Written Answers of 15 March 2001

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Civil Servants (Salary Increases)
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the average percentage increase in salaries of non-industrial civil servants, excluding members of the Senior Civil Service, was in his Department for 2000–01. [152789]

  Dr. Howells
  [holding answer 14 March 2001]: The headline pay settlement was 2.5 per cent. on the pay bill and, together with the additional funds from staff turnover, staff in post received performance-related increases averaging 4.4 per cent.

  Digital Television
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to introduce a requirement on manufacturers of television sets to include digital receivers in new sets. [153261]

  Ms Hewitt
  [holding answer 12 March 2001]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Plymouth, Sutton (Mrs. Gilroy) on 14 February 2001, Official Report, column 137W.

  Small Business Service
  Sir Sydney Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what support he is giving to enterprise clubs following the establishment of the new Small Business Service, with particular reference to Greater London. [153782]

  Ms Hewitt
  My Department is committed to supporting enterprise, including clubs and disadvantaged areas across the whole of London and other regions, through a number of initiatives. These include:500 volunteer business mentors already appointed with a further 500 to be in place by April 2001;
  The Phoenix Fund, which will help people from disadvantaged groups and in deprived areas who wish to start up or expand a business, of £30 million for this financial year; London's funding allocation is £4.1 million;
  A £12 million Development Fund to support innovative enterprise;
  The Small Firms Loans Guarantee Scheme to help small firms with a viable business proposal, but who are unable to obtain conventional bank finance because they lack security or a business track record;
  Regional Venture Capital funds providing equity finance for start-up or early-stage businesses with growth potential, but remaining subject to approval by the European Commission that they do not infringe state aid rules;
  A UK High Technology Fund for early-stage high technology businesses;
  Support for the National Business Angels Network to increase the flow of informal investment finance.
  668W
  Through its Regional Manager for London, SBS will work closely with the Business Link and London Development Agency to ensure that the region as a whole, including Inner and Greater London, has access to the necessary enterprise funding and that this is used cost-effectively for the capital's various enterprise organisations and their initiatives.

  Air Conditioning
  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what representations he has received on the draft European standard for air conditioning equipment (EN 378); and if he will make a statement; [153619]

  (2) on what date he proposes to withdraw the British Standard in respect of air conditioning equipment; and if he will make a statement on the regulation that will replace it; [153620]

  (3) what representations he has received, and from which bodies, supporting the withdrawal of the British Standard for air conditioning equipment; [153621]

  (4) what representations he has received on the continued use of hydrocarbons in air conditioning equipment; and if he will make a statement. [153623]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  EN 378 is a technical specification for refrigerating systems and heat pumps (which can be used in some air conditioning equipment), dealing with the safety and environmental aspects. The standard allows for hydrocarbons, which are flammable, being used as a refrigerant in certain circumstances instead of the usual hydrofluorocarbons, which are inert.

  My Department received just one representation concerning the use of hydrocarbons as a refrigerant being included in this standard. However, responsibility for this standard, and resolving any technical issues concerned including safety ones, falls to the British Standards Institution (BSI), which is independent of Government.

  BSI is the United Kingdom member of the European Committee for Standardisation (CEN) which developed the European standard EN 378. It carries out, as part of its normal procedures, public consultations on draft ENs. Once a draft EN is adopted by CEN, the national standards bodies who are its members withdraw any conflicting national standards and publish the European one. In this instance, I understand that EN 378 was adopted by CEN last year and then published by BSI as BS EN 378.

  Any technical questions relating to, or issues of interpretation of, the standard should therefore be taken up with BSI.

  Import/Export Licences
  Ann Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will provide details of the import licences granted for the import of(a) tear gas, (b) plastic baton rounds and (c) other riot control munitions into Northern Ireland from the Irish Republic since 1997. [153515]
  669W
  Mr. Caborn
  There have been no individual import licences issued in respect of tear gas sprays and canisters (including CS gas) for import into the United Kingdom (including Northern Ireland) from the Irish Republic since 1997.

  Imports of plastic baton rounds do not require an individual import licence. The transfer of these items is subject to the issue of a transfer document by the designated authority in the Irish Republic.

  Seven licences have been issued for the importation into the United Kingdom from an EU member state for products that might fit the description "other riot control munitions". None of the licence holders is based in Northern Ireland.

  Ann Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will provide details of the export licences granted for export of military list, paramilitary list and dual use technologies to the Irish Republic in(a) 1999 and (b) 2000, where the end-use destination was for another country. [153514]

  Dr. Howells
  In 2000, one Standard Individual Export Licence was issued where the consignee was in the Irish Republic and the end-use destination was in another country. This covered goods controlled under the Export of Goods (Control) Order 1994 (the Military List) and rated ML6. ML6 covers ground vehicles and components thereof specifically designed or modified for military use. There were no such licences issued in 1999.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the British Government issued an export licence to Royal Ordinance for the refurbishment of 30 105mm Moroccan guns in Western Sahara; who approved the export licence application for the refurbishment of 105mm Moroccan guns in Western Sahara; if Royal Ordinance (BAE Systems) completed the refurbishment of 105mm Moroccan guns in Western Sahara; what export licences have been approved for weapons or spares in Western Sahara since 1997; what export licence applications have been refused to Morocco since 1997; on what grounds they were refused; on what occasions the United Nations has been consulted about approving export licence applications to Morocco since 1997; and if the terms of the UN Peace Plan take primacy over the EU Code of Conduct for approving export licence applications to Morocco. [150250]

  Dr. Howells
  [holding answer 13 February 2001]: On 12 July 1999 the DTI issued a standard individual export licence to Royal Ordnance to export equipment to Morocco for the refurbishment of guns. The licence was reported in the 1999 Annual Report on Strategic Export Controls.

  All licences to export arms and other goods whose export is controlled for strategic reasons are issued by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry acting through DTI's Export Control Organisation (ECO). All relevant individual licence applications are circulated by the DTI to other Government Departments with an interest as determined by those Departments in line with their policy responsibilities. These include the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Ministry of Defence and the Department for International Development.
  670W
  While in general the ECO maintains records of licence applications, it does not in general compile records of actual shipments. Moreover, where the licence is for refurbishment, ECO does not monitor whether the refurbishment has been carried out.

  The export of weapons and weapons spares are controlled under entries ML1, ML2, ML4, ML5, ML12, ML18, ML19, ML21, ML22, PL5002, PL5006, PL5017, PL5018 and PL5030 in the Export of Goods (Control) Order 1994 (the EG(C)O). The entry in the EG(C)O under which the export of goods is controlled is known as their rating. Details of export licensing decisions between 2 May 1997 and 31 December 1999 have been set out in the Government's Annual Reports on Strategic Export Controls copies of which are in the Library of the House. These Reports list by country of destination the export licences issued and refused in each equipment category and gives details of the military equipment for which licences have been granted. They also set out the value of defence exports to each country.

  Between 1 January 2000 and 2 February 2001, six Standard Individual Export Licences (SIELs) and three Open Individual Export Licences (OIELs) were issued covering the export to consignees or end-users in Morocco of goods with the relevant ratings. Individual licences may cover a range of goods with various ratings. Where this is so, the licence is included in the total for all of the relevant ratings.

  Individual Licences issued between 1 January 2000 and 2 February 2001 covering the export to Morocco of goods on the Military List1

  Rating

  Number of SIELs issued covering goods with this rating

  Number of OfELs issued covering goods with this rating

  ML1

  3

  0

  ML2

  4

  0

  ML4

  1

  0

  ML5

  0

  2

  ML12

  0

  0

  ML18

  0

  0

  ML19

  0

  0

  ML21

  0

  0

  ML22

  1

  1

  PL5002

  0

  0

  PL5006

  1

  0

  PL5017

  1

  1

  PL5018

  0

  0

  PL5030

  0

  0

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

  In addition, Morocco is a permitted destination on certain Open Genoral Export Licences for the export of goods on the Military List; copies of all Open General Export Licences are placed in the Library of the House.

  Between 2 May 1997 and 31 December 1999 only one application, for the refurbishment of 105mm guns and supply of new guns, was refused to Morocco, on the grounds that issuing the licence would contravene Criterion 4 of the EU Code of Conduct on Arms Exports. After the company appealed, the part of the application for the refurbishment of guns was granted. However the refusal of the part of the licence application in respect of the proposed sale of new guns was upheld.
  671W
  Between 1 January 2000 and 2 February 2001, no applications for a SIEL and no applications for an OIEL were refused covering the export to consignees or end-users in Morocco of goods with the relevant ratings.

  HMG does not seek UN approval when issuing export licences to non-embargoed destinations. There is no UN arms embargo on Morocco. HMG did not therefore seek UN approval in this case. However, where the UN has an interest in a region HMG may—as was done in this case—consult the UN. The information provided by the UN will be taken into account by HMG when deciding whether to issue an export licence.

  The terms of the UN Peace Plan do not take primacy over the EU Code of Conduct for approving export licence applications to Morocco. All export licence applications whether for Morocco or elsewhere are considered against the now consolidated EU and national arms export licensing criteria.

  Post Offices
  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the number of post offices in the north-west region in(a) 1997, (b) 1998, (c) 1999, (d)2000 and (e) 2001. [153156]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  I understand from the Post Office that the information is not held in the form requested.

  Chemicals Weapons Act
  Mrs. Fitzsimons
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement about the operation of the Chemical Weapons Act 1996. [154272]

  Dr. Howells
  In accordance with the Act, I have placed a report on its implementation during 2000 in the Library of each House.

  Satellite Communications
  Mr. Gerrard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what funding he expect; to be required to maintain the satellite communication monitoring facility at Baldock. [154184]

  Ms Hewitt
  The Radio Monitoring Station at Baldock in Hertfordshire which is operated by the Radiocommunications Agency has facilities in place in order to be able to monitor a wide range of frequencies over the range from 9 kilohertz through to 40 gigahertz, including those given over to satellite communications.

  The Agency's Corporate Plan for the next five years includes the objective of enhancing existing spectrum monitoring activities through the purchase of further unattended and fixed monitoring systems. Provision in excess of £2,000,000 has been made for these capital projects for each of the next four years.

  Mr. Gerrard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he taking to ensure that the United Kingdom will continue to be able to monitor those radio frequencies given over to satellite communications. [154183]

  Ms Hewitt
  The Radiocommunications Agency has facilities, based at the Radio Monitoring Station at Baldock in Hertfordshire, which enable it to undertake 672W
  calibrated measurements over the frequency range from 9 kilohertz to 40 gigahertz, including those given over to satellite communications.

  In addition, the Agency is working together with its European counterparts in order to provide common access to enhanced fixed facilities managed centrally by the European Radio Office.

  Gas Industry
  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what his estimate is of the cost to industry of introducing half-hourly gas balancing. [152825]

  Mr. Hain
  The introduction of a new gas balancing system is a matter for Ofgem.

  Ofgem are currently consulting on proposals to change to hourly or half hourly balancing. Copies of the consultation document can be found on the Ofgem website at: www.ofgem.gov.uk.

  Ofgem
  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many vacancies for staff Ofgem has; and if he will list the salary levels that are being offered for these posts. [152956]

  Mr. Hain
  Ofgem has 22 staff vacancies at the following salary levels:

  Salary level

  Number of vacancies

  £16,000

  1

  £17,000

  3

  £19,211

  6

  £20,000

  1

  £24,250

  5

  £35,000

  2

  £39,000

  2

  £40,000

  1

  £90,000–110,000

  1

  Beckman Case (ECJ)
  Sir David Madel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the Beckman case in the European Court of Justice will be heard; and if he will honour the original redundancy entitlements of the Department of Trade and Industry staff concerned. [153592]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  [holding answer 13 March 2001]I am expecting the case to be heard by the European Court of Justice later this year. It would be inappropriate for me to comment further while the case is still before the courts.

  Sub-post Offices
  Mr. Page
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) how many sub-post offices with Horizon equipment installed have ceased trading; [R] [153179]

  (2) what the average cost is per sub-post office of the installation of Horizon equipment. [R] [153180]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  [holding answer 12 March 2001]I have nothing to add to my reply to the hon. Member on 8 January 2001, Official Report, column 361W.
  673W
  Mr. Page
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many sub-post offices closed in(a) January and (b) February; and how many of those that closed in the first three quarters of 2000–01 have reopened. [R] [153252]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  [holding answer 12 March 2001]In the light of the Performance and Innovation Unit report on modernising the post office network, the Post Office has revised its methods of collating and reporting information on the network to supply to the Postal Services Commission. The Post Office has agreed with the Commission a process and format for reporting such information quarterly. Monthly information is not therefore available. Information is not held on the numbers of post offices which closed in the first three quarters of the current financial year have subsequently reopened.

  Triumph Motorcycles Ltd.
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions he has had with Triumph Motorcycles Ltd. concerning the manufacturing of machines smaller than 750cc; and if he will make a statement. [153780]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  Neither Ministerial colleagues nor I have had discussions with Triumph Motorcycles Ltd. on the types or variety of machines they produce, although my officials have contact with the company on a number of issues. Any decision on whether the company adds to its existing range would be a commercial matter for them.

  Logos and Branding
  Mr. Tyrie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much has been spent by his Department on departmental and agency logos and associated branding since 1 May 1997. [152651]

  Dr. Howells
  The Department has incurred no expenditure on its corporate logo since May 1997. Information on expenditure by directorates within the Department on individual logos is not centrally recorded and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The Department's agencies have spent £122,320 on logos and associated branding.

  Electricity Trading Arrangements
  Mr. Leslie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on progress in implementing the New Electricity Trading Arrangements. [154173]

  Mr. Hain
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has today agreed to the recommendation of the Chief Executive of the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets that the New Electricity Trading Arrangements (NETA) should go live on 27 March 2001.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

  Everything but Arms' Initiative
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent discussions she has had with(a) the European Commissioner for
  674W
  Development and (b) her European Union counterparts on (i) recent amendments to the 'Everything but Arms' initiative and (ii) the implications of these proposals for (A) United Kingdom sugar producers and (B) African, Caribbean and Pacific sugar exporters; and if she will make a statement. [153555]

  Clare Short
  The Government have had ongoing discussions with EU member states and the European Commission on the 'Everything but Arms' initiative (EBA), culminating in the adoption of the Presidency compromise to the proposal on 26 February. Central to these discussions w is consideration of the implications of these proposals for both UK sugar producers and ACP sugar exporters.

  In these discussions, I made clear my belief that least developed countries are not in the position to export large amounts of sugar in the short term. Details of the final agreement are such that imports of sugar from LDCs will be limited by quotas until 2006. It is now up to the European Commission to bring forward amendments to its sugar reform proposals to achieve coherence with EBA. But since the main impact of the agreement will be deferred until 2006–09, the short-term implications for UK sugar producers are likely to be modest. The proposals will have a more immediate effect on non-LDC ACP countries who will face increasing displacement of some of their exports. The UK will work with the EU, multilateral and ether donors to ensure that their adjustment needs are fully taken into account in assistance programmes.

DEFENCE

  War Criminals (Bosnia)
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the mandate is of SFOR troops with respect to the arrest and detention of war criminals in Bosnia. [153542]

  Mr. Spellar
  Under UN Security Council Resolution 1088 of 1996, the NATO-led Stabilisation Force (SFOR) is mandated to detain persons indicted for war crimes by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY ) if its forces come into contact with them in the performance of normal activities and the tactical situation permits.

  Armoured Vehicles
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the establishment strength is of(a) Warrior variants, (b) Challenger 1, (c) Challenger 2, (d) Saxon variant, (e) AVF 430 variants. (f) Sabre, (g) Striker, (h) Scimitar, (i) Spartan, (j) Sultan, (k) Samaritan and (I) Samson; what percentage of establishment strength in each category are serviceable for immediate m availability; and if he will make a statement. [152461]

  Mr. Spellar
  [holding answer 7 March 2001]I will write to the right lion. and learned Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

  Depleted Uranium
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary or State for Defence from what sources his Department acquired depleted uranium(a) materials, (b) components and (c) ammunition after 1992. [153197]

  Mr. Spellar
  [holding answer 14 March 2001]The Ministry of Defence has made several acquisitions of equipment containing depleted uranium (DU) since 1992.

  Two types of DU-based ammunition are in service with British Forces: the UK manufactured 120 mm anti-armour round and the US manufactured 20 mm RN Phalanx round.

  Phalanx ammunition is sold to the UK via the US Department of Defense (DOD). All of DOD's DU comes from three US Department of Energy (DOE) gaseous diffusion plants: Paducah. Kentucky; Oak Ridge, Tennessee; and Portsmouth, Ohio.

  Royal Ordnance, who manufacture the 120 mm anti-armour round, buy their DU from Starmet Corporation who in turn buy it from DOE. They have no practical way of determining exactly where the input material came from. They believe, however, that it was mostly from Paducah, Kentucky. but it was all produced at their plants at Concord and Barnwell in the US.

  In 1998, Royal Hospital Haslar purchased equipment from ADAC Laboratories in which DU is used as a radiation shield. Hercules C-130J aircraft, which use DU as counter-balance weights in their Flight Control System, have been purchased from Lockheed Martin since 1992. In December 1993, the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA) acquired 2.5 tonnes of DU plate from AEA Technology, Harwell.

  In April 1999, the Defence Radiology Protection Service, part of DERA, acquired 62 kg of DU from Royal Ordnance Speciality Materials, Wolverhampton for corrosion research. Most recently, in January 2001. three 30 mm A-10 rounds were brought back from Kosovo for research purposes.

  Mr. Alasdair Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if test firing of DU shells at the Dundrennan range is exempt from regulation under the Radioactive Substances Act 1993. [151848]

  Mr. Spellar
  While the Ministry of Defence is formally exempt from Radioactive Substances Act 1993, we follow the principles and spirit of the regulations. Periodic visits to the Dundrennan range are carried out by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency.

  Dr. Jack Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence at which of his Department's test locations in the United Kingdom the firing of depleted uranium projectiles has taken place; how many test firings have been made at each location; what arrangements are in place for the protection and monitoring of people and the environment; and if he will make a statement. [144771]

  Mr. Simon Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what guidelines his Department follows when deciding at which depleted uranium munitions may be (a) fired, (b) stored and (c) transported. [144989]

  Mr. Spellar
  [pursuant to the replies, 15 January 2001, c. 42–43W, and 9 March 2001, c. 357–8W]It is our policy that, where UK statutory regulations are not applicable to 676W
  MOD establishments, we undertake by agreement with the Government Departments concerned that the principles and spirit of the regulations are to be followed and arrangements introduced which will be, so far as is reasonably practicable, at least as good as those required by legislation. However, the Radioactive Substances Act itself does not apply to the Ministry of Defence.

  Nuclear Convoys
  Mr. Alan Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the RAF Wittering care and maintenance of TCHDs will cease. [153729]

  Mr. Spellar
  It is planned that the care and maintenance of Truck Cargo Heavy Duty (TCHD) Mark II vehicles at RAF Wittering will cease by 31 March 2002.

  Mr. Alan Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence who is in overall control of TCHD Mark II transports; and which department is in command of TCHD operations. [153728]

  Mr. Spellar
  On 1 April 1999 the Chief of Defence Logistics assumed overall responsibility for nuclear convoy operations.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Israel
  Dr. Starkey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 1 March 2001,Official Report, columns 736–37W, on Israel, if he will list the responses received by the European Union from the Government of Israel to the demarches, statements and representations listed. [152608]

  Mr. Wilson
  In reply to UK and EU representations the Israeli authorities have sought to justify their policies and actions. They have asserted that the continued closures and the practice of extra judicial killing are necessary for the protection of Israeli lives. We understand the importance of combating terrorism, but these sustained collective punishments radicalise the Palestinian population and fuel violence in the Occupied Territories. They cannot, therefore, achieve their stated purpose. We will press the new Israeli Government to end these practices and, as a specific first step, to resume the payment of revenues withheld from the Palestine Authority. We will also press the Palestinian leadership to restore security co-operation and make every effort in good faith to calm the violence.

  Commonwealth
  Mr. Maude
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will set out the agenda of his recent discussion with the Commonwealth Secretary-General. [152892]

  Mr. Wilson
  [holding answer 9 March 2001]The Foreign Secretary spoke to the Commonwealth Secretary-General on 21 February. They discussed the latest political and economic situation in Zimbabwe. They also discussed the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) meeting on 19–20 March and agreed that the situation in Zimbabwe should be addressed by Ministers. They agreed on the importance of sending a Commonwealth team to Zimbabwe and it reporting back to CMAG.

  Arms Exports
  Mr. Hilary Benn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consideration he gave to the EU code of conduct on arms exports in deciding to issue a licence for the refurbishment of Moroccan heavy artillery in occupied Western Sahara. [153672]

  Mr. Wilson
  The export licence application for artillery spare parts to Morocco and the subsequent appeal were judged against the EU code of conduct, as are all export licence applications considered by my Department. The Department of Trade and Industry is the Department responsible for co-ordinating the export licence application process and granting licences. As a part of this process the Foreign and Commonwealth Office provides advice to the DTI on individual export licence applications, and any subsequent appeals.

  Balkans
  Mr. Ennis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about the supply of components for the repair and maintenance of military DROPS trailers used by the Irish contingent in KFOR. [154447]

  Mr. Vaz
  We are happy to approve an export licence for the supply of goods needed for the repair and maintenance of military DROPS trailers used by the Irish contingent of KFOR. The goods will assist KFOR in the valuable work they are doing reconstructing a peaceful Kosovo.

  The goods appear on the UK's Military List. UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1160 (1998) prohibits the sale or supply of arms and related material to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. However, UNSCR 1244 (1999) provides that the prohibition imposed by UNSCR 1160 shall not apply to arms and related material for the use of the international civil and security presences in Kosovo.

  £ million

  Nature of funding

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  12001–02

  Revenue Support Grant

  122.708

  129.420

  133.106

  132.385

  140.039

  Income from National Non-Domestic Rates

  60.753

  62.875

  67.379

  75.386

  72.533

  Housing Investment Programme

  25.998

  5.448

  6.053

  316.411

  421.993

  Capital Receipts Initiative

  1.305

  4.216

  4.086

  —

  —

  SRB funding (award date)

  56.0

  —

  —

  631.8

  —

  New Deal for Communities Funding (award date)

  —

  —

  —

  754.0

  Neighbourhood Renewal Funding (award date)

  —

  —

  —

  —

  816.89

  Estate Action

  4.252

  2.371

  3.031

  3.0

  —

  Transport Supplementary Grant

  0.864

  0.321

  0.624

  —

  —

  Transport Annual Capital Guideline

  0.865

  0.531

  0.624

  —

  —

  Transport Block Supplementary Credit Approval

  1.981

  1.950

  2.530

  4.136

  8.601

  1 Where known

  2 1997–98 HIP allocation inherited from previous Government's spending plans. Present Government introduced CRI from 1997–98.

  3 Single Housing Pot introduced from 2000–01 resulting in CRI being merged with HIP.

  4 Resource accounting has resulted in a change to the way capital resources are allocated for 2001–02, with the introduction of a new Major Repairs Allowance (MRA) to cover the cost of maintaining local authority housing in a sound condition. Hull's MRA allocation for 2001–02 is £17.622 million and, for comparison purposes, is included in the 2001–02 HIP allocation above.

  5 Single Regeneration Budget (SRB) Round 4: £6 million awarded for a five-year scheme to address issues of parenting skills, educational aspirations and attainment).

  6 SRB Round 6: Hull had two successful bids: £28.3 million for Hull City Vision's programme to promote urban renaissance and address economic and social decline in targeted areas of Hull and East Riding; and £3.5 million for the Humber Works" programme to establish an Intermediate Labour Market for very long term unemployed and to develop the Voluntary Sector.

  7 Over 10 years

  8 Over 3 years

  Liberia
  Mr. Pound
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what changes there have been in United Nations sanctions in relation to Liberia. [153352]

  Mr. Wilson
  [pursuant to his reply, 8 March 2001, c. 281–82W]: I would like to correct two textual errors in my answer of 8 March to my hon. Friend.

  The UN Security Council resolution adopted on 7 March imposing mandatory UN sanctions in relation to Liberia was in fact UN Security Council resolution 1343.

  The travel ban imposed by that resolution, which enters into force on 7 May, is on senior members of the Liberian Government and military and their spouses and any other individuals providing financial and military support to armed rebel groups in countries neighbouring Liberia, as designated by the UN Sanctions Committee.

ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS

  Departmental Policies (Hull, North)
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to the Hull, North constituency, the effects on Hull, North of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997. [150615]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  [holding answer 5 March 2001]The principal kinds of funding that this Department has provided to Kingston upon Hull local authority in the years 1997–98 to 2001–02 are shown in the table. These include grants and borrowing approvals for revenue and capital expenditure.

  It is not possible to determine how much of this money has been spent on Hull, North constituency. In most cases it is for the local authority to decide where within its boundary these resources are applied.

  679W

  Housing Revenue Account Subsidy

  £

  Kingston upon Hull1

  M&M Allowance per house

  1997–98

  718.91

  1998–99

  725.23

  1999–2000

  749.02

  2000–01

  789.96

  2001–02

  804.71

  1 Figures are given as allowance per dwelling rather than in global figures because stock reduction in Hull would distort figures and present a false picture.

  European Funding

  £13.4 million in grant was allocated to the Objective 2 Action Plan for Hull for the period 1997–99. An additional £9 million was allocated to the Deep tourist development and Kingswood industrial site development. Over 100 individual projects were supported within these allocations. Among the benefits will be: new employment opportunities; improved small firm survival and productivity; increased skill levels of employed and unemployed people; increased use of IT among small firms and individuals; and increased contribution of disadvantaged communities to their own economic and social development.

  In the period 1997–99, over 25 projects (worth over £1 million in grant) were supported under Objective 3, with the aim of combating long-term unemployment and helping the integration into working life of young people and people exposed to exclusion from the labour market.

  £ million

  Nature of funding

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  2001–021

  Revenue Support Grant

  126.001

  133.654

  139.958

  137.515

  145.032

  Income from National Non-Domestic Rates

  64.585

  66.985

  72.276

  81.373

  79.005

  Housing Investment Programme

  6.445

  6.819

  6.780

  18.340

  26.926

  Housing Revenue Account Subsidy

  32.354

  29.230

  27.913

  27.238

  n/k

  Capital Receipts Initiative

  1.669

  5.748

  5.959

  n/a

  n/a

  SRB Funding

  35.614

  35.927

  38.201

  38.763

  39.650

  New Deal for Communities Funding

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  40.250

  40.050

  Neighbourhood Renewal Funding

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  3.582

  ERDF Funding

  3.142

  2.201

  0.125

  0.100

  n/k

  Transport Supplementary Grant

  0.260

  0.351

  1.286

  0

  0

  Transport Annual Capital Guideline

  0.425

  0.351

  1.286

  0

  0

  Transport Block Supplementary Credit Approval

  1.121

  1.075

  1.575

  4.217

  5.592

  Rural Bus Challenge Grant

  0

  51.255

  50.362

  50.560

  n/k

  Rural Bus Subsidy Grant

  0

  50.054

  50.059

  50.082

  n/k

  Capital Challenge

  1.8

  2.377

  0.823

  0

  0

  (Supplementary Credit and Basic Credit Approvals)

  60.399

  61.118

  60.0001

  0

  0

  1 Where known

  2 This figure does not include the Major Repairs Allowance allocated to the authority which amounts to £18.284 million.

  3 Please note. NDC expenditure is in the East End and Hendon and not in the hon. Members constituency.

  4 1997–98 SRB figures include Round 3 funding for 'Pride in Pennywell'.

  1998–99 SRB figures include Round 4 funding for 'Releasing Potential in Hendon and the East End'.

  1999–00 SRB figures include Round 5 funding for "Focus on Ford and Pallion'.

  2000/01 SRB figures include Round 6 fundirg for 'Regenerating Thorney Close".

  5Figures quoted are the full amounts given to the Tyne and Wear Passenger Transport Executive of whom the authority is a partner.

  6Tyne and Wear Fire Brigade also received Capital Challenge Funding. This was spent on the training centre at Barmston Mere, Washington although the whole of Tyne and Wear benefited from the investment.

  Bus Services
  Mr. Breed
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what percentage of rural district council areas he estimates do not have a bus service. [153130]
  680W
  In the first round of the new Objective 3 programme, projects worth over £7 million in grant have been approved for support.

  Major Transport Schemes

  Hedon Road Improvement

  £53 million is being made available for the Hedon Road improvement scheme to improve travel to and from Hull Docks. This will help the development of the Port of Hull and help create jobs and prosperity across the city. Construction works are expected to start in May 2001.

  Departmental Policies (Houghton and Washington, East)
  Mr. Kemp
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to the constituency, the effects on Houghton and Washington, East of his Department's actions since 2 May 1997. [152992]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  The principal kinds of funding that this Department has provided to the City of Sunderland in 1997 to 2002 are shown in the table. These include grants and borrowing approvals for revenue and capital expenditure.

  It is not possible to determine how much of this money has been spent on Houghton and Washington, East. It is for the local authority to decide where within its boundary these resources are applied.

  Mr. Hill
  Information is not collected in the form that would enable a reliable estimate to be made.

  However, the National Travel Survey for 1997–99 showed that in Great Britain as a whole 42 per cent. of households in rural areas were within 13 minutes walk of a bus stop with a service of at least once an hour.

  Home Zones
  Mr. Alexander
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will estimate the average cost of establishing a home zone. [153577]

  Mr. Hill
  The cost of establishing a home zone will vary greatly with the size of the zone and the extent of works involved. Information from the pilot projects now being monitored suggests that, in very preliminary estimates, it would be reasonable to use an indicative range of £500-£2,000 per household. But the costs of individual schemes could be slightly less or substantially more than these figures. These are early days, and we shall keep the estimates under review in the light of increasing experience.

  A27
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to the answer of 27 February 2001, Official Report, column 630W, on the A27, what the aggregated expenditure was on the two schemes between 1 January 1989 and 31 March 1994. [153443]

  Mr. Hill
  [holding answer 12 March 2001]I have asked the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency, Mr. Tim Matthews, to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Tim Matthews to Mr. Norman Baker, dated 15 March 2001:
  I have been asked by the Transport Minister, Keith Hill to reply to your question about the amount spent on work relating to the possible improvements of the A27 Lewes to Polegate and the A27 Polegate bypass between 1 January 1989 and 31 March 1994.
  As John Kerman explained in his letter of 27 February, unfortunately financial records maintained prior to the establishment of the Highways Agency in April 1994 do not allow us to readily identify details of spend on individual schemes. We cannot therefore isolate sufficient information to give you an aggregate figure for spend before that date.

  Climate Change
  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what policy he has to implement the proposals in respect of hydrofluorocarbons in "Climate Change: The UK Programme". [153617]

  Mr. Meacher
  Industry was given a clear signal on the continued use of hydrofluorocarbons in the UK Climate Change Programme. Policies and measures taken to implement the proposals outlined in the programme include the development of a new voluntary agreement with the refrigeration and air conditioning sector, the introduction of a mandatory scheme to train and certify refrigerant handlers, and encouragement of the use, where appropriate, of alternative substances.

  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what proposals he has to discourage the use of hydrofluorocarbons in air conditioning equipment; and if he will make a statement. [153616]

  Mr. Meacher
  Industry was given a clear signal on the continued use of hydrofluorocarbons in the UK Climate Change Programme. Policies and measures taken to implement the proposals outlined in the programme 682W
  include the development of a new voluntary agreement with the refrigeration and air conditioning sector, the introduction of a mandatory scheme to train and certify refrigerant handlers, and encouragement of the use, where appropriate, of alternative substances.

  Home Energy Efficiency Scheme
  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what the estimated cost is of administering the Home Energy Efficiency Scheme in England in 2000–01; and what the average cost is of administration fore ach grant paid. [153531]

  Mr. Meacher
  The Home Energy Efficiency Scheme is managed by Eastern HEES Ltd. in the East of England, and by the Eaga Partnership in the rest of England. The two scheme managers are responsible for marketing the scheme to eligible households; carrying out independent surveys of properties; advising and agreeing with householders the most appropriate measures for their home; recruiting heating and insulation contractors through open competition; and managing payments to contractors for work completed.

  The fees paid to the scheme managers consist of a fixed monthly element and a variable amount paid for each household where work has been completed and invoiced. In addition the Department paid start up costs of £2,485,000 in the period between award of contract in March 2000 and the start of the new scheme on 1 June 2000.

  Excluding these one-off costs, the total scheme management costs between 1 June 2000 and 31 March 2001 are estimated to be £18,906,000 (excluding VAT). This is based on the 134,555 households for whom work orders have been placed with installers during the year. This equates to an average cost per household of £141.

  This estimate does not allow for profit clawback clause included within the contract with the Eaga Partnership, and the not-for-profit basis of Eastern HEES. These two factors will reduce the actual fees paid by the Department this year.

  The average cost per household figure reflects the relatively slow start to the scheme during the period June-August 2000. The coming financial year will represent the first full year of operation for the new scheme. The total number of homes improved is expected to increase substantially, thereby reducing the average cost per household.

  Walton Group plc
  Mrs. Ellman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what progress has been made on(a) obtaining the return of the £4.4 million grant made to the Walton Group plc in respect of Exchange Flags Liverpool and (b) matters referred to Merseyside Police in respect of this grant. [153546]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  Police investigations are still in progress, and therefore I am unable to make any further statement at this time.

  Driving Licences (Pensioners)
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans the
  683W
  Government have to abolish the payment for driving licence renewals for pensioners aged over 70 years; and if he will make a statement. [153538]

  Mr. Hill
  There are no plans to abolish the three yearly driving licence renewal fee for the over-70s. Fees are required to cover the costs of issuing licences. Abolishing the fee for renewing licences from age 70 would result in an unacceptable level of cross-subsidisation, which would have to be borne by other drivers through the fees they pay.

  The fee was reduced from £8.50 to £ 6.00 in November last year, returning it to its 1992 level. A consultation document issued in February this year proposes a freeze in the over-70s licence renewal fee.

  Environmental Management Policies
  Mr. Anthony D. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what mechanism the Government plan to put in place to require publicly funded institutions to introduce formal environmental management policies. [153518]

  Mr. Meacher
  The Government have already put mechanisms in place for requiring Government Departments to establish formal environmental management policies. Details are given in the second annual report of the Green Ministers' Committee, which I chair, with chapter 5 covering the progress that has been made in establishing environmental management systems on the Government estate. A copy is on my Department's website. The Government have not so far put mechanisms in place for requiring local authorities to establish environmental management systems, though we have provided encouragement and are pleased that a number of local authorities have established environmental management systems certified to ISO 14001 and EMAS.

  London Underground
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he expects to conclude negotiations on the PPIP for the London Underground. [153947]

  Mr. Hill
  My right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister announced last month that he had agreed to work together with the Commissioner of Transport for London, Bob Kiley, and with London Underground, on developing mutually acceptable modifications to the Public Private Partnership. Discussions on these modifications are continuing and have made some real progress. If we can reach agreement then the PPP bidden will be asked to submit revised proposals.

  The Government have not, and will not, set an artificial timetable for completion of the PPP. as this would weaken our ability to ensure that it delivers the best deal for London.

  Railtrack plc
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to acquire(a) a stake in and (b) additional powers over Railtrack plc. [153943]
  684W
  Mr. Hill
  The Transport Act 2000 has strengthened the regulation and accountability of Railtrack. The Rail Regulator rigorously enforces Railtrack's network licence obligations and has proposed new licence conditions.

  Ports of Canada Police
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 8 March 2001,Official Report, column 276W, if he will assess the role and experience of the Ports of Canada police as a model for the future policing of United Kingdom ports; and if he will make a statement. [153610]

  Mr. Hill
  Yes. As I told my hon. Friend in my letter of 4 January, I am happy to consider any information that he considers relevant to our review of ports police forces.

  A417
  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on his plans to improve the A417 near Nettleton Bottom and Crickley Hill, Gloucestershire. [153748]

  Mr. Hill
  The South West Regional Assembly has endorsed proposals by the Highways Agency to improve the A417 trunk road from Cowley to the Air Balloon roundabout. My Department is considering the proposal along with those from other regions. An announcement will be made in due course as to what schemes will be added to the national trunk road programme.

  Private Hire Vehicles (London)
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many private hire vehicles operate in the Greater London area; and how many have registered with the Public Carriage Office to date. [153717]

  Mr. Hill
  The number of vehicles in Greater London currently available to the public for private hirings is estimated at some 40,000 to 60,000; their regulation is a matter for Transport for London.

  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when operator licensing of private hire vehicles in London will come into effect. [153718]

  Mr. Hill
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Eltham (Mr. Efford) on 28 November 2000.Official Report, column 554W.

  Local Government Act
  Mr. White
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to make regulations on alternative arrangements for local authorities under section 32 of the Local Government Act 2000. [154264]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  I have today laid before Parliament a draft of the Local Authorities (Alternative Arrangements) (England) Regulations 2001.

  It is now for the House to consider this draft. To assist the House, I have placed in the Library and the Vote Office copies of a draft of the guidance on alternative

  685W
  arrangements which we propose to issue to English local authorities if the draft Regulations are approved by the House and the Other Place.

  Home Improvement Agency
  Mr. Sawford
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he will announce the home improvement agency grant allocations for 2001–02; and what steps he is taking to extend the benefits of agency services into areas where they are not currently available. [154273]

  Mr. Raynsford
  As announced in Spending Review 2000, an extra £1.8 million is being provided in grant for home improvement agencies from 2001–02, bringing the total grant to £8.5 million a year. Local authorities are being notified of their allocations today.

  This money will be provided in each of the next three years, and in 2003–04 it will be ring-fenced within the new Supporting People budget.

  As well as providing additional support for authorities with existing agencies, I am pleased to be able to offer grant to 52 authorities for the first time. This will increase the number of agencies supported by my Department from 183 to 235 and will allow substantially more elderly, disabled and vulnerable people across the country to benefit from the services agencies can provide.

  The authorities being offered grant for the first time are as follows:

  Bath and North East Somerset

  Blaby

  Bromley

  Canterbury

  Castle Point

  Chelmsford

  Chesterfield

  Corby

  Darlington

  Enfield

  Fenland

  Gloucester

  Great Yarmouth

  Guildford

  Harborough

  Harlow

  Huntingdonshire

  Kerrier

  Kettering

  Lambeth

  Lichfield

  New Forest

  North East Lincolnshire

  Norwich

  Nuneaton and Bedworth

  Richmondshire

  Rochdale

  Runnymede

  Rutland

  Salford

  Scarborough

  Sedgemoor

  686W

  Selby

  Shrewsbury and Atcham

  Slough

  South Cambridgeshire

  South Derbyshire

  South Gloucestershire

  South Hams

  South Norfolk

  South Oxfordshire

  Stafford

  Tameside

  Tandridge

  Tendring

  Torbay

  Trafford

  Waverley

  Westminster

  Weymouth and Portland

  Windsor and Maidenhead

  Woking.

TREASURY

  Tax Policy
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his oral statement of 7 March 2001,Official Report, columns 295–308, if he will estimate the revenue from a 1p increase in the basic rate of income tax (a) in the first year and (b) in the three subsequent years. [153716]

  Dawn Primarolo
  I refer the hon. Member to the Tax Ready Reckoner and Tax Reliefs which was published in November 2000, a copy of which is held in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the revenue yield of abolishing taper relief for the five financial years from 2001–02 and reintroducing indexation and retirement relief. [153714]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Consistent with the assumptions of the March 2001 Budget forecast, the net revenue yield from reintroducing indexation and abolishing taper is estimated to be £450 million for the first year, or £400 million if retirement relief were reinstated also, most of which would be received in the following year. Further information in the form requested on the yield for subsequent years can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the revenue yield in(a) the first year and (b) the subsequent three years from a tax of 50 per cent. on (i) gross and (ii) net incomes exceeding £100,000 a year. [153712]

  Dawn Primarolo
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave o the hon. Member for Northavon (Mr. Webb) on 13 February 2001,Official Report, column 104W.
  687W
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the revenue yield of abolishing taper relief and reintroducing indexation and retirement relief. [154021]

  Dawn Primarolo
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 14 March 2001,Official Report, column 653W.

  Financial Ombudsman Service
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many complaints have been investigated by the Financial Ombudsman Service concerning(a) independent financial advisers and (b) tied agents in each of the last three years; and what average level of compensation I was awarded in each case. [153736]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The Financial Ombudsman Service are carrying out a detailed analysis of their records in order to provide this information. It will be placed in the Library of the House shortly.

  Working Families Tax Credit (Islington)
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many recipients there have been of Working Families Tax Credit in Islington(a) since its introduction and (b) in the 2000–01 financial year; and what the average amount paid to each recipient was. [153694]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Estimates of the number of families in Islington in receipt of the Working Families Tax Credit (WFTC) at May 2000 and August 2000 are shown in the WFTC Quarterly Enquiries for those months, copies of which are in the Library. These estimates are based on 5 per cent. samples of awards, and are s abject to sampling error. The publications explain that care should be taken when making comparisons over time at this level of detail.

  The average value of WFTC awards paid to families with such awards in London at August 2000 was £80 per week. There are too few cases in the per cent. sample to yield a reliable separate estimate for Islington.

  Change in 2001–02

  Income tax yield (£ billion)

  Number of people affected (thousand)

  (aiA) 45% rate for people with taxable incomes over £60,000 in the UK

  2.6

  650

  (aiiA) 45% rate for people with taxable incomes over £75,000 in the UK

  2.2

  420

  (aiiiA) 45% rate for people with taxable incomes over £100,000 in the UK

  1.7

  240

  (aiB) 45% rate for people with taxable incomes over £60,000 in the Scotland

  0.12

  40

  (aiiB) 45% rate for people with taxable incomes over £75,000 in the Scotland

  0.10

  20

  (aiiiB) 45% rate for people with taxable incomes over £100,000 in the Scotland

  0.08

  10

  (biA) 50% rate for people with taxable incomes over £60,000 in the UK

  4.8

  650

  (biiA) 50% rate for people with taxable incomes over £75,000 in the UK

  4.0

  420

  (biiiA) 50% rate for people with taxable incomes over £100,000 in the UK

  3.2

  240

  (biB) 50% rate for people with taxable incomes over £60,000 in the Scotland

  0.22

  40

  (biiB) 50% rate for people with taxable incomes over £75,000 in the Scotland

  0.17

  20

  (biiiB) 50% rate for people with taxable incomes over £100,000 in the Scotland

  0.13

  10

  The estimates are based on the survey of personal incomes and are consistent with the March 2001 Budget.

  Employment Statistics
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people were in employment in(a) England

  Capital Gains
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate(a) the percentage, (b) the average amount of capital gains tax paid by people and (c) the level of income in each earned income decile. [146172]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 22 January 2001]: Following is the information requested for 1997–98, the latest available year:

  Capital gains tax: individuals 1997–98

  Earned income decile

  Lower limit of earned income level (£)

  Average amount of CGT for CGT payers (£)

  Proportion of total CGT (percentage)

  1

  -8,585

  12,150

  10.6

  2

  1

  8,010

  6.7

  3

  3,180

  6,120

  5.2

  4

  5,151

  5,520

  4.7

  5

  8,677

  5,400

  4.6

  6

  13,297

  6,340

  5.4

  7

  19,765

  7,150

  6.1

  8

  29,883

  10,140

  8.7

  9

  47,486

  16,640

  14.2

  10

  89,313

  39,260

  33.6

  All

  11,680

  100

  Notes:

  1. Earned income includes employment and self-employment income and pensions.

  2. For 1997–98, 140,000 individual taxpayers had total CGT liabilities of £1,637 million.

  3. Components may not sum to total due to rounding.

  Income Tax
  Mr. Swinney
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the annual yield to the Treasury of increasing the top rate of income tax to(a) 95p and (b) 50p for those earning over (i) £60,000, (ii) £75,000 and (iii) £100,000 per annum in (A) the UK and (B) Scotland, indicating the number of people who will be affected in each case. [152779]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 9 March 2001]: The full-year effects in 2001–02 of making the changes are set out in the table.

  and (b) Wales in each of the past 15 years; and what the percentage change was in each year. [152697]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  [holding answer 12 March 2001]: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
  689W
  Letter from Karen Dunnell to Mr. Paul Flynn, dated 15 March 2001:
  The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question about the number of people employed in England and Wales in the last 15 years (152697). I am replying in his absence.
  The attached table shows information from the Labour Force Survey (LFS) on those in employment in both countries and the percentage change year in each year.
  People aged 16 or over are classed as in employment by the LFS if they have done at least one hour of paid work (as an employee or self-employed) in the week prior to their LFS interview or if they have a job that they are temporarily away from. People who do unpaid work in a family business and people on Government-supported training and employment programmes are also included according to the International Labour Organisation guidelines.

  All in employment in England and Wales; spring 1986 to spring 2000

  Thousand and per cent. (not seasonally adjusted)

  England

  Wales

  Number of Number of people in employment

  Percentage change

  Number of people in employment

  Percentage change

  Spring

  1986

  20,806

  —

  1.085

  —

  1987

  21,199

  1.9

  1–080

  -0.5

  1988

  21,974

  3.7

  1,135

  5.1

  1989

  22,624

  3.0

  1,212

  6.8

  1990

  22,812

  0.8

  1,232

  1.6

  1991

  22,327

  -2.1

  1,202

  -2.4

  1992

  21,713

  -2.7

  1.192

  -0.9

  1993

  21,523

  -0.9

  1,155

  -3.1

  1994

  21,664

  0.7

  1.175

  1.8

  1995

  21,916

  1.2

  1,193

  1.4

  1996

  22,212

  1.3

  1,198

  0.5

  1997

  22,628

  1.9

  1,220

  1.8

  1998

  22,911

  1.2

  1,208

  -1.0

  1999

  23,224

  1.4

  1,229

  1.7

  2000

  23,536

  1.3

  1.246

  1.4

  Source:

  ONS Labour Force Survey

  Industrial Disputes (Days Lost)
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many working days were lost in the United Kingdom during the last 12 months as a result of industrial disputes. [153756]

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

  Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Tom Cox, dated 15 March 2001:
  As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent question about the number of working days lost in the UK as a result of industrial disputes (153756).
  In the twelve months to January 2001, the latest year for which figures are available, the number was 540,000.

  Credit Unions
  Ms Squire
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on credit unions. [153609]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Harrow, West (Mr. Thomas) by my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 25 January 2001,Official Report, column 1068.

  Cross-border Securities
  Mr. Russell Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to amend the law dealing with resolution of disputes regarding ownership of securities held cross-border. [154421]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  We have today laid the Financial Markets and Insolvency (Settlement Finality) (Amendment) Regulations 2001. These Regulations specify that the law which governs the proprietary rights of a person to securities is to be the law of the state where the relevant register, account or centralised deposit system is located. This change will facilitate resolution of disputes concerning ownership of such securities.

  Occupational Pension Schemes
  Barbara Follett
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to simplify the administration of the tax rules applying to occupational pension schemes; and if he will make a statement. [154423]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  An Inland Revenue sponsored team will be reviewing the tax approval arrangements applying to defined benefit pension schemes with the aim of developing a package of practical options for administrative simplification. The team will not be considering options for changing the underlying tax or benefit structures. The team will consist of Inland Revenue officials and secondees from the pensions industry. The review is due to be completed by February 2003.

  Departmental Policy (Walthamstow)
  Mr. Gerrard
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will set out, including statistical information relating as directly as possible to the constituency, the effect on the Walthamstow constituency of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997. [154178]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  Walthamstow, along with the rest of the United Kingdom, is benefiting from the long-term action we have taken to build economic stability and secure high and stable levels of growth and employment. Since the General Election, claimant unemployment in the constituency has fallen by 1,864, or 41 per cent., youth unemployment is down by 83 per cent. and long-term unemployment has fallen by 70 per cent.

  Macroeconomic stability is being complemented at the microeconomic level by the Government's policies to ease the transition from welfare into work and to make work pay. To the end of December 2000, the New Deal for 18–24 year olds had helped 1,475 young people in Walthamstow constituency gain valuable skills and experience 585 (40 per cent.) of whom had moved into employment. The Working Families Tax Credit (WFTC), introduced in October 1999, is helping to make work pay for low and middle-income families. In August 2000, 1,300 families in Walthamstow constituency were benefiting from WFTC.

  The Government are also committed to policies which enable pensioners to share in the country's rising prosperity. All pensioners, including 11,000 in Walthamstow constituency, will receive an above-inflation increase in the basic state pension from April 2001. Single pensioners will receive an extra £5 a week,

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  and couples will receive an extra £8 a week. All pensioners aged 75 or over have also been entitled to a free TV licence since November 2000—including around 7,400 in Walthamstow constituency.

  Contaminated Land
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made by region of the likely take-up of the accelerated payable tax credit for clearing up contaminated land. [154206]

  Dawn Primarolo
  No regional estimates are available for the take-up of this tax credit.

  Financial Services and Markets Act
  Mrs. Lawrence
  To ask the chancellor of the Exchequer what steps the Treasury has taken in relation to making regulations setting out the recognition requirements which are to apply to investment exchanges and clearing houses and to making an Order prescribing the markets and qualifying investments to which the new market abuse regime will apply under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000. [154422]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The regulations relating to recognition requirements for investment exchanges and clearing houses and the order relating to prescribed markets and qualifying investments were made by the Treasury and laid before Parliament today.

  Vehicle Excise Duty
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer for what reason motorcycle vehicles over 250cc do not qualify for reduced vehicle excise duty; and if he will make a statement. [153781]

  Mr. Timms
  Motorcycles over 250cc pay 40 per cent. of the standard rate of vehicle excise duty levied on vehicles in the private and light goods vehicle class. Budget 2001 froze the rate at £65 per annum.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Mrs. Sari Conway
  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what offer of employment he has made to Mrs. Sari Conway. [151784]

  Mrs. Roche
  I cannot comment on an individual case.?

  Islington Police Division
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the establishment level of(a) uniformed officers and (b) civilian staff was in Islington police division in (i) each year since 1996 and (ii) 2001 to date; and how many were actually in post in each category in each year. [153699]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  [holding answer 14 March 2001]: The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis has provided the information in the table It is not possible for the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) to provide information on the budgeted workforce targets (establishment) for the earlier years because the current
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  Islington division was only created in 1999 out of the former Islington and Holloway divisions. The MPS have been able to provide strength figures for the former Islington and Holloway divisions for the years before 1999.

  The Budgeted Workforce Target, or establishment, for the financial year 2001–02 has yet to be set.

  Metropolitan police—Islington division

  Police officers1,2

  Civilian support staff1

  As at 31 December

  Budgeted workforce target

  Actual officers in post

  Budgeted workforce target

  Actual staff in post

  1996

  n/a

  569.6 (532.6)

  n/a

  n/a

  1997

  n/a

  549.4 (495.8)

  n/a

  148.1

  1998

  n/a

  529.4 (481.8)

  n/a

  147.7

  1999

  544 (484)

  510.6 (465)

  n/a

  147.0

  2000

  554 (489)

  542.9 (482.3)

  129

  138.7

  2001

  554 (489)

  539.9 (485.8)

  129

  135.2

  1 All figures are full-time equivalents.

  2 The figures in brackets are the number of uniformed police officers. The total figure for each year includes plain-clothes police officers.

  Community Beat Officers
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many community beat officers there are in the London Borough of Wandsworth. [152818]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that there are 31 constables in Wandsworth who are predominately engaged in community beat duties.

  UK Youth Parliament
  Mr. Rowe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to meet members of the UK Youth Parliament to discuss the proposals in the Parliament's manifesto in which his Department has a policy interest. [152967]

  Mr. Boateng
  I was pleased to attend the first sitting of the United Kingdom Youth Parliament last month. I will be making an initial response to the United Kingdom Youth Parliament's manifesto on behalf of the Government in my capacity as Minister for Young People. Both my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary and I would be happy to meet a delegation from the United Kingdom Youth Parliament once the manifesto is published.

  Bingo Industry
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to introduce legislation to reduce the administrative burden on the bingo industry. [153765]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The Government published a consultation document on 6 November 2000 with proposals for deregulating the bingo industry. The document suggested the abolition of the existing requirement for licensed bingo clubs to notify the licensing authority of changes in their charges to players 14 days in advance. It also suggested allowing licensed bingo clubs to have both jackpot and amusements with
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  prizes gaming machines instead of either one or the other, and increasing the possible number of prizes available in games of multiple bingo.

  The consultation period ended on 16 February 2001 and we have been considering the responses that we received. We now intend to lay an Order under the Deregulation and Contracting Out Act 1994 that would give effect to the changes outlined in the consultation document.

  Deportation
  Mr. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what reasons Hosni Farhat (584006), a prisoner at Albany Prison, has not been deported. [153779]

  Mrs. Roche
  My officials will arrange for Mr. Farhat's deportation as soon as practicable.

  Asylum Seekers
  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average annual cost of escorting an asylum applicant in secure conditions to and from hearings in connection with his application and any subsequent appeal was in each of the last three years. [153830]

  Mrs. Roche
  The information requested could be obtained only at disproportionate cost and, as it would have to be based on a range of variables, it would be prone to significant inaccuracy.

  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on talks with the Chinese Government on the difficulties of returning failed asylum seekers. [153833]

  Mrs. Roche
  Home Office officials have regular contact with the Chinese Government in order to obtain travel documents so that those Chinese nationals who have no lawful basis for remaining here and who are without valid national passports can be documented for return to China.

  As part of this contact, officials meet the Chinese authorities to explore ways of securing improvements to the travel document issuing process and to co-operate more generally in combating illegal immigration.

  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers were resident in Wales and were waiting for their applications to be processed in(a) 1997, (b) 1998, (c) 1999, (d) 2000 and (e) 2001. [153216]

  Mrs. Roche
  Information on the location of asylum seekers was not available centrally before 2000.

  On 3 April 2000, the National Asylum Support Service (NASS) began supporting destitute asylum seekers entering the United Kingdom on or after that date. Information recorded by NASS shows that as at the end of February 2001, 301 asylum seekers, including dependants, had been allocated NASS accommodation in Wales and 701 asylum seekers, including dependants, had been allocated voucher only support and were located in Wales.
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  These figures may include some asylum seeker families who have received a final negative decision because families of asylum seekers are eligible to remain supported by NASS until removal.

  Information is not currently available centrally on the location of asylum seekers who either do not apply for NASS support or who were receiving Department of Social Security or local authority support before NASS began.
  1Figures rounded to the nearest 10.

  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers are awaiting deportation; and how many were deported in(a) 1997, (b) 1998, (c) 1999, (d) 2000 and (e) 2001. [153215]

  Mrs. Roche
  The requested information on deported asylum seekers is shown in the table. It is not possible to say how many asylum seekers voluntarily left the United Kingdom without the knowledge of the Home Office. Therefore, it is not possible to say how many are awaiting deportation.

  Asylum seekers removed from the United Kingdom following refusal of leave to enter or enforcement action 1997 to 2001

  1997

  1998

  19991

  20001

  Total asylum removals and voluntary departures2

  7,185

  6,985

  7,660

  8,980

  Of whom:

  removed or left as a result of deportation action under Section 3(5) or 3(6) of the Immigration Act 1971

  455

  350

  140

  170

  1 Data are provisional

  2 Includes action against passengers applying at ports

  Note:

  All figures are roundel to the nearest 5

  Immigration and Asylum (Detention)
  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what estimate he has made of the time it takes an asylum applicant to secure conditions to receive(a) an initial decision on an asylum application and (b) to complete all appeals if the initial application is refused; [153826]

  (2) how many asylum applicants are held in secure conditions. [153825]

  Mrs. Roche
  Current information on persons detained who have claimed asylum and the time taken for an applicant in detention to receive an initial decision or complete all appeals is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  The most recent information relates to the number of persons detained under the Immigration Act 1971 as at 31 January 2001. At that date a total of 1,334 persons, including those who had claimed asylum, were recorded as detained.

  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to increase the existing immigration detention estate; and by how many places. [153827]
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  Mrs. Roche
  The Home Secretary announced in May 2000 a policy to deliver new detention places to enable the Immigration Service to achieve its removals targets.

  Our plans to increase the Immigration Detention estate from its current capacity are as follows

  Places

  Yarl's Wood Detention Centre (Bedford)

  900

  Harmondsworth Detention Centre (Heathrow)

  440

  Dungavel Detention Centre (Scotland)

  150

  Aldington Detention Centre (Kent)

  300

  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many sites his officials considered as potential places to build immigration detention centres in the last three years. [153828]

  Mrs. Roche
  Over the past three years my officials have considered about 120 sites throughout the country as potential candidates to build new immigration detention centres.

  The majority of sites did not meet our requirements for a variety of reasons, including location, nature of the site, availability for a quick development and cost.

  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average annual cost of holding an asylum applicant in secure conditions was in each of the last three years. [153831]

  Mrs. Roche
  Secure detention facilities are routinely provided on the Immigration and Nationality Directorate's detention estate, supplemented by places in Prison Service accommodation. Police services also provide some detention on a limited, ad hoc basis. Information specifically on the cost of asylum detainees is not separately available. Assuming full occupancy, the average annual cost of a place for an immigration detainee is shown in the table:

  £

  Year

  Average Annual Cost1

  1998–99

  26,819

  1999–2000

  27,433

  2000–01

  229,424

  1 These figures are weighted averages of the cost of Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND) detention and Prison Service facilities, taking into account an assessment of the usage of detention in the two types of accommodation. The figures cover the running costs of IND detention facilities but exclude expenditure on capital works and major maintenance. The figures for Prison Service detention are based on the average cost per prisoner place. The figures do not include the cost of temporary police accommodation.

  2 The figures for 2000–01 are based on estimates of the full-year IND costs and the target cost per prisoner place for Prison Service detention.

  Criminal Record Checks (Volunteers)
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his estimate is of the cost to public funds of his proposed exemption for volunteers from fees for criminal record checks. [153791]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  We have announced our intention that standard and enhanced disclosures, which include those working in sensitive positions with the 696W
  vulnerable, will be issued free of charge to volunteers. We have also made clear that it remains our intention that the Criminal Records Bureau should be self-financing by means of the fees that it charges. Work is continuing on the fee levels, but we expect to make a further announcement shortly.

  London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to review the ability of the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority to generate additional income under Best Value legislation. [153722]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority is defined as a Best Value authority under the Local Government Act 1999. Under the duty of Best Value, authorities are required to secure continuous improvement in the way in which they exercise their functions, having regard to a combination of economy, efficiency and effectiveness.

  Section 16 of the Local Government Act 1999 allows the Secretary of State to exclude Best Value authorities from the application of existing legislation which prevents them from achieving Best Value or to amend the application of such legislation. It also allows for new powers to be conferred to facilitate the achievement of Best Value.

  The Government expect to publish this month a consultation paper on the use of powers in section 16 to provide new and amended powers for partnership working. This will include proposals for Best Value authorities to provide a wider range of goods and services to partners, both in the public and private sectors. Draft orders will be laid before Parliament following the conclusion of the consultation exercise.

  Election Observers
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to allow overseas observers to be present in election polling stations. [153464]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The Government have no plans to allow overseas observers inside election polling stations. Current legislation restricts who is allowed to be present in polling stations to prevent possible intimidation of voters and preserve the secrecy of the ballot. The hon. Member recently wrote to my right hon. Friends the Prime Minister and the Home Secretary about this matter and I shall shortly be replying to him in detail.

  Police Inspectorate
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Police Inspectorate last reported to him on equal opportunities, community and race relations challenges, policy and training of the Royal Parks Police. [153461]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  There is no statutory requirement for the Royal Parks Constabulary, which is a non-Home Office police force, to be inspected by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary. A review of the Constabulary was undertaken during July and August 2000 by Mr. Anthony Speed, a former Assistant Commissioner of
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  the Metropolitan Police Service. I understand that the review was conducted in the form of a full inspection in accordance with the latest procedures and protocols practised by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary. The report was submitted recently to my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Arts in the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, who has responsibility for the Royal Parks Constabulary. He will be publishing the report shortly.

  National Black Police Association
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will consult the National Black Police Association on challenges facing the Royal Parks Police and other police services in the fields of equal opportunities and community and race relations; and if he will make a statement. [153462]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  I understand from the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whose Department has overall responsibility for the Royal Parks Constabulary, that the force intends to consult the National Black Police Association about an extension of diversity training. The Home Office has consulted the association about community and race relations training for officers in Home Office forces in England and Wales. The association was also consulted during the development of minority ethnic employment targets and an associated action plan for all Home Office forces, published in July 1999 under the title 'Dismantling Barriers'. The association is represented on the steering group overseeing the implementation of 'Dismantling Barriers'.

  Lancashire
  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) funded and (b) actual (A) special constables and (B) salaried constables were in post in the Lancashire Constabulary (i) on 31 March 1997 and (ii) at the latest date for which figures are available. [153220]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The Home Office Research Development and Statistics Directorate collect police personnel statistics, including those of the Special Constabulary.

  There are no national target numbers for specials, and Lancashire Constabulary advises that they do not differentiate between funded and actual specials. The Special Constabulary strength figures for Lancashire Special Constabulary for 31 March 1997 and 30 September 2000 (the latest figures available) are as follows:

  March 1997

  September 2000

  Total strength

  483

  362

  I understand from the Chief Constable that it is not possible to provide information on the number of funded constable posts as Lancashire does not budget for workforce totals and the force devolves its budget to its Divisional Commanders, who then determine how to use funds to maximise their effectiveness locally. Police Constable numbers for Lancashire Constabulary for 31 March 1997 and 30 September 2000 (the latest figures available) are as follows:
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  March 1997

  September 2000

  Total strength

  2,493

  2,463

  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what reported offences involving violence there were in Lancashire in(a) 1997, (b) 1998, (c) 1999, (d) 2000 and (e) 2001; and how many of those involved (i) village shops and (ii) village post offices. [153221]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  Numbers of recorded violent crimes in Lancashire by category are given in the table, the most recent published data being for the year ending September 2000. Recorded crime statistics do not generally include the location of offences, and so details of those involving village shops and village post offices are not available. It should be noted that, owing to the change in counting rules on 1 April 1998, figures for recorded crime before and after that date are not directly comparable. For example, from that date, figures for offences of violence against the person additionally include figures for common assault and assault on a constable, among other offences.

  Recorded crime in Lancashire—number of recorded crimes in violent crime categories

  Year ending

  Violence against the person

  Sexual offences

  Robbery

  March 1998

  3,865

  966

  887

  March 1999

  10,328

  879

  982

  March 2000

  9,803

  754

  1,058

  September 2000

  9,832

  810

  1,065

  Police (Greater Manchester)
  Ms Kelly
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers were on operational duties in Greater Manchester in each year since 1990. [152888]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  [holding answer 9 March 2001]: It is not possible to provide data on operational numbers before 1996–97. The information on operational numbers is collected annually by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary.

  Year 1

  Operational police number2

  Total police strength2

  1996–97

  5,553 (80%)

  6,922

  1997–98

  5,720 (82%)

  6,949

  1998–99

  5,673 (83%)

  6,810

  1999–2000

  6,115 (90%)

  6,795

  1 As at 31 March

  2 All figures are full-time equivalents

  Closed Circuit Television
  Mr. Denis Murphy
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list, by constituency, the closed circuit TV schemes that have been(a) funded and (b) part-funded by the Government in each of the last three years, and the cost of each. [153141]
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  Mr. Charles Clarke
  Details of closed circuit television (CCTV) schemes funded wholly or in part by the Home Office during each of the last three years are listed by parliamentary constituency. A copy has been placed in the Library.

  The schemes listed include those approved to date under the Crime Reduction Programme CCTV Initiative and those funded in 1998 under Round 4 of the earlier CCTV Challenge Competition.

  During the last three years, 283 CCTV schemes totalling more than £65 million have been awarded Home Office funding, of which 106 schemes were wholly funded by the Home Office, and 277 schemes were part-funded with nearly £19 million committed from other sources.

  Mr. Denis Murphy
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to increase the funding available for closed circuit TV schemes in(a) Wansbeck and (b) the UK. [153148]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  Under the second round of the Crime Reduction Programme Closed Circuit Television Initiative (CCTV), more than 800 initial funding applications totalling over £200 million were submitted by crime and disorder reduction partnerships, including two applications from partnerships within the Wansbeck constituency.

  All the applications are currently under assessment and we expect to advise partnerships of the outcome very shortly.

  Although this is the final round of funding under the CCTV Initiative, there will be further opportunities for CCTV funding under future Government anti-crime programmes.

  Departmental Policies (Don Valley)
  Caroline Flint
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to Don Valley constituency, the effects on Doncaster of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997. [153522]

  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 in 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 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,
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  cannot be matched in the way requested although set out are examples relating to the Don Valley constituency or the immediate locality:

  Targeted Policing Initiative

  A project in conjunction with forces in Derbyshire, Cambridgeshire, Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire, south Yorkshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire and west Midlands to tackle distraction burglary has been awarded £168,000.

  Reducing Burglary Initiative

  Approximately £32,000 was awarded to a project in Edlington, Doncaster under round two of the Reducing Burglary Initiative. South Yorkshire Police in partnership with Doncaster Crime and Disorder Partnership are working on interventions that include: appointment of a project co-ordinator, target hardening, high profile media campaign, neighbourhood watch and property marking scheme.

  Around £399,000 has been awarded under round three of the initiative to allow south Yorkshire police in partnership with the Doncaster Crime and Disorder Partnership to concentrate on Doncaster's burglary "hotspots". Interventions include: supervision of prolific offenders, Neighbourhood Watch development, improved home security for victims and media and marketing campaigns.

  Closed Circuit Television (CCTV)

  Under round one of the CCTV Initiative the Safer Sheffield Steering Group submitted two bids covering Sheffield's town centre and the Don Valley area, with a combined value of over £2 million. The two Sheffield Wide Imaging Switching Scheme (SWISS) bids are being considered together. So far £725,000 has been awarded for the system to be piloted in the town centre. When this trial has been evaluated a decision on the remaining funding will be taken.

  More generally, all of the policies of the Home Office will impact on the residents of Don Valley 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; and 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.

  Departmental Policies (Jarrow)
  Mr. Hepburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will set out, with statistical information, relating as directly as possible to the constituency, the effects on Jarrow of his Department's actions since 2 May 1997. [153562]

  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
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  Office Annual Report 1999–2000, is available in the Library. The next 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 below are examples relating to the Jarrow constituency or the immediate locality:

  Targeted Policing Initiative

  Under round one of the Targeted Policing Initiative, £40,000 has been awarded to develop an integrated strategy to tackle crime and disorder in rural towns and villages. Northumbria police in partnership with Tynedale District Council, local parish councils and the Northumberland Social Services and probation service will tackle both localised offending and crime resulting from travelling criminals. A local multi-agency safety group will develop intelligence about offenders and identify "hotspots". The project will employ a range of interventions including a mobile police station and use of Closed Circuit Television (CCTV).

  Youth Offending Teams (YOTs)

  Jarrow comes under South Tyneside YOT which is involved in a number of schemes including establishing restorative approaches, working with victims of crime and holding successful restorative conferences. 35 per cent. of reparation orders/requirements have included an element of direct reparation to victims. There is a very successful project in Biddick Hall where 22 young people involved in serious youth disorder did reparation in the same area repairing damage to a primary school, cleaning off graffiti etc. It has been very well received by local community/ residents (and by parents of young people). It is too early to say definitively what the effects of these actions are on re-offending and reducing levels of youth crime. In response to some concern about youth disorder, there has recently been a seminar funded and facilitated by Government Office North-East, and the YOT will be taking appropriate action within the context of a proposed youth disorder strategy.

  More generally, all of the policies of the Home Office will impact on the residents of Jarrow 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; and 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.

  Police Manpower
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the total number of police per 702W
  head of population was (a) in each police force and (b) in total on the last date for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [152373]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The information is given in the table. The comparison 'population per police officer' provides a more meaningful figure than 'numbers of police per head of population'.

  Force

  Police officers as at September 2000

  Population as at June 1999

  Population per officer

  Avon and Somerset

  2,941

  1,501,193

  510

  Bedfordshire

  1,006

  562,214

  559

  Cambridgeshire

  1,266

  724,897

  573

  Cheshire

  2,000

  982,527

  491

  Cleveland

  1,421

  555,944

  391

  Cumbria

  1,048

  491,814

  469

  Derbyshire

  1,780

  974,084

  547

  Devon and Cornwall

  2,873

  1,569,666

  546

  Dorset

  1,299

  692,543

  533

  Durham

  1,581

  606,744

  384

  Dyfed-Powys

  1,045

  480,663

  460

  Essex

  2,780

  1,617,660

  582

  Gloucestershire

  1,142

  561,941

  492

  Greater Manchester

  6,767

  2,577,040

  381

  Gwent

  1,271

  556,622

  438

  Hampshire

  3,435

  1,781,049

  519

  Hertfordshire

  1,961

  1,043,028

  532

  Humberside

  1,905

  881,586

  463

  Kent

  3,239

  1,587,243

  490

  Lancashire

  3,215

  1,425,533

  443

  Leicestershire

  2,010

  934,687

  465

  Lincolnshire

  1,162

  628,612

  541

  Merseyside

  4,081

  1,403,625

  344

  Norfolk

  1,387

  796,460

  574

  Northamptonshire

  1,166

  621,162

  533

  Northumbria

  3,885

  1,418,626

  365

  North Wales

  1,393

  657,738

  472

  North Yorkshire

  1,293

  747,613

  578

  Nottinghamshire

  2,232

  1,032,685

  463

  South Wales

  3,029

  1,242,004

  410

  South Yorkshire

  3,184

  1,302,410

  409

  Staffordshire

  2,157

  1,060,606

  492

  Suffolk

  1,115

  674,639

  605

  Surrey

  2,113

  1,078,067

  510

  Sussex

  2,812

  1,514,991

  539

  Thames Valley

  3,748

  2,116,233

  565

  Warwickshire

  912

  507,909

  557

  West Mercia

  1,906

  1,140,577

  598

  West Midlands

  7,350

  2,626,505

  357

  West Yorkshire

  4,806

  2,115,380

  440

  Wiltshire

  1,099

  610,326

  555

  City of London1

  720

  —

  —

  Metropolitan police

  24,695

  7,285,045

  295

  Total force numbers2

  122,230

  52,689,891

  431

  Total for England and Wales including secondments

  124,614

  52,689,891

  423

  1 Police per head of Population for City and Metropolitan police are combined.

  2 Excluding secondments to central service, NCS, NCIS and inter-force units.

  Note:

  Police numbers are full time equivalents.

  Police Training
  Mr. Denis Murphy
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have entered police training in each of the last two years, broken down by police force area. [153362]
  703W
  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The vast in majority of police training (over 80 per cent.) takes place in forces. Details of numbers of officers undergoing training are not held centrally and could not be obtained without disproportionate cost.

  Police Officers (Wandsworth)
  Mr. Linton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action the Government have taken to bring the number of police officers in Wandsworth up to its establishment, with special reference to Battersea. [151151]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The Government want to see police numbers rising. Our spending plans therefore make generous provision, intended to meet major pay, pensions and other pressures on forces as well as providing ring-fenced funding to increase recruitment through the Crime Fighting Fund (CFF).

  As part of the police grant settlement for 2001–02, the Metropolitan police authority will receive £1.822.8 million in Government supported funding. This is an increase of 5.3 per cent. over the provision for 2000–01. In addition, funding is available from the CFF to enable the Metropolitan police service to recruit an additional 2,044 officers over and above the number that the force would otherwise have recruited in the three years from April 2000.

  Other measures which should boost recruitment in the Met include the £3,327 per annum increase in London Allowance paid to officers in the Met (and City), who were recruited on or after 1 September 1994; the provision of free rail travel within a 70–mile radius of London for the Met's officers; and the National Recruitment Campaign. By 25 February the campaign had resulted in 2,304 Expressions of Interest being passed to the Met, and a further 1,160 calls transferred to the Met's own call centre.

  Several outline bids covering the Met police area are also being assessed under the first round of the Government's Starter Homes Initiative which will enable key workers, including police officers, to purchase homes in areas of high-cost housing.

  The allocation of resources and the deployment of officers within the Metropolitan police is an operational decision for the Commissioner.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Country Court Hearing Centres
  Mr. Garnier
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, pursuant to his oral statement in Westminster Hall of 8 March 2001,Official Report, columns 169–70WH, if he will list the county court hearing centres which he plans to close in response to his Departmental Consultation Paper on court modernisation; and when they are to be closed. [153585]
  704W
  Mr. Lock
  At present there are no plans to close particular county court hearing centres as a result of my Departmental Consultation Paper on "Modernising the Civil Courts".

  A key theme of "Modernising the Civil Courts" is to make best use of our resources to improve access to justice. As the consultation paper notes, we have a responsibility to ask whether the current court estate offers the best way of providing the services that we have a duty to provide, or whether there are more cost-effective alternatives that maintain, or improve, the level of service required. To that end we are developing a strategy for achieving best value from our estate which will include identifying the most appropriate locations for hearing centres. Part of the exercise will involve looking at opportunities to develop partnerships with other agencies, including the magistrates courts, so that hearings and other services can be provided in areas where there is no permanent county court building.

  Legal Services Commission
  Mr. Garnier
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, pursuant to his oral statement, in Standing Committee A, Official Report, 6 March 2001; c. 6, how many solicitors' firms had signed up to the Legal Services Commission contract for criminal legal services by 12 March; and how many he expects will have done so by 2 April. [153586]

  Mr. Lock
  As at 12 March 2001, the Legal Services Commission had received 1,285 signed general criminal contracts from firms of solicitors across England and Wales. It is expected that some 2,800 firms, the vast majority of those that were offered contracts to sign, will elect to take up the contract.

  Judicial Appointments
  Mr. Rammell
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what progress he has made in implementing the recommendations of Sir Leonard Peach's independent scrutiny report on the Appointment Processes for Judges and Queen's Counsel in England and Wales. [154448]

  Mr. Lock
  I am pleased to tell the House that Her Majesty yesterday made Orders in Council defining the functions of her Commissioners for Judicial Appointments and appointing Professor Sir Colin Murray Campbell, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Nottingham, as her First Commissioner for Judicial Appointments. The Commission has commenced its work today. The recruitment of Deputy Commissioners will begin shortly, and the Lord Chancellor hopes the first of them will be appointed in the autumn.

  Sir Leonard also recommended that a pilot scheme be produced for an Assessment Centre for judicial appointments. The tendering process will commence shortly to identify consultants who will advise on the design and development of the pilot scheme. Several of Sir Leonard's other recommendations—such as improvements to the forms used in consultations on candidates for judicial appointments, and to the procedures for appointment to Silk—have already been implemented.

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

  Factortame Litigation
  Mr. David Taylor
  To ask the Solicitor-General if he will make a statement on the role of the Treasury Solicitor's Department in the Factortame litigation. [154271]

  The Solicitor-General
  The Factortame litigation involved a claim for damages against the UK Government as a result of the 1996 ruling of the European Court of Justice that those affected by the removal of vessels from the UK fishing vessel register in 1989 under the Merchant Shipping Act 1998 had been discriminated against on the grounds of nationality, contrary to EC law.

  The Government have reached a settlement with all 133 claimants. The total amount claimed was £285 million excluding interest. The cases were all settled for a total sum of damages of £44.99 million, including £20.19 million in interest.

  His Honour Judge J. K. Toulmin CMG QC made the following observations in open court:
  "I think a special word should go to Jonathan Morris and his team because they have had the carriage of the administration of a large part of the action and they have done so in a way, so far, which has really been extraordinarily impressive, and I wanted to put that on the record now. The Treasury Solicitor, that is Jonathan Morris and his team, are the ones who have understood what the whole picture is and they are the ones who have therefore been in the position where they have had to deal with everybody else, and indeed to assist the Court in a way that is entirely neutral…I see nods from other parties represented on the front row, so they understand precisely the sense in which I am making this comment."

  Coram Foundation
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Solicitor-General when he and his officials first met officers and staff of the Coram family to discuss the Charity Commission-approved scheme to maximise the contribution of the Coram collection. [153666]

  The Solicitor-General
  My officials, and those acting on my behalf in the Treasury Solicitor's Department, have not met with officers and staff of the Coram Foundation. However there has been a considerable amount of correspondence with the Foundation and their solicitors. There have also been informal meetings between our respective Counsel.

  The Foundation has been asked to set out its proposals in writing, rather than at a meeting, so that there can be no misunderstanding about what is intended.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Solicitor-General when he last took action in relation to the judgment of the Charity Commission and the trustees at the Foundling Hospital. [153552]

  The Solicitor-General
  I reconsidered that matter in the week beginning 7 March, in the light of the further material which has been submitted by the Foundation this year and with the benefit of joint opinion from Counsel which was obtained on my behalf.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Solicitor-General what assessment he has made of the wishes of Handel and Hogarth in relation to the trustees' scheme for the Coram Collection. [153667]
  706W
  The Solicitor-General
  It has not been the case of the Governors of the Foundation that the Hogarth paintings or the Handeliana are held on special trusts such as would preclude their sale. In these circumstances, it is the duty of the Governors to consider how the assets of the charity can best be used to advance its objects: those objects being, broadly, the care of poor deserted children.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Solicitor-General how he took account of the views of all the trustees of registered charity 312278 before responding to the view of one trustee. [153553]

  The Solicitor-General
  After being alerted to this matter by Peter G1azebrook, a Governor of the Coram Foundation, in April last year I asked that inquiries should be undertaken. The Treasury Solicitor's Department, acting on my behalf, first contacted the Coram Foundation on 28 July 2000.

  I have been anxious throughout to ensure that my consideration of this matter should be as well-informed as possible. I have also been open with the Foundation, for example making available the draft particulars of claim and the recent Counsel's Opinion on the matter.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Solicitor-General what consultations he had with the(a) Department for Culture, Media and Sport, (b) Home Office and (c) Charity Commission before intervening in the Coram scheme. [153668]

  The Solicitor-General
  The information is as follows:

  (a) The Treasury Solicitor's Department wrote, on my behalf, to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 23 August 2000. A reply was received on 1 November 2000. Since that time DCMS has been kept informed as to developments.

  (b) There have been no contacts with the Home Office, which has no responsibility for this matter.

  (c) The Treasury Solicitor's Department first contacted the Charity Commission on 5 July 2000. The Commission has since been kept fully informed as to developments.

CHURCH COMMISSIONERS

  Clergy Pensions
  Mr. Ben Chapman
  To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners, if he will make a statement on the criteria that determine the way in which pensions are paid to the Church of England clergy. [153832]

  Mr. Stuart Bell
  On retirement at or after age 65 with 37 or more years' full-time service, the pension benefits for clergy consist of a pension of two thirds the previous year's National Minimum Stipend plus a tax free lump sum of three times that amount. Pensions may be drawn any time after age 55 subject to appropriate actuarial discounts.

  The benefit formula reflects best practice in occupational schemes. It recognises that clergy receive a State pension and as housing is provided while clergy are working, also recognises that clergy in retirement need to meet the cost of housing. Discretionary help is available through the housing loan and rental schemes administered by the Church of England Pensions Board.
  707W
  My hon. Friend will already be aware that the Archbishops' Council is currently undertaking a review of the clergy remuneration package, including pensions. If he would like more information and will let me have details I will gladly inquire further on his behalf.

CABINET OFFICE

  Non-departmental Public Bodies
  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how much was spent out public funds on non-departmental public bodies, Government-appointed taskforces and other publicly funded bodies in(a) May 1997 and (b) January 2001; and how many staff were employed. [153906]

  Marjorie Mowlam
  Information on the expenditure and staffing of non-departmental public bodies is published in the annual Cabinet Office publication "Public Bodies". Copies are available from the Libraries of the House. Information on the expenditure and staffing of task forces is not held centrally. However, as a rule, their expenditure is negligible and they do not employ staff.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

  Regional Cultural Consortiums
  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what has been the cost to public funds of the regional cultural consortiums to date; and what is their forecast expenditure. [153430]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  [holding answer 12 March 2001]: The cost and future allocations for each consortium are as follows:

  £

  Expenditure1

  1999–20002

  1,900

  2000–01

  327,070

  Allocations

  2001–02

  50,000

  2002–03

  125,000

  2003–04

  62,500

  1 Figures given are averages.

  2 The Regional Cultural Consortiums were established in October 1999.

  3 Expenditure calculated to 12 March 2001.

  The consortiums also receive support from my Department's staff based within the Government Offices in the regions. The Regional Development Agencies and the various regional agencies have all been encouraged to help with funding and other means of support.

  The consortiums will use these resources to support their strategic role in the regions and promote joint working with other regional partners in order to ensure that cultural and sporting interests make a significant contribution to economic development, regeneration and social inclusion in their region.

  Digital Broadcasting (Platform Access)
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans he has to ensure that the BBC has access to all digital platforms on an equal basis and to ensure that such access is granted(a) on not-for-profit and (b) a free basis. [153276]

  Janet Anderson
  [holding answer 12 March 2001]: None. Our White Paper "A New Future for Communications" made clear our policy that public service channels should be available on all main platforms at no extra cost to the viewer and we are currently considering the responses to our consultation on the White Paper on this issue, including views on the terms of access. BBC licence fee-funded television services are of course already available on the three main digital broadcasting platforms, terrestrial, cable and satellite, though the financial arrangements differ from platform to platform.

  Millennium Dome (Sponsorship)
  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on what date the New Millennium Experience Company received sponsorship money for the faith zone from(a) Christian trusts and (b) the Laing Family Trust. [153534]

  Janet Anderson
  The New Millennium Experience Company received support for the faith zone from four charitable trusts on 11 May 1999. The Laing Family Trust's support was received in two payments—the first on 9 February 1999 and the second on 27 October 1999

  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will list the approaches which were made by Ministers to(a) companies and (b) individuals in respect of sponsorship of the Millennium Dome. [148359]

  Janet Anderson
  [holding answer 2 March 2001]: I am aware that approaches and negotiations were already under way under the previous Administration. This then of course continued under this Government. While Ministers from time to time had contact with sponsors, we have made it clear that the responsibility for negotiating and securing sponsorship rested with the New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC).

  Dancing Schools
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the answer of 6 March 2001,Official Report, column 202W, on dancing schools, what is his estimate of the number of voluntary dance classes; how much financial assistance is provided for these classes; what his estimate is of the number of Irish dancing schools provided by the voluntary sector; and how much financial assistance is provided for these schools. [153580]

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  Dance classes are provided through a diverse range of public, privately-funded, and voluntary provision. Because of this diversity, an assessment of the number of voluntary dance classes would prove a significant undertaking. The Voluntary Arts Network advises that there is anecdotal information on provision of voluntary dance classes, but that a comprehensive and thorough assessment is not available based on current information. The Foundation for
  709W
  Community Dance, the national development agency for community dance, recently undertook a mapping exercise to establish the range of participation in dance provided by the funded sector across England. This excluded local private dance schools, organisations specifically catering for recreational dance forms (including Ceroc) and dance opportunities offered by the commercial sector. However, sources include: local authorities (significant), European funds, the Single Regeneration Budget, the Health Service, Regional Arts Boards, Lottery, trusts and foundations. Private, commercial and voluntary provision is also significant.

  Foot and Mouth
  Mr. Martlew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make a statement on the response of his Department and its tourism-sponsored bodies to the foot and mouth disease outbreak. [154224]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave the hon. Member for East Surrey (Mr. Ainsworth) on 14 March 2001,Official Report, columns 1021–36. My Department has, together with the British Tourist Authority and the English Tourist Council, issued guidance to the public, to prospective visitors from overseas and the tourism industry on the implications of the disease. The British Tourist Authority is rebutting misleading stories overseas which are confusing this outbreak with BSE. The English Tourism Council is consulting with the industry on how tourism businesses can best cope with and recover from the effects of the outbreak and local tourism information offices are giving out information on destinations that remain open, such as our wealth of museums and galleries and historic towns. My Department is keeping the consequential implications for tourism under close review and I shall be visiting Cumbria this weekend to see those implications for myself, following the visit of the Minister for Tourism, Film and Broadcasting to Devon on 14 March.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Foot and Mouth
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what discussions he has had with his EU counterparts on recent outbreaks of foot and mouth disease in other member states; and if he will make a statement. [151994]

  Ms Quin
  The Ministry is in constant contact with other member states and the European Commission. Animal disease issues are discussed regularly at the Standing Veterinary Committee in Brussels. My right hon. Friend the Minister will be discussing the situation with EU counterparts at the Agriculture Council on 19 March.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the effect of European Community law on the spread of foot and mouth disease. [152663]

  Ms Quin
  A detailed epidemiological investigation is being conducted into every confirmed outbreak of foot and mouth disease. The results of these investigations will be published. An assessment will be made of the lessons 710W
  to be learned from the original cause of the outbreak and the factors that are contributing towards the spread of the disease in order to inform future policy.

  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has carried out an assessment of the risk due to BSE infectivity from burning cattle during the present outbreak of foot and mouth disease. [154476]

  Mr. Nick Brown
  An independent risk assessment from DNV Consulting which I commissioned is today being published on the MAFF Foot and Mouth Disease internet site. Copies have also been placed in the Libraries of the House.

  The model used by DNV estimates that a pyre of 100 dairy cattle aged over five years old could result in a total of 7 x 10-4 infective units being ingested by those exposed. This would be spread over a fairly wide population and so the individual risk of exposure would be low. For examle, if the infective units were spread over 1,000 people the individual risk would be 7 x 10-7 infective units per person, in other words less than one in a million.

  The recommendation of the Environment Agency is that there need not be any immediate change to carcase burning activities. The assessment will, however, be taken into account in guidance to Agency staff on factors to take into account if they are asked to permit sites for carcase burning.

  This advice has come at a time when, in view mainly of practical considerations, I have decided to increase the disposal by rendering, in addition to on-farm burning, of carcases from FMD infected farms and dangerous contact premises.

  Beef
  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much beef was(a) produced in and (b) consumed by the UK in the last 12 months. [152287]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 5 March 2001]: The following table provides details of the quantity of beef produced and consumed by the UK in 2000.

  UK supply of beef in 2000

  Thousand tonnes1

  Home fed production

  706

  Consumption2

  919

  1 Dressed carcase weight equivalent

  2 Total domestic use; home fed production plus imports less exports net of stock change

  Foot and Mouth (Livestock Movement)
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what help is available to cattle owners who seek to move animals on welfare grounds. [152771]

  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the animal welfare implications for cattle, sheep and pigs that are not displaying symptoms of foot and mouth disease, of movement restrictions between adjacent areas of farm land owned or farmed by the same farmer; and if he will make a statement. [152806]
  711W
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to ensure that cows within the exclusion zones can be in moved to adequate facilities for calving. [153188]

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answers 8 and 12 March 2001]: We are aware of serious and growing animal welfare problems as a consequence of movement restrictions imposed following the foot and mouth outbreak. Two schemes were therefore announced on 9 March in order to address these problems.

  The occupational licence permits a farmer to make repeat movements of foot and mouth disease susceptible livestock for a distance of up to 0.5 km on land of which he is the sole occupant. Such licences are available in the controlled area and in the infected area. Movements are not permitted within 3 km of an infected place.

  The local movement licence permits movements of up to 5 km as the crow flies (up to a journey of 10 km) but only in the controlled area.

  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he will withdraw the Schedule D notice served on the Madron Meat Abattoir in Penzance and reinstate the grant of approval from the Meat Hygiene Service; [153173]

  (2) if he will reissue a movement lisence to Mr. Tim Stockwell of Kingsbridge in respect of the movement of 100 pigs to an abattoir. [153174]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 12 March 2001]: Restrictions were imposed on Madron Meat Abattoir while the State Veterinary Service investigated a suspected case of foot and mouth disease which occurred within 3 kilometres of the abattoir. Tho restrictions were removed on 11 March after it was revealed that the animals involved were not affected by foot and mouth.

  Responsibility for licensing the movement of animals to slaughter lies with local authorities. Mr. Stockwell should therefore contact Devon County Council regarding the proposed movement of his pigs to slaughter.

  Employment Statistics
  Mr. Breed
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many people were employed directly in agriculture at the latest date for which figures are available. [153129]

  Ms Quin
  The estimate of the total workforce employed directly in agriculture in the United Kingdom in the year 2000 is 560,000. This is 2.0 per cent. of the total workforce in employment.

  Research and Development Budget
  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what the budget for research and development into organic and other non-intensive farming methods is in the 2000–01 financial year; what the main(a) budget headings and (b) contracts let are; and how much has been spent to date; [153162]

  (2) what the budget for research and development into organic and other non-intensive farming methods is for the 2001–02 financial year; and what the main budget headings are. [153163]
  712W
  Ms Quin
  The budget for organic farming research in MAFF for the financial year 2000–01 is £2,139,000. This is not broken down into further budget headings. The level of commitment of this budget is £2,157,000, which funds 39 projects. A list of current projects is available in the Libraries of the House.

  MAFF is also funding £2,150,000 of research in 2000–01 on non-intensive livestock production. There is no specific budget heading for this research but a list of the 37 current projects has been placed in the Library of the House.

  In addition, the organic farming sector also benefits from much of the other research the Ministry undertakes, for example, its planned spend on research into biological control techniques, plant health, animal welfare and wildlife conservation on farms of over £14.3 million in 2000–01 and over £13.8 million in 2001–02.

  With regard to the financial year 2001–02, the budget for organic farming research in MAFF is £2,139,000. This is not broken down into further budget headings. The budget for non-intensive livestock production research in MAFF for financial year 2001–02 is £2,421,000.

  Swill Feed
  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to ban the use of swill feed. [152833]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 9 March 2001]: The issue of swill feed will be thoroughly examined as part of our policy review consequential to the outbreak of foot and mouth disease.

  Everything but Arms
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what recent discussions he has had with(a) the European Commissioner for Development and (b) his European counterparts on (i) the recent amendments to proposals for the 'Everything But Arms' initiative and (ii) the implications of these proposals for United Kingdom sugar producers; and if he will make a statement. [153554]

  Ms Quin
  The Government have had ongoing discussions with the European Commission and other member states on the 'Everything But Arms' proposal, culminating in the adoption of the Presidency compromise on 26 February. On sugar this provides for an eight-year transitional period, comprising a duty-free interim quota for raw sugar for refining, starting at 74,185 tonnes in July 2001 and increasing by 15 per cent. each year, coupled with the phase-out of duties on all LDC sugar between 2006 and 2009. In the short term, the implications of the EBA regulation for United Kingdom sugar beet producers are likely to be minimal. We will press the Commission to include the impact of EBA in the studies it expects to undertake in preparation for the next reform of the sugar regime.

  Farmers (Private Insurance)
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how Government compensation
  713W
  payments in respect of foot and mouth disease take into account payments under private insurance policies for the same losses. [153732]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 14 March 2001]: The Government compensate farmers for the full market value of animals slaughtered as a disease control measure. They do not take account of any private insurance that the farmer may have taken out to cover wider consequential losses caused by movement restrictions. Section 34(5) of the Animal Health Act 1981 states that if the owner of a slaughtered animal has insurance on that animal, the insurers may deduct the statutory compensation from the amount of money payable under the insurance, before they make any payment.

  "Agriculture in the United Kingdom"
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects the latest volume of "Agriculture in the United Kingdom" to be published. [154479]

  Ms Quin
  "Agriculture in the United Kingdom 2000" was published today and copies have been placed in the Library of the House.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Stakeholder Pensions
  Mr. Derek Twigg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what further changes he proposes to make to the stakeholder pensions regulations. [154446]

  Mr. Rooker
  The Government made a commitment to work with the pensions industry to ensure that stakeholder pensions offer a realistic and effective second pension option. We have today laid amending regulations to make changes of a practical and technical nature. The changes make the stakeholder regulations more effective, and include provisions which take account of the views of the pensions industry, including organisations setting up stakeholder pension schemes. For example, schemes will be able to stagger the issue of annual benefit statements over the year, rather than having to issue them all at once.

  Winter Fuel Payment
  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when the Winter Fuel Payment due to Doris Lilian Riblan of Ferndown will be paid. [153508]

  Mr. Rooker
  The administration of Winter Fuel Payments is a matter for Alexis Cleveland, Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency. She will write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Alexis Cleveland to Mr. Christopher Chope, dated 13 March 2001:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking when the winter fuel payment due to Doris Lilian Riblan of Ferndown will be paid.
  As you will appreciate, individual customer cases are confidential. I will therefore, write to you privately on this matter.

  Departmental IT Projects
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 9 March 2001,Official Report, column 404W, on Departmental IT projects, if he will disaggregate by type of expenditure the anticipated costs for each of the modernisation projects. [153920]

  Angela Eagle
  Further to my answer of 9 March 2001,Official Report, column 404W, modernisation projects have been brigaded under these headings in order to facilitate the management of the Department's modernisation programme.

  National Insurance Numbers
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security on what grounds the deceased retain national insurance number. [153785]

  Mr. Rooker
  The retention of deceased persons' National Insurance Numbers (N1NOs) is necessary to process claims fcr Widow's Benefit and from 9 April 2001 for Bereavement Benefit claims. Additionally records of the deceased must be kept in order to protect the inheritable rights of the surviving spouse to ensure that they are awarded the correct rate of Retirement Pension when they reach State Pension age or the rate of Retirement Pension which the survivor already receives is increased correctly. The retention is therefore necessary to protect the rights of those making National Insurance contributions.

  Retaining NINOs also enables checks to be made for benefit recovery against estates and assists the prevention of a further NINO being fraudulently created under the deceased's identity.

  Pensioners (Incomes and Benefits)
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what his most recent estimate is of the number of pensioner units with an income of(a) £200 to £210, (b) £211 to £220 and (c) £221 and above who are in receipt of (i) Housing Benefit, (ii) Council Tax Benefit, (iii) Council Tax Benefit and Housing Benefit and (iv) one or more of Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit. [153787]

  Mr. Rooker
  The information is in the table.

  Pensioners in Great Britain in receipt of Housing Benefit and/or Counsil Tax Benefit by income over £200—May 1999

  Total income

  Housing Benefit

  Council Tax Benefit

  Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit

  Housing Benefit and/or Council Tax Benefit

  Over £200

  8,000

  12,000

  10,000

  10,000

  £200-£210

  5,000

  6,000

  1—

  1—

  £210-£220

  1,000

  2,000

  1—

  1—

  Over £220

  2,000

  4,000

  1—

  1—

  1 Data are nil or negligible (negligible being numbers less than 500)

  Notes:

  1.The data refer to benefit units, which may be a single person or a couple.

  2. The figures for cases in receipt of Housing Benefit or Council Tax Benefit have been rounded to the nearest thousand. However due to the estimation procedure to produce the figures for Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit, or Housing Benefit and/or Council Tax Benefit, these figures need to be rounded to the nearest 10,000 due to the collection procedures in Scotland.
  715W
  3. Pensioners have been identified by the claimant or the partner being aged 60 and over.

  4. The bands of income have been reached by looking at the total income excluding any Housing Benefit or Council Tax Benefit but including income assumed from any savings

  Source:

  Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit Management Information System, Annual 1 per cent. sample, taken in May 1999.

  Child Support Agency
  Ms Roseanna Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if the CSA has a remit to re-examine its original decision to cover the new partner of child and mother; [153611]

  (2) pursuant to his answer of 26 February 2001, Official Report, column 535W, on the Child Support Agency, what criteria the CSA uses to decide whether to re-examine a case which leads to a change in the original decision. [153701]

  Angela Eagle
  The Child Support Agency (CSA) will re-examine the original decision on a case if there has been a change in circumstances, including where there is a new partner of the parent with care.

  Whenever the CSA revises or supersedes a decision on a case, both parents are notified of the new decision and how it has been arrived at. Either patent can ask the CSA to look at the decision again within one month of being notified if they think that the decision is wrong. If the CSA accepts that there has been a mistake, it will correct it straight away. In re-examining a decision the CSA will check that the law has been applied correctly to the facts of the case.

  Either parent can also appeal against the CSA's decision to an independent tribunal who will consider whether the Agency applied the law correctly.

  If neither parent asks for their case to be looked at again, the CSA will not look at the case unless a periodic case check is carried out.

  Ms Roseanna Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 26 February 2001,Official Report, column 535W, on the Child Support Agency, (1) if he will provide a breakdown for each category for each council area in Scotland; [153700]

  (2) how many of the complaints in the named categories were lodged in Scotland. [153702]

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

  The total number of letters of complaint received by the Child Support Agency's Scotland and North Eastern Business Unit in 1999–2000 was 3,078. This covers the whole of Scotland, Northumberland, North East England and parts of North Yorkshire.

  The total number of letters of complaint received between April 2000 and 28 February 2001 is 2,362. The categories are shown as follows.

  716W

  Category of complaints

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  Delay/Failure to take appropriate action

  1,461

  1,521

  Incorrect action

  725

  706

  Communication

  760

  705

  Policy

  506

  542

  Complaints about staff

  190

  161

  Disclosure of information

  65

  48

  Good cause

  16

  5

  Human Rights Act

  0

  26

  Total

  3,723

  3,714

  1 Year to date

  Note:

  The total number of complaints is higher than the number of letters because some letters of complaint covered more than one subject.

  Elderly Residents (North-west)
  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people aged over 65 were resident in(a) Ribble Valley, (b) Lancashire and (c) the North West in 1997; and how many are resident today. [153218]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  I have been asked to reply.

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

  Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Nigel Evans, dated 14 March 2001:
  As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your question concerning the resident population of Ribble Valley, Lancashire, and the North West in 1997 and today (153218).
  Attached is a table showing the information requested for mid-1997 and mid-1999 which is the most recent year for which a population estimate is available.

  Estimated resident population mid-1997 and mid-19991

  Thousand

  Total population

  Population over 65

  1997

  1999

  1997

  1999

  North west

  6,884.6

  6,880.5

  1,018.0

  1,013.5

  Lancashire County

  1,134.5

  1,137.1

  177.1

  176.8

  Blackburn with Darwen UA

  139.4

  138.4

  17.8

  17.5

  Blackpool UA

  151.2

  150.0

  27.7

  27.1

  Ribble Valley

  53.0

  54.2

  8.6

  8.8

  Former County of Lancashire2

  1,425.1

  1,425.5

  222.6

  221.4

  1 Data refer to boundaries as defined in 1999 after local government reorganisation.

  2 The former county of Lancashire is the area covered by the current Lancashire county and the unitary authorities of Blackburn with Darwen and Blackpool.

  Source:

  Office for National Statistics, Crown Copyright 2000

  Benefit Fraud
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many Benefit Fraud Inspectorate reports have been published to date; and if he will list the six reports which give greatest concern to his Department. [153786]

  Mr. Rooker
  To date, the Benefit Fraud Inspectorate (BFI) has published 86 reports on local authorities and two reports on DSS agencies. BFI inspections are tailored to the particular practices and needs of each authority. The resulting recommendations are unique to each authority so a direct comparison between authorities is not possible.
  717W
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he will publish the Benefit Fraud Inspectorate report on Wirral Metropolitan Council; and if he will make a statement. [153790]

  Mr. Rooker
  I refer my right hon. Friend to the answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for North-West Leicestershire (Mr. Taylor) on 8 March 2001,Official Report, column 298W.

HEALTH

  Electronic Health Records
  Mr. Levitt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the timescale for implementation of electronic health records in the National Health Service; on what basis the final scheme will be chosen; if it will be funded entirely from existing NHS funds; and what benefits the electronic health record system is expected to bring to the National Health Service. [144702]

  Ms Stuart
  The target in "Information for Health" is for the implementation of a first-generation Electronic Health Record (EHR) by March 2005. The work currently being undertaken by the Electronic Record Development and Implementation Programme (ERDIP) and related initiatives will inform the decision-making process on whether a single or a number of solutions is the way forward.

  We are supporting the service in implementing the strategy, of which the EHR is a key component, with additional funding. Announcements over the last 12 months have increased, by £1,061 million, the amount that will be available to health authorities over the period April 2000 to March 2004 for information management and technology.

  "Information for Health" does not specifically describe the benefits of the EHR for patients and staff in isolation but rather as a mix of EHR and Electronic Patient Records (EPR) benefits. These can be summarised as:
  Convenience and confidence—through patients knowing health care professionals have access to their medical history;
  Integration of care—through improving the co-ordination of multi-professional and multi-agency care;
  Improving outcomes—through better decision-making based on up-to-date information;
  Using evidence—by integrating EPRs with other systems;
  Supporting analysis—for clinical governance and local planning;
  Improving efficiency—through reducing time spent collecting data and freeing more time for direct patient care.

  Sterilisation Services
  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what role he has in the selection of registered authorised persons who monitor sterilisation services in the NHS; and what funding his Department gives them. [R] [143956]

  Mr. Denham
  The register of Authorised Persons (Sterilizers) AP(S) is maintained by the Institute of Healthcare Engineering and Estate Management who have delegated authority from the Department to do this. The Department retains ultimate responsibility through National Health Service Estates. To become registered as an AP(S), candidates must pass a 5-facet selection process, which includes examination and interview.
  718W
  Under the current arrangements NHS Trusts employ the services of the AP(S) directly and pay for this from their operational budgets. There are no central funding mechanisms in place for this service.

  NHS Estates has initiated a 5-yearly review of the current structure against a strategy of minimising risk for the NHS. This will include discussions with the NHS and industry and may result in revision of the existing structure and/or the development of a completely new infrastructure. The review will be completed later this year.

  Waiting Lists
  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients were waiting for admission to hospitals, including suspended patients but not including self-referred cases,(a) nationally, (b) in each health authority and (c) in each NHS trust in (i) 1987, (ii) 1992 and (iii) in each year since 1995. [149437]

  Mr. Denham
  The information requested has been placed in the Library. Information from national health service trusts is not available for 1987 as they did not exist then.

  E.coli
  Mr. McDonnell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the Government's policies(a) to prevent E.coli outbreaks and (b) to ensure appropriate diagnosis and treatment of E.coli sufferers. [150312]

  Ms Stuart
  The E.coli bacterium of most concern is Vero cytotoxin-producing E.coli (VTEC) of which E.coli 0157 is the commonest.

  Many outbreaks of E.coli 0157 are foodborne and have been associated with various foods including contaminated meat and dairy products. We have a wide range of policies aimed at preventing outbreaks of foodborne disease. All of these contribute to preventing outbreaks of E.coli 0157 food poisoning. As well as comprehensive food hygiene legislation, examples of these policies include the clean livestock policy and butchers' licensing.

  E.coli 0157 outbreaks also occur from contact with farm animals or environments, including water, contaminated by animal faeces. The Chief Medical Officer issued health advice for farm visits by children last year, which was sent to all directors of public health and consultants in communicable disease control. Also in 2000, the Health and Safety Executive in collaboration with the Department of Health and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food revised guidance to farmers, farm workers and teachers on avoiding ill health at open farms. Further information produced by Government is also given to vulnerable groups, such as pregnant women, on how to avoid infection from various zoonotic diseases, including E.coli 0157. The Food Standards Agency has recently issued guidance on avoiding the risks from camping and picnicking on fields used for grazing animals.
  719W
  A Government task force on E.coli 0157 has recently been set up to deal with specific areas of interest and concern. Their first meeting in September 2000 on human health aspects discussed and proposed practical steps on diagnosis, surveillance, treatment and care, outbreak management, person-to-person spread and risk assessment. The group are expected to report a programme of practical steps later in the year that can be taken forward to further reduce the risk of infection from E.coli 0157.

  The Public Health Laboratory Service (PHLS) has published guidelines dealing with sampling and identification procedures and requires its laboratories to test all stool samples for E.coli 0157. All laboratories voluntarily notify all infections as part of an agreed reporting protocol.

  In May 2000 the CMO's Update 26, which is distributed to all medical practitioners, carried an article "VTEC Guidance" which drew attention to the seasonal increase in infection, the risks from farm visits and the susceptibility of children to developing Haemolytic Uraemic Syndrome (HUS) following infection with E.coli 0157.

  E.coli 0157 therapy is limited to supportive measures to maintain the body's fluid and electrolyte balance and monitoring for the development of HUS. Prescribing certain classes of antibiotics for E.coli infection may increase the risk of severe kidney disease and CMO Update 27 alerted medical practitioners to this in August 2000.

  Prescriptions
  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what estimate he has made of the percentage take-up of prescription pre-payment certificates by patients who would benefit financially from so doing; [153067]

  (2) how many people purchased prescription pre-payment certificates for (a) a four month period and (b) a 12 month period in the last three years for which figures are available. [153066]

  Ms Stuart
  The information is not available in the format requested

  Information available about the number of pre-payment certificates (PPCs) purchased in England is in the table. The figures are estimates, rounded to the nearest 10,000, as some health authorities failed to return data in one or more of the years.

  Thousand

  PPCs

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  4 month

  500

  490

  550

  12 month

  300

  290

  330

  Health Benefits (Low-income Scheme)
  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the estimated percentage level of take-up of the health benefits low-income scheme in the last three years for which figures are available. [153059]
  720W
  Ms Stuart
  The information requested is in the table.

  Thousand

  Year

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  Claims received

  933

  865

  872

  Certificates issued for full help (HC2)

  570

  519

  528

  Certificates issued for limited help (HC3)

  324

  303

  293

  Note:

  The prescription pricing authority processes low-income scheme claims for Great Britain. The number for England has been estimated from a sample.

  Abuse in Care
  Mr. Dawson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the cost to Government in each of the past three financial years of providing(a) services, (b) compensation and (c) criminal injuries compensation to victims of abuse in care. [153393]

  Mr. Hutton
  [holding answer 12 March 2001]: Services provided to the victims of abuse may include counselling, sexual health screening, medical treatment and/or mental health treatment. We are not able to disaggregate the costs of providing these services to show whether or not the service-user in any case has been a victim of abuse in care.

  Information is not held centrally about compensation payments paid by central or local government in the last three years to individuals abused while in care.

  The Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority does not record its awards under a separate category of children abused while in care.

  Incontinence
  Dr. Naysmith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was spent by the NHS on(a) incontinence pads and (b) incontinence pants in each of the last three years. [153548]

  Mr. Hutton
  Incontinence pads and pants are supplied either through National Health Service bodies, or supplied directly to patients' homes. Where products are supplied through NHS bodies, the figures in the table are broken down into spend on pads and on pants.

  In respect of delivery to patients' homes, the breakdown between pads and pants is not held centrally.

  £ million

  April 1997 to March 1998

  April 1998 to March 1999

  April 1999 to March 2000

  Pads

  23.7

  25.7

  22.8

  Pants

  1.8

  2.5

  2.6

  Home delivery1

  22.1

  23.3

  25.3

  1 Pads and pants

  Dr. Naysmith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was spent by the NHS on incontinence appliances, with particular reference to bedding mats and creams, in each of the last three years. [153550]

  Mr. Hutton
  The figures in the table show the National Health Service spend on incontinence appliances for the last three years. These appliances include urine drainage
  721W
  bags, bed pads, creams, incontinence sheaths and catheter valves. The figures exclude those appliances bought on prescription.

  £ million

  NHS spend on continence appliances

  April 1997 to March 1998

  7.2

  April 1998 to March 1999

  10.2

  April 1999 to March 2000

  10.6

  NHS Dentists
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much funding will be allocated to the recruitment and retention of dentists under the NHS Plan in each of the next three years: and how many dentists were employed in the NHS from outside the UK in each of the last three years. [153738]

  Mr. Hutton
  [holding answer 14 March 2001]: Our strategy for modernising NHS dentistry was published in September 2000 "Modernising NHS Dentistry—Implementing the NHS Plan". In that publication we announced that £100 million would be invested in NHS dentistry by April 2002.

  This year we have made available £4 million through the Dental Care Development Fund to reimburse dentists who expand their practices and treat more NHS patients. We are considering the need for a similar scheme in 2001–02 when we will also make available up to £35 million to modernise NHS dental practices and make commitment to the NHS even more worthwhile for dentists.

  A new Commitment Payment Scheme was introduced from April 2000 to reward dentists in the General Dental Service for their past and present commitment. We plan to spend a sum in the order of £18 million for payments made to eligible dentists in England in respect of 2001–02. From April 2001 the scheme will be revised and enhanced; we expect the funding to be around £22 million in respect of payment due in 2001–02.

  We are discussing with the profession additional financial support for dentists to undertake clinical governance, which will include clinical audit and peer review, and to support continuing professional development.

  Information about the number of dentists working in the National Health Service who have come from outside the United Kingdom is available only for dentists in the General Dental Services in England and is given in the table.

  General dental service: Number of dentists by country of qualification at 30 September each year

  England

  Country of qualification

  1998

  1999

  2000

  United Kingdom

  14,765

  14,959

  15,061

  Total overseas

  2,199

  2,457

  2,656

  South Africa

  638

  774

  864

  Sweden

  433

  538

  630

  Irish Republic

  577

  542

  513

  722W

  General dental service: Number of dentists by country of qualification at 30 September each year

  England

  Country of qualification

  1998

  1999

  2000

  Australia

  173

  174

  171

  New Zealand

  125

  131

  133

  Denmark

  48

  58

  68

  Greece

  39

  47

  52

  Malaysia

  50

  50

  48

  Germany

  21

  28

  32

  Netherlands

  27

  29

  30

  Finland

  11

  15

  27

  Other countries

  57

  71

  88

  Total

  16,964

  17,416

  17,717

  Notes:

  1. Dentists are principals on a health authority list, assistants and vocational dental practitioners.

  2. Data exclude dentists whose title of registration is shown as Statutory Exams and those dentists awaiting entry.

  Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (Ex-servicemen)
  Ms Kelly
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance his Department has given to hospital trusts when treating ex-servicemen who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder. [154058]

  Mr. Hutton
  We have embarked on a radical programme of modernisation to improve access to effective treatment and care, reduce unfair variation, raise standards, and provide quicker and more convenient services across the spectrum of mental health services. The National Service Framework for mental health, published September. 1999, sets out general standards for treatment and care In addition, the Allen Report 1989 and "Planning for Major Incidents: the National Health Service guidance" 1998 were issued to help those involved in the provision of support for people with post-traumatic stress disorder to identify psycho-social support, and disseminate messages about good practice. There is also current guidance relevant to War Pensioners (Health Service Guidance (97) 31) which says:that the referral should make specific reference to the fact that the patient is a war pensioner and requires treatment for the condition(s) for which he was awarded a pension; and
  that war pensioners can use the NHS complaints system to resolve any alleged breakdowns in the arrangements for priority treatment (leading, ultimately, to the ombudsman).

  Intermediate Care
  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people will not require long-term care, who would otherwise have done so, as a result of the Government's intermediate care programme in the NHS Plan. [153836]

  Mr. Hutton
  Intermediate care is designed to promote independence, particularly for older people, who would otherwise face unnecessarily prolonged hospital stays or inappropriate admission to acute in-patient care, long-term residential care, or continuing National Health Service in-patient care. It is not possible to quantify precisely the number of people who will not require long-term care as a result of the development of intermediate care services following the NHS Plan. However, the initial evidence from several existing local schemes suggests a high success rate for short-term rehabilitation schemes set up
  723W
  with the aim of preventing or delaying admissions to long-stay residential care. The Department is currently considering proposals from a number of research teams for the evaluative research of intermediate care schemes nationally.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  Vocational Learning
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on vocational GCSEs. [152563]

  Mr. Wicks
  Vocational GCSEs will be introduced in September 2002. They are part of our programme to improve work-related opportunities for 14 to 16-year-olds, so that those who want to can then go on to apprenticeships. The new system will raise the status of vocational study and bring schools, colleges and employers closer together.

  Joan Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on the development of a qualifications ladder of vocational learning. [152570]

  Mr. Wicks
  The vocational ladder will offer young people wanting to follow programmes of vocational study a clear set of steps that will allow them to progress to further and higher study, as well a being relevant to work. We have introduced vocational A levels, are reforming and extending Modern Apprenticeships and are introducing Foundation Degrees. The new vocational GCSEs, to be available from September 2002, will provide a qualification of the same standard as academic GCSEs.

  Constitutional Reform
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on the scope of his Department's responsibilities relating to constitutional reform, with special reference to the balance of parliamentary representation. [152564]

  Mr. Wills
  This Department is a member of one Cabinet committee and two sub-committees on constitutional reform, and may be invited to others as necessary. I am taking part in cross-party debates for young people run by the Citizenship Foundation, with devolved administration colleagues; the Prime Minister asked me personally to help foster a debate on what Britishness means in the 21st century. Other Departments are responsible for the balance of parliamentary representation.

  New Deal 50 plus
  Mr. Love
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what guaranteed minimum income is available to those on New Deal 50-plus. [152565]

  Ms Jowell
  From April, eligible people who enter full time work are guaranteed a minimum income after deductions of £180 per week for up to 12 months. This consists of the national minimum wage paid by the employer and the Employment Credit of £60 per week paid by the Government. With effect from 1 October this 724W
  will increase to a guaranteed minimum income of £189 per week as a result of the previously announced rise to the minimum wage.

  Teacher Shortages
  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on the teacher shortage in Essex. [152566]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  I congratulate Essex heads and teachers on maintaining normal timetables in their schools, despite recruitment difficulties in some areas. Latest figures (January 2000) show the Essex teacher vacancy rate as 1.7 per cent. We announced in the Budget that a further £200 million would be spent on teacher recruitment and retention.

  Mr. Wilkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many representations he has received from local education authorities in outer London about shortages of teachers in the last twelve months. [152584]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  My right hon. Friend receives frequent representations from outer London local education authorities on a wide range of issues.

  On 16 January, I met representatives of inner and outer London boroughs specifically to discuss teacher recruitment. Since that meeting my right hon. Friend has published his proposals for teachers' pay in 2001–02. These take particular account of the need to help local education authorities recruit and retain teachers, and include a proposal to increase the outer London weighting allowance by 30 per cent. He has also published a Green Paper, "Schools: building on success", containing proposals that will help recruit and retain teachers generally.

  New Deal for Lone Parents
  Ms Keeble
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what impact the New Deal has had on training for employment of lone parents. [152568]

  Ms Hodge
  Since the New Deal for Lone Parents was introduced over 22,000 lone parents have benefited from help with training to improve their prospects of getting a job. Trained personal advisers can help find suitable work-related training that supports the work goals of the individual and takes into account their child care responsibilities. Lone parents also receive financial support to cover the costs. From April this year we will introduce a £15 weekly training premium on top of the existing help. And as we announced in the Budget, we will also introduce a self-employment option for lone parents similar to that which is available through the New Deal for 25 plus. We will also introduce greater flexibility to enable lone parents to take a wider range of intensive short work-focused courses.

  Barnsley College
  Mr. Illsley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what recent representations he has received regarding the funding of Barnsley College. [152569]
  725W
  Mr. Wicks
  We are well aware of Barnsley College's funding position. The Further Education Funding Council and the college are currently discussing the best approach to putting the college on a sound financial footing.

  Worcestershire
  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to bring spending per pupil in Worcestershire closer to the national average; and if he will make a statement. [152571]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The Green Paper on the future of local authority funding made it clear that we want to remove the worst of the disparities that affect counties like Worcestershire, by levelling up not down. We will be working on this over the coming months, with the aim of moving towards a new system in 2002–03.

  In the meantime, the Government continue to make substantial increases in the overall level of funding throughout the country.

  New Deal for Schools
  Mr. Bradshaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many schools in Exeter have benefited from the New Deal for Schools. [152572]

  Jacqui Smith
  Eight schools in the Exeter constituency have directly benefited from New Deal for Schools investment—Bradley Rowe Middle, Foxhayes First, Ladysmith Middle, Whipton Barton First, St. James' High, St. Luke's CE High. St. Peter's CE High and the Topsham School. In addition, 58 other schools outside of Exeter can be identified as having directly benefited from New Deal for Schools investment in Devon local education authority. A further 34 schools were included in packages which cannot be readily identified to individual schools from the Department's records.

  Mr. Efford
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many schools have benefited from the New Deal for Schools; and what plans he has to increase spending in this area. [152559]

  Jacqui Smith
  Some 17,000 schools have so far benefited from allocations to individual projects under the New Deal for Schools programme. Over the next three years, we are investing £8.5 billion, as part of the biggest school building and repair programme in decades. This includes devolving over £1 billion direct to schools. It will enable 650 schools to be replaced or completely refurbished and major repair and improvement projects to be carried out at over 7,000 schools.

  Teacher Administration
  Mr. Blunt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what recent meetings he has had with teachers' representatives to discuss the level of administration by teachers. [152573]

  Jacqui Smith
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I meet regularly with teachers' representatives and we discuss a wide range of subjects, including our work to cut down the level of administration by teachers.

  Funding Formulae
  Mr. Andrew George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what progress has been made in reviewing the formulae for the funding of local education authorities. [152574]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  We issued a Green Paper on Local Authority Funding on 19 September 2000 and consultation ended on 8 December. An analysis of consultation responses was published on 5 March on the DETR website at www.local.detr.gov.uk/greenpap/ analysis/index.htm. Copies of the analysis have also been placed in the Library. We will publish a White Paper on Local Government Finance later in the year. We will be working on a new formula for funding local education authorities over the coming months, with the aim of moving towards a new system in 2002–03.

  GCSEs
  Mr. McCabe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Emloyment if he will make a statement on the trend in the percentage of pupils gaining five or more A* to C grade GCSEs since 1997. [152575]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The percentage of 15-year-old pupils gaining five or more A*-C grades at GCSE or the GNVQ equivalent has increased from 45.1 per cent. in 1996–97 to 49.2 per cent. in 1999–2000. The overall increase was four percentage points with an increase of at one percentage point in each of the intervening years. This shows that the figures are on track to reach the target of 50 per cent. by 2002.

  School Discipline
  Sir Geoffrey Johnson Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on discipline in schools. [152576]

  Jacqui Smith
  We regularly meet representatives of the teacher associations and discipline is one of the issues discussed at these meetings.

  Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools' latest annual report shows that behaviour is good in three quarters of secondary schools and almost all primary schools, although he noted increasing levels of poor behaviour in the early years of secondary school. That is why we are providing record levels of funding—£174 million in 2001–02—a third more than this year and 10 times more than in 1996–97—to help schools and local education authorities tackle poor behaviour and provide education for excluded pupils.

  This is helping to pay for the 1,000 on-site Learning Support Units which take disruptive pupils out of the classroom quickly, improve their behaviour and reduce the need for exclusion. This network has been delivered a year ahead of the original target date.

  We are giving heads the full support they need to tackle disruptive and violent behaviour, including the use of exclusion where appropriate. We have clarified our exclusion guidance to emphasise that heads can permanently exclude pupils who are very disruptive or violent. And the new guidance for exclusion appeal panels makes clear that the head's decision should not be overridden in a range of circumstances including where there is violence or the threat of violence.
  727W
  Where an exclusion is necessary provision for excluded pupils is being greatly increased. There are over 1,000 more places and nearly 600 more teachers, instructors and education support staff at Pupil Referral Units compared with 1997. Planned LEA funding for PRUs increased by 13 per cent. this year compared with last, and we expect to see a 10 per cent. rise in the number of PRUs in 2001 compared with 2000. And by 2002 all local education authorities plan to provide a full timetable for excluded pupils.

  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what recent meetings he has had with teachers' representatives to discuss discipline in schools. [152587]

  Jacqui Smith
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given earlier today to the right hon. Member for Wealden (Sir G. Johnson Smith).

  SEN (South Swindon)
  Ms Drown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what steps he has taken to improve support for pupils with special needs in South Swindon. [152578]

  Jacqui Smith
  Swindon Local Education Authority has received in 2000–01 £807,309 from the DfEE's Standard Fund grants for special educational needs, inclusion and emotional and behavioural difficulties, social inclusion and access for post 16. Swindon LEA SEN budgets have increased in 2000–01 by £172,000 (3.46 per cent.) to £5,143,000 and special school delegated budgets by £376,000 (11.83 per cent.) to £3,584,000. £50 million is available nationally from the Schools Access Initiative for 2001–02 to support projects to make mainstream schools and the curriculum accessible to pupils in wheelchairs or with sensory impairments. Swindon LEA has been allocated £185,650 for community, foundation and voluntary controlled schools and £46,750 for voluntary aided schools.

  Employment Zones
  Mr. Healey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on the performance of and future plans for Employment Zones. [152579]

  Ms Jowell
  Employment Zones have been running only since April 2000 but are already getting substantial numbers of the hardest to help into work. The Government will build on this early success by extending the existing zones for an additional 12 months. Subject to satisfactory evaluation of the existing zones in the coming months the Government will consider extending Employment Zones to new areas and to other claimant groups, for example, lone parents.

  Disabled People
  Ms Osborne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what progress has been made towards introducing comprehensive civil rights for disabled people. [152580]

  Ms Hodge
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave on 5 March 2001,Official Report, column 14W.

  Childminders
  Siobhain McDonagh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what steps he has taken to increase the supply of childminders. [152581]

  Ms Hodge
  On 15 June last year, I launched a £4.5 million start-up grant, to help provide up to 39,000 childminder places in 2000–01. The grant, supported by the European Social Fund (ESF), helps people starting out in childminding to meet some of the associated set-up costs. The childcare tax credit element of the Working Families Tax Credit helps more parents to use childminding services as it pays up to 70 per cent. of childminding fees. This has the effect of allowing childminders to use the increase in revenue to invest in their business and, therefore, of encouraging more people into childminding.

  Over the next three years, we have given Early Years Development and Childcare Partnerships the target of setting up a minimum of 145,000 new childcare places with childminders across England by March 2004, a minimum of 25,000 of which will be in areas of disadvantage. These places will be in addition to those which partnerships would normally expect to create.

  To support partnerships in achieving these targets, we are making extensive new investment in increasing the supply of childminding reflecting the Government's determination to reverse the decline in numbers. This includes extending the childminder start-up grant by £17 million over the three years.

  We are also helping with infrastructure support for childminding by providing £11.25 million for the creation of 450 childminder networks over the next three years. Networks can encourage people to enter childminding and, by providing support, help to reduce childminder turnover.

  Last month I announced a new £3 million project, again supported by ESF moneys, to support new childminder networks in four disadvantaged areas helping teenage mothers stay in full time education and training.

  Complaints Procedures
  Tony Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what proposals he has to introduce a school complaints system. [152582]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  I have nothing further to add to the reply I gave my hon Friend on 4 May 2000,Official Report, column 186W. We believe that the majority of schools already have procedures in place for handling complaints, generally based on models provided by local education authorities and diocesan boards.

  Chris Woodhead
  Mr. Fallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on the circumstances in which Mr. Chris Woodhead ceased to be Her Majesty's chief inspector of schools. [152583]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given earlier today by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State to the hon. Member for Southend, West (Mr. Amess) and my hon. Friend the Member for Pendle (Mr. Prentice).

  Universities
  Mr. Rammell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on the future level of funding for universities. [152585]

  Mr. Wicks
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced last November increases of £412 million, £268 million and £298 million over 2001–02 to 2003–04 for higher education in England: between 1998–99 and 2003–04 the total additional funding will be over £1.7 billion. For the first time in over a decade the unit of funding per full-time equivalent student will increase in real terms in 2001–02 and expansion will be fully funded in the following two years.

  There is also additional funding for research. In July 2000 the Government announced £1 billion in funding for improvements in research infrastructure, available to institutions in 2002–03 and 2003–04. Universities will be able to bid for part of an extra £250 million provided by Office of Science and Technology for research into genomics, e-science and basic technology.

  Early Excellence Centre
  Mr. Dobbin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to develop the early excellence centre programme. [152586]

  Ms Hodge
  The EEC programme is at the forefront of our policies to develop good practice in integrated care, education and family services. 29 centres are making a real difference to the lives of children and their families. On 27 February we announced the designation of six new centres and an additional £17 million to expand the programme. Working closely with Sure Start and Neighbourhood Nurseries, we will create up to 100 centres across the country by 2004.

  Disability Taskforce
  Mr. Joyce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on the Government's response to the disability taskforce report. [152588]

  Ms Hodge
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave on 5 March 2001,Official Report, column 14W.

  Central government capital investment in schools in Warrington local education authority

  £000

  Funding stream

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  Basic Credit Approvals

  5,295

  1,189

  829

  2,389

  Supplementary Credit Approvals

  534

  193

  90

  92

  Grant to Voluntary Aided Schools

  1,277

  207

  438

  505

  New Deal for Schools

  972

  1,083

  1,500

  2,776

  School Security Grant

  275

  66

  67

  67

  Energy Efficiency Initiative

  —

  62

  —

  —

  Key Stage 1 Class Size Initiative

  —

  218

  1,436

  442

  National Grid for Learning Grant

  —

  401

  465

  670

  Assistance with Asset Management Plans

  —

  —

  27

  —

  Seed Challenge Funding

  —

  —

  —

  152

  Devolved Formula Capital for Schools

  —

  —

  —

  1,438

  Renewal of School Laboratories

  —

  —

  —

  149

  Schools Access Initiative Grant

  20

  5

  9

  48

  Outside Toilets

  —

  56

  —

  —

  Secondary Support Learning Units

  —

  —

  —

  43

  Total

  8,373

  3,480

  4,861

  8,771

  Long-term Unemployed
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what measures he is taking to encourage small businesses to recruit long-term unemployed people from disadvantaged communities. [152561]

  Ms Jowell
  At least 275,000 long-term unemployed young people have already found work through the New Deal, the majority in small and medium sized businesses. From April this year we will pilot a new project called Recruit, a simplified employment subsidy for small and medium sized businesses which employ people from the New Deal in disadvantaged areas. Less bureaucracy, more people into jobs—that is our commitment to small employers and the unemployed.

  Nursery Places
  Ms Ryan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how the new neighbourhood nurseries initiative will support the national childcare strategy. [152567]

  Ms Hodge
  The national childcare strategy aims to create 1 million new childcare places for 1.6 million children across the country by 2004. 45,000 additional places in up to 900 new or expanded neighbourhood nursery centres will also be created. These nurseries will be in the most disadvantaged areas of the country where many families cannot presently access high quality childcare. The places created should be in well-designed buildings and sustainable over time, meeting childcare needs now and in the future.

  New Classrooms
  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many new classrooms have been created in the Warrington, North constituency; and which schools have received them since 1997. [149484]

  Jacqui Smith
  [holding answer 8 February 2001]: Figures on the number of new classrooms created are not readily available. I refer my hon. Friend to the replies I gave on 27 June 2000, Official Report, columns 472–74W, for details of specific allocations made to schools in the Warrington, North constituency. The table shows the total capital investment made in schools in Warrington local education authority since 1997–98.
  731W
  Warrington local education authority was established in 1998. Figures shown for 1997–98 are for Cheshire local education authority, which included Warrington at that time.

  Schools Funding (Stroud)
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the additional resources he has made available to schools in Stroud since 1997 according to sector; under which(a) scheme and (b) funds they are provided; and if he will make a statement. [152178]

  Jacqui Smith
  [holding answer 6 March 2001]: I refer my hon. Friend to the letter sent to him on 16 February by the Secretary of State concerning increases in funding that the Government have made available to Gloucestershire local education authority since 1996–97.

  Information showing the schools in the Stroud constituency, which benefited under the New Deal for Schools, is shown in Table A. These allocations formed

  Table A: New Deal for Schools—Allocation to schools in the Stroud constituency

  Year/school

  Project details

  Grant awarded (£)

  1997–98

  Dursley CE Primary

  Provision of inside toilets and hall; improvement to staff facilities/security; rewiring

  1435,000

  1998–99

  Rodborough Community Primary

  Maintenance and improvement works, including replacement of HORSA classrooms

  285,452

  Cam House Special

  Remodelling/refurbishment of science provision and urgent maintenance works

  118,104

  Park Infant

  Maintenance and improvement works, including replacement HORSA classrooms

  233,560

  Slimbridge Primary

  Maintenance and improvement works, including replacement of HORSA unit

  181,012

  1999–2000

  Saul CE Primary

  Replacement of prefabricated mobile classroom

  94,191

  Cam House Special

  Provision of science facilities, classroom and window refurbishment

  229,684

  Dursley CE Primary

  Removal of asbestos materials

  2323,381

  Rodborough Community Primary

  Saul CE Primary

  Archway

  Bisley Blue Coat CE Primary

  Provision of fire alarm systems

  2318,263

  Cam Woodfield Infants

  Cashes Green Primary

  Coaley CE Primary

  Kings Stanley Infants

  Randwick CE Primary

  Saul CE Priamry

  Sheepscombe Primary

  Uley CE Primary

  Callowell Primary

  Fire precaution upgrade works

  2395,089

  Cashes Green Primary

  Dursley CE Primary

  Eastcombe Primary

  Eastington Primary

  Kings Stanley Junior

  Longney CE Primary

  Slimbridge Primary

  Whiteshill Primary

  Cam Woodfield Infant

  Berkeley Vale

  Cam House Special

  2000–01

  Archway

  Replacement of four temporary classrooms

  423,568

  Sapperton CE Primary

  732W
  part of the £12.482 million investment made so far in schools in Gloucestershire local education authority under the New Deal for Schools programme.

  The New Deal for Schools was introduced as a new additional programme targeted specifically at addressing the backlog of urgent repairs in school buildings that had built up under the previous Administration. It is in addition to other capital funds made available to Gloucestershire local education authority.

  In total, since 1997, Gloucestershire local education authority has received some £54.887 million of funding for capital investment in school buildings as shown in Table B.

  Nationally, investment in school buildings has tripled from £683 million a year in 1996–97 to over £2 billion in 2000–01. It will be £3.2 billion in 2003–04, including grant, credit approvals and Private Finance Initiative credits. There will be central Government investment of £7.8 billion in school buildings in total from 2001–02 to 2003–04.

  733W

  Table A: New Deal for Schools—Allocations to schools in the Stroud constituency

  Year/school

  Project details

  Grant awarded (£)

  Woodchester Endowed CE Primary

  Part of package to replace heating boilers

  21,099,238

  Berkeley Vale Community

  Stroud High

  Rednock

  Removal and replacement of asbestos building materials

  2503,438

  Eastcombe Primary

  Uley CE Primary

  Marley

  Provision of joint music facility for both schools

  572,772

  Stroud High

  Callowell Primary

  Provision electrical fire alarm systems

  2269,651

  Cam Everlands Primary

  Cashes Green Primary

  Dursley CE Primary

  Rodborough Community Primary

  Sharpness Primary

  The Thrupp

  Berkeley Vale Community

  St. Dominic's RC Primary

  Electrical re-wiring and cross bonding

  2253,294

  St. Josephs RC Primary

  The Rosary RC Primary

  Maidenhill

  Cam Everlands Primary

  Fire Precaution upgrading works

  2407,475

  Cam Woodfield Infant

  Cashes Green Primary

  Dursley CE Primary

  Eastington Primary

  Park Infant

  Park Junior

  Rodborough Community Primary

  St. Dominic's RC Primary

  Whiteshill Primary

  Berkeley Vale Community

  Thomas Keble

  Cam House Special

  1 Denotes total allocations made to projects in Phase 1 of the New Deal for Schools programme. Gloucestershire local education authority will be able to advise the value of projects at this school.

  2 Denotes total allocations made to package projects covering more than one school. Gloucestershire local education authority will be able to advise the value of projects at schools in the Stroud constituency which benefited from these allocations

  Table B: Central Government capital investment in schools in Gloucestershire local education authority

  £000

  Funding stream

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  Total

  Basic Credit Approvals

  6,837

  2,858

  7,158

  10,399

  27,252

  Supplementary Credit Approvals

  166

  541

  362

  919

  1,988

  Grant to Voluntary Aided Schools

  387

  233

  451

  1,086

  2,157

  New Deal for Schools

  435

  1,676

  3,625

  6,746

  12,482

  School Security Grant

  117

  147

  201

  201

  666

  Key Stage 1 Class Size Initiative

  —

  181

  564

  559

  1,304

  National Grid for Learning Grant

  —

  750

  586

  2,008

  3,344

  Assistance with Asset Management Plans

  —

  —

  92

  —

  92

  Seed Challenge Funding

  —

  —

  —

  314

  314

  Removal of Outside Toilets

  —

  416

  —

  —

  416

  Energy Efficiency Initiative

  —

  103

  —

  —

  103

  Devolved Formula Capital for Schools

  —

  —

  —

  4,346

  4,346

  Renewal of School Laboratories

  —

  —

  —

  319

  319

  Secondary Learning Support Units

  —

  —

  —

  100

  100

  Schools Access Initiative Grant

  4

  —

  —

  —

  4

  Total

  7,946

  6,905

  13,039

  26,997

  54,887

  Students Fund
  Mr. Gareth R. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what grants from the Students Fund for 2001–02 are still to be announced; and if he will make a statement. [152482]
  734W
  Mr. Wicks
  The total amount of funding which the Government are making available through the higher education Hardship Fund in 2001–02 is £93.3 million, 6 per cent. higher than in 2000–01. The total includes funding for fee waivers for part-time students, bursaries for student parents and Opportunity Bursaries. Within the
  735W
  total. resources for higher education students in further education institutions have been almost doubled to just under £5 million.

  Learner Support Funds for 16 to 19-year-old students, including general further education Access Funds, residential funding for students in specialist colleges and support for students in school sixth forms, will total £47.4 million in 2001–02, representing a 9 per cent. increase year on year. Support for students aged 19+ through these funds, including resources for child care support, will be £67 million in 2001 –02, representing an increase of over 20 per cent. year on year.

  Notification of allocations from the Hardship Fund to higher education institutions will be made this month. Allocations of Learner Support Funds and the Hardship Fund will be notified to further education institutions at the beginning of April.

  Faith Schools
  Mr. Ben Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on faith schools. [152555]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  As our recent Green Paper says, we wish to welcome more faith schools within the publicly funded sector of education, where there is clear local demand from parents and the community. Schools with a strong sense of identity and a distinctive ethos, like

  South Tyneside

  Per pupil funding £

  Cash

  Cash

  Cash

  Primary 5–10

  Secondary 11–15

  Schools 5–15

  SSA

  Grants

  Total per pupil

  SSA

  Grants

  Total Per pupil

  SSA

  Grants

  Total Per pupil

  1996–97

  2,010

  40

  2,050

  2,680

  30

  2,710

  2,300

  30

  2,340

  1997–98

  2,120

  40

  2,160

  2,780

  40

  2,820

  2,410

  40

  2,450

  1998–99

  2,230

  70

  2,300

  2,900

  60

  2,960

  2,530

  60

  2,590

  1999–2000

  2,360

  150

  2,510

  3,020

  110

  3,130

  2,660

  130

  2,790

  2000–01

  2,470

  300

  2,760

  3,180

  220

  3,400

  2,800

  260

  3,060

  2001–02

  2,580

  tba

  —

  3,310

  tba

  —

  2,930

  tba

  —

  Per pupil funding £

  Real terms 1990–2000 prices

  Real terms 1999–2000 prices

  Real terms 1999–2000 prices

  Primary 5–10

  Secondary 11–15

  Schools 5–15

  SSA

  Grants

  Per pupil

  SSA

  Grants

  Per pupil

  SSA

  Grants

  Per pupil

  1996–97

  2,180

  40

  2,220

  2,900

  30

  2,930

  2,500

  40

  2,530

  1997–98

  2,230

  40

  2,280

  2,930

  40

  2,960

  2,540

  40

  2,580

  1998–99

  2,290

  70

  2,360

  2,970

  60

  3,030

  2,590

  60

  2,650

  1999–2000

  2,360

  150

  2,510

  3,020

  110

  3,130

  2,660

  130

  2,790

  2000–01

  2,430

  290

  2,720

  3,120

  210

  3,340

  2,750

  250

  3,010

  2001–02

  2,470

  tba

  —

  3,180

  tba

  —

  2,810

  tba

  —

  Note:

  Real terms calculated using GDP deflators published by the Treasury 7 March 2001.

  Figures are rounded to the nearest £10.

  Teachers' Morale
  Mr. Purchase
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on trends in teachers' morale since the appointment of the new Chief Inspector of Schools. [153010]
  736W
  faith schools, tend to be valued by parents. The faith schools in my hon. Friend's constituency are the following:

  St. John's Catholic Infant School

  St. John's Catholic Junior School

  Christ the King Catholic Primary School

  St. Peter's CE Primary School

  St. Andrew's CE Primary School

  St. Mary's CE Primary School.

  I welcome the valuable contribution they make to pupils' development and to the Wirral community of schools.

  Funding (South Shields and South Tyneside)
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) what the SSA per(a) primary school and (b) secondary school was, in real terms. for South Tyneside in each year since 1996; [152783]

  (2) what the average funding allocation was per school age child in the Borough of South Tyneside in each year since 1996. [152785]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  [holding answer 12 March 2001]: The information requested is in the tables. They show that between 1996–97 and 1997–98 total funding in South Tyneside increased by £50 per pupil in real terms. Between 1997–98 and 2000–01 South Tyneside's funding per pupil has increased by £430 per pupil in real terms. Grant figures have not yet been finalised for 2001–02, so no comparable figure is available for that year.

  Ms Estelle Morris
  My Department has not attempted to measure the effect on teachers' morale of the appointment of HM Chief Inspectors of Schools. My right hon. Friend and I are happy to put on record our support for the teaching profession and our recognition of the hard work of teachers in raising standards in our schools.

  School Computers (Wansbeck)
  Mr. Denis Murphy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many computers there are in schools in Wansbeck; and how many there were in 1997. [153146]

  Mr. Wills
  The Department does not collect details about the numbers of school computers held in individual constituencies. Data from the Department's Survey of information and communications technology in Schools 1996 are given, as the survey was performed bi-annually until 1998. The comparable survey in 2000 shows that the numbers of computers in schools in England has increased as shown in the following table:

  Sector

  March 1996

  March 2000

  1 Primary

  13.0

  17.8

  Secondary

  95.9

  112.6

  Special

  19.0

  66.5

  The ratio of computers to pupils since 1996 has improved as follows:

  Sector

  March 1996

  March 2000

  2 Primary

  1:19

  1:12.6

  Secondary

  1:9

  1:7.9

  Special

  1:4

  1:3.7

  Teachers (Lancashire)
  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the number of(a) part-time teachers, (b) teachers recruited from overseas and (c) supply teachers employed by Lancashire Education Authority in (i) 1997, (ii) 1998, (iii) 1999, (iv) 2000 and (v) 2001. [153155]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  Part-time teachers and qualified short-term supply teachers on contracts of under one month employed in the maintained schools sector in Lancashire local authority are as follows:

  January

  Part-time teachers (headcount)

  Supply teachers 1

  1997

  1,690

  560

  1998

  1,760

  510

  1999

  1,880

  400

  2000

  1,850

  510

  1 Supply teachers employed for a full day on the day of the count. Supply teachers on contracts of one month or more cannot be separately identified from teachers in regular service and are not included in the table.

  Note:

  All numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10

  Teachers recruited from overseas are not collected centrally. Teacher numbers for January 2001 are not yet available.

  £

  Gloucestershire SSA

  Grants

  Total

  Oxfordshire SSA

  Grants

  Total

  Essex SSA

  Grants

  Total

  Funding per 5–15 pupil (cash)

  1990–91

  1,710

  —

  —

  1,740

  —

  —

  1,760

  —

  —

  1991–92

  1,960

  —

  —

  2,010

  —

  —

  2,030

  —

  —

  1992–93

  2,080

  —

  —

  2,140

  —

  —

  2,190

  —

  —

  738W
  The Local Government Reorganisation affected Lancashire on 1 April 1998. From this date, Lancashire split to become three authorities: Lancashire, Blackburn with Darwen and Blackpool. The figures in the table for 1999 and 2000 are the addition of the three new authorities.

  The number of regular teachers (ie excluding short-term supply) in maintained schools in England increased by 6,900 between January 1998 and January 2000.

  There was a growth of more than 2,000 in the number of people training to he teachers between 1999–2000 and 2000–01, the first such increase since 1992–93.

  From April 2001 new graduate recruits can expect to earn £17,000 a year (up 6 per cent. from the previous year) and starting salaries in inner London will rise to £20,000 (up 9 per cont. from the previous year).

  Educational Schemes
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list each school in England and Wales to which(a) the Pupil Learning Credits Scheme, (b) the National Grid for Learning, (c) Excellence in Cities and (d) the Learning Mentors Scheme applies, indicating in each case, for each school, (i) the parliamentary constituency in which the school is situated, (ii) the number of pupils who will benefit from the scheme and (iii) the value of the scheme for each school. [153278]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  [holding answer 12 March 2001]: This information is not held centrally and can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Standard Spending Assessments
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list for each year since the Area Cost Adjustment was introduced the amount of standard spending assessment for each pupil in(a) Gloucestershire, (b) Oxfordshire and (c) Essex; and if he will make a statement on the reviews of ACA which have taken place or are currently taking place. [153387]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The table gives the data requested from when the SSA system began in 1990–91.

  The Green Paper on the future of local authority funding makes it clear that we want to remove the worst of the disparities that exist, including those caused by the Area Cost Adjustment. Our aim is to level up not down. We will be working on this over the coming months, with the aim of moving Towards a new system in 2002–03.

  The table shows that between 1997–98 and 2000–01, funding per pupil in Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Essex has increased by well over £300 in real terms. There will be further increases at national level in funding following the Year 2000 Spending Review and the recent Budget announcement: a further £420 per pupil over the three-year period, taking the total increase to nearly £750 between 1997–98 and 2003–04.

  739W

  £

  Gloucestershire SSA

  Grants

  Total

  Oxfordshire SSA

  Grants

  Total

  Essex SSA

  Grants

  Total

  1993–94

  2,120

  —

  —

  2,230

  —

  —

  2,260

  —

  —

  1994–95

  2,140

  —

  —

  2,260

  —

  —

  2,330

  —

  —

  1995–96

  2,110

  —

  —

  2,220

  —

  —

  2,280

  —

  —

  1996–97

  2,190

  —

  —

  2,270

  —

  —

  2,360

  —

  —

  1997–98

  2,250

  20

  2,270

  2,320

  40

  2,350

  2,400

  20

  2,420

  1998–991

  2,360

  30

  2,390

  2,450

  50

  2,500

  2,530

  30

  2,550

  1999–2000

  2,470

  100

  2,570

  2,560

  110

  2,670

  2,630

  90

  2,720

  2000–01

  2,580

  230

  2,800

  2,690

  210

  2,900

  2,760

  190

  2,950

  2001–02

  2,680

  —

  —

  2,840

  —

  —

  2,900

  —

  —

  Real terms 1999–2000 prices

  1990–91

  2,250

  —

  —

  2,280

  —

  —

  2,310

  —

  —

  1991–92

  2,420

  —

  —

  2,490

  —

  —

  2,510

  —

  —

  1992–93

  2,490

  —

  —

  2,560

  —

  —

  2,620

  —

  —

  1993–94

  2,470

  —

  —

  2,600

  —

  —

  2,640

  —

  —

  1994–95

  2,460

  —

  —

  2,600

  —

  —

  2,670

  —

  —

  1995–96

  2,360

  —

  —

  2,480

  —

  —

  2,550

  —

  —

  1996–97

  2,380

  —

  —

  2,450

  —

  —

  2,560

  —

  —

  1997–98

  2,370

  30

  2,390

  2,440

  40

  2,480

  2,520

  20

  2,540

  1998–991

  2,410

  30

  2,450

  2,510

  50

  2,560

  2,590

  30

  2,610

  1999–2000

  2,470

  100

  2,570

  2,560

  110

  2,670

  2,630

  90

  2,720

  2000–01

  2,530

  220

  2,760

  2,640

  210

  2,850

  2,710

  190

  2,900

  2001–02

  2,570

  —

  —

  2,720

  —

  —

  2,780

  —

  —

  1 Prior to the local government reorganisation in 1998–99, Essex included Southend on Sea and Thurrock. The figures for 1997–98 are based on an apportionment for Essex across the three constituent authorities

  Notes:

  1. Comparable grant information is not available prior to 1997–98: all grants for 2001–02 have not yet been allocated

  2. The SSA figures make no allowances for changes in SSA methodology since 1990–91

  3. Figures are rounded to the nearest £10

  4. Real term figures calculated using GDP deflators published by the Treasury 7 March 2001

  Targeted Capital Fund
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many applications he has received for the Targeted Capital Fund; how much in total has been applied for; when he expects to announce the allocations; and if he will make a statement. [153535]

  Jacqui Smith
  Proposals for a total of 208 projects seeking support from the Targeted Capital Fund have been received from 116 local education authorities. The total value of the proposals submitted is £299 million. We are currently appraising these proposals, and I aim to make an announcement before the end of this month.

  Proposals to be supported will be funded as part of the £8.5 billion investment programme in school buildings over the next three years. Most of this funding is being allocated according to needs-related formulae, rather than in response to bids. This funding is in addition to more than £5 billion capital invested since 1997. Capital funding this year at over £2 billion is more than three times the £683 million spent on schools capital in 1996–97.

  Grammar Schools
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what criteria are used by grammar 740W
  schools to select pupils; and what consideration is given to children's performance in the national curriculum when selecting such pupils. [153720]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  Admission authorities for grammar schools are responsible for setting their own arrangements for selecting pupils. Some allocate places on the basis of rank order of merit in the entrance test; others set a pass mark for the test and, if more children achieve the pass mark than there are places available, normal oversubscription criteria (for example siblings, distance) are used to allocate the places. Some admission authorities review cases of children who have marginally failed to reach the required standard in the test, taking account of head teachers' recommendations and school reports, which are likely to include reference to performance in the National Curriculum.

  School Clubs and Holiday Schemes
  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many(a) after school club places and (b) holiday playscheme places there were (i) in 1996 and (ii) at the latest date for which figures are available in (A) London and (B) each London borough. [152200]

  Ms Hodge
  [pursuant to her reply, 13 March 2001, c. 561–62W]: The wrong table was printed. The correct table is as follows.
  741W

  Number of providers in out of school clubs and holiday schemes and number of places

  1996

  2000

  Out of school clubs

  Holiday schemes

  Out of school clubs

  Holiday schemes

  Providers

  Places

  Providers

  Places

  Providers

  Places

  Providers

  Places

  London

  432

  14,404

  899

  50,694

  768

  34,318

  2,462

  124,977

  Inner London

  239

  9,343

  387

  16,561

  452

  24,114

  1,046

  57,751

  City of London

  1

  50

  1

  52

  6

  280

  12

  520

  Camden

  30

  1,046

  71

  1,656

  31

  1,078

  141

  7,267

  Hackney

  1—

  1—

  22

  600

  19

  900

  13

  1,320

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  18

  560

  2

  40

  9

  175

  64

  1,605

  Haringey

  27

  1,120

  18

  1,686

  32

  1,504

  80

  5,654

  Islington

  44

  1,411

  82

  1,587

  57

  3,890

  70

  3,470

  Kensington and Chelsea

  18

  639

  47

  2,528

  15

  1,004

  50

  3,667

  Lambeth

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  37

  1,214

  22

  803

  Lewisham

  26

  983

  4

  290

  28

  930

  22

  1,039

  Newham

  13

  238

  27

  844

  30

  1,238

  262

  14,894

  Southwark

  24

  1,058

  20

  1,129

  70

  5,158

  124

  4,912

  Tower Hamlets

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  58

  3,664

  31

  1,161

  Wandsworth

  21

  1,181

  39

  3,215

  30

  1,245

  73

  5,614

  Westminster

  17

  1,057

  54

  2,934

  30

  1,834

  82

  5,825

  Outer London

  193

  5,061

  512

  34,133

  316

  10,204

  1,416

  67,226

  Barking and Dagenham

  5

  120

  14

  1,154

  8

  258

  91

  4,522

  Barnet

  9

  244

  46

  2,403

  19

  675

  120

  7,265

  Bexley

  4

  180

  6

  550

  5

  128

  32

  2,131

  Brent

  16

  480

  43

  2,150

  26

  567

  72

  2,298

  Bromley

  8

  266

  20

  1,641

  14

  422

  73

  4,022

  Croydon

  14

  610

  21

  825

  23

  1,022

  113

  6,405

  Ealing

  20

  600

  37

  628

  31

  699

  70

  2,478

  Enfield

  13

  1—

  32

  1—

  29

  928

  165

  7,643

  Greenwich

  2

  70

  1—

  1—

  31

  1,748

  27

  912

  Harrow

  15

  418

  66

  1—

  9

  352

  53

  2,743

  Havering

  7

  91

  14

  253

  5

  170

  33

  1,953

  Hillingdon

  8

  128

  20

  1,285

  12

  206

  52

  2,414

  Hounslow

  22

  836

  26

  7,316

  25

  745

  60

  2,097

  Kingston-upon-Thames

  13

  1—

  1—

  1—

  23

  653

  102

  4,799

  Merton

  9

  288

  65

  3,090

  11

  351

  77

  2,701

  Redbridge

  5

  112

  16

  10,176

  11

  366

  72

  3,417

  Richmond-upon-Thames

  14

  407

  50

  2,197

  16

  472

  85

  5,307

  Sutton

  9

  211

  17

  465

  5

  64

  86

  2,936

  Waltham Forest

  1—

  1—

  19

  1—

  13

  378

  33

  1,183

  1Not provided by the authority

  Note:

  Holiday scheme figures prior to 1998 may not be directly comparable to 2000 because of charges in the instructions given to providers for recording places in 1999.
  742W

  Variant CJD: Published Data
  Variant CJD: Published Data
  European Convention on Human Rights, Article 14: Justifiable Discrimination
  European Convention on Human Rights, Article 14: Justifiable Discrimination
  Autism
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  Chinook ZD576: Position of Crewmen
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  Army Personnel: Overseas Tours
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  EC Own Resources: UK Net Contributions
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  European Union: Inflation Comparisons
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  European Union Long-term Interest Rate Comparisons
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  Barnett Formula Allocations
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  QCs and Judges: Appointment Processes Scrutiny
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  Police Numbers
  Terrorism Act 2000: Objectives of Proscribed Organisations
  Terrorism Act 2000: Objectives of Proscribed Organisations
  Previous Conviction Information: Overseas Inquiries
  Previous Conviction Information: Overseas Inquiries
  Wales: Manufacturing Job Statistics
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  Wales: Farm Income Decline
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  Local Authorities: Alternative Arrangements Guidance
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  Agriculture in the United Kingdom 2000