Written Answers of 13 November 2001

TREASURY

  Customs and Excise
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the average rate of sickness absence was in HM Customs and Excise in(a) 1999–2000, (b) 2000–01 and (c) 2001–02 to the latest date for which information is available. [9177]

  Mr.Boateng
  [holding answer 19 October 2001]: No accurate figures are available for the average rate of working days lost to sickness absence in 1999–2000 and 2000–01.

  The average rate of sickness from 1 April 2001 to 30 September 2001 was 4.6 working days.

  Terrorism (Financing)
  Mr. Howard
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will provide a breakdown of the expected cost to Her Majesty's Government over the current financial year of the measures to combat the financing of terrorism which he announced on 15 October 2001,Official Report, columns 940–42. [10009]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  [holding answer 25 October 2001]: The costs of setting up the Terrorist Finance Unit are modest, but the benefits in terms of cutting off the resource available to the perpetrators of acts of international terrorism potentially immense.

  Impounded Vehicles (Smugglers)
  Mr. Laws
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what legal basis Customs and Excise sell the impounded vehicles of individuals who have used them to breach their personal allowances for the importation of tobacco and alcohol. [12195]

  Mr. Boateng
  [holding answer 5 November 2001]: Where a vehicle has been used for the carriage, handling, deposit or concealment of anything liable to forfeiture, that vehicle is itself liable to forfeiture to the Crown under s141(1)(a) of the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979. Any such vehicle is forfeit once a month has passed and no appeal has been received, or where there is an appeal and the Magistrates find in favour of Customs and Excise. The Commissioners of Customs and Excise will dispose of forfeit vehicles on behalf of the Crown in the most efficient and cost-effective way.

  People travelling to the UK from other EU countries are entitled to bring into the UK, without charge, alcohol and tobacco which they have purchased tax-paid elsewhere in the EU, if it is solely for their own use. Customs do not enforce any absolute limits on such purchases, but travellers bringing in goods in excess of
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  the Minimum Indicative Levels, set out in EC Directive 92/12/EEC, may be required to satisfy Customs that the goods are for their own use.

  Mr. Laws
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much revenue was derived from selling vehicles impounded by Customs and Excise because they were used to breach personal allowances for the importation of tobacco and alcohol; and how many of such impounded vehicles have been sold, in each year for the past four years. [12218]

  Mr. Boateng
  [holding answer 7 November 2001]: The information is available only in respect of the sale of vehicles seized for all types of Customs offences. The revenue from the sale of such vehicles for the last four years was:

  Year

  £

  1997

  43,075

  1998

  32,585

  1999

  120,261

  2000

  523,951

  The number of vehicles sold is not recorded.

  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many motor vehicles were seized on the grounds that they were being used for the illegal importation of spirits, wines, beer or tobacco products in 2000; and what the total proceeds of sale were. [13264]

  Mr. Boateng
  Customs record the number of vehicles seized for all Customs offences on a financial year basis. Figures for the number of vehicles seized in 2000–2001 were published in the Government's response to the independent report by John Rogues into "The Collection of Excise Duties in HM Customs and Excise" (House of Commons command 5329, July 2001), a copy of which was placed in the Library on 19 July.

  The total proceeds of sale from those seized vehicles which were subsequently sold in 2000 was £523,951.

  Departmental Underspending
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 30 October 2001,Official Report, column 642W, on departmental budgets, if he will provide a breakdown for each listed Department of the main items of intended expenditure that were not spent, comprising each of the annual underspend totals. [13201]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  The allocation of budgets within Departmental Expenditure Limits is normally a matter for individual Secretaries of State. Under this Government's system of full End-Year Flexibility, unspent provision is available for use in future years. Departmental Appropriation Accounts break down outturn by section of the Vote.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he plans(a) to introduce corrective procedures for underspend of Final Department Expenditure Limit and (b) to examine the financial procedures in the (i) Department of Health, (ii) Department for Education and Skills, (iii) Ministry of Defence and (iv) Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions. [13200]
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  Mr. Andrew Smith
  Under this Government's system of full End-Year Flexibility, unspent provision can be carried forward by Departments for use in future years. This removes the incentive, which applied under previous arrangements, to use up budgets wastefully at the end of the financial year. The allocation and management of budget within Departmental Expenditure Limits are in general a matter for individual Secretaries of State.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Health regarding under-spend in the Department of Health. [13204]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  Treasury Ministers meet regularly with the Secretary of State for Health to discuss aspects of the Department of Health's performance and plans.

  Public-private Partnerships
  Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the projects in his Department which have been considered as potential public-private partnerships since 1997 which have not been undertaken because the public sector comparator had a lower net present value than the public-private partnership proposed; and if he will make a statement. [13453]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  In our 1997 reforms of PFI, the Government abandoned the requirement to submit all capital projects to PFI testing. Accordingly, it will be concluded at a very early stage in the option appraisal process whether a PPP approach is likely to deliver value for money (vfm); where it is not, a public sector comparator (PSC) will not be constructed. Only when it is concluded, following careful consideration, that PPP is likely to offer vfm, will a PSC normally be developed.

  Against this background, and with the maturing of the PPP process and the PPP market, it is likely that a high proportion of projects which do embark on the PPP route will contract on that basis, with competition helping to secure value for money and the PSC acting as a quantitative aid to informing judgment.

  PPP deals continue to account for only a small proportion of the total sums invested to improve the delivery of public services. Public sector gross investment is projected to rise from £19 billion in 2000–01 to £35.2 billion in 2003–04. Over the same period, capital investment by the private sector through PFI will be about £3 billion annually.

  So far as the Treasury as a Department is concerned, there have been no projects within the terms of the hon. Member's question.

  Private Consultancy Expenditure
  Mr. Gardiner
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much the Government have spent on private consultancy since 1997; and what review of such expenditure has been conducted to assess its value for money. [13907]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  The information requested is not held centrally.
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  The National Audit Office published a report in April 2001 (HC 400 Session 2000–01) entitled "Purchasing Professional Services". This set out the results of their examination of Departments' expenditure on professional services including consultancy.

  Individual Departments are responsible for ensuring that their expenditure on consultancy represents value for money.

  VAT (Nursing Homes)
  Mrs. Helen Clark
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement about the impact of the charging of VAT on the residential costs of nursing home care.[12123]

  Mr. Boateng
  The Government are of the clear view that the care of vulnerable people provided in all residential homes should not be subject to VAT. In May. the VAT Tribunal confirmed that the care provided in residential nursing homes was exempt from VAT. However, the Tribunal also ruled that care provided by a commercial body was not exempt, and Customs and Excise are currently appealing against that ruling. Whatever the outcome of that appeal, the Government will take steps to ensure that residents of care homes and their families do not face increased costs as a result of VAT.

  Employee Share Ownership Plans
  Mr. Love
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many employees of(a) mutual, (b) co-operative and (c) employee trust award companies would benefit if the present rules were changed to permit such organisations to participate in employee share ownership plans; what plans there are to expand ESOPs in this way; and if he will make a statement. [14464]

  Ruth Kelly
  Employees of registered industrial and provident societies which are co-operatives are already able to participate in the Share Incentive Plan introduced last year. Companies such as mutual organisations and trust-owned companies that do not issue shares are not able to participate.

  We estimate that some 70,000 staff are employed by mutual organisations and around 60,000 are employed by trust owned businesses in the UK. We have not yet been able to devise a way in which the link between share ownership and company performance might be reflected in such corporate structures.

  Mr. Love
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many employees in the different sectors of the economy(a) are benefiting from and (b) are entitled to receive money under the employee share ownership plans (i) in total and (ii) as a percentage of employees in that sector; what plans he has to extend ESOPs; and if he will make a statement. [14465]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Tax advantaged share plans are generally open to employees in all sectors of the economy. However, Enterprise Management Incentives are not open to companies engaged in certain trades considered to involve low financial risk. We estimate that some 2.5 million employees are benefiting from tax advantaged share and share option schemes. Up to March of this year, some 81,000 employees have benefited from the new
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  Share Incentive Plan introduced last year. Figures are not available on a sectoral basis and the cost of obtaining the information would be disproportionate.

  Female Employment (Statistics)
  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of the female population(a) is of working age, (b) is in work or seeking work and (c) is seeking work in each county. [14133]

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

  Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Andrew Turner, dated 13 November 2001:
  As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question about the proportions of the female population of working age, in work or seeking work, and seeking work in each county.(14133)
  Estimates for counties and unitary authorities are available for mid-2000 of all women of working age as a proportion of the total female population. I have deposited a table showing these in the House of Commons library.
  The Labour Force Survey (LFS) provides estimates of the economic activity status of people aged 16 years or over. The summer (June to August) 2001 estimates, for counties and unitary authorities where the survey sample size is large enough, of the proportions of women who are (i) in work or seeking, work and (ii) seeking work are available on Nomis?, which can be accessed by the House of Commons Library.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Police Service of Northern Ireland
  Mr. Donaldson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how many(a) Protestant and (b) Roman Catholic applicants to the new Police Service of Northern Ireland were successful in being selected for the first batch of recruits; [11938]

  (2) how many serving members of the full-time RUC Reserve have applied to joint the new Police Service of Northern Ireland and have been successful in being selected for the first batch of recruits; [11942]

  (3) how many female applicants to the new Police Service of Northern Ireland were successful in being selected for the first batch of recruits; [11940]

  (4) how many female applicants to the new Police Service of Northern Ireland were successful in being short listed to the final pool prior to the selection of the first batch of recruits; [11939]

  (5) how many (a) Protestant and (b) Roman Catholic applicants to the new Police Service of Northern Ireland were successful in being short listed to the final pool prior to the selection of the first batch of recruits; [11937]

  (6) how many serving members of the full-time RUC Reserve have applied to join the new Police Service of Northern Ireland and were successful in being short listed to the final pool prior to the selection of the first batch of recruits. [11941]

  Jane Kennedy
  Around 550 candidates have qualified for entry to the merit pool. Of these, approximately 150 have declared themselves Catholic and approximately 610W
  400 have declared themselves Protestant or are non-determined; some 180 are female; and approximately 80 are serving members of the full-time Police Service of Northern Ireland Reserve. Final figures will not be available for some time as a number of candidates are subject to outstanding issues, for example, medical appeals.

  Of the first batch of 47 recruits, 24 have declared themselves Catholic and 23 have declared themselves protestant; 14 are female; and 10 are former full-time reserve officers.

TRANSPORT, LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND THE REGIONS

  Machinery Operators (EU Legislation)
  Mr. Swayne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what representations he has received regarding proposed EU legislation to prohibit machinery operators from driving plant and equipment for more than two hours per day; what assessment he has made of the cost of this legislation to the British construction industry; and if he will make a statement. [12615]

  Dr. Whitehead
  There is no proposed EU legislation to prohibit machinery operators from driving plant and equipment for more then two hours per day. The proposed Physical Agents (Vibration) Directive introduces a limit value for exposure to whole body vibration. The European Parliament has proposed an amendment to the common position on the Directive reducing this limit value. This reduced limit value could, in particular circumstances, have the effect of restricting the driving time by individuals of certain equipment to two or three hours.

  The Government have received representations opposing this European Parliament amendment from several industry sectors, including agriculture, construction, mining and quarrying and engineering. We intend to defend the common position against the European Parliament amendment.

  The Government have not costed the implications of the Directive on individual industry sectors. A Regulatory Impact Assessment of the Directive covering the costs to industry as a whole and the health benefits to workers has been submitted to the European Scrutiny Committee and is available in the Libraries of the House.

  Consultation Documents
  Sandra Gidley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many consultation documents were issued by his Department and its predecessors from(a) 15 October to 14 January, (b) 15 January to 14 April, (c) 15 April to 14 July and (d) 15 July to 14 October in each year from 1996. [12876]

  Dr. Whitehead
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on Tuesday 23 October 2001,Official Report, column 198W, which is unfortunately incorrect. A more extensive search of Departmental records has revealed that the Department issued 33 consultation documents during the summer recess 2001.
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  Records of consultation exercises have been kept centrally only since the Cabinet Office Code of Practice on Written Consultation became effective on 1 January 2001. In this period, the Department issued 108 consultation documents broken down as follows:

  1 January—14 April: 50

  15 April—14 July: 16

  15 July—14 October: 34

  15 October to date: 8.

  Affordable Housing
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when he held talks about affordable housing on the Eaves Green site; and who was involved in the talks. [13003]

  Ms Keeble
  The public inquiry into the Chorley Local Plan 1991–2006 concluded on 1 October. Officials at the Government Office for the north-west commented on the original and revised deposit drafts of the plan, including its policy on affordable housing but no discussions took place regarding Eaves Green.

  Pedestrian Protection
  Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the results were of the European new car assessment pedestrian tests based on EEVC Working Group 10 tests. [13419]

  Mr. Jamieson
  Since the European new car assessment programme was established in 1997, three cars have obtained a three-star rating for pedestrian protection using tests based on the EEVC WG10 proposals; 65 have obtained two stars and 14 have obtained one star.

  Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (1) if he will publish the advice available to him from the Transport Research Laboratory on the effects of Phase One of the draft negotiated agreement on pedestrian protection of comparative(a) the bumper test on disabling knee injuries, (b) the head impact test and the proportion of the bonnet area untested or unprotected, (c) the absence of a bonnet leading edge test and femur or pelvic fractures and (d) the influence on car design and effective protection for pedestrians; [13392]

  (2) if he will outline the scientific research concerning the 21 degree knee bending angle in the Phase 1 leg protection tests in the draft negotiated pedestrian protection agreement; and if he will publish the Transport Research Laboratory's opinion on the consequences for injury generation. [13391]

  Mr. Jamieson
  TRL has given only informal advice to my Department on these issues, other than its letter formally responding to our recent consultation exercise on pedestrian protection. A summary of this, and other responses received. has been placed in the House Library. Copies of the full responses can be seen at the DTLR Library. Our understanding of TRL's views, both formal and informal, are as follows:

  Bumper test: It is likely that, for some struck pedestrians, the proposed 21 degree bending angle for phase one might encourage technical designs that would cause permanent disabling injuries rather than injuries that
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  will heal without disablement. The TRL view is that, because the whole package, including phase two, will result in considerable overall benefits, the opportunity to have pedestrian protection on vehicles should not be put at risk over this issue.

  Head impact test: In the Negotiated Agreement two thirds of the bonnet area would have to meet a HIC limit of 1000; the head protection level normally associated with occupant protection. The other one third could have a HIC limit of 2000. This carries a higher risk of injury. However, it is likely that a combination of manufacturers aiming for better standards in production, and the impossibility of designing a bonnet in practice that has a step change such that it only just met the higher level over the whole one third, means that the average level in that zone would probably be midway between a HIC of 1000 and a HIC of 2000.

  In phase one, the adult area will be tested with a child headform. Despite this, the additional protection would still be of benefits to adults in many accidents. However, in some adult accidents the bonnet will be too soft, with a risk of pushing it down on to immovable underlying components.

  Bonnet leading edge test: There has been a long term trend towards more streamlined vehicles which has helped reduce femur and pelvic injuries, and this is the lowest priority of the EEVC tests. However, there is a possibility that manufacturers may raise or stiffen the bonnet leading edge to help gain better performance in the legform test; this would increase the risk of femur and pelvis injuries. The current inclusion of the test with performance targets in phase one of the negotiated agreement would allow such a trend to be monitored if it were to occur.

  The influence of car design: The effect of the long term change in style towards more streamlined shapes is mentioned above. Also, in TRL's view, designing the bonnet area that is likely to be hit by the adult head using the phase one headform will not help the development of design solutions to meet the adult head requirements of phase two.

  Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if active pedestrian protection measures offered by car manufacturers are compatible with each of the choices of passive measures under consideration by COREPER and the Council of Ministers. [13387]

  Mr. Jamieson
  Active protection measures are intended to help reduce the likelihood of accidents whereas secondary safety measures reduce the consequences. There is no fundamental incompatibility; indeed, both approaches contribute to improvements in road safety today.

  Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions in what year the experimental safety vehicle of the Transport Research Laboratory demonstrated the feasibility of meeting the EEVC Working Group 10 pedestrian sub-system test requirements; and who funded this research. [13388]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The experimental safety vehicle, a Metro with modifications funded by the Department, was shown at a conference in 1985. However, this car was
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  produced before Working Group 10 existed, and its effectiveness was tested using child and adult pedestrian dummies rather than the WG 10 sub-system tests.

  Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions in what year in-depth pedestrian accident research work started at the Transport Research Laboratory in contributing to the research EEVC pedestrian protection work; and who funded this research. [13389]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The Transport Research Laboratory has been contributing to the European pedestrian protection considerations since the 1970s. This early work was funded by the Department of Transport.

  Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when the Government first proposed to the European Commission that a directive on safer car fronts for pedestrians and cyclists should be introduced. [13418]

  Mr. Jamieson
  Formal requests to make car fronts safer for pedestrians were made in 1991 through the UK's involvement in the EEVC.

  Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what assessment he has made of the ability of the European car industry to achieve working group 17 pedestrian tests requirements at an early date. [13421]

  Mr. Jamieson
  We have not made a specific assessment of this. However, it is clear that industry continues to see difficulty in meeting the full EEVC criteria as a universal requirement for cars at an early date.

  Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will estimate the pedestrian fatality reduction potential of the Phase I tests in the draft negotiated agreement as a percentage of the potential in the EEVC Working Group 17; and what assessment he has made of the ability of the draft negotiated agreement to meet the level of protection in the harmonisation process required by the Treaty of European Union. [13390]

  Mr. Jamieson
  It is estimated that Phase 1 would deliver a benefit of around 25 per cent. for fatal injuries and 60 per cent. for serious injuries, relative to the Phase 2 levels associated with the EEVC WG 17 requirements. The negotiated agreement is likely to start delivering two years earlier than a directive. which would itself be likely to be phased.

  Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport. Local Government and the Regions how it is intended that the car industry will work to agreed longer-term targets for pedestrian protection if Phase 2 of the draft negotiated agreement is not specified with Phase 1. [13420]

  Mr. Jamieson
  Phase 1 and Phase 2 are both specified in the negotiated agreement.

  I am satisfied that the technical requirements of the first phase will be operated in a flexible manner, which will allow manufacturers to deliver cars in Phase 1 which incorporate techniques more appropriate for meeting the Phase 2 levels. This will address one of the concerns raised by TRL and others about the headform test in Phase 1.

  Millennium Dome
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when an announcement will be made on the future of the Dome; and what the monthly cost of the Dome is to the Exchequer. [13224]

  Ms Keeble
  On-going market testing is exploring all avenues, and on the basis of professional advice we are in discussion with a small number of serious contenders. To reveal details of the discussions would not be conducive to a successful conclusion and would be against the public interest. The aim is to secure a sale as quickly as possible, consistent with value for money, securing a worthwhile and sustainable future for the Dome and a deliverable outcome.

  From 1 July 2001, when the lease of the New Millennium Experience Company ended, English Partnerships, the Government's regeneration agency, has been incurring an average of £240,000 per month on Dome maintenance and management related costs. English Partnerships also expects to incur expenditure in the order of £9.75 million this year on decommissioning the Dome contents in preparation for a future use and about £1.7 million in relation to the current sale process. Any money spent on these will be recovered from sale proceeds so the cost will not fall to the taxpayer.

  Railtrack
  Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (I) what advice he has received on the level of payments on debt that would(a) be required annually if the rating of the successor organisation to Railtrack were credit rated at (i) BBB and (ii) single A and (b) be required if it were able to borrow at the rate of Government gilts; and if he will make a statement; [13207]

  (2) what advice he has received on the level of payments on debt that would be required annually if the rating of the successor organisation to Railtrack were (a) 1 per cent. higher, (b) 2 per cent. higher and (c) 3 per cent. higher than Government gilts; and if he will make a statement. [13208]

  Mr. Jamieson
  In relation to the proposal that the Government intend to put to the administrator for a company limited by guarantee, we will be targeting a long-term credit rating of A/A2 or higher, to reflect the financing capacity requirements of the rail infrastructure business. We are confident that this would allow the CLG to raise new debt and service existing debt on an efficient and cost-effective basis.

  Telecommunications Masts
  Mr. Blunt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many planning inquiries there have been into applications for telecommunications masts over 15m by commercial operators that seek to replace a mast owned by Railtrack plc with one of their own. [13665]

  Ms Keeble
  The Department does not hold information on the number of planning inquiries in this form.
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  Road Surfaces
  Harry Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions for what reason the Highways Agency no longer takes responsibility for the surfaces of major roads in London; what sum was specifically transferred for this purpose to Transport for London; and if he will make a statement. [13538]

  Mr. Jamieson
  On 3 July 2000 the Highways Agency's responsibilities for all of its roads in London except for the stubs of the M 1, M4 and the M11 were transferred to Transport for London. The Government pay the Greater London Authority Transport Grant to support the whole range of Transport for London' s responsibilities. This grant rises from £714 million in 2001–02 to over £1 billion in 2003–04.

  Housing Provision (Doncaster/Barnsley)
  Jeff Ennis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many council houses were sold in(a) Doncaster and (b) Barnsley in each of the last 10 years. [13659]

  Ms Keeble
  The number of council dwellings (both houses and flats) sold in each of the last 10 years, as reported by Doncaster and Barnsley metropolitan councils, is in the table.

  Number of council dwellings sold

  Year

  Doncaster metropolitan borough council

  Barnsley metropolitan borough council

  1991–92

  291

  350

  1992–93

  240

  205

  1993–94

  299

  177

  1994–95

  290

  212

  1995–96

  237

  111

  1996–97

  260

  153

  1997–98

  341

  195

  1998–99

  368

  202

  1999–2000

  415

  304

  2000–01

  386

  400

  Source:

  DTLR Housing Activity P1(B) quarterly returns

  Tables showing reported information on total council house sales in each English local authority for each financial year from 1979–80 are available in the Library.

  Jeff Ennis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many new social rented houses were built in(a) Doncaster and (b) Barnsley in each of the last 10 years. [13660]

  Ms Keeble
  The numbers of new social dwellings, both houses and flats, built in Doncaster metropolitan borough council area and Barnsley metropolitan borough council area in each of the last 10 years are given in the table. Social dwellings include those built for registered social landlords as well as those built for the councils.

  Number of social dwellings built

  Year

  Doncaster(MBC)

  Barnsley(MBC)

  1991–92

  89

  104

  1992–93

  157

  40

  1993–94

  121

  74

  1994–95

  164

  59

  1995–96

  188

  53

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  Number of social dwellings built

  Year

  Doncaster(MBC)

  Barnsley(MBC)

  1996–97

  116

  38

  1997–98

  57

  6

  1998–99

  15

  28

  1999–2001)

  42

  0

  2000–01

  27

  0

  Rent Levels
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions at what date the 1 per cent. rise in levels above the rate of inflation will commence under his restructuring proposals for local authority rent levels; if it will apply equally to all local authorities; and whether mitigation will be introduced to dampen the effect where high-level rents are instituted in high-value areas. [13791]

  Mr. Byers
  Rents for local authority properties are set by the responsible authorities and depend upon decisions taken locally. The proposed 1 per cent. real terms increase in rents is the assumption for the purposes of calculating housing subsidy in England for 2002–03 which was announced at the end of the 2000 spending review. It is independent of our policy on rent restructuring. Ministers are considering how it will apply to each local authority in the light of responses to the consultation on proposals for subsidy changes and will make an announcement soon. We expect rent changes as a result of rent restructuring to be limited to a maximum of £2 per week in any year above normal inflation-related increases. We are considering whether there should also be a cap on the rents of high-value properties which would otherwise attract high rents.

  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (1) what his estimate is in relation to his proposals for the restructuring of local authority rent levels, of average rents for(a) London and (b) Inner London on the former Inner London education authority boundaries (i) at April levels, (ii) for the initial restructured levels and (iii) in subsequent years; [13790]

  (2) to what extent the average figures he has circulated in relation to his proposals for the restructuring of local authority rent levels reflect (a) reductions in rent levels for smaller properties and for those in less high value areas and (b) significant increases in rent levels for (i) family-sized properties and (ii) for those in higher-value areas. [13789]

  Mr. Byers
  The information is not available in the form requested.

  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions under his proposals for the restructuring of local authority rent levels, what account the restructured levels will take of the(a) nature and condition of an estate on which the property is located and (b) broad property values of the overall area. [13788]

  Mr. Byers
  Under restructuring, social rents will be based on a formula that includes local earnings, property size and relative property value. The property value will reflect the size, location and condition of the property.
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  Social rents will generally remain well below the levels charged by reputable private landlords for similar properties.

  M6 (Morecambe and Heysham Port)
  Geraldine Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans he has to improve road access to Morecambe and Heysham Port from the M6 Motorway. [13741]

  Ms Keeble
  Access from Morecambe and Heysham Port to the M6 is the responsibility of Lancashire county council. They have recently conducted a public consultation on the two proposed routes for a Heysham to M6 link road. When the position on the Lancaster district local plan is resolved, it is a matter for the council whether to submit a bid for funding from central Government.

  Fire and Civil Defence Authorities
  Mr. Truswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what guidance he will issue regarding the level of fire and civil defence authority precepts for 2001–02. [13599]

  Dr. Whitehead
  None. These are matters for fire and civil defence authorities to decide in consultation with local taxpayers.

  Mr. Truswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what assessment he has made of the progress achieved by fire and civil defence authorities in metropolitan areas towards reducing(a) fire-related deaths and (b) malicious false alarm calls. 13600]

  Dr. Whitehead
  In 2000, an estimated 133 accidental fire related deaths in dwellings were recorded for the seven metropolitan brigades, out of a national total of 326. The number of accidental house fire deaths in metropolitan brigade areas had fallen in recent years from 167 in 1996 to the current estimated figure of 133 for 2000. The downward trend in dwelling fire deaths is reflected nationally for England and Wales. There were 588 dwelling fire deaths in 1996, compared with 516 for 2000.

  Malicious false alarms, both for the metropolitan areas and nationally, have been falling steadily over recent years. In 1996 there were 57,100 malicious false alarm calls recorded by the metropolitan areas. In 2000, metropolitan brigades attended a total of 33,800 malicious false alarm calls—a fall of 41 per cent. against the 1996 figures.

  These encouraging statistics reflect the merits of the integrated approach adopted by Government, the fire service and fire authorities over the past four years to implement strategies designed to drive down the number of preventable dwelling fire deaths and to educate the public about the dangers of malicious false alarm calls.

  Business Rate System
  Geraldine Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what representations have been received on the reform of the business rate system. [13734]
  618W
  Dr. Whitehead
  The Green Paper "Modernising Local Government Finance", published 19 September 2000, invited comments on a range of issues relating to reform of business rates. In response to that consultation we received 1,107 non-campaign responses of which the overwhelming majority included responses on business rates. A summary is available on the DTLR website at www.dtlr.gov.uk. We will set out our response to the consultation in the Local Government White Paper later this year.

  On 16 February 2001 we issued a further consultation paper on extending the agricultural exemption from rates to machinery rings and share farming enterprises on which we received 34 responses. Again, we will set out next steps in the forthcoming Local Government White Paper.

  My Department continuously receives correspondence on the business rates system, which includes representations on reforms to various parts of the rating system.

  DVLA
  Mr. Greg Knight
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will review the resources and the priority being deployed by DVLA to answer telephone inquiries from members of the public. [14046]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The level of resources deployed on telephone inquiries by DVLA is under continuous review in order to meet the level of demand at any given time.

  Terrorism
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the costs have been of operations undertaken by his Department in connection with events following the 11 September terrorist attacks; and if he will list the costs relating to(a) the British Transport police, (b) the aviation industry, (c) emergency planning and (d) other areas; and if these costs will be met from his Department's budget. [13845]

  Mr. Byers
  [holding answer November 2001]: To date my Department has not incurred any costs in connection with events following the 11 September terrorist attacks relating to the British Transport police, the aviation industry or emergency planning. Along with other Government Departments we have reviewed security at our buildings and have incurred extra costs of around £31,000 which will be met from within existing budgets.

  We will give due consideration to any requests for financial assistance from those areas for which my Department is responsible.

  Regeneration (West Midlands)
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans he has to promote the regeneration of deprived areas in the west midlands. [13534]

  Ms Keeble
  [holding answer 12 October 2001): There are a number of initiatives across the west midlands, which are promoting regeneration of deprived areas.
  619W
  The key ones are as listed:
  £4.2 million over three years from April 2002 for "neighbourhood management" initiatives in Newcastle-under-Lyme and Burton-on-Trent.
  Over £3 million through the "Community Empowerment Fund" to help communities get involved in local decision making. Seven areas in west midlands will benefit from this fund. These are Birmingham, Dudley, Coventry, Sandwell, Stoke, Walsall and Wolverhampton.
  £1.1 million for "community chests" to support small community projects with grants they can get locally with minimum bureaucracy. Seven areas in west midlands will benefit from this fund. These are Birmingham, Dudley, Coventry, Sandwell, Stoke, Walsall and Wolverhampton.
  "New Deal for Community" areas in the west midlands which will benefit from almost £2 billion over the next 10 years. These are:
  Sandwell—(Greets Green Partnership)
  A further £263.5 million for five Round 2 Partnerships in the west midlands was announced in April 2001. These are:

  Birmingham—Aston Pride

  Birmingham—Kings Norton, Three Estates Coventry WEHM

  Walsall—New Deal, New Horizons

  Wolverhampton—All Saints and Blakenhall

  Seven "Neighbourhood Warden schemes" are now operating across the west midlands. The programme is worth £1.027 million.
  17 "Street Wardens programmes" have recently been announced in the west midlands. The total value of the scheme is £4.146 million which will be matched by Government funding.
  "Neighbourhood Renewal Fund" will provide £121.5 million for three years from April 2001 to improve services in the most deprived neighbourhoods in the west midlands. Areas benefiting in west midlands are Birmingham, Dudley, Coventry, Sandwell, Stoke, Walsall and Wolverhampton. A Local Strategic Partnership in each area will develop a local "neighbourhood renewal strategy" to guide NRF expenditure.

  Advantage West Midlands as part of its Economic Strategy has agreed with partners across the region the designation of six Regeneration Zones which cover 111 of the 153 most deprived wards in the region. Advantage West Midlands has undertaken to spend 70 per cent. of its resources in the zones to help achieve these aims.

  European Funding
  Objective 2 European Structural Funds for the period 2000–06 has earmarked over £100 million to support the regeneration of the most deprived areas in the west midlands. Additionally, the region will benefit from Objective 3 funds worth over £240 million during the same period to help to upskill people and improve their employability.

  Terminal 5
  Mr. Wilshire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the cost was of the planning inquiry into the application to build a fifth terminal at Heathrow Airport. [14021]

  Ms Keeble
  [holding answer 12 November 2001.1: The total costs of the Terminal 5 inquiry to all participants is estimated at over £83 million of which the private sector is estimated to have spent some £64 million with the rest borne by central and local Government.
  620W

  Heathrow Airport
  Mr. Wilshire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on job losses at Heathrow Airport as a result of the events of 11 September. [14020]

  Mr. Jamieson
  [holding answer 12 November 2001 J: BAA plc, as owners of Heathrow Airport, advise they have not cut any jobs at the airport following the events of 11 September. However, their organisation only represents around 5.5 per cent. of the workforce at the airport. We do not yet have firm information about the extent of job losses at Heathrow in other areas of the aviation industry.

  I understand that the Job Transition Service is engaging with employers to ensure that those employees adversely affected have access to the fullest possible range of help and advice.

  Mr. Wilshire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions who(a) was invited to meet and (b) met the Minister of State during his visit to Heathrow Airport on 5 November. [14019]

  Mr. Spellar
  [holding answer 12 November 2001]: I visited Heathrow Airport on 5 November at the request of my hon. Friend the. Member for Hayes and Harlington (John McDonnell), who also arranged the other attendance. The meeting was attended by local MPs and numerous representatives of the air transport industry, trades unions and local communities.

  London Underground
  Tom Brake
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what was the average length of the contractual working week for London Underground(a) drivers and (b) station staff in each year since 1991. [14604]

  Mr. Jamieson
  London Underground has provided the following information:

  Year

  Train operators contractual weekly hours

  Station staff contractual weekly hours

  1991–92

  138

  138

  1992–93

  138

  138

  1993–94

  38.5

  41.25

  1994–95

  38.5

  41.25

  1995–96

  38.5

  40

  1996–97

  37

  40

  1997–98

  36

  40

  1998–99

  35

  40

  1999–2000

  35

  40

  2000–01

  35

  40

  2001–02

  35

  37.5

  1Plus minimum of one Sunday in two

  Tom Brake
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what proportion of the annual service charges to be paid by Transport for London for the London Underground public-private partnership contracts will be underwritten by central Government payments made to Transport for London; and for what period such payments will be guaranteed. [14612]
  621W
  Mr. Jamieson
  Subject to its representing value for money, London Underground intends to enter into long-term contracts to deliver a publicly run, privately built tube. These contracts will be between London Underground and the private sector Infrastructure Companies and will not be guaranteed by central Government. However, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will allow for the resulting contract payments when setting GLA Transport Grant.

  Tom Brake
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what was the annual average leave entitlement of London Underground(a) drivers and (b) station staff in each year since 1991. [14602]

  Mr. Jamieson
  London Underground has provided the following information:

  Year

  Train operator annual leave

  Station staff annual leave

  1991–92

  125

  125

  1992–93

  125

  125

  1993–94

  234

  234

  1994–95

  234

  234

  1995–96

  234

  234

  1996–97

  234

  234

  1997–98

  234

  234

  1998–99

  234

  234

  1999–2000

  234

  234

  2000–01

  236

  236

  2001–02

  237

  237

  1Plus one day for credit transfer

  2Inc. B/H

  Tom Brake
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what arrangements have been put in place to take account of the change in the length of the working week of the managing director of London Underground Ltd. [14585]

  Mr. Jamieson
  Paul Godier succeeded Derek Smith as full time managing director on Monday 8 October 2001. Derek Smith remains as Chairman of London Underground. London Underground issued a press release on 10 September http://www.thetube/com/content/ pressreleases/0109/l0.asp setting out details of the new arrangements.

  Tom Brake
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will ask the National Audit Office to examine the value for money aspects of the London Underground public-private partnership in advance of the contracts being signed; and if he will place in the Library his correspondence with the NAO on London Underground. [14615]

  Mr. Jamieson
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Truro and St. Austell (Matthew Taylor) on 12 November 2001,Official Report, column 503W. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has not corresponded with the NAO on the subject of the London Underground.

  Tom Brake
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when, for each line of London Underground, new trains will be introduced under the terms of the public-private partnership. [14588]
  622W
  Mr. Jamieson
  The public-private partnership is designed to achieve a comprehensive modernisation of the entire underground network. London Underground is currently negotiating the detailed requirements and will publish details once they have been completed.

  Tom Brake
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what capacity increase, for each line of London Underground, will be achieved under the terms of the public-private partnership; and in which year this change will occur. [14587]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The public-private partnership is designed to achieve a comprehensive modernisation of the entire underground network. This is necessarily a long-term programme and there is a limit on the amount of work that can be done simultaneously without causing excessive disruption to the service to the public. The overall requirements have therefore been specified by London Underground to upgrade every line over time, prioritised to deliver the greatest benefits as quickly as possible. The capability of most lines is expected to be increased by around 10–25 per cent. The detailed requirements are currently being negotiated and London Underground will publish details once the negotiations have been completed.

  Tom Brake
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will publish the names of(a) companies in each of the consortia selected as preferred bidders for each London Underground PPP contract and (b) the board members of each of those companies. [14613]

  Mr. Jamieson
  Metronet is the preferred bidder for the BCV and SSL competitions. The Metronet consortium consists of Bombardier Transportation (formerly Adtranz), WS Atkins, Balfour Beatty, Seeboard and Thames Water.

  Tubelines is the preferred bidder for the JNP competition. The Tubelines consortium consists of Amey, Bechtel and Jarvis.

  The board membership of each company will be contained in the companies' annual accounts.

  Tom Brake
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how, under the terms of the proposed public-private partnership for London Underground, companies will be incentivised to improve the performance of the underground; what new performance measures will be used; and what financial(a) incentives and (b) disincentives will be employed. [14586]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The Government's plans for a publicly run, privately built London Underground are designed to deliver at least £13 billion of investment over the next 15 years. The private sector will be incentivised to deliver this investment by contracts that are principally output-based, with payments to the private sector infrastructure companies increasing as they improve capacity, reliability and the quality of the travelling environment on the tube network. The private sector will be similarly financially penalised for poor performance. These penalties will reflect the impact of any delay or disruption to passengers and not be limited by a cap.

  Tom Brake
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if, under the proposed contracts for the public-private partnership
  623W
  for London Underground, senior managers of Transport for London and London Underground who have been involved in PPP negotiations will be exempt from any subsequent legal challenge other than for fraud or impropriety, as regards the (a) content and (b) operation of PPP contracts.[14608]

  Mr. Jamieson
  I understand that London Underground does not intend for the PPP contract to exempt London Underground senior managers from legal action by London Transport or London Underground. There will be a waiver in relation to legal action by infrastructure companies or bidders.

  The position of Transport for London senior managers is a matter for the board of TfL.

  Tom Brake
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what is the cost to London Transport of the recent London Underground advertising campaign to promote the public-private partnership for London Underground. [14609]

  Mr. Jamieson
  This is a matter for London Underground.

  Tom Brake
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when he expects to sign the final contracts for the London Underground public-private partnership; and when control of LU will pass to the Mayor of London. [14611]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions will not sign contracts for the London Underground public-private partnership, which is the responsibility of London Underground. I understand that London Underground expects to sign contracts early next year.

  London Underground will transfer to Transport for London once the competitions for the modernisation of the Underground have been completed.

  Tom Brake
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if(a) his Department, (b) Transport for London and (c) London Underground intend to undertake further advertising to promote the public-private partnership for London Underground; and when it is envisaged that it will commence. [14610]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions has no plans to undertake advertising to promote the public-private partnership for London Underground.

  Advertising by Transport for London and London Underground is a matter for each of those organisations.

  Tom Brake
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how much was spent by(a) his Department and its predecessors, (b) London Transport, (c) London Underground and (d) any other institution (i) controlled and (ii) funded by his Department or its predecessors on all work concerned with the (A) preparations, (B) contracts and (C) other aspects of the London Underground public-private partnership in each year since 1997–98. [14614]
  624W
  Mr. Jamieson
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Buckingham (Mr. Bercow) on 16 October 2001,Official Report, column 1169W. It is not practicable to provide a breakdown in the form requested by the hon. Member.

  Tom Brake
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many London Underground(a) drivers and (b) station staff there were in each year since 1991. [14603]

  Mr. Jamieson
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Member for Streatham (Keith Hill) to the hon. Member for North Essex (Mr. Jenkin) on 9 April 2001,Official Report, column 386W.

  Tom Brake
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions who are the members of the boards of(a) Transport for London and (b) London Underground, and what are their (i) annual emoluments and (ii) monthly time commitment to LU; when they joined the board; and what are the particular responsibilities of each member as regards the public-private partnership for the underground. [14590]

  Mr. Jamieson
  Appointments to the Board of Transport for London are a matter for the Mayor of London.

  The board members of London Underground Ltd., who are appointed by the Board of London Regional Transport are:

  Derek Smith (Chairman)

  Paul Godier (Managing Director)

  Brian Appleton (Non-executive Director with special interest in safety)

  Keith Beattie

  Patrick Butcher

  Mike Brown

  Martin Callaghan

  Tony Maguire

  Rob Mason

  Jon Smith

  Mike Strzelecki.

  Details of board members' annual emoluments and start dates are included in the relevant annual report and accounts.

  All board members of London Underground Ltd., except Brian Appleton and Derek Smith, are full-time executive directors. Brian Appleton works 11 days per month, and Derek Smith 2½ days per week (from 8 October 2001).

  The board of London Underground Ltd. considers all significant matters relating to the PPP, but the final decision on the award of any contracts is a matter reserved for the board of London Regional Transport. With the exception of Martin Callaghan, who is the PPP project director and leads on the negotiations with the PPP bidders. No other board members of either London Underground Ltd. or London Regional Transport has specific individual responsibilities in relation to the PPP.

  Local Government Modernisation
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (1) if he will place in the Library all(a) guidance and (b) other documentation
  625W
  (i)published and (ii) otherwise distributed by the local government modernisation team with respect to ethics in local government; [14545]

  (2) if he will place in the Library all (a) guidance and (b) other documentation (i) published and (ii) otherwise distributed to local authorities by the local government modernisation team with respect to the environment.[14557]

  Mr. Byers
  The purpose of the local government modernisation team is to help to communicate and explain to council members and employees the Government's agenda for the modernisation of local government, and to feed back council's views and experiences to Ministers and Departments.

  The role of the members of the team is therefore to contribute their operational knowledge to guidance or other publications prepared by the Department. Examples include contributing to Government Guidance on New Council Constitutions and on Referendums under the Local Government Act 2000 and working with the Improvement and Development Agency in developing their ethical governance audit for local authorities. The remit of the local government modernisation team is primarily in relation to the modernisation of local government and not specifically on environmental issues.

  Copies of such Government guidance and documentation are placed in the Library in the usual manner.

  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what are the criteria by which members of the local government modernisation team were selected. [14554]

  Mr. Byers
  To ensure members of the local government modernisation team were recruited on an open basis, consistent with guidelines from the Civil Service Commissioners, advertisements for posts were placed in both the national and local government press. Applications were sought from people with:Senior local government experience;
  the ability to command credibility and respect of members and senior officers;
  knowledge of the (local government) modernisation agenda, with experience or expertise in one or more key areas;
  excellent communication and presentation skills, and
  good team players.

  A panel including civil servants from my Department and an independent member from the Local Government Association interviewed the applicants and decided the appointments to be made.

  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions who are the members of the local government modernisation team; and what are their relevant(a) experience and (b) qualifications. [14550]

  Mr. Byers
  Current members of the local government modernisation team are:Avril Atkinson, former Director of Pupils and Services Division, East Sussex CC
  Chris Haynes, former Head of Information Age Government, Knowsley
  Richard 0llin. former Chief Executive, Stroud DC
  626W
  Guy Ware, former Director of Finance and Information Services, LB Enfield
  Janice Morphet, former Chief Executive, Rutland
  Julian Bowrey, former Head of Policy and Review, Cambridgeshire CC
  John Haward, former Head of Corporate Strategy, Southwark LB
  Mike Reardon, former Council Secretary, Trafford MBC
  Pam Fox, former Assistant Chief Executive, Portsmouth City
  Peter Murphy, former Chief Executive, Melton BC
  Rita Petty, former Executive Director, Kirklees MBC.

  All members of the team have been recruited on the basis of ability, qualifications and suitability for the work as a result of an open competition held in line with guidelines set out by the Civil Service Commissioners.

  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what is the cost of(a) the establishment of the local government modernisation team and (b) its continuing operating costs. [14555]

  Mr. Byers
  The local government modernisation team was set up with an annual budget of £1 million which included the cost of establishing the team in the autumn of 1999. This was increased to £1.5 million in 2000–01 to cover new roles, in particular local government on-line.

  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what remuneration and superannuation is paid to members of the local government modernisation team. [14556]

  Mr. Byers
  Members of the local government modernisation team have been appointed on a mixture of short-term secondments or fixed-term contracts, usually of one to two years (full and part-time). Most members are senior civil service equivalents. Remuneration is based on salary before joining the team, and is currently in the range from £45,000 to £80,000 per annum. Members have the option of remaining in the local government pension scheme or joining the principle civil service pension scheme when they join the Department.

  Bus Services
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what action he has taken to improve the quality of bus services with respect to(a) reliability of service and (b) the quality of information provided at bus stops since the publication of the bus quality indicators bulletin in September. [14546]

  Mr. Byers
  The Government want to see more regular and reliable bus services that will attract increasing numbers of passengers. Since the publication of the most recent bus quality indicators bulletin in September, we have commenced powers under the Transport Act 2000 with regard to statutory Quality Partnerships and Quality Contracts. This means that local authorities now have a wider range of powers at their disposal to help them to take steps to improve local bus services.

  The Transport Act 2000 also requires all local transport authorities to develop arrangements for ensuring that appropriate bus passenger information is made available, and enables them to step in to provide proper passenger information, at operators' expense, if existing arrangements are inadequate.
  627W
  We are continuing to discuss with the bus industry realistic targets for delivering improvements in service reliability, including monitoring the provision of passenger information at bus stops.

  Deprivation (Lancaster)
  Geraldine Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions which are the 12 most deprived wards in the Lancaster City district, with reference to the Index of Local Deprivation. [13767]

  Ms Keeble
  Table 1 lists the 12 most deprived wards in the Lancaster district, as measured on the Index of Multiple Deprivation 2000. This is one of the main components of the Indices of Deprivation 2000, which is the current measure of deprivation in England.

  Ward name1

  Rank of index of multiple deprivation across England

  Alexandra

  280

  Poulton

  759

  Skerton Central

  795

  Skerton East

  843

  Bulk

  1,277

  Harbour

  1,279

  Skerton West

  1,290

  Heysham North

  1,325

  Ward Name

  IMD 2000

  Income

  Employment

  Health

  Education

  Housing

  Access to Services

  Alexandra

  280

  382

  122

  184

  1,311

  1,430

  6,526

  Arkholme

  5,256

  6,205

  6,118

  6,275

  5,553

  6,229

  361

  Bolton-le-Sands

  6,122

  6,947

  4,835

  4,210

  7,724

  7,268

  1,775

  Bulk

  1,277

  1,569

  1,280

  990

  986

  1,791

  6,833

  Carnforth

  4,213

  3,640

  4,270

  3,525

  3,456

  6.101

  3,993

  Castle

  2,282

  2,000

  1,594

  1,998

  4,383

  2,821

  6,065

  Caton

  4,295

  5,136

  3,447

  3,160

  5,827

  7,107

  1,524

  Ellel

  4,490

  5,787

  4,652

  4,736

  7,728

  2,927

  592

  Halton-with-Aughton

  5,762

  6,251

  4,380

  4,577

  7,094

  7,525

  1,717

  Harbour

  1,279

  755

  961

  753

  3,790

  4,828

  5,702

  Heysham Central

  1,476

  1,919

  882

  591

  2,279

  6,145

  5,784

  Heysham North

  1,325

  979

  1,004

  1,135

  2,088

  3,174

  7,832

  Heysham South

  2,113

  1,610

  1,868

  1,670

  3,327

  3,547

  5,452

  Hornby

  5,811

  7,440

  5,999

  5,948

  6,709

  6,717

  380

  John O'Gaunt

  6,028

  5,267

  4,236

  4,876

  5,143

  6,102

  7,700

  Kellet

  4,737

  4,798

  3,639

  3,748

  6,971

  6,071

  2,240

  Overton

  2,924

  3,765

  3,247

  2,669

  3,408

  1.457

  2.392

  Parks

  4,366

  4,690

  2,584

  1,973

  6,686

  8,229

  6,412

  Poulton

  759

  725

  389

  377

  3,807

  1,686

  7,881

  Scotforth East

  6,258

  6,376

  6,174

  5,715

  4,558

  2.993

  4,789

  Scotforth West

  3,770

  3,501

  2,704

  2,508

  4,526

  6,551

  5,744

  Silverdale

  5,849

  6,002

  4,693

  3,970

  7,876

  8,097

  1,764

  Skerton Central

  795

  867

  1,127

  876

  336

  1,472

  7,410

  Skerton East

  843

  815

  889

  939

  440

  2,715

  7,460

  Skerton West

  1,290

  1,366

  1,644

  1,873

  636

  1,366

  5,301

  Slyne-with-Hest

  4,561

  6,132

  2,768

  2,105

  7,939

  7,237

  2,999

  Torrisholme

  5,156

  4,828

  3,870

  2,673

  6,690

  7,972

  4,729

  Victoria

  2,417

  1,507

  2,138

  1,608

  4,896

  4,289

  7,118

  Warton

  3,917

  4,502

  4,240

  3,583

  2,707

  3,946

  2,835

  Regeneration (Morecambe and Lunesdale)
  Geraldine Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what funding he has provided(a) to encourage employment opportunities and (b) to regenerate industrial estates in the Morecambe and Lunesdale constituency. [13768]

  Ms Keeble
  The constituency of Morecambe and Lunesdale has benefited from the following funding.
  628W

  Ward name1

  Rank of index of multiple deprivation across England

  Heysham Central

  1,476

  Heysham South

  2,113

  Castle

  2,282

  Victoria

  2,417

  1These are based on ward boundaries as at 1998

  The components of the Indices of Deprivation 2000 are:

  Separate indices at ward level on each of the six domains of deprivation: Income, Employment, Health Deprivation and Disability, Education Skills and Training, Housing and Geographical Access to Services. This allows all 8,414 wards in England to be ranked according to how deprived they are relative to other areas, for each domain.A ward level index that brings together information from the six domains of deprivation into one overall Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD 2000). Table 1 is based on this measure.

  Six district level summaries of the IMD, which allow all 354 local authority districts to be ranked according to each measure. These summaries take account of the different patterns of deprivation found in different areas.

  Table 2 shows how all Lancaster's wards are ranked according to the IMD and the six other ward domains included in the Indices of Deprivation 2000.

  Single Regeneration Budget:
  SRB Round One—Turning the Tide: Morecambe
  This is a seven year strategy to halt decline and build tourism through comprehensive regeneration of an area of need in the town centre. It builds on pre-existing housing schemes and extends to business, training, and environmental schemes.
  SRB Total is £4.3 million.
  629W
  SRB Round Five—Luneside Regeneration
  This seven year scheme seeks to tackle dereliction and draw private investment into key sites in Lancaster. creating new jobs close to the city's inner urban communities.
  SRB total is £5 million.

  European Regional Development Fund
  Much of the constituency is eligible for support under the 2000–06 Objective 2 programme, and can expect to access business support through the wider north and west Lancashire action plan. This has been awarded £14 million for a range of business support activities.

  Luneside Industrial Estate
  Geraldine Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what discussions he has had with(a) the Government Office for the North West and (b) NWDA about improving access to the Luneside industrial estate. [13770]

  Ms Keeble
  Ministers have not had discussions with the North West Development Agency about improving access to Luneside industrial estate.

  Regional Investment Funding (Lancaster)
  Geraldine Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions which wards in the Lancaster City Council District are eligible for Objective 2 priority 3 strategic regional investment funding. [13772]

  Ms Keeble
  Eligible wards are:

  Alexandra

  Bulk

  Castle

  Caton

  Heysham central

  Heysham north

  Heysham south

  Overton.

  Wessex Rail Franchise
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on his proposed timetable for the renewal of the Wessex Rail Franchise. [14295]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The Strategic Rail Authority has submitted proposals for a revised franchise replacement/ extension programme to the Secretary of State for consideration. An announcement will be made in due course.

DEFENCE

  QinetiQ
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he plans to divest QinetiQ; and when the funds derived from the sale will be credited to his Department's budget. [14626]

  Dr. Moonie
  QinetiQ will be floated as soon as its potential is judged to be suitably developed, subject to value for money considerations and provided the organisation has achieved appropriate performance 630W
  targets. Since vesting of the company on 1 July 2001 work has mainly focused on preparing the company for a future transaction and assessing market conditions. It also remains possible that a strategic partner will be brought in to assist with the commercial development of the company prior to a flotation. The Ministry of Defence is likely to retain an interest in QinetiQ as a means to ensuring that taxpayers receive full value for the investment in past Government funded research. An announcement, hopefully early in the new year, will be made once a decision has been taken on the transaction route, and the proposed timetable.

  It has been agreed with HM Treasury that the MOD will receive a credit of at least £250 million in FY 2001–02 in anticipation of a successful PPP. This receipt is not dependent on the actual timing of the final PPP transaction, nor is the figure an indication of the potential value of the transaction.

  Veterans Task Force
  Mr. Swayne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the Veterans task force meeting held on 7 November. [13766]

  Dr. Moonie
  At the first meeting of the task force on 6 November, my ministerial colleagues from other Departments with an interest in veterans issues, representatives from the veterans' community and I agreed terms of reference committing us to making our policy development and services responsive to the reasonable needs and concerns of veterans. We agreed a vision focusing on the key themes of partnership, identity, recognition, education and care, and agreed a cross-government action plan to take these themes forward. This work is being undertaken in partnership with experts from veterans organisations and will include reviews of resettlement for the most vulnerable of those discharged from the armed forces, of the educational material on veterans and their achievements provided for Key Stage 3 of the national curriculum and of ways in which we might improve the effectiveness of our communications with veterans. Ministers also agreed to review their relevant public service agreements to identify those in which there was a significant and discrete veterans problem that merited action in its own right. Particular areas to be considered were focused on the most vulnerable and included the levels of service-related problems among the prison population, among marital breakdowns and among the unemployed. Deadlines have been set for action plan work items, and overall progress with the initiative will be considered at the next meeting of the task force in May 2002.

  I consider that the task force agreements represent substantial progress towards achieving our objective of raising the profile of veterans' issues in Government and more widely across the nation, and of improving the delivery of benefits to veterans, particularly the most vulnerable.

  Afghanistan
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans there are for the inclusion of the Territorial Army in the operations against Afghanistan; and(a) how many will be deployed and (b) how they will be deployed. [13128]
  631W
  Mr. Ingram
  There are no plans to include formed units of the Territorial Army in the operations in Afghanistan. However, a call-out order has been made under section 54 of the Reserve Forces Act 1996 to permit up to 150 individual reservists from all three services to be called out for service in support of the current operation. They are needed to augment headquarters, and provide operational support to the Royal Air Force. Most will be based in the UK. Augmentation of this nature is a routine task for the reserves.

  Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans his Department has to disarm unexploded cluster bomblets used by Allied coalition forces in the conflict in Afghanistan. [14266]

  Mr. Ingram
  The Prime Minister has made it clear that the United Kingdom will not turn her back on Afghanistan and that any political settlement will be supported and sustained through rehabilitation and reconstruction, of which the clearance of unexploded ordnance may form a part.

  Aircraft Scrambles
  Paul Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions and in what circumstances planes have been scrambled to deal with perceived emergencies at nuclear or other installations since 11 September. [13720]

  Mr. Ingram
  Aircraft have been scrambled once to deal with perceived emergencies at nuclear or other installations since 11 September 2001. On 27 October two F3 Tornado aircraft conducted air policing in the vicinity of Sellafield in response to what proved to be a hoax threat telephone call to civilian police.

  No-fly Zones
  Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many instances there have been in each year since 1991 of military aircraft accidentally breaching no-fly zones over(a) nuclear power plants, (b) nuclear reprocessing plants and (c) military nuclear plants. [14261]

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

  Nuclear Installations (Security)
  Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations his Department has received in respect of the security of nuclear installations since 11 September. [14684]

  Mr. Ingram
  The security of nuclear installations is a matter for the Department of Trade and Industry. We are in close contact with the DTI and other Government Departments concerning any contribution the armed forces could make in this area, in response to the events of 11 September.

  Exercise Saif Sareea 2
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the progress of Exercise Saif Sareea 2 in Oman; and how successful it has been in developing the United Kingdom's Joint Rapid Reaction Force. [13512]
  632W
  Mr. Ingram
  The exercise activity of Exercise Saif Sareea 2 ended on 29 October and the recovery of our forces and their equipment is under way.

  The objectives of the exercise were to deploy and sustain a major joint force across strategic distances, and conduct realistic coalition war fighting training in a testing desert environment. As such it was a major test of some of the equipment and personnel that are part of the Joint Rapid Reaction Force.

  It will take some weeks to analyse all the results of the exercise and the lessons identified. But it is already clear that the exercise did indeed provide very valuable training and many very useful lessons have already been identified. Overall, our initial judgment is that the exercise has met its aims most successfully. It has demonstrated the ability of the United Kingdom to project forces over a strategic distance, and in doing so reaffirmed UK commitment to the stability and security of the middle east region at an important time.

  Chinook Helicopters
  Mr. Gray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many spare gearboxes for Chinook helicopters are kept in stock; and where the Chinook gearboxes are supplied from. [14352]

  Mr. Ingram
  There were 30 serviceable gearboxes for Chinook helicopters in stock as at 9 November 2001. These gearboxes were supplied by Boeing.

  Mr. Gray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Chinook helicopters(a) are in operation, (b) were deployed in Exercise Saif Sareea 2 and (c) are grounded because of a shortage of spare parts. [14630]

  Mr. Ingram
  As at 9 November, 27 Chinook helicopters were in operation and four were deployed on Exercise Saif Sareea 2. No Chinook helicopters were grounded because of a shortage of spares but a total of 13 aircraft were undergoing scheduled maintenance, repair or modification.

  Apache Helicopters
  Mr. Gray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Apache helicopters there are in the United Kingdom; and how many he plans to buy. [14381]

  Dr. Moonie
  The Ministry of Defence is contracted to purchase a total of 67 Apache aircraft. Currently we own 17, which are based in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Gray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Apache operating manuals there are in the UK; if Apache operating manuals may be consulted by nonmilitary personnel in the UK; and if DERA personnel are authorised to use Apache operating manuals. [14351]

  Dr. Moonie
  The Apache operating manuals are all computer-based Interactive Electronic Technical Publications (IETPs), which may be loaded onto any computer with the appropriate current user licence. The Ministry of Defence has purchased in the region of 465 laptop computers to receive the software.

  Within the Joint Helicopter Command (JHC), both military and non-military personnel are currently authorised to consult the Apache IETPs. The non-military

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  personnel are either civil servants or employees of Westland Helicopters Ltd. (WHL), who are assembling the aircraft under licence from Boeing.

  Prior to the vesting of part of the former DERA as QinetiQ plc on 1 July 2001, DERA personnel at the Aircraft Testing and Evaluation (AT&E) facility Boscombe Down, as part of MOD, had access to the Apache operation manuals. However, when these staff transferred to QinetiQ, they were temporarily unable to have access to such proprietary information pending the amendment of WHL's licence with Boeing. The licence amendment was submitted in July and US State Department approval was given on 1 October 2001. Once this approval is implemented, QinetiQ personnel will again be authorised to use the manuals, in support of MOD work.

  Mr. Gray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if DERA personnel had access to the Apache Operating Manual before DERA was privatised; and if he will make a statement on the changes that have occurred in DERA' s security classification since privatisation, with special reference to co-operation with the United States of America. [14354]

  Dr. Moonie
  Prior to the vesting of part of the former DERA as QinetiQ plc on 1 July 2001, DERA personnel at the Aircraft Test and Evaluation facility Boscombe Down, as part of the Ministry of Defence, had access to the Apache operating manuals and other proprietary information.

  QinetiQ's security arrangements are in line with those of other defence contractors, who carry out work on sensitive contracts for MOD, other Government Departments and international collaborative partners, including the United States of America.

  Eurofighter
  Mr. Gray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what British involvement there is in the manufacture of the cockpit frame for Eurofighter; what proportion of the parts of the Eurofighter cockpit are British made; which overseas countries are supplying components to the Eurofighter cockpit frame; which other parts of Eurofighter will be British made, and if he will make a statement. [14353]

  Dr. Moonie
  The front fuselage of the Eurofighter aircraft, which includes the cockpit frames, is manufactured by BAE Systems Warton as part of the UK's agreed overall aircraft programme work-share of approximately 36 per cent. Eurofighter cockpit equipments are manufactured by various consortia, comprising companies from the four Eurofighter Partner Companies from UK, Germany, Italy and Spain. Work is shared as far as practicable in line with the overall programme work-share. Other parts that are British-made are the front canards, right wing leading edge slats and trailing edge flaps, various avionic equipment and a significant number of major engine parts.

  Royal Naval Reserve
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Royal Naval Reserve personnel are serving on operations. [14625]
  634W
  Dr. Moonie
  Twenty RNR personnel have volunteered to be called-out to serve on current operations. This figure excludes naval service reserves engaged on other duties in support of the regular armed forces—eg those serving on full-time reserve service teams in a wide variety of appointments.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

  Departmental Promotions
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much her Department spent on information literature, advertising and campaign material in the financial years(a) 1995–96, (b) 1996–97,(c) 1997–98, (d) 1998–99, (e) 1999–2000 and (f) 2000–01; and if she will make a statement. [12275]

  Dr. Howells
  The Department's spending on information literature for the period 1996–97 to 2000–01 is as set out. Figures for 1995–96 are not available in the form requested.

  Year

  £

  1996–97

  501,366

  1997–98

  338,761

  1998–99

  288,100

  1999–2000

  448,238

  2000–01

  448,140

  No advertising and campaign material was produced during this period.

  Youth Hostels Association
  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent representations she has received concerning the financial situation of the Youth Hostels Association; and if she will make a statement. [12148]

  Dr. Howells
  We have received over 60 representations on the financial situation of the Youth Hostels Association for England and Wales (YHA). On 30 October 2001 I had a productive meeting with representatives of the YHA to discuss their difficulties and possible sources of help. The Government are pursuing several practical options to assist the YHA. We will also respond shortly to the recommendations in the report of the Rural Task Force, "Tackling the Impact of Foot and Mouth Disease on the Rural Economy" published on 18 October 2001.

  Royal Palaces
  Andrew Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to her answer of 25 October 2001,Official Report, column 355W, on the occupation of flats in the royal palaces, if she will list the residents. [11798]

  Dr. Howells
  [holding answer 1 November 2001]The list of persons who occupy residences in the Occupied Royal Palaces other than members of the Royal Family at 31 December 2000 is as follows:

  (i) Private Secretaries and Officials in the Queen's Household: 33

  (ii) Private Secretaries and Officials in other Households: 6

  (iii) Domestic staff in the Queen's Household: 29

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  (iv) Domestic Staff in other Households: 11

  (v) Stables staff looking after the Civil List carriages and carriage horses: 19

  (vi) The Queen's private staff and staff who work on the Royal Farms at Windsor: 9

  (vii) Chauffeurs in the Queen's Household: 4

  (viii) Chauffeurs in other Households: 4

  (ix) Staff in the Queen's Household responsible for the maintenance of the Occupied Palaces Estate (including the Director of Property Services): 18

  (x) Gardeners in the Queen's Household: 4

  (xi) Gatekeepers and security staff: 6

  (xii) Firepatrolmen in the Queen's Household: 4

  (xiii) Craftsmen and porters in the Queen's Household: 19

  (xiv) Royal Collection staff: 4

  (xv) Crown Estate gardeners: 2

  (xvi) Military Knights at Windsor Castle (Pensioners): 13

  (xvii) Pensioners: 43

  (xviii) Commercial: 16

  Total: 244.

  The total of (i) and (ii) is 39 and the list of posts by job title is as follows:
  Private Secretaries and Officials in the Queen's Household provided with residential accommodation (i)

  1. Assistant Private Secretary to the Queen

  2. Keeper of the Privy Purse

  3. Comptroller, Lord Chamberlain's Office

  4. Crown Equerry

  5. Director of the Royal Collection

  6. Mistress of the Robes

  7. Marshal of the Diplomatic Corps

  8. Governor and Constable of Windsor Castle

  9. Deputy Treasurer to the Queen

  10. Deputy Master of the Household

  11. Surveyor of the Queen's Pictures

  12. Royal Librarian

  13. Equerry in Waiting to the Queen

  14. Sub-Dean Chapel Royal

  15. Superintendent, Royal Mews

  16. Superintendent, Windsor Castle

  17. Secretary, Lord Chamberlain's Office

  18. Chief Clerk, Master of the Household's Department

  19. Chief Correspondence Clerk

  20. Deputy Superintendent, Royal Mews

  21. Administrator, Royal Collection

  22. Superintendent of St. James's Palace State Apartments

  23. Deputy Chief Clerk, Royal Mews

  24. Assistant Curator, Royal library

  25. Archivist, Royal Archives

  26. Registrar, Royal Archives

  27. Deputy Registrar, Royal Archives

  28. Assistant Registrar, Royal Archives

  29. Secretary to the Communications Secretary

  30. Exhibitions and Maintenance Conservator, Royal library

  31. Armourer, Royal Collection

  32. Messenger of the Yeoman of the Guard

  33. Serjeant of the Vestry, Chapel Royal

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  Private Secretaries and Officials in Other Royal Households provided with Residential Accommodation (ii)

  34. Private Secretary to Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother

  35. Private Secretary to the Duke of Edinburgh

  36. Equerry in Waiting to the Duke of Edinburgh

  37. Private Secretary to the Prince of Wales

  38. Private Secretary to the Duke of York

  39. Private Secretary to the Duke of Gloucester.

  Television
  Mr. Allan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what action her Department is taking to promote digital television to consumers who do not wish to take out a pay TV subscription. [12339]

  Dr. Howells
  On 12 October, the Government published a draft Digital TV Action Plan which sets out the issues on which action needs to be taken to enable and encourage take up of digital television. An essential element of the Plan will be the need to raise the awareness and knowledge of consumers including those who want to receive only free-to-view channels.

  Creative Partnerships (Disadvantaged Areas)
  Mr. Challen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when the Government will fulfil its commitment to establish creative partnerships linking schools with arts organisations in disadvantaged areas. [13449]

  Dr. Howells
  The formal launch of creative partnerships will take place as planned in April 2002, when the funds set aside for this initiative start to flow.

  The 16 pilot areas for creative partnerships were announced in February 2002. Since then, Peter Jenkinson, the former Director of the New Art Gallery, Walsall, has taken up the post of National Director of Creative Partnerships, and preparations in the pilot areas are now well under way.

  BBC Chairman (Ethnic Minority Candidates)
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many black and Asian people were shortlisted for the post of Chairman of the BBC. [13610]

  Dr. Howells
  In the interests of confidentiality, it is not our policy to release information about individual shortlists.

  Seaside Towns
  Geraldine Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps she is taking to implement the Resorts Taskforce report on seaside towns, "Sea Changes". [13739]

  Dr. Howells
  The Government welcomed the English Tourism Council's (ETC) report, "Sea Changes", which was produced in the light of advice from the ETC's Resorts Task Force. The report makes 20 recommendations, which would involve various bodies at a national, regional and local level, as well as the industry itself. This Department has asked the ETC to consider how that report can best be implemented and to
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  what timescale. To that end the ETC is working closely with the British Resorts Association and relevant tourism officers.

  Geraldine Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will consider the(a) establishment and (b) funding of a Seaside Regeneration Trust modelled on the Coalfields Regeneration Trust. [13740]

  Dr. Howells
  The English Tourism Council's report, "Sea Changes", published last February, makes a number of recommendations about how to approach regeneration that could be of use to resort towns.

  The Government consider that the prime responsibility for resort regeneration, which often has some tourism focus, lies with those who administer individual resorts—working with local and regional partners. There is a variety of funding and organisational mechanisms now in place to help achieve this, for instance, Neighbourhood Renewal Strategies (for those eligible) and Local Strategic Partnerships. We encourage local authorities to make use of these mechanisms. However, while acknowledging the level of deprivation that has developed in some of our resorts over the years, we do not consider it directly

  Total number of New Opportunities Fund awards made to the Buckingham constituency—12 November 2001

  Distributing body/recipient

  Project title/Desc.Long

  Award date

  Award amount(£)

  New Opportunities Fund

  Buckingham After School Teens Club

  The grant would be used to extend the group's existing provision (for 5 to 12-year-olds) by providing a total of 60 after school and holiday child care places catering for 11 to 14-year-olds. The schools served would be Buckingham School and Royal Latin School

  12 July 1999

  19,071

  Southcourt and Walton Court Community Project

  The applicant is a community project with charitable status in Aylesbury. It is managed by committee and has operated for eight years providing a range of child care as well as advice and activities for adults. It employs four part-time staff

  20 October 1999

  6,600

  Drayton Parslow Playgroup

  The grant would be used to provide an extra 24 places at the after-school club for children aged 3 to 4-years-old. The project would be situated in Drayton Parslow Buckinghamshire. School served would be Drayton Parslow County First School

  10 December 1999

  1,179

  Southcourt and Walton Court Community Project

  The grant would be used to provide three new breakfast clubs in the Aylesbury area which would create 128 places in total for children between the ages of 4–11 years. The places would benefit children attending three local schools

  16 June 2000

  20,020

  Buckingham After School Club—Winslow

  The grant would be used to create 34 after school places for children aged 5 to 11-years-old in Buckingham. School served would be Winslow Combined School, a contribution to the cost of employing a play leader and four play assistants

  25 October 2000

  18,001

  Buckingham Secondary School

  Our of School Hours Learning Programme

  7 November 2000

  42,654

  Total value of NOF awards

  107,525

  Communications White Paper
  Mr. Bryant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when she will publish the Government's response to the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee's report on the Communications White Paper. [15012]

  Tessa Jowell
  I have today published the Government's response to the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee's report.
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  comparable to the sudden and severe impact of pit closures on mining communities, which is what justified setting up the Coalfields Regeneration Trust.

  Geraldine Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans she has to improve the infrastructure of British seaside resorts. [13742]

  Dr. Howells
  The Government believe that the principal responsibility for supporting the infrastructure of British seaside resorts lies with local government, working with other interested parties in the light of a clearly enunciated vision and strategy for tourism and other economic activity. It is also particularly important that aspects of planning and transport, for instance, as well as any overall plan for regeneration, dovetail with wider regional plans which are the responsibility of regional development agencies in England. In Scotland and Wales the infrastructure of seaside resorts is a matter for the relevant Minister in each devolved administration.

  New Opportunities Fund
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on the number of beneficiaries in the Buckingham constituency from the new opportunities fund. [14010]

  Mr. Caborn
  To date there have been six beneficiaries in the Buckingham constituency. A list of these awards is set out in the following table.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Holocaust Memorial Day
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has made to the BBC concerning the televising of Holocaust Memorial Day 2002; and if he will make a statement. [14721]

  Angela Eagle
  Following their successful collaboration with the Home Office in producing and televising the
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  national ceremony to mark the first United Kingdom Holocaust Memorial Day on 27 January, the BBC have developed plans for covering Holocaust Memorial Day in the future. These will culminate in a major live televised ceremonial event on 27 January 2005, the 60th anniversary of the Liberation of Auschwitz. My officials will take up the BBC's invitation to discuss with them their strategy for covering Holocaust Memorial Day over the next four years, and to include representatives from the Home Office-led strategic group planning Holocaust Memorial Day.

  Dr. Evan Harris
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received regarding the BBC televising the Holocaust Memorial Day national event; and if he will make a statement. [14501]

  Angela Eagle
  All those organisations involved in helping the Home Office plan the national event on Holocaust Memorial Day on 27 January 2002 have expressed their disappointment that the BBC have decided to televise the national event every five years only, the next time on 27 January 2005 the 60th anniversary of the Liberation of Auschwitz.

  However, the BBC have made an unequivocal commitment to mark Holocaust Memorial Day each year in a range of appropriate ways. They have invited Home Office officials and those organisations involved in planning Holocaust Memorial Day to discuss their strategy for the next four years with them. Their proposed strategy contains a differing mix of documentary, drama, current affairs, children's programming and news coverage each year leading to a major live ceremonial event for 2005.

  In January 2002 the BBC have a major original film drama "Conspiracy", starring Kenneth Brannagh, about Reinhard Heydrich and the Wannsee Conference; their television religious strands "The Heaven and Earth Show" and "Songs of Praise" plan to feature Holocaust related material in their programmes on 27 January; the BBC are looking at a special edition of their BBC 2 current affairs programme "Correspondent" during the Holocaust Memorial weekend and it is likely that various programmes from Children's BBC will take up the theme too.

  The BBC also intend to cover the national event next 27 January on their news bulletins on BBC 1 and 2 and on News 24, and likely on radio too.

  Dr. Evan Harris
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the impact that the televised commemoration of Holocaust Memorial Day had on the understanding of the general public of the issues raised. [14500]

  Angela Eagle
  There was an estimated audience of 1.2 million for the ceremony televised live on 27 January 2001 which got one of the highest quality ratings for a TV programme. Many people said they found the event both moving and challenging. In addition, many others will have become aware of the purpose of Holocaust Memorial Day through the many local activities around the country, particularly in schools, to mark the day.

  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement concerning the local events to be held for Holocaust Memorial Day 2002. [14202]
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  Angela Eagle
  We anticipate there will again be a wide range of local activities around the country to mark Holocaust Memorial Day. Further guidance has been produced to help local authorities and community groups to plan their events; and new material for use in schools has also been produced. In each case the guidance has drawn on good practice from this year and suggestions for improvement identified through surveys of local authorities and schools.

  Prisons (Filming)
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many requests have been made in the last two:years to visit and film in(a) prisons and (b) institutions for young offenders and other places where young people are in custody; and what the response to the requests was. [13940]

  Beverley Hughes
  These figures are not collated centrally, and there is no requirement to do so.

  The Prison Service receives many hundreds of requests per year from international, national and regional TV companies to film in prisons and Young Offender Institutions for a variety of news broadcasts, dramas and documentary programmes.

  Interdepartmental Ministerial Group
  Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the work of the interdepartmental ministerial group established following disturbances in Bradford, Burnley and Oldham earlier this year; and if he intends to publish the reports of the group. [13895]

  Mr. Denham
  The ministerial group on Public Order and Community Cohesion expects to complete its work in December. It is intended to publish its report in due course.

  Police Pensions
  Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of policing expenditure in(a) 1992, (b) 1997 and (c) the last year for which figures are available was spent on police pensions; and if he will make a statement. [13894]

  Mr. Denham
  The figures requested are given in the table.

  In recognition of the increased burden of paying police pensions, the proportion of revenue funding allocated to police authorities on the basis of pensions commitments has been increased from 12.9 per cent. in 1997–98 to 14.5 per cent. since 1999–2000. It will remain at this level in 2002–03.

  Year

  Net pensions expenditure(£)

  Net police expenditure(£)

  Proportion of police net expenditure spent on pensions (Percentage)

  1992–93

  456,479

  5,621,763

  8.1

  1997–98

  863,131

  6,870,093

  12.6

  2000–01

  1,029,454

  7,739,163

  13.3

  Source:

  Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy Police Statistics

  (Estimates for 2000–01)

  Distraction Burglary Strategy
  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list those projects which have been funded by his Department as part of his distraction burglary strategy; what the amounts involved are; and what the time scale is of the funding. [14362]

  Mr. Denham
  The work of the distraction burglary Taskforce and the two staff seconded for the duration from the police and local government sectors, is being funded through two means: support from utility companies such as

  Timescale e

  Value

  Completion of the Taskforce action plan

  By end March 2000 with research element completed by June 2002

  £1 million

  Leeds Distraction Burglary Initiative

  By 2003

  £554,000

  Sheffield Distraction Burglary Initiative

  By March 2002

  £288,000

  Derbyshire Database project

  By March 2002

  £168,000

  Sexual Abuse
  Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to introduce legislation to strengthen the law in relation to protecting children and vulnerable people from sexual abuse; and if he will make a statement. [13893]

  Mr. Denham
  [holding answer 12 November 2001]: When the Government set up the Sex Offences Review in January 1999, its terms of reference included "to provide coherent clear sex offences which protect individuals, especially children and the more vulnerable, from abuse and exploitation".

  We are committed to introducing strengthened legislation on sex offences, and will announce our conclusions once we have completed our analysis of the responses to the consultation paper 'Setting the Boundaries'.

  Category A Prisoners
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) men and (b) women were classified as category A prisoners in prisons in England and Wales on 1 November [13926]

  Beverley Hughes
  On 1 November 2001, there were 961 men and four women classified as category A prisoners in prisons in England and Wales.

  Community Court Order Warrants
  Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if warrants for breach of a community court order are systematically withdrawn after 12 months have elapsed; and if he will make a statement. [13831]

  Mr. Denham
  [holding answer 9 November 2001]: All cases are considered on their merits and no central policy directions have been given to the National Probation Service, on the period after which a warrant should be returned to the courts for consideration of withdrawal. I am aware that practice does differ across the country and the National Probation Service is currently considering whether further advice should be given in these circumstances.
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  the water industry, the Electricity Association, British Gas and British Telecom to the sum of £270,000. The second element is being met through the Crime Reduction Programme to the sum of £1 million.

  In addition to the Taskforce, the Government are also separately supporting three police-led initiatives. These are located in Leeds, Sheffield and Alfreton Derbyshire, to the sum of £1,009,765.

  These combined elements make up my Department's strategy to tackle distraction burglary. The elements, amounts and timescale for completion are:

  Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many warrants for the breach of a community court order have been withdrawn since 1 January; and if he will make a statement. [13832]

  Mr. Denham
  [holding answer 9 November 20011: This information is not available centrally.

  Bedfordshire Police
  Mr. Sayeed
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the effect of salary differences and the free rail travel offer to those officers within a 70-mile radius of Charing Cross station on the number of police officers transferring from Bedfordshire Police to the Metropolitan police. [13438]

  Mr. Denham
  Officers in the Metropolitan police qualify for a London allowance and London weighting in addition to their basic pay. For officers who were appointed before 1 September]994 and who receive a housing emolument, the London allowance is worth £1,011 a year. From 1 July 2000, officers who were appointed on or after 1 September 1994 and who are not in receipt of a housing emolument receive a London allowance of £4,338 a year. London weighting was increased to £1,773 a year for all Metropolitan police officers from] July this year. In addition, officers in the Metropolitan police have free rail travel to and from work within a 70-mile radius of Charing Cross Station.

  From 1 April 2001, officers in Bedfordshire appointed on or after 1 September 1994 who are not in receipt of a housing allowance receive an allowance of £1,000 a year in addition to basic pay.

  The increase in the London allowance and the new allowance for officers in Bedfordshire were approved by the then Home Secretary, my right hon. Friend the Member for Blackburn (Mr. Straw), following agreements in the Police Negotiating Board (PNB). PNB is the statutory negotiating body for police pay and conditions which makes recommendations to the Secretary of State. The Secretary of State approved the new allowances in recognition of the recruitment and retention difficulties associated with the higher cost of living in London and Bedfordshire.
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  Since 1 July 2000, 12 officers have transferred from the Bedfordshire police to the Metropolitan police and two have moved from the Metropolitan police to Bedfordshire police. I will keep the position under review.

  Deportations
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been deported from the United Kingdom since 1 January. [13633]

  Angela Eagle
  I regret that this information is not available.

  The only information currently available about the number of people removed in the current year relates to the number of asylum seekers removed in the period January-June. There were 4,660 such removals. Of this number, 2,805 were on-entry removals (persons refused entry to the United Kingdom and subsequently removed) and 2,570 were after-entry removals. It is not possible to say how many of those who were the subject of deportation action were deported, and how many left before a deportation order was actually signed.

  Corresponding information on the number of non-asylum removals for the period is not currently available as these data are yet to be quality assured.

  Fireworks
  Mr. Weir
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many convictions there were against persons who have injured others with fireworks in each of the last five years in(a) Scotland and (b) the UK; [13163]

  (2) how many prosecutions have been brought against persons who are alleged to have damaged property with fireworks in each of the last five years in (a) Scotland and (b) the UK; [13189]

  (3) how many convictions have been secured against those prosecuted for sales of fireworks to underage children in each of the last five years in (a) Scotland and (b) the United Kingdom; [13186]

  (4) how many prosecutions have been brought against suppliers of fireworks for sales to underage children in each of the last five years in (a) Scotland and (b) the United Kingdom; [13185]

  (5) how many convictions have been secured against persons who have damaged property with fireworks in each of the last five years in (a) Scotland and (b) the UK;[13190]

  (6) how many prosecutions have been brought against persons who have injured others with fireworks in each of the last five years in (a) Scotland and (b) the United Kingdom. [13187]

  Mr. Denham
  Information held centrally on the Home Office Court Proceedings Database, relating to England and Wales, does not identify separately the offence of "selling gunpowder to children" under s31 of the Explosives Act 1875, from other summary offences under the Explosives Acts.
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  Neither does it enable a distinction to be made between prosecutions and convictions for offences connected with personal injury or damage to property with fireworks, as the circumstances of violent and property offences are not collected.

  Figures for Scotland and Northern Ireland are matters for the Scottish Parliament and the Northern Ireland Assembly respectively.

  Elderly Prisoners
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many frail elderly(a) men and (b) women at present are serving prison sentences in England and Wales. [13447]

  Beverley Hughes
  The numbers of prisoners aged 60 and over currently serving a prison sentence as at 30 September 2001 are listed in the table. Information about the state of their health is not collected centrally.

  Male

  Female

  60–69

  1,017

  3

  70–74

  163

  4

  75+

  61

  0

  Total

  1,241

  7

  Disabled Prisoners
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) men and (b) women serving prison sentences in England and Wales are confined to a wheelchair. [13448]

  Beverley Hughes
  This information is not collected centrally.

  Prison Construction
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the prisons being constructed in England and Wales, and the date when these prisons are expected to come into use. [13445]

  Beverley Hughes
  There are no prisons under construction in England and Wales at present. Two prisons, to be built at Ashford, Middlesex and Peterborough, are under procurement. Construction is planned to start in 2002. The prison at Ashford is due to open in July 2003 and the prison at Peterborough in April 2004.

  Al-Muhajiroun
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will investigate (1) the links between(a) Medina Ltd, TransGlobal Security International, Mark Yates and Paul Field and (b) Sakina Security Services Ltd, Al-Muhajiroun, and Omar Bakri Mohammed; and if he will make a statement; [13626]

  (2) the activities of TransGlobal Security International; and if he will make a statement; [13625]

  (3) the links between Anil Shah and Sakina Security Services; and if he will make a statement. [13627]
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  Mr. Denham
  I have been in close touch with the relevant enforcement units, following their work in monitoring and evaluating any information that might be used in connection with any prosecution. The investigation of any alleged criminal offences is of course entirely a matter for the police. Any information that my hon. Friend is aware of which might assist the police in their investigations should be supplied to my Department immediately.

  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will investigate the alleged terrorist training camps(a) in the north of Scotland and (b) at Yetgoch in Hebron, Wales; and if he will make a statement. [13628]

  Mr. Denham
  I am aware of the allegations of terrorist training camps and the particular concerns of my hon. Friend in relation to the alleged terrorist training camps in Scotland and Wales. I understand that the police have made inquiries: they have advised me that there is no evidence to show that any criminal offences have been committed at either location.

  It is of course an offence under section 54 (1) and (2) of the Terrorism Act 2000 to provide instruction or training or to receive instruction or training in the making or use of firearms, explosives, or chemical, biological or nuclear weapons. In addition, under subsection (3)(b), a person commits an offence if he invites another to receive instruction or training and the receipt would constitute an offence under subsection (2) but for the fact that it is to take place outside the United Kingdom. Any concrete and verifiable evidence of such activities will be dealt with immediately.

  Immigration Status
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 24 October 2001,Official Report, column 285W, when he formed his policy of not answering questions on immigration matters. [13521]

  Angela Eagle
  It has been long-standing Government policy not to disclose details of a person's immigration status to a third party since this is regarded as confidential information.

  Vivisection
  Vera Baird
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will establish a royal commission into vivisection. [13672]

  Angela Eagle
  The Government have not ruled out a royal commission, but strongly believe that resources can best be used to make immediate improvements to the operation of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 and to promote the fullest application of the 3Rs—the replacement of the use of animals with alternative methods; the reduction of the numbers of animals used; and the refinement of the procedures to minimise pain, suffering, distress or lasting harm.

  In this context, the Animal Procedures Committee issued a public consultation paper in December 2000 as part of its review of the cost-benefit assessment of applications for authority to conduct scientific research using animals. As part of this work, the Committee plans
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  to produce an authoritative statement on the validity of animal experiments. I understand that the Committee hopes to present its report in the first half of 2002.

  The House of Lords have established a Select Committee on the validity of the use of animals in scientific procedures and its work is under way.

  Metropolitan Police (Funding)
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much additional funding has been made available to the Metropolitan Police Authority to finance the additional security duties of the Metropolitan police in the capita] following events of 11 September. [12413]

  Mr. Denham
  [holding answer 5 November 2001]: I greatly appreciate the immediate response made by the Metropolitan Police Authority and Service after the terrorist attack in the United States of America on 11 September.

  I recognise that establishing and maintaining measures to counter increased risks to security has given rise to additional costs. I am considering with the Metropolitan police the financial implications.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  "Your Guide"
  Mr. Borrow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the future funding of the "Your Guide" pilot scheme. [13651]

  Mr. Alexander
  A total of £35 million over three years has been set aside to pilot the concept of Post Offices as Government General Practitioners. Up to £25 million of this has been made available to cover the cost of the "Your Guide" pilot currently running in Leicestershire and Rutland. Future funding decisions will depend on the outcome of the pilot.

  Anthrax (Mail Services)
  Mr. Borrow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions she has had with the Post Office regulator on the impact of anthrax scares on the performance of the Royal Mail. [13650]

  Mr. Alexander
  My officials are in regular contact with the Postal Services Commission. The Commission has advised me that it is too early to assess the impact of anthrax scares on the performance of the Royal Mail. The situation is being kept under review by the Commission, Consignia and the Consumer Council for Postal Services.

  Geraldine Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the impact of anthrax scares on Consignia's quality of service targets. [13731]

  Mr. Alexander
  Quality of services targets are a matter for Consignia and the Postal Services Commission. The Commission has advised me that it is too early to assess the impact of anthrax scares on Consignia's quality of service targets. The situation is being kept under review by Consignia, the Commission and the Consumer Council for Postal Services.

  Consignia
  Geraldine Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what volume of mail was handled by Consignia and its predecessor in(a) 1996, (b) 1997, (c) 1998, (d) 1999 and (e) 2000. [13744]

  Mr. Alexander
  This is an operational issue for Consignia.

  The company has provided the following information, which can be obtained in its report and accounts.

  Million

  Total inland letters (first and second class)1

  International letters (number of letters posted)2

  1996–97

  16,251

  785

  1997–98

  17,423

  815

  1998–99

  17,934

  830

  1999–2000

  18,738

  839

  2000–01

  19,092

  772

  1The basis of calculation for inland letter volumes has been changed for 2000–01. Previous years' figures have been restated to reflect this change.

  2 Items are outbound from the UK only. For 2000–01 the basis of calculation for international letter volumes has been changed. Previous years' figures have been restated to reflect this change.

  Nuisance Calls
  Kevin Brennan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what consultation she has had with(a) Oftel, (b) the Information Commissioner's Office, (c) BT's nuisance calls bureau, (d) NTL's nuisance calls bureau and (e) the Direct Marketing Association about providing telephone users with protection from silent calls by power diallers; and if she will make a statement. [13176]

  Mr. Alexander
  Oftel and the Information Commissioner's Office both have responsibilities for the consumer protection safeguards that are in place relating to silent calls by power diallers. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry does not have an enforcement role in this area. However, DTI officials are in regular contact with Oftel, the ICO, and the DMA over policy in this area, and recently participated in a working group meeting set up by the DMA to tackle the problems caused by power dialling systems. My officials have consulted with Oftel, the Information Commissioner's Office and the Direct Marketing Association, together with representatives from operators' nuisance call bureaux, to ensure that consumers continue to benefit from the right level of protection.

  Retail Petrol Market
  Mr. Carmichael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list by(a) grade and (b) number the officials employed in her Department monitoring the retail petrol market in Scotland. [12690]

  Mr. Wilson
  [holding answer 8 November 2001]: A number of my officials have responsibility for monitoring energy markets generally, including the petrol retail market throughout the United Kingdom.

  Post Office
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many(a) thefts and (b) unexplained losses of (i) letters arid (ii) parcels were recorded by the Post Office and how much compensation was paid by the Post Office in each case in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [12465]

  Mr. Alexander
  [holding answer 12 November 2001]: This is an operational issue for Consignia.

  I understand that Consignia is currently working with Postwatch on a system for measuring the loss and theft of mail and parcels.

  Consignia holds figures on the number of complaints made with regards to alleged loss and theft for the previous two financial years.

  Complaints on loss

  2000–01

  1999–2000

  Letters

  578,091

  557,984

  UK standard retail parcels

  26,508

  25,295

  International standard retail parcels

  18,510

  16,031

  Compensation paid (£k)

  2000–01

  1999–2000

  Letters

  6,134

  5,192

  UK standard retail parcels

  234

  n/a

  Caravan Parks
  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will publish a regulatory impact assessment of the effect on holiday caravan parks of the proposal by Ofgem to change the arrangements under which caravan parks can pass on electricity charges to their customers. [R] [12764]

  Mr. Wilson
  This is a matter for Ofgem. I understand that they have issued two consultation documents on this subject and are presently seeking further views from interested parties prior to issuing their final proposals.

  End of Vehicle Life Directive
  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what her policy is on the application of the End of Vehicle Life Directive to manufacturers whose market share has grown significantly since the introduction of those vehicles which will be affected by the Directive after its introduction. [12742]

  Mr. Wilson
  No decision has yet been taken on the precise method of transposing and implementing the options in the End of Life Vehicles Directive. The period for responding to the DTI Consultation Paper on options closed on 2 November, and responses are now being assessed. Consideration is being given to the potential impacts on all vehicle manufacturers.

  Renewable Energy
  Mr. Hepburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to increase investment in renewable energy. [13209]
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  Mr. Wilson
  The Government have put in place a robust policy to increase investment in the development of renewable energy. The single most important mechanism, the new Renewables Obligation (RO) to be introduced next year and lasting right through until 2027, will drive forward investment in renewables. The RO is expected to create long-term support for renewables, worth over £1 billion per year, by 2010. The introduction of the Obligation will be underpinned by direct Government funding for renewables worth over £260 million between 2001 and 2004. This includes the Government's current sustainable energy research and development programme, worth £55.5 million over the next three years.

  Other components to this strategy, which will increase investment in the renewable energy sector, include:
  exemption of renewables from Climate Change Levy (CCL) payments. This is expected to lead to greater demand for renewable electricity and increased investment;
  the Non-Fossil Fuel Obligation (NFFO) Orders supported many renewable energy projects through the previous Non-Fossil Fuel Obligation. We have arranged that existing NFFO contracts will be honoured. We have also announced a proposal for a NFFO locational flexibility Order. Locational flexibility will be available for all NFFO 3, 4 and 5 projects that have not been commissioned, other than mixed waste incineration projects. This Order will allow projects not already built, to identify more appropriate locations. so that they can overcome any problems in securing planning permission. These initiatives are expected to bring forward investment in this sector in the near future;
  the Government have also initiated regional assessments throughout all regions of the UK. The majority of these studies have been completed and have identified each region's capacity to generate electricity from renewable sources. Once all the assessments are completed, it is expected that specific regional targets will be adopted across the UK. These targets are expected to attract investment in the resources available in these regions.

  Government policy is bringing about a much more positive approach to supporting renewable energy projects. Taking all these measures together, the Government believe the industry is well placed to attract and retain a significant level of investment.

  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to increase the target of energy generated from green sources. [10649]

  Mr. Wilson
  [holding answer 30 October 2001]: The Department of Trade and Industry attaches great importance to green forms of energy and has set ambitious targets. The new Renewables Obligation as well as Scottish R. 0. will create a long-term market for renewables which will be worth over £1 billion per year by 2010. The Obligation will be the main mechanism by which we will meet our renewables targets and will be underpinned by direct Government funding worth over £260 million between 2001 and 2004. This will include an extensive capital grants programme for the early development of offshore wind and energy crops, the initial stage of a major photovoltaics demonstration programme and a boost for research and development.

  Our target is that by 2010, just over 10 per cent. of electricity sales by licensed suppliers will come from sources eligible for the Renewables Obligation. As set out in our recent statutory consultation document, we have proposed that the level of Obligation will increase from year to year as follows.
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  Period

  Estimated sales by licensed suppliers in GB TWh

  Total obligation(GB)TWh

  Total obligation as percentage of sales (GB)Percentage

  2002–03

  313.6

  9.4

  3.0

  2003–04

  316.2

  13.5

  4.3

  2004–05

  318.7

  15.6

  4.9

  2005–06

  320.6

  17.7

  5.5

  2006–07

  321.4

  21.5

  6.7

  2007–08

  322.2

  25.4

  7.9

  2008–09

  323.0

  29.4

  9.1

  2009–10

  323.8

  31.5

  9.7

  2010–11

  324.3

  33.6

  10.4

  The Obligation will remain in place until 31 March 2027, although to date we have not made any proposals for increasing the target after 2010. This will, however, be reviewed throughout the lifetime of the Obligation in the light of available information on climate change. The target may increase after this time, and this would be effected through an amendment to the Renewables Obligation Order which we aim to put before the House later this year.

  While this is a description of the current position the question of the contribution to be made by renewables is part of the PIU's Remit of Energy Policy. If it appears feasible to achieve even more ambitious targets on renewables, I will closely examine the means of doing so.

  Financial Assistance (Chorley)
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what(a) financial investment and (b) other assistance the North-West regional development agency has put into Chorley in each of the last three years. [13747]

  Alan Johnson
  The North-West Development Agency advise that the total financial investment and assistance in Chorley since 1998–99 has been £175,591 broken down as follows:

  1998–99: £71,309

  1999–2000: £85,269

  2000–01: £18,013.

  Most of this investment has been through inherited Derelict Land Grant projects. The biggest sum invested in any single project during this period has been £56,000 in 1999–2000 for studies in relation to the Royal Ordnance Site. Of the £18,013 invested in 2000–01, £12,594 was invested in the New Farming Horizons programme.

  Unsolicited E-mail
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the Government's position on the Telecoms Data Protection Directive (97/66/EC) in relation to unsolicited e-mail. [12380]

  Mr. Alexander
  There is on-going debate over the application of the current telecoms data protection directive (97/66/EC) to e-mail, and the Government welcome the European Commission's proposal to clarify the position under the new communications data protection directive which will replace it. The UK Government have argued that member states should be allowed to choose between opt-in and opt-out controls. This would allow an assessment of the situation in the light of working experience of both approaches.

  Ministerial Visit (China)
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement about the recent visit to China of the hon. Member for Cunninghame, North (Mr. Wilson). [10119]

  Mr. Wilson
  [holding answer 30 October 2001]: My recent visit to China focused on promoting the UK aerospace and energy industries.

  On aerospace, my agenda was to develop good bilateral relations with the Chinese aviation authorities and airlines—particularly in respect of commending the possible purchase of fifty Airbus narrow-body aircraft by China; promoting UK collaboration on developing a domestic Chinese regional jet and encouraging Chinese airlines to firm up outstanding options on the Airbus A340 large aircraft powered by Rolls-Royce engines. (As you will know, Airbus wings are made in the UK, as are Rolls-Royce engines).

  As elsewhere, we have found that much of the aerospace business we have secured with China in the past has been dependent upon good, long-standing relations at Government level and with the airline and aerospace manufacturing industry.

  China is the world's fastest growing aviation market and looks set to continue to grow rapidly over the next 20 years based on the anticipated expansion of the Chinese domestic economy. This will provide many new opportunities for the UK aerospace industry to benefit from both selling to China and entering into profitable industrial collaboration arrangements with the Chinese aerospace industry.

  Current prospects in China remain buoyant, despite the aviation downturn in the West. Airbus has just announced that it is expected to deliver eight A318 aircraft to Air China by 2004 and no Chinese airline customers have postponed Airbus aircraft orders since Sept 11.

  The opening up of China's vast western regions also offers enormous opportunities for UK companies to benefit in helping China develop its airport and energy infrastructure. During my visit I also encouraged the Chinese authorities to expand their use of UK companies in the development and upgrading of China's airports, building on the recent success by Ove Arup in winning the contract to design the new terminal building at Chongqing.

  On the energy side, China's growing market for gas also offers good opportunities for UK companies. The Chinese Government have decided to develop a pipeline from the western region to the industrialised east. A number of major liquified natural gas (LNG) projects are also under way.

  I addressed the Beijing Energy Forum, co-chaired by senior officials of the DTI and their Chinese counterparts. The establishment of the Forum was an important development, especially now that natural gas has been ear-marked as a major source of energy for China.
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  A newly established China-Britain Natural Gas Working Group will also strengthen links and help to identify opportunities in this area. The Working Group will facilitate the sharing of UK experience and help ensure that the development is both safe and environmentally acceptable. There are four key areas of collaboration—policy creation, gas supply, infrastructure and the utilisation of natural gas in China. The promotion of joint ventures to fill identified capability gaps in China will enable more activity between Chinese and UK businesses.

  In Shanghai I launched a new brochure prepared by the British Consulate-General in Shanghai which catalogues current local opportunities for UK companies. The rate of growth in this dynamic region is awesome and the brochure outlines a number of major projects in which British companies could become involved. From my discussions with the Government and Shanghai city authorities it is clear that a higher level of British involvement would be welcomed. One of the major opportunities is presented by BP's involvement in the biggest-ever joint venture in China to build a petrochemicals complex at Caojing, on the outskirts of Shanghai. I held discussions with BP during my visit and asked them to encourage as much British involvement as possible in the supply chain.

  Coal
  Norman Lamb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what quantity of coal was consumed in the UK in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available. [12755]

  Mr. Wilson
  The information requested is as follows:

  Total inland coal consumption in the UK

  Million tonnes

  1991

  107,513

  1992

  100,580

  1993

  86,757

  1994

  81,767

  1995

  76,942

  1996

  71,400

  1997

  63,080

  1998

  63,152

  1999

  55,720

  2000

  58,954

  Source:

  Digest of UK Energy Statistics 2001 Table 2.11

  State Aid
  Paddy Tipping
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will set out by(a) colliery and (b) company the amount of state aid made available in (a) 2000 and (b) 2001. [13513]

  Mr. Wilson
  The tables detail the payments made under the UK Coal Operating Aid Scheme, by colliery and by company, as at 8 November 2001. Payments have been made in respect of two tranches: Tranche 1 (17 April 2000 to 31 December 2000) and Tranche 2 (1 January 2001 to 31 December 2001). Payment dates refer to the tranche to which the payments relate rather than the date on which they were paid.
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  State aid by colliery for production in 2000 and 2001—as at 8 November 2001

  £

  2000

  2001

  Aberpergwm Colliery

  0

  1,031,000

  Betws Colliery

  870,200

  1,966,000

  Blaentillery No. 2

  112,800

  217,000

  Blenkinsopp Colliery

  470,500

  1,168,000

  East Pit Extension

  2,977,500

  0

  Eckington Colliery

  88,200

  286,000

  Harworth Colliery

  14,722,100

  0

  Hatfield Colliery

  3,931,900

  3,807,000

  Hay Royds Colliery

  78,900

  264,000

  H. J. Banks central mines

  661,100

  0

  H. J. Banks north-east mines

  703,200

  0

  Longannet Mine

  19,652,800

  21,525,000

  Maltby Colliery

  13,559,700

  0

  Rossington Colliery

  3,207,200

  0

  Selby Complex

  23,186,500

  20,324,500

  Tower Colliery

  3,317,200

  0

  State aid by company for production in 2000 and 2001—as at 8 November 2001

  £

  2000

  2001

  Anthracite Mining Limited

  0

  1,031,000

  Betws Anthracite Limited

  870,200

  1,966,000

  Blenkinsopp Colliery Ltd.

  470,500

  1,168,000

  Celtic Energy Limited

  2,977,500

  0

  Coalpower Ltd.

  0

  951,750

  Ffynonau Duon Mines Ltd.

  112,800

  217,000

  H. J. Banks & Co. Ltd.

  1,364,300

  0

  Hatfield Coal Company Ltd.

  3,931,900

  2,855,250

  J. Flack & Sons Ltd.

  78,900

  264,000

  Mining (Scotland) Ltd.

  19,652,800

  21,525,000

  Moorside Mining Co Ltd.

  88,200

  286,000

  Tower Colliery Ltd.

  3,317,200

  0

  UK Coal Plc

  54,675,500

  20,324,500

  Road Fund Licences (Post Office Sales)
  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many new contracts for the sale of road fund licences were made with sub-post offices in the last 12 months. [14025]

  Mr. Alexander
  I have been informed by Post Office Ltd. that when an office selling motor vehicle licences closes, this work is transferred to an alternative office, taking into account both customer demand and the geographical spread of the population. Post Office Ltd. keeps service availability under constant review to ensure that it is best meeting customer demand throughout the 4,000 post offices which offer motor vehicle licences.

  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many sub-post offices which sold road fund licences closed in the last 12 months for which figures are available. [14024]

  Mr. Alexander
  I have been advised by Post Office Ltd. that closure figures of offices selling vehicle licences are not separately maintained. If such an office closes, Post Office Ltd. endeavours to transfer all products and services offered to a new location, thereby maintaining the total number of post offices selling motor vehicle licences.

  Airline and Aerospace Industries (Assistance)
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what advice and assistance she is giving to the(a) airline and (b) aerospace industries in coping with the aftermath of 11 September; and if she will make a statement. [13713]

  Mr. Wilson
  Officials in the Department of Trade and Industry remain in close contact with the UK aviation industry in co-operation with the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions.

  The Government moved quickly to underwrite, on a temporary basis, third party war risk insurance for UK airlines and service providers to the airline industry, an initiative which has subsequently been widely copied elsewhere. We are considering whether further aid should be paid to the UK airline industry, and will take guidelines issued recently by the European Commission on state aid fully into account in any decision.

  The further effects on the aerospace manufacturing industry remain uncertain. The Government and the aerospace industry will continue to work together to ensure a successful future for the industry as the situation becomes clearer.

  Regulations
  Mr. Prisk
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many regulations her Department has proposed to Parliament since June; what regulatory impact assessments have been made for those regulations her Department have implemented since June; and what plans her Department has to reduce the number of regulations affecting small businesses. [13631]

  Ms Hewitt
  The Department has proposed 36 regulations to Parliament since June. Of these regulations, more than two thirds were public telecommunications operator licences, amended or simplified regulations or preserved commercial electricity supply agreements.

  Regulatory Impact Assessments (RIAs) have to be produced for all new regulations in which the costs and benefits have to be assessed, particularly for small firms. The Department's policy is to "think small first" and the Small Business Service has to be consulted on all RIAs to ensure that the impact on small firms is not disproportionate. The Department is drawing up a Regulatory Reform Action Plan that the Government will publish.

  Developing Countries (International Trade)
  Mr. Ruffley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many(a) pledge cards and (b) representations she has received from members of the public regarding international trade with developing countries in the last 12 months. [14380]

  Ms Hewitt
  My Ministerial colleagues and I have received 64 letters from right hon. and hon. Members requesting responses to the pledge card campaign—"Pledge to the World's Poor"—which was focused on MPs.

  My Department has separately received over 35,000 representations in the last 12 months regarding international trade with developing countries.

  Gas Prices
  Mr. Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress has been made on the three-point strategy in relation to gas price increases and their effect upon UK industry. [12448]

  Mr. Wilson
  The Government's three point strategy to address high gas prices is:

  to work for greater market liberalisation in Europe

  to work for improvements in the British gas market

  to take action against any anti-competitive activity.

  As part of our work on improving the British gas market the Government published a consultation document on 2 November "A Consultation on Gas Prices and Possible Improvements to Market Efficiency" which considers various concerns made about the gas market. The document also seeks views on the wider benefits to the gas market of increased information flows between the onshore and the offshore following a seminar held with the United Kingdom Offshore Operators Association on 10 September. Copies of this document are available from the Department of Trade and Industry website www.dti.gov.uk.

  There has also been progress with the strategy more generally. In March the EU Commission published proposals for a revised Gas Directive which was a positive step towards greater liberalisation. lnterconnector (UK) Ltd now publishes details of flows with a one day lag instead of the previous six week delay. The Government have also been working with IUK and interconnector shippers on improvements to interconnector governance and marketing arrangements. The EU Commission's inquiry into the operation of the interconnector, which was undertaken at the request of the Government, is now reaching its final stages.

  Heysham Industrial Estate
  Geraldine Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assistance she is providing for the(a) clearance and (b) remediation of (i) derelict and (ii) contaminated land on the Heysham industrial estate. [13769]

  Alan Johnson
  The North West Development Agency has so far agreed to provide £18,250 preliminary funding for site studies in respect of the remediation of Trimpell Tip on Heysham industrial estate.

  Regeneration (Morecambe and Lunesdale)
  Geraldine Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what funding has been allocated to the Morecambe and Lunesdale constituency by the regional development agency for economic regeneration. [13773]

  Alan Johnson
  Funds managed by the North West Regional Development Agency are allocated to specific projects and initiatives rather than to constituencies. The Agency is currently contributing £4.9 million to three major regeneration projects in the Morecambe area.
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  Luneside East Industrial Estate
  Geraldine Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much funding the North West Development Agency has allocated to Luneside East industrial estate; and for what purpose. [13771]

  Alan Johnson
  The North West Development Agency has agreed to make up to £130,000 available to support various feasibility studies and investigations, project appraisal and co-ordination, and cost and value estimates in respect of Luneside East industrial estate.

  Electricity
  Mr. Sayeed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate she has made of the cost of electricity generated by nuclear power in pence/kilowatt hour, broken down into(a) building costs, (b) running costs, (c) decommissioning costs on a discounted basis and (d) other costs, identifying the assumptions made; and if she will make a statement. [13270]

  Mr. Wilson
  The Department has made no recent estimates of the cost of electricity generated by nuclear power. The last study published in 1995 concluded that the levelised costs of nuclear power were around 3.9p/kWh. Studies suggest that capital costs account for about 70 per cent. of total costs, operating and maintenance costs about 20 per cent. and decommissioning and waste costs about 10 per cent.

  The Department is contributing to the work of the energy review being undertaken by the Performance and Innovation Unit at the Cabinet Office, which is looking at the cost of new nuclear generation. A copy of their paper which includes estimates of nuclear generation costs can be found at http://www.cabinet-office.gov.uk/innovation/2001/energy/2050.pdf.

  Mr. Stunell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the(a) total amount of electricity generated from nuclear generators in the UK and (b) proportion of all electricity used in the UK generated from (i) nuclear generation and (ii) UK-based nuclear generation, since 1990. [12788]

  Mr. Wilson
  [holding answer 7 November 2001]: The information requested is as follows:

  Electricity supplied from nuclear sources in the UK GWh

  Proportion of total electricity supplied that was from UK nuclear sources(Percentage)

  Proportion that was nuclear from all sources1 (Percentage)

  1990

  58,664

  20

  23

  1991

  62,761

  21

  25

  1992

  69,135

  23

  27

  1993

  80,979

  27

  31

  1994

  79,962

  26

  30

  1995

  80,598

  25

  29

  1996

  85,820

  26

  30

  1997

  89,341

  27

  31

  1998

  90,590

  26

  29

  1999

  87,672

  25

  28

  2000

  78,334

  22

  25

  colspan="4">1Assuming that all electricity imported from France was from French nuclear stations.

  Source:

  Digest of UK Energy Statistics 2001 Tables 5.11 and 5.12.

  Climate Change Levy
  Mr. Stunell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations she has received from the nuclear industry requesting exemption from the Climate Change Levy; and if she will make a statement. [12793]

  Mr. Wilson
  [holding answer 7 November 2001]: The nuclear industry has made a number of representations for exemption from the levy for electricity from nuclear generation.

  Nuclear-generated electricity is taxed in the same way as other forms of non-renewable generation as one rate of levy applies to all such electricity.

  The PIU (Performance and Innovation Unit) is currently reviewing UK energy policy, and nuclear energy will form part of its consideration.

  Nuclear Power
  Mr. Stunell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what has been the total installed capacity of nuclear generators in the UK in each year since 1990. [12792]

  Mr. Wilson
  [holding answer 7 November 2001]: The information requested is as follows:

  Capacity of nuclear stations in the UK in DNC' terms MW

  End March 1990

  11,083

  End March 1991

  11,353

  End March 1992

  11,353

  End March 1993

  11,353

  End March 1994

  11,894

  End March 1995

  12,037

  End March 1996

  12,762

  End December 19962

  12,916

  End December 1997

  12,946

  End December 1998

  12,956

  End December 1999

  12,956

  End December 2000

  12,486

  1Declared net capability

  21n 1996 a change was made to measure capacity at the end of the calendar year rather than at the end of March

  Source:

  Digest of UK Energy Statistics 2001 Table 5.7 and corresponding table for earlier years

  NETA
  Mr. Stunell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent meetings she has had with the Regulator to discuss the impact of New electricity trading arrangements on(a) the Combined heat and power sector and (b) the renewable sources of energy sector; and if she will make a statement. [12661]

  Mr. Wilson
  I have had numerous meetings with the Regulator to discuss the impact of NETA on CHP and renewables, most recently on 25 September 2001. My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry will be meeting the Regulator on Thursday 15 November 2001 to discuss this subject, among other matters.
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  Mr. Stunell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations she has received from the British Wind Energy Association regarding the impact of NETA on trading in renewable energy; and if she will make a statement. [12660]

  Mr. Wilson
  My Department received representations from the British Wind Energy Association regarding the impact of NETA on trading in renewable energy as part of BWEA' s response to the DTI Preliminary Consultation on the Renewables Obligation of October 2000. In addition, my Department has had numerous representations from industry on this issue, including the renewables and wind sectors, for example the Confederation of Renewable Energy Associations.

  On 1 November, I issued a consultation document in response to Ofgem's reports 'The New Electricity Trading Arrangements—Review of the First Three Months' and `Report to the DTI on the Review of the Initial Impact of NETA on Smaller Generators' of 31 August 2001. I welcome views and representations from all industry bodies. I hope that the British Wind Energy Association will take this opportunity to respond to our consultation. The consultation document can be accessed at www.dti.gov.uk/consultations/.

  Mr. Stunell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations she has received from the(a) Combined Heat and Power Association, (b) British Association for Biofuels and Oils, (c) British Photovoltanic Association, (d) British Hydropower Association and (e) Solar Trade Association Limited regarding the impact of NETA; and if she will make a statement. [12673]

  Mr. Wilson
  I have received numerous representations from the Combined Heat and Power Association on the impact of NETA, most recently at a meeting on 20 September 2001.

  I have received no representations from the British Association for Biofuels and Oils, the British Photovoltanic Association, the British Hydropower Association, or the Solar Trade Association Limited.

  I have, however, had numerous representations from industry bodies regarding the impact of NETA.

  On 1 November, I issued a consultation document in response to Ofgem's reports 'The New Electricity Trading Arrangements—Review of the First Three Months' and `Report to the DTI on the Review of the Initial Impact of NETA on Smaller Generators' of 31 August 2001. I welcome views and representations from all industry bodies. I hope that the above associations will take the opportunity to respond to our consultation. The consultation document can be accessed at www.dti.gov.uk/ consultations/.

  Mr. Gareth R. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will take steps to encourage companies to provide a consolidation service within NETA for small generators; and if she will make a statement. [12732]

  Mr. Wilson
  On 1 November 2001, I issued a consultation document in response to Ofgem's reports "The New Electricity Trading Arrangements—Review of the First Three Months" and "Report to the DTI on the Review of the Initial Impact of NETA on Smaller Generators" of 31 August 2001.
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  The Government recognise the issues faced by smaller generators under NETA. The Government's key proposals are, broadly:

  To ensure imbalance prices are genuinely cost reflective; and

  To ensure that effective consolidation services emerge.

  The Government are also inviting views on other proposals put forward by industry.

  The Government believe consolidation services are vital in order to establish and foster smaller generation plant. While consolidation services are now starting to emerge in the market, the Government have proposed establishing a working group of smaller generators, the National Grid Company, BSC (Balancing and Settlement Code) participants, Ofgem, the DTI and DEFRA to look urgently at possible structural or regulatory obstacles to consolidation, including the likely time scale on which competitive consolidation services will emerge. The Government will ask this group to provide an interim report by 24 December 2001, and a final report by 31 January 2001.

  The consultation document can be accessed at www.dti.gov.uk/consultations/.

  Departmental Projects
  Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the projects in her Department which have been considered as potential public-private partnerships since 1997 which have not been undertaken because the public sector comparator had a lower net present value than the public-private partnership proposed; and if she will make a statement. [13431]

  Ms Hewitt
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given today by my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary. In respect of my Department, there have been no potential PPP projects that have not been undertaken because the public sector comparator had a lower net present value than the PPP proposed since 1997.

  Embedded Generators
  Mr. Gareth R. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will take steps to introduce electricity Distribution Charging Arrangements which(a) reduce the capital cost of connecting new embedded generators to the distribution network and (b) encourage lower network losses and reduced costs of network investments relating to embedded generators. [12734]

  Mr. Wilson
  Distribution Charging Arrangements are a matter for Ofgem.

  Ofgem's recent consultation paper "Embedded generation: price controls, incentives and connection charging—a preliminary consultation document" considers whether there might be an alternative to the payment of "deep" connection charges up-front. This paper is specifically aimed at moving without delay to a workable interim solution, under the existing pricing control and possibly from 1 April 2002. Ofgem have asked for responses to the consultation by 16 November, and I understand it is their intention to produce a summary of responses before the end of the year.
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  Embedded generation offers the prospect of a significant reduction in network losses, but more work is needed to understand the best way to achieve this goal. The distribution price control already contains incentives for distribution network operators (DNOs) to reduce network losses, but work on embedded generation presents new opportunities for achieving significant reductions.

  An Embedded Generation Coordinating Group (EGCG) is currently being established to ensure that these issues and the wider recommendations outlined in the Report of the Embedded Generation Working Group into Network Access Issues are addressed in a timely and co-ordinated manner. An announcement about the EGCG will be made shortly.

  BCCI
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when she next plans to meet the liquidators of BCCI. [13638]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  No such meeting is planned. The liquidators report formally to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry each year pursuant to the provisions of the Insolvency Regulations. Copies of that report are made available to creditors.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when she will call a meeting of the creditors of BCCI. [13640]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has no power to call meetings of creditors in companies in liquidation. Meetings may be called by the liquidator or may be requisitioned by creditors in accordance with the Insolvency Rules.

  Sub-post Offices
  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many sub-post offices closed in the second quarter of the current financial year. [12588]

  Mr. Alexander
  I understand from Post Office Limited that total net closures of post offices in the second quarter of the current financial year was 56. These closure figures are net of 51 reopenings.

  Glass Industry
  Mr. Watts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the impact the(a) aggregates tax and (b) climate change levy have had on the competitiveness of the British glass industry; and what support she is giving to the industry to assist with related increases in business costs. [12813]

  Mr. Wilson
  Sand and other minerals used in the manufacture of glass will be relieved from the Aggregates Levy under Section 30 of the Finance Act 2001. The Climate Change Levy was introduced only in April and it
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  is too early to assess its impact on businesses in the glass industry. The glass industry has a sectoral negotiated agreement with the Government under which eligible sites are working to deliver energy saving targets in return for an 80 per cent. levy discount.

  Job Losses (Relocation)
  Mr. Whittingdale
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate she has made of the number of jobs lost this year as a result of UK-based firms relocating production overseas. [13923]

  Ms Hewitt
  Systematic information is not available from which to derive any reliable estimate.

  Fireworks
  Mr. Weir
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many incidents involving injuries with fireworks have occurred in the last five years(a) prior to 5 November, (b) on 5 November and (c) after 5 November in each year in (i) Scotland and (ii) the UK. [13188]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  [holding answer 8 November 2001]: We collect data of accidental injury cases involving fireworks for a period of four weeks from mid October to mid November, from Accident and Emergency departments in Great Britain. Similar information is collected separately by the Department of Health in Northern Ireland. The GB data is set out in the table:

  Firework injuries in Great Britain 1996–2000

  2000

  1999

  1998

  1997

  1996

  Scotland:

  Prior 5 November

  29

  15

  13

  15

  42

  5 November

  33

  38

  33

  21

  26

  Post 5 November

  6

  29

  14

  21

  17

  Total

  68

  82

  60

  57

  85

  England and Wales:

  Prior 5 November

  482

  257

  174

  324

  637

  5 November

  230

  273

  208

  264

  313

  Post 5 November

  137

  444

  389

  263

  198

  Total

  849

  974

  771

  851

  1,148

  Great Britain total:

  972

  1,056

  831

  908

  1,233

  Aggregates Tax Fund
  Mr. Watts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress has been made in reviewing arrangements to refine the way the aggregates tax fund works. [12815]

  Mr. Meacher
  I have been asked to reply.

  We published a consultation paper on the possible distribution of the Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund in England on 2 October 2001. A copy is available on the Department's website http://www.defra.gov.uk/ and is also available in the Library of the House.

  The consultation paper includes proposals to support work under three objectives and three following initial distribution of funding.
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  £ million

  2002–03

  2003‒04

  Minimising the demand for primary aggregates

  6.5

  9.0

  Promoting environmentally friendly extraction and transport

  6.0

  6.0

  Reducing the effect of local aggregate extraction

  16.5

  14.0

  Total1

  29.0

  29.0

  1Totals to be finalised to £29.3 million

  The consultation period closes on 27 November.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  House of Lords Reform
  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the President of the Council what assessment he has made of the number of MLs who may be appointed under the Government's proposals for reconstituting the upper House, based on the assumptions in the White Paper. [14356]

  Mr. Robin Cook
  I refer the hon. Member to the statement I gave to the House on Wednesday 7 November 2001,Official Report, columns 239–41.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Lord Ashcroft
  Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 20 July 2001,Official Report, column 484W, on Lord Ashcroft, when the official of his Department passed classified documents to an unauthorised person; who the unauthorised person was; when this official was disciplined; what the nature of the disciplining was; what the grade of the official was who was disciplined; and in which country the official was based when the offence occurred. [11617]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  A Diplomatic Service Officer, in the FCO Senior Management Structure and based in the United Kingdom at the time, passed classified documents to a journalist in 1997. The journalist concerned did not work for the newspapers where leaks later appeared; the official concerned is no longer in government service.

  Sierra Leone
  Dr. Julian Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the security situation in Sierra Leone. [13402]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  The security situation in Sierra Leone has improved dramatically over the past six months. We have continued to play a major role in Sierra Leone during this period. We have completed the initial training of an effective and accountable Sierra Leone Army. We have helped train the Sierra Leonean police force. We have worked with the UN on the Disarmament Demobilisation and Reintegration (DDR) programme and to move forward the deployment of UNAMS IL throughout the country. We have maintained close links with regional leaders, especially Presidents Obasanjo of Nigeria and Konare of Mali, to ensure full and successful implementation of the Abuja Agreement. The Revolutionary United Front is now transforming itself into a political party. As DDR
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  continues, The Government of Sierra Leone are able to extend their authority across the country, ahead of elections now scheduled for 14 May 2002. A sustainable peace is now within our grasp.

  But major challenges remain, both before and after the elections. We will continue to work with the Government of Sierra Leone, the United Nations and regional and international partners to help the Sierra Leonean Government consolidated the peace, prepare for and hold free and fair elections, and mobilise resources to rehabilitate Sierra Leone's shattered communities, institutions and economy.

  Afghanistan
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the numbers of UK citizens held prisoner by(a) the Northern Alliance and (b) countries neighbouring Afghanistan as a consequence of activities with (i) the Taliban and (ii) al-Qaeda; and if he will make a statement. [13630]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  We are currently aware of one British prisoner being held by the Northern Alliance. He has been held since 1998, having been fighting for the Taliban. We do not have any Consular representation in Afghanistan and are therefore unable to give any accurate assessment on whether there are any other British prisoners being held there by either side. We are also not aware that any British prisoners are being held in relation to the current conflict in neighbouring countries.

  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the numbers of UK citizens killed or injured in Afghanistan while with(a) al-Qaeda and (b) the Taliban; and if he will make a statement. [13624]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  We have no consular representation in Afghanistan. It is not possible to provide any accurate assessment on the number of UK nationals who may have been killed or injured in Afghanistan.

  Soviet Bloc (Weapons of Mass Destruction)
  Dr. Julian Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the risk of former Soviet bloc(a) nuclear and (b) chemical/biological warfare scientists selling their skills to foreign regimes. [13681]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  It is estimated that there may be many thousands of Russian nuclear and chemical and biological warfare scientists who have lost their jobs or who face the prospect of losing their jobs in the next few years. The possibility that these scientists may sell their skills to foreign regimes is one that the UK takes seriously. To address this, UK funds are directed, through the European Union, to the International Science and Technology Centre (ISTC). The ISTC was set up in 1994, following an agreement signed by the EU, US, Japan and the Russian Federation, to stem the possibility of recruitment of former Soviet scientists by potential proliferators, through the funding of non-weapons related research at former defence institutes.

  Entry Clearance
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the level of staffing is at the Joint Entry Clearance Unit. [13641]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  The current level of staffing in the Joint Entry Clearance Unit is as follows:

  Permanent—69

  Temporary (Persons between postings)—3

  Retired officers on short-term contracts—2

  Homeworkers (Part-time on contracts)—3

  Total—77.

  Ambassadors
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has for advertising the posts of ambassadors. [13642]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  None.

  Mordecai Vanunu
  Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he raised the matter of the continued imprisonment of Mordecai Vanunu in his recent meeting with his Israeli counterpart. [14682]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  We regularly raise Mr. Vanunu's long detention with the Israeli authorities and the British Embassy in Tel Aviv monitor the conditions in which he is held.

  UN Sanctions (Amendments)
  Gillian Merron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent changes there have been to United Nations sanctions against(a) Somalia, (b) the former Republic of Yugoslavia and (c) Sudan. [14970]

  Peter Hain
  With the support of Her Majesty's Government, the range of sanctions imposed against Somalia, the Former Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) and Sudan has been amended by the United Nations Security Council (the "UNSC").

  On 19 June 2001 the UNSC adopted resolution 1356(2001) introducing certain limited exemptions to the arms embargo against Somalia. The arms embargo does not now apply to the temporary export of protective clothing for use exclusively by the UN, media or humanitarian and development workers, nor to supplies of non-lethal military equipment intended solely for humanitarian or protective use.

  On 10 September 2001 the UNSC noted that the conditions called for by paragraphs 16(a)-(e) of resolution 1160(1998) had been met by the FRY Government, and subsequently decided to adopt resolution 1367(2001) which terminated the measures called for by resolution 1160(1998).

  On 28 September 2001 the UNSC noted the steps taken by the Government of Sudan to comply with the provisions of resolution 1054(1996) and resolution 1070(1996) and agreed to adopt resolution 1372(2001) terminating the measures imposed by those resolutions.

  General Affairs Council
  Gillian Merron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the outcome was of the General Affairs Council held in Luxembourg on 29 October. [14971]

  Peter Hain
  The information is as follows:

  General Affairs Council, Luxembourg: 29 October 2001

  My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary, Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean and I represented the UK at the General Affairs Council (GAC) on 29 October.

  The GAC adopted the 'A' Points listed in document number 13233/01. It also noted the resolutions, decisions and opinions adopted by the European Parliament in its part-session of 19–20 September in Brussels and 1–4 October in Strasbourg listed in document numbers 11049/01 and 12365/01 respectively. Copies of all three documents have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

  WTO

  The GAC discussed preparations for the WTO Ministerial Conference, due to be held in Doha, Qatar from 9–13 November and agreed conclusions setting out the EU's position for this meeting. The Council conclusions of 26 October 1999 remained the basis for EU efforts to launch a new global round of multilateral trade negotiations, but the Council acknowledged that the final stages of negotiations would call for flexibility on the part of all participants. The Council emphasised the importance of the development dimension, highlighting the need for greater efforts to enhance the negotiating capacity of developing countries, and underlined the importance of the flexibilities of the TRIPS agreement in ensuring poor people in developing countries have affordable access to medicines.

  The Council welcomed the European Parliament's resolution of 24 October 2001 on preparations for Doha and stressed the importance of dialogue with civil society, particularly with social partners, on trade issues.

  Work in other Sectoral Councils

  The Presidency drew attention to the Secretariat's stocktaking report of the main issues being discussed by other sectoral meetings of the Council of Ministers. In particular, the Presidency noted the road-map on implementation of a sustainable development strategy approved by the Gothenburg European Council, looking ahead to the Barcelona European Council on 15–16 March 2002 and the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg on 2–11 September 2002.

  MEPs' Statute

  The GAC approved Presidency proposals, focusing on fiscal/tax issues, allowances and pensions, as a basis for further discussions with the European Parliament.

  Funding of European Political Parties

  The GAC discussed the draft regulation to establish a temporary, two year regime for the statute and funding of European political parties. Discussion focused on issues including the regulating of donations and the transnationality threshold for qualification as a "European" political party. The Presidency asked Coreper to discuss the issues further.
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  EU political priorities for 2002

  The GAC endorsed a UK Initiative for the GAC to coordinate the EU's overall strategic priorities through annual discussions. Spain, as the future Presidency, will schedule a further debate early next year.

  MEPP

  The Council issued a declaration on the tenth anniversary of the Madrid Conference. It called on the Israelis and Palestinians, immediately and without pre-conditions, to return to negotiations on the basis of the recommendations in the Mitchell Report and Tenet Plan. It called upon the Israeli authorities to withdraw their troops immediately from the zone that is exclusively under Palestinian administration (Zone A). It called upon the Palestinian authority to do its utmost to arrest those responsible for acts of violence against Israel.

  Africa

  The GAC agreed conclusions on:
  (i) Zimbabwe
  The Council reiterated the EU's readiness to help Zimbabwe hold transparent and fair Presidential elections next Spring. including through an exploratory mission and EU observers to monitor them.
  The GAC decided to launch the consultation procedure with the Government of Zimbabwe provided for in Article 96 of the Cotonou Agreement. The consultations would address the issues of concern as discussed by the GAC on 25 June, on which there had not been any visible progress to date:

  ending political violence;

  electoral monitoring;

  freedom of the media;

  independence of the judiciary;

  ending the illegal occupation of properties.

  The EU would give strong weight to ensuring co-ordination and complementarity with the efforts of SADC and the Abuja process.

  (ii) DRC (Lusaka Process)
  The GAC noted the disappointing results of the inter-Congolese dialogue meeting in Addis Ababa (15–21 October). The EU had honoured its financial commitments to help support the process, which was essential for the future of the DRC and the region as a whole. It called on the facilitator of the dialogue and the Congolese parties to set a time and place for substantive talks on the parameters for an inclusive, democratic transition with a realistic timetable.

  (iii) Burundi (Arusha process)
  The GAC discussed the demarches of facilitator Nelson Mandela to the Presidency and Commission of 15–16 October. President Mandela was seeking EU funding to set up a protection unit to ensure the safety of exiled politicians on their return to Burundi to form the Transitional National Government, starting on 1 November. The GAC agreed the importance of such funding, subject to clear assent of the Burundian parties to the Arusha Agreement, the backing of the UK, and precise details concerning the special unit's mandate and budget. The Council instructed its bodies to work with the Commission to examine President Mandela's proposals and report to the next GAC on 19 November.

  (iv) Eritrea
  The GAC would discuss Eritrea further at its next meeting, following talks between President Isayas Afewerki and the EU Heads of Mission (HoMs) in Asmara. It had agreed on 8 October, to recall EU HoMs in Eritrea for consultations, given its concerns over the arrest of political figures, the suppression of the independent press and expulsion of the EU Presidency's Representative to Eritrea.
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  (v) New Partnership for African Development and the Europe-Africa dialogue
  The Council reiterated its support for the New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD). It was briefed by the Presidency and the Commission on the meeting on 10 October with the African Heads of State. supporting the NEPAD and on the EU-Africa Ministerial Conference on 11 October 2001. The Council agreed that it would pay particular attention to this significant initiative, above all in the framework of the Europe-Africa dialogue.

  EU action following US attacks

  The GAC noted the good progress made on the counter-terrorism road map agreed at the European Council of 21 September. It tasked the Committee of Permanent Representatives with the oversight and direction of the road map, paying particular attention to the priorities identified by the European Council:
  a European arrest warrant, a common definition of terrorism and freezing of assets;
  strengthening cooperation between the relevant authorities responsible for combating terrorism, especially to establish a common list of terrorist organisations before the year-end;
  the fight against the funding of terrorism; and
  the approval, without delay, of Commission proposals relating to aviation security.

  The GAC also discussed the situation in Afghanistan and the surrounding region Discussion was informed by reports from the Presidency and Secretary-General/ High Representative (SG/HR) Solana about their recent meetings with the UN Secretary-General and his personal representative, Ambassador Brahimi, and with the former king of Afghanistan, Zahir Shah. They also discussed the situation in central Asia, on the basis of a paper by the SG/HR. The Council welcomed the Troika visit from 30 October to Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan.

  Western Balkans

  The GAC adopted Conclusions on:

  (i) Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
  It welcomed the progress made on constitutional reform, and all parties' commitment to conclude the parliamentary process on the Framework Agreement rapidly. It repeated that implementation of that Agreement by all parties concerned was the only constructive way forward, including in relation to Macedonia's rapprochement with the EU.

  (ii) Kosovo
  The Council underlined the importance of the elections on 17 November being conducted properly. The GAC repeated the need for a substantial electoral turnout from all communities, to ensure their representation in the provisional, new, democratically-elected institutions. It had asked the Belgrade authorities to co-operate closely with UNMIK/KFOR and to encourage the Kosovo Serbs to take part in the election.

  (iii) Stability Pact
  The GAC welcomed the outcome of the Regional Conference of the Stability Pact in Bucharest, which confirmed the EU's commitment to continue playing a leading role in the region, which would be complemented by the continuing role of the Pact. The Council agreed that the EU should review the future role of the Stability Pact in consultation with the other members of the Pact, including the possibility of better integrating the work of the Pact with the EU's Stabilisation and Association Process for the Western Balkans.

  (iv) Croatia
  The GAC welcomed the signing of the EU/Croatia Stabilisation and Association Agreement and the EC/Croatia Interim Agreement. It also welcomed the approval of the Joint Declaration on political dialogue and the holding of the first meeting of that dialogue.

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  Voting Record

  No formal votes were taken on the points under discussion at the GAC.

  Biological and Toxin Weapons Conference
  Joan Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what assessment he has made of the failure of the negotiations for a compliance and verification protocol to the Biological and Toxin Weapons Conference; and how he will respond; [14468]

  (2) what he aims to achieve at the Review Conference of the Biological and Toxin Weapons Conference. [14467]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  Following the failure of the 24th Session of the Ad Hoc Group to agree a Protocol text, our aim is now to agree with all States parties, a Final Document at the fifth Review Conference of the Biological Weapons Convention, in Geneva (19 November–7 December) that will lead to sustaining international progress on the further strengthening of the Convention. We welcome proposals that have been made for practical and effective measures to meet the biological weapons threat. We hope that these can be agreed at the Conference.

  Joan Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will be attending the Biological and Toxin Weapons Conference in Geneva. [14466]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary currently has no plans to attend the 5th Review Conference of the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention in Geneva.

  Zimbabwe
  Mr. Ancram
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the recent actions of Libyan military personnel in Zimbabwe; what role they have; and how many there are. [12147]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  We have seen media reports of Libyans in Zimbabwe as security advisers for ZANU(PF) officials. These reports have not been substantiated.

PRIME MINISTER

  Overseas Visits
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Prime Minister how many overseas visits he has undertaken and to which countries, since 11 September. [13636]

  The Prime Minister
  I have undertaken five overseas visits as part of the efforts to deepen the international coalition against terrorism. I visited:

  Germany

  France

  United States

  Belgium

  Russia

  Pakistan

  India

  Switzerland

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  Oman

  Egypt

  Syria

  Saudi Arabia

  Jordan

  Israel and the Palestinian Authority

  I also attended the Informal Meeting of EU Heads of EU Heads of Government in Belgium on 19 October.

  Meetings
  Llew Smith
  To ask the Prime Minister which(a) Prime Ministers and (b) heads of state he has met since 11 September; when he met each of them; and where the meetings were held. [14692]

  The Prime Minister
  The following meetings with Prime Ministers and heads of states have already been announced:

  12 September

  President Lagos (Chile)—No. 10

  17 September

  Prime Minister Berlusconi (Italy)—No. 10

  19 September

  Taoiseach Ahern (Ireland)—No. 10

  Chancellor Schroeder (Germany)—Kanzleramt

  20 September

  President Chirac (France)—Paris

  President Bush (USA)—Washington

  21 September

  European Council meeting—Brussels

  1 October

  Chancellor Schroeder (Germany)—Brighton

  4 October

  President Putin (Russia)—Moscow

  5 October

  President Musharraf—Pakistan

  6 October

  Prime Minister Vajpayee—India

  9 October

  Shaikh Zayed, Ruler of Abu Dhabi—Geneva

  10 October

  His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said al Said—Muscat

  11 October

  President Mubarak (Egypt)—Cairo

  16 October

  Prime Minister Rasmussen (Denmark)—No. 10

  King Abdullah II of Jordan—No. 10

  19 October

  President Chirac (France), Prime Minister Jospin (France) and

  Chancellor Schroeder (Germany)—Ghent

  Informal meeting of EU Heads of Government—Ghent

  25 October

  Prime Minister Verhofstadt (Belgium)—No. 10

  28–29 October

  President Cardoso (Brazil)—Chequers

  31 October

  President al-Assad (Syria)—Damascus

  King Fand of Saudi Arabia—Riyadh

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  1 November

  King Abdullah II of Jordan —Jordan

  Prime Minister Sharon (Israel)—Jerusalem

  Prime Minister Berlusconi (Italy)—Genoa

  2 November

  Prime Minister Miller (Poland)—No. 10

  4 November

  President Chirac (France)—No. 10

  Prime Minister Jospin (France)—No. 10

  Chancellor Schroeder (Germany)—No. 10

  Prime Minister Berlusconi (Italy)—No. 10

  Prime Minister Aznar (Spain)—No. 10

  Prime Minister Verhofstadt (Belgium)—No. 10

  Prime Minister Kok (Netherlands)—No. 10

  6 November

  President Museveni (Uganda)—No. 10

  President Kagame (Rwanda)—No. 10

  7 November

  President Bush (USA)—Washington

  8 November

  King Abdullah II of Jordan —No. 10

  Prime Minister Nastase (Romania)—No.

  10 President Musharraf (Pakistan)—No. 10

  9 November

  Prime Minister Aznar (Spain)—No. 10/Chequers

  11 November

  Prime Minister Vajpayee —No. 10.

  I have also met President Arafat of the Palestinian Authority on 15 October and 1 November.

  Kyoto Protocol
  Mr. Simon Thomas
  To ask the Prime Minister what representations he has made to President Bush about signing up to the Kyoto agreements; and if he will make a statement on the results of these representations. [14456]

  The Prime Minister
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Islington, North (Jeremy Corbyn) on 15 October 2001,Official Report, column 820W.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

  Civil Servants (Remuneration)
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the cost of implementing the proposals of the First Division Association for the remuneration of senior civil servants. [14247]

  Mr. Leslie
  Ministers have agreed a new pay system for the senior civil service, developed as part of the Civil Service reform programme. All senior civil servants and their trade unions were consulted and their views taken into account.

  The costs of the proposed system will depend on the recommendations of the independent Senior Salaries Review Body and will be met from within existing departmental expenditure limits.

HEALTH

  GP Audit
  Mr. Wyatt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether Swale primary care trusts have undertaken an audit of GP needs in the constituency of Sittingbourne and Sheppey. [12115]

  Ms Blears
  Swale Primary Care Group recently carried out an audit of local needs. As a result, the Government have provided additional resources to two local practices to fund the recruitment of additional general practitioners into the area.

  Whittington Hospital
  Jeremy Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will complete the evaluation of the proposals for refurbishment of the Whittington Hospital. [12116]

  Mr. Hutton
  The proposals for the rebuilding of a significant part of the Whittington Hospital are expected to be submitted by the Trust in January 2002. It is planned to complete the final approval soon after with the new building becoming fully operational in autumn 2004.

  NHS Staff Morale
  Lembit Öpik
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what initiatives he has in place to improve the morale of the staff in the health service. [12117]

  Mr. Milburn
  Staff morale is a key issue for the Government. We are committed to improving morale in the national health service by expanding staff numbers, improving NHS employment practice and giving frontline staff greater control over resources.

  NHS (East Lancashire)
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to ensure the NHS in east Lancashire remains focused on service delivery during the process of organisational changes. [12118]

  Mr. Hutton
  During the process of devolving more power and responsibility to primary care trusts, the national health service must remain focused on meeting local health needs. To ensure that this happens, all regional offices and health authorities have produced business continuity plans.

  In the north-west, three project directors are co-ordinating business continuity arrangements across the region, supported by lead managers who have responsibility for monitoring critical areas of business such as winter, cancer and access.

  Heart Operations
  Jeff Ennis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the number of heart operations carried out in the NHS in the past 12 months. [12119]

  Ms Blears
  The National Service Framework for Coronary Heart Disease target of an extra 3.,000 heart operations for March 2002 has been met a year early. Provisional figures suggest that between September 2000 672W
  and September 2001, there were over 25,000 angioplasty operations and approaching 23,000 bypass operations. An extra £30 million has been allocated this year to further increase the number of heart operations.

  Hospital Cleanliness
  Andy King
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on progress on raising standards of hospital cleanliness. [12121]

  Paul Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on progress in raising standards of hospital cleanliness. [12130]

  Mr. Hutton
  The NHS Plan expressed our determination to create real and lasting improvements to standards of hospital cleanliness. Through our Clean Hospitals programme, the number of "red" hospitals has fallen from 253 in autumn 2000 to zero today. Every, hospital in England now provides standards of cleanliness which are good or at least acceptable.

  NHS Cancer Care
  Mr. Bailey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent progress has been made on improvement of diagnosis and treatment for cancer patients in the NHS. [12122]

  Mr. Milburn
  Good progress has been made in implementing the NHS Cancer Plan. 92 per cent. of people urgently referred with symptoms indicating a possibility of cancer are being seen within two weeks; around 13,000 patients each year will benefit from new treatments for cancer, following their appraisal by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence; and expansion and upgrading of equipment used in the NHS to diagnose and treat cancer is well under way.

  TNF Alpha Blockade
  Clive Efford
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on variations in practice relating to the prescription of TNF Alpha Blockade. [12124]

  Mr. Hutton
  The two main drugs involved in this therapy, etanercept and infliximab, are currently being appraised by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence. Until NICE has completed its appraisal, national health service bodies have been advised to use their existing arrangements to determine local prescribing policies, using the publicly available evidence to inform their decision.

  Care Home Beds
  Mr. Randall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many beds there were in elderly care homes in(a) 1997 and (b) the last year for which figures are available. [12125]

  Bob Spink
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many beds in elderly care homes there were(a) in 1997 and (b) on the latest date for which figures are available. [12138]

  Jacqui Smith
  The Department's figures show that, in 1997, there were 261,600 residential places for older people in residential care homes and 154,200 registered nursing beds for them in nursing homes, private hospitals
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  and clinics. In March 2000, there were 263,200 such places in residential care homes and 149,600 such beds in nursing homes, private hospitals and clinics.

  Homeopathic Treatment
  Mr. Tredinnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health which health authorities fund GP referrals for homeopathic treatment on the NHS; and what plans he has to improve equality of access for such treatment. [12126]

  Ms Blears
  There is no central record of national health service referrals for homeopathic treatment. Current NHS reforms will give primary care trusts full responsibility for providing services for local patients. This environment of local autonomy and innovation should have scope for complementary therapies that can prove their worth.

  Blood Transfusions
  Mr. Havard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much of the national blood supply was used on cancer patients as part of their treatment; and, on average, how old that blood was when it was given to them, in the past 12 months. [12127]

  Mr. Hutton
  The National Blood Service estimates that approximately 30 per cent. of red cells collected from blood donations are given to patients with cancer-related illnesses.

  All fresh blood components in the national health service are used within strict expiry dates.

  Private Finance (NHS)
  Mr. Carmichael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the use of private finance within the NHS. [12129]

  Mr. Hutton
  To be approved, the Private Finance Initiative option for every national health service capital investment project must demonstrate, in a full business case, that it provides improved facilities for the NHS and that, overall, it is value for money when compared to the publicly funded alternative, the Public Sector Comparator.

  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the use of private finance within the NHS. [12140]

  Mr. Hutton
  To be approved, the private finance initiative option for every national health service capital investment project must demonstrate, in a full business case, that it provides improved facilities for the NHS and that, overall, it is value for money when compared to the publicly funded alternative, the public sector comparator.

  Because of PFI, 10 major new hospitals have opened in the United Kingdom and another 17 are under construction, representing capital investment in the NHS of over £2.4 billion.

  Nurses
  Mr. Breed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the use of agency nurses in the NHS. [12132]

  Mr. Hutton
  The Government are aware of the potential value for money and quality issues facing national health service employers using agencies. This is 674W
  why we are fully committed to NHS Professionals, the non-profit making temporary staffing solution run by the NHS for the NHS. NHS Professionals is being rolled out by all health professionals by 2003.

  Colin Burgon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent steps he has taken to improve the recruitment and retention of nurses in the NHS. [12133]

  Mr. Hutton
  In the first year of the NHS Plan period the number of nurses employed in the national health service increased by 6,310.

  The Government are fully committed to investing in NHS staff, to raising the number of nurses, increasing training places, encouraging former staff to return, and recruiting more nurses from abroad.

  The NHS Plan introduced the Improving Working Lives Standard, a model of good employment practices against which NHS organisations are measured. NHS organisations are required to provide a portfolio of evidence that they are improving the working lives of staff.

  Accident and Emergency Departments
  Richard Ottaway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on improving the efficiency of accident and emergency departments in London. [12134]

  Mr. Hutton
  The Government recognise the importance of improving A&E departments. The A&E Emergency Modernisation Programme aims to modernise, upgrade and refurbish all accident and emergency departments that need modernising. A total of £150 million has been invested in A&E in three waves and London has received over £22 million from the Capital Modernisation Fund. This is the biggest investment in A&E services since the start of the NHS.

  In October this year the Government announced a £100 million strategy for reducing long waits in A&E departments and ending inappropriate waits altogether over the next three years. London trusts received over £9 million of this funding.

  MRI Scanners
  Phil Sawford
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he is taking to ensure that more hospitals have access to an MRI scanner. [12135]

  Jacqui Smith
  Following past decades of under-investment in cancer equipment and facilities, investment through the New Opportunities Fund and the NHS Plan will provide 86 MRI scanners for the NHS by 2004. These scanners will support the accurate diagnosis and staging of cancer patients, as well as increased access to an MRI scanner for other patient groups.

  Patrick Mercer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on waiting times for MRI scans in the hospitals in Newark and Retford. [12137]

  Jacqui Smith
  Waiting times for MRI scans vary according to the clinical condition being investigated and the demand on the service. A recent survey of MRI waiting times in England showed average waiting times for patients attending for urgent examinations, such as
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  cancer, of approximately two weeks, while the average waiting times for orthopaedic procedures, for example, were in the order of six months with a 10–12 month waiting time not uncommon. 36 MRI scanners are being provided through the New Opportunities Fund. All of these are due for installation by the end of 2002. Under the terms of the NHS Cancer Plan, a further 50 will be installed by 2004.

  MRI facilities are not available at the hospitals in Newark and Retford. At present, most Newark residents are referred to the Queen's Medical Centre in Nottingham, where the waiting time for routine appointments is around 18 months. However, Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Trust, which has been responsible for Newark Hospital since April 2001, is working to establish better links between Newark and the King's Mill Centre near Mansfield. A mobile scanner already visits the King's Mill Centre and additional sessions will be provided in 2002, thereby reducing waiting times.

  Most Retford patients requiring MRI scans are referred to the Royal Hallamshire Hospital in Sheffield where waiting time for a routine referral is around six months. The Health Community in Retford is investigating the possibility of using a mobile scanner or referring patients to Doncaster as a means of reducing waiting times.

  For urgent referrals, the waiting times vary from one to 12 weeks depending on clinical priority.

  Orthopaedic Waiting Times
  Mr. Bellingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on orthopaedic waiting times. [12136]

  Mr. Hutton
  We are is determined to reduce waiting times for orthopaedic patients. That is why we have established the "Action On Orthopaedics" programme as part of the modernisation of the national health service. The programme aims significantly to improve access to care and to reduce variations in waiting times through sharing best practice. It will lead the way in piloting new and innovative working practice.

  In 2000–01, £9 million was made available directly to NHS practitioners to invest in specialist orthopaedic equipment. In 2001–02 a further £38.5 million was made available. Through this year's investment 23 new orthopaedic theatres will be built to create greater capacity to treat orthopaedic patients, which will facilitate reduced waiting times.

  Waiting times for all patients are being reduced. In line with the NHS Plan, the maximum out-patient waiting time will be cut to three months by 2005 and the maximum in-patient waiting time will be cut to six months.

  As a first step towards this, the maximum waiting time for an in-patient appointment will be 15 months by the end of March 2002 and the maximum waiting time for a first out-patient appointment will be six months.

  Ashworth Hospital
  Mr. Insley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on long-term stay patients at Ashworth hospital. [12139]
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  Jacqui Smith
  Our policy with regard to the provision of high-security psychiatric services is to secure the safety of the public, staff and patients, and to ensure that the best possible services are offered to patients who need to receive their care and treatment in a high-secure setting.

  School Children (Health)
  Bob Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he last had discussions with the Secretary of State for Education and Skills about the health of school children. [12141]

  Jacqui Smith
  We have regular discussions and our respective Departments work very closely to ensure that the health needs of school children are met. We have also launched a number of joint initiatives including the healthy schools programme. Apart from supporting children with health problems we are committed to ensuring the promotion of child health and development through access to high quality physical education. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister announced in January that all children will be entitled to a minimum of two hours high quality physical education and sport provision within and beyond the formal curriculum. This commitment is also outlined in the White Paper "Schools: Achieving Success" published in September.

  Cardio-thoracic Unit
  Dr. Gibson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what needs he has recently identified for a further cardio-thoracic surgical unit in the east of England. [12142]

  Jacqui Smith
  We are currently developing a national strategy for expanding revascularisation capacity, the aim of which is to deliver the targets of the coronary heart disease National Service Framework.

  As part of that strategy the national health service eastern regional office has undertaken an assessment of its needs for cardiac surgery over the next 20 years and has taken many factors into account including the current and future population demands for such services.

  The assessment has clearly identified the need for the development of further services for cardiac surgery.

  NHS Beds
  John Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the number of (a) general and(b) acute beds in NHS hospitals. [12143]

  Ms Blears
  In the light of the National Beds Inquiry the NHS Plan set a target to increase the number of general and acute beds by 2,100 by 2004. Latest figures, published in September 2001, show that we are a third of the way towards reaching this target with an increase of over 700 in the number of general and acute care beds in the last year. The number of general and acute beds in national health service hospitals had been declining over the past 40 years. This is a clear indication that the downward trend is being reversed.

  For three decades the prevailing orthodoxy in the NHS has been for fewer hospital beds rather than more. Patients see the consequence of that failed policy in unacceptable

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  trolley waits, long waiting times and cancelled operations. Today the NHS is growing again with an expanding number of NHS hospital beds.

  Barnet Hospital
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement about Barnet hospital.[12128]

  Mr. Hutton
  I am aware of and share my hon. Friend's concerns over Barnet and Chase Farm NHS Trust and the need to support improvements in its performance in key areas highlighted by the recent NHS Trust Performance Ratings.

  The Trust has formally been given three months from 25 September to produce an action plan focused on areas of poor performance and will receive close support from the Modernisation Agency.

  I have already arranged to meet my hon. Friend to discuss these matters.

  Psychiatric Hospitals
  Mr. Heald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people were admitted to psychiatric hospitals in 2000–01. [10514]

  Jacqui Smith
  There were an estimated 187,600 admissions, under mental illness specialties, to national health service hospitals in England for 1999–2000, the latest year for which data are available. This figure has not yet been adjusted for shortfalls in data and therefore has a provisional status.

  NHS Dentistry
  Peter Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients in Shropshire were registered with a NHS dentist in (a) 1990,(b) 1997 and (c) 2000; and how many remained unregistered in the same year. [9258]

  Ms Blears
  Registrations of patients in the general dental service (GDS) began in October 1990. Registrations last for a fixed period which is renewed when the patient reattends the dentist. Initially the period for adults was 24 months while for children registrations lasted until the end of the following calendar year.

  For new registrations made since September 1996, the registration period is 15 months for both adults and children. This affected registration numbers from December 1997 onwards when the first of the shorter registrations lapsed.

  Registration numbers built up over the two years from October 1990. Thus registration figures for 1990 are not typical.

  For Shropshire health authority, in the year 1997, the average number of registrations was 217,000 compared to an estimated population at mid-year 1997 of 425,000. In the year 2000, the registration average was lower at 186,000 because of the reduction in the registration period to 15 months. In addition, in the year 2000, 8,000 patients were seen by the personal dental service pilots which started in March 1999. The estimated population at mid-year 2000 was 436,000.
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  Many people are not registered with the dentist but choose to attend occasionally.

  Mr. Laws
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the(a) parliamentary constituencies and (b) NHS health trusts in which there are no NHS dentists taking new adult NHS patients; and if he will make a statement. [14131]

  Ms Blears
  General dental practitioners provide general dental services under arrangements made with health authorities. Some national health service trusts are commissioned to provide national health service dentistry but these services are a minority of what is provided within the NHS. While information on availability of NHS dentistry is not collected on a parliamentary constituency basis, every health authority in England has NHS general dental practitioners willing to treat new adult NHS patients.

  We remain committed to ensuring that NHS dentistry is available to all. More treatment than ever before is being carried out by NHS dentists. Systems are in place to enable callers to NHS Direct to obtain information about where they can find NHS dentistry. We will continue to work with the profession to further develop NHS dentistry around patient needs, as part of modern primary care delivered at a local level.

  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS dental practitioners there were on the Isle of Wight in each year since 1997. [14355]

  Ms Blears
  The number of general dental services (GDS) dentists on the Isle of Wight is shown in the table for 30 June in each of the years 1997 to 2001.

  June

  Number of GDS dentists

  1997

  38

  1998

  39

  1999

  43

  2000

  39

  2001

  40

  A personal dental service (PDS) pilot, developing new ways of providing national health service dentistry, began in 1999. There were six dentists in June 2000 while in June 2001 there were eight PDS dentists of whom two also worked in the GDS.

  Mental Health Services
  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS trusts have an advocacy scheme for users of mental health services; and what proportion of trusts this figure represents. [10011]

  Jacqui Smith
  [holding answer 29 October 2001]: Very few national health service trusts actually provide advocacy services as it is widely recognised that advocacy services should be independent of provider services.

  The Department has commissioned a mental health service mapping exercise from Durham University which will provide an up-to-date picture of where mental health service users have access to an advocacy service. This exercise is expected to report later this year.
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  Mr. Heald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health by how much the NHS underspent on mental health in 2000–01. [12050]

  Jacqui Smith
  There are no expenditure targets relating to mental health, therefore there cannot be any underspend. The national health service does have service targets and in 2000–01 these were met.

  Mr. Heald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of clinical outcomes in mental health in the UK in comparison to other EU countries. [13854]

  Jacqui Smith
  [holding answer 12 November 2001]: Currently there is no assessment of clinical outcomes in mental health in the United Kingdom in comparison to other European Union countries. However, there are currently two important initiatives under way that involve the measurement of clinical outcomes for individuals in receipt of mental health services in the UK that will enable comparisons with other EU countries.

  One is the outcome measurement implementation programme headed by the national director for mental health, Professor Louis Appleby, who has established an expert group of the leading experts in the field of outcome measurement in the UK. They are advising on and overseeing the selection and the pilot implementation of instrumentation for the routine measurement of outcomes for individuals in terms of mortality, morbidity, quality of life and user and carer satisfaction with services. The evidence base for this approach is substantial and drawn from extensive research conducted in the United States of America, Europe and Australia over many years.

  The other initiative is the establishment of the new National Institute for Mental Health for England (NIMH(E)) which I announced in July. NIMH(E) will be the key vehicle, which supports implementation of national mental health policy in England. It will work with all agencies and interests to develop a co-ordinated programme of research, service development, workforce development and support. NIMH(E) will also generate links with organisations responsible for mental health services in other countries. This will offer the opportunity for comparison of services and clinical outcomes, and the promotion of best practice. A consultation document on NIMH(E) was launched on 6 November.

  Mr. Heald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he supports closer partnership working between statutory services and the Churches in the field of mental health; and if he will make a statement. [13847]

  Jacqui Smith
  [holding answer 12 November 2001]: The National Service Framework for Mental Health encourages health and social services to work with individuals and communities to promote mental health. As an integral part of many communities, religious centres and leaders can assist in combating discrimination and social exclusion associated with mental health problems.

  Mr. Heald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what implications the EU working-time directive has for the staffing of acute mental health wards; and if he will make a statement. [13858]

  Jacqui Smith
  [holding answer 12 November 2001]: The Working Time Regulations, which implement the European Community Directive into United Kingdom
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  legislation, came into force on 1 October 1998. To implement this in the national health service, the Department made national agreements in the General Whitley Council for GWC staff and with the British Medical Association for Career Grade Doctors which secured maximum operational flexibility. Mental health staff have benefited by having protected rest periods which have reduced the risks of long working hours. Consequently patients have been better safeguarded.

  Mr. Heald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his assessment is of the number of people with severe mental illness who could benefit from assertive outreach; and if he will make a statement. [13848]

  Jacqui Smith
  [holding answer 12 November 2001]: It is estimated that some 20.000 people need assertive outreach and there is a NHS Plan commitment to have 220 assertive outreach teams established by 2004 to provide the necessary services.

  Lung Cancer (Photodynamic Therapy)
  Mr. Kevin Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to make photodynamic therapy for lung cancer sufferers available throughout the NHS. [12669]

  Jacqui Smith
  There is currently not enough evidence to support the introduction of photodynamic therapy in the national health service. If photodynamic therapy is considered to be a potentially significant intervention, it can be referred to the National Institute for Clinical Excellence.

  Drugs Budgets
  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the level of spending against their drugs budget by(a) PCTs and (b) health authorities this year. [12598]

  Ms Blears
  [holding answer 5 November 2001]: Health authorities and primary care trusts are responsible for setting primary care drugs budgets; decisions on the level of funding will depend on local priorities.

  Forecasts of prescribing expenditure are provided to health authorities and PCTs and groups and it is for them to monitor this against their prescribing budgets. Prescribing budgets notified to the Department do not include any contingency reserves held locally.

  We do take account of prescribing trends and other influencing factors in primary care prescribing when considering the overall levels of allocations that are made to health authorities. The latest national forecast for 2001–02 prescribing expenditure represents a 9.2 per cent. growth on 2000–01 out-turn.

  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what account he will be taking of the level of spending against their drugs budgets by(a) PCTs and (b) health authorities this year when determining budgets for next year. [12599]

  Ms Blears
  [holding answer 5 November 2001]: Health authorities and primary care trust drugs budgets are not determined centrally. However, the Department issues guidance each year to the national health service with

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  advice about factors that health authorities and primary care trusts should take into account in setting prescribing budgets. The latest guidance was issued in January 2001.

  The latest guidance advises that
  "over the past five years the average growth in the drugs bill has been around 8 per cent.".
  and that when setting prescribing budgets,
  "discussions should take into account local circumstances, including past trends and spending comparisons with similar areas."

  Health authorities and PCTs and groups are also reminded to take account of additional costs from factors that influence prescribing costs, for example, national service frameworks, newly licenses drugs and National Institute for Clinical Excellence recommendations.

  Health authorities and PCTs receive unified allocations to cover the costs of hospital and community health services, discretionary funding for general practice staff, premises and computers and primary care prescribing.

  It is for health authorities in partnership with primary care groups/trusts and other local stakeholders to determine how best to use their funds.

  We do take account of trends in primary care prescribing costs when considering the overall levels of allocations that are made to health authorities.

  Electro-convulsive Therapy
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many(a) mental health and (b) other patients, broken down by reason for their admission to hospital received ECT (i) having given informed consent in advance, (ii) not having given consent but having the matter put to a second opinion and (iii) not having given consent and not having the matter referred to a second opinion-appointed doctor, in each quarter over the last nine years; and how many patients for each of the quarters where figures are available were (A) under 16, (B) 16 to 59, (C) 60 to 75 and (D) 75 years and over. [13111]

  Jacqui Smith
  The information requested is not available.

  The most recent information available is contained in a one-off survey covering the period from January 1999 to March 1999, England only, that was undertaken to provide an up to date and accurate snapshot picture of the use of electro-convulsive therapy (ECT). Prior to this survey, the information previously recorded on ECT did not provide an accurate picture on the use of ECT treatment.

  The results of the survey are contained in the Department of Health Statistical Bulletin "Electro-Convulsive Therapy: Survey covering the period from January 1999 to March 1999, England", a copy of which is in the Library.

  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when his Department last undertook an evidence review into the use and efficacy of ECT that drew on(a) UK and (b) international research. [13110]

  Jacqui Smith
  The Department has commissioned a systematic review of the effectiveness and safety of electro-convulsive therapy (ECT). This review which 682W
  covers both United Kingdom and international research led by Dr. John Geddes at the University of Oxford and is expected to report by the end of this year.

  The Department has commissioned the Institute of Psychiatry to conduct a review of studies and information on consumers' perspectives on ECT.

  The Department's health technology assessment (HTA) programme has commissioned a review, on behalf of the National Institute for Clinical Excellence, on the clinical cost-effectiveness of ECT due to be completed in May 2002. The HTA programme has also commissioned a trial of the clinical effectiveness and cost of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation versus ECT in severe depression. This report is due to be published in May 2006.

  The National Health Service Centre for Reviews and Dissemination has conducted systematic reviews relating to the effectiveness of ECT including:

  Electro-convulsive therapy for depression

  Electro-convulsive therapy for schizophrenia

  Half a century of ECT use in young people.

  The details of these reviews can be found in the Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effectiveness available at: http://agantha.york.ac.uk/welcome.htm

  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance has been issued to doctors relating to who should(a) administer and (b) receive ECT in hospitals; and if he will make a statement. [13109]

  Jacqui Smith
  In 1995, the Royal College of Psychiatrists issued guidance on the use of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) called "The ECT Handbook—The Second Report of the Royal College of Psychiatrists' Special Committee on ECT". This is an important source of guidance to patients and include sections on clinical guidelines; the administration of ECT; the law and consent. The college expects to issue an updated edition of this guidance in 2002.

  In September 1998 the Chief Medical Officer and the president of the Royal College of Psychiatrists sent a joint letter to all consultant psychiatrists, health authorities and national health service trusts. Clinicians and mental health trust managers were expected to ensure ECT is administered to patients in accordance with the college's guidance.

  Decisions on clinical interventions remain the prerogative of clinical staff. However, evidence and research tends to support the use of ECT treatment on patients with severe depressive illness and puerperal psychosis.

  Nutrition
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what targets his Department has set for the reduction of under-nutrition; and what progress has been made to reach the targets; [12915]

  (2) what strategies the Government have in place to (a) manage and (b) monitor under-nutrition in (i) hospital, (ii) residential care and (iii) the wider community; and if he will make a statement; [12916]
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  (3) what measures are being taken to screen patients for under-nutrition in (a) hospitals, (b) residential care and (c) the wider community; and if he will make a statement. [12917]

  Jacqui Smith
  [holding answer 6 November 2001]: In the NHS Plan, we made a commitment to reduce under-nutrition by developing a hospital nutrition policy to improve the outcome of care of patients by 2004. A number of measures and strategies are in place to manage, monitor and screen patients for under-nutrition in hospitals, residential care and the wider community. A full list of these initiatives has been placed in the Library.

  We recognise that one of the most important factors in aiding hospital patients to gain improved health is through the provision of good quality nutritional food that the patient is able to eat and enjoy. Two reports published last year—from the Nuffield Trust and the British Association of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition—made recommendations for hospital nutrition services encompassing both hospital food and artificial nutrition.

  We are introducing housekeepers on to ward teams to work with the ward sister. One of the key responsibilities of the housekeeper is to ensure that patients are given encouragement and assistance in not only choosing suitable meals and snacks but also with eating if required. From 14 November, a housekeeping guide will be able on

  NHS trust

  Expenditure (£000)

  Per weighted head population (£)

  Avon Ambulance Service NHS Trust

  14,522

  15.40

  Beds and Hens Ambulance and Paramedic NHS Trust

  23,902

  16.02

  Cumbria Ambulance Service NHS Trust

  9,753

  19.82

  Dorset Ambulance NHS Trust

  12,575

  18.09

  East Anglian Ambulance NHS Trust

  33,029

  16.36

  East Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Trust

  45,090

  16.13

  Essex Ambulance Service NHS Trust

  27,242

  18.24

  Gloucestershire Ambulance Services NHS Trust

  8,593

  16.70

  Greater Manchester Ambulance NHS Trust

  35,195

  12.55

  Hampshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust

  21,111

  13.94

  Hereford and Worcester Ambulance NHS Trust

  12,080

  19.02

  Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Trust

  2,455

  17.95

  Kent Ambulance NHS Trust

  21,743

  14.46

  Lancashire Ambulance Service NHS Trust

  27,150

  18.02

  Lincolnshire Ambulance NHS Trust

  17,660

  18.80

  London Ambulance Service NHS Trust

  119,785

  15.01

  Mersey Regional Ambulance Service NHS Trust

  30,248

  12.01

  North East Ambulance Service NHS Trust

  29,127

  17.47

  Oxfordshire Ambulance NHS Trust

  9,900

  18.27

  Royal Berkshire Ambulance Service Trust

  13,970

  19.19

  S Yorks Met Amb and Paramed Sery NHS Trust

  16,848

  12.04

  Shropshire's Community and Mental HS NHS Trust

  6,340

  15.87

  Staffordshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust

  16,218

  16.09

  Surrey Ambulance Service NHS Trust

  19,518

  20.55

  Sussex Ambulance Service NHS Trust

  27,872

  18.19

  Tees East and Nth Yorkshire Amb Serv NHS Trust

  32,276

  17.33

  Two Shires Ambulance NHS Trust

  18,835

  16.75

  Warwickshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust

  9,328

  20.34

  West Midlands Ambulance NHS Trust

  39,167

  14.21

  West Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust

  45,173

  20.82

  West Country Ambulance Services NHS Trust

  40,493

  19.97

  Wiltshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust

  9,744

  17.99

  Hearing Aids
  Sandra Gidley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, (1) pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for North Devon (Mr. Harvey), on 25 April 2001,Official Report, columns 171–72W, on hearing aids, what plans his Department has to ensure funding for the continued
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  the national health service estates website. This guide has been compiled after consultation with NHS trusts and all staffing groups, ie dieticians, nurses, caterers, facilities, estates and hotel services. Patients have also been involved with the guide and have been instrumental in establishing the 11 patient-focused national service standards for housekeepers

  Ambulance Services
  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health to what extent each ambulance service in England met Government performance targets in the most recent year for which information is available; what the cost of each service was for that year; and what the cost per head of population of providing each service was in that year. [12926]

  Ms Blears
  [holding answer 6 November 2001]: Information about response times to emergency calls for all national health service ambulance trusts is contained in the Department of Health Statistical Bulletin "Ambulance Services, England 2000–01". A copy is in the Library and available at www.doh.uk/public/sb0115.htm.

  Information on the cost of each service and the cost per head of population of providing each service is specified in the table (the most recent available figures are for 2000–01).

  provision of digital hearing aids under the modernising NHS hearing aids services project throughout the financial year 2002–03; [13779]

  (2) pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Stafford (Mr. Kidney) of 11 July 2001, Official Report, column 508, on digital hearing aids, at what date

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  following the presentation of the Institute of Hearing Research's final evaluation report he will make an announcement about extending changes in hearing aid services to all NHS audiology departments. [13746]

  Jacqui Smith
  The evaluation of the modernisation project will be taken into account when considering further investment next year in a national health service hearing aid service, which includes the provision of digital hearing aids. The Department has received interim evaluation reports from the Institute of Hearing Research, and will continue to be updated on progress. Planning and decisions on modemisation and associated funding and resources are being kept under review until further data can start to be taken into account.

  National Blood Service
  Mr. Havard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health which organisations and individuals make up the National Blood Service's appropriate use of blood and blood components group. [13508]

  Mr. Hutton
  [holding answer 12 November 2001]: The membership of the National Blood Service Appropriate Use of Blood group is:

  Chairman:

  Dr. Angela Robinson—Medical Director, National Blood Service

  Members:

  Dr. Paula Bolton-Maggs—Consultant Haemotologist, Alder Hey Hospital

  Carol Cantwall—Chief Biomedical Scientist, St. Mary's Hospital, London

  Prof. Marcela Contreras—National Blood Service

  Jan Gordon—Transfusion Nurse, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital

  Dr. Virge James—National Blood Service

  Charles McCollum—Professor of Surgery, Manchester

  Prof. Paul McMaster—Hepatohiliary and Transplant Surgeon, Birmingham

  Dr. Mike Murphy—National Blood Service

  Stuart Penny—National Blood Service

  Dr. Fiona Regan—National Blood Service

  Liz Reynolds—National Blood Service

  Dr. Clare Taylor—National Blood Service

  Dr. Dafydd Thomas—Consultant, Morriston Hospital

  John Thompson—Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital

  Dr. Dorothy Stainsby—National Blood Service

  Brian Chaves—National Blood Service

  Dr. Liz Love—National Blood Service

  John McCoy—National Blood Service.

  Traditional Medicines Directive
  Mr. Heald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representation he intends to make to the European Commission about the proposed traditional medicines directive. [13851]

  Ms Blears
  [holding answer 12 November 2001]: The United Kingdom comments on early drafts of the proposal for a directive on traditional medicinal products were set out in letters from the Medicines Control Agency (MCA) to the European Commission dated 18 December 2000 and 30 April 2001. Copies of these letters have been placed in the Library. The Commission has indicated that
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  it expects shortly to adopt proposals for new provisions on traditional herbal medicinal products. We will decide what further representations may be required once we have assessed these updated proposals.

  Psychosis
  Mr. Heald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if it is his policy that by 2004 all young people who experience a first episode of psychosis should be offered the choice of being prescribed atypical medicines. [13849]

  Jacqui Smith
  [holding answer 12 November 2001]: As indicated in the mental health policy implementation guide, early intervention in psychosis teams should use either low dose traditional or atypical antipsychotics in first line treatment and they should involve service users in decision making and monitoring of effects. The NHS Plan states that by 2004 all young people who experience a first episode of psychosis, such as schizophrenia, will receive the early and intensive support they need.

  Governing Bodies
  Mr. Heald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he last met the(a) chairman of the council of the BMA, (b) president of the Royal College of Physicians, (c) president of the Royal College of Surgeons, (d) president of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, (e) president of the Royal College of General Practitioners, (f) president of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and (g) president of the Royal College of Nursing. [13857]

  Ms Blears
  [holding answer 12 November 2001]: Dates of the latest meetings with my right hon. Friend are shown. Where there have been no meetings with my right hon. Friend, the latest meetings with other ministerial colleagues are shown.

  (a) Chairman of the Council of the BMA: 11 July 2001

  (b) President of the Royal College of Physicians: 10 July 2001

  (c) President of the Royal College of Surgeons: 19 July 2001 (my noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Lords), Lord Hunt)

  (d) President of the Royal College of Psychiatrists: 18 July 2001 (my right hon. Friend the Minister for Health (Mr. Hutton))

  (e) President of the Royal College of General Practitioners: 10 July 2001

  (f) President of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists

  (g) President of the Royal College of Nursing.

  NHS Budget (Hertfordshire)
  Mr. Heald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his estimate is of the amount by which Hertfordshire will overspend on the NHS budget in the current financial year. [13244]

  Jacqui Smith
  [holding answer 12 November 2001]: The estimated projected overspend across Hertfordshire in 2001–02 is £8 million of which £5.1 million is for East and North Hertfordshire National Health Service Trust and £2.9 million in respect of prescribing. There are long standing financial issues that affect Hertfordshire and the NHS eastern regional office is actively involved in agreeing a financial recovery plan.

  Hampshire and Surrey Ambulance Services
  Mr. Viggers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost was of the consultation exercise on the proposed merger of Hampshire and Surrey ambulance services. [13503]

  Ms Blears
  [holding answer 12 November 2001]: The information requested is not available.

  Smallpox
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he has had with the World Health Organisation regarding contingency plans for combating an outbreak of smallpox in the UK. [12253]

  Jacqui Smith
  Ministers and officials have frequent formal and informal contacts with the World Health Organisation on a range of health-related topics including issues around the health threats posed by a bioterrorist threat. Within the framework of these ongoing contacts, we have had no specific discussions on contingency planning for combating an outbreak of smallpox in the United Kingdom, although we are aware of the guidance WHO has published on these matters. As part of our contingency planning we will keep open our contacts with WHO so that we can call upon their advice and technical assistance as necessary.

  Stoke Mandeville Merger
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is his policy towards the proposed merger of the Stoke Mandeville Hospital and South Buckinghamshire NHS Trust. [14710]

  Ms Blears
  The merger of Stoke Mandeville Hospital national health service trust and South Buckinghamshire NHS trust has been proposed by the trusts and Buckinghamshire health authority. The proposal is currently with Ministers for consideration.

  Primary Care Trusts
  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what arrangements have been made for the transfer of funding streams from district health authorities to PCTs [14340]

  Mr. Hutton
  At present my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State allocates resources to health authorities. Health authorities then allocate resources to their primary care trusts. In the future, as part of our programme to devolve power to frontline organisations, we intend that the Secretary of State will allocate resources direct to primary care trusts. The National Health Service Reform and Health Care Professions Bill, currently before Parliament, seeks to give effect to this.

  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what arrangements have been made to ensure the continuity of employment of staff transferring from district health authorities to component PCTs. [14341]

  Mr. Hutton
  For staff transferring from health authorities to primary care trusts under Transfer of Undertakings Protection of Employment (TUPE) Regulations 1981 or by terms reflecting TUPE principles (Transfer Orders), continuity of service will automatically 688W
  apply. This means that there will be no break in service and existing pay and terms and conditions of employment will be protected at the point of transfer.

  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to make decisions regarding the confirmation of primary care trusts in Cambridgeshire. [14023]

  Mr. Hutton
  The process of approving applications for primary care trust status is contained in Health Service Circular 1999/167. Primary care trust applications are currently being assessed and will be considered for approval against the published national criteria over the next two months.

  Social Services Staff Training
  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to overhaul training courses available to social services staff. [14343]

  Jacqui Smith
  Guidance on the training and qualifications that all social care staff should undertake is given in the National Training Strategy document: "Modernising the Social Care Workforce" which the National Training Organisation for Social Care published, with endorsement from the Minister of State, my right hon. Friend the Member for Barrow and Furness (Mr. Hutton), in July 2000.

  In March 2001 we also announced the development of a three-year degree level qualification in social work to replace the current two-year Diploma course. The degree level qualification will be introduced in England from September 2003.

  GP Recruitment (Financial Incentives)
  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) for what reason Worthing is not included in areas eligible for his new incentive scheme for recruiting GPs to work in areas of high shortages; [14345]

  (2) if he will list those areas eligible for his scheme to provide financial incentives to general practitioners to work in areas of high shortages; and what sums are available in each. [14344]

  Mr. Hutton
  There are incentives for all areas of up to £5,000 per eligible general practitioner. Those areas deemed as underdoctored will attract an additional payment of up to £5,000 more per eligible GP.

  The primary care trusts/groups eligible for the underdoctored additional payment are those that have fewer than the national median number of GPs (GP principals or equivalent on whole-time equivalent basis) per 100,000 weighted population. The national PCT/G median is 52.695 GPs per 100,000 weighted population, Worthing PCG has 54.35 GPs per 100.000 weighted population and therefore each newly appointed GP will receive up to £5,000.

  There is no cap to the amount of money available to any area under this scheme.

  The list of areas eligible to receive the additional payment for being an underdoctored area, along with guidance on the golden hello scheme is available on

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  the Department of Health website at www.doh.gov.uk/ pricare/goldenhello. A copy is also available in the Library.

  Public-private Projects
  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list those public-private projects being negotiated within the national health service. [14338]

  Region/Trust

  Project description

  Northern and Yorks

  Newcastle-upon-Tyne Hospitals NHS Trust

  Completion of Reconfiguration of Acute Hospital Services in Newcastle

  Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

  Implementation of Leeds Acute Services Reconfiguration Strategy

  North Durham Health Care NHS Trust

  Chester-le-Street Community Hospital

  Huddersfield and Calderdale NHS Trusts

  EPR (Electronic Patient Record) scheme

  Leeds Teaching Hospitals

  EPR scheme

  Bradford Hospitals NHS Trust and Airdale NHS trust

  EPR scheme

  Trent

  Southern Derbyshire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust (2, 3)

  Acute Reconfiguration

  Nottingham Healthcare NHS Trust

  Elderly Mental Health

  Doncaster and South Humber NHS

  Mental Health Services

  Nottingham City Hospital NHS Trust

  Staff residences

  Eastern

  East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust

  Ambulatory Care Centre

  Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust

  Staff accommodation

  London

  Havering Hospitals NHS Trust

  Redevelopment of Hospital Facilities

  Newham Healthcare NHS Trust

  Rationalisation

  The Whittington Hospital NHS Trust

  Redevelopment of Acute Hospital Services

  Parkside Health NHS Trust

  Willesden

  West London Pathology Consortium

  Pathology Systems

  Havering Hospital NHS Trust

  EPR scheme

  King's Healthcare NHS Trust

  EPR scheme

  Guy's and St. Thomas' Hospital NHS Trust

  EPR scheme

  Lewisham Hospital NHS Trust

  EPR scheme

  South East

  Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust

  Acute rationalisation

  Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals NHS Trust

  Radcliffe infirmary relocation to John Radcliffe Hospital Site

  Stoke Mandeville Hospital NHS Trust

  Partial Redevelopment

  Newbury Primary Care NHS Trust

  Consolidation of sites in Newbury

  Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre NHS Trust

  Orthopaedic/Medicines redevelopment

  Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Trust

  Mental Health Acute Hospital reprovision

  East Kent Community NHS Trust

  West View Reprovision Joint NHS/Local Authority

  Brighton Health Care NHS Trust

  Renal Unit Reprovision

  Northampton Community Healthcare NHS Trust

  Danetre Community Health Centre Joint NHS/Local Authority

  Invicta Community Care NHS Trust

  Mental Health Reprovision

  Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Trust

  Acute Mental Health Ward reprovision

  Brighton Health Care NHS Trust

  Brighton Education Centre

  Bournewood Community and Mental Health NHS Trust

  Walton and Chertsey Health Centres

  Ashford and St. Peter's NHS Trust

  Energy Management Scheme

  Mid-Sussex NHS Trust

  Low Secure Unit

  Royal Berkshire and Battle Hospitals NHS Trust

  RBBH Pas

  Royal Surrey County Hospital

  EPR scheme

  Heatherwood and Wexham Park NHS Trust

  EPR scheme

  Milton Keynes General NHS Trust

  EPR scheme

  South Buckinghamshire NHS Trust

  EPR scheme

  Stoke Mandeville NHS Trust

  EPR scheme

  North Staffordshire Hospital NHS Trust

  EPR scheme

  South West

  Gloucestershire Royal NHS Trust

  Site re-development

  Exeter and District Community Health Services NHS Trust

  Tiverton Hospital

  Cornwall Healthcare NHS Trust

  Western Mental Health, Cambourne and Redruth

  Wiltshire and Swindon Health Care NHS Trust

  Bradford-on-Avon Hospital

  South West Regional Procurement

  EPR systems

  Swindon and Marlborough

  EPR scheme

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  Mr. Hutton
  Many contracts are negotiated every year between national health service bodies and private sector suppliers for a wide range of services and equipment. Information is only held centrally on private finance initiative (PFI) projects with a capital value of £1 million or greater. These are listed in the table (in negotiation is interpreted as any stage between OJEC notice and financial close).
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  Region/Trust

  Project description

  West Midlands

  University Hospitals Warwickshire and Coventry NHS Trust

  New DGH

  City Hospital NHS Trust

  Ambulatory Care Centre

  Mid-Staffordshire General Hospitals NHS Trust

  EPR scheme

  North West

  Central Manchester Healthcare NHS Trust

  Service Reconfiguration

  Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley Healthcare NHS Trust

  Site Rationalisation

  Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Trust

  Staff Residential Accommodation

  Christie NHS Trust

  EPR scheme

  Blackburn NHS Trust

  EPR scheme

  Burnley NHS Trust

  EPR scheme

  North Manchester NHS Trust

  EPR scheme

  Chorley and Preston NHS Trust

  EPR scheme

  Salford Mental Health NHS Trust

  EPR scheme

  General Practice Nurses
  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many practice nurses worked in general practice surgeries in each of the last five years; and what were their full-time working equivalents. [14346]

  Mr. Hutton
  Figures showing the number (headcount) and whole-time equivalent for practice nurses employed by unrestricted principals and equivalents in each of the last five years are shown in the table.

  Practice nurses employed by unrestricted principals and equivalents (UPEs)1 as at 1 October 1996–99 and 30 September 2000—England

  Headcount2

  Whole-time equivalent

  1996

  17,900

  9,820

  1997

  18,390

  10,080

  1998

  18,890

  10,360

  1999

  19,500

  10,690

  2000

  19,200

  10,710

  1UPEs includes GMS unrestricted principals, PMS contracted GPs and PMS salaried GPs.

  2Headcount data were not collected in 1998 and 1999; data for these years have been estimated from whole-time equivalents (wte) using the 1997 wte to headcount ratio.

  Note:

  Data are rounded to the nearest ten.

  Source:

  Department of Health General and Personal Medical Services Statistics.

  National Clinical Director for Children
  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the change of name to the National Clinical Director for Children. [14339]

  Jacqui Smith
  Professor Al Aynsley-Green's appointment was announced in July this year, following the publication of the report from the Bristol Royal Infirmary Inquiry. The term "National Director for Healthcare services" originated in a recommendation in that report.

  However, Professor Aynsley-Green's role includes chairing the Children's Taskforce, and leading work to develop the Children's National Service Framework. Both of these roles require an overview across health and social care services.
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  The title of "National Clinical Director for Children" recognises Professor Aynsley-Green's particular expertise as a clinician, but does not limit the type of services in which he takes an interest. This formulation matches that used for many other national directors.

  New Hospitals
  Mr. Andrew Mitchess
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many new hospitals and significant hospital buildings, as defined by his Department, were(a) in progress in May 1997 and (b) opened during 1997. [14538]

  Mr. Hutton
  The Department's definition of a significant hospital building development is any capital investment scheme with a total cost of over £25 million. No such publicly funded schemes started construction in 1997 until the private finance initiative began to deliver, with the Dartford and Gravesham scheme in August 1997 and the Carlisle scheme in November 1997. Since 1 May 1997, 64 such schemes have been given approval to proceed under the private finance initiative.

  In May 1997, 12 significant publicly funded schemes were in progress, having started construction several years previously. Eight such schemes reached completion during 1997.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Jury Service
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what is the Government's policy on the eligibility for jury service of hon. Members and Members of the House of Lords. [14711]

  Mr. Denham
  I have been asked to reply.

  The right to be excused jury service was considered by Sir Robin Auld as part of his independent review of the criminal courts. He recommended that no-one should be excusable from jury service as of right, only on showing good reason for excusal. His report is the subject of public

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  consultation until the end of January 2002, and the Government will give careful consideration to these issues in the light of comments received.

  Freedom of Information Act
  Tony Wright
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when he will bring the Freedom of Information Act 2000 into force. [15143]

  Mr. Wills
  I have today placed in the Library of the House a paper, containing a Schedule of organisations and dates, that sets out the Government's plans for implementing the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

  Lord Chancellor's Apartments
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how much money has been raised for charity by granting permission for outside bodies to use the Lord Chancellor's apartments in each year since 1997. [13634]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  Since March 1998 there have been about 150 charitable receptions in the Lord Chancellor's official residence. The following figures are a break down of the amount of money raised for charity between March 1998 and October 2001.

  Financial year1

  £

  1997–98

  541,650

  1998–99

  472,279

  1999–2000

  368,715

  2000–01

  711,667

  2001–02

  2,281,000

  Total

  4,375,311

  1I April to 31 March

  Law Society
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when he next plans to meet the President of the Law Society. [13635]

  Mr. Wills
  I last met the President of the Law Society on 29 October but neither I nor any of my ministerial colleagues have appointments arranged with him at present. However, meetings with the President take place on a fairly regular basis and it is likely that further appointments will be arranged in the future.

  Terence MacSwiney
  Harry Cohen
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if she will arrange for the release of all official documents relating to Mr. Terence MacSwiney, former Lord Mayor of Cork; and if she will make a statement. [13539]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  Records relating to Terence MacSwiney have been transferred to the Public Record Office by the Home Office, the Metropolitan Police and the Judge Advocate General's Office. Those that were closed under the guidelines that obtained before the 'Open Government' White paper 1993 (Cm 2290) will now be reviewed by the transferring departments under current guidelines. This is in accordance with standard practice, which is to undertake re-review of specific historical records on request.

  Researchers who require access to closed records held by the PRO or to historical records still held by departments should write to the Departmental Record Officer of the department that created the records (or its successor) quoting the PRO reference where this is known. Requests for review of access restrictions are handled in the order in which they are received, regardless of the source of the inquiry or its subject matter. The only exception to this is where the information is urgently required for legal purposes.

ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

  Livestock Movements
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the impact on animal welfare of the implementation of the licensing provisions for the movement of livestock. [10178]

  Mr. Morley
  The movement licence provisions were drawn up in close co-operation with the fanning industry. They permit as much movement of live animals as possible consistent with the overall objective of containing and eradicating foot and mouth disease. The arrangements are kept under review in the light of the developing disease situation.

  Cases for exceptional movements on the ground of welfare needs are considered on a case-by-case basis. The Livestock Welfare Disposal Scheme is available as a last resort to those farmers who face unavoidable welfare difficulties.

  Sheepmeat
  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what(a) additional finance and (b) new marketing initiatives her Department is providing to reinforce consumer confidence in the purchase and consumption of lamb, sheepmeat and related products. [11215]

  Mr. Morley
  Subject to state aids clearance, DEFRA will contribute match-funding of £2.72 million towards the Meat and Livestock Commission's autumn campaign to promote lamb consumption.

  Hunting
  Lembit Öpik
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she plans to publish the veterinary risk assessment report on the risk of spreading foot and mouth disease via the activities of hunts; and if she will make a statement. [12021]

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she plans to publish the veterinary risk assessment report on the effect of foot and mouth on a recommencement of hunting. [10392]

  Kate Hoey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she intends to publish the results of the veterinary risk assessment of hunting with dogs. [10561]

  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she will publish the veterinary risk assessment on hunting with hounds; and when she will lift the restrictions placed on hunting with hounds as a consequence of the outbreak of foot and mouth disease. [14270]
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  Mr. Keith Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when the risk assessment report on the resumption of hunting with dogs will be published; and for what reason she has not published it to date. [13478]

  Mr. Cameron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she plans to publish the veterinary risk assessment into restarting hunting; and if she will make a statement. [13469]

  Alun Michael
  This veterinary risk assessment raises a number of complex issues regarding the future of foot and mouth disease related restrictions on hunting and such matters involve a careful balance of risks. It will be published as soon as Ministers and DEFRA officials have completed their consideration of the document. An announcement on the future of foot and mouth disease controls on hunting will be made as soon as possible.

  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to propose legislation in respect of hunting with dogs. [11806]

  Alun Michael
  [holding answer 6 November 2001]: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to him on 20 July 2001, Official Report, column 635W.

  Mr. Keith Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she will lift the restrictions placed on hunting with dogs as a consequence of the outbreak of foot and mouth. [13477]

  Alun Michael
  [holding answer 9 November 2001]: This veterinary risk assessment raises a number of complex issues regarding the future of foot and mouth disease related restrictions on hunting and such matters involve a careful balance of risks. It will be published as soon as Ministers and DEFRA officials have completed their consideration of the document. An announcement on the future of foot and mouth disease controls on hunting will be made as soon as possible.

  Regional Office (Exeter)
  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) on what date she was informed of(a) missing equipment and (b) the suspension of personnel at her Department's regional office at Exeter; and on what date the equipment was first found to be missing; [12828]

  (2) if she will list the items discovered missing from her Department's regional office at Exeter; what data are contained on the equipment; and to what the data on the equipment related; [12830]

  (3) on what date the Devon and Cornwall constabulary was informed of (a) missing equipment and (b) the suspension of staff from her Department's regional office at Exeter; [12829]

  (4) for what reasons staff have been suspended from their posts at her Department's regional office at Exeter on

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  1 November; whether these suspensions are on a permanent or temporary basis; and if she will state the seniority and role of the members of staff involved. [12827]

  Mr. Morley
  18 members of staff who had been based at Exeter are suspended from duty while the Department carries out its own internal criminal investigation concerning expenses claims. An investigation into missing equipment is also being carried out. The police have not been advised as my staff have the power to deal with criminal matters.

  As the investigations are on-going it would be inappropriate for me to comment further at this time.

  Farm Diversification
  Paul Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to encourage more diversification of farmed land into(a) fuel growing, (b) aqua culture, (c) coppicing, (d) organic and biomass farming and (e) leisure uses in the next five years; and what changes she expects in the levels of employment as a result. [13717]

  Alun Michael
  All the activities listed by my hon. Friend are potentially eligible for support under the England Rural Development Programme (ERDP). either as farm diversification projects or under specific schemes, such as the Organic Farming or Energy Crops Schemes. Encouragement of uptake under the ERDP is being promoted through a variety of routes, including in national and regional media, through the Department's presence at agricultural and similar shows providing the opportunity for direct contact with potential grant recipients, through revised specialist literature, and through the work of partner organisations and others providing business advice to farmers. Some crops grown for energy purposes may alternatively receive support under the Arable Area Payments Scheme.

  As far as changes in employment levels are concerned, the ERDP was developed as a significant tool for the long-term regeneration of rural areas and the encouragement of an environmentally sustainable and economically diverse countryside. While the programme does include targets for numbers of jobs sustained or created under some of the measures, the impact of the programme on the rural economy and environment overall is potentially of greater significance than the single indicator of levels of employment.

  Live Animals (Export)
  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she is taking to ensure that all livestock vehicles transporting animals for over eight hours are required to install a forced ventilation system. [13549]

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 9 November 2001]: Correct ventilation, control and monitoring of the conditions in livestock vehicles is important to maintain animal welfare. Discussions are continuing in the context
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  of the European Commission's proposal for a revision of the EU regulation which sets standards for over eight hour livestock vehicle ventilation.

  Flood Risk
  Mr. Sayeed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations the Government have received on the level of insurance premiums being demanded of homeowners whose property lies in an area classified as a high flood risk; and if she will make a statement. [13911]

  Mr. Morley
  The Government maintain close links with the insurance industry to help ensure continued availability of affordable flood cover. Together with the flood defence operating authorities, we are reducing the risk of flooding and are communicating this to the industry. However, it must be recognised that insurance companies need to take a commercial decision as to what risk they will cover and on what terms.

  The agreement among ABI members is that they will continue to provide flood cover, except in exceptional circumstances, for domestic properties and small businesses which they currently insure, during 2001 and 2002. My hon. Friend the Economic Secretary to the Treasury and I met the Association of British Insurers on 5 September to discuss our mutual aim of ensuring that affordable flood insurance cover continues to be generally available after December 2002. Further discussions between officials have taken place.

  In relation to the concerns expressed by the ABI, the Government are acting to reduce flood risk, through substantial increases in investment in flood and coastal defence (which now totals over £400 million a year). Flood defences are being repaired, renewed, maintained and improved. Flood warning arrangements are continually being improved. The Government have issued strengthened guidance to local planning authorities on control of development in flood risk areas, and are reviewing the financial and institutional arrangements under which the flood defence service is delivered.

  Mr. Sayeed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the efficacy of the flood risk area analysis, conducted by the Environment Agency; and if she will make a statement. [13890]

  Mr. Morley
  No formal assessment has been made by my Department. The Environment Agency flood plain maps are completed on the basis of the best information available. They are indicative only. A party seeking a more specific site related flood risk analysis should seek further, more detailed, local information from the Environment Agency, and/or carry out further investigations to determine the nature and extent of flood risk within a particular area. The maps are continuously improved and updated on an annual basis as better information is gained.

  The agency is currently in the process of extending the scope of this mapping to provide an indication of an extreme flood outline for the whole of England and Wales which will give a better indication of the range of potential flood risk in many areas. It is expected that these maps will be published before the end of 2002.

WORK AND PENSIONS

  Departmental Properties
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will list the number, value and location of properties newly leased in each of the last five years by his Department, broken down by those leases by the Department itself, its next step agencies and its non-departmental public bodies, differentiating between purchases made as a result of the creation of new bodies and those purchases made by established bodies. [7822]

  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  Tables of information have been placed in the Library. The tables include details of both the freehold and leasehold accommodation that has been acquired by the former Employment Service (ES) in the last five years. Information about "PRIME leases" taken on by the former Department of Social Security (DSS) is provided from 1 April 1998, as details are currently available only from when the PRIME contract commenced. The PRIME PFI contract transferred the ownership of the former DSS freehold properties and all obligations for leasehold accommodation to our private sector partners Land Securities Trillium.

  As modern leases have no intrinsic value as such, the rental cost of the former ES accommodation is given together with the market value of the freehold accommodation where appropriate. For the former DSS, details of the Facilities Price that we pay to Land Securities Trillium for the additional serviced office accommodation that has been taken on is provided. The Facilities Price covers not only the space we occupy but also a large number of building related services such as building management and maintenance, internal and external cleaning, and security.

  The only additional accommodation that has been taken on as a result of the creation of a new body is for the Pension Service.

  While we have taken on new accommodation in recent years, the flexibility in the PRIME contract has allowed us to reduce overall office space on the former DSS part of the estate from 1,488,701 sq m to approximately 1,300,000 sq m, as at October 2001. Taking the average 2001–02 Facility Price of £182 per square metre, this equates to a saving of approximately £34.34 m per annum.

  National Insurance Numbers
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many surplus national insurance numbers have been removed from his Department's Central Index since 1997; and what plans he has to tackle the problem of bogus and surplus numbers. [7477]

  Malcolm Wicks
  The Departmental Central Index (DCI) Data Cleaning Project removed 100,000 surplus duplicate National Insurance numbers (NINOs) from the DCI between April 1997 and March 2001.
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  To prevent the creation of further bogus and duplicate NINOs, the Enhanced NINO allocation process was introduced nationally from April 2001.

  Stakeholder Pensions
  Jeff Ennis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) by what means he will ensure that smaller companies provide stakeholder pensions to their employees; [10436]

  (2) how many companies with 50 or fewer workers have registered to provide stakeholder pensions. [10382]

  Mr. McCartney
  Employers are required to provide employees with access to a stakeholder pension scheme. Employers are not themselves required to set up a pension scheme or to contribute to it.

  Regulation of compliance with the requirement for employers to designate a stakeholder pension scheme for their employees will be undertaken by the Occupational Pensions Regulatory Authority (Opra).

  The number of employees in companies that have designated stakeholder pensions schemes for their staff is not available. However, figures from the Association of British Insurers show that the end of September this year, 212,242 employers of all sizes had designated stakeholder pension schemes for their workforces.

  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and. Pensions what action he is taking to improve access to free or low-cost advice to those intending to take out stakeholder pensions. [13901]

  Mr. McCartney
  Stakeholder pensions are designed to be simple. Many pension providers currently offer basic advice within the 1 per cent. annual management charge cap for stakeholder pensions. Additionally, the Financial Services Authority has produced decision trees to assist consumers.

  Benefit Fraud
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what measures he has taken to ensure that local authorities have implemented their action plans drawn up in response to reports by the Benefit Fraud Inspectorate. [11816]

  Malcolm Wicks
  Shortly after the publication of a Benefit Fraud Inspectorate (BFI) report, the local authority concerned is invited to respond to the BFI's findings, giving its proposals for improvement. Where the response indicates that the actions the authority has already taken or plans to take to improve its performance are satisfactory, the Department monitors the performance of the authority through the management information they provide and their performance against Best Value performance indicators.

  Where there are continuing concerns, authorities are asked to submit progress reports to ensure that their planned improvements are being implemented and achieved. If it is thought necessary to gain additional assurance that improvements have been implemented, the BFI may be asked to undertake a further inspection.

  Benefit Appeals
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many(a) appeals and (b) successful appeals there were in respect of each centre processing

  The number of appeals cleared for disability benefits and incapacity benefit in respect of each appeals service regional centre and the number found in favour of the appellant for 2000–01 and 2001 (year to date)

  1 April 2000 to 31 March 2001

  1 April 2001 to 30 September 2001

  Appeals service regional centre/disability benefit

  Appeals cleared at hearing

  Appeals found in favour of the appellant

  Appeals cleared at hearing

  Appeals found in favour of the appellant

  Birmingham

  Attendance Allowance

  1,056

  399

  413

  165

  Disability Living Allowance

  7,191

  3,126

  3,475

  1,576

  Incapacity Benefit

  2,771

  983

  1,333

  533

  Industrial Injuries and Disability Benefit

  1,273

  526

  541

  262

  Severe Disablement Allowance

  172

  62

  75

  33

  Cardiff

  Attendance Allowance

  1,266

  516

  725

  311

  Disability Living Allowance

  11,696

  5,685

  6,422

  3,426

  Incapacity Benefit

  4,761

  1,777

  2,667

  1,111

  Industrial Injuries and Disability Benefit

  2,546

  956

  1,416

  569

  Severe Disablement Allowance

  295

  118

  163

  78

  Glasgow

  Attendance Allowance

  2,215

  1,026

  1,210

  632

  Disability Living Allowance

  13,691

  7,115

  7,254

  4,180

  Incapacity Benefit

  5,136

  2,169

  2,549

  1,098

  Industrial Injuries and Disability Benefit

  3,241

  1,261

  1,767

  795

  Severe Disablement Allowance

  238

  83

  123

  50

  Leeds

  Attendance Allowance

  1,035

  407

  468

  194

  Disability Living Allowance

  7,668

  3,681

  3,508

  1,775

  Incapacity Benefit

  4,846

  1,913

  1,886

  743

  Industrial Injuries and Disability Benefit

  2,857

  659

  1,526

  315

  Severe Disablement Allowance

  185

  41

  59

  10

  Liverpool

  Attendance Allowance

  869

  345

  304

  129

  Disability Living Allowance

  9,755

  4,697

  3,940

  1,935

  Incapacity Benefit

  4,785

  2,115

  1,980

  961

  Industrial Injuries and Disability Benefit

  1,597

  606

  749

  309

  Severe Disablement Allowance

  135

  63

  89

  34

  Newcastle

  Attendance Allowance

  790

  347

  315

  148

  Disability Living Allowance

  7,162

  3,337

  3,540

  1,727

  Incapacity Benefit

  2,801

  1,002

  1,404

  545

  Industrial Injuries and Disability Benefit

  2,583

  1,311

  1,485

  730

  Severe Disablement Allowance

  100

  47

  71

  30

  Nottingham

  Attendance Allowance

  1,462

  668

  680

  289

  Disability Living Allowance

  10,356

  4,957

  5,614

  2,800

  Incapacity Benefit

  5,000

  1,761

  2,016

  694

  Industrial Injuries and Disability Benefit

  2,733

  1,277

  1,554

  726

  Severe Disablement Allowance

  392

  135

  192

  77

  Salford

  Attendance Allowance

  455

  183

  208

  84

  Disability Living Allowance

  5,220

  2,498

  2,699

  1,279

  Incapacity Benefit

  2,866

  1,036

  1,325

  460

  Industrial Injuries and Disability Benefit

  824

  380

  342

  140

  Severe Disablement Allowance

  69

  33

  53

  27

  Sutton

  Attendance Allowance

  999

  625

  642

  400

  Disability Living Allowance

  6,095

  3,990

  3,613

  2,439

  Incapacity Benefit

  4,626

  2,432

  2,154

  1,145

  Industrial Injuries and Disability Benefit

  944

  498

  330

  177

  Severe Disablement Allowance

  255

  124

  96

  38

  Source:

  Generic Appeals Processing System
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  (i) disability benefit claims and (ii) incapacity benefit claims (A) in 2000–01 and (B) since April. [11907]

  Maria Eagle
  The information is in the tables:
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  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what were the total running costs in respect of each centre of(a) processing disability benefit appeals and (b) processing incapacity benefit appeals in (i) 2000–01 and (b) 2001. [11908]

  Maria Eagle
  The information is in the tables:

  Total running costs in respect of each appeals service regional centre for disability benefits (disability living allowance and attendance allowance) and incapacity benefit for 2000–01 and 2001

  £

  1 April 2000 to 31 March 2001

  Appeals service regional centre

  Disability benefits1

  Incapacity benefit

  Birmingham

  1,298,036

  582,388

  Cardiff

  2,095,244

  1,332,337

  Glasgow

  2,517,265

  1,183,681

  Leeds

  1,111,209

  1,026,671

  Liverpool

  1,449,165

  1,359,845

  Newcastle

  1,352,022

  708,351

  Nottingham

  1,926,581

  985,176

  Salford

  1,037,612

  665,707

  Sutton

  1,484,387

  1,298,467

  £

  1 April 2000 to 31 September 2001

  Appeals service regional centre

  Disability benefits1

  Incapacity benefit

  Birmingham

  669,145

  300,225

  Cardiff

  1,272,719

  809,305

  Glasgow

  1,396,331

  656,590

  Leeds

  599,987

  554,341

  Liverpool

  662,309

  621,487

  Newcastle

  791,802

  414,840

  Nottingham

  1,191,271

  609,168

  Salford

  533,631

  342,365

  Sutton

  830,748

  726,697

  1 Only Disability Living Allowance and Attendance Allowance

  Minimum Income Guarantee
  Mr. Challen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners in Morley and Rothwell are receiving the Minimum Income Guarantee; and how many pensioners he estimates are entitled to it. [13450]

  Mr. McCartney
  Estimates of the numbers of people who may be eligible for, but who have not claimed Minimum Income Guarantee (MIG) are not available below national level.

  As at May 2001, there were an estimated 2,600 MIG recipients in the Morley and Rothwell constituency.

  Agency Costs
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the cost of the launch of the new agency to bring together the work of the Employment Service and parts of the Benefits Agency. [14095]

  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  1 refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Havant (Mr. Willetts) on 28 June 2001,Official Report, column 160W.

  Carers' Benefits
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he will lay the orders implementing changes in carers' benefits. [13903]

  Maria Eagle
  We propose to make the changes by Regulatory Reform Order, to be introduced in the House as soon as possible.

  Pension Funds
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if his Department will hold discussions with the Law Commission on a review to clarify the ownership and distribution of pension fund surpluses. [14349]

  Mr. McCartney
  Officials have been exploring the matter with the Law Commission.

  Housing Benefit
  Mrs. Lait
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions which Scottish local authorities had received a report from the Benefit Fraud Inspectorate on the administration of housing benefit by 8 November. [14348]

  Malcolm Wicks
  Benefit Fraud Inspectorate reports have been published' on the Scottish local authorities as listed:

  Angus

  Dundee

  East Dunbartonshire

  East Lothian

  East Lothian (second inspection)

  Edinburgh

  Glasgow

  Highland

  Inverclyde

  Scottish Borders

  South Ayrshire

  Stirling.

  Copies of the reports can be found in the Library.
  1The list does not include those authorities which have been inspected but the report has not yet been published.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

  Student Funding
  Mr. Alan Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the projected funding levels are per full-time student in(a) sixth forms and (b) further education colleges for each of the next two years. [6683]

  John Healey
  The latest estimate of the average delegated funding per sixth form student in schools is for 2000–01 and is £3,230. On this basis, projected average funding for 2001–02 is £3,330, rising to £3,430 in 2002–03. The total funding per full-time equivalent student in FE sector colleges in 2000–01 allocated by this Department is £3,420 rising to £3,660 in 2001–02, and £3,760 in 2002–03. However, these figures are not directly comparable, as the FE unit funding figures include total public funding allocated for further education, while the schools' figures are based only on
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  delegated funds and exclude other funding which the school receives centrally from LEAs which impact on post-16 students.

  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much her Department has spent per student in higher education in each year since 1990, excluding contribution from outside the public sector. [11127]

  Margaret Hodge
  The available data for England are shown in the table.

  Publicly planned funding for higher education institutions in England1

  Year

  Funding per FTE student2

  1991–92

  5,300

  1992–93

  5,060

  1993–94

  4,900

  1994–95

  4,830

  1995–96

  4,750

  1996–97

  4,580

  1997–98

  4,580

  1998–99

  4,700

  1999–2000

  4,810

  2000–01

  4,860

  2001–02

  5,020

  2002–03

  5,140

  2003–04

  5,290

  1Unit funding is based on HEFCE/TTA recurrent grant and plus tuition fees, divided by the number of full time equivalent students. It excludes capital, funding for widening access and all student support

  2Figures are rounded to nearest £10

  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what is the timetable for an announcement on the new proposals for higher education funding; if representatives of the National Union of Students are being consulted under the review; and whether the present system of tuition fees will be abolished. [13000]

  Margaret Hodge
  We need to ensure that we have an appropriate balance between the contribution made by students, their families and the state to support our ambitions to widen access and participation in higher education. A range of policy options is being considered and no decisions have been taken.

  We plan to consult widely on any proposals for change and would expect the National Union of Students to contribute. No decisions have been taken yet on the timing of an announcement.

  Individual Learning Accounts
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many individual learning accounts have been opened(a) in total and (b) in each region and nation of the United Kingdom, (i) in absolute numbers and (ii) per capita of the population of working age. [11267]

  John Healey
  As at 31 October, an overall 2,529,609 people in England had opened an Individual Learning Account through the national framework, launched in September 20001.

  The breakdown supplied of membership by region in the table excludes 86,355 cases for which postcode details are not held.
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  Area

  Number of Individual Learning Accounts opened to 28 October 2001

  Per capita of working age population2 Per cent.

  England

  2,529,609

  7.0

  East Midlands

  208,064

  8.0

  East of England

  202,124

  6.0

  London

  466,982

  6.0

  North East

  92,103

  7.0

  North West

  262,094

  7.0

  South East

  346.929

  8.0

  South West

  234,055

  West Midlands

  438,331

  13.0

  Yorkshire and the Humber

  191,643

  6.0

  1Prior to the national ILA framework, 202,654 members applied via TECs. Of these. 79,901 transferred their membership to the national framework and are therefore included in the overall total; 122,753 did not.

  2Source—Labour Force Survey, Summer 2001.

  Alistair Burt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, pursuant to her answer of 30 October 2001,Official Report, column 620W, on Individual Learning Accounts, on what date her Department first received a complaint about the operation of the individual learning account scheme; and if she will provide a monthly breakdown of all subsequent complaints received to date. [12290]

  John Healey
  The Individual Learning Account (ILA) Centre received five complaints in September 2000. Between 4 September 2000 and 30 September 2001 the ILA Centre received a total of 6,053 complaints. At the end of October, taking account of complaints received direct by the Department, the total number of complaints was 8,448 against a backdrop of 2,529,609 Individual Learning Accounts opened. Around a quarter (2,314) of these related to learning providers not following the rules of the programme correctly. It is important to note that the complaints recorded are wide ranging and include issues such as the ending of the £150 opening offer as well as service provision and providers. The October figure relates to those received at the ILA Centre and by the Department. The table provides a breakdown of this figure by month and cumulatively.

  Month

  Accounts opened (cumulative)

  Complaints received (cumulative)

  Percentage complaints(cumulative)

  Percentage complaints (in-month)

  September 2000

  109,564

  5

  —

  —

  October 2000

  214,880

  365

  0.16

  0.35

  November 2000

  292,641

  744

  0.25

  0.49

  December 2000

  347,175

  930

  0.26

  0.34

  January 2001

  446,724

  1,066

  0.23

  0.14

  February 2001

  556,928

  1,320

  0.23

  0.23

  March 2001

  661,558

  1,492

  0.22

  0.16

  April 2001

  781,572

  1,748

  0.22

  0.21

  May 2001

  988,539

  2,019

  0.20

  0.13

  June 2001

  1,276,275

  2,365

  0.18

  0.12

  July 2001

  1,578,014

  3,096

  0.19

  0.24

  August 2001

  1,941,468

  4,304

  0.22

  0.33

  September 2001

  2,386,238

  6,053

  0.25

  0.39

  October 2001

  2,529,609

  8,448

  0.33

  1.67

  The Department set up a Compliance Unit on 25 September, and figures provided for October, include complaints received by the Unit as well as more general complaints received by the ILA Centre. Also in October

  707W
  figures are 754 letters and recorded telephone complaints the Department received directly since the programme began, and not previously included.

  Alistair Burt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, pursuant to her answer of 30 October 2001,Official Report, column 619W, on Individual Learning Accounts, what evaluation she has made of the system she introduced to monitor the operation of the individual learning account scheme. [12287]

  John Healey
  [holding answer 2 November 2001]: We published our first stage evaluation of the Individual Learning Account programme this September. In addition, we recently completed a follow-up survey which we expect to publish by the end of December.

  Departmental Promotions
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much her Department spent on information literature, advertising and campaign material in the financial years(a) 1995–96, (b) 1996–97, (c) 1997–98, (d) 1998–99, (e) 1999–2000 and (f) 2000–01; and if she will make a statement.[12273]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  For each of the years requested, the Department's spend on advertising and on publications is as follows:

  £ million

  Advertising spend

  Publication spend

  1995–96

  Employment Department

  7.5

  n/a

  Department for Education

  0.3

  n/a

  1996–97

  7.5

  2.5

  1997–98

  10.0

  2.1

  1998–99

  15.7

  0.8

  1999–2000

  11.9

  2.8

  2000–01

  29.0

  2.3

  n/a = not available

  Student Maintenance Grant
  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimates she has made of the cost of reintroducing a student maintenance grant; and at what levels. [12744]

  Margaret Hodge
  We will consider the costs of making changes to the current system of student support as part of the review my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced in October.

  Higher Education
  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of pupils entered higher education at 18(a) in authorities which retain grammar schools and (b) in authorities which are fully comprehensive, at the latest date for which figures are available. [11630]

  Margaret Hodge
  [holding answer 5 November 2001]: The latest available data on the proportion of 18-year-olds from each local education authority in England entering full-time undergraduate courses in the UK via the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) are given in the table. The student figures in the table are
  708W
  based on the home domicile of 18-year-olds, but it should be noted that pupils will not always attend a school or college in the same authority as the one in which they live.

  English domiciled students aged 18 accepted to full-time undergraduate courses in the UK via UCAS, autumn 2000 entry

  Local education authority

  Population

  Acceptances

  Percentage

  Barking and Dagenham

  1,963

  198

  10.1

  Barnet1

  4,060

  1,196

  29.5

  Barnsley

  2,681

  412

  15.4

  Bath and North East Somerset

  2,061

  405

  19.7

  Bedfordshire

  4,714

  1.131

  24.0

  Bexley1

  2,620

  472

  18.0

  Birmingham1

  13,888

  2.255

  16.2

  Blackburn with Darwen

  1,959

  384

  19.6

  Blackpool

  1,574

  263

  16.7

  Bolton

  3,457

  750

  21.7

  Bournemouth1

  1,710

  358

  20.9

  Bracknell Forest

  1,315

  272

  20.7

  Bradford

  6,812

  1.147

  16.8

  Brent

  3,255

  924

  28.4

  Brighton and Hove

  2,686

  341

  12.7

  Bromley1

  3,189

  929

  29.1

  Buckinghamshire1

  6,089

  1.760

  28.9

  Bury

  2,306

  578

  25.1

  Calderdale1

  2,302

  442

  19.2

  Cambridgeshire

  7,148

  1.397

  19.5

  Camden

  2,150

  364

  16.9

  Cheshire

  7,963

  2.432

  30.5

  City of Bristol

  4,843

  664

  13.7

  City of Derby

  2,903

  498

  17.2

  City of Kingston upon Hull

  3,264

  288

  8.8

  City of London

  41

  22

  53.8

  City of Westminster

  2,347

  295

  12.6

  Cornwall

  5,854

  1.298

  22.2

  Coventry

  4,182

  715

  17.1

  Croydon

  4,065

  1.013

  24.9

  Cumbria1

  5,565

  1.213

  21.8

  Darlington

  1,257

  243

  19.3

  Derbyshire

  8,376

  1.744

  20.8

  Devon1

  8,347

  1.676

  20.1

  Doncaster

  3,761

  585

  15.6

  Dorset

  4,544

  956

  21.0

  Dudley

  3,587

  744

  20.7

  Durham

  6,568

  1.106

  16.8

  Ealing

  3,637

  951

  26.1

  East Riding of Yorkshire

  3,911

  880

  22.5

  East Sussex

  5,492

  1.156

  21.0

  Enfield1

  3,014

  802

  26.6

  Essex1

  15,281

  3.241

  21.2

  Gateshead

  2,496

  423

  16.9

  Gloucestershire1

  6,876

  1.724

  25.1

  Greenwich

  2,800

  344

  12.3

  Hackney

  2,447

  285

  11.6

  Halton

  1,733

  238

  13.7

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  1,520

  251

  16.5

  Hampshire

  15,553

  3.442

  22.1

  Haringey

  2,432

  452

  18.6

  Harrow

  2,750

  963

  53.0

  Hartlepool

  1,201

  188

  15.7

  Havering

  2,775

  478

  17.2

  Herefordshire

  1,982

  503

  25.4

  Hertfordshire

  11,947

  3.250

  27.2

  Hillingdon

  3,026

  637

  21.0

  Hounslow

  2,537

  644

  25.4

  Isle of Wight

  1,428

  295

  20.7

  Isles of Scilly

  28

  4

  14.3

  Islington

  1,917

  298

  15.5

  Kensington and Chelsea

  1,821

  305

  16.7

  Kent1

  15,954

  3,575

  22.4

  Kingston upon Thames1

  1,629

  441

  27.1

  Kirklees1

  4,952

  1,025

  20.7

  Knowsley

  2,213

  266

  12.0

  Lambeth

  2,840

  412

  14.5

  Lancashire1

  14,565

  3,303

  22.7

  Leeds

  8,831

  1.567

  17.7

  Leicester City

  3,870

  689

  17.8

  Leicestershire

  7,583

  1.710

  22.6

  709W

  English domiciled students aged 18 accepted to full-time undergraduate courses in the UK via UCAS, autumn 2000 entry

  Local education authority

  Population

  Acceptances

  Percentage

  Lewisham

  2,800

  446

  15.9

  Lincolnshire1

  7,498

  1,602

  21.4

  Liverpool

  6,197

  953

  15,4

  Luton

  2,430

  395

  16.3

  Manchester

  6,327

  693

  11.0

  Medway Towns1

  3,125

  543

  17.4

  Merton

  1,944

  439

  22.6

  Middlesbrough

  2,056

  340

  16.5

  Milton Keynes

  2,855

  497

  17.4

  Newbury

  1,964

  439

  22.3

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  3,517

  609

  17.3

  Newham

  3,361

  599

  17.8

  Norfolk

  9,094

  1,538

  16.9

  North East Lincolnshire

  2,022

  311

  15.4

  North Lincolnshire

  1,896

  397

  20.9

  North Somerset

  2,242

  492

  21.9

  North Tyneside

  2,399

  474

  19.8

  North Yorkshire1

  7,295

  1,826

  25.0

  Northamptonshire

  7,768

  1,524

  19.6

  Northumberland

  3,814

  946

  24.8

  Nottingham City

  3,828

  352

  9.2

  Nottinghamshire

  8,861

  1,813

  20.5

  Oldham

  2,912

  502

  17.2

  Oxfordshire

  7,868

  1,662

  21.1

  Peterborough

  2,157

  322

  14.9

  Plymouth1

  3,556

  513

  14.4

  Poole1

  1,630

  313

  19.2

  Portsmouth

  2,306

  269

  11.7

  Reading1

  1,701

  293

  17.2

  Redbridge1

  2,884

  895

  31.0

  Redcar and Cleveland

  1,852

  302

  16.3

  Richmond upon Thames

  1,899

  541

  28.5

  Rochdale

  2,863

  482

  16.8

  Rotherham

  3,175

  484

  15.2

  Rutland

  690

  113

  16.4

  Salford

  2,781

  353

  12.7

  Sandwell

  3,686

  474

  12.9

  Sefton

  3,567

  916

  25.7

  Sheffield

  6,171

  951

  15.4

  Shropshire

  3,641

  867

  23.8

  Slough1

  1,394

  304

  21.8

  Solihull

  2,428

  704

  29.0

  Somerset

  5,949

  1,264

  21.2

  South Gloucestershire

  2,691

  565

  21.0

  South Tyneside

  1,950

  330

  16.9

  Southampton

  2,749

  319

  11.6

  Southend1

  1,990

  346

  17.4

  Southwark

  2,588

  333

  12.9

  St. Helens

  2,263

  496

  21.9

  Staffordshire

  9,818

  2,256

  23.0

  Stockport

  3,483

  902

  25.9

  Stockton-on-Tees

  2,481

  550

  22.2

  Stoke on Trent1

  3,101

  382

  12.3

  Suffolk

  7,816

  1,657

  21.2

  Sunderland

  3,812

  572

  15.0

  Surrey

  12,760

  3,429

  26.9

  Sutton1

  1,953

  524

  26.8

  Swindon

  2,157

  376

  17.4

  Tameside

  2,791

  440

  15.8

  Telford and the Wrekin1

  1,970

  354

  18.0

  Thurrock

  1,597

  168

  10.5

  Torbay1

  1,452

  264

  18.2

  Tower Hamlets

  2,565

  341

  13.3

  Trafford1

  2,710

  699

  25.8

  Wakefield

  3,863

  610

  15.8

  Walsall1

  3,227

  560

  17.4

  Waltham Forest

  2,549

  514

  20.2

  Wandsworth

  2,216

  461

  20.8

  Warrington

  2,252

  506

  22.5

  Warwickshire1

  5,937

  1,360

  22.9

  West Sussex

  8,422

  1,808

  21.5

  Wigan

  3,864

  673

  17.4

  Wiltshire1

  5,240

  1,194

  22.8

  Windsor and Maidenhead

  1,775

  454

  25.6

  Wirral1

  4,210

  1,043

  24.8

  Wokingham

  1,837

  588

  32.0

  710W

  English domiciled students aged 18 accepted to full-time undergraduate courses in the UK via UCAS, autumn 2000 entry

  Local education authority

  Population

  Acceptances

  Percentage

  Wolverhampton

  3,193

  625

  19.6

  Worcestershire

  6,283

  1,487

  23.7

  York

  2,280

  468

  20.5

  Not known

  —

  90

  —

  Total

  606,687

  123,708

  20.4

  1 Authorities with grammar schools

  Note:

  Population figures are based on estimates as at 1 January 2001, with age as at 31 August 2000. Acceptance figures based on age at 30 September 2000.

  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many students are in full-time studies in universities in England and Wales. [12745]

  Margaret Hodge
  The available data are given in the table.

  Full-time higher education students in England and Wales1, 2000–01

  Number

  Postgraduate

  143,623

  Undergraduate

  933,265

  Total

  1,076,888

  1Home and overseas students in HE and FE institutions, and the Open University

  Consultation Documents
  Sandra Gidley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many consultation documents were issued by her Department and its predecessors from(a) 15 October to 14 January, (b) 15 January to 14 April, (c) 15 April to 14 July and (d) 15 July to 14 October in each year from 1996. [12897]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  The answer is as follows.

  Number of consultation documents

  1996

  15 January to 14 April

  4

  15 April to 14 July

  7

  15 July to 14 October

  6

  1996–97

  15 October to 14 January

  5

  15 January to 14 April

  14

  15 April to 14 July

  19

  15 July to 14 October

  27

  1997–98

  15 October to 14 January

  21

  15 January to 14 April

  40

  15 April to 14 July

  46

  15 July to 14 October

  36

  1998–99

  15 October to 14 January

  38

  15 January to 14 April

  51

  15 April to 14 July

  49

  15 July to 14 October

  49

  1999–2000

  15 October to 14 January

  42

  15 January to 14 April

  13

  15 April to 14 July

  23

  15 July to 14 October

  14

  711W

  Number of consultation documents

  2000–01

  15 October to 14 January

  22

  15 January to 14 April

  25

  15 April to 14 July

  18

  15 July to 14 October

  17

  Student Finance
  Kevin Brennan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what consultations she has had with the devolved Administrations about her review of student finance; and if she will make a statement. [13177]

  Margaret Hodge
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has written to Ministers responsible for higher education matters in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, to advise them that a review is taking place. We plan to consult with devolved Administrations in due course.

  Age Discrimination
  Ms Atherton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what measures the Government are taking to combat age discrimination in the provision of skills training. [13171]

  John Healey
  The Government are committed to tackling age discrimination wherever it is found, and is a signatory of the EU Employment Directive on Equality, which commits the UK to introduce legislation to combat such discrimination in employment, vocational training and guidance by 2006. The Government have asked the Learning and Skills Council—as the body responsible for planning, funding and improving the quality of post-16 learning outside higher education—to promote age diversity and tackle age discrimination when translating its commitment to equality of opportunity into effective strategies and actions. The Employment Service, which operates training programmes including Work Based Learning for Adults, Work Trials and Programme Centres, is committed to equal opportunities and encourages employers to make effective use of the skills, experience and reliability that older people can contribute.

  Class Sizes
  Dr. Julian Lewis:
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will make it her policy to publish data on class sizes in league tables of school examination results. [13393]

  Mr. Timms
  There are currently no plans to publish class size data along side the performance tables.

  Mr. Damian Green
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) what funding she has set aside for(a) 2001–02, (b) 2002–03 and (c) 2003–04 to reduce class sizes in primary schools; [14583]

  (2) if funding for lower class sizes in primary schools will be ring-fenced until 2003–04. [14584]
  712W
  Mr. Timms
  We have made £177 million available to reduce infant class sizes and £73 million to make progress on junior class sizes in 2001–02. Up to £180 million will be available to reduce class sizes in 2002–03. Funding levels for 2003–04 will be decided in the Spending Review 2002.

  Class size grant will be paid to local education authorities as a ring-fenced grant through the Standards Fund in 2001–02 and 2002–03.

  Special Educational Needs
  Mr. Paterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what changes have been made to the criteria qualifying primary school children for special needs status in(a) 1997, (b)(c) 1999, (d) 2000 and (e) 2001. [13814]

  Mr. Timms
  It is for Local Education Authorities and maintained schools to identify and make suitable provision for all children who may have special educational needs in the light of the provisions of Park IV of the Education Act 1996, the Education (Special Educational Needs) Regulations 1994, and the statutory advice contained in the "Code of Practice on the identification and assessment of Special Educational Needs", published in 1994. This situation has remained unchanged between 1997 and 2001. From January 2002 a revised Special Educational Needs Code of Practice. which was approved recently by both Houses of Parliament, amendments to Part IV of the Education Act 1996 brought about by the SEN and Disability Act 2001 and revised Special Educational Needs Regulations will come into effect.

  Mr. Paterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the funding regime for primary school pupils with special needs status was in(a) England and (b) Shropshire in (1) 1997. (ii) 1998. (iii) 1999, (iv) 2000 and (v) 2001. [13810]

  Mr. Timms
  Some special educational needs (SEN) funding is delegated to primary schools by local education authorities (LEAs) in budget shares, with amounts calculated for each school on the basis of factors which measure need either directly or indirectly. Other SEN funding is held centrally by LEAs and spent as required on pupils, for example on extra support for pupils with statements of SEN. This basic pattern has obtained in all five years mentioned, although the proportion of funding held centrally has declined since Fair Funding succeeded Local Management of Schools in 1999. In Shropshire, funding for primary age pupils with statements of SEN was held centrally before 2001, but some is now delegated to schools on the basis of eight bands of need. In 1997 and 1998 SEN funding for pupils with SEN but without statements was based on the proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals; from 1999 a further indicator—the number of pupils on the SEN register at stages 2–4 of the SEN Code of Practice—has been used. From 1997 to 2000 schools with SEN units received place-led funding for such units; in 2001 this was subsumed into delegated funding for pupils with statements.

  Mr. Paterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) what the average percentage of children with special needs status in(a) English and (b) Shropshire primary schools was in (i) 1997, (ii) 1998, (iii) 1999, (iv) 2000 and (v) 2001; [13809]
  713W
  (2) how many special needs status primary school (c) Shropshire in (i) 1997, (ii) 1998, (iii) 1999, (iv) 2000 and (v) 2001. [13813]

  Number and percentage of pupils with statements of special educational needs in maintained primary schools

  UK1

  England

  Shropshire2

  Shropshire2

  Telford and Wrekin2

  Number

  Percentage

  Number

  Percentage

  Number

  Percentage

  Number

  Percentage

  Number

  Percentage

  January each year

  1997

  75,400

  1.4

  63,551

  1.4

  885

  2.3

  3—

  3—

  3—

  3—

  1998

  79,300

  1.5

  67,014

  1.5

  894

  2.3

  3—

  3—

  3—

  3—

  1999

  82,100

  1.5

  69,797

  1.6

  3—

  3—

  553

  2.4

  337

  2.2

  2000

  84,900

  1.6

  72,525

  1.6

  3—

  3—

  529

  2.3

  311

  2

  20014

  88,200

  1.7

  75,300

  1.7

  3—

  3—

  3—

  3—

  3—

  3—

  1For Scotland, pupils with a Record of Needs

  2As a result of local government reorganisation in April 1998, Shropshire local education authority divided to form the following local education authorities: Shropshire LEA and Telford and Wrekin LEA

  3 Not applicable

  4 Special educational needs figures from the annual schools census for January 2001 are known to be incomplete. In order to provide reasonably comparable figures to previous years an estimate has been made based on the annual schools census returns for January 2000 and January 2001. These estimates are robust at national and Government Office region but are not available at local education authority level

  5Not available

  Education (Leeds)
  Mr. Mudie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what is the cost to Leeds City council of the contract awarded to Capita. [13736]

  Mr. Timms
  The cost of Capita's contract is a matter for Leeds City council, Education Leeds and the contractor.

  Mr. Mudie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what additional financial support will be awarded to Leeds City council to implement Capita's educational policies. [13738]

  Mr. Timms
  No additional funding will be awarded to Leeds City council to implement the education policies for which it is responsible and accountable beyond that derived from the Standard Spending Assessment and Standards Fund grants.

  Mr. Mudie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what is the salary paid to Mr. Peter Ridsdale in his capacity as Chairman of Education Leeds. [13737]

  Mr. Timms
  Education Leeds is a company wholly owned by Leeds City council. Mr. Ridsdale's level of remuneration is a matter for Mr. Ridsdale and the council.

  Internet Access
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will make a statement on the cost of internet access so far achieved in(a) primary and (b) secondary schools in the last 12 months. [14249]

  Mr. Timms
  The Department for Education and Skills does not collect data on the cost of internet access. Internet costs are dependant upon the supplier, the bandwidth and the level of service and the cost therefore varies from school to school. However, I can report that the average annual school spend in England, as from January 2001, on ICT for teaching and learning was £8,500 in primary schools and £49,600 in secondary, this compares with averages of £6,800 and £41,800 in January 2000. Substantial progress has been made towards the
  714W
  Mr. Timms
  The available data are shown in the children there were in(a) the UK, (b) England and following table.

  Government's target for every school to have access to the internet with over 99 per cent. of secondary and 96 per cent. of primary schools connected as of January 2001.

  Literacy/Numeracy Strategies.
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the cost is of the(a) National Literacy Strategy and (b) National Numeracy Strategy in 2001–02. [14103]

  Mr. Timms
  The Government are supporting expenditure, through the Standards Fund, of f103 million on each of the two strategies in 2001–02.

  Schools Adjudicator
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the cost is in 2001–02 of the office of the schools adjudicator. [14081]

  Mr. Timms
  The cost in 2001–02 will be known only after the end of the financial year. Expenditure in 2000–01 was £442,000 for adjudicators' costs (mainly fees and expenses) and £355,000 for support staff. We expect expenditure in 2001–02 to be lower than 2000–01 as the number of cases referred to the adjudicator has fallen.

  Teachers (Pay Structure)
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what is the cost of the new pay structure for teachers; and what effect it has had on recruitment and retention of staff. [14080]

  Mr. Timms
  Over 200,000 teachers in England applied to cross the performance threshold in the first round, some 80 per cent. of those who were eligible to apply. Of these, nearly 195,000 were assessed as meeting the threshold standards and are now receiving over £400 million per year in associated pay increases.
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  We intend to introduce a new grant to contribute towards performance points for leadership group members, post-threshold teachers and high performers on the main scale. We intend to make available £100 million in financial year 2002–03 and £150 million in 2003–04, in addition to existing threshold funding.

  The future cost of the new pay structure will depend on the number of teachers applying for and crossing the threshold, and being awarded performance points.

  The long-term effect of pay restructuring is not yet clear, but the impact of the Government's policies as a whole is that we had 11,000 more teachers in January 2001 than in 1997.

  National College for School Leadership
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will make a statement on the cost of the national college for school leadership. [14222]

  Mr. Timms
  The cost of the new residential training headquarters for the national college for school leadership will be £25 million.

  Fast-track Scheme
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will make a statement on the cost of the fast-track scheme. [14091]

  Mr. Timms
  In the financial year ending 31 March 2001 we invested £4.6 million to establish the fast-track teaching programme, which will attract high calibre graduates, career changers and serving teachers and support their development into leaders of the teaching profession.

  The fast-track scheme is not designed to increase the number of classroom assistants. With local education authorities we are investing £350 million in the three years from 1999–2000 to 2001–02 to increase the number of teaching assistants; and we have recently announced a further £198 million for the financial year 2002–03. There are now 25,000 more teaching assistants in post than in January 1999.

  Teacher Training
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the cost is in 2001–02 of the funding of initial teacher training recruitment. [14079]

  Mr. Timms
  £173 million is available in recurrent grants to provide initial teacher training places. A further £169 million in total is available for teacher training bursaries and the Graduate and Registered Teacher Programmes in 2001–02.

  Child Care Places
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will make a statement on the cost of the 350,000 child care places planned for 2003. [14207]

  Mr. Timms
  £170.5 million is available through the New Opportunities Fund Out of School Hours Childcare Programme for the creation of 350,000 out of school child care places in England by 2003. £55 million has also been 716W
  made available from April 2001 to provide additional funding for disadvantaged areas and this will create at least an extra 10,000 places.

  Education Maintenance Allowances
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will make a statement on the cost of the pilots of education maintenance allowances. [14251]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  We expanded the education maintenance allowance pilot scheme to cover 56 LEA areas from September 2000. Planned expenditure in this financial year is £156 million with over 100,000 young people expected to benefit.

  Public Service Agreement
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the cost will be of the public service agreement target of increasing provision of nursery places for three year olds from 34 per cent. to 66 per cent.; and if it will be achieved by 2002. [14090]

  Mr. Timms
  Many local authorities provide funding for nursery education on top of resources the Government make available through direct grant to provide nursery education places. The Government have increased the under 5s sub-block within Education Standard Spending (ESS) by more than the level of inflation which has increased the resources available for this and other purposes. However, it is not possible to identify separately the total amounts spent specifically on three-year-olds.

  We have made £390 million of direct grant funding available between 1999-2000 and 2001–02 to help increase the number of three year olds with access to a free early education place from 34 per cent. to 66 per cent. by March 2002. The target will be met in full.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) if she will make a statement on progress made on the public service agreement targets for objective 2 which are described on page 8 of the departmental report 2000; [14089]

  (2) on progress towards meeting the public service agreement targets of (a) an increase in the proportion of people aged 19 years who have achieved national vocational qualification level 2 or equivalent from 72 per cent. to 85 per cent. by 2002, (b) a reduction by one third in exclusions by 2002, (c) a reduction by one third in school truancies by 2002 and (d) increasing provision of nursery places for three-year-olds from 34 per cent. to 66 per cent. by 2002. [14049]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  While we are making good progress in increasing the achievement of level 2 by 19-year-olds which is based on current trends, it is apparent that the target may not be reached. We are working closely with the Learning and Skills Council to ensure maximum progress is made towards achieving this target.

  LEA Expenditure
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will make a statement on expenditure per pupil in(a) Buckinghamshire local education authority and (b) other local education authorities in England and Wales in the last 12 months. [14252]
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  Mr. Timms
  Information for the financial year 2000–01 is not yet available for England. I will write to the hon. Member when it has been collected. Responsibility for education matters in Wales rests with the National Assembly for Wales.

  Qualifications Budget
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the cost is in 2001–02 of the qualifications budget.[14082]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  The qualifications budget for 2001–02, at 1 April 2001, was £102 million. Expected receipts for the year total £334,000. The majority of this money (£69 million at 1 April 2001) comprises grant in aid for the Qualification and Curriculum Authority. The remainder of the budget is used mainly for development work. The costs of the qualifications themselves are met by schools, colleges and others through the payment of fees.

  Sixth Forms
  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, pursuant to her answer to the hon. Member for Epsom and Ewell of 7 November 2001,Official Report, column 246W, if she will make a statement on the circumstances that led to those closure proposals.[14676]

  Mr. Timms
  Seven proposals were decided by the Secretary of State. The circumstances varied in each case. Some were published by the LEA, or school governors, to address changes in local demand for sixth form places, some featured as part of a wider reorganisation of schools in the area. others arose from the need to rationalise places to deliver more cost effective provision. The remaining six proposals were published after September 1999 and were decided under local decision making arrangements, introduced by the School Standards and Framework Act 1998. Under these arrangements those publishing or deciding proposals are not required to send details of the background to the proposals to the Department, and we therefore cannot comment on the circumstances leading to these proposals.

  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans she has to allow schools with sixth forms to make direct representations to local Learning and Skills Councils regarding sixth form funding.[14567]

  Margaret Hodge
  This is a matter for the Learning and Skills Council. I have therefore asked John Harwood, the council's chief executive, to write to the hon. Member with the information requested and to place a copy of his reply in the Library.

  Student Finance Review
  Alistair Burt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what submissions she has received for the review of student finance following her announcement of such a review; if she will list those submissions; and if they will be taken into account before she publishes her proposals to reform student finance. [14540]
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  Margaret Hodge
  Consultation on the review of student finance will begin next year. We shall take account of consultation responses when reaching a decision about the future of student finance.

  Alistair Burt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will call for submissions to her review on student finance from(a) the National Union of Students, (b) Universities UK, (c) the Association of Colleges. (d) the Student Loan Company, (e) the Association of University Teachers, (f) the National Association of Teachers in Further and Higher Education, (g) the Standing Conference of Principals, (h) the National Bureau for Students with Disabilities and (i) others; if she will publish their submissions; and if she will make a statement.(14543]

  Margaret Hodge
  We plan to consult widely on any proposals for change that may result from the review.

  Alistair Burt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what discussions she has had with other Government Departments in relation to her review of student finance; if she will place such submissions in the Library; and if she will make a statement. [14541]

  Margaret Hodge
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has written to Ministers responsible for higher education in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and to Ministers in other Government Departments, to advise them that a review is taking place. Treasury and the Inland Revenue are represented on the review. We plan to consult on any proposals to emerge.

  Student Loans
  Alistair Burt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what submissions she has received recently on the student loans system; if she will list such submissions; and if she will make a statement.[14539]

  Margaret Hodge
  We receive submissions, correspondence, etc., from a range of individuals and organisations, on a regular basis. It is not our practice to make correspondence with the Department public. We will be consulting on proposals that emerge from the review of student finance.

  Basic Needs Grants
  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what criteria are used by her Department for the allocation of basic needs grants to schools.[14561]

  Mr. Timms
  Basic need is the requirement for additional school places in areas of population growth.

  Funding for this is normally provided through the allocation of Basic Credit Approvals to local education authorities or grant to the governors of voluntary aided schools.

  The criteria used by the Department to assess basic need are contained in the "Guide for the Schools Capital Allocation Round" issued to local education authorities annually, copies of which have been placed in the Library.

  State Schools (Private Management)
  Mr. Damian Green
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what are the statutory provisions that govern schools in the state sector being run by private sector firms.[14578]

  Mr. Timms
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 5 November 2001,Official Report, column 46W.

  Mr. Damian Green
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills which schools in the state sector are run by private firms.[14576]

  Mr. Timms
  No schools in the state sector are run by private firms. The legal responsibility for running a school rests with the governing body and head teacher, even where they are supported by expertise from the private sector.

  Mr. Damian Green
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what representations she has received in the last year from local education authorities wanting to hand the running of a state school over to the private sector. [14577]

  Mr. Timms
  There have been no representations in the last year from local education authorities wanting to hand over the running of a state school to the private sector. State schools cannot be run by the private sector, although local education authorities and schools may enter into contracts for support to governing bodies.

  Performance-related Pay (Teachers)
  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans she has to allocate funds for schools to pay teachers awards on the upper spine of performance-related pay.[14566]

  Mr. Timms
  We intend to introduce a new grant to contribute towards performance points for leadership group members, post threshold teachers and high performers on the main scale. We believe their skills, expertise, commitment and leadership are crucial to the success of the teaching profession. We propose to make available £100 million in financial year 2002–03 and £150 million in 2003–04, in addition to existing threshold funding.

  We will be consulting shortly on the details of the new grant to support the cost of performance points. Details of the consultation will be posted on the DfES website to enable schools to comment on the proposals.

  School Threshold Payments
  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will guarantee funding of threshold payments to schools beyond 2004.[14563]

  Mr. Timms
  Crossing the threshold gives teachers a substantial and permanent pay increase by moving them to an upper pay scale. The Government have always accepted that this means a substantial and permanent increase in the overall cost of teachers' pay. Our financial planning will continue to take account of that.
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  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills in what proportion of cases the threshold assessment made by a head teacher has been overturned.[14564]

  Mr. Timms
  Verification of threshold assessments involves professional dialogue between heads and assessors about assessment methods and individual applications. Assessors overturn heads' judgments only when it is impossible to reach agreement. In the first round of threshold applications this happened in only 0.2 per cent. of cases—a clear indication that the system worked.

  Learning Support Units
  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many learning support units for children with challenging behaviour there were in schools in 1997.[14137]

  Mr. Timms
  The Department was carrying out a pilot of 41 learning support units in schools in 1997. This lasted from 1996–97 to 1998–99. The units were funded by the predecessor of our "Social Inclusion Pupil Support" Standards Fund grant.

  There are now over 1,000 learning support units in schools, both within Excellence in Cities authorities and elsewhere.

  Re-marked Exam Papers
  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will state the percentage of re-marked papers at(a) GCSE, (b) AS-level and (c) A-level which resulted in marks being (i) increased and (ii) decreased in each of the last three years.[14562]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  In 1999 the awarding bodies were asked to re-mark 0.5 per cent. of GCSE papers, of which 11 per cent. resulted in a change of grade; and 3.3 per cent. of GCE A-level papers, of which 13 per cent. resulted in a change of grade. In 2000 the awarding bodies were asked to re-mark 1 per cent. of GCSE papers, of which 11 per cent. resulted in a grade change; 3.8 per cent. of GCE A-level papers, of which 16 per cent. resulted in a grade change; and 1.5 per cent. of AS-level papers, of which 15 per cent. resulted in a grade change. All of these grade changes were upwards as until 2001, grades could only be raised or remain the same as a result of a re-mark.

  Figures for 2001 are not available at this stage as the inquiries on results and appeals process is not yet complete.

  Pupil Sickness Rate
  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment she has made of levels of sickness among pupils at key stages four and five since the introduction of the AS-level syllabus.[14560]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  None.

  Data on authorised absence from schools are collected centrally only for pupils of compulsory school age. They do not distinguish between pupils of different ages, nor do they distinguish between sickness and other forms of authorised absence.

  Value-added Measures
  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what is the basis on which value-added measures have been developed for pilot publications in 2001–02.[14136]

  Mr. Timms
  Our proposals in respect of value-added measures were set out in detail in the Publication of School and Performance Tables in 2001 consultation document which issued on 30 March this year, copies of which have been placed in the Library. We are now working with some 200 volunteer schools on a pilot programme for the calculation of measures of progress made from Key Stage 2 to key Stage 3 and from Key Stage 3 to GCSE/GNVQ.

  The results of the pilot will be published on 22 November with a full explanation of the methodology used. This pilot publication will be placed in the Library and will also be available on the DfES website
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  at www.dfes.gov.uk./performancetables along with a questionnaire seeking the views of readers on all aspects of the pilot. This will be used as part of the evaluation of the pilot which, along with further consultation early next year, will inform final decisions o the publication of these two measures for all secondary schools in the 2002 performance tables.

  LEA Intervention (Costs)
  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what was the(a) direct cost and (b) the cost of external contractors and advisers to her Department of each local education authority intervention in the last 12 months.[14135]

  Mr. Timms
  The direct cost to the Department of local education authority interventions is the staff time of the officials concerned. The cost of individual contracts with external contractors and advisers for intervention work is commercial in confidence.

  National Convocation of Religious Leaders
  National Convocation of Religious Leaders
  Extradition Arrangements with Ireland
  Extradition Arrangements with Ireland
  Embarkation Control
  Embarkation Control
  Passport Fees
  Passport Fees
  Economic Developments
  Economic Developments
  Freedom of Information Act 2000: Implementation
  Freedom of Information Act 2000: Implementation
  General Affairs Council, Luxembourg, 29 October
  General Affairs Council, Luxembourg, 29 October
  EU Intergovernmental Conference: Representation
  EU Intergovernmental Conference: Representation
  IRA: State Funeral
  IRA: State Funeral
  Fireworks
  Fireworks
  Abortion Act 1967
  Abortion Act 1967
  Burden of Proof
  Burden of Proof
  NHS Information Network
  NHS Information Network
  Individual Learning Accounts
  Individual Learning Accounts
  Specialist Schools
  Specialist Schools
  Northern Ireland Police Service: Recruitment
  Northern Ireland Police Service: Recruitment
  Wales: Objective 1 Funding
  Wales: Objective 1 Funding
  Palace of Westminster: Items of Historic Interest
  Palace of Westminster: Items of Historic Interest