Written Answers of 17 July 2001

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

  National Museums and Galleries
  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much public funding has been allocated to each of the national museums and galleries to facilitate the introduction of free admission where this does not already apply(a) in the current year, (b) in 2002–03 and (c) in 2003–04. [2691]

  Tessa Jowell
  [holding answer 9 July 2001]: The amount of public funding allocated to each national museum and gallery to facilitate free admission is listed in the following table:

  £ million

  2001–02

  2002–03

  2003–04

  National Museum of Science and Industry1

  3.2

  6.5

  6.6

  Natural History Museum

  3.4

  6.7

  6.8

  Victoria and Albert Museum

  1.1

  2.6

  2.7

  National Maritime Museum

  1.7

  2.7

  2.8

  Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester

  0.4

  0.7

  0.8

  Museum of London

  0.4

  1.1

  1.2

  National Museums and Galleries on Merseyside

  1.4

  1.9

  2.4

  Royal Armouries

  0.4

  0.8

  0.9

  Imperial War Museum

  1.5

  4.5

  4.6

  Tate St. Ives

  0.2

  0.5

  0.5

  Totals

  13.7

  28.0

  29.3

  1Including the National Coal Mining Museum for England

  Tourism
  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans she has to make further funds available for the marketing of Britain as a tourist destination. [120]

  Mr. Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what additional funding for marketing she expects to provide to the British Tourist Authority in response to the foot and mouth disease crisis. [189]

  Tessa Jowell
  [holding answer 25 June 2001]: As in other sectors of the economy, businesses themselves take the lead in marketing their services to overseas markets. We as a Government back those efforts only where they need special co-ordination. In this case the Government have pledged additional funding of £14.2 million, supplemented by £2.1 million re-deployed by the British Tourist Authority from existing plans. This provides in full what was sought by the British Tourist Authority, after full consultation with the industry, for the whole of 2001.
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  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions she has had with the European Investment Bank regarding assistance for tourism businesses affected by foot and mouth disease. [135]

  Tessa Jowell
  [holding answer 25 June 2001]: I have had no discussions with the European Investment Bank. However, Government Ministers have discussed the problems of business affected by the outbreak with the British Bankers Association. The association has undertaken to help businesses by providing extra lending, deferring repayments, waiving arrangement fees and providing information and advice.

  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when she was first informed about deduction of VAT from the money paid to the British Tourist Authority as part of the tourism recovery plan; and if she will make a statement. [3852]

  Tessa Jowell
  [holding answer 13 July 2001]: The British Tourist Authority brought to my Department's attention on 24 May that, under their long-standing agreement with Customs and Excise, VAT would need to be payable for goods and services paid for with the additional funds allocated for the authority's recovery plan. We are assessing the implications of this with BTA, and the recovery plan is going ahead as planned.

  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what proposals she has to encourage domestic tourism in England. [2435]

  Dr. Howells
  [holding answer 16 July 2001]: Building on "Tomorrow's Tourism", the sound strategy for tourism that we developed in our previous term of office, we will also consider giving greater emphasis to three areas: (a) changing the perception of the industry as an employer through further Government-industry partnerships; (b) continuing to drive for better and less regulation so that the industry can concentrate on growth and increasing our international competitiveness; and (c) examining whether the marketing of Britain as a tourism destination could be more efficiently co-ordinated.

  The recent foot and mouth disease outbreak has highlighted the importance of tourism to the domestic economy and we will do what we can to ensure a speedy and sustained recovery. In addition to taking forward strategy, experience so far has shown that we clearly need better and more up-to-date statistics and economic data for the sector and we will need to work with the industry to that end.

  British Museum
  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many British Museum staff have been made redundant, dismissed, or taken early retirement over the past 12 months; at what costs; and with what period of notice in each case. [90]

  Tessa Jowell
  [holding answer 25 June 2001]: During the 12 months from 1 June 2000:

  a) There were no redundancies.

  b) One member of staff was dismissed on 5 October 2000. He was given five weeks' notice, but did not work the notice period. The total cost for five weeks' salary was £2,227.

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  c) Six staff were retired early and two members of staff took voluntary early retirement. The costs were met from the Principal Civil Service Pension Fund, not from the Museum's budget.

  d) The total cost of payments made by the British Museum during the period to staff who had been given notice before 1 June 2000, including out of court settlements, is £368,021.

  BBC
  Ms Shipley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what representations she has received about(a) the BBC's application for new children's channels and (b)network digital radio channels. [3709]

  Dr. Howells
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has received a range of representations on all the BBC's proposals for new digital television and radio services including the children's channels and network digital radio channels, both supporting and opposing the application. Those who have commented include broadcasters, production companies, regulatory bodies, platform providers, and organisations representing listeners and viewers.

  Ms Shipley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how she monitors the actions of the BBC in providing a distinctive schedule of benchmark quality programmes on all its services. [3708]

  Dr. Howells
  This is a matter for the BBC Board of Governors, who review and publish their objectives in the BBC Annual Report.

  Drug Testing
  Mr. Gareth R. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport who represented her Department at the meeting of the first international drug testing seminar on Wednesday 4 July; and if she will make a statement. [3733]

  Mr. Caborn
  Only 4 July, the Medicines Control Agency held a public seminar on the issue of sports supplements. The Director of the Anti-Doping Unit at UK Sport, and the Chair of the Nandrolone Review Group, which was set up by UK Sport, both attended that seminar. UK Sport is the non-departmental public body funded by the Department for Culture Media and Sport with responsibility for the drug testing programme in the UK.

  The Nandrolone Review committee reported in January 2000 and gave a strong warning to sport about the potential dangers of using supplements which may be incorrectly or inadequately labelled. Since then, considerable research has been undertaken on supplements, both in the UK and abroad, to see whether they can be responsible for producing adverse findings among athletes. Doping remains a strict liability offence in sport in order to protect athletes from those who do seek to cheat by misusing drugs. This means that athletes must be confident that what they are putting into their bodies will not lead to an adverse finding. The Nandrolone Review Group will be considering research findings in further depth and are due to produce a follow up report shortly.

  Mr. Gareth R. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many full-time equivalent staff have been employed to test for drug usage per sport in Britain in each of the last five years. [3732]
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  Mr. Caborn
  Drug testing arrangements are organised on a UK rather than British basis to provide a consistent standard across all UK sportsmen and women subject to this type of testing. UK Sport is currently the agency with responsibility for the drug testing policy and programme and they employ 12 staff to oversee the testing operation, policy, education, information, research and international advocacy roles. UK Sport also contracts a team of 85 independent sampling officers to carry out sampling. This figure will rise and fall depending on need. For example, it will increase when international competitions are held in the UK, as next year when we host the Commonwealth Games.

  Prior to the reorganisation of the GB Sports Council in UK Sport in 1997, five full-time officers, and a considerable number of part-time independent sampling officers were employed in the fight against doping in sport. It is also the case that a number of governing bodies of sport employ staff, on a full, or part-time or voluntary basis in the anti-doping field. To calculate the number of staff on a per sport basis would be extremely difficult as there are currently no centrally held statistics which would accurately reflect the individual arrangements of all governing bodies. Also, calculation on a per sport basis would not provide an accurate reflection of the complexity of anti-doping procedures in the UK.

  Mr. Gareth R. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many drugs tests were conducted per sport(a) in Britain and (b) outside Britain on British sportspeople in each of the last five years. [3731]

  Mr. Caborn
  Drug testing arrangements are organised on a UK rather than British basis to provide a consistent standard across all UK sportsmen and women subject to this type of testing. UK Sport is currently the agency with responsibility for the drug testing policy and programme. The complexities of the drug testing programme are such that it is not possible to break down figures in the way which my hon. Friend has requested. For example, footballers playing in the football league in England and Wales might not be British but may be subject to testing as they are participating in a domestic competition. Also, UK Sport does not have records of all UK athletes tested overseas unless they have commissioned the testing themselves. Where UK athletes are tested overseas at the request of the International Federation or as part of the host nation's testing programme, this information is relayed to individual governing bodies, not to the national anti-doping organisation of the athlete.

  A summary of the UK drugs testing programme for each of the last five years is as follows:

  Total number of samples

  Number of findings

  1995–96

  4,327

  89

  1996–97

  4,469

  90

  1997–98

  4,574

  79

  1998–99

  5,147

  76

  1999–2000

  6,141

  119

  A full breakdown by sport is available in UK Sport's Anti-Doping Programme Annual Reports. I will arrange

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  for copies of these for each of the past five years to be placed in both Libraries of the House, and for copies to he sent to my hon. Friend directly.

  Formula One
  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent discussions she has had with the motor racing industry about the future of Formula One racing facilities; and if she will make a statement. [3851]

  Tessa Jowell
  [holding answer 13 July 2001]: My right hon. Friend the Minister for Sport has met representatives of the industry.

  Digital Radio
  Mrs. Brinton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans she has to encourage the introduction of commercial digital radio. [3745]

  Dr. Howells
  [holding answer 13 July 2001]: The Broadcasting Act 1996 established a framework of legislation which has encouraged the take up of digital radio. There are currently two national radio digital multiplexes and 28 local digital radio multiplexes with more to come. These are already carrying 135 stations (including 50 broadcasting simulcast on an analogue licence). In London there are currently 17 stations broadcasting, with a further 11 more to come by the end of the year.

  We expect to conduct a review of progress made in digital radio in 2003, by which time we shall have a much clearer idea of where digital radio development is placed.

  I welcome industry plans to produce cheaper digital radio sets.

  Voluntary Sports Clubs
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) what measures her Department is taking to encourage the work of voluntary sports clubs; [4042]

  (2) what recent representations she has received on taxation of voluntary sports clubs; and if she will make a statement. [4041]

  Mr. Caborn
  Since my appointment, the Department has received a number of representations concerning the current taxation treatment of voluntary sports clubs. Following the announcement from my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer in the Budget of plans to consult on the best way for tax relief to help community amateur sports clubs, I am now working closely with Treasury colleagues and the sports organisations, including Sport England, The Central Council for Physical Recreation and The National Playing Fields Association, on the shape of a possible relief. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will publish a consultation paper later this year which will invite comments on the proposed relief and I have asked that copies be forwarded on to all those who have previously written to the Department on this issue.

  Millennium Dome
  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what has been the total amount spent on the dome by the Millennium Commission and NMEC Ltd. since 31 December 2000; and what is the estimated total for the end of the current financial year. [3648]

  Dr. Howells
  [holding answer 16 July 2001]: There has been no direct spend by the Millennium Commission on the Millennium Dome since 31 December 2000. Grant is made to the New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) who have incurred a spend of around £7.5 million for the period of 1 January to 30 June 2001. This sum falls within the £628 million allocated by the Millennium Commission.

  Responsibility for the dome passed to English Partnerships on 1 July 2001.

  IT Contracts
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will list the information technology contracts in excess of £500,000 let by her Department or its predecessor since April 1991, giving in each case the original estimated cost and original estimated completion date, the actual cost and actual completion date and the names of the contractors involved and consultants retained by her Department. [3494]

  Tessa Jowell
  The Department for Culture, Media and Sport's predecessor, the Department for National Heritage, was established in April 1992 so information can be provided only from that date. My Department has let only one information technology contract in excess of £500,000. This is the ongoing contract for outsourced IT support and services let to Sema, now SchlumbergerSema, in May 1993 which is worth about £1 million per annum.

  Gambling Review Body
  Jeff Ennis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when she will publish the report of the Gambling Review Body. [4980]

  Tessa Jowell
  I am today laying copies of the report before Parliament. It is being published as a Command Paper, and the full text will be available on my Department's website (www. culture. gov.uk).

  I am very grateful to Sir Alan Budd and his fellow members of the Review Body for their work. They have done a fine job. They were given a wide and challenging remit: to modernise the regulation of gambling in Great Britain, taking account of all relevant factors, including its social impact. Their report, based on extensive evidence and research, provides a thorough analysis of the issues and a coherent package of proposals. We are all in their debt.

  All around the world legislators have grappled with the problem of how best to regulate gambling. There is no single solution which is right for all times and for all places. Gambling itself is continually evolving. Our present gambling laws were, for example, enacted before the internet was created and they make no provision for its use as a gambling medium. Regulation equally needs to take account of changing social circumstances and public expectations. There is no doubt that our current

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  laws, as well as being too complex and out of date, fail to reflect the extent to which gambling has become an everyday part of the way in which millions of people choose to spend their leisure.

  The Gambling Review Body has identified a number of proposals which would lift regulatory constraints which may no longer be justified. At the same time there are proposals which would provide additional safeguards which the Review Body sees as needed to achieve the overall policy aims of protecting children and the vulnerable, ensuring fairness to the punter and keeping crime out of gambling. The report accordingly recommends a new balance of regulation in the public interest. It is also clear from the report that we are looking at the scope for improving a system with many strengths: through its own and its regulators' efforts British gambling is among the world leaders.

  We now plan to discuss with interested bodies the issues which implementation of the Review Body's recommendations would raise. We shall also welcome comments from members of the public and all sources: these should be sent to my Department by the end of October. I shall want to take these consultation and comments into account before reaching final decisions on the way ahead. I shall also want to consider carefully the potential impact of the Review Body's proposals on the National Lottery before deciding how to proceed.

  In the meantime there is no reason to halt all work on changes which are consistent with the Review Body's conclusions and which can be taken forward without cutting across future legislation. We shall, for example, continue to work on plans to sell the Tote to racing and to end the horserace betting levy; and there are also regulatory reform proposals which are already subject to public consultation or parliamentary scrutiny. We need to consider them again in the light of the Review Body's work, but where progress can sensibly be made which will bring early benefits to the public and the industry alike, it should be made.

TRANSPORT, LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND THE REGIONS

  Departmental Contracts
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will list the contracts awarded to W. S. Atkins, Buro-Happold and Kvaerner by his Department and its predecessor, agencies and non-departmental public bodies from May 1999 to the latest date for which information is available. [3241]

  Dr. Whitehead
  Details of contracts awarded to W. S. Atkins, Buro-Happold, and Kvaerner by the former Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions, its agencies and non-departmental public bodies from May 1999 to the current date are listed:

  1999–2000

  W. S. ATKINS

  DETR (C)
  IT support and ECommerce
  Advice on working environment issues
  Aspects of noise impacts
  Regional airspace co-ordination study
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  Research management support
  Co-ordination of regional air services studies
  Assistance with investigation of drinking water quality incidents 1999–2000 and audit of water companies
  Feasibility report on relocation of Audit Commission
  A50 Stoke to Derby (PPP/PFI)
  A30/A35 Exeter to Bere Regis (PPP/PFI)
  Scientific research management support
  Agencies and Non Departmental Public Bodies
  Countryside Agency
  Planning support
  Review of recreation strategies
  Local heritage initiative marketing survey
  DSA
  IS strategy project management
  DVLA
  Training needs analysis
  Evaluation of project management
  Support for project assurance unit
  Environment Agency
  Engineering consultancy (feasibility design and supervision of flood defence work)
  Environmental consultancy and flood plain mapping and modelling
  Health and Safety Executive
  Safety Assessment of Carmarthen Bus Station
  Review of the applicability of Large Eddy Simulation Techniques to Safety Studies
  Effects of Secondary Containment on Source Term Modelling
  Updating and Support of Pooltire6
  Scientific Support—Explosives In Demolition
  Structural Risk Study
  Thermal Radiation Criteria for Vulnerable Populations
  Scientific Support—Crashworthniess Project
  Fire Risk Assessment for Workplaces Containing Flammable Substances
  Preparation of Maps for Use by NII
  Rovie Level Crossing Review
  Survey of Characteristics of People Working with Chemicals and the Companies They Work For
  ACE Model, Code Development
  Methodology for On-Site Ignition Probability
  System Reliability Updating Using Results from Underwater Joint Inspections
  Ladbroke Grove Accident Investigation
  Ladbroke Grove: Vehicle Storage Costs
  Presentation of Information on Momentum Releases
  Assessment of AGR Concrete Pressure Vessel Behaviour in Loss of Cooling Fault Conditions
  Dense Gas Dispersion Studies Using the MLFP Method with HSE Software
  IRR 99 Training
  Assessment of Railtrack's response to two Improvement Notices issued as a result of a accident at Ladbroke Grove on 5 October 1999
  OFGEM's inquiry to HSE dated 12 October 1999
  Investigation of a Gas Explosion at lark Hall, Hamilton Topographical Survey at Lark Hall, Hamilton
  Risk and Safety Implications—Geotechnical Characterisation and Analysis
  Nuclear Reactors (Environmental impact assessment for decomissioning) Regulations 1999 (EIAD) 1999

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  Highways Agency
  Area 18 Design Commission
  M25 CCTV Enhancement (Areas 3/4/5)
  A23 Coulsdon Relief Road Employers Agent
  R and D Advisory Service 99/02 for Pavement Engineering Group
  Specialist Traffic Transportation and Economic Advice
  NAD Execution of Steel Structures—Bridges
  Managing Integration
  Trial Application and Sample Survey in Respect of Draft Fatigue Assessment Requirements
  Abnormal Indivisible Loads Notification—System Trial Management of NMCS2 Specification
  Framework Agreement Research Service Contract—Pavement Engineering
  Review of Highway Drainage Maintenance Practice—Phase 2
  South East England Development Agency
  Heat and power study

  BURO-HAPPOLD
  DETR (C)
  Constructing a prototype cardboard building
  Agencies and Non Departmental Public Bodies
  English Partnerships
  Multi modal interchange
  South East England Development Agency
  Framework study

  KVAERNER
  DETR(C)
  Dartford river crossing (PPP/PFI)
  Birmingham northern relief road (PPP/PFI)
  M1-A1 link road (PPP/PFI)
  Agencies and Non Departmental Public Bodies
  Highways Agency
  Yorkshire Driver Information System

  2000–01

  W.S. ATKINS
  DETR (C)
  Additional aspects of noise impacts
  Health and Safety
  Assistance with investigation of drinking water quality incidents 2000–01 and audit of water companies
  Review of drinking water quality aspects of serviceability relating to infrastructure and non-infrastructure assets
  Groundwater protection code for petrol stations
  Responding to water consultation documents
  Environmental impact of metals—review of nickel in the UK
  GMOs for the bioremediation of organic and inorganic pollutants
  Provision of scientific and technical advice
  Technical support standards and assessment Branch of the Air and Environmental Quality Division
  Agencies and Non Departmental Public Bodies
  Countryside Agency
  Chilterns integrated access research contract
  Health and Safety Executive
  Rough Weather Rescue
  Gas Releases from Buildings—Enhancement to GRAB-T
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  Source Terms Modelling of Releases Within Building Complexes
  Specialist Support to Risk Assessment and Probablistic Aspects of Ind. Intro of Probablistic Structural
  Reliability Based Land Pipeline Design
  Peer Review of MSDU Land Use Planning Methodology
  Specification for a Study into Sources of Variability and Uncertainty in Probablistic Safety Assessments
  Graphics of Larkhall Explosion Site
  Fire Compartmentation in Chemical Warehouses
  New Information Leaflet—Asbestos Based Gasket Alternatives Software (PAN) Support
  Inspection of Waulkmill Reservoir
  Comparisons of Safety Levels Implicit in Structural Codes
  Carmarthen Bus Station—Appeal against Improvement Notice
  Decommissioning and removal of the concrete gravity structures in the UKCS
  Specification to Study Performance Indicators for Use in Nuclear Facilities
  PIPIN Revision to Provide NT4 Compatibility and Additional Datasets
  Provision of Maps with LUP Zones
  Review of Railtracks Maintenance Strategy for the Forth Bridge
  International Common Cause Failure Data Exchange
  Development of Methodology to Assess Pipeline Safety Cases
  Accident Investigation, Linfield Street, Dundee Gas Explosion
  Phase 2, Accident Investigation, Linfield Street, Dundee Gas Explosion
  Development of the ACDC Database
  Level 3 Guidance Update
  General Management of the Technical Support Framework Agreement
  Ad Hoc Support
  Assessing Investigations into Signals Passed at Danger (SPADS)
  Research on the effect of HSE campaigns and their effects on rooflights and nets
  Advanced Fluid Loading Models
  Assessment of Railtracks's response to two improvement notices
  Conference on Risk in Civil Engineering
  PCPV Structural Integrity: Prolonged Natural Circulation/Loss of PVCS Fault Condition: Phase 1
  HSE intranet database for Offshore Division HF support
  Performance Indicators for Fixed Structures
  Characteristics of extended survival in the North Sea
  Fall of Stanchion A10, Project Arrow
  Highways Agency
  Area 16 Design Commission
  M62 New Junction 8 and J8–9 Widening
  A47 Thorney Bypass
  Framework Agreement for Structural Bearings Advice
  Framework Agreement Advice on Steel and Composite Bridges
  Framework Agreement for SLVR Consultancy
  Environment Research and Development Framework Arrangements
  Tactical Traffic Control—Alternative Vehicle Detectors (for Elevated Motorways and 5/6 Lane Motorways)
  Health and Safety Assessment of HA's offices
  Scheme Forecast Monitoring/Post Implementation Evaluation

  85W
  Consultancy Framework for TSE 2000–03
  Implementation of Eurocodes
  Foresight Vehicle Probe-IT (collaboration agreement)

  BURO-HAPPOLD
  DETR (C)
  Facilitating the benefits of technological innovation
  Capturing how to construct a timber gridshell safely
  Capture and analysis if vibration data from an unfinished laboratory floor
  Agencies and Non Departmental Public Bodies
  South East England Development Agency
  Eastbridge master plan

  KVAERNER
  DETR (C)
  Nil
  Agencies and Non Departmental Public Bodies
  Highways Agency
  M1/M45 Northamptonshire Control Office Area NMCS (Design and Build)

  2001-to date

  W.S. ATKINS
  DETR (C)
  Nil
  Agencies and Non Departmental Public Bodies
  Health and Safety Executive
  Sources of Variability and Uncertainty in Nuclear Reactor PSAs
  Assistance with NSD Emergency Arrangements
  Forth Bridge TG2
  Case-by-case support on Nuclear Reactors (Env. Impact Assessment for Decommissioning) Regs 1999
  Assessment of layout of Buchanan Bus Station, Glasgow
  International Common Cause Failure Data Exchange
  Assessment of railway industry SPAD investigations
  Tay wastewater project: assessment of ground conditions
  Expert Report on the security of temporary traffic signs and sign frames
  ACE Model Development
  Highways Agency
  Maintaining Agency Contracts: Area 6 (Hertfordshire, Essex, Cambridgeshire, Suffolk and Norfolk)

  BURO-HAPPOLD
  DETR (C)
  Nil
  Agencies and Non Departmental Public Bodies
  South East England Development Agency
  Boiler shop disposals
  Sector works

  KVAERNER
  DETR (C)
  Nil
  Agencies and Non Departmental Public Bodies
  Nil.

  Lorries
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions on what date the impounding of trucks running without O licences will be implemented by the Vehicle Inspectorate. [3463]
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  Mr. Spellar
  The Transport Act 2000 gave the Government powers to make regulations which would enable the Vehicle Inspectorate to detain the vehicles of unlicensed goods vehicle operators. I intend to lay these regulations before this House shortly. Subject to the approval of the House, we aim to bring the regulations into effect in October 2001.

  Mr. Syms
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when he intends to introduce HGV lanes on strategic routes; and at what locations he has trialed such schemes. [R][3548]

  Mr. Jamieson
  We have not yet identified any locations on the strategic network where designated lanes would improve the flow of traffic for HGVs.

  Air Traffic Control
  John McDonnell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what mechanism will be used to allocate the 5 per cent. stake in NATS to staff under the Government's proposals for the part-privatisation of the National Air Traffic Service. [3698]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The Government, in conjunction with the Airline Group and NATS staff representatives are working together on the precise detail of the employee share scheme. In broad terms, the shares will be allocated via an Employee Share Ownership Plan, to be approved by the Inland Revenue, which will be administered by a new subsidiary of NATS called NATS Employee Sharetrust Limited. The directors of this new company will be appointed by the Government, the Airline Group and the NATS trade unions. A fundamental principle of the scheme will be that all employees, regardless of grade or length of service will have the same entitlement to shares from this scheme.

  John McDonnell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what meetings(a) Ministers and (b) officials have held in the last month with representatives of the airline consortium which is purchasing NATS. [3696]

  Mr. Jamieson
  Ministers held a number of meetings with bidders for the National Air Traffic Services public-private partnership, including the Airline Group, as part of the bidding process. No meetings between Ministers and the Airline Group have taken place since the preferred bidder was selected.

  Officials meet regularly with representatives of the Airline Group as part of the preparations for putting the PPP in place.

  Ministerial Travel
  Bob Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when he last travelled on the London Underground in the course of his official duties. [3678]

  Mr. Jamieson
  Ministers travel by public transport on a regular basis in the course of their official duties and under the Ministerial Code are required to always make efficient and cost-effective travel arrangements.
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  Since being appointed as a Minister for the Department, I have used the London Underground on several occasions in connection with my duties.

  Harry Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what directions he has given to London Underground Limited and London Transport regarding future arrangements for the London Underground; what decisions by those organisations have been taken following discussions with Government representatives which complied with agreements reached at those discussions; and if he will make a statement. [4724]

  Mr. Byers
  No directions have been given to either London Underground or London Transport regarding future arrangements for the Underground.

  I have today written to Mr. Kiley, informing him that his appointment as chairman and member of London Regional Transport is terminated forthwith.

  Mr. Kiley was appointed chairman of London Regional Transport on 8 May to lead negotiations on contracts for the modernisation of London Underground. On 29 June, he wrote to the Prime Minister reporting that he had been unable to reach agreement with the bidders which met his objectives and the key criteria for modernising the Tube. In the light of Mr. Kiley's inability to reach an agreement with the bidders, the Government asked London Underground to proceed with their plans for improving and updating the Tube's infrastructure within parameters acceptable to them and the bidders.

  When the Government decided on 5 July that London Underground should be invited to press ahead with their plans for investment in a publicly-run, privately-built Tube, we hoped that Mr. Kiley would continue to be able to play a fully co-operative role. This has not been the case. Mr. Kiley has tried to use his board position to block negotiations with the bidders. He has, without authority from the board, issued instructions to senior management to halt those negotiations.

  I have today received a letter signed on behalf of a majority of the London Transport Board saying they cannot work with Mr. Kiley and thus it is impossible for the London Transport Board to function effectively. I have therefore decided to end Mr. Kiley's appointment as chairman and as a board member and to re-appoint Sir Malcolm Bates as chairman of the London Transport Board.

  Integrated Transport
  Mr. Syms
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on progress towards better integration between railway stations and(a) cars, (b) buses, (c) taxis and (d) bicycles. [3552]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The Government are committed to delivering long-term improvements for the travelling public, and recognise that an important aspect of doing so is to ensure better integration between modes of transport.

  We have seen a number of new and improved rail interchanges opened since 1997 including—Warwick Parkway, Clitheroe Interchange, Canning Town Transport Interchange, North Greenwich Station, Stratford Regional Station, Feltham Gateway and Tottenham Hale Station.
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  There is also a new London Underground Interchange at Canada Water and a number of new bus interchanges, notably St. Paul's Bus Station, Walsall.

  The Safe Routes to Stations project, on which the Department is collaborating with Sustrans, Railtrack and other bodies, is progressing well. It will open up new opportunities for people to access rail and bus stations by bicycle and on foot, and demonstrate the advantages of combining public transport with cycling and walking. Work has already been carried out at a number of locations around the country, including Peterborough, Norwich, Tiverton Parkway, March in Cambridgeshire, Temple Meads in Bristol, Waterloo in London and a cycle/pedestrian access bridge linking Bodmin with Bodmin Parkway station.

  Last December we gave full or provisional approval to three major local transport schemes, the Allerton Interchange in Merseyside, and the Outer Circle bus showcase and Wolverhampton Centre Access in the West Midlands, which each include better interchanges between rail and public transport.

  Authorities have also included a range of smaller-scale interchange improvements in their local transport plans. The exact choice of measures will be for authorities to determine, but we will be monitoring closely the implementation of local transport plans—including progress on interchange facilities—through an annual progress report system. The first reports are due to be submitted by local authorities at the end of August 2001.

  We expect to see further progress towards integration between modes as a result of the increased investment under the 10-Year Plan.

  Rail Freight
  Mr. Syms
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on his plans to upgrade rail freight routes to major ports. [3553]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The amount of freight moved by rail has grown steadily over the period of this Government. Our 10-Year Plan for transport reinforces our commitment to ensure that that growth continues.

  We have established the Strategic Rail Authority to implement detailed plans for rail freight. The SRA published its Freight Strategy in May. This includes plans for delivering a major programme of improvements to rail links to major ports.

  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what assessment he has made of the potential for switching imports of fruit and vegetables from road to rail; and if he will make a statement. [4290]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The import of fruit and vegetables represents a significant opportunity for rail. The SRA's Freight Strategy, published in May, discusses a number of actions aimed at realising the potential of this market and at facilitating the establishment of sustainable international services through the Channel Tunnel.
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  Park-and-ride Schemes
  Mr. Syms
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what progress has been made in the last 12 months with introducing park-and-ride schemes in towns. [3459]

  Ms Keeble
  Last December as part of the Local Transport Capital settlement for 2001–02 we gave full or provisional approval to a number of major local transport schemes, including the Allerton Interchange in Merseyside, Somerset's North West Taunton Package, Plymouth's Northern Corridor improvement, South Bradford's and Salisbury's integrated transport packages, each of which contains park-and-ride as an element of the proposals.

  Authorities have also included a wide range of smaller-scale measures in their local transport plans (LTPs), including park-and-ride schemes. The exact choice of measures will be for authorities to determine, but the capital settlement should enable authorities to start work on as many as 120 new and extended park-and-ride facilities over the five-year LTP period. We will be monitoring closely the implementation of LTPs—including park-and-ride schemes—through an annual progress report system. The first reports are due to be submitted at the end of August 2001.

  Roads
  Mr. Syms
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how much of the trunk road network has been given a lower noise surface in the past 12 months; and when he intends that(a) 10 per cent., (b) 25 per cent., (c) 50 per cent. and (d) 60 per cent. of the trunk road network will have received such a service. [3549]

  Mr. Jamieson
  Over 3 per cent. of the network received a lower noise surface during the last year. A target has been set in Transport 2010, the 10-year Plan, for 60 per cent. of the trunk road network to have lower noise surfacing by March 2011, including all concrete surfaces. A detailed 10 year programme is not available, but approximately 6 per cent. of the network is expected to be treated annually. On this basis 10 per cent. would be achieved by 2002, 25 per cent. by 2005, 50 per cent. by 2009 and 60 per cent. by 2011.

  Mr. Syms
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will list each of the roads in the Highways Agency Targeted Programme of Improvements indicating in each case(a) when work is likely to commence and (b) when the road is likely to be opened. [R][3550]

  Mr. Jamieson
  Contracts have been let and in most cases work has begun on the following 14 schemes in the Government's Targeted Programme of Improvements (TPI) to the trunk road network. The planned completion date is as shown:

  Planned completion

  A1 Willburn-Denwick Improvement

  Winter 2002

  A6 Clapham Bypass

  Spring 2003

  A6 Great Glen Bypass

  Winter 2002

  A11 Roundham Heath-Attleborough Dualling

  Spring 2003

  A27 Polegate Bypass

  Summer 2002

  A41 Aston Clinton Bypass

  Summer 2003

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  Planned completion

  A43 Whitfield Turn-Brackley Hatch Improvement

  Summer 2002

  A43 Silverstone Bypass

  Summer 2002

  A43 M40-B4031 Dualling

  Summer 2002

  A63 Selby Bypass

  Winter 2003

  A66 Stainburn and Great Clifton Bypass

  Winter 2002

  A500 Basford, Hough, Shavington Bypass

  Summer 2003

  A650 Bingley Relief Road

  Winter 2003

  A1033 Hedon Road Improvement, Hull

  Summer 2003

  The following contracts are still to be let in the years stated. The precise timing of the start of work will be a matter for the contractor:

  2001–02

  A5 Nesscliffe Bypass

  A6 Rothwell-Desborough Bypass

  A6 Rushden and Higham Ferrers Bypass

  A10 Wadesmill-Colliers End Bypass

  A21 Lamberhurst Bypass

  A46 Newmark-Lincoln Improvement

  A120 Stansted Braintree

  2002–03

  A6 Alvaston

  M25 J 12–15 Widening

  A1(M) Ferrybridge to Hook Moor

  A1(M) Wetherby to Walshford

  2003–04

  A249 Iwade-Queensborough Improvement

  M60 J 5–8(formerly M63 J6–9 Widening).

  Start dates for construction of the remaining schemes in the TPI cannot yet be set as they are still subject to the completion of the remaining statutory procedures. Those schemes are:

  A2 Bean-Cobham Widening Phase 1

  A2 Bean-Cobham Widening Phase 2

  A11 Fiveways to Thetford Improvement

  A11 Attleborough Bypass Improvement

  A34 Chieveley/M4 J 13 Improvement

  A2 A2/A282 Dartford Improvement

  A5 Weeford-Fazeley Improvement

  A14 Rookery Crossroads Grade Separated Junction

  A47 Thorney Bypass

  A63 Melton Grade Separated Junction

  A74 Carlisle-Guardsmill upgrading to motorway

  A303 Stonehenge

  A421 Great Barford Bypass

  A500 City Road/Stoke Road.

  Eight schemes were added to the TPI on 28 March 2001. Two schemes, A3 Hindhead Improvement and A30 Bodmin—Indian Queens Improvement, are subject to statutory procedures. For the remaining six schemes the next stage is under review:

  M62 Junction 6 Improvement

  A1 Peterborough-Blyth Grade Separated Junctions

  A14 Haughley New Street—Stowmarket Improvement

  A38 Dobwalls Bypass

  A46 Newmark—Widmerpool Improvement

  A595 Parton—Lillyhall Improvement.

  East Thames River Crossing
  Mr. Syms
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans he has to construct new East Thames river crossings for(a) road and (b) rail;and what the timetable for construction is in each case. [3540]

  Mr. Jamieson
  None. Proposals for new East Thames river crossings are now a matter for the Mayor of London. The crossings are discussed in his Transport Strategy published on 10 July. Copies of the Strategy are available in the Library.

  Multi-model Transport Studies
  Mr. Syms
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when he expects to make a decision on the findings of the(a) West Midlands to North West, (b) North/South movements in East Midlands,(c) London to South West and South Wales, (d) London orbitals, (e) South East Manchester, (f) West Midlands areas, (g) Tyneside areas, (h) access to Hastings, (i) Cambridge to Huntingdon and (j) A453 M1-Nottingham multi-modal studies. [R][3462]

  Mr. Jamieson
  Each study is expected to report to the relevant Regional Planning Body as follows:

  Multi-modal study

  Date expected to report

  (a) West Midlands to North West

  Autumn 2001

  (b) North/South Movements in East Midlands

  Early 2002

  (c) London to South West and South Wales

  April 2002

  (d) London Orbital

  April 2002

  (e) South East Manchester

  September 2001

  (f) West Midlands Area

  September 2001

  (g) Tyneside Area

  February 2002

  (h) Access to Hastings

  Reported December 2000

  Decision announced 12 July 2001

  (i) Cambridge to Huntingdon

  July 2001

  (j) A453 M1—Nottingham

  Early 2002

  Regional Planning Bodies will consider these reports and make recommendations to the Secretary of State in due course.

  In regard to the Access to Hastings Multi-Modal Study decision, I refer to the answers given on 12 July 2001, Official Report, columns 635–37.

  Rail Safety
  Mr. Viggers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many fatalities there were per million passenger miles on the railways in each of the last 10 years; what the projected costs of current plans to improve safety are; and what percentage increase in safety is planned to result from them. [3838]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The Health and Safety Executive's Railway Inspectorate, publish fatality and injury rates to passengers in their Annual Report on Railway Safety, copies of which are placed in both House Libraries. The information is compiled per billion passenger rail miles. Fatality rates per billion passengers miles for each of the last ten years are reproduced in the following table.
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  Fatality rate passengers—all railways 1990 to 1999–2000

  Year

  Train incidents per billion passenger miles

  Movement incidents per billion passenger miles

  Non-movement incidents per billion passenger journeys

  1990

  0

  1.43

  1.29

  1991–92

  0.08

  1.16

  0.63

  1992–93

  0

  0.68

  1.29

  1993–94

  0

  0.62

  1.30

  1994–95

  0.14

  0.55

  1.26

  1995–96

  0.04

  0.29

  1.23

  1996–97

  0.04

  0.48

  1.79

  1997–98

  0.24

  0.51

  2.24

  1998–99

  0

  0.56

  1.60

  1999–00

  0.90

  0.43

  2.01

  Key to table headings:

  "Train Incidents" include: collisions, derailments, trains running into obstructions, fires on board trains and missile damage to train windows;
  "Movement Incidents" are injuries caused by the movement of the train excluding train incidents e.g. a passenger falling off a platform and struck by a train; and
  "Non-movement Incidents" are injuries not caused by trains, e.g. A passenger slipping on the station platform.

  Figures for 2000–01 are still being compiled.

  All aspects of railway industry activity have potential safety impacts. These safety impacts are not always separately identified in the business planning process. Therefore, the projected cost of current industry plans to improve safety cannot be estimated.

  In the 1999–2000 Railway Group Safety Plan, the railway industry set itself a target to halve the annual number of accidental equivalent fatalities by 2009. (In calculating an 'equivalent fatality' 10 major injuries equate to one fatality and 200 minor injuries equate to one fatality.

  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what representations he has(a) made to and (b) received from Railtrack about the continued enforcement of speed restrictions; and when he estimates all restrictions will be lifted. [4649]

  Mr. Spellar
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State wrote to the Railtrack chairman last month expressing concern about the continued enforcement of speed restrictions on the national rail network and pressing for a firm timetable for reducing further the number outstanding, without in any way compromising safety. Railtrack will respond substantively once it has reached agreement with the train operating companies on the best balance between early removal of the restrictions and additional disruption to services that the necessary engineering work might cause.

  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what representations he has(a) made to and (b) received from each of the train operating companies about the continued enforcement of speed restrictions; and if he will make a statement. [4650]

  Mr. Spellar
  Ministers have met representatives of the train operating companies on several occasions and discussed, among other issues, the continued enforcement
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  of temporary speed restrictions, and the steps that Railtrack and the operators, working together, can take to minimise their impact.

  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will set out the timetable for completion of the inspection schedule used by Railtrack to assess track conditions; and if he will make a statement. [4651]

  Mr. Spellar
  I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Libraries of the House.

  PPG25
  Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what action his Department intends to take to develop Planning Policy Guidance Note Number 25; and if he will make a statement. [4008]

  Ms Keeble
  [holding answer 13 July 2001]: The Government today published the new Planning Policy Guidance Note (PPG) 25 "Development and flood risk", following the fast-track consultation in February-March this year. It substantially follows the recommendations of the Environment, Transport and Regional Affairs Committee in their December 2000 report on "Development on, or affecting, the flood plain", and strengthens the guidance that was previously contained in Department of the Environment Circular 30–92, which is now cancelled.

  The new PPG makes clear that building should be wholly exceptional in areas of flood plain that are currently undefended or defended to a relatively low standard and thus effectively function regularly as flood plains where water flows or is stored at times of flood.

  A risk-based sequential test outlines the appropriate planning responses to levels of flood risk to help to ensure that the problems that have occurred due to inappropriate development in flood-risk areas are reduced in future. This test gives clear priority to the development of areas that are not at high risk of flooding. It is intended to operate alongside the sequential test in PPG 3 "Housing", by which previously developed land is the first choice for housing, and to be consistent with sustainable development objectives in other PPGs.

  Application of this test through the development plan system and in the determination of individual applications will require planning authorities and developers to consult closely with the Environment Agency. Applicants will be required to assess the flood risk and impact of their proposals and to incorporate sustainable drainage systems as far as possible. Where flood defences and other mitigation measures are needed because of development, these should be fully funded as part of the development, including the necessary arrangements to maintain them for a 30-year period, after which they will be regarded as public assets and liabilities. The Government are preparing supplementary guidance on flood-resistant construction techniques to enable buildings to cope better with flooding and to recover faster.

  The emphasis on looking at flooding on the wider scale of the whole river catchment or coastal cell will be complemented by the initiative on catchment flood
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  management plans being undertaken by the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Environment Agency.

  The implementation of PPG 25 will have some impact on construction costs and the running costs of planning authorities and the Environment Agency. However, the events of last autumn have clearly demonstrated that these are far outweighed by the future costs to householders, businesses and a range of public authorities, including local government and the Environment Agency of not adopting it as current policy on development and flood risk.

  Mr. Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when he will publish new planning guidance on flooding. [4646]

  Ms Keeble
  The Government today published the new Planning Policy Guidance Note (PPG) 25 "Development and flood risk", following the fast-track consultation in February-March this year. It substantially follows the recommendations of the Environment, Transport and Regional Affairs Committee in their December 2000 report on "Development on, or affecting, the flood plain", and strengthens the guidance that was previously contained in Department of the Environment Circular 30–92, which is now cancelled.

  The new PPG makes clear that building should be wholly exceptional in areas of flood plain that are currently undefended or defended to a relatively low standard and thus effectively function regularly as flood plains where water flows or is stored at times of flood.

  A risk-based sequential test outlines the appropriate planning responses to levels of flood risk to help to ensure that the problems that have occurred due to inappropriate development in flood-risk areas are reduced in future. This test gives clear priority to the development of areas that are not at high risk of flooding. It is intended to operate alongside the sequential test in PPG 3 "Housing", by which previously developed land is the first choice for housing, and to be consistent with sustainable development objectives in other PPGs.

  Application of this test through the development plan system and in the determination of individual applications will require planning authorities and developers to consult closely with the Environment Agency. Applicants will be required to assess the flood risk and impact of their proposals and to incorporate sustainable drainage systems as far as possible. Where flood defences and other mitigation measures are needed because of development, these should be fully funded as part of the development, including the necessary arrangements to maintain them for a 30-year period, after which they will be regarded as public assets and liabilities. The Government is preparing supplementary guidance on flood-resistant construction techniques to enable buildings to cope better with flooding and to recover faster.

  The emphasis on looking at flooding on the wider scale of the whole river catchment or coastal cell will be complemented by the initiative on catchment flood management plans being undertaken by the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Environment Agency.

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  The implementation of PPG 25 will have some impact on construction costs and the running costs of planning authorities and the Environment Agency. However, the events of last autumn have clearly demonstrated that these are far outweighed by the future costs to householders, businesses and a range of public authorities, including local government and the Environment Agency of not adopting it as current policy on development and flood risk.

  Second Homes
  Andrew George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what estimate he has made of the number of(a) second homes entitled to a 50 per cent. council tax discount and (b) holiday homes for which a business rate is payable in England and Wales; and if he will make a statement. [4329]

  Dr. Whitehead
  (a) We estimate that approximately 220,000 second homes (defined as furnished and no-one's main residence) in England were entitled to a 50 per cent. council tax discount as at October 2000.

  (b) No estimate is available for the number of holiday homes in England for which a business rate is payable. This is because many holiday homes form part of a larger site, and in many cases it is the site as a whole—rather than individual properties—that is liable for business rates.

  Information on council tax and business rate liability in Wales is a matter for the National Assembly of Wales.

  Council Tax
  Andrew George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many(a) second homes and (b) other dwellings entitled to the 50 per cent. council tax discount there are in each district and county/unitary authority area; and what percentage they represent of domestic housing stock in each area. [4330]

  Dr. Whitehead
  We estimate that approximately 220,000 second homes (defined as furnished and no-one's main residence) and 370,000 other dwellings were entitled to the 50 per cent. council tax discount as at October

  PFI and PPP contracts signed since 1997

  Year contract signed

  Name of contract

  Status of service

  Has part of service charge payment been withheld?

  PFI

  1997

  Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre —Catering

  Operational

  No

  2000

  Highways Agency—A13 "Thames Gateway"1

  Under construction

  n/a

  2000

  Vehicle Inspectorate—MOT computerisation

  Under construction

  n/a

  2001

  Highways Agency—Traffic Control Centre

  Under construction

  n/a

  PPP

  1997

  Manchester Metrolink —extension to Salford Quays and Eccles2

  Operational

  No

  1999

  Tower Hamlets Housing Action Trust

  Operational

  No

  2001

  National Air Traffic Control Services (NATS) PPP

  —3

  n/a

  1The A13 Thames Gateway contract has been transferred to Transport for London.

  2The Manchester Metrolink contract was let by Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive and received substantial funding from DTLR.

  3NATS have announced their preferred partner—Airlines Group (British Airways, British Midland, Virgin. Britannia, Monarch, Easy-Jet and Airtours) and is due to let the contract shortly.

  96W
  2000. These represent 1.0 per cent. and 1.8 per cent. respectively of the total domestic housing stock in England.

  Comparable figures for each district and county/unitary area in England are not available.

  Silverhill (A21)
  Mr. Barker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will ensure that the storm drain for Silverhill on the A21 is reconstructed so that it drains into the river below the bypass. [3860]

  Mr. Jamieson
  [holding answer 16 July 2001]: The Environment Agency, who are responsible for flood alleviation, has not suggested that any work is necessary to the A21 culverts to alleviate the flooding problems in and around Robertsbridge. The Highways Agency has no plans to reconstruct the storm drain at Silver Hill.

  Private Finance Initiatives
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will list the PH contracts on local authority leisure centres entered into since 1997, indicating(a) the value of the PH, (b) the name of the successful contractor, (c) those PFIs which have benefited from refinancing arrangements, (d) the value of the benefit accrued to the company concerned and (e) the extent of the clawback. [4533]

  Dr. Whitehead
  No contracts have yet been signed for central government supported PFI leisure centres. No information is held on PFI schemes funded entirely by a local authority.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many(a) PFI and (b) PPP contracts have been agreed by his Department over the last five years; how many have been satisfactorily completed; and in how many has compensation been (i) paid and (ii) claimed for performance failure. [4599]

  Dr. Whitehead
  The table provides details of DTLR's PFI and PPP contracts signed in the past five years. It states whether the service is operational, and whether service charge payments have been withheld. Should PH and PPP contractors fail to provide the contracted service they will not receive the full unitary service charge payment for the relevant month.
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  Channel Tunnel (Rail Freight)
  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what work his Department has(a)commissioned and (b)evaluated on the viability of freight traffic using the Channel Tunnel Rail Link (i) on the tracks currently under construction and (ii) using the same corridor; and if he will make a statement. [3641]

  Mr. Jamieson
  [holding answer 16 July 2001]: My Department, and its predecessors, have not commissioned any studies of freight use of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link and the same corridor. In 1993 Union Railways evaluated the impact of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link on rail freight traffic. The results of this work were used by the Department to inform the decisions to go ahead with the construction of the Link.

  Central Railway
  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what evaluations his Department has(a)commissioned and (b)reviewed into the operation of Central Railway. [3640]

  Mr. Jamieson
  [holding answer 16 July 2001]: My Department has not commissioned any evaluation of Central Railway's proposals. The Strategic Rail Authority's Freight Strategy outlines a programme of infrastructure and freight-specific investment, and discusses the concept of a new strategic route between the Channel Tunnel, the West Midlands and the north. It is in this context that the SRA initiated a high-level review of Central Railway's proposals. The SRA's consultants have now delivered their report and the SRA will advise the Government of its findings in due course. We will respond to Central Railway taking the SRA's conclusions into account.

  Train Passengers
  Siobhain McDonagh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what measures exist to require train companies to regulate the number of passengers that trains may safely carry(a) at peak times of travel and (b)at other times; and how such measures are enforced. [4590]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The Health and Safety Executive consider overcrowding on trains to be a matter of comfort rather than one of safety. Accordingly there are no statutory safety limits on the number of passengers that can travel on trains. For commuter routes into London and Edinburgh train operators are required to keep overcrowding within specified thresholds. All trains in use have a nominal capacity, and operators must plan their services to ensure that the aggregated number of Passenger's In Excess of Capacity is kept to 3 per cent. over the morning and evening peaks or 4.5 per cent. for either peak in isolation. Train operators conduct annual passenger counts to demonstrate compliance. If the thresholds are breached the company is required to produce an action plan to remedy the problem.

  Boundary Changes
  Mr. Wyatt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when he will decide on the recommendations of the Local Government

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  Commission regarding the boundary changes in the Swale borough council area; and when he will issue an order with regard to such changes. [4609]

  Dr. Whitehead
  I have made the preliminary decision to accept the recommendations of the Local Government Commission for Swale borough council without amendment. We are now consulting on a draft Order which, if made, would give effect to the Commission's recommendations. Subject to the consultation I envisage making the Order implementing the revised electoral arrangements in Swale in the autumn.

  Rough Sleepers
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 9 July 2001,Official Report,column 1408W, concerning rough sleepers, how many rough sleepers are aged (a)under 16, (b)16 to 25, (c) 26 to 35, (d)36 to 45, (e)46 to 55, (f) 56 to 65, (g)66 to 75 and (h)over 75 years. [4182]

  Ms Keeble
  "Coming in from the Cold", the Government's strategy on tackling rough sleeping, has delivered a raft of policies and services that are preventing vulnerable people coming on to the streets and rebuilding the lives of former rough sleepers.

  The RSU has introduced a range of services in London to help vulnerable rough sleepers off the streets. A recent analysis of rough sleeper ages recorded by London Contact and Assessment Teams from 1 December 2000 to 31 March 2001 showed that around 40 per cent. of rough sleepers were aged between 26 and 35, with roughly 20 per cent. aged between 16 and 25, and 36 and 45. Around 10 per cent. were aged between 46 and 55 and roughly 10 per cent. were aged over 56 years of age, of which a very small percentage were between 66 and 75 and over 75. Contact and Assessment Teams found no rough sleepers under 16 during the period.

  A similar picture showing the greatest proportion of rough sleeping in the 26-35 age band is also found in other areas of the country.

  IT Contracts
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will list the Information Technology contracts in excess of £500,000 let by his Department or its predecessor since April 1991, giving in each case the original estimated cost and original estimated completion date, the actual cost and actual completion date and the names of the contractors involved and consultants retained by his Department. [3508]

  Mr. Byers
  The information my right hon. Friend requests is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  M25 (Resurfacing)
  Mr. Malins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when he will publish the timetable for decision making and the subsequent development and execution of plans to resurface the M25. [4562]
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  Mr. Jamieson
  I have asked the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency, Mr. Tim Matthews, to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Tim Matthews to Mr. Humfrey Malins, dated 17 July 2001:
  The Transport Minister, David Jamieson, has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about plans to resurface the M25.
  The Highways Agency have published a leaflet giving advance notice of roadworks, including resurfacing, on the M25 motorway. The leaflet, which is updated quarterly, is widely available and currently covers the period July to September 2001. A copy is enclosed and copies have been placed in the Library.
  The trunk road network is regularly monitored by the Highways Agency who will continue to make maintenance a priority over the next 10 years, with a maintenance programme of around £7 billion between 2001–10.
  If you would like more details: Peter Rix in the Agency's Dorking Office will be able to help. His telephone number is 01306 878356.

  Fleet Driver Training
  Bob Spink
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what discussions he has had with the Driving Standards Agency regarding fleet driver training and the applicability of police advanced training standards based on the National/International Roadcraft Manual; and if he will make a statement. [4563]

  Mr. Jamieson
  When setting appropriate standards for fleet driver training we will consider carefully all comments received in response to the recent consultation exercise undertaken by the Driving Standards Agency, together with the work that the Agency has been undertaking in partnership with the police service developing national standards for police drivers.

  Bob Spink
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what consultations the Driving Standards Agency is undertaking regarding fleet driver training; and when these consultations will be concluded. [4561]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The Driving Standards Agency issued a consultation paper in February about registering driving instructors who specialize in fleet driver training. The consultation period ended in May. Responses are now being considered together with our proposals for the wider reform of the regulation of driver instruction, which was announced in our Road Safety Strategy: "Tomorrow's Roads—Safer for Everyone," and suggestions for improving "work related" road safety. I hope to be in a position to make announcements later in the year.

  Jubilee Line
  David Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions on how many weekdays this year the Jubilee underground line has been run without interruption. [4504]

  Mr. Jamieson
  This is an operational matter for London Underground who inform me the standard they used to measure "without interruption" is that there are no service delays of 15 minutes or more. They have provided the following information for this financial year to date (1 April 2001 until 23 June 2001): the Jubilee line has run for 24 days out of 56 without interruption. The 24 days 100W
  does not include four bank holidays which are treated as weekends rather than weekdays. Of the remaining 32 days, there were three in which the delays were attributable to external factors, such as a person on the track, and two where suspect packages caused delays.

  Regional Chambers
  Mr. Berry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the outcome was of the Government's consultation on the proposed fund for regional chambers. [4971]

  Mr. Raynsford
  We have had a very positive response to the consultation on strengthening the regions which my right hon. Friends the Deputy Prime Minister and the Chancellor launched earlier this year.

  I am therefore announcing today the go-ahead for the new £15 million fund for regional chambers—£5 million this year, and in each of the next two years. This will help them to enhance their role in providing regional input to, and scrutinising, the plans and work of the Regional Development Agencies, and to develop their position as the strategic focal point for the regions. The aim is to provide a stronger framework for representing the regions' views, not to impose burdensome new procedures on the RDAs or others.

  In 2001–02, £500,000 is available for each chamber to develop its scrutiny role, with a further £1 million set aside for initiatives, supported by the chambers collectively, on setting up the new regime. While we envisage that bids would normally be for the first year only, we have not ruled out the possibility of bids for two, or even three, years' worth of funding where that is what the chambers want. The deadline for receiving bids has been extended to 29 July.

  Detailed arrangements for allocating the funding in the following two years will be settled in the light of further discussions with the chambers. The future of the funding beyond the current three-year period will be a matter for the next spending review.

  Local Government Commission for England
  Richard Burden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what progress has been made on the transfer of the Local Government Commission for England to the Electoral Commission; and if he will make a statement. [4972]

  Mr. Raynsford
  We have now consulted the Electoral Commission, the Local Government Commission for England and other interested parties, on a draft of an order to be made under section 18 of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000, which would provide for the transfer of functions with effect from 1 April 2002. In the light of comments received, our firm intention is now, subject to parliamentary approval of a draft, to make this order as soon as practicable.

  Flooding (Kimpton)
  Mr. Lilley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will provide financial assistance to North Hertfordshire district council
  101W
  under the Bellwin Scheme in respect of costs incurred following the severe flooding in the village of Kimpton on 24 and 25 February. [4973]

  Mr. Raynsford
  I am satisfied that financial assistance under the Bellwin scheme is justified in the case of North Hertfordshire district council, given the exceptional nature of flooding. A scheme will, therefore be established under section 155 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989. Grant will be paid to cover 100 per cent. of the eligible costs above a threshold, which the authority has incurred in dealing with the flooding.

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

  IT Contracts
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Solicitor-General if she will list the information technology contracts in excess of £500,000 let by her Department or its predecessor since April 1991, giving in each case the original estimated cost and original estimated completion date, the actual cost and actual completion date and the names of the contractors involved and consultants retained by her Department. [3502]

  The Solicitor-General
  The information is as follows:

  Project

  Estimated and actual cost (£million)

  Estimated and actual completion date

  Major contractor

  Other contractors and consultants

  SCOPE Case Tracking System

  Est. 8.0

  Est. March 1994

  Unisys

  Act. 10.6

  Act. April 1997

  SPIRE Payroll System

  Est. 3.0

  August 1996

  ADP Chessington1

  Act. 3.0

  August 1996

  Finance System

  Est. 2.1

  Est. April 1997

  HBOC

  Act. 2.3

  Act. April 1997

  Connect 42 Office Automation

  2Est. 18.0 Act. 23.5

  Est. July 2001 Planned November 2001

  Integris1

  MG Admiral4; DSCe Integration Ltd.; Donaldson Ericsson Ltd.; Farebrother Engineering Services Ltd.; GCat Computacentre (UK) Ltd.; Harold Palfreyman Ltd.; Hays Accountancy Personnel; Xansa UK Ltd.5; Parity Resources Ltd.; SQA-Herman Miller Ltd.; Workplace by Design Ltd.; Yale Data Management Consultants Ltd.

  1 Formerly Chessington Computer Services

  2Plus £5.5 million expenditure on ergonomic furniture, building and 3electrical works

  Formerly Bull Information Systems

  4Formerly Admiral Management Service

  5Formerly Kermon Management Consultants

  Homosexual Convictions (Appeal to ECHR)
  Dr. Iddon
  To ask the Solicitor-General if the appeal made by five of the men convicted at Bolton Crown court of homosexual activity in private has been listed for a hearing at the European Court of Human Rights; and if it is the British. Government's intention to defend the appeal. [3460]

  Mr. Keith Bradley
  I have been asked to respond on behalf of the Solicitor-General. The case of Connell and others v.UK has not been listed for hearing by the European Court of Human Rights. The court has extended
  102W
  Crown Prosecution Service

  A list of contracts awarded by the Crown Prosecution Service since 1993 is shown in the table. Records are not available for the period before April 1993.

  Serious Fraud Office

  The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) signed a PFI contract with IBM in January 1998 to develop an integrated document management system for the SFO. As an additional service, IBM took on the management of the internal IT services. This latter contract was to run for seven years, with the option to extend for a further three years. The estimated value of the contract over its life was £15 million. Since 1998 £4.8 million has been paid to IBM. In September 2000 a variation to the contract was agreed under which IBM continued to provide internal IT systems for a further three years.

  In 2000 it was recognised by SFO and IBM that it was no longer appropriate to continue with the development of the document management system due to changes in the SFO' s business environment and in technology. No payments have been made to IBM in respect of their work on the integrated document management system.

  Treasury Solicitor's Department

  The Treasury Solicitor's Department has not entered into any information technology contracts in excess of £500,000 since April 1991.

  the period in which the Government can submit written observations on the case to allow it to negotiate a friendly settlement with the applicants. We are actively pursuing such a settlement with the applicants' representatives.

PRIME MINISTER

  Ministerial Travel
  Bob Russell
  To ask the Prime Minister when he last travelled on the London underground in the course of his official duties. [3671]
  103W
  The Prime Minister
  I travel making the most efficient and cost-effective arrangements, and use the underground as and when appropriate.

  Energy Policy Review
  Llew Smith
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the expertise available to the energy policy review. [3963]

  The Prime Minister
  The PIU energy policy review will draw on expertise from:

  the energy review team led by Nick Hartley, on secondment from OXERA:

  the advisory group chaired by the Minister for Industry and Energy;

  Government bodies including central Departments and ECG posts; and

  an experts group consisting of academics and other experts.

  Details of the energy review team, including short biographical notes, and the full membership of the advisory group will be published on the PIU website next week. The membership of the experts group will also be posted on the website.

  As the project proceeds, the review team will commission discrete research projects as required, receive submissions from key organisations and meet with stakeholders.

  Sustainable Development
  Llew Smith
  To ask the Prime Minister which is the lead Department for delivering the Government's sustainable development policy following the reorganisation of Government Departments; and how his office deals with sustainability issues. [3949]

  The Prime Minister
  The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has the lead in driving forward UK sustainable development policy. However, delivery of sustainable development remains, as in the last Parliament, a cross-Government responsibility. That is why we have established a committee of Green Ministers from every Department, ENV(G), to consider the impact on sustainable development of Government policies and improve the performance of Departments in contributing to sustainable development. In that way we can ensure that sustainable development is integrated into decision making across Government, including in my office.

  Sellafield
  Llew Smith
  To ask the Prime Minister what recent representations he has received in respect of nuclear reprocessing at Sellafield. [3955]

  The Prime Minister
  I understand that I have received a small number of representations.

  Peers
  Andrew Mackinlay
  To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 11 July 2001,Official Report,column 566W, which peers created since 2 May 1997 were working peers; and which were not. [4369]
  104W
  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 16 July 2001]:All peers are appointed in the expectation that they will make a valuable contribution to the work of the House of Lords.

  Andrew Mackinlay
  To ask the Prime Minister what plans he has to distinguish formally between those peers that(a)were and (b)were not ennobled through the Appointments Commission. [4368]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 16 July 2001]: None. All peers have the same status. With the exception of peerages created to enable individuals to serve as Ministers, all recommendations that I make to the Queen are referred to the House of Lords Appointments Commission for scrutiny. This includes all recommendations from leaders of political parties, and a very limited number of recommendations for holders of high public office. The decision on whether to recommend candidates in these last two categories rests with me, unlike those non-political recommendations proposed by the Commission itself, which I submit automatically to the Queen.

  Srebrenica Massacre
  David Winnick
  To ask the Prime Minister what plans the heads of Government of European Union member states have to mark the sixth anniversary of the massacre at Srebrenica. [4509]

  The Prime Minister
  The sixth anniversary of the massacre at Srebrenica took place on 11 July. EU Ambassadors in Sarajevo, including the British Ambassador, attended the commemorative event and unveiling of a memorial stone, funded by the British Government, to the victims of the massacre.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Capitol Publishing
  Richard Burden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations her Department has received on the homeworking company Capitol Publishing. [3382]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  We have checked through the Department's records in relation to homeworking activities for the last 12 months and can find no record of any representations received on Capitol Publishing.

  Miners' Compensation
  Ann Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many claims for miners' compensation are outstanding in(a)Cynon Valley and (b)the rest of Wales. [3230]

  Mr. Wilson
  IRISC, the Department's claims handlers, have registered 3,559 outstanding claims in respect of respiratory disease in the region of Cynon Valley as defined by the postcodes with prefixes CF 37, 44 and 45. There are 25,155 outstanding claims in the rest of Wales.
  105W
  With regards to vibration white finger, VWF, there are 1,736 outstanding claims in Cynon Valley and 11,641 outstanding claims in the rest of Wales.

  Following recent significant progress, the rate of assessments has increased from 8,000 at the beginning of the year to over 25,000 now. In Wales alone assessments have increased from 2,000 to 5,000. Around 500 claims a week are now being reviewed following the Medical Assessment Process.

  IT Contracts
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the information technology contracts in excess of £500,000 let by her Department or

  Original

  Actual

  Contract

  Cost (£ million)

  Completion

  Cost (£ million)

  Completion

  Contractor

  Mainframe computer services

  6.0

  1995

  6.0

  1995

  Capita Managed Services

  Mainframe computer services

  6.3

  1999

  6.3

  1999

  Cap Gemini

  Mainframe computer services

  8.0

  2004

  1—

  2—

  Hyder Business Services

  Document processing (devpmt)

  1.0

  2000

  1.0

  2000

  IBM UK

  Document processing (support)

  1.8

  2000

  1.8

  2000

  IBM UK

  Document image storage (devpmt)

  1.0

  1997

  1.0

  1997

  IBM UK

  Document image storage (support)

  1.5

  2002

  1—

  2—

  IBM UK

  Internet managed services

  6.0

  2002

  1—

  2—

  Orchid Telematics Ltd.

  Financial Systems Application

  1.6

  2006

  1—

  2—

  QSP Group plc

  Local Office Information System

  5.1

  1994

  5.4

  1995

  Sequent Computer Systems

  Batch Accounting and Nominal Ledger Control System

  0.6

  1994

  0.8

  1996

  AMP Systems Ltd.

  Local Office Ledger Accounting

  0.6

  1996

  0.7

  1996

  Radius Computer Services

  Integrated Bibliographic and Image System

  1.9

  1999

  1.9

  2001

  ICL Ltd.

  Open Individual Export Licence system development

  0.6

  2001

  1—

  2—

  SEMA

  Export Control Licensing System (ECLIPS)

  0.7

  1993

  0.9

  1995

  UNISYS

  CWC Database System

  0.5

  1995

  0.7

  1996

  Cap Gemini

  IT support

  1.1

  2003

  1—

  2—

  Cap Gemini

  IT services

  2.5

  2014

  1—

  2—

  ICL

  Data Communication Services

  1.1

  2006

  1—

  2—

  Cable and Wireless

  OSPREY Office System

  23.1

  1999

  24.1

  1999

  ICL Ltd.

  Electronic Government via Administrative Re-engineering

  200

  2014

  1—

  2—

  ICL Ltd.

  Century Date Change (Year 2000) Support

  0.5

  1999

  0.5

  1999

  CMG Ltd.

  Personnel and Related Information System

  0.8

  1997

  —

  31999

  Unisys Ltd.

  1On track

  2 Still running

  3Contract terminated

  Note:

  The table excludes details of an IT services contract let to Gap Gemini which ran from 1995 to 1999. This was a 'framework' contract covering a number of projects and services of varying values. Information on this contract would involve disproportionate cost arising from the need for a manual search of relevant registered files

  Broadcasters (Fair Trading)
  Michael Fabricant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what powers the Office of Fair Trading has to prevent the abuse of market power by broadcasters. [4507]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  Under UK competition law the Director General of Fair Trading is required to apply and enforce the provisions of the Competition Act 1998 to prevent conduct by one or more undertakings which amounts to the abuse of a dominant position in a market in the UK (or a part thereof) and which may affect trade within the UK (the Chapter II Prohibition).
  106W
  its predecessor since April 1991, giving in each case the original estimated cost and original estimated completion date, the actual cost and actual completion date and the names of the contractors involved and consultants retained by her Department. [3507]

  Ms Hewitt
  The information requested by my right hon. Friend which is readily available from central records is listed in the table. In several cases contracts are still running and a final cost figure cannot yet be provided. Expenditure within some contracts cannot be precisely estimated, because it is affected by volume of business or because the contracts concerned allow the development of solutions to changing business requirements not originally foreseeable. In no contracts were consultants retained (or are there plans to retain consultants) beyond completion of their assigned tasks.

  Sub-Post Offices
  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many sub-post offices closed in the first quarter of the 2001–02 financial year. [4656]

  Ms Hewitt
  I understand from Post Office Network that the figures are not yet available.

  Business Regulation
  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action she intends to take in respect of the reports(a) 'Economic Regulators' and (b) 'Local Shops: a Progress report on Small Firms Regulation'. [4754]
  107W
  Ms Hewitt
  We expect to publish Government responses to these two Better Regulation Task Force reports in September.

  Enterprise Grants
  Diana Organ
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many enterprise grants were awarded in the south-west in(a)2000 and (b)2001. [4146]

  Alan Johnson
  The number of enterprise grants awarded in the south-west was(a)13 in the calendar year 2000 and (b)25 so far in the calendar year 2001.

  Diana Organ
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the size of the fund for enterprise grants in the south-west was in(a)2000 and (b)2001. [4145]

  Alan Johnson
  The budget for enterprise grants in the south-west was £450,000 in 2000–01. An indicative budget at the same level has been set for 2001–02.

  Diana Organ
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many enterprise grants were awarded to businesses in the Forest of Dean in(a)2000 and (b) 2001. [4030]

  Alan Johnson
  The number of enterprise grants awarded in the Forest of Dean was(a)one in the calendar year 2000 and (b)nil so far in the calendar year 2001.

  Diana Organ
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the(a)largest and (b)smallest amount awarded in enterprise grant in the south-west in (i) 2000 and (ii) 2001. [4029]

  Alan Johnson
  The largest and smallest amounts awarded in enterprise grant in the south-west in the calendar year 2000 and so far in the calendar year 2001 were:

  £

  Enterprise grant

  2000

  2001

  Largest

  74,250

  75,000

  Smallest

  1,815

  1,150

  Ministerial Travel
  Bob Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when she last travelled on the London underground in the course of her official duties. [3686]

  Ms Hewitt
  In the course of my official duties, I travel using the most efficient and cost-effective mode of transport and travel on the underground as and when appropriate.

  Energy Resources Review
  Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if the Performance and Innovation Unit's Energy Resources Review will examine the options set out in the report on interim storage of spent nuclear fuel, prepared by Harvard university and the university of Tokyo published in June. [3960]

  Mr. Wilson
  The review of energy policy will be considering what role, if any, the nuclear industry should play in meeting longer term environmental and security of supply objectives and will take into account any relevant 108W
  information. I will refer the report referred to by my hon. Friend to the attention of the PIU team which is undertaking the review.

HEALTH

  Older People
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health by what date the NHS and local councils will have concluded the work set out in paragraph 7.19 of the National Service Framework for Older People; and what he expects to be included in specialist residential care services. [4087]

  Jacqui Smith
  We are working with local councils, National Health Service agencies and care providers on an agreement to give greater direction to the commissioning of care for older people. This includes encouraging the development of specialist residential and nursing care services for people with dementia.

  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment the Task Force for Older People has made of delivery of the National Service Framework for older people to date. [4082]

  Jacqui Smith
  The National Taskforce for Older People has an advisory role on the implementation of policy. It gives advice on the basis of its members' expertise in the delivery of frontline services. However, it does not have an executive role to monitor performance of the National Health Service or social services against National Service Framework targets. This task is undertaken by the officials responsible for NSF implementation and the information is fed through to taskforce members to inform their discussions.

  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the remit, membership and reporting lines of the national implementation group for the National Service Framework for Older People are; and how the group relates to the Task Force for Older People. [4078]

  Jacqui Smith
  A national implementation group for the National Service Framework (NSF) for Older People met during development of the NSF in March 2001. A group of officials from the National Health Service and social care regional offices together with departmental policy officials continues to meet regularly to plan and monitor implementation of a range of policies, including the NSF. The discussions of this group are also fed through to the members of the Older People's Taskforce.

  The Taskforce for Older People has an advisory role on the implementation of policy. It gives advice on the basis of its members' experience in their delivery of frontline services, which is fed into the policy making process. It does not have an executive role to monitor performance.

  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the extra numbers of staff required to establish the falls services described in paragraphs 6.37 and 6.38 of the National Service Framework for Older People; and what assessment he has made of the numbers of such staff(a)already trained and (b)in training. [4084]
  109W
  Jacqui Smith
  The detailed assessment of the number and appropriate skill mix of staff teams to establish the falls service described in Standard Six of the National Service Framework for Older People will be undertaken by the National Workforce Development Board, informed by the Care Group Workforce Team for older people which will be established shortly.

  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will set out how many(a)consultants in old age medicine and (b)consultants in rehabilitation there were in each of the last three years for which figures exist; how his Department calculated its estimate of old age medicine consultants on page 139 of the National Service Framework for Older People; and what his estimate is of the number of extra rehabilitation consultants required. [4086]

  Jacqui Smith
  The number of consultants employed in old age medicine and rehabilitation are set out in the table.

  There are already a number of specialist registrars, based on the Specialty Workforce Advisory Group's assessment of demand, training in old age psychiatry and geriatric medicine. The figures quoted in the National Service Framework reflect the increases that would be achieved if those trainees are employed as consultants as they complete their training. The increases are offset by estimates of the annual number of retirements

  The number of extra rehabilitation consultants required will be determined by the National Workforce Development Board informed by the Care Group Workforce Team for older people.

  Hospital medical consultants within the geriatric and rehabilitation medicine specialities

  Numbers

  England as at 30 September

  1998

  1999

  2000

  Geriatric medicine

  710

  720

  770

  Rehabilitation medicine

  70

  70

  80

  Notes:

  Figures are rounded to the nearest ten.

  Source:

  Department of Health medical and dental workforce census

  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects the assessment working group to provide the further evidence referred to in paragraph 2.44 of the National Service Framework for Older People. [4085]

  Jacqui Smith
  Guidance on the introduction of a single assessment process across health and social care promised in the National Service Framework for Older People will be published shortly.

  Respite Health Care
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will define(a)respite health care and (b)specialist health care support, set out in paragraph 16 of HSC 2001/015: LAC (2001)18. [4090]

  Jacqui Smith
  Respite health care is typically understood to describe packages of care to provide respite for the main carer of a person where the care being provided is primarily health care, for example continence care.
  110W
  Specialist health care support is typically understood to describe the expertise of health care professionals available to patients with more specialised health care needs, such as tissue viability or continence, or the maintenance of domiciliary equipment.

  Patient Consultation
  Vernon Coaker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has for reforming patient consultation in the national health service; and if he will make a statement. [1841]

  Ms Blears
  Sections 7 to 11 of the Health and Social Care Act 2001 make provision for strengthening patient and public consultation and involvement in the operation of the national health service. Local authority overview and scrutiny committees will scrutinise the NHS including decisions on local NHS reorganisations and service change. NHS bodies will have a statutory duty to make arrangements with a view to securing that the public are involved in and consulted on the planning of NHS services and decisions affecting the operation of those services. We intend to build on these foundations to make sure patients and the public are at the heart of shaping and developing NHS services in the future.

  National Cardiothoracic Transplant Service
  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what provision will be made to meet the additional travelling expenses of transplant patients receiving extended post-operative care following the reorganisation of the National Cardiothoracic Transplant Service. [2832]

  Mr. Hutton
  [holding answer 9 July 2001]: Under the hospital travel costs scheme, transplant patients are treated in the same way as any other patients receiving treatment at specialist centres.
  Patients who are in receipt of benefits including weekly Income Support, Working Families Tax Credit, Disabled Persons Tax Credit, or Income Based Jobseeker's Allowance are entitled to receive help with their hospital travel costs. Other patients may be eligible for full or partial reimbursement on the basis of a low income and patients who would not normally fall into the low income category might become entitled to receive help if they have to travel long distances frequently.

  Antidepressants
  Dr. Naysmith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the World Health Organisation figures relating to SSRI antidepressants and benzodiazepines; and if he will issue further guidance to GPs on the prescribing of these drugs. [2955]

  Ms Blears
  The Medicines Control Agency (MCA) has on-line access to the World Health Organisation (WHO) data on adverse drug reactions (ADRs) and routinely evaluates these data. MCA contributes all United Kingdom suspected ADR reports to the WHO database. Prescribing information on selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and benzodiazepines in the UK is consistent with the known safety profiles of these medicines.

  111W
  Guidance on how to prescribe SSRIs and benzodiazepines, including information on dose and duration of treatment and possible adverse effects, is available in the authorised summary of product characteristics for these medicines. Guidance is also provided to general practitioners in the British National Formulary.

  Paul Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his assessment is of the therapeutic value of antidepressants compared with placebos. [2377]

  Ms Blears
  [holding answer 9 July 2001]:There is a large scientific literature that indicates that antidepressant medication is superior in efficacy to placebo. This is particularly the case where depression is more severe. Placebos have been noted to be of some benefit and there is a range of so-called non-specific factors (care, interest and attention from the clinician) which are relevant.

  An example is the National Institute of Mental Health Treatment of Depression Research Program in the United States reported in the mid 1990s. They compared two forms of psychotherapy, antidepressant medication (imipramine) and placebo. The latter two treatments also involved "clinical management" which included a weekly meeting with the clinician to discuss symptoms, side effects and progress. For mild depression no significant differences were found between the treatment groups. However for the more severely affected patients the antidepressant treatment was the most effective.

  Early studies with tricyclic antidepressant drugs showed that 60 per cent. to 70 per cent. of patients with depression will respond to antidepressant drug treatment as compared with 15 per cent. to 30 per cent. of those treated with placebo. The response to antidepressant medication will take at least two weeks but in some cases up to four weeks or more. The newer antidepressant drugs have been shown to have similar, but not greater, efficacy to the older style medications. The advantage of the newer drugs lies in lower toxicity and different side effects.

  RSI and Fibromyalgia
  Dr. Bob Spink
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidelines he has issued to general practitioners and hospitals regarding RSI and fibromyalgia; and what recent clinical studies of these have been commissioned by the Department. [2960]

  Mr. Hutton
  The Department has not issued guidelines in respect of repetitive strain injury and fibromyalgia. However we are constantly reviewing the subjects in the light of research which is being commissioned. One such research project is entitled "A Randomised Control Trial of exercise prescription in fibromyalgia" which is due to be completed in September 2001.

  The Department also provides support funding for research commissioned by the research councils and charities that takes place in the national health service. We are currently supporting 13 such ongoing projects on fibromyalgia and one on RSI. Full details can be found on the national research register.
  112W

  National Institute for Clinical Excellence
  Sandra Gidley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health by what means NICE defines and identifies experts to advise their appraisal committees. [3289]

  Mr. Hutton
  [holding answer 11 July 2001]: Details of the appraisal process are a matter for the National Institute for Clinical Excellence. NICE has recently published details of the process, including a full description of the selection of experts. Experts are now nominated by stakeholder bodies, and the selection is made by the chairman of the appraisal committee using published criteria.

  Sandra Gidley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will review the membership of the Appraisal Committee following recent appeals against NICE. [4166]

  Mr. Hutton
  [holding answer 16 July 2001]: No. Appeals are a part of the Institute's process for developing robust and reliable guidance.

  Road Accident Casualties
  Mr. Hawkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much money NHS hospitals have claimed from motor insurance providers to recover the cost of treating road accident casualties over the last three years. [4072]

  Ms Blears
  [holding answer 16 July 2001]: Prior to 5 April 1999, National Health Service trusts had responsibility for collecting charges for hospital treatment following road traffic accidents under the provisions of sections 157 and 158 of the Road Traffic Act 1988. The system changed with the introduction of the Road Traffic (NHS Charges) Act 1999, which came into effect on 5 April 1999 and there is now a new centralised recovery system, which is undertaken by the Compensation Recovery Unit (CRU). The table gives income collected for the last three years during which the system for recovery changed.

  NHS trusts (England) income from activities: Road Traffic Act

  —million

  1998–991

  19.6

  1999–20002

  26.4

  2000–0l3

  67

  1Income collected under the old scheme taken from NHS Trusts (England) Summarisation Schedules.

  2Transitional year, this is income collected by the CRU under the new scheme as other income received by trusts as a spill over from the old arrangements cannot be identified separately in Trust Accounts.

  3Income collected by the CRU under the new scheme.

  Fraud (NHS)
  Dr. Murrison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he will take to tackle the rise in fraud in the NHS. [4612]

  Mr. Hutton
  Losses to fraud in the National Health Service have fallen since the creation of the NHS Counter Fraud Service (CFS) in 1998 and will continue to fall. The NHS CFS have achieved a reduction of £48 million in losses to patient fraud within pharmaceutical services and have recovered over £5 million within cases of fraud by pharmaceutical contractors.

  The NHS CFS objectives are to minimise all fraud and corruption in the NHS and to ensure that money is not lost to fraud but is spent on providing better patient care and services. We will continue to work closely with all the associations representing those that deliver or use NHS services. This inclusive approach means we will be able to continue to take positive action that is in the best interests of the NHS.

  Children Act
  Dr. Naysmith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the Government will report on the operation of the Children Act 1989. [4628]

  Jacqui Smith
  My right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for Health, the Secretary of State for Education and Skills and the Lord Chancellor have today published a report on the Children Act 1989, pursuant to their duties under section 83 of the Act. Copies are available in the Library and Vote Office; and are being sent to all local authorities in England and to a wide range of organisations. A copy of this document can also be found at the following website address: www.doh.gov.uk/scg/ childrenactreport2000.htm.

  Nursing Homes
  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he plans to fulfil the pledge made in the NHS Plan to introduce free nursing in nursing homes. [5031]

  Organ awaited

  Total

  Total where ethnic origin is recorded

  Asian/Asian-British

  Asian/Asian-British as a percentage of total where origin recorded

  Renal (kidney, pancreas kidney/pancreas)

  6,220

  5,793

  827

  13.9

  Cardiothoracic (heart, lungs, heart/lungs)

  464

  430

  18

  4.2

  Liver

  159

  157

  14

  8.9

  Total

  6,843

  6,557

  859

  13.1

  Source:

  This information was provided by United Kingdom Transplant

  Acute Services
  Andrew George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment he has made of staffing levels in acute NHS hospitals in respect of the ability of the service to provide comprehensive diagnosis and treatment within the agreed national clinical standards. [4342]

  Mr. Hutton
  The work force commitments to recruit additional nurses, doctors and therapists in the NHS Plan take account of the need to increase the number of staff
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  Jacqui Smith
  We have today issued draft guidance and directions on implementing free nursing care in England and copies have been placed in the Library. The Department will introduce this from 1 October for those who pay for their care themselves. This will bring financial benefits to approximately 35,000 people who currently pay for their care from their own resources and could save up to just over £5,000 in a full year for some people.

  It will also end the anomaly of people having to pay for care that is provided free of charge by the National Health Service in other settings.

  Those people whose care is currently provided by councils and who receive free nursing care anyway will receive it free via the NHS from April 2002.

  Organ Donors
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many people in the United Kingdom of Asian heritage have registered as organ donors; what percentage of the total this represents; and if he will make a statement; [3840]

  (2) how many patients of Asian heritage are waiting for organ transplants; and what percentage of the total number of patients this represents. [3839]

  Mr. Hutton
  The National Health Service organ donor register does not provide any information on ethnicity.

  The Department launched the South Asian community campaign in 1999 to recruit more donors from the community. The campaign involves a variety of community lead initiatives, using advertising in the broadcast media, press as well as public relations activities. This campaign has generated a great deal of interest—both in transplantation and in preventing the underlying causes of renal failure. The campaign is ongoing.

  Patients on the national organ transplant waiting lists at centres in the United Kingdom is shown in the table.

  necessary to deliver diagnosis and treatment within the agreed clinical standards set out in the National Service Frameworks.

  Nurses
  Andrew George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the support available to those adults on low incomes and with child care needs who wish to enrol as(a) atrainee nurse and (b)for a nursing qualification. [4344]
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  Mr. Hutton
  National Health Service funded students are provided with a favourable level of non-repayable bursary and have their contribution to tuition fees, currently £1,050, paid in full on their behalf.

  The diploma level route into nursing provides a generous level of bursary which is non-means-tested. No contribution is therefore required from the family income.

  The means-tested bursary, available to degree level students, targets low income families as it provides a higher level of support for those in the greatest need. In addition, degree level students are also eligible for assistance through Student Loans (available from the Student Loan Company), Hardship Loans and NHS Hardship Grants.

  Although the NHS bursary does not specifically provide help with childcare costs, extra allowances are available for single parents and for those who have dependants (including children).

  A number of NHS hospitals have started schemes where they employ individuals as healthcare assistants/nursing auxiliaries, train them to entry level standard for nurse training and allow them to retain their salary while they undertake the diploma nurse training programme.

  Student families on low income are also eligible to claim Working Families Tax Credit.

  Assistance with childcare costs is also provided for some students through charitable organisations.

  Ministers aim to provide the widest possible access to nurse training, and continue to take a close interest in ensuring that student support arrangements promote this objective.

  Bursaries (Nurses)
  John McDonnell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the estimated saving is from the proposal to withdraw bursaries from nursing students from non-European countries. [4334]

  Mr. Hutton
  No cost saving is anticipated.

  The change to the student support arrangements was not introduced as a cost-saving measure but to bring conditions for access to the National Health Service bursary for applicants to diploma nursing and midwifery courses into line with those for degree nurses, and students in higher education as a whole.

  John McDonnell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the impact on the recruitment of nurses in the United Kingdom of the proposal to withdraw bursaries from student nurses from non-European countries. [4332]

  Mr. Hutton
  We do not expect any impact on student nurse recruitment.

  The change to the National Health Service bursary regulations requiring applicants to diploma level pre-registration courses in England to meet a prior residence requirement, will be phased in over a 15 month period. The staging of the changes will minimise the impact on higher education institutions. This change will bring diploma level courses into line with degree courses.

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  In areas which traditionally have recruited significant numbers of students from beyond the European Union, NHS workforce confederations will work closely with Higher Education Institutions to ensure that places on nursing/midwifery courses continue to be filled.

  A 10.4 per cent. increase in the basic rate of bursary, effective from September 2001, will also assist in the recruitment and retention of nursing and midwifery students.

  This year we are on course to deliver just under 21,000 nursing and midwifery training places, in English higher education institutions, nearly 6,000 more than four years ago.

  By 2004, on current plans, we expect more than 45,000 new nurses and midwives to come out of training.

  Student nurse recruitment in other parts of the United Kingdom is a matter for the devolved assemblies.

  John McDonnell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the provision of bursaries to nursing students from non-European countries. [4335]

  Mr. Hutton
  With effect from 1 November 2001 applicants to diploma level pre-registration courses in nursing and midwifery in England who wish to access the National Health Service bursary will be expected to meet a prior residence requirement. This brings the NHS bursary regulations for these courses into line with those for degree level nursing and midwifery courses, and for higher education as a whole.

  The changes are staged over a 15 month period in order to minimise the impact. In areas which traditionally have recruited significant numbers of students from beyond the European Union, NHS workforce confederations will work closely with higher education institutes to ensure that places on nursing/midwifery courses continue to be filled.

  Officials consulted fully with the representative bodies for higher education before Ministers decided to change the residence requirement.

  Ministers will continue to take a close interest in the effective operation of these new arrangements.

  Strategic Health Authorities
  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will announce the borders of the new strategic health authorities. [4132]

  Mr. Hutton
  The boundaries of the new strategic health authorities, of which we expect there to be around 30, will be announced after a formal public consultation that will take place in the autumn.

  Hospital Readmissions
  Linda Perham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people were readmitted to hospital within two months of being discharged for each of the past 10 years. [4061]

  Mr. Hutton
  Information for 1998–99 on emergency re-admissions to hospital within 28 days of discharge was published in graphical form in July 2000 in "Quality and
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  performance in the National Health Service: NHS Performance Indicators", copies of which are available in the Library. Standardised rates for England for 1998–99 and for the years 1997–98 and 1996–97 are available from the Department's website: http:/www.doh.gov.uk/nhsperformanceindicators/hIpi2000/h1137.html.

  Bed Blocking
  Mr. Barker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many operations have been cancelled in east Sussex, in each quarter of 2000 and 2001, as a result of hospital beds being occupied by(a)delayed discharge patients who were awaiting social services funding or assessment and (b)delayed discharge patients who had fully funded social services packages arranged. [4022]

  Ms Blears
  [holding answer sent 16 July 2001]: Information is not collected centrally in the format requested.

  Information on the number of operations cancelled at the last minute for non-medical reasons, and breaches to the standard to re-admit patients within one month following such cancellations, are collected on a quarterly basis at health authority level and placed in the Library. The latest figures cover the five quarters up to quarter 4 (January to March 2001) of the 2000–01 financial year.

  Mr. Barker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many acute hospital beds were unavailable in east Sussex to incoming patients as a result of their occupation by(a)delayed discharge patients who were awaiting social services funding and (b)delayed discharge patients who had fully funded social services packages arranged, in each quarter of 2000 and 2001. [4023]

  Ms Blears
  [holding answer 16 July 2001]:Bed statistics are not collected centrally in the format requested. Figures on the average daily number of beds

  The number of patients waiting more than 18 months, up to 15 months, and up to 12 months for in-patient treatment at Mid Essex Hospital Services National Health Service Trust on 31 March 1997 and 31 May 2002

  End of March 1997

  End of May 2001

  Number waiting over 18 months for in-patient treatment

  0

  0

  Number waiting less than 18 months for in-patient treatment

  8,391

  8,868

  Number waiting less than 15 months for in-patient treatment

  8,381

  8,676

  Number waiting less than 12 months for in-patient treatment

  8,287

  8,159

  Source:

  KHO7 quarterly return/monthly returns

  Nursing Care
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health by what deadline strategic health authorities will have to align continuing NHS health care criteria, described in HSC 2001/015: LAC (2001)18. [4093]

  Jacqui Smith
  It is intended that strategic health authorities will be established from April 2002. Any alignment of continuing care criteria that may be required should be an early priority of the new SHAs. This should build on the request in Health Service Circular 2001/015: Local Authority Circular (2001)18 that existing health authorities ensure that continuing health care policies comply with the new guidance. Any action arising from this review should be commenced from October 2001.
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  for each national health service trust are published annually in "Bed Availability and Occupancy, England", copies of which are in the Library.

  Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act
  John Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will publish an annual report under section 22 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970. [4626]

  Jacqui Smith
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health is publishing today the annual report for 1999–2000, and copies are being placed in the Library. The report covers research and development work carried out by (or on behalf of) Government Departments in relation to equipment that might increase the range of activities and independence or well-being of disabled people, and in particular such equipment that might improve their indoor and outdoor mobility.

  The current report places such research in the context of the NHS Plan, and outlines the role of assistive technology in making independent living easier for older people and people with disabilities. The report describes the wide range of Government-funded projects supporting the development, introduction and evaluation of assistive technology. Relevant projects funded by the European Union are also listed.

  Hospital Waiting Times (Essex)
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people in the Mid Essex Hospital Services Trust area were waiting for in-patient treatment for(a)more than 18 months, (b) up to 18 months, (c)up to 15 months and (d)up to 12 months on (i) 31 March 1997 and (ii) 31 May 2001. [3756]

  Mr. Hutton
  The information requested is shown in the table.

  Carers
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the answer of 9 July 2001,Official Report,column 343W, concerning carers, for what reasons his Department is revising the Hospital Discharge Workbook; what status the workbook has; and how compliance with its guidance is monitored. [4181]

  Jacqui Smith
  The Hospital Discharge Workbook issued in 1994, needs to be updated to take into account the new policy changes introduced by the NHS Plan, including the use of intermediate care services.

  The workbook is a framework for good practice. Health authorities, in consultation with local authorities, general practitioners and other agencies, should ensure that

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  hospitals and community health services keep discharge procedures under review and should regularly audit performance.

  Stroke Patients
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what plans he has to ensure that all those who suffer a stroke are admitted to a specialist stroke unit; [3922]

  (2) what measures he plans to increase the number of specialist stroke units in hospitals; [3921]

  (3) if he will take steps to improve the quality of stroke aftercare. [3923]

  Mr. Hutton
  The Department published the National Service Framework for Older People (NSF) on 27 March 2001. Its sets out a comprehensive strategy to ensure fair, high quality integrated health and social care and reduce variations in services for older people.

  The NSF addresses a number of specific conditions, which are significant for, although not limited to, older people. It includes a standard on stroke and service models, which should apply to all who need them regardless of age.

  The stroke standard provides for stroke prevention, immediate care, early and continuing rehabilitation, and long-term support as components of a service model for integrated specialist stroke services which will build on current arrangements and be in place in all general hospitals which care for people with stroke by April 2004.

  Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures he(a) has taken and (b) plans to take to give assistance to carers of people with Alzheimer's and dementia. [3925]

  Jacqui Smith
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave on 2 July 2001,Official Report, columns 30–31W.

  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures he(a) has taken and (b) plans to take to improve the quality of life of those with Alzheimer's disease and dementia. [3924]

  Jacqui Smith
  The National Service Framework for Older People, launched in March 2001, will, for the first time, set national standards and define service models for older people's health and social care, driving up the quality and reducing the variations of that care.

  Doctor Numbers
  Mr. Hopkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many(a) doctors and (b) consultants she estimates are employed full-time in private sector acute hospitals. [4419]

  Mr. Hutton
  Information about the number of doctors and consultants employed in the private sector is not collected centrally.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

  Palestinian Authority
  Mr. Gareth R. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what action she is taking to encourage economic development in the Palestinian Authority areas. [1274]

  Clare Short
  The UK is working within the middle east peace process to support the building of the Palestinian nation's ability to generate economic and social development that benefits the poor. DFID's support includes technical assistance to increase Palestinian capacity to negotiate with the Israelis on economic and other issues to build institutions and to improve health, education and water and sanitation services. DFID has recently approved a contribution of £1.5 million to the World bank's emergency employment generation programme to the West bank and Gaza Strip, aimed at protecting vulnerable groups from falling further into poverty.

  However, economic and social benefits are being eroded by the continuing conflict. A report by the Office of the United Nations Special Co-ordinator for the period 28 September to 26 November 2000, estimated that confrontations, mobility restrictions, and border closures are costing the Palestinian economy at least US$8 million per day.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Burundi
  Mr. Love
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the Government's policy on establishing a UN tribunal on Burundi; and if he will make a statement. [1403]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  We are concerned over growing instability in Burundi and continue to press all parties to make progress on implementing the Arusha peace process. The international community is not currently considering the establishment of an international criminal tribunal for Burundi. Issues of accountability arising from the conflict are part of the ongoing Burundi peace process.

  Mr. Love
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what efforts are being made to investigate war crimes and human rights abuses in Burundi; and if he will make a statement. [1404]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  Our emphasis now is on supporting the Arusha peace agreement, which offers the best chance for bringing peace and stability to Burundi. We support fully last week's UN Presidential Statement (SPRST2001/17), which calls for the suspension of hostilities, and reaffirms the international community's concern over continuing human rights abuses and violations of humanitarian law.

  Mr. Love
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what support he gives to NGOs and human rights groups investigating war crimes and human rights abuses in Rwanda and Burundi; and if he will make a statement. [1405]
  121W
  Mr. Bradshaw
  The UK is playing its role in supporting NGO groups working in Rwanda and Burundi. DFID are providing approximately £500,000 over three years to improve the quality of the judicial system. They also plan to establish a civil society fund to support local NGOs involved in human rights reconciliation activities. Our embassy in Kigali (Rwanda) uses a significant portion of its small grant scheme (worth £200,000) to support human rights NGOs in Rwanda and Burundi.

  In 2001 the UK will provide the International Criminal Tribunal on Rwanda with over £3 million. The tribunal does significant work with victims and witnesses.

  Ian Stillman
  Mr. Laxton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the case of Ian Stillman; and what action he has taken on his behalf. [2674]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary raised our concerns about Mr. Stillman's welfare at a meeting on 26 June with the Indian High Commissioner and Prime Minister Vajpayee's Principal Secretary. The Indian High Commissioner asked for a written note highlighting our concerns and the Foreign Secretary duly wrote to the High Commissioner on 28 June.

  We will continue to speak to the Indian authorities to ensure that his appeal is heard swiftly.

  Israel
  Ann Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps are being taken by the UK Government to encourage the Israeli Government to lift the blockades in the Israeli occupied areas of the West Bank and Gaza. [3232]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  We have serious concerns with the Israeli policy of closures on political, legal and humanitarian grounds. It is hard to justify the closures, even on the narrow security grounds which Israel presents. The closures radicalise the Palestinian population and fuel violence in the occupied territories. They cannot, therefore, achieve their stated purpose. We continue to urge Israel to lift the closures, bilaterally, in ministerial and official level meetings, and collectively with our EU partners in statements and in the political dialogue established by the EU-Israel Association Agreement.

  Lifting the closures also forms part of the Mitchell Committee recommendations. It is vital that the parties move ahead with full and early implementation of those recommendations.

  Macedonia
  Mr. Randall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what financial aid his Department has provided to the Government of Macedonia since 1 January. [2824]

  Mr. MacShane
  So far this year Foreign Office funding for projects in Macedonia amounts to £687,000. This money is to fund projects in the fields of stability, conflict prevention and human rights, each with a particular emphasis on inter-ethnic relations. A large 122W
  proportion of this money was given for the construction of the South-East Europe University in Tetovo, a project sponsored by the OSCE to provide higher education in the Albanian language for the first time in Macedonia.

  HMG are also backing local projects: £56,160 for a disability rights project and £30,000 for a project against institutional violence.

  Foreign and Commonwealth Office funding is in addition to the Department for International Development's pledge of £5 million to provide for technical assistance programmes, over a three-year period, and the European Union's euro 90 million stability assistance programme.

  Ministerial Travel
  Bob Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last travelled on the London underground in the course of his official duties. [3675]

  Mr. Straw
  I have not travelled on London underground in the course of my official duties since my appointment as Foreign Secretary on 8 June.

  Shageldy Atakov
  Mr. David Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what further contact he has had with the Turkmen Foreign Minister concerning the continuing incarceration of Shageldy Atakov; and what representations he has made to the Turkmen authorities concerning the persecution of Christians in Turkmenistan. [3837]

  Peter Hain
  Since the then Minister for Europe's reply to the hon. Member for Richmond Park (Dr. Tonge) on 11 May 2001,Official Report, column 452W, the US embassy, with the agreement of the Turkmen authorities, offered Mr. Atakov asylum in the US. Mr. Atakov rejected this offer. The UK, together with EU partners, continues regularly to raise the case of Mr. Atakov with the Turkmen authorities. At a meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna on 21 June, the EU Presidency pressed the Turkmen OSCE representative for Mr. Atakov's release. We also seek every opportunity to raise with the Turkmen Foreign Ministry the wider issue of persecution of Christians in Turkmenistan. Our ambassador in Ashgabat will raise the issue when he makes his introductory call on the new Turkmen Foreign Minister, Rashid Meredov.

  Hezbullah
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement concerning the kidnapping of Elchanan Tannenbaum by Hezbullah. [3806]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  This Government condemn hostage taking under any circumstances. On 3 May the then Foreign Secretary, my right hon. Friend the Member for Livingston (Mr. Cook) and the then Minister of State, my hon. Friend the Member for Cunninghame, North (Mr. Wilson), met the families of the reservist Colonel Tannenbaum kidnapped by Hezbullah on 4 October and the three soldiers kidnapped on 7 October. The Government are doing what they can to help and have raised these cases, and continues to do so, with the relevant countries in the region pressing particularly for
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  access to the hostages for the ICRC. We strongly support all efforts to secure the release of all hostages, particularly efforts led by the United Nations Secretary-General.

  Green Ministers
  Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) on what date a Green Minister was first appointed in his Department; when subsequent appointments were made; and if he will make a statement; [3894]

  (2) what the terms of reference are for the Green Minister in his Department; and if he will make a statement. [3978]

  Peter Hain
  [holding answer 13 July 2001]I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Environment on 13 July 2001,Official Report, column 689W.

  EU Charter of Fundamental Rights
  Mr. Swayne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what meetings he has had to discuss the impact on the English legal system of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights. [2615]

  Peter Hain
  I have not met the Lord Chancellor to discuss this issue. The Charter of Rights is a political declaration. It is not legally binding. It is addressed to the EU Institutions, and to member states, only to the extent that they are implementing EU law.

  War Crimes Tribunal
  David Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions have taken place with the authorities of Republika Srbska regarding bringing Radovan Karadzic and General Mladic to the international War Crimes Tribunal in the Hague; and if he will make a statement. [4508]

  Mr. MacShane
  Primary responsibility for detaining indictees rests with the authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina. We take every opportunity to raise this issue with the appropriate authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, including in Republika Srbska. They are in no doubt of the importance we attach to co-operation with the International Criminal Tribunal. I discussed this issue myself with political leaders when I was in Sarajevo on 12–13 July. I also told Bosnian Serb media that Karadzic and Mladic should be handed over to The Hague. We remain committed to ensuring that all of those indicted for war crimes in former Yugoslavia, including Karadzic and Mladic, are brought to justice.

  David Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the failure by NATO forces to arrest Radovan Karadzic and General Mladic. [4505]

  Mr. MacShane
  Primary responsibility for detaining indictees rests with the authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina. NATO SFOR troops are mandated to detain any indicted individual they encounter during their operations. To date NATO has detained 25 of those indicted, demonstrating its commitment to support The Hague tribunal's efforts to ensure that all of those indicted for war crimes in former Yugoslavia, including Karadzic 124W
  and Mladic, are brought to justice. Of the 25 detentions so far, over half have been carried out or supported by UK forces.

WALES

  Flooding (North Wales)
  Mark Tami
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the First Secretary of the National Assembly about flooding in north Wales. [4130]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  I meet the First Secretary regularly to discuss a range of issues, including the flooding in north Wales.

  The Assembly responded urgently to the autumn 2000 floods by offering local authorities additional funding in support of both current and capital costs.

  The Assembly has also commissioned a review of flood defence arrangements in Wales, to determine what steps are needed to improve existing arrangements.

  Ministerial Travel
  Bob Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he last travelled on the London underground in the course of his official duties. [3681]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  In an official capacity I last used the underground when I travelled to the Millennium Dome. It was the most efficient and cost-effective mode of travel. However, as Secretary of State for Wales I have few official engagements in London that require the use of the underground.

  IT Contracts
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the information technology contracts in excess of £500,000 let by his Department or its predecessor since April 1991, giving in each case the original estimated cost and original estimated completion date, the actual cost and actual completion date and the names of the contractors involved and consultants retained by his Department. [3510]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  Since it was established on 1 July 1999, the information technology requirements of the Wales Office have been met by the National Assembly for Wales under the terms of a service level agreement.

  There is no central record of contracts entered into by the former Welsh Office prior to that date. However, one contract in excess of £500,000 has been identified—OSIRIS, a contract under the Private Finance Initiative for provision of networked office automation facilities, for which the requested details are as follows:

  original estimated cost—£20 million (excluding VAT);

  original estimated completion date—this is a service contract of seven years duration which ends in January 2004;

  actual cost—the contract has yet to reach its full term. It is estimated that expenditure by January 2004 will be £55 million (excluding VAT);

  actual completion date—January 2004 (the contract has transferred to the National Assembly for Wales); and

  supplier—Siemens Business Services.

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  The cost of the contract is dependent on the number of users of the system. User numbers have risen both as a result of exploiting the opportunities offered by IT for changes to working practices and also by a variety of steps which have been taken to strengthen the democratic process in Wales.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  James Ashley
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the cost of the internal police investigations which were established following the shooting of James Ashley. [3136]

  Mr. Denham
  [holding answer 10 July, 2001]I am informed by the Sussex Police Authority that they have reimbursed costs of £6,443 for the investigation led by the former Chief Constable of Hampshire into the conduct of senior Sussex officers; and that Sussex Police have reimbursed Kent Police £313,000 for the costs of the investigations of other aspects of the case. Those costs exclude the costs of Sussex officers involved, and the costs of legal advice for the Police Authority and the force.

  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what investigations have been initiated to discover the source of the leak of documents relating to the internal police investigations into the shooting of James Ashley; and if he will make a statement. [3137]

  Mr. Denham
  [holding answer 10 July 2001]These documents are the property of the Sussex Police Authority and Chief Constable, and it is for them to consider what investigations should take place. The Police Authority wrote to my right hon. and learned Friend the Attorney-General on 25 May about this. He replied on 15 June that investigations into possible criminal offences are a matter for the police.

  Nurses
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has for granting leave to remain for nurses recruited from abroad to work in the NHS after their initial contract has expired. [3383]

  Angela Eagle
  The Immigration Rules enable nurses recruited from abroad to apply for leave to remain for a period of up to five years once they have obtained full registration with the United Kingdom Central Council for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting and where a work permit has been issued for their employment. The work permit arrangements allow health sector employers to apply for work permits to recruit and retain nurses who are not nationals of a European Economic Area (EEA) state. These applications are granted provided the criteria set by Work Permits (UK) are met. In common with other 126W
  work permit holders, indefinite leave to remain may be applied for and granted after four years and provided the other conditions specified in the Rules are met.

  Extradition Requests
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) on what date he last received an extradition request for Nadhmi Auchi; and for what reasons this request was refused; [4316]

  (2) on how many occasions, and on what dates, since 1 May 1997, the French authorities have contacted (a) his Department and (b) the Metropolitan Police concerning Nadhmi Auchi, with particular reference to Elf Aquitaine. [4315]

  Mr. Bob Ainsworth
  For good and obvious reasons, it is our policy and practice not to comment, ahead of arrest, on whether an extradition request for a particular individual has been made or is under consideration. Neither in these matters do we comment on whether and what contacts have taken place with the authorities of other jurisdictions.

  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many extradition requests have been received from the French authorities since 1 May 1997; how many have been acceded to; how many have been refused; and how many are outstanding. [4317]

  Mr. Bob Ainsworth
  Reliable statistics are available only from 1 January 1998. Since that date, the United Kingdom has received 22 extradition requests from the Government of France. The table provides for the same period the outcomes of French extradition requests, irrespective of when those were first received.

  French extradition requests to UK since 1 January 1998

  Number

  Fugitives surrendered to France

  7

  Fugitives discharged by courts

  4

  Withdrawn by French authorities

  9

  Refused by Secretary of Stare

  0

  Requests outstanding

  12

  Forced Marriages
  Margaret Moran
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he has taken since the publication of the report on forced marriages. [3825]

  Angela Eagle
  The Government will make a full announcement in September of action taken, including reporting progress on the Joint Action Plan published by the Home Office and Foreign and Commonwealth Office last August.

  Asylum Seekers
  Mr. Woodward
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the number of unaccompanied asylum-seeking children who entered the United Kingdom in(a)(b) 1999 and (c) 2000. [3879]
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  Angela Eagle
  The numbers of unaccompanied children who sought asylum in the United Kingdom are as follows:

  Unaccompanied asylum-seeking children

  1998

  3,037

  1999

  3,349

  2000

  2,733

  Mr. Woodward
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the countries from which the majority of unaccompanied asylum-seeking children come to the United Kingdom. [3878]

  Angela Eagle
  In 2000, the majority of unaccompanied asylum-seeking children came from the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (666), Afghanistan (300), Somalia (177), Sri Lanka (170) and Turkey (153).

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 3 July 2001,Official Report, column 100W, on asylum seekers, what plans he has to monitor the reasons for non-compliance of asylum applications. [4416]

  Angela Eagle
  No specific arrangements are currently in place systematically to follow up asylum seekers who fail to comply with procedures without providing a reasonable explanation to ascertain reasons underlying their failure to comply. We are, however, always open to looking at our procedures to ensure that any genuine difficulties applicants have in complying with them are minimised.

  The main reasons for non-compliance refusals are failure, without reasonable explanation, to attend on time an interview connected with the asylum claim or to complete and return a statement of evidence form (SEF) within 10 working days. The Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND) does take account of events outside the asylum seeker's control, for example the serious disruption to rail travel experienced as a result of flooding earlier this year.

  We have made some changes in recent months; for example, a PO box number was introduced to act as a single point for the return of all SEFs to IND, and the explanatory note accompanying the SEF has been translated into 33 of the main languages used by asylum seekers. We are monitoring the effect of these changes closely.

  Mr. Dodds
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people sought asylum in Northern Ireland in each of the last three years; and what proportion were refused. [3076]

  Angela Eagle
  Information on asylum applications and initial decisions in Northern Ireland is unavailable. Asylum applications data are not available at regional level except by port of application. The requested information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost by examination of individual case records.

  IT Contracts
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the information technology contracts in excess of £500,000 let by his 128W
  Department or its predecessor since April 1991, giving in each case the original estimated cost and original estimated completion date, the actual cost and actual completion date and the names of the contractors involved and consultants retained by his Department. [3500]

  Mr. Blunkett
  I shall write to my right hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Police Recruitment (Lancashire)
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many extra police officers have been recruited in(a) Chorley and (b) Lancashire since May 1997. [2021]

  Mr. Denham
  [holding answer 3 July 2001]I am informed by the chief constable that between 1997–98 and 2000–01 453 officers were recruited for the force as a whole, including 33 for the Southern Division of which 11 were deployed to Chorley.

  Lancashire Constabulary—number of recruits 1997–98 to 2000–01

  Year

  Chorley

  Lancashire Constabulary

  1997–98

  2

  135

  1998–99

  4

  55

  1999–2000

  1

  99

  2000–011

  4

  164

  1 Of the 164 officers recruited in 2000–01, 83 were Crime Fighting Fund recruits.

  Wrongful Convictions
  Mrs. Ellman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to receive the working party report on support for prisoners who have been wrongly convicted; to whom he intends to make the report available; and who will respond to the report's findings. [3623]

  Beverley Hughes
  The working party will report to me later this summer. I shall look at the options that it recommends and then decide how to proceed.

  Homosexuality
  Dr. Iddon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to introduce legislation to decriminalise sexual activity between consenting men. [3461]

  Mr. Keith Bradley
  Sexual activity between two consenting adult males in private is not unlawful.

  However, under the Sexual Offences Act 1956, as amended, such activity is not treated as taking place "in private" if it takes place when more than two persons take part or are present; or if it takes place in a lavatory to which the public have or are permitted to have access.

  In "Setting the Boundaries: Reforming the law on sex offences", published in July last year, the Sex Offences Review recommended to the Government that the offences dealing with such activity should be repealed. We are considering the responses to this recommendation along with the others in "Setting the Boundaries".

  Drug-related Murders
  Harry Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the number of drug-related murders in(a) London, (b) England and (c) the UK in each of the last 10 years; and if he will provide the figures for last year in London, broken down by Metropolitan police district. [2711]

  Mr. Denham
  The available information is for years 1995 to 1997 and financial years 1997–98 to 1999–2000 and covers England and Wales only. This information is shown in the table.

  Drug-related murders

  Metropolitan police1

  England

  England and Wales

  1995

  2

  13

  13

  1996

  3

  14

  15

  1997

  4

  13

  13

  1997–98

  3

  12

  12

  1998–99

  1

  8

  8

  1999–2000

  0

  1

  1

  1 Excludes City of London where no drug-related murders were recorded.

  The information is held on the Home Office's Homicide Index database. This records drug involvement when (i) either the suspect is reported to be under the influence of drugs at the time of the offence or (ii) the homicide is motivated by the need to obtain drugs, or money to buy drugs or is drug related in some other way, such as rivalry between dealers etc. Data have only been collected since 1995 for each police force area in England and Wales, and include information recorded as at 11 September 2000 when recording was closed for publication purposes. The data do not include homicide where there is no suspect and relate only to those homicides where a suspect is convicted of murder. Cases in the latest year may not have been dealt with by the courts and would not be included.

  These data may contain some error due to the largely subjective interpretation of 'drugs related' and the amount of information available to the police on the motive for a particular homicide, varying from case to case. A current review of the Homicide Index is aiming to increase the accuracy of data on homicide.

  Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act
  Ms Atherton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when a decision is expected on changes to section 24 of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986. [2983]

  Angela Eagle
  The Government have a clear commitment to freedom of information and are equally committed to the maintenance of the necessary protection for individual scientists and their research institutions from the actions of animal rights extremists. I am considering very carefully how these commitments can best be met. A decision on whether to repeal or amend Section 24 of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 will not be made until later this year.

  Sri Lankan Tamils
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Sri Lankan Tamils seeking asylum in the UK have been deported from the UK in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [3216]

  Angela Eagle
  Information is only available on the total number of Sri Lankan nationals who have claimed asylum in the United Kingdom and subsequently been removed. These data are provided in the table. They will include any Sri Lankan Tamils who have been removed, but we are unable to identify this group separately. It will also include Sri Lankans who have been removed to a third country having claimed asylum here. Again, it is not possible to identify this group separately.

  Year

  Removals1,2

  1996

  80

  1997

  95

  1998

  135

  1999

  375

  2000

  390

  1Asylum seekers removed under port and enforcement procedures.

  2Includes 'voluntary' departures.

  3Estimated due to data quality issues on the main Immigration Service enforcement database.

  Note:

  Data rounded to the nearest five.

  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Sir Lankan Tamil asylum seekers are held in(a) prison and (b) detention centres. [3215]

  Angela Eagle
  Our records show that there were 11 Sri Lankan nationals detained in Immigration Service detention centres and 65 in Prison Service establishments at 31 May 2001, the latest date for which information is available. We are unable to say whether any of these persons are Tamils as information of this kind is not held centrally. It is currently not possible to say how many of those persons had claimed asylum.

  British Nationality Applications
  Mr. Bruce George
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average length of time is for a citizen of Thailand married to a British citizen to apply successfully for British nationality. [3194]

  Angela Eagle
  It is not possible to provide the specific information requested.

  The average waiting times for processing British nationality applications, for persons married to British citizens, is currently 11.5 months.

  In addition there is also a requirement for the applicant to have been resident in the United Kingdom for three years prior to the date of application and not be subject to any time limit under the immigration laws.

  Asylum Appeals
  Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average time taken from receipt of an asylum appeal is by the Immigration and Nationality Directorate to(a) the sending of the appeal to

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  the Immigration Appellate Authority, (b) determination of the appeal by an adjudicator and (c) final determination of the appeal by the Immigration Appeal Tribunal. [3304]

  Angela Eagle
  For the 12 months ending 31 March, data from the Immigration Appellate Authority (IAA) for those cases where data are available indicate that the average time taken from the receipt of an asylum appeal by the Immigration and Nationality Directorate to:

  (a) the receipt of an appeal by the IAA is seven weeks;

  (b) the determination by an adjudicator is 21 weeks;

  (c) the final determination by the Immigration Appeal Tribunal is 43 weeks.

  Corruption Legislation
  Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if new legislation concerning corruption and money laundering will make bribery of a foreign official a crime; and if bribery of a foreign person who is not a foreign Government official will remain legal. [4400]

  Mr. Bob Ainsworth
  Our corruption legislation applies to both the public and the private sector and makes it an offence for a person in this country to bribe someone who is an agent for another person. The term "agent" is defined to include someone who is employed by, or acts for, another irrespective of their nationality. Thus it is unlawful in this country to bribe a foreign agent. The definition of the term "agent" also includes a person serving under the Crown or any local or public authority. The planned legislation on corruption will make it clear that the offence extends to a person acting on behalf of a foreign Government.

  It is also proposed to take jurisdiction over United Kingdom nationals who commit corrupt acts abroad.

  Animal Testing
  Dr. Palmer
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many animals were involved in quality control testing for vaccines produced in the UK in each of the last three years. [2926]

  Angela Eagle
  The number of animals involved in pharmaceutical quality control in the United Kingdom for each of the last three years for which figures are available, is given in Table 10A in each of the publications 'Statistics of Scientific Procedures on Living Animals, Great Britain' and 'Statistics of Scientific Procedures on Living Animals, Northern Ireland', copies of which are in the Library. It is not possible to identify vaccines separately from other pharmaceutical products. No such testing was performed in Northern Ireland in 1997 or 1999.

  Feltham Young Offenders Prison
  Mr. Gareth R. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action has been taken in each of the last five years to improve(a) education, (b) training, (c) employment and (d) recreation opportunities for inmates at Feltham Young Offenders Prison. [3130]

  Beverley Hughes
  As this information will take more time to collect than that allowed for an answer to a parliamentary question, I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Police Officers (Retirement)
  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to amend the scheme for retirement of police officers on health grounds. [3007]

  Mr. Denham
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Brent, North (Mr. Gardiner) on 4 July 2001,Official Report, column 202W.

  Fire Risk Categorisation
  Mr. Shepherd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will publish Her Majesty's Fire Services Inspectorate's comments on the fire risk categorisation survey which have been made available to members of the West Midlands Fire and Civil Defence Authority; [4500]

  (2) what the result was of the West Midlands Fire Service's recent fire risk category survey in Aldridge and Bloxwich; which buildings' risk categorisation is (a) B and (b) C; which buildings in each category have been (i) upgraded and (ii) downgraded by the survey; and what proportion these are of the total. [4499]

  Dr. Whitehead
  I have been asked to reply

  Responsibility for providing fire services rests locally with the fire authority. The authority cannot provide a building by building analysis of fire risk categorisation because risk categories are expressed in terms of the "predominant risk" of an area. The methodology used has been validated by HM Inspector of Fire Services in order to ensure consistency across the area and with other fire authorities.

  Women Prisoners
  Fiona Mactaggart
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to restructure the prison estate to accommodate the number of women being given custodial sentences and those people being detained for reasons of immigration; and if he will make a statement. [4974]

  Beverley Hughes
  The use of the prison estate is kept under constant review by the Prison Service Management Board and I have endorsed their decision to change the function of Downview male closed prison to become a female closed prison; to remove immigration detainees from Rochester, making the whole of that establishment a young offender institution; and for Dover young offender institution to become an establishment dedicated to immigration detainees.

  Leave to Remain
  Vernon Coaker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to replace the current application forms for foreign nationals wishing to apply for leave to remain in the United Kingdom. [4975]

  Angela Eagle
  The current application forms are valid for use only until 14 October 2001. Revised forms will be prescribed before then and should be available by the end of September. From the time they are issued until 14 October 2001, applications may be made on either the newly prescribed forms or the present versions. Only the new
  133W
  forms may be used for applications made on or after 15 October 2001. Copies will be placed in the Library when they are available.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

  Home Education
  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many infant children had approval for home education in(a) 1997, (b) 1998, (c) 1999 and (d) 2000; and if she will make a statement. [2865]

  Mr. Timms
  We do not collect centrally the data requested.

  Section 7 of the Education Act 1996 places a duty on parents to ensure that a child of compulsory school age receives education suitable to his or her age, ability, aptitude and any special educational need the child may have. Parents can fulfil this duty either by their child attending school regularly or otherwise. Some parents elect to educate their children at home. Local education authorities have a duty to monitor the suitability of the education being received by a home educated child by virtue of section 437 (1) of the 1996 Act and can issue a School Attendance Order if they are not satisfied that a child is receiving suitable education.

  Free School Meals
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the percentage of children entitled to free school meals is in(a) schools previously

  Contract

  Contract

  Estimated cost (£)

  Estimated completion date

  Actual cost (£)

  Actual completion date

  Work permits system hardware

  Data General

  600,000

  1992

  600,000

  1992

  Census of employment processing system

  Andersens

  3,900,000

  February 1994

  3,920,000

  March 1994

  Personnel system

  Data General UK

  750,00

  April 1997

  760,000

  April 1997

  Replacement accounting system

  WS Atkins Planning and Management Consultants

  500,000

  April 1999

  500,000

  April 1999

  Supply and Installation of Network Cabling

  Century Electrical Contractors

  525,000

  October 1999

  525,000

  October 1999

  Provision of initial IT infrastructure for the Learning and Skills Council

  ICL

  890,000

  February 2001

  985,000

  February 2001

  The Government Catalogue, framework contract for ICT goods and related services

  EDS

  15,000,000

  October 2001

  —

  —

  On-line training system supply and maintenance

  NETG

  748,000

  March 2002

  —

  —

  Mainframe leasing, system supply & contract management services

  ICL

  24,000,000

  March 2002

  —

  —

  Software applications development and maintenance service

  FI Group

  33,000,000

  March 2002

  —

  —

  Framework contract for supply of software to DfEE

  Trustmarque Solutions

  2,500,000

  July 2002

  —

  —

  Framework contract for supply of personal computers etc.

  Dell Computer Corporation

  15,000,000

  November 2002

  —

  —

  Framework contract for Electronic publishing services

  CTPi

  778,000

  February 2003

  —

  —

  134W
  designated as specialist schools, (b) schools included in the latest annual list of specialist schools and (c) all other maintained secondary schools. [3163]

  Mr. Timms
  [holding answer 11 July 2001]The available information is shown in the table.

  Percentage of pupils known to be eligible for free school meals January 2000

  Percentage

  Schools designated as specialist as at 30 September 2000

  14.6

  Schools newly designated as specialist as at 30 September 2001

  17.6

  Maintained secondary schools not designated as specialist schools

  16.9

  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will extend free school meals to those on Working Families Tax Credit; and if she will make a statement. [3737]

  Mr. Timms
  My Department has no such plans.

  IT Contracts
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list the information technology contracts in excess of £500,000 let by her Department or its predecessor since April 1991, giving in each case the original estimated cost and original estimated completion date, the actual cost and actual completion date and the names of the contractors involved and consultants retained by her Department. [3497]

  John Healey
  The information that can be provided without disproportionate cost is contained in the table:

  Universities (Public-Private Partnerships)
  Helen Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) if she will list those universities that have agreed public-private partnerships to provide students with residential accommodation; [3872]

  (2) if those universities which have agreed public-private partnerships to provide students with residential accommodation have retained the ability to control rents for that accommodation. [3873]

  Margaret Hodge
  Universities are independent, self-governing bodies which make their own decisions about entering into public-private partnerships. They also make their own decisions on the conditions under which such partnerships exist. The Government do not hold records of these arrangements.

  Teachers' Pay
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the forecast rise in teachers' pay will be for 2003–04 in(a) real and (b) cash terms. [3927]

  Mr. Timms
  No such forecast has been made. The level of teachers' pay in 2003–04 will be subject to recommendation by the School Teachers' Review Body (STRB) and consultation before a decision is reached. It will need to take account of affordability, recruitment and retention, and other factors that will apply at the time.

  Child Care (Coventry)
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many new childminder places have been set up in Coventry through the early years development programme and the child care partnerships. [3930]

  Mr. Timms
  Since April 1999 Coventry early years development and child care partnership has reported the creation of 948 new childminder places in the Coventry area.

  Funding (Suffolk)
  Mr. Gummer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much has been spent per head on(a) primary and (b) secondary education in (i) the county of Suffolk, excluding Ipswich and (ii) the town of Ipswich in the last 12 months. [4118]

  Mr. Timms
  The information requested is not collected centrally: our information relates to local education authority areas, such as Suffolk, rather than districts within them.

  Mr. Gummer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what additional resources her Department will provide for(a) Suffolk county council and (b) Ipswich for education in the next financial year. [4121]

  Mr. Timms
  Most funding for education in the next financial year will not be known until the autumn when the Local Government Finance Settlement will be announced. Listed are the latest funding allocations for education in Suffolk local education authority for the current financial year. The figures are provisional estimates, as final 136W
  decisions on some funding allocations have yet to be finalised. Allocations can only be given at local education authority level.

  2001–02

  £ million

  SSA

  227.3

  Grants

  27.0

  Capital

  20.8

  The following revenue grants have been included: DfES contributions to the Standards Fund; Class Size Reduction Grant, School Standards Grant, Education Budget Support Grant and Nursery Education Grant for three-year-olds.

  School Admissions
  Mr. Pope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans she has to reform mainstream schools admissions policy in England. [4268]

  Mr. Timms
  We are considering changes to the school admissions framework and plan to consult on detailed proposals.

  School Sixth Forms
  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if the guarantee that school sixth form funding will be maintained in real terms, once learning and skills councils take responsibility for them, will still apply if pupil numbers fall. [4296]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  [holding answer 16 July 2001]Through our Real Terms Guarantee, we are ensuring that no sixth form can lose compared to its 2000–01 funding levels, provided numbers are maintained. For sixth forms that are reducing in size, the guarantee will be maintained but at a proportionately reduced level. The Learning and Skills Council will use a standard per capita figure for all pupil increases or decreases. The size of the initial per capita adjustment applying in 2002–03 will be published by the LSC in September.

  Further Education Lecturers
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what action she plans to take in respect of further education colleges which do not award annual pay increases to silver book contract lecturers. [4415]

  Margaret Hodge
  Further Education colleges are self-governing institutions. The implementation of annual pay awards is a matter for employers and their staff, and is not a matter on which it is appropriate for the Government to intervene. Nevertheless, I can reiterate the reply given by my hon. Friend the Minister for Lifelong Learning on 9 July 2001,Official Report, column 388W, that the additional moneys allocated to FE colleges under the Teaching Pay Initiative are intended to be fairly distributed among all eligible staff.

  Standard Spending Assessment (Bedfordshire)
  Mr. Selous
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 'what the average annual standard spending assessment is per pupil for each(a) primary school and

  137W
  (b) secondary school pupil in England; and what the comparable figures for pupils in Bedfordshire are for the most recent year for which figures are available. [4714]

  Mr. Timms
  The table shows for 2001–02 the Education SSA per primary and secondary pupil for England and Bedfordshire.

  £

  SSA

  England

  Bedfordshire

  Primary per pupil

  2,590

  2,520

  Secondary per pupil

  3,310

  3,240

  Literacy and Numeracy Tests
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of 11-year-olds achieved level 4 or above in the key stage 2 tests for(a) literacy and (b) numeracy in (i) 2000 and (ii) 2001. [4802]

  Mr. Timms
  The proportion of 11-year-olds who achieved Level 4 or above in the Key Stage 2 tests in 2000 in(a) English was 75 per cent. and (b) mathematics was 72 per cent. Results for 2001 are not yet available. A Press Notice will be released in mid-September announcing national results for 2001.

DEFENCE

  Army Training and Recruiting Agency
  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the Key Targets for the chief executive of the Army Training and Recruiting Agency for the financial year 2001–02 are. [4976]

  Mr. Ingram
  The Chief Executive of the Army Training and Recruiting Agency has been set the following Key Targets for FY 2001–02.

  Key Targets 1
  To meet the Army's requirement from the ATRA for 575 trained mainstream officers available to take up their first appointment within a permissible variance of 2 per cent. The 2000–01 performance was an output of 550.

  Key Targets 2
  To meet the Army's requirement from the ATRA for 9,442 soldiers available to take up their first appointment within a permissible variance of 5 per cent. The 2000–01 performance was an output of 8,738.

  Key Targets 3
  To achieve a first time pass rate of 98 per cent. for all officers made available to undergo career or professional development training, while maintaining the required standard and within pre-set training times. The 2000–01 performance was a first time pass rate of 97 per cent.

  Key Targets 4
  To achieve a 96 per cent. first time pass rate for all soldiers made available to undergo career or professional development training, while maintaining the required standard and within pre-set training times. The 2000–01 performance was a first time pass rate of 95 per cent.

  Key Targets 5
  To achieve an overall 3 per cent. improvement in the efficiency of ATRA operations. The 2000–01 performance was an input efficiency achievement of 3.4 per cent.
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  Low-flying Aircraft
  Mr. Martlew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the pattern of military low-flying activity in the United Kingdom during the training year 2000–01. [4977]

  Dr. Moonie
  The ability to fly fast and low continues to be an essential skill in our armoury of tactics. Training for aircrew to achieve and maintain these skills is vital.

  The amount of low-flying training carried out in the UK Low Flying System during the training year April 2000 to March 2001 was the minimum necessary for aircrew to reach and maintain these skills. Hours booked for low-flying training during this period amounted to a small decrease (of 66 hours, or less than 1 per cent.) compared to the previous training year. Since detailed records of hours booked began in 1995, the total overall has reduced by over 36 per cent. (24,360 hours) with fixed wing activity showing the greatest reduction.

  The distribution of low-flying training across the UK has not changed significantly. We continue to try and spread it as widely as practicable, but for a variety of operational, geographical and climatic constraints some parts of the country will see more than others.

  I have today placed in the Library of the House a paper giving a detailed account of low-flying training in the UK Low-flying System for the period April 2000 to March 2001.

  Further copies of the paper can be obtained from the following address:

  Directorate of Air Staff

  Ministry of Defence

  Room 662

  Metropole Building

  Northumberland Avenue

  London WC2N 5BL.

  Duke of York's Royal Military School
  Ms Munn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the Key Targets for the chief executive of the Duke of York's Royal Military School for the financial year 2001–02 are. [4978]

  Dr. Moonie
  The chief executive of the Duke of York's Military school has been set the following Key Targets for FY 2001–02.

  Key Targets 1
  To achieve 93.5 per cent. of 15 year old pupils gaining five or more passes graded A* to C at GCSE.

  Key Targets 2
  To achieve 22.5 per cent. of GCSE passes at grades A* or A.

  Key Targets 3
  To achieve an average GCSE points score per 15 year old pupil of 53.4.

  Key Targets 4
  To achieve an average of GCE points score per candidate of 20.6.

  Key Targets 5
  To achieve 37.4 per cent. of GCE passes at grades A or B.

  Key Targets 6
  To achieve a pupil per capita cost of no more than £12,798.

  Key Targets 7
  To generate income of at least £550,000.
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  Key Targets 8
  To achieve at least 290 applications for September 2001 intake.

  Bloody Sunday Inquiry
  Dr. Vis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on progress with the police investigation into the destruction of rifles pertinent to the Bloody Sunday inquiry. [4979]

  Mr. Hoon
  The police investigation into the unauthorised destruction of possible Bloody Sunday rifles announced in my answer of 17 February 2000,Official Report, column 648W, was completed in April 2001. The Bloody Sunday inquiry has been fully informed of the progress of the investigation and asked, at the outset, that the scope of the investigation be widened to establish the histories and whereabouts of the 29 weapons originally examined by the Widgery inquiry in 1972.

  The police investigation revealed, for the first time, that the partial serial numbers provided by the Bloody Sunday inquiry generate 60 possible permutations for the 29 weapons originally sought by the inquiry. The report therefore reveals that the information on which my answer of 17 February 2000 was based, although provided in good faith, was inaccurate and incomplete.

  By establishing detailed audit trails for all 60 weapons, the police have been able to recover 14 weapons and confirmed that 29 have been destroyed. The police were unable to confirm the existence or whereabouts of the remaining 17 weapons, some of which have been sold, complete or in parts. Others may have either been destroyed prior to the creation of the computer record or manufactured and delivered to customers overseas.

  The self-loading rifle (SLR) was declared obsolete in November 1997. A routine disposal programme involving the sale and destruction of the weapons was in progress from January 1998, although some surplus rifles were disposed of prior to this date. At the time of the inquiry's request the disposal programme was reducing stock by 4,000 weapons a month with the aim of completing disposal by April 2000. By the end of January 2000 approximately 116,000 SLRs had been disposed of out of a total of 144,000.

  The dates on which weapons that "match" the partial serial numbers provided by the Bloody Sunday inquiry were destroyed are as follows:

  1995 unknown date (three rifles)

  17 September 1997

  21 January 1998

  3 February 1998

  12 February 1998

  7 April 1998

  27 April 1998 (two rifles)

  2 June 1998 (two rifles)

  25 June 1998

  6 August 1998

  13 August 1998

  23 September 1998

  29 October 1998

  13 January 1999 (two rifles)

  140W

  17 February 1999

  23 February 1999

  24 March 1999

  22 September 1999 (two rifles)

  23 November 1999 (two rifles)

  26 January 2000

  27 January 2000 (two rifles).

  By September 1999, when the inquiry made a formal request for weapons and provided partial serial numbers, the Ministry of Defence held six weapons but was able to identify only five as Bloody Sunday "possible". Two of these weapons identified as Bloody Sunday weapons, together with a third weapon that had not been identified, were destroyed in a routine disposal programme on 26 and 27 January 2000. The destruction only came to light after the event when the computer database was updated. My answer of 17 February 2000 incorrectly stated the dates at which the computer record was updated, rather than the actual dates of destruction.

  The police report concluded that the weapons were destroyed as a result of a combination of factors including inaccurate computer records, duplicated serial numbers and mistakes resulting from human error rather than an overt criminal act. Based on the police report, I am satisfied that there was no conspiracy to destroy evidence sought by the inquiry. The matter has now been referred to the chain of command to implement management improvements designed to prevent a recurrence and to determine whether any internal disciplinary action needs to be taken.

  The evidence contained in the report suggests that the destroyed rifles would have been of little value to the inquiry due to duplicated serial numbers and the lack of certainty that any individual weapon was fired on Bloody Sunday. However, the police report indicates a strong possibility that a L42A1 7.62mm sniper rifle conversion can be matched to a Bloody Sunday weapon. The whereabouts of this weapon were unknown when the report was produced, but it has now been recovered by the MDP. The police investigation also confirmed that it is not possible to determine whether any rifles have retained their original barrels as large numbers of rifles were re-barrelled during the 30 or so years that the weapons remained in operational service. Detailed records were not kept to record whether a rifle had been re-barelled, or how many times this may have occurred.

  The Bloody Sunday inquiry will reach its own view as to the potential forensic value of the weapons.

  Nuclear Weapons (Accidents)
  Phil Sawford
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the circumstances of each of the accidents involving UK nuclear weapons referred to in the answer given by the then Minister for the Armed Forces, the hon. Member for Mid-Sussex (Mr. Soames) on 16 July 1996,Official Report, columns 484–85W. [5030]

  Mr. Hoon
  We have a good record on the safety and security of our nuclear weapons and continue to place the highest importance on work in this area. I have today placed in the Library of both Houses a table which sets
  141W
  out the circumstances of each of the seven accidents concerned. The information it contains is drawn from records spanning a period of 40 years and confirms that:
  There has never been a weapons accident resulting in the release of radioactive material;
  there has never been damage to a weapon which risked a radioactive leak or an explosion;
  there has never been a nuclear weapon lost.

  In addition to the three road traffic accidents referred to in the table, our research has identified one other, similar, event which took place in 1960 in Lincolnshire. There is no damage to the weapon involved. Since this event pre-dates current reporting system it is unclear whether, in today's terms, it would be categorised as an accident.

  The Government remain committed to greater openness on nuclear issues wherever possible. A key responsibility, however, must be to protect the safety and operational security of our nuclear forces and the people who support them. The practice of neither confirming nor denying the presence of nuclear weapons at any particular place and at any particular time will therefore continue to be a cornerstone of the Government's policy on nuclear weapons issues.

  Depleted Uranium
  Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his most recent estimate is of the levels of depleted uranium, monitored in Kosovo and Serbia, arising from the use of allied depleted uranium munitions. [3957]

  Dr. Moonie
  On 21 June, the Ministry of Defence published a detailed paper entitled: 'Report of a Reconnaissance Visit to Develop an Enhanced Environmental Monitoring Programme in the UK Sector in Kosovo', which discusses the findings of a MOD reconnaissance team visit to Kosovo from 19-23 January to plan work, conduct field measurements and take preliminary samples. The field measurements supported the view that the risks from DU to our troops, and the population, are low. Analysis of some soil samples was delayed, as a result of potential asbestos contamination, however the information will be available for publication in the next few weeks. A copy of the team's report is available on the MOD internet website: www.mod.uk/ index.php3?page=2739 and a copy will be placed in the Library of the House.

  The full, enhanced environment surveillance programme, announced on 9 January, is expected to take place in August. The programme will be conducted in accordance with a protocol which is currently under expert and public consultation. That consultation period ends on 20 July. Results from the programme will be published accordingly.

  Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish details of the depleted uranium-based `Charm 3' ammunition referred to the letter from the then Minister for the Armed the Forces, the hon. Member for Warley (Mr. Spellar), of 26 February. [3958]

  Dr. Moonie
  Yes. As explained in the letter from the then Minister for the Armed Forces dated 26 February, D/Min(AF)/JS PQ 0299/01/Y, a copy of which is in the Library of the House, we have begun to conduct an 142W
  analysis of the composition of the Charm 3 120mm DU-based anti-tank ammunition round using independent laboratories to confirm the data provided by the manufacturer (and published by the Department on 7 February 2001, Official Report, column 521W) about DU contamination by other radioactive materials. The works is currently incomplete owing to technical difficulties.

  Explosives River Tamar)
  Mr. Breed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what research his Department has undertaken into the presence of explosives on the bed of the River Tamar, with particular reference to the risks to the local population; if he will publish the outcome of the research; and if he will make a statement. [4445]

  Dr. Moonie
  A rigorous and extensive research, survey and clearance operation was initially undertaken between 1993 and 1997 to confirm, as far as reasonably practicable, the removal of explosives from the Bull Point land area and adjacent River Tamar. Subsequently, further survey and clearance operations were conducted, using experts in the field and state of the art technology, in order to establish safe working conditions as a prerequisite to the dredging for the Remote Ammunitioning Facility Tamar (RAFT).

  The explosive items have remained submerged and incident free for in excess of 50 years. All the clearance operations conducted to date have been completed without incident, including riverbed blasting in support of RAFT.

  Presentations on the clearances and finds have been made to local interest groups, local government representatives and the local press and media over the last 12 months. The issue has also been the subject of public meetings. Information, including research documents, has been displayed at HM Naval Base open days. A copy of the research documents will be placed in the Library of the House.

  Throckmorton Airfield
  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on his future plans for Throckmorton airfield. [4105]

  Dr. Moonie
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 23 April 2001,Official Report, column 89W. The main site, known as DERA Pershore, was transferred on 1 July 2001 to QinetiQ, a wholly Government owned plc formed from 75 per cent. of the former DERA Trading Fund. QinetiQ will be responsible for continuing the Ministry of Defence related uses of the site, as well as taking forward any regeneration of the area in concert with the local and regional authorities.

  The part of the airfield used in helping to deal with the consequences of foot and mouth disease is in the process of being transferred to the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).

  Porton Down
  Mr. David Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the advice of the Medical Research Council on the feasibility of an epidemiological study on
  143W
  the effect of research on service volunteers at Porton Down; what his response was to the advice; and if he has plans to establish an independent inquiry. [4586]

  Dr. Moonie
  I refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave to the hon. Member for Truro and St. Austell (Mr. Taylor) on 28 June and 13 July 2001,Official Report, columns 133W and 622W respectively. Any resultant epidemiology study will be carried out independently of the Ministry of Defence. On 1 May I announced that the Department would conduct an historical survey of the Porton Volunteer Trials, and that this would be supervised by Professor Ian Kennedy of University College London. In addition, an investigation by the Wiltshire police of the Porton Down volunteer programme from 1939 to 1989 is under way. There are no plans for a further independent inquiry.

  Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) on what dates the Ethical subgroup of the Defence Scientific Advisory Committee Medical Committee scrutinised the experiment in 1989 in which service personnel were exposed to sarin nerve gas at the chemical defence establishment, Porton Down; and if he will place in the Library copies of the minutes of the committee which relate to the discussion of this experiment; [986]

  (2) on what dates the Ethical subgroup of the Defence Scientific Advisory Committee Medical Committee scrutinised the experiment at the Chemical Defence Establishment, Porton Down, in November 1983, in which eight service personnel were exposed to sarin nerve gas; and if he will place in the Library copies of the minutes and other papers of the committee which relate to the discussion of this experiment. [3405]

  Dr. Moonie
  I shall write to the hon. Member and copies of my letters will be placed in the Library of the House.

  Aberporth
  Mr. Simon Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proposals he has to ensure the continuation of the apprenticeship scheme at QinetiQ, Aberporth after 2004. [4535]

  Dr. Moonie
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 2 July 2001,Official Report, column 5W.

  Mr. Simon Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reasons the training budget is being transferred from DRE Aberporth to his Department; and what the timetable for the transfer is. [4536]

  Dr. Moonie
  No transfer of funding for apprentice training from QinetiQ, Aberporth to the Ministry of Defence is taking place.

  Kenya
  Mr. Caton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the British Army stopped using live ammunition at the Dol Dol range. [3206]

  Mr. Ingram
  We do not currently believe that the British Army has ever fired live ammunition at the Dol Dol training area but are examining the records to make 144W
  sure that this is the case. The British Army uses Dol Dol for low level "dry" (ie without live ammunition) training only.

  Ministerial Travel
  Bob Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he last travelled on the London Underground in the course of his official duties. [3682]

  Dr. Moonie
  In order to ensure effective use of his time, by allowing him to work on official papers, my right hon. Friend uses the Government Car Service when travelling in London.

  Defence Equipment Demonstrations
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what costs were incurred by his Department in providing armed service personnel support to defence equipment demonstrations in the last 12 months. [3844]

  Dr. Moonie
  Within the Ministry of Defence, the Defence Export Services Organisation is responsible for co-ordinating Government support to industry in promoting legitimate defence exports with other parts of MOD assisting as required.

  No central record is kept of costs incurred for the provision of service personnel support to defence equipment demonstrations. The information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  The cost of MOD support for defence exports is however far outweighed by the financial benefits to the Department.

  Defence Export Services Organisation
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the net operating costs of DESO and related support functions were for the financial years(a) 1997–98, (b) 1998–99, (c) 1999–2000 and (d) 2000–01. [3815]

  Dr. Moonie
  The net operating costs of the Defence Export Services Organisation for each of the financial years requested were as follows:

  Year

  £ million

  1997–98

  14.380

  1998–99

  16.010

  1999–2000

  13.735

  2000–01

  12.360

  These net operating costs are more than offset by benefits to the Defence budget, estimated at around £400 million a year, arising from DESO's activities. These benefits include a reduction in overhead costs for UK Procurement as a result of export orders, and receipts from Commercial Exploitation Levy and disposal of surplus Ministry of Defence equipment.

  Portsmouth Harbour
  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions have taken place regarding the dredging of Portsmouth Harbour in relation to the Future Aircraft Carrier procurement project; and if he will make a statement. [3294]
  145W
  Dr. Moonie
  [holding answer 12 July 2001]As part of the Future Aircraft Carrier Assessment phase, contractors have visited several naval bases and port facilities to analyse their suitability for berthing and basing of the vessels. One of the issues addressed has been access and the requirement, if any, for dredging. Discussions to date have only been of an informal nature and no decisions have yet been made on berthing or basing options for the carriers and any potential dredging requirements. Further studies, involving environmental impact assessments, will take place during the next stage of assessment. The relevant authorities will be consulted on the results, as required.

  Nuclear Tests
  Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what tests have been conducted on(a) military service personnel from the United Kingdom and Commonwealth forces in Australia, in respect of exposure to radiation from the detonation of nuclear weapons in the atmosphere, since 1971, and (b) children in (i) Hong Kong and (ii) the United Kingdom, in respect of the take up of radiation into body parts; and if he will make a statement on recent representations made to the Government on radiological tests. [3961]

  Dr. Moonie
  No tests have been conducted on military service personnel from the United Kingdom and Commonwealth forces in Australia since 1971 in respect of exposure to radiation from the detonation of nuclear weapons in the atmosphere.

  Tests conducted on children in Hong Kong and the United Kingdom, in respect of the take up of radiation into body parts and recent representations made to the Government on radiological tests, are matters for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health.

  Pay (Locally Engaged Overseas Staff)
  Mr. Love
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence in which British overseas defence establishments locally engaged staff are paid below local poverty datum lines; and if he will make a statement. [4538]

  Dr. Moonie
  This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The Ministry of Defence employs over 13,000 locally engaged civilian staff around the world. Their conditions of service, including pay levels, are set in accordance with the terms of the discretionary authority conferred by the Treasury on Departments. This ensures that pay levels are established by reference to local best practice. Periodic pay reviews must be informed by local surveys of comparable employers thus ensuring that MOD remuneration remains competitive. Locally engaged staff play a vital role in support of the British armed forces overseas and it is in the MOD's interests to ensure that it is able to recruit and retain adequate numbers of the right calibre.

  Defence Spending
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the level of defence spending is forecast to be as a proportion of gross domestic product in 2003–04. [3938]
  146W
  Mr. Ingram
  The settlement for defence announced in the Spending Review last year planned for the first sustained growth in defence expenditure for more than a decade. In 2003–04 defence expenditure is expected to represent 2.3 per cent. of GDP.

  Pardons
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement regarding the granting of pardons to those who were executed 'for cowardice during the First World War. [3937]

  Dr. Moonie
  The question of granting pardons to those executed during the First World War, mostly for desertion, was the subject of a detailed review by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, then Minister of State for the Armed Forces. The legal difficulties in considering pardons, particularly the lack of evidence available today, were explained in his statement to this House on 24 July 1998,Official Report, columns 1372–86.

  Those executed have been publicly recognised as victims of a terrible war and their commemoration by the new memorial in the National Memorial Arboretum is particularly fitting.

  Air Group Personnel
  Mr. Quentin Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the estimated air group personnel is of each CVF. [3513]

  Mr. Hoon
  At this stage in the procurement of CVF, the Future Joint Combat Aircraft and Future Organic Airborne Early Warning capability, the estimated size of the air group personnel to be embarked on the CVF has yet to be determined. The actual composition of the air group will depend on the number and the type of aircraft embarked and is the subject of on-going work.

  Spearfish
  Mr. Quentin Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the Spearfish torpedo will be in service with fleet submarines. [3515]

  Dr. Moonie
  The Spearfish torpedo entered Royal Navy service during 1994.

  Apache Helicopters
  Mr. Quentin Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Apache helicopters will be in service by the end of(a) 2001, (b) 2002 and (c) 2003. [3516]

  Dr. Moonie
  The Apache attack helicopter entered service with the Army on 16 January 2001. The number of helicopters delivered by the end of this and the following two years will be:

  2001: 18

  2002: 41

  2003: 64.

  Mr. Quentin Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Army pilots are qualified to fly the Apache helicopter. [3521]
  147W
  Mr. Ingram
  The Army currently has 17 pilots trained to fly various versions of the Apache helicopter. Of these 17 pilots, two are currently on exchange tours with the US Army, two are on test flying duties and 13 are undergoing further training on the UK Apache at the School of Army Aviation at Middle Wallop.

  Mr. Quentin Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the Army's Apache helicopters will become operationally available. [3523]

  Dr. Moonie
  The Army expects to have an initial operating capability, consisting of the first operational Apache squadron, in August 2004. A full task force capability based on an attack helicopter regiment is planned for early 2005.

  Meteor
  Mr. Quentin Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the Meteor programme and its development contract. [3517]

  Dr. Moonie
  The UK, France and Sweden signed the Meteor Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) at the Paris Air Show. We very much hope that the remaining three partner nations will sign the MOU by the end of September 2001. On that basis, we plan to place a demonstration and manufacture contract for Meteor by the end of 2001, subject to agreeing satisfactory terms with Matra BAe Dynamics, the Prime Contractor.

  Mr. Quentin Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects all partner nations to sign the memoranda of understanding on the A400M and the Meteor programme. [3524]

  Dr. Moonie
  We very much hope that all partner nations will have signed the memorandum of understanding by the end of September 2001.

  C130
  Mr. Quentin Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to begin retiring the RAF's C130Ks from service. [3518]

  Mr. Ingrain
  Under existing plans, the RAF Hercules C 130K long-term fleet will be retired from service towards the end of this decade.

  Mr. Quentin Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the RAF's inventory is of C130 aircraft; and how many of them are operationally available. [3519]

  Mr. Ingram
  The RAF has a fleet of 57 Hercules C130 aircraft. Of these, 49 are allocated to the operating fleet and are available to operational commanders within specified time scales.

  HMS Ocean
  Mr. Quentin Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost was of HMS Ocean. [3527]

  Mr. Ingram
  The cost of the contract to design and build HMS Ocean was £150.6 million.

  Tomahawk
  Mr. Quentin Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which fleet submarines have been given 148W
  Tomahawk capability; which submarines are scheduled to receive this capability; and when the conversion work will take place. [3529]

  Mr. Ingram
  It is planned the two Swiftsure class, seven Trafalgar class and all of the Astute class submarines will receive the Tomahawk capability.

  HMS Splendid and HMS Triumph are now Tomahawk Land Attack Missile (TLAM) capable, and HMS Trafalgar will be declared TLAM capable following trials later this summer. Work to equip HMS Spartan, HMS Trenchant and HMS Turbulent with TLAM capability is currently under way as part of their major upkeep periods. It is currently planned that the remaining three submarines—HMS Talent, HMS Tireless and HMS Torbay—will become TLAM capable by about 2006.

  The Astute class submarines will be built Tomahawk capable. HMS Astute, the first submarine of this new class, is due to enter service from 2005.

  ASRAAM
  Mr. Quentin Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects ASRAAM to enter into service with the RAF; and if he will make a statement. [3520]

  Dr. Moonie
  Matra BAe Dynamics Ltd., the prime contractor for ASRAAM, encountered a number of technical problems which meant that the in service date of April 2001 was not met. We are working with the company to agree a programme which will bring the missile up to an acceptable standard. When we agree a revised programme we will set a new date for ASRAAM's entry into service. Until that time, Tornado F3, Harrier GR7 and Sea Harrier FA2 aircraft will continue to have an effective short-range air to air capability using Sidewinder missiles.

  Harrier GR7
  Mr. Quentin Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many RAF pilots have been trained to fly Harrier GR7 for carrier operations. [3530]

  Mr. Ingram
  As of today, there are 28 front-line RAF Harrier GR7 pilots trained and qualified for carrier operations. Available records suggest that since the Harrier GR7 began carrier operations in 1997, approximately 76 GR7 pilots have been trained in the role.

  MR(TRIGAT)
  Mr. Quentin Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what savings will accrue to the defence budget following the cancellation of the MR(TRIGAT) programme. [3522]

  Dr. Moonie
  There are no savings accrued from our decision not to proceed with the industrialisation and production phase of the MR(TRIGAT) programme. The funding allocated to MR(TRIGAT) has been transferred to the Infantry Anti-Tank Guided Weapons programme, which will ensure that future capabilities in this area are fully met.

  Astute Class Submarines
  Mr. Quentin Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the entry into service date is of each of the Astute class submarines. [3526]

  Dr. Moonie
  The first Astute class submarine is due to enter into service in June 2005. The remaining two submarines of the class currently on order will follow at approximately two-year intervals.

  IT Contracts
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the information technology contracts in excess of £500,000 let by his Department or its predecessor since April 1991, giving in each case the original estimated cost and original estimated completion date, the actual cost and actual completion date and the names of the contractors involved and consultants retained by his Department. [3496]

  Dr. Moonie
  The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

SCOTLAND

  Oil Fabrication
  Mr. David Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on the future for oil fabrication in Scotland. [2642]

  Mrs. Liddell
  The Government and the oil and gas industry continue to work together through PILOT to ensure that Scotland and the UK remains a centre of profitable activity for oil and gas for many years to come.

  Rosyth
  Rachel Squire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last met the First Minister and the Transport Minister to discuss progress on the Rosyth ferry port development. [2644]

  Mr. Foulkes
  My right hon. Friend has regular discussions with the First Minister and the Transport Minister to discuss a wide range of issues.

  This initiative is a welcome development for business and industry.

  Brownfield Sites (Lanarkshire)
  Mr. Roy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he next intends to discuss the regeneration of Lanarkshire's brown field sites with the First Minister. [2646]

  Mr. Foulkes
  My right hon. Friend has regular discussions with the First Minister on a wide range of issues including the commitment of this Government to maintaining a stable and successful economy in Scotland, as in the whole of the UK, which provides a sound base for economic development and regeneration projects and allows everyone to share in the nation's rising prosperity.

  Scottish Ambassador
  Mr. Gray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions she has had with the First Minister on the Scottish Executive's proposals to appoint a Scottish Ambassador. [2648]

  Mrs. Liddell
  I speak to the First Minister regularly on a wide range of subjects. There are no proposals for the Scottish Executive to appoint a Scottish Ambassador.

  Winter Fuel Payments
  Mr. Lyons
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many pensioners in Scotland she estimates will receive payments under the Winter Fuel Payments scheme next winter. [2649]

  Mr. Foulkes
  We estimate that around one million people aged 60 or over will benefit from the scheme in Scotland. This includes around 15,750 people in the Strathkelvin and Bearsden constituency.

  Air Links
  Rosemary McKenna
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps she is taking to seek to improve the regulation of air links to and from Scotland. [2650]

  Mrs. Liddell
  The European Commission recently published proposals to revise the current regulation on common rules for the allocation of slots at Community airports. This proposal emphasises the need for member states to analyse the capacity situation at congested airports for which they are responsible and to consider ways and means of resolving the problems on a regular basis.

  The Government will produce a White Paper next year which will bring together UK airports policy, looking 30 years ahead, and new policies on civil aviation. We published a UK-wide consultation document in November 2000 and a Scottish regional consultation will follow towards the end of this year. I am actively involved in this process to ensure that Scottish interests are fully represented.

  Anti-drugs Strategy
  Mr. Russell Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if she will make a statement about new proposals to seize the assets of convicted drug dealers. [2651]

  Mr. Doran
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions she has had with the Home Department on measures to confiscate the assets of convicted drug dealers. [2655]

  Mr. Foulkes
  The Scotland Office, the Home Office and the Scottish Executive are working closely together on the Proceeds of Crime Bill, which will strengthen the law and procedures for seizing the assets of drug dealers and other criminals.

  John Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if she will make a statement on the effectiveness of the anti-drugs strategy in Scotland. [2652]

  Mr. Foulkes
  The Government and the Scottish Executive are working in partnership to ensure that misuse of drugs is tackled effectively in Scotland and that efforts are co-ordinated.
  151W
  Progress made in Scotland towards reaching the targets set out in the UK anti-drugs strategy will be included in the UK Anti-Drugs Co-ordinator's Report for 2000–01 which is expected to be published shortly.

  NHS Funding
  Annabelle Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations she has received from the Scottish Executive for her to make representations to the Treasury for additional money for the NHS in Scotland. [2653]

  Mr. Foulkes
  The Scottish Executive is able to determine its own spending priorities within its overall spending allocation.

  The 2000 spending review provided the Scottish Executive with significant additions to its overall budget and provided for overall spending some £3.4 billion higher by 2003–04 compared to 2000–01, giving substantial scope for investment in modern public services, including health services. This year's Budget provided an additional £200 million over three years.

  Tourism
  Mr. Robathan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions she has had with the British Tourist Authority on the effects of foot and mouth disease on the Scottish tourist industry. [2656]

  Mr. Foulkes
  I met senior representatives of the British Tourist Authority some weeks ago to discuss a range of issues on how best to promote tourism to Scotland. I am satisfied that Scotland will benefit both from the support from the Scottish Executive and the extra £14.2 million funding announced by the DCMS to help overseas recovery action.

  John Thurso
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the British Tourist Authority in encouraging overseas tourists to visit Scotland. [2658]

  Mr. Foulkes
  The STB and the BTA have been working together successfully for many years to promote Scotland and the whole of the UK as an attractive tourist destination. They are continuing to work towards achieving the maximum benefit for Scotland from the work which they are doing around the world.

  I am convinced that there is an advantage for Scotland to be sold along with the rest of the UK. This is particularly true from long haul markets where a visit to Scotland will almost certainly be part of a tour of Britain, where Scotland could easily be left out if it is not clearly visible among the other choices.

  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when she next plans to meet the British Tourist Authority to discuss the attractions which Scotland offers in culture, historical sites and industrial archaeology. [2659]

  Mr. Foulkes
  I am in regular contact with both the BTA and visitscotland to discuss a range of issues in promoting Scottish tourism. I am confident that work is being undertaken to ensure that Scotland achieves the maximum benefit from the work which both organisations are doing around the world.
  152W

  Energy Policy
  Pete Wishart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if she will set out the Government's targets for the proportion of electricity to be produced by nuclear, fossil and renewable energies in the next 20 years; and what discussions she has had with the Scottish Executive and Cabinet colleagues on this matter. [2657]

  Mr. Foulkes
  I have regular discussions with Scottish Executive Ministers and Government colleagues on a wide range of issues. The Government have set a target for the UK of 10 per cent. for the proportion of electricity to be generated from renewable sources by 2010. Electricity generation in Scotland already exceeds this level and the Scottish Renewable Obligations will bring the figure to 13 per cent. by 2003. The target will then be to increase use of renewable energy in Scotland by a further 5 per cent. to 18 per cent. by 2010.

  Foot and Mouth
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent discussions she has had with the First Minister on the foot and mouth epidemic; and if he will make a statement. [2660]

  Mrs. Liddell
  The First Minister and I meet regularly to discuss a whole range of issues including the handling of the foot and mouth outbreak in Scotland.

  Assisted Area Status (Arbroath)
  Mr. Weir
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent representations she has made to the EU and the Department of Trade and Industry concerning assisted area status for Arbroath. [2661]

  Mr. Foulkes
  The European Commission, which has sole competence in this area, approved the UK's Assisted Areas map on 26 July 2000. The approved map will apply until December 2006. The Scotland Office and the Scottish Executive worked closely with the Department of Trade and Industry in discussion with the Commission to secure the best possible deal for Scotland and the UK as a whole. There are no plans to review the Assisted Areas map.

  European Convention on Human Rights
  Bob Spink
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans she has to undertake a review of the incorporation of the European convention on human rights into Scottish law. [2662]

  Mr. Foulkes
  None. The Government monitor the effect of the incorporation of the ECHR into domestic law, but there are no plans at present for a review.

  Single Currency
  Mr. Swayne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions she has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer regarding the convergence of the Scottish economy with the euro zone. [2638]

  Mrs. Liddell
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Witney (Mr. Cameron).

  IT Contracts
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if she will list the Information Technology contracts in excess of £500,000 let by her Department or its predecessor since April 1991, giving in each case the original estimated cost and original estimated completion date, the actual cost and actual completion date and the names of the contractors involved and consultants retained by her Department. [3506]

  Mrs. Liddell
  In respect of the Scottish Office prior to 1 July 1999, the information requested is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  The Scotland Office was established in its present form on 1 July 1999. No TT contracts have been set by the Department since that date.

  Barnett Formula
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions she has held with the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions on the operation of the Barnett Formula. [2645]

  Mrs. Liddell
  I have regular discussions with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions on a wide range of issues.

  Free Television Licences
  Mr. Joyce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many pensioners in Scotland are benefiting from the provision of free television licences to those aged over 75 years. [2647]

  Mr. Foulkes
  We estimate that over 300,000 pensioners in Scotland benefit from the provision of a free TV licence. There are approximately 4,540 people aged 75 or over in the Falkirk, West constituency.

ADVOCATE-GENERAL

  Proceeds of Crime Bill
  Mr. Carmichael
  To ask the Advocate-General what measures she is recommending to the Government to ensure that the Proceeds of Crime Bill will comply with the Human Rights Act 1998. [2604]

  The Advocate-General for Scotland
  The proposed Proceeds of Crime Bill is the responsibility of the Home Secretary who will also be responsible, in terms of section 19 of the Human Rights Act, for making a statement as to the Bill's compatibility with Convention rights. He is, of course, entitled to seek legal advice, both from within his Department and outside it, including Law Officers' advice, on any matter for which he considers this to be appropriate.

  Road Traffic Cases
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Advocate-General on how many occasions she has given advice on the implications of the European human rights convention on road traffic cases. [2606]
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  The Advocate-General for Scotland
  As the hon. Lady will be aware, I appeared before the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in the Margaret Anderson Brown case which concerned the human rights compatibility of a provision in the Road Traffic Acts. The hon. Lady will be pleased to know that the Judicial Committee upheld my arguments, and those made on behalf of the Scottish Executive, and decided that the current legislation was compatible with the Convention. When requested I give advice on a variety of matters including the implications of the European Convention on Human Rights.

  European Convention on Human Rights
  Mr. Russell Brown
  To ask the Advocate-General if she has intervened in the recent ECHR challenge to the prison regime in Barlinnie. [2607]

  The Advocate-General for Scotland
  At present, I have not intervened in the case of Robert Napier v. the Scottish Ministers, which concerns the conditions in which the petitioner was detained at Barlinnie Prison.

  Scottish Planning Law
  Mr. Joyce
  To ask the Advocate-General what effect the recent ECHR challenges have had on Scottish planning law. [2605]

  The Advocate-General for Scotland
  Scottish planning law is a matter for the Scottish Ministers. However, a number of cases have arisen in Scotland in which there have been challenges on Convention rights grounds and these have been intimated to me as raising devolution issues under the Scottish Act. I have intervened in four such cases to date. The appeal in the first of these cases to be heard, County Properties v the Scottish Ministers and the Advocate-General, has now been completed and a judgment is expected shortly.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Early-day Motions
  Mr. Kevin Hughes
  To ask the President of the Council if he will bring forward proposals in respect of early-day motions. [2628]

  Mr. Stephen Twigg
  I understand there are no plans to do so at present, but any Member can put proposals to the Select Committee on Modernisation of the House of Commons and they will be considered carefully.

  Private Bill Procedure
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the President of the Council what plans he has to bring forward proposals to reform the Private Bill procedure. [2629]

  Mr. Stephen Twigg
  None at present. Private Bill Procedure was reviewed by the Joint Committee on Private Bill Procedure in 1987–88, and many of the matters previously covered by Private Bill Procedure are now covered by the Transport and Works Act 1992. Before the election the House agreed to Standing Order changes which allow the House to consider the ECHR compatibility of Private Bills.
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  Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards
  David Winnick
  To ask the President of the Council to ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, what plans the Commission has in respect of the renewal of the contract of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards. [2630]

  Mr. Kirkwood
  The present Commissioner's term of office runs until February 2002. The Commission will consider the matter in good time before then.

  Scrutiny
  Mr. Borrow
  To ask the President of the Council what proposals he plans to bring forward to improve scrutiny of the executive by the House of Commons. [2631]

  Mr. Crausby
  To ask the President of the Council what plans he has to improve the scrutiny functions of the House. [2636]

  Mr. Robin Cook
  I refer my hon. Friends to the reply I gave earlier to my hon. Friend the Member for Sheffield, Hillsborough (Helen Jackson).

  Mr. Miller
  To ask the President of the Council what plans he has to increase the amount of pre-legislative scrutiny. [2633]

  Joan Ryan
  To ask the President of the Council if he will bring forward proposals to increase opportunities for pre-legislative scrutiny. [2637]

  Mr. Robin Cook
  I refer my hon. Friends to the reply I gave earlier to hon. Friend the Member for Tyne Bridge (Mr. Clelland).

  Terms of Service
  Andrew Mackinlay
  To ask the President of the Council what plans he has to bring forward proposals to reform the rules relating to hon. Members' terms of service. [2632]

  Mr. Stephen Twigg
  Any hon. Member's term of office is, and should remain, in the hands of the electorate, unless some legal disqualification intervenes.

  Waste Paper
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the President of the Council to ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, how much waste paper was produced by the House in each of the last two years; how it was disposed of; and if he will make a statement. [2635]

  Mr. Kirkwood
  This is primarily a matter for the Serjeant at Arms; but I can tell the hon. Member that over the last two years, approximately 50 tonnes of paper from the Vote Office was sent for recycling each year. All additional waste paper was compacted with general waste amounting to some 3,000 tonnes per year and was incinerated for the production of electricity in line with Government guidelines.
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  Parliamentary Committees
  Pete Wishart
  To ask the President of the Council if he will commission an inquiry into the roles of(a) the Scottish Parliament's committees and (b) House of Commons Standing Committees in respect of legislation. [3940]

  Mr. Robin Cook
  I very much hope the Select Committee on Modernisation of the House of Commons will look at the Scottish Parliament to see what we can learn from their experience; I certainly intend to visit that Parliament over the summer adjournment.

PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL

  IT Contracts
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the President of the Council if he will list the Information Technology contracts in excess of £500,000 let by his Department or its predecessor since April 1991, giving in each case the original estimated cost and original estimated completion date, the actual cost and actual completion date and the names of the contractors involved and consultants retained by his Department. [3505]

  Mr. Robin Cook
  None.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Self-Regulation
  Mr. Stevenson
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when the Lord Chancellor last met the Law Society to discuss self-regulation for the legal profession; and if he will make a statement. [2611]

  Mr. Wills
  The Lord Chancellor meets from time to time with the president and other representatives of the Law Society to discuss aspects of the current self-regulatory arrangements. While he has not entered into discussions for ending self-regulation, he has made it clear publicly that self-regulation is a privilege and not a right that the society should take for granted.

  Auld Report
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when he expects the Auld report to be published. [2613]

  Mr. Wills
  Lord Justice Auld will complete his review of the criminal courts shortly. The Government will make arrangements for publication once his report is received.

  Court Dress
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what plans he has to review court dress. [2614]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  Previous soundings from within the judiciary, the professions and court users have revealed a wide range of views on whether, and to what extent, court dress should be reformed. Given continued concern in some quarters, the Lord Chief Justice is consulting with the professional bodies. Once the results
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  are available, the Lord Chancellor will consult with the heads of division and decide what action, if any, it would be appropriate to take.

  Victims and Witnesses
  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what progress has been made in providing assistance to victims and witnesses at all court centres. [2616]

  Mr. Wills
  There are witness support services, run by Victim Support, in all Crown court centres. Witness services are being introduced into all magistrates' courts with a target date for completion of 31 March 2002. Interim targets of 20 per cent., and 40 per cent., were set for 31 March 2000 and 2001 respectively. These targets have been met. The latest figures show that witness services have been introduced in 46 per cent. of magistrates' courts.

  We are improving facilities in the Crown court to ensure that prosecution witnesses are not forced to sit alongside potentially intimidating defendants and their families. Currently 87 per cent. of Crown court centres have a special witness waiting room available.

  Handcuffs
  Dr. Julian Lewis
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what guidance the Lord Chancellor has given on the visibility of handcuffs worn by defendants in court. [2617]

  Mr. Wills
  The Lord Chancellor has not issued any guidance as the decision on whether defendants should wear handcuffs in court is a matter for the judiciary. The Court of Appeal has ruled that no prisoner shall be handcuffed in court unless there are reasonable grounds for believing he will be violent or try to escape. It is open to the prosecution to make an application for handcuffs if they believe a defendant will be violent or try to escape, but the final decision lies with the judge or magistrates.

  Young Offenders (Merseyside)
  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what his estimate is of the Merseyside courts' progress towards meeting Government targets on the time between arrest and court appearance for young offenders; and if he will make a statement. [2618]

  Mr. Wills
  Information is not available in the exact form requested. The Government's target for persistent young offenders is to halve the average time from arrest to sentence from 142 to 71 days by May 2002. The latest available figures are for April 2001. These show that the average time for persistent young offenders charged by the Merseyside police was 91 days. That is a significant improvement over the 1997 figure of 153 days. It reflects the work done by all the criminal justice agencies in Merseyside: the courts, the police, the Crown Prosecution Service and the youth offending teams.

  Judicial Appointments
  Jeremy Corbyn
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what ethnic monitoring is undertaken of judicial appointments. [2620]
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  Mr. Wills
  Applicants for judicial office are invited to complete a questionnaire about their ethnic origin, although they are not obliged to provide the information requested. Based on the information provided, the Lord Chancellor produces monthly figures showing the number of people from ethnic minorities in the judiciary, and includes in his annual report on judicial appointments statistical information about competitions including the number of applications, candidates interviewed and appointments made, analysed by reference to ethnic origin. This information is available on the Lord Chancellor's website, www.lcd.gov.uk.

  Complaints
  Sir Sydney Chapman
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what his policy is on dealing with complaints against magistrates. [2621]

  Mr. Wills
  The Lord Chancellor expects all magistrates to behave in a way that allows the community to have confidence in their ability to carry out their judicial duties. His policy and procedure for dealing with complaints against them is set out in chapter 19 of his directions for advisory committees on justices of the peace, copies of which are available in the Libraries. The overriding principle in the procedure for dealing with complaints is the observance of the rules of natural justice.

  Contingency Fees
  Ian Lucas
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what assessment she has made of the benefits of introducing contingency fees as a method of payment for lawyers in personal injury cases. [2619]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  None. Contingency fees are used legitimately in many tribunals and for non-contentious business and have their supporters and detractors. The Law Society and the Bar Council are working together to consider how, if properly regulated, contingency fees might be used more widely to benefit clients and extend access to justice. The Government have no plans to extend the use of contingency fees.

  Child Contact Orders
  Margaret Moran
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many child contact orders resulted in further court action involving(a) violence and (b) death in each of the last five years. [3831]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  The Lord Chancellor's Department is not able to collect statistics on events which happen after the court's involvement is concluded. However, officials from this Department are exploring with the Home Office how we can address this information gap.

  Margaret Moran
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what analysis her Department carried out on the number of murders of(a) partners and (b) children resulting from child contact orders, as part of her consultation on child contact. [3833]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  The consultation exercise on child contact, "Making Contact Work", is being undertaken by the Children Act 1989 sub-committee of the Lord Chancellor's advisory board on family law and is on-going. Information about the number of murders of
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  partners or children where a child contact order is in force is not available. However, officials from this Department are exploring with the Home Office how we can address this information gap.

  Margaret Moran
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many child contact orders have resulted in further court action; and what the(a) average and (b) largest number of further court actions was. [3832]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  The Lord Chancellor's Department does not routinely collect statistics on all subsequent court actions. However, the Department is conducting a sampling exercise on this area, the results of which will be published in due course.

  Ministerial Travel
  Bob Russell
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when the Lord Chancellor last travelled on the London underground in the course of his official duties. [3669]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  The Lord Chancellor has not yet needed to travel on the London underground in the course of his official duties.

  Justices of the Peace
  Mr. Ben Chapman
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make a statement on the appointment of justices of the peace. [2612]

  Original estimated cost

  Original completion date

  Actual cost (£)

  Actual completion date

  Contractors involved

  Consultants retained

  Comments

  Nexus Office Automation System

  £600,000

  April 1996

  660,666

  April 1996

  Seimens-Nixdorf Computacenter, Foxlan

  BACCHUS Case Management System

  £721,476

  July 1994

  808,931

  July 1994

  MIDAS Management Information and Accounting System

  £627,850

  January 1995

  641,301

  January 1995

  Oracle

  SOAP Office Automation System

  £754,700

  April 1996

  775,065

  April 1996

  Seimens-Nixdorf, Bull

  MIS (Management Information System)

  £14,356,000

  December 2001

  14,825,000

  Spring 2003

  Within the scope of the Department's existing PR contract with CSL Group Ltd.

  This project is still ongoing and therefore, the costs and dates shown are the latest estimates. The costs shown relate to the provision of the service over the life of the system and include physical rollout, training, and on-going service charges

  MANIFEST (Integrated Estate Management and Finance System)

  £4,868,000

  December 2000

  5,240,000

  February 2001

  Within the scope of the Department's existing PFI contract with CSL Group Ltd.

  The costs shown relate to the provision of the service over the life of the system and includes physical rollout, training, and on-going service charges

  LOCCS (Various court-based IT systems)

  £25,000,000

  October 1996

  107,000,000

  September 2003

  EDS

  Masons, Kermon, Charterhouse bank. Myriad

  Baseline costs are unchanged, the estimated costs to the end of the contract (£107 million) includes very significant additional services

  MASS Development

  £1,100,000

  March 1995

  2,700,000

  June 1997

  Admiral Computing Ltd.

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  Mr. Wills
  My noble and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor is keen that the social composition of the magistracy reflects the community it serves, subject to all magistrates fulfilling the merit criteria for appointment. Advisory committees are required to ensure that benches reflect the community in terms of gender, ethnic origin, geographical spread, occupation and political affiliation. My noble Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster requires his advisory committees to do the same. Work is under way to develop a national strategy for the recruitment of lay magistrates and to find a viable alternative to the use of political affiliation as a measure of social balance.

  IT Contracts
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list the Information Technology contracts in excess of £500,000 let by his Department or its predecessor since April 1991, giving in each case the original estimated cost and original estimated completion date, the actual cost and actual completion date and the names of the contractors involved and consultants retained by his Department. [3503]

  Mr. Wills
  The following table lists the IT contracts that have been let by the Lord Chancellor's Department with a value of more than £500,000, since April 1991. Probity and value for money in contracting for IT projects is ensured through compliance with EC public procurement rules, UK Government domestic procurement policy and best practice guidance, Government accounting rules and National Audit Office requirements.
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  Original estimated cost

  Original completion date

  Actual cost (£)

  Actual completion date

  Contractors involved

  Consultants retained

  Comments

  MASS Testing/Support

  £4,900,000

  March 1998

  3,400,000

  April 1997

  F1 Group Plc

  MASS Training Materials

  £1,000,000

  March 1996

  400,000

  December 1996

  Admiral Computing Lid.

  LIBRA

  £319,000,000

  July 2013

  n/a

  n/a

  ICI plc

  The Libra contract was originally let in December 1998, to run to 2009 with a value of £183 million. An option to extend was taken up and this extension is reported here

  SLD (Statute Law Database)

  £700,000

  August 1993

  700,000

  Summer 1995

  Syntegra Ltd. (previously Secure Information Systems Ltd.)

  The system was delivered in November 1993. However, it was not formally accepted until summer 1995

  CLAT (Criminal Legal Aid Expenditure Monitoring)

  £582,250

  March 2001

  604,591

  March 2001

  Within the scope of the Department's existing PFI contract with CSL Group Ltd.

  ARAMIS (Resource Accounting and Managemnet Information System)—individual services are shown as follows:

  £91,400,000

  n/a

  118,050,000

  n/a

  CSL Group Ltd.

  A PFI contract for the provision of accounting, financial, HR/payroll and management information services. It was awarded in December 1997 and runs until January 2007. The services have IT elements and are delivered using a corporate IT infrastructure provided through the contract. However, the IT elements of the contract are not separated out from the main business functions

  New Accounting Service

  n/a

  July 1998

  n/a

  July 1998

  New HR Service

  n/a

  March 1999

  n/a

  March 1999

  New Purchasing Service

  g Service

  n/a

  April 1999

  n/a

  October 1999

  Libra Project
  Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will place a list of the reasons for the increase in the value of the Libra project in the Library; if liquidated damages clauses are included in the contract for the Libra project; and if he will place a copy of the contract in the Library. [3818]

  Mr. Wills
  The increase in the cost of the Libra project is based on delivery of an additional four years of the full Libra service to all magistrates' courts and an earlier delivery of the first part of the Libra service—office automation. A liquidated damages clause is included in the contract. As the contract contains commercially confidential information, it would not be appropriate to make it available in the Library.

  Public Trust Office Annual Report
  Fiona Mactaggart
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when she will publish the Public Trust Office's annual report and accounts for 2000–01. [5331]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  The Public Trust Office's annual report and accounts for 2000–01 have been published today and copies have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Police Fund
  Mr. Donaldson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will provide details of the new Police Fund in Northern Ireland and indicate when he expects to appoint trustees to the Fund. [3415]

  Jane Kennedy
  The new Northern Ireland Police Fund, based on the recommendations in the Patten report, and the subsequent report carried out by Mr. John Steele, will provide assistance to police officers (who have been murdered or injured as a direct result of terrorism in Northern Ireland), their families and dependants. Indeed, lump sum payments of over £4 million have already been paid to a group of RUC widows widowed before 25 November 1982. Detailed work on the legal status of the fund, as well as on its funding, is continuing and the Government hope to announce the names of trustees shortly.

  IT Contracts
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the Information Technology contracts in excess of £500,000 let by his Department or
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  its predecessor since April 1991, giving in each case the original estimated cost and original estimated completion date, the actual cost and actual completion date and the

  Estimated cost

  Estimated completion

  Actual cost (£)

  Actual completion

  Contractor

  Consultant

  Oasis

  £5,000,000

  December 1996

  5,732,000

  November 1997

  Bull

  DPPNet

  £750,000

  February 1999

  748,000

  March 1999

  Bull

  Bloody Sunday Inquiry—Contract A

  £1,800,000

  June 1998

  2,500,000 (includes changes and additional input)

  June 1998

  Bull

  Bloody Sunday Inquiry—Contract B Hearings Installation

  £2,000,000

  March 2000

  2,000,000 (fixed price setup contract)

  March 2000

  ICL

  Deloitte and Touche

  Bloody Sunday Inquiry—Contract C Hearings Running Costs

  £5,000,000

  Not known

  Ongoing based on fixed cost of 225k per month

  Not known

  ICL

  Deloitte and Touche

  Oasis Refresh

  £1,900,000

  October 1999

  2,255,000

  December 1999

  Compaq

  Compass

  £1,200,000

  November 2002

  On budget

  On target

  Picaso

  Royal Ulster Constabulary
  Mr. Dodds
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many(a) full-time and (b) part-time Reserve RUC officers there were at (i) 1 June 2001 and (ii) 22 May 1998. [3080]

  Jane Kennedy
  The table shows the number of full-time and part-time members of the Royal Ulster Constabulary Reserve at the specified dates:

  Date

  Full-Time Reserve

  Part-Time Reserve

  1 June 2001

  2,417

  1,063

  22 May 1998

  2,996

  1,280

  Mr. Dodds
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many regular RUC officers there were at(a) 7 June 2001 and (b) 22 May 1998. [3078]

  Jane Kennedy
  The table shows the number of regular members of the Royal Ulster Constabulary at the specified dates:

  Date

  Number

  7 June 2001

  7,341

  22 May 1998

  8,471

  Disturbances, (Ardoyne)
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the cause of disturbances in Ardoyne, Belfast from 20 June; how many civilians and police were injured on each night of the disturbances; how many plastic bullets were fired; what tactics were employed by the police to defuse
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  names of the contractors involved and consultants retained by his Department. [3504]

  Jane Kennedy
  The information is set out in the table.

  tensions; what public statements were made by the RUC concerning the protection of children; how many arrests have been made and what the perceived community origin and ages were of those arrested; and how many (a) alleged rioters and (b) police officers were involved in the disturbances. [1171]

  Jane Kennedy
  The serious public disorder in the Ardoyne area of north Belfast arose from a series of sectarian incidents that were themselves the result of the continuing sectarian tensions in this part of the city.

  During the period 20–25 June 2001, 62 police officers and 11 civilians were injured. Eight plastic baton rounds were fired.

  The Royal Ulster Constabulary Chief Constable, the Assistant Chief Constable for Belfast, the local police commander and other officers made almost daily statements through the media with the emphasis being on the safety of the whole community including children. These sought to make absolutely clear the damage being done to the entire community, by a minority on each side, and to urge local leaders and people of influence to try to calm the disorder. Police spoke with political representatives and community activists on both sides of the community in an effort to defuse the situation and to encourage them to use whatever influence they had to resolve the differences. The Army was deployed at interface areas and the level of police patrolling was increased to (a) provide reassurance to both sections of the community and (b) to prevent clashes between both sections of the community.

  Seven persons, aged between 15 and 43 years, were arrested. Although the Royal Ulster Constabulary does not collate information on the religious or political beliefs of

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  arrested persons, it is thought that five may be from the Protestant community and two from the Roman Catholic community.

  At the height of the rioting more than 250 police officers, along with substantial military support, were involved. It is estimated that 800 persons from both communities were involved in the rioting.

  John Stokes
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the findings of the coroner's inquest into the death of John Stokes while in police custody were; how many days elapsed between death and inquest; and what actions he has taken subsequently in respect of the incident. [1090]

  Jane Kennedy
  Mr. Stokes died on 3 November 1997. The Coroner's inquest has not yet been completed. The latest attempt on 7 June 2001 to complete the inquest was halted due to questions being raised concerning human rights considerations. When available, due consideration will be given to the findings of the Coroner's inquest.

ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

  Green Ministers
  Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she chaired the first meeting of Green Ministers during the current Session of Parliament; when subsequent meetings are planned to take place; and if she will make a statement. [4001]

  Mr. Meacher
  In this Parliament the Green Ministers Committee has been reconstituted as the Cabinet Sub-Committee of Green Ministers, ENV(G), under my chairmanship. Dates for meetings have not, as yet, been set.

  Foot and Mouth
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the average time is for compensation payments for those holdings that(a) lost stock, (b) lost fodder and (c) bore the costs of disinfecting their premises due to foot and mouth. [1672]

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 3 July 2001]: I recognise that there have been delays in the payment of compensation to farmers whose animals have been compulsorily slaughtered because of foot and mouth disease, and that when the disease was at its peak during April and May these delays could be extensive. However, the time taken to pay compensation claims has been reduced and we are now in a position to pay claims within three weeks of receiving complete documentation.

  Information on average payment times for compensation for anything, including fodder, seized by the Department for the purpose of preventing the spread of foot and mouth disease, and payment times for the costs of cleansing and disinfecting affected farm premises where farmers have chosen to do this work themselves under the Department's supervision could be obtained only at disproportionate cost because of the number of payments involved and the fact that the records are not held centrally.
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  David Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many samples of deer have been taken for foot and mouth disease analysis; and how many have tested(a) positive and (b) negative. [3244]

  Mr. Morley
  As of 2 July more than 60 samples have been submitted to the Institute of Animal Health for testing from various parts of England and Scotland. All have tested negative for evidence of the foot and mouth virus, antigens or antibodies.

  David Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what percentage of the national(a) flock of sheep and (b) herd of cattle has been culled as a result of the slaughter eradication policy. [2554]

  Mr. Morley
  The numbers of sheep and cattle that have been compulsorily slaughtered as a result of the cull on premises affected by foot and mouth disease (FMD) in Great Britain are as follows:

  Sheep

  Cattle

  Number of animals slaughtered as a result of FMD as at 4 July 2001

  2,794,000

  547,000

  Number of animals in Great Britain as per June 2000 Agricultural Census

  39,520,000

  9,456,000

  Percentage of national flock/herd slaughtered

  7

  6

  David Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many foot and mouth disease carcases are being stored pending rendering. [2756]

  Mr. Morley
  No carcases are stored pending rendering. Most carcases are rendered on the day that they are delivered to the plant. Sometimes for operational reasons carcases may be held overnight at plants before being rendered on the following day or held overnight at carcase collection centres before being delivered to rendering plants. However, most carcases will be rendered within 24 hours of delivery to the plant.

  David Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her estimate is of(a) the tonnage of ash to he taken away from and (b) the number of locations of pyre sites in Cumbria. [2753]

  Mr. Morley
  Ash will only be removed from pyre sites in cases where it is not possible to bury it on site. We estimate that there are at least 45 pyre sites in Cumbria that fall into this category. Our initial estimate of the total amount of ash that will have to be removed from these sites is in the region of 10,000 tonnes.

  David Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on what dates over the last 10 years, MAFF/DEFRA contingency plans for foot and mouth disease were submitted to the EU or DoE/DETR. [2761]

  Mr. Morley
  The Great Britain contingency plan for foot and mouth disease, as required by Article 5 of Council Directive 90/423, in line with the criteria set out in the Commission Decision 91/42/EEC, was submitted to the EU in 1991 and approved by Commission Decision 93/455/EEC.
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  The first revision of the plan was in July 2000 and a copy was sent to the EU.

  David Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what consideration the Government have given to varying compensatory valuations at different stages of the foot and mouth outbreak. [2546]

  Mr. Morley
  For compensation purposes, the Animal Health Act 1981 stipulates the value of an animal as being its value immediately before it became affected with foot and mouth disease or, if not so affected, its value immediately before it was slaughtered. Standard valuations were set out in regulations in order to speed up the slaughter process, but farmers retained the right to request an individual valuation of their stock.

  David Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her assessment is of when foot and mouth disease will be eradicated in the United Kingdom. [2551]

  Mr. Morley
  I refer the right hon. Gentleman to the answer given to him on 10 July 2001,Official Report, column 492W.

  David Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on what dates over the last 20 years divisions or regions of MAFF/DEFRA were tested or updated on the contingency plans for foot and mouth disease. [2800]

  Mr. Morley
  The 23 Animal Health Divisional Offices have been required to hold one contingency planning exercise each year and to update their plans accordingly.

  The 1999–2000, 25 such exercises were held and in 1998–99 there were 18 held. Prior to these dates, figures are not readily available.

  David Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will publish the protocols and guidance notes for the disinfection of all buildings, including sheds with cobbled floor and slurry pits, following an outbreak of foot and mouth disease. [2766]

  Mr. Morley
  Guidance for farmers and contractors on health and safety issues related to cleansing and disinfection are available on the DEFRA website at the following address: http://defraweb/footandmouth/farmers/during/safety. asp.

  David Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many animals were killed as part of the 3 km cull in Cumbria. [2548]

  Mr. Morley
  In Cumbria 504,160 animals were slaughtered in the 3 km cull.

  David Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many cases of foot and mouth have been detected because of surveillance visits by vets from her Department. [3420]

  Mr. Morley
  As at 11 July, 239 infected premises in Great Britain were confirmed as a result of such surveillance visits.

  David Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many(a) cattle and (b) sheep, on how many farms in (i) England and
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  (ii) Cumbria, have been have been slaughtered because they were contiguous to infected premises; and how many of those tested negative for foot and mouth disease. [3445]

  Mr. Morley
  As of 11 July, the numbers of cattle and sheep slaughtered on Contiguous Premises (CPs) and numbers of CPs are shown in the table.

  England

  Cumbria

  Number of CPs

  2,597

  470

  Cattle slaughtered

  137,800

  22,225

  Sheep slaughtered

  689,342

  124,568

  The following table shows, of those figures above, the numbers of CPs which returned a negative laboratory test result, and the numbers of cattle and sheep slaughtered on those premises.

  England

  Cumbria

  Number of CPs

  175

  45

  Cattle slaughtered

  11,189

  2,798

  Sheep slaughtered

  75,644

  21,495

  A negative test result does not necessarily mean that the premises was free from disease. For instance, positive results may not be produced from tests on blood or tissue taken when the disease is in later stages or from newly infected animals where antibodies have not yet developed.

  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many complaints she has received from(a) organisations and (b) members of the public about the conduct of the military in assisting with the foot and mouth cull. [1487]

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 2 July 2001]: Complaints about the conduct of the military are likely to have been addressed to a number of different points within DEFRA and also the Ministry of Defence. Although the exact number of complaints is not known, in either Department, it is not thought to be high. Indeed, the armed forces were the subject of much praise from farmers and members of the public for their extremely valuable contribution towards the fight against foot and mouth disease.

  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she takes to ensure consistency in the advice her Department is offering to farmers on biosecurity relating to foot and mouth disease with the advice it is offering to county councils about the re-opening of footpaths; and if she will make a statement. [1988]

  Mr. Morley
  The Government's top priority has always been to eradicate the disease. Veterinary advice is that the main way the disease is being spread is by those working with or close to animals not taking appropriate biosecurity measures. At every opportunity we have emphasised the need for everyone consistently to take stringent precautions to avoid further spread.

  However for those who have had no contact with animals or affected premises for at least seven days, the risk is considerably lower. The advice to walkers is consistent with the biosecurity message and includes: observe closed signs; use disinfectant troughs where provided; keep your dog on a lead where there are

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  livestock; and do not leave waste food around. Footpaths within a 3 km protection zone around infected premises should normally remain closed.

  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what has been the cost to date of the operation to eradicate foot and mouth in the Ribble Valley. [1077]

  Mr. Morley
  The information is not available in the form requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. For information relating to the cost of the outbreak as a whole to the Department, I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given to him on 11 July 2001,Official Report, column 562W.

  Hedgerows
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the proposed timetable is for consultation on the revised draft Hedgerows Regulations; and if she will make a statement. [1116]

  Alun Michael
  We expect to consult on proposals to amend the Hedgerows Regulations 1997 later this year.

  Animal Welfare
  Sir Sydney Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement about the progress of her review of the European Convention for the Protection of Pet Animals; and for how long representations may be made to her. [3711]

  Mr. Morley
  Responsibility for the European Convention was passed from the Home Office to this Department on 8 June. I will be happy to receive representatives from the hon. Gentleman and others about this new element in our responsibilities for animal welfare.

  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the measures she is taking to improve animal welfare. [3867]

  Mr. Morley
  This Government are committed to high animal welfare standards, not only in the UK but also on an EU wide basis. High welfare standards are best achieved through effective Community-wide legislation and enforcement. We will continue to work towards the delivery of positive change through a range of UK, European Union and Council of Europe measures designed to improve welfare conditions for all animals, following the transfer of certain animal welfare responsibilities from the Home Office.

  Commission on the Future of Food and Farming
  Mr. Breed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) who will lead the commission to consider the future of food and farming; [3855]

  (2) what the intended timetable is for the commission to consider the future of food and farming. [3856]

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 16 July 2001]: An announcement will be made soon on the membership and terms of reference of the commission.
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  Wildlife Crime (Birds of Prey)
  Tom Brake
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures are in place to(a) stop wild birds of prey being illegally sold in the United Kingdom and (b) detect and prosecute those responsible for the illegal sale of wild birds of prey; and what further action is planned. [4167]

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 16 July 2001]: Legislation is already in place prohibiting the sale of most birds of prey species, unless a licence has been issued by my Department or one of the devolved Administrations. People found guilty of sales offences could face an unlimited fine and/or a prison sentence of up to two years.

  Responsibility for enforcing the controls rests primarily with the police service. Most forces now have at least one part-time Wildlife Liaison Officer who would normally investigate these offences. The Department actively supports investigating officers, by providing information about the licences and permits it has issued, and from its bird registration system. It also manages a panel of Wildlife Inspectors, who check compliance with certain wildlife controls.

  The Department also co-chairs the Partnership for Action Against Wildlife Crime, comprising all the main Government and voluntary organisations committed to combating crimes against wildlife. The Partnership is taking forward a range of initiatives to raise awareness of wildlife crime and to support the work of police officers. One of its main priorities is to take forward work to establish a dedicated unit to tackle wildlife crime at national level.

  Flood Defence Schemes (Robertsbridge)
  Mr. Barker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will instruct the Environment Agency to commence work immediately on the flood defence schemes for Northbridge street and Rutley close, Robertsbridge. [3858]

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 16 July 2001]The Department has policy responsibility for flood and coastal defence and provides grant aid for capital works that meet certain criteria. However operational responsibility, including decisions on which projects to promote and their timing, rests with local operating authorities, such as the Environment Agency. I understand that the Agency is building on the findings of the pre-feasibility study of flooding problems in Robertsbridge, by commissioning a feasibility study to develop the outline design for suitable flood defences. The study will include consideration of flood defences for Northbridge street and Rutley close. Depending on the results of the study, I understand that the Environment Agency plans to commence works at Robertsbridge in summer 2002.

  Flood Protection
  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to amend the funding arrangements for flood protection measures; and if she will make a statement. [4136]
  171W
  Mr. Morley
  The funding arrangements for flood and coastal defence are currently being reviewed with a report due in September. I shall, of course, inform the House of the conclusions that are reached.

  Departmental Co-operation
  Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) when she met the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions to discuss inter-departmental sharing of papers and joint decision-making; what is the intended timetable for future meetings to take place; and if she will make a statement; [4005]

  (2) when she met the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry to discuss inter-departmental sharing of papers and joint decision-making; what is the intended timetable for future meetings to take place; and if she will make a statement. [4006]

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 13 July 2001]: It is vital that the Department works effectively with other Departments to deliver the Government's policy objectives. I regularly meet Ministerial colleagues from relevant parts of Government to discuss matters of shared interest. My officials also have frequent contacts with their counterparts in these areas.

  Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans her Department has for future joint decision making in conjunction with the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions; and if she will make a statement. [4004]

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 13 July 2001]: It is vital that the Department works effectively with other Departments to deliver the Government's policy objectives. We work closely with all relevant parts of Government, including the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, on matters of shared interest.

  Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans her Department has for future joint decision making in conjunction with the Department of Trade and Industry; and if she will make a statement. [4007]

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 13 July 2001]: It is vital that my Department works effectively with other Departments to deliver the Government's policy objectives. We work closely with all relevant parts of Government, including the Department of Trade and Industry, on matters of shared interest.

  Common Agricultural Policy
  Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her timetable is for reform of the Common Agricultural Policy to reflect environmental concerns more closely; and if she will make a statement. [3987]

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 13 July 2001]: We expect the European Commission to table proposals to the Agriculture Council for discussion next summer. The timing of those negotiations will be the responsibility of
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  the member states holding the presidency at the time, which will be Spain for the period up to June 2002 and then Denmark.

  We are committed to CAP reform and want to reduce the overall burden of the CAP, to secure a closer alignment between EU and world prices and to re-focus support on measures benefiting the rural economy and the environment.

  Biotechnology
  Linda Perham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the consultation exercises that have been undertaken over the last five years on farm animal biotechnology and cloning; what decisions have been made following these exercises; and which issues are still under consideration. [2562]

  Mr. Morley
  The Government received advice on the implications of cloning for farm animals in a report by the Farm Animal Welfare Council (published December 1998). Since then, the Government have established the Agriculture and Environment Biotechnology Commission (AEBC). Its remit includes providing strategic advice on the ethical and social aspects of developments in biotechnology, and on their public acceptability. An AEBC sub-group is currently exploring the subject of animals and biotechnology with the aim of providing a report to Government early next year. This may include consideration of the issue of the welfare of cloned animals. More generally, the Office of Science and Technology commissioned a consultation exercise on public attitudes to biotechnology in 1998–99, which included questions on the public perception of animal cloning.

  State Veterinary Service
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many vets were employed by the Government Veterinary Service on 1 May(a) 1995, (b) 1997, (c) 1999 and (d) 2001. [3467]

  Mr. Morley
  The number of veterinary surgeons (full-time equivalents) employed by the State Veterinary Service (SVS) since January 1995 are shown in the table (figures for May are not readily accessible, other than those for 2001 which are given). The Veterinary Investigation Service became part of the Veterinary Laboratories Agency (VLA) on 1 October 1995 and is not included in these figures from that date. In 2000, there were 99 veterinarians employed by the VLA. Much of the information presented here previously appeared on 27 February 1997,Official Report, columns 323–24W.

  Of the 286 full-time equivalent veterinarians employed by the State Veterinary Service in 2001 as a whole, 220 veterinarians are employed as field veterinary officers. The work of these officers is supplemented by about 100 Temporary Veterinary Inspectors (TVIs) from the private sector in normal times.

  Year as at 1 January

  Number of vets

  1995

  394.5

  1997

  289.5

  1999

  283.0

  2001

  286.0

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  As at 1 May 2001 the total number of vets working in the State Veterinary Service was 1,718. The permanent veterinary staff were supplemented by TVIs, foreign Government vets on loan to the SVS, vets from the MAFF agencies and those on loan from other Government Departments.

  Census
  David Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when the June farming census will be held; and what plans she has to alter the usual questions. [3437]

  Mr. Morley
  Following consultation with the industry my Department carried out the June Census on 1 June 2001 as originally planned. The decision to proceed was carefully considered. There is a need to be sensitive to the pressures the farming community is facing as a result of the Foot and Mouth outbreak, yet gather good information to help underpin policies for recovery.

  Regarding alteration of the questions, the need for continuity of the statistical series and our legal obligations to collect certain details meant there were no changes to the census form. Consideration is currently being given to the collection of supplementary information relating to the wider impact of the outbreak upon farmers and the short, medium and longer term effects.

  Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what targets she has set for the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science for 2001–02. [5028]

  Mr. Meacher
  I have set the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science the following performance targets for 2001–02.

  Financial Control
  To recover from Government Departments and Agencies and external customers the full economic costs of the Agency's services.

  Efficiency
  To achieve savings and efficiency gains in a range of key functions.

  Quality and Service Delivery
  To give satisfaction to customers in the way that outputs are provided, as measured by the CEFAS Customer Satisfaction Survey.
  To make satisfactory progress with the Action Plan resulting from the 1999–2000 Science Audit.
  To manage the Agency in an effective manner including pursuit of commercial exploitation of research outputs.

  Forestry Commission (Expenditure)
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what proposals she has to amend the Forestry Commission Departmental Expenditure Limits for(a) 2001–02, (b) 2002–03 and (c) 2003–04. [5029]

  Mr. Morley
  The National Assembly for Wales has now taken over responsibility for funding the Forestry Commission's activities in Wales, in accordance with the devolution arrangements, and so £5,256,000 will be 174W
  transferred to the National Assembly from the Forestry Commission's Departmental Expenditure Limit in 2001–02 and in each of the following two years.

  In addition, in order to allow the Forestry Commission to smooth out the effects on net expenditure of the current difficulties in achieving planned levels of income, the Departmental Expenditure Limit for 2001–02 will be increased by bringing £1,000,000 forward from the Departmental Expenditure Limits for both 2002–03 and 2003–04 (giving a total increase in 2001–02 of £2,000,000).

  Subject to Parliamentary approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimate, the Departmental Expenditure Limit will also be increased in 2001–02 by £1,000. This token Supplementary Estimate is required to bring the ambit of the Summary Request for Supply presented to Parliament into line with the Departmental Supply Estimate.

  The net effect of these changes is that the Forestry Commission's total budget over the last three years is increased by £1,000. However, following the transfer of responsibility for funding the Commission's activities in Wales, the Commission's Departmental Expenditure Limit for expenditure funded directly by Parliament will be reduced in 2001–02 by £3,255,000, from £70,592,000 to £67,337,000, and in each of the following two years by £6,256,000 from £75,052,000 to £68,796,000.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

  Ministerial Replies
  Mr. Blizzard
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 11 July 2001,Official Report, column 573W, on ministerial replies, if he will list by Department, the number of letters from members of the public not replied to since May 1997. [4734]

  Mr. Leslie
  The information is not held centrally in the form requested. I will later this week be placing in the Libraries of the House information on the percentage of letters answered by the main Departments and agencies within their correspondence target.

WORK AND PENSIONS

  UN Convention on the Rights of the Child
  Mr. Woodward
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the reservation taken by the UK to article 22 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. [3877]

  Angela Eagle
  I have been asked to reply.

  The United Kingdom ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1991. The reservation in respect of article 22 in no way inhibits the discharge of our obligation; under the Convention. It is there to safeguard the right of the United Kingdom to determine its own immigration and nationality laws.
  175W

  Incapacity Benefit
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what studies he has conducted into the timescale and evidence for material changes in capacity for working. [3088]

  Malcolm Wicks
  [holding answer 9 July 2001]: Improvements in a person's work capability will vary from case to case according to their condition. This is not predictable and will also depend on the opportunities and support available. Research shows that around a third of disabled people not in work want to work. That is why we are committed to providing the right support for those who may be able to return to employment.

  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will publish the details of his planned changes to Incapacity Benefit before laying the regulations before the House. [4321]

  Malcolm Wicks
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions gave the hon. Members for Daventry (Mr. Boswell) and for Northavon (Mr. Webb), and my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Selly Oak (Lynne Jones) on 11 July 2001,Official Report, columns 565–67W.

  Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what is the average amount of time people currently claiming Incapacity Benefit have been in receipt of that benefit; [3226]

  Number of Incapacity Benefit recipients as at 28 February 2001

  Thousand

  Diagnoses group

  Number

  All diagnoses

  1,515.2

  Claimants without any diagnosis code on the system

  4.2

  Certain infectious and parasitic diseases (A00-B99)

  11.2

  Neoplasms (Coo-D48)

  23.7

  Diseases of the blood and blood forming organs and certain diseases involving the immune mechanism (D50-D89)

  2.3

  Endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases (E00-E90)

  25.0

  Mental and behavioural disorders (F00-F99)

  392.0

  Diseases of the nervous system (G00-G99)

  83.7

  Diseases of the eye and adnexa (H00-H59)

  10.3

  Diseases of the ear and mastoid process (H60-H95)

  6.8

  Diseases of the circulatory system (I00-I99)

  155.4

  Diseases of the respiratory system (J00-J99)

  49.8

  Diseases of the digestive system (K00-K93)

  26.1

  Diseases of the skin and subcutaneous system (L00-L99)

  10.6

  Diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue (M00-M99)

  400.8

  Diseases of the genitourinary system (Noo-N99)

  12.2

  Pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium (O00-O99)

  1.3

  Certain conditions originating in the Perinatal period (P00-P96)

  —

  Congenital malformations, deformations and chromasomal abnormalities (Q00-Q99)

  1.4

  Symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified (R00-R99)

  184.5

  Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes (S00-U22)

  97.1

  Factors influencing health status and contact with health services (Z00-Z99)

  16.8

  Notes:

  1. All diagnoses are coded using the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Edition (ICD10), published by the World Health Organisation. The codes in brackets following each heading show the ICD10 codes in each group.

  2. The figures are based on a 5 per cent. sample of the benefit computer system and will exclude a small number of clerically held cases. They are expressed in thousands, rounded to the nearest hundred. Those marked with "—" denote nil or negligible.

  3. If a person has more than one medical condition only the primary diagnosis is recorded.

  4. Figures exclude cases where a claimant receives National Insurance credits only.
  176W
  (2) what proportion of people receiving Incapacity Benefit for an indefinite period have had changed circumstances since the benefit was originally granted. [3225]

  Malcolm Wicks
  The average duration of claims to Incapacity Benefit current on 31 March 2000, the latest date for which the information is available, was 2,278 days. This figure is based on a 1 per cent. sample of claims and excludes cases where the person claiming was receiving National Insurance credits only.

  Information on the proportion of people receiving Incapacity Benefit who have had a change of circumstances is not available.

  Mr. Willetts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in receipt of Incapacity Benefit have been subjected to a new capability for work test as a result of(a) section 61 of the Welfare Reform and Pensions Act 1999 and (b) the Social Security (Incapacity for Work) Miscellaneous Amendments Regulations 1999. [3183]

  Malcolm Wicks
  [holding answer 10 July 2001]Between the introduction of the Personal Capability Assessment in April 2000 and the end of May 2001 (the latest date for which figures are available), 825,017 assessments were carried out.

  Mr. Laws
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will provide a breakdown of recipients of Incapacity Benefit by type of incapacity; and if he will make a statement. [3658]

  Malcolm Wicks
  [holding answer 16 July 2001]: The information is in the table.

  177W 8W

  David Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many applications for Incapacity Benefit were refused in(a) 2000 and (b) this year to date. [4367]

  Malcolm Wicks
  [holding answer 16 July 2001]: The information is in the table.

  Total Incapacity Benefit claims disallowed on application

  Number

  1 January to 31 December 2000

  379,806

  1 January to 30 June 2001

  183,233

  Note:

  1. Figures are taken from a 100 per cent. count of the computer system and exclude a small number of cases held clerically

  Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what has been the cost of Incapacity Benefit in each year since 1995(a) in cash terms and (b) at current prices. [3065]

  Malcolm Wicks
  The information is available in statistical tables showing breakdowns of historical and forecast benefit expenditure which are in the Library. It is also available on the Department's internet site.

  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what evidence he has collated on the numbers of claimants of Incapacity Benefit who are capable of(a) full-time work on a sustained basis and (b) other kinds of work; [3177]

  (2) what studies he has carried out into the skills, qualifications and work experience of present claimants of Incapacity Benefit; and what the result was. [3097]

  Malcolm Wicks
  Incapacity Benefit is a benefit for people who are not working because of sickness and disability, but this does not mean that they will never be capable of work. We know about one third of Incapacity Benefit recipients want to work. We believe it right to help them to achieve these ambitions.

  A national survey has been carried out which gathered information on the skills and qualifications of people who were in receipt of incapacity-related benefits for 28 weeks or more, including Incapacity Benefit. We plan to publish detailed findings from the survey later this year. A copy of the report will be placed in the Library.

  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people suffering from diabetes are in receipt of Incapacity Benefit. [3824]

  Malcolm Wicks
  The information requested is in the table.

  Recipients of Incapacity Benefit (IB) whose diagnosis is diabetes as at 28 February 2001

  Thousand

  Diagnosis

  IB recipients

  Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus

  10.4

  Non Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus

  10.3

  Unspecified Diabetes Mellitus

  20.3

  Total

  20.9

  1Figures based on a very few sample cases and are therefore subject to a high degree of sampling error and should be used as a guide to the current situation only

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  Notes:

  1. Figures given do not include Credits Only cases

  2. Owing to the rounding method used the individual figures do not sum to the total

  3. The table shows the numbers of Incapacity Benefit recipients whose first or only diagnosis is shown to be diabetes. They exclude numbers claiming Incapacity Benefit where another diagnosis is the primary cause of incapacity

  4. The figures are based on a 5 per cent. sample of the benefit computer system and will exclude a small number of clerically held cases

  5. They are expressed in thousands, rounded to the nearest hundred

  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will set out the most recent figures for the review periods set for Incapacity Benefit, indicating how many recipients fall into each category(a) less than three months, (b) three to nine months, (c) nine to 18 months, (d) 18 months to 36 months, (e) three to five years, (f) more than five years and (g) indefinite. [4322]

  Malcolm Wicks
  The information requested is not available.

  Jobseeker's Allowance
  Rachel Squire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to review the regulations which exclude term time only workers from claiming Jobseeker's Allowance during the school holidays. [4449]

  Malcolm Wicks
  We are considering the terms of the House of Lords judgment of 28 June.

  Disability Living Allowance
  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people(a) under and (b) over the age of 16 years and suffering from diabetes are in receipt of Disability Living Allowance, listed by the (i) lower, (ii) middle and (iii) higher rate. [3834]

  Maria Eagle
  Disability Living Allowance comprises a care component with three rates and a mobility component with two. Relevant information is in the table.

  People in receipt of Disability Living Allowance whose main disabling condition is diabetes mellitus1

  Age under 16

  Age 16 and over

  All recipients2

  13,200

  28,300

  Recipients of each rate

  Highest rate care

  2,800

  5,900

  Middle rate care

  9,400

  9,900

  Lowest rate care

  1,000

  6,400

  Higher rate mobility

  3100

  19,500

  Lower rate mobility

  1,500

  4,400

  1 Figures relate to 30 November 2000.

  2 Some recipients receive both care and mobility components.

  3 Figure is too small to be statistically reliable.

  Source:

  The Department for Work and Pensions: 5 per cent. data.

  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what reviews are under way within his Department to examine the eligibility criteria for Disability Living Allowance for those diagnosed as having an irreversible condition. [3823]
  179W
  Maria Eagle
  Entitlement to Disability Living Allowance (DLA) is based on care and mobility needs arising from a disability, not on particular medical conditions, and there are no specific reviews relating to irreversible conditions.

  IT Contracts
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will list the information technology contracts in excess of £500,000 let by his Department or its predecessor since April 1991, giving in each case the original estimated cost and original estimated completion date, the actual cost and actual completion date and the names of the contractors involved and consultants retained by his Department. [3511]

  Mr. McCartney
  The Employment Service and the Department of Social Security, had both made their own contractual arrangements for information technology (IT) prior to merging to form the Department for Work and Pensions.

  Employment Service contracts
  The Employment Service awarded a contract to Siemens Business Service (SBS) to provide an electronic communications system. The service is called Escom and the contract start date was 1 March 1998 with an estimated value of £6 million over the life of the contract. This is a five-year contract due to end 28 February 2003.

  Up until August 1998 all other IT work was performed "in-house" by Employment Services' IT division. From 1 August 1998 ES outsourced its IT work in a partnership agreement with Electronic Data Systems (EDS). The original agreement ran until July 2008 with a value of £370 million. In October 2000 the agreement was revised to reflect major new investment in IT and telephony to improve services for jobless people and employers in the Modernising Employment Service (MES) project. The partnership agreement is on-going and retains the original end date of July 2008 with a revised value of £806.5 million.

  Department of Social Security contracts

  From 1 September 2000 the Department of Social Security outsourced all its IT provision via the award of the ACCORD Strategic Outsourcing Business Allocation. ACCORD is an overarching contract under which future IT services to the Department will be provided by three groups of IT suppliers. The lead supplier group is led by Electronic Data Systems (EDS). The other two supplier groups are headed by British Telecom (BT) and International Computer Ltd. (ICL).

  To date, four specific businesses allocations have been awarded under the ACCORD contract:
  The Strategic Outsourcing Business Allocation (SOBA) conferred lead supplier status on EDS and gave them responsibility for maintenance, development and operation of the Department's existing IT systems, together with a range of related IT services. The contract period is 1 September 2000 to 31 August 2010.
  The Child Support Reforms business allocation was awarded to EDS, to provide new IT systems in support of the Child Support Agency. The contract period is 1 September 2000 to 31 August 2010.
  180W
  The Networks and Office Services Provision (NOSP) business allocation was awarded to BT for the provision of networks and related communications services. The contract period is 30 April 2001 to 31 March 2006.
  A business allocation covering Focus 95 Lots B, C and D was awarded to BT for maintenance and support of office IT equipment. This novated contracts previously awarded to other suppliers in 1995. All three lots have a contract end date of 30 November 2001.

  The information requested regarding costs of business allocated under the ACCORD contract is not available as it is commercially confidential.

  Prior to September 2000 the Department was responsible for its own IT provision but also used a large number of private sector contracts. In 1995 the Department undertook a major rationalisation of its IT contracting approach resulting in the Focus 95 contracts under which responsibility for IT support and operations was outsourced.

  A list of IT contracts current at the time of that outsourcing (October 1995) has been placed in the Library. This list gives contractor names and contract periods but it is not possible to give contract values nor is it possible to provide details prior to 1995. This information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Basic Pension
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many single retirement pensioners receive(a) 100 per cent. of basic rate retirement pension, (b) 90 to 99 per cent. of basic rate retirement pension, (c) 80 to 89 per cent. basic rate retirement pension and (d) less than 80 per cent. of basic rate retirement pension. [4053]

  Mr. McCartney
  The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is in the table.

  Retirement pensioners by proportion of basic state pension received: 30 September 2000

  Thousand

  All retirement pensioners

  All percentage rates

  10,933.9

  100 per cent.

  6,745.5

  90–99 per cent.

  286.4

  80–89 per cent.

  245.6

  Less than 80 per cent.

  3,655.5

  Notes:

  1. The figures are rounded to the nearest hundred.

  2. Totals may not sum owing to rounding.

  3. Includes retirement pensioners resident in Great Britain and overseas.

  4. Excludes pensioners without entitlement to a basic state pension.

  Source:

  Figures are based on a 5 per cent. sample taken from the Pension Strategy Computer System at 30 September 2000.

  State Second Pension
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will list the accrual rate implied by the state second pension in each £1,000 band of income up to £20,000 a year in the SSP in its(a) earnings related and (b) flat rate forms. [3699]
  181W
  Mr. McCartney
  The information is in the table:

  State second pension accrual rates1

  Annual earnings (£)

  Phase (A)(percentage)

  Phase 2(B)(percentage)

  4,000

  1,040

  1,040

  5,000

  212

  212

  6,000

  118

  118

  7,000

  82

  82

  8,000

  63

  63

  9,000

  51

  51

  10,000

  43

  43

  11,000

  38

  37

  12,000

  34

  32

  13,000

  32

  29

  14,000

  29

  26

  15,000

  28

  24

  16,000

  26

  22

  17,000

  25

  20

  18,000

  24

  19

  19,000

  23

  17

  20,000

  22

  16

  1The accrual rates shown are based on a 49-year working life, expressed in current terms. Unlike SERPS, which has an accrual rate of 20 per cent, the accrual rate for state second pension varies depending on income. State second pension concentrates the most help on the lowest paid. For example, a person earning £6,000 a year through their working life would get £59 a week from state second pension, £46 more than they would have received from SERPS.

TREASURY

  Devolved Government Referendums
  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the total cost to public funds was of the referendums on devolved government in(a) Scotland, (b) Wales and (c) London. [2600]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  The total cost of the referendum on devolved government in Scotland is estimated at £4.35 million. The total cost of the referendum in Wales was £2.3 million, and in London £1.5 million.

  Housing Wardens
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on his plans to extend VAT to services provided by housing managers or wardens; and what estimate he has made of the revenue that will be used. [4092]

  Mr. Boateng
  There are no plans to change the VAT treatment of services provided by housing managers or wardens.

  Asbestos Compensation
  Tony Worthington
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to ensure that the financial services industry is adequately prepared for meeting future claims for compensation relating to the asbestos industry. [3514]

  Ruth Kelly
  As part of its normal supervisory role, the FSA considers all material risks which can have a serious adverse impact upon individual insurance companies. Due to the uncertainty of future asbestos-related claims costs,182W
  it monitors developments relating to the insurance of asbestos, paying attention to companies with significant liabilities in this area.

  Biodiesel
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his most recent estimate is of the cost per tonne of carbon saved in biodiesel production. [4016]

  Mr. Boateng
  [holding answer 13 July 2001]: The cost of saving a tonne of carbon from the promotion of biodiesel varies considerably depending on the type of feedstock used for biodiesel production and its additional production cost relative to mineral diesel.

  DTLR estimates that the cost of saving a tonne of carbon from biodiesel could potentially range from about £900 to over £2,300.

  Green Ministers
  Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) on what date a Green Minister was first appointed in his Department; when subsequent appointments were made: and if he will make a statement; [3967]

  (2) what the terms of reference are for the Green Minister in his Department; and if he will make a statement. [3980]

  Mr. Boateng
  [holding answer 13 July 2001]: I refer the hon. Member to the answers given to him by the Minister for the Environment on 13 July 2001, Official Report, column 690W.

  Drug Seizures
  Paul Flynn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the value was of illegal drug seizures at points of entry to the UK in each of the past five years; and what the observed effect was on the street prices of illegal drugs. [2370]

  Mr. Boateng
  [holding answer 9 July 2001]: It is not possible to provide data on the total street value of all drug types seized by HM Customs and Excise at points of entry to the UK over the last five years which could be directly compared with the data available on street prices. The most comprehensive available data are for heroin and cocaine. Information relating to seizures for 2000–01 is not yet available.

  The total value of heroin and cocaine seized by HM Customs and Excise in the four financial years from 1 April 1996 to 31 March 2000 is as follows:

  £ million

  1996–97

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  Heroin

  £66.9

  £156.8

  £66.7

  £96.7

  Cocaine

  £294.1

  £242.1

  £279.7

  £150.7

  Total

  £361.0

  £398.9

  £346.4

  £247.4

  Between 1996 and 2000 the UK average street price for cocaine varied between £65 and £77 per gram, while the average price for heroin varied between £65 and £74. There is no direct correlation between variations in street price and the value of seizures.
  183W
  Street prices can vary for a number of reasons. While law enforcement activity can have an impact, factors such as variances in the yield of drug crops, consumption trends, drug purity levels and stockpiling by distributors can also affect the price of drugs on the street.

  Manufacturing Growth
  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his predictions are for manufacturing growth over the 2001–02 financial year. [4657]

  Ruth Kelly
  The Government publish a forecast for manufacturing output twice a year, at Budget time and in the pre-Budget report. The most recent forecast was published in March 2001 in the Financial Statement and Budget Report (HC 279), and this forecast will next be updated in the pre-Budget report in the autumn.

  Community Investment Tax Credits
  Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to introduce(a) pilot schemes for community investment tax credits, (b) independent monitoring of the effectiveness of community investment tax credits and (c) internal monitoring of the effectiveness of community investment tax credits; and if he will make a statement. [4137]

  Mr. Boateng
  The Government intend to bring forward legislation on community investment tax credits in the Finance Bill 2002. We published a consultation document on the tax credits ("Enterprising Communities: a tax incentive for community investment") in March. The consultation period closed on July 2 and generated a largely positive response. The Government will announce decisions on the outcome of the consultation in due course. There will be robust processes for monitoring the effectiveness of any scheme.
  184W

  Revenue Losses
  Harry Cohen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to obtain a more accurate account of the revenue losses outlined in the report of the Comptroller and Auditor General published on 9 February. [2995]

  Dawn Primarolo
  HM Customs and Excise Trust Statement for 1999–2000, which has been certified by the Comptroller and Auditor General, provided details of the estimated revenue losses due to excise diversion fraud of £668 million with further losses of £216 million involving goods diverted onto overseas markets where duty would have been due. Notes 9 and 10 to the Trust Statement, which is published with Customs Annual Report 1999–2000 (CM 5064), give further details.

  In his report, the Comptroller and Auditor General also undertook to produce a further report to Parliament on diversion frauds and on the action planned by Customs. He will be reporting to the Public Accounts Committee. The report of the independent investigation conducted by John Rogues, commissioned by the Paymaster General and the Chairman of Customs, will be published at the same time as the Comptroller and Auditor General's report is made available to the House.

  Roques Report
  Harry Cohen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the Rogues report, referred to in section 5.3 of Comptroller and Auditor General's report published on 9 February, will be published. [3064]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The Rogues report will be published at the same time as the Comptroller and Auditor General's further report on excise diversion is made available to the House (referred to in section 5.4 of his report published on 9 February).

  Immigration Detainees: Religious Needs
  Immigration Detainees: Religious Needs
  Highdown Prison: Late Arrival of Prisoners at Court
  Highdown Prison: Late Arrival of Prisoners at Court
  Trafficking for Sexual Exploitation: Redress
  Trafficking for Sexual Exploitation: Redress
  Prison Service: Environmental Performance
  Prison Service: Environmental Performance
  Prison Estate: Women and Immigration Detainees
  Prison Estate: Women and Immigration Detainees
  Foreign Nationals: Application for Leave to Remain
  Foreign Nationals: Application for Leave to Remain
  Public Trust Office
  Public Trust Office
  Palestinian Refugees in Lebanon
  Palestinian Refugees in Lebanon
  Libya: Goods Subject to Export Controls
  Libya: Goods Subject to Export Controls
  Consolidated Fund (Appropriation) Bill: Human Rights Statement
  Consolidated Fund (Appropriation) Bill: Human Rights Statement
  Ilisu Dam
  Ilisu Dam
  Nuclear Weapons: Safety
  Nuclear Weapons: Safety
  French and German Teaching
  French and German Teaching
  Language Teaching
  Language Teaching
  Education Reform White Paper
  Education Reform White Paper
  Remploy
  Remploy
  Warrington: Pensioners
  Warrington: Pensioners
  Appeal Tribunals: President's Report
  Appeal Tribunals: President's Report
  Nursing Home Care
  Nursing Home Care
  Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act: Annual Report
  Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act: Annual Report
  Children Act
  Children Act
  Flood Risk and Planning Permission
  Flood Risk and Planning Permission
  Palace of Westminster: Stone Restoration
  Palace of Westminster: Stone Restoration