Written Answers of 12 March 2001

DEFENCE

  Joint Service Defence Council
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 8 February 2001,Official Report, column 631W, on the Joint Service Defence Council, what factors led him to authorise the withdrawal of JS DC1 88/00. [152852]

  Mr. Spellar
  I authorised the temporary withdrawal of Joint Service Defence Council instruction 88/00, pending a review, as a result of concerns that the Ministry of Defence's policy towards membership of societies such as the Freemasons might not be fully compliant with the European convention on human rights.

  Special Advisers
  Mr. Tyrie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the special adviser working for him will relinquish his post on the dissolution of Parliament. [149320]

  Mr. Hoon
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on 13 February 2001,Official Report, column 130W.

  DERA
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the progress of the private-public partnership within DERA. [152775]

  Mr. Hoon
  [holding answer 8 March 2001]: I refer my hon. Friend to the announcement I made in the House on 24 July 2000, Official Report, columns 777–79 about our decision to implement the core competence model for the DERA public-private partnership. Under core competence, around three-quarters of the current DERA organisation will be turned into a company, referred to as NewDERA. For strategic reasons, the remainder will be retained within the Ministry of Defence to carry out functions that could not appropriately be transferred to the private sector.

  Work to implement the PPP has intensified over recent months and significant progress has been made on separating DERA into two new organisations. An amended trading fund order, entitled the draft Defence Science and Technology Laboratory Trading Fund Order 2001, was laid before Parliament on 17 January 2001. Operational separation of DERA is planned by 1 April 2001. Legal separation follows on 1 July after a period of shadow operation to test the organisations and their infrastructures. We will then carry out the remaining work necessary to prepare NewDERA for sale.
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  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the extent to which DERA has met its targets in relation to payment of its sub-contractors; and what steps are being taken to improve the timeliness of payments. [152772]

  Mr. Hoon
  [holding answer 8 March 2001]: During the year 1999–2000, as reported in the annual report for that year, DERA paid in excess of 97 per cent. of invoices within the agreed credit period on receipt of an undisputed invoice or date of confirmation of receipt of an acceptable service. The payment process is monitored and DERA is currently exploring the possibility of introducing a fast-track payment system for the large number of low value invoices that it processes and making payments more frequently. DERA currently makes payments twice a week, once by cheque and once by bank automated clearing system (BACS).

  Private Simon Jeans
  Mr. Duncan Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the verdict reached by the Croatian court on the killing of Private Simon Jeans in Split, Croatia, in September 1996; what representations he has made to his Croatian counterpart regarding the killing; and if he will make a statement. [153176]

  Dr. Moonie
  Despite the tragic circumstances surrounding the death of Private Simon Jeans, it would, of course, be wholly inappropriate for this Government to attempt to intervene in the judicial process of another country. We have to recognise that the Croatian judiciary, like our own, is independent and not subject to external pressure or direction.

  We did, however, make it clear to the Croatian Government, at a senior level, that the case was important and that we were anxious it should be handled both properly and swiftly. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence, my hon. Friend the Minister for Europe and the then Chief of the Defence Staff, General Sir Charles Guthrie, all raised the subject, in addition to the regular dialogue conducted between the Embassy and Defence staff in Zagreb and Split and the Croatian authorities.

  Ministerial Visits
  Sir Brian Mawhinney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the Ministers in his Department who visited any of the constituencies which are in the Peterborough Unitary Authority area between 1 January 2000 and 14 February 2001, indicating in each case(a) the date of the visit, (b) the constituencies included in the visit and (c) if the local hon. Member met the Minister. [151022]

  Dr. Moonie
  [holding answer 26 February 2001]: The Minister for the Armed Forces visited North-West Cambridgeshire on 31 March 2000 to meet the right hon. Member. No other Defence Ministers have visited constituencies which are in the Peterborough unitary authority between 1 January 2000 and 14 February 2001.

  Lost Medical Records
  Mr. Todd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions the medical records of a member of the armed services have been declared lost in each year since 1992. [151811]

  Dr. Moonie
  The Ministry of Defence does not maintain a central list of lost records. Duplicates of some of the documents contained in Service personnel personal medical folders are held centrally and over the last four years 3,722 requests have been made for copies of these records. Of this total, 95 records could not be traced. In addition, hospital records are forwarded to a central repository, which over the last five years has been unable to trace 429 records from 7,227 requests made. Requests for duplicate copies of medical records do not necessarily indicate that the originals are lost: they may be held in another location or an additional copy may be needed.

  Depleted Uranium
  Mr. Alasdair Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much depleted uranium is unaccounted for or missing as a result of the malfunction of the test rig which was placed on the sea bed at the Dundrennan range in 2000. [151845]

  Mr. Spellar
  The depleted uranium samples attached to the test rig damaged by heavy seas in the Solway Firth, and which are now missing, amount to 20.76kg. This is the equivalent of four depleted uranium rounds. If not recovered in a diving exercise planned for the week beginning 5 March, this material will oxidise and disperse in exactly the same way as the existing penetrator rounds, causing a negligible increase above the level of uranium occurring naturally in sea water. Since 1982, when firing of DU rounds into the sea began, there has been no detectable increase in uranium levels in samples of sea water, sea-bed sediment and shellfish taken in the area.

  Mr. Ruane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many depleted uranium shells were fired into the Irish Sea in each of the last 10 years. [152629]

  Mr. Spellar
  [holding answer 6 March 2001]: No depleted uranium (DU) shells have been fired into the Irish sea in the last 10 years. DU projectiles are fired from Kirkcudbright into the Solway Firth and the numbers fired over the last 10 years are as follows:

  Year

  Numbers fired

  1991

  666

  1992

  781

  1993

  682

  1994

  455

  1995

  280

  1996

  147

  1997

  740

  1998

  134

  1999

  111

  2000

  272

  2001

  114

  Total

  4,282

  1 to date

  National Missile Defence
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if it is the Government's policy that it remains premature to make any judgment on a proposal for National Missile Defence until such a proposal has been made. [151857]

  Mr. Hoon
  [holding answer 7 March 2001]: We share the United States concerns about missile proliferation and we recognise the role that missile defence can play as one part of a strategy to deal with it. We have made it clear that we would want to respond helpfully should the US make a specific request, but until any such proposal has been made it does remain premature to make a specific judgment.

  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations have been received from BAE Systems and other British companies regarding participation in US National Missile Defence. [152668]

  Mr. Hoon
  [holding answer 8 March 2001]: None.

  Defence Medical Services
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 15 February 2001,Official Report, column 192W, on Defence Medical Services, if he will list each level of medical downgrading used in the medical downgrading categorisation system stating in each case (a) the nature of duty restriction, (b) the nature of geographical restriction and (c) the level of deployability; and if he will make a statement. [151807]

  Dr. Moonie
  [holding answer 7 March 2001]: The various levels of medical downgrading used in the services medical downgrading categorisation systems are set out in detail in service publications. These are currently under review and a revised version is expected to be finalised shortly. As the level of detail involved would require an answer of considerable length, I will write to the right hon. and learned Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

  Consultancy Companies
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps are taken to ensure that small consultancy companies are given a fair chance to compete for contracts. [152773]

  Dr. Moonie
  [holding answer 8 March 2001]: The use of competition to select contractors and sub-contractors in order to secure best value for money is the cornerstone of Ministry of Defence's acquisition policy. Suppliers, whether they are small and medium enterprises or large corporate groups, are encouraged to compete for requirements in excess of certain value thresholds (£93,000 for the Official Journal of the European Community, and £250,000 for the MOD Contracts Bulletin for consultancy requirements), which are widely advertised. For low value requirements, formal competition may not be considered cost-effective (in respect of bidding and resource costs), and in such cases a supplier may be selected on the basis of expertise or past performance for example. The principle of fairness throughout the acquisition process is not only MOD policy, but is enshrined in UK and European law.
  413W
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on his Department's policy on the imposition of a turnover threshold in relation to competition for consultancy assignments. [152774]

  Dr. Moonie
  [holding answer 8 March 2001]: The Ministry of Defence needs to be assured that potential bidders can fulfil its requirements, and therefore seeks only to invite tenderers with whom it is prepared to place a contract. This not only helps to reduce the cost of bidding to industry, but it provides reassurance that value-for-money defence capability is being delivered. Financial status is just one of the factors taken into account when considering potential bidders eligibility. Turnover size may be employed as part of the calculation to determine whether a supplier has adequate resources to undertake a particular contract, whether for consultancy or other goods or services. This process accords with the central unit on procurement's guidance on good professional practice.

  Service Personnel (Sexually Transmitted Diseases)
  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what tests are carried out on members of HM armed forces for(a) sexually transmitted diseases and (b) HIV/AIDs; and if he will make a statement. [153169]

  Dr. Moonie
  There is no compulsory testing for sexually transmitted diseases or HIV. Standard laboratory tests, specific to the particular type of disease, for sexually transmitted diseases are carried out on service personnel where clinically indicated. Tests for HIV are carried out where this is a requirement prior to service in certain countries, or at the request of individuals who are concerned that they may have contracted HIV. Service personnel can, of course, make use of civilian genitourinary clinics.

  2nd Battalion the Parachute Regiment
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what dates the 2nd Battalion the Parachute Regiment has served tours of duty in Northern Ireland since 1971. [153098]

  Mr. Spellar
  The dates on which the 2nd Battalion the Parachute Regiment has served tours of duty in Northern Ireland since 1971 are listed.

  22 April 1971 to 26 August 1971

  15 February 1972 to 15 June 1972

  29 July 1972 to 28 September 1972

  27 March 1973 to 17 July 1973

  29 May 1975 to 29 September 1975

  2 December 1976 to 16 March 1977

  19 September 1977 to 14 January 1978

  27 July 1979 to 6 March 1981

  12 November 1984 to 26 March 1985

  3 March 1990 to 12 June 1990

  4 June 1993 to 3 June 1995

  1 October 1994 to 1 April 1995

  3 August 1996 to 4 March 1997

  15 December 1998 to 15 June 1999

  2 December 2000 to current date1

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  1 Only one company of the 2nd Battalion has been deployed to Northern Ireland during this present tour. This company has been used mainly to protect those military personnel and contractors who are involved in the dismantling of the three remaining Fermanagh Patrol Bases.

  Muslims (Forces)
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what measures he has taken to ensure that persons of Muslim belief are able to serve in HM forces without discrimination and are facilitated in their religious observance. [153061]

  Mr. Spellar
  The armed forces are fully committed to the avoidance of all forms of discrimination and make every effort to respect and accommodate the religious requirements of personnel. Muslim personnel are normally allowed to celebrate religious festivals and holidays and to fast and pray. The armed forces also aim to cater for religious dietary requirements: Halal, Kosher and vegetarian meals are provided by service messes and are available in operational ration packs for operations and exercises. However, there may be some circumstances when, in the interests of health and safety or operational effectiveness, some flexibility may be required on the part of the individual.

  Service chaplains are currently working to establish a network of local religious advisers from the Muslim, Buddhist, Jewish, Hindu and Sikh faiths to ensure that the spiritual and moral needs of all service personnel are provided for to the greatest extent possible.

  Foot and Mouth
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assistance has been provided for the enforcement of measures to prevent the further spread of foot and mouth disease in Northern Ireland; what instructions have been given to Army units that have patrolled rural areas concerning risk of spreading infection; and what correspondence has he received from Northern Ireland political parties, representatives of farmers organisations and others concerning these matters. [152865]

  Mr. Spellar
  The military have not been asked to help in the enforcement of measures to prevent the further spread of foot and mouth disease in Northern Ireland, either by other Government Departments (OGDs) or by Irish Ministers or farmers organisations.

  The prevailing threat from dissident Republican terrorists prevents the security forces from ceasing their operational activity. While full details cannot be given for reasons of operational security, modified patrol activity is being conducted to counter the threat. All operational activity remains in support of the police, and is aimed at thwarting and deterring terrorist activity.

  Royal Navy (Courtesy Calls)
  Dr. Jack Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many courtesy calls and visits have been made by vessels of the Royal Navy to UK towns, cities and ports in each year since January 1997; what the duration was of each visit; and if he will list the port and vessel involved in each case. [153029]
  415W
  Mr. Spellar
  The total number of courtesy calls and visits by vessels of the Royal Navy to UK towns, cities and ports since January 1997, including operational stand-offs, affiliation, fishery protection and informal visits, is as follows:

  Number of visits

  1997

  377

  1998

  434

  1999

  381

  2000

  478

  2001 (to date)

  51

  I am placing in the Library of the House a detailed list of the visits, showing the duration of the visit and the port and vessel involved in each case.

  Air Traffic Controllers
  Mr. Duncan Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many RAF air traffic controllers have(a) been recruited and (b) left the service in each of the past five years; how many air traffic controllers there are in the RAF; how many RAF air traffic controllers have joined National Air Traffic Services in the past year; and what plans he has for retention schemes for RAF air traffic controllers. [153172]

  Mr. Spellar
  The following table shows the intake and outflow of air traffic controllers (ATC) in the RAF over the past five years:

  Intake

  Outflow

  1996

  11

  108

  1997

  43

  55

  1998

  53

  48

  1999

  64

  41

  2000

  49

  53

  The current trained strength of ATC as at 1 February 2001 is 822.

  The RAF does not maintain records to show how many ATC have joined National Air Traffic Services. There are currently no plans for retention schemes specifically related to RAF ATC.

  Sri Lanka
  Mr. Gareth R. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what licences have been granted for the export of arms and military equipment to Sri Lanka in each year since 1997. [152481]

  Dr. Howells
  I have been asked to reply

  Details of all export licensing decisions taken between 2 May 1997 and 31 December 1999 were set out in the Government's 1997, 1998 and 1999 Annual Reports on Strategic Export Controls, published by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office; copies are in the Library of the House. These reports list by country of destination the export licences issued and refused in each entry in the relevant legislation under which the export of goods is controlled, which is known as their rating.
  416W
  Between 1 January 2000 and 1 March 2001 40 Standard Individual Export Licences (SIELs) and five Open Individual Export Licences (OIELs) were issued covering goods on the Military List. Details of these are set out in the tables:

  Standard Individual Export Licences issued between 1 January 2000 and 1 March 2001 for Sri Lanka

  Rating

  Number of SIELs

  ML1

  6

  ML2

  3

  ML3

  8

  ML4

  3

  ML5

  2

  ML6

  2

  ML9

  2

  ML10

  2

  ML11

  8

  NL14

  1

  ML15

  4

  ML21

  1

  ML22

  4

  PL5017

  10

  P5031

  1

  Open Individual Export Licences issued between 1 January 2000 and 1 March 2001 for Sri Lanka

  Rating

  Number of OIELs

  ML5

  2

  ML10

  1

  ML11

  1

  ML13

  2

  ML17

  1

  MLPL5001

  1

  Note:

  Each licence may cover a range of ratings, and where this is so, data on them are included under each of the relevant ratings.

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

  Customs and Excise
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Solicitor-General if a decision has been reached concerning the future of Customs and Excise as a prosecuting authority. [153572]

  The Solicitor-General
  The report by His Honour John Gower QC and Sir Anthony Hammond KCB QC was delivered to the Attorney-General on 5 December 2000. I have today placed a copy of the report in the Libraries and copies of the report are available on request to the solicitor for HM Customs and Excise.

  The report concludes that the Customs and Excise solicitor's office should retain its prosecution function, but that in exercising this function, including the giving of advice to investigating officers, it must be truly independent and be seen to be so. To that end, the report has also concluded that in relation to the prosecution function the solicitor should be accountable to the Attorney-General rather than to the commissioners and that the solicitor/client relationship between the commissioners and the solicitor should cease in relation to this function. Where cases are referred to the solicitor's office with a view to prosecution, the decision on whether to do so will rest with the appropriate lawyer after consultation with, where

  417W
  necessary, an administrator on matters of policy and public interest. These recommendations ate supported by a number of associated recommendations on detailed structural and financial aspects.

  The Government have carefully considered all these recommendations. They accept all the recommendations in principle, but, given the significant resource implications associated with some recommendations, have opted for a phased approach to implementation.

  The Government have had particular regard to the need to ensure that adequate resources arc made available to the solicitor's office to enable it properly to conduct the large and complex drugs and other prosecutions which were the main focus of the report, and which are conducted by the special casework division of that office (SCD). They have therefore decided to afford this area of work the greatest priority.

  Accordingly, it has been decided that, with effect from 1 April 2001, Customs and Excise will invest sufficient extra resources in the solicitor's office to enable it to implement the recommendations in the report which bear directly on the cases conducted by the SCD. This will mean that, taken with additional resources already provided to the solicitor's office in relation to the Butler report, the number of staff working on those cases in the SCD will almost double.

  These additional resources will enable recommendation 10 of the report (the attendance at conferences with counsel, and attendance at hearings in the Crown court) to be implemented quickly in relation to all SCD cases, and in over 60 per cent. of the cases conducted by the solicitor's office in total. The implementation of the remainder of that recommendation will be subject to local trials to evaluate the benefits and costs.

  Recommendation 15 (the conduct of magistrates courts proceedings) will not be implemented immediately and will also be subject to such local trials.

  The report concludes that Customs and Excise lawyers are dedicated professionals with valuable skills and expertise, and the Government believe that making the changes in accountability, responsibility and resourcing referred to above will ensure public confidence in the solicitor's office as a prosecuting authority.

  To enable detailed consideration to be given to the implementation of the remaining recommendations in the report, particularly where these have structural and budgetary implications, the change in accountability will have effect on 1 April 2002.

HEALTH

  NHS Dentistry
  Mr. Breed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the criteria his Department uses in assessing whether NHS dentistry is available to those who need it; and how many extra dentists will be required to ensure full availability, on these criteria, by 2001. [143259]

  Mr. Hutton
  We are committed to making National Health Service Dentistry available to all who need it by September 2001. The key test for this target will be whether callers (to the health authority or to NHS Direct) can be offered dentistry.
  418W
  There are more dentists working within the General Dental Service than ever before. In England there are now about 18,040, over 1,600 up on 1997. Availability problems are not caused by a shortage of dentists but by the amount of time dentists dedicate to private work. To address this problem the dental strategy, "Modernising NHS Dentistry: Implementing the NHS Plan", offers incentives to NHS dentists to maintain and increase the amount of NHS work they do. The strategy also allows health authorities to commission personal dental services in areas where there are access difficulties.

  Munchausen's Syndrome by Proxy
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the membership of the task force formed to study Munchausen's Syndrome by Proxy; and if he will make a statement. [146327]

  Mr. Hutton
  We have not formed a task force to study Munchausen's Syndrome by Proxy.

  However, the Griffith's review (Review of the Research Framework in the North Staffordshire National Health Service Trust) recommended that the Department convene an expert and inter-disciplinary panel to review methods of identification of children who have either had illnesses induced or fabricated by their carer. In response to this recommendation, which the Government accepted, a steering group has been formed to develop draft guidance for public consultation. This guidance is being developed within the framework of our interagency guidance on child protection "Working Together to Safeguard Children" (1999).

  The group is chaired by Mr. Bruce Clark, a senior official of the Department, and in addition to the external members listed, comprises administrative officials, together with medical, nursing and health advisers, from the Department of Health, the Department for Education and Employment, the Home Office and the National Assembly for Wales.

  The external members include:

  Dr. G Adshead—Royal College of Psychiatry

  Ms I Charles-Edwards—English National Board of Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting

  Mr. J Fox—Association of Chief Police Officers

  Ms S Hensman—Royal College of Nursing

  Ms D Kinnair—Community Practitioner and Health Visitors Association

  Ms S Smallman—United Kingdom Central Council for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting

  Dr. D Sowden—Royal College of General Practitioners

  Mr. A Webb—Association of Directors of Social Services.

  Genetic Conditions (Insurance)
  Siobhain McDonagh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what safeguards apply to ensure that people applying for insurance policies are not asked to reveal the results of tests for genetic conditions which have not had approval from the Genetics and Insurance Committee. [148856]

  Yvette Cooper
  The use of genetic test results by insurers is governed by a genetic testing code of practice issued by the Association of British Insurers. For an insurance company to ask for the results of a genetic test
  419W
  for a condition which is not approved by the Genetics and Insurance Committee (or is not one of the specified tests for conditions currently being considered by the Committee) would be in breach of an undertaking given by the ABI and in breach of their code of practice. Individuals who feel they have been unfairly treated under the code of practice can refer their case to an independent Adjudication Tribunal set up under the code. If the tribunal upholds a complaint, it is required to consider what further remedy or penalty is appropriate.

  A requirement to report to Ministers on the compliance by the industry with the recommendations of GAIC is also included in the terms of reference of GAIC.

  We have asked the Human Genetics Commission to examine the issues and the use of genetic information including in insurance and employment.

  Cardiothoracic Transplant Services
  Mr. Allan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) when he expects to publish a discussion document on the reorganisation of cardiothoracic transplant services; [149672]

  (2) what arrangements he is making for public consultation on the reorganisation of cardiothoracic transplant services. [149671]

  Mr. Denham
  We will issue a document soon setting out proposals for the future of the National Cardiothoracic Transplant service. The document will invite views on the proposals from patients, the public and appropriate organisations.

  Weston General Hospital
  Mr. Cotter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the waiting times in the Gastroenterology Department of Weston General Hospital were in 2000; and what the national average waiting time was in that year. [152428]

  Mr. Denham
  The national average waiting times for the gastroenterology speciality at 31 December 2000 were two months for inpatient treatment; and 8.1 weeks for an outpatient appointment. Waiting times for the gastroenterology service at Weston Area Health National Health Service Trust are not reported separately to the Department because at the trust this service is provided within the general medicine speciality. The hon. Gentleman may wish to contact Ms Martha Perriam, chairman of the trust, for further information.

  Mr. Cotter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many appointments were cancelled by Weston General Hospital in 2000; and what the national average was in that year. [152429]

  Ms Stuart
  The information requested is not collected centrally.

  Northwick Park and Mouth Vernon Hospitals
  Mr. Gareth R. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list(a) the amount and (b) the purpose of each specific grant allocation made to (i) Northwick Park Hospital and (ii) Mount Vernon Hospital since 1997. [152490]
  420W
  Mr. Denham
  The information is not available in the format requested. The Department does not give grants to trusts direct. The Department allocates directly to health authorities using a national weighted capitation formula.

  Northwick Park Hospital comes under the health economy area of Brent and Harrow health authority. The 2001–02 unified allocation for Brent and Harrow health authority is £371 million, which represents a cash increase of £31 million (8.99 per cent.). Mount Vernon Hospital comes under the health economy area of Hillingdon health authority. The 2001–02 unified allocation for Hillingdon health authority is £184 million, which represents a cash increase of £16 mill ion (9.35 per cent.).

  Timber
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much certified timber has been purchased by his Department over the past six months; and what proportion of total timber purchases this represents. [152114]

  Ms Stuart
  At present Departments do not yet have systems in place to provide data on the proportion of certified timber purchased over the last six months. The interdepartmental timber working group is working to develop a common reporting template which will form the basis for future reporting on timber procurement. An annual report will be provided in line with the answer given on 28 July 2000,Official Report, columns 947–48W, by my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Environment.

  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if his Department's annual report on timber procurement to the Committee of Green Ministers will be published. [152113]

  Ms Stuart
  Departments will be reporting their progress on all aspects of greening government and the report from Green Ministers is due to be published in November. It will make specific reference to timber procurement. Further information may be published separately.

  Alcohol
  Dr. Iddon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the consultation document on a national strategy for alcohol abuse will be published. [152665]

  Ms Stuart
  We remain committed to the publication of a cross-Government strategy to tackle alcohol misuse, and we are working with key stakeholders across Government, the alcohol field and the alcohol industry to ensure that this commitment is delivered.

  The NHS Plan, Published in July 2000, said that the Department would be implementing the strategy by 2004. The Department expects to publish a consultation paper in due course.

  Mobile Phones
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what changes were made to the draft leaflet "Mobile Phones and Health" in the section relating to the use of mobile phones by children and young people under 16 following receipt of comments from the Department of Trade and Industry; and if he will make a statement. [153256]
  421W
  Yvette Cooper
  Detailed discussions took place between the Department of Health, the Department of Trade and Industry, other Government Departments and United Kingdom Chief Medical Officers throughout the process of developing the leaflet. A number of drafts were discussed as is customary in situations where it is necessary to identify the best way to put complex scientific issues into plain English. The CMOs' intention to provide clear advice to parents over children using mobile phones was paramount throughout. The final version was signed off by all four CMOs after agreement between them.

  Psychiatric Drugs.
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the use of(a) Prozac and (b) other psychiatric drugs on children. [153260]

  Mr. Hutton
  Prozac is not licensed for use in children in the United Kingdom. Doctors may prescribe Prozac, outside the normal licensed indication, if they consider that this is in the patient's best interests.

  Other psychotropic drugs are less commonly used in children than adults as the prevalence of severe mental illness is considerably lower. Methylphenidate (Ritalin) and other similar stimulants are, however, licensed and used for the treatment of the more severe forms of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. The National Institute for Clinical Excellence issued guidance last November on the use of Methylphenidate.

  Waiting Lists (Mid Essex)
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish the most recent figures for the numbers of people(a) waiting for hospital treatment and (b) waiting to see a consultant in the Mid Essex Hospital Services NHS Trust area. [153374]

  Mr. Denham
  The information requested is as follows:

  Total number of patients waiting for hospital treatment at Mid Essex Hospital Services National Health Service Trust in January 2001:
  January 2001—Total number of patients waiting 9,282
  Source:
  Monthly waiting list returns.

  Total number of patients waiting 13 weeks or more for an outpatient appointment at Mid Essex Hospital Services NHS Trust in Quarter 3, 2000–01:
  Quarter 3 2000–01—Number of patients waiting over 13 weeks—2,349
  Source:
  QM08 quarterly return.

  Abuse in Care
  Mr. Dawson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of people who have been abused as children in the care system since 1971. [153392]

  Mr. Hutton
  We do not know how many children in care have been abused since 1971, and do not have a sound basis on which to form an estimate. It is a tragedy for any child to be abused, and a particular betrayal when such abuse happens in care. As we made clear in 422W
  "Learning the Lessons", our response to the report of the Waterhouse Inquiry, too many children in the past were failed by the very services that should have been helping them. We are concentrating our efforts on ensuring that such failures in the care system are not allowed to happen again, as evidenced by our programme of new protective legislation for children in care and our £885 million Quality Protects Programme.

  Mr. Dawson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what specific services are available for people who were abused while in care. [153394]

  Mr. Hutton
  A variety of health and social care provision is available for people who were abused while in care. Counsellors, clinical psychologists and others are available within mental health services provided in primary care, and/or specialised services.

  Mr. Dawson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many people who were abused in care needed mental health services in each of the past three financial years; and what was the cost of these services; [153395]

  (2) if he will develop a strategy to support those adults who were abused as children in care. [153396]

  Mr. Hutton
  We are aware that people who have been abused in care may continue to experience mental health problems. However, central records are not kept of the number who disclose this history. We have set out clear national standards in the National Service Framework for Mental Health. It describes how people should be able to get quicker access to more effective treatments in and through primary care, with support from specialised services where necessary.

  Children's Manifesto
  Ms Julie Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received about the Children's Manifesto produced by Barnardos, the Child Poverty Action Group and the NSPCC; and what plans he has to evaluate and monitor services to unaccompanied asylum-seeking children. [153397]

  Mr. Hutton
  The Children's Manifesto is an interesting and thought-provoking document that we are considering carefully. We share the aim expressed in the manifesto of enabling today's young people to grow into secure, confident and resourceful citizens. Unaccompanied asylum-seeking children are children in need under the Children Act 1989. Services for them are, therefore, monitored and evaluated in the same way as other children's personal social services. From time to time, as necessary, we look specifically at services for unaccompanied asylum-seeking children. For example, we asked local authorities to describe services for this group in their Year 3 Quality Protects Management Action Plans, submitted in January 2001. These plans are currently being evaluated.

  Child Sex Abuse
  Ms Julie Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to ensure that children who sexually abuse other children have access to appropriate treatment services. [153398]
  423W
  Mr. Hutton
  Children who sexually abuse other children are likely to have considerable, often complex, needs. Local authorities are expected to work closely with their partner agencies to ensure that such children receive support and treatment based on their assessed needs.

  Injury Victims
  Mrs. Spelman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much money has been spent annually by his Department since 1997 on(a) research into the prevention of intentional injuries, (b) research into the epidemiology, care and rehabilitation of victims of injury and (c) research into the biological mechanisms underlying the injury process and injury treatment. [153178]

  Yvette Cooper
  The Department's research is conducted into a wide range of areas including head injury, fractures and self-harm. However, information in the form requested could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

  Zimbabwe
  Mr. Fabricant
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much(a) bilateral and (b) European Union aid has been given to Zimbabwe in each of the last five years for which figures are available. [152208]

  Clare Short
  UK bilateral development assistance to Zimbabwe was as follows:

  £ million

  1995–96

  15.0

  1996–97

  11.1

  1997–98

  12.2

  1998–99

  16.6

  1999–2000

  14.0

  We expect to spend £11.2 million in 2000–01.

  EC development assistance to Zimbabwe in the last five years for which data are available was:

  £ million

  1994

  63.2

  1995

  38.2

  1996

  38.6

  1997

  10.6

  1998

  13.2

  Logos and Branding
  Mr. Tyrie
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much has been spent by her Department on departmental and agency logos and associated branding since 1 May 1997. [152649]
  424W
  Clare Short
  Since its establishment in 1997 (as the successor to the Overseas Development Administration) this Department has spent the following on revised logo/identity:

  £

  Logo change

  6,000

  Licensing typeface

  5,000

  Guidelines for contractors: on logo/identity issues

  5,600

  Mozambique
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what representations her Department has received from Mozambique about the impact of recent floods; what response has been made; and if she will make a statement. [152266]

  Clare Short
  Following the immediate relief operation in response to last year's catastrophic floods in Mozambique, my Department has remained engaged in rehabilitation as well as in developing new measures, via the United Nations system, to strengthen both UN and Government of Mozambique contingency arrangements for future disasters. Over the past few months DFID, FCO, MOD, the RNLI and the UK Fire Service have been working together to prepare contingency plans for different emergency scenarios. In addition, we have continued to work closely with the Government of Mozambique's National Directorate of Water to set up early warning flood systems with the UK Met Office.

  Following the onset of the current floods, we have switched gear to immediate response operations which are deliberately aimed at preventative rescue and relief, i.e. extricating people before the worst hits them and there is substantial loss of life and suffering. In addition to contributing £250.000 to the Red Cross appeal for Mozambique. we are currently:
  funding two Puma helicopters which are busy moving people from the riskiest areas and transporting urgent relief supplies;
  providing three logisticians to World Food Programme to assist in its operational response;
  providing a humanitarian specialist in Beira to reinforce DFID presence on the ground and conduct field assessments.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Hinduja Brothers
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what factors he considered before he gave his advice that it would be beneficial for the Cabinet Secretary to accept a lunch invitation from the Hindujas. [153433]

  Mr. Wilson
  The Foreign and Commonwealth Office considered that accepting such an invitation would be beneficial to British commercial interests in India. The Hinduja group has extensive commercial interests in India.

  President Mugabe
  Mr. Hammond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Belgian Government regarding their reception of President Mugabe. [152960]

  Mr. Wilson
  The Foreign Secretary raised his deep concern at recent events in Zimbabwe, and his views on the current situation, with the Belgian Foreign Minister before the latter's meeting with President Mugabe on 5 March.

  UK/India Round Table
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 6 March 2001,Official Report, column 173W, if he will list those present representing (a) the UK and (b) India at each of the meetings of the UK/India Round Table; and if he will list the recommendations arising from these two meetings. [153435]

  Mr. Wilson
  The following people participated in the two meetings of the UK/India Round Table held so far:

  First Meeting

  UK Side

  The Lord Paul of Marylebone—Co-Chairman

  Professor Judith Brown—Balliol College, Oxford

  Daljit Dhaliwal—Journalist and Broadcaster

  Stephen Evans—Head, South Asian Deptxtment, FCO

  Patrick French—Author

  Sir David Goodall KCMG—Former High Commissioner to India

  Melville Guest—Chief Executive, Asia House

  David Jeffries, CBE, FEng—Co-Chairman, Indo-British Partnership

  John Lloyd—Journalist

  Liz Lloyd—Policy Unit, No. 10

  Ros Marsden—Director, Asia/Pacific, FCO

  Alpesh Patel—Businessman and Journalist

  Sir Rob Young KCMG—High Commissioner to India

  Indian Side

  K. C. Pant—Co-Chairman

  Swapan Dasgupta—Deputy Editor, India Today

  HE Nareshwar Dayal—High Commissioner of India UK

  Dr. Ashok S. Ganguly—Chairman, ICI Ltd.

  Dr. Jamshed J. Irani—MD, Tata Iron and Steel Co. Ltd.

  Sandhya Jain—Columnist, The Pioneer

  Uday S. Kotak—Vice Chairman, Kotat Mahindra Finance

  Hemedra Kothari—Chairman, DSP Merrill Lynch

  Bashwati Mukherjee—Joint Secretary, Indian Ministry of External Affairs

  M. K. Rasgotra—Former High Commissioner to London

  Dr. Jahar Saha—Director Indian Institute of Management

  Aveek Sarkar—Editor-in Chief, Anand Bazar Patrika

  Professor Obaid Siddiqi—Scientist, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research

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  Second Meeting

  UK Side

  The Lord Paul of Marylebone—Co-Chairman

  Professor Judith Brown—Balliol College, Oxford

  Stephen Evans—Head of South Asian Department, FCO

  Patrick French—Author

  Sir David Goodall KCMG—Former High Commissioner to India

  Melville Guest—Chief Executive, Asia House

  David Jeffries, CBE. FEng—Co-Chairman, Indo-British Partnership

  Sir Tim Lankester, KCB—Director, School of Oriental and African Studies

  John Lloyd—Journalist

  Liz Lloyd—Policy Unit, No. 10

  Edmund Marsden—Director, British Council India

  Ros Marsden—Director, Asia/Pacific, FCO

  Alpesh Patel—Businessman and Journalist

  Mark Tully—Freelance writer and journalist

  Sir Rob Young KCMG—High Commissioner to India

  Indian Side

  K. C. Pant—Co-Chairman

  Swapan Dasgupta—Deputy Editor, India Today

  HE Nareshwar Dayal—High Commissioner of India to UK

  Dr. Ashok S. Ganguly—Chairman, ICI Ltd.

  Sandhya Jain—Columnist, The Pioneer

  Girish Karnard—Director, Nehru Centre, London

  Hemendra Kothari—Chairman, DSP Merrill Lynch

  Bhaswati Mukherjee—Joint Secretary, Indian Ministry of External Affairs

  M. K. Rasgotra—Former High Commissioner to London

  Jahar Saha—Director, Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad

  Aveek Sarkar—Editor-in Chief, Anand Bazar Patrika

  Dr. Gautam Sen—Lecturer, London School of Economics

  Professor Obaid Siddiqi—Scientist, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research.

  On each occasion, the Round Table made a series of recommendations covering a range of issues which impact on the bilateral relationship—including trade, commerce, investment, IT, media, culture, academic co-operation and visas. A copy of the recommendations will be placed in the Libraries of the Houses of Parliament.

  Echelon Surveillance System
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the Echelon surveillance system. [153269]

  Mr. Robin Cook
  The hon. Member will be aware that it is long-standing Government policy not to comment on alleged surveillance systems.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Fuel Smuggling
  Mr. Donaldson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on which date he last met representatives of the retail petrol industry in Northern Ireland to discuss the smuggling of motor fuel products into Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement. [153427]
  427W
  Dr. Reid
  My right hon. Friend the Minister of State met with representatives of the petroleum industry on Monday 5 March 2001. The purpose of the meeting was to hear the industry's concerns in relation to fuel smuggling into Northern Ireland. This criminal activity is being pursued with the utmost vigour. During the period April to September 2000, fuel to the value of £1.3 million was seized. Also, during the course of last year, 13 laundering plants with an estimated annual production in excess of 40 million litres of fuel were dismantled.

  Mr. Donaldson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the dates in 2001 on which he or his officials have held discussions with his counterparts in the Irish Republic on the smuggling of motor fuel products into Northern Ireland. [153424]

  Dr. Reid
  My officials were due to meet with their Republic of Ireland counterparts on Friday 2 March 2001 to discuss fuel smuggling. The foot and mouth crisis prohibited that meeting from taking place and a new date has been set for the end of March.

  Mr. Vincent McKenna
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on what date the RUC was first informed of allegations against Mr. Vincent McKenna; what steps were taken to protect children coming into contact with him; and what advice was made available to senior police officers and officials coming into contact with the campaign with which Mr. McKenna was identified. [150837]

  Mr. Ingram
  On 2 July 1998, under joint protocol arrangements, the Department of Health and Social Services informed the Royal Ulster Constabulary that Monaghan social services had made them aware of allegations against Mr. McKenna. As a result, RUC officers from the child abuse and rape enquiry (CARE) unit in Mr. Mckenna's area and local social services convened a number of case conferences and liaison was established with An Garda Siochana. It would be inappropriate to provide specific details of the action taken.

  There was no disclosure of the allegations against Mr. McKenna until such time as details were in the public arena.

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on what dates information was received from the Garda Siochana concerning the allegations and prosecution of Mr. Vincent McKenna. [150581]

  Mr. Ingram
  On 2 July 1998, under joint protocol arrangements, the Department of Health and Social Services informed the Royal Ulster Constabulary that Monaghan social services had made them aware of allegations against Mr. McKenna. Liaison was established with An Garda Siochana on or shortly after this date and was maintained until the criminal proceedings against Mr. McKenna concluded.

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps have been taken to share information with the Garda Siochana concerning Mr. Vincent McKenna; how many persons have 428W
  been interviewed since the conviction of Mr. Vincent McKenna; and what steps have been taken to investigate further allegations. [150582]

  Mr. Ingram
  Liaison with An Garda Siochana was established by the Royal Ulster Constabulary once they were made aware of allegations against Mr. McKenna and this was maintained until the criminal proceedings concluded.

  No complaints have been made alleging any offences in Northern Ireland; consequently no investigation has been conducted by the RUC.

PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL

  People's Peerages
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the President of the Council how many persons are to be recommended to the Prime Minister for a people's peerage. [151863]

  Mrs. Beckett
  The Prime Minister has asked the Appointments Commission to submit 15 names of people to be recommended for non-political peerages. In the past, each honours list was accompanied by the publication of four or five names of new peers. The last such honours list was at the new year 2000.

CABINET OFFICE

  Consultative Group on Better Regulation
  Mr. Andy King
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what progress has been made by the high-level consultative group on better regulation set up by the Strasbourg meeting of European Ministers of Public Administration last November. [153703]

  Mr. Stringer
  Following the decision by the Ministers of Public Administration, the first meeting of the Group took place on 21 December in Paris. Chaired by Dieudonné Mandelkern, the French representative, the Group agreed its work plan for the first four months in accordance with its mandate from the Ministers. It decided to look at five themes—codification of existing legislation, simplification, improving consultation, impact assessment (including alternatives to regulation) and the administrative structures needed to support this. I have placed a copy of this work plan and a copy of the Ministers' resolution establishing the Group in the Library of the House.

  The second and third meetings of the Group looked at each of the five themes identified, resulting in agreement on the Group's initial report at its meeting in Paris on 26–27 February. On the suggestion of the Swedish representative, the Group also decided it should be known as the "Mandelkern Group' in future, after its chairman. I have placed a copy of the initial report in the Library of the House.

  The Group's initial report is an excellent document covering the main issues of better regulation. Alongside espousing some general principles of better regulation, it makes specific and practical recommendations on each of the five key themes. It is being discussed by the Internal Market Council today and will then be one of the

  429W
  contributions to the Stockholm European Council on 23–24 March. This document is a very positive development, representing as it does the first time that representatives of all 15 European member states have endorsed such a specific text on better regulation.

  Rural Policy
  Mr. Lansley
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office when she last met other Ministers to discuss co-ordination of the Government's rural policy; and if she will make a statement. [153403]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  It is established practice under exemption two of Part 11 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information not to disclose information relating to the proceedings of Cabinet Committees.

  Policy and Strategy Units
  Mr. Tyrie
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office when the post of director of policy studies was established; which of the director's reports are in the public domain; how many departmental or non-departmental special advisers participate in its work; how many regular(a) non-departmental and (b) departmental staff participate in its work; and how many of these work for him on a full-time basis. [150365]

  Marjorie Mowlam
  The Policy Studies Directorate (PSD) is part of the Centre for Management and Policy Studies and the Director of Policy Studies was appointed in March 2000. PSD supports policy makers by evaluating new approaches to policy making and promoting best practice, by encouraging and enabling an evidence-based approach and by working to ensure high standards in Government research and evaluation. It is the intention that research reports on new approaches to policy making will be published as they are completed. Special Advisers to Ministers may contribute to the work of the unit in the same way as they would to the other work of a Department, in line with their role and duties as set out in the "Model Contract for Special Advisers". The Director currently has a staff of 22; six are Cabinet Office permanent staff; 11 are on loan from other Departments;

  Table—total and planned expenditure

  £

  1996–97

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  2000–011

  Public Opinion Research

  2—

  656,604

  897,622

  270,096

  532,076

  Advertising (television, radio and newspaper)

  337,465

  238,270

  246,438

  678,601

  662,277

  Direct Mail

  548,204

  660,427

  521,950

  428,304

  553,060

  Total

  885,669

  1,555,301

  1,666,010

  1,377,001

  1,747,413

  1 Planned

  2 Not available

  Notes:

  1. Figures only include Cabinet Office entities and divisions as of 31 January 2001.

  2. Figures do not include the salary costs of Cabinet Office staff.

  3. Direct Mail includes all postage services costs of the Cabinet Office.

  4. Expenditure on advertising include recruitment advertising.

  5. Expenditure undertaken by Central Office of Information on behalf of clients is not included.

  Computer Systems
  Mr. Fabricant
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office (1) what facilities are immediately available to Departments principally involved in the collection or 430W
  one is on secondment from a university; and two are temporary clerical staff. All work full-time for her. Two research fellows—one permanent Cabinet Office staff and one secondee—work part-time for her.

  Early Retirement
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what terms and conditions apply in the case of public sector employees seeking early retirement when those same workers are part of the disabled quota. [152841]

  Mr. Stringer
  Early retirement terms are the same for all civil servants, including those with a disability. The Disability Discrimination Act 1995 removed the system of quotas and allowed individuals to declare themselves disabled without the need for formal verification from medical records or a doctor.

  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what conditions must be satisfied before a civil service worker can take early retirement. [152842]

  Mr. Stringer
  The minimum age at which most civil servants can retire with full superannuation benefits is 60. The Civil Service Management Code enables staff to retire or be retired early by Departments and agencies on several grounds. A copy of the code is available in the Library.

  Public Relations (Expenditure)
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the total expenditure and the breakdown of expenditure was in her Department for the financial years(a) 1996–97, (b) 1997–98, (c) 1998–99 and (d) 1999–2000, and what the planned expenditure and breakdown of expenditure for 2000–01 is on (i) public opinion research, (ii) television, radio and newspaper advertising and (iii) direct mail. [149269]

  Marjorie Mowlam
  The total expenditure during(b) 1997–98, (c) 1998–99 and (d) 1999–2000, and the planned expenditure during 2000–01 on (i) public opinion research, (ii) television, radio and newspaper advertising and (iii) direct mail, is shown in the table. All figures are inclusive of VAT where applicable.

  distribution of funds in the event of existing computer systems failing; [152633]

  (2) what instructions have been given to Government Departments to ensure effective back-up systems exist in

  431W
  the event of existing computer systems failing; and if annual reviews of these instructions take place; [152634]

  (3) when the last assessment of departmental computer back-up systems took place; and what improvements were made subsequently; [152635]

  (4) if he will list those commercial companies he has been in contact with in the last 24 months regarding disaster contingency programmes; [152636]

  (5) which Minister has specific responsibility for computer disaster contingency programmes. [152637]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  Each Government Department is responsible for ensuring it has robust business continuity plans in place to ensure that they can respond effectively to a wide range of problems, including computer failure. Departments are expected to test these plans regularly and to respond to any weaknesses identified. From January 2001 all new high risk projects involving procurement in the Civil Departments of central Government, along with their executive agencies and NDPBs require a business continuity plan that addresses potential problems during implementation and roll out of the project.

  Guidance to Departments is principally made available via the Office of Government Commerce, which also chairs an Interdepartmental Business Continuity Planning Forum. This forum has involved a range of commercial companies, including the Guardian IT Group and SGRS.

  Departments are also required to ensure that their computer systems are adequately protected, and to review regularly security measures. An IT Health Check Service is available from companies accredited by GCHQ's Communications-Electronics Security Group, which will identify vulnerabilities and recommend effective security counter measures.

  To enhance further security across Government, especially in relation to computer systems, all Departments have now prepared plans to achieve compliance with the International Standard on Information Security Management (ISO 17799). The standard requires organisations to develop and test effective business continuity plans, and Departments will be asked to gain objective assurance that key systems are adequately protected.

  Strategic Communications Unit
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what was the cost of running the Strategic Communications Unit for each financial year since 1 May 1997. [153265]

  The Prime Minister
  I am replying to this question as it relates to matters for which I am responsible.

  The cost of running the Strategic Communications Unit (SCU) in 1999–2000 was £838,421. In the current financial year, the cost up to the end of December 2000 was £732,364. For information on previous years' expenditure, I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 10 April 2000, Official Report, column 22W.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  Disability Discrimination Act
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what targets and indicators his Department has set to monitor progress towards delivering increased employer awareness of the employment provisions of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995. [150819]

  Ms Hodge
  [holding answer 26 February 2001]: We have not set specific targets for employer awareness of the employment provisions of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA). Employer awareness is, however, one of the indicators used by my Department and we test the level through research. A survey carried out in 1998 showed that 75 per cent. of respondents were aware of the DDA, including all respondents from large firms. While 80 per cent. of large firms also stated that they were very or fairly aware of the employment provisions in the Act, awareness was much lower among small businesses at 36 per cent. My Department has recently commissioned a survey of workplaces, involving interviews with line managers as well as personnel staff and head office staff. This survey will examine a range of issues regarding the employment and retention of disabled people, including awareness of the employment provisions of the DDA.

  As part of our efforts to raise awareness, a wide range of information about the DDA has been included in free leaflets and by April 2000, over 2 million had been distributed by the DDA Helpline, which was set up to give information and advice to businesses and disabled people. The "See the Person" campaign was launched in June 1999 to raise awareness about disability and to give information and advice to employers and service providers about the requirements of the DDA. The campaign included TV and radio advertisements, posters, press articles, and publicity organised through employers' organisations. The campaign was used to promote new publications such as a good practice guide for employing disabled people which has also been helpfully promoted through organisations such as the Federation of Small Businesses, the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development and the CBI. The Government's current publicity campaign—"What have you got to offer"—is aimed at service providers and their responsibilities to provide access to disabled customers under Part III of the DDA. The Disability Rights Commission (DRC) took over responsibility for the Helpline, when it was set up in April 2000, and continues to provide support, advice and free publications about the Act. The DRC Helpline is on 08457 622 633.

  On Monday 5 March we announced our intention to end the exemption of small employers from the DDA employment provisions in 2004. Through our document—"Towards Inclusion"—we are consulting on what help small employers might need as a result and we said that the DRC, the Small Business Service and the DfEE's telephone advice line, Equality Direct, would all work together to ensure that effective advice and information are available at the right time. Our intention is to continue working with these and other organisations and services and increase awareness through a range of initiatives including publicity campaigns.

  Job Loss Compensation
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the occasions since 1971 when compensation was paid to individuals who lost their jobs as a result of a change in the law. [152278]

  Ms Jowell
  Job gains and losses occur for a variety of reasons. Currently, job gains exceed job losses with employment in the UK up 225,000 over the last year (ending October to December 2000) Where job losses occur it is, in general, contrary to EU state aid rules for the Government to compensate companies, partnerships and/or individuals whatever their cause. In these cases, individuals have employment rights including statutory entitlement to redundancy payments from their employer.

  Teacher Training
  Jackie Ballard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how much money was made available for teacher training and in-service teacher training for teaching about child protection in(a) 1997, (b) 1998, (c) 1999 and (d) 2000; and how much will be available in 2001. [152280]

  Jacqui Smith
  The Department made a further £1.5 million available from the Grants for Education Support and Training (GEST) programme for 1997–98. The purpose of this funding was to enable senior teachers with designated responsibility for child protection to receive appropriate and practical in-service training. From 2001–02, schools will be free to use most of their devolved Standards Fund grant to meet their individual priorities, including, where appropriate, in-service teacher training in child protection. The Standards Fund will increase to around £2.2 billion (excluding capital expenditure) in 2001–02, most of which will be devolved to schools.

  Circular 4/98, "Teaching: High Status, High Standards", sets out the requirements for all courses of initial teacher training. It makes specific references to child protection standards, which all trainees must demonstrate that they meet in order to gain Qualified Teacher Status. It is for individual providers to decide how best to deliver appropriate training from within their overall funding.

  We are currently reviewing our child protection guidance to the education service and will make a decision later about whether to support any new guidance with further funding for training.

  School Councils
  Jackie Ballard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will develop a statutory framework for school councils in both primary and secondary schools. [152281]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The Citizenship programme of study, which will become statutory for secondary schools in September 2002, encourages active participation of young people in the democratic life of their school and the wider community. School councils and class councils provide excellent opportunities to fulfil this aim, although within the flexible Citizenship programme, it will be open to schools to decide whether to have a school council.
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  To support the schools that decide to introduce a school or class council, the Department has funded School Councils UK to produce a primary schools toolkit, and develop resources for secondary schools to enable teachers and pupils to set up effective structures for pupil participation. The primary toolkit was made available to schools last September and the secondary resource will be made available to schools this summer.

  School Buildings (Wandsworth)
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what funding has been made available to the London borough of Wandsworth in each year since 1997 for improving school buildings. [152680]

  Jacqui Smith
  The following table shows the total central Government support for capital investment made in Wandsworth local education authority from 1996–98 to 2000–01. This includes £4.651 million investment through the New Deal for Schools programme.

  In January this year, we announced that the New Deal for Schools would be extended over the next three years to 2003–04. Allocations benefiting schools in Wandsworth local education authority announced in January under the New Deal for Schools total £2.827 million over three years. This amount will be increased by the extra funding announced in the Chancellor's Budget Statement on 7 March, and later this year when allocations to local authorities of the new £555 million New Deal for Schools Modernisation programme are announced.

  It will be for Wandsworth and its schools, working within guidelines provided by the Department, to allocate this new funding to individual projects.

  Nationally, capital investment in school buildings has tripled from £683 million a year in 1996–97 to over £2 billion in 2000–01. It will be £3.5 billion in 2003–04, including grant, credit approvals and Private Finance Initiative credits. There will be central Government investment of £8.5 billion in school buildings in total from 2001–02 to 2003–04.

  Central Government support for capital investment in Wandsworth local education authority 1997–98 to 2000–01

  £000

  Year

  Wandsworth

  1997–98

  861

  1998–99

  1,897

  1999–2000

  3,476

  2000–01

  6,980

  Total

  13,214

  Numeracy and Literacy (South Tyneside)
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on trends in numeracy and literacy among children in junior schools in the borough of South Tyneside since 1996. [152765]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  In the 2000 Key Stage 2 tests, 72 per cent. of South Tyneside's 11-year-olds achieved the expected standard for their age in English, an increase of 16 percentage points since 1996. In mathematics, 74 per cent. of pupils achieved the expected standard, a
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  21 percentage point increase since 1996. These results are clear evidence of the success of the national literacy and numeracy strategies.

  Education Funding (South Shields and South Tyneside)
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what the annual increase has been in the Standards Fund since 1996; and how much of the Standards Fund has been spent in(a) South Shields constituency and (b) the borough of South Tyneside in each year since then. [152766]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The following table shows the annual cash increase in the Standards Fund since 1996–97:

  £ million

  Year

  Total allocations

  Increase on previous year

  DfEE contribution

  Increase on previous year

  1996–97

  265

  14

  163

  12

  1997–98

  320

  55

  211

  48

  1998–99

  620

  300

  395

  184

  1999–2000

  1,260

  640

  862

  467

  2000–01

  2,490

  1,230

  1,913

  1,051

  Note:

  The total allocation figures include both Government and local authority contributions.

  Figures for the amount of grant spent in an individual constituency cannot be provided, but the following table

  £ million

  1996–97

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1999–01

  2000–01

  2001–02

  SSA

  59.0

  59.5

  65.7

  68.8

  71.8

  73.6

  Grants

  0.7

  3.0

  1.4

  3.0

  6.5

  7.7

  Of which:

  Standards Fund1

  0.7

  0.9

  1.1

  2.0

  4.1

  4.9

  Class Size Reduction Grant

  —

  —

  —

  0.2

  0.3

  0.4

  Education Action Zones

  —

  —

  0.3

  0.8

  0.9

  —

  Nursery Vouchers Grant

  —

  2.1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  £50 million Special Grant LEAs

  —

  —

  —

  —

  0.2

  0.5

  School Standards (Special) Grant

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1.0

  1.9

  Capital

  1.5

  1.5

  2.5

  3.4

  5.6

  n/a

  1 DfEE contributions only. Figures for 2001–02 are provisional.

  In the Budget on 7 March, national increases of £100 million for School Standards Grant and devolved New Deal for Schools Capital were announced. South Tyneside will benefit from these increases; the precise allocations are being calculated, and have not been included in the table above.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how much direct grant was received by each school in the South Shields constituency for the 2000–01 financial year; and what his estimate is for each school in 2001–02. [152781]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The following table shows the School Standards Grant payable to each school in 2000–01. No estimate by individual school is yet available for 2001–02. However a typical primary school will receive £24,000 in 2001–02 compared with £9,000 in 2000–01; and a typical secondary school, £70,000 compared with £40,000 in 2000–01.
  436W
  shows the Standards Fund grant spent in South Tyneside local education authority since 1996–97. The figures include all grants paid through the Standards Fund payment system excluding New Deal for School capital, which is not part of the Standards Fund programme.

  Amount of Standards Fund spent in the borough of South Tyneside

  £ million

  Year

  Total expenditure

  DfEE contribution

  1996–97

  1.1

  0.7

  1997–98

  1.4

  1.0

  1998–99

  2.4

  1.5

  1999–2000

  4.0

  2.8

  2000–01

  9.5

  7.3

  Notes:

  1. The total expenditure figures include both Government and local authority contributions

  2. The figures for 1996–97, 1997–98, 1998–99 and 1999–2000 are audited outturn expenditure figures.

  3. The figures for 2000–01 are the total expenditure currently expected to be incurred in this financial year.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the funding allocations, by scheme, to South Tyneside Local Education Authority in each year since 1996; and what his estimates are for the 2001–02 financial year. [152780]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  I refer my right hon. Friend to the letter sent to him by the Secretary of State on 16 February. The total funding for South Tyneside local education authority since 1996–97 is set out:

  £ 000

  School name

  Amount of grant

  Elizabeth Diamond Nursery School

  3

  Wharfedale Drive Nursery School

  3

  Cleadon Park Nursery School

  3

  Chuter Edge Behavioural Support Unit

  3

  Hadrian Primary School

  9

  Ridgeway Primary School

  9

  Downhill Infants' and Nursery School

  6

  Harton Infants' School

  9

  Laygate School

  9

  Mortimer Primary School

  9

  Mowbray Junior Mixed School

  9

  Marine Park Junior Mixed Infant and Nursery School

  6

  Stanhope Junior Mixed and Infants School

  9

  Westoe Infants' School

  9

  Biddick Hall Junior School

  9

  Temple Park Junior School

  9

  Highfield Infants' School

  6

  437W

  £ 000

  School name

  Amount of grant

  Temple Park Infants' School

  6

  Biddick Hall Infants' School

  9

  Monkton Junior School

  9

  Monkton Infants' School

  6

  Ashley Primary School

  9

  Harton Junior School

  9

  Cheviot Junior School

  9

  Lord Blyton Primary School

  9

  Albert Elliott Primary School

  9

  All Saints' CofE Junior School

  6

  All Saints CofE Infants' School

  3

  St. Mary's CofE Voluntary Aided Primary School

  9

  St. Bede's RC Voluntary Aided Primary School, South Shields

  9

  St. Gregory's RC Voluntary Aided Primary School

  9

  SS Peter and Paul RC Voluntary Aided Primary School

  9

  St. Oswald's RC Voluntary Aided Primary School

  9

  Harton School

  50

  Mortimer Comprehensive School

  40

  Brinkburn School

  40

  King George V School

  40

  St. Wilfrid's RC Voluntary Aided Comprehensive School

  40

  New Deal for Schools—allocations for schools in the South Shields constituency

  Year/School

  Project

  Total allocations (£)

  1997–98

  Included within an LEA wide package:

  Roof repairs

  1 536,000

  Biddick Hall Infants

  Highfields Infants

  Brinkburn Comprehensive

  Harton Junior

  Harton Junior

  IT development

  Mortimer Comprehensive

  1998–99

  All Saints CE Junior

  Replacement of electrical wiring

  42,500

  Biddick Hall Infants

  Replacement of electrical wiring

  53,100

  Margaret Sutton Special

  Replacement of electrical wiring

  53,100

  Harton Comprehensive

  Replacement of electrical wiring

  84,600

  Monkton County Infants

  Replacement of electrical wiring

  63,400

  Monkton Junior

  Replacement of electrical wiring

  42,500

  St. Mary's CE Junior

  Replacement of electrical wiring

  51,685

  St. Peter and Paul RC Primary

  Replacement of electrical wiring

  63,300

  Temple Park Infants

  Replacement of electrical wiring

  38,000

  Mortimer Comprehensive

  Improvement of ventilation

  25,500

  Cheviot Junior

  Renewal of obsolete firm alarm

  75,000

  Cleadon Park Nursery

  Renewal of obsolete firm alarm

  5,250

  Downhill Infants

  Renewal of obsolete firm alarm

  5,250

  Harton Comprehensive

  Renewal of obsolete firm alarm

  85,600

  Laygate School

  Renewal of obsolete firm alarm

  41,200

  Ridgeway Junior

  Renewal of obsolete firm alarm

  31,650

  Temple Park Infants

  Renewal of obsolete firm alarm

  13,700

  Brinkburn Comprehensive

  Installation of safer emergency lighting

  32,300

  Harton Comprehensive

  Installation of safer emergency lighting

  42,500

  King George V School

  Installation of safer emergency lighting

  34,000

  Laygate School

  Installation of safer emergency lighting

  24,650

  Mortimer Comprehensive

  Installation of safer emergency lighting

  47,600

  St. Wilfred's RC Comprehensive

  Installation of safer emergency lighting

  26,800

  Bamburgh Special

  Fire precautions

  17,000

  1999–2000

  Included within a 16 school package:

  Bamburgh School

  Boiler/Heating distribution replacement

  2718,309

  Cheviot Junior

  Downhill Infants and Nursery

  Harton Infants

  Harton Junior

  Stanhope Primary

  438W

  £ 000

  School name

  Amount of grant

  Bamburgh School

  15

  Margaret Sutton School

  15

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the amount of capital funding made available to schools in the South Shields constituency through the New Deal for Schools since May 1997. [152782]

  Jacqui Smith
  The following table shows those schools, in the South Shields constituency, which have benefited from investment through the New Deal for Schools programme, which commenced in 1997–98. These allocations formed part of the £5.5 million investment made in schools in the South Tyneside local education authority under the New Deal for Schools programme between 1997–98 and 2000–01. In total, in those four years, some £13 million of funding for capital investment has been allocated for schools in South Tyneside local education authority.
  439W

  New Deal for schools—allocations for schools in the South Shields constituency

  Year/School

  Project

  Total allocation (£)

  Included within a 16 school package:

  All Saints CE Junior

  Flat roof finishing

  2438,990

  Bamburgh School

  Brinkburn Comprehensive

  Cheviot Junior

  Cleadon Park Nursery

  Lord Blyton Primary

  Margaret Sutton Special

  Marine Park Junior, Infant and Nursery

  Ridgeway Primary

  Wharfedale Drive Nursery

  Brinkburn Comprehensive

  Food technology room refurbishment

  97,325

  2000–01

  Ridgeway Primary

  Ridgeway family support centre

  753,431

  St. Gregory's RC Primary

  Replacement extension

  211,119

  Hadrian Primary

  Electrical rewire and flat roof renewal project

  22,019

  Marine Park Primary

  Emergency lighting and flat roof renewal

  20,249

  Included in a 4 school package:

  King George V School

  Boiler and heating distribution replacement

  2560,387

  Stanhope Primary

  Included in a 4 school package:

  Margaret Sutton Special

  Re-roofing

  2178,664

  Wharfedale Drive Nursery

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

  2 Allocations made to package projects covering more than one school. South Tyneside local education authority will be able to advise the value of projects at schools which benefited from these allocations.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what percentage of its local schools' budget South Tyneside Council has delegated to schools in each year since 1996. [152784]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The information requested is set out in the table. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has set a target for all local education authorities to delegate 85 per cent. of their local schools budget in 2001–02.

  Financial year

  Percentage of schools" budget delegated

  1996–97

  78.8

  1997–98

  78.1

  1998–99

  78.6

  1999–2000

  80.5

  2000–01

  83.3

  Table A: Central Government capital investment in schools in South Tyneside local education authority

  £000

  Funding Stream

  1996–97

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  Basic Credit Approvals

  618

  571

  148

  314

  424

  Supplementary Credit Approvals

  556

  253

  34

  786

  350

  Grant to Voluntary Aided Schools

  34

  94

  94

  136

  326

  Schools Renewal Challenge Fund

  307

  —

  —

  —

  —

  New Deal for Schools

  —

  536

  1,675

  1,270

  2,058

  School Security Grant

  —

  45

  56

  56

  56

  Energy Efficiency Initiative

  —

  —

  67

  —

  —

  Key Stage 1 Class Size Initiative

  —

  —

  —

  —

  74

  National Grid for Learning Grant

  —

  —

  364

  488

  543

  Assistance with Asset Management Plans

  —

  —

  —

  22

  —

  Seed Challenge Funding

  —

  —

  —

  —

  129

  440W
  Note:

  For 1998–99 and previous years, the figures represent the percentage of South Tyneside's General Schools Budget (adjusted mainly to exclude capital expenditure and capital financing costs) delegated to schools in accordance with the LEA's school funding formula.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what the capital investment in schools in South Tyneside local education authority was from 1996 to 1999(a) in total and (b) by funding stream; and what his forecast is for the next three years. [152786]

  Jacqui Smith
  Table A shows the capital allocations made to South Tyneside local education authority, by funding stream, from 1996–97 to 2000–01. Table B shows the forecast investment for the South Tyneside local education authority over the next three years.

  Nationally, capital investment in school buildings has tripled from £683 million a year in 1996–97 to over £2 billion in 2000–01. It will be £3.5 billion in 2003–04, including grant, credit approvals and Private Finance Initiative credits. There will be central Government investment of £8.5 billion in school buildings in total from 2001–02 to 2003–04.

  441W

  Table A: Central capital investment in schools in South Tyneside local education authority

  £000

  Funding Stream

  1996–97

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  Devolved Formula Capital for Schools

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1,174

  Renewal of School Laboratories

  —

  —

  —

  —

  126

  Schools Access Initiative Grant

  5

  —

  18

  —

  —

  Nursery Provision

  —

  —

  —

  —

  59

  Early Excellence Centre Grant

  —

  —

  —

  319

  321

  Total

  1,520

  1,499

  2,456

  3,391

  5,640

  Table B: Forecast investment in South Tyneside local education authority

  £000

  Funding Stream

  2001–02

  2002–03

  2003–04

  Basic Credit Approvals

  185

  1—

  1—

  Grant to Voluntary Aided Schools

  167

  1—

  1—

  Private Finance Initiative Credits

  —

  1—

  1—

  New Deal for Schools Devolved Formula

  649

  873

  1,680

  New Deal for Schools Condition Funding

  477

  1,367

  1,733

  Seed Challenge Funding

  142

  226

  226

  Renewal of School Laboratories

  126

  1—

  1—

  School Access Initiative

  232

  1—

  1—

  Total

  1,978

  2,466

  3,639

  1 Future years' allocations shown in the above table are those already announced as being attributable to South Tyneside local education authority.

  In addition to the amounts shown above, schools in the Authority will also benefit from a share of other programmes where allocations have not yet been made. These include over £1 billion of credit approvals, mainly to provide new pupil places; £440 million of grant to governors of Voluntary Aided schools; £555 million funding through the NDS Modernisation programme; £170 million worth of funding under the Schools Access Initiative and additional New Deal for Schools Devolved Formula announced in the Budget on 7 March of £300 million in total over the next three years.

  This funding will be augmented by capital receipts and other contributions from local education authority sources, and the contribution which governors of Voluntary Aided schools make to their building work. In addition, around £1.6 billion is available nationally through Private Finance Initiative Credits for projects which will sign in 2002–03 and 2003–04.

  Funding specifically ring fenced for the renewal of school laboratories and secondary learning support units is ending in 2001–02. Local authorities will be able to prioritise their other increased funding for this purpose, if they wish.

  New Deal (Wansbeck)
  Mr. Denis Murphy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many 18 to 24-year-olds in Wansbeck have entered(a) voluntary work, (b) work experience, (c) education and training and (d) unsubsidised employment through the New Deal in the last year. [153137]

  Ms Jowell
  Figures for the period January 2000 to the end of December 2000 for the constituency of Wansbeck show the following numbers of young people participated in New Deal:

  Number

  Starts to New Deal

  457

  Starts to Options

  129

  of which:

  Employment

  28

  Full Time Education and Training

  42

  Voluntary Sector

  35

  Environment Task Force

  24

  Unsubsidised Employment

  295

  Note:

  All options include an element of work experience and training

  Age Diversity in Employment
  Ms Perham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when he expects to publish the evaluation of the code of practice for age diversity in employment. [153251]
  442W
  Ms Hodge
  A summary of key findings from the code of practice on age diversity in employment and three other research projects on age will be published at the end of this month.

  The full report on the evaluation will be published summer 2001.

  Correspondence
  Mr. McLoughlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when he will reply to letters from the hon. Member for West Derbyshire dated 8 November and 21 September 2000 concerning the exclusion from holiday play schemes of children with medical conditions. [153253]

  Jacqui Smith
  I replied to the hon. Member on Friday 9 March 2001.

  Childminders
  Dr. Harris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many responses were received to the consultation on national standards for the regulation of day care and childminding in England; how many of the responses were included in the sample considered reaching the decision that the Government would not ban childminders from smoking in front of the children in their care; what method was used to select the sample of responses considered in reaching this decision; and how
  443W
  many of the responses considered (a) opposed the proposal that parents should be allowed to decide whether childminders should be allowed to smoke, (b) supported the proposal and (c) neither supported nor opposed the proposal. [153380]

  Ms Hodge
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 26 February 2001,Official Report, columns 365–66W.

  Out-of-authority Education
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many pupils in each local education authority in England were educated in maintained schools in that local education authority and normally resident in other local education authorities in(a) 1997–98, (b) 1998–99 and (c) 1999–2000. [153295]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  Information on children educated in a local education authority area other than the one where they normally reside is collected only for those pupils with special educational needs.

  Polish Students
  Mr. Blizzard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many Polish students attended summer schools in the United Kingdom in each of the last three years. [151176]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Timber
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if his Department's annual report on timber procurement to the Committee of Green Ministers will be published. [152104]

  Mr. Wills
  In line with other central Government Departments, DfEE will be reporting annually to the Committee of Green Ministers on its timber purchases. The Green Ministers' annual report will be the main vehicle for publishing DfEE information and there are no plans for a separately published report.

  Jobseeker's Allowance
  Ms Buck
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many 16 to 24-year-olds were claiming Jobseeker's Allowance in(a) May 1997 and (b) January 2001. [152334]

  Ms Jowell
  The following table illustrates numbers of Jobseeker's Allowance claimants in 1997 and 2001. Figures for January 1997 and January 1998 are also included in order to enable annual comparisons in the absence of seasonal adjustments:

  16–17 year olds

  18–24 year olds

  Total

  January 1997

  16,510

  457,950

  474,460

  May 1997

  17,750

  382,020

  399,780

  January 1998

  15,230

  357,070

  372,310

  January 2001

  12,980

  250,270

  263,250

  444W
  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what the cost to the Employment Service has been of and how many Employment Service staff have been attributable to, the administration of Jobseeker's Allowance. [152450]

  Ms Jowell
  [holding answer 6 March 2001]: Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Employment Service agency under its Chief Executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Mark Neale to Mr. Graham Brady, dated 12 March 2001:
  As the Employment Service is an Executive Agency, the Secretary of State has asked Leigh Lewis to reply to your question concerning the Employment Service cost of, and the number of staff attributable to the administration of Jobseeker's Allowance. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to Mr Lewis as Chief Executive of the Agency. I am replying on Mr Lewis behalf.
  The resource available to the Employment Service for the financial year 2000–2001 to administer Jobseeker's Allowance was £183m. This resource equated to approximately 10,600 staff in Jobcentres.
  I hope this is helpful

  New Deal
  Ms Buck
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many 16 to 24-year-olds have(a) entered the New Deal in London and (b) entered unsubsidised employment through the New Deal since 1998. [152335]

  Ms Jowell
  Latest figures for the period ending December 2000 show that since the introduction of the New Deal, 89,000 young people have started the New Deal for Young People, aimed at 18 to 24-year-olds, in the Greater London area. 32,200 young people have gained unsubsidised employment as a result of being on the programme. We know that many other young people will have left the programme for employment without telling the Employment Service—these people are not included in this figure. Nationally, in addition to the 274,000 young people recorded as gaining jobs, we estimate that a further 83,000 young people gained jobs from the New Deal.

  Ms Buck
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many lone parents in London have participated in the New Deal for lone parents since its inception; and how many have entered employment after participation in the scheme. [152336]

  Ms Jowell
  All statistics are taken from the New Deal Evaluation Database.

  NDLP latest results

  London ES districts

  Number of initial Interviews

  27,901

  Number agreeing to participate

  24,088

  (Percentage of interviewees)

  86

  Number of jobs obtained

  7,637

  (Percentage of participation)

  32

  All figures relate to the national programme only up to December 2000

  Post-16 Inspections
  Mr. Gareth R. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what action he is taking to reduce the numbers of forms required to be completed during(a) external and (b) internal inspections of post-16 establishments; and if he will make a statement. [152639]

  Mr. Wicks
  On external inspections, all the inspectorates require providers to complete one or two forms to enable the planning of inspections. In the future in line with guidance given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State such information will be routed to the inspectorates through the Learning and Skills Council. During the inspection, inspectors draw from standard documentation prepared and made available by providers. The Secretary of State has required the new Post-16 inspectorates to keep the burden of inspection to a minimum consistent with maintaining the rigour and quality of inspection. As to internal inspections, how these are conducted are matters for the providers themselves.

  A-level Students
  Mr. Nicholls
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what estimate he has made of the number of A-level students working to fund their studies; what assessment he has made of the effects that this has had on their results; and if he will make a statement. [152095]

  Mr. Wicks
  According to the Youth Cohort Study, 53 per cent. of 16–18-year-old-level students, in full-time education, were also in some form of employment. They worked an average of 10 hours per week. Research evidence indicates that young people choose to undertake part-time work for a variety of reasons: not solely to finance their studies.

  I am not aware of studies specifically looking at the effects of paid work on the results of A-level students. However, the evaluation of the first year of Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) found that young people, in EMA pilot and control areas, who worked in Year 11 achieved better exam results than those that did not. Subsequent stages of the EMA evaluation should throw further light on this issue.

  Student Voting
  Mr. Lammy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list by constituency of origin the number of students attending university who went to a school within the constituency of their parental address. [152411]

  Mr. Wicks
  The data are not collated centrally on a constituency basis.

  Physical Education
  Mr. Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will set higher targets for physical education within the National Curriculum for all pupils, in response to the recent NAO report on obesity. [152537]

  Jacqui Smith
  [holding answer 6 March 2001]: My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister announced on 11 January that all children should receive an entitlement
  446W
  to two hours of physical activity. This will be delivered during and after school through the PE curriculum and study support. We will be consulting with parents, teachers and relevant organisations to see how the two hour entitlement can be best delivered, and we are working closely with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, to look at ways of increasing the opportunities available to children to participate in physical activities. The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority are also producing evidence that demonstrates how schools can achieve the two hours entitlement. Over the last two years, seven out of 10 schools have increased their provision of out of school hours activities, of which sport is the most popular, and over a half plan to increase provision in the coming year. The current curriculum is designed to promote positive attitudes towards active and healthy lifestyles, and the importance of fitness and health is a part of each Key Stage. We are working closely with the Department of Health on the National Healthy School Standard, which seeks to promote health and well being in schools.

  Invalidity Care Allowance
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will disregard invalidity care allowance paid to the natural parent of a young person applying for an educational maintenance allowance where a sibling is disabled and in need of the benefit arising from the invalidity care allowance; and if he will make a statement. [152641]

  Mr. Wicks
  Education maintenance allowance (EMA) is paid on the basis of an assessment of the income available to a student's parents. In line with long established practice, taxable benefits are included in the income to be assessed. Invalid care allowance (ICA) is classed as a taxable payment because it is intended to compensate a carer for the lost earnings which result from not being able to work full-time. Exempting income-replacement benefits from tax would discriminate against those whose income comes from earnings. But other benefits which are intended to meet a specific need of the claimant—such as attendance allowance and disability allowance—are not subject to tax, and are not included in the income to be assessed in deciding on eligibility for EMA.

  Paperwork (Teachers)
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what action he is taking to reduce paperwork for teachers. [151697]

  Jacqui Smith
  [holding answer 7 March 2001]: The Government are fully committed to reducing paperwork for teachers in order to allow teachers to concentrate on teaching and raising standards. Examples of our action to do so include: guaranteeing to cut by a third the number of documents, and by a half the number of pages, that the Government send automatically to schools during this school year—last term we reduced paperwork to secondary schools by 60 per cent. and to primary schools by 40 per cent.; harnessing DfEE and Cabinet Office resources to simplify some of the paperwork that schools complete—the first results of this joint project are set out in the "Making a Difference: Reducing School Paperwork" report. This shows that a typical school is

  447W
  expected to save over 200 hours of paperwork every year—equivalent to more than a month's work for one person; and across the school system 4.5 million hours will be saved annually; simplifying radically the operation of next year's Standards Fund—we have replaced bidding, claiming and reporting with a single expenditure returns sheet; we have allowed schools to vire funds between almost all grant headings; we have allowed schools to carry funds over to the end of the school year; and we have introduced monitoring against existing targets; placing model schemes of work on the DfEE website to underpin all National Curriculum subjects at Key Stages 1 to 3—they are entirely voluntary and teachers may use them directly or adapt them as they wish. We also have plans to place model lesson plans on the website in a further effort to reduce paperwork and make the necessary lesson preparation as straightforward as possible; and developing new ICT resources, including the launch of:
  (a) EASEA—a full electronic in-tray and document archiving service for head teachers, teachers and governors that now has 7,000 registered users,
  (b) TeacherNet—a single web page offering links to the full range of educational resources on the internet,
  (c) an internet based "A-Z" of school leadership and management—an electronic encyclopaedia for heads with succinct, practical guidance on a wide range of topics, full search facilities, and links through to reference material on organisational and legal issues, and examples of good practice.

  School Dinners
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what guidance he provides to(a) head teachers, (b) school governors and (c) local education authorities on choosing the suppliers of ingredients for school dinners. [152768]

  Jacqui Smith
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State does not provide guidance on choosing suppliers of school meal ingredients. It is for local education authorities and schools in England to obtain supplies or contract for meals provision in line with relevant legislation. They have a general duty to ensure the health and safety of pupils.

  From 1 April this year, local education authorities and schools in England will have to meet compulsory minimum nutritional standards for school lunches. The new standards will ensure that a nutritionally balanced

  Constituency

  Full-time education and training

  Voluntary sector

  Environment task force

  Aberdeen, Central

  78

  54

  32

  Aberdeen, North

  50

  19

  24

  Aberdeen, South

  52

  16

  16

  Airdrie and Shotts

  151

  87

  165

  Angus

  122

  108

  117

  Argyll and Bute

  63

  39

  108

  Ayr

  131

  134

  98

  Banff and Buchan

  71

  32

  10

  Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross

  108

  31

  70

  Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley

  157

  157

  148

  Central Fife

  275

  67

  165

  Clydebank and Milngavie

  185

  52

  112

  Clydesdale

  229

  92

  101

  Coatbridge and Chryston

  95

  50

  142

  Cumbernauld and Kilsyth

  176

  45

  33

  Cunninghame, North

  139

  134

  52

  448W
  lunch must be available to pupils every day. Our guidance for caterers on the standards offers advice, for example, on menu planning, suitable ingredients, and healthy cooking methods.

  School Uniforms
  Mr. Todd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many local education authorities provide assistance towards the cost of school uniforms. [152955]

  Jacqui Smith
  This information is not collected centrally. Local education authorities have a discretionary power, but not a duty, to offer grants towards the cost of school uniform and school clothing in cases of hardship. It is for them to decide whether to offer assistance and, if they do, what the eligibility criteria should be. It is also for them to defend their policies locally in the light of local needs and priorities.

  Department al Policies (Warrington, North)
  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to the Warrington, North constituency, the effects on Warrington, North of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997. [152316]

  Mr. Wills
  [holding answer 6 March 2001]: The information requested has been placed in the Libraries.

SCOTLAND

  New Deal
  Ms Squire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many young people in each constituency in Scotland have received full-time education, training or work experience with the voluntary sector or the Environmental Taskforce as a result of the New Deal in each constituency in Scotland. [152467]

  Mrs. Liddell
  The table shows for each constituency in Scotland the number of young people who have received help through full-time education, training or work experience with the voluntary sector or the Environmental Taskforce options of New Deal for Young People between April 1998 and December 2000.
  449W

  Constituency

  Full-time education and training

  Voluntary sector

  Environment task force

  Cunninghame, South

  235

  145

  72

  Dumbarton

  246

  83

  163

  Dumfries

  253

  79

  58

  Dundee, East

  237

  145

  199

  Dundee, West

  238

  133

  244

  Dunfermline, East

  177

  78

  88

  Dunfermline, West

  172

  48

  90

  East Kilbride

  126

  20

  37

  East Lothian

  40

  33

  44

  Eastwood

  83

  32

  69

  Edinburgh, Central

  102

  59

  28

  Edinburgh, East and Musselburgh

  81

  63

  45

  Edinburgh, North and Leith

  104

  98

  63

  Edinburgh, Pentlands

  101

  43

  72

  Edinburgh, South

  64

  43

  40

  Edinburgh, West

  39

  27

  48

  Falkirk, East

  127

  87

  76

  Falkirk, West

  165

  76

  76

  Galloway and Upper Nithsdale

  104

  66

  48

  Glasgow, Anniesland

  204

  142

  76

  Glasgow, Baillieston

  171

  206

  206

  Glasgow, Cathcart

  170

  74

  76

  Glasgow, Govan

  278

  91

  94

  Glasgow, Kelvin

  258

  74

  53

  Glasgow, Maryhill

  259

  140

  136

  Glasgow, Pollok

  261

  53

  115

  Glasgow, Rutherglen

  149

  52

  82

  Glasgow, Shettleston

  238

  114

  131

  Glasgow, Springburn

  328

  120

  209

  Gordon

  36

  40

  20

  Greenock and Inverclyde

  100

  95

  53

  Hamilton, North and Bellshill

  167

  119

  98

  Hamilton, South

  125

  53

  160

  Inverness, East, Nairn and Lochaber

  86

  35

  43

  Kilmarnock and Loudon

  199

  145

  125

  Kirkcaldy

  272

  65

  179

  Linlithgow

  89

  80

  77

  Livingston

  98

  78

  76

  Midlothian

  28

  35

  72

  Moray

  43

  79

  79

  Motherwell and Wishaw

  203

  145

  161

  North, East Fife

  95

  35

  37

  North Tayside

  77

  60

  55

  Ochil

  170

  74

  125

  Orkney and Shetland

  17

  8

  20

  Paisley North

  155

  157

  64

  Paisley South

  140

  120

  84

  Perth

  45

  73

  23

  Ross, Skye and Inverness West

  115

  24

  44

  Roxburgh and Berwickshire

  84

  69

  70

  Stirling

  131

  32

  31

  Strathkelvin and Bearsden

  74

  42

  49

  Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale

  46

  75

  73

  West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine

  36

  20

  21

  West Renfrewshire

  78

  71

  30

  Western Isles

  56

  19

  42

  Total

  9,857

  5,389

  6,042

  Poverty
  Ms Squire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many(a) children, (b) families and (c) people, in each constituency in Scotland, were living in poverty in (i) 1997, (ii) 1998, (iii) 1999 and (iv) 2000. [152465]

  Mr. Foulkes
  Poverty and social exclusion are multifaceted problems. Therefore, the Government do not use a single definition of poverty but instead use a range of indicators to monitor the progress of our strategy. Information relating to the indicators can be found in the 450W
  second Government "Opportunity for all" report on tackling poverty and social exclusion "One year on: making a difference". The report also describes and monitors the impact of policies we have already introduced, and sets our plans for the future.

  When tackling poverty in Scotland, the UK Government work in partnership with the Scottish Executive, through mechanisms such as the Joint Ministerial Committee on Poverty. The Scottish Executive produces a Social Justice Annual Report " … a Scotland where everyone matters".
  451W
  This report outlines measures taken by both the Executive and the UK Government to promote social inclusion in Scotland.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

  Leisure Facilities
  Mr. Edwards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans he has to meet the Fitness Industry Association to discuss competition from Lottery-funded leisure facilities. [152861]

  Kate Hoey
  The Fitness Industry Association has not asked for a meeting.

  Former Coalfield Areas
  Tony Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps he has taken to ensure that former coalfield areas receive increased awards from the National Lottery distributors. [152997]

  Kate Hoey
  My Department and Lottery distributors commissioned research into the impact of the Lottery on the coalfields and is working with coalfields groups to take forward the report's recommendations. These include actively encouraging applications from areas of low take-up, producing flexible partnership funding requirements, making decision making more transparent, and better co-ordination with other organisations responsible for regenerating coalfields. We shall continue to monitor carefully applications and awards in coalfields areas.

  Export Licences
  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent representations he has made to the European Commission regarding the value thresholds applying to works of art for which export licences are required; and if he will make a statement. [152625]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  [holding answer 6 March 2001]: The financial thresholds were most recently discussed on 2 March at a meeting of the Advisory Committee on Cultural Goods, at which my Department made representations about a current proposal to change the date for conversion from euro into sterling, which will effectively reduce the thresholds by 20 per cent. In addition, my Department also made representations about the need for a review of the financial thresholds to, at least, update them in line with inflation. As a result, the European Commission has agreed to consider a review next year, in order to give Her Majesty's Government an opportunity to explain our concerns in detail.

  Palliative Care (Funding)
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when he will report on the outcome of the consultations into the proposed sum being made available through the New Opportunities Fund to provide palliative care for adults and children. [153290]

  Kate Hoey
  The Department announced the results of the public consultation on 10 March. On 1 March the Department laid an affirmative order in the House specifying the new initiatives to be funded by the New 452W
  Opportunities Fund. Draft policy directions for these new initiatives and an analysis of responses to the consultation were placed in the Libraries of both Houses on 9 March.

  Wembley Project
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) what role he had in(a) discussions and (b) recommendations relating to the Chairman of the Wembley Holding Company; [152509]

  (2) what involvement Ministers in his Department have had in the appointment of the Chairman of the Wembley Holding Company. [152508]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  [holding answer 6 March 2001]: Wembley National Stadium Ltd. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Football Association. The appointment of Sir Rodney Walker as Chairman of Wembley National Stadium Ltd., and the terms upon which the appointment was made, is entirely a matter for them.

  Sir Rodney Walker informed me in December that he had been asked by the Football Association to take over as Chairman of Wembley National Stadium Ltd. and asked for my advice on whether the appointment would conflict with his position as Chairman of the United Kingdom Sports Council. I advised Sir Rodney that as the United Kingdom Sports Council were not directly involved with the Wembley project, in my view no such conflict arose.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Departmental Rules (Gifts)
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what rules apply to officials within his Department relating to the receipt of gifts from(a) private companies and (b) individuals; and whether those rules continue to apply during the contractual period between end of employment and the date on which private sector employment may begin, where such gifts originate from the future employer. [153258]

  Dr. Howells
  The Department expects its staff to observe exceptionally high standards of personal honesty and integrity. Staff should not accept gifts which would or might appear to place them under any obligation to the donor, compromise impartiality or otherwise be improper.

  After consultation with senior managers, staff may keep gifts with a retail value of less than £25. Gifts that have a value greater than £25 given by commercial or trade organisations or individuals must be surrendered. Alternatively, if it is considered appropriate to retain such gifts, staff must pay the Department the value in excess of £25. Any gift which has a value of £10 or more must be registered.

  These rules apply to all employees of the Department; they do not apply after employment has ended.

  Parental Leave
  Jackie Ballard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how he will monitor the uptake of parental leave. [152849]
  453W
  Mr. Alan Johnson
  A survey of working parents conducted in June 2000 by my Department asked parents whether they had taken up parental leave since December 1999. Initial analysis of the results suggests that 3 per cent. of working parents who had babies born since 15 December 1999 had taken parental leave. A full report of the survey findings is being prepared for publication.

  In addition, we are piloting the monitoring of uptake of parental leave in the next Labour Force Survey.

  Jackie Ballard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the extent to which the uptake of parental leave is influenced by an individual's level of income. [152848]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  A survey of working parents conducted in June 2000 by my Department asked parents whether they had taken up parental leave since December 1999. For the great majority of cases, the survey collected information on household income rather than individual income. We are currently analysing this information, which should allow analysis of take-up levels of parental leave across household income bands and provide an indication of whether potential take-up of parental leave is influenced by income levels. A full report of the survey findings is being prepared for publication, but no detailed results are yet available.

  Regeneration Initiatives
  Mr. Brake
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the criteria for assessing applications for financial support for economic and physical regeneration initiatives for funds administered by his Department; and what account they take of(a) the variation in the availability of previously developed land and buildings and (b) other considerations of environmental capacity. [152339]

  Mr. Caborn
  The aims of my Department's policies for economic and physical regeneration were summarised in the recent White Paper, "Opportunity for All in a World of Change". These are based on putting greater emphasis on growth within all regions, by assessing under-performance, putting in place the building-blocks for economic success and establishing strategies for sustaining this success. The exercise of these policies is based on equipping all regions with the means to build on their own distinctive cultures, know-how and competitive advantages. These will include factors relating to land, buildings and the environment, and criteria of this kind are being included in the corporate plans currently being agreed jointly between the regional development agencies, my Department and the DETR and DFEE.

  Departmental Policies (Stroud)
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to the constituency, the effects on the Stroud constituency of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997. [152400]

  Mr. Caborn
  [holding answer 6 March 2001]: Since May 1997 my Department has introduced and developed a variety of initiatives in my hon. Friend's constituency. These include the competitiveness development fund, which has supported two projects close to Stroud. This fund is provided to the South West regional development
  454W
  agency. It includes funding for the regional development agency's south west innovation fund which supports research and development projects for small and medium-sized enterprises.

  One company which has benefited is IONEX—a small water treatment company where a grant of £3,000 was given to continue to develop electro catalytic electrodes for the reduction of nitrate to nitrogen and oxygen. Another company, Primrose Bumble, received a grant of £2,250 to help with the development of a spelling aid for dyslexic individuals.

  The constituency's small business community has also benefited from several smart awards and the local business link facilitated 95 business start-ups in the year 2000.

  The Department's funds have also benefited the Stroud energy group, an environmental group who advise on renewable energy and ways to improve environmental awareness. £200K in total has been given to the project's publicity funds.

  The Gloucestershire market towns scheme is an single regeneration budget (SRB) scheme which is active within the Stroud DC area. This covers seven Gloucestershire market towns, including Stroud, Dursley/Cam. This was a successful SRB round 4 bid in 1998 which secured over £1 million of Government funding. It is a five-year scheme which is designed to tackle social deprivation issues in all of the seven identified market towns. This SRB scheme has been providing very useful input into SWRDA's region wide new market/coastal towns initiative which is due to be launched at the end of March 2001.

  Gloucestershire-wide initiatives which may have impacted on the Stroud constituency are:

  The Gloucestershire Development Agency, West of England Aerospace Forum (WEAF) and Automotive Centres Excellence (ACE) the RDA partnership, which is committed to supporting the Aerospace and Automotive sectors, with approximately £80,000 being provided in 2000–01 to strengthen the businesses in the supply chains of these industries, primarily through networking and mapping exercises.

  The £200,000 which has been used to support the development of the Gloucestershire Innovation Centre which will be located at the former Bank of England site at Gloucester Docks. This centre will be of benefit to fledgling businesses in the Gloucester area who will be able to access business mentoring and state of the art facilities. This centre will be part of the regional Business Incubation South West network.

  The £45,000 that has been given for the development and improvement of the business focussed research facility at Gloucester Royal Infirmary, in partnership with Cranfield University and Gloucester City Council for 2000–01. This facility will benefit medi-science businesses in the area, who will have access to these facilities.

  Computer Failures
  Mr. Fabricant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list those commercial companies he has been in contact with in the last 24 months regarding computer disaster contingency programmes. [152548]
  455W
  Ms Hewitt
  Over the past two years, officials from my Department have been in contact with a number of organisations to discuss security of information and ways of ensuring that the information is available after a disaster. The need for such contingency planning has been highlighted by the "I love you" bug and other computer viruses which have affected the operations of many companies around the world.

  My Department encourages all organisations to implement ISO/IEC 17799/BS7799, the code of practice for information security management standard. This standard promotes the use of risk assessment and putting appropriate security controls in place before embarking on decisions which would involve losses or damage of an organisation. This includes business continuity management and information security education and training.

  Employment Compensation
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will introduce compensation for workers who lose their jobs through no fault of their own. [152695]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  The redundancy and insolvency payments provisions of the Employment Rights Act 1996 provide a safety net of minimum entitlements for employees who lose their jobs through no fault of their own. The limits on payments under these provisions are subject to annual uprating. Employers and employees (or their representatives) are free to negotiate more favourable severance conditions than the statutory provisions require, if this accords with their own priorities, needs and circumstances. In most cases this is in fact what happens. The Government have no plans for any amendments to the law in this regard.

  Businesses (London)
  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many business failures there were in each of the last 15 years in London. [152190]

  Mr. Byers
  [holding answer 8 March 2001]: The table shows compulsory liquidations and bankruptcies in London for the years 1991 to 2000. The County court allocates an Official Receiver and it is the location of the Official Receiver's office that is recorded, not the location of the business. Official Receiver's offices do not coincide with Government office regions. April 1991 is the earliest available record of regional insolvencies.

  Insolvencies in London

  Year

  Company compulsory liquidations

  Individual bankruptcy Orders1

  19912

  2,037

  1,649

  1992

  3,268

  2,954

  1993

  2,498

  2,859

  1994

  1,703

  2,245

  1995

  1,574

  1,895

  1996

  1,221

  1,714

  1997

  937

  1,345

  1998

  1,487

  1,374

  1999

  1,161

  1,286

  2000

  951

  1,285

  456W

  1 Individual Bankruptcy Orders includes the following categories: Self employed; Employees; No occupation and unemployed; Directors and promoters of companies; Occupation unknown.

  2 1991 only available from Q2

  Source:

  DTI

  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many new businesses opened in London in(a) 1996 and (b) in the last year for which figures are available. [152191]

  Mr. Byers
  [holding answer 8 March 2001]: Official statistics for new business openings are reflected in VAT registrations. There were 34,055 VAT registrations of London businesses in 1996 and 37,335 in 1999, the last year for which figures are available.

  Post Offices
  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the agreement between the Post Office and the banks over the future of the universal bank will be signed; and if he will make a statement. [153027]

  Mr. Byers
  [holding answer 9 March 2001]: Discussions with the banks are at an advanced stage.

  Motor Fuel
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will ask the Office of Fair Trading to investigate the pricing of motor fuel. [153288]

  Dr. Howells
  Under UK competition legislation, the Director-General of Fair Trading is responsible for monitoring markets and considering allegations of anti-competitive behaviour.

  The Director-General has investigated the supply of petrol a number of times over recent years and has found it to be competitive. He has said that he will continue to monitor this market very closely.

  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to require suppliers to display the level of duty payable on petrol and diesel on pumps at petrol forecourts. [153250]

  Mr. Hain
  Fuel duty rates are well known, and I have no plans to require retailers to display them.

  Working Time Regulations
  Mr. Todd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his answer of 5 March 2001,Official Report, column 43W, what recent representations he has received on the adequacy of specialist working time officer availability. [152969]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  I am not aware of any recent representations made to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for. Trade and Industry or myself on the adequacy of specialist working time officer availability.

  Departmental Policies (Hemsworth)
  Mr. Trickett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly to the locations as possible, the effects
  457W
  of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997 on (a) Hemsworth constituency and (b) Wakefield district. [153004]

  Mr. Caborn
  The Department has provided the following support for businesses in Wakefield since May 1997. Information at constituency level is not available in all cases.

  Regional Selective Assistance (RSA)

  RSA is a capital investment grant linked to the creation or safeguarding of jobs in designated areas of need. 49 RSA grant offers totalling £4.9 million have been made to businesses in the Wakefield district, to support projects with a total capital expenditure of £52 million, and to create and safeguard a total of 1,984 jobs. Within these figures 10 offers related to the Hemsworth constituency where a grant of £0.8 million was offered against capital spend of £10.5 million and the creation/safeguarding of 246 jobs.

  Enterprise Grants

  The Enterprise grants scheme is a simplified scheme that was introduced in April 2000 to help small firms undertake fixed capital investment projects. Four offers totalling £14,000 have been made to firms in the Wakefield district, of which three were in the Hemsworth constituency.

  Smart

  Smart awards are designed to help small firms with the introduction of new products and processes. Seven smart awards totalling £557,076 have been made to firms in the Wakefield district. No awards have been made in the Hemsworth constituency.

  Business Link

  Business Link Wakefield have provided services to small businesses in the Wakefield area (including the Hemsworth constituency) since 1997. These include general and specialised advice to help businesses grown, export development counselling, ICT advice, and a full range of specialist information. From April 2001, these services will be provided by the Small Business Service operating through a new West Yorkshire business link with local concessions, including one in Wakefield. This new service will be more customer focused ensuring that services are driven by local need.

  Indebtedness Taskforce
  Mr. Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) if Scottish advice providers have been involved in the discussions of his Department's indebtedness taskforce; [153074]

  (2) what involvement the Scottish Executive has had in the work currently being undertaken by the Department of Trade and Industry to improve the lending practices of credit providers and the transparency of information provided to consumers. [153073]

  Dr. Howells
  Both the Scottish Executive and Money Advice Scotland are represented on the overindebtedness discussion group. This group, representing a wide cross-section of interested parties, works alongside the taskforce providing suggestions on areas to be tackled and comment on emerging conclusions, aimed at achieving more responsible lending and borrowing.

  BNFL
  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his answer of 15 February 2001,Official Report, column 281W, on BNFL, when his Department first informed representatives of the Japanese Government that the quality control worker who discovered the falsification of data at the MDF plant at Sellafield was a non-BNFL employee. [151662]

  Mr. Hain
  My Department has not provided information to the Japanese Government about the employment terms of the individual to whom the hon. Gentleman refers or about those of any other individual working at BNFL's MDF plant at Sellafield.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Pensions
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many individuals have contacted his Department on the new pensions guide since the launch of the pensions awareness advertising campaign. [153291]

  Mr. Rooker
  The purpose of the campaign is to raise awareness of pensions in the wider population and to get younger people thinking about their pensions. We propose to assess how successful the campaign has been via a tracking study. We anticipate that this will provide evidence that many people have made their own pension provision on the back of the campaign. In addition, between the start of the pensions awareness advertising campaign on 11 January and 7 March 2001 the Department has had a total of over 212,000 responses to the pensions education marketing campaign. In response to this, we have sent out over 410,000 copies of the new pension guide.

  Computer Failures
  Mr. Fabricant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessment of risk he has made of the impact of a major computer disaster on the work of his Department; what steps he has taken to minimise the effects of such a disaster; and what the standard of compliance is to protect his Department from its effects. [152545]

  Angela Eagle
  The Department has contingency arrangements in place for all computer systems, including standby facilities for major disaster. These contingencies are comprehensively rehearsed at regular intervals.

  Miners (Compensation Payments)
  Mr. Alasdair Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if she will exempt from compensation clawback those ex-miners who have received, or will receive, compensation for having contracted respiratory diseases as a result of their work with British Coal or its predecessor firms. [146460]

  Mr. Bayley
  Compensation is intended to restore a person to the financial position which they experienced before the accident, injury or disease occurred.
  459W
  The Compensation Recovery Scheme is based on the long-standing principle that a person should not get compensation twice over for the same period.

  The Department is doing all it can to ensure that the Compensation Recovery Scheme is operated as efficiently and effectively as possible. In particular, in the case of miners the Department is currently putting in place a series of administrative easements to speed up payment on miners' compensation claims. These changes will include, for example, allowing the Department of Trade and Industry more time to negotiate with the miner, without the need to contact the Department of Social Security; and reducing duplication and red tape. These changes will ensure delays in the process do not occur.

  Disability Living Allowance
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people under 60 years are in receipt of(a) middle and higher rate care component and (b) the higher rate of mobility component of Disability Living Allowance; and what the annual cost would be to extend the Winter Fuel Payment to this group. [153372]

  Mr. Bayley
  The information is in the table.

  Number of people under 60 years in receipt of middle and higher rate care component of Disability Living Allowance and the higher rate of mobility component of Disability Living Allowance, with the annual cost of extending Winter Fuel Payments to these groups

  Number

  Cost (£ million)

  Higher and middle rate care component

  747,140

  130

  Higher rate mobility component

  709,560

  130

  Notes:

  1. Based on DLA administrative data, May 2000; DSS Information Centre data, August 2000.

  2. Cost rounded to the nearest 10 million.

  3. Winter Fuel Payment is considered to be paid at £200.

  4. Costs are based on households without a resident aged 60 years or over.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many(a) initial claims, (b) renewal claims, (c) requests for review and (d) requests for appeal were received in respect of Disability Living Allowance claims in each quarter from 1996 to date. [152025]

  Mr. Bayley
  The information is in the table.

  Initial claims

  Renewal claims

  Reviews

  Appeals

  June 1996

  134,831

  40,054

  92,890

  9,338

  September 1996

  133,922

  37,848

  93,587

  10,233

  December 1996

  124,554

  42,073

  79,141

  8,420

  March 1997

  124,281

  47,879

  99,361

  11,702

  June 1997

  132,092

  43,863

  95,037

  11,683

  September 1997

  121,067

  42,403

  91,633

  10,918

  December 1997

  110,813

  44,968

  85,968

  12,298

  March 1998

  97,387

  53,668

  82,094

  13,810

  June 1998

  96,125

  48,505

  75,419

  12,342

  September 1998

  103,061

  46,243

  77,818

  12,087

  December 1998

  96,022

  46,840

  72,727

  11,238

  March 1999

  103,069

  56,845

  81,573

  11,158

  June 1999

  98,997

  49,899

  75,498

  10,418

  September 1999

  97,542

  48,650

  78,601

  11,570

  December 1999

  91,311

  47,419

  72,231

  16,020

  March 2000

  104,749

  56,778

  68,944

  24,093

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  Initial claims

  Renewal claims

  Reviews

  Appeals

  June 2000

  104,079

  49,373

  64,631

  26,051

  September 2000

  100,670

  48,717

  69,636

  28,187

  December 2000

  96,333

  47,121

  60,629

  26,247

  Fraud
  Mr. Davidson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many convictions for social security fraud there were in each of the last five years; how many of these convictions were for a second offence; if he will list the convictions by administrative areas for the latest year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [152406]

  Mr. Rooker
  The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available was given in my written answer to the hon. Member for Havant (Mr. Willetts) on 10 January 2001,Official Report, column 575W.

  Flooding (Housing Benefit)
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what measures his Department plans to assist persons forced by recent floods to move into temporary accommodation who receive Housing Benefit for one property but have to pay rents for the flooded and the temporary properties. [152444]

  Angela Eagle
  Housing Benefit provides assistance to those on low income to meet the housing costs of the dwelling they occupy as their home. Help can be considered on two such dwellings, for up to four weeks where the local authority is satisfied that the liability to pay two rents was unavoidable. We are aware of the difficulties faced by people whose homes are uninhabitable due to flooding and who have had to rent alternative accommodation. We are reviewing the current arrangements.

  National Insurance Numbers
  Mr. Willetts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many prosecutions there have been in each year since 1992 which involve benefit fraud and the misuse of national insurance numbers. [152435]

  Mr. Rooker
  The information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Winter Fuel Payments
  Ms Oona King
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many of those men aged between 60 and 64 years have not been issued with their Winter Fuel Payment; and if he will set a deadline for these outstanding payments to be made. [152659]

  Mr. Rooker
  For this winter, we estimated that up to 1.5 million additional people could be newly eligible as a result of the changes to the eligibility rules. So far as we have received around 1.3 million claims, but people have until 30 March 2001 to claim a payment for this winter.
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  For past winters, we estimated that up to 1.9 million people could be newly eligible. So far around 1 million claims have been made and paid. There is no time limit on claiming payments for past winters.

  It is open to those who are now eligible to choose whether they wish to make a claim. An information campaign has been running since April to inform existing and potential customers about the changes to the scheme and what, if anything, they need to do.

  Benefit Uptake
  Mr. Swinney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what the uptake was in(a) the UK and (b) Scotland in (i) 1996-97, (ii) 1997–98, (iii) 1998–99 and (iv) 1999–2000 of (A) Child Benefit, (B) Housing Benefit, (C) Council Tax Benefit, (D) Family Credit and (E) Working Families Tax Credit expressed as a percentage of those eligible; and it he will make a statement. [153076]

  Angela Eagle
  Estimates of take up of Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit and Family Credit for Great Britain are published in annual statistics on "Income Related Benefits Estimates of Take-Up", copies of which are in the Library. It is not possible to produce reliable estimates for different parts of Great Britain and the latest published estimates are for 1998–99.

  No statistics are published for Child Benefit; it is believed that on average 98 per cent. of families take up their entitlement to Child Benefit.

  Mr. Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what representations he has received from the Scottish Executive about increasing levels of benefit take-up. [153072]

  Mr. Bayley
  We are in regular contact with the Scottish Executive over a number of issues. Reducing poverty is an aim of both administrations and the UK Government works in partnership with the Scottish Executive, through mechanisms such as the Joint Ministerial Committee on Poverty.

  Child Support Agency
  Mr. Swinney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to review the procedures and operation of the Child Support Agency. [153077]

  Angela Eagle
  We have no current plans to review the procedures and operation of the Child Support Agency. As a result of a fundamental review of child support completed in December 1998, we have undertaken a radical reform of the system, detailed provision for which is contained in the Child Support, Pensions and Social Security Act 2000. The new child support scheme will be introduced for new cases by April 2002. Parents who have an existing maintenance assessment will be transferred to the new scheme at a later date when the new arrangements are shown to be working well.

  The new child support scheme will be simpler and easy to understand. Child maintenance will be calculated based on a straightforward percentage of the non-resident parent's net income. The basic rate will be 15 per cent. for one child, 20 per cent. for two and 25 per cent. For
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  three or more. The Child Support Agency will be radically reformed to provide a service focused on compliance and the needs of its customers.

  Over 1 million more children will gain as a result of the new, simplified system.

  The White Paper "A new contract for welfare: Children's Rights and Parents' Responsibilities" (CM 4349) sets out the scheme in more detail.

  Retirement Age
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what level of basic state pension he estimates could be paid in 2040 from the projected expenditure on the basic state retirement pension if the retirement age for men and women in 2040 was 70, having been raised by one year every two years between 2030 and 2040. [153292]

  Mr. Rooker
  The information is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Departmental Policies (Middlesbrough, South and Cleveland, East)
  Dr. Kumar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will set out, including statistical information relating as directly as possible to the constituency, the effect on the Middlesbrough, South and Cleveland, East constituency of his Department's policies and action since 2 May 1997. [153283]

  Mr. Rooker
  The Department's policies and initiatives have made a significant contribution to the Government's overall objectives of:Eradicating child poverty in 20 years, and halving it within 10;
  Promoting work as the best form of welfare for people of working age while protecting the position of those in greatest need; and,
  Combating poverty and promoting security and independence in retirement for today's and tomorrow's pensioners.

  These goals are being pursued nationwide and our achievements are set out in our annual "Opportunity for all" reports. Our second report, "Opportunity for all—One year on: making a difference" (CM4865, September 2000) sets out what progress has been made in the past year, as well as highlighting what more needs to be done. Nationwide statistical information is necessarily more complete than constituency level data, but the following provides a comparative guide to the effect of the Department's policies and actions in Middlesbrough, South and Cleveland, East since May 1997.

  Measures in our five Budgets so far will lift over 1.2 million children out of poverty. These include record increases to Child Benefit, the introduction of the Working Families Tax Credit, increases in the income-related benefits, the minimum wage and tax changes.

  Child Benefit will be worth £15.50 a week for the eldest child and £1.0.35 a week for other children from April 2001: nationally about 7 million families receive Child Benefit, and in Middlesbrough, South and Cleveland, East 12,127 families benefit.

  We now have the lowest unemployment rate in 25 years. The New Deals have helped lone parents, the young unemployed, the long-term unemployed, the over 50s and partners of the unemployed to move from benefit into work. In the period since May 1997 the number of

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  people claiming Jobseekers Allowance nationally has reduced from 1,562,400 to 1,044,900; in Middlesbrough, South and Cleveland. East the number has reduced from 3,200 to 2,900. Since May 1997 the number of lone parents who claim Income Support has decreased from 1,013,500 to 894,100 nationally and in Middlesbrough, South and Cleveland, East from 1,800 to 1,700.

  Older people are disproportionately affected by fuel poverty, so we have introduced Winter Fuel Payments to help with their heaviest fuel bill. This winter, the payment is £200 for households who qualify. Around 18,000 older people in Middlesbrough, South and Cleveland, East have received a Winter Fuel Payment for this winter.

  To demonstrate our commitment to combating pensioner poverty, this year we will spend £4.5 billion extra in real terms on pensioners. Some 16,900 pensioners in Middlesbrough, South and Cleveland, East will benefit from the substantial increases in the basic state pension this April and next; this year's increase is £5 a week for single pensioners and £8 for couples. In addition we have introduced free TV licences for the over 75s of whom we estimate there are about 6,100 in Middlesbrough, South and Cleveland, East. 2,900 pensioner families in Middlesbrough, South and Cleveland, East are receiving the Minimum Income Guarantee, which we introduced in April 1999 to help our poorest pensioners. From April they will be at least £15 a week, or £800 a year, better off in real terms as a result of Government measures since 1997.

  Other reforms in the pipeline include: the new Pension Credit in 2003 designed to ensure that pensioners benefit from their savings; the launch of Stakeholder Pensions in April this year; and the introduction of the State Second Pension in April 2002 both of which will help provide greater security for tomorrow's pensioners.

  Promotional Campaigns
  Mr. Lansley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the television, newspaper and radio advertising and other promotional campaigns conducted by(a) his Department, (b) its agencies and (c) its departmental public bodies, in each of the past five years, showing for each the expenditure incurred by his Department; and if he will make a statement. [153415]

  Mr. Rooker
  The information is not available in the format requested.

ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS

  Private Finance Initiative (Heat Insulation Specification)
  Mr. Levitt
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what standard of heat insulation is specified for pipework if PFI projects in his Department. [151657]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  My Department expects all service providers, including PFI contractors, to make optimum use of plant, equipment and materials to meet 464W
  the output specifications of contracts in accordance with the policies and targets set by Government in respect of sustainability, environmental and energy conservation requirements. While we do not specify standards, the output specifications of contracts conform to Government standards for sustainability and energy efficiency.

  Traffic Congestion (Rail Disruption)
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimates he has made as to the effect of reduced performance reliability of the trains on road congestion. [152356]

  Mr. Hill
  [holding answer 5 March 2001]: DETR has 160 Automatic Traffic Counters continuously measuring traffic on a range of roads throughout the country. Overall these have shown no significant increase in traffic in the weeks after the Hatfield crash compared with similar weeks before the crash. Analysis of 56 Automatic Traffic Count sites in London similarly showed no overall increase in traffic. Similarly, no increase in road traffic has been detected following the Selby rail crash.

  Health and Safety Executive
  Mr. Gareth R. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what the planned budget of the Health and Safety Executive is for each of the next three years. [152606]

  Mr. Meacher
  The Health and Safety Commission's gross budget within the DETR's departmental expenditure limit for the next three years is £247.9 million for 2001–02, £258.8 million for 2002–03 and £264.8 million for 2003–04.

  Of this budget £59.4 million will be raised from income in 2001–2, £58.4 million from income in 2002–03 and £54.4 million from income in 2003–04. The remainder will be paid by the Government from grant-in-aid to the Commission.

  The figures exclude the Health and Safety Laboratory budget, which operates on a net nil administration cost regime.

  Mr. Gareth R. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what the budget of the Health and Safety Executive was in each of the last 10 years. [152605]

  Mr. Meacher
  The budget of the Health and Safety Executive for each of the last 10 years is described in the table.

  £000

  Financial year

  Total gross

  Total net

  1991–92

  198,360

  157,700

  1992–93

  215,227

  171,324

  1993–94

  229,199

  180,489

  1994–95

  229,620

  188,364

  1995–96

  228,676

  186,826

  1996–97

  215,885

  179,487

  1997–98

  218,659

  180,957

  1998–99

  221,310

  182,228

  1999–2000

  231,254

  186,855

  2000–01

  247,775

  192,853

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  The total net figures are net of receipts received for publications and other chargeable activities.

  The figures reflect accounting arrangements changed as a result of the Health and Safety Laboratory operating a net running cost regime from 1 April 1996.

  Construction Industry (Health and Safety)
  Mr. Gareth R. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many health and safety inspectors who are able to inspect construction sites there are in each Government region. [152607]

  Mr. Meacher
  The number of health and safety inspectors who are able to inspect construction sites is 488. This is broken down on a HSE Divisional basis set out in table 1. These staff are nut all allocated to construction work.

  Table 1: Band 2/3 operational inspectors

  Division

  Number

  Scotland

  60

  Yorkshire and North East

  67

  North West

  68

  Midlands

  69

  Wales and West

  85

  London and South East

  65

  Home Counties

  74

  Total

  488

  Generally, inspection work is carried out by Band 3 inspectors, and managed by Band 2 inspectors. Band 4 inspectors (those under training) do not normally carry out inspection of construction sites.

  The current allocations to construction work for the 2001–02 workyear are as follows.

  Table 2: Band 2/3's allocated to construction work

  Division

  Number

  Scotland

  13

  Yorkshire and North East

  14

  North West

  13

  Midlands

  14

  Wales and West

  17

  London and South East

  27

  Home Counties

  18

  Total

  116

  This figure includes the Band 2 managers who manage the construction groups and produces a total ring fence number of 116 inspectors allocated to construction.

  Mr. Gareth R. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many(a) routine inspections of construction sites and (b) inspections of construction sites in response to an accident there have been in each of the last five years. [152603]

  Mr. Meacher
  The table shows the number of inspection and investigation contacts made by inspectors from HSE's Field Operations Directorate to construction sites (based on the Standard Industrial Classification categorisation) for each of the last five years.466W

  Number of contacts

  Inspection

  Inspection resulting from accident

  1996–97

  33,937

  890

  1997–98

  24,828

  1,087

  1998–99

  21,024

  1,467

  1999–2000

  18,421

  1,670

  2000–011

  14,309

  2,769

  1 Incomplete year using data up to 5 March 2001

  Nuclear Material
  Mr. Pickles
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the long-term strategy for the storage of waste arising from the decommissioning of nuclear reactors. [152687]

  Mr. Meacher
  The Government's policy is that radioactive wastes, including waste from the decommissioning of nuclear reactors, should be managed in ways that protect the safety of the public, the workforce and the environment, now and in the future. This is a complex issue and the UK Government and the devolved Administrations will publish a consultation paper setting out detailed proposals as soon as we can. This paper will begin the process that will lead to the implementation of a radioactive waste management policy capable of commanding widespread support across the UK.

  Mr. Pickles
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on liaison between the emergency services and local authorities and BNFL on the transportation of nuclear materials by(a) road and (b) rail. [152685]

  Mr. Hill
  All transporters of nuclear material in Great Britain, including BNFL, are required by regulation to have emergency procedures to cover any shipment in the event of an accident. Liaison with local authorities and emergency services is not a regulatory requirement.

  The nuclear industry, including BNFL, has a nationwide emergency response organisation called RADSAFE, which has been drawn up after consultation with the relevant national bodies and organisations, including the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) and the Chief and Assistant Chief Fire Officers Association (CACFOA).

  Selby Rail Accident (Crash Barriers)
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps he is taking to review the adequacy of crash barriers on the approach roads to bridges over railway lines; and if he will make a statement. [152853]

  Mr. Hill
  I am extremely grateful to the HSE and to TRL for their speedy consideration of the factors involved in the tragic accident at Great Heck near Selby on 28 February 2001. HSE and TRL will be continuing their investigations, but it is becoming apparent that there was nothing the railway industry could reasonably have done to prevent the train collision. It also appears that there were no technical matters connected with the road infrastructure that would help explain why the vehicle left the M62 in the first place. The road surface appears to have been adequate and the safety barriers more than met
  467W
  the current standards. We will, of course, have to await the report of the police into the incident. But in the interim my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister has asked the HSC to convene and lead a working group that will look at the circumstances of incidents where vehicles have blocked rail lines and whether there are features in common that might have been preventable. In parallel the Highways Agency will be reviewing its standards for safety barriers.

  Youth Parliament
  Mr. Rowe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to meet members of the UK youth parliament to discuss the transport and environment issues raised in the parliament's manifesto. [152965]

  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  We will consider sympathetically any request from the UK youth parliament to meet them to discuss the transport and environment issues raised in the parliament's manifesto.

  Housing (Islington)
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list each housing capital improvement project financed by his Department in Islington since 1 May 1997. [153115]

  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  [holding answer 9 March 2001]: Since May 1997, the London Borough of Islington has been allocated the following amounts of funding for specific housing capital improvement projects:

  Project/year

  £

  Capital Challenge (Marquess Estate)

  1997–98

  1,500,000

  1998–99

  4,500,000

  1999–2000

  3,500,000

  Estate Action (Harvist Estate)

  1997–98

  1,303,000

  1998–99

  1,693,000

  1999–2000

  1,119,100

  2000–01

  777,900

  2001–02

  500,000

  Single Regeneration Budget

  Kings Cross Partnership (housing projects)

  1997–98

  380,000

  1998–99

  1,962,000

  1999–2000

  1,301,000

  2000–01

  846,000

  2001–02

  577,000

  Finsbury Park (Tollington Estate)

  1999–2000

  45,000

  2000–01

  270,000

  2001–02

  1,200,000

  The following has also been allocated to the borough. However, it is a matter for the local authority to decide how this funding is allocated between their priorities.
  468W

  £

  Housing Investment Programme

  1997–98

  9,996,000

  1998–99

  8,170,000

  1999–2000

  9,816,000

  2000–01

  28,557,000

  2001–02

  12,863,000

  Basic Credit Approvals1

  1997–98

  8,977,000

  1998–99

  11,154,000

  1999–2000

  11,333,000

  2000–01

  27,822,000

  Capital Receipts Initiative

  1997–98

  2,848,000

  1998–99

  9,168,000

  1999–2000

  8,334,000

  Major Repairs Allowance

  2001–02

  25,434,034

  1 All services

  Waste Recycling
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what recent assessment he has made of the accuracy of the formula applied to calculate recycling rates of local authorities. [153432]

  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  Information on the amount of waste collected and recycled by local authorities is obtained on an annual basis through the Department's annual Municipal Waste Management Survey. It is this information that is used to calculate household waste recycling rates at the national and local level. The proposed methodology for calculating the percentage of household waste recycled by local authorities in England was published in the consultation document "Best Value and Audit Commission Performance Indicators for 2001–02" in October 2000. The responses to the consultation exercise were taken into account in producing the final methodology published in Annexe A of the "Guidance on Municipal Waste Management Strategies" on 5 March 2001. A copy of the guidance has been placed in the House of Commons Library.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what studies he has commissioned into the establishment costs of local authorities, as distinct from those related to the size or needs of their populations, and any consequent implications for the studies of local government finance. [153399]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  The Green Paper "Modernising Local Government Finance", notes that future revenue grant distribution formulae could distinguish more clearly between fixed costs and the costs that vary according to the number of people for whom a service is provided.

  To help us explore how such formulae could be developed, we commissioned a scoping study from PricewaterhouseCoopers. The aim of the study was to review the existing evidence, and make recommendations as to the most promising avenues for further research if that was found to be needed. The study will shortly be published on the LGA website: www.lga.gov.uk. It

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  suggests that fixed costs that do not vary much according to the size or needs of authority populations are most likely to relate to authorities' corporate administration costs. Examples are the costs of statutory external audits, and the costs of completing statements of accounts, annual reports and Best Value Performance Plans.

  We are currently considering the implications of the scoping study as part of our review of the local government finance system, including whether we need to commission more detailed follow-up research.

  Airport Operators Association Environmental Guidance Manual
  Mr. Ben Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the AOA environmental guidance manual. [153289]

  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  We welcome AOA's initiative to produce an environmental guidance manual. Any initiative which helps to mitigate the environmental impacts of aviation is to be welcomed. We hope that the manual will assist AOA members in consolidating and improving their environmental performance and building on existing good practice.

  Alcohol and Drug Abuse (Maritime Sector)
  Maria Eagle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what progress has been made in implementing measures to tackle alcohol and drug abuse in the maritime sector; and if he will make a statement. [153376]

  Mr. Hill
  The Queen's Speech on 6 December outlined the Government's intention to draft a Safety Bill. We will use this opportunity to introduce a prescribed blood/alcohol limit for professional and recreational mariners with accompanying powers for the police to test suspects. We also intend to take permissive powers to allow testing for drugs.

  We propose to set a 80 mg per 100 ml blood/alcohol limit for mariners of all types of civil waterborne transport in UK waters, including non-UK vessels. It will be illegal for mariners, on duty, on board any commercial vessel or fishing vessel to be above the limit or to be unfit to fulfil their duties due to being intoxicated through drink. In the interest of passenger safety on passenger vessels or ferries the limit will apply to off-duty crew having a safety critical function in the event of an emergency. Those involved in the navigation or propulsion of recreational craft while in motion and not moored will also be included.

  The proposed measures follow from recommendations made by Lord Justice Clarke in his Thames Safety Inquiry report published in December 1999 and a consultation exercise conducted by my Department last year. Responses to the consultation paper were largely supportive of the proposals and a summary has been placed in the Library of the House and a compilation of the full response is available in my Department's library.

  Computer Failures
  Mr. Fabricant
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment 470W
  of risk he has made of the impact of a major computer disaster on the work of his Department; what steps he has taken to minimise the effects of such a disaster; and what the standard of compliance is to protect his Department from its effects. [152546]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  Risk assessments have been made of the potential impact on DETR(C)'s business of any major incidents, including those affecting computer systems. Measures are in place to minimise the effects of such an incident, including back-up of information, off-site storage and the identification of alternative work locations. Extensive plans are also in place to maintain essential operations and restore normal working with the minimum of delay. DETR(C)'s computer systems comply with Government Information Security Standards and the Department is currently working towards compliance with BS 7799 in the Security Management of key information processes.

  National Air Traffic Services
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if all of the bidders for NATS are committed to the development of the air traffic control centre at Prestwick. [153281]

  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  Yes. It is a fundamental requirement of all bidders. Furthermore, the commitment to develop and complete major air traffic control projects is enshrined in the Transport Act 2000, in clause 51 (3). This clause is specifically aimed at ensuring that Prestwick is completed.

  Waste Transfer Station, Sompting
  Mr. Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he received the Inspector's report on the public inquiry into the Halewick Lane Waste Transfer Station at Sompting, West Sussex. [153124]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  The Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions received the Inspector's report on the proposed waste management centre on 16 February 2001.

  Transboundary Air Pollution
  Mr. McCabe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, transport and the Regions when his Department's national expert group on transboundary Air Pollution will publish its report into acidification, eutrophication and ground-level ozone in the UK. [153495]

  Mr. Meacher
  The report of the national expert group on Transboundary Air Pollution will be published today on the internet as a "draft" for comment. I will also arrange for copies to be placed in the House Libraries at that time.

  The draft conclusions of the expert group show a mixed picture on the impact of air pollution on ecosystems in the UK. For instance the, reduction in sulphur emissions has led to a 50 per cent. reduction in "acid rain" in the UK in the last 12 years, and as a result, some ecosystems are showing signs of recovery. However, following recent scientific developments, the expert group concludes that the continued impact of air pollution on ecosystems may be more widespread than previously calculated.
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  The report is being issued in draft to allow the scientific community and other interested parties the opportunity to review and comment on the scientific developments and draft findings before the group publish their final report in August or September 2001.

  The draft report will also be available via the DETR's Environment Protection web pages, http:// www.environment.detr.gov.uk/conindex.htm

  Buildings (Non-occupational Accidents)
  Mrs. Spelman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how much money has been spent annually by his Department since 1997 on research undertaken by the Health and Safety Executive and by the Building Research Establishment into the prevention of non-occupational injuries related to building regulations and design features. [153177]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  Falls on stairs has been identified as the main type of non-occupational accident that involves design features. Research work in this area has been funded by Building Regulations Division, with support from HSE. The research, which was carried out by the Building Research Establishment, has concentrated on improving the design of guarding and stairs. The annual cost of this research to date has been:

  1998–99—£131,665

  1999–00—£105,987

  2000–01—£150,309 (£97,704 from Building Regulations + £52,605 from HSE).

  The work is expected to continue.

  Flooding (Housing Benefit)
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what measures his Department plans to assist persons forced by recent floods to move into temporary accommodation who receive housing benefit for one property but have to pay rents for the flooded and the temporary properties. [152443]

  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given today by the Under-Secretary of State for Social Security, my hon. Friend the Member for Wallasey (Angela Eagle),Official Report, column 460W.

  Wafic Said Business School, Oxford
  Dr. Harris
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 15 February 2001,Official Report, column 219W, on the Wafic Said Business School, what representations were received by (a) him and (b) his officials from (i) other Government Ministers and (ii) officials about (A) the nature of his decision and (B) the timescale of his decision and its announcement, on whether to call in the listed buildings application (98/4580/L Oxford City Council) to dismantle the former London Midland Scottish railway station, Oxford. [152462]

  Mr. Raynsford
  [holding answer 9 March 2001]: Our records include no representations on whether to call in the listed buildings application (98/45801L Oxford City Council) to dismantle the former London Midland Scottish railway station, Oxford from other Government Ministers or officials. However, they do include a representation from the hon. Member made on 18 August
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  1998 asking that the application should not be called in and pointing out the adverse impact that any delay in the decision would have on the Oxford Transport Strategy.

  Once the decision not to call in the application had been reached, the timing of the announcement was discussed with officials in 10 Downing street in the normal way.

TREASURY

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Russell Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what changes are proposed to the quotas for lending to local authorities by the Public Works Loan Board. [153704]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  The Public Works Loan Commissioners have issued a circular today notifying local authorities that the formula for calculating quotas for 2001–02 will remain unchanged from that for the present financial year.

  A copy of the circular has been placed in the House Library.

  Absenteeism
  Mr. Hammond
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the rate of absence from work due to sickness and injury for workers was in(a) the public sector and (b) the private sector in the last 12 months for which figures are available. [146961]

  Marjorie Mowlam
  I have been asked to reply.

  My Department does not maintain these statistics. The Cabinet Office does, however, publish each year a report on sickness absence in the civil service and I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Rochdale (Mrs. Fitzsimons) on 15 February 2001, Official Report, columns 269–70W, for the position in 1999.

  The Office for National Statistics, through its Labour Force Survey, collects data on working days lost to illness and injury. The results, published quarterly in "Labour Market Trends", are not presented by the public and private sectors.

  Motor Fuel
  Mr. Donaldson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his policy is on tackling the smuggling of motor fuel products into Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement. [153426]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The Government are committed to tackling this problem and since September 2000 have increased by a factor of four the resources for tackling it in Northern Ireland. I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given to the hon. Member for Galloway and Upper Nithsdale (Mr. Morgan) on 7 November 2000,Official Report, column 123W.

  Mr. Donaldson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many successful prosecutions there have been in respect of the smuggling of motor fuel products
  473W
  into Northern Ireland; and how many vehicles smuggling motor fuel products into Northern Ireland have been seized in 2001. [153425]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The data for the opening months of 2001 are not yet available.

  Family Incomes
  Ms Squire
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his latest estimate is of the number of(a) families in receipt of the Working Families Tax Credit, (b) families in receipt of the child tax credit and (c) people in receipt of the national minimum wage in each constituency in Scotland. [152463]

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

  It is estimated that 400,000 families in Scotland will be eligible for the Children's Tax Credit, which is to be introduced for the tax year 2001–02 No reliable estimates are available for each constituency.

  As to the information sought on the, national minimum wage, the national statistician has published estimates of the number of jobs paid at less than NMW rates for 1998, 1999 and 2000. These are based on an improved methodology using data from both the New Earnings Survey and Labour Force Survey. Estimates for the United Kingdom and Government office regions, including Scotland, are available on the national statistics website at: http://www.statistics.gov.uk/nsbase/themes/labour_market/nmw_lowpay_tables.asp No estimates are available for parliamentary constituencies.

  Computer Failures
  Mr. Fabricant
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment of risk has been made of the impact to the UK economy in the event of the Inland Revenue being unable to collect or distribute funds for a period of more than three days due to massive computer failure. [152547]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The Inland Revenue keeps under constant review its assessment of risks to its operations, including the collection and distribution of funds. It has full, tested contingency plans in place to minimise the impacts of any problems in a range of circumstances, up to and including massive computer failure.

  Disabled Persons Tax Credit (Wansbeck)
  Mr. Denis Murphy
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people in Wansbeck are claiming the Disabled Persons Tax Credit. [153138]

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

  VAT (Fitness Clubs)
  Mr. Edwards
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received from the Fitness Industry Association concerning VAT exemption for health-related fitness clubs. [152862]
  474W
  Dawn Primarolo
  No representations have been received from this association.

  Birth Certificates
  Mr. Öpik
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will bring forward legislation to allow children of Welsh parents born in England to be entitled to a Welsh birth certificate; and if he will make a statement. [152882]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The Government will consider using the provisions of the Regulatory Reform Bill, currently going through the House, to address this issue.

  Working Families Tax Credit
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his target for the time within which the Inland Revenue replies to hon. Members' letters about the Working Families Tax Credit. [152952]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Target times are set out in the Treasury's public service agreement, copies of which are in the Library.

  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the answer of 13 February 2001,Official Report, column 103W, what proportion of employees are overpaying tax and national insurance as a result of the Working Families Tax Credit. [151862]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Deducting tax and national insurance is the responsibility of employers and the January 2001 "Employers Bulletin", sent to all employers, reminded them of how tax credits should be paid. When the Inland Revenue uncovers errors in the course of its work, or is approached by employees or employers when things go wrong during the year, it helps employers to put things right so that any temporary overpayments are corrected at the earliest opportunity.

  Children's Tax Credit
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his estimate is of(a) the number of people who have claimed the children's tax credit to date and (b) the number who had claimed by 31 January. [152016]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 5 March 2001]: The Inland Revenue has invited PAYE taxpayers to claim for the children's tax credit (CTC). By 7 March they had received 3.2 million claim forms, which represents 80 per cent. of the potential 4 million families who are eligible for CTC and pay tax under PAYE. The position at the end of January was that the Inland Revenue had received 2.9 million forms. Claims are still coming in, and any which have not been dealt with in time for April pay

  475W
  will be backdated under the tax rules to April 2001 so that the claimant has the benefit of the tax cut for the whole of the tax year. The self-employed claim in the normal way when they complete their 2001–02 tax return.

  Mr. Sarwar
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what resources he has made available to publicise and promote the new children's tax credit; and if he will make extra resources available to increase the number of telephone advisers on the helpline. [151620]

  Dawn Primarolo
  On publicity, I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Northavon (Mr. Webb) on 23 January 2001,Official Report, column 568W. The Inland Revenue has deployed extra staff to the helpline to deal with the increased number of calls resulting from the latest campaign.

  Mr. Sarwar
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on(a) the number of calls handled by the new children's tax credit helpline and (b) the level of staffing and resources allocated for the helpline. [151621]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The children's tax credit helpline and orderline has taken around 1.9 million calls. The number of calls increased during the most recent advertising campaign and the Inland Revenue increased the number of staff deployed on the helpline.

  Pensions
  Mrs. Browning
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if it has been the policy for improvements to public sector pension schemes to be applied retrospectively; and if he will make a statement. [152161]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  It has been the long-standing policy of successive Governments that discretionary changes to improve the benefits from public service pension schemes should normally be implemented from a current date for future service of active members only.

PRIME MINISTER

  Hinduja Brothers
  Mr. Wilkinson
  To ask the Prime Minister on what occasions since 3 May 1997, he has met members of the Hinduja family; where such meetings took place; and for what purpose. [148547]

  The Prime Minister
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the right hon. Member for Maidstone and The Weald (Miss Widdecombe) on 31 January 2001,Official Report, column 224W.

  Hammond Inquiry
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will take steps to establish and publish the source of leaks to the media concerning the Hammond Inquiry. [153259]

  The Prime Minister
  No. The draft report of the Hammond Inquiry was not a Government document. I received Sir Anthony Hammond's report on 8 March 2001 and it was published on 9 March 2001.

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. Wilkinson
  To ask the Prime Minister when he will answer the question tabled by the hon. Member for Ruislip-Northwood on 30 January, relating to the Hinduja family. [153254]

  The Prime Minister
  I have done so today.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Public Relations (Expenditure)
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what the total expenditure and the breakdown of expenditure was in his Department for the financial years(a) 1996–97, (b) 1997–98, (c) 1998–99 and (d) 1999–2000, and what the planned expenditure and breakdown of expenditure for 2000–01 is on (i) public opinion research, (ii) television, radio and newspaper advertising and (iii) direct mail. [149257]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 8 February 2001]: Total expenditure and the breakdown of expenditure by MAFF for the financial years 1996–97, 1998–99, 1999–2000 and planned expenditure for 2000–01 on (i) public opinion research, (ii) television, radio and newspaper per advertising and (iii) direct mail, is as follows:

  £

  Public opinion research

  Television, radio and newspaper advertising

  Direct mail1

  1996–97

  78,000

  109,000

  1,454,000

  1997–98

  257,000

  248,000

  1,254,000

  1998–99

  164,000

  834,000

  943,000

  1999–2000

  386,740

  614,104

  1,036,000

  2000–012

  83,000

  360,712

  1,043,000

  1 Including the despatch of forms and explanatory material to farmers for MAFF administered schemes

  2 Actual spending to date

  Departmental IT Projects
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the IT projects currently undertaken in his Department; and if he will state the(a) expected completion date and (b) cost of each project. [151505]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 26 February 2001]: A list of the major IT projects costing most than £100,000 and undertaken in the current year is shown in the table, together with the requested supplementary information. This includes a number of projects for the monitoring and control of animal diseases, as well as on-going projects for the payment of a number of common agricultural policy schemes which need annual amendment to take account of changes agreed by the EU. Costs relating to maintenance of existing systems and services are excluded.

  Major IT projects are approved (or rejected) on the basis of business eases indicating the benefits to the Department to be delivered from the expenditure, and are managed by formal project boards chaired by senior staff.
  477W
  To ensure probity and value for money, procurements are undertaken in compliance with EC public procurement rules, UK Government domestic procurement policy and best practice guidance to ensure probity and value for money, government accounting rules and National Audit

  IT project

  End date

  Total

  State Veterinary Service network/TB implementation

  1—

  5,306,704

  Replacement for current Vet Net systems—pilot projects

  July 2001

  150,000

  Cattle Ear Tag Allocation System

  April 2001

  200,000

  Geographical Information Systems for Animal Disease Control

  April 2001

  542,133

  British Cattle Movement Service Strategic Enhancements and Integration Testing of IT System

  1—

  3,204,727

  Web Access to Cattle Tracing System

  May 2001

  1,759,153

  Monitoring of Animal Movements within UK and EC

  1—

  237,965

  Pet Travel Scheme

  August 2000

  250,000

  GB Cattle Herd Registration Development

  November 2000

  1,367,000

  Scrapie Control System

  July 2001

  1,908,223

  Food Survey System replacement

  March 2002

  1,329,020

  Grants and Subsidies Management System for Common Agricultural Policy Payments

  1—

  2,823,476

  Combined Bovine Risk Assessment Scheme

  December 2001

  2,151,500

  Beef Extensification Premium Scheme

  May 2001

  1,339,000

  New Common Agricultural Policy Support Systems

  1—

  15,846,854

  Cattle Slaughter Premium Scheme

  1—

  1,767,500

  Agenda 2000

  1—

  1,378,650

  Hill Farmers Allowance

  May 2001

  1,838,501

  England Rural Development Programme

  February 2003

  2,135,375

  Sea Fish Management Systems

  1—

  394,005

  Fisheries Satellite Surveillance

  July 2003

  322,541

  Integration of Existing Building and Estate Management Databases

  1—

  1,553,085

  Upgrade to Financial Systems and reporting tools

  1—

  10,878,802

  E-Commerce

  December 2001

  1,867,334

  Replacement Office/Corporate Systems

  December 2001

  9,827,835

  Central Science Laboratories (CSL): Integrated Business Information System

  October 2001

  500,000

  CSL:Upgrade to Hardware to run new Office Systems

  May 2001

  250,000

  Centre for Environmental, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS): Laboratory Information Management Systems

  March 2003

  350,000

  CEFAS: Biological Sampling System

  March 2003

  120,000

  Farming and Rural Conservation Agency (FRCA): Invest to Save Interdepartmental project (MAGIC) Geographical Information System

  April 2002

  462,000

  FRCA: Cartography Tool Kit

  April 2003

  930,000

  FRCA: basic mapping for administration of agri-environment schemes

  October 2001

  292,000

  Intervention Board (IB): Oracle Multi Org for Intervention Board

  February 2001

  252,000

  IB: Block Guarantee Scheme System Redevelopment

  April 2001

  198,000

  IB: Audit Logging

  December 2001

  187,548

  IB: Data Integration

  March 2001

  287,833

  IB: Brussels Matrix

  March 2001

  429,018

  IB: Modulation

  June 2001

  350,000

  IB: Over Thirty Month Scheme System Extension

  July 2001

  343,214

  IB: Slaughter Premium Scheme System Development

  June 2001

  735,428

  IB: Porting PI Open Systems to Universe

  December 2001

  1,150,000

  1 Annual revision required

  Mr. Field
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the IT projects his Department plans to undertake in the next year; and if he will state in each case the(a) expected date of commencement and completion and (b) cost. [151469]

  Project costs (£)

  Start date

  End date

  Orthophotos to support Integrated Administration and Control Systems Geographical Information Systems in Agricultural Payments' Agency

  250,000

  April 2001

  March 2002

  Redevelopment of Common Agricultural Policy Payment Schemes

  47,000,000

  April 2001

  March 2004

  Intervention Board (IB): Oracle Release 1li

  200,000

  May 2001

  July 2002

  IB: Oracle Personnel System Update

  210,000

  October 2001

  March 2002

  478W
  Office requirements. MAFF is also implementing the relevant recommendations of the report "Successful IT—Modernising Government in Action", published in May, 2000.

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 26 February 2001]: A list of the new IT projects costing more than £100,000 and expected to start in 2001–02 is shown, with the requested supplementary information. Costs relating to maintenance of existing systems and services are excluded.

  BSE
  Mr. Breed
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what analysis his Department has made of the costs of(a) rendering carcases killed under the OTMS prior to incineration and (b) direct incineration of such carcases. [151817]

  Ms Quin
  Rendering, meat and bonemeal incineration and direct carcase incineration services were procured by the Intervention Board through tenders conducted under EC rules.

  Rates charged by individual suppliers vary. Costs by each route are regularly compared. Historically, on a per animal basis, rendering followed by incineration of the resultant MBM and tallow has been cheaper than direct carcase incineration.

  However, following recently concluded negotiations leading to the extension of direct carcase incineration contracts, the costs of each disposal route are now more closely aligned.

  Imported Meat
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what inspections are carried out, and by whom, on meat imports from(a) EU countries and (b) other countries. [151672]

  Ms Quin
  Community legislation requires member states to comply with strict hygiene rules in the production of meat and meat products in the Community before they are approved to trade. Among other things, this sets out the licensing, structural and veterinary supervision requirements to be applied in all meat plants before they can export.

  The European Commission is responsible for ensuring member states fulfil their obligations. EU legislation also provides for member states to carry out checks at points of destination. These are carried out by Meat Hygiene Service official veterinary surgeons at licensed premises, local authorities and the State Veterinary Service in the UK. Depending on the perceived health risk, checks at destination may be random or 100 per cent. Following the recent identification of specified risk material in imports of meat from Germany and the current foot and mouth disease problems in the UK, the Meat Hygiene Service has been instructed to step up levels of inspection at cutting plants and cold stores to ensure that increased volumes of imports can be checked for the necessary health marks and correct documentation.

  All meat imported from third countries into the UK must enter at designated UK border inspection posts (BIPs) where it is subject to veterinary checking. All consignments are subject to documentary and identity checks in accordance with EU legislation. These checks are to ensure that conditions of import into the Community have been complied with and that the products have remained in a satisfactory condition during transport. They are carried out by official veterinary surgeons employed by the local authority in which the BIP is located.
  480W
  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what his policy is on banning the importation of beef, pigmeat and sheepmeat from countries suffering from outbreaks of(a) foot and mouth disease and (b) swine fever. [151916]

  Ms Quin
  The importation into the European Community of fresh meat from third countries is governed by Community legislation.

  When outbreaks of notifiable disease occur (including both classical swine fever and foot and mouth disease) the Products of Animal Origin (Import and Export) Regulations 1996 allow the Government to prohibit the import of meat from a country or part thereof. On notification of an outbreak these Regulations allow the UK to issue a Declaration prohibiting meat from the relevant country or part thereof. They are effective from the date and time of signature and are sent immediately to all enforcement authorities. These Declarations remain in force pending the adoption of appropriate Community legislation. These provisions apply equally to outbreaks in member states and in third countries.

  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate the Ministry has made of the total amount of imported meat in(a) 1997, (b) 1998, (c) 1999, (d) 2000 and (e) 2001. [152379]

  Ms Quin
  Official Overseas Trade Statistics show that the total amount of meat and meat products imported into the UK in 1997 to 2000 was as follows:

  Thousand

  Year

  Tonnes

  1997

  1,195

  1998

  1,187

  1999

  1,300

  2000

  1,427

  Source:

  HM Customs and Excite

  Forecasts for 2001 are not published.

  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the control measures in other countries which export meat and meat products to the UK. [152418]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 6 March 2001]: All consignments of meat imported into the UK must have been produced in accordance with the harmonised Community rules laid down in Council Directive 64/433/EEC (as amended) (fresh meat) and Council Directive 77/99/EEC (as amended) (meat products). Among other things, these Directives set out the licensing, structural and veterinary supervision requirements to be applied in meat plants.

  Ensuring that all member states comply with their Community obligations in properly implementing and applying the Directives is the responsibility of the European Commission, whose Food and Veterinary Office carries our regular programmes of inspection visits to all member states. Depending on the perceived health risk, checks at destination may be random or 100 per cent. Following the recent identification of specified risk material in imports of meat from Germany and the current foot and mouth disease problems in the UK, the Meat Hygiene Service has been instructed to step up levels of

  481W
  inspection at cutting plants and cold stores to ensure that increased volumes of imports can be checked for the necessary health marks and correct documentation. The Food and Veterinary Office is also responsible for carrying out inspections in the third countries from which fresh meat is imported into the Community.

  All meat imported into the UK from third countries must enter at designated UK border inspection posts (BIPs) where it is subject to veterinary inspections. All consignments are subject to documentary and identity checks and at least 20 per cent. of consignments undergo physical checks. These ensure import conditions are met and that the products remain in a satisfactory condition. They are carried out by official veterinary surgeons employed by the local authority in which the BIP is located. In line with Community rules, random spot checks at destination may be carried out on consignments of fresh meat imported into the UK from other EU member states.

  Agrimonetary Compensation
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will break down the amounts paid by(a) the EU and (b) the UK Government for each year the UK has drawn down agrimonetary compensation. [151829]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 1 March 2001]: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer my right hon. Friend the Minister gave to the hon. Member for South Suffolk (Mr. Yeo) on 8 March 2001, Official Report, column 337W.

  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to claim agrimonetary funds from the EU; and if he will make a statement. [152283]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 5 March 2001]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Teignbridge (Mr. Nicholls) on 5 March 2001, Official Report, column 103W.

  Foot and Mouth
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish the results of his investigations into the source of each outbreak of foot and mouth disease in England and Wales. [152019]

  Ms Quin
  Initial epidemiological evidence suggests that the outbreak appears to have started in one premises in north-east England and spread from there. The main cause of spread appears to be the movement of sheep for trade purposes. Investigations are continuing into the original source. Information on the initial epidemiological findings will be published.

  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what criteria he uses to judge when an outbreak of foot and mouth disease is called an epidemic; and if he will make a statement. [151918]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 5 March 2001]: Based on a definition of an epidemic as a large number of cases occurring simultaneously in the livestock population, it is too early to say whether the current outbreak represents an epidemic.
  482W
  Mr. Fabricant
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps have been taken to identify the cause of the outbreak of foot and mouth disease and its point of origin. [151936]

  Ms Quin:
  [holding answer 6 March 2001]: Detailed epidemiological investigations are being undertaken for each of the confirmed outbreaks. Initial findings suggest that the outbreak appears to have started in one premises in north-east England and spread from there. The main cause of spread appears to be the movement of sheep for trade purposes. Investigations are continuing into the original source. Information on the initial epidemiological findings will be published.

  Sea Defences
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many sea defence projects(a) are in progress and (b) were completed in (i) 1999 and (ii) 2000. [152884]

  Mr. Morley
  Information is only readily available in relation to schemes undertaken by the Environment Agency, local authorities and internal drainage boards, for which the Ministry is providing grant aid.

  Currently, 64 such sea defence schemes are in progress. The numbers of sea defence schemes for which the Ministry was notified of substantial completion in 1999 and 2000 were 34 and 14 respectively.

  Meat Imports (Africa)
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he was first informed of the risk to animal health arising from(a) legitimate and (b) smuggled meat from Africa; and what action was taken. [152840]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 9 March 2001]: The importation into the Community of fresh meat from third countries is governed by harmonised Community legislation. Under these rules, imports are only permitted from those countries or parts thereof where there is not considered to be a risk to human and animal health.

  All meat imported directly into the UK from third countries must enter, and is subject to veterinary inspections, at designated UK border inspection posts (BIP). All consignments are subject to documentary and identity checks and at least 20 per cent. of consignments are subject to physical checks in accordance. These checks are to ensure that conditions of import have been complied with and that the products have remained in a satisfactory condition during transport. They are carried out by official veterinary surgeons employed by the local authority in which the BIP is located.

  With regard to illegal imports of meat we are aware of continuing risk that meat could be brought into the UK either from third countries or via other Member States which do not comply with UK import conditions. Both MAFF and Customs officials take immediate action and as soon as such consignments are identified. Any meat identified as illegal is seized and destroyed.

  Haddock Stocks
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the impact on haddock stocks resulting from the closure of North Sea cod areas. [152839]

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 9 March 2001]: Given the prevalence of juvenile haddock in the northern North Sea urgent consideration is being given to improved technical conservation measures. These are necessary whether or not there has been diversion of effort from cod to haddock.

  Export of Hides and Skins
  Mrs. Browning
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received from businesses exporting hides and skins; and if he will make a statement. [153436]

  Ms Quin
  We have had a number of inquiries from businesses concerning the export of hides and skins. They have been advised that such exports can take place so long as they meet the requirements of Commission Decision 2001/172/EC.

  Under Commission Decision 98/256/EC (as amended), however, bovine hides may not be exported to a destination outside the UK if they are intended for use in human food, animal feed, cosmetic, pharmaceutical and medical products.

  Agricultural Employment
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what his estimate is of the number of people employed in agriculture in each of the past 15 years; and what the percentage change was in each year. [152696]

  Ms Quin
  The information for England is provided in the table.

  Total labour force on farms (England)

  Year

  Number (Thousand)

  Percentage change

  1986

  488.5

  —

  1987

  477.9

  -2.2

  1988

  469.9

  -1.7

  1989

  457.4

  -2.7

  1990

  455.9

  -0.3

  1991

  445.0

  -2.4

  1992

  440.2

  -1.1

  1993

  437.7

  -0.6

  1994

  430.9

  -1.6

  1995

  425.2

  -1.3

  1996

  420.5

  -1.1

  1997

  417.0

  -0.8

  1998

  415.0

  —

  1999

  397.7

  -4.2

  2000

  373.9

  -6.0

  Note:

  In 1998, fundamental changes were made to the June Census labour questions which may have affected response. Therefore, figures from 1998 onwards are not strictly comparable with those for earlier years.

  Source:

  June Agricultural and Horticultural Census

  Compulsory Slaughter
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on what basis farmers whose healthy livestock are compulsorily slaughtered are compensated. [152328]

  Ms Quin
  The level of compensation is set out in Schedule 3 of the Animal Health Act 1981. Where the animal slaughtered was affected with foot and mouth disease, compensation shall be the value of the animal immediately before it became affected. In every other case, (eg animals exposed to infection but not affected) compensation shall be the value of the animal immediately before slaughter.

  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what the rates of compensation are for farm animals destroyed under foot and mouth control orders. [152416]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 6 March 2001]: The level of compensation is set out in Schedule 3 of the Animal Health Act 1981. Where the animal slaughtered was affected with foot and mouth disease, compensation shall be the value of the animal immediately before it became affected. In every other case, (eg animals exposed to infection but not affected) compensation shall be the value of the animal immediately before slaughter.

  Farming (Young Entrants)
  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what encouragement the Government give to young entrants to farming; and if he will make a statement. [152291]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 5 March 2001]: Young people can most effectively be helped through policies, such as those under the Action Plan for Farming, that support an efficient, competitive and environmentally aware agricultural industry that will be sustainable in the future. Further measures under the England Rural Development Programme will be targeted at young entrants where appropriate.

  Export Refund Certificates
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what discussions he has had with the European Commission on the regime of control regarding export refund certificates; [152184]

  (2) if he will make a statement on the decision of the European Union to apply a cut-off at the end of each application period For the operation of export refund certificates; [152186]

  (3) what discussions he has had with the European Commission on its decision to restrict refunds on processed goods by introducing the export refund certificate system; [152183]

  (4) if he will make a statement on the mechanism recently introduced by the European Union to split the year into six application periods for the operation of export refund certificates; [152185]

  (5) if he will make a statement on the policy of the EU to apply reducing co-efficients to exports and on the impact this will have upon (a) the exporting agents and (b) the principal's budgets. [152187]
  485W
  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 6 March 2001]: The EU is committed under the WTO Uruguay Round agreement to reducing expenditure on export refunds. This applies to export refunds for both agricultural raw materials and to processed agricultural products. These refunds are provided to compensate for the higher price of EU raw agricultural materials which is supported under the CAP and is higher than prices on the world market.

  The UK's long-term aim is the reform of CAP to lower EU prices and to remove the need for export refunds—but this will take time. Meanwhile our priority is to ensure that WTO and CAP budgetary commitments are honoured with minimum damage to export competitiveness of UK industry. In consultation and with the support of our industry my Department has been active in developing these arrangements with the Commission.

  A system of refund certificates was introduced last year with the agreement of member states to keep expenditure within WTO limits. Under this system there are six tranches available in which traders may obtain time-limited refund certificates. These tranches are intended to facilitate planned access to refunds by traders throughout the year. If demand for certificates exceeds funds allocated within a tranche, access to refunds is adjusted by means of a reducing coefficient. The intention at times of such shortfall is to provide increased flexibility to enable processors to access raw materials at (cheaper) prices from the world market.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Police Numbers
  Mr. Baldry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he next expects to meet the chief constable of the Thames Valley to discuss Oxfordshire police numbers. [151706]

  Mr. Straw
  I have discussions with the chief constable, Charles Pollard, from time to time, the latest of which took place this morning.

  The Thames Valley force is in a strong position in terms of the resources available to it. The force has been allocated a total of 325 crime fighting fund recruits. In the next financial year, the force will receive funding support of £245.1 million, an increase of £13.4 million or 5.8 per cent. over 2000–01. The force will also receive £1.3 million from the rural policing fund. The national recruitment campaign should boost recruitment to the force and has already led to 437 expressions of interest being passed to Thames Valley.

  As a result of the range of measures we have taken, the chief constable has told me that he is "quietly hopeful" of the positive impact which they will have on police numbers in his force.

  Further to this, I am pleased to announce to the House today that I have accepted the police negotiating board's (PNB's) recommendation that there should be an additional annual allowance paid to officers in eight forces in the south-east.

  In the five forces bordering the Metropolitan Police service—Thames Valley, Essex, Hertfordshire, Kent and Surrey—the allowance will be £2,000 per annum. In the
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  remaining three forces in the south east—Bedfordshire, Hampshire and Sussex—the annual allowance will be £1,000. The new allowance will be payable with effect from 1 April 2001 and will be paid to officers and rejoiners appointed on or after 1 September 1994 who are not in receipt of housing allowance.

  This is a good deal for forces in the south-east. The new allowance should help them both to recruit more constables and to retain experienced officers, and ensure that officers in these forces can meet the higher costs associated with living in the region.

  The allowance, combined with the unprecedented funding that we are now investing in the police service as a whole, will help ensure that the recent upturn in police numbers is sustained in Thames Valley, in the south-east more generally, and across the country.

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many serving police officers there were on 31 March and 30 September for each year between 1997 and 2000. [151676]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  [holding answer 1 March 2001]: Police numbers on 31 March and 30 September for each year between 1997 and 2000 are given in the table.

  Police numbers 1997 to 2000

  Year

  As at 31 March

  As at 30 September

  1997

  127,158

  126,862

  1998

  126,814

  126,679

  1999

  126,096

  125,394

  2000

  124,170

  124,614

  Note:

  Full-time equivalents

  Source:

  Home Office Statistical Bulletin, "Police Service Strength 2/01" (to September 2000)

  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers there were in Sussex(a) in May 1997 and (b) on the last date for which figures are available. [151783]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Mid-Sussex (Mr. Soames) on 7 February 2001,Official Report, column 614W.

  Prison Accommodation
  Gillian Merron
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the existing and future provision of prison accommodation. [151711]

  Mr. Boateng
  The total certified operational capacity of the prison estate was 71,461 on 2 March 2001. A new 800-place prison, Dovegate prison in Staffordshire, is scheduled to open in July this year.

  The Prison Service has also been funded to increase capacity by a further 2,660 by 2004.

  Street Watches
  Mr. Bob Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce uniformed street watches in urban areas to support the work of the police. [151715]
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  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  My Department and the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions are already jointly funding a neighbourhood wardens programme across England and Wales. The majority of the schemes are within urban areas. Neighbourhood wardens have a supportive and complementary role to the police, local authority and local partnerships to help tackle antisocial behaviour, make environmental improvements in a neighbourhood, have a real effect on the quality of life of local communities, and reduce crime and the fear of crime.

  Early Release Scheme
  Dr. Julian Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners have been released under the early release scheme before serving half their sentences. [151716]

  Mr. Boateng
  Prisoners sentenced to four years imprisonment or less may be released before serving half their sentences under the provisions of the home detention curfew scheme. From the inception of the scheme in January 1999 until 26 February 2001, 32,510 prisoners have been released on home detention curfew.

  Asylum Support
  Mr. Syms
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the functioning of the national asylum support scheme. [151717]

  Mrs. Roche
  The new asylum support arrangements were brought in on a phased basis from 3 April 2000 and by 29 August the national asylum support service (NASS) had assumed responsibility for the majority of all new asylum seekers. In addition, since 25 September all eligible disbenefited cases are now the responsibility of NASS. This has limited the responsibility of local authorities in providing support for asylum seekers.

  Ms Oona King
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the national asylum support service. [151724]

  Mrs. Roche
  The new asylum support arrangements were brought in on a phased basis from 3 April 2000, and by 29 August the national asylum support service (NASS) had assumed responsibility for the majority of all new asylum seekers. In addition, since 25 September 2000 all eligible disbenefited cases are now the responsibility of NASS. As at the end of January 2001, NASS was providing voucher only support on 9,9601 asylum seekers including dependants and 19,8201 asylum seekers, including dependants, had been allocated accommodation.
  1 All figures are provisional and rounded to the nearest ten.

  Drug-related Crime
  Mr. Browne
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures he is taking to reduce the level of drug-related crime. [151718]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  Measures in hand include national roll-out of the drug treatment and testing order from October 2000 and the development of arrest referral schemes where virtually all police custody suites will be covered by April 2001, 12 months ahead of schedule.
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  New initiatives planned include piloting the extension of drug testing across the criminal justice system from spring 2001. Consideration will also be given to the use of specialist drug review hearings to handle cases involving drug misusing offenders and the scope for setting up a police register for drug dealers similar to that which already exists for sex offenders.

  In addition, my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced on 7 March extra funding over three years for the fight against drugs. This includes £220 million to be channelled through crime and disorder reduction partnerships to help the police and local communities to disrupt local drug markets and drive out the drug dealers. We will also be announcing shortly details of further funding for programmes to tackle drug-related crime.

  Illegal Immigrants
  Mr. Gray
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent discussions he has had with French Ministers regarding illegal immigrants; and if he will make a statement. [151719]

  Mrs. Roche
  My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary has frequent discussions with French Ministers about illegal immigration and related issues. In particular, he had full discussions with them at the United Kingdom/ French summit on 9 February.

  The summit confirmed the joint intention to introduce juxtaposed controls at the Eurostar terminals in June. In addition, French Ministers agreed to legislate quickly to ensure that all passengers travelling by train between France and the United Kingdom will be subject to the relevant controls, regardless of their destination.

  In addition, on 9 March my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary met his French, German, Spanish and Italian counterparts in London to discuss immigration and other issues of common interest.

  Cemeteries
  Mr. Burgon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consultations he has had with local authorities regarding the increase of cemetery provision. [151720]

  Mr. Boateng
  None. Provision of cemetery facilities is a matter for local decision, but we plan to convene an advisory group consisting of the key professional and representative organisations, including the local authorities, to consider a range of issues concerning burial law, practice and resources.

  Liquor Licensing Reform
  Mr. Grogan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what conclusions he has drawn from the consultation on the Government's liquor licensing reform White Paper. [151722]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary is presently considering the responses we have received to the White Paper. He hopes to announce his final decisions on the way forward very soon. We have been pleased by the level of support for the proposed modernisation of the system.
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  Ms Coffey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received regarding proposals to reform licensing hours in England and Wales. [151736]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The White Paper "Time for Reform: the Modernisation of our Licensing Laws" (Cm 4696), published on 10 April 2000, included a proposal to introduce flexible opening hours to minimise public disorder resulting from fixed closing times, subject to consideration of the impact on local residents. Of the 420 responses which commented specifically on licensing hours, 56 per cent. were in favour of this proposal.

  CCTV
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the take-up of funding under the Government's scheme for supporting local CCTV systems since its inception. [151723]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  Under the crime reduction programme closed circuit television (CCTV) initiative, more than £64 million has so far been allocated to crime and disorder reduction partnerships to help set up, extend or improve over 350 CCTV schemes in England and Wales.

  Further initial funding applications submitted by partnerships under the second round of the CCTV initiative are currently under assessment. We expect to advise partnerships of the outcome of the applications very shortly.

  Immigration and Asylum
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers are being held in detention under provisions of immigration law. [151725]

  Mrs. Roche
  The most recent information relates to the number of people detained under the Immigration Act 1971 as at 31 January 2001. At that (late a total of 1,334 people were recorded as detained.

  Current information on people detained who have claimed asylum is not available and could be obtained only at a disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Gerrard
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the detention centre rules 2001 will apply to all asylum seekers subject to detention. [151733]

  Mrs. Roche
  Detention centre rules 2001 apply to all those detainees accommodated in dedicated immigration detention centres. Persons detained in Prison Service establishments are governed by prison rules.

  Mr. Robathan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) illegal immigrants and (b) asylum seekers have been (i) refused asylum and (ii) deported since 1 January. [151737]

  Mrs. Roche
  In January 2001, 485 people were removed from the United Kingdom following illegal entry action. Of this number, 255 had sought asylum at some point.
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  The number of initial decisions to refuse asylum and exceptional leave to remain taken in January 2001 was 10,935. The total number of unsuccessful asylum seekers removed in January 2001 was 635.

  Information on the number of illegal immigrants refused asylum is not readily available and could be produced only by examination of individual case files at disproportionate cost.

  I regret that data for February are not yet available. Figures given in this reply are provisional and have been rounded to the nearest five.

  Persistent Young Offenders
  Dr. Iddon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures he is taking to deal with persistent young offenders. [151726]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  As part of their youth justice reforms, the Government have introduced a range of new and improved community and custodial sentences to improve the options available to the courts. Most recently, we have introduced curfew orders for 10 to 15-year-olds. Work also continues to deliver the youth justice pledge, halving the arrest to sentence time for persistent young offenders. We have already cut nearly 50 days from the 1996 average. This year we will be introducing new intensive supervision and surveillance programmes, targeting the 2,500 most persistent young offenders in the community each year. In the Criminal Justice and Police Bill, we have proposed extending the juvenile secure remand criteria to include those with a recent history of repeatedly committing imprisonable offences while on bail or in local authority accommodation. We have also proposed electronic monitoring to supplement supervised bail.

  Electoral Fraud
  Mrs. Brinton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the means of preventing electoral fraud relating to false claims of residence for voting purposes. [151727]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  Electoral registration officers have a duty to ensure that their registers are accurate. They are entitled to investigate any claims for registration which they consider may be fraudulent and can remove names from the register if they have information which suggests that a person is not resident at the registered address. I am confident that electoral registration officers carry out their duties thoroughly and diligently.

  Metropolitan Police (Recruitment)
  Ms Buck
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to increase the recruitment of black people and ethnic minorities in the Metropolitan police service. [151728]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  In 1999, my right hon. Friend published "Dismantling Barriers", which set all forces targets and an action plan for the recruitment, retention and progression of minority ethnic officers. The Metropolitan police's target is for 25 per cent. of its officers to be from minority ethnic communities by 2009. The force has established a positive action team to take
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  forward "Dismantling Barriers" through a range of initiatives which include the appointment of trained local recruiters with particular responsibility for minority ethnic recruitment; a programme to provide support to members of minority ethnic people who wish to join the police service; and a project to increase the number of minority ethnic graduate police officers.

  Referendums
  Mr. Linton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Government plan to hold a referendum on the voting system for elections to the House. [151729]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The Government remain committed to holding a referendum on the voting system, but no decisions have been made as to its timing, or the question to be asked.

  Mr. Leigh
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the arrangements his Department makes for administering referendums. [151730]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  Section 128 of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 provides that the chairman of the Electoral Commission (or a person appointed by him) is to be the chief counting officer in any national or regional referendum to which part VII of the Act applies (save in the case of a referendum held in Northern Ireland only where the chief electoral officer is designated chief counting officer). It will be for the chief counting officer and the Electoral Commission to oversee the conduct of a referendum poll in accordance with an order made under section 129 of the Act.

  Police Morale
  Mr. Swayne
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about the state of police morale. [151731]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the right hon. Member for Maidstone and The Weald (Miss Widdecombe) on 11 December 2000, Official Report, column 65W.

  By 2003–04, funding for policing will have risen by almost £1.6 billion against the provision for this year, which is a rise of nearly 21 per cent. in cash terms and 11.8 per cent. in real terms. The crime fighting fund will enable police forces to recruit 9,000 police officers over and above the number previously planned in the three years 2000–01 to 2002–03, with the aim of bringing numbers overall to record levels.

  By 30 September 2000, police strength was up 444 compared with strength at 31 March 2000. The number of police recruits starting their initial residential training in the period April 2000 to February 2001 (6,096) was up 72 per cent. on the same period in the previous financial year.

  Non-Custodial Sentences
  Mr. Pickthall
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures he is taking to strengthen public confidence in non-custodial sentences. [151732]
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  Mr. Boateng
  It is vital that both the public and sentencers have confidence in non-custodial penalties. The following measures have been taken to achieve this aim:we have made it clear to the Probation Service that it must raise its performance oil enforcement of community sentences. Independent enforcement audits on cases commenced early and late in 1999 showed that the correct enforcement of breach procedures for community sentences improved significantly from 44 per cent. to 62 per cent. of cases being dealt with properly. This is welcome but there is still a long way to go. A third national audit is being conducted to keep up the pressure for further improvement;
  in April 2000, new national standards were introduced that tightened the standards for enforcement of community sentences so that offenders are returned to court no later than after second unacceptable failure to comply rather than, as previously, the third such failure;
  new enforcement measures contained in section 53 of the Criminal Justice and Court Services Act 2000 provide that where the court finds an Afender in breach of his community order and takes the view that he is unlikely to go on successfully to complete the order ii must impose a custodial penalty, other than in exceptional circumstances;
  we are developing it range of high-quality offending behaviour programmes in the community, and we have set up a new process of accreditation, involving an independent panel of experts to ensure that only the most effective and cost-effective, evidence-based programmes are rolled out across the country;
  from April, responsibility for the execution of warrants, including fine warrants, will pass from the police to magistrates courts. This will provide a clearer focus than the present arrangements and deliver better enforcement;
  we are conducting a study under the crime reduction programme to identify best practice for fine enforcement. At present, various strategies are being piloted in a number of courts, and the results will be assessed later this year;
  from April, measures in the Access to Justice Act 1999 will be implemented enabling, under certain circumstances, the Department of Social Security to provide the court with up to date address details of fine defaulters. This should reduce the number of fines that are currently written off;
  more generally, the new national standards require local probation areas to ensure that they have a strategy to inform both sentencers and the general public about their work and the services they perform; and
  last year we made a grant to an organisation called Payback in connection with the promotion of community sentences.

  Drug Use
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will propose amendments to the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 to make lawful the medicinal use of cannabis. [151734]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The Government believe that it would be premature to amend the misuse of drugs legislation to allow the prescribing of cannabis before the quality, safety aid efficacy of a medicinal form of the drug has been scientifically established and a marketing authorisation issued by the Medicines Control Agency. This is the procedure that all prospective new medicines have to go through in order to protect public health.

  The Government welcome and have encouraged research into the possible medicinal uses of cannabis. The Home Office has licensed a number of laboratory and medical research in this area, including a large-scale research project aimed at producing a cannabis-based

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  medicine with applications for multiple sclerosis and intractable pain conditions. Early clinical trial studies are now being conducted.

  If the clinical trials into cannabis are successful and lead to a medical preparation which is approved by the Medicines Control Agency. the Government have made it clear that they would be willing to amend the misuse of drugs regulations to allow the prescribing of such a medicine.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will prepare an assessment of the impact of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 on illegal drug use. [151713]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  No. Such an exercise would serve little useful purpose and would not inform the development of anti-drugs policies. However, the Government do have a broad research programme designed to track the progress of the national drugs strategy. This will assist our understanding of what the drug problems are and what works best against them.

  "Make Your Voice Heard"
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the cost was of producing the documents "Make Your Voice Heard". [152662]

  Mr. Straw
  The "Make Your Voice Heard" documents are two leaflets created to inform the general public about changes to the electoral system under the Representation of the People Act 2000. The changes make it easier both to get on the electoral register and to vote by post.

  Each publication was produced in Arabic, Bengali, Chinese, English, Greek, Gujarati, Hindi, Punjabi, Somali, Turkish, Urdu, Vietnamese and Welsh. Each was approved by the Plain English Campaign. Special formats including Braille and a British sign language video were also produced.

  Leaflet costs were as follow1"Make your voice heard"—electoral registration form inside £119,683.
  "Make your voice heard"—how to vote by post £22,085.
  1 Figures include, design, print, photography and translation.

  Private Prisons
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the privately run prisons in England and Wales. [152816]

  Mr. Boateng
  There are currently nine privately managed prisons in England and Wales: Altcourse, Ashfield, Blakenhurst, Doncaster, Forest Bank, Lowdham Grange, Parc, Rye Hill and Wolds. A further privately run prison, Dovegate, is due to open on 9 July 2001. Blakenhurst will transfer to Prison Service management on 19 August 2001.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Kaufman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to reply to the letter to him dated 23 January from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mrs. R. Kaysar. [152454]
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  Mr. Straw
  I wrote to my right hon. Friend on 12 March.

  Mr. Kaufman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to reply to the letters to him dated 17 January from the Right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Maqsood Ahmed Mirza. [152453]

  Mr. Straw
  [holding answer 6 March 2001]: I wrote to my right hon. Friend on 9 March.

  Logos and Branding
  Mr. Tyrie
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much has been spent by his Department on departmental and agency logos and associated branding since 1 May 1997. [152655]

  Mr. Straw
  A new Home Office corporate identity was introduced in 2000. The costs involved in developing this identity including design, research, project management and drawing up style guidelines for printed and electronic media were £155,000. This is offset by anticipated savings of £160,000 a year generated by the new identity.

  The four Home Office agencies, the Prison Service, the Forensic Science Service, the United Kingdom Passport Agency and the Fire Service College each have separate logos developed before May 1997.

  The police recruitment and crime reduction logos were developed by the advertising agencies which competed for the campaign work, at no direct cost to the Home Office.

  The "Fire Kills" logo was developed separately for use with all fire safety campaigns and materials. The costs, which include research with the general public, were £42,000.

  Other logos developed since 1 May 1997 cost as follows:

  £

  Crime and Disorder Act 1998

  4,000

  Crime Prevention Agency

  6,000

  Crime Prevention—Plant Security

  1,500

  Human Rights

  4,500

  Metropolitan Police Authority

  5,000

  National Probation Service—costs to date

  10,000

  Animal Experiments
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) under which categories his Department's annual statistics are recorded for(a) palatability trials, (b) digestibility trials, (c) faeces screening studies and (d) other tests carried out by commercial pet food companies; [153274]

  (2) how many dogs from non-designated breeders were used in licensed procedures at designated scientific establishments in (a) 1998, (b) 1999 and (c) 2000. [153271]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  Dogs are primarily used in pharmaceutical research and development, or in pharmaceutical safety and efficacy evaluations. They are also used, when no other species is suitable, in the evaluation of cardiovascular and cardiorespiratory
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  problems in humans. Such work contributes to advances in human health care. Dogs are also used in the development of veterinary medicines and techniques.

  The work undertaken by commercial pet food companies is for the purpose of ensuring that food products for pets are safe, effective and nutritionally complete. Most of the procedures conducted are so mild as to not require licensed authority. The procedures which come under licence are very mild. There are pet rehoming schemes in place for animals once tests have been completed. If these procedures were not carried out we would be less aware of the risk to household pets.

  The number of procedures using dogs obtained from non-designated sources in 1998 and 1999 is given in table 2 in the annual publication "Statistics of Scientific Procedures on Living Animals, Great Britain", copies of which are in the Library. It is not possible to give the actual number of dogs so obtained but it is likely to be close to the number of procedures referred to above. Figures for the year 2000 are not yet available.

  Not all of the studies referred to in this question would necessarily be regulated procedures, depending on the design of the study. Where they are regulated they would normally be returned as nutrition studies, which are shown in table 5 of the annual publication "Statistics of Scientific Procedures on Living Animals, Great Britain", copies of which are in the Library. It is not possible to isolate work done by commercial pet food companies from other licencees carrying out research into nutrition.

  Schengen Agreement
  Mr. Colman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will make a statement on the acceptability of the certificate of identity to countries within the Schengen agreement; [151714]

  (2) if he will make a statement on the outcome of the meeting of 14 February between the hon. Member for Putney and the Minister of State, Home Office, the hon. Member for Hornsey and Wood Green (Mrs. Roche), about amendments to the certificate of identity that would make it acceptable as a valid travelling document to all signatories of the Schengen agreement. [152661]

  Mrs. Roche
  The Home Office certificate of identity (CID) is a travel document issued to foreign nationals, other than refugees, who are resident in the United Kingdom and cannot obtain a passport from their national authorities. This type of document is not issued under an international convention, but on a discretionary basis. Holders of CIDs who travel abroad are entitled to return to any United Kingdom port on a date within the CID's validity, and a visa is not required. Under the Immigration Rules, readmission after examination by an immigration officer is not an automatic entitlement but would normally be granted on the basis that residency here is to be resumed.

  A number of European Union member states have declined to recognise the CID, so holders may find their ability to travel abroad restricted because visas are not always issued.

  When I discussed this problem with my hon. Friend on 14 February, he expressed interest in altering the wording of the CID to state that holders of the document had an
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  automatic right of return to the United Kingdom. This suggestion was not acceptable because it would place CID holders in a special position under the Immigration Rules compared to other categories of people who acquire residence status in the United Kingdom and wish to spend time abroad. The only residents of the United Kingdom who have an unconditional right to be readmitted at the ports after a stay abroad, no matter how long they have been away, are British citizens, and other Commonwealth citizens who have the right of abode here.

  Since the meeting, United Kingdom officials have discussed the issues with colleagues from the countries that have concern Assurances have been requested about the return of CID holders to the United Kingdom, and other matters. I am hopeful that the information provided in response to this request will prove a significant step towards securing full acceptance of the CID by all our European partners.

  Departmental Policies (Middlesbrough, South and Cleveland, East)
  Dr. Kumar
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will set out, including statistical information relating as directly as possible to the constituency, the effect on the Middlesbrough, South and Cleveland, East constituency of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997. [153284]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The Home Office is working to build a safe, just and tolerant society in which the rights and responsibilities of individuals, families and communities are properly balanced, and the protection and security of the public are maintained. Detailed information on the impact of Home Office policies across the full range of responsibilities is set out in Home Office annual reports. A copy of the most recent report, "Home Office Annual Report 1999–2000", is available in the Library. The next annual report will be published shortly. Information on recorded crime and policing is also published. "Recorded Crime England and Wales, 12 months to September 2000" and "Police Service Strength England and Wales, 30 September 2000" can be found in the Library. The recorded crime statistics include information on recorded crime by basic command unit and crime and disorder partnerships.

  The impact of Home Office policies and actions is not normally examined by constituency and the statistics which the Department collects, such as recorded crime, cannot be matched in the way requested although set out are examples relating to the Middlesbrough, South and Cleveland, East constituency or the immediate locality:

  Reducing Burglary Initiative

  Cleveland police, in partnership with Redcar and Cleveland borough council, received £12,300 under round two of the reducing burglary initiative, for a scheme in New Skelton, Cleveland. Interventions include target hardening of relatively modern local authority housing, which is predominantly occupied by single young females.

  Targeted Policing Initiative

  Closed circuit television (CCTV)—Redcar and Cleveland borough council, in partnership with Cleveland police, were awarded £114,200 for two schemes under round two of the CCTV initiative;
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  Guisborough CCTV partnership scheme was awarded £43,700 for a five-camera project covering Guisborough town centre. The town centre has problems of alcohol-related violence, shoplifting and vehicle crime. The scheme aims to reduce vehicle crime by 30 per cent. over three years and other types of crime by 10 per cent. in that time.

  Saltburn CCTV partnership was awarded £70,500 for a six-camera project covering Saltburn town centre. The town centre has problems of alcohol-related crime, shoplifting and vehicle crime linked to drug dependency. The high level of anti-social behaviour and the fear of crime are recurring issues for the town. The scheme aims to reduce vehicle crime by 30 per cent. over three years and other types of crime by 10 per cent. in that time.

  Neighbourhood Warden schemes

  The William Sutton Trust was awarded £152,300 for a community wardens scheme in Middlesbrough South-West. The scheme will cover the Linthorpe estate in Saltersgill, and aims to reduce property crime, crimes against the person and car crime.

  More generally, all of the policies of the Home Office will impact on the residents of Middlesbrough, South and Cleveland, East to a greater or lesser extent. For example:
  376 Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships have been established;
  racial harassment and racially motivated crimes have been made criminal offences by the Crime and Disorder Act 1998;
  the asylum backlog has been cut from 103,495 at the end of January 2000 to 66,195 by the end of December 2000;
  good progress is being made in reducing the incidence of fire deaths in England and Wales. They have dropped from 605 in 1997 to 534 in 1999.

  Information on the Home Office and its policies is also published on its website www.homeoffice.gov.uk.

  Dr. Ali Dizaei
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what involvement he has had in the case of Dr. Ali Dizaei; [152396]

  (2) if ministers authorised telephone tapping of Dr. Ali Dizaei; [152389]

  (3) which Ministers were briefed on the surveillance of Dr. Ali Dizaei, indicating when they were told and what were they told. [152388]

  Mr. Straw
  The suspension of Dr. Dizaei is a matter for the Metropolitan police. It has been the longstanding practice of successive Governments neither to confirm nor deny whether a warrant authorising interception of communications exists, or has existed, in any specific case.

  Police Deployment
  Mr. Derek Twigg
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on progress in(a) reducing administration in the police service and (b) ensuring police officers spend more time on operational duties. [151709]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  Last year we issued a revised "Manual of Guidance for the Preparation, Processing and Submission of Files" designed to remove unnecessary 498W
  paperwork. Of 40 forms which officers may fill in before submitting Crown Prosecution Service files, we have removed 11 and are phasing out another six. This, combined with improved communications and new technologies, will ensure that officers maximise time spent on front-line policing.

  Crime and Disorder Audit
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to ensure that chief executives of local authorities and local police divisional commanders in England and Wales have agreed timetables and arrangements for completing the new crime and disorder audit, with the full participation of their local partners and the community, to have a fresh local strategy in place by April 2002. [151712]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The timetable for completion of local audits is a matter for individual crime and disorder reduction partnerships. We have provided an extensive programme of support over the past two years to assist partnerships in the audit and strategy process. This has been complemented by the appointment of crime reduction directors in the regions of England and in Wales. They are working with partnerships to ensure that they have the necessary support to complete the audit process and develop local strategies by April 2002.

  Burglary (Disadvantaged Communities)
  Caroline Flint
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to reduce burglaries in disadvantaged communities. [151721]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  Under the reducing burglary initiative, which is part of the crime reduction programme, we have to date granted a total of around £24 million to 246 projects in areas or communities with the highest burglary rates. These communities all have high rates of burglary, and many of them are also among the most deprived areas of the country.

  Extradition
  Mr. Gardiner
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will publish the review of extradition he announced on 2 March 2000. [153494]

  Mr. Straw
  I have today published a consultation document entitled "The Law on Extradition: A Review" and copies have been placed in the Library.

  I announced the review to Parliament in the course of my statement on Senator Pinochet on 2 March 2000, Official Report, column 571W. It is the outcome of an exercise started in 1997 to consider the legislative requirements of two European Union conventions on extradition. However, it developed into a much more extensive inquiry, following the adoption at Tampere in October 1999 of the principle of mutual recognition of judicial decisions by the member states of the European Union.

  The consultation document makes far-reaching proposals in relation to all aspects of current extradition law and practice. The greatest changes are proposed in respect of the United Kingdom's procedures for dealing with extradition requests received from member states of the European Union and Schengen states. Our present

  499W
  procedures for dealing with extradition requests from these states contain cumbersome controls and outdated requirements, some of them derived from 19th century extradition legislation. Such procedures are no longer necessary, nor do they provide an efficient means to deal with the growing difficulties caused by organised and international crime. For these extradition partners a simple backing of warrants procedure is proposed. This would replace the current multi-staged system in which all extradition requests are examined by both the Secretary of State and the courts, with a single, streamlined hearing before a district judge (Sheriff in Scotland). The documentation required to support an extradition request would also be significantly simplified, to reduce the current burdens placed on our European partners in their efforts to bring fugitives to justice. The proposals retain a statutory right of appeal in order to ensure that fugitives' rights are protected, but also propose that the grounds for appeal be tightened to eliminate time-consuming delays where fugitives appeal on grounds which are not relevant, or are more properly for consideration by the court of trial.

  The simplified requirements of a backing of warrants scheme would put the mutual recognition principle into practice in the field of extradition. Mutual recognition may be defined as the judicial decisions of one jurisdiction being recognised as valid in another, with the minimum of formality.

  The review recognises that while major reforms are required to our extradition procedures in respect of our closest neighbours, there is also a clear operational need to reform the procedures for dealing with requests from our extradition partners outside the European Union. Here a final decision in the case by the Secretary of State would be retained, but there would be a significant reduction in the present duplication of my role and that of the courts in deciding cases, with the aim of making extradition quicker and simpler, while protecting fugitives' fundamental human rights.

  The consultation period for the review proposals is three months. Copies are being made widely available to people and organisations with a professional interest in the subject. Members of the public will be able to apply for a copy from the Home Office, or obtain one from the Home Office website at www.homeoffice.gov.uk/oicd/ jcu/jcu.htm.

  Many of the proposals in the document will require primary legislation to implement, which would take place when the legislative timetable allows.

  IT projects being undertaken in the current calender year 2001

  IT project

  Date/Expected date of commencement

  Expected date of completion

  Cost (as per approved proposal)

  Comments

  Probation Service—Phase 1 Contract Procurement Project

  15 January 2001

  31 January 2002

  Approximately £600,000

  Probation Service—Phase 2 Contract Procurement Project

  Late 2001

  31 January 2004

  Dependent upon options selected

  Because this project has not yet been initiated it is impossible to give any details about costs

  Probation Service—Offenders Assessment system (OASys)—joint prison/probation offender assessment system. Probation element

  April 2001

  Dependent on technical option selected. Earliest date April 2002

  Dependent on technical option selected.

  Business case to be completed March 2001.

  500W
  I welcome comments on the proposals.

  Departmental IT Projects
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the IT projects his Department plans to undertake in the next year; and if he will state in each case the(a) expected date of commencement and completion and (b) cost. [151479]

  Mr. Straw
  [holding answer 26 February 2001]: The new information technology (IT) projects that are being undertaken in this calendar year within my Department and its agencies (excluding non-departmental public bodies) are listed in the table. The information in the table covers those IT projects where (a) the cost or value of the project exceeds £5 million or (b) the project is essential for the delivery of our core objectives or services. I also refer my right hon. Friend to the answer to him on the IT projects currently undertaken by my Department given on 6 March 2001, Official Report, column 130W, and the reply to the hon. Member for Southwark, North and Bermondsey (Mr. Hughes) on 30 January 2001, Official Report, column 165W.

  In addition to the projects listed in the table, the Fire Service College is undertaking a number of modernising projects in the current year addressing the shortcomings of the existing software applications. These projects are essential to the delivery of their business. They include an accounting system, library upgrade and a management system to upgrade the teaching facilities. The projects will be started and concluded in 2001 at an estimated total cost of £155,000.

  The Prison Service Quantum project is planning future work packages in the development of a strategy for an IT-based business change on a partnership basis. Future work packages are still in the planning stage although it is likely that the user specification for at least one of these will be developed in the forthcoming financial year.

  The Forensic Science Service is considering replacing their current work management system with an enhanced system based upon an enterprise resource planning model. The project will need approval by the Forensic Science Service Board once contract negotiation on time scales and cost have been finalised.

  The Home Office Sirius programme has identified a number of initial business change projects in the areas of finance, personnel and communications for the current year but these are presently at the scoping stage.

  Asylum Claimants System (Siemens)
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the(a) payments made since 1996 and (b) payments due to be made, by his Department to Siemens for the caseworking system for asylum claimants. [151482]

  Mrs. Roche
  The contract between the Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND) of the Home Office and Siemens Business Services (SBS) contains a complex charging mechanism, details of which are commercially 502W
  confidential. Elements include a productivity-related charge linked to the achievement of reductions in the unit cost of all IND's caseworking activities (not merely of asylum casework) and a fixed monthly charge for a range of technical services specified in the contract. By the end of the current financial year, we would expect to have paid SBS about £25 million in total since the contract began in 1996. The basis of future payments is under discussion with SBS following the joint decision to discontinue the development of the full casework application.

  Workforce Skills
  Workforce Skills
  University Teaching: Quality Assurance Assessment
  University Teaching: Quality Assurance Assessment
  Acoustic Shock
  Acoustic Shock
  Speedometer Accuracy
  Speedometer Accuracy
  Road Bridges over Railways
  Road Bridges over Railways
  Chinook ZD576
  Chinook ZD576
  Human Fertilisation and Embryology Regulations
  Human Fertilisation and Embryology Regulations
  Neo-natal Hearing Screening
  Neo-natal Hearing Screening
  Variant CJD: Location of Clusters
  Variant CJD: Location of Clusters
  Deep Vein Thrombosis
  Deep Vein Thrombosis
  Enbrel
  Enbrel
  Rheumatoid Arthritis: Therapies
  Rheumatoid Arthritis: Therapies
  Wythenshawe Hospital
  Wythenshawe Hospital
  Organophosphate Poisoning
  Organophosphate Poisoning
  Organophosphorus Sheep Dips: Draft Investigation Protocol
  Organophosphorus Sheep Dips: Draft Investigation Protocol
  Sheep Dippers: Surveillance Study
  Sheep Dippers: Surveillance Study
  Tobacco Advertising
  Tobacco Advertising
  Angola: Oil Revenue
  Angola: Oil Revenue
  Mr Alpha Conde MP
  Mr Alpha Conde MP
  Iraq and Iran: Prisoners of War
  Iraq and Iran: Prisoners of War
  Kuwaiti Prisoners of War
  Kuwaiti Prisoners of War
  Liberia
  Liberia
  House of Lords: Smoking and Insurance
  House of Lords: Smoking and Insurance
  Customs and Excise: Prosecuting Authority Role
  Customs and Excise: Prosecuting Authority Role
  Agricultural Census 2000
  Agricultural Census 2000
  Religious Discrimination
  Religious Discrimination
  Extradition
  Extradition
  Gaming and Lottery Fees
  Gaming and Lottery Fees
  Museums and Galleries: VAT
  Museums and Galleries: VAT
  Council of Ministers: Recommendation by QMV
  Council of Ministers: Recommendation by QMV
  Airports: BTA Recommendations
  Airports: BTA Recommendations
  Irish Republic: National Lottery Grants
  Irish Republic: National Lottery Grants