Written Answers of 14 November 2001

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Lager Sales (Refreshment Department)
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Chairman of the Catering Committee how many barrels of Carlsberg Lager and Carlsberg Export Lager were sold by the House of Commons Refreshment Department in 2000. [14139]

  Mr. Dennis Turner
  It is difficult to give a precise answer to my hon. Friend's question, as figures are not kept in the form requested. However, I am able to inform him that in the 12-month period from April 2000 until March 2001, the House of Commons Refreshment Department purchased 210 11-gallon barrels of Carlsberg Lager. Barrels are purchased in response to demand, and it is reasonable to assume that the number of barrels sold is similar to the number purchased.

  The Commons Refreshment Department does not sell draught Carlsberg Export Lager.

TRANSPORT, LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND THE REGIONS

  Walton Group Plc
  Mrs. Ellman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how much money is owed to his Department by Walton Group Plc in respect of Exchange Flags Liverpool; and if he will make a statement. [12620]

  Ms Keeble
  The Department is pursuing a civil claim against the Walton Group plc and Todd and Benn (Contractors) Ltd. to recover the full city grant value of £4,444,782. In addition, it is seeking interest totalling £2,603,062 as of 9 November 2001, and a claim for legal fees, costs and expert fees that are estimated at 8 November 2001 to be £280,000 (inclusive of VAT).

  Yellow School Bus Pilot
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (1) what plans he has to extend the yellow school bus pilot; and if he will make a statement; [12305]

  (2) what research has been conducted (a) by and (b) on behalf of his Department on the yellow school bus pilot scheme; and when the results are to be published; [12303]

  (3) in which local authorities the yellow school bus pilot scheme is in operation; and if he will make a statement; [12302]
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  (4) how much his Department has spent on the yellow school bus pilot scheme in financial years 2000–01 and 2001–02; and how much expenditure is projected for financial years 2002–03 and 2003-04; [12304]

  Mr. Edwards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement about the pilot project for the introduction of yellow buses for home-to-school transport. [12317]

  Ms Keeble
  My Department has facilitated the introduction of American-style yellow school buses by agreeing to grant exemption from some of the provisions of the Public Service Vehicles Accessibility Regulations to enable pilot schemes to operate. The first such scheme is expected to start in Calderdale in the new year. My Department will collect base line data near the start of pilot schemes, and will evaluate them, probably after about a year's operation. The results of the evaluations will be published. The Department has incurred no costs so far other than staff time in considering the case for exemptions from regulations. Future costs will be staff time plus consultancy fees for data collection and evaluation. The level of these costs will depend on the number of pilot schemes, which will be a matter for agreement between local authorities and operators.

  PowerShift Register
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when he will publish the amended version of the PowerShift Register to incorporate the extension of the LPG conversion grant scheme to include vehicles up to five years old; and if he will make a statement. [12093]

  Mr. Jamieson
  [holding answer 5 November 2001]: The PowerShift programme is administered on behalf of my Department by the Energy Saving Trust. The updated version of the PowerShift Register, now covering vehicle models up to five years old, is available on the Trust's website at www.est-powershift.org.uk. Grants for these vehicles are now available and the website provides full information on how they can be claimed. Information is also available on the Trust's telephone hotline on 0845 602 1425.

  New Deal for Communities
  Vera Baird
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans he has for a further round of New Deal for Communities funding to assist the regeneration of post-industrial areas of intense social deprivation. [13673]

  Ms Keeble
  There are no plans for a third round of New Deal for Communities (NDC) funding. The Government are fully committed to the NDC programme and to tackling multiple deprivation in some of the most deprived neighbourhoods in the country, including many in post-industrial areas, to bridge the gap between these neighbourhoods and the rest of the country.

  The Neighbourhood Renewal Unit is in the process of rolling out a range of programmes that will build on the lessons learned through NDC and strengthen and improve core public services in deprived areas.

  Concessionary Fares (Coaches)
  Mr. Blizzard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what recent meetings he has had with representatives of coach operators to discuss proposals for a half-fare concessionary scheme for pensioners on long distance coach journeys; and if he will make a statement. [13684]

  Ms Keeble
  We announced on 5 November our approval in principle of a proposal from the Commission for Integrated Transport under which coach operators would offer half-price fares to older and disabled passengers on long distance scheduled coach services in England. In return operators would—for the first time—receive Fuel Duty Rebate.

  My Department has already had initial discussions with the Confederation of Passenger Transport about this proposal and we look forward to further discussions with them shortly on the details of its implementation.

  Local Government Pension Scheme
  Harry Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 24 October 2001,Official Report, column 228W, on best value, how many building direct labour organisations transferred to the private sector have been given admitted-body status to the local government pension scheme; and what pension provision will be made for those which will not remain in the LGPS. [13811]

  Dr. Whitehead
  Information about the transfer of building direct labour organisations (DLOs) to the private sector is not held centrally. When a local authority function is outsourced and the new contractor chooses not to seek admitted-body status within the local government pension scheme, transferred employees should be offered broadly comparable pension arrangements.

  Mr. Flight
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans he has to reform local government final salary pension schemes. [14696]

  Dr. Whitehead
  There are no plans to change the current benefit package provided by the local government pension scheme.

  Mr. Flight
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what was the total cost of local government final salary pensions in the last financial year. [14697]

  Dr. Whitehead: In 2000–01, pensions paid to members of the local government pension scheme totalled £3.5 billion.

  Public-Private Partnerships
  Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will list the projects 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. [13455]
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  Dr. Whitehead
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 13 November 2001,Official Report, column 607W. There are 16 no cases of potential PPP projects within my department, or the former DETR, not being undertaken because the public sector comparator had a lower net present value.

  English Partnerships Land Holdings
  David Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport. Local Government and the Regions what the scale of English Partnerships land holdings is; and which proportion is earmarked for new housing in(a) Telford and (b) England. [13462]

  Ms Keeble
  In September 2001, English Partnerships owned a total of 5,700 hectares of land in England, 820 hectares (14 per cent.) of which was in Telford.

  Of the overall total, 970 hectares (17 per cent.) is designated for housing in planning terms (ie it either has specific planning consent or is designated as such in the local plan). In Telford, 216 hectares (3.8 per cent.) were designated for housing.

  Planning Applications
  Richard Younger-Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what was the average period for a planning application from date of application to decision by the local authority over the last five years. [R] [13596]

  Ms Keeble
  The information available from the Department is the percentages of applications for planning permission and related consents which are decided within eight weeks, between eight and 13 weeks and in more than 13 weeks. These are shown in the table.

  Local authority performance: England, 1996–97 to 2000–01

  Percentage

  Decisions within eight weeks

  Decisions in eight to 13 weeks

  Decisions exceeding 13 weeks

  1996–97

  64

  21

  15

  1997–98

  62

  22

  16

  1998–99

  62

  21

  17

  1999–2000

  63

  21

  16

  2000–01

  63

  20

  17

  Richard Younger-Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will list the latest annual figures for the number of planning applications under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 in England and Wales by(a) region, (b) the number of applications passed, (c) the number sent to appeal and (d) the number of successful appeals; and if he will provide the same figures for the previous 10 years. [R] [13595]

  Ms Keeble
  The information for England is in the table. Figures for Wales are not held centrally on a consistent basis and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
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  Thousands/percentage

  Planning applications1

  Appeals against refusal2

  Government office region

  Decided

  Granted

  Refused

  Received

  Decided

  Allowed

  Percentage of appeals allowed

  1992–93

  North East

  16.7

  15.1

  1.6

  0.4

  0.4

  0.2

  39

  North West

  44.3

  38.6

  5.7

  1.5

  1.4

  0.6

  40

  Yorkshire and the Humber

  35.9

  30.9

  5.0

  1.3

  1.2

  0.4

  31

  East Midlands

  33.4

  29.2

  4.2

  1.2

  1.1

  0.4

  34

  West Midlands

  35.4

  30.2

  5.2

  1.3

  1.1

  0.4

  31

  East of England

  44.5

  37.8

  6.7

  2.1

  1.9

  0.6

  33

  London

  38.6

  31.3

  7.4

  1.9

  1.7

  0.6

  36

  South East

  68.0

  57.0

  10.9

  3.6

  3.2

  1.1

  34

  South West

  48.7

  41.3

  7.3

  2.4

  2.2

  0.7

  32

  England

  365.4

  311.4

  54.0

  15.7

  14.2

  4.8

  34

  1991–92

  North East

  17.3

  15.5

  1.9

  0.5

  0.4

  0.1

  34

  North West

  49.3

  42.0

  7.3

  1.8

  1.6

  0.6

  36

  Yorkshire and the Humber

  40.9

  34.4

  6.5

  1.6

  1.4

  0.4

  30

  East Midlands

  36.7

  31.1

  5.6

  1.5

  1.4

  0.5

  33

  West Midlands

  39.0

  32.6

  6.4

  1.7

  1.4

  0.4

  30

  East of England

  49.7

  40.8

  8.9

  2.7

  2.5

  0.8

  31

  London

  42.5

  33.5

  9.0

  2.2

  2.0

  0.7

  35

  South East

  74.6

  60.5

  14.1

  4.5

  4.0

  1.3

  33

  South West

  54.1

  44.1

  10.0

  3.1

  2.8

  0.9

  32

  England

  404.2

  334.5

  69.7

  19.5

  17.5

  5.7

  32

  1990–91

  North East

  17.5

  15.5

  1.9

  0.5

  0.5

  0.1

  30

  North West

  53.0

  44.2

  8.8

  2.0

  1.8

  0.7

  38

  Yorkshire and the Humber

  42.7

  34.9

  7.8

  1.7

  1.5

  0.5

  32

  East Midlands

  40.1

  33.0

  7.2

  1.7

  1.5

  0.5

  33

  West Midlands

  41.5

  34.0

  7.5

  1.8

  1.6

  0.5

  32

  East of England

  55.3

  43.5

  11.8

  3.3

  2.9

  0.9

  32

  London

  44.8

  34.6

  10.3

  2.5

  2.2

  0.8

  36

  South East

  82.6

  65.0

  17.6

  5.3

  4.6

  1.5

  32

  South West

  60.7

  47.7

  13.1

  3.6

  3.2

  1.0

  32

  England

  438.3

  352.4

  85.9

  22.4

  19.7

  6.5

  33

  1 Section 70 planning applications, i.e. excludes applications for listed building, advertisement and conservation area consents.

  2 Figures relate to the number of appeals against section 70 planning application: refused in the year, not the number of appeals received in the year

  Richard Younger-Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what was the average period for the consideration of an appeal to a planning application, up to a refusal to grant consent, under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 over the last five years. [R] [13593]

  Ms Keeble
  The provision of information on planning appeals is the responsibility of the Planning Inspectorate. I have asked the inspectorate's Chief Executive, Mr. Chris Shepley, to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from C. J. Shepley to Richard Younger-Ross, dated 14 November 2001:

  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your Question about the average time taken to determine planning appeals.

  The average times, in weeks, are:

  Period

  Written representations

  Hearings

  Inquiries

  1996–97

  22

  41

  45

  1997–98

  19

  35

  41

  1998–99

  16

  23

  32

  1999–2000

  16

  19

  28

  2000–01

  16

  19

  26

  2001–021

  16

  20

  27

  1 April to September

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  Richard Younger-Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the average cost is to the Government of hearing planning appeals under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990; and what is the(a) maximum and (b) minimum cost, for each of the last five years. [R] [13594]

  Ms Keeble
  The Planning Inspectorate has calculated the average unit cost of processing a section 78 inquiry by written representation in each of the last five financial years to be as follows:

  Year

  £

  2000–01

  1,188

  1999–2000

  1,047

  1998–99

  854

  1997–98

  669

  1996–97

  635

  The Inspectorate also effects section 78 appeals through hearings and inquiries. Unit costs for these activities have only been calculated for the previous two financial years, and are as follows.
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  £

  Section 78 hearings

  2000–01

  1,977

  1999–2000

  2,135

  Section 78 inquiries

  2000–01

  5,967

  1999–2000

  5,617

  Current methods of recording inspectorate activity do not provide for the calculation of a minimum and maximum cost in these periods.

  Speed Cameras
  John Mann
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions which local authorities do not have(a) speed cameras and (b) plans for their early introduction. [13494]

  Mr. Jamieson: The numbers and locations of speed cameras in police force areas are not held centrally. A funding system is now available nationally that covers the

  Lead agency

  Bid area

  Successful bids

  Bury MBC

  Whitefield

  Chester Community Safety Partnership

  Blacon and Lache

  City of Salford

  Winton and Little Hulton

  Collingwood Housing Association

  Spath Lane and Knowle Park

  Congleton BC

  Alsager

  Derwent and Solway Housing Association

  Workington

  Hyndburn FIRST

  Hyndburn

  Initiative Burnley

  Burnley

  Irwell Valley Housing Association

  Sale West and Manor Avenue Estates

  Lancaster City council

  Morecambe

  Liverpool Housing Trust

  Windmill Hill, Runcorn

  New East Manchester Ltd.

  Ancoats and Miles Platting

  Preston council

  Callon, St. Matthews and Ribbleton

  Riverside Housing Association

  Palacefields, Murdishaw, Halton Brook and Halwood Park. Runcorn

  South Liverpool Housing

  Speke and Garston

  Stockport MBC

  Stockport borough

  Tameside MBC

  Tameside

  Trafford MBC

  Lostock, Sale Moor, Broomwood

  Vale Royal BC

  Vale Royal

  Unsuccessful bids

  Blackpool BCI

  Grange Park, Mereside and George St./Caunce St.

  Bolton Town Centre Ltd.

  Bolton

  Bury MBC

  Huntley/Topping Fold

  Carlisle City council

  Botcherby, Raffles and Petterill Bank

  CDS Housing Association

  Castlefields, Runcorn

  Chester Community Safety Partnership

  Chester

  Copeland BC

  South Whitehaven

  Eden BC

  Eden

  Fylde BC

  St. Annes, Lytham and Kirkham

  Groundwork Blackburn

  Blackburn

  Home Housing Association

  Maryport

  Impact Housing Association

  Workington

  Knowsley MBC

  Kirkby

  Liverpool City council

  North Liverpool

  Macclesfield BC

  Knutsford, Macclesfield and Wilmslow

  Manchester City council

  Manchester

  Manchester Housing

  Cheetham

  Metropolitan borough of Wirral

  Bidston, Hoylake and Rockferry

  Oldham council

  Oldham

  Poynton and Worth parish council

  Poynton

  Riverside Housing Association

  Linacre

  Rochdale MBC

  Rochdale, Middleton, Heywood and Pennines

  South Ribble BC

  South Ribble

  St. Helens BC

  West Sutton, Parr and Hardshaw and Grange Park

  Tranmere Housing Regeneration Partnership—Maritime Housing Association

  Tranmere

  West Lanes DC

  West Lanes

  Wigan MBC

  Wigan and Leigh

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  cost of the purchase and operation of speed cameras and, therefore, removes the key obstacle for camera deployment. It is expected to take around two years for all police force areas wishing to join the scheme to do so.

  Street Warden Funding
  Mr. Borrow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions which local authorities in the north-west of England were successful in bidding for Street Warden funding; and which were unsuccessful. [13647]

  Ms Keeble: The Government office for the north-west received 46 Street Warden bids. Nineteen bids, totalling more than £2.9 million and benefiting each of the region's five counties, received approval.

  Organisations other than local authorities, eg housing associations, were eligible to apply under this DTLR-funded pilot scheme. The table shows the successful and unsuccessful bids, the lead agency and the bid area.

  Polling Stations
  Mr. Gummer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will review the advice to returning officers regarding conduct at polling stations to accommodate the beliefs of members of the Assembly of Yahweh. [13522]

  Mr. Raynsford
  Guidance to returning officers on electoral procedures is now a matter for the Electoral Commission. In addition to voting at polling stations any elector may now vote by post and we are inviting local authorities at the May 2002 local elections to pilot such innovations as voting by telephone or on line.

  Homelessness (West Wiltshire)
  Dr. Murrison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on homelessness in west Wiltshire. [13680]

  Ms Keeble
  332 households in west Wiltshire were accepted as being homeless in 2000–01. As at 31 March 2001, there were 90 households in temporary accommodation and 15 households in bed-and-breakfast accommodation.

  Mobile Phone Masts
  Mr. Baron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will take steps to give local people stronger powers to block the inappropriate siting of mobile phone masts. [13862]

  Ms Keeble
  The changes to the planning procedures and guidance for telecommunications mast development which we introduced on 22 August this year greatly strengthen public consultation requirements on mast proposals of 15 metres and below (subject to a process of prior approval by Local Planning Authorities) so that they are the same as for planning applications. This gives local people a much better opportunity to have a say on mast proposals. Local Planning Authorities already have the ability to turn down mast applications where the do not consider amenity aspects have been adequately addressed. Our guidance also advises telecommunications operators to consult local people and Local Planning Authorities before submitting applications for masts of any size.

  Formby Fire Station
  Mr. Ben Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on the implications of the findings of the National Joint Council on Formby Fire Station for that at Heswall. [13871]

  Dr. Whitehead
  The Merseyside Fire and Civil Defence Authority's application for my right hon. Friend's approval, under section 19 of the Fire Services Act 1947, to change the duty system at Heswall Fire Station remains under consideration. He will not grant approval unless he is satisfied that the Authority has consulted and, on advice from HM Fire Service Inspectorate, that national standards of fire cover will be maintained.
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  The National Joint Council for Local Authorities' Fire Brigades' Scheme of Conditions of Service provides for consideration of proposed changes in duty systems at fire stations. This is a separate procedure, but my right hon. Friend will wish to consider the implications of the recent adjudication in respect of Formby Fire Station.

  Rail Services (North Kent)
  Clive Efford
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when work will begin to improve the electricity supply to allow 12-car trains to run on the North Kent rail lines. [13982]

  Mr. Jamieson
  Railtrack is undertaking a review of Power Supply capability for the Southern Region and is in discussions with the Strategic Rail Authority to address the issue in relation to Mark 1 replacement.

  Clive Efford
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will list the railway stations in the North Kent lines that need to be lengthened to accommodate 12 car trains; and when this work will be carried out. [13981]

  Mr. Jamieson
  Stations on the North Kent line which would require platform lengthening include Abbey Wood, Deptford, Erith, Gravesend, Greenhithe, Greenwich, Higham, Maze Hill, Northfleet, Plumpstead Rochester, Slade Green, Strood, Swanscombe, Westcombe Park, Woolwich Arsenal, and Woolwich Dockyard. The work to lengthen platforms is primarily dependent on the implementation of Thameslink 2000 and discussions with the incumbent franchisee.

  Motorways
  Mr. Greg Knight
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will arrange for every registered keeper of a motor vehicle to be invited to take part in consultations in respect of future motorway building, improvement and widening schemes. [14045]

  Mr. Jamieson
  There are a number of opportunities for registered keepers of vehicles and other road users and interested parties to take part in consultations on motorway building, improvement and widening. Public consultation takes place during studies such as the multi-modal and road-based studies, and prior to a preferred route announcement, and on the publication of draft orders. We do not propose to consult on a national scale with registered keepers of vehicles as this would not be cost effective.

  Mr. Greg Knight
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the cost is of the consultation taking place on the future of the M1 motorway; who is carrying out the consultation process; and what safeguards are in place to ensure that the views of road-users are heard. [14044]

  Mr. Jamieson
  A number of Multi-Modal Studies and Roads-Based Studies are currently being carried out which include sections of the M1 motorway within their remit. Consultation is undertaken at key stages of the studies to ensure that the views of road users, local public, businesses, environmental interests, transport users, operators and other regional interests are taken into account. The consultation process is overseen by the
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  Study Steering Groups and carried out by the appointed consultants for each study. These arrangements ensure that road users and other interests have the opportunity to express their views.

  Final figures for the costs of consultation will not be available until the studies are completed. However, the average total cost of a study, including the cost of consultation, is approximately £1.5 million.

  Departmental Service Standards
  Mr. Greg Knight
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what monitoring arrangements are in place to ensure that his Department and its agencies give prompt and proper attention to inquiries received from members of the public. [14047]

  Dr. Whitehead
  The centre of the Department and each of its agencies have set targets for each of the "Six Service Standards for Central Government". Performance against these targets is monitored annually and published in a Cabinet Office report (copies are available in the Libraries of the House).

  Additionally, a quarterly report is presented to the Board of the Department detailing performance in handling correspondence.

  Travellers
  Mr. Lepper
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when he will publish the results of research by Heriot-Watt University into the effectiveness of the Government office guidance on managing unauthorised camping by travellers; and when he will publish revised guidance. [13864]

  Ms Keeble
  My Department published a summary of the research findings on 2 November. A copy has been placed in the Libraries of the House. We plan to publish a revision of the current Good Practice Guide on Managing Unauthorised Camping by Gypsies and Travellers early next year.

  Overcrowding (Trains)
  Mr. Gordon Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what assessment his Department has made of the safety risks posed by overcrowding on trains. [13917]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The Health and Safety Executive (HSE), the Department's advisers on railways safety matters, have advised that all rolling stock is designed to operate safely even when fully loaded, and passenger loading does not affect the train's stopping performance or its structural integrity.

  Train Crime
  Mr. Gordon Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many offences were recorded on trains from Preston to Blackpool in the most recent year for which figures are available; and how many of those were alcohol related. [13919]
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  Mr. Jamieson
  The British Transport Police, who are responsible for policing the railways, have provided me with the following figures. In the period between 1 April 2000 and 31 March 2001, a total of 354 offences were recorded on the railway routes between Preston and Blackpool and at least 19 of these were alcohol related. These figures include offences committed on the trains and at the stations.

  Mr. Gordon Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what assessment his Department has made of the need to control drunkenness on trains. [13918]

  Mr. Jamieson
  We recognise the effect that anti-social behaviour, including drunkenness, can have on both train staff and other passengers' perceptions of their personal security. We are working with transport operators, local authorities, the police and others to improve personal security on transport, through such means as publishing good practice guidance and improving the ability of the British Transport Police (BTP) and train operators to deal with crime and anti-social behaviour. The BTP work closely with the train operators to identify hot spots of disorder. If necessary measures such as increased patrolling and special operations will be undertaken to control the problem.

  Road Clearance
  Mr. Pickles
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will introduce a mandatory requirement for highway authorities to publish a winter plan listing the roads it intends to keep clear of ice and snow. [13992]

  Mr. Spellar
  The Code of Practice for Maintenance Management "Delivering Best Practice in Highway Maintenance" published on 10 July already strongly recommends that highway authorities should publish a winter service operational plan after consultation with users and key stakeholders.

  Mr. Pickles
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions whether highway authorities in England and Wales will continue to hold responsibility for keeping roads safe in winter through pre-salting and snow clearance. [13995]

  Mr. Spellar
  The House of Lords judgment last year in the case of Goods v. East Sussex was that there was no duty on local highway authorities under the Highways Act 1980 to prevent ice from forming on highways. Nevertheless, we strongly recommend highway authorities in England to implement winter service provisions on their roads in accordance with the Code of Practice for Maintenance Management "Delivering Best Practice in Highway Maintenance" published on 10 July.

  Guidance to highway authorities in Wales is a matter for the National Assembly for Wales.

  Mr. Pickles
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will issue guidance to highway authorities in England and Wales on the importance of pre-salting roads in winter. [13991]
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  Mr. Spellar
  Guidance on pre-salting roads in winter is contained in the Code of Practice for Maintenance Management "Delivering Best Practice in Highway Maintenance" published on 10 July.

  Guidance to highway authorities in Wales is a matter for the National Assembly for Wales.

  Mr. Pickles
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what recent discussions he has had with highway authorities to take reasonable steps to pre-salt roads in winter and clear snow. [13993]

  Mr. Spellar
  Highway authorities throughout the United Kingdom participated in producing the guidance on winter service contained in the Code of Practice for Maintenance Management "Delivering Best Practice in Highway Maintenance" published on 10 July.

  Railtrack
  Mr. Pickles
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (1) when Ernst and Young LLP was approached about the possibility of giving advice on Railtrack; [13996]

  (2) if he will list the (a) discussions and (b) meetings between Ernst and Young LLP and his Department on the rail industry prior to 24 August; [13990]

  (3) what terms of reference were given to Ernst and Young LLP on their engagement by his Department to advise on possible options for Railtrack. [13997]

  Mr. Spellar
  The possibility of Ernst and Young LLP giving advice on Railtrack was first discussed at a meeting on 23 August. They were appointed on 24 August. On engagement, their remit was to provide advice on the general process of administration; and accountancy advice on possible options for Railtrack.

  Mr. Hoban
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will deposit in the Library a list of all the stations owned by Railtrack and their estimated value. [14783]

  Mr. Jamieson
  My Department does not hold this information.

  Mr. Hoban
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he ordered the drafting of legislation(a) prior to and (b) following his meeting with the Rail Regulator on 5 October to remove the power from the Regulator to hold an interim financial review. [14785]

  Mr. Jamieson
  Details of internal communications are exempt from disclosure under section 2 of Part II of the code of practice on access to government information.

  Mr. Hogg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when, after 1 August, his Department received advice from the Treasury that it was unlikely that additional public funding for Railtrack would be approved. [13471]

  Mr. Spellar
  [holding answer 9 November 2001]: I refer the right hon. and learned Member to the statement made to the House by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State on 13 November 2001, Official Report, columns 723–35.
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  No-fly Zones
  Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many instances there have been in each year since 1991 of (i) commercial and (ii) privately operated aircraft accidentally breaching no-fly zones over(a) nuclear power plants, (b) nuclear reprocessing plants, (c) nuclear fuel production plants, (d) uranium enrichment plants and (e) military nuclear plants. [14262]

  Mr. Jamieson
  Since 1991, there have been four reported breaches of the restricted airspace around military nuclear plants (one in each of 1993, 1995, 1996 and 2000). There have been also two reported breaches of the restrictions around Sellafield (one in 1993 and 1999), which is both a nuclear reprocessing and fuel production plant.

  Car Registration Revenue
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how much has been raised in each year since 1998 from the first licence fee payable at the first registration of a new car. [14014]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The fee for the first registration of vehicles in the UK was introduced on 1 April 1998. The amounts raised each year since 1998 are £67,654k, £68,573k and 70,503k respectively.

  Fire Services (Merseyside)
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will call for a report from Her Majesty's Fire Services Inspectorate on management practices in the Merseyside Fire Authority and their impact on the delivery of fire services. [14274]

  Dr. Whitehead
  HM Fire Service Inspectorate has recently conducted an inspection of the Merseyside Fire Service. The report will be published in due course.

  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what assessment he has made of the recommendations in the National Joint Council report on the staffing arrangements proposals put forward by Merseyside Fire Authority. [14273]

  Dr. Whitehead
  The National Joint Council for Local Authorities' Fire Brigades' Scheme of Conditions of Service provides for consideration of proposed changes in duty systems at fire stations. This is a separate procedure to the requirements of section 19 of the Fire Services Act 1947 in respect of variations to a fire authority's establishment. My right hon. Friend will, however, wish to consider the implications of the recent adjudication in respect of Formby Fire Station.

  Central Railway
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will place in the Library the report he received from the Strategic Rail Authority on the proposed lorries-on-trains freight railway put forward by Central Railway plc. [14707]
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  Mr. Jamieson
  I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 23 October 2001,Official Report, column 200W.

  Terrorism
  Mr. Hoban
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what assessment he has made of the impact of the events of 11 September on insurance premiums to be paid by local authorities. [13898]

  Dr. Whitehead
  [holding answer 12 November 2001]: We are working with local government in assessing all new and increasing pressures on local authorities as part of SR2002. The LGA has identified insurance premiums as an area which it wants, to look at during the review.

  London Underground
  Tom Brake
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if London Underground is a member of the COMET international metro benchmarking network; and what are the rules under which information the network collects can be published. [14598]

  Mr. Jamieson
  [holding answer 13 November 2001]: I understand that London Underground is a member of the COMET international metro benchmarking network. The rules under which it collects and publishes information are a matter for COMET.

  Tom Brake
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what was the average rate of staff absenteeism among London Underground(a) drivers and (b) station staff in each year from 1991. [14605]

  Mr. Jamieson
  [holding answer 13 November 2001]: London Underground has provided the following information showing the percentage absenteeism rate:

  Calendar year

  Train staff1

  Station staff

  1991

  5.39

  10.13

  1992

  5.09

  7.94

  1993

  6.60

  7.23

  1994

  5.61

  6.36

  1995

  5.41

  7.16

  1996

  5.16

  6.15

  1997

  5.64

  6.71

  1998

  5.22

  6.43

  1999

  5.83

  6.39

  2000

  7.23

  7.17

  1 Includes guards

  Bus Services
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when the next issue of the Bus Quality Indicators Bulletin will be published. [14547]

  Mr. Byers
  [holding answer 13 November 2001]: My Department intends to publish the next issue of the Bus Quality Indicators Bulletin in January 2002.

  Departmental Public Relations
  Mr. Norman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (1) what 738W
  are the terms of the brief given to the Finsbury Public Relations firm in relation to his Department's relations with the City; [14460]

  (2) when he decided to employ Roland Rudd of Finsbury Public Relations to advise on his Department's relations with the City; [14463]

  (3) what the expected monthly cost is to his Department of the cost of employing Finsbury Public Relations. [14459]

  Mr. Jamieson
  [holding answer 13 November 2001]: Finsbury Public Relations are not employed by DTLR.

  Council Tenants (Cash Incentive Scheme)
  Mrs. Brooke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many council tenants in England have taken advantage of cash incentive scheme payments in order to buy a home in the private sector in 2000–01; what restrictions there are on the amount of grant that may be made available in(a) Poole and (b) London and the South East; and what the maximum amount of grant allowed is, as a proportion of average house prices in (a) and (b). [14375]

  Ms Keeble
  827 Cash Incentive Scheme grants have been made to council tenants in England in 2000-01 to buy their own home.

  The maximum grant in Poole is £10,000 which equates to around 7 per cent. of average house prices in the area.

  The maximum grant payable in London and the south east is 80 per cent. of the average Right to Buy Discount in the authority in question. The limit on the overall RTB discount in those regions is £38,000. 80 per cent. of the £38.000 is £30,400. This equates to around 20 per cent. of average house prices in London and the south east.

  Planning Guidance (Flooding)
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what recent discussions he has had with the Environment Agency regarding planning policy guidance on building in areas subject to flooding. [14839]

  Ms Keeble
  The Chairman and Chief Executive of the Environment Agency have had three recent meetings with Ministers in this Department that included discussion of a range of issues, including planning and flooding.

  In addition, officials meet and discuss regularly with their colleagues in the Environment Agency the implementation and effectiveness of the planning policy guidance on "Development and flood risk" published in July 2001.

  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what criteria he uses to determine the calling in of planning applications, with specific reference to development in the flood plains. [14838]

  Ms Keeble
  My right hon. Friend's policy on calling in planning applications remains as stated by the then Minister for Planning on 16 June 1999,Official Report, column 138W. His policy is to be very selective about calling in planning applications. He will, in general, only take this step if planning issues of more than local importance are involved.
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  With specific reference to development on flood plains, such cases could include, for example, those which, in his opinion:
  significantly conflict with national policies as expressed in Planning Policy Guidance Note 25 on "Development and flood risk";
  could have significant effects on flooding beyond their immediate locality; or
  give rise to substantial regional or national controversy.

  Each case will continue to be treated on its merits. However, the maintenance by the Environment Agency of an objection on a flood-risk ground to significant development proposals in flood plains would clearly influence the decision whether or not to call in an application. Call-in would be more likely if there was any evidence that the Agency's objection was likely to be over-ruled by the local planning authority without sufficient counter-balancing reasons having been taken into account.

  Ebley Wharf
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will publish the reasons for the decision not to call in the planning application of Ebley Wharf in Stroud. [14840]

  Ms Keeble
  No. The Government's policy is not to give reasons for decisions in cases where the Secretary of State has declined to intervene in particular planning applications.

  Social Housing Provision
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what level of social housing provision there was in each of the last 10 years. [14837]

  Ms Keeble
  Estimates of the stock of social housing in England in the latest 10 years for which data are available are given in the table. Social dwellings include houses and flats owned by registered social landlords and by council.

  Numbers of social dwellings

  Thousand

  Year

  Social dwellings

  1 April 1991

  4,507

  1 April 1992

  4,490

  1 April 1993

  4,474

  1 April 1994

  4,445

  1 April 1995

  4,421

  1 April 1996

  4,412

  1 April 1997

  4,390

  1 April 1998

  4,358

  1 April 1999

  4,340

  1 April 2000

  4,290

  Ministerial Meetings
  Mr. Mark Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will publish the minutes of his meeting with the Rail Regulator on 5 October. [14784]
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  Mr. Jamieson
  Details of internal communications are exempt from disclosure under section 2 of Part II of the code of practice on access to government information.

  Electoral Commission
  Mr. Gardiner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what progress has been made on the transfer of the functions of the Local Government Commission for England to the Electoral Commission; and if he will make a statement.[15463]

  Mr. Raynsford
  I have today laid a draft of an Order which, subject to parliamentary approval, I intend to make under section 18 of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act to provide for the transfer of functions of the Local Government Commission for England, together with the associated functions of the Secretary of State on electoral arrangements, to the Electoral Commission with effect from 1 April 2002. Our aim is to secure a well, planned transfer which avoids any disruption to the current programme of periodic electoral reviews being undertaken by the LGC or to the work programme of the Electoral Commission.

DEFENCE

  Departmental Spending
  Angus Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the total expenditure was on(a) advertising, (b) polling, (c) focus groups, (d) design consultants, (e) caterers., (f) production of departmental publications and (g) photographs/photographers by his Department for each year since 1995 in (i) cash and (ii) real terms; what was (A) the annual percentage increase in spending on each category and (B) spending on each category as a percentage of the total departmental running costs; and if he will make a statement. [6938]

  Dr. Moonie
  This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. I am therefore unable to provide a substantive answer under the terms of exemption 9 (voluminous and vexatious requests) of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

  However, a breakdown of the Ministry of Defence's public relations' expenditure is published in the annual Departmental Performance Report, broken down into categories of RN, Army, RAF and civilian recruitment, PR, marketing and business support services, Chief of PR, sales promotion, scholarships and National Employers' Liaison Committee.

  The Government are committed to using only whatever channel is judged to be the most cost-effective way to deliver the publicity necessary to support the implementation of policy. Paid advertising is resorted to only after careful consideration of the cost benefits.

  Defence Medical Services
  Mr. Swayne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make statement on the quinquennial review of Defence Medical Services. [13701]
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  Dr. Moonie
  I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 17 October 2001,Official Report, column 1224W, to my hon. Friend the Member for Great Yarmouth (Mr. Wright). A quinquennial review of the Defence Medical Agencies and some other aspects of defence medical arrangements is currently under way. The first phase of the review has been completed and a summary has been placed in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Swayne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when Brigadier Tim Taylor's report on Deployable Medical Capability will be complete; and if he will place a copy in the Library. [13702]

  Mr. Ingram
  We are currently, as part of our normal routine, undertaking work to develop options on how to provide and deliver an effective and efficient future medical capability required to deploy in support of operations. A report on this work will be produced for internal planning purposes during autumn next year.

  Mr. Swayne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place a copy of the report, "Defence Medical Services, Strategy for the Future", in the Library. [13703]

  Dr. Moonie
  The work undertaken, in the wake of the Strategic Defence Review, on a strategy for resolving problems facing the Defence Medical Services, constitutes internal discussion and advice and is withheld from publication under exemption 2 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information. A summary of the findings entitled "The Defence Medical Services—A Strategy for the Future" was placed in the Library of the House in December 1998.

  Gibraltar
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the strategic role of Gibraltar. [14293]

  Mr. Ingram
  Gibraltar has been and continues to be an important overseas base for the British Armed Forces, and contains valuable support, logistic, communications and training facilities.

  Nuclear Bunker, Cotswolds
  Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with English Heritage over conferring listed status to the former Government' s nuclear control and operations bunker in the Cotswolds. [14681]

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

  Eurofighter
  Mr. Rosindell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he made of the effect of the removal of the cannon from the Eurofighter on the RAF's future capability to deter civilian aircraft from hazardous flight paths; and if he will make a statement. [14821]

  Mr. Ingram
  Eurofighter will be equipped with highly capable air-to-air missiles. We do not consider that the absence of a cannon from Eurofighter will have any material effect on the ability of the RAF to deter civilian aircraft from hazardous flight paths.
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  Afghanistan
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what military airlift provision is directed to delivering aid to Afghanistan. [14624]

  Mr. Ingram
  Three coalition C-17 aircraft are directed to delivering aid to Afghanistan. They have been flying nightly since the start of the campaign and, so far, have delivered approximately 1.3 million humanitarian daily rations.

  Search and Rescue Helicopters
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to provide search and rescue services through a private finance initiative when the helicopters used in SAR operations are replaced. [14623]

  Mr. Ingram
  The existing Sea King fleet (which includes the Search and Rescue aircraft) is due to be replaced in 2010–15. A full range of potential strategies are being evaluated to meet the search and rescue requirement, one of which is the potential for Public-Private Partnership/Private Finance Initiative.

  Arms Trafficking
  Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the annual report on the implementation of the EU joint action, of 17 December 1998, on the European Union's contribution to combating the destabilising accumulation and spread of small arms and light weapons (199/34/CFSP) and the EU programme on illicit trafficking in conventional arms of June 1997. [14259]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  I have been asked to reply.

  The Government had an opportunity to comment on the draft of the annual report on the implementation of the EU joint action, of 17 December 1998, on the European Union's contribution to combating the destabilising accumulation and spread of small arms and light weapons (1999/34/CFSP) and the EU programme on illicit trafficking in conventional arms of June 1997, as did all other EU member states. The report is entirely consistent with the Government's policy on Small Arms and Light Weapons. It provides a detailed account of action taken by EU member states at the national level and in international forums to combat the dangerous proliferation of small arms. The report also sets out priorities for a more systematic approach to EU assistance in this crucial area of work. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office submitted the report for parliamentary scrutiny on 14 June.

  The Government are committed to tackling the scourge of small arms proliferation. The need to eradicate the illicit trade in small arms has a particular urgency in the context of the war against terrorism. The annual report predates the first ever UN Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects, held in New York in July 2001. The Conference adopted a Programme of Action which commits States politically to put in place export control mechanisms, measures to ensure small arms traceability and to control brokers, and to destroy surplus weapons. There will be a Review Conference in 2006. It is vital that countries sustain the political momentum built up at the Conference to

  743W
  implement the programme of Action. The UK will continue to co-operate with our EU partners, within the framework of the EU's Joint Action on Small Arms and the EU Programme on Illicit Trafficking, to address these issues as a matter of priority.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Zimbabwe
  Dr. Julian Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to the Government of Zimbabwe about terrorist acts against landowners. [13400]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  We regularly raise our concerns with the Government of Zimbabwe on continuing rural violence and the breakdown in the rule of law. At Abuja on 6 September, the Government of Zimbabwe made a commitment to end occupations of farm land and to remove illegal occupiers. My noble Friend Baroness Amos accompanied Commonwealth partners to Zimbabwe on 25–26 October, to assess implementation of the Abuja Agreement and to urge the Government to abide by their commitments.

  Dr. Julian Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of sanctions which could be imposed by(a) the UK and (b)the Commonwealth against the Zimbabwe Government. [13398]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  The UK introduced a national arms embargo on Zimbabwe in May 2000. The UK is working closely with EU partners on Zimbabwe. At the 29 October General Affairs Council, EU Ministers decided to open Article 96 consultations with the Government of Zimbabwe. This gives Zimbabwe 60 days to address EU concerns. Any action by the Commonwealth is a matter for the Commonwealth as a whole.

  International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia
  Dr. Julian Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance his Department has given to the International War Crimes Tribunal in The Hague in connection with the recent trials of Bosnian Serbs. [13401]

  Peter Hain
  The Government are committed to assisting the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia in its aim of bringing justice and stability to the peoples of the region. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office contributes through the United Nations to the running expenses of the Tribunal and, together with other Government Departments, provides practical assistance in personnel and expertise. Where we provide material or witnesses in connection with a trial, this is done in accordance with established standards and practices agreed between the Government and the Tribunal.

  The Government provide assistance to the Tribunal in all cases, regardless of the ethnicity of the accused.

  Israel (British-made Military Components)
  Mr. Galloway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of whether British-made components are being used in the Israeli-occupied territories by the Israeli Defence Force on(a) Apache helicopters, (b) Merkava tanks, (c) Huey helicopters, (d) armoured personnel carriers and (e) F16 jets; and if he will make a statement. [13669]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  We have no evidence that equipment or components manufactured in the UK and licensed for export by this Government have been used by Israeli forces against civilians in the occupied territories during the recent and continuing violence. We would be concerned if such evidence came to light.

  We look at all export licence applications to Israel on a case-by-case basis against the consolidated National and EU criteria, taking careful account in each case of the nature of the equipment and the proposed end-use and end-user in light of the circumstance prevailing at the time. This means inter alia we will not issue licences where there is a clear risk that the equipment might be used in internal repression, international aggression, adversely affect regional stability or prolong internal conflict. We are keeping the situation under close review.

  Mr. Galloway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the system for monitoring the end-use of British-made military components and equipment exported to Israel. [13668]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  We are keeping the situation under close review. We have no evidence that equipment manufactured in the UK and licensed for export by this Government has been used by Israeli forces against civilians in the occupied territories during the recent and continuing violence. We would be concerned if such evidence came to light.

  We use information supplied by a number of sources to check that British equipment is not being used against Palestinians in the occupied territories, including information gathered by our embassy and non-Governmental organisations, among others. We have received an assurance from the Israeli Government that no UK manufactured equipment or components are used against Palestinian civilians in the occupied territories.

  Overseas Territories (Reciprocal Rights)
  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which overseas territories have agreed to offer reciprocal rights for UK citizens to work and reside in UK territories. [13915]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  None. The grant of British citizenship to British Dependent Territories citizens from qualifying Territories who do not already enjoy it, will be on a non-reciprocal basis.

  Overseas Prisoner Repatriated
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many UK nationals detained in overseas prisons have been repatriated to the UK in the last 12 months. [13928]
  745W
  Mr. Bradshaw
  Since 1 November 2000, 38 British nationals detained in prisons overseas have been repatriated to the United Kingdom.

  Afghanistan
  Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans Her Majesty's Government have to provide economic compensation to surviving family members of non-combatant civilians killed by accident by allied munitions used in the conflict in Afghanistan. [14260]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  UK military operations are conducted in accordance with international law. Compensation for any casualties as a result of action undertaken in accordance with those requirements would be inappropriate.

  Joan Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what resolution he proposed on Afghanistan at the session of the UN Security Council on Tuesday 13 November. [14858]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  On 13 November, a UK/French draft Security Council resolution on the future of Afghanistan was circulated among Security Council members. The draft will be discussed in informal consultations of the Security Council today. We hope the resolution will be adopted by the Security Council as soon as possible. A copy of the agreed resolution will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the recent decision by the EU to lift the arms embargo on the Northern Alliance in Afghanistan. [14415]

  Peter Hain
  The EU (Common Position 96/746/CFSP) imposed an embargo on the export of arms to Afghanistan. In December 2000, the United Nations Security Council adopted Resolution 1333, which imposed a mandatory arms embargo only on the territory of Afghanistan under Taliban control. On 5 November the EU embargo was brought into line with the mandatory UN embargo (Common Position 2001/771/CFSP).

  Vietnam
  Mr. Colman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the case of Miss Truong Vy Pham, Hanoi (Ref. P402281). [13904]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  It is not our policy to comment on individual visa cases in a public forum. 1 will write to my hon. Friend shortly.

  Biological Weapons Convention
  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what his Department's policy is on the establishment of national oversight mechanisms for(a) security and (b) genetic engineering of pathogenic organisms; [13947]

  (2) what plans he has with regard to the development of a code of ethical conduct for bioscientists; [13946]

  (3) what United Nations procedures exist for investigating (a) suspicious outbreaks and (b) allegations of biological weapons use; [13949]
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  (4) what plans he has for the promotion of responsible conduct in the (a) study, (b) use, (c) modification and (d) shipment of pathogenic organisms; [13953]

  (5) what proposals his Department has (a) to improve international disease control and (b) to enhance mechanisms for sending expert response teams to cope with outbreaks. [13948]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  These are among a number of new ideas intended to complement the implementation of the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC). We have been discussing these and other options with other States Parties since the end of the negotiations on a BWC Protocol in August. All are at an early stage of development. We expect them to be further discussed at the 5th Review Conference of the BWC in Geneva (19 November to 7 December). 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.

  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions his Department has had with its United States counterparts with regard to the United States' recent proposals to strengthen the biological and toxic weapons convention. [13945]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  We are in frequent contact with the United States, and other States Parties to the Biological Weapons Convention, on our respective ideas for strengthening the Convention. The Foreign Secretary discussed the subject with the US Secretary of State during his visit to Washington in October.

  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) if he will make a statement on his Department's policy at the forthcoming biological and toxic weapons convention Review Conference; [13951]

  (2) what steps he will take to ensure that international progress towards the strengthening of the biological and toxic weapons convention is sustained following the BTWC Review Conference. [13950]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Lewisham Deptford (Joan Ruddock) on 13 November 2001,Official Report, column 668W.

  Government Wine Cellar
  Mr. Laws
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his estimate is of the number of bottles of(a) wine and (b) other alcoholic beverages contained within the Government wine cellar, managed by his Department; what his estimate is of the value of the Government wine cellar; and if he will make a statement. [13517]

  Mr. MacShane
  The Government Wine Cellar contains a mixture of fine wines, reception or drinking wines and spirits and liqueurs. Stock levels vary according to the number of Government functions at any given time. Generally the cellar contains approximately 37,000 bottles, the majority of which are wine. The value of the stock is subjective, depending on the vagaries on the wine
  747W
  market, and bears no relation to the purchase costs. The current value is estimated to be in the region of £1.5 million.

SCOTLAND

  Prestwick Air Traffic Control Centre
  Mr. Peter Duncan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what the most recent projection of the number of jobs that would be created by the completion of the new air traffic control centre at Prestwick airport is. [9200]

  Mrs. Liddell
  [holding answer 22 October 2001]:NATS staff will transfer from the existing centre at Prestwick to the new centre when it is completed. It is not anticipated that any new jobs will be created by the completion of the project. There will be some additional short-term employment opportunities during the construction and commissioning phase.

  Mr. Peter Duncan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what the projected capital cost of the proposed new air traffic control centre at Prestwick airport is; and how much of this budget had been spent as at 16 October.[9201]

  Mrs. Liddell
  [holding answer 22 October 2001]: Although construction of the new air traffic control centre at Prestwick is being deferred, contracts for the design of the building and initial site works are in progress and will be completed. The value of these contracts is a commercial matter between NATS and the contractors. Construction of the building and the design and installation of equipment systems will be subject to a competitive procurement process, which will determine the total costs of the new centre.

  John Barrett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what financial assistance the Government allocated for the building of the new air traffic control centre at Prestwick airport(a) before and (b) following the confirmation of a delay. [11243]

  Mrs. Liddell
  The Government have not made any allocation of financial assistance for the new air traffic control centre at Prestwick.

  John Barrett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent assessment the Government have made of the delay in building the new air traffic control centre at Prestwick on(a) Ayrshire's economy and (b) local unemployment. [11247]

  Mrs. Liddell
  Recent changes to airline operations and consequent reductions in air traffic has led to temporary deferral of work to create the new air traffic control centre at Prestwick. Air traffic control services for Scottish and North Atlantic airspace will continue to be provided by NATS staff from the existing centre at Prestwick. The main effect on the local economy of deferring work on the new centre will be to delay creation of short-term employment opportunities on the construction and commissioning of the new centre. The Government remain closely in touch with the industry with a view to securing the shortest possible delay.
  748W
  John Barrett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many meetings she has had with the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions regarding the delay in building of the new air traffic control centre at Prestwick. [11244]

  Mrs. Liddell
  I have regular discussions with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions on a wide range of transport issues which affect Scotland, including matters relating to the new air traffic centre at Prestwick.

  My hon. Friend the Minister of State, Scotland Office will shortly meet the Minister for Transport to discuss a number of items including the new NATS centre at Prestwick.

  Scottish Executive
  Mrs. Lait
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what her policy is regarding consultations prior to the publication of proposals involving the transfer of powers to the Scottish Executive by(a) primary legislation and (b) order in Council. [13818]

  Mrs. Liddell
  Any transfer of powers to the Scottish Executive takes place following agreement between the Administrations. If conferred by primary legislation, by convention the Scottish Executive first seeks the approval of the Scottish Parliament. If by secondary legislation, the order follows the procedures set out in the Scotland Act, such orders require approval by both Houses of Parliament and also the Scottish Parliament.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

  Al-Jazeera
  Harry Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what arrangements are in place for the al-Jazeera television station to be broadcast in this country with English subtitles; and if she will make a statement. [12257]

  Tessa Jowell
  Al-Jazeera is an Arabic language channel aimed at Arab-speaking communities across a wide geographic area. English subtitling would be an editorial matter for the channel to consider.

  Lottery Grants (Morley and Rothwell)
  Mr. Challen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many applications for lottery grants have been made, in each year since 1997, by organisations and individuals based in Morley and Rothwell constituency. [14337]

  Mr. Caborn
  Comprehensive information on applications for lottery grants is not centrally held at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

  Football Dispute
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions she has had with(a) the Premier League and (b) the Professional Footballers

  749W
  Association regarding the dispute between the two bodies; what role her Department can play in resolving the dispute; and if she will make a statement. [14292]

  Mr. Caborn
  Neither my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State nor I have discussed this issue with the Premier League or the Professional Footballers Association (PFA). Although the Government hope that a satisfactory settlement may be reached without the need for industrial action, the dispute must be resolved through a free process of negotiation. My Department has no plans to intervene.

  Football Clubs (Financial Support)
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many football clubs have received financial support from Sport UK in the last 12 months. [14290]

  Mr. Caborn
  None. UK Sport does not provide funding for football. UK Sport's support for training, competition and coaching facilities for elite sports people is, in the main, provided to UK-wide governing bodies. In view of the administrative structure of football in the UK, applications for lottery funding from the sport's clubs and governing bodies are made to Sport England, or to its equivalents in the other home nations.

  Elite Sports Funding Review
  Mr. Reed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps she is taking to implement the findings of the Cunningham report; and if she will make a statement. [14286]

  Mr. Caborn
  The Elite Sports Funding Review chaired by Dr. Cunningham identified over 40 recommendations, many of which are for the Sports Councils and National Governing Bodies of sport to take forward. The current position of the Sports Councils in respect of the recommendations was presented at the recent Sports Cabinet meeting. They have accepted and are implementing the overwhelming majority of the recommendations. The Government will provide their detailed response to the report in due course.

  Sport England
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on the funding and role for Sport England within the regions. [14846]

  Mr. Caborn
  Sport England's future role in the regions, which will include arrangements for the distributions of funding, is one of the issues being considered in the current quinquennial review of Sport England.

  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what resources were available to Sport England from(a) the Exchequer and (b) the lottery in each region in each of the last two years. [14851]

  Mr. Caborn
  Sport England's allocation of grant in aid for 2000-01 was £38 million and for 2001–02 is £43.2 million. The budget for each region is set out in the table.
  750W

  £000

  Region

  2000–01

  2001–02

  North East

  886

  1,169

  Yorkshire

  1,105

  1,528

  East Midlands

  1,096

  1,340

  East

  1,180

  1,314

  London

  1,301

  1,694

  South East

  2,014

  2,215

  South West

  1,139

  1,413

  West Midlands

  1,161

  1,537

  North West

  1,365

  1,801

  Sport England's income from the National Lottery for 2000–01 was £223.5 million and the forecast income for 2001–02 is £214,233 million. The total amounts awarded in each region are set out in the table:

  £000

  Region

  2000–01

  2001–021

  North East

  11,853

  5,573

  Yorkshire

  30,048

  3,920

  East Midlands

  21,606

  12,484

  East

  9,750

  6,696

  London

  16,880

  16,056

  South East

  28,227

  7,962

  South West

  18,561

  8,658

  West Midlands

  14,612

  3,132

  North West

  21,168

  7,093

  1 At November 2001

  Sports Schools and Colleges
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on the role of her Department in the development of specialist sports schools and colleges; and what help it is giving to the development of the Sports Co-ordinator Programme. [14850]

  Mr. Caborn
  The Department works in partnership with the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) on aspects of the development of Specialist Sports Colleges. The Department sits on the management board of the School Sport Co-ordinator programme which is run by our sponsored body, Sport England.

  Sports (Community Development)
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps she plans to take and with which other Government Departments she is co-operating in order to enhance community development in relation to sport. [14848]

  Mr. Caborn
  I chair monthly meetings bringing together Ministerial colleagues from the Department for Education and Skills and the Department of Health with Sport England to make sure that the potential of sport to drive forward the wider Government agenda is realised. My officials and I are working closely with our colleagues in DLTR on sports planning and regeneration issues, most notably the redrafting of PPG 17, which will be the strengthened framework in which the provision of sports facilities will be delivered. Because we recognise the potential of sport as a means of improving health, diverting young people from crime, drugs and antisocial behaviour and engaging disaffected learners in education and employment we are working jointly with the
  751W
  Department for Education and Skills, the Department of Health, the Department for Work and Pensions and the Home Office to ensure that people of all ages in our communities benefit fully from sport development opportunities and initiatives.

  Sports (Participation)
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how her Department measures participation rates in sport; and what information she collates on(a) an age related and (b) aregional basis. [14847]

  Mr. Caborn
  Adult (aged 16+) rates of sports participation are measured through the General Household Survey (GHS), a continuous survey carried out by the Office for National Statistics across Great Britain. Questions relating to sport are included on the survey once every three years, the last being 1996 and the next being due 2002 (in 1999, the GHS was not carried out).

  Sport England has also measured participation rates for adults with disabilities (carried out in 2000–01) and for people from Black and Ethnic minority communities (carried out in 1999) through specially commissioned large-scale surveys using the same methodology and questions used in the GHS.

  Ages of participants can be analysed in a variety of ways, as respondents are asked their actual age. Overall participation rates can also be reported at a regional level.

  Participation by young people is measured in. Sport England's Survey of Young People which has now been carried out twice (1994 and 1999). The survey, which in 1999 was carried out by MORI on behalf of Sport England, is school based and involves a representative sample of around 4,000 young people aged six to 16 across England. This survey also enables analysis by age. Sport England has also undertaken a large scale survey of young people with disabilities using the same sports participation questions as in the wider 1999 survey (carried out in 2000).

  Sports (Co-ordination)
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent discussions she has had to ensure that there is greater co-ordination within different sports at(a) international, (b) national, (c) regional and (d) local levels. [14849]

  Mr. Caborn
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has had no recent discussions to ensure greater co-ordination within different sports at the various levels. However, she is aware that the Sports Councils work closely with the national governing bodies of sport continually to examine improved methods of co-ordination across all sports and all levels.

  Sports (Rural Regeneration)
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on the role of sport in regeneration, with specific reference to rural areas. [14845]
  752W
  Mr. Caborn
  The Government fully recognise the important role that sport can play in the regeneration of both urban and rural areas and in addressing a whole range of social issues such as better health, reduced crime and social inclusion. Both the report of Policy Action Team 10 and the Government's Plan for Sport highlight how sport can be used to tackle neighbourhood renewal, social exclusion and community development. Among the initiatives included in the plan are the creation of the Community Sport Alliance which brings together key stakeholders of all levels to identify the key challenges facing sport in the community; the promotion of sport in regional policy making through contributions to the work of regional agencies such as the Regional Cultural Consortiums; and ensuring that equity principles are at the heart of all the Government's and Sport England's policies for the promotion and development of sport. In particular the Policy Directions issued to Sport England in respect of the distribution of the Lottery Sports Fund require it, in deciding applications for funding, to have regard to the scope for reducing economic and social deprivation, the need to promote access to sport for people from all sections of society and the need to further the objectives of sustainable development taking into account social and community progress and employment opportunities created by sports projects. Sport England has also introduced a number of other specific initiatives aimed at the regeneration of deprived areas including Sport Action Zones, one of which is Cornwall, its Priority Areas Initiative and the establishment of a Regeneration Policy Advisory Group.

  Playing Fields
  Mr. Hawkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the Minister for Sport's answer to the hon. Member for Surrey Heath on 5 November 2001,Official Report,column 4, what was the basis of the analysis her Department used for the calculation of numbers of playing fields disposed of during the period 1992 to 1997. [14844]

  Mr. Caborn
  Public concern about the loss of school playing fields led directly to the introduction in October 1998 of section 77 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998. Before section 77 was introduced, only grant-maintained schools were required to seek consent from the Secretary of State before selling land, including areas of their playing fields. Local authorities and other schools that owned their own playing fields were free to sell without restriction. The then Department for Education and Employment estimated that an average of 40 playing fields a month were sold in this way before October 1998. Their estimate is based on the number of playing field disposals at grant-maintained schools between April 1996, when the previous Government further encouraged the disposal of playing fields by relaxing the Local Authority Capital Finance Regulations which governed the use of sale proceeds, and 1 October 1998, when section 77 took effect. During this 30-month period, some 64 grant-maintained schools were given approval to dispose of areas of playing field, which is an average of over two a month. Using the proportion of grant-maintained schools at that time compared with the number of other schools, the Department for Education and Skills estimate the total number of playing field disposals each month to have been around 40.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Fireworks
  Sandra Gidley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what plans she has to heighten public awareness of(a) the dangers of fireworks and (b) the effects of fireworks on animals; [9240]

  (2) what plans she has to restrict the decibel level of fireworks; [9242]

  (3) what plans she has to review firework legislation; and if she will make a statement; [9243]

  (4) what control the Government have over fireworks bought on the internet; and if she will make a statement; [9244]

  (5) what plans she has to restrict the use of fireworks to a limited time period. [9241]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  [holding answer 24 October 2001]The Department has recently launched this year's fireworks safety campaign informing the public of the dangers posed by fireworks. The theme of this year's campaign, is to urge children and young people to take care when using or being near fireworks. As part of the campaign, around 2,000 information packs to help mount local safety campaigns have been distributed to trading standards, fire brigades, health promotion units, environmental health officers and police forces. In addition over 25,000 special information packs have been distributed for use in schools.

  The public is warned of the effects of fireworks on animals through the fireworks code, which advises pet owners to keep pets indoors. Each pack of fireworks on sale contains a copy of the code.

  Fireworks on sale in the United Kingdom are required under the Fireworks (Safety) Regulations 1997 to adhere to British Standards BS 7114 which restrict the size and weight of fireworks. I have no plans to change this at present, although we are involved in the proposed European Standard which is likely to specify sound levels for certain fireworks.

  We have no plans to restrict the use of fireworks to a limited time period. The working of regulations safeguards is kept under regular review.

  United Kingdom based firework companies selling over the internet are subject to the provisions of the Fireworks (Safety) Regulations 1997.

  Stephen Hesford
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps her Department has taken to reduce accidents from fireworks. [10473]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The comprehensive measures introduced under the Fireworks (Safety) Regulations 1997 are again being supplemented by a robust, targeted firework safety campaign. The measures include controls on the types and size of fireworks which can be sold to the public, and prohibiting sales to those under 18 years of age.

  The emphasis of this year's campaign, is that children and young people should take care when using or being near fireworks. As part of the campaign, around 2,000 information packs to help mount local safety campaigns
  754W
  have been distributed to trading standards, fire brigades, health promotion units, environmental health officers and police forces. In addition over 25,000 special information packs have been distributed for use in schools.

  Mr. Weir
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) how many reported incidents involving injuries with fireworks in each of the last five years have involved(a) minors and (b) adults as the alleged perpetrators of the incidents in (i) Scotland and (ii) the UK; [13164]

  (2) how many reported incidents involving injuries with fireworks in each of the last five years have involved (a) minors and (b) adults as victims of the incidents in (i) Scotland and (ii) the UK.

  [13165]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  [holding answer 8 November 2001]The following data were collected from Accident and Emergency Departments in Great Britain over the firework season. Data are collected separately by the Department of Health in Northern Ireland. These figures are recorded cases of accidental injury involving fireworks. We have no statistics relating to alleged perpetrators of incidents.

  Scotland

  England and Wales

  Year

  Under 18

  Over 18

  Under 18

  Over 18

  2000

  49

  19

  508

  396

  1999

  45

  37

  549

  425

  1998

  47

  13

  414

  353

  1997

  35

  22

  439

  412

  1996

  61

  24

  647

  501

  Mr. Blizzard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what further plans she has to regulate the sale and use of fireworks for purposes other than organised displays. [13984]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  We have no plans further to regulate the sale and use of fireworks.

  Coal
  Mr. Kevin Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the circumstances in which she will accept continued state aid from the EU for the UK coal industry. [10376]

  Mr. Wilson
  The EU must approve state aid paid by the Government to the UK coal industry, but it does not itself pay such aid.

  The DTI is currently reviewing the rationale for the business support it gives, and so it would be premature to give a definitive view on the circumstances in which we would continue to subsidise the UK coal industry. However, as a general principle we would need to be convinced that the benefits of continued subsidy (for example in energy supply, economic or social terms) would outweigh the costs of that subsidy.

  Manufacturing
  Mr. Hammond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what measures she has taken to support the competitiveness of British manufacturing since 7 June. [10991]
  755W
  Mr. Wilson
  We are strengthening assistance to manufacturing industry through our increased support for the regional development agencies to raise innovation, enterprise and skills. We are taking forward the announced initiative to provide a manufacturing advisory service, based on provision of services on a regional basis. We are also introducing measures to help workers develop their skills and increase their prospects of finding new, better employment if they lose their jobs. These and other issues will be discussed at the manufacturing summit in Birmingham on 5 December.

  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what measures have been undertaken by her Department since 1997 to assist British manufacturing. [13502]

  Mr. Wilson
  [holding answer 12 November 2001]Since 1997 we have established a favourable macro-economic framework to ensure the future competitiveness of British manufacturing. We have built on this support with policies to foster productivity and help firms innovate and grow. We have established regional development agencies to raise innovation, enterprise and skills in every region. We are improving university and industry links to bring new products and processes in key industrial sectors to market. We are helping established industries to modernise through adopting best practice in production and supply chain management. We have strengthened the knowledge base for manufacturing through increased investment in the science infrastructure. We are creating a manufacturing advisory service, based on a centre for excellence in every region to help firms to innovate and improve their productivity. We are also introducing measures to help workers develop their skills and increase their prospects of finding new, better employment if they lose their jobs.

  Electricity Trading Arrangements
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the new electricity trading arrangements. [10646]

  Mr. Wilson
  [holding answer 30 October 2001]Ofgem published on 31 August a review of NETA's performance over the first three months. Their key findings were that:Wholesale electricity prices are 20–25 per cent. below prices that would have been produced under the pool.
  Market liquidity has been established with a threefold increase in the volume of trades, and a doubling of the number of contracts struck compared to this time last year under the pool.
  The National Grid Company is working well to keep the electricity system in balance. Its daily costs of balancing the system have halved, which will also benefit customers.

  In a competitive market, we expect changes in wholesale prices to feed through to final customers. Domestic customers are seeing lower electricity prices with prices down by around three per cent. as are industrial customers with prices down around 11 per cent. We expect that further prices reductions will take place as wholesale prices feed through fully.
  756W
  The impact of NETA on smaller generators continues to be a concern. Ofgem also published a report on the impact of NETA on smaller generators in the first two months of its operation. This report highlighted the areas where further action was needed to assist smaller generators. A consultation document was issued on 1 November 2001 aimed at addressing these concerns.

  BSkyB
  Mrs. Lawrence
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether the initial findings of the Office of Fair Trading's inquiry into BSkyB's position in the pay TV market will be made public. [12091]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  [holding answer 2 November 2001]The conduct of Competition Act inquiries and the publication of their findings are a matter for the Director General of Fair Trading.

  Gas Prices
  Mr. Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the effect of increased gas prices on(a) the expansion of combined heat and power plants and (b) future emissions targets. [12442]

  Mr. Wilson
  The DTI's energy projections published in November 2000 included projections of CHP capacity based on assumptions about future oil and gas prices. Those assumptions are still reasonable in the longer term but the Government recognise that high gas prices this year have reduced substantially the attractiveness of investment in new CHP plant in the short term. The Government remain committed to their CHP target of at least 10,000 MWe capacity by 2010, as well as their emission targets. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs will be issuing a draft CHP strategy in the coming months that will set out how the target will be achieved.

  Nuclear Power
  Mr. Stunell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the total level of Government financial support to the nuclear industry in each year since 1990, including(a) research grants, (b) transfer of debt from privatised utilities, non-fossil fuel levy, (d) investment in BNFL facilities, (e) running costs of UKAEA and NIREX and (f) other sources. [12789]

  Mr. Wilson
  [holding answer 7 November 2001]Funding to the UK nuclear industry has been provided primarily in the form of grant and grant-in-aid to the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA). This funding has been primarily to enable the UKAEA to discharge historic nuclear liabilities arising form past civil nuclear research programmes and to decommission those research facilities and restore sites to normal use—with the exception of funding in respect of the UKAEA nuclear fusion research programme at Culham which complements the UK's participation in the European Union's Framework Programme V.
  757W
  In the period 1999–2000, the DTI (Department of Energy prior to May 1992) provided grant/grant-in-aid to the UKAEA as follows:

  £ million

  Year

  Grant and grant in aid1

  Fusion

  Other nuclear

  1990–91

  94.3

  26.9

  —

  1991–92

  68.7

  20.7

  —

  1992–93

  2126.2

  16.3

  —

  1993–94

  2128.7

  16.3

  —

  1994–95

  2131.3

  15.7

  —

  1995–963

  199.3

  15.9

  —

  1996–97

  166.5

  12.1

  —

  1997–98

  174.5

  16.6

  8.5

  1998–99

  285

  12.6

  5

  1999–2000

  194.4

  14.4

  3.3

  2000–01

  223.4

  14.3

  3.5

  1 Grant in aid to the UKAEA includes provision for its running costs

  2 Grant payment

  3 Prior to 1995 the UKAEA was a trading fund with a negative external financing requirement

  Note:

  Figures are from Government Expenditure Plan Reports

  As regards the privatisation of the nuclear industry (which included both AEA Technology, and British Energy respectively) arrangements at the time included provision for debts to be included in the privatised companies balance sheets and for those debts to be paid back to the Government at fixed periods.

  Turning to the non-fossil fuel obligation (NFFO), this obliged electricity suppliers to buy a certain proportion of their electricity from non-fossil sources (nuclear and renewables). Nuclear Electric plc received a premium over and above the market price for electricity in the period 1990–96, as follows:

  £ million

  Year

  Premium income

  1990–91

  1,265

  1991–92

  798

  1992–93

  864

  1993–94

  895

  1994–95

  892

  1995–96

  699

  These additional costs incurred by electricity suppliers in meeting their NFFO obligations were reimbursed through the fossil fuel levy on electricity supplied in England and Wales.

  BNFL, as a commercial company, does not receive investment capital from Government, although Ministers have provided assurances from time to time in respect of the Government's willingness to accept responsibility for any future liabilities which might arise.

  The costs of UK NIREX are met by subscriptions from its members (UKAEA, BNFL, British Energy).

  Financial Aid
  Paul Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the total amount of public money given to support(a) farming, (b) the steel industry and (C) all manufacturing industries in each of the last 10 years. [13718]
  758W
  Mr. Wilson
  The primary responsibility for farming support rests with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, and with the devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. l understand from colleagues that information on public expenditure under the Common Agricultural Policy and on national grants and subsidies is contained in the publication "Agriculture in the UK", and that copies of this publication are available in the Library of the House. My Department provides support for farming under the small firms loan guarantee scheme. The amounts paid against claims relating to farming under the guarantee since 1991 are as follows:

  Year

  Amount paid (£)

  1991

  nil

  1992

  37,336.41

  1993

  15,671.86

  1994

  94,179.59

  1995

  219,391.52

  1996

  242,017.49

  1997

  228,727.59

  1998

  131,508.71

  1999

  19,947.17

  2000

  39,647.41

  2001

  nil to date

  Total

  1,028,427.75

  The provision of state aid to steel companies which produce products covered by the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) treaty is governed by the Steel Aid Code of the treaty. This code permits aid, only in limited circumstances, for research and development, environmental protection and the permanent closure (not rescue) of a steel company. The only instance of aid to a company covered by the treaty was in the mid-nineties when British Steel was provided with aid of around £180,000 towards a research and development project under the Link programme. Further details on aid to this industry could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  The Department currently spends around £1 billion a year in support for business of which a very significant proportion directly and indirectly benefits manufacturing industry. Because of the wide-ranging nature of DTI support quantifying the exact proportion of public money given to support particular industries (e.g. manufacturing or farming) in each of the last 10 years would raise problems of definition and would also incur disproportionate cost.

  End of Life Vehicles Directive
  Mr. Sayeed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the cost implications of the End of Life Vehicles Directive for car manufacturers; and if she will make a statement. [13884]

  Mr. Wilson
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Buckingham (Mr. Bercow) on 6 November 2001,Official Report, column 159W.

  Mr. Sayeed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the implications of the End of Life Vehicles Directive; and if she will make a statement. [13883]

  Mr. Wilson
  The Directive is complex, with implications for car and component manufacturers, importers, dismantlers, shredders, materials reprocessors,
  759W
  and car owners. The DTI consultation paper on options for implementing the Directive, which included a partial regulatory impact assessment, had resulted in around 100 responses by the closing date of 2 November. These responses are now being assessed, and will be taken into account when deciding on the precise method of implementation.

  Structural Funding
  Andrew George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what(a) amount and (b) proportion of overall EU objective 1 budget for the UK has been (i) committed and (ii) spent according to the latest records in each of the four objective 1 regions. [14452]

  Alan Johnson
  The figures in the table are the latest available commitments and payments made under the EU structural funds for each of the objective 1 regions. Payments under the programmes lag behind commitments because the fund regulations require ERDF expenditure to be defrayed before it is claimed. ESF projects may receive an advance payment at the beginning of the project but subsequent ESF payments take place after expenditure has been defrayed.

  The management of the objective 1 programme for West Wales and the Valleys is a matter for the National Assembly for Wales. However, I understand from the National Assembly that the figures for this region are as set out in the table.

  Region

  Committed grant(£ million)

  Spent grant (£ million)

  Proportion of regional objective 1 budget(Percentage)

  Cornwall and the Scilly Isles

  60

  5.98

  19.53/1.95

  Merseyside

  164.73

  30.68

  20.14/3.75

  South Yorkshire

  92.5

  13.046

  12.86/1.81

  West Wales and the Valleys

  260

  30.4

  24/2.7

  Equal Pay
  Jeff Ennis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many equal value claims have failed for being over the six-month time limit rule since the Equal Pay Act 1963 became law. [14287]

  Alan Johnson
  It would not be possible to provide the number of equal value claims that have failed for being over the six month time limit rule since the Equal Pay Act became law.

  Such information is not available from the Employment Tribunals Service database, which only records the outcome of each case and not the reasons for the outcome.

  Source:
  Employment Tribunals Service

  Photovoltaic Energy
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement about the sale price of photovoltaic energy for national grid purposes; and how this price compares with those in other EU member states. [14372]
  760W
  Mr. Wilson
  In our liberalised energy market, the price paid to generators for electricity, including electricity from photovoltaics (PV), is a matter for negotiation between the generator and the supplier, and is subject to market fluctuation. We therefore have only limited and anecdotal information about prices paid to generators for PV energy. The best price recently mentioned to the Department has been 6.5p per kilowatt hour paid by a company offering a "net metering" deal, that is a deal in which the supplier buys PV energy from generators at the same price that they would charge them for electricity purchases. The best price obtainable at any time will vary with the market.

  Some European countries have taken steps to encourage net metering, and some, notably Germany and Spain, have gone further by legislating for the utilities to pay renewable generators a premium price for all the electricity they wish to export to the network. In the case of PV, this is about 33p per kilowatt hour in Germany and 25p per kilowatt hour in Spain.

  The Government are encouraging the uptake of PV in the UK through both domestic and large-scale field trials, soon to be followed by a major PV demonstration programme to rival the German and Japanese PV roofs programme. It is also working to overcome infrastructural barriers through simplified grid-connection, fairer tariffs and more positive planning guidance.

  Employment Tribunal Claims
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the number of employment tribunal claims in the last five years; and what steps her Department is taking to reduce the extent of non-compliance with regulations by employers. [14374]

  Alan Johnson
  The number of applications were:

  1996–97: 88,961

  1997–98: 80,435

  1998–99: 91,913

  1999–2000: 103,935

  2000–01: 130,408.

  The Employment Bill, introduced in Parliament on 7 November 2001, aims to reduce recourse to employment tribunals through a better understanding of employment rights and responsibilities. In particular, the Bill will set new minimum standards for dealing with workplace disputes and a penalty on employers for failure to comply with the requirement to provide a written statement of employment particulars. The changes will be supported by advice and guidance to help employers meet the requirements of the law.

  Routes to Resolution
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the responses received to her consultation document, "Routes to Resolution". [14373]

  Alan Johnson
  The respondents to the "Routes to Resolution: Improving Dispute Resolution in Britain" consultation are listed in Annexe B of "Routes to Resolution the Government Response" issued on8 November 2001. A copy is lodged in the House of
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  Commons Library. The text is also available on the DTI website at www.dti.gov.ukJer/individual/etresponse.pdf. Copies of individual responses are held in the DTI and House of Commons Libraries. I am grateful to those who responded.

WALES

  Bus Travel
  Donald Anderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the First Secretary of the National Assembly for Wales about co-ordinating measures to facilitate bus travel for pensioners and the disabled. [12474]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  I meet the First Secretary on a regular basis and discuss a range of issues, including transport.

  As the Prime Minister stated during his address to the Assembly, policy on concessionary travel was made in Wales and is now being extended to England.

  Mrs. Betty Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the First Secretary of the National Assembly for Wales about measures to facilitate bus travel for pensioners and the disabled. [12495]

  Mr. Touhig
  My right hon. Friend meets the First Secretary on a regular basis to discuss a range of issues, including transport.

  As the Prime Minister stated during his address to the Assembly, policy on concessionary travel was made in Wales and is now being extended to England.

  From 1 April this year free passes have been available to pensioners and disabled passengers guaranteeing at least 50 per cent. concessions on local buses, a move estimated to have benefited some 600,000 pensioners and disabled passengers. From 1 April 2002 these passes will guarantee free local bus travel for pensioners and disabled people.

  A Bill is currently progressing in the House of Commons to equalise the entitlement to concessionary travel for men and women at the age of 60. It is estimated it will bring to some 8 million nationwide the number of people who benefit from the Government's statutory requirements for travel concessions, including some 75,000 men in Wales. It is currently planned to introduce these measures in England in April 2003. The Assembly will have its own commencement powers and could introduce earlier if it wished.

  Special Educational Needs
  Patrick Mercer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the First Secretary of the National Assembly for Wales concerning the influx from English border areas of pupils with special needs into north Wales schools. [12476]

  Mr. Touhig
  Although my right hon. Friend and I have regular meetings with the First Secretary to discuss a range of issues relating to educational provision in Wales, the influx from English border areas of pupils with special needs into north Wales schools has not been raised.
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  I am, however, aware that the National Assembly for Wales places a high priority on achieving the best possible opportunities for children with special educational needs in order to give them a rewarding school life and to equip them for adult life.

  Manufacturing Employment
  Mr. Peter Duncan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the First Secretary of the National Assembly for Wales about levels of manufacturing employment in Wales. [12477]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  I meet the First Secretary regularly to discuss a range of issues, including manufacturing employment in Wales. Some 7,500 jobs have been announced in the manufacturing sector in Wales in the past 12 months. This is particularly welcome in the context of severe losses in the steel sector.

  Objective 1
  Adam Price
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has had with the Treasury with regard to the Government's policy on the provision of investment aid in the west Wales and the valleys objective 1 programme area; and if he will make a statement. [12478]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  I meet Treasury colleagues regularly to discuss a variety of issues.

  All representations in advance of the 2002 Budget will be considered carefully in the normal way.

  Health (Waiting Lists)
  Dr. Murrison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary for Health and Social Services in the National Assembly regarding the number of people waiting for treatment in Wales. [12479]

  Mr. Touhig
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I meet regularly with the National Assembly First Minister and Health Minister to discuss a range of issues including the number of people waiting for treatment.

  Crime
  Mark Tami
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the measures taken by the Government to tackle crime in Wales. [12482]

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the measures taken by the Government to tackle crime in Wales. [12483]

  Mrs. Lawrence
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the measures taken by Government to tackle crime in Wales. [12494]

  Mr. Touhig
  The Government's partnership approach to fighting crime is making a significant difference in communities across Wales. With funding running into millions of pounds, local crime and disorder reduction partnerships are implementing projects targeted at crime hotspots, domestic violence and drug related crime. Much
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  of this funding is being channelled specifically into the most deprived communities and is going a long way towards building safer and more inclusive communities.

  QinetiQ (Aberporth)
  Mr. Simon Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with Government and National Assembly Secretaries regarding the future of QinetiQ, Aberporth. [12484]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  I meet both Government and Assembly Ministers regularly to discuss a range of issues.

  The Government have provided funding for the September 2001 apprentice intake at Aberporth. Future arrangements for apprentices at QinetiQ sites depend on the Ministry of Defence review of Ranges and Test Evaluation provision. The MOD expects to have agreed a procurement strategy for this business by the end of the year.

  Wrexham Incinerator
  Mr. Stephen O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with members of the Assembly about the proposed Wrexham incinerator and its potential cross-border effect on English constituencies. [12485]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  I have had no direct discussion on this subject with Assembly Members as any planning proposal is a matter for the relevant local authority and the National Assembly for Wales.

  I understand that the Assembly has received a number of requests for the planning application to be called in and consideration is currently being given to these requests. The Assembly's approach is not to interfere with a local planning authority's jurisdiction unless an application involves planning issues of more than local importance.

  Livestock Movements
  Hywel Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on the operation of the autumn movement of livestock scheme in Wales. [12486]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  I have regular meetings with the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on a wide range of issues, which have of course included matters related to foot and mouth disease. I understand that in respect of this scheme there is close and effective operational liaison between the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the National Assembly.

  Manufacturing Industry
  Paul Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent representations he has received concerning the future of manufacturing industry in Wales. [12487]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  I meet, visit and correspond regularly with representatives of the Welsh manufacturing industry. Some 7,500 jobs have been announced in the manufacturing sector in Wales in the past 12 months. This is particularly welcome in the context of severe losses in the steel sector.

  New Deal
  Julie Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the operation of the new deal in Wales. [12488]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  The new deal has been a success story in Wales. 81,500 people in Wales have benefited from the scheme so far and 42 per cent. of those have now found jobs. Since the launch of the scheme in Wales there has been a 68 per cent. fall in the number of 18 to 24-year-olds claiming jobseeker's allowance for six months or more and the number of people over 25 claiming jobseeker's allowance for two years or more has fallen by 45 per cent.

  Further and Higher Education
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the First Secretary concerning further and higher education in north-east Wales. [12489]

  Mr. Touhig
  My right hon. Friend and I have had a number of meetings and discussions recently to discuss education in Wales. These discussions have included the provision of higher education.

  The Assembly's Education and Lifelong Learning Committee is conducting a comprehensive policy review of higher education in Wales, to inform a 10-year strategy for the sector. The review's findings are expected later this year.

  Barnett Formula
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the First Secretary about the operation of the Barnett formula relating to health provision. [12490]

  Mr. Touhig
  The operation of the Barnett formula has no direct effect on health provision in Wales. Therefore, I have not discussed this with the First Minister.

  Farmers Assistance
  Mr. Roger Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer regarding extra funds for the National Assembly for Wales to assist those farmers in Wales suffering losses resulting from animal movement restrictions and poor trading conditions. [R] [12491]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  I have regular discussions with my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer on a number of issues.

  I welcome the re-establishment of Welsh lamb and beef in domestic markets, and the recent announcement that the export of sheep and goat meat can resume from parts of Wales. The Government have extended the Livestock Welfare Disposal Scheme in order to pre-empt problems arising this winter for lambs that would, under normal trading conditions, be sold and moved off farms.

  I understand that the Assembly is making strenuous efforts to deal with both long-term issues in Welsh agriculture and the current difficulties affecting the market and farmers' incomes this autumn. Both the Assembly and

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  the Welsh Development Agency stand ready to assist the livestock industry with marketing and processing grants for viable projects.

  School Transport
  Mr. Edwards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will meet the First Secretary of the National Assembly to discuss the legal obligations placed on local authorities relating to home-to-school transport. [12492]

  Mr. Touhig
  I have written to the Assembly Minister for Education and Lifelong Learning on this matter, with particular reference to the issues raised by my hon. Friend in the debate on Transport to School, on 30 October 2001,Official Report, columns 243–50WH. Local education authorities (LEAs) have a statutory duty to decide how best to meet their home to school transport obligations. LEAs are obliged to provide free transport to the nearest school for pupils under eight-years-old who live more than two miles from the school, and for pupils above the age of eight who live more than three miles from the school.

  Small Businesses
  Mr. Prisk
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent meetings he has had with UK Government Departments to represent the interests of small businesses in Wales. [12469]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  I meet my colleagues in UK Government Departments regularly to discuss a range of issues, including small businesses in Wales.

  Violent Crime
  Mr. Francois
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has had with the Home Secretary about tackling violent crime in Wales. [12480]

  Mr. Touhig
  My right hon. Friend meets regularly with the Home Secretary to discuss a range of issues affecting Wales.

  The Government are committed to increasing the reporting and recording of violent crime. Violent crime represents a relatively small proportion of crime, but it is recognised that it includes those crimes that cause people most concern.

  We have put in place a comprehensive package of measures to combat violent crime which is set out in "Fighting Violent Crime Together", published earlier this year.

TREASURY

  Departmental Spending (Deprived Areas)
  Mr. Laws
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much of the expenditure by his Department in each of the years(a) 1996–97, (b) 1997–98, (c) 1998–99, (d) 1999–2000, (e) 2000–01, (f) 2001–02 and (g) 2002–03 (estimated) was allocated with reference to the index of multiple deprivation; which expenditure programmes are allocated with respect to this index and other measures of relative geographic deprivation; and if he will make a statement. [8935]
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  Mr. Andrew Smith
  [holding answer 25 October 2001]: HM Treasury has had a modest programme budget, none of which is allocated with reference to the indices of multiple deprivation.

  Impounded Vehicles
  Mr. Heath
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what guidance is given to Customs and Excise officials on the(a) impounding and (b) disposal of impounded vehicles used to breach personal allowances for tobacco and alcohol; and if he will make a statement. [14076]

  Mr. Boateng
  The Customs and Excise Management Act 1979, section 141(1)(a), allows Customs to seize vehicles that have been used for the transport of anything liable to seizure. As part of the tackling tobacco strategy, and following recommendations from Martin Taylor, the independent tobacco evaluator, Customs strengthened their approach to anyone using vehicles to smuggle goods including alcohol and tobacco.

  Seized vehicles are stored until condemnation proceedings are completed giving Customs the legal right to dispose of them as they see fit. Customs will dispose of the vehicles in a cost-effective manner most beneficial to the UK Exchequer.

  Mr. Heath
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what sites are used to store vehicles impounded by Customs and Excise officials on the grounds that they were being used to breach personal allowances for the importation of tobacco and alcohol; and if he will make a statement. [14075]

  Mr. Boateng
  A number of sites are used around the UK. These are made available as part of the contract arrangements Customs has in place to provide storage facilities for both vehicles and goods. For security reasons the specific details of these sites cannot be disclosed.

  Staff Shortages
  Llew Smith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 23 October 2001,Official Report, column 202W, how many instances have been brought to his attention by Her Majesty's Customs and Excise where appeals and reviews have been cancelled owing to staff shortages. [14276]

  Mr. Boateng
  Customs endeavour to complete all reviews within the statutory period of 45 days. Where for any reason they cannot do so, such as at particularly busy periods, section 15(2) of the Finance Act 1994 states that if Customs do not carry out the review within the 45 days from when the review was required they shall be assumed to have confirmed the decision. Where Customs cannot complete a review within the statutory period, the appellant still has the right to go to a tribunal.

  Automotive Fuel
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much tax was raised in each year since 1997 from the retail sale of automotive fuel. [14011]

  Mr. Boateng
  The information is not available.

  Motor Vehicles (Tax Income)
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much tax was raised in each year since 1997 from(a) the sale, maintenance and repair of motorcycles and related parts and accessories, (b) the sale of motor vehicle parts and accessories, (c) the maintenance and repair of motor vehicles and (d) the sale of motor vehicles. [14012]

  Mr. Boateng
  The estimated amount of VAT raised from the maintenance and repair, including parts and accessories, of motor vehicles and motorcycles since 1997 is:

  Year

  £ billion

  1997

  1.7

  1998

  1.9

  1999

  2.0

  2000

  2.0

  It is not possible to estimate the Government's income from VAT on the sale of motor vehicles and motorcycles except at disproportionate cost

  Public Sector Pay
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the impact of the growth of public sector pay in 2001 on the level of public expenditure. [14212]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  Public sector pay costs have been accommodated within the agreed public spending totals, in accordance with normal prices.

  Civil Service Pay Negotiations
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the impact on(a) public expenditure and (b) recruitment and retention within the civil service of the devolution to individual Government Departments and agencies of responsibility for pay negotiations. [14213]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  On public expenditure, the position continues to be that Departments are expected to meet pay costs from within their public spending allocations. The flexibilities under the delegations allow Departments to structure their pay arrangements to meet their own particular circumstances and requirements, including dealing more effectively with recruitment and retention issues.

  Afghanistan
  Llew Smith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the impact on public expenditure on non-military priorities of the commitment to military expenditure in the conflict in Afghanistan. [14257]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  The Chancellor has made it clear that the Government will meet the costs of measures related to our response to international terrorism, while continuing to deliver our spending plans within the fiscal rules.

  Climate Change Levy
  Mr. Watts
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps the Treasury is taking to monitor the impact of the climate change levy on(a) manufacturing industry and (b) the service sector; and if he will publish the results. [14333]

  Mr. Boateng
  The climate change levy package is broadly revenue neutral for services and manufacturing but the impact on any specific sector will depend on a number of factors, including:The future energy consumption of firms in the sector and the use they make of levy funded energy efficiency support.
  Employment levels in those sectors and the benefits received from the levy funded reductions in employers' National Insurance Contributions.
  The number of energy intensive firms in that sector that are eligible to receive a discount on the main rates of the levy by signing up to an energy efficiency agreement.
  What use firms in that sector make of electricity generated from levy exempt sources such as new renewables and combined heat and power.

  As with all taxation, we will monitor revenue and sectoral impacts. Revenue receipts are published in the Financial Statement and Budget Report.

  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to exclude the nuclear power industry from the climate change levy. [14138]

  Mr. Boateng
  The climate change levy is designed to encourage energy efficiency across the business and public sectors and to increase the use of sustainable forms of energy. The Government have no plans to exclude the nuclear power industry from the levy.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what percentage of the climate change levy is paid by engineering; and if he will estimate the percentage of economic output produced by engineering; [14431]

  (2) if the climate change levy is revenue neutral for the engineering sector. [14424]

  Mr. Boateng
  The climate change levy is designed to be broadly revenue neutral across both the manufacturing and service sectors. The impact of the levy on any particular sector will be determined by a number of factors, including The future energy consumption of firms in the sector and the use they make of levy funded energy efficiency support.
  Employment levels in the sectors and the benefits received from the levy funded National Insurance contribution cuts.
  The number of energy intensive firms in the sector that are eligible to receive a discount on the main rates of the levy by signing up to an energy efficiency agreement.
  What use firms in that sector make of electricity generated from levy exempt "new" renewable sources of energy and combined heat and power.

  On the most recently available figures, engineering represents an estimated 6 per cent. of gross domestic product.

  Corporation Tax
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many firms have paid corporation tax at no more than the 10p rate in each year since its introduction. [14421]
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  Dawn Primarolo
  It is too early to say. The lop rate was introduced from the 2000–01 tax year, and small companies do not have to pay their corporation tax until nine months after the end of their accounting periods. But we estimate that about 150,000 corporation tax payers will be at 10 per cent. (with a further 150.000 paying at an average rate between 10 per cent. and 20 per cent.).

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to simplify the administration of corporation tax. [14422]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The Government keep the whole tax system under review, acting where possible to change tax rules to minimise burdens on business, while still meeting the Government's objectives for a fair and efficient tax system. The administration of corporation tax is one of a number of areas covered by current or recent reviews.

  Regulation
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will introduce targets for reducing the number of regulations issued by his Department over the next four years. [14429]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The Government's policy is to regulate only when necessary, ensuring that regulations are fair and effective, so that they protect the vulnerable but do not stifle competitiveness or productivity.

  New processes including the Regulatory Reform Act give us powerful tools to help cut down over-complex, over-lapping and over-burdensome regulatory regimes.

  The Prime Minister has asked all Whitehall Departments to identify by the end of this year areas of legislation that are ripe for reform under this and other procedures. A Government-wide action plan will then be published containing firm commitments to specific reforms and initiatives which will aid both business and the public sector.

  The Chancellor's Departments (along with Department's across Government) continue to explore ways of reducing regulatory burdens. There are no plans to introduce targets for reducing the number of regulations issued.

  Income Tax
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the level of higher rate taxation as a factor in attracting senior management to the UK(a) public and (b) private sectors. [14426]

  Dawn Primarolo
  We are pledged not to raise the top rate of tax in this Parliament. It is 40 per cent. and compares favourably with our competitors' equivalent rates.

  Stamp Duty
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to introduce new anti-avoidance measures in respect of stamp duty. [14439]

  Ruth Kelly
  The Government regularly review the adequacy of legislation to counter avoidance of all taxes, including stamp duty.

  Pension Credit
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received from interest groups representing the elderly regarding(a) the marginal tax rate in the pension credit and (b) the pension credit savings limit. [14445]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Treasury Ministers receive a wide range of representations on a variety of issues.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions regarding pre-Budget representations received from interest groups representing the elderly concerning the pension credit. [14446]

  Ruth Kelly
  The Chancellor of the Exchequer meets regularly with Cabinet colleagues to discuss a wide range of issues.

  Insurance Premium Tax
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much has been raised on insurance premium tax in each year since May 1997. [14394]

  Ruth Kelly
  Figures for receipts of insurance premium tax are shown in the Office for National Statistics publication "Financial Statistics".

  Private Medical Insurance
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much has been raised by the abolition of tax relief on private medical insurance in each year since its abolition. [14393]

  Ruth Kelly
  Annual estimates of the yield from the abolition of tax relief on premiums for private medical insurance for the over-60s were given in the July 1997 Financial Statement and Budget Report (FSBR). No further estimates have been made.

  Employee Share Ownership
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much money was raised in the last financial year from penalties imposed on firms where employees have cashed in employee share ownership schemes too early. [14442]

  Ruth Kelly
  No penalties are imposed on firms, but employees may be liable to tax and national insurance contributions on shares granted under the share incentive plan if they withdraw from the plan early. Returns have only just been received from companies reflecting their first year's operation of the plan, so it is too early to estimate the amounts which may be involved.

  Prospectus Directive
  Mr. Lazarowicz
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has made to the European Commission regarding the proposed Prospectus Directive. [14405]

  Ruth Kelly
  The Economic and Finance Council of Ministers discussed the risk capital action plan, of which the proposed Prospectus Directive is a part, on 6 November. The United Kingdom argued that substantial
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  work on the directive is required to deliver the risk capital action plan's objectives to increase the availability of risk capital in the EU.

  HM Treasury is in regular contact with all levels of the Commission, and has communicated the United Kingdom Government's reservations about the directive, as currently drafted, on many occasions.

  Hawala
  Mr. Love
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action is being taken to bring the Hawala exchange system within the scope of his new arrangements to combat the funding of international terrorism; and if he will make a statement. [14382]

  Ruth Kelly
  On Monday 12 November, regulations came into force to give Customs new powers to enter and inspect money service businesses, including Hawala, Hundi and other alternative remittance agents, to ensure that they are compliant with the 1993 Money Laundering Regulations. Where they find a breach of these regulations, Customs will be able to prosecute.

  Share Incentive Plan
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of how employee share ownership can be encouraged in sectors of the economy with relatively high employee turnover. [14441]

  Ruth Kelly
  The share incentive plan and enterprise management incentives introduced in Finance Act 2000 were developed on the basis of extensive consultation. This ensured the design of both was flexible to enable companies in all sectors, including those with relatively high employee turnover, to adapt the schemes to suit their particular needs. For the share incentive plan companies can set a qualifying period of service for employees to benefit from the plan. They can also include forfeiture and pre-emption conditions if they wish.

  The new plans are being closely monitored to assess how far they are meeting the needs of companies of all sizes and sectors.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent representations he has received on, and what plans he has to reduce, the qualifying period for SIPs. [14440]

  Ruth Kelly
  The share incentive plan was introduced to encourage greater share ownership among employees. Employees must retain their shares in the plan for five years to earn full exemption from tax and national insurance contributions. We have received one representation to reduce this period from five to three years. This would work against the aim of encouraging employees to retain shares in the company they work for over the long term, and it would be costly in terms of tax forgone.

  There is no requirement for companies to set a qualifying period of service before employees may benefit from the plan although they may do so if they wish, up to a maximum of 18 months.

  Occupational Pension Funds Directive
  Mr. Lazarowicz
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has made to the European Commission regarding the proposed directive on occupational pension funds. [14404]

  Ruth Kelly
  The Economic and Finance Council of Ministers discussed the proposed directive on the activities of institutions for occupational retirement provision on 6 May,Official Report, 10 May 2001, column 284W. Ministers agreed that further work was required. Ecofin on 16 October noted a Presidency report on progress on the draft directive, Official Report, 24 October 2001, column 260W.

  Labour Supply
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effects of national insurance rates on the supply of labour. [14388]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Reducing national insurance contributions for those on low incomes forms part of the Government's strategy to make work pay. As a result of reforms since 1997, around 1 million lower paid employees have been taken out of having to pay NICs altogether. Cautious estimates show that labour supply has increased by around 160,000 people as a result of the entire package of measures to make work pay since 1997, including the reductions in income tax and national insurance contributions as well as working families tax credit and disabled persons tax credit.

  Taxation
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what percentage of the combined burden of taxation on motoring is borne by industry; [14418]

  (2) what percentage of the total tax burden was borne by business in each year since May 1997. [14433]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  The information requested is not available.

  Manufacturing
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many manufacturing jobs have been lost since April. [14392]

  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. John Bercow, dated 14 November 2001:

  As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question about the reduction in the number of manufacturing jobs since April (14392).

  The table below shows the number of employee jobs in manufacturing for April and August 2001 for comparative purposes.

  UK

  Thousand1

  April 2001

  3,864

  August 2001

  3,805

  Change between April and August 2001

  2-59

  1 Seasonally adjusted

  2 -1.5 per cent.

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  These estimates are based on the results of regular sample surveys of employers which count the number of employee jobs. The data are published in Statbase on the National Statistics website www.statistics.gov.ukIstatbaseitsdataset.asp?vink=342 under series identifier YEJL.

  Mortality Statistics
  Helen Jackson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people died from(a) meningitis and (b) carbon monoxide poisoning, excluding suicides, in each of the last four years. [14407]

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

  Letter from Len Cook to Helen Jackson, dated 14 November 2001:

  As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent about the number of people died from (a) meningitis and (b) carbon monoxide poisoning, excluding suicides in each of the last four years (14407).

  The data are included in the table below.

  Number of deaths in England and Wales from meningitis and carbon monoxide poisoning (excluding suicides), persons, all ages,1997–20001

  Calendar year

  Meningitis

  Carbon monoxide poisoning (excluding suicide)

  1997

  466

  156

  1998

  426

  150

  1999

  399

  135

  2000

  405

  118

  1 Cause of death in these years was coded to the International Classification of Diseases Ninth Revision (ICD9)

  Notes:
  The codes used to define the terms used in the table are as follows:
  Meningitis—ICD9 underlying cause codes 036, 320–322
  Carbon monoxide poisoning—ICD9 nature of injury code 986
  Suicide—ICD9 underlying cause codes E950-E959, E980-E989 excluding E988.8
  Source:
  ONS

  Freedom of Information Act
  Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what date his Department established a working group of officials to prepare his Department for the implementation of the Freedom of Information Act 2000; and on what dates this committee has met since it was set up. [14777]

  Ruth Kelly
  A working group was set up in October to co-ordinate preparations for the Freedom of Information Act. The first meeting of the group will be on 30 November.

  Working Hours
  Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 6 November 2001,Official Report, column 154W, on excessive working hours, if he will place in the Library the results from the aggregated data for every sub annual period since the data was first collected; if he will place a greater level of detail on his methodology in the Library; and if he will make a statement. [14833]
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  Ruth Kelly
  The information requested by the hon. Member has been deposited in the Library.

  Pensions
  Paddy Tipping
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he last met trade union representatives to discuss(a) miners' pension issues and (b) pension funds surpluses; and if he will make a statement. [13514]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  (holding answer 13 November 2001]: Treasury Ministers meet regularly with a wide range of groups of people to discuss a variety of topics.

  Professional Contractors Group
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many meetings he has had with the Professional Contractors Group in the last 12 months. [14852]

  Dawn Primarolo
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave him on 3 July 2001,Official Report, column 128W.

  IR35 (Training Provision)
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will make a statement on how IR35 will affect training provision for IT contractors; and what new incentives are available to increase this training; [14855]

  (2) what assessment he has made of the impact on IT contractors' training provision of (a) the introduction of IR35 and (b) the ending of individual learning accounts. [14854]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Employees who pay for their own training are not in general entitled to a tax deduction for this expense. Individuals affected by the 'service company' legislation are in a similar position. However they are entitled to an additional 5 per cent. flat rate deduction for expenses on top of all the other expenses normally available to an employee, which they can use to provide for their training needs if they so wish. The withdrawal of individual learning accounts has had the same effect on all individuals previously eligible for them, and service company workers are not affected any differently from anybody else.

  Individual Learning Accounts
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with the DFES regarding the decision to end individual learning accounts, with specific reference to training for IT contractors. [14853]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The Chancellor of the Exchequer meets regularly with his Cabinet colleagues to discuss a wide range of issues.

  Income Tax (Pensioners)
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people over the age of 65 years pay income tax. [14944]

  Dawn Primarolo
  I refer my hon. Friend to "Inland Revenue Statistics", table 2.1. The latest version can he accessed on the Inland Revenue website www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/stats.

  Double Taxation Conventions
  Barbara Follett
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he will submit to the House the double taxation conventions that the Government recently concluded with Jordan and Lithuania; and if he will make a statement. [15464]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The conventions with Jordan and Lithuania were signed on 22 July and 19 March respectively. The texts of the conventions with Jordan and Lithuania have each been published today as a schedule to a draft Order in Council and laid before the House. After signature the texts were deposited in the Library of the House and made available on the Inland Revenue's website.

  National Insurance
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish figures indicating the effective upper earnings limit on the equivalent of national insurance contributions for each EU member state in the latest year for which figures are available. [14390]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Information and details about the social security contributions systems of other EU member states, and more generally about other OECD member countries, is published annually in the OECD publication "Taxing Wages". A copy of this publication is available from the House of Commons Library.

  Tax/National Insurance Receipts
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the receipts of(a) income tax, (b) corporation tax and (c) national insurance for November and December and January 2002. [14300]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Forecasts of receipts on a monthly basis are not published.

  Smuggling (Motor Fuel Products)
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the fuel duty and VAT lost in each year since 1997 through the smuggling of motor fuel products into Northern Ireland. [14013]

  Mr. Boateng
  Updated estimates. will be presented in the forthcoming pre-Budget report.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

  Ministerial Visit (Pakistan)
  Mrs. Spelman
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whom she met and what discussions she had during her recent visit to Pakistan. [12908]

  Clare Short
  I visited Pakistan from 17 to 19 October. My statement on 24 October 2001,Official Report, columns 284–85, reported on the discussions I had there.

  I met President Musharraf, Finance Minister Shaukat Aziz and the Ministers of Health, Education, Northern Areas and Women's Affairs. I met the Governor of the
  776W
  North West Frontier Province and some of his ministers and senior officials. I had informal discussions with local representatives of NGOs, including SCF, Oxfam, CARE and the Iranian Red Cross; and with representatives of the UN agencies. I also had a meeting with the US Ambassador. In Peshawar, I visited the World Food Programme office and food distribution depot.

  Caribbean
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will set out the conclusions her Department reached in its examination of further support to the CARICOM-sponsored regional plan for tackling 'HIV/AIDS in the Caribbean; and if she will make a statement. [14412]

  Clare Short
  We have confirmed our readiness to provide additional support to the regional HIV/AIDS action plan for the Caribbean, particularly in the key area of policy and advocacy support. CARICOM will be convening a meeting of all interested donors in St. Lucia this month to examine the most effective process for turning the action plan into reality.

  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will set out how the funding for the second phase of the Caribbean Epidemiology Centre Project has been allocated and itemise the purposes to which it has been applied, by island or territory. [14416]

  Clare Short
  DFID support for the second Phase of the Caribbean Epidemiology Centre (CAREC) project is geared towards the Prevention and Control of AIDS and Sexually transmitted diseases in the Caribbean (£713,564). Specific outputs include:

  (a) improved HIV/AIDS/CSTD case management in Caribbean member countries which aims to improve the quality of STD diagnosis and treatment;

  (b) the development and implementation of information, education and communication (IEC) interventions aimed at target groups;

  (c) improved management of National AIDS programmes in participating Caribbean member countries; and

  (d) implementation of sentinel surveillance for HIV, Syphilis and Hepatitis B in six Caribbean member countries.

  We are considering a further project with CAREC designed to strengthen its effectiveness as an organisation to respond to the growing incidence of HIV/AIDS in the region.

  Ivory Coast
  Mrs. Spelman
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development which(a) non-Governmental organisations and (b) charities the Government support in the Ivory Coast. [14073]

  Clare Short
  We are currently supporting the work of four non-governmental organisations in Cote d'Ivoire. Through our Small Grants Scheme we are helping to support the work of the World Wide Fund for Nature, Cote d'Ivoire Ecology, and Afrique Nature International. We are also supporting the work of Action on Disability and Development through the Civil Society Challenge Fund (CSCF).

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Ethnic Minority Staff
  Ian Lucas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will publish the second annual report on progress on his race equality employment targets for ethnic minority staff in his Department and its service areas. [15465]

  Angela Eagle
  I have today published a report entitled "Race Equality—The Home Secretary's Employment Targets—The Second Annual Report on Progress". Copies have been placed in the Library. The targets cover recruitment, retention and career progression for minority ethnic staff in the Home Office, the prison, the police, the fire and the probation services.

  Amarjit Singh
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the case of Mr. Amarjit Singh, stating for what reason he has been detained. [12297]

  Angela Eagle
  I wrote to my hon. Friend about this matter on 14 November.

  Downview Prison
  Mr. Blunt
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners there were at HMP Downview on 26 October; and, of these, how many were(a) UK and (b) Jamaican citizens convicted of trafficking in illegal drugs. [11935]

  Beverley Hughes
  [holding answer 7 November 2001]: On the morning of 26 October 2001, there were 130 female prisoners at Downview prison, rising to 140 by the end of the day. A breakdown of nationality and drug offence for that date is not held centrally. However, provisional data for the morning of 13 November 2001 show that there were 180 female prisoners in Downview prison. Of these, 13 United Kingdom (including prisoners from the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man) and 28 Jamaican nationals were imprisoned for importing/exporting or conspiring to import/export drugs. The population of each prison is shown in the monthly prison population brief available on http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds.

  Government Bunkers
  Dr. Julian Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the former Government bunkers sold to private purchasers since 1990. [13413]

  Mr. Blunkett
  Following the decision of the then Home Secretary in 1992, the Home Office has sold Regional Government Headquarters (RGHQ) bunkers at the following addresses to private purchasers:

  1. Shipton by Beningbrough, Near York, North Yorkshire

  2. Alemouth Road. Hexham, Northumberland

  3. Skendleby, Near Spilsby, Lincolnshire

  4. Buder Street, Loughborough, Leicestershire

  5. Watton Road, Bawburgh, Near Norwich, Norfolk

  6. Day's Lane, Biddenham, Bedford, Bedfordshire

  7. Keveldon Hall Lane, Keveldon Hatch, Near Brentwood, Essex

  8. RAF Chilmark, Near Salisbury, Wiltshire778W

  778W

  9. Crown Building, Soar Gull Perch, Hope Cove, Devon

  10. Borras Park Road, Wrexham, North Wales

  11. Brackla Tunnels, Bridgend, Mid Glamorgan

  12. Longly Lane, Goosnargh. Preston, Lancashire

  13. French Lane, Hack Green. Near Nantwich, Cheshire.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Colman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the hon. Member for Putney will receive a substantive reply to his letter of 8 October, for which he received an acknowledgement on 7 November, on behalf of his constituent Ms Karen Devlin. [14371]

  Angela Eagle
  My right hon. Friend Lord Rooker has now replied to my hon. Friend.

  Nationality Applications
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for British nationality are under consideration by his Department. [13931]

  Angela Eagle
  I regret that statistics on the number of British nationality applications under consideration are not available.

  Since April this year, all new cases are initiated as soon as they arrive. The vast majority of cases awaiting a decision are already in progress, and we aim to start all remaining cases by March 2002. This means that the queue of applications waiting to be considered is getting shorter.

  Security Service
  Mr. Letwin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the extra cost to the Security Service of activities in connection with events following the 11 September terrorist attacks; and if this cost will be met from the existing Security Service budget. [14078]

  Mr. Blunkett
  It has long been the policy of this and previous Governments not to comment on the individual budgets of the Security and Intelligence agencies. The impact of the terrorist attacks on 11 September is being taken into account in considering the Security Service budget.

  Prison Education
  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prison education departments have obtained a Basic Skills Agency Quality Mark. [13958]

  Beverley Hughes
  Forty-eight prison education departments have obtained the Basic Skills Agency Quality Mark to date.

  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many prisoners have achieved(a) Entry Level Wordpower and Numberpower and (b) Level One Wordpower and Numberpower since December 1996; [13959]

  (2) how many prisoners have successfully completed the (a) Basic Skills Test in Life Skills, (b) Social and Life Skills Programme and (c) Oxford and Cambridge Board Diploma in Achievement. [13956]
  779W
  Beverley Hughes
  The table shows the number of individual qualifications achieved in various categories since April 2000. Statistical returns allow some desegregation but do not contain separate figures for the Oxford and Cambridge Diploma. We do not recognise Basic Skills Test in Life Skills as a "qualification".

  Subject type and the number of qualifications achieved

  Subject type and level

  Qualifications achieved

  Entry level—WordPower

  621

  Level 1—WordPower

  1,007

  Entry level—NumberPower

  359

  Level 1—NumberPower

  653

  Basic skills test in life skills

  —

  Social and life skills programme

  2,644

  Oxford and Cambridge board diploma in achievement

  —

  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will state the names of contractors(a) providing prison education and (b) who

  Education providers/contractors and prison establishments

  Company

  Establishments

  Amersham and Wycombe College

  Aylesbury, Belmarsh, Brixton, Cookham Wood, Elmley Grendon/Spring Hill,Holloway, Pentonville, Rochester, Standford Hill, Swaleside, Wandsworth,Wormwood Scrubs

  Beverley College

  Full Sutton, Wakefield

  Blackpool and The Fylde College

  Kirkham, Preston

  City College, Manchester

  Ashwell, Askham Grange, Hatfield, Haverigg, Leeds, Lindholme, Liverpool,Manchester, Moorland, New Hall, Risley, Stocken, Stoke Heath, Styal, Wealstun,Werrington, Wetherby

  CfBT Education Services

  Huntercombe, Reading

  Derby Tertiary College (Wilmorton)

  Foston Hall, Sudbury

  Dudley College

  Birmingham, Brinsford, Brockhill, Featherstone, Hewell Grange, Nottingham,Ranby, Shrewsbury, Whatton

  Evesham College

  Long Lartin

  Filton College

  Eastwood Park, Gloucester

  Gwent Tertiary College

  Cardiff, Swansea, Usk/Prescoed

  Highbury College

  Haslar, Kingston, Winchester

  Isle of Wight College

  Albany, Camp Hill, Parkhurst

  Kent Adult Education Service

  Aldington, Blantyre House, Canterbury, Dover, East Sutton Park, Maidstone

  Kingston Upon Hull Community Education Services

  Everthorpe, Hull

  Lancaster and Morecambe College

  Lancaster, Lancaster Farms

  Lewes Tertiary College

  Lewes

  Matthew Boulton College

  Bedford, Gartree, Glen Parva, Leicester, Lincoln, Littlehey, Morton Hall, North Sea Camp, Onley, Wellingborough

  Milton Keynes College

  Bullingdon, The Mount, Woodhill

  North East Surrey College of Training (NESCOT)

  Coldingley, Downview, Feltham, Highdown, Send

  New College, Durham

  Acklington, Castington, Deerbolt, Durham, Frankland, Holme House, Low Newton, Northallerton

  Northbrook College

  Ford

  Norwich City Centre

  Blundeston, Bullwood Hall, Chelmsford, Highpoint, Hollesley Bay, Norwich,Wayland, Whitemoor

  Richmond Upon Thames College

  Latchmere House

  Runshaw College

  Garth, Wymott

  Strode College

  Bristol, Channings Wood, Dartmoor, Dorchester, Exeter, Portland, Shepton Mallet, The Verne, Weare

  Tamworth and Lichfield College

  Drake Hall, Stafford, Swinfen Hall

  Trowbridge College

  Erlestoke, Guys Marsh

  Wigan and Leigh College

  Hindley, Thorn Cross, Thorn Cross HIT

  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of prisoners assessed as having literacy and numeracy skills below level two on entry to prison have achieved nationally accredited qualifications up to level two, since April 2000. [13957]
  780W
  have failed to reach the minimum standard required by the quality monitoring and assessment procedure; and what the grades obtained by each of them were; [13961]

  (2) how many contracts for providing prison education have been withdrawn because contractors failed to reach the standards required for consideration in the re-tendering process since 1997. [13955]

  Beverley Hughes
  December 1988 marked the end of the first five-year tendering period. In April 1997, there were 45 prison education providers. Following completion of the re-tendering exercise the number was reduced to 28 in 1999. The existing contractors are set out in the table. No contracts have been withdrawn since the re-tendering exercise.

  The newly founded Prisoners' Learning and Skills Unit located in Department for Education and Skills will be reviewing the funding, procurement and delivery of prison education. The review will draw up a comprehensive improvement strategy which will include the dissemination of existing good practice. It will also challenge and support establishments where education provision gives cause for concern. The unit is leading a review of the present contracting arrangements for that provision.

  Beverley Hughes
  The information requested is not available in the form requested. Data on prison education do not enable the tracking of individual prisoners. Figures do show that 21,319 prisoners have achieved nationally accredited basic skills qualifications up to level two, since
  781W
  April 2000. The Prisoners' Learning and Skills unit located in the Department for Education and Skills is looking into ways of improving the collection of data on prison assessments, participation and achievement.

  Prison Welfare-to-Work Programme
  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of prisons operate welfare-to-work programmes. [13963]

  Beverley Hughes
  Currently, 11 establishments are delivering the Prison Service's welfare-to-work programme. They are: Cardiff. Deerbolt, Glen Parva, Guys Marsh, Lancaster Farms, Moorland, New Hall, Onley, Portland, Stoke Heath and Usk.

  A number of other establishments provide similar prerelease programmes, often in partnership with voluntary sector organisations. For example, the Foundation Training Company delivers an employment training programme at Feltham, Chelmsford, Hollesley Bay, Highpoint and Norwich. The New Bridge provides a careers advice and jobfinding service in 17 establishments. The Headstart pre-release programme operates at Thorn Cross, Hindley and Risley. All of these programmes are geared to helping more prisoners into employment or the new deal on release as a contribution of reducing re-offending.

  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of prisoners have successfully completed the welfare to work programme in each year since its introduction. [13962]

  Beverley Hughes
  The Prison Service welfare-to-work programme began in April 1998. The available information on prisoners starting and successfully completing the programme is shown in the table.

  Number of prisoners:

  Period

  Starting the programme

  Successfully completing the programme

  Percentage of prisoners successfully completing the programme

  April 1998 to March 1999

  2,428

  1,625

  67

  April 1999 to March 2000

  2,475

  1,944

  79

  April 2000 to March 2001

  1,766

  1,476

  84

  April 2001 to September 2001

  1,151

  712

  62

  Immigration and Nationality Directorate
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the backlog of cases is in each division at the Immigration and Nationality Directorate; and what the waiting time is for naturalisation, from application to determination. [13632]

  Angela Eagle
  Statistics on the number of cases awaiting an initial decision in each division of the Immigration and Nationality Directorate are not currently available, with the exception of asylum applications, as these are subject to rigorous quality checks. The result of a physical count on 31 August 2001 showed that there were 43,100 asylum cases awaiting an initial decision.
  782W
  Information on the average waiting time for naturalisations are not routinely published. The most recent published information relates to March 2001, when the average waiting time was 11.6 months.

  One of the Government's Public Service Agreement (PSA) targets is to reduce the average time taken to grant citizenship (naturalisations and registrations) to six months by the end of 2001–02. It is expected that performance on this target will be reported on in due course after the end of this financial year.

  Prison IT Systems
  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) prisons and (b) young offenders institutions use IT systems which have not been networked. [13960]

  Beverley Hughes
  All prisons have a varying degree of Information Technology (IT) provision. The existing provision has been driven by local policy and local, internal networking is quite common. Currently, across the Prison Service as a whole, there is basic e-mail provision. It has been recognised that the Prison Service needs a modern infrastructure with interlinkings. To this end, Her Majesty's Prison Service has entered into a contract, part of which has the requirement to provide the Service with a new infrastructure that will provide common services on a Service-wide network and enable Her Majesty's Prison Service to build an electronic interface with the wider Criminal Justice System. We are on the verge of beginning the implementation of this new infrastructure.

  Consultation Documents
  Sandra Gidley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many consultation documents were issued by his Department 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. [12901]

  Mr. Blunkett
  My Department holds central records on issued consultations from 1997 for the Home Office, its non-departmental bodies and agencies. Between 1997 and 2000 the information is held by year of publication only. Determining all the details contained in the question would require access to archived records at a disproportionate cost. However in order to give the fullest reply I have listed the number of consultations published each year from 1997 to date.

  Year

  Number of consultations issued

  1997

  14

  1998

  23

  1999

  19

  2000

  28

  2001

  20

  Details of all Home Office published consultations can be found on the website at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/ atoz/consultpapers.htm. Consultations published after January 2001 are also on the national register of consultations on http://www.ukonline.gov.uk.

PRIME MINISTER

  Travel Costs (Concorde)
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Prime Minister what was the cost of his travel on Concorde on 7 November; and if this was at a reduced rate. [13974]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 12 November 2001]: Since 1999 this Government have published a list of all visits overseas undertaken by Cabinet Ministers costing £500 or more during each financial year. The information requested will be published as soon as possible after the end of the current financial year.

  All travel was undertaken fully in accordance with the rules set out in the Ministerial Code on Travel by Ministers, copies of which are available in the Library.

  US Visit
  Mr. Laws
  To ask the Prime Minister what is his estimate of the cost of his visit to the United States on 7 November; which officials and Ministers accompanied him; and if he will make a statement. [14140]

  The Prime Minister
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I have given to my hon. Friend the Member for Linlithgow (Mr. Dalyell) today Official Report, column 783W.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

  People's Panel
  Sandra Gidley
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when the evaluation of the People's Panel will be(a) completed and (b) published. [15042]

  Mr. Leslie
  A first draft has been received. The final evaluation report will be completed in December and published in January 2002.

  Sandra Gidley
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when the People's Panel's contract with MORI expires. [15043]

  Mr. Leslie
  The contract with MORI expires at the end of January 2002.

  Scottish Devolution
  Mrs. Lait
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what his policy is regarding consultations prior to the publication of proposals involving the transfer of powers to the Scottish Executive by(a) primary legislation and (b) Order in Council. [13819]

  Mr. Leslie
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to her by my right hon. Friend the Member for Airdrie and Shotts (Mrs. Liddell) on 6 November 2001,Official Report, columns 91–94.

WORK AND PENSIONS

  Benefit Fraud
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his most recent estimate is of the value 784W
  of benefit fraud; and how much fraudulently obtained benefit has been repaid following detection in each year since 1997. [7470]

  Malcolm Wicks
  Our most recent estimate is that £2 billion is lost annually through benefit fraud. It is not possible to separate the total amount of overpaid benefit recovered into overpayments due to fraud and those due to other reasons.

  Widows' Payments
  Norman Lamb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what plans he has better to publicise the time limit for making applications for widows' payments; [10825]

  (2) what plans he has for relaxing the time limit for applications for widows' payments in circumstances where the applicant may be unable to make the application within the normal time limit because of ill health; and if he will make a statement. [10827]

  Malcolm Wicks
  We are sympathetic to the needs of the recently bereaved and understand that making a claim for bereavement benefits will not be the first priority for people in these circumstances. We believe the three month time limit for claiming bereavement benefits strikes the right balance between allowing people time to grieve and setting a reasonable and appropriate limit on the length of time within which a claim to benefit should be made. The three month time limit for making a claim was introduced in 1997 for the majority of Social Security benefits and we have no plans to change it.

  Since March 2000 the Department has issued leaflets on the new bereavement benefits to doctors' surgeries, Post Offices and benefit advisers. Articles explaining the new benefits were placed in a variety of magazines prior to their introduction in April 2001. Claim forms for bereavement benefits also include a clear explanation that claims must be made within three months. In addition, the Registrar of Deaths automatically issues a form to the person registering the death which gives them the opportunity to make a claim for bereavement benefits.

  Benefit Services (Performance Standards)
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on how many occasions he has used his statutory powers to direct improved standards of performance following persistent failures to deliver acceptable benefit services; and in which local authority areas those powers have been exercised in the last three years. [12940]

  Malcolm Wicks
  Powers under the Social Security Administration Act 1992 were used to give directions to Northampton borough council in August 2000. In addition, powers under the Local Government Act 1999 were used to give directions in the London borough of Hackney in October 2001.

  Employment Advisory Panel
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what projects will be undertaken by the Employment Advisory Panel; what its budget is; how many support staff it will have; to whom it will report; and when. [12942]
  785W
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  The National Employment Panel is an employer-led body which provides independent advice to Ministers on the design, delivery and performance of the UK Government's labour market policies and programmes. Its remit encompasses all the new deals and other welfare-to-work activities delivered by the Department for Work and Pensions, Jobcentre Plus and partner organisations at the national and local levels.

  Projects will include a review to examine how effectively welfare-to-work programmes are addressing the needs of the most disadvantaged across the new deal programmes; a new skills sub-group to advise on links between welfare-to-work initiatives and work force development; and work to promote equal access to employment for ethnic minorities through a standing Minority Ethnic Advisory Group.

  The National Employment Panel is funded by the Department for Work and Pensions. It has a budget of £603,000 per annum. It is supported by 15 staff of whom two are funded by private employers.

  The National Employment Panel reports on a regular basis to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions and the Chancellor of the Exchequer. The skills sub-group will report to the Minister responsible for adult skills, the Under-Secretary of State for Education and Skills, my hon. Friend the Member for Wentworth (John Healey).

  Jobcentre Plus
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much unpaid benefit is due in areas where Jobcentre Plus staff are undertaking strike action; and what his Department's estimate is of the amount of benefit that will be owed to claimants if strike action continues for(a) one week, (b) two weeks, (c) a month and (d) more than a month. [14225]

  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  [holding answer 12 November 2001]: Detailed contingency plans are in place to ensure that customers continue to receive the benefits to which they are entitled.

  Performance Framework
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the principles which underlie the Performance Framework; in what ways it differs from the system of Best Value; and whether it will be piloted in local authority areas. [12939]

  Malcolm Wicks
  We are committed to a performance framework for the administration of Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit (HB/CTB), aimed at driving up standards of administration and counter-fraud activity in all types of local authority. The proposed performance framework will include: national standards which make clear what local authorities are expected to deliver; measurement and inspection, so we know whether local authorities are delivering; and consideration of subsidy incentives that reward improved performance.

  As a first step, we are defining national performance standards which build on and go beyond the measures established by Best Value but do not replace them. The standards are based on Benefit Fraud Inspectorate findings, Audit Commission observations and reports, National Audit Office reports and academic research.
  786W
  They define an effective and secure HB/CTB service—addressing strategic management; customer service; speed, accuracy and security in the processing of claims; work with landlords; internal security; counter fraud; and overpayments.

  The standards have already been tested in a pilot exercise over the summer in 14 local authorities. We are formally consulting the local authority associations on performance standards as part of the performance framework, and a copy of the consultation paper has been placed in the Library.

  We recognise that working to meet these standards will be a gradual process and that effective implementation of the performance framework means phased implementation.

  ONE Pilots (Benefits)
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what lessons he has drawn from the ONE pilots about the administration of housing benefit and council tax benefit; and what new guidance to local authorities is being proposed. [12941]

  Malcolm Wicks
  The ONE evaluation did not focus on the administration of Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit. This would have been impractical as there are wide variations in practices among local authorities in ONE pilot and control areas. However, research from the ONE pilots did show improvements to customer service arising from working in close partnership with local authorities. These partnerships will be a key requirement of Jobcentre Plus, and we will be discussing with local authorities how we can jointly guide and support our staff to deliver a cohesive, responsive service to our customers.

  Benefit Systems
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what representations he has received from local government ombudsmen in England, Wales and Scotland about the administrative complexity of the housing benefit and council tax benefit systems; [12947]

  (2) what plans he has to discuss with local government ombudsmen in England, Wales or Scotland the administrative complexity of the housing benefit/council tax system. [12948]

  Malcolm Wicks
  In the last year, the Department has received two reports from the Local Government Ombudsman in England. One concerned Housing Benefit claim form NHB 1 which is produced by the Department; the other referred to an apparent ambiguity in the Department's guidance to local authorities on operating the Verification Framework. No representations have been received in respect of Wales or Scotland.

  Ministers and officials regularly meet with stakeholders in the Housing Benefit scheme and other interested parties to discuss issues of interest or concern. Such a meeting between one of our officials and one of the three Local Government Ombudsmen for England took place in April this year.

  Appeals Service (Housing Benefit)
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the impact of the transition from housing benefit review boards to the Appeals Service. [12957]

  Malcolm Wicks
  The Appeals Service took over responsibility for hearing Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit appeals on 2 July 2001. By the end of September, local authorities had submitted 1,484 appeals to our Appeals Service.

  Many local authorities have welcomed the introduction of tribunals. However, as the number of appeals which have passed through the new system is still low it is too early to reach any firm conclusion on the impact of the transition from review boards.

  Source:
  100 per cent. download of the Generic Appeals Processing System. Figures are provisional.

  Housing Benefit
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to fix housing benefit awards for set periods. [12949]

  Malcolm Wicks
  As with all benefits, we keep all aspects of Housing Benefit claims under review

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what plans he has made to simplify the non-dependent deduction scheme; [12950]

  (2) what plans he has to reform the rate at which housing benefit is withdrawn as earnings rise; [12954]

  (3) what plans he has about increasing earnings disregards for housing benefit. [12953]

  Malcolm Wicks
  We keep all matters relating to benefit under review. Our proposals in respect of Housing Benefit were set out in our policy statement "Quality and Choice: A decent home for all— The way forward for housing" (December 2000).

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the reform of the housing benefit extended payment scheme. [12952]

  Malcolm Wicks
  The reformed Housing Benefit extended payment scheme was introduced on 9 April 2001 and it is too early to assess the effectiveness of the new scheme. However, work in progress includes interviews with clients who have received extended payments since April 2001 and with staff responsible for administering and promoting the reformed scheme.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what plans he has to simplify the rent limitations mechanism in the private rented sector; [12951]

  (2) what plans he has to reduce the number of transitional protection schemes that different housing benefit recipients are on. [12959]

  Malcolm Wicks
  From 2 July 2001 the definition of the Single Room Rent was broadened to reflect better the type of accommodation available in the market to young single people.
  788W
  Our response to consultation on the Housing Green Paper—"Quality and Choice: A decent home for all—The way forward for housing" (December 2000)—explained that we would look further at the scope for simplifying the different protection schemes which restrict Housing Benefit in the private rented sector. We have commissioned a research project to inform this work, which is now starting its fieldwork stage.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the effect of the introduction of the housing benefit verification framework on the increase in formal complaints of maladministration. [12956]

  Malcolm Wicks
  Formal complaints about maladministration of the Housing Benefit scheme are made to the Local Government Ombudsman. Information from the Local Government Ombudsman on the number of complaints where the Verification Framework has been cited as a contributory factor is not available.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to divide the housing benefit caseload into age-related client groups. [12958]

  Malcolm Wicks
  We are reforming the welfare system so that welfare services will meet the different needs of our client groups: pensioners, people of working age and children.

  We will ensure that the Housing Benefit scheme supports our strategy to transform the services we provide through the development of Jobcentre Plus and the Pension Service. For those of working age, we intend to streamline the claims process to enable people to claim Housing Benefit at the same time as other benefits, without having to give the same information twice.

  And we are considering how Housing Benefit for pensioners should fit into the new, simplified framework of the Pension Credit from 2003.

  Integrated Inquiry Service
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the reasons for abandoning the Integrated Inquiry Service. [12943]

  Malcolm Wicks
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Hertsmere (Mr. Clappison) on 24 October 2001,Official Report, column 242W.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what level of fees he expects to have to spend to commission alternative proposals to the Integrated Inquiry Service; and who has been commissioned to produce these proposals. [12955]

  Malcolm Wicks
  Affinity, the Department's lead IT service provider, has been commissioned at a cost of approximately £4,000 to explore the options for an alternative to the Integrated Inquiry Service.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Inquests
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department (1) when the Legal
  789W
  Service Commission will publish its guidance on the circumstances in which legal aid funding may be made available for representation at inquests; and if he will make a statement; [12737]

  (2) when he plans to issue his consultation paper on the funding for representation at inquests; and if he will make a statement. [12738]

  Mr. Wills
  The Lord Chancellor recently authorised the Legal Services Commission to decide applications for exceptional funding in inquests without reference to Ministers. At the same time, new guidance has taken effect in which the Lord Chancellor slightly amended the way applications in inquests would be dealt with. I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Milton Keynes, North-East (Brian White) on 1 November 2001,Official Report, column 856W. The Commission is preparing additional guidance for practitioners on the making of applications, which it intends to publish on 15 November in the next issue of "Focus". The text is already available on the Commission's website, www.legalservices.gov.uk. In the circumstances, we have no plans to issue a consultation document in the near future.

  Translation Services
  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what translation services the Lord Chancellor ensures are available to courts in(a) England and (b) Staffordshire. [13499]

  Mr. Wills
  The Immigration Appellate Authority (IAA) books and pays for interpreters where necessary for people attending IAA hearings. Within the criminal justice system, a national agreement for obtaining foreign language interpreters exists and applies equally to the Crown court, Court of Appeal and the magistrates courts. The agreement requires the courts to arrange and pay for an interpreter for the defendant.

  In the Supreme Court and county court, foreign language interpreters are provided free of charge for civil committal hearings and for hearings in cases involving children or domestic violence. Interpreters will be provided for other types of hearings if it can be shown that a failure to do so would interfere with the individual's rights under the European Convention on Human Rights.

  The county courts also use a national telephone interpreting service. Sign language interpreters and other forms of communication support are provided free of charge to any party that requires it. A number of different agencies, national and local, are used to arrange this support.

  All these arrangements apply equally to England and Wales. There is no regional breakdown of the service provided.

  In all courts it is the responsibility of the parties involved in the case to arrange for the translation of documents.

  Departmental Projects
  Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department 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 790W
  comparator had a lower net present value than the public-private partnership proposed; and if he will make a statement. [13434]

  Mr. Wills
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him on 13 November 2001,Official Report, column 607W by my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary to the Treasury. The Lord Chancellor's Department has not rejected any proposed public-private partnership for the reason stated in the hon. Member's question.

HEALTH

  Biological Agents
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what contingency plans he has developed to protect the public against anthrax, botulism and attacks with other biological agents; and if he will make a statement. [11894]

  Mr. Hutton
  The Department has extensive contingency planning in place. This includes arrangements to mitigate the effects of a terrorist act and to ensure response and recovery in conjunction with other Government Departments, the National Health Service and key public health agencies. Stocks of vaccine and antibiotics are available.

  The Public Health Laboratory Service has issued interim guidance, for healthcare professionals and the public, on the deliberate release of a number of biological agents including anthrax, smallpox, botulism and plague and this is available on their website.

  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what public health measures there are to deal with large-scale anthrax contamination in the UK; and what consideration has been given to the use of a vaccination. [13483]

  Jacqui Smith
  [holding answer 12 November 2001]: Plans are in place to enable appropriate measures to be taken to protect the health of the United Kingdom population, should such an attack occur, or be suspected. These plans are under constant development and review. Interim guidelines for action in the event of a deliberate release of anthrax can be found on the website of the Public Health Laboratory Service.

  Anthrax vaccine is currently only given to the public for protection against occupational exposure where this is considered likely to occur.

  Breast Screening
  Dr. Murrison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measure she is taking to assess the efficacy of the breast screening programme. [12863]

  Mr. Hutton
  It is the role of the Advisory Committee on Breast Cancer Screening (ACBCS) to consider all research papers published on the subject of breast cancer screening. The national health service breast screening programme is kept under constant re-examination and vigilance. The ACBCS met on 31 October 2001, and in light of recent publications in the medical journals, agreed
  791W
  to review the evidence in the Forrest Report', on which the NHS breast screening programme was based. The committee last reviewed this evidence formally in 1991.

  The review will be led by Professor Valerie Beral, Chair of the committee, in conjunction with the Institute of Cancer Research and the NHS cancer screening programmes. A first draft of the report will be presented at the committee's next meeting on 15 May 2002.

  1 Breast Cancer Screening Report to the Health Ministers of England, Wales. Scotland and Northern Ireland by a working group chaired by Professor Sir Patrick Forrest (HMSO 2986).

  Waiting Times (Bath)
  Dr. Murrison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on trends in waiting times for(a) orthopaedic out patient appointments and (b) orthopaedic operations at the Royal United hospital, Bath in the last 12 months. [12856]

  Ms Blears
  The latest published information shows that in the year to the end of September 2001 the percentage of patients waiting for orthopaedic inpatient and day case treatment who were seen in under 12 months remained the same. The proportion of orthopaedic outpatients who have waited over 26 weeks has increased over the same period.

  The Royal United hospital, Bath national health service trust is taking a number of measures to ensure that the number of patients who have to 'wait for an outpatient appointment or for treatment is reduced. The number of orthopaedic clinics is being increased and an additional 1,000 new patients will be seen between now and the end of March 2002. This action is designed to ensure that no patients are waiting over 26 weeks for an outpatient appointment by the end of March 2002.

  The trust is also taking measures to ensure that the number of patients waiting over 12 months for inpatient or day case treatment is reduced in line with the Government's target. An additional orthopaedic consultant will be appointed shortly. An additional three orthopaedic recovery beds opened at the end of October providing high care for patients following major surgery. Eighteen extra beds have also been opened on a temporary basis at St. Martin's hospital for the rehabilitation of orthopaedic patients. Additional weekend elective orthopaedic operating lists have been running throughout this year. The trust has already commissioned 100 orthopaedic cases at the local private hospital and is making arrangements with the private sector for an additional 400 patients to be seen this year.

  Nurses
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many nurses were(a) employed by the NHS, (b) recruited and (c) left the NHS in (i) 1993, (ii) 1997 and (iii) 2001. [13379]

  Mr. Hutton
  The number of nurses employed by the National Health Service in 1993, 1997 and 2000 is shown in the table.

  A new system of classification of the non-medical workforce was introduced in 1995. Therefore, the figure given for 1993 is not comparable with those collected after this date.
  792W
  Information regarding the number of nurses recruited into and leaving the NHS is not collected centrally.

  Hospital and community health service qualified nursing,midwifery and health visiting staff including practice nurses as at 30 September

  Year

  Headcount

  1993

  310,900

  1997

  318,860

  2000

  335,950

  Notes:

  Figures are rounded to the nearest ten

  A new classification of the non-medical workforce was introduced in 1995. Information based on this classification is not directly comparable with earlier years

  Source:

  Department of Health Non-Medical Workforce Census

  Department of Health General and Personal Medical Services Statistics

  Waiting Lists
  Dr. Evan Harris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the in-patient waiting list is, expressed as per 1,000 head of weighted population, for(a) each health authority and (b) in total in England for the last two years for which figures are available. [13617]

  Mr. Hutton
  The number of in-patients waiting at end March 2001 and March 2000 are shown in the table, (March 2001 data are the most recent data available).

  In-patient waiting list per 1,000 head of weighted population

  Health authority

  March 2001

  March 2000

  Avon

  20.7

  20.9

  Barking and Havering

  24.8

  25.8

  Barnet

  15.8

  15.8

  Barnsley

  17.2

  16.9

  Bedfordshire

  19.8

  18.5

  Berkshire

  18.9

  18.8

  Bexley and Greenwich

  17.0

  19.0

  Birmingham

  12.8

  12.7

  Bradford

  19.3

  19.9

  Brent and Harrow

  17.1

  17.6

  Bromley

  20.8

  22.0

  Buckinghamshire

  21.8

  20.7

  Bury and Rochdale

  22.1

  22.9

  Calderdale and Kirklees

  16.8

  18.9

  Cambridgeshire

  21.0

  21.5

  Camden and Islington

  10.5

  12.1

  Cornwall and Isles of Scilly

  24.6

  25.1

  County Durham and Darlington

  16.5

  17.4

  Coventry

  13.3

  12.8

  Croydon

  20.0

  19.3

  Doncaster

  12.1

  12.5

  Dorset

  12.7

  13.3

  Dudley

  16.5

  14.5

  East and North Hertfordshire

  24.4

  26.3

  Ealing, Hammersmith and Hounslow

  16.6

  18.0

  East Kent

  26.6

  27.0

  East Lancashire

  21.2

  22.0

  East London and City

  14.4

  14.4

  East Riding and Hull

  20.1

  20.4

  East Surrey

  22.9

  24.4

  East Sussex, Brighton and Hove

  23.2

  23.7

  Enfield and Haringey

  19.9

  19.7

  Gateshead and South Tyneside

  18.5

  19.8

  Gloucestershire

  15.1

  16.0

  Herefordshire

  16.9

  19.1

  Hillingdon

  15.5

  15.2

  Isle of Wight

  24.8

  25.7

  Kensington, Chelsea and Westminster

  8.5

  9.2

  Kingston and Richmond

  20.7

  18.6

  793W

  In-patient waiting list per 1,000 head of weighted population

  Health authority

  March 2001

  March 2000

  Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham

  17.9

  19.2

  Leeds

  18.4

  19.1

  Leicestershire

  18.8

  18.5

  Lincolnshire

  24.3

  25.4

  Liverpool

  20.1

  20.9

  Manchester

  20.4

  21.2

  Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth

  15.1

  15.3

  Morecambe Bay

  20.3

  20.0

  Newcastle and North Tyneside

  13.9

  15.0

  Norfolk

  25.8

  25.4

  North and East Devon

  23.7

  23.3

  North and Mid Hampshire

  22.3

  22.3

  North Cheshire

  28.4

  27.4

  North Cumbria

  22.5

  23.1

  North Derbyshire

  22.1

  23.1

  North Essex

  25.6

  27.3

  North Nottinghamshire

  19.2

  19.8

  North Staffordshire

  10.7

  13.4

  North West Lancashire

  22.2

  22.9

  North Yorkshire

  18.7

  21.1

  Northamptonshire

  25.9

  25.7

  Northumberland

  15.4

  15.9

  Nottingham

  16.7

  18.1

  Oxfordshire

  19.2

  19.1

  Portsmouth and South East Hampshire

  20.6

  19.7

  Redbridge and Waltham Forest

  22.5

  23.8

  Rotherham

  14.4

  14.3

  Salford and Trafford

  24.0

  25.8

  Sandwell

  13.2

  13.6

  Sefton

  24.9

  25.2

  Sheffield

  17.8

  18.0

  Shropshire

  16.9

  17.1

  Solihull

  17.6

  17.8

  Somerset

  24.2

  24.7

  South and West Devon

  21.8

  23.1

  South Cheshire

  21.7

  21.7

  South Essex

  24.1

  24.1

  South Humber

  24.0

  27.6

  South Lancashire

  28.2

  29.3

  South Staffordshire

  24.6

  25.3

  Southampton and South West Hamptonshire

  26.4

  28.1

  Southern Derbyshire

  21.9

  22.4

  St. Helens and Knowsley

  23.3

  23.6

  Stockport

  23.8

  24.0

  Suffolk

  24.2

  24.0

  Sunderland

  18.3

  18.4

  Tees

  17.6

  17.0

  Wakefield

  19.7

  21.2

  Walsall

  9.7

  9.5

  Warwickshire

  22.2

  22.4

  West Hertfordshire

  20.0

  20.6

  West Kent

  26.5

  28.3

  West Pennine

  25.2

  25.3

  West Surrey

  25.7

  27.1

  West Sussex

  25.1

  26.2

  Wigan and Bolton

  21.2

  22.7

  Wiltshire

  22.0

  24.8

  Wirral

  14.0

  14.0

  Wolverhampton

  13.9

  14.3

  Worcestershire

  20.0

  20.6

  England

  20.0

  20.6

  Note:

  Population is weighted for age, additional need (over and above that accounted for by age) and variations in the unavoidable cost of providing healthcare (market forces factor etc.)

  Source:

  QF01 waiti8ng times returns/FD Resource Allocation 2 population data

  Cancelled Operations
  Dr. Evan Harris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many(a) cancelled operations in total, (b) operations cancelled on the day of operation and
  794W
  (c) operations cancelled and not readmitted within one month there were in each health authority in England in each quarter during the last two years for which figures are available. [13611]

  Mr. Hutton
  The latest published figures are for quarter one 2001–02. Copies of quarterly statistics on cancelled operations by health authority for the last two years are available in the Library.

  Data are collected on the number of operations cancelled at the last minute. Data are not broken down into whether the operation was cancelled on the day of surgery or the day of admission to hospital.

  Rural Recruitment (Consultants)
  Mr. Simmonds
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to recruit(a) general consultants and (b) consultants in neurology in rural areas. [13492]

  Mr. Hutton
  The NHS plan states there will be 7,500 more consultants in post in 2004 than in 1999. By September 2000 the number of consultants in post had already increased by 1,100 to around 24,300. The national health service is currently drawing up plans by specialty to deliver the rest of the increase, a further 6,400 posts by 2004. We will ensure that these plans target areas of the country which are under-doctored relative to their weighted population.

  In 2000 the number of consultant neurologists was 688, an increase of 31 (4.7 per cent.) over 1999. As well as the NHS plan consultant increases we aim to achieve a 54 per cent. expansion in training neurology specialists by 2010.

  Private Treatment
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many private beds were available in each of the last five years; [13602]

  (2) how many private hospitals there were in each of the last five years. [13601]

  Mr. Hutton
  The table sets out the number of independent acute medical and surgical hospitals and beds in the United Kingdom from 1997 to 2001.

  Hospitals

  Beds

  1997

  227

  11.100

  1998

  229

  10,852

  1999

  228

  10,565

  2000

  225

  9.980

  2001

  222

  9,834

  Source:

  Laing's Healthcare Market Review 2001–2001, Laing and Buisson

  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients have been admitted to NHS hospitals from non-NHS hospitals in the last five years. [13604]

  Mr. Hutton
  The table sets out the number of admissions from non-national health service run hospitals to NHS trusts in England, 1995–96 to 1999–2000.
  795W

  Year

  Admissions

  1995–96

  121,160

  1996–97

  5,153

  1997–98

  7,050

  1998–99

  7,241

  1999–2000

  6,934

  1 A breakdown by type of non-NHS institution was not available prior to 1996–97, so the figure for 1995–96 is for total admissions to NHS trusts from non-NHS institutions, including, but not exclusively, hospitals.

  Source:

  Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), Department of Health

  Chiropodists and Podiatrists
  Mr. Swayne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if chiropodists and podiatrists in private practice will be represented on the Health Professions Council; and if he will make a statement. [13729]

  Mr. Hutton
  All registered professionals, whether they work in the private sector or not, will be represented on the new council. The council will also be able to recruit additional members to its committees including its professional advisory panels, and will be encouraged to cover all sectors of the professions.

  Mr. Swayne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if podiatrists and chiropodists in private practice will be recognised for the purposes of state registration; and if he will make a statement. [13730]

  Mr. Hutton
  The new Health Professions Council will determine arrangements for the admission to its register for each of the professions it regulates. Chiropodists and podiatrists who meet the council's standards for registration will be recognised as state registered.

  Special transitional arrangements will enable those whose training and competence do not meet the council's standards to be recognised for registration purposes.

  Contaminated Blood Transfusions
  Brian Cotter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the recommendations of the Scottish Executive's Health and Community Care Committee regarding financial assistance to haemophilia sufferers infected with hepatitis C as a result of receiving contaminated blood transfusions. [13700]

  Mr. Hutton
  [holding answer 12 November 2001]: The devolved Administration in Scotland is considering these recommendations. We currently have no plans to compensate haemophiliacs who become infected with hepatitis C through national health service blood products.

  NHS (Overseas Staff)
  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of how many(a) refugees and (b) those with special immigration status with medical qualifications have been prevented from working in the national health service by their inability to speak English to an adequate level in the last five years. [14315]

  Mr. Hutton
  All doctors from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) need to pass the International English Language Testing Service (IELTS) test before they can be registered with the General Medical Council (GMC). The majority of doctors who took their primary medical qualification outside the EEA also need to pass the Professional and Linguistic Assessment Board (PLAB) test of medical and linguistic competence before registration is granted.

  Passing the PLAB test is a pre-condition of registration for those doctors required to take it. Doctors are entitled to five attempts at the test. Those who fail it five times are prevented from registering with the GMC, and thus prevented from practising medicine in the national health service.

  The GMC's records do not show how many of the doctors who fail the PLAB test five times are, in fact, from the refugee community. There is therefore no way of telling whether any refugee doctor has been prevented from getting work in the NHS by his or her ability to speak English.

  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the contribution that could be made to the national health service by(a) refugees and (b) those with special immigration status holding medical qualifications. [14314]

  Mr. Hutton
  The NHS plan holds a commitment to provide extra doctors to the national health service, and we believe it makes moral and economic sense to use the skills of doctors in the refugee community to the best advantage of the NHS.

  A Government funded database, developed and run by the Refugee Council and the British Medical Association, shows that there are nearly 400 refugee doctors who want information about retraining to work in the United Kingdom. More are expected to come forward as word gets around about the availability of Government funded counselling and training to help those wanting careers in the NHS becomes more widely understood.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

  Education Rights
  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills which categories of person having regard to age, marital status, duration of residence in the UK, immigration status, nationality and other characteristics, are eligible for(a) free statutory-age schooling, (b) free nursery education, (c) free education in colleges of further education and (d) education in higher education institutions, free other than through contributions to home students' tuition fees. [7951]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  [holding answer 16 October 2001]: Any child of compulsory school age living in England is entitled to free education. All four-year-olds are entitled to three terms of free, good quality, part-time nursery education before they reach compulsory school age regardless of duration of residence in the UK, immigration status, nationality or any other characteristics.

  Three-year-olds are entitled to a free, good quality, part-time nursery education place depending on their age and their local early years development and childcare partnership's allocation criteria. Early years development and childcare partnerships must allocate places based on social need.

  The Learning and Skills Council is responsible for determining when tuition fees are to be charged for further education courses. Advice to institutions for the current academic year is that, subject to residency requirements, tuition fees should not be charged to any learner aged 16 to 18 on either a full-time or part-time course. Other groups not charged tuition fees include: those receiving jobseekers' allowance (JSA); those receiving a means-tested state benefit; unwaged dependants (as defined by the Benefits Agency) of those listed above; people on adult basic education or English for speakers of other languages programmes; asylum seekers in receipt of the equivalent of a means-tested benefit (assistance under the terms of the 1999 Immigration and Asylum Act), and their dependants; and, certain learners participating in Council funded projects (only where identified in the project specification).

  Higher education institutions, as independent, self-governing bodies, decide whether to charge students tuition fees at the 'home' rate or the higher 'overseas' rate using the Education (Fees and Awards) Regulations 1997, (as amended). To be eligible for home fee status, students usually need to have 'settled status' in the UK and have been ordinarily resident here for three years before their course starts, except where this was solely or mainly to receive full-time education. Students meeting these requirements will be classed as "home" students for tuition fee purposes. Broadly speaking, these will include, in most cases, UK and other European Union students, students with recognised refugee status, other students granted the right to enter or remain and who meet the UK residence requirement, and migrant workers from the European Economic Area. Students not meeting these requirements may be charged fees at the 'overseas' rate.

  Early Excellence Centres
  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list the location of the early excellence centres which(a) are in operation, (b) are in the process of implementation and (c) are planned, and what are the criteria for locations to be included in each element of the programme. [14132]

  Mr. Timms
  [holding answer 13 November 2001]: The Early Excellence Centre (EEC) programme is at the forefront of our policies to develop practice in integrated care, education and family services.

  (a) The early excellence centres which are in operation are in:

  Bath and North East Somerset

  Bolton

  Bradford

  Bristol

  Camden

  Coventry

  Cumbria

  Cornwall

  Derbyshire

  Gateshead

  Greenwich

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  Hampshire

  Haringey

  Hertfordshire

  Kirklees

  Leeds

  Liverpool

  Manchester

  Newham

  North Tyneside

  North East Lincolnshire

  Northamptonshire

  Northumberland

  Oxfordshire

  Portsmouth

  Richmond-upon-Thames

  Rotherham

  Sheffield (2)

  Somerset

  Stockport

  South Tyneside

  St. Helens

  Westminster

  Wirral

  (b) On 1 October we announced 14 new centres in Birmingham, Cornwall, Derby, Hackney, Herefordshire, Hillingdon, Islington, Kingston-upon-Thames, Lewisham, Rotherham, Surrey, Wirral and two projects working with the NHS, newborn hearing screening programme (NHSP) in Stockport and Waltham Forest. We are working with these centres to implement their proposals. At the same time we are continuing to receive further expressions of interest in joining the programme and to discuss with a number of individual centres how their plans could be developed further.
  799W
  (c) Working closely with sure start and neighbourhood nurseries, we plan to have up to 100 centres across the country by 2004. The criteria for joining the programme are set out in the latest invitation to join the programme sent to all local authorities, early years development and childcare partnerships and other partners on 1 October. Location is not the prime criterion: quality of provision is, but our plans for the programme do include achieving good geographic spread.

  Teachers (Ethnic Minorities)
  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, pursuant to her answer of 5 November 2001, to the hon. Member for Harrogate and Knaresborough,Official Report, column 54W, on teachers from ethnic minorities, how many teachers from ethnic minorities have (a) started training, (b) completed training and (c) started teaching, for the last two years for which figures are available. [14616]

  Mr. Timms
  The Teacher Training Agency's (ITA) performance profiles collects information about initial teacher trainees at institutions in England. The most recent figures relate to the academic year 1999–2000. The following table shows the numbers and relevant proportions of first year trainees from an ethnic minority in the years 1998–99 and 1999–2000.

  Number of first year trainees

  Year

  From an ethnic minority

  Ethnicity undisclosed

  1998–99

  1,634 (6%)

  1,951 (7%)

  1999–2000

  1,701 (7%)

  934 (4%)

  Source:

  Teacher Training Agency, Performance Profiles

  The TTA's Performance Profiles also collect information relating to final year trainees. The most recent figures relate to final year trainees in academic year 1999–2000. The following table shows the numbers and relevant proportions of trainees awarded qualified teacher status (QTS) that are from an ethnic minority for final year trainees in 1998–99 and 1999–2000.

  Number of final year trainees awarded QTS

  Year

  From an ethnic minority

  Ethnicity undisclosed

  1998–99

  1,388 (6%)

  1,940(8%)

  1999–2000

  1,260 (6%)

  901 (4%)

  Note:

  Figures relate to the numbers of trainees that gained QTS by 31 July of their final year of training (i.e July 2000 for final year trainees in 1999–2000)

  Source:

  Teacher Training Agency, Performance Profiles

  The TTA's performance profiles also collects information about the movements of final year trainees that gain QTS into the teaching profession. The following table shows the numbers and relevant proportions of trainees that were awarded QTS and were subsequently recorded as entering a teaching post in England, that are from an ethnic minority.
  800W

  Number of final year trainees awarded QTS and entered teaching

  Year

  From an ethnic minority

  Ethnicity undisclosed

  1998–99

  1,027 (6%)

  1,509 (8%)

  1999–2000

  959 (5%)

  692 (4%)

  Note:

  Figures relate to the numbers of qualified trainees that were in a teaching post by 3 January following their final year of training (i.e. January 2001 for final year trainees in 1999–2000).

  Source:

  Teacher Training Agency, Performance Profiles

  Teacher Vacancies
  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the teacher vacancy rate was in(a) nursery/ primary schools, (b) secondary schools and (c) all schools in (i) the constituency of South Suffolk, (ii) the constituency of West Suffolk (iii) the constituency of Ipswich, (iv) the constituency of Suffolk, Coastal, (v) the constituency of Central Suffolk and Ipswich, North, (vi) the constituency of Bury St. Edmunds, (vii) Suffolk local education authority, (viii) East Anglia and (ix) England in (A) 1997–98, (B) 1998–99, (C) 1999–2000 and (D) 2000–01. [11575]

  Mr. Timms
  [holding answer 31 October 2001]: Information on teacher vacancies by constituency is not collected centrally. Teacher vacancy rates in the maintained nursery, primary, secondary and special schools sector from 1998 to 2001, in Suffolk, the east of England government office region and England were as follows:

  Percentage

  January 1998

  January 1999

  January 2000

  January 2001

  Nursery and primary

  Suffolk

  0.4

  0.7

  0.4

  2.2

  East of England

  0.7

  0.8

  0.9

  1.7

  England

  0.8

  0.8

  0.8

  1.2

  Secondary

  Suffolk

  0.5

  0.6

  0.4

  1.6

  East of England

  0.7

  0.7

  0.8

  1.7

  England

  0.6

  0.5

  0.7

  1.4

  Maintained nursery, primary, secondary and special sector

  Suffolk

  0.5

  0.8

  0.5

  1.8

  East of England

  0.8

  0.8

  0.9

  1.7

  England

  0.7

  0.7

  0.8

  1.4

  Foreign National Teachers (Surrey)
  Mr. Wilshire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many foreign nationals were employed as(a) primary and (b) secondary school teachers in Surrey during the (i) 2000–01 academic year and (ii) previous four academic years. [11193]

  Mr. Timms
  [holding answer 30 October 2001]: The information is not held centrally.

  Teacher Vacancies (Surrey)
  Mr. Wilshire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many(a) primary and (b) secondary teacher vacancies there were in Surrey on 1 September in each year since 1997. [11191]
  801W
  Mr. Timms
  [holding answer 30 October 2001]: The information is not available in the form requested. Nursery, primary and secondary full-time teacher vacancies in Surrey in January of each year since 1997, reported by the local education authority, were as follows:

  Year

  Nursery and primary

  Secondary

  1997

  18

  19

  1998

  27

  14

  1999

  11

  9

  2000

  13

  24

  2001

  25

  62

  Performance-related Pay
  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what guidance she has issued to schools regarding assessment of teachers for the upper spine of performance-related pay. [14565]

  Mr. Timms
  [holding answer 13 November 2001]: The Department's guidance on School Teachers' Pay and Conditions of Employment 2001 includes a section entitled "Threshold and Upper Pay Scale" and Annexe A includes a section entitled "Handling Performance Pay". The Secretary of State will soon launch a consultation on the mechanism for specific funding to contribute towards the cost to schools of awarding performance pay points to teachers.

  Purpose

  Average duration (days)

  Average cost (£)

  Attending Social Affairs Council Meeting x 25

  1

  1,600

  Attending Education Council Meeting x 7

  2

  1,000

  Attending OECD Conference Meeting x 6

  1

  1,400

  Attending G8 Conference x 5

  4

  6,350

  Attending ILO Conference x 4

  2

  1,100

  Attending Youth Council Meeting x 4

  1

  800

  Attending Higher Education Conference x 4

  3

  1,050

  Attending UNESCO Conference x 2

  1

  1,000

  Promoting Higher Education and Vocational Education x 2

  8

  10,600

  Attending Skills Olympics x 2

  4

  4,400

  Promoting Education Exports x 2

  8

  10,900

  Attending European Higher Education Meeting x 2

  2

  925

  Attending Meeting of Employment and Social Policy Council x 2

  2

  1,600

  Purpose

  Duration (days)

  Cost (£)

  Attending Commonwealth Ministers Conference

  8

  15,600

  Meeting to discuss Disability and New Deal Schemes

  4

  11,000

  Attending Meeting with French Minister

  1

  850

  Promoting Apprenticeship Schemes (BMW)

  1

  1,200

  Attending European Employment Week Conference

  1

  550

  Attending Meeting with Swedish Labour Minister

  1

  1,050

  Attending Meeting with Dutch Minister

  1

  850

  Attending European Policy Conference

  2

  550

  Attending Meetings with Representatives of the European Parliament

  1

  950

  Attending Meeting with European Ministers

  1

  2,400

  Attending Labour Standards Symposium

  1

  900

  Attending Meeting with Spanish Ministers of Education and Employment

  1

  1,650

  Attending Equal Opportunities Conference

  4

  2,050

  Attending EU Employment Ministers Conference

  3

  2,000

  Attending School Reform Conference

  4

  8,450

  Attending Disability Conference

  1

  750

  Delivering Speech to Quandt Foundation

  1

  750

  Attending Meeting to Discuss National Parliaments Action Plans

  1

  700

  Attending Joint EC and Eastern Europe Education Council

  3

  1,150

  Teachers (Maintained Schools)
  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate she has made of the number of permanent teaching posts in maintained schools which were not filled on the first day of the current term; and what percentage this is of the total number of permanent teaching posts. [7490]

  Mr. Timms
  [holding answer 15 October 2001]: It is estimated, based on a telephone survey conducted on 6–7 September 2001, that there were about 2,000 full-time vacancies (0.6 per cent. of posts) in nursery, primary and secondary schools.

  These figures were obtained from a telephone survey of nearly 1,500 schools conducted by DfES. Teacher vacancies are measured using the standard DfES definition, which excludes posts filled by a full-time teacher on a contract of one term or more.

  Ministerial Travel
  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, pursuant to her written answer of 7 November 2001,Official Report, columns 245–46W, on ministerial travel, what was the (a) purpose, (b) duration and (c) cost of each of the ministerial visits. [14569]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  [holding answer 13 November 2001]: The purpose, duration and cost of each of the ministerial visits since 1 May 1997 are set out in the following tables. Recurrent meetings are given in the first table; one off trips in the second.
  803W

  Purpose

  Duration (days)

  Cost (£)

  Meeting to Discuss European Voluntary Service Conciliation

  1

  1,200

  Attending Anglo-Italian Seminar

  1

  1,250

  Attending European Commission Annual Forum

  1

  1,450

  Attending Human Rights Conference

  10

  23,450

  Attending Bilaterals with Education and Employment Ministers

  1

  2,300

  Attendance at Lifelong Learning Conference

  3

  8,950

  Attending Anglo-Spanish Employment Conference

  2

  1,300

  Attending Education Conference

  2

  650

  Attending BTI Conference

  1

  5,500

  Attending Education and Employment Conference

  1

  3,200

  Participating in Education Bilateral

  1

  1,550

  Promoting Education and Training

  7

  7,700

  Attending Meeting with EU Labour Ministers

  2

  0

  Attending People and Politics Seminar

  1

  750

  Attending Head Teachers Conference

  1

  450

  Visiting Centre for Income and Work

  1

  950

  Attending Conference and Undertaking School Visits

  11

  9,900

  Attending Meeting with Finnish Ministers

  1

  1,550

  Attending Meeting with Polish Employment Ministers

  1

  1,400

  Attending Meeting of Social Affairs Ministers

  2

  1,850

  Attending Meetings on Disability, Childcare and Equal Opportunities

  7

  11,900

  Attending Meetings with EU and Central and Eastern European Ministers

  2

  650

  Promoting Modern Apprenticeships

  2

  1,800

  Attending CERI Governing Board Meeting and Conference on Harnessing the Potential

  1

  1,100

  Attending Welfare to Work Conference

  8

  12,600

  Attending Meeting for Portuguese Presidency

  2

  650

  Attending "One" Workshop

  1

  900

  Attending Europe Globalisation and Future of Social Policy Conference

  1

  1,450

  Attending European School Net Conference

  1

  250

  Attending World Social Summit

  1

  1,400

  Attending Work. Culture and Identity Conference

  1

  1,250

  Attending Meeting with Swedish Employment Ministers

  1

  1,050

  Attending Ageism Conference

  1

  950

  Attending Conference for Finnish Presidency

  2

  650

  Attending European Diversity in the Workplace Conference

  4

  1,050

  Attending NAHT Annual Conference

  1

  850

  Attending Meeting to Discuss Anglo-Sino Education Agreement

  7

  20,300

  Attending Meeting with Russian Education Ministers

  4

  4,050

  Meeting with British Council and Undertaking School Visits

  6

  11,350

  Meeting to Discuss Article 13

  1

  750

  Promoting Early Years Providers

  4

  2,400

  Attending Ministers Conference in France

  1

  500

  Attending Learning Communities Conference

  8

  6,600

  Attending Middle East Education and Labour Conference

  4

  4,800

  Promoting Early Years and Employment Programme

  2

  2,600

  Attending EU Education and Employment Conference

  2

  850

  Attending Education Conference

  6

  9,850

  Attending EU, Latin American and Caribbean Conference

  1

  950

  Attending Mobility Meeting

  1

  450

  Undertaking Visit to Institute of Florence

  2

  600

  Forum on Education and Employment

  1

  350

  Promoting British Education System

  8

  12,050

  Attending Meeting with British Council

  2

  700

  Attending Work Life Balance Conference

  1

  1,500

  Promoting Education, Employment and Training

  1

  3,950

  Attending Meeting with EU Education Ministers

  2

  900

  Attending Meetings of Ministers for Telecommunications and Employment

  1

  2,600

  Attending Meeting with Higher Education Ministers

  1

  700

  Attending Club 3 Conference

  2

  500

  Attending NASUWT Conference

  1

  650

  Attending EU Education and Youth Conference

  1

  500

  Attending Meeting to Discuss the Delivery of Employment Services

  1

  550

  Attending EU Education Ministers Conference

  2

  2,950

  Attending ICT Conference

  4

  250

  Note:

  All travel complied with the requirements of the "Ministerial Code" and "Travel by Ministers".
  804W

  Staff Retention (Secondary Schools)
  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate she has made of the rates of staff retention in(a) secondary schools with sixth forms and (b) secondary schools without sixth forms. [14559]

  Mr. Timms
  [holding answer 13 November 2001]: This information is not held centrally.

  Qualified Teacher Status
  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, pursuant to her written answer of 31 October

  (full-time equivalents)

  1997

  1998

  1999

  2000

  2001

  Teachers on routes to QTS1

  460

  570

  470

  580

  1,280

  Instructors and other teachers without QTS2

  2,480

  2,640

  3,070

  3,240

  4,340

  Total

  2,940

  3,220

  3,540

  3,820

  5,620

  1 Those on the graduate teacher programme, registered teacher programme, licensed teacher scheme and overseas trained teacher scheme

  2 Includes overseas-trained teachers employed on contracts of at least one month and not currently seeking QTS.

  Note:

  Totals may not equal the sum of their component parts due to rounding. All figures have been rounded to the nearest 10.

  When deciding whether to employ an instructor without QTS, headteachers take into account the fact that they can often bring valuable skills and experience to the classroom, particularly in subjects that have a high practical content. Instructors also include teachers without qualifications obtained overseas who are not currently seeking QTS.

  There were 410,200 regular teachers in maintained schools in England in January 2001, 11,000 more than in January 1997.

  Overseas Teachers
  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimates she has made of the number of teachers in maintained schools who were not British citizens in each term of the last four years. [7271]

  Mr. Timms
  [holding answer 15 October 2001]: Information on teachers who are not British citizens is not collected centrally.

  Nursery/primary

  Secondary

  Total

  Number of vacancies

  Vacancy rate (percentage)1

  Number of vacancies

  Vacancy rate (percentage)1

  Number of vacancies

  Vacancy rate (percentage)1

  Cambridgeshire

  January2

  19963

  3

  0.1

  10

  0.4

  13

  0.3

  19973

  2

  0.1

  4

  0.2

  6

  0.1

  19983

  1

  0.0

  6

  0.3

  7

  0.1

  1999

  1

  0.1

  0

  0.0

  1

  0.0

  2000

  0

  0.0

  0

  0.0

  0

  0.0

  2001

  2

  0.1

  1

  0.1

  3

  0.1

  Peterborough

  January2

  19963

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  19973

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  19983

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  1999

  0

  0.0

  2

  0.3

  2

  0.1

  2000

  0

  0.0

  0

  0.0

  0

  0.0

  2001

  3

  0.5

  4

  0.6

  7

  0.5

  806W
  2001, Official Report, column 714W, how many full-time equivalent teachers there were without qualified teacher status in maintained schools in each of the last five years, broken down by (a) those on the graduate teacher programme, (b) those on the registered teacher programme, (c) those on the licensed teacher programme, (d) those on the overseas trained teacher scheme, (e) instructors and (f) other teachers without QTS. [12424]

  Mr. Timms
  [holding answer 5 November 2001]: The number of teachers on each of the programmes specified are not identified separately. Numbers of teachers without qualified teacher status (QTS) working in the maintained schools sector in England between January 1997 and January 2001 were as follows:

  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many overseas teachers employed in maintained schools are not covered by the overseas trained teacher scheme. [12364]

  Mr. Timms
  The information requested is not collected centrally.

  Teachers (Huntingdon)
  Mr. Djanogly
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many(a) primary and (b) secondary teacher vacancies there were in Huntingdon (i) on 31 March and (ii) in each year since 1996. [6163]

  Mr. Timms
  [holding answer 16 October 2001]: The information requested for Huntingdon is not held centrally.

  Full-time vacancies for teachers in maintained nursery, primary and secondary schools in the former Cambridgeshire local authority area were as follows:
  807W

  Nursery/primary

  Secondary

  Total

  Number of vacancies

  Vacancy rate (percentage)1

  Number of vacancies

  Vacancy rate (percentage)1

  Number of vacancies

  Vacancy rate (percentage)1

  Total

  January2

  19963

  3

  0.1

  10

  0.4

  13

  0.3

  19973

  2

  0.1

  4

  0.2

  6

  0.1

  19983

  1

  0.0

  6

  0.3

  7

  0.1

  1999

  1

  0.0

  2

  0.1

  3

  0.1

  2000

  0

  0.0

  0

  0.0

  0

  0.0

  2001

  5

  0.2

  5

  0.2

  10

  0.2

  1 The vacancy rate is calculated by dividing the number of vacancies by the sum of full-time qualified regular teachers plus teachers on full-time secondment for a term or more

  2 Details of teacher vacancies at 31 March of each year are not available

  3 Cambridgeshire local authority was affected by the local government re-organisation (LGR) on 1 April 1998, when it became two authorities, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. Figures for 1996 to 1998 are for the Cambridgeshire local authority prior to LGR

  Mr. Djanogly
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many(a) primary and (b) secondary school teachers were employed in Huntingdon (i) on 31 March and (ii) in each year since 1996. [6164]

  Mr. Timms
  [holding answer 16 October 2001]: The information requested for Huntingdon is not held centrally.

  Full-time equivalents of regular teachers (excluding short term supply) employed in maintained nursery, primary and secondary schools in the former Cambridgeshire local authority area were as follows:

  January1

  1996

  1997

  1998

  1999

  2000

  2001

  Cambridgeshire2

  Nursery/primary

  2,740

  2,690

  2,600

  1,950

  1,990

  2,040

  Secondary

  2,630

  2,500

  2,570

  1,800

  1,810

  1,840

  Total

  5,360

  5,190

  5,170

  3,740

  3,790

  3,880

  Peterborough

  Nursery/primary

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  680

  720

  720

  Secondary

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  810

  820

  730

  Total

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  1,490

  1,540

  1,450

  Thousand

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1996

  1997

  1998

  1999

  2000

  Men

  Under 25

  1.9

  1.8

  1.7

  1.9

  2.3

  2.7

  2.8

  2.9

  3.0

  2.9

  2.7

  25–29

  9.3

  9.0

  8.9

  8.8

  9.2

  9.9

  10.6

  11.4

  12.3

  12.5

  12.6

  30–34

  16.1

  14.2

  12.9

  12.2

  12.0

  11.9

  12.0

  12.2

  12.4

  12.7

  13.0

  35–39

  29.3

  26.2

  23.3

  20.8

  18.6

  16.9

  15.3

  14.3

  13.6

  13.2

  13.2

  40–44

  33.5

  34.5

  33.3

  31.9

  30.6

  28.3

  25.8

  23.3

  20.9

  18.5

  16.8

  45–49

  21.1

  22.0

  25.0

  27.5

  29.1

  30.6

  32.0

  31.1

  29.8

  28.4

  26.1

  49–54

  14.2

  13.8

  13.9

  14.3

  14.4

  15.2

  15.6

  17.2

  18.3

  21.1

  23.3

  55–59

  7.7

  7.2

  7.1

  6.8

  6.3

  6.1

  5.7

  5.3

  5.1

  6.1

  7.2

  60–64

  2.4

  2.2

  2.0

  2.0

  1.6

  1.4

  1.3

  1.2

  1.1

  1.1

  1.1

  65 and over

  0.1

  0.1

  0.1

  0.1

  0.1

  0.1

  0.1

  0.1

  0.0

  0.1

  0.0

  Women

  Under 25

  10.1

  9.3

  9.1

  9.5

  10.6

  11.9

  12.4

  13.3

  14.0

  13.6

  13.8

  25–29

  26.8

  27.5

  28.5

  29.5

  30.6

  31.9

  33.4

  35.8

  38.5

  40.5

  42.2

  30–34

  27.6

  25.0

  23.4

  22.5

  22.7

  24.0

  25.4

  26.9

  27.8

  28.5

  29.2

  35–39

  41.9

  40.4

  38.2

  35.5

  32.6

  29.7

  27.0

  24.9

  23.4

  22.9

  23.3

  40–44

  48.3

  51.1

  52.0

  52.0

  51.5

  50.0

  47.7

  44.9

  41.8

  37.7

  34.0

  45–49

  35.7

  36.6

  40.7

  44.2

  47.1

  50.4

  53.5

  54.2

  53.8

  53.2

  51.1

  49–54

  28.5

  27.4

  27.0

  27.3

  27.4

  28.4

  29.1

  31.6

  33.2

  37.4

  41.1

  55–59

  15.7

  15.1

  14.9

  14.7

  13.9

  13.6

  12.8

  11.8

  11.3

  12.9

  14.5

  60–64

  3.0

  3.0

  2.9

  2.8

  2.6

  2.4

  2.2

  2.1

  1.9

  1.9

  1.9

  65 and over

  0.1

  0.1

  0.1

  0.1

  0.1

  0.1

  0.1

  0.1

  0.1

  0.1

  0.1

  808W

  January1

  1996

  1997

  1998

  1999

  2000

  2001

  Total

  Nursery/primary

  2,740

  2,690

  2,600

  2,630

  2,710

  2,760

  Secondary

  2,630

  2,500

  2,570

  2,600

  2,630

  2,570

  Total

  5,360

  5,190

  5,170

  5,230

  5,340

  5,330

  1 Details of teachers in service at 31 March of each year are not available.

  2 Cambridgeshire local authority was affected by the local government re-organisation (LGR) on 1 April 1998, when it became two authorities, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. Figures for 1996 to 1998 are for the Cambridgeshire local authority prior to LGR.

  Teachers (Age Profile)
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many(a) male and (b) female teachers in each year between 1990 and 2001 were aged (i) under 25, (ii) 25 to 29, (iii) 30 to 34. (iv) 35 to 39, (v) 40 to 44, (vi) 45 to 49, (vii) 50 to 54, (viii) 55 to 59, (ix) 60 to 64, (x) 65 years plus and (xi) unknown. [7973]

  Mr. Timms
  [holding answer 15 October 2001]: Full-time regular teachers in the maintained schools sector of England, excluding sixth form colleges, 1990 to 2000 (the last year for which data of teacher characteristics are available), by sex and age, are shown in the table1
  809W

  Thousand

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1996

  1997

  1998

  1999

  2000

  Men and women

  Under 25

  12.0

  11.1

  10.8

  11.4

  12.9

  14.5

  15.2

  16.2

  17.1

  16.5

  16.5

  25–29

  36.2

  36.4

  37.4

  38.4

  39.9

  41.9

  43.9

  47.1

  50.8

  52.9

  54.8

  30–34

  43.7

  39.2

  36.3

  37.4

  34.6

  35.9

  37.4

  39.2

  40.3

  41.2

  42.2

  35–39

  71.2

  66.6

  61.5

  56.3

  51.2

  46.6

  42.3

  39.2

  37.0

  36.1

  36.5

  40–44

  81.8

  85.6

  85.3

  83.9

  82.0

  78.2

  73.6

  68.2

  62.7

  56.2

  50.7

  45–49

  56.8

  58.6

  65.7

  71.7

  76.2

  81.0

  85.5

  85.3

  83.5

  81.6

  77.1

  49–54

  42.7

  41.2

  40.8

  41.5

  41.8

  43.7

  44.7

  48.8

  51.5

  58.5

  64.5

  55–59

  23.4

  22.3

  21.9

  21.5

  20.2

  19.6

  18.5

  17.0

  16.5

  19.0

  21.7

  60–64

  5.4

  5.2

  5.0

  4.7

  4.2

  3.8

  3.4

  3.2

  3.1

  3.0

  3.0

  65 and over

  0.2

  0.2

  0.2

  0.2

  0.1

  0.1

  0.1

  0.1

  0.1

  0.1

  0.1

  Age and sex not known2

  0.0

  2.8

  1.8

  4.0

  5.5

  4.3

  4.3

  3.5

  3.2

  2.6

  2.9

  Part-time (fte) 2,3

  24.2

  25.5

  27.2

  27.5

  28.5

  29.9

  30.8

  31.2

  32.0

  33.3

  34.7

  Full-time and part-time (fte)

  397.6

  394.8

  394.0

  395.9

  397.0

  399.6

  399.8

  399.2

  397.7

  401.2

  404.6

  1 Totals may not be the sum of the component parts because of rounding

  2 For 1990 to 1992 the not known and part-time figures are estimated

  3 Age and sex details of part-time teachers have not been given because about 10 per cent, to 20 per cent. of part-timers are not recorded on the Teachers' Pension Scheme, from which the data are obtained

  Pupil Funding
  Mr. Damian Green
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what was the average revenue funding per pupil in(a) foundation and (b) voluntary aided schools in (i)1997, (ii) 1998, (iii) 1999 and (iv) 2000. [14570]

  Mr. Timms
  [holding answer 13 November 2001]: Data are not collected separately for foundation schools (this status has been in existence since September 1999) and voluntary aided schools.

  Sixth Forms
  Mr. Damian Green
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will maintain funding for school sixth forms in real terms in 2003–04. [14571]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  [holding answer 13 November 2001]: This Government remain committed to the real terms guarantee for school sixth form funding.

  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills to whom indicative budgets for individual school sixth forms in Worcestershire have been made available; and if she will publish them by 5 November. [12459]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  [holding answer 5 November 2001]: The first provisional allocations for school sixth forms will be notified to LEAs and made public by the Learning

  Teacher statutory salaries by whether working in primary or secondary: 1999 Annual statutory pay, excluding bonuses converted to US dollars based on purchasing power parities

  Primary

  Lower secondary

  Upper secondary

  Minimum

  Maximum

  Minimum

  Maximum

  Minimum

  Maximum

  Australia

  25,661

  37,502

  26,658

  37,577

  26,658

  37,577

  Austria

  21,804

  44,159

  22,421

  46,735

  24,027

  54,443

  Belgium (FI)

  22,901

  36,594

  23,428

  40,017

  29,075

  40,461

  Belgium (Fr)

  22,043

  35,685

  22,561

  39,115

  28,151

  49,581

  Czech Republic

  6,806

  12,103

  6,806

  12,103

  8,052

  14,316

  Denmark

  28,140

  32,684

  28,140

  32,684

  29,986

  42,672

  England

  19,999

  33,540

  19,999

  33,540

  19,999

  33,540

  Finland

  18,110

  25,615

  20,394

  29,530

  21,047

  31,325

  France

  19,761

  39,271

  21,918

  41,537

  21,918

  41,537

  Germany

  29,697

  38,996

  33,196

  43,945

  35,546

  49,445

  810W
  and Skills Council in December 2001. The baseline data on which the real terms guarantee for sixth forms will be calculated was the subject of consultation between the DfES and local education authorities in August. Schools also received the relevant provisional baseline data on which the Department consulted in early September as part of a guidance pack published by the Learning and Skills Council.

  Teachers' Salaries
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will publish the average(a) starting and (b) top scale teachers' salaries in real terms in each of the last 20 years, in (i) primary and (ii) secondary schools. [14413]

  Mr. Timms
  I will write to the hon. Member enclosing this information as soon as possible, and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will publish comparative figures for(a) starting and (b) top scale teacher salaries in Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries, in (i) primary and (ii) secondary schools. [14414]

  Mr. Timms
  The information requested, which is published in the OECD annual "Education at a Glance", is shown in the following table and refers to 1999, the latest year for which information is available.
  811W

  Teacher statutory salaries by whether working in primary or secondary: 1999 Annual statutory pay, excluding bonuses converted to US dollars based on purchasing power parities

  Primary

  Lower secondary

  Upper secondary

  Minimum

  Maximum

  Minimum

  Maximum

  Minimum

  Maximum

  Greece

  19,327

  28,027

  19,650

  28,987

  19,650

  28,987

  Hungary

  5.763

  11,105

  5,763

  11,105

  6,908

  13,217

  Iceland

  19,939

  25,377

  19,939

  25,377

  20,775

  30,954

  Ireland

  21.940

  40,141

  23,033

  40,532

  23,033

  40,523

  Italy

  19,188

  28,038

  20,822

  31,062

  20,822

  32,602

  Korea

  23.759

  62,281

  23,613

  62,135

  23,613

  62,135

  Mexico

  10.465

  22,345

  13,357

  27,643

  n/a

  n/a

  Netherlands

  25.896

  37,381

  26,874

  41,066

  27,133

  54,720

  New Zealand

  16.678

  32,573

  16,678

  32,573

  16,678

  32,573

  Norway

  22.194

  27,453

  22,194

  27,453

  22,194

  27,453

  Portugal

  18.751

  50,061

  18,751

  50,061

  18,751

  50,061

  Scotland

  19.765

  32,858

  19,765

  32,858

  19,765

  32,858

  Spain

  24.464

  37,317

  26,669

  40,082

  29,058

  43,100

  Sweden

  18.581

  n/a

  18,704

  n/a

  20,549

  n/a

  Switzerland

  33.209

  51,813

  39,162

  60,165

  46,866

  70,548

  Turkey

  9.116

  11,541

  8,144

  10,568

  8,144

  10,568

  USA

  25.707

  43,094

  25,155

  44,397

  25,405

  44,394

  Notes:

  1. The OECD asks for statutory salary scale points but, where these are not available, countries can use survey data on actual salary and use approximations to identify equivalents to bottom and top of the scale.

  2. Some countries pay different salaries to teachers in primary and secondary schools although there is no such distinction in England. 'Lower secondary' is, broadly the 11–15 age range and upper secondary is 16–19.

  3. These salary comparisons can be only broadly indicative. Thus, they exclude extra allowances and yet, in England, many teachers at the top of the scale would also get management allowances. The figures pre-date the introduction of performance related pay but the OECD definition would exclude that too. There are other differences, for example in the treatment of employer social security payments.

  4. The time taken to get to the top of the scale varies markedly between countries and so, for example, a country with a high top scale point might require many years service to reach this and so the top point is not representative of the pay of most teachers.

  5. 'Purchasing power parties' are different from currency exchange rates and aim to reflect differences in price levels between countries and are more appropriate for those comparisons. Teacher salaries will also reflect the overall levels of national incomes and wages in national economies which is one reason why the range of salaries is so wide. There will be other such factors such as the average age of entry to teaching of new qualifiers. Salary will also reflect non-pay elements of remuneration and features of the teaching job such as hours, workload, job security, status all of which might vary between countries.

  Source:

  Tables DI. la-c, OECD "Education at a Glance" 2001, published by OECD, Paris.

  Early Years Education
  Mr. Damian Green
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of early years settings employ a qualified teacher; and what the cost would be of placing a qualified teacher in every early years setting. [14579]

  Mr. Timms
  [holding answer 13 November 2001]: Approximately 35,000 early years settings are registered to deliver Government funded nursery education. Of these, around 50 per cent. are local education authority maintained primary schools and nursery schools, all of which directly employ qualified teachers.

  We have asked local early years development and child care partnerships (EYDCPs), in association with their local education authorities, to ensure that a ratio of one teacher with qualified teacher status to every 10 early education settings in the private, voluntary and independent (PVI) sector is achieved by 2004.

  The approximate cost of placing a qualified teacher in every PVI sector setting would be £435 million per annum. We have no present plans to do this.

ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

  Haskins Report
  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which hon.812W
  Members were given (a) notice of and (b) briefing on the content of Lord Haskins report prior to 12.30 pm on 18 October. [9951]

  Margaret Beckett
  [holding answer 24 October 2001]: I am not aware that any hon. Members were given advance notice of and briefing on the content of Lord Haskins report prior to 12.30 pm on 18 October. My noble Friend launched his report at 10.30 am on that day.

  Agrimonetary Compensation
  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to claim agrimonetary compensation from the EU; and if she will make a statement. [12356]

  Mr. Russell Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to claim further agrimonetary compensation. [12419]

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 5 November 2001]: Since 1997, a total of £785 million has been announced in agrimonetary compensation for farmers. Of this, £256 million has been optional. We have no plans to claim any agrimonetary compensation from the EU. Any future payments of agrimonetary compensation, to which the Exchequer would have to contribute at least 71p in every pound, must be balanced against the needs of other sectors and taxpayers.

  Mink Farms
  Harry Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many mink farms were operating in England and Wales on 28 February; and if she will list their locations by county. [13805]

  Mr. Morley
  As at 28 February 2001, there were the following licensed mink farms in England:

  County

  Number

  Cornwall

  1

  Dorset

  1

  Hampshire

  1

  Isle of Wight

  1

  Lancashire

  4

  Northumberland

  1

  Staffordshire

  1

  South Yorkshire

  1

  West Yorkshire

  1

  Total

  12

  Harry Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list all movements of farmed mink that took place in England and Wales during(a) 2000 and (b) 2001. [13802]

  Mr. Morley
  There is no requirement to inform the Department of the movement of mink. Under the Mink (Keeping) Regulations 1975 (as amended), such movements must be carried out in closed cages or other containers which prevent mink from escaping. The movement of farmed mink in Wales is a matter for the National Assembly for Wales. However, I understand that there have been no licensed mink farms in Wales for some years.

  Harry Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on what dates each of the mink farms operating in England and Wales were inspected during 2001; and what plans there are to inspect farms after 30 September. [13801]

  Mr. Morley
  Mink farms in England were inspected on the following dates in 2001:

  County

  Date of security inspections

  Date of welfare inspections

  Cornwall

  —

  30 January

  Dorset

  27 June

  —

  Hampshire

  27 June

  26 January

  16 July

  2 February

  24 October

  Isle of Wight

  14 June

  —

  Lancashire

  3 April

  —

  4 April

  Northumberland

  22 February

  —

  South Yorkshire

  1 May

  —

  West Yorkshire

  13 September

  —

  Due to the outbreak of foot and mouth disease, a number of planned mid-year security and welfare inspections could not be made. However, the usual programme of inspections will now continue for those mink farms still in operation.
  814W
  Harry Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many(a) breeding female and (b) other mink were present at each of the mink farms operating on 28 February; and if she will show the figures by (i) farm and (ii) county. [13804]

  Mr. Morley
  We estimate, following visits by independent consultants engaged by the Department, that in February 2001 a total of 30,000 female and 6,000 male mink were being kept in England. I am unable to release details by farm because of commercial confidentiality.

  Harry Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many mink farms were operating and contained live mink in England and Wales on 1 October; and if she will list their locations by county. [13803]

  Mr. Morley
  As at 1 October 2001, three mink farms in England were licensed and contained live mink, two in Lancashire and one in Hampshire.

  Energy Performance (Buildings)
  Norman Lamb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many responses were received to the Government's consultation on the proposed EU directive on the energy performance of buildings; and how many of these responses welcomed the proposal. [12756]

  Mr. Meacher
  Approximately 150 written responses were received in response to the Government's consultation on the proposed EU directive on the energy performance of buildings. The consultation closed on 26 October and the responses are currently being analysed, but an initial review of the responses so far indicates that all but three were broadly supportive of the proposed directive. A summary of responses will be published on the DEFRA website in due course.

  Foot and Mouth
  Paul Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her estimate is of the percentage of FMD cases where transmission of the disease was(a) from animal to animal, (b) airborne, (c) from contact with persons who had handled infected animals, (d) from contact with persons who had no contact with infected animals and (e) due to other causes. [12293]

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 2 November 2001]: Investigations into the epidemiology of the outbreak are continuing and a number of publications are planned. The following interim results are minimum estimates for the single cause of infection.

  Number of cases

  Percentag of cases

  (a) Animal to animal

  92

  4.5

  (b) Airborne

  18

  0.9

  (c) and (d) Personal contact

  73

  3.6

  (e) Other causes1

  1,840

  90.9

  Total

  2,023

  —

  1See breakdown in following table

  815W

  Breakdown of (e) 'other causes'

  Number of cases

  Percentage of cases

  Local transmission

  1,587

  78.4

  Dairy tanker

  13

  0.6

  Other fomite

  12

  0.6

  Other vehicles

  29

  1.4

  Under investigation

  199

  9.9

  Notes:

  1. Figures do not distinguish between those persons who handled infected animals and those who did not.

  2. Many infected premises had multiple possible sources of infection. If investigations reveal that there was more than one potential source within the appropriate time frame and the case falls within 3 kilometres of an earlier premises, the cause is recorded as 'local' transmission.

  3. A fomite is defined as any inanimate object capable of carrying the virus.

  Diana Organ
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what differences there are between the guidance given to Herefordshire council about grants to assist businesses affected by foot and mouth disease and that issued to Business Link and the Forest of Dean council and to Gloucestershire council. [6468]

  Alun Michael
  Within the guidelines it was left to individual regional development agencies to decide how to manage and prioritise the assistance given. Officials have looked at the way this has been dealt with by south-west regional development agency and Advantage West Midlands and are satisfied that although differing in detail both are consistent with the guidelines. I will write to my hon. Friend with further details.

  Mr. Sayeed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the number of jobs lost in the agricultural sector as a result of the foot and mouth outbreak. [7749]

  Alun Michael
  The Department does not have statistics which could accurately reflect any job losses in the agricultural sector resulting from foot and mouth disease. As part of our efforts to properly interpret the social and economic impact on rural areas we are currently running a telephone survey of a sample of farmers who have been directly or indirectly affected by foot and mouth disease. This survey includes questions relating to the employment effects of the outbreak.

  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what requirements farms must comply with in order to qualify for(a) cleansing and (b) restocking following a foot and mouth outbreak; [8147]

  (2) if she will make a statement on her policy on (a) cleansing and (b) restocking of farms infected by foot and mouth; [8146]

  (3) if she will make a statement on how the restocking procedure following the foot and mouth outbreak will be implemented and the criteria governing this programme. [8153]

  Mr. Morley
  Cleansing and disinfection and restocking are key stages in the FMD eradication process.
  816W
  Our policy is to ensure that cleansing and disinfection is carried out thoroughly and efficiently while at the same time ensuring the best use of public funds. Preliminary cleansing and disinfection (C and D) is carried out during the slaughter and disposal stage on all premises known, or believed to be contaminated with foot and mouth disease in order to minimise the risk of the virus spreading to neighbouring farms. Twenty-four hours after this stage has been completed, secondary C and D can commence, the purpose of which is to reduce the risk of recrudescence and allow for restocking. Restocking can commence once the farmer has a certificate stating the C and D has been satisfactorily completed.

  The Department will normally pay the costs of secondary C and D providing farms are (a) in a reasonable state of cleanliness and repair, (b) there are no health and safety implications for those involved in the cleansing operation and (c) that the costs incurred are proportionate to the individual farm situation. Since 5 August, contractual arrangements have been tightened and farmers encouraged to undertake secondary C and D themselves, wherever possible.

  Restocking must be accomplished in such a way as to balance the needs of the livestock industry and the veterinary and scientific advice as to the disease control risks involved in this process. The key elements of our restocking policy are as follows:
  Secondary C and D must take place and a period of 21 days allowed to elapse prior to restocking.
  If secondary C and D does not take place, a period of 12 months must elapse prior to restocking.
  Movements of stock on to the farm must be licensed by DEFRA.
  The numbers of livestock permitted for initial restocking must be set out in the premises restocking plan, which must be approved by the divisional veterinary manager.
  Depending on the origin of sheep, testing of the flock of origin and all the sheep to be moved may be required. This will give valuable surveillance data on the prevalence of disease in the national flock.
  Animals are to be inspected regularly for four weeks. Sheep and goats will be blood tested after 28 days. If all clear, restrictions can be lifted.

  Further advice on restocking is available to farmers on the DEFRA website http://www.defra.gov.uk/.

  Sheep and Goats
  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions he has had with(a) the National Farmers Union and (b) others about the National Farmers Union's proposals for individual identification of sheep and goats; and if he will make a statement. [13952]

  Mr. Morley
  The NFU has not put forward proposals for compulsory individual identification of sheep and goats.

  My officials have had initial discussions with industry representatives, which included NFU, about the future identification requirements for sheep and goats. Individual identification was one of the options discussed and we are now considering the views expressed by industry before a final decision is taken.

  Agriculture Revenue
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the income of the United Kingdom Agriculture industry was that derived from(a) EU common agricultural policy funds, including intervention sales, (b) UK funds and product sales, and (c) other sources, expressed in (i) cash and (ii) percentage terms, in the last 12 months. [12881]

  Mr. Morley
  Estimates of the revenue to the agricultural industry broken down by source for the calendar year 2000 are given in the table.

  Revenue to the UK industry in the year 2000

  £ million

  Percentage

  Total revenue1

  15,587

  100

  of which:

  CAP support—EU funded2

  2,432

  16

  UK Exchequer funding3

  144

  1

  Product sales4

  11,613

  75

  Taxes

  -103

  -1

  Other sources5

  1,501

  10

  1 Gross output at basic prices plus other subsidies less taxes on production

  2 Excludes indirect market support such as intervention purchases but includes payments for over-30-month scheme

  3 Includes CAP support measures funded by UK Exchequer

  4 Includes the effects of indirect market support which cost£497 million in 2000–01

  5 Includes transactions between farms and revenue from non-agricultural activities on the farm

  Entrust
  Mr. Sayeed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when and how often Entrust provides financial reports to HM Customs and Excise. [13876]

  Mr. Boateng
  I have been asked to reply.

  Customs has direct online access to Entrust's accounting database which contains detailed reports from environmental bodies. In addition Entrust provides Customs with its annual audited company accounts and an annual report containing statistical information about the landfill tax credit scheme.

  Mr. Sayeed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has for the future role of Entrust, as a result of the proposed reform of the landfill tax credit scheme. [13875]

  Mr. Boateng
  I have been asked to reply.

  As stated in Budget 2001, we are attracted to replacing all or part of the landfill tax credit scheme with a public spending programme to direct resources towards Government priorities on sustainable waste management. The Government, together with the devolved Administrations, are developing options for a spending programme for consideration as part of the spending review 2002. Maintaining the current scheme, potentially with minor modifications, will also be reviewed. The Government will consult with interested parties on the future of the scheme and the transition to any replacement. The role of Entrust will be determined by the outcome of this consultation.
  818W
  Mr. Sayeed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures are taken by Entrust to conduct audits into applications for grants for environmental projects as part of the landfill tax credit scheme; and if she will make a statement. [13877]

  Mr. Boateng
  I have been asked to reply.

  Entrust is responsible for enroling environmental bodies and checking that they meet qualifying criteria. It monitors the spending of these bodies through a risk based audit programme and notifies Customs where money has not been properly spent.

  Mr. Sayeed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what remuneration packages are available to executives of Entrust; and if she will make a statement. [13878]

  Mr. Boateng
  I have been asked to reply.

  As a private sector company, details of the salaries and benefits of its employees are a matter for Entrust.

  Zoo Animals
  Mr. Paterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on(a) the conditions in which zoo animals are kept and (b) the consequences for the safety of their keepers. [13816]

  Mr. Morley
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State's Standards of Modern Zoo Practice provide comprehensive guidance on best practice for keeping animals in zoos (this document can be obtained from DEFRAs website at www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-countryside/gwd/zooprac/ index.htm). They set out the basic principles that zoos need to observe to secure the proper care and well-being of the animals in their care, and they form the basis on which zoo inspections are carried out on behalf of local authorities under the Zoo Licensing Act 1981.

  The health and safety of zoo employees is provided for by a separate inspection process under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and is a matter for the Health and Safety Executive. Although the inspection regimes are quite separate, the local authorities often co-ordinate the inspections as benefits can arise from conducting them together.

  Landfill Tax
  Mr. Sayeed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made in financial terms of abuse related to the landfill tax credit scheme. [13910]

  Mr. Boateng
  I have been asked to reply.

  Because of on-going investigations no accurate financial assessment of abuse in the landfill tax credit scheme is currently available.

  Flooding
  Linda Perham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assistance she is providing to the(a) London borough of Redbridge and (b) Environment Agency to protect properties at risk from flooding. [13976]
  819W
  Mr. Morley
  DEFRA provides grant aid for flood defence capital works, and associated studies, which meet essential technical, economic arid environmental criteria and achieve an appropriate priority score.

  DEFRA has recently approved for grant aid two studies, the Seven Kings Water and Cran Brook Hydraulic Studies, being undertaken by the London borough of Redbridge. The estimated cost is £44,000 and the council has been awarded a grant rate of 45 per cent.

  The Environment Agency has extended flood warning arrangements and are also undertaking studies and maintenance in the area, but have not sought DEFRA funding as yet.

  Hunting
  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she expects to allow fox hunting to resume; and if she will make a statement. [12337]

  Mr. Roger Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on when hunting will recommence in Wales following the foot and mouth outbreak. [12838]

  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the veterinary risk of resuming hunting in Worcestershire; and if she will make a statement. [12678]

  Alun Michael
  [holding answer 6 November 2001]: The 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.

  Radioactive Waste
  Mr. Stunell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what percentage of

  United Kingdom beef consumption

  Unit1

  Year

  Total available for UK consumption

  Of which:imports2

  As a percentage of total consumption

  Of which: UK produced beef

  As percentage of total consumption

  1991

  995

  204

  20

  791

  80

  1992

  993

  206

  21

  788

  79

  1993

  921

  209

  23

  712

  77

  1994

  969

  190

  20

  778

  80

  1995

  903

  212

  24

  691

  76

  1996

  732

  169

  23

  563

  77

  1997

  857

  217

  25

  640

  75

  1998

  858

  152

  18

  706

  82

  1999

  934

  183

  20

  751

  80

  20003

  915

  197

  21

  718

  79

  1 Thousand tonnes carcase weight equivalent

  2 Assumes all imports are consumed in the UK and all imports during a particular year are consumed in that year

  3 Provisional data

  Source:

  Prepared by: Statistics (Commodities and Food) Division, Economics and Statistics Directorate, DEFRA
  820W
  the total UK volume of radioactive wastes has been produced by the nuclear power sector in the last five years. [13289]

  Mr. Meacher
  [holding answer 8 November 2001]: Approximately 93 per cent. of the total volume of radioactive wastes produced in the last five years has arisen from the nuclear power sector and its associated research and development activities.

  Movement of Livestock Scheme
  Hywel Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs at what dates and times the autumn movement of livestock scheme website has been unavailable; and if she will make a statement on the impact on applicants of the unavailability of that website. [12543]

  Mr. Morley
  Information on the livestock movement scheme is held on the DEFRA website http://www.defra.gov.uk. This site has been continuously available since the scheme was introduced.

  Fox Control
  Mr. Roger Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what risk assessments have been completed on the recommencement of fox control in Wales following the foot and mouth outbreak; and if she will place copies of the risk assessments in the Library. [12839]

  Alun Michael
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Banff and Buchan (Mr. Salmond) on 31 October 2001,Official Report, columns 735–36W.

  Beef Consumption
  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what percentage of beef consumption was(a) UK produced and (b) imported in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available. [14061]

  Mr. Morley
  Estimates of the breakdown of UK beef consumption between imported and UK produced beef are given in the table:

  Vets
  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many vets were employed by the state veterinary service in each year since 1997. [14058]

  Mr. Morley
  The number of veterinary surgeons employed by the state veterinary service at 1 January each year since 1997 is given in the table.

  Of the 286 full-time equivalent veterinarians employed by the state veterinary service, 220 are employed as field veterinary officers. The work of these officers is supplemented by about 100 temporary veterinary inspectors (TVIs) from the private sector in normal times.

  Year

  Number of vets

  1997

  289.5

  1998

  302.0

  1999

  283.0

  2000

  284.0

  2001

  286.0

  Sheepmeat Exports
  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she expects the commencement of sheepmeat exports; and if she will list those countries free from foot and mouth disease from which sheepmeat destined for export can be derived. [14060]

  Mr. Morley
  It is anticipated that the mechanisms for the recommencement of exports of sheepmeat will be in place by 19 November 2001. The areas where the sheep may be sourced are available in the Library of the House.

  GM Crop Trials
  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) if she will make it her policy that no new farmscale GM crop trials will be licensed within cross-pollination distance of Ryton Organic Gardens; [275]

  (2) what powers the Government have to intervene in the licensing of the farmscale GM crop trials once they have been approved by SCIMAC and the Scientific Steering Committee. [289]
  822W
  Mr. Meacher
  [holding answer 25 June 2001]: The crops grown in the programme of farmscale evaluations (FSEs) are at two different stages in the authorisation process. The powers to intervene in the licensing of the FSEs depend on the authorisation status of the GM crop concerned.

  The oil seed rape and beet are authorised by my Department for growing in the evaluations under UK legislation implementing Part B of European directive 90/220 on deliberate release of GMOs. The consent is underpinned by a risk assessment and permits the GM crops to be grown in the evaluations on any arable land where rape or beet would normally be grown. The consent holder has to notify the Department of the locations of proposed sites prior to sowing together with a statement indicating whether the risk assessment remains valid for the new site and, if not, provide further evaluation. The consent holder may proceed to sow the crop unless he receives written indication from the Department that the new site does not comply on safety or other grounds with the conditions of the consent and the risk assessment.

  The GM maize has Europe-wide approval for cultivation under Part C of Directive 90/220 granted in August 1998 by the French competent authority on behalf of the EC. However, this approval imposes no restrictions or conditions on the locations where the maize can be grown. For this crop, therefore, the Department has no statutory powers to intervene over the location of trial sites. However, before the GM maize could be grown commercially individual varieties will require listing on the National List of Seeds or the European Common Catalogue. In addition, under our voluntary agreement with the industry body SCIMAC, this GM crop will not be grown commercially in the UK until the completion of the evaluations and only then if it is assessed as causing no unacceptable effects on the environment.

  The evaluations are being undertaken by an independent research consortium and overseen by the independent Scientific Steering Committee. SCIMAC provide the fields of crops for study. The steering committee has set overall criteria for the conduct of the evaluations and requires a representative distribution of sites. SCIMAC find farmers who may be willing to host an evaluation and draw up a list of potential farms from which the researchers select sites to meet the SSC criteria. Ministers are not involved in this process.

  Given the public reaction to the proposal to locate an evaluation close to Ryton Organic Gardens last spring, the Government will use their influence to seek to ensure that no FSE site is chosen in future within cross-pollution distance of Ryton Organic Gardens.

  House of Lords Reform
  House of Lords Reform
  European Arrest Warrant Framework Decision: ECHR Compatibility
  European Arrest Warrant Framework Decision: ECHR Compatibility
  Extradition Arrangements
  Extradition Arrangements
  Boeing 727 Hijack: Asylum Applications
  Boeing 727 Hijack: Asylum Applications
  UK Passport Holders: Notification of Death
  UK Passport Holders: Notification of Death
  Machine-readable Passports
  Machine-readable Passports
  Somalia, FRY and Sudan: UN Sanctions
  Somalia, FRY and Sudan: UN Sanctions
  Euro Notes and Coins
  Euro Notes and Coins
  Contractors Tax: Inland Revenue Leaflet
  Contractors Tax: Inland Revenue Leaflet
  Home Office: Race Equality Report
  Home Office: Race Equality Report
  Mr Alun Evans
  Mr Alun Evans
  District Council Elections
  District Council Elections
  Heavy Goods Vehicles: Inspections
  Heavy Goods Vehicles: Inspections
  Buses
  Buses
  Railway Inspectorate
  Railway Inspectorate
  Railtrack
  Railtrack
  Strategic Rail Authority Contracts
  Strategic Rail Authority Contracts
  Vibration Directive
  Vibration Directive
  Driving Licences
  Driving Licences
  Physical Agents Directives
  Physical Agents Directives
  Local Government Commission for England: Transfer of Functions to Electoral Commission
  Local Government Commission for England: Transfer of Functions to Electoral Commission
  Rural Recovery Co-ordinator: October Meetings with DEFRA
  Rural Recovery Co-ordinator: October Meetings with DEFRA
  Timber Procurement Policy
  Timber Procurement Policy