Written Answers of 14 February 2001

HEALTH

  Variant CJD
  Ms Rosie Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will make an announcement on compensation for victims of variant Creutzfeldt-Jacob disease. [150839]

  Mr. Milburn
  We are committed to constructing a compensation scheme that is effective and properly meets the needs of those affected. Discussions are under way with the legal representatives of the families affected. In the meantime we will be making interim payments of £25,000 when regulations have been put in place to ensure the payments are not taken into account in the calculation of income-related social security benefits and are exempted from the provisions of the Social Security (Recovery of Benefits) Act 1997. We intend to present this legislation to Parliament as soon as possible. Details of the full compensation package are still under consideration.

  Communication Aids
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what response he plans to make to the recent Scope report, "Speak for Yourself?, concerning communication aids. [150078]

  Mr. Hutton
  The report is a detailed and very valuable assessment of the importance of communication aids for disabled people and we are studying its recommendations carefully.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

  North Korea
  Mr. Ben Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on UK aid to North Korea. [150311]

  Mr. Mullin
  The UK has provided humanitarian assistance in North Korea by channelling modest and well-targeted contributions through UN agencies and international non-governmental organisations—over £2.5 million since 1998. The programmes we support have primarily focused on agricultural rehabilitation and food security. In addition, the UK share of humanitarian assistance to North Korea through the EC was approximately £0.5 million in 1999–2000.

  Our engagement with North Korea through provision of humanitarian assistance has been instrumental in opening the country up to external influences. It has allowed us to maintain a dialogue with the North Korean authorities on issues of concern such as human rights abuse, the misappropriation of aid, and the problems of
  132W
  access faced by agencies working in the country. We will continue to work through the EU and with the international community as a whole to encourage a process of transformation in North Korea.

  Brahimi Report
  Mr. Swayne
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement about the Brahimi report. [149875]

  Mr. Mullin
  The Brahimi report makes a number of fundamental recommendations on improving the way the UN and the international community tackle peacekeeping, conflict prevention and peacebuilding, and on clarifying the mandates of UN agencies involved in tackling crises and conflict situations. The UK is very supportive of the Brahimi report and is working with the UN and other member states to take rapid and decision action on its speedy and effective implementation.

DEFENCE

  Shipwrecks
  Mr. Hepburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to place the consultation document on the protection of sunken military vessels in the Library. [150689]

  Dr. Moonie
  I have today placed a copy of the consultation paper in the Libraries of both Houses.

  A copy of the consultation paper has been sent to those hon. Members who have shown an interest in the subject of the protection of military maritime graves.

  Gulf War Syndrome
  Mr. Tynan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if members of the armed forces who received multiple vaccines in preparation for deployment during the Gulf War, but were not deployed, are eligible to participate in the Gulf veterans medical assessment programme. [150260]

  Mr. Spellar
  Yes. The Gulf veterans medical assessment programme is open to all present and former Service personnel or Ministry of Defence civilians who believe that their health has suffered as a direct result of the Gulf conflict.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

  Television Reception
  Mr. Sarwar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps he takes to ensure that publicly funded projects do not cause disruption of television reception for neighbouring households during building works and after completion. [149668]

  Janet Anderson
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions is responsible for the Planning Policy Guidance note 8 on telecommunications development in England. This includes advice on the potential in any development to
  133W
  interfere with television reception. The Scottish Executive are responsible for such planning policy issues in Scotland.

  BBC
  Mr. Wyatt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will ask the BBC to publish figures indicating the(a) funding of and (b) audience figures for (i) BBC Choice, (ii) BBC Knowledge and (iii) BBC 24 hours since their inception. [150213]

  Janet Anderson
  The BBC has published figures showing their spending on each of these channels in the Corporation's Annual Report and Accounts every year since they were launched. Audience figures are published independently by BARB, the Broadcasters' Audience Research Board Ltd.

  Mr. Wyatt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what permission was sought by the BBC from his Department in launching(a) BBC Choice, (b) BBC Knowledge and (c) BBC 24 hours. [150212]

  £ million

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  2001–02

  Total

  Discretionary spending on Government measures

  200

  200

  1,270

  2,730

  4,390

  8,800

  Net cost of earnings uprating

  —

  140

  500

  1,380

  1,570

  3,580

  Extra spending above earnings uprating

  200

  60

  770

  1,360

  2,830

  5,220

  Notes:

  1. Our measures included the above-inflation increase in the basic State Pension, the Minimum Income Guarantee, Winter Fuel Payments and concessionary TV licences for those aged 75 and over.

  2. It is assumed that the date at which uprating of basic State Pension by earnings begins is April 1998.

  3. Costs are net of income-related benefits. Gross costs have been estimated by the Government Actuary's Department. Income-related benefit offsets are estimated using the Policy Simulation Model.

  4. The cost of linked benefits, particularly widows'/bereavement benefits, is excluded.

  5. The definition of earnings used for uprating is the average earnings index, seasonally adjusted, in the three months to July in the preceding year.

  6. The costs are shown in 1999–2000 prices and are rounded to the nearest £10 million.

  Maternity Grant
  Mr. Grogan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many mothers in Yorkshire and Humberside received maternity grant in(a) 1996–97, (b) 1997–98, (c) 1998–99, (d) 1999–2000 and (e) 2000 to date; and what the value of the grant was in each of these years. [149438]

  Angela Eagle
  The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is in the table.

  Maternity Payment (MP) and Sure Start Maternity Grant (SSMG) awards for the Benefits Agency's Yorkshire area directorate

  £

  Financial year

  Application type

  Number of awards

  Amount awarded

  1996–97

  MP

  13,437

  1,361,110.55

  SSMG

  0

  0.00

  Total

  13,437

  1,361,110.55

  1997–98

  MP

  12,839

  1,301,124.37

  SSMG

  0

  0.00

  Total

  12,839

  1,301,124.37

  1998–99

  MP

  13,512

  1,366,846.65

  SSMG

  0

  0.00

  Total

  13,512

  1,366,846.65

  134W
  Janet Anderson
  BBC Choice and BBC News 24 were approved in principle in March 1997 and BBC Knowledge in January 1998. Specific approvals were given for the carriage of these new services on digital terrestrial television digital satellite and digital cable in February 1998, Ma) 1998 and October 1999 respectively.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Pension-earnings Link
  Miss Geraldine Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will calculate the extra cost if state retirement pensions had been linked to earnings since 1997. [149082]

  Mr. Rooker
  If our policy had been only to link the basic pension to earnings we would have spent £5.2 billion less over a five-year period. Instead we will have spent an estimated £3.5 billion extra in the five years since 1997–98 as a result of our discretionary measures for pensioners. This is over £5 billion more than uprating the basic state pension by earnings since April 1998.

  Further details arc in the table.

  Maternity Payment (MP) and Sure Start Maternity Grant (SSMG) awards for the Benefits Agency's Yorkshire area directorate

  £

  Financial year

  Application type

  Number of awards

  Amount awarded

  1999–2000

  MP

  12,950

  1,312,264.05

  SSMG

  2

  300.00

  Total

  12,952

  1,312,564.05

  2000–2001

  MP

  1,415

  144,100.00

  SSMG

  9,038

  2,071,767.00

  Total

  10,453

  2,215,867.00

  Notes:

  1. These figures are for the BA Yorkshire area directorate which comprise the following districts—South East Yorkshire, Rother and Dearne, Sheffield, Bradford and Keighley, Calderdale and Kirklees, Wakefield, East Yorkshire, Leeds and North Yorkshire.

  2. Sure Start Maternity Grant replaced the Social Fund Maternity Payment from 27 March 2000 for confinements/adoptions on or after 11 June 2000. The Social Fund Maternity Payment was £100 per child and the Sure Start Maternity Grant was initially £200 per child. This was increased to £300 for babies due, born or adopted from 3 December 2000. The amount of the SFMP or SSMG is reduced on a pound for pound basis by any savings over£500 held by an applicant or partner (£1,000 for applicants aged 60 or over).

  3. Figures for year 2000–2001 are for April to December 2000 only.

  Disability Working Allowance
  Mr. Grogan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people in Yorkshire and Humberside received the Disability Working Allowance during the last year of its existence. [149440]

  Mr. Bayley
  Disabled Persons Tax Credit replaced Disability Working Allowance on 5 October 1999.

  In Yorkshire and Humberside there were 2,458 claimants in receipt of Disability Working Allowance at some time during the period 6 October 1998 to 4 October 1999. Of these, 2,130 were awards made during this period.

  Note:

  Figures show number of claimants rather than claims, as a person may have more than one award during the year.

  Source:

  100 per cent. count of Disability Working Allowance claims.

  Fraud
  Mr. Goggins
  To ask the Secretary I of State for Social Security what progress he has made on his PSA target of reducing losses from fraud and error in Income Support and Jobseeker's Allowance. [150793]

  Mr. Rooker
  In 1998 we set a PSA target to reduce fraud and error in Income Support and Jobseeker's Allowance by 10 per cent. by March 2002. Provisional estimates show that the Department is likely to have met this target some 18 months earlier than anticipated. However, the Department has now set a more demanding target of reducing losses through fraud and error by 25 per cent. by March 2004 rising to 50 per cent. by March 2006.

  State Pension
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the cost to the Exchequer of increasing the basic state pension to £92 for a single person and £138 for a couple, Liking into account(a) savings in regard to (i) the Minimum Income Guarantee and (ii) other benefits payable to pensioners and (b) the consequent increases in receipts of tax revenue. [147606]

  Mr. Rooker
  [pursuant to his reply, 8 February 2001, c. 700W]: The information is in the table.

  Cost of increasing the basic state pension to £92 for a single person and £138 for a couple

  £ billion

  2001–02

  Gross total

  8.4

  Minimum Income Guarantee savings

  1

  Other income related benefit savings

  0.8

  Total income related benefit savings

  1.8

  Tax yield

  0.8

  Total net cost

  5.8

  Notes:

  1. All costs are given in £ billion to the nearest £100 million.

  2. Gross costs are estimated by the Government Actuary's Department.

  3. Income related benefits savings are estimated using the Policy Simulation Model.

  4. The tax effects are estimated by the Inland Revenue.
  136W
  5. Costs are given excluding widows and bereavement benefits whose rates are linked by law to the rate of basic Retirement Pension. Including them adds £200 million to the net costs.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Hinduja Brothers
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much in the form of export credit guarantees has been made available for each year since 1992 to(a) the Hinduja Group and (b) subsidiaries of the Hinduja Group. [149696]

  Mr. Byers
  [holding answer 9 February 2001]: No export guarantees have been issued to the Hinduja Group nor, as far as ECGD is aware, to any of its subsidiaries.

  Mr. Wilkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which members of the Hinduja family he has met since 3 May 1997; where such meetings have taken place; and for what purpose. [149839]

  Mr. Byers
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 2 February 2001,Official Report, column 336W, to the right hon. Member for Maidstone and the Weald (Miss Widdecombe).

  Sub-post Offices
  Mr. Page
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many modified sub-post offices there are and how many are run by interim sub-postmasters and sub-postmistresses. [150259]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  I understand from the Post Office that at the end of the third quarter of its current financial year, there were 655 modified sub-post offices. Of these, 33 were, at that date operated through temporary agents as a result of the resignation or termination of contract of the previous agent. In all such cases, the Post Office seeks to avoid any break in service and to ensure that standards of service are maintained until a new permanent agent can be appointed.

  Mr. Page
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many sub-post office closures there were in the third quarter of 2000; and how many closures there were in total up to the end of that quarter in 2000. [148213]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  [holding answer 1 February 2001]: 135 sub-post offices closed in the third quarter of the financial year 2000–01. Between April and December 2000 closures totalled 434, of which four are permanent following consultations under the Code of Practice. The figures reflect a snapshot position on one single day and many of these closures will be of a temporary nature only. The Government recognise that this is a serious issue for the communities concerned and a range of measures will be implemented in the near future to address it. Recent research by the Post office into the reasons for sub-postmasters' resignations makes clear that personal circumstances, such as retirement and health, are the main reasons for resigning. Fewer than 10 per cent. cite financial reasons.

  Science Funding (North-West)
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will break down the funding allocated to the North West for science in(a) 1997, (b) 1998, (c) 1999 and (d) 2000, by each major project. [146684]

  Dr. Howells
  A detailed breakdown of funding allocated to the North West by the Research Councils cannot be provided without disproportionate cost as the information is not held centrally in the format requested.

  Steel Imports
  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much steel was imported into Britain in 2000; where it was imported from; where most of it was used; and if he will make a statement. [150249]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  [holding answer 13 February 2001]: Imports of finished steel products in 1999 and the first 11 months of 2000 were as follows.

  UK Imports of steel industry products

  Tonnes

  Region

  1999

  2000 (January to November)

  European Union

  Austria

  57,765

  77,479

  Belgium

  632,005

  598,770

  Denmark

  59,540

  49,075

  Finland

  223,063

  177,827

  France

  836,679

  712,908

  Germany

  1,353,337

  1,251,444

  Greece

  9,322

  20,021

  Irish Republic

  89,958

  89,381

  Italy

  301,440

  281,359

  Luxembourg

  54,638

  61,633

  Netherlands

  589,298

  452,202

  Portugal

  2,428

  2,837

  Spain

  374,353

  385,020

  Sweden

  494,291

  320,897

  United Kingdom1

  27,388

  222,611

  Total European Union

  5,105,505

  4,703,464

  Other Western Europe (not EU)

  601,234

  471,458

  Eastern Europe and CIS

  454,725

  829,004

  North Africa

  29,990

  34,421

  Central, East and South Africa

  80,353

  117,021

  West Africa

  15

  1,569

  North America

  64,943

  75,968

  Central and South America

  100,024

  70,240

  Near and Middle East

  1,651

  5,669

  Other Asian countries

  402,310

  388,724

  Australasia and other Oceania

  36,841

  35,499

  Unallocated

  7,093

  —

  Total

  6,884,681

  6,733,037

  1 Re-imports of steel that has been sent out of the UK for further processing.

  Notes:

  No statistical information is available on the subsequent use of these imports.

  Source:

  Iron and Steel Statistics Bureau.

  Digital Television
  Mrs. Gilroy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to introduce rules to require the inclusion of a digital tuner in new television sets; and if he will make a statement. [148270]

  Ms Hewitt
  The Government have no plans to introduce rules requiring the inclusion of a digital tuner in new television sets. EU competition rules could preclude such requirements being made on a unilateral national basis.

  Annexe VI of the Directive on universal services and users' rights relating to electronic communications networks stipulates that all television sets sold in Europe should have at least one open interface socket permitting the connection of a digital receiver.

  The Government have recently announced a White Paper on enterprise, skills and innovation entitled "Opportunity For All in a World of Change" which outlines its plans for digital television.

  Family-friendly Employers
  Ms Julie Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proportion of employers with a policy of allowing reduced working hours for fathers have(a) fewer than 20 employees, (b) 100 employees or less, (c) 200 employees or less and (d) more than 500 employees. [150109]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  [holding answer 13 February 2001]: A survey commissioned by the Department for Education and Employment in 2000 reports that 40 per cent. of fathers in workplaces Employing between five and 24 staff said that their employer would allow them to reduce their hours for an agreed period of time at reduced salary. Corresponding figures were 30 per cent. for those employees in workplaces employing between 25 and 99 employees, 34 per cent. in workplaces between 100 and 499 employees and 35 per cent. in workplaces employing more than 500 employees.

  Liquefied Petroleum Gas
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many firms in the UK manufacture LPG cylinders for the automotive industry; and how many cylinders were made in each year since 1995. [150197]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  No UK manufacturers of LPG cylinders for the automotive industry have been identified, no record of UK manufacture of LPG cylinders could be located since 1995.

  Departmental Initiatives (Pendle)
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what initiatives embarked upon since May 1997 have benefited Pendle; and if he will make a statement. [149913]

  Mr. Caborn
  Pendle has benefited from the Department's employment rights policies, which include the national minimum wage, the working time directive, part-time working regulations and improved maternity leave.
  139W
  In the North West region, the Department's policies have also contributed to a growth in employment by 107,000 and a fall in unemployment by 63,000, and to reductions in youth employment by 75 per cent. and long-term unemployment by 54 per cent.

  Departmental Entertainment Costs
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much was spent by his Department's Ministers on drinks and entertainment in 2000. [146371]

  Mr. Byers
  [holding answer 22 January 2001]: The total spent by Ministers' offices on drinks and entertainment in the financial year 1999–2000, including the costs of some official DTI functions, was £19,834.

  Miners (Compensation)
  Mr. David Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the accessibility of existing test centres for health compensation claims for former miners in the Leicestershire and South Derbyshire coalfields. [149616]

  Mr. Hain
  Claimants in the Leicestershire region are most likely to attend centres in Coventry, Nottingham or Cannock. For claimants in the South Derbyshire region, the centres at Nottingham, Mansfield and Chesterfield are usually suggested. To date, these centres have assessed through the full Medical Assessment Process, MAP, over 1,300 claimants, with a further 511 appointments made.

  Show

  Invitation received by

  Attended by

  Beef 2000

  Joyce Quin

  —

  Cereals 2000

  Elliot Morley

  Elliot Morley

  Cheshire County Show

  Nick Brown

  Elliot Morley

  CLA Game Fair

  Nick Brown and Elliot Morley

  Nick Brown and Elliot Morley

  Devon Show

  Joyce Quin

  Joyce Quin

  Driffield Show

  Nick Brown

  —

  East of England Show

  Nick Brown

  —

  Essex Show

  Nick Brown

  —

  European Dairy Farming Event

  Nick Brown

  Joyce Quin

  Great Yorkshire Show

  Nick Brown

  Elliot Morley

  Kent Show

  Joyce Quin

  Joyce Quin

  Lincolnshire Show

  Nick Brown

  Nick Brown

  National Fruit Show

  Nick Brown

  —

  Royal Bath and West Show

  Nick Brown

  Baroness Hayman

  Royal Highland Show

  Nick Brown

  Nick Brown

  Royal Norfolk Show

  Nick Brown

  Elliot Morley

  Sheep 2000

  Nick Brown

  Elliot Morley

  South of England Show

  Baroness Hayman

  Baroness Hayman

  South West Dairy Show

  Nick Brown

  Joyce Quin

  The Royal Show

  Nick Brown, Joyce Quin, Baroness Hayman and Elliot Morley

  Nick Brown, Joyce Quin, Baroness Hayman

  The Royal Smithfield Show

  Nick Brown

  Nick Brown, Baroness Hayman and Elliot Morley

  The Royal Welsh Show

  Nick Brown

  Nick Brown

  Three Counties Show

  Baroness Hayman

  Baroness Hayman

  Westmorland Show

  Joyce Quin

  —

  Ministerial Meetings
  Mr. Breed
  To ask the Minster of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he last met his counterparts in(a) France and (b) the Czech Republic; and if he will make a statement. [145921]
  140W
  Claimants are usually asked to attend a test centre within a 25–mile radius of their residence. However, claimants are given the option to attend a different centre if a more suitable time is available. For those claimants who are not able to travel to a centre, and have a letter from their doctor, Healthcall carries out home visits.

  Export Controls Bill
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress has been made by his Department on the publication of the draft Export Control Bill. [149904]

  Dr. Howells
  Work is continuing to prepare the draft Export Control Bill for publication and the Government will publish the Bill as soon as it is ready. It is not possible at this stage to give a precise date but we hope to be in a position to publish the Bill within the next few months.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Agricultural Shows
  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the agricultural shows this year(a) to which (i) he and (ii) other Ministers in his Department have received invitations and (b) which shows (i) he and (ii) each other Minister has attended. [144323]

  Mr. Nick Brown
  [holding answer 8 February 2001]: The table details the agricultural shows for which invitations were received, and which were attended by MAFF Ministers during 2000.

  Mr. Nick Brown
  I meet Jean Glavany regularly at EU Agriculture Council. I last met him for a formal bilateral discussion, in London, on 26 June 2000. My right hon. Friend the Minister of State met Jan Fencl on my behalf on 5 July 2000.

  GM Crops
  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer of 10 January 2001,Official Report, column 562W, on GM crops, if the Government definition of GM agriculture is restricted to commercial agricultural activities. [147885]

  Mr. Nick Brown
  [holding answer 30 January 2001]: Any assessment of the impact of GM agriculture on farmland values, which was the subject of the hon. Member's previous question, would need to consider the impact of commercial cultivation. Only limited GM crop trials are currently taking place in the UK.

  Agriculture (Employment and Production)
  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what(a) assumptions and (b) projections of agricultural employment and production levels apply to the Government's long-term strategy for agriculture. [150245]

  Mr. Nick Brown
  [holding answer 13 February 2001]: The Government's long-term agriculture strategy takes account of the changing economic circumstances facing the sector, including trends in employment and production levels. The underlying economic analysis is summarised in a MAFF publication "Strategy for Agriculture: Current and Prospective Economic Situation", which is available in the Libraries of the House, and associated MAFF working papers produced in March 2000. The key policies underpinning the strategy will be subject to economic evaluation.

  Agrimonetary Compensation Scheme
  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if the Government have made representations at the EU level on the need for a replacement for the agrimonetary compensation system. [150247]

  Mr. Nick Brown
  [holding answer 13 February 2001]: The Council's agrimonetary regulations cover currency movements to the end of 2001 and provide for compensation which could extend over the next three years. No member state has pressed for a replacement at the present time.

  England Rural Development Programme
  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of the impact on funding of the ERDP if the modulation of agriculture subsidies at the stated percentages yields significantly less than the amounts expected. [150248]

  Mr. Nick Brown
  [holding answer 13 February 2001]: The funds raised through modulation of agriculture subsidies will be monitored closely throughout the life of the England Rural Development Programme.

  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if ERDP funding is subject to annual ring-fencing arrangements similar to those that apply to the money announced in March 2000 for pig farmers. [150329]

  Mr. Nick Brown
  [holding answer 13 February 2001]: No.

  Small Business Service
  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what an initial consultation visit by the Small Business Service consists of. [150332]

  Mr. Nick Brown
  [holding answer 13 February 2001]: An initial consultation visit under the Farm Business Advice Service, which is being delivered for MAFF by the Small Business Service, is conducted by a Farm Business Adviser (FBA) and lasts approximately half a day. The FBA will look round the farm and discuss with the farmer the way the business is run and managed, financial matters and the aspirations for the business of the farmer and his/her family. Information required to undertake a business health check and to prepare a current farm balance sheet will be collected, which the farmer will normally have been forewarned to have ready, to help the FBA prepare an action plan following the initial visit. The FBA may also collect data to benchmark business performance. During the visit or on a subsequent visit the FBA might use the specially developed Connect CD to illustrate the options open to the farmer.

  In every case FBAs will tailor the service provided to meet the needs of the individual farmer.

  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what the cost of the Small Business Service's agricultural activities have been to date; and how these costs have been met. [150331]

  Mr. Nick Brown
  [holding answer 13 February 2001]: Expenditure to date on the Farm Business Advice Service which is being delivered for MAFF by the Small Business Service(SBS) through Business Link outlets is £1,053,092. Business Links will be submitting invoices to cover the costs they have incurred delivering the service, over the period since its launch, at the end of February. All costs will be met from moneys allocated to MAFF under the Action Plan for Farming. Any funds allocated to this service for this financial year and not spent will be carried over to next year.

  Farmers do have access to the full range of other small business support services provided by the SBS, but the costs involved are not separately identified.

  Krebs Report
  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his oral statement of 1 February 2001,Official Report, column 519, if all 10 triplets are running as specified in the Krebs report. [150330]

  Mr. Nick Brown
  [holding answer 13 February 2001]: As I informed the House on 1 February 2001, Official Report, column 519, all 10 triplets are in place. Initial proactive culling has been carried out in seven of them. Surveying is in progress in the other three, which are due to be proactively culled later this year. This is in line with the timetable set by the Independent Scientific Group on Cattle TB, which is overseeing the trial.

  Over-30-months Scheme
  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the level of payments made through the OTMS in each year of the scheme's existence. [150244]
  143W
  Mr. Nick Brown
  [holding answer 13 February 2001]: The table shows actual OTMS expenditure for financial years 1996–97 to 1999–2000 and the forecast expenditure for 2000–01.

  £ million

  Purchase costs

  Disposal costs

  Total

  1996–971

  670

  188

  858

  1997–981

  288

  144

  432

  1998–991

  264

  116

  380

  1999–20001

  265

  129

  394

  2000–012

  265

  136

  401

  1 Outturn

  2 Forecast

  Pesticides
  Mr. Livsey
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list(a) the national rules concerning data requirements in respect of applications for the approval of pesticides that were in place in 1990 and (b) amendments to the rules made since then, including the dates of such amendments; and if he will place copies of the rules and amendments in the Library. [149356]

  Ms Quin
  In 1990, the UK national rules on data requirements concerning applications for the approval of pesticides were set out in the "Data Requirements for Approval under the Control of Pesticides Regulations 1986" issued in October 1986. Amendments to the rules made since then include: in June 1992 a major addition in the form of Part One of "The COPR Handbook"; in December 1996, this was incorporated into "The Registration Handbook"; and in April 1999 the issue of a Volume II (last updated in December 1999) to the Registration Handbook.

  In June and December 2000, revised electronic versions of Part One, Part Two and Part Three of "The Registration Handbook" were placed on PSD's website www.pesticides.gov.uk as "The Application Handbook" and "The Data Requirements Handbook". Part Four of "The Registration Handbook" is under revision, but is currently available only as hard copy.

  Copies of these documents (including printouts of those available electronically) have been placed in the House Libraries. "The Registration Handbook", "The Application Handbook" and "The Data Requirements Handbook" are in their most up to date form, incorporating all the amendments made to them. Copies of all of the original pages superseded by these amendments could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  I will write to the hon. Member with further details and place copies of my letter in the Libraries of the House.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Flags
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if it is the(a) policy and (b) practice of Her Majesty's Government to fly the flag of the country
  144W
  of a visiting Head of State (i) over and (ii) on a flag pole within, the precincts of a building which is being visited by a Head of State (1) officially, (2) privately and (3) who is temporarily resident in Northern Ireland. [150307]

  Dr. Reid
  The Government's policy and practice is to comply with the Flags Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000 which state that where a Government building is visited by a foreign Head of State during an official visit, the flag of that Head of State's country may be flown in addition to the Union flag, where a second flag pole makes this possible.

  Special Advisers
  Mr. Tyrie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if the special advisers working for him will relinquish their posts when the next general election is called. [149312]

  Dr. Reid
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office on 13 February 2001,Official Report, column 130W.

  Advertising Campaigns
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list for(a) 1996–97, (b) 1997–98, (c) 1998–99, (d) 1999–2000 and (e) 2000–01, (i) his Department's total spending on advertising campaigns, (ii) the cost of each individual advertising campaign and (iii) the criteria that were established to gauge the effectiveness of each campaign; and what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of each campaign based on these criteria. [142712]

  Dr. Reid
  The information requested is outlined as follows:

  Year

  £

  1996–97

  135,938.07

  1997–98

  477,726.16

  1998–99

  887,303.00

  1999–2000

  330,630.95

  2000–01

  44,804.71

  Although these figures incorporate the total publicity/ advertising budget, there was an on-going campaign during the period in question, the mood/referendum campaign, which culminated with the May 1998 Good Friday Agreement referendum.

  The criterion used to evaluate the effectiveness of the campaign was the response in voter turnout when compared to other recent votes.

  For example, the average turnout in Northern Ireland constituencies at the May 1997 general election was 67.42 per cent. while the turnout for the referendum was 81 per cent., a 20 per cent. increase. An on-going assessment of the campaign, which was carried out by the advertising company, showed the general public to be very aware of the choices they faced, proving the effectiveness of the campaign itself.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Hinduja Brothers
  Mr. Blunt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the occasions on which(a) Ministers and (b) officials received (i) formal and (ii) informal representations concerning Iran from (A) the Hinduja brothers and (B) their representatives and representatives of their companies since 2 May 1997. [148385]

  Mr. Wilson
  [holding answer 5 February 2001]: It is not the normal practice of the Government to release details of meetings or discussions by officials with private individuals or companies. The Foreign Secretary, accompanied by an official, discussed India and Iran with GP Hinduja before and after the Foreign Secretary's visit to India in April 2000. The discussion focused on commercial opportunities for UK business in both countries. There was no mention of the question of nationality.

  Departmental Expenditure Limit
  Ms Osborne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proposals he has to amend the Foreign and Commonwealth Office departmental expenditure limit/running cost limit for 2000–01. [150691]

  Mr. Wilson
  The information is as follows:Subject to Parliamentary approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimate for Class VII Vote I, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office departmental expenditure limit for 2000–01 will be increased by £42,289,000 from £1,210,333,000 to £1,252,622,000 and the running cost limit has been increased by £1,797,000 from £531,982,000 to £533,779,000. This is the net effect of:

  (i) a transfer of £16,000 to the Ministry of Defence (Class VI, Vote 2), in respect of our final contribution to the grant-in-aid to the Atlantic Council of the UK;

  (ii) an increase of £5,441,000 in respect of an adjustment for Overseas price movements;

  (iii) a transfer of £1,920,000 to the Cabinet Office (Class XVII, Vote 2) for drugs assistance programmes;

  (iv) a transfer of £880,000 to the Cabinet Office (Class XVII, Vote 2) for revisions to charging regime;

  (v) an increase in both running costs and appropriations in aid of £1,248,000 in respect of increased receipts from OGD's;

  (iv) a transfer of £32,000 from BBC monitoring service to the Cabinet Office (Class XVII, Vote 2);

  (vii) an increase in both running costs and appropriations in aid of £5,300,000 to reflect an increase in our VAT recovery forecast;

  (viii) a decrease of £5,500,000 in both capital expenditure and A-in-A for FCO Estates Rationalisation;

  (ix) a PES transfer of £1,500,000 to the MOD representing the FCO's contribution to the enhanced package for the Sierra Leone Army;

  (x) a PES transfer of £168,000 from the War Pensions Agency to cover the costs of medical examinations for overseas pensioners;

  (xi) additional provision of £39,808,000 on Section B for UK contributions to United Nations Missions in the former Yugoslavia (includes UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo) and the former Soviet Union, United Nations Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (Iraq), United Nations Iraq-Kuwait Observer Mission, United Nations Mission for the Referendum on Western Sahara, United Nations Transitional Authority in East Timor, United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone, United Nations Observer Mission in
  146W
  the Democratic Republic of Congo, United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea, the United Nations International Criminal Tribunals for Yugoslavia and Rwanda, the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe, the European Community Monitoring Mission and Western European Union Police Mission in Albania. This is partially offset by an increase of £344,000 in appropriations-in-aid in respect of non-baseline peacekeeping and by £10,761,000 from Section E, General VAT Refunds;

  (xii) The supplementary estimate is also required to note an increase in Section C, to reflect PES transfers of £46,000 to the Cabinet Office (Class XVII, Vote 2) and £52,000 to the Cabinet Office (Class XVII, Vote 1);

  (xiii) The supplementary estimate is also required to note an increase of £1,998,000 of Section D, in respect of an adjustment for Overseas Price Movement for the British Council.

  Child Abuse
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what has been the average cost of suspension of(a) a case worker and (b) a teacher investigated for child abuse in the last three years. [149429]

  Mr. Hutton
  I have been asked to reply.

  Decisions as to whether an employee is to be suspended, and consideration of the costs of suspension, are matters for employers to consider when faced with allegations of serious misconduct that may necessitate management inquiries. Employers are not required to provide the Government with analysis of the costs of any suspensions of employees. As such, there is no information held centrally about the average costs of suspensions involving social services caseworkers or teachers who are the subject of investigations following allegations of child abuse.

ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS

  Fireworks
  Mr. Bill O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he has received on the subject of pollution from the use of fireworks over the last Christmas and New Year period; and if he will make a statement. [148168]

  Mr. Hill
  I am not aware of any such representations. I have had a letter from a Member concerning noise from fireworks over the holiday period.

  Levels of air pollution measured by the national monitoring network remained low throughout this time in most parts of England. There were two occasions when levels of particles (PM10) at roadsides were recorded as moderate—on 23 December in central London and on 30 December in Bury in Greater Manchester. These incidents are most likely to have been caused by motor vehicle emissions during stable atmospheric dispersion conditions. Any contribution to the levels of those pollutants from the ignition of fireworks are likely to have been small. The Air Quality Strategy for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland sets objectives for the main air pollutants. The objective for particles allows for the 24-hour mean to be exceeded no more than 35 times a year. In part, this is to provide for annual

  147W
  events such as bonfire night and other festivals where fire and fireworks form part of the celebration. My right hon. Friend the Minister for the Environment announced that we shall consult on proposals for a new objective for particles later this year.

  Crematoria
  Mr. Bill O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to investigate flue gas emissions from crematoria to ensure they meet the requirements of the Environmental Protection Act 1990; and if he will make a statement. [148304]

  Mr. Hill
  Emissions of various pollutants are already regulated and monitored by local authorities under Part I of the 1990 Act.

  In addition, we have been working with the Federation of British Cremation Authorities since 1999 on the issue of mercury emissions from crematoria. We have commissioned monitoring of mercury in the vicinity of a crematorium in the West Midlands and we know that the federation has recently arranged for mercury monitoring to be undertaken at a number of crematoria. Once we have the necessary information on which to base a decision, we will decide whether to include a limit for mercury emissions from existing crematoria in statutory guidance on the Best Available Techniques Not Entailing Excessive Cost.

  European Maritime Safety Agency
  Mr. Charles Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what his Department's policy is concerning the proposed establishment of a European Maritime Safety Agency, with specific reference to the issue of tanker traffic in the Minch; and if he will make a statement. [149428]

  Mr. Hill
  We support the stated aims of the EMSA to the extent that it could provide a source of technical expertise to review the operation of existing maritime safety directives and scrutinise the case for any additional regulation. We consider that, to the extent that it improves performance across the Community, it could contribute to enhancing safety and reducing pollution risks. However, we do have concerns about the risk of Commission centralism, and take the view that member states would have to have effective control of the Agency.

  The EMSA would not replace met members states' national maritime agencies, which would continue to exercise their existing responsibilities. For the UK the relevant national agency is the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA).

  There has been an internationally agreed recommendation on navigation in place for the Minch since November 1993, by which all laden tanks over 10,000 gross tonnage are requested not to pass east of the Outer Hebrides, through the Little Minch and North Minch, except because of stress of weather or any other case of "force majeure". Responsibility for implementing this recommendation rests with the MCA.

  The current position in respect of traffic through the Minch is that although there has been apparent increase in the number of vessels, based upon the year-on-year increase in reports received by Stornoway Coastguard
  148W
  Station, Coastguard personnel believe that the actual number of vessels shows no significant change. The apparent increase continues to be attributed to vessels that have previously been unaware of the reporting scheme but are now actively participating.

  However, the number of laden tankers over 10,000 gross tonnage using the Minch route remains low and only 18 were recorded during 2000. In the majority of these cases, the reason given by the vessel's master and accepted by the MCA was forecast adverse weather in the deep-water route to the west of the Outer Hebrides. Where there appears to be no justification for using the Minch, MCA contacts the vessel's operators for an explanation.

  On occasions where large laden tankers do use the Minch, the Minch Emergency Towing Vessel (ETV) endeavours to escort such laden tankers to minimise any risk involved. At present, the ETV is on station in the Minch during the winter months only (October-March), but, with effect from October 2001, there will be ETV cover all year round.

  With the phased introduction of automatic identification systems (AIS) under the revision of Chapter V of the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) Convention, all tankers on international voyages must have such equipment fitted not later than the first annual safety equipment survey after 1 July 2003, unless they are scheduled to be scrapped within two years of the implementation date. This requirement should further enhance the level of reporting in this particular area.

  Park Homes Working Party
  Mr. Coaker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he will publish the Government's response to the recommendations of the Park Homes Working Party; and if he will make a statement. [149750]

  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  We have consulted on, and are considering, the recommendations of the Park Homes Working Party. We will give our response to the recommendations in due course.

  National Air Traffic Services
  Mr. McDonnell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what assessment he has made of the governmental inquiry into Mr. Douglas Andrew's role in the privatisation of New Zealand's steel industry in respect of the involvement of Mr. Andrew of the Civil Aviation Authority in advising the Government on the future of the National Air Traffic Services; [149597]

  (2) pursuant to his answer of 5 February 2001, Official Report, columns 382–83W, if he will publish the minutes and notes of any working groups run by his Department on the economic regulatory and licensing regime for the NATS public-private partnership in which Mr. Douglas Andrew has participated; [149599]

  (3) pursuant to his answer of 5 February 2001, Official Report, columns 382–83W, for what reasons Mr. Douglas Andrew has held meetings with the three potential partners during the bidding process; [149598]
  149W
  (4) pursuant to his answer of 5 February 2001, Official Report, columns 382–83W, what steps were taken by the Government to satisfy itself that Mr. Douglas Andrew was the most appropriate person for reappointment in 2000 as the head of the Civil Aviation Authority's economic regulation group. [149596]

  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  Before reappointing Mr. Andrew in April 2000, the Government satisfied themselves as to his track record as a member of the Civil Aviation Authority. They saw, and continue to see, no reason to make further inquiries about Mr. Andrew's career prior to joining the CAA.

  Mr. Andrew's meetings with the bidders for the role of strategic partner in the public-private partnership for National Air Traffic Services were to enable the bidders to discuss questions about the future economic regulatory process.

  The working groups run by my Department, to which I referred in my earlier answer, were integral to the provision of advice to Ministers on the public-private partnership, and it would not be appropriate to publish the minutes.

  Ms Osborne
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what consideration he is giving to selecting a strategic partner for the PPP for NATS on the basis of not-for-commercial-profit. [149848]

  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  Bids for the NATS PPP were received by the Government on 31 January 2001 from the three consortiums who were invited to submit offers in November 2000. These are NIMBUS, NOVARES and The Airline Group. These three bids are currently being assessed against the evaluation criteria provided to them in November 2000 and against the Government objectives for this PPP. The evaluation criteria and the Government objectives do not preclude any bid from being on the basis of not-for-commercial-profit.

  Animal Waste Incineration
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if a Regulatory Impact Assessment will be undertaken before new standards and controls are introduced in respect of emissions from(a) incinerators of animal waste and (b) pet crematoria. [150010]

  Mr. Hill
  A Regulatory Impact Assessment was undertaken of the then proposed Waste Incineration Directive, and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has since commissioned a study by ADAS Consulting to assess more accurately how many small animal carcase incinerators are in operation. A preliminary Regulatory Impact Assessment was issued by MAFF last November for the draft EU Animal By-Products Regulation. In addition, AEA Technology has been commissioned by MAFF to measure emissions at a representative sample of small animal waste incinerators to provide a firm basis for determining proportionate standards. MAFF will be making available the two studies when they are completed, subject to commercial confidentiality considerations.
  150W
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what research he has(a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the environmental benefits and disbenefits of using different fuels to incinerate animal waste. [150007]

  Mr. Hill
  None to my knowledge. The AEA Technology study referred to in the previous answer will examine incinerators using different fuels.

  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what communications his Department has had with National Industrial Fuel Efficiency Services Ltd. concerning the development of UK standards for emissions from small incinerators of animal waste, in the context of the European Union Waste Incineration Directive and proposed animal waste directive; and if he will make a statement. [150008]

  Mr. Hill
  None to my knowledge.

  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make it his policy to ensure that the pet crematoria industry is not economically damaged by EU measures. [150009]

  Mr. Hill
  Partly at the UK's behest, the adopted Waste Incineration Directive (2000/76/EC) excludes animal carcases from its scope.

  As regards the current draft EU Animal By-Products Regulation, it is our aim in the negotiation of this regulation to secure requirements akin to those in the Waste Incineration Directive for animal carcase incinerators on premises where there is an incineration capacity of over 50kg/hr, and proportionate, less stringent, requirements where the incineration capacity is smaller. The Association of Private Pet Cemeteries and Crematoria will be among the interested organisations consulted during the negotiation of the regulation.

  Leylandii Hedges
  Mr. Blizzard
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on his plans to control leylandii hedges and the proposed timetable for their implementation. [150070]

  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  In August last year, my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Environment announced our commitment to introduce legislation that would give local authorities powers to deal with complaints about problem hedges, including leylandii. Although it was not possible to make provision for such a Bill in the Queen's Speech, the issue is being taken forward as a private Member's Bill by the hon. Member for Solihull (Mr. Taylor). The High Hedges Bill was introduced on 17 January and is due to have its Second Reading on 9 March.

  Strategic Planning Expenditure
  Mr. Cash
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the levels of spending on strategic planning per head of population in(a) Staffordshire and (b) each other county of England (i) in the current year and (ii) in each of the last three years. [150016]
  151W
  Ms Beverley Hughes
  Local authority expenditure on strategic planning is not separately identified in any of the returns made by local government to central Government, so we are unable to provide the information requested.

  Powershift Programme
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 26 January 2001,Official Report, column 732W, on eligibility criteria for the Powershift programme, what meetings Ministers in his Department have had over the past 12 months with vehicle manufacturers to encourage them to manufacture production line gas vehicles; what other measures his Department has taken in pursuit of his objective; and what the response has been from the vehicle manufacturers. [150000]

  Mr. Hill
  I refer the hon. Member to my answer on 7 February 2001,Official Report, columns 535–36W.

  Planning
  Mr. Ben Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will codify the way in which the requirements for developments in guideline areas are brought to the attention of planning committees. [149645]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  This is an operational matter for local planning authorities' own discretion. The Local Government Association's "Probity in Planning" includes guidelines for officer reports to planning committees. This advises that relevant points will include a clear exposition of the development plan, site-related history, and any other material considerations.

  Mr. Ben Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how breaches of codes of conduct on relationships between planning officers and(a) applicants and (b) planning consultants are recorded. [149641]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  There is no centrally-prescribed method for recording breaches of codes of conduct. However, the Local Government Ombudsman's guidance note "Devising a Complaints System" gives advice to local authorities on conducting an internal investigation of a complaint, including the recording of its outcome. Breaches of codes of conduct may also be the subject of investigation and formal report by the Local Government Ombudsman.

  Mr. Ben Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what plans he has to(a) clarify and (b) amend the rules by which application dates are determined in planning cases; [150005]

  (2) if he will make a statement on the rules by which an application date is determined following pre-application discussions in planning cases. [150006]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  It is for applicants to decide when to make a formal planning application to the local planning authority. This may or may not follow pre-application discussions. All applications made to an authority are recorded in that authority's planning register. The Town and Country Planning (General Development Procedure) Order 1995 requires local planning authorities to give an applicant notice of their decision within eight 152W
  weeks of receipt of a valid planning application. However, the applicant and the local planning authority may agree in writing an extended period for determining the application, unless the applicant has already given notice of appeal to the Secretary of State. We have no plans to amend the existing provisions.

  Mr. Ben Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the scope that planning officers have for interpreting the provisions relating to guideline areas without the permission of elected representatives. [150027]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  Under section 54A of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, all planning applications must be determined in accordance with the development plan for the area unless material considerations indicate otherwise. Section 101 of the Local Government Act 1972, as amended, provides for planning applications to be determined by an officer on behalf of the council, in accordance with clearly stated and published rules. Elected members decide the policies in the development plan and determine the framework of other policies, standards and guidance within which applications are considered. Elected members also set the terms of any delegation agreement, including the circumstances in which an officer's delegated power to make a decision may not be exercised. The Local Government Association's "Development Control: Delegation Arrangements" advises that common exceptions to delegated powers will be applications which are contrary to the policies in the development plan for the area and contrary to approved council policies.

  Mr. Ben Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to give objectors in planning cases non-judicial alternative forms of appeal. [149903]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  We have no current plans to do so.

  Mr. Ben Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make it his policy to reduce the number of signatures required for a petition in planning cases in low density areas. [150019]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  There is no prescribed number of signatures that constitutes a petition for planning purposes. In determining planning applications, local planning authorities are required to take into account relevant representations made to them within the time limit specified. It is for authorities to decide what weight to give to such representations, having regard to the circumstances of the particular case.

  Mr. Ben Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will(a) allow objectors to apply for costs when participating in planning appeals and (b) increase and standardise the timescale for objections to be submitted in planning cases. [150029]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  (a) Fundamental to the working of the planning system, including planning appeals, is the fact that each party meets its own expenses. Thus parties to planning appeals going to inquiry normally meet their own costs. However, the Secretary of State has the power

  153W
  to order one party to pay another's costs where one party has behaved unreasonably and has caused another to incur unnecessary expense as a result.

  (b) Streamlined statutory procedures for handling planning appeals were introduced in August last year following public consultation. These require other parties to submit their comments or statements of case to the Secretary of State in the same timescale within which local planning authorities and appellants submit their statements. The operation of the new procedures is being monitored but we have no current plans to change them.

  Mr. Ben Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will require local authorities to place a time limit on pre-application discussions between planning officers and applicants or their representatives. [150024]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  This is an operational matter for local planning authorities' discretion.

  Mr. Ben Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make it his policy to(a) prevent planning committees from being held in holiday periods and (b) permit objectors to make closing statements at planning appeals. [150020]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  (a) We have no plans to do so. This is an operational matter for individual local authorities to determine.

  (b) The statutory rules for handling planning appeals prescribe the arrangements for parties making statements at hearings or inquiries. The rules already make provision for closing statements by objectors in particular circumstances but inspectors have discretion to allow them in other circumstances. DETR Circular 5/2000 "Planning Appeals: Procedure (Including Inquiries into Called-in Planning Applications)" provides guidance on the procedure at hearings and inquiries.

  Carbon Dioxide Emissions
  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will set out carbon dioxide emission projection figures for(a) 2001, (b) 2002, (c) 2003, (d) 2004, (e) 2005, (f) 2006, (g) 2007, (h) 2008 and (i) 2009 on the same basis as is used for the preparation of figures for Table 1 in Section 2, Chapter 1 of the final Climate Change Programme, Cm 4913. [149872]

  Mr. Meacher
  Data for 2005 are published in Table 1 in Section 2, Chapter 1 of the final Climate Change Programme. Data for intermediate years are not available because the UK energy model makes projections at five yearly intervals. Intermediate years may be constructed by interpolation, but this does not add additional information and can be misleading because emissions in individual years are affected by statistical factors, including the weather and the economic cycle.

  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions for what reason the figures relating to carbon dioxide emissions and carbon dioxide emission projections in Table 1 of Section 2, Chapter 1 of the final Climate Change Programme, Cm 4913, differ from those in Table 1 of Section 2, Chapter 1 of the draft Climate Change Programme. [149869]
  154W
  Mr. Meacher
  The carbon dioxide emission estimate for 1990 is from the UK emissions inventory and is given as 168 million tonnes of carbon in both the Climate Change Programme and the draft Climate Change Programme. The projections for years 2000, 2010 and 2020 compare as follows:

  Million tonnes

  Year

  Climate change programme

  Draft climate change programme

  2000

  154.3

  152.2

  2010

  153.8

  156.3

  2020

  160.7

  164.7

  Most of the differences reflect revisions to UK energy projections made following the consultation process described in Energy Paper 68 (see section 1.2, page 8). The main factor influencing the projection for 2000 is a lower expectation of nuclear output together with a higher coal burn. In subsequent years higher power station emissions are outweighed by lower emissions from industry and refineries. Industrial emissions are projected to be lower than previously estimated partly due to lower estimated emissions from offshore activity. Projected emissions from land use change have also been revised downward slightly because of methodological improvements and minor updates resulting from emissions data in the latest greenhouse gas inventory. Provisional data on actual emissions in 2000 will be available in March.

  Air Liberalisation
  Ms Osborne
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what progress he has made in the negotiations with the United States on air liberalisation. [149855]

  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  Negotiations with the previous US Administration did not lead to an agreement. We will be pressing the new Administration to liberalise the market on terms which deliver a fair balance of opportunity to the airlines of the two sides, bringing the benefits of increased competition both to the consumer and to the wider UK economy.

  A6 Bus Lane
  Mr. Reed
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the impact of the A6 bus lane in Loughborough since its introduction. [150021]

  Mr. Hill
  I have asked the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency, Mr. Tim Matthews, to write to my hon. Friend.

  Letter from Tim Matthews to Mr. Andrew Reed, dated 14 February 2001:
  The Transport Minister, Keith Hill, has asked me to reply to your Parliamentary Question about the bus lane on the A6 in Loughborough.
  This was introduced in an experimental basis in March 1999. Our assessment of the scheme is very positive: there have been improvements in bus journey time reliability and car journey times at the height of the morning peak and a reduction in maximum queue lengths. Although the proposal was generally well received there were some objections. We are trying to resolve these before deciding whether or not we should make permanent arrangements for its operation and enforcement. We hope that will be around April.

  155W
  If you require any further information in the meantime please contact David Smith, the Project Sponsor for this scheme. His telephone number is 0121 678 8054.

  Central Railway (Freight Line)
  Mr. Watts
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what the Government's policy is on the proposals by Central Railway for a new direct freight line to Europe from the north-west; if he will publish the advice that he has received from the Strategic Rail Authority on this matter; and what discussions have taken place with Central Railway about the proposed line. [149840]

  Mr. Hill
  Central Railway has requested the Government's support for the approval of its scheme through a hybrid Bill but the company has not yet submitted details of its proposals.

  The SRA is to undertake a review of Central Railway's proposals. This will examine the project in the context of our 10-Year Plan objectives and the SRA's own strategy for freight. I will follow the review with interest and make a further statement in due course, taking into account the SRA's findings.

  A3, Hindhead
  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the UVA consultants' report on the Hindhead A3 tunnel. [150305]

  Mr. Hill
  The consultant's report on the A3 Hindhead study is currently with the South East England Regional Assembly and was presented to its plenary meeting today. It will then be for the A Assembly to make recommendations to Ministers. And decisions on the way forward will be taken in the light of these recommendations.

  Biocidal and Cosmetic Products
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what his policy is on the discussion paper produced by the Environment Directorate of the European Commission on the interface between the Biocidal Products and Cosmetic Products Directives; what timetable has been proposed for consultation on this paper; and if he will place a copy of the paper and the Government's response in the Library. [148713]

  Mr. Meacher
  [holding answer 12 February 2001]: The European Commission is currently drafting a document in order to clarify the borderline between the Biocidal Products Directive and the Cosmetics Directive. An expert working group that includes experts from member states (including the UK) and industry has discussed it. The working document is being modified and a final version has yet to be put formally to member states for comment. It is anticipated that member states will discuss a final draft next month.

  With regard to the scope of the Biocidal Products Directive, the UK policy is to encourage the European Commission to bring forward proposals concerning the interface with other Directives so that products are
  156W
  regulated under the most appropriate regime, and those required to comply with European legislation are clear about which legislation applies to their products.

  Once the working document has been lodged with us it will be placed in the House Library.

  Flood Plains
  Mr. Gale
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what consideration his Department has given to the implications of construction on flood plains on the south coast; what his assessments are of the increased risk of flooding from such construction; what preconditions have been imposed to guarantee the satisfactory disposal of sewage, wastewater and groundwater resulting from the construction of new housing estates and service roads; and if he will make a statement. [150117]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  Policy INF1 in the draft Regional Planning Guidance for the South East (RPG9) states that:"Development should be guided away from areas at risk or likely to be at risk in future from flooding, or where it would increase the risk of flood damage elsewhere".

  The draft RPG advises that management proposals for the costal zone will also need to reflect strategies agreed between relevant bodies for flood defence. Shoreline management plans now exist for the whole of the south coast. These contribute towards the necessary understanding of coastal processes to inform the planning system in its assessment of flood risk and construction.

  The revised draft of Planning Policy Guidance Note (PPG) 25 "Development and flood risk", published on 6 February, states:
  "those proposing particular developments are responsible for: providing an assessment of whether any proposed development is likely to be affected by flooding, whether it will increase flood risk elsewhere and of the measures proposed to deal with these effects and risks. It is then for the local planning authority, advised as necessary by the Environment Agency, to determine an application for planning permission taking account of all material considerations".

  The draft guidance also advises that, in reviewing sites at risk of flooding when preparing local plans, local planning authorities should review both existing and possible future allocations of land for development against the risk-based criteria set out in the sequential test in the draft PPG.

  The disposal of sewage, wastewater and groundwater resulting from the construction of new houses and service roads can be material considerations in the determination of applications for planning permission and should also be taken into account in preparing development plans. The draft PPG 25 advises on the need for close liaison between local authorities, the Environment Agency, sewerage undertakers and prospective developers to encourage the use of sustainable drainage systems and minimise the impacts of their discharges on receiving watercourses. In addition, the Government consulted in 2000 on amendments to Part H of the Building Regulations, proposing a number of amendments related to sustainable drainage. There are also proposals to reduce the risk of

  157W
  sewer flooding by the use of the anti-flood valves and pumps from basement connections and buildings in low-lying areas.

  Tugs
  Mr. David Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the level of UK emergency towing provision; and if he will make a statement. [150658]

  Mr. Maclennan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what recommendations he has received from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency on the all year round siting of an emergency towing vessel in the Pentland Firth; and if he will make a statement. [150401]

  Mr. Hill
  A review of UK emergency towing provision has now been completed by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency and recommends that the current winter-only arrangements for UK provision in the South West Approaches, Dover Strait, Minch, and Fair Isle should be increased to all-year-round cover. I have accepted this recommendation.

  The new arrangements will start from 1 October this year, with the exception of the Dover Strait, which will commence earlier on 1 April. The Dover Strait provision builds on the partnership arrangements introduced last year with our French maritime colleagues.

  The report also considered emergency towing provision for the Irish Sea and St. George's Channel area. Although the report concludes that there is insufficient evidence to support an emergency towing vessel for the area on an all-year-round basis by the UK alone, it recommends that provision could be made in partnership with the Government of Ireland. I have accepted this recommendation, dependent upon the Irish Government providing an emergency towing vessel in which the UK Government can share. A dialogue will be maintained with the Irish Government.

  These improvements to the UK emergency towing vessel provision are good news for the safety of the UK environment and the seagoing community, and demonstrate this Government's commitment to preventing maritime pollution.

  Copies of the review report have been placed in the House Library.

  Ports
  Mr. Anthony D. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what(a) number and (b) percentages of UK ports are owned by (i) Associated British Ports and (ii) Hutchinson Whampoa Europe Ltd.; and what percentage of the UK port trade each of those companies carried out in each year from 1995. [150264]

  Mr. Hill
  There are more than 650 ports in the UK, of which about one fifth are commercially active. Associated British Ports (ABP) currently owns 23 ports and Hutchinson Whampoa (Hutchinson Ports (UK) Ltd.) owns three ports.
  158W
  It is estimated that ABP ports accounted for about 21 per cent. of all UK port tonnage in 1999 and Hutchinson Whampoa about 7 per cent. It is not possible to provide accurate figures for earlier years.

  Coalfields Regeneration Trust
  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the funding of the Coalfields Regeneration Trust. [150625]

  Mr. Prescott
  I am today announcing additional funding for the Coal fields Regeneration Trust in England of up to £45 million over the three years to March 2005. This reaffirms the Government's support for the coalfields communities and the excellent work of the Trust.

  The Coalfields Regeneration Trust is a key element of the Government s long-term programme to bring about the physical, social, economic and environmental regeneration of our coalfields.

  The Trust provides supports for local community projects. It also sponsors projects, targeted on workers displaced from mining-related industries, who have been unemployed for a long time and who face particular disadvantages in getting back to work. It has an important role to play in community capacity building, providing a forum for good regeneration practice to be exchanged across the coalfield communities. The Trust is actively building partnerships with local, regional and national agencies and reaching out to the private sector.

  With this addition funding the Trust will be able to maintain and develop further its key role in combating poverty, debt and social exclusion in the former coalfield areas.

  Chester Sweet Insurance Holdings
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate he has made of the cost to the Policyholders Protection Board of the financial collapse of Chester Street Insurance Holdings; and if he will recompense those who believed they were covered under employers liability insurance by policies held by Chester Street Insurance. [148917]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  I have been asked to reply.

  This is a matter for the Policyholders Protection Board. I understand that it is working with the provisional liquidators and Chester Street Insurance Holdings, which is currently assessing the information available about existing and potential claims.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  New Deal for Disabled People
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what proportion of eligible applicants for the New Deal for Disabled People will be excluded in order lo provide a control group for comparative purposes: on what basis they will be selected; and how long the period of exclusion would be before they became eligible for the programme. [147736]
  159W
  Ms Hodge
  [holding answer 30 January 2001]In pursuing a very innovative New Deal for Disabled People it is important to evaluate how effective the programme is in bringing people on incapacity benefit into work. The most robust methodology available is one based on random assignment and this will be used to evaluate the NDDP national extension. Once the programme is established one in five clients who register with job brokers will be allocated to a control group and have their eligibility deferred. The deferral period will last for 12 months, after which time members of the control group will be invited to take part in the NDDP extension.

  The control group will be selected entirely at random. During the deferral period, individuals in the control group will continue to have access to Employment Service programmes, including specialist disability employment programmes, where they meet the eligibility criteria.

  Exam Markers
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on the availability of exam markers for next summer's public examinations. [147861]

  Mr. Wicks
  [holding answer 30 January 2001]: All necessary steps are being taken to ensure a sufficient supply of examiners. The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority is monitoring the awarding bodies closely to ensure that the system will deliver I his summer's results on time. The awarding bodies' examiner recruitment exercise is well under way. The exact number of examiners needed will not be known until April, when entries have been made.

  Student Loans and Debt
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment at what point of net income in tax year 2000–01 a graduate repays more in old-style mortgage loan than in new-style income-contingent loan. [149799]

  Mr. Wicks
  [holding answer 13 February 2001]Assuming a student loan debt of £5,000 and repayment of a mortgage-style loan over a five-year period, a graduate liable to repay a mortgage-style loan would repay more of that loan each year until annual gross pay of £21,111 was reached. Repayment thresholds for both types of loan are based on gross pay, not net.

  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what the average amount of student debt was in each of the last five years. [149454]

  Mr. Wicks
  Data from the Department's Student Income and Expenditure Surveys show that the average debt of full-time students in higher education in the UK was £840 in 1995–96 and £2,530 in 1998–99, after their savings had been taken into account. The debt figures include student loans, commercial loans and overdrafts as well as informal loans from family and friends. Data for the intervening and more recent years are not available from the survey.
  160W
  Since 1998–99 students entering higher education have been eligible for income-contingent student loans. These are interest-free in real terms and repayment is linked to income so that graduates repay only when they can afford to do so.

  Students (Social Background)
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will provide a breakdown of the social backgrounds of(a) university applicants and (b) university students for each of the last five years. [149455]

  Mr. Wicks
  The available information on full-time students, as given in the following table, covers only those who apply for full-time and sandwich undergraduate courses through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS); data on the family background of students applying for part-time courses are not held centrally.

  UK domiciled applicants and accepted applicants via UCAS to full-time and sandwich undergraduate courses in the UK

  Thousand

  Year of entry

  1996

  1997

  1998

  1999

  2000

  Applicants

  Professional

  49.9

  48.4

  47.0

  46.5

  45.8

  Intermediate

  139.0

  150.3

  147.3

  144.8

  144.7

  Skilled non-manual

  43.0

  49.6

  47.1

  47.1

  48.1

  Skilled manual

  58.2

  60.7

  58.9

  58.5

  57.2

  Partly skilled

  28.3

  32.2

  31.0

  30.8

  31.7

  Unskilled

  7.0

  7.9

  7.3

  7.5

  7.3

  Unknown

  39.4

  49.2

  51.0

  53.5

  54.3

  Total

  364.9

  398.3

  389.6

  388.7

  389.1

  Accepted applicants

  Professional

  39.3

  39.6

  38.5

  38.9

  38.8

  Intermediate

  105.0

  117.4

  115.6

  115.7

  117.7

  Skilled non-manual

  31.3

  37.3

  35.6

  36.3

  37.8

  Skilled manual

  40.9

  44.8

  44.2

  44.5

  44.4

  Partly skilled

  19.9

  23.5

  22.7

  23.1

  24.2

  Unskilled

  4.9

  5.6

  5.3

  5.5

  5.5

  Unknown

  27.1

  35.0

  36.6

  39.1

  40.3

  Total

  268.3

  303.3

  298.2

  303.1

  308.7

  Student Employment
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what percentage of students had term-time, part-time jobs during each of the last five years. [149458]

  Mr. Wicks
  Data from the Department's Student Income and Expenditure Survey show that about half of full-time higher education students had term-time jobs in 1995–96 and in 1998–99. Data for the intervening and more recent years are not available from the survey.

  A Further Education Funding Council survey of students in further education colleges undertaken in the summer of 1998 found that 73 per cent. of young full-time students (aged 16 to 18) and 41 per cent. of older full-time students worked during term-time.

  Supply Teachers
  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement
  161W
  on his Department's decision to exclude positions occupied by supply teachers on a 12–month contract from the definition of teacher vacancies for the purposes of form 618G. [149819]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  [holding answer 9 February 2001]The definition is exactly the same as that used by the previous Administration. It allows sensible comparisons to be made over time—and gives an accurate picture of where schools have vacancies that are either unfilled or covered by short-term supply staff.

  Classroom Assistants
  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many of the additional 20,000 full-time equivalent classroom assistants which the Government have funded were recruited in 1999–2000; what his projection is for recruitment levels in 2000–01; and if he will make a statement. [149880]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  An additional 24,000 education support staff have been recruited in schools since 1997, 11,000 in the last year. Against the target of 20,000 full-time equivalent teaching assistants between 1999 and 2000, between January 1999 and January 2000 over 9,000 full-time equivalent teaching assistants had been recruited. Schools have the funding to recruit more assistants and figures for January 2001 will be available later this year.

  Aiding Communication in Education Centre
  Mr. Woolas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when he plans to announce funding proposals for the Aiding Communication in Education Centre (North). [149522]

  Jacqui Smith
  [holding answer 8 February 2001]The Department for Education and Employment funds both the Aiding Communication in Education (ACE) Centre (North) and the Aiding Communication in Education (ACE) Centre Advisory Trust through the British Education Communications and Technology Agency.

  We are currently working with the ACE Centre (North) to support its transition to charitable status. We will continue to support the valuable work of these centres in providing services for children and young people who use communication aids.

  Paid Educational Leave
  Mr. Allan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what take-up there has been of the entitlement to paid educational leave for 16 to 17-year-olds since it was introduced; what the estimated cost has been to(a) state and (b) private employers; and if he will make a statement. [149611]

  Mr. Wicks
  This information is not collected centrally. The right to time off for study or training is employment legislation which protects and encourages 16 and 17-year-old employees who have not already achieved level 2 qualifications as defined by the regulations. At the end of 1999, there were an estimated 100,000 16 and 17-year-olds in England in employment but not qualified to level 2, and not working towards a level 2 qualification.
  162W
  Evidence from our initial evaluation (DIEE Research Report RR221 "Time Off for Study or Training: Preliminary Evaluation of the Implementation of the Employment Right") suggests that the right has stimulated activity to promote training to young people, and has had a positive effect on recruitment into modem apprenticeships, but this remains difficult to quantify.

  Higher Education Staff
  Mr. Allan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment he has made of the increase in the productivity of higher education teaching staff since 1997. [149922]

  Mr. Wicks
  The Quality Assurance Agency assesses the quality of teaching in higher education institutions; and the research assessment exercises of the Higher Education Funding Council for England look at both the volume and quality of research. However, there is no direct measure of the productivity of higher education teaching staff.

  Select Committee Report
  Dr. Harris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what information(a) he and (b) Ministers in his Department received on the contents of the Education and Employment Select Committee's report on access to higher education, and the proceedings of the Committee prior to the publication of the report. [150055]

  Mr. Wicks
  [holding answer 12 February 2001]In accordance with usual practice, Departments had access to the report from 11.00 am on 6 February 2001, under embargo until 00.01 on 8 February, when it was published. We received no prior information on the contents of the report.

  Funding Allocations
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what the proposed levels are of(a) core funding for education business consortiums in 2001–02, (b) funding for work experience and (c) funding for teacher placements; and what the level of funding of education business partnerships through TECs was in 2000–01. [150063]

  Mr. Wicks
  Core funding of £23 million has been allocated for education business link (EBL) activity in 2001–02. The funding will go via the Learning and Skills Council (LSC), which will contract with consortiums in each of the local LSC areas for delivery of education business links. Of this £23 million, £9.8 million is for work experience placements for Key Stage 4 pupils; and £1.8 million is for professional development placements for teachers. In addition, the LSC will be able to make allocations from its discretionary local initiatives fund (£90.3 million in total) to support EBL activity.

  It is estimated that in 2000–01 training and enterprise councils (TECs) provided discretionary support of £17 million in total to EBL organisations. In addition, DfEE provided core funding through TECs for Key Stage 4 work experience (£9.8 million) and teachers' professional development placements (£1.8 million).

  Further Education
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how he plans to encourage and develop a sectoral response to issues in further education raised by the Further Education National Training Organisation's recent Skills Foresight report. [150079]

  Mr. Wicks
  My Department will discuss the Skills Foresight report with representatives of the further education sector.

  We have already announced extra funding of £50 million in 2001–02 and £100 million in 2002–03 for further education teachers' pay. Proposals for using the money are expected to include improved pay and career structures for high calibre teaching staff. We have also announced our plans to require all new entrants to the FE teaching profession to gain an appropriate qualification, to boost continuing professional development for all staff, and to support increased training for prospective and serving college principals. This will be supported by up to £80 million from the FE standards fund for 2001–02.

  Mr. Derek Twigg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many students in further education colleges in(a) Halton (b) Cheshire and (c) England and Wales failed to complete their courses in (i) 1997–98, (ii) 1998–99 and (iii) 1999–2000. [150293]

  Mr. Wicks
  Data for further education colleges are only readily available for 1997–98 and 1998–99 for FEFC-funded students in England and are contained in the following table.

  FEFC-funded students in FE sector colleges in England 1997–98 and 1998–99

  1997–98

  1998–99

  Withdrawn students1

  Total students

  Withdrawn students

  Total students

  Halton District2

  4,744

  22,647

  4,327

  21,894

  Cheshire3

  6,143

  41,233

  5,925

  41,826

  England

  367,817

  2,578,272

  350,063

  2,342,671

  1 Those students who do not continue to attend at the end of the qualification or the end of the teaching year (31 July), whichever is sooner (includes all programmes of at least 12 weeks in length).

  2 Halton District includes Widnes Sixth Form College and Halton College.

  3 Cheshire includes West Cheshire College, Warrington Collegiate Institute, Macclesfield College, Mid Cheshire College of FE, Priestley College, Reaseheath College, Sir John Deane's College, South Cheshire College.

  Source:

  Individualised student record (ISR) 31 December 1998 (1997–98, IDR13); 31 December 1999 (1998–99, ISR 16).

  Unique Pupil Numbers
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to his answer of 7 February 2001,Official Report, column 579W, what arrangements will be made to allocate unique pupil numbers to pupils in England who (a) commence their
  164W
  education in the non-maintained sector and (b) move between maintained and non-maintained sectors during their school career. [150086]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The Department is discussing with the Independent Schools Council the possibility of the unique pupil number (UPN) system being extended to pupils in independent schools, although no decisions have yet been taken. For as long as it remains the case that UPNs are allocated only to pupils in the maintained sector:(a) pupils who commence their education in the non-maintained sector will not during that period have a UPN, but will be allocated one by the first maintained school they enter;

  (b) pupils who move between maintained and non-maintained sectors during their school career should be allocated a UPN at the beginning of their first spell in the maintained sector and retain that for each subsequent spell, even though the UPN will be inactive during intervening periods in the non-maintained sector. There is inevitably a risk in these cases of the thread being lost, and new UPNs being allocated to pupils who already have one. However, the central pupil database described in my earlier answer, 7 February 2001, Official Report, column 579W, (ref. 148383) will, once established, be able to provide LEAs and schools with a "tracing service" for lost UPNs.

  Teaching Standards (Leeds)
  Mr. Hilary Benn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what percentage of teaching was identified as being(a) satisfactory or better, (b) good or better, (c) very good or better and (d) excellent in Ofsted reports published on (i) primary and (ii) secondary schools in Leeds LEA in each of the last four years. [150106]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  This is a matter for Ofsted and I have therefore asked HM Chief Inspector of Schools, Mike Tomlinson, to write to my hon. Friend and to place a copy of his letter in the Library.

  New Deal for Schools (Great Yarmouth)
  Mr. Anthony D. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the schools in the Great Yarmouth constituency which have received funding under the New Deal for Schools since May 1997, indicating the sums involved in each case. [150188]

  Jacqui Smith
  The following table shows those schools in the Great Yarmouth constituency which have benefited from investment through the New Deal for Schools programme, which commenced in 1997–98. These allocations formed part of the £16.793 million investment made in schools in the Norfolk local education authority under the New Deal for Schools programme. In total, since 1997, Norfolk local education authority has received some £55.559 million of funding for capital investment in school buildings.
  165W

  New Deal for Schools—allocations for schools in the Great Yarmouth constituency

  Year/school

  Project

  Grant awarded (£)

  1997–98

  Included within an LEA wide package:

  Science and technology facilities

  11,482,000

  Greenacre First and Middle

  Herman First

  Included within an LEA wide package:

  Toilet improvements

  Alderman Swindell First

  Herman First

  1998–99

  LEA wide package involving 72 schools

  Replace deficient heating systems

  22,398,880

  1999–2000

  Stradbroke Community First

  Replacement of school

  1,249,138

  2000–01

  Included within a 60 school package:

  Asbestos removal

  Caister-on-Sea Middle

  2968,405

  Included within a 14 school package:

  Structural repairs

  2769,455

  Peterhouse First

  Peter house Middle

  Included within a 128 school package:

  Renewal of mechanical plant

  23,467,642

  Great Yarmouth VA High

  Greenacre First and Middle

  Hopton CE First

  Oriel High

  Peterhouse First

  Waveney CE First

  Included within a 113 school package:

  Electrical works

  21,169,185

  Caister-on-Sea First

  Edward Worlledge Middle

  Great Yarmouth High

  Greenacre First and Middle

  Hillside First

  John Grant School

  North Denes Middle

  St. George"s First and Nursery

  1 Local education authorities (LEAs) were not required to specify individual project costs for phase 1 of the NDS programme, so the amount shown is the total allocation in that year to the Norfolk LEA. Norfolk local education authority holds project level information.

  2 Denotes total allocation made to package projects covering more than one school. Norfolk local education authority will be able to provide detailed information as to the value of projects at schools which have benefited from these allocations.

  Staffing Costs
  Mr. Michael J. Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what was the total cost of, and proportion of, total education budget spent, on employing(a) teaching and (b) non-teaching staff in each local

  1998–99

  Education authority

  Teaching staff £000

  Teaching staff as a percentage of net current expenditure

  Non teaching staff1 £000

  Non teaching staff1 as a percentage of net current expenditure

  201

  City of London

  521

  20.9

  588

  23.6

  202

  Camden

  38,667

  43.2

  19,862

  22.2

  203

  Greenwich

  62,356

  48.9

  17,242

  13.5

  204

  Hackney

  48,935

  43.2

  18,875

  16.7

  205

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  29,162

  42.6

  12,303

  18.0

  206

  Islington

  43,787

  43.4

  21,354

  21.1

  207

  Kensington and Chelsea

  19,513

  38.7

  9,247

  18.3

  208

  Lambeth

  37,506

  37.8

  22,982

  23.1

  209

  Lewisham

  66,820

  51.1

  18,631

  14.2

  210

  Southwark

  52,665

  42.8

  29,350

  23.9

  211

  Tower Hamlets

  73,289

  50.3

  29,112

  20.0

  212

  Wandsworth

  31,854

  36.6

  18,607

  21.4

  213

  Westminster

  38,347

  45.3

  14,525

  17.2

  301

  Barking and Dagenham

  46,216

  52.0

  15,063

  17.0

  302

  Barnet

  60,794

  48.5

  19,868

  15.8

  166W
  education authority in England in the last financial year. [150192]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The information requested is set out in the table for 1998–99, the latest year for which data are currently available.
  167W

  1998–99

  Education authority

  Teaching staff £000

  Teaching staff as a percentage of net current expenditure

  Non teaching staff1 £000

  Non teaching staff1 as a percentage of net current expenditure

  303

  Bexley

  49,961

  54.9

  13,484

  14.8

  304

  Brent

  38,715

  40.8

  15,240

  16.1

  305

  Bromley

  34,807

  44.2

  12,719

  16.1

  306

  Croydon

  62,614

  49.7

  24,294

  19.3

  307

  Baling

  52,795

  45.9

  18,828

  16.4

  308

  Enfield

  63,506

  49.8

  20,010

  15.7

  309

  Haringey

  60,287

  48.6

  22,337

  18.0

  310

  Harrow

  45,014

  48.5

  15,279

  16.5

  311

  Havering

  49,745

  57.2

  16,154

  18.6

  312

  Hillingdon

  31,756

  44.7

  12,988

  18.3

  313

  Hounslow

  56,696

  53.9

  18,468

  17.6

  314

  Kingston upon Thames

  23,472

  48.2

  8,210

  16.9

  315

  Merton

  36,014

  50.6

  10,764

  15.1

  316

  Newham

  75,152

  49.9

  19,237

  12.8

  317

  Redbridge

  63,739

  54.7

  16,225

  13.9

  318

  Richmond upon Thames

  32,002

  51.3

  9,029

  14.5

  319

  Sutton

  31,650

  51.1

  13,008

  21.0

  320

  Waltham Forest

  52,795

  48.3

  18,417

  16.8

  330

  Birmingham

  256,467

  50.6

  90,494

  17.9

  331

  Coventry

  82,641

  53.2

  27,026

  17.4

  332

  Dudley

  66,751

  54.0

  16,540

  13.4

  333

  Sandwell

  71,757

  51.1

  23,006

  16.4

  334

  Solihull

  52,121

  55.9

  14,618

  15.7

  335

  Walsall

  58,638

  52.2

  15,255

  13.6

  336

  Wolverhampton

  61,517

  52.7

  18,600

  15.9

  340

  Knowsley

  40,286

  49.8

  12,346

  15.3

  341

  Liverpool

  110,061

  49.2

  34,026

  15.2

  342

  St. Helens

  44,193

  52.6

  11,084

  13.2

  343

  Sefton

  70,789

  52.8

  19,200

  14.3

  344

  Wirral

  78,411

  53.7

  21,263

  14.6

  350

  Bolton

  65,238

  54.0

  17,333

  14.3

  351

  Bury

  41,151

  54.5

  11,457

  15.2

  352

  Manchester

  108,357

  50.4

  34,988

  16.3

  353

  Oldham

  63,476

  55.1

  16,805

  14.6

  354

  Rochdale

  49,108

  53.1

  13,259

  14.3

  355

  Salford

  55,811

  54.0

  14,594

  14.1

  356

  Stockport

  62,776

  53.4

  15,233

  13.0

  357

  Tameside

  49,345

  54.3

  11,634

  12.8

  358

  Trafford

  38,509

  49.8

  9,162

  11.8

  359

  Wigan

  76,651

  55.9

  15,720

  11.5

  370

  Barnsley

  46,598

  53.4

  12,044

  13.8

  371

  Doncaster

  71,604

  53.3

  19,188

  14.3

  372

  Rotherham

  67,135

  55.5

  16,814

  13.9

  373

  Sheffield

  106,203

  54.2

  33,031

  16.9

  380

  Bradford

  126,557

  56.6

  43,134

  19.3

  381

  Calderdale

  32,317

  48.3

  10,803

  16.1

  382

  Kirklees

  88,973

  51.5

  26,808

  15.5

  383

  Leeds

  165,032

  52.1

  55,686

  17.6

  384

  Wakefield

  73,559

  55.4

  21,124

  15.9

  390

  Gateshead

  45,955

  52.6

  11,352

  13.0

  391

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  61,954

  49.4

  16,936

  13.5

  392

  North Tyneside

  45,254

  53.9

  10,794

  12.9

  393

  South Tyneside

  38,429

  53.8

  9,112

  12.8

  394

  Sunderland

  73,890

  57.0

  16,571

  12.8

  420

  Isles of Scilly

  711

  54.0

  139

  10.6

  800

  Bath and North East Somerset

  35,434

  51.6

  9,706

  14.1

  801

  City of Bristol

  79,044

  50.8

  28,447

  18.3

  802

  North Somerset

  39,996

  51.1

  11,686

  14.9

  803

  South Gloucestershire

  56,342

  53.7

  15,508

  14.8

  805

  Hartlepool

  22,307

  51.6

  6,273

  14.5

  806

  Middlesbrough

  38,115

  58.2

  11,381

  17.4

  807

  Redcar and Cleveland

  34,942

  50.8

  9,393

  13.7

  808

  Stockton-on-Tees

  45,387

  53.4

  12,484

  14.7

  810

  City of Kingston-upon-Hull

  59,508

  51.3

  18,517

  16.0

  811

  East Riding of Yorkshire

  68,761

  53.0

  17,125

  13.2

  812

  North East Lincolnshire

  38,658

  51.5

  11,566

  15.4

  813

  North Lincolnshire

  36,703

  51.8

  10,309

  14.6

  815

  North Yorkshire

  133,155

  56.3

  25,966

  11.0

  816

  York

  35,863

  53.4

  8,330

  12.4

  820

  Bedfordshire

  82,767

  54.0

  27,112

  17.7

  168W 169W

  1998–99

  Education authority

  Teaching staff £000

  Teaching staff as a percentage of net current expenditure

  Non teaching staff1 £000

  Non teaching staff1 as a percentage of net current expenditure

  821

  Luton

  40,015

  48.9

  12,591

  15.4

  825

  Buckinghamshire

  93,240

  49.8

  28,543

  15.2

  826

  Milton Keynes

  35,219

  46.6

  14,156

  18.7

  830

  Derbyshire

  134,593

  52.8

  38,475

  15.1

  831

  Derby

  41,776

  48.5

  13,518

  15.7

  835

  Dorset

  70,401

  49.7

  21,538

  15.2

  836

  Poole

  19,628

  48.2

  5,529

  13.6

  837

  Bournemouth

  20,170

  43.4

  7,824

  16.8

  840

  Durham

  116,644

  52.9

  31,488

  14.3

  841

  Darlington

  22,012

  53.3

  5,716

  13.8

  845

  East Sussex

  94,547

  51.8

  26,522

  14.5

  846

  Brighton and Hove

  45,622

  50.6

  14,058

  15.6

  850

  Hampshire

  222,757

  51.3

  72,733

  16.7

  851

  Portsmouth

  33,169

  47.8

  12,376

  17.8

  852

  Southampton

  43,913

  51.4

  15,060

  17.6

  855

  Leicestershire

  136,701

  55.2

  37,083

  15.0

  856

  Leicester

  77,201

  54.4

  22,184

  15.6

  857

  Rutland

  3,092

  33.8

  1,290

  14.1

  860

  Staffordshire

  181,975

  55.9

  45,205

  13.9

  861

  Stoke on Trent

  52,023

  50.6

  15,360

  14.9

  865

  Wiltshire

  59,413

  46.2

  18,361

  14.3

  866

  Swindon

  31,257

  51.1

  8,587

  14.0

  867

  Bracknell Forest

  21,960

  51.8

  6,002

  14.1

  868

  Windsor and Maidenhead

  27,402

  52.9

  7,824

  15.1

  869

  Newbury

  29,222

  56.1

  6,365

  12.2

  870

  Reading

  19,754

  44.5

  6,584

  14.8

  871

  Slough

  20,306

  46.4

  7,037

  16.1

  872

  Wokingham

  34,137

  56.9

  7,939

  13.2

  873

  Cambridgeshire

  91,793

  48.0

  31,063

  16.3

  874

  Peterborough

  31,040

  49.5

  11,038

  17.6

  875

  Cheshire

  147,665

  51.6

  38,717

  13.5

  876

  Halton

  30,699

  52.4

  7,895

  13.5

  877

  Warrington

  44,400

  58.2

  10,084

  13.2

  878

  Devon

  130,551

  51.9

  35,651

  14.2

  879

  Plymouth

  57,701

  54.1

  15,011

  14.1

  880

  Torbay

  24,844

  51.7

  6,341

  13.2

  881

  Essex

  166,308

  45.9

  56,764

  15.7

  882

  Southend

  18,765

  46.8

  7,022

  17.5

  883

  Thurrock

  22,195

  50.7

  6,672

  15.2

  884

  Herefordshire

  34,364

  53.3

  8,064

  12.5

  885

  Worcestershire

  109,779

  54.1

  26,185

  12.9

  886

  Kent

  207,349

  47.1

  75,331

  17.1

  887

  Rochester and Gillingham

  49,860

  52.0

  16,091

  16.8

  888

  Lancashire

  262,922

  51.8

  70,032

  13.8

  889

  Blackburn

  37,585

  52.9

  11,589

  16.3

  890

  Blackpool

  28,397

  53.5

  7,392

  13.9

  891

  Nottinghamshire

  167,345

  52.8

  48,445

  15.3

  892

  Nottingham City

  56,939

  47.9

  19,672

  16.5

  893

  Shropshire

  58,051

  53.3

  14,430

  13.2

  894

  The Wrekin

  28,827

  49.1

  9,043

  15.4

  908

  Cornwall

  102,228

  51.0

  25,683

  12.8

  909

  Cumbria

  87,797

  48.9

  27,457

  15.3

  916

  Gloucestershire

  74,728

  47.1

  24,557

  15.5

  919

  Hertfordshire

  212,267

  53.8

  61,002

  15.5

  921

  Isle of Wight Council

  29,058

  51.6

  8,598

  15.3

  925

  Lincolnshire

  94,990

  48.1

  26,522

  13.4

  926

  Norfolk

  153,116

  56.4

  39,740

  14.6

  928

  Northamptonshire

  124,693

  53.0

  31,027

  13.2

  929

  Northumberland

  72,714

  53.6

  17,360

  12.8

  931

  Oxfordshire

  120,747

  52.1

  33,759

  14.6

  933

  Somerset

  98,827

  52.4

  31,455

  16.7

  935

  Suffolk

  155,685

  57.7

  32,794

  12.2

  936

  Surrey

  163,754

  49.9

  54,842

  16.7

  937

  Warwickshire

  100,014

  52.9

  28,911

  15.3

  938

  West Sussex

  156,561

  54.2

  39,873

  13.8

  All local education authorities

  10,249,066

  51.4

  3,069,342

  15.4

  1 Non teaching staff expenditure covers education support staff, premises-related staff, administration and clerical staff

  170W

  Professional Footballers
  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what representations he has received regarding the evasion of work permit regulations by overseas footballers wishing to play professionally in the UK. [150257]

  Ms Hodge
  [holding answer 13 February 2001]The Department has received no representations regarding the evasion of work permit regulations overseas footballers wishing to play professionally in the UK.

  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what discussions his Department has had with other Departments relating to the evasion of work permit regulations by overseas footballers wishing to play professionally in the UK. [150258]

  Ms Hodge
  [holding answer 13 February 2001]The Department has had no discussions with other Departments relating to the evasion of work permit regulations by overseas footballers wishing to play professionally in the UK. The Home Office is responsible for deciding whether overseas nationals may enter the country to work based on the passport they hold or whether they require a work permit.

PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL

  House of Lords Appointments Commission
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the President of the Council how many people are employed by the House of Lords Appointments Commission; how many are on fixed-term contracts; and what the annual running costs of the Commission is. [146277]

  Mrs. Beckett
  I understand that the Appointments Commission employs no one directly. It is supported by a small team of civil servants, none of whom is on a fixed-term contract. Its budget for running costs for 2000–01 is about £300,000.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  House Stationery
  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee how many hon. Members have been requested to make payments for prepaid House of Commons envelopes which have not been used in accordance with the rules of the House; and how many hon. Members have been ordered to make such payments following complaints since May 1997. [150348]

  Mrs. Roe
  Supervision and enforcement of the regulations for the use of House stationery and post-paid envelopes are a matter for the Serjeant at Arms. I have asked him to write to my hon. Friend.

PRIME MINISTER

  Lord Levy
  Mrs. Gillian
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the business interests that Lord Levy would be required to register were he a Minister. [145326]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 15 January 2001]: Lord Levy is not a Minister.

  Council Housing (London)
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Prime Minister what plans the Government have to increase the supply of council housing in London. [148807]

  The Prime Minister
  We are almost doubling the budget for development of new social housing in London over the next three years with total planned expenditure of £1 billion. We are also helping key workers to purchase homes in London and other high house price areas through our new Starter Homes Initiative.

  Ministerial Code of Conduct
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Prime Minister if the Government will amend the Ministerial Code of Conduct in line with the recommendations of the Committee on Standards in Public Life. [148660]

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Prime Minister if the Government will amend the Ministerial Code of Conduct in line with the recommendations of the Committee on Standards in Public Life. [148780]

  Mr. Green
  To ask the Prime Minister if the Government will amend the Ministerial Code of Conduct in line with the recommendations of the Committee on Standards in Public Life. [148782]

  Mr. Hawkins
  To ask the Prime Minister if the Government will amend the Ministerial Code of Conduct in line with the recommendations of the Committee on Standards in Public Life. [148779]

  Mr. Gray
  To ask the Prime Minister if the Government will amend the Ministerial Code of Conduct in line with the recommendations of the Committee on Standards in Public Life. [148788]

  The Prime Minister
  The Government's response to the sixth report from the Committee on Standards in Public Life, published in July 2000 (Cm 4817), set out my position on amendment to the Ministerial Code.

  Special Advisers
  Mr. Tyrie
  To ask the Prime Minister if the special advisers working(a) in his Private Office, (b) in the Policy Unit, (c) in the Strategic Communications Unit, (d) in the Research and Information Unit, (e) in the Social Office and (f) under a dispensation granted by an Order in Council in May 1997 will relinquish their posts when the next general election is called. [149276]

  The Prime Minister
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer provided to him by my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office on 13 February 2001,Official Report, column 130W.

  Official Histories
  Dr. Desmond Turner
  To ask the Prime Minister if any further official histories have been commissioned. [150690]

  The Prime Minister
  I have appointed Dr. Terence R. Gourvish, Director of the Business History Unit of the London School of Economics and Political Science, as an official historian to write the official history of the Channel Tunnel.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Prison Education
  Ms Coffey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about the Government's plans to improve prison education and training. [150463]

  Mr. Boateng
  I have today made a joint announcement with my right hon. and noble Friend the Minister for Education and Employment, establishing a new partnership between the Department for Education and Employment and the Prison Service. From 1 April this new partnership will be responsible for securing improvements in the education, training and resettlement of prisoners.

  Our plans for the partnership are outlined in "Improving Prisoners' Learning and Skills", published today, a copy of which has been placed in the Library.

  Overseas Students
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he is taking to ensure that employers are aware of the provisions enabling overseas students to work while studying in the United Kingdom, with particular reference to overcoming difficulties where such students apply for work before they have been issued with a national insurance number; and if he will make a statement. [150077]

  Mrs. Roche
  Information about the eligibility of overseas students to take employment is available on the Home Office and Department for Education and Employment websites, and in the Immigration and Nationality Directorate information leaflet on overseas students.

  Essex Constabulary
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on(a) total number of new recruits who have joined Essex police and (b) total number of police officers who have retired from the Essex constabulary between 1 April 2000 and the latest date for which figures are available. [148700]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  [holding answer 6 February 2001]: Between 1 April 2000 and 30 September 2000, 103 officers joined Essex police; 97 of these were in the rank of constable. During the same period 53 officers retired from the force. The force's total wastage for this period amounted to 80 officers.

  Special Advisers
  Mr. Tyrie
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the special advisers working for him will relinquish their posts when the next general election is called. [149315]

  Mr. Straw
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office on 13 February 2001,Official Report, column 130W.

  Staffordshire Constabulary
  Mr. Fabricant
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) uniformed police constables, (b) uniformed police sergeants, (c) uniformed police officers above the rank of sergeant, (d) police detective constables, (e) police detective sergeants and (f) police detectives above the rank of sergeant, there were in the Staffordshire constabulary (i) in May 1997 and (ii) at the latest date for which figures are available. [148154]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  [holding answer 7 February 2001]: Information on police service personnel numbers is collected twice a year in March and September. Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary collects information annually on 31 March about the number of officers deployed to different functions.

  The information on detective numbers has been provided by Her Majesty's Inspectorate. The inspectorate made changes to its classification system for different police functions in 1999–2000. It is not therefore possible to identify from the new classification the number of officers that would have been classified as Criminal Investigation Department (CID) under the old rules and who are now recorded under other classifications. The change in classification accounts for some of the reduction in CID strength. The information in the tables has therefore been provided on the basis of non-CID officer numbers and CID officer numbers for March 1997 and March 2000.

  Staffordshire police (i) Non-CID officers (full-time equivalent)

  31 March 1997

  31 March 2000

  Constables

  1,415.5

  1,518.7

  Sergeants

  285.2

  289.2

  Other ranks

  157

  131

  Staffordshire police (ii) CID officers (full-time equivalent)

  31 March 1997

  31 March 2000

  Constables

  268.4

  153.6

  Sergeants

  59

  45.8

  Other ranks

  26

  19

  Mobile Police Stations
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what specific role mobile police stations will play in reducing crime; if they will replace(a) officers on the beat and (b) high-speed police cars; and if he will make a statement. [149452]
  175W
  Mr. Charles Clarke
  A number of forces are using mobile police stations for increased visibility and accessibility, to reduce fear of crime, to enhance policing in rural areas, and as mobile custody units.

  I strongly support this, and other, imaginative initiatives taking their place alongside beat officers and police vehicles as part of an overall approach to meeting local policing needs.

  North Yorkshire police
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement reconciling the figures for numbers of North Yorkshire police in(a) the answer of the Minister of State, Home Office, the hon. Member for Norwich, South (Mr. Clarke), of 18 January 2001, Official Report, column 352W, and (b) the recent press statement made by North Yorkshire Police Authority. [148953]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  At 30 September 2000 North Yorkshire police had 1,293 officers.

  The Chief Constable of North Yorkshire police has advised me that for March 2002 the force projects that it will have increased its numbers to 1,420 police officers. This figure was announced by the force in its press statement of 9 January.

  This increase includes 43 officers to be recruited through the Crime Fighting Fund. 60 officers to be recruited through the Rural Policing Fund, the remainder being part of normal planned force recruitment.

  Police Expenditure
  Mr. Cash
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the levels of spending on police services in(a) Staffordshire and (b) each other county of England (i) in the current year and (ii) in each of the last three years. [148296]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The information is set out in the table.

  Police force net expenditure in England 1997–98 to 2000–01

  £000

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  Avon and Somerset

  152,673

  162,726

  174,336

  181,210

  Bedfordshire

  58,570

  61,778

  63,611

  66,426

  Cambridgeshire

  68,681

  73,432

  75,052

  79,244

  Cheshire

  104,005

  107,098

  113,280

  114,576

  City of London

  57,893

  60,350

  57,852

  58,947

  Cleveland

  75,426

  81,295

  85,256

  85,600

  Cumbria

  61,709

  62,532

  64,786

  67,400

  Derbyshire

  95,641

  100,064

  105,590

  110,819

  Devon and Cornwall

  155,435

  166,330

  175,055

  182,873

  Dorset

  69,727

  73,117

  76,957

  80,996

  Durham

  75,166

  74,673

  79,662

  85,775

  Essex

  157,487

  156,822

  167,969

  184,485

  Gloucestershire

  58,633

  62,862

  65,755

  68,695

  Greater Manchester

  353,319

  354,171

  374,804

  400,004

  Hampshire

  180,791

  186,661

  197,483

  202,527

  Hertfordshire

  93,011

  95,068

  104,448

  120,945

  Humberside

  106,220

  112,571

  113,944

  119,900

  Kent

  174,211

  175,577

  186,261

  193,127

  Lancashire

  169,275

  177,310

  182,004

  190,181

  Leicestershire

  98,789

  102,790

  107,262

  110,150

  Lincolnshire

  66,184

  66,664

  69,378

  75,725

  Merseyside

  224,327

  240,267

  248,414

  257,114

  Metropolitan

  1,676,617

  1,716,425

  1,838,888

  1,837,571

  Norfolk

  80,222

  80,543

  87,182

  91,514

  Northamptonshire

  64,605

  67,057

  69,148

  73,076

  176W

  Police force net expenditure in England 1997–98 to 2000–01

  £000

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  Northumbria

  195,092

  205,270

  212,704

  218,387

  North Yorkshire

  71,840

  75,344

  78,178

  83,750

  Nottinghamshire

  120,556

  127,018

  129,465

  134,302

  South Yorkshire

  166,027

  167,159

  176,007

  181,054

  Staffordshire

  110,264

  116,231

  127,000

  126,964

  Suffolk

  63,676

  66,096

  70,506

  74,061

  Surrey

  90,976

  91,425

  100,094

  120,130

  Sussex

  157,631

  161,847

  165,564

  172,513

  Thames Valley

  210,333

  209,675

  227,020

  236,952

  Warwickshire

  51,003

  52,015

  55,164

  59,011

  West Mercia

  107,788

  113,755

  111,446

  125,700

  West Midlands

  360,129

  368,608

  381,484

  395,102

  West Yorkshire

  281,745

  277,994

  286,088

  304,125

  Wiltshire

  58,535

  68,811

  69,823

  71,981

  England total

  6,524,212

  6,719,426

  7,074,920

  7,339,912

  Source:

  The Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy Police Statistics Actuals for 1997–98 to 1999–2000 and Estimates for 2000–01

  Prison Governors
  Mr. Stinchcombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list those prison establishments in which there have been changes at governor level, including changes involving those acting as governor for one month or more, over the last five years, the date upon which each such change took place, the name of the governor leaving and the name of his or her replacement in each case. [147561]

  Mr. Boateng
  I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of the letter in the Library.

  Police Officers (Hertsmere)
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers have been available for duty in the Hertsmere police division in each year since 1992. [150048]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  [holding answer 12 February 2001]: I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that before the boundary changes with the Hertfordshire constabulary on 1 April 2000 Hertsmere was part of the Barnet division. It is not possible to identify separately the number of police officers who policed Hertsmere.

  I am told by the Chief Constable of Hertfordshire that for the financial year 2000–01 the Hertsmere division has an establishment of 139 police officers. On 31 January 2001 the actual number of officers available to police Hertsmere was 131 officers.

  Naturalisation Applications
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if it is his policy for a record note to be kept of representations made by Ministers about an individual application for naturalisation; [149579]

  (2) if it is his policy that a note recording the interest of (a) a Minister and (b) an hon. Member in an individual application for naturalisation should be placed on the relevant case file. [149573]
  177W
  Mrs. Roche
  [holding answer 8 February 2001]: Correspondence from any source about individual applications for naturalisation would be recorded on the relevant case file or on an associated file.

  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department at what level within his Department an application for naturalisation is normally determined. [149578]

  Mrs. Roche
  [holding answer 8 February 2001]: The level at which naturalisation applications are determined varies according to the nature and complexity of the case. The majority, however, are decided by administrative officer caseworkers.

  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what criteria govern whether an application for naturalisation is referred for personal determination by(a) the Secretary of State and (b) a Minister. [149574]

  Mrs. Roche
  [holding answer 8 February 2001]: Applications are referred to Ministers if they are likely to be controversial or sensitive or if they raise complex issues or questions of security. Whether the Secretary of State will decide an application will depend on the circumstances of the individual case, although he will see referrals where the key issue is one concerning security.

  Asylum Seekers
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the compatibility of the systematic detention of asylum seekers coming directly from their country of origin or an unsafe third country with the 1951 UN convention on refugees and the 1999 UNHCR guidelines on applicable criteria and standards relating to the detention of asylum seekers; and if he will make a statement. [149548]

  Mrs. Roche
  [holding answer 12 February 2001]: Detention of asylum seekers is used as a last resort and no one is detained simply because he or she has claimed asylum. However, detention may be appropriate in the following circumstances; in order to establish identity or basis of claim; where there are reasonable grounds for believing that the subject will fail to comply with the terms of temporary admission or release; or where removal is imminent.

  Unaccompanied children are detained only in the most exceptional circumstances. We are therefore satisfied that our detention policy is consistent with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees criteria.

  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) by what criteria the applications of asylum seekers are judged by the Government; and if he will list them; [149919]

  (2) on what basis an individual asylum seeker is judged to be (a) an economic migrant and (b) a refugee. [149917]

  Mrs. Roche
  All asylum applications, regardless of the applicant's nationality, are considered in accordance with the criteria set out in the 1951 United Nations convention relating to the status of refugees. To qualify for asylum a person must be outside his/her country of nationality and have a well founded fear of persecution for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social 178W
  group or political opinion. Those who meet these criteria are granted asylum; those who do not meet the requirements of the 1951 convention may nevertheless be granted exceptional leave to remain in the United Kingdom if there are exceptional compelling humanitarian reasons why they should not be required to leave.

  Those who do not qualify for asylum or exceptional leave to remain and have no other basis on which to remain are required to leave the United Kingdom. The process for considering an asylum claim does not involve us taking a view on whether an applicant is an "economic migrant"

  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department by what means the United Kingdom Government ensures the welfare of asylum seekers who are not permanently admitted into the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement. [149918]

  Mrs. Roche
  The Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 introduced new support arrangements for asylum seekers. Under these new arrangements all new eligible destitute asylum seekers may be supported by the National Asylum Support Service (NASS). This support is mainly in kind and includes accommodation where requested. Asylum seekers whose claims have been finally determined as unfounded are not eligible for NASS support. However, families with children under the age of 18 will be supported by NASS until they leave the country.

  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the process by which decisions are made on the applications of asylum-seekers in the United Kingdom, including the reference to the officials who are responsible for the decisions. [149920]

  Mrs. Roche
  All applications for asylum are considered by specially trained officers in the Immigration and Nationality Directorate of the Home Office.

  The officers consider applications against the criteria set out in the 1951 United Nations convention relating to the status of refugees; each claim is examined individually on its merits. The caseworking officers have access to detailed country assessments to support them when considering asylum claims.

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to send the result of the decisions on asylum for(a) Mr. M. (HO Ref: RV 181199167) and (b) Mr. A. (HO Ref: A522615). [149758]

  Mrs. Roche
  (a) Mr. M. will shortly be invited to attend an interview in Liverpool during the week commencing 5 March. A decision will be made as soon as is practicable thereafter.

  (b) Mr. A. was granted indefinite leave to remain on 12 February and will shortly be notified of this decision.

  I am sorry for the delay in informing my hon. Friend's constituents of the progress of their cases.

  Miss Widdecombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of asylum applicants who have been refused refugee status or exceptional leave to remain sought to appeal against that decision in the last year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [150047]
  179W
  Mrs. Roche
  [holding answer 12 February 2001]: The information is not available in the form requested. In the year 2000, there were 78,180 initial decisions to refuse asylum and exceptional leave to remain. Also in the year 2000, there were 46,190 appeals lodged with the Home Office. However, these appeals will not all necessarily relate to decisions made in the same year. These figures are subject to revision.

  Miss Widdecombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average time taken for asylum applicants to receive an initial decision on their asylum application is; and if he will make a statement. [150046]

  Mrs. Roche
  [holding answer 12 February 2001]: Although 2000 statistics are not yet available, the average time taken to reach an initial decision in December 2000 is estimated to have been 13 months.

  Graffiti
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he plans to issue new guidelines to spray-paint manufacturers and retailers to encourage them to minimise sales to minors who intend to use the spray for graffiti. [149603]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  We have no plans to issue guidelines on this issue.

  Leicestershire Police Authority
  Mr. Reed
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers there were in

  Recorded crime Cheshire

  Year ending

  Offences

  March 1997

  March 1998

  March 1999

  March 2000

  September 2000

  Total violent crime1

  4,496

  4,733

  7,623

  6,645

  6,400

  Burglary in a dwelling

  7,423

  6,248

  5,925

  5,379

  5,518

  Theft from vehicle

  8,667

  8,076

  7,492

  7,582

  7,667

  Theft or unauthorised taking of motor vehicle

  6,095

  5,311

  4,955

  4,594

  4,776

  Criminal damage (including arson)

  11,755

  11,219

  11,596

  12,627

  13,050

  1 Includes violence against the person, sexual offences and robbery

  Police Expenditure
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 22 January,Official Report, column 490W, on police expenditure, what the change in central Government expenditure on policing was in total and in real terms in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement. [148583]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  [holding answer 9 February 2001]: The information is set out in the table.

  In my previous reply of 22 January 2001, Official Report, column 490W, the percentage change in real terms for net expenditure by police authorities in 1995–96 compared with the previous year should read "-0.3 per cent", not 0.3 per cent.
  180W
  post in Leicestershire police authority in each year between 1996–97 and the last year for which figures are available. [150023]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The information requested is set out in the table. The latest figures available are those for 30 September 2000.

  Leicestershire Constabulary

  Year1

  Number of police officers

  1996–97

  1,949

  1997–98

  1,983

  1998–99

  1,993

  1999–2000

  1,993

  2000–012

  2,010

  1 As at 31 March

  2 As at 30 September 2000

  Crime Statistics (Cheshire)
  Mr. Derek Twigg
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the level of(a) violent crime, (b) theft of vehicles, (c) thefts from vehicles, (d) house burglaries and (e) vandalism was in Cheshire in each year from 1997 to 2000. [149662]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The details covering this period are given in the table. Owing to the change in counting rules for recorded crime on 1 April 1998, direct comparisons cannot be made between the data for before and after this date. However, for England and Wales as a whole, it has been estimated that the change in counting rules increased the number violent of crimes counted by 83 per cent., thefts of and from vehicles by 1 per cent., all burglaries by 0.1 per cent. and criminal damage by 5 per cent.

  Government provision 1990–91 to 2003–04

  Police SSA £ million

  Home Office provision £ million

  Total £ million

  Percentage change in real terms

  Government provision 1990–91 to 2003–04

  Police SSA £ million

  Home Office provision £ million

  Total £ million

  Percentage change in real terms

  1990–91

  12,125

  2,483

  14,608

  —

  1991–92

  12,342

  2,901

  15,243

  17.2

  1992–93

  12,671

  3,088

  15,759

  16.4

  1993–94

  12,788

  3,279

  16,067

  12.6

  1994–95

  12,909

  3,389

  16,298

  12.4

  1995–96

  3,081

  3,586

  6,667

  c. 0.5

  1996–97

  3,167

  3,654

  6,821

  -0.9

  1997–98

  3,259

  2,765

  7.024

  0.1

  1998–99

  3,310

  3,923

  7,233

  0.1

  1999–2000

  3,447

  3,992

  7,439

  0.5

  2000–01

  3,533

  4,185

  7,718

  1/7

  2001–02

  3,842

  4,653

  8,495

  7.4

  2002–03

  4,041

  4,969

  9,010

  3.5

  181W

  Government provision 1990–91 to 2003–04

  Police SSA £ million

  Home Office provision £ million

  Total £ million

  Percentage change in real terms

  2003–04

  4,205

  5,088

  9,293

  0.6

  1 Before 1995–96 Welsh SSAs were unhypothecated at county level and payments to police authorities in Wales were agreed by constituent counties. SSAs for Welsh police authorities are included in the table only from 1995–96, in which year they were £160 million.

  Notes:

  1. Home Office provision is grant/special grant, capital grant, credit approvals and central Home Office spending.

  2. Real terms figures are shown at 1999–2000 prices using GDP deflator at December 2000.

  Police Vehicles (Black Boxes)
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police forces fit black boxes to their vehicles; and if he will make a statement. [148939]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  Information on police forces fitting black box recorders to their vehicles is not held centrally.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Judges' Lodgings
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if she will(a) make a statement on progress of her review of judges' lodgings and (b) publish the report when it is completed. [150001]

  Jane Kennedy
  Consultation between the Lord Chancellor and the Judiciary on the review continues.

  The Lord Chancellor intends to publish his decisions along with the report when the review is completed.

TREASURY

  Budget
  Barbara Follett
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he intends to deliver his Budget Statement. [150794]

  Mr. Gordon Brown
  On Wednesday 7 March.

  Chester Street Insurance Holdings
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what steps his Department can take to safeguard payouts to sufferers from asbestos-related diseases following the collapse of Chester Street Insurance Holdings Limited; [147296]

  (2) if he will make a statement on his Department's policy following the collapse of Chester Street Insurance Holdings Limited in respect of protecting the interests of sufferers from asbestos-related diseases; [147310]

  (3) what discussions he is having with (a) Ministers and (b) the financial services industry following the collapse of Chester Street Insurance Holdings Limited; [147297]
  182W
  (4) what action he is taking to ensure that those (a) who worked for publicly owned enterprises and have an asbestos-related disease and (b) with asbestos-related diseases relating to pre-1972 exposure, do not suffer adversely from the collapse of Chester Street Insurance Holdings Limited. [148916]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  [holding answers 29 January 2001]: The Government understand the concern of those suffering from asbestos-related disease as a consequence of employment in firms whose employees' liability insurance is provided by Chester Street Insurance Holdings Limited.

  As a consequence of the insolvency of Chester Street Insurance Holdings Limited, provisional liquidators were appointed on 10 January 2001. At a meeting on 5 February a scheme of arrangement was agreed by creditors.

  The Government expect the Policyholders Protection Board to work closely with the provisional liquidators and others to ensure claims are processed promptly; and that the PPB will ensure the provisions of the Policyholders Protection Act 1975 are implemented fully.

  HM Treasury is monitoring the position by keeping in close touch with other Departments, the Policyholders Protection Board, the FSA and relevant parts of the financial services industry.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what role his Department played in the restructuring of the lion Trades Employers Association and the transfer of asbestos-related risks to Chester Street Insurance Holdings in 1989; [148914]

  (2) if he will name the regulatory bodies that have been responsible for monitoring the affairs of the Iron Trades Employers Insurance Association Limited and Chester Street Insurance Holdings Limited since 1989; and what (a) actions they have taken and (b) reports they have made to him in that time. [149363]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  [holding answer 8 February 2001]: The prudentia1 supervision of insurance companies was the responsibility of the Department of Trade and Industry until 4 January 1998. On 5 January 1998, these functions transferred to the Treasury. On 1 January 1999, the Financial Services Authority became the prudential supervisor under a contracting-out order.

  HM Treasury had no responsibility for the re-organisation of the Iron Trades Insurance Group in 1989 and, as far as I am aware, did not play any part in this.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer who will represent the Government at the creditors' meeting of Chester Street Insurance Holdings Limited on 5 February to safeguard interests of sufferers from asbestos-related diseases. [148703]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  [holding answer 7 February 2001]: The Government are not creditors and hence were not present at the meeting on 5 February. A representative of the FSA, as prudential supervisor of Chester Street Insurance Holdings Limited, had observer status at the meeting.

  Inheritance Tax
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the revenue yield of(a) reducing the value below which inheritance tax is not levied by (i) £10,000 and (ii) £20,000 and (b) restricting the value of the personal allowance to (1) the basic rate and (2) 10 per cent. [146250]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The revenue yield from reducing the value above which inheritance tax would otherwise be levied can be estimated, for increases or decreases of this order of magnitude, from Table 5 of the Tax Ready Reckoner. The Tax Ready Reckoner, November 2000, is in the House of Commons Library.

  There is no personal allowance for inheritance tax but the cost of the threshold, below which no tax is paid, is given in Table 7 of the Tax Ready Reckoner.

  All-employee Share Ownership Scheme
  Helen Jones
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many companies have taken up the new all-employee share ownership scheme; and if he will make a statement. [150095]

  Mr. Timms
  The all-employee share ownership plan was introduced last year when Royal Assent was given to the Finance Bill 2000. Companies have been going live with their plans since September 2000.

  In the first six months, 262 companies have sent in plans to the Inland Revenue.

  Government Expenditure
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 8 February 2000,Official Report, column 681W, if items described as Government spending can simultaneously be described as Government investment. [150186]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  The Government's main measure of public expenditure is Total Managed Expenditure (TME). TME is described in chapters 1 and 4 of Public Expenditure Statistical Analysis 2000–01 (Cm 4601).

  Opposition Policies (Costings)
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 24 January 2001,Official Report, columns 647–48W, on opposition policies, (1) on what occasions the Treasury has initiated such costings; and if he will make a statement; [147952]

  (2) on what occasions since January 2000 the Treasury has been consulted by other departments on the costings of opposition party policies. [147953]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 24 January. The Treasury and other Departments have from time to time costed Opposition policies, and this will have involved discussions between the Treasury and other Departments. The procedure followed is consistent with the principles and practice established by previous Administrations.

CABINET OFFICE

  Correspondence
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what progress her office has made in encouraging Ministers to reply to letters from hon. Members more quickly. [148767]

  Mr. Stringer
  All Departments are working hard to improve their handling of hon. Members' correspondence. We are currently collating information on the performance of Departments during the 2000 calendar year and will report back to the House in due course.

  Drugs (Young People)
  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if she will make a statement on her Department's response to recent developments in drugs misuse among young people. [148774]

  Marjorie Mowlam
  The Government's Anti-Drugs Strategy has set a challenging target of halving the numbers of young people using illegal drugs by 2008, and we will back this by increasing spending in this area to £120 million by 2003–04.

  In south Cheshire, research from John Moores University on young people's drug use in the area is under way, which will provide a local baseline and identify gaps in provision.

  Public Sector Team
  Mr. Rooney
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if she will make a statement on the work of the public sector team. [148775]

  Mr. Stringer
  The public sector team was set up within the Cabinet Offices's Regulatory Impact Unit in November 1999. Its broad remit is to reduce bureaucracy and red tape in the public sector.

  In little over a year the team has, in partnership with relevant Government Departments and other stakeholders, taken action to reduce the paperwork burden on the police and head teachers. The estimated savings are 187,000 hours of police time every year, which is equivalent to 100 police officers' standard working hours—employing that many additional officers would cost around £5.5 million; and 4.5 million hours per year across the whole schools system. This equates to over 200 hours every year for a typical school.

  The team will shortly be publishing the interim outcomes of its project on reducing GP paperwork.

  Drugs Trade
  Mr. Wilkinson
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if she has met Government Ministers from south American countries to co-ordinate international anti-drug policies. [148778]

  Marjorie Mowlam
  The United Kingdom is active throughout Latin America in supporting the efforts that countries there are making to combat drugs and poverty.
  185W
  Last year I visited Colombia and Brazil where I discussed with the Presidents of both countries how we can help in addressing the problems of illicit drug production and trafficking in these countries.

  The UK also plays an active role in the EU/Latin America/Caribbean Action Plan on Drugs and Co-ordination and Co-operation Mechanism.

  Helen Jones
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what progress is being made in international efforts to combat the drugs trade. [148785]

  Marjorie Mowlam
  The UK is active in international forums, including the UN, G8 and EU, to strengthen the global framework for tackling illicit drugs trafficking. In the year 2000 we were the third largest donor to the United Nations International Drug Control Programme. Ministers and the UK Anti-Drugs Co-ordinator have also been active in supporting anti-drugs efforts in some of the countries which have the most serious problems with the production or transit of illegal drugs.

  Progress is being seen in increased seizures of heroin and cocaine en-route to the UK/EU, and increased disruption of criminal groups involved in trafficking.

  Drug Use
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what new steps are under consideration in the Government's campaign to combat drug misuse. [148781]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  The Government's future proposals for tackling drug misuse are outlined in the UK Anti-Drugs Co-ordinator's second national plan, published last year.

  Measures include:

  Internationally:
  to support international partners by disrupting production and trafficking of illegal drugs to reduce the availability of controlled drugs entering the UK

  Nationally:
  to establish the National Treatment Agency from 1 April 2001 to ensure delivery of high quality treatment services across the country
  from spring 2001 to pilot three sites for extending drug testing across the criminal justice system to complement the existing Arrest Referral Schemes and Drug Treatment and Testing Orders.

  Locally:
  we are reorganising the Drug Action Teams (DATs) in England to align with local authority boundaries.

  The drugs strategy is underpinned by forward expenditure of up to £1 billion by 2003–04 as part of the Spending Review 2000.

  Mr. Ben Chapman
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if she will make a statement on the progress of the Government's anti-drugs policy. [148784]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  The Anti-Drugs Co-ordinator published his annual report for 1999–2000 on 7 November 2000.
  186W
  The report shows that we are making progress towards meeting the challenging targets we have set as part of our 10-year anti-drugs strategy. Most of our annual targets were met in full and we are on track to deliver published targets for 2002.

  On the Wirral there have been considerable improvements in the treatment services available to drug users, including a significant reduction in waiting lists for treatment. In recent months a needs assessment of the need of young people has been completed and a plan of action is being developed to meet the gaps in provision identified in the report People needing advice and other assistance because of their drug use are likely to approach the Response Service based in Birkenhead, Wirral Drug Services, which includes a specialist service for young people and/or the Wirral Solvent Misuse Project.

  Shona McIsaac
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if she will make a statement on the progress of the Government's anti-drugs policy. [148792]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  The Anti-Drugs Co-ordinator published his annual report for 1999–2000 on 7 November 2000.

  The report shows that we are making progress towards meeting the challenging targets we have set as part our 10-year anti-drugs strategy. Most of our annual targets were met in full and we are on track to deliver published targets for 2002.

  Within the Cleethorpes area, a number of initiatives are in place which address the needs of young people and drug misuse. These include training programmes for professionals working with young people; advice and information offered as part of a 'Nightclub' project; and a young people's conference to address drugs issues.

  Fiona Mactaggart
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the impact of the Government's national drugs strategy has been in(a) Slough and (b) other towns on the periphery of London. [148793]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  We are making good progress nationwide in all areas of the Government's anti-drugs strategy as reported in the UK Anti-Drugs Co-ordinator's annual report for 1999–2000, published on 7 November 2000, Effective delivery of the strategy at local level is essential if we are to succeed. In support of this, we are realigning Drug Action Teams along local authority boundaries. This means that Slough now has its own DAT. This should help address local priorities such as outreach services for young misusers; and develop better links with other outer-London Boroughs, which are far more similar in terms of drug and social exclusion issues, than the majority of Berkshire.

  Commonwealth Games
  Mr. Connarty
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if she will make a statement on the progress on the non-sport programme for the Commonwealth games in 2002. [148783]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  There are two key non-sporting initiatives associated with the Manchester 2002 Games—the Volunteer Programme and the nationwide Spirit of Friendship Festival. Good progress is being made on both.
  187W
  The Spirit of Friendship Festival has appointed a national director, Jo Hartley, to work with all relevant agencies to deliver a successful nationwide festival of education, sport and culture.

  The Festival will embrace the modem Commonwealth's values of fairness and inclusivity and engage the nation from its start on Commonwealth Day, 11 March 2002, until 10 August 2002.

  The volunteer programme is also well under way with plans for the recruitment of 15,000 volunteers in place and recruitment generally beginning in May.

  Drug Rehabilitation Programmes
  Mr. Paul Clark
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how much has been allocated for anti-drug treatment services in each of the next three years. [148794]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  The Government recognise that treatment services can have a vital role in reducing the damaging effects of drug abuse on a person's health as well as reducing crime and anti-social behaviour.

  Through the spending review we have allocated an additional £167 million for drug treatment services over three years from 2001–02. The table gives the breakdown of spending in each of the next three years.

  Drug treatment (£ million)

  2000–01

  234

  2001–02

  328

  2002–03

  377

  2003–04

  401

  Mr. Borrow
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what assessment she has made of the impact on South Ribble of her Department's policy to improve access to drug rehabilitation programmes. [148773]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  The Arrest Referral Programme for South Ribble has been implemented since August 2000. Between August 2000 and January 2001 a total of 230 individuals have been referred to local services under the Programme.

  Chorley and South Ribble District Drug Service offer access to rehabilitation, and the South Ribble Drug Action Group is now in the process of implementing a treatment programme. The money made available from the last spending review will increase service capacity, GP shared care and child-specific services within the area.

  People's Panel
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what policy initiatives of her Department have been tested on the people's panel; and with what result. [148786]

  Mr. Stringer
  The People's Panel is directed towards service delivery more than policy questions. But research has been used to inform various policy initiatives. Within the Cabinet Office it has contributed to the following:

  Consumer Focus for Public Services
  The fifth wave of research, published in September 2000, was carried out to support the consumer focus for public services initiative by establishing a baseline for public satisfaction and expectations of public services in different sectors.
  188W
  Policy in Deprived Areas
  The Social Exclusion Unit in the Cabinet Office commissioned a re-analysis of data from the first wave of research to examine responses from people living in deprived areas, to determine how they differed from those living in other areas. The results were also published in September 2000.

  Public service provision and ethnic minority communities:
  In June 2000, the results of a first wave of research with the recruitment of an ethnic minority booster to the Panel were published. These show what people from ethnic minority communities think of the services they receive and how their opinions differ across and between different ethnic minority groups. Future research will be used by Government to help improve services.

  Extended Hours Provision of Public Services
  Research carried out in 1999 asked which out-of-hours services people wanted access to; what sort of business they would use them for; when they would want to be able to make contact; and how. The results were published in April 2000. "Making it happen: public services at your convenience" was published in September 2000 showing how the five key services (non-emergency services in NHS hospitals, GP surgeries, social services, the Passport Agency, and local government services) identified in the research were making service hours more convenient for their customers.

  Notifying Change of Address On-line
  In January 1999, the Panel was used to assess reactions to a proposal for enabling electronic notification of change of address details to be passed to Government Departments in one transaction. Panel members joined workshops testing out the technology. The results were published in April 2000. In November 2000, a pilot change of address service was developed on the UK online citizen portal www.ukonline.gov.uk which allows people to send new address details to participating Government Departments, as well as those utility and other commercial organisations offered by the change of address providers.

  Listening to Women
  During January and February 1999, the People's Panel was used as part of the Listening to Women exercise which, among other things, has been used to inform and influence Government Departments on the needs of women as decisions have been taken to modernise public services.

  Modernising Government
  In February 1999, the People's Panel was used to find out about the experiences of citizens using public services to evaluate how well Departments and agencies work together to deliver a joined-up service, and identify suggestions for improvement. The work was commissioned as part of the research for the Modernising Government White Paper.

  Access Pages
  Research was carried out in August 1999 to help the Cabinet Office prepare a new directory that brings together information for the main Government helplines and websites. The directory was published in October 1999.

  Internet
  Mr. Simon Thomas
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what her policy is regarding the provision of Government internet services in languages other than English. [148787]

  Mr. Stringer
  My policy is that Departments must fulfil their obligations under the Welsh Language Act 1993, and our "Guidelines for Government Websites" make that very clear.
  189W
  I have always made it clear to Departments that I expect them to publish, where effective, in other languages spoken in the UK.

  I am pleased to confirm that the newly revised "Guidelines to Government Websites" is clarifying this policy.

  Special Advisers
  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what guidance she has issued to Government Departments relating to the duties of special advisers and press officers. [148789]

  Marjorie Mowlam
  The duties of special advisers are set out in the "Model Contract for Special Advisers". The duties of Government press officers are set out in "Guidance on the work of the Government Information Service" and "The GICS Handbook".

  Copies of these documents are in the Library of the House.

  Dr. Julian Lewis
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what criteria determine the number of special advisers Government Departments may appoint. [148791]
  190W
  Marjorie Mowlam
  The Government's response to the Sixth Report of the Committee on Standards in Public Life, published in July 2000 (Cm 4807), sets out the Government's policy on the appointment of special advisers.

  Policy Presentation
  Mr. Fabricant
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what recent initiatives her Department has introduced to co-ordinate the presentation of Government policy. [148790]

  Marjorie Mowlam
  My Department has several initiatives in place to co-ordinate the presentation of Government policy.

  The first is the appointment of communications advisers who work alongside policy officials on the development of cross-government initiatives. They ensure that the communication of Government policy is considered from the outset and that clear information and explanations are provided for the public.

  My Department is also responsible for the News Co-ordination Centre. The NCC has two functions. The first is to co-ordinate the Government's media handling during major crises such as last year's floods.

  It also has a role in ensuring that for major announcements proper attention is given to the regional media. This is done by means of regional announcements and ministerial visits.

  Educational Projects in Museums and Galleries: DfEE Funding
  Educational Projects in Museums and Galleries: DfEE Funding
  Channel Tunnel
  Channel Tunnel
  Inland Bathing Waters
  Inland Bathing Waters
  A406: Litter Clearance
  A406: Litter Clearance
  Greater London: Cycle Accidents
  Greater London: Cycle Accidents
  Asylum Seekers
  Asylum Seekers
  Depleted Uranium: Screening Programme
  Depleted Uranium: Screening Programme
  BBC Producers' Guidelines on Political Impartiality
  BBC Producers' Guidelines on Political Impartiality
  English Heritage: Archaeology Budget
  English Heritage: Archaeology Budget
  Independent Football Commission
  Independent Football Commission
  Winter Fuel Payments
  Winter Fuel Payments
  Mr Panicos Tsiakourmas
  Mr Panicos Tsiakourmas
  Harare: Press Freedom
  Harare: Press Freedom
  Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group: Mandate
  Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group: Mandate
  Magistrates' Courts
  Magistrates' Courts
  Munchausen's Syndrome by Proxy: Methods of Identification
  Munchausen's Syndrome by Proxy: Methods of Identification
  Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission
  Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission