Written Answers of 19 March 2001

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Departmental Advertising
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what major advertising campaigns his Department is carrying out; and what the cost and duration of each is. [154265]

  Dr. Howells
  Current major advertising campaigns through COI are:

  Campaign

  Expenditure(£)(including VAT)

  Duration

  Departmental

  Paid Annual Leave

  4,034,956

  9–25 March

  UK Online for Business

  1,546,031

  19 February-end March

  British Trade International

  Trade Partners

  1,233,329

  5–end March

  Agency—;Small Business Service

  Hooked on Helping Business

  1,439,457

  14–28 March

  Miners' Compensation
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many former miners in the South Shields constituency have(a) claimed and (b) received payments in compensation for (i) chronic bronchitis and emphysema and (ii) vibration white finger. [153299]

  Mr. Hain
  In the area of South Shields (as defined by the postcodes NE3 and NE4, which encompass the South Shields constituency) IRISC, the Department's claims handlers have registered 728 claims in respect of compensation for respiratory disease and 1,049 claims in relation to vibration white finger, VWF. To date, there have been 156 individual payments totalling £600,000 in respect of respiratory disease and 348 individual payments in respect of VWF amounting to £2.5 million.

  Ms Squire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the action he is taking to improve the consistency of the procedure for claiming compensation for vibration white finger between the Department for Social Security and his Department' schemes. [153612]

  Mr. Hain
  The Benefit Scheme administered by the DSS and the compensation scheme administered by this Department are two completely different schemes.

  Industrial Industries Disablement Benefits (IIDB) are payable to people who are disabled as a result of an accident at work or are one of over 70 prescribed diseases known to be a risk of occupation. VWF is one of these prescribed diseases. Benefit is normally paid only in
  2W
  respect of an assessment of 14 per cent. disability or more. Criteria for deciding claims are narrowly defined and set out in detail in legislation.

  The DTI's compensation scheme is based on common law principles and negligent exposure to vibration must be substantiated before any payment is made. An assessment is made on the level of disability which is set out in a Handling Arrangement agreed between the Department and miners' solicitors.

  Departmental Policies (Walthamstow)
  Mr. Gerrard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 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 [154185]

  Mr. Caborn
  The parliamentary constituency of Walthamstow has benefited from a range of initiatives since 1 May 1997. Direct business advice and support to small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) has been provided by the DTI through core programmes and the Business Links. While my Department does not collect detailed statistical information on a constituency basis, over 590 requests for advice, information and support from. SMEs in Walthamstow have been handled by the Business Links since May 1997.

  During the same period, grants totalling £215,000 have been awarded to companies through Regional Selective Assistance, as four of the wards in this constituency qualify for this aid.

  All wards in the constituency are eligible for the Enterprise Grant Scheme which was introduced in 2000.

  Credit Facilities
  Mr. Gorrie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will take steps to dissuade companies which offer credit facilities to customers from encouraging people to build up substantial debts. [154425]

  Dr. Howells
  Last November, I set up a taskforce, which includes credit industry representatives, to explore the causes and effects of over-indebtedness and develop practical solutions for achieving more responsible lending and borrowing. The taskforce will present proposals to me in April and I will be aiming to implement measures as soon as possible after that.

  Internal Market Council
  Mr. Hood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the outcome was of the Internal Market Council held in Brussels on 12 March; what the Government's voting record at the Council was; and if he will make a statement.[153814]

  Mr. Caborn
  My hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State responsible for consumers and corporate affairs represented the UK at the Internal Market, Consumers and Tourism Council in Brussels on 12 March.

  The Council discussed the Cardiff economic reform process and reached agreement on conclusions for input to the Stockholm European Council which support the reform agenda agreed at the Lisbon Summit in March
  3W
  2000. The Council also discussed the Commission's Communications on the removal of barriers to trade in services, simplification of the regulatory environment and the Commission's Communication on New European Labour Markets.

  Efforts to achieve a single EU-wide Community Patent were discussed, but there was no agreement on procedural conclusions allowing an early approach to the European Patent Office. The issue will be discussed again at the June Internal Market Council.

  The Council discussed the Presidency's draft compromise on the Directive on Distance Marketing of Financial Services but was unable to reach political agreement. This will also revert to the June Council.

  There were Commission presentations on the Strategy for the Customs Union; proposals relating to the traceability and labelling of genetically modified organisms; the Green Paper on integrated product policy; and the forthcoming Communication on the eEurope Action Plan. The Presidency introduced its strategy on integration of environmental protection and sustainable development into Internal Market policy, which will be discussed at the Council in June and adopted at the Gothenburg Summit. The Council generally endorsed the Commission's approach to a strategy for a chemicals policy, with a number of member states emphasising that the competitiveness of the EU industry needed to be taken into account. It took note of the progress made on the negotiations on the Commission's proposals relating to a European Food Authority.

  There were no votes at the Council.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Kaufman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will seek from the Chairman of the Post Office, an explanation of the reasons for which he has failed to reply to letters to him dated 12 January and 24 February from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton, with regard to sporting opportunities for Post Office workers. [154068]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  I have been advised by the Post Office that the Chairman's office has been in contact with the parliamentary office of my right hon. Friend. They have apologised for the failure to reply to these letters, which was due to an internal administrative error, and say that a response has now been prepared.

  Weights and Measures
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the financial effects on traders who(a) have and (b) have not complied with regulations requiring loose goods to be sold in metric units. [154136]

  Dr. Howells
  Most imperial weighing machines can be converted to metric at an average cost of £100 per machine. The price of a new metric weighing machine starts at about £450. No assessment has been made of the financial effects of non-compliance because it is expected that the conversion will be completed in the near future.
  4W
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on progress towards compliance with regulations requiring loose goods to be sold in metric units. [154135]

  Dr. Howells
  It is expected that the remaining imperial machines will be converted to metric or be replaced by metric weighing machines in the near future.

  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the effectiveness and compliance of United Kingdom legislation introduced as a result of Directive 80/181/EEC. [154190]

  Dr. Howells
  The conversion of all weighing machines to metric units, as required by Directive 80/181/EEC as amended in 1989, has taken longer than expected, but is expected to be completed in the near future.

  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the number of imperial Weighing machines still in use in the United Kingdom. [154134]

  Dr. Howells
  There are approximately 160,000 weighing machines in use for the sale of goods loose at the point of sale. The Department understands that nearly 130,000 are now metric and that just over 30,000 are still imperial.

  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry under what circumstances he uses the powers available to him under section 71 of the Weights and Measures Act 1985 to seek to encourage proper enforcement by local weights and measures authorities of legislation introduced as a result of Directive 80/181/EEC; and if he will make a statement. [154140]

  Dr. Howells
  The Department considers that local weights and measures authorities have taken steps to secure compliance with regulations on units of measurement that implement Directive 80/181/EEC as amended. The Department will consider any representations alleging a lack of proper enforcement.

  Mobile Telephones
  Mr. Bob Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will introduce legislation requiring retailers of mobile telephones to obtain the name and address of those purchasing such equipment and for this information to be registered with a telephone licensing authority. [152307]

  Ms Hewitt
  There is currently no plan to introduce legislation requiring purchasers of mobile phones to provide their name and address. However, this is an important issue and one which will be kept under review.

  Telecommunication Masts
  Mr. Sawford
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he will announce the outcome of the consultation on telecommunication mast development. [154293]

  Ms Hewitt
  The announcement on the outcome of the consultation was announced by my right hon. Friend the Minister for Housing and Planning on 16 March 2001. Details of the announcement can be found on the DETR website at www.detr.gov.uk.

  Export Credits (Saudi Arabia)
  Mr. Alan Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the applications for credit guarantees relating to Saudi Arabia received by the ECGD in the last 20 years, indicating the companies, amounts and projects in Saudi Arabia involved. [153726]

  Mr. Caborn
  Over the last 20 years ECGD has issued no guarantees in respect of credit business with Saudi Arabia. There have however been some 54 guarantees issued totalling £14.6 billion in respect of cash contracts.

  Details of applications which have not been the subject of a guarantee are subject to legitimate confidentiality under Exemption 13 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information and are not included in this answer.

  Foot and Mouth
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the impact of foot and mouth disease has been on the Royal Mail postal service; when full postal service will be restored; and if he will make a statement. [154219]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  I have been advised by the Post Office that Royal Mail and Parcelforce Worldwide are following advice from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food about delivering letters and parcels during the current outbreak of foot and mouth disease. Guidelines have been issued to all staff about deliveries in affected areas, and where advised appropriate precautions are being taken.

  Post Office staff can deliver mail and parcels as normal in all areas of the country except those within the restriction zones where special arrangements have been agreed with affected customers. Royal Mail and Parcelforce Worldwide are co-operating fully with all sanitary arrangements, which have been put in place by landowners outside quarantined areas regarding deliveries.

  The Post Office is in constant contact with MAFF and will continue to co-operate fully with their instructions. The full service will be restored when the current outbreak has been eradicated.

WALES

  Special Advisers
  Mr. Tyrie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what the total cost, including travel, accommodation and subsistence allowance, was of the two visits to Brussels undertaken by a departmental or non-departmental special adviser, mentioned in his answer of 5 June 2000,Official Report, column 46W. [152061]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  The two visits referred to in my earlier reply included one to Brussels and one to Dublin. The average total cost per trip including travel, accommodation and subsistence for the departmental special adviser was £649

  Timber
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if his Department's annual report on timber procurement to the Committee of Green Ministers will be published. [152043]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  All Government Departments are required to report annually on timber purchases, explaining what steps are being taken to buy timber and timber related products from sustainable and legal sources and the quantity and types of purchase. Information on timber procurement by the Wales Office will be published, along with information for other departments, in a report by Green Ministers in the autumn of 2001. The Wales Office has no other plans to publish information on timber procurement.

  Youth Parliament
  Mr. Rowe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will meet Welsh members of the UK Youth Parliament to discuss issues raised in the Parliament's manifesto. [152962]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  I understand that most parts of Wales have yet to elect members. When this process has been completed, I shall be happy to consider an invitation to meet them.

  Civil Servants (Salary Increases)
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales 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. [152787]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  [holding answer 14 March 2001]: Pay settlements for the Wales Office are linked to those of the National Assembly for Wales. The full value of the award for 2000–01 was 5 per cent., taking into account the basic award, performance and progression elements, changes to the pay bands, and all other elements. The average percentage increases in salaries of non-industrial civil servants, excluding members of the senior Civil Service, was 4.2 per cent. for 2000–01.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

  Departmental Advertising
  Mr. Lansley
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list the television, newspaper and radio advertising and other promotional campaigns conducted by(a) her Department, (b) its agencies and (c) its departmental public bodies, in each of the past five years, showing for each the expenditure incurred by her Department; and if she will make a statement. [153416]

  Clare Short
  DFID does not have an advertising budget. The vast majority of advertising relates to recruitment advertising in newspapers and journals, costing £1 million-£million annually.

  DFID has no agencies or other public bodies.

  Human Rights
  Mr. Alexander
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps her Department is taking to promote human rights in poorer countries. [153752]

  Clare Short
  Human rights are central to my Department's work which is dedicated to the realisation of the human rights of the poorest people of the world. In October last year we published our strategy for achieving this goal, entitled "Realising human rights for poor people". A copy was placed in the Library of the House. I shall send one to my hon. Friend.

  Ethiopia (Refugee Returns)
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what plans she has to investigate the refugee screening process of the Oramo people in Sudan returning to Ethiopia; and if she will make a statement. [153721]

  Clare Short
  We support the efforts of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to facilitate the voluntary repatriation of Ethiopian, Chadian, Somali and Ugandan refugees in 2001, unless after screening they have compelling reasons to remain in the Sudan.

  Colombia
  Mr. Simon Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the Government's policy with regard to Plan Colombia. [153935]

  Mr. Battle
  I have been asked to reply.

  Plan Colombia is the Colombian Government's strategy for tackling the interconnected problems of internal violence, social and economic inequality, abuse of human rights and drugs cultivation and trafficking.

  Concerns are raised by some aspects of Plan Colombia, in particular the eradication of illegal crops by aerial spraying. The UK has not given any financial or other support to the plan. Instead, the UK is contributing to and fully supports assistance to Colombia through the European Union of 105 million euro over the next five years. The EU package will focus on measures to support human rights, long-term economic and social development and an end to violence.

  Mr. Simon Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what representations she has made to(a) the Colombian Government, (b) the USA Government and(c) international organisations about the position of the trade union movement in Colombia. [153932]

  Mr. Battle
  I have been asked to reply.

  We are very concerned about increasing levels of violence in Colombia, particularly that directed at trade unionists and other human rights defenders.

  The British Embassy in Bogota is in regular contact with the main trade unions in Colombia, and has discussed the position of trade unionists there with both the ILO special representative, Rafael Alburquerque, and the Colombian Government. Following a meeting with Alexander Lopez of the CUT Union (Central Unitaria de Trabajadores), who has received death threats in
  8W
  Colombia, my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office wrote Colombia's Vice-President on 21 December 2000 to underline our concern that he and other trade union leaders be afforded the protection necessary to go about their lives and work safely.

  The UK Government have a regular and on-going dialogue with the US Government about the human rights situation in Colombia.

  The UK supported the appointment to Colombia in June 2000 of a special representative of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) to report on trade union rights and the security of trade union members and to verify measures taken by the Colombian Government to protect trade unionists.

  We expect the European Union to make a statement on these issues when the Commission on Human Rights meets in Geneva from 19 March to 27 April.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Stationery
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee if bespoke stationery provided for hon. Members' use is 100 per cent. recycled; and what the definition is of the term environmentally friendly, used in the House of Commons stationery catalogue. [154404]

  Mrs. Roe
  Bespoke stationery, as approved by the Administration Committee in May 1998, is manufactured from 75 per cent.
  pre-consumer waste and 25 per cent. virgin pulp harvested from sustainable forests. The current stationery catalogue contains no reference to environmentally friendly stationery.

SCOTLAND

  Policy and Strategy Units
  Mr. Tyrie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when her policy unit was established; which of its reports are placed in the public domain; how many departmental or non-departmental special advisers participate in its work; how many regular(a) non-departmental and (b) departmental staff participate in its work; and how many of these work for the unit on a full-time basis. [150361]

  Mrs. Liddell
  My Department does not have a policy unit.

  SERC Contracts
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if she will list the contracts that exist between SERC and the Department, its executive agencies and associated public bodies; and if she will list those which have existed in the last three years. [151349]

  Mrs. Liddell
  My Department has one contract with SERC, for the provision of cleaning services at the Department's office in Edinburgh. There have been no other contracts with SERC since the Department was established on 1 July 1999.

PRIME MINISTER

  Performance and Innovation Unit
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the terms of reference, composition and consultation mechanisms of the Performance and Innovation Unit's inquiry into health in developing countries, indicating when it will report. [152120]

  The Prime Minister
  The Performance and Innovation Unit's project has three key aims:

  (i) to develop a more effective approach to reducing the prevalence of HIV/AIDS, TB, and malaria in developing countries;

  (ii) to identify which instruments might best deliver solutions at an affordable price to developing and developed countries; and

  (iii) to produce a framework for a more effective partnership between governments and the private sector, including the pharmaceutical industry, and the voluntary sector to combat these diseases in developing countries.

  The challenge is to find mechanisms to improve incentives, deploying new and existing solutions for tackling infectious diseases alongside developing countries' health care delivery systems is and policies. This project will consider the attractiveness, efficacy, cost-effectiveness and affordability of the different types of the alternative approaches; sustainability will be an important criterion for assessing interventions.

  As with all PIU projects, the project team comprises secondees and other Government Departments, including the Department for International Development, as well as specialists from the academic and private sectors. An advisory group is to be appointed including members from a wide range of backgrounds.

  The project team is developing its ideas with a wide range of people and organisations already undertaking work in these areas. The team works closely with the Department for International Development and HM Treasury, and is meeting international stakeholders, including the World Health Organisation, the World Bank, UNAIDS and Governments of developing countries as well as NGOs and the private sector.

  The project's major output will be a set of proposals to feed into the UK position at the G8 summit in July 2001. Two consultation papers have been published so far, and are available on the project's website: http:// www/cabinet-office.gov.uk/innovation/2001/health/ mainpage.html.

  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Prime Minister what plans he has to publish the report prepared on the future of UK renewable energy by the Performance and Innovation Unit. [154196]

  The Prime Minister
  The Performance and Innovation Unit study on resource productivity and renewable energy will be published in the autumn. The study will outline a long-term strategy for moving to a low-carbon, low-waste, knowledge-intensive economy in which renewable energy technologies are expected to play a major role. The study will set out how the £100 million announced in my environment speech on Tuesday 6 March will be used to support the development of a range of renewable technologies.

  Foot and Mouth Disease
  Mr. Nicholls
  To ask the Prime Minister what assessment Her Majesty's Government have made of the overall economic consequences for areas where foot and mouth disease has been discovered; if he will identify the consequential losses that flow from the disease with a view to proposing a package of financial measures to assist; and if he will make a statement. [153975]

  The Prime Minister
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 16 March 2001, Official Report, columns 753–54W.

  The overall economic consequences cannot be quantified until the full extent of the outbreak is known. However, the situation is clearly a serious one. That is why I have asked my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Environment to chair a Task Force to consider the implications of the outbreak for the rural economy, both immediately and in the longer term and to report to me on appropriate measures.

  Environmental Policy
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Prime Minister what plans he has to discuss with business the implementation of environmental productivity indicators and long-term resource targets contained in his speech on environmental policy at Chatham House on 6 March. [154194]

  The Prime Minister
  We are already taking this forward. Last month, the Department of Trade and Industry held a joint conference with the Green Alliance on how to measure improvements in resource productivity. We will follow this up with further discussion with business, including asking the Advisory Committee on Business and the Environment for its views on the use of long-term resource targets to stimulate business innovation and improvement. The Performance and Innovation Unit in the Cabinet Office is also carrying out a major study on resource productivity and renewable energy.

  House of Lords (Membership)
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will make it his policy to exclude from membership of the House of Lords those persons who are not resident in the United Kingdom for tax purposes. [154243]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 16 March 2001]: As the Government made clear in their White Paper "Modernising Parliament Reforming the House of Lords" (Cm 4183), I have relinquished much of my power over the award of peerages. I have retained the right to determine how many recommendations to ask for from the other political parties and the Appointments Commission, but otherwise have made it clear that I will pass these recommendations on to Her Majesty, except in the most exceptional circumstances such as those endangering the security of the realm.

  Leaked Reports
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Prime Minister what mechanism exists for investigating leaks of reports commissioned by him where the leaks occur before he receives them. [154398]
  11W
  The Prime Minister
  It would be open for the author of an independent report commissioned by the Government to request the Government's assistance to investigate alleged leaks of drafts of that report. I have received no such request in respect of any recent independent report, nor do I expect one.

  The right hon. Member for Hartlepool
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Prime Minister if the right hon. Member for Hartlepool (Mr. Mandelson) delivered a letter on his behalf to the President of Syria during his recent visit to that country. 1154332]

  The Prime Minister
  When in Syria, my right hon. Friend the Member for Hartlepool (Mr. Mandelson) was invited, at short notice, to a private meeting with the President where he delivered a short courtesy letter from the Prime Minister.

  Ministerial Visits
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the rules in the ministerial code of conduct governing Ministers visiting hon. Members' constituencies. [154408]

  The Prime Minister
  The rules are set out in paragraph 79 of the ministerial code.

  £000

  Nature of funding

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  2001–021

  Revenue support grant

  94,657

  102,643

  107,450

  107,450

  118,642

  Income from national non-domestic rates

  49,620

  52,488

  57,187

  64,381

  60,123

  Housing capital allocations

  3,525

  4,456

  3,113

  2,665

  2,494

  SRB funding—Bridging the Gap

  193

  550

  547

  992

  691

  Health ladder

  —

  —

  75

  1,050

  1,500

  Transport supplementary grant

  154

  147

  169

  n/a

  —

  Transport annual capital guideline

  154

  147

  169

  n/a

  —

  Transport block supplementary credit approval

  640

  479

  644

  1,375

  —

  Capital Challenge (supplementary credit and basic credit approvals)

  1,460

  1,634

  162

  0

  0

  1 Where known

  Mr. Drew
  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 the Stroud constituency of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May1997 [152404]

  Nature of funding

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  2001–02

  Revenue Support Grant'(£ million)

  1.736

  1.462

  1.305

  1.013

  1.288

  Income from National Non-Domestic Rates1 (£ million)

  3.407

  3.465

  3.732

  4.149

  4.104

  Housing Investment Programme (£ million)

  1.630

  1.167

  1.250

  2.660

  1.179

  Housing Revenue Account Subsidy2 (£ million)

  2.332

  1.790

  1.396

  0.982

  4.588

  Capital Receipts Initiative (£ million)

  0.282

  0.855

  0.869

  n/a

  n/a

  Cash Incentive Scheme (£ million)

  0.060

  0.030

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Loan Charges Defective Housing3(£)

  132,597

  132,597

  132,597

  132,597

  132,597

  SRB funding4(£)

  nil

  41,580

  117,907

  862,066

  85,590

  Transport Supplementary Grant5 (£ million)

  2.565

  1.555

  3.573

  0.463

  0.409

  Transport Annual Capital Guideline5(½ million)

  1.965

  1.489

  2.973

  0.389

  0.408

  Rural Bus Challenge Grant6 (£ million)

  0

  0.25

  0.999

  0

  0

  Rural Bus Subsidy Grant6 (£ million)

  0

  0.794

  0.794

  0.794

  1.0

  1The figures shown for Revenue Support Grant [1] and income from National Non-Domestic Rates [1] are the amount received by Stroud District Council.

ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS

  Departmental Policies
  Ms Perham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what initiatives embarked upon since May 1997 have benefited Ilford, North; and if he will make a statement. [152031]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  Ilford, North has benefited from two strategic Single Regeneration Budget (SRB) schemes in the London Borough of Redbridge, Bridging the Gap and the Health Ladder to Social Inclusion.

  The Crime and Disorder Act 1998 required the establishment of partnerships covering all local authority areas led by the police and the local authorities to reduce crime. Local initiatives supported under the Government's crime reduction programme include two CCTV schemes—a £203,000 scheme in Ilford town centre and a £714,000 safer parking scheme.

  The principal funding that this Department has provided to the London Borough of Redbridge in 1997 to 2002 is shown in the table. These included grants and borrowing approvals for revenue and capital expenditure.

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

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  [holding answer 6 March 2001]: The principal kinds of funding which this Department has provided to Stroud in 1997– 98 to 2000–01 are shown in the table. These include grants and borrowing approvals from revenue and capital expenditure.
  13W
  2The figure for Housing Revenue Account Subsidy for 2000–01 is provisional and may be revised by subsequent claim forms. The figure for 2001–02 is based on the maintenance and management grant for the area, multiplied by the number of houses eligible.

  3 The figures for Loan Charges Defective Housing for 2000–01 are provisional at this stage since it is claimed retrospectively.

  4SRB Funding—N.B. SRB was not paid to Stroud in 1997–98. Also the 2001–01 figure is forecast and another 5,000 may be paid at some stage.

  5Transport Supplementary Grant and Transport Annual Capital Guideline represent the amount paid to Gloucestershire in 1997–98 to 2001–02. 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 Stroud. It is for the local authorities to decide where within their boundaries these resources are applied.

  6Rural bus challenge—figures represent awards in that year, actual expenditure may be over a longer period. 2000–01 figures for RBSG represent allocation, actual outturn figure is not yet known.

  Mr. Trickett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly to the locations as possible, the effects of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997 on(a) Hemsworth constituency and (b) Wakefield district. [153000]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  The principal kinds of funding that this Department has provided to Wakefield local

  £ million

  Nature of funding

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  2001–021

  Revenue Support Grant

  105.616

  113.327

  121.378

  117.791

  126.779

  Income from National Non-Domestic Rates

  69.240

  72.239

  78.291

  88.749

  86.879

  Housing Investment Programme

  26.812

  5.541

  6.302

  314.711

  422.429

  Capital Receipts Initiative

  1.227

  4.153

  4.272

  n/a

  n/a

  SRB Funding

  2.33

  2.14

  3.39

  3.92

  2.82

  Neighbourhood Renewal Funding (award date)

  —

  —

  —

  —

  59.990

  Transport Supplementary Grant

  0.721

  0.702

  0.876

  0

  0

  Transport Annual Capital Guideline

  0.721

  0.702

  0.876

  0

  0

  Transport Block Supplementary Credit Approval

  1.104

  1.086

  1.130

  4.608

  6—

  1Where known

  Notes:

  Housing Investment Programme

  2 1997–98 HIP allocation inherited from the previous Government's spending plans. Present Government introduced CRI from 1997–98. Single Housing Pot introduced 2000–01 resulting in CRI being merged with HIP.

  4Resource accounting has resulted in a change to the way capital resources are allocated for 2001–02, with the introduction of the Major Repairs Allowance (MRA) to cover the cost of maintaining local authority housing in sound condition. Wakefield's MRA allocation is £18,088 million and, for comparison purposes, is included in the 2001–02 HIP allocation above.

  Housing Revenue Account Subsidy

  £

  Wakefield

  M&M allowance per dwelling

  1997–98

  761.67

  1998–99

  767.98

  1999–2000

  791.67

  2000–01

  832.01

  2001–02

  839.81

  Note:

  Figures for the HRA are given as allowance, per dwelling rather than in global figures

  Neighbourhood Renewal Fund

  5Wakefield is one of 88 local authority areas, which have been targeted for the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund and over the next three financial years will receive £9.990 million (£2.222 million,

  £million

  Nature of funding

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  2001–02

  Transport Block Supplementary Credit Approval

  0

  0

  3.000

  2.500

  757.607

  Rural Bus Challenge Grant

  0

  0

  0.364

  0.209

  0.917

  Rural Bus Subsidy Grant

  0

  0.556

  0.556

  0.556

  0.710

  7This figure has yet to be split between the West Yorkshire PTA and five other West Yorkshire highway authorities

  14W
  authority in the year's 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 the Hemsworth constituency. It is for the local authority to decide where within its boundary these resources are applied.

  £3.329 million and £4.439 million respectively over the next three F/Ys).

  Because of this, Wakefield is also eligible for the Community Empowerment Fund £400,000 over the next three years) and the Community Chest (no details yet, but will be a national fund of £50 million over three years).

  Transport

  6This figure will not be known until agreement has been reached on the split between the five West Yorkshire local authorities of the Transport Supplementary Credit Approval allocated to the West Yorkshire PTA.

  In addition, the following funds have been allocated to the West Yorkshire PTA, some of which have been/will he spent in the Wakefield MDC area:
  15W
  SRB Schemes in Wakefield Area

  Round 1: SESKU—Wakefield Economic Alliance

  Aims to introduce a coherent and sustainable programme of regeneration to break the decline of the South Elmsall, South Kirby and Upton (SESKU) areas which have been dependent upon the coal industry.

  SRB Support: £ 6.563 million

  Scheme Total: £64.76 million

  Round 3: Foundations for a Competitive Economy

  Four-year scheme led by Wakefield Learning Partnership aimed at raising IT attainment and skill levels, fostering a culture of lifetime learning and equipping people for employment through community multi-media centres.

  SRB Support: £2.3 million

  Scheme Total: £7 million

  Round 4: Fresh Aire

  Six-year community-based scheme focusing on employment, education and training, community safety, and community capacity building. The target area covers the Airedale and Warwick, the most socially excluded estates in the district.

  SRB Total: £4.127 million Scheme Total: £14.910 million

  Round 5: Hemsworth Coalfield

  A six year scheme submitted by the Hemsworth Coalfield Partnership led by Wakefield MDC which focuses on the coalfields area in the south of Wakefield District, covering the communities of Hemsworth and Elmsall.

  SRB Total: £8.050 million

  Scheme Total: £20.319 million

  £ million

  Nature of funding

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1991–2000

  2000–01

  2001–021

  Revenue Support Grant

  117.119

  124.896

  131.060

  129.066

  137.215

  Income from National Non-Domestic Rates

  63.941

  66.425

  71.946

  80.861

  78.797

  Housing Investment Programme

  24.383

  4.257

  5.054

  112.524

  416.590

  Capital Receipts Initiative

  1.015

  3.424

  3.241

  —

  —

  New Deal for Communities Funding

  —

  —

  —

  —

  550.0

  Neighbourhood Renewal Funding (award date)

  —

  —

  —

  —

  619.8

  Transport Supplementary Grant

  1.216

  0.383

  0.785

  Nil

  711.350

  Transport Annual Capital Guideline

  1.216

  0.383

  0.785

  9.750

  79.120

  Transport Block Supplementary Credit Approval

  0.300

  0.270

  1.280

  9.934

  74.320

  1Where known

  Housing notes:

  21997–98 HIP allocation inherited from previous Government's spending plans. Present Government introduced CRI from 1997–98.

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

  4Resource 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. Doncaster's MRA allocation for 2001 02 is £11.976 million and, for comparison purposes, is included in the 2001–02 HIP allocation.

  5 Over 10 years

  6Over three years

  Doncaster's overall capital allocation of –16.590 million,
  represents an increase of 261.60 per cent. on the inherited 1997–98 HIP allocation.

  Housing Revenue Account Subsidy

  £

  Doncaster

  M&M allowance per house

  1997–98

  748.06

  1998–99

  753.97

  1999–2000

  776.37

  2000–01

  814.59

  2001–02

  820.29

  16W
  Round 6 Working on Cold Coal—North Wakefield

  To further the regeneration of neighbourhoods and communities in the northern half of Wakefield District. Increase the employability of those excluded from the regional economy and reviving the neighbourhoods within which they live.

  SRB Total: £7.87 million

  Scheme Total: £28.93 million

  European Funding

  Under the 1997–99 Objective 2 Programme, the Action Plan for the Wakefield district was worth £5.3 million in ERDF and £2.4 million in ESF, together with capital projects (a development site and Yorkshire Sculpture Park projects worth over £6 million in ERDF/ESF).

  Objective 3 (ESF), Wakefield had £113.000 in 1998 and £236,000 in 1999.

  Objective 4 (ESF), Wakefield had £194,000 for 1998 and £490,000 for 1999.

  Caroline Flint
  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 Don Valley constituency, the effects on Doncaster of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997. [153517]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  The principal kinds of funding that this Department has provided to Doncaster 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 Don Valley constituency. It is for the local authority to decide where within its boundary these resources are applied

  Note:

  In addition, Doncaster benefits from HRA subsidy. Figures are given as allowance per dwelling rather than in global figures.

  Transport:

  7 This figure includes £9 million Transport Supplementary Grant held back until required.

  In addition, the following funds have been allocated to the South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Authority, some of which have been/will be spent in the Doncaster metropolitan borough council area.
  17W

  £million

  Nature of funding

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  2001–02

  Transport Block Supplementary Credit Approval

  5,500

  6.125

  8.500

  11.923

  22.500

  Rural Bus Challenge Grant

  0

  0

  0.028

  1.383

  0.674

  Rural Bus Subsidy Grant

  0

  0.339

  0.339

  0.339

  0.433

  SRB

  No awards have been made to Doncaster since May 1997. However the Dearne Valley was awarded £1.6 million in 1998 to help the long-term unemployed back to work and to improve educational attainment. Doncaster also stands to benefit from the two successful South Yorkshire Coalfield bids (£16.5 million in 1999 and £80 million in 2000) and the £0.6 million bid in 2000 by the South Yorkshire Black Forum to support ethnic communities.

  European Funding

  Doncaster has had 2 Objective 2 Action Plans (covering Business Support and Community Development). Together they have had allocations of £6.3 million ERDF (European Regional Development Fund) and £5.4 million ESF (European Social Fund). There were also Objective 2 offers for Tourism projects (including the Earth Centre) of £4.5 million and for the development of major industrial sites (Redhouse/Brodsworth) of some £2 million.

  South Yorkshire has been designated an Objective 1 area, of which Doncaster and Don valley are a part, and stands to benefit from over £700 million of European Funds over the next seven years.

  Vehicle Tax
  Mr. Alexander
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many owners of vehicles were prosecuted in 2000 for(a) not registering and (b) not paying tax on their vehicles in 2000. [153760]

  Mr. Hill
  In 2000 there were 4,755 successful prosecutions for failure to comply with registration requirements and an additional 7,772 offenders paid out of court settlements. There were also 229,069 successful prosecutions for not paying Vehicle Excise Duty. An additional 202,020 motorists paid out of court settlements.

  Abandoned Motor Vehicles
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions which agencies are responsible for the reporting, checking and removal of abandoned motor vehicles; and if he will make a statement. [153800]

  Mr. Hill
  The agencies responsible for the reporting of abandoned motor vehicles are the local authorities, the police and the Environment Agency. The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency and the police are responsible for checking abandoned vehicles and contractors employed by these bodies and the local authorities are responsible for their removal.

  New arrangements for closer working between these bodies are currently being piloted.

  Rail Accident (Hither Green)
  Mr. Horam
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the collision of two Connex South Eastern trains outside Hither Green station on 12 March. [153755]

  Mr. Hill
  At 08.30am on Monday 12 March, the 07.58am Connex South Eastern Sevenoaks to Cannon Street passenger train passed a signal at danger at Hither Green. It continued for approximately half a mile before running through points which were set for the 08.08am Connex South Eastern Crayford to Cannon Street passenger train. A collision then occurred with the front of the Crayford train striking the side of the Sevenoaks train. There was no derailment, but both trains sustained superficial damage.

  Four people were taken to hospital for treatment of minor injuries. The traction current was isolated to allow passengers to begin to leave the train at 10.00am. The Health and Safety Executive's (HSE's) Railway Inspectorate (HMRI) were at the scene and have confirmed that the collision was caused by the driver of the Sevenoaks train passing a signal at danger (SPAD).

  All serious SPADs are thoroughly investigated by HMRI and the rail industry. Further details of this incident will be reported in a future edition of HSE's monthly SPAD report, copies of which are placed in both House Libraries each month.

  Initial indications suggest that this incident would have been prevented by the Train Protection and Warning System (TPWS). Regulations made under this Government require that TPWS be installed across the network by the end of 2003.

  Audit Commission
  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many times in(a) this Parliament and (b) the last Parliament, the Audit Commission has given evidence to the House of Commons Environment and Environment, Transport and Regional Affairs Committees. [153942]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  The Audit Commission has in this Parliament given evidence to the Environment, Transport and Regional Affairs Select Committee on five occasions. The Audit Commission is reviewing its archives to ascertain the number of occasions it gave evidence to the Environment Select Committee in the last Parliament and the Controller of Audit will write to the hon. Member.

  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the changes the Government have made to the powers of(a) the Audit Commission and (b) the District Audit Service in the past three years. [153799]
  19W
  Ms Beverley Hughes
  The Government amended the powers of the Audit Commission, and of auditors appointed by it, in the Local Government Act 1999, the Health Act 1999 and the Local Government Act 2000. The Audit Commission was given a new power to inspect compliance by Best Value authorities with the requirements of Part 1 of the Local Government Act 1999; and to work jointly with the Commission for Health Improvement in the Health Act 1999. Auditors appointed by the Audit Commission have been given new a new power to audit the best value performance plans of Best Value authorities under the Local Government Act 1999. The powers of auditors to issue prohibition orders have been replaced by a power to issue advisory notices. In the Local Government Act 2000, the auditors' surcharging powers were repealed.

  Local Government
  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when the Government(a) signed and (b) ratified the European Charter of Local Self-Government. [153817]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  The European Charter of Local
  Self-Government was signed by this Government on 3 June 1997 and ratified on 24 April 1998.

  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on Government policy towards scrutiny by local government of services provided by(a) the National Health Service and (b) local water companies. [153806]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  Under their new constitutions, a council's overview and scrutiny committees can make reports or recommendations on any matters which affect their local areas or communities.

  The Government have long recognised the democratic deficit in the NHS at local level, and for this reason are making provision to ensure that scrutiny of the NHS is placed in the hands of democratically elected councillors.

  The Health and Social Care Bill, which is currently before Parliament, provides for overview and scrutiny committees of county councils, county borough councils (in Wales), unitary authorities and London borough councils, established under Part II of the Local Government Act 2000, to take over the scrutiny of local NHS services from Community Health Councils. The Bill also provides for the involvement of district councils under joint scheme arrangements.

  Overview and scrutiny committees will have new powers to review local NHS bodies, and will make reports and recommendations to the bodies which they review. Local NHS bodies will have to provide clear justification for any recommendations which they do not accept. They will be subject to a duty to provide information about their operation and activities requested by an overview and scrutiny committee, and their Chief Executives will be required to attend committee meetings twice a year to answer questions about their organisations.

  Health authorities will have a specific duty to consult overview and scrutiny committees on any major changes to services in their area. If a committee finds that the proposed changes are not in the interests of the local community it will be able to refer the matter to the new
  20W
  national Independent Reconfiguration Panel. A committee may also refer proposed changes to the panel if it believes that the process of involving patients and the public in their development is inadequate.

  As to local water companies, under section 77 of the Water Industry Act 1991, local authorities have a duty to keep themselves informed about the wholesomeness and sufficiency of water supplies, including private supplies, provided to premises in their area. Section 200 of the Act also gives a duty to every sewerage undertaker to provide local authorities with copies of maps of public sewers and any modifications to those maps.

  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the guidance on cow councillors' allowances issued since May 1997. [1539041

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  In August 1997, the DETR issued a guidance document entitled "Guidance on Councillors' Allowances, Tax and Social Security". This updated an earlier version of this guidance which had been issued in 1993. We are currently consulting on draft statutory guidance which will give guidance to councils about members' allowances following the introduction of the requirement to establish and maintain independent remuneration panels and the abolition of attendance allowance.

  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the pilot schemes that have been initiated with local councils since May 1997 and the councils which have been involved in each pilot. [153818]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  This information is not held centrally.

  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps the Government have taken to attract more(a) women, (b) young people, (c) people of an ethnic minority background and (d) people with disabilities to become local councillors. [153903]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  In our White Paper "Modern Local Government: In Touch With the People" (Cm 4014) we stated our belief that a combination of the new rewarding roles envisaged for councillors and steps taken to address some potential financial and other disincentives would serve to encourage a wider cross section of the community to serve as councillors. We have now legislated for new council constitutions which will open up new and rewarding roles, and we are consulting on a new regime for allowances including, for example, proposals for a new child carers and dependant carers' allowance.

  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what his policy is on local councils holding annual elections with a third of councillors up for election each year; how many councils currently hold annual elections; and how many did so in 1997. [153772]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  Our policy on councils electing one third of their members each year for three years out of four is set out in the White Paper "Modern Local Government—In Touch with the People" (Cm 4014). There are 131 local authorities in England which elect one
  21W
  third of councillors each year for three years out of four. Of these, two authorities held elections during 1997. Part IV of the Local Government Act 2000 provides us with powers to implement fully our policy.

  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will(a) publish Ministers' instructions to civil servants relating to the allocation of local government grants and(b) take steps to make the local government finance settlement process more transparent. [153902]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  We consulted local government on the provisional local government finance settlement for 2001–02 in November. The reasons for our decisions on allocating grant in response to that consultation were given to the House by my colleague, the Minister for Local Government and the Regions, on 29 January 2001,Official Report, column 19W.

  The method of grant calculation is laid out in the Local Government Finance Report (England) 2001–02. Other related documents and statements are publicly available and can be found in the Official Report, the House of Commons library and on the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions website.

  Creating a more intelligible and transparent local government finance system is one of our key aims; and reforms to this end were outlined in last September's local government finance green paper. Our White Paper later this year will set out our decisions on the way forward.

  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what Government policy is on the establishment of more unitary authorities in local government. [153776]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  The Government have indicated that a move to elected regional government in England would imply changing to a predominantly unitary system of local government. It is too early to say what this would mean in practice, as Government would need to take careful note of what the people in the regions think. In the meantime, there are no plans at present to reform the structure of local government in England and no presumption that, if there is to be any local government restructuring, it would have to come before the introduction of regional government.

  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if proposed referendums on regional assemblies will include options involving abolition of county councils in two-tier areas. [153773]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  We remain committed to move to directly-elected regional government, where there is support as demonstrated in referendums. No decisions have been taken on the form of the proposals which might be the subject of such referendums

  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what guidances he has issued on the conduct of referendums held by councils on local issues; and if he will make a statement.[153940]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 13 March 2001,Official Report, column 539W.
  22W
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps he is taking to introduce simpler local government grant system which is based predominantly on population. [154142]

  Mr. Gray
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps he is taking to simplify the local government grant system and to base it predominantly on population. [153847]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  Last September's local government finance green paper consulted on options for making the current grant distribution system for all local authorities fairer. A White paper will be published later this year setting out our decisions on the way forward.

  The existing formulae for distributing revenue grant are based predominantly on local authority population figures including relevant client groups (such as schoolchildren or elderly people). Were we to decide to continue to distribute grant by formula, this would continue to be the case.

  As with the present system, such a formula could be modified to take other factors into account such as levels of deprivation and the higher costs of recruiting and retaining local authority staff—but in a more transparent and comprehensible way than the present system.

  Mr. Gray
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps he is taking to ensure that a future grant system will reflect the importance of community consultation to local democracy. [153848]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  Last September's local government finance green paper consulted on options for making the current grant distribution system for local authorities fairer. One option was to distribute grant on the basis of consideration of an authority's corporate plan. Clearly, such a plan would reflect community consultation processes.

  The other option was a grant distribution system based on formulae plus safety valve grant, targeted grant and local public service agreements (PSAs). Under such a system, local PSAs would provide the scope to reflect the priorities of the local community.

  A White Paper will be published later this year setting out our decisions on the way forward. More generally, the green paper noted the welcome trend of consulting local taxpayers about local tax and spending decisions—and the Government are working with the Local Government Association to devise good practice in doing so.

  Mr. Gray
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if future grant distributions will ensure that the specific needs of town and country authorities which have both urban and rural characteristics are adequately met through the SSA system. [153850]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 13 March 2001,Official Report, column 537W.

  Mr. Gray
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he will publish a White Paper on local government finance. [153852]
  23W
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he plans to publish a White paper on local government finance. [154137]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  A White Paper on local government finance will be published later this year.

  Council Tax
  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment. Transport and the Regions (1) if he will make a statement on Government policy towards the introduction of new council tax bands; [1539011

  (2) if he will make a statement on Government policy on the introduction of regional variations in the valuations used to determine council tax banding. [153816]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  We believe that the council tax is working well as a local tax. In our Green Paper on modernising local government finance, which we published in September 2000, we explained that the banding system makes tax bills predictable and stable. A number of respondents to the Green Paper proposed that changes should be made to the structure of the council tax bands. We are considering what they had to say in the context of preparing a White Paper on local government finance which we intend to publish later this year.

  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what the average Band D council tax was in(a) England.(b) Wales and (c) Scotland in (i) 1997—98 and (ii) 2000—01. [153916]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  The average band D council tax for England was £688 in 1997–98 and –847 in 2000–01. Council tax levels for Wales and Scotland are a matter for the National Assembly for Wales and the Scottish Executive respectively.

  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on his Department's capping powers in relation to local government expenditure and budgets. [153769]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  We have powers to protect local people from excessive council tax increases. These powers are more discriminating than the previous system of crude and universal capping and enable us to look at councils' budget increases over several years. They are also more flexible: in addition to in-year capping the Secretary of State may set a national budget requirement to be used for future comparisons or he may cap the following year's budget.

  When we have information on all local authority budgets and council taxes for 2001–02, we shall need to consider carefully whether any of them are excessive, and what action we might take as a result.

  Concessionary Bus Fares
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what measures he has put in place to reduce the financial pressure on local authorities arising from implementing the Government's initiative relating to concessionary bus fares. [154139]
  24W
  Mr. Gray
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what measures he has put in place to ease the financial pressure on local authorities implementing the Government's initiative relating to concessionary bus fares. [153846]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Under-Secretary, my hon. Friend the Member for Streatham (Mr.Hill), on 13 March 2001,Official Report, column 537W.

  Public Service Agreements
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions for what reason district councils have been excluded from the local public service agreements pilot schemes; and what plans he has to include district councils in the public service agreements scheme. [154141]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  The local PSA pilot was taken forward with top-tier authorities rather than district councils because the majority of the national PSA targets that relate to local authority services relate to the services of top-tier authorities. The Local Government Association is working with a group of district councils on how the PSA approach might be applied to districts, and we will consider any proposals they make.

  Mr. Gray
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions for what reason district councils have been excluded from the local public service agreements pilot scheme; and if he will review this decision. [153844]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  The local PSA pilot was taken forward with top-tier authorities rather than district councils because the majority of the national PSA targets that relate to local authority services relate to the services of top-tier authorities We will indeed review this decision in the future. The Local Government Association are working with a group of district councils on how the PSA approach might be applied to districts, and we will consider any proposals they make.

  Airline Seating
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he has received regarding the spacing of seats in economy sections of passenger airlines; if he proposes to introduce minimum space requirements; and if he will make a statement [154130]

  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  The Secretary of State has received a limited number of letters from members of the public about the spacing of seats in economy class. There have been statutory requirements for minimum seat pitch on UK-registered aircraft since 1989, introduced for safety reasons related to the evacuation of an aircraft in an emergency.

  In their response to the recent House of Lords Select Committee inquiry into air travel and health, the Government referred to CAA-funded research into seat size and spacing. The study, carried out on behalf of the JAA, is considering the relationship between aircraft seat dimensions and passenger sizes. The work looks at the changing size of the European population but also includes a review of recent DVT research. The report
  25W
  indicates additional areas where further work may be necessary. The study (and any subsequent follow-on study) will provide the Government with the information necessary to review current regulations on seat spacing. In the light of the study DETR and the CAA will also consider the scope for developing unambiguous definitions for seat dimensions for use in informing passengers of the seat size and space available on a flight.

  Contaminated Land (Lancashire)
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate he has made of the amount of contaminated land in Lancashire. [154205]

  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  My Department has made no estimates of the amount of contaminated land in particular parts of the country.

  Commercial Property Leases
  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when the working party reviewing the voluntary code of practice on commercial property leases is due to report to him; and what procedure is in place to review its recommendations. [154225]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  My right hon. Friend the Minister for Housing and Planning has asked the Commercial Leases Group to let him have its final proposals by the end of March. We shall then be looking closely at the proposals to see that they will result in tenants having more choice and better information about leasing options. We will consider the way forward in the light of the Group's final proposals.

  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if the working party reviewing the voluntary code of practice on commercial property leases covers all categories of commercial tenant. [154226]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  The Commercial Leases Group, which is reviewing the property industry's 1995 Code of Practice, consists of most of the organisations which drew up the original Code, together with additional bodies representing occupiers and small businesses. These bodies embrace all categories of commercial tenant in the main property sectors.

  Railway Rolling Stock
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what recent discussions he has had with the(a) Strategic Rail Authority, (b) Railtrack and (c) the train operating companies on new rolling stock.[153911]

  Mr. Hill
  [holding answer 16 March 2001]: The Deputy Prime Minister recently met Sir Alastair Morton, the Chairman of the Strategic Rail Authority, and rolling stock manufacturers to discuss the delivery and reliability of new rolling stock.

  Cycling
  Mr. Brake
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his
  26W
  answer of 7 March 2001,Official Report column 253W, on cycling, when the Government expect to meet their interim target under the National Cycling Strategy for doubling the number of cyclists from 1996 levels. [154411]

  Mr. Hill
  Progress will depend on a number of factors. However, given the greatly increased funding which the Government have made available for local transport, the encouragement to cycling which we have given in our guidance on Local Transport Plans, and the generally positive response to this guidance by local authorities, I am hopeful that cycle trips in England will double from their 1996 level by 2005 or 2006.

  Airport Operators Association Environmental Guidance Manual
  Mr. Ben Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will circulate the Airport Operators Association environmental guidance manual to airports in the UK. [154526]

  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  The Airport Operators Association (AOA) environmental guidance manual is a private publication. Circulation is a matter for the AOA. I understand that AOA members have been sent copies of the manual.

  Aviation Personnel (Drug Tests)
  Dr. Starkey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will introduce alcohol and drug testing for aviation personnel; and if he will make a statement.[154540]

  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  The Queen's speech on 6 December announced the Government's intention to draft a Safety Bill. We will use this opportunity to introduce a prescribed blood/alcohol limit for safety critical personnel in aviation, and to take permissive powers to allow testing for drugs.

  We propose to set a 20 milligram per 100 millilitre blood/alcohol limit for aircraft crew, air traffic controllers and aircraft maintenance engineers, while also granting to the police the necessary powers to test suspected offenders. This limit is in line with an agreed Joint Aviation Requirement for aircrew and will apply equally to safety critical aviation personnel in the commercial and leisure sectors, and to those people flying or working with aircraft in their free time. It also reflects the positive responses to a Government consultation paper issued in July 1996, which proposed this limit.

  It will continue to be a criminal offence to be engaged in an aviation related activity while unfit though the influence of alcohol or drugs. It is our belief that these proposals will further enhance safety in our skies.

  Housing Renewal Grants
  Ms Rosie Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to take forward reform of the private sector housing renewal grants regime. [154541]

  Mr. Raynsford
  My Department has today published a consultation paper outlining how we propose to proceed with our reforms of the legislation governing housing renewal by local authorities.
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  The reforms will replace many of the detailed restrictions that govern local authorities' activity, with a general power which will be subject to only limited constraints. In doing so, we aim to enable authorities to take a more strategic approach to housing renewal, respond more effectively to the housing and market conditions in their areas and to reinforce homeowners' own responsibilities towards the upkeep of their homes. Homeowners and disabled people will benefit from a wider choice of support to carry out essential repairs and adaptations to their homes.

  Responses are invited by 29 June 2001. Subject to the outcome of the consultation and the approval of the Regulatory Reform Bill now before Parliament, we plan to implement the reforms through a Regulatory Reform Order.

  Green Policies
  Mr. Gardiner
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when his Department's Greening Operations Annual report for 1999–2000 will be published. [154771]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  I have today published the DETR Green Minister's Annual Report 2000. This incorporates Greening Operations data for the year 1999–2000 but also covers other aspects of my responsibilities for greening government and promoting sustainable development within the Department. The Report has been independently verified.

  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will set out his proposals for making the United Kingdom a showcase for environmental protection and environmental technologies. [154197]

  Ms Hewitt
  I have been asked to reply

  The Government's aim is for the UK to become a leading player in the new markets for green energy and products, waste minimisation, recycling and re-use. The Prime Minister's speeches in October and March, the White Paper "Opportunity for all" and Budget 2001 further develop and take forward this new approach through a range of existing and new measures to boost UK industrial and research capabilities and capacity in cutting-edge sustainable technologies and know-how. Recent announcements include:
  A total of over £250 million over the next three years for investment in renewable energy and renewable R&D to help industry meet our target of 10 per cent. of our electricity to come from renewable energy sources by 2010. Moreover, with the introduction of the Renewables Obligation, the Government will be aiming to provide an assured market for renewable energy over the next 25 years. Business can also take advantage of the levy exemptions, which apply to electricity sourced from new renewable sources or from quality assured combined heat and power plants.
  The ground breaking 'Carbon Trust' which brings together—for the first time in Europe—a fully integrated programme of incentives worth up to £150 million annually on low carbon technology and business energy efficiency
  The Budget measures following the Government's 'Green Fuel Challenge', including the 20p per litre reduction in fuel duty on bio-diesel; the 9p per kilo reduction for road fuel gases; and the pilot projects and duty reductions or exemptions for bio-ethanol, methanol and bio-gas
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  A proposal to consult on setting up a 'Green Technology Challenge (GTC)', with the intention of offering enhanced first-year capital allowances for further environmental objectives and new technologies. The GTC will also be designed to complement the steps being taken as a result of the 'Green Fuels Challenge'.

  This investment represents a significant commitment to a sustainable future and will help open up substantial commercial opportunities for Britain.

  M25
  Mr. Hammond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions on what basis sites were selected for the roadshow presentations on the London Orbital Study. [153960]

  Mr. Hill
  Sites for the Orbit study mobile exhibitions were identified by the study consultants and approved by the Steering Group for the study. The consultants were asked to identify ten sites which would provide broad coverage of the M25 transport corridor, be accessible to people living in the corridor, and enable M25 users to visit with ease. The final list of sites was influenced by availability and by the ease of obtaining necessary permissions.

  Woodland
  Mr. Gareth R. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what additional action he has taken to provide specific funds in the last 12 months for(a) woodland creation and (b) to reverse the fragmentation of ancient woodland. [153682]

  Mr. Morley
  I have been asked to reply.

  In the past 12 months, we have announced that, through the England rural development programme, we will provide about £70 million in planting grants under the woodland grant scheme to encourage the creation of new woodland over the next seven years and about £77 million in payments under the farm woodland premium scheme. In addition, we have given the commission an additional £9.4 million from the capital modernisation fund to create 1,000 hectares of new woodland in the community forests.

  We also launched the JIGSAW challenge last year, a £5 million initiative which offers grants to encourage landowners to establish new woodland which will connect isolated areas of ancient semi-natural woodland. Reversing the fragmentation of existing native woodland is one of the aims of our England forestry strategy.

  Mr. Gareth R. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment Transport and the Regions what plans he has through the felling licence system to restrict further the removal of young trees, shrubs and undergrowth from areas of ancient woodland; and if he will make a statement. [153681]

  Mr. Morley
  I have been asked to reply.

  We have no plans to change the felling licence regulations to restrict the removal of young trees, shrubs and undergrowth from areas of ancient woodland. Protecting and enhancing these woodlands is, however, a key aim of the England forestry strategy. The forestry forum, which I set up to oversee the implementation of the strategy, has recently made several recommendations
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  for improving the protection of ancient woodland, and we are currently considering what further action needs to be taken.

TREASURY

  Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how much revenue CCTA have raised through commissions paid on sales facilitated by(a) G-cat and (b) S-cat in each of the last five financial years; [151535]

  (2) what proportion of orders placed through(a) G-cat and (b) S-cat have exceeded £200,000 in the last year for which figures are available. [151534]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  [holding answers 27 February 2001]: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the chief executive of the Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency. I have asked him to reply.

  Letter from Bob Assirati to Mr. Matthew Taylor, dated 15 March 2001]:

  The Chancellor of the Exchequer has asked me to reply to your two recent Parliamentary Questions (Ref: 151534, 151535) about GCat and S-CAT. The information you have requested is given below.

  For the year up to 31 December 2000, approximately 0.25% of GCat orders (1 in every 400) exceeded £200k in value. The equivalent figure for S-CAT was 3.5% (1 in 33).

  The revenues received by CCTA on sales through these schemes for each of the last 5 years is as follows:

  £000

  >Financial year

  Gcat

  S-CAT

  2000–01 (up to 31/12/2000)

  855.8

  1,471

  1999–2000

  1,248

  1,285.5

  1998–99

  990.7

  563

  1997–98

  561.8

  20.3

  1996–97

  244.8

  0

  As a self-funding executive agency it is a requirement that the total costs of procurement and contract management are recovered in full. The term revenue in this context relates to the charges levied to contractors to cover these expenses.

  Due to the recent variations in volume of business, a revenue review of GCat and S-CAT is being conducted.

  General information about income and expenditure related to the services provided by CCTA, including catalogue services, was set out in their last Annual Report and Accounts for 1999–2000, copies of which can be found in the House of Commons Library.

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what the largest contract is that has been placed through(a) G-cat and (b) S-cat; and if he will make a statement; [151578]

  (2) what assessment he has made of the benefits that Government Departments realise through the use of G-cat and S-cat; [151579]

  (3) what assessment he has made of the compliance of G-cat and S-cat with EC tendering legislation. [151580]
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  Mr. Andrew Smith
  [holding answer 1 March 2001]: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the chief executive of the Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency. I have asked him to reply.

  Letter from Bob Assirati to Mr. Matthew Taylor, dated 15 March 2001:

  The Chancellor of the Exchequer has asked me to reply to your 3 Parliamentary Questions about GCat and S-CAT (Ref: 151578, 151579, 151580). The information you have requested is given below.

  You asked what assessment has been made of the compliance of GCat and S-CAT with EC tendering legislation. An assessment of compliance with the EC procurement rules was made by CCTA before the GCat and S-CAT framework contracts were awarded. Following the establishment of the Office of Government Commerce (with effect from 1 April 2000) further reviews have confirmed the view that both GCat and S-CAT are compliant with the EC rules.

  You also asked what the largest contracts are which have been placed through GCat and S-CAT respectively and if a statement can be made. It is a feature of these schemes that customer organisations contract direct with their selected prime contractors. It is not therefore appropriate for CCTA to give details regarding individual contracts to which we are not party as there may be commercial or contractual sensitivities of which we are unaware. However, in terms of contractual value, the largest individual customer orders placed so far through GCat and S-CAT are valued at £2.5 million and £17.8 million respectively.

  Finally you asked what assessments have been made of the benefits that Government departments realise through the use of GCat and S-CAT. In general the benefits gained from these framework contracts are:

  Compliance with EC procurement procedures

  Reduced procurement timescales and costs

  Economy-of-scale pricing

  Simplified ordering with e-procurement facilities

  Sound contractual protection

  The quantification and aggregation of these benefits is not a straightforward process as different customers derive differing degrees of benefit according to their own circumstances. However CCTA have estimated that savings during the first 5 years from GCat and S-CAT are approximately £30 million and £3.5 million respectively. The 1999 NAO Report on Modernising Procurement contains further detailed analysis of the CGat efficiency savings.

  Debt
  Mr. Welsh
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans the UK joint ministerial committee on poverty has to consider debt. [153075]

  Mr. Gordon Brown
  [holding answer 12 March 2001]: Tackling financial exclusion is an essential part of the Government's strategy to tackle social exclusion. Details of the Government's progress with the agenda to reduce financial exclusion are set out in the "National Strategy for Neighbourhood Renewal: Policy Action Team Audit report", which was published in January. A copy of this document can be found in the Library.

  The Government are also keen that individuals do not take on debts that they cannot afford to repay. That is why the DTI has set up an industry taskforce specifically to address concerns about increasing levels of debt.

  The joint ministerial committee on poverty was established to consider joint or co-ordinated action by the UK Government and the devolved Administrations to tackle poverty and social exclusion and to facilitate exchanging information and sharing best practice.
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  As with all ministerial committees and as laid out in the memorandum of understanding and supplementary agreements on the joint ministerial committee, the proceedings of the joint ministerial committee and its sub-committees are confidential.

  Bingo Industry
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much was received by his Department in tax duty and VAT in(a) 1998, (b) 1999 and (c) 2000 from the bingo industry. [153766]

  Mr. Timms
  Duty receipts from bingo can be found in the HM Customs and Excise statistical bulletin "Receipts from Betting, Gaming and Lottery Duties", a copy of which is in the House of Commons Library. Details of the amount of VAT received from the bingo industry are not readily available.

  ECOFIN Council
  Mr. Hood
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the outcome of the ECOFIN Council held in Brussels on 12 March was; what the Government's voting record at the Council was; and if he will make a statement. [153815]

  Mr. Gordon Brown
  I attended the meeting of the Economic and Finance Council of Ministers.

  The Council discussed the wise men's report on regulation of European securities markets. The UK shares the analysis of the benefits of a competing single market in securities and the desire to speed up and prioritise completion of a single market in financial services. Welcoming the report, ECOFIN commissioned further work with the aim of sending conclusions to the Stockholm European Council.

  The Council agreed a joint Council-Commission report on "The Contribution of Public Finances to Growth and Employment", which will be submitted to the Stockholm European Council. A short list of 12 structural performance indicators was also adopted from the list of 35 that the Council and the Commission agreed should be used in the synthesis report. Indicators enable member states to measure progress on structural reform, and the short list will give extra focus and momentum to the exercise.

  The Council also agreed to forward to the Stockholm European Council: the Commission synthesis report; the Economic Policy Committee's annual report on structural reform; a report by the European Investment bank on the Innovation 2000 initiative; the presidency key issues paper for the broad economic policy guidelines (BEPGs); and the Commission report on the implementation on the BEPGs.

  The Council recommended that the European Parliament give discharge to the Commission in respect of its implementation of the 1999 budget, and welcomed the Commission's proposal for an annual action plan to reduce errors.

  The Council agreed priorities for the 2002 budget, with emphasis on compliance with the budgetary ceilings agreed at the Berlin European Council.
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  The Council discussed the Galileo project to inform further discussion at the April Transport Council.

  The Council examined and agreed opinions on stability reports for Belgium Luxembourg, Spain and Portugal.

  The Commission was asked to speed up its consideration of venture capital projects such as the UK regional venture capital schemes.

  No votes were taken during the course of the meeting.

  Church Building Work (VAT)
  Mr. Bob Russell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he will introduce the lower level of value added tax for church building work; and if he will make a statement. [154007]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The Government announced in the Budget that they would be introducing a UK-wide grant scheme to help congregations with the cost of repairs and maintenance to listed buildings that are used as places of worship. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport will be consulting on the details but the effect will be to reduce VAT costs to 5 per cent. on new work undertaken from 1 April 2001.

  Mr. Bob Russell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if his proposals for a lower level of value added tax will apply to all buildings designated as places of worship irrespective of denomination and religion; and if he will make a statement. [154006]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The new grant scheme announced in the Budget for listed buildings that are used as places of worship will help all denominations and religions with the cost of VAT on repairs and maintenance.

  Child Care Tax Credit
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the level of fraud in the Child Care Tax Credit element of the Working Families Tax Credit. [154216]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 16 March 2001]: There is as yet no statistically valid data available from which a meaningful estimate of the level of fraud in the recently introduced Child Care Tax Credit element of the Working Families Tax Credit can be made.

  Applicants are required to supply evidence of child care costs from their provider in order to receive Child Care Tax Credit. The Inland Revenue carry out risk assessments of applications based on their experience of fraudulent claims, and can impose financial penalties where fraud is found to have taken place. These checks and sanctions apply to the child care tax credit in the same way as other elements of the Working Families Tax Credit.

  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what checks are in place to ensure that the child care expenditure covered by the Child Care Tax Credit has actually been incurred by the claimant and continues to be incurred for the duration of the claim. [154217]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 16 March 2001]: Applications for the Working Families and Disabled Person's Tax Credits are subject to risk assessments based on accumulated Inland Revenue and DSS experience.
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  Specialist staff may inquire formally into applications identified as requiring further investigation. Child care providers confirm the level of charges they have agreed with parents and provide information as part of the application that can confirm that the service they provide is eligible for support through the Child Care Tax Credit component of the Working Families and Disabled Person's Tax Credits. WFTC and DPTC awards are based on the information supplied in the application and normally continue for the full 26
  weeks of the award. As with other changes in circumstances, changes in child care arrangements will not normally alter awards.

  Benefits (South Shields)
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many claimants of family credit there were in South Shields constituency in 1997; what the average benefit for a(a) full-time and (b) part-time worker was; how many claimants of Working Families Tax Credit there are; and what the average benefit is for a (i) full-time and (ii) part-time worker. [154441]

  Dawn Primarolo
  At May 1997 there were an estimated 1,200 families receiving Family Credit in the South Shields constituency.

  For the other parts of his question I refer my right hon. Friend to my answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Newcastle upon Tyne, Central (Mr. Cousins) on 13 March 2001, Official Report, column 552W. There are too few cases in the 5 per cent. sample used for the analyses of these awards to yield reliable separate estimates of average awards for South Shields; and for the same reason care should be taken when making comparisons over time in estimates of the number of awards.

  Departmental Policies (Middlesbrough, South and Cleveland, East)
  Dr. Kumar
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will set out with statistical information, relating as directly as possible to the constituency, the effects on Middlesbrough, South and Cleveland, East of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997. [154433]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  Middlesbrough, South and Cleveland, East, 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 785, or 22 per cent., youth unemployment is down by 65 per cent., and long-term unemployment has fallen by 65 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 to 24-year-olds had helped 1,589 young people in Middlesbrough, South and Cleveland, East constituency gain valuable skills and experience—791 (50 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, 2,300 families in Middlesbrough, South and Cleveland, East constituency were benefiting from WFTC.
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  The Government are also committed to policies which enable pensioners to share in the country's rising prosperity. All pensioners, including 16,900 in Middlesbrough, South and Cleveland, East will receive an above-inflation increase in the basic state pension from April 2001. Single pensioners will receive an extra £5 a week 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 10,100 in Middlesbrough, South and Cleveland, East.

  VAT (Motorcycle Helmets)
  Mr. Todd
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will extend VAT exemption to motorcycle helmets. [154428]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Approved motorcycle helmets are already zero-rated.

  Working Families Tax Credit
  Mr. Alexander
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what evaluation he has carried out of the impact of the Working Families Tax Credit. [154275]

  Dawn Primarolo
  I refer my hon. Friend to my answer to him on 18 December 2000,Official Report, column 846W.

  Over 1.1 million families are currently claiming Working Families Tax Credit (WFTC), nearly 300,000 more than Family Credit at its peak. These families are now receiving on average £30 a week more than under Family Credit, rising to £35 after the Budget 2001 measures have taken effect.

  As a result of the introduction of the WFTC and other personal tax and benefit changes over this Parliament, by October 2001 a single-earner family on half average earnings and with two young children will be £3,000 a year better off than under the 1997 system of tax and benefits.

  Minimum Wage (Middlesbrough, South and Cleveland, East)
  Dr. Kumar
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many(a) male and (b) female workers in Middlesbrough, South and Cleveland, East constituency receive the national minimum wage; and how many workers in Middlesbrough, South and Cleveland, East constituency will benefit from the forthcoming uprating of the national minimum wage. [154434]

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

  Letter from Karen Dunnell to Dr. Ashok Kumar, dated 19 March 2001:

  The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question about the number of male workers and female workers in Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland constituency who receive the national minimum wage (NMW) and the number who will benefit from the uprating of the NMW (154434). I am replying in his absence.

  The Office for National Statistics has published estimates of the number of jobs paid at less than specific hourly pay thresholds for all workers in the United Kingdom for Spring 2000, disaggregated by gender. These estimates are based on an improved methodology
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  using data from the New Earnings Survey (NES) and Labour Force Survey (LFS). This methodology provides the best estimates for the number of jobs in the UK paid below low hourly rate thresholds. These estimates are posted on the National Statistics website at: http://www.statistics.gov.uk/nsbase/themes/labour_market/ nmw_lowpay_tables.asp.

  The new methodology has been developed to overcome the deficiencies inherent in the two surveys, the NES and LFS, in measuring low pay. Estimates based on this methodology are not available for the area requested.

  Overseas Earnings
  Mr. Denzil Davies
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of the UK's overseas earnings from direct and equity was generated from(a) the United States of America and (b) the EU in the latest year for which figures are available. [153985]

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

  Letter from John Pullinger to Mr. Denzil Davies, dated 19 March 2001:

  The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question on the percentage of the UK's overseas earnings from direct and equity that was generated from (a) the United States of America and (b) the EU in the latest year for which figures are available (153985). I am replying in his absence.

  Percentage of net earnings from direct investment overseas by UK companies are shown below for 1999 (the latest year for which figures are available), for the United States of America and the European Union.

  Percentage

  United States of America

  30.7

  European Union

  34.6

  Separate estimates for income from UK holdings of foreign equity by country of issue are not available.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  Jobseeker's Allowance
  Mr. Geraint Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on the introduction of joint claims for Jobseeker's Allowance. [154774]

  Ms Jowell
  Regulations have been approved by Parliament to introduce joint claims for Jobseeker's Allowance from 19 March 2001.

  Under the new provisions, couples without dependent children wishing to claim Jobseeker's Allowance will have to make a joint claim from 19 March 2001. This will apply where one member or both members of the couple were born after 19 March 1976, covering couples where at least one member is aged 18 to 24 years when the requirement is introduced. Each member of the couple will be required to meet Jobseeker's Allowance conditions and will be required to be available for and actively seek work. They will both receive help to obtain work and will be directed to training programmes or New Deal assistance as appropriate.
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  About 10,000 existing claimants and 27,000 new claims will be covered during the first year.

  A key aim of joint claims for Jobseeker's Allowance is to help tackle the problem of workless households. Joint claims will ensure that both members of unemployed couples without dependants are directly involved in the labour market and do not become dependent on benefits from an early age when they are in a position to find and take work.

  Publications
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what the cost of the printing and production of(a) "From Strength to Strength" and(b) "Schools: Building on Success" was; how many copies of each were produced; and to whom they were distributed. [153277]

  Mr. Wills
  [holding answer 12 March 2001]: (a) "From Strength to Strength: Re-building the community through voluntary action"

  Printing and productiim—£5,147

  Quantity—5,000 copies

  Distribution—Voluntary sector organisations; other Government Departments.

  Available to the public on request.

  (b) "Building on Success" (main document and summary)

  Printing and production—£ 119,830

  Quantity—60,000 copies (main document) 500,000 copies (summary version)

  Distribution—The main document was sent to schools, chairs of governors and local education authorities. In addition it was distributed to a total of 243 other organisations. These include examination bodies; careers organisations; adult, further, higher education and teacher training institutions; national training organisations; curriculum/subject associations; governor and parent associations; independent and foundation school associations; religious/denominational bodies, trade unions; special education bodies; and others.

  The summary document is available to the public on request.

  Programme Grants
  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment hew many schools are in receipt of funds in addition to standard spending assessment from(a) education action zones, (b) Excellence in Cities and(c) specialist school status, broken down by local education authority. [154160]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  [holding answer 16 March 2001]: The number of schools in receipt of funds in addition to Standard Spending Assessment from Education Action Zones, Excellence in Cities, and Specialist School Status are shown in the table. Some individual schools benefit of course from inclusion in more than one category. From September 2001 the number of secondary schools benefiting under EiC will increase to some 1,000 schools as the programme is implemented in 10 new authorities and within 11 new Excellence Clusters.
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  Numbers 1 of schools in local education authorities in England by Education Action Zones, Specialist School Status and Excellence in Cities

  Excellence in Cities

  Local education authority

  Education Action Zone schools1

  Specialist Schools

  All secondary schools2

  Primary schools in pilot

  Barking and Dagenham

  0

  2

  8

  0

  Barnet

  0

  3

  0

  0

  Barnsley

  22

  1

  0

  0

  Bath and North East Somerset

  0

  5

  0

  0

  Bedfordshire

  16

  1

  0

  0

  Bexley

  0

  1

  0

  0

  Birmingham

  77

  22

  77

  133

  Blackburn and Darwen

  22

  3

  0

  0

  Blackpool

  0

  2

  0

  0

  Bolton

  18

  3

  0

  0

  Bournemouth

  0

  2

  0

  0

  Bracknell Forest

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Bradford

  34

  5

  27

  53

  Brent

  0

  3

  13

  0

  Brighton and Hove

  9

  2

  0

  0

  Bristol, City of

  17

  2

  20

  0

  Bromley

  10

  4

  0

  0

  Buckinghamshire

  0

  5

  0

  0

  Bury

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Calderdale

  28

  0

  0

  0

  Cambridgeshire

  0

  7

  0

  0

  Camden

  7

  4

  10

  16

  Cheshire

  19

  5

  0

  0

  City of London

  0

  0

  0

  1

  Cornwall

  30

  9

  0

  0

  Coventry

  17

  5

  0

  0

  Croydon

  9

  1

  7

  0

  Cumbria

  18

  6

  3

  0

  Darlington

  0

  3

  0

  0

  Derby

  23

  2

  0

  0

  Derbyshire

  19

  4

  0

  0

  Devon

  0

  6

  0

  0

  Doncaster

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Dorset

  0

  6

  0

  0

  Dudley

  20

  1

  0

  0

  Durham

  42

  12

  0

  0

  Ealing

  0

  3

  13

  0

  East Riding of Yorkshire

  13

  4

  0

  0

  East Sussex

  25

  4

  0

  0

  Enfield

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Essex

  62

  16

  0

  0

  Gateshead

  14

  4

  10

  0

  Gloucestershire

  24

  11

  0

  0

  Greenwich

  32

  5

  14

  17

  Hackney

  16

  4

  9

  20

  Halton

  0

  I

  9

  0

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  4

  1

  8

  12

  Hampshire

  16

  6

  0

  0

  Haringey

  11

  1

  11

  27

  Harrow

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Hartlepool

  0

  2

  6

  0

  Havering

  0

  1

  0

  0

  Herefordshire

  22

  2

  0

  0

  Hertfordshire

  0

  8

  0

  0

  Hillingdon

  0

  3

  0

  0

  Hounslow

  0

  2

  0

  0

  Isle of Wight

  0

  2

  0

  0

  Isle of Scilly

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Islington

  33

  2

  9

  17

  Kensington and Chelsea

  0

  0

  4

  9

  Kent

  18

  10

  6

  0

  Kingston Upon Hull, City of

  18

  1

  16

  0

  Kingston upon Thames

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Kirklees

  0

  6

  5

  0

  Knowsley

  7

  2

  11

  33

  Lambeth

  28

  3

  10

  23

  Lancashire

  16

  15

  5

  0

  Leeds

  27

  6

  43

  243

  Leicester

  16

  3

  16

  0

  Leicestershire

  0

  8

  0

  0

  Lewisham

  32

  0

  13

  66

  38W 39W

  Numbers 1 of schools in local education authorities in England by Education Action Zones, Specialist School Status and Excellence in Cities

  Excellence in Cities

  Local education authority

  Education Action Zone schools1

  Specialist Schools

  All secondary schools2

  Primary schools in pilot

  Lincolnshire

  0

  8

  0

  0

  Liverpool

  72

  6

  33

  60

  Luton

  0

  2

  0

  0

  Manchester

  42

  7

  2

  56

  Medway

  17

  3

  0

  0

  Merton

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Middlesborough

  19

  0

  11

  0

  Milton Keynes

  0

  4

  0

  0

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  19

  7

  21

  0

  Newham

  27

  3

  15

  58

  Norfolk

  42

  10

  0

  0

  North East Lincolnshire

  15

  3

  0

  0

  North Lincolnshire

  0

  2

  0

  0

  North Somerset

  24

  4

  0

  0

  North Tyneside

  0

  3

  20

  0

  North Yorkshire

  0

  6

  0

  0

  Northamptonshire

  25

  12

  0

  0

  Northumberland

  21

  7

  0

  0

  Nottingham

  10

  2

  20

  0

  Nottinghamshire

  0

  3

  0

  0

  Oldham

  0

  2

  0

  0

  Oxfordshire

  14

  7

  0

  0

  Peterborough

  0

  1

  0

  0

  Plymouth

  21

  6

  0

  0

  Poole

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Portsmouth

  0

  0

  3

  0

  Reading

  0

  1

  0

  0

  Redbridge

  0

  3

  0

  0

  Redcar and Cleveland

  17

  1

  13

  0

  Richmond upon Thames

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Rochdale

  0

  3

  14

  0

  Rotherham

  23

  2

  17

  47

  Rutland

  0

  1

  0

  0

  Salford

  17

  2

  16

  32

  Sandwell

  15

  3

  0

  0

  Sefton

  0

  3

  7

  0

  Sheffield

  61

  4

  27

  61

  Shropshire

  21

  1

  0

  0

  Slough

  23

  1

  0

  0

  Solihull

  0

  2

  3

  0

  Somerset

  21

  7

  0

  0

  South Gloucestershire

  0

  3

  0

  0

  South Tyneside

  18

  2

  11

  0

  Southampton

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Southend-on-Sea

  17

  1

  0

  0

  Southwark

  24

  0

  13

  23

  St. Helens

  0

  2

  12

  0

  Staffordshire

  0

  2

  0

  0

  Stockport

  0

  2

  0

  0

  Stockton-on-Tees

  18

  5

  13

  0

  Stoke-on-Trent

  17

  1

  17

  0

  Suffolk

  0

  8

  0

  0

  Sunderland

  21

  3

  17

  0

  Surrey

  0

  10

  0

  0

  Sutton

  0

  1

  0

  0

  Swindon

  0

  2

  0

  0

  Tameside

  0

  2

  0

  0

  Telford and Wrekin

  26

  2

  0

  0

  Thurrock

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Torbay

  0

  1

  0

  0

  Tower Hamlets

  12

  3

  15

  35

  Trafford

  8

  3

  0

  0

  Wakefield

  15

  3

  0

  0

  Walsall

  0

  2

  7

  0

  Waltham Forest

  21

  2

  16

  16

  Wandsworth

  8

  5

  9

  26

  Warrington

  0

  3

  0

  0

  Warwickshire

  0

  5

  0

  0

  West Berkshire

  0

  5

  0

  0

  West Sussex

  0

  8

  0

  0

  Westminister

  27

  1

  8

  15

  40W 41W

  Numbers 1 of schools in local education authorities in England by Education Action Zones, Specialist School Status and Excellence in Cities

  Excellence in Cities

  Local education authority

  Education Action Zone schools1

  Specialist Schools

  All secondary schools2

  Primary schools in pilot

  Wigan

  26

  7

  0

  0

  Wiltshire

  0

  8

  0

  0

  Windsor and Maidenhead

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Wirral

  0

  3

  23

  0

  Wokingham

  0

  1

  0

  0

  Wolverhampton

  17

  6

  0

  0

  Worcestershire

  0

  5

  0

  0

  York

  0

  4

  0

  0

  Total

  1,732

  536

  787

  1,099

  1Includes both small and large zones

  2 This is the total number of maintained secondary schools in the area. The benefit received from EiC will vary from school to school

  Note:

  The primary schools identified in the table under EiC primary pilot are those benefiting. Not all primary schools in pilot authorities are included in the programme.

  Lytham St. Anne's High Technology College
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on the outcomes of his Department's latest visit to the Lytham St. Anne's High Technology College [153710]

  Jacqui Smith
  The position is being evaluated and I will write to the right hon. Member once a full response is ready.

  Disabled People (Employment)
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many registered disabled people have found full-time employment in each of the last three years. [153758]

  Ms Jowell
  Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Employment Service agency under its Chief Executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Richard Foster to Mr. Tom Cox, dated 19 March 2001:

  As the Employment Service is an Executive Agency, the Secretary of State has asked Leigh Lewis to reply direct to your question concerning how many registered disabled people have found full time employment in each of the last three years. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to Mr Lewis as Chief Executive of the Agency. I am replying on his behalf.

  Key Stage 2

  Key Stage 3

  1997

  1998

  1999

  2000

  1997

  1998

  1999

  2000

  Number of pupils taking extension tests English

  Maintained

  23,637

  —

  18,185

  20,727

  33,461

  —

  38,483

  39,953

  Independent

  2,889

  —

  2,903

  3,104

  844

  —

  1,067

  1,035

  Mathematics

  Maintained

  20,803

  —

  20,765

  25,736

  2,411

  —

  3,159

  3,661

  Independent

  2,653

  —

  2,957

  3,378

  263

  —

  187

  162

  Science

  Maintained

  7,373

  —

  8,349

  12,124

  13,078

  —

  21,053

  24,961

  Independent

  1,383

  —

  1,964

  2,512

  352

  —

  517

  588

  42W
  Since December 1996, there has not been a Register of Disabled Persons. The Disability Discrimination Act 1995. introduced from December 1996, replaced some previous legislation including the Register of Disabled Persons.

  This Act provides disabled people with wider protection against unlawful discrimination in employment and in the provision of goods and services. It covers all people with a disability which is substantial and long term and affects normal day to day activities.

  The Employment Service has helped 271,730 people with disabilities to find work, both full and part time, since April 1998. The details for each year are set out below.

  Year

  Number of job entries for people with disabilities

  April 1998 to March 1999

  99,562

  April 1999 to March 2000

  96,996

  April 2000 to December 2000

  75,172

  I hope this is helpful.

  Extension SATs
  Charlotte Atkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many pupils, in how many schools,(a) took and (b) passed the extension SATs papers for more able pupils in (i) 1996–97, (ii) 1997–98, (iii) 1998–99 and (iv) 1999–2000 at Key Stage 2 and Key Stage 3, broken down by (A) private and (B) state schools. [152544]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  [holding answer 12 March 2001]: The available information for 1997, 1999 and 2000 for England is shown in the table. Due to problems with National Data Collection in 1998, we are unable to provide statistics on the number of extension paper results for that year.
  43W

  Key Stage 2

  Key Stage 3

  1997

  1998

  1999

  2000

  1997

  1998

  1999

  2000

  Number of pupils passing extension tests

  English

  Maintained

  387

  —

  336

  306

  3,984

  —

  4,189

  4,458

  Independent

  101

  —

  44

  63

  183

  —

  178

  184

  Mathematics

  Maintained

  702

  —

  1,414

  1,662

  6,621

  —

  179

  173

  Independent

  134

  —

  235

  239

  579

  —

  11

  7

  Science

  Maintained

  304

  —

  274

  411

  2,589

  —

  2,427

  4,243

  Independent

  74

  —

  99

  165

  73

  —

  67

  134

  Number of pupils achieving level 5

  English

  Maintained

  86,951

  —

  129,437

  167,071

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Independent

  5,987

  —

  9,533

  11,838

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Mathematics

  Maintained

  99,633

  —

  138,676

  142,975

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Independent

  6,410

  —

  9,647

  9,543

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Science

  Maintained

  103,997

  —

  161,733

  202,871

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Independent

  4,841

  —

  8,757

  10,944

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Number of schools with pupils taking extension tests

  English

  Maintained

  4,193

  —

  3,541

  3,992

  1 433

  —

  1,636

  1,743

  Independent

  379

  —

  373

  398

  79

  —

  72

  91

  Mathematics

  Maintained

  4,076

  —

  4,463

  5,221

  354

  —

  409

  473

  Independent

  388

  —

  393

  448

  26

  —

  25

  22

  Science

  Maintained

  1,428

  —

  1,497

  2,014

  821

  —

  1,200

  1,376

  Independent

  202

  —

  244

  285

  37

  —

  47

  59

  Number of schools with pupils passing extension tests

  English

  Maintained

  311

  —

  300

  255

  957

  —

  1,037

  1,052

  Independent

  53

  —

  34

  47

  46

  —

  40

  53

  Mathematics

  Maintained

  511

  —

  1,055

  1,232

  1,412

  —

  102

  95

  Independent

  82

  —

  118

  139

  92

  —

  7

  7

  Science

  Maintained

  154

  —

  171

  279

  580

  —

  686

  967

  Independent

  43

  —

  45

  76

  26

  —

  19

  37

  LEAs
  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assumption he made in setting the education standard spending assessment for each local education authority about the cost of the servicing and provision of school organisation committees in(a) 2000–01 and (b) 2001–02. [154150]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  [holding answer 16 March 2001]: The increases in Education Standard Spending for 2000–01 and 2001–02 were 5.4 per cent. and 4.8 per cent. respectively: these increases took account of the range of pressures that local education authorities and schools face, including the introduction of school organisation committees. The distribution of these increases among LEAs depends on the factors in the Standard Spending Assessment formula, such as pupil numbers, additional educational needs, and area costs. It is for each local education authority to decide how much of its increase it spends on school organisation committees, taking account of local needs and circumstances.
  44W
  The increases in Education Standard Spending are part of the substantial extra resources that the Government have been able to direct to local authorities. In the three years from 1997, funding per pupil has already increased by over £300 per pupil in real terms. Under the last Government, funding per pupil fell by £60 in real terms between 1994–95 and 1997–98. There will be further increases in funding following the Year 2000 Spending Review and 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.

  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what estimate he has made of the number of local education authorities which will meet their target allocation of advanced skills teachers. [154162]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  [holding answer 16 March 2001]: It is predominantly schools which are the driving force behind creating Advanced Skills Teacher (AST) posts, and which make AST appointments. All local education authorities have beet offered funding to meet the target numbers of AST posts in their areas in full. The
  45W
  Government remain confident that over time ASTs will represent between 3 per cent. and 5 per cent. of the teaching workforce.

  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will publish the public service agreements made with local education authorities and list the factors which each local education authority has identified as inhibiting the achievement of educational targets. [154157]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  [holding answer 16 March 2001]: Local Public Service Agreements have now been concluded with 14 authorities and copies will be placed in the Library of the House as soon as possible. The agreements set out the additional flexibilities we have agreed with the authorities to help them achieve their enhanced education targets. Negotiations are continuing with the six remaining authorities taking part in the pilot scheme of local Public Service Agreements. We expect to conclude agreements with these authorities soon.

  Class Sizes
  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what average class sizes were in(a) East Sussex and (b) Eastbourne for (i) secondary and (ii) primary schools, in May 1997 and on the most recent date for which figures are available. [153775]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The available data are shown in the following table.

  Average class size in maintained primary and secondary schools in East Sussex local education authority and Eastbourne parliamentary constituency

  1998

  2000

  East Sussex local education authority

  Maintained primary

  28.3

  28.2

  Maintained primary key stage 1

  27.3

  26.1

  Maintained secondary

  21.4

  22.1

  Eastbourne parliamentary constituency

  Maintained primary

  29.9

  29.8

  Maintained primary key stage 1

  29.2

  27.0

  Maintained secondary

  23.4

  24.3

  January 2000 saw a fall in the size of the average junior class in England; and a continuing fall in the size of the average primary class, after rising for a decade. The size of the average secondary class nationally, at 22, is still five below the average primary class. In 2001–02 secondary headteachers will receive an average of £70,000 and primary headteachers £24,000 in direct grant to spend as they choose, including on reducing class sizes if that is their priority.

  By September 2000 there were only 316 infants in classes over 30 in East Sussex compared to 6,433 in January 1998. East Sussex has benefited from over £5 million in grant to enable it to reduce infant class sizes to this extent. In Eastbourne there were 33 infants in classes over 30 in September 2000 compared to 1,637 in January 1998.

  Vacant Teacher Posts
  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many vacant teacher posts there were in schools run by Lancashire education authority in(a) 1997, (b) 1998, (c) 1999,(d) 2000 and (e) 2001. [153157]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The information requested is shown in table 42 of Statistics of Education, Teachers, England and Wales, 2000 edition, which is available in the House of Commons Library. Lancashire was split into three local authorities from 1 April 1998: Lancashire, Blackburn with Darwen and Blackpool.

  Information on vacancies in 2001 is not yet available.

  The number of regular teachers 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 be teachers between 1999–2000 and 2000–01, the first such increase since 1992–93.

  Education Action Zones
  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what has been the total cost to public funds to date of education action zones. [154151]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  [holding answer 16 March 2001]: The total amount spent so far on the 73 large zones since the first Education Action Zones began operation in September 1998 is £89.7 million. This works out to approximately £100 per pupil per year for every full year a zone has been in operation.

  This funding has led to improvements in the standards of education. In the 25 first round zones which have been running the longest, the proportion of 7-year-olds reaching level 2 in reading, writing and maths has increased by 7, 6 and 8 percentage points respectively since 1998, compared with national increases of 4, 4 and 6 percentage points over the same period. The proportion of 11-year-olds achieving level 4 in English. maths and science has increased by 12, 16 and 20 percentage points respectively, compared with 10, 14 and 16 percentage points nationally.

  Early Retirement
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many teachers, in each local education authority in England and Wales, in(a) 1997–98, (b) 1998–99 and (c) 1999–2000 took early retirement on (i) medical grounds and (ii) as a result of voluntary early retirement schemes. [153294]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  [holding answer 12 March 2001]: There were 14,300 ill-health and premature retirements in 1995–96. This figure rose to 16,100 in 1996–97, was 16,300 in 1997–98 before declining to 5,100 in 1998–99 and was 5,400 in 1999–2000. The high level of retirements in 1996–97 and 1997–98 were due to teachers anticipating changes that were made to the Teachers Pension Scheme in 1997, which resulted in the decline from 1998–99 onwards.

  Figures of local authority ill-health and premature retirements from the maintained schools sector are contained in tables, copies of which have been placed in the Library.

  New Deal (18 to 24-year-olds)
  Mr. Allan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many people have started(a) the employment option, (b) the environmental task force option, (c) the voluntary sector option and (d) the full-time education and training option of the New Deal for 18 to 24 year olds since implementation, by unit of delivery; and how many left for (i) unsubsidised employment, (ii) other benefits, (iii) other known destinations and (iv) unknown destinations at the latest date for which figures are available. [151573]

  Ms Jowell
  [holding answer 27 February 2001]: Starts to each of the New Deal options by Unit of Delivery for the period ending December 2000 and, for the same period, destinations on leaving New Deal either directly from an option or after a period on Follow Through, are contained in tables, copies of which have been placed in the Library.

  Of those who have left the New Deal having taken part in an option (including leavers from the follow through stage of the programme), 31 per cent. are recorded as having found work. We know that many others will have left the programme for employment without telling the Employment Service—these people are not included in this figure. The most recent Government survey into unknown destinations, published in January 2001, concluded that the known destinations were representative of unknown destinations. Using this evidence we calculate that 46 per cent. of option participants entered work on leaving New Deal. Work is ongoing to improve the recording of option outcomes so that the raw data better reflect true performance. The cumulative figures mask the fact that all Option performance has steadily improved over the last year.

  Qualified Teachers
  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what advice he gives to LEAs about the employment of teachers qualified in(a) EU and (b) non-EU countries, with particular respect to qualified teacher status; and if he will make a statement. [154311]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  Local education authorities and schools should normally employ teachers who hold Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). Overseas trained teachers without QTS may work for up to four months in any one post and up to two years in total without gaining QTS. Teachers from other EEA countries can apply for QTS under EC mutual recognition arrangements, while teachers from non-EEA countries are only able to gain QTS though the employment based Graduate Teacher Programme. My Department is consulting on proposals to allow overseas trained teachers to teach in one school for up to four years without gaining QTS, and to create a tailored Graduate Teacher Programme which meets their needs.

  Absentee Cover
  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) on what basis the cost of hiring supply staff will be deducted from the salaries of teachers who do not cover for absent colleagues; [154023]
  48W
  (2) what guidance he has issued on proposals from the employers' organisation relating to financial penalties incurred by teachers not willing to provide cover for absent colleagues. [154024]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  [holding answer 16 March 2001]: These are matters for local decision, and the National Employers Organisation for School Teachers has issued guidance to local education authorities. My right hon. Friend has nothing to add and has not issued further guidance.

  Specialist Schools
  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what estimate he has made of the cost of increasing the number of specialist schools to 1,000 by 2004; and if this cost will be met from currently planned expenditure. [154149]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  [holding answer 16 March 2001]: Planned provision for 1000 specialist schools by September 2004 is: £93 million in 2001–02, £106 million in 2002–03 and £127 million in 2003–04. The Green Paper proposes 1000 specialist schools by September 2003. For this the estimated additional cost is £20 million in 2003–04 if all the additional schools by 2003 are designated in that year.

  Selection
  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many children currently in secondary education have been selected by(a) ability and (b) aptitude (i) in total and (ii) in each local education authority. [154159]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  [holding answer 16 March 2001]: The Department does not hold centrally information on the number of children who are subject to tests of ability or aptitude for admission to secondary school.

  Climate Change Levy
  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what estimate he has made of the impact of the climate change levy on school budgets for 2001–02. [154152]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  [holding answer 16 March 2001]: The climate change levy is broadly revenue neutral. Revenue raised through the levy will finance reductions in employers' National Insurance Contributions and expenditure on energy efficiency measures. The impact of the levy on any sector or business will depend on a number of factors such as employment levels, energy efficiency and the extent to which exempt energy is used. I would expect that as large employers the majority of local authorities will be net gainers from the levy.

  Where particular categories of maintained school are entitled to relief from the levy by virtue of their charitable status, local education authorities are free to reflect this in their school funding formulae if they so wish.

  Failing Schools
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the maintained schools in England designated as(a) failing schools, (b) requiring
  49W
  special measures and (c) having serious weaknesses indicating for each school (i) the parliamentary constituency in which it is situated, (ii) the local education authority in which it is situated and (iii) the number of pupils on roll at the school. [153293]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  [holding answer 12 March 2001]: Schools which have been found by Ofsted to be failing or likely to fail to provide an acceptable standard of education for their pupils require special measures. Schools come in and out of special measures and serious weaknesses on a daily basis. Details are in inspection reports published by the schools themselves and by Ofsted on its website. I shall place a list of schools currently on special measures showing their local education authority and parliamentary constituency in the Library. The Department does not hold a list of schools having serious weaknesses.

  More schools on special measures are being turned around and schools are on special measures for a shorter period. Twenty-seven schools were removed from special measures between September 1993 and May 1997 and 684 schools have been turned around since May 1997. The time taken to turn around school has fallen from 25 months to 18 months.

  School Performance Targets
  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what the(a) number and (b) percentage of maintained schools is in which the headteacher has agreed performance targets with the governing body. [149801]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The Education (School Teacher Appraisal) (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2000 require the governing body to agree objectives with the headteacher by 6 April 2001.

  Our latest information is that 20,923 headteachers in 91 per cent. of maintained schools have or will have agreed objectives with their governing body by 6 April 2001.

  Nursery Provision (Sefton)
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on nursery provision in each year since 1996 in the Borough of Sefton. [151332]

  Ms Hodge
  Table 1 shows the amount of funding available through the Nursery Education Grant, Childcare Grant, European Social Fund and the 0–5 sub-block of the Education Standard Spending Assessment to Sefton local education authority in each year since April 1996.

  Table 2 shows the number of early education places created through Nursery Education Grant and other local education authority resources (including the 0–5 sub-block of Education Standard Spending Assessment). This table also shows the number of new places created using the Childcare Grant.

  From September 1998, all four year olds have been able to access a free, part-time, early education place. From April 2001, Sefton will be able to offer every three year old a nursery education place funded through either Nursery Education Grant or the LEA's own resources.
  50W
  From September 2004, all three year olds in England will be entitled to a free early education place.

  Table 1

  Early years and childcare funding £

  1996–97

  5,570,000

  1997–98

  5,320,124

  1998–99

  7,033,820

  1999–2000

  7,828,881

  2000–01

  8,621,138

  2001–02

  9,215,520

  Table 2

  Early years places

  New childcare places created

  1996–97

  5,414

  —

  1997–98

  5,607

  —

  1998–99

  5,319

  —

  1999–2000

  5,575

  323 (number of children = 612)

  2000–01

  6,027

  1425 (number of children = 731)

  1As at December 2000.

  Early Excellence Centre
  Mr. Hesford
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to develop the Early Excellence Centre programme. [153778]

  Ms Hodge
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Heywood and Middleton (Mr. Dobbin) on 15 March 2001,Official Report, column 729W.

  Retired People (Employment)
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what his policies are for encouraging retired people aged 60 years and over into employment. [153757]

  Ms Hodge
  We are seeking to maximise employment opportunities for all whatever their age and circumstances. Our Code of Practice on Age Diversity in Employment encourages employers to support an age diverse workforce. Government programmes of training and support to individuals such as New Deal 50+, Work Based Learning for Adults are open to those over 60.

  Wildcat Corporation
  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to his answer of 8 March 2001,Official Report, column 299W, on New Deal, what departmental (a) funds, (b) resources and (c) staff have been made available to Wildcat (i) directly and (ii) via New Deal Task Force. [153685]

  Ms Jowell
  [holding answer 13 March 2001]: No Departmental funds, resources, or staff have been made directly available to Wildcat Corporation. The New Deal Task Force is a non-departmental public body. Of Task Force's funds, resources and staff, 20 per cent. of one member of staff's time was allocated to Wildcat Corporation for liaison. The New Deal Task Force have paid just over £10,200 to Wildcat from their own resources for consultancy fees and have also met some incidental expenses associated with Wildcat visits. Wildcat staff have also made use of New Deal Task Force
  51W
  office facilities on an informal basis during their visits when needed to support their work. It is not possible to cost these marginal expenses.

  Sure Start (Birkenhead)
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many children have benefited from the Sure Start programme in Birkenhead; how many children he expects to benefit over the duration of the Sure Start programme in Birkenhead; and what the Government expenditure on the Sure Start programme in Birkenhead will be in each year of its operation. [154403]

  Yvette Cooper
  All the 732 children aged under four currently living in the area covered by the North Birkenhead Sure Start programme will benefit from Sure Start. In addition, every new baby born in the area and every family with children under four who moves into the area will also be covered by the programme. Over time, the lessons learned from Sure Start programmes will influence the wider development of services for all children and families, particularly those living in disadvantaged areas.

  The programme was awarded £2.4 million over three years. Annual grants allocated for the first three years are as follows:

  £

  Capital

  Revenue

  2000–01

  266,500

  394,500

  2001–02

  421,000

  665,400

  2002–03

  8,000

  690,700

  Grants for future years will be agreed at a later stage of the programme.A further Sure Start programme in Birkenhead, in the Rock Ferry and New Ferry area, is now in the early planning stages, and is likely to start work in autumn 2001.

  Child Care (Slough)
  Fiona Mactaggart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what targets have been set for the provision of extra child care places in Slough; how many extra places have been provided since May 1997; and how many more are planned. [151900]

  Ms Hodge
  We are unable to show statistics on child care places by local authority prior to April 1999.

  Slough Early Years Development and Childcare Partnership (EYDCP) set themselves a target to create 795 new child care places in the two years between 1999–2001. Between April 1999 and September 2000, Slough EYDCP has reported the creation of 243 new child care places, providing care for 464 children.

  In addition to the creation of new child care places, from September 1998, all 4-year-olds in Slough have been able to access a free, part-time, early education place. From autumn 2000, Slough has been allocated 340 early education places for 3-year-olds funded through Nursery Education Grant. This increases to 378 places from summer 2001. By September 2004, all 3-year-olds including those living in Slough will have access to a free early education place, some of which will by funded be the local education authority.
  52W
  Slough EYDCP will be proposing targets for the creation of child care places between 2001–04 in the EYDCP plan due to be received by 31 March. We will write again when this has been received.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

  Departmental Policies (Staffordshire, Moorlands)
  Charlotte Atkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will set out with statistical information relating as directly as possible to Staffordshire, Moorlands constituency, the effects on Staffordshire, Moorlands of his Department's policies and actions(a) since 2 May 1997 and (b) in the 12 months ending on 1 May 1997. [149192]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  Staffordshire, Moorlands has received £4,240,057 from the national lottery since 2 May 1997, and in the 12 months ending on 1 May 1997 received £935,767.

  In addition, two grants totalling over £56,000 have been made from the new opportunities fund out of school hours child care programme to schools in Staffordshire, Moorlands. The first grant for £6,570 was awarded to Westwood first school to provide for 16 integrated before-school and eight integrated after-school places, for children aged 4 to 9 years old in Leek. The second grant of £50,000 was awarded to Buckingham Nursery School Ltd. This will enable the creation of 48 before-school, 48 after-school and 48 holiday club places, for children aged 5 to 14 years old. Eight schools in the area will benefit.

  Eighteen millennium award winners have been identified from Statffordshire, Moorlands and between them they have received grants totalling £45,672.

  Since 2 May 1997, English Heritage has awarded the following grants: £2,744 for consolidation works at Dieu la Cres Abbey; £15,288 for repair and archaeological investigation at Throwley Old Hall; £11,107 for structural repairs to the Church of St. John the Baptist, Elkstones. In the 12 months ending on 1 May 1997, English Heritage awarded the following grants; £12,046 for structural repairs to St. Bartholomew's Church, Blore Ray.

  Staffordshire, Moorlands district council began a three-year partnership development funding agreement with West Midlands Arts in 1999–2000. They received £17,000 this financial year 2000–01 plus £3,000 development funding towards a review of their arts strategy. In the year 2001–02, they will be awarded £17,500.

  There are of course other initiatives in the wider context of Staffordshire and the West Midlands which may have an effect on the Staffordshire, Moorlands constituency. These are:
  Under the Space for Sport and the Arts (SSA) scheme, a £130 million capital programme made up of £75 million from the Capital Modernisation Fund and £55 million from Sport England, the Arts Council of England and the 3rd Round of the New Opportunities Fund, Stoke on Trent LEA has been allocated £2.2 million towards providing improved facilities for sport and arts in primary schools which can also be used by the wider community. Birmingham, Sandwell, Wolverhampton and Walsall 53W LEAs have also been allocated SSA funding which means a potential inward investment of up to £10.5 million in the West Midlands region for sports and arts facilities in primary schools under this programme.Staffordshire, Moorlands constituents will benefit from equipment to be purchased by the New Opportunities Fund cancer programme. Across the whole of the West Midlands NHS Region. over £11 million will fund seven linear accelerators; five MRI scanners; five trailers for breast screening equipment; nine ultrasound machines for breast screening; and 31 pieces of x-ray breast screening equipment.By December 2000, over 3,400 teachers (over half) in the Staffordshire LEA had signed up for training as part of the New Opportunities Fund ICT Training for Teachers scheme.The West Midlands Arts Board has received an additional £382, 643 from the Arts Council this year to support arts and cultural activity across the region.Staffordshire Library Authority received an award of £49,000 from the DCMS/Wolfson Public Libraries Challenge Fund's 1998–99 programme to support ICT projects in libraries. It is not possible to say precisely what proportion of this funding was spent in the Staffordshire, Moorlands constituency. 1997–98 was the Challenge Fund's first year, no funding was available from this source before 1997.
  Information on the Lottery is in accordance with the information supplied to the Department by lottery distributors for the national lottery awards database.

  Departmental Policies(Morecambe and Lunesdale)
  Miss Geraldine Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will set out including statistical information relating as directly as possible to the constituency, the effect on the Morecambe and Lunesdale constituency of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997. 149123]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  Morecambe and Lunesdale has received £3,023,777 from the national lottery since 2 May 1997.

  In addition, a grant worth over £12,000 has been made from the new opportunities fund out of school hours child care programme. The recipient project, the Bentham community association, will provide for 16 after-school places, and 16 holiday club places for children aged 5 to 11-years-old. The places will be in two primary schools in High Bentham, Lancaster.

  Sixteen millennium award winners have been identified from Morecambe and Lunesdale and between them they have received grants totalling £42,103.

  English Heritage awarded a grant of £5,000 to Lancaster city council towards a development appraisal for the Victoria Pavilion (formerly the Winter Gardens), Morecambe. This is towards a total cost of £14,795 excluding VAT. The final report is awaited and is expected to provide a strategy for future use and development.

  More Music in Morecambe has received three awards from the National Foundation for Youth Music. This was £8,500 for Singing Challenge, £184,000 to repair musical instruments donated to the organisation as part of Youth Music's instrument amnesty and £145,000 for the North Lancashire youth music action zone. The zone will provide a range of music opportunities to young people throughout the north-west.
  54W
  The creative industries have impacted on the area and this is exemplified through the development of initiatives to support professional artists living and working in Morecambe and Lunesdale. There is now an active network of artists within Lunesdale who have benefited from support through Leader II funding in partnership with neighbouring authorities.

  Lancashire Library Authority (which includes Morecambe and Lunesdale libraries) was part of a consortium which received an award of £215.992 from the DCMS/Wolfson public libraries challenge fund's 2000–01 programme to support reader development work in libraries. There were 18 partners in the consortium—North West Libraries Book Promotion Partnership—it is not possible to say what proportion of funding is being spent in the Morecambe and Lunesdale constituency.

  There are of course other initiatives in the wider context of Lancashire which may have an effect on the Morecambe and Lunesdale constituency. These are:
  Under the Space for Sport the Arts (SSA) scheme, a £130 million capital programme made up of £75 million from the Capital Modernisation Fund and £55 million from Sport England, the Arts Council of England and the third round of the New Opportunities Fund, Lancashire and Blackburn with Darwen LEAs have been allocated £1.75 million and £1.25 million respectively towards providing improved facilities for sport and arts in primary schools which can also be used by the wider community.
  Liverpool, Manchester, Cumbria, Knowsley, Salford, Rochdale, Trafford, Wirral and St. Helens LEAs have also been allocated SSA funding which means a potential inward investment of up to £22 million in the north-west region for sport and arts facilities in primary schools under this programme.
  Morecambe and Lunesdale constituents will benefit from equipment to be purchased by the New Opportunities Fund cancer programme. Across the whole of the North West NHS Region, over £10 million will fund: nine linear accelerators; four MRI scanners; five trailers for breast screening equipment; six ultrasound machines for breast screening; and 27 pieces of x-ray breast screening equipment.
  By December 2000, over 2,000 teachers (approximately one in five) in the Lancashire LEA had signed up for training as part of the New Opportunities Fund ICT Training for Teachers scheme.
  The North West Arts Board has received an additional £493,877 from the Arts Council this year to support arts and cultural activity across the region.
  Creative industries projects involve a collaborative venture between Lancaster and neighbouring Objective II designated areas to establish support services and networking opportunities for creative industries SMEs.

  Information on the national lottery is in accordance with the information supplied to the Department by lottery distributors for the national lottery awards database.

  Departmental Policies (Tooting)
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will set out with statistical information relating as directly as possible to the Tooting parliamentary constituency, the effect of his Department's policies and actions since 1 May 1997. [149861]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  Tooting constituency has releived £5,214,274 from the national lottery since 2 May 1997. This includes one award from the millennium festival totalling £40,000.
  55W
  In addition, the new opportunities fund out of school hours child care programme have made the following grants:
  £283,784 to the Trojans scheme—to create a total of 48 breakfast, 274 after school and 299 holiday places for children aged 4–15 years in the Lambeth, Wandsworth and Kingston area. Nine local schools will benefit. A further grant of £34,750 to the Trojans Scheme—to create a new centre combining the Telferscot and Henry Cavendish primary school sites. The project would provide 80 new, integrated after school and holiday places for children aged 5–11 and those in reception class. The schools served would be Telferscot Primary and Henry Cavendish Primary.
  £23,945 to the Brocklebank Nursery—to create 24 holiday. 24 breakfast and 20 after-school places, for children aged 3—11 in Wandsworth.
  £14,115 to the A&R after school club—this applicant is a voluntary organisation which currently provides an after school and homework club. It employs four part-time staff. The grant will extend the current scheme to 30 places and set up 15 breakfast places and 30 holiday places. Ten of these places will be for integrated child care and learning. The project will cater for children aged 3–11 in the Streatham area. The schools benefiting are Franciscan, Furzedown, Penworthy Street, Leonard's and St. Anselm's RC Primaries.

  The new opportunities fund has also awarded —900,100 to the Tooting healthy living initiative—this is a new project that has six distinct activity areas aimed at targeting health inequalities in the area with a particular focus on the health of ethnic minorities. The fund's out of school hours learning programme has awarded £11,000 to the Wandle primary school—this will make a study centre available to all students to help them complete their homework as well as offering a programme of activities.

  Twenty five millennium award winners have been identified from Tooting and between them they have received grants totalling £93,278.

  Music for Youth, Wandsworth has received £25,350 from the National Foundation for Youth Music Awards Scheme. This grant will enable those young people outside mainstream education to get involved in the national festival in rock and pop music by bringing teachers, students, organisations and musicians together to work towards creating a validated programme of learning in this sector of music. As part of the national festival of music for youth in July 2001, a rock and pop forum will be created, including workshops and performances. Groups will be selected from throughout the UK.

  Wandsworth Library Authority (which includes Tooting libraries) received an award of £50,000 from the DCMS/Wolfson public libraries challenge fund's 1997–98 programme to support ICT projects in libraries. It is not possible to say precisely what proportion of funding was spent in the Tooting constituency.

  From 1 April 1999, Tooting residents under 16 were able to benefit from free admission to the Science Museum, the Natural History Museum, the Victoria and Albert Museum, the Imperial War Museum, HMS Belfast, the Cabinet War Rooms, the Natural Maritime Museum and the Museum of London. From 1 April 2000, Tooting residents over 60 were able to gain free admission to most of those.

  Ernest Bevin school in Tooting was awarded specialist sport college status jointly with Southfield community college—both in Wandsworth local education authority.
  56W
  There are of course other initiatives in the wider context of Greater London which may have an effect on the Tooting constituency. These include:
  Under the Space for Sport and Arts (SSA) scheme, a £130 million capital programme made up of £75 million from the Capital Modernisation Fund and £55 million from Sport England, the Arts Council of England and the third Round of New Opportunities Fund, a number of local education authorities in Greater London have been allocated funding towards providing improved facilities for sport and arts in primary schools which can also be used by the wider community. There is therefore a potential inward investment of up £16.75 million in the London region under this programme.
  Tooting residents will benefit from equipment to be purchased by the New Opportunities Fund Cancer programme. Across the whole of the London region, over £12 million will fund: 11 linear accelerators; four MRI scanners; ten trailers for breast screening equipment; three ultrasound machines for breast screening; and 30 pieces of x-ray breast screening equipment.
  London Arts has received an additional £981,583 from the Arts Council this year to support arts and cultural activity across the region.

  Information on the national lottery is in accordance with the information supplied to the Department by the lottery distributors for the national lottery awards database.

  Departmental Initiatives (Pendle)
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what initiatives embarked upon since May 1997 have benefited Pendle; and if he will make a statement. [149911]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  A number of initiatives embarked upon since May 1997 have benefited Pendle.

  35 lottery awards have been made totalling £1,716,879 from the national lottery since 2 May 1997. This includes one award from the millennium festival totalling £25,000.

  In addition, the new opportunities fund cancer care programme awarded £220,605 to the hospice care for Burnley and Pendle—this project will build on current services for cancer patients by providing a 24-hour homecare service. It aims to give carers in Burnley and Pendle support during the night. The fund's out of school hours child-care programme has awarded £27,000 to the Lakeview children's nursery—this grant will create 30 before and 30 after-school places, creating a total of 60 places for children aged 5—14 in a rural area of Lancashire. Ten primary schools within a five-mile radius will benefit from the scheme.

  Seventeen millennium award winners have been identified from Pendle and between them they have received grants totalling £25,218.

  English Heritage grants offered since 1 May 1997 for the Pendle constituency are:

  £000

  Heritage Economic Regeneration Schemes Round 1

  Barrowford/Higherford

  40

  Primet Bridge

  40

  Round 2

  St Mary's Nelson

  68

  57W
  Lancashire Library Authority (which includes Pendle libraries) was part of a consortium which received an award of £215,992 from the DCMS/Wolfson public libraries challenge fund's 2000–01 programme to support reader development work in libraries. There were 18 partners in the consortium—North West Libraries Book Promotion Partnership—and it is not possible to say precisely what proportion of funding is being spent in the Pendle constituency.

  Creative industries development is also featuring in the borough championed by North West Heritage Trust, based in Barrowford, who have secured ERDF Objective 2 funds to investigate the feasibility of creating artists studios, an exhibition outlet and support services within the Higherford Mill development. This is a partnership venture together with North West Arts Board and Lancashire county council arts unit. With the SRB programme based in Brierfield there is a further example of cross agency work with a cultural development worker facilitating a programme of arts work managed by the borough, the local community and the Mid Pennine Arts development agency. This programme has recently been awarded national new audiences scheme money, one of only two to the north-west to explore evaluation methods around the arts and social inclusion.

  There are of course other initiatives in the wider context of Lancashire that may benefit Pendle. These are:
  Under the Space for Sport and the Arts (SSA scheme), a £130 million capital programme made up of £75 million from the Capital Modernisation Fund and £55 million from Sport England, the Arts Council of England and the 3rd Round of the New Opportunities Fund, Lancashire LEA has been allocated £1.75 million towards providing improved facilities for sport and arts in primary schools which can also be used by the wider community.
  Liverpool, Manchester, Cumbria, Knowsley, Salford, Rochdale, Trafford, Wirral, St. Helens and Blackburn with Darwen LEAs have also been allocated SSA funding which means a potential inward investment of up to £22 million in the North West region for sports and arts facilities in primary schools under this programme.
  Pendle constituents will benefit from equipment to be purchased by the new opportunities fund cancer programme. Across the whole of the north-west NHS Region over £10 million will fund nine linear accelerators; four MRI scanners, five trailers for breast screening equipment; six ultrasound machines for breast screening and 27 pieces of x-ray breast screening equipment.
  The North West Arts Board has received an additional £493,877 from the Arts Council this year to support arts and cultural activity across the region.

  Information on the national lottery is in accordance with the information supplied to the Department by the lottery distributors for the national lottery awards database.

  Departmental Policies (Bristol, East)
  Jean Corston
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to the Bristol, East constituency, the effects on Bristol of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997. [150552]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  Bristol, East has received £7,989,112 from the national lottery since 2 May 1997. This includes one award from the millennium festival totalling £140,000.
  58W
  In addition, three grants, totalling £36,882 have been made from the New Opportunities Fund out-of-school-hours child care programme. These are:
  £25,252 awarded to the Whitehall school Out of School Club. The grant will provide for 24 after-school places and 24 holiday places, for children aged 4 to 11 years old.
  £7,480 to the Dhek Bhal project—this will enable the creation of 10 holiday club places for children in two local primary schools.
  £4,150 to the Brislington neighbourhood centre for 16 holiday places for children in Broomhill infant and junior school.
  32 millennium award winners have been identified from Bristol, East and between them they have received grants totalling £83,930.

  Since 2 May 1997, English Heritage has offered the following grants: £49,000 to the Arnos Vale cemetery for repairs and £190,000 to Temple Meads old station (Clock Tower Yard) for completion of restoration.

  There are of course other initiatives in the wider context of Bristol which may have an effect on the Bristol, East constituency. These are:
  Under the Space for Sport and the Arts (SSA) scheme, a £130 million capital programme made up of £75 million from the Capital Modernisation Fund and £50 million from Sport England, the Arts Council of England and the third round of the New Opportunities Fund, Bristol LEA has been allocated up to £1.75 million towards providing improved facilities for sport and arts in primary schools which can also be used by the wider community. Cornwall, Plymouth, North Somerset and Somerset have also been allocated funding under this programme which means a potential inward investment of up to £9.1 million in the South West region under this programme.
  Bristol, East constituents will benefit from equipment to be purchased by the New Opportunities Fund cancer programme. Across the whole of the South West NHS region over £9 million will fund seven linear accelerators; five MRI scanners; four trailers for breast screening equipment; four ultrasound machines for breast screening; and 22 pieces of x-ray breast screening equipment.
  Funding for the ICT (Information and Communications Technology) Training for Teachers and School Librarians programme is allocated to all schools in a local education authority area. For City of Bristol LEA the New Opportunities Fund have allocated £1,188,926 under this programme.
  Funding for the ICT Training for Public Librarians is allocated to local authorities. For Bristol library authority the New Opportunities Fund have allocated £117,925 under this programme.
  Bristol library authority was part of a consortium of 11 partners which received an award of £149,645 from the DCMS/Wolfson Fund in 2000 –01 for a project to promote reading. It is not practicable to say what proportion of this funding is being spent in the Bristol, East constituency.
  Bristol library authority also received an award of £24,000 from the Wolfson British History Programme (the part of the DCMS/Wolfson Fund sponsored by The Wolfson Foundation) for a project to enhance history collections and their presentation in 26 libraries. It is not practicable to say what proportion of the funding is being spent in the Bristol, East constituency.
  Bristol Museums and Art Galleries has received £140,000 from the Designated Museums Challenge Fund towards research, storage and documentation projects.
  My Department has also been encouraging additional collaboration between the national museums and galleries sponsored by my Department and their regional counterparts. Complementary to this is the recent exhibition agreement entered into between Bristol Museums and the National Gallery.

  59W
  National Foundation for Youth Music have made four awards in the Bristol area totalling £53,972.
  The South West Arts Board has received an additional £1,778 million from the Arts Council this year to support arts and cultural activity across the region.

  Information on the national lottery is in accordance with the information supplied to the Department by the lottery distributors for the national lottery awards database.

  Departmental Policies(Blackpool, North and Fleetwood)
  Mrs. Humble
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will set out, including statistical information, the effect on the Blackpool, North and Fleetwood constituency of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997. [150714]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  Blackpool, North and Fleetwood has received £1,341,025 from the national lottery since 2 May 1997. This includes one award from the millennium festival totalling £30,000.

  In addition, three grants totalling £44,231 have been made from the new opportunities fund out of school hours child care programme. These are:
  £13,057 to the Kincraig After-School Club—this will provide for 30 after-school places, for children aged 3 to 11-years-old.
  £16,989 to the Holy Family Holiday Playscheme—this will enable the creation of 30 new places for children in three local primary schools.
  £14,185 to the North Shore After-School Club—for 30 after school places for children aged 4 to 14. Three schools in an urban area will be served.

  A grant worth £4,400 has been awarded to the Claremont community school from the fund's out of school hours learning programme. The project will teach children to play imaginative games and encourage learning through art and creativity.

  Residents of Blackpool, North and Fleetwood will benefit from a grant worth £124,437 which has been awarded to Trinity palliative care services under the fund's living with cancer programme. This project will improve the availability of information to carers of cancer patients.

  Two millennium award winners have been identified from Blackpool, North and Fleetwood and between them they have received grants totalling £5,007.

  There are of course other initiatives in the wider context of Blackpool which may have an effect on the Blackpool, North and Fleetwood constituency. These are:
  The Space for Sport and the Art (SSA) scheme is making available £130 million, made up of £75 million from the Capital Modernisation Fund and £55 million from Sport England, the Arts Council of England and the 3rd Round of the New Opportunities Fund, towards providing improved facilities for sport and arts in primary schools which can also be used by the wider community. Liverpool, Manchester, Cumbria, Knowsley, Salford, Lancashire, Rochdale, Trafford, Wirral, St. Helens and Blackburn with Darwen have been allocated funding under this programme which means a potential inward investment of up to £22 million in the north-west region.
  Blackpool, North and Fleetwood constituents will benefit from equipment to be purchased by the New Opportunities Fund cancer programme. Across the whole of the North West NHS Region over £10 million will fund nine linear accelerators; four MRI
  60W
  scanners; five trailers for breast screening equipment; six ultrasound machines for breast screening; and 27 pieces of x-ray breast screening equipment.
  Blackpool Funding for the ICT (Information and Communications Technology) Training for Teachers and School Librarians is allocated to all schools in a local education authority area. For Blackpool LEA the New Opportunities Fund have allocated £441,228 under this programme.
  Funding for the ICT Training for Public Librarians is allocated to local authorities. For Blackpool Library Authority the New Opportunities Fund have allocated £37,490 under this programme.
  Blackpool Library Authority was awarded £52,000 from the DCMS/Wolfson Fund in 1998–99, and as part of a consortium with other authorities, £215,992 in 2000–01. It is not practicable to say what part of this funding benefits the Blackpool, North and Fleetwood constituency.
  The North West Arts Board has received an additional £493,877 from the Arts Council this year to support arts and cultural activity across the region.
  The National Theatre Review of major producing theatres will impact on Blackpool Grand Theatre which has been named as a recipient of additional new funding made available by my Department. The allocation to the North West of the £25 million available nationally will he known in March. This is likely to lead to a significant increase in core funding for the theatre.

  Information on the national lottery is in accordance with the information supplied to the Department for the national lottery awards database.

  Departmental Policies (North-East Derbyshire)
  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to the North-East Derbyshire constituency, the effect on North-East Derbyshire of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997. [150882]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  [holding answer 26 February 2001]: North-East Derbyshire has received £3,489,224 from the national lottery since 2 May 1997.

  In addition, the new opportunities fund has made the following grants:
  A grant worth £4,617 has been made to Holmesdale kids club from the fund's out of school hours child care programme. The grant will provide for eight before-school, eight after-school and eight holiday places for children aged 5 to 11-years-old. Three schools in a rural area will benefit.
  A grant worth £21,652 has been made to Dronfield junior school from the fund's out of school hours learning programme. The project will include arts activities ranging from screen-printing and pottery to drama and community music.

  Residents of North-East Derbyshire will benefit from a grant worth £184,114 which has been awarded to a 24-hour crisis prevention and support service under the living with cancer programme. The project will include 24-hour home support services, ensuring speedy patient assessment and support for carers.

  Six millennium award winners have been identified from North-East Derbyshire and between them they have received grants totalling £38,866.

  English Heritage have continued to fund existing commitments in North-East Derbyshire. These are:
  1996–97 to 1998–99 contributed 50 per cent. of salary costs for a Conservation Officer post in North-East Derbyshire district council (£34,500 over three years).

  61W
  Fleet Arts, Belper has been awarded £10,249 from the National Foundation for Youth Music—this project is a new departure for the Nail it Down project, extending it from rock and pop to include new technology, samba and the fusion of the two. Opportunities will be created for performance, running recording sessions and workshops which are informal, focused on the individual and encourage the writing of original music and lyrics.

  There are of course other initiatives in the wider context of Derbyshire which may have an effect on the North-East Derbyshire constituency. These are:
  Under the Space for Sport and the Arts (SSA) scheme, a £130 million capital programme made up of £75 million from the Capital Modernisation Fund and £55 million from Sport England, the Arts Council of England and the third round of the New Opportunities Fund, Derbyshire LEA has been allocated up to £2.2 million towards providing improved facilities for sport and arts in primary schools which can also be used by the wider community.
  Leicester City, the City of Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, Northamptonshire and the City of Derby have also been allocated funding under this programme which means a potential investment of up to £13.4 million in the East Midlands Region.
  North-East Derbyshire constituents will benefit from equipment to be purchased by the New Opportunities Fund Cancer programme. Across the whole of the Trent NHS Region over £10 million will fund six linear accelerators; five MRI scanners; five trailers for breast screening equipment; five ultrasound machines for breast screening; and 24 pieces of x-ray breast screening equipment.
  Derbyshire funding for the ICT (Information and Communications Technology) Training for Teachers and School Librarians is allocated to all schools in a local education authority area. For Derbyshire LEA the New Opportunities Fund have allocated £2,467,164 under this programme.
  Funding for ICT Training for Public Librarians is allocated to local authorities. For Derbyshire Library Authority the New Opportunities Fund have allocated £230,510 under this programme.
  Derbyshire Librarl Authority was awarded £90,100 from the DCMS/Wolfson Fund in 1997–98, £101,099 in 1998–99, and £95,000 in 1999–2000. It is not practicable to say what part of this funding benefits the North-East Derbyshire constituency.
  East Midlands Arts has received an additional £1,592,000 from the Arts Council this year to support arts and cultural activity across the region.

  Information on the national lottery is in accordance with the information supplied to the Department from the lottery distributors for the national lottery awards database.

  Departmental Policies (Norwich, North)
  Dr. Gibson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will set out, including statistical information relating as directly as possible to the constituency, the effect on the Norwich, North constituency of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997. [151146]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  Norwich, North has received £1,377,917 from the national lottery since 2 May 1997. This includes £31,569,000 for the Norfolk and Norwich millennium project and one award from the millennium festival totalling £20,000.

  In addition, the new opportunities fund has made the following grants:
  Two grants, totalling £16,906 have been made from the fund's out of school hours child care programme. The first was awarded to Barneybees. £8,603 will be used to provide 16 before school
  62W
  and 16 holiday places for children aged 5–7 years old. The schools served will be Angel road first and middle schools. An award of £8,303 to the George White out of school club will enable the creation of 24 after school places for children in the George White middle school.

  Twenty two millennium award winners have been identified from Norwich, North and between them they have received grants totalling £46,401.

  Thorpe St. Andrew School in Norwich, North was awarded specialist sport college status.

  There are of course other initiatives in the wider context of Norwich which may have an effect on the Norwich, North constituency. These are:
  Under the Space for Sport and the Art scheme, a £130 million capital programme made up of £75 million from the Capital Modernisation Fund and £55 million from Sport England, the Arts Council of England and the 3rd Round of the New Opportunities Fund, Norfolk LEA has been allocated up to £2.2 million towards providing improved facilities for sport and arts in primary schools which can also be used by the wider community. Essex, Luton and Bedfordshire have also been allocated funding under this programme which means a potential inward investment of up to £7.4 million in the Eastern Region under this programme.
  The Norwich Castle Museum has been allocated £208,000 from the Designated Museums Challenge Fund towards a major documentation project.
  My Department has also been encouraging additional collaboration between the national museums and galleries sponsored by the Department and their regional counterparts. Complementary to this has been the Tate Gallery's formation of strategic relationships with five regional museums and galleries including the Norwich Castle Museum. Supplementing the support of the Heritage Lottery Fund, DCMS will be providing the Tate with an additional £300,000 a year from 2001–02 towards the maintenance of these relationships.
  Norfolk Library Authority was awarded £234,068 from the DCMS/Wolfson Fund in 1999–2000, and, as part of a consortium with other authorities, £149,045 in 2000–01. It is not practicable to say what part of this funding benefits the Norwich, North constituency.
  Funding for the ICT (Information and Communications Technology) Training for Teachers and school librarians is allocated to all schools in a local education authority area. For Norfolk LEA the New Opportunities Fund have allocated £2,636,358 under this programme.
  Funding for ICT Training for Public Librarians is allocated to local authorities. For Norfolk Library Authority the New Opportunities Fund have allocated £202,030 under this programme.
  People's Network programme aims to link every public library in the UK to the internet and the National grid for Learning by 2002. The New Opportunities Fund has allocated £720,935 to Norfolk Library Service under this programme.
  Norwich, North constituents will benefit from equipment to be purchased by the New Opportunities Fund Cancer programme. Across the whole of the Eastern NHS Region over £9 million will fund six linear accelerators; three MRI scanners; nine trailers for breast screening equipment; five ultrasound machines for breast screening; and 23 pieces of x-ray breast screening equipment.
  The National Foundation for Youth Music has awarded £500,000 to the Norfolk Youth Music Action Zone, Keswick Hall Choir.
  East England Arts Board has received an additional £1,225 million from the Arts Council this year to support arts and cultural activity across the region.
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  Grants offered by English Heritage in the Norwich area are:

  Churches

  St. Stephen's Rampant Horse Street, Norwich £244,155

  St. Peter's, The Street, Matlake £22,100 All Saints, Marsham £41,100

  St. Peter and St Paul, Oulton £26,170 Cathedral £227,000

  Secular

  Deanery, The Close, Norwich £11,234

  St. Augustines, St. Augustines Street, Norwich £5,000

  Great Hospital, Bishopsgate, Norwich £45,000

  St. Clement, Colgate, Norwich £11,000

  St. Martin Palace, Norwich £20,100

  St. Margaret de Westwick, St. Benedicts Street, Norwich £43,600

  5 Tombland, Norwich £4,470

  15 Elm Hill, Norwich £1,620

  20 Golden Dog Lane, Norwich £1,865

  3–5 Magdalen Street, Norwich £3,365.

  Information on the national lottery is in accordance with the information supplied to the Department from the lottery distributors for the national lottery awards database.

  Ecclesiastical Heritage
  Dr. Gibson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what contribution his Department makes to the preservation of Britain's ecclesiastical heritage. [153777]

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  The Department fully recognises the importance of this country's ecclesiastical heritage, and contributes to its preservation in England through grant in aid to English Heritage, which funds conservation work for places of worship listed Grade I and II. The Heritage lottery fund, too, has contributed substantial sums from the national lottery to repairs and new facilities for historic churches throughout the country. The Department further supports the Churches Conservation Trust's work in caring for historic churches no longer in use for regular worship. We will shortly be introducing a new UK-wide grant scheme for listed places of worship which will substantially increase the amount of public support for repairs to our heritage of fine ecclesiastical buildings.

  Channel 4
  Mr. Hopkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make a statement on the role of Channel 4 in a multi-channel broadcasting environment. [153915]

  Janet Anderson
  As the Government made clear in the White Paper "A New Future For Communications", published last December, we will maintain Channel 4 as a public service broadcaster in the multi-channel environment with a remit which complements and provides competition to the BBC and the ITV companies. We will also ensure that Channel 4 continues to provide distinctive and innovative programming.

  Royal Parks Agency
  Mr. Gareth R. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what payments the Royal Parks Agency has received from the London marathon in each of the last five years. [153962]
  64W
  Mr. Alan Howarth
  Responsibility for the subject of this question has been delegated to the Royal Parks Agency under its chief executive, William Weston, I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from William Weston to Mr. Gareth R. Thomas, dated March 2001

  I have been asked by the Secretary of State for Culture. Media and Sport to reply to your Parliamentary Question about the amount the Royal Parks Agency has received from the London Marathon as this is an operational matter for which I am responsible.

  The Royal Parks Agency has received the following payments from the London Marathon over the last five years.

  £

  Event fee

  Police costs

  1996

  36,225

  n/a

  1997

  46,808.51

  n/a

  1998

  85,106.38

  n/a

  1999

  140,000

  7,019.57

  2000

  142,800

  7,320

  In addition, in 2000 the Agency received £1,672.35 in respect of reinstatement costs.

  Millennium Dome
  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the budgeted figure was for the proceeds of the auction of the content of the millennium dome; and what figure was achieved. [154235]

  Janet Anderson
  [holding answer 16 March 2001]: The New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) budgeted £2 million after commission but before auctioneer's fees from the sale of the dome's surplus content. Subject to final reconciliation, the auction realised £3.2 million after commission but before fees.

  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much Millennium Commission funding remains to be drawn down by the New Millennium Experience Company; and if he will make a statement. [154238]

  Janet Anderson
  [holding answer 16 March 2001]: The New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) has so far drawn down £10 million of the £47 million grant from the Millennium Commission. £37 million remains.

  Canals (Foot and Mouth Disease)
  Mr.Luff
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture. Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the impact of the closure of British Waterways' canal network on the long-term viability of canal-based tourism operators. [154218]

  Janet Anderson
  [holding answer 16 March 2001]: The decision to close access to all its waterways located in affected and restricted areas from the beginning of the month to help limit the spread of foot and mouth disease was made by British Waterways.
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  The Government have established a taskforce chaired by my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Environment to consider the implications of the outbreak of foot and mouth disease for the rural economy. The implications for the canal network (and other waterways) will be within the ambit of this group, which will be considering actions to help those caught up in the crisis and measures to help the rural economy once the outbreak has been eradicated.

  Culture and Creativity
  Judy Mallaber
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans he has to widen access to culture and to support the creative talent of people of all ages. [154772]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  I am tomorrow publishing a Green Paper entitled "Culture and Creativity: The Next Ten Years". The paper looks forward to a future in which individual creative talent is given the support it needs from childhood to flourish; in which artists and cultural institutions are freed from bureaucratic controls; and in which freedom to explore and enjoy creativity and culture is available to all.

  The Green Paper sets out how the Government seek to secure that future, both through cultural policy initiatives—such as creative partnerships between schools and cultural institutions and free access to national museums and galleries—and through the key role culture and creativity play in the Government's educational and industrial policies.

  Copies of the Green Paper have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Pigs Directive
  Sir Richard Body
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he has taken to persuade the Commission of the EU to enforce the Pigs Directive (91/630/EEC) in respect of countries that have failed to take action in accordance with it. [154020]

  Mr. Morley
  Where we have hard evidence of a failure to enforce EU welfare rules, we do not hesitate to bring the matter to the attention of the EU Commission. However, while allegations of this kind are made from time to time, the evidence is not usually provided.

  Animal Welfare
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer of 21 December 2000,Official Report, column 330W, on animal welfare, if a date and agenda have now been set for the next meeting of the interdepartmental group on animal welfare. [154245]

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 16 March 2001]: The next meeting of the interdepartmental group on animal welfare is scheduled for early April. The agenda is likely to include items on the Protection of Animals (Amendment) Act 2000, WTO and animal welfare and the Review of the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Civil Servants (Salary Increases)
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 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. [152796]

  Mr. Wilson
  [holding answer 14 March 2001]: The headline pay settlement for Foreign and Commonwealth Office staff 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 4.5 per cent.

  2001 Census
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the result was of his review of ethnic minority origin categories for the 2001 census; and what measures he will take to include the Irish in Britain among the categories used for monitoring recruitment and other activities that may benefit from equal opportunities best practice. [153808]

  Mr. Wilson
  There was no review of ethnic minority origin categories for the 2001 census. My Department follows Cabinet Office guidance with respect to the use of ethnic minority origin categories for monitoring purposes. New guidance is expected shortly which will include the Irish in British category. Our ethnic monitoring questionnaire will be updated over the next year and the new categories will be used from April 2002, in line with Cabinet Office guidance.

  Plutonium
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the expanded plutonium disposition planning group. [154204]

  Mr. Wilson
  There has been no formal expansion of the G8 plutonium disposition planning group (PDPG). However, on 9 March in Brussels, the Russian and US co-chairs of the PDPG gave a briefing on the state of the. plutonium disposition programme to other interested Governments and industry representatives.

  Russia and the US gave presentations on the development of the programme so far, and took questions.

  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 12 February 2001, Official Report, column 47W, if the paper on fuel leasing to which the United Kingdom is committed under the action points agreed in the meeting of the Plutonium Disposition Planning Group held in Rome on 6 and 7 February has been produced; and if he will place a copy in the Library once it is ready. [154230]

  Mr. Wilson
  A provisional version of the paper on fuel leasing has been produced and is awaiting comments from the rest of the G8. The UK will then revise the paper in the light of these comments.

  It is a document communicated in confidence between Governments.

  Peter Bleach
  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has received a reply to the representations he made to the Indian Government about the imprisonment of Peter Bleach; and if he will make a statement. [153976]

  Mr. Wilson
  The Foreign Secretary has not yet received a reply to his letter of 4 December 2000 to the Indian Government asking for Peter Bleach to be released on the grounds of fair and equal treatment with his co-convicted, who already have been released. He sent a reminder on 29 January. The British High Commissioner in New Delhi has followed up the Foreign Secretary's request with key players in the Indian Government. Baroness Scotland called in the Indian High Commissioner on 7 March to remind him of the Foreign Secretary's request.

  Ministerial Meetings
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent contacts have taken place between Ministers and the President of Syria; and if he will make a statement on the outcome of such contacts. [154330]

  Mr. Wilson
  The Prime Minister had a telephone conversation with the Syrian President on 10 October. The Foreign Secretary has met the Syrian President twice during the past year, on 12 October and 13 June. The right hon. Member for Hartlepool (Mr. Mandelson), while Northern Ireland Secretary, was invited by the Syrian President to a private meeting on 4 January 2001.

  The UK has good relations with Syria. Contacts with the Syrian President have focused on improving bilateral co-operation and on moving forward the middle east peace process.

  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his policy is in respect of meetings between Ministers and arms dealers. [154329]

  Mr. Wilson
  Meetings between Ministers and people outside government are conducted in accordance with the ministerial code.

  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in respect of the recent visit by the right hon. Member for Hartlepool (Mr. Mandelson) to Syria(a) whether the visit was initiated by his Department, (b) what briefing arrangements were put in place to ensure discussions held in Syria presented Her Majesty's Government's policy, (c) what the nature was of information obtained during the visit which was passed back to his Department, (d) if the visit was paid for solely out of public funds, (e) what discussions took place prior to the visit involving Lord Levy and (f) if he will list the persons met by the right hon. Member for Hartlepool during his visit. [154405]

  Mr. Wilson
  The recent visit to Syria by my right hon. Friend the Member for Hartlepool (Mr. Mandelson) was a private visit made with the knowledge and approval of the Foreign Office. A full briefing was not requested or provided. My right hon. Friend received travel advice from the FCO and spoke to our ambassador in Damascus prior to travelling. In turn, he briefed our ambassador in Damascus on the discussion he had with the Syrian
  68W
  President at a private meeting arranged at short notice. The visit was not paid for from public funds. There were no discussions involving Lord Levy prior to the visit.

  Arms Exports
  Ms Kingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 1 March 2001,Official Report, columns 735–36W, on arms exports, on what dates in 1998, at which locations, and at what levels contacts were made between his Department and MINURSO; which department of the UN told his Department that refurbishment could be considered as neutral; if this decision was confirmed in correspondence; and what specific role MINURSO was understood to play in the monitoring and the refurbishment of guns. [154488]

  Mr. Wilson
  Foreign and Commonwealth Office and MINURSO officials had regular contacts, at all levels, in the region to discuss Western Sahara during 1998. As a result of contacts between FCO and United Nations officials, FCO officials came to a preliminary view that refurbishment of the guns would not breach the existing ceasefire.

  The United Nations Department of Peace-Keeping Operations in New York told us that refurbishment of the guns could be viewed as neutral. This was not the subject of written correspondence between FCO and United Nations officials. The FCO understood that, in accordance with existing military arrangements between MINURSO and the two parties, MINURSO would be in a position to monitor the procedure of the refurbishment of the Moroccan guns on the ground.

  Ms Kingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions took place between his Department and(a) the United Nations and (b) MINURSO regarding the legality of permitting the refurbishment of Moroccan 105 mm guns situated in Western Sahara; on what dates these discussion took place; with which UN Department; at what grades; and in which location. [154489]

  Mr. Wilson
  Foreign and Commonwealth Office and United Nations officials discussed whether or not refurbishment of the Moroccan guns in Western Sahara would be in breach of the UN-sponsored ceasefire. The United Nations Department of Peace-Keeping Operations in New York confirmed to the FCO that refurbishment of the guns would not be in breach of the existing military arrangements between MINURSO and the two parties.

  FCO officials have regular discussions with the United Nations officials on a wide range of issues on Western Sahara and the region. Discussions about the possible refurbishment of Moroccan guns in Western Sahara formed part of these wider discussions during 1998 and 1999. Discussions were between officials at a variety of grades and took place in the region with MINURSO officials and in New York with Department of Peace-Keeping Operations officials.

  President Mugabe (Legal Proceedings)
  Mr. Maude
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has
  69W
  made to President Bush regarding the possible immunity from legal proceedings in New York for President Mugabe; and if he will make a statement. [154322]

  Mr. Wilson
  We have made no representations to the US Government on this issue. However, we have regular discussions with the Americans about Zimbabwe. They share our concerns about the situation there.

  Sierra Leone (Select Committee Report)
  Mr. Maude
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) if written material was prepared for use in briefing(a) the Press and (b) officials, arising from the copy of the draft Foreign Affairs Select Committee report on Sierra Leone handed over by the hon. Member for Dundee, West (Mr. Ross); [154333]

  (2) if the Deputy Head of his Department's News Department annotated a version of the copy of the draft Foreign Affairs Select Committee report on Sierra Leone handed over by the hon. Member for Dundee, West; [154325]

  (3) if (a) the Permanent Under-Secretary and (b) the Head of his Department's News Department saw written briefing material for use in briefing (i) the Press and (ii) officials, arising from the copy of the draft Foreign Affairs Select Committee Report on Sierra Leone handed over by the hon. Member for Dundee, West; [154326]

  (4) if (a) the Permanent Under-Secretary at his Department and (b) the Head of his Department's News Department, (c) the Deputy Head of his Department's News Department and (d) the Head of his Department's Africa Department (Equatorial) were briefed on the contents of the draft Foreign Affairs Select Committee report on Sierra Leone handed over by the hon. Member for Dundee, West. [154327]

  Mr. Robin Cook
  I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 16 March 2001,Official Report, column 775W.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Hinduja Brothers
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action Dr. Goldstein took in relation to the 'Zola Budd' manuscript note written on the letter concerning G. P. Hinduja. [154320]

  Mr. Straw
  None. I assume that the right hon. Member is referring to the letter written by Mr. G. P. Hinduja to my right hon. Friend the Member for Hartlepool (Mr. Mandelson) about Mr. Prakash Hinduja.

  Sir Anthony Hammond concluded that this letter was dealt with entirely properly (Cmnd HC287 6.23).

  Asylum Procedures
  Miss Widdecombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which recommendations of the vantagepoint report on asylum procedures(a) have been implemented and (b) are yet to be implemented; which will not be implemented; and if he will make a statement. [151748]
  70W
  Mrs. Roche
  I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave her on 26 October 2000,Official Report, column 209W, which in turn referred to the answer my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Crawley (Laura Moffat) on 29 February 2000, Official Report, 255W.

  The background to the radical overhaul of the asylum decision-making process undertaken by this Government was set out by my right hon. Friend. It was explained that the asylum process project/vantagepoint report was part of the overhaul, but it was never intended that it be viewed in isolation. Indeed, many changes had already been introduced before the report was completed, as part of our strategy to streamline asylum processing as a whole. Thus many improvements had already been made.

  Improvement continues. The Immigration and Nationality Directorate made over 100,000 initial decisions in 2000. The backlog has fallen for 12 consecutive months and we expect this to continue. We remain on course to make further substantial reductions by April 2001.

  Gaming Industry
  Mr. Pond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to deregulate the gaming industry. [154562]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  I am today publishing a consultation document which sets out proposals for an order under the Deregulation and Contracting Out Act 1994—or, if it is enacted, the Government's Regulatory Reform Bill—to change certain aspects of the gaming machine industry. Our consultation document makes three specific proposals that would alter the law contained in the Gaming Act 1968 Act on jackpot and higher-value amusement with prizes machines.

  First, we propose to allow players to use bank notes and electronic smart cards in these machines. Secondly, we propose to allow winnings to be stored in these machines to be used for further plays without the player having to reinsert money into the machine. Finally, we propose to allow these machines to be set so as to pay out winnings in cash (notes or coins), by printing a cheque, by adding credit to the player's smart card, or by means of a credit note or token redeemable by the operator.

  The Government believe that these reforms Will benefit both the industry and its customers. The consultation document asks for comment by 15 June 2001. I am placing copies in the Library.

  Essex Constabulary
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the absentee rates among police officers for(a) training and (b) sickness in the Essex constabulary in each year from March 1997 to the latest date for which figures are available. [154483]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  No central collection is made of information about absentee rates for training and Essex police have advised me that they are unable to provide this information.
  71W
  Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) collect data from forces on police sickness absence. The annual rates of sickness for Essex police from 1996–97 to 1999–2000 are as follows:

  Number of working days lost through sickness per police officer

  1996–97

  10

  1997–98

  11.6

  1998–99

  13.4

  1999–2000

  14.6

  Court Visits
  Mr. Marshall-Andrews
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 9 March 2001,Official Report, column 390W, on court visits, (1) if he will list improprieties he witnessed by members of the legal profession during his visits; [153834]

  (2) if he will give details of the criminal proceedings he observed during the court visits. [153835]

  Mr.Straw
  [holding answer 15 March 2001]: I have observed a wide range of proceedings dealt with by criminal courts. However, it would not be appropriate for me to comment on the detail of individual cases.

  Electoral Registers
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the policy of his Department is on commercial selling of electoral registers to private and commercial organisations; and if he will make a statement. [154454]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  Section 9 of the Representation of the People Act 2000 allows regulations to be made restricting the sale and supply of the full electoral register. Section 9 gives effect to a recommendation of the working party on electoral procedures that each individual registered elector should have the option of deciding whether the details that they have provided should be included in the commercially available register by using an opt out box on the registration form. We hope to publish draft regulations for consultation by Easter.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Child Abduction
  Sir John Stanley
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if she will place a copy of the Central Authority for England and Wales' working paper submitted to the Permanent Bureau for the forthcoming Special Commission to review the operation of the Hague Convention on child abduction in the Library. [154318]

  Jane Kennedy
  Working papers produced in consultation with the entire United Kingdom delegation will be placed in the Library early next week, when the texts have been finalised.

  Magistrates (Stoke-on-Trent)
  Mr. Fabricant
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if she will make a
  72W
  statement on the selection criteria operated by the Advisory Committee on Justices of the Peace for Stoke-on-Trent in relation to recruiting magistrates, with specific reference to applications from Labour party supporters. [153797]

  Jane Kennedy
  All advisory committees in England and Wales operate the criteria set out in my noble and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor's directions for advisory committees on justices of the peace, copies of which are available in the Libraries. The pre-eminent requirement is that a candidate must be personally suitable for appointment, possessing the six key qualities required in a magistrate (good character; understanding and communication; social awareness; maturity and sound temperament; sound judgment; commitment and reliability). As a secondary consideration, in common with his predecessors, the Lord Chancellor requires that each magistrates bench should broadly reflect the community it serves in terms of gender, ethnic origin, geographical spread, occupation and political affiliation.

  Political affiliation has been used by successive Lord Chancellors as a proxy for social balance in the lay magistracy and has been endorsed by two Royal Commissions. The Department, by letters dated 7 August 1995 and 17 July 1996, copies of which have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses, referred to the concern of the then Lord Chancellor, Lord Mackay of Clashfern, that the political balance in Stoke-on-Trent was not good, with the Labour vote under reflected, and encouraged measures to seek our more Labour voters to become magistrates.

  My noble and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor personally favours the abandonment of using political balance as a proxy for achieving social balance. With this in mind he issued a consultation paper in 1998 "Political Balance in the Lay Magistracy" seeking views. While most respondents favoured removing political affiliation as a balancing factor, no viable alternative was suggested. The Lord Chancellor therefore reluctantly decided in 1999 that political balance would have to remain for the time being, but instructed officials to continue to work on an alternative.

  Later this year pilots will be conducted to ascertain whether or not a combination of social and occupational groupings would be a practical alternative to political balance.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  National Insurance Numbers
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 7 March 2001,Official Report, columns 233—34W, on national insurance numbers, how many spouses of those deceased persons with national insurance numbers are still alive. [153803]

  Mr. Rooker
  This information is not available.

  Benefits (Tyneside)
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the number of children in(a) South Tyneside and (b) South Shields constituency who were receiving Child Benefit in (i) 1997 and
  73W
  (ii) 2001; what the rates of benefit were; and what the average annual income from Child Benefit was in (a) 1997 and (b) 2001 for those areas. [154437]

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

  South Tyneside

  South Shields

  August 1999

  Number of children

  19,810

  10,475

  Average weekly amount per family (£)

  21.17

  21.35

  November 2000

  Number of children

  19,474

  10,358

  Average weekly amount per family (£)

  22.56

  22.67

  Notes:

  1. Figures are from a 100 per cent. extract of the Child Benefit Centre Computer System.

  2. Information from before 1999 is not available on this basis.

  3. The average annual income from Child Benefit is not available.

  4. Average weekly amounts are based on Child Benefit, Guardians Allowance and Child Benefit (Lone Parent). We are not able to split them into the individual components.

  5. Cases are allocated to each parliamentary constituency by matching the postcode against the relevant (ie 1999 or 2000 versions 1 or 2) of the ONS Postcode Directory. Constituency boundaries are represented as at May 1997.

  The rates of Child Benefit were as follows:

  April 1999—£14.40 eldest child and £9.60 subsequent children.

  April 2000—£15.00 eldest child and £10.00 subsequent children.

  Jobseeker's Allowance
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many Jobseeker's Allowance claimants there are in(a) South Tyneside MBC and (b) South Shields constituency; how many there were in May 1997; and how many such claimants were continuous claimants of more than two years. [154442]

  Angela Eagle
  The information is in the table.

  Income Support pensioners average weekly income and average weekly amount of Income Support as November 1997

  Number of claimants

  Average weekly amount of imcome(£)

  Average weekly amount of Income Support(£)

  South Tyneside local authority

  6,700

  75.51

  32.73

  South Shields parliamentary constituency

  3,800

  76.10

  31.99

  Minimum Income Guarantee pensioners average weekly income and average weekly amount of MIG as at November 2000

  Number of claimants

  Average weekly amount of income(£)

  Average weekly amount of Income Support(£)

  South Tyneside local authority

  6,800

  90.14

  38.03

  South Shields parliamentary constituency

  3,700

  90.09

  37.20

  Notes:

  1. Figures are based on a 5 per cent. sample and are therefore subject to a degree of sampling error.

  2. Figures are rounded to the nearest hundred and are expressed in thousands.

  3. Parliamentary constituencies and local authorities have been allocated by matching postcodes against the relevant ONS postcode directory for each quarter, and represent constituency boundaries as at May 1997.

  4. Pensioners are defined as benefit units where the claimant and/or partner are aged 60 and over.

  5. Income is defined as all income and benefits (excluding IS), including income from Partners and dependants, taken into account and disregarded for Income Support purposes.

  6. The average weekly amounts of income quoted in the tables exclude help provided through Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit.

  Source:

  Income Support Quarterly Statistical Enquiries, November 1997 and 2000
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  Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) recipients in South Shields constituency and South Tyneside metropolitan borough council area by duration—May 1997 and November 2000

  Thousand

  South Shields Central parliamentary constituency

  South Tyneside metropolitan borough council

  May 1997

  All cases

  4.7

  7.3

  Duration two years or more

  1.2

  1.8

  November 2000

  All cases

  3.4

  5.4

  Duration two years or more

  0.5

  0.8

  Notes

  1. Figures have been rounded to the nearest hundred and quoted in thousands.

  2. Based on 5 per cent. sample therefore subject to sampling error.

  3. Figures include cases receiving Income-based or Contribution-based JSA and those receiving no benefit and signing for National Insurance Credits only.

  4. As JSA was only introduced in October 1996 the duration figures for May 1997 include those on Unemployment Benefit or Income Support for the unemployed prior to October 1996.

  Source:

  Jobseeker's Allowance Statistics Quarterly Enquiries, May 1997 and November 2000

  Pensioners (Tyneside)
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many pensioners in(a) South Tyneside and (b) South Shields constituency were receiving Income Support in (a) 1996–97 and (b) 2000–01; and what their average benefit and average income were. [154439]

  Mr. Rooker
  The information is in the tables.

  Compared to when this Government came to office in 1997, the average incomes of pensioners in these constituencies have risen by around £15 weekly. Over 40 per cent. of this increase can be attributed directly to help through the Minimum Income Guarantee. From this April, with the alignment of weekly Minimum Income Guarantee rates at the highest rate, no pensioner need live on less than £92.15 a week.
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  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many pensioners receiving the state pension there are in(a) South Tyneside and (b) South Shields constituency; how many there were in May 1997; and how many of those were aged over 75 years. [154440]

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

  We will increase basic state pension from April 2001 by £5 for a single person and £8 per couple. The overall costs for Great Britain as a whole will be 1.3 billion. This will benefit over 10 million British pensioners. Among them an estimated 30,400 reside in the South Tyneside local authority and an estimated 16,500 reside in the constituency of South Shields.

  Retirement pensioners in receipt of state pension resident in South Tyneside local authority, South Shields constituency and Great Britain at 30 September 2000

  Total recipients

  75 and under

  Over 75

  Great Britain

  10,185,400

  6,363,400

  3,822,000

  South Tyneside

  30,400

  20,200

  10,300

  South Shields

  16,500

  10,900

  5,600

  Great Britain (March 1997)

  9,838,700

  6,181,700

  3,656,900

  Notes:

  1. Cases are allocated to each parliamentary constituency and district authority by matching the postcode against the 2000 version 1 of the Postcode Directory supplied by ONS.

  2. Great Britain data exclude Overseas and Channel Island pensioners.

  3. Figures are rounded to the nearest hundred.

  4. Data by local authority or parliamentary constituency are not available prior to September 1999.

  Source:

  Based on a 5 per cent. sample taken from the Pension Strategy Computer System at 31 March 2000 and 31 March 1997.

  Pensions
  Mr. Rooney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if Guaranteed Minimum Pensions are payable to women beneficiaries at age 60 years. [154490]

  Mr. Rooker
  Yes, Guaranteed Minimum Pensions (GMPs) are payable to women, in their own right, at age 60, but they may be payable earlier to a widow who qualifies for half of her late husband's GMP. In some cases GMPs may be paid later because occupational pension schemes can have a rule which enables payment of the GMP to be postponed, beyond age 60, while an individual remains in employment.

  Departmental Advertising
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what major advertising campaigns his Department is carrying out; and what the cost and duration of each is. [154262]

  Mr. Rooker
  The following campaigns are on-going: Pensions Education, Targeting Fraud and New Deal for Lone Parents. The costs of these are £6.5 million, £4.7 million and £2.5 million, in this financial year.

  Departmental Policies (Paisley, South)
  Mr. Alexander
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will set out statistical information relating as
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  directly as possible to the Paisley, South constituency, the effects on Paisley, South of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997. [153762]

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

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

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

  Child benefit will be worth £15.50 a week for the eldest child and £10.35 a week for other children from April 2001: nationally about 7 million families receive child benefit, and in Paisley, South 8,436 families benefit.

  We now have the lowest unemployment rate in 25 years. The New Deals have helped lone parents, the young unemployed, the long-term unemployed, the over 50s and partners of the unemployed to move from benefit into work. In the period since May 1997 the number of people claiming Jobseekers' Allowance nationally has reduced from 1,562,400 to 1,044,900; in Paisley, South the number has reduced from 2,400 to 1,600. Since May 1997 the number of lone parents who claim Income Support has decreased from 1,013,500 to 894,100 nationally and in Paisley, South from 1,800 to 1,500.

  Older people are disproportionately affected by fuel poverty. So we have introduced Winter Fuel Payments to help with their heaviest fuel bill. This winter, the payment is £200 for households who qualify. Around 13,800 older people in Paisley, South have received a Winter Fuel Payment for this winter.

  To demonstrate our commitment to combating pensioner poverty, this year we will spend £4.5 billion extra in real terms on pensioners. Some 13,100 pensioners in Paisley, South will benefit from the substantial increases in the basic state pension this April and next; this year's increase is £5 a week for single pensioners and £8 for couples. In addition we have introduced free TV licences for the over 75s of whom we estimate there are about 4,900 in Paisley, South. 2,700 pensioner families in Paisley, South are receiving the Minimum Income Guarantee, which we introduced in April 1999 to help our poorest pensioners. From April they will be at least £15 a week, or £800 a year, better off in real terms as a result of Government measures since 1997.
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  Other reforms in the pipeline include: the new Pension Credit in 2003 designed to ensure that pensioners benefit from their savings; the launch of Stakeholder Pensions in April this year; and the introduction of the State Second Pension in April 2002 both of which will help provide greater security for tomorrow's pensioners.

  Departmental Policies (Don Valley)
  Caroline Flint
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security 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. [153526]

  Mr. Rooker
  The Department's policies and initiatives have made a significant contribution to the Government's overall objectives of:
  Eradicating child poverty in 20 years, and halving it within 10;Promoting work as the best form of welfare for people of working age while protecting the position of those in greatest need; and,Combating poverty and promoting security and independence in retirement for today's and tomorrow's pensioners.
  These goals are being pursued nationwide and our achievements are set out in our annual "Opportunity for all" reports. Our second report, "Opportunity for all—One year on: making a difference" (CM4865, September 2000) sets out what progress has been math in the past year, as well as highlighting what more needs to he done. Nationwide statistical information is necessarily more complete than constituency level data, but the following provides a comparative guide to the effect of the Department's policies and actions in Don Valley since May 1997.

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

  Child benefit will be worth £15.50 a week for the eldest child and £10.35 a week for other children from April 2001: nationally about 7 million families receive child benefit, and in Don Valley 11,339 families benefit.

  We now have the lowest unemployment rate in 25 years. The New Deals have helped lone parents, the young unemployed, the long-term unemployed, the over 50s and partners of the unemployed to move from benefit into work. In the period since May 1997 the number of people claiming Jobseekers' Allowance nationally has reduced from 1,562,400 to 1,044,900; in Don Valley the number has reduced from 2.800 to 1.600. Since May 1997 the number of lone parents who claim Income Support has decreased from 1,013,500 to 894,100 nationally and in Don Valley from 1,700 to 1,600.

  Older people are disproportionately affected by fuel poverty. So we have introduced Winter Fuel Payments to help with their heaviest fuel bill. This winter, the payment is £200 for households who qualify. Over 17,000 older people in Don Valley have received a Winter Fuel Payment for this winter.

  To demonstrate our commitment to combating pensioner poverty, this year we wi11 spend £4.5 billion extra in real terms on pensioners. Some 16,000 pensioners in Don Valley will benefit from the substantial increases
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  in the basic State pension this April and next; this year's increase is £5 a week for single pensioners and £8 for couples. In addition we have introduced free TV licences for the over 75s of whom we estimate there are about 5,600 in Don Valley. 2,200 pensioner families in Don Valley are receiving the Minimum Income Guarantee, which we introduced in April 1999 to help our poorest pensioners. From April they will be at least £15 a week, or £800 a year, better off in real terms as a result of Government measures since 1997.

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

  Departmental Policies (Jarrow)
  Mr. Hepburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security 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. [153563]

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

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

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

  Child benefit will be worth £15.50 a week for the eldest child and £10.35 a week for other children from April 2001: nationally about 7 million families receive child benefit, and in Jarrow 10,439 families benefit.

  We now have the lowest unemployment rate in 25 years. The New Deals have helped lone parents, the young unemployed, the long-term unemployed, the over 50s and partners of the unemployed to move from benefit into work. In the period since May 1997 the number of people claiming Jobseekers' Allowance nationally has reduced from 1,562,400 to 1,044,900; in Jarrow the number has reduced from 2,900 to 2,200. Since May 1997 the number of lone parents who claim Income Support has decreased from 1,013,500 to 894,100 nationally and in Jarrow from 1,600 to 1,500.
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  Older people are disproportionately affected by fuel poverty, so we have introduced Winter Fuel Payments to help with their heaviest fuel bill. This winter, the payment is £200 for households who qualify. Over 17,000 older people in Jarrow have received a Winter Fuel Payment for this winter.

  To demonstrate our commitment to combating pensioner poverty, this year we will spend £4.5 billion extra in real terms on pensioners. Some 15,600 pensioners in Jarrow will benefit from the substantial increases in the basic State pension this April and next; this year's increase is £5 a week for single pensioners and £8 for couples. In addition we have introduced free TV licences for the over 75s of whom we estimate there are about 5,700 in Jarrow. 3,600 pensioner families in Jarrow are receiving the Minimum Income Guarantee, which we introduced in April 1999 to help our poorest pensioners. From April they will be at least £15 a week, or £800 a year, better off in real terms as a result of Government measures since 1997.

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

  Departmental Policies (Walthamstow)
  Mr. Gerrard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will set out, including statistical information relating as directly as possible to the constituency, the effect on the Walthamstow constituency of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997. [154175]

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

  These goals are being pursued nationwide and our achievements are set out in our annual "Opportunity for all reports". Our second report, "Opportunity for all—One year on: making a difference" (CM4865, September 2000) sets out what progress has been made in the past year, as well as highlighting what more needs to be done. Nationwide statistical information is necessarily more complete than constituency level data, but the following provides a comparative guide to the effect of the Department's policies and actions in Walthamstow since May 1907.

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

  Child Benefit will be worth £15.50 a week for the eldest child and £10.35 a week for other children from April 2001: nationally about 7 million families receive Child Benefit, and in Walthamstow 11,980 families benefit.
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  We now have the lowest unemployment rate in 25 years. The New Deals have helped lone parents, the young unemployed, the long-term unemployed, the over 50s and partners of the unemployed to move from benefit into work. In the period since May 1997 the number of people claiming Jobseekers' Allowance nationally has reduced from 1,562,400 to 960,600; in Walthamstow the number has reduced from 4,800 to 2,700. Since May 1997 the number of lone parents who claim Income Support has decreased from 1,013,500 to 894,100 nationally and in Walthamstow from 2,800 to 2,200.

  Older people are disproportionately affected by fuel poverty. So we have introduced Winter Fuel Payments to help with their heaviest fuel bill. This winter, the payment is £200 for households who qualify. Around 11,900 older people in Walthamstow have received a Winter Fuel Payment for this winter.

  To demonstrate our commitment to combating pensioner poverty, this year we will spend £4.5 billion extra in real terms on pensioners. Some 11,000 pensioners in Walthamstow will benefit from the substantial increases in the basic state pension this April and next; this year's increase is £5 a week for single pensioners and £8 for couples. In addition we have introduced free TV licences for the over 75s of whom we estimate there are about 5,200 in Walthamstow. 3,500 pensioner families in Walthamstow are receiving the Minimum Income Guarantee, which we introduced in April 1999 to help our poorest pensioners. From April they will be at least £15 a week, or £800 a year, better off in real terms as a result of Government measures since 1997.

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

CABINET OFFICE

  Correspondence
  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what steps she takes to ensure that replies to letters from hon. Members are given within a reasonable period of time; and which Departments have taken over nine months to reply to letters in the last three years. [153967]

  Marjorie Mowlam
  All Departments are working hard to improve their handling of hon. Members' correspondence. For our part, the Cabinet Office has issued new guidance to Departments and is currently working hard on identifying and sharing examples of good practice in handling Members' correspondence.

  The annual Cabinet Office report to Parliament provides information on the total number of late replies sent by Departments (i.e. the number of replies which are not sent within the target time set by Departments). We do not hold information centrally on late replies in any other format. The report for the 2000 calendar year is due to be published before Easter.

DEFENCE

  Defence Budget
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the defence budget, expressed as a percentage of GDP, was in(a) 2000–01 and (b) 1996–97 in the UK, (ii) France, (iii) Germany and (iv) Belgium. [152714]

  Mr. Spellar
  The defence budgets of the countries stated, expressed as a percentage of their GDP, are:

  UK—2.5 per cent. in 2000–01, and 2.9 per cent. in 1996–97;

  France—2.7 per cent. in 2000–01, and 3.0 per cent. in 1996–97;

  Germany—1.5 per cent. in 2000–01, and 1.6 per cent. in 1996–97;

  Belgium—1.4 per cent. in 2000—01, and 1.6 per cent. in 1996—97.

  It should be noted that the figure of 2.5 per cent. for the UK this year reflects the increase in the Defence budget as a result of the Supplementary Estimate laid last month. The previously reported figure was 2.4 per cent.

  Mr. Forth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the level of the defence budget expressed as a percentage of GDP in each of the last four financial years for which figures are available. [152727]

  Mr. Spellar
  The defence budget as a percentage of the GDP for the last four completed financial years is as follows:

  1996–97: 2.9 per cent.

  1997–98: 2.7 per cent.

  1998–99: 2.6 per cent.

  1999–2000: 2.6 per cent.

  Sierra Leone
  Ms Bridget Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the deployment of British armed forces in Sierra Leone. [152715]

  Mr. Hoon
  British troops are in Sierra Leone to assist the democratically elected Government to establish effective and accountable armed forces. We have between 550 and 600 troops on the ground it Sierra Leone at any time. These are divided into the UK contribution to the international military advisory and training team, soldiers providing the short-term training teams, and a brigade headquarters. In January we deployed a field surgical team to cover the gap in medical cover due to the roulement of UN medical facilities.

  Mr. Gapes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he last visited Sierra Leone to inspect the British troops there; and if he will make a statement. [152729]

  Mr. Hoon
  I last visited Sierra Leone on 31 January, accompanied by my hon. Friend, among others. We were both able to see the excellent work of the UK armed forces who were training the Sierra Leone Army. Our forces have made a significant difference to the capability and confidence of the Sierra Leone Army units that have so far gone through the training package.

  Whale Island
  Mr. Rapson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on his plans for HMS Excellent and Whale Island. [152716]
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  Mr. Spellar
  The Royal Navy has conducted a comprehensive study of its training estate to identify the estate necessary for training beyond 2010. HMS Excellent, the training establishment based at Whale Island, is part of that study, but no decision on its future has yet been made.

  Whale Island is also under consideration as a potential site for the relocation of the major part of Commander in Chief Fleet's Headquarters from Northwood.

  Armed Forces (Numbers)
  Mr. St. Aubyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects the Army to reach its full manning strength. [152717]

  Mr. Spellar
  The Army remains committed to achieving full manning by 2005. We recognise this is a challenging target and work is in hand to identify how best to achieve it.

  Procurement (Job Creation)
  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the number of jobs that have been(a) created and (b) sustained as a result of procurement decisions announced since May 1997. [152719]

  Mr. Borrow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the number of jobs(a) created and (b) sustained as a result of procurement decisions announced since May 1997. [152730]

  Dr. Moonie
  Over 60,000 new contracts are placed each year and the Ministry of Defence does not record the number of jobs created or sustained as a result of each individual procurement decision. It is estimated that the number of UK jobs dependent on defence expenditure and equipment exports is approximately 345,000.

  Strategic Defence Review
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what changes in defence policy priorities there have been since the publication of the strategic defence review; and if he will make a statement. [152720]

  Mr. Hoon
  There have been no fundamental changes in defence policy priorities since the strategic defence review. The principles and conclusions of the review have proved to be robust.

  But we are not complacent and recognise the need to adapt to a changing world. That is why we recently updated our analysis. The results were published on 7 February in two papers, "Defence Policy 2001" and "Future Strategic Context for Defence".

  Ministerial Meetings (Poland)
  Mr. Gordon Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he last met his Polish counterpart to discuss the future of NATO. [152721]

  Mr. Hoon
  I had a meeting with Mr. Bronislaw Komorowski, the Polish Defence Minister at last October's NATO Informal Ministerial meeting in Birmingham. Mr. Komorowski fell ill prior to my visit to Poland in February. In his absence I discussed a range
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  of issues, including developments in NATO, with his Deputy Ministers. I met the Polish Foreign Minister, Mr. Wtadystaw Bartoszewski during his visit to the UK on 12 March.

  Deployment
  Mr. Miller
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the changes in the proportion of the armed forces committed to operations since May 1997. [152722]

  Mr. Spellar
  As at 1 May 1997, some 26 per cent. of the trained Army were committed to operations. As at 28 February 2001 this had reduced to 22 per cent. Figures for the Naval Service and RAF have been routinely collected only more recently and information for 1997, therefore, is not available. Currently some 10 per cent. of the Naval Service is deployed on operational tasks and some 10 per cent. of the RAF is committed to operations.

  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many British soldiers are deployed abroad, and in which countries. [154313]

  Mr. Spellar
  I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

  Shoeburyness
  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the future of the defence establishment in Shoeburyness. [152723]

  Dr. Moonie
  Current plans, as a consequence of the public-private partnership initiative, are that operations at the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA) range, Shoeburyness, known also as New Ranges, will be carried out by NewDERA under an arrangement which is currently being negotiated. The intention is that NewDERA will have the flexibility to conduct operations on ranges while meeting the needs of the Ministry of Defence and maintaining value for money for the taxpayer. Meanwhile, DERA is continuing to work with SERCo Ltd. to rationalise the New Ranges estate to introduce new businesses which are able to co-exist with continuing range activities. There are currently 10 tenants on the site and this number is expected to increase. Recent new tenants include two from the transport industry. I understand that the hon. Member recently opened the catering training establishment.

  Old Ranges at Shoeburyness was sold in March 2000 to Gladedale Homes Ltd. and the Ministry of Defence has no further interest in the site.

  Smart Procurement
  Mr. Blunt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the type-45 destroyer programme is consistent with the smart procurement programme; and if he will make a statement. [152724]

  Dr. Moonie
  The type-45 programme is taking full advantage of the principles of the smart procurement initiative now termed smart acquisition. This is amply demonstrated by:the partnering approach adopted with the Ministry of Defence and a prime contractor in an integrated project team. This is allowing
  84W time previously required for serial evaluation and re-evaluation of work to be removed from the programme and ensures continuous design and development, resulting in a faster completion of work;a robust use of requirements management to ensure affordability with cost of ownership a major factor in equipment selection. The design and manufacture contract contains incentives to reduce costs and the construction method adopted will facilitate competition later in the programme. All these factors will result in cheaper procurement.
  A deliberate choice was made to include significant growth margins in the design, as well as better accommodation for the crew. This means that the ship can be modified to meet emerging future requirements more readily and cheaply

  Warship Building
  Mr. Syms
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on warship building in the UK. [152725]

  Dr. Moonie
  The strategic defence review announced the largest warship-building programme for many years amounting to over 30 major vessels. It remains Government policy that all warships for the Royal Navy will continue to be built in the UK. This commitment, together with the size of our forward programme, offers a platform for UK In Industry to plan ahead and modernise. This in turn will allow them to improve their competitiveness for naval export orders, and in competing for the commercial opportunities that are essential if the existing capacity is to be maintained or enhanced.

  In the last nine months, this Government have placed orders for two survey vessels with Vosper Thornycroft (UK) Ltd. and announced the company as the preferred bidder for the provision of three offshore patrol vessels; a prime contract for the design and build of the first three type-45 destroyers was placed with BAE Systems Electronics; and we have ordered the design and build of two alternative landing ships logistic from Swan Hunter (Tyneside) Ltd. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence has also announced that, subject to satisfactory terms and conditions being negotiated, the BAE Systems Marine yard at Govan will receive an order for an additional two alternative landing ships logistic. These orders and announcements will create or secure several thousand jobs in UK shipyards and their ancillary industries throughout this country.

  Over the next few years, orders will be placed for the follow-on batches of Astute class submarines and type-45 destroyers, and also for the detailed design and build of the future aircraft carriers. Our longer-term plans include the future surface combatant programme to replace the current type-22 and type-23 frigates and a variety of other vessels.

  Iraq (Civilian Casualties)
  Mr. Robathan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the number of civilian casualties in Iraq following NATO air strikes since 1 January. [152726]

  Mr. Hoon
  There have been no NATO strikes on Iraq. British and American aircraft enforce the Iraqi no-fly
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  zones under national auspices with the support of regional partners. The patrols are justified in international law as a legitimate response to prevent a grave humanitarian crisis.

  If Saddam Hussein's air defence units attack our aircraft, coalition aircrew are authorised to respond in self-defence. They do so entirely in accordance with international law, attacking those Iragi military facilities that pose an immediate and serious threat to their safety. All responses are proportionate to the threat. The risk of civilian casualties is always a major consideration during the very careful target selection process and only precision guided weapons are used where there is any risk of civilian casualties.

  As the Ministry of Defence has no objective means of verifying Iraqi claims of civilian casualties I am not in a position to provide the information requested.

  Saddam Hussein routinely claims that civilian casualties have been caused as a result of coalition activity over the no-fly zones. It is in his interests to do so and we have learned not to give too much credence to these allegations. We conduct careful battle damage assessment after every incident; this analysis demonstrates in the majority of cases that coalition weapons have hit their intended military target. The Iraqis regularly claim that there have been civilian casualties on days when the coalition has not even patrolled, let alone dropped any ordnance, and they routinely claim that civilians have been killed when the casualties were actually military personnel. Furthermore, Saddam Hussein has claimed the coalition was responsible for casualties that were in fact caused by Iraqi air defence weapons

  European Security and Defence Policy
  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent representations he has received concerning the European security and defence policy. [152728]

  Consultants

  Operational and retained task requirement

  Current manning—Consultants including those command and staff posts

  Percentage posts filled including consultants in command and staff appoinments

  General Surgeons

  44

  20

  45

  Orthopaedic Surgeons

  28

  11

  39

  General Physicians

  51

  22

  43

  Anaesthetists

  120

  28

  23

  National Missile Defence
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with his counterparts in other EU countries on the planned US National Missile Defence. [152733]

  Mr. Hoon
  I regularly discuss the subject with European counterparts.

  Multinational Defence Co-operation
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on progress in multinational defence co-operation. [152734]
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  Mr. Hoon
  I have received a number of recent representations from hon. Members concerning the European security and defence policy. I have also received representations from members of the public.

  Chinook Software
  Mr. Swayne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what revisions have been made to Chinook MKII FADEC software since June 1994. [152731]

  Mr. Spellar
  As I explained in my letter of 21 August 1999 to the hon. Member, the only revisions to the Chinook FADEC software since 1994 were the nine software changes introduced as part of the block 1 upgrade later in that year. Two of these changes were potentially the most significant. The first of these was the introduction of a discrete memory to store the position of the engine condition lever (ECL) which was designed to prevent an engine shut down. The second was the fitting of a software filter to screen the speed values of the engine compressor and power turbines, which was designed to prevent an engine run-up.

  However, we know that an engine shut down or run up was not a factor in the Mull of Kintyre accident. Examination of the wreckage showed that both engines were working normally right up until impact, and thus faulty FADEC could not have caused this accident. Indeed, the Air Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB) concluded that there was no evidence of any technical malfunction that could possibly have caused the crash.

  Defence Medical Services
  Mr. Viggers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the establishment is for consultants in general surgery, orthopaedic surgery, general medicine and anaesthetics in Defence Medical Services; and what percentage of these posts are filled. [152732]

  Dr. Moonie
  The number of consultants against the operational and retained task requirement and the percentage of posts filled as at 1 January 2001, is shown in the table.

  Mr. Ben Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on progress with multinational defence co-operation. [152708]

  Mr. Hoon
  Multinational defence co-operation is any arrangement where two or more nations work together to enhance military capability. A Ministry of Defence policy paper on multinational defence co-operation was published on 21 February, outlining the very good progress we are making in this important area of defence business. This document is available in the Library of the House.

  RAF Pilots
  Mr. Brazier
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects fast jet pilot numbers in the RAF to reach establishment. [152735]

  Mr. Spellar
  Based on current forecasts, it will take some years for pilot numbers in the RAF to be in balance with the requirement. A range of measures have been taken to achieve this but these will inevitably take time to have an effect.

  European Rapid Reaction Force
  Mr. Fabricant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the command structure of the European rapid reaction force. [152736]

  Mr. Hoon
  There is no standing European rapid reaction force. There is no plan for the EU to have a permanent military command structure.

  Community Involvement (Armed Forces)
  Mr. Healey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for increasing the Army's role in the community. [152737]

  Mr. Spellar
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Brent, North (Mr. Gardiner),Official Report, columns 1–2.

  Helicopter Squadrons
  Mr. David Heath
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the future disposition of helicopter squadrons in UK bases. [152709]

  Mr. Spellar
  The only firm plan to change the location of helicopter squadrons in the UK is the relocation of some of the Royal Navy Sea King Anti-Submarine Warfare helicopters from Royal Naval Air Station Prestwick to Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose by April 2002.

  Further changes may take place in the location of Joint Helicopter Command helicopter squadrons as a result of a strategic estate rationalisation study, which is due to report in autumn 2001. Until the study reports, it would be inappropriate for me to speculate on the outcome.

  Ministerial Meetings (Turkey)
  Mr. Walter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent meetings he has had with his Turkish counterpart to discuss European security. [152718]

  Mr. Hoon
  I last had a meeting with my Turkish counterpart, Mr. Cakmakoğlu, at the NATO Informal Defence Ministers meeting in Birmingham in October last year, and our discussions included European security. Additionally, I expect to visit Turkey next week and to call on Mr. Cakmakoğlu to discuss a range of defence issues.

  Meteor Missile Programme
  Mr. Duncan Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the Meteor missile programme indicating how many missiles each meteor partner is committed to purchase; what estimate his
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  Department has made of the development costs; and if the timetable and supply of test aircraft has been agreed by all the partner nations. [154163]

  Dr. Moonie
  [holding answer 16 March 2001]: Subject to conclusion of a memorandum of understanding with our partner nations, and of satisfactory contractual terms and conditions with Matra BAe Dynamics (MBD) as prime contractor, we hope to be able to place a demonstration and manufacture contract for Meteor in the summer. The total cost of Meteor demonstration is estimated in the region of £600 million.

  I am withholding information on missile numbers under exemption 1 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information. Missile numbers of our partner nations are also classified, and withheld under the same exemption.

  Time scales of the Meteor trials programme and the provision of the test aircraft to support the programme are currently being negotiated with MBD. The final programme, once agreed with MBD, will be subject to approval by the partner nations.

  Foot and Mouth
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about military aid to the civil community in respect of the outbreak of foot and mouth disease. [153994]

  Mr. Spellar
  [holding answer 16 March 2001]: Management of the current outbreak of foot and mouth disease is a matter for the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. I would therefore refer the hon. Gentleman to the statement made by my right hon. Friend in the House on 15 March 2001, Official Report, columns 1199–1226

  Eurofighter
  Mr. Duncan Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will estimate the effect of a reduction of 40 planes in the German order of Eurofighter on(a) the unit cost and (b) the in-service date of the aircraft in the UK. [154165]

  Dr. Moonie
  [holding answer 16 March 2001]: Germany has not announced any reduction in its commitment to Eurofighter. The memoranda of understanding that underpin the programme contain the principle that any costs resulting from a reduction in quantity by one of the nations shall be met by that nation. The aircraft to meet the in-service date are already in production.

HEALTH

  Patient Representation
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place in the Library an organisation chart showing the lines of accountability, appointment, communication and authority between the NHS bodies overview and scrutiny committees, patient forums, PALS, independent local advisory forums and the Secretary of State, as set out in clauses 7 to 15 of the Health and Social Care Bill. [148533]
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  Mr. Denham
  The final form of the new system of patient representation, empowerment and scrutiny will not be detailed until the Bill has completed its passage through both Houses.

  MMR Vaccine
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when his Department received the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation's review of the abstract presented to the American Association of Immunologists and Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology meeting in San Francisco in 1998 by Dr. V. K. Singh on autism and the MMR vaccine; and what the conclusions of this review were. [149343]

  Yvette Cooper
  [holding answer 8 February 2001]: The abstract by Dr. V. K. Singh entitled "Positive titers of measles and measles-mumps-rubella ( MMR) antibody are related to myelin basic protein autoantibody in autism", which he had forwarded to the annual meeting of the American Association of Immunologists/Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology held in San Francisco on 22 April 1998, was considered by the joint committee on vaccination and immunisation (JCVI) at its meeting held in October 1998.

  The JCVI concluded that the abstract did not provide any information to alter its views on the safety of MMR vaccine.

  Mr. Hammond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what seroconversion rates occur with MMR in relation to(a) measles, (b) mumps and (c) rubella after (i) the first (ii) the second dose. [153674]

  Yvette Cooper
  Taking seroconversion to mean the percentage of children with detectable antibodies against that infection shortly after vaccination, the usual proportion of individuals with detectable antibodies after the first dose of measles mumps rubella (MMR) vaccine is as follows:

  Measles 95–99 per cent.

  Mumps 90–95 per cent.

  Rubella nearly 100 per cent.

  However, the proportion of children with detectable antibodies against infection declines over time so that just before the age of school entry the proportions are lower. The proportion of children with detectable antibodies some years after MMR correlates much better with the actual efficacy of the vaccines (that is the ability to protect against the disease) and is as follows:

  Measles around 90 per cent.

  Mumps around 85 per cent.

  Rubella around 99 per cent.

  The second dose of MMR vaccine, given just before school entry, boosts the proportions of children with detectable antibody for each of the three diseases to around 99 per cent. for measles and mumps and virtually 100 per cent. for rubella. Although antibody levels do decline after the second dose of MMR vaccine, the vaccine's clinical efficacy against each of the diseases after the second dose is 99–100 per cent. This shows the importance of children receiving both doses of MMR vaccine.

  Bed Numbers
  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many hospital beds in NHS hospitals there were in each year since 1979; and if he will make a statement. [151522]

  Mr. Denham:
  [holding answer 27 February 2001]: The average daily number of available beds in wards open overnight (ie 24 hours) in National Health Service hospitals in England in each year since 1979 is given in the table.

  Year

  Total Number of available beds

  1979

  361,670

  1980

  355,978

  1981

  351,669

  1982

  348,104

  1983

  343,091

  1984

  334,513

  1985

  325,487

  1986

  315,715

  1987–88

  297,341

  1988–89

  282,895

  1989–90

  270,309

  1990–91

  255,479

  1991–92

  242,677

  1992–93

  232,201

  1993–94

  219,476

  1994–95

  211,812

  1995–96

  206,136

  1996–97

  198,848

  1997–98

  193,625

  1998–99

  190,006

  Source:

  SH3/KHO3 Department of Health.

  Information on the numbers of available beds in NHS hospitals is published annually in "Bed Availability and Occupancy—England", which is in the Library. The latest published figures are for the financial year 1999–2000.

  The number of available beds in NHS hospitals has been declining for the past 40 years. However, a special bed census, set up to inform the winter planning process, counted the number of available general and acute and critical care beds on 1 December 1999 and 1 December 2000. A table showing the number of beds in these categories is available in the Library. These figures show an increase of 1,788 in the number of general and acute beds, in the year to December 2000, which indicates that the downward trend in bed numbers in these categories has started to be reversed. As a result of the NHS plan, there will be an extra 7,000 beds, including 2,100 general and acute beds and 5,000 intermediate care beds, by 2003–04.

  Refugee Doctors
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made following the launch of initiatives designed to speed up the process through which refugee doctors find work in the UK. [151839]

  Mr. Denham
  We have already approved the use of funds available within HRD to support initial work on obtaining data on numbers, geographic distribution and training career history of refugee doctors and dentists in the UK.
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  The initiative has been extended to cover refugee nurses and other trained health professionals. A Department of Health Steering Group has been charged with managing, co-ordinating and promoting all aspects of the programme. Working with the many organisations in the field they will ensure that counselling, advice and training is made available to refugee health professionals wishing to use their skills within the National Health Service.

  Dame Lesley Southgate, President of the Royal College of General Practitioners, has agreed to chair the implementation group; £0.5 million has been allocated to fund the programme.

  As a first step in taking the initiative forward, we have commissioned the Refugee Council to set up a database on which details of medically and dentally qualified refugees can be collected.

  We have provided funding to set up a training centre specifically for refugee doctors. This centre is run by a GP in north London who originally came here himself as a refugee from Afghanistan.

  We are discussing with the Jewish Council for Racial Equality (JCORE) the possibility of hosting their Refugee Doctor's Guide on the Department of Health web-page.

  The Steering Group will consider all other bids and initiatives as part of an overall strategy designed to ensure that the NHS benefits from the services of as many trained health professionals as possible.

  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the average length of time it takes refugee doctors to find work in the UK. [151840]

  Mr. Denham
  Information about refugee doctors is not collected centrally. We do not know, at the moment, how many refugee doctors are in the United Kingdom. As part of the refugee health professional initiative, we have commissioned a database to collect information. Funding of £10,000 has been provided to the voluntary sector for this work, and more is available for its extension to nurses and other trained health professionals.

  Cataract Operations
  Mrs. Browning
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will publish the advice given to health authorities in respect of procedures to be followed for the compilation of waiting list figures for cataract operations. [151934]

  (2) if, in the case of a second eye needing a cataract operation, the second eye is listed as a separate event in the compilation of waiting list figures. [151935]

  Mr. Denham
  [holding answer 5 March 2001]: Waiting list information for cataract operations is compiled in the same way as for other types of inpatient hospital treatment. Guidance on compiling waiting list and waiting time figures is contained in the national health service data manual and the NHS data dictionary which are distributed to all NHS trusts and health authorities.

  Where a patient needs to have two separate but linked operations, for example to have cataracts removed from both eyes, they should be treated as a planned admission
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  for the second procedure. Planned admissions are, and have always been, excluded from published waiting list statistics.

  We are aware that some patients are waiting too long for cataract operations and we have made £30 million capital available over two years to tackle this. Hospitals receiving shares of this money will ensure that by 2003 patients will have to, wait no longer than six months from referral to hospital to surgery.

  Physical Activity
  Mr. Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if his Department will take the lead in developing a cross-departmental strategy to promote the health benefits of physical activity; [152525]

  (2) if he will set joint targets with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport for the promotion of physical activity; [152534]

  (3) what plans he has to appoint a Joint Special Adviser between his Department and the Department of Culture, Media and Sport; [152524]

  (4) what plans he has to (a) encourage physical activity in society and (b) tackle increasing levels of obesity among young people; [152530]

  (5) what plans he has for greater co-operation between his Department and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on issues relating to (a) public health and (b) physical activity. [152523]

  Yvette Cooper
  [holding answer 6 March 2001]: The NHS Plan emphasises that health is a key priority for Government. We are taking action to step up the cross-governmental focus inequalities and public health. This includes close working between the Department and that of my right hon. Friend in areas such as physical activity and obesity. The importance of physical activity is emphasised in the national service framework for coronary heart disease which requires that by April 2001 all national health service bodies working closely with local authorities will have agreed and be contributing to the delivery of the local programme of effective policies on increasing physical activity.

  The Department of Health and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport work closely together on the public health elements of the new opportunities fund's healthy living centre initiative. Last year the fund provided over £6 million to the Countryside Agency and the British Heart Foundation to run the "Walking, the Way to Health" initiative.

  As part of our on-going collaboration, this department and that of my right hon. Friend will consider the potential for developing joint targets and joint appointments. The inter-ministerial group to improve children's diet and activity, set up by the Minister for Public Health will also consider cross-departmental action to promote the health benefits of exercise, sport and other forms of physical activity and to tackle increasing levels of obesity. The group will assess what is already being done and discuss proposals for future joint working as set out in "A Sporting Future for All: the Government's Plan for Sport".
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  The Department for Culture, Media and Sport, in conjunction with the Department for Education and Employment, has developed a number of initiatives to improve opportunities for children to enjoy high quality physical education and sporting activity in schools and the community.

  Children's Diet and Activity
  Mr. Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will(a) make a statement on the work of the inter-ministerial group to improve children's diet and activity and (b) list the initiatives it has undertaken; [152527]

  (2) if he will list the members of the inter-ministerial group to improve children's diet and activity. [152526]

  Yvette Cooper
  [holding answer 6 March 2001]: The inter-ministerial group to improve children's diet and activity was set up to:
  examine the findings of the national diet and nutrition survey in the light of health implications
  review current Government activity and policies which influence the diets and physical activity levels of children and young people
  consider further opportunities for action to improve the diets and activity patterns of children and young people and improve their short and long-term health.

  The group includes the Department of Health, the Department for Education and Employment, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions, the Food Standards Agency and the Health Development Agency. Last year, the group discussed diet and nutrition and, in particular, the low levels of fruit and vegetable consumption among children. This led to the development of the national school fruit scheme whereby all 4 to 6-year-olds will receive a free piece of fruit every school day by 2004. The group has also influenced the development of the healthy schools programme and its increased emphasis on diet and nutrition.

  The group will meet shortly to discuss physical activity and sport among children and young people. It will build on existing work on school sport, the national healthy school standard on physical activity and safe routes to school. It will address future opportunities for action in the light of the findings of the Comptroller and Auditor-General in his report "Tackling Obesity in England".

  Substance Misuse
  Dr. Iddon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will introduce a national strategy for substance misuse in place of separate strategies for alcohol, drug and tobacco misuse. [152666]

  Ms Stuart
  Although there are some significant similarities between treatment and prevention strategies for alcohol, drugs and tobacco, there are also very significant differences in terms of the mortality and morbidity associated with each and their impact on society. We believe therefore that it is more effective to have separate strategies to tackle each under the umbrella of the Government's overarching goals of combating social exclusion, reducing health inequalities and tackling criminality.

  Beta Interferon
  Mr. Todd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the cost to the health services in Australasia of purchasing beta interferon. [152957]

  Mr. Denham
  The Department has made no such assessment.

  Multiple Sclerosis Nurses
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the desirability and cost of making the provision of specialist multiple sclerosis nurses mandatory in all NHS trusts. [153383]

  Mr. Denham
  No assessment has been made centrally on the desirability and cost of making the provision of specialist multiple sclerosis nurses mandatory in national health service trusts. This is a local matter for NHS commissioners and providers to determine as part of the provision of neurological services.

  Aricept/Exelon/Reminyl Prescriptions
  Mr. Denis Murphy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many health authorities are prescribing(a) Aricept, (b) Exelon and (c) Reminyl to patients on the basis of need. [153140]

  Mr. Denham
  We have made no assessment of the prescribing of Aricept (donepezil), Exelon (rivastigmine) and Reminyl (galantamine).

  In January this year, the National Institute for Clinical Excellence issued guidance to the National Health Service on the use of these medicines for the treatment of mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease. Health authorities and NHS trusts will be monitored to ensure they are taking full and proper account of this NICE appraisal.

  NHS Computer Systems
  Mr. Ruffley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he and his officials have made of the effect on(a) patient services, (b) procurement costs and (c) IT system suppliers of the time taken between submission of the first draft of full business cases for NHS hospital trust computer systems to NHS regional offices and approval of the final version of full business cases by the NHS executive. [153094]

  Mr. Denham
  [holding answer 9 March 2001]: No assessment has been made of the effect of the time taken between submission of the first drafts of full business cases (FBCs) for National Health Service hospital trust computer systems to NHS executive regional offices and approval of the final versions of those FBCs by the NHS executive. FBCs are approved as quickly as is consistent with the need to ensure that the proposed investment is affordable and represents value for money to the taxpayer.
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  Mr. Ruffley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his estimate is of the average time taken between submission of the first draft of full business cases for NHS hospital trust computer systems to NHS regional offices and approval of the final version of full business cases by the NHS executive. [153093]

  Mr. Denham
  [holding answer 9 March 2001]: The Department has approved eight full business cases (FBC) for hospital computer systems where the first draft of the FBC was submitted to the regional offices of the national health service executive on or after December 1998. On average, each of these FBCs was approved four months

  NHS trust

  Type of investment

  Date of submission of first draft of full business case to the regional office

  Date of approval by regional office (and NHS Executive Headquarters where appropriate)

  Time between submission of first draft of FBC and approval of final version

  Morecambe Bay Hospitals NHS Trust

  Patient Administration System

  December 1998/January 1999

  January 1999

  1 month

  Royal Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust

  Integrated Patient Management System

  December 1998/January 1999

  August 1999

  8 months

  Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Trust

  Order Comms/Results Reporting and Departmental systems

  January 1999

  February 1999

  1 month

  Bolton Hospital NHS Trust

  Patient Administration System and some departmental systems

  October 1999

  December 1999

  2 Months

  North Durham Health Care NHS Trust

  Picture Archiving and Communication System

  April 2000

  August 2000

  4 Months

  Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospitals NHS Trust

  Patient Administration System

  April 2000

  September 2000

  5 months

  Calderdale Healthcare NHS Trust

  Picture Archiving and Communication System

  June 2000

  November2000

  5 months

  Luton and Dunstable Hospital NHS Trust

  Electronic Patient Records

  July 2000

  December 2000

  5 months

  Abattoirs
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the cost to(a) small and (b) large abattoirs of inspection charges; and if he will make a statement on the levying of charges on (i) a per head basis and (ii) a per hour basis. [153268]

  Ms Stuart
  [holding answer 12 March 2001]: We have accepted the recommendation of the Meat Inspection Charges Task Force (the "Maclean Group") that the current method of charging for meat inspections on an hourly basis should be changed and that all abattoirs and cutting plants should instead be charged the standard (headage/throughput) fees laid down in the European Union Charges Directive or their actual inspection costs where these are lower.

  The Statutory Instrument (SI) giving effect (in England) to this recommendation—The Meat (Hygiene and Inspection) (Charges) (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2001—was laid before Parliament on 9 March 2001 and, subject to parliamentary approval, will come into force on 2 April 2001. (Similar legislation is being made in Wales and Scotland).

  The Regulatory Impact Assessment accompanying the SI gives examples of the impact of these changes on the level of meat inspection charges incurred by certain abattoirs. For example, a small plant (100 livestock units
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  after the submission of the first draft of the FBC to the regional office. Details of the schemes concerned are shown in the table.

  The regional offices of the NHS executive have a dual role. They are responsible for helping NHS trusts to develop their business cases for investment in computer systems. They are also responsible for approving the business case, working jointly with NHS executive headquarters as necessary. Where several months elapse between submission of the first draft of the FBC and approval of the final version, much of this time is likely to be taken up by the development of the FBC rather than the formal process of approval.

  per annum) would see its annual inspection charges fall from £3,500 to £200. And a medium-sized plant (16,300 livestock units per annum) plant would see its annual charges fall from £ 107,200 to £49,200. A number of plants with very large annual throughputs will, however, continue to be charged their actual inspection costs (calculated on a per hour basis) since these will be lower than the charge calculated on a throughput basis.

  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many abattoirs there were in(a) the UK and (b) the region in which the Lewes constituency is located in every year since 1979. [153266]

  Ms Stuart
  The table gives the number of licensed red meat and licensed poultry meat abattoirs from 1979 to 2000, where available, in the United Kingdom and the county of East Sussex, which includes the Lewes constituency.

  United Kingdom

  East Sussex

  Red meat

  Poultry meat

  Red meat

  Poultry meat

  1979

  1,159

  —

  —

  —

  1980

  1,123

  —

  —

  —

  1981

  1,084

  —

  —

  —

  1982

  1,005

  —

  —

  —

  1983

  1,036

  1115

  —

  —

  1984

  1,024

  1112

  —

  —

  1985

  1,013

  1112

  —

  —

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  United Kingdom

  East Sussex

  Red meat

  Poultry meat

  Red meat

  Poultry meat

  1986

  973

  1106

  —

  —

  1987

  951

  1108

  —

  —

  1988

  929

  1108

  1989

  825

  2118

  —

  —

  1990

  783

  2110

  —

  —

  1991

  726

  119

  —

  —

  1992

  671

  117

  —

  —

  1993

  542

  120

  2

  0

  1994

  527

  165

  2

  2

  1995

  500

  180

  2

  3

  1996

  484

  182

  2

  3

  1997

  472

  171

  1

  3

  1998

  451

  171

  1

  3

  1999

  432

  157

  1

  2

  2000

  420

  144

  1

  2

  1England and Wales

  2Great Britain

  Parkinson's Disease
  Mr. Coaker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent representations he has received about including Parkinson's Disease on the list of conditions which have exemptions from prescription charges; and if he will make a statement. [153499]

  Ms Stuart
  Over the last 12 months we have received seven letters requesting that Parkinson's disease be included in the list of medical conditions conferring exemption from prescription charges. People suffering from Parkinson's disease are entitled to free prescriptions if they are aged 60 or over, or they (or their partner) are receiving Income Support, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance or tax credits (with their maximum credit reduced by £70, £71 from 10 April, or less per week). They may also claim for help under the national health service low income scheme. We have no plans to change these arrangements.

  Hepatitis A
  Mr. Hammond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost of hepatitis A vaccine per dose is to(a) the NHS and (b) private sector providers. [153677]

  Yvette Cooper
  The average net ingredient cost (NIC) per prescription item for hepatitis A vaccines dispensed in the community in England in 1999 was £22.47. The NIC is the basic cost of a drug and does not take account of discounts, dispensing costs, fees or prescription charges income.

  Information is not collected centrally for hepatitis A vaccines dispensed in hospitals or provided by the private sector.

  Mr. Hammond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases of hepatitis A contracted overseas were reported in each of the last three years in the UK. [153676]

  Yvette Cooper
  Reports of laboratory diagnoses of hepatitis A infection from 1998 to 2000 are given in the table. Only a small proportion of these reports included information about travel abroad.
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  Laboratory reports of hepatitis A infection in England and Wales 1998–2000

  Total reports(percentage)

  Total reporting travel abroad(percentage)

  1998

  1,104 (100)

  131 (12)

  1999

  1,391 (100)

  96 (7)

  20001

  1,020 (100)

  79 (8)

  1Provisional data

  Source

  Public Health Laboratory Service

  UK Transplant
  Dr. Harris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) from whom UK Transplant obtains it medical advice;[153477]

  (2) what plans he has to appoint a medical director for UK Transplant. [153478]

  Mr. Denham
  Medical advice for UK Transplant is obtained from a number of sources. The authority has a number of long-established advisory groups (one for each organ type) which bring together leading clinicians in the field of transplantation from whom advice is sought as needed.

  Additionally, UK Transplant is able to access medical advice from the Department. In the future, the medical director at UK Transplant will be the chief source of advice for the authority, in discussion with colleagues in transplant and related services.

  The appointment of a medical director for UK Transplant is a matter for the special health authority. Mr. Chris Rudge has been appointed and will formally take up the post on 30 April 2001.

  Dr. Harris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how he plans to organise his Department's transplant co-ordinator resource; and what role he plans for UK Transplant in this process. [153476]

  Mr. Denham
  Transplant co-ordinators are employed by individual national health service trusts, not by the Department. One of the key recommendations in the quinquennial review report of United Kingdom transplant support service authority (as it was) published in February 2000 was that the special health authority should be given responsibility, among other things, for co-ordination of transplant co-ordinator services on a national basis. UK Transplant has prepared a business case for taking action forward in this area. The business case is currently under consideration within the Department. In the interim, a transplant co-ordinators advisory group has been established by UK Transplant to begin to deliver the recommendations of the review.

  National AIDS Strategy
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent progress has been made on the National AIDS Strategy. [153483]

  Yvette Cooper
  The decision to incorporate the development work on an HIV strategy within a single sexual health and HIV strategy for England was
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  announced in May 2000. Work on the integrated strategy is well advanced, and should be completed over the next few months.

  Health Policy
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what progress has been made by his Department in monitoring the health impact of the health policies of other Government Departments; [153480]

  (2) what progress has been made in including health audit statements in documents outlining Government policy. [153481]

  Yvette Cooper
  As stated in the NHS plan, improving health is a key priority for all Government Departments. Therefore, we are committed to promoting health impact assessment at national, regional and local levels to inform development of policy, strategy, programmes and projects. Methodologies and approaches are being developed, and there is work across Government in a number of areas to support this. A screening checklist has also been developed and has been piloted by the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions.

  An inter-departmental group is spearheading these activities, which include a number of specific impact assessments. We are examining ways to extend this type of work to cover other areas of Government policy.

  Waiting Lists
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made in introducing national guidance for local targets on maximum waiting times for conditions according to their seriousness. [153484]

  Mr. Denham
  When a patient is admitted for treatment it is a decision that must be made by their hospital consultant and must be based on the patient's clinical need and their priority on the waiting list. Under the NHS plan the maximum waiting time for all elective admissions to hospital will be reduced from 18 months today to six months, by the end of 2005. Under the NHS cancer plan, by the end of 2001 there will be a maximum one month wait from diagnosis to treatment for breast cancer. This will be extended to all cancers by the end of 2005.

  Public Health Units
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made in promoting co-operation between health and local authorities through public health units. [153482]

  Yvette Cooper
  The NHS plan gave a commitment to new single integrated public health groups across national health service regional offices and Government offices for the regions by 2002. There is also co-operation through the work of regional public health observatories. The Department is currently considering future roles and structures within the health system in the light of the progressive introduction of primary care trusts. This work is being taken forward in the context of developing relationships between health and local authority partners.
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  Statutory duties of partnership between health bodies and the promotion of health and wellbeing for local populations have been introduced. In the meantime the promotion of co-operation between health and local authority partners has been underpinned by the work of the health improvement programmes development group. The group has been working to develop and re-position health improvement programmes to ensure they are strategic, best placed to implement the NHS plan, aligned to community strategies and supportive of local strategic partnerships.

  Neurological Staff
  Mr. Gareth R. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what representations he has received about current numbers of
  neurological staff; and if he will make a statement; [153570]

  (2) what plans he has to increase the number of medical training places for neurologists; and if he will make a statement. [153569]

  Mr. Denham
  Information and evidence about future demand for consultants in neurology has been gathered annually by the speciality workforce advisory group (SWAG) from the medical profession and national health service management. We will shortly announce our response to SWAG's recommendations for 2001–02.

  Nurses
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he has had recently with representatives of higher education over(a) the impact of and (b) future implications to Project 2000 for nurse recruitment. [153794]

  Mr. Denham
  [holding answer 16 March 2001]: Project 2000 nurse education and training is currently being phased out and replaced by a new model of nurse education—as outlined in the Government's "Making a Difference" strategy and United Kingdom Central Council Education Commission report, "Fitness for Practice" in 1999. The Department is working with all key stakeholders—and especially higher education, with which it has a long established partnership—to ensure the effective roll-out of the new model of nurse education to support nurse recruitment.

  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the role of nurse consultants with regard to their preceptor responsibility for newly qualified D grade nurses. [153795]

  Mr. Denham
  [holding answer 16 March 2001]: Guidance issued to the national health service (in Health Service Circular 1999/217) makes it clear that nurse consultants have an important education, training and development role but that this is best targeted to support colleagues who need to develop advanced knowledge and skills. A period of preceptorship for newly qualified D grade nurses is good practice in the NHS and best provided by a more experienced nurse in the same team who has been trained for the role.

  Donepezil
  Mrs. Spelman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much public money has been spent on the AD2000 study of the effectiveness of donepezil in each of the years
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  (a) 1998, (b) 1999, (c) 2000 and (d) 2001, broken down by (i) the amount spent by individual health authorities on the trial, (ii) the amount allocated to the trial from regional research and development budgets, (iii) the amount allocated from the national research and development extra treatment costs fund and (iv) other NHS costs incurred as a result of the trial. [154072]

  Ms Stuart
  [holding answer 16 March 2001]: The information is not available in the format requested.

  The Department has been sponsoring a trial on the long-term effectiveness of donepezi1 (ARICEPT). The table shows expenditure from the west midlands regional office of the national health service executive and the excess treatment costs budget for this trial.

  £

  West midlands regional office

  Excess treatment costs

  1997–98

  5,000

  —

  1998–99

  122,412

  —

  1999–2000

  245,870

  —

  2000–01

  225,723

  145,000

  2001–02

  224,973

  1200,000

  1Estimate

  Primary Care Trusts
  Mr. Hilary Benn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what process will be used to appoint non-executive directors to the boards of the new primary care trusts; and if he will make a statement. [153941]

  Ms Stuart
  Non-officer members of primary care trust boards are currently appointed by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State. Candidates are identified through local recruitment exercises, and from those already serving on other national health service boards. The criteria applied when assessing candidates are listed in the Department of Health Public Appointments Annual Report, a copy of which is in the Library.

  Regulations for the NHS Appointments Commission have been laid before Parliament and will come into force on 1 April 2001. The commission will be operational from that date and will be responsible for all chair and non-executive appointments to NHS trusts, health authorities and primary care trusts. The criteria for appointment will still be determined by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and the commission will be required to report annually on its performance and progress.

  Overseas Recruitment
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many(a) nurses and (b) doctors were recruited from overseas to work in the NHS during the last 12 months. [153759]

  Mr. Denham
  The figures requested are not collected centrally but may be held by individual national health service employers. The United Kingdom Central Council
  102W
  and the General Medical Council (GMC) do, however, collect figures on the number of international nurses and doctors registered in this country.

  Between April 1999 and March 2000, 7,383 nurses, midwives and health visitors were admitted to the United Kingdom Central Council for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting register from abroad, of whom 5,967 were from outside the European Economic Area (EEA).

  In 2000, the GMC issued full registration to 1,185 doctors from within the EEA. Full registration was issued to 1,896 doctors from outside the EEA and 1,967 doctors from outside the EEA were issued limited registration. The GMC report that on average, 5,700 doctors who qualified abroad, are undertaking postgraduate training under limited registration.

  Ski-related Accidents
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many ski-related accidents have been recorded for the last year for which figures are available; and of those how many relate to accidents which occurred outside the UK. [154331]

  Yvette Cooper
  Figures published by the Department of Trade and Industry show that the number of reported ski-related injuries were 15,413 in 1997, 15,214 in 1998, and 8,249 in 1999. It is not known how many of these injuries were sustained outside the United Kingdom.

  Haemophiliacs
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make it his policy to grant special payments to haemophilia sufferers who have contracted the hepatitis C infection as a result of treatment with the human derived blood product factor 8. [154221]

  Mr. Denham
  We have reviewed the previous Government's decision not to offer financial assistance to haemophilia patients infected with hepatitis C through blood products. We concluded that an exception could not be made to the general rule that compensation or financial help is only given when the national health service, or individuals working in it, have been at fault.

  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to extend the provision of recombinant factor 8 to treat haemophilia patients of all ages. [154220]

  Mr. Denham
  We are continuing to give careful consideration to this issue and will make an announcement in due course.

  Royal Shrewsbury Hospital
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the capital projects and their value at the Royal Shrewsbury hospital which have been authorised since 1 May 1997; and if he will make a statement. [154487]

  Yvette Cooper
  Information on all locally managed capital projects is not collected centrally. The trust receives an annual block capital allocation for this purpose. Major capital projects are approved by the
  103W
  Department through the regional capital programme. Since 1997, the following capital projects for the Royal Shrewsbury hospital have been approved:

  £

  Linear Accelerator (2001ߝ02)1

  1,576,000

  Medical Assessment Unit (1999–2000)2

  1,1000,000

  1Funded by the new opportunities funding initiative, regional office capital programme, Lingen Davies Cancer Relief and the Royal Shrewsbury trusts.

  2Funded by the national accident and emergency modernisation initiative. This will enable the establishment of a medical assessment unit at both the Royal Shrewsbury hospital and the Princess Royal hospital, Telford.

  Additionally, a strategic outline case to vacate the Copthorne South site at the Royal Shrewsbury hospital was approved by the west midlands regional office of the national health service executive in December 2000. The regional office has allocated £8 million of capital moneys in recognition of the priority to fund the reprovision of the ward accommodation on Copthorne South and for the development of education facilities. This now sets the framework for the health economy to develop detailed plans as part of the outline business case requirements.

  MRSA Infections
  Mr. Wilshire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what the rates of MRSA infection are at(a) St. Peter's hospital, Chertsey and (b) Ashford (Middlesex) hospital; [153754]

  (2) if he will list the hospitals in England that carried out major clean orthopaedic operations, indicating (a) the number of such operations carried out, (b) the number of those treated who contracted MRSA infection while in hospital, (c) the percentage rate of infection and (d) the year to which the statistics relate-ranking the hospitals in descending order of infection rate for the last year for which statistics are available for each hospital; [153950]
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  (3) what were the rates of MRSA infection for major clean orthopaedic operations at (a) St. Peter's Hospital, Chertsey and (b) Ashford (Middlesex) hospital in the last 12 months for which figures are available. [153949]

  Mr. Denham
  [holding` answer 15 March 2001]: At present the data requested are not available centrally. From April 2001 all acute trusts will be required to collate data on methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus blood stream infections and the information will be published from April 2002. Work is under way to develop a national surveillance system for surgical site infections focusing initially on orthopaedic surgery.

  Aggregate data on numbers of incidents of MRSA voluntarily submitted by trusts for specialist microbiological tests and data for the last year are given in the table. These data are routinely available on a regional basis only Data on Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemias (blood infections) showing the proportion resistant to methicillin in England and Wales are published quarterly by the Public Health Laboratory Service in the Communicable Disease Report, copies of which are available in the Library.

  Incidents of MRSA—2000

  Number

  Eastern

  60

  London

  170

  Northern and Yorkshire

  70

  North West

  90

  South East

  100

  South West

  10

  Trent

  30

  West Midlands

  50

  Wales

  40

  Total

  70

  Notes:

  1. An incident is three or more patients infected or colonised by the same strain of MRSA in the same month from the same hospital.

  2. Because of the criteria for reporting incidents to the PHSL these figures cannot be used as a reliable estimate of the total number of cases of MRSA.

  European Security and Defence Policy: NATO Access
  European Security and Defence Policy: NATO Access
  NATO Security Threat Review: US Participation
  NATO Security Threat Review: US Participation
  NATO Analysis of Missile Proliferation
  NATO Analysis of Missile Proliferation
  Arms Control: Discussions with US
  Arms Control: Discussions with US
  Steven Bryant
  Steven Bryant
  Zimbabwe: Commonwealth Team
  Zimbabwe: Commonwealth Team
  Police Sickness Management Policies
  Police Sickness Management Policies
  Driving a Bus while using a Mobile Phone
  Driving a Bus while using a Mobile Phone
  e-mail: Service Provider Checks
  e-mail: Service Provider Checks
  Special Constables
  Special Constables
  Criminal Records Bureau Registered Bodies
  Criminal Records Bureau Registered Bodies
  Proscribed Organisations Order
  Proscribed Organisations Order
  Immigration Act Detainees
  Immigration Act Detainees
  Zimbabwean Asylum Seekers
  Zimbabwean Asylum Seekers
  Immigration Service Operational Enforcement Manual
  Immigration Service Operational Enforcement Manual
  Gaming Industry
  Gaming Industry
  Microsoft and Temporary Employees Ruling
  Microsoft and Temporary Employees Ruling
  Supermarkets and Suppliers
  Supermarkets and Suppliers
  NMEC: Hinduja Foundation Contribution and VAT
  NMEC: Hinduja Foundation Contribution and VAT
  Gulf Veterans and Cancer
  Gulf Veterans and Cancer
  Armed Forces: Racial Equality
  Armed Forces: Racial Equality
  Armed Forces Pension Scheme
  Armed Forces Pension Scheme
  Strategic Export Controls
  Strategic Export Controls
  Morocco: Refurbishment of Weapons Licence
  Morocco: Refurbishment of Weapons Licence
  ITEC Stocks: 3G Sector
  ITEC Stocks: 3G Sector
  Broadband Services
  Broadband Services
  Electronic Communications: EU Regulatory Proposals
  Electronic Communications: EU Regulatory Proposals
  Internet: EU e-commerce Proposals
  Internet: EU e-commerce Proposals
  Employee Information and Consultation: Proposed Directive
  Employee Information and Consultation: Proposed Directive
  Autism
  Autism
  Parkinsons's Disease: American Clinical Trials
  Parkinsons's Disease: American Clinical Trials
  NHS Charges: Increase
  NHS Charges: Increase
  Northern Ireland: Air Sea Rescue
  Northern Ireland: Air Sea Rescue
  Rail Passenger Safety
  Rail Passenger Safety
  Driving a Bus on Oxford Street while using a Mobile Phone
  Driving a Bus on Oxford Street while using a Mobile Phone
  Dog Wardens and Foxes
  Dog Wardens and Foxes
  France: Motorway and Port Blockades
  France: Motorway and Port Blockades
  Equestrian Centres of Excellence
  Equestrian Centres of Excellence