Written Answers of 11 July 2001

HEALTH

  Anti-psychotic Medication
  Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish the prescribing rates in the last three years for which figures are available for atypical, anti-psychotic medication. [1586]

  Jacqui Smith
  The number of items dispensed in the community in England for atypical, anti-psychotic preparations for the period 1998–2000 is shown in the table.

  Thousand

  Year

  Prescription items

  1998

  469.7

  1999

  772.6

  2000

  1,149.4

  The data are from the Prescription Cost Analysis (PCA) system and are based on a full analysis of all prescriptions dispensed in the community, i.e. by community pharmacists and appliance contractors, dispensing doctors, and prescriptions submitted by prescribing doctors for items personally administered in England. The PCA system includes not only prescriptions originating from general practices in England but also from nurses, dentists and hospital doctors provided they were dispensed in the community; also included are prescriptions written in Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man but dispensed in England. The data do not cover drugs dispensed in hospitals or private prescriptions.

  Patient Consultations
  Vernon Coaker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what role the new strategic health authorities will have in ensuring effective patient and public involvement. [1839]

  Ms Blears
  The detail of the roles and responsibilities of strategic health authorities are still being finalised. It is not possible to say at this stage what the precise arrangements will be for ensuring effective patient and public involvement mechanisms.

  We shall be able to be much clearer about the role of strategic health authorities, including how it fits with the new involvement structures, later in the summer.

  The new structures being formulated to strengthen patient and public voice and influence are based on the premise that every aspect of the National Health Service, both delivery and management, should respond to what
  508W
  users of the NHS believe is right for the future of the health services they use. Strategic health authorities will, together with all other bodies in the NHS, need to respond to this important consideration.

  Chiropody Services
  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to increase investment in NHS chiropody services. [1727]

  Mr. Hutton
  The NHS Plan forecast investment in all the allied health professions, which includes chiropodists. This year the Department has commissioned 345 training places, and funded local projects on return to practice from education consortia. Chiropodists are an integral part of the Government patient-focused policy programme, particularly in relation to older people and diabetes, which are part of the national service framework programme.

  Medical Negligence
  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make it his policy to replace the law relating to claims for medical negligence with a system of no fault compensation involving payment of modest lump sums and pensions payable for fixed periods up to and including for life. [1719]

  Ms Blears
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Hendon (Mr. Dismore) on 3 July 2001,Official Report, column 144W.

  Mental Health
  Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the Government intend to implement the White Paper on "Reforming the Mental Health Act"; and what plans they have to consult further to ensure that new legislation meets the needs of mental health service users. [2713]

  Jacqui Smith
  We are committed to the reform of the Mental Health Act 1983 and will introduce new legislation as soon as parliamentary time allows. We will continue to take account of the views of mental health service users and other key interests as work is carried out to develop the policies set out in the White Paper "Reforming the Mental Health Act" into detailed proposals for new legislation.

  Digital Hearing Aids
  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the pilot schemes for the availability of digital hearing aids on the NHS; and if he will extend access to digital hearing aids on the NHS. [2541]

  Jacqui Smith
  The Department has asked the Institute of Hearing Research (IHR) to conduct a research evaluation of the Modernising National Health Service Hearing Aid Services project. The IHR is expected to present its report in February 2002. The evaluation will help determine how changes in hearing aid services might be extended to all NHS audiology departments.
  509W
  If the project is successful we anticipate that by 2003–04 we will be investing an extra £25 million in NHS hearing aid services.

  Pending the outcome of the project, all NHS audiology departments, with the appropriate staff, training, equipment and experience, are able to apply for access to the NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency contract for digital hearing aids.

  Milford Hospital
  Virginia Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement about the future of Milford hospital; and if he will visit Milford hospital. [2833]

  Ms Blears
  West Surrey health authority is currently considering the responses received during the recent public consultation—The Sustainable NHS—Phase ii.

  It would be inappropriate to make any comment on the future of the hospital before the health authority has made a final decision.

  Ministerial commitments will not allow a visit to Milford hospital at this time.

  Delayed Treatment
  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will investigate the delay in the treatment given to Christopher Lewis, of Churchdown, Gloucestershire, by the NHS. [2942]

  Ms Blears
  [holding answer 9 July 2001]: The United Bristol Healthcare National Health Service Trust investigated Mr. Christopher Lewis' complaint about the delays to his treatment under the NHS complaints procedure, and a reply was sent to Mr. Lewis by the chief executive of the trust on 11 June 2001.

  Waiting Lists
  Dr. Evan Harris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the future publication of inpatient and outpatient waiting lists in England; and what plans he has to publish further indicators of patient waiting times. [3270]

  Mr. Hutton
  The inpatient waiting list has been reduced by 255,000 since June 1998, and the number of outpatient over-13-week waiters fell by 94,000 over the same period. Information on waiting lists and times will continue to be collected and published.

  Mr. Laws
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what his estimate is of the level of(a) inpatient and (b) outpatient waiting lists and waiting times at (i) East Somerset NHS Trust and (ii) Taunton NHS Trust; what the Government's targets are in each category; and if he will make a statement; [3049]

  (2) what targets for (a) inpatient waiting times, (b) outpatient waiting times, (c) inpatient waiting lists and (d) outpatient waiting lists, he has set for (i) East Somerset NHS Trust and (ii) Taunton NHS Trust for each of the next five years; and if he will make a statement; [3050]
  510W
  Ms Blears
  Information on hospital waiting times is published quarterly by the Department in "Hospital Waiting List Statistics: England" and "Waiting Times for First Outpatient Appointments in England: Detailed Statistics". This information is also available on the Department's website at www.doh.gov.uk/waitingtimes.

  The numbers of patients waiting for inpatient or day case treatment at East Somerset National Health Service Trust and Taunton and Somerset NHS Trust on 31 March 2001 are shown in the table.

  Patients waiting for admission by number of months waiting

  East Somerset

  Taunton and Somerset

  0–2 months

  1,089

  3,400

  3–5 months

  538

  2,039

  6–11 months

  314

  1,371

  12–17 months

  2

  28

  18+ months

  0

  0

  Total

  1,943

  6,838

  The number of general practitioner written referral requests seen as a first outpatients in Quarter 4 (1 January to 31 March 2001) at East Somerset NHS Trust and Taunton and Somerset NHS Trust is shown in the table.

  Of those GP referral requests seen, the number who waited (in weeks)

  East Somerset

  Taunton and Somerset

  0–14 weeks

  2,251

  4,609

  4–113 weeks

  2,267

  4,299

  13–126 weeks

  758

  2,305

  26+

  208

  459

  Total

  5,484

  11,672

  1 Less than

  As part of the NHS Plan, the NHS is working towards reducing the current maximum inpatient wait of 18 months to 15 months by March 2002 and reducing the outpatient wait of over six months now to a maximum of six months by March 2002. These targets are part of a staged reduction in waiting times, with inpatient waiting times continuing to fall from 18, to 15, to 12, nine then ultimately six months by 2005. The maximum outpatient waiting time will fall to three months by 2005.

  Mr. Laws
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his estimate is of the length of the inpatient waiting list at East Somerset NHS Trust for each of the last 10 years; what his estimate is of the number of (i) inpatients and (ii) outpatients waiting for more than(a) three months, (b) six months, (c) nine months, (d) 12 months, (e) 15 months, (f) 18 months and (g) 24 months, for each reporting period over the last 10 years for (A) East Somerset NHS Trust and (B) Taunton NHS Trust; and if he will make a statement. [3048]

  Ms Blears
  The information requested is shown in the tables. Information on inpatients is not available before June 1991; information on outpatients is only available from June 1995.
  511W

  Inpatient data for East Somerset NHS Trust (RA4) from June 1991 to March 2001

  Number of patients on list who have waited:

  Quarter

  Total

  Over 3 months

  Over 6 months

  Over 9 months

  Over 12 months

  Over 15 months

  Over 18 months

  Over 24 months

  June 1991

  1 605

  795

  406

  209

  104

  n/a

  n/a

  13

  September 1991

  1.558

  724

  377

  167

  82

  n/a

  n/a

  7

  December 1991

  1,604

  745

  342

  177

  79

  n/a

  n/a

  4

  March 1992

  1,485

  531

  196

  47

  0

  n/a

  n/a

  0

  June 1992

  1,499

  610

  210

  85

  17

  1

  1

  0

  September 1992

  1,601

  545

  245

  71

  16

  1

  0

  0

  December 1992

  1,744

  637

  228

  82

  11

  1

  0

  0

  March 1993

  1,670

  611

  244

  72

  0

  0

  0

  0

  June 1993

  1,869

  780

  280

  98

  20

  0

  0

  0

  September 1993

  1,845

  815

  342

  103

  26

  1

  0

  0

  December 1993

  1,999

  704

  320

  105

  12

  0

  0

  0

  March 1994

  1,725

  654

  252

  76

  0

  0

  0

  0

  June 1994

  1,791

  642

  231

  72

  11

  2

  0

  0

  September 1994

  1,721

  685

  272

  77

  7

  0

  0

  0

  December 1994

  1,610

  591

  244

  51

  0

  0

  0

  0

  March 1995

  1,423

  381

  138

  10

  0

  0

  0

  0

  June 1995

  1,490

  457

  139

  23

  0

  0

  0

  0

  September 1995

  1,673

  497

  127

  15

  2

  0

  0

  0

  December 1995

  1,689

  494

  123

  14

  1

  0

  0

  0

  March 1996

  1,634

  421

  111

  2

  0

  0

  0

  0

  June 1996

  1,691

  531

  112

  9

  0

  0

  0

  0

  September 1996

  2,181

  682

  169

  18

  0

  0

  0

  0

  December 1996

  2,599

  983

  341

  81

  0

  0

  0

  0

  March 1997

  2,662

  1,025

  435

  146

  6

  0

  0

  0

  June 1997

  2,614

  1,122

  487

  212

  64

  4

  0

  0

  September 1997

  2,537

  1,077

  482

  185

  65

  23

  0

  0

  December 1997

  2,874

  1,189

  543

  206

  45

  7

  0

  0

  March 1998

  2,845

  1,251

  521

  172

  5

  1

  0

  0

  June 1998

  2,660

  1,120

  493

  182

  19

  2

  0

  0

  September 1998

  2,335

  965

  431

  171

  22

  0

  0

  0

  December 1998

  2,485

  941

  436

  183

  42

  3

  0

  0

  March 1999

  2,489

  850

  382

  143

  0

  0

  0

  0

  June 1999

  2,132

  812

  338

  156

  39

  0

  0

  0

  September 1999

  2,294

  843

  334

  136

  41

  5

  0

  0

  December 1999

  2,412

  878

  356

  126

  31

  6

  0

  0

  March 2000

  2,061

  803

  377

  150

  31

  4

  0

  0

  June 2000

  2,081

  877

  397

  183

  47

  9

  0

  0

  September 2000

  2,209

  900

  410

  183

  55

  3

  0

  0

  December 2000

  2,062

  937

  384

  164

  38

  0

  0

  0

  March 2001

  1,943

  854

  316

  96

  2

  0

  0

  0

  Note:

  Data not available prior to June 1991.

  Source:

  KH07 quarterly returns

  Inpatient data for Somerset and Taunton NHS Trust (RBA) from June 1991 to March 2001

  Number of patients on list who have waited:

  Quarter

  Total

  Over 3 months

  Over 6 months

  Over 9 months

  Over 12 months

  Over 15 months

  Over 18 months

  Over 24 months

  June 1991

  6,506

  4,126

  2,619

  1,713

  1,094

  n/a

  n/a

  289

  September 1991

  5,844

  3,733

  2,191

  1,269

  667

  n/a

  n/a

  143

  December 1991

  5,730

  3,103

  1,596

  792

  341

  n/a

  n/a

  66

  March 1992

  5,441

  2,648

  1,137

  352

  3

  n/a

  n/a

  0

  June 1992

  5,671

  3,102

  1,459

  525

  121

  20

  15

  5

  September 1992

  5,843

  3,156

  1,564

  505

  64

  22

  3

  0

  December 1992

  6,331

  3,113

  1,593

  599

  83

  13

  8

  0

  March 1993

  6,119

  2,932

  1,359

  431

  0

  0

  0

  0

  June 1993

  5,975

  3,094

  1,440

  462

  57

  3

  2

  0

  September 1993

  5,888

  2,931

  1,434

  481

  57

  2

  1

  0

  December 1993

  5,701

  2,897

  1,335

  469

  67

  7

  4

  0

  March 1994

  5,479

  2,528

  1,022

  243

  0

  0

  0

  0

  June 1994

  5,510

  2,491

  972

  229

  0

  0

  0

  0

  September 1994

  5,222

  2,200

  798

  206

  0

  0

  0

  0

  December 1994

  5,212

  1,966

  701

  157

  0

  0

  0

  0

  March 1995

  4,993

  1,884

  609

  157

  0

  0

  0

  0

  June 1995

  4,995

  1,974

  480

  43

  0

  0

  0

  0

  September 1995

  5,088

  1,891

  510

  22

  1

  1

  0

  0

  December 1995

  5,007

  1,748

  408

  29

  0

  0

  0

  0

  512W 513W

  Inpatient data for Somerset and Taunton NHS Trust (RBA) from June 1991 to March 2001

  Number of patients on list who have waited:

  Quarter

  Total

  Over 3 months

  Over 6 months

  Over 9 months

  Over 12 months

  Over 15 months

  Over 18 months

  Over 24 months

  March 1996

  4,899

  1,507

  292

  6

  0

  0

  0

  0

  June 1996

  5,152

  1,753

  329

  22

  0

  0

  0

  0

  September 1996

  5,201

  1,831

  425

  8

  0

  0

  0

  0

  December 1996

  5,898

  2,324

  648

  34

  0

  0

  0

  0

  March 1997

  6,282

  3,001

  1,070

  219

  0

  0

  0

  0

  June 1997

  6,759

  3,198

  1,406

  376

  18

  0

  0

  0

  September 1997

  6,710

  3,296

  1,506

  566

  52

  0

  0

  0

  December 1997

  7,513

  3,569

  1,689

  695

  113

  0

  0

  0

  March 1998

  7,523

  3,788

  1,691

  560

  22

  1

  0

  0

  June 1998

  7,596

  3,999

  1,771

  576

  32

  0

  0

  0

  September 1998

  7,385

  3,547

  1,624

  470

  44

  0

  0

  0

  December 1998

  7,606

  3,677

  1,705

  574

  114

  1

  0

  0

  March 1999

  7,440

  3,679

  1,759

  536

  137

  16

  0

  0

  June 1999

  7,451

  3,910

  1,859

  707

  137

  13

  0

  0

  September 1999

  7,630

  4,049

  1,933

  704

  180

  13

  0

  0

  December 1999

  7,690

  4,077

  2,007

  753

  211

  61

  0

  0

  March 2000

  7,027

  3.794

  1,793

  803

  271

  37

  0

  0

  June 2000

  6,920

  3,662

  1,677

  792

  297

  58

  0

  0

  September 2000

  6,753

  3,144

  1,430

  619

  197

  39

  0

  0

  December 2000

  7,094

  3,539

  1,459

  654

  203

  40

  0

  0

  March 2001

  6,838

  3,438

  1,399

  432

  28

  5

  0

  0

  Note:

  Data not available prior to June 1991.

  Source:

  KH07 quarterly return

  Outpatient data for East Somerset NHS Trust (RA4) from June 1995 to March 2001

  Number of patients waiting for a first outpatient attendance (following general practitioner referral) at quarter end who have waited:

  Quarter

  Over 13 weeks (three months)

  Over 26 weeks (six months)

  June 1995

  941

  277

  September 1995

  980

  228

  December 1995

  1,000

  189

  March 1996

  930

  194

  June 1996

  325

  20

  September 1996

  423

  30

  December 1996

  451

  60

  March 1997

  559

  87

  June 1997

  657

  146

  September 1997

  869

  142

  December 1997

  988

  225

  March 1998

  843

  237

  June 1998

  863

  210

  September 1998

  925

  200

  December 1998

  1,047

  196

  March 1999

  896

  247

  June 1999

  1,180

  258

  September 1999

  1,132

  294

  December 1999

  1,043

  306

  March 2000

  1,020

  257

  June 2000

  1,266

  295

  September 2000

  769

  202

  December 2000

  633

  126

  March 2001

  466

  97

  Notes:

  1. Data are not available on the total number of patients waiting for a first outpatient appointment.

  2. Data are not available for the number of patients waiting over nine, 12, 15, 18 or 24 months.

  3. Data not collected prior to June 1995.

  Source:

  QM08 quarterly return
  514W

  Outpatient data for Somerset and Taunton NHS Trust (RBA) from June 1995 to March 2001

  Number of patients waiting for a first outpatient attendance (following GP referral) at quarter end who have waited:

  Quarter

  Over 13 weeks (three months)

  Over 26 weeks (six months)

  June 1995

  948

  205

  September 1995

  1,204

  271

  December 1995

  1,138

  172

  March 1996

  929

  191

  June 1996

  1,153

  143

  September 1996

  1,482

  142

  December 1996

  1,471

  194

  March 1997

  1,268

  210

  June 1997

  1,105

  173

  September 1997

  1,628

  155

  December 1997

  1,599

  219

  March 1998

  1,216

  199

  June 1998

  1,536

  199

  September 1998

  2,012

  363

  December 1998

  2,125

  527

  March 1999

  1,978

  478

  June 1999

  2,483

  552

  September 1999

  2,597

  577

  December 1999

  2,561

  643

  March 2000

  2,128

  603

  June 2000

  2,651

  483

  September 2000

  1,543

  256

  December 2000

  1,692

  275

  March 2001

  1,384

  225

  Notes:

  1. Data are not available on the total number of patients waiting for a first outpatient appointment.

  2. Data are not available for the number of patients waiting over nine, 12, 15, 18 or 24 months.

  3. Data not collected prior to June 1995.

  Source:

  QM08 quarterly return

  Health Authority Merger
  Mr. Laws
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to merge the Somerset health authority and the Dorset health authority; and if he will make a statement. [3051]

  Ms Blears
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced in April 2001 that the existing health authorities would be disestablished and replaced by new strategic health authorities. Public consultation on the boundaries of the new strategic health authorities will take place later this year.

DEFENCE

  Army Personnel Centre
  Dr. Vis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what key targets have been set for the chief executive of the Army Personnel Centre for financial year 2001–02. [3803]

  Mr. Ingram
  The chief executive of the Army Personnel Centre has been set the following key targets for 2001–02:To maintain the percentage of posts which are manned (excluding posts gapped for less than 28 days and all posts for private soldiers and subaltern officers) at 94 per cent.
  To ensure that the proportion of personnel posted in-year by the APC whose rank and service qualifications meet the specifications of the post is at least 94 per cent.
  To ensure that the percentage of in-year postings authorised by the APC where personnel are given at least four months' notification is at least 54 per cent.

  Note:
  Short-notice operational requirements and postings following initial training and long courses are excluded.
  To maintain accurate pay and personal records of service by correctly processing all pay, pension and personal occurrences within seven working days from receipt of valid input.
  To enable payment of all terminal benefits within five working days of retirement or receipt of valid documentation (which ever is the later) in no less than 98 per cent of cases.
  To remain within +0 per cent. to -1 per cent. of the annual resource control allocation for operating activities.

  Suez (Medals)
  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent representations he has received concerning a general service medal for those who served in the Suez Canal Zone between 1951 and 1954 [2382]

  Dr. Moonie
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Denton and Reddish (Andrew Bennett) on 9 July 2001,Official Report, column 361W.

  Stanoc Centre
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list(a) the military units, (b) UK police forces, (c) UK authorities, agencies and private organisations and (d) overseas customers who have been advised by the Stanoc Centre over the past year. [3015]
  516W
  Mr. Ingram
  [holding answer 10 July 2001]: The Surveillance, Target Acquisition, Night Observation and Counter-surveillance (STANOC) centre has provided assistance to the following organisations since June 2000:

  Military Units
  A comprehensive list of all military units advised by the STANOC centre is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Assistance has, however, been provided in support of Op AGRICOLA, Op PALATINE and other military training activities.

  UK Civil Police Forces
  Metropolitan police, Greater Manchester police. Dorset police, Sussex police, Hampshire police, National Crime Squad, Police Scientific and Development Branch, Lancashire police, Wiltshire police, Jersey police, National Criminal Intelligence Service, SO19.

  UK Authorities and Agencies
  HM Customs and Excise, Defence Evaluation and Research Agency, Ministry of Defence Police, Defence Procurement Agency, Cabinet Security Office and other Government agencies.

  UK Industry
  Arkonia, Ascent Group, Swarowski, THALES, Marconi, Wylam Defence Systems., Avimo, BAE Systems, Barracuda (UK), Accuracy International, GKN, Raytheon, Bridport Aviation, Colebrand, Roctec, Abley Shelters, MFC, Gore UK, Karrimor, CDSS, ATSI, LEICA, Croma Optics and Resurgem.

  Overseas Armed Forces
  Canadian Army, Royal Canadian Air Force, Dutch Army, Belgian Army, Norwegian Army, German Army, Omani Army, Sierra Leone, Pakistan, US Army, NZ Army, Philippine Armed Forces, Malaysian Armed Forces, Albanian Army, Macedonian Army and NATO.

  Overseas Industry
  Barracuda, Litton.

  NATO's Defence Capabilities Initiative
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made with NATO's Defence Capabilities Initiative since the Washington Summit in 1999. [2531]

  Mr. Hoon
  NATO's Defence Capabilities Initiative (DCI) aims to give the Alliance the capabilities it needs to be fully effective across the range of its missions. The initiative comprises some 59 Decisions. Of these, 21 are well on track. The UK is pressing for an intensified programme of work on the DCI over the coming months. The UK's own DCI performance has been strong, with some 60 per cent. of DCI-related Force Goals being fully implemented and a further 30 per cent. being partially implemented. This reflects capability enhancements such as the introduction of the C17 strategic transport aircraft, the acquisition of a greater sealift capability and development and procurement of new precision guided munitions.

  Japanese Internees (Compensation)
  Mrs. Lait
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many compensation payments to internees in Japanese wartime prison camps have yet to be paid; how many have been paid; how many are being investigated; and how many of these are on grounds of the need to prove nationality. [2706]
  517W
  Dr. Moonie
  As at 6 July a total of 21,552 ex-gratia payments had been made to former internees and surviving spouses. A further 186 payments had been authorised but not yet paid. 3,364 applications are being investigated to confirm eligibility, of which 411 are on the grounds of proving nationality.

  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what changes there have been to the definition of "British" when applied to civilians eligible for Her Majesty's Government's ex-gratia payments to former prisoners of war and internees of the Japanese from 1941 to 1945 since 7 November 2000; and if he will make a statement. [2672]

  Dr. Moonie
  The ex-gratia payment announced on 7 November 2000 is being made to the various British groups who had been held prisoner by the Japanese during the Second World War. The eligibility criterion for civilian claimants has recently been clarified, but there has been no change in the intended scope of the scheme. British subjects whom the Japanese interned and who were born in the United Kingdom, or had a parent or grandparent born here, are eligible for the payment.

  Cyprus
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the recent disturbance in the sovereign base areas in Cyprus. [R] [2978]

  Mr. Ingram
  The Government deplore absolutely the violence and vandalism that took place in the sovereign base areas in Cyprus on Tuesday evening. We have made, and will continue to make, every effort to demonstrate to the Government of Cyprus and the villagers of Akrotiri that the current and proposed antennae on the Salt Lake pose no threat to health and have a minimal impact on the environment.

  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the status of the border between the Republic of Cyprus and sovereign base areas after Cyprus's accession to the EU. [R] [2977]

  Mr. Ingram
  The Government are considering carefully all the implications for the sovereign base areas of the accession by Cyprus to the EU. Our consideration of these matters has not yet reached its conclusion.

  Macedonia
  Mr. Randall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what(a) equipment and (b) personnel his Department has provided to the Government of Macedonia since 1 January. [2823]

  Mr. Hoon
  We have given the Macedonian Government 500 pieces of body armour, 15 mine detectors and 100 handheld Global Positioning Systems. In addition, we will be providing one remote control bomb disposal vehicle and 1,000 parachute flares.

  In March this year at the start of the crisis we sent out a small team of eight military officers for five days to assess how we might assist the Macedonian Government. Two of these officers remained for a limited period to provide support to the UK Defence Adviser to the Macedonian Government (Brigadier James Short); their
  518W
  role was to provide assistance with planning. At present, a military officer is working alongside Brigadier Short providing operational advice.

  Pensions (Politically Sensitive Cases)
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 28 June 2001,Official Report, column 132W, on pensions, if he will place in the Library a copy of the wording of the guidance both before and after the amendment was made. [3214]

  Dr. Moonie
  It is not current practice to place individual items from the guidance manuals in the Library. However, arrangements are being made to place a copy of the current War Pensions Medical Advisers Instructions and Procedures Guide in the Library, together with a copy of the amendment.

  Junior Officers
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the into productive service requirement is for junior officers this year; and if the requirement will be achieved. [2697]

  Mr. Ingram
  [holding answer 10 July 2001]: The into productive service target for junior officer multi-engined pilots in the RAF for the financial year 2001–02 is 55. Unfortunately, problems with the Tucano training fleet at the end of last year meant that the number of fast jet students restreamed to multi-engined aircraft training was fewer than expected and this is the main contributing factor to the target not being met. The current forecast is for 44 multi-engined aircraft pilots to join front line squadrons from Operational Conversion Units in 2001–02. The position is expected to recover in subsequent years.

  Nancekuke
  Ms Atherton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what materials were deposited in the sea off the North Cornish coast when CDE Nancekuke was decommissioned. [2664]

  Dr. Moonie
  There is no comprehensive record of materials which were deposited into the sea off the north Cornish coast when Chemical Defence Establishment (CDE) Nancekuke was decommissioned.

  All plant used in toxic or hazardous operations at Nancekuke was thoroughly decontaminated. All decontaminant was neutralized, diluted and tested on representative local marine species, namely prawns and gobies, before disposal into the sea.

  Chemical warfare agents and their precursors were generally destroyed by incineration or transferred to CDE Porton Down. Some precursors and other materials were however treated and disposed of as above. These included approximately 1 tonne of pralidoxime mesylate (treated with sodium hypochlorite before disposal), arsenic chloride (31 litres were hydrolysed then oxidised with sodium hypochlorite before disposal) and 7 kg of a mixture of ethylphosphonyl dichloride and ethylphosphonyl difluoride (hydrolysed and neutralised before disposal).

  Ms Atherton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he will make a statement on the environmental assessment being undertaken at RAF Portreath. [2666]
  519W
  Dr. Moonie
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 7 February 2001,Official Report, column 522W. Work on the further land quality assessment has been completed. The expert consultant's report has been received and my officials are considering its recommendations and options for remediation work. The next stage will entail discussions on the way ahead with the Environment Agency and Kerrier district council.

  Ms Atherton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what sea monitoring has been undertaken since CDE Nancekuke was decommissioned. [2665]

  Dr. Moonie
  Sea monitoring is the responsibility of the Environment Agency, and its forerunner the National Rivers Authority. No monitoring other than the routine monitoring of South West Water's sewage outfall pipes has been undertaken.

  Porton Down
  Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the comprehensive survey of the service volunteer programme at the Chemical Defence Establishment, Porton Down, announced on 1 May, will gather evidence and recollections from staff who organised the experiments. [3404]

  Dr. Moonie
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 11 May 2001,Official Report, columns 415–16W.

  Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 28 June 2001,Official Report, column 133W, on Porton Down, what plans he has to assign more officials to carry out the comprehensive survey of the service volunteer programme. [3406]

  Dr. Moonie
  We plan to take on a further member of staff, probably a higher executive officer (Grade C2).

  Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 28 June 2001,Official Report, column 133W, on Porton Down, if he will arrange for service volunteers to give their recollections of the Porton Down volunteer programme in a public forum. [3407]

  Dr. Moonie
  No. Service volunteers are free to give us their recollections in any way they wish.

  War in Space
  Paul Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he is taking to reduce the threat of war in space. [3165]

  Mr. Hoon
  The UK and its assets are not considered to be under threat from war in space. The UK was a Depository State of the Outer Space Treaty, which places important limitations on the military use of space, and the UK supports further consideration of issues relating to the prevention of an arms race in outer space at the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva.

  Army Absentees
  Andrew Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what units of the British Army use(a) the legbrace and (b) orange shirts printed "Prisoner" in respect of absentees. [2496]

  Mr. Ingram
  None.

  Bermuda Regiment
  Andrew Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the Bermuda Regiment is part of the British Army. [3044]

  Mr. Ingram
  No. The Bermuda Regiment is an internal security force whose role is to help the Bermuda Police Service maintain law and order. Although there are strong links between the Regiment and the British Army, it is not part of it.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Bermuda
  Andrew Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what plans he has to consult Parliament about proposed amendments to the Bermuda constitution; and if he will make a statement; [3043]

  (2) if he will take steps to ensure that no Order in Council to amend the Bermuda constitution is enacted without hon. Members being given a reasonable period of time to consider the proposed amendments; and if he will make a statement. [3034]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  Orders in Council to amend the Bermuda constitution are made under Section 1 of the Bermuda Constitution Act 1967, which provides that any such Order shall be laid before Parliament after being made.

  Andrew Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it a requirement that there is general agreement by all relevant parties in Bermuda about the membership and terms of reference and functions of the proposed boundary commission to be set up consequent on amendments sought to the Bermuda constitution by the Bermuda Government. [3035]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  The composition and terms of reference of the Bermuda Constituency Boundaries Commission are laid down in the Bermuda constitution. There is no intention to change the composition of the commission. Consultations have been undertaken with the political parties in Bermuda about the terms of reference and functions of the commission, with a view to that body making recommendations regarding possible single-member constituencies.

  Andrew Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much the(a) Governor and (b) Deputy Governor of Bermuda is paid; by whom; and what other allowances and emoluments accrue to each office. [3039]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  The Government of Bermuda make provision in their budget for salary and other allowances of the Governor, and for the Governor's office. The Governor is paid in accordance with Bermuda civil service pay scales; the Deputy Governor, who is a member of HM diplomatic service, is paid in accordance with FCO pay scales.
  521W
  Andrew Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will review the use of conscription in Bermuda; and if he will make a statement. [2492]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  Conscription is regulated by the Bermuda Defence Act 1965. Amendment to this Act requires legislation in the House of Assembly in Bermuda.

  Andrew Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the new Governor of Bermuda will be appointed. [2854]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  An announcement will be made in the usual way at the appropriate time.

  Andrew Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the process of consultation followed by his Department in respect of the appointment of the Governor of Bermuda. [2855]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  The Governor of Bermuda is appointed following consultation with the Premier of Bermuda.

  Andrew Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will set up a constitutional conference prior to amending the Bermuda constitution by Order in Council. [3036]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  There is no requirement to call a constitutional conference before amendment of the Bermuda constitution. But consideration of the most appropriate way forward is given on a case-by-case basis.

  Andrew Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what dates(a) the Governor and (b) Foreign Office Ministers met (i) Bermuda Government Ministers and (ii) members of the Bermuda parliamentary Opposition to discuss proposals to amend the Bermuda constitution by Order in Council in the last two years. [3038]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  The information is as follows:

  (a) The Governor frequently meets Government of Bermuda Ministers and Opposition members. Meetings specifically to discuss proposals to amend Bermuda's constitution were hosted by the Governor at Government House in April 2001. Several Government Ministers and members of the opposition attended these talks.

  (b) FCO Ministers met Government of Bermuda Ministers to discuss proposals to amend the Bermuda constitution in October 2000 and December 2000. They met members of the Bermuda parliamentary Opposition in December 2000 and January 2001.

  Andrew Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on how many occasions a constitutional conference has been held prior to amendments being approved by Order in Council to the Bermuda constitution since 1971. [3037]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  Once, in 1979.

  Bermuda Regiment
  Andrew Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many women serve in the Bermuda Regiment; and how many were conscripted. [2504]
  522W
  Mr. Bradshaw
  Eighteen women are currently serving in the Bermuda Regiment. There is no conscription for women in Bermuda.

  Andrew Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proportion of conscripts to the Bermuda Regiment have not responded to their conscription call-up for each of the past five years. [2491]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  The proportions for the years in question are as follows:

  1996–27 per cent.

  1997–29 per cent.

  1998–38 per cent.

  1999–24 per cent.

  2000–16 per cent.

  The percentage represents the proportion who are unaccounted for and for whom no reasonable excuse has been offered.

  Andrew Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what Governor Masefield's role is in respect of discipline and appeals in the Bermuda Regiment; and if he will make a statement. [2497]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  The Bermuda Defence Act 1965 established the policy and procedure to be observed in the command and administration of the Bermuda Regiment including military offences and the respective powers of the commander.

  Appeals are heard by the Defence Board, which forwards its recommendations to the Governor, who then acts at his discretion.

  Andrew Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many conscripts from the Bermuda Regiment have served outside Bermuda in the past two years. [2493]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  No conscripts have been deployed on operations outside Bermuda in the past two years.

  Andrew Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what punishments have been made in respect of each conscript to the Bermuda Regiment who has failed to respond to his call-up in each of the past two years. [2500]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  Failure to respond to call-up is dealt with in civil court. There were no prosecutions in 1999. In 2000 nine men were prosecuted and were bound over for one year by the magistrate. Of the nine, six have now commenced military service, one was found unfit, one qualified for deferment and one will commence service in January 2002.

  Andrew Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many people have served custodial sentences in the past two years consequent on their failure to accept conscription in the Bermuda Regiment. [2498]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  None.

  Andrew Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the establishment strength of the Bermuda Regiment is, broken
  523W
  down by (a) full-time officers and soldiers, indicating those seconded from other regiments and units, (b) part-time officers and soldiers and (c) conscripts. [2494]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  The establishment strength of the Bermuda Regiment is:

  (a) Full-time officers six, other ranks 22. Two are on secondment from the Royal Anglian Regiment.

  (b) Part-time officers 24, other ranks 514.

  (c) There is no breakdown available for conscripts. They are included in the part-time numbers.

  Andrew Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on how many occasions in the past year a leg brace has been used in respect of a Bermuda Regiment conscript; and for what purpose. [2501]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  In the past year a leg brace has been used three times as a restraint.

  Bermuda Police
  Andrew Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the Governor's responsibility for the command and control of the Bermuda Police. [3046]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  In 1977 the Governor's responsibility for the Police Service for matters relating to recruitment, training, equipment, general organisation, finance and community relations was delegated to the Minister of Labour, Home Affairs and Public Safety.

  Andrew Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what occasions and in what circumstances the leg-brace is used by Bermuda Police. [3047]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  Leg braces are not used by the Bermuda Police Force.

  Falkland Islands
  Andrew Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the proposed changes to the constitution of the Falkland Islands. [3045]

  Mr. MacShane
  We have invited all the Overseas Territories to review their constitutions and to submit their proposals for modernisation. HMG will consider carefully any suggestions for which there is evidence of extensive local consultation and support. A Select Committee has been appointed in the Falkland Islands to review the constitution and it is currently undertaking wide public consultation. The Select Committee has yet to submit its proposals formally to HMG.

  Overseas Territories
  Andrew Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he intends to bring forward legislation relating to overseas territories. [3040]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  The British Overseas Territories Bill, which will grant British citizenship to all British Dependent Territories Citizens in qualifying territories, was given a first reading in the House of Lords on 21 June and published on 22 June. A second reading was given 524W
  on 10 July and the committee stage is scheduled for 24 July. Copies of the Bill, with explanatory notes, are available from the Vote Office and Printed Paper Office.

  Andrew Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what Orders in Council relating to the law of overseas territories he plans to bring forward during 2001; and if he will specify the purpose and overseas territory concerned in each case. [3042]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  Orders in Council are used to give effect to various treaties, convention, UN sanctions and other similar matters where the capacity to pass local legislation is inadequate. A list of anticipated Orders in Council relating to the laws of the Overseas Territories is being placed in the Libraries of both Houses. Other Orders in Council may arise during the course of the year.

  Andrew Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if all overseas territories are compliant with(a) the European Convention on Human Rights and (b) other human rights standards to which the United Kingdom is committed to by (i) treaty or convention and (ii) policy. [3041]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  HMG's policy is that those territories which choose to remain British should abide by the same standards of human rights that British people expect of their own Government. These are enshrined in the European Convention on Human Rights and the six core UN human rights instruments. The ECHR and most of the UN Conventions have been extended to all the territories. We are working with the territories to complete the process of extending the outstanding UN Conventions. The territories to which these conventions have already been extended are in large measure compliant.

TRANSPORT, LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND THE REGIONS

  Cycle-tracks
  Mr. Challen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans he has to increase the mileage of dedicated cycle-tracks by 2005. [2381]

  Mr. Spellar
  The Government have encouraged local traffic authorities in England to include plans for increasing cycling in their local transport plans and all have done so. As a result we expect up to 4,300 km of new cycle routes in England by 2005, as well as a range of facilities for cyclists such as advanced stop lines, toucan crossings and junction treatments. Each authority must decide what mix of additional facilities is needed to reach its local cycling targets.

  We will also be continuing to help Sustrans in the development of the National Cycle Network, which it is hoped will be 10,000 miles long by 2005.

  London Underground
  Harry Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when the proposed stakeholders meeting of London Underground
  525W
  and the Health and Safety Executive's review of the Public Private Partnership will take place, and in which location. [2730]

  Mr. Jamieson
  London Underground informs me that its stakeholders' safety meeting, originally scheduled for 26 June, was postponed at the request of Mr. Robert Kiley, while he conducted negotiations with the bidders for the PPP contracts. Mr. Kiley has now reported that he has been unable to reach agreement with the bidders which meets his objectives, and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has asked London Underground to proceed with plans for the modernisation of the Tube. A rescheduled stakeholders' meeting can be expected later in the summer as part of the renewed drive to provide the investment and renewal programme needed to create a 21st century Tube.

  Safety will continue to be the first priority of London Underground. The Health and Safety Executive is currently undertaking a review of London Underground's safety arrangements as part of the rigorous acceptance process for revisions to London Underground's safety case.

  Mr. Hurst
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (1) how many people used the London Underground in each of the years 1971 to 2000; [2506]

  (2) what estimate he has made of the number of people who will use the London Underground in the next 10 years. [2507]

  Mr. Jamieson
  This is an operational matter for London Underground which has provided me with the figures in the tables, which represent the total number of fare-paying passengers who use the Underground network each year.

  million

  Passenger journeys

  1971

  654

  1972

  655

  1973

  644

  1974

  636

  1975

  601

  1976

  546

  1977

  546

  1978

  569

  1979

  594

  1980

  559

  1981

  541

  1982

  498

  1983

  563

  1984–85

  672

  1985–86

  732

  1986–87

  769

  1987–88

  798

  1988–89

  815

  1989–90

  765

  1990–91

  775

  1991–92

  751

  1992–93

  728

  1993–94

  735

  1994–95

  764

  1995–96

  784

  1996–97

  772

  1997–98

  832

  1998–99

  866

  1999–2000

  927

  2000–01

  970

  526W

  London Underground future projections over the next 10 years

  million

  Passenger journeys

  2001–02

  977

  2002–03

  993

  2003–04

  1,012

  2004–05

  1,025

  2005–06

  1,039

  2006–07

  1,050

  2007–08

  1,060

  2008–09

  1,079

  2009–10

  1,098

  2010–11

  1,117

  Uninsured Vehicles
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what his estimate is of the number of vehicles on British roads(a) without insurance and (b) which have not passed their MOT; how many vehicles without insurance were involved in accidents in the last 12-month period for which figures are available; and what estimate he has of the number of vehicles without insurance on UK roads over the next five years. [2787]

  Mr. Jamieson
  It is estimated that between 4 per cent. and 6 per cent. of motorists drive while uninsured, an offence for which 300,140 people were convicted during 1999. Estimates of MOT evasion are similar. The Motor Insurance Database will go live later this month and while it is too early to make exact estimates, we expect a considerable reduction in insurance evasion as offenders realise that the chances of being caught will be much higher.

  Figures for 2000 show that over 35,000 claims in respect of accidents involving uninsured drivers were made to the Motor insurers Bureau.

  Concessionary Travel
  David Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what assessment he has made of the cost of reimbursing local authorities for their concessionary travel schemes in(a) London, (b) England, (c) Scotland and (d) Wales if the age requirement for men and women is equalised at 60. [2802]

  Mr. Byers
  In Scotland and Wales concessionary travel is devolved, as are the resources to cover for the additional costs. In England it is estimated that equalising entitlement to concessionary travel at age 60 for men and women will cost up to £50 million per year. That figure is broken down as follows:

  (a) London—£15 million,

  (b) rest of England—£35 million.

  Voter Turnout
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans he has to initiate research into voter turnout at the 2001 general election; and if he will make a statement on the efforts to improve voter turnout in local, general and European elections. [2801]
  527W
  Dr. Whitehead
  The Electoral Commission's report on the general election, to be published at the end of July, is expected to include consideration of the reasons for reduced turnout. The Commission also has a duty to educate and inform the public about the electoral process and the importance of participating in it. We will shortly be inviting local authorities to submit pilot schemes to encourage turnout for next year's local elections.

  Millennium Dome
  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what proportion of the eventual sale proceeds of the Dome site will be attributable to Lattice Properties plc. [2692]

  Ms Keeble
  [holding answer 9 July 2001]: When English Partnerships acquired land on the Greenwich Peninsula from British Gas in 1997, the sale and purchase agreement provided for British Gas (Lattice Properties plc) to receive a proportion of any onward sale proceeds. This is set at 7.5 per cent. of sale proceeds or open market value.

  SPADs
  Mr. Horam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many signals were passed at danger on railways in the last three years and for this year; what the figures were for Connex South Eastern; and if he will make a statement on the SPAD on Connex Services north of St. Mary Cray on 26 June. [2927]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The following information on signals passed at danger (SPADs) has been provided by the Health and Safety Executive's Railway Inspectorate:

  (a) There were a total of 1,741 SPADs over the last three financial years: 662 in 1998–1999, 594 in 1999–2000 and 475 in 2000–2001.

  (b) There have been 92 SPADs so far this year, April to May 2001

  (c) There were 66 SPADs in the same period last year, April to May 2000.

  (d) There were a total of 104 SPADs by Connex South Eastern trains over the last three financial years: 41 in 1998–1999, 35 in 1999–2000, and 28 in 2000–2001. So far this year, April to May 2001, Connex South Eastern have had 3 SPADs.

  (e) The Connex South Eastern SPAD incident on 26 June at Bickley Junction near St. Mary Cray, is currently under investigation by the HSE's Railway inspectorate. The results of this investigation will be published in HSE's June monthly SPAD report, which will be placed in the House Library at the end of this month.

  Waterloo-Exeter Main Line
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement about the accident on 2 July on the Waterloo to Exeter main line west of Tisbury involving a passenger train and a heavy goods vehicle on an unmanned level crossing; and what steps he is taking to improve safety on such crossings. [2508]

  Mr. Jamieson
  [holding answer 9 July 2001]: The incident is under investigation by the Health and Safety Executive's HM Railway Inspectorate with the assistance of the Health and Safety Laboratories. A meeting will take place on the 20 August between HM Railway Inspectorate and Railtrack's Southern Zone Level Crossings Manager
  528W
  to assess the incident and any further actions that are necessary. HM Railway Inspectorate will shortly be asking Railtrack to include this type of level crossing in their system wide review of level crossings

  After the road accident that caused a rail collision at Great Heck, Selby, the Deputy Prime Minister asked the Health and Safety Commission to convene and lead a working group that will look at the circumstances of incidents where vehicles have blocked rail lines and whether there are features in common that might have been preventable. Its report will be published in the autumn.

  M6
  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 3 July 2001,Official Report, column 117W, on the M6 motorway, if he will convene an early meeting of right hon. and hon. Members whose constituencies are affected by the MIDMAN study to discuss the recommendations that he receives. [2998]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The early outcomes of the MIDMAN study will be available by the end of August and a further joint presentation to the MPs affected by the outcomes of both studies will therefore be arranged for early autumn. The Government Office for the West Midlands invited Members to a presentation of this study and the West Midlands Area Study on 18 April 2000 and I have asked them to make the necessary arrangements again.

  Cullen Report
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when he expects the second Cullen report to be published. [3252]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The report of Part 2 of Lord Cullen's Inquiry into the Ladbroke Grove train crash, which is looking into the culture, management and regulation of safety on the railways, is expected to be published by the Health and Safety Commission later this year.

  Small Business Rate Relief
  Brian Cotter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will estimate the number of businesses in England and Wales that would benefit from the proposed rate relief for small businesses with a rateable value of less than £8,000 as outlined in the Green Paper, 'Modernising Local Government Finance'. [2591]

  Dr. Whitehead
  The Green Paper 'Modernising Local Government Finance' (September 2000) applied to England only. The National Assembly for Wales set out its proposals in 'Simplifying the System: Local Government Finance in Wales' (September 2000).

  The Green Paper proposal was that in England there should be relief of 50 per cent. for properties with rateable values up to £3,000, with the relief then tapering off, so that properties with rateable values of £6,000 would get 20 per cent. relief, and those with rateable values above £8,000 would get no relief.
  529W
  There are 977,000 properties in England with rateable values of £8,000 and less. Of these 474,000 have rateable values of £3,000 or less. However the Green Paper also suggested that small properties owned by large businesses might be excluded from the relief scheme, if this could be done without excessive administrative complexity.

  In the light of the responses to the Green Paper, and further discussions we have been holding with business organisations, we will be setting out our decisions on the relief scheme in a White Paper later this year.

  Private Hire Vehicles
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when the consultation paper on private hire vehicle drivers was issued; and by what date responses are required. [3391]

  Mr. Jamieson
  Responsibility for the regulation of private hire vehicles in London has been passed to the Mayor. Transport for London issued a consultation paper on proposals for the regulation of private hire vehicle drivers on 13 June, with a closing date for responses of 8 August.

  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (1) how many private hire vehicle operators in London had registered for licensing on 1 July with the Public Carriage Office; [3393]

  (2) how many private hire operators were licensed under the Private Hire Vehicles (London) Act 1998 on 1 July. [3394]

  Mr. Jamieson
  Responsibility for the regulation of private hire vehicles in London has been passed to the Mayor. The Public Carriage Office undertakes the licensing function as part of Transport for London.

  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when he expects to publish the consultation paper on private hire vehicles under the Private Hire Vehicles (London) Act 1998. [3392]

  Mr. Jamieson
  It will be for Transport for London to publish a consultation paper on proposals for licensing private hire vehicles in London.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

  Mine Clearance
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much was spent by the UK Government on(a) humanitarian mine clearance, (b) commercial mine clearance, (c) military initiative mine clearance, (d) mine awareness, (e) victim assistance and (f) research and development for mine clearance in 2000–01. [3389]

  Clare Short
  Disbursements are as follows:

  2000–01

  £

  (a) Humanitarian Mine Clearance

  114,500,000

  (c) Mine Awareness

  500,000

  (d) Research and Development

  1,000,000

  530W

  1 Includes integrated mine awareness activities. As programmes are often integrated separate costs of awareness are not available.

  Notes:

  1. All expenditure by Department of International Development (DFID)

  2. Military mine clearance has taken place in the Balkans since 1992. Military advisers have been attached to UN Mine Action Centres assisting in the development of mine action programmes. They have also supervised the mine clearance carried out by the Entity Armed Forces and provided mine awareness to local populations. The Mine Information Training Centre (MITC) at Minley has provided mine awareness training to over 30,000 people. The MOD has also continued to monitor minefields in the Falkland Islands. This work is part of the wider responsibilities of those involved and is impossible to cost accurately.

  3. DFID has not funded commercial mine clearance. There are no records of UK commercial demining activities currently available in Department of Trade and Industry.

  4. Assistance to land mine victims is additional to our mine action programme. Mine victims benefit from our mainstream health and population and social development programmes, as well as specific programmes assisting the disabled. It is not possible to disaggregate expenditure figures for land mine victims.

  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list Government expenditure on humanitarian mine clearance in 2000–01, broken down by country. [3388]

  Clare Short
  Government expenditure on mine action programmes is indicated in the table.

  £

  Albania

  369,648

  Cambodia

  1,430,571

  Chad

  270,000

  Croatia

  150,000

  Eritrea/Ethiopia

  544,151

  Georgia

  456,259

  Guinea Bissau

  120,000

  Iraq

  616,100

  Jordan

  270,000

  Laos

  616,889

  Lebanon

  387,297

  Nicaragua

  283,000

  Thailand

  300,000

  Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Kosovo)

  7,899,020

  Global/Regional

  4,000,000

  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list the organisations to which the Government have given money for the purpose of mine clearance in 2000–01 specifying the amount given in each case. [3390]

  Clare Short
  The table gives the figures requested.

  2000–01

  £

  The HALO Trust

  1,863,304

  Mines Advisory Group (MAG)

  1,164,015

  Cambodian Mine Action Centre (CMAC) (via UNDPP

  214,285

  Croatian Mine Advisory Centre

  150,000

  Government of Jordan

  270,000

  Organisation of American States—Nicaragua demining

  283,000

  United Nations Mine Action Service—Kosovo

  390,364

  Battle Area Clearance Training Equipment Consultants (BACTEC)—Kosovo

  1,100,616

  Defence Systems Ltd. (DSL)—Kosovo

  3,118,404

  European Landmine Solutions ELS—Kosovo

  2,550,632

  United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS)—Global

  600,000

  United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)

  500,000

  531W

  2000–01

  £

  Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD)

  790,000

  Cranfield Mine Action

  162,182

  Landmine Monitor

  157,000

  Defence Evaluation and Research Establishment (DERA)

  306,060

  Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD)

  23,105

  Aardvark

  52,613

  MineLifta

  45,952

  United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

  600,000

  Belize
  Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to her answer of 2 July 2001,Official Report, column 41W, concerning the KPMG report on Belize, for what reason the report will not be placed in the public domain. [2930]

  Clare Short
  The Government of Belize requested at the outset that the information contained in the consultants' report should be regarded as confidential between our two Governments.

  Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to her answer of 2 July 2001,Official Report, column 41W, concerning the KPMG report on Belize, when the report was submitted; for what reasons it failed to fulfil the terms of reference; and if she will place in the Library the original terms of reference. [2931]

  Clare Short
  A draft report was submitted by KPMG on 18 September 2000 which did not incorporate an assessment of the benefits and costs of public investment companies in Belize. A copy of the terms of reference will be placed in the Library.

  Chechnya
  Harry Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) if she will make a statement on Russia's response to the World Bank's request for information about the budgetary impact upon it of the Chechnya war; and if she will make it her policy to use the World Bank to encourage that country to apply for redevelopment support for the Chechnya area; [2726]

  (2) what representations she has made to Russia to seek funding from the World Bank for redevelopment in Chechnya; and if she will make a statement. [2725]

  Clare Short
  Responsibility for the redevelopment of Chechnya lies with the Russian Government, and it will be for Russia to decide whether to seek assistance from the international community. However, while fighting continues and the security situation remains poor, the redevelopment of Chechnya on any significant scale is unlikely to be possible.

  Britain is contributing to international appeals to provide help for those displaced by the conflict. So far this year we have directly contributed £1.75 million to the International Committee of the Red Cross and £1.6 million to the United Nations Interagency Appeal. We also contribute through the European Commission Humanitarian Office.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Firearms (Police)
  Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police operations there were per police force in which firearms were issued; how many authorised firearms officers were involved; how many operations involved armed response vehicles between(a) April 1999 to March 2000 and (b) April 2000 to March 2001; and if he will make a statement. [3253]

  Mr. Denham
  [holding answer 10 July 2001]: The latest available statistics for the police use of firearms in England and Wales were published on 12 April 2000, Official Report, column 223W, in an answer from the then Minister of State, my right hon. Friend the Member for Norwich, South (Mr. Clarke), to my hon. Friend the Member for Corby (Phil Hope), and covered the period 1 April 1998 to 31 March 1999. The statistics for April 1999 to March 2000 will be announced shortly.

  Prisoners (Conditions)
  Miss Widdecombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many hours were spent on purposeful activity in(a) male local prisons, (b) male open prisons, (c) male closed training prisons, (d) male young offender institutions, (e) female prisons and (f) female young offender institutions in (i) 1996–97, (ii) 1999–2000 and (iii) 2000–01; and if he will make a statement. [2479]

  Beverley Hughes
  The average hours per week spent in purposeful activity in 1996–97, 1999–2000 and 2000–01, by establishment function, are given in the table.

  Function name

  1996–97

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  Category B

  21.6

  23.4

  24.5

  Category C

  27.4

  26.8

  26.6

  Dispersal

  19.4

  19.2

  19.4

  Female closed

  28.6

  23.8

  25.4

  Female local

  22.2

  19.8

  23.0

  Female open

  37.9

  39.3

  39.3

  Male closed YOI

  22.2

  20.8

  22.3

  Male juvenile

  38.7

  37.9

  37.0

  Male local

  19.2

  19.5

  20.2

  Male open

  42.4

  42.7

  42.3

  Male open YOI

  46.0

  43.7

  40.4

  Male remand centre

  16.3

  17.6

  18.8

  Prison Service (Assaults)
  Miss Widdecombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many assaults on(a) prisoners, (b) prison staff and (c) other people in Prison Service establishments there were in (i) 1996–97, (ii) 1999–2000 and (iii) 2000–01; and if he will make a statement. [2477]

  Beverley Hughes
  The number of proven adjudications for assaults on prisoners, staff and others for the years 1996–97, 1999–2000 and 2000–01 are listed in the table. The Prison Service does not record data on assaults on staff and others separately. Data on assaults and all Prison Service key performance indicators are published annually in Her Majesty's Prison Service Annual Report and Accounts and Her Majesty's Prison Service Corporate and Business Plan.
  533W
  The number of proven adjudications for assault at any time will in part reflect the total number or prisoners and the extent to which victims are enabled to come forward with complaints.

  Assaults on prisoners

  Assaults on staff/others

  Total assaults

  1996–97

  2,747

  2,531

  5,278

  1999–2000

  3,457

  3,010

  6,467

  2000–01

  3,282

  3,107

  6,389

  Drugs Misuse (Wales)
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had with the First Secretary of the National Assembly for Wales to initiate policies to combat drugs misuse in Wales; and if he will make a statement. [1878]

  Mr. Denham
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department has an overarching role in monitoring progress against the United Kingdom drugs strategy, taking account of the distinctive substance misuse strategies in the other countries of the United Kingdom. However, it is the National Assembly for Wales which is responsible for setting and the strategic direction of the strategy in Wales and monitoring its progress.

  The Assembly's Community Regeneration and Social Inclusion Unit maintains regular contact with officials of the United Kingdom Anti Drugs Co-ordination Unit and relevant Whitehall officials in other jurisdictions in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Shiblu Rahman
  Harry Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the police's role was in the provision of emergency treatment for Mr. Shiblu Rahman on 1 April in Bow; if his murder is being regarded as a racial incident; what representations his family have made to the Metropolitan police and how they have responded; and if he will make a statement. [2719]

  Mr. Denham
  I am informed by the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that the police's role in providing emergency treatment to Mr. Shiblu Rahman on 1 April in Bow was immediately to administer first aid on arrival at the scene, until a paramedic arrived.

  The murder of Mr. Rahman has always been treated as a racist incident. Mr. Rahman's family have made representations to senior officers from Tower Hamlets borough, to the Serious Crime Group and to Commander Smith who is the Association of Chief Police Officers officer with geographical responsibility for East London. The family have expressed concerns as to the initial actions taken by the emergency services and these are being considered by senior officers within the Metropolitan police service.

  Four people have been arrested and charged with the murder of Mr. Rahman, while a fifth person has been charged with aiding the principals.

  Wandsworth Prison
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will provide extra financial resources for HMP Wandsworth for improvements. [2530]

  Beverley Hughes
  In the current financial year, Wandsworth has received an additional £511,565 from the Spending Review 2000 (SR 2000) settlement for a range of measures against drugs, and other additional budget allocations for specific purposes. However, as part of the SR2000 settlement, the Prison Service has to make cashable efficiency savings of 1 per cent per year in its baselines, and Wandsworth's baseline has been reduced to contribute to this. The net effect of these changes is to increase Wandsworth's funding by £362,538 in 2001–02 compared to 2000–01. In addition, the establishment has been selected as a pilot site for national health service-funded mental health in-reach work to an estimated value of £252,000.

  In the light of there changes Wandsworth is expected to contribute to efficiency savings while at the same time using the additional resources allocated to deliver more effective and targeted services. There is no prospect of further changes in Wandsworths' financial allocation in this financial year.

  Electronic Tagging
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been electronically tagged in England and Wales. [2524]

  Beverley Hughes
  47,462 people were electronically tagged in England and Wales between the start of the current electronic monitoring contracts on 28 January 1999 and 30 June 2001. At midnight on 30 June 2001, a total of 3,162 people were still being monitored.

  Mentally Ill Prisoners
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will divert resources from the provision of further prison establishments towards the care of mentally ill prisoners in secure specialist premises outside normal prisons. [2532]

  Beverley Hughes
  In England, the provision of secure, specialist premises outside prisons for the treatment of mental illness is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health. The National Health Service (NHS) plan, which he published in July 2000, contains a commitment to develop new NHS in-reach services for prisoners with serious mental illnesses. These services are being piloted in 12 sites in England, including Wandsworth prison, during 2000–01 before being implemented more widely. Alongside this development, the National Assembly for Wales is funding similar in-reach services in the four Prison Service establishments in Wales.

  Commonwealth Visitors
  Fiona Mactaggart
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) Jamaican, (b) Barbadian, (c) Guyanese, (d) Canadian and (e) Australian nationals were admitted as visitors during each month in (i) 2000 and

  535W
  (ii) 2001 to the latest available date; and how many of these, from each country, were admitted with leave for less than six months. [2520]

  Angela Eagle
  The available information is given in the table.

  Visitors are only admitted to the United Kingdom for a maximum period of six months. The table shows visitors and business visitors for the requested nationalities up to April 2001, the latest available month.

  Passengers admitted to the United Kingdom, by selected nationality and category, January 2000 to April 20011

  Number of journeys2

  Jamaica

  Barbados

  Guyana

  Canada

  Australia

  Visitors

  2000

  January

  1,340

  140

  60

  15,100

  22,900

  February

  1,630

  210

  50

  19,000

  14,500

  March

  1,930

  350

  120

  32,600

  20,200

  April

  1,870

  460

  160

  42,800

  35,800

  May

  2,500

  430

  160

  60,500

  48,700

  June

  2,990

  890

  180

  60,000

  48,600

  July

  5,160

  1,420

  610

  69,400

  58,100

  August

  3,440

  1,050

  430

  71,600

  51,100

  September

  2,380

  740

  200

  52,500

  57,600

  October

  1,880

  440

  150

  40,700

  41,000

  November

  1,990

  410

  170

  25,100

  23,300

  December

  2,980

  590

  230

  25,700

  33,600

  Total

  30,100

  7,130

  2,530

  515,000

  455,000

  20011

  January

  1,700

  200

  80

  16,300

  23,300

  February

  1,920

  200

  100

  23,700

  13,500

  March

  2,340

  290

  240

  20,100

  19,200

  April

  2,260

  310

  250

  36,300

  32,900

  Business visitors

  2000

  January

  50

  20

  10

  6,610

  3,470

  February

  90

  40

  10

  6,960

  3,990

  March

  170

  70

  3—

  7,210

  4,560

  April

  70

  30

  20

  6,560

  4,180

  May

  100

  60

  20

  7,970

  5,660

  June

  130

  80

  20

  7,550

  5,540

  July

  150

  50

  70

  7,020

  4,830

  August

  100

  20

  10

  4,840

  3,640

  September

  110

  80

  20

  8,070

  4,880

  October

  90

  60

  30

  8,710

  5,590

  November

  120

  120

  40

  8,520

  5,040

  December

  70

  10

  10

  4,340

  2,640

  Total

  1,250

  640

  280

  83,900

  54,400

  20011

  January

  100

  40

  40

  6,770

  3,950

  February

  140

  60

  10

  8,080

  4,280

  March

  140

  60

  30

  7,580

  5,170

  April

  100

  60

  20

  7,720

  4,610

  Total visitors

  2000

  January

  1,390

  170

  70

  21,300

  26,400

  February

  1,720

  260

  60

  25,900

  18,500

  March

  2,100

  420

  130

  39,900

  24,800

  April

  1,940

  490

  180

  49,300

  40,000

  May

  2,600

  480

  190

  68,500

  54,400

  June

  3,120

  960

  210

  67,500

  54,100

  July

  5,320

  1,460

  680

  76,500

  62,900

  August

  3,540

  1,070

  440

  76,400

  54,700

  September

  2,500

  810

  230

  60,600

  62,500

  October

  1,970

  500

  180

  49,400

  46,900

  November

  2,110

  530

  200

  33,600

  28,300

  December

  3,050

  610

  240

  30,100

  36,300

  Total

  31,400

  7,770

  2,800

  599,000

  510,000

  536W

  Passengers admitted to the United Kingdom, by selected nationality and category, January 2000 to April 20011

  Number of journeys2

  Jamaica

  Barbados

  Guyana

  Canada

  Australia

  20011

  January

  1,800

  240

  110

  23,100

  27,200

  February

  2,060

  260

  100

  31,800

  17,800

  March

  2,480

  350

  270

  37,600

  24,300

  April

  2,360

  370

  270

  44,000

  37,500

  1 2001 data are provisional

  2 Totals may not sum due to rounding. This is because all calculations are based on unrounded figures to ensure accuracy

  3 Five or fewer

  Note:

  Data rounded to three significant digits or to the nearest 10 if less than 1,000

  Fiona Mactaggart
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for extensions of stay were received in each month in(a) 2000 and (b) 2001 to the latest available date by the Immigration and Nationality Directorate from (i) Jamaican, (b) Barbadian, (iii) Guyanese, (iv) Canadian and (v) Australian nationals admitted for less than six months as visitors; and how many were (A) granted and (B) refused. [2519]

  Angela Eagle
  The available information is given in the table and relates to people who enter the United Kingdom as visitors and subsequently apply for an extension of stay in another category.

  The information relates to decisions on applications for an extension of leave to remain. The latest available data are for the period January to September 2000.

  Grants and refusals of extensions of leave to remain1 in the United Kingdom to persons having entered the country as a visitor2, by selected nationality, January to September 20003

  Number of decisions4

  Jamaica

  Barbados

  Guyana

  Canada

  Australia

  Grants of extension

  January

  560

  10

  10

  20

  40

  February

  480

  10

  10

  30

  40

  March

  580

  10

  10

  30

  60

  April

  380

  10

  10

  20

  50

  May

  470

  10

  10

  20

  60

  June

  630

  10

  10

  40

  60

  July

  500

  10

  10

  30

  60

  August

  460

  *

  *

  20

  70

  September

  400

  *

  10

  20

  60

  Total

  January-September

  4,460

  70

  70

  240

  500

  Refusals of extension

  January

  50

  *

  *

  *

  *

  February

  60

  —

  *

  *

  10

  March

  60

  —

  *

  10

  *

  April

  80

  —

  *

  *

  10

  May

  100

  —

  *

  10

  10

  June

  180

  *

  10

  *

  *

  July

  230

  —

  *

  *

  *

  August

  160

  —

  *

  *

  *

  September

  130

  *

  *

  *

  10

  Total

  January-September

  1,060

  *

  20

  40

  50

  Total Decisions

  January

  600

  10

  10

  30

  50

  February

  550

  10

  10

  40

  50

  March

  640

  10

  10

  40

  60

  April

  460

  10

  10

  30

  60

  May

  570

  10

  10

  30

  60

  537W

  Grants and refusals of extensions of leave to remain1 in the United Kingdom to persons having entered the country as a visitor2, by selected nationality, January to September 20003

  Number of decisions4

  Jamaica

  Barbados

  Guyana

  Canada

  Australia

  June

  820

  10

  10

  40

  60

  July

  740

  10

  10

  30

  70

  August

  610

  *

  10

  20

  70

  September

  530

  10

  10

  20

  60

  Total

  January-September

  5,520

  80

  90

  270

  550

  1 Excludes dependants of principal applicants, the outcome of appeals, and withdrawn applications

  2 Includes students admitted for less than six months

  3 Provisional

  4 Totals may not add up due to rounding. This is because all calculations are based on unrounded numbers to ensure accuracy

  Note:

  Data rounded to the nearest 10 with * = 5 or fewer

  Antisocial Behaviour Orders
  Mr. Stevenson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many antisocial behaviour orders have been(a) applied for and (b) granted in (i) Staffordshire and (ii) Stoke-on-Trent. [2668]

  Mr. Denham
  The number of antisocial behaviour orders being applied for and issued is collected centrally by magistrates courts committee (MCC) area only. Between April 1999 and March 2001, two antisocial behaviour orders, both of which were granted, were applied for in the Staffordshire MCC.

  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the effectiveness of antisocial behaviour orders in the Shrewsbury division of West Mercia Constabulary. [2536]

  Mr. Denham
  Since my predecessor, the then Minister of State, my right hon. Friend the Member for Norwich, South (Mr. Clarke), answered my hon. Friend's earlier question on this subject on 4 April 2001,Official Report, column 214W, the Shrewsbury division of West Mercia constabulary has obtained a further 18 antisocial behaviour orders bringing the total for the division to some 24 orders. These orders have helped to curb intimidatory begging in the town centre and antisocial behaviour by groups of young people in other parts of the division. I applaud the efforts of the local police, and congratulate them on their success.

  Charities (Audit)
  Mr. Stunell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what he calculates to be the threshold level of turnover of charities needed to trigger full annual audits if the current provision had been indexed in line with that applied to company audits since its introduction; [2786]

  (2) what plans he has to uprate the threshold level of annual turnover for charities triggering full annual audits. [2785]

  Angela Eagle
  There are no plans at present to uprate the threshold level triggering full annual audits for charity accounts although the matter is kept under review.
  538W
  Part VI of the Charities Act 1993 and the associated Regulations and Statements of Recommended Practice provide the accounting framework for charities. The accounting requirements are graduated and vary with the size of the charity. Charities with gross income or total expenditure of over £250,000 (in the current or two previous financial years) are required to produce audited accounts.

  Charities that are registered as companies are subject to the Companies Acts and must file their accounts with Companies House. They are also subject to charity law. The audit threshold for a charitable company is £250,000 gross income, as provided for in the Companies Act 1985 (Audit Exemption) (Amendment) Regulations 1997.

  The auditing threshold for non-charitable companies was raised last year from £350,000 to £1 million, an increase of approximately 280 per cent., but the decision was taken at that time to retain the existing threshold for charitable companies. A similar increase for charities would raise the threshold to the order of £700,000.

  Good charity accounts which show how the charity is using its resources and which are reliable, consistent and available to the public are important in demonstrating openness and public accountability. The particular public interest in charities and charitable companies calls for an accounting system for them which is different from that which is appropriate for non-charitable organisations.

  Prism Staff (Salaries)
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will increase the salaries of prison staff in discipline and administration grades. [2849]

  Beverley Hughes
  Prison officers and related support grades received a two per cent. increase in pay from 1 January 2001. Also, locality payments for those working in and around London were increased by between £517 and £873 a y ear. This year's pay changes for administrative grades are still subject to the outcome of negotiations. The pay of most of these Prison Service staff will he handled differently from next year.

  On 9 February 2001, Official Report, column 747W, my right hon. Friend the then Secretary of State for the Home Office announced plans to set up a Prison Service Pay Review Body to make independent recommendations to the Government on the pay of prison officers and related support grades employed in public sector prisons in England and Wales, and the Northern Ireland Prison Service. This came into effect on 17 April 2001. It is due to make its first recommendations with effect from 1 January 2002. The pay of prison administrative staff, who are outside the Review Body remit, will remain subject to direct annual negotiation between the Prison Service and the Prison Service Trade Union Side.

  Mental Health Care
  Dr. Naysmith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to implement(a) Part I and (b) Part II of the White Paper "Reform of the Mental Health Act". [2952]

  Beverley Hughes
  The Government are committed to reform of the Mental Health Act 1983 and will introduce the legislation needed to give effect to both parts of the
  539W
  White Paper as soon as parliamentary time allows. This will include proposals—set out in Part 2—to deal with the small minority of those mentally disordered people who present a high risk to others, including those who are dangerous and severely personality disordered.

  Good progress is being made on all aspects of the service development required for the creation of new services for those who are dangerous and severely personality disordered and for the modernisation of mental health services generally.

  Feltham Young Offenders Prison
  Mr. Gareth R. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many inmates there were at Feltham Young Offenders Prison in each of the last five years. [3129]

  Beverley Hughes
  The average population at Feltham Young Offenders Institution in each of the last five years is given in the table.

  Financial year

  Average population HMYOI Feltham

  2000–01

  698

  1999–2000

  798

  1998–99

  878

  1997–98

  894

  1996–97

  865

  Ministerial Visits
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when his predecessor(a) first visited and (b) last visited (i) Indonesia, (ii) Turkey, (iii) Saudi Arabia, (iv) South Africa, (v) Chile, (vi) Argentina, (vii) Sudan, (viii) Taiwan, (ix) the UAE and (x) Cuba. [1824]

  Mr. Blunkett
  As far as records show, my predecessor did not visit Indonesia, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Chile, Argentina, Sudan, Taiwan, the United Arab Emirates and Cuba in his capacity as Home Secretary.

  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when his predecessor(a) first visited and (b) last visited (i) Canada, (ii) Australia and (iii) New Zealand. [1837]

  Mr. Blunkett
  As far as records show, my predecessor did not visit Canada, Australia or New Zealand in his capacity as Home Secretary.

  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when his predecessor(a) first visited and (b) last visited, (i) Brazil, (ii) Bolivia, (iii) Mexico, (iv) Guatemala and (v) Peru. [1932]

  Mr. Blunkett
  As far as records show, my predecessor did not visit Brazil, Bolivia, Mexico, Guatemala or Peru in his capacity as Home Secretary.

  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when his predecessor(a) first visited and (b) last visited (i) Rwanda, (ii) Democratic Republic of Congo, (iii) Central African Republic, (iv) Mozambique and (v) Nigeria. [1954]
  540W
  Mr. Blunkett
  As far as records show, my predecessor did not visit Rwanda, Democratic Republic of Congo, Central African Republic, Mozambique and Nigeria in his capacity as Home Secretary.

  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when his predecessor(a) first visited and (b) last visited (i) South Korea and (ii) Malaysia. [1947]

  Mr. Blunkett
  As far as records show, my predecessor did not visit South Korea or Malaysia in his capacity as Home Secretary.

  Prostitution
  Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will publish a summary of the responses to the consultation "Setting the Boundaries"; and if he will make a statement on the adequacy of the current legal framework governing prostitution. [3227]

  Mr. Keith Bradley
  We received in excess of 650 responses to "Setting the Boundaries". Officials are now assessing these responses and we will be considering the best way to make a summary available to hon. Members once this analysis has been completed.

  We have no plans to change the law relating to prostitution at present. However, one of the 62 recommendations made to Ministers in "Setting the Boundaries" is that there should be a further review of the law on prostitution. We will be carefully considering the responses to this recommendation before reaching a decision on it.

  Asylum Appeals
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the outcome was in asylum cases where an appeal was received by his Department but not subsequently sent to the Immigration Appellate Authority for each month of(a) 2001, (b) 2000 and (c) 1999. [172]

  Angela Eagle
  [holding answer 25 June 2001]: Information on the outcome of asylum cases where appeals were lodged with the Home Office, but not sent to the Immigration Appellate Authority (IAA), is not available. Some cases in this category are withdrawn or abandoned, and a proportion is reconsidered for a variety of reasons after the appeal has been lodged with Immigration and Nationality Directory (IND). The reconsideration may result in the case not being sent to the IAA if it leads to a change in the appellant's immigration status. If in due course we find that there are a significant number of such cases, we shall consider what is the best way to publish this information once we are satisfied that it is reliable.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

  A-Level Reforms
  Jeff Ennis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what action she proposes to take following the Qualification and Curriculum Authority's initial report on the implementation of the A-level reforms. [3533]
  541W
  Estelle Morris
  Today I issued a response to the QCA's report on Curriculum 2000. That response has been placed in the Library, together with a copy of the report. The response notes that there is strong and continuing support in schools and colleges for the principles of Curriculum 2000, but also an urgent need to resolve issues in the delivery of parts of the programme, particularly the advanced subsidiary qualification. I am therefore asking the QCA to develop a combined examination paper of up to three hours for each AS where possible by summer 2002, as an alternative to the large number of individual unit papers currently offered. Where this is not possible, I am asking the QCA and the awarding bodies to look urgently at restructuring the timetable so that units of the same subject can be taken at a single sitting. Single, flexible units will remain available for those that want them. I am also asking the QCA to review specifications of subjects which are considered too heavy, to issue guidance to schools and colleges to highlight the existing flexibilities within the assessment regime, and to encourage the majority of students to take AS examinations either at the end of the first year of study or together with the examinations they take at the end of the second year. I am also asking the QCA to work with the awarding bodies to avoid as far as possible subject clashes in the examination timetable.

  The Government remain convinced of the need for all young people, whether in employment or training post-16, to be given a solid basis in the key skills of communication, application of number and IT. To ensure they are practicable for the majority of students, I am asking the QCA to take steps to reduce the volume of assessment, ensure that a greater range of proxy qualifications are accepted, and issue guidance to schools and colleges to support effective use of key skills. I am also asking the Learning and Skills Council to review urgently the funding arrangements for key skills.

  Lecturers
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what action she is taking in conjunction with higher education institutions to improve the recruitment and retention of lecturers. [3186]

  Margaret Hodge
  The recruitment and retention of staff is a matter for higher education institutions. However, the Government are providing £50 million in 2001–02, rising to £110 million in 2002–03 and £170 million in 2003–04, to support increases in academic and non-academic pay. This will give higher education employers more flexibility to address recruitment and retention difficulties and modernise their reward systems.

  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what arrangements will be put in place for maintaining the value of the teaching pay initiative to further education lecturers after its expiry. [3191]

  Margaret Hodge
  This is a matter for future spending reviews. We have no plans to suspend the teaching pay initiative after 2003–04.
  542W
  Chris Ruane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the average starting pay for college lecturers was in each of the last 10 years. [2991]

  Margaret Hodge
  [holding answer 9 July 2001]: Figures available are derived from the FE lecturer pension scheme. The last available figures are for 1999. Details have been given for the period 1991–99.

  Average starting salary of full-time FE lecturers 1991–99, England and Wales

  Year

  £

  1999

  17,996

  1998

  17,440

  1997

  16,959

  1996

  16,898

  1995

  16,482

  19941

  15,985

  19942

  16,213

  1993

  16,579

  1992

  15,692

  1991

  14,994

  1 Including sixth-form colleges.

  2 Excluding sixth-form colleges.

  Note:

  Sixth-form colleges excluded before 1993 because they were not part of the FE sector. Included as part of the FE sector from 1994 onwards.

  Competitiveness Indicators
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will publish the indicators of the competitiveness of British higher education institutions which she uses to compare them with their overseas counterparts. [3187]

  Margaret Hodge
  The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) publishes international educational comparisons each year in "Education at a Glance". The 2001 edition, recently published, shows that UK higher education is characterised by high graduation rates and low non-completion rates, indicating the high quality of teaching and research and the efficiency and effectiveness of courses. This is reflected in the relative popularity of UK higher education courses among overseas students.

  Learning and Skills Councils
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what representations she has received on the proposed withdrawal of funding for(a) education and (b) training programmes by local learning and skills councils. [3185]

  Margaret Hodge
  We have received very few representations about withdrawal of funding for programmes by the Learning and Skills Council. We have received a number of representations about the LSC's new funding arrangements for work-based learning for young people. On the whole, these changes have been well received, but inevitably there will be some concerns when funding rates change. To help meet these concerns the Learning and Skills Council has put in place effective transitional arrangements that cushion the reductions in income levels of providers compared with 1999–2000.
  543W
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what arrangements she has made to transfer teaching pay initiative moneys direct from local learning and skills councils through colleges to individual teachers. [3189]

  Margaret Hodge
  All colleges received provisional allocations of funding in April 2001 from the Learning and Skills Council for the teaching pay initiative in 2001–02. Indicative amounts for 2002–03 and 2003–04 were issued to general FE colleges on 10 July 2001. While discussions on implementation are continuing with sixth-form colleges, the onus has been on all other colleges to come forward with a brief summary of their pay initiative implementation. LSCs cannot release the money without this and so far less than 10 per cent. of colleges have responded. Detailed arrangements for making payments to individual teachers will be implemented locally by individual colleges.

  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans she has for learner representation on learning and skills councils. [3367]

  Margaret Hodge
  We recognise that to be successful, the Learning and Skills Council must be fully responsive to the needs of learners and potential learners. The LSC's national council and each of the 47 local LSCs include, for example, trade unionists and local authority elected members, who can represent the views and needs of learners.

  In addition, learning partnerships are already charged with ensuring that consultative mechanisms are in place to capture and articulate the views and opinions of young and adult learners, and feed these back to the LSC.

  First degree graduates in specified subjects by class of degree and domicile, 1999–2000, higher education institutions in the UK

  Numbers

  Subject/domicile

  First class honours

  Second class honours

  Third class honours

  Pass1

  Total

  Physical sciences

  Home

  1,553

  9,061

  998

  687

  12,299

  EU

  111

  435

  71

  53

  670

  Overseas

  36

  144

  22

  13

  215

  Total

  1,700

  9,640

  1,091

  753

  13,184

  Mathematical sciences and informatics

  Home

  823

  2,302

  442

  234

  3,801

  EU

  21

  88

  21

  14

  144

  Overseas

  34

  83

  22

  10

  149

  Total

  878

  2,473

  485

  258

  4,094

  Biological sciences

  Home

  1,476

  14,228

  801

  615

  17,120

  EU

  100

  768

  78

  34

  980

  Overseas

  28

  290

  25

  6

  349

  Total

  1,604

  15,286

  904

  655

  18,449

  Engineering and technology

  Home

  1,929

  9,688

  1,148

  1,804

  14,569

  EU

  200

  1,579

  467

  499

  2,745

  Overseas

  632

  2,128

  280

  197

  3,237

  Total

  2,761

  13,395

  1,895

  2,500

  20,551

  1 Pass grades include Ordinary degrees

  Source:

  HESA July Student Records 1996 to 2000
  544W
  The LSC itself is also considering what further mechanisms it needs to put in place at national and local levels to ensure that learners are effectively engaged in the new arrangements, and to advise on people's learning needs and expectations.

  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans she has for greater integration between the Learning and Skills Council and the higher education funding councils; and if she will make a statement. [3366]

  Margaret Hodge
  The Learning and Skills Council and the Higher Education Funding Council for England are already building close co-operation to widen access to higher education and to meet employers' skill needs. The two chief executives meet regularly and attend each other's council meetings as observers. The local arms of the LSC are partners with HEFCE in delivering the excellence challenge which helps able young people in deprived areas enter higher education. In addition, we welcome the contribution of representatives from the higher education sector on the LSC's national council and on 35 of its 47 local councils. The Government will encourage further joint working between the LSC and HEFCE to achieve their shared objectives.

  Graduates
  Mr. Bendel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of graduates for each of the last five years receiving(a) first class honours, (b) ordinary and (c) third class honours degrees in subjects related to (a) physical sciences, (b) mathematical sciences and informatics, (c) biological sciences and (d) engineering and technology were (i) home students, (ii) EU students and (iii) overseas students. [3318]

  Margaret Hodge
  [holding answer 10 July 2001]: The available data are shown in the tables.
  545W

  First degree graduates in specified subjects by class of degree and domicile, 1999–2000, higher education institutions in the UK

  Percentage

  Subject/domicile

  First class honours

  Second class honours

  Third class honours

  Pass1

  Total

  Physical sciences

  Home

  91.4

  94.0

  91.5

  91.2

  93.3

  EU

  6.5

  4.5

  6.5

  7.0

  5.1

  Overseas

  2.1

  1.5

  2.0

  1.7

  1.6

  Total

  100.0

  100.0

  100.0

  100.0

  100.0

  Mathematical sciences and informatics

  Home

  93.7

  93.1

  91.1

  90.7

  92.8

  EU

  2.4

  3.6

  4.3

  5.4

  3.5

  Overseas

  3.9

  3.4

  4.5

  3.9

  3.6

  Total

  100.0

  100.0

  100.0

  100.0

  100.0

  Biological sciences

  Home

  92.0

  93.1

  88.6

  93.9

  92.8

  EU

  6.2

  5.0

  8.6

  5.2

  5.3

  Overseas

  1.7

  1.9

  2.8

  0.9

  1.9

  Total

  100.0

  100.0

  100.0

  100.0

  100.0

  Engineering and technology

  Home

  69.9

  72.3

  60.6

  72.2

  70.9

  EU

  7.2

  11.8

  24.6

  20.0

  13.4

  Overseas

  22.9

  15.9

  14.8

  7.9

  15.8

  Total

  100.0

  100.0

  100.0

  100.0

  100.0

  1 Pass grades include Ordinary degrees

  Source:

  HESA July Student Records 1996 to 2000

  First degree graduates in specified subjects by class of degree and domicile, 1998–99, higher education institutions in the UK

  Numbers

  Subject/domicile

  First class honours

  Second class honours

  Third class honours

  Pass1

  Total

  Physical sciences

  Home

  1,435

  8,979

  1,086

  697

  12,197

  EU

  113

  436

  71

  48

  668

  Overseas

  37

  122

  21

  11

  191

  Total

  1,585

  9,537

  1,178

  756

  13,056

  Mathematical sciences and informatics

  Home

  783

  2,332

  484

  308

  3,907

  EU

  34

  102

  23

  16

  176

  Overseas

  40

  102

  12

  13

  167

  Total

  858

  2,536

  519

  337

  4,250

  Biological sciences

  Home

  1,356

  13,425

  727

  602

  16,110

  EU

  75

  724

  50

  24

  873

  Overseas

  41

  284

  22

  29

  376

  Total

  1,472

  14,433

  799

  655

  17,359

  Engineering and technology

  Home

  1,864

  10,351

  1,293

  1,933

  15,441

  EU

  198

  1,566

  349

  405

  2,518

  Overseas

  814

  2,630

  354

  255

  4,053

  Total

  2,876

  14,547

  1,996

  2,593

  22,012

  1 Pass grades include Ordinary degrees

  Source:

  HESA July Student Records 1996 to 2000

  First degree graduates in specified subjects by class of degree and domicile, 1998–99, higher education institutions in the UK

  Percentage

  Subject/domicile

  First class honours

  Second class honours

  Third class honours

  Pass1

  Total

  Physical sciences

  Home

  90.5

  94.1

  92.2

  92.2

  93.4

  EU

  7.1

  4.6

  6.0

  6.3

  5.1

  Overseas

  2.3

  1.3

  1.8

  1.5

  1.5

  Total

  100.0

  100.0

  100.0

  100.0

  100.0

  546W 547W

  First degree graduates in specified subjects by class of degree and domicile, 1998–99, higher education institutions in the UK

  Percentage

  Subject/domicile

  First class honours

  Second class honours

  Third class honours

  Pass1

  Total

  Mathematical sciences and informatics

  Home

  91.3

  92.0

  93.3

  91.4

  91.9

  EU

  4.1

  4.0

  4.4

  4.7

  4.1

  Overseas

  4.7

  4.0

  2.3

  3.9

  3.9

  Total

  100.0

  100.0

  100.0

  100.0

  100.0

  Biological sciences

  Home

  92.1

  93.0

  91.0

  91.9

  92.8

  EU

  5.1

  5.0

  6.3

  3.7

  5.0

  Overseas

  2.8

  2.0

  2.8

  4.4

  2.2

  Total

  100.0

  100.0

  100.0

  100.0

  100.0

  Engineering and technology

  Home

  64.8

  71.2

  64.8

  74.5

  70.1

  EU

  6.9

  10.8

  17.5

  15.6

  11.4

  Overseas

  28.3

  18.1

  17.7

  9.8

  18.4

  Total

  100.0

  100.0

  100.0

  100.0

  100.0

  1 Pass grades include Ordinary degrees

  Source:

  HESA July Student Records 1996 to 2000

  First degree graduates in specified subjects by class of degree and domicile, 1997–98, higher education institutions in the UK

  Numbers

  Subject/domicile

  First class honours

  Second class honours

  Third class honours

  Pass1

  Total

  Physical sciences

  Home

  1,489

  9,101

  1,143

  689

  12,422

  EU

  97

  439

  64

  57

  657

  Overseas

  40

  141

  20

  16

  217

  Total

  1,626

  9,681

  1,227

  762

  13,296

  Mathematical sciences and informatics

  Home

  779

  2,131

  454

  294

  3,658

  EU

  18

  61

  27

  14

  120

  Overseas

  34

  96

  14

  17

  161

  Total

  831

  2,288

  495

  325

  3,939

  Biological sciences

  Home

  1,383

  12,957

  690

  583

  15,613

  EU

  72

  656

  71

  30

  829

  Overseas

  31

  309

  22

  81

  443

  Total

  1,486

  13,922

  783

  694

  16,885

  Engineering and technology

  Home

  1,805

  10,910

  1,459

  2,156

  16,330

  EU

  140

  1,306

  346

  399

  2,191

  Overseas

  721

  2,655

  394

  280

  4,050

  Total

  2,666

  14,871

  2,199

  2,835

  22,571

  1 Pass grades include Ordinary degrees

  Source:

  HESA July Student Records 1996 to 2000

  First degree graduates in specified subjects by class of degree and domicile, 1997–98, higher education institutions in the UK

  Percentage

  Subject/domicile

  First class honours

  Second class honours

  Third class honours

  Pass1

  Total

  Physical sciences

  Home

  91.6

  94.0

  93.2

  90.4

  93.4

  EU

  6.0

  4.5

  5.2

  7.5

  4.9

  Overseas

  2.5

  1.5

  1.6

  2.1

  1.6

  Total

  100.0

  100.0

  100.0

  100.0

  100.0

  Mathematical sciences and informatics

  Home

  93.7

  93.1

  91.7

  90.5

  92.9

  EU

  2.2

  2.7

  5.5

  4.3

  3.0

  Overseas4.1

  4.1

  4.2

  2.8

  5.2

  4.1

  Total

  100.0

  100.0

  100.0

  100.0

  100.0

  548W 549W

  First degree graduates in specified subjects by class of degree and domicile, 1997–98, higher education institutions in the UK

  Percentage

  Subject/domicile

  First class honours

  Second class honours

  Third class honours

  Pass1

  Total

  Biological sciences

  Home

  93.1

  93.1

  88.1

  84.0

  92.5

  EU

  4.8

  4.7

  9.1

  4.3

  4.9

  Overseas

  2.1

  2.2

  2.8

  11.7

  2.6

  Total

  100.0

  100.0

  100.0

  100.0

  100.0

  Engineering and technology

  Home

  67.7

  73.4

  66.3

  76.0

  72.3

  EU

  5.3

  8.8

  15.7

  14.1

  9.7

  Overseas

  27.0

  17.9

  17.9

  9.9

  17.9

  Total

  100.0

  100.0

  100.0

  100.0

  100.0

  1 Pass grades include Ordinary degrees

  Source:

  HESA July Student Records 1996 to 2000

  First degree graduates in specified subjects by class of degree and domicile, 1996–97,higher education institutions in the UK

  Numbers

  Subject/domicile

  First class honours

  Second class honours

  Third class honours

  Pass1

  Total

  Physical sciences

  Home

  1,376

  9,945

  1,272

  806

  13,399

  EU

  73

  344

  50

  54

  521

  Overseas

  30

  100

  15

  7

  152

  Total

  1,479

  10,389

  1,337

  867

  14,072

  Mathematical sciences and informatics

  Home

  660

  2,080

  473

  296

  3,509

  EU

  19

  45

  10

  8

  82

  Overseas

  22

  59

  23

  10

  114

  Total

  701

  2,184

  506

  314

  3,705

  Biological sciences

  Home

  1,180

  12,044

  631

  644

  14,499

  EU

  39

  434

  40

  16

  529

  Overseas

  31

  244

  22

  39

  336

  Total

  1,250

  12,722

  693

  699

  15,364

  Engineering and technology

  Home

  1,778

  11,553

  1,641

  2,029

  17,001

  EU

  144

  1,186

  282

  357

  1,969

  Overseas

  713

  2,602

  462

  270

  4,047

  Total

  2,635

  15,341

  2,385

  2,656

  23,017

  1 Pass grades include Ordinary degrees

  Source:

  HESA July Student Records 1996 to 2000

  First degree graduates in specified subjects by class of degree and domicile, 1996–97, higher education institutions in the UK

  Percentage

  Subject/domicile

  First class honours

  Second class honours

  Third class honours

  Pass1

  Total

  Physical sciences

  Home

  93.0

  95.7

  95.1

  93.0

  95.2

  EU

  4.9

  3.3

  3.7

  6.2

  3.7

  Overseas

  2.0

  1.0

  1.1

  0.8

  1.1

  Total

  100.0

  100.0

  100.0

  100.0

  100.0

  Mathematical sciences and informatics

  Home

  94.2

  95.2

  93.5

  94.3

  94.7

  EU

  2.7

  2.1

  2.0

  2.5

  2.2

  Overseas

  3.1

  2.7

  4.5

  3.2

  3.1

  Total

  100.0

  100.0

  100.0

  100.0

  100.0

  Biological sciences

  Home

  94.4

  94.7

  91.1

  92.1

  94.4

  EU

  3.1

  3.4

  5.8

  2.3

  3.4

  Overseas

  2.5

  1.9

  3.2

  5.6

  2.2

  Total

  100.0

  100.0

  100.0

  100.0

  100.0

  550W 551W

  First degree graduates in specified subjects by class of degree and domicile, 1996–97, higher education institutions in the UK

  Percentage

  Subject/domicile

  First class honours

  Second class honours

  Third class honours

  Pass1

  Total

  Engineering and technology

  Home

  67.5

  75.3

  68.8

  76.4

  73.9

  EU

  5.5

  7.7

  11.8

  13.4

  8.6

  Overseas

  27.1

  17.0

  19.4

  10.2

  17.6

  Total

  100.0

  100.0

  100.0

  100.0

  100.0

  1 Pass grades include Ordinary degrees

  Source:

  HESA July Student Records 1996 to 2000

  First degree graduates in specified subjects by class of degree and domicile, 1995–96, higher education institutions in the UK

  Numbers

  Subject/domicile

  First class honours

  Second class honours

  Third class honours

  Pass1

  Total

  Physical sciences

  Home

  1,318

  9,617

  1,286

  893

  13,114

  EU

  89

  322

  50

  45

  506

  Overseas

  20

  119

  18

  7

  164

  Total

  1,427

  10,058

  1,354

  945

  13,784

  Mathematical sciences and informatics

  Home

  696

  2,278

  529

  306

  3,809

  EU

  18

  42

  14

  8

  82

  Overseas

  27

  99

  29

  22

  177

  Total

  741

  2,419

  572

  336

  4,068

  Biological sciences

  Home

  1,065

  10,840

  575

  551

  13,031

  EU

  38

  391

  27

  17

  473

  Overseas

  12

  192

  20

  73

  297

  Total

  1,115

  11,423

  622

  641

  13,801

  Engineering and technology

  Home

  1,879

  12,394

  1,741

  2,424

  18,438

  EU

  143

  990

  183

  276

  1,592

  Overseas

  543

  2,074

  404

  259

  3,280

  Total

  2,565

  15,458

  2,328

  2,959

  23,310

  1 Pass grades include Ordinary degrees

  Source:

  HESA July Student Records 1996 to 2000

  First degree graduates in specified subjects by class of degree and domicile, 1995–96, higher education institutions in the UK

  Percentage

  Subject/domicile

  First class honours

  Second class honours

  Third class honours

  Pass1

  Total

  Physical sciences

  Home

  92.4

  95.6

  95.0

  94.5

  95.1

  EU

  6.2

  3.2

  3.7

  4.8

  3.7

  Overseas

  1.4

  1.2

  1.3

  0.7

  1.2

  Total

  100.0

  100.0

  100.0

  100.0

  100.0

  Mathematical sciences and informatics

  Home

  93.9

  94.2

  92.5

  91.1

  93.6

  EU

  2.4

  1.7

  2.4

  2.4

  2.0

  Overseas

  3.6

  4.1

  5.1

  6.5

  4.4

  Total

  100.0

  100.0

  100.0

  100.0

  100.0

  Biological sciences

  Home

  95.5

  94.9

  92.4

  86.0

  94.4

  EU

  3.4

  3.4

  4.3

  2.7

  3.4

  Overseas

  1.1

  1.7

  3.2

  11.4

  2.2

  Total

  100.0

  100.0

  100.0

  100.0

  100.0

  Engineering and technology

  Home

  73.3

  80.2

  74.8

  81.9

  79.1

  EU

  5.6

  6.4

  7.9

  9.3

  6.8

  Overseas

  21.2

  13.4

  17.4

  8.8

  14.1

  Total

  100.0

  100.0

  100.0

  100.0

  100.0

  1 Pass grades include Ordinary degrees

  Source:

  HESA July Student Records 1996 to 2000
  552W

  Trainee Teachers
  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many trainee teachers(a) have been and (b) will he trained through the employment-based training route in each year from 2000–01 to 2004–05. [3368]

  Mr. Timms
  During 2000–01, 1,507 people entered the graduate teacher programme; 91 entered the registered teacher programme and 281 entered the overseas trained teachers scheme.

  The Government do not set targets for the number of people entering the graduate teacher programme, the registered teacher programme or the overseas trained teachers scheme. However, my right hon. Friend the former Secretary of State for Education and Employment announced on 12 March this year an extra 570 places on the graduate teacher programme that will bring the total, in due course, to 2,250 a year.

  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many of the trainee teachers undertaking the employment-based training route are from(a) the United Kingdom, (b) European Union countries and (c) other countries, indicating in each case where appropriate which subjects they are training to teach; and if she will make a statement. [3369]

  Mr. Timms
  Information on the nationality of trainee teachers undertaking the employment-based training routes is not collected centrally.

  University Grants
  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will estimate the level of funding required if university grants had been maintained at their final level in(a) real terms and (b) actual terms for each of the years (i) 1998–99, (ii) 1999–2000, (iii) 2000–01 and (iv) 2001–02. [3317]

  Margaret Hodge
  [holding answer 10 July 2001]: If undergraduates normally resident in England and Wales currently funded under the new student support regulations had been offered a package of grants plus loans for maintenance similar to that available in 1997–98 we estimate the additional cost to the Department over the four years 1998–99 to 2001–02 to be as given in the following table.

  Additional funding required if maintenance grants had been maintained at their 1997–98 level

  million

  In cash

  On a resource basis

  In real terms

  1998–99

  50

  100

  1999–2000

  150

  380

  2000–01

  230

  630

  2001–02

  280

  790

  In cash terms

  1998–99

  50

  100

  1999–2000

  140

  360

  2000–01

  210

  590

  2001–02

  250

  710

  Note:

  These figures assume that contributions towards fees would be unaffected.

  Departmental Title Change Costs
  Mr. Laws
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what her estimate is of the total cost of(a) design, (b) stationery, (c) new name plaques and (d) other costs of the naming of her Department; and if she will make a statement. [3033]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  [holding answer 10 July 2001]: Estimates for the cost of design, stationery, new name plaques and other costs of the naming of the Department for Education and Skills are as follows:

  £

  Design of marque

  14,705

  Stationery

  112,632

  New name plaques

  25,300

  Other costs including Branding guidelines, web development and registration

  23,420

  1 Production and initial stock

  2 18 signs on five HQ sites

  This has been carried out as economically and efficiently as possible. I
  believe that the connection with our customers via the identity is very important. Therefore we have chosen a clear, simple expression of what we do to help the public understand how our work affects them.

  University Staff
  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many academic staff, by university, left positions between 1 January and 30 March, who would have been included in the research assessment exercise submission had they been in post on 31 March; and if she will make a statement. [3316]

  Margaret Hodge
  [holding answer 10 July 2001]: These figures are not available. However, the Higher Education Funding Council for England are analysing the research assessment exercise returns and expect to be able to provide this information by the end of August.

  Student Support
  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what support is available for intercalating students; and if she will make a statement. [3319]

  Margaret Hodge
  [holding answer 10 July 2001]: Under the Education (Student Support) Regulations 2001, full-time students who are absent from their course because of illness are entitled to continue to receive student support for the first 60 days of absence. Before academic year 1998–99 this was only 28 days. Local education authorities have the discretion to decide whether such students should continue to receive support after the first 60 days absence.

  Students who remain ill for more than a period of 28 weeks may become eligible at that stage to receive income support and housing benefit. Local education authorities have the discretion to continue support to sick students waiting to receive income support.
  555W
  LEAs also have a discretion under the Education (Student Support) Regulations 2001 to continue paying student support to students who temporarily suspend their courses for reasons other than illness.

  We have made it clear in our guidance that local education authorities should exercise their discretion sympathetically in considering the cases of intercalation which come to them. Among the factors they must consider in coming to a decision is the possibility of financial hardship.

  Students who temporarily suspend their courses may also receive assistance from the hardship fund at their institution's discretion. The hardship fund allows universities and colleges to provide discretionary support

  GCSE

  GCE A-level

  1996

  1997

  1998

  1999

  2000

  1996

  1997

  1998

  1999

  2000

  (a) Independent schools

  Urdu

  380

  435

  439

  508

  728

  56

  105

  23

  85

  113

  Bengali

  35

  36

  38

  37

  36

  —

  1

  2

  —

  2

  Gujarati

  87

  111

  97

  93

  136

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Hindi

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  3

  6

  4

  1

  —

  Chinese

  1,243

  1,283

  1,203

  1,112

  1,277

  750

  677

  825

  888

  961

  Any modem language

  46,211

  44,501

  42,202

  41,538

  41,876

  9,505

  9,510

  9,310

  9,240

  8,711

  (b) State schools

  Urdu

  5,617

  5,661

  5.525

  5,732

  5,722

  231

  240

  182

  205

  226

  Bengali

  1,939

  2,061

  2,011

  2,056

  1,967

  30

  26

  36

  9

  15

  Gujarati

  1,015

  1,043

  832

  1,009

  1,017

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Hindi

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  14

  3

  3

  3

  —

  Chinese

  493

  574

  546

  596

  593

  59

  72

  87

  107

  133

  Any modern language

  391,440

  388,408

  408,264

  421,523

  425,546

  13,890

  13,687

  13,499

  13,048

  11,825

  Dr. Starkey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many students obtained GCSE and A-level examinations in(a) Urdu, (b) Bengali, (c) Gujerati, (d) Hindi, (e) Mandarin, (f) Cantonese and (g) modern languages in each of the last five years. [1299]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  [pursuant to his reply, 3 July 2001, c. 81W]: The table contained an error. The corrected table is given as follows.

  The number of students of all ages who obtained GCSE and GCE A-level passes in the various languages over the last five years are shown in the table. Figures for Mandarin and Cantonese are not available, data for Chinese as a whole have been provided instead.

  1996

  1997

  1998

  1999

  2000

  GCSE

  (a) Urdu

  6,658

  6,660

  6,370

  6,497

  6,677

  (b) Bengali

  2,116

  2,220

  2,146

  2,152

  2,041

  (c) Gujerati

  1,313

  1,309

  1,026

  1,189

  1,200

  (d) Hindi

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  (e) (f) Chinese

  1,956

  2,048

  1,937

  1,917

  2,028

  (g) All modern languages

  450,244

  444,639

  460,186

  472,010

  476.050

  GCE A-level

  (a) Urdu

  833

  837

  591

  746

  725

  (b) Bengali

  99

  98

  108

  37

  53

  (c) Gujerati

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  (d) Hindi

  31

  19

  13

  8

  —

  (e) (f) Chinese

  972

  887

  1,074

  1,165

  1,225

  (g) All modern languages

  32,937

  32,340

  31,298

  30,224

  27,455

  556W
  for students in particular need; and a total of £87 million has been made available in England for the 2000–01 academic year.

  Modern Languages
  Dr. Starkey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, pursuant to her answer of 3 July 2001,Official Report, column 81W, on modern languages, how many GCSE and A-level passes, in each of the language categories and years, were obtained by students at (a) independent and (b) state schools. [2836]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  The number of GCSE and A-level passes, in each of the language categories and years, obtained by students in(a) independent and (b) state schools are shown in the following table.

  Pay Bands
  Chris Ruane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the pay bands are for(a) school teachers and (h) further education college lecturers. [2994]

  Margaret Hodge
  [holding answer 9 July 2001]: Main scale classroom teachers are paid on a scale from £17,001 to £24,843. We do not collect information on pay bands for further education college lecturers, however, a national review of staffing and pay in further education, undertaken by ORC International, indicates that the mean salary for full-time teachers in FE is £22,769.

  Fosters Field, Sherborne
  Kate Hoey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when she plans to announce a decision on Fosters Field in Sherborne. [3195]

  Mr. Timms
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State expects to announce a decision within the next few weeks.

  Secondary Schools (Hillingdon)
  Mr. Randall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many pupils in the London borough of Hillingdon have not had an offer of a secondary school place for September. [2827]

  Mr. Timms
  My Department does not collect this information. However, my officials have been in touch with Hillingdon local education authority, which has a
  557W
  duty to secure that sufficient primary and secondary schools are available for the children in its area. At present, the authority is in the process of establishing whether parents who have not accepted a place in any of the borough's own schools have accepted a place in a school in a neighbouring borough. The LEA has said that, overall, there are sufficient school places available in the borough for any local child who needs one.

  AS-levels
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many universities have indicated that they will admit students on the basis of AS qualifications alone; and if she will list these universities. [3107]

  Margaret Hodge
  [holding answer 9 July 20011: The requested information is not currently held centrally by the Department.

  Higher education institutions establish their own admissions criteria and supply summary details relating to full-time undergraduate courses to the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). The data that UCAS hold about institutions and courses requiring AS qualifications alone are still subject to verification by the institutions but should be available for release in approximately four weeks time, when they will be placed in the Library.

  Education Maintenance Allowance
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what monitoring has taken place of the pilot areas on EMAs, including the travel EMAs; and what plans she has to extend them to enable more people to continue in further education. [3193]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  The impact of the EMA transport pilots is being thoroughly evaluated as a discrete part of the overall evaluation of the EMA scheme. We will also draw on a mapping study of current LEA transport provision for people in learning, which will be completed in the autumn.

  The evaluation of the EMA scheme is designed to cover a three year period in order to assess the impact on achievement as well as on participation and retention in further education. Initial findings from the first stage of the EMA evaluation are encouraging. We will consider the case for further expansion of the scheme in light of further evaluation and as part of the spending review.

  Medical Degree Courses
  Dr. Gibson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans she has to review the ethnic composition of entrants to medical degree courses. [1733]

  Margaret Hodge
  I shall ask my officials to review with the Higher Education Funding Council for England and the Council of Heads of Medical Schools, the number of applications and acceptances for ethnic minority students in medical schools in England.

  The number of medical school places was increased by 1,100 in 2000 and by a further 1,000 earlier this year. In both cases, when medical schools bid for extra places they were asked to demonstrate an active commitment to the
  558W
  recruitment of students from a broad range of social and ethnic backgrounds, to reflect the patterns of the population that they serve.

  Although higher education institutions are responsible for their own recruitment and admissions procedures, we have said that these should be transparent and based on published criteria so that selection is on the basis of an applicant's ability and potential. I understand that the universities are discussing progress on this issue with the Commission for Racial Equality.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Cheque Shops
  Tony Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations she has received from the Office of Fair Trading about the operating methods of cheque shops; and if she will make a statement. [3062]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  None.

  Tony Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) how many cheque shops(a) are and (b) were in each of the past 10 years licensed in the United Kingdom; [3053]

  (2) how many cheque shop licenses have been withdrawn in each of the past 10 years. [3058]

  Miss Melanie Jonhson
  The Director General of Fair Trading does not hold records in the form specified and this information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Cheques Act
  Tony Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the impact the Cheques Act 1992 has had upon those who do not have a bank account in terms of the price of credit. [3059]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  I have not made any assessment.

  "Extortionate Irresponsible Lending"
  Tony Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the definition of the phrase "extortionate and irresponsible lending" as used by the Office of Fair Trading. [3054]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The Consumer Credit Act 1974 contains provisions on extortionate credit bargains in sections 137–141. There is no equivalent statutory definition of irresponsible lending. However, the Office of Fair Trading issued guidelines earlier this year containing information about the type of practices which might cause it to take regulatory action against consumer credit licence holders.

  Inward Investment
  Mr. Joyce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on levels of inward investment into the UK. [3667]
  559W
  Ms Hewitt
  With my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, I am pleased to inform the House that Invest UK announced in its annual review, published today, that the UK has delivered another year of outstanding inward investment performance.

  For the period between 1 April 2000 and 31 March 2001, the number of direct investment projects by foreign owned companies into the UK reported to Invest UK by its partner agencies in Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the English regional development agencies totalled 869. Based on information provided by the companies at the time of the announcement, it is estimated that these projects will create 71,488 new jobs.

  This performance is proof of global confidence in the UK's economic and business environment. More overseas companies choose to invest here than anywhere else in Europe because the UK is the best place to do business.

  I am arranging for a copy of Invest UK's Annual Review to be placed in the Library of the House.

  Telecommunications Report
  Brian White
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she has received the report by the Director General of Telecommunications for the year 2000, as required under section 55 of the Telecommunications Act 1984. [3704]

  Mr. Alexander
  Yes. The 17th report by the Director General of Telecommunications is being published today. It covers the period 1 January to 31 December 2000. This includes initiatives to encourage the widespread provision of unmetered internet access and other initiatives to promote the interests of consumers and promote a competitive telecoms market. Copies of the report have been laid before each House of Parliament.

ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

  Digital Divide
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what policies she is pursuing to bridge the urban-rural digital divide; and if she will make a statement. [1809]

  Alun Michael
  As set out in the rural White Paper (Chapter 7.5.2–3) it is the Government's policy to stimulate and promote industry investment in higher band width services so that as many people as possible can get faster access to the internet and other information services. Policy on the costs of access and competition in the internet access market are matters for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry. My concern is to ensure that rural areas do not lose out and we have asked the Countryside Agency to monitor the rollout of broadband in rural areas. My colleagues and I will take their assessment into account in developing policy, including consideration of the case for requiring the communications industry to make higher band-width available as part of a universal service obligation.

  Foot and Mouth
  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will extend the farm business advisory scheme to form D farms; and if she will make a statement. [2944]

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 9 July 2001]: The farm business advice service is available to all farm businesses in England, including those subject to form D restrictions. However, in many parts of the country the 2001–02 budget is almost fully committed. Additional funding has been made available to fund delivery of an enhanced form of the farm business advice service to all farmers in England who have had their livestock compulsorily slaughtered under the foot and mouth disease control measures.

  David Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list(a) the numbers of vets and (b) the country from which they came who have been assisting with the foot and mouth crisis from February to date. [2745]

  Mr. Morley
  Foreign veterinary assistance has been provided in two ways. Governments have loaned state veterinarians to the Department. Other foreign veterinary surgeons have also been appointed as temporary veterinary inspectors (TVIs).

  As of 9 July, 492 state veterinarians from the following countries have provided assistance during the foot and mouth disease outbreak:

  Country

  Number

  Australia

  76

  Bulgaria

  10

  Canada

  52

  Cuba

  2

  Denmark

  8

  Finland

  3

  France

  21

  Germany

  2

  Hungary

  19

  Iceland

  1

  Ireland

  18

  Israel

  1

  Italy

  1

  Netherlands

  2

  New Zealand

  25

  Norway

  1

  South Africa

  5

  Sweden

  15

  Switzerland

  5

  USA

  225

  As of 9 July, 386 foreign veterinary surgeons have been appointed as TVIs from abroad and they come from the following countries:

  Country

  Number

  Australia

  109

  Austria

  7

  Belgium

  4

  Canada

  16

  Czech Republic

  1

  Denmark

  4

  Egypt

  1

  France

  7

  Germany

  15

  561W

  Country

  Number

  Greece

  3

  Ireland

  35

  Israel

  1

  Italy

  10

  Namibia

  1

  Netherlands

  7

  New Zealand

  50

  Norway

  1

  Portugal

  1

  South Africa

  57

  Spain

  38

  Sweden

  1

  Zimbabwe

  11

  USA

  6

  These figures do not include those foreign veterinary surgeons supplied by veterinary practices in Great Britain.

  David Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations the tourist industry has made to the Government over its handling of the foot and mouth outbreak. [2572]

  Alun Michael
  The tourist industry is represented on the rural task force by the British Hospitality Association, the British Tourist Authority and the English Tourism Council; ministerial colleagues from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport also attend. Under my chairmanship and, formerly, under that of my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Environment (Mr. Meacher), the task force has frequently discussed the impact of foot and mouth disease on tourism and how Government policies might help mitigate that impact. I and colleagues have also received extensive correspondence and held numerous meetings with representatives of tourism and other industries from the worst-hit areas.

  David Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many jobs have been lost as a result of the foot and mouth outbreak in(a) the agricultural industry and (b) rural businesses. [2570]

  Alun Michael
  It is too early to make a full assessment of the number of jobs lost as a result of the foot and mouth outbreak, and for many businesses the worst impacts are likely to occur over the autumn and winter period. Evidence on labour market impact suggests that broadly foot and mouth disease has slowed the rate at which unemployment is falling, through an effect on both job losses and recruitment. Local survey evidence suggests that the tourism industry in the worst affected areas has suffered a large loss of trade in the past four months, which is likely to have resulted in a fall in the number of seasonal employees in these areas, besides any business failures and permanent jobs lost.

  The Government have introduced a range of measures to help businesses cope with the impact of foot and mouth disease and will continue to assess the scope for further action through the rural task force, chaired by myself.

  David Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans the Government have to protect(a) pedigree and (b) hefted sheep against infection by foot and mouth disease. [2557]
  562W
  Mr. Morley
  The Government are taking every possible action to eradicate the disease and so protect flocks in the future. Also owners of rare breeds of sheep and goats and hefted sheep may apply for exemptions from the cull of contiguous premises, provided they meet certain conditions including meeting high standards of biosecurity and their animals passing serological tests. The industry itself, and all those who work among it, also have a role to play in ensuring maximum biosecurity to stop the spread of the disease.

  David Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list(a) the number and (b) county of origin of vets who returned home from MAFF/DEFRA service and had not been paid before their departure from the United Kingdom. [2746]

  Mr. Morley
  Foreign veterinary assistance has been provided in two ways. Governments have loaned state veterinarians to the Department. Terms and conditions were agreed with the relevant authorities in each country prior to the vets travelling to GB. Their salaries continue to be paid by the authorities in their own country.

  Other foreign vets have also been appointed as temporary veterinary inspectors (TVIs). TVIs are paid a daily rate which is claimed retrospectively. The necessary details to allow payment of moneys due is requested at the time of appointment. Information concerning the timing of payments to individuals in relation to their date of departure from GB is not recorded.

  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the cost of the foot and mouth outbreak has been to date. [1076]

  Mr. Morley
  Our current estimate (as at 9 July) of the direct cost of the of outbreak to the Exchequer is around £2.2 billion. Among other things, this includes cost of disinfection and cleansing as well as compensation for compulsory slaughter of affected livestock.

  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) of the contiguous culls in Worcestershire, how many have occurred around premises believed to be infected with foot and mouth disease, but which subsequently were shown to be negative in laboratory tests; [42]

  (2) how many contiguous culls occurred in Worcestershire after negative laboratory tests for foot and mouth disease relating to the premises believed to be infected. [43]

  Mr. Morley
  Information is available only for Hereford and Worcester. Of 66 infected premises, 43 were tested, of which 30 returned negative laboratory results. These 30 cases remain designated as infected premises and are associated with 119 contiguous premises.

  An infected premises is one where foot and mouth disease has either been diagnosed by a vet on the farm, supported by convincing clinical evidence, or where disease is found after testing. However, a negative laboratory result does not necessarily mean that the disease was not present and does not change the status of infected premises confirmed on clinical diagnosis.

  When figures are available for Worcestershire, they will be forwarded to the hon. Gentleman.

  Cleaning Services Group
  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she will make a decision on the holding of a public inquiry into the explosion at the Cleaning Services Group Ltd., Sandhurst, Gloucester; and if she will make a statement. [2950]

  Mr. Meacher
  [holding answer 9 July 2001]: I fully understand the concerns of local residents about the incident and their calls for a public inquiry. We are considering this issue in the light of the latest progress report into the Environment Agency and Health and Safety Executive's joint investigation of the incidents. An announcement will be made as soon as possible.

  Tigers (Thailand)
  Harry Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations she has received on the risk to tigers in Thailand and the performance of the authorities in that country in enforcing agreements for the survival of the species; what representations Her Majesty's Government have made on this matter; and if he will make a statement. [2724]

  Mr. Meacher
  A copy of the Environment Investigation Agency's (EIA) report "Thailand's Tiger Economy" was sent to my Department in June. Since then we have received no representations on the risk to tigers in Thailand and the performance of the authorities in that country; nor have we made representations on this matter.

  The UK is committed to supporting tiger conservation worldwide but we cannot intervene directly in the protection afforded to them in other countries. However, we do work closely with other countries to promote tiger conservation through our membership of such organisations as the Global Tiger Forum (an Indian-based consortium of tiger range states and others dedicated to promoting the conservation of tigers in the wild) and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). We have contributed over £150,000 to a number of tiger initiatives over the last three years, including £40,000 to help CITES establish a tiger enforcement task force to combat illicit trade in tigers worldwide.

  The UK participated as an observer at a recent meeting in Paris of the CITES standing committee where the EIA's report on Thailand's tigers was made available to the committee.

  Energy Crops
  Mr. Gareth R. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what action she is taking to encourage energy crops. [409]

  Mr. Meacher
  Our energy crops scheme provides grants to encourage planting of short-rotation coppice (SRC) and miscanthus, and setting up SRC producer groups. Early uptake in the scheme depends on the markets created by projects funded under the non-fossil fuels obligation and six projects utilising energy crops have potential to make progress. Just over 230 hectares of energy crops have been planted under the scheme this year and we have two applications for producer group 564W
  funding. We are working closely with industry and others to develop electricity and heat markets and promote uptake. A good example of this is the community renewables initiative announced by the Countryside Agency on 9 July which will stimulate community based partnerships to develop renewable energy, including energy crops, in their localities.

  The Soil Association
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions her Department has had with the Soil Association. [1673]

  Alun Michael
  [holding answer 3 July 2001]: Officials met the director of the Soil Association and senior colleagues on 21 June. The meeting was primarily an opportunity for the Soil Association to brief the Department on recent initiatives and activities. We warmly welcome continuing contacts of this sort.

  Energy Efficiency
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the impact of investment in(a) insulation and other energy efficiency measures in the home and (b) expansion of the gas network on (i) reducing greenhouse gas emissions, (ii) alleviating fuel poverty, (iii) upgrading housing stock and (iv) the creation of jobs. [2300]

  Mr. Meacher
  Government investment in domestic energy efficiency in this year will be around £190 million. In addition this year, local authorities plan to spend about £1.7 billion on capital works to their housing stock, some of which will contribute to improving energy efficiency.

  The Government's climate change programme, published last November, estimated domestic energy savings of between 3.9 and 5.2 million tonnes of carbon per year in 2010.

  It is estimated that the new home energy efficiency scheme, the Government's main programme for tackling fuel poverty in England, will save 0.2 million tonnes of carbon per year and treat a target of 800,000 homes over the period from 2000–04.

  It is also proposed that 50 per cent. of the benefit of the energy efficiency commitment for 2002–05 should be concentrated on a priority group, including the fuel poor.

  A recent report by the Energy Saving Trust, which looked at seven schemes, estimated that for every £1 million of expenditure in energy efficiency, including private investment, between 10 and 58 jobs are directly created.

  The Government are very aware of the potentially valuable contribution which the extension of the gas network could make to tackling all of these issues. It has set up a working group with representatives from Government, Ofgem, the gas industry and consumer bodies to look at the feasibility of extending the gas network where it is viable to do so. This group is not due to report until October and no decisions have yet been taken on investment.

PRIME MINISTER

  Constituency Visits
  Andrew George
  To ask the Prime Minister what plans he has to visit the communities of west Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly in the St. Ives constituency. [1916]

  The Prime Minister
  I have no plans at present to do so.

  Rough Sleepers Unit
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Prime Minister who has ministerial responsibility for the rough sleepers unit. [3267]

  The Prime Minister
  Lord Falconer of Thornton, Minister of State in the Department of Transport, Local Government and the Regions, has responsibility for the rough sleepers unit. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the same Department, my hon. Friend the Member for Northampton, North (Ms Keeble), answers on the subject in this House.

  Champions
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 2 July 2001,Official Report, column 31W, on champions, if he will list the champions. [3268]

  The Prime Minister
  I have nothing further to add to my previous answer.

  Voting Systems
  Mr. Laws
  To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 3 July 2001,Official Report, column 93W, on voting systems, if it is his policy to hold a formal review of the voting systems for the Scottish Parliament, the

  The estimated number of people who would benefit from the abolition of hospital downrating

  Retirement pension

  Incapacity benefit

  Severe disablement allowance

  Estimated numbers benefiting from abolition of 6–52 weeks downrating

  21,100

  7.000

  14,000

  Estimated numbers benefiting from abolition of over 52 weeks downrating

  11,000

  3,000

  10,000

  Total number of beneficiaries

  31,100

  11,000

  25,000

  Notes:

  1. Caseload estimates source: 5 per cent. from the relevant computer systems in 2000.

  2. Numbers rounded to the nearest 1,000.

  3. Numbers may not sum due to rounding.

  Incapacity Benefit
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) on what criteria persons will be(a) selected for triennial screening for Incapacity Benefit, (b) passed for continued receipt and (c) rejected for future claims; [3083]

  (2) what opportunities will be offered for (a) access to work, (b) additional rehabilitation and (c) additional training for those rejected for Incapacity Benefit in triennial screening; [3085]

  (3) what the proposed timetable and arrangements are for (a) consultation and (b) implementation of changes in Incapacity Benefit; [3084]
  566W
  Welsh Assembly, the European Parliament, and the London Assembly within the lifetime of this Parliament; and if he will make a statement. [3063]

  The Prime Minister
  I have nothing further to add to my previous answer.

  Working Peers
  Andrew Mackinlay
  To ask the Prime Minister what his definition is of a working peer. [3145]

  The Prime Minister
  The overriding criterion I apply in recommending Labour working peers is that the individual concerned should be able to make a significant contribution to the work of the House of Lords.

WORK AND PENSIONS

  Pensions Education Campaign
  Mr. Willetts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on what date the report of the quantitative tracking research on the pensions education campaign will be published. [2274]

  Mr. McCartney
  A summary of quantitative tracking research on the pensions education marketing campaign will be placed in the Library later in the summer.

  Hospital Downrating
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to his answer of 5 July 2001,Official Report, column 269W, on hospital downrating, how many people would benefit in each case. [3269]

  Mr. McCartney
  The information is in the table.

  (4) what consultations took place, and on what dates, with disability organisations before the announcement of Government plans for Incapacity Benefit on 4 July; [3089]

  (5) what categories of disabled persons will be exempt from the requirement for triennial screening for Incapacity Benefit; [3086]

  (6) what the cost of triennial screening for Incapacity Benefit will be (a) per individual case and (b) in total annual expenditure. [3087]

  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what consultation he had with groups representing disabled people prior to his announcement of his plans to reform Incapacity Benefit. [3156]
  567W
  Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many Incapacity Benefit reviews were undertaken in each of the last five years; and what is his estimate of the annual additional number of reviews that will be undertaken once his plans for reviews every three years are fully implemented. [3619]

  Mr. Darling
  [holding answer 9 and 10 July 2001]: The Government are committed to ensuring there is full employment and opportunity for all. This means we must extend the necessary help and support to all people of working age who are out of the labour market.

  In the past, many people were moved onto Incapacity Benefit with limited help to make sure that they got the right level of support. There was no help to get people into work, nor any support or rehabilitation. Yet as the Disability Rights Commission has said, one million disabled people say they would like to work. We have a duty to help them to do so.

  From October, the first pathfinder offices of jobcentre plus will open to strengthen the services available to help people back to work. It will be a condition of benefit in these offices that all new IB claimants attend a work focused interview to discuss what options people have around work and inform them of the help available. I can announce today that regulations under the Welfare Reform and Pensions Act 1999 will be laid before both Houses in the autumn. These will include a provision that no one should go more than three years without a review of their circumstances and an interview unless there are good reasons, such as the state of their health. The regulation will set out how these reviews will be implemented. Each case will be looked at on an individual basis: a further work focused interview and/or personal capability assessment will be carried out where appropriate. All new IB claimants will be affected by these changes and will be told they are subject to the regular review, initially in the 50 pathfinder sites but then rolled out nationally.

  At present, cases are looked at again if their medical condition is expected to improve. But some categories of case are exempt from medical testing. The changes I am announcing today do not change these exemptions. However, they will ensure that there is a review at least every three years to make sure people are getting all the help they need.

  I will publish an explanatory memorandum when the regulations are laid which will be placed in the Library of both Houses. We will also discuss with groups representing disabled people the precise administrative arrangements that will underpin the regulations. Operational information will become available when the pathfinder offices open.

  Age Discrimination
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to implement EU Council directive 2000/78/EC of 27 November 2000 on age discrimination; and if he will make a statement. [184]

  Alan Johnson
  I have been asked to reply.
  568W
  The Government intend, in line with the European employment directive (2000/78/EC), to introduce legislation to outlaw age discrimination in employment and training and will start public consultations later this year.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

  Special Advisers
  Mr. Blunt
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the budget for special advisers' salaries was in Government Departments in(a) 1996–97 and (b) 2001–02. [1876]

  Mr. Leslie
  The estimated pay bill for special advisers for 2001–02 is £4.4 million. The pay bill for special advisers in 1996–97 was £1.8 million.

  Online Services
  Mr McWalter
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the contribution of the e-envoy to the delivery of Government services online. [1879]

  Mrs. Roche
  The Government are committed to getting services online by 2005 to ensure that the country, its citizens and its businesses derive maximum benefit from the knowledge economy. The e-envoy makes a valuable contribution towards this commitment, among others, through ensuring that the momentum in meeting it is maintained by working with Departments on developing their e-business plans.

  Mr Challen
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what targets he has set for the delivery of Government services online. [1894]

  Mrs. Roche
  The Prime Minister has set a target that 100 per cent. of Government services to the citizen and business should be available electronically, and in a customer-focused form, by 2005.

  Major achievements have been made towards the overall aim of delivering 100 per cent. of Government services electronically by 2005.

  These include:
  42 per cent. of Government services are e-enabled now (73 per cent. by 2002 and 100 per cent. by 2005);
  the creation of the ukonline citizen portal and the Government Gateway.

  Brian White
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what progress has been made on reaching the targets for electronic delivery of Government services. [1896]

  Mrs. Roche
  Major progress has been made towards the overall aim of delivering 100 per cent. of Government services electronically by 2005.

  These include:
  42 per cent. of Government services are e-enabled now (moving to 73 per cent. by 2002 and 100 per cent. by 2005);
  the creation of the ukonline citizen portal and the Government Gateway.

  Social Exclusion (Brent)
  Mr Gardiner
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the impact of Government policies in combating social exclusion in Brent. [1880]
  569W
  Mrs. Roche
  Brent is benefiting from a variety of Government initiatives to tackle social exclusion including New Deal for Communities funding of £50 million over 10 years, a Neighbourhood Renewal Fund allocation of more than £5 million over the next three years, a Sure Start programme in central Brent since 2000, and another shortly in south Kilburn.

  Information and Communication Service
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the work of the Government Information and Communication Service. [1881]

  Mr. Leslie
  The Government Information and Communication Service is a network of communication specialists working in Departments and agencies. Their role, as outlined in the guidance on the work of the GIS, is to ensure that the policies and actions of the Government of the day are fully explained and presented.

  Rough Sleepers
  Linda Perham
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of progress on the rough sleepers strategy following the social exclusion unit report on this issue. [1882]

  Mrs. Roche
  In 1998, there were approximately 1,850 people rough sleeping in England. In June 2000, published figures indicated that approximately 1,180 people were sleeping rough. This represents a 36 per cent. reduction. The Rough Sleepers Unit will publish updated figures in due course in relation to counts carried out this year.

  UK Online
  Mr Allan
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the progress of the UK Online project. [1883]

  Mr. Leslie
  UK Online strategy is the Government's comprehensive programme for success in the information age, delivered in partnership with other central Government Departments, local government, agencies, and the private and voluntary sectors.

  The strategy was published as part of the e-Minister and e-envoy's first Annual Report. It set out a range of recommendations for action across the e-agenda.

  The e-envoy and the e-Minister report monthly to the Prime Minister on progress towards meeting the UK Online strategy.

  Important elements of the UK Online strategy include the ukonline.gov.uk, the Citizen's Portal, the Government Gateway, which deliver round the clock, customer-focused government services, and UK online for business, which offers expert advice to SMEs on how best to take advantage of the benefits of e-commerce.

  Cabinet Office Delivery Unit
  Mr Brazier
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the studies being carried out by the Cabinet Office delivery unit. [1884]
  570W
  Mr. Leslie
  The unit has been set up to help ensure the Government achieve our key objectives in the areas of health, education, law and order and transport. It is currently establishing its future work programme.

  Mr. Laws
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister which Minister is responsible for the Policy Delivery Unit based in the Cabinet Office; and if he will make a statement. [1631]

  Mr. Leslie
  The Delivery Unit, led by Michael Barber, reports to the Prime Minister under the day-to-day supervision of Lord Macdonald. It will help ensure that the Government achieves key objectives in the areas of health, education, law and order and transport, so that their ambitious programme of public service reform is translated into real improvements on the ground.

  Business Regulation
  Mr Lloyd
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans he has for reviewing the impact of regulation on business and employees. [1885]

  Mr. Leslie
  Since 1997, the Better Regulation Task Force has reviewed the impact of regulations in a number of areas ranging from farming to e-commerce, and will continue to do so.

  In addition, our manifesto for business contains a commitment to require Departments and agencies to review the impact and working of major pieces of regulation within three years of implementation. We are currently considering the best way to take this commitment forward.

  Government Departments (Regions)
  Mr Pickthall
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans he has to move Government Departments out of London to the regions. [1886]

  Mrs. Roche
  The re are no such plans.

  Individual Departments and agencies are free to make their own decisions about location and facilities on the basis of operational requirements and value for money.

  Regional Government
  Dr Spink
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he expects to publish a White Paper on regional government in England. [1887]

  Mrs. Roche
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister on 2 July 2001,Official Report, column 80W.

  Best Value
  Mr Miller
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what steps he is taking to improve Best Value criteria in respect of public services that have a cross-departmental impact. [1888]

  Mrs. Roche
  The Government have been consistent in promoting a cross-departmental approach to improving public services across the whole of the public sector. Increasingly, Government Departments are working together to improve services with overall needs of citizens at the forefront of their thinking. The Chancellor of the Exchequer announced on 25 June 2001 a new series of
  571W
  cross-cutting reviews, building on the initiatives addressed in the previous spending round, and local service delivery has received particular attention. Best Value performance plans will set out how local authorities will approach joined-up community planning. Local strategic partnerships continue to be a key contribution to crosscutting delivery. The extension of Local Public Service Agreements will provide further opportunities for improving services.

  Public Service Delivery
  Dr Cable
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how the roles of the Cabinet Office in ensuring that public expenditure delivers effective public services complement that of the Treasury. [1889]

  Mr. Leslie
  The Cabinet Office has no separate rules which govern our involvement in monitoring delivery of public services. The Chancellor of the Exchequer chairs the Committee on Public Services and Public Expenditure (PSX) which has overall responsibility for monitoring delivery. The Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister for the Cabinet Office are members of that Committee and my officials work closely with Treasury officials to support and inform the Committee's considerations.

  Public-Private Sector Exchanges
  Mr Kidney
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how the scheme for interchange between civil servants and private sector workers will operate in the next four years. [1890]

  Mr. Leslie
  The Interchange Steering Council met on 18 January 2001. The Council endorsed the Interchange Unit's strategy: to promote interchange with the private sector as well as the wider public sector and the voluntary sector; to further develop the Departmental Interchange Managers Network; to address barriers to Interchange, and to monitor and evaluate the impact on both individuals and organisations. It was also suggested that the Unit do more to develop Interchange regionally and sectorally. It is intended that this approach will be followed over the next four years.

  Regulatory Reform
  Dr Naysmith
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what further regulatory reform he plans to introduce following the implementation of the Regulatory Reform Act 2001. [1891]

  Mr. Leslie
  A proposal for relaxing licensing laws for this coming New Year's Eve was laid before Parliament for scrutiny on 28 June.

  During the passage of the Regulatory Reform Bill through Parliament, the Government placed in the Library of the House a list of 51 proposals that could be implemented using the power contained in the Act. I expect to see many of these brought forward over the coming months and to see more proposals being added to the list.

  Consultation on all of these proposals under section 5 of the 2001 Act has recently ended, with the exception of that for Voluntary Aided (VA) schools in England which ends in August.
  572W
  A further five proposals from the list of 51 are currently being prepared for consultation.

  Further information on potential Orders made under the Act can be found on the Cabinet Office website at: www.cabinet-office.gov.uk/regulation/act/examples.htm.

  Devolution
  Mr Cousins
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on his responsibilities with respect to regional devolution. [1892]

  Mrs. Roche
  The Prime Minister has asked my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister to be responsible for a White Paper on Regional Governance, in close liaison with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions and in co-operation with other Cabinet colleagues. My right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister is also responsible for the Regional Co-ordination Unit and has overall responsibility for the Government Office network.

  Programme Delivery
  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what proposals he has to review the co-ordination and delivery of Government and EU programmes in areas of high social and economic disadvantage. [1893]

  Ms Keeble
  I have been asked to reply.

  I refer my hon. Friend to the final paragraph of my answer of 4 July 2001, Official Report, column 314W.

  Climate Change
  David Taylor
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he next expects to discuss further development on climate change negotiations with the US Administration. [1895]

  Mrs. Roche
  Ministers keep in close touch with the US and will be discussing further developments on climate change again at the sixth meeting of the Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on climate change (COP6).

  Mr. Damian Green
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) what responsibility he has for developing the UK's climate change strategy; [820]

  (2) what plans he has to visit international conferences relating to climate change in the next 12 months; [803]

  (3) when he next intends to meet the French Environment Minister for discussions on climate change. [821]

  The Deputy Prime Minister
  I will continue to play a role in international climate change discussions and negotiations on behalf of the Prime Minster.

  Websites
  Mr Evans
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what action is being taken to ensure Government Departments better utilise websites. [1897]
  573W
  Mrs. Roche
  The Office of the e-Envoy has taken a number of steps to improve the use of departmental websites:

  We have established an infrastructure:
  The UK online portal (ukonline.gov.uk) provides the public with in-depth access to UK Government information and services on-line
  The Government Gateway will enable users to make secure electronic transactions.

  We have published a range of supporting guidance, including:
  The Government Interoperability Framework, which reflects best practice and adopts Internet and World Wide Web standards
  The Government Metadata Framework, to help citizens find our services and information without having to know which Department is directly responsible for it; and
  Guidelines for UK Government websites, which advise best practice in order to achieve government's aims for online services.

  Women's Unit
  Michael Fabricant
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on his responsibilities for overseeing the work of the Cabinet Office women's unit. [1898]

  Mr. Leslie
  The Deputy Prime Minister does not oversee the work of the Women's Unit. The work of the Women's Unit is overseen by Baroness Morgan and the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, who reports directly to the Prime Minster on women's and equality issues.

  Ministerial Replies
  Mr. Blizzard
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what mechanism exists for ensuring that replies are sent to members of the public who write to Ministers. [1877]

  Mr. Leslie
  All Departments have standards in place setting the maximum time it should take to answer correspondence from the public. Performance against these standards is monitored and the results published.

  Departmental Responsibilities
  Mr. Lansley
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) if he will list the Government agencies and units for which he is responsible; and if he will make a statement; [768]

  (2) if he will list the responsibilities of each Minister in his Department; and if he will make a statement. [767]

  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) if he will set out his Department's responsibilities; [1933]

  (2) what plans he has to increase the number of units run from within his Department. [1940]

  The Deputy Prime Minister
  I head a new office of the Deputy Prime Minister in the Cabinet Office. I am supported by a Minister of State, my hon. Friend the Member for Hornsey and Wood Green (Mrs. Roche), by a Parliamentary Secretary, my hon Friend the Member for Shipley (Mr. Leslie) and by Lord Macdonald of Tradeston 574W
  CBE and Baroness Morgan of Huyton for business in the House of Lords. As First Secretary of State I will continue to deputise for the Prime Minister as required, drawing on the resources of other parts of the Cabinet Office as necessary. I will oversee the work of the Social Exclusion Unit, which reports to the Prime Minister through me. I am also responsible for the Regional Co-ordination Unit and the nine Government offices of the Regions.

  On international matters I will support the Prime Minister by seeing visiting dignitaries; undertaking overseas visits; and overseeing the work of the International Public Service Unit. I also carry ministerial responsibility for the British-Irish Council and will deputise as necessary for the Prime Minister at meetings of the Council. I will continue to play a role in international climate change discussions and negotiations on behalf of the Prime Minister. In addition, I will chair new Cabinet Committees on Domestic Affairs and on Nations and the Regions; and new sub-Committees on Social Exclusion and Regeneration and on Energy Policy. I will continue to chair the Committee on the Environment.

  The Minister of State in the Deputy Prime Minister's Office supports me across the full range of my duties. She will, in particular, oversee the work of the Regional Co-ordination Unit and the Government Offices in the Regions, reporting to me on the development of their role and on the work of the regional network of the COI. She will lead on projects arising out of the work of the Social Exclusion Unit, be responsible for the work of the Business Co-ordination Unit, and will be sponsor Minister for a number of PIU projects. She will also be a member of a number of Cabinet Committees, including those on the regions and social exclusion.

  The Parliamentary Secretary will support the Minister of State and me across the range of our duties. He will also support Lord Macdonald and will be the Minister answerable in the Commons for day-to-day decisions on the Civil Service under the Prime Minister as Minister for the Civil Service.

  Baroness Morgan of Huyton, Deputy Minister for Women, will report to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry as the Cabinet Minister for Women on: the day-to-day oversight of the Women and Equality Unit and sponsorship of the Women's National Commission. She will co-ordinate equality issues across Whitehall as Chair of a new Cabinet Sub-Committee on Equality. She will also have responsibility for implementation of Article 13 (reporting to the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry) and cross-cutting equality issues (on behalf of the three lead equality Ministers).

  The right hon. Lord Macdonald of Tradeston CBE, as Minister for the Cabinet Office and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster reports direct to the Prime Minister. He has day-to-day responsibility for the work of the Delivery Unit, which supports the Prime Minister on matters to do with the delivery of public services. He will work closely with me as appropriate on related cross-cutting issues covered by the Cabinet Committees under my chairmanship. He is also responsible for the work of the Regulatory Impact Unit; and the e-envoy's unit's work on e-government. He will chair the Panel on Regulatory Accountability and will jointly chair a new

  575W
  Ministerial Group on the Manchester Commonwealth Games with the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport.

  The Secretary of the Cabinet and Head of the Home Civil Service, Sir Richard Wilson, Will continue to report direct to the Prime Minister on the work of the Cabinet and Cabinet Committee Secretariats; the Joint Intelligence Committee and the Single Intelligence Vote for which he is the Accounting Officer; and the corporate management of the Civil Service (including the Government Information and Communication Service); the honours system; the Performance and Innovation Unit, which reports through him to the Prime Minister and which will provide support to the new Forward Strategy Unit in Number 10; and the new Office of Public Services Reform which will similarly report through him to the Prime Minister.

  Public Service Agreements
  Mr. Laws
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what his Department's responsibilities are in relation to(a) setting and monitoring the public service agreements of Government Departments and (b) holding each Department to account; and if he will make a statement. [1630]

  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on his Department's responsibilities in respect of the monitoring of the performance of Departments against targets set out in public service agreements. [1937]

  The Deputy Prime Minister
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 3 July 2001,Official Report, column 95W.

  Performance and Innovation Unit
  Llew Smith
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list those seconded to the Cabinet Office Performance and Innovation Unit to work on the current study of renewable energy, indicating in each case their qualifications. [1768]

  Mr. Leslie
  There are seven secondees and two external advisers working in the Performance and Innovation Unit on the current study of resource productivity and renewable energy.

  The Performance and Innovation Unit undertakes a wide search to select the most suitably qualified secondees for its projects and while it is current government practice not to disclose information on individual qualifications, details of those seconded to this particular project are on the Performance and Innovation Unit website.

  They are:

  Civil Service Secondees
  Catriona Laing—Department for International Development
  Ian Coates—Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions

  576W
  Private and Voluntary Sector or Academic Secondees
  Samantha Armstrong—Environmental Resources Management (ERM)
  Nick Eyre—Energy Saving Trust
  Robert Gross—Imperial College Centre for Energy Policy and Technology
  Dr. Catherine Mitchell—Warwick Business School
  William Nickerson—Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge

  External Advisers
  Professor Jake Chapman—Professor of Energy Systems at the Open University
  Ian Christie—Associate Director with the consultancy Local Futures Group.

  Social Exclusion Unit
  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what his assessment is of the impact to date of the Social Exclusion Unit; and if he will make a statement. [2131]

  The Deputy Prime Minister
  The Social Exclusion Unit was set up by the Prime Minister to provide solutions to specific social exclusion problems. It has completed reports on reducing truancy and school exclusions, cutting teenage pregnancy rates, reducing numbers of rough sleepers and of 16 to 18-year-olds not in training, work or education, as well as co-ordinating the work of 18 Policy Action Teams and developing the National Strategy for Neighbourhood Renewal.

  The initial review of the unit in 1999 found the quality of its reports to be exceptional and its working practices to be a strength. There is now concrete evidence that the implementation of the unit's policies is making a significant impact on the ground.

  Examples include falling rates of permanent exclusion from school (down by nearly a third in 1999–2000 compared with 1996–97) and reduced numbers sleeping rough (down by more than a third since 1998). 1999 teenage pregnancy rates for under-16s and under-18s dropped on the previous year (down 7 per cent. and 4 per cent. respectively). Fewer teenage parents were out of training, learning or work last year compared with the previous four. And the 10 to 20 year strategy for England's poorest neighbourhoods is now being implemented by the new Neighbourhood Renewal Unit.

  The unit is currently working on four projects—on reducing rates of reoffending among ex-prisoners, on young runaways, on improving the educational attainment of children in care, and on transport and social exclusion.

  Regional Co-ordination Unit
  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the purpose of the Regional Co-ordination Unit. [1433]

  The Deputy Prime Minister
  The Regional Co-ordination Unit's Action Plan published in October 2000 identified four key areas where the Government needed to take a new approach to developing and implementing regional policy: better co-ordination of area-based initiatives; involvement of Government offices more directly in policy-making; making the Government
  577W
  offices the key representatives of Government in the regions; and establishing the Regional Co-ordination Unit as the unified head office for the Government offices.

  The Regional Co-ordination Unit is taking forward action in these four areas in liaison with the Government offices and Government Departments.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Legal Services Ombudsman
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when she will publish the annual report of the Legal Services Ombudsman for 2000–01. [3805]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  The Legal Services Ombudsman has today published her 10th annual report and copies have been placed in the Libraries of the Houses.

  1911 Decennial Census
  Mr. John Taylor
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many hon. Members have made representations to the Lord Chancellor this year to use his powers to open the 1911 Decennial Census records in 2002; and what the Lord Chancellor's response has been. [2826]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  This year, the Lord Chancellor has received no letters from hon. Members concerning the 1911 Decennial Census records.

TREASURY

  Private Finance Initiative
  Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 4 July 2001,Official Report, column 169W, to my hon. Friend the Member for Yeovil (Mr. Laws), on the private finance initiative, if he will place a copy of the National Audit Office study concerning the private finance initiative in the Library. [3419]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  I am sorry that my written answer of 4 July to the hon. Member for Yeovil (Mr. Laws) contained an inadvertent error. I mistakenly referred to a NAO report on PFI and value for money, when the information concerned was in fact set out in references to NAO value-for-money studies in the Arthur Andersen report that looked at value for money drivers in the private finance initiative. This report was published in January 2000.

  The Arthur Andersen report referred to all 11 reports on specific UK PEI projects that the NAO had produced by the end of 1999. Seven of these NAO reports judged the projects value for money against a public sector comparator (PSC). Three of the 11 projects did not have a PSC: in two cases, they pre-dated the relevant Treasury guidance on the preparation of PSCs; in the third case, the inception of the project pre-dated the Treasury guidance, and no formal PSC was prepared but an internal value for money appraisal was undertaken. One report was not a NAO value-for-money study, so did not examine the PSC.
  578W
  Analysis of the seven NAO reports that did compare costs against a PSC showed an average PFI cost saving of 20 per cent.

  Crown Estate Commissioners
  Mr. Swayne
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assistance the Crown Estate Commissioners have afforded to Ipswich borough council in their appeal to the High Court in respect of their right to levy mooring charges. [1867]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  While the Crown Estate has, at the council's request, provided some historic information about its own mooring charges, it has afforded no assistance, financial or otherwise, to the council in the preparation of its case to the Court of Appeal. The Crown Estate has, however, sought leave to intervene in the hearing in its own right, given its legitimate interest in the matters of principle raised by the case.

  Mr. Swayne
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what expenditure the Crown Estate Commissioners have incurred in each of the last 10 years in maintenance of the Lymington river bed and foreshore. [1868]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  The Crown Estate owns the foreshore and bed of the tidal stretch of the river, but has no statutory duty to maintain it and no expenditure has been committed. Maintenance of the river bed and foreshore is the responsibility of the Lymington harbour commissioners, who manage the river as a small trust port in accordance with the Lymington Pier and Harbour Order 1951. The Crown has assisted the harbour commissioners in fulfilling their duties, by granting the commissioners a lease of the foreshore and bed of the river.

  Child Poverty
  Ms Buck
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the impact on the numbers of children in poverty in(a) lone parent families and (b) couples with children, resulting from an increase in the threshold level of income at which Working Families Tax Credit starts to be withdrawn to (i)£120, (ii) £150 and (iii) £200. [1563]

  Dawn Primarolo
  It is not possible to measure accurately the impact on child poverty of individual changes to the tax and benefit system. The margins of error surrounding these estimates are too large. Taken as a whole, the personal tax and benefit measures introduced over the last Parliament will have lifted over 1.2 million children out of relative poverty.

  Working Families Tax Credit (Threshold)
  Ms Buck
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the cost of increasing the threshold level of income at which Working Families Tax Credit starts to be withdrawn to(a) £120, (b) £150 and (c) £200. [1561]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The estimated annual costs are(a) £0.7 billion, (b) £1.3 billion and (c) £2.5 billion.

  Household Income
  Ms Buck
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the impact on the incomes of(a) lone parent families and (b) couples with children in each income decile, resulting from an increase in the threshold

  579W
  level of income at which Working Families Tax Credit starts to be withdrawn to (a) £120, (b) £150 and (c) £200. [1562]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The estimated percentage increases in income are shown in the following table. Each row of the table covers families in households in the decile group defined by the ranking of all households by equivalised net income before housing costs. The percentage increases shown are of the total net income of all families of that type and in that decile group.

  Percentage

  Lone parents Income threshold raised to:

  Couples with children Income threshold raised to:

  Equivalised income decile group of households

  (a) £120

  (b) £150

  (c) £200

  (a) £120

  (b) £150

  (c) £200

  Bottom

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  1

  2

  0

  0

  0

  2

  4

  6

  3

  1

  1

  1

  3

  7

  13

  4

  2

  3

  4

  2

  5

  11

  5

  3

  6

  9

  0

  1

  4

  6

  3

  6

  11

  0

  0

  1

  7

  2

  4

  8

  0

  0

  0

  8

  1

  2

  4

  0

  0

  0

  9 and top

  0

  1

  1

  0

  0

  0

  Notes:

  The estimates are based on the 1999–2000 Family Resources Survey with incomes projected forward to 2001–02. The decile groups are of all households ranked by net income before housing costs (including WFTC with the current threshold of £92.90) equivalised using the McClements scale. The percentage increases are of net family incomes (not equivalised). The sample sizes are too small to yield reliable separate estimates for lone parents in the top two decile groups.

  EU Budget
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the oral statement of the Economic Secretary of 3 July 2001,Official Report, column 229, regarding the net contributions of the UK, France and Italy to the EU Budget, if he will make a statement on the net contributions of (a) the UK, (b) France and (c) Italy to the EU Budget in (i) 1999, (ii) 2000 and (iii) 2001 and the projected net contributions in each case to 2006. [2961]
  580W
  Ruth Kelly
  The United Kingdom's net contribution to the EC Budget in 1999 was 5.3 billion euro. The net contributions of France and Italy in 1999 were 1.2 billion euro and 1.8 billion euro respectively. Equivalent figures in respect of 2000 are not yet available. These will be available in November this year, when the European Court of Auditors publishes its annual report.

  As the level of EC spending in any particular year is dependent on the annual budget-setting process, the Government do not forecast the contribution of other member states on an annual basis and comparable estimates are not therefore available for each of the years 2001–06. However, based on 1999 prices, the spending ceilings and the new system of own resources agreed at the Berlin European Council in March 1999 and the Berlin assumption of an enlargement taking in six new member states, it is estimated that the net contribution of France in 2006 will be around 5 per cent. of the EC Budget and that of Italy around 4 per cent. Based on the same assumptions, the United Kingdom's net contribution in 2006 would be around 5 per cent. of the EC Budget. In 1999, the United Kingdom's share was 6.41 per cent. compared with France (1.41 per cent.) and Italy (2.12 per cent.).

  Windfall Levy
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much income his Department has received from the windfall levy. [3212]

  Mr. Boateng
  The windfall tax on the privatised utility companies raised £5.2 billion.

  VAT
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent representations he has received on the VAT threshold for small businesses. [3205]

  Mr. Boateng
  Representations are made regularly about the level of the VAT registration threshold. In 1998, Customs carried out a consultation exercise to seek the views of business and their representative bodies on the effects and level of the VAT registration threshold.

  Legal Services Commission: Funding Criteria
  Legal Services Commission: Funding Criteria
  Legal Services Ombudsman's Annual Report
  Legal Services Ombudsman's Annual Report
  Asylum Appeals: Transfer to Appellate Authority
  Asylum Appeals: Transfer to Appellate Authority
  Slopping Out in Prisons
  Slopping Out in Prisons
  Foot and Mouth Disease
  Foot and Mouth Disease
  Peaches: EU Marketing Standards
  Peaches: EU Marketing Standards
  Clinical Negligence System: Reform
  Clinical Negligence System: Reform
  Diabetes as Cause of Death
  Diabetes as Cause of Death
  Motorway Service Station Standards
  Motorway Service Station Standards
  Rail Fare Comparisons
  Rail Fare Comparisons
  Electronic Delivery of Government Services
  Electronic Delivery of Government Services
  Broadband in the UK
  Broadband in the UK
  Regional Governance: White Paper
  Regional Governance: White Paper
  Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration
  Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration
  Education and Youth Council, 28 May
  Education and Youth Council, 28 May