropriate way to address many international e-commerce issues, such as cross-border Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) and mutual recognition between e-commerce codes of conduct.

    The UK is a party to a number of bilateral and multilateral arrangements which apply to commerce generally including e-commerce
    107W
    Multilaterally, the Hague Conference on Private International Law is discussing a possible convention on jurisdiction in civil and commercial matters and this would cover e-commerce unless a decision is taken to exclude such transactions. The UK is playing a full part in these negotiations.

    Energy Industry
    Linda Perham
    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the need for Government subsidy of the energy industry. [22296]

    Mr. Wilson
    An assessment of the need for Government support in the energy sector is one aspect of the current Performance and Innovation Unit (PIU) review of energy policy which is due to report by the end of the year. However, creating the right framework for competitive markets will remain a central part of Government policy.

    Mr. Grogan
    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent assessment she has made that the projections in Energy Paper 68 remain credible; and what plans she has to produce new projections. [22344]

    Mr. Wilson
    The projections made in Energy Paper 68, published in November 2000, are long-term projections. At this stage there is no reason to believe that the projections are anything other than soundly based for longer-term assessments. There are no plans to update the projections in the immediate future.

    Mr. Grogan
    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on how many occasions during the last 24 months the monthly average price of(a) oil, (b) gas and (c) coal has been within the range of the medium/long-term high and low fuel price projections contained in Energy Paper 68; and on how many occasions prices of each of the fuels have been (i) above and (ii) below these ranges. [22343]

    Mr. Wilson
    The table shows, by number of months, how crude oil prices during the last 24 months have compared with the EP68 assumptions for the years 2005 and 2010.

    2005

    2010

    Within range

    2

    2

    Above range

    22

    22

    Below range

    0

    0

    The table shows, by number of months, how gas prices during the last 24 months have compared with the EP68 assumptions for the years 2005 and 2010.

    2005

    2010

    Within range

    17

    20

    Above range

    7

    4

    Below range

    0

    0

    International coal prices have remained within the medium and long-term range assumed in EP68 in every month during the last 24 months.

    Results may differ according to the exact comparator used.The potential for prices to move outside the assumed long-term ranges was acknowledged in EP68.
    108W

    British Coal
    John Mann
    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to review the arrangements for apportioning surpluses in the pre-privatisation pension schemes for the former employees of British Coal. [19341]

    Mr. Wilson
    [holding answer 10 December 2001]: The agreement that was reached in 1994 with the Trustees of pension schemes for former British Coal staff and employees has supported the schemes' investment strategies, and has meant that members' have been awarded bonuses totalling around 30 per cent. These bonus awards are additional to the inflation linked increases applied to pensions each year to maintain their real value. The Government regularly review all information that they receive on these issues, and expect to be able to make a further announcement shortly.

    Power Lines
    Miss McIntosh
    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what assessment she has made of the information contained in recent correspondence from the hon. Member for Vale of York on the health effects of electromagnetic fields; and if she will impose a moratorium on the proposed Lackenby to Shipton overhead transmission line; [21951]

    (2) if she will (a)revoke her decision to proceed with the Lackenby to Shipton overhead transmission line and (b)enhance the power of the existing line through the Vale of York. [21952]

    Mr. Wilson
    While we are always interested to note the hon. Member's representations, development consent was granted for the North Yorkshire power line in March 1998 and it is now up to the National Grid Company to implement that decision.

    Enron
    Miss McIntosh
    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment the Secretary of State has made of the implications of the new ownership of the former Enron power station in Teesside; and if she will make a statement. [21965]

    Mr. Wilson
    If a transfer of ownership qualifies for investigation under the Fair Trading Act 1973, it will be for the Office of Fair Trading to advise me on whether to refer the merger to the Competition Commission. If, on the other hand, it falls under the European Community Merger Regulation, it will be for the European Commission to consider it.

    Gas Supplies
    Mr. Grogan
    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what percentage loss of gas supply(a) during a 1 in 20 peak demand and (b) during an average peak demand on the gas system in (i) winter 2001–02 and (ii) winter 2005–06 would trigger emergency measures under the Emergency Powers Act 1920 or Energy Act 1976. [22340]

    Mr. Wilson
    It is not possible to define when such measures might be triggered. Losses of supply can occur at any time and not just in periods of peak demand.
    109W
    Transco (who manage the National Gas Transmission System) are already empowered to take significant steps to mitigate against losses of supply. These are set out in Transco's Network Gas Supply Emergency Procedures which are tested regularly. I have arranged for copies of the procedures to be placed in the Libraries of the House.

    If the situation arose, it is likely that the powers contained in the Energy Act 1976 would be sufficient to handle a gas supply emergency.

    Mr. Grogan
    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what contingency planning her Department undertakes with(a) the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets, (b) Transco, (c) the National Grid Company and (d) the Health and Safety Executive to prepare for disruption to supplies of gas; and if she will make a statement. [22342]

    Mr. Wilson
    We have set up the Gas Industry Emergency Committee. Its membership includes Ofgem, Transco, NGC, HSE and many others from throughout the supply chain. It assesses the risks of new and emerging developments that could lead to large-scale gas supply failures. Its aim is to ensure that in the event of a gas supply emergency, contingency plans are in place to ensure the rapid and safe restoration of supplies to consumers.

    These contingency plans have been tested in various exercises in recent months. Further tests are planned for the future to ensure that they are kept up-to-date and are fit for the purpose.

    Mr. Grogan
    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the emergency gas stockholding capacity is in days of use at full levels of generation for each of the combined cycle gas turbine power stations commissioned since 1990. [22341]

    Mr. Wilson
    Combined cycle gas turbine power stations do not hold emergency stocks of gas, nor are emergency stocks of gas specifically held as part of the UK gas transmission system for these generators. Where a gas facility is dual fired, power stations usually hold stocks of their alternative fuel—predominantly coal or oil products. Some gas is stored, but this tends to be at the extremities of the transmission system in facilities such as salt cavities' offshore fields or as liquefied natural gas.

    Some liquefied natural gas is held by Transco to cope with system emergencies. The remainder is used to help maintain the overall balance within the gas transmission system between supply and demand for gas. The stored gas tends to be used during periods of peak demand (e.g. winter months) and to meet shortfalls of gas supplies at other times during the year. Combined cycle gas stations compete for any gas coming from storage along with other gas users.

    Telecommunications Council
    Mr. Hood
    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the outcome was of the Telecommunications Council held in Brussels on 6 and 7 December; what the Government's stance was on each issue discussed, including its voting record; and if she will make a statement. [22182]
    110W
    Mr. Alexander
    The Deputy UK Permanent Representative to the European Union, Bill Stow, attended the Council on 6 December on my behalf.

    The Presidency reported to the Council on the state of play of negotiations with the European Parliament on the proposed new regulatory framework for electronic communications. The most contentious issues on which agreement is still outstanding are:
    whether and the extent to which the Commission should be able to override proposed decisions of national regulatory authorities (NRAs) in order to protect the integrity of the single market;
    the grounds on which undertakings should be able to appeal NRA decisions at the national level; and
    whether a digital television standard should be mandated.

    The March 2000 Lisbon European Council set a target of the end of 2001 to agree this legislative package. Informal discussions between the Presidency, the Commission and the European Parliament will continue during December with a view to finding an agreement as soon as possible and so avoid the need for conciliation under the forthcoming Spanish Presidency.

    The Council reached political agreement on the proposed Communications Data Protection Directive by qualified majority; the UK voted in favour. In particular, the Council agreed on:
    a harmonised "opt-in" solution for unsolicited commercial e-mail, with an exception where there is an existing customer relationship;
    the introduction of an obligation to provide users with clear and comprehensive advance information about the purposes of cookies and similar devices and to offer them the possibility to refuse; and
    a clarification of the scope for member states to legislate on data retention for law-enforcement purposes as long as this is in accordance with the agreed principles of Community Law. This was inserted in the body of the Directive itself at the request of the UK.

    The Council adopted a Resolution on "a common approach and specific actions in the area of network and information security", and the Commission will now bring forward proposals for setting-up a cyber-security task force to assist member states in developing the capabilities to address network security problems.

    The Commission presented a Communication on the exploitation of public sector information which aims to remove many of the barriers that content companies currently face in trying to develop the next generation of cross-border information services and products based on public sector information. The Commission may now propose a Directive to cover the commercial exploitation of public sector information. The Commission also gave a presentation on the seventh implementation report on telecoms regulation.

    Gibraltar
    Mr. Hoyle
    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what EU legal requirements governed the transfer of 70,000 telephone lines from Spain to Gibraltar. [R] [21546]

    Ms Hewitt
    [holding answer 10 December 2001]: The allocation to Gibraltar of numbers from the Cadiz exchange is a matter for the Spanish authorities. HMG is

    111W
    pressing the Spanish Government for an early resolution to the problems caused by non-recognition of Gibraltar's international dialling code.

    Gender Pay Gap
    Vernon Coaker
    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent assessment she has made of the effectiveness of equal pay legislation; and if she will make a statement. [21776]

    Ms Hewitt
    The Equal Pay Act 1970 has enabled many women to make real headway, allowing women to claim their rights in a number of landmark cases and to challenge stereotypical assumptions about aspects of their work that have been undervalued.

    The pay gap has halved from 37 per cent. when the Equal Pay Act was introduced 30 years ago to 19 per cent. today. Individual claims brought under the Act can impact on many other women and lead to employers making significant changes to their pay systems.

    Work is under way to streamline and speed up employment tribunal procedures to make it easier for women to claim their rights on equal pay. Equal Pay tribunals can be stressful and time consuming for women and for employers faced with a claim. The proposal to introduce a questionnaire procedure into the Equal Pay Act has been included in the Employment Bill that was introduced on 7 November 2001. It will enable an individual who believes they may not be receiving equal pay to request key information from their employer when they are deciding whether to bring a case.

    Departmental Staff (Home Working)
    Mr. Challen
    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps her Department is taking to encourage staff to work from home; and how many staff do so on a regular basis. [21835]

    Ms Hewitt
    Currently around 900 people in my Department have access to an IT service which allows them to work remotely. We do not keep data on how many people work from home on a regular basis.

    I am keen to promote all forms of flexible working within my Department including working from home. I have asked management and the departmental trade unions to look at ways of achieving that.

    BP
    Norman Baker
    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the occasions since 1 January 2000 when(a) she and any of her predecessors, (b) Ministers within her Department and (c) officials within her Department have had discussions with representatives from BP. [21406]

    Mr. Wilson
    [holding answer 10 December 2001]: BP is a major British company which Ministers meet with quite frequently on a wide range of topics.

    Regulations
    Bob Spink
    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proportion of the regulations affecting businesses introduced in the last financial year originated in European legislation. [22305]
    112W
    Ms Hewitt
    [holding answer 11 December 2001]: Approximately 20 per cent. of regulations introduced during the last financial year originated in European legislation.

    Bob Spink
    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of(a) the number of and (b) the financial cost to (i) small businesses, (ii) SMEs and (iii) businesses in general of regulations introduced in the last financial year. [22307]

    Ms Hewitt
    [holding answer 11 December 2001]: My Department was responsible for 127 regulations introduced in financial year 2000–01. Of these regulations 96 imposed negligible or no costs on business and 11 have reduced costs.

    Where these regulations either imposed or reduced costs for business, regulatory impact assessments (RIAs) were carried out analysing these anticipated costs. These are available from the House Libraries.

    Research Council
    Mr. Hood
    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the outcome was of the Research Council held in Brussels on 10 December; what the Government's stance was on each issue discussed, including its voting record; and if she will make a statement. [22679]

    Ms Hewitt
    The Research Council of 10 December:

    1. Reached unanimous political agreement on the Sixth EU Research and Development Framework Programme 2002–06, with an overall budget of euro 16.27 billion.

    2. Reached unanimous political agreement on the Sixth EURATOM Research and Development Framework Programme 2002–06, with an overall budget of euro 1.23 billion.

    3. Adopted a Resolution concerning the promotion of mobility for researchers in the European Research Area.

    4. Received a presentation by the Commission on its Action Plan on Science and Society.

    5. Adopted conclusions in relation to the promotion of closer links between the EU and the European Space Agency (ESA).

    6. Received a short oral report from the Commission on its development of a Life Sciences and Biotechnology strategy.

    Manufacturing Summit
    Mr. Nicholas Winterton
    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the outcome of her Department's Manufacturing Summit held on 5 December. [22224]

    Ms Hewitt
    [holding answer 12 December 2001]: The aim of the Manufacturing Summit was to bring together national Government, devolved Administrations, regional development agencies and industry and trade union leaders to reach a shared view on the challenges facing UK manufacturing industry. The summit built on the joint work of the CBI and TUC on productivity, which was recently presented to the Chancellor and myself.

    Acting on a recommendation from the CBI and TUC, I announced at the summit an additional £20 million of funding over two years to expand the Industry Forum and the Partnership Fund. This funding will help more firms to work to spread best practice within the supply chain through the extension of Industry Forum principles to

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    additional sectors. The expansion of the Partnership Fund will help employee and employer representatives to work together to achieve better performance in the workplace.

    As a result of the summit, RDAs will work closely with manufacturers, unions and other local partners to implement regional industrial policies in accordance with their regional economic strategies.

    At the meeting, industry representatives recognised the need to boost training and skills in order to achieve the productivity improvements that are necessary. We agreed to work more closely to share ideas and best practice on the promotion of innovation and skills that are key to the future success of our manufacturing industry. We will also ensure that Government agencies are working together more effectively to help people who are made redundant to get new skills and jobs as quickly as possible.

    Scottish Enterprise
    Matthew Taylor
    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she made of the impact of Scottish Enterprise on the business birth rate when deciding to increase the amount of money given to regional venture capital funds. [22498]

    Nigel Griffiths
    In developing Regional Venture Capital Funds the experiences of schemes and initiatives elsewhere, including Scotland, were considered. The Regional Venture Capital Funds have been specifically designed to address the equity gap and their primary focus will be on existing businesses with significant growth prospects. It is unlikely that these funds would invest in start-up businesses, but they are not excluded from the programme.

    Regional Venture Capital Funds are highly innovative in their approach and will bring together public and private equity finance of up to £270 million to invest in small growing businesses in the English regions.

    Regional Venture Capital Funds
    Matthew Taylor
    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what business birth rate targets have been set for each of the regional venture capital funds; and how much additional private investment the ventures backed by the funds are expected to receive in subsequent funding rounds. [22497]

    Nigel Griffiths
    Specific business birth rate targets have not been set for individual Regional Venture Capital Funds (RVCFs). Their primary aims are to ensure that established small growing businesses in each of the English regions are able to access risk capital finance in the equity gap and to demonstrate to institutional investors that robust returns can be made by investing in this sector. As part of the assessment process, all proposals seeking to manage funds were asked to demonstrate their compatibility with the Regional Economic Strategy developed by the Regional Development Agencies.

    As a cornerstone investor the Government will be investing around £80 million to the RVCF programme with up to another £190 million being levered in from private sector investors. There is no indication at present how much additional private investment ventures backed by the RVCFs are likely to receive in subsequent funding rounds.
    114W

    Social Exclusion
    Andrew Selous
    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) how many competitive grant schemes administered by her Department and its agencies were open in each of the last 10 years to organisations in the voluntary and community sector for the purposes of tackling social exclusion; [22433]

    (2) if she will place in the Library a copy of the application form for each of the competitive grant schemes administered by her Department and its agencies open in each year since 1997 to organisations in the voluntary and community sector for the purposes of tackling social exclusion; [22409]

    (3) if she will publish a list of the grants made under the competitive grant schemes administered by her Department and its agencies open in each year since 1997 to organisations in the voluntary and community sector for the purposes of tackling social exclusion; [22418]

    (4) what estimate has been made of the administrative cost to the (a) state, (b) unsuccessful applicants and (c) successful applicants of the competitive grant schemes, provided by her Department and its agencies open in each year since 1997 to organisations in the voluntary and community sector for the purposes of tackling social exclusion; [22403]

    (5) if she will list the competitive grant schemes, administered by the Department and its agencies, open in each year since 1997 to organisations in the voluntary and community sector for the purposes of tackling social exclusion and, for each scheme in each year (a) the number of applicants, (b) the number of successful applicants, (c) the total of grants awarded, (d) the number of pages in the application form and (e) if the grant can be used to fund the core costs of the applicant organisation. [22427]

    Ms Hewitt
    [holding answer 12 December 2001]: The Phoenix Fund, operated by the Small Business Service, is the only competitive grant scheme that my Department runs specifically to help tackle social exclusion. It is designed to encourage enterprise by promoting the provision of business support for entrepreneurs from disadvantaged neighbourhoods or groups of people. Community and voluntary groups can apply for the bidding rounds. There are no application forms. Bidding guidance is published and copies are available in the Libraries of the House.

    There have been four rounds of bidding (Development Fund Rounds 1 and 2 and Community Development Finance Initiatives Rounds 1 and 2). A list of successful applicants and a summary of their individual projects is available on the SBS website www.sbs.gov.uk. Awards totalling £15 million were offered to 50 applicants, from a total of 253, in December 2000 (Development Fund Round 1). In January 2001 £6 million was offered to 16 applicants, from a total of 58 (CDFI Round 1). A further £15 million was awarded to 46 organisations (from a total of 358) in September 2001 (Development Fund Round 2). Up to £15 million will be offered from the current round being appraised (CDFI Round 2), which has received 50 applications. The projects to be supported will be announced in February 2002. Details of individual awards are not published. Although the Phoenix Fund is project based, it is possible for some core costs to be supported.

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    It is not possible to give a total for the administrative costs to the State, as the staff involved also undertake other duties. However, these costs are small in relation to the total grants awarded. The cost of the application will depend on the complexity of their bids, but again, these are small in relation to the average grant offered.

    Disability Discrimination Act
    Lembit Öpik
    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans the Government have to issue guidance to businesses concerning compliance with the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 for labelling which is user friendly for visually impaired and blind people; and if she will make a statement. [22495]

    Alan Johnson
    DTI has agreed to work with the Disability Rights Commission in promoting best practice in relation to the provision of information in accessible formats accompanying manufactured goods.

    The manufacture or design of products, including labelling, is not covered by the Disability Discrimination Act 1995.

    EU Chemicals Strategy
    Sue Doughty
    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to her answer to the hon. Member for South Swindon (Ms Down) on 10 December 2001,Official Report, column 653W, what information and advice was contained in the communications; and if she will make a statement. [22755]

    Ms Hewitt
    I have nothing further to add to my earlier reply.

    Pulmonary Disease Claims
    Mr. Clapham
    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many chronic obstructive pulmonary disease medical assessments have been made by Healthcall in each of the coalfield areas, showing the level of diagnosed disability in each case. [22234]

    South-east region

    1997–98

    1998–99

    1999–2000

    2000–01

    Number of projects

    57

    73

    110

    191

    Number of new jobs

    5,534

    4,497

    6,236

    18,190

    Number of safeguarded jobs

    7,482

    13,957

    15,987

    4,547

    Total number of associated jobs

    13,016

    18,454

    22,223

    22,737

    Broadband (Buckingham)
    Mr. Bercow
    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of(a) the availability and (b) the take-up of broadband services by (i) individuals and (ii) businesses in the constituency of Buckingham. [22532]

    Mr. Alexander
    The Government have made no assessment at that level of localised information. A map showing availability of broadband services in the UK has been placed in the Libraries of the House.
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    Mr. Wilson
    [holding answer 12 December 2001]: Healthcall, the company contracted to undertake the delivery of the Medical Assessment Process, has completed 50,124 appointments, to date. The Department is unable to list the diagnosed disability in each case. The number of appointments completed by region is as follows:

    Region

    Number of appointments completed

    Yorkshire

    6,124

    North East

    2,300

    North West

    1,226

    Nottinghamshire

    2,244

    Derbyshire

    693

    Midlands Other

    1,871

    South West

    77

    South East

    528

    Wales

    7,670

    Scotland

    2,583

    Mobile Test Units

    359

    Domicillary

    2,912

    Deceased MAPs

    21,537

    Total

    50,124

    Foreign Direct Investment (Buckingham)
    Mr. Bercow
    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate she has made of the amount of foreign direct investment in the constituency of Buckingham in each year since 1997. [22648]

    Nigel Griffiths
    Figures collated by Invest UK on inward investment are not recorded at constituency level but on a regional basis. Following are figures from the south-east for each of the years since 1997.

    The figures are based on information provided by companies at the time of the announcement of the decision to invest in the UK. They are based on the companies' best estimate, at that time, of the number of jobs to be created/safeguarded by the investment in its first three years.

    There is no requirement to notify inward investment decisions and so the figures include only those projects where Invest UK and its regional partners were involved or which have come to their notice.

    Business Support (Buckingham)
    Mr. Bercow
    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what business support services funded by her Department are based in the constituency of Buckingham. [22529]

    Nigel Griffiths
    The Small Business Service funds a network of local business link operators throughout England. Business link operators provide access to a wide range of services to local businesses, including information and advice, export development assistance, marketing, training and development, financial packaging, information and communication technologies, design, etc.
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    Business link operators assess the needs of individual businesses (including start-ups) and put together packages of assistance to meet these needs, referring as necessary to support provided by partner organisations and other suppliers.

    The business link operator for Buckinghamshire is Business Link Solutions which covers Milton Keynes, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire.

    Small Business Service
    Mr. Bercow
    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many(a) individuals and (b) small businesses from the constituency of Buckingham have written to the Small Business Service in the last 12 months; and what the average number of working days taken to respond was. [22527]

    Nigel Griffiths
    SBS's South East Regional Team has received three written requests relating to this area, all inquiries were answered within three days of receipt, and were all directed to Business Link Milton Keynes Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire.

    SBS takes an average of 10 working days to respond to correspondence. Most requests are handled by Business Links, rather than the SBS.

    May I also refer the hon. Member to the answer given today to question No. 22528.

    Mr. Bercow
    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many(a) individuals and (b) small businesses for the constituency of Buckingham have used the Small Business Service in each quarter since April 2000. [22528]

    Nigel Griffiths
    The table shows the number of businesses and individuals assisted by Business Link Milton Keynes, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire. Management Information for Business Link local and national services are not desegregated to constituency level.

    (a) Business

    (b) Individuals

    2000–01:

    April to June (Q1)

    2,378

    1,035

    July to September (Q2)

    3,790

    905

    October to December (Q3)

    3,710

    839

    January to March (Q4)

    1,972

    658

    2001–02:

    April to June (Q1)

    2,395

    767

    July to September (Q2)

    3,105

    607

    Source:

    Business Link Management Information returns.

    Public Service Agreements
    Mr. Bercow
    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on progress with the Public Service Agreement target on foreign direct investment. [23172]

    Ms Hewitt
    The latest foreign direct investment (FDI) statistics published by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) show that the UK maintained its position as the largest recipient of inward 118W
    FDI stocks in the EU in 2000. The UK percentage share increased slightly from 20.0 per cent. in 1999 to 20.3 per cent. in 2000.

    Mr. Bercow
    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on progress with the Public Service Agreement target on support for exporters, quality of service, exports and the business image of the UK. [23173]

    Ms Hewitt
    Details on the requested PSA targets were published in March 2001 in "British Trade International—The Government's Expenditure Plans 2001–02 to 2003–04 and Main Estimates 2001–02", Cm 5123, a copy of which was placed in the Libraries of the House.

    Mr. Bercow
    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on progress with the target to operate a zero. [23160]

    Ms Hewitt
    The Department has reviewed and refined its Fraud Policy Statement and supporting Guidance on Fraud Risk Management within the last year. These have been published on the departmental intranet. Guidance on the topic has also been issued to departmental staff.

    As well as operating a general "whistleblowing" scheme through which staff can raise areas of concern (which may include suspicions of fraud) the Department has posted contact details for the Fraud Officer so that concerns may also be raised directly with him.

    The Department is represented at a range of ministerial, interdepartmental and treasury working groups on counter fraud measures and liaises with Scotland Yard and others in the wider counter fraud community to ensure that we remain current on issues of best practice in this area.

    We are committed to prompt and appropriate response to the occasional instances of suspected fraud that arise.

    Mr. Bercow
    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on progress with the target on payment of presented bills within 30 days of receipt of goods or a valid invoice. [23159]

    Ms Hewitt
    The percentage of bills which were paid by my Department within 30 days of receipt of a valid invoice has increased from 93 per cent. for the period April to November 2000 to 96 per cent. for the same period in the year 2001.

    Mr. Bercow
    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on progress with the public service agreement target on the number of companies spun out from universities. [23170]

    Ms Hewitt
    The DTI has met the PSA target of increasing by 50 per cent. the 1997–98 number of companies spun out from universities by 2001–02.

    A recent survey of exploitation activity in the higher education sector has shown that 199 companies were spun out from universities in the academic year 1999–2000, and a total of 537 university spinouts were created over the period 1994–95 to 1999–2000 inclusive. This compares with the baseline of 26 companies spun out from universities during 1997 against the background of a total population of 223 companies wholly or partially owned by HEIs for the commercial exploitation of their research results in 1997–98.
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    Mr. Bercow
    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on progress with the target on key services on-line. [23156]

    Ms Hewitt
    My Department has already made 32 of its services (41 per cent. of the planned total) available online. We expect to make a further 28 available online by the end of 2002, a cumulative figure of 60 (76 per cent.), and, subject to the outcome of the 2002 Spending Review, the remaining 19 (100 per cent.) by the end of 2005.

    Mr. Bercow
    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on progress with the target on unit cost reduction on document registration. [23165]

    Ms Hewitt
    Companies House has consistently met or exceed its unit cost reduction target for document processing since the target was first set in 1997–98. On the back of record growth in the register in 2000–01, the target was bettered by 100 per cent. in that year. It is not possible to anticipate results for 2001–02 as calculation requires end-year figures. While Companies House believes it is broadly on target, it is unlikely to do more given the increased focus on quality and customer service rather than lower cost per se.

    Mr. Bercow
    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on progress with the target on measures of efficiency. [23166]

    Ms Hewitt
    Progress against the Department's main target on efficiency will be reported on in its Expenditure Plans Report which is due in to be published in April 2002.

    Mr. Bercow
    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on progress with the target on services and activities as set out in the handbook Better Quality Services. [23158]

    Ms Hewitt
    My Department is on line to meet its BQS targets which are to review 60 per cent. of its activities by March 2003 and 100 per cent. of its activities by the end of 2004.

    Universal Bank
    Phil Sawford
    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on progress with the implementation of universal banking services. [23090]

    Mr. Alexander
    Good progress is being made on universal banking services in advance of the migration of benefit payments to ACT in 2003. Through universal banking services there will be post office access to a range of bank accounts. This will enable all those who wish to do so to continue to be able to collect their benefits in cash at post offices. The Government are currently negotiating with the Post Office for the provision of the Post Office Card Account and is developing a detailed migration and marketing strategy for the transition to ACT.

    The emphasis of the ACT migration and marketing strategy will be to ensure that each customer has the best account for his or her circumstances. Conventional and
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    basic bank accounts offer more services and do not have the limitations of the Post Office Card Account so are likely to be the best option for the vast majority of people.

    Our operational assumption is that around three million benefit and tax credit recipients will open a POCA, but there will not be a cap on numbers or eligibility criteria for a POCA. For most people the best account will be a conventional bank account or a basic bank account, whether new or existing. The vast majority of claimants already have an existing bank account and we expect that they will choose to use them when they start to be paid by ACT.

    If claimants do not have a bank account, staff of the Government Departments concerned will discuss options with them to help them take the best choice for their circumstances.

    Whatever type of account is used we remain fully committed to meeting the Prime Minister's pledge that those who wish to do so will be able to continue to get their benefits in cash at post offices, in full and without charge.

    South West of England Regional Development Agency
    Mr. Butterfill
    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if the South West regional development agency has provided support to the South West regional convention; and if she will make a statement. [23625]

    Alan Johnson
    The South West regional development agency has provided no financial support for the South West regional convention.

    Parliamentary Questions
    Mr. Allan
    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when she will answer the question tabled by the hon. Member for Sheffield, Hallam on 26 November 2001. [23318]

    Mr. Alexander
    I answered the question on 11 December.

    Sub-Post Offices
    Mr. Lloyd
    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on moneys available under and progress on the urban development fund for urban sub-post offices. [19493]

    Ms Hewitt
    [holding answer 3 December 2001]: Staff of Post Office Ltd. are working up detailed proposals in consultation with my officials on how best the urban network of post offices should adapt to changes in the marketplace and how Government funding to assist such adaptation should be structured.

    Equal Pay
    Barbara Follett
    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action she has taken to encourage business associations to produce guidance on voluntary equal pay reviews. [15728]

    Ms Hewitt
    The official guidance on voluntary equal pay reviews is that published by the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) as a statutory code of practice on equal pay in 1997. The Government have recently
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    provided the EOC with an extra £100,000 to produce a model for voluntary pay reviews. It will offer a technical example for employers in how to review the pay of their male and female employees and will soon be piloted so that it is shown to be workable for business and effective for women.

    The Employers' Association for Local Government has produced equality guidance which includes advice on pay reviews. The Chartered Institute of Personnel Development has also produced an "Equal Pay Guide" for its members who are generally personnel managers.

    The Government have recently announced the annual Castle Awards for employers to encourage them to undertake and act on voluntary pay reviews. They will recognise employers' excellence in addressing equal pay and related issues. Earlier this year the Government appointed 'Fair Pay Champions' from business, the public
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    sector and trade unions to help with our drive towards achieving fair pay for women through promoting and sharing good practice and heightening awareness of employment rights and responsibilities.

    Flooding (Ilford)
    Linda Perham
    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment her Department has made in the last 12 months of the impact of flooding of the River Roding on businesses in Ilford, North; and what assistance is available to businesses in the event of further flooding. [15528]

    Nigel Griffiths
    [holding answer 16 November 2001]: We have made no such assessments.

    The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is the responsible Department for matters dealing with the consequences of floodings. They are considering whether help can be given to all those affected.
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  ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

    Live Animals (Export)
    Mr. Rendel
    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many live(a) sheep and (b) pigs were exported for (i) slaughter, (ii) further fattening and (iii) breeding in 2001, broken down by country of destination. [13548]

    Mr. Morley
    [holding answer 9 November 2001]: The total number of live sheep and live pigs certified for export from the UK during 2001 for breeding, slaughter and fattening are shown in the following tables:

    Live sheep

    Country of destination

    Breeding

    Fattening

    Slaughter

    France

    7

    51,300

    0

    Republic of Ireland

    4,537

    2,226

    130,244

    Belgium

    0

    3,850

    0

    Germany

    0

    10,132

    0

    Italy

    0

    1,679

    0

    Netherlands

    0

    18,344

    390

    Spain

    0

    770

    0

    Totals

    4,544

    88,301

    130,634

    Live pigs

    Country of destination

    Breeding

    Fattening

    Slaughter

    Republic of Ireland

    482

    0

    20,797

    Belgium

    1,629

    0

    0

    Germany

    7,357

    0

    0

    Greece

    9

    0

    0

    Italy

    410

    0

    0

    Netherlands

    2,254

    0

    0

    Spain

    542

    0

    0

    Thailand

    63

    0

    0

    Totals

    12,746

    0

    20,797

    These figures are derived from the computer system used to issue export health certificates and are subject to updating and amendment.

    Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty
    Mr. Bercow
    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the areas of outstanding natural beauty in the Buckingham constituency. [16254]

    Mr. Meacher
    Part of the Chilterns area of outstanding natural beauty lies within the Buckingham constituency.

    UK Fuel Poverty Strategy
    Mr. Amess
    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether the UK Fuel Poverty Strategy specifies a target date for achieving the objective of ensuring that as far as reasonably practicable persons in England and Wales do not live in fuel poverty. [17941]

    Mr. Meacher
    The UK Fuel Poverty Strategy sets a target date of 2010 for assisting all vulnerable fuel poor households, as well as all other fuel poor households 124W
    living in social sector housing. Together these two groups represent some 90 per cent. of all the fuel poor households in England in 1998.

    The Strategy therefore meets the terms of the Warm Homes and Energy Conservation Act 2000 for England in ensuring that as far as reasonably practicable, persons do not live in fuel poverty. We intend to work with interested groups to develop practical, cost-effective mechanisms for assisting the remaining group of fuel poor: the healthy adult households living in private sector housing.

    Fuel poverty is a devolved matter and it is the responsibility of the National Assembly for Wales to comment on the situation in Wales.

    Household Waste
    Ms Shipley
    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what measures she is taking to reduce household waste; [18012]

    (2) what incentives exist to encourage households to reduce the amount of waste they produce. [18010]

    Mr. Meacher
    Tackling the amount of waste produced is the first priority in the hierarchy for waste management decisions set out in the Government's Waste Strategy 2000. The Government are supporting the National Waste Awareness Initiative and have issued guidance to local authorities on their powers under the Waste Minimisation Act 1998.

    The Government have implemented the Packaging Directive and a voluntary agreement on the recycled content of newsprint. Further legislation on electrical and electronic equipment and batteries will follow and a voluntary agreement on direct mail and promotions (junk mail) is planned. These are all designed to reduce the amount of waste arising from these products and their impact on the household waste stream.

    Local authorities are experimenting with a range of measures to encourage minimisation. Waste minimisation will be one of the issues considered in the recently announced review of the waste strategy by the Performance and Innovation Unit.

    Sheep (Ear Tagging)
    Adam Price
    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions she has had with the farming community about the proposed ear tagging schemes for sheep. [18516]

    Mr. Morley
    My officials have had initial discussions with English and Welsh industry representatives about the future identification requirements for sheep and goats. We are now considering the views expressed by industry before a final decision is taken.

    Sheep Farmers
    Mr. Moore
    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make additional financial assistance available to UK sheep farmers. [19249]

    Mr. Morley
    Community Regulations provide for direct support to sheep farmers through the sheep annual premium. Rates of premium are determined each year by
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    the European Commission and are based on the difference between the EU basic price for sheepmeat and the annual average price for sheepmeat on the EU market. There is no provision in the EU sheepmeat regime for additional financial assistance to be made by member states.

    Recycling
    Mr. Sayeed
    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans the Government have to promote a national recycling strategy, with particular reference to the targets set for recycling within councils' waste(a) collection and (b) disposal policies. [19707]

    Mr. Meacher
    The Government set out their strategy for delivering sustainable waste management in 'Waste Strategy 2000', published in May last year. Minimising waste production and maximising the re-use and recycling of waste is at the heart of this strategy and we have set statutory targets under Best Value for local authorities to double the amount of household waste recycled by 2003–04 and treble it by 2005–06. Targets have been set for each collection and disposal authority in England.

    We have recently published a consultation paper on the operation and distribution of a new waste minimisation and recycling fund in England. The fund was agreed in Spending Review 2000 and provides £140 million over the next two years. The fund is designed to support better waste management practices including waste minimisation, re-use and recycling.

    Mr. Sayeed
    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if the Government will achieve the packaging waste recovery and recycling targets for 2001. [22593]

    Mr. Meacher
    It is too early to say. Reprocessing of packaging waste reported by accredited reprocessors for the first three quarters of 2001 is over three million tonnes, but we do not expect to have figures for the whole of 2001 until early next year.

    Home Energy Efficiency Scheme
    Mr. Burstow
    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the current review of the levels of HEES grants, with particular regard to(a) the scope of the review, (b) the timetable and (c) which organisations will be consulted; and if she will abolish the grant maximum levels and set an average grant level instead. [19373]

    Mr. Meacher
    [holding answer 29 November 2001]: The companies that manage the Home Energy Efficiency Scheme provide regular advice to my Department on the average cost of work under the scheme. This advice, together with information on work which costs more than the current grant limits is used to review the grant maxima. I plan to consider whether any changes to the maximum grant levels are required early next year.

    We have no plans to set an average grant, rather than the maximum grant approach used at present.

    The present approach encourages scheme managers to reach those vulnerable householders in most need. These householders are likely to live in homes requiring the complete package of measures available under the scheme.
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    Under an average grant system, the scheme managers would be contractually bound to improve a set number of properties using the available moneys. This would create an incentive for them to target householders in less need, who require fewer improvements to their homes, simply to ensure that the average was not exceeded.

    Rural Payments Agency
    Mrs. Ann Winterton
    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the efficiency and promptness of the tasks carried out by the Rural Payments Agency; and if she will make a statement. [20024]

    Mr. Morley
    Following the launch of the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) as an Executive Agency of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 16 October 2001, the House was informed of the Agency's Performance Targets on 17 October 2001,Official Report, column 1247W. These cover a range of targets that reflect the efficiency and promptness of tasks undertaken by RPA. Copies of its Framework Document, Corporate Plan and Business Plan were placed in the Library of the House on 15 November 2001.

    An ownership board was appointed, chaired by the Permanent Secretary of the Department. Other members include three independents and representatives of the devolved Administrations.

    Within the objective of providing strategic direction and oversight to RPA, one of the four primary roles of the ownership board is to monitor regularly on behalf of the Secretary of State, the devolved Administrations and Competent Authority the performance of RPA against its targets.

    Portland Cement
    Charlotte Atkins
    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what percentage of waste derived fuels constitute total kiln fuels consumed by Portland cement manufacturers in(a) the UK and (b) the rest of the EU. [20511]

    Mr. Meacher
    The latest available estimated figures show that:(a) in 1999 the UK consumption of waste derived fuel was about 6 per cent. of total fuel consumption by Portland cement manufacturers; (b) in 1998 the EU consumption of waste fuel was about 12 per cent. of total fuel consumption by Portland cement manufacturers.

    Livestock Markets
    Mr. Paterson
    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many employees of livestock markets have been made redundant since their closure under foot and mouth regulations. [19738]

    Mr. Morley
    [holding answer 4 December 2001]: The Department does not have any information on the number of employees made redundant from livestock markets since their closure due to foot and mouth restrictions.

    The Employment Service has been collecting statistics of the number of claims made in Great Britain by those who either lost their job or were temporarily laid off as a

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    result of the foot and mouth disease. These are general figures and are not limited to those who worked in markets.

    The Employment Service estimates that approximately 6,600 people have submitted claims as a result of the foot and mouth outbreak. However, this figure includes those whose employment has been temporarily stopped (people still under contract to their employer but whose employment is temporarily unavailable, or whose working hours are reduced due to the crisis).

    Organophosphates
    Mr. Peter Ainsworth
    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the economic impact on brassica growers of the revocation of licences to use(a) carbofuran and (b) chlorfenvinphos. [20664]

    Margaret Beckett
    [holding answer 4 December 2001]: Pesticide products containing carbofuran and chlorfenvinphos have been reviewed as part of the general review in the UK of all organophosphate pesticides. The review was undertaken because of public concerns about the potential toxicity of these chemicals and in the absence of any supporting safety data from the approval holder, products containing carbofuran and chlorfenvinphos will not be available to users from the end of 2001. The economic impact on a particular sector of the industry would not form part of an assessment where the overriding priority is to protect those who work in the industry and consumers of the treated crop. However, my officials are aware of the difficulties the withdrawal of these products from the market may cause and will of course give any assistance they can to exploring other sources of control.

    Mr. Salmond
    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the scientific basis is for the ban on the use of chlorfenvinphos and carbofuran in pesticides; and if she will make a statement. [21478]

    Mr. Morley
    Pesticide products containing carbofuran and chlorfenvinphos have been reviewed as part of the general review in the UK of all organophosphate pesticides. The review was undertaken because of public concerns about the potential toxicity of these chemicals.

    Organophosphate pesticides are mainly older compounds and the review will establish whether there is sufficient safety data available to satisfy modern standards. Companies are therefore required to submit data they hold on human health and environmental effects to support the continued safe use of the products containing these compounds. If data are not submitted then the approval for these products are revoked.

    The approval holders for carbofuran and chlorfenvinphos did not submit supporting data for their products under the UK review and therefore these products will not be available in the UK after 31 December 2001.

    The impact of the loss of these pesticides is not underestimated and officials will continue to do everything possible to help the trade and user groups. However the safety of users, consumers and the environment is the key issue that needs to be considered.
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    Animal Welfare
    Dr. Kumar
    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the working relationships of the UK Xenotransplantation Interim Regulatory Authority, the Farm Animal Welfare Council and the Agriculture Environment Biotechnology Commission. [20925]

    Mr. Morley
    The Agriculture and Environment Biotechnology Commission (AEBC) was set up to provide the Government with independent strategic advice on developments in biotechnology and their implications for agriculture and the environment. It reports to the Secretaries of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and for Trade and Industry and to Ministers in the devolved Administrations.

    The AEBC works alongside the regulatory and advisory bodies in agricultural biotechnology. It has taken evidence from and consulted informally the Farm Animal Welfare Council. Through its secretariat, the AEBC has also liaised as required with the UK Xenotransplantation Interim Regulatory Authority.

    Flood Protection
    Mr. Hancock
    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to improve flood protection in the Portsmouth area. [21214]

    Mr. Morley
    Operational responsibility for flood management measures rests with the local operating authorities, normally the Environment Agency and local councils, who decide which projects to promote and their timing. The operating authorities are invited to submit applications for DEFRA funding for flood and coastal defence capital works, and associated studies, which meet essential technical, economic and environmental criteria and achieve an appropriate priority score.

    DEFRA recently agreed Portsmouth city council's strategy for Old Portsmouth, including both flood alleviation and coast protection works. Applications are now awaited from the council for funding approval of individual phases of work. DEFRA has also approved funding for the council's strategy study for Portsea Island (Portsmouth and Southsea). The study, designed to examine options for coastal defence work, began earlier this year and is scheduled for completion by the end of next year.

    New Deal
    Mr. Bercow
    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many people are employed by the Department under the new deal for young people; and at what cost to public funds. [21326]

    Mr. Morley
    The Department and its agencies currently employs eight staff under the new deal for young people. All these staff are unsubsidised.

    White Goods
    Mr. Sayeed
    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans the Government have to improve the consistency of local re-use projects for white goods. [21676]

    Mr. Meacher
    None at present.
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    Mr. Sayeed
    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans the Government have to increase the capacity of local projects to recondition white goods appliances. [21674]

    Mr. Meacher
    The Government currently have no such plans. However, the Prime Minister has announced that across the UK £50 million from the New Opportunities Fund is to be used to support community recycling and related initiatives, which could include the reconditioning and re-use of white goods.

    Mr. Sayeed
    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) if the Government plan to continue to encourage the re-use of whole white goods appliances to supply to people on low incomes; [21673]

    (2) if she will make a statement on the European Directive concerning the recycling of components parts of white goods; and what plans the Government have to ensure that the Directive does not obstruct the recycling of whole appliances for re-use by those on low income. [21675]

    Mr. Meacher
    A draft Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive is under discussion. Once agreed and implemented in the UK and other member states it will require targets of recovery, re-use and recycling for components, materials and substances of separately collected electrical equipment to be met.

    The wording of the current draft points to targets for the re-use of whole appliances being set in the future. Although these have yet to be set, an objective of this draft is to minimise the amount of electrical equipment becoming waste and so the proposal ensures that priority would be given to the re-use of whole appliances. There is a requirement for appliances to be collected and transported carefully to ensure that any re-usable equipment does not get damaged in transit. There is also a requirement for consumers to be informed of return systems, which could include information on offering equipment for re-use.

    The draft Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive defines re-use as any operation by which waste electrical and electronic equipment or components thereof are used for the same purpose for which they were conceived, including the continued use of the equipment or components thereof which are returned to collection points, distributors, recyclers or manufacturers.

    The Government see no reason why the implementation of this directive will obstruct the current infrastructure of the re-use of whole appliances by those on low income.

    Sustainable Timber
    Mr. Sayeed
    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what research the Government are conducting into the use of sustainable timber. [21671]

    Mr. Morley
    The Government have commissioned research into the scale and variety of timber and timber products being purchased to meet the operational requirements of central Government Departments and their agencies. Three Departments and three agencies have been selected as samples to reflect the range of activities involved. The research is due to be completed 130W
    by the end of May 2002 and should help the Government in implementing their timber procurement policy by identifying options for guidance that will be made available to its own buyers and to the wider public sector.

    Mr. Sayeed
    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the progress of the Government's plans to use sustainable timber only, whenever possible, as part of the materials used in the construction of public buildings. [21670]

    Mr. Morley
    The Third Annual Report on Greening Government, published on 27 November 2001 and available on the internet http: //www.sustainable-development.gov.uk includes information on timber purchase by Department as well as information on overall progress towards implementing the Government's policy on purchasing timber from sustainable and legal sources. That report covers activities undertaken during the financial year ended 31 March 2001. Since then the Government have commissioned consultants to undertake research and report on options for further assisting their buyers to actively seek to purchase timber and timber products from sustainable and legal sources.

    The Government are working with stakeholders in producing countries to encourage sustainable forest management as well as tackling illegal logging. The UK was instrumental in organising a ministerial conference in Indonesia this year to address forest law enforcement and governance in East Asia. This produced the real prospect of bilateral agreements to secure more effective controls. A similar conference is planned to address the same issues in Africa next year. These international initiatives are intended to help to reduce the volume of illegally logged timber entering the UK and to effectively create more demand for sustainable timber in construction projects and more generally across both the public and private sectors within the UK.

    Mr. Sayeed
    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of her Department in encouraging Government Departments to take part in the pilot project to use only wood from sustainable sources. [21669]

    Mr. Morley
    This Department has accepted, on behalf of the Government, an offer made by the World Wide Fund for Nature to assist the Government in their efforts to source timber from sustainable and legal sources when a suitable project can be identified. The Department has written to Heads of Procurement in the major central Government Departments to advise them of the offer made by WWF. To date no Department has come forward to suggest a suitable project. The Department will continue to engage the inter-departmental working group on timber procurement in searching for a suitable project.

    Mr. Sayeed
    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she plans to take to implement her Department's policy of using only sustainable timber for public buildings. [21672]

    Mr. Morley
    The Government are working with the timber trade, environmental pressure groups and other stakeholders to encourage a greater demand for sustainable timber across all sectors of the economy. The
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    Government are also working with many stakeholders in different producer countries to promote sustainable forest management as well as tackling illegal logging.

    For their own operational activities the Government are committed to actively seek to purchase the timber and timber products they need from legal and sustainable sources. To this end Government buyers have been instructed to implement this policy and to report annually on their purchases. An interdepartmental working group is monitoring progress and will provide further guidance and advice to that already provided to buyers in our Green Guide for Buyers and elsewhere on the Greening Government website http: //www.defra.gov.uk/environment/greening/gghome.htm. The Government's approach should help to transform the market into supplying more timber and timber products from sustainable managed sources. The Third Annual Report on Greening Government, published on 27 November 2001 and available on the internet http: //www.sustainable-development.gov.uk includes information on timber purchase by Department as well as information on overall progress towards implementing the Government's policy on purchasing timber from sustainable and legal sources. More generally, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has recently set up a Sustainable Procurement Group of officials to consider how Government policies on sustainable development can be more effectively implemented through the Government's own procurement activities.

    Departmental Payments
    Malcolm Bruce
    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to reduce the cost of administering departmental payments; and if she will make a statement. [20948]

    Mr. Morley
    [holding answer 6 December 2001]: The Department established the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) on 16 October to make CAP payments. RPA brings together the administration of CAP grants and subsidies schemes previously divided between MAFF's (now DEFRA's) regional offices and the Intervention Board. RPA will deliver a change programme to modernise the way that CAP payments are made through a major investment in new technology.

    This will provide advanced electronic processing capability and enable farmers and traders to submit claims electronically. It will result in significant benefits for taxpayers with a 10 per cent. cut by March 2004 in unit costs of administering payments and further savings in subsequent years after the new systems are fully implemented.

    In addition, and as part of a continuing review of efficiencies, a number of initiatives are under way across DEFRA to improve the processes for the purchase and payment of goods and services through electronic procurement, making greater use of purchase cards, the electronic receipt and payment of invoices and further centralisation of invoice processing where appropriate. It is anticipated that by March 2003 the core Department will have realised the level of savings identified.
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    Peat
    Mr. Breed
    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions (1) her Department has had with the Treasury about fiscal incentives to reduce consumer demand for peat products; [21612]

    (2) her Department has had with the Department of Trade and Industry about funding the development of the peat replacement industry; [21613]

    (3) her officials have had with other Departments about action to promote sustainable alternatives to peat use. [21611]

    Mr. Meacher
    The Peat Working Group is the interdepartmental forum, on which the peat industry and environmental bodies are represented, where such issues are considered. This meets periodically and my officials are represented. The Government's policy on the use of peat is set out in the relevant Biodiversity Action Plan which commits Government to undertake and promote research and development into sustainable alternatives while generating publicity to encourage amateur and professional peat users to adopt alternatives, highlighting the threat to peatland conservation of continued peat use. We aim for 40 per cent. of the total market requirements to be peat-free by 2005 and 90 per cent. by 2010. Recently, in response to a question from the hon. Member for Mid-Bedfordshire (Mr. Sayeed) on 16 October 2001,Official Report, column 1219W, I detailed the mechanisms which Government use both to ensure the protection of the best examples of peatland habitat and to meet our obligations under the EU Habitats Directive.

    Horses
    Ms Shipley
    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans her Department has to consider the tethering of horses; and if she will make a statement. [22110]

    Mr. Morley
    It is an offence under the Protection of Animals Act 1911 to cause a horse unnecessary suffering due to the manner in which it is tethered and is punishable by a fine of up to £5,000 or six months imprisonment, or both.

    Form OTM22
    Mr. Laurence Robertson
    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what changes she plans to introduce to the requirement of form OTM22 for the signature of the producer of the animals; and if she will make a statement. [22116]

    Mr. Morley
    Animals over-30-months of age which are unable on welfare grounds to travel to OTMS collection centres can be slaughtered on farm and presented into the scheme at casualty centres. An on-farm slaughtered casualty animal must be covered by an OTM22 emergency slaughter certificate which in the main is completed by the attending veterinary surgeon. The primary purpose of the OTM22 is to confirm that the
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    animal showed no signs of disease or pathological condition which would render the whole carcase unfit for human consumption. There are currently no plans to amend the OTM22 form.

    Regulations
    Mr. Prisk
    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many regulations her Department has proposed to Parliament since June; what regulatory impact assessments have been made for those regulations her Department has implemented in 2001; and what plans her Department has to reduce the number of regulations affecting small businesses. [21969]

    Mr. Morley
    With the exception of foot and mouth disease related orders the Department has made 42 regulations since June. In addition to these the Animal Health (Amendment) Bill was introduced on 30 October. Regulatory Impact Assessments for regulations imposing a cost or benefit implemented in 2001 are published on the Department's website and are available in the House Libraries.

    The Department's plans for regulatory reform which will affect businesses, including small businesses, will be set out in a Regulatory Reform Action Plan which will be published in due course.

    Farm Workers (Security of Tenure)
    John Mann
    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) how many farm workers and other rural tied workers have no security of tenure; [21760]

    (2) what representations she has received since January on security of tenure of farm workers and other rural tied workers; and what proposals she has on this subject. [21761]

    Mr. Morley
    I have no information on the number of farm workers and other rural tied workers who have no security of tenure. The Rent (Agriculture) Act 1976 and the Housing Act 1988 provide security of tenure for qualifying agricultural workers who pay no rent at all or only a low rent.

    Most lettings by private landlords to agricultural workers and other people who pay a market rent for their property which began before 15 January 1989 are regulated tenancies under the Rent Acts. Lettings of this sort made after that date will be assured or assured shorthold tenancies under the Housing Act 1988.

    My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has received no specific representations on this subject since January. Housing legislation is primarily the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions although DEFRA is jointly responsible with DTLR for certain provisions in the Rent (Agriculture) Act 1976.

    Refrigerator Recycling
    Mrs. May
    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many recycling 134W
    plants in the United Kingdom are equipped to handle fridges under the new regulations being introduced on 1 January 2002. [22073]

    Mr. Meacher
    EC Regulations No. 2037/2000 requires the removal of ozone depleting substances (ODS) from waste fridges before they are scrapped. The Department is aware of one facility in the UK capable of extracting ODS from waste fridges prior to scrapping, although this facility is not yet on-line. A number of other companies have indicated their intention to establish other such facilities in the UK.

    Mr. Jack
    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) if she will make a statement on the methodology employed to determine the additional sum of money required to deal with the extra costs to local waste service companies of dealing with unwanted refrigerators and freezers; [22220]

    (2) how the additional funding for the storage of old refrigerators containing CFCs will be allocated, broken down by county. [22223]

    Mr. Meacher
    [holding answer 12 December 2001]: This Department recently announced a payment of £6 million to English local authorities to cover their costs of handling fridges and freezers until March 2002. We shall urgently assess the impacts of the regulation and will determine what further action is required beyond that.

    The provision for waste disposal is included, together with other council services, within the upper tier of the Environmental, Protective and Cultural Services (EPCS) Standard Spending Assessment (SSA). The SSA is taken into account in the calculation of revenue support grant allocations to each authority. The additional £6 million for the disposal of refrigerators regulation has been added into the EPCS block.

    Agriculture Concordat
    Annabelle Ewing
    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment her Department has made of the operation of the concordat between the Scottish Executive and the UK Government on co-ordination of European policy issues concerning agriculture; what representations she has received from the Scottish Executive to amend the concordat; and if she will make a statement. [21869]

    Mr. Morley
    [holding answer 10 December 2001]: Our assessment is that the concordat between the Scottish Executive and the UK Government on co-ordination of European policy issues concerning agriculture has worked well. We have received no representation from the Scottish Executive to amend the concordat although it will need to be amended to reflect the change in the name of my Department. The United Kingdom Government attach great importance to ensuring that the devolved Administrations play their proper role in the development of European policy and we are in regular contact with all the devolved Administrations on European issues.

    Departmental Staff (Home Working)
    Mr. Challen
    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps her Department is taking to encourage staff to work from home; and how many staff do so on a regular basis. [21825]
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    Mr. Morley
    The Department is committed to the work-life balance of its staff. A range of flexible working patterns including part-time working, job sharing and home working is available to staff by agreement with their management.

    DEFRA publicises its policy on flexible working and encourages managers to respond positively to requests as part of their commitment to the diversity agenda.

    Information on the number of staff undertaking home working on a regular basis is not kept centrally and a complete list of those using working from home arrangements could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, IT dial-in facilities which enable staff to work remotely are widely used, with around 1,400 having access to this facility. A regular element of home working is normal practice for certain groups of staff. It is estimated that around 10 per cent. of staff make use of informal arrangements to work from home occasionally.

    Asbestos
    Mr. Clapham
    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will seek the support of her European colleagues to press the World Trade Organisation (WTO) for a worldwide ban on all forms of asbestos; and if she will make a statement. [21857]

    Mr. Meacher
    The WTO applies the rules of the multilateral trading system. It does not itself impose restrictions on the import or export of particular goods or services. It is a matter for individual members of the WTO to decide whether such trade restrictions are appropriate.

    With respect to chrysotile asbestos, the WTO's Appellate Body reached a decision in March 2001 which upheld the French ban on imports of chrysotile asbestos, which had been challenged within the WTO's Dispute Settlement Mechanism by Canada. The Appellate Body found that in view of the toxicity of chrysotile asbestos, the French import ban was justified under Article XX of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, which allows measures necessary for a range of purposes, including the protection of human, animal or plant life or health.

    The Declaration adopted at the 4th Ministerial Conference of the WTO, held in Doha on 9–14 November 2001, reaffirms that:
    "under WTO rules no country should be prevented from taking measures for the protection of human, animal or plant life or health, or of the environment at the levels it considers appropriate …".

    The United Kingdom has in place a body of regulations to prevent and control exposure to asbestos. These cover the prohibition of its importation, supply and new use, the control of work where employees may be exposed to asbestos, and the licensing of removal contractors. Forthcoming proposed legislation will additionally require those in control of non-domestic premises to manage any asbestos in their buildings in order to prevent accidental exposure.

    On 26 July 1999 the European Community adopted further restrictions on the supply and use of asbestos, through the Marketing and Use Directive, that must be in force in all member states by 1 January 2005. The United
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    Kingdom legislation which implements this Directive (with a small number of time limited derogations) came into force on 24 November 1999.

    Wild Mammals
    Mr. Boswell
    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to improve the monitoring of the wild mammal population. [R] [21422]

    Mr. Meacher
    [holding answer 10 December 2001]: At present there is no comprehensive, standardised national monitoring of British mammals that embraces the full range of important species. While a range of organisations undertake monitoring, not all mammals are included, surveys are often sporadic and the results distributed to only a limited extent.

    A GB-wide research contract "Design and pilot a multi-species terrestrial mammal monitoring project" was let in June 2001 to the British Trust for Ornithology and the Mammal Society. The overall aim will be to design and pilot, using a volunteer network, a winter monitoring project involving both visual recording of mammals and the recording of their signs, and is intended to form a building block for an integrated mammal-monitoring system.

    The work will include an analysis of the results and consider aspects such as accuracy, repeatability and the utility of the results for monitoring mammal abundance and distribution and for the potential to assess long-term trends.

    Water Leakage
    Andrew Bennett
    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how far each United Kingdom water provider has reduced water leakage from the supply system; and which companies have met the targets set by the Deputy Prime Minister in 1997. [22165]

    Mr. Meacher
    At the Water summit in 1997, the Deputy Prime Minister asked the Office of Water Services to set leakage targets for water companies in England and Wales. The objective was for companies to reach their economic level of leakage by 2002–03 and all companies, with the exception of Thames Water, are on target to reach that level. To date, this amounts to a reduction in leakage of about 30 per cent. Thames Water has been required to take the necessary corrective action by 2003–04. Details of the action required of Thames and other companies' performance are contained in the Ofwat report 'Leakage and the efficient use of water 2000–01', a copy of which is in the Library of the House.

    The Water summit did not involve the water authorities in Scotland and Northern Ireland. The Scottish Executive published their most recent leakage information in 'Public Water Supplies in Scotland 1999–2000 Water Resources Survey'. The Northern Ireland Water Service does not currently publish any information on leakage.

    Farm-based Horse Enterprises
    Mr. Todd
    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent steps she has taken to assist farmers diversifying into
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    farm-based horse enterprises; what representations she has received on this issue since June; and if she will make a statement. [22461]

    Alun Michael
    Farmers wishing to diversify their farm business, including diversification into farm-based horse enterprises, can apply for funding under the Rural Enterprise Scheme (RES), part of the England Rural Development Programme which was launched in September 2000. There are equivalent measures in Objective 1 areas.

    DEFRA also offers assistance in the form of free planning consultancy advice to farmers who intend to pursue an eligible RES diversification project.

    Other funding for farm diversification projects which utilise existing farm buildings is available from regional development agencies in the form of redundant building grant.

    The Government have also taken other practical measures to encourage farm diversification generally which will assist farmers diversifying into equine businesses. The Rating (Former Agricultural Premises and Rural Shops) Act 2001 provides for rate relief on buildings and land used for all non-agricultural enterprises on what had previously been agricultural premises. An amendment to guidance in Planning Police Guidance note 7 (PPG7), "The Countryside—Environmental Quality and Economic and Social Development", on farm diversification makes clear the importance that the Government attach to diversification. It encourages local planning authorities to support well-conceived schemes that are consistent in their scale with their rural location.

    Since June I have had representations on this issue from the British Equestrian Federation and the British Horse Industry Confederation.

    Abandoned Vehicles
    Dr. Murrison
    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on changes in the numbers of abandoned vehicles in England over the last three years. [22470]

    Mr. Meacher
    Local authorities are responsible for dealing with abandoned vehicles. Although the Department currently holds no central records of the number of vehicles abandoned each year we estimate that some 350,000 are abandoned in the United Kingdom each year. We know anecdotally that the numbers of abandoned vehicles are increasing year on year.

    More up to date information on the number of abandoned vehicles removed by local authorities is being collected in the Department's 2000–01 Municipal Waste Management Survey which should be published in July 2002.

    Flooding (North Yorkshire)
    Miss McIntosh
    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what allowance has been made in the Revenue Support Grant for 2002–03 for the November 2000 floods in North Yorkshire. [22662]

    Mr. Morley
    The provisional increases in flood defence standard spending assessments (SSAs) for councils in the north of Yorkshire are shown in the table. SSAs are reflected in the distribution to councils of revenue support grant and national non-domestic rates.
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    £ million

    Council

    2001–02

    2002–03

    Percentage

    North Yorkshire

    2.423

    2.577

    6

    East Riding of Yorkshire

    2.001

    2.266

    13

    York

    1.156

    1.354

    17

    Selby

    0.813

    0.927

    14

    Kingston upon Hull

    0.768

    0.809

    5

    Ryedale

    0.096

    0.116

    21

    Harrogate

    0.094

    0.119

    27

    Scarborough

    0.041

    0.038

    -8

    Hambleton

    0.038

    0.032

    -14

    Craven

    0.029

    0.060

    107

    Richmondshire

    0.007

    0.011

    59

    Total

    7.467

    8.311

    11

    Scottish Water
    Mr. Weir
    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what channels of communication she will have with the Water Industry Commissioner for Scotland after the formation of Scottish Water. [22788]

    Mr. Meacher
    [holding answer 13 December 2001]: The water and sewerage service in Scotland is a devolved responsibility of the Scottish Executive. The Executive will write to the hon. Member about the lines of responsibility between itself and Scottish Water. [22788]

    Mr. Weir
    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what responsibility her Department will have concerning the level of water bills in Scotland after the formation of Scottish Water; [22787]

    (2) what channels of communication she will have with the Water Industry Commissioner for Scotland after the formation of Scottish Water; [22789]

    (3) what role her Department has had in the scheduled transfer of the existing water authorities to Scottish Water. [22786]

    Mr. Meacher
    [holding answer 13 December 2001]: None. The water and sewerage service in Scotland is a devolved responsibility of the Scottish Executive.

    Tuberculosis
    Mr. Clifton-Brown
    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when the number of all categories of staff devoted to tuberculosis in cattle will be returned to their pre foot and mouth levels(a) in total and (b) in Gloucestershire; what the percentage drop was in each case between February and the latest month for which figures are available; what effect this will have on the projected date for publishing the results of the Krebs Trials; and when that is estimated to be. [R] [22844]

    Mr. Morley
    [holding answer 13 December 2001]: It is not yet possible to give a firm date when all the staff resource that used to be applied to TB testing can be restored to pre foot and mouth disease (FMD) levels. This depends on developments in FMD and post FMD controls.

    Overall the percentage drop from February to October 2001 was: for SVS and LVIs 81 per cent.; for TVIs 87 per cent. and for administrators 53 per cent. This

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    reflects the fact that many veterinarians were still heavily involved in FMD controls and movement licensing in October.

    The equivalent percentage drops for the Gloucester Animal Health Office were: for SVS and LVIs 97 per cent.; for TVIs 90 per cent. and for administrators 70 per cent. This reflects the fact that the area covered by these staff was more heavily and more persistently affected by FMD and that FMD-free status was only gained by mid-October.

    The Independent Scientific Group on Cattle TB (ISG) overseas the field trial. Prior to the foot and mouth disease (FMD) outbreak, the ISG advised in its second report that firm scientific data were likely to be available to inform policy by 2004. The group has indicated that the FMD emergency might delay this timetable by a calendar year.

    Mr. Clifton-Brown
    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what research has been commissioned into finding a vaccine for tuberculosis in cattle; what plans there are to increase Departmental spending in this area; and what progress has been made in finding such a vaccine. [R] [22846]

    Mr. Morley
    [holding answer 13 December 2001]: In 1999, one three-year and three five-year research projects for finding a vaccine for TB in cattle were commissioned by MAFF at the Veterinary Laboratories Agency and at the Institute of Animal Health. £1.2 million funding is being provided by DEFRA in this area each year up to 2004. The key objectives of the research are to produce live candidate vaccines, to develop a test to differentiate vaccinated animals from infected animals and to evaluate the vaccine candidates in the host species. The Independent Scientific Group on Cattle TB (ISG) is undertaking a detailed study of vaccine development and their potential use. In its third report the ISG advised that vaccines in either cattle or badgers remains a potential policy option although likely to offer prospects only in a long-term context. Nevertheless, research into vaccines remains an important element in the strategy to control TB in cattle and will receive funding accordingly.

    Mr. Clifton-Brown
    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many cases of tuberculosis in cattle have been reported in(a) 1999, (b) 2000 and (c) each month this year. [R] [22847]

    Mr. Morley
    [holding answer 13 December 2001]: In 1999 a total of 6,772 cattle were slaughtered under TB control measures. This rose to 8,355 cattle in 2000.

    Raw data on TB incidents in the months of 2001 have not yet been subject to quality control and statistics for each month are not yet available. Raw data indicate that so far some 900 tuberculin reactor cattle have been identified.

    Mr. Clifton-Brown
    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the geographical spread of tuberculosis in cattle in the last three years. [R] [22845]

    Mr. Morley
    [holding answer 13 December 2001]: Over the last three years the rise in bovine TB incidents in cattle in England has generally been contained to the south and west. In descending order the areas with the highest confirmed incidence are Gloucestershire, Hereford
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    and Worcestershire, Wiltshire, Avon, Cornwall and Devon. Generally, within this area the number of TB incidents has continued to increase year on year.

    Outside these higher incidence areas we are closely monitoring bovine TB incidence in the areas of Shropshire, Staffordshire and Dorset.

    Mr. Clifton-Brown
    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when the resumption of(a) full road traffic survey and testing of dead badgers and (b) full scale TB99 questionnaire forms will take place. [R] [22848]

    Mr. Morley
    [holding answer 13 December 2001]: Work on the road traffic accident (RTA) survey of badger carcases and the TB99 survey was suspended earlier this year due to the foot and mouth disease (FMD) outbreak. Plans to restart the work are currently being considered and, as staff return to normal duties, it is hoped to do so early in the new year. An exact date for the resumption of the surveys cannot be given at present.

    Agriculture Select Committee
    Mr. Clifton-Brown
    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if the financial projections contained in Annexe A of the Government's response to the Agriculture Select Committee, Session 2000–01, HC 92, have changed. [R] [22849]

    Mr. Morley
    [holding answer 13 December 2001]: The estimates for expenditure on tackling TB in cattle contained in the Government response for the years 2002–03 and 2003–04 remain unchanged.

    Outturn figures for 2000–01, when they become available, are likely to show a reduction in expenditure on TB, due to diversion of veterinary resource to deal with the classical swine fever and foot and mouth disease (FMD) outbreaks. The outturn figures for 2001–02, when they become available, will almost certainly show a more marked reduction because of the diversion of resource to deal with FMD and the length and severity of the outbreak in this financial year.

    Mink Farms
    Norman Baker
    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many breeding female mink there were at UK mink farms on 28 February. [23180]

    Mr. Morley
    In relation to England, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 14 November 2001,Official Report, column 814W.

    Fur farming in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales is the responsibility of the devolved Administrations. However, I understand that they currently have no mink farms.

    Game Licences
    Mr. Martyn Jones
    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the number of game licences sold in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available. [22397]
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    Alun Michael
    I am able to provide figures for the last nine years. The figures are:

    Number

    1992–93

    43,914

    1993–94

    41,311

    1994–95

    30,872

    1995–96

    25,702

    1996–97

    30,285

    1997–98

    31,939

    1998–99

    31,987

    1999–2000

    39,262

    2000–01

    42,310

    Mr. Martyn Jones
    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) if she will list the costs of issuing the game licence for the last year for which figures are available; [22394]

    (2) how many game licences were sold in the last year for which figures are available; and how much was raised, net of costs. [22395]

    Alun Michael
    The costs in the year 2001–02 were £224,792.51. 42,310 game licences were sold in 2000–01. £4,132 was raised net of costs.

    Waste Management
    Donald Anderson
    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what consideration she has given to instituting specific procedures to check on the background, including criminal convictions, of new relevant persons once a waste management licence has been granted. [21210]

    Mr. Meacher
    Under section 74 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, the Environment Agency has the power to take into account the relevant offences of a new relevant person in relation to a current waste management licence. Under section 38 of the 1990 Act, the Environment Agency has the power to suspend or revoke licences if the licence holder ceases to be a fit and proper person—one of the tests of which is relevant offences. When invoking these powers the agency must have a regard to the statutory guidance provided in Waste Management Paper 4, "Licensing of Waste Management Facilities".

    Livestock Movements
    Mr. Edwards
    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when the restrictions on the movement of livestock will be further relaxed. [24056]

    Margaret Beckett
    I welcome the fact that we have not had a confirmed case of FMD since the end of September, and that the programme of testing has enabled us to reduce the risk status of all the counties affected, so considerably easing the movement of livestock within the present control regime. I hope that it will not be long before the country can, with reasonable confidence, be regarded as free of disease. We still need to maintain precautions against the recurrence of the disease. This will need to be recognised in an interim animal movement regime which, assuming all continues to go well, we hope to introduce in mid-February. My Department has been 142W
    discussing the terms of such a regime with the livestock industry over recent weeks. My noble Friend Lord Whitty plans to publish tomorrow the general principles of such a regime.

    Fisheries
    Mr. Edwards
    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she has assessed for the year 2000 the impact of the economic link measures introduced for the fisheries sector on 1 January 1999; and if she will make a statement. [23918]

    Mr. Morley
    From 1 January 1999 all British registered fishing vessels over 10 meters in length and catching more than 2 tonnes of quota stocks have had to demonstrate an economic link with fisheries-dependent communities in the United Kingdom. This link can be demonstrated in a number of ways, for example by vessels landing at least 50 per cent. by weight of their quota catch into the UK or by employing a crew of whom at least 50 per cent. are normally resident in a UK coastal area.

    In 2000, 1,627 vessels caught more than 2 tonnes of quota stocks and in each case achieved a satisfactory economic link, primarily through landings into the UK. The economic link arrangements have maintained the increases in UK landings and expenditure achieved by foreign-owned UK-registered vessels in 1999. In addition almost 400 tonnes of quota was made available for redistribution to the UK fleet.

    A full report by the Fisheries Departments in the United Kingdom on the operation of the economic link measures and their impact in 2000 has been placed in the Library of the House.

    Illegal Timber Logging
    Mr. Peter Ainsworth
    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent measures she has taken to promote an international code to combat illegal timber logging. [8286]

    Margaret Beckett
    [holding answer 18 October 2001 ]: The Government are currently investigating options for intergovernmental agreements to combat illegal logging. My Department works closely with the Department for International Development (DfID) on this. A study by the Royal Institute of International Affairs has been commissioned and final results will be available before the end of the year. The study considers possible options to combat illegal logging and in particular frameworks for voluntary and mandatory agreements and the relationship of such agreements with WTO rules, market based instruments such as labelling and certification, particularly where they include requirements for chain-of-custody documentation.

    My hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for International Development represented the Government at the recent Forest Law Enforcement and Governance, East Asia, Ministerial Conference (Indonesia, 11–13 September 2001). The conference was successful. Participants agreed to intensify national efforts and strengthen bilateral, regional and multilateral collaboration to address violations of forest law and forest crime and to create a regional task force on forest law enforcement and governance. The UK will play its part in taking forward these actions on forest

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    governance, working with overseas partners both bilaterally and internationally through the United Nation Forum on Forests and the G-8 processes.

    Foot and Mouth
    Miss McIntosh
    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will update and publish the information given in the letter of 11 September from the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State to the hon. Member for the Vale of York assessing the damage to the agricultural and tourism sectors of the foot and mouth outbreak (ref 3468). [12070]

    Mr. Morley
    My letter of 11 September provided the following information:"On 9 July you tabled a parliamentary question in which you asked what assessment has been made of the damage to the agriculture and tourism sectors of the current foot and mouth outbreak. I am sorry I was unable to reply before the House rose for summer recess, but had I had done so, I would have said that the Department does not have statistics on job losses in the agriculture sector resulting from foot and mouth. We are, however, developing proposals for a survey to collect information relating to the impact of foot and mouth disease on farmers directly or indirectly affected by the outbreak, including details relating to employment.
    As regards tourism, our best estimate is that overall UK tourism revenues may fall by over £3 billion over the eight month tourism season (March-October). However, figures from the International Passenger Survey, released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), show that overseas visitors to the UK increased by 1 per cent. to 2.3 million in June 2001 compared with June 2000, up from April and May, when visits fell by 7 per cent. and 11 per cent. respectively.
    The latest figures are quite encouraging and suggest that some of the work Ministers and British Tourism Authority have been doing in overseas markets is starting to have an effect.
    A copy of this letter was placed in the Library of the House."

    Our best estimate continues to be that overall UK tourism, in terms of gross value added, may fall by over £3 billion over the eight-month tourism season (March-October). More recent International Passenger Survey statistics, released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), show that on average over the seven months between March and September the number of overseas visitors was down by 7 per cent. compared to the same period in 2000. The number of overseas visitors was also down on average 7 per cent. in the first nine months of the year, including those months prior to the outbreak of FMD. There was also an 11 per cent. fall in spending by overseas visitors over the same period.

    The survey of farmers mentioned in my letter has now been completed by ADAS. Officials are now considering the results and these will be made available early in the new year.

    Mr. Sayeed
    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what percentage of 144W
    blood tests taken from animals slaughtered in efforts to eradicate foot and mouth disease were later confirmed as positive; and if she will make a statement. [13888]

    Mr. Morley
    55 per cent. of tests from animals slaughtered in efforts to eradicate foot and mouth disease were later confirmed as positive. This percentage includes samples taken from animals slaughtered on infected premises, as dangerous contacts, on contiguous premises and as slaughter on suspicion cases. Not all animals slaughtered on infected premises are sampled; confirmation of the disease frequently being based only on clinical examination. Additionally, a negative test result does not necessarily mean that the premises was free from disease. For instance, if the disease is old the virus may not be present in the sample collected, and blood tests from newly infected animals may not give a positive reaction to the laboratory test as antibodies may not yet be present.

    Source:

    DEFRA Disease Control System database as at 17.30 4 December 2001. Figures subject to change as more data become available.

    Mr. Keith Simpson
    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what scientific evidence there is that vaccination can prevent the spread of foot and mouth disease. [15363]

    Mr. Morley
    [holding answer 16 November 2001]: There are three principal lines of scientific evidence which demonstrate that suitable foot and mouth disease (FMD) vaccines, properly applied, can minimise or prevent the spread of the disease. These are:
    the results of routine, laboratory-based, vaccine potency tests which are required of licensed vaccine manufacturers in compliance with pharmacopoeial criteria;
    the testing of the duration of immunity engendered by FMD vaccines, by means of similar tests. These tests have shown immunity following a primary course of vaccination with conventional FMD vaccine typically lasts for four to six months; and
    the results of vaccination campaigns which have been associated with the successful control of FMD, as has been apparent in a number of countries.

    It is essential that any vaccination campaign is both effectively and efficiently managed in order for it to work and there are many aspects to this, including, the correct strain of vaccine and enough of it, targeting the correct population of animals in the right location and that there are enough trained vaccinators.

    Throughout the outbreak, the Government have kept vaccination actively under review. Vaccination would be used if scientific advice were clear that it was the most appropriate measure to shorten the outbreak. But vaccination on its own could never have eradicated FMD entirely.

    Mrs. Ann Winterton
    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will calculate Her Majesty's Government's annual expenditure on foot and mouth vaccine research in each of the last 10 years. [18208]
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    Mr. Morley
    Government expenditure on research into foot and mouth disease vaccine development for each of the last 10 years is as follows.

    Year

    £

    1992–93

    255,000

    1993–94

    285,000

    1994–95

    427,000

    1995–96

    318,000

    1996–97

    312,000

    1997–98

    317,000

    1998–99

    253,000

    1999–2000

    309,000

    2000–01

    268,000

    2001–02

    154,000

    Patrick Mercer
    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of alternatives to mass slaughter of livestock in the event of further outbreaks of foot and mouth disease. [18020]

    Mr. Morley
    The disease control policies employed by the Government to eradicate foot and mouth disease are being guided by advice received by the Chief Veterinary Officer and the Chief Scientific Adviser. The requirements to slaughter animals which are infected or suspected of being infected with FMD is also a key part of the rules established by the European Union on the control of the disease.

    The use of vaccination in certain circumstances would be considered if scientific advice were clear that it was the most appropriate measure to shorten the outbreak. However, vaccination does not provide complete protection against FMD and could never be used solely to eradicate FMD entirely. The Government recognised early in this year's outbreak that future EU and international policies for handling FMD would need to be reassessed, including the role of vaccination. The UK, with the Dutch, took the initiative to organise an International Conference on Prevention and Control of Foot and Mouth Disease on 12–13 December in Brussels.

    Norman Baker
    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the risk of the transmission of foot and mouth disease from the consumption by dogs of fallen stock. [17969]

    Mr. Morley
    [holding answer 26 November 2001]: Although experimental studies demonstrated a degree of susceptibility to FMD in some dogs, there is no direct evidence to show that the species has been involved in the transmission of FMD to susceptible livestock. There is a theoretical risk that dogs could be involved in the mechanical transmission of the virus by carrying infective virus on their paws or coat. There is also a remote possibility that the consumption by a dog of FMD infected material could pass infection on to susceptible livestock, particularly if the dog vomited soon after consuming the infected material. However, provided the dog had a normal digestive process, it is unlikely that any viable virus would survive passage through the stomach and intestines. It is considered most unlikely that this theoretical possibility poses a serious risk of spreading FMD.
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    Miss McIntosh
    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to her oral statement of 12 November 2001,Official Report, column 578, on what basis she stated the number of local appeals which were lodged against the contiguous cull in the Thirsk blue box. [20822]

    Mr. Morley
    Since my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State's statement of 12 November, I have asked my officials to re-check the source of the figures I provided on challenges to the contiguous cull in the Thirsk area. I can now confirm, that while accurate in themselves, the figures my right hon. Friend gave then relate to North Yorkshire as a whole. Thirsk was the name given to the area imposed for foot and mouth disease control and is often used as a shorthand to describe the wider area. I apologise if this led to any confusion.

    Mr. Burstow
    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the changes in foot and mouth(a) management and (b) eradication policy since the previous significant outbreak; and if she will make a statement. [20991]

    Mr. Morley
    An accurate and complete list of headline changes in the management and eradication of foot and mouth disease since 1967 would need to pick up a wide range of issues such as changes in legislation, science and technology. This could be produced only at disproportionate cost. However, a comparison of the way in which the current outbreak differs from the 1967 outbreak may be found on the DEFRA website at http: \\www.defra.gov.uk/footandmouth/about/current/comparisons/1967 a.asp. This contains a section on how the 1967 and 2001 outbreaks were tackled.

    A clearer picture of the changes requested by the hon. Member will emerge as my Department and the independent inquiries commissioned by the Government are able to assess the lessons learned from the current outbreak.

    Mr. Peter Ainsworth
    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her policy is towards the request for pre-action disclosure of departmental papers relating to the Government's handling of the foot and mouth outbreak; and if she will make a statement. [21105]

    Margaret Beckett
    [holding answer 6 December 2001]: Pre-action disclosure is governed by the Civil Procedure Rules which regulate the conduct of civil litigation. The question of disclosure of any departmental papers would have to be considered in the light of these rules as applied to the facts and circumstances of each case.

    Mr. Peter Duncan
    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what moneys remain outstanding to auctioneers and valuers subcontracted to MAFF in Scotland during the foot and mouth outbreak; and if she will make a statement. [21541]

    Mr. Morley
    [holding answer 10 December 2001]: A total of £327,061 remains outstanding to auctioneers and valuers in Scotland. This matter is currently being considered by my legal department and it would be inappropriate to comment at this stage.
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    Mr. Drew
    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many vets work for the State Veterinary Service; and how many were employed at the outbreak of the current foot and mouth epidemic. [22104]

    Mr. Morley
    [holding answer 11 December 2001 ]: The number of vets that work for the State Veterinary Service is 286 (full-time equivalents, as at January 2001). All of these veterinarians have assisted in the eradication of foot and mouth disease in some capacity.

    Mr. Drew
    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the total cost of employing temporary veterinary inspectors during the foot and mouth outbreak was. [22107]

    Mr. Morley
    [holding answer 11 December 2001]: The total cost of payment to those temporary veterinary inspectors (TVIs) appointed for foot and mouth disease, (as of November 2001) is £33,183,049. This comprises fees plus travel and subsistence expenses.

    Mr. Drew
    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many temporary veterinary inspectors, by area, were taken on during the foot and mouth epidemic. [22105]

    Mr. Morley
    [holding answer 11 December 2001]: It is not possible to provide the number of temporary veterinary inspectors (TVIs) employed by area during the foot and mouth epidemic. We appointed 2,575 TVIs during the foot and mouth crisis and they moved around the country where they were most needed. TVIs were not necessarily assigned to one area.

    Correspondence
    Mr. Andrew Turner
    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she will answer the letter from the hon. Member for the Isle of Wight concerning HF Holidays and letters from HF Holidays to her Department. [12919]

    Mr. Morley
    [holding answer 6 November 2001]: A response to the hon. Member's letter was sent on 23 October 2001. I apologise for the time taken to respond to this letter.

    Tony Baldry
    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when he will answer the letter dated 8 August from the hon. Member for Banbury concerning Mr. Rodney Thompson and those leaving the pig industry. [15602]

    Mr. Morley
    A response to the hon. Member's letter of 8 August was sent on 10 December 2001.

    Mr. Hendry
    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she will reply to the letter of the hon. Member for Wealden of 26 July relating to a petition on genetically modified foods. [16385]

    Mr. Morley
    A response to the hon. Member's letter of 26 July was sent on 27 November 2001. I apologise for the time taken to respond to this letter.
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    Mr. McLoughlin
    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she will reply to the letter (1) from the hon. Member for West Derbyshire dated 4 July concerning Mr. and Mrs. Don Holland of Shallow Grange Farm, Chelmorton, Derbyshire; [5444]

    (2) of 4 July from the hon. Member for West Derbyshire concerning Mr. and Mrs. Don Holland. [17964]

    Mr. Morley
    [holding answer 26 November 2001]: A response to the hon. Member's letter of 4 July was sent on 10 December 2001.

    Mr. Clifton-Brown
    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she will reply to the letter from Mr. V. Patrick, of Woodmancote, Gloucestershire, a constituent, which was acknowledged by her Department on 25 June, Reference 156734. [19804]

    Mr. Morley
    A response to the hon. Member's letter was sent on 30 November 2001. I apologise for the time taken to respond to this letter.

    Mr. Luff
    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she will reply to the letters of 14 May and 3 September from the hon. Member for Mid-Worcestershire concerning his constituent, Mr. John Sanders. [22265]

    Mr. Morley
    [holding answer 11 December 2001]: My noble Friend Lord Whitty replied to the letter dated 14 May from the hon. Member on 21 November 2001. The Department has no record of the letter dated 3 September.

    Mr. McLoughlin
    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she will reply to the letter from the hon. Member for West Derbyshire of 20 August concerning the foot and mouth disease slaughter policy. [15013]

    Mr. Morley
    Lord Whitty replied to the letter from the hon. Member on 10 December 2001.

    Mr. Salmond
    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she will reply to the letter dated 10 October from the hon. Member for Banff and Buchan regarding livestock movement and traceability. [21477]

    Mr. Morley
    A response to the hon. Member's letter of 10 October was sent on 6 December 2001. I apologise for the time taken to respond to this letter.

  WORK AND PENSIONS

    Child Support
    Mr. Todd
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions further to his answer of 16 October 2001,Official Report, columns 1209–10W, if he will commission an up-to-date assessment of the numbers of non-resident parents gaining and losing from the introduction of new child support mechanisms for 2002. [10264]

    Malcolm Wicks
    The assessment of gainers and losers carried out in 1998 was made in order to determine the general effect of the new child support scheme. As I indicated in my answer to my hon. Friend on 16 October 2001,Official Report, columns 1209–10W, simple comparisons between current and potential liabilities cannot provide reliable information on the effect of the

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    reforms on individual parents. The new child support rates are now laid down in legislation and we do not intend to commission further work to establish the overall pattern of gain and loss resulting from conversion to the new scheme.

    New Deal
    Mr. Peter Duncan
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many of those who have entered work through the new deal programme have commenced unsubsidised employment in(a) Scotland and (b) the Galloway and Upper Nithsdale constituency. [23265]

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

    Number of people entering unsubsidised jobs (up to the end of September 2001, unless otherwise stated)

    Programme

    Scotland

    Galloway and Upper Nithsdale

    New Deal for Young People

    35,231

    424

    New Deal 25 plus

    6,398

    107

    New Deal for Lone Parents

    12,130

    108

    New Deal 50 plus: Employment Credit

    16,688

    1130

    New Deal for Disabled People

    116

    3—

    New Deal for Partners

    2243

    3—

    1 At end of October 2001

    2 At 26 October 2001

    3 Information at constituency level is not available for the new deal for disabled people and the new deal for partners

    Sources:

    New Deal Evaluation Database

    Employment Service Labour Market System

    Mr. Clappison
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the proportion of those leaving for sustained jobs from(a) the new deal for young people and (b) the new deal for the long-term unemployed who were still in employment (i) six and (ii) 12 months after leaving the new deal. [9330]

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

    Proportion of clients leaving the programme for employment who had not re-claimed jobseeker's allowance (JSA)

    Percentage

    Within 6 months of leaving

    Within 12 months of leaving

    New Deal for Young People

    80

    66

    New Deal for the Long-Term Unemployed

    88

    77

    Notes:

    (i) Figures for new deal for the long-term unemployed relate to the pre-April 2001 programme.

    (ii)The figures include those leavers show have been in employment for less than 6–12 months, bur who have not yet returned to JSA.

    Source:

    New Deal Evaluation Database

    New Deal (Loughborough)
    Mr. Reed
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and pensions how many people in the Loughborough constituency are on the new deal programme, broken down by each category. [18491]
    150W
    Mr. Nicholas Brown
    The available information is in the table.

    Programme

    Number1

    New Deal for Young People

    102

    New Deal 25 plus

    41

    New Deal for Lone Parents

    274

    New Deal 50 plus (Employment Credit claims)

    363

    1 To end September 2001

    2 Figure for end of August 2001.

    3 Figure for end of October 2001.

    Note:

    The figures are not cumulative.

    Source:

    New Deal Evaluation Database

    Information at constituency level is not available for the new deals for disabled people and partners.

    Pensioner Poverty (South Tyneside)
    Mr. Hepburn
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what progress he has made in combating pensioner poverty in South Tyneside in the last 12 months [13210]

    Mr. McCartney
    Since taking office in 1997 we have made a significant impact on the lives of our poorest pensioners.

    We have introduced the minimum income guarantee from which some 6,800 pensioners in South Tyneside have benefited. We have boosted retirement pension through above inflation increases, both this year and next, to the benefit of some 29,800 pensioners in South Tyneside. We have also introduced free TV licences for the over 75's and next winter the winter fuel payment will again be £200.

    All in all, throughout Great Britain, 2 million people in pensioner households are now at least £15 a week, or £800 a year better off in real terms as a result of our measures.

    Benefit Take-up
    Mr. Boswell
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what action he is taking to improve take-up of benefits by older people [23118]

    Mr. McCartney
    I refer the hon. Member to the written answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Hermel Hempstead (Mr. Mc Walter) on 10 December 2001,Official Report, columns 601–02W

    Benefit Take-up (Wycombe)
    Mr. Goodman
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many(a) men and (b) women in each ethnic group living in the Wycombe constituency were in receipt of income-related benefits in each of the last four years. [14876]

    Malcolm Wicks
    The information is not available.

    Income Support
    Mr. Drew
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what plans he has to review the arrangements for the level of deductions from income support based upon an individual's capital limit; [16127]
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    (2) What research his Department has carried out into the relationship between the rate of interest and the level of deductions from income support, based upon capital limits; [16128]

    (3) if he will make a statement on the Government's policy on income support for those who have relatively low savings. [16129]

    Malcolm Wicks
    [holding answer 20 November 2001]: It would make no sense to carry out research into the relationship between interest rates and the level of tariff income deducted. This is because a tariff is deducted from income support on a sliding scale for capital held between the lower and upper capital limits. Capital is treated in this way so that people with capital in excess of the lower limit make a reasonable weekly contribution from those resources to help meet their normal living expenses before having recourse to public funds. It is not intended to represent any return that could be obtained from investing capital and is not based on the current bank interest rate.

    ONE Pilot
    Mr. Webb
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will list the benefits included on the integrated claim form piloted in the ONE-callcentre pilots. [17999]

    Mr. Nicholas Brown
    The benefits included on the integrated claim form which is used in the ONE-callcentre pilots are income support, jobseeker's allowance, housing benefit and council tax benefit.

    Departmental Bodies and Reviews
    Mr. Fallon
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what the date of establishment was for all(a) taskforces and (b) policy reviews with external members established by his Department since January 2000; which of them have issued their final reports and what the dates of publication were; which of them have been terminated and what the dates of termination were; and for those bodies still in existence, what their expected (i) reporting and (ii) termination dates are; [18157]

    (2) what (a) taskforces and (b) policy reviews with external members have been established by his Department since January 2000; and what (i) sub-groups, (ii) working parties and (iii) other subsidiary committees were established by each body. [18158]

    Mr. Nicholas Brown
    [holding answer 23 November 2001]: Departmental Ministers and officials consider many policy questions and issues on a routine and on-going basis and frequently seek the views of people external to the Department on a more or less informal basis. The following taskforces, ad hoc advisory and policy review groups with external members, have been established since January 2000 with formalised terms of reference:

    Older People—Media Images Working Group was established in August 2000 and terminated in March 2001 with no report being published.

    Partnership Against Poverty and the Scottish Partnership Against Poverty were established in March 2001 and November 2001 respectively. The groups are
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    on-going with no planned formal reports or end dates. The Partnership Against Poverty group has formed a Black and Ethnic Minority Elder sub-group.

    Jobcentre Plus Employers Forum and Jobcentre Plus Stakeholders Forum were both established in May 2001. Both are consultative groups and have been involved in discussions about the development of Jobcentre Plus. The Jobcentre Plus Stakeholders Forum has formed two sub groups, the services sub-group and the training sub-group which are looking at specific issues and will report to the main forum. None of the groups have a time-bound existence, although both the Employer Forum and Stakeholder Forum are under review, and the Stakeholder Forum sub-groups are likely to complete their work by April 2002.

    The National Employment Panel was launched in October 2001 as the successor to the New Deal Task Force. The National Employment Panel is an employer-led body which provides independent advice to Ministers on the design, delivery and performance of the UK Government's labour market services. The panel reports on a regular basis to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions and the Chancellor of the Exchequer. The panel has established the following sub-groups: the Performance Committee; the Minority Ethnic Advisory Group; the Small and Medium-sized Enterprise Board; and a Skills sub-group which will report to the Under-Secretary of State for Adult Skills, my hon. Friend the Member for Wentworth (John Healey). The panel does not have a time-bound existence.

    The Private Pensions Simplification Review was announced on the 26 September 2001 and is expected to report in July 2002.

    The Minimum Funding Requirement Consultation Panel was announced on 18 September 2001. There are currently no plans for the panel to produce a report. It will continue to meet while legislation for the replacement for the MFR is being developed. The termination date for the panel depends on when a Bill is secured and legislation is in place, so it is not possible to give a precise termination date as this is subject to the parliamentary timetable.

    Parliamentary Ombudsman
    Mr. Kirkwood
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on how many occasions since 1997 the Parliamentary Ombudsman has written to him asking for redress on the grounds of equity to be made to clients of his Department resulting from a finding of maladministration leading to injustice; and how many people have received compensation in each case. [19505]

    Mr. Nicholas Brown
    [holding answer 11 December 2001]: I am aware of five such instances since May 1997.

    Information concerning any people who may have received compensation in those cases is not generally available.

    Specific records have, however, been retained of payments made further to the Ombudsman's report to Parliament on 26 February 2001 (State Earnings-Related Pension Scheme (SERPS) Inheritance Provisions: Redress of Maladministration HC271). To date, 101 people have received financial redress as a consequence of that investigation.

    Winter Fuel Payments
    Mr. Boswell
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what is(a) take-up of winter fuel payments by males over 60 years not in receipt of a retirement pension and (b) the average delay between claims and payment for such persons. [20798]

    Mr. McCartney
    [holding answer 6 December 2001]: For winter 2000–01, we estimate about three in every four men aged 60 and over but not in receipt of retirement pension received a winter fuel payment. This figure includes men paid automatically because they receive a social security benefit other than retirement pension and those who needed to claim.

    It is not possible to provide a meaningful figure for the average time between a person claiming and receiving a payment.

    Stakeholder Pensions
    Mr. Flight
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on take-up of stakeholder pensions among the target group. [20998]

    Mr. McCartney
    As set out in our 1998 Green Paper "Partnership in Pensions" the Government's long-term pension reforms are designed to ensure that all pensioners have a decent income in retirement, building on the foundation of the basic state pension available to all. This means everyone recognising their responsibilities; with those who are able, saving for their retirement, the Government supporting those who cannot save, and the private sector providing affordable and secure second pensions.

    Before April 2001, many of those who could put money aside to provide for themselves in retirement had no straightforward, good-value way to enter a pension scheme. Stakeholder pensions, which were introduced from that date, offered such people a route through provision of a simple, low-charge, flexible pension scheme which, for many employees, can be accessed through their workplace.

    Income-related benefit recipients in the Regent's Park and Kensington, North constituency

    May 1998

    May 1999

    May 2000

    May 2001

    Income support

    14,600

    14,000

    13,600

    13,600

    Jobseeker's allowance (income based)

    4,900

    4,700

    3,600

    3,200

    Family credit/working families' tax credit1

    1,300

    1,600

    1,900

    2,200

    Disability working allowance/disabled person's tax credit1

    20

    24

    31

    38

    Total

    20,800

    20,400

    19,200

    19,000

    1 Family credit and disability working allowance were replaced in October 1999 by working families' tax credit and disabled person's tax credit which are not social security benefits.

    Notes:

    1 Figures (other than disability working allowance/disabled person's tax credit which is a 100 per cent. count of all cases) are based on a 5 per cent. sample and are therefore subject to a degree of sampling error.

    2 Income support, jobseeker's allowance (income-based), family credit/working families' tax credit and "Total" figures have been rounded to the nearest hundred.

    3 Income support/jobseeker's allowance claimants in receipt of family credit/working families' tax credit or disability working allowance/disabled person's tax credit are not shown in income support/jobseeker's allowance totals.

    4 Disability working allowance/disabled person's tax credit figures are for April each year.

    5 Totals may not sum due to rounding.

    Source:

    Income Support Quarterly Statistical Enquiries May 1998-May 2001

    Jobseeker's Allowance Quarterly Statistical Enquiries May 1998-May 2001

    Family Credit/Working Families' Tax Credit Quarterly Statistical Enquiries May 1998-May 2001

    Disability Working Allowance/Disabled Person's Tax Credit Quarterly Statistical Enquiries April 1998-April 2001
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    Stakeholder pensions are open to everyone and over 490,000 have been sold in their first seven months on the market. They are particularly targeted at moderate and higher earners who do not have access to an occupational pension or to a cost-effective personal pension. Many of the target group work for employers without a comprehensive occupational or personal pension scheme for their staff before the introduction of stakeholder pensions. The requirement for such employers to provide their work force with access to a stakeholder pension scheme came into force on 8 October. It is too early to have sufficient information on which to base a reasoned assessment of take-up by the target group.

    Pension Up-rating
    Mr. Flight
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the cost of the minimum state pension up-rating guarantee in 2004–05 for each half a per cent. if the September retail price index were to undershoot by 2.5 per cent. [21010]

    Mr. McCartney
    The information requested is in the table.

    Inflation rate in 2004–05 (Percentage)

    Cost of up-rating guarantee (£million)

    0.0

    700

    0.5

    550

    1.0

    400

    1.5

    300

    2.0

    150

    Note:

    Figures are in 2001–02 prices, rounded to the nearest £50 million.

    Income Related Benefits
    Ms Buck
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people living in Regent's Park and Kensington, North were in receipt of income-related benefits in each of the last four years. [21459]

    Malcolm Wicks
    The available information is in the tables.
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    Housing benefit and council tax benefit figures are not available for the Regent's Park and Kensington, North constituency but are available for the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea and the City of Westminster.

    Housing benefit and council tax benefit caseload for Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea

    Housing benefit

    Council tax benefit

    May 1998

    16,240

    13,560

    May 1999

    15,570

    12,930

    May 2000

    15,350

    12,820

    May 2001

    14,030

    11,940

    Housing benefit and council tax benefit caseload for City of Westminster

    Housing benefit

    Council tax benefit

    May 1998

    21,890

    16,090

    May 1999

    20,200

    15,350

    May 2000

    17,720

    13,220

    May 2001

    17,630

    13,140

    Notes:

    1 Regent's Park and Kensington, North parliamentary constituency is covered in part by the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea and City of Westminster local authority areas. Figures are not therefore representative of the constituency area.

    2 The data refer to households, which may be a single person or a couple.

    3 The figures have been rounded to the nearest 10 cases.

    4 City of Westminster figures for May 1998 are estimated because the authority failed to provide statistical data for that quarter.

    Source:

    Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit Management Information System quarterly 100 per cent. caseload stock-count taken each May from 1998 to 2001

    1997

    1998

    1999

    2000

    20011

    Number of appeals heard

    50,360

    56,920

    53,215

    35,305

    15,305

    Number of appeals found in appellants favour

    21,925

    23,410

    22,500

    14,575

    6,365

    Proportion of appeals heard found in appellants favour (percentage)

    43.5

    41.1

    42.3

    41.3

    41.6

    1 To June

    Notes:

    Figures may be subject to change.

    Figures are rounded to the nearest five.

    Decision making and appeals legislation was changed from 6 September 1999.

    The 'All Work Test' was replaced by the 'Personal Capability Assessment' test from April 2000.

    Source:

    100 per cent. download of Generic Appeals Processing System.

    National Insurance Contribution Credits
    Mr. Chope
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how long his Department keeps records of people who have signed on as unemployed and in respect of which they have received national insurance contribution credits. [23111]

    Malcolm Wicks
    Information relating to an individual jobseeker is kept for a minimum of two years after they have ceased to register as unemployed. National insurance records are maintained for the lifetime of each individual.

    Pension Service
    Mr. Boswell
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on preparation for the introduction of the Pension Service with particular reference to(a) access to services for users and (b) development of partnership working. [23119]
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    Correspondence
    Mr. Kaufman
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) when he intends to reply to the letter of 7 November from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr. L. J. Sullivan; [22187]

    (2) for what reason he has not replied to the written question (ref 22187) from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton, with regard to correspondence relating to Mr. I. J. Sullivan. [23697]

    Mr. Darling
    A reply has already been sent to my right hon. Friend about Mr. Sullivan.

    Mr. Kaufman
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he intends to reply to the letter of 2 November from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr. M. Willingham. [22188]

    Mr. Darling
    I replied to my right hon. Friend on 12 December.

    Incapacity Benefit
    Mr. Hoban
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of appeals against the rejection of applications for incapacity benefit were successful in each year since 1997. [22984]

    Mr. Nicholas Brown
    The available information on the number of appeals against an incapacity benefit 'Personal Capability Assessment' decision found in the appellants favour is given in the table:

    Mr. McCartney
    The Pension Service will offer an improved service for pensioners. It will be customer focused and will give pensioners a modem, personalised and efficient service designed to meet their needs. It will be accessible by telephone, post, in time the internet and locally where pensioners need to do so. It will also provide information for future pensioners to help them make decisions about their future pension arrangements.

    The Pension Service is committed to providing a seamless service to its customers. The local service will develop relationships with third parties and other local service providers, and will be looking to use other premises, particularly to enable them to hold surgeries, either for appointments or for drop-in sessions. This negotiation will be done at a local level.

    Job Centre Plus
    Sir Teddy Taylor
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many employees of the Benefits
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    Agency and job centres have been assaulted at work in each of the past three years; and what impact the introduction of Job Centre Plus offices has had on the level of assaults. [23240]

    Mr. Nicholas Brown
    For information on incidents in the Benefits Agency and Jobcentres I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Crosby (Mrs. Curtis-Thomas) on 20 November 2001,Official Report, column 176W.

    We estimate that over a quarter of a million people have passed through the Jobcentre Plus pathfinder offices during the first month of their operation. To date there have been no serious incidents in these offices. While it is still early days, this experience from the Jobcentre Plus pathfinder offices so far confirms our belief that the new service and the new environment which we are offering in these offices promotes better behaviour in our customers. This, along with improved risk management arrangements, will we believe lead to fewer incidents of verbal and physical assaults on staff.

    Staff Safety
    Sir Teddy Taylor
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what reasons underlay his decision not to engage in discussions with the PCS Union on their concerns about the safety of staff; and if he will make a statement. [23241]

    Mr. Nicholas Brown
    Since the beginning of September 2001, my officials have engaged in over 60 hours of talks with the PCS union about their concerns on the safety of staff. Proposals for settling the current dispute were put to the PCS on 17 October, but were narrowly rejected by the PCS national executive committee. These proposals reflected the fact that the safety of staff has been our number one concern in developing the Jobcentre Plus offices. Security measures are stronger than ever, underpinned by comprehensive risk assessments which were developed in conjunction with PCS. In November, following further discussions, the PCS were asked, if they were still unable to accept the previous proposals, to put forward their own tangible and detailed proposals on which the dispute could be settled. We have made it clear to the PCS that we are willing to have further discussions on this basis.

    Employment (Over-50s)
    Mr. Denis Murphy
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what progress is being made to help the over-50s find work in areas of high unemployment; and what incentives are available to potential employers in this respect. [19931]

    Mr. Nicholas Brown
    We are firmly committed to tackling the high levels of economic inactivity among people over 50 in all areas of the country. The employment rate of older workers is up for the fourth year running, by 1.3 percentage points on last year's figures. In 2001–02 our range of nationally available new deals, including new deal 50 plus, new deal 25 plus and now new deal for disabled people, is expected to help some 50,000 over-50s into employment. In areas of particularly high unemployment people of all ages may be able to benefit from the additional support available through action teams for jobs and employment zones.
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    Older people can offer a wealth of talent and expertise to employers. Additional incentives for employers include the new deal 25 plus employer subsidy, and the new deal 50 plus in-work training grant, which can both be paid to the employer.

    Patients Forums
    Mr. Cousins
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether he intends to allow clients(a) receiving means tested benefits and (b) subject to work and availability tests to participate fully in the proposed patients forums and receive support for reasonable costs. [19489]

    Malcolm Wicks
    [holding answer 3 December 2001]: People of working age in receipt of benefit can do unlimited voluntary work, as long as the usual entitlement conditions are met. Payments in respect of expenses incurred or to be incurred in connection with voluntary work are wholly ignored in the calculation of income-related benefits. Where someone receives remuneration in respect of his or her participation in a patients forum the normal rules concerning paid work would need to be considered.

    Cases are decided on an individual basis, so it is necessary for people to let the Jobcentre or benefits office know about their participation.

  HEALTH

    Cholera Vaccine
    Norman Baker
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health on how many occasions since 1971 children have been injected with cholera vaccines in place of ones relating to whooping cough, diphtheria and tetanus; and if he will make a statement. [22991]

    Jacqui Smith
    The Department is not aware of any incidences of children being vaccinated with cholera vaccine in place of diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis vaccines.

    Beta Interferon
    Mr. Paterson
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will reply to the letter of 24 August from the hon. Member for North Shropshire, concerning the issue of beta interferon and multiple sclerosis sufferers. [22392]

    Ms Blears
    A reply was sent to the hon. Member on 13 September.

    Orthopaedic Surgeons
    Bob Spink
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the(a) average and (b) maximum waiting times were (i) to see an orthopaedic surgeon and (ii) between seeing an orthopaedic surgeon and having an operation where that was necessary in the last 12 months for which figures are available. [23244]

    Mr. Hutton
    The average (median) waiting times for in-patient and out-patient treatment as at September 2001 are given in the tables. The data collected for waiting times by specialty are available by quarter only, the latest data being quarter ending September 2001. Data on
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    maximum waiting times are not collected; however the number of patients waiting over 26 weeks for out-patient treatment and the number of patients waiting over 18 months for in-patient treatment are given.

    We are committed to reducing waiting times. We have allocated £75 million to tackle this in a number of specialties (ophthalmology, ear, nose and throat, dermatology and orthopaedics), through the action on programmes.

    Trauma and orthopaedics out-patient waiting times

    Average (median) waiting time (Weeks)

    Of those seen, number who waited 26+ weeks

    Percentage who waited 26+ weeks

    September 2001

    10.01

    18,694

    10.2

    Note:

    Data refer to patients who have been seen during quarter a first out-patient appointment following GP referral. All data are HA based

    Source:

    QM08R, QF01 quarterly waiting times returns

    Trauma and orthopaedics in-patient waiting times

    Average (median) waiting time (Months)

    Number still waiting 18+ months

    Percentage of total list waiting 18+ months

    September 2001

    4.24

    73

    0.03

    Note:

    All data are HA based

    Source:

    QM08R, QF01 quarterly waiting times returns

    Bob Spink
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what use is being made in the NHS of orthopaedic physicians to reduce waiting times for orthopaedic surgeons. [23183]

    Mr. Hutton
    The Modernisation Agency's national health service orthopaedic service collaboratives programme shows a number of NHS trusts have developed innovative solutions to improving waiting times, access and throughput of patients. Trusts such as Gloucester Royal, Isle of Wight and Addenbrookes use orthopaedic physicians. These tend to be orthogeriatricians or rehabilitation physicians who focus on the care of the more elderly, anaesthetically vulnerable population after their operations.

    The Modernisation Agency is also leading on the action on orthopaedics programme that has been developed by the Government. The aim of the action on orthopaedics programme is to significantly encourage and disseminate best practice; improve access to care; and reduce variations in waiting times.

    Correspondence
    Mr. Webb
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will reply to the letter of 5 October (his ref POH(4)5332/24) from the hon. Member for Northavon regarding a constituent, Mr. Wilcox. [18027]

    Jacqui Smith
    [holding answer 26 November 2001]: I regret the delay. A reply was sent to the hon. Member on 12 December.
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    Mrs. Roe
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will reply to the letters from the hon. Member for Broxbourne of 6 August, 21 September, 25 October and 29 November relating to correspondence about her constituent, Mrs. Doris May Johnston, of Belmont View. [20912]

    Jacqui Smith
    [holding answer 6 December 2001]: A reply was sent to the hon. Member on the 13 December.

    Youth Helplines
    Mr. Woodward
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what money the Government have made available to UK-wide youth helplines in the last 12 months. [16979]

    Jacqui Smith
    [holding answer 26 November 2001]: The information requested is not collected centrally. However, the Department's records of its funding of voluntary organisations reveal that a number of organisations currently receiving core funding provide helpline-type services as part of their core activities. These include Kidscape, the Children's Legal Centre, the National Youth Advocacy Service and ChildLine.

    In addition, the Department provided project grant assistance specifically for helpline services designed for young people in the year ending 31 March 2001 as follows:

    Name of organisation

    Name/type of helpline

    Amount of funding (£)

    ChildLine

    Childline for children in care

    50,000

    Child Psychotherapy Trust

    Professional call back advice

    20,000

    Youth Clubs UK

    Youth Listens to Youth

    35,000

    After Adoption

    TALKadoption

    30,000

    Falls (Older People)
    John Austin
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis and the management of hip fractures will be included in the clinical guidelines on the assessment and prevention of falls to be published by NICE; and if he will make a statement; [18863]

    (2) what discussions he has had recently with NICE on the implementation of section 6 of the National Service Framework for Older People regarding standards for services related to falls and osteoporosis. [18862]

    Linda Gilroy
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will ensure that the clinical guidelines on the assessment and prevention of falls in older people will include specific guidance on osteoporosis; [19635]

    (2) when he expects NICE to publish clinical guidelines on the assessment and prevention of falls in older people. [19641]

    Dr. Cable
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health if osteoporosis will be included in the NICE clinical guideline on the assessment and prevention of falls in older people. [20102]

    Mr. Pike
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if NICE will issue clinical guidance on the assessment and prevention of falls that mentions osteoporosis; [19920]
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    (2) if (a) the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis and (b) the management of hip fractures will be included in NICE' s clinical guidelines on the assessment and prevention of falls. [20015]

    Jacqui Smith
    In July we announced that the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) would produce clinical guidelines for the assessment and prevention of falls including recurrent falls in older people, with an associated clinical audit dataset, database and methodology. NICE is currently looking at what this guidance will cover and has written to organisations with an interest to seek their views. No discussions have taken place with NICE on this issue of scope but as a consultee the Department will send its views to NICE shortly. NICE has indicated a provisional publication date of August 2003 for these guidelines.

    Care Homes
    Mr. Drew
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent discussions he has had with representatives of the private care homes industry. [18358]

    Jacqui Smith
    [holding answer 27 November 2001]: I have met and corresponded with representatives of the independent care home sector on a number of occasions to discuss matters of mutual concern, and have had similar discussions with hon. Members.

    We are committed to working with the independent care home sector to make sure that we use capacity and resources to achieve the best possible outcomes for service users and their carers. To this end, I chair a strategic commissioning group to give greater direction to the commissioning of care services, in particular those for older people. Membership of the group includes representatives of the independent care home sector. Recently the group published an agreement—"Building Capacity and Partnership in Care"—that focuses on councils and independent sector providers entering into long-term agreements about placing people into care homes or giving them other forms of support.

    Mr. Kidney
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportions of the provision of residential and nursing home bed spaces are(a) public sector and (b) private sector in (i) England and (ii) Staffordshire. [22681]

    Jacqui Smith
    The table shows the percentage of places in residential care homes that are in the public and private sector as at 31 March 2001. All of the registered nursing beds in nursing homes, private hospitals and clinics are in the private sector (186,800 in homes in England and 5,200 in the health authorities of north and south Staffordshire).

    As at 31 March 2001 Rounded numbers and percentages

    England

    Staffordshire1

    Total places in residential care homes

    341,200

    6,800

    Public sector2 (percentage)

    15

    26

    Private sector3 (percentage)

    85

    74

    1 Information presented for Staffordshire shire county and Stoke-on-Trent unitary authority. These areas equate to the health authorities of north and south Staffordshire.

    2 Residential places in local authority staffed homes

    3 Residential places in voluntary, private, small homes (with less than four places), including dual registered homes

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    Nurses Accommodation
    Mr. Goodman
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent discussions he has had with local authorities on housing for nurses; and if he will make a statement. [18887]

    Mr. Hutton
    The importance of affordable, appropriate accommodation for national health service health care workers in areas where property prices are high is an important factor in the recruitment and retention of staff and in particular nurses. In recognising difficulties experienced by staff, an NHS housing co-ordinator has been appointed and the NHS plan set a target to provide an additional 2,000 extra units of accommodation in London within three years. In addition suitable accommodation is being sourced outside of London in appropriate locations.

    The NHS co-ordinator, together with NHS trusts, had dialogue with a range of local authorities throughout the country to ensure that NHS key worker needs are reflected in local plans for housing and opportunities maximised for affordable housing secured through section 106 planning obligations. The identification of bids and subsequent commencement of implementing the starter home initiative has been a further example of successful joint co-operation.

    Protection of Children Act
    Ms Shipley
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many individuals have been vetted under the Protection of Children Act 1999; [19096]

    (2) how many individuals from organisations which may vet but are not required to do so under the Protection of Children Act 1999 have been vetted. [19098]

    Jacqui Smith
    Over 972,000 individual checks have been made against the Protection of Children Act List since this part of the Act came into force in October 2000. Information is not collected in a way that allows the Department to identify the number of checks that are made where there is no requirement to do so.

    Abortion
    Dr. Gibson
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the start dates for those commissioning abortion services; and if he will monitor the process. [19451]

    Jacqui Smith
    From April 2002, primary care trusts will be able to commission abortion services, taking over the current role of health authorities. We will closely monitor any impact of this change, in particular the percentage of women accessing national health service funded abortions.

    The sexual health and HIV strategy has set a target that from 2005, commissioners should ensure that women who meet the legal requirements have access to abortion within three weeks of the first appointment with the general practitioner or other referring doctor. An implementation plan for the strategy will be decided following the current consultation, which closes on 21 December. This will include monitoring of progress towards each of the new targets set by the strategy.
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    Dr. Gibson
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what resources have been committed to the improvement of abortion services following the National Strategy for Sexual Health and HIV. [19452]

    Jacqui Smith
    We have committed £47.5 million to support initiatives in the sexual health and HIV strategy over the first two years. The precise breakdown of this funding for the next financial year will be decided in light of responses to the consultation on the strategy, which closes on 21 December. Future spending on specific activities will be set by the 2002 spending review.

    Most abortion services are currently—and will continue to be—funded from main national health service allocations. As part of the implementation plan for the strategy, we will need to work with health commissioners to ensure that there is sufficient investment to meet the level of need locally; and towards achieving the new target set by the strategy that, by 2005, women who meet the legal requirements should have access to abortion within three weeks of the first appointment with the general practitioner or other referring doctor.

    Public Inquiries
    Dr. Gibson
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the criteria which have to be met before a public inquiry is set up within the health service. [19456]

    Jacqui Smith
    There are no set criteria that have to be met. When considering whether an inquiry (in public or private) is appropriate, our main concern is to ensure that the full range of relevant issues is identified and subjected to proper and effective scrutiny. This would include consideration of the depth and nature of any earlier investigations, for example, an inquest or internal review. In making a decision we would also bear in mind the need for effectiveness, fairness, speed and economy.

    NHS Walk-in Centres
    Mr. Pike
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to increase the number of NHS walk-in centres in Lancashire. [19922]

    Jacqui Smith
    National health service walk-in centres are one of a range of new initiatives designed to improve access to primary care. Forty-one pilot centres are currently open. The Department has commissioned an independent evaluation of these national pilots. The final report is due shortly and this will inform the future development of NHS walk-in centres.

    Terrorism
    Mr. Hancock
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment of the psychological effects of terrorism on the general public he has commissioned; and if he will make a statement. [20264]

    Jacqui Smith
    No formal assessment of the psychological effects of terrorism on the general public has been commissioned. However, we are very well aware of the consequences, including a range of long-term effects for a proportion of those directly involved. Following the tragic events of 11 September, Government Departments worked together to ensure support would be available.
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    A dedicated helpline was set up; support for family liaison officers was provided; and the Department issued a leaflet to all general practitioners on the management of acute stress disorder and post traumatic stress disorder. We have embarked on a radical programme of modernisation to improve access to effective treatment and care, reduce unfair variation, raise standards, and provide quicker and more convenient services across the spectrum of mental health services. The National Service Framework for Mental Health, published in September 1999, sets out general standards for treatment and care. In addition, the Allen Report 1989 and 'Planning for Major Incidents: the NHS guidance' 1998 were issued to help those involved in the provision of support for people with post traumatic stress disorder to identify psycho-social support, and disseminate messages about good practice.

    General Practitioners
    Mr. Hancock
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to improve the retention of general practitioners in the national health service. [20658]

    Mr. Hutton
    We are improving retention in general practice by developing policies designed to improve working lives. Measures include increasing general practitioner numbers, improving the standard of GP premises, cutting bureaucracy, introducing an occupational health service for GPs and their staff and adopting a range of family friendly policies. We are working with the profession to identify further measures to boost GP numbers and make general practice a better place to work.

    Cleft Lip and Palate Services
    Mrs. Ellman
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 28 November 2001, which single north-west regional centre for cleft lip and palate services the clinical implementation group recommended to Ministers in accordance with the Clinical Standards Advisory group standards. [20411]

    Jacqui Smith
    [holding answer 4 December 2001]: Proposals were submitted by the two regional tertiary paediatric trusts in the north-west, which reflected a service model based on one single regional centre providing all primary surgery to children with cleft lip and palate. A cleft review panel considered these proposals and recommended that the Royal Liverpool Children's Trust should go forward as the preferred option in the consultation document.

    However, Ministers sought reassurance as to whether the proposed single site options to be consulted upon would provide the best quality service. Further work is currently being undertaken which is exploring the possible merits of a twin-site centre and whether this could offer greater potential for maximising access to skills and attracting applications from a range of high quality technicians.

    Positive discussions are now progressing between the two trusts in Liverpool and Manchester and it is anticipated that as a result of these joint discussions a number of options, together with a clear recommendation, will go to public consultation in January 2002.
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    Xenotransplantation
    Dr. Kumar
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement of the possible use of GM animal tissue and organs for xenotransplantation. [20917]

    Jacqui Smith
    We are assisted in the consideration of issues about xenotransplantation by the United Kingdom Xenotransplantation Interim Regulatory Authority (UKXIRA). The authority was established in 1997 and, in addition to advising the Government on the acceptability of specific applications to undertake xenotransplantation procedures, it also acts as a focal point for xenotransplantation issues. Organisations undertaking research into xenotransplantation in the UK are required to comply with all relevant legislation. No clinical trials involving humans have yet been approved in the UK. Our position remains that clinical trials in xenotransplantation involving humans will only be allowed to take place when we are fully satisfied that the risks associated with such procedures are acceptable taking account of all the available evidence at the time.

    Haemophilia
    Mr. Connarty
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether a safer recombinant treatment product will be made available to haemophilia sufferers in England and Northern Ireland. [21720]

    Mr. Hutton
    We are actively considering extending the provision of recombinant clotting factors to all haemophilia patients in England when supplies allow. Currently the policy is to provide recombinant (synthetic) clotting factors for new haemophilia patients and children under 16.

    Questions relating to Northern Ireland are a matter for the devolved Administration.

    Trainee Nurses
    Mr. Denis Murphy
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many(a) female and (b) male trainee nurses have been recruited into the NHS in the last 12 months. [21599]

    Mr. Hutton
    20,021 nurses entered nurse and midwifery training in 2000–01. The breakdown by sex is not collected centrally.

    The non-medical work force census records changes in the size and composition of the nursing work force employed in the national health service. In 1999, 31,070 male and 279,080 female nurses were employed in hospital and community health services (HCHS) (the breakdown by sex is not collected for practice nurses). In 2000 there were 32,380 male and 284,370 female HCHS nurses.

    Medical Robotics
    Mr. Nigel Jones
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what advice is available to NHS trusts on the medical and cost benefits of using medical robotics; [22145]

    (2) what assessment he has made of the cost benefits of expanding the use of medical robotics in the national health service; [22144]
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    (3) if he will make a statement on the use of medical robotics in the national health service. [22143]

    Jacqui Smith
    The application of robotics to diagnosis and clinical care in the national health service, as in other health care systems, is at an early stage. The safety, cost effectiveness and acceptability of robotics in medicine will need to be evaluated by the NHS Technology Assessment programme, the Medical Devices Agency and the National Institute for Clinical Excellence, before large scale introduction.

    Betts Way Children's Residential Centre
    Mrs. Lait
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the NSPCC's report on Betts Way Children's Residential Centre, SE20; and what plans he has to review the law on evidence given by children with severe learning difficulties. [21762]

    Jacqui Smith
    The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children investigation into allegations of abuse at Betts Way Residential Centre was conducted with the full co-operation of Bromley Social Services Department, the Ravensbourne National Health Service Trust and local police. A copy of the NSPCC's summary report has been made available to departmental officials. In the context of the terms of reference established for this investigation the NSPCC concluded that no young person at the centre could be identified as having suffered significant harm or abuse. The report also found no evidence that there had been, or was, widespread poor practice or that there was a culture of institutionalised risk for services users at Betts Way.

    However, the report did recommend a review of policy and practice. Bromley Social Services Department and the other relevant agencies are taking this forward together. The London borough of Bromley has also recently commissioned an independent review of the investigation process to identify what further lessons can be learned from the Betts Way case about conducting investigations of this nature with service users whose needs are complex. Officials from the Department have asked to be kept informed about progress.

    Part II of the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999 sets out a range of special measures to assist vulnerable or intimidated witnesses to give evidence in court. These include the use of video-recorded statements, screens, live TV links, clearing the public gallery and an intermediary to put questions to a witness. The categories of persons eligible to apply for special measures under the first chapter of Part II of the Act are: children under the age of 17; those who suffer from a mental or physical disorder, or have a disability or impairment that is likely to affect their evidence; and those whose evidence is likely to be affected by their fear or distress at giving evidence in the proceedings. The special measures are part of a much larger programme to implement the "Speaking Up For Justice" report, which contains over 70 recommendations designed to encourage and support vulnerable or intimidated witnesses to give their best evidence in criminal proceedings.

    The Act also changes the law on competency. It will allow someone who is unable to understand the implications of taking the oath to give unsworn evidence,

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    providing that they can understand questions asked of them in court, and can answer in a way that can be understood.

    Childhood Obesity
    Ms Shipley
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action his Department is taking to tackle obesity in children; and if he will make a statement. [22111]

    Jacqui Smith
    We are committed to tackling the current trend of rising obesity among children. The NHS plan makes a commitment to wide-ranging action to improve diet and nutrition, and local action to tackle obesity and physical inactivity, informed by advice from the Health Development Agency on what works.

    The National Service Framework for Coronary Heart Disease requires that all national health service bodies will have agreed and be contributing to the delivery of local programmes of effective policies on overweight and obesity and will have quantified data on the programme by April 2002.

    There are major programmes of work under way to tackle poor diet and physical inactivity. 80,000 children are now receiving a free piece of fruit every day as part of the national school fruit scheme. We recently announced that the scheme will benefit from an extra £42 million from the New Opportunities Fund and will be extended to cover the whole of the West Midlands region from the summer term 2002—extending its reach to over 250,000 children. In addition, £2 million is being invested in the food in schools programme which brings together under one umbrella all food-related initiatives in schools and after school clubs to improve health and learning.

    We are also working across Government to ensure that children have opportunities to participate in a wide range of physical and sporting activities, including high quality physical education and walking and cycling to school. This is backed up by significant investment, including £581 million of New Opportunities Fund money for the physical education and sports programme, which is being used to improve school sports facilities.

    Following the publication of the National Audit Office report "Tackling Obesity in England" which was published earlier this year, we are awaiting final recommendations from the Public Accounts Committee. Their conclusions will shape future work in this area.

    Learning Disabilities
    Mr. Swayne
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance his Department has given to the learning disability partnership boards regarding the need to establish intentional community provision in Hampshire under the provisions of the Valuing People Paper. [22275]

    Jacqui Smith
    On 31 August 2001, the Department issued statutory guidance on implementing the proposals set out in "Valuing People". This confirms that local councils must give people with learning disabilities a genuine opportunity to choose between a range of housing, care and support options that include village and intentional communities. Copies of the guidance (Health Service Circular 2001/016: Local Authority Circular (2001)23) are available in the Library.
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    The guidance also states that learning disability partnership boards should work with councils and other bodies to ensure that a local housing strategy for people with learning disabilities and related plans for commissioning care and support packages is developed by winter 2002–03.

    Wanless Report
    Dr. Gibson
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much of the identified spending for mental health referred to in the Wanless report will be allocated to(a) preventive interventions, (b) increased use of atypical antipsychotic drugs, (c) increased staffing and (d) spending on capital projects; and if he will make a statement. [22619]

    Jacqui Smith
    My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer's pre-Budget statement has made clear the need to secure substantial additional resources to ensure a modern health service across all clinical areas. There is no doubt that increases in national health service expenditure over the next decade will see substantial increases in spending on mental health including preventive interventions, increased use of atypical antipsychotic drugs, increased staffing, and spending on capital projects. We are studying the Wanless report with great interest and it will be an important source of analysis and information in the allocation of resources to the service.

    Mental Health (Children)
    Dr. Kumar
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many school-age children suffer from mental health problems; and if he will make a statement. [22489]

    Jacqui Smith
    A survey of the mental health of children and adolescents in Great Britain was carried out in 1999 by the Office for National Statistics on behalf of the Department, the Scottish Health Executive and the National Assembly for Wales. The intention was to provide up-to-date baseline information on the prevalence of mental disorders among 5 to 15-year-olds. Prevalence rates were produced for the three main categories of mental disorder, for example conduct disorders, hyperactivity and emotional disorders.

    Key findings on prevalence were:
    about 10 per cent. of children aged 5–15 in Great Britain had a mental disorder in 1999;
    5 per cent. had conduct disorders (eg aggressive and antisocial behaviour), 4 per cent. had emotional disorders (eg anxiety, depression) and 1 per cent. were hyperkinetic (inattention, overactivity);
    mental disorders were significantly more common in boys than girls in both the 5–10 and the 11 to I5-year-old age groups.

    Diabetes
    Mr. Sanders
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health how the proposed funding for diabetes care outlined in the interim Wanless report is broken down; and if he will make a statement. [R] [22766]

    Jacqui Smith
    We published the standards for the Diabetes National Service Framework on 14 December, with the delivery strategy to follow in summer 2002. Funding decisions for the period 2003 to 2005 are the subject of the current spending review.
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    Anti-TNF Therapy
    Mr. Swayne
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement about the availability of anti-TNF therapy within the NHS. [22739]

    Jacqui Smith
    The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) is currently appraising the two main drugs involved in this therapy, etanercept (enbrel) and infliximab (remicade). Until NICE has completed its appraisal, national health service bodies have been advised to use existing arrangements to determine local prescribing policies, using the publicly available evidence to inform their decision.

    Health Pay Review
    Derek Twigg
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the reports and recommendations of the health pay review bodies. [24096]

    Mr. Milburn
    I am responding on behalf of my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister to the reports of the Review Body on Doctors' and Dentists' Remuneration (DDRB) and the Review Body on Nursing staff, Midwives, Health Visitors and Professions Allied to Medicine (NPRB), which are published today. I understand that a similar announcement is being made by the Minister for Health and Community Care in Scotland, and the Minister for Health and Social Services in Wales. Copies of the reports are available in the Vote Office and the Library. I am grateful to the chairmen and members of both Review Bodies for their hard work.

    The pay recommendations of the two Review Bodies are being accepted in full and without staging.

    Nurses, midwives and health visitors are to get an across the board increase of 3.6 per cent. Some 45,000 of the lowest paid nursing support staff on grade A will benefit from a minimum cash uplift of £400 giving them pay rises of up to 4.3 per cent. Non registered staff on grades A and B will also have access to an additional incremental point if they achieve National Vocational Qualifications.

    On call and standby payments increase by 50 per cent. while Psychiatric and Regional Secure Unit Allowances are increased by 32 per cent. Other cash based allowances are increased by 3.6 per cent.

    London Allowances will be increased by 3.6 per cent. and the earnings related element will be consolidated into a new rate of £3,228 for all nursing staff working in inner London irrespective of their earnings.

    This year additional action has been targeted to support clinical leadership in the national health service. Staff undertaking matron roles will have access to an increased maximum salary up to £32,760. The lowest three incremental points on the Nurse Consultant scales will be deleted giving a new minimum rate of £33,940. Nurse Consultants will potentially be able to earn up to £46,675.

    On top of these increases the extension of the geographic coverage of Cost of Living Supplements from 1 April 2002 to a further six health authorities will result an estimated 20,000 more qualified NPRB staff benefiting from additional increases worth between £400 and £600.
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    The minimum starting pay of a newly qualified nurse will rise to £16,005, in Inner London starting pay for a new nurse will be £19,873, including London Weighting and the Cost of Living Supplement.

    The NPRB has also recommended an across the board increase of 3.6 per cent. for physiotherapists, radiographers and other allied health professionals within its remit. The lowest increment of the basic grade will be deleted with the assimilation arrangements for all existing basic grade staff. Starting pay for newly qualified staff will increase by 7.5 per cent. on 1 April 2002 to £17,115 or £21,028 in London, inclusive of London Weighting and the Cost of Living Supplement. Cash based allowances are increased in line with awards made to nursing staff.

    The Doctors' and Dentists' Review Body (DDRB) has recommended an overall pay increase of 3.6 per cent. for salaried doctors and dentists and general dental practitioners. In addition the DDRB has recommended adjustments to the pay scales, including increases in the scale maxima, for senior house officers, associate specialists, staff grade practitioners, and dental officers, and an extension in the dentists' commitment scheme worth around an extra £5 million per year.

    For general medical practitioners it has recommended an increase in the amount to be delivered through the fee scale of 4.6 per cent, together with an increase in the out of hours supplement for GP registrars from 30 per cent. of basic salary to 50 per cent.

    The pay rise recommended by the DDRB takes the starting consultant salary to £52,640 and that of a consultant on the maximum of the scale with maximum distinction award to £133,585. The number of distinction awards has also been increased by 186 which will support the Government's proposals to reform the existing schemes to give more opportunity to reward consultants for their commitment and contribution to the NHS.

    These above inflation increases are fair and reflect the important contribution that these key staff are making to delivering the modernisation agenda outlined in the NHS Plan.

    Psycho-geriatricians
    Mr. Burstow
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many psycho-geriatricians there were in England in each of the last five years; and how many will be in post by 2004. [23290]

    Mr. Hutton
    The information requested is shown in the table.

    Hospital medical staff within the old age psychiatry specialty—England at 30 September

    Number

    1996

    1997

    1998

    1999

    2000

    All staff

    640

    710

    760

    820

    860

    of which:

    Consultants

    230

    240

    270

    310

    330

    Note:

    Figures are rounded to the nearest 10.

    Source:

    Department of Health medical and dental work force census.

    The number of trained specialists in old age psychiatry is projected to increase by at least a third by 2004.

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