Written Answers of 5 February 2001

CABINET OFFICE

  Drugs (Weston-super-Mare)
  Mr. Hawkins
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what representations he has received and from whom in the past 12 months on solutions to the drugs problems in Weston-super-Mare. [148371]

  Marjorie Mowlam
  I have received no correspondence in the past 12 months on solutions to the drugs problems in Weston-super-Mare. The UK Anti-Drugs Co-ordinator, Keith Hellawell, has recently replied to correspondence from the local drug action team Co-ordinator concerning funding for a research project, and will shortly be replying to correspondence from a practitioners group and local MPs about the structure of the local drug action team.

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

  Crime Victims
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Solicitor-General pursuant to the answer of 22 January 2001,Official Report, column 489W, on victims, how the Crown Prosecution Service will phase in the implementation of a system to ensure that victims are informed of decisions for which the CPS has responsibility; and if he will make a statement. [148581]

  The Solicitor-General
  Pilot sites in six CPS areas were established in November 1999 to assess the costs and operational implications for the CPS in implementing a system to ensure that victims are informed of decisions for which the CPS has responsibility.

  From October 2000, the same pilot sites began to conduct a scoping/options study to identify the best practice for national rollout. The final evaluation report will be completed in March 2001.

  The first phase of national rollout will commence in the six pilot areas in April 2001. A programme of phased national implementation will follow in the other CPS areas to be completed by October 2002. Details of the implementation plans will be finalised in the light of the final evaluation findings.

DEFENCE

  Depleted Uranium
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the responsibility of(a) his Department and (b) the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency in respect of research undertaken into the effects of depleted uranium use. [147387]
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  Mr. Spellar
  The Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA) undertakes whatever research is required of it by its customers, of which the Ministry of Defence is a main customer. The MOD draws on all available authoritative scientific knowledge on the effects of depleted uranium use, including information from DERA.

  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the armed forces first used depleted uranium ammunition; which units were involved; when such ammunition was used in action in the last 10 years; by which units; and if he will make a statement. [148113]

  Mr. Spellar
  Depleted uranium (DU) based ammunition was first brought into service by the Royal Navy in 1982 for use in its Phalanx close-in weapons system. The Royal Navy (RN) has 36 Phalanx systems, which are in service on all Type 42 destroyers, HMS Ocean, one aircraft carrier, HMS Fearless and the Royal Fleet Auxiliaries Fort Victoria and Fort George. The RN has not fired Phalanx in combat. It is regularly fired for maintenance and system checks, however, including small quantities in the Gulf conflict in 1990–91, and in the Adriatic. All these firings are into the sea.

  The first operational use of DU munitions by UK armed forces took place in 1991, during the Gulf conflict. Limited amounts of 120 mm DU munitions were issued to the three Challenger-equipped UK armoured units in the Gulf: the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards, the Queen's Royal Irish Hussars and the 14/20 Hussars. Additional rounds were fired by UK forces during earlier work-up training to establish the round's mean point of impact.

  The army has not fired DU munitions on operations or in training since the Gulf conflict.

  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what evidence his Department has collated about the effects of(a) the use, handling and firing and (b) the clearing up of cartridges from depleted uranium ammunition; and if he will make a statement. [148116]

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

  S and T Class Submarines
  Mr. Quentin Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the state of readiness and expected date of return to full serviceability of each of the Royal Navy's S and T class submarines. [147570]

  Mr. Spellar
  HMS Triumph, a Trafalgar class submarine, is ready for operations (although currently undergoing short-term maintenance) and the remaining S and T class submarines are at 90 days' or more notice for operations undergoing either defect repair or long-term maintenance. We anticipate that eight submarines (Superb, Sceptre, Splendid, Trafalgar, Tireless, Torbay, Turbulent and Talent) will be available for operations by the end of this year, at which time the current operational boat, HMS Triumph, will be undergoing maintenance. The remaining three submarines (Sovereign, Spartan and Trenchant) will be in longer-term maintenance or refit. The exact state of readiness of individual submarines is withheld under exemption 1 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.
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  Satellite Communications Systems
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost of the five Satellite Communications Systems is; what the total number of units to be purchased is; when they all will be in service; and if he will make a statement. [148102]

  Dr. Moonie
  It is assumed that the question relates to the proposed SKYNET 5 military satellite communications system. SKYNET 5 is envisaged as a service provision contract under PFI arrangements. The contractor will provide and own the satellites and associated ground infrastructure. The nature of the assets and the number of satellites that will be used is a matter for the selected contractor.

  Bids for the SKYNET 5 service implementation contract were submitted by two competing consortia on 10 January 2001 and are currently being evaluated. It would be inappropriate to comment on the likely cost of the service provision while the competition is taking place. On current plans we expect the service to start in the middle of the decade.

  Equipment Disposal
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what aircraft the Royal Air Force has sold to Poland in the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [148115]

  Dr. Moonie
  Aircraft and helicopters no longer required for service by the Royal Air Force are disposed of on their behalf by the MOD's Disposal Services Agency (DSA). Disposal can be achieved in a number of ways, including sales to legitimate overseas Governments, although no such sales to Poland have been made by the DSA in the last five years.

  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what quantity of surplus small arms has been destroyed in each of the last two years to conform to the UN resolution covering weapons; if surplus weapons have been sold to other countries to avoid being destroyed; and if he will make a statement. [148104]

  Dr. Moonie
  In conformity with UN resolution 54/54R the United Kingdom has reported that the total number of surplus small arms it destroyed in 1999 was 31,939. The majority of these were armed forces weapons (some 28,000) with the balance from the Royal Ulster Constabulary and the Metropolitan police. Comparable statistics for 2000 are not yet available. Our current policy on the disposal of small arms declared surplus by the Ministry of Defence is to restrict transfers to those which meet the legitimate defence and security needs of overseas Governments. I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence to the hon. Member for South-West Devon (Mr. Streeter) on 22 June 2000,Official Report, column 242W. In the absence of approved transfers in line with this policy, surplus small arms are routinely destroyed. It is not, nor has it ever been, our policy or practice to arrange sales of surplus weapons on the ground that this would avoid their destruction.
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  Javelin Missile
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what the cost of the purchase of the Javelin missiles is; how many have been ordered; and if he will make a statement; [148101]

  (2) what the estimated cost is of the US test for the Javelin missile; when it will take place; and if he will make a statement. [148114]

  Dr. Moonie
  I assume the hon. Member's questions refer to the Javelin anti-tank guided weapon system. The Ministry of Defence is conducting a competitive assessment of the US Javelin and Israeli Gill/Spike systems, to establish whether they are capable of meeting the UK's light forces anti-tank guided weapon requirement. The extra-mural cost of the assessment phase, which is due to complete in 2002, is currently estimated to be around £3 million for each of the competing systems.

  A small number of each system will be procured for assessment. Orders for operational quantities would be placed following a successful outcome to the assessment phase. The cost would be dependent upon the final system selected and the total number of systems ordered.

  Arctic Campaign Star
  Mr. Alan Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the awarding of an Arctic Campaign Star, in official recognition of the contribution made by servicemen taking part in the Russian convoys. [148506]

  Dr. Moonie
  Service on the Arctic convoys to Russia during the second world war has already been recognised by the award of the Atlantic Star. There are no plans to institute a new Arctic Campaign Star, or any other medals for second world war service. This is in accordance with the long-standing policy of the Committee on the Grant of Honours, Decorations and Medals that it will not consider the retrospective institution of medals for service given many years ago.

  Defence Bills Agency
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much was paid out in total by the Defence Bills Agency to contractors in the UK in 1999–2000. [148212]

  Dr. Moonie
  [holding answer 1 February 2001]: The amount paid out in total by the Defence Bills Agency to contractors in the UK in 1999–2000 was £12,353,730,369.11.

  Privatisation
  Mr. Duncan Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what studies are under way which are examining privatisation of his Department's tasks and agencies. [148346]

  Dr. Moonie
  [holding answer 2 February 2001]: The Ministry of Defence public service agreement commits the Department to review all services and activities regularly and systematically over a five-year period. This five-year review cycle will include the quinquennial review of agencies, as well as services currently carried out within the MOD headquarters and by top level

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  budgets. The reviews will look at all aspects of improving performance through in-house and private sector solutions, which include outsourcing, private finance and privatisation. Government policy on the review of services has been set out most recently in the Cabinet Office handbook on better quality services, published in 1998.

  British Servicemen (Sierra Leone)
  Mr. Duncan Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what illnesses have been reported by British servicemen who are serving or who have served in Sierra Leone. [148350]

  Dr. Moonie
  [holding answer 2 February 2001]: There are 112 confirmed and three suspected cases of malaria among service personnel who deployed to Sierra Leone. There was also one person suspected of having lassa fever, which was subsequently found not to be the case. These are cases of notifiable communicable diseases, reported by the Ministry of Defence in accordance with UK legislation. As of 31 January, available central records of illnesses among service personnel who deployed in Sierra Leone showed 36 reported cases of additional types of illnesses, among some 7,500 personnel deployed to Sierra Leone. These illnesses were: nausea and vomiting, diarrhoea, headaches, fever and chills, dizziness, photophobia, viral meningitis, herpes zoster, severe stress, acute pharyngitis, chronic sinusitis, noninfective gastroenteritis and colitis, enteritis, right sided pleuritic chest pain, pyrexia, nasopharyngitis, viral illness, possible parasite infestation, possible appendicitis, chest infection, infection in finger, acute tonsillitis.

  US National Missile Defense
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 30 January 2001,Official Report, column 100W, on US National Missile Defense, what concerns his Department voiced to the previous US Administration with regard to US National Missile Defense; and what discussions took place with regard to the use of (a) RAF Fylingdales and (b) other military bases in the United Kingdom. [148874]

  Mr. Hoon
  We made it clear to the previous US Administration that we understood why the US is concerned about the threat from weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery and why they were considering deployment of a national missile defense system as one aspect of their response to the threat. We received no formal request from the previous US Administration for the use of facilities in the UK as part of their proposed system.

  Army Training Estate (Otterburn)
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the proposals for improvements to the Army Training Estate at Otterburn requiring approval from a public inquiry remain of urgent national importance; and if he will make a statement. [148433]

  Dr. Moonie
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer my hon. Friend the Minister of State for the Armed Forces gave him on 7 July 2000,Official Report, column 338W. The decision remains with the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions
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CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

  TV Licensing
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the compatibility of TV licensing's inquiry and enforcement methods with the European convention on human rights. [147610]

  Janet Anderson
  Statutory responsibility for the administration and enforcement of the television licensing system rests with the BBC. TV Licensing carries out the day-to-day administration, including inquiry and enforcement activities, as agent for the BBC. The Government and the BBC are on the whole satisfied that TV Licensing's inquiry and enforcement methods are compatible with the European convention on human rights, but in order to put one matter beyond doubt the Government intend to bring forward an order under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 to regulate the use by TV Licensing of apparatus designed or adapted for detecting the installation or use of television receivers.

  Hinduja Brothers
  Mr. Lansley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) on what date the then Minister of State, Cabinet Office, the right hon. Member for Hartlepool (Mr. Mandelson) was informed that the Hinduja brothers might provide funding for the Millennium Dome, and by whom; and if he will make a statement; [147477]

  (2) on what date the Hinduja brothers first gave an indication that they would consider providing funding for the Faith Zone of the Millennium Dome. [147478]

  Janet Anderson
  [holding answer 26 January 2001]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister to the hon. Member for Lewes (Mr. Baker) on 31 January 2001, Official Report, column 223W.

  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the net amount of sponsorship received from the Hinduja brothers was in respect of the Faith Zone in the Millennium Dome. [148019]

  Janet Anderson
  [holding answer 30 January 2001]: The New Millennium Experience Company announced on 3 June 1999 that the Faith Zone would receive £4 million in sponsorship—£2 million from the Laing Family Trusts (Christian charitable foundations); £1 million from the Hinduja Foundation; and £1 million from other Christian trusts including the Jerusalem Trust.

  Sports Stadiums
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much his Department is making available to new major sporting stadiums; what events this funding will permit; and for how long each stadium is expected to be operational. [147022]

  Kate Hoey
  [holding answer 30 January 2001]: My Department does not fund stadium development. However, Sport England has provided grant in aid for three major stadium projects through the Lottery Sport Fund.
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  A grant of £120 million was awarded in November 1998 for purchase of the land for the English national stadium project at Wembley. Wembley National Stadium Ltd. has agreed to return £20 million of this amount following the decision to remove athletics from the stadium.

  A grant of£77 million was awarded to the City of Manchester stadium. The stadium is due to hold the athletics and rugby sevens events for the 2002 Commonwealth games. Thereafter, the stadium will be used for football, and for community use with Manchester City football club as anchor tenant.

  Grants of £1.57 million have been awarded to the Lee Valley national athletics centre for feasibility studies, which are to be completed by 31 May 2001. A budget allocation of up to a total of £60 million has been allocated for this project, subject to the receipt of a satisfactory grant application which will be assessed against Sport England's usual criteria. The stadium has been selected by UK Athletics to host the 2005 world athletics championships, which has been awarded to London by the International Amateur Athletics Federation.

  Under the funding agreements for Wembley and Manchester, the project applicants are obliged to operate the projects for 50 years from opening. It is envisaged that the Lee Valley stadium will have the same operational life.

  Millennium Dome (Sponsorship)
  Miss Widdecombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) what the role of the right hon. Member for Hartlepool (Mr. Mandelson) was in procuring and negotiating sponsorship deals for the Millennium Dome; and if he will make a statement; [147996]

  (2) when the first discussions were held with the Hinduja brothers about sponsorship of the Millennium Dome Faith Zone by the Hinduja Foundation; and if he will make a statement. [148029]

  Janet Anderson
  [holding answer 30 January 2001]: It was the responsibility of the New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC), as the operator of the Dome, to negotiate and secure sponsorship for the Dome.

  I understand from NMEC that the Hinduja Foundation first approached NMEC in February 1997 about the possibility of incorporating the "Concordia Project" into the Dome. This was to be an interactive visitor education centre focusing on the world's different cultures.

  The then Minister without Portfolio was the shareholder of NMEC. In that role it was perfectly proper and reasonable that, as shareholder, he should meet sponsors and be kept fully informed of progress. However, the detailed negotiation of sponsorship arrangements was the responsibility of NMEC and individual sponsors.

  Free Television Licences (Jarrow)
  Mr. Hepburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many households in the Jarrow constituency have a free television licence under the scheme for pensioners aged over 75 years. [148613]
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  Janet Anderson
  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 4,700 people aged 75 or over in the Jarrow constituency.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Cheney Pension Scheme
  Angela Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will conduct an inquiry into the handling of the case of the Cheney pension scheme by the Occupational Pensions Regulatory Authority. [149272]

  Mr. Darling
  With the agreement of the board of the occupational pensions regulatory authority, I have asked Sir Gerald Hosker QC to conduct an independent inquiry into the handling within Opra of the Cheney case and also to consider and report on whether changes in procedures are necessary to assist in the detection of misuse of pension funds.

  Minimum Income Guarantee
  Miss Geraldine Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many pensioners in Morecambe and Lunesdale benefit from the minimum income guarantee; and what estimate he has made of the number of pensioners in the Morecambe and Lunesdale constituency who fail to claim the minimum income guarantee. [149132]

  Mr. Rooker
  The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is as follows:

  There are around 2,800 recipients of the minimum income guarantee in the parliamentary constituency of Morecambe and Lunesdale.

  Notes:

  1.Figures are based on a 5 per cent. sample and are therefore subject to a degree of sampling error.

  2.Pensioners are defined as where the claimant, and/or partner are aged 60 or over.

  3.Figures are rounded to the nearest hundred.

  4.Cases are allocated to each parliamentary constituency by matching the postcode against the 2000 version 1 ONS Postcode Directory.

  5.It is not possible to produce reliable estimates of numbers not claiming their entitlement at constituency level.

  Source:

  Income Support Quarterly Statistical Enquiry, August 2000.

  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people living in Crosby have benefited from the minimum income guarantee. [148333]

  Mr. Rooker
  There are around 2,600 recipients of the minimum income guarantee in the parliamentary constituency of Crosby.

  Notes:

  1.Figures are based on a 5 per cent. sample and are therefore subject to a degree of sampling error.

  2. Pensioners are defined as where the claimant, and/or partner are aged 60 or over.

  3. Figures are rounded to the nearest hundred.
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  4. Cases are allocated to each parliamentary constituency by matching the postcode against the 2000 version 1 ONS Postcode Directory.

  Source:

  Income Support Quarterly Statistical Enquiry, August 2000.

  Annuities
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessment he has made of the study of annuities carried out by the Retirement Income Working Party; and if he will make a statement. [148337]

  Mr. Rooker
  The Retirement Income Working Party report is one of a number of proposals that have been put forward as alternatives to the annuity purchase requirement for pension schemes. An announcement will be made in due course if it is decided that any changes to the current rules are needed.

  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make an assessment of the extent to which those who have deferred purchasing an annuity and have opted for income drawdown have found themselves subsequently dependent on means-tested benefits. [148742]

  Mr. Rooker
  No. The information is not available to make such an assessment.

  Pensions
  Mr. Martin Bell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if the proposed increase to be paid to existing state pensioners were to be applied to men aged 60 to 65 years, how much that pension would be for(a) 2001–02 and (b) 2002–03. [147845]

  Mr. Rooker
  Men currently do not receive a basic State Retirement Pension before the age of 65 years and entitlement is dependent upon the individual's National Insurance record. It would not be dependent upon the numbers of pensioners.

  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the basic State Pension in 2040 as a percentage of(a) full-time average earnings in 2040, (b) male full-time average earnings in 2040 and (c) female full-time average earnings in 2040, (i) before the changes announced in the pre-Budget statement and (ii) following the changes in the pre-Budget statement assumptions on price and wage inflation. [148375]

  Mr. Rooker
  [holding answer 2 February 2001]: The information is in the table.

  The assumed value of the basic State Pension as a proportion of average full time earnings, before and after the changes
  announced in the pre-Budget report (PBR)—2040–41

  Percentage

  Before PBR

  After PBR

  Average earnings

  9

  10

  Average male earnings

  8

  9

  Average female earnings

  11

  12

  Notes:

  1.Projected average earnings figures are based on the New Earnings Survey 2000.

  2.The future value of the basic State Pension is based on pre-Budget report assumptions.

  3. Long-term real earnings growth is assumed to be 1.5 per cent.
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  Income Limit (Benefits)
  Mr. Andrew George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what assessment he has made of the cost of increasing the savings limit for(a) Severe Disability Allowance and (b) Income Support to (i) £5,000,(ii) £6,000, (iii) £10,000 and (iv) £15,000; [146734]

  (2) what recent assessment he has made of the savings limit on Severe Disability Allowance and Income Support claimants in relation to (a) the Government's social inclusion priorities and (b) the efficient deployment of public resources. [146735]

  Mr. Bayley
  Severe Disablement Allowance does not have capital limits. The capital limits in the income-related benefits are kept under review.

  The current rules have an upper and a lower limit. We have not made estimates of the cost of moving to single capital limits of the kind envisaged by the hon. Member.

  Benefit Fraud
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Beaconsfield (Mr. Grieve) of 18 January 2001,Official Report, column 384W, on benefit fraud, if he will calculate on the same basis the data for (a) England, (b) Wales, (c) Northern Ireland and (d) the United Kingdom. [148332]

  Mr. Bayley
  The information is in the table.

  Percentage of children living in workless households

  year

  England

  Wales

  Northern Ireland

  United Kingdom

  1996

  19.4

  20.4

  22.7

  19.4

  1997

  17.8

  21.1

  19.5

  17.9

  1998

  17.9

  19.9

  19.0

  17.9

  1999

  17.4

  20.4

  18.6

  17.3

  2000

  15.6

  19.5

  20.1

  15.8

  Notes:

  1. Children refers to all children aged under 16.

  2. A workless household is a household that includes at least one person of working age where no one is in employment.

  3. The percentages given in the reply for England, Wales and Northern Ireland have not been adjusted for the small proportion of households where the household economic activity is not known An adjustment has been made to the UK figures, so the methodology for calculating these figures is slightly different.

  Source:

  Labour Force Survey, Spring Quarters (covering March to May). The Labour Force Survey (LFS) is a quarterly sample survey of over 60,000 households in the United Kingdom.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Police(Appointments)
  Mr.McNamara
  To ask the secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the Chief Constable of the RUC will appoint district commanders for each of the reorganised policing districts in Northern Ireland; what the job specification is for the posts; what criteria and selection procedjres are to be used in making the appointments; if independent assessors will take part in the appointment process; and if the posts are to be advertised outside the RUC [144380]
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  Mr. Ingram
  It is the Chief Constable's intention to appoint commanders for the new district command units with effect from 1 April 2001. The criteria for appointment, post criteria and person specification are detailed in the list and have been applied following consultation with the Superintendents' Association for Northern Ireland and the Police Authority for Northern Ireland. Both have been involved throughout the selection process. Because of the very tight time scales imposed, advertising for these positions outside the Royal Ulster Constabulary was not practicable on this occasion; however, it will be considered for future appointments.

  District Command Units

  Criteria for appointment

  Career profile

  Leadership/management skills

  Knowledge/experience/strategic vision of role sought

  Match against post criteria

  Match against person specification

  Eligibility for appointment to Chief Superintendent/ Superintendent where post holds that rank

  Individual needs (including expressed preference and domestic circumstances)

  Organisational needs (while considering individuals' needs)

  Post Criteria—District Commander

  Job description

  Job title:

  District Command Unit (DCU) Commander

  Responsible to:

  Regional Assistant Chief Constable

  Staff reporting to jobholder:

  Functional heads within DCU

  Main purpose:

  To be responsible for the delivery of a quality policing service to a District within the framework of force policy and in a way that reflects local needs.

  Duties

  Develop strategies and policies for the policing of the District.

  Foster and maintain consultative relationships with the public and external agencies.

  Be responsible for the financial resources of the DCU.

  Be responsible for the welfare, development, performance and discipline of all District personnel.

  Plan and command significant operations where appropriate.

  Ensure the effective and efficient deployment of personnel.

  Serious incident cover.

  PACE and RIPA cover.

  Contact with outside agencies:

  Local councils and community representatives.

  Statutory agencies.

  Local non-government organisations.

  Military personnel.

  Other police forces.

  Hours of work:

  Normally Monday to Friday, 09:00–17:00 with Saturday and Sunday rest days.

  24 hour cover required on a rota basis in relation to serious incidents and PACE.

  Physical make-up:

  The postholder should present a professional image of the force.

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  Specialised aptitudes:

  Capable of taking a realistic and logical approach to problem solving.

  Understand human resource management issues.

  Understand financial management matters.

  Ability to balance competing demands and prioritise solutions.

  Disposition:

  Possess good interpersonal skills and be able to work as part of a team.

  Possess good oral and written communications skills.

  Demonstrate commitment along with the ability to motivate and influence others.

  Able to balance competing demands.

  Able to make impartial decisions in accordance with law, policies and available information.

  Capable of remaining focused in the face of opposition.

  Capable of assimilating new information, concepts and ideas and converting these to workable practice.

  Circumstances:

  The postholder will be based at district headquarters and may be required to use his/her private motor vehicle as part of his/her duties.

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he is taking to ensure a wide range of candidates apply for the posts of district commander in the Police Service of Northern Ireland. [144381]

  Mr. Ingram
  Given the time scale imposed and in order to apply a fair and equitable selection process, all eligible superintendents and those on the select list for promotion to superintendent were assessed against specific criteria. The process necessitates taking into account officers at these ranks whose current posts are to be suppressed following restructuring of the organisation in accordance with the implementation plan.

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will instruct the present Police Authority not to make more than one appointment to the rank of Assistant Chief Constable; and if he will permit the incoming police board to advertise the post of Assistant Chief Constable and officers without obligation to consult the list of candidates prepared by the current Police Authority. [144382]

  Mr. Ingram
  The Police Authority for Northern Ireland is presently running a competition for a position of Assistant Chief Constable in the Royal Ulster Constabulary. The process was initiated because of the retirement of an ACC and following advice from the Chief Constable, who indicated that there was an urgent operational need for the post to be filled.

  Since the competition was initiated, a second post has been identified as becoming vacant in the near future. It will be for the Police Authority, with the advice of the Chief Constable, to decide on the operational need if the second post should be filled at this time.

  Police Ombudsman
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the establishment and seniority structure of investigative officers in the office of the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland; how many officers have been appointed;
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  how many appointees came from (a) RUC (i) serving and seconded and (ii) former officers and (b) other United Kingdom police forces (a) serving and seconded, (b) former officers and (c) Garda Siochana (1) serving and seconded and (2) former officers; and if he will list the nationality, background and previous experience of other appointees. [144383]

  Mr. Ingram
  The composition of the investigating officers of the Office of the Police Ombudsman is fairly typical of the usual team and ranking structures established to undertake the investigation of complaints and other matters made against the police. The investigation group is headed by a chief investigating officer assisted by senior investigating officers, each of whom are responsible for investigation teams comprising a number of investigating and assistant investigating officers.

  Currently the ombudsman has appointed 32 investigating officers across all ranks. Of those appointed, none are serving, seconded or former officers of the RUC or the Garda Siochana; one is a former officer of a United Kingdom police force; one is a former officer of HM Forces Military Police; and eight are serving officers seconded from other United Kingdom police forces.

  The majority of investigating officer appointees are United Kingdom citizens with the remainder being made up of nationals from America, Australia and South Africa. Although not all of the investigating officers are from a police background, all have investigative experience in other areas of employment.

  Mr.McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland has drafted and agreed operating protocols for investigative officers. [144384]

  Mr.Ingram
  For the Office of the Police Ombudsman to fulfil its investigative function it is necessary to establish protocols with a number of agencies, some of which have already been established, e.g. with the Forensic Science Agency, and a number of other protocols are currently in negotiation. A series of internal protocols have also been established.

  Mr.McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many complaints have been received by the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland; and how many investigations have been initiated. [144385]

  Mr.Ingram
  Since the Office of the Ombudsman became operational on 6 November 2000 the total number of complaints received by 2 January 2001 was 602, and in the same time 234 investigations have been initiated.

  Organised Crime
  Mr. Maginnis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if, in relation to the Patten report Implementation Plan, he has sought to quantify the extent and the growth during the past five years of volume crime and of Mafia-style organised crime; and if he will publish a report. [144687]

  Mr. Ingram
  In recent years, Northern Ireland, in common with England and Wales, has experienced an increase in volume crime, that is offences against the person and property damage (burglary, theft and criminal damage). Comparing 1998–99 and 1999–2000, the number of these 370W
  offences recorded increased by 9 per cent. In both years such offences represented 89 per cent. of all offences recorded by the police. The Royal Ulster Constabulary is developing a professional crime and incident analysis capability across the organisation in recognition of the extent and growth of volume crime and reflecting the requirements of the Patten report.

  The police, with the assistance of other agencies, are presently researching the level of scale and scope of the organised crime problem, in both the public and private sectors, in Northern Ireland. In addition, the Government have established a multi-agency task force to tackle organised crime in Northern Ireland, which I chair.

  The Patten report took account of the types of crime to which the hon. Member is referring, and so, indirectly therefore, does the plan. For example, the size, structure, training and co-operation sections of the Patten report all take account of the need to deal with community concerns about rising crime and drug abuse. Indeed, paragraph 13.6 of the report states that
  "… we take (the concerns) seriously enough not to base our calculations of future policing commitments on an assumption that Northern Ireland's level of crime will remain as low as it is now".

  RUC
  Mr. Maginnis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what has been the recognised senior command course for RUC officers; what alternatives have been accepted; and what exceptions have been made among the officers who comprise the RUC senior command. [144683]

  Mr. Ingram
  The recognised senior command course required for the appointment of Assistant Chief Constable in the Royal Ulster Constabulary is the strategic command course provided by the national police training organisation at Bramshill. The strategic leadership development programme and the senior command course were forerunners to this.

  In the present competition, candidates for appointment of Assistant Chief Constable who can offer successful completion of an equivalent course will also be considered. In deciding what is an equivalent course, the Police Authority for Northern Ireland will be guided by advice from Her Majesty's inspector of constabulary.

  All chief officers presently serving in the Royal Ulster Constabulary have successfully completed either the senior command course or the strategic leadership development programme.

  Mr. Maginnis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if alternatives to the recognised senior command course are to be accepted for officers from other police forces who apply for senior command appointments with the RUC; and if he will make a statement. [144684]

  Mr. Ingram
  In order to open competition to a wider field, the Police Authority for Northern Ireland has decided to allow candidates applying for posts of Assistant Chief Constable in the Royal Ulster Constabulary to offer successful completion of an equivalent course to that of the strategic command course provided by the national police training organisation at Bramshill.
  371W
  In deciding what is an equivalent course, the Police Authority will be guided by advice from HM inspector of constabulary.

  Criminal Justice (Northern Ireland) Order
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what rules he has made under section 56 of the Criminal Justice (NI) Order 1996. [148051]

  Mr. Ingram
  The Secretary of State has not found it necessary to make any rules under article 56 of the Criminal Justice (Northern Ireland) Order 1996.

  Police Board
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many applications he has received for independent members of the Police Board; what is the breakdown of the applicants by(a) gender, (b) perceived community affiliation, (c) age under (i) 30, (ii) 31 to 40, (iii) 41 to 50, (iv) 51 to 65 and (v) 66 and over and (d) sexual orientation. [142274]

  Mr. Ingram
  The total applications received was 347. Nine applicants failed to complete the monitoring form and as a result are not included in the statistics.

  Number

  Gender

  Male

  254

  Female

  84

  Religion

  Protestant

  191

  Catholic

  98

  Other

  49

  The information is available in the following format:

  Age

  Number

  Less than 25

  3

  25–35

  21

  36–45

  70

  46–55

  104

  Over55

  140

  Sexual orientation

  Data are not available on the sexual orientation of applicants.

  Mr.McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of state for Northern Ireland how many applicants for independent membership of the police Board have disclosed criminal convictions. [142275]

  Mr. Ingram
  Seven applicants for independent membership of the Northern Ireland Policing Board submitted sealed envelopes that contained details of criminal convictions.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Cane Sugar
  Mrs. Shephard
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the European Commission's decision taken on 18 January in 372W
  respect of a new timetable for duty and tariff imports of cane sugar starting from 2006. [148374]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer February01]: The European Commission has said that it is considering amendments to its proposal to grant duty free access to goods from least-developed countries. However, no formal new proposal has yet been tabled.

  Alkaline Hydrolysis
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will ask the United States Department of Agriculture for the evidence on which the USDA approved alkaline hydrolysis at elevated temperature as an effective technology for dealing with BSE-infected animals; and if he will make a statement. [147863]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 30 January 2001]: I understand that the company that produces the technology has requested this evidence from the USDA and intends to give it to my officials. Officials are discussing with the company the possibility of permitting the use of this technology to dispose of animal waste. The Department is also funding a research project to investigate the efficacy of the system in inactivating the BSE agent.

  Antibiotics
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what his policy is on legislation at EU level on prevention of use of antibiotics in animal food. [147454]

  Ms Quin
  The Government are aware of concerns about the development of antimicrobial resistance in bacteria affecting humans as a result of antibiotic use in farm-animal production. We supported an EU ban on the use of four antimicrobial growth promoters which were authorised as feed additives, which came into effect on 1 July 1999. We will continue to be guided by the principles established in the report of the Joint Committee on the use of antibiotics in animal husbandry and veterinary medicines (the Swann report) 1969. This report proposed that antibiotics authorised for growth promotion should be restricted to those which have little or no application as therapeutic agents in man or animals, and which will not impair the efficacy of prescribed therapeutic drugs through the development of resistant strains of organisms.

  Inspectors
  Mr. Kilfoyle
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many inspectors were employed within his Department and its agencies in each year from 1992 to 2000. [145247]

  Ms Quin
  The number of staff with powers to enter or inspect property at 1 April in each of the years in question are set out in the table.
  373W

  Inspectors in MAFF 1992–2000as at 1 April

  Department/agency

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1996

  1997

  1998

  1999

  2000

  Core MAFF1

  1,019

  1,083

  1,101

  1,066

  927

  1,021

  1,029

  1,018

  1,080

  Farming and Rural Conservation Agency2

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  49

  54

  55

  55

  Pesticides Safety Directorate

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Veterinary Medicine Directorate

  7

  7

  7

  5

  7

  6

  4

  4

  3

  Veterinary Laboratories Agency

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Central Science Laboratory3

  n/a

  n/a

  33

  34

  46

  43

  42

  46

  47

  Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science4

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  19

  18

  13

  15

  Meat Hygiene Service5

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  811

  775

  940

  1,098

  1,089

  n/a

  Total

  1,026

  1,090

  1,141

  1,916

  1,755

  2,078

  2,245

  2,225

  1,200

  1 The figures for core-MAFF include staff, in the following functions, who have statutory powers to enter or inspect property;Plant Health and Seed Inspectorate; Horticultural Marketing Inspectorate; Egg Marketing Inspectorate; Sea Fisheries Inspectorate; Fisheries Officers; Field Officers; Veterinary Officers, advisers and managers; Animal Health Officers; Scientific Officers (Nuclear specialists)—with FSA from 1 April 2000.

  2 FRCA was formed as a MAFF agency on 1 April 1997

  3 CSL was formed from MAFF as an agency on 1 April 1994

  4 CEFAS was formed from MAFF as an agency on 1 April 1997

  5 MHS was a MAFF agency from 1 April 1995 to 31 March 2000

  Flooding
  Mrs.Fiona Jones
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to compensate farmers for the losses caused by recent flooding. [147473]

  Ms Quin
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to the hon. Member for Vale of York (Miss Mclntosh) on 30 January 2001,Official Report, column 137W.

  Departmental Projects
  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture,Fisheries and Food if he will list the projects undertaken for his Department by(a) outside consultants, (b) academic researchers and (c) university departments since 1 May 1997, giving the total expenditure incurred in each category. [144072]

  Ms Quin
  From information held centrally, outside consultants have undertaken projects to the value of £41,894,360 in the Department since 1 May 1997. A list of these projects is shown.

  In respect of (b) and (c), I regret that a full reply is not possible without incurring disproportionate cost. As far as research projects are concerned, the Department funds over 1,000 of these each year, many of which are placed with academic researchers/universities. A list of all current research projects can be found on the Department's website at http://www.maff.gov.uk.

  Project

  "Managed set back" research

  360 degree feedback training

  Accountancy projects

  ADAS study on losses to farmers following TB

  ADAS consultancy work arising from the privatisation

  Advice from experts on Flood Defence research

  Advice on countryside stewardship project

  Advice on the selection of a new member of Food from Britain Council

  Agricultural Wages Board

  Animal Health Service Papers Filing Exercise

  Animal Health Service Heads of Divisions Business Plan Workshop

  374W

  Arable Area Payments Scheme

  Annual Staff Reports markings

  Assessment of Radioactive Waste Dumpings at Sea Audit of analytical services

  Audit of catering services

  Barrister (including Pupil and Expenses) in connection with GM Hearing on variety Charndon LL

  Benchmarking against the European Foundation for Quality Management Excellence Model

  Benchmarking workshops

  Better Quality services

  British Potato Council

  British survey of fertiliser practice

  BSE Consultants for Chief Veterinary Officer Group

  British Cattle Movement Service Building

  Building survey

  Selection of deputy chairman for Home Grown Cereals authority

  Catering

  Cattle tracing service

  British Cattle Movement Service Charging

  Charter and Service Standards

  Chief Veterinary Officer Group Filing

  Cattle Herd Registration (AIT)

  Consultancy on GIS data capture

  Consultancy work on the overgrazing MoU

  Consultant's contract as Chairman of the UNECE ammonia panel

  Consultants for new research vessel

  Contract with ATB-Landbase

  CSL Strategy

  Customer satisfaction surveys

  British Cattle Movement Service Data Capture

  Design and Supply software for the Agricultural Minimum Wage Helpline

  Development of a module on the food chain for a CD-ROM for schools

  Direct Selling Seminar

  375W

  Disposal of Waste at Sea

  Diversity audit

  Document management

  End of Year accounts

  Ensuring Millennium Bug preparedness in the food chain

  Enteleca (Research into tourist attitudes towards regional and local foods)

  Environmentally Sensitive Areas contract for bird surveys

  EROS (Non Delta)

  Estates Review

  Evaluation of Processing and Marketing Grant scheme

  Evaluation of the LEADER+ programme for England

  Export promotion advice

  File store study

  Financial advice on tender applicants for new research vessel

  Financial consultancy to set up Capital database

  Fishing Vessel Decommissioning Scheme

  Flood Defence Management services

  Forensic accountancy advice prior to defence of Factortame claims

  FPS and AFQ Link Programmes

  Free Advice Programmes

  General Financial Ledger set-up consultancy

  Global Benchmarking study

  Global Competitiveness study

  Government Secure Internet Implementation Project

  Habitat Scheme monitoring

  Health and Safety initiative

  British Cattle Movement Service Call Logging

  Hill Livestock Compensatory Allowances

  Horticultural Development Council

  British Cattle Movement Service Image Retrieval

  Independent assessor for the appointment of Board Members to the Wine Standards Board

  Information Age Government Support

  AESIS Review (IT)

  Investors in People assessment(PSD)

  British Cattle Movement Service ISO

  Ispra Wine Sampling Exercise

  British Cattle Movement Service IT

  IT Consultancy

  IT Consultancy for Fishing Vessel Register problem with Cardiff RSS lin

  IT Management

  IT Security Reviews

  IT Strategy Development

  ITAS Strategy

  JEGS 2000 (Job Evaluation and Grading System)

  Liaison (VAT advice)

  MAFF's Energy Efficiency Policy

  Maiden 2000 (MAFF Intranet)

  Management Structures consultancy

  Millennium Bug survey

  British Cattle Movement Service Millennium Cover

  Monitoring of environmentally sensitive areas

  British Cattle Movement Service New Building

  New Regional CAP Systes

  Nitrate Sensitive Areas

  British Cattle Movement Service Numeric Tagging

  376W

  Operation Gangmaster

  Organisation of a two-month study visit for Bosnian students

  Pay and Grading consultancy

  Pay review project

  Pensions Consultant

  Pesticide Register launch

  Pilot training workshops for primary producers

  Plant Health

  British Cattle Movement Service Post Go Live Review

  Post Implementation Review of Doc Management

  Preparation of reports for Agricultural Dwelling House Advisory Committees

  Preparation of Risk and Approval Guidance for Flood Defence projects

  Process Mapping

  Produce Studies (Poll Consultants)

  Provision of legal advice to Agricultural Wages Board

  Provision of meteorological data

  Provision of scientific advice during Branch Head's secondment to the EA

  Public Relations

  QA Audit

  Recruitment

  Relocation

  Report on aquifer response times

  Risk assessment and analysis of ash from small animal incinerators licensed to burn SRM

  Sea Fish Management Development

  Security

  Development and technical support for R-D database and work on e-Science projects

  Softward development

  Staff Attitude surveys (PSD)

  Stage II and III ESAs

  Stage IV ESAs

  British Cattle Movement Service Start-up and Testing

  Statistical training

  Stress study

  Study into fishing vessel engine power ratings

  Surveys of UK foodstocks and Food Vulnerability database

  Systems Review and upgrade

  Technical advice on methods of sampling and analysis for fertilisers

  Technical support to Quality Wine and Vine Variety Classification Committees

  Training (Personnel Division)

  Triad Group (software development)

  Unido Project

  Unix-Lan Operation Continuity

  Website design.

ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT ANDTHE REGIONS

  Housing Investment
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what has been the investment in(a) council housing and (b) housing

  377W
  owned by registered social landlords in each year since 1990; and what investment is planned in future years. [146835]

  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  The capital resources made available by central Government to support housing investment by local authorities and registered social landlords in the years since 1990–91 are as follows:

  £million

  Housing capital allocations to local authorities1

  Housing capital allocations to registered social landlords2

  s1990–91

  1,706

  986

  1991–92

  1,682

  1,521

  1992–93

  1,579

  2,284

  1993–94

  1,391

  1,761

  1994–95

  1,181

  1,441

  1995–96

  1,147

  1,112

  1996–97

  1,059

  1,007

  1997–98

  926

  667

  1998–99

  1,211

  603

  1999–2000

  1,252

  634

  2000–01

  1,891

  678

  2001–02

  2,552

  787

  2002–03

  2,853

  958

  2003–04

  2,934

  1,274

  1Covers credit approvals, capital grants, PFI schemes for council housing and the resources to be made available under the arms length management initiative but exclude Estate Action allocations (which are now part of Regeneration Budgets). Local authorities housing capital programmes provide resources to improve poor condition private sector housing or develop new affordable housing as well as renovating or improving the council housing stock.

  2Public funded investment in RSL housing through the Housing Corporation's Approved Development Programme (ADP) and, from 2001–02, the Safer Communities Supported Housing Fund.

  Overseas Visits
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the overseas visits he has undertaken on official business over the last year, with the cost of travel and accommodation in each case for him and his party. [146370]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  [holding answer 22 January 2001]: This Government have given a commitment to publish an annual list of visits overseas by Cabinet Ministers costing more than £500 as well as an annual figure on spend by all Ministers on overseas visits. The list for 1999–2000 was published on 28 July 2000, Official Report, column 969W. The list for 2000–01 which will include my Department's details will be published in due course.

  Environmental Appraisal
  Mrs. Brinton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many of the(a) Bills and (b) draft Bills in the Queen's Speech have had an environmental appraisal undertaken of them. [147317]

  Mr. Meacher
  The Government's policy is that significant environmental costs and benefits should be identified alongside economic and social considerations, during policy development or review. All Departments have procedures for screening their policies for 378W
  environmental impacts and the systems in place are detailed in Chapter 4 of "Greening Government", the Second Annual Report of the Green Ministers Committee 2000, published in November last year.

  On DETR measures mentioned in the Queen's Speech there has, as yet, been no environmental appraisal for the Homes Bill. It is proposed that seller's packs, introduced as a result of the Bill, will include information on the energy efficiency of homes and this should lead to improvements by buyers that benefit the environment. An environmental appraisal will be carried out when the contents of seller's packs have been determined, following consultation with interested parties.

  Our initial assessment of the proposals for the draft Safety Bill suggests there is no need for an environmental appraisal. If, as the proposals develop, it becomes apparent that there is an effect on the environment, we will review the position.

  DETR also has the lead interest in the leasehold elements of the Lord Chancellor's Commonhold and Leasehold Bill. These relate to the respective rights and obligations of residential long leaseholders and their freeholders, which carry no environmental implications.

  M4 Eastbound Bus Lane
  Mr.Hammond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will publish figures indicating the average usage, on an hour-by-hour basis, of the M4 eastbound bus lane between Heathrow and the elevated section, for the most recent period for which figures are available. [147388]

  Mr.Hill
  As the hon. Member may be aware, the Transport Research Laboratory (TRL) has been monitoring the usage of the M4 bus lane for the Highways Agency. The most recent period for which TRL has provided figures of average usage on an hour-by-hour basis is the week beginning 5 June 2000. Those figures are as follows:

  Time of day

  Taxi

  Minibus

  Bus/coach

  Total

  00:00

  7

  0

  0

  1

  01:00

  2

  0

  0

  2

  02:00

  1

  0

  0

  1

  03:00

  1

  0

  1

  2

  04:00

  2

  0

  3

  5

  05:00

  42

  2

  8

  52

  06:00

  193

  10

  21

  224

  07:00

  286

  17

  43

  346

  08:00

  238

  11

  30

  279

  09:00

  253

  9

  39

  301

  10:00

  259

  9

  45

  313

  11:00

  188

  7

  33

  228

  12:00

  200

  10

  32

  242

  13:00

  190

  7

  29

  226

  14:00

  181

  8

  28

  217

  15:00

  175

  5

  23

  203

  16:00

  211

  9

  48

  268

  17:00

  205

  8

  46

  259

  18:00

  242

  6

  28

  276

  19:00

  242

  4

  17

  263

  20:00

  231

  4

  13

  248

  21:00

  238

  3

  10

  251

  22:00

  178

  2

  8

  188

  23:00

  64

  0

  3

  67

  Total

  3,829

  131

  508

  4,468

  379W
  On average, 3,700 vehicles per day used the bus lane during the first year of operation. It is worth noting that, while this represents an average of 7 per cent. of the traffic on the M4 in to London, the vehicles carried 21 per cent. of the people using the road. During peak periods, each bus has saved on average 3.5 minutes and each car has saved on average 1 minute. Journey times for all vehicles have become more reliable following the introduction of the bus lane.

  A copy of a report entitled, "Monitoring of the M4 Bus Lane: The First Year" prepared by TRL for the Highways Agency covering the first year of operation from June 1999 to May 2000 is available in the House of Commons Library. A synopsis of the report with the same title is also in the Library and it is available on the Highways Agency's website.

  Housing Safety
  Ms Drown
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he plans to consult on the responsibilities of local authorities for enforcing the housing, health and safety rating system, as set out in the statement on the Housing Green Paper in December 2000. [148056]

  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  We plan to publish in March a consultation paper setting out our proposals for the framework of legislation and guidance within which local authorities would use the housing, health and safety rating system as the basis for action against unacceptable housing conditions.

  Ms Drown
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps he is taking to ensure that primary legislation to implement a national licensing scheme for houses in multiple occupation can be introduced at the earliest opportunity. [148053]

  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  I refer my hon. Friend to the remarks of my hon. Friend the Minister for Housing and Planning on Second Reading of the Homes Bill on 8 January 2001,Official Report, column 708.

  Ms Drown
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he plans to strengthen the Housing (Management of Houses in Multiple Occupation) Regulations 1990, announced by the then Under-Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, my hon. Friend the Member for Sunderland, South(Mr. Mullin), on 8 November 2000. [148055]

  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  Proposals are being developed and will be discussed informally with local authorities and other interest groups during the next few months.

  Aircraft Movements
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what are the(a) shortest elapsed recorded, (b) longest and (c) average times recorded between captains of aircraft being given clearance at (i) London Heathrow and (ii) Gatwick airports, and the actual time of touchdown, in the last 12 months. [148137]
  380W
  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  The information requested is not available. The time differences between aircraft pilots being give clearance to land and the actual time of touch down are not recorded, or stored, at either Gatwick or Heathrow airports.

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate of sustainable hourly runway movements is being used in the new aviation policy. [148166]

  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  In the studies we are undertaking in preparation for the new aviation policy, we are not using a single standard assessment of hourly runway movements. The hourly capacity depends on a range of factors, including the separations and staggers between runways, the provision of parallel taxiways and the extent of taxiing movements across runways. We are therefore assessing the capacity of each option individually.

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what incidents of go-arounds and late clearances to land at Gatwick airport have been recorded(a) in the last 12 months and (b) in the previous 12 months. [148165]

  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  The number of go-arounds recorded at Gatwick airport were(a) 501 in the year 2000, and (b) 383 in 1999. Clearances to land are not categorised as to their timing and, therefore, the information sought on "late clearances" is not available.

  The go-around figures for 2000 are currently being analysed by National Air Traffic Services Ltd. and the airport authority (BAA plc) but there are no indications that weakness/failure in the safety system is to blame for the increase.

  Road Safety
  Mr. Sanders
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) if he will list the statutory duties of local authorities in respect of road safety; [148198]

  (2) what guidance is given to local authorities for the appointment of (a) road safety officers and (b) environmental health officers; [148199]

  (3) what guidance he has issued to road safety officers in the past 12 months. [148197]

  Mr. Hill
  Local authorities have a duty under section 39 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 both to promote road safety, and to study road traffic accidents in their areas and take appropriate remedial measures.

  It is for local authorities to decide how to discharge these duties, including decisions on staffing levels and recruitment. However, the Road Safety Strategy, "Tomorrow's Road—Safer for Everyone", recorded the value we place on the contribution that can be made by Road Safety Officers (RSOs), and encouraged National Vocational Qualifications for these officers. We require local authorities to describe, in their Road Safety Strategies, the Education, Training and Publicity programmes being undertaken by their RSOs.

  There are twice yearly Departmental meetings with the local authority Road Safety Officers Association and the Association of London Borough Road Safety Officers,

  381W
  which provide RSOs with guidance on Government policy. The last meeting was in December last year. We also liaise with RSOs over publicity campaigns, so they can carry out complementary activity. Literature of relevance to RSOs is distributed to them as and when it becomes available.

  The role of Environmental Health Officers would not be expected to have a focus on road safety.

  London Underground
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he expects to announce the future financial and operational arrangements for the London Underground; and if he will make a statement. [148560]

  Mr. Prescott
  I was pleased to announce last Friday that I have agreed with Bob Kiley, Commissioner of Transport for London, that we will work together and with London Underground on modifications to the Public Private Partnership (PPP). If we can agree mutually acceptable changes then the PPP bidders will be asked to submit revised proposals. The Government, London Underground and Transport for London will jointly evaluate any revised proposals to decide whether they are acceptable to both parties.

  The Commissioner and I have confirmed our determination to reach the best deal for Londoners and secure the long-term increased investment the Tube needs without delay.

  Flight Paths (Walthamstow)
  Mr. Gerrard
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what change has occurred in the last three years in the number of aircraft on flight paths above Walthamstow. [148500]

  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  The number of aircraft that overfly Walthamstow and adjoining areas depends on the direction of operations at Heathrow which itself is dependent on wind direction and strength and so can vary from day to day. Due to the prevailing westerly winds, on average Heathrow operates in a westerly direction about 77 per cent. of the time, but this can vary considerably from year to year. The proportion of westerly operations at Heathrow in each of the last three years for which data are available was 1997–74 per cent., 1998–89 per cent, and 1999–66 per cent. As during any period of westerly operations approximately 50 per cent, of arriving aircraft approach Heathrow by overflying north London, it is possible (after adjusting for the proportion of westerly operations in each of the last three years) to give a rough estimate of the numbers of aircraft (including traffic using London City airport) that overflew Walthamstow or adjoining areas the estimates are 1997–89,000, 1999–107,000 and 1999–84,000.

  Mr. Gerrard
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what changes in flight paths into Heathrow have taken place within the last three years which have affected flight paths above Walthamstow. [148499]

  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  None. Walthamstow along with adjoining parts of north London is situated beneath the radar manoeuvring area used during westerly 382W
  operations for the tactical integration of arriving traffic descending from holding positions (stacks) located in the vicinity of Lambourne (Essex) and Bovingdon (Bucks). There are no fixed routes for arriving aircraft during this phase of their approach to Heathrow Airport, but they tend to follow a regular pattern that has not changed in any significant respect for many years. Departures from Heathrow during easterly operations may overfly the area once above an altitude of 4,000 ft. Traffic using London City Airport also overflies the area.

  National Air Traffic Services
  Mr. McDonnell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) if Mr. Douglas Andrew will participate in advising his Department on the choice of the strategic partner for the National Air Traffic Services; [148557]

  (2) if he will place the advice provided to his Department on the future of National Air Traffic Services by Mr. Douglas Andrew of the Civil Aviation Authority in the Library; [148549]

  (3 what meetings (a) he and (b) his officials have held with Mr. Douglas Andrew of the Civil Aviation Authority to discuss the future of the National Air Traffic Services; [148552]

  (4) what assessment he has made of recent statements made in the media by Mr. Douglas Andrew, adviser to his Department, on the sale of air traffic control; [148553]

  (5) what references were taken up by his Department prior to the engagement of Mr. Douglas Andrew of the Civil Aviation Authority as an adviser on the future of National Air Traffic Services; [148551]

  (6) what role Mr. Douglas Andrew of the Civil Aviation Authority has played in advising the Government on the future of the National Air Traffic Services. [148550]

  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  Mr. Douglas Andrew is the head of the Economic Regulation Group of the Civil Aviation Authority and he was appointed in that capacity initially by the previous Administration in 1997. He was re-appointed as head of the Economic Regulation Group in 2000.

  Mr. Andrew's role in advising the Government on the future of National Air Traffic Services has been limited to matters regarding the economic regulatory and licensing regime for the NATS public/private partnership. In this context, Mr. Andrew has participated in working groups run by my Department at official level. The Economic Regulation Group was also asked to advise the Government on a detailed economic regulatory regime and price cap for NATS PPP. There have been no meetings between Mr. Andrew and Ministers on these matters.

  I shall be happy to place copies of the CAA's advice on the charge control for the PPP in the Library of this House. The CAA has already placed the advice on its own website, but I am aware of no other statements made by Mr. Andrew in the media relating to the PPP.
  383W
  Mr. Andrew will not participate in advising on the choice of the strategic partner for the PPP. He and other senior CAA personnel have had meetings with all three potential strategic partners during the bidding process.

  I understand that the previous Administration took proper steps to satisfy itself that Mr. Andrew was the most appropriate person for the post of Director of Economic Regulation. Details of his references are personal and confidential.

  Offshore Contracts
  Ms Julie Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps he has taken to protect those in the shipping industry who are employed on offshore contracts. [148501]

  Mr. Hill
  The Government have issued guidelines on the use of offshore contracts for employing seafarers. DETR is examining with its industry partners whether any amendment to employment rights legislation is needed.

  Public Transport
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how much has been allocated in local transport plans for each year from 2001–02 to 2005–06 for(a) individual public transport schemes costing over £5 million that have received approval, (b) individual public transport schemes costing less than £5 million that have received approval and (c) integrated transport measures that have received approval. [148589]

  Mr. Hill
  [holding answer 2 February 2001]: My right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister announced on 14 December 2000, Official Report, column 202W, details of the local transport capital settlement for 2001–02.

  The settlement provided firm allocations to authorities in England outside London for 2001–02 and for highway maintenance also for 2002–03. Allocations for the period 2002–03 to 2005–06 are indicative, and will be reconsidered each year in the light of actual scheme costs and annual progress reports submitted by authorities.

  The allocation for 2001–02 made to major public transport and integrated transport schemes costing over £5 million which have received full approval was £85.5 million.

  We earmarked an additional £6.3 million for 2001–02 for provisionally accepted major public transport and integrated transport schemes which will be made available on satisfactory completion of the outstanding issues such as statutory procedures.

  We have indicated to authorities the total Government contribution for each major transport scheme; future annual allocations will be made each year subject to reported progress on the scheme and its costs.

  Transport schemes costing less than £5 million are not subject to individual approval by central Government. Authorities are provided with a single block allocation for smaller scale measures and highway maintenance which they have discretion to spend in line with the objectives and priorities set out in the local transport plans. The total block allocation for 2001–02, including reserves, was £1,103 million.
  384W
  In order to provide greater certainty over future allocations authorities were provided with an indication of the likely levels of funding they could expect to receive for smaller scale measures for 2002–03 to 2005–06, and for highway maintenance for 2003–04 to 2005–06. The announcement envisaged that the annual totals to be allocated for these measures would be as follows:

  £million

  2002–031

  1,120

  2003–04

  1,118

  2004–05

  1,248

  2005–06

  1,275

  1Includes firm allocations for highway maintenance

  As with major schemes, the future block allocations to individual authorities are subject to confirmation or revision each year in light of progress reported by the authorities.

  Housing Revenue Account (Birmingham)
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how much of Birmingham's HRA notional rent surplus has been spent on rent rebates in each of the past five years; how much he estimates will be spent in this way in the(a) current and (b) forthcoming financial year; and for each year what his estimates are of the (i) number and (ii) proportion of tenants not in receipt of rent rebates. [148641]

  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  The table shows the surpluses on the Housing Element of Birmingham's Housing Revenue Account which have been or will be deducted from the authority's entitlement to rent rebate subsidy.

  To give a fuller picture of housing support provided by the Government to Birmingham, the table also shows the Housing Investment Programme allocation made to the authority in each year.

  We do not have figures for the number of tenants who are not in receipt of rent rebates but the table shows the estimated proportion of rental income which is not rebated.

  Figures for 2001–02 are not available but, following the introduction of the Major Repairs Allowance, it is very likely that Birmingham will have a positive housing element in 2001–02 and, therefore, no surplus to apply to its rent rebates.

  Financial year

  National Housing Element Surplus deducted from rent rebate subsidy £ million

  Housing Investment Programme and Capital Receipts Initiative allocations £ million

  Estimated percentage of rental income not rebated Percentage

  1995–96

  —

  38.9

  28

  1996–97

  3.63

  38.6

  29

  1997–98

  5.88

  34.1

  30

  1998–99

  9.54

  44.5

  31

  1999–2000

  9.40

  45.1

  31

  2000–011

  8.83

  80.9

  30

  1Provisional

  Note:

  percentage of income not rabated estimated by comparing rent rebate spending with income from rents and service charges as recorded on Housing Revenue Account subsidy claim forms.
  385W

  Abandoned Vehicles
  Mr. Austin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what recent representations he has received on amending legislation dealing with abandoned vehicles on the public highway. [147109]

  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  We have received a number of suggestions recently from Members, the police, local authorities and members of the public for improving the way in which abandoned vehicles are dealt with. We are considering these as part of a review of the current legislation covering abandoned vehicles.

  Beacon Councils
  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he will announce the new Beacon councils; and if he will make a statement. [149181]

  Ms Armstrong
  We intend to announce the Beacon Councils for 2001–02 on Tuesday 6 February. At the same time we will publish the Report of the Advisory Panel on Beacon Councils giving details of the Panel's recommendations on Beacon Councils, together with a brochure "The Beacon Council Scheme:Where to Go and What to See 2001–2002", setting out the best practice the Beacons have to offer. Copies of the two publications will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

  Local Public Service Agreements
  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what progress is being made in concluding local Public Service Agreements. [149182]

  Ms Armstrong
  We have today concluded the first local Public Service Agreements. The agreements are with the following authorities: Blackburn with Darwen borough council, Kent county council, Middlesbrough borough council, Stockton-on-Tees borough council, Tameside Metropolitan borough council, and Warwickshire county council. Copies of these agreements will be placed in the Library.

  Negotiations are continuing with the 14 other authorities taking part in the pilot scheme of local Public Service Agreements. We expect to conclude further agreements soon.

  GLA Transport Grant
  Mr. Geraint Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he intends to vary the GLA transport grant for 2000–01. [148756]

  Mr. Hill
  GLA transport grant is paid to the Greater London Authority under section 101 of the GLA Act 1999 for the purposes of Transport for London. I have today, with the consent of HM Treasury, decided to vary the level of grant for 2000–01 after consultation with the Mayor of London. The grant is £396,161,000, an increase of £3,421,000 over the original determination.

  Mobile Phone Masts
  Mr. Green
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) how many 386W
  mobile phone masts had been erected in (a) school grounds and (b) hospital grounds by (i) 1 January 2000 and (ii) 1 January 2001; [148528]

  (2) what his estimate is of the number of mobile phone masts which will be erected on (a) school grounds and (b) hospital grounds in (i) 2001 and (ii) 2002; [148527]

  (3) what estimate he has made of the number of new mobile phone masts which will be erected in (a) 2001, (b) 2002 and (c) 2003. [148529]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  The Department does not hold information about the number or locations of existing mobile phone masts.

  The Stewart Group recommended that a national database be set up by Government giving details of all base stations and their emissions. The Government have accepted this recommendation and are in the process of bringing together information on base station sites into a single co-ordinated database. This information will be made available to the public and local planning authorities.

  The number of new masts required is dependent upon a range of factors. The Department is not in a position to give an estimate of the numbers which may be involved. This is a matter for the individual telecommunications operators. However, they are fully aware of the importance we attach to keeping the number of masts to the practicable minimum and to ensuring that those which are needed are designed and sited with sensitivity and care.

  Mr. Green
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what recent representations he has received from(a) schools and (b) hospitals about the safety of mobile phone masts; [148524]

  (2) what recent representations he has received from local authorities about the safety of mobile phone masts; and if he will make a statement. [148525]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  In response to the recent consultation exercise seeking views on possible changes to the planning laws relating to telecommunications masts and associated guidance one response was received from a school, none from hospitals and 231 from local authority officials and Councillors.

  Otherwise, the Department has received centrally in the last year one letter from a school, no letters from hospitals and 114 letters from local authority officials and Councillors about amenity or health aspects of mobile phone masts.

  Mr. Green
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what percentage of mobile phone mast sites are used by more than one operator. [148531]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  The Government's policy is firmly to encourage mast and site sharing where that is the optimum solution in the individual circumstances. Indeed, conditions attached to individual operating licences granted by the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry include a requirement to investigate mast sharing before seeking to put up any new mast.
  387W
  DETR Circular 4/99, "Planning for Telecommunications", makes clear our expectation that developers should provide evidence to local planning authorities that they have carefully considered the use of existing masts, buildings and other structures before seeking to erect any new mast, regardless of size. The authority may be justified in refusing prior approval or planning permissions if it considers the evidence regarding the consideration of such alternative sites is not satisfactory.

  The Department has no information on site sharing but understands that there are approximately 9,000 mobile phone masts, of which 1,700 carry equipment from more than one operator.

  Mr. Green
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list(a) the meetings between Ministers at his Department and representatives of the mobile phone industry, and (b) the Ministers present at each such meeting, between 1 January 2000 and 1 January 2001. [148530]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  Ministers have extensive dealings with organisations in both the public and private sectors as part of their official duties.

  It would be impractical to maintain a central record of such meetings.

  Warning Lights
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the organisations, authorities and agencies which are entitled to(a) mount on their vehicles and (b) use on the public highway, blue flashing or revolving lights; and if he will make a statement. [148432]

  Mr. Hill
  Entitlement to mount and use blue warning beacons, special warning lamps and similar devices on road vehicles are contained in the Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989.

  These regulations restrict the fitting of blue warning beacons or special warning lamps to emergency vehicles. The meaning of an emergency vehicle in these regulations is defined as a motor vehicle of any of the following descriptions:

  (a) a vehicle used for fire brigade, ambulance or police purposes;

  (b) an ambulance, being a vehicle (other than an invalid carriage) which is constructed or adapted for the purposes of conveying sick, injured or disabled persons and which is used for such purposes;

  (c) a vehicle owned by a body formed primarily for the purposes of fire salvage and used for those or similar purposes;

  (d) a vehicle owned by the Forestry Commission or by a local authority and used from time to time for the purposes of fighting fires;

  (e) a vehicle owned by the Secretary of State for Defence and used

  (i) for the purposes of the disposal of bombs or explosives,

  (ii) by the Naval Emergency Monitoring Organisation for the purposes of a nuclear accident or an incident involving radioactivity,

  (iii) by the Royal Air Force Mountain Rescue Service for the purposes of rescue operations or any other emergencies, or

  (iv) by the royal Air Force Armament Support Unit;

  (f) a vehicle primarily used for the purposes of the Blood Transfusion Service provided under the National Health Service Act 1977(a)or under the National Health Service (Scotland) Act 1978(b);

  388W

  (g) a vehicle used by Her Majesty's Coastguard or Coastguard Auxiliary Service for the purposes or giving aid to persons in danger or vessels in distress on or near the coast;

  (h) a vehicle owned by the British Coal Corporation and used for the purposes of rescue operations at mines;

  (i) a vehicle owned by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution and used for the purposes of launching lifeboats; and

  (j) a vehicle primarily used for the purposes of conveying any human tissue for transplanting or similar purposes.

  The regulations prohibit the use of warning beacons emitting blue light and special warning lamps by emergency vehicles except (i) at the scene of an emergency (ii) or when it is necessary or desirable either to indicate to persons using the road the urgency of the purpose for which the vehicle is being used, or to warn persons of the presence of the vehicle or hazard on the road.

  Army Training Estate (Otterburn)
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions for what reason he has not issued a decision letter in respect of the public inquiries into proposed development at Otterburn Army training estate. [148431]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  The hon. Member may be aware that the Courts have given leave for judicial review in relation to development proposed by the Home Office at Aldington in Kent, which involves a challenge to DOE Circular 18–84 procedures for the development of Crown land. These are the same procedures as have been used by the Ministry of Defence to seek approval for the proposed development at Otterburn in Northumberland. The grounds of challenge are that the procedures are non-compliant with Article 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights. It is unlikely that I shall be in a position to reach a final decision on Otterburn before the Aldington case comes to Court this month. I shall then need to consider how to proceed in the light of the Aldington judgment.

  In the meantime, I am arranging for various exchanges of correspondence on this issue to be copied to the parties to the Otterburn inquiry for their information.

  Central Railway Project
  Mr. Wilkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will institute the Transport and Works Act 1992 procedure for consideration of the Central Railway project. [148754]

  Mr. Hill
  We cannot institute the Transport and Works Act procedure unless the scheme's promoters, Central Railway, formally apply to the Secretary of State for an Order under that Act. That is for them to decide.

PRIME MINISTER

  Lord Levy
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the dates in the last 12 months on which Lord Levy has met the Prime Minister; what the duration was of each meeting; and where the meetings have been held. [145325]
  389W
  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 15 January 2001]: Lord Levy liaises regularly with me, the Foreign Secretary, and other Ministers in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 20 December 2000,Official Report, column 236W, on Lord Levy, if he will place the texts of the personal messages delivered by Lord Levy on his behalf to (a) President Zedillo, (b) President-Elect Fox, (c) President Chavez, (d) President Batte, (e) President Banizer and (f) President Noboa. [145324]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 15 January 2001]: No. The messages were personal.

  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Prime Minister what plans there are for(a) the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs and (b) other ministers to accompany Lord Levy on future trips while acting as his personal envoy. [145261]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 15 January 2001]: None.

  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Prime Minister if Lord Levy has(a) security protection and (b) a personal bodyguard provided by Her Majesty's Government while travelling as his personal envoy in (i) Israel and (ii) Latin America. [145267]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 15 January 2001]: When travelling as my personal envoy, Lord Levy receives the level of security protection considered necessary in the country he is visiting.

  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 20 December 2000,Official Report, column 238W, concerning messages carried by Lord Levy, for what reason such messages could not be carried by Ministers and diplomats. [145274]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 15 January 2001]: The purpose of asking Lord Levy to convey such messages as my personal envoy was to signal my personal interest in our relations with the countries. He was accompanied throughout by our ambassadors to the countries concerned and by a Foreign and Commonwealth Office official.

  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Prime Minister what definition he uses of personal envoy, in relation to the work of Lord Levy. [145266]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 15 January 2001]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to her right hon. Friend the Member for Horsham (Mr.Maude) on 30 March 2000, Official Report, column 246W.

  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 20 December 2000,Official Report, column 236W, (1) what his policy is on the payment of travel expenses by Lord Levy while travelling as his personal envoy; [145273]

  (2) for what reason Lord Levy did not claim travel expenses in respect of his visit to South America. [145271]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answers 15 January 2001]: Lord Levy has always paid his own travel expenses when travelling as my personal envoy.
  390W
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 20 December 2000,Official Report, column 236W, if Lord Levy's visit to the middle east over the Christmas period was made in his capacity as his personal envoy. [145270]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 15 January 2001]: Lord Levy visited Israel, the Palestinian Authority and Jordan from 5–9 January as my personal envoy.

  Mr. Ruffley
  To ask the Prime Minister with whom Lord Levy had(a) scheduled and (b) unscheduled meetings in his role as personal envoy during his most recent visit to the middle east. [145859]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 16 January 2001]: Lord Levy met a range of senior figures, including Prime Minister Barak in Israel, President Arafat in the Palestinian Authority, and Prime Minister Ali Abul Ragheb in Jordan. He had no unscheduled meetings.

  Mr. Ruffley
  To ask the Prime Minister what statements were issued by each British embassy in(a) the South American countries and (b) middle eastern countries which Lord Levy visited, for each visit he has made there. [145860]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 16 January 2001]: In general Embassies do not issue formal statements when Lord Levy visits, but provide factual information to inquiries.

  Mr. Ruffley
  To ask the Prime Minister what the cost to public funds was of Lord Levy's most recent visit to the middle east; what contribution to the costs was made by Lord Levy; what the purpose was of his visit; what access Lord Levy has to non-confidential Government information; and from which officials Lord Levy has received briefings on the middle east. [145858]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 16 January 2001]: Lord Levy's most recent visit as my personal envoy was to Israel, the Palestinian Authority and Jordan from 5–9 January. The FCO and Embassies provided practical support, the cost of which is not separately itemised. This included accommodation, briefing, assistance in arranging programmes, and accompanied transport by road. Lord Levy paid his own travel costs to and from the region. The purpose of the visit was to exchange views on regional issues, in particular the middle east peace process. Lord Levy received briefings from appropriate Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials. A Foreign and Commonwealth Office official accompanied Lord Levy.

  Mr. Ruffley
  To ask the Prime Minister on which occasions during Lord Levy's most recent visit to the middle east he(a) made public statements and (b) talked to foreign media, as a representative of (i) the Prime Minister and (ii) the United Kingdom. [145857]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 16 January 2001]: None.

  Mr. Ruffley
  To ask the Prime Minister what engagements Lord Levy has undertaken on his behalf in the middle east in(a) 1997–98, (b) 1998–99, (c) 1999–2000 and(d)2000–01. [145856]
  391W
  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 16 January 2001]: I refer to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Lewes (Mr. Baker) on 1 November 2000, Official Report, column 510W.

  Since then, Lord Levy has made one trip to the middle east as my personal envoy, visiting Israel, the Palestinian Authority and Jordan from 5 to 9 January 2001.

  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Prime Minister what(a) scheduled and (b) unscheduled meetings Lord Levy had with the media during his visit to South America. [146620]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 22 January 2001]: Lord Levy answered questions from the local media on a number of occasions.

  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Prime Minister what steps he has taken to ensure that there are no conflicts of interest between Lord Levy's business interests and his mission as an envoy for his Department in the middle east. [146496]

  The Prime Minister
  I am satisfied that there is no such conflict of interest. Lord Levy has no business interests in the middle east.

  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Prime Minister what(a) scheduled and (b) unscheduled meetings Lord Levy had with the media during his visit to the middle east in (i) December 2000 and (ii) January of this year. [146495]

  The Prime Minister
  Lord Levy did not visit the middle east in December 2000. He had no meetings with the media during his visit from 5–9 January.

  Personal Envoys
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Prime Minister what plans he has to appoint further personal envoys. [145265]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 15 January 2001]: I have no such plans.

  Hammond Inquiry
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Prime Minister if the inquiry under Sir Anthony Hammond will consider issues relating to sponsorship of the Millennium Dome. [148367]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 2 February 2001]: All relevant information will be made available to Sir Anthony Hammond in so far as it relates to the terms of reference of his review.

  Hinduja Brothers
  Mr. Soames
  To ask the Prime Minister when Lord Levy met the Hinduja brothers at the House of Lords on behalf of the Government to confirm their sponsorship of the dome; what instructions he was given; what report he made of the meeting; and to whom. [148624]

  The Prime Minister
  At the request of the New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC), Lord Levy attended a meeting on 29 October 1998 with the then Chief Executive of NMEC and representatives of the Hinduja Foundation to discuss their potential support of the Faith zone in the Millennium Dome.
  392W

HEALTH

  Waiting Lists
  Mr. Quentin Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS patients have been waiting more than one year for an(a) out-patient and (b) in-patient (i) surgical intervention and (ii) other secondary medical treatment; and what the comparable figures were for (a) 1995, (b) 1990, (c) 1985 and (d) 1980. [143341]

  Mr. Denham
  Information on people waiting over a year for an out-patient appointment is not collected centrally. The in-patient information is given in the table.

  Patients waiting for elective admission

  Trust-based figures

  Months/waiting

  Surgical acute specialties

  Other specialties

  Position at 31 March 19801

  Total waiting

  2—

  2—

  12 months plus

  2—

  2—

  18 months plus

  2—

  2—

  Position at 31 March 19851

  Total waiting

  2—

  2—

  12 months plus

  2—

  2—

  18 months plus

  2—

  2—

  Position at 31 March 1990

  Total waiting

  922,953

  36,023

  12 months plus

  203,517

  4,343

  18 months plus

  2—

  2—

  Position at 31 March 1995

  Total waiting

  979,622

  64,429

  12 months plus

  31,541

  653

  18 months plus

  279

  1

  Position at 30 September 20003

  Total waiting

  960,241

  71,583

  12 months plus

  50,118

  997

  18 months plus

  2

  0

  1Ordinary admissions only

  2Not collected separately

  3Latest figures available by specialty

  source:

  Department of Health form KH07 completedn by NHS Trusts

  Correspondence
  Mrs. Roe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will reply to the letters from the hon. Member for Broxbourne, of 31 October, 22 November, 22 December 2000 and 18 January 2001, relating to Mr. Derek Frank Finch of Cheshunt. [146895]

  Mr. Denham
  [holding answer 23 January 2001]: A reply to the hon. Member's letter was sent on the 31 January.

  MMR
  Miss Kirkbride
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what protection he plans to offer to women who have not received the rubella vaccination since MMR was introduced in 1988; and how many women of child- bearing age his Department estimates are not innoculated against rubella. [147485]
  393W
  Yvette Cooper
  [holding answer 26 January 2001]: All women are tested for rubella susceptibiltiy in their first pregnancy. Any found to be sero-negative are recommended to be immunised after the pregnancy. This programme, along with the surveillance of rubella susceptibility of the antenatal population, has been maintained since the introduction of measles, mumps and rubella. Since there has never been a programme to immunise women of child-bearing age, except those sero-negative, it is not possible to know how many women of child-bearing age are not immunised.

  It is not possible to estimate the number of women who have not been innoculated against rubella. In 1995, the joint committee on vaccination and immunisation recommended that rubella immunisation for schoolgirls could cease due to the high level of immunisation through either the MMR campaign started in 1988 or the MR campaign in 1994.

  Acquired Brain Injury
  Ms Blears
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what support his Department offers to people with acquired brain injury; [147954]

  (2) what percentage and number of those with acquired brain injury are provided with rehabilitation services; [147966]

  (3) what plans he has to help individuals with acquired brain injury back into work; [147955]

  (4) what percentage of people with brain injury are provided with rehabilitation services. [147972]

  Mr.Denham
  Support and treatment depends on the extent of the injury and can, where appropriate, include specialised rehabilitation. The aim of treatment is, wherever possible, to restore the person to the state of health they enjoyed before the injury happened. Our policy is that all patients who need rehabilitation services should have access to them.

  Ms Blears
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance he gives to local health, employment and social services in Greater Manchester on funding for vocational rehabilitation for individuals with acquired brain injury. [147956]

  Mr. Denham
  We do not give individual guidance to local health, employment and social services on what services to provide for their populations. Health authorities in partnership with primary care groups/trusts and other local stakeholders are responsible for assessing the health needs of their populations and commissioning services to meet those needs.

  Ms Blears
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of people with acquired brain injury do not walk again. [147967]

  Mr. Denham
  Around 1 million people a year receive a head injury in the United Kingdom and some 100,000 of those attend hospital. Each year at least 2,000 adults suffer permanent serious impairments. We do not keep statistics, however, on whether patients are left unable to walk as a result of their injury.

  Ms Blears
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what is the average age of a person diagnosed with acquired brain injury; [147965]
  394W
  (2) what the average age is of a person diagnosed with a brain injury. [147969]

  Mr. Denham
  We do not analyse the incidence of brain injury by age. However, a 1999 report from the Royal College of Surgeons, on the management of head injury, found that around half of the people who attend hospital with a head injury are under 16 years of age.

  Mr. Woolas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what financial support his Department offers to people with acquired brain injury in Greater Manchester; and if he will make a statement. [147970]

  Mr.Denham
  We do not provide funding for individual patients. It is for health authorities, in partnership with primary care groups/trusts and other local stakeholders, to determine how best to use their funds to meet national and local priorities for improving health, tackling health inequalities and modernising services.

  Social Services Inspectorate
  Mr.Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how the social services inspectorate follow up the findings and recommendations of the local government ombudsman in respect of maladministration by social services departments. [147321]

  Mr.Hutton
  [holding answer 29 January 2001]: The Department expects local authorities to take all reports, and especially those in which there are adverse findings, of the local government ombudsman very seriously and to take appropriate action locally in the light of the ombudsman's recommendations. The ombudsman does not publish all of his judgments or routinely notify details of individual cases to the social services inspectorate. Thus, the inspectorate does not have a formal role in following up such recommendations. Should the inspectorate be notified of a decision, it may decide to take up the matter with the local authority to establish what action is being taken, but this will depend on the nature of the case and the ombudsman's recommendation.

  Epsom and St.Helier NHS Trust
  Sir Archie Hamilton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) for what reason the consultation being carried out by the Epsom and St. Helier NHS Trust recommends a significant transfer of facilities away from Epsom to St. Helier; [148329]

  (2) for what reasons the Chief Executive of the Epsom and St. Helier NHS Trust has not held discussions with the management of hospitals in Surrey about the impact on them of the location of services away from St. Helier. [148328]

  Mr.Denham
  The discussion document published by Epsom and St. Helier national health service trust considers ways in which patient services could best be provided for local people. It takes into account Royal College guidelines on the required critical mass of services for these to be provided and also the need to use the accommodation at Epsom hospital to the best advantage of patients.

  This is an informal discussion document. Should concrete proposals be developed, there would be a full and formal consultation with all affected parties, including local people and other NHS organisations.
  395W

  Paediatric Facilities
  Sir Archie Hamilton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make it his policy that only accident and emergency departments that are on the same hospital site as in-patient paediatric facilities should accept children. [148331]

  Ms Stuart
  No. It remains appropriate for accident and emergency departments to offer initial assessment of health status and the options available to achieve best outcome including, if appropriate, transfer to a specialist unit on another site.

  Negligence Claims
  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what were the total amounts paid out by(a) NHS trusts and (b) health authorities in response to negligence claims in each of the last 10 years; if he will break down the amounts by region; and if he will make a statement. [148081]

  Ms Stuart
  [holding answer 1 February 2001]: We do not collect centrally information on clinical negligence payments by national health service trusts or health authorities. The National Audit Office report on the NHS summarised accounts shows that health authorities and NHS trusts charged the following amounts to their income and expenditure accounts for each year:

  Year

  £million

  1992–93

  80.4

  1993–94

  117.9

  1994–95

  160

  1995–96

  173

  1996–97

  235

  1997–98

  144

  1998–99

  221

  Note:

  Figures for 1999–2000 are not yet available.

  Complaints Evaluation
  Mr. Hepburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he intends to publish the findings of the independent United Kingdom-wide evaluation of complaints; and what action he will take on the results of the evaluation. [148615]

  Ms Stuart
  The evaluation team's report is expected to be submitted by the end of this month. It will be published as soon as possible once we have given proper consideration to the findings. The NHS plan made it clear that we will act on the results of the evaluation and without prejudicing the evaluation we would expect the reform of the complaints procedure to result in a more independent and responsive system.

  NHS Staff (Expenses)
  Dr. Stoate
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the conclusions of his Department's working group reviewing the reimbursement arrangements for the expenses incurred by NHS staff on NHS business. [148285]

  Mr. Denham
  We are continuing to work with representatives of staff and employers on options for revised arrangements for reimbursing staff travelling on 396W
  national health service business. The issues are complex, and we will bring the review to a conclusion as soon as possible.

  Patient Care Budget
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the value of l/20th of the patient care budget will be for each health authority in each of the next three years. [148567]

  Mr. Denham
  Health authority allocations for 2001–02 are shown in the table. Final decisions have not yet been made for 2002–03 and 2003–04 but all health authorities will receive a minimum increase of 6 per cent.

  £000

  Health authority

  Total allocation 2001–02

  1/20th of total allocation

  Avon

  697,776

  34,889

  Barking and Havering

  303,878

  15,194

  Barnet

  247,485

  12,374

  Barnsley

  185,567

  9,278

  Bedfordshire

  369,282

  18,464

  Berkshire

  525,665

  26,283

  Bexley and Greenwich

  344,220

  17,211

  Birmingham

  808,438

  40,422

  Bradford

  371,589

  18,579

  Brent and Harrow

  370,079

  18,504

  Bromley

  217,850

  10,893

  Buckinghamshire

  441,601

  22,080

  Bury and Rochdale

  297,767

  14,888

  Calderdale and Kirklees

  436,633

  21,832

  Cambridgeshire

  470,718

  23,536

  Camden and Islington

  394,935

  19,747

  Cornwall and Isles of Scilly

  372,185

  18,609

  County Durham

  491,142

  24,557

  Coventry

  241,259

  12,063

  Croydon

  241,504

  12,075

  Doncaster

  234,088

  11,704

  Dorset

  524,463

  26,223

  Dudley

  217,943

  10,897

  Ealing, Hammersmith and Hounslow

  579,510

  28,976

  East and North Hertfordshire

  347,662

  17,383

  East Kent

  467,900

  23,395

  East Lancashire

  415,174

  20,759

  East London and The City

  596,445

  29,822

  East Riding

  425,755

  21,288

  East Surrey

  288,231

  14,412

  East Sussex, Brighton and Hove

  594,506

  29,725

  Enfield and Haringey

  386,293

  19,315

  Gateshead and South Tyneside

  299,716

  14,986

  Gloucestershire

  392,240

  19,612

  Herefordshire

  117,787

  5,889

  Hillingdon

  183,403

  9,170

  Isle of Wight

  108,298

  5,415

  Kensington, Chelsea and Westminster

  359,721

  17,986

  Kingston and Richmond

  255,761

  12,788

  Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham

  692,785

  34,639

  Leeds

  557,161

  27,858

  Leicestershire

  613,532

  30,677

  Lincolnshire

  467,631

  23,382

  Liverpool

  408,740

  20,437

  Manchester

  410,816

  20,541

  Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth

  496,841

  24,842

  Morecambe Bay

  242,079

  12,104

  Newcastle and North Tyneside

  394,414

  19,721

  Norfolk

  549,539

  27,477

  North and East Devon

  353,859

  17,693

  North and Mid Hampshire

  345,415

  17,271

  North Cheshire

  235,657

  11,783

  North Cumbria

  234,652

  11,733

  397W

  £000

  Health authority

  Total allocation 2001–02

  1/20th of total allocation

  North Derbyshire

  269,960

  13,498

  North Essex

  595,359

  29,768

  North Nottinghamshire

  282,380

  14,119

  North Staffordshire

  362,284

  18,114

  North West Lancashire

  381,457

  19,073

  North Yorkshire

  510,732

  25,537

  Northamptonshire

  385,430

  19,272

  Northumberland

  232,652

  11,633

  Nottingham

  463,720

  23,186

  Oxfordshire

  394,886

  19,744

  Portsmouth and South East Hampshire

  396,100

  19,805

  Redbridge and Waltham Forest

  350,051

  17,503

  Rotherham

  188,467

  9,423

  Salford and Trafford

  366,383

  18,319

  Sandwell

  242,664

  12,133

  Sefton

  229,179

  11,459

  Sheffield

  431,355

  21,568

  Shropshire

  294,125

  14,706

  Solihull

  143,879

  7,194

  Somerset

  343,500

  17,175

  South and West Devon

  451,040

  22,552

  South Cheshire

  478,715

  23,936

  South Derbyshire

  404,994

  20,250

  South Essex

  500,386

  25,019

  South Humber

  233,841

  11,692

  South Lancashire

  222,508

  11,125

  South Staffordshire

  379,655

  18,983

  Southampton and South West Hampshire

  388,537

  19,427

  St. Helen's and Knowsley

  278,798

  13,940

  Stockport

  208,234

  10,412

  Suffolk

  468,523

  23,426

  Sunderland

  237,254

  11,863

  Tees

  439,203

  21,960

  Wakefield

  250,132

  12,507

  Walsall

  193,863

  9,693

  Warwickshire

  344,918

  17,246

  West Hertfordshire

  373,495

  18,675

  West Kent

  665,312

  33,266

  West Pennine

  352,242

  17,612

  West Surrey

  432,530

  21,627

  West Sussex

  555,588

  27,779

  Wigan and Bolton

  444,786

  22,239

  Wiltshire

  408,462

  20,423

  Wirral

  267,707

  13,385

  Wolverhampton

  190,097

  9,505

  Worcestershire

  354,408

  17,720

  Charging Policy
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what change in charging policy will be brought about by the transfer of local authority health related functions to the care trusts proposed in the Health and Social Care Bill. [148880]

  Mr. Hutton
  There will be no change in the arrangements for any charging policy which affects services which are delegated to a care trust as proposed in the Health and Social Care Bill. The policy decisions on charging that a local authority can make will continue to be taken by the local authority, and will relate to their delegated functions only.

  Waiting Lists (Worcestershire)
  Miss Kirkbride
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients were on the(a) waiting list
  398W
  for operations and (b) waiting list for an out-patient's appointment at the Worcestershire NHS Acute Trust in each month from January 2000 to January 2001. [148752]

  Mr. Denham
  Worcester acute hospital is a newly merged trust. As a result, data are not available before April 2000. Latest data available are shown.

  The trust had planned for and achieved a decrease in both its in-patient and out-patient waiting lists for end of October. It is inevitable that waiting lists would rise due to the evacuation of patients from the Castle street site of Worcester Royal infirmary due to the heavy flooding.

  In-patient data

  Month

  Total inpatient waiting list

  April 2000

  8,294

  May 2000

  8,470

  June 2000

  8,665

  July 2000

  8,878

  August 2000

  8,370

  September 2000

  8,958

  October 2000

  8,911

  November 2000

  9,192

  Out-patient over 13 week waiters

  Quarter

  Number

  June 2000

  1,920

  September 2000

  2,650

  Overseas Visits
  Mr. Stephen O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many visits abroad have been made by Health Department officials on departmental business(a) since 1 May 1997 and (b) in the last 12 months. [149155]

  Ms Stuart
  Information is not held in the form requested. However, total expenditure (travel and subsistence) for visits abroad by departmental officials is as follows.

  Financial year

  £

  1997–98

  858,710.00

  1998–99

  927,372.92

  1999–00

  874,262.10

  2000–01 (up to 31 January 2001)

  658,870.19

  For the period 1 February 2000–31 January 2001 the figure is £860,848.48.

  Cane Hill Site, Coulsdon
  Mr. Ottaway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has for the redevelopment of the Cane Hill site, Coulsdon. [148153]

  Mr. Hutton
  Croydon council have rejected a planning application by South London and Maudsley national health service trust to extend the medium secure unit provided at the site by 98 beds.

  The trust, in conjunction with other mental health providing trusts in south London, is undertaking feasibility studies to identify whether an alternative site or sites can be identified.
  399W
  The future of the Cane Hill site will not be determined until a clear plan for the provision of these services has been agreed.

  NHS Expenditure
  Mr. Derek Twigg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the(a) planned expenditure and (b) actual expenditure was for the NHS in (i) 1997–98, (ii) 1998–99 and (iii) 1999–2000. [148816]

  Mr. Denham
  The information requested is set out in the table.

  £million

  Planned net NHS expenditure1

  Outturn net NHS expenditure

  1997–98

  34,368

  34,664

  1998–99

  36,509

  36,612

  1999–2000

  39,703

  240,066

  1This shows planned expenditure at the start of each financial year

  2 Estimated outturn

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Post Office Closures
  Mr. Alasdair Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many post offices have closed in Scotland in each of the last 10 years. [148161]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  I understand from the Post Office that they do not hold historical data on post office closures by country for the last 10 years. Their records are held on a financial year basis. Net post office closures in Scotland for the years for which figures are available are as follows:

  Year to end March 1999–25

  Year to end March 2000–29.

  EU Postal Monopolies
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his answers of 17 January 2001,Official Report, columns 238–39W concerning the postal monopoly limit, what Her Majesty's Government's policy is on Directive Com (2000) 319; when the Directive will be published; what the income of the Royal Mail was in the last year from items weighing (i) less than 50 grammes and (ii) between 50 and 350 grammes; and if primary legislation is needed to amend the public monopoly powers of the Royal Mail. [148558]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  The proposal from the European Commission for a draft directive was published on 19 July 2000. The directive will be published in final form if and when the Council and European Parliament agree a final text. The Government support co-ordinated European liberalisation—this will ensure a level playing field for postal operators—including the Post Office and the future Post Office company. The Government believe it is important for such liberalisation to be gradual and controlled and to be consistent with our domestic processes to ensure that the full benefits of liberalisation can be achieved. That is why before taking a detailed decisions in Europe it would be preferable to take account 400W
  of the work of our postal regulator—to ensure that liberalisation proceeds in a way that is consistent with maintaining the universal service at a uniform tariff.

  At the Telecommunications Council in December, I said that although I believed that the limits could be reduced from 350 grams to 150 grams in 2003 without adversely impacting on the universal service, I would need the advice of our regulator before going further. In the event, member states were unable to agree on a package and further discussions are expected during the Swedish Presidency.

  The income of the Royal Mail in these weight categories is a matter for the Post Office and would be commercially confidential within the meaning of Exemption 13 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information (third party's commercial confidences). A broad indication of the income of Royal Mail by weight category is as follows:

  Percentage

  Revenue from items below 50 grams

  65

  Revenue from items between 50 grams and 350 grams

  30

  Revenue from items over 350 grams

  5

  The Postal Services Act 2000 replaces the exclusive privilege of the Post Office to deliver letters under certain weights and postage prices with a licensing regime covering such letters. The Postal Services Commission is responsible for issuing licences to do this and is proposing to grant Consignia plc (the future operating company of the Post Office company (Consignia Holdings plc)) with a licence to do so.

  Under the Act, the extent of the letters market subject to licensed access may be modified by an order made by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, but only on the recommendation of the Postal Services Commission and after it has been laid in draft before, and approved by, both Houses of Parliament. The relevant provisions of the Postal Services Act 2000 are due to come into force on 26 March 2001.

  If changes to the Postal Services Act 2000 are needed to implement obligations under the draft directive when it is adopted, these could be made using the powers contained in section 2(2) of the European Communities Act 1972.

  Departmental Policies (Slough)
  Fiona Mactaggart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to the Slough constituency, the effects on Slough of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997. [146932]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  Slough has benefited from a broad range of initiatives that have been implemented since May 1997.

  The Thames Valley Business Link
  The Thames Valley Business Link receives funding from the Department to assist businesses at all stages of development. The Business Link also has an independent income stream. The Business Link covers both Berkshire and Buckinghamshire. Initiatives are aimed to reach groups of businesses that have

  401W
  shown a need for a more direct approach. It would not be possible to disaggregate the benefit for Slough and the figures shown are for the whole region covered by the Business Link.
  The Business Links services are widely marketed and include the following initiatives.

  DTI Funding for Business Link

  Financial Year

  £000

  1997–98

  2,288

  1998–99

  2,108

  1999–2000

  2,938

  2000–01

  n/a

  Diagnostic Consultancy Service
  This scheme is aimed at businesses to help them find and rectify problems within the company.
  Business Advisory Service
  The Business Advisory Service gives: easy access to a wide range of quality business services; initial business diagnosis at no extra cost; impartial expert advice on business issues; and practical value for money support tailored to make the most of an individuals potential.
  Export Counselling Services
  This was a scheme initiated in 1997 to aid local businesses to develop an export market. (Funds were in addition to the above)

  Financial Year

  £

  1997–98

  52,500

  1998–99

  50,000

  1999–2000

  25,000

  Other initiatives include:
  British Trade International
  A separately funded unit dealing with expanding the export and raising the profile of British goods abroad.
  SMART Awards
  Three Slough businesses have been awarded money to develop innovative technological ideas to improve their business.
  The Berkshire Small Business Service
  The Small Business Service will take over from the current Business Link in April 2001 and will deliver a sharper and more focused service by acting as a gateway to the wide range services available to local businesses.

  EU Direction Consultation and Information
  Mr. Davidson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the proposed timetable is for(a) discussions between the TUC, the CBI and the Government on the incorporation into UK law of the EU directive on Consultation and Information and (b) for bringing necessary legislation before the House; and if he will make a statement. [148125]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  The proposed EU directive establishing a general framework for informing and consulting employees in the European Community has not been adopted by the Council of Ministers. Therefore there is no timetable for its implementation in the UK.

  Cash Points (Post Offices)
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has made to the Post 402W
  Office on the prospects of cash points in sub-post offices which are not owned by banks and building societies making charges for access to cash. [148178]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  [holding answer 1 February 2001]: None; this is a commercial matter for the Post Office. However, the Government have made it clear that they do not welcome the imposition of charges for access to cash. They would impact disproportionately on the socially excluded and those in rural areas.

  Coal Consumption
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the UK(a) consumption of coal and (b) extra tonnes of carbon dioxide burned between August and October was in (i) 1999 and (ii) 2000. [147815]

  Mr. Hain
  [pursuant to his reply, 30 January 2001, c. 121W]: I should like to point out that there was an increase of 1 million tonnes (and not 3 million tonnes) in the amount of coal consumed in this period in the UK in 2000 compared with 1999.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  European Directives
  Mr. Rapson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the institutions of the European Union are required to abide by European directives [148054]

  Mr. Vaz
  Directives are addressed to the member states, but may contain express provisions that bind the institution, for example a requirement that the Commission set up a programme or report back to the Council on a particular matter.

  Embassies and High Commissions
  Mr. Kilfoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the 10 British embassies and high commissions with the(a) highest and (b) lowest running costs, indicating the number of staff employed in each case. [145310]

  Mr. Wilson
  The 10 UK embassies and high commissions with the(a)highest and (b)lowest operating costs in FY 1999–2000, and the numbers of UK-based staff resident at these missions, are as follows:

  Operating costs1

  Number of UK-based staff2

  Numbers of locally engaged staff

  Highest

  Tokyo (highest operating cost)

  48

  133

  Paris

  70

  140

  Washington

  77

  155

  Moscow

  76

  151

  Brussels3

  144

  113

  Berlin/Bonn

  53

  97

  New Delhi

  64

  234

  Rome

  35

  95

  Peking

  69

  138

  Singapore

  22

  57

  403W

  Operating costs1

  Number of UK-based staff2

  Numbers of locally engaged staff

  Lowest

  Minsk

  4

  12

  Reykjavik

  3

  6

  Vila

  2

  8

  Santo Domingo

  2

  10

  Managua

  2

  13

  Windhoek

  4

  7

  Tegucigalpa

  2

  11

  Honiara

  2

  8

  Nuku'Alofa

  1

  8

  Castries (lowest operating cost)

  1

  4

  1 Operating costs include costs of small subordinate posts,that cannot esasily be separated/extracted.

  2Numbers of home based staff is the total staff complement of the FCO and other Government Departments, ie MOD and DFIF.

  3Costs and starff figures cover all the FCO Missions in Brussels, (Embassy, UKREP,NATO)

  4Costs and staff figures cover the officers in Berlin and Bonn together as they cannot be calculated separately

  Lord Levy
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last met Lord Levy to discuss his recent visit to South America. [145259]

  Mr. Battle
  [holding answer 15 January 2001]: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary meets Lord Levy on a regular basis, most recently on 15 and 21 January.

  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will place in the Library the(a) agenda and (b)minutes of Lord Levy's meetings with officials during his visit to South America. [145258]

  Mr. Battle
  [holding answer 15 January 2001]: Our ambassadors in the countries concerned sent accounts of Lord Levy's meetings by telegram to the FCO. Under the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information, exemption 2, internal telegrams are not made public. This is in line with previous Government practice.

  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the outcome of Lord Levy's visit to South America, with particular reference to UK-South American relations. [145260]

  Mr. Battle
  [holding answer 15 January 2001]: Lord Levy's visit was very successful and made a major contribution to our relations with the countries concerned.

  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what private business Lord Levy is conducting while travelling in the middle east. [146489]

  Mr. Wilson
  [holding answer 22 January 2001]: Lord Levy conducts no private business while travelling as the Prime Minister's personal envoy, and has no business interests in the middle east.

  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what(a) practical and (b) financial support his Department and embassies have provided to Lord Levy during his visit to the middle east; and if he will separately itemise the cost of this support. [146494]
  404W
  Mr. Wilson
  I refer to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister to question 145858 from the hon. Member for Bury St. Edmunds (Mr. Ruffley) answered today,Official Report, column 390W.

  Saudi Arabia
  Mr. Watts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made in gaining access to British citizens held in Saudi Arabian prisons. [147625]

  Mr. Wilson
  Following our representations to the Saudi authorities, our embassy has now been given access to all those British nationals to whom we had previously been denied access.

  Our embassy is now arranging for follow-up visits to the men.

  Public Interest Immunity Certificates
  Sir Nicholas Lyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many public interest immunity certificates(a) he, (b) Ministers of State, (c) junior Ministers and (d) civil servants in his Department have signed in each calendar year from 30 May 1997. [147731]

  Mr. Wilson
  Eight public interest immunity certificates have been signed by Foreign and Commonwealth Office Ministers since 30 May 1997, as shown in the table.

  Secretary of State

  Ministers of State

  Junior Ministers

  Civil Servants

  1997

  0

  0

  1

  0

  1998

  1

  0

  0

  0

  1999

  2

  1

  0

  0

  2000

  3

  0

  0

  0

  2001

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Hinduja Brothers
  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what meetings the hon. Member for Leicester, East (Mr. Vaz) has had with representatives of the Indian Government and its agencies at which matters relating to the Hinduja family were discussed. [148072]

  Mr. Vaz
  [holding answer 31 January 2001]: Since becoming Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in October 1999, I have met a number of Indian Ministers and officials. I have not discussed matters relating to the Hinduja family during any of these meetings.

  Mr. Wilkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what occasions, and for what purpose, the hon. Member for Leicester, East(Mr. Vaz), has met a member of the Hinduja family while serving as a Minister in his Department. [148306]

  Mr. Vaz
  I have met members of the Hinduja family at various Asian community events. As prominent members of the British Asian community, the Hindujas are involved in many community issues.
  405W
  Mr. Wilkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the Minister of State, the hon. Member for Leicester, East (Mr. Vaz), has discussed extradition arrangements between the UK and India with(a) Mr. G. Hinduja and (b) Mr. S. Hinduja while serving as a Minister in his Department. [148307]

  Mr. Vaz
  No.

  Bear Baiting (Pakistan)
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations about bear baiting in Pakistan to the Government of Pakistan. [148561]

  Mr. Battle
  The British high commission in Islamabad has raised the issue of bear baiting with the Pakistani authorities on several occasions. It will continue to convey the strength of public opinion in the UK over the exploitation and ill-treatment of these animals, and will encourage the Government of Pakistan to find ways to enforce the law against bear baiting more effectively.

  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will urge the Government of Pakistan to co-operate with the World Society for the Protection of Animals in its campaign to eradicate bear baiting in Pakistan. [148562]

  Mr. Battle
  We noted that the Government of Pakistan, through their high commission in London, have expressed their appreciation to the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) for its commitment in developing the Kund Park bear sanctuary to house bears confiscated from their owners. The British high commission in Islamabad will continue to raise our concerns over bear baiting with the Pakistani authorities.

  Sir David Hannay
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Hendon (Mr. Dismore) of 29 January 2001,Official Report, column 58W, on Sir David Hannay, what work has been undertaken by Sir David for his Department. [148875]

  Mr. Vaz
  Sir David Hannay was appointed as the UK's special representative for Cyprus in May 1996 to give full support and new impetus to the UN's long-running efforts to achieve a settlement of the Cyprus problem. As such he is in regular contact with all those involved in the search for such a settlement, including with high level interlocutors in Cyprus. His work involves travel to Cyprus, Turkey and Greece in particular, and to the two UN headquarters (in New York and Geneva) where negotiations have been taking place since November 1999. His work also requires him to maintain close links with the EU (Presidency and Commission) and other Governments who are working to strengthen the UN efforts to achieve a peaceful settlement. He advises the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on all matters relating to a Cyprus settlement.

  Lockerbie
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on those responsible for the Lockerbie bombing other than Abdelbaset al-Megrahi. [148881]
  406W
  Mr. Battle
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in the House on 31 January 2001,Official Report, columns 307–17.

  Entry Visas
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many applications for entry visas from the Islamabad high commission the Minister with responsibility for entry clearance accepted after previously being declined by the High Commission in(a) 1992–93, (b) 1993–94, (c) 1994–95, (d) 1995–96, (e) 1996–97, (f) 1997–98 and (g) 1998–99; and if he will make a statement. [148827]

  Mr. Vaz
  I regret that the information requested could be obtained only at a disproportionate cost.

  The only way we could obtain this information would be for the high commission to review every refusal case file. Moreover, visa case files at posts are routinely destroyed after two years for issued visit visas, five years for refused visit applications, 10 years for other refused applications and 10 years for settlement applications.

  Common Fisheries Policy
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if discussions took place concerning the fishing fleets of Poland and Estonia and the review of the Common Fisheries Policy when he last met his colleagues from other member states of the European Union to discuss enlargement; and if he will make a statement. [147897]

  Mr. Vaz
  I last discussed enlargement with my EU colleagues at the General Affairs Council on 22 January. We did not discuss the fisheries chapter of the negotiations. This has been provisionally closed with Cyprus, Hungary, Estonia, the Czech Republic, Slovenia and Slovakia. The indicative timetable for negotiations set out in the Commission's strategy for enlargement of November 2000 envisages conclusion of negotiations on this chapter with other candidates in the second half of this year. All candidates will be expected to apply the common fisheries policy in full upon accession and access to fisheries resources within EU waters will be based on the principle of relative stability, which allocates national quotas according to historic catch levels.

  Immigration
  Mr. Hilary Benn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what definitions of temporary and permanent employment are used in considering applications for entry clearance to the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement. [148163]

  Mrs. Roche
  I have been asked to reply.

  There are no definitions of temporary or permanent employment in the Immigration Rules. There are a number of categories for entry to the United Kingdom that enable an individual to take employment. The type of employment varies between the categories and ranges from work incidental to their main purpose of entry to full employment by a United Kingdom company.
  407W

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

  Abortion and Sterilisation
  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what plans she has to review her policy on the provision of public funding to overseas aid organisations involved in compulsory abortion and sterilisation in the third world and China; and if she will make a statement. [147697]

  Clare Short
  My Department does not fund organisations involved in compulsory abortion and sterilisation. DFID makes annual contributions towards the work of the United Nations Population Fund and the International Planned Parenthood Federation in over 150 countries. These organisations have programmes in China aimed at promoting international standards of freedom of choice reproductive health. We strongly support these efforts.

  Education for All
  Mr. Hilary Benn
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the steps taken by UNESCO to implement the education for all programme following the Dakar Summit. [148164]

  Clare Short
  UNESCO was given a mandate at the World Education Forum to monitor and co-ordinate implementation of the Dakar framework for action. Its Director-General was asked to convene annually an education for all (EFA) high level group to review progress. This has not yet met, but a working group (for informal technical consultation among EFA partners) has been established. UNESCO is implementing major organisational changes to mainstream EFA throughout its programmes.

  We will continue to encourage UNESCO to provide leadership and technical guidance on how to achieve the international development targets for education and the goals of the Dakar framework, within a clearly defined poverty framework. I will be discussing progress to date with the Director-General in London on 5 February.

  Long-term Conflicts
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what her policy is with respect to providing development assistance to countries involved in long-term conflict. [147020]

  Clare Short
  It is usually impossible to provide long-term development assistance to countries involved in violent conflict. We provide humanitarian relief and support for conflict resolution and development where possible. But 20 of the 38 poorest countries are involved in conflict or recently emerged from conflict. Such conflict leads to growing impoverishment and is a barrier to development. We are therefore working to try to focus greater international effort on the resolution of such conflicts.

  Indian Earthquake
  Mr. Blunt
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a field hospital immediately available to the Indian authorities for victim of the recent earthquake. [148263]
  408W
  Mr. Gardiner
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what provision her Department is making to assist in the relief operations for the Indian earthquake. [148091]

  Clare Short
  DFID's emergency response centre has been working round the clock since the earthquake struck. With the assistance of the Ministry of Defence, we despatched on 27 January a UK search and rescue team of 69 personnel, available under our contingency arrangements, made up of 25 UK fire service volunteers from Lancashire, Lincolnshire, Greater Manchester, Chester and Leicestershire and specialist rescue organisations. Officials from my Department led the team. They have been working in close co-operation with the Indian authorities and have so far managed to rescue six people alive.

  In a joint operation with my Department, 75 search and rescue personnel from the Russian Ministry of Emergencies (EMERCOM), funded by DFID, arrived in Bhachau on 28 January and have rescued nine persons to date. They also have with them an airmobile hospital. A second Russian aircraft, part-funded by my Department, is awaiting clearance from the Indian authorities to bring in 3,000 blankets and 45 family tents.

  In the last 48 hours, we have despatched three aircraft carrying 1,200 tents and other shelter item from the DFID's emergency stockpile in Staffordshire. A fourth aircraft has also flown from Brindisi carrying medical supplies, trauma equipment and plastic sheeting. These supplies are already beginning to arrive in Ahmadabad and Bhuj. Further relief efforts will be co-ordinated by the UN.

  We have allocated a total of £10 million to support this emergency relief effort without reducing our spending in other parts of India. Nearly £3 million of this has already been spent. We are in close contact with operational agencies, including the Red Cross, UNICEF, WHO, and a number of operational NGOs (Care, Save the Children, Christian Aid) to determine the provision of immediate relief items and medical assistance. The Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC), the UK umbrella organisation for a number of humanitarian NGOs, is launching a public appeal on Thursday 1 February.

  The Indian Government did not immediately request assistance but, as the scale of the disaster became apparent, did so. Medical and para-medical personnel continue to assist local civilian and military personnel already engaged in the rescue effort. The Indian authorities are well organised and are providing food, army personnel, heavy lifting equipment, mobile operating theatres and medical supplies, but the scale of the emergency is such that some of the resources cannot be supplies, but the scale of the emergency is such that some of the resources cannot be supplied in the region. We are working closely with the Indian Government and operational agencies to support their efforts and to ensure that all those who survived the earthquake are provided with health care and other basic essentials until they can rebuild their homes and livelihoods. Copies of our regular situation reports are available in the Library.
  409W

  India
  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent assessment she has made of the level of corruption in India. [147213]

  Clare Short
  Corruption is widespread in India at every level of public life, as in most developing countries, reflecting weak financial and administration systems. Rent seeking and other for Ms of corruption hit poor people particularly hard and have a significant impact on their economy.

  The Union and State Governments of India are beginning to take anti-corruption measures beyond those that already exist in the form of statutory audit bodies and Vigilance Commissions. State Governments such as those of Andhra Pradesh and Medhya Pradesh, with both of whom DFID is working in partnership, are placing an increasing focus on good governance initiatives, including anti-corruption. Anti-corruption strategies are also being developed in a number of national public institutions.

  DFID is supporting a number of strategic initiatives in all four of our partner states which will directly help reduce corruption. These initiatives include the introduction of VAT and revenue enhancement measures; increasing political accountability through decentralisation and local decision-making; the redesign of public expenditure management syste Ms including procurement and audit functions; and improved service delivery including the introduction of electronic governance bringing services directly to the poor. Our support for public enterprise reform will help reduce corrupt practices in public utilities through the introduction of sound, commercial practices and the creation of an effective regulatory framework. At the national level, in supporting health and education programmes, DFID has helped give priority to the introduction and strengthening of transparent transaction processes. We are also discussing support for broader governance initiatives that will help reduce corruption.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Hinduja Brothers
  Miss Widdecombe
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department which Ministers and officials in his Department have(a) been contacted by and (b) contacted (i) Mr. G. P. Hinduja and (ii)Mr. S. P. Hinduja since 2 May 1997; if he will list the occasions on which there was such contact; and if he will make a statement. [148196]

  Jane Kennedy
  It is not the normal practice of the Government to release details of meetings or discussions with private individuals or companies. All relevant papers will be made available to the inquiry being conducted by Sir Anthony Hammond QC.

  Lay Magistrates
  Mr. Sawford
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what plans he has to encourage future recruitment and retention of lay magistrates. [147692]
  410W
  Jane Kennedy
  Through his advisory committees, my noble and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor already undertakes a range of initiatives to attract people from all sections of the community, including advertising in the local press, talks on local radio, and contacting local organisations.

  Court open days also stimulate the public's interest in applying to be a magistrate. The Lord Chancellor and I encourage magistrates courts committees to consider holding these on a regular basis. My officials are also currently developing a national recruitment strategy with the Magistrates Association and others to optimise the effectiveness of future initiatives. Through these initiatives most advisory committees attract sufficient new magistrates to replace those who retire or resign.

  Following an equality audit of the policies and procedures surrounding the appointment of magistrates the Lord Chancellor has instructed officials to introduce exit questionnaires which will allow us to find out in more detail the reasons why people resign, so that we can identify common concerns and take action. The aim is to have these in place by April 2001.

SCOTLAND

  New Deal
  Mr. Grieve
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people obtained full employment as a result of the new deal scheme in(a) 1997, (b) 1998, (c) 1999 and (d) 2000. [145654]

  Ms Jowell
  I have been asked to reply.

  Latest figures from the start of new deal for young people in 1998 to the end of October 2000 are summarised in the following table

  Number obtaining employment

  1998

  59,150

  1999

  109,440

  2000

  93,850

  We know that many young people leave the programme for employment without telling the Employment Service: these people are not included in the figures. Over 80 per cent of jobs obtained are unsubsidised.

TREASURY

  Public Interest Immunity Certificates
  Sir Nicholas Lyell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many public interest immunity certificates(a) he, (b) Ministers of State, (c) junior Ministers and (d) civil servants in his Department have signed in each calendar year from 30 May 1997. [147732]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  [holding answer 30 January 2001]:Treasury Ministers and officials have not signed any public interest immunity certificates since 30 May 1997.
  411W
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what conclusions were arrived at during the ECOFIN of 19 January 2001 regarding political agreement on excise duties on mineral oil. [148542]

  Mr. Timms
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Economic Secretary on 29 January 2001,Official Report, columns 42–43W.

  National Debt
  Miss Geraldine Smith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the national debt was on(a) 2 May 1997 and (b) 31 January. [148972]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  Public sector net debt has fallen from 43.4 per cent. of GDP on 30 April 1997 to 32.9 per cent of GDP on 31 December 2000, the latest period for which figures are available.

  Capital Gains Tax
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the estimate of cost of capital gains tax exemption at death published in the Treasury's 'Tax Ready Reckoner' in November 2000 assumes all normal capital gains tax rules apply; and if he will make a statement. [148663]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The estimate reflects the main features of the capital gains tax regime which would apply assuming disposal of assets at date of death.

  Public Bodies Reserves (Wales)
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what guidelines he has issued to the National Assembly for Wales on the appropriate level of reserves which may be held by public bodies. [148851]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  The funding arrangements for the devolved Administrations are set out in the Statement of Funding Policy published in July 2000. It is for the National Assembly for Wales to decide how to allocate its budget, including any reserve it may decide to hold within its Departmental Expenditure Limit.

  Working Families Tax Credit
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many families in Crosby are in receipt of the Working Families Tax Credit. [148334]

  Dawn Primarolo
  I refer my hon. Friend to my answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Lancaster and Wyre (Mr. Dawson) on 22 January 2001,Official Report, column 425W.

  Children's Tax Credit
  Mr. Davidson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps are being taken to maximize take-up of the Children's Tax Credit. [148120]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Most people who are eligible for the Children's Tax Credit have already claimed. However, the Inland Revenue has started a publicity campaign involving TV, Radio and the Press to remind people who pay tax through PAYE to send in a claim quickly if they have not done so already.
  412W

  Tax Credits (Payroll Software)
  Mr. Willetts
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received about problems with the information on the Working Families Tax Credit and the Disabled Person's Tax Credit provided to payroll software suppliers by the Inland Revenue. [148485]

  Dawn Primarolo
  I am not aware of any representations on this matter.

  Museums and Galleries
  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the potential cost to public funds of extending section 33 of the Value Added Tax Act 1994 to cover national museums and galleries. [147431]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 26 January 2001]: Discussions are ongoing on what is a complex issue. No decisions or accurate estimates have been made.

  Indebted Countries
  Mr. Davidson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the countries for which debt has been written off by Britain, together with the amounts written off in each case. [148121]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The UK has written off, and is writing off, debt through multilateral initiatives such as the HIPC initiative, and through additional bilateral initiatives. Under the HIPC initiative the UK stands ready to write off all £1.9 billion still owed to the UK by the 41 countries potentially eligible. This is in addition to the £400 million of ECGD debt already written off under previous initiatives, and the £350 million of aid debt already written off for HIPCs. This aid debt is shown in the table.

  £million

  Aid debt cancelled

  Countries at Decision Point

  Bolivia

  0.1

  Guyana

  58.9

  Honduras

  5.0

  Nicaragua

  0.6

  Gambia

  5.2

  Malawi

  30.7

  Mozambique

  21.8

  Senegal

  1.1

  Tanzania

  3.4

  Uganda

  22.1

  Zambia

  55.9

  Countries not yet at Decision Point

  Ethiopia

  2.5

  Ghana

  50.9

  Cote D'lvoire

  3.5

  Kenya

  67.6

  Sierra Leone

  10.4

  Sudan

  9.9

  Laos

  0.03

  The amount of the £1.9 billion written off at a given stage depends on progress through the HIPC initiative. When a country reaches the first stage, known as Decision Point, the UK provides 100 per cent, relief on all payments due. When a country then reaches Completion Point all debt is irrevocably written off.
  413W
  On 2 December the Chancellor announced in addition that for all countries not yet at Decision Point, any payments made will be held in trust and returned when they can show that the savings from debt relief will lead to poverty reduction.

  An irrevocable commitment to 100 per cent. reduction has been made in respect of Uganda, who reached Completion Point under the HIPC initiative in 2000, and who previously owed the UK £5.5 million. Uganda has also had around £5 million of former-CDC debt cancelled.

  The UK is providing 100 per cent. interim relief on payments in respect of £700 million of debt, owed by HIPC countries that have reached Decision Point under the HIPC initiative on the basis of a commitment to poverty reduction, but which are yet to reach Completion Point. The debt owed to ECGD by these countries is as follows:

  £ million

  Benin

  2.7

  Bolivia

  17.4

  Cameroon

  74.5

  Gambia

  0

  Guinea

  5.3

  Guinea-Bissau

  0

  Guyana

  41.7

  Honduras

  0

  Madagascar

  25.5

  Malawi

  3.9

  Mali

  4.2

  Mauritania

  6.9

  Mozambique

  91.2

  Nicaragua

  1.0

  Niger

  10.9

  Rwanda

  0.1

  Sao Tome et Principe

  0

  Senegal

  1.5

  Tanzania

  115.0

  Zambia

  239.2

  Interim relief is also being given to these countries on around £60 million of debt formerly held by CDC plc.

  In respect of Burkina Faso, which owes the UK £1.0 million, interim relief has been suspended in light of the continuing role of the Government of Burkina Faso in undermining the peace process in Sierra Leone. Payments from Burkina Faso will be held in trust.

  Nineteen countries have not so far qualified for debt reduction, in most cases because of conflict. In respect of a further £1.3 billion of debt owed by these countries, the Government have announced that no further benefit will accrue to the UK. Payments will be held in trust and earmarked for spending in support of poverty reduction strategies once those countries have reached DP. The debt owed to ECGD by these countries is as follows:

  £ million

  Angola

  118.6

  Burundi

  0

  Central African Republic

  0.5

  Chad

  0

  Congo

  143.1

  DR Congo

  165.5

  Cote D'lvoire

  48.0

  Ethiopia

  15.4

  Ghana

  216.7

  Kenya

  52.9

  414W

  £ million

  Laos PDR

  0

  Liberia

  18.4

  Myanmar

  23.1

  Sierra Leone

  3.6

  Somalia

  29.2

  Sudan

  374.9

  Togo

  15.7

  Vietnam

  54.4

  Yemen

  3.3

  Standard Industrial Classification
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many jobs in each category of the Standard Industrial Classification there were in the North East(a) on 1 January 1997, (b) on 1 January 2000; and how many are estimated for 1 January 2001. [148879]

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

  Letter from Len Cook to r. Jim Cousins, dated 5 February 2001:
  As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent question on the number of jobs in the North East (148879).
  Available information on employee jobs by Standard Industrial Classification relates to December 1996 and December 1999. The data are published in Table B. 16 of Labour Market Trends. The data are also available via the NOMIS database which may be accessed in the House of Commons Library. Data for December 2000 will be published in the May edition of Labour Market Trends.

  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the stock of businesses was in each category of the Standard Industrial Classification in the North East(a) on 1 January 1997, (b) on 1 January 2000 and (c) the estimate for 1 January 2001. [148878]

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

  Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Jim Cousins, dated 5 February 2000:
  As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your question on the stock of businesses in the North East. (148878)
  The Office for National Statistics (ONS) operates the Inter Departmental Business Register (IDBR) that holds information on 2 million businesses operating in the UK, representing nearly 99% of economic activity. It combines information on VAT (Value Added Tax) traders and PAYE (Pay As You Earn) employers.From the register, an annual publication is produced under the title 'Size Analysis of UK Businesses (PA1003): ISBN 0–11–536355–6/ ISSN 1363–9013'. This incorporates counts of businesses by size, classification and geographical location. Data relate to March of each year and include those businesses registered for VAT. Figures for the North East, split by 14 broad industrial groupings of the Standard Industrial Classification, are shown in table 10.
  The data have been published annually up to 2000. Data for 2001 will be released in summer 2001 in electronic format on the National Statistics website. Additionally, IDBR data are incorporated in the Small Business Service (SBS) annual publication 'Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) Statistics for the United Kingdom 1999: URN 00/92M. This covers all businesses in the UK, including estimates for those operating neither a VAT nor PAYE scheme. Data on a geographical basis are available in table 9 but only for 1998 and 1999.
  Both publications referred to above are available in the House of Commons Library.
  415W

WALES

  Volunteers
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what estimate he has made of the cost of the proposed fee for security checks of volunteers to voluntary organisations in Wales. [147378]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  I have been asked to reply.

  An announcement about the level of fees to be charged by the Criminal Records Bureau will be made as soon as possible, taking into account continuing work on the determination of the bureau's costs.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  Job Creation (Greater London)
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many new jobs he estimates have been created in the Greater London area during the last 12 months. [143930]

  Ms Jowell
  There are no figures available for jobs created in the Greater London area, as there is no requirement for employers to notify any agency when they recruit staff for a new job. However, a set of figures called the "Civilian Workforce in Employment" published by the Office for National Statistics estimate that up to September 2000, there were 68,000 more people employed in Greater London than there were in September 1999.

  Nursery Schools (Wandsworth)
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what funding is paid by his Department in the current financial year to the London Borough of Wandsworth for the development of nursery school provision. [145428]

  Ms Hodge
  We are making £2.82 million available to Wandsworth in 2000–01, through specific nursery education grant, for the provision of free early education places for three-year-olds. In 2001–02, Wandsworth will be allocated £2,050,488 for the creation of 1,726 three-year-old places, as a result of which all three-year-olds in Wandsworth will be able to access a free place if their parents want one.

  The Government have also made £67,945 nursery capital funding available to the local education authority from the New Deal for Schools to improve and expand early years services, together with £38,916 to maintained nursery schools to enable them to extend the services they offer.

  There is £9.532 million in the under-5s Standard Spending Assessment (SSA) sub-block that is available to support spending by Wandsworth on nursery provision in 2000–01. Nationally, £122 million has been transferred to SSA for 2001–02 to cover payments for early education places for four-year-olds currently made to local
  416W
  education authorities through Nursery Education Grant. In 2001–02, £10.709 million will be available to Wandsworth in the under-5s sub-block to support spending on nursery provision, including provision of early education places for four-year-olds.

  The funding we are making available to Wandsworth is part of our overall commitment to the early years which includes, for the first time, provision of free early education places for three-year-olds across all sectors. All three-year-olds in England will be able to access a free early education place by September 2004.

  Departmental Surveys
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list for(a) 1992–93, (b) 1993–94, (c) 1994–95, (d) 1995–96, (e) 1996–97, (f) 1997–98, (g) 1998–99, (h) 1999–2000 and (i) 2000–01, (I) his Department's total spending on quantitative and qualitative surveys of policy issues by focus groups, opinion polling, task forces or other means and (II) the cost of each individual project. [146588]

  Mr. Blunkett
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Undersecretary of State for Lifelong Learning on 5 June 2000,Official Report, column 142W, and the reply I gave on 27 July 2000, Official Report, column 853W.

  The Government want to hear what people affected by them have to say about proposed new policies. This is an important aspect of the Modernising Government initiative. Public opinion research is, though, subject to the usual strict rules that spending must represent good value for money for the taxpayer and must not be used for party political purposes.

  Information on the costs of surveys undertaken by the Department for Education and Employment could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Playgroups
  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what funding is available for playgroups from(a) the early years initiative and (b) other sources; and if he will make a statement. [146609]

  Ms Hodge
  [holding answer 23 January 2001]: Since 1997–98, overall early education funding made available by the Government through the Standard Spending Assessment and Nursery Education Grant, has increased by almost £400 million. This has enabled some 120,000 new, free early education places for three and four-year-olds to be created. These places are available in a range of settings, including private or voluntary pre-schools and playgroups as well as local education authority-maintained nurseries, nursery classes and reception classes.

  Since September 1998, all four-year-olds have been able to access a free, part-time, early education place. By September 2004, all three-year-olds will also be able to access a free place. We are making £986 million available over the years 2001–02 to 2003–04 for the provision of free places for three-year-olds, and other early years initiatives. By March 2001, some 50 per cent. of three-year-olds nationally will have access to a free early

  417W
  education place. We are making a further 80,000 new places available in 2001–02 which will increase to 66 per cent. the number of three-year-olds accessing a free place by March 2002. Playgroups, along with other early education providers, will benefit from this expansion. No authority will have less than about 40 per cent. of free early education places for three-year-olds in its area in 2001–02.

  Total expenditure on nursery education will have increased by £1 billion, to £2 billion, over the period from 1996–97 to 2003–04.

  The Neighbourhood Childcare Initiative will create child care places in 900 Neighbourhood Nursery centres. £203 million is available over the period 2001–04 to enable all sectors to develop new, or extend current, provision and the Government also intend to make up to £100 million available in lottery money from the New Opportunities Fund to help meet capital costs. This will enable existing playgroups to extend their provision to full day care.

  Support is also given to the pre-school playgroups sector in various other ways. In the current year, we are giving grants totalling £2 million to the Pre-school Learning Alliance (PLA), to which the majority of pre-schools are affiliated. This funding supports the PLA's training infrastructure and other activities undertaken by their national headquarters and regional bases.

  £500,000 is being made available this year for grants to voluntary pre-schools and playgroups facing financial difficulties. Grant applications are currently being assessed. A total of £1.75 million has been made available for such grants over the three years 1998–2000. In the first two years of the scheme, grants were made to 1,500 pre-schools and playgroups.

  £250,000 has also been made available this year for projects to enhance the sustainability of voluntary pre-schools and playgroups. Eighteen projects were successful under the scheme.

  Computers for Teachers
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what the definition of a Key Stage 3 maths teacher is for the purpose of determining qualification for the second phase of the £500 subsidy for the purchase of computer equipment; and if it is a requirement that the recipient be a maths graduate. [147553]

  Mr. Wills
  [holding answer 26 January 2001]: The definition of Key Stage 3 mathematics teacher for the purposes of determining qualification for the second phase of the Computers for Teachers scheme is that their current responsibilities include teaching mathematics at Key Stage 3 in the maintained secondary sector (including non-maintained special schools and middle schools) in England. (They must teach at least
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  one mathematics Key Stage 3 lesson per week). Those that qualify need not be mathematics graduates.

  School Playing Fields
  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to his answer to the right hon. Member for Penrith and The Border (Mr. Maclean) of 22 January 2001,Official Report, columns 439–40W, on school playing fields, what the basis is for his estimate of the number of school playing fields sold in England in every month between 1979 and 1997. [147774]

  Jacqui Smith
  [holding answer 29 January 2001]: Public concern about the loss of school playing fields led directly to the introduction in October 1998 of section 77 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998. Before section 77 was introduced, only grant-maintained schools were required to seek consent from the Secretary of State before selling land, including areas of their playing fields. Local authorities and other schools that owned their own playing fields were free to sell without restriction. It is estimated that an average of 40 playing fields a month were sold in this way before October 1998. This estimate is based on the number of playing field disposals at grant-maintained schools between April 1996, when the previous Government further encouraged the disposal of playing fields by relaxing the Local Authority Capital Finance Regulations which governed the use of sale proceeds, and 1 October 1998, when section 77 took effect. During this 30-month period, some 64 grant-maintained schools were given approval to dispose of areas of playing field, which is an average of over two a month. Using the proportion of grant-maintained schools at that time compared with the number of other schools, we estimate the total number of playing field disposals each month to have been around 40. These estimates are in line with answers given previously by the Minister of State, Home Office, my hon. Friend the Member for Norwich, South (Mr. Clarke), when he was Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at this Department.

  Travel Industry Students
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what financial assistance his Department provides to students studying for qualifications relating to the travel industry. [147950]

  Mr. Wicks
  We make no specific provision for students on courses related to tourism. Financial support is therefore available to those students who are eligible on the same basis as students in further and higher education generally.

  We have, in 2000–01, contributed £103,000 through the Travel, Tourism, and Events National Training Organisation towards a variety of projects to assist employers in the development of a lifelong learning framework to address the current and future skill needs in the industry.
  419W

  Education Rights (UN)
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what communications he has received regarding the October 1999 visit of the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Right to Education; and what measures he is taking to take account of UN concerns, with particular respect to provision for traveller children. [148044]

  Jacqui Smith
  Following the Special Rapporteur on the Right to Education's visit to the UK in October 1999, and her visit report which was presented to the Commission on Human Rights in 2000, I have not received any external communications about her earlier visit in October 1999.

  I am nevertheless meeting the Special Rapporteur again on 7 February to discuss the report of her visit. I will use the opportunity to explain the provision we are making to promote access to, and achievement of, traveller children in school.

  The Special Rapporteur will also be meeting my right hon. Friend the Minister of State and Deputy Home Secretary on 7 February, to discuss her concerns about the provision of education in prisons.

  New Deal for Schools: Allocations to schools in the Harrow, West constituency

  Year/school

  Project details

  Grant awarded (£)

  1997–98

  Included within LEA wide package:

  St. George's First and Middle RC (Voluntary Aided)

  Internal alterations

  188,000

  1998–99

  Included within 3 school package:

  Provision of extended fire escapes

  1138,800

  Rooks Heath High

  Harrow Tuition Service PRU

  Hatch End High

  Pinner Park Middle

  Replacement of aging boiler

  46,000

  Whitmore High

  Rewire of technology block and upgrading of key equipment

  38,750

  Shaftesbury High

  Repairs to roof structure, coverings and gutters

  184,000

  Grimsdyke First and Middle

  Rewire of whole school

  155,250

  Included within 5 school package:

  West Lodge Middle

  Renew boilers and/or pipework

  1299,000

  Roxbourne First and Middle

  Rebuild deteriorating parapet wall

  23,000

  LEA wide package for 25 schools

  Waterproof envelope works

  21,058,900

  LEA wide package for 8 schools

  Repair, renewal or demolition of dangerous structures

  2263,000

  1999–2000

  Included within 6 school package:

  Longfield First and Middle

  Urgent health and safety repairs to unsafe structures

  1374,000

  Rooks Heath High

  2000–01

  Roxbourne Middle

  Structural repairs and recladding to first floor link

  29,568

  1 Denotes total allocations made to a package of several projects covering a number of schools in the London borough of Harrow local education authority, which will be able to advise the value of projects at individual schools in the Harrow, West constituency which benefited from these allocations.

  2 Denotes total allocations made to a package of several projects covering a number of schools in the London borough of Brent local education authority, which will be able to advise the value of projects at individual schools in the Harrow, West constituency which benefited from these allocations.

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  New Deal for Schools
  Mr. Gareth R. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the(a) primary and (b) secondary schools in the Harrow, West constituency which have received funding under the New Deal for Schools since May 1997, with the amount of funding in each case. [148266]

  Jacqui Smith
  The table shows the schools in the Harrow, West constituency which have benefited from investment through the New Deal for Schools programme, which commenced in 1997–98. These allocations formed part of the £4.554 million investment made so far in schools in the London borough of Harrow local education authority, and of the £6.415 million made so far in schools in the London borough of Brent local education authority, under the New Deal for Schools. The New Deal for Schools was introduced as a new additional programme targeted specifically at addressing the backlog of urgent repairs in school buildings that had built up after 18 years of underfunding under the previous Administration. It is in addition to other capital funds made available to the London borough of Harrow and the London borough of Brent local education authorities.

  Nationally, investment in school buildings has tripled from £683 million a year in 1996–97 to over £2 billion in 2000–01. It will be £3.2 billion in 2003–04, including grant, credit approvals and Private Finance Initiative credits. There will be central Government investment of £7.8 billion in school buildings in total from 2001–02 to 2003–04.
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  Atrocity Lessons
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what guidance he has issued to schools on the provision of education on the Holocaust and other brutalities that have taken place in recent years. [148309]

  Jacqui Smith
  Within the History National Curriculum all pupils are required to study the Holocaust during Key Stage 3. Within that section there is also an opportunity to examine post war issues including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

  The Holocaust Memorial Day (HMD) Education Working Group comprising experts from nongovernmental organisations and DfEE officials produced an education pack for HMD, which was distributed to all schools by the Holocaust Educational Trust. Within the extensive cross-curricular resource pack there is reference to contemporary issues of brutality, and specific material on the recent genocides in the Balkans and Rwanda. The Education Working Group will be developing a strategy for sustainable resources on Holocaust education to support Holocaust Memorial Day in the future.

  Royal Liverpool Children's Inquiry
  Mr. Watts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on the Royal Liverpool Children's Inquiry. [148395]

  Mr. Wicks
  [holding answer 1 February 2001]: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Employment endorses the statement made by the Secretary of State for Health on 30 January about the Royal Liverpool Children's Inquiry. In particular, he adds his sympathy to the parents who are affected by the dreadful events described in the report.

  University medical schools will co-operate fully with the NHS Trusts in cataloguing collections of tissue, and will help the NHS Trusts implement the recommendations of the Commission which has been established to oversee the return of tissues and organs in the collections.

  The Council of the University of Liverpool has been asked to take prompt and effective disciplinary action against their employees, where this is warranted. In addition, Ministers have asked Sir Brian Follett, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Warwick, to carry out a review of the adequacy of appraisal and disciplinary procedures for senior staff working in both university medical schools and the NHS.

  Out-of-authority Education
  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will publish, for each year from 1996–97 to 1999–2000 and for each local education authority, the number of(a) primary and (b) secondary age children who were educated in a local authority area other than the one where they normally reside. [148622]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The information requested is not collected centrally.

  Secondary Schools (Bristol)
  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many year six children attending Bristol local education authority primary or junior schools 422W
  failed to gain places in Bristol local education authority secondary schools in each year from 1997–98 to 1999–2000. [148623]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The Department does not hold this information. It is for local education authorities to ensure that sufficient school places exist for the children in their area. Each authority is required to prepare and publish an annual School Organisation Plan which includes information about the capacity of its schools, the projected pupil numbers, and any conclusions about the need to add or remove places over a five-year period. The Department publishes annually figures showing the overall number of surplus places based on returns from LEAs. In each of the three years referred to the total capacity of the twenty-two local education authority secondary schools in Bristol exceeded the number of pupils on roll by more than 2,000.

  Professional Footballers (EU Passports)
  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what estimate he has made of the number of non-EU nationals who are refused a work permit to play professional football in the UK but who subsequently obtain an EU passport for a country other than the UK. [148674]

  Ms Hodge
  The Department has made no estimate of the numbers of non-EU nationals who have been refused a work permit to play professional football in the UK, but who subsequently obtain an EU passport for a country other than the UK. The question raised falls outside of the responsibility of this Department.

  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment he has made of the number of professional footballers playing for UK clubs who hold passports of EU countries other than the UK but for whom a country outside the EU is their country of origin. [148675]

  Ms Hodge
  The Department has made no assessment of the number of professional footballers playing for UK clubs who hold passports of EU countries other than the UK, but for whom a country outside the EU is their country of origin. The question raised falls outside of the responsibility of this Department.

  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what estimate he has made of the number of professional footballers contracted to UK clubs who hold an EU passport for a country other than the UK and hold joint nationality with a non-EU country. [148676]

  Ms Hodge
  The Department has made no estimate of the number of professional footballers contracted to UK clubs who hold an EU passport for a country other than the UK, and hold joint nationality with a non-EU country. The question raised falls outside of the responsibility of this Department.

  Professional Headship Qualification
  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to make the NPQH mandatory for new headteachers of primary, secondary and special schools. [148682]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  We remain committed to requiring all first-time headteachers to hold a professional headship qualification as a benchmark of quality. Provision for that
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  is. on the Statute Book. The first recruitment to the new strengthened and streamlined NPQH in autumn 2000 attracted a record number of candidates. The new prpgramme is now rolling out to candidates. We will consult on the necessary Regulations to bring the mandatory requirement into force in due course.

  Funding Allocation
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if, following his letter of 29 January to local authority leaders, he will publish the methodology by which his allocation of the additional money was distributed between local authorities. [148684]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  I refer to the answer given to the hon. Member for Northavon (Mr. Webb) on 7 February 2001,Official Report, column 578W.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Traffic Wardens
  Mr. Bob Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will suspend further transfers of traffic wardens from police authorities to local councils pending an investigation into the effect on police operations where such transfers have taken place. [147099]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  No. This is a matter between the police force concerned and its local authority.

  Anti-social Behaviour Orders
  Mr. Allan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many anti-social behaviour orders have been served in south Yorkshire, by local authority area. [147103]

  Mr. Boateng
  Three anti-social behaviour orders were issued in the south Yorkshire area between 1 April 1999 (the date on which the relevant provisions of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 came into force), and 30 September 2000 (the latest date for which figures are currently available). We are not able to break this figure down by local authority area.

  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his assessment is of the effectiveness of the use being made by the police and local authorities of anti-social behaviour orders. [147124]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The purpose of the anti-social behaviour order is to provide local communities with better protection against loutish and anti-social behaviour so far, at least 150 orders have been taken out in a variety of cases and with considerable success

  As Minister of State, my right hon. Friend announced that there would be a review of the operation and effectiveness of this provision within two years, depending on priorities and experience in several areas— Official Report, Standing Committee B, 5 May 1998. We have just embarked on that review, and will publish the results later this year.
  424W

  Police (Early Retirement)
  Mr. Paul Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures he has taken to reduce the proportion of police officers who retire early. [147104]

  Mrs. Roche
  The Government recognise the need for more efficient management of early retirements caused by ill-health. We have been working with forces for some time to improve management of the process and, nationally, good progress has been made in this area. Whereas in 1993–94, 53 per cent, of all police retirements in England and Wales were on the grounds of ill-health, this had declined to 31 per cent by 1999–2000.

  We are currently considering what incentives could be offered so that more of those officers who currently retire on completion of 30 years' service—but before reaching compulsory retirement age—continue to serve.

  Crime (Devon and Cornwall)
  Mr. Bradshaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the level of crime in Devon and Cornwall. [147106]

  Mr. Straw
  In the 12 months to September 2000, recorded crime in Devon and Cornwall fell by five per cent, compared with the previous 12 months. Burglary was down by six per cent, and vehicle crime was down by two per cent. Violent crime also fell one per cent. Recorded crime in this force area has fallen by 16.5 per cent, since the 12 months to March 1997.

  Special Constables
  Mr. Fabricant
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the role of special police constables. [147107]

  Mr. Straw
  The special constabulary has a long tradition of giving valuable public service, but numbers have declined in recent years.

  Specials are now being deployed on a wider variety of duties than before, including more front-line duties, where they are exposed to the same risks as regular officers.

  Under the Police (Health and Safety) Act 1997, police officers, including specials, were brought within the scope of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. Police forces must therefore take the necessary measures to safeguard the health and safety of all their officers, and the training and equipment provided to specials is of the same standard as that for regular officers. The recruiting criteria for specials are now very similar to those for regular officers, and a number of applicants who would previously have been accepted into the special constabulary are now being rejected.

  The Association of Chief Police Officers and the Home Office are reviewing the criteria for becoming a special to see whether they have become unnecessarily restrictive.

  Rural Policing
  Mr. St. Aubyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on rural policing. [147110]
  425W
  Mr. Charles Clarke
  All areas of the country, urban and rural alike, are equally entitled to benefit from a modern, effective and responsive police service. This is why we are providing for a real and significant increase in police funding across the board. We are also providing extra funding for rural police forces: £15 million this year, rising to £30 million in 2001–02, to help forces meet the additional costs involved in policing rural communities.

  Hilda Murrell
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Linlithgow of 11 December 2000,Official Report, column 427W, on Hilda Murrell, when he will provide a reply to the hon. Member, as indicated in his letter of 30 November 2000, on the continuing forensic investigation by the West Mercia police; and if he will make a statement. [147111]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  As promised in my answer of 30 November 2000, I have written to my hon. Friend about this case. A copy of my letter of 30 January has been placed in the Library of the House.

  Police Administration
  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures he is taking to reduce the time spent by police officers on administration. [147113]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  We are implementing proposals from the recent report "Making a Difference: Reducing Police Paperwork", and last November we issued police forces in England and Wales with a revised "Manual of Guidance for the Preparation, Processing and Submission of Files". This will reduce considerably the number of forms officers have to complete when they pass cases to the Crown Prosecution Service.

  We are also investing in a range of new communications technology to minimise the paperwork that officers are required to process.

  Young Offender Institutions
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what changes he plans in the regime for young offender institutions. [147114]

  Mr. Boateng
  We have transformed the facilities and regimes for those under 18-years-old. Over £51 million has been invested to achieve this.

  The creation of the Youth Justice Board for England and Wales sees for the first time a single organisation with oversight and responsibility for the care and well-being of this age group. The board's purpose is to monitor the operation of the youth justice system and to ensure the delivery of the appropriate level of care and standards.

  The new regime is based upon providing a
  "full, purposeful and active day";

  rigorous assessment of each individual's health, social, educational and vocational needs; formal and specific planning provision of education and the training to meet these needs; regular reviews of each individual's plans; and inter-agency co-operation and support.
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  In relation to those aged 18–20 years, we are considering carefully how this group should be treated in custody as part of our proposals to reform sentencing for this age group. The Criminal Justice and Court Services Act 2000, which contains provision to abolish the sentence of detention in a young offender institution (d)YOI), provides an opportunity to look at the regime needs of a wider range of young offenders. We recognise that they do have different needs, and our work on regime provision for young offenders, not only the 18–20s, will concentrate on moving them more effectively from custody to work. We have given a commitment that we will not implement the abolition of the sentence of DYOI until we have prepared a Prison Service order to governors covering adult offenders, and we have consulted interested bodies as part of that work.

  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the effect on prisoners and staff in young offender institutions of the no overtime policy. [148174]

  Mr. Boateng
  Since 1987, the conditions of service for all prison officers have been to work a fixed number of hours per week, averaged over a shift cycle. These flexible shift schemes give the best possible match of staff time available for work to be completed. In circumstances when additional hours are required to meet unplanned and unexpected demands, officers can work extra hours for which they receive time off in lieu. Officers can take their time off at a time that does not affect the running of the regimes in the establishment. In exceptional circumstances, when time off in lieu cannot be granted, ex-gratia payments can be authorised. This system has proved to offer the best possible regimes within the resources available in young offender institutes and other types of establishment.

  Hunting Ban (Enforcement)
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prison officers at(a) Feltham Young Offenders Institution and (b) other YOIs in the south-east of England were on long-term sickness leave in each of the last three years in (i) actual and (ii) percentage terms. [148172]

  Mr. Boateng
  The information requested is provided for 1999 and 2000 in the table. Reliable sickness absence data are not available prior to 1 January 1999. Of the figures above, 15 officer grades from Feltham and 25 officer grades from the other young offender institutions quoted have sickness absence spread across both years and for the purpose of this reply these have been counted in both years. Long-term sickness absence is defined as greater than one month.

  1 January to 31 December 1999

  1 January to 31 December 2000

  Number of prison officer grades on long-term sickness leave

  Feltham

  51

  37

  Other young offender institutions in south-east of England

  80

  92

  Percentage of prison officer grades on h long-term sickness leave

  Feltham

  15.0

  9.6

  Other young offender institutions in south-east of England

  14.1

  16.0

  427W
  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received from the Association of Chief Police Officers about the enforcement of a ban on hunting with dogs; and if he will make a statement. [147115]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The views of the Association of Chief Police Officers were sought during the process of drafting the Hunting Bill. The association was concerned primarily about the need for the police to be given an explicit power of arrest to enforce a ban and for the option which introduced a scheme of licensing.

  The association has informed the Home Office that it considers that it is too early to provide a final view on the resource implications of any ban on hunting, or of the other options that were in the Bill. However, if hunting were to be banned it does not anticipate a significant additional burden on the service over its current commitment.

  Closed Circuit Television
  Mr. Gapes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he is taking to extend CCTV schemes. [147116]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  Under the crime reduction programme closed circuit television (CCTV) initiative, we are investing £153 million over three years in new or extended CCTV systems in England and Wales.

  Over £60 million of capital funding has already been allocated to crime and disorder reduction partnerships to support more than 350 schemes. Over 750 outline proposals are currently under consideration for funding under round 2 of the initiative.

  Police Recruitment
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to increase the level of police recruitment; and if he will make a statement. [147117]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The Government want to see police numbers rising.

  Our spending plans therefore make generous provision, intended to meet major pay, pensions and other pressures on forces as well as providing ring-fenced funding to increase recruitment through the crime fighting fund (CFF). We anticipate that these measures will enable forces to increase police service numbers to record levels by March 2003.

  The CFF will enable police forces to recruit 9,000 officers over and above the number previously planned in the three years 2000–01 to 2002–03.

  To help forces to meet their recruitment targets, the first ever national recruitment campaign was launched on 30 August 2000 and the second phase of the campaign commenced on 27 December. By 14 January 2001, there had been 78,000 responses to the campaign and 17,070 expressions of interest had been forwarded to police forces.

  The Metropolitan police service and the City of London police have been experiencing particular proble Ms in attracting new recruits. To address these problems we
  428W
  agreed to an increase of £3,327 per annum in the London allowance paid to those officers in each force who were recruited on or after 1 September 1994 and who are not in receipt of housing allowance.

  In addition, agreement has been reached between the Metropolitan police service (MPS) and the Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC) to provide free rail travel within a 70-mile radius of London for serving MPS police officers. The arrangements will come into effect from Wednesday 14 February. The Home Office will meet the annual cost of £2.45 million.

  The police negotiating board is currently looking at whether there should be an allowance for officers in any other forces. We await any recommendations it may make on this or any other issues in relation to police pay and allowances.

  Asylum Seekers
  Mr. Gray
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many failed asylum seekers have disappeared; and if he will make a statement. [147118]

  Mrs. Roche
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Blaby (Mr. Robathan) on 8 January 2001,Official Report, column 700.

  Fiona Mactaggart
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he has taken to promote good community relations in areas where there is a significant number of asylum seekers. [147122]

  Mrs. Roche
  The national asylum support service recognises the importance of good community relations and encourages partnership working between interested parties through a multi-agency approach, which includes voluntary and community groups.

  Anthony Gerald Dickinson
  Mr. Hilary Benn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the case of Mr. Anthony Gerald Dickinson and his application to the Criminal Cases Review Commission. [147119]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The Criminal Cases Review Commission is operationally independent of the Home Office, and I am unable to intervene in its determination of individual cases or to comment on their merits. I understand that the commission considered an application from Mr. Dickinson, but concluded in March 1998 that the case did not meet the criteria laid down in the Criminal Appeal Act 1995 for the commission to make a reference to the Court of Appeal. His legal representatives made a further application on Mr. Dickinson's behalf in May 2000, and I am confident that the commission will consider these representations carefully and impartially.

  Private Security Industry
  Mr. Jenkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in what ways the regulation of doormen in pubs and clubs will be improved by the Private Security Industry Bill. [147120]
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  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The Private Security Industry Bill provides for the establishment of a security industry authority, which will have responsibility for licensing individuals employed in designated sectors of the security industry, including door supervisors.

  The authority will be responsible for establishing, for the first time, a consistent licensing regime for all door supervisors. This will involve setting nationally applicable criteria, in consultation with the police, industry and local authorities. These will be used in deciding whether to issue a personal licence allowing the applicant to undertake door supervision activities. Initially, the criteria will involve a criminal record check, but over time additional criteria relating to training will be imposed. This aim is to ensure that only fit and proper people receive licences. The main benefits of the new regime will be:
  Anyone intending to operate as a door supervisor will require a licence. This will replace the existing arrangements whereby registration of door staff is left to the discretion of local authorities. All London boroughs operate licensing schemes, but only around 60 per cent, of local authorities outside London have such schemes.
  One national standard will be applied which will ensure a more consistent approach towards issuing licences. Current standards and criteria used for issuing licences vary between local authorities.
  The new licence issued will be valid nationally. The validity of existing licences is limited to particular areas.

  Burglaries
  Ladyman
  32.Dr. To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the trend in the number of burglaries in England and Wales. [147121]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The recorded crime statistics for England and Wales published on 16 January show a fall in the total number of burglaries of 8 per cent, in the 12 months to September 2000. Domestic burglary fell by 10 per cent, and non-domestic burglary by 5.5 per cent, in the same period.

  The British crime survey published in October last year, shows that the total number of domestic burglaries, including those that are not reported to, or recorded by, the police, has fallen from just over 1.6 million in 1997 to under 1.3 million in 1999—a 21 per cent, reduction.

  Police Emergency Calls
  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the time taken for police to respond to emergency calls. [147123]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  Most police authorities set targets for responding to 999 calls and their performance against these targets has been published annually by the Audit Commission.

  The data for performance in 1999–2000 were published on 10 January in the "Local Authority Performance Indicators, Police and Fire Compendium". This recorded that on average, police authorities in England and Wales, which had set a target, had met it 87.6 per cent, of the time. The targets set ranged from 10 minutes to 20 minutes, depending on whether the police were responding to a call from an urban or rural area.
  430W
  In future years, police performance in responding to emergency calls will be published in police authorities "Annual Policing/Best Value Performance Plans".

  Elderly People (Attacks and Abuse)
  Mr. Bill O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many old people were victims of(a) attacks and (b) abuse in (i) England and Wales and (ii) West Yorkshire in the last year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [147125]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  Information on the age of victims is available from the British crime survey (BCS). The 2000 sweep of the survey estimates that in 1999 there were 130,000 violent incidents against persons aged 60 and over in England and Wales and that there were also 158,000 incidents where persons aged 60 and over were threatened1. It is not possible to derive from the BCS reliable figures for West Yorkshire.

  These estimates are based on incidents reported to BCS interviewers and respondents may be reluctant to reveal all for Ms of abuse or attack. It should also be noted that the BCS only interviews respondents who live in private households.
  1This includes any threat made to a BCS respondent or a threat against the respondent that was not necessarily made directly to the respondent.

  .Police/School Liaison (Anti-racist Guidance)
  Mr. Pond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on liaison between the police and schools on schemes to provide anti-racist guidance in the classroom. [147126]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The Association of Chief Police Officers guidance to forces on identifying and combating hate crime and hate incidents highlights the importance of including racist and other hate issues in police/school liaison strategies. The anti-bullying pack, recently reissued to all schools by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, provides advice on the range of strategies which are available to deal with all forms of bullying, including bullying by race. These include multi-agency partnerships with the police and other key agencies.

  Wheel Clamping and Private Security Firms
  Mr. Gordon Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received in relation to his proposals for the licensing of wheel clamping and private security firms. [147096]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  We received a number of representations about our proposals to regulate the private security industry, including wheel clamping, in England and Wales.

  Around 180 comments were received in response to our White Paper "The Government's proposals for regulation of the private security industry in England and Wales", which was published in March 1999. We also received representations following the publication of the Private Security Industry Bill, which was introduced into the House of Lords on 7 December 2000.
  431W
  A wide variety of organisations submitted representations. These included industry inspectorates, local authorities, the police, trade unions and representative bodies in the leisure industry. Trade and professional associations also submitted comments, including the British Parking Association, on the subject of our proposals relating to wheel clampers.

  Alcohol Consumption (Public Places)
  Ms Rosie Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to prohibit the consumption of alcohol in designated public places. [147108]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  Measures to prohibit the consumption of alcohol in designated public places are included in the Criminal Justice and Police Bill, which is now before the House.

  Police Numbers (Humberside)
  Shona Mclsaac
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on police numbers in Humberside. [147112]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  I understand from the chief constable that the Humberside police has 1,915 police officers and that this will increase to around 1,930 officers by the end of the current financial year.

  At this stage, the force expects to recruit its full allocation of 47 officers under the crime fighting fund this year.

  Young Offenders (Cell Hours)
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will ask the Prison Service to collect separately the number of out of cell hours for(a) sentenced and (b) remand prisoners in young offender units. [148176]

  Mr. Boateng
  Time spent out of cell is one of a range of national key performance targets for prison establishments. Data on time spent out of cell are held in various forms at local level and discussed with area managers as part of the performance monitoring process. However, there are no plans to collect or collate such data centrally.

  Feltham Young Offenders Institution
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the waiting time was for psychiatrically disturbed adolescents in Feltham young offenders institution to obtain placements in NHS beds or secure psychiatric places in(a) each quarter for the last two years and (b) at the latest date for which figures are available [148173]

  Mr. Boateng
  Historic information on waiting times for mental health transfers from Feltham young offenders institution (YOI) is not available. As of 31 January 2001, seven prisoners from Feltham YOI had been accepted for and were awaiting transfer to national health service mental health units. Of these, six had been waiting for under one month following acceptance and one had been waiting for two months. The individuals concerned are all over the age of 18.
  432W

  Prison Staff (Retention and Recruitment)
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prison staff of principal officer grade and above have(a) resigned and (b) transferred out of prisons in the Greater London area in each of the last three years. [148175]

  Mr. Boateng
  The information requested is provided in the table:

  Year

  Resigned

  Transferred

  1998

  1

  25

  1999

  2

  16

  2000

  2

  41

  2001

  6

  82

  Mr. O'Hara
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many vacancies for prison officers were(a) advertised and (b) filled in each institution in the north-west of England between July 2000 and the latest date for which information is available. [148135]

  Mr. Boateng
  None of the establishments in the north-west of England has had advertised vacancies between July 2000 and 31 January 2001.

  Criminal Records Bureau
  Mrs. Betty Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the cost to public funds of funding the Criminal Records Bureau(a) centrally and (b) by charges for certificates issued. [148041]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  Work on determining the bureau's costs is continuing. An announcement about charges will be made as soon as possible.

  Mr. Wyatt
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance he gives to voluntary associations which operate in England and Scotland on paying a contribution to the Criminal Records Bureau. [148694]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  No such guidance has been issued, although detailed information and guidance on the operation of the Criminal Records Bureau will be made available before it begins to issue certificates. An announcement on the level of charge will be made shortly. Separate arrangements will apply in Scotland, where checks will be made by the Scottish Criminal Records Office.

  Citizenship Applications
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what criteria he uses to decide when an application for naturalisation should be processed and determined(a) urgently and (b) otherwise than in date order of application. [147601]

  Mrs. Roche
  [holding answer 29 January 2001]: There are various criteria for giving priority, such as where a person needs British citizenship for a particular job, but these criteria are not intended to cover all the circumstances which may arise. Discretion may therefore be exercised in the particular circumstances of an individual case.
  433W
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for naturalisation on grounds of residence were granted within(a) six months, (b) nine months and (c) 12 months of the date of application in (i) 1997, (ii) 1998, (iii) 1999 and (iv) 2000; and if he will make a statement. [147599]

  Mrs. Roche
  [holding answer 29 January 2001]: The information is given in the table. The data are not available for part of the years 1997 and 2000, due to intermittent proble Ms with information technology and operator error, but nevertheless enables comparisons to be made. The table includes only applications made under section 6(1) of the British Nationality Act 1981, based on five years' residence in the United Kingdom.

  Applications decided within

  1997

  1998

  1999

  2000

  Total

  Six months

  331

  486

  1,112

  1,371

  3,300

  Nine months

  758

  722

  1,345

  1,819

  4,644

  12 months

  1,946

  1,935

  1,819

  4,733

  10,433

  Total

  3,035

  3,143

  4,276

  7,923

  18,377

  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if it is his policy that applications for naturalisation should be processed and determined in date order of application; and if he will make a statement. [147603]

  Mrs. Roche
  [holding answer 29 January 2001]: Applications for naturalisation as British citizens are normally given initial consideration in date of receipt order. It has long been the case that, in appropriate circumstances, initial consideration may be given out of turn. Some measure of priority may also be afforded to subsequent stages of the process.

  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what changes he has made to policy on naturalisation since 1 May 1997; when such changes took effect; and if he will make a statement; [147631]

  (2) what action he has taken to alter the residence requirements for citizenship in line with paragraph 10.7 of the White Paper "Fairer, Faster and Firmer-A Modern Approach to Immigration and Asylum". [147632]

  Mrs. Roche
  [holding answer 29 January 2001]: My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary announced on 22 December 1997 that henceforth reasons would be given in all cases where applications for British citizenship were being refused. In June 1998, it was decided that the benefit of the doubt should normally be given to applicants where there was a conflict of professional opinion over their ability to meet the full capacity requirement. In the same month, it was decided that where breaches of the immigration laws were due to invalidly completed applications for leave to remain they should normally be disregarded for naturalisation purposes. We have yet to give more detailed consideration to effecting the changes in the residence requirements outlined in paragraph 10.7 of the White Paper.

  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to require individuals seeking British citizenship to attend instruction on the rights and responsibilities that come with the grant of citizenship. [147102]
  434W
  Mrs. Roche
  My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary has no plans to introduce such a requirement.

  Rugby League
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the investigation by the Charity Commission into Rugby League. [148564]

  Mr. Boateng
  [holding answer 2 February 2001]: This is a matter for the Charity Commission, which will write to my hon. Friend. A copy of the Commission's reply will be placed in the Library.

  Hinduja Brothers
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how long it took to process Mr. S. Hinduja's application for citizenship; and how long the average case takes. [147795]

  Mr. Straw
  [holding answer 29 January 2001]: On the time taken to process Mr. S. P. Hinduja's application for naturalisation, I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Aylesbury (Mr. Lidington) on 29 January 2001, Official Report, column 75W.

  For a breakdown of the number of applications processed within certain time periods, I refer the right hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Aylesbury on 2 February 2001, Official Report, column 339W.

  As at the end of December 2000, the average waiting time for all nationality applications was 13.1 months. In March 1999 it was 19.9 months.

  Mr. Hawkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which of his Department's Ministers were involved in considering the nationality application of Mr. G. P. Hinduja in 1997; which other Ministers made representations to his Department's Ministers about Mr. G. P. Hinduja in 1997; to which Minister these were made; and if he will make a statement and place the transcripts of all telephone conversations and officials' minutes of such representations, conversations and meetings in the Library. [148750]

  Mr. Straw
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the right hon. Member for Maidstone and The Weald (Miss Widdecombe) and the hon. Members for Aylesbury (Mr. Lidington) and for Bury St. Edmunds (Mr. Ruffley) on 30 January 2001,Official Report, column 166W.

  Criminal Justice and Police Bill
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his oral statement of 29 January 2001,Official Report, columns 37–38, when he plans to bring clause 33 of the Criminal Justice and Police Bill into force. [148188]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  We plan to bring clause 33 into force as soon as possible after enactment of the Bill.

  Emergency Services (Hoax Calls)
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many hoax 999 calls were
  435W
  received by the Metropolitan police in the last five years for which figures are available; and what percentage of total 999 calls were received by the police. [148214]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis has informed me that 999 calls received by the Metropolitan police are graded to the degree of the response required.

  The category that contains hoax calls and calls to which a police response is not deemed appropriate is shown in the table.

  Year

  Total number of calls received

  Total number of hoax calls and calls to which a police response not deemed necessary

  1996

  2,265,785

  862,741

  1997

  2,335,653

  961,500

  1998

  2,388,084

  1,075,628

  1999

  2,250,164

  1,194,380

  2000

  2,510,652

  1,285,680

  The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis has also informed me that 999 calls passed to the police and other emergency services by the telephone suppliers is estimated to be:

  Police—60 per cent.

  Ambulance—30 per cent.

  Fire Brigade—10 per cent.

  Coast Guard—Less than 1 per cent.

  Burglar Alarms
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many burglar alarm activations were responded to by the Metropolitan police in each of the last five years; and how many turned out to be false alarms. [148215]

  Number of offences in the Metropolitan area involving telephone equipment

  Burglary

  Theft of vehicles

  Theft from vehicles

  Total number in 1999–20001

  129,145

  62,791

  112,206

  Number of telephone equipment items stolen in 20002

  14,831

  943

  15,559

  Percentage of offences involving theft of telephone equipment

  11

  2

  14

  1Recorded Crime Statistics, full data for the year 2000 are not yet available

  2Provided by the Metropolitan police; it is not known how many of the items were mobile telephones

  Prison Population
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average prison population was in each of the last 10 years; what the population was on the latest date for which information was available; what his projections are for the level of the prison population in the next five years; and if he will make a statement. [148578]

  Mr. Boateng
  The following is the average prison population in each of the last 10 years:
  436W
  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis has informed me that the number of burglary alarm activations handled by the Metropolitan police service in the last five years for which figures are available is as follows:

  Years

  Total activations

  Total false activations

  1995

  321,588

  289,589

  1996

  290,306

  218,447

  1997

  239,368

  205,950

  1998

  215,572

  188,420

  1999

  219,503

  183,996

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many hours of Metropolitan police time were occupied by burglar alarm activations in each of the last five years. [148216]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis has informed me that the Metropolitan police do not keep records detailing the amount of police time spent dealing with burglar alarm activations.

  Mobile Phone Thefts
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many mobile phones were stolen in the Metropolitan police area last year(a) during burglaries and (b) in motor vehicle crime. [148217]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The Metropolitan police force did not identify, before December 2000, the theft of mobile telephones separately from all telephone equipment, including fax machines, earphones and answer phones etc.

  The approximate proportion of offences in the Metropolitan police area where telephone equipment was stolen is shown in the table. The proportions are not exact as the number of telephone equipment items stolen does not correspond exactly to the number of offences where telephone equipment was stolen. For example, a burglary where two telephones were stolen will yield one offence of burglary and two items of equipment stolen.

  Year

  Number

  1991

  45,900

  1992

  45,800

  1993

  44,600

  1994

  48,800

  1995

  51,000

  1996

  55,300

  1997

  61,100

  1998

  65,300

  1999

  64,800

  2000

  64,000

  Source

  Prison Statistics England and Wales 1999,Cm4805,
  437W
  The population on the latest date available (1 February 2001) was 63,620.The following is the latest prison population projection, in each of the next five years.

  Year

  Number

  2001

  64,200

  2002

  65,900

  2003

  67,800

  2004

  69,200

  2005

  70,300

  source

  prison population Brief, England and Wales November 2000;http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/whatsnew1.html.

  Offenders prosecuted at the magistrates court, convicted at all courts and the conviction rate for certain offences, England and Wales, 1990–991

  All offences2

  Violent crime3

  Property crime4

  Year

  Prosecutions (thousand)

  Convictions (thousand)

  Conviction rate (percentage)

  Prosecutions (thousand)

  Convictions (thousand)

  Conviction rate (percentage)

  Prosecutions (thousand)

  Convictions (thousand)

  Conviction rate (percentage)

  1990

  1,969.3

  1,562.7

  79.4

  126.0

  81.2

  64.5

  280.7

  213.6

  76.1

  1991

  1,984.5

  1,519.9

  76.6

  124.7

  74.0

  59.4

  296.2

  214.1

  72.3

  1992

  2,047.0

  1,528.4

  74.7

  128.7

  71.7

  55.7

  291.3

  205.0

  70.4

  1993

  1,956.3

  1,425.3

  72.9

  127.0

  67.3

  53.0

  278.0

  191.9

  69.0

  1994

  1,969.7

  1,424.6

  72.3

  132.9

  68.9

  51.8

  278.6

  191.2

  68.6

  1995

  1,927.5

  1,429.7

  74.2

  124.5

  68.3

  54.8

  258.1

  181.1

  70.2

  1996

  1,923.0

  1,440.8

  74.9

  129.2

  70.3

  54.4

  251.1

  175.5

  69.9

  1997

  1,855.3

  1,385.8

  74.7

  138.4

  76.7

  55.4

  254.0

  180.2

  71.0

  1998

  1,951.9

  1,469.7

  75.3

  148.8

  82.5

  55.4

  261.7

  189.9

  72.6

  1999

  1,883.6

  1,409.7

  74.8

  153.8

  83.1

  54.0

  266.0

  194.5

  73.1

  1Includes allowances for known shortfalls in the data. It is not possible to produce estimates for the more detailed offence categories.

  2Taken as all indictable, summary non-motoring and summary motoring offences.

  3Includes the indictable offence groups of violence against the person, sexual offences and robbery and the summary offences of assault.

  4Includes the indictable offence groups of burglary, theft and handling stolen goods, fraud and forgery and criminal damage and the summary offence of interference with motor vehicles.

  Custodial Sentences
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what average length of custodial sentence was given by(a) magistrates courts and (b) crown courts in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available; what proportion of all sentences ere custodial sentences in each of those years; if he will reak down the data by category of crime and in total;and if he will make a statement. [148579]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  Information covering the period 1989 to 1999 and showing the proportion of males and females aged 21 and over sentenced to immediate imprisonment for indictable offences and the average length of sentence given by offence group and type of court is published in tables 7.15 and 7.16, "Criminal Statistics England and Wales 1999" (Cm 5001).

  Afghan Hijacking
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the immigration status of those persons who claimed asylum after arriving on the hijacked Afghan airliner in February 2000, how many such persons have left the United Kingdom to date; and if he will make a statement. [148821]

  Mrs. Roche
  Of the 170 passengers who arrived on the aircraft, 81 returned to Afghanistan. 51 passengers claimed asylum. Because of the exceptional circumstances of the hijack and the wider issues surrounding it, the Home Secretary personally decided each of the asylum claims.
  438W

  Conviction Rates
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many convictions there were, and what the conviction rate was, for(a) all crimes, (b) violent crime and (c) property crime in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [148580]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  Available information, taken from the Home Office court proceedings database, showing the number of offenders prosecuted at the magistrates court, convicted at all courts and the conviction rates for(a) all crimes, (b) violent crime and (c) property crime in each of the last 10 years is given in the table.

  Of the cases which have been considered to date, four have been granted asylum and 35 refused. 30 of the subsequent appeals to the independent appellate authority have been dismissed, confirming the Home Secretary's original decision.

  The appellants whose appeals were dismissed are entitled to remain in the United Kingdom pending the outcome of their appeals to the tribunal.

  Asylum Support
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the total cost has been in 2000–01 of accommodation paid for by the National Asylum Support Service during the periods when such accommodation was(a) occupied and (b) unoccupied; and if he will make a statement. [148826]

  Mrs. Roche
  In the period 1 April to 31 December the total cost of accommodation paid for by the National Asylum Support Service was £26.7 million. Of this, £19.9 million related to payments for properties that were occupied by asylum seekers.

  The remaining £6.8 million related to accommodation pre-booked by the National Asylum support Service. This is a necessary operational requirement to ensure that sufficient accommodation units are available to meet demand.

  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research his Department has conducted into housing asylum seekers in reception
  439W
  centres; what the conclusions were of that research; if he will place the conclusions of the research in the Library; and if he will make a statement. [148823]

  Mrs. Roche
  The potential role of reception centres was considered by officials as part of the comprehensive spending review completed in 1998, but there has been no research on this subject.

  Asylum Applications
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his plans to reduce the backlog of asylum applications to frictional levels by April; what he estimates will be the size of the backlog in April; and when he estimates that the backlog will be cleared. [148822]

  Mrs. Roche
  We have substantially increased resources to the Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND), which has enabled an additional 500 asylum decision-makers to be recruited, and as a result the backlog has fallen for each of the last 11 months.

  IND estimates that a frictional level of work is likely to be in the range 25,000–35,000 cases awaiting initial decision, depending on the level of intake, the nationality mix of the intake and external factors (for example, conflicts or civil unrest) which may mean certain groups of cases cannot be substantively considered at a particular time.

  Subject to these factors, we expect the backlog to reduce to close to frictional levels during April.

  Crime Statistics
  Mr. John Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the most recent crime figures for the Vale of Glamorgan. [147105]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  I understand from the chief constable of South Wales police that there have been significant reductions in recorded crime in the Vale of Glamorgan. Domestic burglaries fell by 29 per cent., thefts of a motor vehicle fell by 26 per cent., and theft from a motor vehicle fell by 18 per cent. There was also a small fall in violent crime of 0.6 per cent, (six offences).

  Violent Crime
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to reverse the growth in violent crime in the Avon and Somerset area since 1997. [148685]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The Government are committed to reducing violent crime and the fear of violent crime and to ensuring that individuals and communities are protected and safe. We are working in partnership with the police, including Avon and Somerset constabulary, and other agencies across the country on a wide range of ways to tackle violent crime. Our strategic approach to combating violent crime is set out in "fighting violent crime together"—an action plan published in January.

  The Government are putting in place the investment to make sure that the police have the resources they need. Under the crime fighting fund, Avon and Somerset constabulary have been allocated 195 additional recruits over and above previous plans, over a three-year period
  440W
  from 2000 to 2003. I understand from the force that they will be able to recruit their full allocation in 2000–01. Last year, the Home Office awarded the Avon and Somerset constabulary a grant of £1.1 million to tackle robbery in Bristol. This will be used to target hot spots and run education campaigns.

  Under the Government's crime and disorder reduction partnerships, Avon and Somerset constabulary are working with other agencies to put in place a number of initiatives to tackle violent crime, notably domestic violence, alcohol-related violence and bullying.

  Avon and Somerset constabulary have confirmed that some of the rise in recorded violent crime in the Avon and Somerset area is due to the increase in reporting of domestic and racial violence. The Government, the police service and other agencies have been working together to raise awareness of these crimes, and to increase reporting, detection rates and support for the victim. In South Gloucestershire, for example, a number of initiatives are currently in place to tackle domestic violence. The police are working in partnership with hospitals to improve reporting, and in the major casualty units a freephone service has been installed to link domestic violence victims with the police and other agencies when they are most vulnerable.

  Charities
  Mr. Hope
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his policy is on the voluntary registration of charities. [149274]

  Mr. Boateng
  I am grateful to all who responded to the recent consultation on this issue. There was general agreement as to the purposes of registration as set out in the consultation document. The responses received made it clear, however, that voluntary registration is a complex matter which requires further careful examination and consideration before informed decisions can be reached on longer-term policy. I have asked officials to develop more detailed proposals in the light of the responses to the consultation and in discussion with interested organisations.

  The current regulations which made registration voluntary for charities connected with a number of religious bodies expire on 1 March 2001. I am today laying a new statutory instrument to extend those regulations until 30 September 2002. This will allow time for the necessary work to be done to enable the way forward to be settled.

  I will make a further announcement later this year, but I want at this stage to allay concerns expressed by some of those consulted that one of the proposals in the consultation document meant that umbrella bodies would be compelled to take on responsibilities which neither they nor their members want. I can give an absolute assurance that that was not, and is not, the Government's intention.

  Many respondents were also concerned that any change could make it more difficult for the public to find out about charities. The further work that I have commissioned will explore ways of making sure that this is not the case.
  441W

  Prison Service
  Mr. Pond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made on the review of the Prison Service's suicide and self-harm strategy; and if he will make a statement. [149275]

  Mr. Straw
  The review's analysis and recommendations have been accepted by the Director General of the Prison Service and by Ministers, and will be implemented progressively from April 2001 with the aim of year-on-year reductions in prisoner suicide and self-harm. There will be a strong stress on a preventive strategy which invests most resources where the risks are highest. An all-round pro-active approach will be developed which encourages a supportive culture in prisons based on good staff-prisoner relationships, a constructive regime and a physically safe environment. There will be improved identification and case arrangements for high-risk prisoners.

  The review's recommendations will be developed and piloted in five establishments: Wandsworth, Feltham, Eastwood Park, Leeds and Winchester. They will be evaluated and rolled out to other prisons. The three-year strategy will involve a major investment of capital and staff in prisons. In the first year, £8 million will be invested in implementation. Improvements will be made to reception and induction areas, for example through installing more first night centres, and by having more safe cells, crisis suites and gated cells. New health care screening procedures will start in 10 pilot prisons. Wing staff will be supported in their work by in-reach mental health teams and by the establishment of dedicated drug detoxification units. There will be full-time suicide prevention co-ordinators in high-risk local prisons. The numbers of trained listeners at high-risk prisons will be increased substantially.
  442W
  Copies of the review are being placed in the Library. The review recommended:

  a move away from awareness towards prevention;

  a risk-based strategy which invests more resources where the risks are highest and matches the level of support and intervention to the degree or risk of self-harm or suicide presented by the individual prisoner;

  improved screening and levels of specialist support;

  a better physical environment for prisoners, particularly when first received into custody;

  more training in mental health and suicide prevention for front line staff in particular;

  better interventions for the management of repetitive self-injury;

  increased numbers of prisoner listeners in high risk prisons; and

  better links with other agencies within the criminal justice system.

  Police (Expenditure)
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the total expenditure on advertising to recruit special constables was in the last five years; what the total number of new recruits was in the same period; what the net change in the number of specials over the period was; and if he will make a statement. [145710]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  [pursuant to his reply, 22 January 2001, c. 490W]: The figures given were incorrect. The correct figure for the number of special constables recruited for the five years from 1995–96 to 1999–2000 was 17,836. There was a net loss of 5,428 special constables during this period. The net loss figure of 2,137 given in my original reply was actually the number leaving the special constabulary from March 1999 to March 2000 only.

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  Child Abuse
  Child Abuse
  Caesarean Sections
  Caesarean Sections
  Haemophilia Patients
  Haemophilia Patients